The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
Suhana Kaur

Suhana Kaur, Assistant Opinion Editor

Suhana Kaur is the Assistant Opinion Editor and a Business Manager for her second and final year on the Portola Pilot. This year, she’ll be writing as many features and news pieces as possible since she is barred from writing opinion stories. :( If she’s not trying to finish her to-do list, she is possibly spacing out in the middle of a conversation.

All content by Suhana Kaur

One Last Hurrah: Seniors Revive Childhood With Backpacks

Suhana Kaur, Assistant Opinion Editor | September 15, 2025
With the abundance of selective summer experiences, programs and opportunities, the months before summer vacation can feel like a mini college acceptance season as many students bank on these activities to enhance their college application or showcase their potential. However, given the wealth of non-exclusive opportunities such as local internships and merit-based initiatives, these programs shouldn’t be a contention point for a fulfilling experience or acceptance into prestigious universities.

Passion Over Prestige: The Truth About Elite Summer Programs

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | May 29, 2025
One thing that makes Portola High’s contemporary music program special is the ability for students to harness their creativity, according to instrumental music director Kyle Traska. Fittingly, Pop Performance Ensemble from Ground Wire performed an original song, “Power,” on Friday night. “More than anything, the inspiration was because of how many different people we have in our band,” senior and bass guitarist Megan Brander said. “We really wanted this original song to showcase the different musical tastes of every member. So it was a lot of just trying to incorporate everyone’s style and everyone’s instruments and vocal types.”

Portola High Celebrates Music and Community at Sixth Annual Porchella

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | May 27, 2025
Freshman Isaac Chhiv hits a powerful forehand during practice. As one of the only two freshmen on the varsity team, Chhiv brings the energy and competitiveness needed to succeed in higher levels, while simultaneously training for consistency in skill during matches, according to head coach Natasha Schottland. “I've really appreciated seeing that growth from Isaac,” Schottland said. “There are a lot of boys who are at his level or higher, and allowing him to have that competitiveness with them is really important for his growth.”

Meet Freshmen Garran McKay and Isaac Chhiv, the Latest Rising Stars of Boys’ Tennis

Annie Xiao and Suhana Kaur | May 13, 2025
Irvine High Junior Ali Ezzeldine, sophomore Maria Hajjar, junior Dania Yamani, Beckman High senior Jude Tahrawi and Northwood High senior Raya Abutarif give their opening remarks after the Dua. Hajjar introduced this year’s theme: Patience and Resilience Through Hardship. “We were trying to look for something that is very much needed [and] that would relate to everyone,” Hajjar said.

Together in Faith: Muslim Student Association Celebrates Resilience at Annual Iftar

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | March 27, 2025
Team member and sophomore Melody Bao, alternate and junior Sandy Shanmuga-Nathan, co-captain and junior Kayley Winata, co-captain and junior Suhrith Muvvala, team member and junior Rishabh Garg and advisor and physics teacher Leanne Jimenez pose with the JPL sign at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) after the competition. “[Science Bowl] is a really fun way to apply knowledge because you don’t get game-show style application of knowledge in school,” Muvvala said. “So it’s, one, for the fun, and, two, because I already have to study for Science Olympiad or Biology Olympiad.”

Science Bowl ‘Buzzes’ Into Fourth Place at Regional Competition

Jinseo Hong and Suhana Kaur | March 12, 2025
Doubles player and sophomore Aditya Joshi tosses the ball into the air in preparation to serve during the second set. Joshi and his partner, junior Smaran Mallojula, won the set 6-2. “I think overall the team did pretty good,” singles player and sophomore Anthony Nguyen said. “I’m pretty happy with the outcome.”

Match Point: Boys’ Tennis Secures Victory Over San Marcos High

Suhana Kaur and Annie Xiao | March 12, 2025
The Vietnamese-American Club presented banh cam, a small, chewy, red bean-filled Vietnamese donut coated in sesame seeds. Founded in 2022, the club aims to connect members to Vietnamese culture by spending meetings learning the language and engaging in activities such as Vietnamese film showings, according to Tran.

Intercultural Week Showcases the Rich Tapestry of Portola High’s Cultural Community

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | March 3, 2025
Hoag’s expanded campus will be a blend of relaxing open-air spaces and state-of-the-art amenities, with eleven operating rooms, 155 inpatient beds and 120,000 square feet of ambulatory space, according to Hoag. “I think it’s really important because the community is expanding,” junior Sarrrinah Inamdar said. “[T]he expansion of more surgical units, and especially the cancer institutions, are also very important for the growing population.”

Meeting Community Needs: Hoag Expands Campus in Irvine

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025
Board members of the Better2Thrift club pose for the camera at their first meeting. “We’re going to be donating 60% of our profit to charities and environmental causes,” vice president and junior Farouk Merzougui said. “I think that’s a big part. When you have a club, you really need to put some change in the community.”

Secondhand Style, Winning Impact: Inside the Better2Thrift Club on Campus

Suhana Kaur and Annie Xiao | December 5, 2024
Freshman Teryn Kim strikes a pose at the end of her routine for the 2024 SoCal Invitational Final where she placed first. “I really like [skating] because of the feeling of flying in the air and the excitement when you do well after a competition,” Kim said. “Skating across the ice, and then a cold wind on your face; it’s just a free feeling.”

Twists, Turns and Triple Axels: Freshman Teryn Kim Glides to Success

Suhana Kaur and Aditi Salunkhe | December 2, 2024
Dressed up as babies, the counseling department poses for a picture at their table beside their plates of food, ready to enjoy their chili and sides of cornbread and stuffed potatoes.

Staff Goes ‘Bone-Appetit’ at Annual Chili Cook-off

Annie Xiao and Suhana Kaur | November 12, 2024
As of Nov. 5, presidential nominees former president Donald Trump and current vice president Kamala Harris remain in a tight race, according to election polls by the New York Times.

The Final Countdown: Presidential Candidates Race to Secure Last-Minute Votes

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | November 5, 2024
The new club policy has potential clubs applying at the end of the year instead of the beginning, a process initially proposed by the ASB advisers, according to junior and club commissioner Nami Motwani. “There was a lot of discourse throughout the entirety of our whole club process to do it a year earlier, just because it makes one of my jobs easier,” Motwani said. “It also makes sure that clubs are able to socialize and kind of market through the beginning of the school year.”

New Year, New Policy: How the New Club Policy Brings Positive Changes

Sonia Wang and Suhana Kaur | October 9, 2024
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Suhana Kaur