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
Marianne Chan

Marianne Chan, Assistant Opinion Editor

Marianne Chan is the Assistant Opinion Editor and a Business Manager for their second year on the Portola Pilot. This year, she plans to make the most out of her editing experience and contribute to the News Team while she’s at it. When she’s not having existential crises over her procrastination, you can find them extolling the virtues of Boyish, binging Forensic Files or spamming Stephanie over text.

All content by Marianne Chan
Country musician Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables” album retells family stories and Appalachian tales.

Tap Into Dolly Parton’s Newest Studio Album “Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables”

Marianne Chan and Nora Aljazzar | December 2, 2024
S5 Episode 5: Inside Portola’s Electives — Balancing Student Interests and Practicality

S5 Episode 5: Inside Portola’s Electives — Balancing Student Interests and Practicality

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | November 7, 2024
YAT leader, Youth Outreach Program member and junior Chloe Chen hands a registration form to senior Morgan Tien during the voter registration drive on Oct. 10. “It's important that all levels of our government and our community [are accessible] to more people because we see today [there are] some restrictions in different areas of the country and people being more dissatisfied with the government,” YAT leader, Youth Outreach member and senior Aaron Owens said. “We want people to have a chance to connect with their government, to actually make a change that they want to see.”

Annual Voter Registration Drive Spurs Action

Marianne Chan, Assistant Opinion Editor | October 18, 2024
Tight end offensive player, punter and linebacker junior Maxwell Mapstone and linebacker, wide receiver and junior Malachi Moore pursue a Woodbridge High player as he attempts to score a touchdown. “Our strategy was to stop the play action passes and not let the quarterback get out of the pocket because he was pretty fast, and we did a really good job at that,” tight end offensive and defensive player and senior Anthony Riccardi said.

Boys’ Football Conquers Woodbridge High in First League Game

Stephanie Hwang and Marianne Chan | October 15, 2024
Republican Senator James David (JD) Vance of Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota present their agendas at the Vice Presidential Debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York.“By comparison to the presidential debate, it was sort of elucidating more so than the presidential debate,” social studies teacher Daniel Hunter said. “There were plenty of criticisms of the presidential candidates, but I felt that it was a refreshing change in the level of discourse from what we had seen in the presidential debate.”

Vance vs. Walz: The 2024 Vice Presidential Debate

Marianne Chan and Sky Nguyen | October 10, 2024
Senior Maariyah Arif appreciates Dress to Impress for its various styles — from lace to gingham — and its costumes. “I've been playing Roblox for years, and Dress to Impress just started going viral,” Arif said. “I think it's cool to see all the different costumes.”

Glitz and Glamor: Dress to Impress Dazzles Portola High Players

Marianne Chan and Moer Koey | September 27, 2024
South Korean band Wave to Earth’s third album, “play with earth! 0.03,” explores themes of self-fulfillment, love, heartbreak and identity that often intertwine in unexpected ways — from apocalyptic symbolism to languid moments under the sun.

Wave to Earth ‘Plays’ with Sound in Latest Album Release

Marianne Chan and Nicole Lu | September 16, 2024
Detective Roland (Jason Wu Chen) suffers a nervous breakdown after being thwarted by kleptomaniac Shalia (senior Sanika Nihalani) once again. In a Q&A after the play, Wu Chen said that he added an element of improvisation to the scene when he spontaneously hurled his cigar lighter into the airport wall.

Honors Ensemble Play “Gate F-10” Takes Off for the Last Time

Marianne Chan and Elizabeth Gao | May 29, 2024
Parent volunteers from the Portola High Indian Parent Group serve traditional dishes to staff members Julie Primero and student teacher Cole Kong. “I was very thankful to my community and the kids who participated for this event, because it's because of them that staff and teachers were feeling appreciated,” luncheon co-organizer and Portola High Indian Parent Group member Dolly Malani said. “They felt that lively spirit around them, so for me, when they are happy, that means our event is going good. I'm grateful for what they do for students at school.”

Spooning Food, Activities and Gratitude: Students and Parents Celebrate Staff Appreciation Week

Marianne Chan and Mary Lee | May 10, 2024
Senior Yunxin Tao and sophomore Aditya Nair manufacture t-shirts for Portola Printing, Portola High's first ever business. “Sometimes after school, we have a little party with about five to 10 students, heat pressing and folding and quality checking,” business teacher Katherine Dillon. “The next day, we count the orders and make sure we have all the right sizes, all the right numbers [to] make sure they're all good and then we just go deliver it to the classrooms.”

‘Pressing’ On: Portola Printing Makes Progress In Business Goals

Marianne Chan and Alice Ahn | May 6, 2024
The business has faced its fair share of challenges with budgeting and acquiring equipment. “It took about a year to go through the process of getting the budget approved to get these first round of machines and getting it actually,” Dillon said. “We had to switch suppliers when the first supplier was purchased for the district's purchasing policy change. Then it got out of stock and as a buyer, we had to adjust. But things like that happen in business, so it's a good learning experience. ”

Portola Printing, the first ever Portola High business geared toward manufacturing shirts, has taken on orders for various organizations on campus. “Sometimes after school, we have a little party with about five to 10 students, heat pressing and folding and quality checking,” business teacher Katherine Dillon. “And then the next day during class whenever they're ready, we count the orders and make sure we have all the right sizes, all the right numbers, make sure they're all good and nothing’s peeling off and nothing's broken, and then we just go deliver it to the classroom.”

As an experienced jazz musician, Nia Chhen Stewart thoroughly displayed her enthusiasm for the genre while performing a solo for “Over the Rainbow.” “I've never done a [solo] where all the attention was on me,” Stewart said. “It was really nerve wracking but also empowering to be singled out for the piece.”

All that Jazz: IUSD Jazz Ensemble Festival Spellbinds Audience

Marianne Chan and Claire Liu | April 12, 2024
One of senior Yunseo Kwon’s favorite pieces in her portfolio submission is her self portrait because it represents her experience with different art mediums and styles. “It incorporates design elements that I’ve been learning recently and the realistic art I’ve been doing for a long time so combining them to make me felt like my identity is being revealed through my artwork,” Kwon said.

Orange County Register Artist of the Year Semifinalists Senior Yunseo Kwon and Junior Michelle Lu Rise to Success

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | April 10, 2024
Visual Arts teacher Kearci Thompson poses with her Orange County Outstanding Art Educator Award certificate. “Something I really love about my job is the creativity that the students bring into the room each day that helps me fuel my own creativity,” Thompson said. “I love getting to collaborate with them and come up with new ideas.”

Artistic, Avid and Assiduous: Visual Arts Teacher Kearci Thompson Recognized as Outstanding Arts Educator

Marianne Chan, Staff Writer | March 26, 2024
Screenshot 2024-03-24 at 11.24.32 PM

A Closer Look at How “High School Musical” Came to Fruition

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | March 22, 2024
Speaker Alvia Lee addresses an audience of students from different schools during his workshop at the High School Youth Action teen’s (HSYAT) teen summit event. The workshop centered on mission and vision and included recountings of the speaker’s lived experiences. “It was nice that we were able to work with the people beside us,” teen summit attendee and sophomore May Li said. “The most memorable aspect was when the speaker wanted us to ask them what our best traits were, because sometimes you might not notice what they are until you’re told.”

An Electrifying Occasion: HSYAT Celebrates 30th Annual Teen Summit

Marianne Chan, Photo Editor | March 18, 2024
Tackling Chronic Conditions Club treasurer and sophomore Keerthana Pillai arranges mini raspberry cheesecakes for one of the club’s bake sales that lasted from Jan. 5 to Jan. 6. All proceeds go to Debra of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people diagnosed with the chronic condition Epidermolysis Bullosa Through programs and funding research, according to Pillai.

Tackling Chronic Conditions Club Brings Light to Patients’ Lives

Marianne Chan and Elizabeth Gao | March 1, 2024
Art Fair participants from various clubs and art courses had the opportunity to sell handmade creations to students at stands near the ASB room during lunch from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. “I feel like it's just a good way to connect with the rest of my peers, the artist community [and] the student body while also giving back to the school because it's given me so many opportunities where I can flourish in the creative arts,” artist and junior Alexander Torpus said.

Students ‘Sew’ Off Their Talent in the Art Fair

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | February 13, 2024
Senior Raghav Iyer attempts to dislodge his opponent’s arms using his elbow. “I tried for the lighter weights,” Iyer said. “Usually people are quicker on their feet and they try to get low shots in their ankles. So I tried to stay quick on my feet and get good sprawls out.”

Wrestling Looks Forward to Successes After Narrow Loss to Woodbridge High

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | January 24, 2024
Clubs would greatly benefit from being offered a second chance to restart their clubs in second semester. “I think that allowing these clubs to have a second chance would help them appreciate their culture and their passions, and allow students to draw closer and to keep some continuity in our own likes and values,” president of the Black Student Union and senior Gabe Mutsvangwa said.

Clubs Should Be Given a Second Chance in Second Semester

Shaina Taebi and Marianne Chan | January 18, 2024
Rather than give in to the knee-jerk impulse to “flesh out” antagonists through tragic backstories, authors should focus on other aspects of their villainous characters. “The background story is just the background board,” sophomore and fiction lover Anyu Zhang said. “The character’s personality and performance are the most important.”

Unveiling the Untold Power of Villainy: Why a Tragic Backstory Is Not Needed

Claire Chan and Marianne Chan | January 9, 2024
Interact Club member and junior Sofia Ionescu braids bicolored ribbons into a lei, a Polynesian garland traditionally made out of flowers. Project Hope Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping homeless youth, used proceeds from the lei making to support their cause. Club members were able to gain volunteer hours in exchange for their participation in various charity activities.

Interact Club Steps Up in Annual Hearts and Hands Event

Marianne Chan, Photo Editor | November 29, 2023

Daylight saving Time is Ruinous to Our Wellbeing

Elizabeth Gao and Marianne Chan | November 17, 2023

Innocent Clubs Are Affected By Haphazard Merging

Stephanie Hwang and Marianne Chan | November 6, 2023
Wrongfully convicted of 10-year-old Marcus Tumble’s murder, Jonathan Mollusk (freshman Zubin Bhatia) is pinned to the floor by Tumble’s father (sophomore Alex Lingerfelt) and another assailant, where they proceed to drown him in retribution. In the background, an evidence board — commonly associated with people who have unhealthy obsessions with crime cases — underscores the dubious verdict of Mollusk’s guiltiness.

Fall Play Captures Audience In a ‘Trap’ of Their Own Making

Marianne Chan, Staff Writer | November 3, 2023
Co-captain and junior Zoe Wynn prepares to hit a golf ball at hole 5, where she achieved a birdie.

Girls’ Golf Advances to CIF Individual Tournament After PCL Finals

Marianne Chan | October 26, 2023
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S4 Episode 01: Delving Into the Diverse Music Tastes of Students

Marianne Chan and Claire Liu | October 17, 2023
With parking permit prices at $80 dollars a year at Portola High, students should not be paying such a high amount and staff members should thoroughly check the cars in the parking lot for permits. If permits were affordable, parking spaces would fill up and others would not gain an unfair advantage over students who actually paid for the permit at full price.

Permit Prices: Why Our Parking System Needs Improvement

Claire Chan and Marianne Chan | October 2, 2023
Co-captain and senior Michelle Moon extends her driver backwards in order to achieve optimal yardage on her swing at hole six.

Girls’ Golf Clinches 202-311 Victory in Match Against Laguna Hills High

Marianne Chan | September 26, 2023
Dance 3 and 4 took to the stage to perform a graceful and delicate contemporary piece titled “Always Be the One” to the song “I’ll Always be the One Who Makes You Cry” by Eric Hutchinson. The talented group of girls captured the audience’s attention as they skillfully executed their routine.

‘Vertigo’ Dance Concert ‘Spins’ into Action

Cara Chan, Marianne Chan, and Aditi Salunkhe | March 31, 2023
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Marianne Chan