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
Michael Sun

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor

Michael Sun is the assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor and also a part of the business team for his second and final year in Pilot. He likes good Asian food, viewpoint diversity, and indie music.

All content by Michael Sun
Local community colleges, including Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, as well as the University of California system, use Canvas as their primary learning management system. Thus, in order to prepare students for higher education, Canvas should be implemented early on in students’ careers.

Full-Fledged Learning Management Systems Benefit Everyone: Why Canvas Triumphs Google Classroom

Michael Sun and Maitri Allani | May 22, 2024
For decades, artist rivalries have pervaded the hip-hop scene. While Drake’s beef primarily concerns artists Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, controversial rapper Kanye West has injected himself into the beef with the April 22 release of his “Like That” remix. It appears West’s fear of missing out is at play here, as he was initially unrelated to the drama.

The Latest Hip-Hop Craze: Dissecting Drake’s Beef

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | April 28, 2024
Not-So-Objectively Reviewing Some of Portola High’s AP Courses

Not-So-Objectively Reviewing Some of Portola High’s AP Courses

Cindy Mei and Michael Sun | April 8, 2024
Portola High South Asian Student Association (SASA) board members throw up colored powder to commemorate the success of their Holi event on March 10. “Portola has one of the largest attendance,” SASA co-president and senior Smira Sonthalia said. “That’s purely because of how big our club is as SASA and how many members we have. I’m just so happy to see that Portola has so many people here that come together and are celebrating with us.”

South Asian Student Association Vibrantly Celebrates Holi

Michael Sun | March 20, 2024
Student host and junior Audrey Kim serves as a referee for a qualification match. A triball, a green, blue or red pyramid-shaped object, scored in a goal is worth five points, and a triball scored in an offensive zone is worth two points.

Portola High Hosts First Ever VEX Robotics Regional Competition

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | January 26, 2024
Unconscious biases can affect anyone, including teachers, according to social studies teacher Shameemah Motala. Though she did not use anonymous grading at first, grading for the AP exams taught her to implement anonymous methods into her own class.

It’s Time to Start Evening Out the ‘Grading’ Field

Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | January 17, 2024
Senior and senior patrol leader Vish Satuloori stands on a lunch table to give his fellow scout members instructions for their upcoming volunteering activity.

Seniors Ashwin Goel and Vish Satuloori Lead Irvine Troop 622

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | January 8, 2024
Senior Jeremy Chae sings as sophomore Caleb Shin records his voice with a production software. Despite being the band’s lead vocalist, Chae’s primary instrument was not always voice. “Honestly, I never thought that I would sing,” Chae said. “I thought it was really scary, even though I did play violin. I never really liked the idea of performance.”

Senior Jeremy Chae ‘Blooms’ Christian Music Group Otic Orchid

Maitri Allani and Michael Sun | December 7, 2023
As the world continues to evolve, the notion of lifetime appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court stands at odds with injecting fresh perspectives and safeguarding justice. Enacting 18-year term limits would be one way to avoid the gerontocracy associated with partisan politics.

It is Time to Establish Terms of Office Limits in the Supreme Court

Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | December 2, 2023
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty can be addictive, fueling the practice of corner-cutting and creating other bad habits, according to the City University of New York. “Getting away with [academic dishonesty] is probably the biggest ego-booster and motivator that someone can get,” former AP Psychology student and senior Vedant Tiwari said.

Don’t ‘Play’ with Plagiarism: You’ll End Up Destroying Your Future

Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | November 15, 2023
Mishra (third from left) and Hommez (right most) pose with their fellow elementary Science Olympiad coaches and teacher adviser before a tournament, located at Sierra Vista Middle School. “The [original] idea for OCAST was elementary Science Olympiad,” Hommez said. “We were planning on creating that at Woodbury, but due to COVID, we were unable to, so we started OCAST instead. But a year later, we were able to get in touch with the principal.”

OCAST “Casts” A Love for Science Upon Young Scholars

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | November 9, 2023
Junior Vivian Lu reads three original poems as part of the Kenyon Young Writers Workshop, located at Kenyon College. Lu is interested in creative writing and English literature and hopes to expand these interests in her ancient literature club, which she started this year.

Is There Such a Thing as ‘Talent’? Portola High’s Top Achievers Answer

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | October 6, 2023
Teacher librarian Amber Linehan holds up a copy of “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, which she picked up in a book club. “I know that some of the students are reading memoirs right now, and a lot of kids came in asking for recommendations,” Linehan said. “And I’d say, ‘Crying in H Mart’ is one of my favorite memoirs.”

Meet Portola High’s Newest Book Fanatic: Teacher Librarian Amber Linehan

Elizabeth Gao and Michael Sun | September 20, 2023
Identifying burnout is the first step to stopping it. Lacking the energy to be consistently productive, becoming cynical or critical around peers and lack of satisfaction from accomplishments are common symptoms of burnout, according to the Mayo Clinic. Students who hold themselves to high standards are at even higher risk of burnout, even when academics may not be in play.

Stopping the Cycle of Burnout Requires Objective Thinking

Michael Sun, Staff Writer | May 15, 2023
Co-captain and senior Rishi Vridhachalam exhales after landing a skillful backhand swing. Boys’ tennis went on to defeat Northwood High 12-8 during its April 18 home match at the tennis courts. The team’s current league standings are 9-5.

Boys’ Tennis Celebrates Hard-Fought Victory against Northwood High

Jana Malek and Michael Sun | April 27, 2023
The United States’ level of civil discourse is declining rapidly, according to the American Psychological Association. Furthermore, nearly 60 percent of Americans feel stressed because of social divisiveness. The above infographic provides some tips for conducting productive, civil discourse.

Friends Who Hold Different Viewpoints Encourage Us to Collaborate

Michael Sun, Staff Writer | April 24, 2023
Pham had a taste of Chawanmushi, a Japanese steamed egg custard with Dungeness crab and shiitake mushrooms, when he ate at Yakiya. Located in Hacienda Plaza, Yakiya is a high-end restaurant that serves ‘chef’s pre-fixe menu’ style.

Q&A: This Teacher is a ‘Pham’ of Fine Dining

Arshia Sista, Michael Sun, and Jordan Hata | April 21, 2023
Sophomore Ethan Kim goes in for a one-handed backhand. Kim is in his second year of playing for boys' tennis and is currently the team's best singles player, according to Pan.

Boys’ Tennis Narrowly Loses Against Beckman High

Jana Malek and Michael Sun | March 21, 2023
Citizens in China have started to break down the ‘wall’ of censorship and political control the Chinese Communist Party has placed upon its citizens. Protests for the removal of Zero-Covid, and more importantly, Chinese President Xi Jinping, reveal a rising wave of young, political dissenters that will shape China’s future political sphere.

Protests in China Are Not about Zero-COVID; They Are About the Chinese Government

Michael Sun, Staff Writer | January 5, 2023
Sophomore and soloist Sara Haidar sings “Winter, Fire and Snow” by Brenden Graham with an accompaniment on cello from senior Juel Wettstein. The annual winter concert filled nearly every seat in the theater, according to choir director Adrian Rangel-Sanchez.

[Photo] Choir Concert Lifts Spirits in Annual Winter Performance

Arnav Chandan, Sports Editor | December 16, 2022
To start off the night of harmonies enlaced with themes of social justice, Canta Bella performed the song “Waiting for the World to Change,” which encapsulated the ways of facing hardships throughout history.

We Are The World: Choir Sings the Past and Present to Call For Social Justice in Fall Vocal Concert

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy and Michael Sun | October 19, 2022
Biden’s loan forgiveness plan, introduced August 24, provides benefits that will undoubtedly benefit struggling workers. However, the funds required to pay for this action are greatly overlooked — a potential $1 trillion will come from taxpayer’s wallets, according to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan research initiative that analyzes the economic impact of fiscal policy.

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Fails to Meet Even Liberal Criterion

Michael Sun, Staff Writer | September 22, 2022
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The student news site of Portola High School
Michael Sun