Racism Against Asians Rises With COVID-19
Posted on April 2, 2020 by Jasmin Kim in Op-Ed
Jasmin Kim
Copy Editor
COVID-19 has sparked a lot of fear in people worldwide as it spreads continuously. That fear has led to panic-buying, self-quarantine, and xenophobia. Xenophobia is dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
Racism towards the Asian community is not a new occurrence by any means but it has recently flared due to the fear caused by COVID-19. It has become more common to post racist comments and content on the internet and some have even taken it as far as to physically assault or harass Asian people.
A 19-year-old man tried to kill an Asian man and his son in a grocery store in Texas because he thought the family was Chinese and spreading COVID-19. The father and son both suffered stab wounds and are in the hospital receiving care.
An Asian woman was punched and verbally assaulted in New York for not wearing a mask. A Korean woman living in the Netherlands was almost punched off her bike and accused of being Chinese. President Trump called COVID-19 “the Chinese virus”, further encouraging racism against Asian people on a national level.
A classmate sent racist remarks to me, a Korean-American student, through a public chat box on Zoom during a video conference for my Physics course. He degraded me by sending messages like “We’re in this conference because you brought the corona from your country”, and “Shut the [redacted] up dog eater”, and “Go get me a pet bat so I could eat it.”
These occurrences have become increasingly common in the daily lives of Asian-Americans. The virus does not discriminate and neither should you. We are all going through tough times, so let’s be there for each other. #iamnotavirus
Getting the hang of Zoom
Posted on March 28, 2020 by Sidney Gonzalez in Op-Ed
Sidney Gonzalez
News Editor
As many students know, in place of classes, teachers are holding classes through Zoom.
Zoom is a platform for video conferencing, and can be used through the application or accessed online when teachers send messages with a link to the conference. You can use any device to use Zoom, computers and phones alike. Teachers can hold lectures, show PowerPoint presentations, and interact with all students in the class. Students can pitch in by using audio and responding, or when muted by teachers can comment in the Public Chat.
So far, I’ve used Zoom in my English, Spanish, and Journalism classes and I have a generally positive opinion of the platform. I generally dislike video conferences on a personal level because I dislike the thought of seeing my own face, but Zoom has been pretty good on an academic level. Although the camera does have some lag, the voices of teachers are generally clear, and they’re able to communicate concepts and lessons as easily as in class thus far. I’ve also found that student involvement in discussions is possible and also flows well once we are able to start talking. Although it is not the same as a traditional class or classroom, I feel that Zoom is a good working platform to temporarily hold classes and I will hopefully continue to adjust to it as the days pass despite the situation being slightly uncomfortable.
Life as a grocery store worker during a pandemic
Posted on March 15, 2020 by frida larios in Op-Ed
Frida Larios
Opinion Editor
As I hope everyone knows, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Today, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all businesses such as nightclubs, bars, and movie theaters will be closing. Businesses that will stay open are grocery stores, pharmacies, and food banks.
I have been working at a grocery store for one year and I love it. My store in particular gets very busy every day because of our location in the middle of Hollywood, but I have never seen anything like this. All of our sections are empty, we had to close down our meat and egg sections since we had nothing. Lines curve around the store and giving out samples has now turned into sanitizing carts and baskets instead. I am personally very afraid of going into work at this time because I live with my grandparents who are especially vulnerable to this virus, but for now I will have to hope for the best and work less hours.
Graduating in red or white
Posted on March 6, 2020 by Kayla Kwak in Announcements, Op-Ed
Kayla Kwak
Copy Editor
It is Hollywood High tradition to graduate in either a red cap and gown or a white cap and gown.
To be able to graduate in white a student must meets the requirements that make them eligible. The 2020 requirements are to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.300 as of Feb 21, 2020, met or have exceeded on SBAC/CAA English or Math during junior year, no more than 5 total days absent through May 22, 2020, and no Ds or Fails on final grades of fall semester or 15 week spring semester during senior year.
PAM Senior Delilah Peraza said,”The white cap and gown represents over-achievement and that’s why so many people want to wear white.” Peraza will be wearing red and said,”I think the chords are more important than the color of the cap and gown we wear.”
The strict deadline for the 2020 white cap and gown applications is Monday Mar 9, 2020.
Making it to 1600
Posted on March 5, 2020 by Guadalupe Dominguez in Op-Ed
Guadalupe Dominguez
Chronicle Reporter
Recently the class of 2021 took the SAT and for many it was their first time. The room was filled with nervous teens who knew they would probably have to take the test once again. Every junior dreads the day they have to take the SAT. The test that for most decides their future school. Ideally each student wants to receive a 1600 on their exam.
Standardized testing doesn’t show the true ability of a student. It shows how much a student can remember in the weeks before. The SAT as we know it doesn’t even test us on what we have been learning, it focuses on the previous semester of math. While the english portion is basically a race, whoever finishes the reading section and answers the quickest wins.
Behind the 1600 are hours of studying both math and English. Cramming the formulas, key words, etc just means the student never really learned anything. They spend their entire junior year cramming instead of actually learning the material they will be tested on. The topics they are being tested on are usually topics from a semester before meaning we have all forgotten it and have to put our current learning on hold to be able to remember what occurred last semester.
From AP classes to extracurriculars it is likely for a student to take the SAT multiple times and end up disappointed thinking they are not capable of applying and making it through college. The SAT shouldn’t be pushed onto students who are already knee deep in work.
Grant us accessibility for disability
Posted on February 27, 2020 by Melisa Lovos in Op-Ed
Melisa Lovos
Chronicle Reporter
Every now and then, students get physical injuries that affect their daily routine. As so, I recently had an accident in which I injured my left ankle-for which the doctors chose to put a cast covering the area.
I returned to school the next day with my cast, my crutches and my doctor’s note authorizing the school to allow me to use the elevator. I walked into the attendance office expecting them to give me the key and go about my day with elevator access to get to my classes. However, this was not the case, as I was told I had to get my parent’s signature before being granted an elevator key. Throughout the day, I struggled a lot to get to my classes, from the SAS building to the TCA building, and back. I was late to most of my classes, and although I was excused, it was still a hassle.
The next day that I returned with my parent’s signature, I was granted the key. It made me happy that I wouldn’t have to struggle as much to get to my classes, but I found that the key didn’t work in the TCA elevator.
I believe that this is a violation to the ADA Compliance and our student rights as we should have accessibility for people with disabilities- such as elevators and ramps.
If you are seen struggling or request access to an elevator key, such access should be granted immediately in order to be able to go on with your school day. Especially if it is a noticeable injury, such as a cast and crutches.
It is understandable that keys are necessary in order to keep a secure and healthy school environment, but clearly needs should be met.
Key Club spreads ALS awareness
Posted on November 5, 2019 by Henry Christian Alquiza in Op-Ed
Henry Alquiza
Chronicle Reporter
Our Key Club went to the LA County Walk to Defeat ALS. ALS is known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a disease that affects one nerve cells within the brain and in the spinal cord. Which in then affects throughout the body, where they have two to five year life span. The event was held at exposition park by USC the event had many teams and participants. The teams represented people who they lost to ALS.
When volunteering as a route cheerleader I was sadden by the amount of people there were. To spread aware news and volunteering in the event all they can say was thank you, although all I did was guide them to the correct direction. With this I say we all should as little we can to make a difference in the world one step at a time.
High school lesson : you reap what you sow
Posted on June 2, 2019 by ethan murga in Op-Ed
Ethan Murga
News Editor
The four years went by quick … not really. High school came with friends from elementary, middle school, kids that moved from other schools and upper-class men who were already here.
So “it went by quickly”, that’s an overstatement. It was like running a mile: fast, then slow, then almost there and then the last lap took forever. But the beginning of the last lap, trying to figure out where you’ll run next, that’s when you reflect on yourself and who you are. Did you learn anything during the previous three laps, how to pace yourself, maybe. Or even savor the moments of high school.
Everyone comes up with new ideas, beliefs and actions after the four years that contribute to the timeline that determines who you will be, over who you’re supposed to be.
“You reap what you sow” comes out a little negative because nobody ever wants to face consequences, and that is what it’s all about.
So my point here is: address every problem because you’ll always face it sooner or later, in other words, “you reap what you sow”.
This is the advice portion, and this is where I’ll share the insight I do have. Something I have learned early on is that if you think about it everyone will have some regret or some dark days, but where it matters most is if you let the regret and dark days conquer you or you take something new out of them.
So senior year hits right and now I’m the News Editor for Journalism, I represent the “student voice” in ASB / Leadership and also I’m the Bulletin Editor for Key Club. Oh and on top of that I have a job. Okay so on paper for college this looks outstanding right, well, I got into five colleges. So, what did I take from all these activities that would eat up my time?
Well, the newspapers had some (an understatement) of mistakes on the news portion, I hardly ever spoke up in Leadership “to represent” the students, the whole year I went to like four Key Club events and stopped posting on social media a little more than half way into the school year, but I did do my submissions and then there’s my job. I worked a lot of hours and got a handful of experience in being yelled at by people who were bothered by something else beyond me and paid a bill or two at home with the money I made.
What have I taken from these obstacles and their outcomes? The newspaper has made me pay attention to every detail especially in life and read over everything thousands of times; ASB that you cannot control others and many things in life nor speak for them; Key Club that failure is good and important and my job has taught me millions of things, but mostly how much a dollar is worth. My closest friends have taught me to prioritize them because they’ve redeemed themselves as my backbone and family. All of these situations where I found myself in a difficult place have each taught me a different lesson that I can apply into my next situation.
So it’s like yeah, you may ask “why’d I sign yourself up for all that and then not even follow through?” well, it’s tough. Do you really want to resign, of course not. So what did I do, I reaped what I sowed. I faced the consequences and that’s how I learned to live and that’s okay. The lesson most predominating from what I took from my four years altogether is to learn from the obstacles you go through and apply what you learned to the next chapter of your life.
Missing France but glad to have moved here
Posted on May 29, 2019 by Alex Glebov in Op-Ed
Alex Glebov
Chronicle Reporter
It is pretty crazy to me that I have been living in America for two years already. I moved here from France when I was 17. It feels that it wasn’t even long ago that I was back in France going to my high school there, but now it’s been two whole years since I moved, and I’m now a senior who is right about to graduate. It’s really a weird feeling that it’s the end of high school for me and that I’m moving on to college soon. I’m honestly really excited for college and can’t wait to see what will happen there.
I do have to say that I miss France; the sea there was really beautiful and I do miss my friends, but I’m glad that I moved here. I met a lot of new wonderful people and just had a blast being here. Moving to a new country was a really nice change of pace for me, and I’m really happy that I ended up coming here.
A message to all Sheiks
Posted on May 29, 2019 by Mayeli Acuna in Op-Ed
Mayeli Acuna
Chronicle Reporter
With graduation just around the corner, all I’ve been thinking about is whether I am college ready. To be quite honest, I believe I am and starting all over is pretty exciting. High school took a massive toll on me and I’m sure in various of my peers. It is pretty hard to explain my feelings towards high school, but I can say it was a learning experience.
High school taught me much more than precalculus or how to find the literary devices in a piece of literature. It taught me that people who were once in your high school life will part ways, that self-care is a grand necessity and most importantly being content with who you are as a individual. I never thought that high school would be the place where I lost myself completely. The constant work thrown and the pressure of expecting so much from myself as not only a student, but as a human being. I am not gonna lie and say high school was as amazing as they partake in a film. It is not all dances and football games. It is a cycle of social life, school work and so much more, but growing as an individual plays a massive role in this cycle.
As the school year comes to end, it makes me reflect on my high school experiences. I lost contact with people, I met new people, I branched out, I formed cherishing bonds with my fellow peers and teachers, I lost myself mentally, but I have blossomed into an individual who is ready to see the outside world beyond Hollywood High.
I don’t mean to frighten those who remain in high school, but rather leave them with a message of hope. Everything will be okay, no matter how hard it gets and you are forming into someone amazing. High school is simply the road to the real world, we are thrown obstacles in this small community and our duty is to keep pushing through them. Once completing these courses, the blooming begins. Here is a message from a senior of the class of 2019, life goes beyond high school and all you can do is push.
