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The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Sarah Liu

Sarah Liu, Managing Editor

Sarah is currently a senior and a Managing Editor for El Estoque. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, playing the NYT crossword and making fruit dessert recipes.

All content by Sarah Liu
Graphic by Yixuan (Joyce) Li | Made with Canva

Weaving bonds

MVHS’s opinions on the multifaceted web of relationships
It's hard for me to grasp the fact I'll be leaving my family in a few months.

2,830 miles

I’m learning to reconcile leaving my family for college
Sarah Liu
May 25, 2024
It’s important to differentiate between healthy venting and trauma dumping.

The toll of trauma dumping

We need to recognize and set boundaries for healthy relationships
Sarah Liu
May 25, 2024
It's important to have discussions about family finances and how they’re being handled for college plans.

The ultimate college debt

Understanding financial plans for college helps relieve feelings of immigrant guilt
Meggie Chen and Sarah Liu
May 23, 2024
College bound

College bound

Exploring the changing landscape of higher education
A student takes a practice SAT assessment.

Standardized testing makes comeback

The MVHS community discusses changing SAT policies for college admissions
Sarah Liu and Eric Zhou
April 21, 2024
Jariwala is currently teaching in the classroom while preparing to become a Teacher Mentor next year.

Classroom to classroom

English Department Lead Monica Jariwala prepares to become a New Teacher Mentor for FUHSD
Sarah Liu and Alyssa Yang
April 10, 2024
Raising Funds

Raising Funds

MVHS student groups raise money through creative fundraisers
Clubs sell out during Club Grub Day

Clubs sell out during Club Grub Day

Students share their thoughts on Club Grub Day
Meggie Chen, Sarah Liu, and Brandon Xu
March 8, 2024
The FUHSD Climate Collective consists of district staff, teachers and students who plan environmental intiatives to implement in all five FUHSD schools.

Climate changers

FUHSD Climate Collective establishes its initiatives toward mitigating climate change
Sarah Liu and Dylan Nguyen
March 5, 2024
Dream destinations

Dream destinations

MVHS students recommend California travel destinations for your next trip
Sarah Liu
January 25, 2024
Graphic by Jami Lim.

Decorate our lives

Students and staff share different ways they decorate daily life
Senior Nithya Appannagaari poses with her gold stud piercing. 

Photo by Nithya Appannagaari | Used with permission.

Power to the piercing

MVHS students’ piercings influence their identities
Samika Bhatkar and Sarah Liu
January 24, 2024
Graphics by Stella Petzova

Immersed in India

Recognizing different forms of Indian-influenced entertainment in our community
Many MVHS students use Pinterest to find inspiration for their aesthetic styles.

Picture perfect

Exploring how media influences MVHS students’ aesthetics
Sarah Liu and Stella Petzova
December 9, 2023
Savoring spices

Savoring spices

Exploring what authentic Indian food means
Sarah Liu
December 9, 2023
Hopeful Tendencies

Hopeful Tendencies

Examining the role that hope plays in the MVHS community

Beyond the numbers

Schools should not be ranked solely by their academic achievements

In the face of climate change

Examining the duality of the role of hope in the climate change movement
Crystal Cheng and Sarah Liu
November 3, 2023
Growing Forward

Growing Forward

Examining opinions around self-improvement in the MVHS community
The task of cleaning my room always seemed so unachievable I would just give up after trying for a few minutes.

Does this spark joy?

How I learned to clean my room
Sarah Liu
September 28, 2023
Sheltering students from information that parents deem inappropriate robs students of a quality education.

Us vs. them

The parental rights movement undermines comprehensive education
Niveda Hari and Sarah Liu
September 27, 2023
FUHSD is currently working to combat the misuse of AI tools in the classroom.

Changing Education with ChatGPT

Exploring changes in AI regulations in education for the 2023-24 school year
A year of Yearbook

A year of Yearbook

Exploring the challenges and triumphs of El Valedor
Meggie Chen and Sarah Liu
June 5, 2023
Rod Sinks will be sworn in on Tuesday, May 16, and will serve until November 2024.

Rod Sinks appointed as new FUHSD Trustee

Former Mayor Rod Sinks will fill the current Board vacancy
Sarah Liu and Aashi Venkat
May 16, 2023
Cupertino High School sophomore Lara Gupta hands custom Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action T-shirts to community members.

Cupertino celebrates sustainability at the Earth and Arbor Day Festival

Community members come together to commemorate Earth Day
Sarah Liu
April 24, 2023
I think you should...

I think you should…

Exploring the MVHS community's opinions on giving and receiving advice
Women often feel compelled to get rid of certain linguistic tendencies and phrases to talk more like men

Stop policing how women talk

Advising women to change their language contributes to conformity to masculine norms
Sarah Liu
March 24, 2023
Dessert Detectives: Q Baking Corner

Dessert Detectives: Q Baking Corner

Reviewing popular menu items based on quality and taste
Sarah Liu and Lillian Wang
March 8, 2023
Protecting ourselves

Protecting ourselves

Taking a look at how students protect different facets of their lives
MVHS students voice their opinions on different aspects of therapy.

Should I get help?

Examining different opinions on the stigma surrounding therapy
Melody Cui and Sarah Liu
February 16, 2023
High schools should distribute free condoms to promote positive sexual behaviors.

Changing contraception culture

Why high schools should make condoms free and easily-accessible
Sarah Liu and Gauri Manoj
February 12, 2023
Sportswashing covers up and erases the problems faced by the country.

More than just a game

How sportswashing came into play at the World Cup
Unlearning preconceived beliefs about gender biases is the first step towards dismantling these stereotypes.

“The golden son”

How gender biases in Asian culture affect MVHS community members
Sarah Liu
December 23, 2022
Senior Varshini Peddinti shields the ball from a PHS defender as she dribbles down the court.

Girls Basketball defeats Prospect High School 49-27

Matadors maintain a strong lead to take home their eighth win of the season
Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Sarah Liu, and Alyssa Yang
December 18, 2022
Bandaids for bullet wounds

Bandaids for bullet wounds

Examining how bandaid solutions fail to address the root cause of various issues
Greenwashing often derives from a lack of transparency or care.

Clean and green

Greenwashing highlights a lack of transparency and care
Sarah Liu
November 13, 2022
Yuko Shima has been a Cupertino resident for 15 years.

Yuko Shima

Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
October 26, 2022
Sheila Mohan has worked for Santa Clara County for over 20 years.

Sheila Mohan

Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
October 26, 2022
JR Fruen is a lifelong Cupertino resident.

JR Fruen

Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
October 26, 2022
Claudio Bono is the president of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.

Claudio Bono

Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
October 26, 2022
Three new Cupertino city councilmembers will be elected on Nov. 8

Introducing the Cupertino City Council candidates

Seven City Council candidates share their stories, opinions and reasons for running
Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
October 26, 2022
Idolization

Idolization

Exploring how the idolization of various people, lifestyles and features pervades our lives.
A narrow focus on Eurocentric beauty excludes much of the wider world.

True Beauty

Idolizing Eurocentric beauty standards prevents diverse representation
Sarah Liu and Jisha Rajala
October 7, 2022
After senior Sydney Su saves the ball from hitting the ground, senior Krupa Shanware prepares to pass the ball back to the opponent’s side and continue the rally.

Girls Volleyball beats Overfelt High School 3-0

Matadors win straight sets in first game of the season
Meggie Chen, Sarah Liu, and Michelle Zheng
August 28, 2022
FUHSD implements free menstrual products due to new California law

Packaging the period plan

FUHSD implements free menstrual products thanks to California law
It's crucial that students take steps to better understand their limits.

Learning our limits

Understanding the value of balancing grades and homework with mental health
Sarah Liu and Sonia Verma
May 27, 2022
Stereotypes Podcast Part 1: Siblings

Stereotypes Podcast Part 1: Siblings

Discussing common sibling stereotypes
Sarah Liu and Michelle Zheng
May 27, 2022
The community room on the second floor overlooks the redwood trees surrounding the back of the library.

Cupertino Library expansion finishes

Renovations on the first and second story open to the public
Sarah Liu
May 1, 2022
Paris Baguette’s interior is very modernized, featuring high ceilings, marble-like walls and the Paris Baguette logo in white lights

Dessert Detectives: Paris Baguette

Reviewing popular menu items based on quality and taste
Sarah Liu and Aashi Venkat
April 22, 2022
A large crowd of protestors march forward during a rally.

Black Lives Matter

Exploring how the BLM movement has changed things at MVHS in recent years
Sarah Liu and Mira Wagner
April 22, 2022
Disconnect

Disconnect

Explaining my guilt for not speaking Taiwanese
Sarah Liu
March 16, 2022
In 2020, Eileen Gu changed the country she was representing from the U.S. to China  when she was 15.

Eileen Gu skis over national and political boundaries

Investigating Olympian Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China
Sarah Liu and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 2, 2022
Community members' favorite holidays are influenced by both their traditions and their cultures.

Celebrating the new year

Students and staff share which “new year” holiday they prefer
Sarah Liu
February 9, 2022
Juniors Julianna Kimm and Varshini Peddinti guard an opponent from passing the ball to a teammate.

Girls Basketball beats Fremont High School 45-34

Matadors remain undefeated in league with 6-0 record
Junior Phillip Chiu jumps up to shoot a basket with less than a minute of the third quarter remaining. Photo by Michelle Zheng

Boys Basketball loses to Lynbrook High School 53-41

Matadors trail a few points behind Lynbrook for the entirety of the game
Taryn Lam, Sarah Liu, and Michelle Zheng
January 11, 2022
During quarantine, I took up baking as a way to cure my sugar cravings.

Food is my friend (and foe)

Exploring how my experience with food has changed during quarantine
Sarah Liu
December 7, 2021
It's time to take action against climate change. What's a better place to start than our textbooks?

Comprehensive climate curriculum is crucial

The need to implement climate change education at MVHS is more important now than ever
Sarah Liu
December 7, 2021
Senior Ashley Twu lunges forward to take a shot during a field hockey game.

Students share about coaching youth sports

Three athletes discuss the impact of being both coaches and competitors
Sarah Liu
November 16, 2021
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