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

Sophia Ma

Sophia Ma, Design Editor

Sophia is currently a senior and a design editor for El Estoque. She is a member of the MVHS Color Guard and enjoys drawing, playing video games, listening to music and spending time with friends.

All content by Sophia Ma
Let the games begin

Let the games begin

Seniors compete in student-run games
Sophia Ma and Angela Zhang
May 31, 2023
Graphic by Kathryn Foo

Going to the gym

Observing MVHS students experiences with the gym
Samika Bhatkar, Kathryn Foo, and Sophia Ma
April 13, 2023
The ability of the chatbot creates the possibility for future job replacement as it is too smart for its own good according to Chen. Illustration | Sophia Ma

Write an article about OpenAI’s ChatGPT

The community reflects on ChatGPT’s strengths and weaknesses
Sophia Ma and Eric Zhou
February 17, 2023
Passing Proposition 28

Passing Proposition 28

What the California Proposition 28 means for MVHS art programs
Aidan Ruan and Sophia Ma
December 23, 2022
You & me

You & me

The story behind students’ and staff members’ first best friends
Sophia Ma and Pranati Kotamraju
November 16, 2022
Getting with the program

Getting with the program

MVHS alum recount their experiences in specialized programs
Sophia Ma and Trisha Sannappanavar
October 5, 2022
XLB Kitchen serves Shanghai and SiChuan Dishes, specializing in 小笼包 — Xiao Long Bao, a popular dim sum dish.

[Photo] XLB Kitchen

June 24, 2022
Made from scratch

Made from scratch

Tracing the stories of home owned Chinese businesses
Melody Cui and Sophia Ma
June 19, 2022
Hongyun Art students work on their art piece during class.

[Photo] Hongyun Art

June 11, 2022
To my 婆婆

To my 婆婆

Expressing gratitude for the lessons I’ve learned from my grandma
Sophia Ma
June 7, 2022
Seasonal weather

Seasonal weather

From heatwaves to rainy days, last year's summer weather was really something else. Let's hope it's a little more cooperative this summer.
Sophia Ma
May 26, 2022
Trashing Our School

Trashing Our School

Exploring the different ways trash affects the MVHS community
Trash on our walls

Trash on our walls

Examining vandalism around the campus
Sophia Ma
May 6, 2022
Is that a new look?

Is that a new look?

What happens when you decide to wear something new and others start to stare? Ignore them, of course!
Sophia Ma and Sonia Verma
April 26, 2022
The price of living in Cupertino

The price of living in Cupertino

Examining how residents interact with the different aspects of housing in Cupertino
The Westport Cupertino construction site shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony.

Implementing affordable housing in Cupertino

Exploring Westport Cupertino and the changes it brings
The brunch line

The brunch line

Cutting the line for the first time
Sophia Ma
March 20, 2022
Recapping the mask mandate throughout the pandemic

Recapping the mask mandate throughout the pandemic

The evolution of face coverings as Governor Gavin Newsom announces masks will not be required indoors at schools starting March 12
Sophia Ma and Kalyani Puthenpurayil
March 16, 2022
The storefront of Oh Honey Bakery in downtown Mountain View.

Dessert Detectives: Oh Honey Bakery

Reviewing popular menu items based on quality and taste
Krish Dev and Sophia Ma
January 29, 2022
Marvel’s latest film smoothly interweaves the past and the present together. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is a feat of nostalgia

Marvel’s latest film smoothly interweaves the past and the present together
Melody Cui and Sophia Ma
December 22, 2021
Graphic by Justin Kim

‘Tis the season for…’

Delving deeper into this year's winter highlights and memories
Revisiting the holidays

Revisiting the holidays

Students and staff share their most memorable moments from the holiday season
Sophia Ma and Aashi Venkat
December 7, 2021
Sophomore Matthew Lau rushes the ball past an opposing player.

Boys Basketball defeats Harbor High School 65-26

After a strong start, the Matadors maintain control to earn a commanding victory
Krish Dev and Sophia Ma
December 5, 2021
Perception

Perception

Examing the role of perception in our lives
Community members share their opinions on the US leaving Afghanistan

A forever war ends: The comic version

Community members share their opinions on the US leaving Afghanistan
Melody Cui, Sophia Ma, and Minjae Kang
October 12, 2021
Graphic | Sophia Ma

Forgiveness that comes from a snack

Reflecting on the change in a parent’s role from child to child
Sophia Ma
September 18, 2021
Photo Courtesy Jeff Shen | Used with Permission
Illustration Sophia Ma

A final season

Senior athletes reflect on the challenges they’ve faced during the pandemic
Irene Tang and Sophia Ma
May 21, 2021
Exploring philosophies students and teachers began following due to the pandemic

Quarantine mottos to live by

Exploring philosophies students and teachers began following due to the pandemic
Melody Cui and Sophia Ma
May 9, 2021
Victorine poses with his family on Halloween

A fraction of time

MVHS community members in different age groups reflect on the pandemic year in the context of their lives
Illustration | Mikaylah Du and Sophia Ma

The romance behind K-dramas

Exploring the effects the popular genre has on our views and values
Sophia Ma, Staff Writer
February 13, 2021
Love is in the air

Love is in the air

Exploring romance in the MVHS community through different facets
The strangers we know

The strangers we know

Examining the benefits of friendships that develop solely online during quarantine
Sophia Ma, Staff Writer
November 9, 2020
The dichotomy of social media activism

The dichotomy of social media activism

Comparing active versus passive forms of activism on social media platforms
Oishee Misra and Sophia Ma
September 24, 2020
An Asian woman phasing into a sketch of herself, representing a loss of identity. Illustration | Sophia Ma

The importance of proper representation

The misrepresentation of Asian communities is damaging
Sophia Ma, Staff Writer
September 19, 2020
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