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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

Anika Bhandarkar

Anika Bhandarkar, Copy Editor

Anika is a senior and a copy editor for El Estoque. She is a religious coffee-drinker, has played piano since she was three and a half and has two dogs named Luke and Leia. Ask Anika how many miles she plans on running during any given week, and she will likely try to convince you that her mileage isn’t *that* crazy.

All content by Anika Bhandarkar
Students should not have to sacrifice cultural ingredients and flavors in the name of eating healthier. Photo Illustration | Anika Bhandarkar

MVHS students do not see adequate representation of their ethnic foods on social media

We must learn how to eat healthy without sacrificing our cultural values
Anika Bhandarkar
December 6, 2024
Senior Ashley Yang and her teammates celebrate together after scoring a point. Yang notes that spending time with her teammates during volleyball practices and games makes it easy to form friendships on the team.

Sports bring MVHS athletes closer

MVHS athletes discuss the role of sports in facilitating relationships among teammates
Anika Bhandarkar
November 1, 2024

Sunnyvale Community Services hosts its first Ibero-American Festival

Sunnyvale citizens speak about their role and share thoughts on the festival
Anika Bhandarkar and Katrina Lin
October 27, 2024
Olympics Takeaways

Olympics Takeaways

67% of MVHS students watched the 2024 Olympics, here's what we can learn from it
Scoring guidelines within artistic sports can sometimes be vague, leading to differing opinions between athletes and judges. One such example was Jordan Chiles' medal controversy at the Olympics.

Graphic by Anika Bhandarkar

Athletes in artistic sports tackle subjectivity in judgment

MVHS students break down biases in judging artistic sports
Anika Bhandarkar and Kathryn Foo
September 27, 2024
The system of grading students on their proficiency in sports is inherently flawed and discourages students from forming positive relationships with exercise. Graphic by Anika Bhandarkar

For the long run

Grading physical education students on their proficiency in various sports is counterproductive to building long-term exercise habits
Anika Bhandarkar
September 14, 2024

MVHS’ best friend

MVHS students share the roles that their pets have played in their lives
Junior Darren Lin and sophomore Agasthya Kothuri met each other through their participation in track and field. Since meeting each other, Lin has offered Kothuri suggestions about improving his form in triple jump.

Senior support

MVHS athletes reflect on the mentorship they have received from older teammates
Anika Bhandarkar
May 27, 2024
I used to get incredibly nervous before races, putting far too much pressure on myself to perform well.

“You’re nervous because you care”

How I conquered my performance anxiety
Anika Bhandarkar
May 17, 2024
MVHS students' periods problems often impact their daily lives, disrupting their academic and athletic performances.

Menstrual madness

MVHS students share their experiences with their periods
Anika Bhandarkar
April 6, 2024
We must reinforce the idea of consent in everyday situations such as showing affection: not liking physical affection does not mean you care about someone any less.
Illustration | Anika Bhandarkar

High five, please

We must change how we view consent
Anika Bhandarkar
March 9, 2024
I have often let my fear of not perfecting a piano piece get in the way of practicing at all, causing a huge amount of stress in the weeks before competitions. Staying consistent and putting in just a little each day has massively helped my improvement and has helped me not burn out in the long term. Photo courtesy of Mangesh Bhandarkar | Used with permission

The price of perfection

When “perfect” is the enemy of “good”
Anika Bhandarkar
March 2, 2024
LGBTQ+ individuals should not be expected to come out — it can put an enormous mental and emotional strain on them and also reinforces heteronormative and cisnormative societal standards.

Coming out quietly

Members of the queer community should not be expected to come out
Anika Bhandarkar
January 28, 2024
Junior Clara Fun jumps to shoot the ball during a varsity girls' basketball game.

Hitting the breaking point

Examining how athletes at MVHS have experienced and overcome burnout within their sports
Anika Bhandarkar and Alyssa Yang
December 23, 2023
Culture plays a nuanced role in someone's identity, which is why we must take it into account before asking someone to share their political opinions.

Culture: the elephant (and donkey) in the room

We must consider people’s cultural values before asking them to share their political opinion
Anika Bhandarkar and Meggie Chen
December 6, 2023
During a pause in his live forging demonstration, blacksmith Lester Markarian explains the techniques he used to create a handle.

Forging demonstration lights up Baer Blacksmith Shop

Restored historical Cupertino shop holds monthly blacksmithing demonstration
Anika Bhandarkar and Alyssa Yang
November 28, 2023
Swearing must be destigmatized — teaching students not to swear purely because "swear words are bad" is ineffective and allows the harmful stereotypes behind some swear words and slurs to persist.

F— this

Rethinking how we approach swearing at school
Anika Bhandarkar
November 3, 2023
Tika, my brother, and I pose for a family photo. Photo courtesy of Mangesh Bhandarkar | Used with permission

Down memory lane

Learning to look at memories of my dog differently
Anika Bhandarkar
October 28, 2023
Local politics are just as important in the lives of MVHS students as federal news, if not more.

National concern, local impact

Why students should be involved in local politics
Anika Bhandarkar and April Wang
September 30, 2023
The pressure I put on myself to set personal records soon left me exhausted, and negatively impacted my relationship for running.

Overambition: the enemy of my improvement

How letting go of the time on the clock helped me run faster
Anika Bhandarkar
September 23, 2023
Students note that parental controls can sometimes feel overly restrictive, with 52% of MVHS students reporting that they feel dissatisfied with the controls on their device(s).

Under CTRL

Examining student and parent opinions on parental controls
The mentality that "the lighter you are, the better you perform" has woven its way into many sports, particularly endurance sports and performing arts.

Would I be faster if I were skinnier?

Rethinking how MVHS addresses body-image issues in sports
Anika Bhandarkar
May 8, 2023
Athletes participating in performing arts often feel pressured to be slimmer.

Trapped in the tape measure

Examining how beauty standards in performing arts impact MVHS athletes
Anika Bhandarkar
April 12, 2023
As a child, I was loud and extroverted, and wasn't affected by others' perceptions of me.

Unlikely inspiration

A lesson from 5-year-old me
Anika Bhandarkar
March 20, 2023
Graphic | Vincent Zhao

A gamble for love

How students plan to continue or end their relationships after high school
Anika Bhandarkar and Irene Tang
February 17, 2023
Deck of hearts

Deck of hearts

MVHS students and alumni play the love game
Senior Rohin Inani, who was the stand-in Boys Tennis coach during the 2021-22 season, serves a ball.

The search for spring sport coaching

Looking into the lack of coaching for the spring season
Anika Bhandarkar, Kathryn Foo, and Michelle Zheng
February 11, 2023
Sophomore Gehna Saini places the ornament gifted to her from her mother, on a Christmas tree.

Winter break traditions

Examining the traditions students and staff partake in over the winter holidays
Anika Bhandarkar and Megha Mummaneni
December 21, 2022
Students often stifle their curiosity surrounding sex due to fear or an unfamiliarity of talking about sex.

Arousing Curiosity

Examining how curiosity surrounding sex and sexual education affects the MVHS community
Anika Bhandarkar and Riya Murthy
November 17, 2022
Some musical terms and their meanings | Graphic by Anika Bhandarkar

The keys to passion

My experience with burnout
Anika Bhandarkar
November 5, 2022
Students in the stands cheer as MV Cheer performs a stunt.

Got spirit?

Examining the importance of camaraderie among students at MVHS
Anika Bhandarkar and Darpan Singh
October 12, 2022
Huichol earrings made by Hernandez. Photo by Adriana Hernandez | Used with permission.

Photo courtesy of Adriana Hernandez | Used with permission

Mental health first

Exploring how the MVHS community practices self-care
Anika Bhandarkar
October 11, 2022
Sophomore Jami Lim checks her schedule

Runaway of the bulls

Students and staff discuss the reasons for and the impacts of the cancellation of ROTB
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