Skip to Main Content
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

Mikaylah Du

Mikaylah Du, Design Editor

Mikaylah is currently a senior and a design editor for El Estoque. She is also an MV Debate officer and enjoys oil painting and reading in her free time.

All content by Mikaylah Du
An anonymous digitalized person looks at the screen.

Stranger danger

Discussing the safety of making friends over the internet
Mikaylah Du and Riya Murthy
June 1, 2023
Senior Adi Mellacheruvu swims in Boys 500-yard freestyle, placing fifth with a time of 6:29.11.

Swim falls to Los Gatos High School in the third meet of the season 221-114

Several matadors achieve CCS qualifying times despite loss
Mikaylah Du and Aidan Ruan
April 6, 2023
AI art has raised fears of human artists being replaced by machines.

A thin line

Exploring student and staff perspectives on artificial intelligence art
Mikaylah Du, Alan Tai, and Lillian Wang
March 12, 2023
Out of line

Out of line

Exploring how anger, sadness and loss can cause the lines of respect to disappear in the heat of the game
Basketball referee Scott Calvin calls a time out.

Setting the guideline

Exploring student athletes experiences with referees
Mikaylah Du and Riya Murthy
February 28, 2023
The finishing touch

The finishing touch

Exploring the role of makeup in sports
Mikaylah Du and Dahlia Schilling
December 22, 2022
Wrapped in green

Wrapped in green

Examining FUHSD’s Green Ribbon Schools application process
Mikaylah Du and Brandon Xu
November 16, 2022
Students and staff present conflicting opinions on whether or not the pandemic is truly over.

Is the pandemic over?

Exploring why people do or don't take precautions against COVID-19
Mikaylah Du and Megha Mummaneni
October 17, 2022
Via-Cupertino vans are wheelchair-accessible and have bike racks attached to the back.

Santa Clara via Via

Exploring the motivations and future goals for the expansion
Mikaylah Du and Alyssa Yang
October 13, 2022
A graphic illustrating the three philosophies MVHS aims to focus on to encourage equitable grading

MVHS aims to highlight equitable grading

Teachers are introduced to three core philosophies at staff professional development
The word "COLORS" is written in an explosive, rainbow font, depicting a theme similar to graffiti.

Colors

Delving into the colors of the rainbow
Colors of Cupertino

Colors of Cupertino

Revealing the glimpses of color throughout our community
Mikaylah Du
May 27, 2022
"We're here, we're queer, get used to it," was a common slogan used in the 90s during pride rallies.

One step forward, two steps back

Analyzing the impetus, implications and impacts of the recent uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the U.S.
Melody Cui and Mikaylah Du
May 9, 2022
The methods of communication that people use — voice pitch, voice tone and body language — can affect the way people perceive professionalism.

Subconscious communication

Exploring the effects of verbal and nonverbal communication in professional settings
Mikaylah Du and Angela Zhang
April 27, 2022

Man on the street: April Fools’ edition

Asking MVHS students incredibly serious questions on this incredibly serious occasion
Mikaylah Du and Shivani Madhan
April 1, 2022
Social media bites

Social media bites

Observing the issues with short-form activism posts
Mikaylah Du, Graphics editor
March 18, 2022
In the face of crime

In the face of crime

Examining the impact of crime and community reactions to it

How safe do you find Cupertino?

Observing community reactions to Cupertino crime
Mikaylah Du, Graphics Editor
February 12, 2022
The album cover for "Laurel Hell" features Mitski in red while white lightning bolts surround her

“Laurel Hell” diverges from prior releases

Mitski's sixth album experiments with unexplored themes
Mikaylah Du and Aashi Venkat
February 12, 2022
A list of the new workplace rules that went into effect on Jan. 6 2022.

[Photo] Safety in the workplace

Jisha Rajala, News Editor
February 4, 2022
Addressing climate change

Addressing climate change

Examining the approach to climate change on four different levels
Electric vehicle chargers make a positive impact

Electric vehicle chargers make a positive impact

Examining the impact of FUHSD’s installation of solar panels and car chargers
Lance Tong and Mikaylah Du
December 10, 2021
Man on the street: Should we celebrate Thanksgiving?

Man on the street: Should we celebrate Thanksgiving?

Discussing whether the holiday should be observed given its history
Mikaylah Du and Angela Zhang
November 25, 2021
Expressing love languages

Expressing love languages

Exploring how love languages play a role in the MVHS community
A small painting I did would not turn out right no matter what I tried, so I simply blurred it with a large brush and accepted it as it was.

Life imitates art

Analyzing how my relationship with art has affected my self-esteem
Mikaylah Du, Graphics Editor
October 28, 2021
Long-term substitute Stephanie Bodnaruk poses for a photo.

Matador family adds members to its ranks

New staff share more about where they're coming from and what brought them to MVHS
Metamorphosis — the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form

Letting go of my inner child

What my fear of growing up has taught me about change
Mikaylah Du, Graphics Editor
September 3, 2021
Athletes line up to get their QR badge scanned so they can enter the waiting room of the gym and receive a COVID test.

COVID-19 precautions in sports

Athletes are tested regularly, wear masks and distance when possible
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
May 21, 2021
Monta Vista defends against Homestead

Girls Basketball: Monta Vista loses to Homestead 43-35

Varsity loses its fifth game of the season
Devin Gupta, Irene Tang, and Mikaylah Du
May 2, 2021
There's often discussion about students and their situations, but what about the other side of the screen?

The other side

Exploring how teachers are coping with challenges during distance learning
Mikaylah Du, Staff writer
April 9, 2021
Graphic by Rachel Jiang

Plotting the Future

Examining course allocations at MVHS through the lens of declining enrollment

Part 1: The Problem

Investigating how declining student enrollment at MVHS has affected course allocation
Prisha Tiwari and Mikaylah Du
April 1, 2021
I gazed out the window that faces me every day.

What am I living for?

Reflecting on why I keep going every day
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
March 12, 2021
No Thanks

No Thanks

MVHS students who don't want relationships share their viewpoints
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
February 12, 2021
Love is in the air

Love is in the air

Exploring romance in the MVHS community through different facets
A digital drawing made by Olivia Tsui of her friend's character Finn.

“That’s not REAL art”

Exploring what is or isn't considered proper art
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
January 26, 2021

A COVID celebration

Exploring what MVHS students and their families did for Thanksgiving
Mikaylah Du, staff writer
December 5, 2020
Spotify's 2020 wrapped allows students and staff to reflect on their past year in music

All wrapped up

Discovering the stories behind the songs and artists students and teachers listened to most in 2020
Anushka De, Mikaylah Du, and Shivani Verma
December 5, 2020
Permanent Resident: Immigration at MVHS

Permanent Resident: Immigration at MVHS

Following the immigration journeys of MVHS students and parents
Sophomore Brooke Frei sits in front of her trans pride flag.

Coming out

Exploring what it means to express oneself
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
October 11, 2020
Activism

Activism

Exploring the journeys of student, teacher and alumni activists.

Meeting while miles apart

Exploring the world of online friendships
Mikaylah Du, Staff Writer
September 12, 2020
Load More Stories