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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

Sophia Chen

Sophia Chen, Copy Editor

Sophia Chen is currently a senior and a copy editor on El Estoque. She enjoys running and playing basketball. In her free time, she watches YouTube. She recently started to listen to podcasts, including The Bright Sessions, Paradoxica, TANIS and The Magnus Archives.

All content by Sophia Chen
Trashing Our School

Trashing Our School

Exploring the different ways trash affects the MVHS community
Like father, like daughter

Like father, like daughter

How my dad inspired my love for sports
Sophia Chen
May 24, 2022
To all the sports I've done before: Track

To all the sports I’ve done before: Track

How I learned to accept not being the best at every sport I’ve done
Sophia Chen
May 24, 2022

Man on the street: Are there more wheels or doors in the world?

The MVHS community weighs in on this polarizing discourse
Sophia Chen and Shivani Verma
May 3, 2022
One of the two bottle recycling bins the Environmental Science implemented resides in the gym. Photo by Sophia Chen

Sorting trash

Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
April 14, 2022
Senior Sophia Chen attempts the final shot during the CCS Quarterfinals game against Evergreen Valley High School. Photo by Anna Jerolimov

To all the sports I’ve done before: Basketball

How I learned to pour my heart into the game
Sophia Chen
April 19, 2022
Bay Area’s rent prices climb during COVID-19

Bay Area’s rent prices climb during COVID-19

How the pandemic has impacted rent, eviction and housing legislation in Cupertino
Sophia Chen and Matthew Yoshimoto
April 9, 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
Race in Sports

Race in Sports

Exploring the different facets of race in sports
Two people hold a basketball with a projected American flag.

Examining racism in sports

Looking into how racial microaggressions and bias affect student athletes
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
February 18, 2022
Junior Sophia Chen runs at her first cross country meet at Los Altos High School during the 2021 cross country season.

To all the sports I’ve done before: Cross country

How I learned to enjoy sports without pressure
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
January 11, 2022
Graphic by Sophia Ma and Irene Tang

Winter Sports

Exploring the different winter sports MV students play
Expressing love languages

Expressing love languages

Exploring how love languages play a role in the MVHS community
Spending quality time

Spending quality time

Observing how people prioritize and spend time with loved ones
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
October 29, 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
Club leaders share their objectives for the 2021-2022 school year

Club leaders share their objectives for the 2021-2022 school year

Exploring what’s in store for clubs as MVHS returns to in-person learning
Juniors taking the CAASPP take a lunch break after their first math testing session on May 12. Photo by Sophia Chen

CAASPP testing during COVID-19

Examining the logistics behind in-person standardized testing
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
May 20, 2021
Hybrid students reflect on the return to in-person school

Hybrid students reflect on the return to in-person school

Examining the positive aspects and drawbacks of being part of the students who chose to return to school
Sophia Chen and Jefferson Le
May 16, 2021
FUHSD schools shift to hybrid learning

FUHSD schools shift to hybrid learning

Exploring the recent shift to hybrid learning within the district
Cultural melodies

Cultural melodies

Looking into three different MVHS students who play traditional instruments
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
April 3, 2021
The 5 Senses of Culture

The 5 Senses of Culture

Delving into the sensory facets of cultures present at MVHS
Nine songs that capture the different shades of love

Valen-tunes for Valentine’s Day

Nine songs that capture the different shades of love
Sophia Chen and Shivani Verma
February 14, 2021
Nostalgia revisited

Nostalgia revisited

Returning to childhood roots amidst a pandemic
Sophia Chen, Krish Dev, Leanna Sun, and Brian Xu
February 9, 2021
Reminiscing about stuffed animals

Reminiscing about stuffed animals

Examining student sentiments towards childhood toys
Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
February 7, 2021
Books that I've read throughout my childhood. Photo by Sophia Chen

Fantasy vs. Reality

Sophia Chen, Copy Editor
January 8, 2021
Junior Sophia Chen arranges all her Sharks merch on her door to show her commitment to the team. Photo Courtesy of Sophia Chen | Used with permission

[Photo] This is Sharks Territory

Prisha Tiwari, Staff Writer
November 6, 2020
Graphic by Sophia Chen

A throwback to childhood trends

Students reminisce on nostalgic toys and trends from their childhood from the past two decades
Sophia Chen and Suraj Gangaram
October 30, 2020
An emerging alternative

An emerging alternative

Examining opinions surrounding community college in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increase in community college enrollment
Michelle Chen and Sophia Chen
October 26, 2020
College in COVID-19

College in COVID-19

Exploring the various ways the pandemic affects colleges and the application process
Zoom school replaces in-person learning during pandemic

Zoom school replaces in-person learning during pandemic

Examining various perspectives about instruction through a screen
Merch madness

Merch madness

Exploring four types of merchandise on campus
Cure Cancer Cruise 2020 Preparations

Cure Cancer Cruise 2020 Preparations

How five different committees collaborated to plan the annual Octagon cancer fundraiser event
Sophia Chen, Lance Tong, and Annie Zhang
March 28, 2020
Illustration by Iman Malik. This is a fishbowl that represents a fishbowl discussion. The six other fish are talking while one of them is lonely.

Speaking up: How teachers work with students with speech anxiety

Teachers explain their ways of dealing with student anxiety when speaking in class
Sophia Chen and Alyssa Hui
March 11, 2020

50 Questions with I-Chu Chang

In the seventh installment of the recurring series, El Estoque asks I-Chu Chang 50 questions about herself
Sophia Chen and Annie Zhang
January 28, 2020
Athletic trainer Javier Margarito uses traditional Chinese medicine techniques, such as cupping, on students.

Holistic healing: Students and staff share their experiences with traditional Chinese medicine

Exploring how MVHS staff and students implement Chinese medicine techniques
Alyssa Hui and Sophia Chen
January 10, 2020
Numbing the Pain: Looking into the non-prescription pain medication use in student athletes

Numbing the Pain: Looking into the non-prescription pain medication use in student athletes

Different MVHS athletes share their experiences with over-the-counter pain medication
Sophia Chen and Lance Tong
November 22, 2019
Sophomore Marcella Fowlkes prepares to bat. Photo used with the permission of Marcella Fowlkes

Left-Handed Athletes

How being left-handed affects athletes in their athletic career
Anjali Singh and Sophia Chen
November 5, 2019
Seeds of Tranquility: Investigating the growth of Tranquil Tuesday

Seeds of Tranquility: Investigating the growth of Tranquil Tuesday

Looking into the creation of the self-care initiative and thoughts from Tranquil Tuesday volunteers and participants
Sophia Chen, Staff Writer
October 30, 2019
@mvathletics: Athletic director uses Instagram to provide information and promote teams

@mvathletics: Athletic director uses Instagram to provide information and promote teams

Exploring athletic director and MVHS student perspectives on the @mvathletics Instagram page
Sophia Chen, Staff Writer
October 23, 2019
Defining Success

Defining Success

How teams measure success besides winning
Rucha Soman and Sophia Chen
September 27, 2019
Senior Tarun Sarang breaks a tackle and runs the ball across the forty-yard line towards the endzone.  Despite numerous plays for big yardage, MVHS still could not score, even when at the doorstep of the endzone.  Photo by Lance Tong.

Football: MVHS falls 32-6 against Mills HS

A promising start to the Matador’s first home game ends in an overwhelming defeat
Lance Tong, Sophia Chen, and Kamyar Moradi
September 7, 2019
MV cheer presents their routines at James Logan High School for feedback from the judges to gain experience. Photos by Roshan Fernandez, Akshara Majjiga and Om Khandekar

The disappearance of the Monta Vista Cheer Team

Students react to the Yell Team as a replacement for MV Cheer
Beyond the district

Beyond the district

How the senior privilege policy affects those who utilize it
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