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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

Zara Iqbal

Zara Iqbal, Copy Editor

Zara Iqbal is currently a senior and copy editor for El Estoque.

All content by Zara Iqbal
“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” grows in popularity

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” grows in popularity

Discussing the traction Nintendo’s newest game has gained
Zara Iqbal and Emily Xia
May 21, 2020
Brief history of dalgona coffee

Brief history of dalgona coffee

A timeline on how the beverage became popular across the world
Zara Iqbal, Staff writer
May 2, 2020
COVID-19 news coverage

COVID-19 news coverage

In-depth coverage of COVID-19 at every level
Shelter-in-place notification for Santa Clara County

The importance of the shelter-in-place order

How different members of the MVHS community are following the guidelines
Zara Iqbal and Michelle Chen
April 10, 2020
Why COVID-19 is more concerning than other respiratory diseases

Why COVID-19 is more concerning than other respiratory diseases

Summary of the severity behind the coronavirus
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
March 22, 2020
Bridging cultures

Bridging cultures

Looking at staff responses to working with students from different backgrounds
Jasmine Lee and Zara Iqbal
March 11, 2020
TikTok user Haley Sharpe performs her choreography to Doja Cat's "Say So" in her official music video.

TikTok deserves the hype it gets

While teens on TikTok may be seen as “cringey,” they’re actually incredibly creative
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
March 1, 2020
Korean-pop group BTS broke into the American music industry the past couple years

Xenophobia in the music industry

Entertainment award shows discriminate against non-English speaking artists
Zara Iqbal and Claire Yang
February 7, 2020
A man protests the Iraq War in 2008 in the streets of San Francisco

Anti-Muslim rhetoric in American media will grow due to escalated tensions with Iran

The war in Iran will fuel islamophobia in the U.S.
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
January 27, 2020
Illustration | Claire Yang

#NoMoreLikes

Taking away likes on Instagram is beneficial to our mental health
Michelle Chen and Zara Iqbal
December 20, 2019
Junior Frank Liu looks up the field to try and pass the ball.

Boys Soccer: Monta Vista draws with Hillsdale HS 2-2

MVHS takes two different leads, but allows two goals ending in a tie
Lance Tong, Sreya Kumar, and Zara Iqbal
December 18, 2019
Photo illustration | Zara Iqbal

Inkbox

The recent rise in popularity of semi-permanent tattoos
Anish Vasudevan and Zara Iqbal
November 23, 2019
The effects of toxic masculinity in a high school environment

The effects of toxic masculinity in a high school environment

Individuals share experiences and perspectives on the popular phrase
Zara Iqbal, Sreya Kumar, and Jasmine Lee
November 15, 2019
Field hockey: Matadors end their season with a 2-0 loss

Field hockey: Matadors end their season with a 2-0 loss

The team celebrates seniors after last game against Palo Alto HS
Sreya Kumar, Zara Iqbal, and Lance Tong
November 8, 2019
Pokémon HearGold was the first Pokémon game I played on the DSi.

Gotta catch ’em all

I reflect on my long-lasting love for the Pokémon franchise
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
October 23, 2019
Asanuma spoons himself the shoyu (soy sauce) on his dango.

Officers of Japanese Club illustrate what ‘dango’ means in Japanese tradition

The club serves sweet rice dumpling balls for its first food event
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
October 8, 2019
J-Hope and Becky G release "Chicken Noodle Soup," a remake of the 2006 release.

J-Hope and Becky G release addictive remake of hip-hop track “Chicken Noodle Soup”

The significance of the two artists’ reinterpretation of the 2006 hit
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
September 30, 2019
Sold out: Reactions to the new Popeyes chicken sandwich

Sold out: Reactions to the new Popeyes chicken sandwich

Students respond to the hype around Popeyes new menu item
Zara Iqbal and Alyssa Hui
September 27, 2019
On Feb. 26, Jonas tweets "Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces," expressing support for the Indian Army. “Jai Hind” is a patriotic slogan in Hindi that roughly translates to “Hail India” or “Victory to India.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas problematically expresses support for Indian Army as UNICEF Ambassador

Why I was disappointed to find the actress approving of the war between Pakistan and India
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
September 8, 2019
Construction goes on over the summer at Homestead HS.

Measure CC in effect

How bond funds are being used for construction throughout the district
Celebrating Spotlite: A showcase of Indian culture

Celebrating Spotlite: A showcase of Indian culture

The cultural significance of Spotlite on the MVHS community
Jai Uparkar and Zara Iqbal
May 31, 2019
In the shadows of power

In the shadows of power

Exploring how the minority is kept in silence
Glorified victimization

Glorified victimization

Privileged individuals shouldn’t try to act oppressed
Zara Iqbal, Copy editor
May 5, 2019
Senior Etsuka Tomonaga and sophomore Remi Nakai flash a pose in the middle of the choreography.

Getting into the Groove: Japanese Club prepares a dance for Culture Night

Japanese club continues to practice their routine despite facing obstacles
Emily Xia and Zara Iqbal
April 12, 2019
Why it’s impossible to stop procrastinating

Why it’s impossible to stop procrastinating

We don’t procrastinate because of laziness but because of our emotional state
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
March 31, 2019
To err is human, to forgive divine

To err is human, to forgive divine

How I learned to be more compassionate towards others
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
March 14, 2019
Finding happiness

Finding happiness

Why we should be placing emphasis on our mental well-being
The pressure behind prom

The pressure behind prom

People shouldn’t feel bad about not wanting to go to prom
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
March 2, 2019
The changes in our community

The changes in our community

Contrasting population growth in Cupertino and lack of enrollment at MVHS
After about 15 minutes, the yakisoba is done and served in bowls, along with disposable chopsticks.

A taste from home: Japanese club prepares yakisoba for its members

The officers of Japanese club make a traditional Japanese dish
Emily Xia and Zara Iqbal
January 27, 2019
China currently holding Muslims in “re-education camps”

China currently holding Muslims in “re-education camps”

Society and the media aren’t paying enough attention to the Muslims being detained in internment camps
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
January 19, 2019
New year, same me

New year, same me

The ideology behind creating New Year’s resolutions make them hard to achieve
Zara Iqbal and Flora Peng
January 12, 2019
WiSTEM officers discuss their plans for Bay Area Research Exposition this year

WiSTEM officers discuss their plans for Bay Area Research Exposition this year

WiSTEM’s participation in BARE, an exposition in which students create a project in response to a scientific prompt
Zara Iqbal
December 17, 2018
Winter holidays

Winter holidays

MVHS individuals discuss different aspects of the holiday season
Photo used courtesy of Creative Commons

Behind the scream: What students think of horror movies

MVHS students’ views on horror movies
Claire Yang and Zara Iqbal
November 21, 2018
Junior Hannah Cho smiles as she sings her favorite Japanese songs.

Japanese Club and Japanese National Honor Society karaoke meeting

Presidents of Japanese Club and Japanese National Honor Society share their perspectives on the joint meeting and purposes of their clubs
Zara Iqbal and Emily Xia
November 20, 2018
Reproductive Rights

Reproductive Rights

Exploring reproductive rights through time, culture and student opinions
Lava lamps in Erlenmeyer Flasks

Lava lamps in Erlenmeyer Flasks

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics holds first lab of the year
Zara Iqbal and Ruth Feng
October 19, 2018
An Ex-perfectionist

An Ex-perfectionist

How I realized being a perfectionist was negatively affecting my life
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
October 7, 2018
Stan Twitter culture

Stan Twitter culture

Students share their perspectives on the benefits and the shortcomings of stan Twitter culture
Zara Iqbal and Claire Yang
September 15, 2018
A change of pace at ROTB

A change of pace at ROTB

Administration discuss the reason behind the absence of counselors at ROTB
Reputations: El Estoque

Reputations: El Estoque

MVHS students reveal their thoughts on El Estoque
Zara Iqbal and Jennie Chen
May 23, 2018
Ignorance is bliss

Ignorance is bliss

People unaffected by societal issues are satisfied with staying ignorant about them
Zara Iqbal, Opinion editor
May 20, 2018
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