THE INTERLAKE INQUIRER
The Official Student Newspaper of Interlake High School
The Impact on Education
During a Global Pandemic
By Gauri Gupta
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on education around the world, forcing many schools to switch to online platforms. As a result, education has changed dramatically with the rise of remote learning. Usually, traditional academic education is commonly been associated with teachers lecturing in a classroom while students take notes and pose questions. However, since schools have been operating remotely, many questions have arisen regarding whether or not this system offers the same value as learning in a classroom.
With only three to four hours of live instruction each day, teachers have to condense their lesson plans and rush through content in order to complete coverage of curricula on time. This can result in students feeling rushed while trying to comprehend all the information being presented to them. Students will feel pressured to immediately understand and apply everything being taught. However, due to the lack of direct, hands-on engagement during live sessions, it is much more challenging to assimilate all the information being presented. Students feel that they are learning very little from their classes and instead “self-learning” through pages of assignments and online resources during online school. This can often cause students to feel unmotivated after hours of doing tedious schoolwork. One Interlake student stated that they “have felt the need to self-teach a lot of content in order to prepare for AP and IB, since we only have a few classes of each subject, which is really stressful.”
The lack of structure in remote learning can pose challenges to the academic success of students. In a physical classroom, there is a predetermined schedule that all teachers and students are expected to follow. Although there are due dates for assignments in online school, many students lack the motivation to turn things in on time. This can have a detrimental effect on the learning process, as many students aren’t engaging with the curriculum and classroom activities as actively as they would have normally. In addition, the environment at home is much different from the workspace students have at school. A classroom provides a quiet academic place to do work, while a household can be loud and cause students to lose focus.
The social-emotional growth of students has also been dramatically affected by the switch to online school. Student-to-student interaction would’ve allowed students to share their ideas on various subjects with each other as well as to ask and seek help from their peers. In-person group activities teaches students how to attempt tasks that may not be able to be accomplished by an individual by combining a variety of skills and expertise in order to tackle more complex and large-scale problems. Many Interlake students agreed that “understanding things becomes much easier in school, since we can always ask our classmates when we have questions or need help with something. It’s much easier to reason through problems with others and help each other out that way, as the teacher is not always available to help.” Although many educators are incorporating different ways to simulate small-group work online, such as break-out rooms, it ends up backfiring, as students are often reluctant to turn on their cameras and engage with their peers virtually. The artificial environment of online group projects can make collaboration very difficult and awkward. Furthermore, apart from the academic benefits of collaborating and discussing with your classmates, the mere presence of others can have a positive impact on the mental health of many students. As one student puts it, “just being able to see your friends and spend time with them can really help to deal with the stress of school and overall work.”
Despite all the disadvantages of online learning and the negative effects it has on the learning process, remote learning has many benefits as well. The increased flexibility allows students to work through assignments at their own pace without the pressure to keep up with other students. If some challenging or abstract concepts are being taught, students can easily go back and review any readings, notes, recordings, or activities to help the material stick with them. This is not often possible in a physical classroom. Even if it happens to be late at night, you have access to class materials to review and reinforce information, making it much easier to quickly find what you’re looking for rather than going through pages of unorganized assignments. This advantage helps students review challenging concepts.
Online school also teaches students important virtues such as self-discipline and time management. Without the commitment to attend physical classes at a brick-and-mortar location, remote learning forces you to learn self-discipline by managing your time and tasks. With the switch to Teams, many students started to use online planners and time management tools, which are lifelong skills that can be applied beyond school. Learning to work independently and reach out to others whenever you need help is another important skill that students have picked up through remote learning.
Ultimately, remote learning has had an undeniably major impact on students and education. While many can agree that online learning isn’t ideal, it’s important to realize and appreciate all the important life-skills being taught, such as independence, flexibility, and discipline. Remote learning has also given us extra time to do the things that we enjoy. Sophomore Sayana Isaac said, “Online school has allowed me to find more opportunities to get involved in. I have started to volunteer with local activism groups, which I find really exciting.”
Online school will not last forever, so might as well take advantage of this time for personal growth. Once schools reopen, you will be well-prepared and well-rested, ready to take your place as a successful member of the Interlake community!
GO SAINTS
By Peter Lee
2020 was a difficult year for all school districts. Throughout the Bellevue District, many members of the student body have struggled to adjust to this new environment in terms of being able to manage their work as well as their emotions. With fewer opportunities for social activities, students may struggle to maintain both their mental and physical health as well as motivation. Not only have students been hindered from academic success, but also sports clubs and athletes have been hit especially hard due to the cancellation and postponement of sports seasons.
Even though some sports are coming back temporarily, all students are required to wear a mask at all times, which affects the gameplay and performance of every individual. Many events involving large numbers of people have been canceled, leading to the deterioration of hope and motivation in players.
In response to this issue, I was able to interview a few athletes on how the pandemic has affected them socially, mentally, and physically. Josh Yeh, a sophomore who is in Junior Varsity Tennis, said that he has “always used tennis as a way to connect with [his] friends and meet new people and every year it was something to look forward to after a long day at school.” However, due to the many safety precautions, he “feels like [he’s] stuck in [his] house all day without being able to connect with [his] hobbies and friends.”
Another athlete named Ishaan Venkat, a cross country runner in Interlake, said that the “coronavirus has affected [him] both academically and in [his] sport. After some time, [he] lost [his] motivation to run, as there were no friends to interact with during the run.” Not only was there loneliness due to widespread social distancing and isolation, but he was also saddened that “entire seasons had been canceled. With no races to look forward to, all of the rewards that were received from running countless hours had been taken away.”
Sports require a great deal of commitment. Students especially regard it as an outlet for release from stress as well as a way to improve physical wellbeing. So what can athletes do to keep themselves in shape during these trying times?
Athletes need to adapt to tough conditions and stay motivated. Despite the emotional and physical impacts from lack of activity, many athletes were able to stay in shape. Providing more insight to the various approaches made by athletes, Josh stated that he “doesn’t have 24/7 access to a safe mode of transportation, and [he] was unable to go to any gyms.” Therefore, Josh kept a strong mentality by performing home workouts. He “jump roped for at least 3-4 days a week in order to keep in shape.”
As Ishaan is very passionate about running, he responded, “Regardless of all the obstacles, I like to go outside get some exercise. If I’m not running outside, I’ll do workouts at home or bike on the trails.” Ishaan explains that “keeping in shape is really important because with the season right around the corner and practices starting once again, [he] wants to be at a faster pace than [he] was last year, otherwise [he] risks losing the speed that [he] worked so hard for.” Without the proper conditioning, athletes can become depleted in their stamina and strength, which makes daily exercise a necessity in keeping shape and relieving stress from academics and other activities.
The passion of many of the athletes towards their sport caused the pandemic to become a bit more bearable. However, there are many ways to train and prepare for upcoming sports events, especially through home workouts as well as socially distant group training. As the skills of an athlete can easily diminish without any training, it is important to keep active in order to stay healthy and prepared for action once all sports officially open.
Test Taking Tips & Tricks
By Zoya Merakov
Spring is here! The season brings the sight of newly bloomed flowers, the rich scent of rain after a storm, and beloved holidays like Easter and Passover. Unfortunately, with all of these lovely things comes something that most students dread: exam season. Whether it be an AP test, the Smarter Balance Assessments, or a huge final given by your teacher, these studying tips and tricks from professionals and some of our Interlake Saints will for sure help you ace the tests.
Before you start your studying journey, make sure that your workspace is clean and has everything you need. That way, you can avoid getting up and getting things later on. Ben Wright, the CEO and founder of Thrive Global, notes in an article titled Why a Clean Workspace is Good for your Mental Health that “people who work in a cluttered environment usually suffer from unrecognized stress and may feel overwhelmed by always having to search for documents [among] piles of clutter or navigat[ing] a dirty desktop.” Although this regards workplaces, it also applies to study spaces at home. This means that you should be trying to keep only essential things in your study space. These items can include a snack, a charger, water, highlighters, a pencil, or anything else you may require to study successfully. Cleaning up right after studying also makes it easier to get started the next time.
It’s always been hard to focus while studying, especially right now, with phones being only an arm’s reach away from study spaces. Some people leave their phones in another room and are able to avoid thinking about it for at least a couple of hours. However, most students find themselves leaving their study space to check their phones after a couple minutes of attempting to study. The Forest app is a great way to ensure that you’re not robotically scrolling through social media instead of studying. Forest works by having you select a tree that will only grow if you stay on the tab. If you decide to go on another app, Forest urgently reminds you to go back to the app unless you want your tree to die. You can also select time increments on the app, such as working for thirty minutes before being able to go on your phone for five minutes. Forest is free on Android and costs $1.99 on IOS.
Furthermore, in a poll given to Interlake Saints, many students disclosed that some of their favorite ways to limit procrastinating is to have a reward in mind that they will receive at the end of working. An anonymous student wrote that “it really helps when I know I’ll get a piece of candy or something else I really like when I don’t feel like studying, because wanting the candy makes me want to get studying done and out of the way.”
In an interview conducted with one of our very own ASB officers, Priyal Shah shared her favorite study methods: “I like studying for thirty minutes, then getting a break for five minutes. That also helps me with procrastinating because I feel like I deserve to go on my phone for those five minutes instead of the thirty. It’s also nice to study with a partner or a group online because we can talk about concepts, and we can quiz each other on the info. I usually like to know the info well enough that I can explain it to someone else.” The concept of studying and taking breaks in increments is known as the Pomodoro Method, in which you repeat these increments for however long you need. Four times is generally the standard amount.
During the interview, Priyal was also asked to give some test-taking tips and tricks that she wished she knew earlier. She said, “I honestly wish I knew about the thirty-minute-study and five-minute-break method because I didn’t do that freshman year, and it’s really been helping me out this year. Before tests, I pored over all my notes and read everything at once. Now I know how to prioritize info and make timelines and checklists when I need to get something done. It really helps to reread your notes periodically, so it sticks in your head better, instead of all at once before a test.”
Worried about an AP or an IB test? Joey Radu, a writer for College Covered and a tutor who helps students with AP tests says to take a break from reading and highlighting your notes by gaming. Radu says that “the gamification of learning has been underway for a while now, yielding excellent, readily accessible resources for students. These games work—when they marry good game design with strong educational content.” Joey Radu recommends checking out Quizlet, Khan Academy, and Habitca because they have helpful study and practice questions in their games.
Additionally, Lisa Shoyhin, a senior here at Interlake, gave some of her IB test taking tips as well. Lisa shares, “I wish I had known to be prepared for questions that I’ve never seen before. You have to think on your feet. I would recommend looking back on previous tests that your teacher has given you, so you can see the format of the questions you might come across. Writing everything down on a separate piece of paper before taking the test helped me on the Spanish IB exam because I could feel confident about my work and mess around on the paper before having a final answer on the test.” Lisa also notes that you can usually keep IB test packets for studying purposes later.
From keeping a clean workspace to using the Forest app to trying out the Pomodoro method to incorporating games into your study session, these test taking tips and tricks will help you get the grades you deserve on your exams. Remember that it’s okay if your grades aren’t the best right now. Just try your best and know that a score on a test doesn’t define you. Keep working hard, Saints!
Concoction Creativity
By Andrew Lee
During this time of crisis, there is nothing more unifying than food. Cooking and eating innovative dishes strengthen our creativity, our friendships, and our community ties. Food allows people around globe to interact and grow together. As we spend more time indoors, how have our food making endeavors developed?
While in quarantine, many novice cooks have been exploring various cuisines, bringing light to impressively delicious creative dishes. There has been a large influx of food-related posts on social media as a result of the hard work of many home cooks. From homemade sandwiches and pizza to delectable desserts such as cookies and cake, home cooks have vastly diversified their food choices during quarantine.
How about the Interlake community? What kinds of new dishes have people at our school created or consumed during remote learning?
I spoke to Ms. Fischer, an AP World History and IB Psychology teacher, about the types of dishes she has at home. Ms. Fischer recalled that “some new tasty dishes I have tried making include this spicy sesame noodle dish with peanuts and this broccoli dish with feta, tomatoes, and lemon.” Ms. Fischer also added interesting spins on dishes she already makes by “upping [her] nacho game and [getting] a lot more creative with what [she] put[s] in them—vegetables, pineapple, scallions.” Ms. Fischer shared that “at least once a week, I eat a new type. Nachos are super delicious and really easy to make.” These tasty delicacies and this terrific hobby help pass the time, keeping Ms. Fischer and many others happy and content despite the current challenges.
I also spoke to Interlake juniors Saketh Akella and Aayush Verma to learn about the different foods students have made or eaten during quarantine. Saketh reported, “I haven’t been eating out at restaurants. Instead, I’ve been eating a lot of what my mom has made for me, which are various traditional Indian foods.” He further stated he had grown overly fond of junk food, often snacking on “Ritz crackers and sharp cheddar cheese.” It is certainly easy to get addicted to these convenient treats in our pantries.
On the other hand, Aayush said, “I’ve been eating at fast food places often during the holiday season. I liked going to Chick-fil-A. My favorite is their club sandwiches.” In terms of homemade food, Aayush “I really liked eating a lot of soup, especially this tasty tomato soup recipe [he] found online. It was very fitting with the times.”
Everyone has had unique experiences with food during the quarantine. What are some of yours?
Standardized Testing:
Will We or Won’t We?
By Lydia Bae
For decades, standardized testing has been both a blessing and curse for millions of high school students around the world. Every year, many students sign up for a host of AP, IB, and SAT exams meant to demonstrate their proficiency to colleges. In the months of May and June, Interlake students often spend hours with their faces buried in books, reviewing long-forgotten concepts and solving endless practice problems. Even summers aren’t exempt from test-related stress, as high schoolers would wait with bated breath for results to come out.
During the pandemic, this long-standing tradition changed. All of a sudden, having thousands of students sitting just a few feet away from each other became an unacceptable risk. The rapid switch to remote learning ensured that many classrooms could not function effectively and therefore were unable to fully cover AP and/or IB curriculum. CollegeBoard and the International Baccalaureate responded by cancelling all in-person exams. AP exams were significantly altered in order to make them shorter and more well-suited to remote test-taking. Instead of crowding into brightly lit gyms and cafeterias to take hours-long tests and slave over timed essays, students sat in front of their computers at home and raced to submit their work before the site shut down.
At the time, these changes were understood to be a temporary adaptation to a pandemic that would soon be resolved. That has clearly not been the case. As of February 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc on our everyday lives. Though vaccines have been created, limitations on transportation and manufacturing have hindered herd immunity, and new strains of COVID have emerged from various countries. Additionally, students will likely be one of the last groups to receive the vaccinations. As a result, it is likely that the pandemic will continue to impact standardized testing this year.
In late January, CollegeBoard announced its decision to cancel both the essay portion of the SAT and the SAT subject tests. This was a largely unexpected development, though not an implausible one, considering the bout of tests that have been delayed time and time again in addition to the declining profitability of the essay and the tests. As for Interlake students specifically, it has been tentatively announced that IB exams are cancelled. Teachers have largely switched gears to focus on the few assessments that remain, such as the Extended Essay and the Historical Investigation. However, AP tests appear to be proceeding normally. CollegeBoard stated that “AP will offer schools additional options to ensure all students can be tested across multiple dates” if socially distancing is still necessary in May.
Unsurprisingly, many high-schoolers are anxious about these changes. One student is concerned about potential disadvantages that those who have never taken any SAT subject tests might face in college admissions. Another is pessimistic about the chances of a physical AP test. On the other hand, one student is also relieved that so many of their tests are cancelled.
It is clear that standardized testing will not be the same this year. Even for Interlake, the number of students registered for AP and IB tests ensure that any attempt to institute in-person testing faces the risk of creating a super-spreader event—something made even more dangerous with the deadlier strains of the virus. Even in the future, perhaps standardized testing will not return to the pre-pandemic status quo, as test-administering companies have been hit hard by the virus. Nevertheless, as seen by the efforts of CollegeBoard and IB, standardized testing is not likely to disappear entirely.
A New Take on the Current Pandemic:
Interlake from a Counselor’s
Point of View
By Rohak Jain
As the current coronavirus pandemic continues to outlast our trying attempts for normalcy, we continue to seek aid and assistance from loved ones and close acquaintances. However, an underrated aspect of this support system is school counselors, who determinedly seek to better the emotional stability and academic performance of their students. Amidst these unprecedented circumstances, Interlake counselors have made great efforts to reach students virtually, despite being socially distant from them. The commendable endeavors of these support systems should not go unnoticed, which is why I interviewed Ms. Jensvold, a counselor at Interlake who shared her personal experiences and struggles with the difficult situation at hand.
One of the most critical roles of a counselor is to consistently work with their students in regard to their personal and social development as well as helping them reach their academic goals. When I asked Ms. Jensvold about how her role might have changed during this chaotic time, she responded by saying that her main responsibilities remain the same, although she understands that “many students are struggling with motivation” and feel “less in control of their education.” By highlighting the clear disconnect between student learning and a demanding amount of academic coursework, Ms. Jensvold expresses her deep-seated regret for the constant uncertainty and emotional turbulence that the Interlake Community has to endure. More importantly, Ms. Jensvold emphasized missing regular interactions with her students, as she does not think that “Teams meetings will ever measure up to seeing students every day in person, even when cameras are on.” Ms. Jensvold’s longing for student interaction on a more meaningful level is echoed throughout the teaching community, where educators and counselors alike struggle to cope with online learning.
Although the remoteness of online learning has heavily limited the one-on-one time that counselors cherish, there are upsides to this situation that deserve to be noted. For instance, when I asked Ms. Jensvold about how often she gets to interact with her students, she said that she remains “grateful for the connections” she has made with them, even though “misses being able to see [them] in person.” Additionally, Ms. Jensvold went on to note that many students “are struggling with the stress and social isolation that comes with school” while others “have [gradually] adapted well to their Teams classes.” Although the initial uncertainty caused by the pandemic aroused a noticeable feeling of unease regarding the future, Ms. Jensvold’s uplifting comments surrounding the current situation reveal the admirable resilience of students, educators, and counselors alike. From small conversations to lengthy online meetings, counselors have found unique ways to support the student community, an effort that certainly merits attention and commendation.
Though the first semester of online school has taken us to great extents of isolation, anxiety, and frustration, there is hope on the horizon, which is something that needs to be acknowledged now more than ever.
How Are Musical Groups
Performing During COVID-19?
By Sayana Isaac
Many high schoolers at Interlake are very involved in music, whether it is at school or in an outside organization. Band, orchestra, and choir are all very popular electives. Students often stick with their respective music programs for all four years of high school. However, COVID-19 has made it immensely difficult to practice and perform music. Conductors and directors from Washington have had to adapt to online music, and although it has presented difficulties, it has also proved to be very rewarding.
In the spring, music teachers and conductors are usually busy working on spring performances, which students often consider the highlight of the school year. Here are some ways in which musical ensembles and organizations are working to showcase their musical talents virtually this year:
At Interlake High School, Paul Gillespie (one of the band directors) has been working hard to be able to produce performances in an all-online setting. He has already created a recording of Interlake’s school theme song, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” The track was compiled completely from individual audio tracks recorded by band students from all across Bellevue. Similarly, Interlake's orchestra program virtually recorded “A Whole New World,” which is also well-produced and very creative. While interviewing Mr. Gillespie, he shared that he would like to “create a collection of shared music, specifically chamber music” in the future. Mr. Gillespie also described how he was looking forward to second semester, since he thinks that it can be a valuable opportunity to “put behind us some of the learning difficulties and get into some more large projects.” It looks like Interlake is doing a great job adapting to online music learning!
Visit this playlist to watch Interlake High School’s virtual Winter Concert, which includes recordings of “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “A Whole New World.”
Many high schoolers at Interlake are also involved in youth orchestras, such as the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) and the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO).
In Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, students of different skill levels were asked to learn and master three pieces of music. After meeting twelve times for one and a half hours, these young musicians individually recorded their pieces. With the help of many hardworking SYSO staff members, these individual clips were compiled into a large, beautiful performance.
Visit this link to watch Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra’s virtual recordings, featuring music by Tchaikovsky, Verdi, and Rimsky-Korsakov!
In Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, young musicians were encouraged to learn and submit clips of themselves playing different pieces of music as well. Students from eleven ensembles (with each ensemble recording their own music) submitted individual recordings. When the videos were edited together, the final product consisted of some amazing music! Many of these pieces of music almost sound as if they were actually performed live, which makes it all even more inspiring.
Visit this channel to watch Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's virtual recordings from January!
At Interlake, high school musicians have done a fantastic job demonstrating their musical talents, even though these circumstances are very different from what we are all accustomed to. Through these online performances, high school musicians have set a very good example of how to effectively and efficiently adapt to new situations during unprecedented times.
New Year, New Term
By Sia Razdan
Since 2016, all of America was either excited or anxious about the election of Republican Donald Trump—with Vice President Michael Pence—over Democrat Hilary Clinton. The 2016 election was the first in which neither major-party candidates were favorable to the public; in fact, Trump's approval rating was the lowest that had ever been recorded for an incoming president. His term continued to create one of the biggest divides of Americans, those for him and those against—this divide even led to acts of terrorism over the next four years. One thing was for certain, the 2020-21 election would be quintessential.
Trump, was described by The Atlantic as one of the few presidents that “left office with so little accomplished, impeached [twice] and disgraced.” Trump supports: deporting children benefiting from the DREAM Act, not closing the borders entirely, the trans military ban, pro-life laws, pro-gun laws, etc. He is against: accepting Syrian refugees in the United States, opening up Muslim travel in the U.S, the H-1B visa program, birthright citizenship, mandating social distancing/masks, the Equality Act, etc. He does not believe in: the wage gap, man-made global warming, etc. Overall, he was/is not popular with democrats or the left. A lot of republicans disapprove of Trump too—they either remained republicans but voted against Trump or became democrats.
The other Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates of the 2020-21 election were Democrats Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively, who announced interest in running in April 2019. Biden opposes: Medicare for All, late-term abortions, legalizing marijuana, defunding the police, banning fracking, the death penalty, and federal use of private prisons. He supports: a national mask mandate, rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, transgender military service, and free tuition for families making $125,000 or less. Kamala Harris does not support: the death penalty, Medicare for All, fracking, pro-gun laws, gender pay gap, sex work. She supports: body cameras on officers, legalizing marijuana, the Green New Deal, taxpayer-funded abortions.
Biden won the popular vote but only by a small margin further illuminating the divide within the public. When asking Interlake students on their opinions of the candidates, everyone interviewed were either in support of or “settling for” Biden. Their arguments were either about their opposition of Trump making Biden the more appealing of the two, or about his environmental plans. “I was very unimpressed with how Trump handled the Coronavirus and how much false information he spread,” one Interlake student states.
The Biden and Harris campaign’s victory in the 2020-21 presidential election was formalized by the Electoral College on December 14, 2020. The public’s reactions, on the calmer side, included celebrations erupting in major cities with Biden supporters/voters flooding the streets. The mood was melancholier among Trump's supporters/voters, though, with some even refusing to accept the results by claiming voter fraud. The more violent reaction was the storming of the capitol carried out by a mob of Trump supporters attempting to overturn his defeat, and in support of his “stolen” election conspiracy theory. Dharini Venkatesh, a sophomore at Interlake, felt “relieved” because “[this] last year of Trump’s presidency was arguably the worst,” even declaring that the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris “was a moment of pride and unspeakable amounts of happiness.”
Since Biden’s term began, he has: issued a mask and social distancing mandate on all federal lands, rejoined the WHO and the Paris Climate Accord, put a temporary halt on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversed Trump’s travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries, ended the National Emergency Declaration, and a lot more. Again, interviewed students at Interlake were fully in support of these changes and are looking forward to more.
The 2020-21 U.S elections were both catastrophic and relieving. From voting in a pandemic, through the heavy social media involvement, scandals, and spread of false information, to tragic deaths and injuries, this election will be unforgettable and will go down as notoriously chaotic. All eyes are now on Biden and what his next steps will be, including us students at Interlake. Let us just hope this term will bring the U.S some calm and peace.
Why the Removal of the
SAT Subject Tests is Significant
By Shyam Arumugam
Any high schooler is familiar with the SAT, a standardized test that colleges use to determine students’ skills in reading, writing, and math. Close to 2.2 million students took the SAT in 2019, but ever since quarantine began, the amount of SAT test takers has reduced dramatically, with the main cause being that social distancing is not possible in closed spaces, especially for extended periods of time. A project to create an online version of the SAT was in the works by CollegeBoard, but it was cancelled due to reports of many glitches and crashes. Colleges had no choice but to remove the exam from their admissions requirements for this academic year’s cycle. Subsequently, the College Board lost a large sum of its revenue. Then, on January 19th of this calendar year, the College Board announced that the SAT subject test and the SAT optional essay would no longer be offered in order to direct attention towards making the SAT more appealing to high school students during these times.
This announcement is very important to high schoolers, because of how significant of a role these tests play. While 2.2 million students took the SAT in 2019, only 15 thousand students took the SAT subject test for World History. As many high schoolers know, colleges tend to look for talents and qualities in students that separate them from the status quo, and tests like the SAT subject test are good indicators of this. For example, if a student applied to a literature program in a university, the only information that the university could use to evaluate the student are their grades in English, as well as how they did on the Critical Reading and Writing section of the SAT. However, if they notice that the student has taken multiple writing courses or related internships, this information may positively influence their decision on whether to admit the student or not. The SAT subject tests demonstrates to universities that students are proficient in certain subjects; the SAT essay shows student strength in writing and analysis. With the removal of these tests, however, colleges now have less to go off of while in the process of considering which students to admit to their schools.
So what should Interlake students do about this? Depending on what plans you have for college, or what you plan to study in college, you should consider finding other ways to make yourself stand out. This could mean seeking other opportunities, internships, or courses that relate to your career interest. Taking AP courses is a great way to do this: there are 38 courses to choose from, from Statistics to Environmental Science to Latin! Another way to accomplish this is to look for career-related opportunities. If a student wants to pursue a career in Marine Biology, for example, they could look into getting a potential internship at NOAA.
Ultimately, the more unique the opportunity, the more valuable it is to admissions officers in understanding your interests and talents. Therefore, rather than simply doing what is required, such as taking standardized tests, it is rather more important to participate in opportunities that best represent your interests. By doing this, you can differentiate yourself from other students and get into your dream university.
A Positive Approach to Mental Health
By Ananya Chavali
What is mental health? Let’s break it down. Mental means “related to the mind” and health means “a physical condition.” Essentially, mental health is our emotional well-being and security. How has a pandemic changed our mental health? The social isolation we’ve experienced in the past ten months has taken a toll on many people of our generation. Feelings such as anxiety and depression have been found to overwhelm people during this time. In order to get a knowledgeable point of view, we decided to dive into this issue and interview one of Interlake’s very own counselors, Ms. Williams, to see how she’s been dealing with everything on the other side of the screen.
How has everything being online (schooling and such) affected your ability to reach out to students, and students’ abilities to reach out to you?
I have thought about that a lot. I think probably, like a lot of things, there’s pros and cons. I think some of the cons are that students can’t just drop by in the way that they would under normal circumstances at Interlake. I think Interlake, as compared to some of the other high schools, the geography of the counseling center is such that kids can just kind of walk through. I think it’s fairly welcoming, not that other places aren’t, but I think just the way the doors are that kids can just pop through. So, I think that is a benefit that kids aren’t having now, where they can just stop by or come with a group of friends and ask a random question; like at lunchtime, before school, after school, just being able to pop in. That’s one of the big cons. Also related to that, same thing, I can’t just run up to a classroom and check on a kid… A pro is, with the Microsoft Teams that we use, it is really easy for kids and I to chat back and forth pretty quickly. So, I really like that, and with some students, it’s just so easy to ask them questions and have them respond. I feel like we can get a lot of stuff done really quickly sometimes.
Have there been any moments where students have come to you feeling down, or needing to talk during quarantine?
Yes, of course. So, I would say, in the spring right when left school, for those first few months, there were definitely a lot more students expressing feelings of being sad or . . . I don’t really like to use the word “depression” willy nilly because that can be considered a medical term, but I would say feelings of sadness and feeling “depressed,” not saying that you are depressed. Yeah, I think early on in the pandemic, I heard from kids those feelings a lot more. Also, feelings of anxiety around the unknown. It’s less of that now in a different way. I think what I hear kids talking about more is still sad and still anxious about the unknown, but I think more of just the monotony of it all. Just like “everything is the same” and like “when’s it going to change?” So, to answer your question, yes, absolutely.
What are recommendations you have for staying positive in quarantine?
Well I can really only give the advice I try to give myself, which is, I think being conscious of what is going well, and being conscious of what’s not going well; like owning it. Just being in the present . . . and those things that you don’t feel good about, being conscious, seeing if you can address them or change any of them, and set goals around them, because there’s definitely things that aren’t great. Like for example, feeling isolated. Some of that you can’t control, because we can’t go to school, like a normal circumstance. But, what can you do? Like in your limited scope of what you can control? So, I guess, focusing on trying to take on the things that you can change. Accepting them too and knowing that there’s going to be some really hard days. On the flipside of that, my advice is looking for the silver linings. Because even in the most difficult times in our lives, really good things come from them, and you just can’t always see them in the moment, but if you give it some time, and some awareness; also, talking about it. Suddenly you’ll be like, “wow, there are these ten things that are really awesome,” even in the midst of this very difficult time.
What are some resources you recommend students to use if they feel the need to reach out about their mental health?
Absolutely. On our Interlake Counseling webpage! Specifically, on our counseling page, we do have a link on there that says “Mental Health Resources” that students and parents can click on. There is also a Bellevue Counseling Line that’s open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, which is posted here. You can call anytime. Also, the Crisis Clinic—a lot of students are familiar with that. Another one that maybe is kind of under-resourced is the Teen Link Program. In the evening, teens are available for peer-to-peer support, which I think is really cool. It’s seven days a week from 6 PM to 10 PM.
Every day, the stigma around mental health changes. Mental wellness is always achievable, even given what we are facing today. Never hesitate to check in on yourself. Remember that there are always resources available if you ever feel like you need a helping hand.
ALTERNATIVE ARTICLES
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Remote learning has impacted education, with students feeling more stressed, rushed, and not wanting to complete all their schoolwork. Not being able to be with friends and classmates also adds to the loneliness of online school. However, remote learning is also teaching us useful life skills, such as how to use your time. Remember that we won’t always have online school, and we will be on our way to in-person learning soon! It’s important to enjoy the time we have now during remote learning, so that we can all be successful students once we see each other again!
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Many people have been affected by the pandemic. When it comes to sports, students have faced the cancellation or delay of the sports seasons, which affects the performance of everyone. However, athletes need to adapt to hard conditions and stay motivated. To do this, athletes need to work on what they can do, such as staying healthy and exercising. Without the right conditioning, athletes can lose their strength, which means that daily exercise is something that needs to happen.
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Worried about tests coming up? Here are some study tips to help you perform well. Studies show that having a tidy workspace makes you more productive, so make sure to keep your area clean. It is also good to keep your phone out of sight. Additionally, rewarding yourself for studying can help you stay motivated. In one interview, Joey Radu, a tutor, recommends playing games as a way of studying in order to remember things better. Staying on task can be hard, but with the right tools, you can certainly do well on your exams!
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What better way to make new friends and build bonds than to create and eat new dishes? During quarantine, many people from Interlake have been trying new foods. Whether we’re eating the dishes or making them ourselves, food is a good way to get creative. Have you tried making treats in quarantine?
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Last year, standardized exams were largely cancelled because of the pandemic. This year, it seems that they will be cancelled again. The virus is still spreading, and most people have not gotten the vaccine yet. Even if students still cannot take their tests in-person this year, we can hope for better circumstances next year!
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While we often go to our parents and friends for comfort, we can also seek solace in other members of our community, such as our counselors! Counselors work hard for their students by making sure that they are doing well, both in school and emotionally. I interviewed Ms. Jensvold, a counselor at Interlake. She told me that while moving to online school has been hard for a lot of students, the memories and experiences she has made in the first semester have been great. Even though virtual learning is always a challenge, our school community can learn from past experiences and continue to support one another!
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High schoolers at Interlake are very talented musicians! The Interlake Music Department includes band, orchestra, and choir. During quarantine, students have been learning how to perform music in online settings. Additionally, music groups outside of school, such as the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, have also been hard at work making music together! You can check out their performances here:
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The recent United States presidential election has been hard to follow and stressful to witness, especially due to differences in opinion. It is true that the election went differently because of the pandemic, but the people should still stand united. As for President Biden, since taking office, he has passed orders such as requiring masks to be worn at all times.
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On January 19th, the CollegeBoard announced that it was dropping the SAT essay section and the SAT subject test. The organization said that they wanted to “reduce demands on students.” For students to stand out from other students when it comes to applying to college, they will now need to shift their focus to other areas, such as extracurricular activities. Taking different AP courses and community service projects can also help.
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Mental health is important. Remember to always check-in on yourself by asking yourself how you are doing. Mrs. Williams says that students have been having a hard time with their mental health in quarantine. The more we talk about how we are doing, the more people might feel better, which is good. Over the years, people’s thoughts on mental health have been changing too. Remember that Interlake has great resources if you feel like you are having a hard time with your mental health. You can always email your counselor or talk to friends and family.