REWIND

By Zoya Merakov

This school year has definitely been one for the books. The year started out fully virtual, with teens grappling to adjust to remote learning, and is now ending with a new hybrid schedule and additional in person opportunities. With a slow return to regular activities, the lives of many students are, again, in a state of transition. But how do our very own Interlake Saints feel about this whirlwind of a year?

The first semester of school provided challenges for both students and teachers alike. Sports and clubs were fully online, and people were cooped up at home with minimal social interaction. In a survey given to Interlake students, most students reported that their mental health during the first semester of school was poor. “My mental health wasn't great during the first semester. I felt alone and I didn't have a lot of people to talk to, so school was hard,” an anonymous student disclosed. Many responses echoed that sentiment. “I’m new to the school so having no way to make friends (since it’s much harder online) took a toll,” another student acknowledged.

On the bright side, students agreed that the Among Us game craze in the beginning of the year helped with the loneliness because they could meet with friends and have fun while staying safe. The Interlake Yay Day Fundraiser, conducted by the class of 2024 class officers, and the Crossroads Cup Spirit Week competition were enjoyed by many students. ASB also started Interlake Spotlights, which continuously showcased shoutouts for clubs, teachers, and students. These spotlights were available on Instagram and on the school-wide Teams channel.

However, isolation wasn’t the only negative impact of quarantine. Though some high schoolers noted that they’ve learned better time management skills and practiced procrastinating less, quarantine has likely hurt the academic performance of many students at Interlake. A number of students admitted that they’ve largely learned through homework and self-study this year. On the survey, when asked to evaluate how much they’ve learned this year on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best), most teens chose between a 2 and a 4. Interlake students also had conflicting views on how their teachers were leading classes. “I want more activities in class, since most teachers find it very "favorable" to do most assignments outside of class while often leaving a class without any lesson to be learned,” candidly responded an anonymous student. Another peer answered with, “I don't think the classes needed to be more engaging so much as teachers needed to accept that the engagement levels of students would tank this year, and I wish certain teachers hadn't given students such a hard time about it”. In contrast, the final teen reported that, “I think teachers at our school are some of the most considerate, at least the ones I have. I genuinely never have anything to say on the surveys that ask me about how they could have done better. Especially since they are facing a pandemic as well”. Overall, opinions on how well teachers were doing their jobs were mixed.

With the beginning of semester two, season one sports were also introduced. These sports included cross country, football, girls soccer, girls swim and dive, boys golf, boys tennis, and volleyball. Games were streamed virtually so spectators could enjoy watching from the safety of their own homes. In-person sports tremendously improved the mental health of many students. An anonymous freshman said, “being a part of swim team helped me feel connected to more people at school, and that was really a turning point in this year”. Different grades also had fundraisers and merchandise, such as the MOD pizza fundraiser for freshman and the class of 23’ merch for sophomores. Seniors also had a Senior rally, where they could devour free food, pick up caps and gowns, and raffle for prizes.

On April 5th, Season 2 sports began, and a limited number of spectators were allowed on the stands. “I love the way ASB was still hyping people up with all the different online activities and events, and how safely all the games re-opened to the audience,” commented a student. Despite the good news, some high schoolers were still struggling, and they reported that reaching out to counselors, teachers, and peers have helped.

Students experienced a melting pot of emotions with the return to hybrid learning on April 8th. Most teens noted that they felt a mix of nervousness, happiness, and excitement to go back to school. The efforts of the drill team, band, and cheerleaders on the first day helped students become more enthusiastic about the return to physical school. Community time also brought a much-needed change of pace. “It was really nice to just have time to talk to people,” said a junior. Seeing teachers face to face and connecting with other students lifted people’s spirits and broke the “Groundhog Day” feeling that many students have been experiencing this past year. Being in the physical classroom two days a week increased attentiveness since hybrid students had fewer distractions. Season 3 sports also started on May 3rd, and Interlake Saints have been dominating the season with numerous wins.

Overall, this has been quite the year. Although we have a couple of weeks left in the school year, let’s give a huge shoutout to all the teachers and students for trying their best and making it through. Stay safe Saints and have a great rest of the year!

STAYING SAFE IN THE SUMMER

By Rohak Jain

Throughout the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has constantly been a recurring headline in news broadcasts, articles, and videos online, taking up the front page of our media outlets. Nevertheless, rejoice as the school year is coming to an end, and the Interlake Community can finally enjoy the liberating freedom of summer! Although you may be motivated by the impulse to spend your summer vacation like you usually do, it is important to be conscious of the fact that this summer is a far cry from your normal summer – your health and safety still remains at risk. You need to spend your summer in a way that not only places your well-being at the highest priority, but also protects your friends and family.

So, I have compiled a list of fun and healthy activities that you and your family can safely enjoy!

Kayaking!

If you’re looking for a convenient activity to do with your family this summer, canoeing and kayaking are low impact exercises that, in addition to leading you across stunning landscapes and forested greenery, can greatly improve your quality of aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health. Because going outside can turn a hectic quarantine into a relaxing experience, outdoor activities like kayaking are one of my top recommendations for the upcoming summer!

Rock Climbing!

Since the distanced nature of online learning doesn’t allow for a healthy amount of physical activity and exercise, participating in rock climbing activities will not only enable you to improve stamina and endurance, but will also teach you how to think more mindfully and rationally in high-pressure situations – a skill that is applicable now more than ever. If you’re looking to test your athleticism and exercise your mental capacity, think about visiting a climbing gym in your local area!

Biking!

Perhaps one of the most underrated exercises you and your family can enjoy this summer is biking, which helps build up endurance and maintain emotional tranquility and well-being. Contrary to the physically straining activities mentioned earlier, biking is incredibly convenient – little equipment is required and nearly every street has a bike lane available.

Safe Swimming!

Because the CDC states that “there is no evidence” of COVID-19 spreading in pools, water playgrounds, and hot tubs, feel free to go outside for a relaxing swim with family and friends! Swimming is a great outdoor exercise that is especially helpful for maintaining a healthy weight and increasing energy levels. However, if you do plan to swim over the summer, be sure to maintain social distancing measures and try to avoid large gatherings of ten or more people.

Every day, we continue to get increasingly closer to a sense of normalcy in our daily routines. This upcoming summer, make sure to embrace the warmer weather, spend more quality time with cherished loved ones, and pursue outdoor activities throughout the summertime! Although virtual learning and extended periods of isolated social distancing have abruptly separated us from one another, the Interlake community was able to band together and collectively cooperate to make this school year as best as possible. Now, it’s finally time to take a much-needed mental break and relax over the summer!

TRAVELING DURING CORONAVIRUS

By Peter Lee

Throughout the year, the release of the new vaccine has led many people to get vaccinated at their local clinics. Although more people are starting to become vaccinated, the cases of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to rise substantially. Despite this, many people have started to feel comfortable travelling, mainly motivated by the false idea that it is okay to pay little heed to safety protocols because of vaccination. Some indicators of this comfort I personally seen include the transition to hybrid classes as well as Instagram stories from my mutual friends showing off that they are travelling to exotic places, such as the beaches at Hawaii, the ski resorts at Canada, etc.

This trend of an increased amount of people travelling poses a question about our safety: in our current situation, is it safe or unsafe to travel? There is a wide spectrum of people who believe it is fine to travel, justifying that social distancing measures are enough to avoid exposure to COVID. There are others, including me, scared to travel around at all because the current COVID situation is still unsafe.

To gather a greater insight of what others thought about travel, I was able to interview my friends on what places they had travelled to during quarantine as well as their experiences and their opinions on the safety of travel. For instance, Raza Khan, a sophomore, informed me that he went to Canada and Pakistan. He told me that the pandemic “hasn’t impacted [him] too much because [he] can still meet family.” He mentions that there are some new safety rules making it more difficult to cross the borders, but he believes that one still can adapt to COVID safe practices while travelling. “You can travel in a way that ensures you’re safe, like socially distanced plane seating or staying at a relative’s house,” he mentioned.

On the other hand, Ishaan Venkat, another sophomore, recalled that he has only been to local parks that are very close to the Bellevue area and nowhere far. Although he wants to travel to alleviate the work and stress from school, he felt strongly impacted as “school and sports require [him] to stay at home to keep up and practice year-round”. Furthermore, he mentioned that normally during breaks and offseason, he “would travel to places such as Snoqualmie to snowboard but with rising cases of COVID, it has been too risky to go out.” Overall, he thinks that the current travel situation is not ideal and does not recommend travelling to other states or countries. “Travelling can cause the virus to spread around more easily. Even if you are fully vaccinated, wearing a mask while going outside and limiting travel will be the best course of action over the next couple of months,” he noted.

If you ruled out travelling as unsafe, you may ask, “If I am not going to travel what can I do to release my stress and boredom?” There are many ways besides travelling to spend your time. You can join a school activity or sports club, game with friends, or even just take walks outside the house! Personally, I cope with my boredom by playing school soccer while wearing a mask, which helps me release stress and allows me to stay safe. Also, I occasionally bike around the neighborhood while listening to my music. By the same token, Ishaan also copes with his stress through biking. He gathers a small group of friends, which he dubs the “#indianbikergang”, to go on fun biking adventures. “My friends and I go biking for a long time going from place to place. Rather than being around a populated area, I feel that this is a good way to take a break without having too many consequences,” he said.

This school year has been very tough, and traveling is a huge temptation, especially because under normal circumstances, many students use travel as an avenue to release stress accumulated from school and the loneliness at home. However, it is very crucial for everyone to stay safe and follow safety protocols, regardless of them being vaccinated. We must wear a mask, stay socially distanced, and avoid huge clusters of people as much as possible!

OPINIONS ON

THE VACCINE

By Trey West

During the COVID pandemic, companies have developed vaccines in record time. Wide swaths of the American public are fully vaccinated, bringing us ever closer to the long-awaited safety of herd immunity. As age restrictions for vaccines have loosened, the opinion of high schoolers on the COVID vaccine has become increasingly important.

What do Interlake students think of the COVID vaccine? To answer this question, a poll was circulated through the Interlake student body.

To start, poll results indicate that 89 percent of Interlake students have either gotten the vaccine or are planning to do so, as of May 2021. Those who have chosen to delay their COVID vaccine have a variety of motivations. For example, Shyam Arumugan, a student at Interlake, explained that he didn’t “want side effects during AP tests.” An anonymous student offered that they wanted to “gauge the side effects of people who are taking it.” Alternatively, Avelyn Lee cited simple scheduling issues as the reason behind the delay.

At the same time, many Interlake students are also planning to not get the vaccine. When asked why, students responded with a common undercurrent of fear and suspicion. “Too much contradictory information from the CDC,” stated one anonymous student. “I already got COVID, but anyways it seems unsafe,” another student explained. This hesitancy reflects another finding of the poll: only 62.5 percent of the student body trusts the government to deliver accurate information about the pandemic. Meanwhile, those who have already gotten the shot treat it with nonchalance. Ethan Ma compared it to the flu vaccine while Trey West advised students to “move your arm.”

When it comes to mandatory vaccinations, Interlake students are more divided. The poll results indicate that only 67 percent of students support mandatory COVID vaccinations. A student in favor of COVID vaccinations said, “yes, it’s important for the safety of the public.” In contrast, Xander Ngan argued that “it’s a free country.” While many students and their families are willing to get the vaccine (88 percent of students have vaccinated parents), mandatory vaccines appear to be a trickier issue.

To reach herd immunity, 70-80 percent of people need to be fully vaccinated. According to survey results, Interlake is set to exceed that percent in the near future. It’s unfortunate that such few students trust the government to deliver accurate information, but perhaps it is to be expected considering today’s polarized society. Either way, if there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that everyone is eager to leave the pandemic behind and resume a semi-normal lifestyle.

SECOND STAYCATION SUMMER

By Gauri Gupta

Summer is finally here! After an exhausting and unique school year, we can’t wait to hit the beach, eat ice cream, spend time with friends, and just have a break from school. Unfortunately, a global pandemic urges on, causing us to adjust some of our much-awaited plans. All the limitations that COVID-19 brings with it, whether it be traveling or enjoying social gatherings, is a huge factor hindering us from enjoying summer to its full extent. Many questions have arisen as to whether we will have to continue to adjust or cut back on our summer plans to keep everyone safe.

The two-and-a-half-month break from school is the perfect time to travel and go on vacations, however traveling has become restricted in hopes of containing the spread of the virus. CDC guidelines highly recommend that all non-essential trips be cancelled. If you do choose to travel, it is necessary for you to wear a mask, stay 6-feet apart from others, and avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Definitely not the ideal picture of a summer vacation. When asking freshman, Ananya Vaidyaraman, about her thoughts on travelling over the summer, this year she “won’t travel internationally due to Covid-19 and travel restrictions,” and although these aren’t favorable conditions, she is excited that “the extra time we will be getting over the summer is helpful for studying more, doing extracurricular activities, and of course, spending time with family!” You don’t necessarily have to go on an extravagant vacation just to have a well spent summer. Going on day trips to places like local beaches and different hikes are examples of the ways you can “travel” without venturing too far from our your home and community!

Another much awaited activity during summer is spending time with your friends. Although many of us could safely visit a few friends in a socially distanced outdoor setting, huge indoor parties and gatherings are highly restricted. However, with the vaccine being given to people sixteen or older, many teenagers can start meeting with their friends. It is unlikely that we could all start meeting our friends to the full extent that we used to in pre-pandemic times. However, we can always meet others in small groups (about two to five people) of friends in a socially distanced setting outside. Examples of great outdoor settings can include but are not limited to: parks, beaches, or even your own backyard! Freshman Rodrigo Panigassi is “excited for summer” because “hopefully we can start meeting friends more often once we get vaccinated.” However, Rodrigo is continuing to stay cautious and protective of himself and others as he’s “still going to be wearing masks everywhere and using tons of hand sanitizer.” While we may be able to meet some of our friends a bit more than we were able to last year, it is necessary to limit unnecessary contact with others. As we all have learned by now, Zoom and FaceTime are our best friends! You can do things like an online movie night through Netflix Party, play some online games using House Party, or just talk to friends using phones.

Lastly, summer camps are a much-awaited activity for many children and teens, but many have switched to conducting their programs in a virtual setting. Although these camps are trying to incorporate as much as they can in an online platform, it is evident that online camps are quite different from in-person camps, given the greater flexibility and opportunities available when we are physically together. Some camps, however, will be in-person but safety guidelines will be enforced. Rodrigo Panigassi is going to be staffing at SAMBICA, a Christian summer camp at Lake Sammamish. Although it is an in-person camp, there will be many safety rules such as: “requiring face masks, maintaining at least six feet distance, and sanitizing your hands regularly.” Many other camps are going to also transition to in-person; however, many strict rules will be enforced so that people can have the full-camp experience while remaining safe!

Although this year’s summer may not be the crowded beach scene it once was, we can all work together to make our summer fun, relaxing, healthy, and safe. Typical summer pastimes, such as barbecues, outdoor concerts, crowded bars, and restaurants, will look different this year. However, there are still many ways to enjoy those activities and abide by health and safety guidelines. You can host a virtual movie night, enjoy a concert while sitting outside—courtesy of celebrities and social media live streaming—or order takeout from your favorite restaurant. The possibilities are endless!

HOW IS HYBRID

Sayana Isaac

In April, students at Interlake began attending school in-person. This meant that after more than a year of attending school online, students were faced with the challenge of adapting to a new school environment. While many hybrid students were grateful for the opportunity to interact with their teachers and classmates in a more intimate environment, other students (especially virtual students) felt less engaged at Interlake because of hybrid learning.

An anonymous sophomore who began hybrid learning said that school sometimes feels very long on “in-person days,” which makes it difficult for her to focus in class. However, she still prefers hybrid to virtual, since hybrid gives her the opportunity to more easily ask questions to her teachers and communicate with her friends and peers. Another anonymous sophomore agreed that it is often hard to pay attention on “in-person” days, since many teachers don’t ask for class participation. This sophomore also prefers hybrid to virtual because she enjoys learning with her friends. It’s clear that many students at Interlake sorely miss the social aspect of school.

Gauri Gupta, a freshman at Interlake, chose to stay fully virtual this year. Gauri said that fully virtual learning has meant “a lot of self-teaching,” especially when studying for her AP exams. Gauri also misses the social element of school and being able to see her friends almost every day in school. Though it can be difficult to find motivation online, Gauri said she is “just trying to power through and finish the school year successfully!”

On the whole, students at Interlake have found ways to adjust to their continuously changing learning environments. While hybrid students sometimes found it difficult to remain engaged in their classes, most students were pleased with their ability to directly interact with friends and teachers. For students who opted to stay fully remote, these last few weeks were more difficult, since students were less able to interact with classmates and therefore more reliant on self-studying techniques. However, students at Interlake have done a fantastic job powering through this difficult school year. As one Interlake student told me, "Though virtual classes, the shift to hybrid learning, and this school year in general has been very difficult, we have done a great job approaching everything with a very open, positive attitude."

WARMING WARNING

The sea temperature and ocean levels have been rising dramatically, and summer months start to get hotter and hotter. These drastic changes in climate can be attributed to the issue of global warming. We all are generally aware of what global warming is and its detrimental effects on us. However, many of us are often misinformed on the specifics as well as how it relates to wildfires. “[I don’t know much about global warming] because it's not talked about a lot, it's not considered ‘interesting’ so people don't tend to talk about it in everyday conversation, or when it is talked about we don't really pay attention,” an Interlake freshman recalled. In order to gather a greater insight of global warming and wildfires, this article will delve into the dire effects of climate change, the severity of wildfires, and what action can be taken to reduce global warming.

Firstly, it is important to understand the extent of the effects of global warming. Scientists confirm that our earth’s fluctuating climates cause unusual natural effects like heat waves, droughts, heavier rain, hurricanes, and, of course, wildfires. Global warming also increases ocean temperatures, which could subsequently result in harsh tropical storms. Authorities have predicted that if global warming keeps going the way it is, it will be responsible for over 250,000 deaths and for 100 million people going into poverty by 2030. Moreover, we can even see the dire effects of climate change in our own state. Such signs of global warming in Washington include minimal snowfall, heavy pours, burning heat, and unnatural fires.

As stated before, global warming has a key part in increasing the commonality of wildfires. Recent statistics for wildfires in the West Coast showcase how severe of a problem it is. In the year of 2020 in Washington, wildfires have collectively consumed 812,000 acres, caused the air quality index to drop drastically below the safe level, and even led people to evacuate out of the state. Luckily, Washington’s greener and humid atmosphere mitigates some of the effects of these wildfires. “I can recognize, though, that by living in Bellevue, I have a privilege. There is lots of forestation, clean air and tap water,” says Samreedhi Naik, a freshman at Interlake.

At this point, you may ask, “even though wildfires have been a problem in the past year, what makes them an issue now?”. Wildfires are still a pressing issue because the environment around us make these fires a greater threat. The West of the U.S is currently going through a drought, which is especially devastating because these conditions would facilitate more destructive wildfires. Moreover, Washington’s rainfall this year has been alarmingly low, which would mean these fires could start earlier in the summer. Typically, the occurrence of wildfires in Washington are present in late August through early September, but authorities predict that wildfires could start as soon as early July.

What makes these fires so dangerous? Just like long-term impacts of smoking, the wildfire smoke causes coughing, throat and lung irritation, higher susceptibility to respiratory infections, and, over a longer period, higher cancer risk. If you want to check if the air is safe to come in contact with, check the AQI (air quality index) which you can find on T.V weather forecasts, news reports, or on official websites such as airnow.gov and apps such as Plume Air Report.

Despite the seriousness and harmful effects of global warming and wildfires, our local governments can take action to alleviate these issues. Some actions they can take include putting out the wildfires rather than waiting for fall rains, managing a forest protection crew to prepare for fires, and removing dead and dying trees in forests, etc. However, action is not only limited to the authorities. We can also take measures to reduce the detriment of wildfires. To list a few, we must not burn debris during fire season, must extinguish campfires, must avoid parking hot vehicles on dry grasses, and must clear areas of leaves, branches, and fallen trees that could act as ladder fuels for fire.

By Sia Razdan

eSPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS

By Roman Sycz

Ever since the term was first coined in 1999, the eSports (electronic sports) industry has been growing exponentially. This year, it is expected to surpass the billion-dollar threshold. In response to this development, many colleges around the world have begun to offer scholarships to the top eSports players to recruit these “athletes” to play for the college’s eSports teams. After Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania offered the first eSports scholarship in 2014, nearly 200 colleges in the United States alone have followed suit, offering $15 million in scholarships and creating eSports teams for multiple games, with the most popular ones being League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and Rocket League. In addition to scholarships, collegiate eSports players can also win prize money for their school. For example, Akron University received over 600,000 dollars after their students won the 2019 Collegiate Rocket League tournament.

Because the gaming industry is popular among kids and teenagers, many will see this information and wonder, “How can I get an eSports scholarship?” In order to answer this question, I interviewed Spade, a player for the University of Kansas Rocket League team. He has been a member of the team for nearly three years and the team has come close to winning multiple major Rocket League events. He is also a recipient of an eSports scholarship to the University of Kansas. However, being an eSports athlete is not as easy as it may seem. Spade explained that his team “[requires] full dedication and commitment.” Each player “puts in 30-40 hours per week, not including the 3-hour practice sessions that [the team has] every other day.” In essence, it requires a significant time commitment, with players dedicating approximately 6.5 hours each day. In addition, Spade explained that “most collegiate [Rocket League] players have been playing the game ever since it was released.” Most collegiate players are also very high on global player leaderboards, with “most being in the top 1,000 (0.0002%) of players worldwide.” This means that in order to have a shot at earning an eSports scholarship, not only do students need to dedicate tremendous amounts of time and energy to the game, but they also need to be one of the best players of that game.

In addition, most eSport scholarships only partially cover tuition. According to Wired Magazine, an average eSport scholarship is only around $4,8000. Supply is also limited, as there are only around 4,000 eSports scholarships offered each year. In contrast, there are around 180,000 athletic scholarships offered each year, with an average worth of $10,400. However, hope remains. As modern video games become more and more popular, the number of college eSports scholarships is likely to dramatically increase.

If you are passionate about eSports, this may be exciting news. By playing eSports, you can not only follow your passion but also find a way to finance your college education. As the industry grows and the number of eSports scholarships increases, a future career in eSports could be a real option. It will, however, require serious dedication and commitment, as well as exceptional skill. And of course, there is one more factor to consider- your parents. They may view your eSports commitment and future plans with skepticism. Hopefully, the information shared in this article will arm you with convincing arguments.

MAINTAINING

THE MOMENTUM

OF THE MOVEMENT

By Ananya Chavali

*his article is not meant to provide any sort of opinion about the Black Lives Matter movement and what the movement stands for. The text remains unbiased and has been written simply to provide information about BLM, our society, and the Interlake Community.

On June 6, 2020, the United States saw a huge spike in protests. Roughly half a million people in over 550 cities across the country came together to stand in respect for the late George Floyd. Following the first few protests in Minneapolis, different cities started gatherings, attracting millions of people who wished to speak against police brutality and to support the Black Lives Matter movement. As months passed, the movement began to stand for multiple names, including Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and more.

Established in 2013, the Black Lives Matter movement (BLM), is a Global Network that promotes the growth of power, justice, freedom, and healing for black people around the world. Since 2013, the movement has had numerous participants, all working towards equality of all races. The BLM association has put in place demands, in which they endorse different ideas that they believe would bring justice to all races. A few of the BLM demands include: defunding the police, expelling Republican members of Congress who have attempted to overturn the election and incite a white supremacist attack, and launching a full investigation into the ties between white supremacy and the Capitol Police, law enforcement, and the military.

A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE DEMANDS CAN BE FOUND ON THE BLM WEBSITE

How does this discussion relate to high schoolers? Our generation is one of the biggest contributors to the changes that occur in our society every day. As we make our voices heard and present our ideas in society, we shift the focus of older generations, bringing awareness to the issues that have been put aside for years. With the responsibility of shaping our society, we expand on the ideas of ethics and values, as opposed to keeping the emphasis on fame and fortune. Considering these current events that have led to societal unrest, we decided to dive in and ask a few students from our Interlake community what the movement means to them, and what they have observed.

What do you believe the BLM movement stands for?

Trey West, Freshman: “I believe that it stands for drawing attention to police brutality and racial injustice.”

Anonymous, Sophomore: “I think it means improving life for everyone and making things fair regardless of race, not for black people but for other minority groups too!”

Anonymous, Sophomore: “BLM, to me, stands for the inclusion of all people regardless of race, and equal treatment by the government and other institutions.”

What have you observed from the media? How does the media portray BLM?

Tanvi Bachu, Sophomore: “More voices have started being heard; more stories regarding BLM have been all over the media. People who support the BLM movement have shown their support in some way (posting info about it on social media, ‘#blackouttuesday,’. Although the media has mixed emotions about the whole movement and the protests and shootings, the people who support BLM have had their ideas recognized by the media.”

Anonymous, Sophomore: “I think the main problem with how the media portrays BLM is that the media only addresses the movement if something tragic happens, like the unjust death of George Floyd. In my opinion, this is a movement that should be continually growing, not only in reaction to terrible events.”

Anonymous, Junior: “I have seen people holding up signs and marching. I think the media splits their opinion when portraying this association. Some people are actively trying to improve life for POC (people of color), while the other half refuses to accept it as a current issue.”

As a community, we should continue to peel back the layers of injustice that has impacted our society. Our voices have one of the biggest impacts on humanity. Let’s continue to support our friends and family and spread the message of equality and healing around our school.

OP-ED

CRASHING A ROCKET

By Space Marmalade
(Jay Kanakia, Nishka Kacheria, Prisha Hemani)

When something is difficult it means that it is not rocket science, right? Well in our case, this is literally rocket science—and it is exciting, engaging, and exquisite. We have launched rockets repeatedly. Whether one crashes and burns, lands in the treetops, or has a perfect parachute deployment, there is still this feeling that makes us think that there is nothing we’d rather be doing.

Our rocketry team started out as people who barely knew each other; a bunch of hopeful, wide-eyed sixth graders who put their names on slips of paper and dropped them in a box, hoping to be picked and given the opportunity to launch rockets. After a year of Rocketry 101/201, we joined the Team America Rocketry challenge. We were clueless about almost every aspect of building these larger rockets, and ready to be guided by the seemingly omniscient eighth graders who had done this competition for two years already.

The first time we launched, we knocked it out of the ballpark, literally. The rocket came crashing down on water, breaking, and getting soaked. Another time, the entire back part of the rocket-dubbed the Fin Can-- was ripped to shreds. We made so many mistakes, such as gluing a fin on wrong, or jumping into designing the Fin Can without much planning at all. One of our most vivid memories was trying to undo the nightmarishly tangled strings of our parachute. Our frozen fingers desperately tried to undo what seemed to be a Gordian knot. Somehow with delusions of pneumonia and muddy clothing, we kept returning to 60 Acres park to launch our rockets again and again. That was one of our first encounters with the need of resiliency, as mere seventh graders admiring the stars. Rocketry drilled a sense of determination into us; it forced us to adapt and grow stronger, and above all, keep firing up for another launch. If our rocket broke, or had a clear problem, we would be sure to plan extra meetings almost every weekday after school to fix it. Through this, a sense of camaraderie remained. Relying on each other and our love for rockets, we kept powering through our constant modifications and analysis. When our rocket was too heavy, we swapped out nose cones and re-cut motor tubes. When the rocket was dynamically unstable, we attached tube fins and changed the diameter of our rocket. Almost every launch, we dove into the squishy mud to quickly recover our rocket and laughed together as we wiped the mud off our jackets and pants with paper towels. When it rained or got incredibly cold, we would sit in the back of our teacher’s truck until the bad weather subsided, enjoyed doughnuts that our team captain brought (that was his campaign promise), or run up and down Sixty-Acres Park to try and regain the feeling of our toes. Regardless of what the problem was, we were buoyant. And 2020 was going to be our year: going to nationals, with an incredibly good rocket and bounds of confidence.

Until the Coronavirus struck.

For all of us, the advent of Covid-19 was something like a dream. In the workshop and during our rocketry meetings, there would be a sense of confusion, and not knowing what was ahead. We powered on pretending like nothing was different until it was undeniable, and we had to make plans about continuing rocketry from home. However, a strange phenomenon was unfolding within our team. Despite all the chaos around us and the discordance from our daily lives, we were less affected by everything. We were taking things in stride, and planning around it. We met online, opened up rocketry seminars, focused more on designing our rocket and plotting best fit lines, and utilized the technology we were lucky enough to have around us to work with. Even now, we are waiting to see when and where we can launch, engaging inside rocketry competitions, and more. It was just like when we had crashed our rockets: we took a deep breath, planned together, and took it in stride. We Stayed strong together and worked on fixing the problems.

Through a vassal of rocketry, we had learned how to adapt in the worst of situations and how to be resilient. Reflecting on how rocketry has helped us has been a valuable experience. We had never realized how the attitudes, feelings, and skills that we used in rocketry had so thoroughly blended into our daily lives. Rocket science is hard, and inevitably rockets will fall, crash, burn, and get tangled in treetops. But what comes after that: hard work, determination, productivity, and teamwork, are the most valuable parts of rocketry. Without these things, a rocket will never complete its gorgeous arc to the clouds and back down to the ground. Thus, this is something that we must remember as a rocketry team and community.

ALTERNATIVE ARTICLES

This school year has been an interesting one! The first semester had some challenges like students’ bad mental health, events like Interlake Yay day and games like Among Us helped people stay connected. Students had different responses on how well teachers taught this year. Some teens thought that teachers could have done better while others expressed that they were doing best with what they were given. As second semester began, season 1 sports were introduced, which helped people feel apart of a community. Different grades also had different fundraisers and merchandise come out. Return to hybrid on April 8 had students feeling a mix of emotions, the warm welcoming by the cheerleaders, drill team, and band had people feeling excited about going back. A junior student appreciated the community period because it gave them time to talk to people. Even though we have a couple more weeks of the school year good job of making it through! See you next year and stay safe, Saints!

This past school year has been tough and challenging, but now it’s almost over! As the school year is coming to an end, enjoy the summer by getting rid of stress and anxiety, spending time with family, and going outside more! To spend your summer in a fun yet safe way, consider relaxing over the summer by kayaking with family and friends, going rock climbing, biking on nature trails, and swimming in local gyms!

Travelling is a huge temptation for us, since we need to get rid of the stress from school and the loneliness from staying home. Nowadays, more and more people are getting vaccinated, and at the same time, more and more people have started to feel comfortable travelling. This poses an important question: is it safe to travel or not? Some feel travelling is still unsafe, while others are not yet comfortable with travel and want to wait until circumstances are better.

The COVID vaccine has finally been developed. Many students at Interlake have gotten or are getting the vaccine. However, many students don’t agree with mandatory vaccinations for COVID. Students also distrust the government’s messages regarding COVID.

This school year was strange and unique because of COVID-19, but how will Summer 2021 look? Well, due to safety concerns, summer will also look different. We might not be able to travel as much as before, attend summer camps, or be able to meet all our friends and family. However, we can still make summer a fun experience while staying safe. We can do things like meeting with a small group of friends, going on day trips, visiting local beaches, attending online summer camps, and of course, continuing to use technology to stay connected with our loved ones. Summer is meant to be a nice break from school, so enjoy it! But remember, we are still living through a global pandemic, so be sure to remain safe and follow all safety guidelines!

Students have witnessed a lot of change in this school year. In the last months, Interlake has transitioned from fully remote school to partially hybrid school. Both hybrid students and remote students are finding it difficult to concentrate on their classes. However, students have generally adapted to the change well.

With the worsening problem of global warming, the issue of wildfires becomes much more alarming to us. With the poor environment on top of the impact of climate change, Washington state faces major risk of wildfires. It is crucial for local governments as well as us to take action to reduce these risks.

eSports scholarships offer money to students who are talented gamers. eSports scholarships are highly competitive and difficult to attain. Joining a college eSports team requires hard work and skill. As the industry grows, the number of eSports scholarships is also likely to grow.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a movement that supports equality and justice. The association has been around since 2013. There are students at Interlake who think BLM is about equality for all races. One student even thinks that social media sometimes only reports news when there is a big issue, often ignoring other issues that are just as important. We should work together to support BLM around our school.

Rocketry is a difficult but fun activity that goes on in our community. Many times a rocket will fail by crashing into the ground or even mud. However, members of the rocketry team have learned how to respond to these failures by working to fix their mistakes. The rocket team was supposed to go to nationals in 2020, but that did not happen because of the pandemic. The team had to learn how to fix a rocket, work together, and other things, by going virtual in 2020. In the end, the pandemic did not get the best of the rocketry team because they have learned skills to help them work together as a team.

EDITOR'S NOTE

This is my last time serving as editor of the Interlake Inquirer :

the release of this summer publication marks my final issue as a member of my high school newspaper club community. I am so proud of how far we have come since I was, well, a fresh-faced freshman. Sending love and luck to the future writers and editors of the incredible Interlake Inquirer team!

- Andrea Liao, Senior (Class of 2021), President & Editor-in-Chief (2019-2021)