thelegendonline Opinions

Sommer’s Salt

By Sommer Fowler

Whoever said high school years were the best of his life obviously never went through college applications.  These applications are the height of the high school career.  Every exhausting all-nighter, uninteresting extra AP course, and hellish SAT prep class was endured with dreams of our happy selves prancing through college campuses drenched in newfound independence.  By the time senior year crashes down like a pile of textbooks, most students are ready to embrace the well-deserved senioritis.  Only one task stands in the way—college applications.

As most students did, I spent three years of my life interrogating admission directors and scouring online statistics for the perfect formula to boost my chances of being accepted to college.  All this effort was met by phrases like “just be yourself” and “show your own personality”.  To everyone who is starting to believe these vague truths, allow me to clarify.  You should be yourself, as long as “yourself” includes straight A’s.  Showing your personality is crucial, as long as it is just quirky enough to distinguish you from the pack but not so much that you sound like you eat near the trash cans alone every lunch.  Also, if that personality does not fit into essays of 350 words or less you should probably find a new one.

Although the minority, some students decide to apply outside California—because being an extra thousand miles away from parents is worth doubled tuition—and must complete separate applications.  There are only so many essays I can write on how magnificent I am before I run out of ways to say it.  With the regular workload of classes in mind, the several hours spent on a single application is a daunting task.  As fashionable as gray hair became in the last year, I do not appreciate the gray strands application stress has generously gifted me.

Once the worst is over, the forms are complete and ready to submit, there is one last slap in the face.  A hefty price tag awaits applicants serving as a gentle reminder of the textbooks they will have to pay for next year.  This year UC applicants shelled out 70 dollars for each school—a price that caused me to second guess my chances of being admitted.

While PHHS has excellent counselors on staff who are ready to guide you through the treacherous process, there is only so much they can do.  Teachers can help you find your own voice, as mine have, but what you do with it is your choice.  The college application process will be long and difficult.  It will force you to be genuine with yourself to a degree you may have never reached before.  It will be undeniably awful but once it is over you have something else to worry about—admission decisions.

thelegendonline Features

The lovely sounds of winter

By Sophia Xiao

Hundreds of band and orchestra students from Piedmont Hills High, Sierramont Middle and Piedmont Middle School performed together in their annual collaboration concert on Jan. 20.  Audience members packed the L-Building to watch the concert titled “The Sounds of Winter.”

“I think it was a big success,” said band teacher Myles Ellis.  “We got lots of parents and students in the audience to come see our concert from the middle school. That’s why we do this, in order to have the incoming parents see what the music program is like.”

The middle schools’ Advanced Bands and Orchestras each performed two songs on their own and a third song with Piedmont Hills Concert Band and String Orchestra.  However, practicing together was difficult under the circumstances.

“What we did was (orchestra teacher) Ms. Ray and myself went over and we worked with the middle schoolers at their school. And then we could report back to our groups: they take it this fast, or they’re having a little trouble over here… That was the best we could do.  There was no way to get all of those people together in one place at one time, so it just kind of had to work,” explained Mr. Ellis.

Although the different schools hadn’t worked together until the actual concert, the students paid close attention to the conductors and were able to use the advice from Mr. Ellis and Ms. Ray to deliver a strong performance together.

After the middle school students finished playing all their pieces, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble each took the stage to showcase what Piedmont Hills’ music program.  Symphony Orchestra’s first piece, the Andante movement from Haydn’s Surprise Symphony, was conducted by senior and Sierramont Graduate Jerry Yen instead of Ms. Ray.

“Conducting in front of just people in general is really nerve wracking, especially when you first get on stage and do that first beat. A lot of the times the problem is that the orchestra can’t come in together, especially since I’m an amateur conductor,” admitted Jerry.  “It’s nerve wracking, but once you get into the groove of it, it’s a lot of fun.”
Piedmont Hills hopes to continue this tradition in later years in order to keep bringing more incoming students into the music program.

thelegendonline Features

The good, bad and ugly of 2016

By Vivian Lin

India plants 50 million trees in one day
Over 800,000 volunteers in India helped plant 49.3 million trees in one day in an effort to fight climate change. India made a commitment at the Paris Climate Conference and promised to spend $6 million to reforest 12% of its land. The volunteers smashed the previous world record of 847,275 trees planted in one day, set by Pakistan.

Brexit
On June 23, 2016, the people of Britain voted to leave the European Union and stunned the world. 30 million voted, and “Leave the EU” won 52% to 48%. The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, resigned from office the day after the vote. He was replaced by Theresa May, who will handle how Britain will exit the EU in regards to future relationships with the EU and the new rights of British citizens.

Orlando shooting
49 people were killed and 53 were injured in the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States on June 12, 2016. The shooting happened at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. The shooter was identified at as Omar Matee, a 29-year-old security guard.

Olympics in Brazil
The 2016 Summer Olympics were held in Rio de Janeiro. For the first time, Refugee Olympic Team, composed of ten athletes from five different countries, participated in the games. The team brought some much needed attention to the on-going refugee crisis. USA swimmer Michael Phelps added five more medals to his collection and won a record number of 28 medals overall.

Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew was born from a tropical wave that came from the Windward Islands on September 18,2016. From there, it demolished regions in the Caribbean Islands and the Southeast United States. Flooding as much as three feet above the ground impacted parts in Florida as ocean levels reached record level heights, as much as five feet above normal levels.

Cubs win World Series after 108 years
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series with an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game Seven. The team beat the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers to secure a spot against the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. In the best-of-seven series, the Indians had a 3-2 lead, but the Cubs pulled through and won Games Six and Seven.

Juno to Jupiter
Having set off more than five years ago, the Juno spacecraft finally reached Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, on July 4, 2016. By maneuvering the spacecraft to perform 35 flybys around the planet before 2018, scientists hope to learn more about Jupiter’s origin, structure, and atmosphere. The spacecraft is named for the ancient Roman goddess of love and marriage and Jupiter is named after the supreme god of Roman mythology.

Fake News
Articles publishing false information and bolstering conspiracy theories floated around the internet during 2016, especially during the election. Satirical news publishers, like the Onion, have been around for a while, but this new species of fake news can mislead people in ways that may not seem obvious at first glance. Sites like “The Denver Guardian” and the “Conservative Daily Post” were reported as hoaxes and had published fake articles regarding the election.

Leonardo DiCaprio wins an Oscar
Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role (finally!) for his performance in The Revenant. He was nominated five times before, first in 1993, but had never won the award until 2016. Dicaprio suffered a great deal for his role as Hugh Glass, from eating raw liver to facing freezing temperatures in Canada.

Ozone layer is healing
A hole in the ozone layer, the layer in the earth’s atmosphere that protects us from harmful UV rays, is showing signs of recovery. The hole was originally discovered in 1985 as a result of the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. According to scientists, the hole has shrunk 1.5 million miles, and a full recovery is expected to be made around 2050.

Bees are dying
Beekeepers in the U.S. lost over 40% of their bee population from April 2015-April 2016. There are several different attributions as to why this insect population is decreasing such as pesticides and harmful parasites. Bees pollinate about 70% of produce grown in the United States, and their disappearance would have devastating consequences.

Zika virus
A widespread epidemic of Zika ravaged the United States in early 2016 and was declared a public health emergency by WHO (World Health Organization) in February. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes birth defects in babies after they are delivered.

Giant pandas not endangered
A long-time symbol of animal conservation, the giant panda has finally been taken off the endangered species list. The panda population has increased enough to be moved to the category “vulnerable.” In 2014, there were only 1,864 pandas in the wild. At the end of 2016, the number reached 2,060.

thelegendonline Features

Sadies brings tropical charm

By Syed Rahim

This Saturday, Piedmont Hills plans to host its traditional Sadie Hawkins dance. The dance is scheduled to take place in the L Building at 7pm.  Piedmont Hills ASB has decided on a Hawaiian theme for this year’s event, focusing on good vibes and the nice weather.

In recent years, the Sadies dance has been cancelled due to low ticket sales.  This year, however, ASB Treasurer Brandon Dimapasoc hopes that students will buy enough tickets in order to host the dance.

“We just really want to have as much attendance as possible because it’s something that we haven’t had for a while,” states Brandon. “We want to reintroduce it because it’ll be a really fun dance.”

The money raised from Sadies goes to events like Homecoming and Fantastics, as well as other dances.  If more students buy tickets for Sadies, the school can spend more money on these events, and ultimately host better functions.

The Sadie Hawkins dance is based off of the popular early 20th century comic strip, “Li’l Abner,” in which unmarried women chased bachelors for their hand in marriage.

The first known occurrence of the dance took place on Nov. 9, 1938.  Within two decades, Sadie Hawkins was celebrated at over 40,000 different venues.

As it spread across the nation, it began to take on new names. In San Antonio, Texas, it’s known as the “Ladies Choice Dance,” and in Dearborn, Mich., it’s called the “Sponge Dance.” IN Western US, it is aslo called “MORPs,” which is prom spelled backwards.

By defying traditional gender expectations, the Sadie Hawkins dance became a tool to empower women. It became a way for girls to break free from their domestic chains.

Despite the relevant symbolism of Sadies, Piedmont Hills has a history of cancelling this iconic dance. At press time, the dance is still scheduled to happen, but there is a possibility of cancellation.

thelegendonline Pirate of the Issue

Pirate of the Issue: Michael Wang

By Andrew Huynh

Well versed in French, academically talented, and a world-class fencer — junior Michael Wang is definitely a catch.

All while juggling five AP classes alongside taking French 3, he also used to tutor children of all ages at Cureton Elementary School.

Although having only fenced competitively for two years, he once managed to become one of the top 20 fencers in the nation for his age group and even placed in the top 16 for summer nationals.

“I started recreational fencing five years ago,” says Michael.

He left his original recreational fencing club to follow a friend without knowing the new club was competitive.

“I had no intent to do it competitively, but as time went on, the good fencers and my friends kept leaving the recreational club,” explains Michael.

He was originally a swimmer, but decided to pick up fencing upon realizing how much he “really hated [swimming].” He was reportedly bad at swimming and drowned a lot.

“A third of my body weight was probably water because I drank so much while swimming,” jokes Michael. “I asked my mom to switch sports, and she said I could fence.”

He has also traveled abroad to represent the United States in world class competitions.

“I went to Austria at end of October for a big competition,” states Michael. “I fenced against a very skilled Swiss kid and lost, but I did very well in pools.”

Although his mom forces him to continue the sport, he does actually enjoy it all the same.

“It’s a really satisfying sport because it’s fun to analyze and exploit my opponent’s habits,” he explains.

Top ranks and serious skills are not the only thing he’s gained from fencing. Michael has been able to meet many people from his various expeditions as a fencer.

“I made a lot of friends too,” says Michael. “I met an Austrian kid who knew about Harambe.”

He continues to fence and strives to become the best player he could possibly be each day.

thelegendonline News

President Trump to lead America

By Trevor Glassey

The United States swore in its 45th President on Jan. 20 when Donald J. Trump was inaugurated into office. After winning the presidential election on Nov. 8, 2016, the Republican nominee took office three months later, and started writing out many executive orders.

Inauguration Day was marred by controversy regarding the new president. Sixty members of Congress boycotted the inauguration, while many musical artists declined to perform. Furthermore, the morning of Inauguration Day saw riots in Washington DC near the parade route. In the midst of the protests, four presidents – Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama – attended the inauguration. Numerous marches in protest also rose up after the event.

The swearing-in ceremony began at 11:30 am (EST) when Mike Pence took the oath to become the new Vice President of the United States. Trump followed as he was sworn into the presidency by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. A number of students were allowed to watch the inauguration in their US government or economics class.

“I don’t think Trump will do as badly as people think,” expresses senior Jay Tat. “We should remain optimistic and keep an open mind.”

In his inauguration speech, Trump envisioned an “America First” policy; he focused on providing jobs for Americans, criticizing American support of other nations while not providing such support for the country itself. He vowed to make decisions that would benefit Americans in topics like foreign policy, commerce and taxes.

“Together, we will make America strong again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again,” concluded Trump. “And yes, together, we will make America great again.”

With President Trump finally inaugurated, the question of what will he do with this new power was quickly answered. Many in the Bay Area fear what has happened, in outrage at his recent actions. One of Trump’s first actions was to roll back ObamaCare, taking out key provisions, but still leaving it partially intact. He then moved on to leave the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), a move which some feel gives China too much power in the region, and will hurt the American economy. Soon afterwards, he signed in executive orders to begin construction of amount of border walls and to increase the number of people deporting immigrants and the criteria for being deported.

On Fri., Jan 27, Trump signed an executive order that stopped refugees in general from entering the US for 120 days, and from Syria until the Trump administration deems it safe. He also banned entrance by people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia. This ban was vilified upon its release, with protests spawning at airports around the country, opposed to the ban and the effects it had. Many people from these countries with valid visas were detained on arrival or prevented from boarding when the order was signed into effect. Iranian National and english teacher Babak Shahrivar heritage heard of the ban on his way back from Canada.

“I was very nervous. What does this mean when I get married? Can my family not come?” lamented Mr. Shahrivar. “My fiancee Rachel and I were planning on going to Iran — can we not anymore?”

The ban was set into place to prevent Islamic terrorists from entering the country, yet of the Muslim majority countries ban, no major terrorist attacks have come from these countries. That said, the ban has heavily affected many people living in the United States who have family living in countries like Iran.

“We have a really multicultural campus, but we don’t have a strong Muslim presence,” explains Mr. Shahrivar. “I encourage people to engage with people who have friends and family in these countries. It’s important when things like this happen for people to be educated, so their ignorance can’t be taken advantage of.”

Trump’s most recent major action was to nominate federal appellate judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Neil Gorsuch is known as being being a conservative judge against judicial activism and in favor of strict construction. That said, he is called a fair judge by a number of people, and they hope he will aid as a bulwark against some of Trump’s more extreme actions.

The Trump administration is lacking quite badly in terms of popularity. According to five different polls including the Washington Post, NBC News and CNN, Trump has on average only 41% approval for his transition into presidency with an average disapproval rate of 52%, lower than even Bush’s approval in his transition during the 2000 election.

“The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls. They are rigged just like before,” said Donald Trump on Twitter.

While the polls did end up being wrong during the election, it is important to realize that statistics come with a margin of error and the polls did give Trump over 33% chance of winning. Whether or not they’re perfect, the polls still offer insight into the opinions of the population.

Here at PHHS, many people fear Trump’s election. Social Science teacher Frank Cava doesn’t believe that Trump will do anything important, lacking both political background and the popular vote.

“He has no ideas of substance,” asserts Mr. Cava. “(He) will defer to the hard right conservatives to set (policies).”

Some students are uncertain of what to think of Trump’s plans, given how few he has actually announced

“He has yet to outline any concrete plans for the country’s internal affairs,” states senior Noah Galvan. “His foreign policy is not something I look forward to.”

While some may hope he will be unable to enact his more extreme policies, his coming to power is a historic event, as this is the first time a celebrity with no political or military background has been elected. This ends up being both a point for and against him as some praise his lack of career politics.

“He’s not an establishment candidate,” points out senior Andrew Giluso. “He can relate more to the public.”

To his supporters, Trump is an outsider of the political system able to focus on helping the American people. To his detractors, he is a loud-mouthed incompetent unable to serve the country’s needs. Either way, these next four years under Trump will be an important presidency.

thelegendonline Opinions

Unplug modern-day love

By Sean Tseng

Technology permeates every aspect of life. Turn on your phone and countless apps fight for your attention with red-bubble notifications and endless information to scroll through. Social media overflows with unfiltered thoughts, littering platforms unchecked, and the latest victim of the internet seems to be the integrity of news and rise of “alternative facts.” Yet perhaps the most shameful victim of technology today, one that has been derailed in almost every way by contemporary lifestyles, is romance.

The toxicity of technology upon romance is clearly evident even on the most superficial of levels. The world of dating has been reduced to staring at screens for the perfect lighting and the most photogenic guy or gal to strike you as “the one.” Flowers at the door before a date have turned into bouquets of “I’m here” texts and two-dimensional rose emojis. The virtual vibrancy of technology has left traditional romance gray and withered. Just a cursory glance at society around us shows modern love trading in depth for simplicity.

Technology emphasizes efficiency and ease, two factors that repeatedly shortchange romance. The seemingly user-friendly “swipe right” format of popular dating apps like Tinder encourages superficial judgments and reduces attraction down to mere pixels on a screen. Convenience has trumped quality, and important conversations like break-ups are now occurring over the internet.

According to a 2015 Pew Research Center poll, 31% of adolescents have experienced a break up through social media or text. With such practices growing more and more commonplace, new generations are losing touch with the importance of in-person interaction. This tech-ridden lifestyle breeds bad habits in love.

Technology also poses as a point of contention within many relationships. A 2013 Princeton Survey Research Associates International survey found that 42% of 18-to-29-year-olds said their partners have been distracted by their phones. This conclusion was drawn from only a small sampling of the general population—some 2,000 people. Yet this issue is so prevalent that the internet has dubbed it “phone snubbing” or “p-phubbing.”

Phone snubbing, in which a person is ignored for the internet, happens so often that Princeton’s survey also found that 18% of couples in that small sampling had argued over the amount of time the other was spending online or on their phones. These numbers are only the tip of the technological iceberg that is ultimately sinking modern-day Jack and Rose’s love.

Beneath surface-level complications and inconveniences, high-tech dating introduces a world of uncertainty and danger. Online dating platforms are essentially markets, and those who advertise the best are the most successful. There’s no room for honesty. A quick search of “catfished” on Google yields a million results and several articles detailing the lengths some go through to lie their way into relationships.

In the age of technology, anyone is susceptible to being catfished or misled by online appearances. Many, from celebrities like college football star Manti Te’o or country singer Brad Paisley to everyday people, have fallen victim to the murky waters of scammers hiding behind virtual profiles.

Take the case of LA resident Paula Bonhomme for example, as reported by thoughtcatalog.com. In 2005, Ms. Bonhomme fell for an alleged firefighter named Jesse through online interactions. She exchanged numerous gifts with Jesse over the course of their relationship, totaling at $10,000 in losses when she realized the truth and unsuccessfully attempted to sue the responsible party.

Each aspect of modern love has been negatively impacted by technology. Courting has fallen flat, relationships have become strained and catfished victims have suffered consequences both emotional and financial. For all of technology’s convenient and inventive benefits, romance is most assuredly not one of them.

thelegendonline Opinions

Embrace the connectivity

By Michelle Lin

Technology has become the solid foundation of society—as a matter of fact, there is little that we do today without the aid of some technology. Whether it be watching Netflix, scrolling through Tumblr, or messaging a friend on Facebook, our means of communication lie primarily in the small electronic devices grasped so tightly in our fists. As such, there is no wonder that many have also been turning to technology as a mode for meeting new people and developing romantic relationships.

In a world that’s been revolutionized by technology, apps for dating have become sources full of information. Tinder, for instance, connects people from their surrounding areas, dramatically increasing the dating pool with just one right swipe and a congratulatory match. With the option to narrow down selections by changing the distance or the age category, it’s become far simpler than ever to meet those around you.

Whether you are on the app to find a relationship or to make new friends, the chances of meeting people you may not usually meet outside of a packed schedule have grown tremendously with such innovations, and will simply continue to do so as long as technology remains a factor in modern society.

Take married couple, Jenny Shaab and Ben Marder, for instance, as reported by Business Insider. The couple met on Tinder in early 2013, and just a year and a half later, were happily married through what they believe was “fate.” Yet the Marders are just one example of successful relationships through online dating apps.

According to a spokesperson from Tinder, as reported to Tech Insider, Tinder “receives hundreds of stories each month from people who met on Tinder and are now engaged or married.” Despite the lack of hard numbers and scientific studies in this area, evidence of successful relationships can be found through the #swipedright hashtag posted on Tinder’s website that encourages users to discuss their love stories through Twitter and Instagram. Tinder, as well as other forms of dating apps, has proven effective to so many users today.

For the past decade, technology has also been an aid to communication between long-distance relationships. Rather than sending letters and postcards in the mail to be received in several days—perhaps even weeks—people are more instantly able to connect with others. Friends or significant others are just a few short messages away through social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter, which further allow people to stay updated on one another’s lives.

According to the Pew Research Center, social media helps teens feel closer to their romantic partners. 59% of adolescents with experience being in a relationship claim that social media allows them to feel more connected to what’s happening in their significant other’s life. Technology has been shown to benefit those who simply don’t have the opportunity or ability to be close to those they love.

With social media as a medium, technology has also been a large supplement to people who suffer from social anxiety. Without the initial face-to-face interactions, people are able to connect more easily and directly through non-threatening forums.

“Using social media could be helpful for people who have social anxiety,” explains mental health counselor Bill Munze. “Whether social media (hinders) more than assisted a person (rests) on the individual.”

Even non-dating platforms have the potential to connect people with common interests and spark relationships that would have never been possible otherwise. These websites and apps encourage people to communicate freely without the fear of struggling to respond in social situations and being scrutinized.

With the rise of the modern age, technology has been a beneficial means towards achieving romance. Dating apps such as Tinder or Hinge have connected people within surrounding areas, and social media has aided long-distance relationships and those with social anxiety. Modern romance is just one simple convenience of technology today.

thelegendonline Opinions

Five important tips for interviews

By Lawrence Su (Guest Writer)

Whether you’re out there looking for a job, applying for college, or trying to get an officer position in a club, knowing how to smash that interview is quintessential. Having been to a couple of interviews myself, I present to you five of my most important tips for interviews:

Prepare for possible questions. One of the most common questions asked is, “What is your weakness?” If you can’t answer that question, go ahead and add that to your current list of weaknesses. Being able to answer questions swiftly and confidently will not only impress the interviewer, but also showcase your fit with the organization. By practicing with a friend or writing out a response to some possible questions, you can save yourself from a torrent of unprofessional “uhs” or awkward silences.

Dress for success. If you’re wearing something that you think your grandma would get a heart attack from, change your clothes—but don’t dress like you’re going to said grandma’s funeral either. It should be obvious that you’d want to make a good first impression; so by wearing a titillating tie or a blazing blazer, you’re showing to your interviewer that you mean business. Make sure to give yourself enough time, too, to dress up and not be late for that interview—get there on time!

Be yourself. If you find yourself having to be “someone else,” then you might as well not show up. Don’t resort to trickery or facades; interviewers can most likely see through that. By being who you are and responding sincerely to interview questions, you’re increasing your chances of landing that position that much more. Authenticity is always the way to go.

Ask questions. When asked if they have any questions, most applicants answer, “No,” to which Donald Trump would say, “WRONG.” Whether it’s a job, college, or club interview, asking questions gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. Furthermore, this demonstrates your interest and possible proactive engagement towards the organization.

Thank your interviewer. Congratulations! You’ve finished your interview! But before you go charging out to reward yourself with a bowl of pho, don’t forget to thank the interviewer(s) right before you leave. Once you get back home, write a thank you email or even a letter if you’re feeling fancy. This is not only courteous, but advantageous when compared to other applicants who don’t even bother to say thanks.

It’s okay to be nervous; that’s why they’re called interviews. Interviews are there for you to display who you are. If you end up not getting that job, going to that college or getting that officer position, it’s okay—they don’t deserve someone as great as you anyway. ♦

thelegendonline Opinions

Celebrating traditions old and new

By Erica Xie

The start of a new year also comes with the culturally rich months of January and February. These two months hold many spirited and beloved festivities. the biggest of which include Lunar New Year and Black History Month.

On Sat., Jan. 28, many East Asian countries and communities celebrated Lunar New Year, the first day of the year according to the lunar calendar.  This holiday is characterized with red envelopes for the children (or the unmarried) and the gathering of families to begin the new year.  Each individual family or community may have different traditions from each other.

For some, they visit the temple to pray for a fruitful year, while others have a big dinner with family.  There is a variety of different types of clothing and food available, including but not limited to the Vietnamese dress for girls áo dài, the Chinese cake nián gāo or any type of red clothing.

A tradition in my family, for example, is cleaning the house and wearing some sort of new clothing to start the year off lucky. There’s a lot of fēng shuǐ (superstition) involved in the customs during Lunar New Year and many of the traditions are play on words to ensure a good year ahead.  An example of this is the previously mentioned nián gāo, which means cake but also sounds like the characters for “high year.”

In addition, February is Black History Month, a month meant to raise awareness and appreciation for the often untold or overlooked stories of African Americans.  This event developed more recently than Lunar New Year, sprouting from “Negro History Week.”

The month was first recognized by the American government in 1976. During the years of the Civil Rights Movement, Black History Month grew with increasing popularity.

Each year, a theme is designated to the month.  This year, in 2017, the theme is “The Crisis in Black Education” (ASALH).  ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) provides an annual Black History Month kit which contains a Black History Bulletin that aims to help teachers and event coordinators design lesson plans around the annual theme to give a voice to the voiceless (madamenoire.com). Piedmont Hills’ own BSU (Black Student Union) is also presenting a person of the day with short descriptions of his or her’s achievements of contributions during announcements.

These cultures truly bring a richness to the unique and eclectic aura of America.  As the media and education progressively integrates cultural aspects into their everyday lives more cultures will be accepted and celebrated in society.