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Varsity Softball home runs into CCS, JV finishes league strong

By Harleen Kaur

 

Varsity and JV Softball finished off the regular season strong; Varsity with a record of 9-3 and the JV team ended with a final record of 7-0.

Varsity faced a challenge when they played against Prospect and lost with a score of 8-6.

“We hit really well in the first inning and we started out really strong but we hit a road bump,” said Varsity Outfielder and Catcher Kylee Nielsen.

Meanwhile, the JV team’s last game was against Gunderson and the game ended with a victory for the Pirates with a score of 10-0.

Varsity made a comeback after a losing streak with a win against Willow Glen with a score of 10-2.

“This was a really important win because (Willow Glen’s) coach happened to be our old coach,” explained Varsity Pitcher Kailani Medina.

Both teams practice two times a week in preparation for two games a week.

“We practice hitting and situations that would happen in games to prepare us for when they actually happen during games,” said JV Catcher and Right Fielder Emalina Martinez.

Varsity has been practicing very hard in order to make it into CCS (Central Coast Section) playoffs.

“I’ve been working hard to fix my mistakes because I make them a lot but I’m learning how to get over them and grow to become a better player,” said Varsity Right Field and Pitcher Miranda Torres.

After the outcomes of Varsity’s last few games, Varsity made it to CCS playoffs.

“I’m very proud of us making it to CCS and hope we do well even though we have to go to Palo Alto,” stated Nielson.

Many players enjoyed playing at various games but some games stood out more than others.

“The game against Westmont has to be my most memorable of this season since it was in the rain and it was a challenge,” shared Martinez.

The Varsity team shared their aspirations and goals for next year’s season.

“I would want to make sure more often that everybody knows that they are a part of the team and that everyone plays a part,” explained Nielson.

The softball girls also expressed a grievance.

“On a less serious note, I would like it if we wore less white pants at games because they are so hard to wash,” said Nielson.

Many girls hope to train harder to improve for next year’s season.

“We compare ourselves to other girls but in a sense where we tend to look up to each other and want to be like each other,” stated Martinez.

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CCS championships for swim

By Divya Verma

 

On May 3, the swim team competed in CCS (Central Coast Section) at the George F. Haines International Swim Center. Warm-ups started at 12 p.m. and the meet began at 2 p.m. for the CCS championship. There were many different schools that came together to participated in CCS.

“Numerous swimmers from public and private schools in five different counties, and some even in San Francisco come to compete in this highly competitive and exhilarating championship,” said Ariel Pham.

The boys that participated in CCS were Andrew Hoang, Andrew Nguyen, Jonathan Nguyen, David Tabilas, Eric Tran, Steven Tran, Louis Santos, Matthew Santos, James Savella and Chris Yi.

The girls that participated were Michelle Komet, Lilly Lui, Megan Nghiem, Ariel Pham, Elise Pham and Kimberly Pham.

“I feel like the team is a lot stronger compared to all the other years I’ve been at Piedmont. There were a lot of fast incoming freshmen this year and the team we are bringing to CCS will be the biggest it’s been in a while,” said Eric Tran.

This year’s CCS team consisted of swimmers from both the swim team and swim club. For some events, swimmers competed as individuals and for others, as a team.

“I like to participate as a team because we all recognize each other’s goals and we push each other to achieve them on the days where people show up to practice,” said Andrew Nguyen.

CCS swimmers have been practicing for CCS since the beginning of the season through going to meets. Boys ranked 16th place and the girls did not have an overall ranking.

“Some important results that came out of the meet were that boys placed 14th in 200 medley relay, 11th in 200 free relay and 11th in 400 free relay. The boys placed 16th overall, which was the CCS finish in school history and the first state championship consideration time for a relay (200 free) in school history,” said Pham.

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ESUHSD hosts Very Special Prom and Jogathon

By Katie Tran & Nghi Nguyen

 

ESUHSD’s (East Side Union High School District) speech therapists host annual Jogathon on April 19 at Overfelt High School and Very Special Prom on Fri., May 10 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza.

The Jogathon is an adaptive PE (physical education) event, one of the Special Education program’s major fundraisers where family and friends of students pledge a donation for every lap they are able to run.

Prom is an event that can be seen as an exciting event to many high school students. It can also be seen as the highlight of their high school careers.

“The event is (about) giving our students with disabilities the same opportunities that their regular peers experience as a high school student, including social events such as prom,” says Special Ed teacher Maria Casiano.

Through Jogathon, students feel a sense of pride and accomplishment because they are able to show their families all their hard work and determination in running laps.

“With perseverance and hard work, you can do anything regardless of whether you have a disability or not,” says Special Ed teacher Ethyl Santos.

The Very Special Prom had the theme of Hollywood Stars. It consisted of dancing and eating in fine dining setting.

“The best part about this event is that our students dress up, and they can have a good time with their peers,” states Special Ed teacher Rowena Vocal.

About 100 teachers and staff from Piedmont Hills, Overfelt, Silver Creek and James Lick were in attendance for Jogathon. Other schools that participated in previous years include Santa Teresa, Yerba Buena and Evergreen, although they didn’t attend this year.

“With this event, students increase their gross motor skills, as well as social skills as they are able to meet other students from the other schools which have the specialized program,” says Mrs. Vocal.

A total of of about two-hundred students and staff came to the Very Special Prom from different schools that have specialized programs such as Silver Creek, Overfelt, James Lick, Yerba Buena, Santa Teresa, and Evergreen high school.

“We are hoping that this social event will continue year after year,” says Mrs. Casiano.

Shirts for the Jogathon event are donated by our very own Insane Ink to runners, which they’ve been doing for the past few years.

The importance of the Very Special Prom and Jogathon can be seen from the students that attended.

“I really loved going to these events, because I could be with my friends,” states Freshman Nevaeh Ortiz.

 

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Where do you see yourself in 10 years

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Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

By Divya Verma

 

  • Baron Lee
    • “I wish that I would be a music teacher in 10 years”
  • Eric Chau
    • “If all works out, I’d be a Captain in the United States Army. Hopefully, I’d be serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment with some of the finest soldiers in the country.”
  • Shawn Hong
    • “I’d say I see myself in my career (physical therapy) and hope getting to a place where I can live comfortably and maybe a wife and kids” (photo taken)
  • Jessica De La Cruz
    • “I see myself having a stable job and having my own house”
  • Stacey Thai
    • Ten years from now, when I’m 28, I see myself living somewhere out of the Bay Area such as Oregon. My home would be cozy and be full of my life. I’d like to live with a few dogs, a snake, or maybe a few chickens. By then, I’d like to have earned my bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. If I don’t get too tired of school, I’ll get my Master’s Degree for Physical Therapy. I would like to coach sports teams or do PT to support myself when I’m an independent adult.
  • Raymond Phoung
    • Working at AT&T full time with a very nice sports car with tons of anime stickers over it. I also see myself being in a car enthusiast group. I will also be drinking nonstop milk tea. Boba for life.
thelegendonline Features, Uncategorized

How to stay cool

By Justin Wang

The first technique is to be grateful.

Smiles go for miles; realize that it definitely gets hotter than the San Jose heat and you most likely have access to the wealth and the materials needed to cool yourself. Welcome to the club, you just got to try a little bit harder and play the game, smarter.

Technique number two is to find cold water.

To cool down you’ll need to find something colder than you.

The good news is that most showers can trickle onto you a barrage of cold water, ready to transfer heat away from you and into the drain.

Alternatively, fill up a bath with cold water.

Being naked for this technique is recommended, but if you want to take some of the water with you when you get out, you can let your clothes absorb the water for an extended time of coolness.

For a more social alternative, a trip to the local pool or beach can allow for enjoyment of the sun and the water.

Cool down with your friends or just enjoy the outside and connect with marine life.

Also try drinking cold water and hydrate yourself.

The hydration can help your body to produce sweat.

Sweating is a hassle free method to get water on your body if you let it evaporate.

Technique number three is to replace the air around you with cooler air.

If the air around you is hot, try circulating it with a fan or alternatively a mist fan.

If you opt for a mist fan or to get water on you by using things like a spray bottle or just wet clothes, the water and air will work in tandem to cool you down.

If you have air conditioning, turn it on, but even if you don’t there’s still hope.

The last technique is to go somewhere else.

Take a trip to the local library, museum or refrigerator section of your local grocery store, there’s likely to be an air conditioning system there.

While slogging through the summer heat, you may begin to wish for a world without summer. If you truly desire it, the last technique is to take a trip to a suitable country in the Southern Hemisphere. For example, from June through Aug. it’s winter in Australia.

So if you time your trips just right you can avoid the summer season for the rest of your life.

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Summer full of style

Schools out and so is the sun. This summer, get ahead of the trends and explore your style.

Some current trends this summer are neon colors (green, yellow, pink), animal print, bohemian style, big brim hats, sunglasses, open back or strapless tops or dresses. A rule of thumb is if at least ten people don’t absolutely hate your outfit, it’s not worth wearing because you’re not taking enough risk.

You can even put yourself out there and start your own trend for the upcoming summer. You can always add an oversized denim jacket to any outfit. Denim jackets are lightweight so you won’t overheat, but it also goes with anything. Pair it with denim jeans and add a pop of color with a solid color tank top or t-shirt. Denim jackets also go great with dresses and shorts.

You can also keep it simple with a t-shirt and jeans, but to make your outfit stand out rip a couple holes in your t-shirt. You can either rip the holes in the back of the shirt to give you an open back or in the front of the shirt to give you a more relaxed and edgy vibe. Your ripped t-shirt would also go great with overall shorts. They are cute and perfect for the summer. Then, if you’re a hat lover, you should think about getting a baker boy hat. You can practically wear them with anything like a summer blouse and jeans or a t-shirt and shorts.

Summer is a time when you are essentially trying to wear things that will not make you want to take off your entire outfit because it is so uncomfortable having to sit in your own pile of sweat. Some things that can help you be comfortable in the summer is wearing loose clothing. The loose and textured fabrics is guaranteed to keep you cool in the summer. With loose clothes flowing around your body compared to clothes sticking to you, it will promote more air circulation. This statement is also true for textured fabrics such as linen and seersucker. These fabrics only touch parts of the epidermis, allowing for air channels to open up.

Another method to stay cool is by wearing light colors. It’s no question why people do not wear black to stay cool in the summer: the color absorbs more heat. By wearing lighter colors, light is reflected rather than absorbed, keeping you cool.

There are so many places with amazing sales going on where you get new clothes for the summer. H&M has a 15% discount off your entire purchase plus free shipping, Forever 21’s entire store is 30% off and Tillys and Zumiez are having a deal where if your purchase is over $49, shipping is free.

thelegendonline Centerspread, Cultural Corner, Uncategorized

Local Summer Shenanigans

By Devonna Dang

 

If you’re looking for a summer adventure but don’t have much money, you’re in luck! Here in the Bay Area, there is so much to explore.

First, let’s discuss how to get from location to location. Our very first option is public transportation if you currently do not have your own car. Luckily, again, the Bay Area has an amazing public transportation system. If you’re looking to go anywhere from Fremont, Downtown San Jose, Palo Alto or San Francisco, you’re covered. Some local transportation systems are the VTA buses, the VTA light rail, BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Caltrain.

Public transportation is very affordable. For the youth, a VTA bus fare is a discounted $1.25 and Caltrain and BART also offer a discounted fare.

Currently, the closest working BART is in South Fremont. However, a Milpitas BART is having an opening in November 2019.

A place that is calling for adventure and is only a $10.50 Caltrain fare ride away is San Francisco. Golden Gate Park is a great place to visit in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Park is a large urban park consisting of 1,017 acres of public grounds. Some establishments that should be visited is the Japanese Tea Garden, the DeYoung museum, Conservatory of Flowers and Cal Academy of Sciences. There is much to explore and to appreciate when you are there.

The Bay Area is also a great place to go hiking. Some hiking places include Mission Peak (10.4 miles from school), Sunol Regional Wilderness (24.1 miles from school) and Alamere Falls (88.7 miles from school). Mission Peak is a six mile hike that has a poll at the top to signify your hike’s success. Sunol Regional Wilderness is a great place to hike if you are on the pursuit of finding a waterfall. Despite the distance, Alamere Falls’ scenery and experience you get is quite worth it.

Another great way to spend summer is exploring museums. Some museums to visit include the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Exploratorium, San Francisco Museum of Art, Asian Art Museum, The Walt Disney Family Museum, Cable Car Museum and the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

There’s no better time to do something you never do than in the summer. Go zip lining in the redwoods, complete a 5k or do some rock climbing. All in all, the Bay Area has adventure everywhere. If you’re free in the summer, get on a transit and explore what is out there for you.

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Cross Country is one hill of a sport

 

By Terry Tang

 

Senior Samantha Tran and sophomore Tyanne Tran are sisters who ran in BVAL (Blossom Valley Athletic League) and are qualified for CCS (Central Coast Section) Cross Country Championship.

S.Tran had been doing cross country since middle school while her sister also joined in middle school to compete with her sister.

“I choose to join cross country because when I was in middle school, I watched my sister run XC and I wanted to be as fast as her and I also wanted t push myself to see what I’m capable of accomplishing!” said T.Tran

“I think this year was a rough season for the team because we didn’t have summer conditioning. It was pretty tough getting back in shape for most of us and adjusting to different workouts with new coaches and all,” said S. Tran

Cross country usually have conditioning in the summer, but this year started on the second day of school. This is the first year that they have not made CCS. Despite not making CCS the team has still managed to maintain their spot in the A-League. The team usually run two miles everyday to build up their strength and stamina to prepare themselves for the cross country meets.

“I think our team put our hearts out into the courses and we really did the best we can given the circumstances of not having summer conditioning,” said T. Tran.

“I was surprised that my sister and I made (it into) CCS because competition was really though this season,” said S. Tran.

Cross country meets are usually held at Montgomery Hill. T. Tran’s time was 20:48 with her older sister S. Tran following close behind with a 21:01.

Some of the schools that competed in BVAL included Westmont and Independence. Piedmont Hills is one of the top teams as they are in the A-League.

“We run different distances everyday because we usually want to work on different areas to improve our running. An example of this can be like a long run can help improve our endurance while a short run will help improve our speed.” stated varsity cross country runner Alex Sen

This year’s CCS has been delayed two times due to the poor air quality and has been set to Sat. Nov. 17.

Coach Tan Nguyen and Coach Elisa Bryant have experience in running with not only just cross country, but also with track and field, weight training and dieting. They have degrees like kinesiology to help their players and also work out isolation practices in case a player gets injured. Assistant Coach Brandon Nguyen himself is working towards a Kinesiology degree which can help him in future careers like a personal trainer or full time coach.

“The coaches really believe in our abilities and they motivate all of us to push ourselves through our mental barriers. They help build strong team bonds to make use feel more confident as a team. I appreciate them for everything,” said S. Tran.

 

 

thelegendonline Features, Fun Page, Opinions

Alumni Advice Or Alumni Advice for you

By Mansi Patel

“Be patient with yourself! College (and beyond) will be a totally unfamiliar environment, filled with unfamiliar people. It’s okay if you don’t immediately have your life figured out or find “your people”. College classes are challenging – work hard, but also recognize that it’s (alright) to stumble! With that, it’s also important to be comfortable with being outside your comfort zone. As cheesy as it sounds, you have to challenge yourself and create the opportunity with growth. If you always stay within your bubble, you might not get the chance to meet an awesome mentor who might connect you to your future job or a friendly person who might become your best friend. Post-high school is an exciting journey and full of so much potential – enjoy it while you can! Congrats class of 2019! You did it!” -Runi Tanna, Class of 2014

 

“College is essentially a hub of people your age, just as confused about life and their future as you are. Use this time to explore, try new things, and figure out what you like and dislike. Scared of changing your major? Don’t worry, there are so many people who do that. Worried about living on your own or with new people? It’s (alright), roommates are just temporary. Petrified of the freshman 15? It’s ok, you’ll figure out how to fit the gym into your routine. In time you’ll be (somewhat?) of a master at juggling classes and adulting in the real world. Just make sure you’re always being your authentic self and the right people and opportunities will come your way.” – Johanna Au, Class of 2014

 

Be sure to celebrate your successes AND your failures. Both are part of the process of you becoming the best version of yourself. College opens up so many doors for growth- take this chance to embrace all the opportunities that speak to you. Strive to recognize your fullest potential, but also don’t forget to have fun!!! Surround yourself with supportive people, try something new, make memories, and find what fuels your fire. You have gotten this far, and are about to go so much further. Congrats, Class of 2019! -Colette Truong, Class of 2014

 

With so many choices to make post-high school, it is completely normal to be frustrated and lost. The good news is that these feeling won’t disappear for awhile. Even now at my second full-time job out of college, I still don’t have everything figured out! Life is about making mistakes and learning from them, however you need to first take that step out of your comfort zone to welcome these new experiences. Advice will come from all directions, but always remember that these are YOUR choices and YOUR life. Pouring thousands of dollars and countless years studying for a degree that makes you miserable won’t make you happy down the line. Don’t turn down an opportunity if you haven’t given it a chance. Don’t forget to call your parents when you’re busy making new friends. But most importantly, don’t forget to take care of yourself! -Vy Pham, Class of 2014

 

“College is a fresh start. Make the best of it from day 1. Engage with your professors, go to office hours, and set up a dedicated study schedule with no procrastination. Manage your time in a manner that suits you and helps you succeed in your courses. Also take time to relax and de-stress.” -Parth Upadhyay, Class of 2014

 

“Don’t chase success, chase excellence, success will follow.” -Yash Tanna, Class of 2018

 

“AP classes are a scam, take cc (community college) courses” -Trucdan Nguyen, Class of 2018

 

“Take online classes at Foothill for free as a high school student” -Derek Tang, Class of 2018

 

“Try all the extracurriculars you’re interested in during freshman year, because time will fly! Step out of your comfort zone.” -Namrata Shetty, Class of 2018

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Fun events to go to in the summer

By Trisha Trinh

 

Do you feel like you’re not going to have anything to do over the summer? There are a couple events during the break to keep you feeling rejuvenated and great. You will be having the time of your life and feel as if you aren’t wasting your summer away cooped up in your room.

Fanime- Are you into Japanese animation and culture? This event has it all with guest speakers at panels, merchandise, artwork and cosplayers. The event was created by the fans themselves to bring a community closer with their passion and love for anime. It’s filled with fantastic activities to do and being able to interact with others that share the same interests with you. Fanime is on May 24-27, a way to fill your event with Japanese culture.

Corgi-Con- An event that happens every year at the beach in San Francisco where you can hang out with corgis of all kinds. The event is on June 15 and starts at 10 a.m. It is a great event for all dog lovers and a reason to get out the house. There will be competitions such as costume contests or even corgi races. A perfect way to bond of over loveable and friendly dogs.

San Diego Comic-Con- This convention is made for all comic book lovers and those who are into the pop culture. With special guests from movies like the “Avengers” or “Star Wars” to ask burning questions you might have. The event includes artists from around the world to show off their expertise and artwork created for the fans. Cosplayers from all the popular shows and movies gathered at one place to show off their love and passion of their fandom. It is a spectacular event for all ages to experience and go to. Comic-Con starts on July 17-21 and it happens every year, so don’t miss it.

Outside Lands- A perfect way to end your summer with a bang by hearing your favorite music artists at the largest music festivals located in the heart of San Francisco. With headliners like “Childish Gambino” or “Flume”, this music festival will rock your heart out. Aside from the music, you can experience the taste of the Bay Area with a wide variety of food. Not to mention, a huge milk tea party for those boba lovers. If you are into music and food, this festival might be for you.

These events will keep you company in the summer if you cannot seem to find anything to do and to create memorable things along the way.