This trend is a product of the recent growth in preteen social media presence, driven by peer pressure and a lack of parental control. Children who frequently use technology and social media prevent themselves from creating important real-life connections and developing social-emotional skills crucial for adulthood. At the same time, they risk addiction, mental health issues and exposure to harmful content.

The ages 9 through 12 bridge the early-childhood and teenage years, and comprise a vital developmental period during which the brain is sensitive to outside influences. During this period, building connections and friendships with peers is essential. According to Mount Saint Mary College psychology professor Paul Schwartz, childhood friendships help develop social skills, including respecting others’ views and understanding conversational etiquette. Friendships also help children build a support system, decreasing their stress and increasing self-esteem.

Children who frequently use social media sites, however, are less likely to build friendships and more likely to have online-only peers, as a study led by research scientist Linda Charmaraman found in 2022. These digital relationships tend to be more superficial and less personal than in-person friendships, and therefore don’t serve as a proper support network. At the same time, preteens are more likely to engage in cyberbullying, and victims are at risk of psychological complications such as anxiety and isolation.

Access to social media has also created an environment that often promotes unrealistic standards. If children believe that their physiques fall short of the artificial image they compare themselves to, for example, they are likely to develop body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, according to a 2022 study headed by research scientist David Bickham. In a 2023 study from the American Psychological Association, adolescents who reduced their social media usage by 50% for a few weeks felt significantly better about their body and appearance.

Furthermore, younger children with unrestricted internet access may stumble upon sexual or violent content, leading them to become desensitized at an early age or to seek out such content of their own accord, as the American Academy of Pediatrics found. The Academy also found that adolescents lack the ability to regulate themselves online compared to adult users.

Parents of preteens can protect their children from the adverse effects of technology usage. To reduce the impact of addictive algorithms, parents should limit their children’s time on devices and prevent them from using certain social media sites, such as Instagram and Snapchat, until they are older. Social media companies must also realize the harm their products have inflicted and revise their policies to keep younger users from accessing their apps, with stricter age verification, better screening of mature content and increased parental-control options. Ultimately, parents must work with their children to minimize the pitfalls of technology so they learn how to use it in a healthy manner.

While Barkley was correct that professional sportspeople are not substitutes for parental figures, he neglected to note the value of the motivation that they impart to younger athletes. Whether they like it or not, professional athletes are in the national spotlight and must therefore use their platform conscientiously. That being said, younger fans also should observe their athletic role models with a critical eye, learning from their professional and character strengths and taking facts into consideration when controversy arises.

Barkley’s infamous 1993 Nike Air commercial sent shockwaves across the U.S. in an era when children truly saw athletes as heroes to emulate: Air Jordan sneakers were flying off the shelves and Wayne Gretzky was driving the NHL’s increase in popularity. In the decades since Barkley’s declaration, the rise of social media has allowed young players to see more of professional athletes’ lives: Every courageous play or charitable act is magnified tenfold — but so is each mistake and blemish in an athlete’s personal and professional life. This magnification makes it essential that athletes understand their influence on young fans.

Above all else, professional athletes inspire youth through their athletic prowess. Fans are awestruck by their favorite players’ performances on the grandest stages: They seek to mimic their heroes’ signature skills and even their mannerisms. Many young athletes have pretended to be their role models, rewinding highlight tapes on YouTube and then rushing outside to recreate each minute detail.

Beyond technique, professional athletes can also teach younger athletes important life skills. It takes poise, concentration and courage to play in front of tens of thousands of fans (and millions more on television). The stress that athletes face during games is second to none, and overcoming that pressure is an important skill for younger athletes to learn.

Professionals can show young fans how to have fortitude in the face of adversity. In the 2020 European Soccer Championship final between Italy and England, English national team winger Bukayo Saka — only 19 years old at the time — stepped up to take a must-score penalty kick and keep England’s hopes alive. Italy saved the shot, winning the tournament, and Saka faced a slew of racial abuse from angry fans online in the following days. Although the hateful comments affected him, Saka remained positive, posting a letter on social media signed, “love always wins.” Since that Euro final, he has blossomed into one of the world’s best wingers, starting for England in the 2022 World Cup and becoming the face of Premier League club Arsenal. His self-control and mental strength make him an admirable role model, reminding younger fans that athletes are far more than just pixels on a television screen.

While athletes’ positive influences are undeniable, fans must nevertheless recognize that their role models are media-trained individuals in the public eye and adjust their perceptions accordingly.

When professional athletes’ actions become topics of debate, younger athletes should evaluate the facts of the matter and make their own decisions. For instance, U.S. track and field sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, known for her colorful nails and loud, confident personality, finished first in the 100-meter dash at the 2020 Olympic trials. However, she subsequently tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, a Olympics-banned
substance. After she received a monthlong suspension that prevented her from participating in the Olympic event, Richardson stated that she smoked cannabis to deal with the emotional stress of her mother’s death. She protested her suspension on grounds of racism, citing a white Russian figure skater who was allowed to compete despite testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Following her suspension, however, she was not selected to run in the Olympic 4×100 relay, an event that she would be eligible for since it was scheduled to take place after her ban ended.

Many turned against Richardson after this sequence of events, accusing her of failing to back up her bold behavior with fast times because she wasn’t able to compete. Whether or not younger athletes support Richardson’s attitude and her protests against the ban, they must consult a variety of sources before putting her on a pedestal or condemning her.

Ultimately, younger fans must remember that professional athletes are humans too. Rather than expecting perfection from their role models, they should admire athletes who face adversity or personal struggles and grow from them. When Barkley reflected upon his contentious Nike advertisement in 2019, he revealed that his true intent was to encourage Black children to aspire for success outside of athletics and entertainment. When visiting schools, he noticed that most Black youth he talked to wanted to become professional athletes, and Barkley wished for them to dream of becoming doctors, lawyers and engineers. In his own way, then, Barkley was a role model ahead of his time. By using his platform to deliver a message to youth across the nation, encouraging them to choose meaningful careers where they were underrepresented,
he embodied a role model in almost every sense of the word. He just didn’t consider himself to be one.

Players on the new teams

Point guard Damian Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason in a massive trade. Lillard’s range makes him a scoring threat from anywhere inside half-court — he made a league-leading 38 shots from beyond 30 feet last season. An explosive scorer and elite finisher with a polished offensive game, Lillard averaged 32.2 points per game last season, scoring 50 or more points on three occasions.

Now that he’s playing alongside two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the most dominant at-the-rim player in the league, opposing teams will have to choose between Lillard’s deadly three-point shot and Antetokounmpo’s driving ability. I believe Lillard fits perfectly on the Bucks’ roster — they have plenty of players who thrive without the ball in their hands and complement the team’s superstars. After their offseason upgrades and coaching overhaul, I don’t see any teams beating Milwaukee in a playoff series this season.

The Phoenix Suns traded for shooting guard Bradley Beal, who joins All-Star duo Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Beal is an excellent ball handler who can create instant offense, but also a solid playmaker who can set up Durant and Booker, two elite catch-and-shoot snipers. Though the Suns’ offense is undoubtedly better with Beal on the floor, my main concern is health: Durant and Beal both have a history of injuries, and the Suns’ limited depth will be exposed if either of them misses significant time. Regardless, Beal’s addition makes the Phoenix’s offense even more dynamic and fun to watch.

Many were surprised by the Boston Celtics’ acquisition of center Kristaps Porzingis, but I believe he can elevate the Celtics to a championship-level team. In past years, the Celtics were knocked out of the playoffs by teams that shut down Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Porzingis frees up the Celtics’ offense because opposing big men have to respect his three-point shot, meaning they can’t help too much on Brown’s or Tatum’s drives. Although Porzingis is an average defender at best, he’ll be playing alongside a roster full of solid defenders, and what he can bring to the Celtics’ offense far outweighs any defensive issues he creates.

Teams to watch

If there were a word to describe the Oklahoma City Thunder, it would be unorthodox. The Thunder is loaded with young talent thanks to General Manager Sam Presti’s innovative drafting strategy. Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke out last year, averaging 31.4 points per game en route to an All-NBA First Team selection (a team of the best players in the league). He’s one of my favorite players to watch, with an arsenal of step-backs, midrange jumpers and creative finishes. Guard-forward Josh Giddey is already one of the league’s best passers and a candidate to lead the league in triple-doubles this season, and guard Luguentz Dort is a lockdown defensive player who can guard four positions. Forward Jalen Williams is a versatile offensive weapon who can play four positions and score from all three levels. Talented rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace will both make an immediate impact with their three-point shooting and defense. If the Thunder can hold on to and develop their core pieces, they’ll be contending for a championship in a few years.

The Sacramento Kings were the league’s most potent offense last year thanks to head coach Mike Brown’s run-and-gun style of play. All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox has one of my favorite offensive skill sets in the league: He’s lightning-fast in the open floor and has a dangerous midrange and floater game. Sacramento runs their offense through center Domantas Sabonis — he’s a brilliant passer and a force in the post but can also set screens and rebound at a high level. Complementing Fox and Sabonis are elite shooters Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter, who both shot over 40% from three last season, and all-around offensive threats Malik Monk and Harrison Barnes. If you’re a fan of fast breaks, three-pointers and creative offense, the Kings are the team to watch.

According to PAUSD Director of Mental Health and Wellness Dawn Yoshinaga, Romero provides more direct therapy for staff. “When you’re in your most vulnerable state, you can’t think straight when you’re online and there’s so many clicks to get to the right place,” Yoshinaga said. “(Romero) has a calendar that’s available, and staff can immediately schedule something.”

The appointments themselves can take place online or in person. “As a staff mental health specialist, I conduct either a 20-minute phone call or a 45-minute in-person or video session to address mental health concerns, offer resources and assist staff to begin the therapy process,” Romero said. “We create a safe space for discussing work-related or personal issues.”

These new counseling sessions, however, are meant to guide staff to psychological treatment and don’t function as long-term therapy options. “(Romero) is there to support you to get to that (long-term) care,” Yoshinaga said.

The district offers other mental health services that include counseling sessions through teachers’ insurance providers and free access to Care Solace, an online service that helps individuals access mental health counseling programs. However, district leaders and educators collectively agreed that these services were unable to sufficiently support PAUSD employees due to their complicated and often-delayed scheduling process. “We have an employee-assistance program where employees can get eight free (counseling) sessions through their insurance, but we want to support staff right where they are,” Yoshinaga said.

This shift reflects the district’s commitment to addressing staff mental health after a stressful era of online school. “(The pandemic) took a toll (on staff), just like it did on our students and our families,” Yoshinaga said. “Now is the time where we want to put our money where our mouth is and provide therapy options for staff.”

The city’s abundant wealth and resources create a Palo Alto “bubble,” which often causes residents to be unaware of hardships that people from other areas experience: lack of resources, funding and a clean living environment.

Educational privileges

Palo Alto is known for its excellent public school system. According to Niche, all three Palo Alto Unified School District middle schools are among the 15 highest- ranked middle schools in California; Palo Alto High School is among the top 10 public high schools in California; and PAUSD is the best school district in America. Gunn itself is ranked first in California and 35th nationally among public schools, according to Niche. In addition, Gunn has high standardized-testing scores and a graduation rate of 94%, higher than the public school national average of 85%.

Gunn is able to provide its students with exceptional education largely through PAUSD funding. PAUSD is a basic-aid district, meaning that it receives funding from local property taxes in addition to basic-aid funding from the state of California. Partners in Education also works to raise money specifically for teacher salaries across the district. Altogether, PAUSD receives nearly $300 million each year to support students’ education, almost 90% of which come from local taxes.

Using these funds, Palo Alto provides educational resources such as Gizmos, Naviance and other applications, available in each student’s Rapid Identity portal. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, PAUSD spends approximately $25,000 to $26,000 per student every year, exceeding the national average of about $15,000 to $16,000.

These readily available funds give Gunn students access to a variety of resources and extracurricular activities. Junior Solyana Biadglegne, a transfer student from Leipzig, Germany, who moved to Palo Alto in November 2022, explained the disparity in resources between Gunn and her old school. “This place is just incredible — I think it’s obvious because it’s Palo Alto and Palo Alto is a rich city, but also there’s so many resources and opportunities for you,” she said. “At my old school, we had great teachers and a few clubs, but that was basically it.”

Gunn alumna Shauntel Lim, a freshman at Northwestern University, explained that the educational preparation and support that Gunn provided her made her college experience easier. “Within Palo Alto, we have access to good teachers, classes and extracurriculars, whereas I come here and I hear about (other) people’s high school experiences, and it definitely sounds harder where they’re living, where their schools are underfunded,” she said. “They definitely have to work harder on their own to reach the same amount of achievement (at Northwestern).”

Most of the resources PAUSD provides, such as Individualized Education Programs that ensure specialized instruction for students with disabilities, are state-mandated. However, history teacher Benjamin Beresford finds that Palo Alto often offers more than the minimum required by state mandates, such as co-teaching and the Academic Center, which has student tutors available to aid their peers. “At my previous school, which was very small, we didn’t really have all of these resources,” he said. “I had students who would have really benefited from the resources you could get at a public school like Gunn.”

Gunn students are instructed by a supportive and qualified teaching staff: Many teachers have pursued higher education, such as masters and doctorate degrees, further improving the quality of education in Palo Alto. PAUSD guidelines also require teachers to meet certain standards of accommodation and attention to students.

Environmental factors

Palo Alto, as a major center of technological innovation, is home to many of today’s most prominent, industry-leading corporations. Hundreds of startups have begun in Palo Alto, many started by alumni from nearby Stanford University, including Google and HP. According to data from Pitchbook, a venture-capital database, Stanford graduates have founded more startups and raised more venture-capital funding than graduates of any other university in the country over the past decade.

Many have moved to the city because of its reputation for technological excellence: Biadglegne’s parents relocated her family to Palo Alto for those very reasons. “Palo Alto and Silicon Valley are known for innovation and good schools, so education and jobs are the main reasons we came here,” she said. “We found everything we needed and wanted.”

Palo Alto also has shopping centers, restaurants and recreational spaces both in and around it. However, rising property values create high prices for foods and goods compared to other areas — one of the pitfalls of shopping in the city.

Since 2021, Palo Alto has been designated as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicycles, and has plentiful communal amenities such as parks, playgrounds, libraries, and walking and biking trails. In 2021, only 15% of cities and towns in the U.S. received a Gold or Platinum designation. Although many take these facilities for granted, they greatly improve residents’ daily lives. For example, research from the Journal of Transport and Health found that people in more walkable environments had lower rates of obesity and chronic diseases. According to KRON4, Palo Alto residents have a 22% obesity rate, 11% lower than the national average of 33%.

Furthermore, Palo Alto’s natural environment is well maintained and healthy thanks to environmental services provided by the city. These services include Zero Waste, a waste-management system that seeks to decrease landfill waste and encourage composting; Watershed Protection, which reduces the amount of waste entering local waterways; and the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, an extensive strategy to reduce citywide carbon emissions in coming years. To receive funding for these services, Palo Alto has several community partners that provide financial support to the city, including Stanford University, Friends of the Junior Museum and Zoo, Palo Alto Arts Foundation and Neighbors Abroad.

Expectations

Living in a wealthy city replete with resources, Palo Alto residents, including students, can be isolated from the challenges that less wealthy communities face. However, mental burdens still exist. While — or perhaps because — Palo Alto is a center of technological innovation and excellence, students often feel pressure to succeed and surpass their peers academically. Biadglegne said the environment at Gunn is more competitive than that of her previous school. “At my old school, it was competitive, but it was also a small school,” she said. “Even if one had an accomplishment or internship, they would tell their friends to apply, and if someone has a big accomplishment, everyone celebrates it. But here, they (often) say, ‘Don’t tell that person I got an internship at this place.’”

This competition and pressure manifests itself most conspicuously during the college admissions process. Beresford noted that Gunn students often have high expectations to attend prestigious universities after high school. “There’s a culture that you’re expected to apply and go to some kind of elite (university) like the Ivy Leagues, or at least Berkeley, Stanford, University of Chicago,” he said.

As a result of this culture, students often become hyper-focused on their grades and test scores. “A student’s motivation to complete work is around getting a certain grade, not necessarily around completing an activity or understanding,” Beresford said. “As a teacher, it can feel like my intent for why I’m teaching you something feels different from (a student’s) reason for wanting to learn something.”

Additionally, with the abundance of engineering, computer science and science-based companies and opportunities present, students often face pressure to pursue and succeed in STEM-related fields. Gunn alumnus Michael Wang, a freshman at Brown University, said that if somebody mentioned that they were from Silicon Valley or the Bay Area at Brown, people would automatically assume that they planned to work in technology or computer science.

Palo Alto has established Wellness Centers and mental health resources to support students. Gunn has mental health professionals working on-site, as well as an established SELF program to aid students in social-emotional learning. The ability to create such resources is, in a way, yet another example of Palo Alto privilege: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, during the 2021-22 school year, around half of public schools in the U.S. received funding for mental health services, and less than 41% of schools hired staff to focus on students’ mental health.

Ultimately, Lim believes many Gunn students are unaware of, or do not acknowledge, the privileges they possess. “It’s important to acknowledge problems (outside of our bubble),” she said. “(This includes) socioeconomic and racial problems. Living within the Palo Alto bubble, we don’t see a lot of that firsthand.”

As an official tournament in the Olympics with an estimated 300 million players worldwide, table tennis has cemented itself as one of the world’s most prominent sports. Part of its popularity comes from its adaptability–table tennis requires little space and minimal equipment. The sport is friendly to new players: Anyone without prior experience can easily pick up a paddle since table tennis can be adapted to all skill levels. Participation in table tennis enhances hand-eye coordination and sharpens reflexes, improving players’ overall athletic capabilities. Furthermore, playing table tennis over a period of time is proven to positively influence neurological function. Studies from the European Journal of Sport Science found that table tennis engages multiple neural networks and regions in the brain, especially the regions that handle decision-making and motor skills. In addition to its neural benefits, table tennis yields considerable physical health gains. Its swift rallies challenge athletes’ stamina and reflexes. Furthermore, as a sport without physical contact, players do not risk many types of serious injuries that could otherwise happen. Table tennis also builds a high level of endurance because athletes train to maintain a consistent level of performance and focus during their matches. Gunn already boasts a robust table tennis player base and holds an annual student-organized tournament. Forming an official school team would allow players to pursue the sport more seriously, refine their skills by playing against others and create a social outlet for them to form new friendships and strengthen existing ones.

Sport 2: Futsal

Despite futsal’s basis on soccer, the indoor version of the world’s most popular sport involves high-paced action with more goal-scoring, dribbling and highlight-reel- worthy plays. Only five players from each side are on a futsal court at a time, so each player receives more touches. Furthermore, players comprise an integral part of their team’s offense and defense, encouraging positional versatility. In futsal matches, each half is only 20 minutes long and unlimited substitutions are allowed, which incentivizes teams to attack and counterattack more aggressively. Also, futsal is played on an indoor court roughly the size of a basketball court, which creates situations where space is tight and players have to rely on their skill and instinct to maneuver past defenders. Additionally, futsal players constantly make split-second in- game decisions due to the sport’s fast pace. Developing the ability to effectively make these decisions will improve athletes’ spatial awareness, which can be translated to many other sports. As flashy as the sport is, futsal maintains an emphasis on teamwork. In order to win the ball back on defense or send the ball into the back of the net, players must coordinate their movements and communicate constantly. Soccer players in particular receive valuable off-season training from futsal. Many of today’s most prominent professional soccer players acknowledge that playing futsal at a young age has helped them improve their skills, including Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. Futsal is a thrilling sport for its players, but it has garnered plenty of fans who also appreciate the game’s intricacies. As a spectator sport, futsal has everything that fans desire: short games, plenty of action and displays of skill and creativity. If added to Gunn, the sport will no doubt foster teamwork, indi- vidual prowess and a supportive fanbase for its athletes.

OFJCC Director of Jewish Content Tova Birnbaum notes that for many Jewish people, remnants of the Holocaust still exist today. “A lot of Jews feel that the Holocaust is present on a daily basis, either with the survivors around us or the collective memory that the Jews have around this tragedy,” Birnbaum said. In addition to remembering the hardships and persecution the Jewish community has experienced, Holocaust Remembrance Day celebrates the perseverance of the Jewish people. “Many of them fought not only to stay alive, but to stay human and preserve their dignity,” Birnbaum said. “We celebrate the resilience of the Jewish people in general, the ability to rebuild and to heal, to remember, to say never again and to help other persecuted groups fight their persecution.”

Those who are not familiar with the day can observe it by educating themselves about the Holocaust and visiting Holocaust memorials or museums. “Learning and being educated about anything should be followed by action,” Birnbaum said. “Honor the victims. Learn from history and from the horrors that happened to other human beings. Take action and make sure that this never repeats itself and that other people can live freely and with dignity.”

To prepare for each game, Johnson requests an updated roster from the visiting team’s coach ahead of time. He contacts Gunn’s coach before the game to ask for a script if there are special announcements. Finally, he organizes the information into a document so he can read it more easily when announcing. “There are a lot of other places where you can find the rosters, like MaxPreps, but they’re not always correct, so I just go straight to the source,” Johnson said. “I want to make sure that all of their players get the credit that is due to them.”

Of all the games Johnson announces throughout the football season, he especially appreciates Senior Night. Reading out a short description of each senior player allows him to connect with a more personal side of them. “When I get little biographical blurbs on players who are graduating, I learn just a bit more about them as individuals and what their playing time at Gunn has meant to them,” he said.

Johnson appreciates that his announcing job allows him to spend time with players’ parents as well as social studies teacher David Bisbee, who operates the scoreboard next to him in the announcer’s booth. “[Bisbee] would probably say the same thing because he’s always there doing the scoreboard and the clock,” he said. “For the last four seasons, we’ve enjoyed our Friday evenings together in the fall working the football games.”

Many teenagers are assigned up to 15 hours of homework per week, according to a study from the Better Sleep Council. This figure doesn’t include the hours of studying that many Gunn students spend preparing for quizzes and tests. Students must balance their assignments with extracurricular activities while still making time for their own relaxation; otherwise, they will easily feel burnt out. Prep periods allow students to take care of their schoolwork so they can focus on the rest of their activities. Most students who have middle-of-the-day preps choose to stay on campus and do schoolwork. Working on campus allows students to focus by eliminating outside distractions and providing a quiet academic environment. Not only that, but being at Gunn gives students access to resources such as the library, where they can work on tests and assignments fortheir afternoon classes. Furthermore, those who tend to be easily distracted at home can avoid those distractions and work effectively in a school setting.

Students with midday prep periods who return home or leave campus have a longer period to relax or do schoolwork. In addition to the 90-minute prep period, they can leave campus during the 40-minute lunch period. Therefore, students who prefer to eat lunch outside of school have the opportunity to do so. I leave campus for home during my third period prep and lunch to spend time with my dog, which gives me the freedom to either wind down or work on assignments if I am busy. With almost two hours to spend at home, I can walk my dog, eat lunch and still have around an hour to get work done. After my demanding first and second period classes, I often feel like I need a break. Being able to relax at home allows me to feel more prepared for the classes that I have in the afternoon. Those who live further from campus travel further to get home, so they will have more time if they find a nearby cafĂ© or park to relax. With the assortment of restaurants, convenience stores and parks within driving distance of Gunn, leaving campus during one’s midday prep period can help students take a break from the busy school day.

Morning prep periods are often desired by students because they can arrive on campus later. However, the later start time encourages students to wake up later, which in turn can lead them to sleep later. Many teenagers tend to overestimate how much sleep they can sacrifice for other activities and will often spend late nights scrolling social media or finishing their homework. Late sleepers are, in fact, significantly less productive throughout the school day compared to their peers who wake up earlier, according to research from the University of Birmingham. Researchers found that night owls had shorter attention spans, lower energy and slower reaction times during the daytime compared to earlier risers. Although beginning-of-day prep periods do allow students to wake up or class later, they also lead students to sleep later, which decreases their productivity and ability to learn during the school day.

Midday prep periods provide students with additional time to work. Students who live closer to campus can take a break from classes and return home or find a location outside of campus to relax. Thus, midday preps are the best options for students.