Opinion 5

Ask the Raven: Fight for equal rights inspires action

An Advice Column
Have a question about classes,
friendships, relationships, or
anything else? The Raven Report
has placed a box for questions
in the library. Questions can be
anonymous but the staff reserves
the right to edit and choose
which questions best address the
concerns of the entire student
By SARAH DUCKER
Guest columnist
Last month, on November 4th,
voters in Maine repealed the state’s
new law allowing same-sex mar-
riage. This was a huge setback for
the national gay rights movement,
and for activists here in California,
an unfortunate reminder of a similar
present and loud. The organization of
students issued a Call to Action, stat-
ing that “as student leaders we refuse
to remain silent in the face of what we
know is the greatest civil rights move-
ment of our generation.”
Student
movements have
taken place lo-
cally, as well. Ja-
the GSAs from Carlmont, Woodside,
Menlo-Atherton, and Sequoia” and
she is thankful because “people at [Se-
quoia] are generally really supportive”
of the GSA and its initiatives.
Senior Arielle Jones, after learn-
ing about the
outcome of
Maine’s vote last
month, made

body.
Dear Raven,
I am a freshman this year.
Recently I noticed a senior guy
and I keep seeing him every-
where in the hall. I have had a
crush on him since the begin-
ning of the year. Do you think I
should approach him, or do you
think the grade difference will
be an issue?
Dear fresh,
As a freshman starting your
high school career, it might be
difficult to have the confidence
you had in middle school. Don’t
be shy. If you think this guy is
potentially worth your time,
talk to him. However, I suggest
that you take it step by step and
make small talk. You don’t want
to scare him away by telling him
you have a crush on him imme-
diately after your first conversa-
tion. If this guy is smart enough,
he will get the hint without the
need of you explicitly telling him
how you feel and what’s meant to
be will happen after that.
Dear Raven,
I have this member in my
group in class who every once
in a while always finds a way to
make fun of me. My comments
during our group discussions
are completely relevant and
thought out. However, for some
reason he finds it easy to make
fun of EVERYTHING that I
say. He is pissing me off, so what
do I do?
Dear pissed off,
Many people go through this
situation more common than
not. Think of it this way: maybe
he finds making fun of you easy
because you haven’t stood up to
him yet. So, I suggest you ap-
proach this person in a nice way
and tell him how his comments
make you feel. Be upfront! It’s
better than just letting it go on.
If that doesn’t work, explain the
situation to your teacher and
have him/her rearrange groups.
Questions can also be
emailed to ravenreport09@
gmail.com.
Student
turn of events just over a year ago. son Galisatus, a
On Election Day last year, California junior at nearby
voters passed Proposition 8, which Aragon High
made same-sex marriage illegal under
California’s constitution.
Maine’s decision last month makes
School, orga-
nized a commu-
nity-wide event
perspective
it the 31st state to reject same-sex called “Black
marriage when brought to a popular Friday, the
vote. Only five states in the country Memorial” on
have voted to legalize it - Massachu- November 6th.
setts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, The Facebook event, which had over
and New Hampshire. 1,500 attendees, asked supporters to
While some see these setbacks wear all black to school and work to
as evidence that same-sex marriage show solidarity and support for equal
won’t see widespread legality anytime rights.
soon, advocates of gay rights remain Sequoia’s own students are do-
hopeful. More importantly, they are ing their part to make a difference.
continuing to actively stand up for Nina Darner, junior and President
what they believe is right. of Sequoia’s Gay Straight Alliance
Around the country, high school (GSA), is involved with the GSA “be-
and university students are taking cause LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
a lead in the movement for equal- Transgender] rights are something
ity. The student contingent of the [she feels] very strongly about.” Nina
National Equality March in Wash- and the GSA are “currently prepar-
ington, DC on October 10-11th was ing to host a district get-together for
Senior finds college applications a challenge
By JENIFER LOGIA valedictorians, senior class presidents,
Guest columnist captains of the football team, and
countless students with a 4.0 GPA
You work and nearly perfect SAT scores. So
tirelessly in high what makes you so special? The fact
school to take that you’ve gone through some hard
hard classes, get times? So has the rest of the world.
good grades, play Why does this make you unique?
sports, do com- Why do you stand out in a sea of stu-
munity service, dents who have worked just as hard as
and study for the you have?
SAT, all because These aren’t easy questions to
it’ll “look good on college applica- answer, but thousands of seniors do
tions.” Then every year.
before you know So what makes you so I consulted
it, the deadline special? The fact that with three dif-
for those college
you’ve gone through some hard ferent teachers,
applications are asked my friends
right around times? So has the and family for
the corner and rest of the world. Why comments, and
you realize that does this make you unique? went through
there’s this thing Why does this make you about eleven
called a personal drafts before
stand out in a sea of
statement that’s I was satisfied
students?
just as important with my personal
as everything else statement. The
you’ve ever worked for. This essay is college admissions process can be a
all about you, all about the amazing huge reality check for some, I know
things you’ve done in high school and it was for me. At first I wrote about
why you want to go to college. So why how much I’ve done for my commu-
is it so hard to write? nity through Key Club, then I wrote
There are tens of thousands of high about an eye-opening experience I
schools in the United States alone, had on a trip to Nicaragua. After
so that means tens of thousands of reading my essays, my teacher said, “I
pink triangle
stickers, a sym-
bol for students
to wear to show
their support for
this cause. These
stickers were
distributed by
various teachers
at Sequoia, and
seemed to be very well-received.
Christopher Merian, another
senior, stated that “[the stickers] were
an easy way to show that [he] sup-
ports equal rights.”
Same-sex marriage is extremely
controversial right now in the United
States, and there is no doubt that
Sequoia students have vastly different
opinions surrounding the issue.
Whether or not you think it
should be legal, though, it is inspiring
to see so many students taking action
for the causes about which they are
passionate.
just don’t hear you in these essays.”
Some of her comments were harsh,
but I needed to hear the truth to
write an essay that would make me
stand out. Things that I thought were
impressive achievements, unique ex-
periences, or “tough obstacles” that I
had overcome were actually insignifi-
cant in the grand scheme of things.
The key to my success was thinking
about what I’m most passionate about
and why. I love math and science and
hope to study mechanical engineering
in college, so although I’ve made great
accomplishments through commu-
nity service, and have a diverse ethnic
background (both things that people
think colleges want in an applicant), I
decided to write about my experience
as an intern at a science lab last sum-
mer. It was so much easier to relate
that experience with my aspirations
for my future, and show my excite-
ment about science and technology.
This essay is not easy to write. It
was probably the hardest essay for
me to write, and knowing how much
it could mean for your future does
make you feel a lot of pressure. Know
that there are people at Sequoia to
help you out, so you’re not alone on
this. Everyone has something they’re
passionate about; this is the chance to
show it!