• March 24FUHSD Earth Day
  • March 25Mock Trial Auditions
  • April 1April Fools Day
  • April 4Lynbrook IDC Exchange
  • April 14-18Spring Break
The Student News Site of Lynbrook High School

the Epic
On April 28, Lynbrook will join PISA, assessing 40 random sophomores on math, science and reading for international comparison, for the first time. Graph based on data provided by OurWorldInData.org.
International student assessment closes after loss of educational funding
Notable recent events include the 40th anniversary of the FUHSF, school closures in East San José's Franklin-McKinley School District, raging wildfires across Oklahoma and a new wave of violence in the Syrian civil war. Top left: Photo used with permission from FUHSF Top right: Photo used with permission from Ivan Aleksic/Unsplash Bottom left: Photo used with permission from Patou Ricard/Pixabay Bottom right: Photo used with permission from Mahmoud Sulaiman/Unsplash.
Campus, community and world events
Vertigo Literary Magazine club received the first-class REALM award on Feb. 7 for the literary and artistic quality of their titular magazine's issues. Graphic illustrations used with permission from Vertigo.
Vertigo magazine wins national REALM award
Sophomores from across the district enjoy an evening of skating at the frst-ever intradistrict social.
Class of 2027 skates to first intradistrict social
Recent events to note include FBLA's e-waste donation drive, state efforts to fast-track relief for the Los Angeles wildfires, a polar vortex in the Midwest and Plains states and an international agreement to regulate AI. Top left: Photo used with permission from Nothing Ahead/Pexels Top right: Photo used with permission from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Bottom left: Photo used with permission from David Robert Crews Bottom right: Photo used with permission from Focall Foto
Campus, community and world events
From the Star-Spangled Banner at American football games to the red, white and blue decorations at election rallies, Americana has long been a symbol of pride and cultural identity.
Partisanship clouds patriotic values
When juveniles commit severe crimes, such as premeditated murder, they are often unable to be tried proportionally, leading to decreased public safety.
The Santana Row stabbing reveals shortcomings in juvenile justice
Microtransactions, or small in-game transactions of real money, create unhealthy spending habits in video game players.
Microtransactions encourage gambling over gaming
Students actively engage in discussions and group activities in their Ethnic Studies class.
Editorial: Federal education cuts threaten ethnic studies programs
President Donald Tump's federal aid freeze, announced on Jan. 27 and rescinded on Jan. 29, had to led to various delays in federal funding, including for schools, farmers and nonprofits.
Trump’s federal aid freeze sows confusion and endangers communities
Junior Irene Hwang offers humorous advice to those without a romantic partner during Valentine's Day.
A single person’s survival guide to Valentine’s Day
Sophomore Saavan Saraf discovered his voice in politics after a long and perspective-changing journey.
Finding my opinions in the world of politics
Junior Brian Lee holds up prayer beads, a symbol of his atheist identity amid his Buddhist family.
A different prayer in a Buddhist household
Moving west, east and west again
Moving west, east and west again
Looking back and moving forward
Looking back and moving forward
Students actively engage in discussions and group activities in their Ethnic Studies class.
Editorial: Federal education cuts threaten ethnic studies programs
In a district wide effort to address student mental health issues, Lynbrook plans to launch a future mental wellness center, preceded by a monthly prototype launching in May.
Future wellness center is a step toward aiding student mental health
Student petitions are an important way of bringing attention to school issues, but the line between serious and counterproductive petitions must be drawn. Graphic illustration by Charlotte Bolay and Crystal Zhu
Editorial: The power of petitions in student advocacy
The FUHSD board should increase outreach opportunities for students to participate in district activities, while students should engage in board efforts.
Editorial: Bridging the gap between district board and students
Editorial: Initiating safer traffic practices around campus
Editorial: Initiating safer traffic practices around campus
Every day Tara Grande, Thomas Lopez, Johnny Roberson and Tim Wehner serve as the school’s crossing guards.
Crossing into the lives of Lynbrook’s crossing guards
With a steady hand, sophomore Charlie Loper applies the last details to his signature Basque cheesecake. Photos used with permission by Charlie Loper.
Charlie Loper bakes beauty with Basque It cheesecakes
As the soft glow of a candle flickers in her garage, sophomore Chanelle Aragones delicately shapes each piece of ribbon, the flame curling its edges to create petals. Photos used with permission by Chanelle Aragones.
Chanelle Aragones wraps up success with every bouquet
Aidan Tung watches over the coral he has meticulously maintained. Photo used with permission from Aidan Tung.
Aidan Tung dives deep into the world of coral keeping
Choir showcases their yearly Singing Valentines performances to classmates and teachers. Photos by Claire Guo, Lilly Wu and Crystal Zhu. Graphic illustration by Gary Pan.
Reveiling the magic behind Lynbrook’s annual singing valentines
Photos by Lilly Wu. (Lilly Wu)Graphic illustration by Claire Guo. (Claire Guo)
Claire Hsu bakes it up
Jayden Yang makes waves through water polo
Holden Choi finds a career path in his passion for video games
Jason Wu grows passion and creativity through a side hustle
Chloe Chung strengthens connections through vinyl
World War II (1939-1945)
World War II (1939-1945)
In the fast pace of modern popular culture where trends seem to disappear before they even start, it is easy to forget their origin and cultural significance.
Subcultures enrich mainstream
Throughout history, music has continuously served as a reflection and response to tumultuous times.
Turmoil, strife and the music through it all
The Great Recession (late 2007 to mid-2009)
The Great Recession (late 2007 to mid-2009)
From the vibrant textiles of Mexico to the intricately embroidered saris of India, different forms of traditional clothing have all been woven into the diverse fabric of culture.
Tradition makes its way into modern fashion
The wrestling team navigates through new obstacles after the departure of a beloved coach.
Wrestling team perseveres back at the mat
The Valkyries perform at regional and national level competitions with elaborate choreographies while also performing at school events. Photos used with permission by Dorothy Ko
The Valkyries’ steps to success
The rejection by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors allows the continued use of turf in recreational areas. Graphic illustration by Cecilia Wu.
Santa Clara Board rejects a push to ban synthetic turf
Alice Wu dribbles her 1000th point basketball, among memories or her past years of playing basketball. Photos by Epic staff. Graphic illustrations by Amanda Jin and Ethan Wong.
Alice Wu shoots her 1000th point toward success
Arm in arm, the upperclassmen and underclassmen sports duos build bonds together in the winter season. Photos by Gary Pan and Lilly Wu. Graphic illustrations by Savaan Saraf, Jenny Suh. Ethan Wong and Lilly Wu.
Growing closer with sports mentorship duos
The past two months have seen hit after hit in terms of new album releases, two most notable being Lady Gaga's “Mayhem” and LISA's “Alter Ego." Graphic illustrations by Akash Anand, Stuti Jain and Yvonne Wu.
Nostalgia and Self-Discovery: a Review of LISA’s “Alter Ego” and Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem”
Epic staffers Amanda Jin and Irene Hwang give their opinions on the 2025 Oscars nominations. Graphic illustrations by Olivia Tu.
From Anora to Emilia Perez: Our opinions on the 2025 Oscars
View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/2025silsilayfashionshow.
Silsilay Fashion Show 2025
From classic rom-coms like “Some Like it Hot” to modern heartfelt romance like “The Big Sick,” love and laughter have remained timeless for decades. Graphic illustration by Meadow Shen and Robert Yu.
60 years of Hollywood love in four rom-coms
Every February, people begin to think about Valentine’s Day, although the holiday itself has begun to change and evolve. Graphic illustration by Anna Cen.
Unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s solo or with friends
Tug, not tackle: Students and staff on girls flag football in Viking athletics
Tug, not tackle: Students and staff on girls flag football in Viking athletics
Approaching 60 years of history: Lynbrook back in the day
Approaching 60 years of history: Lynbrook back in the day
Nostalgic memories, since 2010
Nostalgic memories, since 2010
Vertigo and La Pluma Open Mic
Vertigo and La Pluma Open Mic
Students gathered in the parking lot on March 29 for ASB's first school-sanctioned celebration of Holi.
Adding a little color with Holi
Brain Rot
Brain Rot
Nostalgia
Nostalgia
Gaming the system
Gaming the system
Lost in translation.
Lost in translation.
View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/2025silsilayfashionshow.
Silsilay Fashion Show 2025
View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/2025jpromfashionshow.
Junior Prom Fashion Show 2025
View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/epicwf25.
2025 Winter Formal: Midnight Masquerade
Sanskriti 2024
Sanskriti 2024
View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/indlunchshow24.
InDesign Lunch Fashion Show 2024
Exploring students’ favorite brain rot activities
Exploring students’ favorite brain rot activities
Women who inspire Lynbrook
Women who inspire Lynbrook
Being firefighters, since 1986
Being firefighters, since 1986
Graphic illustration by Gray Pan.
Freshmen and Sophomores battle in the first ever Underclassmen Showdown
Graphic illustration by Yvonne Wu.
What is love?
Epic staffers Amanda Jin and Irene Hwang give their opinions on the 2025 Oscars nominations. Graphic illustrations by Olivia Tu.
From Anora to Emilia Perez: Our opinions on the 2025 Oscars
Graphic Illustration by Amanda Jin, Alexandra Wu and David Zhu.
Behind the runway
Formula 1: Pit lane Talk
Formula 1: Pit lane Talk
Graphic Illustration by Daeun Chung
College mythbusting with Mr. Roy
Don’t judge a book by its cover: the shortcomings of banning books
Don’t judge a book by its cover: the shortcomings of banning books
The Student News Site of Lynbrook High School

the Epic
The Student News Site of Lynbrook High School

the Epic
Olivia Yuan

Olivia Yuan, News Editor

(she/her, they/them) Olivia is a junior and this year’s news editor for the Epic. In her free time, she enjoys long walks, good books, and discovering new music.

All content by Olivia Yuan
World War II (1939-1945)

World War II (1939-1945)

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
Throughout history, music has continuously served as a reflection and response to tumultuous times.

Turmoil, strife and the music through it all

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
The Great Recession (late 2007 to mid-2009)

The Great Recession (late 2007 to mid-2009)

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
Benny Goodman, known as the "King of Swing," was a major force in popularizing swing music, notable for his clarinet playing and his band's infectious rhythms. Photos used from Creative Commons licenses.

The Great Depression (1929-1939)

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
World War I (1914-1918)

World War I (1914-1918)

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
Cold War (1947-1991)

Cold War (1947-1991)

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
March 24, 2025
In his first days in office, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders targeting hot-button issues like gender terminology, immigration and the climate.

Trump signs multiple executive orders into effect

Charlotte Bolay and Olivia Yuan
March 3, 2025
Recent legislation has changed the United State's stance on major health organizations, such as the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization, leading to removal of informative health sources.

Public health should be safeguarded, not stifled

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
March 3, 2025
Check out the Epic's favorite music here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ctcqk8yQEbyZY20IFpPeb

The effects of music, from pain relief to plant growth

Olivia Yuan and Eileen Zhu
February 3, 2025
Before these terms became mainstream lingo, many slang terms originated in marginalized communities as ingroup identity markers.

The marginalized-to-mainstream pipeline of online slang

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
February 3, 2025
Rent control laws regulate the amount of rent that landlords can demand from their tenants, usually by limiting how much rent can be increased. Used with permission from Pexels.

Amid state housing crisis, rent control remains contentious

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
December 9, 2024
Top left: Kenji Furushiro, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of North California executive director and secretary, introduced the JCCNC as part of a Nov. 20 speaker and company visit to Japanese 4 Honors students. Top right: Located in Sunnyvale, the planned Design and Collaboration Facility will foster national semiconductor research and development. Bottom left: During the week of Nov. 20, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other university systems across the country, announced free tuition for financially eligible students, effective starting in fall 2025. Bottom right: A Nov. 18 demonstration in New Zealand defending indigenous Maōri rights and opposing the proposed Treaty Principles Bill was one of the biggest protests in the country's history.

Campus, community and world events

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
December 9, 2024
Author Ellie Yang Camp tackles nuances of Asian American identity

Author Ellie Yang Camp tackles nuances of Asian American identity

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
November 4, 2024
Homecoming: Dance 24-25

Homecoming: Dance 24-25

Stuti Jain and Olivia Yuan
October 7, 2024
‘143’ chases numbers over quality

‘143’ chases numbers over quality

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
October 7, 2024
Tug, not tackle: Students and staff on girls flag football in Viking athletics

Tug, not tackle: Students and staff on girls flag football in Viking athletics

Vidushi Upadhyay, Olivia Yuan, Charlotte Bolay, Akash Anand and Rebecca Cai
September 13, 2024
Welcome Back Rally 2024

Welcome Back Rally 2024

Robert Yu and Olivia Yuan
August 27, 2024
Indesign Fashion Show 2024: Ethereal Realms

Indesign Fashion Show 2024: Ethereal Realms

Charlotte Bolay, Apurva Krishnamurthy and Olivia Yuan
May 26, 2024
100 years of FUHSD honored in district-wide celebrations

100 years of FUHSD honored in district-wide celebrations

Audrey Sun and Olivia Yuan
May 20, 2024
Graphic illustration by Chelsea Lee. (Olivia Yuan)

Communities built out of books

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
April 10, 2024
Students visit booths to learn about volunteer and job opportunities and mental health resources.

City of Cupertino and Intra-District council host Teen Resouce Fair

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
April 1, 2024
Ever heard of pigs leading a revolution and seizing total domination over a government? No? Well, that’s satire for you: truth, dressed up in absurdity and hidden between the lines.

[Photo] This is satire: Literature’s wicked grin

Ashley Huang and Susanna Tang
April 1, 2024
Though its presence may seem largely invisible, the organization’s impact on the local Ethiopian community, fueled by its devoted volunteers, is undeniable.

Rainbow Park center supports Ethiopian community

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
March 11, 2024
2024 Underclassmen Showdown Rally

2024 Underclassmen Showdown Rally

Olivia Yuan and Crystal Zhu
February 17, 2024
From Chicago Rummy to "Final Fantasy XIV," students and teachers reflect on how their experiences with games have been impactful in creating meaningful memories.

Game memories, since 1965

Daeun Chung and Olivia Yuan
February 12, 2024
Winter Rally 2024: Supernatural

Winter Rally 2024: Supernatural

Qianzi Loo and Olivia Yuan
January 28, 2024
In high school, Olivia worked hard to improve her Mandarin skills, which led her back to her Chinese roots.

Rediscovering fluency

Olivia Yuan, News Editor
December 11, 2023
Homeschooling has shaped students’ development in ways traditional schools do not.

A 1 to 1 teacher to student ratio

Lilly Wu and Olivia Yuan
November 6, 2023
Homecoming: Dance 23-24

Homecoming: Dance 23-24

Olivia Yuan and Eileen Zhu
October 23, 2023
The JV girls tennis team is still looking for a coach. Norman Tsai has taken on the role of coaching both the JV and varsity girl's tennis teams.

District solutions to coach shortage fall short

Yvonne Wu and Olivia Yuan
October 10, 2023
Prior to Vanessa Otto's Lynbrook debut, she spent 16 years teaching at Monta Vista High School and one year teaching at Cupertino High School.

New literature teacher Vanessa Otto encourages student participation

Ashley Huang, Vidushi Upadhyay, Vihaan Patel, Crystal Zhu, Olivia Yuan and Susanna Tang
August 30, 2023
Joining Lynbrook as an honors chemistry and freshman biology teacher, David Chen is continuing to pursue his passion for teaching high school students.

New chemistry and biology teacher David Chen simplifies complex topics

Ashley Huang, Vidushi Upadhyay, Vihaan Patel, Crystal Zhu, Olivia Yuan and Susanna Tang
August 30, 2023