• April 26-May 3Spring Musical
  • April 28Red, White, and Blue Awards
  • May 9Last Day to Drop with a W
  • May 16Lynbrook Film Festival
  • May 17Senior Prom
The Student News Site of Lynbrook High School

the Epic
Go Club tournament tests strategy and wit
Go Club tournament tests strategy and wit
Elizabeth Louie helps senior Meghana Babu understand a French passage during tutorial. Photo by Erin Fitzpatrick.
Elizabeth Louie recognized with Teacher-Leader Award
Notable recent events include Lynbrook winning the AP Computer Science Principle Female Diversity award, the VTA strike, a national "Hands Off" protest and the increasing international tariffs. Top left: Photo used with permission from Vincent Varletta/Wikimedia Commons Top right: Photo used with permission from Grendelkhan 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
The Spring Movie Theater expanded previous movie night events. Photos by Jenny Suh.
ASB Recognition and Social bring the theater experience to campus
Principal Maria Jackson retires after 30 years in education
Principal Maria Jackson retires after 30 years in education
Machine Learning systems such as ChatGPT require scraping the web to improve its capabilities. Websites hosting illegal pirated and copyrighted materials such as Anna's Archives or Library Genesis, thus have its copyrighted materials used to improve AI material.
Unlicensed materials in AI model databases undermine original works
Anushka Deshmukh discovers self-advocacy through her struggles with celiac disease.
Trials and tribulations with celiac
Rohan Kakhandiki learns to appreciate his unique last name over time.
That’s my name, but you can wear it out
Lack of awareness around the prevalence of digital misinformation affects students in the digital age. To combat these concerns, student engagement in media literacy and responsible journalism should be prioritized within schools.
Editorial: Media literacy in and out of FUHSD classrooms
San José mayor Matt Mahon recently proposed a policy to authorize arrest of homeless after refusing help three times within 18 months. This policy falls short of tackling root causes of homelessness and overlooks the true needs of homeless.
Addressing homelessness requires support, not criminalization
Anushka Deshmukh discovers self-advocacy through her struggles with celiac disease.
Trials and tribulations with celiac
Rohan Kakhandiki learns to appreciate his unique last name over time.
That’s my name, but you can wear it out
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
Lack of awareness around the prevalence of digital misinformation affects students in the digital age. To combat these concerns, student engagement in media literacy and responsible journalism should be prioritized within schools.
Editorial: Media literacy in and out of FUHSD classrooms
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
Sylva Scott cares for her alpaca and other animals at McClellan Ranch. Photos used with permission from Sylva Scott and with Creative Common Licenses.
Caring for alpacas with Sylva Scott
Bolang Zhu, Om Modi and Vikrant Vadathavoor (left to right).
LD debaters speed through limits of debate success
Allen Chan and Toan Phuong work hard to replace security cameras and pick up calls.
Behind the screens with the information technology team
Students prepare for the annual ELD speech competition.
The faces behind annual ELD speech competition
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
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
Aside from the hefty expense of a seat, space tourism also comes with another astronomical price tag: environmental sustainability.
The environmental price of reaching for the stars
San José and the larger San Francisco Bay Area are home to a variety of native species such as the California poppy, owl’s clover and lupine.
The Bay Area’s complex web of native and invasive wildlife
The three branches of government within the Constitution — the judicial, executive and legislative — were crafted to avoid a crisis in the system of checks and balances that prevents one branch from overpowering another.
The possibility of a constitutional crisis in our perfect union
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
Track athletes from different high schools leap over hurdles while bounding toward the finish line. Photo by Akash Anand. Graphic illustration by Anna Cen
Setting track athletes up for success
Athletes, from high school and college, are able to use their popularity and skill for profit through different sponsorships. Graphic Illustration by Amanda Jin.
Name, image and likeness are reshaping the culture of athletics
Dylan Liu and Karen Gao swim to success with record-breaking times
Freshman Alber Wu holds up his foil, standing proudly with his fencing equipment. Photo by Olivia Tu. Graphic illustration by Kieran Hau and Amanda Jin.
Alber Wu discovers his tempo through fencing
Different dance groups on campus perform during rallies, on campus events and larger events outside of school hours.
Campus dance groups share the art of movement
Unwrapping holiday memories
Plucking heartstrings with Lynbrook students’ favorite love songs
Silsilay connects communities across the bay
Teachers take on brain rot terms
Tricks and Treats to making your own Halloween Costumes
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/spromfashionshow2025
Senior Prom Fashion Show 2025
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
Unwrapping holiday memories
Plucking heartstrings with Lynbrook students’ favorite love songs
Silsilay connects communities across the bay
Teachers take on brain rot terms
Tricks and Treats to making your own Halloween Costumes
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
Surya Saraf

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor

(she/her) Surya is a copy editor and grammar enthusiast. In her free time she enjoys reading thought-provoking novels written by great women, watching films for hours and trying new Italian restaurants.

All content by Surya Saraf
I thought I wanted to be a romantic — or even a communist — after indulging in the passionate, Marxist-inspired writing of Sally Rooney.

Reading between the lines

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
May 20, 2024
2024 Senior Columns

2024 Senior Columns

Myles Kim, Deeksha Raj, Katie Chin, Surya Saraf, Riki Murase, Apurva Krishnamurthy and Anushka Anand
May 20, 2024
A. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan holds up an anti-communism T-shirt, 1986. B. A lithograph depicts former Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Mao Zedong as the Red Sun, 1968. C. Sen. Joseph McCarthy discusses with HUAC chief counsel Roy Cohn and G. David Schine during the questioning of William Taylor, 1954. D. A propaganda poster illustrates the Soviet Union’s achievements under communism, 1920s. E. A portrait of Karl Marx, author of political works such as “The Communist Manifesto” 1875. F. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are separated by a wire screen after being found guilty for relaying classified information to the Soviet Union, 1951. Photos by Don Rypka, image courtesy of Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons, the Los Angeles Times, Demyan Bedny, Roger Higgens, the Library of Congress and John Jabez Edwin Mayall.

A historical reflection on communism and America

Surya Saraf and Yvonne Wu
April 29, 2024
At 14 years old, Kalbhavi developed EasyBZ, a cost-effective microneedle patch that allows for the transmission of drugs without the use of traditional or hypodermic needles. Photo used with permission from Shripriya Kalbhavi.

Shripriya Kalbhavi develops microneedle patch in medical breakthrough

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
April 1, 2024
From left to right, top to bottom, the candidates competing in the District 16 election are Sam Liccardo, Joe Simitian, Evan Low, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Ahmed Mostafa, Peter Dixon, Peter Ohtaki, Rishi Kumar, Joby Bernstein, Greg Tanaka and Karl Ryan (no photo available). Used with permission from Ahmed Mostafa and Joby Bernstein or from public domain.

Candidates compete in District 16 election to replace Rep. Anna Eshoo

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
February 12, 2024
Saturday with Santa

Saturday with Santa

Katie Chin and Surya Saraf
December 3, 2023
Remembering David Herz, and his impact on special education students. Used with permission from Kelly Herz

In memory of Dave Herz, Academic Community Transition Teacher

Surya Saraf and Katie Chin
October 10, 2023
A beacon of light for the Lynbrook community, family and friends, Boehm is remembered for her unwavering support and kindness for Lynbrook students during her tenure.

In memory of Judy Boehm, former ASB Financial Technician

Surya Saraf and Katie Chin
June 2, 2023
Swear words permeate our lives as forms of self expression, cathartic cries and bitter insults. But from where do these deep-rooted exclamations come?

WTF?! The origins of swear words

Meera Nambiar and Surya Saraf
May 8, 2023
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

Larry Wang and Surya Saraf
May 8, 2023
In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry details his life as a prince in the British royal family.

I read Prince Harry’s memoir so you don’t have to

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
April 10, 2023
Anish and ArtReach members holding up their completed cards, each with a wildlife photograph.

Anish Lakkapragada’s Nature Card Donations for hospitalized youth

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
March 10, 2023
A U.S. airplane makes its away around the globe, leaving money and foreign aid in its path, and establishing its military presence in developing countries.

Is America’s power far-reaching or overreaching?

Surya Saraf and Larry Wang
February 6, 2023
50.7% of California citizens voted in the 2022 general midterm elections. Graphic illustration by Lilly Wu, Anushka Anand and Daeun Chung

Results from the 2022 midterm election

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
December 12, 2022
On the left, a real mugshot of Jeffrey Dahmer, on the right, his doppelganger in the new 10 episode Netflix series: "Monster": The Jeffrey Dahmer Story which has garnered over 200 million watch hours to date. Graphic illustration by Myles Kim.

The exploitative nature of biopics

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
November 7, 2022
Homecoming: Dance 22-23

Homecoming: Dance 22-23

Surya Saraf and Larry Wang
October 23, 2022
Cindy Chavez and Matt Mahan go head-to-head for San Jose Mayor.

Survival of the Fittest: Cindy Chavez and Matt Mahan go head-to-head for San Jose Mayor

Surya Saraf, Copy Editor
October 10, 2022
AAVE’s rich culture, development and history

AAVE’s rich culture, development and history

Surya Saraf and Tanika Anbu
October 10, 2022
The Class of 2026 is introduced to Lynbrook's clubs through the Freshmen Orientation Club Showcase. Photo by Jasmine Rihal and Surya Saraf.

Freshmen welcomed with orientation club showcase

Katie Chin, Jasmine Rihal, Sophie Au, Larry Wang, Surya Saraf and Ashley Huang
August 21, 2022