• 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
Farewell Rally 2025
Unwrapping holiday memories
Plucking heartstrings with Lynbrook students’ favorite love songs
Silsilay connects communities across the bay
Teachers take on brain rot terms
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.
Farewell Rally 2025
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
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
Valerie Shu

Valerie Shu, Staffer

(she/her) Valerie is a senior, third-year staffer, and previous design editor. She enjoys being an art & graphic design enthusiast, f1 & motorsports nerd, and oxford comma apologist.

All content by Valerie Shu

New viking staff arrive on campus

David Zhu, Valerie Shu, Olivia Tu and Rohan Kakhandiki
September 18, 2024
It’s 10 a.m., and a deathly silence permeates the air at the tarnished wooden dinner table. A half-eaten Trader Joe's Mochi Cake lies messily wrapped in aluminum foil, beside a nearly empty bottle of Tabasco sauce.

[Photo] Three simple ingredients.

Myles Kim, Editor-in-Chief
May 20, 2024
Untitled_Artwork

[Photo] 2024 Senior Columns

Myles Kim, Deeksha Raj, Katie Chin, Surya Saraf, Riki Murase, Apurva Krishnamurthy and Anushka Anand
May 20, 2024
Nostalgia

Nostalgia

Valerie Shu, Staffer
April 29, 2024
From "Barbie" to "Mulan," nostalgia has been a marketing strategy to remodel remniscent shows, yet some approaches have entered gray regions between offering fresh perspectives and exploiting the audiences' pre-existing connections.

Nostalgia in media: Toeing the line between modernized and contrived

Valerie Shu and Alyssa Wang
April 29, 2024
Lockdown nostalgia consists of a longing for memories, habits and emotions experienced during the pandemic, usually in its early stages.

[Photo] A walk down lockdown lane: quarantine memories

Crystal Zhu and Eileen Zhu
April 29, 2024
Nostalgia offers the opportunity to relive the past, yet the concept and acceptance of nostalgia has shiften throughout the years.

[Photo] Nostalgia’s journey from disorder to emotion

Anushka Anand and Apurva Krishnamurthy
April 29, 2024
Phoebe Tang pursues engineering passions with Funky Monkeys robotics team

Phoebe Tang pursues engineering passions with Funky Monkeys robotics team

Valerie Shu, Staffer
April 22, 2024
Gaming the system

Gaming the system

Valerie Shu, Staffer
February 12, 2024
The theater will undergo updates to the lighting system with new LED lights and lighting board. The drama program will also receive more mics to be distributed amongst student performers and a new soundboard.

Theater to undergo improvements to lighting and sound systems

Valerie Shu, Staffer
February 12, 2024
While student teachers’ roles usually evolve through the year as they gradually take on more responsibilities, Lim has been engaged since his start with classroom activities ranging from leading warm-ups to rehearsing songs.

Teaching to learn: exploring the journey of a student teacher

Valerie Shu, Staffer
December 11, 2023
Lynbrook students Anna Ding and Allison Lin's crouching rabbit sculptures were both 20 inches tall, the smallest size available. They were displayed outside a restaurant in Main Street Cupertino and the Cupertino Library, respectively, before being auctioned to buyers.

Rabbit sculptures hop through community for charity with Cupertino Rotary Club

Valerie Shu, Staffer
November 6, 2023
Lost in translation.

Lost in translation.

Susanna Tang and Valerie Shu
May 22, 2023
Valerie poses with her scout sign, a signature gesture from her time at White Stag summer camp. Photo by Chelsea Lee

Finding my calling as a camp counselor

Valerie Shu, Staffer
May 8, 2023
Most banks in the U.S. act as intermediaries, receiving money from deposits or by issuing stock to provide loans and other financial services

Silicon Valley Bank failure leads to unrest

Amishi Chandra and Valerie Shu
April 10, 2023
While some brands make genuine efforts to meet their claims, companies that greenwash undermine public trust in brands and green initiatives, preventing actual environmental steps from being taken.

Painting false shades of reality with greenwashing

Valerie Shu and Eileen Zhu
March 10, 2023
Sophomore Matthew Tanaka can be found rising at dawn to catch waves on his longboard.

Matthew Tanaka braves the waves

Valerie Shu, Staffer
December 12, 2022
The Funky Monkeys and their head coach, David Giandomenico, met with Superintendent Graham Clark to discuss the field.

Funky Monkeys robotics team gears up with new practice field

Valerie Shu, Staffer
November 7, 2022
Homecoming: Junior Skit 22-23

Homecoming: Junior Skit 22-23

Valerie Shu and Alyssa Wang
October 20, 2022
Edward Sha releases his debut album "fine pining" on Sept. 28, his 17th birthday

Edward Sha illustrates personal journey in debut album

Valerie Shu, Staffer
October 10, 2022
Shveta Bagade and Tania Yang are excited to start the school year as part of the guidance team.

Tania Yang and Shveta Bagade join Guidance Department

Meera Nambiar, Jason Shan, Anirudh Seshadri, Amishi Chandra, Maple Leung, Eileen Zhu and Valerie Shu
August 23, 2022