Written Work

Don’t listen to anyone who says suburbia is boring. They’re simply looking in the wrong places.

Sure, I’d rather report on the housing crisis in New York City or cover historic droughts in Los Angeles. But the people I care about are all right here, milling around the quiet streets of Belmont, California.

It fills me with purpose to use my pen to turn a stranger into a friend, not just to me but also to my readers. Whenever I publish a profile, messages from community members flood my inbox (okay, maybe not flood––it’s a pretty small town), sharing tidbits they found humorous, insightful, or relatable.

So yes, maybe I have to dig a little deeper for stories than journalists in New York City or Los Angeles, but I enjoy the chase because everyone––the crossing guard, the girl sleeping on the sidewalk, the boy who spent his teenage years behind bars––has a story to tell.

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Out of control: The pattern of gun violence in the U.S.

March 20, 2023
A gunman seeks out a dance studio in Monterey Park. Another kills seven farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. A 6-year-old boy brings a gun to school.

The bullets reach a bus, a basketball game, a university...

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Independent but invisible

April, 2023
A droplet of sweat traced a path down Alex Garcia*’s temple as he packed his tattered canvas backpack with the essentials – some clothes, a toothbrush, and a dilapidated stuffed rabbit. These few possessions were all he could carry, having spent the last decade weaving in and out of foster homes...

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M-A students walkout for justice

May 17, 2023
Amid growing concerns over a recent police incident, students from Menlo-Atherton High School organized two walkouts to condemn police violence targeting people of color...

Satire: The day the robots take over

December 5, 2022
San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors approved a plan to employ lethal robots in an 8-3 vote on Tuesday, Nov. 29 – a tremendous win for anyone who favors police measures that are both tough on crime and capable of blowing up suspects...

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Editorial: We need to turn the page on assigned readings

November 9, 2022
Books are portals to fictional worlds. In flipping through their pages, one can traverse the galaxy with The Little Prince, gaze out to sea alongside Santiago, or enjoy breakfast with the March sisters...

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Juvenile (in)justice: girls in the system

November 8, 2022
When one envisions the juvenile justice system, images of young delinquents behind bars likely come to mind. Or perhaps a juvenile court is the first image to appear, the judge determining a child’s future...

Fanning the flames: d.tech administration’s response to rebellion ignites controversy

September 19, 2022
Thirteen students were suspended from Design Tech High School (d.tech) in Redwood City, California. These students, along with many others, protested the school’s new policies on Aug. 24, prompting allegations...

Big Wave project makes a splash in Half Moon Bay community

April 14, 2022
“What will happen to my child when I’m gone?”
This question haunts many parents of children with disabilities. The Big Wave Project offers reassurance to these parents, community to their children, and, above all, a solution to this bleak unknown...

Beyond the blue bin: how recycling might be a waste

March 12, 2022
The irritating chug of the garbage truck before it screeches to a stop echoes through the street. Three bins stand, eagerly anticipating the truck’s arrival—one black, one green, and one blue...

Heritage Fair: The importance of cultural representation

March 6, 2022
Song and dance became Carlmont’s ticket to travel the world at the Heritage Fair last Wednesday.

Mountains of stressful school work often overshadow the vast ocean of culture and diversity at Carlmont. The annual Heritage Fair...

San Mateo County works to prevent human trafficking

February 11, 2022
In San Mateo County, oftentimes, people may forget that crimes can happen here too. The white picket fences that line some streets can easily create a false sense of security. One might see litter on the side of the road and conclude that it’s the worst misdemeanor to exist in such a subdued area...

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Bay Area schools respond to omicron surge

January 22, 2022
Bay Area school districts are treading water in a pool of uncertainty during the current omicron surge. Most districts have distributed tests and masks, but frequent absences coupled with student protests...

West Coast Craft weaves community together

November 28, 2021
From pottery embellished with images of goats to cacti ornaments woven out of green thread, West Coast Craft (WCC) displays the distinct works of artists and craftspeople from all over California. Food...

County representatives reimagine juvenile hall

November 7, 2021
Twenty-five years in prison. Over 12 in solitary confinement. All starting at the age of 17. In 1992, Paul Bocanegra, an East San Jose resident, was involved in a drive-by gang shooting in high...

Webb Telescope peers into the past

October 15, 2021
The James Webb Space Telescope will launch the scientific community into the future by gazing into the past. After 16 days at sea, 10 billion dollars, and 25 years of development, the Webb telescope...

Music blooms at Botanical Garden

September 25, 2021
If one listened in closely, they would hear 12 different melodies dance through the air of the San Francisco Botanical Garden last week during Flower Piano...