On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The two nations have a history of conflict, which can most recently be dated back to the Russian annexation of Crimea—an ethnically Russian peninsula bordering both Russia and Ukraine—in 2014. Now, eight years later, the conflict has escalated to a full-scale war, and its effects have rippled worldwide. At Gunn, it has fostered discussions about both its short-and long-term impacts, inspiring students to create change.

Classroom Discourse

The war’s effect is most dominant in social studies classrooms, where discussion of current events is consumed by the ongoing war and lessons have shifted focus to draw parallels with the present. Rather than proceeding with her curriculum, U.S. Foreign Policy teacher Tara Firenzi has put the current war at the forefront of her class discussions. “We talk about it every day,” she said. “Some days, we’ve actually devoted the entire class period to it. But most days, we have 10 minutes to check in about any new developments.”

Similarly, Social Studies teacher Dr. Benjamin Beresford—who has a Ph.D in history with a focus on Soviet and Russian history— has been informing students about the ongoing war and its developments. “I have colleagues and friends who have family in Ukraine and Russia who are directly impacted by this,” he said. “It’s something that I felt really strongly about—to make sure that people knew what was going on.”

Placing the war in a broader historical context and discussing its long-term effects is crucial to Dr. Beresford’s class discussions. In his Contemporary World History classes, Dr. Beresford began the year by covering the Cold War and the emergence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Students were then able to contextualize one cause of the conflict: Ukraine wants to become a part of NATO—a military and political alliance founded in 1949 in response to aggressive actions of the Soviet Union during the Cold War—and Russia is opposed to it. In his classes, Dr. Beresford also discusses the “war of information,” which refers to the Russian government’s heavy control of the Russian media and ban of the term “war” when referring to what the Russian government calls a “special military operation.” He uses the opportunity to talk about detecting reliable sources and censorship.

In the Contemporary World History SJP class, the discussion revolves around race relations and inequalities. The class recently watched a video clip of a group of students of color who were trying to cross the Polish border but were denied entry. Sophomore Annabel Honigstein found the clip particularly compelling. “It hits harder to see things happening in front of you rather than just reading about it,” she said.

In almost every class discussion, Honigstein has observed a strong emotional reaction. “I think discussions are difficult, to be honest,” she said. “For most people, it’s very emotional. They know people in Ukraine, and I know people in Ukraine, so it’s been rough.”

Teachers such as Firenzi feel that the emotional reaction is an essential component to discussions. “Everybody is pretty appalled,” Firenzi said. “The moral and the human implications are always a part of the conversation [in addition] to just the technicalities of what’s happening.”

Student input has also been at the forefront of both the discussion about the conflict. In U.S. Foreign Policy Honors, students like senior Andrew Schoenen have been able to reflect on the war. “After we cover some news article or hear some interview, Ms. Firenzi has been super helpful in giving us question time about logistics of the war we don’t understand, as well as providing a floor for people to give their takes about what they think will happen or how well the U.S. and other countries are handling the war,” he said.

Community Response

In the SJP, many students have been spurred to action, primarily through the protest. According to Miller, students took initiative in organizing the Mar. 25 event. “Students came up with different ways that they wanted to show their support and bring attention to some of the social justice issues that are happening during the invasion of Ukraine,” he
said. “[The protest] wasn’t just about supporting Ukraine; it was also about supporting Russian middle-class workers that are out of jobs, children harmed by the invasion and the refugees of color who are having a difficult time getting out of [Ukraine].”

Along with bringing signs and shouting chants during the protest, SJP students compiled a brochure with information about the war and how others can support it. They encourage donating clothes, food and money to organizations such as Voice of Children, International Rescue Committee and Razom for Ukraine, which then deliver directly to Ukraine. Another way to help the cause is to email California senators Diane Feinstein and Alex Padilla about how they can help support Ukraine.

Clubs are also taking action. Most recently, the Red Cross and Amnesty Clubs partnered to hold a feminine hygiene product drive for Ukraine. The clubs are accepting pad and tampon donations in bins outside rooms E-02 and H-01,  which they will send to Meest America, a U.S.-based distribution center accepting humanitarian aid packages for Ukraine. The products—which the clubs say are often overlooked when donating—will be delivered to the Ukrainian city Lviv and dispersed to relief organizations located in the country.

Support for Ukraine is not exclusive to Gunn; it reflects the response throughout the greater Palo Alto and Bay Area communities. In Palo Alto, lawn signs sporting the slogans “We stand with Ukraine” and “Support Ukraine” have populated residential home lawns. The city hall is also lit in blue and yellow every night. Community members have put Ukrainian flags in front of their homes as well as posters with QR codes to donate to Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit created in 2013 by a group of Ukrainian Bay Area residents to provide humanitarian aid and raise awareness for Ukraine. The organization regularly hosts events—fundraisers, meetings with Ukrainian celebrities and roundtable discussions about Ukraine—which have helped them raise $8 million since 2014.

Since the outbreak of the war, however, the Nova Ukraine group has focused on their Emergency Response project. They post regular updates to their website about how to help Ukrainians; most recently, they have partnered with United Nations Children’s Fund USA, delivered aid to Ukrainian refugees and organized rallies.

To contribute, consider visiting the donation resources page compiled by the SJP (https://linktr.ee/helpukrainegunn) or donating feminine hygiene products to the Red Cross and Amnesty Clubs.

Goel has always been one for a challenge. Combining her love for the U.S. and passion for wanting to serve, Goel took a gap year to do basic combat training for the Army National Guard before embarking on her collegiate journey to study Computer Science at Harvard University. Goel’s intensive training, consisted of weightlifting, cycling and other physical exercises, equipping her both mentally and physically to embark on another challenge: being selected to compete on “Survivor” in summer of 2021. 

To apply, Goel submitted a videotape: an alternative to an open-casting call. According to the CBS website, videos are intended for applicants to explain who they are, how their life experiences will help them win the game and how they will interact with other tribe members. Goel received a call-back after her video was selected, which led to a more extensive interview process. After receiving the news that she had been selected as a Season 42 show contestant, Goel was ecstatic. “I’ve wanted to be on ‘Survivor’ since forever,” she said. “All my best friends love the show and my family [does too].” 

Despite being voted off of “Survivor,” Goel emphasizes that her experience on the show was an incredibly formative experience. She describes her first moment stepping onto the beach, seeing Jeff Probst (the host of the show) and fully realizing that she would be a part of “Survivor.” “It was always a dream that I thought was probably not going to happen,” she said. “To actually get to play ‘Survivor’ is a blessing and I’m so grateful.”

Watch Season 42 of “Survivor” every Wednesday on CBS.

Stratton’s primary focus when choosing her everyday outfits, however, is to wear pieces that reflect her state of mind. “What I’m wearing impacts how I feel about myself,” she said. “I’ll look through my closet and see what I can put together. If I can’t put up with a bright red outfit or if that’s too much for me, I’ll want to go with something more subdued.”

Even while she’s on the job, Stratton is always paying attention to fashion, often seeking new inspiration for her outfits from the students themselves. She enjoys observing students’ experimentation with clothing styles, and occasionally implements their fashion choices into her own wardrobe. “I don’t really do scarves, but I notice people who do and think, ‘Oh, I should do more scarves,’” she said.

Stratton believes that clothing can define a person. “I’m thoughtful about finding things that are fun, sometimes creative and appropriate,” she said.

Jazz originated in a tiny flop house in New Orleans to facilitate communication between people who spoke different languages. During its rise to popularity in the early 1900s, jazz bridged the racial divide in the United States. Audiences of various backgrounds gathered and connected in clubs over jazz music.

Not only does jazz have historical significance, but it is also exciting to listen to. Jazz often incorporates improvisation, which means that while the musicians have basic chords to follow throughout some songs, it is up to them to decide what to play on the spot. At any given time, a player can solo and take control of the song, changing its course.

Jazz is commonly thought of as boring, filler music that you hear upon walking into an elevator or dentist’s office. However, people fail to realize the breadth of the genre. Between the smooth piano-based jazz or the romantic and dynamic love songs performed by a trumpeter with a vocalist, there is room in jazz for everyone. In any old-fashioned rom-com, you are bound to hear Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E” or Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” accentuated by trumpet solos.

The beauty of jazz is its effect on the listener. Whether it makes you dance or makes you pensive, it is sure to stir emotion.

Miranda Avenue after Construction

Acosta, Arsalane and José began their lifting journeys over quarantine in the absence of their school sports. Whether the sport was cheer, wrestling or water polo, all lifters had one thing in common—the desire to improve their strength while challenging themselves physically and mentally. To combat feelings of isolation during the COVID-19 lock down, José, a wrestler, turned to lifting as both an outlet and a productive use of time. “When I’m lifting, I know that I have to push myself,” José said. “Being able to have the mental strength to do it is just as important as physical strength.”

Acosta, the cheer team co-captain, also emphasized the importance of stamina when lifting. “You constantly have to be pushing yourself to finish your set or have a personal record,” she said.

Acosta incorporates cardio into her gym routine as well. With advice from a personal trainer over the summer, she has tailored her workouts to serve her body’s needs. “My routine is usually doing cardio and running a mile, and then focusing on one different area of the body depending on the day,” she said.

Women often face an entirely different challenge in weightlifting: competing in a mostly male-dominated sport. Both José and Acosta expressed frustration over the perception that lifting is for men. For Acosta, this has directly affected her experience during her weight training sessions. “When I go to the gym and it’s full of men, I am more self-conscious and feel more judged,” she said.

José, who is already accustomed to the “male-dominated” aspect of wrestling, tries to find the positive side of it. “Being able to lift with your male friends is encouraging because all they want is for you to be better,” José said. “I take the whole ‘male-dominated’ thing as motivation and a challenge. Nothing feels better than beating a man at his own game.”

For any weightlifter, what matters most is the positive impact weightlifting has on their mind and body. Like José, weightlifters often go to the gym as an escape. “After I work out, I feel like a whole new person,” José said. “My mood goes up, and I feel proud o myself because I know I did something good for my body.”

Arsalane, a water polo co-captain, also started to weightlift this past year during the water polo off-season. She emphasizes the power of lifting to feel good in your own skin. “It’s a really good way to work your body and become strong,” Arsalane said. “Afterwards, it feels super good to get [a good pump].”

Not only does lifting have a positive short-term impact, but it also empowers women in the long term. Lifting shifts the focus from having a lean body type to a strong one. In doing so, it reframes thinking from controlling weight by eating less to building more muscle through exercise.

Many teenage girls, Arsalane included, struggle with body image issues. These issues were especially prevalent over quarantine when at-home exercises became popularized through online videos such as YouTuber Chloe Ting’s “10 mins Abs Workout for a Flat Stomach.” Through lifting, however, Arsalane has been able to focus on how her body feels by choosing exercises that she enjoys that make her feel stronger. “Instead of trying to look skinny, I try to look strong now and focus on how I’m feeling instead of on my looks only,” she said. “It’s definitely made me feel better about myself because I feel a lot more powerful.”

Despite weightlifting’s short- and long-term effects, many women still shy away from the sport. Arsalane encourages anyone, even those without experience, to try lifting. “Weightlifting should be destigmatized for women,” Arsalane said. “It’s not about lifting as much as the other people around you. It’s about working your body in a way that makes you feel good.”