Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Changing the Narrative

Finding the light: Senior Rina Newhouse focuses on social interactions to find strength

Finding the light: Senior Rina Newhouse focuses on social interactions to find strength

Rina Newhouse April 22, 2019

Three out of the four seasons, I am jubilant, bubbly, cheery, and talkative. The spring flowers make me smile. I absolutely love the long, summer days where I can be outdoors all day and do activities with the people I love. In the fall, I love stomping on the leaves and drinking spiced cider. In the...

Overcoming the Gunn stereotype: Senior Grace Williams strives to support others through her own experiences

Overcoming the Gunn stereotype: Senior Grace Williams strives to support others through her own experiences

Grace Williams, Changing the Narrative Editor February 25, 2019

During my first two years of high school, I felt the stereotypical pressures of Gunn. I believed I either had to make the best grades in the class or I was not smart enough; I thought I had to be the best lacrosse player on the field and I thought I had to be involved in every extracurricular activity...

Beginning a new chapter: Senior Meghna Singh learned to successfully face challenges head on

Beginning a new chapter: Senior Meghna Singh learned to successfully face challenges head on

August 15, 2018

To my younger self: “You have to continue to believe that there is a reason for everything in life — because there is.” I wish I could go back to my underclassman self and tell her this, so that she could understand that life lessons are waiting to be learned with every new experience. I wish...

Finding Strength in Vulnerability: Junior Madeline Lurie learns to trust herself and others

Finding Strength in Vulnerability: Junior Madeline Lurie learns to trust herself and others

joannakhuang March 27, 2018

For as long as I can remember, people have seen me as an open book, as someone who’s quick to trust others. However, that’s not how I see myself. While I’ll trust people, it’s not in any way an instinctive decision. I’ve made a habit of joking that I’ve already experienced more fear than...

Restoring Warmth: Senior Joanna Huang fights emptiness and fear with compassion

Restoring Warmth: Senior Joanna Huang fights emptiness and fear with compassion

joannakhuang February 23, 2018

I distinctly remember multiple moments during class breaks in which someone tried to reach out to me. They glanced at me, walked toward me and...abruptly turned away. I know why they did so. I seemed nice and approachable enough at a distance, but I reacted oddly once they came near. As soon as I caught...

Discovering a new path: Alum Michelle Zhang finds strength amongst unpredictability

Discovering a new path: Alum Michelle Zhang finds strength amongst unpredictability

joannakhuang November 15, 2017

Time first stopped for me eight years ago. Swimming in the Pacific Ocean, I happened to get caught off-guard by a rather large wave, and after tumbling through the water for ten seconds, I tried swimming up for air when I felt another force of water toss me around before I could catch a breath. It wasn’t...

Gaining self-acceptance: Senior Christina Hung on learning through adversity

Gaining self-acceptance: Senior Christina Hung on learning through adversity

joannakhuang October 24, 2017

The first time I failed a test– really failed it, F for flunk and all that –I didn’t handle things well.  That is to say, I curled up in a ball and tried to pretend the world didn’t exist for a bit.  Unfortunately, sheer willpower cannot put reality on pause, but I figured I’d try anyway. That...

Q & A with Sources of Strength Deputy Director Scott LoMurray

Q & A with Sources of Strength Deputy Director Scott LoMurray

juliac145 September 25, 2017

Compiled by Julia Cheunkarndee The Oracle: What are the Sources of Strength, and how are they beneficial to students today? Scott LoMurray: The eight sources of strength include family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality, medical access, and mental health....

Offering support: Social Studies Department Instructional Supervisor Lynne Navarro on helping others and herself

Offering support: Social Studies Department Instructional Supervisor Lynne Navarro on helping others and herself

deianah September 18, 2017

I have been on this planet for 49 years. I have been teaching for 24. I have been a mom for 21.  Sometimes I feel like I really know what I am doing and have this whole life/teaching/mom thing figured out.  Sometimes not.  I think I maybe I will never have it all figured out, but I keep trying and...

Q&A With Crisis Text Line Director Libby Craig

Q&A With Crisis Text Line Director Libby Craig

lizakolbasov September 11, 2017

Compiled by Liza Kolbasov The Oracle: What is the crisis text line? How does it work? Libby Craig: The crisis text line, we provide free, 24/7 confidential crisis support by text message. SO, a person who's in crisis, dealing with anything from anxiety, to stress about a test, to being upset about...

Q & A with Wellness Worker Lauren Rocha

andrewz8642 September 5, 2017

  Compiled by Andrew Zhao The Oracle: You work in the wellness center. What is your position and what do you do in that position? Lauren Rocha: My title is called the Wellness outreach worker, and my job is to welcome everyone when they walk in and help them figure out why there are here. I...

Gaining confidence: Senior Vidur Thukral discovers how to strengthen self-esteem through dedication

Gaining confidence: Senior Vidur Thukral discovers how to strengthen self-esteem through dedication

cassandrabond February 27, 2017

Written by Vidur Thukral I know who I am. I’m the guy with the repetitive jokes, the guy who’s a huge aviation geek and the guy who has a weird obsession with Indian cuisine. I could keep going on and on. There are a million ways to describe me and I knew every one of them. What I didn’t realize...

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