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Read a student’s reflections on Black History Month in photographer Myles Fox’s first-ever article
Read about the history and impact of Pinewood’s own Panther Pit in Brandon Ge’s latest article
Read EIC Samantha Hsiung’s ponderings on senioritis and enjoying the time seniors have left
Read about the fentanyl epidemic connection to Snapchat in Lara Parikh’s latest article
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MARCH 2, 2023
INSTAGRAM: @PINEWOODPERENNIAL
PINEWOOD SCHOOL, LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA
VOLUME VII, ISSUE IV
THEPERENNIAL.ORG
Is Pinewood Prepared?
With mass shootings on the rise, lockdown drills equip students for the unimaginable ANNABELLE EATON Staff Writer
violence, there is no simple way to prevent it.” It was during his time teaching in Mexico when Lemmon began to recognize the international perception of gun violence in the United States. “My friends in Mexico said, ‘we’re scared for you because you’re going to work at a school in the United
crime, they do not have the same types of mass shootings that are unique to the United States. What started out with fireworks, festivities, and “Compared to most any industrialized country, celebrations for the Lunar New Year instead ended we’re in a different playing field when it comes to gun with shots fired and 11 dead. This was the scene of violence,” Lemmon said. the Monterey Park shooting — only one of three mass As the threat of a school shooting grows, so does shootings in the Bay Area since the start of the fear within our own Pinewood commuthe year. nity. In the first month and a half, more than 70 “[Shootings have] happened everywhere mass shootings have been reported nationelse, and it could happen here,” seventh wide, eight of which were school shootings. grader Aadya Kumar said. “It’s not a ‘whatAs the threat of gun violence moves closer to if ’ game anymore.” home, Pinewood must now consider how the At the same time, many other Pinewood issue affects Pinewood’s campus. students feel that school shootings are a pos“This is not just a California issue, it’s a nasibility, but highly unlikely given Pinewood’s tional issue,” Head of Upper Campus Gabriel location and clean record. Lemmon said. “I think the leading cause of “I feel like in this area there aren’t many death for [children] used to be car accidents. people who would do it,” seventh grader AmNow, it is gun violence.” ani Lee-Seyon said. “But, it’s possible.” Although Pinewood has never experienced Head of School Scott Riches said that Pinea school shooting nor had the threat of a wood has a clear plan in place in the event school shooter, the administration must deal of a shooter on campus and that teachers are with the possibility of gun violence at school aware of the procedures. Riches noted that Photo by SOPHIA YAO as the problem is exacerbated. Lemmon said Pinewood has telephones in every classroom PREPARING FOR THE WORST Safety measures like these help the that Pinewood has scheduled lockdown drills, as well as an all-alert system that will notify Pinewood community effectively respond to emergency situations. but does not plan to hold additional drills in everyone in the event of danger. light of recent shootings. States,’” Lemmon said. “They said that, in the United “We’ve received guidance from security experts, even “We do a good job of training [administration] States, schools are where people get killed.” law enforcement, and we’ve shared these best practices to do the right thing,” Lemmon said. “But, with gun Although Mexico has higher rates of violence and with the teachers,” Riches said.
Startup Instacoach Is Here For Athletes Like Hannah Jump JOLYN DING Staff Writer
From the Panther Pit to Nerd Nation, Pinewood alumna Hannah Jump ‘19 is continuing to make a name for herself both on and off the basketball court. In Jump’s final and most successful collegiate season yet, she has solidified herself as not only one of the best shooters in the nation but also one of the most integral players in Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer’s rotation. Since her freshman year in college, Jump has grown tremendously — making huge strides as a basketball player and even bigger ones as an individual. With the introduction of NIL, a collegiate athlete’s ability to make a profit off their name, image, and likeness, and her recent success on the court, Jump has launched her very own merchandise line that features an assortment of t-shirts and hoodies embellished with her personal logo. “I’ve done a few things with NIL,” Jump said. “I’ve created my own brand, [and] I’ve signed with a couple of companies. It’s been super cool…and it’s provided me the opportunity to meet [new] people and get involved in the business side of things.” For Jump and many collegiate athletes around the nation, benefiting off NIL is often their first source of steady income, and it challenges them to make financially sound decisions that set them up for the future. “I’ve had to learn a lot about [financial literacy] and managing my money,” Jump said. “Our team’s actually done programs on investing, and we’ve learned a lot about investing through [personal finance com-
panies].” These experiences have reminded Jump that her offcourt success is a byproduct of her on-court performance. While it may be easy to get wrapped up in the money and numbers, Jump never lets any of it get to her head. “[NIL] is just a reminder that none of this will come without being successful on the court…you still have to get in the gym and do whatever you need to do to perform at the level that [is expected],” Jump said. To go along with her merchandise line, Jump recently partnered with Instacoach, a startup created by athletes and designed for athletes. Their mission is to empower young children, connect them with elite athletes through oneon-one ses-
Photos by STANFORD ATHLETICS AND PINEWOOD
sions, and promote monetization for players like Jump. Pinewood alumna Izzy Chung, an intern at Insta-
coach and former teammate of Jump, describes her role at the company. “Working for a startup is pretty flexible, so you’re not constrained to a confined role,” Chung said. “I’m [focusing] on business development and filming videos for content, and I’m passionate about Instacoach because [they provide] a really cool opportunity for athletes to make income on the side.” Chung is also working to market the company and draw in more clients and bookings for Jump, who has a coaching profile available on Instacoach’s website. There, aspiring athletes of any sport can connect with their favorite collegiate or professional athletes and book virtual or in-person sessions with them. Although these sessions are a source of income for Jump, her main focus has never been about the money; instead, she strives to give back to the youth and her community, share her knowledge about basketball and recruiting, and inspire young girls to pursue their passions. “Coaching has always been something that I’ve wanted to get into, and it’s been good to [connect with younger athletes],” Jump said. “Right now, I’m in the [middle] of season, so I don’t have all the time in the world to be giving lessons, but I’m excited for the spring when I have a lot more time to hold more.” In Jump’s continued efforts to return the favor to her community and thank those who have shaped her along the way, she has an exciting announcement for the Pinewood community. “I’ll be holding a skills clinic or basketball camp for any interested Pinewood students,” Jump said. “More details are [coming].”