Features

Junior Annaliese Parker, frustrated with what she perceived as the restrictive system at SHS, transferred to Middle College earlier this year because she wanted more freedom.

While on the campus of West Valley College this year, Parker has been able to take classes such as infectious diseases, human anatomy and counseling. Besides the required core classes—English and history—students get to choose what classes they want to take from a wide variety of courses, and even when they want to schedule them, as opposed to the high school’s randomized schedules.

While typical students may want to hang out at the mall or go to the movies, horseback riding with friends at Garrod Farms provides a more unique and unusual experience that, for those daring enough to give it a go, will create lifelong memories.

Located only three miles from SHS in the Saratoga foothills, Garrod Farms offers over 23 miles of trails that are located on both Garrod Farms’ property and the Fremont Older Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve. The trails are at an elevation of over 1,000 feet and therefore overlook the entire Silicon Valley as well as San Francisco Bay.

After graduating Saratoga High in 2007, aMichael Nguyen, a junior at UC San Diego studying human development, decided to go to around Tanzania last fall to teach HIV/AIDS awareness through One Heart Source, a program that helps house orphans in Africa.

Nguyen felt that it was an opportunity he would not want to miss.

With each year of high school, students seem to find it harder to manage academics, sports, extra-curricular activities and a social life, leading many seniors to look back fondly on earlier—and easier—days when they were freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

Senior Ally Doles strolled out of the AP Environmental Science classroom toward the quad. Over her shoulder she slung a white garbage bag filled with empty Doritos bags, wrinkled wrapping paper and folded gum wrappers. Many heads turned and shot her inquisitive looks, wondering if she had become a walking trashcan.

Powell’s Sweet Shoppe in downtown Los Gatos is more than just a candy store. The fruity aroma of various sweets, colorful shelves and cheerful atmosphere all blend together to make the experience like going to Willy Wonka’s factory.

Cupertino Square, formerly known as Vallco Fashion Park, has a reputation for being a lifeless and boring mall. After undergoing multiple ownership changes in the last few years as well as major renovations, the mall still does not draw a substantial number of customers. Lacking popular shopping venues, the fact that the square does little to increase the small number of people it attracts is understandable.

Snorkeling in the Galapagos, backpacking in the Andes and hiking up to the summit of Machu Picchu. Sounds like a dream vacation, but these breathtaking adventures will be daily fare for one lucky junior.

After graduating in 2002, alumnus David Lii returned to Saratoga after college to work as both an assistant coach for the varsity football team and an investment analyst in downtown Saratoga.