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The Student Voice of Prosper High School

Eagle Nation Online
The Student Voice of Prosper High School

Eagle Nation Online
The Student Voice of Prosper High School

Eagle Nation Online
Kalyani Rao

Kalyani Rao, Assistant Opinion Editor

Kalyani Rao is a junior, and this is her second year as a staff member on Eagle Nation Online. She writes to transform the lives of the people around her, and hopes to continue to bring her own charm to ENO. Some of her favorite things are writing, bubble tea, cats, and music, and her favorite place in the world is Auckland, New Zealand.

Honors, Experience and Awards:

5 Best of Sno publications.

5th place in Copy Editing, district UIL meet 2021

Honorable mention- Podcast interview, 2021 TAJE Fall Fiesta

UIL Journalist 2020-2021, 2021-2022

Quill and Scroll Society member 2021-2022

1st place in Copy Editing for CENTEX UIL meet 2021-2022

3rd place in Copy Editing for Aubrey UIL meet 2022

2nd place in Copy Editing for NorTex UIL District meet 2022

2 Best in Texas News & Broadcast Awards, 2022: Personal Opinion Column- Honorable Mention, News Story- Honorable Mention

President of the Classic Book Club, 2020-onwards

Member of the National Spanish Honors Society (NSHS)

Member of the Indian Student Association (ISA)

PHS Award for Academic Excellence in Newspaper II, 2022

All content by Kalyani Rao
A digitally constructed image introduces this weeks weather brief. Next week will be mostly sunny with no rain. Average temperatures stay around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to high 80s on Sunday after potential rain showers.

Weather Brief: May 16 – 22

May 16, 2022
Set together, junior reporter Kalyani Raos three study books for the U.S. History, AP Art History and AP Spanish Language and Culture exams are pictured. Study books, although not free, are not very costly. Amazon offers many at decent prices.

Column: Study tips to ace upcoming AP exams

April 29, 2022
A graphic introduces this weeks weather brief. Temperatures will drop to mid-70s for the first half of the week. After Wednesday, temperatures rise to mid-80s with a mix of sunny and cloudy weather.

Weather Brief: April 25 – May 1

April 25, 2022
A graphic introduces this weeks weather brief. Temperatures will start high and end low, according to the Weather Channel. Rain is expected Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but skies will be clear by Wednesday afternoon.

Weather Brief: April 19 – 24

April 19, 2022
An infographic made on Canva by junior and reporter Kalyani Rao summarizes the new developments of the Russia-Ukraine war. Five weeks after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, more than four million refugees have fled Ukraine – almost 10% of the population. Most have fled to neighboring countries in the European Union, with over two million seeking safety in Poland.

Analysis Follow-Up: Russia-Ukraine war continues

April 4, 2022
A classic collection of short stories written by L.M. Montgomery, Along the Shore was published after her death in 1990. This collection connects stories of characters whose first love is ultimately the ocean. In it, Montgomery captures the haunting beauty and drama of living on Prince Edward Island surrounded by the sea.

Review: ‘Cottagecore’ – Books from the past to read this spring

March 28, 2022
For Spring Break, junior Kalyani Rao went to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, a small colonial town from the 17th century. Cobblestone streets and detailed buildings were the highlight of her trip. The sunset there was also one of the most beautiful ones she said shes seen.

[Photo] Students share Spring Break activities

March 15, 2022
In Fort Worth, Texas, protesters stand against the Russia-Ukraine war. With a sign that reads No War - Glory to Ukraine, Ukrainian mother Elizaveta Gryshchenko, mother of freshman Sofia Ayala, stands tall. I am so heartbroken to see all of these people go through this tragedy. My country and my family suffering, Gryshchenko said. I can’t imagine how all of these innocent children and people have to go through this.

Ukraine under attack as Russian troops advance into Kyiv

March 3, 2022
In figure skating’s team event last week, Valieva became the first female skater to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics, and her performances in the short program and free skate helped the Russian Olympic Committee win the gold medal. The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed that she tested positive on Feb. 8 for the banned substance trimetazidine, a heart medication, from a test taken in December. Medals were delayed as the Olympic committee debated whether she should receive the gold medal she earned. (Ice rink photo courtesy of Wikimedias Creative Commons.)

Olympics permit Kamila Valieva to compete

February 24, 2022
Focusing past the air pollution, junior Kalyani Rao captures the night sky from August 10 2021. I got incredibly lucky to end up with a photo that showed off the stars in such an incredible manner, Rao said. I saw a TikTok video on how to take really good photos of the night sky - you just need to have a good camera and know how to edit the exposure and black point. I just turned up the exposure, black point, and contrast until the outlines of the stars started to show. I was beyond excited that it actually worked, since its hard to get good amateur photos of the stars now because of air pollution.

Analysis: Strides in space – NASA shares latest achievements

February 16, 2022
Women choose to wear a hijab for many reasons, but the main reason is that the hijab allows them to retain their modesty, morals and freedom of choice. They choose to cover themselves because, for them, it is liberating, and the hijab allows them to avoid harassment and unwanted attention from men. It is also a symbol of their relationship with God and with their faith. Images used were taken from ShutterStock and inminds.co.uk with the understanding that they are available for editorial usage.

Editorial: Women should have the right to wear a hijab – anywhere

February 1, 2022
A closed girls restroom stands in the math hallway. Administrators originally closed the restrooms because of damage from the devious lick TikTok trend, where users defaced school restrooms for video content. Principal Dr. John Burdett has said that he hasnt seen any reports of bathroom vandalization after the school closed the bathrooms. As of now, there are no plans to reopen the closed bathrooms.

Restrooms to remain closed, leaving 1 set per core-class section open

January 31, 2022
Above, Kalyani captured the low-light atmosphere of her room while she writes. Recently, shes had a love for taper candles and the old-fashioned vibe that they give to her writing atmosphere. I like journaling, Rao said. Its an easy way to wind down after a long day.

Opinion: Forgotten penpalling hobby brings teenagers across oceans together

January 19, 2022
Above, fruits and vegetables sit in a bowl in the sun. The Grow-your-own-food movement, also known as the Grow Your Own Movement, has always existed, but the COVID-19 pandemic has seen it grow more rapidly than before. Due to product shortages, people are becoming more interested in being self-sustainable and growing their own fruits and veggies.

Opinion: Grow-your-own-food movement increases self-sufficiency for Americans

January 18, 2022
Around the podcast table, seniors Christi Norris, Alyssa Clark, Gabriella Winans and Amanda Hare record Episode 6 of their Over the Popcorn Bowl podcast. In the podcast series, they discuss and review movies. In this episode, they shared their favorite holiday movie and popular holiday movies. (Photos by Kalyani Rao, digitally constructed image by Amanda Hare, icons courtesy of Vectors Market and Pixel Perfect).

[Photo] Over The Popcorn Bowl - Season 1 - Episode 6 - Holiday Special

December 17, 2021
The digitally constructed image above shows the movie trailer for Thappad on a blazing background. Thappad, which means the slap in Hindi, is an Indian drama film that surrounds the decisions of three women after main character Amrita is slapped in the face by her husband at a party. The movie is a very emotional look into the thoughts and feelings of a woman who is wondering whether she deserves to live a life of unhappiness, junior Kalyani Rao said. I felt like I knew these women and their stories intimately by the end of the movie.

Review: ‘Thappad’ portrays how domestic violence shapes lives of women

December 8, 2021
A FujiFilm FinePix digital camera image blends into a photo of the sunset, taken by Kalyani Rao. The camera screen holds a photo taken earlier of stuffed animals and a plant in a vase. I love taking photos of small things, junior Kalyani Rao said. It just makes me happy to capture moments in time.

Column: Photography helps junior view world through rose-colored glasses

December 7, 2021
Driving a toy car, senior Riley Smith heads to second period. Students joined together Nov. 19 for “Bring Anything But A Backpack day, bringing items from shopping carts to toy vehicles. “I thought it would be a fast way to get to class, Smith said. “And, its just fun.

‘Bring Anything But A Backpack’ day sparks creativity in students

November 29, 2021
Pictured next to various flowers are two perfumes, Chanels Gabrielle and Diors Miss Dior, two of Kalyani Raos favorite perfumes. The Gabrielle perfume is one of the first perfumes I ever bought, Rao said. I found out about it all the way back in 2015, when I heard Kristen Stewart had recently become a Chanel ambassador. I loved her, so of course I had to save up and buy the perfume that she was the face of. On the other hand, the mini Miss Dior sample is one of my new favorites. I love the subtle floral scent.

Column: Perfume through ages, self-confidence from scents

November 16, 2021
Due to COVID-19, a few large Diwali festivals were canceled this year. Kalyani Rao, the author of this article, ended up celebrating Diwali inside her house. She created this small portable altar for Lakshmi puja, using a tea light, varieties of garden flowers, a pear and grains of basmati rice as prashadam, aka an offering, for the goddess Lakshmi. The gathering also includes incense sticks and coins. A picture of Lakshmi sitting on her lotus flower rests in front of the offering plate, decorated with flowers at the base.

Column: Diwali – Here’s what to know about Hindu festival of lights

November 5, 2021
A black and white painting of a pelican rests upon a wicker cabinet. Two delicate hand painted clay pots sit beside the painting. This simple room decor is a style typical to the minimalist principles of home decor. Minimalism clears your space and creates an environment where energy can flow through purposefully empty space, writer and junior Kalyani Rao said. its all about using what you have and appreciating the small things in life.

Opinion: Minimalism, benefits of simple living

November 3, 2021
In the photo above, sophomore Christian Alfano holds one of the mini pride flags that was passed out before school, Monday, Oct. 18. Students rallied to protest for LGBTQ+ rights in the face of anti-LGBTQ+ speeches given at recent school board meetings. People should be allowed to feel comfortable with loving other people — it shouldn’t be a crime or something to be embarrassed about, senior Jordyn Leggiere said. Everyone deserves to love.

Students petition for right to display LGBTQ+ flag on school grounds

October 22, 2021
Gold bangles and vivid red paint decorate the hand of half-Indian, half-white junior Kalyani Rao. The words What about us? are written on her palm. The red paint is inspired by Raos memory of practicing a style of Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, as a child, where the hands and feet of the dancers would be painted red before a performance. Indian culture is so incredibly beautiful, Rao said. Im proud of my relatives from coming all the way to the United States from the vibrant country that is India.

Column: South Asian American culture goes from avoided to appropriated

September 29, 2021
From left to right, rose quartz, citrine, lapis lazuli, tigers eye, amethyst and a second rose quartz stone are pictured on junior Kalyani Raos windowsill. All of them were purchased from local crystal shops. I really like having crystals in my room, Rao said. Seeing the sunlight shine through all the tiny facets and imperfections on the stones is just gorgeous. No crystal is exactly the same as another one, and I find that so beautiful.

Opinion: Crystal craze – America’s new interest in metaphysical realm

September 15, 2021

Podcast: LGBT Women Through History: Episode 1

September 1, 2021
As the sun sets on Palacio de Cibeles, junior Kalyani Rao celebrates the end of the yearly Pride parade in Madrid, also known as Orgullo Gay. This summer, she spent one month in Madrid after winning of a scholarship from a study abroad program. I really loved visiting a European city for the first time, Rao said. The old architecture, the food and the Spanish language all came together to form a wonderful first impression of Madrid, and I cant wait to go back.

[Photo] Newspaper staff shares summer photos

August 11, 2021
According to their website, the CVS MinuteClinic® offers services to support mental well-being. These include counseling for life adjustments, depression, stress, anxiety, etc. As of now, these services are only available in Texas, New York and Pennsylvania. “A public health crisis like this has only exposed people’s traumas and anxieties and therapists are needed now more than ever, licensed counselor Stephanie Waitt said. We are validating a lot of people’s struggles right now and giving people permission to be a little messy.”

CVS to offer mental health therapy services in-store

May 17, 2021
This week, Earth Day takes place, as Prosper mother Tracey George waters her plants in her garden. Georges goal is to create a sustainable garden of native plants, with the ultimate aim of helping local wildlife thrive. My mom is always outside gardening or thinking about what she can add to the garden to attract bees, Georges daughter and sophomore Kalyani Rao said. I really think this is what Earth Day should be about- bringing people together who want to care for the planet and create a conscious safe space for our environments animals.

Column: Communities come together, take action to celebrate Earth Day

April 20, 2021
Voice phishing, one of the most common crimes on the internet, allows criminals to hide behind the mask of an anonymous number. According to the University of Michigans safe computing site, Vishing (voice phishing) utilizes fraudulent phone calls to trick people into giving money or revealing personal information. Malicious actors can ‘spoof’ or mask their real number with a number that is not theirs, Chief Technology Officer Fernando De Velasco said. They will frequently choose to spoof their number with a phone number that is local.

Voice phishing increases; spam callers target district faculty, students

March 29, 2021
Illuminated against the night sky, the St. Louis Cathedral stands proudly in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Its known for being the oldest cathedral in the United States. The jewel of the South, New Orleans is known for its live music, great food, and ghostly places to visit, reporter Kalyani Rao said. Its a great destination for those in the South who want to experience a mix of a European and American town all in the United States, with Spanish architecture and original buildings carefully preserved.

Review: Check out top 5 inclusive foodie spots in New Orleans

March 19, 2021
Counselors schedule student course-selection meetings

Counselors schedule student course-selection meetings

March 2, 2021
Two members of Eagle Nation Online, editor-in-chief Grace Williamson and journalist Maddie Moats, talk to each other while wearing masks. Students are used to wearing required face coverings, especially since students are already halfway through the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. When Ive been wearing a mask for a while I dont even notice it, sophomore Maggie Lair said. Going out with them in public feels like the norm now.

Column: Masks save others, prevent spread of pandemic

February 26, 2021
A screenshot shows the webpage of Prime Psychiatrys new feature, Telepsychiatry. Telepsychiatry is a form of telehealth that allows psychiatrists to video call with patients. Prosper ISD has partnered with Childrens Health to bring telehealth to district students. Telehealth has made it more convenient for me to see my doctor, freshman Sundari Jackson said. My mom works long hours so finding an appointment time was difficult in the past. Now I can go to an appointment on my computer while my mom is at work.

Telehealth: COVID-19 moves medical care to digital platform

January 21, 2021
Against a bright blue sky, the new 7-Eleven on West Frontier Pkwy is being built. The construction is just one of the ongoing projects seen all around Prosper. Gas stations are very convenient when youre in the middle of nowhere, sophomore Gianna Galante said. We need more of them in certain places because its kind of inconvenient not to have any.

Column: Gas station opening increases health risks for Prosper residents

December 18, 2020
In the compiled photos above, a store called The British Emporium is pictured. As well, theres a picture of the writer, Kalyani Rao, mixing the ingredients for a cake. Next to her is the final result. The reason I had come to the British Emporium was to look for a Yule chocolate log cake, consisting of a rolled sponge with a cream filling and ganache frosting, Rao said. My penpal who lives in London recommended it as her favorite dessert in the winter, and I set my heart on trying it for myself.

Column: When baking goes wrong, keep trying

December 10, 2020
Organizing the cart in the clinic, Shanelle Stewart demonstrates just one of her tasks as the high school nurse. Because of the uniqueness of this year with the coronavirus, Stewart has had to constantly check for changing policies of how to manage COVID-19 cases at the highschool. “As of this week, CDC changed their guidelines for close contact exposure,” Ms. Stewart said. “It used to be a 14 day restriction, but now the CDC is saying the incubation period is shorter than before, so you’ll see it between 7-10 days, and so the 7-10 day restriction should be in place here in a few days.”

Analysis: Schools, stores, medics adapt to evolving COVID-19 measures

December 7, 2020
In the collage above, female students of color are pictured, friends of columnist Kalyani, with her in the bottom right. I made this collage to show who is being immediately impacted by Kamala Harriss election, Kalyani said. She represents the very real progress being made for women of color in the United States.

Column: Kamala Harris overcomes hurdles for women of color

November 13, 2020
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