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The official student news site of Westview High School

The Nexus

The official student news site of Westview High School

The Nexus

The official student news site of Westview High School

The Nexus

Phoebe Vo

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief

Phoebe Vo (12) is in her third year as part of The Nexus. If ever in pursuit of a Phoebe, you can almost always find her in L104, either engrossed in silly conversations with her fellow Nexans or stressing out about the next issue. And, if she runs, you can most certainly catch her (she’s wearing heels). In her free time, she loves to read (a range from classical literature to philosophical texts to fanfiction), play chess at Peet’s, and sleep!

All content by Phoebe Vo

Phoebe: Letter to Freshman Self

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief June 6, 2025

Phoebe, In many ways, I am the same person I see so clearly in you. I’m as easily charmed into laughter over the most mundane things; my wrappers have stayed tied in difficult knots; I’m quick to...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief June 6, 2025

The Good Place “Simply put, we are not in this alone”   At the beginning of senior year, in the face of my impending adulthood, I embarked on a pursuit that has carried me throughout...

Allison Hauw looks at the Joseph C. Gillian Academic Award, May 7. she is the current Commanding Officer and has been in NJROTC for four years,

Hauw wins international NJROTC award

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief May 9, 2025

Commanding Officer (CO) Allison Hauw (12), faced the rest of NJORTC’s members, all standing at attention, Ainternatpril 24. An award ceremony was underway, but for what, they had no idea. Captain Thomas...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief May 9, 2025

Cabaret  “Life is a cabaret”   In the aftermath of World War II, humanity questioned itself, disillusioned, demoralized, destroyed. These atrocities burned into their minds, leaving...

Column Issue 10

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief April 30, 2025

Theodore Roosvelt  Comparison is the thief of joy    “I’m really happy for you!”  “That’s amazing!”  “Congratulations! You’ve worked so hard.”  “You deserve...

Art by Ella Jiang

Human-ities

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief April 11, 2025

  Rapidly and recklessly, the death of humanities in modern society is approaching. Such studies have reached an all-time low according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System,...

Julian Yang (12) plays against Mt. Carmel's number one ranked player, March 4. After playing seven sets, he eventually lost.

Boys tennis triumphs 11-7 over Mt. Carmel

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief March 14, 2025

Pio Ryu (11) could feel it: his breath shortening, his heart racing, his grip growing tighter around his racket, March 4. Every single sensation felt overwhelming as his opponent flipped the scoreboard...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief March 14, 2025

Vision  “Grief is love persevering”     On Feb. 22, my world fell apart.  Four years of legacy, four years of commitment, four years of my life, all amounting to one spectacular...

Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief February 15, 2025

Orbital “Inexpressibly trivial and momentous” The ocean is boundless, its surface hazy and smooth, shimmering blue far beyond my sight. The sun pierces through gathering clouds. It reflects through...

Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) members perform at Westview's Lunar New Year event in the plaza, Jan. 28. The dance is called Vu Phien and features brightly colored fans.

VSA performs for Lunar New Year

Teresa Tian and Phoebe Vo February 14, 2025

Tiffany Luu (12) opened her yellow fans as she radiantly smiled at her peers who watched from the Westview Quad, Jan. 28. She continued to ripple the brightly colored fans, which beamed in hues of pink,...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief January 24, 2025

Dancing Through Life  “Why think too hard?”    Happiness. Joy. Excitement.  Emotions that are usually never present in this somber column have finally made their appearance in my...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief January 23, 2025

Stoicism  “You have power over your mind”    I’ve never been much of a stoic.  I cry over the inevitable, obsess over the past, and drive myself crazy, ruminating the countless...

Mance troupe returns for winter dance show

Mance troupe returns for winter dance show

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief December 20, 2024

Delicate footsteps entered a dark stage on the first night of the winter dance show, A December to Remember, Dec. 4. Christmas light bulb necklaces are the audience’s only reference points, their multi-colored...

Anvit Watwani (12) listens to the Quiz Bowl moderator's question, deliberating his response, at the CCA tournament, Nov. 16. The team qualified for playoffs with a score of 5-2.

Quiz Bowl makes playoffs in CCA tourney

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 22, 2024

Tightly clutching the small black buzzer in his hands, Anvit Watwani (12) stared intensely at the moderator as they read a question from this round’s Quiz Bowl packet, Nov. 16. Asking for the name of...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 22, 2024

Calvin and Hobbes   “Life is like topography”  The day of the election, I hosted a small gathering. My friends and I sat around my little firepit, taking in the cool November air, with my...

Photo and Art by Ella Jiang, Aspen Cotton, and Evelyn Shoemaker

A house divided

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 8, 2024

  Amidst one of the most intense, devastating conflicts in U.S. history, just before the Confederates seceded from the Union, subsequently splitting apart the young nation, Abraham Lincoln, in...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 8, 2024

Solipsism “The self is all that can be known to exist.”   As of late, I’ve felt a profound sense of disillusionment. Perhaps, in reference to my earlier columns, this discontentment,...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief October 11, 2024

Taoism  “Take on the interests of other people”  Recently, I confided in my mother about my existential dread for my future and my desperate attempts to search and create meaning in my life....

Talking to strangers forms friendship

Talking to strangers forms friendship

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief October 11, 2024

I’ve never been one to approach a stranger. Perhaps that might be because the word most commonly paired with the term is “danger,” constructing a catchy rhyme that has been used to scare kids for...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief September 20, 2024

Dostoevsky “Beauty will save the world.”  The sky is bleak against the bright, artificial lights that emanate from nearby houses. It's gray, tinged ever so slightly with the undertones of a...

My plans towards self-improvement

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief August 30, 2024

It’s been three years since I stepped foot on Westview’s brutalist concrete. Trees have been planted, benches have been painted, and the budget has thoroughly decreased. Yet, I cannot help but wonder...

The Pursuit of Meaning

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief August 30, 2024

Absurdism  “To live without appeal”    As I approach the precipice of adolescence, leaning on the very cliff before adulthood, I find myself in quite the unnerving position. Usually,...

Helpful Honda honors Hester with $5K

Helpful Honda honors Hester with $5K

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief May 31, 2024

Dawn Hester was recognized during Teacher Appreciation Week and received $5,000 worth of school supplies from Honda, May 6. Disguised as a celebration for the Option 16 team’s participation at World’s,...

The Death of Deep Thought

The Death of Deep Thought

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief April 5, 2024

Alex Kun (9) doesn’t know exactly when he stopped reading books. With childlike excitement, he used to derive wondrous enjoyment from skimming his hands over the spine of a book, flipping its pages,...

Review: Unheard (EP) by Hozier

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief April 5, 2024

Hozier’s extended play album Unheard is a beautifully composed set of four songs, which had me utterly enthralled from its very first note. Like a siren’s call, Hozier’s voice is enchantingly alluring,...

Graphic by Phoebe Vo and Aspen Cotton

I really love annotating books

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief March 15, 2024

Today is finally the day. I know I can do it. A foe that has so long evaded me will finally meet its end. Its very existence has taunted me so, pervading my life, a constant in my thoughts and dreams....

Classroom phone holders

Classroom phone holders

Zeina Nicolas and Phoebe Vo February 16, 2024

Yes Zeina Nicolas I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve been in class and could see someone near me on their phone playing a video game or scrolling on social media. Whether...

State budget loses billions in funds

State budget loses billions in funds

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief January 26, 2024

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the first draft of the 2024-2025 California budget, Jan. 10, which had been projected by the Legislative Analyst’s Office in December of 2023 to have a $68 billion deficit....

Parting Ways

Parting Ways

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief December 22, 2023

There was an air of blissful carelessness that permeated the elementary school playground as 6-year-old Kailyn Donnelly (11) giggled, her face stuck in a wide grin, watching her three friends...

Review: Sabrina Carpenter’s fruitcake

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief December 22, 2023

Sabrina Carpenter’s album fruitcake, released on Nov. 17, is the perfect record to get you ready for the Christmas season. A mixture of pop and holiday music, its six songs are the perfect accompaniment...

ROTC prepares for first field meet competition

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 17, 2023

UNARMED EXHIBITION Haven Reed (12) could not contain her excitement when it was announced she had been chosen to be Unarmed Exhibition captain last year. Having been participating since her sophomore...

Dance Troupe performs at Halloween Festival

Dance Troupe performs at Halloween Festival

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief October 27, 2023

Westview Dance Troupe performed the song, “Thriller,” by Michael Jackson, in the Rancho Penasquitos Halloween Community Festival, Oct. 21, at Hilltop Park in the event’s local flash mob. Coach...

Vivian Roberts (10) leaps into the air to strike the volleyball that was set by Ava Zamora (11), scoring a point for Westview, Oct. 20. The team was celebrating their senior night together at their latest home game against San Marcos, and after an intense match, the team lost 3-1.

[Photo] Girls volleyball smashes competition

Haven Teudt, Staff Writer October 26, 2023

Vivian Roberts (10) leaps into the air to strike the volleyball that was set by Ava Zamora (11), scoring a point for Westview, Oct. 20. The team was celebrating their senior night together at their latest...

New Mandarin courses foster cultural awareness

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief October 6, 2023

The recently implemented Chinese Language curriculum, teaching Mandarin, having started this year, is a new option for language and culture acquisition at Westview. The class kicked off with an auspicious...

The Ins and Outs of The Nexus

The Ins and Outs of The Nexus

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief August 25, 2023

As Westview’s official student newspaper, The Nexus aims to bring light to intriguing stories about our students and campus. Publishing every three weeks, the press cycle begins with the staff...

Cross country trains in Big Bear

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief August 25, 2023

From July 30 to Aug. 4, Shayna Mehta (11) and eight other runners from the cross country team attended summer training camp in the mountains of Big Bear. Coach Amanda Sandstrom began hosting the camps...

Lee, Zhang, Shi compete in USA Math Olympiad

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief April 7, 2023

Nine hours. Six questions. Two days. Infinite pressure. Daeho Lee (12), Justin Zhang (11), and Eric Shi (11) sat at the shiny desks of a USCD classroom, March 21-22. Their demeanors were calm, but their...

In-depth: NJROTC military inspection

In-depth: NJROTC military inspection

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief March 17, 2023

Mia Tran (11) scrambled to retrieve her phone after being woken up at seemingly the dead of night by her blaring alarm, March 8. The sky was still pitch black outside and her illuminating phone screen...

Spoilers are great

Spoilers are great

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief February 10, 2023

Spoiler alert: I absolutely love spoilers. Whether it be for movies, books, or television shows, I love being able to know what is happening beforehand. Knowing a crucial part of the story or a plot...

Athletes train for college recruitment

Athletes train for college recruitment

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief February 10, 2023

Jaden Nisperos (11) could feel an intense stare directed at him as soon as he stole the soccer ball. When he glanced up, his eyes caught hold of a college recruiter, who scribbled down notes on his...

 Kyla Ho (10) stirs in an extra cup of cheese, an essential step to make Red Lobster biscuits.  She plans to give them to her peers during finals.

Baking connections: Ho’s bread raises spirits

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief January 26, 2023

Kyla Ho (10) yawned as she retrieved the pan out of the oven, having woken up at 6 AM to bake the dough she had made the night before. As the smell of freshly baked bread overwhelmed her senses, she...

Art by Phoebe Vo

Don’t support AI “art”

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief January 19, 2023

To continue on my saga of procrastination, I was again on my phone, scrolling through Instagram posts. I noticed video after video of people trying this new “AI art generator,” which allows users...

TV shows should end

TV shows should end

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief December 16, 2022

The talent of binging shows non-stop for hours, even days on end, takes drive and motivation. Call it a lack of self-control, and perhaps even sleep, but fixating and consuming one TV show over a matter...

Adrian Welton (11) ran 3.1 miles at CIF states, Nov. 26. Welton had the fastest race time on the team and placed 24th out of 180 runners.

Boys cross country places ninth at states

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief December 16, 2022

As the boys cross country team’s first-place win in the CIF League Finals was announced, captain Adrian Welton (11) felt extremely proud. This was the first time in eight years that the boys team...

Ryland Arciaga (12) discusses strategies with teammates at League Finals, Nov. 3. These pre-race talks help to calm the runners’ anxiety for the run.

Arciaga manages pre-race anxiety

Phoebe Vo, Editor in Chief November 18, 2022

The sun burned on Ryland Arciaga’s (12) skin as he stepped onto the starting line beside the other runners. His eyes focused on the long path ahead of him as he took a deep breath, trying to calm...

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