The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

The Talon
Elli Lahdesmaki

Elli Lahdesmaki, Senior Writer

All content by Elli Lahdesmaki
Loving gymnastics should be easy, with the sparkly leotards, adrenaline-inducing flips and pumped-up teammates. But as we have seen on the news in recent years, those in authority over America’s best gymnasts are disgustingly neglectful. Along with thousands of other gymnasts around the world, junior Allison Bricca can’t deny her outrage toward USA Gymnastics over their failure to keep gymnasts safe.

[Photo] Underneath this love

By Allison Bricca
March 25, 2021
In an effort to normalize and encourage challenging conversation about inclusivity, the Associated Student Bodies (ASB) of LAHS and MVHS have teamed up to bring Candidly Speaking, a global program dedicated to having individuals open up about different cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, to Mountain View–Los Altos (MVLA) students.

[Photo] MVLA ASB to host Candidly Speaking event

By Emilie Enser
February 24, 2021
As an athlete, there’s a lot coming at you and your body. It’s important to have tools that keep you strong and injury-free to find your groove again after a long break.

[Photo] Avoiding injury on the road to return

By Allison Bricca
February 1, 2021
We are all racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, etc. There is not one person on Earth that is free of prejudice.

[Photo] Kulture a la Kaavya: Prejudice is inescapable. Also, it sucks.

By Kaavya Butaney
January 24, 2021
Thrifting has become one of the most recommended and trendiest forms of shopping, as it helps restore our environment and our bank accounts. However, knowing thrift stores are oftentimes the only affordable option for lower-income families, staff writer Emilie Enser often feels guilty picking out items for herself.

[Photo] The transition to thrifting: For better or worse?

By Emilie Enser
January 10, 2021
The Talon's guide to 2020 holiday gifts

The Talon’s guide to 2020 holiday gifts

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Marie Godderis
December 18, 2020

COVID-19 around the world

By Anika Sikka, Marie Godderis, Allan Feldman, and Elli Lahdesmaki
November 16, 2020
Staff writer Anika Sikka gives her thoughts on how female politicians have been portrayed in the media and what should be done moving forward.

[Photo] The media needs to do better in portraying female politicians

By Anika Sikka
October 25, 2020
During quarantine, senior writer Elli Lahdesmaki has discovered the benefits of meditation to help deal with stress.

How meditation keeps me sane

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Senior Writer
October 8, 2020
Husband and wife duo Todd Wangsness, a history teacher, and Margaret Bennett, an English teacher, are used to working at the same school, but with the shelter-in-place orders, they’re now working in the same house. Wangsness and Bennett also have two sons: Luke, who is a rising junior at the University of California at Davis, and James, who will be a freshman at Princeton University this fall.

QuaranTeachers: an immersive Q&A

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Marie Godderis, and Elana Eisenberg
June 15, 2020
No gluten, no problem

No gluten, no problem

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Marie Godderis
June 9, 2020

Soccer – coach Roberto Magellan

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Barrett Wong
May 7, 2020
The Talon gives some ideas about things that people can do during the shelter-in-place.

8 activities to help make the best of your quarantine time

By Marie Godderis and Elli Lahdesmaki
April 7, 2020
Staff writer Kaavya Butaney on the left and staff writer Vaishu Sirkay on the right. Kaavya and Vaishu write about how their friendship has developed over the years.

[Photo] Friends who fight together stay together

By Kaavya Butaney and Vaishu Sirkay
April 6, 2020
Senior Michelle Odnert breaks away from a Mountain View defender and heads towards the goal. Los Altos worked harder for the ball this game than ever before, but the Spartans eventually defeated the Eagles 1-3.

Varsity girls soccer’s second encounter with Mountain View ends in a defeat

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Barrett Wong
February 4, 2020
Gia Cimring: Shoots and scores UCSB commitment

Gia Cimring: Shoots and scores UCSB commitment

By Elli Lahdesmaki
January 23, 2020
Sophomore Greg Schumann gains the upper hand in his match against Homestead.

Winter sports updates

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Barrett Wong, Nina Crofts, Allison Bricca, and Lucas Bricca
January 22, 2020
Sophomore Arya Hatami sprints forward and passes the ball upfield after stealing it off a Mountain View player.

Varsity boys soccer ties again against Mountain View

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Barrett Wong
January 15, 2020
Kayleen Gowers: On the road to Princeton

Kayleen Gowers: On the road to Princeton

By Elli Lahdesmaki
December 16, 2019
Senior james wangsnessjweofjoeif;owij

James Wangsness: Soccer ambitions soar to new heights at Princeton

By Barrett Wong and Elli Lahdesmaki
December 7, 2019
Krames twins: Kicking it together since the womb

Krames twins: Kicking it together since the womb

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Barrett Wong
November 7, 2019
Latin teacher Krista Greksouk helps sophomore Ceasar Palting as the students decipher texts together.

[Photo] Krista Greksouk: bringing life to a ‘dead’ language

By Tomoki Chien, Staff Writer
October 22, 2019
Forever 21 should close forever

Forever 21 should close forever

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Copy/Content Editor
October 9, 2019
IMG_7647

[Photo] New policy allows students in portables to request extended passing period

By Rachel Rudyak and Tomoki Chien
September 22, 2019
New gun bill misses the mark

New gun bill misses the mark

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Staff Writer
May 28, 2019
Graphic by Sua Kim

Diving into the freshman swim unit

By Stella Huang, Suzanne Guo, Marie Godderis, and Elli Lahdesmaki
May 28, 2019
Spring Sports Brief

Spring Sports Brief

By Nikhita Boddu, Ethan Ruyack, Mayu Alten, Elli Lahdesmaki, Lucas Bricca, Marie Godderis, and Parisa Larson
April 30, 2019
Christa Wemmer: In it for the long run

Christa Wemmer: In it for the long run

By Mayu Alten and Elli Lahdesmaki
April 24, 2019

A Spotlight On Poetry

By Daniela Gloster, Cathy Wang, Lucas Bricca, Marie Godderis, and Elli Lahdesmaki
March 22, 2019

Anooshkha Shetty: Girl Scout takes on child trafficking

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Navya Singhai
March 18, 2019
IMG_9740

[Photo] Barker’s track: From mentee to mentor

By Noah Tesfaye, Web Managing Editor
February 9, 2019
Richa Krishna: Helping Hearts

Richa Krishna: Helping Hearts

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Sanjana Mishra
February 9, 2019
Keeping up with New Year Resolutions

Keeping up with New Year Resolutions

By Sua Kim, Elli Lahdesmaki, Nikhita Boddu, and Parisa Larson
February 8, 2019
Happy Holidays in Los Altos

Happy Holidays in Los Altos

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Parisa Larson, and Ashley Cai
December 15, 2018
Marching band holds benefit performance to support Camp Fire victims

Marching band holds benefit performance to support Camp Fire victims

By Elli Lahdesmaki and Parisa Larson
December 8, 2018
Ashley Cai

Recruited Athletes

By Anya Sharma, Parisa Larson, Aaron Zaks, Nikhita Boddu, Elli Lahdesmaki, Marie Godderis, Ashley Cai, and Navya Singhai
November 9, 2018
At the Natural Bridges State Beach, the boys take advantage of the starry night sky in order to take a long exposure shot using flashlights.

Scouting Adventures

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Staff Writer
November 8, 2018

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”: A charmingly simple film

By Elli Lahdesmaki, Staff Writer
October 4, 2018
Load More Stories