![“Tanning exposes your skin to [ultraviolet (UV)] light, and UV light is a known carcinogen, which means it can alter your DNA,” Biotechnology and biology teacher Gillian Boyd said. “It can change the sequences of DNA bases. The more exposure you have, the more risk you have to develop [skin] cancer.”](https://smhsponyexpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0071-1200x798.jpeg)
![Remakes [and film adaptations of books] are often criticized for being too repetitive and unnecessary.](https://smhsponyexpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0193-1200x558.jpeg)
Most young people, especially high school students, have older people that they look up to. These role models may consist of older siblings, friends, celebrities or staff members around San Marin High School. People at San Marin may gain inspiration from people through the activities they do, the values they hold, or the attitude that they encourage.
Junior Sawyer Zappelli looks up to many people in her life both on and off campus. She is a middle hitter for Marin 17 Black on the Marin Volleyball Club and is the captain of San Marin’s varsity girl’s volleyball team. One of her most prominent role models is her coach, Ben Bodipo-Memba, who played for the United States Olympic men’s volleyball team and coached for the U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team.
Her other role model is University of Nebraska women’s volleyball player Andi Jackson. Zappelli looks up to Jackson because she represents a position in volleyball that is often overlooked.
“Andi Jackson inspires me because she plays my same position in volleyball,” Zappelli said. “The [outside hitters are usually] the stand-out players, but Jackson changed that narrative for her school because she’s the stand-out player for her [team].”
Role models in visual and performing arts offer artistic inspiration that people can build off of. Senior Riley Walsh has been involved in San Marin’s musical theatre program since her freshman year. Walsh is heavily inspired by her vocal coach and San Marin’s spring musical director, Kele Gasparini.
“She is the definition of someone who’s a family woman, and someone that… allows [people] to be themselves and feel safe,” Walsh said.
Gasparini has been directing San Marin’s spring semester musicals since 2015. Walsh began taking vocal lessons from her as a freshman with scarce singing experience, and has since taken on lead roles in her musicals, such as Eurydice in “Hadestown” and Mimi Márquez in “Rent.” She looks up to Gasparini’s ability to manage all aspects of her life, including family, relationships and work.
“[Kele says to] just find balance and peace,” Walsh said. “I know that I can do anything that I put my mind to. It’s just all about mindset. She’s a big person on mindset.”
Sophomore Moksh Shah competes as a varsity debater on San Marin’s Speech and Debate team. He looks towards older students on the debate team for inspiration on how to improve his debating skills. The most prominent of these is senior Kourosh Sorkhabi, who Shah admires for his “confidence and… collectedness” while debating.
“[Sorkhabi] knows what [he’s] doing. [He] knows what statistics [to use and] how to be efficient,” Shah said. “It’s [incredible] to watch.”
There are many people both on and off campus who are worth looking up to. The examples that older students and idols set for San Marin students allow these students to follow their passions, even if they are doubtful in themselves.
