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The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

Megan Tao

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief

Megan Tao is the Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Highlander. She is also on the varsity swim team and enjoys reading in her free time.  See Megan’s portfolio here

All content by Megan Tao

Scots sink the competition in a historic win

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief May 11, 2016

At the end of the day, the swimmers were the ones cheering from the pool deck and the coaches were celebrating in the pool. On May 7, the boys varsity swim team won the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL)...

After judging the book by its cover, title, and summary, I was less than ecstatic to read it.

‘The Beginning of Everything’ is a tragedy in itself

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief August 25, 2015

A school wide disease in the form of teenage angst, sexual innuendos, and dull characters; also known as: "The Beginning of Everything." Going into this book, I expected it to be an unoriginal high...

When most people hear the word whipped, they often think of the guy being controlled by the girl. However, it's never deemed wrong for the girl to be at her boyfriend's beck and call.

Sexuality or gender is not an insult, so don’t make it one

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief May 18, 2015

"That's so gay." I hear those three words and I can't help but cringe. Those three words are, unfortunately, commonly used by one person to insult another. Those three words are an insult because...

"If you're a bird, I'm a bird." This iconic line from "The Notebook" is another unrealistic declaration of love that only happens in books and movies.

Unrealistic expectations make for a heartbreaking reality

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief May 1, 2015

A heartfelt but cheesy scene from a Nicholas Sparks movie is posted on social media with the caption "relationship goals." We try too hard to live up to expectations we see in movies and read about...

We shouldn't see the world as simply just black and white, but remember that people live in the grey.

The battle of good versus evil is won by perspective

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief April 12, 2015

The hero, the villain, and the epic battle between good versus evil are all universal aspects of stories that we take a little too seriously. Everybody strives to achieve the characteristics of the...

One of my personal favorites, "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart, allows readers to see the inner turmoil of a seemingly perfect American family. This book also shows the still present issues between different economic social classes and races.

Young adult literature is under appreciated

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief March 29, 2015

The biggest reason for young adult (YA) literature's bad reputation is within the name itself: young adult. For a book to be labeled YA is to degrade the book of its literacy value and makes it not...

One friend excludes herself from the group, not interested in what her other friends are talking about.

The desire to fit in causes the loss of individuality

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief March 16, 2015

If your friends jump off a cliff, would you jump off the cliff too? The social desire to fit in is insatiable, especially among teens. In addition to the always lingering shadow of peer pressure...

According to Fire Engineering, the San Francisco Fire Department is comprised of only 15 percent women.

Society needs to stop supporting gender inequality

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief February 27, 2015

"I really want to help people, so I want to become a nurse," he said. "I want to keep our communities safe, so I want to be a police officer," she said. "Wait, you can't be a nurse that's a women's...

Children no longer spend their free time at the park, but rather at the mall or on their cell phones, or even tablets.

[Photo] The desire to never grow up only exists in Neverland

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief February 14, 2015

Children no longer spend their free time at the park, but rather at the mall or on their cell phones, or even tablets.

The book is always better than the movie.

Originality is lost in Hollywood

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief January 31, 2015

Based on the worldwide best seller by... In the past couple of years, there has been a surge of movies based off of best selling novels, remakes of old classics, and sequels. According to Short Of...

Sophomores Jill Patrucco and Brittany Cheung take a selfie for a Snapchat.

Social media dictates our status

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief January 19, 2015

A girl takes 10 photos of herself and chooses one that looks identical to the rest, she uses three filters, captions it with a hipster quote from a John Green novel she hasn't read, and finally posts it...

Film Club is passionate for art

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief December 12, 2014

The art of film making is one that can only be fully appreciated by those with a passion for it. Carlmont's Film Club is a group of individuals who joined because they truly enjoy making films. Sophomore...

Carlmont's DECA club members work together to achieve their goals.

DECA prepares students for the real world

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief November 23, 2014

The world of business is a competitive field, but there are ways to get ahead of the game. This past weekend, Carlmont's DECA club participated in a leadership conference that taught participating club...

Participants of the night walk

Night walk shines light on cancer

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief November 12, 2014

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society lit up the streets of downtown Palo Alto on Nov. 1. This past weekend, the Youth Against Cancer Club volunteered at the Light The Night Walk event.  Participants of...

Key Club at FallRN

Key Club raises $3000 for pediatrics

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief October 26, 2014

Children and adults go to Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to enjoy themselves, but Carlmont's Key Club goes to support the people who can't. This past weekend, Key Club attended the Fall Rally...

Feminist Club members, Sophomores Evelyn Lawrence and Sydney Pon, hold up the equality sign.

Feminist Club spreads gender equality awareness

Megan Tao, Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief October 9, 2014

Carlmont's Feminist Club strives to spread awareness about gender equality and feminism around Carlmont High School and the community. Senior Elise Dimick, the club's co-president, said,"Our goal is...

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