The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield
Our Best of SNO Published Articles
The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield
The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield
Shobini Iyer

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Shobini Iyer is currently a senior at Pleasant Valley and serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Spartan Shield. Aside from Honors Journalism, Shobini’s favorite classes consist of AP Physics and AP Calculus. In addition to her academics, Shobini immerses herself in activities such as First Tech Challenge, Math Club, and Ethics Bowl. Shobini is actively involved in the Arts at Pleasant Valley and takes part in choir, jazz choir, and plays violin in the local Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra. When she isn’t working for the Shield, Shobini enjoys mentoring young robotics teams, watching movies, and curating Spotify playlists for every mood. Outside of school, Shobini can be found working at Mathnasium or traveling with her family. Shobini is looking forward to working for the Shield this semester!

All content by Shobini Iyer
PV graduate Shobini Iyer exits the graduation ceremony after delivering her speech, "High school is like writing a story."

The next chapter

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
May 30, 2023
Future Physicians of America aims to promote high school students entering healthcare professions, including nursing.

Tone deaf attitudes contribute to nurse shortages

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
May 10, 2023
Many artists turn to alter egos as a form of creative expression that facilitates growth in their artistic development.

Alter egos are revolutionizing the music industry

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
May 3, 2023
Nepotism in the entertainment industry poses challenges for those entering the industry who were not born with privilege.

Is meritocracy in the entertainment industry dead?

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
April 24, 2023
Local, daily newspapers are struggling amid an industry growing increasingly digital.

The end of print news looms near

Shobini Iyer, EIC
April 17, 2023
Cultural appreciation is the practice of recognizing other cultures in an effort to broaden one’s perspective and seek understanding.

NMACC brings a rare glimpse of cultural appreciation

Shobini Iyer, Editor in Chief
April 10, 2023
PVHS is reconsidering the future of late work policies, with a long term mission to replace academic penalties with behavioral consequences.

Ill-defined late policy could cost student motivation

Shobini Iyer and Anagha Sudhindra
April 9, 2023
This is the cover art for Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album, "Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd."

REVIEW: Lana Del Rey makes a spiritual return to indie rock

Shobini Iyer, Editor-in-Chief
March 27, 2023
Members of the PV Ethics Bowl team are leaders, both within school and in extracurricular activities.

Barriers and bias: Stigmas surrounding female leaders

Shobini Iyer and Leila Assadi
March 25, 2023
People commonly use the phrase “born in the wrong generation” in reference to music of past generations, but when the past is glamorized and taken out of its context, the phrase grows problematic.

Where “born in the wrong generation” grows problematic

Shobini Iyer, Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2023
Oscar nominated films, particularly smaller, independently created films, do not often screen in theaters, limiting access to these films for the general public.

Drawing back the curtain on unfamiliar Oscar nominees

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
February 27, 2023
Video essays have risen in popularity, despite the video entertainment industry being largely dominated by short-form content.

The rise in long-form content: Video essays find their way back into pop culture

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
February 20, 2023
PV graduate Ingrid Hofmann transferred to the University of Michigan in her sophomore year of college.

Ingrid Hofmann – Campus Capture

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor in Chief
February 15, 2023
Similar to the study of social psychology, online personality tests have emerged as a popular tool among Gen Z to satisfy their innate desire to be understood.

A Search for Self: Can Personality Tests Satisfy the Need to be Understood?

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
February 6, 2023
The 2023 American Girl of the Year Kavi Sharma is the first Indian-American doll in the series, which has long been representative of various cultures and backgrounds.

American Girl of the Year 2023 brings representation to South Asian children

Shobini Iyer, EIC
January 30, 2023
Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood will be remembered for bringing new wave fashions into the mainstream.

‘The Godmother of Punk’ will live on: Vivienne Westwood’s legacy

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
January 10, 2023
Senior Alexa Mueller will be continuing her academic and rowing career at the University of Minnesota this fall.

Athlete of the Week- Alexa Mueller

Shobini Iyer, Editor in Chief
January 8, 2023
Players of the color in the World Cup have been targets of racist attacks, an issue that has been further exacerbated through social media.

History repeats itself: World Cup players of color face targeted attacks

Shobini Iyer, Editor in Chief
December 13, 2022
School choice in Iowa would gravely impact rural schools, whose taxpayer financed funds would be siphoned into private schools under the voucher system.

Cracking the school choice myth in rural America

Shobini Iyer, Co-editor-in-chief
December 6, 2022
The Bechdel Test has been used to demonstrate systemic flaws in the way women are represented in film.

The bechdel test reveals the reality of female representation in film

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor in Chief
November 22, 2022
Pleasant Valley’s Chamber Choir has incorporated Indian-Western classical composer Reena Esmail’s works, “Tuttarana” and “TaReKiTa,” into their repertoire.

Indian-western fusion composer paves a bridge between two hemispheres

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor in Chief
November 16, 2022
Recent attempts to end affirmative action have renewed debates over the role of race in admissions.

Move to end affirmative action jeopardizes the future of American education

Shobini Iyer and Anagha Sudhindra
November 9, 2022
Although many celebrated Rishi Sunak becoming the first British Prime Minister of color, many were quick to criticize his background.

A small victory in an uphill battle: UK elects first PM of color

Shobini Iyer, Co-editor-in-chief
November 2, 2022

Voices of the Valley, Episode #25: Chit-Chats with new PV teacher, Mr. Moore

Kushi Maridu and Shobini Iyer
October 26, 2022
The media’s continuous coverage of youth excellence in sports, academics, and the arts reflects America’s obsession with high-achieving youth.

“Youngest ever _____:” America’s obsession with the child prodigy

Shobini Iyer, Co-editor-in-chief
October 19, 2022
PV students protesting at abortion rights rally is an example of activism that is not performative, contrary to the modern definition of “woke.”

The evolution of wokeness

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor-In-Chief
October 10, 2022
Despite the digitalization of books, The Brewed Book has experienced a rise in popularity because of their business model that is loved by locals.

The Brewed Book: Used books make an unexpected comeback

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor in Chief
October 3, 2022
The National High School Ethics Bowl competition teaches high school students to think critically about deeply nuanced and timely issues.

Ethics Bowl teaches teens to find truth in today’s divisive world

Shobini Iyer, Co Editor-in-Chief
September 26, 2022
The death of Queen Elizabeth has produced mixed reactions among Western countries and Britain’s former colonies.

Queen’s death renews bitter debates over British colonialism

Shobini Iyer, Co Editor-in-Chief
September 20, 2022
Film-reviewing site Letterboxd has enabled anyone with a passion for film to discover and review films.

Letterboxd sets the scene for a new era of casual reviewing

Shobini Iyer, Co-Editor in Chief
September 6, 2022

[Video] Students who defy the stigma of being an athlete and musician

Erika Holmberg and Shobini Iyer
January 10, 2022
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of dissolved health technology company Theranos encapsulates the toxic Silicon Valley startup culture that encourages entrepreneurs to go to extreme lengths for success.

The ugly truth of Silicon Valley startup culture

Shobini Iyer, Opinon Editor
January 10, 2022

Shield shows you: Fall winter outfit ideas

Erika Holmberg and Shobini Iyer
January 9, 2022
Founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange is set to be extradited to the United States to face trial.

Julian Assange’s extradition does not bode well for the future of journalistic freedom

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
December 27, 2021
Looking back, 2021 was a big year for new releases but some albums did not receive the acclaim that they deserved.

5 most-underrated albums of 2021

Shobini Iyer, Opinion editor
December 21, 2021
School shootings in America have become more and more frequent, but it is an issue people should continue to care about.

Putting gun violence on the backburner has fatal consequences

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
December 15, 2021
Vigilantism in America has been running rampant for decades, but the country has seen a surge in recent years.

Vigilante justice is an American tradition

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
December 12, 2021
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee was a victim in yet another instance of AAPI hate crime in the United States.

Violence against Suni Lee reveals the dire reality of AAPI hate in America

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
November 27, 2021
On Nov. 10, people gathered outside of Glynn County Courthouse in Georgia, where the trial of three men for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery was set to take place.

Nearly all-white jury in trial for Ahmaud Arbery exemplifies America’s broken justice system

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
November 16, 2021
Junior Leila Assadi, like many hip hop enthusiasts, has appreciated the greater prevalence of female artists in the genre.

Black artists are teaming up, sparking a renaissance in female hip-hop

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
November 8, 2021
As popular music changes with time, it has created a gap between generations whose tastes are starkly different from one another.

OPINION: Music is not a universal language anymore

Shobini Iyer
November 3, 2021
Having a go-to show is a common habit shared by many, but the reasons why are not as well known.

If you rewatch old TV shows, you are not alone

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
October 27, 2021
Part-time jobs for busy high schoolers can be difficult to find, but the Quad Cities has many potential options.

Top 7 jobs for busy high schoolers in the QC

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
October 26, 2021
Voices of the Valley: a podcast where we discuss any and everything related to Pleasant Valley. Brought to you by the Spartan Shield staff.

Voices of the Valley Episode #11, Students who defy the stigma of being an athlete and musician

Erika Holmberg and Shobini Iyer
October 26, 2021
Unauthentic portrayals of Indian-Americans on TV have normalized ignorant stereotypes and have left Indian-American audiences feeling misrepresented.

Poor execution: The misrepresentation of Indian-Americans on TV

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
October 18, 2021
Essential workers’ sacrifices have been extenuated by the emergence of a recent trend among teens: “early pandemic aesthetic.”

Teens, please stop romanticizing the pandemic

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
October 11, 2021
The media’s relentless coverage of Gabby Petito’s disappearance overshadows the stories of the hundreds of thousands women of color that go missing every year.

Forgotten: The missing people the headlines ignored

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
October 4, 2021
Straight-A student senior Jillian Keppy proudly displays her exemplary grade.

Straight-A student syndrome: An ongoing epidemic

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
September 27, 2021
Coming-of-age films have evolved over the years, continuously striving to authentically represent a common experience shared by all: growing up.

The evolution of the coming-of-age genre in film

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
September 20, 2021
Pleasant Valley students and teachers are committed to increasing the awareness of global issues in young people.

Addressing topics that transcend borders

Shobini Iyer, Opinion Editor
September 9, 2021
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Shobini Iyer