Volume 32 | Issue 6 Senior Edition

eastlake edge

Thank You, Dr. Cooke! Welcome Ms. Huslin!

SHREY CHAGANLAL News Editor

After four memorable years at Eastlake High School, Dr. Cooke is ready to start the next chapter of his life. Starting the 2023-2024 school year, Dr. Cooke will be taking over the principal position at Granger Junior High School in National City. While Dr. Cooke thoroughly enjoyed his time at Eastlake, he understands that “[his] talents are needed in another environment.” He looks to bring a fresh perspective to Granger Junior High and recognizes it as a “tremendous opportunity.”

When asked about what his favorite part about working at Eastlake High School was he quickly stated that “working with the students is why he got into this field.” Dr. Cooke expressed that he feels a “great sense of joy and pride” when he sees the Eastlake student body grow and succeed together. Dr. Cooke’s all-time favorite moment at Eastlake was when he was hoisted up by the Varsity Cheer Team.

The Class of 2023 has spent six consecutive years with Dr. Cooke as he was the principal at Eastlake Middle during the Class of 2023’s 7th and 8th grade years. Dr. Cooke stated that he “gets emotional” when he sees the growth of the Class of 2023 all the way from 7th to 12th grade.

“The Class of 2023 will always hold a special place in my heart,” asserted Dr. Cooke. Although the six years together were merely coincidental, Dr. Cooke be-

lieves that “destiny tends to bring people together for a reason.”

The soon-to-be Granger Junior High principal had some advice to offer to Eastlake’s future principal (and current Olympian High principal), Ms. Huslin. “Eastlake is special because of what happens inside the classrooms. If you witness the learning experience inside the classrooms, you will enjoy your time at Eastlake much more.”

Dr. Cooke’s final message to the senior class is that he hopes we “got back all the experiences we missed during the time of the COVID pandemic and had a great overall experience at Eastlake Middle and High School.”

Thank You, Dr. Cooke and Good Luck at Your New Position!

ALEXANDER CAREY Chief Financial Officer

Welcome to Eastlake High School, Ms. Huslin!

Following the departure of Dr. Cooke, Ms. Huslin will be taking over as principal of Eastlake High School as she transitions from Olympian High School. Starting with the 20232024 school year, Ms. Huslin will be in charge of the crown jewel of the Sweetwater Union High School District and it is up to the student body to welcome her with that Titan spirit.

Ms. Huslin introduced herself as an educator beginning her career in 1992, coincidentally the same year that Eastlake

opened, highlighting her experience in California school systems. As a mother, Ms. Huslin is aware of the perspective parents hold in regard to their child’s education, stating “My four children have taught me that each student is a unique individual with different strengths and needs” preparing her to effectively lead. Education is one aspect of life especially as students continue to grow, Ms. Huslin finds “it is important to have a balanced life so when I’m not at school I enjoy my family, running, riding my motorcycle, cooking, and landscaping.”

Entering its 31st year of operation, Eastlake High School starts a new chapter with Ms. Huslin who is looking “forward to supporting all stakeholders and building relationships with the students, staff, and Eastlake community.” She describes Eastlake High as “a school that is held in high regard with continued excellence, and it has a visible passion for teaching students. I am excited to be a part of this school on its already strong foundations.” In addition to the reputation attached to Eastlake, Ms. Huslin plans to continue “building upon the previous achievements” during her time as principal.

As the next school year begins, Ms. Huslin’s priority “is to get to know staff and students” of our great school while becoming a Titan herself. While the 2022-23 year comes to a close, she has some words of advice for the students: “Get back to your schoolwork so you can finish the rest of this school year strong!”

1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista CA 91915

Editor-In-Chief: Jessica Garcia

JONATHAN RANDOLPH

Eastlake’s Class of 2023 gathers for the annual class photo on the field of Stan Canaris Stadium. The photo captured by Jonathan Randolph in collaboration with Eastlake’s yearbook staff depicts the students forming their designated graduation year with the newly renovated track and field in the background.

Interviewing Your Valedictorian and Salutatorians!

Isaiah Rivera is your 2022-2023 Valedictorian! Sharing the title of Salutatorian is Vanessa Layno, and Trinity Weevie! We interviewed them to find out about their high school experience.

What are your plans after high school?

I - SDSU for Nursing.

T - UC Berkeley for Engineering Math and Statistics.

V - UCLA for Neuroscience. I’m planning on double majoring as well but I don’t know what field yet.

What extracurriculars were you involved in?

I - Eastlake All Male, Volleyball and I also volunteer at Scripps in the Intensive Care Unit. Additionally, I founded Thrift for a Cause.

T - Food Caring Club, Book Club, Full Hearts Foundation, and Titans Fight Cancer. I also played piano and volunteered at shelters.

V - Varsity soccer and track. I’m the Senior Class Vice President and have played for San Diego Surf Soccer Club for 7 years.

What was your hardest class?

I - AP Calc especially since there were no numbers in that math class.

T - AP Physics 2 - I took it as a junior with no prior knowledge.

V - AP Physics 1 and AP Chemistry.

Who was your favorite teacher?

I - Mr. Colarusso - His class was always a welcoming enviroment and I felt like I could talk to him whenever I wanted to.

T - Mr. Navarro - He taught me a lot about english lit, computer science, and most importantly: adulting.

V - Mr. Colarusso and Ms. V - Not only are they great teachers but they taught me general lessons about life as well.

Any advice for students?

I - Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Do what’s best for you no one else in question.

T - Remember to take breaks. Your performance at school is important but not as important as your well-being.

V - Have a balance in school with academic, social, and extracurriculars. You don’t want to overflow yourself in one of those.

Understanding Compact for Success: Class of 2024

ALEXANDER CAREY

Chief

Financial Officer

The counselors’ favorite reminder to the student body is our district’s advantage to higher education through the Compact for Success program to SDSU; sometimes it can be confusing, so let’s simplify it. The most important aspect in order to meet the requirements is to have been a student of the Sweetwater Union High School District from 9th-12th grade. That means no transferring to or from San Diego Unified or out of state, however, hypothetically, if you’re transferring from Eastlake to Bonita

you’ll still be eligible (you just have a different problem, Boot Bonita!). Every student needs to demonstrate readiness in both English and Math and be on track to clear by the end of their senior year. This can be done in a number of different ways, which are listed below. As seniors next year, the class of 2024 must pass both semesters of English and Math with a minimum of a B letter grade. As Mr. Conner always says “B- or below, no go”, although there are some exceptions to this rule. First, since all students are required to take the CAASPP testing for English and Math everyone has the possibility

to score standards “met” or “exceeded” which will directly lower the minimum grade for seniors’ eligibility needed to pass for Compact down from a B or higher to a C or higher. Alternatively, students who pass the AP exam with a 3 or higher on an English (ex: Lit) or Math (ex: Calc or Stats) class throughout high school will have demonstrated college readiness for Compact. A passing score can take the place of a class credit needed while in college. Lastly, although no longer required at CSUs and UCs, the SAT can provide a third way to meet to demonstrate college readiness by scoring a minimum of

550 in English and 570 in Math. Please contact your counselor if you have questions regarding the exceptions above. Aside from the core classes of Math and English, each student must complete the school’s A-G required classes with grades of a C or higher and graduate with an overall GPA of at least 3.3 to prove college readiness. It is important to note that these specific requirements only apply to SDSU for maintaining eligibility for Compact for Success. Any other school will have its own requirements for incoming freshmen and should be thoroughly researched individually as it is bound to differ. All

applications to SDSU for the fall of 2024 must be submitted according to the college’s deadline. Compact for Success maintains some exceptions as it does not guarantee admissions to majors such as Dance, Music, Theatre: Performance, and Nursing because these programs are heavily impacted. Students are still able to select one of the majors listed above in their applications, however, will no longer be within the bounds of Compact for Success. For the classes of 2025 and beyond, SUHSD will be sending out a communication to students and parents regarding the updated Compact for Success criteria.

Introducing Brand New AP Classes! School Threat Protocol

AMANDA HOWARD Staff Writer

MEI KANAZAWA

Cartoonist

Starting the 2023-2024 school year, there will be two new AP classes offered at Eastlake High School: AP Precalculus and AP African American Studies. These new courses will be taught by Ms. Villanueva and Mr. Greene, respectively.

The College Board developed the AP Precalculus course in order to better prepare students for the AP Calculus courses, and to prepare students for college in general, for both prospective STEM and non-STEM majors.

AP Precalculus is for any student who is looking for another math course after completing IM3. AP African American

Studies is described as “an interdisciplinary course that draws from a variety of fields-history, literature, the arts, geography, science-to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans.” The course will offer a deeper dive into African history and the current social injustices faced by African Americans, as well as highlighting cultural and artistic aspects of African Americans that are left out of current history textbooks.

Mr. Greene stated that he is “honored and privileged to highlight the experiences of African-Americans throughout history.” Mr. Greene hopes to “shine a ray of light through this time of controversy” by teaching this class.

In January of this year, Florida’s Republican governor

Ron DeSantis called the course “indoctrination,” and his administration banned this course from the state’s high schools. The Florida Department of Education claimed that the content of the course “lacks educational value.” College Board then released the official curriculum, a revised version of the original which DeSantis’s administration rejected. Speculations were made that College Board changed the course framework due to political pressure. However, the company rejected those accusations and stated that the course was still in its multiyear pilot phase, so revisions are a standard part of any AP course. AP African American Studies and AP Precalculus will be offered during the 2023-24 school year at Eastlake.

During the week of April 13th and 14th, several schools in Sweetwater Union High School District received threats, including Eastlake. On April 13th, the Eastlake administration was alerted of a threat during period six. Upon hearing of the threat, Eastlake faculty and law enforcement followed various protocols and safety measures to evaluate the threat at hand.

Assistant Principal, Mrs. Hermosillo spoke on the process that went into assuring that our students were nothing but safe. “Typically when we receive something like a school threat, we right away contact our school district security leader, John Jankowski, and law enforcement officials to let them know of the threat.” Once contacted, they “work to determine the validity of the threat and what the next steps will be to ensure school safety.”

Regarding the safety measures taken, “safety and school resource officers” are provided on campus. As well as “check[ing] if there had been any tips shared through the P3 app, that connects to the police

department and they share those tips with us so we can follow up on any leads we might have.”

Furthermore, safety and school resource officers ensure that they “are super aware of who is coming and leaving campus by limiting access points for students and staff to enter campus.”

Currently, “we are still investigating to see if we can determine who may have written the threat” because, for such actions like these, there are “serious consequences for students for creating a disruptive student environment on a wall like that.” All around the district, “messages are being written and disrupting the school day”, and “even if they aren’t serious threats, it still disrupts the school environment.” This causes students to not “go to school, teachers that are unable to provide instruction, and instruction was being pushed back as a result of all the absences.”

Moving forward, “we are continuing with those limited access points” for students and staff to get on and off campus. The ultimate goal is to “look at our safety practices and ensure that we are doing everything we can to ensure school safety,” asserted Mrs. Hermosillo.

SHREY CHAGANLAL

ISAIAH

MEI KANAZAWA

Editor: Ashley Segat

Trump Indictment: What Happened?

MADELYN BATUYONG Staff Writer

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, it was announced that the former U.S. president, Donald Trump, was faced with 34 charges of falsifying business records and would be brought to the Manhattan grand jury on Thursday of the same week. According to the statement of facts provided by the Manhattan District Attorney, President Trump “repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.”

Over the years, countless informative media like NPR, New York Times, and USA Today have uncovered his crimes. Many of those crimes were brought to light on February 29, 2019, when Trump’s previous attorney came out, unveiling his many lies and manipulations of his way through the presidential election. During Michael Cohen’s hearing, it stated that “Mr. Cohen admitted to violating campaign finance laws and other laws.” and “He admitted to committing these felonies … to lying about his actions to protect the President.” All this information added up to Trump’s

Jess Garcia: Student Activist Insider

ASHLEY SEGAT Politics Editor

Senior Jessica Garcia is one of the most prominent student activist on campus. She has shown her passion for the advocation of protecting the environment since her freshman year. Unlike most students, Garcia has pushed out of her own comfort zone to stand up for the things she believes in. During her freshman year she talked at Eastlake about climate issues and again this year during an earth week rally. As she has gotten older she has moved from speaking publicly to influencing legislation. She works as Content Lead for an upcoming summer climate summit and is a prominent member of Youth 4 Climate, a teen-focused collective under SD350, that discusses climate anxiety and efforts for change. Under this collective is Youth V. Oil, a sub-organization of teens who discuss plan events regarding oil drilling in California she works with too.

In this interview, she discusses her involvement in the community and offers advice on how others might follow their passions, just like she did.

How does this help the community?

“Climate activism goes hand in hand with social change, as marginalized communities are often hit the hardest regarding loopholes in legislation and rising living costs. It’s making a local

change that will impact the state and future of our planet. Moving forward as a community to reduce fossil fuel emissions and oil drilling will prevent future problems, economic and health-related, for everyone. It’s working hard now for long-term change.”

How did you get into this idea?

“I’ve always loved animals and nature since I was little, so the need to advocate for their needs was just second nature. My start was freshman year during the Global Youth Climate Strike when I spoke at Eastlake; it was a local and low-risk opportunity to get involved that grew into outside of school opportunities.”

How can others at Eastlake help in this kind of way?

“Pay attention when people are advocating because I bet there’s a reason they’re doing it. Do your part, no matter how small, to live a sustainable life”

What advice do you have for students to get involved in their passions?

“Do your research! Social media is a great resource for outreach and networking. Follow accounts and people you see yourself aligning with, and soon you may see an opportunity to get involved. Don’t be afraid to be alone, too, whether joining a club or attending an event. You’ll find people with similar interests and positions as yourself too.”

conviction and further proved the reasons for his indictment. After being found guilty, he fired his lawyer, Geoffrey S. Bremen, and many others to” rid his administration of officials whose independence could be a threat to his re-election campaign.”

The New York Times also states that Trump is still denying all accounts in which he was blamed “Mr. Trump tried to distance himself from the firing. He insisted he was “not involved” in the decision to remove Mr. Berman”

Many of Donald Trump’s supporters were angered when the news broke out about his indictment. The Los Angeles Times reported that “In the Orange County city of Laguna Hills, about 50 gathered outside an InN-Out Burger, waving Trump flags and yelling, “Free Trump!” and “USA!” They sang along to “God Bless the USA”

Currently, due to all this outrage, the number of his supporters has started to rise. GOP pollster Bill McInturff said that “The New York indictment did strengthen [Trump’s] standing with Republicans,” So what will happen to Trump now that he is getting all the support? Even though his indictment is now closed up, make sure to stay informed on what comes next.

Don’t Scroll Past the News

ASHLEY SEGAT

Politics Editor

We wake up and spend what seems like five minutes scrolling on Tik Tok, but it ends up being twenty minutes before we even get out of bed, even though that was the last thing we did just last night. What, though, did you discover in that scroll? The newest “Amazon knockoff” or view a different collection of college acceptances? What advantages does this knowledge give you for your interactions with others and yourself? Nothing. We have grown accustomed to flagrantly skimming over the news of the day in a generation built on the unhealthy habit of seeking the dopamine hits our phones give us. In my opinion, the extent of people’s knowledge of current events is limited to their weekly reposting of a news story on Instagram without actually understanding what that story covered.

More people have been learning about our nation’s political system this year, but only when radical legislation is passed or directly affects them. The Roe v. Wade decision sparked discussion on campus, and suddenly, students began to draw connections between it and the Supreme Court cases they had studied in their social science class. But why did we wait until the case was dismissed for recognizing its significance? Because unless we see everyone caring about the same thing or when Roe v. Wade was overturned,

BY ASHLEY SEGAT

and we had no choice but to hear about it on social media, we ignore the lessons we are taught.

The importance of staying informed at all times, not just with the headlines that saturate our screens, is the point I’m trying to make. being able to research topics we find important. While I’m not advocating that you keep up with current events, I suggest you research the important issues. This could include finding out how our government and large corporations are destroying our lovely and enchanted world through the various legislation being passed, to the potential for the government to abolish student debt.

Where we fail to recognize the influence knowledge has. The ability to discuss our values, our place in the legal system, and how our world functions with others bring about the change we hope to see in the world.

But how do you stay informed? Reading free news online about any category you want. I know I try to read at least one news story in the morning. You can also watch reputable news recaps that can be found on youtube or even follow formal tik tok accounts. There are simply small changes you can make. With this knowledge, we can take the initiative to create the world we want to wake up to daily rather than hoping it will resemble our values. A place where we can break the habit of waking up to blue light while still being eager to rise and greet the day because what we do matters.

The infamous bathroom lockdowns the first and last fifteen minutes of class.

Mock Trial protested administration’s lack of response for their competition.

New protocal to approve all posters by Mrs. Pietila before they go up.

Student Senate votes for a new election sytem incoporating interviews with popular vote.

A dramatic representation of former Donald Trump behind bars if convicted of his felony charges

MICHELLE BAUMGARTEN

Strict no food delivery to campus

Editor: Belen Gonzalez

More Parking = More Problems

RYAN SMITH Eastlake Faculty

There’s a new vocabulary word or two that I would like to introduce you to: “Induced Demand,” otherwise entangled with “Latent Demand” or sometimes “Generated Demand.” Essentially, the term refers to phenomena seen by those building transportation networks in which a congested road is widened to relieve traffic, for it only to be congested again a short time afterward (do note that there is also a different application of induced demand in Economics). I think this is best summarized by a quote from the biography of the urban planner Robert Moses in which he states that “...every time a new parkway ‘was built, it quickly became jammed with traffic, but the load on the old parkways was not significantly relieved.”

I see this as the result of the parking problem at Eastlake High; more parking spots will lead to more parking problems. Sure, we can put valuable time, money, and effort into creating lifeless, heat-absorbing, rain-deflecting asphalt spaces on what is otherwise usable, plant-feeding soil just to help an additional amount of students be able to burn fossil fuels to travel in the leading cause of teen deaths a short distance that they would otherwise be able to traverse on foot or bike or carpool safely. Still, it will only

make the problem worse in a short amount of time. There is another solution: “Reduced Demand.”

Reduced demand is a way that cities have been combating their traffic problems. Cities are reducing the number of roads available to cars by introducing bike lanes, bus lanes, and pedestrian paths or even eliminating roads. The result is not more traffic or chaos as one might expect, but instead a greater amount of people using alternatives to cars! Essentially, it becomes too expensive (time, money, etc.) to drive your car in that area, causing fewer people to choose that mode of transportation. People adjust to their available options. If there was little to no parking on campus, more students would not drive and would seek other transportation methods. We should not invest in more parking spaces; it only creates demand for more, causing more students to be late in the mornings, unhealthier due to lack of exercise, contributing to carbon emissions, and costing taxpayers money. This problem can be fixed by having less, not more. Other schools in the district have no student parking and do not have the constant pining for more from their students. If we continued building parking to satisfy demand, the wonderful park next door would be a lifeless lot only used for a percentage of the day for three-fourths of the year. A waste.

What are Titans’ Favorite Electives?

Why You Should Join The Eastlake Edge!

“I love newspaper because it gives me the opportunity to create art with a purpose!

People should definitely consider joining next year because the environment is perfect for building friendships while working towards creating somewthing we are proud of!”

- Cartoonist/Managing Editor Leilani

Bascos (12)

“Newspaper is very rewarding because we get to see a physical manifestation of all of our work. I encourage others to join because it’s a very social class, and you get so much time to bond with the staff. Apart from meeting deadlines there isn’t much stress involved. Overall it’s just a lot of fun!”

-

Sports Editor

Darin Halverson (12)

“As an avid writer, this class is perfect for me to practice many styles of writing on a variety of topics. If you like working in a student-run classroom and with your peers, this class is perfect for you.”

- Staff Writer Nyah

Williams (12)

Reflecting on our Four Years

KIRK HALVERSON AND AMANDA HOWARD Staff Writers

BELEN GONZALEZ Opinion Editor

Here at EHS, our course catalog is extensive offering classes for any person with any interest. When selecting classes it can be quite challenging given that most students only have the option to chose at most two electives. These classes are the perfect opportunity for students to explore different interests that are taught outside the traditional curriculum and even gain

some extracurriculars that could go well on college transcripts.

My personal favorite electives have been newspaper and yearbook since I was able to document the school. On top of that I was able to learn editing skills that my other classes would not have offered me the chance to.

Some students decide to explore medical pathways while others decide that they want to tutor students. So we decided to ask, whats your favorite elective?

The past four years at Eastlake have been a rollercoaster of emotions and events. Eastlake High School was full of school pride and involved students. The 2019-2020 school year, our freshman year began as most high school years do but ended up turning into something unprecedented. I thought the transition to high school would be difficult, but never thought it would be historic. When COVID-19 shut down life as we knew it, everyone was in the same boat but began to slowly adapt to doing school from home. But that online school was far from perfect. Sophomore year was plagued with wifi outages, internet connection problems, and technological issues that turned each class into a stressful experience and took away from any actual learning that was supposed to be happening. After being at home an entire year and experiencing false hope about when we would return in person, junior year we were ready to be a back IRL.

But our return to school in 2021 was shrouded in uncertainty. Nobody knew what being back on campus would look like with COVID or what complications we would quickly encounter, but one thing was for sure; it was good to be back. For many of us, the best thing was being around our friends again and having in-person instruction from our teachers after enduring a year of horrible internet connections and struggling to get help in our online classes. Even though we still had to wear masks and follow other COVID protocols, it was nice to be able to do things as a school again and to participate in events that had been previously unavailable to us. This could best be seen in our first assembly of the 20212022 year, the LU-WOW assembly, where the football stadium was buzzing with energy that had been pent up for over a year. However, there was a shift in students’ mentality when it came to school spirit. At football games students cheered and danced as ASB came up with new ways to promote school spirit. Unfortunately this did not last. In comparison to school spirit before COVID, less people felt the Titan spirit and it

seemed as if it would never be the same.

The only real and full year of high school that the class of 2023 has known has been our senior year, as this is the first time we’ve been able to complete a full school year on campus and finally get the chance to participate in and attend school events and gatherings that we had previously missed out on. We were able to go to school how it was before COVID with no masks and almost no outbreaks. Throughout the rest of that year and into our senior year, the Class of 2023 has brought that same energy to everything we’ve been a part of, dwarfing the other classes in spirit and excitement. While COVID caused a lot of isolationism, it also united us as class and as a school, something previous graduating senior classes haven’t been able to experience in the way we have.

We have endured complicated and difficult moments together, stressed and celebrated together, and above all else, have become something like family to one another. This only proves what we’ve always known, Class of 2023’s unity and bond is unmatched.

GRAPHICS BY BELEN GONZALEZ

LEILANI BASCOS

Advice from Graduating Seniors

“Some advice I wish I had was to take pathway classes like engineering and medical because it’s a great way to make long lasting friendships and relationships with teachers.”

- Cody Medina (12)

“Don’t sweat the small things. One bad grade or one tardy or basically just small problems aren’t going to ruin your entire high school career. As long as you learn from them, then you’ll be good.”

- Marianna Garcia (12)

“I would recommend getting involved in different clubs to make connections and to figure out what you are interested in.”

- Alexa Evangelista (12)

Freshmen Look Back on Their First Year

“My first year at Eastlake was enjoyable because I had the opportunity to play on the football and basketball teams as well as make many friends along the way.”

- Joshua Dilay (9)

“The anticipation of going to a new school, especially a high school, brought emotions of nervousness and excitement for me. It was comforting to meet new people and reunite with old friends.”

- Madison Mills (9)

“A lot of things have happened and it felt so quick, but it was really fun joining clubs and trying new sports here.”

- Solana Kitamura (9)

GRAPHICS BY ERICH DEL MUNDO

What is the Hardest AP Class?

Benefits of CTE Pathways

KIRK HALVERSON Staff Writer

The motto of Eastlake

Are AP Classes Worth It?

BELEN GONZALEZ Opinion Editor

“AP classes are a scam.” “AP classes help prepare you for college.” “AP classes are a lot easier than they seem.”

The discussion of whether Advanced Placement classes are “worth it” ranges from the opinion of it being unnecessary to vital for students’ success in college. As a high school senior, having taken over 9 AP classes, I would say that these rigorous classes have bettered my skills as a student. No matter the subject, whether it is considered an AP class or not, it takes a good amount of studying outside of class to be successful. With a fast-

er pace class and more detailed course, it is easy to fall behind or have a hard time grasping the material. Communicating with teachers, asking questions, and learning outside of class help you keep up and fully understand the course. These things are essential to do in college and teach valuable lessons about being a communicative person. A lot of reading and note-taking is required for classes such as AP United States History. In college, many courses are structured where you need to read outside of class; thus, doing the practice you get in AP classes is all the more worthwhile.

Arguably the most important benefit is the opportunity to gain college credit. While

the cost for exams are $70 each, it can remove the need to take a college class. Taking an AP class allows you to jump into more advanced courses right away, saving you time and money in college depending on your score.

At Eastlake a variety of different classes are offered from AP Japanese to AP African American Studies, starting next year. Not only do they give students the opportunity to better their skills for college and save money but they give students a chance to explore subjects they provide a way for students to explore different subjects with a more detailed curriculum. Overall, AP courses are the best way for students to prepare for college.

High School is “Where Today’s Learning Shapes Tomorrow’s Success.” That theme never comes into focus as much as it does through the Career Technical Education (CTE) classes and the CTE pathway. Students can choose from a wide variety of classes, from Sports Medicine to Computer Science, all of which expose them to aspects of those fields, such as duties, expectations, tasks, and in-depth looks at prospective careers within those fields as well. Most CTE classes are two or three years, with the first year being an introductory course and the second being more in-depth and detail-oriented. To receive CTE credits, which can be counted towards college course requirements and sometimes even count as college classes, students must complete all the required years for that class with an average of a “C” or higher.

In my time at Eastlake High, I have been part of CTE Sports Medicine under the leadership of our Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine Teacher, Mrs. Costello, and also a part of CTE Healthcare Essentials, taught by Mrs. Gonzales. While there are many medical-related CTE Classes, there are also ones in film, photography, computer science, and even drone technology. In these classes, I have been able to gain valuable insight and gain

a real-world feel for specific careers, as well as the field itself. A great example of this is Sports Medicine. In years one and two, students learn about human anatomy, injuries an athlete might encounter, and treatments for those injuries, as well as essential sports medicine-related activities, such as ankle and wrist taping, spine boarding, CPR, and injury other things about the documentation.

The third year of the pathway is when students can put all that knowledge into use. As an intern, they shadow Mrs. Costello at school sporting events as she performs her duties as our Athletic Trainer and can gain hands-on experience working with injuries and the recovery period. I believe that because I participated in this class, I’ve not only had a great time and have a better understanding of fields related to sports med, but I also feel that I have been able to gain valuable and irreplaceable experience that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to obtain.

CTE classes aren’t only fun and engaging but also highly informative. Many students who take them gain or already possess interests in those specific or related fields and use the classes to learn more about what those careers might entail. Additionally, including CTE classes and pathways on transcripts, resumes, and job applications can aid students in being accepted, as it shows they already have primary education, interest, and experience.

LEILANI BASCOS

"My prom experience was very enjoyable. I loved seeing everyone dressed up, going out to dinner, and dancing with all of my friends. The drinks and food were also very refreshing and convenient.”

-Vanessa

Layno (12)

How Was Your Prom Experience?

"I loved prom. The venue was very beautiful as it had three stories and the food and drinks were great. It made the night 10x better. Would go again if I could, and enjoy every moment with my friends.”

-Isabella

Rivas (12)

"I think prom was pretty cool and the venue was nice. I feel like it was the perfect size for our senior class compared to last years senior prom, and it was a good time for my friends and I.”

-Isaiah Rivera (12)

"Prom was so fun! I really enjoyed this memory with my friends we have had at this school. The venue was perfect and accommodated our whole class. Definitely the best event we have had at this school.”

-Summer

Simboli (12)

"Prom was an experience and it was so fun to attend. I think that it’s a night that everyone will remember because of how well it was planned, the people that attended and the memories that were made.”

-Dallin Samson (12)

Teachers Reflect on Their Prom Experience

“My prom was really fun. It was something I think everyone should go to. Never in your life will you have that experience where you get to dress up and go to a school dance. It is part of high school. You worked so hard throughout these four years and now you are a senior with all these cool events that you earned; go to all of the senior events!”

“Prom was so fun! I went with my cheer friends and their dates. However, when we went to dinner you can imagine how it was with such a big group. I was over here getting a side salad and a kid down the table got a full steak, but we still paid the same amount! The dance though was great, the girls color coordinated so the pictures turned out so cute.”

“My prom was really cool, the venue was indoor-outdoor, half on the beach and half inside. Since it was a hotel, my girl friends and I got a room to get ready in, which really added to the experience. It was such a fun night. I went on a date but honestly I’d think it would be so much more fun to go with friends. Everyone should go!”

“I ended up going with a girl that I dated in 10th grade. Once we got to the dance we split up and I found a group of friends that I had a lot of fun with. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting, I ended the night satisfied. I won a prize and don’t regret a thing about how the night played out. Prom is a once in a lifetime experience and I recommend everyone going!”

Enchanted Night Prom

ANDY STELLER

Student Life Editor

The lights are up, tables are set with dainty and green centerpieces. Games along the side and 100 cupcakes are set up across an entire table. A red carpet from the attendance window to the quad is extended and we have our photographer capturing all the students attending the Enchanted Night Prom, a special and rock star moment strutting down the aisle.

The Enchanted Night Prom was held this past Saturday on campus, coordinated and organized by Titan Buddies. Through many advertisements and search for volunteers, the club was able to create a special dance that adapts to students with disabilities on campus to enjoy a yearly dance, just like the rest of the school.

As there were going to be a lot of changes at this prom compared to the one at the Nova Nightclub, I asked the head

event coordinator Ashley Segat (12) what were some of the adaptations that were made in the dance. Segat answered by saying, “We wanted to make sure that the dance created a fun environment for students to dance and mingle, but also leave space for students to take a break in an overwhelming environment. Therefore, we had a section away from our amazing DJ that had cornhole and Jenga to play with and no overwhelming lighting or lights at any part of the dance.”

Segat continued by saying how “the prom felt like a dream and it was fulfilling to see how many students came up to me and thanked me for throwing this amazing event.”

In addition to saying that, Segat stated that “this dance could not have been achieved without the donations, volunteers, and the other amazing board members Alayna Toussant ( co- lead event coordinator), Liz Valdez (music manager), and Audrey Sutton (donation manager).”

“I did not go to prom. The fact that I didn’t have a date got me more than it should have, and I decided not to go. It’s crazy looking back thinking that it was such a big deal while I’m sitting here happily married. It’s definitely one of those things I look back on and regret not doing. So don’t be like me and go to prom! You will not regret it!”

ANGELINA BOURGI ISAIAH RIVERA SUMMER SIMBOLI DALLIN SAMSON

Belen Gonzalez, Isabella Rivas Tim Obusan, Nikko Bosinger, Isaiah Rivera Summer Simboli, Danica Cobian, Rae Ramirez Tyler Toon, Bianca Merloti, Norma Ramirez, Dallin Samson

Vanessa Layno, Camila Marques

ALEXANDER CAREY

MR. VIERRA MICHELLE BAUMGARTEN

MR. CRONIN MRS. LINAN MRS. COSTELLO

Mr. Cronin Mrs. Linan Mrs. Costello Mr. Vierra Mr. Fischbein

Characters Matter!

LUCIA SANDOVAL Staff Writer

Eastlake’s theater wraps up the year with the story “Characters” by Nikki Leigh Mondschein. Characters is a beautiful, fun, and comical story that follows a teenage girl named Jessica (played by Sofia Stepho (12) and Alyssa Reyes (12)) who feels disconnected from the world around her. Because of this, she discovers she’s a character in a play stuck on stage. This provokes her struggle to find herself and the natural world where she truly belongs. Not wanting to be controlled by the playwright anymore, she journeys to discover why she’s special and should be allowed to control her destiny.

An interesting detail of this play is that the characters are one-dimensional, as you would expect them to be in real life. As Niko Rabago (11), playing the role of Peter, describes it, “There are people who are over actors and people who have stage fright.” This fun story perspective draws the audience into what Jessica is feeling. Jessica’s frustration with people not understanding, as Emely Larios Mirada (11), who plays Missy, puts it, “how badly she wants to get out of the play, adding to that suffocation.”. At first glance, this story’s true lesson might pass over people’s heads, as a playwright is not actually controlling teens in high school, but it goes deeper. Larios Mirada said this story can connect with teens as we “have outside influences constantly

controlling [our] life, and you’re trying to break away from that.”

Teens take the playwright controlling Jessica and apply it to their own life, constantly trying to meet social standards. Because of the small number of characters in this story, half of the class is on stage and the other half is working behind the scenes and working on tech, but to make it more inclusive they came up with a clever system. The Blue Cast performs on April 26th and the 28th. The Green Cast performs on April 27th and the 29th. The Blue Cast and Green Cast have entirely new people playing the same characters. This also creates a good understudy system. If someone from the Blue Cast or Green Cast can’t make it, then the opposite cast member will fill in. A lot of work goes behind the final result of what you see on stage opening night. These students have dedicated time in class and after school for months to putting on the perfect show. Larios Mirada shared some techniques that help her rule, saying when she gets home, she practices her lines in the mirror, trying to “look for all the possible ways I can say it.” Building chemistry with your scene partner is just as important as memorizing your lines. As Rabago puts it, “If your scene partner is playing your sibling or best friend, there are certain things that you need to do to connect with them as if they were your best friend or sibling.” It’s no wonder why tight bonds are created between theater students at Eastlake.

Info About Grad Nite

Grad Nite begins at 8pm on Friday, May 19th

Busses will leave the school around 4:30pm

Make sure to go to your assigned bus

We will be back in Eastlake around 5am

In order to attend you must be off the non-privileged list

You must attend school that Friday, May 19th or your absence will not be excused

You are not allowed to drive your own car, you must arrive on the school buses provided by the school

You are responsible for your ticket throughout the duration of the event and there are no refunds

When you attend, you must follow the parks guidelines

Make sure to keep language appropriate between you and your friends

Make sure bags are not larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

Q: What Is Your Favorite Memory of High School?

“My junior year homecoming because I danced with my friends all night. I loved that it was at Petco Park and I liked that they had a section where I could take pictures with my friends.”

-Luciana Verdugo (12)

“My favorite memory of high school was organizing the chess tournament. Even though I didn’t win, it was fun seeing so many people get excited over a game that I love. W event.”

-Diego Trujillo (12)

“One of my favorite memories was when I was on the Homecoming Court because the bonding experience with the court was really cool and I was able to get to know them better!”

-Alana Byler (12)

“One of my favorite high school memories is winning CIF my sophomore year and getting to throw the last two outs of the game. And winning CIF my junior year against all odds in an 11 inning game. I hope to win another one with this year’s team!”

- Isaiah Martinez

(12)

“One of my favorite memories from high school was the first football game of the year! It was the most packed and spirited game! Our school was so lucky to have a DJ playing good music. I had fun doing blue crew with Isaiah and other ASB members!”

- Liz Valdez (12)

“The high school memory that I will always remember is homecoming at Petco Park during junior year. The venue was very cool and I danced with my friends. everybody joined together and formed a mosh pit, and I got a caricature of myself done. ”

- Brigitte Paez Sandoval (12)

Eastlake Edge 2022-2023

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jessica Garcia

MANAGING EDITOR

Leilani Bascos

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Alexander Carey

NEWS EDITOR

Shrey Chaganlal

POLITICS EDITOR

Ashley Segat

OPINION EDITOR

Belen Gonzalez

HEALTH EDITOR

Giovanni Cardenas

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Andy Steller

SPORTS EDITOR

Darin Halverson

SPORTS COLUMNIST

Andres Aguilar

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Trinity DeLeon

COLLEGE CORNER

EDITOR

Angelina Bourgi

CREATIVE JOURNAL EDITOR

Fiona Viray

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

Yoomee Ho

STAFF WRITERS

Erich Del Mundo

Erin Del Mundo

Kirk Halverson

Amanda Howard

Kirsten Legaspi

Camila Marques

Alan Resendiz

Naomi Parra

Lucia Sandoval

Nyah Williams

CARTOONIST

Madelyn Batuyong

Michelle Baumgarten

Dayra Ruiz Corrales

Mei Kanazawa

Kaelyn Ross

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Taleeya Samuel

The Eastlake Edge is published six times per year by the newspaper staff of Eastlake High School. The Edge functions as a class, club, and extracurricular activity. For advertising information, please call 619-616-5395. Decisions of the editorial board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, section editors, and advisor reflects the views of the staff. The Edge strives to be a voice for the student body and welcomes varieties of freelance journalism as well as letters. The Edge also accepts creative writing and drawing submissions from other students. For questions, comments, concerns or suggestions, contact us at theedge304@gmail.com and our Instagram page (@eastlake.edge).

LUCIA SANDOVAL LUCIA SANDOVAL LUCIA SANDOVAL

LUCIA SANDOVAL LUCIA SANDOVAL LUCIA SANDOVAL

Editor:Jessica Garcia

ARIZONA

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University of California, Berkeley

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Trinity Weevie

Ysabela Mara

University of California, Davis

Yazan Elnakib

University of California, Irvine

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Leilani Bascos

Timothy Obusan

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NEW YORK

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Vincent

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The New School in NYC

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OHIO

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Santa Barbara

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University of California,

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es

Valeria Rios

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Sarah Porter

Smith College

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MICHIGAN

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OREGON

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MILITARY ENLISTMENT

Rob Basa

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Gideon juvbet C. antonio

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GAP YEAR

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VOCATIONAL/TRADE SCHOOL

Concorde College

Amelia Brunette

Miguel Aguiar

WORKFORCE

Zena Gonzalez

Editor: Darin Halverson

Eastlake’s Sports Wrap-Up

Jaylen Williams (9) runs at Nationals, making Mesa League First Team with Valentina Vuong (11), Cameron Cruz (12), Solana Kitamura (9), Trevor Santiago (12), Brady Albright (9).

Mesa League Champs, made CIF Semifinals. Michelle Baumgarten (12) recieved Mission Federal CIF Scholar Athlete Captain Award and San Diego High School Association Scholar Athletes.

Tyler Bourke (12) named Best Skill Player and Leader Athlete Award from the National Football Foudation.

Isabella Ybarra (9) hit a hole-inone against Olympian, setting the record for the first in Eastlake history.

Andrea Del Castillo (9) made CIF individuals. Moe Okubo (12) and Sophia de Leon (12) made CIF Finals doubles. Camila Marques (12) recieved Best Sportmanship Award.

Mesa League co-Champs. Abby Sachrison (12), Lily Stewart (11), Katherine Wallbank (11), and Avery Banaag (12) made Metro Mesa First Team.

Won the Metro Mesa League Banner. Eduardo Maldonado (12) awarded Mission Federal Scholar Captain Award at CIF.

Jared Pamintuan (12) recieved MVP Award, Owen Heath (12) recieved the Coaches Award.

Naaz Jensen (12) named MVP, Kendal Alloway (12) named Offensive Player of the Year, Sophia Fores (12) named Defensive Player of the Year.

Roller hockey made it to the Sweetwater District Tournament and CIF Playoffs.

Ronan McFarland (12), Juan Gomez (12), Elias Glithero (12), and Anthony Rodriguez (12) made Metro Mesa First Team.

Made open division CIF. Mia Lane (11) made first team CIF.

Kayla Joloya (12) and Braelyn Hill (12) awarded co-MVP. Made Metro Mesa First Team alongside Brianne Hill (12), and Summer Simboli (12).

Mesa League champs. David Mitrovich (12) placed top 12 at the State Tournament.

Alex Martinez (12) was the CIF Champion and San Diego High School Association Scholar Athletes.

Isabella Lamadrid (12) qualified for the State Tournament, placed 3rd in the CIF San Diego Section.

Won CIF division 1, and made State Semifinals. Nico Libed (12), Daniel Mora (12), Isaiah Martinez (12), and Isaiah Lane (12) made the All CIF Team.

Won Quarter Finals Match against Point Loma, League champions and South Bay Tournament Gold Champions.

Won CIF and qualified for the Championship Tournament. Won the Metro Mesa League for the 10th consecutive year. Brought home a banner.

Brought home a banner. Named Metro Mesa League Champions.

Abby Steffen (12) represented Eastlake at the Inaugural Girls High School Softball All-Star Game.

Placed first in Metro Mesa League. Zane Johnson (11) won Boys Mesa League Swimmer of the Year, and qualified for State.

In CIF individuals, Ryan Dinh (11) placed 2nd, and in doubles Grant Valentine (11) and Miguel Yngson (12) placed 2nd, and Thomas Baltz (12) and Ren Nakata (12) placed 3rd.

Jaylen Williams (9) set the school record in the 3200 meter race and is competing with boys 4x4 at CIF.

CIF Champions. Troy Fleming (12) named Mesa League Player of the Year and Mesa League First Team alongside Tyler Toon (12), Dallin Samson (12), and Joshua Alegado (12).

DARIN HALVERSON & TALEEYA SAMUEL Sports Editor & Staff Writer

The Case for High School Sports

ANDRES AGUILAR Sports Columnist

With baseball being heralded as “America’s favorite pastime” and people celebrating the Superbowl as if it’s the Fourth of July, sports’ cultural impact on American society is undeniable.

There’s no feeling like being surrounded by tens of thousands of other fans all screaming in unison to support your favorite sports team. This feeling has inspired children of many generations to pursue careers in sports, and it’s what gave birth to the high school sports culture that has dominated the lives of many students. However, in recent years, participation in sports has seen a downturn. With the National Federation of State High School Associations reporting a 4% decline nationally in participation since schools were shut down in 2020, the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic has discouraged some people from joining a sports team.

Being locked down for roughly two years prevented many students from trying out for sports. The opportunity to play a sport in a high school environment is a privilege. Here at

Eastlake High School, the possibilities are expansive for those looking for an environment that accommodates their likings. Eastlake offers various sports, whether you enjoy running, swimming, cycling, or more. If your goal is to either begin a career in athletics or improve your physical fitness, it can be achieved by giving a sport a chance. It is been repeated thousands of times before; the benefits of sports are endless: better physical fitness, better

wards the same goal. What is a big takeaway for many students in high school are the moments spent bonding with teammates. No outcome can be done alone, and it takes effort from every team member to achieve greatness. Overall, participation in sports creates a second family environment for many. People are more likely to find others to confide and connect with, boosting team morale and improving mental health habits. Essentially, con-

and tribulations will help them develop into adults that adapt to the situations thrown at them and help them succeed in the future.

So, how can you get involved in sports? The answer is pretty simple. Just try it out. As stated before, Eastlake offers a wide range of sports during the three seasons: Fall, Winter, and Spring. By simply showing up and watching a game, you are exposing yourself to that environment and seeing how things play

overall sleep, and a better mood throughout the day. But the benefits aren’t exclusive to those few. With sports, people are allowed to feel a part of something. When you join a sport, you begin to work with like-minded people yet completely different from you. You also become a more involved part of the overall Eastlake High School community. It truly puts into perspective how interconnected we can become in a group striving to-

necting with others teaches athletes the virtue of empathy. You begin to look past your issues and see other people’s experiences.

Joining a sport also shows the power of persistence and self-worth. Students learn their limitations and what it takes to push past them. Every day offers new opportunities, and joining a sport allows students to set healthy and realistic expectations as they move forward. Using their own experience of stress

out. You could also talk with a friend who has experience playing that sport. You will have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and it’s okay not to get the hang of it immediately. For those looking to join a sport that doesn’t require much experience, cross country might be the sport for you.

Valentina Vuong (11), captain of Eastlake’s cross country team, comments on how “cross country is a good sport for people to try

since everyone gets a fair opportunity. Since we don’t have cuts everyone is welcome to try something out of their comfort zone”. Because cross country only involves running, it is ideal for those who are looking to improve physical fitness and endurance yet fear they lack the skills to participate in most sports. When asked about the best aspect of her cross country experience so far, Valentina highlighted “the connection you create and have with the team. Especially during and before and after races.” Overall, the experience that comes with cross country can be the perfect way to integrate sports into your daily life. Valentina finishes off by saying, “cross country has a team with an immense amount of love, encouragement, and motivation all around. I have created so many strong friendships along the way that I’ll never forget.” For many, sports have become an oasis from stress and pressure from real-world issues. In some cases, people have even raised themselves to professional levels, showcasing the possibility of perseverance. Sports have always held the power to make a change, and they will continue to be people’s way of expressing their endless capabilities.

From Titan to a Giant: Schmitt’s Success

DARIN HALVERSON Sports Editor

The San Francisco Giants called up Eastlake Alum Casey Schmitt for his MLB debut on May 9th. Fans of the Giants went wild during his second major league at bat, Schmitt hit a solo homerun against the Washington Nationals. What’s even more impressive? Schmitt is part of the class of 2017 and the third Eastlake Alum to make his major league debut.

Following his graduation, Schmitt went on to play baseball at San Diego State University, distinguishing himself with his versatility. Although he plays third base now, as a freshman he set the single season record of 0.28 earned run average (ERA) with

a minimum 30 innings pitched.

Schmitt was selected by the Giants as a part of the second round of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft. Eventually, after making his way through several minor league teams, Schmitt was called up to the Giants from the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. The rest is history. Schmitt went 8-for12 in his opening three games, “tying Hall of Famer Willie McCovey for the most hits by a Giants player through his first three games since 1901” according to Maria Guardado from MLB.com.

Regarding his journey from Eastlake to the San Francisco Giants, Schmitt explains “The journey has been a ride, a lot of learning and a lot of hard work.

I feel very fortunate to have so many supportive people around

me and I’m just really enjoying it.”

Eastlake athletes have a very involved support system of coaches, parents, and teammates looking to lift and propel students to greatness. For Schmitt, that greatness was within him as he pushed himself to showcase that at the professional level, which is an aspiration for countless student athletes on campus.

Schmitt reveals that “a piece of advice I’d give is to always put your head down and work hard. Nothing comes easy, always strive to get better every day and to always try and move forward.”

Only by countless hours of practice is a feat like his MLB debut performance even attainable. Many of his hours of experience took place at Eastlake as well.

Schmitt fondly remembers “winning that open-division

CIF championship. That team was amazing and there were so many amazing players and people there and that team will always have a special place in my heart.” Heartfelt memories such as that are such a huge part of what makes Eastlake athletics

such an important part of our school, and Casey Schmitt’s example just shows the lasting impact they can have.

As Schmitt continues his MLB career, all of Eastlake is behind him cheering him on and wishing him more success.

Retiring Coaches Spotlight: David Koopman

ERIN DEL MUNDO & DARIN HALVERSON Staff Writer & Sports Editor

As our year comes to a close, we can begin to consider our amazing coaching staff, and those who will not be joining us next season.

Reminiscing about her basketball coach, Alana Byler (12) mentions that “For four years, Coach Koopman has been an outstanding mentor and coach. His honor and wit are unmatched and never fails

to brighten up a room. He always made sure we are held accountable for our actions while also giving us room to grow as young adults. I will appreciate knowing he has my back.”

Being a coach comes with a lot of responsibility, and Coach Koopman is defintiely a favorite among the team. One of his most beloved qualities is his unique sense of humor.

When asked about

the subject, Koopman said “I feel great and I have never felt hap-

pier. Truly have never felt happier. My children being born, my marriage, and quitting girls basketball have made me the happiest. I want to thank my wife and my assistant coaches though. I’m only gonna miss two of my girls and they know who they are!”

The team is defnittely going to miss Coach Koopman and his witty sense of humor. No doubt he left his mark on each and every one of them and was

an integral part of their season and their successes. The team won’t be the same without him.

Into the next season, the team will have to adjust to a new coache at the same time as an incoming group of new players, which may present its own challenges..

Meanwhile, Coach Koopman continues to be involved on campus alongside his wife working as a coach for the boy’s and girl’s cross country teams as well as the boy’s and girl’s track & field teams.

“Cross country has a team with an immense amount of love, encouragement, and motivation all around. I have created so many strong friendships along the way that I’ll never forget.”

- Valentina Vuong (11)

Coach Koopman with the Lady Titans during their Senior Night game against Bonita.

In his second at-bat in the major leagues, Eastlake High graduate Casey Schmitt hit a historic home run in the San Francisco Giants vs. the Washington Nationals.

AUREL ALEGRADO

the end of an era...

Eastlake Edge

Congratulations

Post Malone, Quavo

Moment 4 Life

Nicki Minaj, Drake

8TEEN

Khalid

Never Grow Up

Taylor Swift

Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)

Kid Cudi, MGMT, Ratatat

Ivy

Frank Ocean

We’re All In This Together

High School Musical Cast, Disney

Ribs

Lorde

Can you say this 5 times fast?

Sally sells seashells by the seashore. She sells seashells on the seashell shore. The seashells she sells are seashore shells, Of that I’m sure.

Things to Do During Summer

Painting date!

Editor: Angelina Bourgi

How to Deal with Rejection and Unexpected Decisions

NYAH WILLIAMS Staff Writer

For seniors, spring can be one of the most nerve wracking times of the year. Anxieties arise at the anticipation of the long awaited letter, or email, delivering students the news of whether or not they have been admitted into the college of their dreams. Over our Spring break, many finally heard back from the universities they applied to and received a status update on their applications. Their letters read one of two things: “Congratulations! You’ve been admitted”, or “we regret to inform you”… Actually, it read one of three things - the third message being neither an acceptance or rejection letter - as many seniors also found out that they were waitlisted.

Those who did not receive an immediate acceptance letter found themselves extremely disappointed at the “unfortunate” news. But here are a few things to consider before completely giving up hope: One, being waitlisted is not a bad thing; it only means that the school is currently unable to award admittance, but the application materials are all in order. Two, not being accepted into a college is not the end of the world. If your preferred college,

rejected you, there are plenty of other colleges who desperately want you to pick their school. If all of the colleges you applied to said no, then there are still many options available to choose from.

Let’s not brush past the possibility of community college. While this may be stereotyped as a “setback”, the possibility of community college is extremely beneficial financially and also optimal for transferring students. When transfering into a University with a lower acceptance rate, you would get the same degree as anyone who attended that university since their freshman year.

People often forget that there is much more to do after high school other than attending a 4-year college. Students who wish to continue and expand their education can attend community college. If they still wish to attend a university, it would be a much easier and cheaper option to transfer into one after they get their associates degree. For those who have absolutely no idea what they plan on doing after high school, a gap year may be an appealing option.

During students’ adolescence, a gap year may be exactly what is necessary to determine the right path for their future. Whether this be with traveling or simply

taking a year off to explore their interests and take on new jobs, this is a beneficial decision for anyone with confusion for their life path.

If they are looking to get straight to work, there are many professions in the workforce that accept people without a college degree, such as firefighters, police officers, commercial pilots, technicians, and so on. For those with a skill who would like to put it to good use - or those who would like to learn one - trade school is the perfect option. With a vast number of trade schools that teach a variety of skill sets, such as cosmetology, IT work, and welding, people can discover what it is they like and pursue a career in whatever skill they learned and found to be useful.

It is understandable that the typical 4-year university plan seems to be one of the only and the most fitting options for departing seniors. The desire to attend the school at the top of your list is valid and understandable. But let’s not forget about the other options - options that are rarely ever discussed - which not only broadens your choices, but it also broadens your knowledge and your experiences. So remember: If you were rejected by a college this year, it may not have been the right path for you.

Committed

Honorable Mentions

ANGELINA BOURGI College Corner Edttor

With seniors preparing to throw their graduation caps in the air and enter the next chapter of their lives, it is time for the juniors to start thinking about the same. With this, college applications are right around the corner, and many juniors may need clarification about how to begin their process. An ideal time to start your process is towards the end of summer or the beginning of the school year. Making a timeline and having time for your applications are extremely beneficial for this stressful process.

The first step is making a list of colleges with three sections. Of course, first, ensure each school is within your range of interest for educational focus, proximity, and social life. Your list will be divided into your reach, target, and safety schools. For this step, it is important to research what category each school falls into based on your GPA, extracurriculars, AP/honors classes, test scores, and college supplements. Getting advice from more than one counselor or adult in this sphere is essential. After making your list, you can familiarize yourself with different college application programs and which schools fall under each program. The most com-

It’s App

mon programs Eastlake students use are the UC and CSU application portals. Each program has different requirements for its applications, one difference being the four required supplements under the UC application. The Common App is also the most common portal for applications. Within the Common App, you have each university’s application process to choose from. Each university will have a different set of requirements and essay topics in the Common App. However, most Common App universities all have one primary prompt.

Once you have proceeded to the essay portion of your application, you should determine whether you will need to meet with a teacher for revision or if you would prefer to do this with a family member. After your essays are mostly finished, the last thing before the submission is checking in with your counselor to verify that all your information on every application is correct.

The stress of supplementals will be taken off your shoulders after this step, but there are still other portions of college prep you need to consider. As you submit each application, you will need to revise each university’s post submission requirements. Whether it be your application for FAFSA and CSS profile or midyear transcript report requirements, this step should be brushed off.

ANGELINA BOURGI CHANDNI CHAGANLAL

MICHELE MCKENZIE JAUHN HINKLE

NAOMI PARRA

Staff Writer

As the end of the year approaches, it is essential to recognize Eastlake High School’s VAPA activities and their leaders and representatives. Below is advices from VAPA leaders and representatives to students who are interested in or already are a part of the VAPA activity. Additionally, to those who haven’t

A Round Of Applause: Senior Edition

thought about joining a VAPA activity or class, it is important to remember that one of the requirements to graduate high school is doing 2 semesters of a VAPA class. The advice from these VAPA leaders and representatives may spark some interest in the activity. See if these will spark your intrest!

How long have you been in colorguard?

“I’ve spun here for all four years and I learned everything I needed to know to be successful from this program.”

Mia Impreso

(12)

What experiences needed to join colorguard?

“No experience is needed to join colorguard, we teach you everything you need to know. I recommend that current members practice with at least one other person so that it makes the experience more enjoyable and if you need a second opinion, you have someone to make corrections.”

Yuliana Barreto

(12)

What was first reaction when joining band?

“At first, joining band will probably be scary because you are entering a new environment but if you give it a chance, you won’t regret it. If you are worried about needing experience to join band, it is okay! You don’t need any at all. Even the Veterans of the program are still learning!”

Emily Reeves

(12)

What made you chose your instrument?

“I play the violin! I chose to play that one over the other orchestral instruments because that’s the only one I could pronounce and it sounded the prettiest to me.

Faith Kim (12)

What are your goals for theater?

“My goal is to one day be in a major motion film or Broadway show that tells a very powerful and moving story that means a lot to me. And have fun doing it! I would like to say to them to go above and beyond every single time; try to never do anything at half effort.”

Alleyn Vinson (12)

How does your team prepare for the competitions?

“For our competition season, we begin learning all of our routines starting in November and until March. Starting in March we have rehearsals every day after school to perfect all of our dances and make sure everyone looks in sync and prepared for the weekend.”

Jazlynn (Jazzy) Padilla. (12)

What are your advices for newcomers?

“My biggest piece of advice to those who want to join choir is not to worry too much about stage fright. A good method to better your voice and learn more about your style of singing is to listen to a lot of music and going out of your comfort zone by listening to different genres of music.”

Yazan Elnakib

(12)

How can you improve your singing?

“I have been doing choir at Eastlake for one year, but have done choir for church and other schools before. Your voice is literally an instrument, so to improve as a singer you’ll need to sing all the time. The more you sing, the more you can control your voice and hit every note perfectly.”

Rosemary Roach

(12)

How does your group make the dances?

“Usually me and my board come up with themes for a set so we can come up with songs easier but if we are making a set for an assembly, we try to look for the most popular songs that people really like. We try to open up our sets with a very upbeat song and close out with the same energy.”

Lance Ofria (12)

What were your difficulties as the co-captain?

“Some difficulties I’ve had with dance are definitely taking on a leadership role. This school year I was honored in being co-captain. Without having leadership experience, I had difficulty adjusting to this role but my team and those around me made this process super smooth & made my senior year the best!”

Tiffany Beardslee (12)

ALLEYN VINSON

YULIANA BARRETO

MIA IMPRESO

EMILY REEVES

FAITH KIM

LANCE OFRIA

JAZLYNN PADILLA

NAOMI PARRA

NAOMI PARRA

ALL GRAPHICS BY FIONA VIRAY

Most likely to be at a concert over the weekend

Senior Superlatives

Most likely to be a carrot

Most likely to never reach 5’

Most likely to not have enough on his page

Most likely to know everything

Most likely to get “lost” on the way to the bathroom

Most likely to ignore the style guide

Most likely to not fit on a rollercoaster

Most likely to get sick

Most likely to pay $1000 for concert tickets

Most likely to correct a spelling error

Most likely to go to Paris

Most likely to become a professional artist

Most likely to get out 5 minutes early

Most likely to sing the most at karaoke

Most likely to be a national champion

Most likely to have a story to tell Mrs. Brinkman

Most likely to get called out on his love life

Most likely to be watching F1 in class

Most likely to say what everyone else is thinking but afraid to say

Most likely to be a fashion designer

Most likely to live in a Starbucks

Most likely to pull out a book and read

Most likely to disappear in the middle of class

Editor: Yoomee Ho

Leilani Bascos

Jessica Garica Alexander Carey

Amanda Howard

Ashley Segat

Angelina Bourgi

Fiona Viray

Andy Steller

Michelle Baumgarten

Nyah Williams

Kaelyn Ross

Darin Halverson

Mei Kanazawa

Kirsten Legaspi Erin Del Mundo

Shrey Chaganlal

Kirk Halverson

Belen Gonzalez

Lucia Sandoval

Andres Aguilar

Taleeya Samuel

Yoomee Ho

Alan Resendiz

Camila Marques

MEI KANAZAWA

LEILANI BASCOS ERICH DEL MUNDO

MICHELLE BAUMGARTEN LEILANI BASCOS

MADELYN BATUYONG

LEILANI BASCOS YOOMEE HO FIONA VIRAY YOOMEE HO KAELYN ROSS YOOMEE HO MEI KANAZAWA FIONA VIRAY ERICH DEL MUNDO

KAELYN ROSS

MICHELLE BAUMGARTEN YOOMEE HO

KAELYN ROSS

ALAN RESENDIZ FIONA VIRAY

MICHELLE BAUMGARTEN

KAELYN ROSS

MADELYN BATUYONG