Hawkeye 6-2016

Lahti’S LEGACY: dedicated, PASSIONATE leaderSHIP 5

STEM’S sarah rose AN AEROSPACE STANDOUT

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Okoronkwo THE BEST

BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS

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JUNE 2016 | Volume 31 | Issue 7 Mountlake terrace high school | 21801 44th Ave. W Mountlake Terrace wA 98043

Hawkeye www.thehawkeye.org

Members of the Class of 2016 will head in many directions after graduation. Some Hawks will fly as far away as Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Canada. Still, others will stay close to the home nest. We celebrate them all inside…

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2 | june 2016

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we > Me

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Hawkeye

june 2016 | 3 hawkeye Leadership ‘15-’16 Executive Editor

Jack Fiorillo | hawkeye

Stephi Smith

Managing Editor Isaac Otis

Editorial Board

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Jack Fiorillo | hawkeye

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Stephi Smith, Isaac Otis, Sierra Clark, Ryan Dunne, Marianne Nacanaynay, Kira Doan Editorial News Editor Sierra Clark Sports Editor Open Op/Ed Editor Marianne Nacanaynay Lifestyle Editor Open Business General Manager Ryan Dunne Distribution Manager Dee Strohl

JaCOB ALLARD | hawkeye

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sierra clark | hawkeye

Jack Fiorillo | hawkeye Kira DOan | hawkeye

6 Contents June

2016

10 More than just a pretty grade 12 Performing both on stage and off 13 The man behind “praise Helix”

Using high school materials to plan your future

A

Name in bold indicates the staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board. ........................................................

Adviser Vince DeMiero FANs Coordinators Sandra Merten & Cathy Fiorillo Printing Pacific Publishing Member MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, Student Press Law Center, Tao of Journalism

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Letter from the Editor

s I listen to Editor Emeritus Paxtyn Merten rattle off courses she will be taking next year at Northeastern University, I am reminded of how prepared she is for her future as a journalist – mostly, she says, thanks to all she Stephi Smith Executive editor did as a Hawkeye staff member.

Merten’s hard work and dedication to the Hawkeye as a staff reporter, local news editor, news editor and later editor-in-chief led to her readiness to further her education at Northeastern and, eventually, as an investigative journalist.

Whether it’s ensuring your classes fall within your dream college’s requirements or joining a club that you could see yourself dedicating the majority of your time to, finding your niche in high school is vital

Online Online Manager Vivian Nowka-Keane Data Manager Open Editor Emeritus Paxtyn Merten ........................................................

2016-2017 Hawkeye Staff Annika Prom, Ben Eyman, Bobby Stoyanov, Hannah Schuster, Ian Moffet, Jacob Allard, Luke Smith, Matthew Hipolito, Mikayla Smith, Milkias Yonatan, Sam Johnson, Sky Schank and Thaddeus Merten.

8 5 A healthy retirement 6 A note-worthy musician 8 Seniors all across the map

Visual Graphics Editor Tessa King Photo Editor Jack Fiorillo Design Editor Kira Doan

when it comes to preparing for the “real world.”

The Hawkeye isn’t the only place at Terrace where students find their passion.

Multiple clubs, classes and extracurriculars are available to students, including drama, music and STEM departments. Not only that, but college, military and technical school recruiters frequent our campus to speak with students during lunch and PASS. Students are also able to test college waters by dipping their academic toes into Running Start.

Not every student can find exactly what they want to do after high school like Merten, but taking advantage of what you have around you is the best way to expand your options for post-high school life.

It’s true that not every student wants to do something that is offered in this school.

For example, a fashion designer doesn’t have many options to choose from when it comes to classes and clubs. However, I

know that teachers, administrators and counselors are eager to help students get ready to graduate high school and pursue whatever goal they may have.

Although not easy, asking a teacher for help may be a good start. It’s easy to join a club or sign up for a class to see where your interest can take you.

It was in the 8th grade that Merten signed up to be a staff reporter for the Hawkeye and it was in her senior year that she committed herself to Northeastern University as a journalism major.

If it weren’t for what she did in between those years, it’s safe to say that Merten would not be as comfortable leaving Washington for Boston, her heart set on becoming an investigative reporter.

Finding what you want to do after high school seems hard, but at MTHS it’s not if you look around and take the initiative.

Who knows? Maybe you, too, will be telling your story to underclassmen one day. H

Contact Us Email editor@thehawkeye.org | Phone 425.431.5058 | Website www.thehawkeye.org | Twitter @MTHSHawkeye | @MTHSports | @MTHSWeather Instagram @MTHSHawkeye | Snapchat mthshawkeye | Facebook MTHS Hawkeye | Youtube MTHSHawkeyeTube Mail Hawkeye Room 130 c/o Mountlake Terrace High School 21801 44th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Mission

Mission Statement The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. In policy and in practice since 1960, the Hawkeye is a designated open forum publication.

Policies

The Hawkeye has established several open public forums for the exchange of information, opinions and artistic expression dedicated to those in the MTHS community. Since 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as an open, public forum where student editors make all decisions.

Editorials The editorial section of the Hawkeye serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Hawkeye Editorial Board. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. The Hawkeye will print submitted guest editorials as space allows and requests that all contributors include their name, signature and position relative to the editorial. The Hawkeye will edit all submissions for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any submission.

Letters to the Editor Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section, a public forum for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Hawkeye will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Hawkeye will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter.

Editorial Cartoons Submissions represent the view of the artist.

Editorial cartoons accompanying editorials and editorial columns represent the view of the author. Cartoons are selected based on appropriateness and clarity of message.

Advertising The Hawkeye will not accept any advertising that the Editorial Board deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teens to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Hawkeye reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board.

Revised 9/2013

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Cover Illustration By Kira Doan & Isaac Otis © 2016 Hawkeye | All rights reserved.

reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Hawkeye

4 | June 2016

The End of Another School Year I

t’s June. Graduation is next week. Our seniors will Suspension (ISS) Coordinator helps to make sure that be headed off to college, military, work and other students who receive ISS continue to make progress in adventures. For the rest of us, we will be heading out each of their classes. for summer. But before Our educational assistants work to help support we get out of here for students in the classroom and assist our teachers in the summer, I think delivering an excellent education to all our students. it’s important to take a The office professionals at MTHS make sure it runs moment to share some of smoothly each day and support our students and staff the people I am grateful in so many ways. for as they have worked Third, I want to thank our athletic coaches and club so very hard to make our advisors. The performances by our athletic teams durGreg Schwab Principal school a truly amazing ing all three of our sport seasons would not be possible place. if we did not have caring and committed coaches who First, I want to thank our staff of teachers. The teach- work tirelessly to prepare their athletes to be successers here are committed to the success of every student ful on the field, court, pool, or course. Congratulations and they work hard on a daily basis to our programs and athletes who represented to make sure that you are learning MTHS so well! The many clubs and groups that “I think its and achieving your full potential as we have in our school are possible because of the important learners. We are truly fortunate to dedication of staff members who stepped up and to take a have teachers who work so hard and took on these roles. moment to care so much about the success of all Fourth, thank you to our performing arts share some students! teachers and students. We have truly outstandof the people Second, thank you to our classified ing programs that are competitive at the nationI am grateful employees. Our classified staff memal level and produce some truly talented student for.” bers work behind the scenes to make performers in vocal music, instrumental music, sure our school runs smoothly. Our and drama. These students and staff are another kitchen staff makes sure that breakfast and lunch are reminder of what makes MTHS such an outstanding prepared each day. Our custodial staff makes sure our place to go to school. building is clean and well-cared for.

Finally, thank you to our ASB. You have done an Jerry Myers makes sure our campus is safe and excellent job this year in providing leadership for our that students are where they are supposed to be. Sue school and helping to create a place where all students VanSenus helps make sure that our 9th graders and are welcomed and supported. other students are being successful in their classes.

To everyone, I wish you all the best and hope that Mike Boxley works hard in a tough job, managing you have an amazing summer! H student discipline and making sure our school poliNote: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Administration space each issue in the cies are followed by all. David Whalen, our In School

Thank YOU T

hank you! Thank you to all the graduating seniors who put themselves out there and took a chance the last four years. You took a chance at being part of any one of our 40-plus co-curricular activities available for students at MTHS. It takes a lot of guts to attach your name to a team roster with your peers that performs or competes and has the chance of success or in some people’s eyes, failure.

In my eyes the girls fastpitch team is the same thing as drama. Both groups have a coach that must prepare their team Kim Stewart athletic director/activities for success. The volleyball team and the coordinator Hawkeye, Jazz 1 and Competitive Cheer, I can go on and on. My point? When you were a freshman at orientation we challenged you to find something you love here and go for it. Don’t be that person who wonders what happened the last four years, GET INVOLVED! So now ask yourself, “Self, did I?” To those of you who tried out for a team, a play or ran for an office.

To those who stood out in front of a store freezing your hind quarters off to help the MLT Food Bank or cheered on your friends at a girls soccer match. Or supported them at their musical performance in the theater. Or maybe you were the ones competing at the DECA or journalism conventions or robotics competition knowing you were representing MTHS. Thank you. Without those of you who did get involved and inspired others to get involved, where would we be?

On June 13 and 16 Principal Greg Schwab and I will have the pleasure of acknowledging only a handful of those senior students who did get involved and made a difference. And to all of you who did take a chance and did get involved, thank you and best of luck to you. H NOTE: Hawkeye provides the MTHS Athletics and Activities office space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum.

Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum.

Out with the old, in with the new A

s this year comes to a close and we say goodbye to the school year, the students of MTHS are not only welcoming summer but an all new Big 6 as well. This year’s executive members are more unique than any in recent history as we transition from seniors to all new members of upcoming juniors and only one senior.

Some may argue there is a SAMANTHA GARCIA ASB Public Relations Officer lack of experience in the group as half of us only have one year involved as members in Associated Student Body (ASB). To that I would have to say, yes, experience is a big part in making the year successful. However, something matters even more than that — passion.

As I looked to my five peers around me during meetings, I can see the eagerness and enthusiasm we all have to make a

difference in our school and truly make high school a memorable experience for the students. We all got together about a month and a half ago and talked about our goals for next year and what changes we wanted to see.

Our first goal was giving back, whether it be to our own students, teachers or overall community, giving back to those who give to us is incredibly important. We want ASB to be so much more than just dances and assemblies.

For our community, our goals are to do more drives such as, clothing drives, food drives and toy drives that could all help out people in need. Pairing up with Key Club, MTHS’s community service club, would be a way to increase efficiency for this.

Teachers, who are a huge part and influence in students’ lives, deserve so much more than just one week for their appreciation.

Finally students, while ASB could do random acts of kindness, where we simply give back and don’t ask for anything in

return. Our second goal was unity. It has been an immense struggle for ASB in the past as uniting a school that is so diverse is difficult.

The big question that is always over our heads is “how can we increase school spirit therefore, unifying the school?”

Spirit weeks and assemblies only go so far, this leads us to the answer of inclusion.

At MTHS, we have amazing programs such as music, STEM, drama and more that should all be on the same playing field as the more publicized sports program. As ASB members, it’s our duty to include and recognize all these groups, thus promoting equality and unity.

Overall, your newly elected Big 6 has great plans for the next year and we cannot wait to start. H Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS Associated Student Body space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum.

Hawkeye

MTHS

June 2016 | 5 Susan Lahti All

News

Images

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Maps

Videos

About 1 result (30 years)

Lahti’s ‘finally ready’ to begin a new trek

By Stephi Smith Executive Editor

Her story didn’t start at MTHS and it won’t end here, either. But retiring P.E. teacher Susan Lahti’s legacy as a Hawk is secure as she has truly been a pioneer as an educator and as a powerful voice for equity in athletics and education.

Lahti began coaching women’s basketball at Shoreline Community College. She became an assistant coach and worked with then-head coach Maggie King (another pioneering MTHS educator) until 1986 when a job as head coach for women’s basketball opened at MTHS. She’s been at MTHS ever since.

A teaching job opened that same year and, because Lahti had a passion for physical training and staying fit, she decided to try to pass that on to future generations.

Lahti, a graduate of Mercer Island High School, said she always loved athletics. In college, Lahti was a “triple threat” with track, basketball and cross country under her belt at Western Washington University. Her collegiate experience was different from her high school years, where she only had the options to play tennis and swimming, both not something she was interested in.

Lahti did play on the golf “team,” in which they only played against themselves and called their coach an advisor. She was also given a recycled dog trophy for winning the tournament they held among themselves.

After she graduated high school, Lahti had plans to become an attorney, but as time went on, she realized that her true passion belonged with sports and changed her focus her first year of college. The teaching passion came secondary, so teaching physical education was the perfect combination of the two.

“I love my job. Just look at me!” Lahti exclaimed, wearing a purple shirt with “P.E. teacher” stamped across and a heart above it with the words “I love my job” written inside.

Through her job, Lahti has made connections and expanded MTHS’s physical education classes. Sometime during a physical education conference, Heart Zones USA spokesperson Sally Edwards shared her Smart Sensor, a wearable monitor that can track a person’s’ heart rate.

Afterward, Lahti spoke with Edwards and asked for a temporary class set that she could use to show to administrators to convince them why she thinks MTHS needed technology implemented in physical education.

Principal Greg Schwab said that when he was shown the Smart Sensors, he knew almost immediately that students here had to have access to the technology.

Schwab said Lahti is a leader not only at MTHS, but throughout the state.

“She’s definitely passionate,” he said, laughing.

Schwab recalled a time in which he gave Lahti the “and one more thing” award during staff awards at the end of the year.

He said the award was in honor of Lahti always having “ just one more thing” to add during meetings.

During her years at MTHS, Lahti’s favorite memories have

involved her changing a few hearts and minds. would hug at her graduation, the ones who remembered her.

She said she loves it when a student at the beginning of the While Lahti enjoys teaching and has a strong passion for semester says they hate physical education classes, but then GSA, she has also coached varsity track during her time at at the end of the course admit that they had fun and that MTHS. And while she hasn’t coached other sports, she still Lahti’s turned out to be their favorite class. feels a connection to them. For example, when the MTHS “I like to change people’s’ minds, no matter how fit [they men’s soccer team played against Mercer Island for playoffs, are],” she said. she wanted “her boys” to win, not her own alma mater.

And not just regarding physical education. Lahti recalled a “This place [MTHS] feels like home,” she said, looking PASS class she once had with a group of “rowdy boys” that, away. “I feel more Hawk than I do Islander.” when Lahti asked them to quiet down, said “this is so gay.”

And after [number of years] as a Hawk, Lahti is finally When Lahti told them that they shouldn’t use that kind of ready to retire. language because they may offend someone, they argued that Lahti was told that, to make retirement easier, she no one in the room was gay. That’s when Lahti said “well should have something to do when school starts back up actually, I am.” in September. So, starting in August, Lahti, her partner The “rowdy boys” were shocked and apologized profusely, and some of their friends will begin a cycling trek across according to Lahti.

Washington state.

She laughed when she told of how the boys went to psy“I think I’m finally ready to leave this place,” Lahti said, chology teacher Kimberly Nelson and told her that Lahti looking around the room. H was gay, to which Nelson responded with “duh,” according to Lahti.

Lahti said that being “out” became “cathartic” and she felt a new wave of relief from being able to say she was gay at MTHS. She doesn’t find it hugely bothersome, she said, when she finds graffiti in the locker room reading “Ms. Lahti is a dyke,” but she sometimes writes back “yes, she is, but she would prefer another term.” Lahti laughed as she made a writing gesture in the air.

Lahti was also a co-founder of MTHS’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club. When she first brought the idea to MTHS, not everyone was as accepting as would have been appreciated.

Lahti recalled students reactions during the first Day of Silence held in 1996 at MTHS, when she saw a few students ripping the pink triangles from other students’ shirts and throwing them away. Lahti even saw a group of students lighting them on fire. She was told they were protesting what they perceived to be “Gay Day.” But it didn’t stay this way. With time, MTHS students become more accepting and open.

Lahti said MTHS is actually more open and inclusive than other high schools, something she appreciates greatly.

She looked back on past staff members who would perform kind acts for Lahti and others.

Lahti recalled a math teacher who would help Lahti with her “pay stubs,” an outdated form of paychecks and once even continued computing the math under a table in the staff lounge during an earthquake drill.

Choked up and at a loss for words, Lahti also Susan Lahti has been working at MTHS since 1986 as a coach and teacher, looked back on her students, the ones who would now she’s retiring and plans to bike around Washington in the fall. call “hey Ms. Lahti!” in the hallway, the ones who Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye

6 | june 2016

Hawkeye

Brian Garcia

Garcia has been an avid musician since the age of 12, dedicating his time to writing and recording his own music in a corner of his bedroom.

By Sierra Clark

“On a Saturday, sometimes I’ll spend the whole day workSeven years ago, at about age 12, senior Bryan Garcia ing on music,” Garcia said. “It really depends on my mood, played a bass guitar that was once his brother’s and won by some days if I’m feeling tired, I’m not going to get anything his dad in an eBay auction. done with music, but other days, if I’m awake and feeling He had just picked up his bass for the first time in years pretty good, I’ll get a lot done.” and was able to quickly play again, recalling old songs and He usually starts writing lyrics by improvising and taking riffs he once struggled with. notes of what he sings. Garcia said he then rearranges parts Now in his senior year, Garcia still plays, writes and and adds words to make the verses flow better together. records his own music.

Garcia generally has a specific theme in mind for the lyrics His musical journey began when he first picked up the old he writes. He said it’s almost like writing poems or stories bass guitar. then translating those into lyrics. It takes a lot of work for “I think it was because I saw my brother playing bass guitar Garcia to write lyrics and then make sure they go with whatonce and I thought that it was really cool. I began playing ever song he’s working on. bass guitar, I just kind of picked it up one day and taught “If you look at all the songs together, at least the ones that myself to play it. From then on, I wanted to learn other I’m working on right now, they kind of tell a story of life and instruments,” Garcia said. death,” Garcia said. “The first song I made is more talking He also plays piano, guitar, ukulele and a bit of drums. about being young and then one of the last few songs I made Garcia has been playing all of the instruments for at least five is talking more about death and mourning. Looking at all years now, spending the most time on piano. those songs collectively, you can see the growing of age type “It was interesting [to learn piano]. I’ve always known how of story.” to play it growing up, I knew some of the notes, but I didn’t Garcia said he also writes many songs with the general idea get into actual chords until I learned how to play bass guitar. of saying goodbye or “save me”. He said that he can’t relate to I had a friend of mine who would show those topics currently, but they consisme a few chords [on piano] here and tently show up while he is freestyling “It wasn’t until I heard his new there,” he said. lyrics. music with the new software Garcia also used a keyboard that read Garcia has instruments in songs that compared to his old iPad off the chords he played as he pressed show different emotions, but he said music that I really saw he was down on them. He would spend a lot of the lyrics don’t reflect that as much and stepping up his game.” time playing notes and memorizing the don’t tend to show his own feelings like Bella Garcia names. the sounds do.

Bryan Garcia’s younger sister In a small room in Garcia’s house, “The instrumentals, they mean a lot there are two pianos, an organ and cello. more to me because I can pretty much This room is where Garcia generally starts his writing proplay [an entire] song on piano, I know the melody of the cess. In the past, he may have started with a bass guitar and vocals, I know which notes I sing on and I can replay those the Garageband application on his iPad, but since seventh notes on piano. I know all the other instruments that are grade he has slowly built up his equipment and quality from played in the song,” Garcia said. “When it comes to playing a $1 app to equipment worth thousands of dollars. my own music on piano, it feels a lot more personal and I feel Garcia will start on the piano, play something he likes and more moved by what I’m playing. Just the way that it sounds, then go upstairs to record it using Logic Pro X, a recording I love the way that it sounds. It’s really kind of emotional for program. Over time, he said he will go back to melodies and me. It feels very satisfying that [a certain] song exists because beats to add different instruments and layers in the song. of me.”

Garcia spent two summers working and saving money Garcia said he loves playing and writing music, but has in order to buy equipment to record better-quality music. moments where a song doesn’t feel new or fun anymore.

Quality is extremely important for any musician, Garcia “There’s times where I write a song and I really like it and said.

I’ll keep working on it and time goes on. I’ll listen to that He has a high-quality microphone surrounded by foam song again months later and I don’t like how it sounds. It’s padding, commonly used in recording studios to absorb because I’ve gotten desensitized to it, I’ve heard it so many sound. He uses the microphone to record vocals, ukulele and times that it’s kind of lost its impact,” he said. other instruments that aren’t able to be directly plugged into It almost always surprised Garcia when someone told him his laptop. a song sounded really cool after he had become desensitized Garcia said his recording is based off the time he has; if to it. there are tests or events coming up, it’s harder for him to Garcia said that he can be too critical of his music at times. make time to play.

When other people say they like it, he’ll point out a small He doesn’t play every day, but when he does, he tries to mistake such as playing the wrong note. He said he’s genermake it an hour or two at least. ally the only person who notices the small mistakes. This can News Editor

sometimes drain his motivation and desire of a song as well.

When needing help with his music, Garcia will generally go to his dad or his younger sister, Bella Garcia. She helps him with many different problems he has with his music.

“I point out everything that I love about his music, that’s mainly what I do to kind of boost his self esteem,” Bella Garcia said.

Along with explaining what she enjoys about his music, she will also compare how far her brother has come with his music.

Bella Garcia said that while using an app on his iPad in the past, her brother was already planning for the future for albums he would someday create. She didn’t realize how serious Bryan Garcia actually was about pursuing music until he began working. He soon bought a MacBook and started reaching his goals one by one.

“It wasn’t until I heard his new music with the new software compared to his old iPad music that I really saw he was stepping up his game. He knows what he’s doing now and he’s gonna get somewhere doing it,” Bella Garcia said.

Bryan Garcia has a habit of making sure every single note is perfect on a song. He tries his best to make the songs sound as professional as possible.

“If Bryan wasn’t nitpicky, then there would probably be flaws that I could catch on to. That’s not a quality musician, but sometimes I do have to remind him that if I [don’t notice it] after I’ve listened to it over a hundred times, no one else will or that there are worse people out there and you are definitely not one of them,” Bella Garcia said.

Bryan Garcia said that he can regain interest in a song after playing an entire song on piano.

He will find inspiration by “bouncing around” on different online music outlets like Soundcloud or Spotify, where he may find certain bass lines that trigger an idea. He will also go to some of his favorite artists, like contemporary R&B artist, Kevin Garrett. Garcia said that he’ll even go to “obscure” artists who are widely unknown to people for inspiration for songs.

Finding inspiration for his music isn’t always easy when combatted with the cost of his equipment, Garcia said.

“One of the biggest conflicts that I had to deal with in music was the cost. The setup that I have is not cheap at all, so I had to spend almost two summers working and saving up money, then spending most of that money for music,” he said.

Garcia said that the cost of equipment is reflected in the quality music produced.

“For music production If [anyone] wants good quality music, if they want to really get the nice equipment, they have to be willing to drop a lot of money. I spent over $3,000, maybe $3,500 [on my equipment].” Garcia said.

He also said that it’s really difficult to find professional sounding equipment or apps for less money.

“When it comes to music, you get what you really pay for, so if you spend like five bucks on a music app, your music’s

Hawkeye

june 2016 | 7

not gonna sound like what they create in the studio. But if Garcia has never performed his own music for a crowd, video online, but generally doesn’t show his films to the you’re willing to spend a couple hundred or a couple thoubut he does play music provided for him at the Alderwood world, much like his music. He has recently used the Seattle sand, It’ll really show in your music,” he said.

Community church. film to apply for scholarships.

Garcia also struggles with being too busy to work on his At church, he will usually play bass guitar during youth Garcia is looking forward to working in the recording music. On more than one occasion, he has had to cancel group. He plays piano, ukulele and bass guitar for the larger industry, but he thinks he may continue to do film as a plans with his friends in order to spend more time on his worship ceremonies. hobby. music, especially if he hadn’t worked on “I kind of switch instruments a lot, Garcia is planning on going to college in Colorado at the any recently. like I’ll do ukulele for one song and University of Denver next year to major in recording and “When it comes to playing Since Garcia writes and records all his then do piano for a different song. I music engineering. He wants to get the degree in order to my own music on piano, it own music, he always has something to pretty much play the music that is given ensure him a job in the music industry. feels a lot more personal work on and seeing the constant positive to me for the church,” Garcia said.

He said that getting a college degree in music production and I feel more moved by changes in his music has really motiAt church, there is a practice rehearsal will make him a lot more qualified to work in a recording what I’m playing.” vated him to continue working whenever beforehand. Garcia said he tends to find studio.

Bryan Garcia Senior he has the time. Garcia said the entire himself staying at the piano afterwards “I really want to work at a recording studio because the process of thinking of a song idea, playand playing his own music, as only a process of recruiting people, recording, making music, is ing it, writing it and adding on to his music brings him to few people are around. really cool, and so getting paid to record music for other peonew places and keeps him going.

He also said that those few people from his church will ple - that’s like my dream job. I plan on really sticking with “I feel like I find myself being more productive nowadays, sometimes ask him what song he’s playing and are really the music field in the future,” Garcia said. H like I go home and work on music instead of taking a nap or excited or impressed when they just chilling around. Since I write all my own music, it’s realare told that it’s his original ly helped me get better at playing piano, I’m really proud of work. Garcia said he feels that my ability to play compared to five years ago where I was one people enjoy what he plays, he finger pressing a note, but now I’m able to use both hands even gets asked when they’ll be very well,” he said. able to hear the whole song.

Garcia said he can apply the information to all the instruAlthough music is an ments he plays and has grown in ability. extremely important part of his “[Playing music] has given me something to work on or look life now, Garcia wasn’t always forward to each day. Most people go home and play video very musical. games or just go on TV, for me, I don’t really do either one of “When I was younger I would those, I kind of just find myself sitting at my laptop trying to draw a lot more than I did play come up with new ideas for music. Sometimes I find myself music,” he said. “Growing up, feeling very excited or motivated by my music, especially my main hobby was drawing when a song that I wrote a while ago that wasn’t very impres- and whatnot. I didn’t really get sive, when I come up with a new part that improves it,” he interested in music until six or said. seven years ago.”

Garcia once wrote a song that he wasn’t happy with until Though Garcia primarily he decided to have one of his friends come over and record a focuses on music, his passions cello background for the song. aren’t limited to that. He also That song is one that really motivates Garcia to do more finds interest in filmmaking. with his music, he said.

Garcia has goals to finish up “Hearing the cello blend in with the music, it was one of one of his own songs and use the greatest feelings. I felt so happy with myself. I’m so proud it to make an original film and that I thought of adding cello to that song,” he said. may do some music videos in Garcia puts small snippets of ideas he has on Soundcloud the future, he said. At times, under the name Jamil, which he plans to change since there Garcia will collaborate with are many artists who go by that name, he said. other filmmakers at school and In the moment of posting a song on Soundcloud, he’ll proin the community and make mote it on another social media platform, such as Twitter music for their upcoming work. or Snapchat. He generally keeps it to his friends and family, “The films that I’ve done in avoiding going out of his way. Garcia said that he thinks it’s the past were more like films because the tracks he posts on Soundcloud aren’t his full that just show the world. I potential, as they only take about a half hour to make. He did this film two years ago, it predicts that once he puts out full songs that include vocals, was me going into downtown he’ll be promoting much more on all social media, including Seattle kind of filming the some possible videos on YouTube in the future. nightlife and I put music to At school, Garcia tends to keep his music quiet. He said he it… There was no dialogue and generally promotes by word of mouth to his friends when he nothing scripted in that film, it sees them. was just a film that was meant “I release music when I create something that I think is to be pretty,” he said. worthy of being posted, but most of the songs that I write Garcia has done films for and record won’t be released,” he said. “As of right now, I’ve school as well, showing a bit of only released like five tracks, and I’m planning on releasing humor with a script and story. like six or seven, sometime in the future. Compared to the 90 These were a lot different from songs that I’ve written, it’s a very small amount of songs that films he has done outside of I release.” school, where he likes to show Bryan Garcia hopes to work with other musicians in a recording studio after he majors in Along with using Soundcloud as a musical outlet, Garcia the world. recording and music engineering in college. Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye also performs at his local church.

Garcia has posted the Seattle

Taylor Murgallis Andrea Portugal Caine Resler Priyanka Sarnaik Alexis Soth Thomas Tekle Alexis Ward

Joshua Morrison Joey Owens Jun Park Nathan Paul Kendra Potoshnik Aaron Quach Josiah Sum Jonathan Thiem Luke Thurber Maxwell Tracy Ashley Lee

In State

22

23 - 25

41

Arshia Kiani

25. California State University, Fullerton

Amanda Petrowski

Payton Wheaton Maria Young Austin Burton

Aleksey Moody

30. Brigham Young University

Connor Ebright Caleb Sill

29. Montana State University

Aleksey Moody

28. University of Montana

Joshua Liddell

27. Boise Bible College

Jake Lampers

35

34

26. Boise State University

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29

Miles Allen Trent Brooks Benjamin Davidson Sarah Rose Haeley Johnston Landyn Barton

19. Washington State University

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16. Cascadia Community College

Jason Ernst

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Meron Abay Kaitlyn Anderson Anna White Katherine Walter

Rebecca Donelson

35. University of New Mexico

Bryan Garcia

34. University of Colorado, Denver

Kyle Hobbs Garrett Debner

37

Catherine Allemann

40. Boston University

Paxtyn Merten Irvin Zhang

39. Northeastern University

Ilai Wilson

38. Alderson Broaddus University

Chinne Okoronkwo

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Tiana Pennington-Obispo Jaleesa Stubbs Holly Dow Alexis Hunt

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Bailey Hutchison Shaylee Jepperson

Emma Dougherty Chazz Arenibas Kurt Guihan

5. Paroba College of Cosmetology

Cole Anderson Meaghan Ford Angel GarciaNunez Anna Koch Alex Latham Tristan Lutz Cruz Molina Jessica Rhoten Delany Robertson

37. University of Wisconsin, Madison

Alyssa Eddleman

38

36. Graceland University

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33. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Kathleen Cram Nabressa Lilly

32. Arizona State University

Kimberly Van Deren

31. Mesa Community College

36

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Kyle Henderson Connor Hetherington Mattias Kirk Gage LaCasse Pedro Lopez Anthony Markert Riley Morrin Mark Nguyen Steven Savage David Shevchuk Monique Singh Dmitriy Torchilo Evan Partin Jack Baker Christina Horton KJ Collins

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Undecided/Other

Daren Mangune Briana Manjarrez Winola Manley Michael Martinez Gabrielle Martinez Evan McCloud Jarod McCloud Rawlings McDaniels Jontae Mekavong Aaron Oberstadt Austin Pence Keely Pope Baotran Quach David Quach, Tyler Riddell Ryon Ridgway Davis Mina Rizk Brandon Rose Rebecca Schmeling

6. Seattle Pacific University

Parminder Kaur Kaylee Putrick Shelby Reymore Claire Zucker

3. Cascadia Community College

Erik Hogg Sarah Nichols Netania Rivera Ella Schroth Blake Stauffer Derek Rajah Jasmine Larios

1. Western Washington University

8. Edmonds Community College

Chloe Sorenson

13. The Art Institute of Seattle

Chaplyn Mack

12. Highline College

Mackenzie Gardner Andre Johnson Taylor Rash Amanda Lentz

11. Bellevue College

19

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College To Be Determined

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Hawkeye

24. Biola University

Alex Croce

23. University of California, Los Angeles

Maxine Taylor

22. University of San Francisco

Bonnie Winters

21. Humboldt State University

Michael Liddell

20. Clackamas Community College

21

26 - 27

28

Out of State

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10. Shoreline Community College

16

18

Clark Daquil Kaden Dechant Jennifer Erspamer Brooklyn Evans Matthew Firoved Rushi Jaradi Samantha McKinney Laura Mejia-Oseguera Tanner Munnis Derek Robinson Branden Sieu Danielle Smith Lisa Totten Josh Trudeau Rhianna Wang Eric Webster

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Jasmine Alday

18. Eastern Washington University

Alex Hussey

17. Columbia Basin College

Gene An Madison Brown Bryson Bruno Dakota Damiano AsiaLee Donnelly Liya Ewing Kimberly Fenn Fitsum Gebreyesus Tina Liu Logan Mauseth Joseph May

14. University of Washington, Seattle

Andrew Borrud Cody Bowman Logan Bronemann Garrett Dahl Alyssa Goplen Kendra Harris David Hudson Shimron Masih

9. University of Washington, Bothell

15

2 - 14

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‘16 hawks map out their future In State

8 | June 2016 June 2016 | 9

10 | June 2016

MTHS

Hawkeye

Sarah Rose All

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Story and photo by Vivian Nowka-Keane

Using STEM to launch her future

took, they did benefit her, as they augmented her knowledge and experience, as well as In 8th grade, Sarah Rose faced a crossroad provided a way to find what she truly enjoys.

– go to Edmonds Woodway High School “[The courses] gave me opportunities to try (EWHS) where all of her fellow classmates things out [and] helped me figure out that I from Madrona were headed, or to MTHS? want to be a sales engineer,” Rose said.

EWHS had the International Baccalaureate A sales engineer must know about the (IB) program, but MTHS was closer to equipment, but also sell it and find what where she lived. She heard about the STEM would be best for the customer. It incorpoprogram at MTHS and thought, “why not?” rates all areas of STEM and involves more since she said she’s always enjoyed science. human interaction, which Rose said she is Her freshman fond of. year she took the In college, Rose plans to “People doubted me, then I Introduction to study Civil Engineering. doubted myself.”

Engineering Design For her senior year, class with tech teacher Rose had to take STEM Sarah Rose enior Craig DeVine, her firstEnglish 12 as a final ever STEM class. requirement to achieve DeVine described her as “energetic, outgoa STEM diploma. For the class, students ing, fun, motivated, always moving [and] were to take on a project that they would sharp.” work on for the rest of the school year. Rose She was later faced with another tough partnered up with seniors Garrett Debner choice – which STEM pathway to advance and Aaron Quach to work on making fluid toward. Aerospace, Biotechnology and flow lines around an airfoil shape visible in Computer Science were presented as pictures. The group used fog and food dye options. She ended up taking the Principles to show the fluid flow over airfoils at differof Engineering course, which lined her up for ent angles of attack and how that affected the Aerospace STEM Diploma. detachment. Airfoils are used in the wing However, Rose didn’t want to use structure of planes, so engineers need to Aerospace after high school, saying it just know how the fluid is affected in order to wasn’t her “thing.” make things aerodynamic.

So, her senior year she took both According to DeVine, Rose found proAerospace and Biotechnology courses. grams and learned how to use them to ana“I really liked biology so I took Biotech, lyze fluid flow in a wind tunnel and a fluid which I also don’t want to do [as my future tank. career],” she explained.

The group received first place in Although Sarah didn’t find her passions to Engineering Mechanics at the Washington quite fit into the standards of the courses she State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF) as well as a Special Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for $20 each and a scholarship of $8,000 each towards Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. Rose said she learned a lot from the project, including how to quickly communicate in a group and work with everyone’s different ideas.

She’s also involved with Math Club and is in her second year of Rocketry Club. She said Rocketry helped her realize how The final sketch for Rose’s senior project. to “mother” and lead others. This Courtesy of Sarah Rose. year Rose was the Rocketry Vice Hawkeye staff

Sarah Rose stands by the wind tunnel used in her award-winning senior project.

President and competed in a national competition for video production.

Like other teenagers, Rose dealt with many obstacles during her high school career. One particular to Rose was being a woman in classes of a predominantly male students.

“People doubted me, then I doubted myself,” she said Rose earned the Gold Award through Girl Scouts this year after 12 years of being a Scout. She said that some people think Scouting is “stupid,” but she doesn’t pay much attention to those comments.

“I don’t care what other people think of me.

I’m unique, loud me. I’m weird,” she said.

Rose also said her loudness is a persona that most people wouldn’t expect to uncover in a person who likes to think about philosophical questions.

Feeling nostalgic about her high school experience, Rose said, “yesterday I was [a] freshman; I was scared to walk these halls —I didn’t know anyone. I felt so alone.

Looking back, it was stupid. There’s gonna be someone who’ll like you.”

In addition to being a whiz in the STEM department, Rose earned a most improved player award on the MTHS volleyball C-team her freshman year. Despite showing talent and dedication in sports, she decided to focus on STEM. Junior year is when Rose founded STEM Leadership, a club that she originally aimed to make outreach events more interesting for

the kids, as well as giving student’s perspective on them. It also brought more awareness to the STEM department, according to DeVine. “[I] found my voice in what I think is important [and I] could talk to teachers,” Rose said.

The club then developed a STEM camp that Rose had coined for incoming middle schoolers during the summer to promote MTHS’s STEM program. “[Rose] thinks of things that others never thought of. It’s like she had a sixth sense.

Not only would she think of these things, she’d go do ‘em,” DeVine said.

Rose also helped design the T-shirts as well as organizing, by planning events and the budget.

“I’m so proud of [the club],” she added.

She said it was a great experience for her because she got to have fun and teach kids, something she loves, and she said that it was a great environment because everyone helped out, volunteered and wanted to be there.

Over the summer, Rose plans on earning money through a non-STEM related temporary job. In the fall she will attend Washington State University where she will pursue her goal of studying civil engineering.

DeVine said he looks forward to hearing of her success in college.

“She will bring to the discussion a level of awareness that is uncommon in teenagers,” said DeVine. H

Hawkeye

MTHS

June 2016 | 11 Jessica Phung All

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“FORGIVENESS AND Redemption”

By Matthew Hipolito Hawkeye staff

On the first floor of the school, just off the HUB is a long hallway adorned with murals and filled with rooms of computers and tools. The STEM hallway is, for many students, off the beaten path; for many students, the road less traveled by. “[STEM]’s gonna be a wild ride, let’s put it that way,” senior Jessica Phung said. She was intimidated by the size, number, and complexity of equipment in the workshop her first day.

Phung, a STEM student, artist, and bioinformatician, also does casting, resin and metalwork.

Nationally acclaimed, she won first place in bioinformatics, the organization of biological data using code, at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair, first place in art at the 2016 Bio Expo, and a silver medal in jewelry in the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing awards.

She described her freshman self as being timid, intensely focused on maintaining a 4.0 GPA and obtaining an honors cord upon graduation.

“I think my core personality didn’t change too much [since freshman year], but I think how I deal with situations changed a lot,” Phung said. “I learned homework’s not the most important thing in the world. You should treat [homework] like your job, but I feel a little more lenient on myself. I think I calmed down.”

She has also come into her own as a student, artist and jeweller. A student of jewelry teacher Mark Walker, her work may be displayed alongside his at a California gallery. Phung’s work has been displayed at the Bellevue Art Museum as part of the Seattle Metals Guild’s Passing the Torch competition. She has also explored publishing a research paper on bioinformatics.

However, uncertainty seemed to be a theme for her freshman year, which focused on adjusting to high school from middle school - adjustment, she said, most freshmen go through. Still, she achieved the 4.0. Now, she questions whether it was worth it.

Her obsessive striving for success later became her greatest weakness.

“I had clinical depression my sophomore year until my junior year,” Phung said. “I think it was my body’s way of telling me that

I was pushing myself too hard.”

Recovered, Phung has great empathy for those depressed. This year, she was forced to separate from a depressed friend, but not before getting her help. “I dragged [her] to her counselor and refused to let her leave the counseling office until she had an appointment with a therapist. I did not want to go home that day not doing it.”

In 2014, Phung’s sophomore year, 36.3 percent of Snohomish County sophomores suffered from depression, and 21.2 percent of them seriously considered suicide, according to the Snohomish Health District.

“It [was] a battle to wake up every day.

And I think the people who are struggling to wake up every day, who are struggling with this, you gotta realize, it’s hard to come into school every day, even if you don’t want to.

Even if you want to stay under the covers and you wanna die,” she said.

Still, Phung considers herself somewhat lucky, having managed to go from depressed to recovered in just two years.

Recovery was difficult. Her family was initially somewhat disbelieving, but she feels her openness prompted other family members to discuss their problems. Now, she understands how her family felt.

“As a parent, I couldn’t even imagine having someone call me on the phone one day and say, ‘Hey, your kid wants to kill herself ’.”

For her, art provided solace in a time when there was little solace to be had. “It kind of feels like a calling. It kind of feels like something that I need to do.”

Phung says that if working on art, she’ll work until her eyes tire.

Despite art’s importance to her, there was a period when she forsook art. “That was really disappointing, and I think it took a toll on me. I had this weird phantom pain that I needed to do art.”

Phung recalled a time in her sophomore year when she had stayed so late working the janitor

kicked her out. The next day, STEM teacher Craig DeVine asked her to laser cut a heart for someone - the janitor who had kicked Phung out, who needed the heart for a Valentine’s gift. He apologized profusely. “At that moment I realized how big of a difference my work can [have] on other people.”

Since her recovery, Phung has become more laid-back and has learned to embrace life.

“I realized there’s no guarantees. Just because you’re happy today doesn’t mean you’re gonna be happy tomorrow.

Just

because you’re alive today doesn’t mean you’re gonna be alive tomorrow,” Phung said. “Just because you have great parents at the moment doesn’t mean they’re not gonna divorce or that something’s not gonna happen. And that’s OK, because that’s just how life works.”

Having learned her lesson, Phung’s proudest high school moment was when her artwork received national recognition at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

“It was after school, in Mark Walker’s room, and it was totally empty, and he calls me, and says ‘Guess who got top five best in show?’ And I freaked out. I jumped up and down, and I was making probably really embarrassing sounds, to be honest, because it felt surreal.”

When Phung graduates, she plans to attend Shoreline Community College before transferring to UW Seattle and attending a science graduate school. Afterwards, she wants to do biological research and art and get a cat.

If she had to summarize, she’d describe freshman year as “[working] my hands to the bone”.

Sophomore year: “self-induced hell.”

And junior year: “the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Senior year, Phung is a nationally-acclaimed jeweler and artist. She learned her lesson and has accomplished things that she said she never would have dreamed of when she first walked through Terrace’s front doors.

Perhaps that’s why she described senior year as “forgiveness and redemption.” H

12 | june 2016

Hawkeye

Tyler Grabarczyk

THE GRANDMASTER’S LAST PLAY “In every show that Tyler is in, he brings a unique energy,” Fenn said. “He’s branching out and becoming someone who a lot of Senior Tyler Grabarczyk wears the masks people get along with.” of comedy and tragedy nearly everywhere.

He’ll talk about his self-described “debonair” Drama teacher Jeannie Brzovic admires personality, call himself a baller or better yet, Grabarczyk’s flexibility and confidence on “everything a man or a woman wants.” stage.

His proudest high school moment, he said, “The same things I like about Tyler are the was when he opened his senior year lip syncsame things I like about him as an actor,” she ing and dancing with teachers at the homesaid. “[The audience] can actually forget that coming assembly. it’s Tyler up there [on stage].”

Grabarczyk is best known for his work on Grabarczyk’s theater work began sophostage — he acts by the script, but also impro- more year backstage in theater tech due to stage fright. vises for Theatre Sports. In improv for three But junior year, Grabarczyk found the years, Grabarczyk has learned to live in the courage to be on stage and auditioned for his moment both under and out of the spotlight. first production after the graduating class But even for formal school productions, said the drama department was shrinking.

Grabarczyk isn’t bound by the script. Senior Grabarczyk earned the lead role in “The and drama club president Kimi Fenn said Importance of Being Earnest” and later won Grabarczyk personalizes each performance an outstanding actor award and a varsity letby adding surprises to his character, which ter for his performance. turns the show around.

“When you have a fear, it is easily overcomeable,” Grabarczyk said. “My confidence is just skyrocketing at an exponential rate.”

Grabarczyk admits he talks to his mother after performances, due to occasional anxiety attacks despite strong performances. He admires his mother’s big heart because she comforts him and showers him in his favorite flowers — roses, tulips and poinsettias.

Grabarczyk still encounters stage fright backstage, but aims to become independent and “be a stronger person.”

And the show goes on.

The feeling Grabarczyk gets during the roll call differs greatly from what he often feels backstage. He described on stage as “instant euphoria and adrenaline,” but is more excited about when the curtains come down.

“When all of [the adrenaline from being on stage Tyler Grabarczyk and Kathleen Cram portray Dave and Rhonda and the crowding] is gone, in the last school drama production of the year, “Almost, Maine.” you still feel the rush in your Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye veins,” he said.

By Annika Prom Hawkeye Staff

The still-roaring applause he hears when astonishment, showing his true self. he meets the audience after the show is the Grabarczyk was in Comeau’s physical sciicing on the cake. One of the reasons he con- ence class his sophomore year. Although he tinues to act is to look forward to “meeting initially hated science, it soon became his all [his] friends who actually came out and favorite subject. supported [him].”

“He was always enthusiastic and eager for By senior year, practicing drama became a knowledge,” Comeau said. “He’s upbeat, routine for Grabarczyk and he soon realized funny, always an interesting guy. He always that drama is more than just memorizing comes up with some new psychotic thing.” dialogue.

Comeau’s tangents on “It’s also putting emphasis black holes and relativity set “Nothing really on words in the line and Grabarczyk’s post-high school matters in high understanding the characplans in motion. He recalled school... You stop ter,” he said. “It’s just everythe memory when Comeau caring about how thing about the script that spoke to Grabarczyk individuthe whole world you can change because the ally to discuss his goals. perceives you.” script is just words and you “Comeau practically paved Tyler Grabarczyk can change those words to the way for me,” Grabarczyk Senior have different meanings.” said. “I realized there’s a future To this day, Grabarczyk for me in [science].” remains awestruck from the acting styles The “best buds” played a friendly round that vary among performers. He said he of chess together. Grabarczyk, who hopes would be disappointed if his acting had not to become a grandmaster at chess, won, but inspired a student to feel the same way. it seemed as if no time had passed between Taking on different personas while acthim and Comeau. ing has allowed Grabarczyk to discover Grabarczyk said his knowledge has grown and explore aspects of himself, giving him tremendously because he “likes knowing how “insight to see what [he] can actually do.” things work.” He hopes to have a personal Grabarczyk also dedicates time to keeping impact like Comeau, but not from a teaching the arts alive and staying actively involved standpoint. in the school and his academics. He is Following graduation, Grabarczyk aspires employed by the school district as a theater to attend the University of British Columbia, technician, is president of Chess Club, was earn a Ph.D. in physics, work as a theoretivoted senior class speaker and shows his bril- cal physicist in Vancouver and win a Nobel liance in his love for science.

Prize.

In third grade, Grabarczyk had a dream Grabarczyk’s final production was his about chemistry. Although irrelevant then, favorite play, “Almost, Maine.” However, the his teachers’ influence guided him into his only time he wants to go back on stage is to career in science. accept an award for his work in science.

During Chess Club on May 26, After graduation, Grabarczyk plans to pass Grabarczyk claimed he hates surprises and the drama baton to an eccentric, perky perremained intensely focused on his match; he son who will “kick [Brzovic’s] butt.” surveyed the chessboard with a steely-eyed “Nothing really matters in high school. I concentration when a tap on the shoulder mean, your grades matter, your attendance interrupted him. matters. You stop caring about how the He hit the chess clock. While the wall whole world perceives you,” Grabarczyk said. clock still showed the seconds ticking by, “Like Dr. Seuss said, ‘you have to be odd to time stopped for both the chess clock and be number one.’”

Grabarczyk.

He thanked the drama department and Standing there was Gilbert Comeau, forgraduating class of 2016 for being people he mer MTHS science teacher, who retired will never forget and for the memories he’s last year. At the sight of his favorite teacher, made.

Grabarczyk began to cry.

And with that, Tyler Grabarczyk takes his “I like surprises, but I can’t stand waiting final bow. H for them,” Grabarczyk confessed, laughing in

Hawkeye

june 2016 | 13 Rawlings McDaniels

the real rawlings

By Marianne Nacanaynay

left it, and some other people tried to revamp it and I “Praise Helix” has arguably become the catchphrase most thought, ‘Wow, this is really bad. I bet I could do better than associated with Rawlings McDaniels, if not Anime Club that,’” McDaniels said, who hesitated before he added, “And itself.

I feel like maybe I did.”

As the club’s vice president, McDaniels has been its “face,” From there, he turned the stories into Japanese graphic making frequent appearances on school announcements. He novels, or mangas, which have been incomplete since the is also the individual who brought the phrase to the limelight summer of his sophomore year, due to his friends parting of the MTHS community. ways. He said he hopes to finish the mangas in the coming Albeit, “Praise Helix” isn’t his creation. summers, during his free time.

“I believe it was 2012, 2013 maybe, when the gaming comBut for McDaniels, sophomore year wasn’t all about drawmunity ‘Twitch’ began to play the game ing and telling the stories of others.

Pokemon Red Version,” McDaniels That year, an estimated 250 students in “Man, the dream is explained. “[The population of the city of the Edmonds School District were withabout to end and I’m Mountlake Terrace] playing that one game out permanent housing and as of today, about to wake up.” at all the same time, caused a sequence that number has more than doubled.

Rawlings McDaniels of events that sprouted this religion. And McDaniels was one of those 250 stuSenior from that religion, we have Helix, who is a dents. fossil and this fossil tells you when [to do “I was like, ‘Whoa, homeless. Doesn’t things] and when not to do things.” feel too good,’” he said.

McDaniels doesn’t expect “Praise Helix” to be his legacy.

With nowhere to go after school, McDaniels and his older “It’s just a silly, stupid phrase,” he said. “I’m probably not sister found themselves at the public library until closing even the first person to have said it. It’s not mine, it’s just a playing “Pokemon” and watching anime together. fun thing to do.”

“I think [being homeless] allowed my family and I to McDaniels is optimistic, hopeful and likes to throw out become closer as a family because prior to us being homeless, a joke or two every once in awhile. He paraphrases quotes we were all very drifted apart.” McDaniels said. With him from his friends and recalls memories fondly. He’s moving on and his sister in high school and a working mother overcomfrom the place he says is “homely” and on to the real world. ing addiction, the experience brought the trio together.

“Man, the dream is about to end and I’m about to wake up,” While homelessness came unexpectedly, McDaniels took it he said. in stride.

Senior Rawlings McDaniels took over as Anime Club president McDaniels, 18, is vying for a summer job and set to attend “Another thing I’ve learned in high school [is that] there is this year due to his love for both watching and creating the Edmonds Community College in September. Although his no plan,” McDaniels said. “You just gotta go in.”

Japanese art. Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye major is undetermined, McDaniels is passionate about art Learning support teacher and McDaniels’ freshman and and English and hopes to find a related major. sophomore English teacher Antoaneta Beeston was a major McDaniels wrote stories as a sophomore, replacing the influence on McDaniels. around him lightheartedly. She said she hopes that others characters of Japanese cartoons, also known as animes, like “He was very shy and insecure when he came as a freshlearn from him and she’s fairly certain there are some who “Soul Eater” (an anime in which characters are able to turn man,” Beeston said. “And I think in his junior year and have. into weapons) with his friends. especially now in his senior year, he has become so open to The legacy McDaniels is leaving behind, Beeston said, is his “I thought, ‘Wow, [‘Soul Eater’] is awesome. That’s aweeverybody. He’s laughing, he’s smiling… I think he’s the real kindness to other people. some. That’s awesome.’ And then the creators of that anime Rawlings that we didn’t see in the first two years.”

While McDaniels may not know exactly where he’ll be in The number of conversations the five years, he does know what he wants to accomplish over two have had together is endless, but the course of his lifetime. the one Beeston recalled also bears a “I want to make a manga, or a story, whatever, that inspires general life lesson - one of many she other people to do good,” he said. “Stories make people believes will help him in the future. happy. And people happy means world happy,” McDaniels “I told him, ‘One day, when you are said simply. a great dad, talking to your son or Beeston knows McDaniels wants to make others happy. daughter, or talking to a teen who “He really, really cares about a lot of people. I don’t even is crying and doesn’t see the light know, sometimes, if people know that he’s caring about in front of him or her, your experithem,” Beeston said. “But he is. He has a big, big heart.” ence will come - to help.’ Experience But is McDaniels ready to leave to start a new life outside makes us who we are,” she said. of the high school dream?

Beeston said McDaniels is capable “That’s the real question,” he said. “I think it’s time for me A cover of one of the mangas senior Rawlings McDaniels made in 2012. He hopes to of seeing things from the positive to be ready… I need to start doing stuff with my life.” H create a manga of his own in the future. Drawing courtesy of Rawlings McDaniels. end of life and talks about the world A&E Editor

14 | JUNE 2016

Hawkeye

Chinne Okoronkwo

Bound For New

the triple jump,” Okoronkwo said. “But not just that. He’s taught me about the lifestyle that you have to have in order to be an elite athlete.”

What sometimes gets overshadowed by the glitz and glam of the medals and the recognition is the lifestyle of an elite athlete: the choices that they must make every day in order to keep their body and their habits in tip-top shape.

“You have to fine-tune your life to fit what you need to do, so the way I eat is based off of what competitions are coming up and what I have to do for the season. That’s always changing depending on my schedule for track and field and of course getting the right amount of sleep and not going crazy from other things is part of the lifestyle too,” Okoronkwo said.

With a recommendation from her coach, Okoronkwo and all of her AAU teammates have cut all sources of gluten and dairy out of her Chinne Okoronkwo is on track to one day compete in the meals while cutting corn products.

Olympic Games. Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye “There’s definitely no fast food.

You’ll never catch [the track team]

By Irvin Zhang at McDonald’s,” she said with a laugh.

Sports Editor Emeritus Okoronkwo believes that this diet has had a “tremendous” effect on her overall health.

Nine consecutive state tournament titles, Coupled with her diet is her intense trainseveral school records shattered and a seeming regimen. ingly endless number of medals, awards, rib“I usually train five to six days a week,” bons and trophies later, senior track and field Okoronkwo said. “I compete and I train star Chinne Okoronkwo is on her way to year-round so track never actually stops for etching her name as one of the most accomme.

It typically depends on what competiplished athletes to ever come out of MTHS. tions I do but I really don’t ever take a month But throughout this whole process, off of track.

I might take a week off, but even Okoronkwo’s eyes have been set on someif I take that off, I’ll still jog or do drills.” thing much bigger and much better than any Through adjusting herself to the lifestyle accolade that could be had in the realm of of that of an elite athlete, she has become high school track and field. obsessed with fitness and keeping her body Her eyes are set on the five-ringed sports at its best. tradition that brings the world together and “I feel uncomfortable if I stop working out brings out the love one has for their country for a while. I actually feel a lot healthier and – the Olympics. overall better when I work out. When I stop, Throughout her journey, she hasn’t been I also don’t really know what to do because I alone. Okoronkwo has surrounded herself love working out,” Okoronkwo said. with people who are going to be positive With every elite athlete, there comes a for her journey, with none of them having a moment when they realize their potential more profound impact on her life than her Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coach Nate for greatness and begin taking their athletics much more seriously.

Wilford whom she trains with twice a week “I would say my ‘moment’ came in my in Tacoma. freshman year,” Okoronkwo said. “I was “[Wilford] has taught me so much about

number one in the nation for the freshman class. That was when I was like ‘wow I could really do something with this,’” she said.

From there, Okoronkwo said she looked at the records set by track stars in college and would compete against those numbers.

“That’s when I thought, ‘I could really get a scholarship from this and I could possibly go to the Olympics.’”

Throughout her high school years, it’s not her accomplishments that necessarily define her but more so her attitude when it comes to competing.

“Whenever I compete, I have to be happy with what I do and think, ‘when I walk away from this meet, am I going to be happy with what I just did?’ In order to be happy with it, I have to do my best. It’s more of a competition against myself than it really is a competition against everyone else,” she said.

Coming into this year, Okoronkwo was the state record-holder in both the triple jump “That’s when I thought, ‘I could really get a scholarship from this and I could possibly go to the Olympics.’”

Chinne Okoronkwo Senior Track athlete

(41-10¼), which was ranked fourth in the nation among prep competitors, and the pole vault (13-3), ranked eleventh in the nation.

After the most recent state tournament, Okoronkwo leaped over another record and set a new one for the long jump, an event that she very seldom participated in during the season. With her athleticism, her positive attitude, and the skills that she’s honed from competing around the world, she was still able to break a record.

“I’m always pretty happy when I set records like those but I always think ‘oh, I could’ve done that much better or set it that much higher.’ I’ve always just wanted to set the records higher and higher,” Okoronkwo said.

Coupled with the records that she’s set, she was recognized by Gatorade and awarded with one of the most prestigious accolades in all of high school sports: the Washington state women’s track and field Gatorade Player of the Year for 2015. The funny thing being that when Okoronkwo received the

award, she didn’t even know she had been entered as a candidate.

“I actually didn’t know that [MTHS track and field] coach Russ Vincent entered me into the contest so I had no idea that I was even up for it,” Okoronkwo said. “I didn’t know what it meant at first but I have a lot of friends from other states and they were all getting this award. I had friends from all over the country get it and it was awesome to see all of us receive it together.”

Although she is at the end of her high school athletics career, her eyes are still set on the Olympics.

“I would love to compete in the Olympics. I think that’s a goal that a lot of athletes have.

Competing for [your] country and going to the Olympics would be an amazing experience,” Okoronkwo said.

Being a great high school athlete means scouts and coaches from the collegiate level, come from all over the country in order to persuade the prospect to come to their school and be their “next big thing.”

“The process is very tiring. It feels like a such a big decision because you’re deciding where you’re going for the next four years of your life, so you don’t want to make the wrong decision.”

However, Okoronkwo said she knew exactly what she wanted while choosing her school. She weighed her options and picked her future school based on what my major is going to be, location, weather and the size of the school, she said.

Okoronkwo ultimately narrowed it down to seven universities, before committing to becoming a Badger at the University of Wisconsin in the land of the cheeseheads.

“I chose Wisconsin because they had everything I wanted. When I went on my visit to their school, I saw they had the major that I wanted which is a major in interior architecture and I fell in love with the school. I remembered after the visit, I called my mom and told her that this is where I need to go,” Okoronkwo said.

Academics aside, she also loved the athletics program and the coaching staff that was there at the school. She said that the coaching style of the staff that was there was perfect for her and her learning style.

“I’m really excited to start a new chapter of my life,” Okoronkwo said. “I haven’t stopped to think about any of my fears because I’ve just been so excited.” H

Hawkeye

JUNE 2016 | 15 Chase DeAlba

By Luke Smith

A CROSSFIT FUTURE

Even though it’s been less than a year, DeAlba has One could argue that at MTHS, no one fits the mold of an already seen the results. athlete who lives by the saying of “heart over height” more He said that without a doubt, CrossFit has already than senior athlete Chase DeAlba. changed his life. It’s allowed his body to do so many DeAlba has spent the last four years as a key member and things that he couldn’t do before when he was just leader of the MTHS football team where he helped MTHS doing standard weight lifting. make some noise in the 2015 postseason.

Going forward, his goal in CrossFit is simple and “There were many ups and downs being a part of this reflects the genesis of why he even began working out team,” DeAlba said. his body in the first place.

“The ups would be winning and going to [the state tourna“My goal in CrossFit is to be as fit as possible. ment] last year, as well as building the brotherhood that you Simple as that,” DeAlba said. “I got bored of stanbuild from being a part of the team. Nothing beats that.” dard weight lifting and I wanted to change it up a In football, the tallest and heaviest players on the field are little bit.” typically the offensive and defensive linemen. On the Seattle DeAlba’s plans for after high school are to spend Seahawks for example, all of their a couple years studying at Edmonds linemen are between 6-foot-1 and Community College before hopefully “I have no idea what 6-foot-7. transferring to a four year university.

I’m going to study but High school football, while it varies Although he said he doesn’t know my ultimate dream is a bit more, tells a similar story. exactly what university he would like to to own my own gym in For DeAlba, who is listed in the go to yet, he does want to stay in state the future.” football roster at 5 feet 5 inches, and preferably close to home.

Chase DeAlba Senior Football athlete goes into every game at a height dis“I just want to go to school, get an advantage. For him, that has never education, work out a ton, and live life,” been too much of a deterrent. Rather, it is the reason why he DeAlba said. works as hard as he does.

“I have no idea what I’m going to study but my ulti“I started to work out in seventh grade but I began to take mate dream is to own my own gym in the future.” H it more seriously when I started playing football my freshChase DeAlba is leaving his high school football career. He will be attending man year at MTHS,” DeAlba said. “I like working out. I like Edmonds Community College after graduation and plans to continue to staying in shape. It is what allows me to go out there on the work out. Jack Fiorillo | Hawkeye field and compete with the bigger guys. Sometimes I got my ass handed to me but it was fun. I enjoyed the whole experience and have no regrets whatsoever.”

After football season was over, DeAlba’s athletic attention shifted to something that he had been introduced to the previous summer. “[CrossFit] for me started last summer when Stephen Hitt, the owner of CrossFit Industrious, started training with the football team. He introduced all of the team to CrossFit and we did a few workouts here and there,” DeAlba said.

“After the season, I worked out with him a little bit before signing up at Paramount CrossFit.” DeAlba defines CrossFit as a mixture of strength, conditioning, gymnastics, agility and speed, all combined into one big competition.

According to the official CrossFit website, CrossFit is defined as, “constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity.

All CrossFit workouts are based on functional movements, and these movements reflect the best aspects of gymnastics, weightlifting, running, rowing and more.”

DeAlba recently competed in his first open competition at Paramount.

“I did OK for a beginner. I’m not at the elite level. It showed me my true level of fitness and what I need to work Chase DeAlba training at Paramount CrossFit. JACOB ALLARD | Hawkeye on,” DeAlba said.

Hawkeye Staff

16 | JUNE 2016

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