2019-2020 Issue 7
Table of Contents Pages 1-9: Quarantine Memories Pages 10-19: Senior Tribute Articles Seven weeks ago, on March 16, a decision was reached based on the unforeseen effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to temporarily shut down on-campus classes and make the transition to distance learning. Somewhere around the third week of April, it became clear that students would not be returning to campus anytime soon. This difficult decision hindered not only academics, but sports, performing arts, and what would have been the seventh issue of The Talon. As we near the end of May, it’s especially difficult for seniors as we mourn what should have been the culmination of our high school experience. Rather than focus on what’s lost, we’ve chosen to dedicate this issue to remembering the collective experiences we were able to have, as well as creating a tribute to our class as a whole. While it’s not the send off anyone desired, it’s still a chance for us to honor the class of 2020. At the same time, it would be a disservice to
ignore the events of the world. A global pandemic has created a halting shift unlike anything anyone has previously experienced. Everyday life looks drastically different, and during this time, we’ve chosen to document some unique aspects. The overall goal of this issue is two-fold. While being informative on this crazy time, we also want to shine light on some positives that have resulted from quarantine. We also hope that seniors will gain some closure as
they begin the next chapter of their lives, despite all of the unknowns. As seniors ourselves, working for The Talon has allowed us to cope in more ways than one, and we’re extremely grateful for anyone who has taken the time to read it at any point throughout its course.
The Senior Editing Staff Taylor Simonian, Erin Orosco, & Nathan Orosco
A Timeline of Coronavirus Headlines by Nathan Orosco
The novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. However, it didn’t start affecting the daily lives of many Americans until early March. Using news headlines, a timeline has been established to follow the coronavirus in the US from March 1 until now. March 1 - New cases of the coronavirus were identified around the United States, with New York reporting its first case March 5 - At least 11 Americans dead from coronavirus; California declares state of emergency
March 20 - California is placed on a full lockdown
March 25 - US Senate leaders and the White House come to an agreement on a 2 trillion dollar stimulus package
April 15 - President Trump states plans to reopen the US economy are being finalized April 20 - Oil trading prices are negative for the first time in history as President Trump announces plans to increase testing nationwide
March 30 - President Trump extends social distancing guidelines for another month
April 25 - All Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the naval hospital ship the USNS Comfort
March 10 - US suspends travel from Europe
April 5 - US death toll tops 8,500, with more than a quarter of those deaths coming from New York March 15 - US cases rise to more than 3000 as President Trump declares a nationwide state of emergency
April 10 - 17 million US workers file unemployment claims in just 3 weeks
April 30- The novel coronavirus has infected more than 3.2 million people and killed at least 233,000 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Creating for an Unforeseen Time by Erin Orosco
As the world copes with a global pandemic, and the quarantine orders that have followed, one obvious silver lining has emerged: creativity. While the outside world has exchanged its usual fast-paced frenzy for a more relaxed crawl, this unwanted distraction has reduced distractions and allowed for more creative pursuits. Some of Immanuel’s own have taken advantage of all the newly presented free time by finding hobbies, talents, or improving upon previous skills. These include, but are not limited to: painting, baking, or even expanding products for a small business.
Thai curry via Molly Klassen
Homemade bread via Michael Kawagoe
Homemade clay earrings via Olivia Barsoom
Follow @k4s_bread on Instagram for more!
Follow @slaythedaywithclay on Instagram for more!
Painted denim jacket via Taylor Simonian
But not to fret. If you're not baking homemade bread everyday, it doesn't mean you've “failed� quarantine. This is an unforeseen time for everyone, and reactions are bound to vary. For some, simply getting up everyday or attending online classes takes enough effort, and being creative could be as simple as adding a few new songs to a playlist. Regardless, while waiting for the world to heal, positivity can still be found, and art in any form can be appreciated.
COVID-19 Is NOT Good For Anyone’s Body Image by Taylor Simonian
As a teen girl, I know what it feels like to be unhappy in my own skin. What it feels like to have convinced myself that I’m ugly, and definitely not good enough. Over the 40 days (so far) I have been in quarantine, I have been walking a tightrope over my various social media platforms, trying not to fall into the dark world of comparison and fad diets and dangerous home remedies to get clear skin or a flat stomach. The worst part about having body image issues is having a constant feeling of loneliness. Even though there is a whole community dedicated to self love out there, it’s hard to know you are worthy of that love.
In early April, I decided I couldn’t stay quiet anymore about what I was going through. I created an Instagram story consisting of all the IHS girls I followed, and started sending out polls about body image and self esteem. I figured it would be uncomfortable for anyone to be vulnerable and respond if I wasn’t being vulnerable myself. I started the post by sharing about my own struggle with my body, specifically weight, hoping to encourage some girls to share their story, too. Luckily, I had an overwhelmingly positive response. Girls I had never shared more than small talk with were telling me about their struggle with self esteem, and even thanking me for shedding light on my own story. But even without those responses, the polls spoke for themselves. Here are the results (each poll had an average of 40 responses):
51% are unhappy with their appearance 83% feel pressured to fit in 70% have been bullied for their appearance 51% are afraid of talking about their weight 80% said their confidence has been marred by social media
Are these numbers upsetting? Yes, of course. Am I surprised by them? Not even a little bit. Despite what you may think, this is a reality for young women today. Now, do I think this is groundbreaking? Absolutely not. The purpose of writing this wasn’t to expose the fragility of young girls’ self esteems, but rather to show those girls that they aren’t alone.
Senior Alyssa Goerzen candidly shared, “Worrying what everyone thought of me never made me happy. It wasn’t until then I learned to appreciate and accept the body I was given.” It’s ok to not feel your best, especially now, in these uncertain times, where you can’t seem to escape the unrealistic standards set for you. Just know you are beautiful the way you are.
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well” Psalm 139:14 ESV
How to Cure Your Quarantine Boredom by Sienna Mehling
It has already been two months since we have been at school, outside our homes without masks, and a month with our world in shambles. Are you tired of scrolling through Instagram and TikTok to waste time? Well, I may have a solution for you! Here are ten tips to help solve your quarantine boredom.
Exercise- Go for a walk in the morning, afternoon, or evening, or try one of the many free programs online. Try new recipesIf you are a good baker or not, it never hurts to try a new recipe. Your parents will also be very happy with the mess you create!
Clean or redecorate your room- Now that you’ve probably spent most of your time in your room, you might want to start cleaning it. You can repaint it, move your bedroom items around and give your room a whole new look. Create new art- Paint something new. Draw chalk on the sidewalk. Embroider something new. Color, build something, or learn to sew. Family game night- Some good quality time with your family can include a family game night! Get some board games or a deck or cards and you are all set. Or you can even create your own game! This is good quality time and there will never be a better time to do this. Figure out who’s the most competitive in the family
Journaling- Journaling is a great way to get all of your emotions out. Right now we are going through a tough time and it is hard! Try writing it down in a journal, or even if you are having a good time during quarantine, right about your day. Write your daily highlight. What has made that a good day? Write something that made you upset. Why did it make you upset? Journaling can be helpful to get things off of your chest. Write letters to your friends- Sometimes an old fashioned letter is better than a text or an email. Write some letters to your friends and loved ones. Tell them how much you miss them or whatever you want to put in it. It just means a little more to people when you take a little more time to actually hand write a letter instead of just typing and sending something electronically. Read a new book- There are so many good books out there and especially with your phone they are just a click away. Keep your brain engaged in something other than your phone or iPad! Reread a favorite from childhood, listen to an audiobook read by someone famous, or check out the inspiration behind a favorite movie. They usually come from a book! Complete your school work- We all know doing your school work isn’t something you love doing, but just get it done! It will never get done if you don’t do it yourself. Try your best not to procrastinate or all your work will pile up and then you really won’t want to do it. Just stay on top of it! Make sure you are checking your school email and Schoology daily so you stay caught up. It is really easy to fall behind, so just make sure you always check it!
What Should I Watch? by Ronnie Alvarado
Streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus have been booming since the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Since people are home from school and work, here are some new must-watch series. Starting on Netflix there are two must-watch Shows, the first one is Tiger King, Tiger King is a Documentary series about a tiger zoo ran by Joe Exotic who called in a murder-for-hire on fellow zoo owner Carol Baskin. When freshman Ethan Garcia was asked why he watches Tiger King he responded by saying “I watched Tiger King because of all the recommendations and mems. You just have to watch it to understand the pop culture in it and why it’s so popular. Just to understand what everyone’s raving about”. The second one is Waco. Waco is a show about The Branch Davidians and their 51-day siege with the ATF and FBI during 1993. When senior Nathan Orosco was asked why he watched Waco, he responded with, "I had read about
the Waco siege previously, and was still curious about the history and controversy surrounding the burning of Mount Carmel.” On Disney Plus there are a couple of options. First is The Mandalorian, The Mandalorian is about a group of bounty hunters called the Mandalorians that go to different planets trying to kill people who have bounties on them. The Mandalorian takes place in the Star Wars universe, if you are a big Star Wars fan then this is a must-watch. When Junior Josh Reimer was asked about it he responded with “All my friends were watching it and told me about it and how good it was so I started to watch it and I really liked it”. The second one is Star Wars the Clone Wars. Star Wars The Clone Wars is an animated show that takes place during the clone wars in the Star Wars timeline. With the seventh and finale season being released it is a must-watch for any Star Wars fan. When Senior Isaak Reimche was asked about it he responded with “I watch it because it’s what I like. It’s just a preference of what I think a good story is. I believe it has great characters and insightful storytelling”.
Joy in Quarantine by Aly Perez
Quarantine hasn’t been easy but there’s a lot of ways I keep myself busy. I live on 9 acres so there’s plenty to do. My siblings and I like to ride our quads, swim, workout, or listen to music and just hang out. At the beginning of quarantine we all were really bored and didn’t know what to do. We had so much time on our hands it was monotonous. I’m sure most can relate. There’s not a lot to do when you can’t go out. However for us once we got a routine going things began to normalize. For us we’ve been
The Perez family and friends: Aly Perez, Adrian Perez, Briana Almanza, Kingston Perez, Anderson Perez, Javi Almanza, Lexi Perez
making the most of quarantine. We try to stay active as possible. I’ve been enjoying my time home. We will never get this time back and that’s why I think it’s important to enjoy it while it lasts. It’s also been a beneficial time to reflect on all the blessings I have.
Frontline Workers Share Their Stories by Ethan Garcia
Covid-19 in March of 2020 was declared a worldwide pandemic. With that, stores and businesses had to close their doors for the time being. In a subset of everything that’s closing there are essential workers, those people that are still required to go to work at jobs that are most important during this time. To hear what their opinions on the matter are, it is extremely important for us to understand and be more grateful for what they do for us. Question #1: How has the transition been from working normally to being specifically an essential worker? Grocery Store Employee: Every day used to go by slowly and a good amount of people would come in but it wasn’t stressful; it was normal. But when panic amongst the people started happening that’s when the stress really came out. People were fighting and cursing it was crazy. But from that point it’s died down but we’re not as scared as the people that are coming into the store are. They come out every once in a while but we’re here all the time and we’re used to the store now. Nurse: Because I work in the hospital the stress has gone up and people outside are depending on us to answer all the questions and give them the information they need. I’m a hospital supervisor so my colleagues are extremely worried and terrified so they ask questions about testing and mask quality and it’s just a lot right now. It’s quite different then when we’re just having a normal day before all this. We’re all pretty much flustered. Question #2: Has there been any worry of catching the virus and spreading it to your family? Grocery Store Employee: Yeah there’s a big stress cause how am I gonna survive how am I gonna feed my kids if I’m the only one working. It's just over if I get sick and I’d never forgive myself if I gave it to my family I would be heartbroken. Nurse: Yes of course I routinely do swabbing for Covid so every time I’m putting the swab down their
nose I’m scared if they’re gonna cough or sneeze and give me the virus. Then when you’re swabbing those thoughts just running in your head and you think what if you contract then pass it to your family. It’s scary. Question #3: What does a normal work day entail? Grocery Store Employee: When I get to the store in the morning I make sure all the counters are disinfected and all the protective measures for the virus are up. Then around 6:30- 7:00 customers start to come in masks and all sometimes with gloves and they go about their day. Usually it isn't that hard to keep people in check and 6 feet apart but sometimes it comes up. The day’s pretty consistent. It's just the same thing everyday, the same schedule and usually the same amount of people. The amount of people coming in has gone down but over quarantine the amount of people is coming back up. People are more relaxed with leaving their homes. They assume things are better but it’s much safer to stay inside. Nurse: Being a hospital supervisor I frequently make rounds along the units of the hospital. Offering my assistance in any way to help them get through their days. I handle staffing to make sure we have enough people to work safely. I’m required to go to meetings daily to see how the hospital is doing. Every two hours I write down the statistics of how many people we have, how many people are coming and how many people we can admit. In case of a disaster we need to make sure we have enough beds and supplies etcetera. There’s a lot of emotion throughout the nurses too so we kind of have to stick with one another to go through the day.ext
Journaling During an Uncertain Time by Jonah Gomez
Through these crazy and confusing times, some students of Immanuel Schools were asked to keep a journal of their experiences during this pandemic. The goal was to document their lives on a daily basis, the things that were keeping them busy, and their general thoughts about what was happening in the world. Here are some of their ideas, jokes, thoughts, and stories. Freshman Girl: The one thing that keeps me stable is my music. I have a habit now when I work on my 1,000 piece puzzle that I listen to one Broadway soundtrack. The whole thing. Whether it be Wicked, The Secret Garden, Fiddler on the Roof, or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat, I listen to the whole thing and when it is done I stop working on my puzzle and do something else. Junior Girl: It’s Wednesday and I thought it was Monday. Freshman Boy: I’m barely starting to realize what this whole Coronavirus is not just affecting people but all of the businesses and sports. Also I feel bad for all of the seniors whose seasons were basically cancelled.I just realized I won’t be able to get a haircut any time soon so I’m gonna look crazy after a couple weeks.
Freshman Girl: When this whole thing really started to gain traction I thought it was stupid and unimportant. “It’s just the flu!” is what I used to say constantly (and still partially believe), but it has really turned into something that has shaped our daily lives.I also miss church a bunch, that is my place to mentally relax and prepare for the week ahead. It gives me calm and a sense of preparedness, but instead I’m sitting in my room staring at a screen for five hours and listening to “Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley, and to answer your question Elvis yes, I am lonesome thanks for asking. Freshman Girl: I work all day from 9 to about 4, but it’s so hard to concentrate! I find myself spending 2 hours for a 30-minute assignment and by then, my energy is all drained. Without time constraints like bell schedules, I can’t focus and I spend way too much time being a perfectionist instead of plowing through work. I hadn’t thought about this before, but I’m finding that I really miss Chapel. It was great to have the whole school united in worship twice a week, and it helped me get through the week still walking by faith every day. We’ve watched quite a few documentaries. So now I’m quite the expert on Ancient Rome’s boats, the Hopi city of Chaco, Egyptian tombs, and oranges, among other things. Junior Boy: It’s a negative thing to be positive and it’s a positive thing to test negative. I thought it was funny so there’s some Covid humor to laugh at.
IHS, We Miss You by Lexi Perez
Due to the covid19 pandemic canceling school, I’m sure we have all missed something about school. I personally miss seeing my friends, going off campus for lunch, going to chapel, and seeing my teachers. I wondered what do my classmates miss? I asked some students from different grades what they miss and here are the responses: Stuti Aahana - “I miss getting to see my friends everyday.” Braxton Philpott - “I miss working on lights and running lights for chapels.” Takeo Fujioka - “I miss being in all my fun classes such as Interior Design, Yearbook, Foods Class. We made so many memories and I’m bummed that I won’t be able to make any more my senior year.” Jaiden Purewal - “ The daily connection and face to face relationships with teachers and my classmates.” Delilah Ayers - “ I really miss everything, seeing my friends, and having all my classes with them. I especially miss making chocolate milk in foods.”
A Love Letter to the Journalism Program by Erin Orosco
When Immanuel’s journalism program was revived in 2018, Taylor Simonian and I joined eagerly. Without fully knowing what the class would entail, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. Heidi Ayers was tasked with starting a student publication from the ground up, which proved difficult, especially with no prior experience, few resources, and a class of students that barely reached double digits. New challenges presented themselves regularly, and more often than not, we were scrambling to meet deadlines, hunting down sources for quotes or pictures, and struggling to complete a layout. Even so, throughout the year we continued to put out monthly issues, improving each time until we reached the quality and format seen today. When Taylor and I learned that the journalism program would continue, and the class would be offered again the next year, it was a no brainer to sign up again.
Faith Beckenhauer - “What I miss most about school is the environment. I miss seeing my friends and teachers. One thing I think separates our schools from other schools is how we are like one big family and how the teachers pand staff genuinely care about you and want you to succeed in everything you do. I miss seeing my friends and just being able to worship with one another.” Adrian Herrera - “ Honestly, I miss the homies and our classes. Also the weight lifting sessions.” Elana York - “I miss drama the most because we’d be practicing for our spring show right now and that’s one of my favorite parts of the year. I also really miss doing Mr. Knaak’s service hours at the elementary school.” Maddie Ramirez - “I miss seeing my friends and teachers everyday mostly. Also I miss school activities like going to games and plays.” Nikki Deaver - “ I miss seeing all my friends and sitting with them at lunch. I miss being able to see my favorite teachers and I even lowkey miss class because doing work was so much more fun when I was sitting with my friends” Elizabeth Young - “I miss being able to see my friends at school everyday.”
After two years, we’ve reached the final issue of The Talon that either of us will ever write in, a sentiment that’s more bitter than sweet. It would be a lie to say that this experience has been the most traditionally rewarding. It’s not a position that comes with a lot of recognition, and at times has proved frustrating. That being said, I think I speak for both of us when I say that it has still been incredibly impactful. Being involved in a student newspaper has allowed us to form connections with other students and faculty, learn more about individuals and their achievements, and publish stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Along with this, reporting on school events and decisions has granted a sense of further connection to Immanuel as a whole, which I might never have experienced otherwise. In other words, for us it’s been worth it. Being able to publish work that we’re excited about, and seeing our names in print has been worth all the frustrations, even if only a handful of people are reading. It’s an experience we’ll be able to take with us long after highschool has faded. So to Mrs. Ayers and The Talon, thank you for everything. And to all Immanuel students, remaining and future, please keep this program alive. You never know the impact you could create, and you never know what might end up being incredibly worth it.
Looking Ahead for Eagle Seniors by Nathan Orosco
It is undeniable that these times are far from ‘normal.’ Reflecting on this can easily be disheartening, particularly for high school seniors. In an attempt to stay positive, The Talon Staff asked seniors what they are most looking forward to in the next chapter of their lives. Delilah Ayers-Grand Canyon University Major-Early Childhood Education Why?-”My elementary teachers throughout my years really changed my life, and I hope to impact the lives of future generations.” Looking forward to-”I’m most looking forward to decorating the classrooms and the first days of school.” Camilo Maldonado-Grand Canyon University Major-Elementary and Special Education Why?-”I chose this because I like to work with kids, and being able to help them and be able to teach them something new.” Looking forward to-I’m looking forward to meeting new students, and maybe being able to make a difference in a student’s life.” Justin Griffioen-Universal Technical Institute Why?-”I want to learn” Looking forward to-“Working”
Annie Haworth-Biola University Major-Pre-med Why?-"I love science, and I want to be able to help people" Looking forward to-“Getting paid big bucks to help people.” Josh Cabaluna-UC Santa Barbara Major-English Why?-”The future (and the prospect of a career) was always a scary thought to think about, I’m a tad indecisive in nature, so you can probably guess how much stress choosing a major has induced in me. I’ve decided to go with my gut and choose English, which is one of those things I could actually wrap my head around without getting my brain into a muddled twist. Anything math-related could also be an open suggestion, but until then, let’s just see how these next two years in college go!” Looking forward to-“I think English as a whole is meant to be more meaningful than practical, so I’m excited to see how it’s going to help me mature and grow as a fellow human being. (Although, if improved empathy comes with a well-paying job I’m all for it!)”
Ryan Friesen-Reedley College Major-Criminology and Law Enforcement Why?-“I Always wanted to be part of law enforcement" Looking forward to-Serving my local community.” Wolfgang Hoffman-Fresno State Major-Civil Engineering Why?-”Because it’s practical” Looking forward to-”Having a family” Mackenzie Coats-Olivet Nazarene University Major-Exercise Science Why?-”I wanted to play volleyball in college and get my degree so I can go to PA school.” Looking forward to-“Meeting new people and being away from home.”
Immanuel Teachers Offer Life Advice The days you've been anticipating for the past four years are almost here. Now sadly you won’t be graduating like other seniors years prior but either way, you did it. There have surely been some mishaps throughout the years such as late assignments or no sleep some nights due to working all night. To avoid some mistakes in your college experience, here is a compiled list of tips on maneuvering the years to come. Stay safe and best of luck.
Mr. Ayers: 1. If it smells funny, don't eat it. 2. Stop blaming other people when you fail. 3. Find a few good friends that you can truly trust. 4. If they offer free refills, take them. Mrs. Goerzen: Here is how to play happy birthday on your phone. Dial: 112163 112196 11#96 32 969363 Happy future birthdays!!! Mr. Thomas: 1. Get a George Foreman grill so you can eat meat regularly. 2. Leave with a three week supply of socks and underwear. 3. To impress friends, clean your bathroom regularly. (every three days)
by Ronnie Alvarado & Ethan Garcia
Mr. Knaak: Laugh a lot - it will keep you healthy (we finally know why the chicken crossed the road) Cry some -it will keep you sane Sing a lot - it will keep you joyful Read your Bible everyday - it will keep you wise Pray everyday - it will keep you "safe". Prov 3:5-6. Mrs. Ayers: Once in a while, buy an actual funny card and mail it old-school style to someone you miss. If you don’t know where the return address or stamp goes, that’s what Google is for. Or message me and I’ll walk you through it.
Mrs. Laemmlen: Remember that baking powder & baking soda are very different and not interchangeable, and that Hershey's cocoa, homemade whipped cream, and all relationships are better with a little sweetness added!
Mr. Bergthold: 1: Live in a motorhome, park it at someone's house and pay them $80 a month. Who needs dorms? 2: Live within 10-15 minutes of your job and school and ride your bike EVERYWHERE. #savings #carlessandcarefree 3: Take showers in the gym at your school. Just make sure you wear flip flops or else you're pretty much asking for athlete's foot. 4: Buy nice used textbooks, don't write anything in them, and, once the semester is over, create an Amazon vendor account and SELL those suckers before the newest edition comes out and they're worth pennies! 5: Accept that everyone will tell you that you're crazy for doing it this way, but enjoy the fact that all of your friends will be paying off their debt for the next fifteen years while you owe diddly squat on your graduation day! Have fun in college.
Ms. Martinez: Be sure to not overcook and burn your popcorn. The whole dorm building will thank you! Mrs. Robbins: Don't be afraid of your professors; they are there to help you. Use office hours for help.
Hey Junior Class! Listen Up! by Sienna Mehling The year is coming to an end and this means that our Junior class will now be the new seniors. Before we give a final goodbye to our Seniors, some of them have a little bit to say to our new seniors, the class of 2021. The Talon staff asked the seniors what advice they would give to the juniors as they are poised to take over as school leaders, and here is what they had to say. “My advice would be to be thankful to go to school even though it’s not always fun. Reach out to people and make new friends.” -Molly Klassen
“Talking to underclassmen is always an awesome opportunity. Have Bible studies with friends! Go to all of the events, it goes by fast, take advantage of it!! Be open and take advantage of sharing what God is doing in your life!!” -Chloe Flaming
“My advice for the Junior class is don’t let being a senior go to your head. You may be on top of the food chain but you can still be a nice and helpful person.” -Jonah Gomez “I’d tell them to cherish every moment of it because it does fly by so fast. To take chances and to live life to the fullest everyday. Don’t be scared because Senior year is like the best part of high school and to hang out with friends and laugh a lot and make memories that last forever.” -Camilo Maldonado
“I would probably advise the Juniors to have fun and enjoy Senior year, but also stay on top of their work and not let senioritis win lol.” -Annie Haworth
“My advice I’d give is to enjoy every moment, because the friends you make in High school should last throughout your life. Make meaningful connections that you can look back on. Also, don’t be afraid to Ditch that class, spend that money, or to hang out with friends. College is honestly gonna be a whole different start so have fun with this one.” -Takeo Fujioka
“The advice I would give to the Juniors is… Seek Christ first and lead with wisdom and compassion, always putting others before yourselves.” -Carissa Hall
“My advice would be try new things senior year. Find new hobbies or go to events you might not normally go to. Get out of your comfort zone and you might be surprised how many new friends and amazing memories could come from this.” -Claire Ramirez “The one thing I would tell the Juniors is to get involved, your Senior year is only as fun as you make it. The more involved you are, the more you dress up, go to football games etc, the more fun you will have. You have one last year go all out, do EVERYTHING. Pull that Senior prank, go to Senior Ditch Day, dress up one last time for homecoming, and take lots of pictures!” -Jaiden Purewal
“I think the best advice I can give is to stay involved and make an effort to cultivate relationships of all types. Having a big, open circle of people in your life will make you much easier to approach as a Senior, which is great for leading the student body as a whole. BEWARE it is really easy to spread yourself too thin, so have a core set of friends to rest on and to have your back at all times.” -Taylor Simonian
Immanuel Alumni Advice Column by Taylor Simonian
“Going into college with an open mind can help you experience more things and get even further out of your comfort zone! A big thing too would keep a good support system, whether that’s family, faith, or friends for you.” ~ Class of 2016 Alumni
Seniors, with the school year coming to a close, a new world of possibilities is ready and waiting for you in college! While life beyond high school is supposed to be promising, the horror stories about professors, crazy roommates, and “the freshman 15” can sometimes cloud that excitement. Here are some pieces of advice from recent Immanuel alumni to clear the air. “Take your education seriously, including college prep. By all means, enjoy your senior year, but consider your options and be realistic with what you are capable of. Also, never be afraid of asking people for help, whether that’s family, friends, or even professors.” ~ Class of 2018 Alumni “Make friends with underclassmen, it gives you a better reason to stay in touch with home and check in on how things are at school.” ~ Class of 2019 “Self respect isn’t selfish. It’s okay to do something for yourself. Sometimes people get hurt and there is nothing you can do to avoid that. So, talk about that thing you like. Do something you’ve wanted to do. And always make your bed in the morning.” ~ Class of 2019 Alumni “The freshman 15 isn’t a big deal and can be easily avoided, and calling your parents is cool!” ~ Class of 2019 Alumni
“One misconception I had about college before going in was that it was going to be too stressful and time consuming to have a life. I know it sounds crazy, but college is really great and everything gets done eventually, so there’s no point in freaking out. Just chug some coffee and get it all done!” ~ Class of 2017 Alumni “It’s good to have a firm set of beliefs, but you’re about to enter a transitory period where you will be introduced to new ideas that have the potential to enrich and expand your worldview if you let them. I also think there’s a misconception that there are people who don’t want you to succeed. Every time I’ve reached out to a professor for help, I’ve been met with non-judgmental understanding.” ~ Class of 2018 Alumni “College community varies from institution to institution; I wish I had known how important that was when considering a college. If you are looking for a particular atmosphere, make sure you do your research and visit colleges to find one that is suitable for you!” ~ Class of 2018 Alumni
A Trip Down Memory Lane by Aly and Lexi Perez
This year's graduating class would have started Kindergarten in 2007, and they have seen many trends come and go in their lifetimes. Enjoy this trip down memory lane where we cover some of the most memorable fads of our school years. 2007- Nintendo Wii In 2007 the Nintendo Wii had started to get popular among younger children. There were many games like Wii Sports, Mario Kart, Super Monkey Ball, Just Dance, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and more. The Nintendo Wii was unique because you were able to create a mii which was a customizable character you could use in certain games.
2008- Heelys Heelys had its prime time in 2008. They were shoes with wheels and it was a fun way to get around instead of walking. The downside is they weren’t allowed at schools, amusement parks, and stores which caused many people to lose interest in them.
2009- Keychain ducks Hopefully you haven’t forgotten about all the elementary fundraisers from selling cookie dough to ice cream just to receive a duck on a lanyard. It was
a very competitive time of trying to see who could get the most ducks at the end of the fundraising. Also many kids would trade them during break or lunch.
2010- Silly Bandz Silly Bandz was one of the most popular trends throughout elementary school. They were colorful and came in different shapes. It was also something kids would trade each other during break. Although, they did become a huge distraction in schools and some schools even decided to ban them.
2011- Minecraft Although Minecraft is still a trend, charts say it skyrocketed in 2011. It was one of the most popular games and most 2000s kids have played it before. Not only was it just a game, it had many music parodies of the game. The game brought together many friends on the weekend playing for hours.
2012- Popular Music This year really took a turn for the music industry. The radio was always playing: Gangnam Style - PSY Somebody That I Used To Know Gotye Ft. Kimbra
Call Me Maybe - Carly Ray Jepson We Are Young - Fun ft. Janelle Monae We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift Titanium - David Guetta Ft. Sia
2013- Vine / hoverboards / Xbox & ps4 There was plenty of good stuff to come in 2013 like the app Vine. Vine changed the internet forever. Vine was an app that allowed users to record a six second video. It was released in January of 2013. Hoverboards came out this year too. A hoverboard is a self balancing scooter. 2013 had a lot to give.
2014- Kendamas This product was actually created in the 16th century however it really evolved in 2014. A kendama has a handle, two cups, and a ball that is all connected together by a string. On one end there is a spike and on the other there is a cup.
2015- Musically Musically was launched in August of 2015. It’s an app that enabled users to make short lip sync videos. This app is now merged to Tik Tok.
2016- Popular Music Summer 2016 is a time everyone will remember. Great albums were released and life was good. Here are some throwback songs: One dance- Drake I took a pill in Ibiza- Mike Posner Treat you better- Shawn Mendes Starboy- the weeknd Black Beatles- Rae Sremmurd Never be like you- Flume
2017- Fortnite/ Fidget Spinners In 2017 Fortnite became really popular among gamers. It was the talk for a while. Fortnite is an online video game that comes in three game modes. Fidget spinners were a toy that also came out this year. It consists of a ball in the center of a multi lobed flat structure, in which it effortlessly spins around its axis.
2018- AirPods In 2018 Apple’s product AirPods became their most popular accessory. You’d see anyone and everyone wearing these wireless headphones. They became a pretty big deal. Nowadays you hardly see people wearing regular wired headphones.
2019- Vsco girls / Area 51 During the summer of 2019 the new trend Vsco girls became pretty favorable. A Vsco girl is a typically teenage girl that likes to post trendy pictures. Area 51 was also a major topic of 2019. It came as a joke to raid Area 51 to figure out the many secrets the mysterious place holds on September 20th, 2019. Yet, the military and FBI got involved and the mission failed.
2020- WW3 memes / TikTok / Global Pandemic / Killer bees This year hasn’t been the smoothest. First, the internet surfaced with memes of WW3. Then, we were hit with a global pandemic canceling everything. Now, there are killer bees in the United States. Even though this has all happened in a span of a few months, we have Tik Tok to keep us company.
Graduation? That's Still a Thing? by Julia Scarborough and Jordyn Baptista
Graduation is a time where the school honors the students who have made it all the way through school. Now with the pandemic schools have had to come up with creative ways to honor these students. Some schools are putting yard signs in the front yard of the seniors' homes to show love for the senior. Some schools have done their graduation in a new way, like Reedley High School, where their ceremony took place in their school gym as they had one graduate walk in at a time so they could receive their diplomas and snap a picture. Thankfully, since we are a small school we are still planning on having a live ceremony with the whole class in either RMBC or the County Line Stadium, and if it's not possible by May 28th, it will get postponed. With all the craziness going on we’d like to congratulate the seniors on all your successes, and wish you good luck with what the future holds for you.
Senior Picture Gallery compiled by Jonah Gomez