“Everysupport and uplift you, no matyears attending hers’ . I don’t yourself with people who will but I did spend on,” but ter what path you choose to purclinics, writing ng, “Every- sue. support and uplift you, no mat- years attending a place emails and edreason,” but ter what path you choose to purclinics, writing s a speIf a school doesn’t want you, iting highlight reschool is a place don’t sue. emails and edwaste your time wanting videos. I didn’t er it’s a speIf a school doesn’t want you, iting highlight nt path them. I know it’s a lot easier open a bunch of rejectain school said don’t waste time ompare than your done —wanting I once videos. spent I didn’t tion letters in college fferent path them. I know it’s a lot easier open a bunch of rejec- but I certainly mmitted two hours crying in my bed portals, spent countless hours writance, do feel pretty lucky. But ics,ics, I spent III spent spent countless countless countless hours hours hours writwritwritance, do feel pretty lucky. But ics, or whether you’re going to wanted me as much as wanted ics, or whether you’re goingtoto to wanted ance, ance, I doIIIdo feel feel pretty pretty lucky. lucky. But But wantedme meas asmuch muchas asIIIIwanted wanted oror whether whether you’re you’re going going wanted me as much as wanted to compare said than done — I once spent tion letters in college ve been after a Comparing coachthisfrom one of knew: my experienced my them. fairYou ing about about myself. Comparing this iswhat what wish people knew: community ing ing ing about about myself. myself. myself. Comparing Comparing this is what wish people knew: community college or private them. You deserve to go somecommunity college or a private private this is what is I wish IIIwish people people knew: them. Youdeserve deserveto togo gosomesomecommunity college college oror a aaprivate them. You deserve to go somecommitted two hours crying in my bed portals, but I certainly myself to everyone everyone around me The recruitment process islot lot myself to everyone to to everyone around around around me me me The recruitment process is lot university, someone will always where that will appreciate you university, someone will always where TheThe recruitment recruitment process process is ais aaalot where thatwill willappreciate appreciateyou you university, university, someone someone will will always always where that will appreciate you but myself it’smyself top schools told me they were share of rejection. I that attimes. all times. times. Sobbing in bed bed afcloser toof the college application have atbeen allat at all all times. Sobbing Sobbing Sobbing in bed in in bed af-from afafcloser to the college application have something negative to say. for all that you are. have something negative to say. for closer closer to the to the college college application application for allthat thatyou youare. are. have something something negative negative toto say. say. for all all that you are. —to I’vejust after a coach one my experienced my fair “looking elsewhere.” But after may not have livedMy terbeing being rejected byone one of my my process than you may think. AtAt ter being ter ter being rejected rejected rejected by one by by one of my of of my process than you may think. At the end of the day, it’s their My college application expeAt the end of the day, it’s their My process process than than youyou may may think. think. Mycollege collegeapplication application expeexpethe the end end ofof the the day, day, it’s it’s their their college application expeself, but it’s top schools told me they were share of rejection. I refocus I took my head off of my pilthrough the typical topschools. schools. Here are some life lessons I’ve own top schools. top top schools. Here are some life lessons I’ve own jealousy and insecurities rience was different than most. own jealousyand and insecurities Here Here are are some some lifelife lessons lessons I’veI’ve riencewas wasdifferent differentthan thanmost. most. own jealousy jealousy and insecurities insecurities rience rience was different than most. tive to While just “looking elsewhere.” after may not showing; have lived While thismay may seem like the learned along the way. While While this this this may may seem seem like like like the the the learned along the way. showing; itit doesn’t reflect on didn’t write million different showing; doesn’t reflecton on I IIdidn’t learned learned along along thethe way. way. I didn’t didn’twrite writeaaaamillion milliondifferent different showing; it it doesn’t doesn’t reflect reflect on write million different low, I seem realized I But wouldn’t want college application dreaded college application It’s okay for your journey to you dreaded dreaded dreaded college college college application application application It’s okay for your journey to you or your character. Surround essays this year, you or your character. Surround essays It’s It’s okay okay forfor your your journey journey to to essays this this year, year, you ortypical or your your character. character. Surround Surround essays this year, and refocus I took my head off of my pilthrough the who process, try toI’m play somewhere that didn’t process, but Iwill getbut process, I’m actually talking bedifferent different than others’ don’t yourself process, process, I’m I’m actually actually actually talking talking talking be different than others’ ..IIIdon’t don’t yourself with people who will but did spend yourself with people who will be different be than than others’ others’ . I .don’t butI IIdid I did didspend spend yourself with with people people who who will but spend low, I realized I wouldn’t want college application Whether want me. I wanted to play for a support it — more than about the (equally (equally taxing) rebelieve in the the saying, “Everyabout about about the the the (equally (equally taxing) taxing) taxing) rererebelieve in the saying, “Everysupport and uplift you, no matyears attending support and uplift you, no mat- years believe believe in in the saying, saying, “Every“Everyyearsattending attending support and and uplift uplift you, you, no no matmatyears attending ple who try to process. playIn somewhere that didn’t process, Iwhat get cruitment process. In October October thing happens reason,” but but cruitment cruitment cruitment process. process. October In In October thing happens for reason,” but ter what path you choose to purclinics, writing ter path you choose to pur- clinics, thing thing happens happens forfor afor reason,” aaareason,” butbut clinics,writing writing terter what what path path you you choose choose toto purpurclinics, writing athletprogram that appreciated and you know. of my junior year, I commitI do believe that there is a place of my of of my junior my junior junior year, year, year, I commitI I commitcommitI do believe that there is a place sue. emails and edsue. I do I believe do believe that that there there is a is place a place emails and edsue. sue. emails emails and and ededn. Whether want me. I wanted to play for a it — more than tedplay to play play field hockey at UC UC foreveryone, everyone, whether it’s spe- If If ted to ted ted to to play fieldfield field hockey hockey hockey at UC at at UC for everyone, whether it’s speIf school doesn’t want you, iting highlight school doesn’t want you, iting for for everyone, whether whether it’sit’s a speaaaspeitinghighlight highlight aIf school aaa school doesn’t doesn’t want want you, you, iting highlight r DI athletprogram that appreciated and you know. don’t Berkeley, and can’t tell you cific program, certain school don’t Berkeley, Berkeley, Berkeley, and and and I can’t III can’t can’t tell tell tell youyou you cific program, certain school don’t waste your time wanting videos. didn’t don’t waste your time wanting videos. cificcific program, program, a certain aaa certain school school videos.I IIIdidn’t didn’t waste waste your your time time wanting wanting videos. didn’t
Elana ElanaEisenberg Eisenberg
how many times I’ve heard orcompletely completely different path them. how many times I’ve heard or completely different path them. II know know it’s lot easier howhow many many times times I’ve I’ve heard heard them. know it’s loteasier easier or aor aaa completely different different path path them. I Iknow it’s it’s a aaalot lot easier things like, “You’re lucky you altogether. It’s easy to compare compare said things like, “You’re lucky you altogether. It’s easy to compare said than done — once spent things things like,like, “You’re “You’re lucky lucky youyou said than done — once spent altogether. altogether. It’sIt’s easy easy to to compare said than than done done —— I once III once spent spent don’t have to apply apply to college” college” yourself to the the kids committed two don’t have to apply to college” yourself to the kids committed two hours crying in my bed don’tdon’t havehave to apply to to college” to two hours cryinginin inmy mybed bed yourself yourself to the to kids kids committed committed two hours hours crying crying my bed (not true) and “I’m jealous! It’s to top-10 top-10 schools — I’ve been after (not true) and “I’m jealous! It’s to top-10 schools — I’ve been after aa coach coach from one of my (not(not true)true) and and “I’m“I’m jealous! jealous! It’s It’s after coach from oneofof ofmy my to top-10 to schools schools —— I’veI’ve been been after a acoach from from one one my so easy easy for you” you” over the past guilty ofdoing doing myself, but it’s top so easy for you” over the past guilty of doing ititmyself, myself, but it’s top schools told me they were so easy so for you” for overover the the pastpast top schools told me they were guilty guilty of doing of it myself, it butbut it’sit’s top schools schools told told me me they they were were yearand and half. much more productive to just just “looking year half. much more productive to just “looking elsewhere.” But after yearyear and aand half. aaahalf. “looking elsewhere.”But Butafter after much much more more productive productive to to just “looking elsewhere.” elsewhere.” But after To beclear, clear, I’mnot notcomplaincomplaincongratulate them and refocus I took To be clear, I’m not complaincongratulate them and refocus took my head off of my pilTo be To clear, be I’m not I’m complaintook my head off ofmy mypilpilcongratulate congratulate them them and and refocus refocus III took my my head head offoff ofof my piling. This is what what I’ve wanted onyour your own future. ing. This is what I’ve wanted on your own future. low, realized wouldn’t want ing. ing. ThisThis is what is I’ve I’ve wanted wanted low, realized wouldn’t want on your on own own future. future. low, low, I realized III realized I wouldn’t III wouldn’t want want since middle school. And while Don’t Don’t listen topeople people who try to to since middle school. And while Don’t listen to people who try to play somewhere that didn’t sincesince middle middle school. school. AndAnd while while to play somewhere thatdidn’t didn’t Don’t listen listen to people to who who trytry play play somewhere somewhere that that didn’t alot lot ofsituation mysituation situation isthe theprodprodto bring bring you down. Whether want lot of my situation is the prodto bring you down. Whether want me. wanted to play for a lotaaof my of my is the is prodwant me. wanted to play for to to bring youyou down. down. Whether Whether want me. me. I wanted IIIwanted toto play play for for a aaa A HUANG uct of hard hard work and perseveryou’re playing DIII orDI DIathletathlet- program uct of hard work and perseveryou’re playing DIII or DI athletprogram that appreciated and uct of uct hard of work work andand perseverperseverprogram that appreciatedand and you’re you’re playing playing DIII DIII or or DI athletprogram that that appreciated appreciated and r-in-Chief
open bunch of rejecopen abunch bunchof ofrejecrejecopen open aaabunch of rejection letters in college tionletters lettersin incollege college tion tion letters in college portals, but certainly portals,but butIIIcertainly Icertainly certainly portals, portals, but experienced my fair experienced my my fair fair experienced experienced my fair share of rejection. shareofof ofrejection. rejection.IIII share share rejection. may not have lived maynot nothave havelived lived may may not have lived through the typical throughthe thetypical typical through through the typical college application college application application college college application process, but get process,but butIIIIget get process, process, but get itit— — more than —more morethan than itit — more than you know. you know. you you know. know.
OUR 2021 GRAD SPEAKER OUR 2021 GRAD SPEAKER
TELLA HUANG
Editor-in-Chief
dents’ activism and perseverse four ance. One of her main ideas found dents’in activism and perseverthese so four lies the unconventionality oves ance. One of her main experience, ideas has found of her high school s a forlies in the unconventionality elf loves STELLA HUANG STELLA STELLA HUANG HUANG HUANG many obstaclesSTELLA along nd cur-so with Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief of her high— school . As a for- the way theexperience, Bay Area’s toxASB, with many obstacles along tr and curic school culture, rampant voice dents’ activism and perseverOne of the the reasons senior And throughout these fourdents’ dents’ dents’ activism activism activism and and and perseverperseverperseverOneOne One of the of of the reasons reasons reasons senior senior senior And And And throughout throughout throughout these these these four four four the way — the Bay Area’s toxof ASB, aAmanda worldwide m makance. One of her mainideas ideas Amanda Le auditioned auditioned toand be-years, years, Amanda hasfound found ance. ance. ance. One One One ofof of her her her main main main ideas ideas Amanda Amanda Amanda Lewildfires auditioned Le Le auditioned to beto to bebeyears, years, Amanda Amanda hashas has found found ic school culture, rampant her voice lies in the unconventionality come graduation speaker is a out what she herself loves so lies lies lies in in in the the the unconventionality unconventionality unconventionality come come come graduation graduation graduation speaker speaker speaker is a is is a a out out out what what what she she she herself herself herself loves loves loves so so so pandemic. grading wildfires and a much worldwide ofher her high school experience, bitunorthodox: unorthodox: She’s short. much from bit makmuch about LAHS. As for- of of of her her high high high school school school experience, experience, experience, unorthodox: bit bit unorthodox: She’s She’s She’s short. short. short. much about about about LAHS. LAHS. LAHS. AsAs As a foraaa forfor“I took those ideas and said, ble, to withmany manyobstacles obstaclesalong along Having attended every Losmermer mer vice president and cur- with with with many many obstacles obstacles along along Having Having Having attended attended attended every every every LosLos Los mer vicevice vice president president president and and and curcurcurpandemic. rd grading ‘Look guys, we survived this coming the way — the Bay Area’s toxAltos High School graduationrent rent videographer of ASB, the the the way way way —— — the the the Bay Bay Bay Area’s Area’s Area’s toxtoxtoxAltosAltos Altos HighHigh High School School School graduation graduation graduation rent rent videographer videographer videographer of of of ASB, ASB, ASB, “I took those ideas and said, uitable, to ic school culture, rampant since her freshman year — with Amanda has used her voice ic ic ic school school school culture, culture, culture, rampant rampant rampant since since since her freshman her her freshman freshman year year year — with — — with with Amanda Amanda Amanda has has has used used used her her her voice voice voice by coming together,’” Amanda Top 2” wildfiresand anda aaaworldwide worldwide theexception exception oflast lastyear’s year’s dueto toprompt prompt change, from mak- wildfires wildfires wildfires and and worldwide worldwide the exception the the exception of last of of last year’s year’s due due due prompt to to prompt change, change, change, from from from makmakmak‘Look guys, we survived this said. “We stood up for what .mecoming pandemic. to the pandemic, Amanda has ing ASB’s Eagle Card grading pandemic. pandemic. pandemic. to the to to pandemic, the the pandemic, pandemic, Amanda Amanda Amanda has has has ing ing ing ASB’s ASB’s ASB’s Eagle Eagle Eagle Card Card Card grading grading grading by coming together,’” Amanda tosenior “Top 2” we in. We adjust“Itook took those ideas and said, heard her fair fairbelieved share of amazamaz-system system more equitable,to to to “I “I “I took took those those those ideas ideas ideas and and and said, said, said, heard heard heard her her her fair fair share share share of amazof of amazsystem system more more more equitable, equitable, equitable, to said. “We stood up for what ents. ‘Look guys, we survived this ing speeches. However, the changing the “Homecoming ‘Look ‘Look ‘Look guys, guys, guys, we we we survived survived survived this this this ing ing ing speeches. speeches. speeches. However, However, However, the the the changing changing changing the the the “Homecoming “Homecoming “Homecoming ed and supported each other ver exby coming together,’” Amanda one that that struck her the most King and Queen” to “Top 2” byby by coming coming coming together,’” together,’” together,’” Amanda Amanda Amanda one one one that that struck struck struck her her her the the the most most most King King King andand and Queen” Queen” Queen” to to to “Top “Top “Top 2” 2” 2” we believed in. We adjustmy senior all these unexpected h close said. “We stoodupup upfor forwhat what wasElise bythrough Elise Nguyen, ’19. fornonbinary nonbinary students. said. said. said. “We “We “We stood stood stood up for for what what was was by was by by Elise Elise Nguyen, Nguyen, Nguyen, ’19. ’19. ’19. for for for nonbinary nonbinary students. students. students. ed and supported each other never exobstacles. We“Atdefied expectadminiswebelieved believedin.in. in.We Weadjustadjust“She started her speech “At the end of my seniorwewe we believed believed in. We We adjustadjust“She“She “She started started started her her her speech speech speech “At “At thethe the endend end of of of mymy my senior senior senior through allshe these unexpected such close ed and supported eachother other talking about how she was year, would have never ex- eded ed and and and supported supported supported each each each other other talking talking talking about about about howhow how she she was was was year, year, year, I would III would would have have have never never never ex-exextions, and I’m glad that we’re . “ASB through all these unexpected really short, and how she pected to foster such closethrough through through allall all these these these unexpected unexpected unexpected really really really short, short, short, andand and howhow how sheshe she pected pected pected to to to foster foster foster such such such close close close obstacles. We defied expectaadministo continue to stay optiol isn’t obstacles. We defied expectagrew bit taller physical-relationships relationships with adminis- obstacles. obstacles. obstacles. We We We defied defied defied expectaexpectaexpectagrewgrew grew a bit aable aa bit bit taller taller taller physicalphysicalphysicalrelationships relationships with with with adminisadminisadministions, and I’m glad thatAmanda we’re said. “ASB tions, and I’m glad that we’re ly and and as person,” Amandatrators,” trators,” Amanda said. “ASB tions, tions, tions, and and and I’m I’m I’m glad glad glad that that that we’re we’re we’re ly and ly ly and as amistic, as as person,” aaa person,” person,” Amanda Amanda Amanda trators,” trators,” Amanda Amanda said. said. “ASB “ASB “ASB even though wesaid. didn’t always able to continue to stay optichool isn’t able to continue to stay optisaid. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, taught me the school isn’t able able able to to to continue continue continue to to to stay stay stay optioptioptisaid. said. said. “I was “I “I was was like, like, like, ‘Oh ‘Oh ‘Oh my my gosh, my gosh, gosh, taught taught taught me me me the the the school school school isn’t isn’t isn’t have the high school expericussion mistic, even though we didn’t so sassy. sassy. can definitely re-perfect, perfect, andthere therealways alwaysmistic, mistic, mistic, even even even though though though we we we didn’t didn’t didn’t so sassy. so so sassy. I mistic, can III can can definitely definitely definitely rerereperfect, perfect, and and and there there always always even though we didn’t re always ence that anyone would have have policies have the high schoolexperiexperilate.’ [Graduation speeches] needs to be more discussion have have the the the high high high school school school experiexperilate.’late.’ late.’ [Graduation [Graduation [Graduation speeches] speeches] speeches] needs needs needs to to be to be be more more more discussion discussion discussion have the high school experidiscussion ence that anyone wouldhave have made me more excited about around revamping policiesence ence ence that that that anyone anyone anyone would would would have have made made made me more me me more more excited excited excited about about about around around around revamping revamping revamping policies policies policies imagined.” quities ence that anyone would have gto.” policies imagined.” high school, honestly, hearand looking at the inequities imagined.” imagined.” imagined.” highhigh high school, school, school, honestly, honestly, honestly, hearhearhearand and and looking looking looking at at the at the the inequities inequities inequities Amanda’s last line sums it Amanda’s Amanda’slast lastline linesums sumsitit ing how how much students loveof things of things things we’re soused used to.” Amanda’s Amanda’s last last line line sums sums itit ing ing how ing how much much much students students students lovelove love of of things we’re we’re we’re so so used so used to.”to.” to.” imagined.” inequities perfectly: a class of upup manda up perfectly: “We are class of LAHS and what they learned“We In her speech, Amanda up perfectly: perfectly: perfectly: “We “We “We are are are a aclass aaclass class ofof of LAHS LAHS LAHS andup and and what what what theythey they learned learned learned In In In herare her her speech, speech, speech, Amanda Amanda Amanda Amanda’s line sums itand sed stuto.” fighters.” from their time here.” last addresses addresses her and other stu- fighters.” fighters.” fighters.” fromfrom from theirtheir their time time time here.” here.” here.” addresses addresses herher her and and other other other stustustufighters.” er The Talon // # Amanda up perfectly: “We are a class of other stu- fighters.”
MEET MEETAMANDA AMANDALE, LE,OUR OUR2021 2021GRAD GRAD SPEAKER SPEAKER
The Talon // # The Talon// //#### The The The Talon Talon Talon // // TheTalon Talon// //17 17 The The The Talon Talon // 17
The Talon // 17
