RITES OF PASSAGE
in-depth
THE PROSP
Licensed and loving it ALYSSA WILLIAMS features assistant
As I gripped the wheel of my car, I prayed to the DMV for a nice driving proctor who did not smell weird. This test was the point of no return, but after what I had gone through to get there, I was more ready than I would ever be. The journey was tedious, but for something as monumental as a license to drive, I was pushing full throttle every step of the way. I knew I had to earn it (although an easy proctor would not hurt. And earn it I did. While classmates sat in their homes, taking online drivers ed. sessions at their own discretion, I woke up at 6 a.m. for four nine-hour sessions of torture in a small, cold classroom. The tables were tiny, the chairs were torturously uncomfortable and the teacher was intolerable. Even though I learned more about serial killers than driving — my instructor loved tangents — I made unlikely friends with my motley collection of classmates. Meanwhile, I did actually learn a thing or two about defensive driving and walked out of my last lesson with legal proof that I survived The next step was the permit test, but the large interval between my lessons and my next DMV visit credited the first failure on my road to “licensed”. I had two marks too many, but on the following attempt, thanks to some quick refreshing on the rules, I thankfully passed. It was now time for a lot of behind the wheel experience. I racked up hours with minimal scares to the unlucky parents, and
eventually, driving felt second nature. The instructor lessons were boring and dull, but it was another necessary step to earn my license and show my parents I could handle the responsibility. After all my preparation, I still could not avoid the pretesting panic. However, accepting the possibility of failure and seeing it as another stepping-stone instead of a brick wall helped me come to terms with reality. If I wanted my license and actually deserved it, I would pass eventually. Before I could calm down, it was my turn to drive. After a scary trip around the block with an extremely angry lady, I left the DMV with proof of license. Still giddy from a surprising success, I discovered from my mother that the same short-tempered lady had failed my sister four years earlier. I was amazed how unlucky I was coming into the test, but the proctor was only another obstacle I had to overcome. Still, I was glad I realized my bad luck after my test, not before it. Afterwards, I went through the required year without driving anybody illegally, and I never drove in the wrong hours. I had worked too hard to gain my license for it to be stripped away by my parents in a moment’s notice. But I have lived through the horror along the way and can proudly claim that I am a responsible driver with a California license. Watch out roads! I am licensed and loving it. And just like all the rest who can relate to my plight, my photo, of course, is absolutely hideous.
Baptism: a purifying ritual MICHELLE CHEUNG in-depth editor
While baptism can be viewed from a religious standpoint only, it can also be viewed as a rite of passage. In Christianity, the acceptance of Jesus Christ into one’s life is what marks a new beginning— a new start in life. “Baptism is kind of like an announcement to the church that you have been changed and renewed,” junior Ashley Park said. “But it doesn’t give you the rite of passage itself.” According to Park, a true rite of passage for Christians is when they believe that Jesus died for their sins and is ready to dedicate their life to His name. Baptism begins with the subject standing or kneeling waist deep in water. Another Christian, usually a pastor, lowers him or her into the water until they are completely immersed, then slowly lifts him or her back into the upright position. This symbolizes the washing away of one’s sins, and the beginning of a new life. One can be baptized at any age, even as an infant. Christians believe that all human beings are born with sin from the start. Parents, concerned for their child’s fate in the case that they die as a baby, baptize their infant to keep them safe from perdition. “It was the custom at my old church to do it,” junior Sally Kim said. “ They specifically baptized infants when they were one or 100 days old.” One can choose to be baptized again when they become older and truly accept Christ. To make a conscious decision to be baptized signifies leaving an old way of living behind and continuing on a new journey, one that will hopefully be better than the last.
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JESSE ZHOU features editor
“Oh my gosh, dude, that kid last night on Carey say Happy Birthday to him!” Well, I perso have a huge celebrity-infested party, a quad-core out 600-dollar pair of shoes for my birthday. In with the amount of money spent on my birthday yet lavish tradition of going all out on birthdays, sixteenth” birthday, has been a modern part of up that teenagers choose to partake in. However, not extremes. Some teens just do not have the urge to sixteenth birthday because of frugal reasons not e The most prevalent factor is the absurdity o watching an episode of MTV’s My Super Sweet S it is definitely ridiculous to be given a stunning, bl a birthday. After all, in the grand scheme of things, alive. Then again, the Lamborghini example may a at here instead celebrate with a night out with pe many students, particularly boys, just do not see depths for a birthday party. Sure, parties and expen but they certainly are not always necessary. Then there is the inevitable factor of money. ervations, hired personnel, decorations and pretty tentially be accounted for, birthdays can be a dagg lies in this oh-so-wonderful economy. One moth have spent over 15,000 dollars on her child’s birth such sums on a single day is just meaningless and s money-drainer in Cupertino. That is not to say tha indulgences on such a special day, or that expense ebrations usually require more than 15,000 dollars rather not go beyond our own budget plan. In the Benjamin Franklin, “A penny saved is a penny earn Of course, these reasons are neither a war freshmen nor a reprimand towards people who h sixteen” birthday party. These reasons are rather situation of how parties should exactly be celebr of money put into a birthday should not determi a success or not. As long as people celebrate their price and effort will not matter because “there are such as memories. In fifteen years, when your Lam be relaxing with my extra pennies and memories i
What is your Rite of Pas
It was the switch from elementary school to middle school because it changed my entire life. There was more competition; I lost a lot of my friends. There was also more stress, like a dive into the teenage world. FRESHMAN Grace Lee
The drawbacks of c
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I guess for me, it would be high school graduation, because that is the point where you’re officially on your own. The next step is college or work or whatever people choose and once high school is over, there is no more babying and you’re put out into the ‘real world’ to survive on your own. SOPHOMORE Laura Kao
MAY 27, 2011
PECTOR
celebration
n Sweet Sixteen had Mariah onally never really wanted to e Macbook pro or a swagged fact I was never comfortable ays in general. Yet, this simple , more specifically the “sweet pper and middle class society t all teens choose to go to such o go out and celebrate a sweet everyone has nowadays. of such expensive gifts. After Sixteen, I have concluded that lood red Lamborghini just for , it is just another year of being a little extreme. Many students eers at a fancy restaurant. Still, e the point of going into such nsive presents are always nice,
. With gifts, food, rentals, resy much anything that can poger to the heart for some famiher on the Internet claimed to hday party. Logically, spending silly, even to the most extreme at everyone cannot afford such es for high school birthday cels. But some of us, with reason, e words of our founding father ned.” rning towards coming-of-age have already had their “sweet a different perspective to the rated. In the end, the amount ine whether the birthday was r special day to the fullest, the e things money just can’t buy,” mborghini breaks down, I will in my pocket.
Cultural coming of age meets modern party ANAND HEMMADY news assistant
When American girls turn 16, they stereotypically hold huge parties with hundreds of guests. Latino girls, however, experience all the partying a year earlier. When Latino girls turn 15, they traditionally hold a party called a quinceañera. Quinceañera signify a coming of age for girls as they begin maturing into adulthood. Although quinceañeras are not as important for Latino girls as they once were, many girls all over the world still choose to celebrate them. They symbolize that a girl is ready to become an adult. Sophomore Rubi Lisalde is one of the many who chose to celebrate a quinceañera. “For my quinceañera I had a party with about 500 guests. My family and I spent over eight months preparing for this occasion,” Lisalde said. Lisalde prepared for her quinceañera by learning and practicing seven different dances along with her friends. Lisalde started her special day by getting ready and going to a church to receive blessings. Soon after, her parents took her to a mansion to take pictures. At the party, she was introduced to all 500 of the guests. Later, she performed the seven dances that she and her friends had practiced for four months. After receiving her birthday gifts, she spent the rest of the night dancing with all the guests. Lisalde felt that her quinceañera was a huge accomplishment and that it was also fun. “I am really happy about my quinceañera,” Lisalde said. “If I could do it again, I would. I think a quinceañera doesn’t really change someone as a person other than just showing how they are more mature about things.” Quinceañeras indicate that a girl has matured and is ready for adulthood. While the event itself may not be much more than a party, a quinceañera signifies that a girl is ready for the real world. While it is not quite the same as a sweet sixteen party, it holds just as much weight
ssage?
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When I lost my Chipotle virginity, I felt really rebellious — as if I could do anything. SENIOR Nhayoung Hwang
as a sweet sixteen does towards those who choose to celebrate it. Although her quinceañera required time and dedication, Lisalde felt that it was all worth it in the end.
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When I graduated middle school and went into high school, I was moving away from my friends and I got the feeling that from then on, things would be harder. JUNIOR Brandon Gong COMPILED BY TESS WU
in-depth
MAY 27, 2011
Eight steps to become a Pioneer
8. Run a Sartwell and Gold Run. 7. Know the last six words of the Alma Mater. 6. Hear a rumor about the underground tunnel that leads to Vallco. 5. Know how to respond to “Tino, how do you feel?!” 4. Take a picture with Dusty and post it on Facebook. 3. Understand that cardinal, gold and gray are the only fashionable colors and by the end of four years realize that those three colors compile the majority of your closet. 2. Wake up at 2 a.m. to help your class set up for a rally and then fall asleep in your fifth period class. 1. Realize that Dusty would make the perfect prom date! COMPILED BY JACKIE BREUER
How to have a sweet sixteen: steps to a memorable celebration
Bar Mitzvah:
The Jewish coming of age
NATASHA SHARMA lifestyles editor
VANI MULKAREDDY in-depth assistant
“Coming of age” is a symbolic moment for people in many cultures. Whether celebrated with a party or a ceremony, it is a rite of passage that represents a boy or girl turning into a young adult. In American culture, people celebrate their sixteenth birthday with a grand party called a sweet sixteen. It is no easy task to plan and prepare for a memorable event. There are multiple, meticulous steps towards throwing a successful and enjoyable sweet sixteen. The first is picking a theme for the party, such as: a masquerade ball, Hollywood, all-aroundthe-world or candy land. The next step is to pick the venue for the party. It could be a ballroom, a hotel, concert hall or even a yacht. The focal point of the evening is the entertainment. Performers should be selected in accordance with the theme of the party. For instance, an exotic Moroccan theme party would dazzle the guests with belly dancers. Nothing is more important than having a DJ to keep the dance floor alive. A good guest list brings vitality to the party. Perhaps a look though the yearbook will help with the elimination process. Appearance is everything: it is all about making heads turn. Purchase two different outfits for the night, a formal and over-the-top outfit in which to make to a grand entrance and a second more comfortable one for dinner and dancing. Delicious food is the next requirement. From appetizers to deserts there should be many choices including a chocolate fountain, a sundae bar and mini margarita pizzas. Painstaking steps and advanced planning will ensure a perfect night. Closer to the date of the party, the invitations must be mailed out. It is the invitations that set the bar for the party. Needless to say, utmost creativity and novelty are expected. The final step is to relax and look forward to the big day. There will be a lot hustling and some anxiety but take a long deep breath and plan to enjoy this special and sweet milestone.
Many times rites of passages are seen as privileges, getting a license or having a lavish Sweet Sixteen. However, for some cultures, coming of age celebrations are more than a mere party or celebration. They are a responsibility, a duty. A Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah, Jewish coming of age rituals, are an example. A Bar and Bat Mitzvah is typically held when a boy turns 13 years old and a girl turns 12 years old, respectively, and is ready to be held responsible for their actions. The Torah, the Hebrew Bible, claims that a full lifetime spans 70 years. A second Bar Mitzvah may occur when a man turns 83 years old. At the age of 83, a man is considered 13 in his second lifetime. Nowadays, most Bar and Bat Mitzvahs consist of an extravagant gathering, however years of preparation takes place before this event. The young teenagers must attend Hebrew school, prayer services and some even have to take on a community service project before they are acknowledged. In addition to these requirements, they must also be able to read the Torah as well. All must be able to maturely follow the expectations set upon them. Under Jewish laws, anyone who has a Bar or Bat Mitzvah has to uphold to the responsibilities of a Jewish adult. This means that they have to follow the 613 laws of the Torah and are morally responsible for themselves. At the end, though, the preparation and studying pays off. On the day of the celebration, the young teenagers reads a portion of the Torah and many times hold discussions about their readings. After such dedication the teenagers celebrate with a large gathering. They enjoy a celebratory dinner with families and friends and receive extravagant gifts, normally in the form of money. The exact ceremony varies from congregation to congregation.