The Point, Issue 6, Volume 26 - April 7, 2022

THE

POINT

PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 6, VOLUME 26 - APRIL 7, 2022

PV Drama Puts on a Magical “Matilda” Production

By Amber Chen opinion editor Based on the original awardwinning novel by Roald Dahl, “Matilda the Musical” is coming to life on stage at PVHS this spring.

Opening on Apr. 8, the show will run for six days, with additional performances on Apr. 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16.

The musical’s plot centers around elementary-school level children, with five-year-old Matilda Wormwood as the main protagonist. As an exceptionally brilliant child, Matilda doesn’t fit into her narrow-minded family and is constantly mistreated by her parents, who clearly favor their ignorant first child, Michael.

Matilda is nothing like her father, Mr. Wormwood, a con artist who sells defective cars priced as high as luxury cars, nor her

By Vikesh Dheeriyah news editor After more than 20 years in the Palos Verdes Peninsula community, the Rolling Hills Bay Club gym shut down completely on March 31.

The Rolling Hills location was one of 24 Bay Club gyms open throughout Southern California.

“I was shocked, heartbroken,” Bay Club manager Nina Ayala said after first hearing about the closure.

The exact reason for the shutdown is unknown, however, Ayala theorizes that “the CEO of the Bay Club did not like the new lease terms that the property management owner offered, so he basically said ‘forget it, we’re not going to renew it.’”

The CEO wanted to completely “do away with the leasing,” as evidenced by his treatment of the other Bay Club locations. The El Segundo and Redondo buildings were all bought and owned by the company. The recently renovated

(Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Mindicino)

mother, Mrs. Wormwood, who is a shallow and materialistic ballroom dancer.

“I think Matilda is a very clever character,” lead actress and junior Mischa Kharrazi. “Though when she’s first introduced you may think she’s very shy and quiet, you really get to see more and more of her personality [as] she tries to get even with everyone who’s ever done her wrong.”

“She’s on a journey to do what’s right to her, and she’s discovering that the way she’s treated isn’t normal, and [the extent of] her knowledge isn’t normal, either.”

The students are faced with a formidable school headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, played by senior Sagan Barbour.

“It definitely is very difficult to [adopt her mannerisms],” Barbour

said. “I have to change the way I speak, the way I talk, the way I move-- everything.”

Miss Trunchbull enforces discipline through intense sessions of physical education and despises the children, often threatening to lock them up in a cupboard lined with spikes, known as the “chokey.”

“I really like screaming ‘chokey,’” Barbour said. “That’s probably my favorite line.”

The children are not alone in their fight against Miss Trunchbull’s cruelty, however.

Throughout the story, their teacher, Miss Honey, tries to push aside her own self-doubt so she can be a proper adult role model and stand up for her students.

“For [Miss Honey], there’s a lot of intense subject matter from her childhood because she was

abused, and that’s something I have to really tap into, which is difficult,” senior Chloe Blue, who plays Miss Honey, said. “I’ve learned to try my hardest to get into that mindset, but it is difficult to step into a character of that nature because it’s so intense.”

As one of the three assistant directors, Blue also has the responsibility of “being on book and making sure all the actors are saying their lines word-perfect,” and taking notes on everything the actors can improve on.

“Focus and management of time and energy are such important qualities because they help things get done so fast,” Blue stated.

Thanks to the long hours and late nights the cast, crew and pit have spent perfecting “Matilda the Musical,” opening night

will certainly be a sensational experience, for both the production members and the audience.

“When we put it all together, it’s going to be so magical and it’s going to come together really well,” cast member and sophomore Emily Heinze said.

Matilda’s bravery and willingness to take initiative against injustice at home and at school conveys the moral that everyone, no matter how young, is capable of changing lives.

“It’s true that life is unfair, but you shouldn’t just bow down and let people walk all over you,” Heinze said.

By expressing significant messages through layers of humor, from childish jokes to sophisticated satire, “Matilda the Musical” is a show the entire family can enjoy.

Santa Monica property is in the same process of looking to buy the property as the Rolling Hills location. These three locations are where the current Rolling Hills Bay Club staff are being transferred to.

Because the closure news happened suddenly and without little notice, the Bay Club’s shutdown leaves many wondering if another gym will take over the current location.

“They weren’t able to market the space,” Ayala said. “So, as far as I know, there is nothing coming in right now.”

With no gyms taking over the open location, current members will have to look elsewhere for their exercise. The most popular destination for leaving members has been Equinox, a private gym located just down the street from the Bay Club.

Other options for members include a 24 Hour Fitness, Complete Women Fitness, Orange Theory, Core, South Bay Strength Company and Powerhouse Gym.

However, older Bay Club members can’t find a new place as easily as high-schoolers.

“Unfortunately, the first people that came to mind were the elderly,” Ayala said. “They don’t have anywhere to go. This is their outlet.”

Rolling Hills has the highest median age (46) out of any town in Los Angeles. Whether it be through zumba or exercise bike classes, the older community that forms around exercise at the Rolling Hills location will not be easily relocated.

“The people [at the Bay Club], they’re very nice,’ 80-year-old Air Force veteran and once Bay Club member Wayne Saito said.

“They’re not like other gyms.

They always have a smile on their face.”

Saito had been a member of the Rolling Hills Bay Club “ever since it first opened on the hill.”

Saito, like many other members, value the Bay Club for its convenience.

“I really like the short drive up and down the hill. It’s the only

[gym] up here,” Saito said. “I just hope another gym like 24 Hour Fitness or LA Fitness comes to this area.”

The closure affects everyone on the hill, both old and young.

“It was my main outlet for exercising and socializing on weekdays,” senior Tristan Wattson said.

Wattson has been lifting at the Bay Club five times a week for two years as a way to complement his sport, water

polo.

“It was the combination of affordability, convenience, and quality that [made] this gym great,” Wattson said. “I was devastated when I first heard about the Bay Club closing.”

“I think everyone’s mental, physical and social livelihood depends on this place,” Ayala said. “Whether it’s the Bay Club or not, just having a gym in the heart of the community is important.”

Bye-Bye, Bay Club

(Graphic by Aidan Sun)

NEWS

By Lucia Ruiz features editor

Masks No Longer Required in Schools

On March 12, almost two years after the emergence of COVID-19, L.A. County ended its mask mandate and allowed school operators to decide their rules for masks.

An email from Superintendent Dr. Cherniss explained that “the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District will also align its masking policy with the state and will allow students and staff a choice when it comes to indoor and outdoor masking effective Saturday, March 12, 2022.”

Students and staff, of course, still have the option to stay masked.

“Students and staff are welcome to wear them if they feel more comfortable,” associate principal Dr. Keely Hardage said.

“We know many students may still have an elderly grandparent

that they visit or live with. We know we have students that are going through their own immunocompromised illness and things like that. By all means, we encourage any student who feels more safe to continue wearing them.”

While some students may feel safer with mask mandates in place, Hardage assures students that this decision is very thoughtful and deliberate.

“I know [our district has] a team of medical experts,” Hardage said.

“They’ve gotten valuable information from the medical committee as well as trusted doctors in the committee in L.A. County saying that this was the right next step.”

Students have their own thoughts on the end of the mask mandate.

“You can have your own opinions about [masks] and you can still wear it if you want,

but if you want to take it off then you can,” freshman Dom Holmes said. “I think it’s fair for everyone.”

Although students and staff are no longer required to wear masks, mandates have been very dynamic in the last few months.

They are still subject to change.

“If we have a surge again, it is very possible that we will have to wear masks after spring break,” school nurse Marissa Trevett said prior to spring break.

COVID-19 case numbers become especially elevated after holiday breaks.

After winter break, district testing sites were overwhelmed with the highest number of positive test results that they had seen during the entire duration of the pandemic.

Some students even speculated that they might return to online learning.

During winter break, the United States experienced the

emergence of the Omicron variant. Now, BA.2, a close relative of BA.1, which is commonly referred to as the Omicron variant, is spreading throughout the country and could potentially cause a spike, most likely less extreme than the one in January.

From what medical experts have been reporting so far, it seems that BA.2 does not cause illness any more extreme than BA.1, the Omicron variant.

“If you choose not to get vaccinated, wear a mask, stay away from large crowds and wash your hands.”

(Graphic by Aidan Sun)

Choreo Dancers Leap Into Spring Concert

By Sierra Namvari photo editor PVHS’ annual Spring Choreo Concert was a hit to all students and audience members. The show has a different theme every year, this year being “An Evening of Dance and Music.”

“In the past we have included the visual arts, broadcast journalism, film, literature, amongst other themes. This year we wanted to include our fabulous student musicians,” dance teacher Kathleen Mastan said.

PVHS seniors have missed the last two performances on stage due to COVID-19, but are excited and nervous to come back.

“I was a little bit nervous just because I haven’t been on a stage in almost three years,” senior Laura Maurizio said.

“Part of me was really excited, but the other part of me was very upset just because it will probably be my last year performing on a stage, that kind of hurts my heart a little.”

Putting together dances all year long for this performance took both effort and creativity from our choreographers. Every year they have guest choreographers come in to teach different styles of dance to incorporate it into the show. Students also choreograph some pieces consisting of small groups, solos, duets, trios, etc.

“My personal favorite is Flying Model Rockets because I spent so much time choreographing it since June, and it’s just one of my favorite songs,” senior Brianna Gianetto said.

This gives the dancers an opportunity to show off their

individual talents by creating something they love.

“I like the dance that I choreographed. I also really like the group hiphop because all of us are together and it’s just a really fun dance and it’s the last dance I will be performing in the Armstrong,” senior Lainey Cote said.

Having new faces on the team each year brings new styles of dancers, as well as the students learning to perform in such a big show.

“My first year in Choreo has been amazing, and all the girls are really welcoming and I’ve learned so much within my very short time here,” freshman Azalea Lurie said.

“I think it’s really cool that we are embedding both live music and dance into the show because obviously as dancersw we love music, but including other musicians is cool because it’s incorporating many forms of art into one and a very unique theme this year.”

Live musicians played throughout the show for the first time in Choreo history. The musicians from PVHS made the recital special by adding another layer of artistic creativity to the night.

“I think it was a really cool idea to incorporate music into the dancer’s performances and it was a very unique experience to get to work with the dancers so closely,” junior Amber Chen said.

“It was a bit difficult to figure out the tempo to make sure we were very consistent so that the dancers would be able to match us. Overall it was a very good learning experience.”

Editors-in-Chief Alycen Kim Aidan Sun Adviser Cynthia Mindicino

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Photos Courtesy of Mia Harley (top) and Cynthia Mindicino (middle and bottom) Editors & Leadership

News: Vikesh Dheeriya Features: Lucia Ruiz Opinion: Amber Chen Sports: Jonathan Liu Design: Andrew Carpenter

Photography: Sierra Namvari Online: Ella Sherry Social Media: Kelly Donahue and Reddin Kehrli

PVHSPOINT.ORG

Staff Luka Ardon, Chloe Choi, Isabella Firmani, Naomi Gan, Quinn Kearns, Eva Mayrose, Victoria Nolan, Aaron Paik, Meeka Rahimi, Sophie Stoddart, Ayla Torres, Natalie Wang

Follow us on Instagram! @pvhspoint

APRIL 7, 2022

NEWS 25 Seasons, Many More Memories Remembering “Arthur” as it comes to an end

By Aidan Sun editor-in-chief After 25 seasons and 253 episodes, the beloved PBS Kids show “Arthur” came to an end on Feb. 21 with its final episode, “All Grown Up.” The product of Marc Brown, who authored the original “Arthur Adventure” series of books, the TV show was the longest-running animated children’s show in the U.S. and the second longest-running animated show behind “The Simpsons,” first airing on Oct. 7, 1996.

At the end of the series finale, viewers are sent 20 years into the future to discover what occupations the beloved “Arthur” characters have taken up. In this epilogue, Francine runs a sneaker business, Buster teaches young school children, Muffy is running for mayor and D.W. is a cop. The show’s namesake, Arthur, now with long hair, scruff on his chin, but the same round glasses, is preparing to publish a graphic novel based off of his childhood adventures with his friends.

As a childhood staple, “Arthur” worked to instill within its young viewers values of kindness, integrity and respect. The show throughout its 25 seasons never shied from tackling tough topics including racism, mental health and bullying in order to display the diversity of issues facing families and their children. Along the way it brought on a host of celebrity guests including the Backstreet Boys, Mister Rogers, Alex Trebek and John Lewis. Below, Sea Kings reflect on their favorite characters and what they’ll remember most.

“I really liked Arthur. He was a funny character and I learned a lot of good values through the things he did in the show.”

- Senior Jonathan Ross

“I always liked George.

That’s because he’s an underdog and comes across as timid, but I thought he was sweet.”

- Senior Brooke Borden

(Graphics by Chloe Choi)

“My favorite character was Buster because he was an easy-going, funny character.

I thought it was cool that he liked UFOs and aliens.”

- Sophomore Griffin Gallien

UC Davis Reserches to Prevent a Crop Catastophe

By Ella Sherry online editor As the world’s climate changes, crops have to change along with it.

Around 1.1 million tons of common wheat are produced in California each year. Wheat is a vital grain in the human diet being the main ingredient of commercial products such as bread, pasta, crackers, muffins and other baked goods.

Global warming is heightening temperatures all over the world and wheat breeding is being affected by it.

The University of California, Davis is part of a research project that will look into how specialists can speed up wheat breeding to better adapt to the changing climate.

UC Davis is ranked as the number one school in the country for agricultural and plant sciences. “[We need to] accelerate the cycles of wheat breeding to be able to adapt to a changing environment,” UC Davis plants sciences professor Jorge Dubcovsky, who is leading the research at Davis, said. “[The goal is to] develop new wheat varieties faster that are better adapted to the current environment.”

“When most people think of global warming, they don’t think about how it’s going to change crops in the most affected areas,” freshman Kate Sherry said.

“Crops are obviously an important part of life, both economically and for food.

“I think it’s great that [UC Davis is] part of this project.”

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The process of gathering data spans over miles with some of the research taking place in labs or wheat fields in Texas.

“We will be using drones to get multispectral data from the breeding fields,” Dubcovsky said. “[It] provides information on the plant water statues, chlorophyll content, biomass, plant height and other traits.

“Images will be processed in [a facility] in Texas and deposited in a centralized database.

“At the same time, we will characterize the genomes of the tested varieties using a medium-throughput genotyping platform.

“This data will also be deposited in a centralized public database that will allow us to integrate the phenotypic and genotypic information to predict the performance of future lines using only the genotypic data.”

This process is called genomic selection. It allows the UC Davis researchers to identify the best genotype and crossing cycles to accelerate the release of new wheat varieties.

UC Davis is not the only institution that is participating. Cornell University, Michigan State University, Montana State University, University of Idaho, Virginia Tech, Washington State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among others, are also researching ways to breed crops to survive in rising temperatures. “[This project] will help us to accelerate gains in productivity and ameliorate the negative impacts of climate change,” Dubcovsky said.

PVHSPOINT.ORG

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FEATURES

Family by Chance, Friends by Choice Siblings at PVHS Have Each Other’s Back

By Kelly Donahue social media editor National Siblings Day occurs every year on April 10 and celebrates siblings and the bond they share. At PVHS, there are many students who attend school with one or more of their siblings.

These siblings share a unique experience as they navigate high school with one another.

“Going to school with a sibling is normal to me because I have a twin and we’ve been going to school together since we were about two years old,” junior Alli Furriel said.

Going to school with your sibling comes with many convenient benefits.

“One of my favorite things about going to school together is having some of the same teachers and classes because if I don’t understand something, I can always ask Alli and we help each other study,” junior Andi

Furriel said.

Similarly, senior Heath Bray’s “favorite thing about going to school with a sibling, especially a twin that [he has] a lot of classes with, is [having] someone at home to work with on schoolwork.”

Senior Jenna Leone likes going to school with her brother because “it’s nice and it’s convenient. We go to school together and I see him in the halls sometimes. It’s nice to know that he’s always there in case something happens.”

Jenna’s brother, sophomore Shaun Leone, does like having Jenna there “so [he] can get a ride from [her].”

Despite all the benefits, not everything about going to school with your sibling is positive.

“One of my least favorite things about going to school together is the comparison. People compare us to each other or we compare our grades, because we are so different,” Andi Furriel said.

Twins Andi (left) and Alli (right) Furriel (Photo courtesy of Alli Furriel)

Siblings Jenna and Shaun Leone (Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

Twins Will (left) and Heath (right) Bray (Photo by Lucia Ruiz)

Alli Furriel’s least favorite part about going to school with her sister is “waiting for her in the morning because she always takes longer to get ready.”

As a twin, senior Will Bray dislikes “getting confused for [his] sibling.”

Going to school with a sibling can be very beneficial because it gives students a chance to get closer to their sibling.

“We do talk a lot more than I thought we would because we have a class together, BTC,” Jenna Leone said. “It’s nice

seeing him at school because we have such busy schedules that sometimes we rarely see each other even after school at home.

So it makes the day fun, and we have become much closer now that we’re at school together.”

School Events Benefit Local Businesses

By Natalie Wang reporter

Graphic by Quinn Kearns

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PVHSPOINT.ORG

Schools are a vital part of communities in numerous ways aside from education.

Organizations like BTC, ASB, clubs, and sports teams frequently patronize local businesses for fundraisers and events. Special events use local businesses for things like catering and decor, and local restaurants are popular fundraising options for everything from Red Ribbon Week to school sports. By partnering with PVHS, community businesses get the perfect opportunity to support students, donate to important causes and also receive valuable advertising.

This February, many businesses like the Lunada Market and Deli and Study Hut Tutoring sponsored the 10th annual Remember the Tritons Walk organized by BTC. Restaurants like MOD Pizza also held fundraising days where a percentage of the money raised would be donated to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“The local businesses that BTC works with get more attention from PVHS students, and they are often packed on these days,” sophomore and BTC member Sedona Ding said. “Local businesses are also involved in BTC by donating to the Remember the Tritons Walk and getting their logo printed on the back of t-shirts that every participant gets. This advertises small organizations and supports a great cause.”

Senior and ASB treasurer Ellen

Brandt says ASB also works closely with local businesses to raise money for the school.

“In ASB we do a lot of fundraisers at restaurants like Chipotle and Locale 90,” Brandt said. “We currently don’t have that big of a small business outreach but I know we would love to expand it more. When working with these restaurants and businesses, it was a very pleasant experience and I know we raised a lot of money for school organizations that really helped our Sea King family.”

Not only are these fundraisers successful, but by working with PVHS, these businesses get an opportunity to reach new customers while also giving back to the community.

Another organization that works closely with small businesses is Project Runway.

This month, Project Runway worked with vendors like Mandyz Boutique, Berries by Bella and A Bite of Charcuterie for their small business fundraiser.

“Project Runway benefits local businesses through the actual show and through certain fundraisers,” senior and Stores Director Grace Bonvechio said.

“Businesses get advertisement by being in our show, and most of our fundraisers throughout the year are with local businesses, which brings business to their stores.”

Not only do local businesses have a lot to gain by working with PVHS organizations, but the partnership also helps school events run smoothly while fostering a stronger sense of community.

APRIL 7, 2022

FEATURES

Women Who Inspire, Women We Admire

By Ayla Torres reporter “Mrs Mindicino has taught me to love English and creative writing again. She is not impatient when you ask for help and has never failed to help me when I ask for it. She truly cares about teaching students and motivating them to do their best, and her class has a warmth to it that others do not.

I am so grateful to have had her as a teacher in my academic career and the skills she taught in her class will stay with me through the rest of my studies.

She is an inspiring woman not only because of her brightness, but also the passion she has for her profession that is contagious.”

- Senior Rosie Martin

“Ms. Barton really truly cares for her students, it shows in everything she does for us. She makes the classroom a fun and inviting environment where everyone’s ideas are accepted and are open for discussion. Ms. Barton is also not afraid to speak her mind and let others know when they are out of line. She has so much knowledge on life and government and it is inspiring to see a teacher care so much about their classroom along with their students.

Ms. Barton loves getting involved with the campus, from coaching golf and now football and running Scholar Quiz.

I am amazed she still has time for herself and her dog Charlie. She truly gives 110% to this school and we are lucky to have her.”

- Senior Delaney Bradley

The Man, The Myth, The Larkins

By Luka Ardon reporter If there is one particular staff member who could kickstart your high school English classes freshman year, help in the final stretch of AP Lang or even be your soccer coach for all four years, it is Derek Larkins. Whatever the case is, Derek Larkins is an amazing and beloved teacher and coach. But something students might not know of Larkins is that he actually went to Peninsula High School.

“I have nothing but good feelings toward Peninsula but this is my home,” Larkins said. “My emotions are at PV High.”

To be fair, during the time that Larkins was in high school, Peninsula was the only public high school in Palos Verdes. But at Peninsula, Larkins made the best of it.

“I was in ASB my senior year of high school and emceed pep rallies and just really enjoyed the high school experience” said Larkins.

And of course Larkins played high school sports to the fullest.

“In high school I played both soccer and baseball,” Larkins said. “[But] I love all

APRIL 7, 2022

“Ms. Wood is an amazing teacher, who knows how to directly get to know each student and teach them interactively. She has made me feel like I have a place in PV and in her marine biology class. I thoroughly enjoy her teaching and just spending time in class. I want to be a marine biologist and with her help I have fallen more in love with marine biology and our world. Ms. Wood is someone who has supported me in my dreams of continuing towards becoming who I want to be, even outside of the world of biology. She has taught me crucial things about life, public speaking and how to treat others and the world around us. I look up to Ms. Wood in an abundance of ways. Ms. Wood displays that one person, in a community, can make a difference.“ - Junior Heather Mcclung

sports and I just happened to be decent at soccer.”

Besides both sports and being in ASB, Larkins also enjoyed his classes. Two of his favorite teachers were his English teacher and his baseball coach as well.

“I really liked all my teachers,” Larkins said. “If I’m being honest I think that’s one of the reasons why I went into education.”

Larkins loves teaching his English students. He also loves the stories he teaches and storytelling itself.

“Just teaching itself,” Larkins said.

“You fall in love with it, with the books you teach. I feel like along the way John Steinbeck became my favorite author because of the teaching of ‘Of Mice and Men.’” Larkins has another role on campus.

He is the adviser of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at PVHS. And Larkins’ faith is a huge part of who he is.

“Why am I coaching?” said Larkins.

“Well because God wants me to. At least that’s what I feel.”

And with all of these aspects of Larkins we get an amazing teacher, coach and man.

“I have the English teacher side and the soccer coach side but there is definitely a union between the two and I always tell my soccer players, ‘you’re more than just a soccer player,’” Larkins said.

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(Photos by Ayla Torres) “Ms. Varela is an exemplary teacher, role model and feminist. Her strength of character and guidance has influenced so many students on this campus. As a history teacher, she empowers her students to study and discuss difficult realities of our global history and opens the minds of her students to be more tolerant and adaptable. One of Ms. Varela’s most admirable qualities is her unrelenting dedication to her students and everyone on campus. Varela will never give up fighting to make sure everyone feels safe and heard on this campus. She teaches through example that even if you stand alone against injustice, there is no other way.”

- Senior Camila Jongsma

Spanish Private Tutoring & Translation Spanish I-IV Spanish Honors AP Spanish Language AP Spanish Literature Contact us for a Free Trial Lesson ginadiaz@Peninsulaspanish.com

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777 Silver Spur Road, Suite 101 | Rolling Hills Estates, CA

PAGE 5

A Day

Sea Kings Share Their Universal Studios

“My favorite place at Universal would be the Jurassic Park water ride. I liked it because they trick you by sending you up a huge hill, and then a slight drop so you think the ride is over, but in reality, at the end they send you down a super steep incline when you aren’t expecting it. I would recommend Universal Studios to other people.”

- Alex Cacos (10)

Venice Boardwalk “My favorite part at the Venice Boardwalk is the exercise equipment because it’s free to use for everyone and lots of different people can workout and use equipment like the rings, dip bars, climbing ropes, and other stuff not available somewhere else. It builds a fitness culture that’s open to everyone. I’d recommend it because some of the equipment is unique and fun to try, and anyone with any amount of experience can walk up and try it.”

- Kyle Kan (12)

Sprinkles Cupcakes

“ My favorite thing to have at Sprinkle’s is the vanilla cupcake. I like it because it tastes good. I recommend Sprinkles because they have the best cupcakes.”

- Matthew Liu (10)

Design by Alycen Kim and Andrew Carpenter

in LA

Favorite Spots In The City

Griffith Observatory

“My favorite part of the Griffith Observatory is the Planetarium, [they do] a show where they project stars and planets overhead. I think it’s special to see the universe in such detail because living in L.A. you never really get to see the night sky.”

- Cate Fasoletti (11)

Walt Disney Concert Hall

“My favorite part of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was seeing the architecture there. It’s really amazing to see all the design. I I thought the architecture was really interesting or unique and it’s hard to describe unless you see a picture. I would highly recommend a visit there because of the shows and the cool design.”

- Cayden McGuire (10)

Porto’s Bakery

“The guava cream cheese pastries are the best because they are very sweet, but also balanced. I wouldn’t recommend this place because the lines are already long enough and I don’t want anyone there making them longer.”

- Bence Relatores (12)

OPINION

A Rejection of All College Rejections A Satirical Guide to Dealing With the Lows of Admission Season

By Alycen Kim editor-in-chief

“We regret to inform you…”

You stare, horrified and shellshocked, at the tiny print on the screen in front of you.

The very ground beneath you feels like it’s shaking, as if getting rejected from your dream college has somehow caused a 5.7 magnitude earthquake.

Your family and peers are quick to offer you words of advice, which you can’t help but refute. Here is a guide to a rejection of all college rejection tips.

2. Give Yourself Time to Process the Rejection Time, time, time. After all of the hours you spent agonizing over the Common App and the late nights spent working to maintain your perfect GPA, the best your college could offer you was a definitive, insulting “no”.

3. Cry it Out The average person cries 30 to 64 times a year, but the average dejected senior cries 30 to 64 times in a single week.

Cry me a river? More like cry me an ocean. Seriously, Kleenex should sponsor all of us.

1. Get Excited About Other Schools

4. Distract Yourself

Well, that’s a little hard after you’ve already followed every Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter account affiliated with your dream school. Oh, and don’t forget that you have half of the college’s merchandise store hanging proudly on display in your closet.

Distracting yourself seems simple enough, but not when the only thing your friends and family seem to be talking about is college. Really, if you hear one more “So what college are you going to?” from your grandma, you’ll scream.

(graphic by Alycen Kim)

Don’t Stress About Getting A Five

By Naomi Gan reporter AP exam season is right around the corner, but before you start stressing about scoring a five on your exam, hear me out. Spending all your time and money on AP preparation is not worth it. In terms of college admissions, AP scores don’t actually matter. College admissions officers know how the College Board operates and know that AP scores often do not even accurately reflect a student’s knowledge of a subject.

According to the College Board itself, “More than 75% of admission officers [the College Board] surveyed said that a low AP score on an AP exam would not harm an applicant’s admission prospects.”

In fact, most colleges make it optional to report an AP score, so colleges may never know a student’s score anyway. Since not every student must submit their scores, colleges can’t compare each student evenly in the AP category, meaning AP scores don’t carry a lot of weight in the admissions landscape.

It’s obvious that low scores don’t

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matter, but what about high scores?

Some say a high AP score reflects one’s readiness to succeed in college classes, and colleges will be more likely to admit them because of it.

However, this is simply not true. A high grade in an AP class more accurately reflects a student’s college-level learning over time than one score on a single test.

High AP scores can decrease college tuition as students may be able to use their score to skip some introductory courses, however this is difficult to do at many colleges and is not as effective for one’s actual learning.

AP scores do not accurately indicate one’s level of knowledge, especially because AP courses are generally easier than actual first year college courses, which means students are not gaining the same amount of knowledge in a high school course and are taking the high school exam rather than the college version.

In conclusion, although high AP scores always feel good and seem impressive on a resume, in the long run they don’t matter as much as most people believe in college admissions.

“It Was Just A Joke” The Harm Behind Offensive Jokes

By Eva Mayrose reporter From seemingly harmless jokes, to forward and flagrant racist and homophobic comments, you’d be surprised how many seriously offensive topics can be excused because they were “just a joke.”

Since rising prejudices in the 1950s, minorities have sunk to being the punchline of now outdated and stereotypical jokes.

Though, even now in 2022, adolescent society unfortunately hasn’t grown out of this meager attempt to tear down those who are different.

The issue is, what really is the punchline? What part of making fun of someone’s religion, sexual orientation, race or gender identity is funny?

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What’s even more saddening is the increasing context in which such jokes are heard on our very own PVHS campus.

Throughout my three years at this school I have heard antisemetic comments addressed to

my Jewish friends, racist jokes said in classrooms, as well as transphobic and homophobic statements made to draw attention to LGBTQ+ students.

Although people often pass

them off as jokes, what they don’t realize is that while you may have just been messing around with your friends by saying something like “gross, that’s so gay,” you have unintentionally (or in some cases, intentionally) offended LGBTQ+ students around you.

The same goes for harmful, racist comments that may have lasted a few seconds for the person who tells the joke, but can stick with someone of that ethnic group for years, along with the feeling of being unwelcome and unsafe in what is supposed to be an accepting environment.

After decades of putting up with offensive jokes, it’s time to give minority groups grace and retire outdated and stereotypical comments to create a sense of respect and unity in our school and community.

(graphic by Eva Mayrose) APRIL 7, 2022

OPINION A Letter From the Editors On the elementary school playground, we were told to “play fair.” Whether it was four square or dodgeball, we were all expected to follow the rules of the game, in order to create a fun and equal lunchtime activity. But, what if the rules of the game are fundamentally broken?

According to The Atlantic, the number of applications submitted to colleges over the past twenty years has increased by more than 150 percent. And every year, the number of applications breaks the record for the previous year, plummeting acceptance rates and leaving students and admissions officers alike stressed and overwhelmed.

It’s undeniable: the college application process is in desperate need of reform.

First and foremost, the Test-Optional policy must be ended. At the start of the pandemic, SAT and ACT tests, once a staple of the college admissions process, suddenly became inaccessible for the majority of American high school students. In response to this unprecedented change in inaccessibility, a majority of universities in the United States switched from a mandatory testing policy toward “test-optional” and even “test-blind” formats.

This change led to a surge in applicants seeking admission to high-ranking schools as the daunting task of a high percentile score was removed, driving down admission rates and presumably excluding many high-scoring individuals from using what, in normal years, was an advantage over their peers.

However, since then, the pandemic has receded significantly, opening up a plethora of testing opportunities which beckons the chance for admissions

testing requirements to return to the status quo.

Second, restricted Early Action should be abolished.

Early action and decision present college hopefuls with the opportunity to figure out their options ahead of the majority of other seniors. Early action allows for candidates to apply to a variety of schools while decision focuses an applicant’s attention to a top choice that they are bound to after acceptance.

What disrupts this, however, is restricted early action (REA) in which applicants are only allowed to apply to one school early (almost always their top choice) while simultaneously being allowed to apply to more schools for regular decision.

Applicants have been known to get into their top choice through REA and later applying to schools they wouldn’t even want to go to anymore considering their initial acceptance just to “flex” on other applicants knocking well-qualified students to the waitlist and normally waitlisted applicants to the pile of rejections.

Lastly, colleges should use supplemental essays as a means to narrow the applicant pool. We see it time and time again: colleges with less than two supplemental essays will receive tenfold the number of applicants, forcing admissions officers to deal with a sudden, massive surge in applications.

In this case, the vast majority of applicants are either rejected or waitlisted, putting acceptance rates for normal “target” or “safety” schools in the >10% range.

Instead, colleges should have more supplemental essays and create meaningful, school-specific prompts that will encourage applicants who actually want to attend the school to apply.

By Andrew Carpenter design editor

(graphic by Amber Chen)

Stifling Children’s Freedom

Parents Should Give Their Children More Freedom to Develop Interests and Personal Viewpoints

By Sophie Stoddart reporter All parents want their children to be successful and prosperous.

Parents have the obligation to help guide their children through life, and instill in them the lessons and wisdom they have acquired during their many years of living, contributing advice and personal insight on what they think is best for their children based on their own life experiences.

Most parents want their children to make decisions that lead to healthy, social and academically enriched lives, in spite of what the kids themselves want.

Unfortunately, for many students, they are pushed to achieve these aspects of life, but only through approaches their parents see fit.

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As the pandemic has prevailed, Americans have been given the freedom to choose whether or not to get vaccinated. Many parents were hesitant about getting their young children vaccinated due to limited initial data, but there were also parents who refused to let their teenage children get vaccinated despite the abundance of credible research.

It is counterproductive to their children’s development of independence when they are denied the opportunity to propagate their own research, create and express their own viewpoint, and make their own decision on whether they want to be vaccinated or not. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is such an important, life-altering decision that can affect a child’s health and relationships.

As kids grow into young adults, they develop the communication

skills necessary to properly express their needs, and are able to independently dictate what is best for their health and wellbeing after reading up on reliable research. It is the parent’s job to step aside and give their teenage kids the freedom to express how they feel about their own body.

Kids are also often faced with pressures from their parents to take certain classes in school and pursue certain career paths.

In a parent’s mind, they would only see their behavior as love and concern for their child’s future, and dedication to the act of ensuring a bright future for their child.

Many parents desperately want their kids to succeed, and have built it up in their mind that their kids need to take hard classes and have certain jobs in order to be successful.

Many parents tend to ignore

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the personal goals, wishes and future aspirations of their kids because they are fixated on a certain idealistic vision where their child takes all AP classes in high school, applies to the top colleges in the country and is accepted, then goes on to become a doctor or a lawyer.

However, in reality, their kids may be silently struggling because their passions are elsewhere and would completely change their priorites if they were not under so much parental pressure. These parents need to recognize that their children are unique individuals and have already found passions for themselves. It is not their job to sabotage their child’s future by passively forcing them into a life that they do not want to live.

Finally, parents need to stop believing that every relationship or friendship their child has,

needs to have their approval.

Every parent’s wish is for their child to befriend people who are genuine, kind, and above all else, a positive influence on those around them.

If a parent trusts their child and believes they have raised a kind and genuine positive influence, they need to be able to trust their child’s judgment of character.

Parents can still give their kids their opinions on whether or not they think their child’s friends are the right people to spend time with, and of course step in if there is a serious problem or their child is in danger, but they cannot completely control their kid’s social life.

If parents want their children to grow up and choose friends who are kind and positive influences, they need to teach and raise their children themselves to be benevolent and good-natured.

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SPORTS PVHS Football Player Commits to Washington University

By Reddin Kehrli social media editor

While the game of football might just be entertainment to watch from the stands of Red Tide, it has a deeper meaning to #2 on the field, senior Justin Mabry.

“Football has always been so special to me because there isn’t a sport that has the same type of brotherhood that football creates through the many hard hours of hard work during the season,” Mabry said.

On February 14, 2022, Mabry officially committed to Washington University at St. Louis to pursue his love for football at the college level and further his academic career.

Mabry has played football since he was very young, starting out with flag football. Mabry’s senior year was his 10th year playing tackle football.

Growing up, Mabry played a variety of sports including soccer, baseball, volleyball and basketball, but as he entered high school, Mabry, “narrowed it down to baseball and football.

“I always thought that if I was going to play sports in college, it was 100% going to be baseball because I put so much more time

into it,” Mabry said.

However, when Mabry encountered an injury in his elbow that prevented him from pitching, “I turned my full focus towards football.”

While his senior year and legacy at PV comes to an end, Mabry recalls fond memories of his time playing for his high school.

“The past four years playing football at PV were the most memorable years that I’ve played and seeing my body and skill set develop over the past four years has been really special,” Mabry said. “I will never forget the countless memories and tight bonds that have been created in the past four years with all my brothers on the field.”

He also notes, “The most important thing that I’ve learned from playing football at PV is that hard work always pays off.”

“We were already pretty good friends before football, but over the years and connecting through it, I’d say we for sure got a lot closer,” Justin’s teammate and best friend senior Niall Collins said. “Seeing someone I have been growing up with and working for an opportunity to play at a great school like WashU is

UFC Fighters Complain Over Pay

By Aaron Paik reporter Through the years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, has established itself as the most popular organization of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the world. From fighters spanning from over 70 countries, to over 700 active fighters, it’s apparent that the UFC is a massive organization. Despite the major surge in popularity in the past decade, there has been a major increase in numbers of fighters complaining about their pay.

According to Sports Daily, the average income of a UFC fighter in 2020 was $160,022.

At surface level that might not seem like the fighters are being underpaid, however that number is greatly skewed considering the fact that some fighters make more than 300 times the amount than other fighters.

Another statistic shows that 19% of the UFC made less than $25,332 in 2021, which is considered below the poverty line.

“I feel that UFC Fighters do deserve higher pay because they are putting their life on the line for their job and for others’ entertainment,” sophomore Rocco Gambino said.

Not only are the low-tier fighters underpaid. Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou made $600,00 for his last fight, compared to WBC Heavyweight

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Champion Tyson Fury making $27 million in his last fight.

Not only do fighters feel as if they are underpaid, they also have to pay for other expenses.

UFC fighter Myles Jury explained that 5-10% of a fighter’s purse goes to the gym and training camp.

Another 30% is given to all the coaches. On top of that, the fighters have to pay for their own medical expenses, which can easily add up to thousands of dollars.

The pay has been considered so bad to the point where UFC fighters are considering quitting MMA to pursue boxing.

A professional athlete switching their whole entire sport is almost unheard of.

A prime example of this is Ngannou. With already prior issues with UFC President Dana White, Ngannou claimed that before his bout during UFC 270, that a UFC representative texted him about a potential lawsuit about claims of Ngannou pursuing boxing.

“I feel like Dana White is always making money moves and just trying to make as much money as possible,” Sophomore Nate Kim said. “However, I feel for the fighters because they are sacrificing their health, time, and hard work despite the pay.”

The fighters are quick to speak out about their pay, but the UFC is just as fast as silencing the fighters.

pretty cool to see.”

Without a doubt, Mabry works extremely hard in and outside of football, as seen by his various other leadership roles on campus including being a Red Tide captain this year.

Mabry was able to wrap up his high school career with

every athlete’s goal, an official commitment to a top tier university.

“I started my recruitment process to Washington University in St. Louis because I wanted to get the best education that I possibly could get and see if I could play football in college

as well,” Mabry said.

While Mabry was talking to several coaches and had several options, “the fit of the football team combined with the top 10 nationally ranked academics made the decision to commit to WashU pretty easy.”

(Photo courtesy of Justin Mabry)

March-ing Back to an Annual Tradition

By Isabella Firmani reporter

Last month, March Madness, an annual tradition at PVHS, was brought back after a long break from in-person school and lunchtime activities.

March Madness is a singleelimination style basketball tournament played in reference to the NCAA March Madness that happens each Spring with about sixty-eight college teams competing. Here at PVHS, students bring the competition down to the gym to put on a tournament of their own.

Junior Tate Ballard, one of the ASB members involved in the planning of the competition, shared exactly what the games are composed of. “[March Madness is] a 3v3 half court tournament that we have in the gym during lunch. The team that scores 11 points first or whoever is winning when the 15 minutes are up wins the game.”

From there, the teams moved up the bracket and played on until there was one winning team.

This year, twenty-eight teams signed up via a Google Form and games were consistent throughout March and the beginning of April.

“One challenge we ran into was reserving the gym,” Ballard explained. “We had to make sure that it didn’t conflict with any sports or other events and we also had to make sure we didn’t

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PVHS students show their abilities on the court during the March Madness tournament. (Photo by Luka Ardon) schedule any games the week of scholar quiz.”

For this reason, March Madness games were halted for about a two weeks in the middle of the month and picked back up after Scholar Quiz finished.

Alongside Ballard, a few other ASB members helped get the gym ready each lunch and run the tournament. Together, they set up cones to distinguish courts, refereed matches, and also brought a speaker and microphone to play music and announce the games.

“Personally, I think [the competitions] have been going great,” Ballard added. It seems like everyone has been really enjoying the games and having a good time.”

This tradition is one that is special to PVHS and always provides a great opportunity to

get involved at school whether a student wants to get their head in the game or simply cheer on their friends from the sidelines.

“It’s something that PV has done for years,” ASB Vice President Kylie Grace Freeland said.

“Not only do our basketball players love it but also it’s a super fun way to just get everyone together rooting on their friends.”

One player, senior Zach Dawson, says his team got together “for the sole reason of domination on the court.” “[We] currently haven’t lost and overall everyone’s had an awesome time.” Dawson said on March 20, “I didn’t play freshman year so I’m definitely glad we had it my senior year.”

The March Madness competition wraps up next week.

APRIL 7, 2022

SPORTS

Kansas Jayhawks Win it All in March Madness 2022

By Jonathan Liu sports editor As the month of March arrived, the yearly college basketball tradition did as well.

The NCAA March Madness tournament, one of the most anticipated times of year, finally arrived.

With the one game elimination style, causes for upsets, and players leaving it all out there on the floor, anticipation was at an all time high with stellar teams and full crowds returning for the first time since the pandemic.

“I am really excited for this year’s tournament and it doesn’t usually change between the years. My favorite part of the tournament is just watching all of the games take place and watching all of the upsets and crazy things happen,” said Junior Will Bengston.

While the season has cruised along, the best teams have left their mark on fans and centered themselves as “favorites” to win this tournament.

“I haven’t done all my research yet, and I am very nerdy about all of these statistics, but I do think Baylor has the best chance as of right now. They have lots of experience and they have a lot of talent and defensive pressure,” Bengston said prior to the

tournament.

The annual Selection Sunday occurred on March 13, and it showed all fans where each team in the tournament would be seeded in the tournament and their path to the Final Four, and sense of competition in their regions.

As the selections were out, there were some mix of feelings on who was going to win it all after seeing some team’s road to glory.

“I like Illinois to win it all currently, after seeing their region and the teams they would have to go through in the tournament.

I think Kofi Cockburn, their center, is the best player in this tournament currently,” sophomore Will Jorczack said before the tournament.

As the ball was tipped, upsets were taking place left and right.

A two-seed Kentucky who was favored by a lot of experts, went down in an disappointing fashion against 15-seed St. Peters.

St. Peters would continue their Cinderella first weekend with a win over seven-seed Murray State, advancing them to a Sweet Sixteen berth.

As this Cinderella story began, most of the country has began to fall in love with the Peacocks.

Another number two seed, Auburn led by Jabari Smith, fell

in the round of 32 to University of Miami, in a blowout 79-61, as Auburn fell apart in the second half being outscored 46-29.

Another eyeopener was the reigning champion Baylor Bears, falling to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Heels opened up a second half lead of 25, but Baylor’s championship experience gave them an edge, forcing the game to go to an overtime period.

In overtime, RJ Davis of North Carolina was too much, moving the Tar Heels to the second weekend.

As the Sweet 16 began, the madness began as 1 seeds, Gonzaga and Arizona went down in disappointing performances leaving the landscape wide open for lower seeds.

The lower seeds took advantage as Saint Peters defeated Purdue to make history, being the only 15 seed in history to make the Elite 8.

Blue Bloods North Carolina, Duke, and Kansas continued their dominance on their way to the Elite 8.

The magical story of Saint Peters came to a close in the Elite 8, as North Carolina defeated them 69-49, leading them into a Final Four with Duke, Villanova, and Kansas.

This final four was one for the

ages, as historic programs, North Carolina and Duke would face off with each other for the first time in the NCAA tournament.

The Blue Devils were looking for revenge from their date on March 5, as UNC spoiled Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last home game, as he was set to retire after this season.

The game went back and forth, as ASB Director Jama Maxfield and her children runs were made celebrate Kansas’s National Championship. by both teams.

In the end, the (Photo courtesy of Jama Maxfield) shot making ability of UNC guard Caleb Love, and Duke’s As the whole season came down inability to make free throws, to one game, North Carolina and decided the game as Coach K’s Kansas gave it their all, in a game full career was ended on a loss, of swings.

81-77.

By halftime, North Carolina was up In the other Final Four game, 15, but as the second half began, the Villanova did not have enough Jayhawks made their stride. to hang with Kansas, as Ochai Coming down to the final minute, Agbaji led the way to a 81-65 big buckets made by Kansas center victory.

David Mccormack put them over the Disadvantages for Villanova edge winning 72 -69, giving Kansas were visible, as their starting their shining moment, awarding the guard, Justin Moore ruptured his Jayhawks their fourth national title in achilles in their previous game. basketball..

Math Teacher at PVHS Balances Teaching and Taekwondo

By Jonathan Liu sports editor As most students know Leannee Nemeth as a great teacher, something that gets swept under the rug is that she is also top tier in the dojang.

“I’ve been doing Taekwondo for about a total of six years, but because the dojang was closed because of lockdown, it’s technically been around four and a half,” Nemeth said.

Even after the struggles of not participating due to COVID-19, she still continues to have a passion for the sport.

“What keeps me motivated to continue

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Taekwondo is I like the dojang I go to. I’m a little of a screwball, and the master over there lets me be a screwball. My comedic talents are also appreciated at the dojang,” Nemeth said.

Some might wonder about how Nemeth balances creating lesson plans and grading, but for Nemeth, she only teaches on A days.

“I balance the workload of teaching and Taekwondo because I teach part time. I gave up on teaching full time,” she said.

As a result of Nemeth loosening up her schedule, she has had the opportunity to propel her level into a First down black belt level.

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PVHS Students “Go for the Green” at 2022 Scholar Quiz

NEWS

Tradewinds Takes the Podium with Slam Poetry

By Meeka Rahimi reporter

(from left to right) Matthias Yee, Grant Walther, Sam Malekzadeh and Will Bray listen intently to the next Scholar Quiz question. Their team took home the championship. (Photo by Luka Ardon)

By Victoria Nolan reporter Scholar Quiz, Palos Verdes High School’s annual high-intensity trivia battle, is known for inciting scholarly enthusiasm and exciting students with the opportunity to exercise their knowledge through competition. This six-day jeopardy-like event consists of teams of four and promotes academic excellence while firing up students for upcoming testing (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASSP) and Advanced Placement tests).

PV’s Scholar Quiz began in 2005 after current PV High teacher and Scholar Quiz organizer, Tecia Barton, brought the idea over from the game’s founder, Mira Costa High School. Barton previously attended and taught at Mira Costa and now does an exceptional job at organizing this event for PV students and teachers to enjoy each year. Barton elaborated on the technical details of how Scholar Quiz functions.

“Each team has four players,” Barton said. “At all times a team must be seated at the table with four. Each round is single elimination. By day six we are down to two top teams. During each game, there are at least three individuals commanding the game: reader, judge and score keeper.”

Scholar quiz grills participants on a variety of topics. “​All areas are quizzed from basic math to complicated mathematical equations, world history (including our own history), language, geography, pop culture, business trends to the arts and of course the sciences,” Barton said.

“Current events are sprinkled in between and knowing the downlow on the Kardashians sometimes helps.”

The theme of this year’s Scholar Quiz, “Aiming for the Green,” was based on

golfing and is a play on words. The encouraging meaning behind it carries the hopes of bumping up the school’s test scores to the “green.”

“The state testing is now grading schools based on a dashboard which is color coded,” librarian Ashley Brockman said. “Blue is the highest color code, next is green, then yellow, orange and red. Our last state scores were in the oranges and yellows which is not where we want to be, and not very reflective of our student body, so we’re trying to aim our goals towards that green area. This is where we got to the color green, and where we thought, ‘let’s bring in golf as our theme this year.’”

In order to be successful in Scholar Quiz, one’s team must be well-rounded and knowledgeable in a variety of topics.

The members of this year’s winning team, Team Yee (consisting of junior Grant Walther and seniors Matthias Yee, Sam Malekzadeh, and Will Bray), used a clever strategy to help achieve victory and take home their $1000 prize.

“Our team captain Matthias formed the team based on our different individual strengths so we were each strong in certain categories,” Malekzadeh said.

“In the start there’s around sixty teams and people gradually got weeded out and so it feels pretty crazy that we actually won considering how much competition we had.”

Barton explained there is a valid intent behind Scholar Quiz.

“Academics can be fun,” Barton said.

“Competition isn’t just about PVHS sports but brains as well. It is a great time for scholars to show-off their competitive nature, athletes to show-off their brains, beauties to show-off their brains, and everyone to know they bring some intellectual prowess to the table.”

Pint-Sized Stories

In March, the students who create the poetry magazine, Tradewinds, hosted their annual slam poetry night.

“I think the poems from this year were much better, they seemed to be more developed and I know the students had really practiced,” Tradewinds adviser Karen Kostrencich said.

“We focused a lot on presentation, rhythm, and volume.”

Poets from the class got to present their poems for an audience. For many members, this event was one of the hardest obstacles they had to overcome.

“In Tradewinds, the hardest part was probably just speaking in public, which I love because I’m a big talker,” sophomore Mia Dominguez said.

“I love to talk so it’s easy to do that but you have to be very vulnerable which is something I’m not very good at.”

For other members, it wasn’t so much the stage fright that they had to overcome.

Writing poetry itself caused a big struggle.

Not everyone in the club started with poetry, like senior Aeryn Rodney who started Tradewinds just this year.

“I am a writer,” Rodney said. “I pride myself on that but I’m not a poetry writer because it’s not something I typically do. I’m more of a narrative short story writer so when I figured out the entirety of Tradewinds with poems and poetry,

Sophomore Mia Dominguez delivers her poem at the Slam Poetry event on March 22. (Photo courtesy of Grace Trester) I realized ‘oh I’m gonna have to figure out how to actually write that instead of what I’m accustomed to’. I think from the beginning of senior year to now I’ve learned a lot.”

Many talented poets start later in life so it’s not too late to see if you’re passionate towards something.

(Graphic by Chloe Choi)