Friday, April 29, 2016
The Smoke Signal
Superhero name: Katwoman Craziest freshman memory: She pulled her first all-nighter during Homecoming.
www.thesmokesignal.org
Photo 19
Superhero name: Giggle Woman Craziest freshman memory: She got into a three-way car accident on the way to school all because of a bird.
The Smoke Signal‘s Co-Editor-in-Chief Katrina Cherk strives to be well-rounded and welcomes new experiences. During her freshman year, she founded the MSJ History Club with two friends in order to get more students to participate in National History Day, since the event didn’t seem as popular in high school compared to junior high. She got fifth place at Nationals and her club has competed nationally every year since its inception. She has currently been co-president for three years. She was also part of DECA for three years, qualifying for the International Career Development Conference twice. Additional leadership experience includes being a class officer in her freshman and sophomore years. Writing an article on a robotics competition as a Smoke Signal staff writer helped pique Katrina’s interest in the activity, and she eventually joined Team 7591 Voltage of Imagination in her senior year. Her hobbies include running, experimenting with graphic design, and learning new languages. She looks forward to traveling once she graduates, especially since she will be visiting Asia for the first time. A year ago, she never would have imagined taking so many risks, but she appreciates how much she’s changed and grown. She’s also grateful for her strong support group of friends and family that has always been motivating her along the way. In the future, Katrina wants to use college as a chance to explore and continue to find new passions.
Natalie Sin, a 13-year dance veteran, doesn’t limit herself to a specific genre. She has experience in hip hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, and ballet. She’s part of the Mission Dance and Performing Arts competition team and has made top 10 for her solos, duets, and group dances in multiple competitions. Natalie hopes to continue dance in college as a minor or through a dance team. Her love for dance led her to expand her involvement in the activity, including becoming the COR Dance Club President and leading Homecoming airbands. Additional leadership experience as the LEO Club Publicity Head in her sophomore year encouraged her to apply to L2. She is currently the LEO Club Vice President. She continued to try new things, such as running for Senior Class President, a position that she now holds. Natalie values positivity as well as the mentality that anything is possible and thinks it’s important to help others as well as oneself. She spends her free time watching choreography videos on YouTube, and her hobbies include going on food adventures and singing her favorite tunes at the top of her lungs. Natalie said, “I love eating. It’s not even a hobby; it’s an obsession. And Swerpy Sin jamming sessions are always available if you want to hang out with me!”
Matthew Saleem is as menacing an athlete as he is an approachable and wellbeloved friend. Having won first place in the Frosh/Soph high hurdles event as a sophomore who joined track mid-season without spikes, Matthew is truly a force to be reckoned with. Through his victory in tenth grade, the Frosh/Soph Most Valuable Player discovered his affinity for hurdles and eventually became the hurdles captain this year. In addition to helping train hurdlers, Matthew also enjoys passing down STEM knowledge through his involvement in Math and Science Education (MASE) and through his role as MSJ Science for Youth’s president. As a part of Fremont Is Engaging in Real Change in the Environment (FIERCE), a districtwide eco club, and MSJ Sustainable Science and Technology’s (SS&T) co-founder and vice president, Matthew places much emphasis on tackling issues regarding environmentalism. After an internship with a doctor, he also felt inspired to become a surgeon and selflessly serve his patients with kindness, empathy, and compassion in the future. Matthew is set on pursuing medicine and will be taking a direct medical program in college. Befitting his fun-loving personality, some of Matthew’s hobbies include running, cooking, and making people laugh.
Whether he’s running for MSJ’s track team, coordinating a fundraiser for the UNICEF club, or playing chess during his free time, Parry Dong always finds the motivation to give whatever he’s doing his all. Although Parry first came to MSJ from Horner Junior High School, he was immediately met with an accepting and welcoming student body, which he credits as the reason why he became so involved with clubs and activities on campus. He’s been on MSJ’s track team for four years, a backstage tech volunteer for the school’s drama productions for two years, and has been impacting the lives of MSJ students through his work as a Global Glimpse Ambassador over the past year. As a junior, Parry traveled to Nicaragua with the Global Glimpse program where he met and connected with new people, expanded his perspective on life, and pushed himself far out of his comfort zone, making it the “coolest experience” of his high school career. Parry cites family as being the primary reason why he continues to push himself to do better in all aspects of his life, saying that it drives him to persevere until he succeeds.
Superhero name: Platypus Craziest freshman memory: During track, Parry thought his fellow freshman friend Vanessa Morales was a senior.
Superhero name: Mattman Craziest freshman memory: Going crazy with his friends after finding that he set the curve on his biology final. photos by staff writers ashley chang, michelle dalarossa, mallika gupta, lucille njoo, zen thumparkkul & cindy yuan