2008 may by The Arcadia Quill

Volume 56, Issue 9

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

May 2008

New Faces: Pow Wow Changes It Up

In this issue:

Photo Courtesy of GOOGLE.COM

NEWS pg. 2 China Earthquake: A brief update on the horror that struck the great nation. Photos by JENNIFER HANG

TRANSITION The new Editors-in-Chief, juniors Lisa Chang and Laura Kelly are prepared to replace seniors Kyle Jacobsen and Hanan Kamal, the current leaders of The Pow Wow, for the upcoming ‘08-‘09 school year. By TRACY LEE & ERICA WIN

Photo Courtesy of PAUL CHEN

ACADEMICS pg. 7 Math Team: More details on the team’s victory at the Bay Math League Competition where they placed ﬁrst.

Photo by JAMES HERNANDEZ

CENTER SPREAD pg. 8-9 New Members: Discover the new teams of the most prestigious clubs and teams on campus for ‘08-‘09.

Staff Writers

s the year comes to its conclusion, it is customary for the upperclassmen to pass the baton of leadership to the underclassmen who will next assume their roles. Just three weeks ago, after a rigorous screening process in which several underclassmen competed, current Editors-in-Chief of The Apache Pow Wow, seniors Kyle Jacobsen and Hanan Kamal, stepped down from their positions, choosing juniors Lisa Chang and Laura Kelly to fill their shoes as next year’s Editors-in-Chief. “We’ve made great strides in Pow Wow this year, and I am confident that Laura and Lisa will take us to the next level,” said Kyle. And what great strides they have made. In comparison to last year’s Pow Wow, this year’s staff, under the leadership of Kyle and Hanan, was able to produce nearly twice as many issues, a considerable feat in itself in addition to having a substantial monetary deficit

at the beginning of the school year. And not only the quantity, but this newspaper makeover has also produced a student publication of much greater quality. Because of the hard work and sheer effort that these two have put into the paper, the Pow Wow is now better than ever, coming a long way from its former days among the slacker electives. The other former Editor-in-Chief, Hanan added, “I’m both happy and sad about stepping down—happy that I am ﬁnally done, but sad that I’m never going to get to do this again. Even so, I’m conﬁdent about leaving The Pow Wow in the capable hands of Lisa and Laura.” New Editors Lisa and Laura hope that “there will be better writing in the 2008-2009 Pow Wow and that it will be a fun experience for all the new and returning staff members.” They are now in the process of reorganizing the staff, planning new fundraisers, and overseeing the production of the last issue of the paper. They played an integral role in the selection of the upcoming year’s staff, forming helpful guides during the interview process and offering their opinions to Advisor

Mr. Johnny Lee. Coming into the spotlight, these two have now taken over the positions in their entirety and pushing the paper forward, laying down the groundwork for next year’s paper, to close this year with a bang and hopefully a bank balance in the black. Along with this new leadership, The Pow Wow will see another change as next year’s staff will be headed by two Editorsin-Chief in addition to one Managing Editor, junior Veronica Lim. In previous years, the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor formerly led The Pow Wow with the former taking creative control and the latter taking care of delegating tasks. While this year’s paper made the job of Managing Editor obsolete with both Kyle and Hanan as co-Editors-inChief, Veronica will re-establish the position and take on the responsibilities of a Managing Editor, working closely with Lisa and Laura to provide leadership to the staff. Veronica said, “I’m really looking forward to working as Managing Editor next year for Pow Wow and helping out with fundraising—hopefully, we’ll get a lot more school-wide support next year!”

NEWS

Staff Editors

Editors-in-Chief News Editors Opinion Editors Performing Arts Editors Student Life Editor Features Editors Sports Editor Academics Editors

Center Spread Editor Calendar Editor Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editors Executive Copy Editors Photography/Graphics Editors Webmaster Fundraising Chair Publicity Chair

Lisa Chang and Laura Kelly Jenny Lin and Jay Zhang Iris Jong and Gretl Lam Veronica Lim and Emily Rueter Mimi Kamal Cora Ormseth and Lily Wong KristieTom Melissa Chen and Jacqueline Yue Jennifer Hang and Melanie Yuen Daphne Tan Elaine Chang Michael Chen and Ivy Yang Celeste Cheung, Grace Kwong, and Christine Xu Roya Falatoonzadeh and Jennifer Hang Minda Wang Christine Howard Aisha Elmasri

Staff Writers News Staff

Opinion Staff

Performing Arts Staff Student Life Staff Features Staff

Sports Staff

Academics Staff Calendar Staff Campus Focus Staff Advertisement Staff

Copy Editing Staff

Center Spread Staff Fundraising Staff

Photo Staff

Adviser

Victoria Bian, Jackie Chan, Jennifer Chang, Celeste Cheung, Akhila Rao, Christine Xu Tiffany Chang, Iris Chen, Eleana Chiang, Arthur Huang, Kathleen Kao, Yan Man, Kayla Pang, Elaine Tsui Brianna Beckman, Andrés Delgado, Erica Liu, Kristen Shields Iris Chen, Joanna Chuang, Amber Kakish, Parvin Shakib, Angela Shen Rachel Cheong, Nancy Lam, Kristen Murakami, Christine Pao, Kristie Tom, Linda Wang, Erica Win, Sharon Yik Aisha Elmasri, Christine Howard, Mitalee Khilnani, Hannah MathewsWard, Minda Wang Kevin Kim, Grace Kwong, Tracy Lee, Scott Lyou Victoria Bian, Christine Wong, Melanie Yuen Joanna Chuang Matthew De Lellis, Rose Fisher, Chris Liang, David Sun, Kristie Tom, Christine Wong, Melanie Yuen Rachel Cheong, Andrés Delgado, Cindy Huynh, Tracy Lee, Scott Lyou, Eileen Yoon Sarah Lin Brianna Beckman, Aisha Elmasri, James Hernandez, Christine Howard, Ashley Johnson, Amber Kakish Hannah Gallaher, Elizabeth Hartshorn, James Hernandez, Ashley Johnson

Mr. Johnny Lee

Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reﬂect the opinion of the Apache Pow Wow editorial board. Student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Uniﬁed School District. Address letters to the editor to: AHS Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, call (626) 821-8370. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $380 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

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May 2008

Earthquake Devastates China

By VICTORIA BIAN & CELESTE CHEUNG

Staff Writers

At about 2:28 p.m. on May 12, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale hit the Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China. The epicenter was 75 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. The tremor shook office buildings in Beijing and Shanghai and was even felt in places as far away as Vietnam and Pakistan. All regions of China, except for Xinjiang, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, were affected by the earthquake. Official figures state that approximately 67,183 are confirmed dead, and 361,822 injured. These figures are likely to rise sharply; at least 29,328 are still declared missing. Over 15 million people live in the affected area, including almost four million in Chengdu. Nearly 2,000 of the dead were students and teachers caught in schools that collapsed. It was the deadliest and strongest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed approximately 250,000 people. Schools were among the most badly damaged buildings, and because of China’s One Child Policy, many devastated parents have been left childless. The Chinese government is allowing parents to have another

child, but, as many Chinese wait to have children, having another child is often not possible. 38-yearold Meng Liu Li, a resident of a Szechuan village, lost her son, Hao, in the earthquake. “When I heard Photo Courtesy of ﬂickr.com he was gone, SICHUAN, CHINA Man mourns for those who lost my whole body their homes and lives from the earthquake. went numb,” she said. “I felt the sky falling.” Another mother, Zheng na-Sichuan Relief Fund to send aid to Hongqun, was so paralyzed with grief earthquake victims in China. In addition, that she couldn’t get out of bed. Her son’s the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund has body was pulled from the wreckage about been established at every Cathay Bank 24 hours after the earthquake hit. Neigh- across the United States where checks bors tried unsuccessfully to distract Hon- can be made out to the Red Cross with qun and her parents from the tragedy. a memo indicating “Sichuan Earthquake “The child is gone. We can never see him Relief Fund.” The Red Cross Society of again,” Hongqun’s mother sobbed. “It China headquarters has received more than $500 million in donations, intershould have been us.” Twenty-four hours after the quake nationally and nationally fundraised. hit the media, people from all over the People interested in offering donations world, worried about families and friends towards the relief fund can visit the Red in China, quickly began to raise funds. For Cross Arcadia Chapter located on 376 instance, members of the Canadian-Chi- West Hungtington Drive, Arcadia CA nese community are launching the Chi- 91006.

Latina Women Celebrating Success

By VICTORIA BIAN

Staff Writer

The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation will be holding the 32nd Annual National Hispanic Women’s Conference at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday, June 6. The 2008 NHWC will convene over 1,500 young students and professionals to share and expand their horizons about life,

learning, ﬁnancial planning, and career choices. The conference is highlighted by the Women of the Year Awards Luncheon which will be hosted by Argelia Atilano, the Entertainment Correspondent of Univision Radio 107.5 FM. The 2008 awardwinners are: Dr. Celia Ayala, COO (Chief Operating Ofﬁcer of Los Angeles Universal Preschool); Gloria Santona (Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, McDonald’s Corporation); and Margaret Lazo (Senior Vice President, Hu-

man Resources, NBC-Universal). The awards luncheon will cap off with the conference Fashion Show, which will be presented for the ﬁrst time by Macy’s. Conference participants will receive the opportunity for professional development and networking opportunities through the career fair and workshops; while conference sponsors and exhibitors will participate to showcase their products and job opportunities to the Latino community.

Locke-d Down From School Fighting By JACKIE CHAN & JENNIFER CHANG

Staff Writers

On May 9th, the Los Angeles Police Department was called into Locke High School to subdue a racial fight that involved approximately 600 students. The brawl, which began as a gang-related battle between ten African American students and ten Hispanics students, quickly evolved into an all-school conflict occurring at more than one location. “It was a crew-on-crew thing,” Senior Victor Wong said, referring to graffiti gangs. Wong said the two groups of instigators met as planned at the school’s handball courts, and “all of them started going at it.” Within a few moments, the rest of the school joined in. “They would finish one place and run to another corner and fight,” he said. After campus police failed to resolve the fight, nearly 60 district police and 50 LAPD officers were sent in for help. Police had difficulty differentiating between students who were innocently walking to class and those who were actively involved in the fight. Officers were forced to use their batons and pepper spray in order to dispel the crowd, causing Hispanic students to the gym and African American students to Hobbs Hall. Although there were no

students were sent to the hospital, many Although numerous fights often ocwere injured and were treated on cam- cur on campus, the 600 student brawl pus by the school nurse and L.A. Fire was sure to be Department perits most severe. sonnel. “Security Racial tensions didn’t know where have been prevto go,” Wong alent at Locke added. “They’d High School, concentrate in one which consists spot and someof 35% African thing would hapAmericans and pen somewhere 65% Hispanics. else. This is the In recent years, worst I’ve seen.” there tended Students who were to be fights on not involved in the Photo Courtesy of google.com campuses whenfight were sent to LOCKE HS A 600 student fight ever there was a their classrooms Black and Latino broke out on May 9, 2008. for a school lock presence, includdown, preventing family members from ing LA, Compton, and Lynwood. Suentering. Police began releasing stu- san Cox, a LAUSD spokeswoman, dents at approximately 2 p.m. in small said that they were going to increase groups until 3:15 p.m. and, despite the security and send over human relavast number of students who were in- tions personnel to talk to the students volved, only four arrests were made – in the following week. In order to prethree students were charged with fight- vent future fights, Locke High School ing and one, who was not a student, was will become a charter school on July arrested for possession of a knife. 1st, 2008. It will be reorganized as a Locke High School, situated in Los cluster of charter schools run by Green Angeles, maintains a reputation of be- Dot Public Schools; some faculty and ing one of the more violent schools in staff have blamed the district for ruinthe area. This school year has been the ing it in its last year as a traditional worst, almost having daily small fights. public school.

May 2008

Opinion 3

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Can’t Beat Being a Senior By KATHLEEN KAO Staff Writer

After the rush of junior year, high school is a walk in the park. We seniors have one year left, and by the time this article is published, we’ll only have a few days to chill before we’re done with the horror that is the high school experience. Sure, we still have work, but it’s an anthill compared to the towering majesty of the junior, sophomore, or even freshman workloads. Quite honestly, our grades can go to pot at this point, and we’d still be okay. So when I walk down the hallways, I laugh at the juniors, jittery from their caffeine-laden diets, at the sophomores, the forgotten class, and at the freshmen, blindly searching for J-building in D hall. In the middle of the frenzied pace almost unique to AHS, I rejoice with my fellow seniors, happy, ecstatic that graduation is now in the not-so-distant horizon. Our thoughts of the future are no longer confined to nightmares of looming deadlines, three-inch-thick book reports, or all-nighters. We’ve liberated ourselves from the sovereignty of teachers, from their kingdom of whiteboards, projectors, and worksheets. We’ve finished prepping the canvas, mixing the paint, and envisioning the image of our futures. Now we’re finally going to paint the first, dazzling stroke. During senior year, the prospect of a future in the real world becomes infinitely more vivid, infinitely more real. After our graduation, we’re no longer merely thinking

about our futures; we’re finally, finally in the process of creating them. To add to the perks of senior year, we have the privilege of going off campus, an escape from the school, if only for forty minutes. While younger students are stranded in the confines of AHS, we’re out in the world. Then there are the “free periods” all seniors are entitled to. There are some of us suffering through only six hours of school instead of the standard eight hours. Some of us come to school at nine o’clock and leave at one fortynine. And even the rest of us often have classes that require absolutely no effort. After first semester grades are out, the collective sighs from seniors reverberate throughout the halls. It’s time to relax now. No more worries. No more stress. Even if we end up with a C in one of our classes, who’s going to care? We certainly won’t. Jealous yet? You should be. But we seniors have earned it. We’ve shed seas of blood, sweat, and tears, and now, we reap the rewards of senior year. It’s the one year when we are able to relax, to unwind, the year when grades don’t entirely dictate our mood, the year when we realize that, yes, there exists a vibrant life outside of the world of maimed textbooks and droning teachers. But don’t worry. You’ll all get there eventually, if you can survive the other three years at AHS. I wish you the best of luck. With the questionably edible cafeteria food, the long years you still need to suffer through, and the “it-does-matter grades,” you’ll definitely need it.

Above the Middle Ground By JENNIFER HANG Staff Writer

To the misunderstood, I present my pure, unadulterated appreciation. This celebrity exists not on the covers of the world’s tabloids, but in the families of our very own peers. This creature is destined to an eternity of vacillation between two extremes– it is the middle child. At one end of the spectrum, the eldest child walks free, undetected by the ever-hovering radar of parental concern. On the other end, the baby of the family sits upon a throne, a devilish smile belying venial innocence. And somewhere in between stands the middle child, lost at sea. After all, parents with three children inevitably exhaust their efforts on the eldest and the youngest. The middle child is thus the sibling who supposedly passes through life unnoticed. This, of course, is enough to gain pity from anyone, but here is where the misunderstanding lies. Middle children are often overshadowed by the demands of their siblings, but because they are not suffocated with attention, they are free to become individuals. Neither the golden child who manages to balance academics, athletics, instrumentals, and a social life, nor required to remain the adorable baby forever, the middle child lives without the shackles of perfection or of infinite youth, free to explore and eventually decide upon his own identity with little interference from authoritative parents. With the privilege of choice comes the opportunity to develop one’s own standing on the maturity meter. The first-born must ma-

TCID:

ture at a rapid rate, while the youngest child is cocooned in a protective case that leaves no room for growth. The middle child? No expectations. The beauty of being the middle child is that maturity level is never set in stone. If one day the middle child wishes to be viewed as a “grown up,” he may initiate conversation with the older, more knowledgeable sibling. But when this gets boring, as it inevitably will, he may wander off and find his younger sibling, with whom he can indulge in the innocent play of youth. Mature conversations with the older, and fun play with the younger. The time spent with each blossoms into a strong bond, a bond of deep, dark secrets and inside-jokes, a bond that the oldest and the youngest can seldom attain with each other. The middle child truly has the best of both worlds. Lucky enough to stand in this position, the middle child never needs to fit a mold, is allowed to identify with the age group he so chooses, and, perhaps best of all, possesses the ability to relate to others. At certain points in his life, he experiences exactly what the older feels. He may be blamed for something thanks to his younger sibling’s quivering lip or he may be forced to tutor his younger sibling when he would rather do anything else. And at another point in his life, he experiences exactly what the younger feels. Perhaps his older sibling may bully him, or perhaps he may be left out of an event designated for older children. Of all the advantages a middle child has, this privilege of experience is perhaps the most important. And so, to the misunderstood, I present my pure, unadulterated appreciation.

Farewell, AHS

Graphics by DANIEL YAMANE

The end as we know it As our high school lives end, we

remember and reflect, on times both nerve-wracking and wonderful... By TIFFANY CHANG Staff Writer

For as long as I can remember, that fabled graduation day has always seemed just beyond my reach. Year by year, step by step, we inched our way up to what we believed to be the apex of our academic journey, but the closer we got, the more it seemed to recede from us. Its greatness seemed too much to grasp, its vastness too hard to handle, its destination too remote to matter. But, alas, the last of my high school days are finally drawing to a long anticipated end, with the finish line unbearably and mockingly close. So long have we worked and waited for that one special day; the day that justifies our blood, sweat, and tears; the day we get to walk, turn the tassel, toss our caps— but now that we’re here— now that I’m finally here, and this chapter’s almost closed, it’s all bittersweet to me. It’ll be glorious, graduation day, and without doubt, satisfying. But as I move onward, it won’t be what I remember the most. In ways, everything I had heard about high school— the warnings, the excitement, the fallouts— had some truth to it. Entering high school as a freshman, young, impressionable, and naïve, I had, or believed I had, the following four years mapped out accordingly: with my best of friends from middle school, I’d laugh, I’d cry, I’d smile— I’d have the time of my life, share secrets, make inside jokes, maybe even find a nice boy; of course, there’d be a few friends I’d slowly drift apart from, but not the ones who truly mattered. Even if those friendships have dwindled down to mere memories and nothing more, I am not wailing in remorse. Because though the predictions of confidants-turned-strangers proved true, I have found others, not in place of the old, but alongside them. The worries of change and separation were cumbersome to us, all that clouded our vision, and all that we talked of. But they failed to mention the new friendships we’d find, the lasting bonds we’d build. I’ll always remember staying up late at night online, only to find the majority of my class right there beside me, singing off-key with my friends, rehearsing lines past twelve for a presentation the next day— all that and more. Without doubt, in the world of academia, high school proved as challenging as my parents and everyone else warned it would be.

But as hard as it was, as valid as their fears of failure and low grades, over time, I learned to place less emphasis on grades— despite the voices around me telling me they were what mattered the most. This is not because of apathy, but because I’ve come to terms about what truly matters. As students, we memorize things— the speed of light and Avogadro’s number and that porque and por qué have two entirely different meanings in Spanish, though one answers the other. We recall the backbone structure of DNA, the story of Daedalus and Icarus, the amendment that grants me the freedom to write all this. In the advent of passing tests and inevitably achieving that elusive A, students have resorted to memorization— the learn today, forget tomorrow kind. We cram; we scramble; we hang on by the very last thread— ever so tentative, ever so desperate. But with these four years, I’ve come to realize that’s not what propels success— stored knowledge and regurgitated information. And though we’ve placed so much emphasis throughout these years on earning that A, that 4.0, that 2400, there is so much more. No one ever talked about how high school should be about possessing a general passion for learning, one not prejudiced to any single topic or confined to classrooms and textbooks. I’d be lying, and inhuman, if I said there weren’t times that I was tormented by the should have’s, would have’s, or could have’s throughout my high school experience thus far. I can list plenty. Maybe I should’ve worked harder, joined more teams or clubs, gone to more dances. Maybe I could’ve taken fewer AP classes, stressed less about scores, or even distanced myself from others so as not to get too attached. But these would all be forms of avoidance to take risks, changes, make mistakes— and learn. I think back to my four years here, reminiscing the good with the bad, the ups with the downs; and even if I could, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because each laugh, each smile, each heartbreak has amalgamated and shaped me into the person I am today. Every moment has made my high school experience momentous, making it only that much harder to leave, to venture out once again, as a new and inexperienced freshman on a whole new campus. But to the seniors graduating in a couple of weeks, to those who fear the change in atmosphere, in schools, in friends, ease your qualms. After all, high school turned out all right— in fact, even better.

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May 2008

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ACADEMICS

Math Team > Bay League By KEVIN KIM Staff Writer

On Wednesday, May 21, Math Team competed in the Bay Math League Competition at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach for the final of the four-meet tournament. Math Team went up against 10 other schools, including rival San Marino High School. Beating San Marino and Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Arcadia held on to its first-place lead and clinched the top place overall finish for the first time in the team’s history. Captain Solomon Wang, senior, mentioned, “This year’s team was spectacular: We had very strong members returning and also very strong members joining. We’ve all worked very hard all year studying and preparing for competitions, meeting every Wednesday after school in P-2 for 1.5 hours, in addition to independent work outside of meetings.” This competition retained the same structure as those of previous meets, consisting of tests in five different topics and each individual competing in three of the five. It began with 10minute rounds of 9th- through 12th-grade math with the addition of research math. Test topics ranged from geometry to calculus, with 9thgrade math assigned to circles, 10th-grade math to exponentials and logarithms, 11th-grade math to sequence and series, 12th-grade math to area and volume by integration, and research math to hypothesis testing. In the final round, all Math Team members worked together to

Staff Writer

The Speech and Debate team competed at Novice Champs on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, for the last competition of the year, with Arcadia placing second in sweepstakes. Novice Champs, held at Alhambra High School on Friday and at Gabrielino High School on Saturday, hosted a total of seven schools. Only first-year and Junior Varsity members were able to compete in the competition, whereas Varsity members were judges instead of the usual adult volunteer judges at other competitions. “Many novices were able to try new types

Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy of PAUL CHEN

DON TEAM TRIUMPHANT Members of the Math Team celebrate their year of hard work after winning the four-part Bay League Competition. solve intense problems from each topic. Team A for Meet IV was composed of seniors Hannah Kim, Thomas Lam, Solomon Wang, Aubrey Yang, juniors Bryan Cheng, Derek Ouyang, Alan Xie, Andy Yu, sophomore Jason Jong, and freshman David Ke. Aubrey Yang and Bryan Cheng both received individual awards for winning top score overall and top score for juniors, respectively. Team B for Meet IV was made up of se-

of categories and others were able to show off their perfected performances. We had many winners from our school and it was a competition where I was able to meet a lot of other speech and debaters from other schools,” commented JV member junior Torie Jee. Novice Champs was slightly different than other competitions in that not only were no Varsity members allowed to compete, but also in that this was the only tournament of the year in which members were allowed to reuse their speeches from another competition. Debates were held on Friday, while the 12 individual speech events were held on Saturday. Nationals are held later in Henderson, Nevada.

“All our novices brought out all of their skills, the best of what they’ve learned this year, and showed the other high schools what’s up.” -Junior Ping King

nior Charles Lee, juniors Paul Chen, Jack Ching, Fady Gharbawy, Christine Shen, Stephanie Tai, Cliff Wu, sophomore Sam Wang, and freshmen Justine Lee and Edward Pang. Team C consisted of juniors Richard Fung, Cliff Wu, sophomores Eddie Xue, Tom Zhao, and freshman Kristi Kwon. “I’m really glad to have been part of this event. This was the first time in Arcadia history that we placed first,” said Bryan Cheng.

The following students are those who have placed: Impromptu: 3rd place Winston Chang, 6th place Kevin Wang; Oratorical Interpretation: 3rd place Kate Zha, 7th Nina Castro; Original Advocacy: 1st place Derek Ha, 4th Place Janna Singer-Baefsky, 6th place Bonnie Li; Expository: 4th place Arvia Sutandi; Foreign Extemporaneous: 6th place Winston Chang; Parliamentary Debate: 3rd place Abhik Bhawal and Vidhi Jhaveri, 5th place Derek Ha and Arvia Sutandi, 6th place Derek Tran and Rose Guo, 7th place Claudia Lamsam and Jaslyn Wong; Lincoln Douglass Debate: 2nd place Winston Chang, 7th place Derek Louie; Congress: 2nd place Kevin Wang, 6th place Torie Jee. “This was just a great way to end year. All of our novices brought out all of their skills, the best of what they’ve learned this year, and showed the other high schools what’s up,” said VP of Debate junior Ping King, a judge at the competition.

Academic Decathlon Loses Its Class

By TRACY LEE Staff Writer

It has recently been revealed that AHS’ Academic Decathlon (AcaDeca), due to insufficient funding in the district, is losing its 0-period class starting next year. Decathlon has always traditionally been a 0-period class in Arcadia, as in many other schools. Of the teams in the Los Angeles District, nearly all have their own classes and even maintain additional meetings to be able to study and absorb the bulk of information that the team competes in. As its name suggests, Decathlon competes in a total of 10 subjects which are

College Profile: University of Rochester

By SCOTT LYOU

Novices Speak Their Minds

By KEVIN KIM

based on the annual theme, such as this last year’s American Civil War. AcaDeca studies through the purchase of designated packets created by DemiDec, and the complete set of study materials from every year can reach up to 4,000 pages—a massive and whopping load to take on. It is for this reason that AcaDeca has always been a class, as its sheer workload and required dedication are tremendous. The problem now comes in the district’s lack of funding. With the cost of materials already being so high, because a 4,000-page study guide and copies for 20 people don’t come cheap, the district has been forced to cut funding from the team, and this means elimination of the class.

What does this mean for next year’s Decathlon? Junior Michelle Lee, slated to be cocaptain next year with junior Charlie Tsouvalas, said, “It’s going to be harder to do well without the consistent study time, but I think we’ll be okay.” Her plans so far for overcoming this obstacle include increased summer meetings and pulling three meetings a week during the school year. With the loss of daily meetings and funding, Decathlon will be forced to alter its traditional studying techniques—for better or worse, it’s still unknown, but Decathlon is still holding tryouts in late May and early June and will continue to work hard towards regaining its high district standing.

The University of Rochester, located in Rochester, New York, is a private, coeducational, research university. U.S. News & World Report ranked Rochester as 35th in the nation. In addition, the Times of London ranked Rochester as 21st in the world. Rochester is best known for its music, business, and medical schools. Rochester’s Eastman School of Music has consistently ranked first among graduate music programs in the U.S. and its William E. Simon Graduate School is ranked 25th among business schools. Rochester has three graduate and two undergraduate schools. Students can choose from 56 different majors, including biomedical engineering, music, and economics. Prominent alumni include Francis Bellamy, who wrote the original Pledge of Allegiance, Susan Hockfield, who is the current president of MIT, and Debra Jo Rupp, an actress on That 70s Show. Rochester has a very active social environment. Every athletic team, except the Squash team, participates in Division III of the NCAA and the University Athletic Association. There are over 200 student-run clubs, including Archery Club, Sailing Club, and Dodgeball Club. There are also many carnivals and themed celebrations throughout the year. Twenty-two percent of the students at Rochester belong to Greek organizations and have the option of living in chapter houses or special interest residential areas on and off campus. Rochester supports numerous research programs for its students with a $350 million budget. There are eight Nobel Prize winners among faculty, a laser-based nuclear fusion facility, and extensive research facilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Rochester has the ninth highest technology revenue among U.S. higher education institutions. It is an excellent college for students who wish to specialize in medical and scientific research. Details on Admission: SAT Critical Reading: 600-700 SAT Math: 630-720 SAT Writing: 590-690 ACT: 28-32 Out-of-state tuition & fees: $45,770 % of applicants admitted: 39.8

Photo Courtesy of google.com

IMPOSING The main hall glitters white among a copse of trees.

Campus Organizations

n e m o W d n a n e M r o Seni By TIFFANY WONG

Guest Writer

Known for our charming burgundy blazers and formal dress attire, the Senior Men and Women Organization is a volunteer group that promotes service and leadership affairs in the school and community. The carefully selected 20 men and 20 women portray fine traits of leadership, while representing the city of Arcadia and Arcadia High School. We assist in events such as graduation, Back to School Night, the Highland Oaks Carnival, the White Christmas Drive, the Blood Drive, and many more. Not only does the community benefit from our service, we as individuals benefit as well from volunteering and serving our community.

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2008-2009 SMW Ryan Bergara, Henri Blauuw, George Cavallo, Evana Chang, Wilfred Chang, Melissa Chen, Jack Ching, Jennifer Chu, Scott Fairbanks, Iris Guo, James Huang, Lisa Hung, Lisa Kalemkiarian, Fara Khaledi, Emerald Khoo, Courtney Lee, Hanna Lee, Michelle Lee, Kevin Mori, Hannah Matthews Ward, Derek Ouyang, Renaud Poizat, Brittany Reynolds, Emily Rueter, Matt Schroyer, Kanon Shiu, Sabrina Sun, Kyle Terry, Derek Tran, Charlie Tsouvalas, Daniel Tucker, Vincent Wang, Vivian Wang, Sandra Wong, Eric Wu, Janice Wu, David Yao, Eddy Yang, Emerald Yuan, and Jacqueline Yue MW thought that S ce on d a h I , else simply ‘volund n Like everyone a ’ rs ze la b ‘cool red ated ly underestim “just wore the re so I ow h e ow I se en.” teered.’ But n men and wom o, n ls ir g d n a s these forty boy - Jessica Lee

Consti By CHRIS LIANG

tution Staff Writer

2008-2009 Team Paul Bump, Elisa Carino, Wesley Chen, Rachel Cheong, Andres Delgado, Jillian Engel, Vidhi Jhaveri, Peter Kwang, Hannah Matthews-Ward, Christina Meng, Jenna Mittman, Kevin Mori, Sachin Raghunathan, Tara Sardesai, Monica Shei, Angela Shen, Christine Shen, Sabrina Sun, Vivy Tran, Laura Vossler, Sherry Wang, Cathy Wang, Eric Wu, Pauline Yang, Roy Yu, and Bill Zhou

May 2008

Team

It’s hard to explain the inadequacy of my words to describe what government team really is. On the surface, we may appear to be an academic team like any other: we diligently study our subject and showcase our knowledge in competition. But it would be a fallacy to say that Gov is just an academic team because we are defined not by what we place in the regional competition or the state championships, but rather by our Thai food escapades, our all-nighter cram sessions and our shameless freeloading of food. Gov Team is not just a team, it is a family, a religion, and a way of life.

“I fe e frien l like th mad dships I e e ’ “Constitution Team has ignited a passion will on Gov ve l within us for government and politics as well - Jen ast a lif team e nife as instigated a sense of civic duty that many of r Li time.” n us will not forget.” - Angela Tan

May 2008

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By TIM SAE KOO

Campus Organizations 9

y d o B t n e d u t S d e Associat Guest Writer

ASB. A group of 25 students elected to serve the school. Dedication and work is what describes us. Responsibility and leadership is what comes out of us. Everything from selling tickets to fundraising money for the entire student body, the council has one goal in mind: to serve the students. Each member in the council has his or her own duty, ranging from Freshman Class duties to ASB President, and is graded upon their goals by the end of the semester. Associated Student Body: a studentled government which all in all overlooks the school for its best interest while following what it wants.

ASB 2008-2009

“I thought ASB was a great experience working with other students and advisors, and I only wish that I had run for an office earlier in my high school career. Plus, ASB is like a volcano.... CAUSE I LAVAaaa THEMMM! ♥ASB 07-08.” - David Sun

Photos Courtesty of the members of their respective organizations

ASB President: Charlie Tsouvalas ,ASB Vice President: Emerald Khoo, ASB Treasurer: Joanne Kim, ASB Secretary: Karen Tsai, ASB Historian: Lisa Hung, ASB ICC President : Jennifer Chu, ASB Student Rep. to Board: Yena Bae, ASB Activities Commissioner: Joyce Chow, ASB Publicity Commissioner: Janice Ma, ASB Athletics Commissioner: Rowena Tsai ASB Perf. Arts Commissioner: Helen Chow, ASB Pep Commissioners: Jill Quon and Jessica Peng, ASB Lunch Commissioner: Caroline Tran

l i c n u o C s l i c n 2008-2009 u o Class C Senior President: Sean Lee Senior Senator: Devon Sakai Senior Vice President: Gloria Liou Senior Treasurer: Clifford Lin Senior Secretary: Kyle Kim Senior Boy’s Relations: Albert Sou Senior Girl’s Relations: Vacant Junior President: Leah Wong Junior Senator: Meghan Daly Junior Vice President: Phillip Tran Junior Treasurer: Julia Namkoong Junior Secretary: Julie Chung Junior Girl’s Relations: Helen Chen Junior Boy’s Relations: John Paul Karas Sophomore President: Jon Ma Sophomore Senator: Winnie Hui Sophomore Vice President: Michelle Zhu Sophomore Treasurer: Lisa Zhu Sophomore Secretary: Evelyn Park Sophomore Girl’s Relations: Anne Wu Sophomore Boy’s Relations: Austin Yoon

By HELEN CHEN Guest Writer

Each class council consists of seven members, including the president, vice president, senator, treasurer, secretary, boys relations, and girls relations. The main purpose of each council is to boost spirit and fundraise for their particular class. At the beginning of the year, the councils receive a fundraising goal that must be met. Although junior council probably has the heaviest workload due to prom planning, the sophomore and freshmen councils are already working to raise funds for their own junior prom. Each council must be innovative when creating fundraisers to stand out from all the other ongoing fundraisers on campus. Their creativity is showcased in events such as sophomore council’s screening of the Invisible Children documentary.

SPORTS

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May 2008

Boys and Girls Swim Speed Through CIF PROFILE CAITLYN GRIMES By KRISTIE TOM

Staff Writer

By AISHA ELMASRI Staff Writer

Senior Caitlin Grimes, otherwise known, as “Curly,” started playing T-ball when she was five years old, and has been in love with softball ever since. The University of North Photo by ELIZABETH H. Texas acknowledged Caitlin’s great amount of talent this year, and she will be attending the school with a full scholarship this coming fall, with her mind set on improving their Division I softball team. There’s always a struggle and a large amount of work that lies behind a person’s victories and successes. For Caitlin, her father has been the one she can depend on to be there during the difficult times. She said, “He always pushes me to do better and reach my full potential.” Caitlin’s life has always been full of softball, she said, “I play softball year round. The weekends of the past seven years of my life have been consumed by softball. It’s something I’ve always done and it comes [naturally] to me. It’s the one thing I can always fall back on. I feel at home when I play.” Despite this, Caitlin never truly understood her true passion for softball until quite recently, she said, “I have learned that the game is a team sport, and no matter how good [you are] as an athlete, the team will never survive without great team chemistry and heart.” Through softball, Caitlin was also able to realize some of her own strengths and the effects softball has had on her, she said, “I have learned that being a leader also was something that came [naturally] to me; that being a leader doesn’t just mean being a captain, but actually more of a supporter, the person who is going to be there to push everyone to do their best. As a player you need to know how to conduct yourself on and off the field and be someone others can look up to.” Aside from playing for the AHS Varsity Softball Team, Caitlin plays for So Cal Pride, a travel softball team based in Sierra Madre. Caitlin, who plays catcher for both teams, said, “I’ve never liked any other position.” Her team has been together for six years, this being a rare occurrence because groups of talented girls continuously transfer from team to team. Her dedication to both teams is inspired by her teammates that have been with her throughout her whole career. Caitlin said, “Each girl plays with heart. We push each other to give 110% each game.” Nonetheless, softball doesn’t only consist of constant work; there are also the relationships that develop along the way and the memories that will not fade. Caitlin said, “I love the experience! All the girls are like sisters to me. There are all those games you’ll never forget!” Most people are not strangers to stress, but Caitlin said, “Softball is my way of relieving stress. I get nervous in games, but I just have to remind myself that I know what I am doing.” Her whole life, Caitlin has strived to be the great leader and person that she describes. Aside from being a softball star, she’s also “the funniest person I’ve ever met”, said teammate Emily McQuaid. Caitlin credits her success to her teammates and coaches. She said, “Without my teams and my coaches, I would not be the player I am today, or have the camaraderie that I will carry on with me for the rest of my life.”

Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Swim Team, who won second place at the Pacific League Championship Meet, claiming the Pacific League Co-Champions title for this 2008 school year. In addition, congratulations to the Girls Varsity Swim Team, who won their meet and have also captured the title of Pacific League Co-Champions. Coach Janice Clark was not surprised at her team’s success, because “we have a great depth of talent across all the events, leading to an extremely successful season in all divisions.” The Arcadia swimmers who advanced to CIF were all successful in making their mark. In the boys preliminaries, Senior Robbie Pusic qualified in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles, Junior Karol Markowski qualified in the 200 and 100 freestyles, Freshman Ray Chao qualified in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke, and Senior Wesley Yao qualified for the 100 backstroke. Furthermore, all three of Arcadia’s boys relay teams qualified for the preliminaries. Returning to the

ALUMNUS DAN ALEXANDER By JAMES ALEXANDER Guest Writer

This past season my older brother, Dan Alexander, has had his best year ever. He broke records and reached limits very few people can reach. He has received the award of making First Team All-American. The All-American award is given to best six players in the nation. The main reason he made that team was because of his outstanding statistics that he achieved this year on the Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball team. There are too many to list them all, but the most prestigious are: he had the sixth highest kill percentage, second highest blocks per game percentage, and last but not least, he was seventh highest in points per game percentage. And remember,

Pusic made the automatic All-American finals were Pusic, who finished first in both the 50 and 100 freestyles, and Markowski, who fin- time in his 50 freestyle, and is in consideration in ished fifth in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the his 100. In addition, Markowski made the consid100 freestyle. The 200 freestyle relay team, with eration All-American time in the 200 freestyle. To sum up this swim seaPusic, Markowski, Justin Tran, son for the girls, Huynh said, and Clark Fisher finished in sixth “We did really well this year. place in the finals. The girls were Except for CV, every dual meet led by Samantha Winthein, who was pretty much a blowout, and qualified for the preliminaries in the girls did phenomenally at both the 50 and 100-yard freethe league championship meet styles. She also made it back to to earn the distinction of cofinals in the 100 freestyle, where league champs.” she placed 15th. Dorcas Lee It truly has been a wonqualified for the 50 and 100-yard derful year for both the Boys freestyles as well. The 200 yard and Girls Swim Teams. Each freestyle relay, with Dorcas, Samantha, Captain Cindy Huynh, Photo by ELIZABETH HARTSHORN person contributes a lot to the and Tiffany Ho qualified for BOYS AND GIRLS SWIM team as a whole, and Coach preliminaries, but missed the Arcadia dives into the pool Clark would like to thank the leaving seniors by saymark for finals by a mere .04 and gains a great headstart. ing, “As this year’s seniors of a second. When asked about CIF Playoffs, Senior Dorcas Lee said, “It was graduate, they leave a legacy of excellence and pretty intense but we put forth our best effort and tradition. The upcoming swimmers have some big shoes to fill. Great job, seniors!” swam our hardest.”

these rankings involve everyone in the entire nation. He broke records at CSULB and his name will forever be remembered in the record books for years to come. But eventually, these records will again be broken, maybe Dan will be re-breaking them, since he is only a sophomore and has two more years of eligibility left, or maybe a new and upcoming freshman will outshine my brother’s records. This year has really shown him how good he really is, and yet he won’t stop practicing since he has that type of personality where he desires to be the best in the world and won’t stop until he is. This quality of his is his most admirable quality, because of the perseverance that it requires. After the next two years, he will most likely play professionally in Puerto Rico, as long as his body holds up as he has had back surgery and he has injured about every part of the body needed for volleyball. He is still considered “young,” because this is only his second year playing college volleyball at a Division 1 lev-

el. He is extremely good now, but I can’t wait to see how much better he can get in the next couple of years. After this incredible year, all his opponents now know that he is a threat and needs to be stopped, but this is much easier said than done. I hope to follow in his footsteps next year as I move from high school to the collegiate level, also playing volleyball. Although we play totally different positions, I hope to achieve as much has he has. My brother has taught me so much and he makes me strive to be the best and to achieve all that I can. With all the accomplishments my brother has made this year at college, it only places more pressure on me to be as good, if not better, than he is. This creates an enormous amount of pressure on me, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m so excited to go to college next year and see what marks I can make for myself, in order to make my family as proud of me as they are of my older brother.

Track and Field Ends a Historic Year By KRISTIE TOM Staff Writer

Running? As a hobby? As a lifestyle? Many people would not voluntarily compete in the tiresome triple jump or the gruesome 1600 meter race every single day during the heat of the afternoon, but for the Track and Field Varsity team, it’s as easy as one, two, three. They train everyday for almost three hours, and compete in track meets on Thursdays. They give up their lovely spring breaks to assist and compete in the Arcadia Inviational. They take tough criticism

Photo by ELIZABETH HARTSHORN

VARSITY TRACK Arcadia girls sprint off the blocks into the lead.

from the coaches willingly and without grudge. This year has been full of new personal records and, in addition, new school records. The boys ended this season with a record of 9-2 and the girls ended 11-0, undefeated. Coach Schultz would like to thank the team, because “[they] all worked extremely hard and have made me proud. [They] all contributed to this wonderful season. And I’d like to thank the seniors, because they have deﬁnitely helped this team out a lot. There will be high expectations for next year’s team, set by your examples.” Three competitors have advanced into the Masters Meet of CIF Playoffs, priding Arcadia on their high marks set for their events that are now known across the state of California. Junior Chloe Yuan has, without doubt, set new records for upcoming pole vaulters. Senior Karen Han proved to everyone that she truly does have a high jump when she easily cleared the 5-foot mark. And last but not least, Johanne Boulat amazed the entire Track and Field team when

she qualified for CIF Playoffs in the triple jump, an event she had never officially competed in before. Junior Jei Ma was proud of how competitive the team was this year, and said, “We did great this year, and just wait for next year, we’ll do even better!” To the whole Track and Field program, boys and girls, varsity and frosh soph, Coach Schultz would like to say, “This has been the best year in Track and Field in Arcadia history, congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this magnificent year!”

Photo by ELIZABETH HARTSHORN

VARSITY TRACK Arcadia boys await the gunshot starting the race.

May 2008

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ADVertisements 11

STUDENT LIFE

Wh at W

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Compiled By ANGELA SHEN

1 en, 1 e Sh little n i t s Chri enjoy the to Time ! :) things

11 g, an lass! u C n H rts lso nary A i W uli C

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Dheem ant Manjun h ath, 12 Trip to In dia...alon e

Grad Night Plans for CA Dreamin’ By JOANNA CHUANG

A la P Sy as n Z mp ad h ho ena u, ny Y 9 Or out ch h es tra

Staff Writer

Who: The Senior Class of 2008 When: June 13, 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. What: A California Dreamin’ themed endof-the-year event to celebrate the end of four years at high school. This event features various activities, such as two

carnival rides, tattoo booths, caricatures, wedding chapel, and In-N-Out burgers (limit of two burgers per person). Why: Because high school is ofﬁcially over! How: According to Liz Westphal, one of the organizers of the event, the organizers are giving their best efforts to “make it more exciting and ﬁne-tuned” than last

“Invisible Children” Film Screened

By JOANNA CHUANG

Staff Writer

On May 23, Sophomore Council hosted a screening of the film, “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” in the North Gym. Along with the movie, guest speaker Daniel Botticelli explained the movie and sold merchandise. Dubbed “Africa’s longest running war,” the Northern Ugandan war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan government has been a worldwide conflict for the last 23 years and is still occurring today. Three filmmakers discovered this war during their trip to Africa, initially just searching for a story to film. Instead, they discovered something greater: a war that sent innocent children to become kidnapped victims and that sent thousands of people to relocation camps,

where disease and violence were prominent. After returning to the States, they produced the film “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” to expose the shocking reality of the war. Additionally, they created a non-profit organization named Invisible Children, providing the Ugandan community with financial aid and education. Sophomore Council was inspired to host the screening after watching the documentary. Leah Wong, Sophomore President, learned about Invisible Children in eighth grade and said that “I felt like this was just something I had to do.” Many students walked out of the North Gym with the changed mindset, more aware of the tragedies occurring in the world. “I was really moved. It really helped me realize how fortunate I am and how I truly live a great life,” said Sophomore Stephennie Teng. In addition,

May 2008

PROFILE

ANGELICA HUBBARD By AMBER KAKISH Staff Writer

Staff Writer

No Ell e t wa as m n L lki uc ai ng h h , 1 my om 0 do ew g e ork ve ryd and ay

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ummer S o t s k Forward to

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Photo by KAYLA PANG

PURCHASING MERCHANDISE

Hordes of inspired students purchased memorabilia to aid the Invisible children movement. Phillip Tran, Sophomore Vice President, went on to say that “After watching it, I felt like we take everything for granted in America.”

For many people, traveling out of state is a rare opportunity. However, for junior Angelica Hubbard, vacationing out of state is very common in her life. Photo by Angelica often travH. GALLAHER els with her parents, two brothers, and one sister. She has been to 49 out of the 50 states, excluding Hawaii, which she “plans to go to before [she is] an adult– I still want my parents to pay for it!” Angelica’s means of transportation has evolved from airplane ﬂights to road trips over the years. In fact, although she started to travel when she was about three or four, and still travels today, Angelica said, “I haven’t even been in an airplane since fourth grade.” When asked about her favorite states, Angelica said, “Colorado, Canada, and Alaska really stood out to me. I also really liked Florida– it’s just so beautiful there!” She went on to explain, “My father’s family is from Colorado, so it was really interesting.” While Angelica has her places of preference to visit, she really enjoys traveling period: “I love it because you get to see different cultures, nature, animals and people– especially when you are visiting different countries.” Angelica plans to keep traveling in her future, and has many different places that she would still like to visit. “I’d really love to go to London, or any other country that I can.” Her choice of career also has to do with traveling, since she said, “When [she] grows up, [she] really wants to be a missionary. That way, [she] can go around the whole world.” Angelica wishes to make her hobby of traveling beneﬁcial to others, and would like to visit and reach out to countries that are in need.

Advancement Pains? What Students Say About APs

By PARVIN SHAKIB & ANGELA SHEN Staff Writers

Freshmen Most upperclassmen look down at the freshmen and envy them for the carefree days that they, too, used to enjoy. Instead of cramming for AP tests, the freshmen can play a nice round of video games or, better yet, sleep at 10:00 p.m. But are these just stereotypes? Apparently, some freshmen are already worrying, such as Monica Ma, who said, “I wish [APs] wouldn’t count for as much as they do. APs are weighted heavily these days for college acceptance, which is worrisome.” However, Alex Chen carries an optimistic perspective: “I like how we [will] miss school... I don’t think I will enjoy [APs], but I think I will enjoy the fruits of my labor if I get a good grade,” he said.

Sophomores

Juniors

Seniors

On the second tier of the high school ladder, the sophomores can generally be faced with either AP Biology or AP Chemistry. With only one AP, as opposed to the three or more that upperclassmen usually take, sophomores merely get a taste of the AP lifestyle of consuming gallons of coffee, sleeping three hours a night, and obsessing over studying. Nonetheless, with sophomore year coming to a close and the pressure of junior year looming nearer, sophomores begin to realize the amount of hard work and dedication they must put forth for the future. Jacqueline Huang ﬁts the general sophomore description and said, “I think APs pressure some people, because there are those who are ready to take it and others who feel challenged. It all comes down to that one test in the end that decides whether or not your year’s worth of work was worthwhile or wasted.”

Possibly the most frenzied and stressed, the juniors feel their year of APs will help them get into the college of their dreams. The ominous AP tests in the ﬁrst two weeks of May are often dramatized by juniors, who believe their futures rely on their success. Nevertheless, Tiffany Cheung feels the AP program is worthwhile, as she said, “When you begin to take AP classes, they are tedious and a lot of hard work, but once AP tests are over, you are free....You do learn and use some helpful tips, such as working faster with good quality—most of the time. It was a wonderful, painful blur….have fun, kids!” Sherry Wang has a similar mindset and she said, “APs are hyped up but are not that scary if you have the motivation to do well. The best advice I have for underclassmen is to work hard, don’t procrastinate studying for the AP test, and always get a good night’s sleep!”

Seniors enroll in AP courses to prove to their colleges that they are still pursuing a high level of education. By second semester, seniors already know which college they will be attending and only need to maintain a 3.0 GPA. So, the infamous “senioritis” disease consumes most seniors second semester as seniors don’t take school or APs as seriously as they once did. For Sophie Xia, she feels that her APs helped her get into college and “are worth taking, but are sometimes hard to balance as you tend to slack off.” Although AP classes may allow students to receive unit credits or skip easier courses at college, Craig Pelletier voiced his opinion: “I do not see any negative consequences from not taking any. I have AP classes, but I’d rather retake them with a professor than for credit.” Drawings by MELANIE YUEN

May 2008

OPINION 13

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Declassiﬁed Confessions of a Soon-to-Be Alumnus By KATHLEEN KAO Staff Writer

9/9/04 Dear Diary, I just came home from my first day at AHS. Surprisingly, I’m still alive. There were no ditzy cheerleaders staring me down or sneering at me with meticulously glossed lips, no jocks dunking freshmen heads into the toilets, no discernible cliques struggling to fend off outsiders. If there was an antithesis of the stereotypical high school scene, I’d say AHS was it. I was slightly unnerved. Just a tad. The school itself was big. Filled with tall people. The first time I was navigating through the hallways, helplessly swept up in the wave of students, I thought AHS was like New York City in a box. So many people. So many things going on. So many voices ringing in my head. All it would take are some hot dog stands and a few potholes to complete the New York scene. I’d like to say I was terrified so I could fulfill the time-old “scared freshman” stereotype. But I wasn’t. I was excited. But it was excitement laced with dread, as if I were about to skydive, about to trust a thin sheet of plastic to bear me to safety. Unlike in middle school, the teachers didn’t coddle me or give the impression that they’d lavish me with personal attention when they felt like I was slipping. I was a household pet suddenly released into the wild, forced to learn to keep myself

alive. Daunting it may have been, but new and exciting too. Whoa. It’s almost eleven o’clock! So late! I guess staying up past ten is just part of the high school experience.

my way around. And I feel like I’m more involved in the school now that I’ve joined track and ﬁeld.

2/9/06

Dear Diary, Kill me now. No, seriously. See these bags under my eyes? The sickly complexion? The disheveled hair? Want to know what caused this? Junior year. That’s right. Junior year, with its seven in the morning AP calculus tests, its endless stream of exams and assignments, and its evil all-nighters. I thought staying up past ten was tiring when I was a freshman. I thought staying up past twelve was exhausting as a sophomore. But all-nighters are an entirely different breed of late-night-homeworking. If sophomore year was hard, then junior year is downright impossible. My god. What I wouldn’t give for an entire day of sleep. I guess, to be totally honest… I kind of like junior year. I’m learning more now than I did during freshman and sophomore years combined. I feel that with my experience, I can take on college - it’ll be a breeze compared to what I’m suffering through right now. I know that when APs are over, the imaginary ﬁve hundred pound sumo wrestler - ﬁrst name Pressure, last name Stress - will be lifted from my chest. My friends are suffering through the same ordeal, so if I ever need to rant to someone about the unfairness of it all, they’ll be there to

Dear Diary, I have to say I’m just a little disappointed. Is this really all there is to high school? As I wander meekly down the hallways, I do not see the high school that media portray. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a little boring. I had envisioned myself immersed in a drama that would shame Gossip Girl plot lines, in wild parties with cases of smuggled beer and couples shamelessly making out in the stairways. Instead, I am waist-deep in homework, bound to my desk, a slave to my assignments. Where is the fun? My friends? Studying no doubt, similarly blackmailed against having a good time by their grades. Call me bitter, but how can I not be when I feel like I’m being cheated of a good experience? Sure, I have track and ﬁeld, which is practically an hour or two of socializing with my friends, but even then... But I guess it really isn’t that bad, now that I think about it. It’s actually kind of fun. I have a decent balance of social life and school work, a good blend of chatting with my friends online after school and working on my assignments. School is actually more fun sophomore year, now that I know my own work habits and

A Commentary on Comments By ARTHUR HUANG Staff Writer

Yearbook comments are, in essence, your last impressions on each other. For everyone but the seniors, yearbook comments sum up the school year and all its memories. Come next September the same people who wrote “K.I.T.” but never did will, again, wave hello, and the friendships will rekindle. For them, as they ﬂip through the pages of The Arcadian and laugh at how different someone looked only a year or two ago, the pen marks and signatures are mere supplements, reminders of the fun and the memories of 07-08. In all honesty, yearbook comments don’t mean much for the underclassmen. It’s only a temporary goodbye, a hiatus of two-and-a-half months before you get to see all those familiar faces again. But I’m here to talk about the signiﬁcance of yearbook comments for the seniors. The class of 2008. This is your last chance to say goodbye. This is your last chance to scribble in each other’s yearbook pages and leave words that will trigger forgotten memories many years from now. Save the clichéd and overused acronyms like H.A.G.S. and K.I.T.; none of it applies anymore. Write knowing that this may be the last time you talk to your peers. Write knowing that years, perhaps decades, from now, these words will be the only remaining bond between you and your classmates. Looking back at the comments in my own yearbooks, it’s a stroll through memory’s museum. I had forgotten how close I was to this person, or how much stupid stuff I did with another, and so on. Being as cheap as I

TCID:

was, last year I didn’t even bother buying the overpriced yearbook pages ($1 or something for a piece of paper, are you kidding me?). Everything is written on lined paper. The pages are now faded and yellowed, but the words and hilariously bad pictures are still legible. Seeing them, I look back upon last year with bittersweet remembrance. Sweet are the memories, but melancholy are my lamentations of the way I’ve fallen out of contact with some of those friends. I hope to look back upon this year’s yearbook with the same blend of happiness and sadness; happy that we’ve had such great times, sad that such times cannot be relived. I’ve realized the significance of memories to our lives. As men fade to dust, as faces fade to grey, as years become buried in our footsteps, as friendships fade to memories. What else are we left with? Reminisces of the past. The keepsakes of times that have passed and can never be replicated. Memories are the guilty pleasures, the inside jokes, the anecdotes, shared between the ones included, and can be recalled with an astounding array of emotions. From bittersweet, to tear-jerking, to hilarious, to melancholy, to absolutely embarrassing, memories make up who we are. They are the experiences that become the building blocks of our foundations as people. More than memories? Larger than life. Let us simply be happy to be a part of each other’s memories, a memorable and vital part of others’ high school experiences. Not insignificant, just as the memories are not insignificant. Unforgettable, just as the memories are eternal. Yearbook comments we become, and forever we will live through each other’s memories.

4/17/07

listen. Junior year’s when I ﬁnd out how hard I can push myself and what I’m capable of. If someone offered to take junior year out of my high school experience and spare me the pain and anguish and all-nighters, I would decline. Without junior year, high school would be like chips without the dip- plain, and just wrong. Besides, who says juniors are deprived of social lives? Group meetings provide a passable way to fool around for the ﬁrst few hours before we realize we’ve wasted a whole day and actually get down to business. And even when we’re working, we’re kind of having a great time.

5/12/08 Dear Diary, Senior year’s awesome. Sure, I still have work, but it feels like a vacation after last year. I can barely remember all the things I’ve done. Looking back, I’ve had some great moments with my friends, but really, most of the things I remember doing relate to prepping for SATs and AP tests. It’s not entirely a bad thing. AHS has prepared me well for college. I just wish I had more time to relax and really soak up the high school experience, complete with its almost non-existent social life. Or maybe the parties and the drama that were supposed to happen are really just a myth. Either way, I feel like a veteran, someone with enough experience to say to incoming freshmen: “Hey guys, it’s hell, but you’ll pull through. Look, I made it, and I’m still in one piece.”

I’ve Learned, I’m Learning By TIFFANY CHANG Staff Writer

Age 5 – I’ve learned that sand in the eye hurts. I’m learning— that disappointment hurts more. Age 6 – I’ve learned that you can’t hide spinach in milk. I’m learning— to deal with things, handle situations with composure instead of avoidance. Age 7 – I’ve learned that even if I count to a hundred like they tell me to, I won’t always get my turn on the swings. I’m learning— that things won’t always go my way. Age 8 – I’ve learned that fuzzy stickers are the best ones for trading. I’m learning— that it doesn’t always have to be give-and-take, that sometimes you should give without expecting anything in return. Age 9 – I’ve learned that teachers can’t tell if you’re really singing or just mouthing the words. I’m learning— to make every moment count, that even if it’s possible to take the easy route and get away with something, it’s better not to. Age 10 – I’ve learned that if I ask for a puppy on my birthday, I’ll only get a stuffed animal. I’m learning— to appreciate what I have instead of focusing on what I lack. Age 11 – I’ve learned that the longer your socks are, the more you give others permission

to laugh at you. I’m learning— that what you wear doesn’t deﬁne who you are. Age 12 – I’ve learned that yOoh R onLeE kOoL iF yOoh kaN tYpe LyKe diSh!!! I’m learning— to value individuality. Age 13 – I’ve learned that the only effective alarm clock is my dad: everything else, I sleep right through. I’m learning— to be more independent. Age 14 – I’ve learned that making someone else’s day makes my day. I’m learning— that it doesn’t take anything extravagant to show that you care, and that the littlest things can go a long way. Age 15 – I’ve learned that Book Rack is a lot cheaper than Borders, but the quality is the same. I’m learning— that money doesn’t equate to greatness. Age 16 – I’ve learned that the less time I have to do something, the more I get things done. I’m learning— that this shouldn’t be an excuse for my procrastinating habits. Age 17 – I’ve learned that it’s strangely comforting, at two in the morning, to ﬁnd a bunch of people under the AP English section of your buddy list still online, and that it’s these moments that bring people closer together. I’m learning— that strong bonds are built with friends you have classes with, but that the strongest ones are between those who you meet up with outside of class. Age 18 – I’ve learned that it’s a lot harder than I thought to become the person I want to be. I’m learning— that there’s still a lot I have to learn, that the journey’s just begun.

FEATURES

theapachepowwow.com

May 2008

ARTIST PROFILE

Legendary Teachers of AHS

By CHRISTINE PAO

By ELAINE TSUI & LINDA WANG

Clare and the Reasons

Staff Writer

Staff Writers

Amidst the ear-splitting acid metal and repetitive gangster rap that is clogging the airwaves, it is refreshing to know that there are still artists out there who can compose unique, melodious music. Clare and the Reasons, which consists of lead singer-songwriter Clare Muldaur Manchon and the “Reasons,” her group of backup vocalists and orchestral musicians, is able to create truly sweet, moving, and original pop sounds. Their album, The Movie, is composed of 11 strong tracks with various inﬂuences from artists ranging from The Beach Boys to The Beatles. Give The Movie a listen, and you will ﬁnd yourself immersed in an unexpected wash of mirth, romance, and uplifting melodies. Clare’s uniquely soft voice is sugary sweet, nostalgic of a 1920s soda fountain, and most songs contain complete orchestral accompaniment. The Movie is undoubtedly one of the most wonderfully unique combinations of harmonies, with key tracks including “Pluto,” an adorable tribute to Pluto’s loss of planetary status, “Alphabet City,” a romantic interlude reminiscent of big city lights, and “Rodi,” an upbeat, swingy tune featuring the harmonica. What is truly extraordinary about Clare and the Reasons is its ability to sing and paint a picture in your mind, leaving a lasting, beautiful imprint.

Whenever students see an unsatisfying grade or deal with the seemingly unending list of homework assignments, they inevitably blame their teachers for all their troubles. The gossip and rumors about teachers being hard or unfair are as much a part of our school as the classes they teach. But are these rumors just rumors or are the classes really as hard as some students say? We always hear the students’ comments, so to make it fair, here is what the teachers have to say about their classes. In the beginning of the school year, Ms. Vorak, who teaches Chemistry Honors and AP Chemistry, told her students that the course is considered to be one of the hardest on campus. Throughout the year, students struggle to maintain a decent grade in the class. Ms. Vorak admits, “It is a challenging course that involves critical thinking, memorization, and problem solving.” What makes AP Chemistry difﬁcult for students is “the memorization of material and comprehension of concepts coupled with the critical thought needed to solve problems.” Ms. Vorak advises: “Daily studying would help a student succeed.” Even though some students may think her classes are hard, people can’t deny that she is a good teacher. Ms. Vorak was recently honored as the 2008 Chemistry Teacher

By CHARLIE TSOUVALAS

By SHARON YIK

Photos by ASHLEY JOHNSON

HALL OF FAME (from left) Ms. Vorak, Mr. Lee, and Ms. Cordero are renown for their difﬁcult courses.

of the Year by the Southern California Section of the American Chemical Society. Mr. Lee teaches Contemporary Journalism and AP English, and he is also the adviser of The Pow Wow. Known throughout the school as the teacher of “hard” classes, Mr. Lee said that his AP English class “is not the easiest class at school because as an AP class, it’s supposed to be difﬁcult.” However, he believes it is fair. Whether the class is difﬁcult or not depends on the student. But it is true that Mr. Lee is an outstanding teacher who has won many National Honor Society and UC awards. Ms. Cordero’s English Honors and AP English classes are said to be challenging by many students. But does she think her classes are particularly hard? She admits the courses

are difficult, but that’s not her doing. “I think that students confuse the course being hard with me making it that way. I teach a lot of honors and AP courses, and those are difficult just by definition,” said Ms. Cordero. And what does she think is the hardest part of her classes? Ms. Cordero believes that “getting used to the work load” and the literature can be quite difficult. Despite the many rumors, she doesn’t take any of them personally. She would rather “concentrate on what [her] classes need to learn,” instead of worrying about rumors. However, Ms. Cordero does want students to keep in mind that “the grass is always greener on the other side and that rumors are usually just that—rumors.” These teachers are legendary for the rumors about them, but rumors are just rumors.

“What movie?” one may ask. Some of the movies and short films our beloved city of Arcadia has been in are: • Films, such as Tarzan and Bing Crosby on the Road, along with numerous other commercials and television shows, have been filmed at our own Arboretum. • Seabiscuit (2003) was filmed and took place at the Santa Anita Racetrack. • The Santa Anita Racetrack was also used for a Claritin allergy commercial and a Lexus car commercial. • Our very own AHS was the film location for the movie Deal of a Lifetime. • Part of “Wally World” from National Lampoon’s Vacation was shot in the parking lot of the Santa Anita Mall and the Santa Anita Race-

track. • In Mission Impossible III, Tom Cruise is seen running into the Arcadia Methodist Hospital. • Foothills Middle School was used as a film location for Kicking & Screaming. There were numerous shots of Will Ferrell on Foothill’s soccer field. • In the movie Cloverfield, the Bloomingdale’s that the survivors walk into is actually the abandoned Robinsons-May store inside the Santa Anita Mall. • An Allstate commercial was filmed on the rooftop of the parking structure at the Santa Anita Mall. Robinsons-May can be seen in the background. • An episode of Grey’s Anatomy was filmed at the Santa Anita Racetrack.

Prom ‘08 Arcadia’s 15 Minutes of Fame Staff Writer

Guest Writer

With APs over, it was time for prom. AHS held its prom this year at the Anaheim Grove Concert Hall on May 17, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., with the theme, “A Hollywood Ending.” It was funny how the hottest day of the year seemed to land on the same day all the boys wore three-layer tuxes with the vests and everything else fashion magazines deem a must. Nonetheless, the Grove was air conditioned and the drinks had ice. After standing in a long line for the usual security frisking, students entered the Grove on a red carpet with cameras relaying their images onto the dance floor. Upon entering, guests were greeted with desserts, caricature artists, and a photo booth. The dance floor was two-tiered and soaking wet. Regardless of the status of your feet after the dance, the DJ played interesting music and plenty of shout-outs throughout the night. Overall, prom was a magical night even with its few flaws. Most people I know had a great time and will remember this night as a landmark in their high school career.

Photo Courtesy of BONNIE CAO

A HOLLYWOOD ENDING Prom

was held May 17 at the Anaheim Grove.

“Arcadia? Where’s that?” is the common remark heard whenever someone asks where we live. Due to its quiet and relatively peaceful nature, our little community has never gained much attention in the eyes of the public. While some people take pride in this fact, others look forward to escaping this inconspicuous city once given a chance: college. However, people should take pride in our city, which has more than just the Santa Anita Racetrack and the Arboretum. Unbeknownst to most residents of Arcadia, many parts of our city were used in famous movies. Now, you can say, “Oh, you know. It was in that movie.”

Summer Hot Spots By ERICA WIN

Staff Writer

Ever catch yourself staring into space, incapable of thinking of any place other than the mall to escape the boredom? Well, here’s a handy list for those who ﬁnd themselves stuck at home, wasting away potentially perfectly fun-ﬁlled days. Cue Studio is a great place to create more memories with your friends by having the lib-

erty to pose ridiculously with a fake background and then get the creative juices flowing by decorating the pictures for the mere price of $10. For those adventurous folks, Crystal Cove offers hiking, mountain biking, camping, horseback riding, swimming, surfing, and diving. Take a flight of stairs up to the Shake Shack and enjoy a refreshing drink while overlooking the pristine ocean below. Inspired after watching Speed Racer? Well, your own little fantasy will transform into reality as your need for speed can be satisfied at SpeedZone. Paseo Colorado offers a wide range of shops and a theater for you to spend a great day of shopping and spending quality time with your friends. Right across from Paseo is the

Pasadena Ice Skating Center for all to cool off on a hot, sunny day. Ultrazone provides a safe environment to have fun laser tagging. Forming teams, Ultrazone will spice up your boring day with some laser-ﬁlled-fun.

Photos by CORA ORMSETH

HOT SPOTS (from left) Crystal Cove

is a picturesque beach. The Pasadena Ice Rink, located just across the street from Paseo Colorado, is a refreshing sanctuary in the blazing summer.

May 2008

CALENDAR

theapachepowwow.com

Sudoku: Think See the apachepowwow.com for answers

Confessions of a Teenage Glutton By CHRISTINE WONG

PHOTO OF THE MONTH “Temptations” Photo Contest Winner: Scott Fairbanks

“In the days of dieting and healthy eating, these sweet treats are a temptation to anyone who lays eyes on them. They look delectable and tasted absolutely scrumtrulescent.” Second Place - Elizabeth Hartshorn “Whenever I’m having a ‘down’ day—or even a ‘bright’ fun filled day, ice cream makes me feel blissful and careless. When eating ice cream, I can stop worrying about my busy life. I can enjoy the cool and refreshing, sweet flavor of the ice cream.” Third Place - Hannah Gallaher “I was walking through Pasadena when I saw a little dog sitting alone in a car in an alley. This picture reveals the temptation of the little dog wanting to escape its prison, the car. It desires freedom but yet, it is not within his reach.”

The brick structure and striped canopy only enhances the traditional ambience. The environment reminded me of a typical soda fountain—with a candy-striped menu that displays classic treats like delectable banana splits, sundaes, shakes, malts, and floats. Despite the old fashioned décor of this ice cream Photo by CHRISTINE WONG parlor, Fosselman’s serves up A truly Happy customer Senior exotic flavors Christine Wong enjoys a lemon custard such as root beer, and rocky roadside ice cream cone. blueberry and my favorite, lemon custard; not to mention the other eclectic creations like ube, tequila lime, and macapuno that caught my eye. In addition to an old feel, Fosselman’s sure has a way of accommodating all taste buds. Quite frankly, the typical commercialized 31 flavors and the thousand other franchised blizzards are growing dull. If you’re looking for a unique spot to cool down at this summer vacation, check out Fosselman’s for a tasty treat. Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co. 1824 W. Main St. Alhambra, CA 91801 626-282-6533

The Domino Effect, Graduation Style

By MELANIE YUEN

March Crossword

Answers: Across 6 May Day; 8 Nineteen Seventy-six; 10 Sichuan; 11 Cherryl Vorak Down 1 Community; 2 Charlie Tsouvalas; 3 Twenty-first; 4 Summer school; 5 Pacific League; 7 Susan Hockfield; 9 Vacant

Courtesy of WEBSODUKU.COM

Staff Writer

You scream, I scream, we all scream for Fosselman’s. With only less than a month left until the end of the school year, summer would not be complete without a triple scoop sundae. Offering over 50 flavors of ice cream and 20 flavors of sherbet, Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co. is the best place to soak up fun this summer break. With an atmosphere that matches its history, this familyrun business has grown into an historical hangout spot. Christian Anthony Fosselman discovered his love for ice cream as a young boy at a soda fountain. By 1919, Christian moved this passion to California where his grandsons, Chris and John, opened Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co. With a background story like this, it’s no wonder this place is constantly packed with customers who come just for a taste of the past. If winning L.A. Times’ 2007 Best Ice Cream, amongst the many other awards, isn’t enough to convince you, the locals are there to prove it. Although Fosselman’s closes at 10 p.m., the line was still trailing out the door at 9:30 p.m. As I waited patiently with people young and old alike, I could see their faces light up as they inched their way closer to the front counter. This truly was a place that brought back memories to adults while creating experiences for youngsters. It was refreshing to see how a local landmark could bring so much unity to the community. Plus, the ice cream isn’t too shabby. Greeting every customer with a warm welcome and friendly smile, each server was equally helpful in narrowing down my choices. Squished between a car dealership and a Well’s Fargo Bank, Fosselman’s Ice Cream Co. proudly stands out from the rest. The store sure attracts a lot of attention though the neighborhood may not match the flair of this ice cream parlor.

Across 6 May 1st is known as _____ to immigration-reform advocates 8 This is the deadliest earthquake since _____ (year, word form) 10 The China earthquake took place in _____ 11 _____ was recently honored as the 2008 Chemistry Teacher of the Year Down 1 _____ college is a great way to begin to “experience the college environment” 2 ASB President 2008-2009 3 The University of Rochester is ranked _____ in the world 4 _____ is the key to get ahead for sophomores during summer 5 The Boys Varsity Swim Team won 1st place at the _____ Finals 7 Current president of MIT 9 The Senior Girls’ Relations 2008-2009 position is ________.

CAMPUS FOCUS

theapachepowwow.com

May 2008

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?

By SARAH LIN

Staff Writer

Over the span of the month of March, the Apache Pow Wow hosted the first AHS PostSecret Project, giving students the opportunity to share their innermost secrets with one another anonymously. The publication of several of the secrets in the March issue witnessed the continued submission of new secrets, an unexpected yet welcome surprise. As the school year draws to a close, more experiences have led to the accumulation of more secrets, and we offer these seven as inspiration, in hopes that each and every one of us will approach the new year with a clean slate and the knowledge that we are not alone. We end the last issue of the Apache Pow Wow with the secrets of our peers, the voices of the students, the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of those who made up the ‘07-’08 year at Arcadia High School.

The student picture named as Ashley Chen on the April issue had been mistaken for Ashley Chan. Our apologies to Ashley Chen, the actual artist of the Reflections piece regarding recycling.