March 2019

@ahspowwow

Arcadia High School / 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

the apache

POW WOW

volume 66 issue 7 march 2019

the world is our campus.

spring pep rally

A PERFORMANCE FIT FOR THE STARS After performances by AHS’ Performing Arts groups at the Spring Pep Rally left the audience starstruck, the prom venue and theme was revealed by Prom Committee, which has been working tirelessly to plan the perfect prom.

By KOBE YU

it served as a momento and milestone for es with heart-dropping throws, skillful flag “THIS YEAR’S PROM WILL BE AT THE

Staff Writer many performers, reminding them of what tosses, and remarkable gymnastics. Spirits WALLIS ANNENBERG BUILDING, AND

The sound of wind instruments roared from within the North Gym. Students wore school colors and class shirts to show their school spirit. On Mar. 8, AHS Apaches gathered to celebrate the school’s performing arts and sports teams, and to discover the highly-anticipated prom theme and venue.

“Hearing the music blare from the intercoms and seeing students wear [their performance] costumes filled me with excitement to see the performances prepared for the spring assembly,” said sophomore Danielle Wong.

Starting off the assembly, AHS’ own World Line Percussion performed an intense routine composed of an exhilarating dance and captivating music. Not only did their performance fill the audience with awe,

they gained and learned through this program. “I owe a huge amount of gratitude to World Line for being such a massive part of my schooling career,” said senior Kayla Yang. “It has humbled me, taught me to be a better contributor to a team, and, most importantly, helped me realize that music plays an extremely large part of my life.”

Following the World Line was the Apache World Guard; they delivered a show with synchronized movements and highflying tosses that left the audience with only “oohs” and “ahhs”. This feeling of amazement was also felt by the guard members.

Senior Melody Wu says that she is especially proud of herself for “never dropping [her flag] during performances” which required intense amounts of practice.

Pep Squad wrapped up the performanc-

FEATURES

NEWS

Photo courtesy of TIME.COM

pg. 2-3

Green New Deal: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey’s plan for environmental development, the Green New Deal, was blocked by Senate on Mar. 27.

were raised high with upbeat music booming from the speakers which accompanied the impeccable routine. As the last high school school assembly they would perform in, senior Pep members reflected on the fun and pleasant experience they’ve had performing.

“I’ve learned so much from Pep, like how to efficiently lead a team and how to express myself through this creative outlet,” said senior Ivy Chang. “In college, I am considering joining one of the few collegiate pep flag teams or diverge into a new art like dance.”

To close the assembly, the 2019 Prom Committee revealed the highly anticipated dance’s theme and venue. The anticipation was felt all throughout the building. What is the theme of Prom 2019? Where will it be held? The sound of beating drums filled the room and made the wait seem like ages.

“The story behind St. Patrick began when he was forced to work as a shepherd in Ireland after being kidnapped by pagans.

After escaping back to his family, he began to study in France...”

kyu@apachepowwow.net Photos by CASSIDY CHHAY

Also in this issue:

pg. 6-7

History of St. Patrick’s Day: The color green, leprechauns, and clovers all represent St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday mainly celebrated by Irish Christians and Catholics on Mar. 17. St. Patrick’s Day is a deeply rooted Irish tradition, so how did it make its way to America?

THE THEME IS ‘TRACE THE STARS’,” announced the Prom Committee chairs.

On Jun. 1, attendees will be dancing their hearts out at the Wallis Annenberg Building in Beverly Hills to the theme, “Trace the Stars”. “The open roof of the venue is the main inspiration behind the theme,” said Prom Committee President sophomore Megan Ngo. The open roof is a prominent feature of the venue, providing a romantic and superb view. Next to building is a lovely sculpture garden with rows of rose bushes, allowing visitors to have a picturesque backdrop for their photos. With a beautiful venue, great music, and friends, Prom 2019 will definitely be one for the stars.

STUDENT LIFE pg. 8-9 Programming for Next Year: As the school year nears the end, programming season begins.

In this article, students share their reasons for their proposed classes.

PERFORMING ARTS Photo courtesy of PINTEREST.COM

OPINION

pg. 4-5

More Representation of LGBT Women, Please: With the rise of LGBT representation in media with films like Love, Simon, junior Kaitlin Lee is asking for equal representation of queer women as well.

pg. 14-15

A Biography of Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga has come into the spotlight recently for winning a Golden Globe, an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and a Critic’s Choice, all in one season.

SPORTS pg. 16-17 Athlete Feature: Wesley Kam: Boys Varsity Volleyball player junior Wesley Kam reflects on his performance as a volleyball player thus far.

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By REBECCA TAO

Staff Writer

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., put out a proposed plan called the “Green New Deal” to transform the U.S. economy while reshaping its environmental situation and reducing carbon emissions.

The Green New Deal isn’t an entirely new concept. In fact, it was inspired by the New Deal Roosevelt had initiated during the Great Depression. The two plans are similar in that both are directed at creating new jobs for the economy, except the Green New Deal is predicated on benefiting the environment. The Green New Deal is a series of steps, not a single project like the New Deal. The bill calls for a 10-year effort in “meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources.” Furthermore, the ultimate goal would be for the economy to transition into completely renewable-energy-reliant instead of our current dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

In the process, the bill adds that minorities and low-income families will be protected and that these groups of people are disproportionately affected by climate change. Moreover, the bill provides reasoning as to why it is relevant, including information on how the U.S. is accountable for 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution also delineates a federal job guarantee plan where anyone, regardless of their financial situation and background, will easily secure a job, especially in clean energy industries.

While these goals appear to be constructed

NEW DEAL

to SENATE

March 2019

with the best intentions, there are doubts surrounding if it is achievable. For example, some environmental advocates applaud this bill, but experts argue that meeting a zero carbon emission goal is unrealistic in the given time frame. President Trump has called this deal a “high school term paper that got a low mark.” He also added, “I really don’t like their policy of taking away your car, of taking away your airplane rights, of ‘let’s hop a train to California,’ of you’re not allowed to own cows anymore!” riveting the support and praise of his enthused audience.

Because the U.S. is the highest consumer of oil, it may be near impossible to switch so quickly through one resolution. As a result, the opinions are split on this bill. While most Democrats do support action on climate change, this one bill will be a drastic shift to the systems currently being utilized— from transportation to private businesses.

On Mar. 27, the Senate, dominated by the Republican party, has blocked the Green New Deal and failed to advance its goals. The bill required 60 signatures to pass but all 53 Senate Republicans and four Senate Democrats refused to approve the measure. Many Senators voted “present” and the six Democratic Senators who will be presidential candidates have also not taken a stance.

Overall, the ideas of the Green New Deal are a step in the right direction for action in response to climate change by raising awareness. Even though the Senate blocked the Green New Deal this time around, it will remain a focal point during the 2020 presidential election. rtao@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of VECTORSTOCK.COM and 1001 FONTS.COM

Michael COHEN’S TESTIMONY tO congress

By ROBINSON LEE Staff Writer

Michael Cohen was President Donald Trump’s longtime lawyer and was also dubbed his “fixer” for his notoriety in fixing Trump’s problems. There is no better testament to this fact other than is own actions and words, as he was once quoted by ABC 11 in 2011 for saying ”If somebody does something Mr. Trump doesn’t like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr. Trump’s benefit. If you do something wrong, I’m going to come at you, grab you by the neck and I’m not going to let you go until I’m finished.” Yet after being convicted on multiple accounts of bank fraud, tax evasion, and violation of campaign finance laws, Cohen has begun working with Robert Muller’s council to provide information about his job and other possible crimes related to Trump or his businesses. He has also been called in by Congress to testify among a divide between Democrats and Republicans on Cohen’s credibility due to his history of lying to Congress. One example is when congressperson Republican Virginia Foxx asked Cohen whether he was going to promise to never to confirm a deal for a TV special, book, or movie relating to his time with Trump–which he responded with a no. Foxx followed up her question by saying “So you don’t commit to changing your ways, basically? Because you want to continue to use your background as a liar, a cheater, a convicted liar, to make money?”

On the other hand, the Democrats are hoping to use his statements, whether they may or may not be true, to damage the reputation of the president. When he was asked about the hush money payments by Democrat Ro Khanna, he described how he was reimbursed by a nonexistent retainer agreement organized by the Trump Organization’s chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, President Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. This layer of background is important as it shows how both sides are using valid points when questioning Michael Cohen, to draw two different narratives. Democrats hope to use this a pretense in making Trump and his organization look worse, while Republicans are looking to discredit Cohen and his testimony to defend Trump. Nevertheless, whether you believe in Cohen or not, he did identify a few important points which implicate Trump in the center of multiple crimes while also insulting him on public television.

Cohen was asked extensively on the nature of Trump’s financial dealing and situation. He described how even he did not know about Trump’s tax returns and described how Trump feared any tax audit or fine due to his tax returns. Trump’s fear of releasing his tax returns, according to Cohen, is only reasonable if the President did any financial dealing and didn’t report it to the Internal Revenue Service. Thus Cohen is implicating the President in the middle of a financial crime of some sort. Cohen also describes how Trump devalued and inflated his assets to pay lower estate taxes, and to make himself one of the wealthiest people on the Forbes list. Apparently, Trump told him to intentionally mislead the public on his hush money payments and tell the public he had no knowledge of it when according to Cohen, he directed and coordinated the payment and cover-up. Trump was also no stranger to using litigation as a threat according to Cohen. He said that he was ordered by Trump to threaten litigation about 500 times against entities and individuals. Finally, Cohen spoke about how Trump knew of the whole Wikileaks situation which released Hillary Clinton’s emails before the emails were released. In all, Trump’s situation doesn’t look very well considering that Cohen described crimes he may have committed.

Cohen’s position within the Trump organization was valuable to Trump and it is now to federal officials. His actions in coordinating payments to people who could pose a threat to Trump’s reputation and his actions in violating finance laws are valuable pieces of information which the special counsel is happy to look at. On March 6, Cohen also testified that contrary to Trump’s lawyer’s statements, Trump did pursue a Moscow Trump Tower deal during his campaign for the presidency. Evidence like this is crucial to the American people in understanding how the Commander in Chief acts in and out of office and evaluating whether he is fit to be president. If Cohen’s statements are true, then we have to scrutinize our own executive branch of office closely to investigate on whether Trump had conflicts of interest or broke crimes. Meanwhile, as America struggles with politics and identifying what Trump is, Cohen will be in a jail cell, isolated from society as he reflects on his actions. rlee@apachepowwow.net Photos courtesy of PACIFICSTANDARD.COM

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March 2019

Methodist church votes to ban gay clergy and same-sex marriage

Editors

Editors-in-Chief

By ANYA YANG Staff Writer

The International Methodist Church has decided to ban gay clergy and prohibit same-sex marriage in Methodist congregations internationally. This has been an extremely controversial topic, especially when takiing into consideration the church’s supposed ideology and motto, “Open hearts, open minds, open doors.” There has been outrage from those who support LGBTQ+ rights within the church, while traditionalists are appeased by the results.

After three days of debate, church officials and lay members voted to place a ban on specifically gay and lesbian clerics, officiating the restriction on same-sex marriage. In an emotional debate among the United States’ thirdlargest faith community, certain new standards were adopted to solidify punishment for heretics. These punishments can vary immensely, ranging from clergy who officiate at same-sex weddings to be suspended without pay, to being defrocked, should it happen again.

According to traditionalists, loosening the faith’s ban on same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergymen defied the word of God. “I believe that those who engage in the practice of homosexuality are not living a life that pleases God,” stated Reverend Keith Boyette, the Wesleyan Covenant Association first presi-

dent, who believes that LGBTQ+ members should be welcomed into the church only to a certain degree.

Though church leaders and members who currently support the LGBTQ+ involvement wanted local, community congregations to be able to freely write their own rules on homosexuality, many others disagree with this concept. Reverend Thomas Berlin, the lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, said that “tradition for tradition’s sake is selfdestructive.”

“You will be putting a virus into the American church will make it very sick, and it will be sick quickly,” replied Berlin.

Like some nations were homosexuality is banned, certain delegates keep in mind of where the church is headed.

Matthew Pearson, an openly gay Methodist minister from California, rejects the traditional plan for the Church, stating that it is possible for a new church to be born. “We are prepared to live into our full calling as a church,” Pearson said. “What that looks like at this point, I don’t know.” ayang@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of LAWANDCRIME.COM

SNOW IN LOS ANGELES

By SAMANTHA RIVERA

s t a f f

Staff Writer

On Feb. 22, Los Angeles experienced extremely low-pressure levels, causing a surprising inch of snow in Malibu, Pasadena, West Hollywood, Northridge, San Bernardino, Thousand Oaks, and more. As the storm moved east, Southern California’s temperatures dropped to significantly low temperatures. Sgt. Michael Karr of the California Highway Patrol described, “The portion of Interstate 5 known as the Grapevine, which connects northern Los Angeles County to the Central Valley farm region, was closed for a few hours Thursday as about an inch of snow accumulated on the roadway.”

The Clark County School District had canceled school and after-school activities due to “reports of potential freezing conditions on the roads that would be unsafe for school buses during the morning commute.” Other schools such as Bear Valley, Morongo, Snowline, and Rim of the World in the San Bernardino County closed school on Thursday because of the snow. A public alert freeze warning was issued as temperatures reached a low of 29 to 32 degrees. The National Weather Service created a weather service advisory because of the hail and snow in the mountains and valleys. In the Santa Barbara Airport, the temperature of 33 degrees broke the record coldest recorded temperature, which was previously 34 degrees in

1990.

The cause of this unusual weather was from the cold water and freezing temperatures in the atmosphere.

These temperatures originated in Alberta, Canada and traveled through Nevada, eventually spreading its way to Los Angeles and other regions, bringing freezing weather, storms, and snow. A climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Bill Patzert explained, “Because of our proximity to the Pacific, below-freezing temperatures are very rare. Our Mediterranean climate makes us mellow meteorologically. It smooths out the extremes in weather.” Patzert added, “The Polar Jet Stream” is what brings temperatures “below freezing temperatures to blanket Los Angeles in white.” According to the Los Angeles Public Library, the most recent record of sightings of snow in downtown Los Angeles was in 1949. At the time, the storm was caused heavy snow to fall in “mountains and in high deserts, dust[ing] parts of downtown and West Los Angeles.” The most recent record in the Los Angeles Country of snow was in 2007.

The lower temperatures will remain in the region.

However, it seems that regional temperatures all across the Southern California region will be rising.

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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. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com. Advertisement rates vary from $25 for a side strip advertisement to $100 for a full-page advertisement, with srivera@apachepowwow.net square and popup advertisement options available.

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By KAITLIN LEE

March 2019

Staff Writer

I really love the movie Love, Simon. If you are not familiar with it, it’s a movie about a teenager named Simon who is in the closet and falls in love with a boy he talks to through emails. It’s a really cute, romantic film that I know a lot of LGBTQ+ people can find solace and happiness in.

And not only that, it gave me a lot of hope that more stories about people of other orientations will be made; not just for adults, but for kids and teenagers as well.

However, even though I am glad about the progress created by films like Love, Simon and T.V. shows like Andi Mack, I find myself concerned with one thing: the majority of the mainstream LGBTQ+ characters are male. Not to say that there aren’t LGBTQ+ women in media, but there definitely is a disproportionate number. And LGBTQ+ women who are between the ages of 13 and 18? Those are even rarer.

The fact is that we need a movie with two young women in love. And no, not in the background as a way to win brownie points for representation. I mean a romantic comedy with a girl with a female love interest, like what Love, Simon did with gay boys.

Yes, Love, Simon was revolutionary. And I do agree that the struggles that queer boys go through are just as relatable for queer girls, from the heteronormative pressure they experience to the prejudice against queer couples for being “too mature”. But, as with any minority, it can be difficult for girls to fully relate or to even see themselves in queer boys. For one, there is pressure (culturally and from the media) for girls interested in boys to enter heterosexual relationships. But also, even if two boys kissing is revolutionary, it won’t connect with queer female viewers as much as two girls.

I don’t want to dismiss the current media and the progress they’ve made for LGBTQ+ romances, but if there is a movie centering on queer girls that is made for teenagers, we can have more progress. Not only would a movie reach a greater audience than a TV show, but it could signal that LGBTQ+ people are becoming more accepted in our vast society (rather than the few exceptions on television). Teen girls who are LGBTQ+ can feel more comfortable with being themselves. They won’t feel pressured to be with a guy nor would they think that their interest in girls is “inappropriate” for their age.

We have a long way to go for complete equality, but media can help us fill those gaps. And hopefully, in the future, we will see that LGBTQ+ people deserve love and romance as much as their heterosexual counterparts. klee@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM, PINTEREST.COM, and 123RF.COM

By AILIN ATASOY

Staff Writer

You’ve heard of all kinds of shaming in your lifetime, from body-shaming to slut-shaming to food-shaming, but if you’ve ever been on the wrong side of book-shaming, you know how terrible it can feel to be unfairly criticized for doing something you love. When you stray away from mainstream literature and dive into the world of romance, young adult, chick lit, fantasy, or any other unique genre, it’s common for people to turn their nose up at your book and make you feel bad about your choices, but the truth is, you should never feel guilty about what you read or why you read it.

I was recently asked about what my favorite movies and books were. My embarrassment must have been evident when I sheepishly re-

vealed my soft-spot for YA and romantic comedies because the other person simply asked: “What’s wrong with that?” That question stumped me and I realized that this guilt extended into other types of genre-shaming in various forms of entertainment. I think the embarrassment many people face from enjoying non-traditional genres is due to the stereotypes associated with them. If someone enjoys reading, they are supposed to be “intellectual”, which is often more correlated with reasoning and academia than it is with emotion and passion. This creates a stigma where people who read chick-lit are criticized more than those who don’t read at all. So here are some reasons why you shouldn’t be self-conscious about what entertainment you enjoy.

At Least You’re Reading Whether you’re reading Shakespeare or

the newest YA series, you are making yourself smarter while you do it. Not only does it teach you new things and increase your vocabulary, but it can also help you retain the information you already know, improve problem-solving skills, and increase your emotional intelligence.

Celebrate Diversity People read for different purposes. You may be seeking an adventure and are lucky enough to be wired in a way that allows you to immerse yourself in words. No one should make you feel bad about how you spend your downtime, because reading can be done for something other than educational purposes.

Through novels, you get to live vicariously and broaden your world experience. When you look outside of the classics genre, you’re more likely to find diverse stories that celebrate every kind of identity and every kind of life: independent

women, queer relationships, global matters, and mental health issues. There are so many different kinds of books out there, why should you just stick to one kind? This also extends to music as well. People who genre-shame make assumptions about what kinds of entertainment should be consumed, but the truth is, every genre deserves a chance.

Community The market for alternative books outside of literature and fiction proper is massive.

28,031,000 romance books were sold in 2015, compared to 7,578,000 classics. Through this community, you can find new friends who share the same interests! aatasoy@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM and THEPINTEREST.EU

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March 2019

By SANDI KHINE News Editor

Disclaimer: This article is a satirization of President Donald Trump’s orders for former attorney Michael Cohen to send letters to schools that President Trump had attended threatening them not to release his transcripts.

An admissions representative from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), who wished to remain anonymous, publicly stated that the University would not be releasing President Donald Trump’s SAT scores or GPA. “In order to protect not only the reputation of our honorable President but also to preserve the integrity of the UPenn admissions office,” mentioned the representative, “the University believes that it is in the best interest of [the] American public to keep President Trump’s academic scores private.”

Last year, President Trump donated $14 billion to UPenn, a marked increase from his previous donations of only $12 billion. In an interview with President Trump’s son Barron Trump, Barron believes that “Uncle Putin keeps giving father money and [Barron] doesn’t know why.”

UPenn refused to make further comments on President Trump’s donations and the impacts of the donation for the University. Though there has been no official confirmation, it seems that construction companies are preparing to open a new fast food dining hall on the UPenn campus in the next few months. Another look into the annual salaries of admissions officers at UPenn indicated that each representative would receive a $100,000 bonus in 2019.

During a tour to UPenn by our dedicated reporters, they noticed a marked increase of portraits of Michael Cohen on the UPenn campus. Undergraduate sophomore at the Wharton School stated that he “has a photo of Michael Cohen” on his nightstand, right next to one of his beloved dog Spot and his “homie Donald.” The student wishes to remain anonymous, but will gladly accept donations to his Venmo, ***-***-**** in order to fund his self-described “grape juice addiction.”

Sources close to Robert Mueller claim that Mueller and team are close to hacking through the UPenn admissions files to find Trump’s SAT scores. In response, the same admissions representative stated that UPenn has their “biggest, hugest security measures in place.” Mueller reportedly believes that finding out Trump’s SAT scores, along with his GPA during his time at the UPenn, will be the final nail in the coffin in his attempts to expose Trump.

However, other sources report that Mueller is attempting to release Trump’s academic record because there is nothing else that Mueller has on Trump. It is implied that any other leads, according to the sources, regarding collisions with Russia during the 2016 presidential elections may be insufficient to convince the American public of deceit. Mueller’s representative declined an interview with Mueller, asserting that Mueller “is extremely tired from all his investigations and is taking an extensive nap.”

President Trump’s

Secret stats

skhine@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of VECTORSTOCK.COM, Photo coutesy of VOX.COM

Our Flawed Education System

By CONNER HUA

Photography Editor

Growing up as a student in Arcadia, a city notorious for academic competition, I’ve faced pressures to emphasize my education as a central pillar of my life. Since childhood, impeccable grades, extensive extracurriculars, decorated accolades, and strenuous classes have been hailed as the “golden ticket” into college, and subsequently, a successful life. With students today tackling multiple AP classes, being in countless leadership positions, trying to maintain a social life, attempting to get enough sleep, and preparing for standardized tests, it seems superhuman to be able to juggle all that. Largely stemming from increasingly competitive job climates and college admissions, the younger generations of America are being raised in a culture that celebrates unfaltering perfection and a school system that fails to provide room for error.

From not staying home when sick to choosing studying over sleeping, our education system has failed students time and time again in creating an environment in which students are forced to value their academics over physical and mental health. Even if a student allocates an entire day to relaxing, such as a “mental health break”, these “breaks” only serve to further stress a student as they are left with more work to do in less time.

This culture of perfection raises serious concerns for the well-being of students across the nation. For students who are sick from school, some teachers expect the said student to make up their tests and turn in their homework the day they get back. Sick days are supposed to be days where students can relax at home, unburdened by school and the world in order to recover. However, with an education system that causes more stress on a student when they miss a day of school, we, as a nation, are teaching the adults of tomorrow that in order to succeed, they must be perfect. Sick days to students now have become dreaded precursors of tremendous academic stress as students subsequently have to learn lessons on their own, make-up homework, and study for multiple tests they’ll have to take all on the same day they get back while recovering. Often, students are forced brave through their sickness in order to circumvent the harmful effects of taking sick days, simultaneously risking the well-being of the students around them.

In addition to the way our educational policies fail to serve sick students, the competition and stresses of getting into college have taken a devastating toll on the health of students. With higher education that is often unaffordable for the average American family, plummeting accep-

tance rates, and a deteriorating job climate, the younger generations of America feel great pressure to put their all into high school with the hopes of attending a prestigious college with scholarships.

A study conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health found that 91% of the 12,000 high schoolers surveyed were sleep-deprived. While some of this can be attributed to students personally taking on difficult course loads, this issue of teenage sleep-deprivation across the U.S. can be traced back to outdated start times for schools. Many schools in the U.S. start before 8:30am. The education system fails to recognize that teenagers aren’t biologically designed to function so early in the morning or sleep early enough to get sufficient sleep. Once puberty begins, the circadian rhythm of teenagers shifts a couple of hours later, meaning students begin feeling the need to sleep as early as 11:00 p.m. This biological need to sleep when factored in conjunction with intensive student workloads and early school start times, clearly indicates that our education forces students to prioritize their grades over their physical and mental well-being.

The effects of sleep-deprivation are shocking; however, with little legislation in sight to solve these issues. Our younger generation is left with no choice but to sacrifice their physical health in order to maintain what they perceive to be the “ideal” path of getting into college. We, as a society, must decide whether or not to completely rehaul our current education system into one that works for students.

The decision should be simple. The culture for students in America has become so toxic and restricting that everyday, we lose bright-minded, hard-working individuals to the clutches of depression and anxiety. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 10% of all high school students surveyed between 2015-2017 had attempted suicide one or more times. Through the faults in our education system and the competitive, noxious environment we’ve created within schools, we’ve raised students who believe that their desire to get into college supersedes their basic right to life.

These students will one day become our doctors, our lawyers, our teachers, our garbage-collectors, our CEOs, and it’s important that we teach them that their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being are important and respected, teach them that they will always be worthy of love and self-respect, teach them that they are worth it.

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March 2019

HOW TO SURVIVE:

disneyland

By KAITLIN LEE

Staff Writer

Spring break is just around the corner, which means that there will be more opportunities for families to have a small retreat away from the daily monotony of their lives. This means that many families will leave to centers of entertainment, such as the “Happiest Place on the World,” Disneyland. However, when I say “many,” I mean “many”: bigger crowds, higher ticket rates, longer lines, and altogether less enjoyable for everyone involved. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips to find more enjoyment.

Instead of buying your tickets at the park, plan ahead and buy them online. Ticket booth lines are actually pretty long and can take up a lot of your time. If you buy them online, you can head directly into the park. It would also be worth your time to get to Disneyland before the park opens, as there are much fewer people, allowing you to get on as many rides before the giant crowds begin to flood into the park.

Also, the Fastpass system can greatly maximize your time because it can allow you to board the more popular rides more quickly than regular. Or, if you’re willing to spend $15 per person, you can download the app MaxPass to reserve Fastpasses. And when you buy your Fastpasses, make sure one person buys and carries all of them for your group, or else you might end up with different times.

Another way to avoid lots of waiting is to plan to ride during shows or parades. When shows like Fantasmic or World of Color are showing, ride wait-times are significantly shorter. Or, if you don’t mind splitting up your group, single rider lines can more efficiently get you on a ride than waiting for four hours.

But what about food? Well, it’s recommended to just pack your own snacks, water, and lunch so you can save money and time.

But if you want to eat somewhere, try eating during periods of times that are the least crowded. According to Undercover Tourist, off-peak hours are “from 10:30 a.m to noon and then 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m.”

Finally, for your souvenirs, try shopping beforehand, either online or in nearby discount stores. Or, if you must shop at the park, do so near the end of your trip, as the shops on Buena Vista Street (in California Adventure), Main Street (in Disneyland), and World of Disney (in Downtown Disney) are open for one more hour after the park closes. However, at the same time, TripSavvy warns that the stores “will be packed with people who also put off their purchases to the end of the day,” so it is up to you whether you want to shop at the beginning of your day or the end.

Disneyland alone can be fun and magical, but efficiency and less money spent can make it happier. Hopefully, these tips can help you, your family and your friends enjoy your time in Disneyland more and form new memories to be remembered for years.

klee@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of DISNEY.COM

By AILIN ATASOY

Staff Writer

A mood board is a type of collage that captures the essence of a personality or a theme; often times, these are used by wedding planners or designers. For the past few months, mood boards have been cluttering Instagram’s explore page, as the popularity of these “niche memes” continue to rise. Various forms of these mood boards exist: the original “Tag Yourself” (eg. pictures of fast food brands, each with a blurb of characteristics); the “*inanimate object* as a person” (eg. February as a person would have small clip arts of coffee, a pink dress, and hearts); and the “Style chart” (think of a Punnett square with one axis being “cute”, “edgy”, “preppy” and the other being “red”, “yellow”, “blue” resulting in nine different outfits). It is also intriguing to see how other people view the world and certain stereotypes.

Senior Cindy Qi’s take on these memes are that they’re “interesting, but at times, seem to be describing things different than how I see it.”

How To Make Your Own: So we know the basics—it is essentially creating a collage of pictures that have the background or borders eliminated.

1. Download pictures: Many of the pictures in these niche memes deal highly with fashion or aesthetics, so a good place to find pictures would be Pinterest, a site that groups together pictures from all over the internet. A helpful tip would be to search for the object you want with the phrase “.png” after it (a .png is an image where the background/border is now transparent, leaving you with just the picture of the object—perfect for what we are doing). Pinterest also is perfect at finding filler pictures, which will be discussed later on. The reason you would use this site over Google Images is that you can save pictures for later and by category, instead of storing them in the camera roll.

2. Cut off borders: If you couldn’t find a png of the photo you want and wish to eliminate the excess background, download an app called MagicEraser. Here, you can use an “eraser” to get rid of any part of the image, turning the area transparent. Because you have this tool, you don’t necessarily have to get a .png formatted picture and can use any picture you want from the internet. What I love about this app is that it offers an “auto erase” feature—for instance, say you have a picture of Nike shoes with a white background. Instead of spending an inordinate amount of time carefully erasing the background around the shoe, this feature allows you to click on the white area which automatically senses the other parts of the image with white area and erases all of it. And don’t worry if it senses and erases some white on the shoe that you want to keep—the app also includes an “anti-eraser” that reveals the part of the photo again!

3. Collage it: There are many collaging apps you can use. I would recommend finding one that allows you to change the tilt, size, and location of the photo to your heart’s content. I personally use Phonto, though it takes time adding images one by one.

4. Extras: If there is any extra awkward room in the picture, just add some filler pictures or drawings like hearts or squiggles. aatasoy@apachepowwow.net Photo courtesy of TIME.COM

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March 2019

By CHARLES SU

Staff Writer

The color green, leprechauns, and clovers are all noticeable symbols that represent March and St. Patrick’s Day. These are all distinct Irish traditions and recognize the death of the first patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. It’s a holiday mainly celebrated by Irish Christians and Catholics on Mar. 17 with a Catholic feast or, the more American tradition, a first-day parade. The question is, why does America, a secularized state, celebrate different nations and religious holidays?

The story behind St. Patrick began when he was forced to work as a shepherd in Ireland after being kidnapped by pagans. After escaping back to his family, he began to study in France to become a priest and vowed to return to Ireland. He would later become a bishop and then an apostle when he returned to Ireland, where he would devote 30 years in establishing the Catholic church there. St. Patrick would later die supposedly in 461 AD, and since then his story has become ingrained to Irish culture. In Ireland and different areas in Canada, St. Patricks Day is a public holiday with many old traditions lifted that day, such as consuming too much alcohol. Just a little tangent, green itself symbolizes Irish culture and the start of spring. Sophomore Haocheng Li and I always thought that it stood for luck (or something along those lines) and he voiced his surprise, “Man, I spent my life thinking it meant something else, but it certainly makes sense that it connects to the start of spring and the Irish culture.” The shamrock, another iconic Irish symbol, has the legend that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; today, this flower is the official flower of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is a deeply rooted Irish tradition, so how did Americans start celebrating it?

Through the period of The Great Irish Potato Famine, where Ireland’s most commonly consumed crop, potatoes, were rendered inedible. Nearly 2 million Irish immigrated to America and the first St. Patrick’s day parade was carried out in America by Irish immigrants in 1737, though many American portrayed them as drunk and violent people as many Irish were of a religious minority. Since they had large numbers, the Irish organized themselves and established a voting block, which would be important for many political candidates. Very suddenly, these St. Patrick’s Day parades became a must-attend event for many political candidates. Some people question why we, as a country, celebrate these Irish traditions as they view it as an excuse to get drunk.

Though freshman Alec Tandoc said that “it’s fine if you’re celebrating their culture, not only is it an Irish tradition but a Catholic one which many people [in America] are.”

So, enjoy this old and wonderful Irish holiday that many people before you did as well. Whether you’re Irish/Catholic or not, it’s a good day to show off those green colors!

csu@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of PINTEREST.COM and 1001FONTS.COM

By CAITILIN WANG

Staff Writer

By now, most of us have at least heard of Glossier, a popular skincare and makeup brand. The company recently opened up a store on Melrose in LA, and it’s currently busy with people going in and out to take pictures, try samples, and purchase new products. At first sight, Glossier’s price points seem high and you may be wondering, are they worth their prices? Here are products that you should invest in and some you should hold off on.

The majority of Glossier advertisements feature gorgeous, clear-skinned models with fresh, beautiful complexions. Their makeup is very minimal, representing the company’s slogan, “skin care first, makeup second.” These models however, don’t represent typical, day-to-day people because not everyone’s skin can be nor is perfect. Seeing these models popping up everywhere most likely increases Glossier’s sales because people may want to buy their products just so they can look as good as the models in the advertisements.

To start off, the Boy Brow is worth it, varying from person to person. The Boy Brow is like an eye-brow mascara and is a very popular Glossier product that is often raved about all over social media. Its price point is $16, which isn’t outrageous yet not low in comparison to various drugstore eyebrow products. The concept of the makeup product is very unique, not just a normal pencil or dip brow product. The look of thicker eyebrows has become a trend, so this explains why the product has become so hyped up. Depending on the thickness of your eyebrows, the Boy Brow will be a good investment. For some, it doesn’t do much, and for others, it fills their brows in perfectly. For the most part, the Boy Brow is a good one-time try.

The lip gloss is definitely worth its $14, well, for the most part. The product itself is really amazing, but the packaging is just too small! It’s a tiny little tube and if you use lip gloss often, it’ll probably last you a very short amount of time. According to their website, Glossier promised their lip gloss to be “the Glossiest”. It definitely doesn’t disappoint though because the consistency of it is not sticky, there’s no glitter in it, and there’s a natural shine to it. The lip gloss is definitely a great first product to purchase from Glossier.

Nine dollars for a tiny bottle of the milk jelly cleanser? 16 dollars for a mascara? The milk jelly cleanser and lash slick are not worth it. Honestly, from another makeup counter or Sephora you could get a free sample the same size as the milk jelly cleanser. Of course, there are different sizes, but the prices go up the bigger the bottle. It’s supposed to work really well in making your skin feel clean and fresh, so it won’t hurt to buy it once. The lash slick is a buildable mascara, meaning you have to apply a few coats to make it noticeable. It’s very simple but if you like the thick eyelash look, this mascara is not for you.

As a whole, in my opinion, Glossier is worth a few tries but unless you really fall in love with one of their products, Sephora and drugstores are still a better option. However, taking a visit down to their store on Melrose is worth a day’s trip because you get to try their free samples and take cute Instagram pictures. Buy a few products and decide for yourself if they’re worth the price or not!

cwang@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of BEHANCE.NET and 1001FONTS.COM

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March 2019

The death of

By JESLYN CHOU Staff Writer

As a kid, I spent most of my time watching Disney Channel shows like Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place. Not only was there Disney Channel, but there were also other popular children’s programs like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Although I haven’t watched these shows in a while, it’s fun to reminisce on the time I spent captivated by the characters and the plot. In this article, I’ll be asking students what their favorite childhood shows or movies are and why.

Although we all know the classic Disney shows, freshman Sarah Kwang recalls some Disney XD shows that were less known, but are still some of her favorites.

Of the many shows on Disney XD, she says her favorite was Slugterra.

Although the show was discontinued after a whopping five seasons, Sarah says she still rewatches a couple of episodes at times to “bring back some nostalgia.”

Classic Disney shows were definitely a big part of my childhood, just like they were for junior Markis Cheng! His favorite show as a kid was Good Luck Charlie, a show where a teen named Teddy Duncan lives in a family of six. In each episode, she documents her daily struggles in a video diary to give to her baby sister, Charlie. Markis enjoys the show because “although the main characters were completely fictional, [he] learned some important life lessons that [he] still holds onto today.” He also included that the show was a great form of entertainment that he enjoyed as a kid, but it also helped him

gain a new perspective on life through the lessons that were taught in the video diaries.

In contrast, freshman Michelle Chen has grown up watching Studio Ghibli movies and still watches them now! Her favorites include popular animated films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese film company that has been making these animated movies since 1985. Movies like Totoro were first released in 1993, and although they were made way before Michelle was even born, she says she still watches these anime films, because “it’s magical and the first thing [she’s] ever watched.”

Sophomore Natalie Hwang recalls watching the TV show Friends since she was a kid. The popular American sitcom features a group of (obviously) friends who face the struggles of life and love together in New York City.

Natalie likes the show because it has an entertaining plot and “it’s a really enjoyable show to watch with [her] family.”

Lastly, freshman Allison Collins recalls watching various PBS Kids shows as a child.

She says that although she watched many different series, her favorites and the ones she remembers most are World Girl and Martha Speaks. Although these shows seem childish now, Allison remembers being captivated by the speaking animals and the crazy stories of each of the characters. Agreeing with Allison’s sentiments, freshman Swetha Somasundaram also remembers watching PBS Kids, her favorite show being Sesame Street.

No matter what shows you watched as a kid, hopefully this article brought back a bit of nostalgia and memories from your elementary school life!

By JENNY QIU Staff Writer

Marvel fans have long awaited the upcoming film, Avengers: End Game. As the previous film left fans confused and wondering, many have come up with their own theories, from the majority of the remaining Avengers characters dying to none of the characters dying in the first place. No one is positive about the plot of Avengers: End Game, but students at AHS have come up with their own theories.

“I think that Captain America is going to die,” said sophomore Sharon Hang. “Since the Soul Stone requires a sacrifice, it makes sense for him to die so that the others can wield the Infinity Gauntlet and save the rest of the world.”

As many have theorized, it is very likely that Captain America will end up sacrificing himself in order for others to survive.

In addition, there is concrete evidence supporting Sharon’s theory.

Chris Evans, the actor who plays Captain America, has confirmed that he is done with the Marvel Universe as his contract ended after the filming of Avengers: End Game.

Having Captain America kill himself to save humanity seems like the logical way for Marvel to kill him off. However, other students believe that it will be a different character who saves the world.

“I think there’s a big chance that Gamora is going to save them,” said junior Emma Liao.

“When everyone turned to dust, she was in the bottomless void and only appeared dead. Plus, I feel like her relationship with Thanos will re-

ally allows her to take him down and save everyone.” Although Sharon’s theory could very possibly be true, Christine’s theory seems to be just as logical. As Gamora is the only one whom Thanos truly loves, it is possible for Gamora to somehow manipulate Thanos so that she can wield the Infinity Gauntlet. Unlike Sharon and Christine’s theories, there is one theory that differs drastically.

“I think that when everyone was starting turning to dust, they weren’t actually dying, but rather time traveling,” said freshman Eileen Zhang. “The stones that Thanos’ found weren’t actually the real one, but still had powers that allowed him to make a snap that just damaged the Gauntlet. The dust that everyone thought meant death, was actually just the superheroes time traveling to the past to get the real Infinity Stones and save people by moving them to other planets or other realms.”

While, most other theorize mostly deal with deaths, this one claims that the Avengers were just time traveling. It would also explain the post-credit scene in which Nick Fury and Maria Hill’s conversation claims that people have been turning to dust long before Thanos’ snap.

Although all these theories differ quite a lot, they are all interesting in their own ways.

Whether it’s Captain America dying, Gamora saving them, or the Avengers time traveling, there is no doubt that Marvel fans will be counting down the days before Avengers: End Game is released. So make sure to go watch the movie when it comes out to see if your theory was right!

jchou@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM and PINTEREST.COM

jqiu@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of TEEPUBLIC.COM and THETECHNEWS.COM

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March 2019

the apache pow wow

By ALLY FUNG Staff Writer

Facebook. A site we all know and love for its easy-to-use interface and ability to connect people from around the world. It’s great for sharing information with people who share similar interests, which is why the “Groups” section on Facebook is so popular. What are Facebook groups, and which ones are worth joining?

Facebook groups can be classified as public, closed, or secret. Public groups are open for everyone to join, closed groups can be found by the public but members must be approved to join, and secret groups cannot be found by the public and require members to be added into it by a Facebook friend. Groups can have admins and moderators who have the ability to control what content gets posted in the group and who gets to join. This way, order is kept within the group and content is monitored.

One popular closed group among AHS students is “Subtle Asian Traits” which has acquired over 1.2 million members from around the world. Its contents include relatable memes for Asians, heartwarming videos and stories, and news regarding Asian culture. One member, sophomore Kevin Tanzil, likes “looking at the memes people post because [he] can relate to them.” Another member, junior Crystal Yu, was “added to the group by a band friend” and enjoys being part of it because she “likes memes.”

Another popular group among students at AHS is “Clothes” which has acquired over 3.1k members from around the San Gabriel Valley area. It is a secret group made by Cathy Lee “preferably for AHS kids” and is meant for members to be able to sell clothing items and related items to an audience around Arcadia.

“Dogspotting” is a public group with over 1.2 million members dedicated to pictures of dogs that people see in public but do not know. Sophomore Wendy Wang likes the “wholesome pictures of dogs” that show up in her timeline because they are “funny and cute.”

Facebook groups are also utilized to communicate between peers. Groups such as “AHS Class of 2019” or “Kare 4 Kids” are used to contact people within those respective groups and update them on events and deadlines.

Facebook groups are a popular tool utilized by many who wish to share their interests with others. Some, like “Subtle Asian Traits,” are made for pure entertainment whereas others are used to share information with specific Facebook users. Facebook groups can enhance a user’s experience of Facebook greatly, so will you go out and join? afung@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of DAFONT.COM and FREEPIK.COM

By ANYA YANG Staff Writer

programming season allows many students to have an extra class period in their schedule.

While students like Sofia are still struggling to decide on their classes, many other students already got their years planned out to the very last class on their schedules. “I’ve been thinking about my classes for a while now, even before programming season, so by the time we actually got the forms, I pretty much already knew what courses I wanted anyway,” said junior Olivia Chen. “I already know that I want to go into art in the future so I selected my elective choices based on that.”

For the students like Olivia who already have an idea of what they want to do in the future, deciding on courses and electives is a much easier task.

For students who’d like to change their selected classes, P.A.W. (Program Adjustment Week) is from May 13 to May 17 during lunch and after school in the Career Center. Be prepared for long lines!

Programming season is a time for students to try out new things and solidify their interests in a certain field, depending on the classes they take. The prospect of new classes brings a sense of anticipation and excitement for the coming school year and is a welcome indication that summer is almost here!

The school year has gone by in the blink of an eye, and there’s no better indication of the year’s end than programming season. Course lists are being handed out, and existential crises are occurring as students begin to stress over the classes they plan on taking next year.

While the seniors are packing their bags and finally heading off to college, for the rest of us, this is one of the more stressful times of the year as we spend hours pouring over the class introductions, only to second-guess ourselves before turning the form in.

Throughout the entire programming season, many students were unsure of what classes they were planning on taking next year.

“I honestly don’t know what courses I’m going to take next year, beyond the next level of my language class and volleyball,” said sophomore Sofia Mediana. “There are so many different classes available for the core classes, and I’m still trying to figure out whether I should take the regular course or the AP course.”

For the incoming juniors, programming season can be a very rocky time full of new decisions. At AHS, junior year is when the course options really expand, as all sorts of electives and AP courses become ayang@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of available. Coupled with the fact that it is DAFONT.COM and VECTEEZY.COM the first year where PE is not required,

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GO

By MANASVI CHANDRA

theapachepowwow.net

Staff Writer

It is widely known through hashtags on social media and national events that March is Women’s History Month. This year, in 2019, the theme is Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence. This is meant to honor women who have worked to end violence and injustice using nonviolent means. Numerous women in the past—and present—have employed nonviolent plans in order to stop injustice in their communities, on both large and small scales.

This category includes women like Rosa Parks, Jane Addams, Mother Teresa, Aung San Suu Kyi, and many more.

This month, organizations like the La-

March 2019

March 2019

centerspread.powwow@gmail.com

WOMEN

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crosse Tribune are honoring women from a wide range of backgrounds who have brought upon various positive effects to the world in regards to overall societal betterment and peace. These women also accomplished their goals in numerous ways: some were involved in the film or music industry, some were authors or novelists, and others were simply common citizens. However, this month is not only to celebrate people of the past, but it is also meant to respect women in the present who are working towards peace using nonviolent means.

mchandra@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of WWW.RESONATE.COM

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March 2019

The controversy of

By MELODY YANG Staff Writer

In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence (A.I.) has progressed more rapidly than before. However, A.I. is a controversial topic, as people believe that it can pose potential threats to society despite all the conveniences it has brought us. Here is the argument from both sides.

First of all, what is A.I? A.I. is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers and the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior. Throughout the years, it has become more and more developed, and consequently, more concerns has also arose as well. Science fiction often portrays A.I. as robots with human-like characteristics, pos-

sibly adding on to the public’s fear of the development of A.I. However, other experts have said that this kind of situation is impossible and that the creators of A.I. will take measures to prevent this from happening.

One fear that people have regarding A.I. is that it could be programmed to do something beneficial, but develop a destructive mind while completing its task. For example, an A.I. could be asked to eradicate cancer from the world, and it comes up with a simple solution that does indeed bring the end of cancer—by killing everyone on the planet. This situation shows the possibility of unintended consequences when developing A.I. Another concern is unemployment. When A.I. becomes advanced enough, it is highly likely that they will begin to take over white collar jobs, adding to the fear that A.I. will soon leave many people unemployed. Monks,

for example, were against the printing press.

Why? They were afraid of losing their jobs.

However, are these concerns really concerns at all? Some people think otherwise. Subbarao Kambhampati, a professor of computer science at Arizona State University’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, works in artificial intelligence. He believes that “current day A.I. agents may have superhuman abilities in narrow spheres, but still are no match for the general intelligence of humans.” However, Kambhampati has also said, “I remain sanguine that a thoughtful approach to both technical and deployment issues will allow us to reap the benefits of A.I. while avoiding inadvertent dystopias.”

Senior Ryan Wang, an AHS student who has just been accepted into UC Berkeley as an Engineering Major, has similar views. He expressed that while A.I. has been develop-

ing, he believes that the public’s fear of A.I. becoming evil and taking over humans is not a very plausible situation. Ryan also adds, “I believe that it will take some jobs away from people, but at the same time, it will create new jobs, because A.I. is a complicated subject and it just doesn’t take one expert in one field, it takes multiple experts in many fields.”

After reading these viewpoints, it’s important to create your own opinion about this subject. Do you truly think that the advancement of A.I. could become a threat to humans in the future? By being wary of the consequences A.I. could have, steps can be taken to prevent them from happening. myang@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of PICSWE.COM and 1001FONTS.COM

In the Greater LA AREA

By ALLY FUNG

Staff Writer

Community colleges are great resources that can enhance a person’s education past high school. They are public colleges that offer “open enrollment” to high school graduates. They are great for those who wish to stay close to home, save money, or learn what fields they want to pursue before they attend another university. While they may not give you a “traditional” college experience with things like dorms and Greek life, community colleges offer great resources and may be a good choice for you after high school.

Proximity to home is oftentimes one of the greatest draws for someone to a community college. At AHS, we are surrounded by a plethora of community colleges in the Greater LA area. Pasadena City College (PCC) is one that almost all Apaches have heard of and many former Apaches have attended. Founded in 1924, PCC accepts students from anywhere; in fact, students don’t even have to have a high school diploma to be accepted. There are approximately 30,000 students who are studying topics from science and math to music and arts. PCC is ranked in the Top 10 Community Colleges in the nation, giving students from the San Gabriel Valley access to a great community college education at home.

Besides PCC, there are many other community colleges that are still close to home and provide great resources to its students. Citrus College in Glendora, Glendale Community College in Glendale, East LA College in LA, and Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut are some community colleges that are praised by students and alumni from the Greater LA area. With a Gold Line Metro stop right near it, Citrus College is one of the easiest colleges to commute to and offers a plethora of activities for its students to take part in. One of their most popular programs is focused around Performing Arts and utilizes the Haugh Performing Arts Center to put on much-anticipated performances.

Mt. San Antonio College, or Mt. SAC, is ranked second in Best Community Colleges in California on Niche and prides itself on its 260-degree certificate programs, 25 support programs, and over 50 student-led programs. At just $46 a unit and financial aid options, Mt. SAC welcomes students who believe they may not be able to attend college due to financial restrictions.

The colleges listed above are just examples of community colleges in the Greater LA area. There are so many more that all have unique programs to offer to all students. Community colleges have so many draws to them that are worth checking out for all high school students. afung@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of LASC.EDU and 1001FONTS.COM

March 2019

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By ABBY CHOY

By JESLYN CHOU There are four major types of writing that you may have encountered in your many years of education: narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive. Although we have been taught this before, it can sometimes be hard to remember what each essay consists of and how to write them well. In this article, I’ll be reviewing what the four major types of writing are, and some tips for how to make them great!

Narrative Essays Narrative essays are probably the ones we’re all most familiar with. In this type of essay, the author tells a story, based on either fact or fiction, and challenges their creativity.

Narrative writing also helps the author with their storytelling and use of details to develop a plot. These essays are usually written in the first person, using pronouns such as “I” and “my”. Freshman Sarah Kwang says that narrative essays are her favorite to write because she is able to use her imagination to create a story and convey a message through characters and a plot. Overall, the writing should encompass a story that aims to educate readers about a topic or deeper meaning by using the characters or conflicts in the story as examples.

Some tips for writing these essays include to always use clear language. Although it can be tempting to use more “advanced” words, it can be detrimental to the plot if every word is replaced with a synonym that may not be the best word to describe what you mean. Using simpler words that you are more familiar with can help you convey your points more precisely. It’s also important in all essays, not only narrative, to take into account who your audience is. By this I mean, remember who you’re writing your story for. Depending on age and many other factors, it’s important to write your essay in a way that readers can understand and in a way where they’re still interested in the plot.

Descriptive Essays In this genre of writing, the author is asked to describe something. Whether that “something” is a person, place, object, event, emotion, or conflict, this writing challenges the author’s ability to describe things with precise details and interesting imagery. It also encourages students to use their imagination to create vivid imagery that readers can clearly envision.

To write a clear descriptive essay, make sure to use language that evokes the feeling you’re trying to portray or has strong connotations that can clearly portray what you’re writing about. Instead of using simple adjectives such as happy or sad, use ecstatic or dismal in your essays. A great tip for finding vivid lan-

Staff Writer

guage is by using your senses. Appeal to the five senses of the reader by describing the way your topic smelled, tasted, felt, sounded, or looked.

Expository Essays The type of writing most students are confused by are expository essays. Expository essays ask students to inform or explain a subject or topic to a reader. They can also be used to analyze information using facts, information, statistics, and examples. Within this type of writing, there is a wide range of essay formats you can use such as a compare and contrast essay, a cause and effect essay, or essays that explain how to do something. Expository essays are all about facts in lieu of opinions or emotion.

A great way to help readers visualize and fully grasp information is by using real-life examples and analogies. It’s also recommended, if possible, to utilize graphs and pictures to your advantage. This way, readers who may be visual learners are able to picture what you’re trying to explain. Lastly, it is most important to keep in mind that expository essays should be emotion and opinion-free.

Persuasive Essays Like an expository essay, persuasive essays use facts and statistics, but instead of simply educating the reader, the author is trying to convince the reader to view the subject in their point of view. The writer should utilize expert opinions, proven facts, examples, and their own reasoning to make a case for their opinion. In addition, the author should convey all sides of the argument but be able to clearly communicate why their position is correct or more logical.

A huge part of a persuasive essay is the thesis statement. Be sure to clearly state your position at the beginning of the essay. In addition, use examples, facts, and evidence as to why your argument is correct. People will respond more to your essay if you give them reasons to agree with your opinion. As I’ve said previously, make sure you know your audience. Depending on the readers, you may need to adjust your essay to include examples that they can relate to.

Hopefully these tips and explanations helped you in essays that are worthy of getting an A. Be sure to keep them in mind for future writing assignments. Have fun writing! jchou@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of KISSPNG.COM

While AHS doesn’t require its students to wear uniforms, plenty of other schools do.

Are there any benefits to wearing these regulated pieces of clothing to your performance in school?

On one hand, uniforms are said to help students focus more on schoolwork by bringing a sense of unity. It makes sense that if a student doesn’t have to spend the day fixated on whether or not they look weird, then they would be focused on schoolwork more. This could also prevent bullying from those who pick on students because of their choice of fashion. They would be unable to do this because they would both be wearing the same clothes, which would reinforce the preventing of bullying since it would bring a sense of unity. When everyone wears the same clothes, it creates an environment of togetherness, and there would theoretically be less drama and distraction. No one knows what economic background you’re

By ELLA TANG When writing essays, many teachers often require at least one quote in each body paragraph. Some might require a number of quotes be used in the whole essay while others specify exactly what they want. But here comes the question: why do teachers like having students use quotes so much?

One of the reasons why quotes are so important is that they provide further information to support what the writer is trying to communicate to their audience. Quotes can be used when people try to write but fail to think of the wording they need. Such quotes not only help students express what they want to say, but also help them improve the quality of their writing.

Quotes can provide further details to what the writer is trying to express in his or her essays.

Secondly, quotes can be used in order to show the importance of an idea. When the writer is trying to emphasize something but doesn’t have enough real-life evidence, quotes can be a great tool. With the help of quotes, people can see how one thing is more important than another. Using the right quote can help people improve their writing a lot. For instance, while writing an article about how time is more important than money, it would be a good idea to use the quote by Jim Rohn, “Time is more valued than money. You can get more money, but

Staff Writer

from just by looking at you, because you’re all wearing the same clothes.

On the other hand, students generally dislike the idea of being forced to wear certain clothes because it limits their creative expression and forces students to conform to everyone else. As teenagers, we want to show who we are, and wearing uniforms goes against that.

It provides a boost of self-confidence to those who care about what they wear. Wearing a uniform also brings a feeling of monotony from being forced to adjust to how everyone else looks. It’s boring and doesn’t leave any space for individualism.

There are both positives and negatives to each side, but it’s up for you to decide which one you think is right. What do you think about school uniforms? achoy@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM

Staff Writer

you cannot get more time.” Using such a quote provides more support for why time is more valuable compared to money and thus upgrade the essay to another level.

Lastly, quotes can provide people with more evidence about things that they want to talk about. When writing an academic-related essay, it is important to use quotes to prove the points that people are trying to say. It is necessary to use text in books or novels when trying to prove points and/or state main ideas in stories. Such quotes can help the reader understand what the writer is actually trying to say and not get lost in the essay.

In conclusion, quotes are important because they activate an emotional point in people’s hearts and minds while reading an essay.

The right quote can help readers to see light at the end of the tunnel, and give people that extra burst of hope and courage to persevere. Having quotes in essays can help people understand the importance of certain points especially when the quotes are used to show such points. Be sure to always include them if possible! etang@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of PROFICIENTZ.COM and 1001FONTS.COM

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theapachepowwow.net

Lady Interactive Art Gaga

By LESLIE CHEN

By ALEX KIM

March 2019

Digital art is engaging visitors like never before, especially with the introduction of interactive art. Here are some of the world’s most fascinating interactive art pieces. “in orbit”: Suspended more than 80 feet in the air at the K21 Museum in Germany is Tomás Saraceno’s new art installation, “in orbit.” The steel contraption spans the museum’s vast three-stroy glass dome. Positioned within this net structure are half a dozen inflated PVC spheres, each with 27-foot diameters. Visitors have access to this transparent installation and are allowed to move freely from sphere to sphere.

“Sleep Art Project”: Hotels in Berlin, London, and Paris have recently hosted a unique interactive art event that allowed people to create art based on their sleep. Participants in the “Sleep Art Project” slept on a mattress embedded with 80 sensors that measured the sleeper’s temperature, breathing rate, and movement.

Using a complicated algorithm, a computer translated every snore or change in sleep position into brush strokes for a small robotic arm to paint on a black canvas.

“Before I Die”: Candy Chang created the first “Before I Die” wall on the side of an abandoned building in New Orleans, painting a chalkboard stenciled with the sentence “Before I die I want to ____.” Passersby could then fill in the sentence with their dreams or bucket list goals. What began as an experiment in making a public space into a shared space has become a

Staff Writer

Professionally known as Lady Gaga, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta recently became the first woman to win all five big awards—a Golden Globe, an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and a Critic’s Choice—in one season. While she is praised as an accomplished artist now, it was not always like this. She’s been scrutinized for being too eccentric and outspoken in the past, but these are characteristics that helped her become who she is today.

Born into an Italian American family, Stefani Germanotta was brought up in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and since her parents were lower class, she said that they had to “work hard for everything.” Thus, Germanotta described herself as a student who was dedicated, studious, disciplined, and a bit insecure, as she was mocked by her peers for being too “unusual”. Wanting their daughter to become a more cultured woman, her parents encouraged her to pursue music, beginning with piano lessons at 4-years-old. Through these lessons, she learned to create music by ear, which she prefers over writing out sheet music. Later, Germanotta began playing at open mic nights and studied method acting. For her undergraduate study, she was accepted into The Juilliard School, but she decided to attend a Catholic school instead. Eventually, she enrolled in NYU’s Tisch School of Arts where she continued studying music and improved her songwriting through essays on art, religion, social issues, and politics. At that time, she also worked three jobs to make ends meet.

Lady Gaga was signed to her first record label, Def Jams Recordings, in 2005, and although she was dropped shortly, this is where her stage name, inspired by the Queen song “Radio GaGa,” was created. Afterward, collaborating with other bands and performing in her own clubs allowed her to begin experimenting with dance and fashion. After signing with Kon Live of Interscope, she debuted with her album The Fame, which was met with positive reception in 2008. This album included some of the hit songs of the year, such as “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” “Paparazzi,” and “LoveGame”. Her second album, The Fame Monster, was released the following year and also proved to be a success with popular singles such as “Bad Romance,” “Telephone,” and “Alejandro”. Thus, in 2010, Lady Gaga was named one of the most influential people and powerful women even in the midst of rising criticism of her “bizarre or provocative” style choices and performances.

Born This Way in 2011 was received in a similar fashion with controversial reviews for touching on themes of sexuality, politics, and religion. Despite the debate, the album performed successfully at end-of-the-year award shows. In 2015, Lady Gaga became known for her roles in American Horror Story: Hotel, winning her first Golden Globe Award. This was a particularly special moment for her as before becoming a musician, her first dream was to become an actress. With this, she became successful as both.

In her fifth studio album, Joanne, which was named after her aunt, Lady Gaga looked deeper into her own life and relationships for inspiration. In an interview with People magazine, she explained, “Returning to your family and where you came from, and your history. . .this is what makes you strong.” Although slow at first, the album skyrocketed in popularity after her Super Bowl halftime performance of “Million Reasons.” In the 2018-remake of the movie A Star is Born, Lady Gaga took her first lead acting role and co-wrote many of the songs in the film. The movie, as well as the lead single “Shallow,” received much critical acclaim and awarded Gaga with all five of America’s biggest awards.

“They said I was weird, that my look, my choices, my sound wouldn’t work,” Lady Gaga said in the opening of the 2019 Grammy Awards, “but music told me not to listen to them.” With confidence in herself and her ideas, Gaga cultivated a safe environment and devoted following of people who felt that they were different from the rest. With her outspoken support for the LGBTQ+ community, charity work for preventing bullying, and care for sexual assault victims like herself, she has become one of the biggest inspirations and examples of compassion with her actions, work, and fearless attitude toward life. akim@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of BILLBOARD.COM

Staff Writer

global art project, with more than 400 “Before I Die” walls in 60 countries. “Our public spaces are our shared spaces,” Chang said in an interview with CNN. “We gather together to grieve, worship, and console each other.”

Joe Hill’s 3D art: As part of Guiness World Record day in 2011, artist Joe Hill was commissioned to create a 3D painting in London’s Canary Wharf. Both the longest and largest 3D painting to ever exist, the canyon-esque design spreads over 12,490 feet. Its design allows pedestrians to stand on the edge of the ‘abyss’ and stare down into a deep ‘gorge.’ The painting was sponsored by Reebok and took seven days to finish.

“Nervous Structure 3”: Annica Cuppetelli and Cristobal Mendoza’s “Nervous Structure 3” digital structure melds the viewer into the art. You enter the room to see a set of parallel lines. As you move around, the lines react to your presence by vibrating or creating more complex patterns. Created with a security camera, projector, and computer, the system uses fluid dynamics and simulation software to process the motion data and change the string images.

Although conventional pieces like paintings and sculptures still account for a large piece of artistic work, the introduction of interactive art is certainly prominent in today’s creations.

There is no doubt that interactive art installations point to a new era to the evolution of art. lchen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of VECTEEZY.COM

The World of J-Rock J−ロックの せかい

By CINDY TSE

Staff Writer

While most of us are strongly connected to American pop culture, the recent surge in popularity for anime and K-pop shows that there is a robust market for Asian music. Among the rising stars are Japanese rock (J-rock) groups. J-rock is usually separated into three categories of alternative rock, regular rock, and visual kei. Of the three, visual kei is likely the most recognizable. But all three groups have their fair share of fans and supporters, in part due to their music and also because many listeners agree that there is a significant difference in the tone and style of most J-rock compared to western rock.

The most notable type of J-rock is visual kei, with, as Time Out Tokyo puts it, “‘visual’ being the operative word.” It is reminiscent of the wild style and music of glam rock bands, often with their androgynous aesthetic and crazy outfits, complete with shaved eyebrows, full leather outfits, and other elaborate costumes and makeup, including ball gowns. Many consider the first visual kei band to be X Japan, a heavy metal group. Their shock value caused teens from around Japan to gravitate toward them, and so began the growth of the visual kei subculture. There is also an influence from Kabuki theater and manga, which may explain the tendency to go for dark, Gothic, and historic looks. As Japanese culture began gaining major followings overseas, the visual kei bands grew with them as their unique look complemented those of anime characters.

There’s a reason that J-rock has such a distinctive sound. Back when rock first began taking off in the U.S., the music was full of references to sex and drugs, which didn’t quite resonate so well with the more conservative Japan. They modified the genre to be less explicit, but with an equally rebellious edge. Virtual Japan described how “many of the songs were designed for young boys and girls to hear music about political issues.” As rock developed in Japan, so did it’s appearance and personality, which many artists today are marketed with.

There are numerous J-rock bands with different sounds available. Currently, one of the most popular is One OK Rock, as they have increased their fanbase by making songs in a mix of Japanese and English and covering a wide range of rock subgenres. Another group that is relatively well-known is the girl band, Babymetal.

Their aesthetic of “cute heavy metal” is certainly a oneof-a-kind combination with their pop and heavy metal blend of music. On the more underground side is Amazarashi, who many Western audiences know for the opening the Tokyo Ghoul anime. Their alternative-indie feel appeals more to those who are looking to chill out.

J-rock is a huge world of its own that is constantly changing. It also serves as a fun way to look at other aspects of Japanese culture not tied to anime or manga. ctse@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of FIA-ACTORS.COM and FREE-JAPAN-MAP.COM

March 2019

By ANYA YANG

Staff Writer

Throughout human history, people have mimicked the sounds of nature in an attempt to communicate, influence, or just appreciate the animal kingdom. Take, for example, traditional cultures where hunters and shamans incorporate imitations of animals sounds into their songs.

But with the development of modern instruments came the wave of innovative composers like Clément Janequin, Heinrich Biber, and Olivier Messiaen, who were known for their usage of bird and other animal songs. As time went on, more and more musicians began to experiment with the capabilities of their instruments to see what other kinds of sounds they could recreate— sometimes, in a more imaginative and creative way than you would think.

Doves and Owls Ocarinas are used in many cultures around the world, both for rituals and music making. Their soft,

By EMMA CHEN

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arcadiaperformingarts@gmail.net

Staff Writer

Upon completing high school, many students opt to pursue their passions and apply to a performing arts college like Juilliard or the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

There is certainly a lot to choose from, and the application process can be quite daunting. What are the best performing arts schools out there, and more importantly, which ones are the best one for you?

American Music and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) AMDA is one of the top choices for seniors who just graduated from high school. It’s one of the more financially affordable schools and provides a great education in the performing arts. These students are well-rounded in all aspects of their respective art form; for example, dancers are familiar with all genres including ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and more. AMDA is definitely a very popular and strong choice for up-and-coming artists.

Boston Conservatory at Berklee The Boston Conservatory at Berklee is, as stated in the name, is located in the gorgeous city of Boston. This conversatory is known for

flute-like quality makes the sound even more like a variety of birds, like a dove or an owl.

You can produce the best bird sounds by blowing softly into the ocarina while opening or closing one or more of the sound holes. Panpipes are also a great instrument to produce a soft, dovelike sound.

Ducks and Ravens To recreate the raspier sounds of a duck quacking or a raven’s cawing, musicians will use the mouthpiece of instruments will a single reed, like a clarinet or saxophone.

You can achieve variants of this sound by using your hand as a cup around the end of the mouthpiece.

Other Birds Musicians will often use woodwinds, especially oboes, to create a symphony of hen sounds. A group of violinists

will also have a similar effect. This sound will typically consist of a rapid succession of highpitched staccato notes, often with dissonant grace notes thrown in. Examples of this in classical music can be found in pieces including the first movement of Haydn’s Symphony No. 83, “The Hen” and “Hens and Roosters” from Saint-Saens “Carnival of the Animals”. For birds like the cuckoo and nightingale, musicians will utilize the flute, piccolo, or clarinet to create the effect of singing birds.

Modern-day composer John Luther Adams combines both percussion and flutes in his composition “Songbird Songs”, creating a piece that is both realistic and still musically interesting.

Horses By combining both the sounds of percussion and trumpet, musicians can create the sound of a horse.

An example of this can be heard in Leroy Anderson’s holiday piece “Sleigh Ride, where musicians will make the sound of a horse’s’ hooves by playing two different temple blocks. At the end of the song, a trumpet player finishes with the whinnying and neighing of a horse by tightly pressing the mouthpiece against the lips while buzzing.

In the words of Messiaen, “No one should be allowed to make music as if he were made of wood.” Whether if it’s to connect with nature or simply experiment with the capabilities of an instrument, you should remember to enjoy yourself while playing—and go wild!

its magnificent dance department that produces dancers with great choreographic backgrounds and talented skill sets who are ready to transform the world of dance. They are especially talented in the area of modern dance as that is becoming an increasingly popular genre of dance. Still, this conservatory is not just for dancers; all performing artists, whether actors or musicians, graduate as artists that are ready to take on the world.

California Institute of the Arts Located in sunny Southern California, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a “game-changer in the education of professional artists”. They bring out “visionary creative talent unlike any other university, school or conservatory”. It is best known for its dance and cinematic departments, so this is the definitely the school for you if you’re looking to pursue either of these professions. Some notable

alumni include Tim Burton and John Lasseter.

Follow in their footsteps, and apply to CalArts!

Julliard This list would not be complete without Julliard, arguably the most prestigious art school out there. For many performing artists, acceptance into the school is symbolic of the start of a professional and successful career.

With state-of-the-art institutions and extraordinary faculty, Julliard is a school with top-notch training and education that is guaranteed to prepare its students for a great career as performers and artists. Let’s not forget that this school is situated in the beautiful, lively city of New York.

Regardless of which school you apply to and eventually choose, know there may be other schools as well that are suited to you. Figure out who you are as a performing artist, and make decisions about college education off of that.

You will thrive wherever you end up. Wishing you the best of luck, and remember to have fun with your time as a college student!

ayang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of DAFONT.COM, PINTEREST.COM, VECTEEZY.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

echen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of DAFONT.COM, VECTEEZY.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

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sports.powwow@gmail.com

March 2019

UNWAVERING EFFORT CoEd Swim continues its rigorous practices after school in preparation for Pacific League Prelims next month. With a perfect record so far into the season for the girls and boys, the team is confident and optmistic about its goals for this season.

By COLLIN GAJA

Staff Writer

This season, CoED swim has been drowning the competition and shows no signs of stopping. With an overall record of 4-0, the swim team is surely going speedy through the season.

On Mar. 6, the Apaches faced off against the John Burroughs Indians in an intense threehour meet where tensions were high and where the stakes were even higher. With the rain pouring down and weather conditions stagnating, the Apaches took the lead in the boys and girls 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard relay, and 500yard freestyle, gaining a lead over the Indians.

Senior Steven Kow, determined to out swim his opponents, states, “we did well against Burroughs, beating them in nearly every event” and expressed how he was “thrilled to take first in the men’s 100-yard freestyle.” However, Burroughs didn’t let up as their formidable swimmers were able to pose a threat to the Apaches in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-

yard medley. Despite their fatigue, the Apaches were able to pull through and beat the Indians with the score of 119-47 for varsity boys and 117-48 for varsity girls.

A week later on Mar. 13, the Apaches went head to head against the Glendale Dynamiters in an explosive meet, taking them by storm. The Apaches, again, dominated in the boys and girls 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard relay, and this time the 100-yard butterfly. Their quick turns and powerful strokes proved to be too much for the Dynamiters as nearly in every event they were left behind. Steven mentions, “the boys this meet again dominated in each event as we were well prepared and ready to take on anyone.”

Events much like the 500-yard freestyle were difficult for the Apaches as “endurance races [like the 500-yard] are by far what we struggle most in,” claimed Steven. Despite the challenging events, the boys pull through and claimed victory with a score of 134-34, while the girls earned the score of 123-47.

More recently, on Mar. 19 the Apaches

butted heads against the Temple City Rams and were able to topple them in this meet. In the beginning, the Apaches started off with a bang, taking the lead in events like the 200-yard medley relay, taking first and fourth in the event.

Senior Jordan Lam claimed, “we were pretty stacked as we were able to take first and fourth, so we had a super strong start.” In the 200-yard individual medley, the Apaches took the competition by storm with their swift turns and powerful strokes. With their expertise and training, the Apaches were able to claim first, second and third in the event, leaving little room for the Rams to catch up in the meet. Despite much success in the first half of the meet, the Rams really started to pull through towards the second half of the meet. In the 500-yard freestyle, the Apaches were unable to match to the endurance that the Rams had, letting up and allowing them to claim victory. With the 100-yard freestyle, the Apaches weren’t able to outswim the Rams as their powerful strokes and a seemingly endless supply of energy allowed them to take the

win in this event.

With tough competition for most of the second half of the meet, girls varsity unfortunately lost by a hair with a score of 84-87, while the boys were able to beat the Rams 127-38. Steven adds, “Boys varsity was able to dominate again this meet as we were much more prepared; however, we weren’t expecting the strong opposition from Temple City’s girl’s team, leading to our loss.” Alumnus Cindy Huang states, “our teamwork and expert leadership from Sandi Khine and Michelle Tan led them through most of the meet, but the girls could definitely use more practice, but overall they did quite well.”

The season is just warming up for our Apaches and with many more meets coming up, the Apaches are surely going to outswim their opponent. Good luck to our team and happy swimming. cgaja@apachepowwow.net Photo by KALI TAM Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM

March 2019

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theapachepowwow.net

By JASMINE OANG

Staff Writer

Junior Wesley Kam is a setter on the Boys Varsity Volleyball team who has been playing volleyball since middle school. He revealed, “I started playing because smashing a volleyball into the ground seemed pretty fun. So, I joined the recreational team with my friends.” Since then, he’s come a long way; adding, “I stuck to it because I enjoyed the team environment where all six people [on the court] are needed and one person can’t do everything on their own.”

Wesley’s team continues to be a integral part of his motivation as well. He said, “We all depend on each other, we don’t want to let each other down. Seeing some of my teammates play better than me also motivates me because it gives me the drive to work hard and hopefully one day become better than them. It’s an ongoing friendly competition.”

As a junior, Wesley has not only spent three years on the volleyball team, but has also spent four summers in the school’s volleyball camps. To him, the dedication has paid off and has left him with universally applica-

By MELODY YANG

ble lessons from recognizing his strengths and weaknesses to learning how to adapt. More specifically, Wesley stated, “Volleyball has taught me how to adapt to every situation. Every team plays differently, every set flows differently, and every point brings up a new scenario, so the only thing you can do is adapt to the situation and do what you can to make the best of it.”

Co-Captain junior Bryan Liu attested, “Wes is probably one of our most versatile players on the team. Whatever position we need him to play, he can do it. From setter to oppo (opposite), even middle [blocker], he can do it all.” Junior Andy Guo added, “Wes can jump really high and is a talented setter.” He included, “Wesley is also a great team member, he’s really funny and enthusiastic, and he always rallies our team if we’re down.”

Out of all the games, he’s played, the most memorable part of the sport for him is going to tournaments: the early morning bus rides on the weekends, the day-long excursions and excitement, and the range of competition with a multitude of players. “We got to the championship match at the Lancaster

tournament and played a very intense match against Classical Academy High School. Although we lost, it was a close game, and we learned and grew from our mistakes. In the end, it’s these games that help us improve as players.”

Thus far, the team has had a great season with an impressive record of 12-1. Our Apaches have high hopes this season with the intent to win both the Pacific League Championships and either Division 1 or 2 of CIF-SS. To get there, Wesley says, the team has been focusing on “strengthening team chemistry” and “building experience” for both new members and veterans alike. Wesley has also

joang@apachepowwow.net Photo by CAITLIN WANG Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM AND 123RF.COM

ditch practice. They work hard to succeed for the next match and repeat that process.” Numerous hours of hard work and practice have been put into this sport, and the results of this training On Feb. 23, the North Gym came alive are evident in their achievements. with the sound of rackets hitting shuttlecocks.

Even with all their Our AHS Junior Varsity efforts, the team still has Badminton Team played room for improvements. a match against Diamond Coach Wang explained, Bar High School (DBHS), “A thing the team certainly beating them with a score needs to work on is footof 12-9. work. We tend to move a Just last year, our bit too slow, so we are off badminton team ended guard in some instances.

DBHS’ 15-year long winAlso, we need to restrain ning streak, as the team from using the backhand had not lost a single match when the forehand is since 2003. However, this clearly the better available marks the second year shot.” Rosemary added, that JV Badminton has de“The team also needs to feated DBHS’ badminton improve on the quality of team. our shots and not giving the Winning against one opponent easy points such of its toughest opponents as service errors or hitting of the year is bound to the bird out of bounds.” make the coaches proud.

It’s easy to see how Coach James Wang dethe team’s perseverance, clared, “I felt really happy hard-working ethics, and for the team in their victeamwork have paid off in tory against Diamond Bar. their match against DiaThe team was basically mond Bar. Great job JV, built up of new players HARD WORK AT PLAY JV Badminton plays its most recent game against Cypress High School (CHS) to further the teams and good luck in all future who played well, es- perfect record of 8-0. With only half the season left to play, JV Badminton plans for success at the Cerritos Tournament next matches! pecially against two of The JV team’s success doesn’t just come Diamond Bar’s players that were brought down one played well and tried their hardest, and I am especially proud of some of the new players that out of nowhere. Dominic revealed, “One thing myang@apachepowwow.net from their varsity team.” that I am specifically proud of from our team Photo courtesy of VICTORIA CHENG JV Captains sophomores Rosemary Ting never played in a game before.”

Dominic also had similar opinions and is the attendance at practice. Our players never Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM and Dominic Tang showed their great teamwork Staff Writer

in their mixed doubles matches and were very satisfied with the team. Rosemary expressed, “I am very proud of the team and that we were able to win against one of our toughest opponents as our first ever game this season. Every-

said, “I am really happy that our team is doing [well] against all the pressure since there are a lot of new players this year. It’s really nice to see all of our players working hard and preparing for the upcoming games.”

been looking to take his own blocking and hitting to the next level. To get there, he says, “I have been working harder in practice, focusing on certain skills, and pushing myself further”.

In the long run, Wesley doesn’t think he’ll continue to pursue NCAA volleyball, but he notes that he will “continue playing volleyball whenever [he] can and keep in touch with my [his] teammates.”

Nonetheless, wherever you end up Wesley, we all wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

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theapachepowwow.net

By ASHLEY ZHAO

March 2019

Staff Writer

Whether they’re to raise awareness for a certain cause, or just to use as a fun accessory on your backpack, pins are a wonderful way to express yourself. If you’re an avid crafter or pin wearer, why not make some personalized pins of your own? Here’s a simple tutorial to enjoy with your family or friends on how to make your own custom pins.

Materials: Shrink film (available online, in craft stores, or in bookstores) Permanent or felt markers Inkjet printer Scissors Wax paper/aluminum foil Toaster oven Superglue or hot glue gun Pin backs Directions: Draw a design of your choice with a marker on the shrink film. Depending on the type of shrink film you get, you might have to check the labeling to see which side you should draw on, and what type of marker you should use. Other types of shrink film will also allow you to print pictures off your computer.

Make sure your design is about three times as large as you want the pin size to be. For instance, if you want your pin to be one inch, make your design around three inches.

Cut out your design. Be careful around curves and any tight inner cuts, as the force might damage the shrink film.

Line your toaster oven tray with wax paper or foil so the shrink film doesn’t stick. Place the cutouts in the oven.

Wait three to five minutes for the cutouts to bake. They should remain motionless for a moment before contorting and twisting, then finally shrinking and hardening.

Wait for the film to settle and flatten out before taking it out of the oven. Hurry and flatten it further with a heavy object.

Seal your creation with a sealant of your choice, but choose carefully as some will cause the ink to smear or run. Clear nail polish, if applied neatly, should work correctly. For transparent shrink film, you can use sticker paper or white nail polish on the back of the pin to make your design more visible.

Use a hot glue gun or super glue to attach the pin backings.

Congratulations, you’ve just made your first batch of handmade pins. Feel free to be extra creative with your creations, and most importantly—have fun!

azhao@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of DARICE.BLOG.COM, DIYPROJECTSFORTEENS.COM, RUNNINGWITHAGLUEGUN.COM, SCHOOLSPECIALTY.COM, WIKIPEDIA.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

By CAITLIN WANG

Staff Writer

As busy high school students, there’s hardly any time to stay on top of getting a driver’s license. Even if you don’t want to get your license, it’s still good to have it just in case, or at least before you head off to college. Driving is an important life skill to have, and it’s best to learn when you can. Here is how to get your license faster, so you won’t have to trouble your parents for a ride, or spend extra money on an Uber.

Get your learner’s permit quickly: This is way easier said than done. It’s annoying to have to spend time trying to complete an online driving course, let alone preparing for a permit test. However, if you set aside a few hours in the summer dedicated to studying for your permit test, you will be at a higher advantage of getting your license faster. Start on your online driving course a little before you’re 15 and a half, so you can get your permit when you are old enough.

The test shouldn’t be hard if you’re well prepared, so aim to take it once and be done with it. If you need to retake the test there is an additional $33 fee.

Find someone to guide you: You typically have to take a driver’s education course after you get your permit from the DMV. However, having someone extra to help guide you would be extremely helpful, preferably an adult who would be able to be in the car with you for long periods of time, so that you can practice for a longer time. Keep in mind that you will have to take a road test to get your license, so you want at least 50 hours or more

of practice behind-the-wheel with either an instructor or a guardian. As you may have already guessed, the more experience you get, the more likely you can get your license.

A parent or a family friend would be a good choice as a driving mentor.

Schedule an appointment as soon as you’re ready: The most efficient way of getting taking your license test is to make an appointment. If you feel confident in your driving skills and feel like you’ll be ready to take the test soon, go online as soon as you can and schedule an appointment at the DMV. Do your research on the specific

DMV you are going to do so you can be as prepared as you can and be at less risk to have to retake the test.

Overall, getting a driver’s license in high school is quite a hassle. Especially, if your classes and extracurriculars are extremely demanding. Just work towards it and keep in mind the benefits of driving, and most importantly, the independence!

Lastly, a huge mistake people make is rushing through the entire learning process of driving. It’s not good to get your license quickly and without enough knowledge because you may run into problems in adulthood. It’s never stressed enough about how safe you should be on the road, so always keep it in mind whenever you drive. Happy driving!

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March 2019

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calendareditor.powwow@gmail.com

With Arcadia being so close to the mountains,

By EMILY CHEN dozens of hiking trails Staff Writer are just a short car ride away.

Why take them for granted? Hiking provides several benefits for both physical and mental health, and most importantly, it’s fun!

Hiking is great exercise, especially for those who are reluctant to get active. If you find Netflix or YouTube more entertaining than jogging or a workout, you’re definitely not alone. However, you’d be surprised at how interesting a stroll through the mountains can be. The lush forest, picturesque landscape, and fascinating wildlife will be more than enough to distract you from the lower body workout you’re getting. Plus, almost all hiking trails are free to the public, so you won’t have to spend money on the gym!

Hiking provides countless benefits to your mental health as well. The activity has been proven to decrease problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. It helps you get off of your phone—there’s rarely signal in the mountains anyways—and exposes you to healthy, natural sunlight. Hiking has also been found to improve creativity and problem-solving skills by challenging the brain with unfamiliar situations. Finding your way across a shallow stream, narrow path, or a steep patch of rocks will stimulate your senses, and reward you with a sense of achievement afterward!

If you’re just looking to relax, hiking can be the perfect escape. The crisp mountain air and tranquil forest atmosphere can easily refresh your mind. The change of scenery is great for taking your thoughts off of school, extracurriculars, and anything else that has been causing you stress. Going hiking with friends or family can boost the effect, as it can help everybody take a break from their troubles and spend quality time with the people they care about.

There are tons of different hiking trails near Arcadia to explore. The Monrovia Falls Trail at Monrovia Canyon Park is one of my personal favorites. It’s not very steep, shaded by towering oaks, and follows a beautiful river to a majestic waterfall. Another captivating waterfall trail is the Eaton Canyon Falls Trail. It crosses through both sandy and forest areas, giving you a taste of California’s diverse landscape and wildlife. Other great local trails include the Mount Wilson Trail, Sturtevant Falls Trail, and Wilderness Park Trail. Pick a trail, make sure to pack water and snacks, and get hiking!

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By YOKO INOUE

Staff Writer

150 years ago, we created something amazing, something world-changing: plastic.

Now, it is a very essential part of our lives. We use it so often, we don’t even notice how much we’ve used. All this plastic being used for such a short amount of time to be later thrown out.

Where does it all end up?

A Harris Poll conducted in 2007 showed that 25% of the American population does not recycle. As the years go by, more and more people are not recycling, so it’s reasonable to say that currently, more than 25% of the population is not recycling. When these non-recycled plastics are tossed away, they somehow find a way to the sea. It’s estimated that 5.3 million to 14 million tons per year end up in the ocean. Because plastics have such a long life, they might remain in the sea forever and never biodegrade.

Plastic affects not only the ocean’s waters but the creatures living inside it as well. Turtles

mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish consume the bag and end up losing their lives. Some animals are strangled by six-rings and fishing nets. All marine beings are eating microplastics, pieces of plastics broken down into bits so small they’re almost invisible, damaging their health.

If you catch a manta trawl near Plymouth, it’s likely that you’ll find microplastics in its guts.

Marine animals are not just strangled in plastic, but they consume it as well. A bird can eat a shard of plastic thinking it’s food, and the shard might stab its intestine, causing the bird to die. This case, while not unusual, is not the most common way plastics harm marine life. When animals take in plastic, they think it’s normal food. But plastic does nothing to appease their hunger, and they wind up feeling weak and hungry after eating their plastic meal.

Microplastic is everywhere—it’s even in the ice in the Arctic. Once the ice melts, it has the potential to release over a trillion pieces of microplastics trapped within. Already beaches such as the Big Island in Hawaii’s sand is 15%

plastic. Trash from all over the world can be spotted in remote islands far from heavily populated areas.

Freshman Kirsten Fuu agrees that plastic is “obviously harmful. People keep littering plastic everywhere. Sometimes they get in the sea and then they harm the animals, and they could easily choke on plastic.” While it’s still unclear how all this plastic will affect us humans, it’s not hard to see that this useful creation is damaging to wildlife. If you find trash on the ground, put it in the recycling bin. Help lessen the destruction plastic can cause, because one day, the animals suffering from our creation won’t just be wildlife. It might be the whole world, humans included.

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20 CAMPUS

FOCUS

By ANNCINE LIN

theapachepowwow.net

Staff Writer

Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is every March. The purpose of this month is to raise awareness about music education and make it the focus of schools around the country. This year, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)’s goal is to focus on lessons for first graders, helping them learn about different aspects of music through classical children’s songs in both English and Spanish. I personally, as an avid musician, think this is a great opportunity for people to learn about how music can affect a person and help them grow as a person as well as in academics. Music is a huge part of my life, whether it be what I listen to or what I play, and I believe that it should be part of others’ lives as well.

People in various school music organizations have many fun memories to look back on when they think about their year in terms of music. Freshman Elva Kith, from Percussion, states that her favorite moment was “when A-line won 1st place in rancho’s competition.” Sophomore Jessica Young enjoyed the Orchestra Benefit Dinner because it was fun to hang out with her friends. She also thought it was cool that adults wanted to take pictures with her because “they thought I was a happy person and wanted me in their pictures.” Freshman Briana Hui, also in Orchestra, recalls the Christmas party where they sang karaoke and ate lots of junk food. Senior Jonathan Tangpiti, a part of Percussion, doesn’t think about just a single memory. Instead, he reminisces about his past years in the program, saying that “as a senior in my fourth year of Percussion, looking back and seeing how much I’ve accomplished and grown over the years makes the countless hours dedicated to the program feel like nothing.”

Whether music is prominent in your life or not, it is a great way to cheer you up and connect with other people who share similar tastes as you. This month, spend some time listening to your favorite music artist or playing your favorite musical instrument!

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March 2019