Senior Edition 2024

The Oak Leaf

Official Publication of Alameda High School

2024 Senior Edition

CONTENTS 3

Student Representatives

6

Cultural Clubs

9

School Clubs/ Student Organizations

14 What’s Your Favorite AHS Memory?

15

Teacher/Staff Shoutouts

16

Sports

21 Extracurriculars/ Other 25 Congratulations, Class of 2024!

28 Our Team

2

Cover Photo Credit: Emily Ye

Senior Class President - Carter Luo

What high school activity impacted you the most?

The school activity that left the biggest impact on me was my internship with the School-Based Health Center on campus. I started during the spring semester Sophomore year and stuck with it throughout the rest of my high school experience. The Youth Advisory Board internship is an opportunity for students to raise awareness for health topics around campus in a variety of ways. I got to collaborate with interns of all grades to put together projects and discuss sensitive topics in a safe space.

Over the years, I went from watching the upperclassmen interns take the lead on projects to taking the lead myself. By far my largest undertaking was a presentation project to freshmen classes about healthy friendships.

Oftentimes high school seems so small-scale and that nothing we do makes a difference. Does it really matter if we raise $100 towards prom? Does it really matter if we put on a lunchtime health fair for 30 students who attend? With this presentation project, I felt like I actually made a difference at the school.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Go outside your comfort zone to meet new people.

Some of the best friendships I’ve made and maintained have been completely unexpected and with people very different from me.

Be open to talking to new people and truly connecting with people that are different from you. It 3

teaches you perspective that will serve you well in life, both during and beyond high school.

What are your plans after high school?

Next year I will be attending UC Irvine! I am so excited because the campus is so nice and I already found some super cool roommates.

My major is undeclared, so I’m just hoping to see what’s out there and meet some new people.

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

I have been in the dance program since sophomore year and worked my way from Dance 1 to Dance 2 to Dance 3. Ms. Rachel brings so much positive energy to the program and she is single handedly responsible for its immense growth in the past few years. I made a lot of sacrifices to keep dance in my course schedule and it was 100% worth it.

Student Board Representative - Talia Kotovsky I learned an incredible amount about how our district functions and it provided me with a much broader perspective on issues at our school, not just the student perspective.

I've been on the board for two years now.

connected with the school now and the student body. Also a reminder that the classes you take do not define you. I will be attending Occidental College starting in the fall! It's ok to not take all AP's!

What high school activity impacted you the most?

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

What are your plans after high school?

Definitely my time serving on the school board as student rep.

Get involved! Whether that's with a club or sport or anything. I feel so

I will be attending Occidental College starting in the fall.

Salutatorian - Jacky Luo high school students across the island (and to host a collaborative event between the rivaling schools).

Jacky Luo, right

What high school activity impacted you the most?

I believe hosting IslandHacks has been the most impactful event in my high school career. I co-founded this non-profit with friends from Alameda and Encinal to provide coding opportunities for

The six months of preparation has taught me effective collaboration (ex. playing to our strengths and openly sharing insights), management, planning, and especially social skills (in outreaching to sponsors).

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Explore new hobbies, learn because the topics are meaningful and practical 4

(not because you need to get a good grade). Make mistakes, and learn from them. Make enough mistakes to learn to listen to other's experiences so you make less mistakes and more progress.

What are your plans after high school?

I'm going to UCLA majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in entrepreneurship and neuroscience.

Valedictorian - Angelica Zhu extracurriculars allow me to meet and engage with people from widely different parts of life and interests.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

What high school activities impacted you the most?

Whether it’s choreographing a piece blending ballet and contemporary with the AHS Dance Program, leading a roomful of teenagers through a clever number theory problem during Math Club, or staying up late editing articles with other officers for The Oak Leaf, I really enjoyed my time in clubs and organizations with people who are as equally as excited as I am about these hobbies.

My array of hobbies and

We often remind ourselves not to be confined by what others define us as or tell us to do. I want to add to that by saying that we also have to make sure that we are not limited by our own preconceived notions of ourselves, of who we are, and what we would enjoy.

I’ve found that when I actually tried an activity, book, food, or experience that I initially rejected, I oftentimes enjoy it more than I thought I would. My philosophy now is to not reject new experiences simply because “I think” I wouldn’t like it and to at least try it first myself before placing a decision.

What are your plans after high school?

5

I will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology starting in the fall and am currently planning to study engineering.

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

I feel so grateful for being able to learn and build connections with some of the wonderful teachers and staff we have at this school. I want to say thank you to Mr. Joo for making physics fun and being a great friend, Ms. Roenisch for pushing me to think about my humanity and what I can do to create change, Mr. Lamb for building the warm Team Lamb community, and Ms. Piazza and Ms. Gregor for contributing so much of their time and energy for maintaining the journalism, creative writing, and poetry culture at AHS.

Tim Phan What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Stop worrying about what other people think of you. If you have a goofy personality, show it! If you’re proud of your cultural background, rep it!

How did VSA impact you?

I started attending VSA at the beginning of my sophomore year and became club president at the start of my senior year.

Having just transferred from another school, I connected with others from similar backgrounds and cultural ties through the club. I also learned more about the different regional and ethnic cultures in Vietnam from other club members, which expanded

my knowledge of my home country. My experience with VSA motivated me to not only explore more of my culture but also to learn about other customs and have meaningful conversations about it with people from different backgrounds.

I also really enjoyed participating in VSA’s fan dance performance during the Unity Assembly, allowing me to become more comfortable with expressing my Vietnamese culture outwardly.

6

Remember that we’re all unique, and everyone is trying to navigate life in their own way. Don’t let anyone other than yourself influence your decisions, personality, and actions. Only you know what’s best for you and how to express yourself!

What are your plans after high school?

I’ll attend USC next fall to study political science on the pre-law track.

Fight On!

Heran Girma What high school activity left the biggest impact on you?

What high school activity impacted you the most?

Becoming an officer of our school's BSU has impacted me the most. As a young Black woman, I have been the most prominent advocate for equal rights, which I am very passionate about and proud of. Going

to a PWI has opened up my eyes to the microaggressions that everyone deems to be unimportant. The BSU at Alameda High died off a couple of years ago, and we decided to pick it back up last year. I'm so glad we did because this year has been one of BSU's most successful years yet.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Breathe. High school isn't as scary as it seems. I remember feeling anxious before the first day of school because I thought all the upperclassmen would be rude and disrespectful. I was proven wrong immediately when I

befriended a junior. Also, stay on top of your work.

It may be tempting to slack off, especially since the end of the school year starts to creep up, but don't let that get the best of you.

What are your plans after high school?

After I graduate, I will be attending San Diego State University and majoring in Health Communication with the intent of going to med school after undergraduate school.

My goal is to become a pediatrician and help kids here in America as well as back in my parents home country Ethiopia.

Stephanie Robles What high school activity impacted you the most?

The Unity Assembly was definitely a high school activity that left a great impact on me. Never in the years spent at AHS did I see someone represent not only Mexican culture, but any Latinx culture.

Stephanie Robles, left

7

My club and I spent months planning and practicing our choreography to incorporate as many dances as possible. It was truly a new experience for me to learn cumbia, bachata, and line dance.

It was fun although we were

inexperienced. It was the most hilarious thing to teach the guys we recruited for the dance since none of them had rhythm.

What are your plans after high school?

I plan to attend community college for two years and receive an associates for business. Then I plan to transfer to a UC for a final two years to receive my

bachelor’s business.

degree

in

Final comments?

Our generation is very unique in terms of experiencing things that happen once in our lifetimes. We never had a true introduction to what high school was really like until sophomore/junior year because of COVID-19. So please thank everyone that

got you through your school journey.

Appreciate all the teachers, friends, family, or pets for supporting you and challenging you to become a better person even during our weird times. Congratulations to the class of 2024 and I hope you all find the motivation to pursue your goals, big or small.

Best of luck!

Bryan Lam

Bryan Lam, right

What high school activity left the biggest impact on you?

Working on the Lunar New Year Fairs each year with CCC! In my freshman year, CCC started as a club and every year since, we've had a Lunar New Year fair celebrating the Asian holiday. What I found the

most meaningful about these fairs was the growth of our ideas and the scale of it -- developing new activity ideas, ways to promote and more each year.

On top of that, each year highlighted a different area where I needed to grow: sophomore year being simply creating/executing ideas, junior year being how I could take on a leadership role, and senior year being how I could stay reliable/supportive even if my ideas weren't chosen.

Besides the sappy stuff, 8

seeing everyone in their cultural clothing and all the community support for us made all the planning worth it!

What are your plans after high school?

I plan on attending UCLA to study pre-psychobiology or another field of biology.

Even though I'm far away from home, I want to continue with music and exploring my Chinese/Viet culture, as well as try out new things like photography.

Carmen Baskette best friends, it gave me wonderful teachers and directors, leadership skills, and, maybe most importantly, a sense of confidence and understanding of myself that I don't think I would have received elsewhere.

Carmen Baskette, front

What high school activity impacted you the most?

I have loved (almost) all of my academic classes, but the community that has left the biggest impact on me is by far Theater.

I have been a member of the Alameda Drama Department since freshman year, in which we put on this ridiculous meta TV show, Little Theatre TV (it's on YouTube!), and I never left.

I was Drama Club president this year, which was challenging, but immensely rewarding. This department gave me my

Advice for future AHS students?

First off, I know it's cliche but I live by "fake it till you make it." Secondly, I think that high school is not about perfection, but it's definitely about exploration, especially of yourself.

It's inevitable that you are not going to get all A's or do every sport perfectly or make all the friends. But you can explore clubs and events and sports, and in doing so, by throwing yourself into these activities or academic enclaves, you can explore yourself.

9

What are your plans after high school?

I am actually completely pivoting from the arts and majoring in Political Science at UCSD and hopefully do the UC-DC program. I think I want to learn to surf and embrace the SoCal lifestyle #shaka What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

I really appreciate all my teachers, but I have especially loved those from this year (shoutout Ms. Roenisch and Ms. Goldberg!).

I have learned so much this year about Life in my classes, and it's helped me know that I want to keep learning, throughout my Life.

Marybella Patrick going to the poetry competition with our poetry team at the end of Junior year. Our team had worked so hard all year, and I had been working on my own poetry for several years, so we were all so excited. Our team didn't end up winning the competition but I fell in love with the event and the people who performed.

What high school activity impacted you the most?

The biggest high school activity that left an impression on me was

What are your plans after high school?

I am attending community college to complete my general education, then enrolling in a 4-year

college in hopes earning my PhD psychology.

of in

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

My favorite teachers were Ms Jones, because she was always so much fun and never made our class too stressful, and Ms Roenisch, because I appreciated how structured her class was and how she pushed her students to defend their arguments rather than giving us the answer.

Madeleine Canavese What high school activity impacted you the most?

I founded the Esperanto Language Club in my sophomore year by recruiting some friends and papering the hall with posters: "Tired of Irregular Verbs? Join Esperanto Club!" in B building was among my favorites.

10

Leading the club gave me much greater respect for the struggle of language teachers. It's a small club, but I appreciate everyone's dedication to spending their lunch time learning grammar. I loved sharing my passion for Esperanto, both the linguistics of the

constructed language and the culture surrounding it as an international language.

I learned to explain grammar, compare structure to English and Spanish, and create engaging lesson plans (I hope). Members taught me about other languages they speak as we mused about the derivations of unfamiliar Esperanto words.

Entering the US Esperanto short-film festival two summers in a row was another highlight. We brainstormed wacky plots involving chickens taking over the world and sisters locked in a bathroom singing a parody of a parody from an Esperanto musical.

We recorded and re-recorded clips to get the pronunciation down. In our second year, we won an honorable mention in the film festival and got ourselves club t-shirts with the $100 prize.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

1. Get enough sleep!

2. In terms of course selection (and club participation), only sign up for what you are interested in and willing to work hard at. Take APs because you want to challenge yourself, and do clubs because you are passionate.

3. Don't worry if you have no idea yet what you want to study in college. It is normal. Most adults are in careers that they never imagined themselves in when they were your age (seriously, ask them).

Also, don't let the prevailing message that STEM is more valuable than humanities get to you.

Give English, foreign language, poly sci, etc. a chance! They are so important for being a responsible world citizen, even if you don't pursue a career in the field.

What are your plans after high school?

11

I am going to UC Davis (undeclared Letters and Sciences) where I am excited to try out all different fields and see what I like best since I love STEM and humanities, math and linguistics, science, and world cultures.

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

I've been so lucky to have many amazing teachers who have challenged and inspired me. Mr. Joo's AP Physics and Computer Science classes were highlights for me because of the way they fostered my love for problem-solving and gave me a greater appreciation for math through real-world applications. I've loved AP Lit with Ms. Roenisch this year for her unapologetically high expectations and the fascinating class conversations we have about the works we read, as well as history, philosophy, and current issues.

Bella Goldwasser focused on sustainability initiatives at AHS and the wider Alameda community, like the reusable cups available through Okapi this year.

What high school activity impacted you the most?

My involvement in climate action groups definitely had the biggest impact on me throughout high school. At school, I'm part of Amplify, which has

It's a lovely mix of fun socializing (hikes, movie nights) and community service and activism, and I think many people would enjoy our community! I also am a part of Youthpower Climate Action, which is not connected to AHS but has also taken on some Bay Area-wide initiatives since

we started in 2020. I love connecting with other young people who also care about creating a more sustainable world, and I've come away with amazing friendships, too.

What are your plans after high school?

I'll be studying Environmental Science at UCLA and hopefully can sneak in a Data Science Engineering minor.

Excited but nervous!

Lilia Brack

Lilia Brack, left

Can you share a little about your time with the SBHC?

My favorite SBHC activity was probably the 2024 Mental Health Awareness fair we did. Talia and I talked about the differences between body neutrality and positivity, and we had students leave neutral or positive sticky notes about bodies on a mirror.

Students were then encouraged to take a mirror selfie with themselves or friends because all bodies are beautiful and worth loving.

12

To future AHS students, I would say to not worry about what other people think of you, because as long as you are happy with yourself you'll get through anything..

What are your plans after high school?

I plan on going to CSU Long Beach and studying Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology on the Pre-Med Path.

Jackie Zou What advice do you have for future AHS students?

How did marching band impact you?

Being in a band was THE first community I truly felt a part of. Yes, I was a band kid. And yes, I know there are many stereotypes about being a band kid that may seem weird. However, they are also one of the most welcoming people I have ever met, and that’s what mattered to me.

Unlike previous band experiences, the pep-band was purely a student-run club, which meant a whole lot more fun for us. We played the songs that we wanted to play, and made fun of them too (such as our classic fight song).

Be a part of the school community by taking opportunities as they come; join clubs and become officers, join assemblies to show off your talent, sign-up for drama plays, try out a sport, wear that super glam and colorful makeup look, show up decked out in spirit gear. Don’t think “oh no one’s gonna dress up like a minion I won’t do it” or “eh i don’t think I’m good enough for the play”.

LIKE NO. JUST DO IT. Take your life with minimal regrets and own those moments and opportunities to the fullest. And if your scared of doing it alone, do it with your friends. If you don’t have friends, make them (AGAIN BY JOINING CLUBS) Any other comments?

WHY IS EVERYONE NOT SPIRITED ANYMORE WHAT HAPPENEEDDDDDD.

13

PSA to everyone: If you are literally drowning in work, if you are unhappy for no reason, if you get anxious in front of people, if you literally just exist, go to therapy.

Therapy is amazing.

Bringing your own self to therapy is hard. As someone who tried to pile on as much stuff as I can to hopefully make it to a big UC, I went through the most severe burnout I had ever felt in my life. The issue was, I didn’t feel like it was valid to go seek help because I had never did things to myself or planned out anything that might result in harm. But everyone who is going through something difficult or has gone through something difficult deserves and is more than valid to receive therapy. Just talking to someone helped me so much to get through my issues, and through therapy I learned how to properly balance my life and let go of issues I never really thought I had. But yeah, take therapy, it’s great.

What’s Your Favorite AHS Memory?

For the past four years I've played on the school's volleyball team, we've never won against Castro Valley. But when we played them again at home, we each put in 110% effort, stayed calm, played smart, and jabbed our way through their defense, bringing home a victory for the Hornets! - Jacky Luo Senior year hoco! Being the drum major for Pep Band at that time, the crowd was amazing and honestly, I had so much tension and stress that released itself as soon as we performed.

Between the emotions, the practice hours, and the community within the band, I'm so proud and happy that everything came together the way it did. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience! - Bryan Lam My first full class at Alameda High, the drama teacher at the time, Mr. Morris, pulled me on stage and and yelled “We're accepting more turncoats every day!” His words made the transfer completely worth it. - Aaralynn Lee

Going to the A’s game for a field trip in sports medicine. - Jackson Yep Sneaking out the back to get donut holes from homeskillet on Fridays in APES last year. Malani Mastora Not being involved in the couch mysteriously appearing in the B building bathroom. - Ryan Baker Friend barfing in dead center of my house. Ryan Nguyen I love hanging out with friends, drinking boba while rushing to finish a group project, and procrastinating online with them at 2 a.m. in the morning. - Apple Nguyen Art Credit: Leslie Ramos 14

Teacher/Staff Shoutouts

Wow, I just cannot pick one teacher. Mr. Wong, Ms. Roenisch, Ms. Rachel, and a lot of my teachers have made a big, positive impact on my life. AP Government was definitely my favorite class.

It’s a great class to stay up to date on current news and engage in political discussions and discourse with people from different backgrounds.

Also, all of the mindful minutes we did in class were what kept me sane during this school year.

Dab slay and twinkle fingers, Ms. Goldberg! Tim Pham Art Credit: Leslie Ramos

My favorite teachers and classes would be Mr. Luncholm's senior year English class and Ms Jones's sophomore year English class. Both these classes showed me what a classroom environment should feel like—a community where an individual feels loved and supposed by both the teacher and their peers. - Heran Girma I loved APES with Dr. Griffith-- it really confirmed that I like studying the environment just as much as I like caring for it via my activism/volunteering.

AP Comp Sci with Mr. Joo this year has also been awesome. I've done little bits of programming on my own (plug for the Alameda Aztechs, a local FIRST Robotics team!), but I adored being able to dive into how everything works in a more formal class setting. - Bella Goldwasser Hands down my all-time favorite teacher goes to Mr.Wong. Mr.Wong is like the understanding father figure that exists at school. If anything he is literally my dad.

Whenever I had an issue or problem, he listened. - Jackie Zou

15

Men’s Basketball: Jesse Kim It has been a roller coaster as I have gotten closer to my teammates and we have been through the ups and downs together. I will never forget waking up early for practices and just laughing with my teammates about anything. Basketball has taught me to be a leader, push myself past my limits, and be focused and disciplined.

Advice?

Enjoy your high school years and take advantage of every opportunity. It's your choice if you want to make high school a good or bad experience.

What are your plans after high school?

I am planning to go to UC Irvine for college.

Men’s Basketball: Jackson Yep What are your plans after high school?

Playing on the school Basketball team was a good experience because we won a lot of big games and it was super fun.

My plans after high school are to go to college to study economics.

Women’s Basketball: Karis Lin What high school activity impacted you the most?

Watching sports games with my friends! It was really fun meeting up with friends to hang out and cheer on our teams!

Advice?

Take BOTH of Mr. Joo’s classes!

What are your plans after high school?

College!

16

Women’s Basketball: Malani Mastora which definitely helped coming into a new school, as well as many friendships.

What high school activity impacted you the most?

I’ve been playing poms would get stuck to our clothes and we would accidentally take them home with us. It took us weeks till they stopped popping up everywhere.

Some of my favorite memories from basketball were going into our team room after Thanksgiving to see it completely decorated for Christmas with lights and stockings for each of us.

The floor was completely covered in Pom poms and there was even a giant snowman. The Pom poms would get stuck to our clothes and we would accidentally take them home with us. It took us weeks till they stopped

popping up everywhere.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Definitely take school seriously but also remember that this is kinda your last time you get to be a kid so have fun. Once I found a balance between the two I just enjoyed coming to school a long more because I was focused when I needed to be but would be goofing around with my friends and chance we could get.

Women’s Soccer: Scarlett Curley build friendships people.

with

The most memorable part for me was my final shot blocking save that resulted What high school activity in us beating Berkeley for impacted you the most? the first time in 10 years!

For future AHS students: have fun and make the most of it!! Stay on top of schoolwork!

What are your plans after high school?

After high school I plan to attend Chico State. Go Wildcats!!

Being on the soccer team Advice? for 4 years. It made me become more confident and

17

Men’s Water Polo: Ryan Baker

Ryan Baker, left

The activity that has had the biggest impact on me is playing on the water polo team.

While I only did it for 2 years, it was an amazing experience as I was able to form new bonds with teammates, be a leader for others, and of course make memories. I am the way I am because of the flawless coaching, more specifically the coaching

by Marshall Dortch, love you Marshall

Who was your favorite high school teacher?

My favorite class has to be my senior English class and that leads to my favorite teacher which is the fabled Benjamin Lundholm

Women’s Golf, Swim: Hayley Britton

I joined the women’s golf and swim team senior year to challenge myself and try something new. Through school sports I've discovered new things about myself, pushed myself to new limits, and I've met some of my closest friends.

Being on a team is a truly rewarding experience.

There's nothing quite like the excitement you get when your teammates set new personal records, or team dinners after practice to discuss the upcoming competitions, and there's truly nothing like the friendship that forms between a couple of strangers over the course of a sports season. Although sports seasons can be tough at points or you can have bad races, I know that when I am older that's not the part I am going to remember. I am going to remember the friendships I built and the memories we made together.

18

Advice?

The best advice I would give is to chase the things that make YOU happy. Be involved in things that you are interested in, spend time with people who align with you and your goals, and really just focus on doing things for yourself.

Don't worry about what everyone else is doing or saying because at the end of the day, if you can't make yourself happy, you're definitely not going to find it anywhere else.

Women’s Tennis: Mia Johnson Favorite Memories: Dissections in Physio! I liked seeing the actual body parts of goats and cows.

Also NCS senior year!

Because we all failed really bad but it was really funny and the opposing team was really mean and they kept cheating.

Advice: Don't procrastinate it's the worst thing you can do to yourself.

Men’s Badminton: Arik Lee Favorite Memories: Eating Korean Barbeque with friends and falling asleep for an hour while my friends finished eating.

Advice: Volunteer early!

There's lots of places to volunteer at and it can be a ton of fun. It’s totally slept on and something nice that you can do to give back and get a lot at the same time.

Cheerleading: Aaralynn Lee

What high school activity left the biggest impact on you?

Cheerleading left on of the biggest impacts on me.

Before joining the team at AHS, I was on my middle school cheer team. During my time at the cheer team I've become more of a daredevil and leader. I've learned teamwork and how to pack snacks for everyone. Some of my favorite memories have been during our practices especially when our practices during homecoming with the football players. I honestly can't imagine my life without cheerleading and I hope to continue to cheer during college.

19

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Have fun with the four years you have here.

Carve out a place for yourself among the different communities here.

What are your plans after high school?

I plan on going Howard University.

to

Men’s Track and Field: Joshua Woo, Christopher Wootton

Joshua Woo, right; Christopher Wootton, down

Favorite Memory?

NYC with the band.

Joshua: Making the calc video for BC calc class because its a educational experience that was made fun and I get to hang out with my friends.

What are your plans after high school?

Christopher: Playing music with friends and going to

Joshua: NYUI’m excited to be in a big city learning computer science.

Christopher: UCSD

Men’s Soccer, Volleyball: Ryan Nguyen Favorite Memory: Grass volleyball with friends because they all suck at it and it’s funny.

Advice: Being angry at someone lets their actions have a longer impact on you.

What are your plans after high school?

UCLAelectrical engineering, play volleyball and soccer, volunteer a ton with a club, senior homes, tutoring

Men’s Tennis: Caleb Wong Favorite Memory: Playing tennis with friends. Also when we trespassed on the naval base and then illegally swam at michael’s pool and got the cops called on us

20

What are your plans after high school?

College then med school, and not becoming homeless.

Apple Nguyen

What high school activity impacted you the most?

Writing has had the biggest impact on me. From The Oak Leaf, poetry to fiction, and translations, from my days as an ELD student to now, I write constantly. I used it as a way to learn English and posted my works online during the pandemic to find criticism and a community.

Writing gave me a voice and the knowledge that I can always improve my skills. The Oak Leaf was a fun experience, getting to apply my fiction writing skills to journalism. I was able to learn journalism guidelines and about the AHS community as a whole.

The Oak Leaf being a student-run club instead of a class from years prior means that we have a lot of room for growth, in both leadership and resources, but I am glad to have been a part of its re-forming after the end of Journalism class at AHS. I am excited to watch over the club’s progress in the future.

others. You don’t need to agree with them necessarily, but try to understand them.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

Turn in your assignments even if you have not completed them; some credits are better than no credits. High school years are short, but you would be surprised at how much you would grow if you went out of your comfort zone.

Try to establish a solid support group for yourself through friends, families, or school resources, I can not state how crucial that was for my mental health. And be open-minded! Ready to listen to multiple viewpoints and understand

21

What are your plans after high school?

I am attending Harvard to study economics and chemistry, though I am open to other majors.

My favorite class was AP Physics 1. Mr. Joo has the energy to make even a simple bank curve seem interesting. His lore is fascinating, too.

Physics slammed me in the face, but I would take the class all over again in a heartbeat.

Marcell Peto built around the 1100s. Via a narrow cobweb-filled spiral staircase we accessed the roof, and from there we got to watch the sunset before having to sneak back down out of the view of chaperones.

What high school activity impacted you the most?

Throughout my high school career, my love of music has stayed consistent. To pursue my love of music, I have been a continued member of my choir for the past 9 years. Doing choir has shaped me musically, and has really provided me with an outlet for artistic activity in the face of academic pressures and challenges.

Moreover, this choir has provided me with countless friends and allowed me to make plenty of memories with them, such as one from last summer when our choir was on tour in Spain.

At our first concert on the tour, my friend and I decided to try and climb to the roof of the church we were singing at, which was

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

Always say yes. Seriously.

I would not be the person I am today if I had turned down many of the opportunities that have come my way. High school is a wonderful time to explore and try new things, with flexibility abound.

Saying yes can lead you to doing things you would have never imagined, gaining you countless new experiences and memories for life.

What are your plans after high school?

I will be going to Purdue University in Indiana starting in the fall for a major in Aeronautical Engineering Technology.

22

Alongside this I will be doing flight school and learning my way towards a private pilot’s license, with a commercial license as my goal later down the road.

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

Ms. Goldberg’s AP US Government and Politics Class has been my favorite overall. Being able to take a class about something I am truly passionate about has been a blessing and I will never forget the fun learning I had in that class. Similarly, Ms. Turpin’s AP World History class in Sophomore year is a close second, with it helping me get back into the swing of things after COVID, and also immersing me deep into my passion for history, combined with Ms. Turpin’s fantastic teaching and help in preparation for my first ever AP test.

Leslie Ramos band for the senior talent show, where we practiced often and created connections. It showed me that I should just “go for it,” and it made me remember how happy I was performing on a stage.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

What high school activity impacted you the most?

For my first few years of high school, I had fully imagined having to abandon my wishes to keep playing music (even as a hobby) and turn to separate activities.

This all changed once I was given my very first bass back in 2022. It started casual, as I moderately practiced alone in my room for an hour at a time. By the time senior year rolled around, I desperately wished to actually showcase what I had learned by myself. I gathered some classmates and ended up creating a

Try not to compare yourself too much to your peers.

Everyone has a unique journey and it’s no use trying to hold yourself to standards that weren’t made for you.

Also to communicate! People can’t read your mind and you can’t read theirs. It’s so important to just talk and say your piece so you and the other person can work it out.

What are your plans after high school?

I’m currently enrolled in Laguna College of Art and Design and plan to take the Animation major.

Animation and art in general is a huge passion of

23

mine and I’m extremely thankful that I get to pursue it as a career.

What was your favorite class or teacher during high school?

My favorite classes throughout high school have been either Mr. Lundholm’s English class or when I took Visual Arts with Ms. Eggett.

Mr. Lundholm has had such an engaging curriculum and you can really tell he has a lot of love and care for his students. While Ms. Eggett doesn’t teach at AHS currently, I still want to commend her for the massive impact she’s had as the former Arts department head. She really expanded my knowledge and skill as an artist and I know she had made a lot of people more passionate in art than they once were.

Muzhgan Khanzada Veenstra were my ELD teachers during Junior and Senior year.

They understood us a lot and helped me with presentations and speaking in front of people.

What advice do you have for future AHS students?

What high school activity impacted you the most?

Leading a club was a challenging experience, especially when I started a new Afghan community club after a few years at AHS. I have been the president for one year and I will continue to control and support my club after I graduate.

How was your experience as an ELD student?

Alameda High School is the definition of welcoming community.

Reading, writing and presentations helped me to have high confidence to learn more and give speeches and talk in front of people. Mr. Lundholm and Mr.

Cherish this opportunity.

Congratulations, you are fortunate to be part of this exceptional school and community. Embrace the wealth of knowledge and experiences that await you.

Not only will you gain valuable insights, but you'll also create unforgettable memories. This school will be your second home and the people there will be your family. Remember you are very lucky to be in AHS. Be kind, and ignore hurtful words. Instead, focus on your growth and aspirations. If you need help, trust the adults around you: teachers, counselors, and mentors who are dedicated to your success.

Appreciate every moment and all people in AHS because you will miss this home and family.

24

What are your plans after high school?

My dream of becoming a lawyer is my goal. I’m going to university to study political science and pre-law. I was born and grew up in a country where no one had their rights, especially women.

I will bring change to Afghanistan law and I will help as many people as I can not just in my home country, Afghanistan, but in my second home United States and in the world.

As I work towards my goal, I am committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those around me. I plan to volunteer with various organizations, help those in need, and build a community that lifts each other up. The thought of being able to make a difference in someone's life is what drives me forward. Becoming a lawyer is not just a career goal for me, it's a way to leave a lasting legacy and make my mark on the world.

Congratulations, Class of 2024! *Source: AHS College & Career Center *The data are based on currently collected information from 257 seniors as of June 2, 2024

California State University Cal State Maritime Academy

University of California

Cal Poly Humboldt

Cal State Monterey Bay

UC Berkeley

Isabel Connors Alexander Granieri Zohrab O'Brien

Annaliese Eichelberger

Polly Jean Bae Cassidy Chan Brandon Chu Jimena Jimenez Rodriguez Mashhood Khatri Grace Ngo Saara Noori Madeline Perez Megan Truong Cindy Wang Jacqueline Zou

Owen Cuyler

Cal Poly Pomona Xavier Fernandez Babacar Sy Dylan Watt

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Henry Cooper Alexandra Gunning Olivia Iskander Austin Lee Zoe Seltzer Aziz Zarehbin

Cal State Chico Jessica Bentley Preston Decourcy Ruby Rawski Will Roizen Adam Sligh Matthew Thornton

Cal State East Bay Hoang Le

Cal State Fullerton Ava Lisitza Emma Omerovic Emma Setiawan Aidan Yee

Cal State Long Beach Lilia Brack Orion Conde Daniella Farnham Nico Filucci Isaac Fogel Yesha Monique Guzman Kathryn Lambert Avery Pardo

Cal State Northridge Elizabeth Arena

Sacramento State Lucas Corrada-Guzman

San Diego State Mia Bond Cameron Choe Nicholas Gabriel Yingling Heran Girma Lydia Hagos Nova Miramontes Brielle Nelson Airalon Robinson Kate Sikora

San Francisco State Sasha Montes Chloe Bryana Villegas

San Jose State Ciara Blea-Salinas Livia Bogea Santos Souza Daniel Chin Betty Dunston Lila Foster Alejandro Gonzalez Christopher Hernandez De Loa Jordan Kee Leah Kimpark Zyon Mak Sofia Park Tran Maithili Pillai

Sonoma State Tanner Ballesteros Savannah Rainwater

25

UC Davis Aaliyah Ali Madeleine Canavese Samuel Chu Owen Dowell Elisa Gong Zhu Alex Hernandez Fernandez Brenda Lau Mandy Lau Tomas Lombardo Adrian Lopez Shaurya Pandey Ivan Pavlov Maya Tacheff

UC Irvine Dylan Byrne-Sarno Coleman Crotty Battushig Delger Marcosa Dirstine Lili Guerrero Siyena Hines Jesse Kim Micah Kim Carter Luo Theone Martin Sabrina Myers Emily Ono Lindsay Todaro Vanessa Voong

UC Los Angeles Naomi Abraham Bella Goldwasser Mia Johnson Bryan Lam Jiajie Luo Ryan Nguyen Sophia Norenberg Jazmin Ortiz Waris Shojaee

California Private College & University California College of the Arts Yelanis Mendez-Rivera Laguna College of Art and Design Leslie Ramos

UC Merced Shulang Chen

UC Riverside Ryan Aleman Nikhita Bulusu William Eggen Arianna Khalaf Arik Lee Jadey Shimada Bella Sloan

Loyola Marymount University Henry Forder Nora Jensen Brian Poon

Occidental College Talia Kotovsky Mira Parker

College of Alameda Angelyn Nicole Camacho Galilea Carapia Hernandez Angelina Chanthavong Nicole Chanthavong Bianca De La Cruz Theresa De La Torre Qiyan Huang Anh Huynh Erik Nguyen Tri Nguyen Paula Padilla Francisco Paniagua Chrielle Satorre Jino Skolnick Maya Stewart Cai Lin Su Diana Ysabel Tecson Celeste Vemulapalli

De Anza College Pitzer College

Davin Chen

Michael Oreshkov

UC San Diego Olivia Alexander Amelia Badamjav Carmen Baskette Katelyn Chau Kaleb Lum Caleb Wong Christopher Wootton Audrey Worley

Diablo Valley College Santa Clara University

Luis Sanchez

Brayden Grimes Marcus Taylor

Foothill College

Soka University of America

Yousuf Acevedo Sinisa Finau

Jingxuan Huang

Laney College University of San Francisco Muzhgan Khanzada

UC Santa Barbara Emma Catherine Acosta Kyle Brusewitz Mikaela Fitz Kelsey Lamb Malani Mastora Allison Noble Samuel Paskins Riley Sutton Grace Tanner

University of Southern California Emma Lai Maximilian Olsen Alexis Olsen Tim Phan

Merritt College Stephanie Gabriela Galvan Martinez Etzely Pelayo Haley Watson

Monterey Peninsula College

California Community College

Max Cohen

Santa Barbara City College Bernadette Fine

UC Santa Cruz Jade Ah - Hing Ani Avanesyan Dwight Batbold Max Bellotti Niers de Cardenas Michael Dudzinski Shani Elias Alex Logan Colby Okazaki Selma Snagic Althea Welter

Idrees Abozaid Brooke Taylor

Berkeley City College Ayari Barajas Rosaleigh Brandt Tara Tang

Chabot College Isabella Pham Viola Spencer

26

Out of State Alabama The University of Alabama Mia Stella Vigil

Arizona Northern Arizona University

Indiana

New Jersey

Purdue University

Seton Hall University

Marcell Peto Nolan Shultz

Sophia Stento

New York

Louisiana Tulane University of Louisiana Sidney Almohajer Keira Barron

Charlotte Cowell

Maryland

New York University Anika Hofmeyer Monica Lee Joshua Woo

University of Arizona

Morgan State University

Joshua Howard Cameron Louie

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Tatum Goulbourne Zaire

Joshua Levy

St. John's College (Annapolis)

Fordham University

Jonah Kohn-Rabinowitz

Audrey Farinas

Massachusetts

Ohio

Amherst College

Denison University

Sydney Thompson

Jonathan Conlin

Boston University

Kenyon College

Zoe Hochderffer

Elliott Latorre

Endicott College

Oberlin College

Alex Parker

Rex Wargny

Connecticut University of New Haven Liam Eglin

Yale University Rebecca Stelmach

D.C Catholic University of America Luca Danzi

Howard University Aaralynn Lee Layla Robinson

Hampshire College

Georgia

Harvard University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Chau Apple Nguyen

Jaylen Ayivi Guedehoussou

Barron Ha

Oxford College of Emory University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Angelica Zhu

William Walton

Oregon Lewis & Clark College Dylan Higgins Kiang

University of Oregon Gavin Bayley Darren Heng Cooper Hunt Cyrus Jones Eli Slez

Northeastern University

Hawaii University of Hawaii at Manoa Layla Ilacqua Tea Loren

Illinois School of the Art Institute of Chicago Kelly Benson

University of Illinois at Chicago Jasmine Whorley

Micah Rezendez Viola Warming

Pennsylvania

Tufts University

Charlotte Bond Alyson Bostrom

Ella Heckman

Bryn Mawr College

Lehigh University

Michigan

Ezra Kotovsky

University of Michigan Haley Rome

Texas University of Texas at Austin

Nebraska

Olivia Fry

University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Amelia DeLong

27

Out of Country

Utah University of Utah

University of Puget Sound

Juneau Fennell Claire Onderwater

Joaquin Mintz Clay Rowe

Canada Concordia University (Montreal) Robin Loren

Vermont

University of Washington

Middlebury College

Kate Burgess

Seattle University

Trinity College Dublin Penelope Dalton Audrey Grayson

Emily Ye

Washington

Ireland

Western Washington University University College Dublin

Elliott Cevallos

Hugh Rightmyer

Alex Mills

Scotland University of St Andrews Piper Dooley

The Oak Leaf Team Editor-in-Chief Angelica Zhu Staff Ilan Alcasas, Lauren Brack, Tonia Chen, Shion Koga Dean, Rowan Diener, Piper Dooley, Chau Apple Nguyen, Nik Ostergren, Anna Park, Emma Park, Marcell Peto, Leslie Ramos, Ella Randecker, Luc Trinh, Juniper Vintson, Olivia Vu, Emily Ye, Genevieve Yuen, Kylie Zorn Advisor Kelly Gregor, Lisa Piazza

Special Thanks to our donors on our GoFundMe, and the AHS PTSA for supporting our print editions

28