The Oak Leaf
Official Publication of Alameda High School
StudentRepresentatives
CulturalClubs
SchoolClubs/StudentOrganizations What’sYourFavoriteAHSMemory?
Teacher/StaffShoutouts
Sports
Extracurriculars/Other
CONTENTS 2
8 Cover Photo Credit: Emily Ye
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Congratulations,
Our
Classof2024!
Team
SeniorClassPresident-CarterLuo
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Theschoolactivitythatleft the biggest impact on me wasmyinternshipwiththe School-Based Health Centeroncampus.Istarted 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 studentstoraiseawareness for health topics around campus in a variety of ways. I got to collaborate withinternsofallgradesto put together projects and discusssensitivetopicsina safespace.
Overtheyears,Iwentfrom 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 thatnothingwedomakesa difference. Does it really matter if we raise $100 towards prom? Does it reallymatterifweputona lunchtimehealthfairfor30 students who attend? With this presentation project, I felt like I actually made a differenceattheschool.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Go outside your comfort zone to meet new people. Some of the best friendships I’ve made and maintained have been completelyunexpectedand with people very different fromme.
Be open to talking to new peopleandtrulyconnecting with people that are differentfromyou.It
teaches you perspective that will serve you well in life, both during and beyondhighschool.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
Next year I will be attending UC Irvine! I am so excited because thecampusissoniceand I already found some super cool roommates. My major is undeclared, soI’mjusthopingtosee what’soutthereandmeet somenewpeople.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
Ihavebeeninthedance 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 was100%worthit.
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StudentBoardRepresentative-TaliaKotovsky
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Definitelymytimeserving on the school board as studentrep.
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 justthestudentperspective. I've been on the board for twoyearsnow.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Get involved! Whether that'swithacluborsportor anything.Ifeelso
Salutatorian-JackyLuo
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
I believe hosting IslandHacks has been the mostimpactfuleventinmy high school career. I co-founded this non-profit withfriendsfromAlameda and Encinal to provide codingopportunitiesfor
highschoolstudentsacross the island (and to host a collaborativeeventbetween therivalingschools).
The six months of preparation has taught me effective collaboration (ex. playingtoourstrengthsand openly sharing insights), management,planning,and especially social skills (in outreachingtosponsors).
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
connected with the school now and the student body. Also a reminderthattheclasses you take do not define you. I will be attending Occidental College startinginthefall!It'sok tonottakeallAP's!
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I will be attending Occidental College startinginthefall.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I'm going to UCLA majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in entrepreneurship and neuroscience.
Explorenewhobbies,learn because the topics are meaningfulandpractical (notbecauseyouneedto getagoodgrade).Make mistakes,andlearnfrom them. Make enough mistakestolearntolisten to other's experiences so you make less mistakes andmoreprogress.
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JackyLuo,right
Valedictorian-AngelicaZhu
What high school activities impacted you themost?
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 forThe Oak Leaf, I really enjoyed my time in clubs and organizations with people who are as equally as excited as I am about thesehobbies.
My arrayofhobbies and
extracurricularsallowmeto meet and engage with people from widely different parts of life and interests.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Weoftenremindourselves nottobeconfinedbywhat othersdefineusasortellus todo.Iwanttoaddtothat bysayingthatwealsohave to make sure that we are not limited by our own preconceived notions of ourselves, of who we are, andwhatwewouldenjoy.
I’ve found that when I actually tried an activity, book, food, or experience that I initially rejected, I oftentimes enjoy it more thanIthoughtIwould.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 beforeplacingadecision.
What are yourplans after highschool?
I will be attending the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnologystartingin thefallandamcurrently planning to study engineering.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
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 wanttosaythankyouto Mr. Joo for making physics fun and being a great friend, Ms. Roenischforpushingme to think about my humanityandwhatIcan dotocreatechange,Mr. Lamb for building the warm Team Lamb community, and Ms. Piazza and Ms. Gregor forcontributingsomuch oftheirtimeandenergy for maintaining the journalism, creative writing, and poetry cultureatAHS.
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TimPhan
How did VSA impact you?
I started attending VSAat the beginning of my sophomore year and became club president at thestartofmysenioryear.
Having just transferred from another school, I connectedwithothersfrom similar backgrounds and cultural ties through the club. I also learned more aboutthedifferentregional and ethnic cultures in Vietnam from other club members,whichexpanded
myknowledgeofmyhome country. My experience withVSAmotivatedmeto not only explore more of myculturebutalsotolearn about other customs and have meaningful conversationsaboutitwith 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 cultureoutwardly.
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,repit!
Rememberthatwe’reall unique, and everyone is tryingtonavigatelifein theirownway.Don’tlet anyone other than yourself influence your decisions, personality, and actions. Only you knowwhat’sbestforyou and how to express yourself!
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I’llattendUSCnextfall tostudypoliticalscience on the pre-law track. FightOn!
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HeranGirma
What high school activity left the biggest impact on
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Becominganofficerofour school'sBSUhasimpacted me the most. As a young Blackwoman,Ihavebeen the most prominent advocate for equal rights, whichIamverypassionate aboutandproudof.Going
toaPWIhasopenedupmy eyes to the microaggressions that everyone deems to be unimportant. The BSU at Alameda High died off a coupleofyearsago,andwe decided to pick it back up lastyear.I'msogladwedid because this year has been one of BSU's most successfulyearsyet.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Breathe. High school isn't as scary as it seems. I remember feeling anxious before the first day of schoolbecauseIthoughtall the upperclassmen would berudeanddisrespectful.I was proven wrong immediatelywhenI befriendedajunior.Also, stayontopofyourwork. It may be tempting to slackoff,especiallysince the end of the school year starts to creep up, but don't let that get the bestofyou.
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
The Unity Assembly was definitely a high school activity that left a great impactonme.Neverinthe years spent at AHS did I see someone represent not only Mexican culture, but anyLatinxculture.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
AfterIgraduate,Iwillbe 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 inAmerica as well as back in my parents home country Ethiopia.
My club and I spent months planning and practicing our choreography to incorporate as many dancesaspossible.Itwas truly a new experience for me to learn cumbia, bachata, and line dance. It was fun although we were
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StephanieRobles
StephanieRobles,left
inexperienced. It was the most hilarious thing to teachtheguyswerecruited forthedancesincenoneof themhadrhythm.
What are yourplans after highschool?
Iplantoattendcommunity college for two years and receive an associates for business. Then I plan to transfertoaUCforafinal twoyearstoreceivemy
BryanLam
What high school activity left the biggest impact on you?
WorkingontheLunarNew Year Fairs each year with CCC!Inmyfreshmanyear, CCC started as a club and everyyearsince,we'vehad a Lunar New Year fair celebrating the Asian holiday.WhatIfoundthe
bachelor’s degree in business.
Finalcomments?
Our generation is very unique in terms of experiencing things that happen once in our lifetimes. We never had a true introduction to what highschoolwasreallylike untilsophomore/junioryear because of COVID-19. So pleasethankeveryonethat
got you through your school journey. Appreciate all the teachers, friends, family, or pets for supporting youandchallengingyou tobecomeabetterperson even during our weird times.Congratulationsto the class of 2024 and I hope you all find the motivation to pursue yourgoals,bigorsmall. Bestofluck!
most meaningful about these fairs was the growth ofourideasandthescaleof it -- developing new activity ideas, ways to promote and more each year.
On top of that, each year highlightedadifferentarea 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 yearbeinghowIcouldstay reliable/supportive even if my ideas weren't chosen. Besidesthesappystuff,
seeing everyone in their cultural clothing and all the community support for us made all the planningworthit!
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I plan on attending UCLA to study pre-psychobiology or another field of biology. Even though I'm far awayfromhome,Iwant to continue with music and exploring my Chinese/Viet culture, as well as try out new thingslikephotography.
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BryanLam,right
CarmenBaskette
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Ihaveloved(almost)allof my academic classes, but thecommunitythathasleft thebiggestimpactonmeis byfarTheater.
I have been a member of the Alameda Drama Departmentsincefreshman year, in which we put on this ridiculous meta TV show, Little Theatre TV (it's on YouTube!), and I neverleft.
IwasDramaClubpresident this year, which was challenging,butimmensely rewarding.Thisdepartment gavememy
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 havereceivedelsewhere.
Advice
for future AHS students?
Firstoff,Iknowit'scliche butIliveby"fakeittillyou makeit."Secondly,Ithink 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 allA's or doeverysportperfectlyor make all the friends. But you can explore clubs and events and sports, and in doing so, by throwing yourselfintotheseactivities or academic enclaves, you canexploreyourself.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
Iamactuallycompletely pivoting from the arts andmajoringinPolitical Science at UCSD and hopefullydotheUC-DC program. I think I want to learn to surf and embrace the SoCal lifestyle#shaka
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
Ireallyappreciateallmy teachers, but I have especially loved those from this year (shoutout Ms. Roenisch and Ms. Goldberg!). I have learnedsomuchthisyear aboutLifeinmyclasses, andit'shelpedmeknow that I want to keep learning, throughout my Life.
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CarmenBaskette,front
MarybellaPatrick
going to the poetry competitionwithourpoetry team at the end of Junior year.Ourteamhad worked so hard all year, andIhadbeenworkingon 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 lovewiththeeventandthe peoplewhoperformed.
What are yourplans after highschool?
college in hopes of earning my PhD in psychology.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
impactedyouthemost?
The biggest high school activity that left an impressiononmewas
I am attending community college to complete my general education, then enrollingina4-year
MadeleineCanavese
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
I founded the Esperanto Language Club in my sophomore year by recruitingsomefriendsand papering the hall with posters:"TiredofIrregular Verbs? Join Esperanto Club!" in B building was amongmyfavorites.
My favorite teachers were Ms Jones, because shewasalwayssomuch fun and never made our class too stressful, and Ms Roenisch, because I appreciated how structured her class was andhowshepushedher students to defend their arguments rather than givingustheanswer.
Leading the club gave memuchgreaterrespect for the struggle of language teachers. It's a small club, but I appreciate everyone's dedication to spending theirlunchtimelearning grammar.Ilovedsharing my passion for Esperanto, both the linguisticsofthe
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constructed language and theculturesurroundingitas aninternationallanguage.
I learned to explain grammar, compare structure to English and Spanish, and create engaging lesson plans (I hope).Memberstaughtme aboutotherlanguagesthey 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-recordedclipstogetthe pronunciationdown.Inour second year, we won an honorable mention in the film festival and got ourselvesclubt-shirtswith the$100prize.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
1. Getenoughsleep!
2. In terms of course selection (and club participation),onlysignup forwhatyouareinterested inandwillingtoworkhard at. Take APs because you wanttochallengeyourself, and do clubs because you arepassionate.
3.Don'tworryifyouhave noideayetwhatyouwant to study in college. It is normal. Most adults are in careers that they never imagined themselves in when they were your age (seriously,askthem).
Also, don't let the prevailing message that STEM is more valuable thanhumanitiesgettoyou. 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 careerinthefield.
What
are yourplans after highschool?
IamgoingtoUCDavis (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 worldcultures.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
I've been so lucky to have many amazing teachers who have challenged and inspired me.Mr.Joo'sAPPhysics and Computer Science classes were highlights for me because of the way they fostered my loveforproblem-solving and gave me a greater appreciation for math through real-world applications. I've loved AP Lit with Ms. Roenisch this year for herunapologeticallyhigh expectations and the fascinating class conversations we have abouttheworksweread, as well as history, philosophy, and current issues.
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BellaGoldwasser
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Myinvolvementinclimate actiongroupsdefinitelyhad the biggest impact on me throughouthighschool.At school,I'mpartofAmplify, whichhas
focused on sustainability initiatives at AHS and the widerAlamedacommunity, like the reusable cups available through Okapi thisyear.
It's a lovely mix of fun socializing (hikes, movie nights) and community serviceandactivism,andI think many people would enjoy our community! I also am a part of Youthpower Climate Action, which is not connected toAHS but has also taken on some Bay Area-wideinitiativessince
Can you share a little about your time with the SBHC?
MyfavoriteSBHCactivity was probably the 2024 Mental Health Awareness fair we did. Talia and I talkedaboutthedifferences between body neutrality and positivity, and we had students leave neutral or positive sticky notes about bodies on a mirror. Students were then encouragedtotakeamirror selfie with themselves or friends because all bodies are beautiful and worth loving.
westartedin2020.Ilove connecting with other young people who also care about creating a more sustainable world, andI'vecomeawaywith amazingfriendships,too.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I'll be studying EnvironmentalScienceat UCLAandhopefullycan sneak in a Data Science Engineering minor. Excitedbutnervous!
TofutureAHSstudents,I would say to not worry about what other people thinkofyou,becauseas long as you are happy with yourself you'll get throughanything..
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I plan on going to CSU LongBeachandstudying Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology on the Pre-MedPath.
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LiliaBrack
LiliaBrack,left
JackieZou
How did marching band impactyou?
Being in a band wasTHE firstcommunityItrulyfelt apartof.Yes,Iwasaband kid.Andyes,Iknowthere aremanystereotypesabout being a band kid that may seemweird.However,they are also one of the most welcoming people I have ever met, and that’s what matteredtome.
Unlike previous band experiences, the pep-band was purely a student-run club,whichmeantawhole lot more fun for us. We played the songs that we wanted to play, and made fun of them too (such as ourclassicfightsong).
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Be a part of the school community by taking opportunitiesastheycome; join clubs and become officers, join assemblies to show off your talent, sign-upfordramaplays,try outasport,wearthatsuper glam and colorful makeup look, show up decked out in spirit gear. Don’t think “oh no one’s gonna dress uplikeaminionIwon’tdo it”or“ehidon’t thinkI’m goodenoughfortheplay”. LIKE NO. JUST DO IT. Takeyourlifewithminimal regrets and own those moments and opportunities to the fullest.And if your scaredofdoingitalone,do itwithyourfriends.Ifyou don’t have friends, make them (AGAIN BY JOININGCLUBS)
Anyothercomments?
WHY IS EVERYONE NOT SPIRITED ANYMORE WHAT HAPPENEEDDDDDD.
PSA to everyone: If you are literally drowning in work, if you are unhappy for no reason, if you get anxiousinfrontofpeople, if you literally just exist, gototherapy.
Therapy is amazing. Bringingyourownselfto therapy is hard. As someonewhotriedtopile onasmuchstuffasIcan to hopefully make it to a bigUC,Iwentthroughthe mostsevereburnoutIhad ever felt in my life. The issuewas,Ididn’tfeellike 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 morethanvalidtoreceive 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 andletgoofissuesInever really thought I had. But yeah, take therapy, it’s great.
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What’sYourFavoriteAHSMemory?
ForthepastfouryearsI'veplayedontheschool'svolleyballteam,we'veneverwon againstCastroValley.Butwhenweplayedthemagainathome,weeachputin110% effort,stayedcalm,playedsmart,andjabbedourwaythroughtheirdefense,bringing homeavictoryfortheHornets!-JackyLuo
Senioryearhoco!BeingthedrummajorforPepBandatthattime,thecrowdwas amazingandhonestly,Ihadsomuchtensionandstressthatreleaseditselfassoonas we performed.
Betweentheemotions,thepracticehours,andthecommunitywithintheband,I'mso proud and happy that everything came together the way it did. It was really a once-in-a-lifetimeexperience!-BryanLam
MyfirstfullclassatAlamedaHigh,thedramateacheratthetime,Mr.Morris,pulled meonstageandandyelled“We'reacceptingmoreturncoatseveryday!”Hiswords madethetransfercompletelyworthit.-AaralynnLee
GoingtotheA’sgameforafieldtripinsports medicine.-JacksonYep
Sneaking out the back to get donut holes from homeskillet on Fridays in APES last year.MalaniMastora
Not being involved in the couch mysteriously appearing in the B building bathroom. - Ryan Baker
Friend barfing in dead center of my house.RyanNguyen
I love hanging out with friends, drinking boba while rushing to finish a group project, and procrastinatingonlinewiththemat2a.m.inthe morning.-AppleNguyen
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ArtCredit:LeslieRamos
Wow,Ijustcannotpickoneteacher.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 favoriteclass.
It’sagreatclasstostayuptodateoncurrent news and engage in political discussions and discourse with people from different backgrounds.
Also,allofthemindfulminuteswedidinclass werewhatkeptmesaneduringthisschoolyear. Dabslayandtwinklefingers,Ms.Goldberg!TimPham
MyfavoriteteachersandclasseswouldbeMr.Luncholm'ssenioryearEnglishclass andMsJones'ssophomoreyearEnglishclass.Boththeseclassesshowedmewhata classroomenvironmentshouldfeellike—acommunitywhereanindividualfeelsloved andsupposedbyboththeteacherandtheirpeers.-HeranGirma
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.
APCompSciwithMr.Joothisyearhasalsobeenawesome.I'vedonelittlebitsof programming on my own (plug for theAlamedaAztechs, a local FIRST Robotics team!),butIadoredbeingabletodiveintohoweverythingworksinamoreformal classsetting.-BellaGoldwasser
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. WheneverIhadanissueorproblem,helistened.-JackieZou
Shoutouts 15
Teacher/Staff
ArtCredit:LeslieRamos
Men’sBasketball:JesseKim
Ithasbeenarollercoaster as I have gotten closer to myteammatesandwehave been through the ups and downstogether.Iwillnever forget waking up early for practices and just laughing with my teammates about anything. Basketball has taught me to be a leader, pushmyselfpastmylimits, and be focused and disciplined.
Men’sBasketball:JacksonYep
Playing on the school Basketballteamwasagood experiencebecausewewon a lot of big games and it wassuperfun.
Women’sBasketball:KarisLin
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Watching sports games with my friends! It was reallyfunmeetingupwith friends to hang out and cheeronourteams!
Advice?
Enjoy your high school yearsandtakeadvantage ofeveryopportunity.It's your choice if you want to make high school a goodorbadexperience.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I am planning to go to UCIrvineforcollege.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
My plans after high school are to go to college to study economics.
Advice?
TakeBOTHofMr.Joo’s classes!
What are your plans afterhighschool?
College!
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Women’sBasketball:MalaniMastora
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
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 poppingupeverywhere.
which definitely helped coming into a new school, as well as many friendships.
Some of my favorite memories from basketball were going into our team roomafterThanksgivingto seeitcompletelydecorated for Christmas with lights and stockings for each of us. The floor was completelycoveredinPom pomsandtherewasevena giant snowman. The Pom poms would get stuck to our clothes and we would accidentally take them home with us. It took us weekstilltheystopped poppingupeverywhere.
Women’sSoccer:ScarlettCurley
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Being on the soccer team for 4 years. It made me becomemoreconfidentand
build friendships with people.
The most memorable part for me was my final shot blocking save that resulted in us beating Berkeley for thefirsttimein10 years!
Advice?
What advice do you have for future AHS students?
Definitely take school seriously but also remember that this is kindayourlasttimeyou get to be a kid so have fun. Once I found a balancebetweenthetwo Ijustenjoyedcomingto school a long more because I was focused whenIneededtobebut wouldbegoofingaround with my friends and chancewecouldget.
ForfutureAHSstudents: have fun and make the most of it!! Stay on top ofschoolwork!
What are your plans afterhighschool?
After high school I plan toattendChicoState.Go Wildcats!!
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Men’sWaterPolo:RyanBaker
The activity that has had thebiggestimpactonmeis playing on the water polo team.
WhileIonlydiditfor2 years,itwasanamazing experienceasIwasable to form new bonds with teammates, be a leader forothers,andofcourse makememories.Iamthe wayIambecauseofthe flawless coaching, more specifically the coaching byMarshallDortch,love youMarshall
Women’sGolf,Swim:HayleyBritton
I joined the women’s golf andswimteamsenioryear tochallengemyselfandtry something new. Through school sports I've discovered new things about myself, pushed myself to new limits, and I'vemetsomeofmyclosest friends.
Beingonateamisatruly rewardingexperience.
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 strangersoverthecourseof a sports season. Although sportsseasonscanbetough at points or you can have badraces,Iknowthatwhen Iamolderthat'snotthepart Iamgoingtoremember.I am going to remember the friendships I built and the memories we made together.
Who was your favorite highschoolteacher?
My favorite class has to be my senior English classandthatleadstomy favoriteteacherwhichis the fabled Benjamin Lundholm
Advice?
ThebestadviceIwould 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 withyouandyourgoals, and really just focus on doingthingsforyourself. Don't worry about what everyoneelseisdoingor sayingbecauseattheend of the day, if you can't make yourself happy, you're definitely not goingtofinditanywhere else.
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RyanBaker,left
Women’sTennis:MiaJohnson
Favorite Memories: Dissections in Physio! I likedseeingtheactualbody partsofgoatsandcows.
Also NCS senior year! Becauseweallfailedreally badbutitwasreallyfunny andtheopposingteamwas really mean and they kept cheating.
Men’sBadminton:ArikLee
Favorite Memories: Eating Korean Barbeque with friends and falling asleepforanhourwhilemy friendsfinishedeating.
Advice: Don't procrastinate it's the worstthingyoucandoto yourself.
Advice: Volunteerearly! There's lots of places to volunteeratanditcanbe a ton of fun. It’s totally slept on and something nice that you can do to givebackandgetalotat thesametime.
Cheerleading:AaralynnLee
What high school activity left the biggest impact on you?
Cheerleadingleftonofthe biggestimpactsonme.
Before joining the team at AHS,Iwasonmymiddle school cheer team. During my time at the cheer team I've become more of a daredevil and leader. I've learnedteamworkandhow 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 duringcollege.
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 afterhighschool?
I plan on going to HowardUniversity.
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Men’sTrackandField:JoshuaWoo,ChristopherWootton
FavoriteMemory?
Joshua: Making the calc video for BC calc class because its a educational experience that was made fun and I get to hang out withmyfriends.
Christopher:Playingmusic withfriendsandgoingto
NYCwiththeband.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
Joshua: NYU- I’m excitedtobeinabigcity learning computer science. Christopher:UCSD
Men’sSoccer,Volleyball:RyanNguyen
Favorite Memory: Grass volleyball with friends because they all suck at it andit’sfunny.
Advice: Being angry at someone lets their actions have a longer impact on you.
Men’sTennis:CalebWong
Favorite Memory: Playing tennis with friends. Also whenwetrespassedonthe naval base and then illegallyswamatmichael’s poolandgotthecopscalled onus
What are your plans afterhighschool?
UCLA- electrical engineering, play volleyball and soccer, volunteer a ton with a club, senior homes, tutoring
What are your plans afterhighschool?
Collegethenmedschool, and not becoming homeless.
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JoshuaWoo, right; Christopher Wootton, down
AppleNguyen
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Writinghashadthebiggest impact on me. From The OakLeaf,poetrytofiction, and translations, from my daysasanELDstudentto now, I write constantly. I used it as a way to learn English and posted my works online during the pandemic to find criticism andacommunity.
Writing gave me a voice and the knowledge that I can always improve my skills.TheOakLeafwasa 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 meansthatwehavealotof room for growth, in both leadership and resources, butIamgladtohavebeen apartofitsre-formingafter theendofJournalismclass at AHS. I am excited to watch over the club’s progressinthefuture.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Turn in your assignments even if you have not completed them; some credits are better than no credits. High school years areshort,butyouwouldbe surprisedathowmuchyou wouldgrowifyouwentout ofyourcomfortzone.
Try to establish a solid support group for yourself throughfriends,families,or schoolresources,Icannot state how crucial that was formymentalhealth.And be open-minded! Ready to listen to multiple viewpointsandunderstand
others.Youdon’tneedto agree with them necessarily, but try to understandthem.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
I am attending Harvard to study economics and chemistry, though I am opentoothermajors.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
MyfavoriteclasswasAP Physics 1. Mr. Joo has theenergytomakeeven a simple bank curve seeminteresting.Hislore isfascinating,too.
Physics slammed me in theface,butIwouldtake theclassalloveragainin aheartbeat.
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MarcellPeto
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Throughoutmyhighschool career, my love of music has stayed consistent. To pursuemyloveofmusic,I have been a continued memberofmychoirforthe past 9 years. Doing choir has shaped me musically, andhasreallyprovidedme with an outlet for artistic activity in the face of academic pressures and challenges. Moreover, this choir has providedmewithcountless friends and allowed me to make plenty of memories with them, such as one fromlastsummerwhenour choirwasontourinSpain. At our first concert on the tour, my friend and I decidedtotryandclimbto the roof of the church we weresingingat,whichwas
builtaroundthe1100s.Via a narrow cobweb-filled spiralstaircaseweaccessed theroof,andfromtherewe got to watch the sunset beforehavingtosneakback down out of the view of chaperones.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Alwayssayyes.Seriously. IwouldnotbethepersonI am today if I had turned down many of the opportunities that have comemyway.Highschool is a wonderful time to exploreandtrynewthings, withflexibilityabound.
Sayingyescanleadyouto doing things you would have never imagined, gaining you countless new experiences and memories forlife.
What are yourplans after highschool?
I will be going to Purdue University in Indiana starting in the fall for a major in Aeronautical EngineeringTechnology.
Alongside this I will be doing flight school and learningmywaytowards a private pilot’s license, with a commercial license as my goal later downtheroad.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
Ms. Goldberg’s AP US Government and Politics Class has been my favorite overall. Being abletotakeaclassabout something I am truly passionate about has beenablessingandIwill 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 helpingmegetbackinto theswingofthingsafter 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 everAPtest.
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LeslieRamos
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
For my first few years of high school, I had fully imagined having to abandonmywishestokeep playing music (even as a hobby)andturntoseparate activities.
ThisallchangedonceIwas given my very first bass back in 2022. It started casual, as I moderately practicedaloneinmyroom 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 andendedupcreatinga
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 rememberhowhappyIwas performingonastage.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Trynottocompareyourself too much to your peers. Everyone has a unique journey and it’s no use trying to hold yourself to standardsthatweren’tmade for you. Also to communicate!Peoplecan’t read your mind and you can’t read theirs. It’s so important to just talk and say your piece so you and theotherpersoncanworkit out.
What are yourplans after highschool?
I’m currently enrolled in LagunaCollegeofArtand Designandplantotakethe Animation major. Animation and art in generalisahugepassionof
mine and I’m extremely thankful that I get to pursueitasacareer.
What was your favorite class or teacher during highschool?
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 reallytellhehasalotof love and care for his students. While Ms. Eggett doesn’t teach at AHS currently, I still wanttocommendherfor themassiveimpactshe’s had as the former Arts department head. She really expanded my knowledge and skill as anartistandIknowshe hadmadealotofpeople more passionate in art thantheyoncewere.
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MuzhganKhanzada
What high school activity impactedyouthemost?
Leading a club was a challenging experience, especiallywhenIstarteda new Afghan community club after a few years at AHS. I have been the presidentforoneyearandI willcontinuetocontroland support my club after I graduate.
How was your experience asanELDstudent?
Alameda High School is thedefinitionofwelcoming community. Reading, writing and presentations helped me to have high confidence to learn more andgivespeechesandtalk in front of people. Mr. LundholmandMr.
Veenstra were my ELD teachers during Junior and Senior year. They understood us a lot and helped me with presentations and speaking infrontofpeople.
What advice do you have forfutureAHSstudents?
Cherish this opportunity. Congratulations, you are fortunatetobepartofthis exceptional school and community. Embrace the wealth of knowledge and experiencesthatawaityou. Not only will you gain valuableinsights,butyou'll also create unforgettable memories.Thisschoolwill be your second home and the people there will be your family. Remember youareveryluckytobein AHS. Be kind, and ignore hurtful words. Instead, focus on your growth and aspirations. If you need help,trusttheadultsaround you: teachers, counselors, and mentors who are dedicated to your success. Appreciate every moment and all people in AHS because you will miss this homeandfamily.
What are your plans afterhighschool?
Mydreamofbecominga lawyer is my goal. I’m going to university to study political science and pre-law. I was born andgrewupinacountry where no one had their rights,especiallywomen. I will bring change to Afghanistan law and I willhelpasmanypeople as I can not just in my home country, Afghanistan, but in my second home United Statesandintheworld.
As I work towards my goal, I am committed to makingapositiveimpact in the lives of those around me. I plan to volunteer with various organizations,helpthose in need, and build a communitythatliftseach otherup.Thethoughtof being able to make a difference in someone's life is what drives me forward. Becoming a lawyerisnotjustacareer goalforme,it'sawayto leavealastinglegacyand make my mark on the world.
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Congratulations,Classof 2024!
*Source:AHSCollege&CareerCenter
*Thedataarebasedoncurrentlycollectedinformationfrom257seniorsasofJune2,2024
CaliforniaStateUniversity
CalPolyHumboldt
IsabelConnors
AlexanderGranieri
ZohrabO'Brien
CalPolyPomona
XavierFernandez
BabacarSy
DylanWatt
CalPolySanLuisObispo
HenryCooper
AlexandraGunning
OliviaIskander
AustinLee
ZoeSeltzer
AzizZarehbin
CalStateChico
JessicaBentley
PrestonDecourcy
RubyRawski
WillRoizen
AdamSligh
MatthewThornton
CalStateEastBay
HoangLe
CalStateFullerton
AvaLisitza
EmmaOmerovic
EmmaSetiawan
AidanYee
CalStateLongBeach
LiliaBrack
OrionConde
DaniellaFarnham
NicoFilucci
IsaacFogel
YeshaMoniqueGuzman
KathrynLambert
AveryPardo
CalStateMaritimeAcademy
OwenCuyler
CalStateMontereyBay
AnnalieseEichelberger
CalStateNorthridge
ElizabethArena
SacramentoState
LucasCorrada-Guzman
SanDiegoState
MiaBond
CameronChoe
NicholasGabrielYingling
HeranGirma
LydiaHagos
NovaMiramontes
BrielleNelson
AiralonRobinson
KateSikora
SanFranciscoState
SashaMontes
ChloeBryanaVillegas
SanJoseState
CiaraBlea-Salinas
LiviaBogeaSantosSouza
DanielChin
BettyDunston
LilaFoster
AlejandroGonzalez
ChristopherHernandezDeLoa
JordanKee
LeahKimpark
ZyonMak
SofiaParkTran
MaithiliPillai
SonomaState
TannerBallesteros
SavannahRainwater
UniversityofCalifornia
UCBerkeley
PollyJeanBae
CassidyChan
BrandonChu
JimenaJimenezRodriguez
MashhoodKhatri
GraceNgo
SaaraNoori
MadelinePerez
MeganTruong
CindyWang
JacquelineZou
UCDavis
AaliyahAli
MadeleineCanavese
SamuelChu
OwenDowell
ElisaGongZhu
AlexHernandezFernandez
BrendaLau
MandyLau
TomasLombardo
AdrianLopez
ShauryaPandey
IvanPavlov
MayaTacheff
UCIrvine
DylanByrne-Sarno
ColemanCrotty
BattushigDelger
MarcosaDirstine
LiliGuerrero
SiyenaHines
JesseKim
MicahKim
CarterLuo
TheoneMartin
SabrinaMyers
EmilyOno
LindsayTodaro
VanessaVoong
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UCLosAngeles
NaomiAbraham
BellaGoldwasser
MiaJohnson
BryanLam
JiajieLuo
RyanNguyen
SophiaNorenberg
JazminOrtiz
WarisShojaee
UCMerced
ShulangChen
UCRiverside
RyanAleman
NikhitaBulusu
WilliamEggen
AriannaKhalaf
ArikLee
JadeyShimada
BellaSloan
UCSanDiego
OliviaAlexander
AmeliaBadamjav
CarmenBaskette
KatelynChau
KalebLum
CalebWong
ChristopherWootton
AudreyWorley
UCSantaBarbara
EmmaCatherineAcosta
KyleBrusewitz
MikaelaFitz
KelseyLamb
MalaniMastora
AllisonNoble
SamuelPaskins
RileySutton
GraceTanner
UCSantaCruz
JadeAh-Hing
AniAvanesyan
DwightBatbold
MaxBellotti
NiersdeCardenas
MichaelDudzinski
ShaniElias
AlexLogan
ColbyOkazaki
SelmaSnagic
AltheaWelter
CaliforniaPrivate College&University
CaliforniaCollegeoftheArts
YelanisMendez-Rivera
LagunaCollegeofArtand Design
LeslieRamos
LoyolaMarymountUniversity
HenryForder
NoraJensen
BrianPoon
OccidentalCollege
TaliaKotovsky
MiraParker
PitzerCollege
MichaelOreshkov
SantaClaraUniversity
BraydenGrimes
MarcusTaylor
SokaUniversityofAmerica
JingxuanHuang
UniversityofSanFrancisco
MuzhganKhanzada
UniversityofSouthern
California
EmmaLai
MaximilianOlsen
AlexisOlsen
TimPhan
CaliforniaCommunity College
BerkeleyCityCollege
AyariBarajas
RosaleighBrandt
TaraTang
ChabotCollege
IsabellaPham
ViolaSpencer
CollegeofAlameda
AngelynNicoleCamacho
GalileaCarapiaHernandez
AngelinaChanthavong
NicoleChanthavong
BiancaDeLaCruz
TheresaDeLaTorre
QiyanHuang
AnhHuynh
ErikNguyen
TriNguyen
PaulaPadilla
FranciscoPaniagua
ChrielleSatorre
JinoSkolnick
MayaStewart
CaiLinSu
DianaYsabelTecson
CelesteVemulapalli
DeAnzaCollege
DavinChen
DiabloValleyCollege
LuisSanchez
FoothillCollege
YousufAcevedo
SinisaFinau
LaneyCollege
IdreesAbozaid
BrookeTaylor
MerrittCollege
StephanieGabrielaGalvanMartinez
EtzelyPelayo
HaleyWatson
MontereyPeninsulaCollege
MaxCohen
SantaBarbaraCityCollege
BernadetteFine
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OutofState
Alabama
TheUniversityofAlabama
MiaStellaVigil
Arizona
NorthernArizonaUniversity
CharlotteCowell
UniversityofArizona
JoshuaHoward
CameronLouie
Connecticut
UniversityofNewHaven
LiamEglin
YaleUniversity
RebeccaStelmach
D.C
CatholicUniversityofAmerica
LucaDanzi
HowardUniversity
AaralynnLee
LaylaRobinson
Georgia
GeorgiaInstituteofTechnology
BarronHa
OxfordCollegeofEmory
University
WilliamWalton
Hawaii
UniversityofHawaiiatManoa
LaylaIlacqua
TeaLoren
Illinois
SchooloftheArtInstituteof Chicago
KellyBenson
UniversityofIllinoisatChicago
JasmineWhorley
Indiana
PurdueUniversity
MarcellPeto
NolanShultz
Louisiana
TulaneUniversityofLouisiana
SidneyAlmohajer
Keira Barron
Maryland
MorganStateUniversity
TatumGoulbourneZaire
St.John'sCollege(Annapolis)
JonahKohn-Rabinowitz
Massachusetts
AmherstCollege
SydneyThompson
BostonUniversity
ZoeHochderffer
EndicottCollege
AlexParker
HampshireCollege
JaylenAyiviGuedehoussou
HarvardUniversity
ChauAppleNguyen
MassachusettsInstituteof Technology
AngelicaZhu
NortheasternUniversity
MicahRezendez
ViolaWarming
TuftsUniversity
EllaHeckman
Michigan UniversityofMichigan
HaleyRome
Nebraska UniversityofNebraska (Lincoln)
AmeliaDeLong
New Jersey
SetonHallUniversity
SophiaStento
New York
NewYorkUniversity
AnikaHofmeyer
MonicaLee
JoshuaWoo
RensselaerPolytechnic Institute
JoshuaLevy
FordhamUniversity
AudreyFarinas
Ohio
DenisonUniversity
JonathanConlin
KenyonCollege
ElliottLatorre
OberlinCollege
RexWargny
Oregon
Lewis&ClarkCollege
DylanHigginsKiang
UniversityofOregon
GavinBayley
DarrenHeng
CooperHunt
CyrusJones
EliSlez
Pennsylvania
BrynMawrCollege
CharlotteBond
AlysonBostrom
LehighUniversity
EzraKotovsky
Texas
UniversityofTexasatAustin
OliviaFry
27
Utah
UniversityofUtah
JuneauFennell
ClaireOnderwater
Vermont
MiddleburyCollege
EmilyYe
Washington
SeattleUniversity
AlexMills
UniversityofPugetSound
JoaquinMintz
ClayRowe
UniversityofWashington
KateBurgess
WesternWashingtonUniversity
ElliottCevallos
OutofCountry
Canada
ConcordiaUniversity(Montreal)
RobinLoren Ireland
TrinityCollegeDublin
PenelopeDalton
AudreyGrayson
UniversityCollegeDublin
HughRightmyer
Scotland
UniversityofStAndrews
PiperDooley
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
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