The Pearl Post is an open forum for student expression as allowed by California Education Codes 48907 and 48950, committed to excellence in reporting, writing and photography.
The magazine strives to inform and educate students and faculty on events affecting the school.
Thoughts and opinions published in these pages are the work of journalism students and do not represent the position of DPMHS, its administrators or the Los Angeles Unifed School District.
An unsigned editorial is the opinion of the Editorial Board, which is comprised of the Editor-in-Chief and the editors. Signed opinions in The Pearl Post refect the views of the authors. A signed cartoon refects the view of the cartoonist.
This bimonthly magazine is the offcial campus newsmagazine of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. The magazine is also posted online at http:// www.thepearlpost.com.
Content
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For our nal issue this school year, we wanted to turn a retrospective lens on the school year. We wanted to spotlight the accomplishments of many of our students, including two juniors who are graduating early, the Sora competition winners and our journalists. Of course, we also wanted to dedicate a portion of this magazine to the outstanding e orts this year’s graduating class put into its high school career. We wanted to showcase the athletes and the journalists,
Letter from the editor
13
as well as showcase how the seniors spent their last year.
Overall, it was a very productive and highly rewarding year that will be remembered, if for nothing else, then for how unique and celebratory it was. I am incredibly proud of my sta and my time on the news magazine. It was an unforgettable joy to be this magazine’s print editor-in-chief.
Satenik Ayrapetyan Editor-in-Chief
DPMHS community considers a new name for the school
By Aidan Lia, @aidan.lia
Since its founding in 2009, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) has always been a journalism school. Now, times are changing and so is the name.
DPMHS has two names with Daniel Pearl Journalism and Communications Magnet (DPJCM) being the name used within the Los Angeles Unied School District and also being the o cial name of the school. In 2025, the renaming of the school has come into question as some feel DPMHS or DPJCM no longer represent the school. The two choices for the new name are Daniel
Pearl Film and Media Magnet (DPFAMM) and Daniel Pearl Film and Media Arts Magnet (DPFAMAM). Students, parents and sta lled out a Google Form posted on Schoology to choose their preferred name.
The new name aims to represent the di erent types of media that students in the school produce, in addition to print. With websites, podcasts, videos and photography, students
produce a variety of digital media in their courses.
“We do a lot here that people don’t know about,” Principal Armen Petrossian said. “This is a part of the e ort to let the community at large know and help recruit new students.”
The DPMHS Renaming Committee had its rst meeting on March 24 and was formed in order to conduct
the creation of a new name as well as formally change the name. The committee is composed of district personnel, interested parties and the principal. Parents, teachers and students were urged to join to share their voice.
“I think just calling us a journalism school doesn’t represent all that our school can o er,” said junior Serena Elkins, who is also part of the DPMHS Renaming Committee. “With our new lm program and even our music program, I think media represents us more.”
KRISTIN INTAL | THE PEARL POST
Daniel Pearl Magnet High School’s new name will be either Daniel Pearl Film and Media Magnet or Daniel Pearl Film and Media Arts Magnet. “We do a lot here that people don’t know about,” Principal Armen Petrossian said. “ is is a part of the e ort to let the community at large know and help recruit new students.”
Academic
Academic counselor retires following 39 years of service
By Andrew Pulido, @andrewpulidogonzalez
After 14 years of guiding students through the complexities of college applications and graduation requirements, Academic Counselor Martina Torres will retire.
“She helped me a lot because I was not familiar with the concepts of how college admissions actually work,” senior Saman Sepehr said. “I came here last year from Iran... Since I joined, Mrs. Torres really helped me because I was really unfamiliar with the (college process). Every time I needed help, she helped me.”
Torres mainly advises students on their graduation requirements and college
preparations. Additionally, she assembles the master schedule for the school and communicates with Pierce College for the dual enrollment program to run smoothly.
Ever since she was 18, Torres has worked for the Los Angeles Uni ed School District. Her career began as a teacher’s assistant at Bushnell Way Elementary School, the same school she attended as a child. Afterwards she taught math and science to fth and sixth graders. After earning her counseling degree, Torres worked as a Gear Up Counselor at Marshall High School, then Franklin High School.
Torres joined DPMHS in
2010 after the school split from Birmingham Community Charter High School after it became a charter. Here, Torres had the opportunity of working closely with a small group of students. Senior Behishta Sa appreciates Torres’s ability to work one-on-one.
“I was deciding between CSUN and UC Irvine,” Sa said. “I went to her and asked her about which one will be better… She took hours to explain everything to me and I knew more. It was so much easier to make my decision.”
Her career in education may be coming to an end, but her work will not. She plans to volunteer at her church where
she will oversee fundraising events and scholarships administered by her church’s funds. Although she will miss the one-on-one work with students that came with her career in education, she hopes to nd it again through her community service.
“Working with students one-on-one gives me an opportunity to help them,” Torres said. “I set goals and make plans and see what their future is for them.”
In preparation for Torres’s retirement, the school hired her replacement. Principal Armen Petrossian declined to comment on the job search.
ANDREW PULIDO | THE PEARL POST
Counselor Martina Torres assists junior Daniel Zamora in completing his K-12 form for a college dual enrollment program during lunch on May 22.
Teacher set to retire after 20 years in class
New chapter begins for history teacher with rest and travel.
By Alex Salcedo, @alexx.sal14.
While history teacher
Brenda Hel ng has continued her passion for teaching for 20 years, she plans to retire at the end of the school year.
“Ms. Hel ng has a way of making learning very interesting with projects,” said senior Axel Aleman, who is enrolled in AP African American Studies. “She’s a very passionate teacher and has a deep care for all her students.”
Hel ng began teaching in 2005 and spent 20 years with the Los Angeles Uni ed School District (LAUSD). She began as a substitute teacher, working with young children. Hel ng started her rst full-time teaching position at Northridge Academy High School (NAHS) in 2007, where she was next-door neighbors with history teacher Frankie Ortega.
Now, as Hel ng believes she is at the age for retirement, she looks forward to traveling and having time for herself to relax. After her yearly trip to Lake Tahoe, Hel-
ng plans to visit Yellowstone National Park and many other famous landmarks.
“I like teaching the content I am passionate about,” Hel ng said. “That’s why I continued for 20 years, but now it’s like okay, it’s a good time to stop.”
While teaching is Helng’s passion, education wasn’t her rst career. After moving to California from Boston, Massachusetts, in 2000, Hel ng worked as a bookkeeper. During her four-year stay, she met her husband on the job.
With time, Hel ng became a stay-at-home mom. After her children reached middle school, she returned to school to obtain her degree and credentials to nally begin her passion: teaching.
“She always tells me to follow my dreams, even if I don’t think they are achievable,” said senior Alexis Abraham, who previously took United States History with Hel ng.
After teaching at NAHS for four years, Hel ng moved to Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies (CCLA) for four years, before returning to NAHS for a year. Then, she returned to CCLA. Hel ng was hired as a history teacher at DPMHS in 2019, working with Ortega once again.
In 2023, DPMHS started o ering AP African American Studies, a new AP course, with Hel ng as its teacher. Hel ng taught it in addition to her AP US History, US history, AP Government and honors economic coursework.
“It’s a good point to retire,” Hel ng said. “I have a new grandson and I want to
be able to help my daughter when she needs us and to travel with my husband. I think it’s a good time (for me) to get out of education.”
Hel ng’s teaching position will not be replaced for the next year. While Hel ng plans to retire from being a full-time teacher, Hel ng still hopes to work part-time as a substitute teacher later on.
“I hope I leave them with a passion (for) history,” Hel ng said. “I hope they remember me as someone who is kind, warm and funny. I hope I made them feel wanted.”
ALEX SALCEDO | THE PEARL POST History teacher Brenda Hel ng speaks to her third period AP US History class on May 20 a er their presentations. Students presented on a uent gures from the Harlem Renaissance as part of their Service Learning, a graduation requirement.
Valedictorian succeeds in long-term goal
By Linus Bossardt, @linearlinius
Senior Satenik Ayrapetyan is valedictorian for the 2025 graduating class, but she has con icting feelings about it.
“Being valedictorian is the culmination of four years of work and progress,” Ayrapetyan said. “And so being valedictorian is just the nal reward for spending so much time burying my nose in a book and ultimately, it feels like getting what I wanted after four years of working toward it.”
Ayrapetyan is a recipient of the Warren Christopher and Alexander Hamilton scholarships, Associated Student Body Secretary, Los Angeles Times High School Insider journalist, freelancer for the Los Angeles Daily News and The Pearl Post print editor-in-chief. After spend-
ing three years on the DPMHS Student Media sta , she has an approximate GPA of 4.3, placing her at rst in the 2025 class ranking along with senior Kristin Intal. She credits her success to her constant studying, whether that means missing out on school events or bringing study materials on vacation. At UCLA, she hopes to pursue dual majors of history and Russian studies to focus on her favorite subject and maintain the language she grew up with.
“I’m doing this mostly for fun because ultimately, I’m hoping to go to grad school and go to law,” Ayrapetyan said. “I’m hoping to do a lot of good through law making in being able to help others in the way lawyers have helped through my immigration
process from Russia.”
She regrets her persistent studying, however, and wishes she focused more on building friendships and relationships. She remembers bringing a prep book to an island on vacation because she wanted to maintain academic perfection. Throughout all of her high school career, Ayrapetyan turned down opportunities to forge new friendships, go to concerts and support her friends to focus on her studying.
“I don’t recommend
doing what I did in sacri cing any attempt at building relationships with your peers in favor of studying,” Ayrapetyan said. “I think it’s really important to have a balance of friendships and personal relationships as well as academic work.”
This summer, she plans to travel to San Francisco with her friends, go to Seattle for the Warren Christopher Scholarship and then relax in a lakehouse at the Great Lakes in Michigan.
LINUS BOSSARDT | THE PEARL POST
Senior Satenik Ayrapetyan reminisces on her high school years and what all of her hard work has built up to. She looks forward to a future at UCLA, majoring in history and Russian studies. “I sacri ced everything for this,” she said. “I skipped moments I could have supported my friends or hung out with friends to favor studying and going to class.”
Valedictorian refects on her academic achievements
By Jasmine ompson, @jasm1n3.brielle
Senior Kristin Intal was named valedictorian on Jan. 29, although the road to this success wasn’t easy.
“Both my parents were from the Philippines,” said Intal, The Pearl Post’s Visual Editor for the past two years.
“My mom and dad’s English skills were never that good, so I had to learn a lot of materials on my own.”
With both parents migrating to the United States with a limited understanding of English, she found some challenges in properly learning di erent materials.
Intal said.
“My family helped motivate me,” Intal said. “It was hard sometimes because their English skills were never so good. It was really hard to learn a lot of it on my own.”
Since she was 9, Intal has
studied karate and earned a black belt while in middle school. Though, some days she would have to choose between her extracurriculars and school work. She currently has a second-degree black belt. She has continued to pursue martial arts to keep busy outside of school.
“I’d have to skip out on some things I’d want to do,” Intal said. “I’d have to schedule whether I wanted to do something when I had to do things. If I missed the schedule or did something incorrectly I’d miss multiple assignments.”
However, throughout her high school years she focused primarily on her studies, causing a signi cant increase in di culties regarding the balance between social activities and academics.
“I try to give myself one day, or at least some time to myself, because if I keep going on low sleep every day,
On Jan. 29, senior Kristin Intal was con rmed to be one of two valedictorians of the Class of 2025. With a nal weighted GPA of 4.3, Intal has demonstrated hardwork and dedication throughout her high school years. She will be attending University of California San Diego and plans to major in biology.
there’s going to hit a point where it’s not worth it anymore,” Intal said.
Intal achieved a 4.3 (weighted) GPA by taking multiple advanced placement (AP) courses and honors classes throughout high school. For her high academic excellence she was named one of two valedictorians, Satenik Ayrapetyan being the other.
“My family helped motivate me,” Intal said. “It was hard sometimes, but they did motivate me a lot and that contributed to a lot of my success.”
In addition to her major academic dedication, Intal began to participate in various extracurriculars to expand her range of experiences and
possibly inspire her plans for the future. During her junior year, she began volunteering at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys to look at various careers within the medical eld, volunteering for four hours a week.
Intal plans to major in biology at the University of California San Diego and is exploring going down a premedical track.
“One piece of advice I’d give to students is to balance your academic and social life,” Intal said. “It feels tough to work consistently but it does get easier when you see a dedicated time for it. When I struggle to work, I keep in mind my motivations and what I need to do to work towards my goals.”
VANESSA MORALES | THE PEARL POST
Salutatorian Vanessa Morales refects on her academic triumphs during high school
By Tania Lopez, @tl.hhs
Thanks to the support of her family and peers, senior Vanessa Morales was named salutatorian for the Class of 2025 with a 4.2 GPA.
“I’m a rst-generation student,” Morales said. “Seeing the sacri ces that my family has made for me and their struggles has really motivated me to reach for bigger.”
She will attend Mount St. Mary’s University in the fall and major in nursing due to their abundance of resources and their direct entry nursing program. She’s excited to meeting new people with similar interests and being able to expand on something she’s passionate about.
“I’m looking forward to pursuing this nursing career that I’ve grown to be really passionate about,” Morales said. “I’m really excited to meet new people and to acquire the knowledge that I need to be successful in my future career that I have chosen to pursue.”
By the end of her senior year, Morales took eight Advanced Placement classes and
all honors classes available to her since the start of her freshman year.
“Put in the e ort, that’s all that it takes,” Morales said. “I think anybody can do it if they just put in the su cient amount of e ort. I know a lot of people here have potential and they don’t use it to the fullest just because they don’t care or they don’t think it matters. If you really put in your 100%, you can reach your full potential.”
In addition to being the features editor of The Pearl Post and a member of Los Angeles Uni ed School District’s (LAUSD) Chief Medical Directory Student Advisory Board this year, she currently volunteers at a library around two to four times a month
INTAL | THE
With a nal weighted GPA of 4.2, senior Vanessa Morales was o cially named salutatorian of the Class of 2025 on Jan. 29. Long a er the stressful season of college applications, Morales has nally decided to commit to Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) in Los Angeles and plans to major in nursing.
during book sales.
“Usually I go during book sales to help box books, put them back and display them to the public,” Morales said. “Sometimes I just show up to the library to organize books and put them back after people have brought them back.”
Morales also volunteers at Valley Presbytarian Hospital in Van Nuys every Sunday for four-hour shifts since the summer of her junior year. At the hospital, she organizes
supplies in the nursing unit and answers the call button patients have, assisting them in any ways that she can or otherwise contacting the nurses. Volunteering at the hospital has introduced her to a new environment and inspired her to go into the medical eld.
“The main reason that I decided I wanted to pursue a career in nursing was because I want to help people. When I started volunteering at the hospital, it made me realize that it’s a very stressful experience for the patients,” Morales said. “It has helped me realize what a big role nurses play in providing a sense of comfort and reassurance in such a stressful environment. It would be amazing to be able to provide all of those things to my community.”
KRISTIN
PEARL POST
University of Oregon
Emma Rosenberg
Collin College
Zion Waddell
Metropolitan Denver
Shelby Flores
UC Davis
Sophie Ortega
UC Berkeley
Isaac Herrera
UC Merced
Jennie Lopez
UC Santa Barbara
Jasmine McNair
UCLA
Satenik Ayrapetyan
UC Riverside
Giselle Garzon
UC Irvine
Behishta Sa
UC San Diego
Kristin Intal
CSU Long Beach
Aidan Lia
Keira Van Der Molen
CSU Los Angeles
Alheleah Perez
CSU Northridge
Taylor Martin
Ikra Arif
Andre Arcilla
Ravi Fuad
Vanessa Gonzalez
Benjamin Recinos
Genesis Cuellar-Figuroa
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Saman Sepehr
Mount Saint Mary’s University
Vanessa Morales
Alexa Garay
LA Trade Technical College
Gianna Armas Torres
Icon Collective
Jordan Viviano
Los Angeles Valley College
Diego Vera Suarez
Los Angeles Pierce College
Axel Aleman
Aidan Ly
Angelique Mendoza
Melanie Sims
Maksymilian Arbatskyi
Daniel Arevalo
Jacklyne Gomez
Karissa Aguilar
Army
Je erson Lopez
Gap year
Leeron Nakash
Kamila De Leon
Illustrated by Kristin Intal, @k.x3a
Seniors refect on their time on
Seniors on The Pearl Post and Prestige Yearbook share important insights on how
Photos by Sophie Ortega, @monophonicemoji
“It was such an honor to be able to contribute to yearbook and the publication. This opportunity allowed me to fnd my love for photography and learn new skills. I made wonderful bonds with my peers. It was exciting to compete in competitions, be recognized for my photography and spend time with staf. I will defnitely miss the late days and dedicating time to The Pearl Post.”
- Genesis Cuellar-Figueroa, Yearbook Editor
“During my time at The Pearl Post, I’ve learned how to grow not only as a writer but as a team leader. I’ve put myself out of my comfort zone and in return I’ve learned how to become confdent with my work. I’ve learned how it is to work with others. I’m very grateful to have been a part of The Pearl Post, since there is truly no other opportunity like this on campus.”
- Alexa Garay, Managing Editor
“My time on The Pearl Post was very crucial to improving my writing skills and getting me out of my comfort zone. Being on the publication has made me more confdent, creative and social. Working on the magazine is a collaborative experience that has improved my leadership skills.”
- Sophie Ortega, Opinion Editor
“Being a part of the Pearl Post staf has given me many opportunities and has helped me to improve my writing and communication skills. Through being on staf I have also made invaluable connections. Being on staf has helped me to feel more confdent and push myself more. I’m thankful for all the experiences I have gained.”
- Emma Rosenberg, Yearbook Editor
“I had a lot of fun and learned a lot by being on staf with the The Pearl Post. I learned to work better with others, be a better communicator and work more efciently. I also had a lot of fun with my fellow staf members. I enjoyed it and the memories I made on staf.”
- Benjamin Recinos, Staf Writer
“The Pearl Post remained the continuous highlight of my entire high school career. Without this stellar publication, I do not think I could have accomplished half of what I did. I sharpened my writing and leadership skills while also making connections I hope will last a lifetime. It was an amazing and rewarding experience and certainly the highlight of my teenage years.”
- Satenik Ayrapetyan, Print Editor-in-Chief
The DPMHS Student Media staf
being part of the sta has helped nuture their skills in writing and journalism.
“The Pearl Post was one of the things I wish I would have joined sooner. I have had many great laughs after school while working on the magazine and have gained many friends I never would have thought I would make. I have learned new things about myself and have competed in many competitions as well as gained new opportunities like internships or mentorships. Despite the stressful deadlines I would slack on, it really was a valuable time.”
- Aidan Lia, Sports Editor
“Being on this publication has really given me such a great space to utilize my skills and grow. I’ve learned how to manage my time better and improve my technical skills. I am truly so appreciative of the opportunities I’ve encountered being on staf. I feel as if I’ve truly gotten a great taste of working in a high-stress fast-paced environment and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
- Andre Arcilla, Digital Media Editor-in-Chief
“Being a part of The Pearl Post for two years helped me grow in many areas and encouraged me to do so much more than I would have imagined doing here at DPMHS. This includes interviews, writing articles, learning page design and winning awards at journalism competitions. A few years ago, I would have never dared to approach someone to ask a couple questions. My social and writing skills have improved throughout my two years on The Pearl Post and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
- Vanessa Morales, Features Editor
“During my time on the DPMHS student media, I have been able to share many experiences with others on staf. Writing stories has encouraged me to talk with many throughout the school. My time writing, taking photos and illustrating challenged my skills and brought me to new creative heights.”
- Kristin Intal, Visual Editor
“Being a part of yearbook staf has been a tremendous learning experience. It defnitely took time for me to adjust but I’m incredibly grateful for people I’ve met and the skills I’ve gained. I’ve grown by trying new things, learning to take initiative and manage my time. Though it is a bittersweet feeling to graduate, I’m thankful for every lesson learned that I’m able to take with me beyond high school.”
- Jasmine McNair, Yearbook Editor-in-Chief
A look at how the Class of 2025 spent its school year
ALEXA GARAY | THE PEARL POST
Seniors Deven Szymczak and Daniel Arevalo talk among themsleves at prom at e Odessey Resturant and Grill on May 24.
ANNA VIRABYAN | THE PEARL POST
Students from the Class of 2025 prepare to take their senior class panorama picture in their senior shirts in front of the MPR on April 30.
JASMINE THOMPSON | THE PEARL POST
Senior Jacklyne Gomez performs, “It Ain’t Me Babe” by Bob Dylan at the Spring Music Concert on May 1 in the MPR.
Seniors
KRISTIN INTAL | THE PEARL POST
Seniors Jesse Medrano and Saman Sepehr discuss the Wood Ranch menu during Senior Dinner on March 25. During this event seniors were able to celebrate their acomplishments throughout the school year.
BENJAMIN RECINOS | THE PEARL POST
Senior Maksymilian Arbatskyi admires a painting at the Huntington Museum on April 23 during a senior eld trip with English teacher Valerie Quiroga.
AIDAN LIA | THE PEARL POST
Seniors Zion Waddell and Jeremy Melendez wave sparklers during Senior Sunrise at Aug. 31. Senior Sunrise is one of many events planned for seniors to bond with one another before graduation.
EMMA ROSENBERG | THE PEARL POST
Genesis Cuellar-Figueroa and Leeron Nakash perform the song “Aqua de beber / Mas Que Nada” by Antonio Jobim, Astrid Gilberto and Sergio Mendes on May 1 at the Spring Music Concert in the MPR.
GENESIS CUELLAR-FIGAROA | THE PEARL POST
Senior Angela Mendoza swings back and forth at Lake Balboa Park during Senior Picnic on Oct. 8. Senior picnic is one of the many events organized by the Class of 2025.
KRISTIN INTAL | THE PEARL POST
Senior Diego Vera Suarez swims across the pool at Birmingham Community Charter High School on March 3. Members of the swim team practiced di erent swimming styles as they swam back and forth the pool lanes.
Senior athletes plan for future
By Silas Hinkle, Sabirna Salek-Hovatter, Emma Rosenburg, Kaleigh Tapaoan and Amelie Graves Photos by Aidan Lia and Brenden Rosenthal
As high school passes the nish line for these student athletes, many think of their future plans and re ect on their journeys. Some spent all four years playing the same sport, some switched around and some only started playing this year. Others overcame great hardship and injury, before returning to their sport.
But every athlete had a team behind them. During their time on the eld, the athletes made connections and forged bonds with their teammates. They also had the support of their families behind them to cheer them on in their ambition.
Since joining cross country and track and eld four years ago, senior Deven Szymczak says he has improved his running and social skills, making new friends through sports.
“It’s still a learning process but I could say it’s a step,” Szymczak said about how being a part of a sports team has improved his social skills.
Szymczak got into cross country when he was in ninth grade after choosing it for his sixth period. He runs for the Birmingham Charter Community High School varsity cross country and track and eld teams. In another interview by The Pearl Post published in Oct. 3, 2022, Szymczak said he started cross country because his parents wanted him to join since he was fast.
Szymczak has made many accomplishments in cross country over the years and improved a lot. In his last run, he ran a mile in ve minutes and eight seconds. His mile time as a freshman was around 12 seconds slower than that, according to him. He has considered the possibility of continuing his sports career into college.
“I’ve been able to connect with people, make new friends, and just see di erent places,” Szymczak said about his time on the cross country team.
Awrestler from age six, senior Karissa Aguilar persists through injury to spend a nal season on the mat.
Due to her experience in wrestling, Aguilar automatically made the varsity wrestling team for Birmingham Community Charter High School her junior year. Unfortunately, tragedy struck on Nov. 22, 2023 when she tore her ACL in a tournament. Due to the serious nature of the injury, Aguilar spent a large portion of her inaugural season at Birmingham on the bench.
“It was hard because your life—and nothing—is the same,” Aguilar said. “You go from doing everything, lifting however much you want, to having a knee brace and not being able to lift as much as you can.”
Aguilar’s decision to return to wrestling for her senior year was met with love and unwavering support from within her home. Aguilar’s parents, strong believers in empowerment through selfdefense, encouraged her to participate in combat sports from a young age.
“It’s something I love. I’ve done it since I was a little girl—why wouldn’t I want to go back? I tried to do everything I could to return to (wrestling) and not re-injure myself,” Aguilar said.
Deven Szymczak Cross Country
Karissa Aguilar Wrestling
After four years on the Birmingham Community Charter High School baseball team, senior Zion Waddell looks forward to the next steps of his baseball career.
“My favorite part of this season was probably my rst home run, which was at Birmingham, so that was a cool experience,” said Waddell, who plays center eld.
Although Waddell’s high school baseball journey is coming to a close, he plans to continue playing the sport after high school at The Complete Showcase, a one-year baseball program in Melissa, Texas. There, he will learn to strengthen and develop his skills as a baseball player. After nishing the program, Waddell hopes to get drafted to a team or transfer to a D1 school.
“The biggest thing I have learned at Birmingham was how to work with a team, compromising on what to do and how to listen and trust the people around me by putting faith that they have my best interest in mind.” Waddell said.
While Waddell will miss being a part of the Birmingham baseball team and the connections he has made with his teammates, he looks forward to being independent and moving away from home.
Athletes jump into action for the season, including senior Giselle Garzon Sampedro who took the chance to play lacrosse in her last year and enjoy it with friends.
“I think it was easier to get in because everyone else didn’t know each other and because I had Allison (her cousin), I was more comfortable. We got to nd a group with each other and practice. I’ve learned a lot about time management because of this,” Sampedro said.
Sampedro is a junior varsity athlete who plays on the Birmingham Community Charter High School girls lacrosse team as defense. Although she plays on junior varsity, she got the opportunity to play on varsity due to the season coming to a close in the spring. She enjoyed many things while being on the team, especially meeting new people and improving her skills. Sampedro hopes to play lacrosse in years to come even if it means tting it into a tight schedule.
“My favorite part about playing lacrosse is getting to meet the girls and building connections with them, especially after the game or winning a game,” Sampedro said. “The rst time winning a game was important because it showcased how we’ve improved from the beginning of the season.”
All of student athlete Allison Gonzalez’s senior year has been de ned by her involvement in her school’s lacrosse team.
She began with a desire to play a sport with friends and since then, Gonzalez has grown greatly both as a player and a person. The world of high school sports is ever changing, a concept that Gonzalez is very familiar with due to shifting back and forth between the varsity and JV levels. She spoke extensively about the importance of con dence both on and o the eld.
“I think it really just depends on your con dence levels,” Gonzalez said. “That’s what our coach kind of believes in.” Collaboration between the varsity and JV teams is commonplace, with the JV team often coming to play in the varsity games or cheering on from the sidelines.
O the eld, Gonzalez values the importance of communication. She feels that positive relationships between the members of a team are essential in attaining success. That focusing on people skills underscores the important life lessons acquired with participation in team sports.
“I believe the most important thing that I’ve learned is surely communication,” Gonzalez said. “Communication between friends and teammates.”
Zion Waddell Baseball
Giselle Garzon Sampedro Lacrosse
Allison Gonzalez Lacrosse
ANDREW PULIDO | THE PEARL POST
Junior Abraam Grigorian wears a sweatshirt from his prospective college, Moorpark College on May 20. Grigorian is one of two juniors graduating and heading to college a year early.
ANDREW PULIDO | THE PEARL POST
Junior Jordan Viviano in front of his preferred music editing so ware May 20. Viviano is one of two juniors graduating early and he plans to attend Icon Collective, a college dedicated to electronic music production.
2 juniors graduate school 1 year early
By Guadalupe Martinez
Juniors Jordan Viviano and Abraam Grigorian have taken a big step and decided to walk the stage a year early. They are now a part of the Class of 2025.
“I have felt like I’ve been kinda done with school for a while,” said Viviano, who has been considering early graduation since the end of his freshman year. “I know where I want to go to college. I already have many plans, branching paths planned for wlife to go.”
This isn’t the rst time students have graduated early at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School. In 2019 twins graduated a year early and three other students did the same with the class of 2020.
Viviano had already had his heart set on going to
Icon Collective, a specialized college for electronic music production. He wants to use the knowledge he gains to continue building his record label, pursue freelance video editing, 3D modeling and even visual e ects. Graduating early o ers him the opportunity to pursue his passions and reclaim lost time.
“I was born in Massachusetts and I was also born in September and over there if you’re born in September then you get held back an entire year,” he said. “So I’m supposed to be a senior right now anyways.”
Viviano has been working on his passion from a young age. He has been video editing since the age of 9 and making since the age
of 15. To graduate early, he took extra classes including English 101, political science and is currently enrolled in an economics class. Despite classes sometimes clashing with his schedule, he didn’t have many di culties having to balance school work and college work.
Grigorian, on the other hand, made his decision later, during the end of his rst semester in junior year. He wanted to save time and get a head start with college. Over winter, he took the time to take the required courses such as government, economics, and English classes to be able to graduate during his junior year.
“Just working hard for one month saved me a whole year of school,” Grigorian said.
They both have di erent paths after graduation: Viviano plans to take a gap year and Grigorian looks forward to becoming a real estate agent and later attending the UCLA School of Law. They both graduated early all thanks to Academic Counselor Martina Torres’s guidance and support.
“The second they stared talking to me about the idea about graduating early, I set up a meeting with them and a parent and set up pros and cons,” Torres said. “I worked with them making sure they were taking on the right courses. I think for some students it’s a great opportunity for them to start moving forward with their post secondary plans.”
Students flmmakers win grand prize in Sora School Stars competition
By Isabella Tolosa @isabellaa.solange
When advanced video production students found out their short lm won the grand prize at the Sora School Stars Competition, they were thrilled.
“I was happy that my hard work was noticed and everyone’s e orts were as well,” said senior Jacklyne Gomez, who was one of the directors of the short lm. “It was a happy moment for all of us.”
In collaboration with Librarian Alain Cruz, students in the period 1 advanced video production class created a six minute long lm parodying “The O ce” to promote Sora. Sora is a digital library with a collection of literature, comics and magazines that students have access to via their Chromebooks.
“It was really Mr. Cruz (who) was the inspiration to join the competition,” said Tennesse Norton, the video production teacher who mentored the student lmmakers. “He found out about the contest through other librarians and he presented the idea to us and advanced video production chose to do it as one of their nal projects.”
The competition held ve di erent Sora-related contests, with the students competing in student-made submissions. That contest included included any promotional material for Sora, whether it be a song, video or a presentation.
“It was really all the ad-
vanced student class,” Norton said. “They wanted to do something that was a parody, and they chose the o ce to parody. And then Jackie was like, ‘I have a gorilla costume.’
And once they had the gorilla costume, the rest of it just kind of fell under the place.”
Their short lm titled “The Library” follows senior Jesse Medrano playing himself as he warns people of a gorilla going around and replacing the books with
iPads. In “The Library,” the cast all play exaggerated versions of themselves. The lm then wraps up with Cruz addressing the viewers directly as he advertises the many uses of Sora. That lm then went on to win both their category and then the contest-wide grand prize. They received $3,000 credit in Sora. With this credit, Norton and Cruz will use it to purchase new books, graphic novels, audio books and comics that students and sta
might be interested in. The collection will also be added to the digital library.
“Last year, we had Sora in the district already but I was still kind of new to it and not many students knew about it because I wasn’t really promoting it as much,” Cruz said. “So I really wanted to nd a way to promote Sora. I thought to myself, ‘what if the library collaborated with the video program to create something fun, to promote Sora? So I teamed up with them and we also learned that Sora has a competition and we thought what if we did both, promote Sora and maybe submit to the competition as well.”
ALEX SALCEDO | THE PEARL POST
ALEX SALCEDO | THE PEARL POST
Seniors Vanessa Gonzalez, Daniel Arevalo and Jacklyne Gomez lm a take for a short lm in the Sora School stars competition. In Sora School Stars, students competed to lm the best advertisement for Sora, a digital library application free to students at the school and across Los Angeles Uni ed School District.
In light of the possible closure of the Department of Education (DOE) by President Trump, schools across the country
a
cuts would a ect programs that provide nancial assistance to students, enforce racial equality, fund special education and contibute about $8 billion of general funding. Resources currently available to students who depend on these programs could quickly disintegrate, forcing many students to look for alternatives to public guidance.
Effect of Trump’s Department of Education policies on schools
By Benjamin Recinos
Disheartened by President Donald J. Trump’s proposal to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) and slash educational funding, senior Keira Van Der Molen laments for her teachers.
“I think it’s a real insult to teachers who work every day to provide a good experience for students,” Van Der Molen said. “They’re the ones teaching the students and working hard and some of them are even using their own money to buy materials that students can’t a ord. It’s basically saying that they’re not important, which is an insult and, of course, not true.”
On March 20, Trump signed an executive order to begin downsizing and dismantling the DOE in a bid to “return education authority to
the states.” The DOE is responsible for the oversight of many programs such as student loans and grants, funding for public schools and ensuring equal access to education while preventing discrimination. The executive order seeks to “greatly minimize the agency” with plans to terminate over half of its employees.
As a result of this executive order and the downsizing that has already begun, many students are left unsure about their nancial aid and their ability to access higher education due to the relinquishing of many grants and scholarships. For example, Harvard University faced over $2 billion of federal funding being frozen with another $450 million being cut, most of which was allocated for
students.
In addition to private institutions, state universities are also being a ected by these cuts, causing students such as senior Jesse Medrano, who will attend California State University Northridge, to worry.
“(Trump) got rid of a good amount of scholarships that I would have applied for and that really hurt my chances,” Medrano said. “It’s really made it more di cult for me to be able to get nancial aid. Not only that, but tuition will always get higher and higher every year with less options to circumvent it.”
A key aspect of the DOE is the handling of federal student aid and loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. Although
FAFSA funds are reimbursed and given through the DOE, it will not be eliminated. Instead, it will be transferred to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA is designated to assist current and prospective small business owners . However, many questions arise such as privacy concerns and errors occurring due to the small size of the SBA. As a result, critics say this process could be cumbersome and may negatively a ect many applicants.
“As long as this doesn’t a ect students getting grants and scholarships, I don’t think I have any problem with it,” senior Saman Sepehr said. “It’s gonna make a problem for students though because they’re used to this kind of system, but it has to be managed good.”
KRISTIN INTAL | THE PEARL POST
face
massive cut to federal funding. Such
The consequences of the executive order to dismantle the DOE not only put individual students at risk, but entire schools and districts as well. Daniel Pearl Magnet High School is a Title I school. This means that extra funding is allocated to these schools due to a high amount of low-income students. Though Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has stated Title I funding will be “preserved,” many experts believe that, due to large job reallocations and position removals, the future of Title I remains undetermined. The National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) is one aspect of the DOE that helps to assist Title I schools and almost all of its sta has been laid o or
placed on leave. However, it remains unclear how this will a ect Daniel Pearl Magnet High School due to the school’s Title 1 status and small size. Local district superintendent Dr. David Baca did not respond when reached out for comment.
“The key issue is that—as things stand now—the data needed to drive the next round of Title I and grants to schools and grants to other programs isn’t going to happen as a result of the cuts to NCES sta and contracts,” said a former NCES employee who asked to remain anonymous in an interview with NPR.
As a result of the executive order, the DOE’s Bureau for Civil Rights is also slated to be gutted. The bureau is meant to
prevent discrimination on the basis of disabilities, race and gender. In addition, 90% of U.S. students and 95% of students with disabilities learn in public schools that bene t from the DOE. With these possible eliminations, many are now worried about the broader consequences toward equitable schools.
“It scares me that we attack or that we threaten systems in place to help our students,” math teacher Gonçalo Sousa said. “Public education needs to function as a social elevator. If we are cutting or gutting funding and resources, we are only hurting the most vulnerable. We are hurting rst and foremost, the most vulnerable.”
However, a Boston federal
judge ruled on May 22 that dismantling the DOE in its entirety can be blocked. This order has temporarily paused the downsizing and elimination of the DOE. As a result, mass layo s have been tentatively stopped, although the Trump administration will be attempting to challenge the decision.
“I think it’s something that needs to be done,” English teacher Valerie Quiroga said. “I don’t think that a president or anyone in power, especially in a democratic country, should be making choices like this without getting the proper votes. I think oftentimes people don’t realize how much we need these kinds of programs until they are taken from us and their own children.”
e DOE funds multiple programs like Title I, Title III, Title VI and special education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
is funding provides students with the resources necessary to grow and learn, such as providing nancial assistance, introducing English learning classes and ensuring that there is equality across race. Without the DOE, this funding may be cut, reducing the oppurtunities that disadvantaged students have to support their learning experiences.
LINUS BOSSARDT | THE PEARL POST
(IDEA).
Editorial
Refecting on a successful year
This year, The Pearl Post
sta overcame challenges and spontaneity with dedication and rigor. We are endlessly proud of our team’s amazing work ethic and dedication to journalism.
During the school year, there were many instances of sudden, urgent news that required immediate coverage. Despite many of our sta being rst-years, they were up to the challenge and worked tirelessly to do their part as reporters and ensure news coverage was being done in a timely and accurate manner. We also commend how resourceful they were: during the LA res in January, reporters organised digital interviews with students.
Although we intended to utilize Slack, we do not believe that we fully realized our goal.
We hope in the coming
year that communication improves. Fortunately, the ever-present issue of being
split into two periods will be done away with, which we hope will improve things.
That said, our other goals were wonderfully met. Not only did we meet the accomplishments of last year’s sta , we surpassed them. This year, almost all of our sta received at least one Best of SNO award. We also placed highly in the NSPA Clips & Clicks competition. We swept during competitions, large and small.
We also attended both the fall and spring NSPA National High School Journalism Conventions. During the former, we submitted our second-ever special issue, focused entirely on the election. We placed third in nationals in Best of Show for small schools in newsmagazine and placed tenth in Best of Show for small
schools in news website at the spring convention.
Best of all, we were nalists for an Online Pacemaker award for our news website. This was a great source of pride for us and we remain deeply grateful that we had such an opportunity.
Although this year is almost over, our work is not. We spent the last few weeks of school working tirelessly to complete our fth magazine of the year. During this time, many rst-years are acclimating to using Adobe products as they prepare for their roles as editors in the coming year.
We are grateful for such an amazing sta and year. We are deeply excited to see what next year will bring.
ADRIANA CHAVIRA | THE PEARL POST Print and Online Editor-in-Chiefs Satenik Ayrapetyan and Jenny Marquez hold up some of the awards their sta achieved, including a pacemaker nalist award from April.
ADRIANA CHAVIRA | THE PEARL POST
Daniel Pearl Magnet High School Student Media take a group photo together. oughout the year, the sta earned many awards, both individual and as a group, while also covering breaking news and timely topics.
Due to the recent Los Angeles
Music helps students focus
By Diana Azatyan
Teachers, the principal and sta members across the district have an issue with their students listening to music in class. They believe that it essentially hurts their education and lessens their ability to work.
As someone who listens to music while doing work, I believe that listening to music with headphones or even out loud promotes a better work environment and increases focus. The phone ban that is taking place throughout LAUSD schools makes it even harder for students to listen to music, hence the lack of focus and increase in distractions. It is frustrating that some teachers don’t allow their kids to listen to music while working on homework or assignments in
class.
According to Northeastern Global News from Northeastern University, almost 80% of adults have music playing while they work. They have expressed that it helps improve their level of focus and motivation, according to Healthline. People with diagnosed ADHD or not have reported that they get very easily distracted or hyperactive and listening to music helps to reduce that.
Listening to music activates both the left and right side of the brain. This can improve the level of concentration and help with memory, according to Dr. Masha Godkin
also requires concentration to be able to get things like chores done quicker.
I understand why parents, teachers and sta wouldn’t want their kids/workers to be listening to music while working. It could be distracting and some people take advantage of it. They do other things like Facetime or call people, watch shows or text others.
from National University. This can both help kids in school and outside of school. Being able to retain information helps with keeping your grades up and getting better at your job, which some students may have. Doing work around the house
Multitasking, having the ability to listen to something and work is a skill that can be learned from having that hands-on experience. After reading and taking in this information, I hope that teachers, parents and others see the good that comes out of listening to music.
LOUISE GAGUET | THE PEARL POST
Uni ed District phone ban, students have struggled to focus on their classwork without listening to music, which can help with focusing.
Grilled Korean meat with a side of pinball Restaurant Review
By Sabrina Salek-Hovatter
Two weeks back, I stumbled upon a hidden gem in Van Nuys: AYCE Gogi, a unique blend of Korean barbeque and pinball.
Located in a Van nuys strip mall, AYCE Gogi’s parking lot was accessible and fairly empty. After ordering the All-You-Can-Eat platter for $30.90, my father and I faced the only dilemma of the evening: which six of the 28 meats (variants of beef, chicken, pork, seafood) that came with our meal package would we choose? After a long discussion, our party settled on basil chicken, bulgogi, top sirloin,
apple pork, shrimp and kimchi sausage. AYCE Gogi is known for its fried rice and vegetable gyoza, but the menu is nearly endless. When it came to beverages, we were served a re llable raspberry iced tea for $3.90, alongside a variety of classic sodas, teas and energy drinks.
In keeping with current times, this restaurant serves a vegetarian alternative of fried cauli ower in its premium appetizer section. It’s clear that an abundance of thought went into AYCE Gogi’s menu, from the tangy blend of sauce and fermented herbs in the
Korean miso soup to the wafts of avor that tug you towards the spicy garlic noodles.
After the morsels of meat settled themselves, we made our way into the back room. A giant screen broadcasted the current game leaderboard, fostering healthy competition and aspiration between players. My favorite part of the evening would have to be the pinball machines; each game had a di erent pop-culture
in uenced theme. My favorite would have to be “Jurassic Park” but “The Godfather” and “Labyrinth” were close seconds. Pinball brought an immersive, modern edge to my family’s dining experience.
In the San Fernando Valley, quality Korean dining— not to mention pinball—is a rarity. AYCE Gogi pricing and hours of family fun.
More Than Waffes: Waffe lover’s dream breakfast destination
By Nadia Buer
With the sun beaming down onto the patio, lovely servers enthusiastically taking orders and lling portions, More Than Wa es is forever my number one choice.
Over spring break, I declared that it was a must to visit my beloved breakfast and brunch spot nestled in the Encino Town Center in Los Angeles: More Than Wa es.
The lovely couple operating this cozy restaurant is Ika and Greg Taft. Although this restaurant has been the
neighborhood favorite since 1975, Ika and Greg Taft purchased the restaurant in 1998 from the previous owner, Joe Levo .
All recipes are made from scratch (and with love), ingredients are always fresh and their dishes are delicious. Most entrees fall in the $13–18 range, with wa es starting around $12. I ordered the Nutella Wa e topped with fresh-cut strawberries, bananas and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. It was crisp on the outside, soft and u y
on the inside and the wa e absorbed all of the vanilla ice cream, making it even more scrumptious.
This place is perfect as a cozy spot to spend time with friends or if you are in search of a classic breakfast.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SABRINA SALEK-HOVATTER
e pinball room in back of All You Can Eat Gogi Korean Barbeque displays various retro themed pinball machines including Jurassic Park, Jaws and Godzilla.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NADIA BUER
More an Wa es o ers a variety of breakfast items for customers to enjoy such as the Nutella Wa e topped with vanilla ice cream and Blueberry pancakes.
Stay cool this summer with these 4 upcoming blockbusters
By Valerie Sanchez, @myjeonginnie and Cecia Herrera
As the summer heat begins to rise, the movie theater is the dream place for relaxation. New movies from genres such as actionadventure, live-action and sci- are being released this summer. Beat the heat with the thrill these lms bring.
“How
to Train Your Dragon”
“How to Train Your Dragon” is a live-action remake of the DreamWorks animation of the same title and will be released on June 13. The movie takes place in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock iii, played by Mason Thames, is a Teenage Viking who lives on the Isle of Berk, where ghting dragons is a tradition. This action-packed movie is perfect for fans of the original animated tetralogy.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a movie that will release on July 25. The rating has not been said yet, but fans are anticipating its release. The movie is about the Marvel cinematic team, the Fantastic Four, as they defend Earth from villains Galactus and Silver Surfer. It also dives deep into the team’s family dynamic throughout triumphs and fallouts, such as Sue Storm being pregnant. The lm’s setting is to be in the 1960s and will have a vintage aesthetic.
“F1
The Movie”
“F1” is a rated PG-13 movie that will be released on June 27. This movie focuses on Sonny Haye’s, who is played by Brad Pitt, struggles with a car accident that occurred while he was racing on the track that nearly cost him his career. As time passed, an upcoming Formula 1 team reached out to Haye about mentoring the team and its young hotshot driver, Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris. This movie is a must-watch for sports racing enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy the adrenaline rush.
“Elio”
“Elio” is a rated PG movie and will be released on June 20. In the lm, 11-year-old Elio gets abducted by aliens Glordon and Lord Grigon and travels across the galaxies after being deemed an “outcast” on Earth. He then gets mistaken for Earth’s agent by other aliens. Elio befriends eccentric aliens and discovers who he truly is after having a hard time accepting who is. This then dives into the movie’s theme, nding one’s true self and accepting who you are as a person.
PHOTOS BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES, WARNER BROS AND DISNEY PIXAR
Summer.
Photo Essay: Glamorously masked
Behind the photos
Students and sta attended this year’s junior/ senior “Masquerade Ball” themed prom held at the Odyssey Restaurant & Events on May 24. The event included a dance oor with a live DJ, a photo booth and the crowning of the prom court for attendees to enjoy.
Prom king Isaac Herrera dances with prom queen Genesis Cuellar-Figuroa on May 24. Senior Benjamin Recinos takes a sel e with junior Mose Judge-Glasscock and Notre Dame High School junior Kaylin Yee on May 24. Junior Mirolla Abdelmasih and senior Leeron Nakash share a hug at prom on May 24. Seniors Angela Mendoza, Angelique Mendoza and Melanie Sims spend times taking photos together at prom on May 24.
BENJAMIN RECINOS AND KRISTIN INTAL | THE PEARL POST
