10 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Feature
AbilityFirst
No, South Pasadena High School sophomores aren’t saving the world, but with the time and effort they put into this second-semester Honors World History project, it certainly seems like they might be attempting to do so. The project is infamous for being extremely difficult and time-consuming. Students every year select an unresolved world issue to address, dedicate hands-on hours at one or two related organizations, and put together a hefty portfolio recording their efforts. This year, a majority of the groups worked with disabled or disadvantaged youth at places such as AbilityFirst, HOLA, and the Boys and Girls Club.
Sophomore Sonny An hands a cup of water to a participant during the 5K Santa Anita Derby Dance.
Boys and Girls Club
AbilityFirst is a Southern-California-based organization that provides services for children and adults with disabilities. They operate housing units and offer employment, recreational, and socialization services.
The Boys and Girls Club of America is a national organization that is dedicated to aiding disadvantaged children. It is an after-school and summer program that provides kids with a fun place to play and hone their skills.
“I love volunteering at AbilityFirst. It never ceases to amaze me how people would be thinking that I am the one helping these people when I feel that the opposite is true—these individuals are the ones who are helping me.” - Andrea Rogando, AbilityFirst
“It was a satisfying experience at AbilityFirst for me – I felt that they had a greater impact on me than I did on them. Volunteering at AbilityFirst opened my eyes to look beyond their disabilities and focus on their capabilities.” - Sonny An, AbilityFirst
Sonny An
“The disadvantaged children are just in a bad area and even though they have to live with all these problems, they still act like kids. They play, they laugh, they’re always optimistic, and they don’t really dwell on their problems.” - Angela Zhao, Heart of Los Angeles
HOLA Heart of Los Angeles, or HOLA, is an L.A.-based organization that works with inner-city children. These kids are given the opportunity to participate in after-school arts, academic, and atheletic programs to develop their poten-
Rachael Garner
Sophomore Kea Hudson shows off her hands after fingerpainting with the financially-disadvantaged kids at HOLA.
“It is an endless attempt to connect history to real life. It’s about connecting the past to the present. Most students this year volunteered at youth organizations like HOLA, Ability First, and Mach 1. Dealing with a different group of people can really change their views on [disadvantaged] youth.” - Mr. Sean Regan, Honors World History Teacher Reporting by Madison Amido, Marcy Kuo, Rhian Moore, and Erin Chan
Personality Profile: Dan Qi By Libby Rainey Editor-In-Chief In the everyday flood of orange admits and tardy slips attendance clerk Ms Ruth Carlson encounters, the names and identities of SPHS students rarely stand out. Dan Qi is the exception. “Most years, I have at least fifty absences a semester,” said Qi, whom Carlson can now recognize from his handwriting alone. The senior doesn’t always show up to class, but when he does, fellow students take notice. “Dan is really into spontaneous acts of kindness, especially bringing baked goods to our Econ class,” said senior Katherine Morales. “One time, he brought us donuts and another time he brought boxes of sponge cake. He likes doing things just to make people happy; it’s really sweet.” Random generosity and a Senior big, excited smile are trademarks of Qi’s quirky personality. When not passing out treats at random and actually pinned down to a desk, Qi proves to be a natural learner and an intelligent student.
Typical
Mayla, the pets live in a huge cage in Qi’s room. He drove for over five hours with his sister to purchase Mayla, who routinely bites anyone who touches her. Despite the chinchilla’s temperamental disposition, Qi hopes to take both of his pets to Santa Barbara when he moves off campus in his sophomore year. Chinchillas are messy animals, and Qi cleans his entire room every week to keep their cage manageable. When not consumed with chinchilla maintenance, he spends his free time singing, sleeping and eating. He loves ballads, and his favorite singer is Christina Aguilera. On the weekends, he typically sleeps until two in the afternoon, and stays up late into the night talking with friends and listening to his favorite songs. Qi hopes to continue with his irregular sleeping patterns in college, and also plans Jennifer Kim to join a choir to more actively Dan Qi shows off his pet chinchilla, Mayla. pursue his love of music. One thing’s for sure: his warm perthe switch from living in South Pasadena sonality will make Qi popular quickly deto dorm life isn’t the cramped space or find- spite a new environment, especially if he ing a roommate; it’s finding a new home continues his inclination to share sugary for his two chinchillas. Named Amber and sweets with strangers. His academic success gained him admission to UC Santa Barbara, where he plans to study actuarial science next fall. “I chose UCSB for its genuine college life,” said Qi. Qi’s main concern about making
By Daniel Willardson
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Han releases mixtape online By Jackson Atwater Staff Writer Senior Yihai Han recently released his mixtape, The Nomination of C.I.C., with seven original hip-hop tracks that feature several other rappers. The Nomination of C.I.C. is Han’s first released musical work. It has over 300 streams from listeners online, and has received decidedly mixed reactions from students. The tape does not exemplify any particular rap or muscial style, and is instead based on Han’s own unique mixture. “I have artists that I like, but I don’t want to copy them and be fake. I want to make my own stuff, not just take other people’s,” said Han. “This was one of the best mixtapes I’ve heard. Pro rappers have some competition with Yihai’s clever lyrics,” said senior Brandin Sato. Han continues to publicize his mixtape on Facebook and Twitter, and through word-of-mouth. “I believe he has broken the stereotype that Asians can’t rap with this groundbreaking release,” said senior Bryce Cheng. Senior Harry Yadav, junior Christian Christmas, and SPHS alumni Allison Doolittle and Kris Bonk are all featured on different tracks of the mixtape under various stage names. The mixtape has received over 2200 views on soundcloud.com and datpiff.com, where it is available to stream and download.
The Nomination of C.I.C. Track List 1. Intro 2. First Time (prod. Blake) 3. OG Private Reserved (feat. TheSkiwalker) 4. Four-Twenty (feat. Scooby_doobieee)
5. So Cal 6. The Uprise 7. Bomb (feat. Scooby_doobieee) 8. One Day (feat. Allison Doolittle) /available on Datpiff.com