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SPHS will begin to conduct their end-of-year finals starting on Friday, May 26.
The Class of 2023 at SPHS will have their graduation ceremony at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
Seniors at SPHS will attend the annual Grad Nite at California Adventures on Sunday, June 4.
PHOTOS
The SPHS Dance Program took the stage for their Spring Dance Concert,“Dancing
Through the Decades,” on Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20. Students from Dance I, II, and III performed a variety of genres, from ballet to K-pop. The concert explored different dance styles from the 1920s all the way to the modern 2000s. Each decade hosted an introduction video to the genre with performances dedicated to the time.
“I think this concert was one for every [type] of audience,” said Dance II junior Lola Sekon. “People from older generations got to see [names] that they grew up with, and to see that through a future generation - our generation - was probably really [empowering].”
Beginning with the 1920s, in The Jazz Age, Advanced Dance showed out with a performance of “Time Warp,” followed by “Flip n’ Flap” from Dance II. Select dancers premiered freshman Phoebe Ho’s choreography of “Ballet to Modern” before the SPHS Guard, led by senior captains Victoria Crow and Lizzy Chan, performed “1920s Twirl.”
The Swing Age of the 1930s kicked off with a tantalizing performance of Murder Mystery, choreographed by senior captain George Hong Sheng. Maya Johnson performed a selfchoreographed solo on the song “Dream a Little Dream.”
The 1950s called for Rockin’ and Boppin’, which began with an enthusiastic performance of “Rock Around the Clock.” SPHS Dance captains Stephanie Law and Hong Sheng performed a romantic duet in “The Way You Look Tonight,” transitioning into the somber solo of a housekeeper in Rebecca Rivera’s “Closing Shift.”
Tiger addresses the contrasts in AsianAmerican communities between the rich and the poor and how these differences perpetuate the model minority myth.
The 1960s — the period of Twist and Shout — kicked off with a Dance II rendition of Milieu. Law, Hong Shen, Lia Borja, and Taylor Jo-Gibson became real-life caricatures of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover in a performance of “The Beatles.”
After intermission, an electric performance of “Disco!” brought the audience into the Disco Fever of the 1970s. “You Should Be Dancing” and “Retro Ride” featured the same hippie style of the 70s.
As a part of the 1980s rock era, Indie Pangelinan, Maggie Vyas, and Quin Solanski performed “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” — a throwback trio featuring the pillowfighting of the classic teenage sleepover.
For the age of pop in the 1990s, guest choreographer Marc Miranda was introduced for “Goin’ on Y2K,” which featured a combination of dancers from all levels performing to a mix of 90s and 2000s music. In the new age of the 2000s, a combination of songs from K-pop group Twice were used in the medley, “Time to Twice,” as the dancers sampled choreography from the famous girl group. As part of the closing performance, the dancers yelled out encouragement for the audience to join in.
The four senior captains and co-captains — Law, Hong Sheng, Jo-Gibson, and Borja — have made significant contributions to the dance team and will be missed. Dance looks forward to continuing its legacy at SPHS in the 2023-2024 school year.
“All our captains are seniors, they were like the four elements of dance,” Dance III junior Sharon Cho reflected. “Seeing them leave is really sad, but I have hopes that next year’s captains will make history again.”
Tiger reviews pho locations in the Greater Los Angeles area and celebrates the end of the year over Vietnam’s acclaimed soup.
Tiger covers the successes and accomplishments of a record-breaking season for both the boys and girls of the SPHS swimming team.
For years, the Stanford-affiliated nonprofit Challenge Success has been used at SPHS as a tool to, “Transform educational systems to value each student for their unique identities, assets, and individual definitions of success” according to their official website.
Starting in 2003 as a research project from the Stanford Graduate School of Education, the program is now partnered with over 720 schools. Now, SPHS is moving on, officially cutting its contract with the program for upcoming school years.
The program’s cost of around $25,000 per school year is one of the reasons behind the decision to leave behind Challenge Success, SPHS Principal John Eldred announced during a faculty briefing meeting.
“Is it wise to hold on to a program…that only a handful of teachers are sharing with their students? And really only a handful of parents in the community were utilizing it as well,” Eldred said. “We were putting on workshops, we were taking people to conferences, and we couldn’t get a lot of buy-in.”
The faculty member serving as a liaison between SPHS and Challenge Success also stepped away after initiating the program on campus. Principal Janet Anderson took over, but then the global pandemic hit. Distance learning slowed, hindered, and prevented once-streamlined efforts to uplift student mental health.
“I sensed, coming in that first year after covid, that the staff had other priorities. The staff was really focused on, as was I, really the mental and emotional health of students on campus. And that’s why we ended up putting together the wellness center… to assist students,” Eldred explained.
But still, SPHS stuck with Challenge Success, and administration worked to get more community involvement. But it soon became clear that although
many at SPHS agree with the basic tenets of the program, it was not particularly effective.
A small group of administrators, students, and parents attended monthly meetings to raise concerns and ideas regarding student wellbeing. With Challenge Success, the school scheduled and put together several workshops, conferences, and activities for members of the SPHS community to attend.
“This year, we tried to kick it off differently. We had a student group that was involved …. and we had regularly scheduled meetings. The problem was that as the year went on [the students] got busier and busier and busier until they couldn’t participate in Challenge Success,
which is kind of funny, isn’t it? Their plate was so full that they couldn’t be in Challenge Success, and Challenge Success is all about not having a full plate,” Eldred said. With Challenge Success out of SPHS, teachers and faculty that supported the program plan to continue on with the lessons the program taught as well as their personal strives to give students confidence, character, and individual success.
“I think that even though Challenge Success is ending as a program [at SPHS], we are not abandoning the notions and ideas in Challenge Success,” an anonymous teacher at SPHS said.
After numerous years at SPHS, administration has officially cut ties with the Stanford-affiliated program Challenge Success.
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CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021
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CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016
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CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011
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The past decade has introduced a version of Asian representation in mainstream media that has never been accurately portrayed before. Asians and Asian Americans are finally getting real recognition after centuries of neglect, setting a new standard for holding exploited stories accountable. But even so, twisted perceptions of Asian wealth and an undiscussed history of Western classism prevents the less-affluent portion of the community from overcoming the trauma of silent grief and rage that is so familiar to Asian America.
What minimal “activism” that has risen since the spike in Asian hate crimes in 2021 is often vague and insensitive to the variety of Asian experiences. Liberal narratives reverberate the phrase “generational trauma” without addressing how diverse generational trauma actually is, specifically regarding wealth, class, and the lives of non-immigrants. Assimilating to Westernism is a familytriggered, back-and-forth battle that second, third, fourth, and so on generations are constantly faced with in deceitful ways. In fact, the pattern of resenting one’s own heritage begins as a resentment of one’s own home.
The looseness that is all too common in Asian American families is a burden that does not harmonize with Western standards of “healthy family dynamics” and therapy. There is a stigma of “leaving things unsaid” which is what perpetuates the unhealthy cycle of rage and emotional unavailability that keeps plaguing younger Asian Americans.
It is no question that the reason this defines so much of the experience is because of how America has perceived Asian people, and thus, how Asian people have been pushed into behaving. The media only just began to talk about the discrepancy in Asian American wealth perception and how it has fluctuated over the past century. International politics around the Silent Generation, notably the proxy wars of Vietnam and Korea, created the Asian caricature as poor, communist, and in need of a Western savior. However, this changed as the country’s intentions with Asia changed, enabling the effects of the model minority myth.
Believing that all Asians are rich, successful, and as adjacent to white people as possible is a belief that has become a standard within Asian American communities themselves. There is some truth here; Asian Americans have integrated into wealthier, historically white suburbs more so over time. As of 2019, the average household income for Asian American families resided in the middle and upper-middle classes. Still, this does not account for the fact that Asians have the largest wealth gap out of all the racial groups in the country. The amount of Asian Americans living in poverty is too often ignored, which is just another way America ignores the community’s struggles.
Within this pattern of neglect, Asian Americans have commonly adopted the behavior of letting conflict build up in silence. Western methods of addressing emotional trauma, like grief, rage, or abuse, are generally more accessible to people who have the money for therapy, or the money to think about therapy. As for Asian-specific race trauma, these methods are not only an accessibility issue, but are typically only accepted by the richer and more Westernized portion of the Asian American community.
This puts newer generations of less-affluent Asian people in an interesting position where the cycle is recognized but seemingly immoveable. There is still a responsibility to comply with the expectations of heritage, even if it is exhausting. Nonetheless, heritage must not be confused as one type of tangible thing; every part of an upbringing has meaning, it is just our task to interpret it.
In light of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, empowering the Asian community means appreciating the multiplicity of Asian stories, especially the ones that go forgotten. Despite the aggressiveness of all types of generational trauma, valuing heritage and customs does not always have to be toxic. Whatever likeliness that exists towards certain behaviors was created by a classist, racist America, not our own. Grief does not have to be unspoken, rage does not have to be pent up. The toxic parts of Asian American culture do not necessarily have to be definitive of who we are. Pursuing healing is still possible, but it must come from a want to heal, a want to understand, and a consciousness for Asian resilience.
BOO to the Queen. Really killed my vibe :( BOO to Rex Orange County. Sex offender, is that what I’m supposed to be?
BOO to people who argue on the phone. At least put it on speakerphone so I can know whose side I’m on BOOto the periodic table. None of it is periodical. #giveusabreak
BOO to people who use laughing emojis instead of crying ones and skulls. What are you? Mentally stable?
BOO to Discord. Yes, I’m talking to you, Jayden
BRAVO to AP Stats. I am two standard deviations away from a breakdown
BRAVO to gaslighting. You are all crazy.
BRAVO to No Nut November. The kids with nut allergies can finally catch a break.
BRAVO to people who watch Instagram Reels. Confidently 4 months behind.
BRAVO to Joshua Ou. You need a break, man
BRAVO to morally ambiguous characters in literature. Yes, I too, am a problematic middle-aged man acting from the goodness of my heart <3.
achievement can quickly extend to perfectionism when the focus becomes outside approval as opposed to personal growth; a mindset primarily pushed upon young girls in the name of “feminism.”
The “well-balanced” student prioritizes mind, body, and career but the increasingly intense pressure to balance all three has the opposite effect. Perfectionism is manifested in cultural values, from immigrant parents who have utilized perfectionistic tendencies to survive to teachers attempting to up their program’s reputation, resulting in a negative internal dialogue for students.
Hollywood has seen it all. From Elle Wood’s delusions over Warner in Legally Blonde to Rebecca Bunch’s realizations in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 1x4, the smartgirl-falls-for-carefree-guy trope has dominated entertainment for as long as modern feminism has caught the global media. Film is always a cut away from a reflection of true social structures, and the rise of the strong female protagonist seems to be a step towards a “female future.” Yet, it does not take much to realize that the underlying dynamics that enable the popularity of the token female striver might be brought upon by the same expectations of perfection that have undermined female potential since the emergence of class society some 6,000 years ago. There is nothing wrong about metaphorically and literally “aiming for the stars,” but the ties between modern feminism and an outrageously high ceiling for female achievement only assemble a time capsule of social regression.
The “striver” girl and “slacker” guy is a match made in heaven— if heaven is contemporary pop culture.
The characters are rigidly defined: she is beauty through her black-rimmed glasses, he is “mid” at best. She works herself to death in advanced courses and extracurriculars, he feeds on late-night gaming sessions. She pulled herself up by the bootstraps with perseverance and grit, he is naturally smart.
The prevailing trend in the striver/slacker trope is that, by some force of the imagination, the two opposites manage to make the other whole. It almost seems like a post-modernist reimagination of the age-old fairytale: there is a damsel in distress and a knightly prince who comes and rescues her. Only this time, the knightly prince is not here to save the princess from a ravenous wolf, but rather, from her own ambitions.
The irony behind this one-sided romance is that the “striver” rarely chose the lifestyle of success; she was likely forced into it. The narrow pipeline toward perfection begins with the first associations with male and female achievements. School then centrifuges the conventional from the imaginative to put material success on the highest pedestal. While a mutual need to excel exists in both characters, high
Thanks to conditioning (and trauma) from a culture of female haze, young girls are most susceptible to pivoting around their interests to validate the expectations of others. From a young age, girls are told to meet external expectations. There is a constant inconsistency in messages they receive; girls should not care about their bodies but are ridiculed if they do not have the perfect hourglass. High achievers are praised despite experiencing crippling anxiety, and others who do not are labeled “lazy” or “incapable.”
In California, girls tend to have greater involvement in advanced courses in high school and college completion in comparison to their male counterparts, with a 57 percent majority in AP courses. Regardless of field, female enrollment in AP courses is quickly increasing and can be greatly attributed to increasing pressures on the “female striver.” In comparison, males are praised for low effort and rely on their natural talents.
In lower education, there is a relatively even playing field in terms of ability. However, as students graduate and are thrown into the deep end of the career pool, determining factors of success amplify the striver-slacker culture. The gender gap observed in this culture is apparent in blue collar versus white collar jobs. With a higher rate of enrollment and college completion, women are often seen in office jobs like company management or teaching, while men dominate agriculture and construction. A lack of accountability manifested in higher education and applied to careers enables the striver-slacker balance.
Although South Pasadena seems to be a charming, white-picket fence small town, it has a dark underbelly of racism. Since its days as a sundown town, South Pas has never had its hands clean in its share of trades with racism. And since then, the invisible elephant of prejudice has a colossal weight, eating away at minority experiences to attract the ideal resident. Despite efforts to reconcile with its history, the image of the timeless, effortless, and Black-people-less town with top-notch schools is a careful facade dictated by market value, not real people.
South Pas’s history is intertwined with instances of racial discrimination through time. Befores the 1960s, the city enacted various measures to ensure it remained predominantly white. Real estate developers, local officials, and community leaders participated in discriminatory practices like redlining, racial covenants, and restrictive zoning laws to create a homogenous white community and explicitly discourage people of color from settling in the area.
To “safeguard” its hidden riches, South Pas enforced its sundown town status through community-wide violence. Black Americans who visited, or yet, found themselves in the city after dark were met with threats, violence, and intimidation. These actions were not only supported by the wider community but tolerated and perpetuated by local law enforcement.
Education is often hailed as the great equalizer, yet South Pas schools have held onto the clutches of racism. Despite their progressive social studies culture, it is interesting to discover South Pas’s history is hardly commented on, even when segments of it are relevant to students’ understanding of existing curriculum. The reluctance to comment on South Pasadena’s history, or the brevity of these discussions, says a lot about what information is acceptable in conversation. And conveniently enough, what is traditionally acceptable comes from the pedestal afforded by the privilege of eurocentrism.
The privilege of dictating social norms is powerful because it also dictates the taboo, the topics that people shy away from talking about. In many ways, the discussion of race is a social taboo—a topic that will quickly envelop the Thanksgiving dinner table
in a blanket of silence (and contempt). Yet, dictating discussions is not as much a power as it is an insecurity. A uniquely white insecurity, to be exact.
White fragility, a term coined by Robin DiAngelo, refers to the discomfort and defensiveness on the part of the white person when confronted about elements of racial justice. Her 2018 book, White Fragility, discusses race relations in the US and explores why Americans see race like a bright red nuclear button.
As DiAngelo discusses in her book, just as it is a citizen’s duty to vote, it is the white man’s responsibility to be less fragile. If the cement of whiteness is too difficult to walk on, it is not the duty of the person of color to twist themselves into knots trying to figure out how to walk straight. The task befalls the persons who screwed up the concrete in the first place and who quarried the materials or layed the concrete incorrectly.
In South Pas and across historically white neighborhoods, white fragility has inhibited honest conversations that could have led to meaningful change. The fear of being either labeled racist or having one’s privilege challenged is too grave, and for most, a risky undertaking. Because of many people’s selfish desire to continue life as it always has been,
and because privilege is a comfortable chair to sit on, progress has been stifled in South Pas and around the world.
The same appeasement of white comfort is also part of the reason why the Black Lives Matter movement fell off. As it turns out, equality is a scary concept for those who are not chained by second-class citizenship. Somewhere inside the mind of the average white American, they are acutely aware of the personal implications of being born white, and scared of letting go of their god (self) -given destiny. These people cheer as loud as anyone championing freedom, but somewhere deep inside they know that being white is why they can proudly walk through the finest of establishments with a sense of “I created this,” not “I do not deserve this.” Equality can only be realized after this uncomfortable phenomenon is understood.
South Pas is a unique case study of the exclusivity in racism. While its chapter of sundown towns and police-sponsored violence have ended for good, there are still many chapters to the resolution. Only with collective understanding and genuine commitment can South Pasadena move past its racist path and inch towards a more inclusive future, at snail speed.
STORY KAHLEN MIAO
PHOTO MICHELLE SHADMON
To be honest the original plan was to do a pho tour over the span of a few days with other members of Tiger This was supposed to be an ode to my first TAAGLAA as well as Michelle’s first time having pho. However, in typical Tiger fashion, plans kept falling through and Michael was as unavailable as always. Instead we were left with one date for pho, without Michael and Jayden joining us later. Despite plan after plan falling through, nothing could curb my excitement for pho. Allie promptly picked me up at my house after we realized Hanna was already at the Saigon Eden and that she did not want to wait an hour for us to arrive.
We were on our way to SPHS to pick up Elsie and Michelle when Michelle texted saying she forgot her camera and would have to go back and grab it. As Allison and I chatted while parked in front of the SPHS Gym, Elsie and Michelle finally got into Allie’s car. We began listening to the Liv and Maddie theme song as we drove off to Alhambra.
Only after we joked about how we could do a Korean BBQ tour instead, we found a parking spot in no time thanks to all the free parking structures in Alhambra. We spotted Hanna from the top down angle of the parking structure and ran to her as if we hadn’t seen her 3 hours earlier in class. We spent more time than necessary deciding what we wanted to eat, but eventually came to a consensus. Michelle, Hanna, and I got Pho Tai, while Elsie got Pho Rau Cai and split a tofu plate with Allison. Allison also got Bun Tom Thit Nuong Cha Gio after saying she was not a fan of Pho. Recovering after Allison said she did not like pho, I decided to order a few spring rolls to take home to my family.
Michelle took lots of photos of our food and we began eating quickly after. This was not without its hiccups as
To put you in my current mindset while writing my final column of the year, I am eating Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough™ ice cream while shuffling my 40hour musical theater playlist with the keyword “time”. Time seemed like a poignant theme to end my year on. Junior year has been eventful, to put it mildly. I am refraining from listing everything I did this year for that would be an onerous task and this column is not a resume.
Instead of reminiscing about my junior year, I want to look ahead to my senior year. If you will indulge me, I would love to talk about my hopes through the lens of ‘Something’s Coming’ from West Side Story. In the
Michelle ended up getting Sirracha in her eyes and began crying. It did not stop her from enjoying her hot sauce and pho as she kept eating through her pain. Elsie also added a little bit more Hoisin and Sirracha than intended and started scooping out sauce after announcing to us that her pho was now too spicy.
As everyone was finishing their dishes, Michelle was still devouring bean sprouts and told us a story about how her mom put bean sprouts in her sandwich. Allie paid for all of us under the agreement that we all pay her back, which I stil have yet to do and we decided to wander around Main Street.
The five of us considered getting dessert at Afters but realized we were much too full. Elsie had spotted Sephora across the street earlier and we made our way there only to realize that it closed at 7 p.m. Jayden met up with us as his shift ended and laughed at us for not realizing it was closed and offered us an extra boba that no one took up. We decided to visit Miniso and Elsie excitedly looked for as many Kuromi branded things as possible. She ended up buying a giant plushie while the rest of us marveled at all the toiletries and cute stuffed animals.
As we walked back to Allie’s car, Elsie was insistent that we didn’t split at the telephone pole, citing two of her friends as examples on why the superstition was real. We stuffed into the back, with one person too many to fit into all the seats available but quickly dropped Jayden off home, lightening the load. We gossiped about everyone and everything and gave life updates as we dropped Elsie and Michelle back off at the high school and Hanna back at her place.
When I finally got home and thanked Allison and her little car stuffed animal buddies for the ride, I began to try and plan what I didn’t know would be a failed next pho trip with everyone, including Michael.
song, Tony (ostensibly Romeo) sings about how he has some underlying feeling that his life is about to change. Little does he know, he will meet his true love Maria (ostensibly Juliet) that night at the dance at the local high school. Sidebar, why were these fully-grown people the only ones at this dance in a high school gym? But I digress. Tony sings “Could be. Who knows? There’s something due any day, I will know right away soon as it shows. It may come cannonballing down through the sky. Gleam in its eye, bright as a rose.”
This openness to accept anything that may happen in the coming year is scary to me. I am, notoriously, anxious about the unknown. I fear things I cannot control. In my senior year—my year—I am going to be more laid back and await life.
He continues, “Something’s coming. I don’t know what it is, but it is gonna be great.”
I am bringing this unbridled optimism into my senior year, it’s going to be my year. Although this optimism will be inevitably dragged down by the unceasing weight of the multitudes of APs and College Applications and extracurriculars and general pressure. Nevertheless, my year. My grades and self-esteem will flounder. My confidence and feeling of specialness that I coaxed out of
my last column will dissipate as I face rejection after rejection. Still, my year.
“Will it be? Yes it will. Maybe just by holding still, it’ll be there.” Tony croons with a delightful grin on his face.
If I go into senior year with haste—too eager to do everything—then I will inevitably burn out and dread every second of the year. If I succumb to the need to accomplish all, then I will accomplish none. If I slow down, I may be able to stop and enjoy my last year of high school. Something is coming, I don’t know exactly what, but I am happy to wait for it. It will be my year. I am so close to being done with high school; I can almost reach out and touch it. As I continue to reach for the elusive end, I feel no need to look back at the past three years, nor the need to analyze my future. All I know is that something is coming, “don’t know when, but it’s soon, catch the moon, one-handed catch.”
In the same vein as the forward-moving imagery of the song, I am going to grab hold of my senior year and not let it pass me by. Oh, I connected it to time after all. Now I have finished the carton of Tonight Dough™ ice cream and wonder if my senior year will hold all I wish for it. All I say to that is “Could be. Who knows?”
In typical Tiger fashion, our plans fell through. But nothing could come between Tiger staff and a beautiful, steaming bowl of pho
200 yard Medley Relay and broke the school record — set in 1999 at 1:51:20 — with a time of 1:50.34. Each swimmer earned a medal for placing in the top eight.
The 200 Medley Relay was the third record to be broken this season, after Auyeung and Wong each broke a school record at the Mt. Sac Winterfest Finals. Auyeung broke the SPHS 50 yard freestyle record of 24.82 seconds with her time of 24.47 seconds. Wong broke the 500 yard freestyle record of 5:01.75 with a time of 5:00.83.
“Sometimes we get lost in our athletic performance and give less attention to academics, but we do have to remember that we’re students first and academics are first priority,” Sanchez said. “I think that this year’s group did a really good job balancing both…And that’s what I’m mostly proud of [with] this group.”
The swimming season is now over, and the athletes have resumed an optional lap swimming practice for the remainder of the year. For now, the team is looking towards the future of the program, always working to refine their skills.
STORY MORGAN SUNPHOTOS SAMANTHA SHIROISHI
It has been a record-breaking season for the SPHS swimming team after moving up to Division II this year. The girls’ team won the Rio Hondo League championship with an undefeated season, decisively triumphant at every meet with the exception of a tie against Temple City’s team.
The girls’ and boys’ teams did phenomenal after getting bumped up into a higher division. The girls embraced the challenge and swept the ranks, while the boys united to form a strong dynamic after losing talent last year to graduating seniors. The team was able to rise to the occassion in their new placement aa Division II.
“Many athletes on both the girls’ and boys’ team PR’d and PB’d. To see that happen, it fills me with joy to get to see and witness them accomplish their athletic goals,” head varsity coach Erica Sanchez said. “We swam against really good teams that challenged us to push more and really achieve to go beyond our limits … We embodied a challenge and a lot of us rose to the occasion.”
Quite a few swimmers had an individual Instagram post dedicated to their achievements on the SPHS swimming account, including seniors Jordan Mullin and Chloe Auyeung, sophomores Samantha Wong and Ana Mancera-Rodriguez, and freshman Emiko Essmiller
Both the girls’ and boys’ team qualified to move onto CIF after their final league meet at La Cañada High School on Friday, Apr. 28. Eight swimmers traveled to Riverside City College for CIF, which commenced on Wednesday, May 3 for the preliminary competition. For the girls, Mullin, Auyeung, Wong, Mancera-Rodriguez, Essmiller and sophomore Nadia Cho all qualified. On the boys’ team, seniors Andrew Sakahara and Alex Johnson also made it to CIF competition.
Of the eight athletes, four returned for the Southern Section Division 2 CIF Finals competition on Friday, May 5. Mullin swam the 100 yard backstroke, placing 9th overall. Wong returned for the 500 and 200 yard freestyle, taking home 7th place and 11th place respectively. Auyeung won 10th place in the 50 yard freestyle, and 12th place in the 100 yard freestyle. Mancera-Rodriguez secured 9th place in the 100 yard breaststroke. Together, they all swam the
“There’s always room for improvement and there are always ways to get better,” Sanchez said. “One of my college coaches told me when I swam, ‘They say practice makes perfect, but really perfect practice makes perfect.’ And I think that’s where the goal with training is. To do it correctly until you can’t get it wrong.”
In addition to looking forward at future seasons, the team has been reflecting on their successes. The team held a banquet on Sunday, May 21, honoring the hard work of all the swimmers, handing out awards, and saying goodbye to the senior swimmers.
The SPHS boys’ volleyball team finished their season with an overall record of 25-10 and a league record of 8-0, winning the Rio Hondo League. After advancing in the first round of CIF, the Tigers’ season came to a close in a three-set loss against Fairmont Prep. Despite the early exit, South Pas’ season was a success.
Senior outside hitter Declan Swift contributed brutal kills throughout the season with a total of 232 kills. Sophomore middle blocker James Dowd had a total of 69 blocks during the season. Swift and Dowd, along with senior Aidan Hilger, led their team to the league title.
“[The biggest win of the season was against] La Cañada,” Head coach Ivy Chew said. “It [was]…a redemption from last season as they were the main team that took us out of [the running for] league champ[ion]s last year.”
The graduating seniors are Nathan Chiu, James Wu, Nick Chabot, Richard Conti, Michael Mayemura, Aaron Quan, Andrew Carney, Kenny McGregor, Hilger, and Swift. These seniors were a core part of the team, contributing to an undefeated season. Next season, freshmen Wyatt Morimoto-Woo, William Zhang, and sophomore Jack Pellerin look to step up.
With 123 personal records set throughout preliminaries and finals, SPHS Track and Field wrapped up its regular season with a historic league finals week. The Tigers kicked off their season with a strong showing at the Redondo Nike Track Festival in March.
The 12th annual Tiger Invitational in April had over 130 schools from 11 states as well as a team from Australia. Junior Mia Holden clocked in at 5th place in the girls’ 100 meter dash, while freshman Anna Kowal and sophomore Perri Koo showed out in the girls’ 200 meter dash finals in 8th and 11th place, respectively.
At the acclaimed Arcadia Invitational, freshman Rose Vandevelde and sophomores Saidbh Byrne, Sofia Humphrey, and Abigail Errington placed 12th in the 4x800 meter relay and 10th in the 1600 meter relay, respectively. On the boys’ side, seniors Ian McLendon and senior Jason Baek and juniors Owen Correl and Keeran Murray represented the Tigers in the 4x800 relay.
The South Pasadena baseball team closed out an exceptional season on Friday, May 4 at home with a disappointing CIF loss to the Santa Barbara Dons. During league play, South Pasadena tied with San Marino for their first Rio Hondo League title since 1998.
The team will be forced to compensate for the loss of nine seniors, including outfielder Jason Yipp who led the team in hits. Yipp credited the year’s results to the team’s strong chemistry, with much of the team having played together since little league. Senior third baseman Quinn Stirling trailed only Yipp and junior outfielder Luke Riffle in hits, and crushed the only home run of the season. Junior pitcher Nolan Adams also ended the season with a team-best earned run average (era) of 1.74.
South Pasadena opened the season with a decisive 8-0 win over La Cañada, and never looked back. South Pasadena breezed past Temple City with three wins, but San Marino proved a tougher challenge. Despite falling twice against the Titans, they won the series against both Monrovia and La Cañada to secure their spot in CIF.
“We played fantastic for stretches [and] poorly for stretches,” five-year head Varsity coach Jaime Garcia said. “[We had] plenty of growth during [the] season, and our program is in great shape for the future.”
The SPHS boys’ varsity tennis team had a historic 2023 season, claiming three consecutive CIF victories. The Tigers opened their CIF run with a 14-4 win over the Arlington Lions, a 112-111 victory through tiebreak points against the Santiago Sharks, and an 85-80 win through game points against the Cerritos Dons. Despite their 12-6 loss to the Tesoro Titans in the semifinals, the Tigers surpassed the quarterfinals for the first time in the high school’s history.
“I would give the spotlight to our doubles…team of Aidan Liu and Winston Chan who swept twice in the playoffs,” sophomore Emett Mendel said. “I learned a lot about the team dynamic this year and hopefully we’ll do even better next year.”
The Tigers will miss seniors Sammy Xu, Oliver Nelson, Finn McMillan, Matt Ou, Joshua Ou, and Chan who led the team on their historic run.
Tiger’s
HANNA BAE, & ISOLE KIM
seniors regarding their plans for life after high school. Beside every name is the gap year, work, or other. This spread celebrates the Class of 2023’s hard work variety of different pursuits.
presents the seniors of the arts and sports that plan to continue their passion in the collegiate level.
Saying good-bye has never been easy for me. The theoretical ideals of permanence and closure haunts me as I say good-bye to my high school experiences and begin adapting to an independent role in adulthood.
Entering SPHS with an interest in business, I had always intended for myself to solely be engaged in courses centralized in entrepreneurship and career preparedness. If you were to ask me to join Tiger my freshman year, I probably would have responded with, “you mean… like the animal?”
Tiger came into my life almost like a blessing in disguise. Beginning as a mere staff illustrator two years ago, I quickly advanced the ranks as a design associate and design editor. Adapting to these different roles has taught me the importance of time management and communication. I would have never thought to have written two sports columns titled, “Who Stole My Goggles?”, paying homage towards my experiences as a student-athlete and my passion for advocating the importance of student-athlete mental health. Although I treasure these memories and moments of laughter, tears, and baguettes, it is also time to move forward with my life.
To Ellie and Hanna, thank you for always being my rocks through the best and worst moments of life. I am surely going to miss our late night karaoke, trips to Trader Joe’s, post concert sundaes, and Cava dinners. I love you both endlessly and I still have no clue what i will do without seeing you both every single day.
To next year’s design editors, Emi and Isole, I wish you guys the best of luck these coming years as you manage a new design team. Both of you are one of the kindest and most hardworking people I have ever met.
To this year’s editorial team, thank you for the friendships that we have forged over the course of the year through hardship, glass room hangman, and a lot of pho. I love you all endlessly -- you truly left a tigershaped imprint on my heart.
And to the rest of current and future Tiger staff, I wish you all the best of luck and I can’t wait to see future issues of Tiger floating around the city.
Tiger, though this might be the end of our journey together, it is most definitely not time to say good-bye. For now, let us just say “see you later”.
Genki Kawamura’s debut novel If Cats Disappeared
From the World begs the question: “If you could sacrifice something for an extra day to live, would you?” While the main character struggled to connect to this question as he explored his inherent worth, I found myself questioning what I’d do in the same scenario as I read along at 3 A.M. before the AP Lit exam. As I move forward towards saying my goodbyes to the campus that has offered me so many opportunities, I began asking myself: “What would happen if the things I did throughout high school began to disappear – starting tomorrow?”
MONDAY: If Virtual Business Disappeared From SPHS. My time in SPHS Virtual Enterprise has been an interesting journey, to say the least. I have dealt with a large range of issues; my highest highs but also my lowest lows are probably from this program. I have loved the work that this program has done, combining my passion for social justice with business. I have also hated the isolation the class has caused me to feel, as I worked alone to fulfill duties that others do not want to. If Virtual Business disappeared, I am not sure what I would feel. Satisfaction? Relief? A twinge of sadness? I surely would not fight the sudden departure of the program.
TUESDAY: If Copa de Oro Disappeared From SPHS. I only worked in Copa de Oro for one semester, taking on the roles of photography and writing. Being able to capture the memories of SPHS and write about significant individuals within the community aligned perfectly with what I am most passionate about. The engaging environment alongside the editors as I worked through my Food Handlers’ Permit in class allowed me to stay vigilant in my work. If Copa were to vanish from my life, it would be something I surely miss.
WEDNESDAY: If ASB Disappeared From SPHS. Serving as the Senior Class Vice President this year has provided me the platform to represent the Class of 2023 and learn more about supporting the school. Working closely with Kyra, Rachel, and Michael in coordinating karaoke lunches, Smart & Final trips, and our upcoming graduation have been memories that I would miss dearly. As I prepare my closing remarks for graduation, I reminisce in happiness on my fulfilling time as a senior class officer.
THURSDAY: If Y&G Disappeared From SPHS. Youth and Government has been a cornerstone in my high school
career, with four years of participation guiding me to representing California on a national level to coordinating weekly meetings as the SPASM president. While this year was rough, with a tyranitarian advisor who ruined my senior year, I am positive that next year’s officers will continue to embrace all of the changes and take charge in keeping SPASM forever “red hot.”
FRIDAY: If Tiger Disappeared From SPHS. I cannot say that my involvement in Tiger Newspaper was what I had anticipated from when I first dreamed of joining the publication in my freshman year. My idealistic views of a competitive working environment that stressed the significance of student journalism were quickly shattered by a tiny staff and editorial conflicts. However, it was also my one year in Tiger that has provided me the platform to speak my truths and to respond to issues on campus.
To Tiger Staff - I am rooting for you. You all will continue to grow and transform in a positive light under the guidance of future editors. Thank you for putting up with my chaos. To the Editors - Thank you all so much for keeping me sane. I know it was aggravating to constantly read my run-on sentences and handle my last-minute articles. I appreciate you opening up space in the glass room for me to sit, it was an honor to work alongside the best of the best throughout the year. To those staying, I will continue to support you and root for you all from the comfort of my dorm room; to those leaving, I will hope for you and your futures as we all continue to take different paths and chart our own courses. Thank you to all of Tiger for giving me a place to speak and a reason to write.
SATURDAY: If I Disappeared From SPHS. Perhaps our unnamed protagonist is right. I may have found great relief in the removal of the many things I have participated in throughout my high school career. Over time, though, I may have begun to feel a sense of inherent emptiness as the things that take up my time escape my grasp.
SUNDAY: Goodbye, SPHS. It has been hard coming to terms with my involvement in these programs. Getting ready to leave, I will continue to support all of the students and programs here on campus. As I prepare to say goodbye to the high school, I continue to reflect on my four years. Cats may not be disappearing from the world. programs will not be disappearing from the campus, but I will soon be disappearing from SPHS. I hope that, just like the protagonist in Kawamura’s novel, I can disappear from each of your worlds without unresolved conflicts or tension – but rather – in peace and content.
SPHS, I gave you the past four years of my life, and since it all started, I’ve gotten happier, less anxious, and more confident in myself.
Growing up in this community made my life a wonderland. There is so much l want to say, so little space to say it. Being a student at this school made me want to learn and want to pay attention in classes, even the ones I typically didn’t find interesting. My study habits have truly excelled under the guidance of my amazing teachers.
Also, it is all for the administration to thank for the civility of our school. Everyone seems to have a genuine appreciation for one another, and especially for the staff.
It is really heartwarming to see my peers not only following the rules, but respecting the rules. I get 10 hours of sleep every night, I have a healthy diet, a Hydroflask, and a six pack. All of the things happened alongside and possibly because of the thrill I get from maintaining my academic career.
I think SPHS is really good at making non-stressful yet motivating work environments for their students. There isn’t any other place I would want to be than on this campus. If I could, I would repeat all 4 years all over again. If I could, I would live here and never leave.
done and selected me as Online Managing Editor for my proceeding year.
So, after a year of attempting to mimic the same work ethic, I figured that my efforts combined with my seniority would automatically grant me a position of a similar status. My assumptions were ultimately uninformed, which I realized as soon as my “teacher” had told me I was simply nudged out, there were people better suited to the role than I was.
I accept and respect that decision, but that does not lessen the hurt that rises whenever I think about how Tiger will not be on my schedule for my senior year.
STORY ELSIE WATERS
ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
Iam not coming back to Tiger next year and honestly the realities of that statement have not yet hit me. I have not really allowed them to. Naively, I figured I would return to Tiger next year as a member of Top 3, continuing the track I had set down my sophomore year.
In my mind, why wouldn’t I? I tried my best my first year on staff to volunteer to be a proactive writer, step up, and maintain a steady, organized workflow. I wanted to stand out to my editors and I am grateful that they recognized my potential, addressed all the work I had
I actually don’t know how I will survive without the glass room. It easily became a reprieve against the chaos that was constantly ensuing both inside the Tiger room and outside. I am so grateful for my fellow editors and all the support they have offered me from inside our little comfort space. Hanna, Kahlen, Michael, Allie, Michelle, Ben and honorary editor Jayden were pillars of my junior year: You all kept me sane, I have so much love for you.
A couple of us got pho the other night and afterwards Michelle and I were sitting in her car and talking about the daunting statuses of our futures. I asked her if there was anyone she thought she would remain in contact with after we graduated.
Although that time is a ways away, it’s something I think about often. Michelle, the most bubbly, kind, optimistic, and overall best person I have ever encountered (largely thanks to Tiger) told me she had more than a few friendships she had faith in. Granted, Michelle has a lot more friends than I do.
STORY & PHOTOS MICHELLE SHADMON
ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
Ijoined Tiger because I needed something to fill my study hall. Tiger was an option and I was curious about it. So I started to ask around to upperclassmen because my sister was going to be a senior, and her friends just happen to be the entire editor team for Tiger. They convinced me to join but it didn’t take much convincing.
I have always loved taking pictures and for many years. It was a place that I felt safe, and no one and nothing could change the way I felt about it, kind of like Tiger. During my freshman year I took the photography class, and loved it. Even though I was taking mediocre pictures on my phone in my pajamas, it was the best class I took that year. During COVID-19, I used photography to get myself out of my house for a little, and take pictures of the world around me. Joining Tiger was a way for me to pursue my passion, and fall more in love with it.
I knew no one in Tiger other than some of the editors, but they would hang out in the glass room, and I was just a sophomore wondering why I joined this class. I then saw the familiar face of this girl that I knew from my childhood who was in Tiger and a few of my other classes. We became friends fast, it’s kind of crazy how fast. And as I write this, Elsie is my best friend, and it’s all because of this class. She is my rock, soulmate, and the best person I know. Our friendship never could have been what it is today without Tiger
These past two years, I have had an experience that I am so grateful for. I would never change anything about how these past years have played out for me. I will always have that memory of my sophomore year, when the entire staff participated in “Tigersgiving.” It was one of the best nights of my life. We all brought food and just all enjoyed each other’s company for a few hours, talking and laughing. Then we all just sat in a big circle and talked about Tiger
and what it did and meant for us. That night is what I think Tiger is—sitting around in a big circle like a family and just being our goofy, crazy, 2048 cupcake-loving selves, and what it always will be in my eyes. Unfortunately, for my senior year I will not be returning to the Tiger staff. This decision to not come back is not because I hate Tiger I have just felt over the past few weeks that my work on Tiger is done. I have come, done my thing, and now I have nothing left to give. I will always support and love Tiger, nothing and no one will ever change that. Tiger was a place for me to escape from school, it was somewhere where I could sit with my friends either at our table, the glass room, or outside where we heard the song “Ice Cream” that the dance team was always practicing (they killed that by the way, so glad weeks of hearing that song play over and over paid off).
Now I’m going to bore all of you with my goodbyes that are solely to Tiger. First of all, thank you to this year’s staff, I wish for you guys to have the best experience on Tiger as I have. Sophie, my photo editor of last year, I just wanted to thank you for all that you did for me. I value our friendship, and all that you have taught me, I could not have been the best photo editor I could be without your guidance, so thank you. Jayden, you never fail to make me laugh, I love you and know wherever you go I will never forget you. Allie, becoming friends with you this year is something that I cherish and I can’t thank you enough for all the work you have done.
Kahlen, my favorite memory of us was the pho TAAGLAA we did last year together. I can’t thank that day enough because I became friends with you. You have always been an amazing and supportive person and your energy will always make me feel better when I’m down. I love you, and will miss you endlessly. College is lucky to have such a wonderful person.
Michael, it’s really crazy that we were on this paper last year, and never talked. One of my favorite things about
Still, I told her that I think the little group of editors we formed this school year would remain in my life for all the years to come. I know that’s true of Tiger as a whole. This paper has truly meant the world to me and I am certain that one day when I am reminiscing about my high school days, Tiger will stand out.
I asked my brother the other day for advice after a brief couple hours in which I allowed myself to sulk and be sad about Tiger. He told me not to fall into cynicism. He told me cynicism is the easy way out. I am a pretty cynical person, however, Tiger has been one of the few spaces in my high school environment that my cynicism has not seeped into.
The very nature of the class would not allow it. Tiger has forced me to care, a message that has been echoed by countless editors of the past. And as my brother alluded to, caring was not easy.
It would however, be so easy for me to fall into cynicism now. But, at the same time — how could I not express how much I care for this paper?
How could I ignore all the good Tiger has done for me? It has easily been one of the most enriching experiences of my life, teaching me more than an English class ever could have. I am so grateful for all the editors that improved my writing the first year I was on staff. I am grateful for all the relationships and opportunities that have been granted to me as a result of Tiger. I am grateful that everything happened and I was able to experience Tiger at the time in which I did.
Now, in the words of one of my favorite editors ever and my idol, former copy editor, Cloe Maurer, “goodbye to all that.”
Tiger this year is you. I love our banter and the way we fake hate each other. You always have the biggest heart, and know how to make me laugh. I know you will do great things and wish you the best. I will miss our daily hugs and most of all, I will miss you.
Hanna, you are going to be the best Editor in Chief Tiger has ever seen. You are the most heartwarming and sweet person. I am sorry Elsie and I are leaving Tiger, but I know you will thrive even without us. Hanna, thank you for all the support and love. Our senior year is going to be epic. For Elsie and me, our time has come to leave Tiger. I will love and cherish all of the memories that took place in room 615. Thank you, it’s been a good run.
My first article in print for Tiger was a personal essay on papaya salad. It’s weird to look back at something I wrote over three years ago and think about everything that has happened from then until now. Tiger is something I spent so long working on that it has left me in a space where I am at a loss of words for what I could possibly say about my experience.
All my friends could probably attest to the egregious amount of times I’ve said that I would quit the newspaper and didn’t. In all honesty Tiger stole more years off my life than I’ll ever get from the satisfaction of completing a full newspaper, mistakes and all, but I couldn’t trade it for anything.
I was an awful writer. I always turned in my work late, struggled to write a cohesive opinion, and would crack under pressure during every deadline. I struggled a lot with my mental health over quarantine and coming out of isolation junior year wasn’t any easier.
Tiger’s pressure and fast paced environment wasn’t really the best place while I was trying to put myself back together. Regardless, it was one thing that felt consistent in my life no matter how much I said how much I hated it.
My final year has undoubtedly been my favorite year out of what feels like my entire life (in reality only three years) that I’ve spent in this class. It is completely true that the people make the class what it is.
To one of my favorite duos ever, Elsie and Michelle, I’m so glad we became friends. Seeing you guys on campus always makes my day and somehow the makeup both of you guys wear never fails to look stunning. I love when you tell me useless stories and gossip about things I don’t know anything about. I can’t imagine the dynamic of the editors without the energy you two bring.
To my worst enemy Michael and my bestie bae Hanna, I would’ve never made it this far without you guys. There is so much to say but I’m pretty sure you can read my mind at this point. Thank you guys for making me feel more sane when that probably wasn’t the case. Hanna, I
Vulnerability has never been my strong suit. I find it awkwardly personal and, well, vulnerable. It’s all a little bizarre for me. In fact, many of my friends know that I circumvent this by unequivocally teasing them. In place of gift giving and quality time, crude and sarcastic remarks have dominated as my love language; somewhat ironically, I express my affection through hate.
But through my writing, I find that my persona shifts. I have much more confidence, thought, and control over what I believe and how I communicate that. I can tap into my sentimentality and demonstrate the deep respect I have for my friends more gently—more earnestly. And so while this may sound a bit weird to them, here we go:
To Marshall, Sammy, Josh Ou, Elijah, Jacob, and Ava Fineza, thank you so much for sticking by me these last four years. I cannot imagine what my life would be like had you not all taken a chance and befriended the shy, new kid on the block. It has meant so much to me to see you all grow into the magnificent people you are today, and it has meant even more to me that you have been there as I grew to find myself. I’ll fondly remember our time together in Freshman English or PBS --- our attempts to find ourselves and adapt to life in high school.
To Abby, Kahlen, Boden, Jake, and Josie, it seems odd to have to say goodbye to you guys when it feels like we just met. My junior and senior years could never have been as spectacular as it was without you guys. I will always remember those YnG meetings together and those late nights at Marshall’s. You guys have been some of my closest confidants, my constants, and make every day at school a little less miserable. I am so grateful for all of the wacky, late night texts and our shared love of unusual, European folk music.
To Josh, Matthew, Winston, Nathan Chiu, and Nathan Hodson, when I met you guys junior year, it never once crossed my mind that I only had one year left with each of you. But, regardless, the impact you guys have had on my life is indescribable. I’ll always remember the non-stop volleyball practices and the McGough table that made each moment something I could look forward to each and every day. The miserable moments we shared only strengthened our bonds and, had it not been for you all, junior year would have been a living nightmare.
To Ava, Reagan, Kyra, Brynn, Paige, and Liam, you guys are truly some of my closest friends. It’s crazy to think
that in the span of a few months I’ve been able to grow so incredibly close to each and every one of you (though, it’s sad to think that we’ve only had a few months together). Somehow we’ve created a lifetime’s worth of memories: from D.C. to my senior night to the spontaneous lunchtime conversations; and I know that, even if one day we are no longer friends, you guys will always be synonymous with my senior year. I love you guys so much.
Finally, to Hanna, Kahlen, Elsie, Allison, Michelle, and Jayden. It has been a wild journey filled with many ups and downs (mainly downs) that I will forever remember. The paper gave me a voice and helped me find my love for politics and I have the fullest faith that Hanna, Ellie, and Ben will continue to make Tiger the paper it is. The greatest thing about being at rock-bottom is that there’s only one way left to go—up.
Even now, it’s so surreal to even have to say goodbye— to have to close out the wildest four years of my life. I suppose time truly does fly when you’re having fun. And while I understand that all endings mark a new beginning, it doesn’t numb the thought that all this— all these memories, friends, and experiences — will be
know you’ll do great, I’m so glad we reconnected because of Tiger. Thank you for being my other half all this time and mediating all the debates Michael and I had.
Alison and Allison, I miss seeing you in class, but I’ll admit I’m pretty jealous that you’re free, at least one of us escaped successfully. Allie I know you’re still here and thank you for that because you’re doing everything, everywhere, all the time, Michelle Yeoh style.
To all the staff that I became friends with this year, I had so much fun getting to know you guys. Hanging out in Mrs. Hames’s office, sharing snacks with you all, and admiring all the beautiful illustrations and photos in issues with you guys has made me so happy.
It seems so strange to say that this is my last article in Tiger. But it seems even stranger that this is one of the last times with a group of people I would’ve never predicted I’d become close with. I would’ve had no hope without everyone here.
When I think of Tiger, beyond all the writing and all the stress, drama, and years we’ve lost off of our lives I think of writing backwards off the classroom, playing hangman, fighting to sit on the giant bean bag, and sitting on the floor of the classroom listening to Michael’s crazy music.
The best part about writing articles was interviewing new people and having conversations with people I normally wouldn’t have. I learned more from Tiger than I did from any other class in High school. It was the first place I really learned to express my own thoughts and opinions.
My experience in Tiger was nothing like what I thought it would look like. For three years I saw people come and go and every year was more different than the one before. It is so hard to imagine a time that I wasn’t on the newspaper team and it’s even harder to imagine what it will be like not stressing everyday because of it.
At first it was a very isolating experience, seeing my editors from a screen, not really grasping what Tiger was really like, but it grew to be much more about community than anything else. I have benefited from this class more than anything else, if I wanted to or not.
permanently closed out.
Sure, I may always be able to reread the chapters of my high school career, but the anticipation and wonder will vanish in place of hindsight and longing. The souvenirs of a long gone era will remain by my side as reality slips further out of reach.
And even still, there are moments so clearly ingrained into my mind. I can never forget Kyra and Aidan’s dance at Prom or the very first sleepover I ever had at Marshall’s or the cheer of the crowd as I prepared to give my speech for class office. Moments so minute, so minuscule, yet somehow the perfect embodiment of my time at SPHS. Moments that encapsulate the love and friends that have grown up alongside me.
So to each and every one of you — thank you and I love you. I know I don’t often say it (that it often comes caked in insult) but I truly do care for you all. I could not have asked for more caring, compassionate, and comedic people to have been surrounded by. If my friends are any reflection of who I am as a person, well then, I must be one hell of a guy.
PHOTO ALLISON LEE
Silence interrupted by fingers smashing onto keyboards, the squeak of an aggressive dry erase marker covering the whiteboard, and newspapers littered the room as students rushed to meet their 9pm deadline. This was my first impression of Tiger at my 6th grade high school night.
I was inspired, even at the early age of 12. I admired the sedulous mindset of this student publication long before I understood the work and dedication that both staff and editors devote. I carried this work ethic with me through middle and early high school. As my sophomore year came, I applied and accepted the position as the business and ads manager.
From that moment forth, I felt empowered. Reaching out to businesses for ads, planning fundraisers, or editing provided me stimulation I rarely felt in high school. There was something exhilarating about this idiosyncratic position that relied on me forming relationships with the South Pasadena community. Being thrown into an authentic work-place position supported my goals and ambitions, allowed me to express diverse opinions, and fostered an environment for me to grow as a person.
This would have never been possible without the editors and staff of Tiger. Quinn, I will never forget your compassion and guidance in and outside of Tiger. Sam, thank you for pushing me and telling me the god-honest truth, never failing to make me laugh. Raluca, you’ve been my rock.
While my path through high school has not been linear, choosing to graduate in three years has challenged me from academics to relationships. Taking this unconventional approach has suspended me between social circles and caused me to question my own intentions and how I aspire to live my life.
This decision was not impulsive. The disguised side of my high school journey was delicately scheduling courses to meet credit and diploma requirements, as each night ran into early the morning to manage my ludicrous workload.
HANNA BAE
In my inaugural monthly spill of unsolicited intellect (or lack thereof), I’m saying goodbye to some of the people that I hold nearest and dearest to my heart. I joined Tiger as a sophomore, nudged by a certain someone on the speech and debate team, which proved to be a common pipeline. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, and becoming this close with people who I otherwise would have never talked to was the last thing I expected from this publication. Tiger has become an integral (you’re welcome and thank you, Mr. McGough) part of my entire high school experience. It consumes me, almost concerningly. The people and the memories I’ve formed and the many more to come are almost too valuable to share. Not going into too much detail on my entire Tiger experience, it’s time to let go of some of
Yet, I had the opportunity to re-wind to my freshman year and stay on the typical 4-year track, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. For years I have felt deep ambition and inclination to move on from high school, as I see this same mindset in many students from this school. To those who have questioned why I have made this decision, this is my response to you — I am taking control of my life. For me, pushing forward allows me to pursue academic and social interests, be challenged in classes, and rediscover my love of learning from a place of passion. Despite the cliche reputation associated with this, life is too short to spend years uncontent with who you are and what your life looks like. And so I begin to take control.
To highschool — leaving you is the greatest consolation paired with unwavering emptiness. Graduating is the Advil to my headache of three years of chaos and competition, yet have I found comfort in the headache being my one constant?
To the few teachers who kept me engaged and motivated, while being a friend, I will never be able to express the gratitude I will always have for you. To the friends who kept me grounded all these years, thank you. To the Tuesday night dinner parties, always. To 7th period English classes, nobody can replace you. To Tiger, it all started with you. It started before I ever officially joined you.
Thank you for showing me the quintessential moments of drive-in movies and football games or a 2:00am Winchell’s stop post-prom. Thank you for showing me heartbreak and loss as I grow beyond who I thought I was capable of being. Thank you for showing me love and sunshine and everything pure in life. Thank you for showing me that there will always be a future even when I don’t believe there will be. Thank you for the invaluable memories that will always define my life in the most unexpected ways.
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023. The hard work we have tirelessly devoted to come to where we are now will never be in vain. To those still continuing their high school career, you’ve got this. As we take one step at a time, I cannot wait to see where life takes each one of us. For me, it started with Tiger all those years ago. So to everyone — thank you. Thank you for showing me the person I want to be.
the most valuable people in my life. I send off seniors I’ve known since middle school, seniors I met last year, and classmates that I simply won’t see in room 615 anymore. Regardless, it hurts. I close off Vol. 109, No. 8 in reflection.
My rock, Kahlen. You call me thinking I’m your sister every other day, send me the most horrendous slime and wax food videos imaginable, show me pictures of pretty Korean men and you are my absolute rock. My love for you has and always will be constant, even through middle school choir, your first Tiger article on papayas, and our matching silly green men. You’re the one who dragged me into all of this, and you’re the reason I stayed. Don’t ever change and call me, even if you think I’m your sister. Michael, I’m scared to open your messages out of fear of pure propaganda of the Queen and communism. You’re kind of my biggest hater and you drive me insane. But, through it all, you’re like a brother to me and I’m unfortunately going to miss you.
To my pickle pal Allie, you mean the world to me. Countless nighttime drives and Trader Joe’s runs, and you constantly hold a place in my heart. You made me feel like I was living a teenage dream, cringe and all. Please let me stay over if I’m ever in New York. Jayden, even though we had the lamest and most stupid beef my freshman year, I’m so grateful to have been able to get to know you this year. Your bizarre sarcasm and insanely sweet drinks shaped my year, and you hold an... interesting… place in my heart.
Elsie and Michelle, a forever duo, you don’t understand how devastated I am to be saying goodbye to you like this. Even though we didn’t talk at all last year, you both are so incredibly special and I love you both so much. Through Michelle’s unethically severe love for chili oil and Elsie’s thematic Toad impression, the thought of no longer gossipping in the glass room is beyond heartbreaking. I think I will actually sue the counseling department if we don’t have classes together.
This year came with challenges and triumphs (please don’t hate me I know we use triumph in almost every single game coverage). From a poorly planned attempt at a coup d’etat, to articles I wrote in 10 minutes as a filler, to wanting to burn an entire issue, it’s the people who’ve kept me grounded and passionate about this paper. As I look back at junior year, arguably the worst and best year of my life, I look forward to senior year.
Through all of the changes in my relationships (with people and things), Tiger has kept me grounded. The level of uncertainty that clouds me is almost baffling, yet my love for this paper keeps me going. In complete honesty, I have absolutely no idea what next year entails. But one thing is for certain – the people I send off and the year I leave behind have changed me, for better or for worse. But it’s all in good spirit. I know all of this will be in good spirit. And thus, I await Vol. 110, No. 1.
A news spread in the Apr. 28, 2023 issue of Tiger entitled “Nixon and South Pasadena” contained the following errors:
In the section “Nixon and the Review”
“In his final remarks…” should have stated “In remarks made on May 31, 1946 prior to the June primary election…”
The article stated Nixon was a “then-unknown ex-Marine commander.” In fact, it should have stated Nixon was a “former Navy lieutenant commander.”
“This debate was thoroughly covered by the paper in the weeks leading up...” should have stated, “This debate was thoroughly covered by the South Pasadena Review leading up to the primary election in June...”
The article stated, “...Nixon contrasted himself with Voorhis in his various written statements.” It should have stated, “...Nixon contrasted himself with Voorhis in his various political advertisements.”
In the following sentences, “Op-Ed” should have read “paid political advertisement” as follows:
“Voorhis writes in a paid political advertisement, ‘The cry of “Communist” is…”
“Voorhis tried to pick up momentum by appealing to the voters in a paid political advertisement ‘Having no program of their own…’”
The article stated Harrison McCall was Nixon’s “South Pasadena native campaign manager.” In fact, McCall was born and raised in Minnesota before moving to South Pasadena in his 30s.
In the timeline
1946: The timeline referenced “Roosevelt” and should have specified “Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
1946: The timeline referenced the “South Pasadenan” and should have referenced the “South Pasadena Review.”
• 1946: The timeline stated, “Both candidates purchased advertisements and published op-eds in the paper.” It should have stated, “Both
candidates purchased advertisements in the paper.”
1946: “South Pasadena Middle School” should have stated, “South Pasadena San Marino Junior High School”
1948: “...conviction of New Dealer Alger Hiss for espionage…” should have stated, “...conviction of New Dealer Alger Hiss for perjury…”
In “September 13, 1946: The Debate”
The source of the following quote could not be identified: “I have observed that those who shout the loudest in favor of pork barrel appropriation bills for veterans are office-holders and office-seekers who are not themselves veterans of any war.” Nixon said.
The final paragraph reading, “According to Voorhis biographer Paul Bullock…to pieces.’” should not have run since it came directly from Wikipedia.
Tiger apologizes for the errors that made it through the editing process. The staff has made adjustments to the review process to ensure such errors are avoided in the future.