May 2024

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

IN THE NEWS

SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT BACCALAUREATE

Seniors will be presented with scholarships and various awards on Wednesday, May 29.

A ceremony featuring keynote and senior speakers and performers will take place on Sunday, June 2.

STORY CLAIRE MAO

PHOTOS SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI & KAITLYN LEE

T

he SPHS dance program held its annual spring concert in the Anderson Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18. The concert consisted of 91 total performers and 34 dances, which showcased about eight different genres over the course of more than two hours for a circus theme.

“It was either going to [be] Circus or we were going to do an animal show, and after talking with the dance captains and a lot of seniors that have been in the program for about four years, they came up to me and said that they really wanted to end their senior year doing Circus,” dance director and choreographer Courtney Cheyne said.

The show was open to all SPHS dance members. 51 Dance I students performed, which was the most Dance I participation a concert had seen.

The four acts of the show were “Welcome to the Circus,” “Magician’s Headquarters,” “Sideshow,” and “House of Mirrors.” The acts were split up with an intermission, during which cast members ran through the auditorium holding picket signs saying “Free the rabbits,” among others. SPHS’s Colorguard performed in the first act of “Welcome to the Circus” and the Colorguard coach performed in one of the dances in “Sideshow.”

“The first act…it’s about everything you see outside, with clowns, and ribbons, and concessions. Then the second act, we go into the magician’s quarters and everything that goes on there. So we had [the performance] ‘Card Shuffle’ and rabbits and a tap dancer and ‘Houdini,’” Cheyne said. “Our third act was ‘Sideshow,’ where we highlighted six dancers…we decided that we wanted to end our last piece a little bit spooky so we decided to do ‘House of Mirrors.’”

SPHS swim broke school records with outstanding times in the 2024 season. 15 swimmers competed at CIF prelims and in spite of intense competition at CIF finals, one swimmer advanced to state. VOLUME 110

GRADUATION

The SPHS Class of 2024 will celebrate their graduation on Wednesday, June 5.

SPRING DANCE CONCERT

artists included sophomore Aislinn Meza and juniors Jay Chen and Jayel Bright.

“Ms. Cheyne brought Aislinn Meza, Jay Chen, and [I] into her office to talk about the vision she had for the backdrops. Each act has a theme that’s based [on] different elements of Circus, and were all assigned to a separate act,” Bright said. “Throughout the weeks leading up to Circus, we held regular meetings to discuss the contents of the backdrops before sending the finished pieces to her for printing.”

The program began preparations for the concert in early February. During this time, Cheyne took 100 students to watch a performance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. There they learned about Horton, a modern ballet technique, which was used in choreographing the performances.

“I created a piece for this show…focusing on the Horton technique and ballet technique just to further explain and educate the students a little bit longer,” Cheyne said. “[The] ‘Card Shuffle’ piece was actually a very long project that I had worked on starting from a field trip that we went and took to see a professional dance company in February.”

The final performance of Act I, “Fallen Kingdom” maneuvered clothing racks into prison bars. Another performance called “Snake Charmer” involved multiple performers making synchronized movements.

“This is one of the best concerts we’ve ever had. I love this concert. I love working with these students. I love watching them grow. It’s also bittersweet because the seniors are leaving and I love them and miss them,” Cheyne said. “Putting this show together was a dream and I couldn’t have asked for a better cast.”

CRAWFORD RETIREMENT

SPHS Band and Orchestra

Director Howard Crawford will retire at the end of the 2023–24 school year after over 30 years of teaching in the music program.

Page 2

Tiger explores the insurgence of college protests throughout the nation’s institutions and the precarious effects they may have on students across the country.

SWIM REVIEW

The biggest expenses of the concert were costumes; the props were all handmade by freshman Talia Wechsler. Backdrop

NEWS

STORY BENJAMIN REGAN

PHOTO KAITLYN LEE

S

PHS’s Instrumental Music teacher and Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Howard Crawford is retiring at the conclusion of the 2023–24 school year. Crawford’s retirement will mark the end of his 34-year tenure with the school.

“I was in-between jobs working on a cruise ship. I just happened to see it in the newspaper,” Crawford said. “I inquired, and then they sent me an application. I applied.”

Crawford began teaching music at SPHS in 1990, not knowing he would lead the music department for over three decades. His love of music and his drive to instill that same love to his students propelled him to teach until 2024.

“I was still learning and then you have kids, say when you come in as a freshman, so you got [to] stay till [they] graduate. Next year, another group of freshmen comes in. It’s the same thing and it’s a never ending cycle,” Crawford said.

Crawford heads five bands at SPHS: Marching, Concert, Jazz, Orchestra, and Symphonic. Greatly appreciated by his students, Crawford’s retirement signifies the end of an era for the music department.

“Crawford has such a strong devotion to the band,” junior trumpeter Sebastian Thompson said. “He really cares about everyone in the band and makes sure that everyone develops a strong love for music.”

Crawford has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, including the Harold Hartsough Teacher of the Year Award in 2004. He leaves behind a distinguished legacy, having built the music department

Crawford announces retirement

Howard Crawford has taught Band and Orchestra at SPHS since 1990, transforming the program. He will retire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.

at SPHS. His immense impact in supporting students and conducting music across over 30 years of teaching can be felt by students and faculty alike.

“A lot of Band is defined by his personality,” Thompson continued. “One day our piece will sound really bad, and somehow, over one or two rehearsals, it will start to shape up. Next year we’ll definitely be missing his attention to detail and his musical touch with the ensemble.”

The music department participates in various events each academic year under Crawford. During the fall, Crawford leads the Marching Band and Color Guard who perform during football games and at halftime.

Crawford also prepares the band to perform annually at the

Fourth of July Festival of Balloons parade in South Pasadena, a tradition he maintains.

Crawford’s final SPHS concert was the Spring Concert on Thursday, May 23. Crawford’s finale will include performances by all of his ensembles: the Symphonic, Concert, Jazz Bands, and Orchestra.

“I just hope [the students] continue on to play their instrument [and] definitely be lifelong music lovers…I hope they just continue to love music,” Crawford said.

On Saturday, June 1, the SPHS Music Boosters is hosting a celebration of Crawford’s career on the Tiger Patio from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Crawford also plans on performing more after retiring.

Commissioner General represents SPHS at board meeting

SPCC Dragon Tour

STORY ZOE CHEN

The South Pasadena Chinese-American Club (SPCC), a local nonprofit organization, will take 90 SPHS and SPMS students on an exchange trip to China this summer from June 8–16. Known as the Dragon Tour, the trip is intended to be a learning experience beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Students on this year’s Dragon Tour will fly in and out of Shanghai, but will spend the majority of their time in Jiangsu, a province on China’s east-central coast.

Prior to arrival, the SPUSD group will be matched with a school in Shanghai; individual students from the Shanghai school will be matched by grade and gender with a South Pasadena student. South Pasadena students will do a homestay with that family for the first three days upon arrival.

“Host families love to share their culture, language and special activities with their USA student,” SPCC President Yuki Cutcheon said. “They take them out for special meals and cultural experiences like street festivals.

STORY ABIGAIL KIM

PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

SPUSD’s monthly school board meeting took place on Tuesday, May 14 at the district office. During the meeting, senior Commissioner General Olivia Alfonso gave the State of the School Address, a formality that has not occurred since before COVID-19. The State of the School Address is a speech presented to the SPUSD school board, and it summarizes the accomplishments of students and staff during the year for the board.

The meeting started with SPUSD school board President Karissa Adams presenting senior student board member Ellie Nakamura with a Recognition of Outstanding Board Member plaque to commemorate her service, which included attending and recording school board meetings throughout the duration of the year. She additionally serves as the SPHS Commissioner of Internal Affairs.

Alfonso gave the State of the School Address, outlining the current state of SPHS alongside the highlights of the year. She integrated SPHS’s core values of fair play, strength, scholarship, and leadership into her speech, and she emphasized sports, academics, teachers, and schoolwide activities.

“I was so proud, very, very honored to be in a position where I can do that,” Alfonso said.

She overviewed the annual Color Day assembly and the Homecoming football game. She also focused on the successes that SPHS athletics had throughout their

Students have a lot of fun with their host families. Most of the students from 2019[’s Dragon Tour] are still in regular contact with their host family.”

SPUSD students will go to a Chinese school with their Shanghai partner and attend mock classes to see what a typical Chinese school day is like. This year’s full itinerary is not yet set, but students on past tours have learned skills like Chinese calligraphy and scroll art.

“The fact that we can actually go into a school in China and see their facilities, how they go to school, how they learn — it’s really eye opening,” Marengo Chinese dual immersion teacher and chaperone Judy Ho said. “I feel like this is such a good opportunity for us to learn from a different culture.”

The group will leave their host families in Shanghai on the fourth day of their trip, and they will continue on to Jiangsu to visit historic museums and temples, dine at traditional teahouses, and explore local shops to immerse themselves into the country’s culture. In past years, students have also taken night tours on boats and been served a variety of local Chinese foods, including traditionally prepared teas and tanghulu (skewered fruit coated in crunchy sugar syrup).

DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

respective seasons. Additionally, she highlighted her experience as a member of the SPHS Leadership class.

“First I looked over the speeches from past years, and then I talked it over with a lot of the commissioners and people from clubs,” Alfonso said. “And then I put together this speech using information from different events throughout the school year.”

Activities Director Casey Shotwell was accompanied by the following members of ASB: freshman president Lucinda Ernst, junior treasurer Dylan Liu, junior Commissioner of Finance Natasha Rey, senior Commissioner of Publicity Christi Chang, senior secretary Hanna Bae, senior Commissioner of Activities Colin Wong, and senior Commissioner of Clubs Krish Patel.

The board meeting moved to public hearings, where English teacher Denise Gill spoke about SPEF summer school educational discrepancies, and Bae spoke on behalf of AP United States Government and Politics students who are advocating for increased humanities courses at SPHS.

Bae discussed her concerns that students remain unsupported and uneducated in regards to basic democratic principles, referencing an internal study that found that SPHS students felt humanities-related learning was promoted at a three, while STEM-related learning was promoted at a five (based on a scale of one to five, five being the most).

The meeting concluded the 2023–24 school year, and the next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11.

The Jiangsu Education Services for International Exchange (JESIE), an organization based in China, invited SPUSD on the tour. JESIE will pay for the tour’s meals, hotel rooms, entrance tickets, and other needs. Separately, previous donations to SPCC and leftover funds from canceled COVID activities will go towards a portion of student plane tickets. Students traveling on this year’s Dragon Tour are only required to pay for about half the cost of their airfare.

“SPCC has many past board members and membership who support many of the things the Club does, especially the Dragon Tour which first started more than 30 years ago,” Cutcheon said. “The Dragon Tour is not always with JESIE and is not always the same experience. The Dragon Tour seeks to take So[uth] Pas students to China for a language, cultural, and educational experience.”

The tour was advertised to students currently taking a Chinese class or students in an AAPI campus club in early April, although all middle school and high school students were eligible to apply. While applications are closed for this year, SPCC looks forward to continuing to host the tour in future years.

SENIOR OLIVIA ALFONSO delivered the State of the School address.

THE TIGER

ESTABLISHED 1913

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2024

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2022

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017

CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HANNA BAE

MANAGING EDITORS

ELLIE NAKAMURA, Print

BENJAMIN REGAN, Online

NEWS

ETHAN KWAK, Editor

OPINION

LINDA YUN, Editor and Online Associate

FEATURE MORGAN SUN, Editor

SPORTS

ROSE VANDEVELDE, Editor

DESIGN

EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor ISOLE KIM, Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

SAMANTHA SHIROISHI, Editor

COPY

CLEMENTINE EVANS, Editor

BUSINESS AND ADS

ADA BORREDON, Editor

KATE LIU, Staff Ads Manager

STAFF WRITERS

ZOE CHEN, Copy Associate

ABIGAIL KIM, Copy Associate

CLAIRE MAO, News/Sports Associate

SONYA SHIMPOCK, Opinion/Feature Associate

SOLANA SINGER

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ZOE CHEN, Photography Associate SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI

SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI

EMIKO ESSMILLER KAITLYN LEE

LINDA YUN

ILLUSTRATORS

SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI

HEEJOON (JOON) LEE ISABELLE WONG

PAGE DESIGNERS

OLIVIA CHIN, Design Associate

SOPHIE MERTZEL SOLANA SINGER

FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES

VOL. 110 NO. 8 DISTRIBUTED ON MAY 24, 2024.

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STAFF EDITORIAL

OPINION

Teacher disparities in AP prep

SPHS’s pattern of underpreparing students for AP exams has yet to be addressed.

AP test season is already a major source of stress for many students. However, those who have taken classes that have not sufficiently prepared them for the AP test face an even more challenging testing experience, both in sitting through the exam and studying for it.

After two semesters of minimal preparation from their teachers, some seniors have resigned themselves to failure on their AP exams. Both graduating seniors and those with no intention of submitting their final AP test scores to colleges often view AP tests their teachers have not adequately prepared them for as “not worth taking.” For them, the struggle to make up a year’s worth of material seems pointless, leading many to consider simply giving up on the AP test as their only viable option.

“It’s frustrating,” an anonymous senior said. “My junior year APs prepared me so much more, to the point where I didn’t even have to try on the AP test to get a 5. [The test] felt easier than the class. But this year, I felt like I didn’t even know enough [to make trying on the AP test] worth it.”

Even within the same grade level and the same class, the preparation for AP tests can vary dramatically depending on the teacher. Some discrepancies in instruction are so pronounced that students intentionally avoid certain AP courses to avoid being assigned to a specific teacher.

“It’s kind of restricting because it makes me not want to take an AP class just because of the teacher,” an anonymous junior said. “It feels like my options are narrowed. I would waste a period of my school year just to not get a good score. It creates unnecessary stress.”

What remains most difficult about SPHS’s system is that a student’s experience in an AP class — as well as their

experience on the AP exam — is predetermined for them based on whatever teacher they have been randomly assigned. The assignment of teachers is completely out of students’ control; if they get a “bad” teacher whose “bad” teaching habits will dictate their students’ scores on the AP test, they have no ability to switch out.

The problem is that there is no concrete, easy way to fix this, as in many cases, what makes a teacher “bad” is subjective. Students may believe one thing, while administration may believe another; however, in a school environment, the voice of the students should outweigh that of the admin.

This inconsistency in AP preparation undermines the primary goal of AP courses: to provide students with college-level academic experiences and the opportunity to earn college credit. When students feel underprepared, they miss out on these benefits, and the stress can overshadow the potential rewards of taking AP classes.

The disparity in teacher effectiveness can also exacerbate educational inequalities, as students with less effective teachers may find themselves at a disadvantage when compared to their peers.

This issue also raises questions about the broader educational framework at SPHS. There should be sufficient resources and support systems in place to ensure that all teachers are equipped to deliver high-quality AP instruction, or at least more standardized guidelines and training programs to help teachers prepare their students.

A more consistent and supportive approach to AP instruction is essential to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed and benefit from the Advanced Placement program.

2023-24 school year

BOO to boiling water. You will be mist.

BOO to Galentine’s Day. Just let them be lesbians.

BOO to seniors who date freshmen. Focus on your major, not on minors.

BOO to stand-up comedy. Sit down.

BOO to academia aesthetics. Just say you’re a humanities major.

BOO to the faceless man in my dreams. Come home, the kids miss you.

BOO to Singaporeans. Of course I’m a part of the Chinese Communist Party.

BRAVO to the colleges that waitlisted me. I love slow burn romance.

BRAVO to the Spanish department. 5/6 honors was in the preterite but I’m still imperfect.

BRAVO to women. You go through so much. (I’m 6’3)

BRAVO to me. The bar is on the ground, but I brought a shovel.

BRAVO to consumerism. The devil really does wear prada.

BRAVO to Jojo Siwa for inventing gay pop. Never been done before. Ever.

Boos & Bravos

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the

College protest chaos contradicts principles

Disorderly protests on campuses create dangerous environments that compromise the safety of students.

STORY ANONYMOUS ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

C

ollege students on campuses around the country have been thrown into the middle of the politics of a global conflict ever since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7. Students that have taken part in protests mainly aim to stop their colleges from investing in pro-Israeli businesses. Regardless of the political orientation of students surrounding the conflict, the large majority have had their education and safety compromised. These protests are ineffectively and dangerously promoting their cause while simultaneously disrupting the education of others.

The right to free speech is a valuable part of what it means to be an American, and non-violent protests are responsible for bringing about necessary change in this country. However, the method and manner of these protests extend

far past students simply utilizing their First Amendment rights; instead, activism has become violence.

Both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protestors have perpetrated attacks against other students, and according to the Associated Press, as of May 13, nearly 3,000 arrests have been made. Undergraduate commencement, the culmination of a student’s collegiate academic journey, has been postponed at many schools due to the interference of protesters. At Pomona College, the event was rescheduled after pro-Palestinian protesters encamped on the stage, costing the college around $100,000. Graduation has been canceled at both the University of Southern California and one of the main sites of the protestors, Columbia University, where it is now organized by school. For a generation of students that has already suffered through the peak of a pandemic, losing valuable education time, this impediment is both regrettable and entirely avoidable.

The negative effects of these protests on other students are a conscious decision made by the organizers. For instance, on Cornell University’s campus, protesters set up a strategically placed encampment in the arts quad intended to interfere with students making it to classes at the highest degree. The college possesses a designated space for protesting that does not affect the path of students, and the decision to ignore this demonstrates malicious intent that affects the ability of other students to learn. Using a platform as a member of a high institution to actively interfere in the education of others damages and invalidates the message that these protests are attempting to convey.

Condemning these protests does not necessarily mean opposing the political beliefs of the protesters; instead, it is opposing their methods.

President Joe Biden spoke about the protests, telling Politico that “There is a right to protest, but there is not a right to cause chaos.”

Some extreme protesters have even glorified Hamas, a categorized terrorist group that carried out a mass murder against Israel on Oct. 7. Hamas killed over a thousand innocent people and took over a hundred hostages in the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Since the attacks, Hamas has been hiding behind the innocents of Gaza in hospitals and schools. It is imperative to understand that a pro-Hamas stance is entirely separate from a proPalestine one — to be pro-Hamas is to be pro-terrorism. This support of Hamas is especially terrifying amidst an unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism across the country.

These protests have crossed the line that separates taking action and causing violence. Regardless of whichever “side” is taken by protestors, these protests have created a dangerous environment that disregards the wellbeing of anyone uninvolved. As students of SPHS and other high schools transition to the next chapter in their lives, it is essential to hold respect for the safety of others.

The medical field’s demonization of mental health

STORY MORGAN SUN ILLUSTRATION SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI

Healthcare workers experience higher levels of mental distress on average compared to the rest of the population, yet they tend to have lower rates of mental health treatment. This disparity is driven by the stigma surrounding burnout and mental illness within the medical field, exacerbated by the risk of revoked licensure as well as the professional culture of perfection and self-sacrifice within the industry — those who practice medicine are under pressure to appear invincible.

Most state medical licensing boards require physicians to disclose current or prior mental health treatment, and hospitals require the same before credentialing a physician to practice there. Consequently, after gaining a medical license, physicians avoid disclosing mental health issues or avoid mental health treatments due to the fear of that license being revoked. The American Disabilities Act prevents blatant discrimination based on mental health, but the evaluation of licensure is based on whether the practitioner is a risk to their patients, a subjective decision.

The depression rate among medical residents is 29 percent, over triple the rate of that for nonphysicians at 8 percent. Physicians also die by suicide at twice the rate of the general population due to facing a higher risk for mental illness and burnout. The COVID-19

Lately,

Linda LINDA YUN

by

As Vol. 110, No. 8 makes its rounds through the hands of grimy freshmen and uncertain upperclassmen, I look at it in reflection. First things first, this is my first column! Since freshman year, I’ve collected Tiger issues and tucked them in various corners of my room. All of that’s to say, it’s difficult to put into words the shades of excitement, gratefulness, and dread I’m confronted with as I look for ways to fill this empty box. To the graduating seniors: thank you, and I love you all so much. Although I haven’t gotten to know all of you individually or give a speech to you at senior night, you’ve all inspired me so much (as cheesy as that

pandemic only amplified that risk, with the CDC citing crisis levels of healthcare worker burnout. When healthcare professionals leave the field due to burnout, it exacerbates the workload for those remaining, kickstarting a vicious cycle.

The broken health insurance system further compounds the issue of mental health in healthcare, increasing

workload by offloading bureaucratic tasks to those saving lives. In one study, the Physicians Foundation found reducing administrative burdens was the most effective solution for improving physician well-being.

Addressing systemic issues of mental health awareness within the field of health itself can only better the quality of care and life for people in and out of the industry.

sounds) as both an editor and person. I don’t know what I’d do if I had never met you all.

Hanna: Ever since you interviewed me to be a writer sophomore year, I’ve looked up to you (though not physically). I’ll never forget the four-hour phone call we had the night top three decisions came out. If my cheesy senior night speech didn’t do it enough, all of my friends know about you and how much I admire you. You’re such a kind and genuine person, and it’s been an honor to be called your mini-me. I hope I can make you proud.

Ellie: You’re the first senior I talked to and probably the one I’ll miss the most. Tiger won’t be the same without your hugs, extremely sweet SAC room milk tea, and unlimited bagels. Even though you hold a questionable place in my heart, I love and appreciate you more than I can admit.

Samantha: How do I even begin? You’re one of the kindest and smartest people I know. I love hanging out with you, even if I only do it for the perfume in your car. You’re so considerate, caring, and easy to talk to. Thank you for keeping me in line with the photos of the month and always being there for me, whether for Tiger or Lang. I

look up to you so much and I hope I can join you in New York next year.

Charlotte and Sophie: the forever iconic duo. Charlotte, you’re one of the most eloquent people I know, and I want to be as smart as you one day. Sophie, thank you for bringing the energy to Tiger. You are forever my AP Chem buddy. You are everything Tiger stands for.

Hoping to avoid the cliche of a reflective personal narrative, I’ll try to not generalize everyone whom I haven’t mentioned. Rachel, Isabelle, Joon, and Kate: I hope Tiger has made a dent in your life as much as it has in mine. Although I haven’t had the chance to know you guys more, you all have left such a big impact on Tiger and I am eternally grateful. I truly don’t know how the paper will carry on without you all. Thank you for trusting me to be the next head honcho.

In the spirit of farewell issues, as Hanna titled her column one year ago today, “thank you and goodbye.” You all are going to accomplish such great things and I hope that, one day, for no particular reason, you’ll look back on the memories from Room 615 and think, “golly gosh, I did that.”

TAAGLAA: Memory lane

TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY HANNA BAE

PHOTO SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

I

n an effort to continue somewhat of a tradition, a group of graduating Tiger seniors met up to take a trip down memory lane in the wet grass of an oddly nostalgic Lacy Park. After far too many unanswered texts and questions as to where we were going, when we were meeting, and what we were doing, we gathered on a Sunday evening right before our last full week of high school.

Low on gas, and unfortunately but unsurprisingly money, I headed to fill up my tank and my little tote with an assortment of Trader Joe’s goods before I ventured into the Monterey Hills to pick up Isabelle. We made the journey over to Lacy as Isabelle unfortunately reminded me that we had two and a half weeks left of high school.

When we reached the park entrance, we ran into Sophie, who was frantically searching for Charlotte. Charlotte, on the phone with Sophie, was equally, if not more desperate to find any familiar Tiger faces. We finally spotted Charlotte and walked to a shady spot between a couple of trees before we spread out our blankets and opened up our food. Isabelle brought delicious anchovy rice balls, Charlotte made the most scrumptious cookies,

and I pulled out the salami, cheese, and crackers from my earlier Trader Joe’s stop.

As we settled in, we began flipping through the Marengo Elementary yearbook from 2017, hunting for embarrassing photos of ourselves — more specifically, me, Samantha, and Kate. Kate proved to be the star of the Marengo class of 2017. I recalled neighbors from my past, people I reconnected with on Instagram, and others whose fates I will never know.

Samantha soon joined us in the vast grass field, bringing more crackers and enormous slices of cheese. While we munched away, Isabelle pulled out the Monterey Hills Elementary yearbook. We dove in, finding some of our friends in slightly different poses on nearly every page.

We laughed until our stomachs hurt at the disorganized spread designs and our 10-year-old selves’ musings. At some point, Joon materialized out of thin air, joining us while steadfastly refusing to sit on a blanket. We marveled at our somewhat intellectual childhood thoughts, noting that everyone’s defining trait seemed to be their height.

Returning to the Marengo yearbook, we giggled at younger versions of ourselves captured in older versions of iOS.

Faces and names I could not recall began to bug me — how could I forget people I knew just seven years ago? As we moved onto yearbooks from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, we flew through the three years of middle school sitting on the grass, attempting to grasp at the lost time and lost eighth grade Washington D.C. trip.

While the sun set and the park emptied, we began packing up our things. We stretched our aching knees, and Charlotte, Sophie, and Isabelle squeezed into my two-door car. I dropped off each of them one by one, requiring a mass exodus to get people out of the backseat.

Driving home that night, I felt oddly sentimental. I was not always close to all of the seniors, but each held a special place in my heart. Despite not having all of the Tiger seniors present, the get-together felt representative of the years we spent in South Pasadena. Many of us have been classmates since we were four years old, and it is incredible how much time has passed, even as we are still surrounded by the same people.

Looking toward graduation in two weeks, we are closing out a significant and lengthy chapter of our lives. Soon, it will not be a childhood park we will be walking across, but the graduation stage.

Guadagnino’s Challengers : Love-all

With dynamic performances and camerawork, Guadagnino’s tennis love triangle is a a grand slam of doubles.

STORY SOPHIE MERTZEL & ELLIE NAKAMURA VISUAL SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI & ISABELLE WONG

Challengers, beyond an erotic, bisexual sports drama, plays with the idea of winning, ambition, and sacrifice through the backdrop of tennis. Filled with dynamic relationships and excruciating shots of raw, sweaty exertion, Challengers serves as a stark reminder of humanity’s cutthroat nature when victory is at stake.

The plot unravels as scenes jump back and forth along a timeline spanning 13 years. The movie opens in the present, in the middle of an intense tennis match between Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor). A woman’s attention bounces between the two players. She is revealed to be Tashi (Zendaya), a tennis prodigy retired in college after a career-ending injury, and Art’s wife. With flashbacks extending beyond the central scene, the audience slowly learns the complex, intertwined history of the three stars, reflecting the increasing erotic, triangular tension as the plot unfolds.

The heart of Challengers lies in the impeccable performances of its star-studded cast and creative cinematography. Zendaya shines as Tashi, fueling the plot of the movie and perfectly capturing the inner turmoil between personal and professional aspirations. Faist powerfully portrays Art’s struggle to reclaim his past glory as a tennis great to save his relationship with Tashi. O’Connor’s chemistry between both stars is undeniable, bringing charm and vulnerability to each relationship. The actor’s abilities to fully sell these roles makes the film impossible to peel your eyes off as you become more and more captivated in the story.

Director Luca Guadagnino’s experimental direction with extended slow motion sequences and unique camera placement adds intrigue and weight to the already tension-filled movie. While diehard tennis fans may critique the actors’ forms, it is impossible not to be distracted by insane shots throughout the film, including the camera becoming the tennis ball hurling between two players or the court floor. The grainy, 35mm film and vulnerable dynamism are reminiscent of Guadagnino’s past films, including the 2017 romance Call Me by Your Name, and surely appeals to fans of emotional, cheekily bisexual, and passionate films.

Challengers’ intense score balances a clubby sound and almost choral hymn that heightens the anticipation of watching the major tennis match. While at times the EDM feels almost over the top, the cut between that and a complete silence brings further stakes to the film.

In contrast, classical music plays in the background of raunchy moments, alluding to the timeless theme of uncontrollable desire and feral youth. At times, all the audience can hear is the sound of shoe shuffling and the thwack of the racket on the ball.

The time period is set in between 2007 and 2017 and ranges from a variety of locations. Location manager Mike Fitzgerald artfully fades the Boston sets — from Wheaton College as Stanford to hotels — in the background to represent places all over the country. The costumes, curated by Jonathan Anderson, bring the classic tennis “prep” while tastefully hinting at cultural references like Tashi’s outfit reminiscent of John F. Kennedy Jr. to represent the commonality of careers cut short.

At its core, Challengers is about winning, both in relationships and fatefully, in tennis. Over the course of the movie, the two areas become more intertwined as

the three main characters’ relationships are impossible to separate from their sport. Personal conflict becomes played out through integral career moments. A win is a win, and winning the game has much more meaning for the greater plot. The film uses backwards storytelling to avoid heavy exposition and allow the plot to barrel forward. Rather than following the linear progression of the characters’ lives, the audience is shown key moments where their lives intersect, almost always told through a tennis match and the environment surrounding it.

The film’s tension is carried by the audience’s anticipation over who will win literally and figuratively. In both relationships where Art and Patrick duel over Tashi’s attention multiple times, but particularly in the tennis matches, at all moments it feels like anyone could prevail.

Challengers was initially released on March 26 in Sydney, Australia, and is available now in theaters and streaming.

The Birkin bag: the two sides of ethics and popularity

STORY CLAIRE MAO

ILLUSTRATION SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI

Birkin bags originated from the French luxury brand Hermès and was named after the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin. The handcrafted leather bags evolved into a symbol of exclusivity, making it a prized possession due to their high price tag and rarity.

Acquiring a Birkin bag is not simple; these bags are primarily sold to customers who have a history of buying products from Hermès, and it is said to be impossible to walk into Hermès as a new customer and purchase a Birkin bag right off the shelf.

The limited purchasing of the bag elevated the prestige but sparked controversy of the sales of Birkin bags. As they made their status known by their inflated prices, some individuals brought up two main concerns surrounding the Birkin bags: ethical problems and exclusivity. On the other end, some favor the bags for their quality and craftsmanship.

Birkin bags are crafted with skins that can include calf leather, lizard, and ostrich, while more valuable

bags are made from crocodile or alligator hides. These special bags are made from exotic animals and many individuals are in disagreement with the making of Birkin bags. Jane Birkin herself wants her name off the Hermès crocodile bags after seeing a video by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showing the skinned or sawed open reptiles.

The skin farmers would cut into the crocodile’s necks and hang them upside down to bleed out. To make the Birkin bags, Hermès shortens crocodile life spans from 80 years to three. Niloticus, a crocodile breed the brand uses, are often slaughtered and skinned to produce the bag.

The price of one Birkin bag can range from $10,000 to $2 million, the result of bags being crafted from skins of exotic animals, and critics say that these bags promote elitism and limit a majority of individuals to purchase Birkin bags. However, the high price represents the craftsmanship put into making the bags and the quality of materials used.

The time to craft a bag with a single expert is up to 40 hours, and the bag is made with premium leather that

can last for decades. The design of the bag is claimed to be timeless, and inspired many designs of other fashion items such as shoes and clothing.

Birkin bags will retain or increase their values over time, making them potential investments and not just an ordinary bag. Both collectors and investors are able to buy bags now and wait until they mark a high price in future times.

The selective distribution of Birkin bags even restricts people who have the money to buy a bag if they do not have a long term relationship with Hermès.

Customers who admire the fashion of the Birkin bag often buy a replica to be associated with the luxury brand and looks. Their strict requirements lead people to buy exact copies that can be bought with half the price.

Current debates regarding Hermès Birkin bags revolve around ethics, rareness, and popularity. While some admire the handmade craftsmanship and the quality of each bag, others criticize the unethical making of the bag and its impact on the environment.

SPORTS

STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK PHOTOS CONTRIBUTOR

T

he SPHS swim team has had a record-breaking season. The Division II girls’ varsity team remained undefeated throughout all 16 meets they participated in and the division III boys varsity team placed fourth at Rio Hondo League finals.

“The varsity girls have done a phenomenal job maintaining a win streak as league champions and still remaining undefeated for two complete years,” junior captain Ethan Kang said. “The boys also had a great season, qualifying for CIF with an auto time in the medley relay as well. Every single one of our swimmers improved tremendously throughout the season, and I am proud to have been a part of the team this year.”

The Tigers have been making SPHS history with some of the fastest times the school has ever seen.

Junior Ana Mancera-Rodriguez broke the school record in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.77 at the Husky Invitational Meet held at Chino Hills High School.

“One of my highlights of this season was at the Husky Invitational where we all pulled together to cheer for and encourage each other despite the freezing cold and pouring rain that day,” Mancera-Rodriguez said.

Her performance was a highlight in a meet that saw SPHS dominate, outscoring their closest competitor by a significant margin. The varsity girls amassed 343 points, overshadowing Murrieta Valley and Chino Hills, who scored 267 and 258 points, respectively.

“As a captain I really saw how much progress we made as individual swimmers and also as a team. Everyone put in their 200 percent efforts to go faster and really every single one of our swimmers improved tremendously throughout the season,” Kang said.

The boys’ varsity team achieved a significant milestone at league finals in making the CIF auto qualification times for their relay events, a first in recent years. The varsity

SPHS makesswimming waves

RUBY MEYER DIVES INTO THE WATER during the relay at a league meet.

girls continued their strong performance, with ManceraRodriguez, junior captain Samantha Wong, and two relay teams qualifying for the Southern Section Finals and setting their sights on the State Championships. The varsity girls team won league finals by nearly 100 points, winning for the first time in several years and defeating two of their biggest rivals: La Cañada and Temple City.

Competition intensified at CIF, but SPHS swimmers remained undeterred. Wong qualified for the state championships in multiple events and broke her own school record in the 500 freestyle during the preliminaries. At the state competition the following week, Wong broke the five-minute barrier in the 500, swimming a 4:59.79, breaking her school record yet another time. She placed 25th in the state.

“I’m incredibly proud and impressed with our swim team this year. At the beginning of the season, our coach had us all write down what goals we wanted to achieve by League Champs or CIF, whether it was to make a certain time cut or just to get a nice tan, and I know that almost all of those goals were met,” Wong said. “I saw lots of improvement and determination throughout the season, and I know we made some lasting memories together.”

This season was also one of transition: new head coach Julie Burns took over for former coach Erica Sanchez.

“I thought having a new coach this year was going to be a challenge, but she was definitely a big part of our success this year. Coach Julie went out of her way to support and motivate us and really pushed us to our limits,” Kang said.

“It’s inspirational and encouraging to see how much we have improved and I am proud to have been a part of the team this season.”

Throughout the season, Burns brought a strategic sense to event scheduling, and pushed swimmers not only physically but also mentally in order to achieve their best. “Swim can be mistaken for an individual sport! The South Pas Swim Team came together this season as a team accomplishing much success. I am proud to be [their] coach,” Burns said.

Normalized abuse of athletes in the NWSL

STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK

ILLUSTRATION

ISOLE KIM

The 128-page Covington & Burling report on the staggering abuse of athletes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the longest running women’s soccer league in the United States, was released in December 2022. The report, a culmination of 14 months of research by the NWSLPA Joint Investigative Team, included first hand testimonies of sexual and emotional abuse, unwanted sexual advances, the erosion of professional boundaries and instances of retaliation against players who spoke out.

The deep investigation into the NWSL was prompted in 2021 when The Athletic uncovered allegations of sexual coercion and harassment against prominent coaches, resulting in their dismissal and widespread condemnation. Among the coaches facing allegations, one was allegedly coercing a player into sex and sexually harassing other players, while another faced accusations of verbal abuse. The report prompted an outpouring of stories from current and former players, shedding light on the extent of the problem.

Between the Covington & Burlington report and the Sally Yates report — 319 pages released on Oct. 3, 2022 — The Athletic found that all of the 10 NWSL teams to exist before the California expansion had an issue of misconduct.

The NWSL has implemented new policies and protocols aimed at preventing abuse and ensuring accountability in response to the allegations. This includes the establishment of an anonymous reporting system, mandatory training on abuse prevention for all staff, and the appointment of an independent investigator to handle complaints.

“If this isn’t a shut-up-and-listen-to-these-players moment, I don’t really know what is,” Kaylyn Kyle, a former player for the Orlando Pride, said in a commentary of a soccer game posted on Twitter, now X. “Devastated, disgusted, but I’m not shocked, and that’s the problem. I mean, I played in this league where this was normalized. That’s not okay.”

A high-profile example of this normalized treatment of female athletes occurred at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on live television without consent before slapping the athlete twice on the back. Rubiales initially refused to step down after the incident sparked national outrage, but resigned after weeks of harsh criticism.

Women in sports encounter abuse at alarming rates. A study by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) revealed that nearly 40 percent of female athletes have experienced some form of abuse

(typically sexual or verbal and emotional) from coaches or teammates.

This is rooted in several systemic issues that are still disturbingly prominent in sports. Deep-seated gender biases and discrimination contribute to an environment where female athletes are undervalued and their grievances are dismissed. Coaches, managers, and other authority figures often wield significant control of athletes’ careers, creating opportunities for exploitation and abuse, and the culture of silence and fear of retaliation deters players from coming forward about their experiences.

Addressing abuse in sports is not only a matter of justice for the victims but also essential for the integrity of the sport itself. Ignoring or downplaying these issues sends a dangerous message that abuse is acceptable. By discussing and addressing these issues openly, a safer, more equitable environment for all athlete’s can be created.

Sports organizations need to be held accountable and maintain transparency. Athletes, advocacy groups, and sports organizations must continue to push for comprehensive reforms. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with all stakeholders — players, coaches, fans, and administrators — to build a future where all athletes can compete with dignity and without fear.

THE SPHS SWIM TEAM poses for their group photo during media day.

Class of 2024

ARTICLE HANNA BAE

STEM Majors

Tiger’s annual After SPHS spread yielded 119 responses out of the 326 seniors regarding their plans for life after high school. After thorough internal review, there have been some changes to the spread for the Class of 2024. Seniors had the option of including their names in the spread, and if they chose to not be included, their information was considered in other data elements. Students who did not respond to the survey are not included in any means. Beside the names of students who chose to be included is the path each student will embark on once they graduate: higher education, gap year, work, military, or other. This spread celebrates the Class of 2024’s hard work coming to fruition in a variety of different pursuits.

Humanities Majors

Majors

Class of 2024: SPHS’s Arts Commitments

As their high school art careers come to a close, SPHS seniors are continuing art at the collegiate level. Tiger presents eight seniors who are looking forward to perfecting their skills in college.

University of California, Los Angeles Department of Art

PHOTOS ZOE CHEN, SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI, SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI, KAITLYN LEE, SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

QUINCY SAKAI

SIMONE

BRANDON GOLDMAN

SOPHIA

Class of 2024: SPHS’s Sports Commitments

As the SPHS seniors finish their high school athletic careers, many of them are looking forward to continuing their competition in college. Tiger presents 14 seniors who have committed to athletics at the collegiate level.

Track & Field Chemical Engineering University of California, Los Angeles

NOLAN ADAMS

Baseball Kinesiology Pacific University

Taekwondo, Diving History (Pre-Law) Pasadena City College

Football, Track Agriculture Production East Los Angles College

Volleyball Business University of Pennsylvania Archery Kinesiology Texas A&M

Track & Field Health Science Sacred Heart University

Volleyball Liberal Studies & Business New York University

Volleyball Psychology

Occidental College

Softball Biology, History, or Psychology Claremont McKenna College

SHELBEY

Track & Field Political Science Bryn Mawr College

Track & Field Neuroscience

University of California, Santa Cruz

Track & Field Biology

University of California, Santa Barbara

Volleyball Government Colby College

PHOTOS ZOE CHEN, SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI, SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI, EMIKO ESSMILLER, KAITLYN LEE, SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

MIA HOLDEN

JENNA GARNER

ZACHARY DAVID QUIRK

ZACHARY MARACINE

ABBY SCHOLTZ ZOYA BROWN DANICA STIRLING

HELENA FOORD

LYLA KELLER

LU

KENDALL TAYLOR SIMONE ASSAF INGRID ZAHN

Per Tiger tradition,

in

the final print issue of the school year, graduating staff members reflect on their time on Tiger and at SPHS in their senior farewells.

FAREWELLS Goodbye Tiger

STORY & PHOTO KATE LIU

As I write this farewell, I am choosing to embody the single ideal by which I’ve lived by these past 4 years. Procrastination. Literally, 40 minutes before the final deadline, I’m still brainstorming a main idea to center this farewell around. But honestly, that’s probably the most fitting way to write this final piece for Tiger. Procrastination and indecisiveness were cornerstones of my high school experience and I’d like to properly represent them. So instead of a cohesive essay, I’ll just have the beginnings of the many drafts of how I intended to start this farewell. Enjoy

Joining on a whim, I had no idea what to expect with Tiger. Coming in with about ¾ of a friend and two people I was slightly friendly with, I expected a year of solitude, a study hall with a grade.

There’s literally no way I’m actually graduating high school

If you’re reading this you’re one of the top 0.001% smartest people in the world.

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Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted Venmo: kateliu11

Shout out Tiger Squad you know who you are love you babes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!11!!!!!!!

Superheroes, senior year, and saying goodbye

STORY ISABELLE WONG

ILLUSTRATIONS HEEJOON (JOON) LEE & ISABELLE WONG

If asked to choose my all-time favorite TV show, I’d pick Young Justice in a heartbeat. Although its target audience is children seeking stimulation from a cartoon about superheroes, I can’t resist indulging in the nostalgia it brings me (perhaps as a means of holding onto my fleeting childhood).

Amongst the show’s plethora of aphorisms, one quote always stands out to me each time I hear Robin say it: “You’re overwhelmed. Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn’t anyone ever just ‘whelmed’?”

Life is juxtapositional — sometimes it’s unpredictable, other times it’s anticlimactic. For me, high school emphasized this paradox. My freshman year was an underwhelming routine of hopping on Zoom and walking around empty streets to remedy hours of legnumbing sitting. Contrarily, my upperclassmen years were an overwhelming frenzy of pulling hairs over standardized tests and trying to keep up with changing friendship dynamics.

When life is too easy, I worry that it’s the calm before the storm. When life is too hard, I wish I have superpowers like my favorite vigilantes. But as the year comes to a close, security deposits get paid, and the reality of graduating in a few weeks hits, I realize I’ve finally become “whelmed”: a state of acceptance and contentment in life. While this idea of near nirvana seems too philosophical being written by an 18-yearold, I think it’s the best answer to the repetitive “How do you feel about graduating?” question.

While college rejections were disheartening, I would never go back and force myself to do more just to appease an admissions officer whose job is to look at my application — the culmination of my hardest and proudest efforts — as a mere piece of paper.

Despite falling out with old friends, I would never wish to have not experienced their friendship. Everything that happened over these tumultuous past four years had a purpose, regardless of the outcome.

Regretting and reminiscing are two different things. Learning that difference is what senior year is about, and finding the best in the worst is the key to coming to terms with the end of high school. That is what it means to be truly “whelmed.”

Detaching overgrown canine teeth

STORY HEEJOON (JOON) LEE

ILLUSTRATIONS HEEJOON (JOON) LEE & BRANDON PARK, CONTRIBUTOR

Ihave two abnormally long and pointy canine teeth on the upper quadrant of my mouth. I don’t clearly remember when they started to grow. They grew unnoticeably slowly. My dentist advised me to get them removed, but I never did.

The graduation ceremony was on a frigid day. I walked up to receive my certificate and a hug. I took a seat. The speech started. It went on. It ended. Then the next speaker walked up to the podium and the ceremony continued. I spaced out.

When I space out, I like to feel the two canine teeth with my tongue as though I am honing a gem. I do it unconsciously. I bleed every time because of the sharpness, but I do it regardless. It’s an unhealthy habit.

As usual, I started licking my teeth. That was when I realized the fangs had grown so long that they were peeking out of my lips. They were like flooring nails: cold, sharp, heavy, and, I assume, faintly reflective.

I started breathing through the two transformed teeth. My graduation gown stiffened and became a cape.

I bit my friend sitting next to me. His cheeks fattened. His arms, legs, and torso shortened. After a few seconds, he was smaller than the chair he was sitting on. He was a baby again.

One by one, I bit everyone. The Ray Solari Stadium turned into a field of shrinking figures. Some babies cried with smiles on their faces, while others let out exuberant yet melancholic laughs. It sounded like a funeral.

Finally, I pierced my left hand with my teeth. Unfortunately, biting myself didn’t do anything. It simply hurt.

The ceremony ended.

With brute force, I pulled out my two canine teeth. I tightly held the detached fangs. I’ll reattach them one day.

Closing chapter: goodbye Tiger

STORY & PHOTOS SHIN-HYE (RACHEL) CHOI

ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

Dear Tiger Newspaper,

Joining my junior year, my first time stepping foot into room 615, I did not know what to expect of you. Leaving my senior year, now my nth time stepping into the room, I still don’t know what to expect. Yet the one thing that I know is that Tiger Newspaper is a place where different people of various backgrounds and talents come together, sharing one same goal: trying our best to produce the best monthly issues.

You’ve gifted me with so many memories and relationships that I’ll be carrying and cherishing with me in the future. You have allowed me to experience things that I would have never experienced and pushed me to go out of my comfort zone to get the best photos possible. You’ve allowed me to become someone I could have never imagined myself to be in a million years.

Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying

STORY & PHOTOS SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

ILLUSTRATION HEEJOON (JOON) LEE

Change is always daunting, especially when it’s permanent. At the end of my sophomore year, I went through a period of existential crisis over the fact that the community I’ve grown up with all of my life would fundamentally cease to exist in just two years. Everyone will go their separate ways and we will never all be together like this again. It’s fitting that this dread was sparked by my coverage of the seniors’ awards night for Tiger

I left the event early after taking a few photos because frankly, it was overwhelming. Seeing the graduating class congratulate each other on their accomplishments was immensely bittersweet, even though I only recognized a handful of names. I embarked on a long walk around the neighborhood with “A Man/Me/Then Jim” playing through my AirPods — the song that Cloe Maurer, our copy editor at the time, wrote about in her farewell a week prior. As I walked and listened, I wondered how I’d feel when I would inevitably be in this position. I came to the conclusion that I probably wouldn’t be able to handle all the emotions.

And now I’m in this exact spot. If you know me, you know that I am an extremely sentimental and sensitive person.

I don’t think the reality of everything has hit me yet, quite as much as it did back in sophomore year. For now, I’m attributing this to the fact that the days are going by too fast to properly process anything.

I’m glad that I can confidently say I’ve had an overall positive high school experience, even if it ended up nothing like I initially imagined it would be. I’ve grown into a completely different person, and I can attribute nearly all of that growth to my time being a part of Tiger Tiger came into my life as a blessing in disguise. I joined the publication in my sophomore year as the only member not in the class (it didn’t fit into my busy schedule). My beginnings were rough — my first assignment as beat photographer for the varsity football team nearly made me quit on the spot. I was incredibly shy at the time and dreaded those Friday evening games. But throughout that first season I started to appreciate how art, journalism, and sports intertwined, and I began to grow out of my shell.

This pattern thankfully continued, and now I would even call myself a relatively outgoing person. I no longer fear voicing my opinion and enjoy talking to new people, two skills I developed in Tiger that have carried over to my life outside of the newspaper.

My senior year has by far been the most enjoyable and fulfilling. Growing out of my shyness has led me to several new groups of amazing people, and we often lament not having one extra year just to be able to spend more time together. Among many other things, I will miss our brunches, road trips, and spontaneous adventures around LA with all my heart. I am a changed person because of you guys, you know who you are.

But Room 615 is where I found my true sense of self. It was here that I was able to channel my passion for photography into pieces that had the power to shape public opinion and evoke genuine emotion. It was here that I had the privilege of being surrounded by a group of intellectual people brimming with impressive ideas and nuanced opinions. And it was here that I found my second family.

In the spirit of Cloe Maurer’s farewell, I decided to title my own after a song that colored my last few months of my high school experience. “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying,” released in 1972 by Labi Siffre, explores the complexity of emotional responses over a folk guitar tune. It begins with Siffre explaining that crying and loving “never did nobody no good.” But the last verse tweaks the meaning of the entire song: “Lying never did nobody no good, no how / So why am I lying now?”

Nak nak! Who’s there? — The graduating Class of 2024

STORY ELLIE NAKAMURA ILLUSTRATION CONTRIBUTOR, QUINCY SAKAI

T wo years ago, I joined Tiger with the intent of surrounding myself with creators of similar passion and sharing my perspectives with a greater community. Well, that’s actually a lie. Noah Kuhn, Hanna, and Charlotte had been pushing for me to apply for Tiger and I, their loyal follower, did. Conceptually, I’ve loved Tiger. I’ve loved the people I’ve met, the writing I’ve been pushed to produce, the feeling of pride after each issue is printed and distributed. But for every moment of gratitude, there are moments of regret. Being in charge of print was an honor, but a responsibility I did not carry out the way this publication deserved. To be entirely honest, my common absences held the paper back. Perhaps it’s self-important to say so, but I truly thought being in this position could help me change things for the better. I went into it wanting to unite staff and editors, which had been a struggle in the past. I knew there were people that didn’t think I deserved the position, and people that resented that I held it. We were constantly measuring our improvement off something that simply wasn’t good, thus making any growth away from the difficulty of the prior year look like a shining achievement.

I don’t regret being in Tiger, but I cannot help feeling guilty for not being as capable as I should’ve been. When I thought about what I wanted to write about for my final piece and we introduced the idea of a TAAGLAA of just seniors, I could not stand the idea of being in a car with the majority and felt incapable of sharing the same feelings of nostalgia. Since second semester, I’ve been counting down the days until I can escape and ideally never come back (just kidding). Yet, as I’m finishing this farewell the day we’re meant to send this to the printer, I cannot help but feel a sense of loss. I’m spending my last couple weeks with the knowledge that when I walk out of Tiger for the last time, something will irreversibly change and I will no longer have the same connection to them as “people that share the same class” (a similarity that doesn’t sound as nearly meaningful as it seems). I honestly

don’t know how to feel. But instead of regret, let’s end on a better note: appreciation.

To Ms. Hames — a pillar of Tiger and consequently my life, I am incredibly grateful for the kindness, generosity, and direction you supplied us with. I’ll miss the reward baguettes and even the dreaded beach ball.

To my freshmen — Claire, Abby, Zoe, and Sunny — while I never did the quintessential “walking the freshmen to class” or inquired of the location of my hugs, the joy you brought defacing the Tiger whiteboard, random giggling in the back of the class, and incredibly thoughtful, artful writing, illustrations, and page design each of you produced truly reminded me to be passionate about my own roles within Tiger (special shout-out to Claire, I adore her hugs).

To my sophomores — Ada, Clem, Emi, Ethan, Olivia, Sonya, Solana, and Rosie — with most of you having spent our first years in Tiger together, we’ve witnessed a lot of change and growth together. As genuinely the backbone of the class (along with the often overloaded freshmen), Tiger couldn’t function without your work and the snacks Clem always brings. Extra love to Rose and her mom for bringing my forgotten headphones. I’ll be watching you all with so much pride and happiness. As you continue your personal journeys, with or without Tiger, do not forget to chase your passions and have the courage to leave environments that do not suit you.

To my juniors — Linda, Ben, Morgan, ISOLE!!, and Kaitlyn — You know, I know, we all know you have a special place in my heart. Of anything in Tiger, I’ll miss Linda’s berating, her piano serenades and daily questioning whether I had any food, my daily “squash Morgan like a pillow”, Ben’s selfies, ISOLE (just as a person) as our constant illustrating queen, and Kaitlyn’s awe-inspiring photos. Linda, you are going to do great things as EIC. I’m afraid to admit how proud I am of you and how much I’ll miss you and Morgan the light of my life. I love you all so much!

And to my seniors — Charlotte, Isabelle, Hanna, Joon, Samantha, Rachel, Sophie and Kate — while I cannot deny the detachment I put upon myself, I will always recognize our hard work that has finally brought us to the end. I hope to see you all accomplish your passions and ultimately be happily content with your lives. You are all incredibly skilled and spirited, and I’m grateful to have spent my final year among you all. I’ll be looking out for you at the next reunion.

Mamma Mia! Here I go again...

STORY SOPHIE MERTZEL

ILLUSTRATION

ELLIE NAKAMURA

In my minimal time on Tiger, and my even more minimal time writing, I have generally stayed detached. I love media, so it is often where I reside, but the end of these four years is less High School Musical than I might have imagined.

Mamma Mia is a fantastically fun musical and movie about how the people of a Greek island are only capable of expressing emotion through ABBA music. This is a bit misleading, but in my opinion it is the core of the film. The “true” plot, follows Sophie, no relation, in the days before her wedding. She desperately wants to know who her father is so he can give her away on the big day.

Mamma Mia’s plot hinges on gender roles, but it is an out-of-the-box movie, with, by the end, out of the box dynamics. On the one hand, there is only one explicitely gay character, and barely. On the other hand, Sophie ends this film with four parents, none of whom suggest a DNA test to find her father. Not to spoil a movie almost as old as I am, but on the day of her wedding, Sophie chooses Donna, her mother, to give her away. It is a show of love, a dedication more to each other than to the conventions of weddings.

This is a movie about being in love and being lost. It’s a movie about dancing and dads. God, I love it. For those who are wondering, yes, Rosie is my favorite character, and yes, Pierce Brosnan singing “SOS” is my favorite rendition. In honor of one of the great loves of my life, disco, I will have ABBA assist me in saying farewell.

“Slipping through my fingers.” Watching the senior countdown come to zero has been bittersweet. I feel I have been waiting for this moment for at least a year now, and while I am without a doubt ready to go, it hurts much more to leave people behind than it does to leave this school. To those who I cannot bear to say goodbye to, a topic we have been both avoiding and bringing up for seven months now, I love you, and it is not a goodbye, just something new.

“Dancing Queen.” To Charlotte Dekle, light of my life, you are the reason I joined Tiger in the first place and you gave me the courage to write. If you were not the light of my life, your column would be, and I cannot express how much joy I feel when you would ask me to read them. Even after all the time we spend shaking our fists in the air at this god forsaken publication, I’ll adore

it because of you. Thank you for being my everything, and granting me the pleasure of being your gopher.

“The Way Old Friends Do.” Thank you for getting me through high school. The frequent days I could not bear to step foot on campus were made so much better by lunches, eye roll looks, emails, and our bits. Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing. This one is not a goodbye, not yet.

“Our Last Summer.” This is my favorite ABBA song. My name may not be Harry, and I can barely play the guitar. I do not know what to do with the idea of my last summer. No summer school to complain about and an extra few weeks is nothing to scoff at, but I fear change almost as much as I look forward to it. My last high school summer

is also the first of a different existence. I may not be as good as new (IYKYK), but my hope for joy is. I can only pray, to Meryl Streep, obviously, that once I leave 1401 Fremont Ave., the change will be positive.

“Tiger.” Who knew ABBA had a song called “Tiger”? Not me — it must be fate. I have plenty to thank this publication for. To the Tiger members, thank you for being my friends, from those who I have known since middle school, to the staff writers I had the pleasure of meeting this year. Thank you for tolerating the amount I share my opinion and beg you to copy my pages.

Unfortunately, I am not dramatic enough to set off on a boat singing “I have a dream.” So, farewell, I send all my love.

PAGE DESIGN SOPHIE MERTZEL

It’s me, I am Holden Caulfield

STORY CHARLOTTE DEKLE ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”

Those are the closing lines of everyone’s favorite AP Lit read, The Catcher in the Rye. These words have newfound relevance for me as I near the end of my time at the high school. Of course, what Mr. Caulfield meant was not literal mutism; he speaks of the difficulty of breaking bonds. If you become vulnerable with others, you start to form stronger connections; so when the time comes for you to inevitably move on, the severing of these ties can

wound and it may sometimes seem easier to have never been vulnerable at all.

Graduation always seemed so distant, like a detached reality that I would never truly experience. Because of this idea, I had never really considered what my life would be like without high school and, in this case, without Tiger Tiger was my first foray into self-expression through writing, a window into a new world of journalism and creativity. To be honest, after my premature ejection from the paper, I really missed it. I felt like I had found my people and my place; I had been vulnerable in composing my thoughts and feelings into a public space and felt that this pain of letting go was for nothing. This all changed when I got my column.

In these columns, I ventured to be able to tell the reader about myself. In my regular articles (of which I counted 26), I at least had some distance between myself and the topic. The column (of which there are 16) forced me to share aspects of myself with others. To borrow Caulfield’s parlance, I told everybody everything. There was no vestige of separation between myself and my column, it was all me. I realized that this vulnerability was worth it when people reached out to say they enjoyed my columns, and, yes walking away from that is painful but I find solace in the idea that this vulnerability was worth the pain of the separation.

I shall move onto the Alanis Morrisette “Thank U” section.

Thank U to Miss Editor-in-Chief herself, Hanna Bae. Hanna Bae is a singular talent, and watching you shepherd this paper into the majesty that it is today has been a great joy. Thank you for not only being an iconic EIC, but also an iconic Freshman and Senior Class Officer. I will miss you and your radiance dearly.

Thank U to Sophie Mertzel. Where do I begin? You are the love and light of my life. I love watching you rant about page design (even though you’re amazing at it, as you are with everything), the Tiger bureaucracy, and everything under the sun. Thank you for being you. Moreover, thank you for being my friend.

Thank U to every staff member who has been on Tiger during my tenure. From the editors my sophomore year (especially my idol Georgia Parsons) who shaped me into the writer I am today to the wondrous staffers this year who have created a paper of the utmost quality despite setbacks. To the next generation of Tiger staffers, just know that this paper is a beast to produce, but the invaluable experience is worth it.

I thought I would be ready to write my farewell. I have spent the past two years trying to coalesce my high school experience into coherent columns, and I hope that I succeeded. But more than hoping that the columns were enjoyable to read, the creation of them was a valuable exercise in vulnerability and care. Now I feel that I have let everyone in Tiger’s readership into my internal world. In that way, I told everybody everything and because of that, I will miss everybody. Sorry, Holden, that’s a good thing.

The end of my beginnings

STORY HANNA BAE

PHOTO ISABELLE WONG

Goodbyes have never been, and will never be, easy, yet I’ve found myself saying too many recently. I’ve been thinking about how I’ll bid farewell to my last 16 pages of Tiger and how I’ll leave behind room 615 for far too long. Each year, I skimmed through the farewells, unable to fathom how I could possibly live up to all of my intellectually and emotionally mature predecessors. But, it’s time. I ended my last column with how goodbyes come in waves. To me, this goodbye is a tsunami.

It wouldn’t be too bold to say that Tiger completely changed my life. I had no idea of what I wanted to do in high school, much less with my life. I experimented, trying out online speech and debate events in a blazer that was too small, trying to navigate bleak restaurant fundraisers as class treasurer (long live the $4 we made at Menchies), and trying not to completely lose my mind sitting in front of a computer at home. I joined Tiger unsure of what to expect. What even is journalism anyways?

It didn’t take long for this little paper to become, dangerously, my biggest passion. Three years isn’t a lot of time, but I’ve discovered more about myself on these very pages than I could have possibly imagined. I’ve learned that I’m a very goal oriented person. I’m an Oxford comma enthusiast, I have a knack for seeing when a column is a pica off, I’m oozing with school spirit. And ultimately, I’m a journalist.

I’ve come to learn that everything that I hope to change, wherever and in whatever form it may be, starts with conversation. The media is the voice and informant of the people, and that is an incredible strength that lies in the hands of each and every journalist, one that must certainly never be taken for granted. It’s a privilege, a right, and a power that comes with integrity and balance. My only hope is that that principle has made its mark during my time on Tiger

My time in high school, and especially in Tiger, has felt long and tumultuous, but I like to think that all of it was worth it. I have too many people to thank and it would take me all 16 pages to express my gratitude towards individuals, but I’ll try to keep it brief as I limit myself to the space on this page:

The editors from 2021–22, for humbling me beyond comprehension. You still stand as my metric for comparison, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be as cool as

you. You taught me everything I know, and for that, I’m forever indebted.

THE group (you know who you are), for always being there. Despite most of you being a year older than me, you all hold me together in every way possible. Thank you for giving the sophomore a chance, I hope I made you proud.

Seniors, for taking a leap of faith. Whether you’ve been here for 10 months or three years, we did that. Thank you for trusting me as your EIC, but more importantly, as your classmate. You all hold an exceptional place in my heart. See you on the other side.

Every Tiger staff member from 2021–24, for being my biggest supporter and biggest critic. Everyone I’ve had the

privilege of working with, you’ve shaped me into who I am today. Regardless of if you loved me, hated me, or found yourself somewhere in between, you’ve made a difference in my life. I can only hope I made a difference in yours.

As I close out Vol. 110, No. 8, I pass on the torch. Linda, I know you will keep this aging publication alive. I don’t have a single doubt that Tiger is in good hands. Call if you need me.

It’s here that I say my final goodbye. To every single person who has read Tiger Newspaper, thank you for keeping me going. Whether I made you angry, surprised, disappointed, proud, excited, or indifferent, you’re the reason I wrote and will keep writing. I owe everything to all of you.