Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 8
The distribution of the 2025 yearbook begins on Friday, May 23 and ends Wednesday, May 28.
SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
The annual assembly will be held in the main gym from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.
r. Angela Elizondo Baxter is the new South Pasadena Unified School District superintendent, following the retirement of previous superintendent Dr. Geoff Yantz.
The district began the search for a new superintendent at the start of the year, when Yantz’s retirement was announced on Saturday, Jan. 18. A public welcome reception was hosted at the district board office on Tuesday, May 20, aiming to help South Pasadena’s community, board members, and Baxter connect.
“This is a thriving, vibrant school district, so I’m here to support all the good work in [the] South Pasadena Unified School District,” Baxter said. “I’m here to listen, learn, reflect, and lead. I am bringing my values in valuing public education and noting that every student is worthy of investment.”
Marking 30 years working in public education, Baxter will start her term as SPUSD superintendent on July 1 of this year. At the start of her career, Baxter was a teacher in Texas before moving to California. In California, she served various roles,
Tiger examines students’ disregard for an underappreciated presence on campus — SPHS’s janitorial staff — and the challenges it has created for both staff and students.
Page 3
Finals start on Friday, May 30. The graduation ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 4.
including an instructional coach, a professional development coordinator, and an adjunct professor. Before her new position in SPUSD, Baxter served as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in Culver City, California.
Baxter aims to build on SPUSD’s work by first introducing herself to the public and reflecting on her goals for the community. She hopes to support the wants of the district with her background in leadership and public education as well as her guiding belief that all students are worthy of investment.
“In order to implement anything that’s worthy of change you have to learn the inside out of the South Pasadena Unified School District,” Baxter said. “That’s going to be the most important thing that I do initially — meeting all of you, being in your classrooms, being in your schools, and getting to know everybody that we serve.” Baxter has embodied her goal of being accessible to the people by attending several local events, academic and otherwise, since her employment in South Pasadena.
“Hopefully, [Baxter will] think of this as her home … let’s welcome her as a family member to our South Pasadena Community,” outgoing SPEF president and Special Needs Committee chair Grace Kung said.
Tiger analyzes the connections between homophobia and other oppressive systems such as misogyny as it evolved from a more extensive historical precedence.
qualified for Division I for the first time in SPHS history. In addition, the team has a spotless 8-0 league record. Read the highlights of their season here.
STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR
SPHS’s Speech and Debate seniors went out big in the 66th annual California High School Speech Association State Tournament, a three-day event hosted at Culver City High School from Friday, May 2, through Sunday, May 4.
SPHS sent the most contestants in the school’s history in 2025, according to Speech and Debate advisor Christopher Herrin. Participants included senior Samuel Whitman in Congressional Debate and two pairs in Parliamentary Debate: seniors Elisa Argus and Kasra Ghaffari, and seniors Paige Tang and Emilio Lois.
Argus and Ghaffari placed 26 out of 63 total teams in Parliamentary Debate. Tang and Lois’s achievement is a milestone for SPHS, as the pair have become the first State Champions in SPHS history.
“This is our final chance just to go all out. We really had nothing to lose at the end of the day,” Lois said.
SENIORS EMILIO LOIS AND PAIGE TANG won first place in Parliamentary Debate at the Speech and Debate State tournament.
Congressional Debate, a mock chamber of 15 students each in six rooms, simulates the U.S. legislature by drafting bills and solutions before debating and voting on them. Thirty students will then advance to the semifinal round and 15 go to finals. On the other hand, Parliamentary Debate announces a mockproposal to two teams of pairs, 20 minutes beforehand, for them to research before for an assigned side — affirmation or negation. Parliamentary Debate stresses strong argumentation skills, analytical skills, and flexibility.
Tang and Lois’s preparation for the event included juggling academics with their passion for Parliamentary. Mainly, the pair self-ran practices before, during, or after school for two to three hours every other day with Herrin facilitating it. In addition, AP U.S. History teacher Oliver Valcorza, a former high school debater,
offered guidance for the Speech and Debate team’s performance. During the meetings in either Herrin’s or Valcorza’s classroom, a common exercise included debating about various topics between two teams.
Tang and Lois’s placement at third last year in Parliamentary Debate for State also helped them attain experience with researching and constructing ideas for next year. After competing in numerous competitions, the graduating seniors now focus on passing on their knowledge to rising underclassmen.
“Hard work pays off … learning from wins and losses is really important,” Herrin said. “They’ve taken that knowledge and they’re able to get first place in state, but more importantly, they’re passing down their knowledge to future speech innovators … [it’s] really cool, it’s really important, and it’s what makes our program special.”
STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME
PHOTO CONTRIBUTOR
South Pasadena joined in the 44th annual Spring Congressional Art Competition, which awards those who display outstanding artistic achievements with scholarships. The competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute, is sanctioned by the U.S. House of Representatives, which lets the 430 House members hold a contest in their respective districts. South Pasadena is in California’s 28th district and joins Judy Chu’s contest. Such a prized reward is offered in hopes of promoting the growth of young artists and garnering more attention to their work,
STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY
SPHS Instrumental Music presented its annual 2025 Spring Concert in the Anderson Auditorium on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Orchestra, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band performed 10 pieces they had played in previous competitions. Director of Orchestra Jorge Padrón conducted the orchestra and the combined ensembles for the finale, while Director of Bands Tim Orindgreff conducted the Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band.
Orchestra performed first, beginning with a rendition of Mozart’s “Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 138.” The student instrumentalists utilized various violins,
as Congress members and thousands of tourists will walk through the tunnel and appreciate the art.
The competition started in 1982, allows any high school student to enter, and has welcomed over 650,000 submissions since then. Submissions may be digital art, traditional art, or photography, and works must be completely original.
Chu announced the 2025 competition’s results in an awards ceremony at Pasadena Elks Lodge on Sunday, May 10. Senior Jay Chen earned fourth place, and juniors Abigail Hillman and Sven Leu followed up with honorable mentions. Overall, SPHS displayed more than 70 unique works of art or photography at the competition.
SPHS students were encouraged by visual arts teacher Aimee Levie-Hultman to compete in the competition during the application and preparation window. With the students beginning to apply for the competition, some took advantage of its open structure. Leu and Hillman turned in their favorite works of all time for the occasion. Chen created an original piece for the competition, experimenting with water coloring and learning to create balance and depth over the course of a year with the painting.
Leu’s traditional submission, titled Duomo de Florencia, depicts the exact cathedral located in Italy. When choosing which piece to select as his best, Leu found that the piece drew out his knack for the intricate details of a setting, drawing the viewer into the experience.
violas, and cellos to execute the music. Junior principal viola player Yusei Izumi chose “Viola Concerto in D major, Op. 1” by Carl Stamitz as the second song and played the song’s solo.
Jazz Band followed up with their rendition of “Theme from Sesame Street” arranged by Dennis Diblasio. Seniors Emilio Lois and Owen Pettersson led the solos on trumpet and drums, respectively. Next, the band played “Birdland” by Joe Zawinul, with senior Kasra Ghaffari leading on bass and junior Riley Yoshimura leading on tenor saxophone. Jazz Band’s last song was “Get Out and Stay Out” by Ian McDougall, featuring freshman Ronan Selsby on trumpet and Yoshimura on tenor saxophone.
“It is so much fun to play with the people in Jazz Band,” senior Jazz Band guitarist Joao Schilling said. “Sometimes what keeps me coming back to school in this post-AP senioritis is Jazz Band because I have so much fun playing.”
Concert Band performed David Gillingham’s “At Morning’s First Light” following Jazz Band, which previously received a unanimous superior rating (the highest rating that can be given to a performance) in a past competition. Then,
Hillman submitted two oil paintings. One work, The Critical Eye, placed her fourth in the district. The drawing drew on her experience as a ballet dancer and depicted the impact of negative body images on oneself. It was Hillman’s first attempt at painting a human.
“I am a serious ballet student, so this painting was inspired by my experience with excessive self-criticism and body image … but the hardest part was planning the concept and message behind the painting and deciding how to communicate that without words,” Hillman said.
Chen challenged himself to use BLANK, an unfamiliar artistic medium, when creating his self-portrait. The reflective work asks others what they want to take away when viewing a piece of themselves.
“For now, [art] is more of a meaningful hobby,” Chen said. “I’m not sure what I aspire to be, but I hope to stay creative — through art or other forms — and live a life authentic to myself.”
The district winners will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol in Washington — the most traveled path from the U.S. House of Representatives to the U.S. Capitol.
“Art doesn’t always need a fixed or profound meaning, it can simply be enjoyed,” Chen said. “Viewers [should] feel the freedom to enjoy artworks without feeling pressured in trying to uncover a deeper meaning.”
the band played “The Beatles: Love” — an instrumental mashup of famous The Beatles songs — arranged by Jay Bocook. During the rendition, the audience sang along during the instrumental of “Hey Jude.”
Symphonic Band then played a version of “The Falls” by Rossano Galante, which had also received a unanimous superior rating. Their second song was “Michael Jackson Tribute” arranged by Victor Lopez. Similar to “The Beatles: Love,” the tribute included the instrumentals of famous Michael Jackson songs.
The finale featured the combined ensembles of Orchestra and Band performing a selection of songs from the musical Les Misérables — composed by ClaudeMichel Schönberg and arranged by Bob Lowden. The concert closed with the SPHS alma mater, conducted by Lois. The audience gave a final round of applause and then filed out as the curtains closed.
The event was followed by a banquet for the performers the next day on Friday, May 16. At the banquet, new officer positions were announced, along with teacher and national awards, to close the school year.
ESTABLISHED 1913
NSPA FIRST CLASS 2025
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2024
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
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LINDA YUN
MANAGING EDITORS
BENJAMIN REGAN, Print
CLEMENTINE EVANS, Online
SONYA SHIMPOCK, Associate
NEWS
CLAIRE MAO, Editor
OWEN HOU, Associate
OPINION
SONYA SHIMPOCK Editor
RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN, Associate
FEATURE MORGAN SUN, Editor
RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN, Associate
SPORTS ZOE CHEN, Editor
GAVIN BARTOLOME, Associate
DESIGN
OLIVIA CHIN, Editor ISOLE KIM Editor LANAH KIM, Associate
PHOTOGRAPHY
EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor
HELENA EASTERBY, Associate
COPY
ZOE CHEN, Editor
ETHAN KWAK, Editor
SOLANA SINGER, Editor EVELYN DIAZ, Associate
STAFF WRITERS
TRISHA CHAKRABORTY EVELYN DIAZ
CHRISTIANNE DULEY RUBY FOUDY
ISABELLA JONASEN
PHOTOGRAPHERS
ZOE CHEN
SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI KAITLYN LEE
MADELINE MADRIGAL MAC SHROPSHIRE
ILLUSTRATORS
SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI KAITLYN LEE
MADELINE MADRIGAL MAC SHROPSHIRE
PAGE DESIGNERS
HANA OBERLANDER,
BUSINESS AND ADS MANAGER
CHLOE LUONG, Staff Ads Manager
VIDEOGRAPHER HELENA EASTERBY FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES
VOL. 112 NO. 8 DISTRIBUTED ON MAY 23, 2025.
DISTRIBUTION: 1460 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.
TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE ADVANCED JOURNALISM
NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030. LAYOUT AND PHOTO IMAGING ARE COMPLETED ON-SITE.
SIGNED ARTICLES APPEARING IN TIGER REPRESENT THE WRITER’S OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE STAFF, STUDENT BODY, FACULTY OR
ADMINISTRATION OF SPHS. ORIGINAL STORIES WILL CARRY BYLINES, ALTHOUGH STORIES REWRITTEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL WRITER WILL NOT RECEIVE ONE. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE ONE. CONTACT THE PUBLICATIONS OFFICE AT (626) 441-5 820 EXT. 2615 BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M. FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. TIGER WELCOMES ARTICLES, LETTERS OR REBUTTALS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS. ALL LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIABLE, BUT NAMES WILL BE WITHHELD UPON REQUEST.
TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS/ENABLES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET AND REACH GOALS, AND WORK COOPERATIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. TIGER IS A FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE SPEECH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA ED CODE 48907. ALL REMAINING CURRENT TIGER NEWSPAPER POLICIES ARE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM INCLUDING: CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
Over the past year, the amount of trash left around campus has noticeably decreased — and that is no accident. While South Pasadena High School students have made efforts to help keep the school clean, the credit belongs largely to the custodial staff, who have worked as a team to tackle daily messes, reinforce consequences, and reward respectful behavior.
“The past year [the amount of trash on campus] has decreased due to custodians working together as well as students helping out to keep the campus clean,” Ray Alarcon, SPHS plant foreman, said. But despite the improvements, the job is far from easy. Daily obstacles like improper restroom use, food messes, and vandalism continue to make custodians’ work physically demanding and overly time-consuming.
“Feminine products daily, misuse of toilet paper and paper towels daily,” Alarcon said. “They throw toilet paper into the toilet — a whole roll of it — wasting a roll. Paper towels tend to clog the sinks and, with water, flood the floor, causing a slipping hazard.”
These issues lead to bathrooms that are unsatisfactory and nonfunctional. When a toilet is clogged, the restroom has the potential of being closed for the day. This negatively impacts students trying to go to the restroom, especially those trying to go within the 5-Star time limit, and those trying to go to a crowded bathroom during brunch or lunch.
Another growing issue has been vaping on campus. While it may not directly affect the janitorial staff, it does force them to close down restrooms as administrators investigate, limiting student access and adding to custodial oversight.
Still, the staff remains hopeful and proactive. They have put systems in place to correct student behavior when needed. These include giving verbal warnings, using caution tape and cones to block off problem areas, and even removing privileges when necessary.
However, an escalating disregard from students for cleaning up after themselves makes custodians’ jobs increasingly harder, especially when they’re understaffed and overstretched.
Students must treat staff with basic decency and feel a sense of responsibility and clean up after themselves, since students behavior can have a terrible effect, poor actions negatively impact not just the person responsible but the entire school community by creating a disruptive environment. The amount of trash left on school grounds has been so excessive that the custodial staff has resorted to taking away lunch tables from students.
“There’s various things,” Alarcon said. “First, we give them a warning. Secondly, we caution out the area. And thirdly, if they still resist, then we take the table away. It impacts the students because now they have nowhere to sit.” According to staff, at least eight tables have been removed due to repeated misconduct — with sophomores losing two tables for the entire year.
While consequences are not severe in high school, there are bound to be repercussions in the real world. Students who disrespect and fail to follow school rules may struggle to build professional relationships with future employers and employees. Inconsiderate actions in a work setting make it harder to be liked by supervisors and more susceptible to being suspended or even fired.
Despite these challenges, custodians continue to show appreciation for students who help out. In fact, some custodians even reward students who always go out of their way to clean up after themselves.
“I go around rewarding the students with ice cream,” Alarcon said. “I appreciate them, and I thank them.”
At the heart of the custodial team’s message is a simple request: respect the campus and each other. Whether it is picking up after lunch, disposing of trash properly, or using the restroom responsibly, the little things make a big difference.
BOO to pictures in TikTok comments. I DO NOT want a macaron.
BOO to Kanye. PLEASE take your meds.
BOO to finals week. Might be my final week fr.
BOO to buzz cuts. You look bald, not beautiful.
BOO to effort. That’s all you get.
BOO to moonbeam ice cream. Put your jeans back on Benson.
BRAVO to Eurovision. Go, twink! Go!
BRAVO to toner. Baseball team take notes.
BRAVO to Piper and Capri. Huge news for the unemployed.
BRAVO to JD Vance. Augustus Gloop all grown up.
BRAVO to hood MrBeast. Hear me out...
BRAVO to middle school. The longest running social experiment.
Gentrification is a harmful process that both damages culture and also inflicts classist cruelty.
B
ig cities like Los Angeles and New York are constantly changing and evolving. As trends go in and out of style, so do certain businesses and areas. This kind of change and growth is to be expected in an urban area, and while not necessarily bad, it can become very harmful when it shifts from development to gentrification. Gentrification plagues urban life, erasing culture and imposing many classist ideals.
Gentrification is when a lower-class urban area is transformed by wealthier people moving in, which
STORY MORGAN SUN
ILLUSTRATION SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI
The drive to accumulate material achievements is one of the most highly valued aspects of a personality in society. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most destructive. For high-achieving students, particularly in academically rigorous environments, school stops being a place of learning and becomes a stage for performative ego.
Far too many people, even those who are off to college and for which these grades no longer matter, are falling over themselves to scramble for perfect grades. Students double down on AP exams, chase perfect grades, and cram unnecessary material, not because it is required, but because they are terrified of what it would mean to not do so. The pressure to get into college, to get perfect grades, and to keep up with studying and extracurriculars, is gone externally. But since students have already internalized the almost two decades worth of significant pressure, that lenience is entirely foreign. The idea of “slacking off” causes more stress than keeping their foot glued to the gas pedal, even to the point of driving off an emotional cliff.
This is the paradox of academic culture: students are trained to sprint in a marathon, and when the finish line appears, they keep running. Because to slow down — to rest — is shameful. The truth is that academic success has become a proxy for self-worth. A 4.0 GPA is no longer an accomplishment; it is a baseline. Taking a lighter schedule or choosing rest over rigor is framed as weakness or a lack of ambition. This is not just a personal problem — it is systemic. Schools are structured as sinkor-swim institutions where the fastest swimmers are applauded, and the rest are quietly left behind. And when
In fifth grade, I wrote myself a list of goals to accomplish before I started my senior year of high school. Senior year, to fifth grade me, was the highest pinnacle of adulthood, so it only followed that I’d be able to do the following things before starting what was sure to be an epically cinematic experience:
(1) Learn to drive, (2) Win an argument against Dad, (3) Get good at math, and (4) Know everything. Six years later, here is my progress, about two weeks out from the end of my junior year.
spikes the costs of living for its original inhabitants and eventually drives them out. When wealthy people move into an area, it attracts businesses that cater to that economic strata, making it harder for smaller, more affordable businesses to stay afloat. This increases the costs of real estate and basic necessities. The original, less well-off inhabitants cannot keep up with the steep price change, and are often forced to move out.
It is often argued that gentrification is a good thing; it is better for the real estate market and can boost economic growth in places where it was previously non-existent. While it has economic benefits to those who are already well-off, it is devastating for those who are not. Ignoring
the less advantaged who can no longer afford to live in their own homes for the sake of a neighborhood full of $12 lattes and overpriced T-shirts is immoral and deeply rooted in elitist ideology.
Prejudice against the lower class manifests in gentrification, where the wants of the wealthy are prioritized over the needs of the lower class. The belief that the wealthy getting wealthier justifies making life harder for someone with a lower income is extremely classist and a value implicit in gentrification.
Gentrification also takes a huge toll on the culture of a community. Many areas that fall victim to gentrification have a majority minority population. According to a study conducted by Stanford University, minorities are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of gentrification. Minority communities often have fewer options for where to move after being displaced, and usually move to poorer areas within the city.
A prime example of gentrification targeting minority communities is Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn is a historically Black area — it has the second-highest number of Black residents in an American city. Though it remains predominantly Black, in recent years there has been a startling decrease. As Brooklyn’s popularity increases, so does the number of wealthier white people moving in. In the last two decades, there has been a 22.7 percent decrease of Black citizens, about 542,000 people. Prices are slowly climbing due to the influx of wealthier, white residents, and many people of color may face displacement.
Gentrification causes cities to lose their culture, and an influx of upper-class white people does nothing for their cities diversity.
Beyond culture loss, it is detrimental to the original residents facing displacement. The only people who benefit from gentrification are those who are already wealthy, feeding into a cycle in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
everyone is trying to swim, some begin to drown from exhaustion.
It is true that academic validation is the product of a society entirely too focused on superficial achievements. The toxic drive for perfectionism stems from the focus of parents, friends, teachers, and the world on material production. However, it is up to the individual to unlearn that obsession.
Blaming the system is only half the battle; one cannot heal if one always is searching for who to blame. While it is not individual students’ fault for falling into this trap, it is their responsibility to change their mindset , and that starts by allowing failure. At some point, students have to choose to disengage from the ego trip. Letting go
of the need to prove yourself can be painful, but it’s also necessary. A fall from straight As is not the tragedy many believe it to be. That bruised ego is not a failure — it is a sign of growth.
There is character development in falling short. There is strength in saying no to unnecessary stress. And there is nothing noble about pushing oneself past the point of joy or health just to maintain an image of excellence.
Students and the wider educational system alike must rethink what academic success actually means. If students leave high school having never learned how to rest, how to fail, or how to detach their self-worth from a number on a transcript, then no amount of corporeal “achievement” can truly be called success.
(1) I’ve driven two times, which was all I required to conclude I’m a public safety hazard behind the wheel. I’ll stick to public transportation. (2) Still has not happened yet. It will likely never happen, but it is good to have goals, I guess. (3) Calculus has been the most humbling experience of my life. (4) I’m a little behind on this one.
I’m fine with where I’m at with the first three, but I still feel like I’ve somehow failed by not achieving #4: Know everything. For context: when I was younger, I was convinced that one day I’d wake up and “know everything.”
Every “grown-up” around me seemed larger than life, like they all knew some secret that the rest of us didn’t. It was almost like it was a natural part of getting older — you get a driver’s license, start high school, and then suddenly and without warning become omniscient.
This still has not happened. I logically know that it never actually will, but I still cannot help but feel that I’m not qualified to be this old — I don’t know enough, haven’t had
enough experiences, or met enough people. Seventeen is a weird age; I feel like I’ve lived a long life, but I also know that I (hopefully) have decades stretched out in front of me. When I’m in my 40s, or maybe my 50s, I’ll look back on my teenage years and laugh.
Now, however, every decision I make seems to be the make-or-break. Do I study for a calculus test, or let it go? If I let it go, will I fail it? If so, the natural next step is failing out of high school, and then probably ending up face-down in a ditch somewhere.
It’s melodramatic, I know, but it still feels so real. Every silly, inconsequential thing that I do feels so important — and, worse, I still haven’t been let in on that elusive secret that actually qualifies me to start my senior year.
But it’s happening, no matter how unprepared I am for it. So, as I finally achieve what I was so eager for in fifth grade, I’ll keep working to try and cross off #4. Maybe I’ll figure it out.
STORY LINDA YUN & MORGAN SUN
PHOTOS MADELINE MADRIGAL
Escape rooms have a dedicated fanbase but also apathetic neutrals. They appeal to a specific kind of person. Luckily, five of Tiger’s seniors this year are their target audience.
On Sunday, May 18, Morgan, Isole, Maddy, Nathan, and I braved Amityville — a horror-themed escape room done by 60out in Silverlake. The premise is based on the reallife true crimes that happened in the Amityville Horror House, in which six members of the DeFeo family were murdered. Legend has it that after the house was sold, the Lutz family that inherited it experienced paranormal activity.
The gamemaster led us into the room, which was a recreation of the living room of the Amityville House. It was pitch black, but I could still see Maddy’s legs tremble. We were told that we had 60 minutes to escape from the haunted house. If we did not make it out by then, we might be trapped forever.
With a booming slam of the door and a screech, we were shut into the room. The only light around us was the five candles that lit the cabinet near the entrance. We briefly huddled around each other like penguins in a storm before Isole and Nathan led us to begin searching for clues. Morgan searched the cabinet across the room.
The living room was expansive but oddly designed. Near the entrance sat two large cabinets and two accompanying wall clocks. Paintings of family members lined the walls. In the middle, a dining table with four wooden bowls. On the far side, there was an upright piano with some keys stripped of the ivory coating. On top, there was a circular wooden block with three indents, possibly for other clues. A bed lay next to the piano, which the gamemaster suggested to be “a nice place to nap” in case we got stuck. Next to it was a suspicious gramophone.
By the time we figured out an outline of the room, 15 minutes had passed. We all spread out to solve the various puzzles that had become apparent. After investigating the resulting clues from a dozen different scattered puzzles taking an additional half an hour, the pieces came together.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, we finally unlocked the door to the second room, which turned out to be a little girl’s childhood bedroom. With the light from our five candles, we deciphered the shape of a miniature tea table, small teddy bears along the floor, and a small bed. Morgan searched parts of the room and found a creepy diary that belonged to the little girl. It contained
eerie details about her life that offered clues for what to do next. After we followed the cryptic steps to complete between the two rooms, we heard a deafening noise as broken tin cans fell to the floor of the closet.
Finally, with five minutes left, emotions were high. Afraid to lose our dignity from failing to make it out of an escape room rated “easy,” we were overthinking every detail. Nathan (our clockmaster) toyed with the clock in the bedroom, until, to our elation, we heard a loud clink that unlocked a long and dark tunnel to a secret hiding place. However, to access the hiding place, we had to traverse across a dark tunnel. Morgan, ever so brave, offered to go first. Nathan followed. Isole and I looked at each other and went in as well. Maddy, however, screamed in terror. To the universe, she vowed, “I’m not dying here” (she ended up going in anyways).
In the bunker, there was no light. With our candles, we managed to see a table with a jewelry box. It became apparent that we needed to use clues from our previous rooms to solve the puzzle, but I had left them outside. With the clock ticking down, my fellow escapees became agitated, except Nathan. The brave soul immediately crawled through the fireplace to retrieve the clue, and we managed to find the solution. Inside the box was a key to the front door — Alas, we could be free.
But not yet. As Maddy and Nathan sprinted to the front door to begin our escape, the door would not budge. When they tried to turn the key, we began hearing whispers that increased in volume, chanting “Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice!” Isole and I watched as Morgan volunteered to be the sacrifice, shutting the door. Isole and I stood outside the fireplace, concerned for Morgan’s safety. However, when Maddy and Nathan exclaimed that the front door finally opened, we cared more for escaping, betrayed our friend, and made our way to the front door.
But when Maddy and Nathan finally unlocked the front door, instead of seeing freedom, they were scared by Morgan. Isole and I eventually made our way out as well, with one minute left to spare.
In retrospect, 60out’s Amityville was a fun, adrenalineinducing experience that was far more difficult than I expected. If you are looking for a fun escape room experience around LA, 60out is sure to pack a punch.
Both homophobia and misogyny developed as a mechanism against femininity to maintain patriarchy.
STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN ILLUSTRATION LANAH KIM
H
omophobia is a persistent bigotry. It manifests in myriad different ways, but a common throughline is gender-policing — the enforcement of traditional gender roles. This is because homophobia is directly linked to misogyny — the enforcement mechanism of patriarchy. It is rooted in a hatred of femininity and a rigid, if not always conscious, belief in traditional views of gender. This hatred of womanhood and femininity can be traced back to the development of private ownership of the means of production (referred to as private property), and thus, the maintenance of capitalism as the dominant economic system.
It is necessary to understand the development of patriarchy in order to understand homophobia. In The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, German political theorist Friedrich Engels lays out his theory of the development of patriarchy and uses his theory to explain misogyny. Although Engels did not do so, this analysis can also be extended to homophobia.
In Engels’s theory, prior to the introduction of patriarchy in human society, men and women occupied equal roles in the household and society more broadly. Men and women occupied different roles, but they and their labor were seen as equally important. At this point family lines were also matrilineal, and wealth was passed down from mothers to their children
Humans began to produce surplus goods and wealth as technology advanced. This gave men significant power
because they occupied the role of provider. Eventually men gained private ownership over resources, which made them the de facto leader of the household.
Inheritance also became patrilineal to preserve the wealth of men through their offspring. This necessitated monogamous relationships because men needed to know which children were theirs. This is the point where patriarchy — a society in which men hold disproportionate power and women are subordinate to them — became a societal norm.
Misogyny — the devaluing and degradation of women and femininity — developed alongside patriarchy. It is the tool used to enforce this system of patriarchy and private property. This system can only be morally justified if women are somehow less than men and thus do not deserve emancipation from a deeply oppressive society.
Like misogyny, homophobia developed as a mechanism to enforce patriarchy — and thus capitalism. Women’s liberation and queer relationships are similarly threatening to the patriarchal family system.
There is no clear structure of dominance in a relationship between two men. In a relationship between two women, there is no man to hold power over the other person. Lesbian relationships also challenge the patriarchal ideal of womanhood in which a woman’s highest calling is to marry a man and have children.
Transphobia is a similar phenomenon. Transness completely defies the traditional Western gender norms that are central in patriarchy. Transgender people
have existed for all of human development, and were widely accepted in the non-western world. But with colonialism, and the imposition of such gender norms, trans people became demonized.
Queerphobia and misogyny developed together, but queerphobia is also intensely influenced by misogyny. Many manifestations of queerphobia are born out of misogynistic attitudes. Gay men are often attacked for perceived femininity. Even just being gay is perceived as feminine, and in a society where masculinity is great and femininity less than, it is a great transgression for a man to cross from masculinity to femininity.
There is a similar, if not more intense, dynamic at play with transphobia specifically against transgender women. For someone who is perceived as a man — the dominant ideal — to transition into womanhood is considered to be a grave misstep. In this twisted patriarchal worldview, it is abhorrent to leave behind the greatness of manhood for the inferior womanhood. This can also explain why transphobia against transmen is less pronounced — that is to say that the main focus of discrimination is against transgender women. Although it does challenge patriarchal gender norms, transitioning into manhood means moving away from femininity.
Queerphobia developed alongside misogyny and was heavily influenced by it. These hateful views came into existence as a means of enforcement of patriarchy which developed to protect the existence of private property. Patriarchy, and the hateful views that it spawned are intertwined with capitalism. They cannot be untangled — one cannot go without the rest of them.
STORY EVELYN DIAZ
ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
It has been over a decade since Gossip Girl first premiered and several years since its dramatic finale, but the show’s iconic blend of scandal, style, and unforgettable characters continues to live rent-free in teenagers’ minds. More than just a teen drama, Gossip Girl became a cultural phenomenon that defined an era and influenced a generation of viewers.
Set in the glitzy, high-stakes world of Manhattan’s elite Upper East Side, the series followed a group of privileged high schoolers whose every secret, betrayal, and hookup was exposed by a mysterious and omnipresent blogger known only as Gossip Girl. Whether the audience was on Team Serena or Team Blair, the show gave viewer a frontrow seat to a life of penthouse parties, prep school politics, and designer everything.
Blair Waldorf’s signature headbands became a symbol of her queen bee status, while Serena van der Woodsen’s effortless, boho-chic fashion set trends that teens
everywhere tried to replicate. But beneath the glamorous surface of couture and cocktails, Gossip Girl revealed something far more relatable — the relentless pressure to maintain a perfect image, the complicated desire to fit in, and the haunting fear of being exposed for one’s true self.
What made Gossip Girl so compelling was not just the endless plot twists, love triangles, or jaw-dropping betrayals — it was its ability to reflect the real anxieties of growing up in a world where image is everything and privacy is a myth. Rewatching it now, the flip phones, chunky headsets, and Sidekick messages feel like relics from a distant past, but the emotional themes of identity, loyalty, and insecurity, still resonate.
While Gossip Girl portrayed a single anonymous blogger pulling the strings, today’s world is arguably even more intense. There may not be one Gossip Girl narrating people’s lives, but the presence she symbolized is more powerful than ever. With the rise of social media, everyone is constantly being watched, posted, tagged, and judged — often by people they do not even know. Instead of one website exposing secrets, we now have dozens of platforms
where rumors, screenshots, and carefully curated personas thrive. The pressure to perform and present a perfect life online mirrors the exact anxieties Gossip Girl tapped into years ago. In many ways, the show was not just ahead of its time — it predicted a world where the line between public and private completely disappears.
While the 2021 reboot attempted to reimagine Gossip Girl for a new generation, complete with Instagram drama and influencer culture, it lacked the razor-sharp writing, iconic one-liners, and deliciously messy storytelling that made the original series unforgettable. There is something about the original cast’s chemistry, the rich visual storytelling, and that addictive voiceover from Kristen Bell that keeps pulling people back in.
Gossip Girl was never just about secrets, it was about the weight of reputation, the complexity of adolescence, and the dangerous thrill of being known and watched. In the end, it captured what it feels like to grow up in a world where everyone is watching, and judging. Years later, the younger generation is still quoting it, still rewatching it, and still wholly obsessed.
The best announcers seem to bring fans into the stadium by narrating the action with genuine passion and grace.
STORY BENJAMIN REGAN
ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER
At the end of every Clevelend Guardians win, Tom Hamilton emphatically concludes the contest by saying, “Ballgame!” Hamilton is the voice of Cleveland baseball, and the architect behind some of fans’ fondest memories.
It’s estimated that the majority of sports fans consume the game by radio. Baseball in particular has a long season and it’s not always possible to devote hours to watching on television. Throughout the summer months, many people stay invested in their team by listening to the radio on their commute, and the announcer is representative of their ball club.
“Your announcers become a fabric of the team and city. They’re part of your routine,” Zack Meisel, Senior Writer who covers the Guardians for The Athletic said. “...You know every night during the summer, you have the privilege to listen to Tom Hamilton while you grill on your back patio.”
Hamilton took over Cleveland’s play-by-play duties in 1998 when legend Herb Score hung up his headset. What Hamilton has done so well in his broadcasting career is to bring fans to the action. He describes the players’ personalities, something fans would not be able to ascertain from the box score.
“[Hamilton] puts in the time to get to know every single member of the organization. Every day, you’ll see him making the rounds in the clubhouse, talking to players and coaches and clubhouse staff,” Meisel said. “So when a player’s coming to bat in the eighth inning and it’s a lopsided affair, he has some anecdote or backstory he can unveil. There’s never a dull moment when he’s on the mic, no matter the score.”
This type of storytelling is part of what made the late Vin Scully’s Dodger games so pleasant and enjoyable. Of course, having an instantly-recognizable voice like Scully’s also helps an announcer capture the fans’ interest. The longtime Dodgers brought a rhythm to the broadcast, and his voice was relaxed and mellow.
On the other hand, Scully’s successor Joe Davis is a bit more boisterous and animated. Dodger fans have taken to his style, and he has become a favorite announcer across baseball, calling the last three World Series.
There is another defining part of an announcer: how they paint the most important plays. They need to convey the excitement of the moment and then deliver a call that allows fans to picture the scene despite not seeing it. There is no shortage of memorable Scully calls, including “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened,” after Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
It is also in these moments that announcers use their catchphrases. Many announcers have a signature phrase in their back pocket that they become synonymous with, such as NBA play-by-play commentator Mike Breen’s “Bang!” In addition to “Ballgame!” following the final out, Hamilton’s
has an iconic home run call. Catchphrases add excitement and categorize a play as particularly important, deserving of an announcer’s highest praise.
“The best make it sound so natural and fluid, instead of forced or hokey. The most unforgettable moments in sports are unforgettable because we couldn’t even script them in our heads if we tried. So the best calls, then, are the ones that come naturally and evoke the same emotions we’re feeling as we watch them from the stands or our couch,” Meisel said.
Announcers are the heartbeat of sports, balancing a description of every play for the fans to understand with stories for the audience to appreciate. Hamilton does this seamlessly each night. For his broadcasting excellence over the last 35 years, Hamilton won the 2025 Ford C. Frick Award. He will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum this summer in Cooperstown, New York.
STORY OWEN HOU
PHOTO MAC SHROPSHIRE
Before this year, these South Pasadena teams had last qualified for CIF State Finals a handful of times nearly 30 years ago, placing within the top five schools at the event. However, since then, the school had not come close to achieving this level of success. In the 2024 cross country season, the teams’ senior runners marked a turning point for the school, breaking down walls and accomplishing many firsts for the school.
The seniors in the cross country team found major success, standing above the records and performance of past years. More specifically, this year’s graduating class of senior girls — Abigail Errington, Saidbh Byrne, Maya Lee, Sofia Humphrey, Amelie Geoffron, and Chloe Koo — formed the girls’ varsity cross country team, which won the 2024 CIF Division III State Championship and the CIF Southern Section Division III State title. This was the first time in the school’s history that both had been won in cross country. Along with the success of the senior girls, the senior boys placed second in the CIF Southern Section Division III State Title, which enabled them to go and place fourth in the CIF Division III State Championship. These performances not only equaled the best Southern Section placement at SPHS, but set a
new school record for the boys’ cross country placements at the State Championship.
Oftentimes, schools will have one or two gifted athletes, players, and stars, who can act as leaders, strong support, or even a stronghold the team plays around. This year, however, many of these seniors on varsity stood together at a high level, something that had not been seen in the team for decades.
So, what does this mean for the future of SPHS Cross Country? Well, a lot of things, both in the team itself, outside of the team, and in relation to a lot of the future possibilities of the team.
For one, this elite class of seniors is now graduating, meaning that others on the team have to step up to take their place.
“We’re gonna look to the young boys to show us the new way. [For] Michael [Scarince] and all the freshmen boys to take up and be the new leaders of the team, start bringing the new crop of freshmen that we get from the middle school up, and show the way and the next level of success,” cross country Head Coach Mike Parkinson said.
Although the graduating class will be missed, it is now up to the younger runners in the program, who must tread in their predecessors’ footsteps. This brings about another effect of having such a successful year: the newly set expectations. Rather than just have their legacy seen on a trophy or record, the overall atmosphere of the team will likely change — causing next year’s team to train harder with a different mentality.
“To have the seniors show the way that it can be done, that we can be up there in the top of the top distant schools in the state, just makes it all seem possible for all the kids,” Parkinson said.
Overall, while the graduation of the seniors marks a loss for the cross country programs, their standout performance leaves behind a legacy — one that will inspire future generations and set a high bar for students to rise over.
PHOTO MAC SHROPSHIRE
The 2025 boys’ varsity tennis team recently wrapped up a season filled with growth and tenacity, coming out in first place in the historically competitive Rio Hondo League. With an undefeated league record of 8-0, the Tigers delivered a dominating performance that earned them a spot in Division I for the first time in the team’s history.
This season welcomed fresh new talent with strong players like freshmen Jeremy Chen, Brendan Chew, and Nico Wise, as well as sophomore Sean Kim.
“They really helped the team out, blending especially within the doubles,” senior team captain Emilio Lois said.
The Tigers dominated historic Rio Hondo League heavyweights La Cañada and San Marino. Last year, the team split their two matches against La Cañada, but this season the Tigers defeated the Spartans in both matches 16-2 and 15-3, respectively. The Tigers also won both their matches with scores of 16-2 and 14-4 against the San Marino Titans, who have dominated the Rio Hondo League in the past.
The Tigers improved upon their standing from previous years, qualifying as the bottom seed in CIF Southern Section Division I. This meant the team faced a formidable challenge against number one seed Portola High School in their first
round. Despite set victories from singles player Kim and doubles team junior Aidan Liu and junior Lucas Cornforth, the Tigers lost in a competitive match by a score of 12-6.
The Tigers struggled at times to perform under pressure. Given the team’s youth and relative lack of experience, high stakes moments were often a challenge for the team.
“We had to work on getting those serves in on match points,” Lois said. “Making sure that we’re not getting frustrated when we’re down.”
“Honestly, I think making D1 is such an incredible achievement,” Liu, who is also a team captain, said. “We consecutively went from D3 to D2 and D1 in back-to-backto-back years. I think that shows some crazy improvement in our team.”
For the seniors who were a part of the team rising from Division III to Division I, this season felt like the culmination of three years of hard work. Compared to their freshman year, the seniors felt as though the team culture shifted to be more energetic and optimistic.
As the Tigers celebrate their historic season, they feel optimistic about the team’s improvement for next season.
“I’m glad I have another season with [the rest of the team],” Liu said. “I’m sure they’ll help carry on the legacy of this historic team.”
PAGE DESIGN LANAH KIM VISUALS EMIKO ESMILLER, ISOLE KIM, & LANAH KIM
From continued education, work, gap year, military, to other endeavors, SPHS’s graduating class has a variety of future plans. Tiger collected responses from 252 of the 375 graduating seniors in the Class of 2025 to celebrate their post-graduation plans, compiling data on where students will be geographically as well as the areas of study for college-bound graduates.
As their high school art careers come to a close, SPHS seniors are continuing art at the collegiate level. Tiger presents nine seniors who are looking forward to perfecting their skills in college.
B.A./M.M. PROGRAM IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND MUSIC FOR VIOLIN
Yale University
ART CSU Los Angeles
COMPUTER ANIMATION
Ringling College of Art and Design
ILLUSTRATION
ArtCenter College of Design
MUSIC PRODUCTION Berklee School of Music
FINE ART
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
ILLUSTRATION
Parsons School of Design, ArtCenter College of Design
DANCE San Diego State University
ILLUSTRATION
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
As SPHS seniors finish their high school athletic careers, some are looking forward to continuing their sport in college. Tiger presents 17 seniors who have committed to athletics at the collegiate level.
CROSS COUNTRY Undecided Princeton University FOOTBALL Fitness Wellness Northern Arizona University
TRACK & FIELD
Science, Technology, and Society Vassar College
FOOTBALL, TRACK & FIELD
Economics Grinnell College
CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK & FIELD
Linguistics, Speech, and Language Studies University of California, San Diego
TRACK & FIELD
The University of Chicago
BASEBALL Communications Oberlin College SOCCER Sports Medicine Pepperdine University BASEBALL Business Administration University of Maryland, Eastern Shore BASEBALL Leadership and Management Ottawa University Arizona
Economics Wesleyan University GOLF Hospitality Management University of Nevada, Las Vegas
CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK & FIELD
Biology Univeristy of California, Santa Cruz
TRACK & FIELD
Kinesiology San Jose State University
Discover How You Can Get Admitted To Your Dream College - Regardless Of Your GPA Or Test Scores - By Using 4 High-Level Strategies
How A Student Got Into USC, Graduated Debt-Free, and Landed a $100K Job After Graduation.
Ella Chuang
SPHS-Class of 2024
NYU
Chris Wong
SPHS-Class of 2024
UCLA, UC Berkeley
Colin Wong
SPHS-Class of 2024
USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley
Jack Yang
SPHS-Class of 2025
NYU
Jake Wong
SPHS-Class of 2025
USC
Northeastern (Early Action)
Ethan Kung
SPHS-Class of 2025
USC, UCLA
Logan Vargas
SPHS-Class of 2025
WESLEYAN (ED), GEORGE WASHINGTON, BOWDOIN
What You Will Learn On This Live Webinar
How our students consistently achieve top-tier & ivy league admissions results.
How to identify your unique admission theme
How to craft you student brand that admission officers actually remember
How to choose the right passion or research project that makes you shine.
Contact Information:
(626) 626-786-3522
info@collegepreppro com
How to effectively network with admissions officers even before you apply.
How a student got into USC, graduated debt-free, and landed a $100K job after graduation
And so much more.
Scan below to register for our FREE College Admission Webinar
Saying goodbye to SPHS is harder to do the closer I get to the end. All of the good memories flood back to me as I get ready to end the year. Memories of Mr. Regan’s Honors U.S. History class, and how it raised the bar for how awesome a class can be. Or memories of all my years in Ms. Levie’s art classes, and how they gave me an irreplaceable outlet to do what I love. Or memories of the very class I’m writing this for, Tiger Newspaper, and all the fantastic people it led me to. All of the lunches I spent with friends. All of the teachers. All of the classmates. All of the experiences. All in all, SPHS is a bottle of memories I never want to let go of, and I do not intend to. But I do intend to say goodbye and go on to make some new ones.
The winner takes it all, the loser has
STORY & PHOTOS MADELINE MADRIGAL ILLUSTRATION DIANA LOPEZ
When I was a kid, I read a book about seven kids on a deserted island, where each year, the oldest would be forced to leave on a boat while a younger child replaced them. One year, when it was time for the oldest to leave, she refused. I was shocked, mortified — disgusted even. If you had asked freshman-year me to leave, I would have done so in an instant. I would have hoisted my sail,
refusing to look back. However, now that I am among the oldest generation here at the school, I understand her hesitation. I don’t want to set sail to a land unknown, never to be heard of again. I don’t want to become a “what happened to…” — but here we are.
George Orwell wrote one of his most celebrated novels, 1984, with the understanding that death was very much creeping towards him. Knowing so, he wrote freely of a dystopian future without fear of the repercussions for his words. As I’ve reached the last year of my high school career and realized that I am closer now to my metaphorical death than ever before, I intend to do the same. I intend to write as a dead man, spewing words from my deathbed
1. Closure is a scam. The biggest lie they’ll tell you is that you need closure in your life. “You need to close one door to open another.” Lie. Leave all the doors open. You can go on your way with all of the baggage that plagues you
2. A fallen angel was once an angel, and regret is healthy.
3. DENIAL IS A GOOD THING. Denial has taken me far, and it can take you far as well. For the last past year, I have purposefully avoided events such as senior shirts, senior sunrise, and other senior rituals in hopes of forgetting this is the last year I have. I avoid the advent calendar outside the SAC room to forget there are 11 days left of senior year. 11 days left with everyone I have ever known, since the day I stepped foot onto Arroyo Vista Elementary grounds. How is one supposed to unlearn all that has been imprinted in your brain? How is one supposed to forget the people that have left a permanent mark where all other memories lie? How is one supposed to be okay with dramatic change that will alter anything and everything in your life? How is one supposed to be okay with all of this?
There are times where I wish that I could physically push the clock, as Sisyphus did the boulder, that I could stop the hand of time from clicking. When I dream of delaying destiny, I resonate more and more with the protagonist of the novel I read when I was seven. I understand her fear, hesitation, resistance, and denial towards getting on that boat and seeing where it may take her. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, as life does. You truly never know until you do, and once you do, you can’t go back.
Although I say I’m excited to leave high school, a large part of me will miss the people who came with it. Living fewer than 10 minutes apart, my friends and I practically PAGE DESIGN SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI
hang out every day. From spontaneous beach trips, to late night hang outs, to running casual errands, I always find comfort in the fact that I can do any of these things with my favorite people. I’ll miss being their personal barista, and I’ll miss group hangouts back at my house after a night out, and I’ll especially miss how close we all are. And for those bonds, I thank my friends for making unforgettable memories and shaping me into the person I am today. I would also like to thank (most) of my teachers I’ve had throughout highschool, especially my junior and senior teachers. Although my days were filled with staying up, reading endless pages of textbooks, and writing seemingly pointless analytical essays, this torturous routine has instilled persistence and discipline within me. Even though it was difficult in the moment, I truly appreciate and thank every single teacher for helping me build a sturdy work ethic foundation. Overall, I would say graduation is bittersweet. Yet I’m optimistic about college; I hope to create new relationships while still maintaining my current ones. Thank you, SPHS, for providing me with the opportunity to meet such significant people and shaping me into an ambitious young adult.
F or the last two years that I have been on Tiger, I found a deep appreciation and love for photography. Joining the class as a staff photographer my junior year, I expected it to be an easy extracurricular I would use to boost my college applications. However, as the year went on, I started to realize how much I truly enjoyed photography. Continuing Tiger my senior year, I not
only got to proceed with my passion for photography, but I also created unforgettable bonds with page designer Hana Oberlander and staff writer Evelyn Diaz. Coming in 10 minutes late with a venti strawberry acai from Starbucks and being able to sit outside and spill the tea every fifth period was so memorable and made my time on Tiger all the more enjoyable. I thank Tiger for helping me find the value in photography and for building bonds with the most amazing people.
STORY HANA OBERLANDER
ILLUSTRATION SUNHYE (SUNNY) CHOI
I’ve gained a lot from the past year I’ve been on Tiger. I learned to use InDesign, developed a love for page design, and met many new people. Although I first only joined Tiger through peer pressure, I’ve come to appreciate the experiences and memories that it’s brought me. Even
though I suffered through the stress of going to print every issue, I won’t forget the satisfaction of seeing the physical newspaper in its entirety during distribution. Also, I didn’t hate getting candy for my hard work during staff awards. But what made Tiger so special had to be the times I spent the whole class outside with Kaitlyn and Evelyn, playing games and spilling tea. Being a part of Tiger is something I will never forget.
STORY TRISHA CHAKRABORTY ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
My 14-year-old self would be surprised that I’m a writer for the school paper.
I remember being paralyzed by the need to get my words “right,” staring at a blank sheet of lined paper and anxiously clicking my Jetstream pen.
Thishookisn’tcreativeenough.Thisworddoesn’tfithere. Thisisaboringsentence.
It all feels so silly now, but at the time writing felt like this talent bestowed on a chosen few, you were either born with or not.
It wasn’t until Ms. Jaroch’s AP Lang class that I finally revisited my close-minded relationship with writing. The painstakingly close readings required for Big 5s and the mental fortitude required of the IRPs taught me to treat writing not only as a skill, but a muscle to train. At some point, I stopped treating Google Doc comments like a verdict and started seeing it as part of the process.
But that class didn’t just shift how I approached writing, it also sparked my interest in journalism. Our line-by-line dissections of NYT opinion columns introduced me to a new kind of writing, one that featured interviews, frequent indents, and a public audience. I began reading the news more often after I found out that the public library offered free 72-hour access to the NYT, and the idea of joining Tiger turned into reality not long after.
If AP Lang gave me the confidence (and perhaps the delusion) to write more often, Tiger taught me how rewarding the process of finding and shaping a story can be. From interviewing Councilmember Michael Cacciotti about his eco-friendly Prius’ mileage (while he wore a bike helmet) to frantically taking notes as Isole explained basketball to me, Tigershowed me how much non-writing goes into writing.
That includes all the people writing, illustrating, designing, and editing besides me. To Claire, Zoe, and Sonya: your drive and dedication constantly inspire me. Thank you for the hugs, speedy edits, and contagious laughter. To my fellow seniors: you are all so incredibly talented, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things you will all do next. And to Ms. Jaroch: thank you for teaching me that I canbe a good writer. That’s a lesson I’ll carry with me into college and beyond.
STORY MORGAN SUN
ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
At the beginning of the year, for my very first column of “Morgan’s Musings,” I wrote about laminar flow. The picture of water flowing even as it seems frozen in time; that was my experience of the first semester of senior year. Everything was still for the first time.
Everyone has heard the phrase, “stop and smell the flowers.” Even when I felt frozen in time last semester, I don’t think I did that. In fact, I don’t think I ever did. It’s cliché, but as long-winded and excruciatingly tedious (surely, I jest!) high school was, it still just seems an utter blur looking back now.
Back in September when I wrote that column, I said, “for now, I’ll enjoy my time in this limbo, moving parallel to time as long as this laminar state can last. Hopefully I haven’t left any pieces of myself behind in the process.” But I think I have. I think I have, and will, leave behind a piece of myself in every activity, every classroom, and every boba run of these last four years.
To colorguard: what I thought would be the most inconsequential, one-off activity for a semester to get out of PE grew to more than I could ever imagine. I found a family in you just as I was losing one in swimming, and for that, I thank you. I don’t thank the countless bruised knees, sprained fingers, and late nights, but I think I made it worth it. What would I do without my life-changing ability to toss a rifle? I never did guard for the practicality of it, and this was quite possibly the first activity in which I could say that. I stuck with you all for the fun of it, and
though it was scary, leaving all homework and baggage at the band room doors for three hours at a time, I can say with absolute certainty that I would do it all over again.
And since this is a Tiger farewell, to Tiger: I never believed myself to be a good writer. It wasn’t until I applied to Tiger on a whim, until I was accepted, and until I had written at least a dozen articles that I became more confident in my abilities.
My first year as staff writer in sophomore year was quite possibly the most hectic community I had ever participated in. I gambled with time in each assignment, feeling the adrenaline rush as I hunkered down in the darkroom to finish my article during deadline. I remember hearing how we were lacking staff writers, but I couldn’t comprehend anything other than the group we had then. But come the following years, and in flood more staff as skilled and responsible as this paper could hope for. I hope we are leaving the paper better than when we found it — we are no longer left wanting of writers, for one — and I know the paper will be in good hands.
As I predicted in my last column in April, I have neither the space nor time to write about “the sheer amount of highs and lows” through high school. We never do seem to have enough time. But I’ll try to slow down here. Thank you, to Emiko, Isole, Vienna, Elisa, and Linda, for giving me a reason to come to school. Thank you, to every friend who witnessed and commiserated in my panic about yet another deadline. Thank you, to my juniors and underclassmen in guard, in Tiger, and in tutoring, who show me there’s never a dearth of something to learn, even from those whom I forget have something to teach me.
I don’t know if I have learned to stop and smell the flowers yet. Maybe I’m still afraid that if I slow down long enough, I’ll fall off the rollercoaster that is life and leave myself behind to the gaping maws of the past. But even when I don’t stop long enough to smell the flowers, I still find myself leaving traces in the crevices where I once belonged. Perhaps one day I will learn to smell those flowers, but for now, I’ll move on with what once was. In the words of The Truman Show, “In case I don’t see you: good afternoon, good evening, and good night.”
STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY
ILLUSTRATION LANAH KIM
When I was a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue in college. The workload of my courses and the
struggle of adjusting to a new school environment were all I could focus on at the time. Despite the strain of freshman year, whenever I needed to take a break and do something I knew I would enjoy, I would watch a movie with my mom. It didn’t matter what genre, time period, or length the film was, I loved immersing myself in a new world and forgetting about my responsibilities for a few hours.
Sophomore year was when my parents and teachers began encouraging me to look for a career pathway I could delve into in college. One day, while avoiding my uncertain academic future, I watched a YouTube video of someone using Adobe Premiere Pro to create a cinematic trailer out of video game clips. Halfway through the video, I was struck with a realization: cinematic editing is very cool! I loved movies and was more interested in the arts despite being talented in more technical areas, but editing is fairly technical while still being connected to film. Taking all these factors into consideration, I was certain a career in film production was right for me.
In my junior year, I started looking at what I would need to submit for my college applications. For film production majors, I was required to create a video showcasing my editing, directing, or cinematography skills. After struggling to find motivation to create a video and doubting my ability to do so, I began to question if film production was truly what I wanted to pursue. I wanted to go to film school, but I was not experienced enough to create a video that would get me through the door.
However, some colleges offered a film and media studies major, which was more centered on writing and a broader look at all aspects of film. Since I was in elementary school, I always considered becoming a writer, so I finally decided to combine my current passion for film with my childhood dream of writing professionally and analytical skills.
By the time college applications opened in my senior year, I had finally found the path I wanted to take in college: pursuing a major in film and media studies. I had joined the Tiger Newspaper to further train my writing skills and began writing my application essays. Although the process of applying to colleges and waiting for their responses that would dictate my future was grueling, the wait was worth it when I got accepted to every college I applied to. If multiple schools believed in my writing abilities, then I was choosing the right path.
As of now, I have committed to Chapman University and will move into the dorms in mid-August. I am a little nervous I will have a hard time adjusting like in my freshman year of high school, but I am also excited for all the knowledge and experience I will gain. My career after college is still unclear, but I am confident I will figure it all out with time, just like I did during my time at SPHS.
To Loaf, Ava, Sam, India, and Tess, I wish you well. And have fun Claire :)
ILLUSTRATION LANAH KIM
I don’t think anything went as planned. But my MyersBriggs test results say I’m a Judger, which means I tend to organize; I ordinarily plan. I’m a planner, apparently. And I guess in the beginning, Tiger was part of my big high school plan.
I applied in eighth grade to be a staff illustrator because I wanted to go to art school, and because I enjoyed the idea of Doing Art and being an Artist, whatever that meant. After four years, drawing, I would migrate east where I could build snowpeople and paint white landscapes, and become the sort of person who was constantly making cool things, with one of those $30 underarm portfolios that I’d haul to Panera Bread and maybe like 14 piercings.
But I’m not going east, just six hours north. Where it won’t snow. And where I will not be getting a cool BFA. Four years with Tiger , 11 gigabytes of illustrations, and one very job-market-phobic college application season later, it’s weird to admit: I’m unsure if I like doing art anymore.
When I tell people this, they ask me why I stuck with it, with Tiger, and drawing for Tiger. Nowadays, I can’t lie to anybody’s face. I can’t just reassure people that it’s all part of the plan, the plan that exists, because I no longer have a plan, and this has become the extent of my knowledge.
After I killed the art school plan, I kept having to rework the greater purpose of me — someone who is not planning on drawing much after high school, and who is not always
ecstatic about drawing in high school — drawing, all the time, for Tiger. It’s a resumé thing, a creativity-is-valuedin-any-industry thing, or maybe just like a general lifeskills thing? I felt that I needed some justification as to why I was color-coding 400 InDesign cells at 1 a.m., for the third consecutive year. Being a planner, to me, meant trying to ascribe future significance to everything I invested time into in high school, to make it worthwhile, in the grand scheme of things.
Sort of like art, though, Tiger was just always there. A lot of the time, I loved it; other times, I didn’t really. I still struggle to articulate what this undeniably cool experience meant to me, overall. But I think drawing for Tiger was one of the only things I did, and continued to do, in these four years, just for the sake of doing it. Tiger never fit perfectly with my plans. Nor did it trigger any epiphanies, or make me a cosmically better, brainier, artsier person, like too many of us think high school cocurriculars must do, for ROI’s sake.
But I could never regret Tiger. I had a lot of fun. I lost a lot of sleep. I got to learn from a lot of great people. And I think that made it worthwhile. My obligatory high school cliché is that it’s really not that deep. You are allowed to do things, just because you feel like it, and because you might get a kick out of it sometimes. No big, overarching plan necessary.
I hope this gives next year’s Tiger staff, and staff of future millennia, a sense of freedom to really make the paper theirs uniquely, and to be creative and experimental, unless we’re all part of some AI hive mind at that point, because then, I don’t know. I wish my fellow Tiger seniors
all the best; you are all infinitely cool. And to those who have supported me in and out of Room 615 — thank you, and I hope it wasn’t too glaringly obvious that no, I did not plan out this farewell.
STORY LINDA YUN
ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM
In its 112 years of existence, Tiger Newspaper has been a lot of things — exclusive and intimidating one year, understaffed and struggling the next. As I flipped through the archives in the dark room, I struggled to find a common thread that tied each era of the publication together. However, as I reflect on my three years in Tiger, I’ve learned that the pursuit of excellence, of fair, equitable journalism despite the resources available to us, is what makes Tiger so special.
I’ve always been fascinated by this historic publication. In 9th grade, I remember sitting in Ms. Gill’s class, flipping through the pages of Tiger and admiring the 2021-22 editors. The writing of big names like Noah Kuhn and Amber Chen drew me in.
I applied and joined the newspaper the following year. When I wrote my first review, feature editor Charlotte Dekle ripped my article apart, destroying my entire selfesteem in the process. On the first day back from break, I entered a half-empty class and Ms. Hames had us play a beachball game. Though I was initially disappointed, I was soon overwhelmed by sports and news beats. I am grateful for news editor Kahlen Miao and copy editor Raluca Tudusciuc, who showed me the ropes of writing in AP style. As a once shy person, I also learned how much I love interviewing people.
After being terrorized with beats, I was grateful to be promoted to Opinion Editor the next year. I was mentored by Editor-in-Chief Hanna Bae and Photographer Editor Samantha Shiroishi, who grew to become my older sisters. Hanna’s drive and passion and Samantha’s thoughtfulness both helped develop me as a leader.
As the Class of 2025 edges closer to graduation, I have also reflected on my own high school career. And the more I think about my high school experience, the more I come to understand that it is futile to consolidate my learnings into a concrete takeaway. As much as I held rigid expectations for myself, now looking back, I wish that I could have allowed myself to be clueless. Despite these regrets however, I still think high school has imparted on me many lessons. I’m grateful that I allowed myself to explore, and I’m even more grateful for the people who helped change me.
To my friends — Naiya, Nadia, Doreen, Lisa, and everyone who I have shared high school with, thank you all for being such amazing friends. I always say that I want to experience senior year again just so I can have another year with you all. Thank you all for being so creative, kind, and hilarious.
The past and present members of Tiger inspire me tremendously. Morgan, thank you for being my rock throughout Tiger. From complaining about our 4+ articles sophomore year to our boba debriefs, I’m so grateful that Tiger brought us together. You are so talented and I can’t wait to come bother you at UCLA. Isole, your illustrations rock every issue and you’re perhaps the coolest person I know. I can’t wait to make all of our summer plans happen. Ben, you’ve been so amazing to work with and I’m so proud of how Tiger turned out this year. Your 200 edits on my baseball coverage sophomore year were much needed. Maddy, I’m so grateful you joined Tiger this year. You’re the funniest person I know and I’m so grateful to be friends with you.
To my underclassmen, it has been the biggest honor to work alongside all of you. Clem, I’m so grateful to have spent these last three years with such an incredible person. Claire, your positivity is so radiant. Thank you for the (almost) daily hugs and all that you’ve done for Tiger. Ruby and Isabella, both of your liveliness breathes life into this paper and I have no doubt that you will continue to shine. Gavin and Owen, thank you for being the backbone of this paper, and for always taking the most difficult assignments. Your hard work did not go unnoticed. Mac, thank you for the silliness. Everyone excluding Maddy found room to appreciate it.
Given the immense talent on staff, I have no doubt that next year’s managing editors will keep the spirit and integrity of Tiger alive. Sonya, your vitality and humor inspire me every day and I could not have found a better successor. I know Tiger is in good hands with you at the helm. Zoe and Emi, your intelligence and persistence are so evident and I cannot wait to see you thrive next year and beyond.
To everyone who has read the paper (or just the Boos and Bravos), thank you for supporting the best of Room 615. While the journalism industry is facing decline, I am confident that storytelling is not a lost art form. While much of Tiger’s efforts go unnoticed, I am confident that documenting history is inherently meaningful. The hard work of every writer, photographer, and illustrator on staff gives me hope that there are people who care. Thank you to everyone who has discussed, debated, and scrutinized our work.
To my fellow seniors: whether you loved me, hated me, or never spoke to me at all, I wish you nothing but the best.
My farewell would not be complete without a word of appreciation to our advisor. Ms. Hames, while I know your experience with Tiger has historically had its lows, I am immensely grateful for the trust you have given us this year. Thank you for supporting our work and for the countless hours you put into supporting SPHS’s publications.
And finally, I must show appreciation for the lucky individuals who will soon join Tiger Newspaper 202526. You will continue an illustrious legacy of student journalism that has impacted a century of students before. In an age where AI threatens original student work, I hope you realize the significance of your contributions and stay committed to factual reporting. I hope that you find your home in Room 615 just as I have.
I have greatly enjoyed my four years on the Tiger Newspaper. It has been a privilege working with many dedicated and intelligent people across grades and with varying interests. Each year, we allowed the common goal of a monthly publication to bring us together, and we are proud to deliver accurate news, timely sports coverage, and thought-provoking opinions to the South Pasadena High School and the greater South Pasadena community.
The Tiger Newspaper has given me an opportunity to write about topics that I am invested in. I appreciate this freedom, and I have used the newspaper to uncover many stories in sports. During my freshman year, I thought that the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers deserved an article. I tried to put into words the effect that Robinson has had on baseball and the country. Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, generously volunteered his time and spoke with me about Robinson’s legacy, sharing that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. met with Robinson after his retirement to thank him for contributing to Civil Rights.
During my first two years on the paper, I covered the Tigers’ football team. I took notes on the games, interviewed a key player afterwards, and wrote a rough draft late Friday night. On Saturday morning, Sports Editor Zoe Schlaak would edit my article and post it online. Photographer Samantha Shiroishi brought the articles to life with her spectacular photos.
I enjoyed the atmosphere at Ray Solari Stadium, and I was grateful for the chance to report on a winning team. The Tigers reached CIF Semifinals for the first time since 1977, and I loved being on the sidelines for each step of their season. I made sure to be an objective writer and not a fan, but I did look forward to post-game interviews with players such as Jack Riffle, Noah Aragon, and Grant Huntley. Even after tough losses, we had insightful conversations about the game.
The leadership from Editor-in-Chief Noah Kuhn and Print Managing Editor Quinn Manzo in my first year helped me settle into the unique structure of the class and taught me the importance of camaraderie. The cycle of our print editions has become a part of my high school life: brainstorms, outlines, rough drafts, content
edits, copy edits, finalization, publication, celebration, and reflection. I think that the true character of the staff is best revealed by the finalization phase, in which we are all intently reading the PDFs of our pages, surgically dissecting them for typos, mistakes, misspelled names, or lifeless titles. We don’t always catch every error, but we are thorough and take our jobs as journalists very seriously.
Since my freshman year as a staff writer, I have been the Sports Editor, Online Managing Editor, and Print Managing Editor. I ran our Instagram page for a year, an experience through which I learned that I do not have a future in social media marketing. Through both passionate and stagnant brainstorms, efficient and late news cycles, I have seen the value of communication. Especially this year, overseeing the center spread as Print Managing Editor, I’ve learned that it takes everyone on a team to reach a desired destination.
One part of Tiger that I am most thankful for has been the opportunity to talk to people. Oftentimes, interviews are the personality of an article. The writer can fill in the details, but quotes give the story a first-person perspective and sense of relevance and reliability. Over the last four years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Member of the California State Senate Anthony Portantio for an article on gas-powered leaf blowers, Dodgers Historian Mark Langill for a center spread on Fernando Valenzuela, multiple environmental experts for an exposé on plastic recycling, and Professor Rachel Volberg for a spread on sports betting.
It was also very meaningful to have Langill come speak in my junior year. I invited him to the class, and Langill, a Tiger alumni, told us about his path to becoming the first team historian in professional sports. It was inspiring to know that such an accomplished person was in our position when he was at SPHS.
Through Tiger, I’ve found my interest in sports journalism. Last summer, I wanted to continue learning about this field, so I applied for a program at USC. Professor Miki Turner had us juggling different mediums of journalism, a phenomenal experience that solidified my passion. I even got to interview Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts and Announcer Joe Davis at a pre-game press conference.
Tiger has helped me develop my skills as a writer and editor, and more importantly, my enthusiasm for
journalism. I am excited to attend Oberlin College this fall, where I plan to write for their newspaper, The Oberlin Review
It has been an honor to report on our school and community for the past four years. As a senior, I have written a monthly column called “Regan’s Row” and shared some of my reflections on the SPHS experience. And reflecting on my experience in the newspaper, I have so much gratitude for the staff. Thank you to Linda and Clem, my fellow managing editors this year, our Co-Design Editor Isole who has illustrated many of my articles and has been on the paper with me since freshman year, and my advisor Mrs. Hames for a very memorable final year on Tiger
