Archives: Senior Issue

TRID NT

ARCHIVES

SPRING 2023 STAFF

MRS. KARISSA JONES, advisor Journalists

NIKA AYDIN

KARISSA BELTRAN-JIMENEZ

ALEXIS BRIGGEMAN

OLIVIA CLARKE

MARIA DAHL

NADIA KHAZEI

KAYDENCE OSGOOD

SUMMER PERRY

KATHERINE POPPER

EVAN RAZMJOO

ANABELLE TAYLOR

ZOE TEETS

LILY WAGNER

BRITTA WOLKER

COVER ART BY OLIVIA CLARKE

4 LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Seniors on Campus

5-6 SOON-TO-BE COLLEGEATHLETES, BYANABELLE TAYLOR

7-8 SENIORARTIST SPOTLIGHT, BY NADIAKHAZEI

9-10 LEADERSHIP GROUPS, BYANABELLE TAYLOR

11-14 TOP 15 SENIOR SCHOLARS, BY ZOE TEETSAND MARIADAHL

Senior Impact

15-16 REMNANTS REMAIN, BY KATHERINE POPPER

17 SENIOR SPINOFFS, BY SUMMER PERRY

18AD

Senior Insight

19 MEMORIES OF THE PAST, BY HALEY RAEL

20 THE LAST DANCE, BY EVAN RAZMJOO

21 STAFFAND STUDENT SHOUTOUT

22 SOARING SENIORS, BY OLIVIACLARKE

23-24COLLEGEMAP

25-26 SENIOR QUOTES, BY LILYWAGNER

27-28 TRUE OR FALSE, BY KAYDENCE OSGOOD

23-24 COLLEGE MAP

Senior Fun 29 TRIDENT MATCHMAKER, BYALEXIS BRIGGEMAN, NADIAKHAZEI,AND KATHERINE POPPER 30 SENIOR COUPLES, BYALEXIS BRIGGEMAN

31-32 SINCERELY, SUMMER, BY KARISSABELTRAN-JIMENEZ

33-34 FASHION VICTIM, BY BRITTAWOLKER Spotlight 35-36 CDM CAPPIES PUBLICATIONS, BY SUMMER PERRY 37 HARD LAUNCH

(FROM ME). BY NADIAKHAZEI

FINAL GOODBYE,ALEXIS BRIGGEMAN

BYANABELLE TAYLOR

BY BRITTAWOLKER

BY NIKAAYDIN

Dedicated To Ms. Ball

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

The school year has come full circle with this final installment of Trident. We began this year with a magazine detailing all that was new: new clubs, new sports, and even a new principal. But now the year has come to an end, and many students are anticipating summer with complete excitement knowing that in the fall they will be greeted by the same blue plastic chairs and worn in wooden desks. Although, this reality is quite different for the senior class, as they spend this summer in preparation for their next steps. So as the class of 2023 prepares to say their goodbyes to their classmates and teachers, Trident provides them with an issue filled with memories, sappy thank yous, and well-deserved recognition. Therefore, due to this magazine’s undeniable theme of reflection and memories, Trident entitles the final issue of this year, Archives

In this issue, we write to recognize senior artists, athletes, scholars, and leadership groups. Katherine Popper writes a sentimental piece detailing the impact of different seniors upon the underclassmen. While Kayde Osgood uncovers the answer to the frequently asked question, is high school really like the movies, and Karissa Beltran-Jimenez describes different trips seniors are taking this summer

As much of the editing staff are seniors, we are filled with bittersweet emotions as we compose our last magazine, send it off to print, and distribute it to you all. We greatly enjoyed producing our final issue, and diving into the memories of the past 6 years of CdM.

We welcome you to Trident’s very own archives,

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KaydenceOsgood

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Alexis Briggeman, Copy Editor

Kaydence Osgood, Layout Editor

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Anabelle Taylor, Financial Manager/Editor

Britta Wolker, Advertising & Marketing Strategist/Editor

Nika Aydin, Online, & Diversity and Communications Editor

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Soon-to-Be College Athletes

3 SENIORS APPROACHING COLLEGE COMPETITION

ANABELLE TAYLOR

success cannot be all attributed to her brother, however; while Clark admits his influence got her started in the sport, she states, “I quickly found my own ‘why.’” Whatever shape her passion took, it was impossible to deny that it was there. While most serious athletes quit or almost quit, Clark never wavered. Clark

reflects, “I haven’t had any prolonged periods of wanting to quit.”

It is no question that CdM has an incredible sports program that produces outstanding athletes. So then, it is not surprising when some Sea Kings are scouted and able to compete at the college level. Amelia “Millie” Clark, David Rasor, and Aubrie Anderson are a part of this group. They have all put in the work, and after years of sweat, hardships, and sacrifice, they get to do it all again for the next four years.

Senior Millie Clark was inspired by her older brother: “I saw him rowing, and I thought it was the coolest thing.” She started the sport in eighth grade, and has been competing on an official team for five years. Her undisputed

She concedes, “Obviously, I had my doubts in the middle of tough sessions. And I’ve wondered how different my life would be playing a school sport. But, when those types of thoughts would take over I would remember why I row. I row for the girls around me.” Her combination of unfaltering determination and hard work set her on the college track. Although Clark did not have a “dream college,” she said, “I knew I wanted to row in college. And, now she will!

David Rasor reported that he has been playing football for, “for as long as I can remember.” Rasor reminisced

about how he had, “always loved throwing the ball around with my dad or catching diving passes. Then I first started playing tackle football in the 2nd grade.” After that, he played offensive line, linebacker, and running back. Once he was fully immersed in the sport he “fell in love with the game of football and loved being in the field as much as possible.” When trying to pinpoint what exactly he enjoyed about football and what drew him to the sport, he

recalled, “I thought the coolest thing in the world was that we got to hit each other with shoulder pads on. I absolutely loved it.”

Similar to Millie, his devotion to the game never faltered.

“Football is definitely not an easy sport,” Rasor explained, “mentally, physically, and emotionally it can be extremely difficult.” And he admitted that, “there have been tough times through injuries, but,” he reaffirms, “there was never a time where I wanted to quit. I love the game way too much to ever give up on it.” This resolute fervor carried over into his college aspirations. David Rasor declared, “I have always wanted to play college football… It was my dream.”

Aubrie Anderson, “chose water polo because of the great community and the intensity of the sport.” And over the past seven years, she reflects that one of the most rewarding parts about water polo for her was, “meeting my best friends and learning so much about myself.” That was not to say that the sport is without its difficulties. When asked about hardships she has found as an athlete, Anderson begins, “Near the end of my sophomore year, I wouldn’t say I wanted to quit, but I was definitely questioning if water polo and sports was right for me at the moment. I had a lot of other things to focus on, and it was hard to give water polo my energy. Since I couldn’t give it my all it felt like I wasn’t improving or doing my best.” But, she did not quit. She remembered what she loved about it. “Water polo was like an escape for me and it made me feel better… and that feeling got me through it.” Anderson’s college aspirations also influenced her, “I knew I wanted to go to a good college, and sports would help me get there. However, water polo has given me so much more than a collegiate future and I am glad I stuck with it.”

The testimonies of these accomplished athletes goes so much further than the context of sports. Their success is a testament of the power of perseverance, passion, and resiliency. And, Tridentknows they will continue to thrive in their respective colleges these years to come.

AnabelleTaylor‘23hasthegraceof anelephantonrollerskatesandhasthe highestrespectforalloftheseathletes.

Senior Artist Spotlight

A NON-COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF SOME OF CDM’S MOST TALENTED PEOPLE

NADIA KHAZEI

SHEA TOMAC - PAINTING

A visual artist at heart, Tomac has been creating since she was five years old. She loves the freedom and expression that comes with drawing and painting, citing it to be “a therapeutic and calming experience.” She emphasizes her appreciation of the medium, as it allows her to convey her thoughts and feelings through her pieces in a fluid, open way. Visual art, she says, is fluid, allowing her to “create whatever [she wants] and be able to call it art.” Through her work, she was able to raise over $20,000 for Heifer International, an organization committed to raising families out of poverty. By selling hand-painted greeting cards, she was able to assist young women subject to gender discrimination attend school.

Tomac plans to attend Tufts University with a major in art history and a minor in visual arts.

MORGAN SAVAGE - ACTING

Having had experience with theater since middle school, Savage is no stranger to the stage or screen. Her roles in CdM’s productions combine her experience with acting, singing, and dance as a physical and expressive actress. “To me, theater is not just a form of entertainment,” she shares. “[It] is a powerful tool that can be used to reflect, question, or even change our reality.” Her love of acting comes from a love for her audience, as she hopes that her work and the characters she plays help them reflect on themselves and the world they live in.Recently, Savage attended a course at UCLA where she was able to write and perform her own scene with a friend. She was able to hone her screen acting skills and bring her perspective in creating an original work. Savage has committed to Chapman University and will be studying screen acting.

OLIVIA SANDOVAL - MAKEUP

Though she admits that her preferred medium is a bit unconventional, Sandoval emphasizes that makeup is a legitimate art form and not confined to what people expect it to be. “I love being able to…essentially transform a person’s face,” she shares. “Whether it’s to make [actors] younger, older, or a fantasy demon creature…it’s such a fun form of art.” Sandoval loves doing special effects or using an airbrush, a skill she picked up during CdM’s production of She Kills Monsters, to execute her vision. This year, Sandoval was nominated as a semifinalist as an OC Register Artist of the Year for her achievements in Hair and Makeup. She has also been praised for her designs by the OC Cappies.

Sandoval will be majoring in art history at the University of California, Los Angeles.

SABINA MARTIN - MUSICAL THEATER

From an English Puritan to a 20s jazz slayer, her resume is as varied as it is impressive. Through her work as a student choreographer, she has shown her ability to take on difficult projects and excel. She emphasizes her appreciation for the art, sharing that she loves to, “work hard,” and, “[be] proud of my finished product.” Her performances have been celebrated by the CdM community as well as the OC Cappies, for which she received a nomination for the Best Female Dancer award. Martin is very proud of her achievements as an actress, singer, and dancer, and she is excited to be able to pursue musical theater as her major in college. Martin will be attending the School for the Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California.

SOPHIA RABIN - SONGWRITING

With a combined 13 years of experience in music-making, Rabin is proficient in multiple instruments and genres. When she isn’t performing onstage at local venues or writing her own pieces, Rabin helps as a member of ASB’s VAPA Committee and as a liaison for CdM’s Vocal Music Council. She loves sharing her music with the world and hearing about how people connect to her pieces. Earlier this year, Rabin competed in the YoungArts competition for high school songwriters to perform and grow as artists. She received a Gold Level award and was nominated as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Rabin cites that this experience, “felt like a culmination of the work I’ve been doing my entire life,” and truly appreciates the honor Rabin will be attending the University of Southern California with a double major in music industry and music performance, emphasizing in songwriting.

AMÉLIE VAN DOOREN - DANCE

With many years of training under her belt, Van Dooren excels at dance. As a member of Orchesis and a competitive dancer outside of school, her love of dance shines through in her performances. She uses it as a tool for self-expression and to, “challenge [her] analytical as well as creative ability,” in order to create the best final product and execute her vision. Van Dooren has been able to find her passion and community through dance as well as gain incredible opportunities as a result of her work. She appreciates her competition team as well as Orchesis for their role in helping her pursue her dream.

Van Dooren will be attending the College of Performing Arts at Chapman University, majoring in dance.

AVA MANLY - DANCE

As a competitive and theatrical dancer, Manly has been able to hone her craft in many styles. Dancing is a way for Manly to convey emotions without voice, something she truly loves about the medium. Telling a story without words or lyrics is her favorite kind of performance. Manly has received many accolades for her dancing, most recently winning a title at a dance competition for a solo musical theater performance. Though she admits feeling nervous for it at the time, Manly believes that the win, “helped change my perspective on how much I’ve grown…” and how far she’s come through dance. Though Manly has not yet decided where she will be studying in the fall, she plans to major in dance.

OLIVIA KNOWLES - CHORAL MUSIC

When Knowles first started with choral music five years ago, she knew that she had found her calling. As a member of the CdM Vocal Music Council Concert Development division, she helps organize, decorate for, and run the choir concerts. “I love working with others and collaborating to make beautiful music,” she states. “I’ve bonded with everyone and made some of my best friends through this program.” For this year’s annual Master Work concert, Knowles was given the opportunity to conduct the Confutatis, a movement from Mozart’s Requiem. She was able to work with both the vocal and instrumental departments to execute her vision and allow the piece to come to life.

Knowles will attend the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, majoring in choral music.

Nadia Khazei ‘23 wishes all of the artists at CdM a bright and

creative future.

Leadership Groups

A CLOSER LOOK AT AYS, HRC, NHS, AND PAL

ANABELLE TAYLOR

AYS, or At Your Service, is a leadership program on campus centered around giving back to the community. The students and staff involved in this organization sacrifice their time for the sole purpose of helping others. Earlier this year, CdM AYS hosted an October Candy Drive- which collected donated Halloween candy for the less fortunate- and a homeless initiative where AYS gave homeless shelter bags filled with necessities they would not otherwise have. Ava Chambers, AYS president, remembers these events fondly noting them as, “some of the best moments of AYS.” The charitable,

were doing and what they stood for.”

According to President Ava Chambers, “the best kind of students for AYS are students who have good leadership skills and are willing to serve the community.” Sea Kings with these qualities are sure to thrive in AYS because, according to Chambers, “[It’s] a group of people who genuinely care about having an impact on the community.”

The CdM Human Rights Council, better known as HRC, is also a phenomenal organization on campus. It is a great group of people that not only introduces campaigns like “Coexist” and “Be Kind to Your Mind,” but also works to foster a welcoming environment through fun bonding events like bowling.

According to Co-President Nika Aydin, HRC

connected with.” Perhaps the best moment in HRC, in the opinion of Nika Aydin, was the HRC retreat because, “it was just so fun. Everyone there became like a family and treated each other like siblings.” Part of what made this experience and many others so successful was the fact that HRC members share certain amiable qualities. Co-President Aydin says that an ideal HRC member is, “someone who is empathetic, comforting, kind, and open- minded. It’s especially important to be open-minded,” Aydin emphasizes, “because in order to be a good leader and a good communicator, you have to be aware that other people might be struggling and not having a good day. It’s also important to be openminded because you might have to take on a new position you’ve never done before.”

benevolent, and studentdriven nature of the organization is what draws people to it. It is certainly what drew Mrs. Ramirez to the organization four years ago. Ramirez noted, “It’s the students. I liked the students, and I liked what they

We can always talk to each other and we say ‘hi’ to each other; there’s no cliques or anything.” HRC offers more than a chance to raise awareness on human rights issues, there is also the opportunity to make friends for life; Aydin comments, “The people I’ve met in HRC I’ve stayed

[has] a sense of community among everyone in the group…

NHS, or the National Honors Society is for, “students who value academic integrity and enjoy helping other students with their academic goals” reports President Marrissa Bist. Members of this organization are primarily responsible for Integrity Week and Monday morning peer tutoring. Bist especially enjoys facilitating peer tutoring; she shared that her favorite part of being a leader in NHS is, “helping connect NHS members with CDM students to tutor.” Helping students every week in this small way is incredibly impactful and rewarding. NHS advisor Ms. Mayberry adds to this sentiment saying, “peer tutoring is really important; students should be able to get the help [they] need on campus without paying. A public education should be free.” Beyond tutoring, Bist continues, “NHS is also a great option for students looking for community opportunities… The best moment this year was probably our cleanup.” Additionally, NHS runs Integrity Week twice a year right before Finals where they promote academic honesty. Ms. Mayberry is especially proud of this initiative, as she highly values integrity on campus and in class.

Peer Assistance and Leadership, otherwise known as PAL, is also an incredibly impactful leadership group. This club is primarily known for Red Ribbon Week- an informative campaign against Drug and Alcohol use, but also facilitates Yellow Ribbon Week (suicide awareness), and Walk in My Shoes Week. Ms. Dew, who has been the CdM PAL advisor for seven years, states Red Ribbon week was her favorite, and was one of the reasons she joined PAL in the first place, “I knew they needed an advisor, and I just really believed in their core values where kids are drug and alcohol free. And I just love seeing kids helping other kids.”

Emily Chanawtr, a Senior member of PAL, expands on this idea, “As PALs, we break down the problems in our community such as suicide, drinking, and peer pressure and then do our

best to contribute to solving those problems. We want everyone to feel included and welcome in the CdM community!” PAL’s efforts towards inclusivity and community can take many forms; Chanawatr’s favorite was the adopt-a-family-bakesale. She describes, “ we sold homemade baked goods on Balboa during the boat parade to raise money. We then used that money to buy presents and essentials for a family in need in our community. It doubled as giving back during the holidays as well as club bonding since we all had a blast shopping together at Target then wrapping the presents to holiday music and hot

The family was so grateful for the help, and we plan on continuing this event in the following years.” Chanawtr concludes that PAL is one of her favorite groups at CdM because, “PAL truly makes a difference here on campus.”

AnabelleTaylor‘23wasin PALin9thandinNHSthisyear andshelovesboth!

Top 15 Senior Scholars

CDM’S 2022 - 2023 SCHOLAR LIST

MARIA DAHL AND ZOE TEETS

As the end of the 2022 - 2023 school year nears, the CdM student body is preparing to say goodbye to this year’s seniors. After putting in four years of hard work, this year’s seniors will finally be able to graduate and move onto the next chapter of their lives. From staying local, to moving to the other side of the country, each senior has an exciting experience waiting for them after they walk the stage at graduation. Though each senior has put in the work, fifteen of them have been compiled into a list, based on the highest GPAs of the class. This list is called the 15 Top Scholars.

Isabella Almaraz has really enjoyed her high school experience, and appreciates CdM for allowing her to, “be able to pursue such academic rigor, while still being able to do things like going to dances and being involved in athletics.” Almaraz is the captain of the soccer team, as well as being a member of the National Honor Society, and earning a 4.6 GPA. When asked about her favorite and hardest classes she has taken, Almaraz has the same answers for both questions. “AP physics and AP Literature were the hardest but also the most enjoyable” to her. She was just accepted into one of her top choice colleges, the University of California Los Angeles, and is excited about the possibility of attending in the fall. Almaraz advises the younger grades to work hard for yourself “instead of taking classes just because your friends are or because you think you need to just to get into college.” She had to, “learn the hard way to do it for yourself, and that will give you the best rewards.”

Aubrie Anderson’s favorite memory in high school was, “winning CIF last year with [her] water polo team.” She has committed to Brown University, where she will continue to play water polo. Anderson has maintained a GPA of 4.6 weighted while also taking thirteen AP classes, her favorite being AP Calculus AB. Her hardest classes have been, “AP U.S. History, andAP Comparative Government” which are both very challenging. She advises underclassmen to “take advantage of every opportunity you have and do not worry about what other people think. Do what makes you happy.”

Omid Asadi has participated and excelled in many of CdM’s extracurricular activities as a member of Peer Assistance Leadership, mock trial, speech and debate, the Academy of Global Studies, and science olympiad. He is also the secretary of the pickleball club and a private tutor, on top of being “awarded the AP capstone diploma, and a California Interscholastic federation wrestling team finalist.” Omid boasts a 4.5 GPA as well as the completion of thirteen AP classes. He “would say that AP Biology is [his] worst class,” and AP research is his favorite. Although he has achieved so much during his time at CdM, his favorite high school memory is still his very, “first mock trial argument, where [he] absolutely killed it.” His advice for current high school students is simply to “live life.”

Aashvi Bist played tennis throughout high school, and was a part of the Speech and Debate team and the National Honor Society. Aashvi earned a 4.6 GPA, and has completed fifteen AP classes. “Subject-wise, [she] thought physics was probably the toughest class, but [she] think[s] they’re all difficult in their own way.” She “really enjoyed AP Lang, because it was a class where you could collaborate more with your friends.” She found that her motivation through high school came from “taking classes [she] actually wanted to take.” Looking back, one of her best memories was, “going to New York with Speech and Debate, especially because it was with some of [her] best friends.”

Marisa Bist enjoyed playing tennis “all four years of high school”, as well as participating in Speech and Debate, the National Honor Society, and the Academy of Global Studies. She maintains a 4.68 GPA, and has taken fifteen AP classes. She “thought calculus was pretty hard,” but she “really liked AP Lang,” physics, and AP literature. She does not want underclassmen to “stress too much about their grades, because [she] feels like stressing will probably just lead to worse grades.”

During her CdM career, Lily Britt has been a critical part of the water polo team, as well as the swim team. After she graduates, Britt “will be attending Harvard to continue [her] academics and play D1 water polo”. She has maintained a 4.5 GPA during high school, while taking 15 AP classes, among her favorite being AP Human Geography and AP Lang. Britt’s favorite memory of her high school journey was “winning CIF junior year” with her water polo team, which is an experience that she will surely never forget. She is also proud of her “art, swimming Alcatraz, and [her] AP Research project.” Britt has stayed motivated by, “setting goals and ensuring that [she] reserves time” to do the things that she enjoys. When asked, Britt advises underclassmen to “enjoy your high school experience while it lasts and invest time in the relationships you make! It really does go by fast and you never know how far you may end up from your friends after high school.”

Dylan Jatwani, also the varsity water polo captain and an Academy of Global Studies student, urges current CdM students to “work hard and build good relationships with your teachers.” Dylan maintained a 4.48 GPA, and took fifteen AP classes throughout high school. He had a list of schools in his mind that he wanted to be able to go to one day, and knew that “work[ing] hard in high school [would be his] best opportunity to achieve that goal.” After he graduates, he hopes to “go to college and study either business or economics.” He admits that the hardest class he took at CdM was AP U.S. history, and he “really enjoyed honors chemistry, AP research, and [he is] currently enjoying AP physics.” As his high school experience comes to a close, Dylan looks back on, “traveling with [his] team, and going to play tournaments” as some of his favorite memories.

John Kim has maintained a GPA of 4.46 while taking 11 AP classes during his high school career. His hardest class has been AP Physics C, while his ‘Computer Science A with Reyes was a really fun class”. Throughout his four years at CdM, Kim was “on the speech and debate team, played golf for CdM, and liked to volunteer at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana”. For underclassmen and incoming high schoolers alike, he suggests that, “you should not get too fixated on your academics. Make sure you have a life outside of school. [He] has had times where he would cancel plans just to finish an assignment, and looking back, [he] really regrets it now.”

Phillip Long, currently committed to the University of California San Diego, is a varsity water polo player who hopes to pursue computer science and one day work at Google. He has really enjoyed his time at CdM, earning a 4.5 GPA and taking a total of twelve AP classes. AP physics was his hardest class, with AP U.S. history as a close second. He “liked AP physics a lot, and took AP computer science back freshman year.” Taking this class evoked his desire to pursue a career in computer science. Philip even enjoyed the tough times at CdM, stating that one of his favorite memories to look back on was “going to hang out with friends after a day of zoom during Covid.” His advice to all underclassmen and rising seniors is to “manage your time wisely, and don’t spend too much time doing one thing.”

Simone Parvizi, who will be studying applied linguistics at the University of California Los Angeles in the fall, is passionate about languages,reading, writing, and playing the piano. She maintains a 4.48 GPA, and has taken a total of thirteen AP classes. “The prospect of going to a good college and living somewhere nice was really motivating” for her throughout her highschool career. Her favorite classes she took at CdM were “AP Lang and AP French, because [she] really loves reading and English… and learning languages.” Her most difficult class was, “definitely AP U.S. history, because it was pretty brutal sometimes.” Simone is on the board of Speech and Debate and a member of the National Honor Society, as well as being “really into piano.” She wants students to remember that “even if you don’t get the best grade on a test, it’ll all work out and what’s meant to happen will happen.”

Ellie Rosing has enjoyed her time at CdM, and especially cherished moments with her “sports teams, soccer and cross country, as well as AGS.” Throughout her high school career, she has earned a GPA of 4.56 by taking fifteen AP classes, with her favorite class being “AP Calculus with Mr. Zimmerman ‘’. In order to make the most of their high school experience, Rosing urges underclassmen, “not to be afraid of taking hard classes as long as you are interested in them” since it will pay off in the end. She also thinks that it is really important to “have good relationships with your teachers.”

Ruby Srinivasan, a varsity rower at NAC, is committed to Harvard University, where she will continue her rowing career. Throughout high school, she has earned a 4.5 weighted GPA, and took fifteen AP classes. Her most enjoyable classes included, “AP Art History, AP Human Geography, AP Lang, and AP Bio”, while “AP Calculus and APUSH” proved to be the most difficult classes she took. To stay motivated while being a varsity athlete and balancing school work, she tried to be “conscious of [her] values” by focusing on things that she was passionate about. and making sure whatever she did agreed with her personal values. During her four years in high school, Srinivasan is most proud of, “getting 5th in the nation in the NAC Women’s Varsity 8 [her] junior year, and receiving the AP Capstone Award”. For underclassmen, she suggests, “try your best to let go of the idea of perfection, as hard as it sounds. Genuinely internalize the idea that being imperfect at something challenging is better than avoiding it altogether because you are afraid of failure.”

Kate Thomas has been greatly involved at CdM during her high school years, by participating in “many extracurricular activities like At Your Service, Club Gratitude, Junior Class Council, and Youth and Government”. In addition to her extracurricular activities, Thomas took fifteen AP classes, her favorite being AP Lang, APES, and AP Spanish, while maintaining a 4.5 GPA. After she graduates, her plan is to attend the University of Texas at Austin. Speaking from experience, she advises underclassmen “to stay organized and to make sure that you are managing your time well. It is also important to take breaks in your day if you are busy with school work”. From her time at Cdm, Thomas’s favorite high school memory, “would have to be going to Big Bear with [her] friends during winter break”, which will be a memory she cherishes long after she graduates.

Isabella Vu, currently committed to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been involved in many extracurricular activities, such as “track, cross country, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and AYS”. While participating in those activities, she also earned a 4.5 weighted GPA, and has taken 14 AP classes. Out of all of her classes, her “hardest class has been Honors Chemistry”, while her favorite was “AP Biology”. Overall, Vu is thankful for the experiences she gained at CdM, and is excited for what the future holds.

Beyonce Zhou played tennis, and was a member of the debate team, as well as the National Honor Society. She urges CdM students to, “take classes that actually interest [them], because then it will be a more enjoyable experience.” She earned a 4.54 GPA while taking fourteen AP classes on top of her “internship and research,” and found that she really “enjoyed AP Lang, AP calculus, and physics.” One of her favorite memories from high school, “was going to New York for Speech and Debate.”

Corona del Mar High School already has so many exceptional alumni, and clearly this is a continuing trend. These fifteen senior scholars represent the dedication of their whole class and will undoubtedly go on to do great things.

Maria Dahl’25 and Zoe Teets’25 are so impressed with everything that these scholars have accomplished.

Remnants Remain

A LOOK INTO HOW THE LOSS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023 THROUGH THE EYES OF THE YOUNGER GRADES

KATHERINE

POPPER

The Class of 2023 has spent the past several years in a unique situation of leadership. They were the last class to have at least half a normal year of high school before the pandemic hit. As such they were able to get truly involved in the school in a way the next several groups of freshman were unable to. When COVID began to come under control life slowly, but surely started returning to normal, the Class of 2023 emerged as an influential force around campus. From athletics to arts to academics their presence has been strongly felt throughout campus, and as such they will be dearly missed next year.

“This group of seniors has been one of the most welcoming generations of seniors I’ve ever seen. Especially on teams, I’ve seen how they’re uplifting to the underclassmen, rather than pretending they’re better. They’re willing to coach them, I’ve seen it a lot on CdM Boys Volleyball and in the drama department.”

“Some of my role models are Ella Avital, and Sabina Martin. I have looked up to them since I was a freshman, and I love them so much.”

“The majority of my friend group is seniors, and when I’m not at an extracurricular I’m at one of their houses. All the school dances I go to with them, so I won’t know what to do next year.”

“I appreciate all the things Omid does because he helps out with a ton of stuff, and he does do things very nicely and plan a lot of things. But I also do not know if he hates me or loves me, I genuinely have no idea”

“They’ve all done a really awesome job with everything they’ve been involved in.”

“Got to give some love to Emmet Eilers. The things he does… it honestly scares me how extroverted Emmet is. It’s concerning. My favorite memory of Emmet is him getting in front of a group of like 30 people, chugging a cup of milk, taking a bite out of his cheese, and getting everyone to go nuts over dairy.”

“It is scary seeing all of the seniors leave this year.”

“I’ve made it an extra goal of mine to hang out with my senior friends more outside of school this year so that I can make more memories before they leave.”

“I think that in both groups the seniors are the dominant class, and they take charge of everything, and I have no doubt that the junior and sophomore classes are going to step up.”

“Shout out to David for bringing some vertical diversity to CdM speech and debate.”

“I love David, David’s awesome. John’s awesome, Simone’s awesome, Britta’s awesome. They’re all chill. Especially David, he’s in chem with me, we both struggle together, it’s wonderful.”

Having seniors as friends is really great because they are kind of like your older siblings so they give you advice, they help you through stuff, especially with the college process.”

“But obviously it’ll be very sad when they leave because I’ll be all alone. I will hopefully stay in contact with them during their college journeys.”

“I will greatly miss Emmet Eilers and his contribution to the PAMA department. He killed it in Chicago and I’m sad that I will not get to see him kill it anymore at CdM high school.”

“The campus next year will be “shorter on average” credited to Hannah Young”

“I’m going to really miss my senior buddy Brandon Hamilton. He’s just such a sweet young man, and anytime I talk to him I just get this warmth in my heart.”

“I’m going to miss a lot of the seniors, especially in orchestra. Shout out to Millie Clark and Arav Grover. They’ve been with me since day one in orchestra. I’m really going to miss them.”

“Shout out to David for being the best first cellist”

“I have a very strong relationship with the seniors on campus. I’m on the varsity sailing team… we spend most of the weekend together sailing and competing, so that really builds our bond together as teammates and friends.”

“I’m on ASB so I look up to the seniors a lot, and I’ve been on ASB for the last four years with these people so I’ve created bonds with these people, and I’m sad that they’re going to be leaving for college. But, they were leaders to me on campus and I really look up to them, so I’m excited to take that role on as a senior next year.”

“The seniors were on campus before Covid happened so they could see the spirit brought on during football games, and each sport game there was a lot more participation. So, with the seniors that are leaving they were most passionate and saw the school in its prime time.”

“My brother is a senior so I’ve become close to his friends as well so I have a good relationship with seniors.”

“They show a lot of leadership, all underclassmen, juniors, sophomores, freshmen, we all look up to them. They’re kind of like role models to us.”

“I see how I look up to them, and I put myself into their shoes. I’m going to be a senior next year and I’m going to try to be the best role model I can for the people below me next year.” S T E R L I

K R I S

V I L L A L U Z

“Our graduating class this year adds a lot of spirt, and keeps our team on it’s feet.”

“CdM prepares some really good leaders and mentors.”

It is clear that this crop of seniors have managed to impact the lives of the members of younger grades in a variety of ways. From friends to mentors to team mates the senior class will be leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Whatever the circumstances of high school may have been, they stayed leaders on campus, and will surely go on to be leaders in their futures.

Katherine Popper ‘24 will miss all the graduating seniors so very much, especially all the amazing seniors in her Trident fam.

Senior Spinoffs

LOOKING INTO THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF SENIOR SEA KINGS SUMMER PERRY

Intangible yet meaningful, legacies are left behind to create or continue culture, community, and spirit. For senior sea kings, their few days left at CdM give them ample opportunity to finish their legacies and leave them with those they feel can continue them. By creating these legacies, seniors have set themselves apart from the underclassmen they so effortlessly take charge of. They have become models of adulting and they have worked to create the community they would have wanted as underclassmen for underclassmen. Year after year, legacies are tossed away left clinging onto the memories and lives of those who took their time to form personal connections and deliver their legacies to their friends, family, and supporters.

The question of what defines a legacy is subjective to one’s own opinion and beliefs. For Olivia Knowles, a future USC attendee and resident triad, her legacy stands with the triads that she brought “back from the brink of extinction after COVID.” Following up with context to this fact, Knowles explains that the “treble Acapella ensemble, triads, on campus, was next to nothing and [she] had been the only person that was in it since freshman year and [she] with the help

of some other girls in choir brought it back from the dead and now it’s fairly thriving.” The strength of their now 20 singers is thanks to Knowles and her fellow members who have given triads their much-needed revival in the difficult times they trudged through during the pandemic.

For ASB commissioner of lunch time activities, Monty Crane, his legacy lies in the two underclassmen that are on his committee. He hopes that he has “taught them how to be a prepared leader and to speak their mind.” Evidence of this hope is seen in the fact that he planned the first annual CdM car show which has now become a tradition.

Samar Multani, a very involved student on campus, was able to create his legacy in several aspects of the CdM community. By participating in both “speech and debate as well as Youth and Government” he was able to define his legacy academically. Multani also “played football, basketball, and ran track.” His legacy shines through in academia and athletics. Not having grown up in Newport Samar, didn’t get the privilege of going to high school with friends [he] had already grown up with.” With that being said he advises underclassmen, “don’t be shy to reach

out of your bubble and talk to new people.”

With one foot out the door already, seniors have been reflecting on their time at CdM since the set foot onto campus inAugust. But that didn’t make them any less capable of creating or finishing off their legacy that started once they became Corona del Mar sea kings. Legacies are reminders of who you once were but also the foundation of who you want to become.

Summer Perry 25’ caught sophomoritis while writing this, don’t judge her.

Memories of the Past

COMPARING SENIOR CDM MEMORIES

HALEY RAEL

Out of the students who graduated from Corona del Mar high school, each has a personalized experience with different stories to tell in the future.

CdM is a school for students in seventh through 12th grade while filling students’ memories with dances, events, and sports. These memories differ depending on the person whether they have been at the school for six years, four years, or recently transferred. Nonetheless, each student has an opinion on what they enjoyed the most and disliked at CdM over the years.

Some students’ memories at CdM begin in middle school and slowly build throughout high school. Seniors who have been here since middle school have the advantage of knowing the school campus, compared to students who may have started freshman or transferred mid-year.

When asked about how her middle school experience helped her at the beginning of high school, Ryleigh Snow, a senior at CdM, communicates, “I think middle school definitely prepared me for high school since I went to CdM for middle, and a lot of my classes were in the high school buildings.” Snow continues to express, “[That]the transfers didn’t get to grow up around the classes, so I would say I had an advantage.”

On the other hand, students who have started in the middle of the year may have a more difficult transition to high school and adjust to the campus. Senior Kinsley Sahlin, who transferred in her sophomore year, voiced, “I always felt like the people around me are ...closer since they had the opportunity to go to school together in middle school as well. ] Despite this, I made my best effort to

make friends and get myself plugged into the community. “ Although she may have had a disadvantage, Sahlin commented, “The transition was hard at times but my friends and teachers around me made it a lot easier. I wouldn’t say those going to CdM [since middle school] had a better experience than me. I loved my 3 years at CdM.”

Despite students starting at different years, one thing that they all share is that they build memories, especially with friends, cheering, or winning school games. Thomas Hopkin, a senior at CdM mentioned, “friends build experiences of fun and great memories to remember.”

Senior Angelica Sibal remarked, “having friends helps you a lot to talk and listen to one another.” Snow commented, “My favorite part of high school has been growing up with friends that I’ve had since elementary and seeing how much we have changed and grown.” Other important memories may be of playing, winning, or cheering at sports games. Hopkins expressed, “My favorite memory of school was my soccer Battle of the Bay win.” Sahlin remarked, “One of my favorite memories of my years here was the Battle of the Bay football games. It was so fun to cheer on my school...to take the victory against Newport Harbor High School.”

Everything that happens in high school builds memories. Whether it be the smooth or difficult transition, playing sports, going to dances, or hanging out with friends. Each memory is a building block to enhance the total high school experience.

Haley Rael ‘25 hopes her high school memories are filled with good old times.

The Last Dance

ADVICE FROM THE OLD AND WISE

EVAN RAZMJOO

As this school year comes to an end, seniors at Corona del Mar High School are approaching the finish line of their high school journey. After countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears that they put into their studies and extracurriculars, they are finally reaping the fruitful benefits of their hard work. Four years of high school go by faster than many may think, and now seniors are preparing to graduate and take on new adult responsibilities as their teen years are approaching their end. With the wealth of experience and knowledge gained from the past four years, seniors have much wisdom to pass on to students still in their high school journeys.

Some seniors reflect on the life lessons they have learned these past years at Corona del Mar. Brandon Hamilton, who is going to Irvine Valley college expressed how important it is to, “Treat people the right way. Do what you want to do, not what you think other people will like you better for doing, and everything will work out.” Mykale Stubbs, who will attend La Sierra University, adds how he came to feel that you should not “focus on what people think, it doesn’t matter, focus on yourself real friends will follow.” Similarly, Ella Avital, values the journey; she adds that “you might feel this overwhelming need to ‘get things over with’ but don’t allow that to remove you from the bittersweetness of things ending.”

Other seniors want to encourage students to make the most of their time at CdM. Ryan Weber wants his underclassmen to simply “Have fun before it’s over”—advice

he himself is following, as he is taking a gap year to play basketball. Likewise, Maddie Canfield, excited to attend Point Loma Nazarene University, implores her fellow students, “to get involved as much as you can, take advantage of the extracurriculars and opportunities, meet others, and work hard. The four years go by so fast and you want to make the most of each moment.” Aubrie Anderson, future student at Brown University, concurs, “Go out of your comfort zone and try new things.” Monty Crane, UC Irvine, offers some specific advice from his four years, “Take it all in. Try and do as much as you can. Go to games, go to dances, meet people, that is where you will build memories and connections. Get involved in the community, and use this time to make yourself a well rounded person.”

After years of hard work, some seniors offer lessons learned to save students grief and stress. Youssef Berri, Irvine Valley College, tells students simply, “Don’t wait until the last minute”—something that all students can try to follow in our lives. Building on this, Leonardo Roth, who will be attending Orange Coast College, offers advice on the senior project, stating that “[it] is way easier if you keep yourself accountable and do a little everyday.”

In a different vein, Jacqueline Pitkin, Orange Coast College, stresses that students should “relax about perfect grades and stop stressing,” reflecting how students’ mental health is important, more so than the difference between a 94 and a 95. That being said, Connor Simonson, Emory University, feels that there is value to putting oneself out there and taking

risks. He advises students, “Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. The long hours that you spend and the hardships you endure will build character and drive you to success.”

The senior class of 2022-2023 is a diverse group, with many different backgrounds, stories, experiences, and futures ahead of them. Whether the community has attended school with them for almost their entire school careers, or just this year, they have all been influenced by their time with the seniors. As the CdM population sends them off to a bright future, they will remember the memories they have shared and take their words to heart as they continue their own journey towards graduation.

Evan Razmjoo ‘26 plans on going to college

CLASS OF 2023

Staff and Student Shoutouts Staff and Student Shoutouts Staff and Student Shoutouts

CdM SENIORS RECOGNIZE THOSE ON CAMPUS THAT IMPACTED THEM

“Ella Avital is the greatest human being to ever walk the Earth. Ms. Dante is my favorite teacher at CDM because she’s really really smart, really really cool, really really fair and understanding, and she talks to me and all her students like real human beings.”

Brandon Hamilton

“Mr. Selby- thanks for having a fun interactive class.

Mr. Harvey- thanks for being a funny guy.

Corey (security)Always around and thanks for always saying hi.

Ms. Valdes- Thanks for being one the most understanding teachers I have ever had.”

Monty Crane

“Michael DobynsA great teacher and a better friend.”

TJ Rokos

“Coach O’Shea, Coach Hettig, and Mr. Decker for being there for me with things I needed guidance on that affected me outside of school.”

Samar Multani

“Mrs. Dante for always being so helpful and there for all her students.”

Tara Shakoori

“Jason Simco is one of the coolest coaches on campus and an even better teacher.”

Mykale T Stubbs

“SHOUTOUT MARK DECKER.”

Chloe Bohu

“Mr.corbett because he was a chill teacher.”

Youssef Berri

“Mrs. Montez puts so much effort into her lessons and is a really great teacher.”

Sienna Cuneo

“Ms. Mayberry, for running AGS and numerous clubs on campus.”

Tyler Pham

“Megan Swatsek has always had my back and been a great friend since preschool through 12th grade. :)”

Je Anne Hendrickx

“Mr Ziebarth because he’s the goat.”

Ryan Weber

“Shoutout to Corey, he’s the goat.”

Leonardo Roth

“Mrs. Montez because she is the best teacher I have ever had. I have never understood any academic subject as well other than with her.

And Mr. Ball because it’s almost thanks to him that I got into college at all.”

Olivia Knowles

“Mr Ziebarth because he is absolutely the most amazing teacher and I wish I could be taught by him longer.”

Jacqueline Pitkin

“Mr Hettig and Mr Selby were cool guys.”

Brycen Hill

“Mr. Dobyns is one of the most patient, most amazing teachers at CdM.”

Ella Avital

“Mr Corbett, best English teacher.”

Theo Hudson

Soaring Seniors

WHAT JOBS DO SENIORS RECOMMEND?

OLIVIA CLARKE

This year’s seniors are getting ready to spread their wings in the wide world of colleges, jobs, and other opportunities. With that being said, they have their hands full with extracurriculars, college prep, homework, and much more. Some seniors also manage a job, which is a great way for them to get work experience in their desired field or improve time management skills as well as financial skills. First jobs can also be a fun, rewarding, and memorable experience for students.

Ashley Riba is a swim coach, and she loves, “working with kids and spending time in the sun.” A friend of hers thought that she would be a

involve working with kids. There are plenty of jobs that do not involve working for a company, such as babysitting, house sitting, or dog walking. Getting a job like this can reduce some of the pressure that comes from getting a job with more shifts, long hours, and coworkers. That being said, any job requires some responsibility. Volunteering is also a great way to get experience before landing a job.

good fit for that position, and now Riba is the one recommending the job. She says she would, “recommend this job to people who are patient, good at swimming, and enjoy working with kids.” She also shares that in the future, she wants to have, “a job that helps [her] leave the world better than when [she] found it.” Again expressing her appreciation for the job, Riba says that, “it’s really the best job ever.”

Popular jobs for high school students

Newport Beach Recreational Leader Isabella Vu also loves, “being able to work with kids,” as well as, “build[ing] relationships within [her] community.” She went to elementary school at Harbor View, which is where the Active Kids program is. Now she works there to, “pay homage to where [she] spent a lot of time when [she] was younger.” Not only that, but she also wants to improve the world and the people in it. “I want to make an impact on kids who were once in my shoes,” she comments.Vu also noted that the job “is only during the weekdays so it makes managing your schedule pretty easy. Anyone who loves kids and a predictable work schedule should consider it!” Finding a job that is consistent like this is good for students who are looking for their first job. While the jobs that students have now do not have to be related to what they want to do in the future, it can certainly be helpful. It can be good to get hands-on experience with something, and it is a great way for a student to test the waters when they are unsure about what they want to do in the future. Also, students can learn about the field that they are interested in, and

be ahead of the curve in college or when applying for other jobs later on. Samantha Kaufman works in an ophthalmic office and also interns with a pediatric neurologist as part of her senior project. She is grateful to have the, “opportunity to learn more about both fields” because she is considering pursuing a career in medicine. “I am a people person so I enjoy talking to and interacting with patients,” Kaufman also remarks. She has a passion for anything “STEM related” and so she knew that the job would be a perfect fit for her.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to picking a job, volunteer work, or an internship, but they are all

beneficial to high school students. The class of 2023 certainly knows that, and they have bright futures awaiting them. Good luck seniors!

Olivia Clarke ‘24 wishes the seniors the best of luck and countless fun experiences.

College Map

Data is as of March 31st, 2023. Response to the form sent out was voluntary and this map does not represent the entire Class of 2023 at CdMHS. Map also does not account for those undecided, taking a gap year, joining the military, going to trade schools, or any alternative future plans.

“Don’t go to college for the brand name.”

Senior

“Don’t sign up for things just because it will look good for college. Sign up for things you enjoy and want to do.”

“Worrying means you suffer twice”

-J.K. Rowling

“

“Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don’t matter” -Dr. Seuss

“Mistakes are magic.”

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are”

-Kurt Cobain

“Nailed it.”- Amy (Pitch Perfect)

“I had a purpose before anyone had an opinion” -Jalen Hurts

“Work hard play hard.”

Quotes

“I don’t understand why people want to get rid of pigeons, they don’t bother no one.”- Mike Tyson

“When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.”

“Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine." - Elvis Presley

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed”- Michael Jordan

When Stephen Colbert asked Keanu Reeves the question: “What do you think happens when we die?” Keanu Reeves said “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.”

"Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard" -Kevin Durant

“If you don’t eat, you die.”

-Mr. Captan

-Carol Burnett

“It's my time. Time to shine.” - Mark Lee

“If you dream, you can do it.” - Walt Disney

True or False? True or False?

CdM SENIORS REFLECT ON HOW ACCURATE HOLLYWOOD PRESENTS HIGH SCHOOL

KAYDENCE OSGOOD

Throughout its years of operation, the silver screen has attempted to portray the high school experience, from classics like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Buller’s Day Off to more recent films like Mean Girls and High School Musical. The film industry has shaped what high school looks like to the youth that have yet to live through it. Hollywood, in all its glitz and glamor, has gained a reputation for over-dramatizing its representation of real life events and their depiction of high school is no exception. However, it can not all be wrong, can it? Did they get anything right? What movies, if any, got it the most accurate? Now that the Seniors at CdM are closing out the high school chapter of their lives, they become the perfect people to ask these questions.

With only a few weeks left, seniors have almost lived out their entire high school lives and have had the opportunity to fully understand what all four years of high school really look like. Seniors Ella Jackson and Noah Brown both claimed that their experience, compared to what they saw on screen, was somewhat accurate. Jackson feels that portrayals are exaggerated sometimes, but that, “older movies are more accurate for a lot of people at CdM, I think we all have the old school vibe.” Brown was bothered by how, “the whole clique thing is kind of overdramatized, but otherwise it’s kind of accurate.”

On the other hand, seniors Brandon Hamilton, Olivia Sandoval, and Marly Paul felt Hollywood missed the mark completely. Hamilton emphasized that films made post-2010 are especially inaccurate and that, “it’s just nothing like my experience at all. There’s like a few things that made sense, like Euphoria is really dramatized, but pretty good. Other than that, I feel like movies are being made by people who are like 35 and they don’t know what we’re like now.” Sandoval feels the problem is that, “it’s so hard to get all the different perspectives from each individual student because it really is just a place for a bunch of different individuals to come together. I think it’s really hard when you’re trying to show all different perspectives, [but] then you just end up just getting them all inaccurate.” Paul feels like the film industry makes it seem, “way more conducive and social than it actually is; it’s almost like a fantasy.” When asked if there were any shows or movies they felt got it the most correct, Paul stated, “none of them” and Brown and Jackson could not come up with any. Hamilton quickly replied with the movie, The Fallout, he then described that it is about these two girls in the aftermath of a school shooting and he admired the way they depicted the, “relationship between those two girls, like they fall asleep Facetiming each other, just the way they interact with each other, you [could] tell the director has a teenage daughter or is a really young director.” Sandoval answered with the Netflix

Booksmart

The Fallout

The Half of It

film

The Half of It because, “it wasn’t romanticizing high school,” and they addressed that sometimes high school is “not that interesting and sometimes you go to school in a really boring area where there isn’t much to do.”

Although the high school experience may not be conveyed correctly all the interviewees found at least one aspect of the general conveyance of high school that they felt was correct. Jackson thought that the, “conversations around school are always funny and accurate.” Brown did not hesitate to respond with, “how emotional teenagers are.” The general themes of a high school film, “like people obsessed with popularity, people obsessed with girls or boys or relationships, or whatever it is,” is what Hamilton felt was on point. Paul has seen, “funny scenes of people misbehaving [and] I feel like that’s pretty accurate.” Sandoval brought up the idea of cliques commenting on how exaggerated they may be, “but I think just in general how ostracizing it is if you’re considered a loner or like if you don’t really have a solid friend group, I think they get that right way too often.” On the other side of the coin, Sandoval’s biggest pet peeve about the overall portrayal was also cliques, “it’s a good portrayal and it’s also very limiting at the same time, because people are always surprising me. Like even today I will meet somebody and I’ll have this image or this schema in my head about who they are and what category they should fill, but it’s just so inaccurate and you get that from movies and TV shows.” She was also bothered about how important film makes high school out to be, “it’s still life, and it’s not as important as a lot of movies think it is. Sometimes you just have to get through it and then people’s lives are so much better after college, but I think a lot of movies act like it’s life or death and it’s just encouraging kids to feel like their decisions in high school are gonna affect the rest of their lives.” Jackson is bothered by how, “everyone’s really mature or they seem like really old when we’re actually not.” Whereas, Hamilton hates how high schoolers are written as immature, “I don’t

think they realize that they make high schoolers out to be how I felt when I was in seventh grade. That’s how like a Junior in high school is portrayed, I don’t think they understand them. That maturity isn’t what people actually experience in high school, it’s a very naive perspective most of the time.” Paul was irritated about the way people are shown in the hallways between classes and that there is always, “stuff happening and people hanging out by the lockers and talking, but I feel like it isn’t actually like that and it’s more dispersed, it’s not all in one area.” Brown pointed out that, “you don’t see a lot of kids getting shoved in lockers, like that’s not really real. Nobody’s getting pushed or shoved down the toilet.”

If given a chance to make their own film about their experiences the last four years, each senior had some things they would want to include. Like, “spirit at sports games,” “the effect that social media has on teenagers,” and “our break time activities,” were what Paul, Brown, and Jackson felt were important topics about high school. Hamilton thinks the most important part of his experience was the friendships he made and the people he made them with, “there’s a movie, Booksmart, and overall it’s pretty silly, like what the plot is about, but seeing the relationship between Beanie Feldstien and Kaitlyn Dever and their two characters, it’s a fantastic relationship. It’s very specific with the kind of jokes they make and the interactions they have, so if I was to make something about that I think it would be about me and my best friend Ella, or someone like that, or my sister. I think that accurately showing that relationship between two high schoolers and what two high school friends actually do, that would be the most important to me because that’s kind of everything.” Sandoval would want to follow one person from multiple perspectives, “So like watching how somebody acts at school versus how they act at home and just really doing an in depth kind of character analysis and then just seeing them in multiple scenarios and showing that your perception of a person is so often misjudged.”

Movies and high school often go hand in hand, and although it often makes for good entertainment, the seniors at CdM can now see the errors in their ways. Although, like many Hollywood depictions, there are points of truth sprinkled throughout the halls of any high school shown on screen.

Kaydence Osgood ‘24 has spent the last three years getting gray hairs from the stress of college and it irritates her to no extent when teenagers are shown applying to college weeks before graduation with no care in the world.

CdM Seniors Favorite High School Films:

Using IMDb’s top rated high school movies, a survey was sent out and the results are listed below

Trident Matchmaker

A FIRST- BUT HOPEFULLY NOT LAST- DATE BETWEEN FRIENDS

ALEXIS BRIGGEMAN, NADIA KHAZEI, AND KATHERINE POPPER

This year’s final installment of Trident Matchmaker follows seniors Milan Bever and Dennis Fitzpatrick during their date at The Stand.

The date got off to a late start, around 8:00 PM, with Fitzpatrick arriving at The Stand. He told Trident that he was “just hungry” and wondering who his match was. On cue, Bever entered the restaurant, very excited to see a familiar face. The two embraced, at ease to finally know their assigned date.

After the duo had ordered their food at the counter, they took a seat and started watching the basketball game playing on the restaurant’s TV: UConn versus SDSU. Bever hoped that SDSU would win, though was disappointed to see them lose to UConn. Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, was cheering on UConn. Presumably so he could cheer against Bever.

Soon, the conversation moved to the topic of music, Fitzpatrick mentioned his love of Taylor Swift, specifically her song “22” off of his favorite album of hers, Red. Bever mentioned that she is planning to attend the country music festival Stagecoach, since she loves country music. Fitzpatrick, also a country music fan, entertains the idea that he could buy tickets and go with her and her friends. With the mention of Stagecoach, the two began to talk about their favorite vacation spots. Bever mentioned Cabo,

where she will visit over spring break. She reminisces on the warm turquoise waters from her vacation last August and shares that she is excited to go back. Fitzpatrick jokingly answered that his favorite vacation spot is, “wherever Milan is.” The date hit a bump when during conversation Bever picked up her phone. As she answered her texts, Fitzpatrick asks a new date and Bever seemed quite offended by this request. But the couple soon breezed past this hiccup, as they entered into an extremely invigorating conversation where they talked about what to talk about. Evidently sparks were flying.

After a long wait, their food arrived and the duo began talking about their future plans. Fitzpatrick is intending to take a year at Golden West College to play baseball and then transfer to a four-year university. Bever has officially committed to the University of San Diego for swim. Fitzpatrick claims that he may transfer there as well, so he can be with Bever. The couple then bonded over their mutual love for their sports, but both shared that they do not particularly enjoy watching their own sports televised. However a sport they both enjoy watching is hockey, as Fitzpatrick is a fan of the Los Angeles Kings. They commented that they should make plans to go see a hockey game together.

The pair moved onto a debate over what animal the other would be if that were the case. Fitzpatrick kindly stated that Bever would be a, “crazy chihuahua” because she is a, “spaz in a fun way.” Now time

for Bever to fire back, she shared that Fitzpatrick would be, “like [those] flies who sit in the sand and bite you.” The conversation then made a complete shift as they each described their ideal first date. Fitzpatrick described a date that would begin at the batting cages and end with dinner. Bever said that she loves to get dinner and take it down to the beach to watch the sunset. After she made this statement, Fitzpatrick amended his own answer to include the sunset.

The date brought itself to a conclusion as The Stand workers kindly informed Bever and Fitzpatrick that the restaurant was closing. The pair met outside for a final interview, where they were asked about the success of the date. Fitzpatrick shared that, “there is no other way to put it then phenomenal.” Bever revealed that although she certainly wasn’t expecting Fitzpatrick, she did in fact end up having a good time.

Alexis Briggeman ‘23 greatly enjoyed witnessing and writing her first and last Trident Matchmaker

Nadia Khazei ‘23 hopes that The Stand appreciates the free advertising

Katherine Popper ‘24 can’t wait to plan future Trident Matchmakers next year

Senior Couples

Megan Harrington and Kaulin Post (left)

Izzy Rakunas and Peter Bonin (right)

Ella Jackson and Oliver Ayala (left)

Avalon Devries and David Rasor (right)

Yasmin Kallel and TJ Doherty (left)

Abby Grace and Nate Evans (right)

Sincerely, Summer

CDM SENIORS SHARE THEIR SUMMER TRAVEL PLANS

KARISSA BELTRAN-JIMENEZ

With the school year coming to an end, the Class of 2023 makes plans for the summer. From trips with family to a week abroad with friends, Corona del Mar seniors are planning a summer to remember.

CdM senior Milan Bever will be visiting her namesake this summer in Italy. Her two week trip will include time in Italy exploring Venice, Rome, and of course, Milan. Bever shares that her mother, “is Italian- she’s been to Italy so many times” though she herself has never been, her, “mom has always wanted to take [Bever] there.” An only

hild, Bever has “grown up going on trips…and being the only kid” though this time she feels they “are going to do so many things together” and hopes to, “spend time with them before leaving” for college. This tip had been planned for her sixteenth birthday but due to COVID-19 restrictions and closures the trip became postponed. It was later decided that it would be her “graduation trip so [she] can remember it not with everything being shut down.” Skip to now, Bever is “definitely excited to see Venice” because she loves the water. Adding that she has,“always wanted to go to Milan to shop and visit the Colosseum

as well.” As for what the trip has in store, Bever exclaimsshe “honestly [has] no idea” but looks forward to “seeing all the big touristy things” and her mother’s known local spots saying they will“be able to see the best of both worlds.”

Senior Lousise Eriksson will be reconnecting with friends and family during her summer long vacation. Spending time with an exchange student whom she met in Newport Beach, Erikson will be meeting her friend in Paris for a week where she hopes to “tour the Eiffel tower” and hopefully “try escargot” though she might be “too scared.” Leaving the itinerary up to her friend, Eriksson is

not sure what else her trip will entail and trusts her friend will make the experience, “more memberabe because she’ll know all the niche little spots” like, “a boat tour at sunset where you can see the Eiffel Tower and the waterways of France.” Eriksson said because she is,“from Sweden…[she is]

salmon, potatoes, and dill.” Though Eriksson cannotpinpoint exactly what about her yearly trip excites her she commented that, “the whole experience there is just so different” and she does not“think there’s anything specific but it’s just a whole different environment.”

Senior Alex Venanzi and the choir

who are also in choir. Since, “They make everything so much better- they make it so much fun.” She went on to describe how she and her friends “always play games and just have a good time talking” adding that, no matter what they do, “there’s always

going back to see my extended family” for the remainder of the summer. She has“gone since [she] was four” and is going to see cousins and family friends” from her hometown. Spending “most of [her] time in Gotland” (an island where her family ownes a summer home) she will “play golf and hang out at the beach” with an old family friend Josephine. She shared that their, “families have grown up near this golf course so [they] always played golf as [they] were growing up” and looks forward to continuing the tradition. Eriksson shared she is most excited about Midsummer, “one of the most important things [she] celebrates, which is the brightest day of the year where for 24 hours the whole day it is sunny.” She and her family, “stay up super late and make flower crowns and eat a bunch of traditional foods like

team will be traveling to Canada in the summer for a competition. Venanzi said she doesn’t travel much but is thrilled about having the opportunity to not only compete but spend time abroad with her friends. Last year the team “went to Spain and that was the first time [Venanzi] traveled internationally.” This time, she hopes to have time to explore Vancouver and Powell River throughout the week. She is ready to experience, “everything honestly- just how Canada is- because [she has] never been.” Venanzi has “heard it’s very nature-esque” and is “excited to see that” especially because of her outdoor and adventurous personality. Not only looking forward to exploring the island, Venanzihopes to spend time with many of her friends

a bunch of inside jokes that come around.” Excited to share new memories with friends and, “see the kind of environment” that comes with competing with them, Venanzi shared that “every experience that [they] have [will be] just so much fun” because “they’re just such great people.”

These CdM students travels, though they mark the end of their high school experience, promise the beginning of many lasting memories and the continuation of old friendships before the fall.

Karissa Beltran-Jimenez 25’ looks forward to visiting Italy with friends for her senior trip in 2025!

Fashion Victim

UNDERSTANDING TREND EVOLUTION

BRITTA LIV WOLKER

Afashion victim, as detailed by Urban Dictionary, is “a person who crosses the boundaries of fashion and style, like taking a fad too far, or wearing too many trends at once, therefore taking the look from glamorous to ridiculous” —an unapologetic statement that suggests a seething attack on various trends the class of 2023 have been around for. Whether the list includes the Coachella flower crown trend that every tween girls’ favorite Youtuber wore, Fila Disruptors that took the Average Joe from a respectable five-foot-three to a whopping five-foot-five and a quarter, or the notorious Outer Banks armies of John Bs’ and JJs.’ There is no better way to express oneself than to learn and evolve from past outfit failures.

According to Forbes Magazine, in an article titled “Trends For 2023: The Changes Shaping the Year Ahead,” “foresights and trends are generated through an understanding of our cultural ecosystem and what’s changing, what’s motivating people and all the adjacencies in the system that will give those changes momentum” —although this primarily refers to politics and work-life, fashion can be included in the mix. Trends attributed to shifting times may include the Covid Pandemic upheaval that might have caused several individuals to resort to Closet Revamp 101 during their free time, social media trends on TikTok that closely followed looks styled by celebrities such as the Olsen twins, Paul Mescal, Bella Hadid, Jacob Elordi, Tyler, The Creator, and Timothée Chalamet, or the increased popularity of sustainable shopping that has pushed the far-from-

new concept of second-hand shopping to scout the ends of the earth for Coastal Cowgirl boots, Men’s Carhartt utility jackets with pockets burned by cigarette butts, XXL cargo pants, (forgiving) broken-in Dr. Martens, or earth-toned tops that Bella Swan from Twilight would have worn. Although fashion trends may seem as though they originate only from the high-end runways of the world, they have much more prosaic beginnings. On a smaller scale, the average fashionista may be influenced by everyday activities like scrolling on social media or walking down the hall. The glimpse and spark of a stylistic epiphany that can be ignited under everyday circumstances can catch on and spread through the masses. In this way, trends stemming from young groups become a force to reckon with. A force that the fashion industry must address. Enjoy shopping online, thrifting, upcycling, or modeling their looks based off of their favorite influencers. These can impact trends.

To understand style evolution, the best local source are the fashion “icons” of 2023’s graduating class, who in lieu of their past mistakes, have managed to forge, create, and rediscover their very own process for outfit building and carrying a confident aura of selfexpression. Senior Megan Swatsek reminisces upon her past; “as a little girl I used to wear clothes from Justice everyday because that’s what everyone else wore.” She proudly continues to state, “I am never embarrassed about past trends and outfits because as I continue to grow as a person, I have become more confident and been able to find my own style!” A different approach is using the reliable,

timeless fashion approach; senior Sarah Galustyan shares that, “an outfit trend I closely follow is basing my wardrobe off of basics.” Although both of the girls have very different styles, their ability to dress confidently disregards the opinions of others by allowing themselves to experiment with looks that allow them to feel their truest self.

Harry Styles created the term “Satellite Stompers,” which refers to any pair of colorful Adidas that are used to heavily tread the floor during his live performance of “Satellite.”As analyzed by Glam Observer Magazine in “How Do Fashion Trends Start” (2022), “Fashion trends go through a five-stage life cycle from introduction when the trend is spotted for the first time, to rise when it becomes popular, up to obsolescence when it’s no longer trending.” Although Harry Styles is a new-age icon who successfully stemmed from his previous membership in the band One Direction, bright pink and blue platform Adidas Gazelles are not necessarily promised to survive popularity in the next five years simply because he popularized them. Trends truly “come and go. The decline phase is reached when the market is oversaturated. That trend is no longer aspirational.” Fashion fads are a part of life —whether one’s preference leans toward wearing Satellite Stompers to their 8:30 a.m. class, leggings on test days, or oversized Dickies 505s for a vintage look, it is important to feel confident despite if “what’s in” changes significantly the very next day.

Britta Wolker ‘23 (definitely) does not possess a shopping problem, but somehow her drawers DO NOT close properly.

Left: Ashley Riba rocks a pair of high-waisted straight-leg jeans while posing on the iconic Lido Village steps.

Top Right: Megan Swatsek wears a cute preppy combo of styling a vintageinspired sweatshirt with a pleated tennis skirt.

Bottom Right: Sarah Galustyan thrives in the Los Angeles city life with a staple crop-top and a pair of white, go-to sneakers.

CdM Cappies Publications

t’s A Privilege to ‘See’ University High Schools production of Urinetown! written by Ava Manly, a senior at Corona del Mar High School

Urinetown, is a satirical musical set in a dystopian society with a drought, resulting in a government ban on private toilets, forcing the poor to pay for access to public restrooms. Those who don’t obey these harsh laws get sent to “Urinetown”.

The character of Officer Lockstock played by Brian Bajak narrates the show with hilarious facial expressions and physicalities. His inflection as he acts as a little boy asking about Urinetown during the number, “What is Urinetown” has the audience roaring with laughter. His dynamic with Little Sally played by Mallika Cadin creates a consistent comedic duo as they play off of each others characters, with Lockstock having a low voice,and authoritative personality and Little Sally being a high ener the two create a nice balance with their energy levels.

silhouette lighting effect during the “Sweet Charity” homage.

The special effects by the Uni FX Crew are a wonderful addition to the show hanging above the set creating an “awe” factor and adding a sense of empowerment as it glows during Bobby and Hope’s duet,”Follow your Heart”.

Overall, the cast has amazing energy and projection, but enunciation could be worked on. Uni offers an exciting night full of comedy, and most importantly “hope”.

“Don’t Be the Bunny”, and go see Uni’s spectacular production of Urinetown!

itness Irvine High School’s imaginative production of Murder’s In The Heir full of laughter, intrigue, and of course, murder. Written by Karissa Beltran-Jimenez, a sophomore at Corona del Mar High School

Written by Billy St. John, the play centers around the Starkweather family and staff following their disinheritance. Over the course of a single night, each member of the family and staff arouses suspicion and contemplates murdering Simon Starkweather before he can alter his will. Mr.Starkweather is found dead, detective Mike Davis conducts an investigation to uncover the murderer; however, it was the audience who got to decide who done it.

Meaghan Fisher skillfully built up a charismatic presence on stage through their ability to launch into interactions with the cast. Brooke Strongs’ uniform accent work and mobility on stage when engaging

Most impressive were the hand-painted wooden floors; their realistic appearance exuded detailed craftsmanship from the set design team and added character to the 90s-inspired set. the show the actor’s lines were briefly muffed due to mic issues, however, the team responded quickly. Synchronized with the lighting, sound effects filled empty silence with background thunder and music. The lighting team exhibited such attention to detail: precise lighting cues during bloopers, spotlight, and dimming during flashbacks, adjusting lighting outside the estate french doors distinguishing night and day, further the immersed production.

Join the mystery of Murder’s in the Heir at Irvine High School where audiences decide who done it.

Hard Launch

INTRODUCTION TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

NIKA AYDIN AND ALEXIS BRIGGEMAN

“Connecting the past, present, and future all with the present.” - Eric

Paulsen

Eric Paulsen class of ‘83 and Joe Stefano class of ‘82 are the two spearheads of the Alumni Association. To Paulsen this association is meant to reconnect two things: the current student body and alumni. The goal is to celebrate CdM for the success that it is. “It’s a fantastic school and produces a lot of great people and they’re doing a lot of great things.” For Stefano, what drives him is that there are so many high quality people who graduated from CdM who live in the area or even who moved away from the area and have stayed in touch. The problem was that there was “no big linkage between these people” unlike colleges where the students and alumni are linked and can help each other, network, and foster a community, “and that’s what we see the alumni association doing.” Alumni association could have a “more social aspect” while also connecting all these people to create a “great community synergy”

By funneling eager, encouraging alumni back to the high school, the association would also be able to offer support for important CdM programs. This association would offer support to the programs at CdM. One example Paulsen mentioned was the “Madrigals going to Spain.” Clearly, such an excursion would definitely require resources, and Paulsen and Stefano were confident that out of the countless CdM alumni in the network, there could very well be someone who wants to support this trip and the program as a whole. Maybe that someone is an alumnus who was in choir, or in drama, or who loved to sing. Interests, clubs, and activities found in high school are formative experiences. Joe Stefano had, “played football, was a part of ASB, and was on wrestling for 2 years.” And Paulsen fondly remembers, “I was a waterpolo player, and that’s kind of all I was. We practiced every day, rain or shine.” Alumni still have roots in CdM. It is just a matter of communication and connection. In this way, the new Alumni Association can be a great asset for the school; through alumni that are willing to donate time, money, and resources the Association can help elevate the whole of CdM to staggering heights.

One integral part of this proposed connection is alumni events. Like the fall Jubilee hosted by the Alumni Association. This event was a resounding success and, Stefano recalls how it started, “Someone said ‘Hey let’s have the mother of all reunions, and that turned into the Jubilee. It was the highest grossing fundraiser ever.” The money raised was used to put down an endowment, and Stefano and Paulsen hope to grow that endowment so that it can pay for annual fundraisers for the CdM foundation. Outside of fundraisers, the duo emphasized the importance of “connecting you to your class reunions.” Every year there is a different reunion for a different class, and Paulsen and Stefano are asking the class presidents or someone who is willing to do it, to run their reunions through the alumni association. “We want to help run the reunions and connect the members back to CdM. Something we are trying to do is having a member every year sit on the board.” Paulsen enthusiastically said “let’s have the Alumni association keep track of the members of the classes, and reach out to the school and help give back to the school.”

Nika Aydin ‘23 and Alexis Briggeman ‘23 will be excited to be a part of the Alumni Association on June 8th.

To Trident (From Me):

Unlike my fellow seniors, I was a bit late to the Trident Magazine party. To be completely honest, I didn't even know that CdM had a magazine until around mid-way through my junior year when, Ms. Jones, my AP Lang teacher, knew that I was interested in English and encouraged me to apply. Thinking it could be a fun way to practice my journalistic skills and incorporate more writing into my life, I applied.

Needless to say, it was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself.

From the moment I walked through the door on the first day, I knew that I was going to love it. Everyone was so kind and welcoming, and I immediately felt at home. As cheesy as it sounds, it felt like a family of sorts.

That's not to say it was all easy, though. Between my habit of ignoring deadlines until they were screaming in my face, getting used to Adobe software with all of its idiosyncrasies, and the struggle that came with exploring a style of writing that was entirely new to me, I felt like I might have taken on too much. Luckily, the feeling didn't last long.

All of you took me under your collective wing and helped me along as I figured out the ins and outs of the onlines, worked tirelessly to create original art for every layout (somehow I always underestimated how long it would take me—you'd think I'd learn from my mistakes eventually, wouldn’t you), and wondered why the de-hyphenate button disappears when InDesign isn't in full screen.

Though my decision to join came late, it was better late than never. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Trident.

Thank you Alexis, Britta, Nika, Anabelle, Kayde, Katherine, Summer, Karissa, Haley, Maria, Zoe, Olivia, Lily, Evan, and Ms. Jones.

Thank you for being the highlight of my week and my steepest learning curve. Thank you for the sidesplitting laughter and the silence as we all crammed for our deadlines. Thank you for the cutthroat games of hangman and the puzzled looks as Photoshop crashes for the twentieth time that day. Thank you for showing me the ropes and giving me grace with deadlines and allowing me to grow as both a person and a writer.

Most importantly, though, thank you for the memories. I hope you cherish them as much as I do.

All my love, Nadia :)

A Final Goodbye:

Last year I watched the seniors draft their letters and wondered what I would write in mine. Now the time is here and as I draft this, I am still wondering what to write. For me, my experience in this class was anything but traditional. On my first day of junior year, I showed up to second period excited to study the ins and outs of the journalism industry, and was honestly disappointed when I heard one of the girls say, “Alexis?! I didn’t know you joined Trident Magazine!” Pretty quickly I learned that I would be spending the next year as a member of the magazine staff covering countless topics (safe to assume I am part of the reason we now ensure interviewees know exactly what they are signing up for). Though the class was completely different from what I expected, there was no part of me that ever thought to leave and there is no part of me that regrets making the decision to stay.

Trident Magazine is a class that is incomparable to any other. I would attribute this to the familial atmosphere that fills the room. Everyone has a place and no one goes unseen. Nika gives the best hugs, Britta always has on the best outfits, Nadia is wise beyond her years, and Anabelle has perfected my layouts three too many times. Mrs. Jones always knows just how far out of my comfort zone to push me, so that I use every ounce of potential that is stored inside of me.

I am an optimist to a fault, so rather than ending this letter with a somber farewell to each and every member of Trident, I would like to leave words of encouragement. I have the utmost confidence that this group will continue to bond, learn, and improve as I move onto the next step of my life. I cannot wait to receive magazines in the mail and marvel over the themes, layouts, and articles as I sit in my dorm room. I am so proud of every one of you, and I truly cannot wait to see in what ways you all continue to grow.

Though there are aspects of high school I would rather not dwell on, there is much to be said for my overall decent and sometimes exceptional experience. Huge shoutout to all my teachers, friends, and family. You guys are truly the best and I am so thankful for all you have done and continue to do for me.

So much love, Alexis (Brigg)

How does one go about writing a thank you letter when there is so much to be grateful for? Truthfully, I didn’t enjoy high school very much, but of the few things I deeply enjoyed during my time at Corona del Mar was Trident Magazine. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I always have too much to say, my mind’s lightbulb is always ignited, and for whatever reason, I possess some strange, innate drive to make a difference in the world. It all started with some elusive story I was assigned to write in fourth grade in which the only memory I still have of it was that it included some sort of magic rainbow. I sure didn’t understand Common Core math, but in response to this assignment and another argumentative essay in which I used the transition phrase “on the other hand,” I was told that I had what you call “talent.” Today, I enjoy being a member of the debate team, pairing my slightly above-average articles with crazy layout designs, and writing what I call “poetry” on occasion —anything that strays away from complex math calculations and asymptotes. I may still lack the skills to write a well-polished rhetorical precí or a decadent research paper, but I am constantly evolving and willing to step out of my comfort zone in terms of experimenting with writing that does NOT depict interpretive images of ocean waves and empty pastures. Trident Magazine has pushed me to accept criticism as a gift free from cost, venture into the world of public speaking, and work with a group of diverse and open-minded individuals. Trident Magazine has taught me to persevere through loss and uncertainty in the way Ms. Ball would have pushed me to, and guided me to improve as both a writer and an emotionally complex human being all thanks to Mrs. Jones. Disregarding context, the very last word of the very last article I wrote for this class was “close.” In leaving lucky room number two-two-four, I hope to close out with a good reputation and forever stay close to my roots whenever I find my true place in the world.

Dear Trident, Atentamente,

Britta Liv Wolker

In her free time, this aspiring writer can often be found roaming the streets of Laguna Beach.

Dear Trident,

Thank you for being one of my most formative experiences at CdM. I have enjoyed every minute of the process: interviewing, investigating, writing, reviewing. All of it. I grew as a writer, speaker, student, and person more than I ever thought I would. And yet, the course itself seems almost inconsequential when compared to the heart of the class and the people in it.

Admittedly, I was a somewhat shy freshman. But, when I found my way to room 224, I instantly felt welcomed. With the encouragement of Ms. Ball and kindness of the fellow staffers, I became more confident and more outspoken with every issue. I found a place for my voice and learned to shape my view of the world. These new skills improved exponentially every year I was there, and, now when I look back on how I have changed, I am extremely grateful for the support of my fellow classmates and (especially) Ms. Jones.

Trident always has been and always will be my favorite class. I loved having people to lean on and learn from. The best part was when, towards the end of my Trident career, people started looking to me for advice. I will never forget the satisfaction of guessing the word someone is looking for, explaining a new tool on InDesign, or, later, watching as the person I assisted took my little bit of advice and made it part of something unique and astounding. In this way, even though I will no longer be part of the class, I can still be part of the class which I’m grateful for.

Although I am sad to leave Trident, I take solace in the fact that I know it will continue to flourish. I am sure of its success because I know the people who will be a part of it. I have watched unsure underclassmen turn into reliable leaders and novice writers become more refined and confident in their work. And in those transformations I recognize the pattern I followed, that graduated Trident veterans have followed, and the path that future staffers will continue. It is a cycle; it is the magic of Trident. Everyone in 224 is passionate about the magazine. And because of that shared interest does what it takes to put out the best issue possible; they will ask for and offer help, step up when they need to, and do what is necessary to make it a great class.

Love, Anabelle

Trident Magazine: the classroom where I spent some of my happiest moments at CdM.

When I first walked into room 224 I was an eighth grader meeting Ms. Ball for the first time. I was nervous to be handing her my application for Trident Magazine. I had spent the week prior formulating a layout with cutouts from magazines and lots of construction paper. When I handed it to her she smiled and we spoke a little bit, and I knew this is the place I wanted to spend my next four years.

Ms. Ball was truly one of a kind. I learned countless life skills from her such as sending thorough emails, how to care with so much empathy for others, and how to tell vibrant stories. I miss her dearly

With the uncertainty that came with sophomore year, this class was my backbone and I didn’t want it to crumble. I took on positions that challenged me because I wanted to do what Ms. Ball would do and make sure this class could try to survive without her. I learned a lot this year, about myself and about the class.

My freshman and junior year is when I got closer to all the people I am grateful to call my friends and role models. Sammy Pierotti, editor-in-chief when I was a freshman, is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. I will never forget the giggles I had with Audrey Tumbarello when we wrote an article on the most popular foods from the past century. Miss Jones came in during a time of chaos and helped realign us with her organization and kind heart. Angelina Jia is an academic weapon who is such a kind and comforting person that resolved all our copy issues. The tiktoks El and Aliyah would make religiously in class, would send us all into laughter. Ryleigh and Alexis are the poster girls for bubbly socal surfers and I loved hearing about all the stories they had to tell us. Britta is just all around a fashion and style icon. And lastly, Anabelle. Oh Anabelle. Anabelle is the glue that keeps us pieced together this year. I have watched her grow as a person and as a Trident member and she never ceases to amaze me with her skills and kindness. All the people that I have got the pleasure of getting to know and working with have had a lot to do in inspiring me, shaping who I am, and making me laugh. I am forever grateful for this class.

It’s sad to leave. It’s sad to look back on these past four years. Not because of any bad memories, but because most of the memories were so overwhelmingly positive and happy that I want to keep making more.

Sincerely (with lots of love and a big hug),

Nika Aydin

Just a few of my favorite memories.

CdM Alumni Association

Photos courtesy of: Eric Paulsen photos and middle

photo: Eric Paulsen

Joe Sefano photos: Joe Stefano

CdM Cappies Publications

Photos courtesy of:

Popcorn: @victorynsurrender on PicsArt

Curtains: @alwaysmetal86 on PicsArt

Ava Manly Photo : Ava Manly

Karissa Beltran-Jimenez Photo: Karissa Beltran-Jimenez

Fashion Victim

Photos courtesy of:

Vehicle: CYPH-ART

Eyes: Picsart

Postcard: @b on Pinterest

Vans: Vans x Busetemeel

Clutter: I Spy Series

Patchwork Jeans: Re/Done

Collage: Anonymous Pinterest Artist

Faces: Anonymous Pinterest Artist

Collage 2: Anonymous Pinterest

Artist

Camera Girl: @andrea.lux on Instagram

People: Picsart

Earrings: @viviennewestwood on Instagram

Pink Sweater:@knitsbydellie on Instagram

Outfit 1: Ashley Riba

Outfit 2: Megan Swatsek

Outfit 3: Sarah Galustyan

Leadership Groups

Photos courtesy of:

AYS: AYS@CdM on instagram

HRC: Nika Aydin

PAL: Caroline Carvelli

NHS: Marissa Bist

Memories of the Past

Photos courtesy of:

Polaroid: Haley Rael on Adobe

Illustrator

Black Star: pngtree.com

Photo 1 & 2: Reese Olsen

Photo 2: Hannah H.

Remnants Remain

Photos courtesy of:

Couple photo in front of sunset: Alex Grant

Photo in front of California Capitol building: Alex Grant

Group photo in front of greenery: Paige Carrillo

Duo photo with black background: Keirnan Stoughton

Battle of the Bay: Piper Blackband

Group indoor photo: Kris Villaluz

Senior Artist Spotlight

Photos courtesy of:

Photo of Shea Tomac: Shea Tomac

Photo of Morgan Savage: Morgan Savage

Photo of Olivia Sandoval: Olivia

Sandoval:

Photo of Sabina Martin: Sabina Martin

Photo of Sophia Rabin: Sophia Rabin

Photo of Amélie Van Dooren: Amélie Van Dooren

Photo of Ava Manly: Ava Manly

Photo of Olivia Knowles: Olivia Knowles

Senior Couples

Photos courtesy of:

Photo of Megan Harrington and Kaulin Post: Megan Harrington

Photo of Izzy Rakunas and Peter Bonin: Izzy Rakunas

Photo of Ella Jackson and Oliver

Ayala: Ella Jackson

Photo of Avalon Devries and David Rasor: Avalon Devries

Photo of Yasmin Kallel and TJ Doherty: Yasmin Kallel

Photo of Abby Grace and Nate Evans: Abby Grace

Senior Spinoffs

Graduates: photo courtesy of @ lucianacalmon on PicsArt, edited on Photoshop

Sincerely, Summer

Photos courtesy of: Gotland, Milan Street, Milan Shops, Rome, Paris Hotel, Sailboat in Sweden: Shutterstock.com

Sweden, Venice, Venice Street,

Canada, Canada Landscape: Gettyimages.com

Sweden Landscape: Istockphoto.com

Eiffel Tower: Pixabay.com

Paris Buildings: Lu-photography. com

Venice: Dreamstime.com

Soaring Seniors

Mandala, Canyon, Wings: photos courtesy of Olivia Clarke using Procreate

Soon-to-Be College Athletes

Photos courtesy of:

David Rasor playing football: David Rasor

Amelia Clark rowing: Amelia Clark

Aubrie Anderson playing waterpolo: Aubrie Anderson

The Last Dance

Graduation caps: photo courtesy of Tassel Depot

Top 15 Senior Scholars

Photos courtesy of:

Stars: @selenicmuse on Picsart.com

Senior Photos: Isabella Almaraz, Aubrie Anderson, Omid Asadi, Aashvi Bist, Marisa Bist, Lily Britt, Dylan Jatwani, John Kim, Phillip Long, Simone Parvizi, Ellie Rosing, Ruby Srinivasan, Kate Thomas, Isabella Vu, Beyonce Zhou

Trident Matchmaker

All photos courtesy of: Alexis Briggeman

True or False

Photos courtesy of:

Booksmart: Entertainment One

The Fallout: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Half of It: Netflix

10 Things I Hate About You: Buena Vista and Touchstone Pictures