Pulse Volume 14 Issue 4

The CCA Issue Volume 14 Issue 4

Letter From the Editor Welcome to the last stretch of the school year, CCA. The taste of summer is in the air, and seniors are preparing to fly the coop. Over the last few weeks, Pulse Magazine has been working hard to present an issue centered on the inimitability of CCA. Our wellness column concludes for this school year on page 9. On pages 6-7, Derek Li and David Sun provide a rundown of the new One Paseo mall nearby. If you’re looking for other new and interesting places to frequent this summer, check out Jordan Goldmann’s and Dom Stearn’s briefing on summer road trips on page 24. Kaylynn O’Curran brings in other student voices on campus through open letters from seniors about college rejection on pages 26-27. On center spread, we have a profile of several CCA students who demonstrate incredible grit by virtue of their unique living situations.

Tim D’Amore is back, as he again captures the upcoming season’s essence on the front cover. In a continued effort to involve more of the student body in our publication, this issue also features guest art from Mr. Sevilla’s Advanced Digital Art and Design class on several spreads.

Finally, the long-awaited college map begins on page 28. Congratulations to the class of 2019! Making it through all four years of high school is no easy feat, and we wish you the very best in all of your future, sure-to-be-incredible endeavors. Before you part for the season, hug your friends, say thank you to your teachers, and always remember to stay weird, CCA. I’ve been a member of Pulse for four years now, and I can confidently say my high school experience would not have been the same without it. From late afternoons right before deadlines to crazy story-idea meetings in class, my time with this magazine has been truly special—and I hope some of you will consider joining in the future.

For the last time this year, we are honored to present to you all Pulse, Volume 14, Issue 4.

Best wishes,

Annie Lu

10 Things You Forgot About In 2019

4-5

One Paseo

6-7

Profile: Dorothy Guinter

8

Wellness Column

9

Entrepreneurs at CCA

10-11

Virtual Reality

12-13

Approval Ratings Around the World

14-15

Profile: CCA Students Living in Unique Situations

16-18

Esports The Fast and The Furious

21 22-23

Summer Road Trips

24

Dorm Necessities

25

Oh, The Places You'll NOT Go

26-27

College Map

28-31

10 THINGS YOU F Calling the American press fastpaced is an understatement. The average news story is often relevant for only up to 24 hours. Some are luckier—with the help of social media, public figures, or the sheer magnitude of the topic at hand, headlines can last up to days, weeks, or even months.

However, those are few and far between. With the seemingly never-ending stream of news stories flooding our TV screens and phones, seldom do we get the chance to stop and look back on everything that has happened in the past year.

Now’s your chance. Let’s play a game. The following are just a few events that occurred in the first half of 2019. Count how many you remember.

Count how many you forgot about.

THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN US HISTORY

December 22, 2018 - January 25, 2019 A government shutdown means that federal agencies must cease operations on all “non-essential” federal programs. During this specific shutdown, federal agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration, the National Weather Service, and the National Park Service, left workers without pay for a record 35 days. The shutdown occurred due to the disagreement be-

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tween President Trump and Congress, who could not agree on the federal spending bill for 2019—mainly over the amount of money being allocated to go towards border security enhancements, a.k.a. Trump’s infamous wall.

EMPIRE STAR JUSSIE SMOLLETT HATE CRIME SCANDAL

January 29, 2019 On January 29th, Jussie Smollett was allegedly attacked near his apartment in Chicago. His initial police report claimed that the attack was a racial and homophobic hate crime.

Upon further investigation by the Chicago police department, it was discovered that the Empire actor supposedly paid the two attackers to help him orchestrate and stage the crime. On February 21st, Smollett turned himself into the Chicago police to face a felony charge of filing a false police report, something that could result in a one to three-year prison sentence. However, his charges were dropped upon alleged uncertain conviction.

MICHAEL COHEN’S TESTIMONY

February 27, 2019 Michael Cohen was President Trump’s personal lawyer and “fixer.” In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and falsifying financial statements.

He also has claimed involvement in a scheme to buy the silence of two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump. During his public testimony before the House Oversight Committee on February 27th, 2019, he described the President as being “a racist,” “a con man,” and “a cheat.”

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL

March 12, 2019 The FBI’s Operation Varsity Blues and the Justice Department charged 50 people, notably those of wealthier status, in being directly involved in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme to enable students with mediocre resumes to attend the top universities in the world, including Yale and the University of Southern California. Those accused include Full House star Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman from Desperate Housewives.

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM HALTS THE DEATH PENALTY

March 13, 2019 The newly elected governor of California, Gavin Newsom, issued an executive order to end the death penalty in California during the duration of his tenure. This reprieves 737 inmates currently on death row. In making

FORGOT ABOUT IN

19 his decision, Newsom stated, “The intentional killing of another person is wrong. And as Governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual.”

DISNEY OFFICIALLY OWNS 21ST CENTURY FOX

March 20, 2019 Walt Disney Co. closed its $71.3 billion deal to acquire 21st Century Fox. Now, Disney owns 21st Century Fox, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and 60% of Hulu. This acquisition concerns many analysts about the threat of monopolization in the entertainment industry.

BRUNEI HOTEL BOYCOTT

April 3, 2019 Brunei is a small country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. As of April 3rd, 2019, Brunei began imposing Sharia law, meaning that traditional Islamic principles must be treated as law. One of the more controversial ordinances dictates that sexual relations between men are punishable by death by stoning, and sexual relations between women are punished by lashing or a ten-year prison sentence. In response to this, George Clooney called for the boycott of the hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Such hotels include the Hotel Bel-Air and The Beverly

by Emily Gao

Hills Hotel. Upon Clooney’s initial call to action, numerous other celebrities have followed suit and publicly supported the boycott.

ROBERT MUELLER’S CONCLUSION TO THE TRUMP AND RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

April 18, 2019 In 2017, The United States began a counterintelligence investigation into Russia’s alleged efforts to interfere with the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Some of this investigation included digging into President Trump’s campaign and its ties to the Russian government. On March 24th, 2019, Attorney General Barr and then-Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein stated that the investigation led to no counts of obstruction of justice that could be proven in a court of law. In other words, Trump is in the clear. However, after the release of the report, Mueller indicated that it is not certain that President Trump did not obstruct justice either.

YEMEN’S CIVIL WAR DEATH TOLL EXCEEDS 70,000

April 19, 2019 Yemen has been locked in a brutal civil war for over four years. The war was caused by an uprising that forced the previous standing president to

hand power over to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The Houthi Shia Muslim rebel movement took advantage of the vulnerability of the state caused by a sudden transfer of power and seized control of several parts of the country, leading to one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has seen. Not only has Yemen’s health system collapsed, but eighty percent of the population—24 million people—are in need of humanitarian aid.

Intense conflict between rebels and the government has resulted in over three million people displaced and over seventy thousand deaths.

MISTREATMENT OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS BY THE ICE

Ongoing Between October 1st, 2017 and May 31st, 2018, over 2,700 children of immigrants who crossed the border illegally have been split from their parents. As of February 27th, 2019, the US federal government has received more than 4,500 complaints about the sexual abuse of immigrant children being held at government-funded detention facilities. Some of these allegations were accusations of adult staff members assaulting immigrant children, while others were of minors assaulting other minors.

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by Derek Li and David Sun

For years, passing Del Mar Heights only warranted curious passersby a glimpse of the structures of a long-controversial complex.

The development of the mixed-use compound originally began as an denser alternative to Carmel Valley’s suburban environment, but it faced aggressive opposition due to potential environmental impacts and traffic disruptions. For over ten years, the project stood at a standstill. But after community leaders proposed a drastic downsizing, the hub gained traction.

At last, One Paseo was in the works.

The shadows of the center’s structures only begin to encompass the relaxed and enticing vision that its masterminds have for the future of One Paseo. Its recent grand opening introduced a variety of eateries and stores to the journey through Carmel Valley, advertising itself as a small town where specialty is key.

While the majority of this mixeduse development is planned to be completed in 2020, most commercial stores will be open by the end of summer. Here is a brief overview that highlights some of the popular locations open already and a few highly anticipated stores opening soon.

Come One, Come All. OPEN: Shake Shack: Founded 14 years ago in New York City, this East Coast burger chain has been aggressively expanding in California for the past few years. Adding on to two existing

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branches in Mission Valley and UTC, Shake Shack Del Mar opened in One Paseo on March 18th. For a big meal, pair the signature Shackburger with cheese fries, or grab a quick snack with the Shack-Cago hot dog. Skip the lines by downloading the Shake Shack mobile app and then picking up your order at the store.

Salt and Straw: What started as a small ice cream food cart in, Oregon back in 2011 has now become a popular store chain known for its bizarre yet delicious flavors. These include Dandelion Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter Stout with Chocolate Chicharrón, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache, and many more. Additionally, Salt and Straw has seasonal flavors—Rhubarb Crumble with Toasted Anise is the featured item for San Diego locations this spring. Be adventurous and dazzle your taste buds by eating ice cream at this quirky shop!

SusieCakes: This cozy, intimate bakery recently opened its second San Diego location in One Paseo (the first one being in Carlsbad). The mission of its founder, Susie Sarich, is to share special homemade cakes with others in a down-to-earth environment while also committing “to providing women with progressive careers in the food & hospitality industry.” After a big meal, make sure to stop by at Susiecakes to take a delicious bite from one of its signature cakes (especially the Southern Red Velvet) or the countless other cupcakes, cookies, and pies.

To find out more: https://www.onepaseo.com/

Joe & The Juice: Brought to the attention of San Diegans by its first location in Westfield UTC, the One Paseo opening marks the second commencement of the internationally-renowned juice bar and coffee concept. Joe & The Juice boasts a Nordic atmosphere and an artsy culture, distinguishing itself from other chains with its emphasis on fashion and edge.

Additionally, the shop also serves natural and organic goodness in its fresh juices, shakes, coffee, and sandwiches, making for a unique experience that now graces One Paseo.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: International Smoke: Pioneered by cook and bestselling author Ayesha Curry and esteemed chef Michael Mina, International Smoke is set to hit One Paseo in the near future. Inspired by the various culinary and international interpretations of the word “barbecue,” the restaurant explores the use of fire and smoke and delivers personal flavors collected from Curry and Mina’s travels around the world.

By recreating the special magic of backyard barbecues, International Smoke welcomes all to One Paseo as a familiar gathering of delicious dishes.

Sephora: One of the highly anticipated shops to open in One Paseo is Sephora, which also maintains locations in Westfield UTC and Fashion Valley. Residents of Carmel Valley will soon not need to travel nearly as far to explore the multitudes of personal care and beauty products in Sephora. The store’s broadly diverse and inclusive products lines offer an accessible option for skincare and expertise, which makes it all the more exciting that One Paseo will soon house a realm of possibility and beauty potential.

Art by Angelina Olmedo

PROFILE: DOROTHY GUINTER

by Ella T. Lifset

Flexibility and collaborativeness.

These two words describe the attributes that a school psychologist must have at any institution. As CCA’s school psychologist Dorothy Guinter puts it, “No two days are the same.”

Carefully-crafted schedules made each week are subject to drastic change, all in order to meet every student’s need.

Her office is located deep in the bowels of the administrative building—room A142, to be specific. But who exactly is our school psychologist, and what exactly does she do?

Guinter has been working for CCA for almost ten years, originally transferring from La Costa Canyon High School. She became interested in school psychology after interning with a school psychologist at a local elementary school in Tucson, Arizona. “[The psychologist] asked if I wanted to intern with him to see if I would like the field,” Guinter remembers. “Sure enough, I did!”

Although seemingly similar to a counselor, the job of a school psychologist is actually quite different. While a guidance counselor primarily helps students with scheduling issues and letters of recommendation, the school psychologist assesses students for special education, provides group and individual special education counseling, and conducts safety assessments if a student’s mental wellbeing appears to be compromised. Typically, however, the largest part of Guinter’s day is spent in the special education department. After a standard performance assessment is given to the student, if the student is identified with a disability that adversely affects their educa-

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tional performance, they then qualify for an IEP (Individualized Education Program). Guinter can subsequently work directly with the student to ensure the student’s success. “It is incredible to watch the growth of a student as they learn to overcome challenges that they never thought they could,” she says, speaking about the students with whom she works. She also adds, “It is my favorite part of the job!”

As a psychologist at a school like CCA, Guinter also deals with students’ stress and anxiety. “Talking to other school psychologists,” she explains, “It appears that stress may be higher at CCA.” Of course, she is referring to the 4x4 schedule and pressure to take AP classes at CCA, but she also points out the tremendous stress to get into a college that permeates this generation of university applicants.

However, Guinter also mentions that one of the causes for these high-stress levels may stem from social media, something that is relatively new to the adolescent population. “Social media is a common place for students to bully

each other, spread rumors, substitute face-to-face interactions, and overshare something that is private,” she says. “When I work with [anxious] students, it is very common for me to say to them to take a break from social media.” This, she adds, combined with the basics, like eating healthy meals, sleeping eight hours per night, drinking water, and getting physical activity, can all contribute to a more balanced and less-stressed lifestyle.

Although many students may be unaware of Mrs. Guinter’s role on this campus, CCA is lucky to have such an amazing resource that is flexible enough to accommodate each student and willing to collaborate individually to meet every need. The hardest part is just finding her office.

Wellness Column

by Anonymous

“To club presidents: what is it like running a club? Any advice for underclassmen just starting out?”

Running a club is a lot about responsibility. You feel a sense of ownership, which can be a great motivator, but it also makes keeping on top of school work and personal life difficult. When I first became a club president, I struggled because it would be really easy to forget one responsibility and start a domino effect where everyone else’s work could be jeopardized. Club meetings became crucial to keeping my mind organized and helping club members organize their own schedules.

When you become a leader figure to the other members, you also become a mentor.

It’s important to get to know club members on a personal level because everyone in the club works together. You definitely make a lot of friends in clubs, and it’s important part of making the hard work fun.

“How do I maintain old friendships after graduation?”

I believe friendships from childhood are mostly formed out of convenience, especially since in small class sizes, children are expected to get along with people they might not jive with.

After moving to a new area, or in college, though, all that changes.

There are so many people that are looking to be friends, and you can start with a fresh slate. Part of joining a new community is also growing more comfortable with the types of people you like to be around. I think you will naturally drift away from some of the friends that you don’t reach out to. Keeping in touch with the friends you’ve grown up with, and still are close with (though not by distance) takes effort on both sides. You will both need to text or call or do whatever you do to have fun and stay connected.

If you are doing all the work, or your friend is, the friendship might benefit from a discussion about evening the scales.

“An open letter about my experiences with a healthy diet in high school:” One of the many things I suffered from throughout high school was debilitating anxiety stemming from three triggers: grades, home and social life, and nutrition. I developed eczema scabs all over my body to the point where I couldn’t sleep or sit still without feeling the need to itch. I never wore anything that revealed the scabs because I was self-conscious. When the anxiety became overwhelming, I turned to food for comfort and soon developed an eating disorder. I had even less motivation and barely slept, which affected my academics. In the next year and half, I began to rehabilitate my habits and adopted a dairy-free diet that’s easier on my body. My scars are fading, I can concentrate in class, and my energy levels and confidence have gone up. I’m not saying my solution is for everyone, but diet has been an incredibly large part of my life. Paying attention to what we eat is something I wish I had taken more seriously sooner.

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ENTREPRENEURS AT CCA

by Caleb Posner

When you think “entrepreneur,” big names like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs come to mind. Usually, entrepreneurship isn’t associated with high school students. That is what the Advanced Business class at CCA strives to change. The class consists of running a business with a team of other students over a 13-week period. Each team has a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Marketing/Sales Officer (CMO/CSO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Human Resources Director (HR). The class starts with brainstorming and group assignment, which leads into manufacturing products/offering services, managing finances, etc. The class culminates with the Junior Achievement Company Program Competition in San Diego. Below is a brief look at the unique businesses that competed for CCA:

The College Kit

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SoCal Ecocycle

CEO: Ozzie Pearlman CMO: Luna Clements CFO: Isaac Lustig COO: Gaurav Dixit HR: Sean Nottoli

CEO: Arnav Kanodia CMO: Justin Fisher CFO: Max Enriquez COO: Milan Rosenbaum HR: Taylor Niehart

Mission Statement: “We are looking to revolutionize the way rising freshman sport their college, in a simpler, more affordable way.”

Company Summary: Our company is a college apparel and accessory company that specializes in custom university boxes at a fraction of the market price.

Fun Fact: Our company started as a rotating refrigerator disk product, and we quickly pivoted to our company now, The College Kit.

Mission Statement: “Dedicated to make the Earth a cleaner, more sustainable place for all.”

Company Summary: SoCal Ecocycle is dedicated to making the environment a cleaner and more sustainable place for all. We educate the public on the importance of recycling, and collect bottles and cans that go directly to the right facilities. Recycling will impact the community in a great way!

Fun Fact: About eight million metric tons of recycling ends up in the ocean every year.

Perception Marketing CEO: Jacob Soni CMO: Cole Karen CMO: Kien Ngo CFO: Amay Jain COO: Natalie Wittenberg HR: Wyatt West Mission Statement: “To enable modern, affordable marketing for local clubs, organizations, and small businesses in 21st century mediums.”

Company Summary: We are a 21st-century marketing company focused on utilizing social media to advertise small businesses, clubs, and events.

Fun Fact: The members didn’t have to raise startup capital and are happy to be debt-free.

Eternal Clothing CEO: Ryan Fuchs CMO: Bradley Keel CFO: Luke Atkinson COO: Robert Moragrega HR: Jimmy Bortree Mission Statement: “Changing San Diego one t-Shirt at a time.”

Company Summary: Eternal Clothing is a clothing company attuned to Southern California’s teenage fashion trends that aims to help the homeless. For every shirt sold, one is donated to a homeless person in need.

Eternal Clothing offers a simple, yet high quality product line that can be purchased at www.eternalclothing.org Fun Fact: We have donated 40 shirts so far to homeless people around San Diego County.

Athlead

Party in a Box

STUD

Piece of Cake Baking Co.

Co-CEO: Noah Hecht Co-CEO: Brennan Bordok CMO: Adam Knees CFO: Justin Kaufman COO: Charlotte Maher

CEO: Prisha Kukkal CMO: Darshana Boopathi CFO: Hanna Aghajan COO: Sydney Daruwala HR: Moriah Rose

CEO: Caleb Posner CMO/CSO: Dylan Haynes CFO: Yuval Noiman COO: Kevin Yang HR: Astha Patra

CEO: Ashleigh Craig CMO: Sheeva Davari CFO: Andrew Dysart COO: Hallie Munoz HR: Pauline Charlot

Mission Statement: “To provide affordable training to youth athletes from all backgrounds.”

Company Summary: Unfortunately, personal sports training has become prohibitively expensive for many families. We want to solve this problem by connecting high school trainers to passionate young athletes at an affordable rate. Parents can connect with an accomplished high school athlete and schedule a training session for their child. A majority of the profit goes to the trainer while the rest goes to Athlead.

Fun Fact: We have no affiliation with “Athlead” from The Office.

Mission Statement: “We are committed to putting the fun back in party planning by providing our customers with a convenient and simple solution.”

Company Summary: We sell a party in a box, which includes curated products and supplies that you need to throw a themed party.

It saves the time it would usually take someone to a plan a party themselves. All the decorations are sourced from different vendors and presented in an original way.

Fun Fact: Our business is based off of our own struggles with party planning.

Mission Statement: “Our mission is to transform designs created by aspiring designers into stylish t-shirts so people can look and feel good through supporting incredible student artists.”

Company Summary: We partner with student artists to create stylish t-shirts from their designs. The artists get a royalty on every shirt sold. This gives student artists a platform to get their work out into the world and earn money in the process.

Fun Fact: We sold 30 shirts in our first pre-sale. These shirts included a design by Benji Levine, an LA-based artist, and CCA’s own Samantha Chai.

Mission Statement: "The mission for our company is to bring people together through the art of baking.

We hope people find our kits to be a fun, engaging experience that can be enjoyed with family and friends."

Company Summary: We curate recipes and package all of the non-perishable ingredients needed for each recipe.

Fun Fact: Right now, we have two recipes: Confetti Cupcakes and Layered Brownies. We send our customers kits with pre-measured, separate ingredients and a simple instruction card, making homemade baking simple.

CCA was extremely well-represented at the Junior Achievement Company Program Competition. We had 8 of the 18 teams competing in San Diego. The competition consisted of an eight-page business plan, a commercial, a trade show booth, and a four-minute presentation. Each of those was scored by judges, and the total scores resulted from all four components of the competition. STUD even took home second place and had their business plan entered to potentially compete at the national competition. It was overall an incredible experience for all of the CCA teams at the competition and throughout the program. Everyone involved truly learned what it means to be an entrepreneur and how much really goes into running a business. That’s what is so amazing about the Advanced Business class—it is an opportunity to learn real world skills that are beneficial later in life, no matter the profession you may choose.

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VIRTUAL REALITY

by Justin Wang

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Art by Annie Ramey

A

staple of science fiction imagery is the hologram, a device to picture buildings that you could walk into or projections that create huge dolphins to scare away your enemies. Although we don’t have the capability to create 17 layered floating screens and full holographic crime scene reproductions, the next best thing is now on the horizon. Virtual reality (VR) is already transforming the entertainment industry and slowly expanding into other fields, like history, architecture, and— incidentally—CCA. Virtual reality, in a nutshell, is the use of computer-generated imagery to create an entire 3D “reality” around you, seen through a specially-designed headset. Mr. Remington, after acquiring a rather sizeable information technology grant, brought two Oculus Rift VR headsets into the classroom for use in his Computer Game Design class. At first, Remington was “kind of skeptical... I thought it was just a trendy, fun thing to do,” but he soon changed his mind when he realized the capabilities of such technology.

When Remington first tried on the headset, he was blown away by the ability of VR to transport him into another world: “It is kind of amazing that you feel like you are actually in that space, it...takes over your senses in that way.” He believes that VR can and likely will reform the entire structure of not only game design, but employment and hiring—he cites companies that are already considering the use of VR to train and test future employees without the need for expensive equipment. In the same vein, the power of simulation has caught the eye of yet another teacher on this campus—Mr. Mauro, who is utilizing VR to augment something completely different from entertainment—architecture.

Mr. Mauro’s Introduction to Engineering students paired virtual reality with Revit, an architectural design tool, to further refine their plans. After designing an interior (complete with

appliances and other furnishings), his students would use the VR headsets to “walk” inside their project. The headsets allow his students to get a better feeling of scale. Mauro says that “[the headsets] give a really good spatial and 3D visualization of the space that you can’t get with Revit alone”, and his students have gained a better sense of spatial awareness in regards to their plans. Oftentimes, after viewing their creations in VR, Mauro’s students don’t make large changes—alterations like wall removal or room expansion are usually identified without 3D virtual analysis. Instead, “the issues are usually that you didn’t quite get the window where we wanted it to be,” or that a countertop is just a little too close to a wall. In a 2D environment, Mauro has seen that “[those mistakes] look okay, and you don’t really think about it until you’re actually in” your design.

To Mauro’s students, VR allows them to identify small problems and make changes, much like the current shift of the professional architectural industry away from blueprints and toward 3D VR models for their clients.

“It is kind of amazing that you feel like you are actually in that space, it...takes over your senses in that way.”

Mauro maintains that scale is one of the biggest benefits of VR, especially in situations of architectural design. Mrs. Melkonian, on the other hand, is using VR’s sense of scale a little differently in her Art History class. Her Art History students have the ability to travel to Egypt, Rome, and Greece all in one class period through virtual reality.

After hearing horror stories about fellow Art History teachers “going to see specific pieces in specific museums,

[but]the particular piece won’t be on display,” Melkonian started to utilize virtual reality to show her students art pieces like the Temple of Karnak in Egypt—in her own classroom. Melkonian recognizes that one of the main benefits of VR lies in its depiction of scale, and although her students could learn about the technical size of the Pyramids or the Temple of Karnak, the VR systems give a true sense of scale to the building. “If you get the into the shoes of the person in the Temple,” it really hammers home the scale of the creation. Melkonian says, “It’s one thing to hear that they’re 50 feet high, but it’s another thing to be like: they’re big.” Melkonian shows ancient sites in virtual reality to truly emphasize “that [the builders] were constructing these with rudimentary tools by our standards, and it’s crazy as to what they can accomplish.”

All three of these teachers have future plans to expand their VR arsenal with more headsets, which will facilitate a deeper integration of VR into school curriculum. Remington’s VR game design promises to be the future of video gaming and possibly other mediums like movies and TV shows.

Mauro’s usage of VR with Revit has already started to become widespread in the professional architectural world, especially in client-to-architect interactions. Mauro also has plans to offer manufacturing/robotics certifications in his more advanced engineering classes through virtual reality training simulations. This type of practical training has already started to make its way into professional employment situations, and Mauro’s future uses of the headsets promise to prepare his students for the new era of job searching. Melkonian’s use of VR mirrors college-classes that use similar technologies to "bring the art to life.” All in all, VR promises to be a technology that transforms fields far beyond its original entertainment-related function, and our teachers at CCA are taking full advantage of its power.

APPROVAL RATINGS AROUND THE WORLD

by Luke Williams The world can be a confusing place to navigate. Understanding foreign policy can be even more confusing. That’s why this article will attempt to explain world leaders and their policies in a simple and easy manner. It may surprise people in the US to see that Trump’s approval rating, when stacked up against other world leaders, doesn’t fare poorly. This is especially surprising when you consider how he is considered historically unpopular and politically divisive on a national and global level. Sometimes, no matter where you stand on Trump, it’s nice to take a look around and see that other countries aren’t any more united than we are.

UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

42%

On the international level, the biggest news in the United States revolves around the Mueller Report and its conclusion. The Mueller Report summary, released by Trump’s appointed Attorney General William Barr, didn’t find Trump guilty of any collusion with Russia but also didn’t exonerate him. The most damning piece of evidence in the report revealed that Trump asked his lawyers to lie to investigators, in essence obstructing justice. However, Barr did not consider this obstruction because there is no provable corrupt motive, and Trump technically asked his lawyers to lie to everyone (American people) and not just investigators.

FRANCE PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

28%

President Macron’s low approval rating is mainly due to his response to the divisive Yellow Vest protests. What started as a disagreement over high fuel prices and a rising cost of living has evolved into a violent protest against Macron’s pro-business policies. However, as they enter their 22nd week of protests, support for the protests continues to wane. When they began, 80% of the public supported them. However, now only 45% of the public supports the protests, due to massive economic losses caused by the riots. Macron is expected to release his plan on how to tackle many of the country’s most pressing issues shortly, which may ease the protests.

UNITED KINGDOM PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY

31% 14

Theresa May continues to struggle in Britain. Given one of the most difficult tasks in political history, May has failed to pass Brexit, or the British Exit from the European Union, three times. Even after offering to resign, the latest version of the bill still failed, forcing her and the other MP’s (Members of Parliament) to extend the deadline to October 31st. This could leave the possibility for a second public referendum.

At the time of the publication of this article, all facts and statistics were up to date.

GERMANY PRIME MINISTER ANGELA MERKEL

50%

Merkel remains fairly popular and has long been considered one of the leaders of Europe. One of Germany’s most pressing current issues is the rising cost of living, especially rent prices. Recent protests in Berlin and a few other cities have brought this problem to light. In addition, Germany faces a divisive debate over immigration. Although they remain part of the EU, similar to many Britains, many Germans oppose the immigration laws of the EU and would rather see their borders more closely monitored or shut down for certain groups.

CANADA PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU

40%

Trudeau isn’t as popular as he used to be or as many non-Canadians would think; his decrease in popularity can likely be attributed to the SNC-Lavalin affair. Fears that the Trudeau administration interfered, or attempted to interfere, in the justice process or attempted to influence the supposedly non-partisan, independent attorney general has created fear of a corrupt administration.

ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU

51% *current as of mid-2018

In a contested election that was at first too close to call, Benjamin Netanyahu was ultimately re-elected as the Prime Minister of Israel. Netanyahu has been criticized for his extremism and attacks on the media, among other issues. Despite a damaging corruption scandal, Netanyahu was re-elected on the promise of one of the most extreme policies in Israel’s history: annexing the West Bank Settlements. This has led President Trump to declare his support.

VENEZUELA PRIME MINISTER NICOLÁS MADURO

21%

Venezuela has been making headlines for several months because of the massive failure of their socialist policies and for their “pull-and-tug” power struggle. Nicolas Maduro officially won the most recent election, however Juan Guaidó has declared himself the rightful winner. The US and many other countries have expressed support for Guaidó over the cruel Maduro regime, however Maduro has retained control of the military and therefore the country. As the power struggle continues, the citizens of Venezuela suffer most, as unprecedented inflation, power outages, and mass migration cause economic and social devastation.

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PROFILE: CCA Students In Unique Living Situations We live in a bubble of sheltered lives and luxury cars. Most neighborhoods consist of cookie-cutter houses that conform to the narrative of our cookie-cutter existence: SAT tutors, college counselors, loving nuclear families, and family dogs populate the well-manicured cul-de-sacs of suburban America. Any outsider would consider the phrase “Carmel Valley” and assume every one of its inhabitants has a perfect life, yet Pulse Magazine has sought out several CCA students whose living situations and responsibilities are anything but. Some of them have been homeless because of their family’s situation; some had no place to stay but with friends; some still have a house to inhabit but must assume far greater responsibilities than expected for someone their age. Below are the stories they shared with us that show there is more to our community than meets the eye.

When she was in third grade, Jasmin Azizi, now a senior at CCA, spent nine months in a homeless shelter for women who suffer from addiction, sex trafficking, and/or domestic abuse.

She recalls that her mother, pregnant with Azizi’s sister at the time, wanted to break away from both sides of the family to be on her own. Azizi was given the choice to live with her father instead, but she chose to follow her mother to the shelter, Shepherd’s Gate.

Azizi’s experience at Shepherd’s Gate was positive in many ways. “They pret-

ty much gave us everything. A place to stay, babysitting… [My mom] would take [rehabilitation] classes with other people at the homeless shelter… Even when we left the [shelter], they gave me so many things, like the dining table and the bed that I still use today.”

“Being homeless doesn’t make you a victim—it makes you really strong...because you’re doing things that your friends and your fellow students don’t have to do.”

Azizi says she was too young to fully understand her mother’s circumstances at the time, but she knew she needed to get away and “get a breath of fresh air.” Her sister was born while they were living at Shepherd’s Gate.

“My mom literally named her Freedom because she had never felt so free in a homeless shelter than anywhere else.”

Azizi remembers feeling a sense of community there, as the people were genuine and loving. But every resident at the shelter had a story of why they came to be there, and Azizi learned tales of abuse and sex trafficking. “The minute I left, I knew I wanted to work towards helping these people.” She has plans to go into public service in the

by Amy Cheng, Annie Lu, and Justin Wang

future to work towards eradicating sex trafficking.

She’s very open about her time there now and considers it an incredible, formative experience, but while Azizi lived in a shelter, classmates who did not share her situation bullied her mercilessly and socially isolated her.

She advises people to keep an open mind and not consider homelessness as a sign of victimhood. “Being homeless doesn’t make you a victim— it makes you really strong...because you’re doing things that your friends and your fellow students don’t have to do.” While Azizi thinks donating to homeless shelters is a good cause, she warns people to be mindful of not acting condescending in their treatment of the homeless community. “Although you might not realize it, sometimes the ways that you’re talking might sound like [you’re] belittling them.” Students that are in difficult situations don’t warrant pity—they deserve respect and to be received with open minds.

Student B is a senior at CCA. Partway through her junior year, her mom decided to move to a different state with Student B’s younger sister. Student B refused to move because her entire life was in San Diego. Naturally, her parents opposed the idea, but she composed a multi-page essay with different sections explaining her budget, where she would work, where she would go to school, etc., which helped sway them. Her family moved away in May,

so she lived at a friend’s house for the rest of that school year. She spent that summer living in Las Vegas without her parents to further prove her ability to be independent. At the outset of senior year, she was still staying with that friend—until she received a tip about someone renting out a nearby apartment.

The studio apartment is at the back of someone else’s property, similar to a guest house with a separate entrance.

For the past year, Student B has lived alone there. Her parents pay the rent, but Student B has to cover the cost of everything else. From gas to car insurance, car repairs, phone bills, and food, she has worked several jobs to keep up with her expenses. Sometimes, her family will loan her money, but she is always expected to pay it back.

Student B explains, “All my friends are aware of my living situation… all the teachers I have this year know about [it].” In terms of balancing school with other responsibilities, she doesn’t “expect to have any leeway necessarily, but if something big happens, then [her teachers] are more aware of the situation.”

“There’s been a massive change in my outlook,” Student B says. “Finances definitely slapped me across the face a few times… I’ve come to be more appreciative of the stuff I have.” She also describes how she learned to put responsibility first rather than capitalizing on the typical youth and carefree nature of a high school student.. “If I get in trouble here, who’s going to bail me out? You have to be aware. I could be at this party, I could be out past

curfew, or I could be smart.” Student B wants to dispel stereotypes that a minor living alone can only mean trouble. When she’s home alone, she says, she really just washes her dishes and watches Netflix. “I’m just adulting two years early.”

For students in similar positions, she advises asking for help. “A lot of the time, I felt like I was...asking too many people for too many things, but you’re a minor. You’re still figuring things out. The fact that you’re even doing this and being a little bit successful is amazing.” Student B also advises friends of people like her to be sympathetic to the level of pressure that comes with living independently. Not everyone can relate to a student having to go to work for a living, or not being able to go out because they’re saving money to pay the bills. She also highly recommends making a budget—regardless of whether you follow it to the dollar, it helps to write it out.

PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA

2009-2010

3.1%

2010-2011

3.5%

2011-2012

3.8%

2012-2013

4.0%

2013-2014

4.5%

“Finances definitely slapped me across the face a few times… I’ve 2014-2015 come to be more appreciative of the stuff I 2015-2016 have.”

Aidan Hargreaves, a senior at CCA, has moved 22 times throughout his life. For almost three years right after his parents divorced, he, his mom, and his brother did not have a place of their own and stayed on a series of friends’ and family members’ couches

3.7% 3.9%

Homeless students are defined as children/youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

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and spare rooms. At first, all three of them shared one bed in Hargreaves’ uncle’s guest room. This began when Hargreaves was still in fourth grade, and “I loved it as a kid because in my mind it was like ‘I’m staying with my cousins!’” Though he became aware of the reality of their situation over time, it wasn’t until freshman year when he sat down and discussed with his mom why they had moved so many times.

The realization that his childhood had played out differently than he thought also changed his perspective on his parents, who had done their best to make Hargreaves think the best of everything. One thing that stands out to him is the strength it must have taken his mom to put aside her pride and ask a sibling for help taking care of her kids. Hargreaves gained new respect for his parents and the strain of difficult financial situations.

Knowing that many of his peers rely heavily on their parents for money, Hargreaves takes pride in working two to three jobs at a time and funding all of his own endeavors, from senior events to college applications. “I’ve realized how much other people take for granted.” His older brother also works several different jobs, while their mom built her way up on her own.

She took multiple jobs to put a down payment on an apartment, and now Hargreaves lives stably with her and his stepdad. Hargreaves believes when it comes to stereotypes, those living in unique situations should be treated with respect. “In this area, everyone gets very used to the comfortable lifestyle [and] don’t realize how many people really struggle with money… I lived a normal childhood like everyone else. Just because we had less money... doesn’t mean I’m any different.” He advises people to take into account what their parents are going through.

Rather than putting pressure on them

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to support unnecessary expenses, the most important thing, in his opinion, is having a normal, happy life together.

For Student D, another CCA senior, living alone is almost like taking on another extracurricular. When both his parents found work in Northern California and moved away during his sophomore year, Student D stayed in San Diego because he was already settled in school. His brother attends UCSD and drops in from time to time, “but he bounces back and forth…

Sometimes, I come home to him making dinner, and that always feels really nice.” Student D's parents provide the income necessary for basic needs, and his brother is very supportive, but he doesn’t "have that element of your parents watching over you.”

“You’ll learn a lot faster than someone who doesn’t have to go through this… Now that I think about it, it’s been really helpful for me in maturing.”

Student D began taking responsibility for himself early on. Preparing food, cleaning, and household chores all fall to him when he’s alone. When this arrangement first began, his reaction was somewhat bitter, as he wondered why he had to shoulder so much so early. One major hurdle for him to overcome was the loneliness—most of us take for granted the fact that there is always someone around to talk to.

“Sometimes...you’re sitting there doing homework in the middle of the night, and [wondering]: what’s keeping me going? My parents aren’t home. You just have to power through.”

There hasn’t been a single hardest

thing about living alone to Student D, but he views his life as a series of juggling acts. In addition to keeping good grades and extracurriculars in the air, he also has to make food and keep his living space hygienic and presentable.

His advice to anyone in a similar situation is to just keep at it. “You’ll learn a lot faster than someone who doesn’t have to go through this… Now that I think about it, it’s been really helpful for me in maturing.”

While not all the students interviewed above work with a social worker or liaison, there exist protocols in the San Dieguito Union High School District for helping homeless students. The McKinney-Vento Act, reauthorized in 2015 by Title IX, requires every local educational agency to have a homeless education liaison.

This liaison is responsible for ensuring homeless students are identified and provided the proper support, health care, intervention services, referrals to housing, etc. The SDUHSD McKinney-Vento liaison is Rick Ayala, who is also the principal of Sunset High School.

There are more students who have lived or are living in unconventional situations than just those Pulse interviewed. The bright eyes and studious minds of CCA often conceal the reality that some students must overcome, and the grit and constitution they must have to shoulder the responsibility that compels them to grow up before their time. Our interviewees offered varying viewpoints on what messages they hope the student body will take away from this article: homelessness is not just the result of a lack of work ethic or discipline, nor do those who experience homelessness warrant relentless pity or ostracization. Their more fortunate peers should practice acceptance, empathy, and reflection as they put their own situations in perspective.

ESPORTS

by Manit Bishnoi

The next time you are flipping through the sports on ESPN, you may notice a different tab with the title “esports.” When you click on it, you might be surprised to find video games being streamed through ESPN and probably confused by their place in this prestigious sports broadcasting network.

Just what are these esports, and where did they come from?

WHAT ARE ESPORTS?

Esports are essentially video games played at a professional level in competitive settings. People that stream their gameplay as a part-time or fulltime job or professional gamers who play for cash prizes are considered esports players. Esports have been on the rise for over the past ten years, ever since the first major Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, League of Legends (LoL), was released.

The game gained a massive worldwide fan following, and it wasn’t long before gaming organizations such as Team Liquid and Team SoloMid released rosters for professional teams to compete in the North American region of Professional League of Legends gameplay known as North America League of Legends Championship Series (NALCS). Teams are able to qualify through this competition for the main event held in Seoul, South Korea. This is just one example of this growing part of the entertainment industry as new games are continuously being released and new players are gaining public attention for their respective skills.

WHAT ARE THE MOST FAMOUS ESPORTS?

The most streamed games on streaming services like Twitch are currently LoL, Counter Strike: Global

Offensive (CSGO), Dota II, Fortnite, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and the brand new Apex Legends, just to name a few. On the professional stage, the most famous of these are LoL, Overwatch, and, of course, Fortnite. The LoL World Championship is played in the fall, while the Overwatch League is in full season now, with teams from all over the world fighting to make it to the top. Of course, the biggest talk is that of the Fortnite World Cup. The qualifying rounds began in early April, and the grand finals will take place in New York in late July. Even everyday players from home have the possibility of earning rewards, though it is difficult and a lot of skill is required. The total prize money pool for this event is a jaw-dropping $100 million.

FAMOUS PLAYERS:

Tyler “Ninja” Blevins (Fortnite): Easily the most recognized esports player around the world, with consistently over 100,000 viewers on Twitch during Fortnite’s peak, Ninja holds the world record for the most concurrent Twitch viewers at 621,603 viewers when he played with hip-hop icon Drake. He was also the first gamer to be featured on the cover of ESPN magazine.

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (LoL): Faker is considered one of the best, if not the best, League players of all time.

He played as the mid-laner (player who fights in the middle aisle of the map) for the Korean Team SK Telecom T1 (SKT). The team has won numerous World Championships with Faker leading the team, and Faker is easily the most known professional player from League of Legends.

Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek (CSGO/ Apex Legends): Shroud is notorious

for his insane reactions and aim. He is formerly a professional CSGO player but currently stream mainly Apex Legends, and he gets a large amount of viewers whenever he streams on Twitch. He is currently considered the best Apex Legends player and continues to gain fame with the growth of Apex through its first season.

WHERE CAN I WATCH ESPORTS?

Esport streaming is growing, as major corporations are starting to make moves in the industry. For example, ESPN has recently added an esports viewing option on their WatchESPN app, and Google now provides a streaming service to gamers through Youtube. On the corporate front, Amazon recently purchased the major streaming site of Twitch. All of these sites are free and have optional donations players can make to support their favorite streamers and players.

ESPORTS AT CCA:

Esports are more prevalent at CCA than one may think. A group of students run an all-CCA Discord server (Skype for gamers) named 32° F that has almost 200 members, with the majority attending CCA. Games ranging from League of Legends to Fallout are played and it is a great way to get to know other people and just have a good time. Although the server is private, anyone can effectively use Discord to make servers for their friend group. One of the founding members of the server who chose to remain anonymous said, “It started out as a way for our friend group to all talk with each other while playing games but quickly grew into something much more. A place for us to meet new people and share our passions online.”

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THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

Art by Tim D'Amore

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by Lily Lin and Dillon Leung

7:40 AM, Monday morning. The traffic in the right lane of the 56 East begins to slow. Student drivers swerve across the two-lane highway in an attempt to cut off the long line of cars beginning to form. Brake lights flash and horns honk as every driver’s patience is tested. This stressful drive to school is part of the daily ritual for the students of Canyon Crest Academy.

As the entrance of the student lot curves up, cars merge into one lane and follow the steady stream of traffic flowing in. Some mornings are more chilly than others as fog gathers in the air, only these clouds are escaping out of the cars. Underneath the coveted shaded rows, students can be seen pulling into the spots, some of them performing multiple attempts before they get their parking job just right.

The distant roar of a car being revved punctuates the air, and loud music blasts out of speeding cars as they pass by. The driving level of our school can best be described as “mediocre,” as students fight over parking spots and create symphonies with their horns at lunch. As 7:52 AM comes around and the large mass of teenagers begin to make their way to class, the liveliness of the student lot begins to die down.

Peace and quiet return for the time being, waiting to be broken by the 11:12 lunch rush.

As second period comes to a close, students are slyly ordering Rubio’s from their phone and stepping out of class to place their orders at Cornerhouse. Every Tuesday, it’s a race to get to Fresco’s before the line gets too long.

CCA drivers are easily hitting 85 mph driving down the 45 mph speed-limited road of Del Mar Heights while drivers on the freeway are coasting at a 100 mph, especially if they’re traveling to the distant lands of Sorrento Valley to appease their Chick-fil-A addictions. Students with SUVs can even be seen with kids in their back trunk.

Driving back into the lot at 11:44, it’s a mix of pedestrians, rushing cars, and Mrs. Busch or Hector standing watch at the gate. As everyone struggles to find parking spots, the first bell rings and lunch draws to an end.

Finally, as the day comes to a close, parents and students alike are faced with the heavy flow of traffic slowly oozing out of the student lot. The cars begin to pack together like a slow moving line of marching ants. Students run to their cars as soon as the bell rings in an attempt to beat the traffic that no one wants to wait in. If they’re unlucky enough to be caught in the throng, students are forced to rely on others’ kindness to let them turn out of their row and into the main line. By 3:20, the lot is nearly empty, save for the parked cars of the conservatory kids, athletes, and any remaining stragglers.

“The dangers of teenage driving don’t seem real until they are acting on you. ” The dangers of teen driving are evident in the CCA parking lot on a daily basis. According to hg.org, among American teenagers, car accidents are the leading cause of death. 2,433 teens, aged 16 to 19, were killed, and 292,742 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes in 2016. During this perilous age frame, males are two times more likely to get into deadly motor vehicle crashes than females are.

The inexperience and maturity levels of teenagers is to blame. Their young, untrained eyes lack the awareness of most dangerous situations unfolding until it is too late, and they often do not recognize the potential consequences of speeding and tailgating.

In 2010, 39% of fatal crashes involv-

ing teens were linked to speeding. In addition, as technology becomes a more integral part of our lives with every passing day, phones continue to be an issue in the car. Unable to go just five minutes without glancing at their phone, most students keep their mobile devices within arm’s reach and can often be seen changing their music, texting, or sliding through social media as they rocket down the road.

According to the CDC, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt usage out of all age groups. This is a primary cause of teenage death, accounting for over 50% of fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2015. As distractions in the car increase, so does the likelihood of getting into a car crash. When teens have passengers in their car, they become unfocused, as that lack of awareness only rises with each additional passenger. The dangers of teenage driving don’t seem real until they are acting on you. Don’t be another statistic for the CDC to use. Becoming an informed and cautious driver is everyone’s responsibility.

Many of these fatal driving flaws can be witnessed from CCA drivers during any one of the rushes, causing treacherous scenarios and unnecessary endangerment. With just a few simple and effective changes, students can make their driving exponentially safer and reduce the risk of getting themselves into a motor vehicle accident.

Wearing seatbelts, obeying the speed limit, keeping a good following distance, leaving phones in the backseat, and constantly scanning for signs of potential danger are all ways that teens can improve their driving. So, next time you load your five-seater car up with eight people at lunch, remember these easy adjustments and the consequences of reckless driving. Drive safe and stay classy, CCA.

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SUMMER ROAD TRIPS

by Jordan Goldmann and Dom Stearn

With summer just around the corner, many Ravens are getting excited to go on their big vacation with family or friends to Hawaii, Europe, and the East Coast. However, traveling to those places can be very expensive and pretty mainstream. Since many of us are fortunate enough to go on these big getaways, we often overlook small vacations such as road trips and local hotspots.

There are several locations within a couple of hours’ drive that provide a unique road trip for a day or two. If you ever get tired of the local beaches in San Diego, you can escape northward for some of SoCal’s best beaches.

Laguna Beach is only an hour away, and the beautiful beaches of Malibu are merely a bit further at a modest two hour drive. If you're really looking to escape, Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach are popular vacation spots that are even further north. On the other hand, if beaches just aren’t your thing, the mountains are still a fantastic summer option despite the lack of snow. Julian and Big Bear are only a couple of hours away and provide opportunities to get outside, take a hike, and explore nature. If you're just in the mood to relax this summer, there are several locations around San Diego that can satisfy this wish. Palm Springs, only two hours away, provides much more luxurious getaway while still keeping a laid back atmosphere. Poolside tanning in warm Southern California weather is not only a great way to unwind, but something that graduating seniors may not be able to experience after

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this summer. Lastly, we can’t forget about Los Angeles. Although L.A. is world famous for its crawling traffic, destinations like Hollywood, Sunset Boulevard, the Santa Monica Pier, and Downtown are must-sees for any Southern Californian. Day trips to these places will certainly be a great way to spend time with family and friends before the school year starts.

Another way to escape for a vacation is to go on a road trip. Parker Harelson, a senior and an Eagle Scout here at Canyon Crest, owns a VW Bus that he takes on road trips and adventures all the time. He says that road trips are an important part of vacationing because “[they] provide an opportunity to travel through nature and appreciate the journey as opposed to letting everything go by.” Parker’s favorite place to go on a road trip is anywhere in Northern California.

“Northern California is very unique because there are lots of cool campgrounds, beaches, and national parks that all provide a different experience and vibe.”

There are also several other places outside of California you and a few other friends can drive to for a vacation. Arizona is a fantastic place to go on a road trip. Although the early part of the drive can be very dry and boring, the heart of Arizona, with the rolling mountains and picturesque cacti as a background, is a beautiful (and Instagrammable) scene to experience. Once in Arizona, there are several spots to hike and lakes where you can swim, boat, or suntan. There’s also this place in Northern Arizona

called the Grand Canyon—you might have heard of it. Another, more popular option for a road trip would be Las Vegas. Even though many people consider Vegas a “city for adults,” many do not know how fun it can be for kids under twenty-one. Red Rock is definitely a destination to consider, as it provides an easy hike with a great view of the city, the mountaintops, and even parts of the Grand Canyon.

Other options within the city of Vegas include the Stratosphere, Circus Circus, and New York-New York.

The last option for a unique and beautiful road trip is Mexico. First off is the city of Hermosillo, a place that many San Diegans are unfamiliar with. Hermosillo is located in the northwestern state of Sonora, which shares California’s easy access to the beach and mountains. Hermosillo is the biggest city in Sonora and an amazing place to see on a Mexico road trip. The next stop should be in Chihuahua, a city in northern Mexico that is rich in culture and heritage. If you would like to learn more about Mexico’s history and culture, Chihuahua is the location to do so. Lastly, all tourists should travel to Monterrey. Located near the Texas-Mexico border in the northeastern portion of Mexico, Monterrey sports spectacular mountain ranges that create a unique and memorable experience if you travel through them. Of course, there are plenty of other vacation spots in Mexico, but these nearby locations are vastly different from what we are used to in sunny San Diego, and are perfect for a summer getaway.

dorm necessities

by Amanda Benbow and Noah Gaines

High school students have much to look forward to this summer.

Freshmen can’t wait to be relieved of all the stressors that their first year of high school brought, sophomores are dreading their summer SAT/ACT prep courses, and juniors are feeling utterly unprepared for the amount of work that comes with college applications. Seniors, on the other hand, are looking ahead and anticipating their first year of college. With this anticipation comes a lot of worry regarding new student orientation, what classes to take in the fall, and whom their roommate will be. Ultimately, though, seniors don’t have much of a clue about what to bring to college with them. Although everyone knows of the basic necessities, like a desk lamp or a mini-fridge, but there are definitely some dorm room essentials that you may not expect. If you’re going to college next year and aren’t sure what you’ll need in your dorm room, look no further.

FAN: To all those rising college freshmen in the world, mid-August through October are the warmer months of the year. Most freshmen would assume that their respective university is air-conditioned and cooled to their liking. Contrary to this belief, however, most dorms are not set to the temperature a student prefers, so a mini-fan is ideal. You can find these gems at your nearby Costco for about $20.

PRINTER: East Coast kids, listen up: I don’t believe you want to tread a mile in harsh cold weather to print your term paper in those fateful last ten minutes before a term deadline.

Acquire a printer from a local store— roughly a $40 investment that can save you infinite amounts of time and stress—instead of being constantly at risk of a printer malfunction or unbearable long line preventing you from submitting paper that’s worth a large chunk of your grade. Some may say that with a printer comes hassle, such as replacing the ink and refilling stacks upon stacks of paper, but it’s worth the potential difficulty for control over something else in your college career.

AIR MATTRESS: Obviously, college is a good chance to branch out and meet new people, but you’re most likely going to want to keep in touch with all of the close friends you’ve made through the years and hopefully have them visit you wherever you may be. With that in mind, it would be beneficial to have an air mattress or a sleeping bag tucked away should that occasion arise. An extra blanket or set of sheets are good to have as well.

Twin air mattresses can be found on Amazon for as cheap as $27, so there isn’t really a reason why you shouldn’t have one.

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE: Good for the environment and, again, convenient. We are not suggesting you

spend loads of cash on a premium Hydro Flask or a top-brand insulated bottle; rather, anything that can store water and is portable to keep around you at all times is a dorm essential that many forget about. From taking your first exams to watching Netflix in your dorm, a water bottle is good for the environment and useful to have on hand.

NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES: Not every student lives in perfect harmony with their roommate. At times, you are going to want to sleep early or study for that next exam, and your roommate just might not be considerate enough to let that happen peacefully. Even if you just want to get away from the crowds and scenery, noise-canceling headphones provide a viable alternative. Those whose roommates snore rather unpleasantly can attest to the importance of this product and will use them on a frequent basis. Most of the products involving noise cancellation are more expensive than what an average college student would prefer, so earplugs should come into consideration.

Although earplugs obviously don’t do the job as effectively as headphones, but they do offer another more cost-effective solution to the nagging roommate that is an unfortunate addition to the college experience for many. Headphones with this feature can range from $50 to $250, depending on the brand and efficiency of the product.

Art by Amy Cheng

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Oh, The Places You'll NOT Go

by Kaylynn O’Curran Rejection sucks. In the moment, it feels as though it is the most horrendous thing you will ever face. But life goes on. Although we all may have this ideal version of our lives planned out, life has a way of giving us what we need (even if it may not be what we think we want). Below are some words from fellow CCA seniors about the subject:

College season is rough. No doubt about it. I’m pretty sure almost every senior feels the same. What is especially hard is not getting into your top college. In March, I was waitlisted at my top school. I thought my world was ending. I was on a road trip with my mom, and I broke down. It felt like my future imploded, and all my plans were set on fire. What made it worse was receiving what felt like thousands of texts from friends asking if I had gotten in. Having to say that I didn’t get in was heartbreaking, especially when the texts would read, “OMG I got in! Did you hear yet?” I am well aware these texts didn’t have bad intentions, but at the time it felt that they were rubbing salt in the wound.

And even though I didn’t get rejected, it felt just as terrible. Another thing that hurt about my decision was how I still didn’t know. I had waited about four months to get a decision that was barely a decision.

Often times, people don’t understand their college decision. Sometimes, we think it is inexplicable that those who have worse scores get in over us. But, it is also important to remember we don’t always know the grades, extracurriculars, and many other circumstances that qualify someone else. I had to remember that although this process oftentimes doesn’t make sense, everything will work out in the end.

After getting waitlisted, I had to move on. I was accepted into other schools, some even “better” than the school that waitlisted me. I looked at my options and made my decision, and I couldn’t be happier. After committing to a college I never, EVER, thought I would attend, I feel proud and happy, and I know it is where I belong. I believe that even if I was accepted into my top school, I would still go to the school I picked. Yes, I still have to hear if I got off the waitlist at my original first choice, but I don’t think it will change my choice. I am proud of myself and I can attest to the much overused saying: it all works out in the end.

Anonymous

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Dear Ivy League, For most of my high school career, you have been my goal. Whether I knew it or not, and whether I believed it or not, pursuing you defined so much. I worked so hard. I blasted myself with AP’s, extracurriculars, internships, the like. Did I love what I did? Absolutely. But at the time, there was the constant question, like an unending headache: “Is this ok for colleges?

Will colleges like this?” My friends, of course, always supported me. “You’re so smart,” they said. “You’ll get into an Ivy for sure.” And my greatest mistake? I started to believe it.

So I persisted, with my head held high, with the reassurance that of course I’d get into an Ivy, right? With my scores, and my accomplishments, it’d be a cinch.

Then, the fateful day came. March 28th, 2019. “Ivy Day.” And with a pounding heart, I opened each of the portals and checked them one by one.

A friend of mine later described it as the “firing squad.” I couldn’t have put it better. Eight portals. Eight rejections. Eight bows drawn, eight arrows fired, one heart impaled, one heart torn to shreds. Initially, there was no sadness. Just a sinking feeling, a sense of denial.

There had to have been a mistake, right? They’d email me telling me it had been a mistake. Right? Right?? But an hour, a day, a week passed, with nothing but “Sorry, you’re not good enough for us.” Oh, they phrased it politely, but I knew the meaning.

It took me two weeks to realize what I should’ve known before I started high school. That where I go to college has no bearing on who I am as a person, and that I shouldn’t take anything or anyone for granted. It’s not a matter of “not being good enough,” it’s a matter of the Ivy League not being right for me.

So thank you, actually, for your rejections. It’s because you didn’t accept me that I got knocked off my high horse, and I grew because of it.

Anonymous

As the lone traveler in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” once found themselves in the yellow woods, presented with vast and divergent roads ahead, I found myself in a similar place (or at least, a similar state of mind) last fall. For as I gazed then at the still unassuming list of schools on the Common Application, I began to perceive the imagined realities—the roads—of my prospective attendance blooming before me, each more unknown and exciting than the last. And I felt, if for but a moment, the traveler’s dilemma, a curious dilemma for someone at the time yet to submit an application.

The yellow woods of fall soon gave way to the sparseness of winter (whatever that means in San Diego) and eventually the green of spring, when anticipation was renewed. I was well aware of the nature of college admissions, equal parts competitive, improbable, and stochastic. Yet there still remained that small voice in my heart which dared to wonder “maybe”, “what if ”, and “perhaps”. And it was this small voice that made suspense all the greater when college decisions finally arrived.

I still cannot describe with great exactitude the feelings I felt as March arrived with decision letters and applicant portal updates. They are perhaps best described as a sort of tempered optimism, with idealism and realism often times contradicting the other.

Acceptances arrived, and I let out the long breath that I didn't even know I was holding for all those months. I felt joy muddled with relief and disbelief.

But of course, I experienced the inevitable as well, the grim formality of letters beginning with the phrase “we regret to inform you,” and always ending with some platitudinous consolation about our merits. I was not devastated, insulated by an awareness of the often arbitrary nature of admissions. And yet, I still felt a strange sort of feeling. It was the feeling of being back in the yellow woods of fall, watching the illusory paths branch out before me, and to now know that some of those imagined roads were only to remain imagined after all, vanquished dreams from which to move on.

So I moved on. And though I state it simply here, I know that it is often a trying challenge for seniors to find peace with the unexpected paths before them. But I am confident that all of us will move on. In “The Road Taken”, the lone traveler finds peace in choosing the road less travelled by. For us soon-to-leave seniors, I think we can all find peace in something similar, if not by going to a place rarely gone to, then by finding conviction in the paths we do choose, and that will make all the difference.

Johnny Ren

I have become quite the expert at getting rejected by colleges. I was rejected by a good number of them. Six, to be exact. But don’t worry; this is not going to be a pity party. I want to talk candidly with you about my college application experience—the good and the bad!

I decided to apply early decision to Pomona College (yep, that school in the sleepy town of Claremont that has a student body size of maybe seven or so). At the time I made this major decision, I was sold: the campus, student life, food, academics, distance from home—Pomona was my dream school. As early decision notification dates crept closer, I started to have doubts. I was second-guessing myself, finding the flaws of Pomona. It’s a bad college town.

It has a weird and lame school mascot. Pretty meh sports and mediocre school spirit. Not to mention a steep tuition.

I was falling into a state of cognitive dissonance up until the day finally came.

It was December 14, 2018. 5 P.M. A friend had just texted me that Pomona released decisions. I was playing Super Smash Bros at a friend’s house and wasn’t keen on ruining the fun. But my encouraging friends and eager brother told me to just check and get it over with. So I did.

Dear Samantha, With genuine regret, I write to inform you that the Admissions Committee is unable to offer you admission to the Pomona College Class of 2023.

Okay, cool. I was rejected! But I actually wasn’t too torn up about it. Over the course of the next few months, I was getting more college decisions. In this time, I had begun to form a love-hate relationship with my mailbox and email as I was doled out deferrals, rejections, waitlists, and (luckily) acceptances.

I’ve gotten pretty resilient to rejection, but everyone reacts differently. Some cry. Some panic and apply to more safety schools. Some print out the rejection letter and fold it into a crane. Ultimately, it doesn’t feel good. But the world is unfair. You can get rejected for a multitude of reasons: maybe a university is trying to maintain a higher yield protection and you are overqualified. It’s possible that you’re not a good fit for the school, or perhaps you submitted a really good essay but addressed the wrong college.

Reflecting on the whole application process, I wish I had gotten into a school through early decision so I wouldn’t have to be the one making this difficult choice.

However, after weeks of deliberation, I’ve decided on USC (Fight On!). In the end, I have no hard feelings for Pomona College. After all, their decision to reject me has given me the opportunity to explore my other options and really find out what I want from college.

Samantha Zhu

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