highlights
May 15, 2015 Volume 88, Issue 14 Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, Calif. beverlyhighlights.com
A YEAR IN REVIEW INSIDE
NEWS
FEATURE
SPORTS
Bill Hiatt to retire after 34 years
Senior Soliloquies
this issue
The “Highlights” of 2014-2015
@bhhighlights
@bhhighlights
Page 3
/beverlyhighlights
Page 9
Pages 11-12
www.beverlyhighlights.com
HIGHLIGHTS NEWS MAY 15, 2015
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Dean of College Admissions on ‘success’ Jackson Prince co-editor-in-chief Sadie Hersh photo editor The seniors have heard back from schools, and most students have committed. In three months, the Class of 2015 will be scattered across the country, with a few even expanding internationally. Some members of the Class of 2015 were admitted into the highest-ranked institutions in the country, but the real success is in the fact that the majority of seniors were admitted into a variety of schools suited for each personally, providing myriad options. Highlights sat down with Dean of College Admissions, Ah Young Chi, to discuss the “success” of the graduating class. Highlights: Why is yours an important position at Beverly High? Chi: When I tell my friends and colleagues outside of Beverly that my job is fairly new to our school, they are all surprised that it took us so long to dedicate a counselor to college guidance. Even though all of our counselors are aware of college requirements and provide great guidance to our families, we need someone to oversee and provide a comprehensive college guidance program. And it’s too much to ask one of the counselors to do this on top of what they are already doing. The world of college admissions has changed drastically. It is no longer about filling out an application to UCLA and then signing up for classes. It
takes a lot to be competitive for admission to colleges and universities, and we need to provide a comprehensive program that will help our students understand and prepare for the rigors of the college admissions process. Highlights: There are many conversations making their way around our District about what is the definition of “success” at the end of four-years at Beverly. What is your definition? Chi: Beverly students should discover their passions by exploring all that we have to offer at BHHS. While doing so, they make postsecondary decisions based on reflection and research. Then, they are ready and excited to take on whatever comes next. Highlights: How does this definition of success tie into the student who chooses a two year community or city college versus a four-year college? Chi: I don’t believe that it’s any different for students who choose to attend a community college versus a four-year college. If they want to genuinely explore and discover themselves, then our hope is that whatever they choose for their life after BHHS is what is best for them. Our job at that point is to celebrate these choices and plans. Highlights: Why do students (and their parents) often choose
Santa Monica College (SMC) over four-year universities? Chi: A number of reasons: it’s cost friendly, you don’t get into your first choice four-year college so you go to SMC in order to transfer to your first choice four-year college, you don’t have the grades to get into four-year colleges so you use SMC as your second chance at a bachelor degree, you need another year or two to mature/become more independent before you go away to four-year college, it seems “easier” to get into competitive UC schools as community college transfers than as freshmen. Highlights: How much of the SMC choice has to do with financial and cultural reasons? Chi: A lot of the SMC choice has to do with those things. It IS a cheap option. A bachelor’s degree is expensive. A UC school will cost $30-35,000 per year (total cost of attendance). If you’re a middle income family and don’t qualify for need-based aid, then that is a huge bill to pay. It is also cultural. We have a lot of families who value FAMILY. I am used to telling seniors not to come home too often when they go to college, even if their college is a short driving distance away from home. I want them to fully engage in college life, and coming home too often gets in the way of this engagement. But I can’t say that to many of the Beverly students because their values
are different. Highlights: Once Normans attend SMC, are there a large number who end up transferring to a four-year college to complete their degree? Chi: The numbers are not overwhelmingly in our favor. Roughly 50 percent of our students entering SMC transfer to four-year colleges (UC, CSU, out of state and private schools). However, of the 50 percent that transfer, just over half of them are transferring within two years of entering SMC. Many students need an additional year or two to transfer. You can avoid this if you are successful in high school and take rigorous classes so that you place into college level math and English classes. If you coast through high school and don’t take hard classes, then, chances are you won’t be able to transfer within two years. Highlights: How does this year compare to previous years? Chi: From what I can tell, the Class of 2015 did very well. But it all depends on what we’re comparing: Number of Ivy League admittance? Stanford acceptance? UC acceptance? four-year college matriculation? What matters to me: that our students are happy with their choices for next year and that they will be successful wherever they go. This is what I am sensing from most seniors.
Highlights Juliette Deutsch and Jackson Prince editors-in-chief
Guy Ginsberg sports editor
Sadie Hersh photo editor
Karen Shilyan
business manager
Veronica Pahomova cartoonist
Marty Schnapp news editor
Ben Shofet graphics editor
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, Lucas Harward and Celine Rezvani, staff writers Gaby Herbst
adviser — The mission of Highlights is to deliver community-relevant news in a timely manner while adhering to professional ethics. Highlights is a forum for student free expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com. Visit beverlyhighlights.com Follow @bhhighlights on Twitter and Instagram. Highlights is sponsored by PTSA and BHEF.
HIGHLIGHTS NEWS MAY 15 , 2015
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Highlights’ Five Most Notable Events of 2014-2015
Basketball wins CIF “The fact that we had just made history was rushing through my head,” varsity basketball player Jalen Sands said. Photo by: BRENNA NOURAY
Crickets on the loose “I was like, ‘Wow. Who let the crickets out? Who? Who? Who? Who?’” sophomore Joey Yaris said. Photo by: KAREN SHILYAN
Beverly Hills High School has completed yet another year to remember, with notable moments left and right. From phone-in bomb threats and a visit from the Westboro Baptist Church to a long-awaited victory for the varsity football team and SkillsUSA domination by Norman clubs and extracurricular groups, the year’s most memorable events had an impressive range, and were exciting and impactful on the Norman Nation. Here are five events Highlights specifically saw as truly newsworthy in the 2014-2015 school year. - Celine Rezvani and Ben Shofet
Albion Street “Presenting gifts to underprivileged kids was one of the most heartwarming experiences,” senior Danny Newman said. Photo by: CELINE REZVANI
Every 15 Minutes “As the ‘drunk driver’, I felt responsible for the death of my friends, even though it wasn’t real,” senior Harry Green said. Photo by: ELIAS IRAHETA
Die-In “In light of all the things that were and are still happening, it seemed like the right thing to do,” junior Sydney Tran said. Photo by: JACKSON PRINCE
HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE MAY 15, 2015
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The coffee run:
Intelligentsia Abbot Kinney
A YEAR OF FOOD IN REVIEW Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Gjusta Bakery 320 Sunset Avenue Venice, CA
KazuNori by Nozawa 421 S Main St Los Angeles, CA
Superba Food + Bread 1900 S. Lincoln Boulevard, Venice, CA
Upon entering Gjusta, I was transported back to the West Village in New York. Footstep after footstep, my mind stripped itself from my surrounding LA environment and I was brought back into my New York character. This small, hidden shop opens up into a foodie oasis. Painted white brick, futuristic light fixtures and cases full of flaky croissants, sticky buns, bialys and scones. Beyond that, a cold case of prepared foods, sandwiches, cured fish and charcuterie, essentially anything a gourmand on the go would desire. Within five minutes I had forgotten my place on the map. A moment of familiarity and a second of conflict, I had walked back onto the LA streets, with my bag full of New Yorkish treats.
KazuNori, the newest member of Nozawa Empire, is dedicated to one thing: perfectly warm sushi hand rolls served right to customers at a sushi bar. If Chef Nozawa can make any more of an impression on the sushi game in LA it is because of the blue crab hand roll. Traditionally served at the end of every SugarFISH “trust-me”, this simple delight features a crispy sheet of nori or seaweed wrapped around warm sushi rice and blue crab. KazuNori takes that format and expands it to a selection of five hand rolls made to order, which include the toro roll, blue crab roll, yellowtail roll, lobster roll and salmon roll. The quality of the rolls may be even better than at SugarFISH.
With a cheerful, open design that’s perfectly reflective of the current laid back, upscale culture of Venice at the moment, Superba Food + Bread churns out a rather tight menu of focused American dishes. There’s no great culinary innovation. Superba is simple cooking, but also an ambitious enterprise. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s a cafe, a patisserie and a bread bakery, as well as a pretty great place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. Superba also wins the avocado-on-toast competition, another dish that’s suddenly popular with new restaurants. The dish is topped with chili flakes and sea salt, which give the creamy avocado enough tang to elevate it beyond a basic snack.
Brunch choices at Superba can be paired with any drink. Photo by: JULIETTE DEUTSCH Night + Market Song 9043 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA At first glance, the pad thai at Night + Market Song looks no different than one from your neighborhood standby. What separates this Thai food from others? The answer is the mind behind the place: head chef Kris Yenbamroong. Yenbamroong goes to great lengths to intensify ingredients. He fries the skin-on peanuts to draw out a roasted depth before, they are added to the wok-based noodles. The dishes are crafted with extreme attention to detail. Small attention to detail such as the decision between chili paste and chili powder make this Thai food unlike anything else. The food at Night + Market is spicy, pungent and complex.
Hand crafted latte paired with a freshly baked croissant. Photo by: JULIETTE DEUTSCH Juliette Deutsch co-editor-in-chief Perhaps the example of great coffee in Los Angeles, this landmark coffee bar on Abbot Kinney is the most iconic place to drink a cappuccino in the city. Attracting the chicest clientele of LA, While sitting at trendy bar stools sipping away at handmade drinks, at Intelligentsia you are surrounded by genuinely satisfied customers. The non-coffee menu covers solid cafe ground with freshly baked pastries. The brews and espresso are extremely consistent, and always compelling. Intelligentsia’s ease with customers makes it seem like the quintessential coffee shop. The mixture ofcontrolled frenzy and the people-watching on Abbot Kinney make it a perfect run.
Sawtelle gets sweeter: B-Sweet Dessert Bar Sadie Hersh photo editor
A sweet ambiance to match the sweet menu. Photo by: SADIE HERSH Tucked away near the intersection of Sawtelle and Olympic is one of the best-kept dessert secrets. B
Sweet Dessert Bar opened nine months ago and is just now beginning to take both the town and country by storm with its authentic homemade treats. From chocolate chip banana bread pudding to their “sluttiest” brownie, B Sweet adds a special touch and uniqueness to everything on the menu. Chef/owner Barb Batiste started the company to recreate the homemade-style goodies she grew up with, and is committed to making desserts “hand-made like grandma used to make.” Best known for their bread puddings, B Sweet is not fooling around. The menu offers many different types of bread pudding,
such as glazed donut, maple bacon, Twinkee, birthday cake, churro, rum raisin and corn bread, to name a few. The best and most popular of the bread puddings is the banana chocolate, which has chocolate chips and “gooey” caramel. The Halo is a reconstructed ice cream sandwich. Instead of a cookie sandwich, B Sweet smushes their ice cream between a warm glazed donut. With the perfect mix of hot and cold, the messy treat can be made special for each customer with their choice of ice cream. When the Halo is handed to the customer over the dessert bar, they are also handed a wet nap to
wipe up their satisfying mess. What can only be described as the “slutitest” brownie contains “five layers of sin.” With layers of chocolate chip cookie, Oreo, graham cracker, marshmallow and brownie, the sinful delicacy is like a slutty brownie and a s’more playdate. They offer many more dessert options, from eggless cookie dough (unbaked) and cake-in-acup, to their Cookie Monster eightinch chocolate chip cookie. With a retro look and feel, B Sweet offers homey touches inside that make it warm and inviting, while also being spacious. There is an old-fashioned stove where
Events: places to be for the music lover Veronica Pahomova, cartoonist Eleanor Bogart-Stuart, staff writer
JUNE 6 JUNE 14
Make Music Pasadena: Are you an underground-jamming, flannel enthusiast, mainstream-hating indie kid? On June 6, Pasadena’s downtown will be alive with the sound of indie music at the Make Music Pasadena Festival. Make Music offers around 150 different concerts from up-and-coming indie bands, each scattered across the town. Though at least $5are encouraged as a donation, this mini-music festival is practically free.
one can prepare coffee to their liking, and a vintage chandelier and lightbulbs. The signage, both inside and out, looks like it is from an old-time carnival. Be on the lookout for B Sweet Mobile food trucks on the streets of Los Angeles. The two trucks, called Lil Angel and Lil Devil, serve all of the sweets you would find in the shop. B Sweet also sells Barb’s famous bread pudding in the frozen aisle in Target nationwide. When you are in the mood for unique and delicious desserts, B Sweet Dessert Bar is the place to check out and enjoy! @mybsweet
Summer 2015
Playboy Jazz Festival: How about a little dose of smooth jazz to ease your summer days? The Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl offers sounds from musicians such as Ledisi, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to calm those post-report-card nerves on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. In its 37th year of operation, the festival will be hosted by George Lopez.
The Hollywood Bowl to host the Playboy Jazz Festival this summer. Photo coutsey of: Creative Commons
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HIGHLIGHTS SPOTLIGHT MAY 15, 2015
Hey Mr. Carter
A true Norman through the years From attending to Beverly Hills High School to running Beverly Hills High School
“Mr. Paysinger really cares about his students. Whether it’s athletics or academics, he always has our back,” Varsity baseball player Jacob Hankin
Carter Paysinger retires after his 36 years of service to BHHS Marty Schnapp news editor After almost 40 years impacting Beverly Hills High School in some way, shape or form, principal Carter Paysinger will conclude his term as principal of the school after five years in the position. Paysinger: the student Paysinger has been a part of the Norman Nation since 1971, the year in which he entered Beverly as a sophomore being bused into Beverly Hills from South Central Los Angeles. “I had a fantastic three years here. It was academic, and it was challenging. It was the best of both worlds,” Paysinger said. “It was unbelievable as a student. A real cohesive student body, but everyone had their own niches.” He went on to play baseball at Cal-State LA, where his team won Regionals in Honolulu, Hawaii, and played in the 1977 College World Series. Paysinger: the coach After college, Paysinger planned on going
into real estate. In his free time, he would come back to Beverly to watch his younger brother, Vonzie, play baseball and football. “[Head baseball coach] Hank Friedman approached me and asked me to coach the infielders. I thought, ‘I could do that.’ [Head football coach] Bill Stansbury asked me the same question about football. The two guys double-teamed me and said, ‘I know you’re going into real estate, but get your teaching credentials, just in case.’ And now it’s been 36 years,” Paysinger said. Paysinger would be the head football coach for 19 years. His personal highlight during this time was giving playing time to Luke Zimmerman, a student with Down Syndrome. “Luke showed up to every practice. During one of our games we were winning, with only a few seconds left on the clock. I called a timeout, put him in and we lined up in victory formation. After the game, players from our team and the opposing team cheered him on,” Paysinger said. In 1997, he became Beverly’s athletic director, but had his eyes on a larger role at the school.
“We had previously had 10 or 11 assistant principals in charge of athletics. Only two of those had athletic experience,” Paysinger said.
were rolling. Morale was fantastic. We had the highest test scores in the history of the school, until they stopped calculating API. I really believe we made great strides,” Paysinger said.
“Nobody can motivate before a game like Carter. His legendary speeches gave us the confidence to run out of the locker room ready to fearlessly take on anybody we faced. However, he was much more than a football coach. During my time at Beverly, we were faced with some very tragic times as students. It took a special person to rise up and be a comforting figure amidst the confusion and pain. When faced with my own personal struggles, Carter was the first person I would turn to when I needed guidance- just like countless Beverly students. On and off the field, Carter had a way of making us feel like everything was going to be okay,” Alumnus, Class of 2000, Boomer Welles
Paysinger: the administrator Paysinger: the future Paysinger assumed the role of assistant principal for the 2009-2010 school year and, after a year of administrative experience, he was named principal of his alma mater. Paysinger is the first African-American principal in the history of Beverly Hills High School. “Beverly had always been in my mind, and in reality, one of the top public high schools in the country. I knew we had what it took to be that again. That was my motivation. I was excited about coming here to make this one of the best high schools in the country. I wanted to get everyone else to see what we had,” Paysinger said. Looking back on his years as principal, Paysinger feels that the school has made great strides, and, according to the principal, he wouldn’t have changed anything. “My first three years as principal, we
Paysinger is unsure as to what his next career move is. “I think I would like to write another book. I’m going to do some consulting work,” Paysinger said. However, Paysinger hopes to remain an active member of the Norman Nation. He plans to run for the BHUSD Board of Education this fall. “Sitting in one of those seats, I believe I would have more of an impact in moving us in the direction of being the premier high school in the country, than I could ever have as the principal,” Paysinger said. However, at this time, the student, the coach, the administrator, Carter Paysinger, will end his career at Beverly. “After 36 years, I’m finally graduating,” Paysinger said.
“Mr. Paysinger has always been so helpful and encouraging to ASB and the student body as a whole. He’s a champion of the students, and truly cares about the success of each and every person here at Beverly. We will miss him dearly,” ASB Head Row President Debbie Lee
1971: Started
1979: Became football
sophomore year
coach for the Normans
2009-2010: Became assistant principal
as a Norman
at Beverly
1977: Went to College Baseball World Series at Cal-State LA Photos from: Watchtower 1972-2015
For the future: Will run for BHUSD school board
1997: Became athletic
2010-2011: Became
director of
principal of Beverly
Norman athletics
Hills High School
HIGHLIGHTS OPINION MAY 15, 2015
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One more time, thanks for the memories
Senior Highlights members share final thoughts of Norman journey Jackson Prince co-editor-in-chief
Karen Shilyan business manager
I love Beverly Hills High School. It’s no secret. I’ve been lucky enough to call myself a Norman for four years of my life. With this basic identity, I have taken it upon myself to make “being a Norman” mean something. I wanted to effect change, so I joined leadership. I wanted to be part of the team, so I joined football, quit football and joined baseball. I wanted to contribute to a legacy, so I joined theatre. And I wanted to be heard, so I joined radio and then newspaper. I got involved, and thus I got the quintessential high school experience. I’m able to walk the Beverly campus and find memories on every square-inch of this place. I tried my best to be an active member of this community, and because of my effort, I don’t feel that I’ve missed a thing. Though the course was full of trials and tribulations, I feel that I did high school right. I feel that I have a chance to do college right. There’s even an outside shot that I get life right. And I owe everything to this school, for allowing me to be involved and passionate. Beverly Hills High School never said “No” to me. With each request to do more, be more, Beverly would respond, “Yes, and?” This is the attitude that made me the person I am today. I’d like to thank the leaders of this campus, students, parents, teachers and administration, for encouraging excellence and nurturing such an incredible, exciting, active, passionate environment. To the Norman Nation post-2015, all I have is this: in every and all situations, ask for more, and be more. Demand better, and be better. High school, life, is bound to disappoint. But if you become a part of the solution, at least you’ll never be bored. I wasn’t. Go Normans.
Walking into Beverly on my first day of high school, I knew I was bound to get lost. And I did, on numerous occasions. This was a blessing in disguise. In getting lost, I was able to find my passions, my friends and, overall, myself. Beverly helped me establish my sense of self by introducing me to a community that was overflowing with opportunity. It provided me with the teachers that challenged me to become more than I thought myself capable of. It led me on the path to finding the subjects that sparked my interest most, and away from those that I found less exciting. More importantly, it guided me in the pursuit of finding lifelong friends. I’ve spent my time with the people who share my same thoughts and aspiring dreams, and with those who push me to be a more purposeful person. When I think about graduation, I get a knot in the pit of my stomach. It’s a bittersweet mix between a long awaited feeling of relief, pangs of regret of the past and fears of the future, along with sprinkles of excitement for what awaits. I know that Beverly has prepared me for everything unexpected and unordinary that comes my way. Although the idea of college and moving past the familiarity of these halls is intimidating, I can truly say that I’ve accomplished everything that I’ve strived for in my time here. For Normans who have time, enjoy each and every moment. High school was everything I could’ve asked for, but it wouldn’t have been without programs like Highlights, teams such as swim, or APs that made me be better. Get involved in programs that will help you embrace your passions. Henry David Thoreau said, “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” I’d like to think that in getting lost at Beverly, I’ve found everything that I need to be the person that I’ve always wanted to be.
Lucas Harward staff writer
Celine Rezvani staff writer
I’m thankful for everything that has happened to me at Beverly. I’m thankful for the extracurriculars I’ve been able to participate in, from cross-country and tennis to leadership and newspaper. I’m thankful for the things I’ve learned inside and outside the classroom. I’m thankful that I am going to a college next year that I love, meaning my work at Beverly, at some level, has paid off. Even more importantly, I’m thankful for the people I’ve met at Beverly. I’ve met my best friends here and have had great times with them. I’m also really happy that I did the extracurriculars I did because I’ve been able to get to know awesome people from all grades that I never would have met through having a mutual class. And that’s one thing I want to stress to everyone, especially underclassmen. Don’t just do school. Be more well-rounded, and you will have an exponentially better time. Of course, don’t just not do school either. That’s bad. Anyways, I want every student that I’ve had the chance to come into contact with, even once, to know that I appreciate them for being on this journey with me, and I wish them the best for their future. But most of all, I’m thankful for what Beverly has taught me about myself. I feel like I’ve come into my own more and more as my time in high school has passed. I’ve gone from being a clueless middle schooler to having dreams and goals and aspirations. Beverly has made me excited for the future and grateful for the past. I’m eager to grow even more as a college student and build on the foundation I’ve laid here, while continuing to have no regrets. The funny thing is, as an underclassmen I never would have thought I would miss Beverly. But I now know that I will.
When making the transition from a tiny middle school to a huge high school, it’s easy to cling to what’s familiar. For me, familiar was my group of friends I had been close with throughout elementary and middle school. Because my friends and I got along so well, and because I was so intimidated by the number of students at Beverly, I saw no need to branch out beyond what was right in front of me. Sooner or later (probably longer than it took most people), I realized that by clinging onto my friends, I was isolating myself from the vast array of opportunities and friendships that surrounded me. Though I had a healthy social life and excelled in my classes, I understood I wasn’t using the resources around me to their full potential. From that point on, I pushed myself harder academically, made better friends with my classmates and joined clubs and classes like Highlights. The four years one spends in high school are critical; if spent correctly, it can be lifealtering. And some of the biggest lessons I learned occurred outside of the classroom. In my time at Beverly, I began to understand, improve and love myself in ways I hadn’t previously imagined. I learned about my personality, interests and imperfections. Most importantly, the challenges I faced both inside and outside of the classroom help me mature and prepared for whatever it is I’ll experience once I graduate. So here’s a big thank you: to Beverly, for providing me with opportunities to grow each day; to my friends and classmates, for making first period classes and AP exams just a little easier to endure; to my teachers, for pushing me to my limits and always demanding better. All of your efforts have shaped me into the proud graduate I’ll be in just a few short weeks.
Slow, steady, mindful, present, wins the race Jackson Prince co-editor-in-chief Molly Hersh guest writer
Just three and a half years ago, the seniors were freshmen, racing to be something else, mainly, not freshmen. These freshmen logged on, creating their various accounts in order to adapt to high school life. As sophomores, they raced toward verified adulthood, gaining independence and a virtual following. The juniors never caught their breath, racing toward the end of SATs and ACTs and SATIIs and APs and CSTs and a most difficult year, balancing the pressures of returning texts and liking Facebook profile pictures. And now, these seniors race toward graduation, and high school passes them by. This is the new way of doing things in the modern era. Con-
stant activity, no minute wasted. If you aren’t running, you aren’t achieving. High school, both socially and academically, is built to be raced through, and it’s tempting to simply grind oneself in the system. In many circumstances, those who push for success in this lifestyle will recommend that a student joins the race. But unlike the Normans of the days of old, our generation doesn’t slow down. We can’t. We race to be present (fueled by the “Fear of Missing Out”, or FOMO), we race to be more social (promoted by technology); these races don’t allow our generation to stop. While these now-foundations of modern-day teenage life might not be unhealthy for our generation, there have to be moments built into the high-school experience that allow for pause, reflection
and redirection. And if this opportunity is too much to ask for in today’s everchanging, swiftly-moving academic world, then we have to make an adjustment to how we approach life in a generation that has become consumed by the virtual world. If we choose to be one in the system, if we choose to race, we have to be aware of the bigger picture: the race is only a part of being successful. In other words, those who are Insta-obsessed and those who are incessant tweeters must know that there is a real world outside of the virtual realm. With this understanding, we can change the culture, participating in the race but taking time each day to pause, reflect and redirect. A racer with a conscience. Today’s culture is guilty of leav-
ing out the vital aspects of life that might not be considered “essential” to the modern-day teenager, which turns our generation into system-oriented speed-demons. If we’re not careful, the attention that both the academic world and virtual world demand from us will surely overwhelm any attempts to be real people. It is up to our generation to slow down. We must accept the fact that winning the social and academic race isn’t winning the race of life. We have to take the time to put down our phones and shut our laptops, step away from the homework desk and be present in the moment. It’s rare these days to even have a complete moment, as they’re often stolen by a buzz or the need to post a picture. We ought to challenge ourselves to create fuller moments.
We can’t be truly happy while plugged-in to the system. And we can’t be entirely happy detached from the system. We must work with the system, allowing societal expectations to dictate part of our journey, but letting our own hopes and desires and other components of happiness guide us to get us where we need to go. The “victory” comes in the ability to take control of the race, rather than letting it run all over us. So, to the racers: in the weaning days of the 2014-2015 school year, for a moment, let’s call a timeout. Stop refreshing your Twitter feed, file away the AP homework and take a walk. Watch a movie (yes, the whole movie). Sit with friends and have a conversation. Live a little. You might be surprised by the stories a Snapchat story can’t tell.
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HIGHL IGHTS FEATURE MAY 15, 2015
Bill Hiatt bids adieu to three-decade teaching career Lucas Harward staff writer
Bill Hiatt, English teacher of 34 years, recently announced his retirement, effective at the end of this school year. Highlights sat down with Hiatt to recap his illustrious career. Highlights: What will your overall memories of Beverly be? Bill Hiatt: That’s hard to say after 34 years, but the memories that will last will be the ones about the students, naturally. And overall they will be good memories. Highlights: What do you hope your students’ memories are of you? Hiatt: I hope they look back on my class as a time when they were able to learn and grow and hopefully achieve what they wanted to achieve. Highlights: Have you changed your teaching strategies at all? Hiatt: Definitely, because a lot of things are different now. Of course, you immediately notice the impact of technology on the classroom, and so I’ve made a lot of adaptations with that. I’ve tried to integrate technology much more. I’ve experimented a lot more with different kinds of group work. Beverly, when I first came, was kind of oriented toward college lecture style, almost, and, although there is still a place for that, education now emphasizes a lot of other things as well. So, I think a lot has changed in terms of my teaching methods. That is one thing about education. I think what good education is now is what it always was. It’s just a process of discovering what that is, sometimes. Highlights: Have you had any interesting interactions with former students?
“
Hiatt: Well every year, in the last few years, I have at least one student of whose parent was my student, so that makes for some interesting conversations at Backto-School Night or Open House. And I have had some people visit
but I imagine since I’ve started writing I will continue writing and probably spend a lot more time on it than I can now. That isn’t the reason I retired, but as long as I have the time I’ll do something like that I’m sure.
English teacher Bill Hiatt, pictured in the 1985-1986 school the ‘stache as always. Photo from Watchtower ‘86 long, long after the fact, so that’s interesting, too. Naturally, people change a lot after high school, and one of the nice things about that is that some of the people who struggled in high school ultimately became successful. It’s like the struggle paid off. And generally, the people who were doing really well in high school just kept on doing well, so it’s nice to see that continue. Highlights: Do you know what the future holds for you after you retire? Hiatt: It’s hard to say in detail,
Highlights: Why did you retire? Hiatt: Primarily, it’s that I feel myself slowing down. And in English, particularly, it’s hard to get through essay grading, for example. If each year you find yourself being a little slower about it, at some point it becomes difficult. I actually tried being four/fifths this year to see if that would work out. It’s better, but it was apparent to me that it wouldn’t be that much longer that I would be able to do the kind of job I wanted to do. I always felt like that would be the
benchmark of when it was time to retire. When you feel like you’re at a point where you won’t be able to continue providing your students with the same quality, that’s a good time to retire. Highlights: What do you hope your legacy will be? Hiatt: Well, I worked on a lot of things while I was at Beverly, although most are not unique to me. Like with technology integration, for example, a whole bunch of people are working on that. But I was always looking for a way to combine academic rigor with helping people to become better huyear, rocking man beings as well as better students. Again, that’s not unique to me. A lot of people work on that. But, I would hope that that continues. Highlights: Why did you choose to become a teacher? Hiatt: As far back as I can remember I’ve always been drawn to it, from when I was your age to a little bit younger. I was actually torn between teaching and law for a while. And when I was a college freshman I was looking towards law because at that point it was hard to find teaching jobs. It was a really overfilled field in California at that point. But, I soon discov-
The Hiatt Effect
In the first three years that I met him, he came in during the summertime and worked and helped me in the textbook room. The third year I realized that he was just volunteering. He only showed up because I needed him. Anybody who’s ever asked Mr. Hiatt for help, he helps them. It doesn’t matter who, when, where, he is always there for everyone. He goes above and beyond always to help people out. -TRISH GARCIA, finance technician
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When I was in college and I had no idea what I wanted to do, all I could remember was Mr. Hiatt’s kindness and his passion. This is what gave me the inspiration to become a teacher in the midst of being lost for what to do after college. Mr. Hiatt has always been on the cutting edge of teaching, whether it’s been group discussion techniques or using technology to aid student learning. -PHIL CHANG, former student and current English teacher
ered that the same thing was true of law. California has more lawyers per-capita than any other state. So, I thought, it’s gonna be hard to get a job either way, so I might as well pick the thing that I really want to do the most. And that was teaching. Highlights: What’s your advice to students looking into a career choice? Hiatt: I think that people have to be practical about career choices, most of us don’t want to live on the street. So you have to make some compromises with the realities of the situation. But, what I generally tell students is if you want to follow your dream, go ahead, but have a plan B. Things don’t always work out the way you ideally hope, but if you work at it right, you can at least have a shot at trying what you really want to do. And it’s not enough for a job to just make you money. Ideally, it should also be something you enjoy, because you’re not going to be able to do something for 30 to 40 years that you hate. I’ve known people like that and it never works out well for them. Highlights: How would you describe your overall experience at Beverly? Hiatt: It’s been great. I would like to think that I’ve contributed something important to my students. They’ve certainly contributed something important to me. I don’t have any regrets. I’m glad I did what I did. And I’m glad I did it here. Highlights: What are your parting words to the Beverly community? Hiatt: Thank you for all those great years.
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Mr. Hiatt’s class was always something to look forward to. Whether it was analyzing a text or studying vocabulary, Mr. Hiatt always found a way to make even the most mundane subjects interesting. He created an environment that made students both comfortable and enthusiastic, and I will never forget how his own enthusiasm motivated me to give 110 percent on every assignment. -AMANDA CHRISTOVICH, senior and former student
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HIGHLIGHTS MAY 15, 2015
LIBERAL EDITION
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS MAY 15, 2015
Boys Basketball Trevor Bergher guest writer
My basketball experience would not have been the same if it wasn’t for Beverly Hills High School. I worked endless hours in the gym, in the weight room, and on the track to prepare for this season and all the sweat that went into every suicide, every mile and every bench press was worth every last bit. By the start of conditioning my senior year I was determined to make something big happen. With
the core of our team being seniors and the rest being experienced juniors, we were able to do just that. Winning the CIF Southern Section 3-A Championship meant so much to me as well as the rest of the team. Nothing would have been possible without the help of the entire coaching staff, the school administration and teachers, and especially the entire student section that supported Bevball.
Baseball Mason Leib guest writer
Four years ago I was a short Jewish boy scared to embark on the journey of my freshman year of baseball. Four years later, I am still a short Jewish boy who has enjoyed every minute I have spent being a part of the Beverly baseball program. The time I have spent on the baseball field has matured me as a person, student and athlete. Much of this is thanks to my teammates and coaches who have
showed me how to properly play the game. Specifically, coach D-Rob, Vonzie and coach Reisenberg have been the facilitators of by far my favorite high school experience. As I write this we are currently preparing for our final week of regular season play against Culver City which will determine if we make CIF. Win or lose I will look back fondly on my senior season and the memories created.
Girls Basketball Jessica Melamed guest writer
I’m going to miss all the road trips to and from the games, my coaches who guided me all four years and especially the girls on my team who will always have a place in my heart. Those girls were not only my teammates but also my family. The high school basketball experience was amazing for me. I made so many new and amazing friends and I also learned so much about the
game of basketball. Even though it’s all over, I could have never asked for a better four years of basketball with amazing teammates and coaching staff. I’m going to come back and visit my coaches and younger teammates all the time. I will come cheer them on like everyone did for me throughout the four years. Coach Braddell was the best coach I’ve ever had and I will miss him a lot.
Softball I think the thing that I am going to miss most is my team. Throughout the years I have been on a lot of softball teams and you would think that the team you are on doesn’t effect your love for the sport, but it really does. When you are on a team where you know for a fact every single person is rooting for you and wants you to succeed, you will perform much better than on a team where you know some-
one is trying to take your spot or where there is petty drama. This year, we all got along and really loved each other, despite the losses, the tears, and the frustration. Playing on this team compared to a team where you know one girl hates another girl or people will just show up to practice crying makes a huge difference. I love my girls. Clear eyes and full hearts can’t lose.
Girls Lacrosse Ashley Griffin guest writer
Eli Soroudi guest writer
builds before the game and of course, “roasting”. Two years ago, SAMO joined our league. I’m definitely going to miss that rivalry a lot; there’s nothing like it. My coaches have taught me a lot and played a huge role in my development as a player and a person. I’ll be forever grateful for what the Beverly Hills lacrosse program has given me, overall it’s been a great ride.
Boys Volleyball Brian Masjedian guest writer Ibraaheem Agaba guest writer
Masjedian - I have been on this team for four years and its truly been an unforgettable experience. I am going to miss the energy, momentum and passion. I will always remember the times where I felt as if Ibro and I were going to be charged with attempted murder for spiking the ball too hard. I am going to miss the big 3; Ibro, Eman and I. It’s been a long journey. Agaba - What I will miss most is expressing myself in the sport that I was so
With the end of the school year comes the end of not only classes, but of BHHS athletics. Highlights reached out to seniors on varsity sports teams and asked them the question: “What will you miss most about your sport?”
Shyra Costas guest writer
Boys Lacrosse Lacrosse has been a huge part of my life these last four years so it is quite hard to choose one thing I’ll miss most. I have great teammates, some of which I’ve been lucky enough to get close with over the years. I’m going to miss them, but I know they’re going to be doing great things in the years to come. The whole bonding experience: getting lunch as a team, fighting over seats on the bus, all the hype that
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It’s funny to think that when I first walked into BHHS I didn’t even know what lacrosse was. My friend Nathania actually asked me to try it out with her and I’ve loved it ever since. From all the new plays we would learn by the end of each year to traveling to other high schools to compete, it is hard to say what the most memorable part of lacrosse was. But after taking everything into account, I have
to say I will miss my teammates the most. The whole team has been like one big happy family, helping each other learn and improve each year to make each year better than the next. Most of the players on our team would have never met if they weren’t apart of lacrosse, which makes the sport even more exciting. I know that after I graduate, I’m definitely going to miss my second family a lot.
Girls Volleyball Daisy Abrams guest writer
truly passionate about from beginning to end. The volleyball court was my territory, my arena, my kingdom and I loved being praised for remaining dominant on the court. I was once a student to the game of volleyball and soon became one of the leaders in the program. In my final year, I got the invaluable chance to share my intellect and knowledge of the sport with the future leaders of the program; and that is something that I will truly miss.
I was missing volleyball as soon as it ended in the fall. In four years I had four different coaches and four completely different experiences. I will definitely miss Coach Weiss the most because she has supported me through all four years. All the other coaches came and went while Coach Weiss remained constant. I’ve never worked that hard in any other aspect of my life. I would be sore for days and days from monsters, sprints and jump training, and I definitely will
miss those days that we all thought we never would. The team aspect of volleyball is what I will miss the most about it. Volleyball is a sport where it is imperative that you play as a unit. No one person can carry a team when it comes to volleyball. I will miss the competitiveness and that incredible feeling of getting a block or a kill. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I will miss doing sprints on the dreaded track as everyone cheers each other on.
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HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS MAY 15, 2015
Boys Soccer Cole Offer guest writer
Soccer has been my life for the past 7 years. There are so many aspects about it that are just unexplainable, like the feeling I get when I touch the ball. I will miss the amazing feeling of pressure from the opposing team, the pressure of scoring a goal and the pressure to do things right. At the same time, I will miss the comfort that I can only find when
the ball is at my feet. I will miss the Friday night games under the lights. I will miss the ecstatic feeling of joy that comes on so strongly when I score a goal. I will miss the extraordinary feeling of victory and the crushing feeling of defeat. Most of all, I will miss being with my teammates. The memories and bonds I have made with my teammates are truly irreplaceable.
Boys Tennis Jonah Malkin guest writer Emilio Yera guest writer
Malkin - I’ll miss all the good times I had with my coach and teammates. Those Friday’s where we play for an hour and then chill for the rest of the day. I’ll also miss the highly anticipated matchup against our rivals Samo every year. However, what I’ll miss most of all is the excitement and competition in the playoffs. Every-
one coming together and competing to try an do something special. Yera - Tennis has shown me how a sports team can become a family. I’m going to miss Coach Margolin. I’m going to miss all of the great guys we have on the team, so basically, the entire team. Tennis season may be only a few months, but with this team, it feels as if we play together year round.
Track and Field freshman, but then injured my sophomore year, at the top of my game junior year, and mediocre, at best, my senior year. I will remember my victories for the rest of my life, but more importantly I will remember my defeats and how I was able to overcome adversity and finish the race. These have been the best four years of my life.
Boys Water Polo Luca Amato guest writer
What I will miss most about water polo is joking around with the team and our coaches, Rob Bowie and later Ahmad Hosseini. As one of the most physical contact sports at our highschool you would imagine that everyone would carry themselves in a rough demeanor, but most of the time we were having fun and being friends. All of the laughs we had, all of the jokes we made, all of the pranks we
Leila Sadeghi guest writer
What I’ll miss most about playing soccer is being with my teammates. Over the years we have all become really close with each other and I have met some of my closest friends from soccer. I knew that I could always count on my teammates to support me both on and off the field. As a team, we faced a lot of challenges, but we always stuck together and
Nicole Okhman guest writer
I’ve been playing on varsity for all four years of high school and the team has been my back bone. Tennis was always something I enjoyed, and playing on the team at BHHS only made my love grow more. I’ll miss the long and hard practices we had. I’ll miss the long car rides where coach would hate the music we played. I’ll
miss being able to say I play for BHHS varsity tennis team. I’ll miss the cheer we all do before games. I’ll miss the laughs (and tears sometimes). The team taught me what true friends really are. This team will forever stay close to my heart. I’ll miss you Margolin! I’ll miss all the girls too! Thank you for an amazing four years.
Wrestling
What I will most most about wrestling is the “#grind”. The #grind is what picked me up, what pulled me forward, and what lifted me up in the air only to knock me straight into the ground. When there were times I wanted to quit, the #grind whispered in my ear, “Is that all you got?” The #grind was tough on me, so when the big days
came, I was able to push through the pain and soreness and get my hand raised. I will miss the #grind because of everything it did for me: it taught me how to sacrifice, it made me a better person on and off the mat, and when the time came, it led me onto the medal stands. The #grind follows me wherever I go, in every aspect of my life, and for that I have wrestling to thank.
Girls Water Polo
Rachel Eshtiaghpour guest writer
pulled, and the guts we busted; I will cherish getting to bond with my team and to see the side of the team that most people don’t see. My team helped me transition into high school and made me feel like I belonged. I feel so lucky to have been on the water polo team. I wish all of the seniors on the team the best of luck in their future in college. I want to thank our coaches for inspiring us to do our best.
tried our hardest. Whether we won or lost, we faced the outcome as a unified team. I will miss the little things that I did with my teammates like the pregame cheer, goofing off before practice, and sharing food on the bus. Most of all, I will miss all the smiles, laughs and friendships that I had with my teammates over the last four years.
Girls Tennis
Raven Castro guest writer
Harry Green guest writer
I started track and field as a freshman and the journey has been quite a wild ride. During my freshman year I became a hurdler and experienced both victory and defeat. From the genesis of my hurdle career I learned that it’s not about how you start a race, it’s how you finish. Over the years my skills as a hurdle have fluctuated: I was a speedy
Girls Soccer
What I will miss most about this water polo season are the bus rides to away games. No matter how much stress was on a game, we all found that the bus ride was a place to unwind and laugh with our teammates and coaches. I have learned so much about my teammates on bus rides that I would have never learned about them otherwise. Bus rides never fail to
make us all laugh our hearts out at people sleeping in awkward positions or a good snap chat caption. The season was tough. We weren’t exactly ‘succesful’ in the established sense of the word. We lost most of our games but we were a great team because of all the fun we had. We were defined this season not by our league record but by our record of smiles and chuckles. That’s why we were a great team.
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HIGHLIGHTS MAY 15, 2015