Vol. 84 No. 5 (2014-2015)

issue vol. 84

05

may 2015

Wildcat the official newsmagazine of brea olinda high school

I INDEX #Prom2k15 Prom is quickly approaching on Saturday.

Leading up to the big night, dresses are being purchased, suits and tuxedos are being rented, and dinner plans are being made. It is the seniors’ last chance at prom, while juniors will attend for the first time. photo by RACHEL LIN

Teachers do McDonald’s

Clinton 2016

How often do you see your teacher working at McDonalds? In order to raise money for Link Crew, the students organized a fundraiser with McDonalds. At the event, teachers worked the register, talked to customers, and delivered food to tables.

Since Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy in the 2016 presidential election, the news has been abuzz about her projected success or failure. Hear the opinions of Gil Rotblum, history teacher, and Charlotte Kim, A&E co-editor, on the debated topic.

PG 5

PGS 8-9

Battle of the Bands

How Much is Too Much?

To Brea from Abroad

Swimming for Life

Show choir. Band. Drumline. Jazz band. These are just a handful of the musical groups we have on campus. However, some students are also a part of their own up-and-coming bands. Read on to learn about Sweet Addiction, Every Other Year, and Pure Atoma.

Can you list all of your responsibilities on one hand?

If not, you are probably overwhelmed. Explore the reasons why we overload ourselves, and why it is not always beneficial to our health, studies, and lifestyle.

Imagine moving thousands of miles away from home to an unfamiliar city. Choha Kim, staff writer, experienced this as she moved from South Korea.Read about her experience in ESL class and the stories of the international classmates she met.

Daniel Parahnevich, junior and varsity swimmer, began swimming to control his Type 1 diabetes.

However, he found that the sport is more than that—it’s his passion.

Learn more about his Russian roots, his life with diabetes, and his love for swimming.

PGS 12-13

PGS 16-19

PGS 20-22

PGS 26-27

B BRIEFLY

2

LINK CREW ORGANIZES FRESHMAN OLYMPICS

GRAPHICS CLUB PLACES AT STATE SkillsUSA

TASTE OF BREA EVENT COMING MAY 21

by JACOB NAM // Staff Writer

by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer

by CHOHA KIM // Staff Writer

To wrap up this year’s freshmen events, Link Crew will host its annual Freshmen Olympics on May 20.

The Freshmen Olympics aims to increase freshmen involvement and to share their skills and strengths with Link leaders and others, according to Kara Dietz, Link Crew advisor.

Freshmen will have the opportunity to reunite with their Link Crew leaders and bond with other freshmen while participating in various games.

Freshmen will also show their leadership skills and gain a sense of fellowship, according to Tatum Havard, senior and Link Crew officer.

Using teamwork, freshmen will cooperate in groups to compete in multiple competitions. Last year’s event included a three-legged race, a field goal contest, and a water balloon launch.

“It definitely helps them learn to work together and get to know their classmates while playing fun games that everyone can participate in,” said Elisa Trujillo, junior and Freshman Activities officer.

The Freshman Olympics are not only intended to be an exciting bonding experience for freshman, but also to create a lasting high school memory.

“It’s something they can do together to unify as a class and cheer each other on. Hopefully, it’s something they can remember as a good memory and something fun they did in their freshmen year,” Dietz said.

After sweeping at the SkillsUSA regional competition with two gold medals, two silver medals, one bronze medal and various third, fourth, and fifth places awards, Graphics Club advanced to the state competition in San Diego from April 9 to 12. Six students competed, and four placed with medals.

“We are proud of everyone even the ones that did not place,” Franco Ciccarello, Graphics Club advisor, said.

At the state competition, Graphics Club members were awarded with two gold medals and two silver medals in several categories. Jake Evans, senior and club president, won silver in advertising design; Nathaniel Acosta, senior and club vice president, won gold in t-shirt design; Nolan Witt, junior and club treasurer, won silver in t-shirt design; and Josh Evans, sophomore, won gold in pin design. Alex Sorrell, junior, and Kathleen Santos, senior, also competed in the state competition for t-shirt design and photography, respectively.

“State was great and there was a lot of challenging competitors. Hopefully I can have the same luck and fair competition in nationals as I did in state,”Josh Evans said.

The two gold medal winners, Evans and Acosta, will advance to Louisville, Ky. for the national conference from June 22 to 26.

Starting from an offshoot of the Brea Chamber’s annual business expo, the Taste of Brea 2015 will be held on May 21 at Downtown Brea from 5 to 9 p.m.

An assortment of breweries, businesses, and local restaurants will participate in the Taste of Brea, offering samples of their best dishes.

“The Taste of Brea showcases our vibrant business community and city as one of Southern California’s premiere destinations for exceptional dining and diverse shopping options. It encourages Brea residents to ‘Shop Local,’ and by featuring some of our best restaurants and businesses, we are able to show the public that Brea has a lot to offer close by,” Elizabeth Valencia, event coordinator for the Brea Chamber of Commerce, said.

Entertainment options for families of all ages will be offered, such as a live band, kids’ entertainment, and a Flair Bartending show will take place. 4,000 visitors are expected to attend.

“We invite everyone from Brea and the nearby Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino County areas to our event. They should come out and enjoy us for fun entertainment and samples from best local restaurants,” Valencia said.

People who will attend can purchase wristbands for the Taste of Brea online at breachamber.com.

Adult admission is $20 and children admission is $10 for unlimited samples.

2 THE WILDCAT May 2015

NEWS

N

ASB BOARD CLASS OFFICERS & BOARD CLINTON TO RUN

FOR PRESIDENCY

compiled by NICOLE NAM & JACOB NAM photos by DEVAL PATEL

BOHS welcomes a newly appointed ASB Board and class officers. Elected by the student body, ASB Board will facilitate the school’s activities. Also, elected by each class, these new class officers will be in charge of class activities and governance.

by NICOLE NAM // News Editor

BRENT GUTOWSKI ASB President

“I’m excited to take on the responsibilities I’ll have because I want to put on events that students can be passionate about and get involved.”

KYLE KIRK

JEREMY MUEHLHOFF

“I feel honored to be elected by our students to serve as Vice President, and I’m going to do the best I can to make next year an amazing year.”

“I’m really excited to be on the [ASB Board} because it’s going to be my third year so it’s going to be a lot of responsibilities, but I’m ready for it.”

RYLAN WORKER

AJAY VADUKUL

“I’m looking forward to an amazing school year being able to serve our student body. I feel confident that our leadership team will accomplish great things.”

“This is my first year in ASB and I have a lot of learning to do and the school board representatives have meetings so I’m excited to learn and unify this school.”

JOSIAH HATCH

REWA OUSMAN

“I’m really excited about being next year’s senior president and I want to make senior year really fun for everyone in the class of 2016.”

“I’m incredibly flattered and honored that I was chosen.

I’m definitely going to do my best and put in my best effort to make senior year a great one.”

BRI DENBO

JOSHUA LEE

“It’s going to be really fun because I get to plan Prom and I’ve never gotten to plan an event and that will be really fun and I’m excited to make the class t-shirts.”

“It’s a big responsibility, but I’m ready to take it on, and I feel that I could learn a lot from it and gain a lot of personal experience and have a great time doing it.”

PETER MACIEL

CHANDLER GORHAM

“I feel that I can bring a lot of new experiences and different kinds of traits and new versatilities to the class. I’m hoping to make next year great.”

“I’m excited to work with the President while having a good sophomore year, building a float, making some t-shirts and getting some money for Prom.”

ASB Vice President

ASB Secretary

Senior President

Junior President

Sophomore President

ASB Treasurer

Board of Representatives

Senior Vice President

Junior Vice President

Sophomore Vice President

Eight years after she first ran for the presidential office, Hillary Clinton is again preparing a campaign for next year’s election.

Previously, Clinton served as the Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, and served as New York senator from 2001 to 2009, according to ballotpedia.com. She was also the President Bill Clinton’s first lady for his eight years in office.

Since Clinton is a Democrat, like Barack Obama, she shares many similar positions on certain topics like legalizing immigrants, requiring health insurance, and tightening economic sanctions in international affairs, according to USA Today. “[Clinton] and Obama have similar background, philosophies, and beliefs since they are both moderate Democrats. I’d be shocked if it was not a continuation [from Obama’s work],” Leslie Leaming, history teacher, said.

Critics claim that Clinton is actually relying on Obama “to provide tacit support for her candidacy.” On the other hand, many say that Clinton must “distance herself from Obama” in order to demonstrate her goals, according to huffingtonpost.com.

Nevertheless, according to politico.com, Clinton assures that she will not make the same mistakes that she did during the 2008 presidential election. Since she dropped out of the presidential election, she owed her campaign $13 million, leading to significant debt.

Therefore, in order to prevent any consequences from occurring, Clinton, with the support of her husband, plans to be more cautious throughout her campaign.

According to newsweek.com, she plans “to build the economy of tomorrow, to strengthen families and communities, to fix our ‘dysfunctional’ political system and get ‘unaccountable’ money out of politics, and to protect the United States.” Also, she believes that colleges should be more affordable, Common Core should be enforced, and much more.

“I think her being the first female president is a really good choice. She’s more of a moderate liberal [in my opinion]. She speaks for all people and not just one side,” Leaming said.

As the presidential election nears, Clinton will continue to tour the country to rally support from state delegates. She will be visiting Kentucky and Oregon on May 17 and California on June 7.

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 3

DEVAL PATEL // the wildcat LENDING A PAW: Club PAW members pose for a picture with Jaxon, a six month old terrier. Club PAW has been raising money to fund Jaxon’s leg surgery.

CLUB PAW RAISES MONEY FOR INJURED TERRIER

by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer

Club PAW hosted a teachers’ breakfast fundraiser on March 18, raising $200 for Jaxon, a six-month old terrier with a leg injury, who was rescued by a veterinarian at the Blue Cross Animal Shelter in Montclair.

4 THE WILDCAT May 2015

When talking to a friend who had fostered a dog in need of surgery, Leslie Leaming, Club PAW advisor and history teacher, heard about a veterinarian with a cause that Club PAW could potentially help. The

veterinarian used his own time and money to provide medical care for shelter dogs, eventually helping them to find a permanent home.

To raise funds for Jaxon’s minor leg surgery, Club PAW organized a teachers’ breakfast by arriving early on a late start Wednesday to set up a buffet-style array of breakfast foods.

“All of our members brought in different breakfast items ranging from fruit, donuts, pancakes, and smoothies. We asked that teachers donate a minimum of two dollars for their breakfast, but some of the teachers and staff were very generous and donated extra,” Katie Chung, senior and Club PAW vice president, said.

Though Club PAW set up breakfast in the teacher’s lounge, they also used a rolling cart to bring the fundraiser directly to different classrooms, allowing teachers to choose from a variety of breakfast items from their classrooms. In total, the club was able to raise $200 from the teacher’s breakfast fundraiser and used all the

money to directly fund for Jaxon’s surgery.

Jaxon’s condition involves genetic legg-calve perthes, a disease in which no blood supply goes to head on the femur bone, according to petMD.com.

The surgery, a femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO), included cutting off the deadened head and neck of the femur, which costed around $400 and $500. Through the fundraiser, Club PAW was also able to promote animal welfare throughout the club and the school.

“I’m glad to know that our club is making a difference,” Chung said.

Jaxon also visited the campus on April 3 during lunch before his leg surgery, serving as a reminder for Club PAW members of their clubs main goal--helping animals.

“It’s tough to tell your hard work and dedication is actually making a difference until you get that heartwarming feeling when actually [you’re] holding a small, furry puppy in your arms,” Ashley Chen, senior and Club PAW president, said.

More than

$400

was raised in four hours.

I’M LOVIN’ IT: (clockwise from top left) Teachers and faculty members pose while holding trays of food to serve to customers. Thomas Dewy, science teacher, smiles before eating his meal. Krissy Ettinger and Jeff Weber, Life Skills teachers, work the cash register. Andrew Rutz, data technician, collects money. Paula Skrivfars, Foods teacher, and Kara Dietz, Link Crew advisor, serve food to students. Link Crew will use the money raised to fund next year’s freshmen-oriented events and activities.

TEACHERS PARTICIPATE IN McDONALD’S FUNDRAISER In order to raise money for freshmen-oriented activities, Link Crew hosted a fundraiser at McDonald’s on April 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A total of 20 teachers and various administrators and office staff worked at the fundraiser as an incentive for students to attend. “[McDonald’s] gave us fliers and receipts on how much we made, and we got to eat McDonald’s. It was an easy way to attract students into coming [to the fundraiser]. Also, there’s no limit, we could do [this fundraiser] every month if we wanted to,” Taylor Frausto, junior and Link Crew member, said.

Volunteers worked the cash register, assisted with the “build your own burger” option, and walked around to help other customers. By actively involving the faculty, Link Crew raised over $400. According to Kara Dietz, Link Crew advisor, at least 50 students attended with their families, not including those that used the drivethru option.

“Being able to dine alongside my favorite

BOHS staff and faculty was an eye-opening experience. It was nice to see teachers outside of class. Teachers and faculty created such a fun environment where everyone was just comfortable with each other,” Madeline Kim, junior, said.

During the evening, teachers created fundraising incentives for themselves as well. Jonathan Gunther, history teacher, and Susan Luce, English teacher, competed to see who could sell the most apple pies and cookies.

“I thought it was really fun because it was at the new McDonald’s. Gunther and I had a competition to see who could sell the most of our tray items, and I won. It was fun to be with my colleagues in a different setting,” Luce said.

Despite the difference between their regular teaching jobs and a job at McDonald’s, the teachers and faculty members managed to enjoy themselves.

by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer photos by HANNAH ROARK

“It was a lot of fun. I worked the cash register.

There was a ton of buttons in the cash register and it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. It was hilarious when Aemon Fowler [math teacher] ordered something and tried to confuse me and made me change the order three times. I think every teacher had a lot of fun,” Jennifer Collier, math teacher, said.

All funds raised from the fundraiser will be used to benefit the freshmen. Link Crew specifically used this money to fund for the ‘Movie Under the Stars,’ which was held on April 16. Also, the money will be used to fund for the upcoming Freshmen Olympics, which will be held on May 20, as well as other events including monthly birthday celebrations.

“I think it was a good, fun way to earn money.

The students liked to come and see the teachers working,” Dietz said.

Due to its successful outcome, Link Crew plans to organize another McDonald’s fundraiser before the school year ends, but it is not guaranteeed.

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 5

O

OPINION

#

P

R

I

D

E

Love for LGBT: (left to right) Chloe Lee, sophomore, Jordan Meredith, freshman, Emilio Lara, senior, and Eddie Hallo, junior, are members of the LGBT community. Allison Gracia, sophomore, and Matt Rainwater, history teacher, are LGBT advocates.

Open minds for LGBT community

by ASTYR KO // Feature Co-Editor

*name has been changed “That’s so gay.” “What a queer.” “Being gay is a choice.” “Why is there a boy in the girl’s bathroom?” “It’s not too late to change.” “You’re going to hell.” “That’s disgusting.”

These are a few phrases members of the LGBT community often hear while in public.

According to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) students, acceptance from others is not their norm. These students face strange glances, rude comments, awkward stares, and whispers behind their backs. Teens are encouraged to be true to themselves and embrace their identities, but when it comes to homosexuality, they are oftentimes put down by peers, strangers, and even their own families.

An open mind and knowledge about different sexualities can ease these everyday issues LGBT individuals experience. Students and teachers need to realize that not everyone expresses their sexuality and identity in a “traditional” way. With increased awareness, LGBT students can exist in a safe environment where they feel accepted both on and off campus.

“I’d imagine that in the 21st century, people would be more aware that we are not all the same and just having a little bit of knowledge about diversity could prevent a lot of awkward and 6 THE WILDCAT May 2015

uncomfortable situations,” Charlie*, a lesbian and student at BOHS, said.

Charlie claims that she feels so awkward and intimidated by people who mistake her gender that she cannot speak up for herself by stating her actual gender. For example, during Spanish writing assignments, she would properly conjugate adjectives into the feminine version. However, her Spanish teacher, unaware of her gender due to her boy-like appearance and androgynous name, corrects the adjectives into the masculine form.

Although there are less than months left of school, her teacher still does not know her gender. Too afraid to speak up due to “the awkwardness of the topic,” Charlie does not say a word.

“I don’t blame [people who mistake my gender], but I wish they would take a few more precautions when using gender specific pronouns because it’s always really embarrassing when something like that happens,” Charlie said.

Because of the awkward and frequent misconceptions, the struggle to fit in can be more difficult for LGBT teens. Cynthia Bellamy, Meredith’s mother, only wants LGBT students to simply be “treated equally because they’re no different from anyone else.” Despite these urges to have equal treatment, these students not only struggle with their own identities as they navigate

the already-challenging teen years, but they also feel pressure to change themselves to be “socially acceptable.” For example, Charlie once tried to force herself to be attracted to males in order to fit in, but she later learned to accept herself and sexuality.

However, understanding the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity while learning to accept the LGBT community can “make a big difference” in their everyday lives, according to Charlie. Students like Charlie and Jordan Meredith, freshman, not only suffer from discrimination due to their sexual orientation, but for their tomboy appearance. Although they dress in a way that makes them “feel good about themselves,” they have experienced discrimination as result of negative connotations associated with cross-dressing. For example, Charlie has encountered peers laughing at a male in a skirt on photos, and peers mocking a girl wearing long basketball shorts instead of yoga pants.

Distressing situations at school abound for Charlie and Meredith. Meredith shares that she does not feel welcome in public restrooms, the locker rooms, and any other gender specific areas due to her sexuality and androgyny.

See page 10

{ { a call for

dIVERSITy in YA novels

Why we neeed characters who look more like us.

by STACY UHM // Feature Co-Editor

H

azel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, from The Fault in Our Stars,

by John Green, stare into each other’s green and blue eyes and express their “infinite” love. But what if Hazel and Augustus were African American? Or Asian? Or Native Hawaiian?

The characters’ race or ethnicity is something a young adult (YA) author decides upon when crafting their stories. Nonetheless, most of these authors opt to use Caucasian protagonists, evident in YA hits like Hunger Games, Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, Twilight, and The Giver. But the white-washed casts of these novels do not reflect what American society really looks like.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, African Americans make up 13.2 percent of the population; Latinos make up 17 percent; Asian Americans make up 4.8 percent; and Native Americans make up two percent. Yet, according to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s 2013 research, only 2.9 percent of the 3,200 books researched and published were about African Americans,1.8 percent were about Latinos, 1.9 percent were about Asian-Pacific Americans, and a mere one percent were about Native Americans.

In addition, out of the 20 most checked-out books in the library, 12 of the novel’s protagonists are white, two are ambiguously described as darkskinned, and the ethnicity of the remaining six are not specified. At Barnes and Noble, except for five books, all of the top 20 bestselling teen books had white protagonists.

“Non-diverse books can sometimes skew

and create a bias to that one side of the book to a particular targeted audience for that particular genre, and so you’ll get a lot of readers that will agree with [the bias]. But the thing is, if it is so biased and skewed towards the one side, then it is not really providing a balance of other sides. That could create a separation, or a divide, among people,” Jonathan Quiming, English teacher, said As an Asian American, I have never encountered a protagonist in popular contemporary novels similar to me in terms of race or culture. Although this did not wound me as a child, it still made me doubt myself. It took me a while to understand that I am the main character of my own life story. My nineyear-old self believed that only the majority race can experience the triumph of a main character. I will not lie—at times, I wished I had blue or hazel eyes like the main characters because it seemed deeper and more meaningful than plain old dark brown eyes.

Despite the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” being emphasized in society, people literally judge books by their covers when looking for their next read. According to The Telegram, booksellers believe that “readers do not buy books about people of color.” In order to attract more readers, even if a story is about a racially diverse protagonist, publishers “whitewash” the books, according to yalsa.ala.org. This means that, because publishers cannot necessarily change the content of the story, they depict a Caucasian character on the cover, such as in the novel The Immortal Rules. While the main character of the novel, Allison Sekemoto, is a Japanese girl, the model on the book cover is clearly

white.

Characters of color remain a minority in YA fiction, as demonstrated in the popular Divergent with a total of four out of 23 characters clearly defined as minorities. The characters include: Tori Wu, who is assumed to be Asian, and Christina, Uriah, and Zeke, who are described as having “dark brown” skin.

In Hunger Games, out of the 20 major characters, 11 had physical appearances with gray eyes, blue eyes, green eyes,blonde hair, or red hair while only two characters are described with dark brown skin; the race or ethnicity of the remaining seven characters could not be identified as there was little or vague description.

Although one may believe the race of a character does not affect the plot of a story, race and ethnicity are parts of a character’s identity just like the fact that I am Korean makes up my identity. Whether the story is about a dystopian future, living with cancer, or Greek and Roman myths, we still want to identify with the novel’s hero or heroine. For those of us non-white readers, with whom are we supposed to identify if none of the characters look or behave like us?

With more diversity in books, readers will be able to understand that even if a protagonist is a minority in terms of race, religion, or sexuality, he or she can be the hero or even the main character.

Not only would the protagonist’s diversity provide relatability, but it will also allow readers to have more empathy towards the character’s internal conflicts and journey.

“Diversity in young adult books is important because it allows for students and people in general to be able to relate, connect, and have a better understanding of other cultures and other people’s ways outside their own, I guess you can say, bubble.

It’s great to be able to be exposed to different cultures because that way it makes another individual more understanding and know the differences on why certain people think, act, or believe a certain way,” Quiming said.

Books such as, Gabi, the Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero; Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw; and I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, involve realistic, teenage struggles against drugs, family, disabilities, and homosexuality, while books such as Twilight, The Heir, and Looking for Alaska— all of which feature casts that are nearly exclusively straight and white--barely scratch the surface of how the world around us really looks like. Gabi, the Girl in Pieces, for example, is about the relatable internal and cultural struggles of Gabi Hernandez. Divergent is about the struggles of a white teenage girl who

See page 10

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 7

Point / Counterpoint

illustration by BETTY LEE

by CHARLOTTE KIM // Arts Co-Editor

As Barack Obama completes his final year as president, another candidate will step into his place. This future leader, rumored by numerous political blogs, seems to be the “top choice” to represent the Democratic Party. A strong woman, Hillary Clinton, emerges as a superior forerunner for the position of president. She will win this presidential campaign due to her policies of saving energy, employing more American civilians, and investing into healthcare for all.

Past democratic presidents, such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, emphasized the importance of economic equality. I believe Clinton shares these beliefs of bridging the gap between the upper and lower income citizens. Her mentality “for the people” proves beneficial because according to Jared Bernstein, past economic adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, Clinton says she would “reconnect economic growth and more broadly share prosperity,” implying that her formulation of economic policies will be focused on working-class Americans.

Clinton also stresses the importance of finding a job to support the average American and his or her family. In a public speech in 2014, Clinton said she plans to raise the minimum wage, just like her husband did, because it proved that “millions of jobs were created [and more families] were secure.”

She not only addresses unemployment as a massive cause in America’s economic deficit, but she also realizes the imperativeness of promoting education by visiting soon-to-be-college students or graduates at local colleges. She advocates for college affordability to reduce the student deficit and to expand the availability of students’ education.

As Hillary Clinton inspires the American people with speech after speech of her promises, she voices her opinions in the best interest of the people. She, like no other candidate, leads her campaigns with positivity and looks towards the general scope of America’s dilemmas.

Although some may say she is “just a woman,” she proudly stands as a woman with courage, dignity, and determination--the model paragon of a patriotic America.

Yes

Clinton will win this campaign due to her polices of saving energy, employing more Americans, and investing in healthcare.

On April 12, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, marking her second attempt to run for president.

by GIL ROTBLUM, history teacher // Guest Contributor

No

a time line of events

The campaign for the 2016 presidency has already begun in favor of the 1993 Republican party. No matter which Democrat wins the primary election they Becomes first will be battling a Republican opponent and the mighty power of historical trends to replace incumbent President Barack Obama who can not run for the lady of the United Presidency under the current US Constitution.

States but continues The Republican party has a unique advantage in the upcoming election. her political career Since the advent of the two party system in 1856 there have been 11 presidential elections with no incumbent on the ballot. In each of those elections, the challenging party (not in power) has won at least three percent more votes than 1998 the incumbent party (the party in power), according to a 2008 survey by the Supports husband U.S. Census Bureau Voting Age Population during Monica Lewinsky This swing in popularity is attributed to the notion that the American voter sex scandal would tire of the current leadership and vote in new leaders on a regular basis.

The Democratic party has had eight years of Presidency and the upcoming campaign will lay the heavy burdens of any of the problems our nation faces 2001 onto the shoulders of the Becomes US senator from candidate vying to replace New York state Obama as the leader of the Democratic party. This 2003 shift in popularity has Publishes Living History, her been documented for the last 150 years where the second book after It Takes a challenging party has Village always gained more votes. This was one of the reasons President Obama garnered so many votes in his first election in 2008. Barack 2007 Obama had this advantage in 2008 and won 52 percent of the votes Announces first bid for president in the US, the popular vote, while John McCain won 45 percent.

However the 2012 election was won by Obama with 51 2009 percent of the popular vote while Mitt Romney won 47 percent of the vote. This narrow gap is exacerbated with an analysis of Becomes 67th US secretary of the Electoral College. This unique Constitutional instrument state, nominated by President indirectly elects the US President. The two states that swung Obama the vote in favor of Obama (Florida and Ohio) guaranteed the Democratic ticket the victory.

2012 However, the pendulum will now swing in favor of the Republican party in 2016. Hillary Clinton faces an uphill Takes responsibility for the attack on battle as she vies to become the next President of the the U.S. consulate in Libya United States. The heavy weight of history is against her. These factors combine to make her election as 2015 President unlikely.

The pendulum will now swing in favor of the Republican party in 2016. The heavy weight of history is against her.

Criticized for using a personal email address, instead of a government-required email

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 9

from PAGE 6

LGBT

“It’s irritating because I’m the same sex as [all the other girls]. [In those situations], I just smile and say ‘Have a nice day.’ If they have a problem with how I do my hair or the way I dress, that’s on them. I feel happy as ever [with who I am],” Meredith said.

These sexualitiy issues stem from a general lack of knowledge by society at large. Not only are some students and teachers unaware of the diverse gender and sexual identities represented in physical appearances (shown through the multiple instances when Charlie was mistakened as a male), but people do not realize that “there aren’t gender roles in all relationships.” Meredith was once asked who was the “guy” in the her relationship, which she found extremely rude.

“People get confused because they suppose all same sex relationships have to be gender specific, where one is more masculine and the other is feminine. That’s not true at all. They could both be masculine or both be feminine. It doesn’t matter.

Girls could be more masculine than the guy they are with. It doesn’t have to be a certain way,” Meredith said.

Such judgment due to androgyny occur even at school. Last month, Charlie was yelled at in front of her peers for going into the girl’s locker room by a teacher who refused to believe that she was a girl.

The teacher had to go to another teacher to verify her gender. Awareness and open-mindedness by teachers and students alike can stop such rude and embarrassing situations. Charlie shares that if the teacher had simply asked her why she was going to the girl’s locker room, then that event would not have been so awful. However, the humiliating chaos the teacher had created made her feel “terrified” of going to the girl’s locker room and does not even go to the bathroom during school hours or at any public locations.

According to Rob Stelmar, guidance counselor, communication can reduce the amount of misconceptions. If any student feels uncomfortable or neglected by a staff member, they can talk to “any adult on teacher, counselor, administrator, and [they] will take care of it. Everyone is entitled

10 THE WILDCAT May 2015

to have a stress-free, harassment-free education.”

Despite the effort to maintain a safe environment for students on campus, LGBT students are not only mistreated from the student body, but are not properly protected. There is no specific law that aids LGBT students, even though they tend to drop out of school more than their heterosexual peers and , according to New York University.

Understanding the diversity in sexuality and gender will decrease the amount of rude comments and questions.

According to latimes.com, California had passed a law requiring public schools from kindergarten to the twelfth grade to teach about LGBT Americans in history class. Although this law was passed in 2011, textbooks involving the LGBT community will not enter schools until about 2019 due to the lengthy textbook adoption process.

However, students and teachers alike do not need to wait for the lecture in history class to raise awareness of the LGBT community. Understanding the impact of even slight statements of disgust and making an effort to change such reactions will prevent further

Students should not feel scared to be at school.

Simply knowing that girls do not need to wear pink skirts or that guys do not need to wear t-athletic shorts could have made the uncomfortable trips to the bathroom better for such students. Rather than blurting out “Why is there a boy in the girl’s bathroom?”, one could pause and reevaluate the situation. Perhaps the girl is not a boy. We could make society a safe and positive environment for everyone by understanding that acceptance for LGBT students does not need to match with one’s beliefs. Simple requests to stop these behaviors will stop inequality for LGBT students.

“LGBT kids just want to be accepted for who we are.”

can’t decide between being humble and violent.

As much as we want to read popular contemporary literature, we should demand novels that mirror the cultural diversity of our society.

According to weneeddiversebooks.org, a campaign for diverse books, one should promote changes in the publishing industry, therefore advocating literature that “reflects and honors the lives of all young people.” Although diversity in books may not have increased, promotion was increased throughout 2014 through this campaign.

While diversity in books is promoted, dystopianthemed and John Green books with generic, white protagonists still enjoy the most popularity—four out of the top five YA books, listed by the National Public Radio, have a white protagonist while the fifth protagonist is a creature. Yes, these books are entertaining, but they lack the diversity of our communities. Readers need to consider diversifying their choice of books, because these choices influence what writers write and what publishers publish.

Young adult fiction books should not just focus on one color of the full spectrum of diversity in this world, and even on our multi-ethnic campus. Books can be a person’s ticket to anywhere and everywhere.

Therefore, it would be depressing if writers neglected the endless possibilities and only visit the same old characterization, setting, and themes. Readers need to be able to diversify their imagination through books. After all, imagination does not have limits.

Jordan Meredith freshman

discrimination. Simply watching shows like the award-winning Orange is the New Black on Netflix will open one’s mind to the LGBT community, especially through the example of Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and character on the show. Her life as a rising star and her character’s life behind bars exemplifies the struggles and triumphs that members of the LGBT community face.

It is not just teaching about a sexuality, but an identity and how it affects a person. Although teaching about sexuality and gender may raise tolerance, it takes effort from the entire student body to become open minded in order to make school a welcoming place for all people.

“Honestly, most LGBT kids just want to be accepted for who we are,” Meredith said. “We don’t want a closet that we have to come out of to make a statement that we’re ‘different’ from the rest of society. We’re people too.”

from PAGE 7

Book Diversity

S STAF F E D ITO R IAL

Race absent from teen conversations Conversations between a Starbucks customer and the barista typically don’t involve the discussion of race relations in America. But this is exactly what Starbucks tried to achieve in March in a week-long campaign that they called “#racetogether.” The failure of the campaign and the backlash it inspired raises the question—why is it so hard to talk about race?

The intent behind the campaign was to inspire Starbucks customers to engage in conversations about race right at the cash register. The campaign was met with widespread derision, with some media outlets claiming it “inappropriate” and “dumb,” like The Daily Beast, and that it “isn’t going to work,” from Rolling Stone, or that it is “unfair to Starbucks employees, who could face possibly awkward or offensive reactions,” according to NPR. One week later, Starbucks ended the campaign as planned, but emphasized that the week was only one step in a larger plan towards the company’s movement to “shine a light” on racial issues, according to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

The campaign is planned to continue over the

next few months, with open forums and special sections in USA Today,” according to NPR. Perhaps discussing race with a Starbucks employee is a bit of a stretch (who wants to talk about the riots in Baltimore while still half-asleep and in a rush to get to class?). Most teenagers don’t even discuss race with their friends, let alone a stranger. And that—our discomfort with controversial topics—is one of the issues that this campaign leaves in its exit Racial diversity isn’t invisible, and that diversity is certainly visible at BOHS with 44 of the student body being white, 31 percent Hispanic, 18 percent Asian, and two percent African American, according to greatschools.org.

Yet when it comes to small talk in the hallway or conversations during lunch, talk of race rarely materializes.

Why don’t we talk about unarmed black men getting killed by white police officers (Walter Scott, who was pulled over for a broken light, or Eric Garner, who died from a chokehold)? Or why it was “un-American” of Sebastian de la Cruz to sing the National Anthem at the 2013 NBA finals?

Or why Asians in the media are usually portrayed as kids who practice karate or effeminate men with no social skills (2 Broke Girls, Sixteen Candles)? Or even why all the Oscar nominees this year were white?

If discussing race is uncomfortable, avoiding it altogether isn’t going to make it any more comfortable. Perhaps Starbucks aimed for a stranger-to-stranger conversation in order to break that barrier of discomfort and prove that we as humans are capable of recognizing the struggles of others.

In the years to come, America isn’t going to become less diverse and America isn’t going to experience fewer race-related issues. Therefore, we must be prepared to carry that conversation of racial issues with open-minded understanding and the maturity to handle it.

We may not need to discuss race with strangers. But if discussing race with strangers is what it takes to discuss race with our friends, then maybe Starbucks was right in trying to instill that message, so that we will all, eventually, #racetogether.

M MASTHEAD

THE WILDCAT since 1930 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR

Jessica Yim and Betty Lee Emiko Kaneoka

NEWS EDITOR

Nicole Nam

OPINION EDITOR

Anabel King

FEATURE CO-EDITORS ARTS CO-EDITORS

Stacy Uhm and Astyr Ko Joy Hsieh and Charlotte Kim

SPORTS CO-EDITORS

Samantha Magpantay and Matthew Moon

PHOTO CO-EDITORS

Michael Cho, Rachel Lin, April Santonil

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ethan Ahn, Harry Cho, Monica Hiemer, Halie Nam, Hannah Roark, Deval Patel, Brandon Yun

STAFF WRITERS

ADVISER

Angelica Doan, Khurrum Elahi, Choha Kim, Jacob

MISSION STATEMENT // We, the Wildcat, are the voice for the student body of Brea Olinda High School. The purpose of our publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as to highlight campus life and student achievemet. Our energy is dedicated to the research of facts and opinions, and focusing on issues that concern the high school experience.

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Letters must be signed with a name and title and submitted online at www.bohswildcat.com or emailed to bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail. com. Any opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect views of the majority of the staff while bylind columns and stories reflect views of the writer.

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May 2015 THE WILDCAT 11

F

F EATU R E

STARS

SHOOTING

Michael Stites, sophomore, and Madison McWhirter, freshman, are part of their own bands outside of school. Their passion for music motivates them to be more involved with their bands while improving their musical skills.

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY // Sports Co-Editor photos by ETHAN AHN

PURE ATOMA & EVERY OTHER YEAR As small, pudgy hands pressed the colorful buttons on his Elmo guitar, Michael Stites, sophomore, sang along to the Beatles’ “All My Loving” performance on TV. Although he was only three at the time, Stites already

dreamed of becoming a rock star.

Growing up in a musically inclined family, Stites lives, breathes, and plays music. A big part of his musical expertise can be credited to his family.

“Pretty much everything in my life is about music. My whole entire family plays music, whether

12 THE WILDCAT May 2015

it’s an instrument or they listen or they DJ. [Music] is a family thing and it’s just what I like to do and what my [family] likes to do. It’s just my thing,” Stites said.

His love for music led him to join rock band, Prime, of OCMA. Unfortunately, the band broke up in 2012, causing Stites to focus more on his school band and perfecting other instruments. Yet, Stites still held on to his dream of becoming a rockstar.

Then, in 2012, Stites’ father spotted an advertisement that asked for a guitarist and lead vocalist for Orange Countybased Pure Atoma when surfing Craigslist and encouraged Stites to play with them. The band consists of Andrhea Fernandez, sophomore and lead vocalist, Justin Muskat, junior and bass guitarist, and Zach Ohlsan, senior and d r u m m e r.

Stites of course requested to join the band. “[In his] first audition [Stites] showed his talent of learning new songs quickly, which is important for the band. He was also unique to other youth guitarist with his acceptance and liking of multiple genres of

music styles. Most teen guitarists want to only play hard rock, but he was open to the many music types that Pure Atoma performs, including pop, rock, country, and reggae. He also showed at his audition that he had strong lead vocal abilities which were powerful and in tune, something that is rare with male vocalist at his age,” Jeff Muskat, Pure Atoma’s manager, said.

Stites and his fellow members played at various gigs ranging from the Relay for Life cancer fundraiser events to the OC Marketplace.

Stites fondly remembers his favorite performance with Pure Atoma as well. With hundreds watching under the blistering heat at the Orange County Fair, the band played covers of songs like “Everlong,” “When I Come Around.” and “Everybody Talks.”

sophomores. Stites is the sole member that attends BOHS. “They’ve been trying to form a band for a couple of months; they had three people and they needed another person. They’ve been asking me for four months [to join] and I never thought I’d be able to play at all. I said ‘Okay I’m going to be doing this, this, and this and there is just no way [I have time]’, but then I thought that it’d just be better for me [to be a part of the band] music wise,” Stites said.

Stites has high expectations for Every Other Year because all the members are best friends and they “just sound really good together.”

But unlike Pure Atoma which specializes in pop and rock covers with only one original song, “Watching For You,” written by Stites, Every Other Year’s strength is

“Pretty much everything in my life is about music. My whole entire family plays music, whether it’s an instrument, or they DJ. [Music] is a family thing and it’s just what I like to do and what my [family] likes to do. It’s just my thing.“ MICHAEL STITES, The sheer amount of people alone was the determining factor to Stites as to why the performance was “awesome.”

Besides Pure Atoma, Stites also juggles a newly-formed rock band, Every Other Year, that consists of himself, Matt Arsenault, drummer, Dylan Nakayama, bass guitarist, and Jordan Alexander, lead vocalist,

sophomore

in their original songs.

Currently, Every Other Year’s planned debut is sometime this month.

“I expect us to have an album out very soon. Considering we are going to have about five original songs in the album, I think we are going to become pretty big in the local band world,” Stites said.

SWEET ADDICTION It was then, while she sung the final note of “Misery Business” in tandem with the sharp thrums of the guitars to close out Sweet Addiction’s performance on their biggest stage yet that Madison McWhirter, freshman, realized that “they finally made it.” The loud cheers echoing in The House of Blues at Downtown Disney only made the realization that much sweeter.

Sweet Addiction is an allgirl rock band based in Orange County that consists of high school students McWhirter, lead vocalist; Sarah Arsenault, freshman and bass guitarist; Taryn McMillen, junior lead guitarist, Christina Arsenault, freshman rhythm guitarist, and Sarah Gendron, sophomore and drummer.

Although they all attend different schools, they were brought together by the Orange County Music Academy (OCMA).

The band performs at small venues like local pizza parlors and at larger and more well-known concert venues like Anaheim’s Chain Reaction. The band is sponsored

by Daisy Rock Guitars, who heard of them by the recommendation of George Rindfleisch. Rindfleisch is an independent agent that has helped Sweet Addiction find gigs since their debut. They also have a deal with music label Breakthrough

Entertainment who contacted the band for the House of Blues performance.

Despite their success, Sweet Addiction formed two years ago and at once faced serious lineup changes before their debut.

The idea of a band came up in the summer of 2012 and Brittany Lark, a music teacher at OCMA, volunteered to be the manager of five aspiring students. “ I chose to be Sweet Addiction’s manager because when I was a teen, I was in a girl rock band, and it really helped me develop my passion for music and they are very talented girls,” Lark said.

However, the band’s planned lead singer was not McWhirter, but an 11-yearold who soon left because of her “strained” relationships with the band

members. Because the band “needed a new lead singer”, McWhirter was offered the lead vocalist role.

Despite that initial setback, Sweet Addiction debuted at Out of the Park Pizza in August 2012, experiencing their first taste of band life.

“We all love music and to have friends who love to [perform] with you and have the same m u s i c taste is c o o l .

[Being in a band] is just a good way to [get to] know people who like the same things as you,” McWhirter said.

O u t of all the band’s gigs, McWhirter recalls the House of Blues show as her favorite experience and the band’s defining moment.

Breakthrough Entertainment offered Sweet Addiction a chance to play at Downtown Disney a week before the performance and despite the tight time constraint, they accepted.

However, McMillen couldn’t make the show, so Arsenault and Gendron had to learn the lead guitarist’s parts for the set in a week.

McWhirter expressed that because “[they’ve] seen so many artists play there”, Sweet Addiction’s performance on the same stage was “amazing”.

Currently, Sweet Addiction is preparing for their first album which will be released sometime later this year.

Although the band is known for their covers of famous pop rock groups like Paramore and Cherri Bomb, they are aiming to release original songs for the first time.

Because of this, most of their time has been delegated to practicing and songwriting rather than performing. “[Recently, we haven’t been playing] because we have been trying to find a balance of what we want to play and even the simplest things like how we dress at shows.

We want to make an impact on the audience, so that they’ll see and say, ‘Oh that’s cool, we should go out and see them more,’” McWhirter said. “Hopefully, we’ll have stuff out on iTunes and write a lot of songs, not do as many covers, and play at bigger venues [in a few years].

EVERY OTHER YEAR

SWEET ADDICTION

This rock band focuses on original songs and will debut this month.

Every Other Year’s band members include Stites, Matt Arsenault, Dylan Nakayama, and Jordan Alexander. They plan to play at venues, such as the OC Fair, House of Blues, and Chain Reaction.

This all-girl rock band consists of McWhirter, Taryn McMillen, Sarah Arsenault, Christina Arsenault, and Sarah Gendron. Sponsored

by Daisy Rock Guitar, they have played at the House of Blues. They are currently preparing for their first album coming out later in 2015. photo courtesy of MADISON MCWHIRTER

photo courtesy of MICHAEL STITES

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 13

Over the years, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community has reached for and achieved increased acceptance and equality, despite some social and legal setbacks. However, greater awareness and understanding continues to aid the LGBT cause.

“In general, LGBT people are treated better than in the past, thanks to education, knowledge, and positive exposure in mainstream media. Media in the last few decades has really helped to expose people to the LGBT culture,” Jennifer Cormier, guidance counselor, said.

Bruce Jenner is known by one generation as the 1975 Olympic gold medalist in decathlon, the man who became the shining star of the U.S. in the era of the Cold War. He is known by younger generations as the stepfather of the infamously famous Kardashian family. And on April 24, Jenner became a new symbol of the LGBT community by admitting he “[is] a woman,” identifying as transgender.

Jenner has had it all throughout his life--money, fame, and nationwide admiration. Despite having all of this, he didn’t have the one thing that truly mattered--the chance to be himself.

As a symbol of the LGBT community, Jenner not only promotes its existence, but also the acceptance of himself, that even if he is “saying goodA Russian nesting doll called a “matryoshka,” opens and reveals multiple smaller nesting dolls bye to people’s perception of [him] and inside of it. Rather than opening to another doll, this one shines the colors of the lesbian, gay, who [he is], [he’s] not saying good-bye bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, to him.”

Through Jenner and other prominent LGBT members and supporters like President Barack Obama, the first president to announce his support of same-sex marriage, and Laverne Cox, transgender Orange is the New Black actress, Americans are becoming more familiar with and accepting of the LGBT community than ever before.

A Gallup poll conducted in May 2014 found that 55 percent of Americans support gay marriage, while 35 percent are opposed whereas the same poll conducted in 1996 found that opponents outnumbered the supporters 68 percent to 27 percent.

With this, it’s evident that our society is slowly becoming more and more accepting of the LGBT community through both social and legal changes.

“Just like any other liberty, LGBT rights have come such a long way from the past because people have just gotten used to the fact that there are people out there that like the same sex,” Chloe Lee, sophomore and member of the LGBT community, said.

In 2013, the LGBT community tore down a barrier as Section 3 of

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY // Sports Co-Editor the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was “declared unconstitutional illustration by JESSICA YIM

MAKING PROGRESS After a history of obstacles and bigotry faced by the LGBT community, the nation’s support and acceptance grows.

14 THE WILDCAT May 2015

acceptance of LGBT individuals in many states, shows that “the opposition remains ingrained in everyday culture because [the LGBT community is] still seen as an overwhelming minority that some believe can be stamped out,” according to Lee. Obviously, there are still some against the LGBT community as a whole, despite the changing social attitude. What is the sole reason for LGBT opposition that has persisted over the decades? What is the real reason that LGBT haters continue to hate? That “common ground” is the most prominent reason that anti-LGBT individuals exist, “religion and culture,” which is still hotly disputed today.

“Religion and culture play a huge role in [LGBT rights], which only amounts to the stereotypes that people create. There is an ideal picture of a perfect human in their mind, and they are repelled by a person they can’t imagine being. I’m not blaming religion and culture entirely, but am merely saying that the point of religion, or at least Christianity is to love “Just like any other liberty, LGBT others, but some people rights have come such a long way interpret the Bible differently and pick from the past because people have and choose what they just gotten used to the fact that believe.” Lee said. there are people out there that like Besides religion and culture, there is still one the same sex.” prevalent factor that has always been feared by the great, the weak, and right to the exercise of religion,” according to the prejudiced--change. Change for the better or iga.in.gov. for the worse. If people fear change, then, more This law allows discrimination against specifically, why do some fear the change for LGBT individuals for service, employment, equality? and fair treatment based on the religion of Society’s perception of equality is the “authorizer,” or business owner, alone. constantly changing with the generations and Following the backlash that Indiana Gov. Mike the issues of those times. Some, when thinking Pence for signing the bill, it was revised soon about “equality,” automatically refer to gender after. equality, like the feminist movement. Some even “Many groups, LGBT, racial minorities, think of racial equality, which states that no one religious minorities, etc. still face negativity, can be defined based on the color of their skin. prejudice, and in some cases, even violence, And some think of religious equality, the belief because it takes a long time to change deeply that no religion is better the other. rooted beliefs and many cultures and religions But, despite the growing support for the forbid acceptance,” Cormier said.

LGBT community, more changes are yet to be In the amendment, for the first time in the made in favor of these individuals legally. history of Indiana’s laws, the words “sexual Taking into account that there are still a orientation” and “gender identity” will be handful of states, 13 specifically, which haven’t included to support anti-discrimination. legalized same-sex marriage says a lot about Yet even with these changes, Republican how far the community and the nation still has leaders still refuse to recognize gays and lesbians to go to achieve complete equality. as “a protected class of citizens statewide Yet just as the generations before and the or repealing the law outright,” according to generations ahead, LGBT rights will continue to usatoday.com. progress.

Indiana’s law, despite the emerging by the US Supreme Court” as it “violated the constitution’s ‘equal protection’ promise,” according to glaad.org.

Section 3 of DOMA prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages on a federal level, barring individuals from spousal benefits, such as social security and healthcare. Although DOMA’s case ruling didn’t legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, 37 states and the District of Columbia legalized soon after.

In this century, with or without the negativity, it’s becoming clear “that all people are created equal and should be treated as so,” according to Lee. But despite the LGBT community’s demand for equality, its continual strides forward do not come without setbacks.

Most recently, Indiana passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) on Mar. 26, which asserts “that a state or local government action may not substantially burden a person’s

MAJOR EVENTS IN

LGBT HISTORY 1930 The pink triangle first appears as a sign of homosexuality used to identify homosexuals in the Nazi Holocaust. It is later reclaimed as an empowering symbol of gay identity.

1961 Illinois is the first state in the US to decriminalize homosexuality.

1969 Stonewall Riots occur in New York City. A crowd of gays, lesbians, hippies and drag queens had enough of harassment from police and responded with taunting, resistance and even violence, marking the definitive turning point of the gay rights movement.

1973 Homosexuality was removed from the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)” and no longer considered a mental disorder.

1997 Ellen Degeneres becomes the first openly gay main character in a U.S. television series.

2013 California legalizes gay marriage. source: utexas.edu

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 15

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor illustration by ASHLEY CAMACHO

onors classes. Red Cross Club.

Soccer practice.

Show choir rehearsal. ASB meetings. Guitar lessons.

Art classes. AP classes.

Church retreats. Volunteer commitments.

Summer internship. Part-time job.

Exhausted yet?

These activities are but a handful of the many endeavors students immerse themselves in throughout high school. Parents, teachers, counselors, and college admission officers often encourage students to partake in as many extracurricular activities as they can fit into their schedules, whether it is to broaden the student’s interests, occupy their free time, or round out their college applications. But what are the limits for the these over-achieving, and often overscheduled, students?

An extracurricular activity is any pursuit that does not take place within the academic curriculum, according to College Board. It can range from school-sponsored activities, like yearbook, band, or basketball, to outside-school activities like a parttime job, a volunteer program, or church involvement.

According to College Board, extracurricular activities play a significant role in college applications, because it demonstrates a student’s character “in a way that grades and test scores can’t.”

However, according to kidshealth.org, an abundance of extracurricular activities can lead to an overloaded and overscheduled lifestyle that may be harmful to the student’s well-being.

16 THE WILDCAT May 2015

There are dozens of books written about the overscheduled student, such as The Pressured Child, The Overscheduled Child, and Busy Kids: Overscheduling Worries Overstated. And it’s a topic that has been addressed by the New York Times (“Overscheduled Children: How Big a Problem?”, 2013) and Wall Street Journal (“Are Your Children Overscheduled?”, 2009). They all come to the general consensus that a student with more extracurricular activities than hours in a day does not enable a balanced and manageable lifestyle, no matter what grade level.

“There probably is a limit,”” Mathew Cha, senior, said, regarding how many extracurriculars is too many. “But I don’t think I’ve hit it yet.”

Cha is the co-president of Robotics Club, a member of Academic Decathlon, and president of Imagiscience Club. He takes additional college courses at CSUF, runs a volunteer program called Creative Computers that helps children develop necessary computer skills, teaches computer programming at several elementary schools, and spends six hours a week tutoring students in math and science.

According to Cha, his passion for science and technology is a primary motivation to commit to the many activities.

He states that although his workload “looks like a lot,” he enjoys participating in his activities no matter how overscheduled he is.

But over-scheduling does not only occur in upperclassmen with a clear vision for their future.

Christian Roberts, freshman, is a member of Model United Nations, Imagiscience, Academic Decathlon, Boy Scouts, and jazz and marching band.

According to Roberts, he devotes about 20, and even up to 40, hours a week to manage his extracurricular activities.

Even though he thinks the amount of activities

he participates in is a lot, he believes he “could still do more.”

“There is a definite limit,” Roberts said, when asked how many activities is too much.

“If you don’t have enough time, or the amount you are doing has stopped becoming enjoyable, then you are doing too much.”

While “doing too much” may seem like a challenge, it is possible to manage both in-school requirements and outside-school commitments. Juggling academics and extracurriculars is a demanding task that an overscheduled student may face at one point or another.

“Most of the times, when I’m overstressed, it’s usually due to my own fault–I have a bad habit of procrastinating,” Cha said.

According to Cha, he experienced a “rather stressful scenario” in his junior year.

In preparation for the five AP exams he would take in a couple of weeks, Cha faced an overload of homework, study guides, and review packets. Even though the homework was mandatory, it brought “more stress than help” for Cha, especially because it was double the usual homework load.

A study published by kidshealth.org found that if a student partakes in too many extracurricular activities, he or she can become tired, anxious, and depressed. It can also lead students to skip meals and sacrifice sleep in order to balance academic and non-academic life.

According to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, high school students on average get between seven to seven and half hours of sleep daily, even though they should be getting an exact nine and half hours every night.

This is due to a number of reasons, including biological hormones adjusting to puberty, early school start times, and, more importantly, social and school obligations. Sleep deprivation can cause a change in a teenager’s mood, behavior, cognitive ability, and academic performance.

“At some point in the process, I was putting all my homework in front of me, and tried to figure out which one I could finish and still get a decent amount of sleep,” Cha said. “Looking back, it was a bit of a laughable scenario. I just kind of gave up on the reviews and self-reviewed for the AP tests.”

In an age where college is necessary to compete in a competitive job environment, there is a difference in the amount of activities students partake in compared to that of past generations.

hen I was growing up, it was clean your plate because they’re starving in China,” Michael Thompson, clinical psychologist and author of The Pressured Child, told the New York Times. “Now it’s go practice your instruments because kids in China are learning violin.”

According to Thompson, the real problem lies with parents. Highly successful parents who have great control over their lives try to bring that control over to their children’s lives.

In regards to parental control and influence, Emily Hwang, junior, believes that a student wanting to participate in extracurricular activities should do what they can handle, and not what their parents or guidance counselors want them to do.

“If students choose to do extracurriculars, they should commit to it and realize all the time commitments,” Hwang said. “And since we make the decision to quit, our parents and counselors shouldn’t have to do ‘damage control’ or dictate our lives. We should prove that we’re capable of managing our lives without adults having to come in and make decisions for us.”

Hwang is a member of To Write Love on Her Arms, Alzheimer’s Association, and Young Leadership Council (YLC) clubs, California Scholarship Foundation, co-president of Operation Smile, treasurer of the school band council, camp counselor of YLC’s Generation of 2015 summer camp, and a regular volunteer at the Brea library. She spends a minimum of seven hours a week devoted only to extracurricular activities.

Hwang, along with Cha, stresses the importance of time management as a key factor in juggling multiple activities.

“Basically, I think you can have as many extracurriculars as you want as long as you can actually get some sleep every day,” Hwang said.

But the limit to how many extracurricular activities a student should take on ultimately depends on the student.

“We are all human and there will be a point where we burnout,” Deborah Oh, sophomore, said. “There’s a balancing act between extracurricular and school. If you get too much on one side, it’s going to end with both being toppled over. There will be a point when you see your grades falling because of extracurriculars and that’s when you know that you’ve got too much on your hands.”

see Page 19

Why do you participate in extracurriculars? out of 570 students compiled by ASTYR KO // Feature Co-Editor

My parents want me to

28%

6%

To get into college I have a passion for it

29%

The amount of BOHS students with at least three extracurriculars

13%

Should counselors prevent students from overscheduling?

62% yes

38% no

What extracurricular do you participate in?

27% service

29%

sports

18%

other

26%

clubs

CONQUERING TIME Students tend to ‘overschedule’ to reach their goals, but end up feeling overwhelmed.

BOHS alumni, Joy Kim and Luke Uyemura, value the importance of setting limits and time management.

photo courtesy of JOY KIM

TRINITY COLLEGE: Joy Kim, sophomore at Trinity

JOY KIM (‘13)

College, stands proudly next to her school’s mascot, the Bantam. Kim was busy in high school and still is. But now, she knows how to balance her activities while keeping a positive mindset.

I didn’t think there was such a thing as being too overbooked in high school. I looked at my high-achieving friends and I saw that they were much busier than I. Our perceived method of success was to push ourselves to the absolute limit, to leave no empty space in our calendars, and to create long resumes. In this sense, I often felt like I didn’t match up.

I look back now and I realize that was a silly perspective. I was busy. I took every honors and AP class I possibly could while attending numerous SAT prep classes. I became Editor-in-Chief of The Wildcat, was the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, participated in a few clubs, and served as a Sunday school teacher at church. Not to mention, I was caring for my sick mother at home while my dad often traveled abroad for his job.

However, I thought about how I wasn’t athletic enough to be part of a sports team, and I therefore needed to fill up my schedule with other substitutes. I sought to stand out and give my all in everything I did, so I could gain a leadership position. Juggling more and more balls seemed to be the answer for personal satisfaction and getting into college.

While I had resume-boosting in mind, I also truly cared about the cause behind most of my extracurricular activities. I wouldn’t trade those experiences of leadership development and problem solving if I could do it all over again. And no high-achieving high school junior doesn’t think about getting into a good college. But I thought I needed to be doing more, since everyone around me was doing more. There is where the danger lies.

My motives weren’t necessarily bad, but I lacked balance. I was pushing myself constantly, all the while forgetting to love myself a little. I cut out hobbies from my schedule such as ballet and piano, because they just became added stressors in my chaotic life. I lacked any physical activity to release my stress. If I ever wanted to relax or sleep a little more, I was very hard on

myself. And I know I wasn’t alone. I slept more than most of my friends, and they were even hard on themselves for trading an hour of studying for an hour of sleep. That was our norm.

This is starting to sound like one of those “if I had to do it all over again” or “don’t be like me” stories. Honestly, if I went back in time, my schedule wouldn’t change much. I would still be busy, because I just like to put my all into things. But I would have changed my mindset. I probably wouldn’t have felt so busy either if I weren’t so hard on myself. At least once an hour throughout high school, I analyzed what I could be doing differently to be “better” or more successful. And to me, having too much free time meant that I wasn’t going to be successful.

Paradigms shift in college, however. We spent a much smaller fraction of our weeks in classes, with practically a blank slate (for non-athletes) to study as much as and do whatever we pleased. It was hard to abandon my former tendency of keeping myself so busy I couldn’t catch a breath. I never stopped challenging myself and aiming to maximize my potential, but I began listening to myself more. I’m taking a semester off from college right now, because I was just exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. My high school self would have been mortified that I wasn’t going to spend every waking moment being productive.

That attitude is what I would change, what I wish I could go back in time and tell myself. There’s nothing wrong with being a committed, responsible, and productive person. There’s value in pushing yourself and trying new things. However, there’s also nothing wrong with cutting back when you start to be exhausted all the time. Everything that comprises your schedule will not benefit you if you don’t make yourself your biggest priority. At any level of busyness, be attuned to your needs. Only then can you tackle the life of an over-scheduled high school student.

sophomore at Trinity College

18 THE WILDCAT May 2015

LUKE UYEMURA (‘13) sophomore at Cal State Fullerton

How much is too much? A very general, but an important question to think about at some point in our lives. Despite the value that can be found in contemplating this question, we tend to overlook it until we’re in over our heads in unfavorable situations. These might include times when we procrastinated on ‘x’ amount of assignments and realize they’re all due at once, or times when we overbook ourselves, and commitments begin to clash with each other.

When we find ourselves in these situations, we are left in an insecure place and end up asking ourselves something along the lines of, “What happened?” and “Where did I go wrong?” After that usually comes a forfeit of effort and regret.

We’ve all been there at some point or another in our lives. (If you haven’t, please teach me your ways). For the majority of us who have, we know it’s not fun. Which brings us back to the question, “How much is too much?” And though my answer for you may be unsatisfying, it just depends on the person. What I mean by this simplistic answer is that the limitations a person has are set and given by the person themselves.

In other words, you set your own limits.

To give you a little perspective of what this may look like, I’ll share some of my own experiences. In high school, I was your average student. I took all of the normal classes everyone has to, with the addition of a few AP’s.

The number-one consumer of my time and energy was marching band, more specifically drumline. I didn’t have a job or any other major responsibilities other than school and music, but that was all I could handle at the time. When I was a junior, we ended up winning the gold in our division. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my high school career for sure, but it came at the expense of my academics. My limits were evidently constrained to my average levels of study and development as a musician.

Having been out of high school, I have a better understanding of my priorities and responsibilities, and have expanded from the scope of what was “too much” for me. I am currently a full time student, working on finishing my second year at Fullerton College, studying chemical engineering. I’m looking at receiving an Associates in chemistry, graduating with a Bachelor of Science, and transferring to Cal Poly Pomona, all within the upcoming school year. I am also working a full time job as well as regularly volunteering at my church. I’m still pursuing my interests in music and somehow manage to find the time to make my way back

to the high school to practice and help out at drumline activities whenever I can. I have gone a long way since high school and still have room to grow. And if I, a hopelessly average individual, can find myself doing all of this junk, there’s no telling what you have the ability of doing.

Going back to the million dollar question of

“how much is too much?”, I say to you, as much as you make it. A person’s capacity to handle tasks is dependent on the time and effort one is willing to put in. To put it simply, it depends on how you choose to live your life. I hope this may serve as an encouragement as you stress about AP classes, college, and the future in general.

from PAGES 16-17

THE LINE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND STRESS Oh is an intern at a children’s ceramics class in Muckenthaler, a teacher’s assistant at Saturday school for disabled students, an annual leader at Vacation Bible School, a member of Praise Team, a track and field sprinter, a cello player, and a regular applicant for art competitions.

“Since my weekends are packed because of church and extracurriculars, I have to work harder on the weekdays,” Oh said. “There are times where I end up finishing an assignment literally right before it’s due or studying on the morning of a test. But it doesn’t have to be like that. I’ve been slacking off on my academics a bit, doing the bare minimum necessary, making use of random down times. When we have free time in class or on the car ride home, doing work during those small bits of time make a difference.”

Although the limit for extracurricular activities for a student may vary on the individual, it brings with it psychological “side effects” as well.

“With so many activities, there are so many different ways of disappointing others and especially oneself,” Vadi Eghterafi, sophomore, said. “One starts to feel how powerless we all truly are. It takes the self confidence and motivation away from one’s heart. There is a definite amount of activities we can all handle till we become too frustrated to be motivated.”

Eghterafi is an assistant animator at the Baha’i Junior Youth program, club president of Brea Forum club, a track and field thrower, a soccer player, a GITA student, a secretary of the Helping Hands of Orange County Club, and a member of National Honor Society.

According to Eghterafi, the mental effects of participating in too many activities is “both healthy and unhealthy at the same time.”

“By joining many activities, one is never ideal,” Eghterafi said. “One will always have their mind occupied with either physical or mental activities. This discourages people from spending their days in idleness and sloth, as this leads to bad health. Yet, having too many activities leads to one’s over-extension, causing great amounts of stress. I can say this personally, that by taking on many extracurricular actives, one is guaranteed to be stressed. It also causes people to ‘grow up,’ to a small degree, as stress causes people to mature faster, gaining skills that they would not normally gain.”

Even though there is internal pressure on a student to overachieve, there are external pressures placed by society as well.

“Society encourages students to take as much work as possible because people want students to be the best that they can be,” Eghterafi said. “Society will not ‘spoon feed’ life to a student. Some things can only be learned by effort. I personally believe that if society stressed the ideology of being the best in one thing, rather than good in various other activities, humanity as a whole would progress.”

But at one point or another, an overscheduled student will face a schedule so hectic and demanding that not much can be done about it.

“Juggling activities does mean that sometimes you will simply not be able to do your best because of management issues,” Eghterafi said. “Such a setback must be treated with acceptance so you can work in improving that area. This causes all your weaknesses to eventually balance out so one can successfully balance all activities. My motivation is simply a better tomorrow: I want the progression of humanity to occur.”

When it comes to extracurricular activities, priorities are a must and organization is the key.

“Ultimately, it’s up to [the student] to determine how much of a balance between leisure time and academics [they] want,” Cha said. “A lot of us don’t know what we want to do with our lives, and those that do often change their minds in a bit of time. Having a wide breadth of experiences help us make that decision.”

So whether it’s softball practice from dawn to dusk or a summer internship at Boeing, extracurricular activities may ultimately be worth it if the student is willing to “carry it all.”

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 19

CULTURE SHOCK

TO THE MAX

Choha Kim, staff writer, moved to Brea from Suwon, South Korea last year. She tells her story and those of her former English as a Second Language (ESL) peers.

by CHOHA KIM // staff writer illustrations by BETTY LEE & JESSICA YIM

I

t was 2014 and I was living in my hometown of Suwon. After a typical day of school, I walked into my kitchen to grab a snack before starting my homework. From the living room, I heard my parents in the midst o f a serious conversation. When I asked them what was wrong, my father said, “We are going to live in the U.S. because Hyundai decided to send me to work there.” Although I wanted to visit the U.S., I never imagined living there.

After a 12-hour flight from South Korea to Los Angeles, I had to calm my heart beat due to my excitement and curiosity about what my new life would be like. Just one year ago, I lived in Suwon, a city located near Seoul. Now I live in Brea.

The hardest part about moving here was having to speak English. Since I learned English and had to memorize English passages for tests at school, and my grandmother thought I was good at it, I expected that I would be able to communicate in English fluently.

When I arrived at LAX , someone asked me a question in English and I couldn’t understand it 20 THE WILDCAT May 2015

since they spoke so quickly. I repeated “Pardon?” several times, but still I could not understand. My face turned red and I questioned if those English classes that I took in South Korea were helpful.

When I first came to BOHS one year ago, I was enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) class, which is designed for international students. It was a precious experience for me to study with friends who had different backgrounds as we shared our stories from our own home countries.

When I first started ESL, I saw my friend’s class schedule and asked her, “Why are you taking all honors classes?” She said that she was taking them to get into a good college. When I heard this, I was worried because I was not taking any honors classes. Since that moment, I was determined to improve my English so that I could take challenging classes and participate in extracurricular activities, like journalism, in the future. I especially hoped to participate in journalism because I was a Cheong-wa-dae child reporter for the South Korean government, who were selectivey chosen to write articles regularly

for South Korea Children Newspaper. However, a high level of English proficiency was required for several activities and honors classes. When I decided to work harder to improve my English, Masako White, ESL and Japanese teacher, allowed me to come to her class to read an English book with her after school. With a helpful teacher and the ESL curriculum, I was able to transfer to a regular Literature/Composition 2 after my freshman year.

In this class, I read Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. This was confusing because it was not written in modern English. I had to read it over and over again to make sure I understood the context. In the class, my literature teacher, Chris Schaadt, explained that Caesar was arrogant. I understood “arrogant” as “elegant” because of their similar pronunciation. After that embarrassing mistake, I was even more desperate to work on my English before taking numerous Advanced Placement classes during my junior year.

Although I am now enrolled in regular courses, I am grateful for the time that I spent in ESL, because it exposed me to the true diversity of our campus. BOHS embodies the “melting pot” of America with 23 ESL students who have various backgrounds ranging from Egypt to Taiwan.

“It is wonderful to have numerous students from all over the world. BOHS emphasizes critical thinking and a rich environment encourages students in ESL to think in critical

Monica Girgis senior

ways,” White said.

The purpose of ESL is to provide students a safe environment and to help them acquire English skills at their own pace. Students read passages which are written in English, speak, discuss, and learn new vocabulary. According to White, they not only learn English, but are also inspired by new ideas and make new connections every day.

“We do a variety of activities such as going to the Getty Museum, having a culture day, going to Little Tokyo and so on. Doing those activities, I expect ‘curiosity’ from ESL students. If you have curiosity, you desire to figure out the answers or solutions naturally. And it will lead to reading.

Reading is the most effective way to learn English,” White said.

According to Moica Cruz, junior and ESL student, reading English helps her to feel more comfortable when speaking the language.

“When students in ESL read books out loud as one way to practice speaking English, I feel more confident because all the students’ first language is not English,” Cruz said. “And being confident while practicing to speak is significant.”

Thao Hua, junior, and Cruz are taking ESL 3 and Maria Lantyer, junior, and Monica Girgis, senior, are taking regular Literature/Composition class after taking ESL. They have their own unique stories about their lives before moving to the U.S., including what brought them here, how they adapted, and cultural and language differences that they experienced.

Girgis came to the U.S. from Alexandria, Egypt.

“I went to private school and I spent most of my time with my friends. I was in the oraganization called scout which students learn how to be a teen and get closer to friends. Most important part was socializing by doing fun teamworks and soccer games,” Girgis said.

Leaving her home country along with her friends was not easy.

Even though she knew that she would miss her school, friends, scouts, and everything, her family decided to come to the U.S. for better education.

“You can get a better degree in the U.S. compared to Egypt,” Girgis said.

After graduating from high school, Girgis wants to study medicine and go to medical school.

“I feel grateful because there were teenangers who couldn’t get any education in Egypt,” Girgis said.

Even though she was given numeorus opportunities by coming to the U.S., it was not that easy to adapt. When Girgis came here, she was surprised by the tank tops and shorts that she saw on campus, since she had to wear a uniform at school in Eygpt. Aside from difficulties of adapting, she also missed her friends, which she used to spend most of her time with. Fortunately, in ESL class, it was easy for her to make friends because of one common thing we had; we are all international students.

“Despite good friends in ESL and American friends, I still miss friends in Egypt. I will visit Egypt for sure. However, I want to stay here for a better education and environment. In Egypt, there were several revolutions and I saw armed soldiers and crying babies. They shot people with guns i n d i s c i r m i n a t e l y, ” Girgis said.

However, Gigis loves her country’s cultural beauties, including the pyramids, which exists only in Egypt.

“My mother taught me how to make tortilla and tamales. We laughed happily looking at each other. My mother was my best friend and advisor,” Cruz said. “I need someone who can give me advice, like mom to daughter. However, I like life better here because of better education.”

Cruz went to public school in Loreto.

However, it had a lot of disadvantages “One teacher taught all subjects. Various activities like food, choir, newspaper, yearbook, band, GITA, and track were not offered in our school. The only one activity offered in our school was soccer,” Cruz said.

Cruz played soccer with her friends in her school and enjoyed spending time outside in nature.

“When I first came to the U.S., I missed Mexico, including my friends. And it was a little bit hard for me because I had few friends.

I think I couldn’t make friends easily because of the language problem,” Cruz said.

F o r t u n a t e l y, ESL class helped her with her language problem.

“Mrs. White emphasized reading and I read a lot of books both inside of school and outside of school. I think

Monica Cruz junior Cruz also moved to the U.S. with her brother and father from Loreto, Mexico for a better education, even though she knew she would miss her mother and sisters.

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 21

that it helped me a lot because people who I met before mention about my improved English skills,” Cruz said.

However, learning English and accessing better education was not the sole purpose of Cruz’s family’s move to the U.S. They also came to the U.S. for a safer environment.

“In Mexico, there is a lot of violence. Still, there are friends who don’t get education and they end up selling drugs,” Cruz said.

Despite the violence, according to Cruz, there are also wonderful aspects of Mexico.

“Mexico is most megadiverse country in the world. Also, we have very good soccer team.

And as a person who lived there, its nature is so beautiful,” Cruz said.

Thao Hua junior Hua came to the U.S. four years ago from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Hua misses the crowded streets, street foods, Vietnam hats called non la, and colorful women’s traditional dresses called ao dai. But, at the same time, she prefers life here because of rights given to Americans, which is not given to Vietnamese people.

“In the U.S., there are freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and so on. Back in my homeland, there are specific religions that people could publicly worship Catholic and Buddhism.

Even then, sometimes Vietnamese government close down churches because of some activities and protests held out to fight for human rights,” Hua said.

When she first came to the U.S., she was surprised because America had the bill of rights and laws to give people freedom.

Besides the rights given to her after coming to the U.S., she also loves the endless possibilities of entrepreneurship.

“I like the idea of the American dream. It is alive and well because I can instanly become a millinonaire if I take the risk spending my whole piggy bank and invest it in developing some brilliant apps or some business ideas,” Hua said.

However, when Hua’s family moved to the U.S., they had to overcome some hardships.

“Sometimes my mom did not even have time to have a break or eat. However, we are all healthy and the family bond is strong. We’ve been through debt, fights, sadness, happpiness, and of course being underestimated by other people,” Hua said.

However, Hua sees those things positively.

She thinks that eveything happens for a reason and the important thing is that her family learns from their struggles. She realized that her mom is “the best” because she was willing to leave her 22 THE WILDCAT May 2015

homeland and come to a new country that she knows nothing about.

“I always try to make my mom proud of me and I appreiciate everything that she does for me and what I have now,” Hua said.

Lantyer is from Salvador, Brazil. Like many

Maria Lantyer junior of her ESL classmates, her family came to the U.S. for a safer environment and better opportunities.

“When I was six years old, my mom and I were going to birthday parties. I was in the car.

My mom was outside of the car. Suddenly, two guys stopped my mom and put a gun at my mom’s temple. My mom was brave and fortunately, they didn’t do anything further,” Lantyer said.

According to Lantyer, the gunmen were attempting to steal their money, highlighting the gigantic social gaps between Brazil’s poor and

to the U.S. can be a wonderful opportunity for international students, it is difficult to deal with homesickness and language and cultural differences.

For Lantyer, when she first came here, she had to make extra effort to speak English fluently.

“Even though I learned English in Brazil, it was just one hour in the whole day. For rest of the day, I spoke Portuguese,” Lantyer said.

However, as she tried to adapt and talk to friends at school, her English skills improved.

“The barriers like language might make international students feel like they can’t pursue their dreams. I think being an international student doesn’t mean that you are limited. I will use every opportunity and chance that is given to me as much as I can. I will pursue my dreams to achieve. I want to be a doctor later in the U.S.,” Lantyer said.

As for me, I want to achieve academic

I understood “arrogant” as “elegant” because of their similar pronunciation.

After that embarrassing mistake, I was even more desperate to work on my English.

Choha Kim sophomore rich. According to Lantyer, on the street people can see children begging for money.

“Whenever poor people demand money, people have to be calm and give them what they want because they might kill them,” Lantyer said.

Lantyer went to one of best private schools in her city and the houses and communities around her house were nice.

However, Lantyer’s family didn’t feel safe living in Brazil.

“Because of social gap, there is a lot of violence. Every day we were scared that we didn’t know what would happen to us because people can get kidnapped and killed at any time in Brazil,” Lantyer said.

Lantyer was surprised by the safe environment compared to Brazil after coming to the U.S. “You are given numerous opportunities here.

I am grateful that my family moved to the U.S. to provide a better life for my brother and I,” Lantyer said.

According to Lantyer, although moving

success and be involved in a variety of activities.

As I work towards my goal, I learn how to overcome obstacles. I feel grateful for numerous opportunities and will pursue my dream.

Not only is it significant for new international students to take advantage of the new opportunities in the U.S., it is also important to keep and remember their cultural backgrounds.

“Brazilain culture is rich and unique. Its music is contagious. Also, Portuguese is a very beautiful language,” Lantyer said.

As international students and families come to the U.S. for a better life, we try to immerse ourselves in the culture, but we are also proud of our home country. We hold on to our love for the Egyptian pyramids, Vietnamese noodles, Brazilian Carnaval, Mexican soccer team, and kimchi.

We are living in the U.S. honoring and respecting our cultures as international students, and will never forget our roots, where we came from.

HEALTH

&

Quick

Simple

Breakfast Ideas

compiled by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer photos by HALIE NAM and MONICA HIEMER

Be honest. During the crazy, hectic breakfast rush of the typical high school morning, making time for breakfast is not one of your top priorities. Between waking up at five in the morning, getting ready, making sure all your school supplies and sports gear are ready to go, and maybe even doing last-minute homework, the act of sitting down at the table for a traditional American breakfast is one of the last things on your mind when you’re trying to head out the door in one piece. But as easy as it is to neglect a harmless meal, a sufficient breakfast is significant for the body to function throughout the day, especially after going without food for eight hours since the last dinner. If making time for breakfast is not your forte, here are some ideas for getting some early morning nutrients.

The Classic

Omelette

Sound cheesy?

The traditional breakfast omelette is a great meal that covers your protein needs before heading off to school.

Pancakes

Ooh la la! What a better way to start off the day than some pancakes?

Cook for five minutes and serve with fresh berries.

Grab & Go

Nutella

Though it may taste like chocolate, Nutella is a hazelnut spread that goes great with wholegrain toast for a classic twist.

Eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese.

What more can you want in life than a breakfast burrito? This meal is a filling, convenient meal.

Cereal

Cereal prevents heart disease, diabetes, and risks of obesity.

High-fiber cereal is healthy for those considering a high-fiber diet.

Muffin

Blueberry muffins lower your risk of cancer and heart disease. Muffins are the perfect meal especially if you are in a rush!

Fruit

The health benefits and the easy grab-and-go style of fruits are definitely similar!

Both are highly nutritious, sweet, and easy to eat!

Granola bar

A crunchy granola bar, consisting of rolled oats, honey, and nuts lower cholesterol, increase energy, and improve the heart.

Three under Three

The Fit Food

Burrito

H

Greek yogurt Greak yogurt is high in protein, calcium, and probiotics! When topped with nuts and berries, your day will start off superbly.

Hot Pocket

A hot, seasoned, microwavable Hot Pocket with a cheesy, meaty inside will fulfill your hunger pains under three minutes.

Pop tart

Craving a sugary treat to start off your morning with a sugar high?

Pop tarts can be prepared with a toaster under three minutes.

Waffles

A quick voyage into the toaster or microwave oven will turn a frozen waffle into a quick, delectable breakfast. Top it off with fresh fruits!

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 23

P

PROM

Meet your 2015 prom court!

The Wildcat asks this year’s prom princes and princesses three random questions.

...

Mircea Dumitrache

Paul Green

William (Billy) Hanley

Brittany Jones

“Marco Rubio, because he’s young, well-respected, and has Florida’s influence. I think he would actually be really good.”

“Mr. Schlueter, because I feel like he has great values, doesn’t let anyone slack off, and is just a great guy in general.”

“Mr. Gunther, because he teaches history and I love him. We’re like the same person so having him be president is like me ruling the world.”

If you could choose anyone to be the president, who would it be?

“Mr. Rainwater, because he seems very professional at what he’s doing since he teaches government.”

What is your most embarassing high school moment?

“Freshman year, I went on the pool deck with a girl and everyone thought she was my lover when she wasn’t. It was awkward.”

“I guessed that South Africa was in South America once.”

“Once when I had a sprained ankle and had crutches, I fell down the stairs.”

“I tripped while walking down the red carpet during the prom court announcements during lunch.”

A genie appears and grants you three wishes, what do you wish for?

“I would wish for a perfect GPA, to get accepted to UCSD, and to end world poverty.”

“I would wish for free college tuition, an iPhone cord that doesn’t rip, and new Rainbows, because they’re great.”

“I would wish to become a professional football player, have a lot of money, and just have a great life.”

“I would wish for world peace, to help third world countries, and to help the homeless.”

...

...

...

Oh, the prom places you’ll go!

Explore some of the most picturesque locations in Orange County to capture your prom pictures.

by CELESTE ROH 24 THE WILDCAT May 2015

Dillon McKinley

Kara Richey

“Mr. Gunther, because he’s a true American who believes in the American spirit and he could bring a lot of good ideas to the government.”

“Mrs. Teal, because she’s a cool teacher, understands everybody and is really openminded.”

“I had to take a picture for the newspaper and they told me to wear my swim uniform so I walked through the halls in only a Speedo.”

“Freshman year, I didn’t know there was a senior Disney dress-up day and I wore a Disney shirt.

I was so mortified.”

“I would wish for the brain to cure cancer, tons of money, and a husky.”

“I would wish for everyone to be happy, to end all wars, and to save the planet.”

Summit House

Fullerton Arboretum

2000 E Bastanchury Road Fullerton

1900 N Associated Road Fullerton

Searching for the perfect place to have your memorable night?

Need a recommendation for a top-quality restaurant? Located on a hill, the Summit House offers a 360 degree range of scenic views.

Prepare to enjoy your special night under a gazebo while reveling in your aerial view of the city below. If you need a break from pictures, you and your date can enjoy Summit House’s specialty prime rib or take a romantic stroll along the Fullerton Panorama Trail, located just outside the restaurant. If your perfect night is classy and chic, visiting the Summit House, a foolproof plan.

If your perfect prom night involves the gentle swaying of a bamboo forest, tranquil water, and stunning natural light, stop by the Fullerton Arboretum. Located inside Cal State Fullerton, the arboretum provides its visitors a picturesque environment. In addition to the various ponds, lakes, and streams, the botanical garden features diversified collections of exotic plants, creating the perfect backdrop for photo shoots. Once the arboretum’s office gives permission to take pictures, visitors are allowed to snap photos in the garden’s beautiful grounds.

prom through the decades

“I once dressed up for an ‘80s senior dress up day... as a sophomore.”

“I would wish for a puppy who didn’t age so it could stay adorable forever, to travel the world, and to have my own time machine.”

Maddy Wellen

“Kylie Jenner, because her lips could fix a country.”

“Mrs. Ramos, because she’s the love of my life.”

“Mr. Gunther, because he has insight on how our government works, is relatable, and has great empathy for others.”

“A bird pooped on my head at lunch.”

“I fell off the stairs once and a lot of people were watching, which was really embarrassing.”

“I got pooped on by a seagull at lunch.”

“I would wish to get into all of the colleges I got rejected from, to pay off my parents’ mortgage, and to end world hunger.”

“I would wish to be surrounded by people who love and care for me, to be happy in everything I do, and for Chick-Fil-A to be open on Sundays.”

“I would wish for an endless amount of hamburgers, world peace, and to help the orphans in Uganda.”

Carrie (1976)

Grease (1978)

1980

“My dad, because he is my role model, he loves politics, is quick-witted, and will always argue at the TV when watching poltical debates.”

Todd Vu

Ashley Schlacter

Footloose (1984)

Pretty in Pink (1986)

1990

Brittany Russell

1970

take a peek at some of the most memorable prom movie scenes from the past 40 years.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Oak Canyon 6700 E Walnut Canyon Road Anaheim

She’s All That (1999)

2000

Are you looking for an adventurous prom night? The Oak Canyon Nature Center delivers a beautiful, natural scenery for photos while providing its guests the challenge of hiking. The 58-acre natural park situated in Anaheim Hills is home to a stream that travels throughout the park.

As the trees guide you deeper into the forest, you’ll get to familiarize yourself with the various flora and fauna as you take pictures of your memorable moment. If a naturalistic prom appeals to your senses, the Oak Canyon Nature Center is definitely the place you and your date should be.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)

source: imdb.com

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 25

S

SPORTS

F

or some, the glistening sunlight reflected upon the cool, blue water of a swimming pool may conjure memories of summer days or family barbeques.

But for Daniel Parahnevich, junior and varsity swimmer, swimming is something more than just leisurely stroking through water—it helps him to balance his unstable blood sugar caused by his Type 1 diabetes.

Parahnevich first came to America from Israel in kindergarten. Although his parents are Russian,

26 THE WILDCAT May 2015

Parahnevich was born in Israel after his parents fled the economic hardships in Russia following the fall of communism in 1991. However, Parahnevich’s family still faced difficulties in Israel. They lived on the fourth floor of a “tiny” apartment with no elevator and no air conditioner or heater. Because they did not have a car, they would walk to the local deli mart, which was “luckily only a couple blocks away.”

Yet, because of Israel’s constant warfare and compulsory military service for both males and females, Parahnevich’s father ”yearned” to move away before Parahnevich and his sister were

enlisted. Therefore, Parahnevich’s family prepared to obtain Canadian citizenship. However, they were able to live in the U.S. by being chosen in a “green card lottery” that 50,000 other families in Israel also entered.

Even though his family was grateful for the opportunity to live in the U.S., they were forced to move far away from their relatives back in Israel and Russia. Along with the separation of their family, the Parahnevich family of four also struggled while they lived in a studio apartment and slept on a blow-up mattress.

“It was hard to be here on our own, but over the

one lane, one dream

by STACY UHM // Feature Co-Editor photo by DEVAL PATEL

years we’ve developed in this country. We’ve gone up on our legs. We’re citizens now and members of this society and country,” Parahnevich said. “It wasn’t too hard to stay positive, being immigrants in this country. As I was only a child, I don’t remember much of the hardships, but we distracted ourselves often, with sabbaticals to the beach or park every weekend. We also became acquainted and good friends with other Russian families that we met in the area.”

To this day, Parahnevich still keeps his Russian values by speaking the language at home, eating Russian food, and even celebrating a few Russian

holidays, like May 9th’s Victory Day. “I take pride in the fact that I still can speak [and] read [Russian] to some extent, and understand it in general. If my parents were having an intellectual discussion in Russian, I can follow and contribute,” Parahnevich said.

Parahnevich understands that his roots are from Russia and learns to treasure its cultural aspects. “[His Russian background] is what makes him, him,” Brent Gutowski, junior, said. “It’s what makes him unique.”

He is also “hard working” in order to manage his diabetic condition mentally and physically while being successful in swim.

Parahnevich was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was nine years old. When he was first admitted into the hospital, his blood sugar was so high that the nurses were surprised that he was not in a coma.

Because Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition, according to mayoclinic.org, Parahnevich’s doctor recommended trying out different sports to maintain his blood sugar. Parahnevich tried mixed martial arts, jiu jitsu, and boxing, but although he enjoyed these sports, he stuck to swim after noticing how much it helped his blood sugar levels.

“It turns out swimming keeps my blood sugar at a really, really good level than any other sport does.

I could jump in the water and immediately my blood sugar levels out,” Parahnevich said.

However, there are times when he has to sit out of the water and have some sugar pills or juice in order to stabilize his blood sugar. Regardless of the occasional issue, Parahnevich does not let his diabetes stop him from “anything” according to Gutowski.

“He never uses his diabetes as an excuse. To him, it is just a little obstacle he goes through every day. What really amazes me is his ability to not have it interfere with any of his goals,” Gutowski said.

Parahnevich’s goal this year is to set the team record in the 100 breaststroke, and while having a “love-and-hate” relationship with swim, he puts his long and short term goals in mind in order to keep himself going on. “[Parahnevich] works very hard during practice even though he has diabetes. He has to overcome that as well [as other swimming challenges]. Because of that, it has made him into a disciplined human being, which helps him a lot in swimming,” Gil Rotblum, boys’ swim coach, said. “He is very, very strong not just physically, but mentally. He is willing to put himself in uncomfortable situations and succeed.”

Thinking about what it takes to accomplish his goals gets him in the “mood” to jump in the water and actually practice, which is the “hardest” part in swim, according to Parahnevich.

“Once you’re in, you’re in,” Parahnevich said.

This season, boys’ swim broke the 17-year old 8x50 co-ed relay record at the Canyon Relays, and on May 5 and 7, they will compete at the League Prelims. The team also qualified for the CIF relay on May 14 with a record of 5.

According to Parahnevich, all of the team’s hard work during “rigorous” practices is “showing” during swim meets.

“We’ve been swimming strong and everyone’s getting good times, but we’re also training harder than ever,” Parahnevich said.

With their “incredibly fast” underclassmen and “outstanding” team dynamic, the team hopes be league champions for the first time since 2012.

“I’m glad I can be a part of this team because I love cheering for my teammates, and I know that when I’m up on the block, they’ll be cheering for me as well,” Parahnevich said.

In spite of Parahnevich’s love for swim, his future plans involve going into the medical field, as he has had an interest in medicine since he was a child. He is currently considering studying endocrinology, since endocrinologists handle patients with diabetes.

But this is not his definite choice, as he is “open” to different subfields in medicine.

In order to “get [his] feet wet,” he has been volunteering at St. Jude Hospital for over a year now to see what it is like to work in a hospital environment.

Parahnevich’s doctor, Mark Daniels, who diagnosed him eight years ago and treats him to this day, inspires him to be the doctor he wishes to be in the future. Despite his his ability to stay inspired, there was also a period of time when he dealt with stress due to “trivial” conflicts in life, such as tests, exams, or swim.

“I started to realize that all of the stress was causing me to be down most of the time—I was not having good days anymore. When I noticed that, I realized that I need to have some sort of stress reliever in my life, so working out, hanging out with friends, and listening to music helped a lot. I still try [in school], but I don’t worry about [grades] too much,” Parahnevich said. “Don’t stress too much.

Some say school is everything, but it really isn’t.

There’s other things in life that really need more attention, like health —your health is much more important than the grades you’re getting.”

Parahnevich’s belief in the importance of health and life, influenced by his Russian values and diabetes, allows him to stay away from negativity and be the self-motivated student-athlete he is. He understands that life consists of both “good and bad” moments. Keeping his long term goals in mind, Parahnevich tries to recognize happiness in the “relative, personal, and intimate” moments of life.

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 27

the

helping hand Ken McCall’s love for helping people and his passion for teaching are the reasons why he is where he is today-- as the athletic trainer, Sports Medicine teacher, and helping hand of BOHS.

A

serious knee injury from a snowboarding trip was what helped Ken McCall, athletic trainer, to discover the world of physical therapy. Ever since, he has helped numerous Wildcat athletes treat and recover from their sports-related injuries.

After graduating from Milikan High School in 1988, McCall pursued secondary education at nearby California State University, Long Beach. Receiving

by MATTHEW MOON // Sports Co-Editor photos by APRIL SANTONIL // Photo Editor

wanted to do. [I was] flopping around in college for the first few years, in fact for the first several years, and working fulltime. I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a living. I wasn’t one of those kids that knew right away, right out of high school that ‘this is what I want to do with [my life].’ What I thought I wanted to do back then, I’m not doing it today,” McCall said.

But a frends’ birthday party spent snowboarding at Snow Summit in Big Bear was what unexpectedly directed

“I love the school, I love the kids, the athletes, the parents of the athletes, the coaching staff, the athletic directors--just everyone is great.”

-Ken McCall, athletic trainer

scholarships for his interest in design and architecture, McCall headed to the university with the idea of pursuing a career in engineering.

But McCall eventually lost interest in the field and began to search for his true passion.

“Honestly, I had changed my major so many times that I didn’t know what I 28 THE WILDCAT May 2015

him to his future career. After a couple runs down the white slopes, McCall tried to do a 360. His board got caught on a rock halfway through the spin and he twisted his knee and thigh. McCall landed hard on the ground, in pain.

X-rays and evaluations revealed that he tore his hamstring and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and fractured his tibia.

The injury required knee surgery as well as several weeks spent in physical therapy. McCall reveals that it was this experience that “opened his eyes to the world of athletic training.”

“Going through physical therapy was what turned my mind onto a potential [career choice] in the physical therapy realm. So it was kind of my own injuries which led me to athletic training.

Too bad I didn’t realize this [earlier]. It would have made my career start earlier, but at the [same time], I don’t [regret it].

I had a good time in college when I was studying a bunch of other majors. It was just a longer road for me,” McCall said.

McCall became a licensed, fullyqualified athletic trainer in 2002 and got his first job as a trainer at Huntington Beach High School. From there, he eventually became the athletic trainer at BOHS in 2003. McCall says that he “loves the atmosphere at Brea” and his job helps to bring out the things he values in life.

“I like helping people and it’s rewarding when you can get someone and help them heal faster than if they were doing nothing,” McCall said.

“That’s what I try to put myself out there as--always available to help kids that want to come in. I can’t make them

come in, but when they get injured, I let them know they need to come in and see me in order to treat it to help the healing process.”

And despite what students see on campus, most teachers work beyond school hours. McCall is no exception.

Whether he’s taping ankles at a girls’ basketball game on Saturday or icing shin splints at a track meet, he is always on hand in order to help out athletes. In addition, McCall tries to “put himself out there” as a patient advocate, looking out for the best interest of the athlete alone.

“Coaches and parents [may push the athlete and say] ‘put him in, put him in, he’s fine, he’s fine.’ The thing is, maybe he’s not. Take a closer look, make sure he’s okay, because I don’t want to make anything worse. I don’t want that ankle injury [to end up] being something they have to live with for the rest of their life, limping, because they just threw some tape on it and tried to get back out there,” McCall said.

Although he enjoys his job, McCall wasn’t just content with being an athletic trainer. For the first couple of years, he was a substitute teacher for various classes at the school as well. Through this side occupation, he continued to explore his interest for teaching.

“I did get a glimpse into the

classroom setting that I hadn’t had before.

And

I

thought

teaching

might be fun so really it was a

[learning] experience in the teaching environment,” McCall said.

Then in 2006, McCall decided

that he wanted to combine his love for athletic training with his interests

in teaching and suggested a new Sports Medicine class, a Regional

Occupational Program (ROP) course, that he would teach.

UNFAIR ENDINGS

>The Nine Most Common Athletic Injuries compiled by ELIZABETH WHEAT // Staff Writer // source: webmd.com

Arms

Tennis Elbow

An inflammation of elbow tendons due to overuse or strain.

Head

Chest

An injury to the brain usually caused by a hit to the head.

Dislocations, sprains, or strains in the shoulder.

Concussion

How to Prevent It

Shoulder Injury How to Prevent It

improving forearm strength through various exercises is most advised and an elbow brace or improving technique can help.

Be sure to wear proper protective gear for the activity.

Strengthen muscles through weight training and be sure to stretch properly before and after a workout.

Achilles Tendonitis

Ankle Sprain

Pulled Muscles

the class was “fun and helps to learn

An inflammation or overuse of the Achilles tendon.

well as to see the limits that your body

How to Prevent It

How to Prevent It

“I talked to the career guidance

specialist and said ‘Hey, I heard that there’s a sports medicine class that is taught in ROP, would Brea be interested?’ So I took the required

classes in order to get my Vocational Education

McCall said.

Teaching

How to Prevent It

Credential,”

Though McCall had initial doubts

about the success of his new class, students and staff alike responded positively toward the course.

Dylan Pemberton, senior and

McCall’s former student, voices that more about anatomy and your body as has,” Pemberton recommends that more students take the class.

Jerry Halpin, principal, agrees.

“One of the beauties with any ROP

programs [is that] it gives students the

chance to explore something that they might be interested in,” Halpin said.

“I’m glad that we have the ability [for

Legs

Stretched or torn ligaments in the ankle that cause swelling.

Tears in the muscle, tendons, or ligaments.

Ankle strengthening exercises, taping the ankle, or wearing an ankle brace are all recommended.

Before a workout, stretch properly.

Athletes with the condition should not continue to workout or it may become chronic.

How to Prevent It

Stretch properly before and after a workout and avoid working out when tired.

students] to enroll in a Sports Medicine class. I think the instructor, Mr. McCall, does a great job teaching [it].”

Though it has been a long road for

McCall in finding what he is passionate for in life, he hopes to continue his passion of teaching and helping kids.

“I love the school, I love the kids,

Shin Splints

An inflammation of the muscles that surround the shin bone.

the athletes, the parents of the athletes, just everyone is great. I think we have

a great school--one of the better public schools in Orange County. I just had

and that’s neat when I get students that

come back from college to show me what they’ve experienced. It’s really neat to know that I’ve affected them

Runner’s Knee

How to Prevent It

How to Prevent It

Strained muscles in the adductor, or groin area.

Stretch properly before exercise, particularly in the thighs, hips and do not increase intensity of a workout too quickly.

the coaching staff, the athletic directors,

four former students visit me yesterday

Adductor Strain

How to Prevent It

Wear good shoes. Do not increase the intensity of a workout too quickly.

Most knee injuries involving sprains, and torn ligaments.

Wear supportive shoes and try to run on a softer surface such as a track. Warm up properly and stretch before a workout.

and helped them to get them where they’re at,” McCall said.

photos from athletico.com, somastruct.com, braceshop.com, sportyviews.com, corflex.com, betterbraces.com

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 29

SPORTING SUPERSTITION

Whether its a routine pregame ritual or a special good luck charm, BOHS student athletes share some unique sport superstitions. compiled by JACOB NAM, ANGELICA DOAN, HARRY CHO, and MICHAEL CHO

TO DO Run Happy

Run Happy

JAM

PB

JOSHUA BAYANI

SOPHIE ZAMBRI

JARED VALENCIA

“I wear my good luck bracelet which is pink and says ‘run happy.’”

“I have to do everything the same way in every meet.”

“I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before every game.”

freshman I track and field

senior I swim

freshman l baseball

SOPHIA GASTELUM

HAILEY JENSEN

“I have a stuffed animal that I always take with to every race.”

“I wear a lucky necklace that my mom gave me that says ‘dream.’”

sophomore l track and field

junior l softball

TRACK AND FIELD

THE BIBLE

PERSONAL RECORD

RACE

You got bunt that side.

THE FINISH

CROSS COUNTRY

RACE RESPECT

THE BIBLE

RACE

PERSONAL RECORD

VICTORY

VICTORY

THE FINISH LINE TRACK & FIELD

I BELIEVE

RESPECT

ANDRE KEMPS senior l baseball

“I tell the third and first baseman ‘you got bunt, that side.’”

ALISA FANG

ALYSON SCHADE

“Our team sings the alma mater every time we come back to school.”

“I go on the field and touch the grass with my right [then] left hand and do a cross.”

freshman l tennis

senior l soccer

Z

Z

JANE LEE

MEREDITH LEHMAN

“I avoid certain socks because I know I got an injury in them before.”

“I write quotes and bible verses that coat my entire right arm.”

sophomore l basketball

junior l track and field

ZZ Z ep t St Don’

RICKY LIBED

ROMAN BELAIRE

ETHAN HIROSE

ALYSSA FLORES

“I pray to God for a good performance before every race.”

“Eating pancakes before every race is a tradition.”

“I always sleep until it’s warmup time before each meet.”

“I never step on the chalk on the field because I feel the team will play badly.”

sophomore l track and field

30 THE WILDCAT May 2015

junior l swim

senior l swim

freshman l softball

LUKE MEYER

sophomore l soccer

“I play FIFA 15, the video game, to help me score goals.”

Player Profile

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL & BOYS’ TENNIS Miguel Vaca

Ben Burdick > Who is your greatest inspiration?

> How old were you when you first started playing?

“My grandfather because he’s been married to the same woman for 65 years now and she’s been wheelchair-ridden and unable to speak due to a stroke, but he’s continued to stand by her and that’s amazing.”

“I was about three. My dad played the sport in high school and wanted me to experience it too.

It’s important to him because he wants me to have a better life than he did.”

> How do you feel right before a match? How do you overcome that?

> What makes being on the team worthwhile for you?

“The sport overall is really fun to play and in addition to being the captain, knowing you’re the person that the underclassmen look up to, definitely makes all of this worthwhile.”

“I get nervous, but I mostly tell myself to stay focused and calm myself down. I get warmed up after the first couple minutes before the match.”

> How have your coaches influenced you?

> What hobbies do you enjoy outside of volleyball?

“They have convinced me that the way you practice is the way you play. It drives me to practice harder. My coaches have always wanted me to thrive at tennis and saw my potential.”

“I enjoy skateboarding at the beach, going on hikes, and constantly trying out new foods.”

> What was your most memorable moment of volleyball?

> Do you see yourself continuing tennis after high school?

“My memorable moment was the time last year when we beat Villa Park in one set. We were all so happy, that we tackled our coach and everyone just went wild.”

“Yes. Tennis has been my passion since as long as I can remember.

I’ve been recruited recently by a few colleges such as Illinois College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo.”

> What’s the most challenging part of being a captain?

“I have to keep my composure, even if I get frustrated with someone.

Our team does receive a lot of criticism so being able to tough it out and continue to keep my faith in my team is definitely something I have to do as a captain. “

> What advice do you have for future athletes?

“To continue to stick with the sport, even if it seems at times the team is lagging behind. Always try your best when playing.”

> What is your biggest weakness?

Seniors Ben Burdick, boys’ varsity volleyball captain, and Miguel Vaca, boys’ varsity tennis captain, give an inside look at their season and share their personal interests. photo by RACHEL LIN compiled by CELESTE ROH and ELIZABETH WHEAT // Staff Writers

“My greatest weakness would be not listening to my coach when he tells me to fix something.”

> Who are your main supporters?

“My parents because they know the potential that I have, so they push me to the best of my ability.

They come out to every single match to support me and cheer me on.”

May 2015 THE WILDCAT 31