May 2018
Vol. IV
Issue 3
The Magnet
by Alyssa Aldaz (2018)
Table Of Contents Junior
Freshman
10 Driving earlier than most
6 Favorite freshman teacher
Carlos Rodriguez
Theodore Supangan
6 A Letter to my freshman self Victoria Bochniak
7 Best and worst of the year Bryan Han
11 Seniors’ last chance to dance
Sophomore 8 Which of these senior teachers are you most like? Kasy Vasquez
9 Sophomores give speeches about objects close to home
Reed Maruyama
12 AP tests help students place ahead Sangam Sharma
13 Expectations vs. reality Ani Avakian
Alexandra Der Boghosian
9 Sweet 16 parties Eleen Shahmoradian
W
elcome to the senior issue of The Magnet! Despite how much it may have seemed the time would never arrive, the end of the year is upon us. At this point, the yearbooks have been out and circulating about the school and the time-honored tradition of the Senior Issue, so complementary to that hefty volume, is now in your hands. Think of it as a free, specialized version of the yearbook. (You should still buy a yearbook though, if you haven’t). There are a few key differences
however, that make this magazine worth keeping. Where else can you find out where that girl in your math class is going once she graduates? Or learn about other people’s journey through senior project? The answer is here, unless you want to actually go up to these people and ask. Seniors, you can — and you should, we mean it’s only the entire purpose of this issue — reminisce over your past four years at Clark within these pages, from your journey as baby-faced freshmen to
maybe, possibly, baby adults. Treasure the memories that you made here, and remember that after you’ve graduated you will always be a Clarkie and that your adventures here at Clark will always remain. We wish you all the best of luck in your future adventures, wherever they may take you. Shaye Holladay McCarthy & Kasy Vasquez Magazine Editors, The Magnet
Seniors
16 Senior projects allow students to protect their goals for the future Ioana Ciuperca
Looking Forward
24 The college process Lilit Krkasharian
26 Pros and cons of leaving Clark
18 Disneyland
Leslie Chung
Naira Shahbandarian
28 Colleges
19 Catalina
Kasy Vasquez
Ani Sarkisyan
20 Promparing for an enchanted night Isabela Lacsina
30 Top 10 movies and songs Shaye Holladay McCarthy
31 Humans of Clark
21 Promposals
Lois Ramilo
Rafael Aroustamian
The Magnet Magazine Magazine Editors:
Shaye Holladay McCarthy Kasy Vasquez
Staff Writers:
Rafael Aroustamian Ani Avakian Victoria Bochniak Leslie Chung Ioana Ciuperca Alexandra Der Boghosian Trisha Gomez Bryan Han Isabela Lacsina Shaye Holladay McCarthy
Lilit Krkasharian Lois Ramilo Carlos Rodriguez Ani Sarkisyan Naira Shahbandarian Eleen Shahmoradian Sangam Sharma Theodore Supangan
Photo Editors:
Rafael Aroustamian Reed Maruyama Lois Ramilo Jack Maruyama
Leslie Chung Reed Maryama
Photographers:
Urielle Corcuera Trisha Gomez
Website Editors:
Alexandra Der Boghosian Kasy Vasquez
Business:
UPDATE SCREENGRAB OF CHRONICLE EACH ISSUE
Advisor:
Chris Davis
The Magnet, an open forum, is published by the Clark Magnet High School Publications class (4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214, 818.248.8324), which is solely responsible for all copy, designs and ideas contained herein. The Magnet has the right to edit any letter for purposes of clarification, length and grammar. The expressed opinions are not that of Clark Magnet High School nor of the Administration. Layouts completed on-site. This magazine was printed by aPrintis Inc., 4695 Chabot Dr, Site 200 Pleasanton, CA.
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THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Freshman
A letter to my freshman self Dear freshman self, I need to tell you to trust yourself and make sure that you don’t slack off in school because time passes by really fast. Always believe in yourself and make sure that you graduate. High school might not be the best four years of life, but it’s the time to mature. Sincerely,
Shant Grigorian
Dear freshman self,
Dear freshman self,
One thing I would tell you is stay true to yourself ! Always listen to your family members and don’t let anyone get in the way of your happiness and success. Remember this: if it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes thinking about it. Sincerely,
This is your future self writing to you about how to prepare for the years to come. First off, try not to stress so much about everything. Have faith in yourself and know that everything works out in the end. Keep working hard and most importantly have some fun! Sincerely,
Aleen Abolian
Isabella Hakopian
Favorite freshman teachers Mr. Axelgard
“The first day we came to his class, he told us that half of us would fail out and half would stay at Clark. I could tell he was messing around, but he ended up being right. Mr. Axelgard’s class was the only thing about freshman year that was fun for me. I always looked forward to going to his class, and it was a breath of fresh air for a lackluster year.” — Michael Melkonian
Ms. Melville “My favorite moment in Señora Melville’s class was seeing everyone’s childhood pictures. We had to give her pictures of ourselves from when we were young, and if you didn’t give her one, she’d try to embarrass you with old ID pictures. Having Señora Melville made class fun and I never found myself bored in her class, or checking to see how soon the bell was going to ring.” — Tiffany Yarian
6 • The Magnet
Freshman
Best and worst of the year Bests
Worsts Janine Angel Porras
“My best memory of freshman year would be having the Boy Band Project come to our school because I’ve heard of them prior to their performance, and when I heard about them I was really excited.”
“The worst part of freshman year would be going to physics class because I didn’t understand it at all.”
Sevana Nazari “My best memory of freshman year was meeting my best friends Lili and Nareh. From that day forward, we’ve been inseparable and I couldn’t ask for any better friends. I also liked Axelgard’s PE class.”
“The worst part of it is that I didn’t want to come to Clark in the first place because a lot of people would complain about it and my twin didn’t attend here.”
Jack Maruyama “The best part of my freshman year would have to be meeting my closest friend, Nibir, and also the balloon car project. Physics was a hard class, but this project was one that I won’t forget.”
“There wasn’t really a bad memory I had from ninth grade, but since I was so new to high school, Nothing good or bad just a buffer zone for the upcoming years.”
Sioret Nersesian “My best memory from freshman year was pancake breakfast. It was scary being a freshman and not knowing anyone, but during pancake breakfast everyone was getting to know each other and making friends.”
“Physics was my weakest subject, so I was struggling in the class. I spent so much time trying to learn the material but I still wouldn’t understand it. I still don’t know how to calculate momentum. I’ll maybe learn it in college.”
Senior • 7
Sophomore
Which one of these senior teachers are you most like? 6. Choose a flower
1. Choose a dessert: A. Cheesecake Factory double chocolate chip cheesecake B. Karina’s bakery bird’s milk cake C. Bread pudding D. Chocolate Lava Cake E. Frozen Yogurt
2. If you were a superhero, what powers would you have? A. Laser eyes B. Invisibility C. Strength D. Teleportation E. Time travel 3. Choose an animal: A. German shepherd B. Dolphins C. Lions D. Elephants E. Cheetah 4. Pick a color: A. Red B. Blue C. Black D. Teal E. Green
5. Choose a pastime: A. Fishing B. Spending time with family C. Guitar D. Napping E. Reading
7. Pick a title to read:
A
B
A
B
E D
C C
8. Favorite drink? A. Iced tea B. Flavored sparkling water C. Hazelnut latte D. Iced coffee with some vanilla and half-and-half E. Hot coffee
D
E
9. Which of these is the best sport? A. Baseball B. Basketball C. Boxing D. Soccer E. Swimming
If you got mostly A’s: You’re Mr. Doom! You speak your mind and are open to discussion, as well as full of stories and adventures to share. If you got mostly B’s: You’re Mrs. Vartanian! You are very family-oriented and considerate of others.
If you got mostly C’s: You’re Mr. Pruitt! You can finesse your way out of every situation, and are known for your athletic skills.
If you got mostly D’s: You’re Mrs. Tatevosian! Your organization skills are on point and you make sure things get done, and that they get done right.
8 • The Magnet
If you got mostly E’s: You’re Ms. Sajjadieh! People admire you for your resilience trying to succeed, and you are very careful with your work.
Sophomore
Sophomores give speeches about objects close to home Alex Ananian I remember how nervous I was, but it was worth it because I was very excited. I made flash cards to remember what to say and to make sure I won’t forget important details. I would repeat my speech and practice in front of friends. Having many facts about the object itself is really important when presenting the object. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Davis helped by giving examples.
Kevin Ghookas My object was a backgammon board. It was passed down from my great grandfather to me. Each generation, we teach each other how to play the game. The object speech project was very boring and stressful. I wasn’t good at presenting back then, so I got a C. Ani Boodaghian My object was a gold hair band that looks like a crown. The hair band expands to accommodate hair thickness. The object speech allowed me to express something personal. The hair band belonged to my great grandmother and it was passed down from generations. Presenting my object helped me because it taught me how to speak eloquently.
Ani Boodaghian shows her gold hair band.
Interviews by Alexandra Der Boghosian
Shant Atamian I expected the object speech to just be another essay assignment, but it helped me know more about my culture and ancestors. With presenting the note that was sent to our family, I found out that one of my family members died in a U.S. aircraft carrier. I learned about someone I didn’t know about.
Celebrating Sweet Sixteens
By Eleen Shahmoradian Parely & Preny Tatevosian: Q: Where was your sweet 16? Parely: Our sweet 16 was at Anoush Banquet Hall. Q: How long did it take to plan everything? Preny: It took about six months to plan and gather everything, along with having to agree on the small things like decorations and colors. Q: Were there any disagreements as sisters while planning? Parely: There really weren’t any disagreements because we ended up going towards the same style and theme. Preny: We also balanced out choices between each other so we both get what we liked. Q: Did you have a specific party theme? Preny: There wasn’t really a theme for our birthday but we had a scheme
which was a peach and aqua color that were the right shades to go with each other. Q: Do you have a favorite memory of the night? Preny: My favorite memory was slow-dancing with Arthur [Akhverdyan]. Parely: I enjoyed dancing with friends and family the entire night.
Preny and Parly at their Sweet Sixteen party
Angela Tsarukyan: Q: Where was your sweet 16? Angela: My sweet 16 was at Renaissance Banquet Hall. Q: What was the most difficult part of planning? Angela: I started planning for the party months in advance and the most difficult part was choosing a dress because I wanted something that I really liked, so it took a few visits to different stores to finally find the one. Q: Did everything turn out how you expected to at the party? Angela: My party went exactly as planned. Everything went smoothly and people were enjoying themselves with the music and dancing. Q: Around how many people attended your party? Angela: There were 100 people at my party. It was mostly family, but I had a table of friends too. Senior • 9
Juniors
Driving earlier than most By Carlos Rodriguez As Clark students get closer to the age of eighteen, it is common for them to begin thinking about what one’s first car should be. They are just waiting to bring their car into the student parking lot and many wish to emulate what it looked like during the Clark Auto Show where exotic cars were rampant. While some counted down the days to get their driver’s license, others had a head start and got their permit. By Carlos Rodriguez
“My first car was an Infiniti Q50. It’s fast, gets me places, and it gives me the freedom and independence that I desire” — Sevada Avartzarian
“The permit itself was relatively easy to get as the process didn’t take too long. After obtaining my license, I practiced driving for some time and then bought an Infiniti Q50.” — David Achemian
Sevada Avartzarian
“I got a Mercedes for my first car. While I drove every day at the beginning, I don’t drive anymore as I’ve come to find that I don’t really don’t like driving and would rather be driven than drive myself.” — Charlette Bonyadi
By Carlos Rodriguez
“I learned to drive at the DMV located in Glendale, and my instructor was Armenian which I know helped immensely.” — Artin Khatchadourian “I look for speed, comfort, looks and style in a car, which is why I bought a Dodge Charger to drive.” — Mayis Garipian
Mayis Garipian
10 • The Magnet
By Carlos Rodriguez
By Carlos Rodriguez
By Carlos Rodriguez
David Achemian
Artin Khatchadourian
Charlette Bonyadi
Juniors
By Chronicle Staff
Seniors’ last chance to dance
Clark students dance their hearts out at the Monte Carlo Formal.
Principal Lena Kortoshian deals cards for high stakes at the poker table.
By Reed Maryuama Winter Formal, a night of loud music, greasy pizza, and many memories. This year’s Monte Carlo themed dance was the last Clark formal for many seniors. “I’m gonna miss having the chance to spend time with friends and classmates,” Gabriella Solakian said. “The dance is when we get to have fun together and take a break from stressful school work.” The formal is a way to get out, have fun and support the junior class through raising enough money through the polaroid pictures and, of course, the tickets.” Throughout the seniors’ years as Panthers, Clark held the Great Gatsby Formal and the Monte Carlo Formal. Each
By Carlos Rodriguez
Gurgen Kazaryan examines his hand.
of these nights was a totally different experience, but most seniors agree that the last one was the best. “The DJ was so much better than last time,” Solakian said. “It was fun and exciting, posing for silly pictures and laughing with friends. There were a lot more activities to participate in.” The last formal is always a sentimental one, with people bringing dates or just dancing with a group of friends. With tables filled with card games and a photo backdrop outside, the formal was packed with things to do, people to see and food to eat. “I really liked the activities and the playful gambling,” Alex Fenyes said. “This was my first and last formal and I really enjoyed it.”
The DJ rocks the party with the best millennial music.
Senior • 11
Juniors
The Advanced Placement program gives students in high school the opportunity to learn college-level material and take correspondingly difficult tests. Many attending Clark Magnet High School take Advanced Placement courses, more commonly known as APs, for a variety of reasons: to boost GPA, to save money in college, or because they have a genuine interest in the subject matter. In addition to AP Statistics, Calculus AB, and U.S. Government, Arthur Hadjinian took AP Computer Science this year and plans to go into a related field in the future. “Computer science is my favorite AP class, because it’s different from all the others,” Hadjinian said. “It’s the most practical for me, as it helps give me an advantage for college applications by setting me apart from other students
“You really have to learn to pace yourself.”
who want to go into that field.” While AP courses offer a lot of college-related benefits to students, there are other aspects of the classes that students are able to enjoy. “Mr. Pruitt makes AP Lang fun, and the topics we talk about have been piquing my personal interest,” Albert Hernandez said. “In AP classes, the in-class discussions and types of projects are interesting. They aren’t really the generic or boring types of projects we sometimes see in other classes.” Some parts of AP classes can be fun, but these classes are not without challenges. “The coursework is more dense and detailed, but it’s worth it in the end. When you look back at the end of the year, it’s validating to see how much you’ve learned and how far you’ve
12 • The Magnet
come,” said Sioret Nersesian, who is taking AP Government and Language. In addition to the nature of the work, timing can be an issue for AP courses as well as regular ones. “You really have to learn how to pace yourself, because there’s so much to do in so little time,” Hernandez said. “AP classes are overall more challenging, but they helped me improve my work ethic and time management skills.” The time commitment demanded by most AP classes can add additional burdens to the already heavy workload seniors endure, but also prepares students for the expectations of a college environment. “Studying for tests in these classes makes us more prepared for college, because in college we have to be more independent and study on our own,” said Martin Markarian. Although the thought of taking AP classes can be daunting to any underclassmen who haven’t taken one before, there are many pros to completing an AP class. “I wish I had taken as many as I could, because they’re not too different from other classes and its boost your GPA,” Hadjinian said. To students apprehensive about taking APs, Hadjinian advised, “You just have to be responsible and take as many APs as you can — if you want the challenge and a different classroom environment.”
Bubbling is a big part of the AP exam.
By Theodore Supangan
By Sangam Sharma
Via Vemeo
Advanced Placement courses help students place ahead
Clark students study hard for the AP exam.
Juniors
Junior expectations vs. the senior reality
Via Wikipedia Commons
Expectations
Clark’s Senior Project was on many seniors’ minds
“My expectation was that I would not have any homework and that it would not be as stressful since there isn’t as many classes.”
“The reality of having less teachers is that it’s more stressful, since they give more homework than the past years’ did.”
“My expectation is that I would have more freedom since I’ll be driving myself to school and I wouldn’t have to wake up as early to catch the bus.”
“The reality is that now I have to wake up early to make sure I don’t get caught in traffic and so that I’m not late to class.”
”My expectation was that applying would be easy and the applications would be quick to fill out. I also thought that I would have enough time to fill complete them.”
“The reality is the opposite. It was difficult and very stressful to fill out.”
“The way the senior project was described to me as a junior made me think that it was going to be very difficult and my expectation was that I would not be able to finish.”
“My expectation is that the teachers would be more lenient since it’s our last year and because we don’t have much to prepare for.” Via Wikipedia Commons
Reality
“The reality was that it did take some time, but it was not as bad as I thought. Even though I still struggled to make it perfect, it was a great experience.”
“The reality is that the teachers expect more from us since it is our last year. They ask us for more. but in some cases the work isn’t very difficult.”
Interviewed by Ani Avakian
Via Wikipedia Commons
College applications were a huge part of senior year
Getting a car is one of the hallmarks of senior year
Senior • 13
SENIOR
YEAR 2018
Senior projects allow students to project their future goals By: Ioana Ciuperca
Lara Tolmajian What? “I wrote a children’s book about an Armenian princess called Nayri. It’s about a pendant that was passed down by a goddess to the royal family, but it’s been stolen. She has to try and get it back.”
By Lara Tolmajian
Most fun part? “I had a lot of fun actually making up the story itself and putting pieces of Armenian culture in it.”
Hardest part? “Honestly, it was the writing process that was so difficult. You have a certain image in your head, but putting that on paper is a completely different thing.” What you learned from it? “When I started, I wasn’t the best writer. However, the more you commit yourself to something, the more you’ll master it.”
Jarred Lima What? “I put together a bunch of digital paintings and prints into an art book. I look up to other artists and they all have art books. One day, hopefully, people will buy my book as well. I took an ArtCenter class where we mainly painted everything — characters, creatures, props, the environment — and learned basic color theory.”
By Jarred Lima
Most fun part? “Spending time on your own figuring stuff out is a lot of fun. When you see something that was in your head, on paper, you get really hyped.”
16 • The Magnet
Hardest part? “The hardest part of the process is when things don’t go your way and you get really frustrated, especially during art blocks because you just don’t want to continue working.” What you learned from it? “I learned the importance of keeping a professional email correspondence with your mentor and maintaining a stable relationship. You need to keep in touch; don’t lose contact.”
By Senior Airman John D. Strong II
Bradly Villanueva What? “For my senior project, I learned how to play the piano.”
Most fun part? “If you really like a song, you can find and learn the piano version of it, which is a really fun process.”
Hardest part? “The hardest part was learning my final piece: ‘Blue Bird.’ It took over a month to master, and I started wishing that I had chosen a different topic for my senior project.” What you learned from it? “I learned how to be more time efficient, which I can also apply to any other future projects.”
Melanis Panosian
By Melani Panosian
What? “I learned how to draw and paint a face with its proper structure. It was my first time learning how to properly draw and all the technicalities that accompany it.” Most fun part? “The most fun part was when I actually did it right and accomplished my goal. It looks really good now, which is all thanks to my mentor.”
Hardest part? “The thing I struggled with the most was the time and deadline. The finished product would look better if I had a little more time.” What you learned from it? “I learned that I can incorporate art into my future career path because I like it a lot now.”
Areil Hovsepian What? “I did two oil paintings: one landscape, another a figure drawing. Both of them took me a total of 50 hours to complete.”
By Areil Hovsepian
Most fun part? “I don’t think there was any specific part that I found fun; the entire process was really fun. I especially enjoyed the landscape painting, as it was a new approach for me.” Hardest part? “The drawing time was the hardest part. I was too critical of my work and I always strive for optimum results, but I didn’t have enough time to do so.” What you learned from it? “I learned to accept new challenges as, before this, I held myself back from working with new mediums in art.
Senior • 17
Disney Day Seniors take a trip to the happiest place on Earth By: Naira Shahbandarian This year Clark seniors were given the opportunity to attend the first ever Disney Day where they spent an entire day at Disneyland. Since it was the first Disneyland trip, there was a lot of work that had to be done to make it happen. “I did my own research at home regarding it being a Grad Nite in the first place. I talked to the advisors and administration and they said we can’t do a Grad Nite, so we turned it into a day trip. I made mock permission and information slips. Administration also required us to be home at 11 p.m.,” said ASB President Lara Khanjian. “After that we were good to go. They were really open to us doing it. We just had to push for it.”
“I wanted to go on the trip because I thought it would be a nice way to commemorate senior year with some of my friends. My favorite moment on the trip was when we all rearranged ourselves in line so we could race on Autopia.” — Benjamin Satzman
“I decided to go on the Disneyland trip to spend quality time with my friends and to create new memories since our journey as seniors has come to a near end. My favorite moment of the trip was riding Space Mountain.” — Nicholetta Sarkissian 18 • Senior
“I went on the trip, because I’m leaving Clark this year and the trip was a good chance to bond with other students. I’d been hoping that we would go to Disneyland since junior year, so I was very excited for this trip. My favorite part was when I sat on Small World.” — Paniz Jazirian
“This was my first time going to Disneyland, and I was able to experience it with my friends, so it made the trip more magical. It was great since we were all together and we weren’t thinking of college deadlines and being separated from each other. We were just being us.” — Eric Khachian
Island Fun Seniors soak in the sun in Catalina By: Ani Sarkisyan
“The boat ride to and from the island was the most memorable part of the trip. I was able to connect with my friends as well as new people.” —Trinity Sneed
I loved spending time with the senior class. My favorite part of the trip was when we got to mini golf for free. It was my first time playing, so I wasn’t good at it, but it was a great opportunity to laugh with my friends. — Mareen Kassabian
Seniors got the chance to eat great food with their friends on the island.
“The Catalina trip was a great opportunity for me to appreciate and cherish the things and people around me, and to always be grateful for everything, tangible and intangible.” — Ella Aghababyan
“The best part of the Catalina Island trip was the obstacle course we did on the beach. It was really fun to see the senior class having fun and swimming under the sun.” — Anahid Karapetyan
The boat ride to and from the island was the most memorable part of the trip. I was able to connect with my friends as well as new people. —Seranush Hovhannisyan
Senior • 19
Senior
Promposals
Popping the question the right way for the big day
By Mariam Panikyan
Interviews by Rafael Aroustamian
“It was on my 18th birthday party. My friends and I made a sign with flowers that said ‘Prom.’ I was nervous, but I’m glad it went well, and that she was surprised. Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you can’t miss it.” — Vacheh Hatamian Asked Emily Hovsepian 20 • Senior
“I made a plan to show up in [Mrs.] Guarino’s class and play music. I got all of my friends to help with it. I showed up with a speaker playing Armenian wedding music and a lot of flowers! I was pretty nervous but everything went very smoothly and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” — Karine Asatryan Asked by Alen Zohrabyan
By Vache Hatamian
By Sylvie Damargi
By Isabella Hakopian
“My friends took me out for a surprise ride. They wouldn’t tell me where they were going, so I was pretty confused.They took me to a nice view and blindfolded me. They removed the blindfold and Alex stood there with a sign that said ‘Let’s overdose on Takis at Prom.’ It was very unexpected and I was very surprised.” — Isabella Hakopian Asked by Alex Saakyan
“After class, my friend surprised me and blindfolded me. Even though I was pretty scared, I kind of knew what was happening. They took me to the bottom of the amphitheatre. They took off the blindfold and Sevak gave me a really nice card and a bouquet of flowers in a shape of a heart. I warned him in advance that if he didn’t have a good promposal idea, I wasn’t going to say yes. But he did really well!” — Mariam Panikyan Asked by Sevak Kazaryan
Senior
Preparing for an ‘Enchanted Night’ One dance to rule them all By Isabela Lacsina
Preparing for prom is time consuming ... not to mention costly. Guys and girls alike spend upwards of $919 just for one “enchanted night,” according a Fortune Magazine survey in 2015. Whether one is going solo or with a date, one has to spend a lot of money trying to make the most unforgettable night magical. From the makeup to the ticket, hundreds of dollars are put into this one night. “I have spent so much time picking out the perfect dress and have spent so much money on it,” said Tiana Hovsepians. “It is wall worth it though…this night is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” This year’s prom was held at NOOR in Pasadena. With the red carpet entrance, seniors were welcomed into the event with grandeur and extravagance. ASB senior officers picked the venue a year prior and spent the rest of the year planning the prom. “I wanted something new and different for our class as opposed to the usual,” said senior Sofia Yeremian. “I loved how classy it was and the name of the ballroom we would be in is Sofia. I loved the coincidence!”
THE COST OF PROM $135- $185 00
$100- $4
PROMGIRL
TICKET
$20-$250
DEPENDING ON LOCATION
$200-$500 DEPENDING ON STYLE AND SIZE
$10-$35
DEPENDING ON FLOWER TYPE
By NOOR Pasadena
By NOOR Pasadena
By NOOR Pasadena
By NOOR Pasadena
Senior • 21
Looking Forward
Preparing for Life After High School Getting ready to go to college... or not
By Mikayel Sughyan
Leon: Coming into high school, I focused on studying. I didn’t have any idea about college or what I was going to do after high school. Late freshman year, I started really getting into fitness and losing weight. I guess that was the first time I did something related to fitness or the military. Arapi in freshman year Ani: Berkeley was my dream school since the third grade. I had been planning on what to do throughout high school to achieve that goal. Entering freshman year, the whole “college talk” began feeling surreal to me — I am now in high school; my future really is in my hands. That responsibility scared me, but I still worked hard, doing my best to achieve in every class and maintain membership in multiple clubs and extracurriculars. 24 • The Magnet
SOPHOMORE YEAR Leon: I was pretty much the same sophomore year: still studyng, trying to decide what I wanted to do after high school, and continuing to focus on fitness.
Ani: Sophomore year, I found myself working even harder than the year before. I would come to school every day and go straight to homework, not leaving any of my work to the last minute. Despite my hard work, I didn’t feel intelligent. I didn’t feel like I would belong in Berkeley. I felt that there were students around me who were much smarter and much more deserving than me. I would still search up articles about Berkeley and watch videos of students, though.
Mkrtchyan touring Berkeley’s campus
JUNIOR YEAR
Leon: I never really considered the military until junior year when I was approached by a recruiter. I wanted to enlist because of my stepdad, who was a Lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, and also because multiple friends of mine were also enlisting.
Ani: Junior year, I was both nervous and hopeful about college. I felt confident that I would have a good shot into Berkeley. I visited Berkeley’s campus and didn’t really like it or the environment. I then went Mkrtchyan visiting Berkeley to UC Santa Barbara’s campus and loved it. I mean, it’s right on the beach, the environment was fun and relaxing, the students weren’t anywhere near to the pretentious students I met in Berkeley. I decided that I would apply for it as my second choice. I still prioritized Berkeley.
By Gevork Mkrtchyan
FRESHMAN YEAR
Ani Mkrtchyan
By Gevork Mkrtchyan
Leon Arapi
SENIOR YEAR FALL
By Gevork Mkrtchyan
Ani: Then senior year rolled along, and I had high hopes in the first semester. I was thinking about Berkeley every second. I applied for Berkeley and Santa Barbara, with Irvine and Santa Cruz as my safety schools. The application process was stressful. I felt confident in myself all these years until I finished my application. I thought to myself “what if I’m not good enough,” “what if what I did isn’t enough,” “what if my extracurriculars are too little.” The only confidence I had was in my personal insight questions and GPA. At the time of applying, I had a 4.3 high school GPA and was among the top 9% of the seniors. In fact, I was in the top ten students. Yet time and time again, I felt like I was nothing compared to the other top students.
By Mikayel Sughyan
Leon: In the fall of senior year, a Navy recruiter told me about their officer program. You begin this program after you already have a degree in whatever you want. Once you graduate from college and have a degree, you enlist. This allows you to start out as a higher rank, which would not be possible if I enlisted right after high school. If you are in this program, they also pay for your college expenses, which is a great benefit to enlisting. I was really interested in this program and thought it would be a good fit for me. I still did not know what I wanted to study in college, though, and was considering different subjects. I also continued working out at the gym and getting into shape.
Mkrtchyan visiting a classroom at UC Santa Barbara
Arapi working out at the gym
WINTER/SPRING
By Mikayel Sughyan
Arapi heading to LA Fitness
Ani: My unconfidence grew in 2018. Berkeley invited me to send letters of recommendation, and I stressed out because they only select a small group of students to do so. By the next month, I found myself gradually gravitating towards Santa Barbara and gaining a mild distaste for Berkeley. Why did I even want Berkeley? What difference does it make for me, a declared English major, to go to Berkeley or Santa Barbara? By the beginning of March, I made my decision. If I get into Berkeley, I will reject it and go to Santa Barbara instead. I ended up receiving a rejection letter from Berkeley, and I felt more relieved than disappointed. I can say now that I am a little sad that I spent so many years reaching for a school that I ended up not wanting, as I overworked myself just to earn that acceptance letter (and I didn’t even get it). Now, I already accepted Santa Barbara and applied for housing. I am beyond giddy UC Santa Barbara and excited to graduate and attend university, but I am well aware that I will have to face struggles with adjustment and classes. I cannot wait to move out of my comfort bubble and experience a new chapter in my life.
By Flickr
Leon: In the winter, I finally decided that I wanted to major in psychology. I am planning on getting a four-year degree then enlisting as a psychologist in the Navy and finishing my studies there. I will be going to Glendale Community College for the first two years of my college education, then transferring to another university. I am not sure what university I will want to attend after Glendale Community College, but I know that I still have time to figure that out. I am excited about graduating high school and beginning the rest of my life and career. In the near future, as soon as I turn 18, I will also become a paid fitness trainer at LA Fitness. I am thrilled to have this opportunity and use my own fitness development to help others in my new job.
Senior • 25
Congratulations, Class of 2018! I am very happy to share the excitement of your graduation, and I am very proud of your accomplishments. Well done! I want you to know that every single one of you has a special space in my heart and I will cherish the memories that we have created together during these past four years. Remember never to stop learning and achieving. The future holds many surprises and challenges for you and I am confident that you will successfully overcome them and you will achieve your set goals. I believe in you! You can do it! Winston Churchill said, “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” So, no matter what, never lose your enthusiasm to learn and to achieve. I wish you all the best and may all your dreams be fulfilled. Congratulations again, With love and pride today and always,
Mrs. Karine Turdjian, your high school counselor Dear Seniors (Who Had the Davises for Humanities), Congratulations! Mr. Davis and I are so proud of you all! It seems long ago that we were passing out pens to you at the end of the 2016 school year. We’ve still managed to see many of you in the halls; one of the wonderful things about Clark is that its size still affords us the opportunity of seeing you and saying the occasional “hello” as you rushed to classes on the 1300 floor. A fond memory with your class was that we got to see He Named Me Malala about Malala Yousafza at the AMC Theater in Burbank through Donors Choose. While I was a bit nervous turning you all loose to get lunch in the area near the theater, you were all wonderful. Not only were you an attentive audience for the film, but many of you donated used clothing to help raise money for the Malala Foundation. You inspired us with your dedication to this cause. I have other fond memories: your speeches, newspaper InDesign projects, class novel discussions, IR and Cold War essays, Article of the Week discussions, and, everyone’s favorite, DOL! I know you felt challenged during your time with us. Indeed, we had high expectations -- as we should as teachers, and you rose to meet them (sometimes with some grumbling). Your world is a different one from the one in which I grew up, largely due to technology. You exist in a time where you can no longer trust what you read or even what you see. You are often “connected” to some device. My advice? Disconnect at times, discover credible news beyond your Newsfeed, challenge and verify information, listen to the sounds around you, talk face-to-face with those you love, get fresh air and make time for exercise. Congratulations, Class of 2018! Live long and prosper, Mrs. Davis (along with the Mr.) 26 • Senior
Dear Class of 2018, I am glad to have the chance to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions you have made to our school’s achievements. Among you are some of the best students, sharpest minds and hardest workers I have ever encountered. Also among you are some who have yet to recognize the value of your own gifts. I hope that changes soon. The world after high school will be increasingly challenging for each of you and you will have to be courageous enough to meet those challenges. C.S. Lewis once wrote that courage “is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” The only thing you can be sure of for the rest of your lives is that you will be tested. I am hopeful that you will be courageous. Affectionately, Fred Blattner
Dear Class of 2018, My dear seniors - Clark will not seem the same for me once you graduate. Some of you I first met when you were little freshmen and now I see you on campus so tall and grown up looking — it makes me smile. A few of you I’ve had in a class each of the four years and I appreciate the encouraging words and smiles you have contributed to my life during those years. Some of you managed to avoid being in one of my classes until this year, and it has been fun for me to have this last chance to work with you. You have made this first year of teaching AP Chemistry here very challenging and very interesting and overall very satisfying. I thank you for your input and patience and hope those of you who have worked your hardest will earn results commensurate with your efforts. I hope that high school will be a jumping off point for you all and that you will work on generating wonderful lives for yourselves. Come back and share. Lots of love, Mrs. Day-Blattner P.S.Thanks to the bright quarks on the Science Bowl team. All best wishes for the future. love Mrs. D-B.
Senior
Pros and Cons of leaving Clark Looking back and looking forward Interviews by Leslie Chung
PRO: “I get to go to college, I get to be more free, and I am not restricted like I am at Clark.” — Melody Nieves
CON: “Since the school is so small, when I leave to a bigger school, the teachers will have less time to give me the attention that I need, and the possibility of having a worse teacher student relation because of it.” — Karen Shirvanyan
PRO: “The pro of leaving Clark is that you finally begin your journey in life. You don’t have to be in the block schedule anymore and take normal classes.” — Hakob Seyranov
CON: “I’m going to miss the block schedule and having the dress code which represents our school in a formal way.” — Rosalinda Villa Parra
PRO: “I can finally use all the knowledge that I gained from here so that I can use it to help me for the future.” — Melineh Ohanian
CON: “The environment here; you don’t get to see many other professional engineering labs, such caring teachers, and many other facilities. So just in general, really great staff and nice administration is hard to find in other places.” — Daniel Solakian
Senior Issue • 27
Lilit Krkasharian Ani Sarkisyan
Trisha Mae Gomez
Sophia Gonzales
Milen Mintchev
Nicholas Dane Aro Inessa Buniatyan Areil Hovsepian Patricia Cardeno Gianna Demirchyan
Anna Herrin Garen Kejejian Jarred Lima Chelsea Turcios Ania Vartanian
Paniz Jazirian
Sebastian Nunez Delgado Manuel Sardaryan Serena Torres Erika Hookasian Melanie Mesropian Sofia Yeremian
Lara Tolmajian
Albert Hernandez Jack Maruyama Mareen Kassabian Leila Manaois
Leslie Garcia
*All information has been provided by students who completed the Publications college survey or by students who gave consent to be included in this section of the magazine. These names do not ?? • TheforMagnet account the whole senior class.
Allen Khudaverdyan Damian Kim Benjamin Satzman Daniel Solakian
Jaden Florita John Mathew Lising Kasy Vasquez Sebastian Velazquez
Ani Mkrtchyan Luca Scharrer Pranav Law Ariette Reynaldo
Danila Churkin
Alexander Fenyes Vacheh Hatamian Tarkordi Courage Kim Nicholetta Sarkissian Joseph Sunbaty
David Lopez
Rosalinda Villa Parra
Meri Vardanyan Maria Hovakimyan Karin Najarian Matthew Zaldana
Aleen Abolian Adam Adamyan Adrian Aguayo
Alin Aivazian Alyssa Aldaz Derick Ambarsoomzadeh Jacqueline Armenian Cynthia Asatourian Lousine Aslanyan Alen Avunjian Matthew Baghdasarian Edward Bakchadjian Joselyn Bille Charlette Bonyadi Lynette Bonyadi Alec Danielians Leo Ebrahimian Michelle Gonzalez Nambo
Arman Hakobyan Isabella Hakopian Seranush Hovhannisyan Gevork Hovannisian Matthew Isayan Jefferson Kamdon Angela Karadolian Mary Karapetyan Evelyn Karayan Eric Khachian Nazar Makadsi Ivan Mariano Meghri Markarian Michael Melkonian Noah Mirzakhanian Sioret Nersesian
Saril Nishan Alina Pascual David Sarkisyan Marina Saroyan Richard Ser Manukyan Eric Serobyan Hakob Seyranov Gabriella Solakian Mikayel Sughyan Parely Tatevosian Erik Temourian Karine Ter-Harutyunyan Allen Terteryan Angela Tsarukyan Ivan Valdez
?? • The Magnet
30 • The Magnet
Humans of Clark
Seniors reminisce about their years at Clark By: Lois Ramilo
Jarred Lima: “My favorite part about high school
Adrian Aguayo: “One thing that I like here at
Alin Aivazian: “One thing I really enjoyed was
Ariette Reynaldo: “I really like taking my figures
was figuring out what I wanted to be. For a while, I wanted to do art. I joined animation and went to 5-6. Animation is a really good program at Clark and there, it really changed me because I had the old animation teacher, Mr. Over. It was really cool meeting him, and he made me realize what I wanted to be. Because of him, I was able to find out who I was and what I wanted to be.”
becoming a leader for my Girl Scout troop. I was in Girl Scouts for a while and I soon became a leader while I was at Clark. It was one of the first opportunities I had in leading a group of people, especially a group of girls. Those moments helping my group and going on trips together taught me some valuable life skills I’ll never forget. “
Clark, or just in general, is the environment here, the people around me. It’s something where you come in and they’re very welcoming. People are very nice. Something else that I’ve joined is baseball. The sports here in GUSD are amazing, and the people around there are great from CV, to Hoover, to the GHS people. They’re all very interactive and very warming, too. And that’s something where I’ve felt respected.”
in animation and I feel like that was the most fulfilling class I’ve had. I meet a lot of great friends there. I prefer digital art to be honest. I myself started in middle school, but I didn’t really know what I was doing. When I came into Clark’s animation class, I learned a lot about art. Because of them, I was able to find what I really wanted to do in art and what I wanted to become.”
Senior • 31
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