Students share summer activities
Palo Alto Unified School District Henry M. Gunn High School 780 Arastradero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306
Staffers give advice to incoming classes
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Jacoubowsky to lead Jordan Middle School
2015-2016 Bell Schedule
Janet Wang
Copy Editor
Former Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky has left Gunn after 14 years to become the principal at Jordan Middle School. Jacoubowsky came to Gunn in 2001 as the athletic director and dean of students. Since then, he has worked as assistant principal and head of guidance counseling. Over the past decade, Jacoubowsky has worked to strengthen relationships with students and the community. “I felt it was important for me to get out and about and see how students are doing rather than just sit in my office all day,” he said. “I made a conscious effort to get out as much as possible and I feel it is important for students to see staff during Tom Jacoubowsky good times and difficult times out and about.” Jacoubowsky said he has tried to expand the counseling program. “When I took over counseling four years ago, I worked on increasing communication to the community about what was happening at Gunn,” he said. “I feel with the new bell schedule, there will be even more opportunities for students to work with their counselors.” His most memorable moments have been simply being around staff, he says. “From an everyday standpoint, I have nothing but great memories of all the staff members I got to work with over the 14 years,” he said. “Gunn truly has a dedicated teaching staff that has consistently gone the extra mile over the years to support students both academically and emotionally.” Senior Marek Harris says he will miss Jacoubowsky’s ability to brighten anyone’s day with his sense of humor. “He always tried to tell funny jokes at assemblies and events [and] never appeared stressed out, even though it is obvious that as a Gunn assistant principal your job is quite stressful,” he said. “Everyone has that favorite teacher at school that they feel they can talk to. Mr. J was that person for a lot of students.” Harris believes that Jacoubowsky’s care and compassion positively influenced the school. “During brunch and lunch he would often stand out by the quad and talk to students to get a feel for how everyone is getting along at school,” he said. “The fact was that a lot of times you could contact Mr. J outside of school hours if need be, showing everyone just how devoted he was to making sure everything at the school ran smoothly.” For Jacoubowsky, Gunn’s supportive and united community is something he will miss. “Gunn has really shaped me as an educator and the experiences I have had, the students I have taught and helped and the staff I have worked with will be something I will always remember and treasure,” he said. “[I] feel that I was incredibly fortunate to be a Titan and there will be a part of me that always will be.” However, Jacoubowsky is excited for a change and new opportunities that Jordan offers. “It was my desire to become a principal and in the past four years I have gravitated towards the possibility of working in a middle school,” he said. “This is going to be a great opportunity for me to grow professionally and also work to help support students at an earlier age.”
Courtesy of Gunn website
Assistant principals in instruction, climate join staff
education, and is looking forward to Miriam Stevenson experience a new school environment. Miriam Stevenson, assistant princi“I don’t know the area that well yet, but pal for school climate, has also worked As the 2015-2016 school year begins, so far every staff member and student I in the Bay Area for many years as a two new assistant principals special- have met from Gunn has been incredteacher, school counizing in instruction and school climate ibly nice and helpful,” Ballard said. selor, teacher coach will be using their positions to enhance Ballard’s responsibilities and professional the Gunn experience for students and include evaluating teachers developer. At faculty alike. in science and math coursGunn, StePrincipal Dr. Denise Herrmann es as well as Career Tech venson will believes that having new administra- Education and overseeing be overseetion this year will open up positive the rollout of professional ing student opportunities for Gunn, especially to learning communities. One behavior effectively carry out school improve- of his goals, for example, is and attenment plan created during the to have more cold a nc e , e xWestern Association of laborative work tracurricular Schools and Colleges and commuprograms and process last year. nication occurv a r iou s c l i“New team memring between Courtesy of Miriam Stevenson mate and culbers bring fresh teachers. ture issues. ideas and new “I will be workStevenson plans to equip students perspectives and ing with teach- with self-awareness and tools for achievrequire existing ers to help them ing success after high school, which she team members to learn how to hopes will positively impact the Gunn to clearly articuwork toget her community as a whole. “My primary late our mission, in teams to teach goal for this year is to learn as much as I vision, values and their classes and can about Gunn’s community,” she said. goals,” she said. use each other as re- “I want to get to know students, staff and sources,” he said, “and community members and learn about encourage faculty to look their various experiences.” Kathleen Xue at student assessments and Jack Ballard Stevenson and Ballard are looking Jack Ballard, the new assistant information together rather than forward to joining Gunn and getting principal for instruction, began work- keeping every teacher isolated and in to know students as the school year ing at Gunn in July. Ballard has lived their own classroom.” progresses. “Gunn is appealing to me in the Bay Area for several years, and To begin setting more specific goals, because it is a part of a community that has worked as an English teacher, year- Ballard will be pursuing what he calls is invested in education,” Stevenson said. book adviser, department chair and a “collection of evidence and informa- “I value that the Gunn community is instructional aid, advising teachers on tion,” in which he plans to meet students committed to working together and is classroom pedagogy and curriculum. and teachers, observe classes and roam engaged in focused efforts to continuIn his first year in Palo Alto, Ballard around campus to become more famil- ously improve upon an already amazing is hoping to further fuel his passion for iar with Gunn culture. school.” Shagun Khare
Sports Editor
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THEORACLE
THEORACLE 780 Arastradero Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 354-8238 www.gunnoracle.com
First Day of School Issue
Gunn students travel the world
Sprinter competes in Parapan Am games Elinor Aspegren
and this year,” she said. “Also this year, I went to the Netherlands to compete in Junior Worlds.” While Watt valued the feeling of victory, she also attended the Games for the experience. “I’m just so excited to make the team,” Watt said, “Just [being] able to go is such an accomplishment to me.” Despite her excitement, Watt recognized that there were challenges. “I just wanted to try to stay calm, because I get pretty nervous before I run,” she said. Moreover, according to Watt, the level of competition at the Parapan Am games differed from that of other tournaments. “The pool of athletes has been a lot smaller and less competitive in my Paralympic experiences, but I am expecting a lot of great athletes in the games,” she said.
News Editor
Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Shawna Chen Managing Editors Arjun Sahdev Kathleen Xue News Elinor Aspegren Matt Hamilton Ariel Pan Forum Kush Dubey Ryeri Lim Katie Russell Features Lisa Hao Prachi Kale Yuki Klotz-Burwell Centerfold Stina Chang Michael Chen Sports Shagun Khare Hayley Krolik Lena Ye Lifestyle Jenna Marvet Naina Murthy Barrett Zhang Photo Editor Alexandra Ting Graphics Editor Elizabeth Zu
Staff Business/Circulation Tim Sun Assistant Business/Circulation Helen Nguyen Copy Emma Chiao Deiana Hristov Janet Wang Oracle/TBN Liaison Anyi Cheng
Most visit Canada for the outdoors or the bacon, but senior Amy Watt experienced a whole new part of Toronto: the Parapan American (Parapan Am) Games. Watt spent the last half of her summer—Aug. 9 to 16—competing in the Paralympic championships in track and field. Although she usually competes in sprints and long jumps, Watt sprinted the 100 and 200 meter dash for the Parapan Am games. This is not Watt’s first time competing outside of school. “I went to Junior Nationals last year
Senior preserves Micronesia’s coral reefs Yuki Klotz-Burwell
on assisting youth in preserving reefs. The group consisted of four college students and five scien tists, with two groups: science and youth. Batties This summer, senior Lucas Batties visited Mi- was part of the youth team which specialized in cronesia with Bluecology, a nonprofit that focuses helping local youth interact with coral reefs. Bluecology science team volunteers had visited the atoll before, but did not have the direct interaction with the local children until this summer. “The science team had been there a number of years before, but had difficulty connecting with the youth,” Batties said. The team also Courtesy of Lucas Batties worked with the local Senior Lucas Bat ties groups up with his Micronesian girls, who previously Bluecology team before getting to work on his research. Features Editor
did not have the opportunity to explore and learn about the nearby atoll. Batties taught the girls how to swim around the reefs while collecting data. “This also meant that we had to teach the girls how to swim with fins and snorkel,” he said. The group researched the effects of a typhoon that had hit earlier that year and caused significant damage on both land and sea. Batties and his team focused their attention on how they could help the community adjust. In addition to gaining a further understanding about the Micronesian environment and coral reefs, Batties got insight into how societies work together after tragedies. “I learned how it is for a community to stay together and support one another in a crisis,” he said.
Equestrian vaulter competes in Junior Worlds Grace Ding
Tech Editor
Senior Michelle Guo competed at the 2015 World Vaulting Championship for Juniors, the first of its kind, from Aug. 5-9 in Ermelo, Netherlands. Guo describes equestrian vaulting, or simply vaulting, as gymnastics and dance atop a moving horse. With a total of 22 nations being represented, Guo placed seventh in the individual division out of 37 females and first in the Pas de Deux event, with her teammate Bodhi Hall, out of 11 pairs. Guo qualified to represent the US vaulting team by achieving high scores from four Selection Trials and one international competition previously in this year. Guo regularly practices over 12 hours a week with the Mt. Eden Vaulting Club, located at Garrod Farms in Saratoga. Head coach of the club, Emma
Seely, is Guo’s main coach for technique and composition. “Michelle always steps up to the challenge and trains on her own when she’s not at an actual vaulting practice,” Seely wrote in an email. While training in Ermelo for the Pas de Deux event, Guo had to work around her back injury and her teammate’s elbow injury. “Instead of throwing our hardest moves in warmup, we used the time to relax into the horse’s motion and to remember to trust what we’ve been doing the whole year,” she wrote. Guo’s biggest takeaway from this Junior World Championship is the importance of passion. “In [Hall’s] and my case, we didn’t have as much time, we threw together homemade uniforms, and our first Selection Trials were not the greatest beginning,” she wrote. “But we knew what we wanted, and that was to prove our worth—the rest followed easily.”
Courtesy of Michelle Guo
Senior Michelle Guo performs a jump and a backflip for her routine.
Sophomores form relationships with Nicaraguans Deiana Hristov Copy Editor
Oracle/SEC Liaison Shannon Yang Photographers Josh Spain Tech Editors Sabrina Chen Grace Ding Adviser Kristy Blackburn
Courtesy of Amy Watt
Senior Amy Watt stands with her teammate and coach after a race.
Courtesy of Emily Milner
Sophomore Emily Milner poses with a Nicaraguan youth.
When most people are picking a summer destination spot, they contemplate places like Paris or Rome—but not sophomores Mollie Sampson and Emily Milner. Over the summer, Sampson and Milner traveled to Jinotepe, Nicaragua with Arms of Love, a Christian organization dedicated to helping mistreated and neglected children around the world. They spent 10 days with these youth, building sidewalks and shelters and assisting teachers with school lessons. “We led devotionals every [weeknight] and got to know the kids,” Sampson said. “We also got to hear what they want to do in the future.”
For Sampson, the journey made her think about what society currently values compared to what really matters. “The kids down there showed me how much material things don’t matter, and how much more important people and relationships are,” she said. “Even though they were in such tough situations they still had so much real joy that I don’t see up here as much and I think it’s because people here are so centered around what they have materially and not what they have like in their real identities.” Milner also said the trip transformed her everyday mindset. “Going to Nicaragua really made me think about how these people who only make around five dollars a week and live in a one-room shack that was falling apart were genuinely happy with what they had and really valued their relationships with people,” she said.
First Day of School Issue
during their summer breaks
Gunn TSA TEAMS win third place in Dallas Shannon Yang Oracle/SEC Liaison
On June 28, 15 students won third place in the presentation section of the Technology Student Association’s (TSA) “Best in Nation” Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) competition in Dallas, Texas. Charged with finding better methods of fuel for society, participants researched this year’s competition topic, “The Power of Engineering.” Gu nn’s tea ms worked to power Hughesville, a fake town near Salt Lake City destroyed by natural disaster. “You were tasked to come up with a redevelopment proposal for a damaged town and try to use renewable energy resources,” senior Brian Hill said. Gunn’s TSA TEAMS were organized by the Research Science and Invention Club (RSI), according to junior public relations officer and participant Ethan Kau. “Our teams decided to use a mix of geothermic plant and LSO thermal panels as a temporary solution,” he said. “We believe that that is the most environmentally safe and cost-effective solution.” The team presented its proposal to a panel of judges. In addition, students par-
ticipated in problem-solving and writing sections. “It was definitely a hard feat, but I felt pretty confident in our teams from all the work we put in,” Kau said. Hill attributes the team’s success to its unique methods. “Our approach to the problem was different,” he said. “Everyone researched a different renewable energy source and then after we did all that research, we kind of put it together and tried to see—looking at all the options—which one would actually be best, which one would actually be cheapest and most viable.” Hill said that they tried to avoid a cliché solution. “We wanted to make sure that it was unique, make sure it wasn’t something that everyone else would be doing,” he said. “I feel like the most easy way out would be, ‘oh, just build wind turbines and solar power,’ but we suggested partnering with a solar company to get solar panels for free.” The teams started working promptly after school ended, often holding online meetings or grouping together in person for discussions and brainstorming
Courtesy of Gunn TSA TEAMS
The Gunn TSA TEAMS Team celebrates its third-place win with its trophy.
sessions. “We worked rea lly hard and we worked well together,” Kau said. “We put a lot of effort into our extensive research. Most of our meetings together were focused on research, creating our presentation and writing essays. We took time to discuss physics, address problem-solving topics and we also did a couple building experiments.” Hill, who helped lead the grade 11/12 team, saw the competition as a learning experience. “I think I got a lot better at making presentations, just in general, and learning how to work together.” Senior Gloria Pan said that TSA TEAMS is not just about competing for a trophy or a placement. “A big component of it is learning about the different aspects of engineering as well as getting to know people from across the country and growing closer with your team,” she said. Another valuable aspect of the competition was its difference from a traditional exam. “I like the idea of working with team members that isn’t multiple choice or on a paper test,” Kau said. Despite Gunn’s victory this year, the teams went through many challenges. “I guess the biggest ones were that we needed to find the time to all meet up and do our work,” Kau said. “Also, our curriculum here doesn’t really cover alternative energy, so we had to do our research alternatively from school on our own.” However, Gunn had an advantage because the two teams were experienced and able to work closely. “I think right now we have a foot ahead of the other teams since even though we’ve only done it for a few years, we’re still the veterans because it’s mostly teams that are doing it for the first time so we were able to use what we learned last year,” Hill said. Kau expressed high hopes for Gunn’s future in the competition, even though members will graduate and move on. “The herd will get smarter,” he said. “I think with more years of experience, we can get better and better.”
Teens try to create more caring community Elinor Aspegren News Editor
A group of Palo Alto teenagers are working together to create a more caring community by creating the Caring Neighbors Challenge. This challenge encourages Palo Alto citiz ens to hold events around the neighborhood and submit their photos to #caringneighborspa. According to senior and team member Larry Li, this idea was based on the 41 developmental assets, which are researchbased qualities that influence young people’s development. “These assets basically talk about what helps teenagers thrive, and one of these things is a caring neighborhood,” he said. According to the Palo Alto Developmental Assets website, youth who feel valued in their community have better mental health, a greater sense of personal Spread graphics by Elizabeth Zu
control and more optimism. A community about several events around the commuthat values youth also has reduced crime, nity. “We have gone to local block parties violence and less substance abuse. held by neighborhoods,” Li said. Sophomore team member Minki Kim, Kim, along with the rest of the group, said the team came up with the idea after hopes to inspire teen enthusiasm for the seeing the Developmental Asset survey. Palo Alto community. “I, as well as my “Our Caring Neighbors Group was created other team members, hope to make Palo because a recent survey stated that only 35 Alto’s children and teenagers feel like they percent of [Palo Alto High School] stu- are growing up in caring neighborhoods,” dents felt like they grew up in a safe and he said. friendly neighborhood, a shockingly low percentage,” he said. According to Kim, the group plays an integral role in promoting events around the neighborhood. “Our group attends neighborhood events, publicizes them and passes out flyers and brochures to educate parents and others in Palo Alto,” he said. Courtesy of the Developmental Assets website The Caring Neighbors team has written The Caring Neighbors Palo Alto Team groups
up in front of their Palo Alto headquar ters.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Staffer reflects on time in Finland
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Katie Russell People who know me probably know that I’m interested in languages, and might know that I have participated in exchange programs in three different countries over the past three summers. I have stayed with host families in Mexico, Turkey and Finland, learning the respective languages and immersing myself in the local cultures. As many of us are, I have lately been very focused on getting ready to apply to college. Everyone wants to make themselves look as impressive as possible. Even though I would have wanted to do another exchange this summer no matter what, it is obvious that the idea of looking good for colleges was present in the back of my mind when deciding how to spend my summer. I wanted to go somewhere exciting, dangerous, different and above all, impressive. Instead, the only program that I could find that fit my parameters was Finland. I expected it to be super Westernized, which seemed boring compared to Turkey and Mexico, both countries with clear cultural differences from America. However, I was still interested in Finland and I applied to the program, the Finland-US Senate Youth Exchange (FUSYE). I received my acceptance a few months later. My six weeks in Finland proved my expectations wrong. As a nation that was still part of Russia even a century ago, Finland and its culture was more similar to Eastern Europe and other Baltic states than I had anticipated. At the same time, Finland is a Nordic country like Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and shares many of the same socialistic political views and ideals. Seeing this intersection of east and west in person was incredibly eye-opening. I got to see first hand Finland’s unique culture characterized by stoic people, long winters and an intimate connection to nature, as well as its intricate language that is completely unrelated to almost any other on earth. While I was in Finland, I stayed with a host family; parents and two younger siblings. I spent my time adjusting to the slow pace of summer life on the outskirts of Helsinki, enduring dozens of mosquito bites at the traditional mökki (summer cottage) and spending many days exploring Stadi, as the locals call Helsinki, by myself or with friends. Unlike my previous exchange experiences, I had a lot of time to myself in Finland. From the outside looking in, Finnish culture seems isolating and anti-social. It was somewhat difficult for me to adjust to this difference in attitude during the first few weeks with my host family. We would take long car rides in which no one would speak or interact, and this was considered normal. However, after a few weeks in the country, I found that silence no longer bothered me at all. To me, one of the most valuable aspects of travel is how much one can learn about oneself. Living for seven weeks in Turkey in a Muslim household opened my eyes to misconceptions and beliefs—even unconscious ones—I held about the Middle East and Islam. Similarly, one of the most important lessons that I personally learned this summer was that a culture’s value cannot be determined by its similarity, or lack thereof, to one’s own culture. Before my time in Finland, I had naively assumed that it would be so Americanized that it would no longer be unique or interesting. I know now that my judgment was unfair and that every culture is of equal value. —Russell, a senior, is a Forum Editor.
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Campu
Get to know your campus Map Legend
Icons on map correspond to descriptions on sides
= Vending Machines = Bike Cages = Library = Academic Center = Guidance Office = Main Office = SAC = Spangenberg = Cafeteria *map not to scale
Library Ever yone f rom t he workswamped student to the laid-back lounger can make good use of the library. The comfortable space offers a wide variety of resources, including computers, couches, private desks and, of course, books. In addition, laptops and books can be checked out for a limited period of time. Overdue book owners are not charged a fee but will be prevented from attending graduation if the books are not turned in by the final deadline. A small outside patio called the Acorn Lounge is connected to the library. The library often serves as a place for school events such as guest speeches and Advanced Placement (AP) testing. The main librarian is Daljeet Gill with assistant librarians Rebekah Davis and Megan Garcia. Library hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and 8 am to 4:30 pm on Friday.
Academic Center The Academic Center (AC) provides students with a relaxed and supportive environment for doing homework, working with tutors and hanging out with friends. Students can easily access computers, textbooks, tables for work, a microwave, tea and other valuable resources. The AC is often filled with students, and it can be a great place for recreation and group work. The AC also offers board games for the students. Unlike the library, the AC allows students to talk while collaborating on a project. Throughout the year, the AC hosts small events such as lottery drawings that all students can participate in. The AC staff member is Pam Steward. The AC hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Guidance Office
pamphlets regarding work and volunteer openings, colleges, careers, the SAT and ACT tests, driving and options for those Anyone looking for help with schedules, coursework, interested in joining the military. The nurse’s office is located personal problems, college questions, volunteer work or job at the end of the office. The guidance counselors are Goldie opportunities can find it at the guidance office. The guidance Chan, Derek Johanson, Lisa Kraft, Challis Michael, Molly counselors give personalized advice in one-on-one sessions Baker, and Cora Ross. Registrar Tracy Douglas, Work Experithat provide students with helpful information about vari- ence Coordinator Meri Gyves, College Pathways Counselor ous educational opportunities. Those who wish for a meet- Myesha Compton and Guidance Technician Robin Franing should make prior appointments with their counselors, cesconi are also located in the guidance office. although drop-ins are permitted. Students can find various The guidance office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
us
Map
Monday, August 17, 2014
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s: the seven top hot spots SAC The Student Activities Center (SAC) functions as the home of the Student Executive Council (SEC). The SAC sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, bus passes, yearbooks and, starting the first day of school for carpoolers, parking permits. It is also the destination for ticket purchases for upcoming dances. The multi-room complex houses the Student Lounge, two ping-pong tables, an air hockey table, couches, computers, vending machines and a hot chocolate station, making the SAC a perfect place to hang out during a prep, lunch or after school. The SAC’s staff are Kim Knaack and Leslie Kousnetz and Student Activities Director Lisa Hall. SAC hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday.
Spangenberg Legend has it that a swimming pool is located on the roof of the Spangenberg Theater, even though, to this date, not a single expedition has been mounted to confirm this preposterous allegation. Along with its role in what may be Gunn’s most mysterious rumor, Spangenberg has served as the principle auditorium since 1965. Highly regarded for its wideranging versatility, the theatre functions as a site for school-wide assemblies, Advanced Placement (AP) test sign-ups, TED talks, student concerts and theatrical performances. Named after Karl R. Spangenberg, a Stanford professor of Electrical Engineering, the theatre holds a maximum house occupancy of 953 people and an onstage occupancy of 160 people; no word on how many people can fit inside the purportedly real pool.
Cafeteria
Main Office
Kathleen Xue
of school, transferring or student visitors can also be picked up at and turned in to the main office. The school principal is As intimidating as getting called to the principal’s office Denise Herrmann and assistant principals are Jack Ballad, Tara may sound, the office can provide students with information Keith, Miriam Stevenson and Heather Wheeler. Teacher boxes that can make campus life less stressful. The main office is the are located to the left of the office, so students trying in vain go-to place for general questions. Secretary Martha Elderon to physically reach their teachers can leave them notes in the will answer most inquiries, such as those concerning school appropriate box. Donations to school booster programs (e.g. hours or important dates. School visitors who wish to park sports boosters) can be dropped off at the office. their cars in the school parking lot must stop by the main of- The main office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. fice to pick up a temporary parking permit. Forms for the start Monday to Friday.
The cafeteria is home to a variety of food options that change throughout the week. Students can visit the cafeteria during brunch and lunch to pick up snacks. The lunch line is usually long but shrinks down fairly quickly. Students can buy a full meal complete with a hot or cold entree, a drink and fruit for $4.25. Those requiring financial aid can receive food for free. The cafeteria is equipped with vending machines for those who are looking for a quick bite or refreshing drink. The vending machines hold a variety of bars and chips among other snacks. The cafeteria staff are Melanie Gomez, Lisa Mahpour, Claire McCole, and Isabel Romo. The cafeteria is open during brunch and lunch hours. —Compiled by The Oracle staff
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Advice
Staff Advice: Every sophomores Stina Chang ‘17 1. Now that you’ve had experience with Homecoming, nothing should hold you back. Show that green spirit with all your might! 2. Take lots of pictures! To make the memories last forever, make an album of your sophomore year. You know what they say—a picture is worth a thousand words. 3. Be proud of the color green. Hey, at least you’re not freshman-yellow anymore. 4. Use your time wisely! Spend this year to gather your community service hours. Since you don’t have Titan 101 anymore, what better way to utilize that time than get those credits early? 5. Make friends! High school in general is such a great place to make friends that last a life time. Go ahead and talk to that adorable guy/girl sitting next to you in chemistry. 6. Don’t get stressed out on any particular class. Take classes for their educational value; your grade is only a number and what really matters is what you retain. 7. In Chemistry, ALWAYS remember to wear lab coat and goggles while performing an acid involved experiment. You don’t want to break any beakers. I learned that the hard way. 8. Ignore peer pressure. I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let peer pressure influence you. Make your own decisions because that’s what is best for you. 9. Sometimes stress comes whether you plan for it or not, so it’s okay to get emotional. Just let everything out once it comes. Next time the same situation happens again, you’ll know how to handle it. 10. Remember that everything happens for a reason. Don’t let a nasty break-up or a fight between a friend ruin what could be the best time of your life. Just relax and let everything naturally happen and I promise you, everything will turn out okay.
fre s h m en Janet Wang ‘18 1. Remember that you’re not alone. The first few weeks can be scary at a new school, but keep in mind that it’s highly likely that the person you’re sitting next to is feeling a huge mix of jumbled emotions too. 2. Get involved! Whether it’s participating in Homecoming activities or joining a club, be active in the community. 3. Upperclassmen aren’t that scary. Although they can seem intimidating, they were once walking in your shoes, so don’t be afraid to talk to them or ask for help. 4. Show class pride! Yes, you’re yellow, but so what?! Don’t let that stop you from going crazy and all-out during Homecoming week. 5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your first year and things can get confusing in class and on campus. 6. Time management is vital. I’m a procrastinator, so when it came time for finals, I was scurrying until the last minute to get studying in. It easier said than done, but try to plan your assignments and get things done as soon as possible. 7. Prioritize. Yes, the workload increases quite a bit from middle school. I learned this the hard way when I put hanging out with friends before my school work, and I found myself completely stressed out and overwhelmed. 8. Meet people! Freshman year is a great time to meet new friends since everyone is in a new environment. Don’t hesitate to branch out from your middle school friends. 9. Have a support group. It’s important to have people who stick with you through thick and thin. 10. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Nobody’s perfect. Remember that everyone goes through the transition from middle to high school. Relax and breathe because no matter what, everything will be okay.
Advice
Monday, August 17, 2015
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thing will be okay JUNIORS
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5. Kathleen Xue ‘16 1. Start looking into what you’re interested in. Whether it be art, music or physics, find that one hobby of yours and spend more time on it—see if it’s really a good fit for you. This may seem counterintuitive as everyone says you should be focusing on academics, but at the same time you need to start thinking about where you want to be headed in the future. 2. Don’t wait until senior year to begin planning your post-high school plan. What do you want to be when you grow up? Is a four-year university necessarily your dream? Wherever you want your life to be headed after senior year, you should at least draft an inkling in the back of your mind. 3. Depending on the classes you choose, junior year tends to be more academically
Klaire Tan ‘15 1. This is your last year of high school. Process it now and not next May. By then, it’ll be too late to take advantage of the one year you have left with your fellow class of 2016. And I say class of 2016 because I don’t mean your friends but your peers. You’ll miss specific classes, teachers and fellow students. Physics with Dunbar, English with Hernandez or Econ with Lyons, just to name a few. Everyone has the one class they don’t want to say goodbye to when graduation comes around. 2. The most important thing about college essays is figuring out what you’re going to write. Even if you don’t start writing until October, start brainstorming now. Once you know what story you want to tell, the process goes a lot easier. 3. For college essays, write something meaningful to you. Don’t end up regretting your essays because you weren’t true to yourself. At the same time, remember that it’s a fine line between genius and insanity, so get a second opinion. Perhaps, you have struck gold with that essay on ducks, but check in with someone else just to make sure.
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heavy than sophomore or freshman year. Don’t let that intimidate you, though. The teachers are human beings as well, and if you ever feel overwhelmed don’t be afraid to reach out for academic support. Don’t forget about the friends around you. It’s easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of academic challenge and extracurricular load that you forget about your support group; but if you don’t even have time to spend with the people you care most about, you should rethink your priorities. Life isn’t just about that regionals trophy or that 4.0 GPA; rather, the most valuable memories come from the moments you spend with the people you love. Not only is junior year heavy in academic and extracurricular pressure, but it is also emotionally taxing as you and your peers experience hormonal swings. Around this time you may want more independence from your family (i.e. your parents), but keep in mind that they are the people who love you more than anyone else in this world. Try to maintain transparent communication with them as much as possible so that they know how to help you in times of need. Junior year is all about balance. If you have not found your balance in sophomore or freshman year, try to find it early on in junior year. Spend enough time studying, but don’t spend too much. Take time to rest and de-stress, but don’t make that your entire day. Hang out with friends, but don’t forget about school. Balance is crucial in surviving all of the crazy hurdles this year has to offer. Find the things that suck out most of your productive hours, and cut those. For me, that was social media; so I set a time limit for myself every day (it’s an app you can find easily on Chrome or in the AppStore). This helps productivity immensely, and you’ll find yourself having much more time to study, sleep or do things that genuinely bring you happiness.
SENIORS 4. Do something ridiculous second semester. Prepare for a marathon. Learn to build a car. Make a club about ducks. It seems like everything’s ending because graduation is looming, but now is the best time to start something fun and new. You have less responsibilities and fewer worries, so make the most of these very special six months. 5. Plan a senior trip. And start planning early. Rome or Japan? Friends or Family? The summer after high school graduation is one of the most carefree times you’ll experience, so make it into something worth remembering. 6. Whenever things seem to get bad, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. At the cusp of 17 and 18, you’re entering a new exciting chapter of your life with a million opportunities. New friends. New experiences. Archery. Ultimate Frisbee. The night you and your friends stay up until 5 a.m. just talking. The night you build a bonfire or go stargazing or learn you really can’t cook. The night you just laugh, talk and live. We’re all so young and just starting our lives. We can’t forget there’s a life’s worth of experiences waiting for us beyond the craziness of high school and college decisions.
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First Day of School Issue
Monday, August 17, 2015
Titans share their summer
Photocollage by Alexandra Ting