June 10, 2011 by High Tide

High Tide

Redondo Beach, CA Redondo Union High School

June 10, 2011 vol.

LMXXIIV

edition 15

]www.hightideonline.org ]

‘

SENIO R

EHuang D expresses I T I O her N love for art by Emma Uriarte

Early morning light streams in on her face as her mother shakes her awake. Senior Sharon Huang got over 2300 on her SAT. The first thing out of her mouth: “Does this mean I get a [drawing] tablet?” Huang may be remembered as the class valedictorian, but drawing is the thing she loves to do the most. “A tablet is something I’ve been waiting for ever since I got into drawing,” Huang said. The tablet connects to a computer and is a tool that helps create computer-generated art. Huang draws anime, which is a Japanese type of art. She draws characters from different anime series (mainly Prince of Tennis and Pokemon), but most of what she draws is of her own creation. Aside from the aesthetic appeal and “cuteness factor,” anime has given Huang opportunities to meet new people. “[Anime] has connected me to a lot of people not just at school, but in other countries,” she said. “I’ve started hosting things like art exchanges and contests with a small group of people online, which has brought me closer to people I would not have otherwise met.” According to Huang, it is the support she gets from her online friends that helps her to pursue drawing. “I first got serious about drawing when I came across the web site DeviantArt and saw a lot of beautiful artwork that I wanted to be able to create someday as well,” Huang said. “It was [through] this web site that I gained so much support from other artists that I felt compelled to improve my artwork and continue to progress.” Not many know about her art, but the people who do know her art recognize that she puts a lot of effort into her creations. “Sharon has always surprised me with little drawings from time to time, and I can tell that she has developed,” junior Brianna Egan said. “It really is her favorite thing to do when she has free time; she even sits in class sketching new pieces.” Although drawing anime plays a huge role in Huang’s life, she doesn’t let it interfere with her school work. “I always put school first,” Huang said. “I wouldn’t stay up drawing if I have a project due. But if I had time to either study or draw, I would draw because studying can be put off.”

Like Huang, her parents Yuli and Christiana Huang insist that hard work in school should come first. “We do support her art, but we share her same assertion that art comes second to work,” Yuli said. Huang takes her schoolwork very seriously, partly because her parents teach her to succeed in school and push her to be her very best. “We do have expectations of her such as doing well on exams and completing her work on time,” Yuli said. “Most of what we teach her is work ethics, because we know she has the potential to do well, and all she needs is the determination and willingness to apply herself.” Drawing anime is something Huang loves to do, but she is not planning on making it into a career. “Anime isn’t really a passion, it’s a hobby I spend a lot of time doing,” she said. “It will probably just stay a hobby, not a career, because if I get paid drawing I will lose interest in it.” Despite her decision to not pursue a career in drawing, Huang will continue doing what she loves. “I can see myself drawing until I am old,” Huang said. Her parents will support her along the way in whatever Huang decides to do after leaving the sea hawk nest. “We are very proud of what she has accomplished,” Yuli said.

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN

Got Milk? Senior and Valedictorian Sharon Huang persuades people to sign a petition while dressed in a milk costume. Huang not only excels academically but creatively as well.

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011 ]

No Trivial Matter

Middle East Interests Uriarte

Simon is well-versed in a wide variety of subjects.

by Tricia Light

by Annica Stitch

What did Molly Simon do yesterday? “I bought a book on salt ... like the history of salt,” she said. She loves cats. On a ride at Disneyland she pointed out the mechanical cats, purring in their inconspicuous corner. She knows why cupcakes were invented. Her classmate Emily Salazar once said that she wished she were like Molly so she wouldn’t have to look things up on Google all the time. Aside from her positive attitude, overall friendliness, and love of cats, Simon is notable for her genuine curiosity. “Molly just knows an amazing amount of different things. She’s well conversed in art history and culture. You could just say that she’s a person genuinely interested in ideas and culture,” journalism adviser and AP English teacher Mitch Ziegler said. Her knowledge of trivia ranging from Star Wars to salt isn’t just her way of entertaining her friends; Simon is curious and passionate about learning. “I just like everything a lot. I could be a professional school person for the rest of my life and I’d be OK. Like get paid to take classes but not do homework, just learn. I like to learn. That’s my thing. I mean I think that’s what people realize about me,” Simon said. Her eagerness to learn led her to get good grades, acquire a wide scope of information, and master the Photoshop skills required to create a picture of classmate Adam Ammentorp riding a bear through a lava filled cave. “[Knowing about a lot of things] actually gives me a wide pool of resources to pull from. When you’re doing a piece and you’re thinking of ways that you can express what you’re trying to say or what the message is, you can go through and pull from historical symbolism and make allusions to things,” Simon said. Simon’s sister, alumna Claire Simon, recalls shouting the answers to Jeopardy with Molly as they grew up and “devouring” books filled with trivia and facts. “Molly was always really interested in the world and stuff. Both of us were really big readers when we were young. We would always kind of compete with each other with stuff that we knew,” Claire said.

PHOTO BY ERINN MIDDO

Paper power: Molly Simon, Austin Pritzkat, Sophia Lykke, and Julia Uriarte are showered in paper by the High Tide staff. Pritzkat is the Editor-in-Chief, Uriarte and Lykke are the Managing editors, and Simon is the Editor of Design.

Pritzkat thrives within Journalism by Anacristina Gonzalez

The responsibility of overlooking the production of an entire newspaper has given him valuable experience, and the title’s pressures have only made him stronger. Among senior Austin Pritzkat’s high school accomplishments was serving as editor-in-chief of the High Tide. “I’ve enjoyed almost every moment. I’ve had the opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a person,” Pritzkat said. According to Journalism Adviser Mitch Ziegler, Pritzkat has done a wonderful job as editor-in-chief.

“Austin was an amazing editorin-chief. He was completely dedicated, wonderfully organized, and a terrific leader,” Ziegler said. “He caused people to excel.” Pritzkat’s ultimate goal in life is to help others. “I always try to be the first person to step up and help someone in need. I’m compassionate and generous and I believe that people should try to put the interest of others above their own,” Pritzkat said. He hopes to fulfill his passion of helping others by becoming a teacher. “I plan on participating in Teach for America after college, which is a

program that allows college graduates to teach in disadvantaged areas. [It would give me] the first-hand experience required to help bring meaningful change to the disadvantaged in the future,” Pritzkat said. His twin brother, senior Brandon Pritzkat, has played a major role throughout Austin’s life. “I really would not be the person I am today if I didn’t have Brandon in my life. I respect, admire, and value him immensely. Brandon is my best friend. I am a better person because of him,” Pritzkat said. Brandon appreciates Austin and his dedication in return. “Being editor-in-chief of the

Lykke inspired to pursue International Development by Bonnie Mata

It is not often that a singular experience affects one’s entire future. Of the 27 countries that senior Sophia Lykke has visited in her life so far, she considers two vivid scenes, one in Cambodia and the other in Johannesburg, South Africa, to be the “defining moments” that have shaped her future life’s work. While Lykke has always had travel as a core component of her upbringing, it was when she witnessed a procession of Buddhist monks at the Angkor Wat ruins, a previous war site in Cambodia, and the “unending mass of tin houses” just outside of Johannesburg, that she made the connection between her passion for travel and her future career. “Seeing millions of people packed into that kind of quality of life is some-

thing I’ll never forget,” Lykke said of the roadside view of the township Soweto, South Africa. Her experiences and reflections prompted her to not only consider a career that would involve international aid, but one that would end many third world nations’ dependency on foreign donation. “I want to be part of the movement away from [solely] giving aid, to giving people a means to support themselves and actual development to improve the situation,” she said. It was then that Lykke decided to pursue International Development as a career path and course of study in her upcoming years at UCLA. This past August, Lykke traveled to Chile to teach English classes. Her Spanish teacher of three years, Deborah Forster, claims that this experience

significantly reinforced Lykke’s “unbelievable knack” for culture. “Her dedication to the language and the fact that she has traveled gives her a very unique perspective,” Forster said. Lykke considers the trip to be another defining moment in her “selfdiscovery.” “The entire experience of being abroad and working for a greater cause that enriched and enhanced peoples’ lives was something that made me tick and made me feel fulfilled. I realized that I would like to apply those skills to the problems of the developing world and decided I wanted to pursue International Development,” she said. Lykke claims that she would not have been able to make this realization had it not been for her mother’s encouragement of hands-on, “off the

beaten path” travel and discovery. “I wanted to offer travel to my children because I believe that exposure to other cultures is an alternative education that can only be experienced firsthand. I intentionally focused on destinations in developing countries so as to avoid a typical tourist’s perspective, which is often limiting,” her mother said. Sophia values her family’s travel philosophy and will continue to travel throughout her future. “The most special memories I have of my upbringing are the unconventional trips that we have taken and the discoveries that we were able to make together during each journey,” she said. “Even though I am getting older, I know that we each have the traveling bone in our bodies and that won’t ever change.”

Future Plans

Biggest Regret

“I’ll be working as an au pair in France for a year and then going to college in Canada. I’m so excited. There is so much that I want to do.”

“Not taking all of my classes seriously, and not doing as well as I’m capable of.”

Advice for Freshmen

“Don’t take our school for granted — there are tons of great opportunities here. Get involved.”

“Know your priorities, values, and beliefs. Take chances and fail. Have a sense of humour.”

Greatest Accomplishment

Most Memorable Moment

Kelsey Chung

yearbook, I understand the workload of running the High Tide. Being editor-in-chief means being able to balance being a friend and being a boss. I think he’s been able to balance that job really well. Austin’s dedication to the High Tide has been something that both publications have not seen in a long time,” Brandon said. Pritzkat will attend UC Berkeley this fall, and hopes to be successful in achieving his dream. “I want to live a rewarding, fulfilling, happy life. I want to surround myself with the people I love and I want to do something that excites me,” he said.

For most, the Capital Building is a distant place seen only on TV. Issues in foreign affairs seem incomprehensible. The State Department seems like something out of a George Orwell novel. However, senior Julia Uriarte has held a lifelong interest in diplomacy, politics, and the Middle East, and will study International Affairs at George Washington University this fall. “I want to end up working to improve the quality of life for people living in the Middle East, or improving relations between governments,” she said. “The whole region is very traditional with a deep- rooted culture, which makes things tricky. It has always sounded like a challenge that I want to face.” She also looks forward to living and working in Washington, D.C., a city that she has visited several times. “I’m excited to learn, but I’m even more excited to actually get involved. Washington is in the middle of everything. It is the sort of city where there is always something to do. There is always more to experience,” she said. Uriarte feels that her mother, who studied international affairs and spent nine months working in Tunisia, helped shape her interest in the subject. “Her stories always sounded so exotic and adventurous. I was always politically aware growing up, and that environment has inspired me,” she said. Her mother, Jane Kerr-Uriarte, feels that her own time abroad was beneficial, and supports Julia’s choice to study in Washington. “[My experience] gave me an appreciation of diversity. It taught me that people think differently because of their experiences and their culture,” she said. “[Julia’s] well suited to a career in foreign relations because she’s interested in other cultures, accepting, and has a good humanitarian instinct.” Julia hopes that her career will bring not only many exciting experiences, but allow her to have a positive impact on the world. “Washington and politics seem like a good fit for me. It is always changing, so I’ll never be bored. You solve one problem and another one arises,” she said. “We’re in a globalized economy. What happens in the Middle East affects us. I want to have a hand in ensuring that what does happen helps us.”

“Meeting Big ZZ and Crazed hockey fan. Project at Starbucks’ parking lot at 11 p.m. Anything journalism. Rooftop failure in 9th grade. Not having a Facebook.”

Greatest Accomplishment

“Making it through high school in one piece and learning to move past the drama.”

Jessica Cascio

Most Memorable Moment “Disco Deadline night in the spring of my sophomore year — it was crazy.”

“Not failing Calculus.”

Biggest Regret

“I don’t have any regrets, but if I could go back I would definitely get more involved in school earlier on.”

“I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t take any of it back.”

Future Plans

Kaitee Scheyer

“I will be attending Cal State Long Beach this fall as a Psychology major.”

“I plan on going to UCLA next year as a molecular Biology major and hopefully go onto pursue are career in medicine.”

Advice for Freshmen

“Be a part of as many activities as possible. Find your niche and do whatever it is that makes you happy.”

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” - Thomas Jefferson

Most Memorable Moment “All of the senior activities, prom, and senior excursion. It’s great being with friends, having fun, and knowing how hard we have all worked to get here.”

Most Memorable Moment

Ashley Pournamdari

“I saw Mrs. Dillard in the drive through in McDonalds, so I sprinted through it to say hi to her. I love that woman.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2010 ]

Carrying on a legacy

Social butterfly

by Alex Shea

by Dylan Futrell

Suck up. Kiss-ass. Brown nose. Throughout his high school career, insults like these have been unrelentingly hurled at High Tide photo editor Jonathan Martin due to his sociable nature with teachers. According to Martin, he has been “wrongly” accused by peers of trying to get on teachers’ friendly side to get a good grade. “I’m just trying to make teachers enjoy their time here,” Martin said. “People assume I’m trying to get ahead.” Bonnie Mata, senior and close friend, is adamant about Martin’s true intentions, citing his routine coffee runs for teachers and “obsequious” comments. “He’s totally a suck-up,” Mata said. “It’s unbearable at times.” Shannon Rodriguez, teacher, appreciates Martin’s “sophisticated wit,” but does not think he has ulterior motives. “I enjoy his banter, but he deserves his grades,” Rodriguez said. “I won’t hesitate to give him a B+.” Martin asserts that his grades are not a result of his extreme charisma, although he does have a better relationship with his teachers than most students. “I’ve never received any special treatment for ‘sucking up’,” Martin said. “A look on Infinite Campus would prove that.” Mata, once again, does not agree that his behavior has no positive effect on his grades. “He earns chuck bucks (extra credit) simply by existing,” Mata said. While Martin is affable with teachers, Rodriguez knows that he respects her authority. “I’m more of a mentor than a friend,” she said. Despite this, Rodriguez can understand the animosity Martin gets in the classroom. Unsurprisingly, Martin is even livelier outside of the classroom than he is inside. “I understand how people operate,” he said. “I have a desire for human connections.” Martin’s sociability and warmth has its roots. While always a talkative person, Martin did not realize his previously mentioned “desire” until he broke his femur at the age of ten and was bedridden for three years. “During my years of cripple-ness, I formed a sense of humor,” Martin said. “It was a coping mechanism.” Since his isolation, Martin found the value in social interactions, and sought to be kind to “everyone.” He attributes any assumptions of his motives to a misunderstanding of his personality. “I just want to make everyone happy,” he said. “It’s not something that’s going to change.” However, aside from what he may or may not be, Martin is a larger-than-life personality, the center of the stage, a self-described “cuddly teddy bear” who can make a friend out of almost any stranger. “It’s a known fact he’s a kiss-ass, but I don’t know a single person who doesn’t like him,” Mata said. “He can put a smile on anyone’s face, even people without mouths.”

Pritzkat’s passion for life drives an inner desire by Alison Peet-Lukes

He stands in front of the class of people awaiting his speech. He clears his throat and begins to speak. Senior Brandon Pritzkat’s compassion and passion for life drive his desire to pursue art, public speaking, and graphic design. “I care about a lot of issues and I want to try to be somebody who makes a difference,” he said. “I feel my perspective is different being a gay liberal in Los Angeles. I have experienced a lot of things that make me feel compelled to change certain problems in our society.” He believes that the only way to change hostility toward the LGBTQ community is through dialogue about it. “I want to help and enact change through public speaking, as well as art. A lot of problems in our country have to do with sexuality. The LGBTQ community’s problems stems from the fact people don’t like to talk about things that make us uncomfortable. Art helps

spur a lot of communication about certain issues, that’s why I want to pursue art because it sparks dialogue,” he said. Fun-loving and serious at the same time, Pritzkat does not know how to describe his personality. “I am a passionate person, but I’m also [kind of] weird, so I don’t really know how to describe myself,” Pritzkat said. While Pritzkat may not know how to describe his personality, his friends and family do. “Brandon is easily the most charismatic person I know. He makes friends with everyone he meets — he lights up a room. He is an incredible person, an amazingly talented artist, and my best friend,” twin brother, Austin Pritzkat said. Brandon values close personal relationships. “Friendship and family mean a lot to me and I really place a lot of importance on the friendships and relationships that I have. I

value loyalty in those friendships a lot. When a relationship doesn’t work out, it makes me sad,” he said. In the future, Pritzkat plans on moving to New York City for graduate school; a city he has visited often because his uncles live there. “My personality is New York City. New York describes a lot of who I am and the kind of person I am and the work ethic I have. I plan on going there for grad school and to pursue my career. I am unsure of exactly what career path I want to take. I want to be an entrepreneur of sorts, and even thought it sounds cliché, my career is not going to be typical,” he said. Pritzkat is proud to be a Sea Hawk because of the growth one undergoes during high school. “My experience at Redondo has been a very positive experience. I have grown and changed so much while I have been here. Yearbook, different clubs, certain teachers and AP courses have brought out new sides of myself I didn’t know were inside me,” he said.

Love of language and literature drive Mata’s future aspirations by Sophia Lykke

In her free time, she reads books. When the bell rings, she cannot wait to go to English class. When it is time to write an essay, she is ecstatic. For Bonnie Mata, literature and language are more than just part of a curriculum; they work together as a unique “massive force” that drives everything that she aspires to do with her life. “I basically have always known that I’m an English student. I have to silence myself after an essay because I’ll absolutely start raving about it and sound like a fool to others because I’m such a geek when it comes to writing,” she said. Mata found this passion for language early on, at times during her yearly trips to Spain to visit her father. “In Spain, I get a lot to time to sit and contemplate in beautiful areas and I feel that has given me a sort of literary perspective on most things that people would just look at or ad-

mire,” she said. “I find that when I go to Spain, or in just any typical situation in my life, I’m always the observer. I realized that I wanted to be a writer when I started observing scenarios and thought about how I would word them in prose.” Mata’s father admires the intellectual growth and maturity in his daughter. “She has a need for knowledge and a need to process the experiences in her life in an articulate way. Every time that I speak to her I get to hear the maturity in her words,” he said. “She has an attraction to letters and pages, and needs to express things no matter in what way.” He appreciates the similarities between them, despite their distance. “The situation that we have is extremely rare. It’s strange to know that when she is asleep, I am doing everyday things, and when she is awake, I have no way of being a part of that life,” her father said. “Every time we speak

I see that we are very, very similar.” Throughout high school, Mata sought to feed her interest by expanding her literary exposure beyond the classroom. “I took to reading a lot of works that I would be reading in college or things that I should probably take a class on instead of undertaking on my own, but I wanted that exposure,” she said. “I deleted my facebook for a year to focus on reading and it cultivated a love of writing and of prose.” AP English Language teacher Mitch Ziegler noticed Mata’s exceptional capabilities when she entered his class her junior year. “Bonnie’s a real thinker. It was obvious that she really thought carefully and well about texts,” he said. Apart from her appreciation for academia, Mata displayed artistic talents for three years on the yearbook staff, this year as one of the two Editors-In-Chief. After spending many years

focusing on design, however, she realized that she preferred to pursue her academic passions. “I know that I probably have potential in the design world, but I feel like my place is academia,” she said. “I just diverged from that path.” Mata will attend UC Berkeley in the fall with the help of the Gates Millennium Scholarship to major in English. She wants to work for The Economist at some point, but her ultimate goal is to become an established and respected non-fiction writer. Eventually, she wants to be a college professor that spends a majority of her time writing and doing research. She is certain that her appreciation for the written word will never subside. “My main goal is to publish non-fiction about whatever it is I want to publish. I want to be an essayist as well,” she said. “Literature and language work together as a massive force that drives everything I do.”

Future Plans

Biggest Regret

“To go to the University of Colorado at Boulder and be an engineer.”

“Not taking as many art classes that were available.”

Advice For Freshman

Future Plans

“Don’t get off track, high school goes by too quick, you need to focus to get into a good school.”

“UC Santa Cruz to study biochemistry”

Advice For Freshman

Most Memorale Moment Of High Scool

“Take all of Ms. Smiths art classes!”

“Going to 6 flags and going on Goliath with Mr. Keye.”

Johnny Melendez

1. Good Times Bonnie Mata-Matthews, left, and Brandon Pritzkat, right, pose for a candid shot. The co-editor in chiefs share a love for language. 2. Mr. Congeniality Jonathan Martin takes a moment to switch roles and get behind the camera.

In small letters the name “Jake Collins” is beneath hundreds of photos in the Pilot. To Collins this is proof of his dedication and the continuation of a legacy. “[Being a photographer] has become my defining point and passion in high school. People say, ‘I’ve been in such and such’; I’ve been the picture guy. I’m proud [seeing my name on the inside cover of the Pilot]; it gives me a reason to keep shooting and working,” Collins said. According to Bonnie Mata-Matthews, fellow Editor In Chief of the Pilot, Collins pride in his work has paid off. “This years yearbook has made a splash nationwide and it’s Jake’s photos that make it visually amazing,” Mata-Matthews said. Collins has extended tips from behind the camera to other photographers, so that they too can have pride in their work. “He had us shoot in situations we’re not used to and gave us tips on what to do. He also helped by going over photos we had already taken and guiding us on what we could improve on,” sophomore Jenny Oetzell said. Being a Yearbook photographer has given Collins the chance to connect to his peers and his grandparents at the same time. Collins’ grandparents both worked on the Pilot decades ago when his grandma, Gail BouseDonlon, was Editor In Chief and his grandfather, Charles Donlon, was the yearbook advisor. “I was never too fascinated with design or writing, so photography allowed me to carry on the Pilot legacy while embracing my interests,” said Collins. According to Bouse-Donlon it is a honor for Collins to carry on the legacy. “Then, years later, Jake has had the same honor. I’m glad there’s another Pilot sitting in my house,” Bouse-Donlon said.

Greatest Accomplishment “Beating Costa in baseball at home”

Most Memorale Moment Of High Scool "I don't have

Sebastion Mendoza

one."

Greatest Accomplishment Completing all my classes and passing my AP’s.

Biggest Regret

“Not being involved enough, I wish I would have taken more leadership roles.”

“Not taking school and grades as seriously as I should freshman through sophomore year & not playing basketball my freshman year.”

Future Plans

“UC Santa Cruz, majoring in biology, get involved in the medical field and plan to travel and study abroad.”

“My future plans are going to go to the University of San Francisco in the fall, major in communications, study abroad and travel, & hopefully become successful one day.”

Advice For Freshman

“Don’t judge people before you get to know them. Have fun, work hard. Always attempt new things, don’t be lazy in high school.”

Anna Barclay

Greatest Accomplishment? “Working hard and deciding to challenge myself in my classes. Pretty stoked to say I graduated from Redondo.”

Chloe Downey

“Advice for freshies, grow the heck up, but stay true to yourself and get involved as much as possible in high school. Work hard now, play later. Your hard work in hs will pay off in the end.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011]

Levchenko leads on and off the court

Taking time off to relax by Jeremy Porr

When senior Michelle Hough gets home from school, she goes to her kitchen to make herself a snack so she can quickly sit down and catch up on all of her favorite television shows. This may come as a shock to some who see Hough only as the constantly busy academic superstar that she is, but when it comes to down time she savors every moment. “People tend to think that often times since I have so much to do that I don’t have any time for myself. Those same people also don’t see me when I am putting my homework off, eating popcorn and watching Boy Meets World at 2am on a Wednesday night.” Hough says. But Michelle, who is the current ASB President and recently crowned Prom Queen, is no slacker. According to Hough her work always gets done, even if that means sacrificing a couple hours of sleep. “I am by no means a machine. I like to relax when I get home, if I didn’t I wouldn’t stay sane, but no matter how much down time I reserve for myself I always apply the rest of my time to accomplishing my schoolwork even if that requires me to stay up late.” Hough says. Michelle’s sister Nicole insists that her parents never pressured them into receiving such high grades it was just understood that they must do so. “Both Michelle and I always knew that we needed to dedicate ourselves to achievement. I think my sister portrays that at every level. She is very ambitious and accomplished in many aspects of life.” Nicole says. ASB Adviser Sherie Gross describes Hough as being effervescent, intelligent, and charismatic. Gross insists that convincing Michelle to join ASB her junior year was a good decision. “Her true colors had really shown when she organized the battle of the bands event, it was then that I knew she was the right choice.” Gross says. Once Michelle started receiving straight A’s she says she never stopped. With her hardworking attitude Hough powered through high school and has no regrets. “I absolutely loved every minute of it, everything that has happened to me in my high school career has helped make me into the woman I am today, whether the experience was positive or negative” Hough says. Having taken a total of ten Advanced Placement courses in her high school career, Hough is still undecided about her college major and ultimately just wants to be happy in life. “I don’t care about what I am doing in the future as long as I am happy, I’ve always believed that if you give good energy you get good results, and I stand by that. My life is at times chaotic but I really love it.” she says.

by David Kawa

PHOTO BY MOLLY SIMON

Commitment. Michelle Hough (left) and Pearl Tobay (right) dedicate themselves to their responsibilities on ASB and their school work.

Tobay achieves success due to inner strength by Taylor Ballard

Everyone is talking and it is nearly impossible to get a word in edge wise. Signs are being painted. Events are being planned. Set up that has yet to be done. And there is a long list of complaints. But she keeps a smile and takes it in stride. Pearl Tobay manages to keep a smile and maintain order in her life with an underlying strength. “She’s a quiet leader. She listens first, speaks second. A group like ASB can have a lot of chiefs and not enough Indians. Pearl is definitely a chief, but she leads her Indians with an undeniable, yet underlying strength. It’s a nice contrast to the strong personalities of ASB leaders,” Activities Director and 10th Grade English Honors teacher Sherie

Gross said. Being raised primarily by her grandparents after moving to the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan her sixth grade year; Tobay knew she would graduate from high school and go on to college, but the environment she grew up in encouraged her to do her absolute best in school. “I think it was mostly my network at home and my friends. There’s always been a strong focus on academics at home and that has been pushing me to do my best at all times,” Tobay said. Along with the support from her grandparents and friends Tobay received support from her older brother, who she has become very close to over the years since her move

Szerlip balances school work and friendships by Jeremy Porr

The pressure of rallies, stressful classes, 6th period cheer, and the last day of school are soon coming to an end, but for senior, Kelsey Szerlip, this is only the beginning of her next chapter in life. “I was on dance guard and switched to cheer, I’ve done ASB all four years, I was in a youth group, and this year I started an internship and job,” Szerlip said, “It was a lot to take on but it was worth it.” All her life, Szerlip has tried her hardest in school and has always strived to be her best. As she graduates high school she will attend college in the fall. “Next year I’m going to Cal Poly Pomona,” Szerlip said, “I’m majoring in hospitality for big Hollywood events and I’m so

excited.” For Szerlip, school has not always been about the work but the amazing friends you take out of it. “Most friends I’m going to keep in touch with as much as possible,” Szerlip said, “I’ve known some since preschool and some just from this year and they’re all amazing people but my really good friends will be in my life forever.” Senior, and lifelong friend, Briana Williams says Szerlip will always be in her life. “Kelsey is a great person,” Williams said, “We’ve been friends forever and I know she’s always there if I need her.” Szerlip’s caring personality and warm heart will be remembered by all her friends and acquaintances. “I hope people remember me as someone

“Not joining ASB until my senior year.”

I really wish I would have gotten involved in school activities sooner.”

Future plans

“Attending Western Washington University to major in English.”

Future plans: “I will be attending Cal State Dominguez with a minor in Kineology.”

Advice for freshmen “Enjoy high school because it goes by extremely fast.”

Advice for freshmen

Most memorable moment

“Make sure you make school your first priority,but still have fun!”

“Hosting the battle of the sexes rally.

Greatest Accomplishment “Graduating with a 4.0 GPA.”

Lauren Howard

Greatest Accomplishment “I was so proud of myself when I finished a night class at SCROC and got certified as a personal trainer.”

Biggest regret

“Not continuing football past sophomore year.”

“Not joining ASB until my senior year.”

Future plans

Future plans “Attending Western Washington University to major in English.”

“Going to UCLA next fall majoring in Neuroscience. I’m going on to medical school after that.”

Advice for freshmen

“Enjoy high school because it goes by extremely fast.”

“Don’t be crazy, have fun, and do your work so you have nothing to write under ‘biggest regret’.”

Most memorable moment

Christiana Marvray

who was there for you,” Szerlip, “No matter what the problem or who you were, I was always there to help you out.” “Kelsey was always the one to talk to,” Williams said, “No matter what she’s always there to help and it’s comforting to have a friend like that.” As Kelsey sets off for college in the fall she will never forget her memories at Redondo Union High School and how the past for years here have shaped her into the person she is today. “If I could give advice to anyone it would be don’t be afraid to be yourself,” Szerlip said, “I’m crazy and hyper and people don’t usually see me upset or down. I’d rather let the happiness come through so no one feels bad for me and if people don’t like the way I am then it’s their loss.”

Biggest regret

Jennifer Gagliano

to the U.S. “My brother kind of helped raise me because he’s seven years older. He always led by example and he always helped me whenever I needed it,” Tobay said. According to Gross, while Tobay has not known many people at Redondo for more than a year it can be said that she has grown as a student, as well as a person. “She is more confident, better versed and more knowledgeable than when we first met. Having had only one year experience in ASB, being ASB VP is a big challenge. But she has grown quickly into a well-respected leader and friend to all the students. Personally, she’s a wonderful person and we’ve become very close,” Gross said.

Senior Paul Levchenko divides his time between leading the team and leading the student body. Tennis is in his blood. Levchenko grew up with the game. “Everyone in my family plays tennis so I kind of naturally picked it up too. I played a lot of tennis when I was young so I have a solid base to build on,” he said. He pushes his teammates to play their best game. His brother, sophomore Derek Levchenko, appreciates Paul’s concern and guidance. “He always asks how I played and checks up on me. He makes me strive to do my best tennis wise and academically. He gets on me to stay on top on my stuff,” he said. Levchenko is involved in ASB and president of Model United Nations. He feels he is balanced in his focus between his commitments. “I would say I am pretty evenly split, but I tend to focus more on tennis during the season,” he said. As a student representative to the school board, Levchenko is the voice of the students on the PTA. “Working with the PTA was good for me because I got to learn a lot about what organizations do for the people they represent,” he said. President of Model United Nations, Levchenko organizes his team and plans conference attendances. “In ASB I learned a lot of managerial skills which taught me how to organize events and predict outcomes of those events,” he said. Levchenko remembers his childhood introduction to politics. “The Gore-Bush election was all over the news because of the whole Florida controversy. My dad always had the television on so I would just sit and watch,” he said. Since then, he has refined his political views and broadened his sense of the world. “I enjoyed government this year because it taught me more about the actual functioning of our government,” he said. Levchenko’s immersion into student leadership was spurred by his passion for politics. He plans to continue his studies at UC Berkeley. “My interest in politics pushed me to join ASB and get involved in Model UN. I want to be in a position to makes things happen,” he said.

“Hosting the battle of the sexes rally.”

Greatest Accomplishment “Graduating with a 4.0 GPA.”

Razi Zaidi

Most memorable moment “Having fun for a week straight with trips to Six Flags, Disneyland, and Prom.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2010 ]

Commins grows with team

Irving discovers passion through family struggles by Maddy Perrault

She sits anxiously in the waiting room as the bright florescent lights glare down on her. The doctor finally reads her the results and the first thing that runs through her mind is, “Oh no. Not again.” Senior Savannah Irving’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer only a few years after her brother had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. “When my brother was Stage Four, I realized how close I was to losing someone forever. I just realized how quickly things can change,” Irving said. According to Irving, having sick family members made her appreciate the little things families get to do together. “I learned to value the family outings [and] to be there for the vacations and family dinners,” she said. Irving’s dad, the primary source of income of the family, was out of work for two months due to his illness.

The family lived primarily off Irving’s mother’s single income which caused a financial burden when it came to Irving attending college. Amongst these medical and financial problems, Irving attributes her friends to helping her pull through. “[Senior Gianna Esposito] was always there to for me. Whether it was picking me up, helping out, and making dinners, she was the person closest to me during this time,” Irving said. Esposito noticed an immediate change in her friend as Irving’s family members battled the cancer and entered remission. “When things started to look up, I saw a noticeable change in her. She was more animated and back to her usual self because I think she finally had reassurance that everything was going to be OK — at least for a while,” she said. According to Esposito, Irving was strong for her family through the ordeal. “Even in really difficult or chaotic times, she always just powers through. And I think her strength helped her a lot during those

by Cedric Hyon

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN

Powering through. Senior Savannah Irving performs as part of Dance Guard. She credits her friends from Dance Guard as part of the reason she managed to get through her struggle.

times,” she said. This experience strengthened Irving’s desire to help people, according to Esposito. “I think if anything the whole experience just confirmed her wish to be a doc-

tor,” she said. “She always wanted to help heal people and be a doctor, but after seeing her entire family struggle like that, I think it made her that much more determined to prevent suffering.”

Esposito takes pride in achievement by Anthony Leong

There’s the Gianna Esposito that everyone sees: the Dance Guard Captain, the studious classmate, the hard worker— but what is difficult to see is often what is most important, and being dance guard captain has changed Esposito’s life in profound and significant ways that are invisible to most, according to Esposito. Even beyond the emotional maturation that Dance Guard has incited in Esposito, there is a world unknown to many that lies just below the surface. “People don’t necessarily know how my relationship with Dance Guard is or how involved I am being captain,” Esposito said. “And I’m not saying people should respect me more for being captain or anything, but I don’t think people know how much work, dedication, and time it

takes.” Like many leadership positions observed from a distance, being Dance Guard captain might appear fine and dandy, but Esposito has at many times felt the pressure. “It’s this whole part of my life and I love doing it, but it was overwhelming at times because of the amount of commitment required,” she said. Despite the difficulty for Esposito, it is well worth it. “I love doing it; the reason I do it is because I love the girls and everything. I love the team,” she said. Being Dance Guard captain has not only been beneficial to the team, but immensely helpful in Esposito’s own life; serving as an impetus for her maturity. “Being a leader really helped me come out of my shell. If I hadn’t been on Dance

Guard, I would probably still be that shy girl in your classes who didn’t really speak much,” she said. “I used to be like that; I used to be painfully shy, but being on the team gave me somewhere where I could be myself. It gave me more confidence as I grew as a dance and a leader.” There is, of course, more to Esposito than avid reader. For example, some of her favorite authors include Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling. She is also interested in art. “I love all things in the arts,” she said. “I love music, dancing, singing, art, and photography.” Unfortunately, Esposito was too busy to take part in her many interests . “I wish I had more time for all of those things, but now that dance is winding down I’m taking voice lessons, which is pretty cool,” she said. There are many sides to Esposito that

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN

Leading with poise. Senior Gianna Esposito is dance guard captain.

remain unknown to most, but she remains proud of herself nevertheless. “I pride myself in trying to be a high achiever. I’m not always the best or the brightest, but I worked hard throughout high school to maintain my grades and do well in general,” she said.

For senior Zac Commins, four years of marching band and two years as Drum Captain were in some ways all due to chance. “I was [originally] going to play trumpet,” Commins said. “Looking back at it, I was able to become drum captain for two years by chance,” Commins said. Commins has shown his passion for band after four years. “For marching percussion, it’s really just a natural thing for me. I really like hanging out with that group of guys and helping each other express ourselves in a way that sounds intense,” Commins said. After all the experiences, the Drum Line has gone through, Commins says he is happy to have been part of it. “The Drum Line is something that we have been working on for a long time,” Commins said. “It’s something that hasn’t happened before. I’m just glad to be a part of it.” For the past two years, Commins has been the Drum Captain for the Marching Band. He feels that it was a way to create a stronger program than what had already started. “I always like being able to be there as kind of a mentor for these guys. I want these guys, when I leave, to be able to be better off than when I started,” Commins said. “He’s really passionate for the Drum Line. He’s a really good student and he always gets his work done,” Kari King said, clarinet section leader of band. “He always makes sure that everyone does their best.” Outside of the band, he shows a strong amount interest in politics. He will be going to UC Berkeley in the fall to major in Political Science. “I’ve always been involved in the political arena at school,” Commins said. “I want to be able to be involved in the future of our community, the future of this country, and the future of this world as a whole.”

Salerno leads the drum line to a historic championship by Zac Commins

He stands at the podium above his peers. He thinks how far they have come: hundreds of hours of rehearsals, years of work, and intense dedication. He takes a deep breath and yells, “Mark time hut!” In the Sea Hawk Band’s marching season, Drum Major Tyler Salerno led his peers to a historic finish, including winning the Southern California Judging Association’s Division 4 California State Band Championships and qualifying for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Championships. “I remember being a freshman and winning was the best thing ever.” Salerno said.

Jason O'Connell

Lisa Lane

Salerno is proud of how far the band has come, especially in overcoming adversity and complacency. “I think some think we sometimes we get the short end of the stick,” he said. “Sometimes you want to rip your hair out because you are going through eight-hour practices, but we always come out of it.” Salerno began his music career in fourth grade by picking up the clarinet in his elementary school band, but quit the band one year later. However, he attributes his return to band and perseverance to support from his friends. “A lot of my friends pushed me through band,” he said. “Having friends was very

important in making it through all these years.” Salerno also appreciates support from his family through his band career. “It is always nice knowing your family has got your back. Looking up in the crowd and seeing your family makes you feel good,” he said. He feels disappointed in the lack of school recognition after the marching band’s notable season. “It made me sad that the school did not really understand how well we were doing,” he said. Salerno believes that band has changed his character for the better, introducing him

to new experiences. “Band has introduced me to a lot of new experiences that has really shaped my personality,” he said. Although he is satisfied with his high school experiences, Salerno wishes he could have been involved in more extracurricular activities. “I think I would have tried to participate in other school activities more. I did one year of volleyball and I wish I could have done varsity.” Overall, Salerno is proud of his leadership and dedication to the band. “I always tried to emphasize being focused and staying on task,” he said.

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN

To the beat. Senior Zac Commins plays the drums. As Drum Captain, Commins helped lead the group to victory.

Biggest Regret

“I regret not getting more involved in clubs.”

“Not doing well junior year grade-wise.”

Future Plans

“I’m going to Humboldt State University, where I’ll be studying Wildlife Biology. I want to have a career in that field.”

“I plan to pursue a major in Liberal Arts. Eventually I want to become an elementary school teacher.”

Advice for Freshmen

Memorable Moment

“Get involved in a sport or club or the band [because] it will help you get through the tough years of high school.”

“I really enjoyed my chemistry class with Mr. Cunningham this year, both the teachers and the students made it a great class.”

Memorable Moment “My greatest high school accomplishment was winning the state championships in band this year.”

Taylor Caldwell

Advice for Freshmen “Be involved, have fun, and get good grades.”

Biggest Regret

“Not joining more clubs.”

“Not having spent as much time with friends as I wanted to.”

Future Plans

“I’ll be going to San Francisco State University to major in Interior Design. I want to make a career in design.”

“I’m going to college in Philadelphia to major in finance and business but I want to have a carrier in a medical field.”

Memorable Moment

“All the times I had in my AVID class were memorable, the people there really became like a family to me.”

“Spending senior year with my closest friends was great, I met a lot of new people and this year.”

Advice for Freshmen “Don’t be shy. Get involved as much as you can.”

Lidia Lopez

Advice for Freshmen “Join sports. It’s a great way to meet new people.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011 ]

Taylor juggles her many commitments

Loo passionate about costume design

by Dan Furmansky

by Alex Curtis

She sits in the doctors office, curious as to what they could tell her she has this time. She has been misdiagnosed before, but whatever this new diagnosis was, it had to be better than seizures. Senior Lauren Loo knows that she might never be allowed to join the Navy because of this new disease. Loo has a movement disorder called paroxysmal Kinesigenic Choreoathetosis which will not allow her to follow her original hopes to join the Navy ROTC in college. Instead, she will be taking the opportunity to follow her passion for costumes. “I wanted to do Navy ROTC in college, but I can’t really do that because of my movement disorder. Instead I’m going to go the more artsy route. If anything, I’d want to go into the Navy first and see how I like it,” Loo said. Loo’s sewing began with her 7th grade friends, who enjoyed anime and cosplay (costume play). The summer after seventh grade, Loo went with a friend to her first anime convention “It was so cool. Everyone was dressed up n costumes. A lot of them made their own costumes, so I decided I wanted to make my own costumes,” Loo said. With ROTC as a main priority, Loo doesn’t have much free-time to sew. She does, however, enjoy sewing on breaks and vacations. “I like being able to create something. You just take a bunch of fabric, and you make something really awesome out of it. I like it more than drawing because it’s different, and not many people do it,” Loo said. Loo’s boyfriend, Gray Meyers, sees that sewing and designing has become a part of her, and he supports her in pursuing what makes her happy. “She defines herself through it. It’s her way of expressing herself. I just hope she’s able to find what she wants to do and she’s able to achieve that,” Meyers said. Loo aspires to be a theater costume designer, and hopes one day to be able to join the navy in spite of her movement disorder. She will apply to FIDM fashion school for next school year while taking a gap year in Hawaii with her father. “I’m kind of taking a chance with this because I don’t know how far I’m going to get, but it’s something I really want to do, so I’m going to try to do it,” Loo said. Meyers describes Loo as creative, and fun. He believe she has many unique, creative ideas and is very energetic. “That’s one thing that attracted me to her. She’s very energetic and enthusiastic about everything,” Meyers said. Her hobby is, Loo admits, a lot of work and requires time and effort, but she is happy to spend however long it takes to make sure her work turns our its best. “It’s a lot of work, but unlike doing schoolwork, I really enjoy doing it. I’m happy just making stuff and then looking at the end result,” Loo said.

2. PHOTO BY MOLLY SIMON

Final solute. 1. Sewell was a Platoon Sergeant for JROTC’s First Platoon in which he made the First Platoon the best in the Battalion. 2. Sewell with Senior Marine Instructor Willoughby. Willoughby never gave up on Sewell when others were starting to.

PHOTO BY MOLLY SIMON

Sewell changes his life through ROTC by Julie Tran

JROTC Cadet Battalion Sergeant Major Billy Sewell could only be described as a “train wreck” upon moving to California from Minnesota. For nearly two years, the pressure to fit in was enormous, leading to his troublesome behavior. “I was bullied a lot at my old school” Sewell said. “Here, I was hanging around the wrong crowd at first. They did bad things, so I did them too.” He was uncontrollable, undisciplined, and a “challenge”, according to Senior Marine Instructor Keith ‘Gunner’ Willoughby. Despite his rocky start, Sewell found direction near the end of his sophomore year. Sewell really wanted to attend a leadership camp at a marine base in Hawaii, but was on the “no go” list. “I was a bit skeptical at first and I asked

Gunner if he was sure about allowing Billy on the trip,” Little said. “Gunner saw Billy as someone who deserved a second chance, as someone who had the potential to change, and he was right.” According to Little, strict standards for Sewell were established. Surprisingly, he complied with all of requirements placed upon him. The leadership camp, where he was job shadowed and interacted with Marines, proved to be an important milestone in Sewell’s life, as a result of his experiences at this camp. Sewell made a 180 degree turnaround. “He became more responsible, recognized when he made mistakes and took the corrective action on his own,” Willoughby said. “He took initiative to get his grades in order and now even guides others to do the right thing.” In his junior year, Sewell served as Platoon

Rael joins ROTC to become a Marine by Alex Curtis

An eighth grade boy rushes to his computer, curious as to what these Marines could be about. Where they part of the Army, or something more? As he reads through page after page, he begins to realize that it may have been fate that brought Redondo’s ROTC to the stage at his eighth grade orientation. Jordan Rael has been in ROTC all four years of his high school career. He decided in the eighth grade that he wanted to join the Marines and decided that ROTC would be the best way to prepare for that. “My brother was into the military when we were younger. I never knew what a Marine was, because when I thought of the military I always thought of the Army. I heard the term Marine and looked up the Marines and studied all this stuff about them. I wanted to be the best, so I decided I wanted to be a Marine,” Rael said. Rael sees more in ROTC than drills and

military history. ROTC is his family. “In ROTC, we’re one unit, and by unit I mean a family. We’re all dependent upon each other; we all have to communicate. It’s really helped with my communication skills,” Rael said. Rael believes that, through his experiences over the past four years with his ROTC family, he has learned many valuable life skills. “As an individual, I was very shy growing up. Through ROTC I’ve gotten the abilities to better communicate with those around me.. ROTC is a leadership course, so I needed to be a role model and a kind of mentor for people. I’ve transformed in that way. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve enjoyed my time at Redondo, and I look forward to checking in when I’m an adult and seeing how things have gone,” Rael said. Beyond ROTC, Rael finds that his entire experience at Redondo has better prepared him for the adult world that he will shortly be joining. “Watching all these 80s movies, you build up

Biggest Regret

an idea of what high school’s like, and it didn’t really turn out that way. It’s shaped me to see how the world really works; there are teachers that have been really easy and some that have been rather difficult. It has really prepared me for the future,” Rael said.

“The drama and the problems with really good friends.”

Most Memorable Moment

Greatest Accomplishment

“Starting on varsity football when we played against Mission Viejo.”

“I was a backspot for all my years of cheer and this year I got to base.”

Greatest Accomplishment

Advice to Freshman

“Making all CIF”

“Stay out of drama and enjoy high school while it lasts.”

Future Plans “I’m going to play football at a junior college and then try to transfer out later.”

Brandy Rayford

Future Plans “I will attend Santa Monica College and then later try for modeling.”

Biggest Regret

“Not trying as hard as I could have as an upperclassmen and being a chronic procrastinator.”

“Taking 5 APs my senior year. So bogus.”

Most Memorable Moment

“When I was told that I was going to be an editor. I was pretty ecstatic.”

“Writing screenplays with my dankest buds.”

Greatest Accomplishment

Dylan Futrell

PHOTO BY MOLLY SIMON

The last drill. Real performs a drill with fellow ROTC members who he calls family.

Biggest Regret

“Not taking my sophomore and junior year seriously.”

John Miller

Sergeant for JROTC’s First Platoon, and he performed “admirably”, making the First Platoon the best in the Battalion, according to Willoughby. “I think Billy is truly thriving and a happier person today,” Little said. Furthermore, Sewell was recognized as the JROTC Honor Graduate. His guiding principles that have lead him this far are integrity and respect. “For me, it’s important to set an example of being the best version of yourself,” he said. “I see myself as a leader now.” Sewell has already made the commitment to serve our country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He leaves for boot camp three days after graduation. “Others see him as a role model,” Willoughby said. “They see him as the person they could become. When they see him, they’ll see that becoming a productive, respectable citizen in society is possible if they strive for it.”

She is nothing but competitive on the court. She is nothing but determined and focused on her school work. She is nothing but goal-driven when training every day for boot camp in July. But senior Elle Taylor always makes time to be a plain “goofball” and fill the room with her booming laughter. “She’s a goofball, she’s eccentric, she’s someone that makes me laugh, and you can’t even explain her in words,” senior Gianna Esposito, a friend of Taylor’s, said. Esposito admires Taylor’s many dimensions and well-rounded character. Taylor loves to constantly keep herself busy in order to fill her “high standards” and “fulfill each one flawlessly.” Though Taylor may take her sports and commitments very seriously, her personable side is evident in her interaction with her friends. Allie Goldberg believes that Taylor is “a genuinely funny and good person.” Taylor is a nationally-ranked tennis player and an AP scholar with distinction, but these accomplishments do not even begin to scratch the surface of Taylor’s high school career. Taylor stays true to herself while maintaining over a 4.5 GPA, becoming Cervantes president, and getting elected to present the graduation speech. “I would say I’m the person who strongly sticks to what I believe in, making sure not to act a certain way just because everyone else is acting that way,” Taylor said. Though her academic and athletic achievements are worthy mentions, they do not completely describe who Taylor is. According to Esposito and Goldberg, Taylor is as successful in school and sports as she is at being an exceptional friend. “Elle is seriously one of the most amazing friends I have. She’s so honest and true to everything she believes in,” Goldberg said. Esposito believes Taylor’s determination to see the good in everything is her most admirable trait. Goldberg has known her since second grade and cannot recall a single time that Elle has brought a negative attitude to the table. On a trip to Europe, Taylor and Esposito really got closer to one another. “Some of my favorite memories with her are when she just lets go. When we were in Italy together we had some of the best gelato ever and she insisted on leaving it on her face for a few hours afterwards so it would continue to be a part of her. Also, during the world cup in Barcelona, we ran around taking pictures with the locals. It was so crazy and so amazing,” Esposito said. Taylor will be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. “My advice is to challenge yourself in academics, sports, and other extracurricular activities and to take school seriously but have fun along the way,” Taylor said.

“Challenging myself with APs and extracurriculars instead of taking the easy way out. It would have been boring if I did.”

Future Plans “I am going to attend Santa Monica college, transfer to a UC, and pursue a career in Journalism or Psychology.”

Advice for Freshman

Josh Hillsburg

“Don’t sleep through PreCalc. It’s taken me nearly three years to catch up. Also, take journalism.”

Future Plans “Studying chemistry at UCSB, being upset at the lack of a football team.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011]

Sherman inspires through happiness by Christina Mehranbod

“Hey guys! Look here and smile big,” she says in the midst of chaos, looking into her camera. “So cute,” she will reply to any photo of any one at any time. She is laughing and smiling, talking to everybody that walks by, and of course in the meantime snapping pictures away, preparing to upload them on Facebook to make those memories public. Senior Pamela Sherman has been taking pictures with her Canon digital camera since she could hold one. It’s always sitting in her purse waiting to be brought out so that Sherman never forgets those experiences that shaped her high school career. “I’m really good with those Kodak moments. I just like looking back on those things and people and how we’ve changed and grown,” Sherman said. But behind that camera is a 4.5 GPA student, a cross country and track runner, a long-time piano player, a club participator, and of course a girl that never stops smiling. “I always know when Pammie’s around because her laugh resonates through my

very core,” friend and peer Adam Ammentorp said. Sherman’s friend Laura O’Neill who is going to UC Berkeley along side of Sherman agrees that Sherman’s laugh is “infectious” and admires her ability to smile “even when she is down.” “I like to be happy. I just think why waste time dwelling on things that aren’t going to make me happy. I just can’t sit there for two hours and not find something to laugh about,” Sherman said. Sherman’s positive attitude and constant smile has greatly influenced her time on the cross country and track team. She “stumbled” upon cross country the summer before freshman year and although the idea of running eight miles a day seemed daunting, Sherman was not one to quit what she started. Three years later, she won the Great Cow Cross Country Invitational meet out of 200 competitors with 100 of her own teammates shouting and yelling her name. Cross Country coach and teacher Julie Ferron has interacted with Sherman in the classroom and on the field and believes

by Jeremy Porr

by Camille Duong

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN

Ballin'. Stuart exhibits her athletic prowess on the court. She is also a dedicated performer.

Senior Shayna Stuart is a star athlete who knows how to bring it on the court. On stage she transforms into a star performer, bringing smiles to all. Stuart has been in 14 musicals, two plays, tap classes, ballet classes, and jazz classes ever since she was a little girl. “I think it really helped me to grow up and become the person I am today because in show business your mom can’t always be backstage to help you with your make-up or memorize lines for you,” she said. Stuart loves to entertain whether it be in a school musical like Anything Goes, or just singing in front of a small audience. “It makes me happy to know that I have made an impression on somebody that they will hopefully remember. To be a part of something as great as Anything Goes or any other production is really fulfilling,” she said. When it comes down to choosing a favorite between her beloved basketball or musical theatre, Stuart cannot take sides. “I love both basketball and musical the-

by Shannon Bowman

How well do we respond to disappointment? Probably not as well as senior Chris Coleman, who was able to find a new passion when he could not continue his intial one. Coleman was initially involved in the ROTC program, coming from a line of servicemen. His grandfather and uncle both served in the armed forces and Coleman wanted to follow in their footsteps. “My family was really supportive [of

ROTC],” he said. Unfortunately, Coleman was unable to pursue a career in the military as he suffers from anxiety problems and must take a medication called Paxil to treat his symptoms. However, he tried to stay positive. “I said, ‘Well, you know, if that didn’t work out, I always have something else up my sleeve.’ I try to look at life in a positive way, but sometimes it’s very hard,” Coleman said. Coleman tries to apply his upbeat attitude to all aspects of his life. This year, he

“I’m really proud of her, she always makes the best out of every situation she is in and its nice to know that after all of her hard work she earned a really great basketball scholarship,” Blome said. Stuart’s sister, Aliya, is happy to see her sister take the next big step and graduate. “I’m really proud of her but also sad that we will be separated. She is such a dedicated, hysterical, and talented girl,” Aliya said. Although most of her life has been circled around school, sports, and entertainment. Stuart plans on majoring in Criminal Justice and will be attending CSU San Bernardino after graduation. “I’m obsessed with shows like Law and Order SVU, so I hope to one day be involved in that field,” she said. Although Stuart is looking forward to the future, she stunned about how fast time has gone by. “High school seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. I know that leaving behind the people I know and love so much is going to be hard, but I am ready to move on and accomplish all that I set out to do,” she said.

was in danger of failing his government class but managed to raise his grade to a C-. “I wasn’t going to worry about it that much because I have faith in myself,” he said. Coleman also relies on his faith in God. “I don’t know if you want to call me religious. All I know if that I have a belief in God. That’s really how I can keep things positive in my life,” he said. Alvin Fletcher, science teacher, has become very close to Coleman and his entire family. He considers himself something of a

“second dad” to Coleman and admires his attitude. “Chris is warm, kind, and thoughtful. When you talk to Chris he looks at you and makes you feel like you are the most important person in the room,” Fletcher said. Coleman was able to focus on a new passion: media arts. Coleman now plans to pursue a degree and career in the field. “I plan on working on creating my own business to start out,” he said. “Something I know I can use the skills I’ve acquired and use them to succeed.”

Most Memorable Moment

“My most memorable moment was the whole senior water polo season and finally getting to jump into the new pool at the Grand Opening.”

“Getting a compliment from Mr. Rubke about me as a person and not just as a swimmer.”

Advice for Freshman

Greatest Accomplishment

“Don’t screw yourself over by doing bad in your classes.”

Future plans

“Go to the University of Arizona and get my nursing credentials.”

Future Plans

“Go to UCSB and figure out what to study when I get there.”

Biggest Regret “I regret waiting until senior year to finally ask my girlfriend out.”

Emily Ewart

Greatest Accomplishment

“Join a sport and stick with it for all four years because your team becomes a part of you.” “I’m going to UCLA to study business and economics.”

“I don’t have a single regret. High school was an awesome time.”

“My most memorable high school memory was beating Mira Costa in swim because the whole team was pumped up for the meet and we swam really well and pulled off what coach Rubke didn’t think we could do.”

Advice for Freshman

Future Plans

Biggest Regret

Most Memorable Moment

“My greatest accomplishment was getting into UCLA because I have put so much effort into sports, academics, and extracurricular activities.”

Jake Leonard

atre so much, I could never choose between the two. Although I admit it was tough balancing both at times the passion I have for each one of them is special and unique in its own way,” she said. Stuart has been playing basketball since she was in the fourth grade, and stays motivated to continue playing by telling herself that there is always room for improvement. “I love accomplishing things I’ve never done before and staying in shape. Basketball provides me with both of those opportunities so that among other things is why I love it so much,” she said. Junior Nikki Blome, whom Stuart has known since seventh grade, is sad to see one of her favorite seniors go. “Shayna was like an older sister to me, freshman year we played basketball together and she would always poke fun at me but I always knew it was out of love, I’m going to be really sad once she graduates,” Blome said. Despite her sadness Blome knows that Stuart is off to accomplish bigger and better things in college.

Coleman’s optimism carries him through hard times

“Don’t be afraid to take that AP class, chances are it’s easier than you think, just a little more work.”

Jake Kirchner

PHOTO BY NOUR KABBANI

Deep in thought. Sherman’s optimism and positive outlook on life inspires many.

Stuart maximizes her unique talents

Chu finds new passions As she begins excitedly talking backstage after her dance competition, senior Kristi Chu hears her name but does not know why. “I had won the judges award for technique but I had to ask later because I wasn’t paying attention,” Chu said. Although dancing has always been a part of Chu’s life, she stopped after her studio space was no longer available. “They wanted to build more business offices and the music was too loud and then we couldn’t afford the next place,” she said. Chu instead has kept busy with other activities. “This past year I’ve been juggling Golf, ASB, the spring musical, and five AP’s,” Chu said. Her favorite memory of her time in ASB was the internationally Food Fair. “With all of the restrictions we had, we still had a good time.” Besides being involved with school and ASB, senior David Kawa believes that Chu is supportive of her friends. “Other people’s happiness makes her happy,” Kawa said. “A lot of kids our age want to be famous for themselves but Kristi wants that for other people.” Chu plans to major in Biology and Chemistry at UC San Diego. “Later down the line I want to become a crime scene investigator [or a] forensic scientist,” Chu said She is excited for the opportunities that lay ahead. “I want to meet new people,” she said. “I love people’s different personalities and quirks.”

whole-heartedly that Sherman is “one of the most admired” runners on the team. “It is [in cross country] that I have seen Pamela’s true strength of character and the respect that her peers have for her. Her work ethic and positive attitude are truly inspiring,” Ferron said. O’Neill and Ferron agree that Sherman’s consistent determination in whatever she sets her mind to allows her to be loved by all and reach her goals. “I’m proud of being able to balance everything and have such a well-rounded life from music to school to sports,” Sherman said. Although high school life has not all been smooth sailing, Sherman’s optimistic perspective allowed her to stay motivated. “I obviously had my breakdowns at points. But I realized that it’s not all work and it’s not all play. You have to be able to balance both,” Sherman said. Despite all those late nights studying for tomorrows’ exams, Sherman has kept her smile big and her laugh loud. “What can I say? I’m a happy person,” Sherman said.

Advice for Freshman

“Be outgoing and meet new people because you meet new friends and have a much better time.”

Andy Danryd

“I plan to go to USC and major in chemical engineering in the Viterbi School of Engineering.”

Future Plans

College Map

]Senior Edition, June 10, 2011 ]

University of Wisconsin Adam Anderson

Western Washington University Jennifer Gagliano

Anchorage

Sonoma State University

UC Santa Cruz

Jason O’Connell Ava Elsner Charity King

Alexandra Labouff Julia Lu

Kelly Ryan

George Whitson

Santa Barbara City College

�

UC Santa Barbara

Baron Abramowitz Brian Applegate Jake Collins Joshua Hillsburg Karen Lobins Ashley Noriega Allison Salazar Rachel Scarlett Joanie Schneider

Topeka

Pueblo

Albuquerque

Santa Barbara

Oklahoma City

Anders Danryd Joshua Lee

Loyola Marymount U

Ft. Worth

�

CSU Dominguez Hills Ariana Brizuela Joseline Montoya Tracey Ngo

LA Harbor College Lotfi Ben-Amor Ellen Kathleen Crumley Kenneth Hicks Chancy Hill* John Miller* Kem Richards Isabel Woodward

CSU Fullerton Daisy Carlos Alexandra Johnson Kevin Mitchell Sydney Moody

Apple Valley Community College

Michelle Kim

Craig Gentry

CSU Northridge

CSU San Bernardino

Nelson Alina Mwelu Mataya

Shayna Stuart

Jason Laird

California Lutheran U.

Natalie Wendel

Diane Ambrose Victoria Balding Zachary Inzer Brian Tran

Cal Poly Pomona Steven Kagohara Cody Rowe Kelsey Szerlip

San Diego

Charlotte

Atlanta

Montgomery

Jackson

Charleston

George Washington U. Julia Uriarte

Mobile

Baton Rouge

Tallahassee

New Orleans

Corpus Christi

University of Missouri Columbia Christiana Marvray

Brennan Abramowitz Brianna Bracy Celeste Manughian-Peter Cosima Manughian-Peter Kathryn Scheyer

Frances Collins

Chapman University Kevin Rieg Melanie Wells Alex Woody

La Verne University Riki Murakami

Ashlie Comeau

Armed Forces

UC San Diego

U.S. Navy Pierre Boutry Francisco Montoya Chris Rook Brandon Weatherly Andrew Wright

Kristi Chu Nicholas Steinke

San Diego State Univeristy Emily Armstrong Brandon Carroll Alexandra Oetzell Adam O’Rourke

Point Loma Nazarene Crystal Anderson

International Canada McGill University Jonathan Martin

Acadia University *Asterisk indicates honors program

Villanova University

Miami

Aaron Phillips

Brownsville

Penn State, Erie

Concordia University at Austin

Jaycee Baldus

Ruby Davis

Penn State Matthew Ulizio

Savannah College of Art of Design

Taylor Bongiovanni Brent Ives Natalie King Tyler Mastin

Soka University

Saddleback Community College

CSU Long Beach

Catherine Czech

Augusta

Northern Arizona U.

Emily Ewart Allison Field Joseph Mardesich

Krystle Lewis

Elise Catuogno Kione Spencer

Hood College

Columbia

Swarthmore College Julia Denney

Mackenzie Primack

University of Arizona

CSU San Marcos

Long Beach City College

Raleigh

Lidia Lopez

Arizona State U.

Kari King

Gianna Esposito Adella Farr Steven King Kimberly Martinez Andrew Price

Aundrea Yancy

Chandler Mann Connor McCulloh Cody Mendiha Sabrina Navarro Jessica Nicoloro Christian Oyervides Alexander Palmer Amaris Ramirez* Melissa Rosero Kaitlyn Rottweiler Gabrellia Rubio Emily Salazar* Alyssa Sanchez Jeremy Solorzano* Alex Sullivan Ashley Sumida* Rebecca Vazquez Destiny Williams Blakely Winston Michael Yonemura Savannah Yousefivand

Norfolk

Drexel University

U. of New Mexico

Azusa Pacific U.

UC Irvine

Long Beach

West � Los Angeles CC

Sophia Antoci Jessica Bowen David Burns Jessica Cascio* Natalie Chang Ariel Chavez Kongerice Chhun* Jimi Conley Erica Duran Brandon Engel Madison Frodge Dylan Futrell* Kendall Galan Givonna Garcia Monica Garcia Maddison Gubelli Tyler Hartzheim Lauren Howard* Desiree Jackson Kaila Kidman Richard Kodani Claudia Lamas

Durham

Knoxville

Birmingham

Los Angeles

Devon Vincent

Santa Monica Community College

Little Rock

Shreveport

Laredo

Nicholas Cruz Jonathan Orozco Bernadette Reed Jennifer Stevens Spencer Stribling

Jonathan Rodriguez

Mt. San Antonio College

Marymount College PV

University of Hawaii, Hilo

UC Riverside

Pepperdine University

Rachael Otzelberger

Richmond

Frankfort Louisville

Memphis

Charleston

San Antonio

University of Hawaii, Manoa

Otis College of Art & Design

Los Angeles Valley

East St. Louis

Dover

Annapolis

Cincinnati

Trenton

Washington DC

Alex Shea

Jonathan Catsavas

Crimson Technical College

Nashville

Dallas

Austin

Alexandra Marin Destiny Rodriguez

Andrew Faris Rachel Wang

Wichita Falls

Roswell

Brett Aspel

Hawaii

�

St. Louis

Amarillo

Chaminade University Hawaii

USC

Kansas City

New York City

Columbus

Indianapolis

Tulsa

Santa Fe

Kahoolawe

Anchal Ahluwalia Sharon Huang Don Jake Leonard Matthew Louis Sophia Lykke Michelle Pederson Ashley Pournamdari Pearl Tobay Razi Zaidi

Sophia Lykke Christina Mehranbod Michelle Pederson Ashley Pournamdari Austin Pritzkat Pamela Sherman Nicholas Steinke Elle Taylor Pearl Tobay Julia Uriarte Joseph Villicana Melanie Wells

Springfield

San Angelo

Maui

Springfield

Kauai

Molokai

Peoria

Hartford

Philadelphia Harrisburg

Pittsburgh

Boston

Cleveland

Gary Ft. Wayne

Buffalo

Lansing Detroit

Chicago Davenport

Albany

Madison Milwaukee

Denver

El Paso

Lanai

UCLA

Anchal Ahluwalia Adam Ammentorp Brianna Bracy Elaine Burke Kristi Chu Gianna Esposito Michelle Hough Sharon Huang Steven Kagohara Joshua Lee Don Leonard Paul-Stuart Levchenko Karen Lobins

Colorado Springs

Tucson

Honolulu

Michihito Toyoshima

REDONDO’S TOP 25

Boulder

Omaha Lincoln

Des Moines

Wichita

Oahu

CSU Los Angeles

Nicole Garza Marissa Montano Tiffany Tran*

Cheyenne

Phoenix

Niihau

Sioux Falls

Las Vegas

Alexandra Goldberg Wyatt Levy Casey Lovano Kevin Tom

Concord

St. Paul

Waterloo

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

San Francisco

VT NH

Rapid City

Salt Lake City Provo

Cameron Ayala-Perez

Ryan Decker

Kristin Discipulo Nicole Reynoso Samantha Scott Megan Thomas

Reno

Cuesta Community College

Westmont College

Pierre

Augusta

Montpelier

Minneapolis

Ogden

Alec Kerry Linda Park Molly Simon

Chloe Downey

Sheridan

Lewis & Clark College

Duluth

Idaho Falls

Monica Rodriguez

Fargo

Bismarck

Portland CC

Sacramento State U.

University of San Francisco

Boise

Elle Taylor

Billings

Hayley Lane Jack Yates

UC Davis

Santa Clara University

Michael Kole Michelle Lowery

Butte

U. of Oregon

Annica Stitch

Nicholas Graham

West Point

Helena

Eugene

Sara Kunzer Makenna Murphy

CSU East Bay

Austin Moore

Vassar College

Spokane

Salem

San Jose State

Anna Barclay Gabriel Gordon Cheyne Hirota Spencer Kimbro Shelby Smith Jonathan Yang

Seattle Tacoma

Springfield College

Justin Yang

Devon Cohen Thomas Huberty Johnny Melendez

Portland

UC Merced

Pratt Institute

University of Colorado Boulder

Savannah Irving

Alaska

Humboldt State University

Hannah Ford Amanda Jahn Brianna Newman Gabriella Reynoso Tyler Salerno Alicia Wilson

Boise State University

Juneau

Kieran Newton

Natalie Slater

Jon Fitzhugh

Diego Arriola Kaelee Epstein Travis Fischvogt Lisa Lane Cassandra Rosenfeldt

Adam Ammentorp Elaine Burke Zachary Commins Joshua Fogelson Nicholas Herold David Kawa Paul Levchenko Bonnie Mata-Matthews Christina Mehranbod Sebastian Miller-Hack Laura O’Neill Austin Pritzkat Pamela Sherman

Fordham University St. John’s University

LDS Business College

San Francisco State

UC Berkeley

Kelsey Chung

U.S. Air Force

Dana Harter Jacqueline Herrera Jeselle Herrera Andrew Jampathong Joanna Moscol Jonathan Ruiz

U.S. Marines

My’Kal Brown Jordan Rael Joshua Rael Michael Hurtado Christopher Santana William Sewell Hunter Sholl Andrew Veliz

U.S. Military Alfredo Garcia

El Camino College Angela Adams Vanessa Alarcon Marilyn Alvarado Jeremy Alvarez Jordan Anderson Ashiana Antar Ashley Asta* Richard Atherton* Andrew Attalla Sammie Avalos Umar Awan* Yolanda Ayala Aimee Balderas Sikandar Bangash Brianna Barteky Peter Basaca* Shakeel Bashir Nadia Basich Gonzalo Bazan Lorena Becerra Matthew Bernstein* Christopher Bishop Danny Blanco Courtney Bonsall Trevor Butler* Andrea Cabus Brandon Campise Nicholas Carranza Alisa Carreras Sean Carroll Angela Castillo Joe Chacon Jideofor Chikeruba Christian Chua Lucas Colbert

Nicolette Costa Isa Cruz Megan Cunningham Zamira Curri Scott Cusella James Dale Karlee DesRosiers Ryan DesVoigne David Di Felice Jonathan Diaz* Timothy Dung Erica Duran Heather Elias Bruce Elzey Brady Engstrand Gregory Evans Alam Fatani Christopher Fernandez Jessica Flores Lauren Gall Abrianne Garcia* Jordan Garcia-Perez Adrian Gomez Alexis Hawthorne Kevin Hedlund Ana Sanudo* Garrett Hodges Dylan Holter Troy Horry Daniel Ibarra James Kalawai Douglas Jarquin Arlet Kawlakian Natalie King Andy Koo

Ashley Lara Patrick LaScala Alexandra Levins-Trail Kelsey Lewis Kayla Lopez John Ly Aaron Madden Emily Markarian Amanda Marlett Ryan Matlock-Key Alyssa McDonald Brian McMartin David McMillan Cody Mendiha Lindsay Minatodani Jasmine Minzlaff Cammille Mitchell Allen Montiel Albert Morales* Joana Moscol Alina Nelson Carlton Nguyen Joshua Obear* Benjamin Osman Yeri Padilla Gabriela Peraza Cecy Perez Enrique Perez Naomi Preciado Adriana Prudencio* Isabel Pulido Joshua Rael Ryan Ramos Guadalupe Rivera Olivia Rodriguez

Andrew Ruiz Cristina Ruiz* Jonathan Ruiz Jared Sachs* Stephanie Saenz Shawn Sanchez* Darylese Shook Katelyn Smith Stephanie Solano* Emilio Soto-Ascencio Kali Steeneken Henry Steinbroner Courtney Stockin Patrick Stork Taylor Strahle-Medina Michael Suh* Riley Theunissen Justin Thibodeaux Chantal Triay Ryan Uy Rachel Valdez Daniel Valencia Andrew Veliz Carina Vidovich Joseph Villicana* Alyssa Weddendorf Evan White Lennon Wiebers Devon Wiliams Kailei Wilson Alyssa Wolf* Weston Yanagihara Reo Yumiba

Features

10 p.

]Senior Issue,June 10, 2011]

Spirit fuels Ammentorp

Mehranbod will apply skills to philanthropy

by Kimberly Chapman

by Taylor Ballard

She walks up in front of her AP Calculus BC class, takes a deep breath, and starts singing about integrals and derivatives to the tune of Backstreet Boys’ “I want it that way.” The class looks around at each other and bursts into laughter. Senior Christina Mehranbod’s spirit and enthusiasm seems to cheer up everyone around her. Even with her full work load, she spends time giving back to the community. “It’s so fulfilling emotionally, spiritually, and physically. There are times when I’m past exhaustion but knowing I’m going to make a difference in one person’s life is so worth it,” Mehranbod said. According to Brandon Pritzkat, a friend of Mehrandbod’s, she has always been very giving. “Christina’s dedication to whatever she is working on at the time is unreal. She gives all of herself to her work, and that passion she has will bring her so much success in life,” Pritzkat said. Mehranbod has grown up in an Armenian and Persian home filled with love and volunteerism, which has shaped who she has become. “I was brought up around PTA events but I feel it’s my duty to give back because my parents are sort of living the ‘American Dream,’” Mehranbod said. Her parent’s shift from nothing to prosperity has led her to major in public health at UC Berkeley in the Fall so she can promote healthy living in other countries. “Because of what my parents went through I want to go to under developed countries and promote healthy living and sanitation and, ultimately, raise the standard of living. There have been times when I just wanted to cry like, ‘you are so stupid why would you do this to yourself’ but it’s been so worth it,” Mehranbod said. While Mehranbod has, at times, been overwhelmed with all her activities, she has gone on to be fourth in her class, participate in water polo, be a youth group leader, secretary of Cervantes, and president of Amnesty International, all while maintaining a strong bond to her culture. “Christina has always been a leader. She always is open to collaboration which I think shows the kind of person she is, a truly genuine and caring individual,” Pritzkat said.

PHOTO BY JON MARTIN Determined. Senior Christina Mehranbod has played water polo for three years.

PHOTO BY MOLLY SIMON Spirit Buddies. Seniors Adam Ammentorp, Hayley Lane, and Christina Mehranbod sit on the basketball court of the new gym, where they could usually be heard cheering for the girls’ basketball team. School spirit has been a main componenet in all of their high school careers.

Lane dedicated to Flock by Laura Shodall

Senior Hayley Lane didn’t leave dress up behind her. She carried it with her into high school. Whether it be a volleyball, lacrosse, football, basketball game or a school wide day like Costa Nerd Day, Lane always knows how to go “all out” and bring the spirit to Redondo events. “It’s all about school spirit,” Lane said. “Having everyone rally behind our sports teams is such a great experience. I love the rivalry between schools.” According to Lane, The Flock and being an editor on yearbook made her high school experience worthwhile. “Dressing in feet pajamas, tu-tus, and big sombreros is what it’s all about,” she said. “The Flock is a nice way to go out and have some fun, and yearbook just helped cultivate my creativity.” As the Vice President of Flock, senior Allison Field has been a witness to Lane’s constant enthusiasm and school pride. “Hayley and I have been best friends since preschool and she’s always had good energy,” Field said. “No matter what Hayley is doing she’s pumped up about it. I absolutely love that about her.” One of Field’s favorite spirit moments involved Lane’s infamous red footsie pajamas. “We were getting ready for a game once and she just turns to me and asks me if she should wear her dad’s red footsie pajamas,”

Field said. “Of course I told her it was an awesome idea. I think that she has these crazy visions of what she wants to do and I’m always there to encourage her amazing ideas.” Lane loves to make an appearance when cheering. “My favorite spirit item has got to be the red foot pajamas, hands down,” Lane said.

“Hayley and I have been best friends since preschool and she’s always had good energy. No matter what Hayley is doing she’s pumped up about it. I absolutely love that about her.” —Allison Field

“But I got to say, my suspenders and tutu are definitely second best.” According to Lane, her favorite “spirit” moment was at one of the boy’s volleyball games. “One of the players from the opposite team was going to serve and to mess him up, the Flock yelled ‘wait wait wait!’ He totally missed his serve. Now it’s a big inside joke with us,” she said. As a member of the girls’ lacrosse team for her junior and senior years, Lane brought spirit to the games and her teammates, al-

ways being encouraging. “I’ve known Hayley since she was a kid, and she’s always been enthusiastic,” lacrosse Coach Tom Borgia said. “She absolutely is the supreme team player.” Lane’s spirit and willingness to pump up the crowd and the players only grew exponentially as she carried on with the sport. “Last year we had a new JV team and here was this brand new junior who was pumped up and ready to play the game, who was so spirited and got everyone involved,” Borgia said. “As a senior, she continued that and was always cheering the team on and was always into the game.” Borgia believes that Lane’s constant energy and spirit sets an example for younger players. “The younger kids really look up to her,” Borgia said. “It’s good for them to see how involved she is with encouraging her teammates.” Field also looks to Lane as an inspiration. “She really inspires me when she’s spirited and so in to what she’s doing,” Field said. “It makes me get pumped up.” According to Lane, Flock and yearbook have made her into the person she is today. “They have brought out my spirit, creativity, friendliness, and just plain weirdness. I have met my friends for life in those programs,” she said. “Both of those things are ultimately why I decided to choose the University of Oregon because of the spirit and the majors they have.”

We know him as the smart guy. The funny guy. The giant guy. The friendly guy. The athletic guy. But most of all, the spirited guy. Senior Adam Ammentorp uses his school spirit to benefit him in high school and the future. Ammentorp made a commitment to himself that he would be involved in more school activities and attend more sports games his senior year in addition to continuing to be a part of Cervantes, Journalism, being the Varsity football captain, and more. “I have been way more spirited this year. I wasn’t even an official member of The Flock, but since I went to every game and cheered with them, it became accepted that I was a part of the group,” Ammentorp said. Flock president Hayley Lane, senior, was glad to have Adam in the Flock. “Adam is the loudest and the nicest guy I have ever met. He is always with the Flock ‘flocking’ it up,” Lane said. Ammentorp believes that being on the football team has caused him to become more spirited. “Whenever you’re a part of a big team, it increases the pride that you have. I spent a lot of time in football, so I know how much work goes into playing a sport. It is gratifying where there’s fans at the game cheering you on, so I like to return the favor,” Ammentorp said. One of Ammentorp’s favorite memories in high school is when he watched the girls volleyball team beat Costa this year. “When they lost the first game of the match, I was physically upset. And when they ended up winning the match, it was validation because I knew they could do it and it was so much fun to watch them,” Ammentorp said. Ammentorp’s favorite games to cheer at were girl’s volleyball and basketball. “I know a lot of people on the teams and my voice carries really well in a gym. I like to get in the other team’s heads and it’s easy to do that where your voice can easily be heard by everyone,” Ammentorp said. Lane loves going to volleyball games with Adam because she believes it makes the experience better. “Adam and I make up cheers and we say things to the other team like ‘wait, wait, wait,’ when they are about to serve. Adam has impacted my life because I will always strive to be as loud as him,” Lane said. School spirit was so important to Ammentorp that it affected his college choice. “I was choosing between UC Davis and UC Berkeley. When I visited Berkeley, I noticed a completely new type of energy there,” Ammentorp said. Ammentorp plans on staying spirited in college. “At Berkeley, they have a program called The Rally Committee which is a special group in the cheering section that leads the cheers. It’s like The Flock except on a bigger scale, so I will definitely be cheering my head off at every game,” Ammentorp said.

Biggest Regret

“My biggest regret in high school was nothing.”

“My biggest regret in high school was not trying out any other sports.”

Future Plans

“My future plans are to join the Harbor baseball team and to become a bodybuilder or police officer.”

“My future plans are to play soccer and University of Hawaii at Hilo and to become an athletic trainer.”

Advice for Freshmen

“My advice for freshmen is to do everything you want to do.”

Most Memorable Moment Nycholas “My most memorable moment was senior excursion.” Bongiovanni

“My advice for freshmen is to meet as many people as you can and have a good time, but stay out of trouble.”

Alex Marin

Most Memorable Moment “My most memorable moment was tying PV in soccer in double overtime.”

Biggest Regret

“My biggest regret is not participating in a lot of school activities during my earlier years here.”

“My biggest regret was not dressing up for spirit weeks!”

Future Plans

“I want to be a track-star or dancer.”

“My future plans are to have a great college experience, find a nice family, and a great job.”

Advice for Freshmen

Advice for Freshmen “My advice to freshman is to not take high school so lightly because even though it might seem likes it’s no fun at first, it hits you and then you look back saying: “How is it over already?” I believe some of your best days are in high school.”

Taylor Bongiovanni Most Memorable Moment

“My most memorable moment was either this year’s prom or dancing with my crew “Bootique” in the 2011 dance show case to “Delerious” with some great friends.”

“Don’t take the school activities for granted and don’t get into drama.”

Ruby Davis

Most Memorable Moment “My most memorable moment was making it to CIF for track.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011]

Bland stays on track

Peak, nice guy on campus

by Tati Celantano

by Matt Brancolini

Approaching the finish line, he is right there, but it seems so far away, as if the end is running away from him. Pushing to win, he crosses the line and grasps the best feeling he knows, accomplishment. Senior Dezhan Bland is undoubtedly the best of the best when it comes to cross country and track. Despite this, his commitment to his grades comes first. However, Bland credits his grades to cross country and track. He keeps his grades up for the sports and to graduate. A priority in Bland’s high school career was staying eligible; by keeping up in his classes and making sure he had passing grades. In Bland’s pursuit to improve his GPA, he found that the techniques he used for distance running could also help him with his academics. “Cross country takes mental focus because of the long runs, so I use that focus and bring it into the classroom,” he said. “Track is more personal because you’re on your own and the races are based on you, so you learn not to rely on others.” He found the additional motivation to work harder in school once he started spending time with people on his team. “[My] friends on my team had a GPA of about 4.0, so I wanted to have good grades as well,” he said. Bland believes that this motivation and competition among his teammates has brought them all closer. “We all work together and have become really tight. We always hangout and it’s like one big family, ” Bland said. One such instance is the solid friendship he and senior Chris Bassman have developed. “[Being on the same team together] has been the greatest experience,” Bassman said. “Dezhan is one of the hardest working guys on the team and is an inspiration.” Bland has also grown closer to head track and cross-country coach Julie Ferron, who has become a “school mom” for him. “She is always there motivating and cheering me on,” Bland said. “She stays on top of my grades and lets me know if I have a slip up.” Since sophomore year, Ferron has watched Bland mature as an athlete and as a person. “Dezhan in tenth grade isn’t the same Dezhan in twelfth grade,” she said. “He has grown into a young man, who has perseverance, great work ethic, and has academically improved.” Now Ferron will see him off with these guiding principles as he graduates. “ I want him to get into a college where, not only is he able to compete in cross country and track, but he is able to find success academically for a future career,” Ferron said. “This will be a chance for him to break away, grow, and become independent. I wish him the greatest success.”

Sure, it’s true: senior Ethan Peak can’t spell to save his life. But it’s also true that Peak is, by far, the friendliest person in the class of 2011. Best friend of four years, senior Alec Ortiz, can attest to that. “He has such an innate ability to misspell every single word, including two letter ones,” he said. “He may not be the smartest guy around, but he knows enough to be friendly to every single person.” His inability to spell, however, only adds to his relatable personality. According to Ortiz, Peak sees the good in everyone and is thus able to be amiable to all people. Peak believes that the best connections were made in water polo. The most notable were within the ‘Core Four,’ which includes him, Ortiz, and seniors Jake Kirchner and Andy Danryd. “I’m really happy that I played polo all four years here,” Peak said. “I’ll always remember when we went to CIF my sophomore year and being a part of the Core Four.” Coach Mark Rubke believes that Peak is complex, in the sense that he had issues that were affecting him emotionally but were not affecting how he treated others. Rubke attributes this positive attitude to a development in maturity. “He showed tremendous growth,” Rubke said. “Ethan typified what every coach hopes to see in his senior athletes.” Peak demonstrated a level of maturity and fortitude he never showed until his senior season, according to Rubke. “Ethan truly developed and practiced a generous spirit,” Rubke said. “It was the most remarkable thing.” From the hardest to the easiest task, in the pool and away from the pool, if someone needed help, Peak was there without hesitation. “He became a strong ally to the coaches and to the other students,” Rubke said.

PHOTO BY JAKE COLLINS

Barrelled. Senior Grant Wessel drops in on a big Hermosa pier wave. Wessel played soccer and baseball and he surfed during high school.

Wessel finds solace in sports by Jessi Shipley

Between playing hard for sports and working hard in school, senior Grant Wessel didn’t have much time for anything else. This, however, didn’t bother him in the least. For Wessel, partaking in sports was the highlight of his past four years. “Sports were important to me because it was my time to get away from school, my parents, or anything else that was bugging me,” he said. “When I would get on the field, everything would just go away and it would just be me and my friends having a good time.” Wessel played baseball for all of his high school career, soccer for three years, and he surfed for three years as well. Although oppposing teams tended to take Wessel lightly due to his stature, he surprised everyone out on the field. “Grant may be the smallest guy on the team, but he comes out onto the field with the most intensity,” junior Jake Jimenez said. Similarly, his size was often an obstacle he faced during matches.

“It’s definitely a disadvantage because my height doesn’t help attract any scouts so I can’t get looked at by colleges,” Wessel said. “For me, it was just ‘Work really hard to prove yourself and hope that someone notices.’” Toward the end of the season, Wessel’s hard work and patience was not in vain. El Camino College’s baseball coach contacted Wessel and wants him to play for their team, which in turn will open more oppor-

"I'll continue to play baseball as long as I can, but I'll always surf forever. I know that."—Grant Wessel tunities for Wessel. Wessel hopes to attend San Diego State University and play baseball there after El Camino. Recognized most for his athleticism on the soccer and baseball field, Wessel has also shown an insurmountable love for the ocean. “When it’s not baseball season, I would

Aspel attributes success to parents by Joanie Schneider

Well-rounded and persistent are two words that describe senior Brett Aspel. Aspel’s passion for softball led her to play the sport for the last 13 years. Her stats include a batting average of .333 and three home runs this past season. Although softball takes up most of her time, she is still able to enjoy scuba diving, wakeboarding, and playing the piano. She is also the head student of the Hands of Art program, in which she organized the materials before and after every project. Aspel’s parents, Pam and Steve, support her in all that she does. They have been by her side through it all, encouraging her to take on new challenges.

“I knew that with Brett we would have a star on our hands,” Pam said. Her mother has been the rock behind her talent. Without her mother by her side, Aspel would be unable to perform well, according to Brett. “She is amazing and very determined on the field. She is a smart player, who really knows the game and how to react in certain situations,” Pam said. Aspel’s parents are extremely proud of how she handles herself when under pressure. “Brett came back and continued to play sports after an accident where she got hit in the mouth with a ball while pitching. Her teeth got knocked to the back of her mouth and one was completely extracted,” Steve

Contemplating. Peak believes the death of his mother helped him mature.

Future Plans

“I’m going to CSU East Bay to study Business Psychology.”

“Next year I plan to study sociology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and figure out what i want to do with my life.”

Most Memorable Moment

Ashiana Antar

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

“My biggest regret was not studying hard my sophomore year.”

“My biggest regret is taking AP calculus my senior year. I like Mr. Baumgartner, but not calculus.”

“It was when Rachel Scarlett screamed ‘Whose house?’ after Riki Murakami sunk a far three to beat PV by one with about three seconds left in the game. 10-0, baby! My final season with my wolf pack was the best time of my life. I loved finally beating Costa and PV and I will never forget anything that my group of seniors worked so hard for.”

said. Despite her injury, Aspel continued to play softball. Her perseverance was rewarded with a scholarship to Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is headed there this fall in hopes of playing against other highly competitive softball players. “Chaminade is the school that I have always dreamed of attending. Not only is appealing because of the weather, but also because of the softball team. I know I will have a great time” Aspel said. Aspel believes she is deeply indebted to her parents for raising her the way they did. “I cherish everything my parents have done for me and I love spending time with them,” Aspel said. “I couldn’t have accomplished what I have without their support.”

Biggest Regret

Allie Goldberg

surf four or five days a week, but since baseball season started I only get to surf on the weekends,” he said. Wessel’s most vivid memories are of his experiences surfing. “It was a good size day, like eight feet or so, and I tried to catch this wave that was seven feet,” he said. “I was in no way going to make the drop, but I already started to paddle for it, so I threw myself over the ledge and grabbed my rail backside and fell hard. When I came up, everybody was laughing. When I looked down though, I had sliced my foot opened and had to get five stitches.” According to Wessel, in spite of the injuries, surfing evokes a feeling that he cannot describe. The ocean is powerful and dynamic. It is like nothing else he has ever felt. Much like baseball, it allows him to zone out and be in his own world. Unlike baseball, however, Wessel does not believe surfing will take him anywhere, career-wise. Wessel believes that baseball holds more oppurtunities. “I’ll continue to play baseball as long as I can, but I’ll always surf forever. I know that,” Wessel said.

“My most memorable moment was when I scored 16 points on my birthday in a game against costa and getting my junior year.”

Michelle Lowery

Biggest Regret

“I know I could have taken harder classes and I also could have done better in the easy classes I did take.”

“I wish that I started water polo and swim my freshman year and stuck with it all four years.”

Future Plans

“I’m going to El Camino for two years, and then I plan to transfer to UCLA to become a nurse.”

“I’m going to the University of Colorado at Boulder and I’m still undecided as to what I want to do, but maybe I want to become a teacher.”

Most Memorable Moment

Advice for Freshman

“My most memorable moment was comning back from an ACL tear during my senior year and helping my basketball team go undefeated in Bay League.”

“High school goes by fast, so enjoy every second of it and do as much as you can.”

Devon Cohen

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2011]

Burke devotes time to her passion for painting

Cruz accepts his sexuality by volunteering at helpline service by Vanessa Alarcon

by Olivia Loveland

If you’ve ever had a class with Laney Burke, you know that she has strong opinions and is frequently asked for her thoughts when controversial topics come up in class discussions. But what most people don’t know about Burke is that her dad’s side of the family is artistically driven and she has been taking art classes since the age of seven. “She’s a bomb artist. Her house is decked out in all her oil paintings. She does Renaissance style so it’s super classy. It’s like walking into a personal gallery,” friend David Kawa, senior, said. The paintings that line the walls of her house range from pastels to acrylic and more recently, oil paintings of portraits. “I like to paint people because I like to paint fabric and I’m fascinated by peoples’ faces because each face is so unique,” Burke said. A room in her house is dedicated to over 50 instruments. Her dad is in a band but Laney was somewhat rebellious and took up painting instead of an instrument, unlike every other member of her father’s side of the family. However, at school her focus shifts to her demanding AP schedule and her interest in science. “Laney has always seemed motivated by a true understanding of challenging scientific concepts. Good grades came along with this, but were not her primary motivation,” AP chemistry teacher Linda Dillard said. While in Dillard’s class, Laney’s interest in pursuing a medical career and wanting to become an oncologist grew. She looked to Mrs. Dillard for advice on how to get into a good medical school. “Laney is a hard working student; she gives 100 percent at all times. She never gives up, she keeps working until she figures it out, no matter how challenging,” Dillard said.

PHOTO BY ERINN MIDDO

Conversing. Lobins talks to fellow Key Club member, junior Mitchell Wong. She enjoys leading Key Club, but also talks to club members.

Lobins inspires peers through club leadership by Gianna Esposito

Senior Karen Lobins is more than a super-achiever — she is a scholastic superhero, defying the laws of the universe, stretching time and space to achieve the impossible. Well, she may not stretch time, but she definitely knows how to manage it. With 12 AP classes throughout her high school career and five clubs — two of which she leads — she had to use self-discipline. “[Doing several hours of homework a day] was just like a regimen for me,” Lobins said. “I was a homework-doing robot. I got really good grades and everything, but I was very tired.” Although the amount of work she had to do could become tiresome, Lobins enjoyed it. “I’m happiest when I’m busiest,” Lobins said. “I love the feeling of being productive and being on top of my game.” Not only does Lobins receive high marks

in school, she also excels as a club president in Key Club and in Science Olympiad, a competitive academic team. According to sophomore Julia Tang, fellow Key Club member, much of the success of Key Club this year can be attributed to Lobins’ leadership. “She definitely inspires people to join Key Club and do work,” Tang said. “I feel like she has this inner commitment, this inner drive to do the best in everything she does and it really inspires everybody else.” Lobins believes that she has grown as a leader over the course of the year. “I learned the difference between leading and dictating,” Lobins said. “Leading is so much more than just barking orders. It’s making sure everyone gets heard, too. I think people forget that.” Lobins also excelled in Academic Decathlon (Acadec) this year. Her most memorable moment of Acadec was her

achievement of a score of 8 out of 10 in a competitive event. “Walking back to my teammates’ cheers and glowing faces was a really proud moment for me,” Lobins said. Despite her busy schedule, Lobins maintained a full social life. “School took up a lot of my time and so did extracurricular [activities], but I always had time for friends,” Lobins said. “I [would] also incorporate ‘hangout’ time with studying time, too.” Lobins also enjoyed the volunteer work involved in the clubs, especially Key Club, and plans to continue to volunteer when she attends University of California Santa Barbara in the fall, as well as for the rest of her life. “I’m always trying to give back to the community, even if it’s just helping out with school or [doing] whatever I can do just to make the world a better place,” Lobins said.

Senior Nic Cruz spends hours at Community Helpline, but to him it’s not just a place to volunteer. Cruz sees the helpline as an extended family. “It definitely helped me get through high school,” Cruz said. Cruz had his own struggles throughout high school, including dealing with his sexuality. “I was afraid of rejection and that people wouldn’t love me if they knew who I was,” Cruz said. Cruz “came out” spring of his senior year. “When I ‘came out,’ it was during a sexuality talk at helpline training because it was the place I felt safest at,” Cruz said. Cruz knew at a young age that he was gay and the support from volunteers at the helpline helped him get through his fears. “I wouldn’t be here if it was not for being a part of Community Helpline,” Cruz said. Cruz has been influenced by the helpline since he started volunteering there. “I started to love it the more I came to work,” Cruz said. Cruz’s AP English teacher, Leila Williams, recognized Cruz’s dedication to the helpline. “Most AP students put a premium on their time, but rather than spending his time relaxing, studying, or socializing, Nic spent his time helping others,” Williams said. According to Cruz’s friend, Judith Liem, he helps his friends by being supportive just as the volunteers at helpline did for him. “Nic is one of the kindest and most considerate people I know. He’s really easy to talk to and a very supportive friend,” Liem said. Cruz is attending UC Riverside next year and wants to become a therapist. “I want to help people who felt like me. They feel like they can’t reach out to anyone or if they feel like people don’t love them,” Cruz said.

Pederson is inspired by photography by Vanessa Alarcon

PHOTO BY ALEX SHEA

Painting friends. Burke holds up an oil painting of her friend, senior Annica Stitch.

Senior Michelle Pederson looks through the lens in her new camera. She takes the picture of the pine needles and is immediately inspired by the natural beauty. “It’s the picture that made me want to keep taking pictures,” Pederson said. Pederson is attending UCLA next year and she plans to major in Design/Media arts. “[It’s] something I want to continue to do for the rest of my life,” Pederson said. For Pederson, doing art and design is a passion and according to her AP Studio Art

teacher, Debbie Smith, she excels in art. “Michelle is a multi-talented young lady. She is a very good artist as well as an accomplished photographer. Her art pieces often show her great sense of humor and sometimes quirky side,” Smith said. Pederson has not only been involved in art and design, but she has also done some humanitarian work. The t-shirts from her “Be a Catalyst” project, which she started to build a well in Africa, can be seen around campus. “It felt really good to apply something

I like to do into something that was really meaningful,” Pederson said. Pederson plans to continue to do similar things in the future. “I’d like to devote time and energy to doing things that are helpful and that I can be proud of,” Pederson said. Smith appreciates Pederson’s hard work and positive attitude. “She has been an ideal student and valuable co-worker and I can only hope to have more students like her in AP Studio Art,” Smith said.

PHOTO BY ERINN MIDDO

Laughing. Cruz is comfortable with his sexuality through the help of Community Helpline.

invaluable.

Biggest Regret

“Never talking, especially to people I wanted to get to know. Another big regret was waiting until senior year to start taking photos for journalism/yearbook.”

“Not being more outgoing and not taking a sport.”

Future Plans

“I’m going to CSU Long Beach and majoring in Computer Science to work in artificial intelligence. I’m very indecisive though so I am not dead set on my major.”

“To go to CSU Long Beach and major in Biology, then go to Berkeley for optometry school.”

Advice for Freshmen

Advice for Freshmen “Don’t be insecure girl, work that up-do.” Celeste Manughian- Most Memorable Moment “When Dr. Heredia said ‘that’s what she said’ to the class without knowing what it Peter meant.”

“Join clubs and be outgoing because it’s a fun way to meet new people,

try new things and sometimes even help the community.” Cosi Manughian- Most Memorable Moment Peter “Seeing one of my favorite bands in concert. There was so much energy and I got to be with one of my best friends.”

Biggest Regret

“Not finding a passion earlier on. I feel like I could have spent more time working on it instead of being a lazy bum.”

“I broke my leg in 10th grade, so I couldn’t run hurdles for track and win gold.”

Future Plans

“I will be attending UC Berkeley and studying at their college of Environmental Design.”

“I’m going to attend UCLA this fall as a Design/Media Arts major so I can work to attaining my dream job as a Visual Effects Artist.”

Advice for Freshmen

Matt Louis

“Go find those friends that you can always count on. There will be moments throughout high school where you will need help. Having good friends to back you up in times of need is invaluable.”

Most Memorable Moment “Going cross-country by bike with my dad the summer of junior year. The sights were amazing, I made many friends along the way, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Wasn’t too bad of a thing to put on college apps either.”

Josh Fogelson

“Don’t feel pressured to join a sport or club right away because you have four years to get involved in school, but it does help you get integrated in school if you do.”

Most Memorable Moment “This year our waterpolo team beat Brentwood Academy by scoring the winning goal in the last 30 seconds of play.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2010 ]

Herold works toward his goal by Alyssa Sanchez

He is running his heart out at the Warren Staufer meet, pushing his body to the limits, and finishes the three mile race in 15 minutes and 30 seconds flat. This is a new personal record for senior Nicholas Herold. According to several teammates this was an “all time race” for Herold and inspired the rest of his team members to succeed. Herold not only was an exceptional captain for the boys cross country team but excelled academically. His hard work is what led him to his acceptance to The University of California Berkeley. Herold has maintained a strong drive throughout high school. “Three years ago when I visited Berkeley I fell in love with the campus and decided that I would do whatever I needed to do to get into that school,” Herold said. Julie Ferron, initially his AP European History teacher and Cross Country coach,

thinks highly of Herold as both a runner and as a student. “When I had Nick as a student he was strong academically yet very quiet which made me want to get to know him,” Ferron said. “A really kind of funny thing is that although he’s a really strong academically it’s surprising how much of a scatter brain he is.” Ferron believed that being captain of the boy’s team was a great thing for Herold. “It helped him mature, grow and kept him motivated in the boys varsity team,” said Ferron. “Nick was a great captain and was known for bringing fun and bringing a small sense of light heartedness when the situation got a little tough.” Running in high school is what defined Herold and what led him to success. “Running and school both require effort and persistence to succeed so when you learn how to adapt to one the second comes naturally, and I first adapted to running,” Herold said.

Ives gains strength through faith by Allison Salazar

PHOTO BY NOUR KABBANI

Perseverance. Herold finishes his race in his last Cross Country season.

Herold feels that he played an important part on the team. “I think I will always be known most for being a leader in cross country, being

friendly to any person that needed help, and relieving the pressure off the other runners,” Herold said. “I would not have wanted to spend my high school years any other way.”

Kim returns to homeland to join army by Brianna Egan

“Julgupda.” Korean: to be joyful. Or Jun Kim. Kim’s favorite word carries much more than connotations of happiness, it captures both his Korean pride and his outlook on life. “I like to be happy because I want to look at positive things in life. When I’m faced with negative things, I try to focus on the positive,” Kim said. Kim plans to return to Korea to join a Korean university by spring 2012. “I was born in Gwangju, Korea and I immigrated to America along with my mother when I was in third grade, mainly for my education - to learn English. It’s been a really good nine years and I don’t regret anything,” Kim said. “I’m very excited to go back and I like changes.” He hopes to study economy or electrical

engineering at Korea University, in Seoul, Korea. He also plans to attend Korean compulsory military training for two years. “I actually am looking forward to [military camp.] I feel it’s my duty and I’ve learned that your army friends are the people you meet in the barracks and that stay with you for life,” Kim said. He plans to maintain connections with his friends from high school, who describe him as obsessed with all things Korean. “Everything [Jun]’s interested in has to do with Korean culture. He’s always on Korean web sites and listening to Korean pop music,” his friend, senior Zac Commins said. “He came over to my house the other day and was going crazy over Park [Ji-Sung], the only Korean player on [the] Manchester United [soccer team].” He is especially looking forward to living in downtown Seoul, Korea.

“I love the nightlife and the atmosphere there because you can stroll around the streets late at night, and everything is still bustling. Everything is compacted together and public transportation is amazing,” Kim said. “I can’t wait.” Just like the vibrance of his home country, Senior Karen Lobins feels Kim’s character will allow him to succeed. “Jun is a really smart, yet a loud, happygo-lucky guy and an overall well-rounded person,” Lobins said. “I know he’ll do well wherever he goes and he has definitely influenced me to be a better, happier person... he just lights up the room.” Besides maintaining optimism, Kim encourages his friends and others to learn more about the “beautiful” Korean culture. “Don’t be afraid to learn something new,” he said. “Knowing both Korean and American

culture has widened my perspective on life,” he said. “It’s nice to know that once I’m in Korea, I will have connections to people on the other side of the world.”

PHOTO BY ERINN MIDDO

Pride. Kim holds the Korean flag and represent the national soccer team.

Ulizio makes sacrifices for his future by Camille Duong

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT ULIZIO

Pulling out all the stops. Ulizio runs the ball down the field in a game of his last high school football season.

The last game of any season brings up sad and relieved emotions for the coaches, parents and especially players. For senior Matt Ulizio his last high school football game was just that. Ulizio’s most memorable high school moment is his last game. “It was a relief but sad at the same time,” Ulizio said. After playing for four years Ulizio has

spent countless hours practicing and feels that it has paid off. “Senior year was made better by being on football and starting,” Ulizio said. Ulizio looks forward to attending Pennsylvania State in the fall and majoring in civil engineering. Despite missing the comforts of home, Ulizio is thrilled to attend Penn State. “I think that it is a cool new experience and it’s only for four years,” Ulizio said.

Ulizio will leave behind girlfriend sophomore Sasha Brantley. “Sometimes you have to sacrifice a relationship to let the other person succeed in what they want to do. I know that he loves that school and in the end I know we will always be friends and have a relationship,” Brantley said. Ulizio believes that everything he did had a purpose. “I enjoyed high school and I have no regrets,” he said.

Biggest Regret

“My biggest regret is not joining a club when I was younger and getting involved with outside activities other than sports.”

“My biggest regret is going to Mira Costa my sophomore year.”

Future Plans

“I plan to study Materials Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, surf, sleep, and go on a European trip.”

“In the future I am going to play baseball in college and study to become a physical therapist. I hope to get a scholarship out of Harbor college.”

Most Memorable

“My most memorable moment was singing about marijuana legalizationtion in English class for my senior project.”

“The most memorable moment I had was beating Mira Costa [in baseball] at home and striking out the last guy to win the game.”

Drew Kozain

Advice “My advice to Freshmen is to get organized quick, do as many things as you can, enjoy high school, and make a lot of friends.”

Wyatt Levy

Advice “We never get to be this age again so enjoy it because time flies fast.”

Biggest Regret

“My biggest regret is not getting my drivers licence when I turned sixteen.”

“My biggest regret is not getting a job the summer of junior year.”

Future Plans

“I plan to go to UC Santa Barbara and then to law school.”

“After high school I am moving out and attending CSU Long Beach. I plan to become an aerospace engineer.”

Most Memorable

“My most memorable moment I had was when Ziegler got Rick rolled.”

“My most memorable moment was winning Bay League finals in overtime for wrestling last year.”

Advice

Baron Abramowitz

Balancing all AP classes, an internship, and three jobs is time consuming, yet senior Brent Ives does all this and more. He plays guitar, rock-climbs, and reads about the string theory or quantum mechanics in his free time. What few people know is the big role religion plays in his life. “My life philosophy is my religion,” he said. “I am a Christian which basically means nothing in modern American culture.” Ives attends Branch of Hope, an Orthodox Presbyterian church in Torrance. His strong beliefs and faith are a reason why he is “set apart” and different from his peers. “On a certain level it is hard for me to relate to people that view the world with a perspective that is fundamentally discreet from my own,” he said. His close friend, senior Lidia Lopez, believes his religion has given him the strength to persevere and never give up. “His faith, I believe, has motivated him to move on through the rough things in his life and to become a better person,” Lopez said. Ives is known for being academically inclined and gifted but only his close friends know the influence religion has had on him. “My faith is a huge part of my life. As little as it shows, my religion is the biggest part of who I am,” he said. Ives will be attending Northern Arizona University this fall. He plans on majoring in mechanical engineering and joining the ROTC program. After college Ives wants to join the Army because it is something he feels that he needs to be a part of. “When I say that I feel the Army is my calling, I mean that I believe God has given me the passion and commitment to devote myself to the fight for freedom and justice,” he said. “It sounds corny to a lot of kids around here because we all live incredibly sheltered lives, but all the terrible human rights abuses are still happening today.” Lopez supports his decision to join the army but feels that he is not living up to his potential. “I frankly don’t think that the army is his calling because he is such a smart person and could excel in a more intellectual field. I do believe however, that he is one of those people who has the inner strength to deal with the emotional pain of war,” she said. Ives’ strong character makes him appear antisocial because he does not rely on anyone but himself. He believes his honesty and humor is what makes him difficult to understand. “Brent may seem like a cold or emotionless person and somewhat intimidating, but in reality he is one of the sweetest guys. He is always a gentleman and he is a friend you can always count on,” Lopez said.

“My advice to freshmen is don’t blink.”

Brennan Abramowitz

Advice “I would advise freshman to play a sport because you meet so many people and make friends.”

Features

14 p.

]Senior Issue, June 10, 2011]

Scarlett succeeds on and off the court by Michelle Hough

Some students leave Redondo having made a lasting impact on their school. To those close to her, Rachel Scarlett is one of those students. “She has a fire in her that is unbelievable,” senior Shayna Stuart said of her teammate. Stuart’s sentiment is indicative of how Scarlett became such a prominent figure on campus. She has been able to juggle basketball, AP classes, and a social life. To her friends, Scarlett’s drive and exuberant personality are what make her special. “I want to make a change in the world. I feel like everyone is put on this earth to do something, to make the world better, and I am motivated to get there,” Scarlett said. Scarlett lives in Los Angeles and drives at least 45 minutes to school every morning for her zero period class. Scarlett used to drive over an hour to her freshman high school, Chatsworth until the commute became too burdensome. Although she lives near a high

school in L.A., she chose Redondo sophomore year because of the opportunities. “Education is the best path to success and helping the world,” Scarlett said. Scarlett has maximized her success in high school by fully committing to her activities, her favorite being basketball. “My most unforgettable memories were shared with my teammates. We shared a deeper bond than just friendship — we were a family,” Scarlett said. Scarlett’s performance on the team emphasizes the determination of her personality according to her teammates. “We all work towards the same goal [and] strive to be the best,” Scarlett said. Stuart believes Scarlett was a leader and inspiration to the team. “Ray-Ray was always the leader for our howling and getting us pumped. She was a key member of the team and you could always count on her for that little extra spark,” Stuart said. Scarlett’s resolve is complemented by her

Flores wants to become a doctor to help disabled by Danny Garzon

PHOTO BY JAKE COLLINS

Shooting for the stars. Rachel Scarlett prepares to shoot at a game against Mira Costa.

fun personality. “She is just an amazing person. I couldn’t have imagined the team without her giggles,” Stuart said. Scarlett did her best to utilize her opportunities. Her determination to achieve stems from other’s doubts of her capabilities. “I hate when people underestimate me [so] it pushes me. When someone puts me

down and says I can’t do something, it only makes me want to achieve it more. I say ‘You’ll see, I’m going to work hard and get there,’” Scarlett said. Scarlett will be attending UCSB in the fall and is determined to succeed. “I want to be an engineer. I know it’s going to be difficult, but I will make it,” Scarlett said.

Family issues do not stop Noriega by Nic Cruz

PHOTO courtesy of Ashley noriega

Family first. Ashley Noriega poses with her mother and brother. She credits her mother for keeping her strong and helping her stay on track.

Ashley Noriega was able to push herself in school and remain positive even while dealing with problems at home. Noriega had to get a permit to attend RUHS because she did not have access to advanced classes and opportunities in her old school district. “I am very grateful. Redondo is an incredible school,” she said. “I wanted something better. I wanted to push myself.” Noriega’s admiration for her mother motivated her to do her best in school. “My mom is the reason why I am who I am today,” she said. “Without her love and support, I wouldn’t have graduated.” Noriega considers her mother her main support system, as her father has never been

there for her. “He had a dream [to become a doctor],” she says. “He didn’t care about who he had to sacrifice or who he had to hurt.” According to Noriega, her father has been verbally abusive to her mother and neglectful to Noriega and her brother. This has caused a strain on her relationship with her father. “It showed how little he cared,” Noriega said. “I don’t really trust him. I’ve forgiven him, but I realized he cannot change.” Noriega believes her mother always sacrificed for her family. “She never abandoned us. It was always us before herself,” she said. Noriega wants to make her mother proud and wants to show her how grateful she is to

have her. “I want to compensate her for everything. She’s the shoulder I cry on. She’s the one who is always there for me,” she said. Noriega’s junior AP English Language teacher, Leila Williams, saw this determination and strength in her former student. “She had very insightful remarks that showed how compassionate she is,” Williams said. “I have a lot of admiration and respect for her.” Williams respects Noriega for working hard even while dealing with problems within her family. “I admire her perseverance and courage to get to school everyday,” Williams said. “And where does she get that courage? That’s the magical part of Ashley.”

Kawa’s personality helps him to relate to others by Bethany Kawa

David Kawa is no stranger to being a black sheep in many aspects of his life. But instead of viewing this as a negative, Kawa embraces being an individual, actively seeking to go against the status quo in terms of style and personality. “I tried to dress normal in middle school [but] I always ended up being off by just a bit. Now, I’m rocking grandma jackets just for the hell of it,” he said. Kawa is often seen in either a cat hat or wolf hat always paired with skinny jeans and bright orange Dr. Seuss converse. He doesn’t care what people think, which allows

him to freely express himself. “I like animals and I like my head to be warm, so I wear hats that look like animals. I thought it was hilarious when all the random scene kids started wearing fur hats. I felt like such a hipster,” he said. Kawa’s personality differs from most. He always tries to be accepting and tolerant of everyone, and his friendliness makes a lasting impact on those who get to know him. “I try to just smile at people in general. It’s just easier to be nice. Plus, frowns give you wrinkles,” he said. According to his best friends Laney Burke and Kristi Chu, David is always meeting new people and making friends.

“Because he is quirky, he accepts everybody else for their quirkiness,” Chu said. Burke agrees. “David is witty and funny and sees a positive side to everyone. He’s also way smarter than he thinks,” she said. As his sister, I experience first hand how David is a little different than all the rest. He is the only registered Independent in a family of conservative capitalists, yet is willing to listen and accept all views. His tolerance allows everyone to get along. “It’s funny that I’m nothing like my family. Sometimes the differences in opinion are frustrating, but mostly they are amusing and give me good stories to tell my friends,”

Greatest accomplishment

“Not coming to Redondo sooner. I transferred here my junior year and [not attending earlier] ruined my high school career.”

“Being in AHF my junior year. I earned over 50 hours of community service.”

Biggest regret “Not focusing on college enough and not going after universities.”

“Being in the talent show with my friends. It was so much fun.”

Future plans

Advice for freshmen

“I am planning to attend El Camino College for the Fire Academy.”

“Don’t let people get you down. This is temporary and those people won’t be in your life forever, so don’t even mind them.”

Greatest accomplishment “Getting the [heck] out of calculus.”

Advice for freshmen

Matt Picazo

“Stay focused and stay away from all that trouble.”

Future plans

Advice for freshmen

“I plan to go to UCSD and get a degree in computer science. My dream is to work at Google.”

“Don’t worry about the little things. At the end of the day, all that matters is what you’ve learned from your experiences.”

Advice for freshmen

Future plans

“Take the classes you want and don’t lose focus. Also, don’t be stupid.”

“Next year I will be attending San Diego State to study either law or business.”

Biggest regret

Greatest accomplishment

“My biggest regret is that I didn’t push myself harder after my injury.”

“Having perfect attendance for all four years of high school.”

Nick Steinke

PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA FLORES

Best buddies. Jessica Flores poses with special needs students that have inspired her.

Biggest regret Memorable moment

Loren Brown

Kawa said. Kawa never likes to be the center of attention, but is easily amused and entertained, often spending hours people watching. “I love people, just like looking at them. That sounds super creepy, but that’s just how it is. I see everything like a television show and people are the characters. It’s entertaining to watch everything just happen,” he said. Kawa’s quirkiness allows him to accept others that are like him. “I think a person has to do a lot for me to think they are weird. I know I’m awkward so I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt,” he said.

With her goggles and gloves on, beakers and pipettes surround senior Jessica Flores as she observes a growth of bacteria during biology class. For Flores, science is more than a passion; it’s a stepping stone she can use to make a difference and help those people she feels passionate about. “I’m taking AP Biology because I want to major in biology in college and then go to medical school,” she said. Flores’ inspiration came from a special needs student named Gunner, who she met when she was a teacher’s assistant in middle school. “I was given the pleasure of assisting him. When I helped him, not a word would come out of his mouth. He showed me that I want to help kids like him,” Flores said. Flores wants to become a neonatoligist, a type of pediatrician, in order to help newborn children and prevent debilitating mental disabilities. “I want to help kids like Gunner so that they can become productive adult citizens,” she said. Flores is also president of Best Buddies club, a group dedicated to forming friendships between students and those with special needs. “Best Buddies has allowed me to be able to help others and become friends with really cool fellow classmates,” she said. According to Flores, her passion for helping special needs children is what led her to joining and eventually becoming president of the club. Flores attributes Best Buddies to helping her with possible future career choices. “I would say that Best Buddies [has] definitely helped to cement my dreams of becoming a doctor,” she said. According to fellow Best Buddies member Mary Lopez, junior, Flores’ passion for special needs children is evident at every club meeting. “She interacts and dances with the kids at meetings and dances,” she said. “She’s really nice and outgoing. It’s obvious that she has a passion for the kids.”

Memorable moment “My last cross country race.”

Memorable moment

Adam O'Rourke

“I’ve shared a lot of great times with my friends that I’ll never forget.”

Features

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2010 ]

Kem Richards plans to rap his way to fame

Newton leaves to claim the spotlight by Laney Burke

by Loren Brown

Passion. Pleasure. Pain. Kem Richards has been through it and seen it. He speaks about it through his lyrical writings. “I rap about being in a struggle or coming out of struggle. I rap about the good things in life and the bad. Whatever I’m feeling I like to write about, it’s all from the heart,” Richards said. Most people who know Richards have heard something about his rapping or have personally seen him rap, but there’s more to Richards than just rapping; he’s an inspiration. “You can ask anyone in the school that knows Kem if there is anything negative to say about him and they would say, ‘No.’ He’s a really sweet kid that always has a smile on his face,” said his friend Darylese Shook. According to Richards, keeping a smile on his face is a trait that will never leave him, even during the hard times. “I feel like a smile is a trait and nobody should have the power to take away your smile,” said Richards. According to senior Jeffery Stafford, he’s a little surprised at how down to earth Richards is. “For someone who raps and is a pretty popular person, I would think he’d be a little bigheaded, but he’s not. He’s down to earth and treats everybody the same,” Stafford said. Many of his friends would describe

PHOTO BY JASMINE FREEMAN

Swag. Senior Kem Richards shows off his rapping skills on stage at the talent show.

him as someone to go to for advice or when you need an ear. But according to Kem, his words of wisdom are all from experience. “When I help other people, I always try to paint a picture, but I’m able to help others because of the journeys I’ve been through and [kind of ] growing into myself and finding out who I am,” Richards said. According to Richards, during these journeys, he has found that football has become a huge part of his life. “I’m glad I’m noticed for rapping, but I [also] want recognition of me playing football,” Richards said. Richards has been a proud Sea Hawk for the three years he played on the varsity football team and as team captain

this year. As Richards progresses into the future, he will continue his education at Harbor Community College and aspires to graduate from a university. His biggest goal is to finally break into the music world and become a wellknown rapper. “I’m in the process of dropping my first mix tape,” Richards said. He looks up with a smile on his face and announces that he still remembers his first rap, which he first shared with his sister. “Took me some time to make this rhyme, sippin’ a cup of lemon lime,” he laughed. “ She laughed in my face and said ‘You’re weak,’” he said.

Learning comes easy to Gordon by Alyssa Sanchez

He is sitting class as AP Calculus teacher Tim Baumgartner is explaining a new math problem. The rest of the class is completely silent, sweating with nervousness and stumped looks on their faces. Baumgartner calls on him. Senior Gabe “Buddy” Gordon, embarrassed, answers the question then follows it by saying “that’s how you do it”. Through high school, Gordon was able to achieve huge amounts of success not through hard work but through his ability to understand new concepts. “He is an exceptionally strong student; it just comes easy to him,” Baumgartner said. “He doesn’t have to ask very many questions” Many might say that Gordon has a gift, but he doesn’t see it this way. He doesn’t take credit for his ability to get things on the first try, but credits it to biology. “A lot of people in my family are professors or lawyers, so I just inherited some good genes. It’s helped me so I don’t really have to study or stress too much about school,” Gordon said. Of all classes, math was Gordon’s favor-

ite, and he enjoyed the two years he spent in calculus with Baumgartner. “Mr. Baumgartner is a great teacher and has a real passion for what he does, and it comes through in his class,” Gordon said. “I like math because it is easier for me since there’s no room for interpretation, there’s only one right answer usually.” According to Baumgartner, Gordon is a top student in an already outstanding group. “There have been many times where he has volunteered to explain problems at the board, and the rest of the students listen to him because they know how good he is and want to listen to him.” His closest friend, Jared Sachs would agree. “If you’re in one of his classes, you might notice he is a pretty quiet guy, but then your teacher assigns you to a group with [Buddy], and suddenly he is a leader who is ready to cooperate to make sure everyone understands the topic and contributes to the group,” Sachs said. Both Baumgartner and Sachs sees Gordon in a very positive light.

PHOTO BY ALEX SHEA

Quiet intelligence. Senior Buddy Gordon looks forward to a successful future.

“He is really nice and in class he is very quiet, and every once in a while he has a sense of humor,” Baumgartner said. Baumgartner and Sachs both believe Gordon will have a successful future. “He knows how to work hard and has the talent to do so; one is good in itself but he has both,” Baumgartner said. Gordon is continuing his education at the University of California Santa Cruz where he plans to study history.

Fame. Senior Kieran Newton practices his acting during the play 12 Angry Jurors

From Venezuela to Los Angles, the distance is approximately 3,600miles. In these miles, the culture, lifestyle and language all change drastically. Senior Gaby Peraza traveled those 3,600 miles to find herself learning to adjust to these changes. In 2006, Peraza’s family moved from Venezuela to California. She attended eighth grade at Adams Middle School as her first American educational experience. “It was really hard not knowing how to speak English, but I found a couple of friends that spoke Spanish. It really helped me out,” she said. Senior Zamira Curri developed a friendship with Peraza first due to Curri’s ability to speak Spanish. “Gaby and I instantly formed a friendship I knew would last,” Curri said. “She is one of the sweetest and most sincere people I know — one of those people that you want to be able to call your friend.” Moving into high school, Peraza had a better feel for what to expect. She found comfort and a new pastime in the Salsa club. “[Before Salsa club] I had never preformed in public and only knew a few basic

steps,” she said. Peraza quickly grew accustomed to the dance and can ‘turn up the floor,’ according to her dance partner, sophomore Malik Ensley. “Gaby is an awesome partner. She is so small and light, so we can try really cool stunts. She is always encouraging no matter how badly you mess up; even if you almost drop her she encourages you to try again,” Ensley said. Peraza found Ensley to be a supportive partner as well. “[Malik and I] helped each other a lot and developed a trust that really helped us do stunts,” Peraza said. Peraza’s compassion for others and positive attitude will support her dreams of becoming a nurse. “I would love to become a nurse because they are mainly with patients. I always like to help people and feel that I would be good at this,” she said. Peraza will be attending El Camino and double major in psychology and nursing. She hopes one year after attending college she will be able to travel those 3,600 miles back to her home country and visit her family that she longs to see.

Biggest Regret

“Letting the drama get to me.”

“Not getting to know most of the kids in my senior class.”

Greatest Accomplishment

“Passing all of my classes and getting into colleges.”

“[Gaining] the friends I’ve made and the unforgettable memories they have given me.”

Future Plans

“My sophomore year doing Seussical.”

“Going to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall, and making every moment of this summer count before I have to leave!”

Future Plans “Go to ASU in the fall and study business communications.”

Casey Lovano

Advice for Freshmen “Make sure you stay on top of all your classes, because in the end it’s all about getting into the college you want to go to.”

Greatest Accomplishment

Biggest Regret

“Four years of varsity track and after getting injured my freshman year being able to come back to cross country and work my way up the team again.”

“Not taking more AP classes.”

Greatest Accomplishment

Most Memorable Moment of High School

Olivia Loveland

PHOTO BY JAKE COLLINS

Gabby Peraza adjusts to her new life through Salsa Club by Tatiana Celentano

Most Memorable Moment of High School

Diane Ambrose

You’ve seen him in 12 Angry Jurors and Anything Goes, and maybe you even caught a glimpse of him in a season two episode of Hannah Montana, but the man behind the curtain is even more complex than his characters. Kieran Newton’s goal in life is to become famous. How he will achieve that fame is unknown, but Newton has plenty of talents to manipulate: writing, acting, directing, singing, and dancing. “Creation is like my drug,” he said. “I need to let ideas flow and share them with people.” Newton recently reaped the fruits of his labor when he performed with his band, The Red Headset, last week for friends and family. “Not only was I acting and being emotional, but it was my writing—they were applauding my creations, and that was utopia,” he said. Pursuing fame hasn’t been all fun and games, however. Newton has struggled with auditions from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Ace Hardware commercials. “You [can] take the classes to be a better actor, but you can’t take a class to look how Hollywood wants you to look,” Newton said. Newton attributes his lack of success in Hollywood to its discrimination of blonds. “Apparently America can’t relate to them,” Newton explains. Still, Newton asserts that he will never stop trying, whether it be in his quest for

fame or in a play audition. “Kieran is extremely dedicated in everything he does,” Newton’s best friend, senior Amanda Marlett, said. Newton’s mentor, drama teacher Justin Baldridge, agrees. “He’s very good at pushing himself to his extremes [and] not taking okay as an answer,” Baldridge said. “He wants everything he does to be extraordinary.” Newton admits that he is bitter about certain misfortunes, but he is not a defeatist. He is always learning from his mistakes to improve. Newton will continue his pursuit of fame at Fordham University and beyond. “I need fame in some way,” he said. “To stand on the edge of the stage at the end of a performance and just hear the roar—it’s incredible. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my entire life; it’s unmatched.”

“Getting into Boy’s State.”

“Getting second place in the last Bay League cross country meet and all of the big meets I was able to compete in during track and cross country.”

Most Memorable Moment of High School

Future Plans

“My senior year prom.”

“Living in Argentina for a year as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and then attending San Francisco State University in the international relations program.”

Advice for Freshmen

Advice for Freshmen “Try new things and challenge yourself!”

David Burns

“Try hard your freshman year, it counts. It really helps boost your GPA.”

Features

16 p.

] Senior Issue, June 10, 2010 ]

Brandon Boyd

Julia Denney

Riki Murakami

Laura O'Neil

Jon Catsavas

Kaelee Epstein

“I’ll miss my basketball team and all the friends I’ve made here. Yeah, I’ll make friends in college, but the friendships here will last then too.”

“I’m really going to miss the atmosphere around here. I like how we have that laid-back, beach kind of feel, but we’re competitive in academics and sports at the same time.”

“Redondo has helped me move forward and achieve my goals in life.”

“It was the best time of my life so far. I wouldn’t change anything. I’m so gad I met the people I’ve met here.”

Linda Park

Alex Oetzell

Cesar Ballardo

Drew Kozain

Brian McMartin

Amanda Marlett

“Experiencing this year, the bond with the softball team was closer than ever before. The concept of family was strengthened.”

“To me high school was about the experiences and the people I’ve met. These past four years have been everything I wanted and more.”

“My AP Spanish class—I’ve been with them for a long time. We are like a family.”

”I had a good time. There were lots of good times and growing up.”

“I learned a lot of new things, met a lot of life long friends, and prepared for the next step in life.”

“I really found myself here and the drama department allowed me to become stage manager.”

Matt Picazo

Rick Kodari

“The beach, the atmosphere, all my friends, and the vibe—I dig ‘em.”

“I’ve really developed a huge amount of pride for the school from being able to represent us in so many forms of competition.”

Brandon Carroll

“[High school] has prepared me for the future and given me the necessary tools to succeed.”

“I had a great time at school, surfing, friends, and sports. I’m prepared for the next step.”

‘

Adam Anderson

N O TA B L E SENIORS

“What’s important to me is the teacherstudent relationships. I feel like I got the best out of the classes here because I was closer to the teachers. It’s been more of a friendship than a master-padawan relationship.”

“I’ll always remember the people I met that were always there for me and the encouragement from all the teachers so that I can go to a four year university right after high school.”

These are the seniors who deserve recognition, but have already been written about in the High Tide or THE Pilot. Kelly Ryan

Allison Field

Ryan Decker

Ben Fortun

“[At Redondo] you feel like you’re not just a regular student, you have a purpose.”

“High school gave me the opportunity to put my energy into sports teams and friendships to make meaningful memories to last a lifetime.”

“Redondo is a great place where you meet a ton of great people who aren’t just in it for themselves. People who care about you and want you to succeed.”

“High school taught me to work hard and that the end justifies the means.”

Christian Bassman

Jonathan Diaz

Aundrea Yancy

Joe Villicana

Joc Bates

Mwelu Mataya

“It was fun. I’ve had a lot of experiences and learned a lot. I’ve realized a lot of life goals.”

“My experience here have made me the man I am today. I’ll always cherish my memories here for as long as I live.”

“It’s something I can always look back on and have happy memories of.”

“Although I was a good student, I wish I was more involved.”

“It was a great experience. Everyone’s really easy-going and friendly. I’m glad that I got to play on a good basketball team that went far.”

“Everybody here is like a family to me. They make me feel comfortable in the harsh environment that it is.”

Ava Elsner

Alex Curtis

Kevin Rieg

Blake O'Brien

Anchal Ahluwalia

Lydia Rutz

“I feel that through Redondo I have found my true self, my true style, my true passions, my true loves.”

“Redondo is a place where you can grow, can find yourself, and really see who you can be.”

“All of the connections I’ve made with friends have helped me figure out what I want to do with life.”

“For me, my best moment at Redondo was making it into the CIF finals for volleyball.”

I’m really going to miss being around everybody and the atmosphere at RUHS.

“A combination of everything adds to the self discovery; that’s the purpose of high school.”