High Tide Sept. 20, 2013

HIGH

A whole new world

TIDE

By learning different languages, senior Dana Moore gains insight on other cultures.

Redondo Beach, CA // Redondo Union High School Sept. 20, 2013 // Vol. XCIV // Edition 2

by Grace Zoerner

Line after line of seemingly meaningless scribbles slowly begin to transform before her eyes; eventually, she is able to make sense of what used to be unknown.

Already nearly fluent in French, senior Dana Moore fulfills her desire to communicate internationally by teaching herself to read and speak foreign languages.

“A big part of my interest in language is my interest in all the different cultures the world holds,” Moore said. “I have never left America, and there isn’t too much culture to be found here. It’s like a song that’s been played so many times it just lost its charm.”

Though enrolled in French classes since her freshman year, Moore was not passionate about language until a French student stayed with her family through the foreign exchange program.

“Having a friend overseas made me think I must really be missing out on a lot of cool people if I don’t know how to communicate with countries other than my own,” Moore said. “The French language is so beautiful, and this foot into strange water prompted me to yearn for global connections on a human and spiritual level.”

This is when Moore realized the value of being multilingual. She felt uncertain about undertaking such an ambitious goal, however, until she met someone her age who was already able to speak twenty languages.

“This made me think that planning to ‘one day’ learn all the languages I wanted to was stupid. Why was I waiting?” Moore said.

[continued on p. 24]

p. 5 //

Max Safarin spent almost every day outside marching for a Drum Corps.

p. 7 //

Taking a look at the new administration.

p. 15 //

Girls’ Volleyball wins in 5 sets.

Back to School Night

by Jason Rochlin

RUHS has many traditions, such as homecoming and prom, and if it is the early fall, it is time for the tradition of Back to School Night.

“Really, it’s just a time for parents to come on campus, walk around, and meet their kids’ teachers, so that way if there’s ever a problem in the future they have a face with the name that they can contact,” Principal Nicole Wesley said.

While the event skipped a year due to economic setbacks, there aren’t that many differences now then there were before.

“I think the only big change is that the 0 and 7th period are first, whereas before it was just 0. If we link them together it keeps every parent who wants to attend those classes in the loop,” Assistant Principal Anthony Bridi said.

As the main coordinator of logistics and point person for the event, Bridi also prepares for Back to School Night’s return.

“This year I’m expecting to see maybe 1,000 parents,” Bridi said. “I’d love to fill the auditorium, as it shows parents are getting involved with their students and the high school.”

The furlough days last year cancelling Back to School Night had an impact across the campus.

“A lot of teachers commented [last year] that they felt not having the ability to share information with the parents on a wide

scale caused them to need a lot more individual meetings with parents throughout the year,” Wesley said.

According to Wesley, one benefit of Back to School Night is the ability for teachers to warn parents when they should be worried about a “hard chapter”.

“Being able to give parents that kind of information ahead of time often allows parents not to feel overwhelmed when they see grades fluctuate on Infinite Campus,” Wesley said. “Teachers reported that there were a lot more parents who called or emailed frantically about assignments, [as they] were unsure of the policy.”

Another benefit of the event is the ability for parents to get to know the teaching styles and attitudes of their teachers.

“When [parents] can feel the positive energy that our classrooms have, they know the teachers are cool and their kids are safe,” Wesley said. “It gives the teachers a chance to appear human.”

Back to School night serves a vital role in helping smooth the flow of a new school year for the entire RUHS family and helps to cement a sense of community and purpose across the school.

“It takes a team to help students graduate and have options beyond High School.

I think the more parents understand what goes on in classrooms, policies, and expectations, they’ll be better at supporting their students,” Wesley said.

Academic Decathlon program survives the cut for another year

by Allegra Peelor

Because of the efforts of the team members and the teacher, Aimee Gauvreau, Academic Decathlon was saved from being cut.

Academic Decathlon is an academic competition consisting of ten events: art, economics, essay, interview, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, social science and speech. Throughout the school year, team members of all grade levels study each of the seven objective categories and prepare for speeches and an essay on a designated topic. This year’s topic is World War I, so all of the categories have to do with that time period, except for science, which is focusing on genetics, and math, which is algebra 2 and trigonometry.

According to senior Luke Murphy, a veteran member of the team, the class was going to be cut because the class of 2017 has more than 700 students, which meant that fifth period freshman classes had more people than usual. Since AcaDec is also fifth period and administration was planning on adding more freshman classes to fifth period, AcaDec was in danger of being cut

2 HIGH TIDE . NEWS

because of the district’s limited budget and AcaDec is usually a small class.

“Since there’s a giant number of students this year, especially the freshmen, administration was telling us that the class was not economically feasible,” Murphy said. “We needed at least four other students.”

In order to prevent the class from being removed, Murphy, Gauvreau and the other team members worked hard to recruit more students.

“We put up signs like the one in freshman circle, we made facebook posts, and we just asked people from all of our classes if anyone was interested in joining,” Murphy said. “We also sent emails to the district office and superintendent. Our combined voices earned the district’s support and more students joined.”

According to Murphy, Academic Decathlon has always been a small class, but it has ever been in danger of being cut.

“The class has always been pretty small-last year we only had 19 people-- but this is the first year that that’s really been a problem,” Murphy said.

Out of 100 students polled...

60 61 71

Have parents that are going to Back to School Night

Think it is important for their parents and teachers to meet

Think the event is an effective way for their parents and teachers to meet

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOSEPH BIESCHKE

Truancy Rates at RUHS are the lowest in all of the neighboring areas compiled by Jason Rochlin

Truancy rate in Manhattan Beach

17.4% Truancy rate in 3.1% Redondo Beach 28.5%

Truancy rate in L.A. County Truancy rate for schoolwide avg.

36.3% 2.5%

Truancy rate for Mira Costa Truancy rate for Redondo Union

32.4%

Information provided by The Redondo Beach Patch

AROUND REDONDO What is your opinion on the ramp leading to the science building?

“It’s really pointless, everyone just jumps over it so they can get to class faster.”

– LISA HURLEY,12 “I hate it because of how long it takes to get down it and into the science building.”

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSPEH BIESCHKE

Is RUHS ready to go down the technology road?

EDITORIAL

– STEPHANIE CONTRERAS, 9 “There are too many people going through it so it gets extremely crowded.”

– TESS SHIN, 10

“It was a complete waste of money and should be taken out.”

–MATT CHU, 11 “It’s really inconvenient because it takes too much time to get to class.”

–THALIA SILVA, 11 “It really serves no purpose besides taking longer to go into the science building.”

– MAHZAIB QUARDISHI, 10

3 HIGH TIDE . OPINION

WHAT WE THINK Although there may be trouble adjusting, RUHS is ready to begin with iPads in school.

They’re all over the place. Statistically speaking, almost everyone in Calif. owns or frequently uses either a tablet or computer.

They’re resting on the desks of offices and bedrooms everywhere. Children, adults, employees and executives use them for hours daily. They have become a staple of the modern American. It was only a matter of time before education caught on.

In Calif., school officials are preparing for the long awaited technological overhaul of the educational system, with every school in Calif. expected to be receiving, or receiving funding for, iPads and computers for every student by the end of next year. This lightning shift has prompted changes to the core standards and standardized testing, and education officials are scrambling to raise enough money to implement the changes in time.

With so much time and money, almost 538 million dollars, according to the Los Angeles Times, are invested in this shift.

Teachers and students must decide quickly whether or not they are ready to move from analog to digital learning.

For the school, the biggest challenge will be restructuring the wireless network to meet the large amount of internet traffic that will surely follow the arrival of the new iPads. More bandwidth is required to

10

vote yes, RUHS is ready to become completely technologically oriented.

By the numbers Editorial Staff Vote

accommodate a large amount of tablets, as they cannot be hooked into ethernet ports.

Without the proper structure, the school will experience constant network crashes and the entire system will falter.

Once a new network is in place, responsibility will fall upon the teachers to begin to implement these new technologies, and students will have to acclimate to the new learning environment. There may be some growing pains, but the student populations of California schools have, for the most part, grown up using these devices. Students already research, study, collaborate on and discuss school work using the internet, so the switch to technology-based learning will be natural.

The biggest challenge faced byteachers will be how to ease these new technologies into their curriculum without jeopardizing the effectiveness of the lesson. Although the new standards provide for a greater depth of learning through the use of technology, the quickness with which these new technologies will be implemented in the classroom may prove to be too much at one time.

Thus far, all academic material has been taught and derived from written sources.

Teachers must find a way to alter their ex-

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vote no, RUHS does not have the money or resources and is not in need of more technology.

isting sources and curriculum to create a mutually constructive relationship between the new lessons taught electronically and the old lessons from textbooks. Eventually, all lessons will be taught electronically. For now, it is important that written sources continue to be used effectively as schools begin the long process of completely phasing out textbooks.

One thing that RUHS and the rest of Calif. can count on is that technology will continue to improve along with the quality of digital education. Although students and teachers will continue to use textbooks and more traditional teaching methods for the time being, educational programs and apps are already being widely produced and improved.

With some minor alterations to infrastructure and an open mind on the parts of teachers and students, RUHS and Calif. in general should have no problem with this forward-thinking shift in education. This is the beginning of a new age in education.

Students will now be able to expand their thinking beyond what is possible on paper and begin dreaming of ways to shape the future as they see fit, using technology to answer the gleaming promise of the future.

PRO:

Letters to the

Editor

If you have an opinion about one of the articles, letters can be sent to the editor at hightideonline@gmail.com.

We reserve the right to edit them for content, grammar, and space constraints. Letters must be signed and are not guaranteed to be printed.

HIGH TIDE

STAFF

Editors in Chief: Cedric Hyon; Allegra

Peelor Managing Editor: Alejandro Quevedo News Director: Jason Rochlin Health & Entertainment Director: Alejandro Quevedo Features Director: Cedric Hyon Sports Director: Allegra Peelor News Editor: Jason Rochlin Opinion Editor: Yasmeen El-Hasan Features Editors: Catlin Cochran; Grace Zoerner; Jené Price; Kayla Nicholls; Kira Bowen; Shawn Mallen; Stella Gianoukakis Sports Editors: Ted Cavus; Micah Ezzes Photo Editors: Tyler Eisenhart; Justin Lee Copy Editors Deborah Chang; Angela Kim; Romy Moreno Illustrator: Joseph Bieschke Online Editors: Vivian Lam; Kayla Maanum Staff Writers: Lauryn Alejo; Joseph Blakely; Jennie Bao; Caitlyn Catubig; Jason Clebowicz; Lauren Diethelm; Jason Fong; Vaidehi Gandhi; Nina Gomez; Kelly Harraka; Caterina Hyneman; Eli Jarmel; Stephanie Lai; Sophie Maguy; Shaniya Markalanda; Marie Ona; Chris Paludi; Phoebe Reneau; Amanda Ross; Chandler Ross; Sophia Ruffo; Reema Saad; Amanda Shaw; Laura Smith; John Webb; Luma Wegman; Cody Williams The High Tide dedicates itself to producing a high-quality publication that both informs and entertains the entire student body.

This is a wholly student managed, designed, and written newspaper that focuses on school and community events.

The High Tide is published by the journalism class at Redondo Union High School, One Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

Signed commenatries and editorial cartoons prepresent the opinions of the staff writer or cartoonist and in no way reflect the opinions of the High Tide staff.

Jené Price

Electronic tests will positively affect the students and prepare them for the future.

All year students are taught lessons and given projects to expand their minds, preparing them for the technology-based world that awaits. At the end of every year, they sit for hours answering hundreds of multiple choice questions in an attempt to prove their intelligence to the state of Calif. This method of measuring a student’s intellect has proven ineffective. To solve this issue, State Superintendent Tom Torlakson proposed a bill to abolish STAR testing in favor of a technological-based test that measures a student’s real-world skills.

STAR testing serves as a measure of the effectiveness of a teacher, the learning ability of a student and the quality of schools

throughout the state. It allows the state to track which schools it should provide more funding to and which schools need assistance. These tests are issued to students from the second to eleventh grade in the subjects English, mathematics, science and history.

STAR testing was the basis for the Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999, which is a system to judge students, schools and district and hold them responsible for student performance. This method may have been effective in 1999 but in 2013, we are long overdue for a change.

Having a more technology-based standardized test with different forms of questions instead of the standard multiple choice exams allows teachers to delve deeper into school subjects. This will result in criticalthinking students and problem solvers instead of overexerting their brains with information that needs to be memorized. Making students memorize everything throughout the school year can cause extreme stress, sleep deprivation, depression and unhealthy mental health in a student. These negative repercussions affect a student’s performance throughout the entire year. A technology-

based test, however, will prepare students for the real world and better prepares them for college and their future careers. By giving a test that allows the student to think rather than simply memorize and regurgitate information, the students will be better prepared for the transition into adulthood.

One problem that Torlakson’s plan poses is the issue of getting this technology and effectively changing teachers’ lesson plans completely in the state of California. Nevertheless, it can be accomplished. In this situation the positives outweigh the negatives.

Even though the plan may not take action within two years because of impracticality, it will eventually be implemented. The benefits that students and teachers will receive by changing these testing standards is well worth the difficulties that may arise.

Torlakson’s plan has to be approved by the legislator and governor but will most likely be adopted in some form, thus allowing this long-delayed shift of focus in the public school system. The world in which we live is constantly evolving. In order for us to continue to live progressively in it, there must be evolution within the public schools.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSPEH BIESCHKE

CON: Chance King

Teachers are not prepared to begin implementing new technology based standards.

Trees everywhere are rejoicing because Calif. has decided to no longer implement STAR testing, opting instead for completely computer based assessments. For students, the news may not be so happy. With schools hurrying to implement the new core standards, teachers are facing curriculum changes and being forced to reevaluate the way they lecture and present critical ideas. This, on top of a complete overhaul of standardized testing, may prove to be too much to take at one time, and place classrooms in a limbo between test-taking past and future.

The goal of shifting standardized testing to completely digital formats is to create a more comprehensive and in-depth assess-

ment of both critical thinking ability and information retention. In addition to the standardized tests, the digital format will allow teachers to create projects and assignments that will be completed and graded entirely on the computer.

Although this shift complies with the new core standards, its success relies on teachers to implement these new digital assignments in a way that still fits with their existing curriculum. It may be many years before teachers are comfortable enough with these new tests and technologies to add them to curriculum that, for the most part, has been taught solely from written sources.

With this discrepancy between where the curriculum is at the moment and where the education board wants it to be, teachers will be playing catch-up with both technology and what will prove to be the next great leap in test making practices. There is no doubt that computer and tablet administered tests will be commonplace 50 years from now, but schools, especially in Calif., are not prepared for this change.

Schools must be gradually indoctrinated into this new system, rather than quitting

cold turkey, so to speak. Classrooms need time to get acquainted with computers and tablets in the classroom setting. Educational apps and programs need to be refined and implemented smoothly. More importantly, schools all across Calif. need to have access to these technologies before standardized testing can become universally digital.

Even when this technological equality is reached, the first step should be the implementation of these devices in day-today classroom settings and not standardized testing. When classrooms are acclimated to working with computers and tablets in an educational setting, the transition form written to digital testing will be much quicker and easier.

Standardized testing is an important part of the education process, as it tests the merit of not only the students but the school as well. With such a quick change in how these tests are delivered and taken, the risk of more technologically inept, poorly funded schools being left behind is great. The district cannot afford to take this risk. It is not a call to halt technological progress, but simply, in this case, to slow down.

4 HIGH TIDE . OPINION

Outside in the elements Sarafin spent eleven hours per day in the sun over summer while practicing for Drum Corps.

by Ted Cavus

Wake up. Practice for 11 hours. Sleep on an air mattresse on a gym floor. Repeat.

Over the summer, junior Max Sarafin participated in Drum Corps.

“The thought of performing and the adrenaline of performing was the fun part, the rehearsals were intense but the people around you made it fun.” he said.

Despite the journey being difficult, it was still fun for Sarafin.

“The tour lasted around 70 days so in the beginning I was always ending the day in pain and missed an easy day that I normally would have without drum corps,” he said.

“But I always was really happy to keep pushing even if it was really difficult.” he said.

Hard work in Drum Corps has given me a mental push to strive to be the best.

“Never give up[when you’re tired], even when you feel like you’re all out of fuel, keep going and give it your all.

When you hit your wall, break through it because you rest when it’s done,” Sarafin said. “The other thing would be, never waste a first opportunity at something because someone else didn’t and is now better than you.”

Sarafin finds this mentality beneficial in school as well as at the Drum Corps.

“During the summer the mental energy needed is extreme. Also I never give up on assignments, due to this thinking. To add on; the discipline I learned helps me be a good student in my classes, for if we talked or messed

PHOTO BY CEDRIC HYON

Fun in the sun. Junior Sarfin plays his trumpet for long hours on end in the sun while he participates in his band practices.

around we would get physical punishments” he said.

Sarafin plans to participate in Drum Corps again next year.

“Yes, I plan on it, I just have a tough choice to make on auditioning for Pacific Crest again, because the family aspect is just so unforgettable or try auditioning for a high placing drum corps, but no matter what, I will be doing it again.” Sarafin said.

Sarafin would recommend this to a friend, but not just anyone.

“I would recommend this to someone who will be dedicated and who won’t give up when they hit their wall. Not someone who easily gives up, rather someone who will meet

their mark because everyone needs to be on the same page for the group to be successful.” he said.

Despite all the hardship, Sarafin enjoyed every minute of it.

“This is a journey I will remember my whole life and look back and wish I could keep doing it. Many people call me crazy, getting 4-6 hours a sleep a night, rehearsing till I’m exhausted, running till I’m dripping in sweat, Rehearsing for 11 + hours in 100+ degrees with 70%+ humidity, getting worked till I can’t take it and loving every second of it, why? Because that 10 minute period of performing in front of thousands of people paying 50 or more dollars to see my perform is unforgettable” Sarafin said.

Sunny facts Compiled by Deborah Chang

Exposure to others

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSEPH BIESHKE

•Increased chance of catching virus or cold through contact with others •Reduces stress •Fresh air relieves and clears lungs to allow them to breathe deeper and longer breaths of air •Increased oxygen level provides greater energy and clarity to mind •Absorb vitamin D from sun which helps bones form properly •Soaking daylight helps body and mind sleep well and stable

Excessive sun exposure

•Sun’s radiation damage outer skin.

•Increases dehydration •Increases body temperature leading to heat exhaustion •Chance of heat stroke when heat exhaustion and dehydration are present •Exposure to others Increase in chance of catching virus or cold through contact

Effects of staying indoors for too long Social Effects

•Social interaction skills are affected •Increase in passivity and decrease in active thinking •Easily stressed or irritated •Anxiety levels increase

Top reasons why people choose to stay indoors:

•Weather is too hot, cold, rainy, etc.

•Busy lifestyle with not enough time to go outside

Mental/Emotional Effects

• Spending too much time inside increases the Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) •Increase in chances of depression and loneliness •Brains do not do well without regular exposure of sunlight

Physical Effects

•Prone to obesity and other obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure •Insufficient intake of vitamin D •Lack of vitamin could lead to osteoporosis and increase risk in prostate cancer •Muscles and bones weaker compared to those who spend time outside 5 HIGH TIDE . HEALTH

Insidious: Chapter 2- Not Worth the Money

by Chance King

People don’t like scary movies. At least, they say they don’t. In truth, people have a strange fascination with dangerous and scary things. The same way people risk life and limb riding on roller coasters, people risk their sanity and dignity going to see scary movies.

The first chapter of director James Wan’s Insidious proved to be well worth the risk and received great reviews from both general audiences and horror movie aficionados.

It’s a combination of tense, eerie atmosphere, shocking jump-scares as well as some disturbing puppeteering, made for a movie that was both scary and memorable.

Despite the sequel’s directorial merit, its insistence upon interconnecting the events of the first and second movies diffuse the eerie and mysterious aspects that made the first movie so creepy.

The Lambert family’s quest to discover the truth about their connection to the spirit world produces some interesting spins on old ghost story models and the movie occasionally takes unexpected twists.

However, the movie ends up focusing more on backtracking and explaining the first movie, than producing a new and equally terrifying experience.

The writing is the movie’s core issue, as the characters often ruin genuinely disturbing revelations with poorly worded and delivered lines. Although some of the details surrounding the Lambert family’s history are interesting, so many superfluous details are poured over and discussed that by the time the scare actually comes, it’s not surprising.

The movie does have some bright spots, coming mostly from Wan’s attention to detail and the performances by the actors.

The acting by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne is solid, and all of the characters in the movie are very believeable, which makes the movie hit closer to home.

Wan’s direction shines through as well in many spots, and his ability to create a suspenseful environment ranks him among some of the best modern horror directors.

All of the sets are crafted very meticulously and Wan’s attention to detail when it comes to building tension is stellar.

The movie’s direction is not enough to save it however, as the scares are few and far between and many of the most creepy scenes in the movie suffer from an utter inability to be inconspicuous in their outcome.

Overall, the movie suffers from a lack of momentum, with the story that is eavy in explination and lacking in any exciting supernatural occurrence.

Watching Insidious: Chapter 2 is like riding a roller coaster that has no loops, no death-tempting drops, and has big neon signs that explain and apologize for every bump and swerve in the track.

Save some money and wait for the bigger, badder, more exciting horror releases of 2013.

6 HIGH TIDE . ENTERTAINMENT

Claudia Prada

Amanda Duran Teaching Experience: In the classroom for 9 years, but working with kids since age 15 Subject: Currently teaching Spanish 1, 3, 3 Native Speakers, but I have taught English, History, ESL, Advisory, and College Advising Goal: It is the same every year, be the best teacher I can be.

Interesting Fact: At my school in New York City I started the rock climbing club, snowboarding club, and the foodie club [for students]. My favorite activity thus far was traveling to Nicaragua with a group of students and helping to build a school.

Sara Gonzales Teaching Experience: 9 years Subject: Spanish 2 and 3 Goal: I want to empower my students to be critical thinkers and to take advantage of so many opportunities in their educational journey.

Interesting Fact: I was born in El Salvador and went to grade school in San Francisco, CA. As an English learner at age 6, I invited a friend to my birthday party. She said, “Here’s a present for you.” I heard, “Here’s a president.” This incident stayed with me all these years and serves as a reminder to check my students’ comprehension of a lesson.

Jesus Barron

Bethany Ergican

7 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

Counselor Leticia O’Brien Vice Principal Lindsey Corcoran Experience: I was an English teacher for 5 years and the ASB advisor for 3 years during that time. I taught at Dorsey High School’s Law & Public Service Magnet. For 3 years, I ran the Law & Public Service Magnet and Math, Science & Technology Magnet Programs.

Interesting Fact: I have an English Bulldog named Potato. I also loved to watch “Gossip Girl” when it was on. My newest favorite show is “Friday Night Lights.”

Goal: My goal is to get to know the students and help make RUHS an even better school. I hope that we can create new programs to help even more students get involved.

Experience: 4 years Goals: I want to help my students discover their likes and interests, make sure they know all their options post-high school, and help them be prepared to enter and contribute to the “real world.”

Interesting Fact: I am the first in my family to graduate from college.

Counselor Denise Holmes

Benjamin Wong James Costello

Sanam Shekarchi Teaching Experience: 3 years Subject: CP biology and chemistry Goal: It is to push myself to a higher standard this year. I want to push myself to try new labs and different teaching styles so that I can reach all of my students in some way.

Favorite Part of Teaching: I love watching the “light bulbs” go off when students discover that we we’re talking about in class actually applies to them in real life.

Kelly Lewis

8 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

Taking flight After living internationally and travelling with her family, Bam pursues her career as a pilot iILLUSTRATION BY JOSEPH BIESHKE

by Yasmeen El-Hasan

The experiences will follow her for the rest of her life. She gained insight on diverse cultures, learned new languages, met a variety of people, and discovered what she wants out of her future plans.

Sophomore Jenny Bam has lived in three countries because of her dad’s job as a resident reporter for Korean Airlines. Bam moved to Redondo Beach in August and has also resided in Korea and Germany.

“It’s a very valuable and precious experience because I can experience [different] cultures and get to know how other countries are different from each other,” Bam said.

Bam has noticed significant differences between the three countries. Each, however, has been notable to her.

“Germany is the most memorable place I’ve lived because that’s where I went first. In my childhood while I lived there, we traveled most of the countries in Europe and it helped me to widen my mental vision to

discover my future job, which is a pilot,” Bam said. “But for me, America is the place where I can make my dream come true.”

Bam hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps in the air travel industry. Growing up around a constant environment of planes and travel has influenced her to make this decision.

“Since my dad works in flights, he gives me a lot of information about it. [For example], the costs to practice [piloting planes] are cheaper in America than anywhere else because America has a lot of small airports to practice in.”

Her father, Byung Ho Bam, supports her plans to become a pilot.

“I feel good that she might have seen and heard about aviation from me since she’s interested in aviation. The aviation industry will get bigger and I think that there are so many chances for her,” Mr. Bam said.

Even if she cannot fullfill her dream as a pilot, Bam believes that America provides her with enough opportunities not to worry about it.

“If I fail in health or other reasons, I can turn my way as an instructor pilot and do office work,” Bam said. “It’s so different from Korea.”

Bam has found it relatively easy adjusting to America because of the friendly culture.

“The strangest thing about America is how when people walk by, they smile and say ‘hi.’ I like the people here. They’re really nice and answer all my questions even if they’re dumb,” Bam said. “When I first went to the supermarket with my mom, we didn’t know about gift coupons so we had to ask what they were and it was okay.”

Her transition to America was different than what she expected before coming.

“I’m still not used to talking, so I’m stubborn a lot. But I love the great weather and how the beach is near. Summer in Korea is really hot and sticky,” Bam said.

Bam is also fond of RUHS and the campus. She has found that the community and the school has been supportive of her.

“I’m getting a lot of help from friends and I’m going to football games. I’ve gone to the LA County fair with friends too. I think that making friends and getting to know other people here is the best way for me to get adjusted,” Bam said.

Her goal for this school year is to get acclimated to Redondo Beach and join clubs.

Her broader long term goal is to get into Embry Riddle University and become a pilot.

“I plan on achieving my goals by making friends, getting advice from teachers, getting the best grades possible for my GPA and looking for a camp or activity related to flights,” Bam says.

Bam plans to stay in America for about four years, though it may vary depending on whether she decides to attend college in America or Korea, where she she was born and raised until six. At age seven (in 2002) she and her family moved to Frankfurt, Germany.

There, Bam attended elementary school for one year before enrolling in an international school for three years.

“Living in Germany was harder than living in America because the stores were closed on Sundays; my mom couldn’t drive and we couldn’t speak the language well.

But I had many Korean friends at school and church because it was a Korean church.

I think the friends were a great help to me to learn English naturally,” Bam said.

After four years in Germany, she returned to Korea for seven years and then came to America.

“When I first went back to Korea from Germany, I had trouble with math and Korean literature since I wasn’t educated like the others but I got over these obstacle pretty well,” Bam said.

Because she has lived in such diverse places, she can speak Korean, English, Chinese and some German, and is currently taking Spanish.

According to Mr. Bam, traveling is enriching for Bam because she can understand different cultures and languages.

“The various experiences and knowledge will be a good point for her life. Globalization will [take her far] and the popular language English is also good for her to know,” Mr. Bam said.

1.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNY BAM

Winging it. 1. Bam stands in front of the kind of airplane she one day hopes to pilot. However, her plans for the future are flexible. “If I fail in health or other reasons, I can turn my way as an instructor pilot and do office work,” she said. “Even if I fail as a pilot, there are many opportunities here [in America].” 2. Bam and her sister while living in Germany in 2004.

2.

9 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

Warm welcome

by Justin Lee

2.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHORYA GHAI

1.

The doctor is in. 1. Ghai on the job, posing in her doctor’s lab coat. 2. In addition to helping out in the hospital, Ghai assisted local schools and handed out juice to children, an experience she is glad she had. “Don’t be scared to get valuable hands-on experience,” she said.

Ghai’s future is not in vein Senior Shorya Ghai spent her summer in India working towards her dream job as a brain surgeon

by Angela Kim

“Doctor Ghai.” Senior Shorya Ghai never knew this long coveted title would be applied to her so soon — and in India.

Last summer, Ghai spent a month interning at The Medicity, a privately owned hospital in New Delhi, India. She worked with Dr. Neelam Mohan, the Head of Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Transplants.

“I would work super hard and go home at seven and crash. I was so tired, I just wanted to go to bed. But it was the kind of work where you feel satisfied, knowing you did something. My body was tired but my heart felt full,” Ghai said.

Although it was physically tiring for Ghai, her mother Sonia Ghai suggested the hospital in India for a reason.

“It’s intense there. Over here it’s easier because we have all the facilities we can imagine. Interning would have been harder over there and if she could go through the harder way, then I’d know that this is what she really wants to do,” Mrs. Ghai said.

Ghai had long known her dream was to explore the field of medicine and this visit only strengthened her commitment.

“This trip deepened my passions because now I really have my heart set on what I truly want to do. I got to form a lot of bonds with the patients because I’d see them everyday for almost a month,” Ghai said.

Ghai soon befriended both patients and

doctors, like Dr. Mohan, a mentor whose personal anecdote became a leading influence on Ghai.

“Dr. Mohan did a liver transplant for one family’s son and it failed and he ended up dying. But the thing that makes her proud is that despite this, the family trusted her enough to bring in their second son. They trusted her so much and believed that she did everything she could to save him,” Ghai said.

In fact, according to Ghai, the bonds of trust she witnessed being formed between patient and doctor were one of the main sources of inspiration.

“That feeling that people trust you so much is so amazing. That trust between patient and doctor that is created in this field—you just can’t get that anywhere else,” Ghai said.

Not only did she get hands-on experience by shadowing doctors and taking rounds, but she also organized a fundraising cricket game between the students of Bharat National Public School who were blindfolded and the blind students of JPM Senior Secondary School for the Blind to raise money for the blind school.

“I had to go into every classroom and ask for donations and every hand shot up. It was so inspirational and adorable seeing little kids donate 50 rupees, 100 rupees. I saw a domino effect. In the end we raised $500 and all the money went towards brand new school uniforms for the blind students,” Ghai said.

This “humbling” experience working in the hospital and with the two schools helped her realize a valuable lesson.

“My passion is to help people and that’s what I’m going to do. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it because I like it, not because of the money,” Ghai said.

Despite this, many of the doctors she had met in the hospital initially doubted her intentions and commitment.

“A lot of the doctors were intimidating and some were downright rude because I was only a high school intern. But in the end, the experience gained was worth it.

Most of them are truly dedicated. Some were skeptical and asked me if I was sure about going into medicine but at the end, they could tell that I was really committed,” Ghai said.

According to Ghai, though some people like the doctors may have doubted her, she always had the support and encouragement of her mother.

“I think she can make a good doctor and I see her as a surgeon. She has the potential so she should go for it. For her, being a doctor is about helping people, about making a difference and making lives better,” Mrs. Ghai said.

Ghai insists that despite others’ doubts and countless caffeine-fueled nights of hard work, she will strive for what she wants.

“I’m going to just go out and do what I’m passionate about because that’s where true satisfaction comes from,” Ghai said.

The sun is barely rising and he is already up and getting ready. His mother is just getting out of bed when he goes back to his room to grab his backpack. In a few hours his life will change forever. Senior Barry Klein is about to go to his first day of school at RUHS. Klein was home schooled his entire life except for fifth and sixth grade, when he attended a private school in Westminster. He then joined the Independent Studies Program through South Torrance High School.

Now he is here for his senior year.

“There was a time when I was really frustrated, and I wanted to go to public school.

Now that I’m here, I love it because it’s fun and so much more social. I’m still learning, so it’s great,” Klein said.

Klein was home schooled because his parents believed it was a better system.

“My mom and dad decided that it would be good for me to be home schooled because they wanted to teach me a certain way and really instill good morals and beliefs,” Klein said.

Klein came to RUHS because there were certain parts of the Independent Studies Program curriculum that were not University of California eligible.

“It’s a completely different environment and having to wake up at a certain time and everything is organized. It definitely has taken getting used to,” Klein said.

Klein’s mother, Marchelle Klein, feels the transition to public school as well.

“The biggest change is his absence. We miss him [because] he spends more time with friends from Redondo, but when he is home, he takes the time to talk with me and see ‘how I’m doing.’ He knows that I miss having him around,” Mrs. Klein said.

Klein likes being at RUHS and says that despite coming from being home schooled, he does not feel different from the rest of the students.

“I am hopeful that the previous 16 years of his life spent teaching him Biblical values will hold fast and sustain him, not only through his senior year at RUHS, but also through his college career and life thereafter,” Mrs. Klein said.

PHOTO BY MATT MARDESICH

Back to school. Klein works hard in the RUHS library.

10 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

Classical Cluster

by Kayla Maanum

While lying in her hammock and breathing in the strong aroma of incense, she hears the muffled crackles of one of her LPs on the record player, closes her eyes, and listens as the smooth notes of the old vinyl record fill her room.

Junior Eris Heim started her record collection, which consists of over 170 records, last year. Because of the variety of genres she listens to on vinyl, Heim believes her music interest expresses her wide-ranged personality.

“I think that since my music taste is so expandable it reflects my open-mindedness,” she said.

Heim’s father, Mike Heim, supports her hobby because “growing up, people have memories associated with the music they listen to,” and he hopes Eris will gain memories through her collection that reflects her character. “[Eris] has a pretty good variety of interests,” Mr. Heim said. “She’s her own person, and I think that shows in her different music interests.”

Heim and her father share an interest in the music of Jimi Hendrix. But Heim credits her open-mindedness to the messages that her favorite band promote in their music.

“My favorite band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, were always emphasizing to love everyone no matter what their appearances are or what their preferences are, which is what eventually led me to becoming a feminist,” Heim said.

Some of her other favorite artists include George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Luna Chicks and Free Kitten. Heim, who has bought records from the Amoeba Music Store in Los Angeles to local thrift stores to a record shop in France, believes her music taste also reflects her values as a feminist.

“I guess my music relates to my style in that I listen to ‘Riot Grrrl’ music, which is like a form of a feminist punk band,” Heim said.

Heim explains that one feminist idea is being able to wear what one wants without being judged.

“Being a feminist gave me the confidence to wear what I want without feeling weird or caring what people think about me. I dress the way I do for myself. I don’t dress to impress,” she said.

Not only does Heim disregard what others think about the way she dresses, but she also criticizes others who judge people based on the music they listen to.

“People should realize that music is music, and even though it’s not what they like,

Heim’s music collection reflects her rounded and edgy personality.

if it makes people happy that’s all that matters. That’s what music is supposed to do,” she said.

2.

2.

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PHOTOS COURTESEY OF ERIS HEIM

Record Holder. 1. Heim is accompanied by her albums and a poster of RHCP 2. An alphabatized stack of 170 of Heim’s albums.3.

Heim’s decortative wall with her record player

3.

Got the moves like a Tahitian

Pedersen takes pride in her Polynesian style dance skills.

by Stella Gianoukakis

PHOTO COURTESEY OF AMBER PEDERSON

Aloha . Pedersen is dressed in her polynesian style costume right before one of her performances ate the age of six

11 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

The music starts slowly, but quickly picks up. The dancers keep up with quick steps and hip movements. The audience cheers and claps to the fast tempo.

Sophomore Amber Pedersen enjoys performing Tahitian dances because of the music and the rapid speed of the type of dancing.

“I like all the routines and how fast it is. There are live drummers and I really enjoy the beats. I feel very alive and happy when I am dancing,” Pedersen said.

Tahitian dancing is a type of Polynesian dance that originates from the island of Tahiti. According to Pedersen, it is similar to hula because of hip movements, but much faster.

She started out as a hula dancer at the age of six and after a few years the hula group became a Tahitian dancing group.

“My friend was doing it and she convinced me to start hula classes with her with her. I caught on really fast and I just enjoyed doing it,” Pedersen said.

She has performed at a countless number of venues with her group, Halau Hula ‘O Nalikokauikawekiulani, including the Venice community center, several churches, and even LACES High School. Pedersen also attended one competition last year.

Pedersen’s mother, Stephanie Pedersen, always enjoys watching her perform.

“It’s been such a pleasure to watch her dance through the years and see her progress in her dancing abilities,” she said. “Not only did she become a very talented and graceful

dancer, but more importantly, when she dances you could see how much she enjoys what she’s doing.”

Mrs. Pedersen has watched the growth in her daughter throughout the program.

“The discipline and focus that she has developed over the years through her dancing has definitely helped her in many ways. Physically, she learned to move her body gracefully and also develop great stamina since it is quite a workout,” Mrs. Pedersen said.

Pedersen spent so many years dancing with the group, that not only did she obtain discipline, but at times, she also felt a connection to the Polynesian culture even though she has a Chinese and Danish background.

“I learned a lot about Hawaiian and Polynesian culture and it made me feel like I was a part of that culture at times and I also made a lot of friends throughout the years,” Pedersen said.

According to Pedersen, she always feels “lively and happy” while performing she still gets nerves like a firsttimer.

“When I’m on stage, it;s really scary at first, I get nervous just standing there in front of all those people,” she said. “I feel like everyone is watching me and it’s so intimidating.”

Even through all her nerves she perservers because the thrill of dancing makes it all worth it.

“When I’m dancing, I feel like it just comes naturally to me. I feel free and I have tons of fun doing it. I’m always smiling when I am performing, and I always feel really good about myself afterwards,” Peterson said.

He’s got the beat

Hyon uses a flute to beatbox and express his unique style.

by Cedric Hyon

1.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN LEE

2.

Boots, Cats, Boots, Cats: I repeated, trying to master the art that would later become a staple to my personality: beatboxing. Someone cannot describe me without mentioning my constant beatboxing either with or without the flute. Beatboxing on the flute was not particularly showcased anywhere except in the band room before zero period started. My confidence in this unorthodox art limited my showcasing to

Nature boy

by Alejandro Quevedo

Crisp air and the sunny sky surround junior Jasper Nussbaum as he surveys the glittering ocean from the hiking trail. Energized by the natural world surrounding him, he finds himself soothed and able to focus more easily. Everything seems to fall into place when he is on a hike.

Nussbaum has embraced hiking and his interest in the outdoors as an “invigorating” hobby for the past four years.

By combining his passion for nature and love for strenuous physical activity, he has found a hobby that suits him perfectly.

“I have an affinity for nature,” Nussbaum said. “[I enjoy hiking] because I don’t like being around lots of other people all of

Funky Flautist.

1. Hyon is in his element while freestlye beat boxing. “People say that I make a lot of faces while I play. I can really get into my music.” 2. Cedric plays his flute while adding a special twist.” I dance a lot while playing too, so people in band get worried,” Hyon said

only my close friends. I was too afraid of what others might think if I performed for everyone, so for a while, everyone thought I was “just another band geek.”

A friend of mine told me to do it for the talent show though. At first, I thought, “No, I’m not good enough yet.” I waited a whole year to practice and then I immediately made it into the talent show.

When I landed the first beat at the tal-

ent show, I heard random bursts of awe and confusion. My heart was racing faster than a man on cocaine running against Usain Bolt.

Each time I dropped the bass, I overheard murmurs and grunts that made me wonder if they were criticizing or praising my work.

By the end of the show, through the blinding lights, I could see the faded images of the audience giving me a standing ovation. I never felt more proud. After the talent show, people asked to take pictures with me, for my autograph or to buy my album, even though I did not have one. That might change soon.

I first began beatboxing on the flute after watching a youtuber, Greg Patillo, beatboxing the theme of Super Mario Bros. with only his flute.

My friends would always tease me that the flute was a girly instrument, so rather than retort, I showed the possibilities of a flute. Now, whenever someone makes a sexist comment about flute players, I drop one

or two phat beats and they’re silent the rest of the day.

Learning the beatboxing aspect was extremely difficult. Eventually, I learned how to play the drums and how to make sound effects while being able to constantly breathe. I can still perplex people with my seemingly unlimited air supply.

The reason I beatbox constantly is that my mind is always filled with ideas, songs, tracks, and rhythms that I need to execute somehow. I am nowhere near a good guitar player and my singing abilities can make even the tone-deaf ears bleed, so my medium of expression is beatboxing. If I were to suddenly lose my lips, I’d be banging the desk or a drum kit constantly, so the beatboxing is my most quiet medium.

Even if I win half of the class’s annoyance with my beatboxing, it’s well worth it for those few moments when people are impressed by it. It’s my ultimate form of creativity, and I intend to keep it that way.

Junior Jasper Nussbaum finds pleasure in the isolation aspect of hiking. the time, and it makes me feel independent from the pressures of civilization.”

This freedom from the modern world has provided an outlet for Nussbaum to gather his thoughts and allowed him to find calm enjoyment in climbing the dirt paths.

“Its like intentional ignorance,” Nussbaum said. “I can forget everything while I’m out there.”

Nussbaum’s friends, such as junior Ian Porter, notice that these hikes improve his mood and give him much-needed time to himself.

“Its nice for him to be able to escape to somewhere,” Porter said. “It has made him a happier person.”

Some of Nussbaum’s favorite hikes were on Catalina Island. There, he and his dad

camped on a pebble beach for two days and hiked along the island’s cliffs.

“They don’t allow cars on the island unless you have a special permit, so we walked up into the hills and [set up camp],” Nussbaum said. “It was super nice and sunny out, and there was a good breeze. It got even better, because as you go into the hills there arejust clouds, trees, and flowers surrounding you, the ocean, coast, and valleys below.”

According to Nussbaum, these sights and experiences are what make a hike worthwhile.

“Eventually, you find some decent view where there’s nothing obscuring [anything], like a boat, building, or town,” Nussbaum said. “[There’s] just nature.”

Though he is passionate about his hobby,

Nussbaum has not been able to find time to go on hikes lately. Many of his plans, such as hiking in the Grand Canyon and in Joshua Tree, have recently fallen through.

“Not going as much has made me appreciate it more,” Nussbaum said. “If I had my way, I’d go every month with just one other person.”

Though some may take hikes or other forms of natural excursions to find peace from daily life, Nussbaum disagrees. He is revitalized whenever he goes on a hike, and finds them to be exciting rather than peaceful.

“For me, it’s invigorating,” Nussbaum said. “Most people would say it’s peaceful, but there’s rustling everywhere and [that keeps it from being so]. Its not peaceful to me, but it is soothing.”

12 HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

A quiet quarterback Athlete of the issue, senior Harrison Faecher reflects on his years spent in the football program, from rivalry games to the new coaching staff.

by Micah Ezzes

Having played four years of high school football, quarterback Harrison Faecher feels that he is prepared to finish off his high school career with “no regrets.”

Faecher has been playing since he was six and has “loved the sport since [he] could walk.”

“My dad would always tell me stories about how I was always playing with a football when I was a baby,” he said.

He began playing for RUHS his freshman year and feels that little has changed since then.

“The only big change would be the coaching staff,” he said. “Most of the guys from the freshman team are still playing.”

Current head coach Matt Ballard recalls when he first met Faecher last season and remembers seeing a “quiet, unassuming” athlete.

“Just looking at him, you wouldn’t know that he was a quarterback, he just doesn’t come off that way,” he said. “He looks like your average, AllAmerican Southern Californian kid.”

Underneath his quiet disposition, the staff saw a very talented quarterback, says Ballard. “[The new coaches] inherited him as the starting quarterback when we first got here,” he said, “so we were very excited to have him, instead of some new quarterback. It was more about him getting used to us and us to him. He had the skills to get people the ball, so we were mostly looking for [other players] to get around him.”

Despite only knowing him for about a year and a half, Ballard has seen Faecher begin to embrace his

senior class formed, he can see leadership role, starting at the beginhow it affects the team now. ning of this year.

He also believes that he has come “There are a good group of leaders in that senior class,” he said. “With a long way since their first meeting.

“Last year, as a junior, he was this being our first [full] year with much more worried about his own that group, we are hoping that they job [as quarterback],” he said. “Now, will be a sort of legacy, the birthplace he understands that the next step [of the new football staff]. So we is holding everyone else on the of- hope to send them out well.” fense accountable, too. He’s a leader, With players such as Harry Whitson, Adam Basaca, Dylan Garcia and whether he wants to be or not.”

In becoming the leader, Faecher Jamaal Perkins having played with has also become more confident, ac- Faecher “since the beginning”, the team has built a lasting bond, says cording to Ballard.

“He walks the walk,” he said. “He Faecher.

“I couldn’t ask for better teamleads by example, and demands a lot of those around him, so we can ask mates,” he said. “We have built a [other players] to be more like him.” bond that no one else has. They have With this confidence, Faecher still been a part of something really speretained the quiet, unassuming na- cial in my life.” ture he had when Ballard first met PHOTO BY MATT MARDSICH him as well, Ballard says.

“He’s a very dedicated, hard worker, who quietly goes about doing his business,” he said.

While Faecher wants to make a lasting impression in his final year, he also wants to work towards the yearly goals of the team.

“I plan on leaving my career at Redondo with no regrets,” he said. “Everyone’s goal is to win a CIF title, but first we have to win every week, and then win league.”

While Ballard was not at the school long PHOTO BY MEGAN CONTRERAS enough to see the bond Out of the pocket. Senior Harrison Faecher has enjoyed playing on the RUHS football team for four years. between the

Boys’ water polo shakes off slow start

by Caitlin Cochran

PHOTO BY AHMAD KABBANI

Power shot. Senior Garrett Lash prepares for a shot earlier this year against El Sugundo.

The team won against Beverly Hills, 21-7.

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13 HIGH TIDE SPORTS

The boys’ water polo team won on Tuesday against Beverly Hills, 21-7.

According to senior Lucas Duffy, the team did not come out as strong as they should have.

“The team was a little too relaxed going into the game. It was not until halftime that we really kicked it in gear,” Duffy said.

By halftime, one of the team’s top contributors, senior Jonathan Ortiz, was in foul trouble, so could not play until late in the second half.

“Although we did not expect Jonathan to

be out, we were able to adapt to the situation accordingly. When Jonathan got back in, he scored a few goals and the game was pretty much over at that point,” Duffy said.

According to senior Davy Thomas, the team is coming together and starting to learn to play together after the many practices spent working to improve the team’s chemistry.

“We are starting to get into really good shape, from conditioning and practice in both the morning and afternoon,” Thomas said. “We are all starting to play together now.”

Some of the key players in the game on

offense were Ortiz and Duffy, and senior Nicholas Gutierrez on defense, according to Thomas.

“Both Jonathan and Lucas help space out the pool and initiate plays on offense,” Thomas said. “Nicholas Gutierrez has also been a big help on defense and guarding the set.”

According to Duffy, the successful game against Beverly Hills was a good confidence booster for the team, “We are feeling a lot better now,” Duffy said. “We want to be better than the nonbay-league teams and move on to our tougher league opponents.”

Girls’ tennis continues to hit stride

The team defeats Torrance to keep their winning streak alive, despite missing two starters due to injuries.

Strong performances from Allegra Peelor, Erin Shy and Sarah Antilla helped to secure the 15-3 victory.

by Romy Moreno

Continuing their winning streak, girls’ tennis beat Torrance High School 13-5 in their match yesterday, making them 7-0.

“We have been winning a lot recently so we were expecting to win just as we did, extremely well,” senior Erin Shy said.

Sophomore Emily Zargham was injured and unable to play in the match, but watched the game and only had good things to say about her teammates.

“What I saw was that everyone was playing the best they could and communicated very well as a team,” Zargham said.

Due to injuries, Shy teamed up with senior Sarah Antilla for doubles instead of being teamed up with Zargham, but was glad with their outcome in the end.

“Because Emily is injured I played with Sarah in doubles, but we were able to communicate well and I think we did really well,” Shy said.

Even with many injuries, the girls’ all agree that their performance was outstanding.

“We had two of our starters injured, so we had subs filling in and we mixed up the

line up and still pulled through with a solid score,” senior Jenn Duong said.

Overall the team was incredibly pleased with performance.

“We are extremely happy with how we did today and hope we can keep it up throughout the remainder of the season,” Shy said.

The girls are focusing on getting ready for their upcoming matches, which will bring them more of a challenging competition, according to Duong.

“We play against Cerritos in an upcoming match, who happen to be Division 4 CIF champions,” Duong said. “They are a strong team so it will be a little more competitive, which means closer scores and a closer match, but we are all looking forward to it.”

Shy, along with many of the other teammates, has similar thoughts.

“We start tougher matches next week, which will show us how we are really doing,” Shy said.

With more competitive matches coming up, the players are excited to see how things will end up.

Girls’ golf stumbles

Golf team loses in their opening match against Penninsula High School in their Bay League opener.

by Romy Moreno

PHOTO BYJUSTIN LEE

Swing and miss. Junior Robynn Ree hits a shot out of the sand in the game against Penn.

14 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

PHOTO BY PETER TRAN

Hitting success. Sophomore Alyssa Grijalva hits a forehand in a match last week. “We played really well as a team and were able to pull out a win,” Grijalva said.

In the girls’ golf team’s first league match of the season they fell short, losing by nine points against Peninsula in Tuesday’s match.

“I believe that we lost only because we had players that have never played at PVCC [Palos Verdes Country Club] before, so it was a challenge, especially for them,” sophomore Carlin Liang said.

One person who was not familiar with the course was junior Mamika Toyoshima.

“Considering it was my first time playing at PVCC, I think I did all right,” Toyoshima said. “But there are definitely things that i can improve on such as my putting which will evidently lower my scores in future matches.”

According to the girls, a majority of the golfers were expecting to get the win going into the match.

“I was expecting a win because we had heard Peninsula lost some of their best players,” junior Mackenzie Jeffrey said. “We also beat them last year at their home course; this year we just fell short.”

Toyoshima had similar thoughts in hoping to win their first match.

“We were expecting and hoping to win our first match and we really wanted to start the season off strong,” Toyoshima said.

The girls blamed some of the loss on the course itself.

“The course was extremely fast, unlike other courses,” Jeffrey said. “In addition they had a numerous amount of breaks [slopes] which made things more difficult

since we were not used to these conditions.”

Jeffrey also added that it affected her own personal performance at the match.

“The greens at the course were extremely difficult, so that had a huge impact on how I did as well,” Jeffrey said.

Even with not getting the win, the golfers were still pleased with the way they performed.

“The team performed great together; we all got along really well, which sets a good tone for the rest of the season, especially since that was only first official match of the season,” Jeffery said.

The team had high hopes competing against Peninsula again in yesterday’s match.

“Since we have the home course advantage this time I feel that we will do well and hopefully beat them this time around,” Toyoshima said.

However, even with having the home field advantage, the girls were still unable to come out on top and lost against Penn, 232-209.

“We all underestimated Peninsula’s ability and three of us were sick, which affected our playing, but overall we all just had a rough day,” Liang said.

Even with losing their two first league games, they plan on coming back stronger.

“Even though we are having a bit of a rough start, we plan to make a good recovery and are aiming for the Bay League title like last year,” Toyoshima said.

Boys’ XC starts season strong The boys’ cross country team worked as a team to win its first event, the Great Cow Run, and proves that it is still a dominant force in Bay League.

by Micah Ezzes

The boys’ cross country team won the Great Cow Run with a total of 84 points Saturday, September 4.

Strong performances from seniors Will Tait and Dustin Herold, along with junior Carlos Suarez, helped secure the team’s first first-place finish at the meet, starting off the season strong.

Tait is proud of the way the team stepped up to the challenge and competed during the race.

“We entered the season ranked first for Division II and sixth in the entire state,” he said, “but at [the race] we beat teams that were ranked even higher than us on a state and nation-wide level.”

Despite getting the win, Suarez believes that there is room for improvement due to a lack of mental toughness.

“We actually don’t think we raced to our full potential,” Suarez said, “but we are still happy with the win.”

Tait, who finished sixth overall in the race, also admits that the team could have

done better.

“None of us ran as fast or as strategically as we wanted to,” he said, “but given the 95-degree heat, the conditions weren’t exactly favorable.”

Suarez believes that the team has the ability to succeed, but that the members need to improve their mental strength.

“Our training is fine,” Suarez said. “I think the biggest thing holding us back is our mindset during the race. We all know that we have the potential to win CIF and possibly state, but I feel like during some of the races, some people back off or don’t go as hard as they can.”

Tait also believes that a change in mindset could help the team win easier in upcoming matches.

“We took it as a learning experience,” he said. “If we give a mediocre performance relative to our capability and still get results, who knows what will happen when we really start racing well.”

According to Suarez, the biggest improvement the team needs to make involves pack running. Pack running involves stay-

ing close together as a team, which will help the team get a lower score.

Suarez believes that the pack mentality can help the team bond and shake off any mental blocks the team may have.

“Pack running is probably the [best] way to overcome mental barriers,” he said.

“It helps to have a teammate by your side, motivating you and pushing you to do your best.”

The team’s next race is Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Palos Verdes cross country course.

It will be the team’s first Bay League race of the year.

The team is preparing for the race both physically and mentally.

“We’re probably going to keep the intensity of our workouts up for the next week and then really start to focus on the race mentally,” Suarez said.

According to Tait, once they work out the kinks, the team will be able to race to their full potential.

“This team has a lot of heart,” he said.

“I don’t know what we won’t be able to do together [this season].”

Girls’ volleyball pushed to the limit The girls volleyball team blew an early lead, but still won in five sets on Tuesday.

by Alejandro Quevedo

After a difficult battle that pushed the match into five sets, the girls volleyball team snagged victory from Orange Lutheran this Tuesday, 25-16, 25-26, 25-21, 20-25 and 15-12.

The team had a good start, quickly winning the first set and gaining the lead. But, they ran into difficulties as they went into their second set, tying at 24-24 before Orange Lutheran pulled ahead.

“We started off really strong in the first game, but I think we let them [get back in the game] and gain the lead,” senior Brianna Lanktree said. “We’ve been in this position a lot where we’ve gone to five [sets], but everyone stepped up.”

The team continued to battle Orange Lutheran toe to toe, winning the third set but losing the fourth. It was not until the fifth set when the team gained a definite lead early on in order to achieve the final score of 15-12.

“I think we played up and down,” Chaffins said. “Sometimes we looked like the number two team in CIF, and at others we looked like we were in the mix. [However], I’m proud of how the girls played in the fifth set. They really pulled it together.”

According to senior Leilani Martinez, the team has continued to get better throughout

the start of the season, and expects to make it back into CIF. “There have been major improvements in this early part of the season, especially in our defense and team camaraderie,” Martinez said. “We have shown strides in the right direction but we aren’t all the way there yet.

There is always room to make things better and there are still a few areas that we need to get better in.”

The team will compete in the Durango tournament this weekend and their next match will be at Marymount next Tuesday.

They are especially looking forward to their match against Marymount because of their defeat during last year’s CIF finals.

“They beat us in the CIF finals last year, so my girls will be highly motivated,” Chaffins said. “We’re going to want to get some revenge for sure.”

PHOTO BY TYLER EINSENHART

Running Wild. Senior Will Tait prepares for the upcoming matches in their season.

Sports at a Glance Girls’ Volleyball: W vs. Orange Lutheran: 25-16, 25-26, 25-21, 20-25, 15-12 Boy’s Water Polo: W vs. Beverly Hills,

21-7 Football: W vs. Antelope Valley, 35-14 Boys’ Cross Country: 1st place at the

Great Cow Run Girls’ Cross Country: 3rd at the Grea Cow Run Girls’ Tennis: W vs. Torrance, 13-5 Girls’ Golf: L vs. Peninsula

Upcoming Events Girls Volleyball: Las Vegas Durango Tournament Boys’ Water Polo: @ Torrance, 9/24 Football: @ Culver City, 9/20 Cross Country: Woodbridge Invitational, 9/21 PHOTO BY DANIEL ZIEGLER

Smack down. Senior Brianna Lanktree spikes the ball in a game earlier this season.

Girls’ Tennis: vs. Cerritos, 9/23 Girls’ Golf: @ South, 9/23

15 HIGH TIDE . SPORTS

Move with a purpose

by Stella Gianoukakis

After swimming, biking, and running for what seems like forever, the triathlon is finally complete. Exuberance and life are flowing through him-- along with exhaustion. He has completed one more race in memory of a lost loved one who was close to his heart.

Sophomore Cole Stecyk participates in triathlons and dedicates them to his deceased brother.

“I feel that I am honoring him and fullfilling his destiny every time I finish another triathlon,” Stecyk said.

Stecyk’s younger brother, Chase, was only six years old when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer that formed a spine tumor called myxopapillary ependymoma.

“He was upset he couldn’t walk, but every step he took motivated him to get stronger and better,” Stecyk said.

Their father had participated in triathlons, inspiring Chase. However, Chase never got the chance because the cancer disabled his ability to walk, causing him to use a cane. Therefore, after his passing at age 11, Stecyk decided to commemorate his brother through triathlons. “[My brother’s passing] gave me motivation to go out and do it for him because he couldn’t really walk. Part of my inspiration were his last words which were ‘live life the way you want to.’ That is what I am doing, just like he would have wanted me to,” Stecyk said.

Stecyk participates in triathlons with his family and friends, including sophomore Mackenzie Thomas and her family.

The two families have formed two teams: Thomas’s mother, Cole’s mother, Amy Ste-

cyk, and Thomas are a part of the relay team named TEAM CHASE, and Cole’s father Randy Stecyk, Thomas’ brother Davy and one of Chase’s nurses are team TRES POR CHASE. Stecyk, however, does the entire triathlon himself.

Stecyk and his mother have similar yet slightly different reasons for taking part in these events.

“I do the triathlon for this reason: Chase loved to run, bike, swim, climb, skateboard, play soccer, you name it: he just wanted to be outside and be active. When I run, I think about this. Chase went through excruciating treatments in his fight against cancer and sadly he lost the battle. I do it [triathlons] because I can. That’s why we all do it, for Chase and for all these amazing brave kids that want to, but can’t,” Mrs. Stecyk said.

Stecyk has completed several triathlons since then and always uses his brother as inspiration.

“If I ever have difficulties during the triathlon, I just remember how my brother would muscle through everything he had to go through with all of the chemotherapy and how I should muscle through the next step of the triathlon,” Stecyk said.

Stecyk is grateful for all the support from his friends and family, but nothing can replace the special bond he had with his brother.

“I miss bonding with my brother the most. We had a really good relationship. We would play-fight a lot and we would always hang out and bond together. We used to have inside jokes and play video games together. I really miss that a lot,” Stecyk said.

Not only does Stecyk miss the company

After losing his brother to cancer, Cole dedicates every triathalon he runs for his brother’s memory. Every time he finishes, he feels he fufills his brother’s destiny.

2.

Hang loose. 2. Stecyk poses with Chase at Lake Havesu.

1, 3, and 4. Stecyk raced with friends Mackenzie and Davy 1. Thomas at the Nautica Triathlon.

4.

of the brother, but his brother passing away, affected his entire family greatly as a whole.

“We miss Chase every moment of every day. It’s like a piece of you is missing and things are just not the same. I know for Cole it is very hard. Chase passing away affected

[from p. 1]

1.

Learning Moore languages. 1.

Moore studies Hindi in the library. 2.

Some of Moore’s language textbooks.

Moore is already almost fluent in French, and is currently learning Arabic and Hindi and plans to travel.

16 . HIGH TIDE . FEATURES

2.

3.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLE STECYK

Moore began by learning the languages of the Middle East.

“I feel like the Middle Eastern nations are terribly misconceived by this country, and it is a shame because they are all quite beautiful,” Moore said. “I hope to thrive in this language so I can fight all these misconceptions that America holds.”

Presently, Moore is teaching herself Arabic and Hindi.

Since these languages are more difficult for her to learn than French, Moore describes her current level as “that of a preschooler, if even that,” but her genuine enthusiasm drives her to still work diligently.

“Arabic is such a diverse language. It can be as beautiful as a sunrise in one sentence and then be guttural and just as gritty in the next. Even the greetings are beautiful,” Moore said. “As for Hindi, the script was so appealing, the music was so charming, and India has got some great things going for it.”

According to her mother, Lisa Moore, this natural fascination with language sets Moore apart from other students her age.

“I am glad Dana is passionate about learning,” Mrs. Moore said. “She probably spends a comparable amount of time dabbling in languages as other kids spend watching television or on the computer. Her love of foreign

us by reminding us that life is to be lived.

Losing him makes us want try and help in any big or little way to help find a cure for cancer,” Mrs. Stecyk said. “Don’t take anything for granted, because life can change in the blink of an eye.”

language has enhanced her life.”

Fueled with wanderlust and an interest in foreign cultures, Moore’s dedication is dependent on her aim of travelling internationally.

“She is learning because she wants to, not because she has to. Dana’s desire to travel to France has inspired her to work harder on French, too,” Mrs. Moore said.

Her aspirations don’t stop there, though; Moore hopes to travel all over the world.

“I see travelling as a big part of my future, going to all sorts of places and seeing all sorts of people,” Moore said. “I want to feel like a foreigner, observe how things work, and meet people that think much differently from the people here in America.”

Ultimately, Moore can envision herself potentially residing in France permanently.

“It would be a pleasure to live in France and learn something unfamiliar and strange every day,” Moore said. “I would love to possibly stay there and teach ESL.” However, Moore’s plans for the future remain open, flexible, and hopeful.

“I do not know exactly what I will get out of my hobby, but anything related to it would be a pleasure to take part in,” Moore said. “Immersing myself into something completely new is a dream that I will fulfill one way or another.”