Dear Reader, This is certainly an unexpected finish to our four years of high school! Donning our masks, we sit next to familiar faces under the glaring sun, peering into the sea of friends and family members eagerly awaiting perhaps one of the largest milestones in our lives: graduation. Here’s to celebrating the extraordinary Class of 2021! This magazine is for you: to recognize your grace, passion and creativity in the face of uncertainty. Whether you’re using this magazine right now to calm your nerves before receiving your diploma, or reading it years down the line craving some nostalgia, I hope it brings you comfort and joy. And for senior Talonites, words cannot express how grateful I am. I am forever indebted to you for taking in a timid sophomore and teaching her the values of journalism, leadership and friendship. As we prepare to journey beyond Room 409, I hope we will always carry with us our love of storytelling, using our voices to amplify others’ and to better the world. Let’s cherish the memories we’ve created together and embrace the unexpected as we embark on the next chapter of our lives.
Senior Q&A
Stella Huang Editor-in-Chief
What is your favorite or funniest moment of a Zoom class? “My physics teacher’s daughter accidentally came in during our Zoom playing ‘WAP.’” — Jessica Dooley
What is your most embarrassing moment or story during high school? “I was walking to the locker rooms, but realized they were about to close and it was raining that day and I slipped and fell in front of a group of juniors.” — Alexis Lara Alvarado What is your most memorable moment during high school? “Graduating from it.” — Evan Fine What is your advice for freshmen? “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! I know it’s been harder to get involved in things and get to know people, so if you haven’t joined any clubs or other activities, try joining one next year. If you’re already in one, great! They’re even better in person.” — Olivia Colace What will you miss most about LAHS? “The cookies from the snack shop … they were addictive.” — Akane Ozawa The Cover | Graphic by Emily Zhu | As we leave our childhoods behind, we want the graphics in our magazine to allow you to reminisce about the pleasant memories of our youth: trading Pokemon cards and silly bands, playing an unhealthy amount of Angry Birds and scouring Where’s Waldo. Luckily, he’ll be easier to find this time around as Waldo takes social distancing protocols very seriously.
4. year in review 6. college map 9. sports moments 10. recruited athletes 13. senior superlatives 16. senior columns 17. graduation speaker 18. senior bios
The Talon // 3
Year In Review 2020 - 2021 NAVYA SINGHAI
Print Managing Editor
August 2020
LAUREN CHUNG
Graphic Artist
September 2020
SKEEZE VIA PIXABAY
California Fires
October 2020
TOMOKI CHIEN
Breonna Taylor Decision
Over 4 million acres were burned in California when a lightning siege hit last August, forcing hundreds of thousands of people across the state to evacuate their homes. Wildfires are not uncommon in California, but the 2020 fire season — with five of the six largest fires blazing in the span of a few months — was the worst ever in the state’s history. Coined as the first “gigafire,” the August Complex fire crossed seven counties, and its effects were visible in the persisting orange hue of the sky and treacherously low air quality in the Bay Area. The fire-related evacuations and deaths only piled onto the suffering caused by the pandemic.
After months of outrage and protesting, the Kentucky grand jury decided to indict one of three Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the murder of Breonna Taylor on March 13. Former officer Brett Hankison was indicted and charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree for shooting into neighboring apartments. The grand jury did not elect to press charges against the other two officers involved, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove. None of the officers were directly charged for Taylor’s death.
January 2021
December 2020
MUFID MAJNUN VIA UNSPLASH
Vaccine Roll-out One shot, two shot, red shot, blue shot — whether it’s Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson, Californians have been receiving COVID-19 vaccinations since December 14, 2020. Phase 1 of California’s vaccine rollout began with high priority healthcare workers, later expanding to high risk and senior citizens in January 2021. Those 16 and older became eligible for vaccination starting April 15, and those 12 and over on May 12. While as of May 20, 54.1 percent of Californians have received at least one dose and 39.8 percent are fully vaccinated, only 4.6 percent of the global population has been fully vaccinated. 4 // June 2021
OLIVIA HEWANG
Staff Writer
TAPTHEFORWARDASSIST VIA WIKIMEDIA
Capitol Insurrection While Congress was certifying the election results on January 6, 2021, Trump held a rally and called for the results to be overturned. He urged supporters to “take back our country” and “fight like hell,” allegedly prompting rally attendees to break into the Capitol building. The rioters disrupted the certification and caused an evacuation of Congress. After the mob was removed, Congress reconvened and confirmed Biden’s victory. During his inauguration on January 25, Biden took the oath of office and was officially sworn in as the 46th U.S. president.
EMILY ZHU
TKAM Decision Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize–winning and often controversial novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” (TKAM) was removed from the Survey Literature and Composition core curriculum in October as its portrayal of lawyer Atticus Finch as a “white savior” and “outdated messages having to do with race and the status quo” were deemed problematic, according to English Department Coordinator Margaret Bennett. The English Department plans to replace TKAM with “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Cristina Henríquez, a novel told from the underrepresented perspectives of poor immigrants.
March 2021
ROHAN VASWANI
Atlanta Shooting and Protests
Eight people were killed when Robert Aaron Long opened fire on three Asian spas in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. Six of the victims were Asian women: Soon C. Park, Hyun J. Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong A. Yue, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng and Delaina Ashley Yaun. Critics claimed the media was hesitant to call the shooting a hate crime, condemning Cherokee County Sheriff Jay Baker for arguing to reporters that Long just had a “really bad day.” The Atlanta shootings occured amid nationwide discourse over rising hate crimes against Asian Americans.
April 2021
November 2020
GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR
VIA GETTY IMAGES
Derek Chauvin Convicted With Murder
Elections Former Vice President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election on November 3, 2020, with 306 electoral votes. Throughout the general election, President Donald Trump continuously claimed voter fraud without providing specific evidence, requesting ballot recounts in multiple states. Before recounts were conclusive, Trump claimed he would undoubtedly win the presidential election, alleging election fraud even when Biden was projected to be the 46th president of the United States. The Electoral College later formalized Biden’s victory on December 14, 2020.
Former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd on April 21. In a rare verdict, after three weeks of trial, the 12-member jury unanimously convicted him with second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter for kneeling on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, long after it was deemed necessary. Floyd’s death led to a rise in Black Lives Matter and anti-police brutality protests in 2020. The trial drew mass media attention from all over the country.
April 2021
In-Person School Return
ROHAN VASWANI
Friday, March 13, 2021 is a date emblazoned in many minds as the beginning of the pandemic era. At the time, some expected quarantine to last for a few weeks and others believed there was no end in sight. But 412 days after that historic date, on Monday, April 19, Los Altos High School opened its doors once again, but school no longer resembled our pre-pandemic memories. Students walked into classrooms with desks spaced three feet apart, QR codes to scan daily, and hand sanitizing stations scattered across campus. The Talon // 5
Boston University Aaron Zheng Yale University Abby Moos Abhinav Yarramaneni Washington & Jefferson College Bryn Mawr College Aditi Dixit University of Hawaii at Manoa Aiden Elpedes Cornell University Aimee Tsang UC Santa Barbara Akane Ozawa Stanford University Akanshya Bhat Purdue University Akshur Ananth University of Colorado Boulder Alex Rolland Loyola Marymount University Alexis Musick UC Santa Barbara Alia Bell Brandeis University Alicia Yim Alisha Xiong University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign UC Riverside Alissa Hernandez UC Berkeley Allison Hong Rice University Amanda Le UC Los Angeles Angelina Lue Case Western Reserve University Anna Smith UC Santa Barbara Anne-Sophie Geldmeyer Boston University Annelisa Fache Loyola Marymount University Arjun Satyavrath Tufts University Arthi Sumanth Cal Poly SLO Arya Sastry Stanford University Arynn Carty Lewis and Clark College Ash Prodromou American University Asha Jain University of Colorado Boulder Ashley Warren UC Los Angeles Ashwyn Yeo Audrey Boennighausen University of Notre Dame Harvard College Audrey Chang University of Arizona Avery St. Laurent Bailey Fu Bar Weiner Ben Falkenburg Blake Brinsfield Brenda Aguilar Brianna Campos Brooke Lang Bryan Amezcua
Dartmouth College Stanford University UC Los Angeles Washington State University San Jose State University University of Wisconsin Madison University of Michigan Ann Arbor San Francisco State University
UC Santa Barbara Camdyn Rechenmacher Franklin University Switzerland Cara Askren University of Utah Caroline Cheng University of Guelph Cedric Smith San Jose State University Cesar Garcia Perez
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Charles Sirey Charlie Atkins Christopher Le Clara Akhlaghi Clara Carlsson Colby Cook Collin Hepworth
Syracuse University Kenyon College Northeastern University New York University Shanghai University of Colorado Boulder University of Miami Utah State University
Daniel Casares-Iglesias Della Feldman-Peterson Denis Koush
Cal Poly SLO Reed College UC Santa Barbara
Elana Eisenberg UC Berkeley Elizabeth Morgan Swarthmore College Ella Chang Barnard College Ella Freda Pennsylvania State University Elli Lahdesmaki Northeastern University Emily McNally Emerson College Emma Gourand École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris Emma Schmidt University of Colorado Boulder Ethan Apfelberg UC Los Angeles Ethan Feldman Northeastern University Ethan Lowe California Baptist University Ethan Yang MIT Everett Lee Stanford University Franchesca Baker
Michigan State University
Gabriela Marques Gavin Fairey Grace Patterson Grady Hofmann Greta Jensen
University of Limerick Indiana University MIT Stanford University Cal Poly SLO
Hana Suzuki Hannah Ghaffari Harris Watson Henry Shi Isaac Tesfaye Isabel Berny Ittai Ronen
San Jose State University UC Los Angeles University of Puget Sound University of Chicago University of Southern California Stanford University Tulane University
Jackson Van Vooren University of Chicago Jacky Vasquez Fremont Beauty College Jamie Baum Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Jane Dormady Cal Poly SLO Jared Maeyama Santa Clara University Jeremy Nieda UC Santa Barbara Jess Dooley Rice University Jessica Young UC Berkeley Jimmy Dessouki UC Berkeley Joanna Hsieh Vanderbilt University Jocelyn Lee Rice University Joie Rahn Cal Poly SLO Joseph Feldman-Peterson UC Riverside Joshua Kim Saint Olaf College Joy Lee Purdue University Julie Deng Santa Clara University Juliette Sartori University of Glasgow Justin Meiseles University of Colorado Boulder Justin Yu UC Berkeley Kaitlyn Pham UC Santa Barbara Karla Marin Modesto Junior College Karyna Yen Northeastern University Kate O’Neal University of St. Andrews Kathrina Welborn University of Southern California Kavya Ramamurthy Duke University Keela Zambre Purdue University Kelly Chang University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Kevin Andrews University of Portland Kyle Shang UC Davis
Laila Bahman Laura MacKenzie Lauren Chung Lauren Haragan Lauren Morimoto Lauren Yih Leila Boisvert Leo Jaques Lia Tsur Lucy Gilbert-Fagen
UC Santa Barbara Cornell University Northeastern University Northeastern University Northeastern University UC Davis DePaul University American University California Institute of the Arts Colorado School of Mines
Gonzaga University Maddy Hale UC Los Angeles Margaret Capetz UC Los Angeles Marie Godderis University of British Columbia Marin Baugh Gonzaga University Matthew Leong UC Los Angeles May Jiang Northeastern Maya Amit Northeastern University Maya Atassi Middlebury College Maya Bryan Dartmouth College Megan Apfelberg Mount Holyoke Megan Quinn UC Berkeley Mihir Mirchandani Dartmouth College Mira Chiruvolu Boston University Mone Sekiguchi UC Los Angeles Morgan Taylor-Cohen Nancy Zhang Natalie Young Nathan Chiochios Navya Singhai Nazli Kaplankiran Nick Huang
UC Davis Scripps College California State University Chico University of Michigan Ann Arbor UC Santa Cruz Gonzaga University
San Jose State University Oliver Salmon Bryn Mawr College Olivia Colace San Jose State University Omar Contreras Sanchez Loyola Marymount University Owen Brunner Parisa Larson Rebekka Kabel
UC Los Angeles UC Santa Barbara
Northeastern University Sage Toomre Cornell University Sam Nath Scripps College Samantha Ford MIT Sarah Stoops University of Southern California Shayla Gossain West Valley College Shelby White UC Santa Cruz Shivani Mandalaparthi UC Santa Barbara Siaa Singh University of Oregon Sofia Rodriguez Baquero New York University Soham Bhonagiri Texas Tech University Sophia Levitski Cal Poly SLO Sophia Yurchenko UC Santa Barbara Sophie Girard University of Utah Stefannie Takata UC Los Angeles Stella Huang Santa Clara University Steven Rotondo Talia Frank Thomas Lilygren Tom Harpaz Valentina Chang Varun Nathamuni Victor Medina Yohan Guyomard Yuting Shi Zain Merchant Zarina Khader
UC Santa Barbara Harvey Mudd College Columbia University University of Pennsylvania San Jose State University Foothill College MIT Boston University University of Southern California UC Berkeley
EMILY MCNALLY
BARRETT WONG
Senior Writer
Girls Basketball The varsity girls basketball team may have a small roster this year, but that hasn’t stopped them from dominating on the court with seven consecutive wins. From fall of 2020 to early spring, the team held socially-distanced drills and conditioning. When they got the green light to begin contact practices, the players could not have been more eager to play the sport without limitations. “I didn’t think we’d have a season, so I feel super grateful being able to play during COVID,” senior and co-captain Mone Sekiguchi said. “It feels amazing to be able to play my last high school season with all my fellow seniors and teammates and to see all our hard work pay off.” The girls basketball program introduced a new coaching staff, notably the new varsity head coach Erik Stuart, who used to coach at Foothill College. Even though he introduced new offensive and defensive plays, the players quickly picked them up in stride with the rest of the unorthodox season. So far the team has beaten schools that bested them last year, such as Palo Alto High School and Los Gatos High School. As of mid-May, the team is ranked third in the De Anza league and ranked within the top 10 in the Central Coast Section.
# // Month 20xx
Senior Writer
Girls Golf With a 9–1 record, the girls golf team had a successful, albeit shortened, season. After losing their first game against Homestead High School, they used the loss as incentive to work even harder. “[Going 9–1] feels awesome. I’m glad that the team was able to work hard together,” senior Annika Gaglani said. “[The season] felt pretty good overall, except for the fact that there were no league finals or CCS.” The girls welcomed new head coach Abe Roof, who has played the sport since he was in elementary school. Roof is also the general manager at the Bay View Golf Club in Milpitas, which the team used as its home turf and practice green for this season. “I think having a new coach this season was great for the team,” senior Joanna Hsieh said. “We had access to more equipment, our coach helped us when we needed help and I definitely feel like I improved during the season.”
Girls Tennis After finally being granted a season that was never guaranteed in the first place, the varsity girls tennis team took on unpredictable COVID-19 restrictions one after another and finished their season undefeated as the top team in the El Camino division.
CEDRIC CHAN Graphic Artist
The team beat both Homestead and Mountain View High School — both part of the upper division — which gave them the confidence to play against more competitive players. “I’m both very happy with our record, but sad that many of our seniors will be leaving this year,” head coach Hung Nguyen said. “For the amount of practice we had, I’m really proud of how the girls played this year.” Although the team wasn’t able to test their skills in the playoffs due to COVID-19, they hope to do so next year. With an undefeated season under their belt, the team hopes to move up to the De Anza league next season.
varsity girls still performed phenomenally to finish off their season. Sophomore Fiona Bodkin won her race with a time of 19 minutes and 40 seconds and was followed by junior Riley Capuano in second at 19 minutes and 45 seconds. Even though the combination of a shortened season and injuries challenged the team, they pushed through and ended the season on a high note. Next season, the team hopes to improve their ranking with the Central Coast Section and qualify for the CIF-State Cross Country Championship.
Cross Country Eager to finally run in a more authentic off-campus meet, the Eagles were finally granted their wish in the final meet of the season set at Baylands Park. Unwilling to let this opportunity go to waste, runners made sure to leave their mark on this oneof-a-kind season. In the varsity boys race, senior Hans Holst placed second with a time of 16 minutes and 35 seconds, with senior Kevin Andrews on his tail at 16 minutes and 39 seconds. Despite missing their top runner due to injuries, the
The Talon // # The The Talon Talon// //99
ELANA EISENBERG Sports Editor
LAUREN MORIMOTO Staff Writer
Kevin Andrews DI Cross Country/Track and Field University of Portland Business
What song best describes your athletic career and why? “Everyday We Lit,” because every day that I get to run is a good day. What’s your pregame ritual? I take an ice bath three days before my race, take a hot bath and picture my race two days before get sleep the night before.
Charlie Atkins DIII Track and Field Kenyon College Philosophy, English and Psychology
What’s your biggest strength as an athlete? I think my biggest strength is my passion for track. I’m constantly looking to improve my times, form and teamwork skills. Most importantly, it teaches me to push my limits, work through hardship and stay motivated. What are you most looking forward to about playing in college? I’m excited to help create a close-knit, supportive and successful community.
Jamie Baum DIII Basketball Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Civil Engineering
What’s your sports nickname and why? Some of my coaches have called me JB, but it’s not really that deep. It’s just my initials. What’s your pregame ritual? I’m not really superstitious, but I like touching the backboard before every game to get my legs going.
Hannah Bohbot-Dridi DIII Track and Field Brandeis University Political Science with a Minor in Legal Studies
What’s your proudest sports moment? My proudest moments were being two points away from winning league finals my sophomore year and running the last leg of the 4-by-400 to help lead my team to victory. What’s your favorite memory with your team? My favorite memory with my team was when we won League Finals in every single event my sophomore year and celebrated all together on the football field at the end of the meet.
10 // June 2021
Gia Cimring DI Soccer University of California, Santa Barbara Physiology
What’s your favorite memory with your team? We were in Florida for a showcase near Christmas time and we all got matching pajamas pants, including our coach, and had a big Christmas dinner. What’s your biggest strength as an athlete? Being an athlete has allowed me to be able to balance so many different things: a social life, academics and soccer. It has made me very disciplined and I’m excited to see how I’ll handle everything in college.
Mwinso Denkabe DI Soccer Wake Forest University Biology
Why did you choose the school that you did? I want to play soccer at the highest level, and in order to do that I need to surround myself around the best players. Wake brings that professional and competitive environment that I need. What’s your sports nickname and why? My nickname is Soup because when I was 10, my coach messed up my name and it sounded like he said miso like miso soup. What’s your favorite celebratory meal? I love Jamaican food. If I’m really in a good mood after a game I’ll get some curried goat and oxtail with plantain and jerk chicken.
Elana Eisenberg DI Field Hockey University of California, Berkeley Economics
What’s your proudest sports moment? My proudest sports moment was scoring both of my team’s goals in a 2–1 win at the National Futures Championship. My coach called me his “clutch player” for the rest of the day! What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an athlete? I’m fully deaf in my right ear, so I’ve had to really focus on my ball-handling skills so that I can scan the field while dribbling instead of trying to locate sound.
Cyrus Gaylord DIII Diving Claremont McKenna College Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Why did you choose the school that you did? It offered the perfect balance between academics and athletics, and although there’s a large student athlete population, athletes still play a very large role in the academic community. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an athlete? The biggest challenge I’ve faced with diving is mental blocks. In diving, a majority of the time, the main thing preventing you from learning new dives is fear.
The Talon // 11
Laura MacKenzie DI Gymnastics Cornell University Landscape Architecture
Why did you choose the school that you did? I chose Cornell because it has the academic program I’m interested in and the coaches were very friendly. What are you most looking forward to about playing in college? I’m looking forward to being part of a big team. College gymnastics is much more team-oriented than club gymnastics, so it will be a fun new experience.
Eliza Morgan DIII Track and Field Swarthmore College Economics and Political Science
What’s your favorite memory with your team? Every year after leagues, our team does a water balloon throw challenge, but it always turns into us throwing the extra balloons at the coaches — it’s an act of catharsis for all the 6-by-200 workouts at the beginning of the season. What’s your pregame ritual? I get one of my friends to braid my hair, then I listen to my hype playlist on the bus. I also have this weird routine right before I take my jump which involves jumping around in strange but specific ways.
Aaron Parker DI Baseball University of California, Santa Barbara Biological Sciences
What’s your biggest strength as an athlete? I’m short so they don’t think I’m good. What’s your sports nickname and why? Park because it’s almost my last name but just a little shorter.
Cedric Smith Football University of Guelph Commerce
What’s your favorite memory with your team? My favorite memory is beating Monta Vista High School at the very end of the game. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an athlete? The biggest challenge has been adjusting to a new team here at LAHS after I moved from Canada.
The Talon // 12
PARISA LARSON Senior Writer
JIMMY DESSOUKI AND ALESSIO COLLI THE PEOPLE TEACHERS LOVE TO TEASE OR HATE
LIA TSUR AND ADITI DIXIT
MOST LIKELY TO LEAD A PROTEST
LAUREN CHUNG Staff Writer
ELLI LAHDESMAKI Graphic Artist
MARIE GODDERIS ELYSSA KENNEDY EMILY MCNALLY ROHAN VASWANI Photographers
ANNE-SOPHIE GELDMEYER AND SHAYLA GOSSAIN
COLLIN HEPWORTH AND GRADY HOFFMAN
MOST LIKELY TO GET ID’D AT A BAR WHEN THEY’RE 30
BEST CONVERSATIONALIST IN ZOOM BREAKOUT ROOMS
HANNAH BOHBOT-DRIDI AND BELLA SICILIANO
ELLI LAHDESMAKI AND EMMA SAYAR
MOST DRESSED UP EVERY DAY
MOST LIKELY TO BE LATE TO THEIR OWN WEDDING The Talon // 13
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HENRY SHI AND ZAIN MERCHANT MOST LIKELY TO BECOME PRESIDENT
SOFIA RODRIGUEZ AND BRIANNA CAMPOS
NATALIE TRAN AND BLAKE BRINSFIELD
MOST LIKELY TO BE COOKING DURING ZOOM CLASS
MOST SLEEP-DEPRIVED
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COLBY COOK AND MEGAN APFELBERG
AKANE OZAWA AND KYLE SHANG
CUTEST COUPLE
CUTEST COUPLE
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KAI
HP 13
HP 14
WWW
KAITLYN PHAM AND LEILA BOISVERT
KELSEY GRANT AND JUSTIN ROSEN
JANE DORMADY AND AUDREY BOENNIGHAUSEN
MOST LIKELY TO DIE FROM BOBA OVERDOSE
MOST LIKELY TO THROW A PARTY ON A SCHOOL NIGHT
MOST LIKELY TO ADOPT AN INSANE AMOUNT OF CATS
14 // June 2021
AUDREY CHANG AND CHARLIE ATKINS MOST LIKELY TO PUBLISH A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
VAL CHANG AND YUTING SHI
JESSICA YOUNG AND MARGARET CAPETZ
MOST LIKELY TO BE TIKTOK FAMOUS
MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN AN EARTHWORM IN A PAST LIFE
CAT KRAJEWSKI AND RACHEL MESEL
ZARINA KHADER AND KARTHIK IYER
AMANDA LE AND MARIE GODDERIS
MOST LIKELY TO ROAST PEOPLE WHILE MUTED ON ZOOM
MOST CHANGED SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR
MOST LIKELY TO MAKE YOU SMILE
MAY JIANG AND AARON PARKER
MOST LIKELY TO SURVIVE THE HUNGER GAMES
The Talon // 15
Senior Columns Elli Lahdesmaki A little over a year ago, I spent every second I could away from my home: hanging out with my friends daily, going out for lunch, working part time, anything I could. I was obsessed with following through with all my school work, sports and what- ever other extracurriculars would look good on my college applications. I kept myself busy and distracted because I thought that was what I had to do. Then, out of nowhere, I was forced to basically drop everything and huddle in my room behind
the bright screen of my laptop. Most of my extracurriculars were impossible to continue without breaking every CDC guideline in the book. At first, I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind. But spending all that time alone was a blessing in disguise for me. I didn’t realize how critical spending time by myself is. By simply being alone, I learned new things about myself and rediscovered interests. I realized that I had lost touch with myself from being so busy all the time. Without all the obligations, I was able to be alone with my thoughts, figure out what I love to do when I’m alone and get a better understanding of myself and the world around me. Alone time is crucial in order
to grow self love. And while this quarantine worked as a wake up call for me to realize that, I don’t want to only spend time by myself when a pandemic hits (because that would be ridiculous). Before the pandemic, I was doing things that I liked and avoiding things that I absolutely hated without internalizing the meaning behind any of it. That’s not to say that other people (friends and family and even complete strangers) are not important in your life, because they are. But if you are constantly surrounded by others, it’s much more difficult to figure out your own individuality. I was always around people because it never occurred to me that I could genuinely have fun just by myself.
My advice: Surround yourself with people who support your growth — high school is a period of time where most of us are discovering ourselves and growing into our favorite versions of ourselves. In order to continue growing, being around people who inspire you and who you look up to is so important for your own growth. But also remember that having alone time is just as crucial. You have to be alone with your thoughts, with no distractions, in order to self ref lect. It’s self ref lection that allows you to better yourself, develop yourself and grow as an individual. Learning to love spending time with yourself is something that will benefit you in so many different ways in your life.
Kathrina Welborn I did not have a good time in sixth grade. Classes were boring, middle schoolers were dramatic and the only saving grace was Taylor Swift releasing her iconic 2014 album “1989.” Then I got Spotify. Instead of using my family’s iPod, which contained almost exclusively ’80s rock or sitting through ads on YouTube, I had access to unlimited music. Everything from “Today’s Top Hits to obscure choral adaptations of Croatian folk songs were at my fingertips. Despite the wealth of music available to me, I fell into listening to the same songs, albums and artists on repeat. Over time the music changed, but the repetition (and Taylor Swift) stayed the same as I resisted Spotify’s algorithms desperately trying to introduce me to new music. 16 // June 2020
Fast forward a few years to 2020, when I start writing for The Talon. Predictably, most of my articles are about music, but they all ran into the same roadblock: I had a very limited number of bands and styles to compare new artists to. It wasn’t sustainable for me to compare every band to The 1975 (despite the variety of genres their music occupies). So I made a goal for 2021 to listen to one new album per day. The rules are simple: I can’t have listened to the whole album before, I have to listen to it in order and I can’t skip songs. The last rule proved to be the most difficult, especially when suffering through Harry Styles’s “Fine Line.” Now I’ve grown to love my daily ritual and I’ve started appreciating Spotify’s effort to introduce
me to new music. I’ve discovered new favorite artists like Caroline Polachek, favorite albums such as boygenius’s “boygenius”, Def Leppard’s “Pyromania” or Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango in the Night,” and listened to artists beyond their hit singles. I also added a secondary goal to listen to one album from each year from 1970 to 2021, which led to, among other things, a deep dive into the loud distorted guitars and wispy vocals of the shoegaze era. Most importantly, I’ve listened to hundreds of hours of new music and greatly expanded my music taste. I haven’t only been expanding my horizons in terms of consuming music, however; I’ve also learned to step out of my comfort zone in other parts of life. I applied to and considered going to school in the United King-
dom, a far cry from my southern California-centric college list. I’ve worked on projects in audio mixing and production, taught myself two new instruments, experimented with new recipes, and had many more new experiences. Though it may seem like a small change, my album goal encourages me to consistently step out of my comfort zone and try new things, which will undoubtedly be beneficial as I go to college. And wherever I end up in the future, I’ll have Spotify with all of my favorite music, both new and old, to accompany me.
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You deserve to go somecommitted two hours crying in my bed portals, but I certainly myself to everyone everyone around me The recruitment process islot lot myself to everyone to to everyone around around around me me me The recruitment process is lot university, someone will always where that will appreciate you university, someone will always where TheThe recruitment recruitment process process is ais aaalot where thatwill willappreciate appreciateyou you university, university, someone someone will will always always where that will appreciate you but myself it’smyself top schools told me they were share of rejection. I that attimes. all times. times. Sobbing in bed bed afcloser toof the college application have atbeen allat at all all times. Sobbing Sobbing Sobbing in bed in in bed af-from afafcloser to the college application have something negative to say. for all that you are. have something negative to say. for closer closer to the to the college college application application for allthat thatyou youare. are. have something something negative negative toto say. say. for all all that you are. —to I’vejust after a coach one my experienced my fair “looking elsewhere.” But after may not have livedMy terbeing being rejected byone one of my my process than you may think. AtAt ter being ter ter being rejected rejected rejected by one by by one of my of of my process than you may think. At the end of the day, it’s their My college application expeAt the end of the day, it’s their My process process than than youyou may may think. think. Mycollege collegeapplication application expeexpethe the end end ofof the the day, day, it’s it’s their their college application expeself, but it’s top schools told me they were share of rejection. I refocus I took my head off of my pilthrough the typical topschools. schools. Here are some life lessons I’ve own top schools. top top schools. Here are some life lessons I’ve own jealousy and insecurities rience was different than most. own jealousyand and insecurities Here Here are are some some lifelife lessons lessons I’veI’ve riencewas wasdifferent differentthan thanmost. most. own jealousy jealousy and insecurities insecurities rience rience was different than most. tive to While just “looking elsewhere.” after may not showing; have lived While thismay may seem like the learned along the way. While While this this this may may seem seem like like like the the the learned along the way. showing; itit doesn’t reflect on didn’t write million different showing; doesn’t reflecton on I IIdidn’t learned learned along along thethe way. way. I didn’t didn’twrite writeaaaamillion milliondifferent different showing; it it doesn’t doesn’t reflect reflect on write million different low, I seem realized I But wouldn’t want college application dreaded college application It’s okay for your journey to you dreaded dreaded dreaded college college college application application application It’s okay for your journey to you or your character. Surround essays this year, you or your character. Surround essays It’s It’s okay okay forfor your your journey journey to to essays this this year, year, you ortypical or your your character. character. Surround Surround essays this year, and refocus I took my head off of my pilthrough the who process, try toI’m play somewhere that didn’t process, but Iwill getbut process, I’m actually talking bedifferent different than others’ don’t yourself process, process, I’m I’m actually actually actually talking talking talking be different than others’ ..IIIdon’t don’t yourself with people who will but did spend yourself with people who will be different be than than others’ others’ . I .don’t butI IIdid I did didspend spend yourself with with people people who who will but spend low, I realized I wouldn’t want college application Whether want me. I wanted to play for a support it — more than about the (equally (equally taxing) rebelieve in the the saying, “Everyabout about about the the the (equally (equally taxing) taxing) taxing) rererebelieve in the saying, “Everysupport and uplift you, no matyears attending support and uplift you, no mat- years believe believe in in the saying, saying, “Every“Everyyearsattending attending support and and uplift uplift you, you, no no matmatyears attending ple who try to process. playIn somewhere that didn’t process, Iwhat get cruitment process. In October October thing happens reason,” but but cruitment cruitment cruitment process. process. October In In October thing happens for reason,” but ter what path you choose to purclinics, writing ter path you choose to pur- clinics, thing thing happens happens forfor afor reason,” aaareason,” butbut clinics,writing writing terter what what path path you you choose choose toto purpurclinics, writing athletprogram that appreciated and you know. of my junior year, I commitI do believe that there is a place of my of of my junior my junior junior year, year, year, I commitI I commitcommitI do believe that there is a place sue. emails and edsue. I do I believe do believe that that there there is a is place a place emails and edsue. sue. emails emails and and ededn. Whether want me. I wanted to play for a it — more than tedplay to play play field hockey at UC UC foreveryone, everyone, whether it’s spe- If If ted to ted ted to to play fieldfield field hockey hockey hockey at UC at at UC for everyone, whether it’s speIf school doesn’t want you, iting highlight school doesn’t want you, iting for for everyone, whether whether it’sit’s a speaaaspeitinghighlight highlight aIf school aaa school doesn’t doesn’t want want you, you, iting highlight r DI athletprogram that appreciated and you know. don’t Berkeley, and can’t tell you cific program, certain school don’t Berkeley, Berkeley, Berkeley, and and and I can’t III can’t can’t tell tell tell youyou you cific program, certain school don’t waste your time wanting videos. didn’t don’t waste your time wanting videos. cificcific program, program, a certain aaa certain school school videos.I IIIdidn’t didn’t waste waste your your time time wanting wanting videos. didn’t
Elana ElanaEisenberg Eisenberg
how many times I’ve heard orcompletely completely different path them. how many times I’ve heard or completely different path them. II know know it’s lot easier howhow many many times times I’ve I’ve heard heard them. know it’s loteasier easier or aor aaa completely different different path path them. I Iknow it’s it’s a aaalot lot easier things like, “You’re lucky you altogether. It’s easy to compare compare said things like, “You’re lucky you altogether. It’s easy to compare said than done — once spent things things like,like, “You’re “You’re lucky lucky youyou said than done — once spent altogether. altogether. It’sIt’s easy easy to to compare said than than done done —— I once III once spent spent don’t have to apply apply to college” college” yourself to the the kids committed two don’t have to apply to college” yourself to the kids committed two hours crying in my bed don’tdon’t havehave to apply to to college” to two hours cryinginin inmy mybed bed yourself yourself to the to kids kids committed committed two hours hours crying crying my bed (not true) and “I’m jealous! It’s to top-10 top-10 schools — I’ve been after (not true) and “I’m jealous! It’s to top-10 schools — I’ve been after aa coach coach from one of my (not(not true)true) and and “I’m“I’m jealous! jealous! It’s It’s after coach from oneofof ofmy my to top-10 to schools schools —— I’veI’ve been been after a acoach from from one one my so easy easy for you” you” over the past guilty ofdoing doing myself, but it’s top so easy for you” over the past guilty of doing ititmyself, myself, but it’s top schools told me they were so easy so for you” for overover the the pastpast top schools told me they were guilty guilty of doing of it myself, it butbut it’sit’s top schools schools told told me me they they were were yearand and half. much more productive to just just “looking year half. much more productive to just “looking elsewhere.” But after yearyear and aand half. aaahalf. “looking elsewhere.”But Butafter after much much more more productive productive to to just “looking elsewhere.” elsewhere.” But after To beclear, clear, I’mnot notcomplaincomplaincongratulate them and refocus I took To be clear, I’m not complaincongratulate them and refocus took my head off of my pilTo be To clear, be I’m not I’m complaintook my head off ofmy mypilpilcongratulate congratulate them them and and refocus refocus III took my my head head offoff ofof my piling. This is what what I’ve wanted onyour your own future. ing. This is what I’ve wanted on your own future. low, realized wouldn’t want ing. ing. ThisThis is what is I’ve I’ve wanted wanted low, realized wouldn’t want on your on own own future. future. low, low, I realized III realized I wouldn’t III wouldn’t want want since middle school. And while Don’t Don’t listen topeople people who try to to since middle school. And while Don’t listen to people who try to play somewhere that didn’t sincesince middle middle school. school. AndAnd while while to play somewhere thatdidn’t didn’t Don’t listen listen to people to who who trytry play play somewhere somewhere that that didn’t alot lot ofsituation mysituation situation isthe theprodprodto bring bring you down. Whether want lot of my situation is the prodto bring you down. Whether want me. wanted to play for a lotaaof my of my is the is prodwant me. wanted to play for to to bring youyou down. down. Whether Whether want me. me. I wanted IIIwanted toto play play for for a aaa A HUANG uct of hard hard work and perseveryou’re playing DIII orDI DIathletathlet- program uct of hard work and perseveryou’re playing DIII or DI athletprogram that appreciated and uct of uct hard of work work andand perseverperseverprogram that appreciatedand and you’re you’re playing playing DIII DIII or or DI athletprogram that that appreciated appreciated and r-in-Chief
open bunch of rejecopen abunch bunchof ofrejecrejecopen open aaabunch of rejection letters in college tionletters lettersin incollege college tion tion letters in college portals, but certainly portals,but butIIIcertainly Icertainly certainly portals, portals, but experienced my fair experienced my my fair fair experienced experienced my fair share of rejection. shareofof ofrejection. rejection.IIII share share rejection. may not have lived maynot nothave havelived lived may may not have lived through the typical throughthe thetypical typical through through the typical college application college application application college college application process, but get process,but butIIIIget get process, process, but get itit— — more than —more morethan than itit — more than you know. you know. you you know. know.
OUR 2021 GRAD SPEAKER OUR 2021 GRAD SPEAKER
TELLA HUANG
Editor-in-Chief
dents’ activism and perseverse four ance. One of her main ideas found dents’in activism and perseverthese so four lies the unconventionality oves ance. One of her main experience, ideas has found of her high school s a forlies in the unconventionality elf loves STELLA HUANG STELLA STELLA HUANG HUANG HUANG many obstaclesSTELLA along nd cur-so with Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief of her high— school . As a for- the way theexperience, Bay Area’s toxASB, with many obstacles along tr and curic school culture, rampant voice dents’ activism and perseverOne of the the reasons senior And throughout these fourdents’ dents’ dents’ activism activism activism and and and perseverperseverperseverOneOne One of the of of the reasons reasons reasons senior senior senior And And And throughout throughout throughout these these these four four four the way — the Bay Area’s toxof ASB, aAmanda worldwide m makance. One of her mainideas ideas Amanda Le auditioned auditioned toand be-years, years, Amanda hasfound found ance. ance. ance. One One One ofof of her her her main main main ideas ideas Amanda Amanda Amanda Lewildfires auditioned Le Le auditioned to beto to bebeyears, years, Amanda Amanda hashas has found found ic school culture, rampant her voice lies in the unconventionality come graduation speaker is a out what she herself loves so lies lies lies in in in the the the unconventionality unconventionality unconventionality come come come graduation graduation graduation speaker speaker speaker is a is is a a out out out what what what she she she herself herself herself loves loves loves so so so pandemic. grading wildfires and a much worldwide ofher her high school experience, bitunorthodox: unorthodox: She’s short. much from bit makmuch about LAHS. As for- of of of her her high high high school school school experience, experience, experience, unorthodox: bit bit unorthodox: She’s She’s She’s short. short. short. much about about about LAHS. LAHS. LAHS. AsAs As a foraaa forfor“I took those ideas and said, ble, to withmany manyobstacles obstaclesalong along Having attended every Losmermer mer vice president and cur- with with with many many obstacles obstacles along along Having Having Having attended attended attended every every every LosLos Los mer vicevice vice president president president and and and curcurcurpandemic. rd grading ‘Look guys, we survived this coming the way — the Bay Area’s toxAltos High School graduationrent rent videographer of ASB, the the the way way way —— — the the the Bay Bay Bay Area’s Area’s Area’s toxtoxtoxAltosAltos Altos HighHigh High School School School graduation graduation graduation rent rent videographer videographer videographer of of of ASB, ASB, ASB, “I took those ideas and said, uitable, to ic school culture, rampant since her freshman year — with Amanda has used her voice ic ic ic school school school culture, culture, culture, rampant rampant rampant since since since her freshman her her freshman freshman year year year — with — — with with Amanda Amanda Amanda has has has used used used her her her voice voice voice by coming together,’” Amanda Top 2” wildfiresand anda aaaworldwide worldwide theexception exception oflast lastyear’s year’s dueto toprompt prompt change, from mak- wildfires wildfires wildfires and and worldwide worldwide the exception the the exception of last of of last year’s year’s due due due prompt to to prompt change, change, change, from from from makmakmak‘Look guys, we survived this said. “We stood up for what .mecoming pandemic. to the pandemic, Amanda has ing ASB’s Eagle Card grading pandemic. pandemic. pandemic. to the to to pandemic, the the pandemic, pandemic, Amanda Amanda Amanda has has has ing ing ing ASB’s ASB’s ASB’s Eagle Eagle Eagle Card Card Card grading grading grading by coming together,’” Amanda tosenior “Top 2” we in. We adjust“Itook took those ideas and said, heard her fair fairbelieved share of amazamaz-system system more equitable,to to to “I “I “I took took those those those ideas ideas ideas and and and said, said, said, heard heard heard her her her fair fair share share share of amazof of amazsystem system more more more equitable, equitable, equitable, to said. “We stood up for what ents. ‘Look guys, we survived this ing speeches. However, the changing the “Homecoming ‘Look ‘Look ‘Look guys, guys, guys, we we we survived survived survived this this this ing ing ing speeches. speeches. speeches. However, However, However, the the the changing changing changing the the the “Homecoming “Homecoming “Homecoming ed and supported each other ver exby coming together,’” Amanda one that that struck her the most King and Queen” to “Top 2” byby by coming coming coming together,’” together,’” together,’” Amanda Amanda Amanda one one one that that struck struck struck her her her the the the most most most King King King andand and Queen” Queen” Queen” to to to “Top “Top “Top 2” 2” 2” we believed in. We adjustmy senior all these unexpected h close said. “We stoodupup upfor forwhat what wasElise bythrough Elise Nguyen, ’19. fornonbinary nonbinary students. said. said. said. “We “We “We stood stood stood up for for what what was was by was by by Elise Elise Nguyen, Nguyen, Nguyen, ’19. ’19. ’19. for for for nonbinary nonbinary students. students. students. ed and supported each other never exobstacles. We“Atdefied expectadminiswebelieved believedin.in. in.We Weadjustadjust“She started her speech “At the end of my seniorwewe we believed believed in. We We adjustadjust“She“She “She started started started her her her speech speech speech “At “At thethe the endend end of of of mymy my senior senior senior through allshe these unexpected such close ed and supported eachother other talking about how she was year, would have never ex- eded ed and and and supported supported supported each each each other other talking talking talking about about about howhow how she she was was was year, year, year, I would III would would have have have never never never ex-exextions, and I’m glad that we’re . “ASB through all these unexpected really short, and how she pected to foster such closethrough through through allall all these these these unexpected unexpected unexpected really really really short, short, short, andand and howhow how sheshe she pected pected pected to to to foster foster foster such such such close close close obstacles. We defied expectaadministo continue to stay optiol isn’t obstacles. We defied expectagrew bit taller physical-relationships relationships with adminis- obstacles. obstacles. obstacles. We We We defied defied defied expectaexpectaexpectagrewgrew grew a bit aable aa bit bit taller taller taller physicalphysicalphysicalrelationships relationships with with with adminisadminisadministions, and I’m glad thatAmanda we’re said. “ASB tions, and I’m glad that we’re ly and and as person,” Amandatrators,” trators,” Amanda said. “ASB tions, tions, tions, and and and I’m I’m I’m glad glad glad that that that we’re we’re we’re ly and ly ly and as amistic, as as person,” aaa person,” person,” Amanda Amanda Amanda trators,” trators,” Amanda Amanda said. said. “ASB “ASB “ASB even though wesaid. didn’t always able to continue to stay optichool isn’t able to continue to stay optisaid. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, taught me the school isn’t able able able to to to continue continue continue to to to stay stay stay optioptioptisaid. said. said. “I was “I “I was was like, like, like, ‘Oh ‘Oh ‘Oh my my gosh, my gosh, gosh, taught taught taught me me me the the the school school school isn’t isn’t isn’t have the high school expericussion mistic, even though we didn’t so sassy. sassy. can definitely re-perfect, perfect, andthere therealways alwaysmistic, mistic, mistic, even even even though though though we we we didn’t didn’t didn’t so sassy. so so sassy. I mistic, can III can can definitely definitely definitely rerereperfect, perfect, and and and there there always always even though we didn’t re always ence that anyone would have have policies have the high schoolexperiexperilate.’ [Graduation speeches] needs to be more discussion have have the the the high high high school school school experiexperilate.’late.’ late.’ [Graduation [Graduation [Graduation speeches] speeches] speeches] needs needs needs to to be to be be more more more discussion discussion discussion have the high school experidiscussion ence that anyone wouldhave have made me more excited about around revamping policiesence ence ence that that that anyone anyone anyone would would would have have made made made me more me me more more excited excited excited about about about around around around revamping revamping revamping policies policies policies imagined.” quities ence that anyone would have gto.” policies imagined.” high school, honestly, hearand looking at the inequities imagined.” imagined.” imagined.” highhigh high school, school, school, honestly, honestly, honestly, hearhearhearand and and looking looking looking at at the at the the inequities inequities inequities Amanda’s last line sums it Amanda’s Amanda’slast lastline linesums sumsitit ing how how much students loveof things of things things we’re soused used to.” Amanda’s Amanda’s last last line line sums sums itit ing ing how ing how much much much students students students lovelove love of of things we’re we’re we’re so so used so used to.”to.” to.” imagined.” inequities perfectly: a class of upup manda up perfectly: “We are class of LAHS and what they learned“We In her speech, Amanda up perfectly: perfectly: perfectly: “We “We “We are are are a aclass aaclass class ofof of LAHS LAHS LAHS andup and and what what what theythey they learned learned learned In In In herare her her speech, speech, speech, Amanda Amanda Amanda Amanda’s line sums itand sed stuto.” fighters.” from their time here.” last addresses addresses her and other stu- fighters.” fighters.” fighters.” fromfrom from theirtheir their time time time here.” here.” here.” addresses addresses herher her and and other other other stustustufighters.” er The Talon // # Amanda up perfectly: “We are a class of other stu- fighters.”
MEET MEETAMANDA AMANDALE, LE,OUR OUR2021 2021GRAD GRAD SPEAKER SPEAKER
The Talon // # The Talon// //#### The The The Talon Talon Talon // // TheTalon Talon// //17 17 The The The Talon Talon // 17
The Talon // 17
meet our seniors
meet talon’s Seniors
Stella Huang Editor-in-Chief
Stella is nice. Suspiciously nice. Putting aside her terrifying evil laughter, she’s Talon’s unconditional mother hen. Armed with a concerning sleep schedule and fluffy brown jacket, you can find her leaving positive comments on articles or organizing bonding activities without knowing the rules. If you’re lucky, you might see her impersonating her calculus teacher, the immortal Mr. Nguyen.
Emily zhu
Media Managing Editor
Emily’s sleep schedule can only be described as fitting an entirely different time zone than the rest of us. But her wacky sleep schedule has no ill effect on her art (or her penchant for Safeway sushi), as she dazzles us with everything from flora-filled murals, photorealistic portraits, drawings of hands made of bees and, of course, Talon graphics. 18 // June 2021
navya singhai
Print Managing Editor
During any Talon class, there’s a 90 percent chance that you will hear Navya yelling “What the fudge?” or ranting about certain football players (*cough* Patrick Mahomes *cough*) She’s the human embodiment of a bear cub: protective, loving, totally adorable, but will throw paws over an Oxford comma. We can’t wait to see her mastermind a coup to take over as Talon adviser (sorry Mr. Moul)!
Elana eisenberg Sports Editor
You’d probably think it’s impossible to meet someone with a beautiful singing voice but not so beautiful music taste; that is, until you meet Elana — her top Spotify artist is the Glee Cast. Whether she’s in Talon or sweeping the field in field hockey, she always has a smile on her face. Although she doesn’t get to hit people with sticks in Talon, this gleek will always be in the center midfield of our hearts.
elli lahdesmaki
Barrett wong Senior Writer
SECTION
emily mcnally Senior Writer
Senior Writer
B a r re tt Wong is a Yo u’d probably man of few words. think it’s impossible While not in school, to meet someone Barrett loves to with a beautiful Barrett of few words. While she’s not e xeWong rc i s e , is a manplay video s i n g i n g Whenvoice but serving as a 3-in-1 Talon not in school, Barrett loves to exercise, play package deal as g a m e s and watch not so b e a u t i f ual writer, photographer and video and watch assortment of graphic you can catch her chilling in angames assortment of TVan shows. music taste; that is, artist, until you TV shows. Hebegun has also to learnmeet the Elanaa— hammock He’s also to begun learn the her top gently Spo- holding little bees or geguitar, which hashas proven in her hand. She’s a nature and surf lover guitar, which proventotobe be extremely tify artist iscosthe Glee Cast. challenging. Besides that, he loves to eat whose positive spirit extremely challenging. Besides Whether she’s in Talon or and adventurous presall kinds of loves food.to eat all kinds of encefield neverinfails to make you smile. that, he sweeping the field food. hockey, she always has a
Whether it’s researching personality types or making bad puns, Emily (an INFP) can be found doing both no matter the hour. Even though INFP’s are known for being mediators, when it comes to photography, it doesn’t matter what, or who, is in her way; she’s going to get that shot.
smile on her face.
isaac tesfaye
Kathrina welborn
Lauren chung
Videographer
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
If you ever see Isaac Tesfaye, you’ll most likely notice that he always has headphones on. Through those headphones, he blasts music from the likes of The Weeknd, Lauryn Hill, and Drake. When he isn’t listening to music, Isaac enjoys spending time with friends, scouring the internet for deals, and rediscovering his childhood hobbies.
Kathrina is 10 feet of die-hard choir kid and excellent eyeliner. When she’s not hanging out with her dog, she’s probably finding random new albums to listen to or thinking about how Taylor Swift’s pronunciation reflects her life choices. Our resident stable learning expert, Kathrina loves to stare at squirrels and fulfill her duty as a loyal plant mom.
Lauren is an individual full of intricacies. She may resemble baby Yoda, but she’s a seasoned Girl Scout troop leader who’s an expert in pocket knife etiquette. She may indulge in the angsty music of artists with deep voices (*cough* Corpse Husband *cough*), but she’s a gentle, warmhearted sister and friend. It’s as simple as that.
lauren morimoto
marie godderis Photography
parisa larson
Staff Writer
Captain
Senior Writer
You won’t regret spending a day with Lauren. Not only is she up for anything, but she’ll also Uber you around in her Honda Accord (warning: It may be a bumpy ride). If you’re lucky, she and her dad Rod will teach you how to perfect the art of DIY. Lauren is always willing to go the extra mile to make you feel special.
Marie’s the epitome of a granola girl — you can find her in her natural habitat: on a hike or drinking a smoothie. Marie’s positivity causes her to approach every situation she faces with a glass half full attitude, we’ll miss her photography expertise and contagious smile in Talon next year.
Even if the joke isn’t funny, Parisa’s contagious laugh will send you (and herself) rolling on the floor laughing. She’s everyone’s “cool aunt” with a minivan full of stuff for a four-person family and the most impressive array of sunglasses you’ve ever seen. We’ll miss Talon’s The Talon // # stealthiest worker and expert collaborator. The Talon // 19
