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Volume XX, Issue X: June 3, 2019
4515 Portola Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92620
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Jazz at the Oak A&E 4
College Decisions Viewpoint 12
Athletics Comissioners Sports 13
Eliot Lee The Northwood Howler
B OND(ING) AT PROM: Students dance the night away at the Richard Nixon Presidential Librar y with their friends as prom cour t is announced.
Prom 2019: a night of royal flushes at Casino Royale By Anna Lim Junk Editor
Offering a night of subtle thrills, spinning roulettes and mysterious magic, Prom was held at the Nixon Presidential Library on May 19 from 7-11 p.m. and featured the theme “Casino Royale.” “Everyone says that senior prom is always unforgettable,” senior Tyler Lee said. “I always thought it was overhyped, but after this night of crazy dancing and unlimited desserts at a dazzling venue, this is definitely a night I will trea-
sure even after I’ve graduated.” Students were welcomed to the event by a swing band and live singers, filling the air with music. Additionally, a mural of submitted photos of senior memories reminded students of the highlights of their last year of high school. After a spin on the dance floor, students tested their luck with games of roulette and cards by betting chips for fun. To create lasting memories, students sat for caricature portraits or airbrush tattoos and visited the flipbook station and photo booth, which offered a wide variety of fun
props to spice up all the images. “There were so many different activities and events, and the venue was so grand. I was on my feet the entire time, just walking from place to place to see what I could do next,” junior Tara Tran said. “Every event was bustling with activity from the dance floor to the romantic gardens.” Towards the end of the night, senior Pranav Konchadi was crowned Prom King and senior Rion Morita as Prom Queen. Juniors Ashwin Jagadish and Jennifer Frey were crowned Prom
Prince and Princess, respectively. This year’s prom featured a special guest appearance of former Northwood teacher Tim Horrigan, who played jazz tunes on the piano. “Reuniting with old students was extremely bittersweet,” Horrigan said. “While seeing all my former students was so touching, it was also a little heartbreaking to know that I am no longer a part of Northwood and its amazing student body.” Many were touched to be able to see their former teacher again and were able to spend the night catching up and talking with him.
Prom was organized by the junior class council who made efforts in planning, preparing and dedicating time at the venue to make the night possible. “At this year’s prom, the sophomore class council also helped out at the venue in preparation to take over the duties of organizing next year’s prom.” Junior Class Council member Kathleen Overbaugh said. “Preparations are already in motion, and the lineup of ideas are extremely creative and strong for next year, so everyone should be looking forward to the next prom!”
Northwood adds an Integrated Science 3 course for next year By Zarina Yunis Sports Editor
The Northwood administration has reversed a recent policy change. Rising juniors can now take two discrete science courses (pending space availability), and Integrated Science (IS) 3 will now be optional for current or incoming freshmen. This runs contrary to information sent to students via email on May 10, which stated juniors couldn’t take two discrete science classes for the 20192020 school year unless they took IS3 or Honors IS3 as their second class. Northwood principal Leslie Roach had said previously that the department was no longer offering rising juniors the option to take two sciences due to lack of resources and teaching staff.
“What happens every year is that students sign up for courses and then we try to assign staffing based on the number of kids who have signed up,” Roach said. “But, like in all years, we have restrictions to that. We have an overall staffing number and sometimes there aren’t enough teachers where students have signed up for classes, which is often times why sophomores and juniors get taken out of certain classes.” The decision received backlash from current underclassmen and their parents, who claim IS3 doesn’t provide an adequate foundation for students who hope to pursue sciences in college and in their future careers. “I was troubled by the inability to take two traditional sciences because I hope to pursue biomedical engineering, which requires a strong un-
derstanding of multiple principles,” sophomore Victoria Nguyen said. IS, which was introduced in 1999, aims to blend together biology, chemistry, physics, earth and space sciences to help students make connections across disciplines. IS3 is the third in a series meant to address the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which intend to expose students to all the science standards. By the end of junior year, students in IS will meet the same standards as students at other high schools. “Northwood was founded upon the spirit of making connections across disciplines, like integrated science and the Humanities Core,” Science Department Head Mickey Dickson said. “We believe this spirit represents how the world operates and that the mode of siloed think-
ing actually hinders the student’s potential in a global economy.” A meeting was held on May 16 to clarify misconceptions and suggest alternative pathways for students. While administrators hoped to allay concerns regarding students’ college admissions prospects, parents were more interested in discussing the proposed IS3 course and their dissatisfaction with the IS curriculum. “I was disappointed with how the meeting was handled,” Northwood parent Melinda Liu said. “It felt like the school already made its decision and wouldn’t give any information.” Over 100 parents and students attended the meeting, which didn’t assuage frustrations. Some parents noted they were considering sending their younger students to other IUSD high schools who fol-
low the discrete sciences model. On May 23, Roach sent an email updating the previous policy, stating “While IS3 and HIS3 are the recommended science courses for juniors, we will not be requiring the courses for current students or incoming freshmen.” Northwood will now accommodate as many students as possible into two discrete sciences, including two Advanced Placement (AP) sciences. A waitlist will be maintained over the summer for any new spaces that become available. Additional information will be sent out over the next few weeks regarding the Integrated Science program at Northwood. Students and parents should look out for individual course lists and information on how to be added to waitlists.
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NEWS
June 3, 2019
The Northwood Howler
Project Soapbox: step up and speak out Restrictive bans on abortion engagement.” The project is normally run Staff Writer once per semester for seniors takSophomores May Essman and ing Government. It was only inKenny Zhang and seniors Ed Suh, troduced into the spring HumaniJared Stein and Ashlee Kyser were ties 10 curriculum this year. “Teachers such as Mr. announced as schoolwide winners of Project Soapbox on May 7 and May 9 Sewell, Mr. Geck and I have after evaluations of their speeches by been running it for about two years now, and we have been their teachers and peers. really pleased with the reOriginally started by a sults and what students group called the Mikva Chalhave thought about lenge based in Chicago, it,” Guy said. Project Soapbox is an eleThe project ment of a larger initiatook place after tive dealing with civic Humanities 10 engagement. For the finished project, students t h e i r have to construct civil rights a five-minute unit and speech about read “To Kill an actionable a Mockingsubject. bird.” Stu“The dents were main goal asked to reis to unsearch and derstand write about a what it topic of permeans sonal sigto be nificance an actively inand deliver volved citizen,” it to their peers. history teacher “I wrote about foster Greg Guy said. care,” sophomore An“Speeches can be drea Huang, winner of about anything. Guy’s period four class It’s supposed to competition, said. “As emphasize comI went on, I found munity action Rachel Kang The Northwood Howler information about as well as civic By Victor Chang
how there was racial discrimination in foster care against a lot of minority groups. I think Project Soapbox provided a good opportunity for me to speak my voice and hear what my peers have to say in a place like high school where it’s kind of hard to get your voice out there.” T h e winner of each class period then went on to a schoolwide competition that was hosted during tutorial at the theater. “I think Project Soapbox is a great and important way to let your voice be heard about what you care about,” Essman said. “A lot of people have an issue that means a lot to them personally, and Project Soapbox gives them the chance to express that personal connection, as well as call people to act to solve the issue. For me, it was a way to let people know the experiences I’ve had, while also giving them a way to help.”
By Catherine Hu News Editor
Alabama and Missouri passed bills to effectively ban and restrict women’s access to abortion on May 14 and May 17, respectively. In Alabama, the bill would ban abortions for women, including in cases of rape and incest, and allow them only if the mother’s life was endangered. In Missouri, the bill criminalizes abortions carried out after eight weeks of pregnancy. Both states’ actions follow a growing trend of state legislatures seeking to tighten control on abortion this year. Last month in Georgia, a socalled “heartbeat bill” was signed by Gov. Brian Kemp to prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Similar bills were signed in Mississippi and Ohio in March and April, respectively. In Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill banning abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy. Heartbeat bills have also been introduced in Louisiana, South Carolina and West Virginia. This legislation has been criticized because heartbeats can usually be heard around six weeks of pregnancy, before most women realize they are pregnant. Many of these bills, such as Alabama’s, have been criticized for being attempts to reach the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortions,
as explained by Republican Alabama state Rep. Terri Collins, a proponent of the Alabama bill. While these states have turned to restricting abortion, other states have been working to expand women’s abilities to end pregnancies. In New York, legislation was passed to make it easier for women to have abortions during the later portion of their pregnancies. Nevada and Vermont are currently working to amend legislation to increase protection for abortions. Despite the passage of these bills, abortion is currently legal in all 50 states. Many organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood, are also working to challenge the anti-abortion legislation in court, so these laws will not likely take effect for many years. Through organized rallies, protests and legal battles, these organizations are seeking to not only prevent the abortion restrictions from being enforced laws, but they are also seeking to protect women’s reproductive rights. “Our goal is that we are working not only to prevent this bill from going into effect, but also using this energy to actually expand women’s access to reproductive health care,” Georgia’s ACLU executive director Andrea Young said. “It means making sure women have access to reproductive health care at every stage of their life and that it’s affordable and accessible for all.”
A strike at the Physics Bowl By Catherine Hu and Zaina Shaik News Editors
Northwood’s Physics Bowl team placed second in this year’s regional competition. Advised by science teacher Beverly Matsuda, a group of 11 students took the exam in March; the top five scores were added to form the team score, which was compared with other schools in the region. “I like physics, and I felt like it would be an interesting experience for me to try this nationwide event and see how I would do,” junior Diana Yudnikova said. The school will receive an award and a gift certificate to purchase new physics equipment. The highest individual scorer will also receive a t-shirt. Students had 45 minutes to complete the 40-question test. Northwood participated in the Division 1 competition which was for first-year physics students. Some students who took the test are members of the physics club, a club dedicated to teaching physics concepts in preparation for the Physics Olympiad and Physics Bowl, as well as for anyone interested in learn-
ing about the subject. “Their goal is to help everyone in the club take the Physics Bowl,” Matsuda said. “They’re not competing against each other, which is really nice, but rather, they’re all helping each other get better.” During meetings, students work through examples on the whiteboard and discuss how to work through different kinds of problems. “The best part about working with the team is how we can all tell the same physics-related jokes, and we’d all get them, which makes meetings really fun and informative,” Physics Club president sophomore Eric Gao said. This year was Matsuda’s first year running the test, and while some of the students were from her physics class, others were freshman and sophomores. “Next year, I’m hoping to have more students,” Matsuda said. “This is the first year I’ve ever run it. When students signed up, I said, ‘Just take it. Just see what’s out there. See how you do.’” The test will be administered again next year so for those who are interested, Pwhysics Club meets in room 1023 on every even Tuesday.
Mitul Kalra The Northwood Howler
Say watt now?: Freshman Ryan Liu and sophomore Eri stay positive while working out a problem to prepare for the Physics Bowl.
Rachel Kang The Northwood Howler
the Oak-scar goes to: Sophomore Enoch Li, senior Aditi Mekala and sophomore Bri Walsh celebrate.
Shine bright like a Timberwolf
By Miranda Wu Staff Writer
Northwood students were recognized at the Charter Oak Awards Ceremony and the Distinguished Timberwolf Awards Ceremony for their academic achievements and public service contributions during the 2018-2019 school year. For the Charter Oak Awards, students were nominated by their teachers to receive Academic Excellence or Merit Awards for one or more of their classes. Award recipients gathered with family and friends in the Northwood theater on April 23 to celebrate their achievements. “The Charter Oak is our main academic awards program, so it’s intended to recognize students who have performed exceptionally well in the classroom,” Northwood Principal Leslie Roach said. “These students are major contributors to the learning environment on campus.” The ceremony kicked off with
a performance by Northwood Jazz Band and an introductory speech by Roach. Students were then called to the stage and recognized in order of discipline, ranging from World Languages to Humanities to Mathematics. “It was really rewarding to see four years of learning a language pay off through the Charter Oaks,” senior Ashley Magpali said, after receiving an award for Honors Spanish 4. “I was really honored to be recognized on stage alongside my amazing peers.” Northwood teachers also joined families and students in honoring Distinguished Timberwolf recipients on May 14. Distinguished Timberwolves honors leaders in Northwood’s student body, as well as those who have been offered scholarships this year. “It’s a great way to acknowledge students for their hard work in academics, fine arts, clubs and other Northwood associations,” ASB Academics
Commissioner senior Kaylee Nguyen, who organized the event, said. Leaders of clubs and student organizations such as Science Olympiad and Yearbook were recognized during the ceremony, along with various scholarship-receiving seniors and Teachers of the Year history teacher Emily Renner-Rhodarmer and mathematics teacher Lisa Schneider. “It’s great that we have an awards ceremony like Distinguished Timberwolves that mainly celebrates student service and core values,” senior Sofia Howard said. “I really appreciate the school’s efforts towards recognizing student contributions outside of the classroom.” Although the 2019 Charter Oak and Distinguished Timberwolves were the last Northwood award ceremonies for seniors like Howard, current freshmen, sophomores and juniors can look forward to the 2020 ceremonies celebrating yet another year of excellence and merit across campus.
ACCENT
The Northwood Howler
June 3, 2019
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Humans of NHS: history, happiness and Hoang By Gabriel Dimaandal Staff Writer
The greatest teacher the world has to offer is life itself, and with all the different lives every single person at Northwood lives, it’s safe to say life has also never taught them the same lesson twice. As one of Northwood’s humanities teachers, Bryan Hoang has taught the nuances of history for almost 16 years, but that doesn’t mean he ever stopped learning from life. In an interview with The Howler, Hoang tells us a little bit of what life has taught him. Gabriel Dimaandal: Why did you want to be a teacher in the first place? Bryan Hoang: Because I was 21 and idealistic and felt I needed to change the world. I wanted to go out, make life better for people and the planet. That’s how it started. I’ve obviously evolved a lot since then. GD: Between when you started teaching and now, how do you believe you have changed? BH: I realized that’s how a young 20-year-old thinks. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but at 20 you think anything is possible. Now that I’m 39, let’s just say that I scaled down my expectations and goals. The same things still animate and drive me, like the injustice and problems I see in the world, but I’ve settled for the idea that I’m not going to change anything in my lifetime. But, I can help kids grow and think and shape them in some way that they’ll go out and make the changes needed to make this world a better place.
GD: What is your biggest pet peeve about Northwood students? BH: Cell phones as number one. For number two, the first thing that comes to mind is that I really dislike this divide between the Honors/Advanced Placement (AP) kids and the College Prep (CP) kids. The CP kids feel like they’re stupid when they’re not. Most of the AP kids are nice, but some of them can be arrogant and condescending to their peers. I think that’s rude. Towards those same kids, I also feel bad for them, because they are so hung up on colleges and getting into the right college, but I think 99 percent of these kids have no idea what that means.
GD: Then why do you think these students are so fixated on the “right college?” BH: They just know that it sounds prestigious, so they do the high school rat race; they take a bunch of classes that they don’t enjoy, and then they’re zombies. GD: How would you define success then? BH: Success at this point in my life is several different things. It means doing things that matter intrinsically to me. It’s having impacts on the lives of other people and most importantly it encompasses having strong relationships with people that matter. Success means having a healthy mindset, being happy with your life and having things that you enjoy doing. GD: What’s a common misconception about success? BH: Success is not waking up at 7 a.m. and going to a job that you
Willliam Pan The Northwood Howler
RIGHT OR HOANG: History teacher Bryan Hoang shares his philosophy on teaching, life and success. hate, but it makes a lot of money for you. It’s not coming home, eating dinner with your family, watching TV then going to sleep and waking up and doing the same thing again for the next 40 years of your life. GD: Then how do you think financial stability should factor into success?
BH: Obviously money is important. I’m not denying that fact. Money allows for a lot of these other things to happen. It’s not cheap to eat healthy or have health insurance or buy a home or this and that, but money is just a means to an end. A college degree is a means to an end. It’s not the end.
GD: What do you hope your students will grow to become or achieve? BH: I want you to grow up and be good humans, make good decisions and think of other people. When you guys are in positions of power, be ethical and have integrity. Be the kind of people I’d be proud of and say “Yeah, that’s my student.”
Post-high school plans By Mei Ono Staff Writer
As the school year comes to a close, seniors are making big plans for their future, ranging from working over the summer to traveling the world with friends. With their own aspirations in mind, seniors are taking steps to achieve their post-high school dreams. Senior Tyler Lee, who will be majoring in psychology, is looking forward to exploring his interests and new opportunities in college. “While I don’t really have a solid plan of what exactly I want to be in the future, I think that’s what college is for. It’s a great place to explore all your options and decide for yourself,” Lee said. “I’m also excited to take some extracurriculars while I’m at Berkeley, especially dance. I’ve seen people holding outdoor dance classes at Berkeley, which is really cool.” Planning to major in sociology and gain work experience, senior Elise Hyun aims to expand her horizons culturally and socially. “I hope to pursue human resource management as a career because it combines casual interactions with people with a challenging environment where I can be involved in the workforce. In the short term I hope to get a summer job and possibly work at a boba shop,” Hyun said. “During college, I want to get involved more with Asian culture clubs because I want to become more connected to my Chi-
Misa Nazareno The Northwood Howler
nese, Japanese and Korean heritages as well as meet new people. If I have time, I hope to join a choir group too.” Senior Stacy Kikuchi will begin her college journey studying civil engineering, but before she heads to San Luis Obispo, she will be savoring her summer with her basketball teammates. “I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and getting involved in new things at college,” Kikuchi said. “This summer, my team is traveling to Hawaii for a senior trip. We will stay at Oahu for five days to go sightseeing, as we are also planning to go ziplining. In the future, I want to work for Disney by either designing their rides or planning construction.” The class of 2019 is checking off the last boxes of their high school to-do lists while adding more to their growing college lists of how to spend their next few years. There is no doubt that, whatever the seniors may be up to in the future, their legacies will remain and serve as inspiration for Northwood students of future years.
Jay Lee The Northwood Howler
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT I love you 3000: remembering 10 years of Marvel history
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June 3, 2019
The Northwood Howler
By Ibrahim Hussain
Staff Writer
It’s hard to believe that 10 years and 22 movies ago, the concept of a connected cinematic universe was unheard of. However, Marvel Studios has shown us that a concept like this is not only feasible, but can become one of the most significant developments made in storytelling in the 21st century. Beginning in 2008 with “Iron Man” and ending with “Avengers: Endgame” in late April, a 10-year story arc has finally come to a close, which is now being called The Infinity Saga by Marvel. As we wait for what stories Marvel plans on telling in the future, let’s look back at some of the most important films Marvel has created in their cinematic universe, 1. “Iron Man” Considered one of the most beloved movies in Marvel history, “Iron Man” was not only the very first Marvel movie, but also the movie that jump-started what would later become the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). In the movie, Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) creation of the very first Iron Man suit sparks the new age of machine heroes, and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to recruit a team which would later become the famous Avengers. Combined with his wealth and his genius in science technology, Iron Man became a hated billionaire turned superhero. The Iron Monger (Jeff Bridges), the main antagonist in the film, brought out the yin-yang relationship between the hero and villain by showing two very similar characters with very different agendas; this type of relationship would foreshadow a majority of the MCU villains to come, such as the relationship between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). 2. “The Avengers”
The introduction of the first Avengers movie kick-started a new era in Marvel cinematic history, putting all the heroes from different franchises into one movie, to fight with and against one another. The forming of the Avengers team is what would later develop and became the jumping off point for all the movies and events that would eventually follow. For example, Thanos (Josh Brolin) was first introduced (teased at post credit scene), and would later be revealed as a huge villain in the later Avengers movies. 3. “Captain America: Civil War” The major battle that broke out between Captain America (Chris
Evans) and Iron Man in “Captain America: Civil War” was a long time coming, as two of the largest characters’ clashing ideologies ultimately brought out the worst in each other. This film also further developed Tony Stark’s background, as it was eventually revealed in the film that Bucky (Sebastian Stan), the Winter Soldier, was the one who murdered his parents under the control of the power of his technology suit. This discovery was the trigger that would lead for the ultimate battle between Iron Man and Captain America to erupt. Their contrasting beliefs ultimately split the Avengers team into two very different groups, as Iron Man’s government-affiliated Aveng-
ers and Captain America’s Secret Avengers is what will later set the tone for the last two Avenger movies. 4. “Avengers: Infinity War” “Avengers: Infinity War” may as well be considered the greatest Marvel movie to date, even larger than the recent “Avengers: Endgame.” This film was the very first time where all the characters that have been introduced over the span of the past 10 years came together in one large production, making Marvel fans to rejoice. Thanos’ ultimate destruction slowly grew over the past 10 years, as his significance had been slowly hinted at more and more throughout the movies. “Avengers: Infinity War” also contained one of
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
the greatest battle scenes in Marvel movie history, as all of the characters came together to defeat Thanos. As a huge shift in Marvel movies, all the other movies leading up to “Avengers: Infinity War” had resulted in a triumphant ending, but instead the disappearance of over half of the characters left fans on the edge of their seats and in tears. In addition to the assumption that such a powerful group of heroes can only result in a victory, this was the very first time where the good guys ultimately lost. As a result, “Avengers: Infinity War” provided audiences with such an intense ending that left them anticipating the very last Avengers movie: “Avengers: Endgame.”
The coffeehouse craze By Mei Ono Staff Writer
William Pan The Northwood Howler
YA LIKE JAZZ?: Freshman Thanos Syrengelas performs at one of the final concerts of the year.
Jazz on: jazz’s music festivities By Gabriel Dimaandal Staff Writer
Spring is not just Prom season for Northwood, but also jazz season as Northwood’s jazz bands show off their skills here in Irvine, as well as at the Reno International Jazz Festival at the University of Nevada, Reno. Every other year, Northwood’s jazz program travels almost 500 miles to participate in the festival along with hundreds of other bands from around the world. The program spent the weekend travelling to Reno in order to perform and learn more about the style of music. “Going on this trip is one of my favorite experiences,” Jazz II junior Audrey Harjanto said, “Not only do you get to spend an entire weekend with your friends, you learn so much from all the musicians that are performing or teaching clinics.” Like with most festivals, each performance was scored by panels of adjudicators. The top five bands
from each skill division would be announced on the last night of the festival. By the end of the ceremony, Jazz I Combo won second place and Jazz I was awarded fourth place in their respective divisions. “When we heard Northwood’s name in the stadium, we all shot up out of our seats,” Jazz I freshman Adam Bauer said, “It didn’t feel like a win for just some of us, but a win for everyone.” Fresh off this success, the jazz program held their annual Jazz at the Oak concert on May 20, featuring all four big bands, both combo bands, as well as Sierra Vista’s jazz band, led by music teacher Henry Miller. Lasting well into the night, each band performed sets ranging from popular tunes including a swing version of “Beauty and the Beast” by Gordon Goodwin to funk charts like “Honk” by Jeff Jarvis. “I loved so many of the songs that we played. It’s really hard to pick a favorite from the night,” Jazz
III sophomore Aynur Kilic said. The concert was one of the final performances for the jazz program for the year, and also as a fundraiser for Northwood’s instrumental music program as a whole. During the show, the Timberwolf Instrumental Music Boosters (TIMB) held raffles for a various selection of prizes ranging from pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses to free prom tickets to pens handcrafted by instrumental director Ben Case. The highlight of the raffle was the six pairs of parkhopper tickets for Disneyland as well as a $500 Amazon gift card provided by Mike Dunn. At the end of the night, Dunn offered another $500 Amazon gift card as a surprise raffle. As the school year draws to a close it also means that members of the jazz program will once again be performing in Northwood’s Marching Band for the fall season. Preparations for their upcoming performances are well under way—the theme of the show will be revealed on June 1.
The passionate voices and melodies of Northwood students carried through the cool evening air on May 24 during Coffee House hosted by seniors Caroline Candy and Ian Gibson. Students guzzled down $8 worth of unlimited drinks while listening to performances by over 15 groups. The seats in the courtyard were packed, forcing students to stand in the back, hoping to get as much as they could out of the occasion. Sophomores Cody Nakatsukasa and Sean Kawanami and seniors Ryan Dong and Max Lee opened the show with their group, Jam the Band, performing “Yellow Jacket” by Shaun Martin. The event continued with acapella group B-Sharp singing “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel, “I Am,” an original speech by sophomore May
Essman, “Blackbird” by the Beatles sung by junior Elijah Rhee and more. “I like how groups of people can really come together and state their opinions on certain issues while showcasing their love for the arts,” Kawanami said. After sunset, the performers kept the spirit alive with heartwarming songs and speeches that lit up the night. Additional performances included original spoken word “Not Just 15” by sophomores Kaitlin Miranda and Annika Weinberg, Coffee House came to a close with sophomore Noah Reichard’s original song “Earth Machine.” Once the show was over, the audience got up on their feet to sing “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey accompanied by Rhee on guitar. “The vibe of this event is unique because of its casual and friendly setting,” junior Arthur Jiang said. “I love all that Northwood has to offer.”
Eliot Lee The Northwood Howler
WE BEAN KNEW: Jam the Band’s soothing music helped students destress .
The Northwood Howler
SENIOR ISSUE
June 3, 2019
5
A thank you to my parents For my senior issue... By Alice Chien
By Victor Chang
I can’t recall the last time my parents told me the coveted, profound, three word combination of “I love you.” You won’t find it in our texts, which are composed of fragmented sentences, sprinkled with one word responses of “Good,” “OK,” “Here.” Nor will you find it in birthday cards, where my parents sign their names after hyphens instead of hearts. But for them, actions speak louder than words. Like when my Mom asks me whether I’ve eaten my lunch. Or when she calls her boss immediately after I tell her I don’t feel well, just so she can be near me. Or when it’s cold out, she scolds me to wear a jacket so I won’t get sick. Or the time I had spent two hours attempting to make something from the new balloon animal kit I received for my seventh birthday. It took eight failed attempts before I resigned and went to bed disappointed. But when I woke, on the corner of my mattress was a single horse balloon animal, a red body with blue mane. At breakfast, my Dad gave me a knowing smile and said nothing more. The lack of verbal expression of love isn’t incongruous with the Taiwanese culture, teaching us to value the authenticity of a person’s actions over their promises, which are empty in the absence of accompanying gestures. Words should be spoken with intent, but more importantly, followed through on, and that is one of the most undervalued skills I wished I recognized earlier: manage your time in order to properly fulfill your commitments. But my parents taught me far more than that one lesson. They’ve been the voice of reason when my
I’m sitting at my desk at 2:26 p.m. I haven’t started writing my senior article and I don’t have a clue what I’m writing about. It was due five days ago. I have until 3:30 p.m. or it won’t be in the issue. It’s just, I’ve become adjusted to the months of procrastination that have left me without a spark of creativity. As I’m sitting here trying to think about what to write, I realize five minutes have already passed. An hour left to compile something worthy or somewhat meaningful for my peers. Perhaps, I could get away with
Chief
Airpod Flexer
decisions are pervaded by emotions - exemplifying maturity that used to frustrate me but I now highly admire. They know my limits better than I know myself, coming into my room at 11 p.m. to remind me that no grade is worth sacrificing my health for. They’ve taught me early on to take responsibility for my mistakes instead of shifting the blame, and to not be so caught up in details that I forget the big picture. Senior year was undoubtedly the best year I’ve had in high school, and I attribute a fair share of that to my parents’ mistaken belief that senior year grades don’t matter, prompting them to constantly encourage me to enjoy my senior year socially without academic pressure. My parents have never much pressured me, but hearing them explicitly tell me to have fun hit differently - it felt like an approval to relax, some sort of validation that I unconsciously needed to hear in the midst of competitive school environment. Intentionally or not, their en-
couragement shifted my focus from grades to developing myself and my relationships, which in return led me to what my friend Cole calls a “social zenith.” My interactions with my friends and acquaintances have felt more meaningful than ever, and for once, I feel energized rather than drained by the end of the day. I find myself appreciating the people around me, the groups I am a part of, and the experiences I’m allowed, and for the first time in a long time, life truly feels fulfilling. But above all, I think that I’ve found a new confidence in my sense of self. I trust my opinion instead of doubting it, and there is far less uncertainty in who I am than a few months ago. For these reasons and many more, I am forever indebted to my parents and the sacrifices they’ve made so that I could have the privilege of finding a purpose and fulfillment. I can’t convey into words how much I appreciate them, but I hope this is a start.
it. Wait… now that I think about it, I don’t think all the seniors wrote for the issue last year. I don’t have to write an article… do I? Hmmm… what’s my word count now? 144. Perfect. I’m close to 200. And I still have a lot of time to spare. Should I just copy … my common app essay? It fits the prompt and it technically won’t be plagiarized like the rest of my prior written articles. Well, actually, nevermind. I’m approaching the minimum word count. It’s now 2:40 p.m. I have taken enough of your time. Thanks for reading my articles throughout these years. HAGS :)
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SENIOR ISSUE Music behind the Misa
June 3, 2019
The Northwood Howler
By Misa Nazareno Former Child
Don’t ever take your parents’ road trip music for granted. Whether it be The Beach Boys 50 Big Ones or ABBA’s greatest hits, know that it will impact your life one way or another. In middle school, I explored many different genres in order to come up with an answer to the inevitable “what music do you listen to?” question that surfaces in small talk. After years of self discovery and learning that it’s okay to like eighties music, I finally have an answer to that question I used to fear. I present you an accumulation of my favorite songs collected from movie soundtracks, my sisters’ turns on the AUX cord
and of course, my dad’s large collection of CDs (yes, he still uses them). Suggestions welcome. To find the playlist online, use the link at the bottom of the graphic or scan the QR code:
The Office is my life. Proceed with caution. By Sumedh Sarwate Current Child
Looking back at high school, I realize now that it has been nothing but endless cycles of hurried typing, frantic writing and something else that is in that same vein that reflects being stressed out. All of the vivid memories I have of working and doing homework have been associated with doing things last minute, falling asleep, then having to produce some real trash to submit. Case in point: I fell asleep while doing my Stranger project, and somehow I ended up drawing a butterfly around my poem, which I couldn’t explain when we had to present our projects. And even now, I’m writing this article four days late, with like a half an hour left. At least I can say that I’ve learned to type faster. And pushing off doing homework has allowed me to watch
“The Office” fifty billion times. Now that I think of it, I started freshman year wanting a relationship with high school like Jim and Pam, but it clearly turned out to be more like Kelly and Ryan. Sometimes, I’m the Ryan in this situation, extremely apathetic to a school that so clearly tried to provide me with things to fall in love with. Other times, I’m the Kelly in this relationship, trying over and over and over again to do my best, but being thrown around and having my efforts rejected (mostly because of procrastination, but that’s beside the point). The Howler has been like my Ravi, giving me some semblance of sanity and greater appreciation and acceptance of myself. Sure, I’m still extremely weird and clinically insane, but I’ve become a more sane person by being here and I’ve clearly grown from being a shy sophomore
that refused to speak with anyone to whatever I am now. I guess. I don’t know. So maybe I did find the Pam to my Jim at this school because I don’t think I’d leave The Howler to take care of a baby and run away with some other man. So I guess what I’m trying to say, in an extremely, extremely convoluted way, is thanks Howler. Thanks for forcing me to walk up to random people to interview them. Thanks for teaching me how to handle problems as they appear and to think quickly (I didn’t know how to think before). Thanks for introducing me to extremely weird people that somehow tolerate me. Just thanks, I guess. **The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the author.**
“Soft Serve”: being hit with a wave of nostalgia By Ibrahim Hussain Guitarist
When I first stepped foot on the Oak, I did not expect the journey ahead of me. I am proud to say high school has been the best four years of my life, but unfortunately, all good things come to an end. About a month ago, I listened to a song called “Soft Serve” by Harry Teardrop. I have never been so emotionally affected by a song in my life. The song touches on the sadness that comes with graduating high school. The feeling I get when I listen to the song is difficult to put into words, a feeling of sadness mixed with nostalgia. It made me ap-
preciate the memories and moments I have taken for granted, the worry-free life of childhood taken for granted. In fewer than 10 days, I am going to be transitioning into the adult world. People that I have known for almost my whole life are going to leave and I will most likely never see them again. I have always heard people say that high school was the best time of their life, but it was not until recently that I realized how true to life that claim is. Life will never be the same. Seniors, for these next few days we have left, cherish what we have left of our childhood. For everyone else, take advantage of the moments you might never have again.
GOODBYE, CLASS OF 2019 Victor Chang
Alice Chien
“Sorry I can’t hear you. I’m listening on my airpods.” -- Victor Chang
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” -- Socrates
Ibrahim Hussain
“The Howler gave me an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.” -- Ibrahim Hussain
Jay Lee
Eliot Lee
Daniel Luo
“Genie. I think I screwed up.” -- Third Guy
“I want new shoes new shoes.” -- Eliot Lee
“To change the world, you first have to understand it.” -Steven Levitt
Misa Nazareno
“Third time’s the charm!” -- My mom when I was born
SENIOR ISSUE 7 A junk editor’s confessions
The Northwood Howler
June 3, 2019
By Victoria Quin
Definitely Not a Chicken
Dear Northwood... honestly, thanks By Miranda Wu Managed
Honestly, 2019 is such an ugly number. If I had the choice, I would have wanted to graduate in 2016 or 2018 because even numbers just ring better aloud. Or maybe 2017, since at least 17 is a cooler prime number than 19. Or even 2020—but that would mean another year of high school, and even my nonsensical numeric preferences wouldn’t warrant that. But in the same way that I didn’t choose to graduate in the dumbest prime-number year ever (‘19), or to be born one unsatisfying year into the new millennium (ew, 2001), I didn’t knowingly choose what I was getting myself into by enrolling at Northwood back in 2015. I didn’t knowingly choose the two frustrating years of anchors and Integrated Science, epitomic academic stress, soap-less bathrooms, that “soft” lockdown, a stormy senior Homecoming and way too many extracurriculars (okay, that last one’s my fault, but you get the idea). At the very least, I wanted my high school career to culminate in some satisfying romantic epiphany befitting of four tumultuous years, but realistically, the only visible ways Northwood has changed me are my ever-present eye bags, a dented laptop and a really dirty backpack.
To leave it at that, however, would be unfair to the good times; I won’t bother listing those because #IYKYK. In the end, Northwood is where I grew up. It’s where I met people and learned lessons I’ll treasure for the rest of my life, and for that, I’ll always be thankful. You don’t choose your family, and I honestly didn’t choose my Northwood times, but like family, I’ll love them and my fellow Timberwolves all the same. So thank you, Northwood, for molding the current me, and for introducing me to: Science Olympiad, the first family I met in my freshman year. You welcomed a loud, bumbling idiot like me into your ranks and worked to mentor me regardless. You were my first role models and friends in high school—to this day, all of you inspire me more than you know. 2018-2019 IDAC, the best council I could possibly have dreamed of. You surpassed every expectation I had this year, and I honestly didn’t— still don’t—deserve how hardworking and dedicated you all are. It was my absolute honor to work with you. The Northwood Howler, AKA the lazy man’s haven. Let’s be real— most periods, at least three-quarters of the staff isn’t doing anything. But all of Howler is honestly so intelligent and passionate; to this day, those
I’ve met through the Howler are still some I admire most. 2018-2019 Northwood ASB, for nudging me out of my comfort zone senior year. To be honest, I’m not the naturally outgoing type, but spending countless hours with y’all tying balloons, making posters, and supporting each others’ events really helped me branch out and learn more about leadership on campus. I only wish I can someday be as charismatic and driven as all of you. Select senior-year teachers (IYKYK), for working to make life easier for us during a period of stress and great change. Thanks to you, I’ve learned what true slacking entails during the final hours of my high school career. Also, I still want a class taught in Russian. And last but not least, OG squado, because even with that cringey of a group name, you guys are my rides or die (ride or dies?). We’re technically six years in the making, but even now I don’t appreciate you guys as much as I should. So thank you for always being there when I need a hair tie, a few dollars, a photographer, a gym membership, etc. (yes, I’m only grateful for the benefits). But seriously, I couldn’t have done life without y’all, and I can’t wait to see what we all have in store for us. The world doesn’t know what’s coming.
In case you didn’t realize (and honestly, you probably didn’t), I’ve been the junk editor for the past two years. There’s a lot I did in my career, including but not limited to: destroying a decade’s worth of traditions unintentionally, stealing content, and pushing literally everything to the last minute. Fittingly, I’m also writing this article last minute, and since I don’t know what to do, I’m just gonna go for my laziest, least creative style of article: the top ten list. So here it goes. Presenting: “Top Ten Junk Editor Confessions.” 1. I stole the name of my page. I know, I know. Devastating. I realize that everybody always looked up to the name “Chicken Chuckles” as an original work of absolute literary genius, but here’s my confession once more: I stole it. If you must know, I stole it from a junk article my sister wrote back in the day when she was junk editor. And if you really must know, she wrote about how “Chicken Chuckles” is the worst possible page name in existence and how it was
suggested to her as a joke. 2. I stole some of those weird little animal doodles that I scatter around my page from my sister’s old pages because I thought they were cute and I forgot to draw some myself sometimes. I also stole the idea of putting those little animal doodles in from my sister. 3. I stole a bunch of article ideas from my sister’s old junk page. Ok, you probably see the trend here. 4. I broke a decade-long tradition of naming the Junk page some kind of pun of the editor’s name. Ok, look, I actually tried to keep the tradition. I spent a good week or so trying to come up with a good “Victoria” pun, but it just didn’t work out. 5. This may actually come as a shock to some, but the name of the page is misleading. I’m not actually a chicken. Oops, looks like I can’t think of anything else, so I’ll just leave this as a top five list. And now, as is tradition on Chicken Chuckles, here’s a last minute comic/random graphic to fill in space I didn’t account for when I initially put the articles together:
Northwood High School: on casuality and chaos make my four years at Northwood unconventional, unparalleled, unforgettable, and utterly chaotic. To my teachers: Thank you for making me who I am. I came into Northwood intent on becoming rich, cavalier about learning, and apathetic about math, and yet, somehow, somewhere, you managed to help me completely rotate my priorities. You helped push me to become the best version of myself and inspired my passion in subjects I didn’t even know existed before I came to Northwood. I can only hope that, if I ever manage to become a professor, I teach my classes with the same tenacity, intellect, and passion you all displayed on a daily basis. To the Howler: Thank you for
being crazy enough to publish my opinions. From polling Northwood students right before the election to letting me talk about chi-squared tests for half a page, you gave me the opportunity to do some of my most enjoyable and meaningful work ever. This is a collection of some of the most intelligent and driven people I’ve ever met, and I’m forever thankful I got the chance to be a part of this chaotic, monthly group project. I’m still waiting on some of my articles to be published, but hey—that’s what next year’s all-Viewpoint issue is for, right? To Speech and Debate: Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. I cannot imagine who I would be or what my life would be
Victoria Quin
Sumedh Sarwate
Megan Ta
“As I handed my dad his fiftieth birthday card, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said...”
“...you know one would have been enough.” -- Anonymous
“They always say yee haw but never ask haw yee.” -- Megan Ta
By Daniel Luo Devout Christian-conservative Commentator
Chaos. It’s such a paradoxically simple idea—the butterfly effect meets calculus, I’d chuckle, convinced the two were thoroughly unrelated. After all, how inebriated did one have to be to think a butterfly flapping its wings in the Philippines—could really cause a hurricane on the Atlantic coast six months later? Yet, every time I come across the theory in one of my math textbooks I can’t help but think it might just be true that small, seemingly unrelated things can influence each other in drastic ways. So far, I think I’ve been lucky—most of my butterflies have been benign, and have helped
like without you all. Mr. Wroe and Mr. Brock, thank you for putting so much into this program—none of what any of us did would have been possible without the sacrifices you made for us. Policy—Zara, Eric, Justin, Abby, Alex, and Andy—thank you for giving me a team, a family and a group of people willing to let me shout at them and scribble incoherently on a dirty whiteboard for hours on end. To everyone else—there are way too many of you to mention individually and I think I would drown my room in tears if I tried—I’m so glad all of you are in my life. Debate really did give me the world, and I can only hope I’ve helped make yours better. If we know the starting position of a clock whose hand doubles
GOODBYE, CLASS OF 2019
Miranda Wu
“What do you call an authoritarian potato? A dic-tator tot.” -- Miranda Wu
every second, we can find its position at any given time. But if we’re uncertain about its starting position by just one one-billionth of a turn— a trivial amount, really—then within 30 seconds our interval of uncertainty exceeds a turn, and we’ve completely lost track of where our clock hand is. In retrospect, this seems an apt description of life—millions of small things obscuring any clear vision of the future. I’m so infinitely glad for each of those small forces that pushed me in one direction or another these past four years. I definitely didn’t end up where I thought I would, but I know I’ve become all the better for it. And, to those 14,000,065 different, chaotic futures that might lie ahead, bring it on. I’m ready for you.
Anna Yang
“I was voted top 3 funniest in middle school. Trust. I’m a funny guy.” -Anna Yang
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June 3, 2019
CENTERSPREAD
June 3, 2019
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June 3, 2019
SENIOR ISSUE
The Northwood Howler
From Irvine to Lima: a year of new places By Megan Ta Tourist
By Alice Chien Chief
The Northwood Howler is published by Northwood High School as an open forum for the exchange of news and ideas. Views expressed in The Northwood Howler do not necessarily represent opinions of the NHS administration or the Irvine Unified School District. Signed Letters to the Editor are welcomed and encouraged. They can be placed in Adviser Marina Alburger’s mailbox or delivered to Room 1102. The Northwood Howler reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and clarity. Advertisements do not necessarily represent the opinion of the newspaper. Mission Statement: To serve as a medium for school news and the expression of student ideas while adhering to the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
At 8 a.m. on May 6, 2019, I was sitting in a classroom at Northwood High School, hastily filling in bubbles on a scantron for the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam. Exactly 24 hours later, I landed in Lima, Peru, for a spontaneous six-day trip with my dad. Whenever I tell people I hiked to Machu Picchu, they respond in surprise, looking doubtfully at my 5’1’’ body and lack of muscle, “You hiked that entire mountain?” No, I actually only hiked seven miles uphill on the Inca trail, but those were honestly the most difficult seven miles I’ve ever hiked. Then people ask me why I chose to go during AP testing, of all times, but it was because my dad actually already was in Peru for a mission trip with his company. It really wasn’t the reckless explanation people wanted, but going to Peru was, nevertheless, crazy. I thought there was a chance I would die hiking up Machu Picchu itself, but never thought about the possibility of dying on the streets of
Editors-in-Chief Sarika Rau Michael Shi THO Editor-In-Chief Andrew Do Adviser Marina Alburger News Editors Catherine Hu Zaina Shaik Accent Editor Carina Lin A&E Editor Catherine Li Centerspread Editor Maizah Ali Junk Editor Anna Lim
Lima, as I watched the chaotic traffic in horror from the inside of taxi cabs. That was my first impression of Peru, but I got to explore many other cities, where traffic wasn’t nearly as life-threatening. In Aguas Calientes, the lively town closest to Machu Picchu, I snacked on papaya and mango next to a huge flowing river, and tried Peruvian chocolate, which I was later informed contained coca leaves used to extract cocaine—lovely (don’t worry, the chocolate didn’t actually have cocaine in it). I explored Ollantaytambo, which I thought was a quiet and calm little town until I was woken up by roosters crowing at three in the morning. In Cusco, I held a baby alpaca, which was similar to what I imagine holding an actual cloud must feel like. And after I finished the Inca Trail hike, my feet sore with blisters and my arms red from a sunburn, I laid on the grass, looking out over the city of Machu Picchu and saw not one, not two, but three beautiful rainbows arched across the sky. As I write this, in pain from 25 bug bites (my only souvenirs from the trip since I finished all the coca chocolate on the plane), I can say, fully, that it was so worth coming. I just wish I remem-
Viewpoint Editor Ellen Wang Copy Editor Anish Jampana Photo Editors Mitul Kalra Eliot Lee Staff Writers Nawal Abdul Alice Chien Victor Chang Ally Chao Gabriel Dimaandal David Huang Ibrahim Hussain Zubin Kumar Daniel Luo Misa Nazareno Mei Ono Victoria Quin Sumedh Sarwate Megan Ta Miranda Wu
bered to bring bug spray! Reflecting on the last school year, flying off to a foreign country in the middle of a school week was almost a less daunting version of my move to Irvine summer before senior year, where I was thrust into an entirely new environment at Northwood. At times, I felt really alone, and it was difficult to watch my friends back home participate in senior activities while I wished I could be there to join them. However, moving schools taught me to welcome change, and I don’t think I’ve ever grown more as a student and person than this year. I’ve received so much support, whether from people who were randomly nice and open to being friends with me, or from teachers who have helped me adjust better to classes. Next year, as I continue into college (go banana slugs!), I know that I’ll be able to embrace new experiences in the same way that I did when I was in Peru and when I moved to Irvine. To everyone reading this: if you ever get the chance to go to Peru, or just go to a new place in general, seize the opportunity. When else will you be able to hold a baby alpaca?
Graphics Editor Anna Yang Graphics Daniel Dai Anna Ma Cartoonist Heather Kim Layout Editor Helen Yang Photographers Michael Huang Rachel Kang Jay Lee William Pan Sports Editor Zarina Yunis Business Manager Faryal Ahsan
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June 3, 2019
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VIEWPOINT
June 3, 2019
The Northwood Howler
Past the numbers: seniors commit to college
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Ultimately, it came down to two choices: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Carnegie Mellon (CMU). After being accepted to SLO, I started reading about the school’s Computer Science (CS) program, which I quickly learned was top notch. I really liked the “learn by doing” philosophy and small class sizes. I was set on attending SLO until I received my acceptance to CMU. At first, I was all over Carnegie because of prestige, and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the campus and talking with professors and students. In the end, it came down to my major. I got into Information Systems at CMU, which is an excellent program, but I am currently more interested in learning the technical aspects of CS versus its applications in business. I also did not receive much aid, so I was looking at a $40,000 difference per year, which did not make much sense considering my future plans for masters. Additionally, I got into the honors program at SLO; priority registration for classes is helpful since CS is so impacted. Here is my advice to underclassmen: choose a school because the program you were accepted into caters towards your interests, not because it’s a highly ranked school on U.S. News.
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Going to Japan was a risk because I knew the environment would be very different than Irvine. I chose to go to Japan because I wanted to go back to my motherland to learn and appreciate more about my culture. I feel like living in America most of my life has not given me the opportunity to connect to my Japanese side. I also chose Japan because I knew it would be a fun experience, given that the small city is filled with new things to discover. A tip is to branch out from all of the standard colleges that most people go to. Just because your friends are going, doesn’t mean that it will be the right fit for you. Don’t chase someone else’s dream. Adding onto that, I think it is important to challenge yourself and become more independent from the Irvine bubble that we are surrounded in.
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Rion Morita
Honestly, I would have never thought of attending community college because of the stigma against it, but choosing IVC is probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The tuition is much less expensive compared to a 4-year university, where I would be taking the same general education classes anyways, and the class sizes are smaller which allows me to have closer relationships with my professors. Through the Honors Program, I’m also given the opportunity to transfer to most UC schools, including UCLA. By going through this route, I’ll definitely have an easier transition from high school to college and I’ll also have more time to decide what career I want to go into. Another reason why I chose IVC is because I personally don’t feel ready to leave home, since I have a really close relationship with my family. My advice to underclassmen is to just do what’s best for you!
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Nadia Sawaf
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After so many hard decisions, I decided to commit to UC Berkeley! The major factors that were involved in my decision were location, environment and tuition. In the Bay Area, there are so many internship opportunities, labs and businesses where students can gain more experience, and it isn’t as far as the east coast, so I didn’t see transporting from and to Irvine a big problem. Also, I already have an established network that I can reach out to in Berkeley, and with over 30,000 undergraduate students, I realized that I have so many communities I could potentially develop within. Lastly, tuition influenced me significantly. As much as academics are extremely important, I realized that paying for that education is equally as important. Out of all my choices, Berkeley had the most appealing financial aid and tuition for me. When I did my last minute college decision, I considered these factors just as important as academic quality, because I know all these colleges have exceptional education. Some advice for choosing a college is to visit and see if you can imagine yourself going, learning, living and being part of that college and its community!
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Justin Lee
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By the end I had narrowed my way to two that had the motion design degree I was looking for: Otis School of Art and Design and Ringling School of Art and Design. I defaulted to committing to Otis, which is a good school and fairly close by. My main fear of choosing Ringling was the distance. However, at a glance, I could find that the technology and opportunities at Ringling would be unparalleled at my other schools. The motion design program there starts head on, giving me the time to develop in my major, while most other schools require a foundation year in a traditional medium. After I got some pep talks from my parents, I decided to switch over and now I’m all aboard the Ringling train. For advice, I’d say that the Internet is usually your best friend when looking for art colleges. It’s not going to be the easiest thing to try and get college advice at a more academically inclined school like Northwood, but I find it best to look through YouTube, see what work comes out of the schools and talk to someone like Mrs. Rohrs.
Deborah Ehrlich
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Deciding between UCLA, Williams College and Duke, I reasoned that with 30,000 undergraduates, UCLA would provide less individualized attention. Furthermore, because I don’t qualify for in-state tuition, UCLA is equally expensive as the other two schools that have more accessible undergraduate opportunities for less students, so I eliminated it from my choices first. After narrowing my options to Williams and Duke, I focused on how I felt at each school. At Williams, I felt closer to the professors than the students; although this was nice, I value strong relationships with close friends more. Conversely, Duke was extremely hospitable; students would gladly show me around campus and clarify difficult concepts during class, and I appreciated how accommodating everyone was in this new environment. I want to be comfortable living across the country and Duke immediately felt like home. Beyond feeling, I also considered academic fit. Being a liberal arts college, Williams focuses on venturing outside your comfort zone to explore new disciplines. While perfect for some, I want to delve deeper into my STEM interests; Duke and the Research Triangle’s myriad opportunities to gain hands-on experience match my academic and professional goals so well, I had to attend.
Sean Gao
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
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Mansi Achuthan
Linh Huynh
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After tumultuous months of refreshing Gmail inboxes for some response from colleges, the tables have turned. By April, colleges had chosen the students that best fit their school, and students must choose the college that best fits them. As one of the first major decisions in a student’s adult
Financial aid and program compatibility were the two most important factors in my college decisions process. Financially, Fordham and Florida were my best options, as my National Merit finalist status earned me full scholarships and benefits like research stipends. However, Fordham’s only compelling STEM factor was its engineering program with Columbia; I also eliminated Florida and the UC’s, as large undergraduate populations would offer few research opportunities in my first few years of college, and I wanted a balance between classroom and experiential learning. I chose Pitt due to its guaranteed pharmacy program and a merit scholarship award. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)’s extensive hospital network and the generous National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding Pitt receives would allow me to work in both clinical and lab settings. From freshman research to pharmacy rotations, the pharmacy faculty really emphasized accommodating individualized studies. The stigma around choosing a college without prestige initially bothered me, but my decision was ultimately a choice best for my circumstances. College is not the defining achievement of one’s high school career; there is much more during these four years that speaks to a person’s accomplishments and character, and they can’t be overlooked!
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Staff Writer and Viewpoint Editor
life, it is important for students to separate the notion of “best match” from “highest ranked” or “most prestigious” and choose the environment that best fosters personal growth and accomplishment by considering factors such as programs, cost, student life and more. The Howler interviewed several seniors on which factors influenced their college decisions the most.
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By Alice Chien and Ellen Wang
SPORTS
The Northwood Howler
June 3, 2019
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Meet your 2019-2020 athletics commissioners!
letics Commissioner, but also to step outside of my position to help create a great environment at school.
By Victor Chang Staff Writer
Sophomore Soleil Cotton and junior Adam Fujiwara were elected next year’s ASB Athletic Commissioners on March 29 after five rounds of voting at Election Convention, receiving the highest number of votes in their pool from freshmen, sophomore and junior Student Forum representatives. They hope to give athletes a rewarding experience. Cotton and Fujiwara sat down with The Howler to discuss their motivations and future plans for the position.
VC: What does this position mean to you? SC: This position means everything to me as it allows me to give back to the NHS athletics program as they have done so much for me. It also means so much that I get the opportunity to get to know and support all of my fellow athletes here at Northwood. AF: This position means the world to me. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a leader of my school, and to make our athletic programs a greater factor in our school’s identity.
Victor Chang: What responsibilities do athletic commissioners hold? Adam Fujiwara: Soleil and I will be responsible for publicizing our athletics programs, like creating and sustaining programs such as Captains Council and various social media accounts to make sure every athlete feels represented at school. We will also plan Senior Nights for every sport and work to increase student attendance to our sporting events, at home and (hopefully!!) away. ply?
VC: Why did you decide to ap-
Soleil Cotton: I decided to apply because I have always been involved with sports here at NHS, and I really love getting to know my fellow athletes. I was also really motivated by one of my teammates, Sophie Grossman, who inspired me to
VC: What are your visions for next year?
Grant Dickerson The Northwood Howler
I N W I T H T H E N E W: T h e n e w c ommi ssi on e r s re pre s e nt th e ir sp or t s w ith a smi l e . go for the position. AF: I decided to run for the position because I’ve been involved in sports since my freshman year. By playing baseball and football, I’ve felt really connected to our school. I truly think of my teams as family and saw sports as more of a community, so I wanted to make sure every athlete felt the same way. I never thought about representing our athletics programs
on ASB until this year, to be honest. But the more I thought about it, the more passionate I became about representing our prestigious athletics programs here at Northwood, which was a huge factor in why I ran. VC: How did you feel when you got the position? SC: I was beyond happy when I
won because all of my campaigning and hard work paid off. However, I was very surprised when I won because I was up against some very tough competition. AF: As soon as I got the position, I was ecstatic, ready to get working with Soleil, and ready to work with such a great group of people on ASB. I’m excited to not only fill the responsibilities of Boys’ Ath-
SC: To get as much recognition as we can for Northwood sports. We want to create much more hype around sports on campus and to get as many people to come to the Games of The Week. Our goal is to have the best student section in all of OC. AF: I plan to create an athletics Instagram page which reports the scores of each and every sport’s event, match, or game. Major contributors and leaders will be interviewed to give them an opportunity to publicize their contributions to the team and say what their team means to them on a larger-scale platform and for their peers to recognize the hard work they put in to make their team great!
Tips for a trendy banquet By Jahnvi Mehta Staff Writer
As a sports season comes to an end, the team’s final commemoration is celebrated with a banquet. This event brings together coaches, players, family and friends to honor the best moments and players of the season. Here is a list of must-haves for a successful banquet!
Photo provided by Boys Lacrosse
RE-L AX: Boys Lacrosse rejoices after
placing first in the Own the City Championship.
Boys Varsity Lacrosse’s phenomenal season By Mei Ono Staff Writer
A gold trophy shimmered in the sunlight at Northwood’s field as Boys Varsity Lacrosse reclaimed their Own the City Championship title on April 27, concluding another successful season. The team took home the trophy for the third time in the past four years, finishing second in the Pacific Coast League with an 8-2 overall record, just one game short to claiming the league title. If that wasn’t enough, JV Boys Lacrosse secured a tie for first in their league after a win against Beckman for the first time in nine years. Throughout all of their wins and losses, the players never faltered from their goal of winning the championship. “This season, in particular, taught me that there is no real cap to your skill level,” Varsity Boys Lacrosse sophomore Dolan Chang said. “You have to continuously make an effort to improve yourself every day.”
A highlight of the varsity team’s season was their second match against Woodbridge that guaranteed them their second place standing in the league. The boys recovered from an early four-point loss to win the game, a huge turnaround from their last season where they ended third with a 5-5 record. Receiving the championship trophy again was a rewarding experience for the hard-working group of players; however, it was definitely not an easy win, especially after having to battle obstacles of shorter rosters and terrible weather. Nevertheless, the boys persevered through these challenges to defeat their competition and claim their well-deserved trophy. “I think the biggest challenge we faced this year were the injuries. Fortunately, our team had a ‘next up’ mentality and always had people willing and able to fill the missing spots,” Boys Lacrosse coach Scott Macleod said. “This really solidified everyone for one mantra and helped shape the culture we have been creat-
ing for the future.” This was MacLeod’s last season as the head coach of Boys Lacrosse, after seven dedicated years of raising talented athletes. MacLeod leaves a lasting impact on the Northwood’s lacrosse program, and his hard work is appreciated by students and staff alike. “During my three years of playing lacrosse, I have made countless friends and memories that I would not have made if I had not joined the team,” senior Martin Phelps said. The team had notable recognition featuring senior Ayden Macleod as the overall League Most Valuable Player, along with the largest selection of First and Second Team winners. In light of their success this season, Boys Lacrosse looks forward to next season with even greater hope. “We built lots of strong bonds this year that I am sure will carry on to the future,” sophomore Ryan Collins said. “With that, I think we will come out next year and do even better.”
1. Wall decorations Adorn the walls with a banner that says the sports team name, pictures from the season or balloons to make a festive environment! 2. Table decorations Decorate the tables with pictures of the team, confetti in the shape of the sport and centerpieces that have mini jerseys with players’ numbers on them. 3. Speeches It’s important to have speeches from the coaches, captains and even the MVP to reflect on the season as a
whole, share their favorite memories and laughs and even to set goals for the team next year. 4. Attire Banquets are meant to be semiformal: for guys, this would mean a button-up shirt and pants and for girls, this would be a summer dress or a romper. 5. Video One of the most sentimental moments during a banquet is the video compilation of pictures taken throughout the season, both on and the field. This video generally has music playing in the background and is a great way for the teams to reminisce on the season. 6. Awards Although the coaches may give out their own awards, the captain(s) should also make joke awards for each player on the team. This is one of the best ways to lighten the mood, make each player feel unique and remind every one of them of the legacy they left during the season.
Michael Huang The Northwood Howler
SI T BAC K : Girl s Sw im celebrates their s eas on in style.
CYNICAL CEBOLLAS Chopped: Chicken Chuckles changed to Cynical Cebollas
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June 3, 2019
The Northwood Howler
By Anna Lim Junk Editor
A heroic, worldrenowned revolutionary once said: “Ogres are like onions; onions have layers.” Taking this earnest advice to heart, I have tirelessly worked for about twenty minutes, been an active napper in Howler and have contributed numerous words to every issue, to finally rise to the top and monopolize this dump of a page. Inspired by The (qUIN)TESSENTIALLY oVERTHROWN : Old Junk Editor Vic toria Quin is b eing Onion and my attempt to raise my failing Spanish content, for I promise to establish a new authoritarian catered to your corrupt I’m thinking capitalist conspiracy needs. grade by using the spanish instate even worse jokes regime. word for onion, “Cebolla,” and horrible puns. Chicken REAL NEWS in the Junk CANCEROUS COMICS I have created a better Chuckles? That page never Page (mixed in with the for all you lazy kids to look Junk theme for this year. even got so much as a little fake ones)—you’ll never at since no one actually reads Don’t be fooled by sniffle out of a nostril. see it coming. GREAT words in Howler anyways. Like an onion, I I’m ready to NEW ADS, perfectly this year’s disappointing
Stay ahead of the Latest Summer Fashion Trends By Jahnvi Mehta and Nawal Abdul Staff Writers
Melville, Quicksilver and Hollister. But why waste your time and money on all the basic outfits when you can become the fashion trend. Here’s some tips to kickstart your Summer Looks™.
will make you cry (from laughter, of course). It’s time to throw away those boring old Chicken Chuckles. For next year, I present to you the new junk page: Cynical Cebollas.
Th e Fi na l S e qu el for villains who spoil movies By Zubin Kumar Staff Writer
The “Avengers Endgame” movie is slated to be the biggest movie of the year and aims to wrap up over 11 years Raincoats: Raincoats are known of the Marvel Cinematic for protecting you Universe (MCU). Howfrom water, so why ever, there are some peonot use them in the ple who aim to destroy most watery place this monumental film by anyone can think of: the ocean. Water in spoiling it for the unsusyour ears? That’s so pecting fan. if you were last season. This summer, throw on that yellow hood and one of theseis unlucky go see some fish in style. movie-goers, then below are some friendly ideas Zorts: California is known for its random to help destroy them the weather patterns, way they destroyed you. and this year is no The easiest way exception. Save is to replace the yourself the personal disappointment of not word “yes” dressing right, and simply zip your on their pants away when the sun gets too hot. phone with the entire Ice Cubes: If AP Environmental Science has taught us anything, Avengers: it’s that the effects of climate change are Endgame imminent and will affect our summer script. lifestyles. Luckily, we can rely on the world Since they of fashion to save us, if only for a little while. An icecube headband as a part of your daily were so eawear will not only ger to spoil the make sure you are movie, you should cool, but also trendy “help” them by making as ever. Just be sure sure they will always to stick your head in a freezer every have the script on the once in a while. go handy. Whether Misa Nazareno The Northwood Howler they are just re-
With summer around the corner, it’s easy to lose yourself in the Spectrum and South Coast Plaza at Brandy
Michael Huang The Northwood Howler
kicked out by her sup erior
sponding to their parents, or sending an email, I’m sure having the entire 20,000 word script will always be useful. Or, if texting is too simple for your complex layers of spite, just spoil everything else in their life. Even though they may have spoiled one of the most anticipated films of all time, you can still spoil everything else in their life. The milk they need for
cereal? Spoil it. Their new blood test? Spoil that. Their wedding? Spoil that too. In 20 years, they will see who the real loser was. If absolutely necessary, just travel back in time. Build a time machine and travel back to 2008 to spoil all 22 Marvel films. (Yes, even “The Incredible Hulk”). They will be confused at first, but as they grow older, they will come to the horrifying realization that you were right all those years ago. (Warning: One of the side effects might be the creation of some alternate timelines, but that’s just a small price to pay for salvation.)
The Northwood Howler
CYNICAL CEBOLLAS
June 3, 2019
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Northwood implements sleep education initiative Staff Writers
In order to decrease the Northwood student body’s stress over their GPAs, the administration announced on May 25 that they will be implementing a new program which would halve the GPA of students who do not sleep over 20 hours a day. “One of us read an article on WeChat last weekend that if students don’t get at least 10 hours of sleep a night, their chances of admission to UC Princeton significantly diminishes,” a report from the administration
read. “Thus, considering our mission to place our students at the best universities, we decided to create a program that helps our students go exceed these minimum standards.” In an attempt to gather support for the new program, it will be named “Integrated Sleep 4,” or IS4, and attempt to model the Integrated Science program. To help support the expected costs of the program’s implementation, the Northwood student store will be expanding its Northwood themed apparel to
include sweatpants and pillows. The administration has also reportedly considered a (decaffeinated) boba sale to help keep up with costs, but was having trouble obtaining a permit from ASB. One final goal of the program is to help prepare students for college. Due to the relatively stress-free environment of major research universities, and the ample ability to sleep through lectures without any negative repercussions, such a change will help emulate and acclimate students to college life.
An aggregate map of sleep on the gates-plette ability, by wei et. al
Average GPA
By Daniel Luo and Ally Chao
10
15
20
25
Hours of sleep (Graph by UC Princeton, Associated Press)
“I don’t think this will affect my schedule too much.” Junior Jadyn Tiong mumbled, right before drifting off to sleep in Physics. “After all, , if worst comes to worst, half of 0 is still
0—so this won’t affect my GPA.” At press time, the administration considered cutting Yoga, as it seemed to serve the same purpose as the new sleep program.
The seven surefire ways to avoid Secrets to raising IQ humans in any social situation is shockingly revealed By Victoria Quin Staff Writer
Are you an introvert? Or someone who’s looking for peace and quiet? Or are you perhaps just some sad little lad with no aspirations who has given up on attempting to have a social life and would prefer to be miserable and alone for the rest of your life? Then this is the article for you! Our careful research has isolated these effective methods as the top ways to avoid all human contact in every social situation.
6. Sleep, all the time! You don’t have to interact with people when you sleep. And the great thing about this one is, it doesn’t require any special tools to complete! Just knock yourself around a bit with a good, sturdy frying pan (which you can find in just about any 2. Fall into a depressive kitchen!) and you’ll be in state! If you’re one of a deep coma in no time! those people who craves alone time but always finds yourself in the 7. Eat bees! In public! company of others, you’re in luck! As soon as you experience the magic of crippling depression, you’ll close yourself off from the world so well that nobody will be able to find you, even if they tried!
1. Read The Howler! Once somebody sees you with a copy of one of those bad boys, nobody will want to hang out around you. 5. Consume the state of After all, there’s a pretty Idaho. That way, you will big push towards avoiding n o longer fake news nowadays. have to interact 2. Be a junior w i t h at Northwood High anyone School. Alas, I know from the feeling too well. Idaho. 3. Do not do yoga. I don’t think this one needs an explanation.
By Zubin Kumar Staff Writer
With finals around the corner, sometimes studying is simply not enough to get the scores you need. Luckily, a recent scientific breakthrough from Dr. Phil Dr. Matsuda can help to jack your brain to be better than Stephen Hawking’s. “I’ve tried all the studying methods, from chewing horrible flavors of gum to listening to animal calls late at night,” junior Sreekar Kasturi said. “I’ve even slept on my textbook at night so that fomrulas diffuse through osmosis to no avail. But no amount of omega-3 gummy bears can change the fact that I will never be able to solve my calculus problems.” The answer is clear: Studiemoar is here. Matsuda claims she has cultivated a new berry strain that can triple IQ instantly.
This berry, known as Studiemoar, could also potentially cure cancer, a claim that has yet to be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But what is the secret behind the miraculous ability of this berry? The answer lies in near-deadly concentrations of caffeine, glucose and corn syrup, each at concentrations of around 100,000 grams per ounce. In other words, approximately the amount of daily consumption for your average student (friendly FDA reminder: we know how much coffee you drink and it needs to stop). These concentrations, combined with high levels of stress and desperation, make for rapid academic improvement upon consumption. While the dangers of the berry remain unknown, risking one’s health, life and san-
People generally choose not to associate with people who consume large quantities of beneficial pollinators, so you will become a shunned outcast all while degrading the local environment. That’s a win-win in my book! Heather Kim The Northwood Howler
Anna Yang The Northwood Howler