THE
POINT
PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL - ISSUE 7, VOLUME 25 - MAY 21, 2021
THE SENIOR ISSUE
On Thursday May 13, seniors sported college gear to announce their future plans at “I Declare Day.” On Friday May 14, seniors and juniors attended prom at the South Coast Botanic Gardens.
Scan the QR code with your phone camera for more “I Declare Day” and Prom photos.
Not All Bad: Three Pandemic Positives from 2021 By Vikesh Dheeriya reporter This past year in lockdown caused many changes to the Palos Verdes learning environment, but not all of them were negative. The ability to simultaneously learn about the Industrial Revolution and sip a mug of hot cocoa while in your pajamas has never been possible in previous school years. From using your own PC setup, to waking up two minutes before Zoom starts and still being on time, the added comfort from online learning is undeniable. However, one of the most
important changes to the quality of life of students has been the elimination of commute time. “It is normally a 35 minute drive to school,” said junior Kyle Kan. “Because of online learning, I can get at least an hour more sleep than last year.” The suggested yet unreasonable 10 hours of sleep recommended for growing teenagers is only recently plausible. Although some students have struggled to adjust to online learning, one can struggle comfortably. In previous years, the adults of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified District (PVPUSD) made
most of the decisions regarding students, without student input, yet because of the pandemic and the major changes to the way of life, students felt that their voice should be more highly regarded. When major changes to the block schedule at PVHS were being considered, the student outcry was heard and understood by PVPUSD. The student input will continue to be a part of the district in the form of the recently formed PVPUSD Student Board, where students from all schools in the district, at any grade level, can be a part of and give their opinion on anything regarding school. Mental health has been a
controversial subject in PV’s competitive learning environment, yet the changes to online learning only amplified the feelings of stress and depression among some students at PVHS. However, the topical subject of improving mental health increased as the year went on. Eventually, the One Hill Project, a student-run committee, was created in which they surveyed students at Palos Verdes and Peninsula high school to gauge their general state of mental health. During the first semester, 86% of the 707 student responses claimed that they have not utilized the schools mental health
resources, where 30% were not aware of the services at all. Along with the important survey, the One Hill Project suggested the implementation of asynchronous Wednesdays and a partial credit mandate. “[Asynchronous] classes on Wednesdays give me a break from all the Zooms during that week.” said sophomore Tyler Campbell. “Allowing me to go at my own pace has really helped in certain classes.” Although mental health among students has certainly not improved due to the pandemic— action towards a healthier learning environment is always a step in the right direction.
NEWS
What to Bring to College
By Sydney Lyle reporter
Students Return to Campus — Freshmen Feel the Benefits By Mallory Meyer reporter
(Graphic by Aidan Sun)
El Camino Offers Alternative Path to UC and Cal State Admissions By Andrew Carpenter reporter “One in four or five seniors in the PVPUSD will begin their higher education at a California community college with the opportunity for guaranteed transfer to most UCs and Cal States,” College and Career Center counselors Joanne Lewis and Teresa Hoffman said. The Honors Transfer Program at El Camino College is designed to prepare motivated and intelligent students to transfer successfully to a university. According to El Camino’s website, to apply to the program a student’s GPA must be above a 3.1 and they must fulfill certain requirements as part of the program such as attending four workshops, taking five honors courses in different subjects and making two counselor appointments. Biology and environmental science teacher Marie Kuhn has both a son and daughter that were in the El Camino Honors Program and are both graduating from UCLA in June. “Being in the Honors Program makes you a stronger candidate when applying to UCLA,” Kuhn
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said. “My kids had a seamless and successful experience in the Honors and TAP(Transfer Alliance Program) programs.” PVHS Class of 2020 graduate Ben Nader is currently at El Camino and is planning on transferring to UCLA. “I chose to go to El Camino because I didn’t get to where I really wanted to go,” Nader said. “The process of transferring [from] El Camino to UCLA is not hard. [There are] many meetings about it. The classes needed to take in order to be able to transfer are very easy. I personally thought it was much easier than high school.” Lewis encourages students to attend a community college like El Camino tuition free for the first two years. “The Honors Transfer Program at El Camino, for instance, offers motivated students increased consideration and chances of being accepted to UCLA, Berkeley and guaranteed transfer agreements with other UCs, Cal States, as well as Loyola Marymount University,” Lewis said. “There are many students with great GPAs, extracurriculars, etc. who are certainly competitive candidates for UC Santa Barbara
or UC Davis but are not admitted to those universities. “Every year many students end up deciding that they’d rather complete the Honors Transfer Program with a guarantee to either of those universities and receive a UC degree from their dream college at one half the cost. The number is growing because it is the best value out there.” Current PVHS senior Farinaz Osati will be attending El Camino as part of the Honors Program and is planning to transfer to a UC school after two years. She chose this program because she felt that it was her best chance of getting into a more competitive UC school and it was a very financially smart option. However, Osati says, there are some drawbacks to the program that students should also consider. “I think one of the cons of going this path is that you might miss many social opportunities and meeting other freshmen,” Osati said. Since class sizes are small and honors students get priority registration for classes, the honors program is something Sea Kings consider when choosing where to go for college.
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Starting April 12, students were given the opportunity to return to campus and resume taking classes in-person as part of the hybrid program. Those students returning are allowed to come four days out of the week due to the small percentage that has decided to go back. Wednesday remains an asynchronous day for all students. “I am very happy that now we get all four days of the week to come to school because I am able to interact with more people and I get to be with all my friends,” freshman Claire Kirk said. Being back in person is very important to students in allowing them to interact with their classmates. “A big difference being back is the social aspect that we normally don’t get at home taking online classes,” freshman Lukas Lizdenis said. Many students are starting to get back into the routine of things, but for freshmen this is a whole new experience. “As an incoming freshman, it honestly wasn’t a major change coming from middle school to highschool,” Kirk said. “COVID-19 played a big role in not having regular high school events such as football games, homecoming, etc. which is what differentiates the environment.” Freshmen were given an orientation day to get them acclimated to campus allowing them to feel familiar and get comfortable with the school. However, being back on campus means that many protocols and restrictions are in place. All students must show their “green screen” at specific entry points to school clearing them of any COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Students and staff members are required to wear masks at all times both outdoors and indoors. Social distancing is enforced including in the classrooms
where desks with plexiglass shields are placed appropriate distances apart. “The biggest restriction is not being able to be closer together and having to keep our distance,” Lizdenis said. Students are not allowed to leave campus until after their last class period of the day and can only return for athletics. “From the couple days that I have been going back to school in person, I have found it easier for me to focus and learn because on campus I have no outside distractions like my phone or TV,” Kirk said. Though students are back in the classroom, they are encouraged to bring their own laptops with chargers and any textbooks/books that may be needed. Students are asked to log in on their own devices and to only be looking at teachers’ screens as more of a reference. Most things still remain digital. Teachers have double the responsibility to teach both the students in the classroom and those who are at home attending class remotely. “Some teachers have tried to make it easier on the students by giving them less homework or open note tests, but it is a lot harder to learn online,” Lizdenis said. For those students who have returned to class, they are able to interact more with the teachers although their assignments remain the same as those of the DLA students at home. While hybrid has its challenges, many students are happy to be back even with restrictions. “I am glad that I decided to do a hybrid,” Kirk said. “It is refreshing to be around everyone and being back makes it feel slightly normal again during this hard time.” There is hope for everyone to return to campus in the fall and resume learning back in the classroom with the normal high school experience.
Many freshmen in Mrs. Mindicino’s English 1 Honors class returned to school for on-campus learning. (Photo courtesy of Cynthia Mindicino) MAY 21, 2021
NEWS
When It Comes to Finding a College Community, Seniors Embrace the Digital with ZeeMee By Sarah Liu editor-in-chief Before high school seniors move out of their childhood homes and onto the new adventures that await them in college, students congregate in a different kind of campus: the ones that exist online. In a pandemic year, it is through social media platforms like Instagram, Reddit, and Facebook that students are especially relying on to find a source of community prior to their fall semester. But, a new app has come to market that aims to specifically link college applicants: ZeeMee. Founded in 2014 by American University grads Adam Metcalf and Juan Jaysingh, “ZeeMee’s mission is to bring students’ stories to life and connect them with life-changing opportunities,” CEO Jaysingh said in a 2017 Forbes feature. Each ZeeMee profile has a space for a bio and a list of interests. Users can answer ice-breaker questions, and at the
bottom is a row of college logos for each school users report they have been accepted to. But, perhaps most intriguing of all is the app’s group chat feature, where uses have sent over 3.5 million messages in 2020 alone. In 2020, the University of California Berkeley sent a text message to all applicants encouraging them to join the app for its group chat. Rohan Shah, a high school senior from Schaumburg, Ill., believes that COVID boredom and a text-push from Berkeley drove its user base up this year. For many students, he said, Berkeley is a top-choice school, so the message may have implied that joining such an app would enhance their application. And while ZeeMee was created with the intention of helping college applicants connect to the schools they applied to, “I did spend a good amount of time messing with people [who applied to schools] I didn’t apply to,” said Shah. “Joining all the school-specific
Second Dose Summer
admit group chats, I surveyed different student interests, hobbies, cultures, and aspirations which helped me realize where I felt I belonged as well as where I felt I didn’t belong,” PVHS senior Abbie Maemoto said. When talking about creating connections, it’s impossible not to mention one user who has become larger than life amongst users. Diego Valencia, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Va., had amassed over 300 followers on the app and has had multiple TikTok videos made about him, some getting over 100 thousand views. “As the days went on, I was joining new school chats and people would start noticing me,” he said. “I wouldn’t ask any questions about the colleges, but I would maybe insert like a witty comment, and people eventually were like ‘Why are you everywhere?’ And despite the fact I wasn’t on the app that much, because I was in so many places… people started taking notice and were interested
in what college I eventually picked.” The college application process has become synonymous with toxicity — subreddits like r/A2C (Applying 2 College) get frequent complaints about an environment that encourages unhealthy competition. But, according to Valencia, that atmosphere hasn’t made it’s way into the app yet. If anything, he said, it strengthened his connections with people as he continues to text with users on Snapchat and even meet them in-person. “To me,” Valencia said, “I’ve seen – and I’ve been in every chat – that for the most part it is positive and people can make friends.”
(Graphic by Sraah Liu)
Colleges Lay Out New COVID-19 Guidelines for Fall 2022
Students Begin to Get Their COVID-19 Vaccines As Eligibility Expands to 13+ By Lucia Ruiz features editor As the world slowly opens up again, vaccines are being distributed rapidly. Vaccinations are essential to regain normalcy and to lower death counts. With the arrival of variants of the COVID-19 virus, vaccines are even more in demand. “We just do not know if the variants will come here and what their impact will be,” PVHS nurse Marissa Trevett said. “We know that there are some variants already in the United States, but that’s why there’s such a rush to try to get as many people vaccinated as possible. If you got in contact with a variant and you were vaccinated, [COVID-19] will probably not [have the same impact] on you if you had no vaccine at all.” For many teachers and students, getting the vaccine before starting in-person schooling or sports seasons was a top priority. As of May 13, Californians aged 13 and up are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “The process of getting the vaccine was really seamless except for setting up an appointment,” junior Jack Donell said. “I was in and out of the vaccine center in less than 25 minutes for each dose which was really nice.” On May 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizer vaccine distribution to those aged 12 to
MAY 21, 2021
15. They will need a parent or guardian over 18 years of age to accompany them. However, even if students under 16 receive the vaccine, they may not want to go back to school in August this year. “[The school district] recently surveyed parents about their kids wanting to stay home next year and do distance learning,” Trevett said. “There seems to be a lot of interest in that. Maybe there [won’t] be the typical 100 percent crowd back at school next fall. Maybe some will choose to stay home.” While the vaccine is safe and effective, it does not ensure complete protection. “Even if you’re vaccinated, you can still get COVID-19,” Trevett said. “It’s very unlikely and if you were to get it, you would have mild symptoms, not severe illness, hospitalization or death. We can’t require it, but we would encourage [people to get] the vaccine.” Even so, becoming vaccinated comes with many perks. Not only is a vaccinated person far less likely to become hospitalized than someone without the vaccine, but vaccinated people are also not required to wear a mask or physically distance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccine brings hope that the world is returning to normalcy. As of Tuesday, May 11, there have been a total of zero COVID-19 patients in Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
By Mia Harley reporter Many university freshmen missed out on a full campus experience this year. They, along with next year’s freshmen, look forward to college, though it will come with some COVID-19 safety guidelines. In consideration of the safety of their students, COVID-19 guidelines for universities have needed to be more stringent than what’s expected for high school. Colleges want to ensure that they can keep their campuses open by enforcing safety policies to prevent the spread of infection. With shared living spaces and new independence, students could easily start a new rise in COVID-19 cases. In the fall of 2020, the University of California’s nine campuses planned for the majority of classes to be online. Some PVHS alumni have had to adjust to nontraditional move into college. “[Almost] all of my classes have been online,” UCSB freshman Chloe Slome said. “Even though
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I got to move [on-campus], I’ve only had one in-person class.” Alternatively, at UCSD, the school has set up outdoor classrooms for a hybrid class system. “They literally put up these big tents outside and have the sides open to keep the air flowing,” UCSD freshman Izzie Lanes said. On April 9, Duke University President Vincent E. Price published a letter regarding the 2021-2022 school year and the school’s effort to combat COVID-19. He announced that Duke University students will be required to provide proof of vaccination before they are allowed to enroll for the fall semester. Soon after Duke’s announcement, other universities began following their lead, including the University of California (UC) system. The schools announced that, once a vaccine is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they will require all students and staff to be vaccinated. Many universities will look for a high percentage
(Graphic by Alycen Kim)
rate of vaccinations to help keep infections down and campuses open. For now however, the UCs are doing what they can to protect their students. “Everyday [UCSB students] have to fill out a daily symptoms survey, and then from that we get a badge to show that we’re cleared or not cleared,” Slome said. “For our badge to be cleared we also have to get tested once a week, which is provided by the school.” Universities had a difficult year with minimized staff and lower income from reduced student housing, but they want to put their best efforts toward fighting against COVID-19. The safety guidelines they will put in place on each campus should directly affect the success of the fall school year. As COVID-19 will continue to be a part of our lives for an undetermined time, we all have to learn to safely help each other. “I think we all got thrown for a tailspin, and we all got put in a really tough spot,” Lanes said, “and I think that people on the whole really did try to do the best they could.”
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SPORTS Fans Back in the Stands By Aidan Sun news editor L.A. sports fans have finally been allowed back into arenas to watch their favorite teams. The announcement of reopenings came in early March when the California Department of Public Health provided updated guidelines allowing outdoor stadiums to reopen at limited capacity once reaching the state’s red tier. Since the announcement, Los Angeles County has moved down to the yellow tier, clearing the way for 67 percent capacity operations for outdoor stadiums. To the excitement of sports fans across Southern California, after more than a year of empty L.A. stadiums, on April 9, the Dodgers welcomed back 15,000 fans at Dodgers Stadium including sophomore Jo O’Connor for their 2021 home opener against the Washington Nationals. Of course, the welcoming back of fans came with restrictions to promote social distancing and contactless interactions. However, to Dodgers fans, including O’Connor, toughing out the restrictions was well worth
it to see their favorite baseball team play again. “There were many restrictions like having to wear masks, rows of seats were blocked off and you had to pre-order food instead of going straight up to the stands,” O’Connor said. “I definitely missed the interactions with the players and other fans. [But despite that,] fans definitely make the games a lot more entertaining, especially in intense situations. It was really nice to be able to come back to the stadium.” Dodgers Stadium wasn’t the only L.A. sports arena to reopen. On April 15, Staples Center welcomed back around two thousand Lakers fans for a game against the Boston Celtics. Three days later on April 18, in-person Clippers fans watched a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Staples Center has far stricter rules compared to Dodgers Stadium. Along with masks and social distancing common at many other public venues, proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test is required before entering the arena. After ordering from a mobile app from their seats, fans are
required to eat outside the stadium rather than at their seats. Staples Center has even gone so far as to ban fans from entering the stadium with bags and has encouraged less cheering during games. But like O’Connor and Dodgers fans, Los Angeles basketball fans are eager to get back to the stands, even if restrictions are in their way. Junior and Clippers fan Carson Kim said he’d go and watch his team despite the new rules. “I’d love to attend a Clippers game in-person,” Kim said. “The atmosphere and intensity when watching a game in-person compared to through a TV screen are totally different and a lot more exciting. I understand and agree with stadiums like Staples Center enforcing strict rules. That way they’re able to bring back fans in the safest way possible.” For many sports fans, the closure of sports venues last year represented the beginning of a dramatic shift into a new pandemic reality. Before any official lockdowns, sports were the first to go. “When the NBA canceled games last year it was shocking,” Kim said. “When it happened,
Bearing Down the Next Four By Emily Typrowicz sports editor
(Photo courtesy of Parker Fry) After 12 years of dominating on the tennis courts, senior Parker Fry is taking her skills to the University of Arizona. Growing up, Fry played other sports including swimming, basketball, and soccer but none of them compared to her love for tennis. In sixth grade she had to make a decision between soccer and tennis; after choosing tennis she began to train hard everyday. “I decided to play tennis because I really loved the sport and how individual it is. It also helped that my mom played so she helps me a lot.” Fry said. In eighth grade she had decided that she wanted to play collegiate tennis. Fry started to work even harder to reach the goal of playing in college. She has multiple workouts a day with tournaments on the
weekends. Fry put her all into it. Her training involves strength conditioning, private lessons with coaches, practicing daily, and tournaments. All the hard work that she puts in is tested in a tournament against other top players in the country. Fry has been on the PVHS varsity team all four years. Freshman and sophomore year she won MVP. During her junior year, Fry won the Bay League singles. In addition to dominating on the courts, Fry also enjoys the community of the team. “It is so nice to be surrounded by great girls and to have a team atmosphere since tennis is individual,” Fry said. As Fry finishes her senior season, she is currently undefeated in singles. Fry’s recruiting process was different than she expected with COVID-19. She was able to talk with coaches over the phone and zoom calls. Fry was able to contact girls on the team through instagram and talk to them about their experiences at those schools. She had to make her own visits to schools. After visiting the campus and talking with the coaches, Fry committed to the University of Arizona. “I loved the campus and everything that is offered at Arizona. Also of course the tennis coaches and the team are so great, everything I was looking for and it felt right and like home when I was on campus,” Fry said.
Editors-in-Chief Claire Hardesty Sarah Liu Advisor Cynthia Mindicino
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we were all still in school, we weren’t wearing masks, and I hadn’t heard of a [COVID-19] case in our area. For the NBA to postpone the whole season at a time when I didn’t think much of COVID-19 was definitely eyeopening to how serious it really was.” The reopening of sports stadiums to fans represents a significant shift in the trajectory of the pandemic. With Los Angeles’ path back
to normalcy being paved by our sports teams, icons of the city’s culture, Angelenos are finally feeling that better days are on the horizon. “I think [being back at Dodgers Stadium] is a good sign that the pandemic will end in the next few months,” O’Connor said. “Obviously, [the stadium] is still at [limited] capacity. But, I do think things are heading in a very positive direction.”
Staples Center enforces strict rules to ensure the safety of fans and players during games. (Photo by Aidan Sun)
Honda Zooms out of F1 Racing By Curtis Liu online editor Honda is leaving Formula 1 racing - for the fourth time in the history of the sport. Honda’s first withdrawal came at the tragic incident of Jo Schlesser at the 1968 French Grand Prix. In the following years, Honda’s technology improved drastically and Honda reentered Formula 1 in 1983 and ended up withdrawing due to an economic recession in Japan in 1992. Honda returned in a similar fashion in 2000, but the most recent occurrence of Honda leaving Formula 1 occurred during the 2008 recession. Yet last time, they dropped out of the competition series without prior notice, leaving racers without sponsors for a few months. Senior Chance Lee, an amateur fan of Formula 1 sports, states that “Honda has a long and controversial tenure in Formula 1. The act of leaving harms their engine partners and causes them to scramble for new sponsors, which sometimes came unannounced such as the 2008 exit. The positive takeaway from this year’s exit is that they announced their departure one year before it was actually happening.” Certainly, when announced in 2021, Honda stated that they will continue their partnership with Red Bull and AlphaTauri through the end of 2022, and continue to supply power units until 2025. Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault will be the only three remaining superpowers. Per Formula 1 rules, Renault would need to supply the engines for Red Bull and AlphaTauri since they have the fewest customers, or Mercedes and Ferrari may provide them engines after 2025.
Editors News: Aurora Khatibi Garrity, Aidan Sun Features: Lucia Ruiz Centerspread: Alycen Kim Opinion: Kaylie Harley Sports: Emily Typrowicz Photography: Sierra Namvari Online: Curtis Liu Social Media: Sydney Lyle
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Honda has cited the withdrawal of their championship aspirations in Formula 1 due to a once in a century transformation era for their own company. Due to COVID-19 and the economic implications that come along with it, Honda has decided to halt F1 productivity, similar to their exit in 1992 and 2008. Honda has released an official statement, causing controversy across the Formula 1 League: “Now, shifting focus onto the business environment facing Honda, we see the automobile industry is undergoing a once-in-one-hundred-years period of great transformation.” Honda has cited the withdrawal of their championship aspirations in Formula 1 due to an environmental transformation era for their own company, effectively shifting its resources from racing to development in the modern world. However, other competitors and fans claim that this may not be the case. Seeing Honda’s cycle of exiting and returning to Formula 1 every decade causes this action to be questionable by Honda. Senior Eric Sheng states that “seeing a major manufacturer drop out of Formula 1 makes it slightly less exciting for the competition, yet it’s not surprising that Honda dropped again due to its history.” While Honda tries to shift its focus on the environment, Sheng believes that the reason is “similar to that of 2008: the Japanese government is only willing to focus on developing one type of engine, which in 2021 is the hydrogen engine.” Formula 1 enthusiasts may see this exit as another cycle in history. Honda’s departure will come off as unsurprising for 2022, and will continue throughout the future of the sport.
Staff Andrew Carpenter, Vikesh Dheeriya, Alexa Dox, CJ Haddad, Mia Harley, John Kim, Ethan King, Jonathan Liu, Mallory Meyer, Frances Stott, Natalie Tholan, Matthew Valero
Follow us @pvhspoint!
MAY 21, 2021
SENIORS
Class of 2021: In-State destinations San Francisco State University Sophia Brborich San Jose State University Vince Villasenor Santa Clara University Alanna Boze Cameron Greene
UC Irvine Kaylie Harley Shannon Lynch Emma Nelson Jessica Ottaway UCLA William Engstrom Chance Lee Curtis Liu Nathanael Nam Hana Tomizawa
University of the Pacific Elaina Truong University of San Diego Madison Grant Samantha Laurin Ashley Yi University of San Francisco Hallie Umrarong
Sheriff’s Academy Niko Mantikas Sonoma State University
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Long Beach City College
Emily Drawer Jenna Fitzpatrick Chaya Holyfield Emily Katnic Rachel Post
Jack Griego
Jack White
Loyola Marymount University
Stanford University
CSU East Bay Nikole Rugnetta CSU Long Beach Morgan Irvine Brett Olson Maja Rancic CSU Los Angeles John Maurizio CSU Maritime Academy Nicholas Hirt CSU Northridge Brian Ha CSU San Marcos Angela Strong El Camino College Kamal Baker Jaden Camel Dominic Ciolino Kate Hoyne Mia Marco Shaya Moayedi Farinaz Osati Gavin Peters Zoe Klein Humboldt State University Maya Roberson
MAY 21, 2021
Jacob Friedman Armaan Jhangiani Jennifer Kamholz Carrie Knickrehm Anissa Leigh Mia Vafadari Andre Lendi John Mac Menamie Sofia Katzaroff Marymount California University Natalie Diaz Hunter Dunlavey Garrett Rudy Northwestern Preparatory School Ian Kim Occidental College Maleha Innocent Orange Coast College Ra’nya Crowder Pepperdine University
Abigail Maemoto Kapil Dheeriya UC Berkeley Ian Blanco Chloe Boss Bradley Brothers Richard Criley Chloe Dowling Trent Giacolone Aaron Guo Cambell Harrigian Anika Hauser Finlay Kehrli Aurora Khatibi Garrity Kaylin Lee Carolina Martel Kai Mohl Rowan Moore Phillipe Wiederkehr Jack Yang UC Davis Tatiana Grimes Cameron Collier UC Merced Giulliana Ardon
UC Riverside Matthew Frey William Wong UC San Diego Amyrah Doty Zachary Huang Cassandra Pheiffer Avery Simonian UC Santa Barbara Daniel Belzberg Grace Bernard Nolan Brandt Paolo Brinderson Mateo Poncia Nicole Russo Gabrielle Wapner Mackenzie Whitehead UC Santa Cruz
University of Southern California Cyrus Abdo CJ Haddad Lauren Hammond Luke Hobus Matthew Kang Olivia Malit Arjun Mathew Lisa Miao Megan O’Brien Gavin Roberts Eric Sheng Riley Skinner Caroline Tenney Jonathan Walter Aidan Wattson Work: Actor Hayden Kharrazi
Nilaab Ahmadi Sayan Simanian
Nicholas Baumann Paige Porter Ryan Choi Gabriela Collatos San Diego State University Kevin Cross Devon McVicar Taylor Stroud PVHSPOINT.ORG
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Where in the World is the Class of 2021?
For
New
Washington
Pacific Lutheran University
University of Washington
Owen Ladinig
University of Montana
Paige Foster
Western Washington University
Unite M
Montana Cameron Bond
Io
Idaho
Ethan Shanofsky
Boise State
Amanda Hangartner
Bry
Zoom University Derek Larkins
Oregon University of Oregon
Univer
Nebraska
Illi
Universi
Lewis & Clark College
Avery Howard Anton Richard Ellie Van Wier
Lu
Maxwell Zarchy
Utah
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Utah
Maxwell Chas Vincent Furriel Kiley Keenan Hanna Karnes Sammy Levine Christian Ramirez Vidyuth Thattai Audrey Tomasello Chandler Trivell
Sophie Geniesse Harmony Ishikawa
Nevada University of Nevada Las Vegas David Perelmuter
Arizona
Arizona State University
US Air Force
Callie Abeson Tyler Bagley Julianna Covarrubias Kelsey Hatamiya Candy Holguin Chloe Martin John Perry
Aidan Forsey- Smerek
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott
Illin
Colorado Colorado State University
Griffi
Peyton Eberhard
University of Denver Ella Frost
United States Air Force Academy Prepatory School Kylie McElroy
University of Arizona Alexander Arriola Davis Corman Cade Coward Lauren Feingold Parker Fry Anton Kastelan Nicole Rasmussen Ashley Reynolds Megan Trainotti Willow Wollman Sofia Yarymovych
Texas Southern Methodist University Jack Allegaert Talia Blair Henry Boyle Jim Campbell Emma Hill Ethan Hladek Mackenzie Shannon
Liam Bohner
Abroad
Italy
Texas Tech University
John Cabot University
Hailey Fitt
Elisa Liberati
Texas Christ University
Morgan Fresc Victoria Mol Hannah Nenad Charlotte Teet
Baylor Univer
Samantha Che Isabella Picciri Charles Spive Benjamin Trott
UT Austin
Mia Dellovad Aidan Eliasso
Hawaii University of Hawaii at Manoa Leilani Fonoimoana Tiana Mann Kyla McLay Dylan Nelligan Whitney Todosiev
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Joelle Montelongo
New York
rdham University
Syracuse University
Ife Ibraheem Thomas Lercari Sarah Rancic
Fareed Ahmed
Cornell University Natalia Pope
w York University
Marist College
Devyn Hall Ameenah Leigh
Claudia Lee
ed States Merchant Marine Academy
Yeshiva University Daniel Amir
Matthew Liang
Sydney Merchant Max Leeds Zoe Belliveau
ity of Chicago
ucas Hong
ffin Colomer
n
de on
Tufts University
Ellen Hubbard
Trace Basich Lucas Everhart Will Mashy Emma Shapiro Jon Ward
University of Notre Dame
Rachel Allen Christian Hokama
Michigan University of Michigan
Vermont
Middlebury College
Lauren Naehu
Maya Whitcomb
Northeastern University Lily Hamson Sarah Liu Sydney Singh
New Hampshire
Dartmouth University
Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University Leonard Liang
Bucknell University Meiers Dixon
Dickinson College
Ohio
Natasha Stein
Miami University Taylor Hirsch
North Carolina UNC Chapel Hill
Shelby Ponce
Tennessee
Claire Hardesty Dylan Hassanzai Griffen Puhl
Belmont University Washington University in St. Louis Chibueze Onyeador
University of Missouri
AnnMarie Sorenson
Louisiana
Tulane University
Katelyn Hart
Rhode Island
Xavior University
Missouri
Amherst College
Shay Desai
Indiana
Indiana University
elf illo ey ter
Merrimack College
Iruka-Dara Chidi Karl Velazquez
Emily Typrowicz Ripley Uyeda
Sydney Lyle Michael McBride Daisy Robertson Parker Zane
nois Tech
rsity
Endicott College
University of Wisconsin
inois
ch ll dic ts
Cole Welcher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Wisconsin
yce Cooper
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Lauren Larking Simone Ochalek
Sara Metcalfe Dori Rich
Tyler Ewald
rsity of Iowa
Emerson College
Berklee College of Music
Olin College of Engineering
owa
tian y
Massachusetts
Jasper Belliveau
Vanderbilt University
Williams Criley Spencer Levin Koa Vetterlein
South Carolina Clemson University Isabella Martinez Alexandra Wescott
Brown University Alice Min
New Jersey
Princeton University Beom Joon Kim
Connecticut
Quinnipiac University Meg Yoshida
Yale University Bradley Sharp
Washington, DC Georgetown University Brooke Cleveland
American University Michael Mitsanas
Georgia
Alabama
Emory University Jessica Majka
Ryann Levendusky
University of Georgia Athens Luke Hassanzai
University of Alabama
Graysen Bradley
Florida Jacksonville University Ashley Schmid
*Results from The Point newspaper senior surveys, Instagram bios/posts *State placement not to scale
OPINION
Admissions of Bias:
College-admissions officers should not inject personal biases into the selection process.
(Illustration by Alycen Kim) By CJ Haddad reporter In the aftermath of one of the most unprecedented college admissions seasons in recent memory, a longstanding criticism of the selection process has a renewed voice. The reality of the personal biases and preferences that admissions officers, particularly those of high-ranked schools, may add when considering candidates across the country and globe has severe repercussions on students as a whole. In an HBO/Vice News piece entitled “How Broken The College Admissions Process Is”, several officers were interviewed about their unique perspectives when trying to understand an applicant’s file. Shocking revelations were made as to why some students were advocated for more than others. “I would always advocate for newspaper kids, kids who were interested in making the world and the community a better place…so all you had to do was talk about women’s rights or a student diversity leadership conference—I was all over you,” Crystal Artis Bates of NYU said. “I was a public school kid who had a guidance counselor who didn’t even know the colleges on my list! So I was always rooting for that public school kid who didn’t have a lot of resources,” Sara Harberson of the University of Pennsylvania said. At its surface, excitement about an applicant that an admissions official can relate to, especially in this year’s larger
pool, could be applauded; it is when one examines the randomness of this form of biased advocacy that one can see its unethical and unregulated nature. Applicants have no control over where they’ve grown up, if their school was public or private, or whether or not they joined the school newspaper; each person has unique skills that they strive to strengthen and take pride in. Yet, even with their tireless efforts, their admittance or denial to a highly selective college could waver in the hands of an admissions officer who might appreciate them or someone with similar grades more because they share similar life experiences. Of course, all individuals will see the world through the lens of their unique backgrounds, but for college admissions officers to openly admit to training that lens on a pool of young applicants would not just be wrong, it would make a mockery of the principles that surround hard work. Never again could we believe our sleepless nights of homework and studying could come to real fruition if we do not actively call out the imperfections of such an important system. What we must do as members of the public is clear: loudly demand professionalism from college admissions offices across the country, have respectful discourse about the different factors that should or should not be considered in an application, and most importantly, check our own biases when we make decisions. The fate of all our students depends on it.
A Senior’s Goodbye to PVHS By John Kim reporter Palos Verdes High School, the home of the Sea Kings and my soon-to-be alma mater. I have so many excellent, unforgettable memories here that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Without a doubt, the last four years have been a blast, and I feel both excited and anxious for my future as I prepare to move onto the next stage of my life. There are, of course, some aspects of PV that I won’t miss. I am more than ready to free myself from the lingering shackles of zero period. Four continuous, grueling years of zero periods, all of which I tried to avoid at all costs whenever class registration came around, shall be forever left in the past, never to be repeated again. For better or for worse, the cold, harsh reality of having a zero kicked in every morning as my circadian rhythm abruptly woke me up at 5:45 a.m. regardless of how tired I still felt from the mere three hours of sleep I managed to obtain. I cannot wait until I can go to sleep at 5:45 a.m. and wake up at 12:00 p.m. in college. That said, the cumulative pain of having a zero period does not even come close to the most notorious problem: the outrageous “school-wide” wifi. As many PV students have come to learn, “schoolwide” is a layman term for “that which only covers half the campus”. As a wise man once said “Slow wifi is worse than no wifi,” and truer words have never been uttered. To be fair, the wifi is totally fine in its epicenter—if you excuse the outage that occurs from time to time, that is. Even with these shortcomings, my experience at PV High has been overwhelmingly positive. As a student who transferred to PV in the middle of my
freshman year, the switch was perhaps the greatest decision of my life. Right off the bat, the geographical location of the school next to a beautiful sea-side cliff cannot be described in any other way than blessed. The wonderful ocean breeze will surely be missed when I go off to college. Though I can only speak for myself, PV’s academic environment has been absolutely crucial in fostering my growth. First, I was able to take all the challenging AP and advanced classes to my heart’s content under the guidance of quality teachers. Also, for a STEM student like myself, PV’s infrastructure has so much to offer, and I was free to take advantage of it. In addition to the famous PVIT program, with which I enriched myself in engineering skills, the physics community has been an important pillar for me. Mr. Warren and my friends in physics have been an irreplaceable influence in stimulating my interest. With them, I gradually formulated my zeal for physics to the extent that I am planning on majoring in it. All the lab and thought experiments, science olympiad competitions, and physics discussions were some of my fondest memories. I will always be grateful for this community and carry it with me in my heart for the rest of my life. I would be remiss to not mention my friends. Though we will each go off to different colleges pursuing various passions, the connection and bond I built with them will never be lost. They have been my closest and dearest as we interacted over mutual classes, lunch breaks, and evening gaming sessions. With that, I rest my case. I formally bid a sincere farewell to the school and extend my fellow seniors the best of luck as they move on with their lives beyond PVHS.
(Photo by Kaylie Harley)
A Satirical Guide to College Merch Flaunting By Kaylie Harley opinion editor Long before the existence of Covid-19, there was another affliction that annually plagued the halls of PVHS: college commitment season. When walking to and from class, it was impossible to avoid the many seniors flaunting the school they were going to. Even more prevalent, however, was the many glares of those who didn’t achieve the level of prestige that warranted such flaunting. With school now back in session and the school year just about ending, these glares are back in full swing. If you or a loved one has ever experienced this form of jealousy, simply follow my guide on how to be the college merch flaunter you’ve always dreamed to be.
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Get the Grades. Say goodbye to your sleep schedule! From the moment you enter school, you need to be “gifted” and you need to be talented. Just learned how to read? Make sure to crack open those SAT and ACT prep books on those drives to Kindergarten. If you don’t, how will you be ready for that test in ten years? Remember, in order to earn that spot at Harvard, your grades need to be perfect, and your social life needs to be dead. Focus on Prestige. Everyone knows that the name of a college is worth much more than the education you can get there, so make sure to only apply to the most famous schools. After all, you’ve dedicated 18 long years to community service projects and classes you barely cared about to get to this point. Who cares if universities selling
their name like a brand is an entirely capitalistic endeavor? Those student loans will only last for around 30 years. Just Buy The Sweatshirt. Don’t feel like wasting your adolescence on academic “success?” Just order a Harvard sweater off of Amazon and wear it to school. Do you have any idea how cheap a sweatshirt is compared to tuition prices? Printing out a sign saying “Harvard: Class of 2025” takes way less time than passing your classes. Win the praise from flaunting your success without the actual effort of getting in. After all, no matter the level of “prestige” a school has isn’t entirely related to how well it would fit for you. No matter how “good” or “bad” the college you actually go to is, it’ll be a great place to further your education, and set you up for your future.
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(Graphic by Kaylie Harley) MAY 21, 2021
A Letter from the Editors Editors-in-Chief Claire Hardesty and Sarah Liu pay tribute to all the under-appreciated gems PVHS had to offer them…and some things that are best left behind. Good Riddance To The Kid Bouncing His Legs on My School Desk. I’m trying to take notes in EHAP right now, not ride Thunder Mountain at 8 a.m. on a Monday. Get a fidget spinner or something.
Goodbye To The Harley vs. Hill Capture the Flag Games After AP Tests. The
first time I experienced it, I truly understood the definition of war: no mercy. Go in properly hydrated and warmed up.
Good Riddance To School Desks in General. We stand in solidarity with all long-haired students who have experienced the unexplainable horror of getting their hair caught in the bolts of those contraptions. To call the bars on the side “support bars” is nothing short of a cruel joke. However, they were really useful for cracking your back after sitting in pain for two hours.
Goodbye To Tyner’s Top Ten. Being “popular” is
a myth anyway. But getting on Tyner’s Top Ten? That’s the pinnacle of achievement. Forget homecoming court; the approval of PV moms hits different. Yes, give us that Academic Spotlight!
Good Riddance To Underclassmen With Cars.
There should be a law against anyone getting a car before they’ve taken the PSAT. Stop trying to steal the parking spaces.
Goodbye To Pascal the Tortoise. I haven’t seen him
in over a year, so I hope he is doing well. Pascal has been, and always will be, the true mascot of PVHS. Thank you to Mr. O’Brien for letting him bless our school with his presence.
Good Riddance To Getting Your Test Passed Back Face-down in Class.
Everyone knows what that means, but if you don’t? I hope you do well at Harvard.
Goodbye To The New Water Fountains. In a word, crisp. In two, bottle refiller.
Good Riddance To The Sprint to get a Ticket to the PV/PEN Basketball Game. Lining up at the door of Mr. Kwak’s class waiting for the bell to ring was one of the highest intensity situations witnessed by mankind. And still over half of us did not receive a ticket to the 2019 PV/PEN game. Tragic.
Goodbye To Mr. Harley’s Spinning Chairs. There were
always people fighting over who got to sit in them during class, and I don’t know how they haven’t broken after so many trips up and down the halls.
Good Riddance To PARKING. Just parking.
Sliding down the hill from the wall parking spots while trying to outrun the tardy bell is an extreme sport.
Goodbye To Girl Scouts Single-Handedly Carrying Nutrition Break: I don’t know what kind of magic is hidden in those cookies that make them worth $5, but I’ll take 20 boxes.
Good Riddance To Goodbyes. If there’s anything
we hate the most, it’s having to say goodbye to the classmates, teachers and staff that make us proud to be PV High students. From the kids we barely knew but said “hi” to in the halls, to the quick banter we shared with the security guards, to being buried in a sea of students in line for basketball tickets, it’s the tiny, slightly frightening, experiences that have made the world to us. High School might be over for us, but we will always be Sea Kings in our hearts.
OPINION
Why the Hours of School are Unreasonable By Matthew Valero reporter Long nights and early mornings—sound familiar? Well, it is for most high school students these days. Every night students stay up until one to three a.m. doing school work, just to wake up to their alarms at eight a.m. the next morning to do it all again. School is extremely taxing for students, and it can affect them both mentally and physically. Students are expected to attend up to seven hours of school for five consecutive days out of the week, then go home and do two to five more hours of homework. With all the time school takes up, students barely have enough time to eat, sleep, and spend quality time with their families. Getting enough sleep is a very important tool that helps teens to grow and develop their brains. “Not getting enough sleep is common among high school students and is associated with several health risks including being
overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and using drugs, as well as poor academic performance,” the CDC said. All of this will affect students sooner or later in their school careers. Recently, a law was passed in California that will make middle and high schools start later in the day. However, the law will only apply to certain California schools, and a select few will be exempt. The exact number of schools that are allowed this exemption is unclear, and advocates and opponents of SB 328 both agree that the state needs to clarify that part of the law. Nonetheless, this law will be an improvement for students, despite what the oppositions says. It’s a nice change to see students’ health be prioritized over school start times, and hopefully even better changes will be implemented in the future.
(Graphic by Kaylie Harley)
(Infographic by Kaylie Harley) MAY 21, 2021
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FEATURES Walking The Road Not Taken
While many graduating seniors are preparing to head to college, some Sea Kings are taking a non-traditional route that allows them to pursue their passions and fulfill their lives. By Curtis Liu online editor The senior class of 2021 had the first and possibly the only year in which the first semester of their last year in high school was completely online. While most of these seniors had to draft and apply to many schools across the United States, there are a few Sea Kings who decided to take an unconventional route. Working with animals has always been a part of Gavin Peters’ future. To summarize in his own words, Peters plans to “go to El Camino College for two years and be in the honors program and TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) so that a transfer to UC Davis after two years is possible, and then joining the veterinarian school there afterwards.” Peters has formulated a plan to work under someone for a few years while possibly having a mobile veterinarian business and trying to open his own practice.
His current opportunities played a huge role in his decisions to stay in this community. “I didn’t actually apply to colleges. I wasn’t excited about moving away or going to any specific college and I am happy with staying here for a few more years with free tuition before I set out,” Peters said. “Ever since I was young being a vet was always a consideration. I have always loved animals and being able to work with them and help them everyday is something I am looking forward to. With so many options as a high schooler It’s hard to commit to one but I know that with work this path will be exactly what I want it to be.” Peters has always been one to speak with confidence regarding his future. Although COVID-19 played a secondary role to his decision-making, it certainly allowed him to spend more time around his community. Senior Aidan Forsey also had a few changes to his plan for after graduation.
Forsey plans on attending the United States Air Force Academy. “The first time I really started thinking about this path was March of sophomore year. I talked to a friend, Wesley Park, a senior at the time, who I knew was going there and starting working from there.” While the COVID-19 Pandemic did not directly affect Forsey’s decision, it gave him more time to prepare for the fitness exam, which is based on six tests and includes crunches, push-ups, mile runs, and basketball throws. As an academically focused student at Palos Verdes High School, Forsey has found a different way to utilize his talents. “I’m mainly motivated to serve by the life I have had that I know is so rare. I’ve been extremely lucky to have grown up in a loving family and to have not experienced any great hardships. The way I see it, I’m one of the most fit people to serve because I have so much to repay,” said Forsey.
From the Class of 2020: How to navigate high school and get ready for the real world
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Sydney Lyle I see myself as a practicing Criminal
By Sierra Namvari photography editor The class of 2020 went through a lot over the years. Not only did they have to finish their last year online, missed their prom, and had a unique graduation, they also made it into amazing schools and reached incredible goals. As our most recent alumni, who have gone through the same quarantine processes as us, and also graduated during it, their advice and inspiration could really motivate the current students. “Don’t burn out in high school - take it slow and easy. There’s definitely more freedom and fun waiting for you in college, but it’s definitely a heavier workload,” USC freshman, and PVHS alumni, Phoebe Lai explained. “Finding a balance between friends and school helped make my life less stressful. If you can make time for both without compromising one or the other, you’ll be good to go.” There are definitely some rough patches to deal with, but overall you can educate yourself on more topics and try new passions like UCLA freshman and PVHS alumni, Kelsey Sanchez said. “I would say Spanish NHS was one of the things that helped me learn more about my own heritage that I didn’t know much about before. CARE was also really impactful since it was a
Senior Gavin Peters is planning on becoming a veterinarian. (Photo courtesy of Gavin Peters)
Defense Attorney in a big city, maybe Chicago or New York. I will be working toward joining the FBI as a Special Agent Attorney.
Ashley Schmid Taking care of sailors and their families as a Navy Nurse
Cameron Bond With a decent job, a house, and a few dogs
William Wong I will be just finishing my medical school and starting my residency in a matching hospital.
Maleha Innocent I see myself with my own law practice, or own business being successful and helping people.
PVHS Alumni Phoebe Lai (top left), Kelsey Sanchez (top right), Sara Namvari (bottom left), and Caroline Pack (bottom right) are now in college. (Photos courtesy of Phoebe Lai, Kelsey Sanchez, Sara Namvari, and Caroline Pack) really accepting community that helped provide a safe space for a lot of people especially poc (people of color). Volunteering with a local cat rescue at Carson Cats, was also really impactful to me since it fully transitioned me into a crazy cat lady!” High school experiences like Sanchez’s really show how much you can learn about yourself and your passions before graduating off into adulthood. You get to explore different clubs and opinions here which is why it’s recommended to get involved in order to educate yourself more. USC freshman and PVHS alumni, Sara Namvari said,
“I think it’s important to keep working hard and pushing yourself to become better academically, but also knowing when to relax. That balance will help you manage your workloads and mental health. Don’t give up and know that it will all pay off soon enough.” UCLA freshman and PVHS alumni Caroline Pack said, “Throughout my time in highschool, I was really involved in CARE, PVOW, and GSA. I’ve always had an interest in human rights issues, but these clubs really helped me develop my passion and become more educated.
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Kyla McLay Traveling the world photographing and studying marine life
Ra’nya Crowder Working and flying planes all over the world
Michael Mitsanas I dream of becoming an
international war correspondent at a major news network.
Whitney Todosiev Either in the tropics studying
species populations and coral reef endangerment, or on the road with my dogs and living my Van Life.
Brooke Stiebel Hopefully living in an apartment
in Boston, travelling the world, and living a healthy, productive lifestyle.
Cameron Collier I see myself as an excellent firefighter who is about to start his own family.
Shaya Moayedi I see myself finishing medical school and doing my residency to become and Ophthalmologist.
MAY 21, 2021
SENIOR
Motivational Tips and Tricks
By Alycen Kim centerspread editor With AP tests and finals coming up this month, it’s safe to say that students are more stressed than ever. Even without the added stress of the pandemic and distance learning, students are still burdened with a seemingly never ending cycle of classes, homework, and tests. Soothing bubble baths and meditative yoga are great ways to combat this stress and anxiety, but motivational tips and advice
from fellow students might come in as a close second. Junior Jantzen Ebreo says one thing that has helped him get through the school year is doing all his work ahead of time. “I would say that you should definitely stay on top of your studies and not procrastinate,” Ebreo said. “I feel like if you use your time productively, you’ll be able to accomplish so much more and you have less to worry about.” As for a better high school experience, Ebreo advises people to get more involved.
“I think people should definitely get involved in activities and clubs,” Ebreo said. “I really missed out on that and I ended up regretting it my freshman and sophomore year. I feel like those years would’ve been more enjoyable if I had started a sport or joined a club.” Junior Hannah Goharian says that writing all her goals out and making a plan ahead of time has really helped her in the long run. “I would recommend going into high school knowing what you want to accomplish and adjusting your class schedule according to that,” Goharian said. “Have a rough plan of what you want to accomplish in high school and get involved early on. Build good relationships with teachers because it’ll really benefit you later on, as they are going to be the ones to write your recommendation letters and help you in the long run.” Despite how much she has benefited from this, there is one thing Goharian has regretted not doing. “I wish I could’ve told my freshman self to relax and enjoy the later years of high school, because it does get a lot more difficult later on,” Goharian said. Not procrastinating, getting involved with school activities, and planning your high school experience out ahead of time are just a few tidbits of advice to help our students finish off this tumultuous school year strong.
By Aurora Khatibi-Garrity news editor
Senior Stress Relief: Hiking By Alexa Dox reporter Palos Verdes in known for many things, but one of the most notorious things P.V. is known for is all the beautiful hiking trails it has to offer. Many tourists come from all over the world just to explore in our “backyards.” There are many different
private trails, but some of the most famous trails are Bluff Cove, Honeymoon Cove, and Stairs at Fire Trail. Bluff Cove is located on Paseo del Mar, with the trail gradually descending and leading you down straight to the water. Once you reach the end of the trail you arrive at a flat rocky point. At low tide you
Honeymoon Cove at Paseo del Mar is a beautiful trail which leads to the ocean. (Photo by Alexa Dox) MAY 21, 2021
can go out and explore the tide pools. If you are lucky, you might see a fish or two. Bluff Cove is a common spot for local surfers and fishers. On the weekends, the cars are bumper to bumper because this is the spot to be at. Bluff Cove has also been given the name “Shipwreck Hiking Trail’’ because beyond the south of the shorelines, there is an old rusting shipwreck washed up along the shore. Honeymoon Cove is a more reclusive spot along the Lunada Bay Cliffs. Many people come here to sit and watch the sunset. Entry to the cove is a steep small trail that takes you straight down to a rocky beach. This is also a common spot for scuba divers and surfers, but the trail is steep, and is not easy with a giant surfboard or a load of equipment. This is definitely the place to come if you ever need alone time and want to watch a beautiful sunset. Stairs at Fire Trail is less of a scenic route but many people enjoy going on runs or letting their dogs run free on this trail. It is in Malaga Cove behind the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department. The trail is a gradual incline which is perfect for a quick jog or walk with a friend. Palos Verdes is also known for all the peacocks living in the area. Next to the police department there is a cage that has
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Stairs of Fire is a secluded trail by Malaga Cove. (Photo by Alexa Dox) a few peacocks in it that you can look the amazing feathers on the beautiful birds. This trail displays all the other amazing factor to Palos Verdes other than the incredible views.
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Virtual Spring Musical: Urinetown
The PVHS Drama Program’s Spring Musical goes virtual for the very first time - catch the production for its last weekend! By Frances Stott reporter This year, only one school musical was able to happen, and it has to be virtual. The cast had to film and edit it, instead of doing regular showings. This also means that the cast and crew had a much different time organizing it. “Due to COVID restrictions, students were not allowed to sing on campus and were required to wear masks and stay 6 feet apart, which makes it pretty difficult to stage a musical,” said Drama Director Nicole Thompson. The students had to Senior Hayden Kharrazi and his castmates performed separately in front step up and become of a green screen. All of the performances were then edited together as choreographers, a cohesive show. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Thompson) directors, and designers. “We all learned skills that we would have never of their parts in front of a green worked very hard to make sure learned had it not been for this screen. Then, they had to they could still have a successful pandemic,” said Drama Director separately record the audio, year even if they couldn’t all be Nicole Thompson. which was quite a challenge as together. (still waiting on last With limited space and no actors were allowed in the interview) The musical began finances, what they managed space. May 14 and has three more to do is inspiring. The cast After that, they had to edit it shows this upcoming weekend. collaborated with students from all together. The way they pulled Tickets can be purchased at Live from 205 to edit the show. together the musical is very https://www.showtix4u.com/ Students had to record each impressive. The cast and crew all event-details/52063
Then and Now - What has changed in the last four years? By Claire Hardesty & Ethan King Editor-in-Chief, Reporter
FEATURES
What was your favorite memory of PV athletics? By Jonathan Liu & Natalie Tholan reporters
Davis Corman
“I would say sophomore year when I first competed in a longboard competition for PV high, I beat our school’s top long boarder and gave me the momentum to excel throughout the rest of my surf team career.”
Ryann Levendusky
“My favorite memory of cheer was cheering at the night game at South last year vs Loyola. Everyone was there and everyone was so excited. But it’s sad to look back on because that was the last football game with the student section.”
Jack Allegaert
“My favorite memories are the team dinners we have after the games, where we all celebrate our win as a team.”
Claire Hardesty
“My favorite memory from my four years of doing XC and track has to be the travel trips we took to Boise and Hawaii. It was and always will be an incredible memory being able to travel and race alongside my best friends.”
Devon McVicar “My favorite memory is definitely our game against St. Francis. It was a great game and one that brought me closer to every player on the team.”
Mateo Poncia
(Photo courtesy of Fin Kehrli) Fin Kehrli
“I expected my senior year to be completely filled with amazing and fun activities like formal, prom, ditch day, and graduation. It definitely has turned out way differently than I expected, obviously due to it being online, but it also hasn’t felt necessarily as much like the final year of high school yet and it hasn’t really hit that we’re almost done... When I was younger I always thought I would be a doctor. I always liked medical shows on TV and was always fascinated going to the doctors office. Then, when I got a bit older, reality hit and I realized that the amount of schooling and money needed to accomplish that goal was not really worth it for someone like me. So now I am looking to major in business and economics with hopes of becoming an entrepreneur or venture capitalist.”
(Photo courtesy of Ife Ibraheem)
Ife Ibraheem
“When I was growing up, believe it or not, I was dead set on being an OBGYN or a neurologist... This interest came from the long line of doctors that I was raised by and the stigma within my culture that being a doctor or lawyer is the only way you will be successful. And on top of that I put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful because of how much my parents sacrificed to get me to America and create a better life for me. A few years down the line I began to think for myself and open my mind to the array of different professions that exist. With a lot of influence from my sister and her current job working as head of marketing at Beats by Dre, I’ve decided to major in business and marketing with a focus in consumer insights along with a minor in fashion studies at Fordham University.”
(Photo courtesy of Riley Skinner) Riley Skinner
“When I was younger, I envisioned my senior year of high school as one of the greatest years of my life. I would hang out with friends or go to parties and I wouldn’t have to worry much about school. I envisioned I would be playing varsity baseball and going to college to be a doctor or engineer. Things obviously turned out differently than I expected. I am an actor now and I will be an acting major in college. After COVID hit, the option of hanging out with friends or going to parties went out the window. Yes it’s disappointing but my senior year will be certainly memorable and I guess that counts for something.”
“I’d probably say my favorite sports memory at PVHS was my sophomore year football game against Peninsula. The game had a super cool atmosphere with loud student sections from both schools and an awesome fog layer right over us for most of the game.”
Grant Thornburgh
“Beating Pen Baseball my sophomore year of high school. Our team had an immense energy that could not be matched by any other team. While managing to compete, we also made sure to make the most out of our time and have a blast.”
Emily Typrowicz “My favorite memory was winning the LA Championships against our biggest rival Redondo.” Photos courtesy of Ryann Levendusky, Jack Allegaert, Claire Hardesty, Devon McVicar, Mateo Poncia, Grant Thornburgh and Emily Typrowicz