Raven Report Sequoia High School
Volume vi, Issue 8
1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062
May 24, 2013
Seniors inspire and lead baseball team to Ocean League title By CAROLINE LEMPERT Online Editor
Photo courtesy of Craig Silverman
Sequoia defeated Jefferson 32-2 in the Senior Game to advance to CCS.
Aiming to repeat its 2012 success, the baseball team entered the spring ready to win league and earn a place in CCS. “It feels good to reflect back on the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year and say ‘Hey, we got there,’” head coach Corey Uhalde said. The team finished first in the Ocean League with a season record of 12-2. Despite its overall success, the team got off to a somewhat rocky start with nine juniors transitioning to the varsity team’s higher level of play. “It was a step-by-step process—first getting [the juniors] acclimated, then getting them to learn how to compete, and finally learning how to win,” Uhalde said. “Through those growing pains, things started to come together and our strengths showed up.” The team quickly built a strong connection and eventually got into a rhythm after a
Picker defers from Stanford for a year and embarks on Costa Rican adventure low her to live with children, help them with homework, play sports, cook and clean. “My main passion is working with children and learnMost people would be worried about submerging ing about educational issues,” Picker said. “Part of the themselves into a new culture for nine months. Most reason that I’m doing this gap year is to see if I want to people wouldn’t dream of missing Christmas with continue to do this work with kids.” While on her trip, Picker will be able to practice her their family or even attempt to take care of 12 chilSpanish and hopefully become fluent, something that she dren who speak a foreign language. This may sound like a nightmare, but senior Skye has wanted to do since she started learning the language in elementary school. Picker is just glad she doesn’t have Rebecca Stark, a good friend of to encounter scary Stanford pro- “I’m so burnt out from school. I thought a gap year would be a good idea where I Picker, believes that the trip will be fessors just yet. In September, Picker will de- could refresh and figure out what to do just what Picker needs to reach her part for Costa Rica until May with my life by working on another as- goal. “It’s difficult to sit in a class three instead of starting her freshman pect of who I am.” —Senior Skye Picker days a week, and become fluent in a year. Because Stanford is a private language,” Stark said. “I think she’ll school, she was able to defer acceptance for a year and do something completely dif- definitely be fluent when she was comes back.” Picker is aware that the language barrier may be an obferent. “I’m so burnt out from school,” Picker said. “I stacle in the beginning, but she believes she is prepared thought a gap year would be a good idea. I could re- to overcome it. “I think the first month will be challenging because fresh and figure out what to do with my life by work[everything] will be in Spanish,” Picker said. “It will be at ing on another aspect of who I am.” Picker will be splitting her time between two orga- a much faster pace than I’m used to.” See PICKER, page 2 nizations: Hogar de vida and Roblealto. Both will alBy LAUREL DEARBORN Sports Editor
Special Features: 2013 College Map
Diversity celebrated with first International Festival By CARMEN VESCIA Staff Reporter Sequoia’s campus will host the first International Festival Saturday May 25. An estimated 3,000 people will crowd in front of Carrington Hall while the smells of Lebanese, Mexican and Chinese food waft through the air. Hawaiian ukuleles and Tahitian drums will play as children and adults alike laugh as they race through an obstacle course, toss bean bags and test their strength by trying to ring the bell on the High Striker. Vendors will sell their wares, and Sequoia clubs will also be present. The festival will last from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) created the event to showcase and share Sequoia’s cultural diversity. The money made from selling food will help pay for senior graduation activities. “There’s a really diverse population that attends Sequoia High School,” PTSA President Shoko Barnes said. “We’ve always been hopeful we could have an event that involved the families and the community.”
By the Numbers
School Report Card
Pages 4-5
string of consecutive wins. However, the team’s most difficult loss came during its second game in a series against crosstown rival Woodside High School. Having beaten the Wildcats just two days before, the team blamed the loss on its overconfidence. “We took the Woodside loss as a lesson. It was a wake-up call,” junior Chris Ortiz said. “If we were going to win and go to CCS, we just couldn’t come out flat anymore.” The team then regained its focus and rallied around the goal of a CCS run. “We all knew our roles and we [filled] them well. Being that pinch running, being a cheerleader on the bench, doin’ work, going 4 for 4—everyone just knew their role and we wanted to win,” junior Carson Parodi said. “We started off 0-5, and ended 10-2 in league, tied for first place. If that doesn’t scream success, I don’t know what does,” senior Connor Grossman said.
Page 7
106
colleges
Number of schools the Class of 2013 will attend
2 ASB pushes students to get involved
News
Amerian prepares for boys’ state
By SABRINA VILLANUEVA-AVALOS and LORNA WAKE Staff Reporters
Photo Courtesy of Lisette Espinoza
Jacobo is the only Sequoia student to receive the Incentive Award this year.
Sequoia’s leadership class attended the California Association of Student Leaders conference in San Jose on April 26-27 where they attended workshops and listened to keynote speakers Craig Kielburger and Alvin Law. Kielburger, the founder of Free the Children, came to discuss his project, an international charity and educational partner that works to provide children in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the proper education, skills and opportunity to get themselves out of poverty. Law, another speaker the students heard, was born with no arms. He talked about his life struggles, and he even played the piano with his feet. “He really inspired all of us to never give up on our dream,” sophomore Lily Leib said. “If he could overcome his disability then it proves that, as long as we stay strong and never give up on ourselves, nothing is impossible.”
Artists display their creativity
PICKER,
By JENNA PALIUGHI Staff Reporter
“[The trip] will change the way that I view the world and the way I feel about a lot of issues,” Picker said. “I will see how other people live and how they interact with each other and where they come from. I think that’s the main takeaway.”
The Sequoia art show took place on May 5 in the gallery annex near The Old Spaghetti Factory, featuring several pieces from students enrolled in different levels of art. “It’s exciting because you get to see everything everyone else has done,” senior Chloe Borison, an art show participant, said. “[I’m] always excited to have people look at my stuff, but it’s a little nerve racking having it be judged,” Borison said.
from page 1
Berkeley-bound senior receives Incentive Award By DALIA JUDE and CARMEN VESCIA Staff Reporters This fall, senior Jessica Jacobo will attend University of California, Berkeley with the help of the Incentive Awards Program, which funds Berkeley-bound first-generation college students. She will be going to UC Berkeley for only $4,000 (instead of the full $33,522 for in-state students living on campus) per year. She is the only Sequoia student to receive the scholarship this year. Jacobo believes that community service, such as tutoring through Project Read, helping in an English Language Development class and assisting students with homework through Citizen Schools helped her attain the scholarship. “I guess they’re looking for someone
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who’s going to go out there, do something and then give back to their community,” Jacobo said. AVID teacher Teresa Yeager encouraged Jacobo to apply and believes that being well-rounded is what made her a strong candidate for the Incentive Awards. “I thought she would be really good [for the Incentive Awards] because she has an outstanding commitment to her community,” Yeager said. At first her parents were hesitant to let her attend UC Berkeley; they wanted her to follow in her elder sisters’ footsteps and attend California State University, East Bay, but they eventually agreed to let her choose for herself. “If you don’t try, then you’re obviously not going to get it,” Jacobo said. “But if you actually try to turn it in, you never know what’s going to happen.”
IB Art senior Rebekah Steiner placed second in painting and Borison placed third in her category. “It’s fun to see finished pieces, they look different in a show, versus just sitting on your shelf,” Steiner said. The students were allowed freedom when choosing a piece to submit. They were given an opportunity to express themselves in their art. “My favorite piece [I submitted] was using wire and eggs shells,” senior Marachel Leib said.
By SABRINA VILLANUEVA -AVALOS and LORNA WAKE Staff Reporters Junior Amir Amerian has been chosen by the Redwood City American Legion to attend the California Boys’ State program at CSU Sacramento on June 22 to learn about the functioning of local and state government. “I’ve heard really great things about the program,” Amerian said. American Legion Boys’ State is a selective nationwide program which takes place during the summer after the student’s junior year. They visit the State Capitol in Sacramento and form a “mock government” to learn how governments function. They are assigned a city and elect city officials, a city council and a mayor. “I am really interested in government and politics, so it’s a really cool opportunity to stimulate that because the program is all about stimulating different levels of local county and state governments,” Amerian said. Although he has grown a love for debate over the years, Amerian hopes to go into law as a career. He feels that the Boys’ State program will help his future in the civil service and really teach him about what it is like to be part of the government. At the end of this two-week session, two boys are chosen to attend a similar program called Boys’ Nation in Washington D.C., which is where all of the boys chosen from their state programs attend. They will engage in similar activities as Boys State, and they will get the opportunity to stimulate Congress. During their time in D.C., the boys will also have the honor of meeting the President.
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Feature
From Europe to Sequoia: the life of an exchange student By GLENN BILLMAN Staff Reporter Hiding behind American accents, after-school activities and Redwood City addresses, sophomores Isabella Huber and Lina Landgraf could pass as native Californians. Huber and Landgraf, hailing from Austria and Germany, are exchange students at Sequoia, happily soaking in the culture of their new school. “It’s been really fun getting to know more people, and experiencing all the fun activities. I love comparing the two cultures,” Huber said. Huber has been staying with friends Frances and Alice Mylod-Vargas, for the spring semester. “My mom and their mom were best friends in high school, so I’ve known the family for a long time,” Huber said. “It makes it easier, because if something [doesn’t] work out, I [can] go home and [have] support,” Huber said. Landgraf spent her fall semester in
Photo by Martin Bittner
Lina Landgraf (far left) and Isabella Huber (second from left) joined the swim team among other activites during their time here at Sequoia. Texas with another family before moving to California. “I love California, and I’ve always been a California girl,” Landgraf said. Both Landgraf and Huber spent time in America as children and speak English. While the lack of a language barrier has made adapting to life in California easier, the girls still faced some challenges.
“The hardest part [was] finding a good group of friends. Finding [my] way around school was hard for me in the beginning since everything is just so different and big,” Huber said. Still, Huber has found her time in California to be very enjoyable, as well as educational. “All the after-school activities, and the rallies, it’s just so different from Austria,
and the teachers are so nice here,” Huber said. Landgraf has also found the experience to be positive and different. “I’m not that homesick. Sequoia is really nice. It has a beautiful campus compared to my school in Germany, which looks like a prison,” Landgraf said. Based on their experiences, Huber and Landgraf would both recommend traveling to another country as an exchange student. “You just learn so much being away from home. I learned [about] two cultures that cannot be more different from each other,” Landgraf said.” “I would recommend it to anybody, even if it’s only for a few weeks.” Leaving their new lives in California will be difficult, but both girls must return to Europe. “I’ll have mixed feelings [about going back],” Huber said.” “I’ll be excited to go back home and see my family and friends, but it’ll be weird because I built up this new life here and then suddenly, I just leave it,” Huber said.
Band and orchestra promote student growth “I want my students to think of music as a lifestyle and I hope they continue it for forever. Music is important for becoming a well-rounded person.” —Danny Broome, orchestra teacher
“Music is a creative outlet, a way to learn teamwork and to have community. As we have grown, we have increased our humanity and that is one of the things I am most proud of.” —Jane Woodman, band teacher
“We’ve had great opportunities to perform in many music festivals, Over concerts and community perforthe mances, like at the farmer’s years, the market,” orchestra has —Eamon Carson, progressed to play sophomore violin player increasingly difficult music and is continuing to advance its technical and musical abilities.
This sense of compassion and community is highlighted in the many concerts the bands participate in, and the assistance band students provide to the McKinley and Northstar music programs.
“Everyone has different interpretations which makes all the music we perform Othspecial. We all love band and put er events our feelings into the music.” the bands —Kaitlyn Schmidt, participate in sophomore flute outside of Sequoia are player at Hometown Holidays in downtown Redwood City and at the San Carlos Hometown Days.
—Written by Paul Kiraly and compiled by Anna Dagum
Annual dance show achieves new level of depth By ANNA DAGUM News Editor A highlight of the performances at the annual Sequoia Dance Show was freshman Myles Mitchell’s powerful choreography honoring his mother’s life. The show, held the weekend of Sat., April 20, gave Mitchell a sense of closure through the powerful choreography of his dance. “I was pretty nervous right before [the dance show]; I felt like I was going to cry,” Mitchell said. “I just had a lot of emotions going on. I missed my mom, I wished she was there, but she told me right before she passed that she was she was going to be there at the show.” Mitchell’s mother, Connie Kitto, passed away due to cancer Dec. 6. The choreography was well received by the crowd, bringing the packed auditorium to an uproarious applause. Mitchell found solace and expression in dance, and felt compelled to choreograph this piece. “I needed it done. My heart was set to that,” Mitchell recalls. “I’m like ‘I’m doing that dance. I don’t care about school work, I’ll worry about that later.’ I just needed to get it done.”
“When my mom passed away I started dancing to get could to help a Sequoia student’s family through a difall my emotion out,” Mitchell said. “That’s how I deal ficult time,” Patrone said. with it all. I just dance. That’s what makes me happy.” Mitchell recalls checking the page frequently, often in Mitchell and his team prepared for months prior to disbelief at the amount of support his cause was receivthe dance show. ing. “I feel like the people I picked for my dance knew how “I can’t believe that so many people were there for me to express that emotion that I had,” Mitchell said. “They when I needed them,” he said. “I appreciate them taking knew how to do the dance, what it meant to me and how their time out of their lives to help me out. It really meant that feels.” a lot.” In addition to giving Mitchell ardent support after Mitchell’s gratitude evidently reflects that of his his mother’s death, the dance team played a fundamen- mother. tal role in helping the Mitchell family as “My mom told me that she wasn’t a whole. A donation account was set up “I missed my mom, I wished she gonna give up,” Mitchell said. “She and advertised via Facebook to support was there, but she told me right kept positive for us and never wanted the Mitchells financially. before she passed that she was to admit that she was dying.” Overall, the donations amounted to she was going to be there at the Mitchell’s love of dance and love $2240 from friends, family and teachers. show.” for his mother all embodied this pow“The success of the campaign was —Freshman Myles Mitchell erful dance that night, and through amazing,” said one of the campaign’s inithe fluid, aesthetic movements of tiators, advanced dance member Alsace himself and his team, Mitchell found Patrone. a sense of closure. “I was so impressed by the Sequoia community’s re“Sometimes I feel her, I feel her next to me,” he said. sponse as every day I was handed dollar bills or quarters “That night I felt her there and I knew she was there by complete strangers who wanted to donate what they watching me.”
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Where are they going? Art Institute of San Francisco Jamyl Delgado Nancy Avila Biola Univesity Danielle Meija Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Stephanie Fovenyessy Frances Mylod-Vargas Jordan Baxter Rebecca Sound Julia Melmon Kamron Nafarieh Paolo Salvoni Cal Poly Pomona Paige Bonwood California State University, Fullerton Amanda Willett California State University, Chico Mariana Frey Marisa Steck Emma Martino Cynthia Valente Stephanie Ochoa Cynthia Valle
Benjamin Brydon Jose Camacho John Cardaris Stephanie Duran Pilar Gonzalez Tina Haddad Anahi Hernandez Try Khov
Leonardo Quezada Favian Renkel Roman Sanchez Robert Sandstrom Uriel Torres Leslie Velazquez Carlos Zepeda
Cañada College Milvia Alvarado Xiomara Alvarez Laura Yarely Alvarez Jenny Alvarez Gabriela Aquino Tanya Arevalo Peter Arteaga Ashley Atkinson Alex Bastidas David Botello
Suzette Lopez Hector Lorenzo Nick Maffei Erick Millan Sandro Morales Breanna Palomarez Tania Partida Nicole Pavis Benjamin Pham Daja Price
Seattle University Tiffany Ah Tye
University of Puget So Angie Calderón Sarah Ciambrone Rory Jacobs Frances Welsh Oregon State University Kendall Aozasa
University of Washing Erin Ralston Caitlyn Yao
Reed College Karla Velarde
Washington State Univ Matt Maldonado
University of Oregon Matt Brotherton Michael Muir Mikayla Wilkes
Boise State University Annika Galliani
University of Portland Kayla Parolari
BringhamYoung Youn Brigham Aubrey Westerlind Chapman University Alex Bliss Alyssa Bliss Sami Mast
Westminster Co Jazmin Hernandez
Claremont McKenna College Kevin Castro
College of San Mateo Sydney Albin Sharon Jimenez Alyn Ames Ricky Mattus Beatriz Andrade Joselin Merlin Califronia State University, Dominguez Alejando Arreola FloresGuillermina Michel Hills Aaron Austin Anahi Montes Vergara Alejandro Castro Pena Karla Aviles Amanda Ontiveros William Bell Jose Pineda California State University, Long Beach Alexa Bunker Steve Alexander Prado Ariel Vega Mireya Dorantes Jesus Camacho Eduardo Ramirez Julie Flores Gustavo Chavez Jordan Robinson Clayton Duval Daisy Rosales California State University, Monterey Bay Jennifer Enbom Alexa Tapia Julie Flores Bruin Fenton Zachary Whiting Maria Galvan Maria Zavala California State University, Northridge Laura Gonzalez Maria Zamora Mario Mora Shelby Escobedo Veronica Gonzalez Jennifer Zaragoza Carlos Ramos Angel Lopez Columbia College California State University, Sacramento Maritza Patino Rosmeri Ramirez Rossmeri Ramirez Quynh Tran De Anza College California State University, San Diego Diego Medina Michael Taylor Kayla Beard Evergreen University California State University, San Francisco Michael Grieves Jennifer Aquino Alex Hilbert Briana Aranda Nestor Martinez Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Ryanna Baldomero Morgan Mecchi Ubaldo Arredondo Irving Beltran Victor Perez Marcelo Cadenes Maria Reyes Foothill College Viviana Garcia Elisa Solis Victor Aguilera Bian Jabari Alex Hannan Juan Valdez Humberto Felix Stephen Langi Natalia Harden Warren Van Velkinburgh Vanessa Tinoco Merlin Majano Silvia Hernandez Oscar Benavente Myra Oropeza Brandon Brumbaugh Victor Solorzano California State University, San Jose Damon Frazier Vanessa Tinoco Fraizer Alejandro Valencia Francisco Ceballos Katherin Guzman Aylin Villegas Willem Burns Sammi Gembala Jairo Hernandez Aaron Jacobson Cullen Kuhlow Bryan Young Selene Lopez Lake Tahoe Community College Katherine Ruiz Dominique Stone California State University, Sonoma Juan Reyes Jaden Briesach Kylie Rinaldi Frasier Steven Frazier Clayton Silverman Alicia Lozano Ashley Jacobberger Martha Revuelta
Special
Loyola Marymount University Maddie Sillivos Notre Dame De Namur University Jessica Foresti Pablo Martinez Nereyda Guzman Prado Lauren Newman Emmanuel Lazo
Santa Barbara City College Gabriel De Los Reyes Charles Simmons Santa Clara University Joselyn Juarez Santa Monica College Carolina Gastelum Santa Rosa Junior College Mariana Arellano Skyline College Tyler Leary
Samantha Toscanelli
Stanford University Skye Picker Tnt Agency Jennifer Gonzalez University of California, Berkeley Maddie Chong Zé Martinho Eli Dugan Hannah Singh Jessica Jacobo Danny Yan Ashley Killmon Helen Mylod Yee University of California, Davis Julian Bertero University of California, Irvine Aureliano Davila
Pacific Union College Valerie Macias
University of California, Merced Kristal Padilla
Pomona College Nia McAllister Alaina Woo
University of California, San Diego Judy Pham
Michael Wucher
Saint Mary’s College of California Liam Cotter Bianca Miani
University of California, Santa Barbara Christian Cruz Ty Grove Emma Duncan Jeremy McIntyre
University of California, Santa Cruz Natalie Clark Brittney Wick Leticia Soto Derek Vargas University of California, Los Angeles Andrew Tweedy Nicholas Pauley Julia Pokorny Rebecca Stark University of Redlands Alexander Merian University of San Francisco Cinthia Segovia-Sosa University of Southern California Jeremy Smith University of the Pacific Rebekah Steiner
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Quill and Scroll
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Berklee College of Music Jared Solomon Berklee College of Music Jared Solomon Boston University Caitlin Castagnola AndreaBoston Vidal University Caitlin Castagnola Andrea Vidal Northeastern University
Carly Hwang Northeastern University Carly Hwang
Pratt Institute Chloe Borison and Pratt Institute ChloeUniversity Borison Syracuse
Connor Grossman Syracuse University Sherry Sanders Fordham UniversityUniversity Connorof Grossman Rochester Sherry Sanders Ithaca College Madeline Hermann University of Rochester Gaia Bouchard-Hall Ithaca College Madeline Hermann Gaia Bouchard-Hall New York University Hagop Narkizian York University AlsaceNew Patrone Hagop Narkizian Alsace Patrone
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Opinion
No powers, no problem: how to be a modern day hero
Staff Editorial
Make summer productive With summer approaching, people always seem to be asking questions like “What can I do to entertain myself ?” or “How many hours can I really sleep?” While it might appear important to escape school and its accompanying stress at the end of the year, keep in mind that enriching yourself after high school and giving back to the community is equally as important as grades or test scores and will do more for your own being than homework or worksheets do. Finding volunteer and work opportunities is easier than it appears, thanks to the magical powers of the Internet and on-campus resources. Plenty of schools, businesses and organizations are looking for capable individuals and a quick Google search will bring up local results for these places. Currently, Panda Express, Johnny Rockets, Cinemark Theaters and other local businesses are hiring, and many other stores will gladly hand over a job application if you ask nicely. Applying for internships
and pursuing your interests is also facilitated for you. Teresa Ignaitis and the counselors have information about summer programs and paid or unpaid internships at a variety of places including Kaiser Permanente and Boys & Girls Club and for organizations such as the Jerry Hill campaign. Choosing the alternative route of looking for work or volunteering will also broaden your experiences before college. You do not have to wait until after you graduate to earn your own money, get involved in your community or pursue what you enjoy. Acting now will help you focus your interests, become even more independent and display initiative, which are all wonderful results of this and which are noted by college come application time. Now, I’m not saying that you need to save lives, build orphanages, spend 30 hours a day with a charity or work 17 jobs. It doesn’t matter how much you do or where, as long as you go out and actually do something worthwhile with your summer, it’ll be enough.
Be Sequoia’s hero, with or without a cape. Scratch that. Preferably with a cape. By CARLOS GARCIA and KYLE SHEA Staff Reporters No one was there to stop the countless shootings, bombings, and tragedies making headlines every day. No caped crusaders swooped in and grabbed the gun, stopped the fighting, or helped the victims. Our modern world is part carnage, part aftermath, and empty of super heroes to save the day, everyday. All the great superheroes that like Batman and Ironman don’t exist in our world. They
After a highly successful year for the Raven Report, the Bolaños Regime is coming to an end. Come graduation, I will pass my journalism wisdom on to the next ruler of room 300—I mean, the next Editor-in-Chief. Journalism is the only class I’ve taken in which the subject matter is the world. My homework is to investigate and observe. My responsibility is to shed light, inform and criticize. Journalism constantly challenges me and the work the Raven Report does is always impactful. Contrary to popular belief and numerous internet rumors, I don’t produce an incredible issue of the paper each month by myself. I’ve been blessed with an amazing staff of editors and reporters, all of whom have things to contribute, whether it be InDesign prowess, interview fortitude or swag to the max. They fully accept my snarkiness and skepticism, and only judge me occasionally when I rewrite everything on the board. Messy handwriting bothers me. I’m going to miss my journo family, but I know they will keep striving for excellence even without the presence of my OCD. So, here we are at the end of my farewell. Please try to refrain from sobbing. Room 300 is my second home, but it’s time for me to leave Cali for the Illinois arctic. I have only the utmost confidence that the Raven Report will continue to shine as a beacon of Sequoia pride and overall jouralistic awesomeness. All my love, stay golden, Sequoia. Xoxo,
Raven Report 2012-2013
Editor in Chief Hanna Bolaños Online Editor Caroline Lempert Sports Editor Laurel Dearborn Feature Editors Lily Hartzell Araceli Efigenio News Editor Anna Dagum Page Editors Erick Castro Jarrett Crowell Ty Dewes Staff Reporters Angie Calderón Becca Melmon Brianna Escobedo Cam Rebosio Carlos Garcia Carmen Vescia Claire Bugos Dalia Jude Glenn Billman Jenna Paliughi Kyle Shea Lorna Wake Matvari Maharaj Paul Kiraly Sabrina Villanueva-Avalos Simon Greenhill
Hanna
Adviser Kim Vinh
052605 Student ID#
2012-2013 School Year Report Card
Dances: Prom and winter formal are off-campus, but the vibes haven’t improved with this.
bility to use them. We are not super beings from another planet, but we can be super in our own ways. You can be a hero not by just protecting your fellow man, but also helping your community. Helping the environment, reading to kids, or even giving money to the homeless can make you a hero in a special way. You can strive to be a hero, even momentarily. We can help countless lives if we take action. Like a wise man said once, “be the hero that your city deserves.”
Editor’s Note
Sequoia High School
To the Parents of: Sequoia High School 1201 Brewster Avenue Redwood City, CA 94061
are works of fiction, yet us everyday humans can be heroes. People are bullied all over the workd with no one there to stop it. When most people see bullying or someone getting hurt, they just watch and gaze upon what’s happening. People feel left out, afraid, and sad everywhere. All it takes to be their hero is a smile, a hug, or kind words. You may not be super strong or have a suit that shoots lasers, but you have control of your actions with both the ability and responsi-
Erick Castro and Matvari Maharaj Counselor(s)
B
School appearance: Unlike the prison-esque appearance of Carlmont, M-A and Woodside, Sequoia actually resembles a high school campus.
A
Teacher/tutor availability: All of the teachers and tutors at Sequoia deserve a round of applause. Keep on doing what you’re doing.
New building and portables: The new building and portables have added more classrooms to Sequoia and improved the quality of many students’ learning. Thanks FDR!
Having a zero period: More students have zero periods this year. Late start at 7:30, anyone? No.
School spirit: Problems with spirit week scheduling have not deterred some students from representing Sequoia with their purple gear.
Dress code enforcement consistency: We’d like to stop hearing our administration use the word “cheeks”
Parking: Parking is still somewhat of an all-out brawl. Friends betray friends and enemies ruin you. The Hunger Games have never been so relevant.
Bathrooms Bathrooms quality is plummeting. The girls have successfully clogged the six sinks in the main building bathrooms, thanks. Guys, you need some target practice.
Rallies: It’s great to see teacher participation in the rally, but bring the performances back; we need to be entertained. Throw water balloons in the crowd, release a lion or the Kraken, have sumo wrestling. Do something.
A
C
C
A
A
B C
C
GPA:
7
Feature
Good things come to those who graduate From Carrington Hall to Hollywood
just looking at the horizon.” Dane regrets not going to college, though focusing in the classroom and on The age-old, daunting question, schoolwork did not come easily. He also “What do you want to be when you grow credits high school as the time where he up?” starts to bear more meaning as you learned a lot about how life works and lessons that helped grow older, as life afhim as he faced ter high school and the real world college becomes the head-on. near future. “I was pointed Sequoia High in the direction School alumnus Eric but not given a Dane, who first came blueprint,” Dane here in 1987, always said. “I really reknew he loved actspect the kind ing, but getting from of kids who can Carrington Hall to buckle down and Hollywood was easido what they er said than done. He moved to Los Dane’s junior year school photo, ‘89 need to do in high school to get Angeles after high school where he started out acting as an where they want to go.” Dane has run into a lot of young adults extra and had many small roles in shows who went to medical school because of such as Saved by the Bell before his breakout role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan TV dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy. Findin ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. During his ing something that interests you could be pursuit of fame, he tried to steer clear of a as easy as sitting on your couch watching result-oriented mindset but also was not a television, and the next step is finding the passion to follow through with it. fan of backup plans. “You do what is directly in front of —By DALIA JUDE you,” Dane said. “It’s difficult to see how you’re gonna get somewhere if you are Staff Reporter
Heisman recipient springs from Terremere
lose... we [took] it another five games before we lost to Carlmont,” said Beban. Beban also played on the baseball and We always hear news of outstanding basketball teams all four years, but knew athletes committing to top universities. he could get a scholarship for football, Some may become the pitcher for the so he made the hard decision between Giants or a sensation on ESPN. What if UCLA and Cal. “I think most of us thought about goyour classmate won the Heisman trophy? Gary Beban, class of 1964, turned out to ing to college, graduating and getting a degree, and going off into real life. If you be that guy. When he came to Sequoia, Beban happen to be good enough to get drafted, or to play pro ball, that was a scrawny was a bonus in life.” freshman, Beban was recruitworried that ed and sat with the he wouldn’t be Washington Redskins big enough to for three seasons. play football. “I never anticiIn his sophopated that I would be more year, a professional athlete he jumped in at that level. I’m not and joined sure that anybody can the frosh-soph plan on that ... because team. When there are very, very few he became part that ever get a chance of the varsity to really do that, resquad in his Beban, class of ‘64, received the gardless of how good junior year, the Heisman award in ‘67 team was holding onto one of the longest you might be in high school, or even on winning streaks in the nation of 29 wins. the college level.” “There were lots of people in the stands —By CLAIRE BUGOS that had never seen the football team lose, Staff Reporter or couldn’t remember the last time it did
BeFOUR and after:
This year’s four valedictorians, Nickie, Zé, Tristan and Jeremy, have been good friends through taking challenging courses and juggling being president, playing sports, doing community service and trying to maintain a social life. Here, get to know your Class of 2013 valedictorians better.
Nickie Pucel:
School / Major: Brown / Computer Science or “something math-y.” Best known for: “I’m known for my good looks and modesty.” Funniest memory from class: “In band we clucked our concert pieces and that was probably the hardest I’ve ever laughed in class. Everyone legit was like ‘cluck cluck cluck, cluck cluck.” Favorite memory: “It was a quad [basketball] game. Basically we were down by one with four seconds left. I inbounded the ball to this kid, he was at the freethrow line, and he dribbled up to half court and launched it up. And it [was] sailing, and he air-balled, but Jaden saw it and jumped up, caught it, and threw it in.”
Changed since freshman year: “I’ve probably become more outgoing.”
Jeremy Smith:
School / Major: USC / Linguistics and Public Policy Nickname: Duke Funniest memory from class: “Definitely just conversations in TOK.” Favorite memory: “Senior guys’ dance was really fun.” Embarrassing moment: “Freshman year, when I was running for vice president, my legs could not stop shaking. I don’t think people could see it, but the ASB president and vice president were behind me, and they were laughing at me.” Most excited for college: “I’m just excited for the professors, because here the teachers are great, but the professors [at USC] are literally one of the best in the field. Having someone who’s actually in that field talk is interesting.” Changed since freshman year: “Our voices. Intelligence. Global view. Street smarts.”
—Compiled by Ty Dewes and Lily Hartzell
Zé Martinho:
School / Major: UC Berkeley / Electrical Engineering
Best known for: “I’m known for being better than Nickie. I’m [also] known for being most likely to succeed. Most people have bets on me and Nickie, and I obviously won the bets.” Funniest memory from class: “Anything Ton-Tho says is always funny. My heart melts every time [he] speaks, I just fall in love.” Favorite memory: “Doing the campaign speeches for class president taught me a lot.” Embarrassing moment: “I make too many non-word sounds during classes like ‘hmmm’ and ‘ahhh” [while] class is completely quiet.”
Photo courtesy of Harrison Smith Freshman photos courtesy of Eileen Bray
Tristan Knoth:
School / Major: Grinnell College / Physics
Nickname: “A newspaper writer once compared me to Poseidon; it was probably the greatest moment of my life.”
Funniest memory from class: “TOK is a gold mine of hilarity from Kispersky.”
Embarrassing moment: “At a swim meet at Aragon I forgot to tie my speedo before I dove in and it was around my knees. It was pretty cool.” Most excited for college: “Living in Iowa! Just kidding. I would say just general independence and going elsewhere. Corn, I love corn.” Changed since freshman year: “[I have] more facial hair, unlike Zé.”
8
Sports
Passion for sports propels seniors to college Using their athletic abilities to pursue their passions, these seniors were accepted to their dream schools. Nick Pauley
Photo by Martin Bittner
UCLA
Freshman Abby Hartzell broke the school record for the 100 fly and qualified for three events
Swimming dives into CCS
“I love [dance] because of the way it makes me feel. Being onstage is awesome.” Photo by Robin Nelson
Alaina Woo Pomona College
Photo by Alsace Patrone
“I knew Pomona was a place I wanted to be academically and being able to stay involved athletically makes it exponentially better.”
Lilly Nelson Duquesne University
“The bigger part of swimming is swimming for your team. It’s so great to always have your team behind you.”
Photo by Robin Nelson
Megan Bartoshuk Carnegie Mellon University
Photo by Kirk Eppler
“Soccer is one of the lowest scoring sports, so the feeling of scoring is just the best.” —Compiled by Becca Melmon and Brianna Escobedo, Staff Reporters
By JARRETT CROWELL Page Editor The tireless hours of gasping for breath, stretching for the wall, and furiously kicking have resulted in 18 swimmers qualifying for CCS, including a freshman for breaking the school record for the girls 100 fly. Freshman Michael Ma, juniors Mark Ledbetter and George Archbold and senior Tristan Knoth, are the only boys out of the 18 swimmers who qualified. “It was very relieving to get to CCS because we’ve been so close and we’ve been trying and trying and we made it,” said junior Mark Ledbetter, who swam breastroke for the boys 200 medley relay team this year. Ledbetter attributes most of the relay team’s success to freshman Michael Ma, a new addition to the team. “Michael was the difference this season. We’ve never had a backstro-
ker before and he is phenomenal. He took that spot and carried our team,” Ledbetter said. In addition to the boys 200 medley relay members, Freshman standout Abby Hartzell broke the school record for the 100 butterfly and qualified for three individual events at CCS. Fellow freshman Alison Yanacek also qualified for the 200 free. This being their first year on the swim team, both Hartzell and Yanacek lean strongly on the support of their teammates and the upperclassmen. “Seniors are always coming up to me and encouraging me and giving me hugs and that just makes me so happy. I am talented and the seniors are really accepting,” Hartzell said. Hartzell has been part of a club swim team since she was young, and is enjoying the newfound sense of collaboration on the high school swim team. “It’s so much fun, I like it better than club. Your whole team is
focused on swimming and everyone has to do well in order for the whole team to do well. You’re so pumped up to beat the other team,” Hartzell said. The varsity girls team finished in third place in the PAL Bay division just behind Menlo-Atherton and Burlingame. Much of the team’s success can be accredited to senior Lilly Nelson who was named the PAL individual champion for the 100 breaststroke. She achieved PAL all-league honors and also qualifed for two individual events at CCS. She will attend Duquesne University and swim Division 1 for the school. The team performed well overall, with the girls 200 free relay finishing 13th, and Lilly Nelson finishing 9th for the 100 breaststroke. It was her last race as a Cherokee and a good way to conclude another successful season for the team.