Part 2 | Senior Tribute Magazine 2022-23 | The Flash & Tonitrus | Rocklin High School

TELL ME

YOUR STORY

The freshman girl strode down the deserted hall, the only sound the echo of her heels on the tile floor. She hadn’t eaten for more than 36 hours, but food was the last thing on her mind... (continued on back cover)

ROCKLIN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TRIBUTE MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S NOTE

Rocklin High School’s Senior Tribute is a special magazine that is meant to honor the undercovered seniors that are only shown few times in the yearbook.

We give these seniors a chance to tell their story here at Rocklin as they now move on to their next chapter in life, leaving traces of their presence with those of us who remain.

This year’s theme was TELL ME YOUR STORY, and we asked seniors to share with us the moments that they will never forget.

Without these seniors, Rocklin High School’s identity wouldn’t nearly be complete. We’d like to take this chance to say “thank you” to all intro and advanced media programs (Photojournalism, Publications, and Journalism) for working hard and creating this magazine.

Thank you seniors for letting us tell your story.

growth from good friends

Entering high school, Suprit was anticipating his first day and the people he would become friends with. He did not know what to expect when walking into his classes and saw a lot of unfamiliar faces. His heart began to race as he did not know who to sit with in groups. As the day went on he noticed he kept seeing someone he recognized from middle school. At first glance, he was unhappy to see him, it was Tiago, someone who he did not get along with very well in middle school. Throughout the day he realized they had almost every class together. He started

to have a change of heart and decided that maybe they could become friends. “I met him in middle school however the thing is that we hated each other right so when we came to high school we had no friends so we kinda just became buddies because we had classes together.” Suprit felt really happy and relieved from putting first impressions aside and realized he had a lot in common with Tiago. “We had like similar households and we just go to each others houses a lot and our parents really like each other so we just became great friends.” Being able to relate with each other a lot, Suprit was happy to have Tiago as a best friend as they spend a lot of time together. “I’ve been through a lot with him I would say I’ve traveled to places with him and hung out with him I’ve went to dances with him.” From not being fond of each other to becoming best friends, was great growth. The friends made in high school can become life long friendships and Suprit’s best moments in high school were spent with Tiago. “Crazy part about that is that still to this day he is my number one friend and its just how crazy how much of a long way a friendship goes.”

the impact of being a leader

As Audrey Watkins walks into the kindergarten classroom she interns for, she feels a rush of happiness as the little kids all rush to greet her. It’s valentine’s day and her kindergarten class is having a valentine day themed party. Before she came that morning, “they made me personal valentine’s day cards”. Filled with stickers, glitter, and paper heart cutouts, Watknis realizes “what a crucial part of my life kids were and how much I loved being with them”. As Watkins spent the year with the same group of kids, interning for Ms. Parratto’s program. She built bonds with all of the kids and spent time playing with them. Throughout her four years of high school, she finally felt what it was like to be a role model for younger kids and remember her elementary years. “I felt so good and happy. I was so grateful that I was able to have the opportunity to feel like this and be a part of something so amazing”. The highlight of her high school years was being able to give back to the community and be able to be a part of influencing the youth and sharing her kindness and compassion with them. Searching for potential careers and pathways, Watkins takes what she has learned through her internship and “this moment changed how she viewed her future and made her realize that she does want to work with kids therefore I am forever grateful”. High school is the time for figuring out what passions fit for you and has a huge impact on the future of individuals. For Watkins, she feels immense happiness working with children and she is thankful for the opportunities she has had. “Everyday I go to class excited to spend time with them and be a part of building their future.” The moments Audrey will remember and cherish forever from high school are the memories in her Valley View Elementary school kindergarten classroom.

SAMINA ZANZI

MIYA WALKER

passion through dance

Dance class has been a huge part of Randall’s High school experience, “The class has been important to me because I was apart of the dance 1 showcase and have taken the class for two years now.” Randall loves the aspect of getting to meet a lot of new people. The rush of emotions when performing lifts his spirit and inspires him to learn more styles of dance to make others happy. From seeing the happy smiling faces on his audience creates a happy warm feeling in his heart. “The audiences’ reactions definitely move me to want to become a better dancer.”

As dance class is the class he looks forward to every blue day, he has met many great friends along the way. Being able to express dance with emotion and creating bonds with his fellow dancers, he

smiles thinking of how these memories will be what he carries from high school.

Participating in many activities throughout high school, Randall’s performances on the grand stage with his good friends will hold a special place in his heart. The Dance 1 showcase led by Mrs. Blankenship was one of his favorite memories as he remembers the adrenaline rush of moving freely on the stage. He apprecaites Mrs. Blankenship for her patience, support, kindness, and of course her dedication to teaching her students the art of dance.

As the music faded, the final bows were taken, and the applause died down, the dark red heavy curtains come to a close. Feelings or pride and satisfaction were overwhelming, knowing that this is a moment none of the dances will ever forget.

An opening of light, right below the dark red heavy curtains, everything else, pitch-black. A feeling of nervousness, yet excitement at the same time is swallowing everyone. As the time comes closer to opening curtains, the dancers begin to focus. Going over and over their routines they have been practicing for months, all hoping that they won’t make a mistake on stage. As the curtains open, Jeffrey Randall takes a deep breath and puts a smile on his face. Those feelings of nervousness instantly fade away, and are overcome by confidence. He remembers why he loves dance so much and the emotion and happiness that is created throughout his audience.

Dressed in a long black sleeve shirt and red pants, with sneakers, that were double knotted, so they have no chance of coming untied during the performance. Dancing to the song “King Kendrick” by Kendrick Lamar.

“I feel happy when I dance, I am able to get my energy out, and express my emotions through dancing, and more specifically, hip-hop. Underclassmen should take dance so they can know what dance feels like.” Everyday coming into the dance room, Randall executes the same routine of stretching and working out in order to feel prepared for dancing for the period.

“I am able to show my emotions especially in freestyle dance, just moving to the music.”

“I EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS AND EMOTION THROUGH DANCE AND FREE MOVEMENT” -JEFFREY RANDALL

MAKENNA PEREZ

Struggles Struggles

Junior year took Melissa Britton by surprise. When choosing classes her sophomore year, precalculus was at the top of her list, a way to get ahead. She hit the ground running, but it wasn’t enough.

“I was struggling a lot, every test I was scared that I was going to fail,” she said. As the year progressed,

just a really amazing experience even though it was really difficult,” she said Rocklin High School math teacher Craig Waechtler was her teacher at the time and contributed to Britton’s success. She formed close bonds with her classmates due to the level of difficulty of the class. “I think it was just how much fun we had even though it was so difficult, because we were all just bonding over the struggles,” she said. Britton met her boyfriend in that class. “[Our] first date was studying for our math test because it was so difficult, but we really bonded over that.” The class is known for being difficult for many people who take it. Nevertheless, the class taught Britton many things. Most importantly, it showed her the difficulty of the world outside of high school. In the beginning, Britton took this class to prepare for college, but she ended up making connections that continue to flourish today.

class a little lighter. Britton’s best friend, Madysen Sublett, was also a part of her class, helping to ease some of her stress. “It was

The last moments The last moments

Senior year can be full of bittersweet moments. In March of her senior year, Taylor Aubry had stayed at a cabin in Mendocino County for a weekend. “We were up there for three days and we weren’t on our phones and it’s in a forest so we all just kind of hung out and played games,” she said. Some moments stuck out more than others. “One specific moment was when we were all sitting around the fire pit and just talking and that stood out to me because it made me realize that was

the last time we would be able to go on a trip together,” she said. There were many mixed emotions while at the cabin. The majority of time she felt happy and giggly. Eventually, however, Aubry realized that, in just four months, her friends would all be going off on their own and doing their own things. She realized that they would no longer be able to see each other everyday.

“I realized that I love my friends a lot even if they can be obnoxious at times,” she said.

Parker’s Gals

The senior girl walked to her ERWC writing class, feeling skeptical and nervous. At first, Paige Wardlaw was worried about not having friends in that class; as the year went on, however, her worries disappeared.

“A few months into the class we all grew closer,” she said. “The class offers a lot of time to talk to each other, so we became close pretty fast.” Wardlaw started to form a trio with classmates Russel Galiza and Ashley Prior. “This class has really changed my life,” said Wardlaw. “Senioritis has definitely hit hard, but it’s such a different experience having people who I just adore to see everyday. They really do make me want to come to school everyday, and Ms. Parker too, she’s the best.” Wardlaw and two of her friends thought it would be fun to invite Rocklin High School English teacher

Angela Parker to breakfast on Feb 11. “To our surprise, Ms. Parker was more than down to hang out with us and suggested

Gaining Independence

Senior Sophia Gilbert traveled to France, Switzerland, and Italy on a school trip. On the trip, she had the chance to see iconic buildings including the Eiffel Tower. Her time in France gave Gilbert a taste of independence at a level she had never had before. “On the trip I felt really independent because it was the first big trip I had away from my parents,” she said. The community was amazing and the way the tour guide planned everything out was a “great learning experience.” She was also able to strengthen her relationships with some of her peers as well as with her French teacher, whom Gilbert and the other students call “Madame.” This trip gave students many experiences that not many people are ever able to have. “We had dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower which is a really stand out memory because you see pictures of things like the eiffel tower

all your life, so it was such a surreal thing to experience. So it was crazy to actually be able to see it first hand, not only that but also have dinner inside of the tower,” said Gilbert. The trip also led to many learning experiences. “We had a lot of free time to just roam around by ourselves in the cities and to be able to time manage. It taught me independence and how to navigate places that I don’t really know well.”

we go to Four Sisters Cafe.” The friends tried to arrive early because the cafe was usually busy, but upon getting there, they found that Ms. Parker had already saved a table. “We had been talking for about an hour and a half eating breakfast, touching on all subjects, but mostly about our love lives,” said Wardlaw. Ms. Parker has had a large impact on Wardlaw and is someone she looks up to. “I’ve never met a teacher as fun and real as Ms. Parker. She is loving, kind, funny, and someone who I look up to.” While maintaining a professional relationship, Ms. Parker has become more of their friend than their teacher. “We consider our group name Parker’s gals,” said Wardlaw. ”Your group of friends can definitely have a big impact on your life. I’m gonna miss our group as we all move into the next chapters of our life, but I know we’ll definitely stay in touch.”

DELANEY LAWRENCE

A UNIVERSAL MOMENT

On March 13th, 2020, at 2:30 PM, an announcement was made through the loudspeaker in Mr. O’Donnell’s Video Production I class attended by Jake Moore. The announcement stated that school was canceled for two weeks. Initially, Moore and his classmates were excited and expressed their joy by exclaiming phrases such as, “Let’s go,” and, “Yay, we’re out of school!” Jake and his friend Simon began discussing their plans for the free time they now had, using their imagination to come up with various activities. However, the excitement was interrupted when someone asked if they would be able to spend time with each other during the break. This had not occurred to Moore before, and it highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Everyone was shocked and unsure, having heard rumors about COVID-19 but never imagining it would lead to the closure of their school. This unprecedented event resulted in the abrupt end of Moore’s school year, as well as the entire country.

SFL: DOGPILED

DOGPILED

The warm sun shined down onto the baseball field, not only adding to the stress of the game, but the tension as well. The SFL championship’s outcome was up to the players, and it was a close game. Rocklin was on the outfield– and the pitcher was getting ready. He winded up and threw a seven in an incomplete game, sealing the victory. A f eeling simultaneously washed over the crowd– a feeling of pride and excitement. The boys in the dugout got extremely excited, as well as the man on second base–Jack Peterson. The group rushed out together as one, making their way to the pitcher. They poured toward him, the feeling of joy and pride overwhelming them. He was bombarded by enthusiastic yells and victory hugs. The boys brought their water bottles, throwing them and pouring out the remaining water. The pitcher started to run, and out of pure exhilaration, his jersey was ripped off– revealing a black tank top. The team started to run around the field together, still celebrating, until finally ending the praising in a dogpile. One of the biggest games was completed and resulted in a victory. That was a good feeling, one that Peterson has remembered to this day.

This was a game-defining moment for Peterson when he experienced an overpowering sense of victory that eclipsed all other emotions. Despite the adrenaline, anxiety, and tension of the game, the feeling of relief overpowered those emotions that stood before.

Looking back on that day now, Moore can hardly believe how much has changed since that initial announcement of school closure. Moore and his classmates had to learn to adapt to a new way of learning and living. The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the world in

JACK PETERSON IN... JACK PETERSON IN...

Bailee Sexton

Delaney Lawrence

It all started with a blanket…

Ashley Moyers started her Sophomore English class alone. Although the days were repetitive like this for a while, it soon came to an end. Ms. Catallico, the teacher at the time, let her students do their work outside almost all the time. Moyers soon started sitting outside with two girls– Sara and Paige. The girls continued to hang out in the shade on the same blanket and work. This eventually led to their friendship becoming stronger, while also including, “super good life talks.”

One sunny spring day Moyers decided to try to, “Play Cupid” and set up her two friends Morgan and Sara. The topic was brought up casually, and some hints were dropped. Moyers would say, “You guys would look good,” and, “I know this is gonna work.” At first, Sara wasn’t sure and didn’t seem interested. After a while, Moyers and Paige convinced her to try for a relationship and it ended up working. The two got together and still are to this day. Moyers was super proud she was able to pull it off, while also being excited about the community she made among her friends. These memories created outside her English class helped her build meaningful friendships and relationships. Even after the year finished, she hung out with the group almost every day the following summer. The friends she made then were not insignificant, made a long-lasting impact on her, and will continue to.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF CULTURE

IT STARTED AS A JOKE... A DIFFERENT KIND OF CULTURE

Two teams from the same town, two rivals going head to head in baseball, and one winner.

It felt as though every heartbeat was in sync, or it looked like that at least. One of the biggest baseball games of the school year has just started, and everyone is already worried. Who’s going to win, and how are they going to do it? Jude Sears got to experience the game firsthand and feel the pressure everyone else felt. Although he wasn’t able to play this particular game because he is a PO, meaning he only pitches, he still supported the team the best he could.

The coach’s pep talks started early, almost a week before the game. He wanted to really make sure his team was ready for the event– and ready to win. He wanted Rocklin’s Varsity team to know who they were playing, and what they were up against. The competition was going to be tough, that was a known fact. But how the game turned out– that fact was completely up in the air.

It was the start of the game, and Troy Ueltzen was pitching. Time felt slow, although the pitches were fast. Jack Peterson got three hits throughout the game, and every time everyone was up and cheering. The relief that flooded over the crowd when the hits were made was incredible, and you could see it on everyone’s faces. The game progressively became tougher, and the crazy winds made it difficult to catch balls. Although a team member got thrown out in the beginning, momentum switched up when it was Rocklin’s turn to hit. There was so much energy surging through the crowd throughout the game– everyone was up and cheering together. Jude felt proud. Proud of his teammates, proud of his accomplishments, and proud of Rocklin overall. The game ended resulting in yet another Rocklin victory. When the teammates came into the dugout after the conclusion, everyone went crazy. The celebratory feeling was one that Jude would never forget– and one he loves to remember.

“

“

“

“

It was like playing cupid

It takes everyone until the last guy on the bench.

- Ashley Moyers

- Jude Sears

Delaney Lawrence

Bailee Sexton

THE FIRST SHOW

Tatyanna Azevado-Maia climbed up the steps and walked out onto the large wooden stage. She looked out into the audience, hoping to see a familiar face that could bring her some sort of comfort, but she could only see darkness. A heavy silence filled the air. For a freshman as shy as her, it was mortifying. She had never been on the stage. As much as she loved theater, she had always been part of the stage crew running the show. Surrounded by peers who had so much talent, she didn’t think she was ever going to be able to start her lines. Trying to shake off the nerves, she began to recite what she knew. She finally finished and stepped off the stage to her family. Her little brother complimented her on her performance, and her mom told her how proud of her she was. The support she received from her family after such a stressful moment nearly brought her to tears. That moment taught her that high school wouldn’t be a scary place or a place that would make her feel alone. It made her realize that if she just put herself out there, she’d be okay.

THE BONDS WITHIN BASEBALL

Austin Tressler stood out on the field, glove open, ready to catch the ball. The warm air surrounded him as he took a moment to take in his surroundings. As a junior playing varsity baseball for Rocklin High School, a lot of Tressler’s time was dedicated to the sport he loved so much. That week had been spent in San Luis Obispo, surrounded by his family, friends, and teammates — the people who really mattered in his life. He would remember that trip as one of the best parts of high school. To him, it represented the foremost lesson he learned in his years of playing baseball: never to take relationships for granted. Austin continued to play baseball the rest of high school.

SPEAKING TO BE HEARD

Mackenzie Minor stepped up to the front of the class, shaking with nerves. She brushed her black skirt smooth; she was dressed ready to make a statement. She had practiced for this moment, but still couldn’t help but feel unprepared because of her lack of confidence in her writing and public speaking abilities. With a shaky start, she began to speak, growing more and more comfortable as she went on. Because she was so passionate about her topic --- the humanity of cropping dog’s ears and docking their tails --- Minor was soon lost in her speech and the ten minutes passed quickly. As the classroom filled with applause, she took a deep breath and walked back to her seat. A couple weeks passed and her grade for the project came out. She had done extremely well, much better than she had thought she would do. This experience taught Minor to stop doubting herself, and she went home feeling ready to tackle the next hurdle that came her way.

SENIOR YEAR SPARKS

Energy filled the air as the bleachers shook — kids, parents, and teachers stood shoulder-toshoulder, trying to fit every last person into the stands to watch the homecoming football game. Even though it was October, a warm breeze blew through the senior’s hair. She took a deep breath, grasping at the last bits of summer. The bright light of the fireworks flashed on the crowd’s faces. Gizellle Marin stood crammed into the stands with her best friend Kylee, admiring the show as “Yellow” by Coldplay blasted from the speakers. At that moment, she realized that it would be her last homecoming game at Rocklin High School. She didn’t expect high school to fly by so quickly, and she knew that she was going to miss it. Although her senior year had just begun, she knew not to blink for too long, because it would be over in a heartbeat. Marin took another deep breath and leaned in closer to her best friend, embracing the night in all its glory as that chapter of her life came to a close.

CARA GONZALES

INTERSECTIONS DESTINED CONN

Decked out in RHS gear from head to toe, the student ecstatically sat down in the junior section for his first senior rally. The excitement he had offset the heat he felt from wearing two layers of Rocklin High t-shirts and a Hawaiian shirt in between. Energy surged through the entire gym as games were won and lost, leading up to the inevitable announcement that the seniors had won the rally. The junior grinned without a hint of shock, who else could have won the senior rally? Yet, a thought began to brood over his head. It was time for the seniors to leave. The audience simmered down as speeches began, telling goodbyes and well wishes. The junior reflected on the senior friends he made in Mr. Werner’s class, people that he rather considered family. The last goodbye was uttered, and seniors left their seats and began towards the exits of the gym. Although they only walked out to the locker rooms, the sentiment of leaving struck the junior like watching your birds leave the nest. He was happy to see his family move on but

was still sorrowful to watch them leave. Before he could accept this, each grade was told to get up from their section and move to the next year’s. As the junior sat where his seniors once resided, it dawned on him that his high school experience was almost over; Soon he would be the one to exit through those blue doors.

The greatest part about senior Jacob Wanner’s time at Rocklin High School was the close, meaningful connections he made. Letting them go evoked emotions that everyone in the gym understood and shared as well. When he sat in the senior section, he described that it “really sunk in that this is my last year of high school and I think I should really make it count.”

The (Un) Importance of Being Punctual

No one would have expected that her life would completely change from a certain encounter on the way to the detention of all places. Leaves rustled in the wind and the sun shone brightly, but what caught the freshman’s attention was the sneakers of another. She always had a liking for shoes, but nothing more. The other guy, dressed out in designer clothes, noticed her Yeezys as well, and they instantly clicked. At first, she believed that they would never really see each other again, but time and time again, she would see him in detention. They started talking and quickly grew to be best friends, and he introduced her to both reselling and music production. They even got called siblings occasionally, green-eyed, brownhaired, and sporting a pair of glasses.

Coincidentally, they both also played the

same instruments such as the piano, guitar, and drums. One day, he invited her over to make a song, and she jokingly agreed. However, the next day, he proceeded to invite her to come by the studio, and contrary to her expectations of a simple garage with blankets or the like, she ended up at a real studio in Sacramento. He taught her how to master her music, making it better than ever before, and paving the path for a new dream.

Ana Hurtado Hernandez’s life changed forever after meeting Sean. After getting into reselling, she noted that “I would wait like 17 hours for one pair of shoes but it would make me like $500-600.” This money gets reinvested, and essentially, Ana has a successful business. As a result, Ana has not one, not two, but three cars. In addition, her music was listened to by some record-level people in both New York and San Francisco, so she is on her way down to San Diego to pursue this dream of hers. To this day, the two have never stopped talking, but it is hard to believe that it started from their chronic lateness to class. Ana even added that “till this day, I’m never on time.” Perhaps it is time for us all to reconsider whether this is such a bad thing or not.

HAZEL MALIT

Find “Ma-ui”

Out of Here!

The humid air pressed down on him as sweat rolled down his forehead. It was just him and his best friend, as their families had given up and gone back down the trail long ago. They had already gone off the path, and were just cutting through brush. To say he was underprepared was an un derstatement. He was trekking through the mud with a pair of tennis shoes, slipping al most five times on the way up. At a certain point, it got so steep that they had to grab onto rocks and branches to pull themselves up. He was hungry, tired, and had drained his only water bottle just 30 minutes in. All he could think about was how lost they were; there was no way they would make it back to their families within three hours.

In the end, Owen Isackson, along with his friend, Reese Taylor, did make it to the top. Miles of trees spanned the expanse below them, and the clouds blanketed them from above as the breeze mingled with the leaves. He added that, “It’s prob ably one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.” Even though they were frightened, they were with each other, cracking jokes and having fun, and it be came something that they would never forget. They pushed through it, togeth er, and in the end, there were no regrets.

Now That the Stage Is Ours

As the stage light shone on the actors, and the stage crew, and the director, the junior felt a type of happiness that was hard to put into words. On the closing night for Mamma Mia, he stood blissfully on stage, alongside his friend and fellow stage crew. Originally, he had joined stage productions as an easy way to get community service, but now, at the end of his second play at Rocklin High, he was left in awe as he listened to the actors voice their appreciation for everyone who worked alongside them for the journey. Every soul on stage had been united under one dream, one goal, and one show. Whether he wore a beachy costume or the familiar shorts and t-shirt that he wore now, the musical was a source of pride for all that he had contributed, and all the nights he helped move props and pieces on the Greek set. Just then the mastermind behind it all, Mrs.

Toepke, began her speech. He beamed as she expressed her long-time desire to direct Mamma Mia for Rocklin High School, for he shared the same love for the musical. As she praised the result of the show, everyone stood around with such joy swirling the stage. In that moment, the theater was not simply the place where plays were shown, but it was the home of a great family.

Gavin Malit, now a senior at Rocklin High School, felt that the final showing of the Mamma Mia musical was a very meaningful moment during his high school career, not only because of his personal work for the show, but also because the experience created more than a show. It created a family of wonderful people that worked hard together, had fun together, and persevered together.

AUREN PLATTE

ast

Senior Lauren Platte has lived in Rocklin all of her childhood. She loves music. “Ask me any song or play me any song and I’ll name it for you.”Platte loves going to football games and cheering for the school. She is very involved with her church and enjoys the community it provides. She has been able to rely on them for anything and has made some lifelong friends. For college, she is going to stay in Rocklin and attend Sierra College. After two years she will then go out to serve a mission for her church. When she returns, she would like to move to Tennessee and finish her education there. She also loves water polo and swimming. For her, one memory in particular stuck from high school. Four past noon and a sunny warm day at Del Oro High School in Loomis. Her body tensed up as she fought in double overtime against the Eagles. Her legs began to feel heavy and her body became harder to keep afloat, with the weight of winning the match on their shoulders. Senior Lauren Platte’s teammate and team goalie, Caden Comer, made a huge save to stop the Eagles from scoring. Next thing they knew they were putting together an offensive attack

ELI HARDY

A Field Goal To Remember

Eli Hardy was born in Arizona and moved to Granite Bay as a child. During elementary school, he moved to Rocklin. Hardy attended Rocklin High for all four years of highschool and has enjoyed many experiences that he has gotten to take part in. After graduation, Hardy will be studying at BYU. There he will be majoring in business while in Army ROTC and playing rugby. “Rocklin is definitely my roots and I love it” as well as his passion for football. The October breeze felt different on that Friday night. The stands were completely packed, field lights beamed down on the bright green and royal blue turf. The scoreboard read 0-14. There was so much stress and tension between teams. They needed to win this game against St. Marys. An

exciting comeback for their team and just down one field goal. The final kick was made and the feeling of getting that field goal was indescribable. Hardy remembers celebrating and realizing that they had just made sections. “It also gave me a lot of perspective considering all the hard work that we put in the whole year. It was the most crazy football game I have been a part of and one I will for

ALYSSA AYERS

Lasting Memories

It was a sunny day and the first time Alyssa Ayers had ever competed at stunt sections. She had gotten dressed and her mom had just finished doing her hair. Extremely nervous, she put on some music to pump her up so she could have the right mindset for the competition. As captain of the team she is under a tremendous amount of pressure. Just seeing the competition really put ito perspective just how difficult it was going to be. Her teammates were all heading to warm up. Tension was in the air but Ayers had to trust that they were going to do okay. The battles began. The first match was against Merced, winning 19 to 10. They could hear the screams of their coach off to the side cheering them on. For them, it was a great feeling to start off strong and gain some confidence. “My teammates and I were feeling positive moving forward.” Then came a four hour break, spending it hanging out and watching other teams. Their second match was against Liberty. The match followed and they fell weak and tired. Unfortunately they had a group fall two times in the same spots. Frustrated by this when they had to work twice as hard to make up for lost points. The match ended up going into overtime. They won two out of the three points, but were not done yet. The following day they played Roseville first and I again she was really nervous for this match. “I was really motivated to win. After a strong warmup I felt ready to go. We ended up winning against Roseville which was amazing!” And their last opponent was Oak Ridge. “We tried our best but unfortunately we came up short. Even though the competition did not end up as we had hoped. I will forever cherish the memories from this stunt team and competing.”

The Last Bell

It is remembered as being an ordinary day and kind of cold because it was still spring and there was this kind of anticipation in the air because there had been word around the campus of potentially getting a week or two because of COVID getting bad in the united states. Massimo Mora was in P.E and had just finished class. Mr. Harder, his PE teacher at the time, had been telling the students to stop speculating about the break, and about five minutes before the class ended and the intercom went off, and told us that we were getting the week off because of COVID, and everybody started cheering and getting excited and ready to leave and go home it was crazy for Massimo to think back to that moment, thinking it was going to be just a short break from school but ended up being a major part of the last two years of his high school life. A memory that he will never forget because of how it affected him and the people around him.

CHAOS TO COHESION: a legacy left behind

Every movement was a dance with death. Amidst the disarray of tools that decorated the shelves and cabinets, a lone figure navigated through the engineering workshop. With every action deliberate, he carefully inspected the piece of metal that could cost him his life: the metal was sitting, dense and heavy in his palm, warm from the summer heat. His surroundings would melt away in a mix of color and light, and with a few vague pieces of advice echoing in his mind, The simple click of one button would change his life. With one final steady breath, the piece was secured in the machine, accompanied by a soft click of the glass door.

Beginning as a novice, Rocklin High School senior, Branden Esquivel, biggest fear was that the metal could fly out when things were moving fast. The consequence of error hung heavy over his head every time he worked the machines. Reminiscing about his adventures in the Rocklin High School’s engineering shop, from where he started to where he is now, he claims that his passion for machining was never “one moment of excitement. It was more like, you get a hint of something, and then you want to find out more about it.”

The CNC machines in RHS range in price from 40K to 120K, and all pose a significant threat to the operator, no matter how qualified. Often involving heavy and sharp objects moving at high speeds, the risk factors are endless. Fortunately, the first time Esquivel used this machine, he successfully completed his task with little to no idea what he was doing. However, Branden claims that, “each project comes with its own set of variables. And once you complete it, you have proven to yourself that all the variables have been handled. However, each new processor resets all those variables. So it’s a whole new thing that could go wrong. The only thing that transferred over from part to part is you now have more knowledge. And with each additional part you complete, you are minimizing yourself as a variable that could cause things to go wrong.”

Despite understanding the risks, Branden said, “I had this goal in mind of something that I wanted to complete, and I wasn’t going to stop until I had it completed. Even if it meant mistakes.” Branden’s courage to trek into the unknown sparked a wave of change. He identified all the factors missing from his learning experience to make it available to hundreds of other students at RHS. “Ever since COVID, when our teacher left, the whole shop was just in disarray. Nothing was in a functional state….So I worked with a couple of other people, and we worked to get the machines maintained. We just completely started over from the beginning. We reorganized everything. The whole system.”

Paving the way forward, Branden Esquivel leaves a legacy of inspiration and an everlasting impact on future generations of students at RHS. An invaluable member of the RHS community, his dedication, and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Though graduating this year, Branden’s impact will last years to come.

Branden’s determination to change the engineering shop

facilitated his personal growth. Now a senior, he is working a part-time job in a field he loves, using the skills and techniques he learned in RHS. More importantly, his initiative to change the program has allowed students to reach for greater opportunities than ever before. Branden said, “[the most important goal he worked toward was] to be able to give people who are genuinely interested in engineering, to get them as much education as they can in the four years and so that they can go on..and do great engineering things.”

Navigating his way through the chaos of the pandemic, from balancing the block schedule to adapting to a new engineering teacher, Branden’s introduction to

engineering was rocky. “My new engineering teacher was my digital art teacher, and then I told him I didn’t want to be in art, and I somehow managed my way into the [engineering] shop somehow…I saw the machines [in the shop] and didn’t know what they were and got intrigued and then followed that curiosity.”

In addition to adapting to these new changes, Branden had to figure out how exactly he was going to follow his curiosity, stating “He [the new engineering teacher] new just as much as me starting out, so it was more so just an adventure of learning through other people and m own research. Ultimately, it was just a lot of stumbling through…making my way through my failures.”

-Staff Reporter, Saraswathi Murugan

Hannah Colbus

Waterpolo’s End

The feel of the water on her skin was so smooth. The energy was pulsing through the air as she played what would forever be remembered as her last water polo game. It was senior night for Hannah Colbus. She knew she needed to enjoy these last few moments as they were the last ones she would ever have on a sports team with all her best friends. Thoughts raced through Hannah’s head, knowing this fouryear experience was something that could never be replaced.

The water polo team was playing Whitney and she recalls the excitement of all the girls jumping up and down off the bench as the shot clock ran out and they knew they had won. Everyone got so much play time and just enjoyed

the game. Rocklin and Whitney are known for their rivalry but everyone was so happy to be a part of that experience and there was no bad blood in the pool. Emotions were high on this evening in October for the whole team.

The weather was perfect for the event and the pool was so refreshing in the heat, with the pressure to do well. The crowd cheering made the moment come alive in a way that will always live on for Hannah. Feeling the presence of her friends and family made everything that much more special. All of them being there to celebrate her water polo career coming to a close and showing their love for her was just such a memorable moment in high school.

Avery Wilkins

Mountain Getaway

It was a cold day up in a cabin in Arnold. Avery Wilkins and a few of her friends took off for ski week to take a relaxing vacation of freedom in the wilderness. The excitement flew through the logged home as they were excited to be on their own for a little while. Playing card games, basketball, and making Tik Toks. Adventures at the lake nearby, although it was chilly. Even going on a bit of a dangerous hike in the snow. The snow started to fall more and more as time went on up at the cabin, making it impossible to go anywhere or do anything. Although it was a scary situation, Avery made the best out of what she knew would be her last trip with her best friends for a while.

They had lots of laughs and made so many memories. It was such a beautiful place to be for their last outing all together. Even though a lot of things went wrong, like their car chains breaking, and icy dark roads making it hard to drive, they never let their young happy spirits die. They thought, even if they did get stuck up there for a little bit, would it be terrible? Life was so easy for them up there, just enjoying each other’s company. Making the event even more special was that her friend would be leaving for a mission in the coming months and they all cherished making a few more memories with him before they had to say goodbye. It was a beautiful and fun experience that will never be forgotten.

CELESTE CONTRATTO

Russell Galiza

Family Fishing

Waking up early, at six in the morning, Russell Galiza could feel the chill in the air around him. He was tired, but he knew that getting up early was worth it. He was on the island of Oahu, getting ready for a fishing trip with his dad. Once they got out on the water, the weather warmed. It seemed to Galiza that the weather would be perfect. They started fishing. Even though they were catching a lot of good fish, the fish wasn’t the best part of the day for Galiza. Instead, it was the time spent with his dad, surrounded by beautiful weather out on the Pacific. Multiple times, Galiza and his dad could even stop the boat somewhere and just hop in the crystal clear water.

Looking back on the day, he

remembers it as being like a real-life happy place. In addition to fishing, Galiza’s hobbies also include basketball and video games, among other things. He says that fishing “...taught me a lot of patience and it taught me a lot of things, and it also gave me the opportunity to spend time with my friends and family.” He has been playing basketball since fourth grade and has always played video games, due to his dad’s interest in them. His favorite games are NBA 2K and Rainbow Six Siege Currently. Galiza is also enlisted with the Army Reserves and plans to transfer to a 4-year university after two years.

Tony Evans

Tony Evans remembers feeling pretty great. He was driving back from Santa Cruz with his friends. He had just finished up a four-day trip in the coastal city. Along with his friends, he had done a lot of activities in Santa Cruz, like walking on the famous boardwalk, visiting the beach, riding different rides, stuff. But at the end of the day, the greatest part about the trip was the complete freedom he and his friends had. They got to rent their cabin, choose what to do, and go where they wanted to go for the entire trip.

Evans had been on some other trips with his friends, but this one was the best. Looking back on the outing, in his last year of high school, he believes that the trip and others like it have given him a chance to be himself with

others who have similar characteristics. In addition to going on fun trips,

Evans spends his time playing video games, hanging out with friends, and working at Chipotle. Tony enjoys his job, and says that “Honestly, every shift is a new experience, every time it’s fun, you know, because I just have so many friends I work with there, so every time we just make the shifts fun.” In general, Tony’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his friends.

Santa Cruz

Owen Dour

Rocklin

Cruisin’ Round Rocklin

Alexia Zhilovskiy

“What’s up Rocklin?” Alexia Zhilovskiy yells excitedly toward the camera that her close friend points toward her. “For today’s segment, we’re checking out Quarry Park!” The two girls speak with workers, try out activities, and document their experience flawlessly to the thousands of eager Friday Show listeners in class. “So who says there’s nothing fun to do in Rocklin? Get out and have some fun!” Zhilovskiy closes with a smile and credits roll. Engaged students blink away from the big screen after a perfectly executed segment that had reeled them in for a whole five minutes. The host making that video shine. Alexia Zhilovskiy is a senior who has a passion for graphic design and plans to pursue it after graduation. She credits the CTE programs at Rocklin for helping her understand that this is the career path she wants to explore. She has taken classes in graphic design, video production, and photography, all of which have helped

her develop skills that she can apply to her future career. “Trying out video production was huge for me,” she says, “It has really helped me understand management and deadlines.” Zhilovskiy has also been a regular on the Friday Show, producing segments that showcase local attractions and events. She enjoys the experience of communicating with businesses and arranging interviews, which has given her confidence and experience that will be helpful in her future. “It has also really helped me with my confidence. I used to be super intimidated to make phone calls or send professional emails, but I’ve learned so much about myself because of it.” Zhilovksiy

plans to travel during the summer before starting college. She hopes to experience as many new things as possible. She plans to attend Sierra College and pursue a business administration and transfer degree, with an emphasis on graphic design and marketing. She eventually wants to transfer to a university. One unique aspect of Zhilovskiy’s life is her Russian and Slavic background. She discusses her friend groups at Rocklin, some are of her culture and others are not. She enjoys learning about different cultures and values and believes that meeting people from different backgrounds has broadened her horizons. “At the end of the day, we all get along, we all are intrigued and love to ask questions about our families and lives, and I love answering questions too!” Family gatherings and meals are a staple forZhilovskiy. “We come together and eat traditional Slavic food like borscht which is a beet soup, and my family loves telling stories about our ancestors and friends over dinner. I’m very proud of where I come from.” Alexia has done so much for entertainment at Rocklin high and she has some amazing plans for a very bright future!

“I’ve learned so much about myself because of video production”

Phase Two

Two Lucas Burns

The bells ring and classroom doors simultaneously open. Language arts is over and the weekend is finally here. Lucas Burns never really enjoyed school all that much and says jokingly, “I mean my favorite part has always been lunch, does that count as a subject?” Once he’s home, Burns hops on his skateboard to take some time for himself, “I love skateboarding, I’m not very good at it but I’ve been doing it for about a year.” Skateboarding has been a big part of Lucas’ life since he first tried it, “It’s therapeutic and helps a ton with stress.” He also spends a lot of time texting his girlfriend, listening to music, and playing video games like Halo and Minecraft. Burns has plans for his future, which include attending a job corps in Sacramento during the summer. He is excited to learn something new and live away from home to experience the real world. “I don’t know if I’m more excited or nervous,” he says, “It’ll be a big change.” After high school, he wants to pursue a career that involves working with his hands, rather than sitting behind a desk. Burns says simply, “I’m looking forward to being done with high school and moving on to the next phase of my life.”

SAPHYRE NOFUENTE

Putting Down the Camera

The last moment of high school has arrived. Seniors get up on stage to take their final bow as the last four years flash before their eyes: arriving on campus, their first homecoming, all the football games played on the very field students are standing on. Seniors finally see all their hard work pay off when handed that diploma and have the privilege to say goodbye to Rocklin High School for the last time. At that moment everything comes full circle, and it feels bittersweet. One senior is truly seeing everything come to a close, as she passes the baton (or camera) to the next photographers of RHS. Hana Madson has been one of the photographers for graduation for the last two years, and has made her mark at RHS by being one of the graphic design editors for the yearbook. When thinking back to past graduations, Madson reminisces, “some of the editor groups went to the graduations for the class of 2021 and class of 2022. We had our EICs, editor in chiefs, graduating both years. I remember that me and a couple of the editors were on the field taking pictures of them and the rest of graduation. It was a very emotional day because we were watching the people we looked up to and the people we spent our whole entire year bonding with, leaving basically.

The first graduation I took pictures at, the class of 2021, We were standing in front of the gym doors as they opened as all of the graduates were walking out of them and onto the football field throughout the back entrance. I remember taking pictures of one of our best photographers as he graduated, Riley Williams-West. I sent him the pictures after they were done being uploaded and done being edited, he really liked them and I felt really really proud because I looked up to him a lot. But [the next year] it felt a little more professional, because we had done it before, and we had shot the year before,

and we knew where to stand, and the same thing we went back to the room to upload all the pictures. It was a cool moment and it was weird to think that this would be us next year. It’s weird to think that I am going to be in the role of the people that I took pictures of. I remember their names being called and staking out the perfect spot to specifically take pictures of them because I just loved them so much.” One of the most personal elements of this year’s yearbook is the handwritten segments, and, little to the reader’s knowledge, Madson was behind the handwritten notes. “The theme of Take Note calls for lots of real organic elements and using real handwriting is a way we represent that in the book. I got the honor of writing the actual book title on the cover and the section names along with many more elements in chronological spreads.” The yearbook would feel incomplete without Madson, as a piece of her is seen on almost every page.

The Firsts and the Lasts

As the Friday Night Lights illuminated the football field, Taylor Strait couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. It was Strait’s first important high school event, and she was surrounded by her closest friends, all dressed in school colors and cheering for our team. The sound of the marching band filled the air. Strait knew that this was going to be a night to remember, as she eagerly awaited her first high school football game. Strait was a little nervous for her first game. She shared that she “was definitely scared because I was a freshman, there were a lot of older kids but it ended up being really fun.” Another memory she remembers is her last football game. As the crowd roared around her, Strait couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her. This was her last ever high school football game in the stands, and she couldn’t help but think back to her first game as a freshman. Strait had been scared and intimidated by the older kids, but as the game went on, she found herself getting lost in the excitement and adrenaline. Now, as a senior, she couldn’t believe how fast the time had gone and how much she would miss this feeling. Strait recommends everyone go to a football game because “it’s definitely a shared experience, even with different kids on campus being involved in different things, I think that football is a thing everyone can go to and enjoy.”

2023 BRIANA WATERS Goodbye

M5

M-5. A classroom shoved in the corner of Rocklin High’s campus. Many people just refer to it as their journalism, photo, or publications class. But to graduating senior, Briana Waters, she can look back and remember this room as much more. Briana was a member of our production staff for the 2022-2023 school year, she was one of the design editors. Being involved in a program for four years can change and teach you a lot as a person. As a high schooler, Waters has always been drawn to the creative process of designing and producing the yearbook. But it wasn’t until her senior year that she truly understood the value of teamwork and collaboration. “My favorite [memory] out of all of those days we stayed late was definitely the day of the deadline because we got a lot of our editors together and we were all in Mr. Ruby’s room working late,” Waters said. It was a race against time as the editors rushed to complete the final touches before the looming deadline. Waters explains, “We were running out of time and we stayed until about midnight, all of us just trying to work as fast as we could to get it [the yearbook] done because our deadline was at 11:59 that night.” Despite the stress and pressure of the situation, Waters and her fellow editors were able to submit the yearbook before midnight, at 11:47 p.m. Looking back on her high school years, Waters will know her time on the yearbook staff was one of the most impactful experiences of her highschool career. It taught her to take risks, to believe in herself, and to form meaningful connections with others.

ELLA MATTHEWS

showed her gratitude towards her favorite teacher when she explained how Mr. Baumgardener created such an impact on her time in highschool, “he’s a mentor to me, whenever I have problems he’s the first one I go to. He helps me snap into reality and get my stuff done.” While Vongschanphen isn’t being taught math by Mr. Baumgardener anymore, she continued to learn life lessons while being a TA for the math teacher. “He motivates me because he’s such a good person that has seen it all,” she concluded.

Delaney Lawrence

Hana Madson

Hana Madson

two of her friends also in the yearbook program, all got the positions they had hoped for. Before she knew it, she was jumping up and down along with her friends in excitement for what this meant for all of their futures within the program. “Yearbook had always been important, but for me this was the moment it became real. It was the moment where I realized I could do it and that I could go further into yearbook while making really good friends,” said Van Biber. Along with this confidence, the new position helped Van Biber feel more at home in M-5, as she said “It made me feel more important in the class than I thought I was. These people that I looked up to valued me as more than just staff.” As the years went

by, this editor-in-training position continued to open new doors for Van Biber, as she even went on to become one of the editors-in-chief for the yearbook her senior year. During her time in the program, she has not only worked her way up to this position, but has made some of her closest friends with some of her favorite memories. “I think when I am older and will look back on high school I think it will be M-5, it’s gonna be yearbook. There’s nothing much else that I do here that has made such an impact on me, like the friends I have now, how it has taken up my time, and has been something I actually enjoy. It has meant so much to me, and the people I’ve met along with the memories, I can’t think of anything similar to it.”

“Set, HUT!”

The play was in motion, and Austin had one job. To make the tackle. He charged at the other player, rushing straight at him full speed ahead.

“Crack!” That was the last that Austin remembers before he was laying on the burning turf with pulsating pain coursing through his neck.

Moments later, he received the terrible news that he had broken his neck before his freshman football season had truly even begun. Hundreds of questions raced through his mind. Would he be able to run again? Play football again? However, Austin was the most concerned with his return to school. He shared, “I was pretty nervous to go to school

because I knew I would be made fun of and it would be a lot harder to get around.” Austin can still remember the torment that he received from his fellow teammates and classmates.

But, after a while, that shame turned into humor and Austin found the entire situation hilarious. For Austin, this experience, “...put life in perspective for me. I am much more grateful than I was before and it just shows that you should live life to the fullest everyday.” After six months, Austin’s neck was fully healed, which meant no more brace to school and a lot more football!

The kindness of one person

Ever since students and staff returned to school from Covid, there was a nervous tension circling Rocklin High School. Schools lacked connectivity and support due to fear of the virus. However, Linnea Sybersma and her friends had a plan to test out this theory.

Linnea untied her shoelace, and went group to group asking random people to retie her shoelace. At first, she received lots of no’s and laughs, but then Mr. Pappas strolled by. Linnea shared, “My friends and I thought it would be funny

to see if Mr. Pappas would actually help me out.” Linnea approached him from behind, tapping on his shoulder and asking, “Would you tie my shoe for me?” Surprisingly, he bent down on one knee and tied her shoe with a smile on his face.

Linnea said, “This just shows that the staff here at Rocklin supports you no matter how silly the situation is.”

PARKER NICHOLS

Struggles behing the mask

James Filippi a Senior at Rocklin shares with us his experience transitioning from school into quarantine and coming back. ¨I was chilling in Mr.Kenney’s class for geography and we were watching Fifa and some senior just walked into the classroom and said yo we are getting out for two weeks”.

He was super confused when the senior came in because he was not in his class but yet again he knew it was coming soon. “It was a free extension to summer” Filippi says, yet

he tells us he was still failing classes at the time of the release so he became very stressed about wrapping them up. I emailed my teacher and he told me to do all of the work I had been missing and within two days I got it done and he

Tiago Beber is a senior who as an underclassman often did not participate in school activities. In his early years of high school he wasn’t very social and didn’t go out much. Explaining that if it weren’t for this one moment in his time at Rocklin High School, his experience would not be the same. “Junior year of high school my friends had convinced me to go to my first football game being the quarry bowl. It was a really cool experience cause I had never really put myself into school activities before that and ever since then I started to be more involved.¨

Being more involved in the school changed him for the better and made his high school experience more enjoyable and involved him more in the community. ¨My first two years of high school I really just kept to myself and wasn’t really involved in the school setting and after that experience I started to meet more people and just enjoy what it’s like to be more involved in the school.¨ Not only was he able to meet new people and make new friends but also was able to enjoy this experience with his current friends and together excel socially.

The Power of the Storm

THE LONE WOLF

Skyler Sparrow takes on his senior year alone

Sweat dripping, students screaming, and music blasting. The senior rally was set to begin, and all he could hear was every voice singing, “All I do is win!” After watching the last few seniors enter the gym, eager for a victory, emotions were everything as Skyler Sparrow watched many of his friends enter the Thunderdome for one final time. As he sadly watched his friends scream and cheer from across the gym he couldn’t help but feel upset. “It would’ve been nice to sit with all my friends for our last rally together, but we all break up because it’s a competition right?” Skyler said. As he made his way to the senior section with his fellow classmates, he was met with tears and goodbyes from his graduating friends of the Class of 2022. Skyler says, “Everyone was crying and tearing up and hugging each other in this big ‘ol pile, it was unfortunate but I didn’t cry.” Saying goodbye to all his friends was a very heartfelt moment as all the students rushed down to the gym floor crying after the seniors had won. However, the sadness continued all day as the sun kept getting hotter and hotter in Rocklin High School’s parking lot. He remembers how hot it was, “It was hot, I was wearing shorts and a tee shirt sweating.” Feeling all alone as all his best friends and memories were leaving him after the summer to continue on with their lives. Skyler remembers this like it was yesterday, it heavily impacted his life to help him realize to start working for himself his senior year. After this realization, he began to work harder and harder to strive in all his classes. After dedicating his first semester to only school he excelled in all his classes allowing him to graduate early. He has started his new life as a freshman in college but is a Rocklin student by heart. No matter what he will forever bleed blue and silver and show Rocklin pride.

THE FINISH LINE

Losing is never an option for Brady Smith

“Let’s go, Brady!” His best friend screamed from the sidelines as loud as he could. Racing through the thick mud to qualify in the top 150. Brady Smith was racing his dirtbike in Folsom determined to win. All he could think about was trying to go to Tennessee in August. The unplanned mud made his race a challenge, it was a challenge for everyone. “It was insanely muddy, it rained like 4 inches the night before.” As he was going through all the different turns and jumps he managed to get stuck quite a few too many times. However, that didn’t stop him from placing first. With Skyler throwing out his shoulder cheering for Brady the entire time, and his family supporting him, it allowed him to have a good race. Of course, after taking the victory and qualifying for Tennessee he had to clean the mess up. He remembers, “Cleaning everything up was super time-consuming.” But he still had his Number 1 supporter to help him out and celebrate even through the thick mud.

HOME GAME NO SHAME

Nothing but double for Jack Derby on senior night

“CRACK!” the ball flew off the bat to the outfield. The outfielder sprinted to the ball but missed the catch. A double! Jack sprinted around the bases proud of his success, everyone is screaming and cheering for him. “I got a double in the 4th inning.” His last game on his home field was worth the while with his mom and sister watching. He got to start the game off as a starting designated hitter. However senior night has a big impact on the whole team and everyone watching, knowing they are all leaving soon. Jack Derby says, “It was cool to have the vibe and energy there. Knowing all my friends and family are there to support me.” He still has more games to play and more balls to hit, but for him knowing that it is coming to an end leaves him feeling sad. Senior night will have a spot in his memory with all the boys on the teams and the boys he is graduating with. Hoping he will have another game on Rocklin’s field to maybe make an even better memory. This team has his whole heart and it continues to grow.

CALLIE LAWRENCE

CIRCUS CIRCUS

justin wagoner

Walking through the school, nowhere to be and nowhere to go. Justin Wagoner says that his favorite memory during his four years at Rocklin high school was attending the Circus at the start of each year. Justin Wagoner said, “My friends and I would group up and just go station to station walking around and then eventually when we got tired we wouold just chiull and hangout wherever we wanted..”

One of the things that Justin found most interesting about the Circus at Rocklin was the car shows. “some people would bring older cars that are re-done, and I think its cool.” Wagoner wants to be an automotive mechanic when he is older,

BACK TO SCHOOL

james grocock

been to school with them for a year so it was fun to hang out with them at lunch and around the school again. James also said that it was amazing to reunite with his two best friends ever, Blake Coursey, and Gianni Bowling.

olivia robinson

The stress and anguish that junioritis brought on felt awfully real to us. Marine Biology was one of the most challenging classes on campus with a hefty workload. A student’s routine consisted of early mornings, late nights, and the need for caffeine to stay awake. Making it into a game or competition makes it feasible as the year’s end approaches and the days grow longer and more monotonous. My senior Olivia Robinson told me a story about her marine biology class. She said, “One of my most significant memories out of high school was during the spring of my junior year.

I was taking marine biology; it was time to turn in our final webpage, my friend and I had made a competition to see who could do better since we both expressed an interest in this subject. This memory happened in Marine biology with one of my friends her name was Avery. I was very excited to see what we both would come up with and who would receive the better grade. What really stood out to me was thinking of different ways to make my website stand out from my competitor, and how creative I could be. This moment made me appreciate how different Avery and I are innovative. We both came up with completely different outcomes but both were resourceful and the end result was pleasing to see.” Olivia truly illustrated a beautiful picture of what this class was like for her and how it brought her and Avery closer.

INTO THE OCEAN DANCE IT OUT

kiara gutierrez

Thoughts of new beginnings came to life as the junior year came to an end and sorrow about soon becoming a senior surfaced, but the year wasn’t quite done. Like in the movies, “the prom” was about to be the biggest and most electrifying event. Picking out the perfect dress, the music resonating in the bathroom while you curled your hair and put on makeup, the excitement radiating off the walls—it was magical, like something out of a dream. Junior prom led to that. My senior Kiara Gutierrez told me a story about her junior year and what her first prom was like. She said, “The thought of soon being able to attend my junior prom, was so exciting it was something I was waiting for. It was the first big school event to happen after COVID and after not seeing many people and being quarantined it all just felt very surreal. The prom took place in North Highlands, this was where the ballroom was for prom and I was with my 4 friends who I’m very close to now. I was wearing a long blue dress and tan heels. I was feeling pretty excited because this was the first one in about two years and although I didn’t go with a date I was happy to be there with friends. I specifically remember going to in n out after the dance and still hearing the ringing in my ears from the music and being the only ones dressed up fancy. This moment changed me because I realized that I hadn’t had stable friends that cared about me and I was finally feeling confident in myself about having eventful high school years” Kiara truly showed how after the pandemic prom was a tremendous blast.

What A Game!

The once lively stadium was now silent, watching in suspense as the two rival teams tackled each other for the victory. Uladzislau Shynhel was in the audience. He went to a football game with four of his friends, each of them filled with excitement. They painted each other’s faces and wore blue shirts to support Rocklin’s football team. It was dark when he arrived, and the crowd was starting to become rowdy. Shynhel and his friends joined the crowd and started to cheer and chant: “Let’s go Rocklin!” Shynhel was ecstatic since he was hanging out with his friends, but he was also worried. Rocklin was losing in the beginning, and he was unsure that they were going to win. Nonetheless, Shynhel still cheered. Hours went by, the sky was now dark and the audience was tired. Then, suddenly Rocklin somehow scored a point, and another. Soon, they were tied. Everyone in the stands went silent, each of them waiting, hoping that Rocklin would somehow win. The last game began. Shynhel watched the football travel through the air and land on the opposing team. He watched as the crowd cheered and chanted while the Band was blasting the fight song. Rocklin had won.

INSTANT REPLAY

The crowd was loud. Through the blinding lights, Armstrong saw hundreds, maybe thousands of people in the audience, waiting for the Marching band to perform. He was never scared of playing in front of the audience before but this was different. There were never this many people watching him, but he knew he had to perform. Holding his trombone, he was ready to play the Party Rock Anthem. He saw the drum major and waited for him to start conducting. 1, 2 , 3, 4. Armstrong started to play as loud as he could while dancing on the field. He watched the Whitney marching band and different middle dances along with him. The crowd went wild, all of them shocked to see the band dance. Armstrong’s fear slowly dissolved as he realized he was here to entertain the crowd. Soon, he finished the song, stuck his last pose as he watched the audience cheer for him in the dark as he took in heavy breaths.

From that moment, Armstrong knew he would never forget it. Years later, he still remembers the Quarry Bowl, watching it on YouTube multiple times. He would have dreams about it, remembering how much fun it all was. He remembered the other students playing with him, the blaring crowd, and the drum major conducting. Something inside Armstrong changed, he wasn’t as scared now. He still was shy, but he didn’t let it stop him anymore.

Micheal Armstrong is a Senior at Rocklin highschool now. Last year’s Quarry Bowl was the first one in years and hundreds of people came. Armstrong was, at first, fearful of the crowd, but soon relaxed when he finished the show. The Quarry Bowl was very memorable for Armstrong. He would watch the preformance on Youtube and wouold have dreams of him playing on the field again.

LEADIN’ The Storm

As Gutierezz prepared her ASB class officer speech, her palms began to sweat. Rocklin High School senior Maya Gutierezz had previously lost her junior year election and secretly knew in the back of her head that there were strong candidates running for senior officers. Being in student leadership ever since a kid, Gutierezz realized how much ASB had meant to her. She constantly thought to herself, “Why am I a class officer?” After she lost her junior year class officer election, Gutierezz went on to experience many of RHS’s rallies, dances, and football games. These high spirited events caused her to develop an even greater sense of the impact ASB students have on school spirit and community. Gutierezz had the opportunity to see high school from a different perspective and how the activities ASB does contributes to RHS. After weeks

Adventure in the Snow:

The snow-covered mountains were a winter wonderland for Lucas Frene and his friends during ski week. From building snowmen to engaging in epic snowball fights, the group made the most of their time away. Frene and his friends forged unforgettable memories that they will forever cherish. He spent a few days away from home, enjoying the snow and his friend’s company. “It was exciting and a really fun experience,” he said. “Being away from home for the first time with friends and living with them for a few days.”

During their time in the snow, Frene and his friends engaged in classic winter activities such as snowball fights and building snow creations. “We just had snow fights and were playing around, having fun,” Frene shared. These moments became even more special by the bonds formed between the group. “We all met junior year and saw that we had a lot of fun with each other. So we wanted to make plans that were not just in Rocklin, but outside of Rocklin. We keep continuing making those plans and just have fun with each other,” Frene said, reflecting on the strong friendship he shares with his ski week companions. Frene and his friends had a blast during their ski week adventure, making memories they will forever cherish.

of blood, sweat, and tears, Gutierezz finally filmed her senior year ASB class officer campaign. Nervous thoughts constantly ran around in her mind, unsure if she would secure the spot. Her heart pounded in her ears as she checked the results and immediately jumped to hug everyone around her, friend or not. The overwhelming emotions of joy and cheer overcame Gutierezz’s apprehensive and worrying thoughts when she found out that she was elected as senior class officer. In Gutierezz’s mind, there was nothing more satisfying than being recognized across campus for her killer speech and campaign. Her perseverance exemplfies strong leadership skills that Gutierezz will utilize far into her future. Gutierezz’s final year at RHS has shown her to love leadership, friendship, and the dedication that high school takes.

ASHLEY KIM

ASHLEY KIM

CONNOR HASSLER

As Juntong Zhou sat on the plane to America, her heart raced with excitement and nerves. She was leaving behind everything she had ever known in China to start a new life in a foreign country, all in pursuit of a better education. Now, years later, as she prepares to attend U.C. Berkeley, Juntong reflects on her journey and the challenges she has overcome to get here. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the American dream, as well as the unique struggles that many international students face when navigating a new culture and education system.

“Everyone around you and all the teachers, they respect everyone’s decision,” Juntong explained. “Like, for example, college plans. If there is a student who is trying to go to the top top university and there’s a lot of students who are going to local community college

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

A Student’s Quest for Individuality in a New Country, New School, And a New Life Experience

and even some who may not go to college at all, everyone is very respectful of their decisions.”

This level of individual choice and autonomy is not something that Zhou experienced during her time in Chinese school. “Everyone’s pushing you and everybody’s forcing you to go on the same path and going in a similar direction, and you don’t know what you’re doing. You’re just doing the same thing as other people,” she explained.

Zhou also highlighted the lack of class choices in Chinese high schools and middle schools. “You don’t have a chance to choose classes,” she said. “Everyone is taking the same class and staying in the same classroom and being together with the same group of people.”

These differences in educational philosophy and structure have made Zhou’s journey to U.C. Berkeley all the

more impressive. She has had to navigate a new culture and educational system, while also adjusting to the newfound freedom and flexibility that American schooling affords.

Despite the challenges, Zhou is excited to pursue her passions and chart her course in college. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting individual choice and providing opportunities for students to pursue their unique interests and talents.

“Outside school is more like helping new immigrants to help them get used to the new environment like us.”

THE BURDEN OF SUPPORT

Senior, Janine Esau, reflects back on her most impacted moment that changed her trajcetory of the real world.

“... If you are struggling with mental health, the counseling office is always here to help you.”

The announcement blared its words like salt on a fresh wound. While the words didn’t seem like much relevant to other students, one particular student was deeply affected by this announcement and did not feel relieved, but rather a mix of emotions: distress, relief, grief, and anger.

That day prior, Janine Esau was enjoying a coffee by the front of the school, not knowing she would witness something that would frighten her tremendously. Her friend came up to her in tears. She sat down with her friend who was sobbing hysterically. When she left, Janine immediately noticed that her friend didn’t say, “See you later.” It was a minor inconvenience, yet something in her gut seemed to signal otherwise. Her heart sank into her stomach, a dreadful feeling that urged her to go to the counselor’s office. As the day dragged on, Esau felt scared. Not only for the girl’s life but also for multiple people’s lives. In the nick of time, they, fortunately, found the girl before she could do anything harmful to herself.

That incident prompted the school to make an announcement: using the girl who almost committed as an example. The victim managed to get the help that she needed after this incident.

Two years later as a now senior, it was a negative impact for Esau, whose emotions were all over the place. She was grieving out of fear of what could’ve happened in multiple possibilities if she hadn’t made it on time. She was angry that counseling had used her friend as an example who deserved to be viewed as so much more. Esau felt like someone who got away from the incident with a heavy conscious weight on her shoulders. This burden had consumed her, feeling like mental health awareness had not been shed light on til the incident: it never felt as if counselors were there for her friend group. They only

had each other to depend on. Through all this, this incident has given Esau strength and has shaped her as a person.

Janine Esau has advocated for mental health and created websites to help others with disabilities. From an outsider’s perspective, her group of friends looks like a bunch of misfits or outcasts, but they do their best to be there for each other. This situation Esau experienced has broadened her view and seemingly stripped her innocence to show her how the real world is.

Janine Esau leaves off with, “I can’t give you much of the good things, but I can give you good lessons.”

“I am not here whether to dictate whether you’re right or wrong, I am only here to help you if you ask for help.That is how this affected me.

During Jake Hakmiller’s junior year, the new theater student faced one of his biggest crowds yet- a room full of elementary schoolers. He walked into the theater that day, admiring its beauty with the long stretch of stairs, and watched his classmates rehearsing, commending the acting skills of his classmates, naming Cassidy, Matthew, and Jasmine. The stage loomed before him, awaiting the scenes that were to take place. The play they were performing for the kindergarteners was called Away We Go, a Disney parody where he played a mouse. On the day of the performance, he put on his mouse ears, touched up his face paint, and got ready to run around the stage for most of his scene. His role as a mouse was a simple one, yet he needed to speak his lines with a Scottish accent. Over the course of rehearsals, he perfected this accent which always made everyone crack up. He ran out onto the stage using his best accent, but it became a bit more embarrassing when it was a crowd of young kids. Although Jake never had too many lines, he recalls Mrs. Toepke being a fantastic teacher who made the class exciting and always supported her students. He remembers this experience and moment fondly because of those around him at the time.

Theater student takes the stage

Scottish Mouse The

Win of the Century

It was a bright day for the then-sophomore Adrian Rook Stewart. He walked into his lacrosse game indifferent, hoping they might be able to pull out a win after they had lost around 10 games so far that season. The ball was passed around, cradled, and put into the goal time after time. Finally, after an hour of running, defending, and scoring, the team led each other to their first win of the season. Immediately after, everyone ran out onto the field to celebrate, jumping on each other’s shoulders, yelling, all overjoyed for this win. Stewart recalls, “I remember our team spirit. We all had each other’s backs, we all cared about each other, [and] we all had good energy levels. It was a good team.” The memories created by his team and his love for his sport will remain unforgettable for years to come.

LIZ BENNETT

LIZ BENNETT

High School vs. COVID

Four years ago, during the last period of Bobby Parrish’s freshman year, when the flowers were starting to bloom and the sun starting to shine. It was like any other day for many, students doing their own thing, and friends talking and laughing about something pointless. Then, everything changed in the blink of an eye. The school bell rang as students flooded the streets on their way home from a long Friday. Students were suddenly informed that they were to stay at home because of something that seemed unimportant to many. While students navigated this new form of learning, many wondered what was to come next. For people at the time, COVID was something that majorly affected their high school experience. And for Bobby, the effect was inspiring. “We were not together, but we were still able to learn in a weird way even though it wasn’t a physical way, and I think that was really important…

[it was] a lesson that I would not have learned if COVID hadn’t happened.” Being able to bond with others over a Zoom call was a life lesson that he was grateful for learning, and even though it was during a tough time for everyone he still found a way to see a good side to things and didn’t let digital learning stop him from connecting with others.

The scare that led to a fallen chair

It was a sunny day during Jema Celestial’s junior year. Mr. Muscarella decided to give his physical wellness class a free day, which led to the perfect opportunity for Jema and her friends to try to scare Muscarella. Her friends were all in different grades but were brought together by this one class, which made it one of their favorite classes from high school. They sneaked into the equipment shed while he was turned away, crouching in the corner, waiting for the right moment to surprise him. Phones out, red button pushed to record, he entered. They watched as he reached behind him to grab his chair, and as he began to sit down. As if it was in slow motion, the chair rolled behind him, and by the time he tried to sit down, the chair was against the back wall of the shed. The group of high schoolers, who were just trying to scare him, ended up capturing one of Jema’s funniest memories ever. Although Muscarella is embarrassed that he is still known for this, he recalls Jema being a fantastic student, who always made his class fun.

Saphyre Nofuente

Kiera Catubig-Hess

NICE AND DANDY

Dakota Sullivan, a high school senior from Rocklin High, has been making waves in the world of video production. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, Dakota has emerged as a rising star in O’Donnel’s video production program.

His love for film making has not only earned him accolades from his peers but has also opened up exciting opportunities for his future. For Dakota, high school isn’t just a place to study academic subjects. It is also a place to explore his artistic talents and passions. His favorite class gave him the perfect outlet to showcase his skills. “My favorite class here has got to be O’Donnell’s video production because it gets to show my artistic talents of filming and acting,”

Dakota says. In the end, Dakota Sullivan’s passion for video allowed him to explore his artistic talents. The class provides the perfect platform for him to showcase his skills and grow as a filmmaker.

DAKOTA “CODY”SULLIVAN

NEON NIGHTS

On a dark, moody night, Makena Swenson was attending a football game and was participating in the storm’s activities. She has never heard the storm so loud and energetic--Thunder’s spirit was incredible. A sudden surge of water suddenly came at her, soaking her neon clothes. The once bright colors were dulled, as well as the clothes of the students around her. She calls the night a, “core memory” and says, “The energy was just top notch.” As the night went on, the energy rose as the thunder passed into the fourth quarter. The storm’s energy was brisk, leaving no exception for Makena. As Thunder scored touchdown after touchdown, storm’s roaring, thunder wins the game. The storm was going crazy, ending the night with an impactful and spirited chant.

From activities to academics, Makena finds the balance. Her favorite activities at Rocklin include rallies, participating in the storm, and really just showing her thunder spirit. Makena says, “I think you should always participate in your school activities because the four years goes by fast.” She plans to go to Cal Poly SLO and major in animal science to become a future veterinarian. Makena has had many highlights at Rocklin, but looks forward to branching out and taking responsibility in the next chapters of her life.

SAVANNAH MARTIN

PARKER NICHOLS

FAYEZ BAKHTARY bamboozeld

Fayez was looking forward to this day for many weeks. The Sacramento Rough Riders were playing at the Hardwood Palace. Fayez could not wait to see his favorite player, Gianni Bolaven, in action. The Rough Riders were playing well, but the other team was putting up a good fight. The score was neck and neck as the game entered the final quarter. Fayez’s heart was racing as he watched Bolaven take the court once again. Fayez said, “I was in total shock, bamboozled and it was a bit of a just, wow, I never expected the goat to get dunked on.” As the game went on he thought to himself about what had just happened and what an amazing memory he and his friends could

A YEAR OF CHANGE

Stephanie Gomes

A self appointed outcast, high school passed her by as though she was watching through a window. But this year would be different. Stephanie’s anxiety held her like vice. For so long the gravity of her anxiety held her down. But this year her final year of high school she decided to rise above and resist all that had been holding her back. Stephanie regrets not participating in the schools activities and wishes she had gone to the rallies and the football games. She stepped out of her comfort zone and really made an effort to change, by doing so she made many unforgettable friends and memories this year. “I only went to one rally I have to say it was pretty cool.” Stephanie is trying to get involved with her school so that she can see what she was missing. Stephanie excelled in high school academically and is now ready to step into her future and do what she loves.

STORY CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER...

She burst into the debate room out of breath, and five pairs of eyes—one belonging to her opponent, four to her judges—greeted her with anticipation. She seated herself at a desk, casting a sidelong glance at her opponent—by whom she’d already been defeated once that day.

The room was quiet except for the sounds of the two competitors flipping through their respective binders, each stuffed full with evidence. Both were prepared. Both were nervous.

Wiping cold sweat from her palms, the freshman— Samita Parija—made her way to the podium with soft footsteps. A look of calm settled over her face. “Are my judges ready?” she said in a clear and confident voice. “Is my opponent ready?”

Later that day, after all rounds had been decided, it was announced that Parija had qualified for the state competition.

Parija hadn’t come to the competition that day expecting to win; in fact, she had come expecting to be eliminated within the first rounds of competition. Up until then, her performance had been less than stellar—her parents went as far as to joke that they’d give her a new phone if she went to state. She approached each round with an indifferent attitude, yet she continued to advance, even as her friends were eliminated one by one. She surprised everyone around her by qualifying.

from refuting an opponent’s argument. “It’s just like going on a rollercoaster,” she said. “Which is really weird to say and really nerdy.”

She compared her initial experience at debate tournaments to starting high school, entering a tight-knit community with established friend groups and cliques. “The second you walked out of a debate, your opponent would go to their friend and talk about you,” she said. “It didn’t really feel safe at first.”

After attending multiple competitions and encountering the same students, however, Parija began to make friends of her own. She described the nail-biting anticipation of waiting for the next round’s postings as well as the sense of camaraderie between competitors who have gone against or are about to go against the same opponent. “You’d start talking to people you never would have talked to because you have that common experience and you both know what you’re going to go through,” she said.

A LOOK OF CALM SETTLED OVER HER FACE. “ARE MY JUDGES READY?” SHE SAID IN A CLEAR AND CONFIDENT VOICE. “IS MY OPPONENT READY?”

Parija also bonded with her own teammates—especially senior Maya Gutierez, who competed in the same event, Lincoln-Douglas debate. Parija described how the two would discuss the events of previous rounds and how Gutierez took on the role of a “personal coach” for her, helping her find evidence and come up with rebuttals between rounds.

Now a senior, Parija captains the Rocklin High School debate team. Unfortunately, she never did get to compete at the state level due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after the 2020 qualifiers. She, along with senior Maya Gutierez, brought the team back together following a two-year gap coinciding with the height of the pandemic.

Parija compared debating to playing a sport, like soccer or basketball. She likened the adrenaline rush from scoring a goal to that she gets from asking an effective question during cross-examination or

Parija competed at her last high school debate tournament in March, a state qualifier held at Granite Bay High School. She placed as a finalist; she also received long-overdue recognition for her achievements in her freshman year, when she was robbed of the chance to compete at the state tournament.

Parija believes that her experience in debate has helped her in all aspects of life that require talking to people, from socratic seminars to college interviews. Parija believes that debate has given her the confidence to express her opinions—and the skills to articulate them in a clear and effective manner.

OVER 100 SENIORS TELL THEIR STORIES INSIDE THIS MAGAZINE!

CREATED BY THE JOURNALISM, PHOTOJOURNALISM, & YEARBOOK PROGRAMS OF ROCKLIN HIGH SCHOOL.

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