2016 november

The World Is Our Campus Volume 64, Issue 3

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA FEATURES pg. 8 Write Like You’re Running Out of Time: A look at the annual National Novel Writing Month challenge.

Also in this issue:

“Writing takes commitment, Graphic by SIMONE CHU

CENTER SPREAD pg. 11-12 Giving Thanks: We must always take time to appreciate the time, energy, and wisdom that our teachers have given us.

setting a strict deadline, and fulfilling your goal is unexplainably rewarding.

The only way to improve your writing is to constantly push yourself and to take risks.”

November 2016

Photo courtesy of GETSAUCEYNOW.COM

CALENDAR pg. 19 Back for Seconds: Creative ideas for what to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers.

NEWS pg. 2 Water Supply: Santa Barbara begins construction on a desalination plant to combat the effects of the drought.

PERFORMING ARTS pg. 12 Tune In: With AFOB soon underway, Band prepares to dazzle its hometown.

STUDENT LIFE pg. 13 Black Friday Scores: What are AHS students most looking forward to doing the day after Thanksgiving?

Girls Tennis Aces through League

MAKING A RACKET After once again claiming the title of Pacific League Champions, Girls Varsity Tennis went on to face San Marino, Mira Costa, and Harvard-Westlake in a deep CIF playoff run.

By CHRISTIE WANG Staff Writer

T

he Girls Varsity Tennis team has done an amazing job this season, sweeping away the competition by winning all its games in the Pacific League!

After winning League, the girls shifted their focus toward CIF. Unfortunately, the players were disappointed when they suffered a loss against Harvard-Westlake School in the CIF Quarterfinals. Despite the fact that the girls had won CIF and State last year, becoming League Champions and making it to the Quarterfinals of CIF is considered quite the achievement, especially after moving up to

Division 1 this year.

Proceeding to Round 1 of the CIF playoffs, the girls played San Marino High School on Nov. 2, winning with a score of 11-2. With confidence and a victory at the CIF level under its belt, the team then continued to Round 2. In this non-conference match on Nov. 4, our Lady Apaches were able to defeat Mira Costa High School by a score of 13-5. Thus, the team went onto the CIF Quarterfinals. However, Arcadia lost to Harvard-Westlake School on Nov. 7; the score was 7-11.

“For me, the road to League Finals went by so fast, and I could hardly count the amount of wins we had because to us, it was just another win. But by the end, I felt proud that

we won League going undefeated,” said team captain junior Aubrie Weissbuch. Talking about CIF, she said, “Playoffs have been a little stressful along the way, since advancing to the top division [meant] playing the top teams in Southern California. Nonetheless, we won all the matches that we expected to win…[Overall,] I’m very satisfied with how our whole season has gone this year.”

Competing at a different division, especially in at the highest level, was definitely a different experience for the team this year. Sophomore Erika Tang conveyed the team’s resilience: “I think our team did amazing. Even though there were some rough patches, we got over them and still did our best. The line-up was different, but we did

that to get the best result we could. For CIF, it didn’t turn out exactly the way we wanted it to. Some things got switched around, so [with more strategy,] we could have won.

But what happens happens.” Hopefully, the team members will surpass their current standing and improve their skills to win CIF next year!

Winning the Pacific League was an extraordinary thrill for the Girls Varsity Tennis team, but its success wasn’t all due to luck. Sophomore Angel Pan said, “The team feels really great about winning Pacific League. We were able to beat many good teams because we worked really hard and practiced everyday. We also did a lot of conditioning, [improving] our stamina.”

Because of their hard work and sweat spent on improving their stamina through conditioning, the girls’ efforts were paid off with victory.

For Angel, it wasn’t all about winning matches either. Rather, “it was really fun to be able to travel together as a team and compete.” Angel’s sentiments and eagerness to play and practice with teammates was shared with the team. With hours of practice after school and time spent at matches, the girls had built strong bonds and friendships.

As a result, the girls had already figured out their team dynamics and worked well together.

Sophomore Rachelle Yang exclaimed, “I [felt] that toward the end our league matches, the team started to gain more chemistry and started supporting each other more. Whenever we cheer each other on, it gives each player the boost of confidence she needs to win the match.” Erika later stated, “I’m still so proud of how amazing the team did as a whole!”

Great job to the Girls Varsity Tennis team on becoming Pacific League Champions once more, and congratulations on a fantastic playoff run! cwang@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of ARCADIA UNIFIED

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NEWS

DESALINATION PLANTS BEGIN CONSTRUCTION

By BRIAN SOONG Staff Writer

With no apparent remedy in the near future for California’s drought, all available water sources must be used to their fullest extent, including allocations from Cachuma Lake, underground wells, reclaimed water, and—when it is ready—The Charles E. Meyer Desalination Facility.

With a price tag of over $60 million, the facility intends to produce fresh water for the masses by mid-February next year. The facility will produce nearly 3 million gallons per day, equivalent to 3,125 acre-feet of water annually, or about 30% of Santa Barbara’s demand. During rainy seasons, groundwater sources replenish so the plant can be put into standby mode, reducing the cost to $1.4 million. To fund a project of this magnitude, the city has taken out a State Revolving Fund loan, to provide low-interest loans for investments in water and sanitation infrastructure such as sewage treatment, stormwater management facilities and drinking water treatment.

Desalination is notorious for being an energy extensive process; however, the plant will use 40% less energy than its original design, reducing its electricity demand along with its carbon footprint. Aside from energy con-

sumption, environmental groups such as the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper have previously taken issue with the plant’s method of obtaining water. The desalination plant currently uses a system called open ocean intake. Pipes in open water are equipped with wedge-wired screens that take in ocean water and deposit it to the plant, but this poses a potential hazard to marine life that could pass through the wiring.

The desalination plant was originally created in the 1980s when the district was facing massive supply shortages for potable water.

Due to significant winter rainfall in the years following 1991, it was put on standby mode as the drought condition was alleviated. However, rainfall has been inconsistent in the past five years, and the supply of potable water is dangerously low.

While the drought is the reason behind the reactivation of the desalination plant, the Santa Barbara City Council expects to engage in a policy discussion to include desalination as part of the Long-Term Water Supply Plan.

It may strain the environment and municipal funds, but as a relatively new technology, it has the potential to relieve water scarcity by using an almost indispensable supply of water. bsoong@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of THE405MEDIA.COM

theapachepowwow.com

November 2016

UN Holds Nuclear Weapons at Arm’s Length

By AARON CHAN Staff Writer

Countries which have successfully developed and currently own nuclear weapons are considered powerful but dangerous. A nuclear bomb can end thousands to millions of lives just by the command of the government. Every nuclear weapon that a country has ever possessed could possibly end the world as well. Realizing that these weapons are morally unjust, many nuclear weapon-bearing countries have proposed to eliminate them.

However, in fear of a potential nuclear attack from another country, they refuse to do so thus far. Every country has held on tight to its own nuclear arms, and some have developed even more, not only to have a sense of protection, but also a sense of dominance towards other global countries. They have all refused to let go of their nuclear weapons for up to 71 years.

But now, this 71-year-old conflict could possibly end, when the United Nations (UN) will officially decide to ban all nuclear arms around the world. The First Committee of the UN will negotiate a policy to prohibit nuclear weapons that could gradually lead towards possible nuclear war. The effort to resolve and end the nuclear crisis was supported by Mexico, Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, and many more. Helena Nolan, Ireland’s Director of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, expressed with concern, “There comes a time when choices have to be made and this is one of those times. Given the clear risks associated with the continued exis-

tence of nuclear weapons, this is now a choice between responsibility and irresponsibility.”

On the other hand, there were also countries that object to resolve and end the nuclear crisis, including countries such as the U.S. and its allies. Americans did not want to become defenseless against their enemies. U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood questioned, “How can a state that relies on nuclear weapons for its security possibly join a negotiation meant to stigmatize and eliminate them? The treaty runs the risk of undermining regional security.” Although America disagreed with the UN’s nuclear ban, every American president after the development of the atomic bomb has wanted to eliminate nuclear weapons, even Harry Truman, the first president to use nuclear force on another country. The U.S. government as a whole disagreed to keeping nuclear weapons, but the arms race and the Cold War following the end of World War II gave it no choice but to build on its nuclear empire. This potentially led up to its disagreement towards the UN’s nuclear ban.

In this UN conference, most of the nuclear weapon-bearing countries voted against this ban. However, the majority of countries involved with the UN agreed to a solution to reduce the world’s collective nuclear power and hence spread a more pacifist message to the global community. We can only hope that in the future, desire for peace and cooperation will overpower countries’ motives to build nuclear power, thus lessening the risk of a world-wide nuclear apocalypse. achan@apachepowwow.com

Debrief: The Dakota Access Pipeline

By KAYLA YANG Staff Writer

In an effort to block construction of an oil pipeline on the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s land, hundreds of people from other Indian nations and their supporters have joined the fight.

The construction of the pipe will threaten the tribe’s water supplies and sacred sites. Many Pacific Northwest tribes are especially present at the protests happening in North Dakota.

The Dakota Access Pipeline project plans to spend $3.8 billion on a pipe that would transport 570,000 barrels of crude oil per day, from the Bakkan and Three Forks production region to a crude oil market hub in Patoka, Illinois.

Then, the oil would then be sent out to oil refineries in the Midwest and along the Gulf Coast.

Beginning in Stanley, North Dakota and ending in Patoka, the pipe will be about 1,100 miles long and have a 30 inch circumference. At this time, about 60% of the pipeline has been completed.

Two years ago, the Energy Transfer Part-

ners of Dallas, Texas announced that it had obtained the federal permits to go forth with this project in July. The company claims that building the pipeline will be safer than transporting oil by train. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its allies have been rallying since April in camps near the pipe construction. Today, the opponents protesting on the ground number from around 800 to 1,000 people.

There are supporters from Native American nations all over the country, and this encampment has been said to be North America’s larg-

est gathering of Native people in over a century.

The Standing Rock Sioux and its allies argue that they were never thoroughly consulted about the project, which threatens the tribe’s water supply, not to mention the of millions of people who live downstream. The pipeline’s construction has already damaged some of the tribe’s sacred burial and cultural sites, and the Sioux have demanded that the construction be halted before any further destruction happens to pieces of its heritage.

Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers next to the Missouri River holds the lease easement that is needed in order for the pipeline to be built. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department, the National Guard, and other officers from surrounding regions have called in reinforcements to mobilize the area.

The Sioux tribe has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to halt the project in the interest of public safety. It has also asked for the Department to investigate the aggressive tactics used by police against opponents. Many opponents are moving their encampment to the path of the pipeline in order to block construction of the last segment. Protesters have also publicly declared an eminent domain taking of the tribe’s ancestral lands. With winter rapidly approaching, the developer’s contracts will expire if the pipeline isn’t moving oil by Jan. 1. kyang@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of REFINERY29.COM

November 2016

NEWS

powwownews@gmail.com

California Bag Ban

By ATUSSA KIAN Staff Writer

Proposition 67 was the newest addition to the Nov. 8 ballot, and citizens statewide have strongly endorsed saying yes to this state-wide plastic bag ban. With a 52% majority, Prop 67 passed, implementing plans to price paper bags at ten cents each and completely wiping out single-use plastic bags from grocery stores across the state.

The benefits to imposing such a ban are supported by pollution evidence that spans all across California. Plastic bags are the fourth most common item collected during beach cleanups. Still, some consumers argue that plastic bags only make up less than 1% of the total trash stream, and that they could easily be recycled. However, the fact that they can be recycled does not change the fact that only a fraction of Californians do this.

Most of these plastic bags make their way into sewers, polluting the ocean.

Another argument that opposers of the proposition bring up is the detrimental effects such a ban could have on the homeless. If one is struggling to pay for food, an extra ten cents could greatly determine their survival. Enter Prop 65, a premise that promises that all funds collected from paper bags would be put to use in an environmental fund. But that still leaves another hole in the state’s plan: jobs. The National

By DANIELLE SANTOYO Staff Writer

Just this past month in northern Amatrice, Italy, two powerful earthquakes struck and shattered people’s homes into debris. The Italian government has vowed to reconstruct each and every home that has been destroyed from the earthquakes.

Thousands of people had to be evacuated from their communities, but thankfully, there were no casualties from the disaster. These seismic tremors were reported as largely anticipated by seismologists, as earlier earthquakes that had left 300 people dead had struck Italy just before October. The more recent quakes were recorded as a 5.5 and 6.1 on the Richter scale.

Geologist Mario Tozzi suggested that the

s t a f f

Center for Political Analysis (NCPA) states that a ban on plastic bags would have a negative impact on sales. This hypothesis was tested in 2011 when 80 stores received a bag ban. The data accumulated over the experiment’s time period proved that the ban would be costly and affect business. According to the NCPA, store sales declined by 6% over a year, proving the economic effect of plastic bags.

Burbank was quick to endorse this proposition. Bonnie Teaford, the city’s public works director, said that the ban would be “consistent with longstanding city policy”. Councilwoman Emily Gabel-Luddy added that supporting Prop 67 would only be acknowledging something that had already been agreed upon when Senate Bill 270 was adopted.

Based on the results of the election, a slight majority of Californians approved the ban. Although the proposition has yet to be set in motion, that has not stopped some stores to begin imposing the $0.10 fee on all plastic and paper bags early. One clear conclusion that can be drawn from California’s approval of the bag ban is that citizens do care about our state’s environmental condition. Whether or not this ban will negatively affect businesses is yet to be determined. Hopefully, Prop 67 will better California enviromentally and refrain from tarnishing it from an economic standpoint.

Performing Arts Staff

akian@apachepowwow.com

Student Life Staff

Earthquake Ravages Italy two earthquakes were actually consistent with one another and even overlapped in the Apennines region of Italy.

According to Italian civil protection officials, 4,000 people lost their homes due to the major earthquakes. In addition, more than 200 aftershocks struck Italy after the two major tremors. Residents in Rome had to take precautions due to the earthquakes, despite the large distance between the cities of Amatrice and Rome.

This is because shortly after the earthquakes struck, some of the lesser aftershocks reached as far as Rome.

One other epicenter of the earthquakes was in the village of Visso, Italy, and now, according to Mayor Giulio Pazzaglini, “Not a single house is usable.” The natural disaster left Italy with $4.5 billion worth of damage, and rendered over 1,400 residents without a home to return to.

Despite the resultant costs, debt, and destruction that the earthquakes have caused Italy, many people are calling the lack of casualties a true blessing. Minister Angelino Alfano reverently stated, “Given the strength of the [two] shocks, the absence of any deaths or serious injuries is miraculous.” dsantoyo@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of CNN.COM

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Simone Chu and Charles Xu Emily Wu Maggie Wong and Pearl Yang Amber Chong and Julia Lin Jacqueline Chang and Jocelyn Hu Elyse Yao and Veronica Yu Ha Eun Park and Kristen Tran Trinity Chhay and Christina Read Andrea Liu and Donna Sayphraraj Carolyn Hsu and Elena Ton Kaitlyn Liao Andrew Wang Tiffany Chen, Andrew Lim, and Andrew Muliadi Ellie Lee Kristen Chan and Ryan Fann Justin Cun and Flora Ung Elyse Yao

Writers News Staff

Opinion Staff

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Adviser

Aaron Chan, Brandon Chen, Nathan Guo, Reiko Inoue, Sandi Khine, Atussa Kian, Vivian Kwang, Christine Law, Kaitlin Lee, Paul Lee, Tiffany Liang, Kimberly Lo, Maruko Myint, Noelle Natividad, Shazia Pathan, Alyssa Rave, Danielle Santoyo, Brian Soong, Kayli Temple, Braden Wong, Kayla Yang, Roselind Zeng Frances Cheung, Reiko Inoue, Karl Jang, Kaitlin Lee, Paul Lee, Camilla Leonard, Tiffany Luo, Kayli Mak, Noelle Natividad, Braden Wong, Maggie Wong, Anabell Xu, Kayla Yang, Elyse Yao Chelsea Cheng, Frances Cheung, Ashley Lee, Maruko Myint, Sarah Wang Josie Chen, Frances Cheung, Charlene Huang, Luke Jia, Atussa Kian, Camille Marquez, Christy Qiu, Nicole Soong, Bradford Yau Justin Chen, Nathan Guo, Karl Jang, Atussa Kian, Christine Law, Rachel Lee, Tiffany Liang, Jocelyn Liao, Tiffany Luo, Camille Marquez, Andrew Muliadi, Shazia Pathan, Christy Qiu, Alyssa Rave, Natalie Samadi, Danielle Santoyo, Nicole Soong, Cindy Tse, Elaine Vuong, Sarah Wang, Bradford Yao, Giselle Yeh Collin Gaja, Karl Jang, Ashley Lee, Christian Lowe, Holly Lung, Shazia Pathan, Christie Wang, Bradford Yau Chelsea Cheng, Frances Cheung, Cathleen Huang, Charlene Huang, Sandi Khine, Yanhui Li, Kayli Mak, Maruko Myint, Noelle Natividad, Christy Qiu, Donna Sayphraraj, Nicole Soong, Elaine Vuong, Sarah Wang, Anabell Xu, Giselle Yeh Kristen Chan, Josie Chen, Justin Chen, Chelsea Cheng, Collin Gaja, Luke Jia, Sandi Khine, Vivian Kwang, Christine Law, Kaitlin Lee, Rachel Lee, Tiffany Liang, Jocelyn Liao, Christian Lowe, Maruko Myint, Christy Qiu, Alyssa Rave, Natalie Samadi, Danielle Santoyo, Brian Soong, Nicole Soong, Kayli Temple, Cindy Tse, Christie Wang, William Wang, Maggie Wong, Elyse Yao, Roselind Zeng William Wang Luke Jia Justin Chen, Collin Gaja, Paul Lee, Holly Lung, Tiffany Luo, Camille Marquez, Brian Soong Aaron Chan, Brandon Chen, Josie Chen, Frances Cheung, Nathan Guo, Cathleen Huang, Luke Jia, Sandi Khine, Kaitlin Lee, Holly Lung, Kayli Mak, Brian Soong, Kayli Temple, Sarah Wang, Anabell Xu Aaron Chan, Brandon Chen, Nathan Guo, Charlene Huang, Reiko Inoue, Christine Law, Ashley Lee, Rachel Lee, Camilla Leonard, Jocelyn Liao, Kimberly Lo, Kayli Mak, Natalie Samadi, Brian Soong, Cindy Tse, Elaine Vuong, Braden Wong, Anabell Xu, Giselle Yeh Aaron Chan, Brandon Chen, Cathleen Huang, Charlene Huang, Reiko Inoue, Vivian Kwang, Ashley Lee, Camilla Leonard, Kimberly Lo, Christian Lowe, Christie Wang, Bradford Yau Johnny Lee

Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of The Apache Pow Wow editorial board. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com.

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OPINION

By REIKO INOUE

theapachepowwow.com

November 2016

home /hōm/ noun the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.

Staff Writer

I once believed America was my home. I spent the first half of my life here. My earliest memories are of rollerblading with my sisters along the wide road in front of my family’s spacious one-story house in Arcadia and playing dodgeball on my elementary school’s blacktop under the blazing California sun. My family and I moved to Japan, where my parents were from, in the summer before second grade. I refused to think of it as my new home. My heart belonged to the smoggy, spacious, and sunny Los Angeles, even if it was decided that I would live out the rest of my childhood in the humid, crowded, and strange city of Yokohama, Japan.

In Japan, I lived in a couple of different towns in a couple of different houses. The homes felt perfectly comfortable to me once my sisters and I had made absolute disasters out of the rooms thanks to all of our messy personalities. School consistently posed a problem for me since I was insecure about my awkward Japanese and found it difficult to connect with the other kids, who were all natives. But I found a few wonderful friends in each school and felt happy most of the time.

Last year, after I had spent a good chunk of my life in Japan, my family moved again. But this time, we moved all the way back to my beloved U.S. Seeing the familiar neighborhoods and the mountains that I gazed up at as a toddler felt incredibly surreal and comforting, but something was off. This did not look like the shiny paradise from my memories. Both the city and I had changed too much in the past several years for us to have the same, simple relationship. I began to question where my “home” really was and whether or not I even had one.

To most, the word “home” evokes a pleasant image of a cozy house and a family. What confused me was that no single image came to mind when I imagined my “home”. This reminded me of a fall afternoon in Japan, when I revisited an old home of mine. It sat atop a steep hill overlooking a small town. Its rare build was of a Western style, with hardwood floors and a small backyard. We moved out of it because of safety concerns raised after a particularly large earthquake. I wanted to see if it would look any different to me, now that I had spent some time away from it. As I excitedly pedaled up the hill on my bike like I had many times before, I did not recognize the building that came into view. The owner had renovated the house; the pristine white and blue walls were painted over with black, the garden that I often sat in was shaped differently, and everything was just wrong. In shock, I turned around and peered down at the bustling town below. I noticed that a new restaurant had replaced the Red Lobster. When I lived atop the hill, the red light of the Red Lobster sign at night would illuminate the walls of the bedroom that my sister and I shared. I felt hollow as I looked at the once familiar place and failed to feel that connection again. I slowly biked back to my newer home, melancholic and confused.

Maybe a “home” is not a specific house or place, after all. I began to believe that a “home” is more of a feeling, one that made me feel warm and blissful, as if my life could freeze and I would be alright because I was safe and happy. This made sense, since I experienced this feeling with my family and friends no matter where in the world I was. The fact that I had lived roughly half my life on one side of the Earth and the other half on another side wasn’t all that confusing anymore.

Relief flooded over me. I wasn’t totally homeless after all! Everything was okay! It was liberating to think that I could be at home, even if I wasn’t staying in the same place. It’s good to be home. It’s easy to be home, too. All you really need are some good people and an open heart.

rinoue@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM,CANSTOCKHOTO.COM MISSKATECUTTABLES.COM, PINTEREST.COM, AND PBS.COM

November 2016

theopinionsection@gmail.com

OPINION

5 Who Am I to Judge?

By KAITLIN LEE

Staff Writer

By NOELLE NATIVIDAD Staff Writer

France—the land of rolling green hills, love, and the Eiffel Tower.

In the span of 12 days, my life had changed and still I stand here, breathing and existing in the light of the same stars. I sit beneath them, tucked in a sleeping bag right outside my tent, surrounded by other kids.

Some are already asleep, others are talking quietly to the people around them. As for me, I am wide awake and thinking—or, rather, imagining—whether this will be a moment I remember for years to come. It is a moment of awe and wonder, to know that home is 5,000 miles away, and yet the sky doesn’t look any different.

It is different here though. The air is crisp and clean, and the horizon is dark except for a few lights flickering in the distance. Off to my left is a clearing, a pasture actually, for the dozen horses that the camp keeps. A little further past the tall, concrete wall bordering the camp is a small forest.

As told by Magali, Maxou, and Luc, La Foret. They laughed when the words rolled off the tip of our tongues. Out of every delegation, we, the Americans, are the only ones who don’t speak French. The delegations from Niger, Egypt, and Canada grew up with varying degrees of French influence, and some even speak French as their first language. Nonetheless, there had not been a second where I felt like we were on our own.

I made 30 new best friends here. It is a wonder to me, although I can’t speak to half of the kids here, I understand them and they understand me.

When I danced with Noura, a 10-year-old girl from Niger, her smile bright and go goofy, there was nothing we needed to say.

Fatimata, a 13-year-old girl from Ni N ger, Niger, sat beside me on the bus to Disneyland, smiling wordlessly in her shy manner.

With Florian, a 15-year-old boy from France, I don’t think I’d ever

laughed that much in my entire life, despite the fact that he speaks very little English and I speak no French. With the Canadian delegation, Adrian, Jordan, Taylor, and Olivia, we found that Canada and the U.S. aren’t so different after all.

Every morning, I’d be out by the showers and sinks brushing my teeth when Omar, an 11-year-old boy from Egypt, would come around unfailingly with an enthusiastic and slightly sarcastic, “Hello, Noelle,” in a perfect American accent until I responded accordingly.

Florian, Cham, and Rosalie taught me some French today. I am fluent in the words “I don’t know”, cow, fork, and spoon. But more than that, they have all taught me that compassion and love are universal languages. I can’t even imagine letting them go and saying goodbye. In time, it will come, but now I push the thought away.

France has been everything I thought it would be and more. It is beautiful, too much so for words.

I stood in the crowds of French people in the marketplace of Courseulles-sur-Mer today, eating vanilla-bleue ice cream, while we walked along the low tide. We walked home from Juno Beach, the Canadian landing on D-Day, and I simply couldn’t take my eyes off of the view from the elevated trail along the beach.

Alorah, one of my best friends of ten years, and Adrian walked alongside me, humming along to some song off of the Suicide Squad d soundtrack.

I drove along the Champs-Élysées and it was just as it had looked in every movie and every postcard, maybe even better.

I took a boat ride along the Seine and toured Paris is, wh w ile “La Vi Viee En Rose” playe y d Paris, while played on tthe he radio o. radio.

I vi vvisited sitedd Mont nt St. Michel, a m edieva ed vall medieval abbey and town, and I would say that it is perhaps the most beautiful place on Earth.

I spent two days at the beach with 4,000 other kids and I never had more fun in my life than dancing in the sand with Abdoulaye, one of the boys

from Niger, and burying Frankie, my other best friend of ten years, in the sand with Florian’s help.

On the days that we stayed at camp, everyone walked to the park at the end of the small forest and played soccer or volleyball. I watched that day, sitting and conversing with Hania as she told me about her life in Egypt.

France has by far surpassed my expectations.

However, I realize now that it hadn’t been where I had gone, but who I was with. That day in town, some of us rented surrey bikes. People on the streets watched, bewildered, as we feared for our lives and laughed too much at each other’s bad driving.

By now, we shared jokes and memories.

Now, I think back to the time that we bowled a game at the bowling alley, holding our own version of the Olympics. Canada won gold, and we followed closely with silver.

There are many more moments like this, things that I’ll remember for a while longer. There are songs and dances and sayings we pass back and forth, just as if we’d known each other for years.

Before we came, my mom told me that Secours Populaire Francais, the organization holding this camp, named this program Copain du Monde.

Loosely translated, this means “Friend of the World,” and now it has become perfectly clear to me why.

Suddenly, sitting here, I know without a doubt that I will remember this for years to come because it has changed my life.

Under this sky, in this country, as a part of this program, I have realized two things: first, cultural and language barriers do not stand against friendship, and second, there is an immense amount of importance in working together. nnatividad@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM, OPENCLIPART.ORG, AND PINTEREST.COM

Whenever people find out I’m a judgmental person, they think I’m pretending. “You’re too nice!” they say, smiling as if they heard a mildly amusing quip. Yeah, I’m nice. That’s what makes me even more unsuspected. In the locker room, I turn to my acquaintance, as she makes friendly chatter with me. But all I can think in my head is, “Is she speaking with a bunch of marbles in her mouth, or does she really sound like that?” My eyes gravitate to her shirt, adorned with the prepubescent faces of a boy band. I cringe to find out that is her music taste, but force a smile as she continues to speak. When she leaves, I scold myself for thinking such demeaning things. “She probably doesn’t think like that about you,” I tell myself.

“You’re being a jerk.”

Later, when I look in a mirror, I see a girl staring back at me. She has a fat face, an uneasy brow, and a mouth full of metal brackets like she ate silver. The big pink flaps of skin that are apparently her lips hang awkwardly, her nose sticks out like a giant beak, and her eyes uneasily shift, like she is a hunted rabbit. Then I realize that I’m looking at myself. I crack a grin and laugh, but for the rest of the day my heart feels as heavy as bricks, and my faults become more noticeable.

I like to think of my judgmental side as another person, who goes through strange phases in the day. In the morning, she is relatively normal and sleepy, until she gets a dose of coffee and becomes wide awake. At school she sticks by my side, whispering comments into my ear and pointing out every flaw she sees in everyone else. As the sun rises, her personality shifts.

She changes from a rude friend to someone who continuously degrades. If she catches wind of any strange comment, insult, or odd look, she uses that as an excuse to viciously rip apart my appearance and my actions. Then she tells me that everyone else is thinking the same way she is and quietly dares everyone to tear me down.

At the end of the day, my judgmental side vanishes, and I’m left feeling hollow.

This cycle of self-loathing and the loathing of others repeats every day. I wake up. I go to school. I judge everyone in my sight. I go to the restroom and I critique myself. The rest of the day I wait for people to judge me, just like I had done. Rinse and repeat.

Luckily, my self-control has prevented me from ever saying something cruel. Every day, when I think of something malicious, I never actually say it. And when my self-esteem is low, I don’t let it slow me down. I know I’m not alone.

Everyone I have met, from my mom to my best friend, has been slightly judgmental.

I think there is a reason why we tend to be critical of appearances, as that is how we quickly assess unfamiliar people or complete strangers. Some people, like me, analyze appearances as a strange way to make us feel better.

And when we analyze and criticize ourselves, it pushes us to work on things that we feel discontented with. Sometimes, we are conceited and self-loathing when we feel alone. As I have learned, when we realize that we are not alone in our snobbish thinking, we feel less alone, and as a result, less judgmental. klee@apachepowwow.com

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NaNoWriMo

By ALYSSA RAVE

theapachepowwow.com

November 2016

Introducing the MacBook Pro

Staff Writer

Writing requires passion, authenticity, vividness, and of course, motivation. There have been countless moments where writers come up with great ideas but never put in the time or effort to execute them. Ideas are left to abandonment because of a writer’s relentless self-criticism, lack of insight, or pure disinterest. This continuous procrastination is harmful.

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It’s a challenge to write a complete novel of at least 50,000 words from the first day of November to the last. NaNoWriMo seeks to strengthen the use of vision and banish a writer’s inner editor. This encourages the writers to submit themselves to their imagination, free from worrying or comparison to other works because their focus is turned toward meeting a due date. It values enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline. By taking creative risks and pushing the supposed boundaries of writing, it results in a raw, genuine product.

Any troubled writers seeking inspiration can easily connect with others. Through its website, people gain access to a community of driven writers such as themselves through forums and blog posts. NaNoWriMo also has several regions participating, including Los Angeles, that organize almost daily events to help you with your task. Come Write In locations bring libraries, bookstores, and wineries together to guarantee a space for NaNoWriMo participants, which ultimately builds a lively community of writers.

Gatherings also include a virtual write in, which are a geared towards anyone who doesn’t have a local write in. They consist of word sprint challenges, prompt offerings, and overall, collective novel writing and guidance. NaNoWriMo events also include Double-Up Day, Back Up Your Novel Day, and ML Appreciation Day. Additionally, they have word-count helpers which are stats and apps to help a writer reach their desired word count. One is the word count score board which ranks highest word counts by both region and genre and another are the wordcount widgets, that are simple HTML tools that display a personal and regional count.

As Nov. 30 passes, what’s next for the novel? In January and February, the publishing and revision process begins to reach a story’s full potential, from first draft to final. It’s an extension of their, “anything-goes, wombat-infused noveling philosophy.” Events and dates become available in December.

Writing takes commitment, setting a strict deadline, and fulfilling your goal is unexplainably rewarding. The only way to improve your writing is to constantly push yourself and to take risks. Join this challenge to test your limits, drive your inner creativity, and to connect with others! arave@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of BOOKSMITH.COM

By CHRISTY QIU Staff Writer

Following the unveiling of the MacBook Pro, Apple customers spun into a frenzy of excitement. The new MacBook appears to be one of the best laptops ever made, with a spot among the world’s fastest computers and a stylish design.

Available in a 13-inch or 15-inch model, the laptop features a surprise installment of a Touch Bar above the keyboard. The strip of touch screen glass allows the user to customize the functions available on it. The Touch Bar can display controls such as brightness, volume, and music commands, as well as the function keys.

Additionally, the Touch Bar allows you to answer FaceTime and phone calls and holds the option of emoji and text suggestions. Succeeding the improvements in Notes and iMessage, the Touch Bar will also permit the owner to use a color spectrum to use with compatible apps such as Pages and Keynote.

Besides the magnificent addition of the Touch Bar, the MacBook Pro showcases a sleek body that is the lightest and thinnest of its kind. The 13-inch version measures 14.9 mm thick and weighs in at a mere three pounds while the 15-inch version has a weight of just 14 pounds and only measures 15.5 mm thick. The elegant electronic includes many other modernizations: a ten-hour battery life, turbo boost processing of up 3.8 GHz, and 67% brighter display. With the recent Touch-ID innovation, the finger reading characteristic is not lost on this new release, which allows you to switch between accounts and pay with one tap.

As if these advancements were not impressive enough, Apple stepped up its graphic display to a whole other level. The MacBook Pro will include a 130% swifter graphic display, a 67% color contrast ratio, 25% more colors, and brightness nits of 500. Not only the screen functions have become redone, as the internal workings of the laptop has increased in quality as well. The speakers will undergo a 58% volume enlargement, up to a 2.5 times the bass, and double the dynamic range. The ports of the laptop are more powerful, and the keys have become sturdier and extra responsive. Every part of the MacBook has been revamped and changed for the better, creating a strong and marvelous electronic.

Apple has once again managed to improve its product line, with breathtaking new ideas and spectacular updates. It is no surprise the MacBook Pro is worshipped by long-time consumers, with majestic digital moderations, grand audio updates, and the splendid installment of the versatile Touch Bar.

cqiu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of MOCHADOCS.COM

Thanksgiving Delights

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

When Thanksgiving comes around, most of us think of a delicious feast: turkeys, cranberry sauce, and apple cider galore. In recent years however, Thanksgiving has been associated with the return of seasonal food and drink menus, such as the pumpkin spice drinks at Starbucks. Thanksgiving only comes once a year, so you have to make sure to try as many special Thanksgiving foods as you can! Here are a few shops and restaurants that spice things up a little for the holidays.

Of course, the obvious seasonal drink store is Starbucks. From the Pumpkin Spice Latte to the Holiday Spice Flat White, Starbucks’ drinks are always hugely popular with people of all ages. Check out a drink or two to see if the flavors truly live up to the hype! If you prefer something less mainstream, be sure to try new flavors from Starbucks’ partner company, Teavana, right here at our local Santa Anita mall! Drop by the store to catch a sample of Teavana’s fresh Pumpkin Spice Brulee Oolong Tea!

An article about seasonal foods would not be complete with our local classic, Souplantation. Souplantation is well-known for being constantly on top of the game by changing up its special menu according to the season or weather, so we can expect the restaurant to go all out for the holidays! Every year comes with new dishes but Souplantation will be sure to kick off the Thanksgiving season with their

classic Chicken Pot Pie Stew, Buttermilk Biscuit, and Creamy Herbed Turkey Soup. You can also expect the likes of house-made stuffing, Cranberry Apple Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, and Sweet Potato Pie with Candied Walnuts. All in all, Souplantation around Thanksgiving is guaranteed to be a mouth-watering, festive food extravaganza!

Now you know where to find Thanksgiv-

ing drinks and meals, but what about snacks?

Yogurtland has that question answered for you!

So far, Yogurtland has released Guy Diamond’s White Chocolate Peppermint, DJ Suki’s Cranberry Raspberry Tart, and Creek’s Butterscotch Pudding Gelato. In the past, froyo lovers have binged on seasonal flavors like Cookie Butter, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Eggnog, Chocolate Mocha, and Spiced Apple Cider Sorbet, so keep an eye out for those during your next visit! Additionally, you can find Carved Turkey sandwiches to gobble up at Subway as well as your classic Thanksgiving menu twists at other fast food restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King.

It may not be Thanksgiving quite yet, but you are now prepared to tackle all the local Thanksgiving treats. Get out there and try all the special items before the season ends! swang@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of PILLSBURY.COM. PLAINVILLEFARMS.COM, THENUTRICIONALSOURCE.COM, and YOURNEWSWIRE.COM.

FEATURES

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November 2016

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Youtube star:

Roald Dahl’s Dark Side Casey

By GISELLE YEH

Staff Writer

F From the h sweetness off Ch Charlie l and d the h Chocolate Factory to the childishness of Matilda, Roald Dahl has been known for his many creative children´s books since 1943.

Best known for his story, James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl has been a prominant figure in children’s literature. Roald Dahl’s books have been published in 49 different languages with more than 200 million copies of his books sold worldwide. However, behind the smiles and goofiness of these stories, what are the true meanings of these creative story ideas? James and the Giant Peach, his first published children’s book, sprang from bedtime stories Roald Dahl told his daughters. Even though it was meant to be a children’s book, it left many adult readers deeply disturbed. Although James and the Giant Peach was published in the U.S. in 1961, Dahl was put on hold until 1967 when a British publisher chose to risk publishing it.

James and the Giant Peach is a story about a young orphaned boy who was sent off to live with his sadistic pair of aunts. Instead of caring for him as a family, these sisters abused, enslaved, bullied, and half-starved him. However,

tthe th he bo boy got his revenge by literally crushing them as he escaped for adventure and a better free llife in a gargantuan peach. Following hi bbook, k he published 15 to more children’s this books, filled with wives feeding their husbands worms and the young eaten by giants and changed into mice by bald, toeless hags.

With a past like Roald Dahl’s, it is no surprise where he draws his darkness from. At age three, Roald Dahl lost his sister and father, and packed up to go to boarding school at age nine.

In his first volume of Boy, a book written to describe his life from birth until leaving school, Roald Dahl recalls in great detail the abuse he had from his headmasters. In his first marriage, he married the actress, Patricia Neal. Unfortunately, the couple lost their eldest daughter and their only son was left brain damaged by a traffic accident. A few years later, Mrs. Neal suffered a series of strokes. Because Dahl cheated on Neal, he earned the name ‘Roald the Rotten.’

It is hard to believe that great books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda were created with these kinds of thoughts.

Children adore these books, and why is that?

Maurice Sendak, an American illustrator and writer of children’s books, observed, “In plain text, a child is a complicated creature who can

A Dog’s Dream

By RACHEL LEE

there’s an anger.” What Roald Dahl may be expressing in his many books is that a child’s world is not just sugar and spice. A child, like any other human being, has his or her shadow. These shadows are wicked, scary, extravagant, and entertaining, much like the child.

Neistat

By SHAZIA PATHAN Staff Writer

This story is not only for film enthusiasts and APN students, but all high school students who feel lost or have a less-than-perfect GPA torturing them to misery.

Look up Casey Neistat, a millionaire YouTuber who films daily vlogs, or video diaries, showing his unconventional lifestyle and business ventures. Now, he has a family, a home, and a steady income, but in high school, life did not present a bright future. At just 17, he had his first child, Owen, which forced him to drop out of school to care for him. In one of his vlogs, he nonchalantly reveals his plights of being homeless for a duration of his senior year and the lack of confidence stemming from being devoid of a complete education. As a teen, he was struggling to make ends meet for himself as well as his child; working as a dishwasher, short-order cook, and a bike messenger prior to finding his calling in film. When he found this talent and enthusiasm, he reveals that the energy he had for the work came out of nowhere. He could not

gyeh@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of ROALDDAHL.COM

One Last Vine

By NATHAN GUO Staff Writer

Recently, scientists have thoroughly analyzed the sleep behavior of dogs and come to the conclusion that dogs do, in fact, dream. Consequently, the striking resemblance of our neurochemistry explains why dogs dream similarly to how humans do. Furthermore, humans and dogs are 95% identical both physically and genetically, which clarifies why the connection between the two are so powerful.

A prodigious indicator for dreams in humans is detected by the motion of rapid eye movement (REM), or when one’s eyes hastily move around under closed eyelids. The REM stage occurs during the most vivid moments of your dream, when you’re actively dreaming. Scientists have discovered REM in the dreamlike state of dogs, surprisingly, which persists for two or three minutes maximum, or for 12% of their sleep. The length of REM depends on size and age, since puppies spend a larger proportion of their sleep in REM compared to adult dogs. In addition, the dog’s size affects the length of its sleeping period, with smaller dogs dreaming often with shorter dreams, and larger dogs dreaming less often with longer dreams. Other signs of dreaming in dogs include twitching, flinching, barking, growling, or whimpering. An additional factor that influences sleeping periods include their activity level, or physical fitness. Studies have shown that dogs that sleep stretched out have increased chances of incorporating motion in their sleep, as compared to dogs that sleep curled up. This is because dogs utilize their tense muscles to curl up, so they are less relaxed and less likely to move. On the contrary, in humans, a specific brain mechanism restricts the majority of muscle movement while we sleep.

So, what do dogs dream about? Like humans, they dream about their day, or possibly even have nightmares, similar to humans how do as well.

Since dogs possess limited memory, their dreams likely consist of events that occurred within a short time span of their sleeping period. Harvard psychologist Dr. Deirdre Barrett stated that “since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell and of pleasing or annoying you.” The mere notion that dogs might be dreaming of their owners is enough to warm all pet owners’ hearts worldwide and increase our everlasting affection for our beloved furry friends.

Staff Writer

Remember that app that spawned dozens of memes, GIFs, and viral videos? Remember that app that created internet sensations in the span of six seconds? Remember Vine?

When Don Hofmann, Rus Yusupov, and Colin Kroll founded Vine, they originally intended for it to be a tool to share everyday experiences.

However, it soon became clear to the team that it would rapidly become a creative outlet. Four months later, it caught the attention of media giant, Twitter which bought it for a whopping $30 million.

In 2012, an innovative app that brought so many opportunities for creativity, such as Vine, was attractive enough, but it wasn’t until 2013 that usage exploded. Prior to 2013, Vine had only allowed its six-second videos to be captured on the back camera. However, in 2013, Vine allowed users to start using the front camera as well. This new feature brought fame not only to the app but created huge stars such as Logan Paul and Amanda Cerny as well.

Vine found even more innovative use in 2013 and 2014. Iconic moments in sports could be captured and broadcasted to be relived over and over again. Protesters in Ferguson, Missouri used the app to connect the outside world to the chaos and violence of the protests. And more often than not, Vine was a fantastic outlet for art, music, and acting.

It was the beginning of the end for Vine in 2014. Instagram had introduced a 15-second video feature in the year prior, and a new competitor, Snapchat, was gaining ground. Furthermore, Instagram started sponsoring and advertising celebrities, and many Vine stars left Vine for more fame and profit. This wasn’t the first time things like this have happened, however. Facebook completely rendered Myspace and most other social network sites obsolete. Vine was suffering from the same curse, this time by a myriad of video platforms such as Musical.ly, Snapchat, Instagram, and Youtube. Vine faltered because of the very thing that created it: innovation, or the lack thereof.

That brings us to 2016. Twitter has finally announced that Vine will be shutting down in the next few months. Top executives are leaving and those stars that were born on Vine are now using other platforms more and more. With a bittersweet ending, Vine is finally shutting its doors and closing the loop.

pay attention in school to save a life because it did not interest him, but for film, he has found a multitude of ways to help others like him in his videos: “What would you do with $25,000” where he raised awareness for the great damage in the Philippines due to the typhoon that hit the country in November 2013; and with “He needs help,” referring to Marlon, a friend who was in dire need of money for his sister’s cancer treatment in their native St.Vincent.

Generally, the YouTube viewers and creators are supportive and reverent of Neistat. Many other YouTubers cite him as their role model as do the young viewers and fans who look for him at his office and on the streets of New York City.

His most famous videos are featured on television— “Snowboarding with the NYPD”—and can get as many views as 22 million (his highest viewed video, “Make It Count”, made in partnership with Nike). His talents only grow from his opportunistic attitude, the desire to help people and his interest in technology. The growing success of Neistat should serve, not as a deterrent, but as encouragement to stand in spite of past misfortunes and difficulties in that with hard work, you can achieve success and fulfillment from almost any unconventional seeming passion you may have.

rlee@apachepowwow.com

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spathan@apachepowwow.com

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thank you,

theapachepowwow.com the

November 2016

dear ms. leahy,

Her method was simple: keep things relevant. We followed the theme of ordinaryy curriculum,, but that was the bare minimum. Ms. Leahy’s class is remarkable because she goes abovee and beyond. She isn’t sticking to textbooks and reciting lectures that are older than her class. Curriculum urriculum is always connected to current events. Her students are reminded that history isn’t chained to the past, that its themes echo throughout the halls of time. Historical lessons resound in contemporaryy chambers, and they touch our lives today. Ms. Leahy teaches her class that history is more than a commitment to nostalgia. It’s an understanding that humanity thrives on fundamental themes, that there’s a pattern to the madness of American development which we can learn from.

And she encourages her students to speak up about that pattern, to discuss their various perspectives and experiences. Voice a valuable opinion, lighten up the class mood, or contribute to the dynamic variety of class interests, and extra credit is never far away. Leahy Loot, her incentive system, is a reward for liveliness and activity, but it’s also an embodiment of her philosophy.

She treasures participation, both scholarly and civic, to encourage students to become dedicated citizens, ones that go on to create positive influence. It’s another awesome way of keeping things relevant.

History still may not be my strong suit, but it’s a subject that I’ve grown to love. Every moment I spend dipping into the past is a testimony to the value I place in the unity of the human experience.

The ideals that this country was founded on over two centuries ago are ones that continue to infl in uence our society today. I find it so fitting that the back of our class shirt says “Leahy helped us find n our way home.” I can never thank her enough for helping me discover a home in history.

dear ms. novak,

dear mr. miller,

“Mr. Miller’s passion for the subject coupled with his knowledge of how to engage students with the material makes him an exceptional Calculus teacher.”

dear mr. volpe, “Mrs. Cordero understands issues from all perspectives and provides thoughtful, educated responses that eases the heart and educates the mind.”

“Mr. Volpe taught us to get back up after falling. To always strive to be better, to never settle for something less than your very best.”

dear coach gund,

“Coach Gund is able to do both, aiding students with education and assisting them with any issue that may be ruining their day.”

teachers! 11

centerspread.powwow@gmail.com

“With two kids and a beautiful family, Ms. Novak still dedicates an enormous portion of time to the people who need her.”

love, anonymous

dear mrs. cordero,

November 2016

dear ms. kuso,

Ms. Kuso’s teaching style allows students to fully understand everything in a well explained manner. She always makes sure the students have a strong understanding of a certain concept before moving on. Instead of waiting for students to bring up their confusion, she knows ahead of time which concepts may be hard to understand, so she figures out easier methods for better understanding. This allows many to have such an easier time learning without frustration or confusion.

Ms. Kuso also always finds a way for students to push themselves to work harder and motivates them to take the extra step. She posts review worksheets on her webpage and gives students thee option to complete them in return for extra credit passes. This not only gives students a chance to receive a few points to boost up their grade but also motivates them to actually work on the optional assignments in preparation for an upcoming test.

There hasn’t been another teacher I’ve met who is as organized and efficient as Ms. Kuso.

Everything she does is planned out in a way so that the class is able to run smoothly and efficiently. Each period is timed out so that the class is able to learn everything planned out for the day within the time constraint. Ms. Kuso is also a strong believer of “no time to waste”. Before the start bell even rings, she is already keeping her students busy until the end of the period. Every sta day in her class feels extremely productive and I feel like the amount of information I learn in one class period can actually be spread out into two periods, but she is able to condense it and teach it clas one while still making sure her students are on the same page. i on in

love, anonymous

dear ms. naughtin,

Most teachers have their schedules planned out, and they adhere strictly to them. They often do not consider their students’ busy schedules and other factors that affect a students’ s’ performance on a test, quiz, or project. Once again, Ms. Naughtin is the opposite--she is extremely considerate towards her students. Sometimes, she actually asks her students when hen a due date should be. Other times, she extends a due date, after students beg her to. Of course, that doesn’t happen all the time. However, although she doesn’t always change her schedule because of her students, she always takes them into consideration. Ms. Naughtin is considerate in many other ways, too. Unlike how some teachers who give outrageously difficult tests, Ms. Naughtin’s tests and quizzes always reflect what students learned in class. Many of her students appreciate her for always taking them into consideration.

Often times, classes are boring because the teacher is also boring. Unlike those classes, Ms. Naugtin’s class is far from boring. Her lessons are fun-filled with references to pop culture and funny events that happened in class. Also, she makes her class discussions very relatable to students in many ways. She is also relatable to students in other ways, proving she is not just some boring teacher who only cares about grading papers and assigning homework. For example, Ms. Naughtin also has a wonderful sense of humor when it comes to dressing up for Halloween. She really thinks outside the box for her ideas; this year, her costume was inspired by some SNL skits. Her fun personality also emulates to her projects, which also tend to be very creative and exciting. Her class is one that I look forward to the most.

love, anonymous

Graphics courtesy of VECTEEZY.COM

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PERFORMING ARTS

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November 2016

Narnia Comes to Life

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

Think back to the good old elementary school days, a time when homework took 15 minutes and afternoons were spent doing anything of our choosing. For most of us, those days included reading through some of C.S. Lewis’ bestselling fantasy novels, in particular, The Chronicles of Narnia. If you’re in for a thrilling throwback in time, Advanced Drama Department (ADD) will be performing the dearly beloved The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia from Nov. 17 to 19!

Ticket prices are $10 for students and seniors, $15 for general admission, and $30 for VIP seating and priority entry. The play will be performed at the PAC from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance so make sure to be there early to grab a seat!

The general plot-line of the story is familiar to many: four children, the Pevensie siblings, wander into an enchanted wardrobe that leads to the magical land of Narnia.

The kids, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, meet many magical talking creatures and make both friends and foes in their quest to discover the mighty lion and former ruler of Narnia, Aslan. The Pevensies learn of their destiny of helping Aslan defeat the cruel White Witch and reclaim Narnia for good. This play brings back fond memories and is heartwarming and family-friendly, so you know you can bring your whole family to share this throwback.

If that isn’t a good enough reason, come out to support the Arcadia Stage! Everyone can use a relaxing night out, so why not spend it watching AHS’ very own drama students performing a fantastic play? Members of ADD have been practicing day and night to pull off a spectacular performance, with help from Intermediate Drama and Stagecraft, so make sure to buy your tickets from members of any of the three groups. Plus, AHS’ award-winning drama program combined with the adaption and directing of Whitney LaBarge and producing by Mr. Volpe, along with vocal contributions from Mr. Pu is sure to be a sell-out! Don’t forget to check out Arcadia Stage’s other upcoming performances including Sister Act, a playful musical about the many adventures of four bored nuns, and Metamorphosis, the tale of Gregor Samsa the traveling salesman who is turned into he ADD DD members! an insect, coming next year. See you at the play, and good luck to tthe swang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM and NARNIA.WIKIA.COM

By MARUKO MYINT Staff Writer

On Nov. 19, Arcadia will be hosting its annual Arcadia Festival of Bands (AFOB) where over 40 accomplished high school marching bands will attend and march along Baldwin Avenue, performing for about an hour each. Arcadia proudly holds this day as one its best events in the city, with many of its residents coming out to support the high school and middle school marching bands. The festival is the longest continually-running band review in California, and this year will mark the 63rd occurrence of the event. A typical schedule of the day starts at 7:00 a.m, when students will arrive at school and warm up in the PAC courtyard like usual. They will then march all the way from the school to the mall, then to Baldwin Avenue to perform “The Purple Carnival”. The band will perform once for the judges, again for the crowd, and then march back to school doing hydraulics. Band members will finally get a break to eat lunch, go home, and return for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association championships later that day.

Since AFOB takes place in Arcadia itself, it allows marching band members to showcase all their hard work and practice in front of their hometown crowd. Colorguard squad leader sophomore Alex Kim explained how many of them consider this competition as one of their most important ones because of the pressure put upon them as hosts.

“Arcadia is somewhere that we’re comfortable with...but we also [have] a lot of pressure because we’ll be performing in front of our friends, family, and middle schoolers who look up to us,” Alex said.

World Line bass sophomore Dillon Gadoury talked about the excitement that came with performing in front of a familiar crowd. “It’s more of an exciting parade out on our own street. More people we know come out and support us which motivates you to put your best effort. Every performance we just put our best out and act as if it’s our final run,” he said.

Clarinet section leader junior Stanley Chang also added how he is “filled up with pride because the band is here to represent our city and showcase all our efforts and hard work.”

This parade also marks the end of a long marching band season for students, finishing their experiences with a final performance in their hometown. Flute section leader senior Peyton Graves shared her thoughts on her hopes and expectations for the competition. “As the last parade of the season, I hope we will once again perform well, and I also hope that we not only impress our judges, but our community as well. We’ve worked so hard and I know that if we continue to do what we’ve always done, we will succeed,” she said.

We wish all of the marching bands the best in their performances! mmyint@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM and INTRAWALLPAPER.COM Photo courtesy of AUSD.NET

November 2016

STUDENT LIFE

studentlife.powwow@gmail.com

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By JOSIE CHEN Staff Writer

As the school year continues, the season of fall finally arrives. Along with it come warm, fuzzy clothes, the turning of leaves from green to orange, and, of course, a long-awaited Thanksgiving break. During the week of Thanksgiving break, many students enjoy their week off from school by visiting faraway places, having Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, and going Black Friday shopping.

Students often use Thanksgiving break as an opportunity to travel to faraway places, whether it’s for visiting family, having fun, or relaxing from the stressful schoolwork. They need a break from all of the strenuous classes at AHS. The buildup of stress can prevent students from truly enjoying high school and have a negative view on their experience, although being in a new environment can be beneficial to them in the long run. Taking breaks from hard work is important to students’ health. Many students will be leaving Arcadia this Thanksgiving break, including freshman Megan Wang, who said, “I plan to go to Hawaii during Thanksgiving break.”

One of the most cherished memories students have of their break is the dinner they enjoy with family and friends. Students gather with their loved ones and spend a night together full of chatter and laughter. Common foods that they may eat include stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and pumpkin or apple pie. Then, they take the time to give thanks and realize how fortunate they are to live the life they have.

The day right after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, a day where many shopping areas offer high discounts. Freshman Amara Inyama said, “I plan to go Black Friday shopping at [the] Santa Anita Mall with some of my friends.” Some stores open as early as 1:00 a.m., while the majority of stores open around 6:00 a.m. People of all ages crowd into malls and shops looking for a good deal, and some lines extend to the outside of the stores!

So what are your plans for this Thanksgiving break? Take time off from school to be thankful of what you have, and spend time with those you love, whether you go on vacation, have a nice dinner together, or simply wander around town for a day. Stay safe, have fun, and give thanks!

jchen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CCHSVOICE.ORG and ESKIPAPER.COM

By CAM CAMILLE MARQUEZ Staff Writer

No November is National Inspiring Role Model Month. This month allows us to acModels know knowledge the impact our parents, favorite artis or teachers have left on us. artists, We all need someone to look up to.

Role models create a positive impact on peop people’s lives through their exemplary act ons We deem their traits admirable beti tions. cause we have a relation to them; we can see oursel ourselves in them. If we’re going to choose someo to guide us on the right path, make someone honest decisions, and motivate us to succeed, shou be recognized. As Thanksgiving apthey should proaches, w we asked several people to reflect on who they look to for inspiration. Which people have bigge impact on our Apaches’ lives? made the biggest Kath Junior Katherine Chen said, “My role model mot would be my mother.

Growing up, she helped me pass har times and encouraged me to believe through many hard in myself. My m mother supported whatever decision I alw made and has always been there for me. She is so becar nevolent and, caring, and never failed to lend a hand to others She inspires inspir me to continuously work hard and others. embrace challenges in life.”

Sophomore Stav Zygroui’s role model is her art teacher. Stav looks up to her teacher’s commendable skill and teaching methods. “My art teacher from my art college was so awesome! The way he taught was unexplainably creative! For example, we were given an assignment to draw a character’s whole family or a character through different ages—this helped me to dive deep into my drawing’s personality and truly bring them to life,” she exclaimed.

Sophomore Rania Ashour said that her inspiration is Min Yoongi, from the beloved South Korean boy band BTS, and singer Ariana Grande. “I look up to [Yoongi] because he’s battled through so many hardships in his life and yet still managed to pave a great career for himself.

My other role model is Ariana Grande. She’s incredibly talented and really supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, which I think is an important trait. She’s a queen to me!”

Junior Cindy Law also has a celebrity as a role model. She commented, “If I had to choose a role model, it’d be Taylor Swift. She’s very successful, and it’s all from simply following her passion. I think her down-to-earth personality sets her aside from every other famous person.

My favorite song is definitely ‘Wildest Dreams’. Not to mention, she’s really pretty!”

Role models earn their title by conquering obstacles in their lives we find relatable to ours.

Anyone has the ability to become an inspiration to others as well. A role model can be a student, athlete, political leader, scientist, family member, historical figure, and so forth. National Inspiring Role Models Month allows us to be appreciative of what our role models directly or indirectly do for us, as we may not always be aware of it.

cmarquez@apachepowwow.com Graphic by CLIPARTKID.COM

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

With Thanksgiving approaching quickly, many are excited to finally have their first long break of the year where they can kick back, relieve school stress, and enjoy the holiday with friends and family. For others, Thanksgiving means being able to “shop ‘til they drop,” since the day following Thanksgiving is Black Friday, the biggest sale event of the year.

Black Friday originated from the fact that after Thanksgiving was over, it was technically “Christmas shopping season”, so the first day after Thanksgiving has the most discounts out of the entire year. It is very common for groups of friends and families to camp out the night before or go early even before the sun has risen to be the first to snatch bargains. With so many products on sale, many students await this day to go shopping. So what are AHS students looking forward to buying this Black Friday?

30% not shopping 30% clothes 20% tech 10% stationary 5% food/drinks 5% other

fcheung@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of HOPEHOUSEAUGUSTA.ORG, NARVII.COM, SMOKEYBONES.COM, and WIKIPEDIA.ORG

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November 2016

AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME: ATHLETE PROFILES

Gabbi Lewis

By HOLLY LUNG Staff Writer

Another successful season has come and passed for the Girls Varsity Golf team. For some players, however, the season lasted longer as they moved further and further through the rounds of CIF. This year, one standout was star player junior Gabbi Lewis. Having picked up golfing at the formative age of eight, Gabbi has had over eight years of experience in this highly tactical sport and has refined her talents immensely to get them to where they are today.

Although she first began playing solely because her “entire family has always really been into golf,” it didn’t take long for Gabbi to develop her own love of golfing competitively, a love that carries today and that has bbrought her to school golf. new heights in high sc After the VarAf Girls Golf team sity Gi was eliminated in e Round 1 of CIF, only a few f girls—including Gabbi— cludi advanced through to Round 2. Gabbi then succeeded in advancing to Round 3 and stated that she, “hopes that tha the team

will be able to make it to Round 2 next year.”

After a successful round 3, Gabbi qualified for the CIF SoCal Regional Golf Championships (RGC), which took place Nov. 10. Although Gabbi didn’t qualify for State, she ranked within the top 35 at the RGC competition.

As this is her first time advancing to Rounds 2 and 3 in her three years on the team, Gabbi considered it to be her “greatest accomplishment of the season.” As a team, however, she noted that its “second league victory against San Marino (SM) was [her] favorite moment of the season. [The team] had never won against SM before, so that was huge.”

Aside from the team’s amazing results on the green, Gabbi is especially proud of the growth that has occurred within the team. The players’ chemistry this season was unprecedented, with Gabbi stating, “our team has gotten along really well together. And I think the fact that we clicked and we had a great time is why we were able to do so well this season.” Gabbi noted, “As a team, we have been trying to be a lot more organized and trying to help out our freshmen a lot more.”

As for where she sees herself in the long run, Gabbi said that she has ¨been talking to some college coaches about playing for them¨ and has even gotten offers from ¨a couple of colleges on the West Coast and one in Mississippi.¨ With these great opportunities at hand, she recognizes the need to ¨follow up with these coaches and begin the college recruiting process¨ as she continues to look towards her future in golf. Having already accomplished so much in golf as a junior, there is no doubt that Gabbi will be the one for spectators in Arcadia and college coaches to watch for on the green next year.

hlung@apachepowwow.com Photo by KAYLI MAK

Rachel Reedy

By SHAZIA PATHAN Staff Writer

Earlier this year, upon being asked about the upcoming Girls Varsity Volleyball season, senior Rachel Reedy stated, “I believe this year is going to be an outstanding season for the team.” Girls Varsity Volleyball has dominated this season, finishing 14-0 in League, as promised. The team’s star player, Rachel, was labeled as such by many of her teammates and there is no question as to why. Aside from her skills on the court, she has a personable quality which maintains a camaraderie within the team and elicits respect from other players.

Rachel started playing when she was in seventh grade, and she cited her father as her reason for starting the sport. He “always oved the sport and hoped I would loved too, so he set up clincs with my friends ics and I the summer before seventh grade and taught us the basics,” revealed Rachel.

When asked about her own favorite moments from this season, Rachel mentioned the team dinners which have brought the girls much closer through this past year. “As a senior I keep reminiscing on the great moments throughout high school,” she shared, continuing that “knowing it will be one of the last times

I play with this group of girls I love so much makes me want to play all out every chance I get.”

She certainly did play all-out through the entire season, and especially during the Seniors Game—which she cites as the best and most fun game of the season. This year, the team was certainly closer to achieving its goals and the the girls’ great bond showed through its success in League and achievement in making it to the third round of CIF. Many students wonder how Rachel manages her daily practices, games, and homework from an AP-filled class schedule, extracur extracurthat riculars, and social life. She confessed tha “balancing [her] whole academic life, so social life, and volleyball life is probably the most difficult thing ever!” Her love for the team is so great, however, “tha “that no matter how exhausted [she is] oor how much homework [she has] has], the girls keep [her] going” to try her best and have fun and grow in each facet of her life.

This season is important to Rachel because it is her last and she wants to pay back the team for the love and support iit has given her for the pas past four years. Though she is sad to leave the AHS team, she is equally excited for her next chapter—playing for Chaminade University in Ho Honolulu next year. For her future aat Cham aminade she hopes her new team Chaminade, will be just as dynamic and close as her Arcadia team and, chiefly, that she can play some beach volleyball on the coasts of Hawaii.

spathan@apachepowwow.com Photo by LUKE JIA

MAKING WAVES AT CIF

By CHRISTIAN LOWE Staff Writer

“I’ve never left the pool thinking I could have trained harder, and I’ll never leave a game without giving it my all.” —Tony Azevedo (U.S. Water Polo Olympic Champion) This quote embodies what Boys Varsity Water Polo Co-Captains seniors Matthew Garcia and Sam Wiggins believe and instill in the team at every practice, every day.

When asked about the focus of this year, both agreed that “Don’t Give Up” and “Relentlessness” are this year’s themes.

On the team’s play this season, Matthew commented, “This year is by far the best we have ever played, in the past three years. We had more wins and finished 2nd in the Western and Bull Run Tournament. We should be proud of where we were and where we are now.” Senior Nima Tabibian has played wa-

ter polo for all four years of his high school career and stated that this year’s team is the best our school has had in a long time. He explained that, this year, “the team is large and deep with a diverse set of skills. We are stronger, faster, and have an extremely strong synergy.”

After finishing 4th in the Pacific League, the team ended its season in the CIF Quarterfinals, losing a hard fought battle against Diamond Bar High School (DBHS) with a score of 9-12.

In order to meet these goals, the team worked constantly to identify weaknesses and improve strengths. Matthew shared that the team has “good defense, but we still need to work on our offensive plays.” In addition, Sam mentioned, “As a team we are doing things outside of water polo to build trust and improve our spirit.” Meanwhile, sophomore Aramis Kelkelian stated, “The team needs

to improve its mentality when going into the games. We often underestimate our opponents, which leads us into a disadvantage.”

In any game, a player’s focus must be on the moment in order to stay competitive.

When asked which game or tournament embodied the team’s best efforts, Matthew stated, “There were a lot of great moments and games where we were all in sync and just playing hard. Although we did not beat Temple City, we played very well in that game.

The Bull Run Tournament and the Western Tournament were also great examples of when we pulled together as a team.” Nima agreed with Matthew, stating that the Bull Run Tournament was a good game and a fun experience for the team.

All the players agreed that the one “doover” game they would like to play again is against their rival team, Temple City High School. During that particular match, Arca-

dia lost 7-9. “We had the closest loss with them that I’ve seen us have so far, and I know we could’ve beaten them,” said Matthew.

As the season is coming to a close, the senior varsity members offered some advice to next year’s team. Many advised the younger players to work on offensive strategy—to make sure everyone was shooting the ball, and to practice shooting into the corners.

Nima shared, “I’d tell next year’s varsity team that whether or not [it performs well, the players] came a long way to get wherever they are. That they got there as a close family, full of completely different people bound by a common interest.” While this year’s seniors may not be around for much longer, their advice will surely inspire the team’s younger players for seasons to come.

clowe@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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November 2016

NBA: AN EARLY LOOK

By ASHLEY LEE

RUNNIN’ TOWARD CIF

By HOLLY LUNG & BRADFORD YAU

Staff Writer

Staff Writers

The start of the 2016-2017 National Basketball Association (NBA) season began last month on Oct. 25. With the new season underway, there have already been numerous headlines made as well as new changes for each team and player. New members were drafted and existing players were traded to other teams.

The NBA draft took place on June 23. As the star of the 2016 draft, Ben Simmons was drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers as the number one pick. According to The New York Times, Simmons never paid any attention to college basketball; his eyes had been solely on the NBA since he first began his basketball career. Fortunately for Simmons, he received more than he ever asked for when he was drafted as the number one player.

Only a few weeks into the season, many star players have been making history as well as adding to the stats. Anthony Davis, star player of the New Orleans Pelicans, became the first player in three decades to score over 40 points in back to back games. He scored back-to-back 50 points against the Denver Nuggets and two days later scored 45 against the Golden State Warriors. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder continued to fill up the box score with his tremendous high numbers. He began this season with two triple-doubles—achieving double digit stats in three different statistical categories—in his first three games and became the first to do so since Magic Johnson in the 1982-1983 season. Thanks to these contributions, Westbrook’s team is performing well and is currently in the playoff hunt.

With the all-time-best and future Hall-ofFamer Tim Duncan retired from the San Antonio Spurs, the team has yet to fully process the absence of its player since the past two decades. While Duncan has been missing from the courts, the Spurs have definitely not been the same and the team is not performing as well as usual. Although Duncan shows up once in a while to help Coach Gregg Popovich on the floor, the team is looking forward to rebuilding itself for this season ahead.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls also underwent radical changes this year, trading Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, as well as signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade. Since then, the team has been having an unexpectedly good performance, winning its first three games of the season by a combined total of 58 points. Unfortunately, the team followed this streak of good luck with several losses. It is currently ranked 5th in the Eastern Conference.

The teams have busy schedules ahead of them. Tomorrow, our local Los Angeles Lakers will be playing the San Antonio Spurs at home, while the Los Angeles Clippers play the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento. The many new and reformed NBA teams have many surprises to bring this season, and it will be exciting to see which teams will climb their way to the top of the standings!

Having already completed several months of training, spanning the end of June to October, Girls Varsity Cross Country is ready to take on the loaded month of November, featuring a jam packed racing schedule with League Finals and CIF. After going strong into League Finals and achieving the title of Pacific League Champions, the team is on a mission to succeed and become better than ever before.

In this season, the girls have been more than just solid; they’ve been undefeated and consistently 1st in League. The team does not rely solely on one star runner; rather, the consistency and strong ability of all runners on the roster contribute to its success. This teamwork is what makes the girls so hard to defeat, as they all have great running times without any weak links. The team’s closeness and ability to work as a unit will come in extremely handy with CIF Finals and the State Championship meet around the corner, as all members of the team will be needed to face its strong competition.

On Nov. 11, the girls competed in CIF Prelims and easily won their heat. This qualified them for CIF Finals, the race that will determine whether or not they will make it to the CIF Championship meet in Fresno.

Runners on the team are very clear on what their goals are and what they want to achieve.

All members of the team have been training for this season since the month of June, showing

alee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of POWERCIRCLEBASKETBALL.COM

HARD WORK Junior Eryca Yamane’s grueling training during the beginning of the season is paying off now as Girls Varsity Cross Country runs toward CIF. just how hard they are willing to work in order to achieve their goals. Junior Jasmine He believes that the team’s “Hard Work, High Reward” mentality is a key factor in its success, as she stated that the girls have “run numerous miles, hill circuits, and speed workouts and have grueling practices at 6 a.m.” She also believes that this hard work will pay off, as “the goal is to win the state championship and qualify for Nike Cross Nationals, which the best teams in the country compete in.”

Although the Girls Varsity Cross Country team has done a fantastic job making a name for itself among a group of highly competitive

schools these last few years, its underdog mentality has not seemed to stray and its statewide success has created even greater goals of Nike Nationals. Whether it achieves these substantial goals or not depends entirely on its ability to shake off set backs and push through a month that is sure to be taxing and testing. Hopefully, the girls can achieve their ambitious goals in their post-season races, as they have both the talent and the grit to succeed. hlung@apachepowwow.com byau@apachepowwow.com Photo by BRIAN SOONG

NASCAR: RACING TO

VICTORY

By COLLIN GAJA Staff Writer

This year, the exciting 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been intense and is keeping its fans on their toes. Now, 16 drivers from across the country are racing for the title of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. With 36 races in the schedule, and 35 completed, the series champion will soon be crowned, but who will make it to the top first?

The series began in February, with over 50 drivers from 18 teams competing for the cup title. After the first 26 races, the field was cut to just 16 drivers, chosen primarily by their record of wins in the opening races. These advancing drivers are now competing in the “Chase for the Sprint Cup”, a ten-race series in which point differences between finishes are greatly minimized, allowing drivers to recover from a slow start, and forcing drivers with an early lead to perform consistently in order to protect their opening success.

During the series, notable names such as Jimmie Johnson have been on top of the leader board since the beginning. He has been leav-

ing drivers in the dust, increasing his point lead from 5 to over 1400 points. In the current season, he has over four wins under his belt in contrast to just four did-not-finish results (DNFs).

His most noticeable victory was in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500, where he ended in 1st place with an astounding 92 lap lead over his competitors. With such an amazing record, and no sign of slowing down, Johnson has a great chance at achieving the title of series champion.

Other notable racers, such as Joey Logano, are also on the path to becoming champion.

While he may have only two wins in the current series and three DNFs, he has constantly been in the top five drivers in every race he has been in. His most notable win was in the Hellmann’s 500 where he ended in 1st place with 45 lap lead. Though he may not be as formidable as Johnson, Logano is still a driver competitors should look out for.

Meanwhile, early leaders such as Kevin Harvick have been cut from the field early due to stiff competition. Harvick’s most notable victory was in the Hollywood Casino 400, where he finished 1st with a lead of 72 laps. Unfortunately, he was unable to retain his lead and didn’t make the Final Four.

With the season coming to an end, many teams and their drivers are scrambling to get a champion title. Teams such as Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing are two of the top teams in the series, and are demolishing other teams in their way. Hendrick Motorsports holds a record of 11 Sprint Cups and holds the record of most owner’s championships, with 14 titles across three national series. With such a fantastic record, the teams have a great chance at become series champions. Joe Gibbs Racing, owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, has an arsenal that will surely scare off other teams.

The team has big-name racers such as Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who will surely put fear into their opponent’s eyes.

As the season comes to an end, many racers will drive their hardest to the end with big dreams of the championship title. Racers such as Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano, however, may prove difficult to take out. With teams and racers edging closer to the end, only the best of the best will end up at the top. The series’ final will take place next Sunday, Nov. 20. cgaja@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTION.COM

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ACADEMICS

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

The college application process is intense. From worrying about standardized test scores to capturing a profound moment in 650 words, the laundry list of requirements for a college-bound senior is lengthy. But the college journey doesn’t start here. Long before embarking on the actual college application process, it’s absolutely essential to compile a list of schools.

Drafting a personal college list sounds easy. Many students simply pore over U.S. News & World Report rankings and copy-paste the first few names they see. They add Ivy League universities to their list like groceries into a shopping cart and toss in a few other top-tier colleges for good measure. Then, there’s the infamous shotgun approach. Fire your applications everywhere; apply high, low, and in between, and you’re bound to get in somewhere.

Have students had success with either of the two methods? Undoubtedly, yes. Are they the best ways to go about crafting a college list? Absolutely not. There is so much more to consider when deciding which colleges are worth your time. It’s easy to have tunnel vision for numbers and statistics, but you have to remember that college is so much more than that. It’s going to be your home for the next few years. Beyond rankings, some of the most important qualities to consider are size of school, location, and programs they offer.

Student enrollment is an easy number to gloss over, but it’s one of the most important to consider because it tells you a lot about the size of the school. The size of the student body is a key aspect of the school environment. Do you prefer smaller communities, a more tight-knit atmosphere? Or do you thrive on the possibility of forming connections with an immense student body, of making an impact on the largest crowd possible? Are you somewhere in between? Fortunately, there are campuses to fit all preferences. Schools exist everywhere on the spectrum of size, but it’s up to you to find out where you fit. For example, UC Berkeley and Emory may have similar rankings, but their sizes are far from the same, and thus the environments that they offer differs immensely.

By SARAH WANG Staff Writer

Stop what you’re doing. Chances are, reading this sentence isn’t the only thing you’re doing right now. As busy high school students, we often multitask in order to juggle all the assignments we have to complete everyday. Maybe you eat dinner while doing homework and watching The Flash, or perhaps you work on your AP Biology lab while Skyping and listening to music. It may seem like a lighter load of work for you to bear now, but you’re really just piling all that work onto your brain. Multitasking has been proven time and time again to be harmful towards your brain’s cognitive functions, including memory, sleep quality, problem-solving, reaction time, and clarity.

So how exactly is multitasking harmful to your health? Multitasking is known to contribute to disorders like ADHD and anxiety, and hinders frequent multitaskers from being able to pay attention, recall information, and adapt quickly to new information. Let’s put that into numbers for all the statistically-inclined people out there. The University of London found that the IQ of multitaskers drop 15 points, results similar to what one would expect from a marijuana smoker or someone who didn’t sleep the night before; in other words, the cognitive functions of an adult man drops to the ability range of an eight-year-old. Additionally, research from the University of Sussex suggests that multitasking actually causes brain damage by decreasing brain density in the anterior cingulate cortex, which interferes with a person’s capacity for empathy as well as emotional and cognitive control.

Not only is multitasking detrimental towards your

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Novermber 2016

College will be the place you call home for the next few years, so pay attention to where you want to live. There are amazing schools all across the nation, but that doesn’t mean you’re suited to living anywhere in the U.S. If you can’t stand extreme weather, maybe it’d be best to stay off the East Coast. If you don’t really dig the rurality of the Midwest, don’t apply in that region. Try your best to visit the schools in person. Stroll through the campus, visualize yourself as a student, imagine the daily lifestyle, and get a feel for the world the school offers. If you can’t visit, the next best alternative is to do a lot of research and get to know the school’s environment that way. Anything is better than committing to a school solely for its ranking and finding out, when it’s far too late, that you can’t stand the place.

Of course, apart from lifestyle criteria, the academic programs offered by the school are incredibly important to consider. Contrary to popular belief, the Ivy League doesn’t necessarily offer the best program for every single field of study. If you’re passionate about journalism, check out the University of Missouri’s program. If you’re a budding computer scientist, consider the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The key is research. Find and apply to schools that have the programs that will facilitate your growth as a scholar in your field, and you’ll be surprised at the schools you might uncover.

Drafting a personal college list sounds easy, but it isn’t. The reality of the matter is that some schools, no matter how highly they’re ranked, may not be the right fit for you. This article has barely scratched the surface of the delicate balancing game that is the college list. Are there more factors to consider? Infinitely. Financial aid, student to faculty ratio, undergraduate opportunities, study abroad programs, and even the school’s architecture can be factored in. Perfection doesn’t always exist. You might have to compromise the correct size for a prestigious program or great location for phenomenal financial aid. But find out what you desire, do your research, draft a great list, and things will work out. wwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by ANDREA LIU mental health, but recent research conducted by Stanford University even suggests that doing one thing at a time is more productive than doing multiple things at once. While the name “multitasking” suggests that one is working on multiple tasks at one time, you’re really just switching tasks quickly. Guy Winch, author of Emotional First Aid: Practical Strategies for Treating Failure, Rejection, Guilt, and Other Everyday Psychological Injuries reveals that brains are “like a pie chart, and whatever we’re working on is going to take up the majority of that pie. There’s not a lot left over for other things, with the exception of automatic behaviors like walking or chewing gum. When it comes to attention and productivity, our brains have a finite amount.”

This essentially means that switching tasks expends extra energy on switching gears and thus wastes productivity. Plus, multitasking means that you’re more prone to making mistakes since the average human brain can only successfully handle two tasks at once, according to a 2010 French study. Hence, if multitasking doesn’t work, there’s little point in continuing bad habits.

Long story short, don’t multitask.

Simplicity is often the best course of action, and this philosophy certainly holds true in most cases. Multitasking makes you much more vulnerable to attention deficit, brain damage, anxiety, and slow reflexes, among a plethora of other undesirable attributes. Your difficulties in focusing in class and absorbing information might just be attributed to frequent multitasking. Try taking it slow and tackling tasks one at a time. It’s tempting to jump right into that next episode, especially after a devastating cliffhanger, but Barry Allen can wait—your mental health can’t. swang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by ANDREA LIU

November 2016

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November Starbucks Drinks

CALENDAR

19

By JOCELYN LIAO & JOSIE CHEN Staff Writers

jliao@apachepowwow.com jchen@apachepowwow.com Photos by KAITLYN LIAO Graphic courtesy of YOPRICEVILLE.COM

By TIFFANY LIANG & ROSELIND ZENG

Thanksgiving Leftovers

It’s time to run to Starbucks and grab your drinks because this month, three new beverages are launching for the holiday season. Starbucks has once again updated its selection of drinks, bringing back three classics in the month of November. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is an utterly delicious drink that is only sold during the fall time. Another is the Salted Caramel Mocha— a traditional drink that has a perfect level of sweetness. Finally, Starbucks has reintroduced the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha, a uniquely refreshing drink that is perfect for the cold weather.

To start off, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is their signature festive drink that is composed of a blend of espresso and milk with a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove spices. This classic drink has existed for years but is only sold during the autumn and winter months. You can enjoy this with some whipped cream on top and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.

Next, Starbucks has brought back the classic mixture of sweetness blended into one drink: the Salted Caramel Mocha. It contains a variety of flavors that help to balance out the perfectly salted drink. The drink combines mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup with fresh coffee, milk, and ice. Afterwards, it is topped off with the finishing touches: sweetened whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a sprinkle of sugar and salt.

Last, the Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha has made a reappearance in the month of November. It is a flavorful drink that satisfies all of your taste buds, as it is not only spiced and tangy, but also has a hint of sweetness. It is a mixture of Starbucks’ rich espresso, peppermint-flavored syrup, steamed milk, and white chocolate sauce, and completed with sweetened whip cream and dark chocolate curls.

Make a quick trip to Starbucks this November and try one of its three drinks of the season, whether it’s the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, the Salted Caramel Mocha, or the Pepppermint White Chocolate Mocha. Every y drink can be customized to your personal liking liking, so experiment and have ave fun during this fall season!

Staff Writers

As turkey season rolls around, a famous question arises: “What should I do with these leftovers?” Who wouldn’t shudder at the thought of eating turkey sandwiches every day for the next month? But with these Thanksgiving dinner hacks, you can cook those worries goodbye!

1. Second Day Turkey and String Bean Pot Pies Do you have too many green bean casseroles (or any casseroles) and no room in the fridge? Not a problem.

Baked into a few tasty pot pies, these leftovers won’t go to waste. In a medium bowl, gently blend your leftover casserole with milk, stock, and some of your leftover turkey. Using some puff pastry, cut out six four-inch discs from each sheet, then press these discs into a muffin pan; making sure to leave about a half-inch of crust over the edge. Fill each cup with the previous mixture, then cover it with another disc. Be sure to secure the edges by pinching these two layers together. Poke a small hole in the top to let the steam out, then bake in the oven until the crust turns golden brown. It should take around 30 minutes for your delicious pot pies to be ready.

2. Cranberry Turnovers Do you want a delicious breakfast pastry? Then these turnovers are the choice for you! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In an electric mixer, beat together two egg yolks, one cup of cream cheese, and one cup of powdered sugar until smooth. Set this mixture aside; roll out one puff pastry sheet into a ten-inch square. Cut this into four five-inch squares. Place two tbsp. of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each square, and top with two tbsp. of leftover cranberry sauce. Dampen the edges of the square, and fold it into a triangle, sealing the edges off with a fork. Repeat this procedure with another sheet of puff pastry, and bake them all for 20 minutes.

Cool for ten minutes, and serve with some powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

3. Mixed Greens with Turkey, Goat Cheese, Cranberries, and Pecans With all these greasy foods this holiday season, we have a light salad to balance it out. To make dressing, combine one cup of Greek yogurt, a half-cup of mayonnaise, two tablespoons of finely chopped chives, two teaspoons of chopped tarragon, one-half cup of olive oil, four teaspoons of lemon juice, one teaspoons of salt, and one teaspoon of pepper. In another bowl, toss together one pound of mixed field greens, one-half cup of dried cranberries (perfect time to use your leftover cranberries), one sliced red bell pepper, three ounces of sliced cucumbers, two ounces of thinly sliced red onion, and two ounces of quartered mushrooms. Arrange the greens on a serving plate, and arrange slices of leftover turkey on top. Drizzle on yogurt dressing, and sprinkle with parsley, goat cheese, and pecans.

Now that you know a few mouth-watering Thanksgiving hacks, maybe all those containers of leftover turkey won’t be so bad after all. Happy eating!

tliang@apachepowwow.com rzeng@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of HOSTTED.COM

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November 2016

Giving Thanks

To Our Teachers

“Sra. Duberke’s encouraging acts, mastery of teaching, and happiness to help have all aided my growth as a student and a person. I’ve grown to understand and love the Spanish language and culture so much.”

— Emily Wu, 12

“Ms. Rolfe’s genuine love for math encourages me to work harder to find the secrets of conquering my hardest class. With her guidance, I’m sure I’ll find the key to math.”

— Kristen Tran, 11

“Mrs. Purcey inspires me to take my time to conclude quality over quantity.

She taught me that as long as the material has value, then you did the best you could.”

— Jocelyn Liao, 9

“Mrs. Crew made us feel welcome, greeting us with a smile and high, upbeat, cheerful voice. She is always friendly and willing to help her students with any math problem.”

— Chrstie Wang, 10

Graphics courtesy of IMAGES.TEMPLATE.NET Photos by ELLIE LEE