2016 october

Page 1

The World Is Our Campus Volume 64, Issue 2

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA STUDENT LIFE pg. 18 What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever gotten while trick-or-treating on Halloween?

Photo by SANDI KHINE

SPORTS pg. 16 A Hand-Off to League: Varsity Football piled on the wins with spectacular plays on both sides of the field this season.

“This one lady who lived on my street gave all passing trick-or-treaters candy...canes, most likely from the Christmas of the previous year. I’m not even sure if they were expired or not.”

October 2016 Also in this issue:

Photo courtesy of SALTCANARY.COM

NEWS pg. 4 Serendipity The Pasadena Human Society recently received $10,000 from anonymous donors.

PERFORMING ARTS pg. 14 Chinese American Dancing Group: Immerse yourself in Chinese culture and traditional dance next month. ACADEMICS pg. 20 Writer’s Block: Some tips for the next time you’re stuck on an essay. CALENDAR pg. 23 Upcoming Korean Dramas: Brace yourself for another binge-watching session of K-dramas debuting this season.

Two AHS Roses in Full Bloom

POWER PAIR Seniors Emi Powers (left) and Maya Khan (right) look forward to an exciting season as Rose Princesses representing the Royal Court before participating in the 128th Rose Parade on Jan. 2, 2017. By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

P

asadena’s Tournament of Roses is an annual New Year’s celebration that has paid tribute to the spirit of the community and love of pageantry for over 100 years. Thousands upon thousands of people gather in the streets of Pasadena or huddle around television screens to witness the Rose Parade in all its glory, filled with eyecatching floats, magnificent marching bands, and equestrian performances. The Rose Bowl Game is played the same day to celebrate collegiate football. Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of the Tournament of Roses is

the Royal Court, an assemblage of seven women chosen to represent Pasadena, the spirit of the tournament, and their respective schools. As the Tournament of Roses enters its 128th year, a new Royal Court has been selected and seniors Maya Khan and Emi Powers have been chosen as Rose Princesses. Their selection is an impressive achievement. Roughly 1000 applicants from the greater Pasadena area compete for the seven prestigious positions. The qualifying round consists of a 15-second introductory period during which applicants try to make a lasting impression on a panel of judges. Roughly 250 applicants then proceed to an interview round. That pool is whittled down to approximately 75 semifinalists which is again filtered through interviews to create a group of finalists.

Maya and Emi were selected from among the 34 finalists, making AHS the most well-represented high school in the Rose Princess community. Being chosen was a remarkable experience for both Apaches. After hearing her name called, Maya was so awestruck that she couldn’t “even remember walking down the steps to get [her] roses and take [her] spot on the court.” Emi, in that moment, “felt so loved and happy” and “couldn’t even believe it was real.” Shouts of parental approval filled the air as the Rose Princesses posed for photos on the stage, enjoying their well-deserved moment of celebration. Each of the princesses contributes a unique dynamic, and together they represent a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, interests, and hobbies. Potential majors for the seven princesses

range from Pre-med to Computer Science to Broadcast Journalism. Their interests lie in varsity sports, music, volunteering, art, and so much more. Though the Rose Princesses exhibit a variety of differences, they were ultimately selected in accordance to a common theme. Beyond being Rose Princesses, what unifies all these women is a belief in the communal good, a passion for their interests, and an attitude of determination. After all, Rose Princess is more than just a title; it’s an obligation and dedication to the community. Rose Princesses will attend dozens of Royal Court events, learn etiquette, promote the Tournament of Roses, and ultimately end their reign as participants in the Rose Parade. The hard work doesn’t detract from the girls’ excitement. Emi in particular is “looking forward to the amazing bonds that [she] is going to create with [her] six new sisters.” Being a Rose Princess is also about understanding the bigger picture and contributing to it. As Maya put it, “you are representing the Pasadena community, your school, as well as your family and people you associate with.” Rose Princesses exhibit an inherent selflessness as model community members. Emi’s urge to give back to her community can be traced back to the fundamental reasons she tried out as a Rose Princess. As a child she looked up to the Rose Princesses as role models, and now she hopes to reciprocate, to “be the role model to those young boys and girls” in the audience. Similarly, Maya felt that becoming Rose Princess would be “the greatest thank you [she could] give to [her] family and friends who have made [her] the young woman [she] is today.” In the midst of all this excitement, it’s still important to stop and smell the roses, to reflect. Maya believes that a rose is a symbol of elegance, as well as love. Beyond that, the rose is also an embodiment of AHS’ educational mantra: blossom here. Congratulations to Maya and Emi, and here’s to a season of growth for us all. wwang@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of NADINE KONG


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