The Apache Pow Wow - April 2017 by The Arcadia Quill

The World Is Our Campus Volume 64, Issue 8

FEATURES pg. 6 Julia of Sesame Street: The 47th season debuts a new Muppet, Julia, to help spread awareness about autism.

Photo courtesy of PASADENA.EDU

NEWS pg. 2 An Affordable Education: Pasadena City College recently unveiled its tuition free program, the PCC Promise.

April 2017

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

“The viewers see beyond her autism. While Julia may be sensitive to loud noises, gets distracted easily, and repeats what others say, she is the artistic Muppet who likes to pick ﬂowers, sing with the group, and play with Abby Cadabby ﬁrst.”

Also in this issue:

Photo courtesy of PINTEREST.COM

CALENDAR pg. 18 Bullet-Journaling: In the age of digital planners, Bullet Journals hope to inspire more creativity and personalization.

OPINION pg. 4-5 A Goodbye: The Opinion Staff cap off the year by leaving us with their own stories, beliefs, and backgrounds. CENTER SPREAD pg. 10-11 Break Free From Stress: With AP tests and ﬁnals approaching, it’s healthy to take a break from the textbooks and tests. SPORTS pg. 17 Making A Splash: Catch up with Swim team, dominating all strokes lately.

CHASING VICTORY

TO PLAYOFFS AND BEYOND Boys and Girls Varsity Track continues its dominance in the Pacific League with convincing victories, numerous personal records, and tight team chemistry. By TRINITY CHHAY & CHRISTINA READ Sports Editors

aving conquered at the Don Green, Mt. Carmel, and the world-renowned Arcadia Invitational, Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field has had an upbeat and satisfying season. So far, it has dominated with top scores against the majority of its competition. At its most recent meet with Crescent Valley High on Apr. 19, Arcadia snagged a sweeping victory on both levels. Girls Varsity placed 1st in the San Gabriel

Valley at the recent SGV championships, while Boys Varsity ranked a close 3rd. As it heads into League Finals and CIF, the team continuously has its game face on against each opponent. Track and Field has stayed consistent with its outcomes, as well as its enthusiasm, all year. With both Boys and Girls Varsity heading into League Finals with impeccable 8-0 League records, the teams have the skill and the confidence to come out shining. Both teams will be League Champions this year, and this season marks the girls’ 11th straight League Championship as well as its 11th straight undefeated season.

So how has the team maintained its perfect record? Its runners, jumpers, and throwers have lived by the motto “practice makes perfect”. The team works hard every day in order to maintain its fitness and build its individual skills. Each member works diligently to improve their weaknesses and, as junior Derek Li stated, “Everyone’s been working really hard to do their best.” Junior Daphne Wu reflected that she feels good about her season because she has “never stopped pushing [herself], which was really good because it made [her] realize how much [she] could do and what [she] needed to work on.” Although the already ambitious

team has its fair number of awards and titles, the team continuously strives to be at its best, no matter the sweat or pace of the game. As the season comes to a close, the team is starting to look towards its future and make goals for both its upcoming meets and the seasons ahead. While senior Josh Chuang is hoping to create new personal records in two events before he graduates, freshman Nikki Wong is looking forward to CIF and “hoping to make it in,” a remarkable achievement and goal for her first year in high school track. As a freshman competing on Varsity, Nikki shared that she “feels a lot of pressure because [she sees] people that are taller than [her], and bigger than [her],” and it’s a new experience to race against people so much older and more experienced than her. Although each member has their own unique goals and diverse plans for the future, they each encourage themselves and one another in order to reach high and achieve big. In order to get ready for the weeks ahead, Josh is planning on “dialing down” and “focusing on simply enjoying track.” He believes that if he “just really enjoys [his time] and [has] fun, then everything else will fall into place.” Like the rest of the Varsity team, Josh is ready and excited for the long road ahead through League Finals and CIF, both held in May. The team is more than prepared for the stiff competition it will face and is ready for the challenge. tchhay@apachepowwow.com cread@apachepowwow.com Photo by BRIAN SOONG

NEWS

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Tuition-Free PCC By ALYSSA RAVE

Recognition for AUSD’s DCI Team By SARAH WANG

Staff Writer

Pasadena City College (PCC) formally announced a groundbreaking tuition-free program for certain high school graduates at a press conference on Mar. 29. The new program, dubbed the “PCC Promise”, is one of few tuition-free programs among other two-year colleges around the country, inspired by the inﬂation of college tuition within the last 20 years. PCC’s Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Alex Boekelheide told the press that PCC has been planning the PCC Promise for quite a while, stating, “It’s tricky once you start to get into the details of a program like this. We wanted to make sure that we created a program that was sustainable, and reﬂected our own student population, and was something that could live in the long term.” The high expenses of college life is a large obstacle for many people striving to gain further education. According to the President of the Board of Trustees in the Pasadena Area Community College District Ross Selvidge, “Research shows that California needs to produce 1.1 million extra college graduates by 2030 in order to keep our economy growing”, and the availability of programs like these have made college education more affordable for families and give teens opportunities they might not have had without a college degree. With college being an important fac-

The AUSD Digital Communications Internship (DCI) Chromebook Care Team created a video in December to convey an important message to the students and faculty of the Arcadia Schools: Chromebooks need to be taken care of. Led by co-executive producers juniors Melanie Mak and Naomi Silver, 12 DCI interns, Adele Ng, Alan Zhang, Derek Jing, Nick Marshall, Jack Wu, Jarrett Yip, Jeremy Du, Kelly Li, Sarah Wang, Seongwook Jang, Troy Nguyen, and Katie Wen, worked together to create the “Proper Chromebook Care and Tips” video. While the project saw major success and a signiﬁcant decrease in Chromebook damages following its release, the students received another award for their efforts: the 2017 California Schools Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) “Award of Excellence” in CalSPRA’s Excellence in Communications program. This award is the highest distinction in the Multimedia/Visual Communications category. “It’s more important now than ever that schools share our stories, to help parents connect with their children’s schools and to help taxpayers see how districts are spending their precious resources. CalSPRA’s Award of Excellence winners are at the top of their class, successfully building support for and creating an understanding of our public schools,” commended CalSPRA President Music Watson.

tor in success and a stepping stone to having a career, PCC made sure to form the Promise with community support. Multiple K-12 local school districts assisted in creating the program and developing the guidelines and qualiﬁcations. To be eligible for the PCC Promise, high school graduates must have obtained their diploma from any Pasadena Area Community College District public or private high school and register for the fall semester immediately following graduation. The only exception to this rule are students serving the military after high school graduation, who must register the succeeding fall after their service term. Scholars are required to take nine units per semester and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to stay in the program. The PCC Promise will cover all costs for individual students for one academic year after any other scholarships are applied to their term and will be available Fall 2017. arave@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM

Fearless Girl By REIKO INOUE Staff Writer

A small yet powerful statue was erected last March in front of the “Charging Bull” statue in the financial district of Lower Manhattan. This statue, called “Fearless Girl”, was announced to remain there until April of 2018. Shortly after its installation, a petition that called for the statue to become a permanent fixture was created. Over 28,000 people participated in the online petition, prompting officials to extend the statue’s stay until next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio remarked that this was “a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit.” State Street Global Advisors had the statue created by sculptor Kristen Visbal to illustrate the need for more women in corporate boards. Another interpretation is that Fearless Girl is standing up to rising stock prices. The young girl was placed in front of the famous statue of the Wall Street bull to celebrate International Women’s Day, and soon became a symbol for female empowerment. Citygoers took selfies with her and stood by her side with hands on their hips in an imitation of her defiant pose. The great influence of “Fearless Girl” was explained by Mayor de Blasio when he stated that “in her short time here, “Fearless Girl” has fueled powerful conversations about women in leadership and inspired so many.” President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the Women’s March that swiftly followed made the statue’s presence especially meaningful as “she spoke to the moment” and created the “sense that wom-

en were not going to live in fear, that women were going to teach their daughters and all the women in their lives to believe in themselves”. Although the positive responses received about the statue have been “overwhelming,” according to State Street Global Advisors, some critics are pointing out that the statue is a symbol of false feminism. Cara Marsh Shefﬂer of The Guardian called her a display of “corporate feminism” instead of a genuinely inspirational sculpture. Liam Stack of The New York Times wrote that the statue does not represent the struggles of the “more than 14 million women who make up two-thirds of the low wage work force” because it reaches out to only elite women in ﬁnance. Another critic of the statue is Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor of the “Charging Bull” that the girl stands in front of. In an interview, he claimed the new statue is simply an “advertising trick” while his bull is “a symbol of America...prosperity and...strength.” Even with statue’s stay extended, supporters continue to call for “Fearless Girl” to permanently stand in New York City. One supporter is Letitia James, a New York City public advocate. She wrote in a tweet that the statue is “a powerful symbol to women young and old” and that the “empower[ment of] women shouldn’t be temporary.” Whether the statute is simply a marketing ploy or an earnest embodiment of feminism, “Fearless Girl” has certainly sparked a much needed conversation about women in the U.S. rinoue@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of ABC7NY.COM

April 2017

DCI Founder Ryan Foran went on to say, “I am beyond proud of the job our students did on this project, and am grateful that CalSPRA recognized them for their very creative and important work. This was a major project that we spent a lot of time on, and more importantly, it will save our district money and afford more students access to Chromebooks and technology.” When the district realized the number of repairs needed was much higher than anticipated for the Chromebooks distributed across the district, DCI was charged with the task of creating an informative but entertaining video to spread the word. “We needed to get the word to our students about a few simple but important tips and techniques that would reduce the number of repairs we were making to the Chromebooks,” explained AUSD Chief Technology Ofﬁcer Scott Bramley. “I’ve seen the impressive work produced by DCI, and knew they would do a great job with this project.” The interns were also recognized by Arcadia Mayor Tom Beck for their hard work and their CalSPRA “Award of Excellence” at the Arcadia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 4. The event saw all fourteen interns receive the Mayor’s Certiﬁcate of Commendation and a pin bearing the symbol of the City of Arcadia. Congratulations to the AUSD Digital Communications Internship team and keep up the outstanding work! swang@apachepowwow.com

Defunding for Sanctuary Cities By KAITLIN LEE Staff Writer

On Mar. 27, media members in the Press Brieﬁng room were surprised by an appearance from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In his speech, he threatened to strip funding from sanctuary cities if they did not turn in illegal immigrants. “I urge our nation’s states and cities to consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens by refusing to enforce our immigration laws and to rethink these policies,” Attorney General Sessions stated. “Such policies make their cities and states less safe, and put them at risk of losing valuable federal dollars.” Session’s announcement follows President Donald Trump’s executive order in January that will allow him to punish any city that doesn’t willingly hand over illegal immigrants for deportation. This effort to penalize sanctuary cities is one of the latest efforts by the Trump Administration to constrain illegal immigration. However, it is unclear to which territories penalization will apply. Several cities that disallow employees from revealing a person’s immigration information may have exceptions for situations when it is required by law. Furthermore, merely refusing to follow a detainer request doesn’t mean a sanctuary city is breaking a law, since such requests aren’t required in the statute cited by Sessions. According to Sessions, the Department of Homeland Security recently released a report showing that in just one week, there were more than 200 instances of areas that did not follow

detainer requests with respect to people charged or convicted of serious crime. “The charges and convictions against these aliens include drug trafficking, hit and run, rape, sex[ual] offenses against a child, and even murder,” Sessions said. Across the country on Mar. 27, several critics of the crackdown of sanctuary cities explained they have no plans to reverse their policies. They went on to accuse President Trump of wrongfully depicting undocumented immigrants as criminals, though there is no correlation between illegal immigrants and crime. “Instead of making us safer, the Trump administration is spreading fear and promoting race-based scapegoating,” California State Senate President Kevin de León argued in a statement. “Their gun-to-the-head method to force resistant cities and counties to participate in Trump’s inhumane and counterproductive mass deportation is unconstitutional and will fail.” Mayor Joseph Curtatone of Somerville, Massachusetts, said that his city turns in people with serious criminal records and people accused of dangerous crimes to the immigration officials. He stated that the president’s plans would hurt all of the residents by withholding public-safety funding that, in the past, financed programs, such as self-defense classes that help prevent rape. “We’re not harboring any criminals,” Mayor Curtatone said. “It’s dangerous when you have those in authority and power who are not fully informed with the facts making such statements.” klee@apachepowwow.com

April 2017

NEWS

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To Mars, From JPL and SpaceX By KIMBERLY LO Staff Writer

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and SpaceX are working together to make progress on the mission to Mars. With the partnership between JPL and SpaceX, they are hopefully pushing forward the effort to make progress on the mission. JPL and NASA plan to help SpaceX with the mission details such as location and design, and in return JPL and NASA get to use the data obtained from the mission in order to further their knowledge of space. The mission, named Red Dragon, will be an unmanned mission. According to NASA, this mission is meant to test the supersonic retropropulsion technology that is needed to send humans to Mars. Red Dragon is expected to be very heavy, more than ten times the weight of the Curiosity Rover, meaning that the same technology used for the Curiosity Rover landing cannot be used in the same way for the Red Dragon. For the landing site, Arcadia Planitia is a plain area on Mars that appears to be the best option for landing so far. This region is also near ice deposits, which is a good point because the goal is to choose a landing site near resources that could be used for a potential colonization effort, thinking into the future and not just regarding the mission itself. This appears to be a win win situation for the organizations involved. NASA

s t a f f Editors

gains information that would be very helpful in their research and knowledge of Mars without having to construct and carry out the whole mission by themselves. By sending their employees to work on the SpaceX mission, NASA does not need to directly fund the physical building of the Red Dragon. Not only is this mission a goal of people in NASA, JPL, and SpaceX, even President Donald Trump is eager for there to be progress on space exploration. President Trump voiced his wishes for NASA and aerospace companies to collaborate, and this Red Dragon project is the perfect way for them to work together and further human accomplishments in space. SpaceX wishes to send Red Dragon off in the next four years, although this may not happen in the ideal time suggested. From this partnership, NASA can acquire knowledge that will further human understanding of space, while SpaceX also can reach another milestone in its missions. klo@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of WIRED.COM

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Brains and Computers Staff Writer

sary that humans remain at the top of the food chain. If this is true, who will be able to afford neural lace when humans become obsolete? This social inequality between the rich, the middle class, and the poor seems to have an immense toll for the future. Dustin McKissen, the CEO of the strategy ﬁrm McKissen + Company, wrote to CNBC saying, “In other words, not only do the rich seem to get richer—they may get the beneﬁt of having a computer-enhanced brain.” McKissen warns of how this social inequality can have a negative effect on Musk’s neural lace, given that this invention won’t be privileged to the whole human race. As of now, the company Neuralink is registered as a medical research organization. It’s primary goal is to link the human brain with technology without the use of an interface so the human brain can be augmented. This in turn will provide data about certain neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s or epilepsy.

On Mar. 28, Elon Musk took to Twitter to reveal the preparation of his newest company, known as Neuralink. This new innovation could potentially merge the human brain with computers wirelessly through the implantation of electrodes in the brain. Such a link between artiﬁcial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence could improve memory and enhance cognition. Musk’s approach to combine man and machine is proposed through the creation of a new piece of technology called neural lace. This device is implanted into the brain, giving it the ability to directly interact and collaborate with gadgets. Neural lace will form a symbiotic relationship with the brain. In addition, this new implant in the brain can lead to advanced treatments for neurological disorders. The implantation will not require surgery; instead, it will be accomplished by using arteries and veins as they lead to all neurons. The attempt to unite AI with the human brain brings about social issues. Musk’s name is tied to many companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla. It’s not a surprise that he would continue this trend of advancing in technology. Before his creation of Neuralink, Musk feared AI, saying it is “potentially more dangerous than nukes”. Musk believes that humans will eventually fall behind in the race to earthly dominance unless they are equipped vkwang@apachepowwow.com with AI from machines. Musk ﬁnds it neces- Photo courtesy of TECHCRUNCH.COM

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

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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, 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, 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 Maruko Myint 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. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $250 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

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OPINION

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April 2017

To Our Outspoken OpOnions,

FINDING PASSION. By REIKO INOUE Staff Writer

I never really understood what “ﬁnding your passion” meant. There was pressure to do so in order for colleges to be interested in you. I heard stories of people who knew exactly what they wanted to be since they were little. It sounded like I needed to ﬁnd my passion fast and faithfully stick to it if I wanted to live a happy, successful life. That’s when I wondered what my passions were and panicked when I drew a blank. I thought something was wrong with me because wasn’t everyone supposed to know what they wanted to be when they grew up? The fear that I had failed before my adult life had even begun emerged. But I actually did have something close to a passion, I just didn’t realize it. After a while, I forgot about my freak-out session over my future and focused more on the present. When I started high school, I started to gravitate towards subjects I liked and unconsciously surrounded myself with things that I loved. I took an art class at school but felt the itch to learn much more, so I looked up cheap art classes around me. My love for stories grew as we analyzed works in English class. Soon, I listened to podcasts when I was cleaning my room and checking out stacks of books from genres I

wasn’t familiar with from the library. Writing excited me, so I joined the school newspaper. I immersed myself in what entranced me so much that I lost track of time and couldn’t be happier doing so. Right now, I can’t pinpoint what my life’s calling is. What I do know is that I have things that I’m interested in and can’t help but want to learn more about. So that’s what I decided “passion” is: a state of feeling as if you could do something for hours and not even notice the day went by. When you’re “passionate” about something, you’ll make time and space for it in your day. We shouldn’t shoot for ﬁnding precisely what we want to do with the rest of our lives right off the bat; that’s a lot to ask of someone, especially of adolescents. From what I know, we should explore what we are drawn to without worrying about whether it’ll be especially beneﬁcial for our futures or not. Instead of changing ourselves to suit a particular college or career, we should look to tailor our own goals. Because of this, I am no longer so afraid of the word “passion”. I’m not sure I can translate my love for art and English into a career that I can support myself with. But I don’t want to let that inhibit me from doing things that invigorate me just yet. I want to stay curious about the world and expose myself to all that I can. rinoue@apachepowwow.com

A LOSING GAME? By BRADEN WONG Staff Writer

What can I say—winning is fun. Ever since I won my first “Rock, Paper, Scissors”game, I have always enjoyed playing games. They allow interaction, require skill, and test anyone’s ability in any regard. More so, each requires analysis, forethought, and determination in order to improve and succeed—even a game so innocuous as the “War of the Office Supplies”, has become a bitter battle of psychological warfare for me as I have systematically questioned my every move in an effort to cheat a system of otherwise “pure chance”. Of course, to no avail. While I had originally enjoyed games simply for the joy of winning, winning itself has become harder to achieve as standards raise. What defines a win? What are games really about? As I am learning, the biggest game of all has never been about understanding the rules or how to win—it is about understanding the player. Life. A relentless pursuit of passion for the things we know, care for, and love. It is not uncommon for its struggle to be likened to that of a journey, or even a war. Each success is a hardfought battle we take pride in for winning, and each loss one we take comfort in doing our best and hoping on winning the next time. It is much

BEING KOREAN. By KAITLIN LEE Staff Writer

During my entire life, one of the most common conversations I have with a new acquaintance is as follows: “Where are you from?” “California.” “No, where are you from?” “...Los Angeles.” “I mean, where are your parents from?” “South Korea.” “Oh! Do you like K-pop?” “No.” “K-dramas?” “No.” “Then are you even Korean?” At ﬁrst, the questions did not bother me, but as I grew up and was constantly asked these questions, I started to think about my identity and wonder who I was. I supposed I was Korean-American because my parents are Korean themselves, but I can not speak a lick of actual Korean myself. Unlike a lot of other Asian children, I would only talk to my parents in English, and I could not communicate with my relatives. I rely on my sister to translate for me, which disconnects me from my extended family, and because of that, my Korean culture feels distant to me. In America, I would have a hard time connecting with other Korean-Americans because of how different I am. Whenever I talked with other Korean-American girls around my

age, they would ask me if I watched K-dramas, or if I liked any K-pop bands. But I would find that I couldn’t relate to them because I don’t watch K-dramas, nor do I listen to K-pop. Because of that, I abandoned any attempts of acting Korean and acted more American instead. I only wore American clothes. I limited my movie choices to only American films. During meal times I would barely touch my food if it resembled anything from Korea. I purged any remains of my Korean heritage because I felt I was not Korean, I was an American! But soon enough, I found I could not fit into the American ideal as well. For one, I never understood the obsession with sports that so many other Americans held to their hearts. The most prominent reason I felt like an outsider was my appearance. Here I am, a black-haired, brown-eyed girl, instead of the American ideal of a blond, blue-eyed girl. Immediately, people see me as a foreigner, and on the streets, even if I have no idea who they are, I am met with people saying, “ni-hao” or “Konichiwa”. Also, my relatives seemed to dislike the fact that I was an American. When I would talk with my grandmother, she would bemoan the fact that I was born in America. “If you were born here in Korea,” she would say, “you would be so much better! You shouldn’t stay in America forever because you belong in Korea!” It was as if she had forgotten that I needed a translator to even talk with her. Now, there was a tug-of-war inside my soul, pulling me to the other ends of my identity. I am Korean! No, American! I was no longer a

like a round of “Rock, Paper, Scissors”. Except each win “counts”. Some deem it childish to call life, something regarded as a very serious matter, a game, but in the end I cannot find a more fitting description. A game in which we live in, where stakes are set to the highest. No matter how many lost games I may shrug off, I am still haunted by an actual loss in life. Life is the only game where victory is not clearly set. As humans, we may develop games with clear victory and an endgame to fill in this role, and perhaps makeup for what we find life is missing—satisfactory winning. But that doesn’t allow us to “win” in life. After the game is over, we are once again re-immersed in the game that encompasses all. In the end, the only way one can truly find a win in life is through understanding oneself and what victory is—to you. An “endgame” that is clearly set. What will you call a victory, besides a shiny trophy or the belated cheers of the crowd? Life is full of chances, even if not second tries. Failure daunts and brings down upon every person, but it is up to us how to handle it. Will we wallow in defeat, or stand up the next chance we get? After all, life is as grand a game can get—winning is only part of the journey. bwong@apachepowwow.com

A LOVE.

person with a nationality or a country, instead, I became a nomad, moving between two different worlds, and never truly belonging in any. Then one day, I read about the history of Korea. In my book, I discovered the lack of integrity Koreans suffered throughout their history. They were ﬁrst controlled by the Chinese, then conquered by the Japanese during World War Two, and just afterward their country split in two and led to the Korean War. Because of this, Koreans now always search for their individuality. They form groups and join together in unity, knowing that they share an interest or goal. To me, it resembled the American spirit. Americans also join groups in a search for purpose because their existence was always questioned, whether it was due to the Revolutionary War or the Civil War. The United States was formed around the idea of the American dream of being born a pauper and growing up to live like a prince, just like Korea strived to become one of the most powerful countries in the world after starting out as the weakest. I learned that the struggle for belonging, the struggle for an identity, does not mean I do not have a nationality or a country, it just means that I am human. I may have more “American” likes and interests, but in my blood, I carry the story of my Korean ancestors and the troubles that they have carried I bear as well. And no matter what other people may say or think, my true nationality can’t be deﬁned by my ancestry nor my interests. klee@apachepowwow.com

By NOELLE NATIVIDAD Staff Writer

Not everything good is meant to go together, it is only when light can turn the darkness was it ever meant to be. And so they walked away with bruised, battered, though-still hearts, knowing that love was the remnant. Once, She must have loved him. A time long ago, Her heart must have beat with triumphant grace, Knowing, clinging, trusting, But it was the summer breeze that whispered in her ear, That passion would not hold together what only love could. To me, It was always just a story, A tale of something that had been, When long ago, just as it is, There was a boy and girl. The eye of the storm, The brush of danger, The ﬂash of vivid bliss. It was a romance that began and ended with: Passionate trepidation, Wild feelings, Untamed, Unchained, Unlimited. But so easily shattered, Love come and gone, Turned ﬁckle with the elements of the earth. I knew then, There was a difference, A mighty divide, Passion is not forever, But a promise of it. Some ties may be broken, But others meet the horizon, Where darkness meets light. nnatividad@apachepowwow.com

OPINION

theopinionsection@gmail.com

April 2017

We are incredibly sad to leave as your editors. One of the greatest things about Opinion is that we get to hear each other’s individual stories. We’ll laugh, cry, contemplate, and learn. These articles all speak for themselves. We hope you notice the gravity of your voice and the passion in your hearts. Don’t n t cease to write the unadulterated you.

A MOTHER’S LOVE. By PAUL LEE Staff Writer

“Sleep more, eat more, and stay safe,” was the last thing my mother had said before she left to Hong Kong a month ago. I turned away, clenched my jaws, and quietly grunted in annoyance from her unsolicited advice. I never eagerly listened to or heeded her pieces of advice because that same advice limits what I can do in life. Growing up, my mother would always monitor my movement, my speech, and everything I do. Just to name a few, she would place platefuls of food even if I told her I’m beyond full. Likewise, even if I told her that I have an important exam tomorrow and need to do some last minute cramming, she nevertheless would intentionally stay up all night to close my unpredictable alarm before it would wake me up. She would also frequently put on a fake smile to brighten my mood, only for me to hear her cry in her room, hidden from me, promptly afterward. Her love remained unappreciated and unacknowledged for the majority of my life. I misinterpreted her love as the bane to my freedom, a hindrance in my childhood. My mother and I argued for the majority of our lives, and

even if we were not arguing, we would ignore each other for the sake of not getting into another argument. Our tension grew because we misunderstood each other. I thought of her advice as punishments, and she thought of me as a rebellious teenager, causing trouble without justiﬁcation. Since living without the presence of my mother, I’ve learned to appreciate the unbreakable bond that I share with my mom. Now, I relish the times when my mom told me to eat more, sleep more, and be happier. I ﬁnally realized that I have been wrong all along. My mom’s actions were results of her love; her efforts ensure that I have a healthy childhood, allowing me to have a happier life! While acknowledging her love, I’ve also observed that I’ve regretfully consumed my precious time with my mom for destructive arguments. The time we have with our loved ones is limited. No love is greater than our parents’ love. Let us not lose sight of their love, but value them while they’re still with us. Life is short after all. When they peacefully depart from us to a better world, let us say “I’m glad I did,” instead of “I wish I had.” Dear Mom, I get it now. Your love fuels my passion. plee@apachepowwow.com

THE QUALITY. By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

When asked what I believe is the most important quality any person can have, I’ve always answered something along the lines of someone who has passion in what they do. Although it might seem like a very typical and almost cliche answer, I’ve always truly believed that someone who possesses desire and commitment when they act is someone who will achieve success the ﬁrst. Often times we unintentionally associate having passion with “work”, but many of us don’t realize that passion is very simply having enthusiasm and a strong drive for something. Entering high school, they always tell freshmen, “join an organization you’re passionate about, it’ll make school go by so much faster.” While I always kept this thought in my head, I never realized the importance of being fully dedicated to a program until I guess you could say, I realized I had no devotion for anything. I encountered a short period of time where I found myself unhappy with the work I was producing and each day I had this indescribable feeling that I wasn’t getting anywhere. Starting with a fresh mindset, I decided to put in more time in my work, and looking back, I realize that I during this time, all I was really doing was committing wholeheartedly in my actions. While it might not sound like much, changing

my mindset from doing things to get them done, to doing things because I desired doing them made all the difference. I felt happier not just because my work was something that I was now proud to take credit for and of higher quality, but because I enjoyed the process of creating the final product. Something that I once dreaded doing was faced with more enthusiasm and positivity. Even though it might sound simple, it is difficult to just change your mindset and start devoting a desire to do something, which is why it’s always emphasized that you should try new things and find that something that you enjoy. I honestly believe that once you choose to have passion in an organization or even school, you’ll see more self growth, improvements, and you learn more lessons that can only be gained through experience. Personally, it’s always an inspirational moment to get to talk to someone who is excited about their work and show obvious commitment towards their goals and actions. I always leave the conversation wanting to work just as hard and be as proud of what I’ve done. In the end, you start to discover that those most willing to take risk, are hardest working, and look forward to the future ahead of them are usually people who are strongly devoted in what they do. Find passion in what you do, and that’ll make all the difference in success and outcome of your work. fcheung@apachepowwow.com

IT’S FOREIGN. By KAYLI MAK Staff Writer

I do not know of anything that I am passionate about. Any sort of passion is foreign to me. This is probably because I do not think of myself as a passionate person. By the Google definition, a passionate person is either “showing strong feelings or a strong belief” or “showing intense feelings of sexual love”. First, I would prefer to be considered “perpetually irritated”, but not intensely so. As for the second definition, my inner 10-year-old says “ew”. Unlike me, my friends are mostly passionate people. Several of them are particularly vehement about the boys that they have had crushes on since elementary school. Many of them get enormously emotional and excited over anime. A smaller percentage of them get similarly frenzied and eager over various (male) K-pop idols. More often than not, I am lying next to them on the floor, inserting unenthusiastic commentary where it is never welcome. Unlike my anime-obsessed friends (who worked themselves into hysterics when the second season of Attack on Titan came out), I do not show strong emotions or romantic affection. I do

not randomly confess to my “true love”, yell angrily about global warming and climate change, or get randomly happy at the sight of Korean singers. I am just not wired to be that way. As a matter of fact, I was wired to mope around, not particularly motivated by any powerful feelings or strong beliefs. Nothing really gets me as excited or emotional as it probably would with other, more passionate people. I do get slightly annoyed on occasion, such as when my lab group does not do any work on a huge project, and then does not show up to argue for points later. I do not consider this “passion”. It is not “strong and barely controllable emotion”. This type of anger is just a small part of my life. In the end, everything will eventually pass by, so I let it. So, I would like to think that I am laid back. For certain laid back people, a passion is very difﬁcult to come across. It is just very awkward and kind of incredibly burdensome to ﬁnd a hobby, object, person, or concept that evokes such strong feelings. Because this is the case, perhaps I do not need a passion. After all, I am completely alright with going through life without being overly emotional about anything. kmak@apachepowwow.com

PERSEVERING. By ANABELL XU Staff Writer

There are lots of things I was obsessed with as a seven-year-old. Among the slew of stuffed animals, cheap color pencils, and horse posters sat a small tub filled to the brim with Pokémon cards. I was absolutely obsessed with these flimsy pieces of paper. I collected as many of them as possible like the Pokémon crazed child I was and shoved them into that tiny little tub. My sisters and I would dump them onto the floor and arrange them as best as we could. I would argue fiercely with my fellow seven-year-olds at school about how to tell a fake card from a real one, geek out over my friend’s Arceus, and trade like the stingy little gradeschooler I was. Pokémon was my obsession, and my passion was collecting Pokémon cards. The years wore on. I slowly stopped obsessively organizing my collection. As I entered fifth grade, my heated discussions faded away. The small tub slowly moved to the back of my desk and eventually into the garage, alongside my Dr. Seuss books and a scruffy-looking Neopet. By the time sixth-grade began, all my thoughts of card-collecting and Pokémon had vanished from my mind. Pokémon collecting was my passion, my life, my everything. I spent so many waking moments, even sleeping ones, thinking about those cards. And it had vanished in the span of a single year. What happened to my hobby, my motiva-

tion, my life? Where had my passion gone? My passion was, and still is, a volatile, fickle, temperamental thing; raging with excitement one moment, and lying dormant as a rock the next. It bores quickly, moves on without consideration of the past, and plunges all of its energy into something new and exciting before deserting that, too. Sometimes I wonder, if I had continued to collect Pokémon cards, even after my passion for it had died out, would I have completed my collection? If I had pushed ahead with my painting, would I have finished it? If I hadn’t given up on learning to cook, would I be able to make a decent meal by now? Passion is important. It’s crucial for getting started on anything and everything, but it runs out fast the moment it hits an obstacle. It’s hard to keep going when things get tough. It’s difficult to continue to lose when once all you did was win. But in order to ever accomplish anything, you need to persevere even when all your initial passion is lost, whether that be in the form of Steve Jobs continuing to pursue his dream of creating a company, or a seven-yearold collecting Pokémon cards to “catch ‘em all”. So even though I’m too late to save my love for Pokémon cards from the darkness of the abyss, I’m just in time to rescue my new ambitions, even if I have to drag my passion along the hard, rocky road step by step. axu@apachepowwow.com All photos by ELLIE LEE

FEATURES

theapachepowwow.com

April 2017

Tech to Save Up For By CHRISTY QIU Staff Writer

There seems to be new, cool technology coming out every other week, but along with these great gadgets are also big price tags. Here are some awesome, yet affordable gadgets to save up for either as a gift to someone else or just a treat for yourself! 1. Bluetooth Tracking Tag Are you always freaking out about losing your phone or wallet? This gift will save the day–just attach it to the item of your choice and connect it to another appliance. 2. Amazon Echo Dot Are you someone who’s too lazy to get off the couch and turn off the lights? This item can do the job for you! Just use voice commands, like “turn off lights”, “play my music”, “set alarm at 7:00 a.m.”, “turn on the AC”, and more. 3. Polaroid Printer Most Polaroid owners have struggled with taking the perfect picture since every picture instantly prints. This item solves the problem! Just connect your phone to the printer and select the perfect picture to print out, and voila–a perfect Polaroid picture! 4. Phonesoap Smartphone Sanitizer After a day’s use, your phone’s screen is probably contaminated with thousands of germs. Zap the germs away with this UV sanitizer that takes care of the dirty work for you. These technology will deﬁnitely be a great new addition for anyone who is interested in the future technology. So, which item will you purchase? cqiu@apachepowwow.com

By ALYSSA RAVE Staff Writer Staf

April is the month where spring weather begins to make itself familiar and colorful vegetation ﬁnishes sprouting. For some, April means Easter, April Fool’s, and numerous outdoor activities. For others, however, April would mean Independence Day, Flag Day, and Republic Day celebrations. Countries around the world have unique holidays to accommodate special events in its history, holidays that hroughout the year, take place all throughout eing no excepwith April being tion. a, April In Africa, olidays holds many holidays for various countries within the ince continent. Since we 1980, Zimbabwe has observed its Independence ritDay from Britain on Apr. 18 ane with public plane exhibitions over the capital, sings, and ing, speeches, ound the parades around er African country. Other Independence Days include egal and Apr. 27 for Apr. 4 for Senegal nd Togo. Apr. 26 is known Sierra Leone and as Union Day for Tanzania, the anniversary of when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania

in 1964, commemorated by an annual parade. Additionally taking place on Apr. 27, Freedom Day is passionately recognized in South Africa to honor the 1994 act giving non-whites the right to vote. On Apr. 30, the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles observe Queen’s Day, the annual recognition ion of Queen Juliana’s Birthday ay in 1909 and when Queen Beatrix rix arose to the throne in 1980. Following the abdication of

Queen Quee Beatrix in 201 2013, her elde eldest son ascended as King, marking Ap Apr. 27 as King’s Day for the country. This unique holiday is celebrated with parties, parades, marches, dancing, singing, and festivals around towns, show-

casing such crowded streets that any transportation besides walking is impossible. In Vatican City, Apr. 24 is the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s coronation in 2005, another special April holiday in Europe. April Independence Days are observed in Syria on Apr. 17 and Israel on Apr. or May 14, with hono honorary ceremonies, while Iran enthu enthusiastically re remembers its 1979 formation form o f the I s lamic Republic Repu on Apr. Apr 1 as a national na and pu public holiday. CelebraCele tory days happen each yyear in countries around the world, but an innumerable size of people have no idea what kind of serious festivals exist beyond their own borders. This April, take the time to study up on the countless distinctive celebrations that occur in neighboring continents and see if you learn something new in history. arave@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of EMAZE.COM and PICSHYPE.COM

Introducing Julia of Sesame Street By CAMILLE MARQUEZ Staff Writer Staf

Sesame Street is presenting a new Muppet in its 47th season for the first time in a decade! Her name is Julia, a muppet with fiery red hair, green eyes, a cheerful personality, and autism. Autism spectrum disorder is a mental condition that affects 1 in 68 children in the U.S. It is characterized by challenges in social skills, speech, nonverbal communication, forming relationships, and comprehending abstract concepts. Unfortunately, over 63 percent of kids with autism are bullied. This is mostly due to a misunderstanding and lack of awareness of this disorder and failure to recognize the affliction it leaves, especially among children. Julia first appeared as an illustration Sesame’s

Digital Storybook story, “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children.” The Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street designed Julia to be a part of the campaign that will help to reduce the stigma of autism. Because autism is a spectrum, and is different for everyone, it can be hard to introduce. Thus, the show spent years in communicating with the experts and organizations in the autism community, ty, such as the Autism Society of America, to create this green-eyed muppet’s character. Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop’s senior senio vice president elaborated that, “We wanted to promote a better understanding and reduce the stigma often found around these children. We’re modeling the way both children and adults can look at autism fr from a strength-based perspective: finding things that all children share.” In Julia’s Julia first episode, the audience will see the common scenarios people with autism face. For instance, Julia shows her excitement tto play a game of tag with the Muppets by jumping up and down. Inother Muppet criticizing her, they join her in jumpstead of criti ing and turn it into a fun game. Additionally episode, she pays no attention to Big in the episode

Bird when he arrives. He mistakenly takes this as a sign of dislike or annoyance and is hurt, but later realizes Julia simply communicates with strangers in a different way. Stacey Gordon, Julia’s puppeteer, takes this role personally since she used to do therapeutic work for people with autism and has a kid with the condition as well. She believes Sesame Street will be a great resource for autistic kids and for kids to learn about autism. She said, “It’s important for kids without autism to see what autism can look like. Man, I really wish that kids in my son’s class had grown up with a Sesame Street that had modeling of the behavior of inclusion of characters with autism.” The viewers see beyond her autism. While Julia may be sensitive to loud noises, gets distracted easily, and repeats what others say, she is the artistic Muppet who likes to pick ﬂowers, sing with the group, and play with Abby Cadabby ﬁrst. Although it is unclear whether or not Julia will be a permanent character, she is scheduled to appear in two more episodes.

April 2017

FEATURES

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Living Inside A Rock

Colors

By TIFFANY LIANG By ELAINE VUONG Staff Writer

Rainbows. Skittles. Colors. Everywhere people look, colors are there to help make the world a brighter place. In fact, even transparency is a color. Everything has a color and although people may not take notice of it everyday, colors do so much more for us than just waste cartridge ink. Colors have the ability to control our emotions and even heal people. By understanding colors and how they affect us, people will appreciate colors and coloring more. Red, blue, yellow, purple, pink, and many other colors have certain meanings to them. Red symbolizes intensity, danger, determination, and passion, and is the color of blood and ﬁre. Hence, red roses are typically given to loved ones and lovers. Pink stands for delicacy, compassion, and sweetness. Despite pink being a manly color, it is also a feminine color which is why many gender reveals for children have pink balloons or hints for girls. Another color such as yellow stands for happiness and positivity. Yellow is the color of the sunshine and is a color that contradicts itself because it can also represent cowardice and deceit. All of these colors and much more have so much depth and meaning behind them and can be found just by looking up at the sky. Aside from symbolization and representation, colors impact people’s emotions and can cause them to feel happy one moment and angry the next. In color psychology, people are prone to be affected emotionally and mentally by varying colors. Two categorical groups of col-

ors include warm colors and cool colors. Warm colors include red, yellow, and orange; blue colors include green, blue, and purple. Studies have shown that when people stare at the color red, their heart rate can increase or spark adrenaline. Warm colors can create hostility, anger, comfort, or warmth in people. In contrast, cool colors often create feelings of sadness and calmness. The effect of these groups can be apparent when trying to find a certain environment. For instance, if someone wants to find a peaceful environment to study in, a good room or place would have cool colors incorporated around. As for eating and eventful occasions, warm colored rooms would be best for a fun time or to stir people’s appetites. With colors being so prominent in our daily lives, many marketers use colors as a way to attract and advertise their products and stores, especially eateries. Another benefit colors have on people is chromotherapy. Chromotherapy, also known as color therapy, is a form of treatment that uses colors and light to heal the body, mind, and spirit. In color therapy, the color red is utilized to stimulate and increase the flow of blood. There have been instances in which red colored baths and red light therapy has helped patients recover from their paralytic states. Chromotherapy, although a very ancient practice, is a sure-fire way to help people without inflicting too much pain. All in all, colors have much more influence than what we may believe they do and should not be taken for granted. evuong@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of IMGARCADE.COM

Self-Driving Ubers

Staff Writer

French artist Abraham Poincheval took the saying “living under a rock” to a whole new level when he attempted to survive inside a boulder in the Paris art museum for one week straight. To explore the concept of time, Poincheval encased himself with two boulder halves that closed around his body shape. Equipped with nothing but water, soup, dried meat, storage for his own excrement, an emergency phone, and a slim crack to the outside world, he remained inside the rock for an entire week with the sole purpose of enhancing his artistic viewpoint. This act made headlines everywhere, affecting people all over the world. “People seem to be very touched,” Poincheval expressed. “They come and talk in the crack, read poetry ares or their to me, or tell me their nightmares ed, “They dreams.” However, he explained, e, I think, are not so much talking to me, as the stone. I am very happy that the s.” When stone has gotten into their heads.” asked about his experiences inside ed it the rock, Poincheval described ut as “traveling in this rock without d moving, like an astronaut,” and as “tripping.” k, While inside the rock, however, Poincheval possessed a few worries of his own, including his lost concept of time. Rather than fearing the enck closed space, he feared his lack of sleep due to his inability to use perceive the time of day. Because rkne rk ness, ne he was bathed in complete darkness,

Photo courtesy of O2.COM

Rage Room By NATHAN GUO

By RACHEL LEE

Staff Writer

Introduced in late 2016, the Advanced Technology Group (ATG), Uber’s self-driving unit, has attracted much attention. Some looked upon this prospect with criticizing eyes, while others viewed this as a hint of the quickly approaching futuristic world. Self-driving cars have the possibility to forever change the world for the better; “1.3 million people die every year in car accidents — 94% of those accidents involve human error,” according to Uber. Cars relying on navigation technology have the ability to save countless human lives, as well as provide a less expensive and more efﬁcient means of transportation. Uber is working to renovate transportation to make it “as reliable as running water.” How are the ubers going to operate? The ubers are hybrid Ford Fusions, and are designed with “a variety of sensors including radars, laser scanners, and high-resoolution cameras

without the presence of a watch, it would be nearly impossible to judge what could be going on in the outside world. “I have some idea of time relative to the museum hours. I hear different sounds,” Poincheval explained. “But otherwise I have no sense of day and night.” When asked about his sleeping habits, he said “I can sleep but it is very hard. It is very strange. I don’t know whether I am sleeping or not.” While most people would feel very conﬁned if they were only able to move their hands and feet a few inches, he claimed, “I do not feel oppressed by the rock. I feel completely at ease, in real connection with it.” After spending an entire week in the conﬁnes of a rock, the artist described his emotional experie ti experiences, admitting that it had been a bit of a rol rollercoaster. “It’s very complex. You pass from one feeling to another. Like you are being carried away on a raft.” While this performanc performance may seem bizarre and frightening to the majority, Poincheval is no stra stranger to it. He is constantly seeking ou new and hair-raising experiences out to enhance his artistic abilities, incl cluding living inside a bear, being bu buried for eight days, and navigating France’s Rhone River trapped inside a giant plastic corked bottle. Poincheval now attempts to become a human hen and hatch a dozen eggs by sitting on them for we weeks on end. tliang@apachepowwow.com

to map details of the environment.” While the car is in motion, it is “collecting mapping data as well as testing its self-driving capabilities.” However, fear not, “a trained driver will be in the driver’s seat monitoring operations” in case the situation goes awry. However, many are quick to oppose this futuristic invention, stating that the countless problems outweigh its benefits. On the early days of Uber’s self-driving commercial testing, one of the cars ran a red light due to human error. This brings up the possible dangers that could arise in the future, as well as one of the significant flaws that got overlooked in its daunting production process. Additionally, the improvement level concerning the “trial-and-error” portion of the real-world testing has shown little to no progress, causing the safety drivers to constantly take over the wheel and regain controll of the sys system. These problematic incidents are enough to shed a negative light over Uber’s ’s prospects prospects, and cause the public eye to gain suspicion oover the company’s reliability. Neverthe Nevertheless, the ingenious prospect of self-dri self-driving appears promising, and can provide many benefits to our ca indu industrializing nation. rlee@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of BBC.COM

Let’s face it. Everyone gets angry. You scream, you shout, and sometimes, that’s good enough. However, once in awhile, you just want to break things. You want to kick and burn and throw whatever you can get your hands on. A teenager in the 1990’s by the name of Donna Alexander recognized this problem and wanted to fix it. She wanted a place to utterly destroy everything in sight. But she couldn’t. Because she was just a teenager and her parents would get mad. Donna envisioned a space where people could release their tension by demolishing useless junk. The only problem was turning it into reality. Finally, in 2008, Donna put this plan to work and with the help of her friends, collected items people threw away on the curb, like couches, bottles, and TVs. Donna then put all of her collected trash in her garage and let anybody who paid $5 to just have at it. It was an instant success and as time would tell, a profitable business. In 2012, Donna’s first Anger Room

opened up in Dallas, Texas. For a $25 fee, visitors get ﬁve minutes of crushing ofﬁce equipment, furniture, mannequins, and much more with baseball bats, hammers, shovels, planks, and other blunt objects. The popularity of the Anger Room has spread as well. In recent years, similar businesses have cropped up all over the US, with a few of them located in Atlanta, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. Many of them, including the original Anger Room, have websites where reservations and packages can be bought. Anger rooms have also come to Los Angeles. Although branded separately from the original anger room, there are a few that exist in California. A popular one is just a drive away in Los Angeles. So next time, when you’re in Dallas, Texas, be sure to head over to the Anger Room for a few quick minutes of destructive and effective relief. nguo@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of BUSINESSINSIDER.COM

STUDENT LIFE

theapachepowwow.com

WHAT MOVIES

April 2017

HAVE YOU WATCHED?

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

Movies have always been the perfect way to pass time or a simple way to bond with friends or loved ones. Recently there have been many new releases that have gained much popularity and positive feedback. This may be because many of these popular releases are based on past movies or stories that have previously been well liked and by the audience. For instance, Power Rangers is a movie based on the old 1990s Japanese television show that has already been made into movies several times but is making a comeback once again. Regardless with spring break recently passed, many students had the opportunity to enjoy a few hours at their local theaters. Most of us have probably heard of the recent remake of the old Disney story, Beauty and the Beast directed by Bill Condon, starring Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. Bringing back most people to childhood days, most students were excited to watch the new take on the classic story, and theaters were nearly completely filled during the debut weekend. For freshman Molly Qian, “the start was a bit slow at first, but it got nice towards the end. It was a rather good movie with a lot of singing, and overall worth it.” Despite most already knowing the plot by heart, it’s still a fascinating experience for many to see how Hollywood brings the plot to life. Another movie that has been in demand lately is Logan, directed by James Mangold and starring Hugh Jackson. This superhero film stars the Marvel Comics character, Wolverine, in the future. Following this catch, most X-men characters that many of are familiar with are aged in their appearance and even in their powers. In this futuristic plot, Wolverine, better known as Logan, assists a young mutant that is very much like him. Sophomore Jill Chen said, “I thought it would be super violent and full of rage, but there was this family love that touched me so much. I thought it would end the way it did, and I really appreciated the way Logan acted in the movie.” Movies are great ways to relax during the weekends and many times, they inspire a lot of thought and emotion in the audience. With so many great new releases that are now showing, maybe consider taking some time to sit down, eat some popcorn, and enjoy yourself.

Beauty and the Beast: 33% Logan: 11% The Boss Baby: 11% Power Rangers: 6% Kong: Skull Island: 11% None: 28%

fcheung@apachepowwow.com

STUDENTS CHOOSE:

favorite characters from

DISNEY By NICOLE SOONG Staff Writer

Disney produced lots of movies and characters that accompanied our childhood, including all the princesses, Buzz, Woody, and more. Nevertheless, which characters do AHS students love most? Junior Karen Thai likes Russell from Up “because he is often positive, happy, adventurous, and funny. He gets along well with everyone he meets and can even bring out the good side in the grumpy old man Carl,” which she thinks is very similar to her own characteristics. In the movie, Russell beholds a spirit that somewhat reminded Carl of Ellie in Russell’s curious nature and determination to do the right thing in helping Kevin, and they bonded in a grandfather/grandson-like relationship. On the other hand, Mulan from Mulan is very popular among AHS students, including juniors Michelle Shi, Katherine Wu, and Katie Thin. Katherine admires Mulan because “in a country where women were supposed to look pretty, Mulan became a war hero and showed the society that women can also be strong.” The original story of Mulan was based on the fifth-century Chinese poem “The Ballad of Mulan”. The original poem was originally a short fable, designed to show gender equality, but in the following centuries, it was developed until Hua Mulan became a legendary figure. Besides that, junior Brandon Mejia likes Tinker Bell “because [he] can relate to her since [he is] very headstrong and stubborn ... [and] because she is one of the main symbols for Disneyland and [his] favorite colors are green and yellow.” Tinker Bell was at first only designed to be a supporting character, and was described by her creator as “a common fairy”, but her animated incarnation was a hit and has since become a widely recognized unofficial mascot of The Walt Disney Company. Junior Kurtis Chu likes Lewis from Meet the Robinsons because “Lewis grows as a person when he travels through the future and it’s cool because you can see him change from a selfish kid to a more mature caring person. This combined with the cool inventions that he creates, makes him [his] favorite Disney character.” Lewis was derived from the original A Day With Wilbur Robinson storybook, in which he was a friend of Wilbur who served as the narrator as he visited his friend’s large and strange home. These are some of the favorite Disney Characters that were chosen by AHS students; which ones are your favorites? nsoong@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of WALLPAPERCAVE.COM

April 2017

studentlife.powwow@gmail.com

STUDENT LIFE

COMMUNITY SERVICE MONTH By CAMILLE MARQUEZ Staff Writer

There’s a multitude of ways to give back to your community. Whether it be at an animal adoption shelter, a hospital, an elementary school, and so forth, these volunteering experiences can often change our perspectives and lives. Doing these enriching services goes far beyond than a statement in a college application. Community Service Month allows people to get involved, and share their support, expertise, and time to help! We asked our Apaches their most memorable and favorite volunteering experiences. Sophomore Aileen Catanyag said, “I enjoy volunteering for the literacy program hosted by the Latino Club at Holly Avenue. We were asked to help children do homework and such. We'd usually watch movies with them, and since there were only around ten children, we got to become close with them after ten two hour shifts every Thurs-

day. The movies are the best part!” Working with kids often teaches us skills of patience, tolerance, responsibility, and more that we can carry throughout our whole lives. When asked about her volunteer experience, sophomore Grace Mohandoss talked about volunteering with Homeless to Forever Foundation, a nonproﬁt animal rescue organization. “My favorite volunteering experience

was volunteering with my friends at PetSmart for the Homeless to Forever Foundation. We helped set up the crates for the animals, walked the dogs, gave them treats, and looked after the cats. I loved interacting with the pets and being there with my friends. I even got a cat from the program a few weeks later!” Almost every animal shelter provide volunteering opportunities, including interacting with the pets themselves!

Being engaged with these furry companions makes you aware of pet ownership and animal protection. Sophomore Vanessa Zhang spoke about her involvement with the Homeless to Forever foundation as well. “It’s always so fun to volunteer with my best friends at PetSmart! I also get to spend time with the dogs, which are my favorite animals! We walk them around the store and keep them company, since they rarely get such an intimate one-on-one interaction like that. I always happily leave and I can’t wait to do it again.” Getting involved with our community to beneﬁt it makes a lasting impression on ourselves too, but for a different reason. While we may usually volunteer to receive hours or enhance our college application, we leave with a new feeling of compassion and outlook, and we ﬁnd ourselves wanting to serve again. cmarquez@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of NHSD.ORG

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

French Club

By CHRISTY QIU Staff Writer

France is one of the top travel destinations on Earth, so it’s no wonder that many AHS students have also developed an interest in the country. Thus, French club was created, and throughout the years, it has gained much popularity. What exactly happens during a French Club meeting? Current French Club secretary junior Samantha Lei, explained, “We learn about French culture through short presentations and fun videos. Once in awhile, we also have samples of cheese and other French delicacies, such as croissants, and when the French exchange students visit, we get to ask them questions to learn about their lives in France.” Moreover, French Club holds many fun, special events, which you definitely do not want to miss! Junior Chi Tsai, the ICC representative, expressed, “The biggest event of the year is either the cheese party at the beginning of the year or the banquet at the end of the year. The cheese party is the first after-school bonding event that French Club hosts, and we really get to know each other. We have the time to sit down, chat, and eat different types of cheese during the whole event. It really gives the officers and the club members a chance to form a new friendship. The banquet, on the other hand, is a special event because that’s when we wrap up our year and try some authentic French food for a really good price. During the banquet, everyone can reflect on their favorite or least-favorite moments with a laugh. Also, we celebrate the new members of the French Honor Society and have an initiation for them.” So, why should people join French Club? Samantha enthused, “It's fun! You get to meet new people, learn about the uniqueness of French culture, and even if you aren't taking the class, you can still participate in all the activities.” Some of the current members, such as junior Joy Ormseth, are not taking French, but are still happy to be a part of the club. Joy proudly said, “I joined French Club because I wanted to get more involved in the school, and French Club combined my desire to meet more people and my love for European countries. I also want to go backpacking through Europe in the future, and France is definitely one of the destinations!” On the other hand, most members are part of AHS’ French program. For example, junior Stella Chen stated that “I joined the club because I’m in the class and if I join the club, I can be in French Honor Society.” Do you like French cuisine, French fashion, or French language? If so, come check out French Club, on Mondays in J111, where all things French is discussed! cqiu@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of CHI TSAI

HOW TO

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April 2017

By MARUKO MYINT Staff Writer

For many of us at AHS, the season of spring brings the ominous task of preparing for the dreaded AP exams. In the face of huge tests and exams, we often force ourselves into endless hours of studying and reviewing, sometimes pushing ourselves beyond our physical and mental limit. Both internal and external sources of expectations and stress make it easy for us to have our mental health take a backseat—a mentality that needs to be changed. Keeping our mental health in top condition should always be our top priority, and responsibly coping with our stress can help achieve that. Basic tips such as eating healthy and sleeping well are crucial to your journey, but there are so many other possible methods to try as well. Here are some other ways that you can try! As a reminder, these are all suggestions that you can take and personalize to your own situation. Coping with stress varies from person to person, so there is no singular solution that is correct, it just depends on you! mmyint@apachepowwow.com

RELAXATION NIGHT Dedicate a sizeable chunk of time to relaxation and take a break from your work. Although studying for a certain test is important, set aside time where you can enjoy yourself and forget about your worries. Watch a TV show or movie, take an aromatic bath, and anything else you fancy; just do an activity that’ll help you truly relax. One day of fun won’t make a signiﬁcant difference in your studies, but it’ll deﬁnitely help your mental health.

TIME MANAGEMENT Dealing with our stress responsibly cannot be done if our time is not managed well. Organizing a schedule of what topics to study on what day/time enables us to properly complete our tasks. Managing our time well helps us attain a better grasp of our responsibilities and make sure that we’re on track as well.

April 2017

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DE-STRESS

ALONE TIME This simple action, despite being often overlooked, is one of the best outlets to relieve your stress. Sometimes, all we need is time for us to be alone in our thoughts without distractions. So take a walk, enjoy a nice long shower, or even spend time at the gym, to just enjoy yourself away from your work. Doing this will deﬁnitely calm your nerves and gives you the opportunity to recuperate and assess the situation from a more peaceful perspective.

LATE NIGHT TALKS WITH FRIENDS When we’re studying, we often shut ourselves out from our friends and hold all our troubles and worries inside of us. This can be detrimental to our own well-being, because it allows our stress to weighs us down even further. Instead, take time out of your studies to have a talk with a friend. Whether it be over the phone or during a late-night walk, letting your emotions out can signiﬁcantly help you manage your stress better. Friends provide advice, support, and sometimes just a listening ear, things that we all need from time to time.

Photos courtesy of PIXABAY.COM

ACADEMICS

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April 2017

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer No more mountains in the horizon. Nothing left to climb for the next few months. You’ve summited. That’s right, you’ve made the collegiate climb up presumptuous peaks, and now you can take a break, enjoy the view, and look forward to a valley of opportunity. The summer after senior year is a blessing, but it can also pose difficult questions. What should you be doing in this momentary eclipse between enormous formative events? Sometimes, when faced with a surplus of options, it becomes all the more difficult to pick one. The post-high school break is nothing if not rife with choices, and the hardship lies in finding the proper path. A vacation abroad, maybe a backpacking trip across Europe to discover oneself. A domestic voyage throughout the country, watching baseball games in every major stadium. An internship at a prestigious research institution to further one’s career interests. If you can think of it, someone has probably already done it. The first question to ask yourself is simple: take it easy or go all in? There’s a philosophical difference here that can make the choice easy. Plenty of students realize that this is the last summer to enjoy with family and friends. Beyond this lull in the proactive lifestyle are plenty of internships, research positions, and working opportunities that will eat up time in future summers and detract from that quintessential do-nothing attitude that lingers at the background of even the most dedicated student’s mind. In the moment when there are no absolutes, no requirements, no necessities, there is a rare opportunity to embrace that lingering thought, and enter, briefly, into a comatose state of relaxation. Hang around town, witness the burgeoning stage of summer blockbusters, pick up a part-time job at a McDonald’s to fill some time. Go day by day without plans, and simply live. That’s a fundamental summer option for graduating seniors. Of course, many also choose to travel. The rationalization here lies hand in hand with the previous choice. When, in life, is there a better moment to leave things behind and find yourself on a trip abroad? We often define ourselves by our circumstances, so in those chance moments when one can remove themselves from their predefined area of life, there can be much to learn. Go alone if you can. Self-discovery is, after all, about the self, and when there’s a family to carry with you, the reminder of who you have been can cloud who you can be. In the hills of Scotland, the snow-capped peaks of the Netherlands, and the rolling meadows of France, look towards the horizon of inner peace and reflect without distraction, seeking a prescient peek into the future that you will shape or that will shape you. If successful, this will prove a valuable launching board for you four years into the future and beyond, from college to the career and beyond. On the opposite end of the spectrum, one can choose to skip this rare chance at a pause in life. One can decide, actively and impulsively, to press the play button, a one-time switch that does not turn back off. They do so by finding internships, beginning school early, seeking to put themselves proactively into the grind in order for things to pay off in the future. For those who can afford to sacrifice the present for years down the road. This is a decision that requires a level of mental fortitude, a philosophically different mindset than the previous. Plenty of organizations offer summer programs for graduating seniors, though you may have to look harder than the rising senior. And, at this point, the programs you find will require more of you, demand a significant level of effort, and, in the end, likely pay you in both education and monetary sum. No matter what it is you choose to do this next summer, make sure to settle down into a few months of blissful pursuit of happiness. Whether you do that tanning by the beach or immersed in a research apprenticeship is up to you. This is a rare moment for us all. Cherish it, live it, and love it. wwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by ANDREA LIU

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer Our Speech and Debate team is not only one of the most prestigious but also the largest academic team we have on campus. Consisting of nearly 150 members, this team competes at the league, state, and occasionally, even national level. Serving as more than just a team that competes, the Speech and Debate team builds students to have effective and persuasive public speaking skills and updated knowledge on current events, political affairs, and controversial topics. Being on the team allows you to compete in a variety of events, including interpretation, platform, limited preparation, or debate. After the season has ﬁnished, the team hosts an annual Speech Follies show, consisting of well-prepared and talented members who perform their pieces for the audience to get a laugh at and enjoy. This year, the annual show took place during the evening in the Lecture Hall as usual on three nights, Mar. 24 to 26. All three nights were packed with people; family members, friends, and residents attended, ready for a night of laughs, inspiration, and thoughtful speeches. Further

more, each night also included a debate with topics just for fun and enjoyment, such as dogs versus cats. Most people were blown away by the sheer talent and skill each performer displayed. Many performers revealed themselves to be advancing to state championships, which will take place on Apr. 28, at AHS. Sophomore Gloria Cheng stated, “I attended Speech Follies for extra credit thinking it would be boring and political. However, throughout the show, I became more and more impressed and fascinated at how well-prepared each performer executed their speech. Overall, it was a really inspirational night, and it encouraged me and fellow friends to want to join as well.” Overall, all three nights were complete successes with many left motivated, others impacted, and even more feeling like they could ﬁnally relate to someone else’s thoughts. For those who didn’t get the chance to attend this year’s Speech Follies, be sure to attend next year. Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team for working hard, and good luck for another successful season! fcheung@apachepowwow.com Graphic by ANDREA LIU

April 2017

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PERFORMING ARTS

By ASHLEY LEE Staff Writer

Our talented show choir group, Chanteurs, has recently ﬁnished its competition season for the year. The singers have made appearances at many of our school-wide concert assemblies, and you often see them singing so beautifully as a group. They sang the national anthem during the Sept. 11 all-school assembly, as well as performed a number of songs for us at the holiday school assembly. They have also made appearances at several city events, including the Arcadia’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Prior to the start of their show choir season, the Chanteurs members diligently rehearsed several hours a week, including the weekends. They worked hard to learn the music and dance, preparing for a great season ahead of them. Chanteurs is part of the AA advanced mixed group category, and its season this year consisted of many competitions. They recently competed in the Burbank Blast Show Choir Competition, where they placed 4th in musicianship! On Apr. 1, the Choral Department also had the honor of hosting the annual Pow-Wow Show Choir Competition right here at AHS. There were over 600 performers at this annual competition, bringing the PAC alive with music and dance. These talented performers sang, danced, and acted to put on amazing show sets for the judges. For third-year member Chanteurs secretary senior Tiffany Wong, this will be her last year being part of this group. She shares with us that her time in this program has been a truly memorable and treasured experience. Throughout the past years, she has experienced being under the leadership of two directors, Mr. England and Dr. Pu. She explains that as a veteran of the group during this transition, it was her goal to “make sure that everyone stayed organized and to ensure that [team] goals were accomplished on time.” Competition season had been especially “nostalgic” for her this year. Because this year is her ﬁnal year in Chanteurs, she also really wanted to “embrace the work and passion that [the] collective team built into the show.” She has met “so many wonderful, beautiful, [and] talented performers at show choir competitions” and she knows that “show choir will forever be a piece of [her] soul.” A unique aspect to Chanteurs is that there is a special bond between each of the members involved. As described by many, Chanteurs is like a family in which the members are able to grow so closely to one another over the course of the year. Tiffany explained that “this year’s team chemistry has been better than that of all of the past years,” and it is no doubt that this can be clearly seen through their tight bond as a group. alee@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM and CLIPARTKID.COM

By FRANCES CHEUNG Staff Writer

It was that time of the year again for the Orchesis Dance Company to put on its annual spring production, which is one of the two large performances it hosts each year. To quickly summarize who and what Orchesis is, this organization consists of 30 advanced dancers, from different training backgrounds and experiences, that complete an audition to make the dance team. Throughout the year, the dancers have the opportunity to experience different styles of dance including, but not limited to, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, Bollywood, and many others. Orchesis also performs for students during several assemblies throughout the year, in addition to their two main productions. This year they worked extremely hard to present their show called “Through the Mind’s Eye.” Many of the dances that they showcased this year were choreographed by professional choreographers, directors, as well as the students themselves. The members put in immense amounts of effort and dedicated their personal time outside of school for rehearsals in order to perfect the choreography that they could be proud of. Orchesis member junior Lilian Wang said, “This year’s show was super dark and cool. I was portioned into 11 pieces and I loved to share my craft with everyone.” To most members, being a part of the organization is not only a way for them to advance their skills and experi-

ence more forms of dance, but it’s a way for them to express themselves and to display their emotions to their audience while cooperating with each other to make their choreography in sync. To make things even better, typically the spring production is only held for three days, but this year instead, they went above and beyond performing ﬁve nights, including two weekends, which allowed more people, who might’ve had less ﬂexible schedules, to have another chance to attend and enjoy the amazing show. It’s not easy being in such a prestigious organization, and additionally all Orchesis members worked hard to advertise and and sell tickets. This year’s shows were absolutely dazzling, impressive, and packed as usual. Audience members were amazed, and the PAC was completely full from students and parents to simply local people who had heard of the events. Congratulations Orchesis, and good luck on future events. If you missed out on their wonderful perfomances this year, be sure to catch them at their next Charity show and Spring Production. duction. fcheung@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM Photos by ELLIE LEE

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April 2017

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April 2017

APRIL RESULTS CO-ED VARSITY TRACK & FIELD 4/11: 124 W vs. Muir and Hoover HS 4/19: 85 W vs. Crescenta Valley HS

CO-ED VARSITY SWIM 4/12: 4 way W vs. John Burroughs HS

By HOLLY LUNG Staff Writer

The nation’s most competitive and prestigious high school Track and Field meet took place on the last weekend of our spring break, on our very own track. The Arcadia Invitational is known for luring in the best high Track and Field athletes across the country, annually providing a ﬁeld of competition unmatched by any other high school track event. The meet celebrated its 50th anniversary this year and has carried with it a history that is worthy of its coined title: “Home of National Records.” Dating back to 1968, when former AHS Track and Field coach Doug Smith decided to host an evening All-Area track meet, the Arcadia Invitational has since grown to host an average of 4,000 athletes, some coming as far as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand to participate in the prestigious meet. The meet is generously sponsored by Nike and provides the school with what Assistant Coach Kevin Kua deemed a “hefty reimbursement.” He also noted jokingly that “more importantly, the free invitational backpacks are what really have us sold on hosting.” The invitational has now been host to 28 national records and 178 future U.S. Olympians including Ashton Eaton, Allyson Felix, and Ryan Hall. This year’s participants did not fall far from the greatness of their predecessors, as there were

4/20: 4 way W vs. Pasadena HS

Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTKID.COM

two national records set in the duration of the two day meet. The most notable headline of the invitational was 2016 Olympian Sydney McLaughlin’s performance in the Women’s 300m Hurdles, where she broke the national record by over a second with a time of 38.90 seconds. Although the meet has hosted 178 future Olympians, this year’s 50th anniversary competition was unique in that it was the ﬁrst ever year featuring a current Olympian. McLaughlin competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she placed 5th overall in her semi-ﬁnal heat of the 400m hurdles. The other national record set was in the 4x1600m, The American Fork High School team from Utah broke the record with a time of 16:41.30, making its average individual time per

hlung@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of KELLY LI Graphic courtesy of CROSSCOUNTRYEXPRESS.COM

boys v golf putts golf first By BRADFORD YAU Staff Writer

4/18: 4 way W vs. Glendale HS

RUN, RUN, RUN: Multiple student athletes from across the nation competed in multiple events at the prestigous Invitational

1600m an incredible 4:10.32. Other star athletes of the meet include Tara Davis of Agoura High School who won the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.01, setting a new state record and running the fastest time in the country this year in that event. Davis also placed 1st in both the triple and long jump, making her a triple champion. A handful of our own top athletes were able to qualify for the prestigious meet as well, with teams and individuals competing in the 4x800m relay, 4x1600m relay, 3200m open and seeded races, Distance Medley relays, 4x400m relay, and jumps. Senior Joy Huang, an Arcadia Invitational veteran, commented that because this was “[her] third and last year racing at invite, there was more of a sense to have fun than to do well.” Junior Darius Jing also added that while “it wasn’t the best [he’s] ever performed, at the end of it, it’s a feat in itself to be in a meet like this and it’s been so much fun.” While the reputation of the Arcadia Invitational is certainly one to resonate intimidation, it seems hosting it has grounded our own athletes in the midst of high-level competition, reminding them that it’s all about having fun.

The month is April, and there are only two months left of school. However, this means that spring sports teams are just halfway on their journey of a season, and one of those sports is Boys Varsity Golf. Like last year, Boys Varsity Golf is undefeated in League and is safe for a position in CIF. Golf is known to be one of the more successful teams of recent Apache history, as the team brought home a CIF championship last year. Going into the new season, expectations are mostly the same. New addition freshman Justin Chen stated that “the goal is the same compared to last year: win CIF.” As one can see, aspirations for golf are extremely high, especially higher than people expected. Justin also stated that “although golf is an individual sport, high school golf has taught me that golf is a team sport as well”. This shows that the golf team is

determined to stay together as a team and work to improve chemistry and conﬁdence among one another. Many hours after school are allotted to drills and practice that help with overall team development, which is part of the reason why our team is so successful. Many other golfers have had similar positive experiences that they have taken from the new golf season apart from Justin. Sophomore Edward Wu explained that this new golf season “has sharpened my skills as a golf player”. As Edward is a tournament player, he uses the daily golf practices to help him stay locked in for the goal that is to be the best golf player that he can be. Likewise, there has been a similar reception with other golfers on the team, but not memories strictly for the sport of golf itself. Junior Ricky Cen explained that “his favorite memories that he has made during the golf season was his ability to deadlift 400 pounds, which is a new person-

al best.” Ricky explains that these pride setting achievements have translated to the golf course, where he has performed at the highest level so far in his high school career. He also asserts that this Arcadia golf team “is the best team that we have had in a while”, which again shows the ambition and hunger that the team possess for this season. This is not only preached by Ricky, but also the rest of the members of the team. Overall, Boys Varsity Golf is on the rise and is currently achieving great success with their current winning streak, as well as winning multiple tournaments. As they are looking to repeat their CIF winning performance, this displays their intent that they want to accomplish great things this season, as they want to repeat their feat as winners.

byau@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTPANDA.COM and PIXABAY.COM

April 2017

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CO-ED SWIM DIVES IN By COLLIN GAJA Staff Writer

CoEd Swim, one of the few CoEd teams on the school campus, has been dominating the season so far with six 4-way wins, two 4-way sweeps, and a few ties. There are many ways the team can crumble, but with its stacked lineup and fantastic team chemistry there no way this team could be stopped. With many wins so far, the team has a likely shot to becoming Paciﬁc League Champions, with few complications in its way. Winning against Burbank High School and South Pasadena High School with a 4-way sweep, the Paciﬁc League competition seems to be no match against the team. Sophomore Natalia Jun stated, “We’re doing really well, we’ve won all of our dual meets 4-way” and that, “this year is a memorable one since [the JV team] was able to swim in the Los Amigos Relay,” which is traditionally a Varsityonly meet. Winning all of its dual meets so far means the season is going to be a breeze for the team, but with an upcoming meet against Crescenta Valley, the team is training hard to beat them and maintain its record.

DIVING IN: The team was victorious on April 14 against John Burroughs with a 4 way win. The team’s strengths are that the team has great endurance and that instead of putting all its good swimmers in a single event, they’re placed across a variety of different events. This means the team is great across the board and doesn’t have to rely on just one stacked event to win the competition. Sophomore Hannah Kim said that one strength of the team “is team spirit, but it is hard to ﬁnd a speciﬁc strength because the team is all around strong.” Another strength the team has is its chemistry and how each member supports everyone on the team. Natalia said that “The team

has good chemistry this year; everyone has a friend they can talk to and no one dislikes each other. We’re pretty energetic, people cheer for swimmers in the race from the other side. Everyone’s loud.” Some weaknesses the team faces is that swimmers occasionally miss their events due to being too relaxed at meets, and that swimmers get disqualiﬁed due to early starts. To work improve on its weaknesses, the team is working on its dive starts and taking competition more seriously in order to gain more points. The swimmers’ teamwork and team chemistry are what makes their team so great. Though there are some things the team needs to improve on, in the long run there is little opposition for this team. With a fantastic record and great team coordination, CoEd Swim is on its way to becoming Paciﬁc League Champs. Individually, many swimmers are likely to qualify for postseason CIF as well. AHS wishes the team good luck at Prelims!

cgaja@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CARGOCOLLECTIVE.COM Photo courtesy of SANDI KHINE

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS 4/20: 18-0 W vs. Herbert Hoover HS 4/25: 18-0 W vs. Glendale HS

BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL 4/14: 3-0 W vs. Glendale HS 4/25: 3-0 W vs. Herbert Hoover HS

BOYS VARSITY BASEBALL

By ASHLEY LEE Staff Writer

Three strikes and you’re out! The Boys Varsity Baseball Team has had an impressive season so far! It is currently 8-1 and is 2nd place in the Paciﬁc League. The season opened with the Frozen Ropes Tournament, where the Apaches won and lost two games each. The team then moved on to play La Salle High School, beating them by a score of 7-0. The Babe Herman Tournament followed, where Arcadia won one game and lost three. They recently played twice against Pasadena High School and John Muir High School, winning all four games with shutouts. The current team consists of younger players, so the team has the advantage of being able to grow together and build up its skills in the upcoming years. Coming into this season, the baseball players had many goals and aspirations

SWING! Sophomore Raider Tello worked diligently with the team in order to pummel down Glendale High School on April 18, ending with a fantastic win of 6-1. for what they would like to achieve. Of course, without a strong team chemistry, it is almost impossible to succeed on the ﬁeld. Sophomore shortstop Jeffrey Castillo said that the team hopes to “bond with each other really well and be loud and cheer [on his] teammates in every single inning” that they play. With the team effort of intensity and unity, they will be able to carry each other throughout the game. For Jeffrey, he hopes to continue improving his gameplay and to “trust the process,” believing in his team and the efforts his teammates take to bring them where they are. He believes the key to a successful season and team is to know that “every single [player] is important, even [when] they aren’t playing.”

With the League season soon coming to a close, the team has only a few games left. They will be playing Herbert Hoover High School twice, with the ﬁrst game at home and the second away. Following those two games will be the last two games of the season, both against our rival, Crescenta Valley High School, with the ﬁrst one away and the latter at home. Let’s come out and show our support as we cheer on our fellow Apaches during the last home game! We wish them luck as they embark on the rest of their season!

alee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CLIPARTIX.COM Photo courtesy by TROY NGUYEN

GIRLS VARSITY SOFTBALL 4/18: 18-1 W vs. John Muir HS 4/25: 5-4 W vs. Burbank HS

CALENDAR

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By RACHEL LEE Staff Writer

What is Bullet Journaling? Bullet journaling, a single multi-functional journal that revolves around the common foundation of bullet points, is used to store all your thoughts , plans, hopes, and dreams. Whether they’re to-do lists, calendars, doodles, or notes, the possibilities are endless, and it’s completely up to you to decide. After all, bullet journaling is entirely customizable. Why should you start? Bullet journaling revolves around you and it focuses on the past, present, and future. It unites the collective aspects of a to-do list, planner, and diary, as it serves to record quick thoughts rather than long sentence ntences. s. It is the perfect combination of organization and productivity, enough to inspire you and bring mindfuln dfulness ess into your everyday life. What do I need? Investing in a sturdy notebook and high-qua quallity pens is essential to the simple process of bulullet journaling. Look for a notebook with thick, ck, numbered pages, and precise pens that don’t n’t bleed through the pages. Notebook size isn’t an important factor, but realize that notebooks too big or too small can be impractical at times. Also keep eep in

By KAITLIN LEE

“Go go Power Rangers!” After many years of being on the small screen and having two movies in their entire lifespans, the Power Rangers have once again appeared on the big screen, replacing the rubber monster costumes with CGI and the old cast with a new one. Power Rangers tells the story about five teenagers, each one an outcast in their small town Angel Grove. The teenagers, Jason, Billy, Kimberly, Trini, and Zack, encounter an alien rock shape in the mines and find out they are chosen to be the Power Rangers, the sole protectors of the planet Earth. To my surprise, the movie proved to be much better than the trailers had suggested. The entire movie is held up by spectacular performances by the actors who play the teenagers. They may not have the best script to work with, but each one manages to show great emotion and character. As always, Bryan Cranston, who plays Zordon, is great in his role, and Bill Hader, who voices Alpha 5, is likable and charming in his scenes. Also, the plot is well-paced and establishes its characters well. Whenever there is a new scene or a new beat, it feels logical and fits in the world that they show. When there is a dramatic moment, it is done excellently, and the serious scenes are the highlights of the movie. In addition, I appreciate how despite having a close male and female lead, their relationship didn’t become an unnecessary romance. It’s a nice change to the standard action movie cliches. Although it is reminiscent a lot of other successful superhero movies, the plot still is very well-done. There are also a lot of neat effects, such as the way Zor-

April 2017

ization and can be more mind that pens in a variety of colors will aid in organ erasable pens to start out if appealing to the eye. However, opt for colorful you’re prone to making mistakes. How do I start? sure to leave room for an On the first few pages of your bullet journal, be includes all the titles and nts” conte of “table index. An index serves as your your work and will of n izatio organ the in you aid will It and page numbers. how specific you you to up ly help you indefinitely in the long run. It’s entire of pages. Be sure y variet a to nce refere a want the index to be, but it can act as monthly log, and a tions, aspira your of ts consis which to include a future log, e task lists such includ mem ries as well, and a daily log. Feel free to record memo y what you did simpl or read, to like as books you’d day Optional decorations include washi tape, that day. raph titles, stamps, or simply pictures you calligraphy you elf! draw yours Your bullet journal is an empty canvas waitfo you to fill it up with endless memories, ing for meant for you to unleash your creativsp a space an free your mind. Just remember, the key ity and bul journaling is simplicity and soulfulness. to bullet Don’t stress or overthink bullet journaling; do what makes you happy!

don moved across the walls, and the costumes were very well done, updating the old Power Rangers look while keeping its creativity and color. However, the movie suffers substantial flaws that bring the quality of the film from good to okay. Firstly, the writing is terrible. The teenagers never truly talk like actual teenagers, and none of the adults are convincing either. Because of the writing, the movie suffers a problem with the tone. At some times, the movie is serious, and other times it’s overly cheesy and silly. The combination of the two tones leaves for relatable characters. There are some scenes that are done well and is able to balance the tones, but most of the time the movie seems confused on what it is trying to convey. Two big problems that worsen the tone issue are Rita Repulsa, the villain, and the blatant advertisement. Rita, played by Elizabeth Banks, is over-the-top and corny, just like the TV show. However, since everyone else is trying to play it straight, Rita stands out like a sore thumb, and her scenes feel like an entirely different movie. The endorsement of the donut establishment Krispy Kreme is also incredibly distracting. Without spoiling anything, Krispy Kreme plays a ridiculously big role in the movie, and although they try to pass it off as a joke, it’s still odd and doesn’t fit in the movie at all. All in all, Power Rangers is a fun action film for people who just want to turn off their brains for a while and watch absolute weirdness. It suffers from tone and writing problems, but luckily has a strong saving grace with the spectacular cast. If you want to connect to your inner kid, go-go watch Power Rangers!

klee@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of OFFICIALMOVIESITE.COM

April 2017

CALENDAR

calendareditor.powwow@gmail.com

By JUSTIN CHEN EN By COLLIN GAJA

Staff Writer

Q1: Timmy and Tiffany are found dead on the ﬂoor of a house with water near them. The windows are open and a strong wind draft is ﬂowing through the room. How did they die?

Q3: What’s full of holes but can hold water? Q4: Two girls are born to the same mother, and at the same time. However, they are not twins. Why? Q5: A girl who just started learning how to drive went down a one-way street in the wrong direction, but was not arrested. Why? Q6: First, I threw away the outside and cooked the inside. Next, I ate the outside and threw away the inside. What did I eat? Q7: I have no voice, but I speak to you. I have leaves, but I am not a tree. I have a spine, but I am not a man. I have hinges, but I am not a door. What am I? Q8: What tree can you carry in your hand?

?? ?

A1: Timmy and Tiffany were goldﬁsh. The wind tipped over their bowl, which ended up killing them. A2: Your breath A3: A sponge A4: The two girls are the two in a set of triplets. A5: She was walking. A6: Corn on the cob A7: A book A8: A palm tree

Q2: What can you hold without ever using your hands?

jchen@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of IEMOJI.COM

With the flowers blooming and the days becoming warmer, spring has started along with all its annoyances. Many, if not all people, are affected by the allergies that come with the deal season. There are ways to help dea eall with th the he se allergies and make your Spring g less painful. For starters, many people can n take medicine to help keep the allererer gies back. Medicine such as AllerlerTec or Claritin help relieve sneezing ezin ez ing g or watery eyes. This might be the simplest impl im ples estt wa way y these to help fight the allergies because mo off th most st o thes esee es pills are over the counter medication. Before you take these medicine, consult your doctor first to see if you require a prescription for any of these, or to see if it is the right one for you. Another way to help fend off the spring allergies is to close the windows and turn on the air-conditioning. This way, you can prevent the pollen and other allergens from entering your household or work space. Since pollen is carried by the wind, closing the window could save you an afternoon of stuffy noses. Another way to deal with allergies is to eat the right amount of the right foods. Some foods, such as apples, have antioxidants that

can help battle the inflammation inside the body, which is an important factor in controling your allergies. If you’re the type to go outside to enjoy the sun and flowers, a way to help prevent watery eyes while outside is to wear some sunglasses. Sunglasses help protect your eyes from the pollen that mi migh might ghtt be flyin ying ing g around. This is also al so a w way ay tto o pr prev prevent eventt ot even othe other her ir he irri irritants rita tant ta ntss fr nt from getting into in to y you your ourr ey ou eyes es aand nd ccau causing ausi sing ng iitc itchiness. tchi hine ness. If you u ha have ve a p pet pet, et, yo you u co coul could uld d try keep ke keeping epin ing in g th them em o out o of yo your room ro om aass it itss ha hair co could d conn-

tain pollen. Hopefully all these tips help elp p yo you u fend off allergens. gens ge ns. Now get your sununun glasses, take some me allergy medication, on,, on and bring some apples, and go outside side to enjoy that nature blooming around you.

cgaja@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of SPEHCK.TK.COM

April Horoscope By SHAZIA PATHAN Staff Writer

Aries (Mar. 21 to Apr. 19) This is your month. Everyone sees you as ambitious and right now you are very close to achieving your dreams, but don’t rush forward; let it happen.. This is a relaxing month for you. Taurus (Apr. 20 to May 20) Innately, you’re a fun and outgoing person and this will ll come back in full spring for you this month. Use your rediscovered energy ergy to your advantage. This is an energetic, social month for you, but it rests on how you individually use it. Gemini (May 21 to June 20) People are distrustful of you; perhaps for good reason. Start being more considerate of others and mature. April is the month for Geminis to listen and reevaluate so relax and stop being so uptight. This is a much needed month of reflection for you. Cancer (June 21 to July 22) Things may be seeming slow for you right now but do not fret. Patience will reward you. This is a reflective yet still mov-ing month for you. There are always surprises for Cancers. Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22) This is a month of new things for you. A lot of traveling ing and adventures are in the works for Leos. It would be in your best st interest to start planning something (a trip or a project) that would make ake you most happy. Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) This is a busy month for Virgos. Lots of responsibilities and obligations have either been left unfulfilled or are still in progress. Maybe this is also an extra nudge for students to start studying for their AP exams in early May. Work hard and it will reward you.

Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Libras are the truest people and friends. In April, you will have time to focus on your thoughts and goals—mostly in the relationship aspect. Like Cancers, Libras need to remain patient and time and clarity will reward them. Do not settle. Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) A lot of things may ma have been going wrong for you since March or will start in April. You will need to stay calm and hold your head up. Scorpios are stronger than the oth other signs—but that does not mean you cannot allow yourself to be vulnerable. There is strength in feeling and emotions as well. vulnerab Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Sagitt Though indecisiveness is present in all signs this month, it will display a Sagittarius’ indecisiveness at an even more exhausting di level. You need to be aware that this is not your fault and just move forward in small strides. Your meticulous thought process and consideration could result in success this April. Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) This is one of the more positive months for Capricorns. If you are patient and careful, this month will highlight these traits and reward you—so take small steps and remain yourself. If you are a more impulsive and hot-headed Capricorn, try to adopt a lighter li mood because it will behoove you most this month. Aquarius Aq (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Everything is exciting for Aquarius this month, depending on how you yo see it—this month is ﬁlled with travels for you. Say no when you want to say no. Pisces (Feb. 19 to Mar. 20) Money is all eeveryone sees for Pisces this month. Try to ﬁnd opportunities where you need or want.

spathan@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of PLAYBUZZ.COM

CAMPUS FOCUS

April 2017

cf.powwow@gmail.com

By WILLIAM WANG Staff Writer

Out of all the planets and asteroids in our solar system, there is only one that we can call home. The one and only planet Earth. The Earth provides so much for us, but many neglect it with harmful polluntants and wasteful practices. However, every year we celebrate a special day called Earth Day and try to be more aware of unnecessary waste. This year lets take a look at ways we can conserve our precious planet with some advice from our fellow Apaches.

“ Going vegetarian is a great way to help the enviornment and conserve water! Greenhouse gases emitted from raising animals for food consumption amount to more than those produced by cars and other forms of transportation! ” —Tiffany Zhu, 10

“ Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. It works, trust me. ” —Michael Yang, 12

“ Taking shorter showers and being aware of water waste is a good way to conserve water and keep our Earth water-ful (wonderful). ” —Alice Chi, 11

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