March 2011 by The Arcadia Quill

Volume 59, Issue 7

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

March 2011

A Season of Opportunity—Not Risk

In this issue:

Photo courtesy of MYBANKTRACKER.COM

NEWS pg. 2 Crisis in Japan: The “triple catastrophe” that hit it, the consequences, and our global relief efforts.

Graphic by CHERRY MO

GOING FOR IT So many of us are hesitant to try out for that team or pursue that position, but what becomes of our interests and passions if fear is the one barrier keeping us from them?

By JUSTINE LEE Graphic courtesy of YAYMICRO.COM

OPINION pg. 10 Decisions: They don’t just end in college. A reflection on what is held in store for AHS’ grads-to-be.

Graphic courtesy of ACTIVERAIN.COM

ACADEMICS pg. 20 Free Your Mind: Do some mental spring cleaning during break to gear up for the final stretch of school.

Have a question, comment, or concern about the Pow Wow? E-mail the Editors-in-Chief at editorsinchief@apachepowwow.com or find us online at apachepowwow.com.

Guest Writer April has arrived, and as a senior who’s been in leadership positions, it’s strange to see the underclassmen begin applying for various positions and teams. There’s Associated Student Body, Constitution Team, club officer positions, Chanteurs and New Spirit, Advanced Drama Department, and soon to be more. And after four years of applications, interviews, and elections, it’s time to pass on some knowledge to all the hopefuls out there. If you look at me now, as a senior, you probably would not expect me to be overcome with pre-tryout jitters. But let me tell you: at some point or another, everyone, including every confident candidate that seems to breeze through the most difficult interview processes, feels that way. It’s because trying out for something is never easy. It requires you to put yourself in a vulnerable position in which you proclaim to the world, “Here I am: Justine Lee!” and hope they like that. You invest all the time and effort in the world into preparing and presenting yourself, yet still have to toy with the possibility of getting rejected. It all seems daunting, but when are we ever supposed to let fear dictate our actions? Having the right mentality going into this process can make everything feel much less intimidating. I am not sure why, but people seem to

think that those who review applications are evil, scrutinizing devils, out to highlight every mistake you could possibly make. But that is definitely not the case. In fact, these are the people that are keeping their fingers most tightly crossed for you. They hope you will be the star mathematician that surprises them with the secret formula, AM-GM, the genuinely good Samaritan that will do the burgundy blazer justice, or the next Itzhak Perlman. And even if you aren’t, they know what it takes to put yourself out there. That in itself is already commendable, because these reviewers were once in your shoes. You are the ones doing them a favor by giving them the best selection of applicants possible. I think the hardest part of all of this is dealing with rejection. Call me an optimist, but I believe situations are what you make of them. When I tried out for the officer team of a student organization at the beginning of freshman year, I thought I had the drive and innovation it was looking for. So when I didn’t get the spot, I was initially pretty disappointed. But this rejection forced me to reflect on what had happened. To the organization, I had just begun high school. I hadn’t explored enough of my interests or learned enough of the club yet to commit so quickly to the team. And that was just something I couldn’t help, so I put myself to the test as a member of the club. After a year of steadfast dedication, from participating in different club events and volunteering my help whenever I could, I came back as

a stronger candidate. Three years later, I am now the president of the club. If I was given the option of changing the past so I could undo every rejection I’ve ever experienced, I would turn it down. I hold those rejections in equal regard to my successes. Because of them, I’ve reminded myself to take the hurt of rejection with a grain of salt, gained a better understanding of who I am and what I’m capable of, and squared my shoulders for the next hurdle to jump. When I didn’t make certain organizations, I was able to dedicate time that would have been spent otherwise on other tasks and other opportunities. Situations aren’t always as black and white as we sometimes make them out to be. Remember to always be happy for those who succeed. They were just as anxious as you when approaching the tryout. Those who are able to be sincerely happy for others, in my opinion, deserve major respect. It shows that they have the good of others at heart and are willing to share in their successes. High school is the prime time for everyone to take a little risk and try something new. It’s good to experience both success and rejection throughout the application process, because that is something we, as people, will have to unavoidably deal with for the rest of our lives. It’s never easy, but with each step, it gets better. Ignore your hesitations and doubts. Go grab an application. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be the doubts of today.”

NEWS

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Arcadia Gets Ready for Another Relay

The World Around Us:

Staff Writer

With the steady rise of air pollution in the atmosphere, the Clean Air Act (CAA), supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), serves as a glimmer of hope for many Americans. A landmark law passed to provide citizens protection from dangerous pollutants, the CAA reduces ozone pollution worldwide and prevents 230,000 deaths annually. Despite its advantages, however, the CAA has been labeled as “too sudden and drastic” by dozens of large companies attempting to carve loopholes from air pollution standards. Celebrating the coming of its 40th anniversary, the CAA fosters the growth of American industry while improving human health and the environment. A law that has led to significant benefits regarding air quality, the CAA permits the EPA to regulate and track emission outputs throughout the nation. In 2010 alone, the law’s regulations are estimated to have prevented 100,000 hospital visits due to respiratory problems. Consequently, productivity across the nation has been enhanced by preventing millions of lost workdays and by keeping children healthy and in school. Many

Editor’s Note:

Why I Love Pow Wow By ELAINE TSUI

have come to recognize the CAA’s decadelong track record of success for “millions of healthier and safer lives” as grounds for the act’s continuation. Tensions have sparked into heated dispute, as opponents openly challenged the immediate necessity of the CAA. Described as an onslaught of regulations, opponents have cited conforming to EPA’s “towering” regulations as “costly and damaging” to struggling businesses. With President Barack Obama attempting to eliminate coal as the nation’s chief energy source, many have cautioned that the CAA will take steps toward increasing standards to near “impossible levels” and result in the loss of millions of jobs. Despite mixed opinion, many view the CAA optimistically as an opportunity to prevent pollution while the economy develops to create jobs. Regardless of the outlook, however, the nation remains motionless as its citizens observe whether the CAA lives up to its promises. ccho@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CNN.COM and CLIPART.SILHOUETTEGUIDE.COM

Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Meltdown: Japan’s Triple Disaster By ARNAV CHAUDHARY & JUSTIN PARK Staff Writer

Opinion Editor

People often ask me why I’ve stayed in one organization for all of my high school years, and why I am so proud of each issue we produce. Simple. Pow Wow has given me so many opportunities and memories that I can’t imagine not being a part of it. Because Pow Wow is a publication, writing is definitely important, but it is by no means the only aspect of this program. Writing in Pow Wow without the constraints of an English class is liberating. I get to write about what I am interested in and what I love in an environment that allows me to develop my voice and writing skills. And I can’t even describe the feeling I get when I see my name in print. As an organization, Pow Wow also gives us the choice of being a writer or working with Ads, Fundraising, Web, and Photo, all of which give us the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills. Pow Wow gave me the chance to meet the most amazing people at our school. I’ve met some of my closest friends in Pow Wow—people I would otherwise never have met. In this way, Pow Wow has changed my entire high school experience. I never regretted my decision to join Pow Wow; it is one of the best decisions I’ve made. It doesn’t hurt to pick up an application. Pow Wow is an organization that is definitely worth trying out for. etsui@apachepowwow.com

behind the scenes to organize the Relay Games Committee. This year, Team Hope is also a part Staff Writer of the Relay Youth Recruitment Committee, With already a whopping $17,000 raised and which targets middle and high school students still 100 days left, the Arcadia Relay for Life is in hopes that they will join the Relay for Life. bound to be a success in raising money for cancer Last year, over 60 members were a part of Team research. This 24-hour-long event, hosted by the Hope, and this year more people are anticipated American Cancer Society, takes place on June 25 to join. Any AHS student can join Team Hope and aims to celebrate the lives of their friends and by going to the Relay for Life website and clickfamily who battled cancer, remember their loved ing “teams” and then “Team Hope”. In the last ones who were few years, Team Hope has raised about $3,000 taken by and hope to reach its goal of $5,000 this year. cancer, and Everyone is affected by cancer, be it a fight back neighbor, cousin, friend, or mother who conagainst a tracted the disease; disease therefore we all that takes should sacrifice too much. our time and The Relay money just as for Life began in people sacrificed 1985 when surgeon all they had to fight Dr. Gordon Klatt ran and cancer. Brian Zurla, walked around a RELAY FOR LIFE the online chair of the track for 24 hours in event, believes it is “vitally Team Nothing’s Bigger Tacoma, Washington important for students to get Than Love from AHS to raise money for involved and understand what the raised $5,000 last year. the American Canevent is all about because one day, the cer Society. Since then, Relay for Life has been life they save may be their own.” HCCC presipassionately fighting cancer in the world’s largest dent, senior Melody Wong, encourages people movement to end the disease that kills hundreds to join Team Hope “since it is a large group and of thousands every year. it has ambitious fundraising goals and therefore Last year, the event raised a grand total of [runs] a lot of activities.” $115,500 and high school students raised $15,000 We should take advantage of our vital reof that total. For the past five years, AHS’ Hope sources and help celebrate, remember, and fight Can Cure Cancer (HCCC) has been a part of the back against cancer. Relay and in the last few years has partnered up with Key Club and Interact Club to form Team aarzani@apachepowwow.com Hope. Last year, Team Hope’s officers worked Photos by SHANNON NG

By ARIANA ARZANI

40th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act

By CHRISTOPHER CHO

March 2011

On Friday, Mar. 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the east coast of Japan brought the entire nation to its knees. The quake triggered violent tremors in coastal cities and created an overwhelming tsunami, which formed a new coastline around eight miles inward. Together, these events also set off a catastrophic chain of explosions in multiple nuclear power plants, eventaully causing meltdowns. Massive rescue and cleanup operations are underway, yet efforts alone cannot mask the catastrophic consequences. This earthquake that rocked Japan would be the fifth-largest ever recorded in history, easily overpowering those in Haiti and New Zealand. Thankfully, the earthquake occurred some 80 miles off the coast of Japan, considering that a 9.0 magnitude earthquake on the mainland would have devastated every

building in the area, regardless of anti-earthquake structural stabilizers. However, this earthquake proved to be the least of Japan’s problems. The earthquake triggered a large tsunami that swept inland that completely consumed millions of homes. Automobiles, Japanese airplanes, cargo ships, and even freight trains have been seen in the middle of buildings, flipped over, on the top of houses, and derailed. The tsunami’s damage was so extensive that the number of casualties to the disastrous event is still unknown. Another threat arose as soon as news came of several explosions in a nuclear plant in the Fukushima Daiichi district. In an exact representation of the events at the infamous disaster in Chernobyl, the Japanese government fears another nuclear fallout and radiation spreading that would severely threaten the Japanese nation. The nuclear plant had a failure in its cooling system during the earthquake and went through a series of self-destructions. The area of increased radioactivity remains under threat as scientists battle the problems plaguing the nuclear plants and work to keep northern Japan safe from radiation. The damage wrought by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown has crippled the world’s third-largest economy, disrupted the production of automobiles, computer chips, and a range of other products, and damage the nation’s exporting business. Japan’s stock market took a drastic dive, and will cost an estimated $180 billion in reparations. While the area that was hit has lost its structures, electricity, railway lines, and roads, the industrial capabilities did not suffer as badly. Temporary shutdowns have been ordered at several automobile plants, contributing to the nation’s economic struggles and magnified debt

in a time of financial and social crisis. Social media has played a large part in publicizing the plight of the Japanese people. Twitter and Tumblr are the two largest forms of social media which have helped to educate people about Japan. Through Twitter, users post updates about Japan’s current status, and Tumblr users blog pictures, articles, and videos, which add dimension to the horrors Japan is facing. These natural disasters have demonstrated the nation’s pride and dignity, as citizens have refraine from looting and rioting to maintain a semblance of the honor they previously held. Various organizations and individuals, such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, have fundraised and donated more than 50 million dollars to help Japan recover from this disaster. It’s restoration will not be immediate, but with time and help, Japan will be the respected nation it was prior to this tragedy. archaudhary@apachepowwow.com jpark@apachepowwow.com

Photos courtesy of CNN.COM and NEWS.YAHOO.COM Graphic courtesy of ABDUZEEDO.COM, EN.FOTOLIA.COM, and ROB DOBI.

March 2011

news@apachepowwow.com

A Global Celebration: International Women’s Day Turns 100 By ALISON FU Staff Writer

Suffragette Alice Paul, author Toni Morrison, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—these are only a few women who have influenced society and given others the confidence to succeed. Women all over the world have inspired countries to celebrate Women’s History Month, to appreciate women of all countries, commemorate the advancements that have

been made for the women’s rights cause, and educate people about women’s longtime struggle for equal rights. Though March is recognized as Women’s History Month, the most celebrated, and most well known, day of the month is International Women’s Day. Celebrated on Mar. 8, International Women’s Day reached its 100th anniversary this year, with people from all around gathering together and organizing events to raise awareness and recognize the holiday. In Russia, where International Women’s Day is acknowledged as a national holiday, women were

given a day off as men showed their appreciation through gifts and acts of kindness. Known as Festa della Donna in Italy, the Italian version of the Mar. 8 holiday involved presenting women with yellow mimosas, flowers to express thanks and love. In the United States, numerous organizations pitched in; the Women’s Information Network, for instance, hosted “This is Our Time” events in ten U.S. cities and broadcasted the gatherings to 176 different countries. Despite all the celebration, women in all nations are still struggling for full equality. Michelle Bachelet, head of the newly created United Nations Women’s Agency, expressed that while progress has been made, “the hopes of equality expressed on that first International Women’s Day are a long way from being realized.” Women around the world are still majorly disadvantaged compared to men, both economically and socially. International Women’s Day is a day not only to appreciate women, but also to educate people and spread awareness about the importance for gender equality around the world. afu@apachepowwow.com

Photos courtesy of EARTHSKY.ORG Graphic courtesy of CITIZENOFTHEMONTH.COM

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March 2011

Opinion

opinion@apachepowwow.com

Tarzan and Jane Make a Comeback By JOSIE YANG Executive Copy Editor

versation. Our conversations are riddled with simplistic phrases like “say what?” or “you dumb”. Even comebacks have been reduced from true wit to the likes of “cool story, bro” or “you’re cool”. Don’t get me wrong; I do it too. Can’t think of a retort? Slip in one of these catch phrases and have them do the work;

member Tarzan’s legendary loincloth? The breezy one that didn’t quite cover his, erm, nether regions? Think about that article of primitive clothing, and then think of how many times you have seen a guy’s boxers because his pants were so low that you could practically hear the breeze whooshing between his legs. Do you recognize the similarities? And let’s not single out the males. Unfortunately, we have also made it socially acceptable for girls to wear skirts shorter than hand towels…and then not cross their legs. It sounds blunt, but this is what we are choosing to wear now. We have learned that it is immoral, and quite frankly indecent, to expose so much of ourselves, and yet bare-backed Janes and grunting, ripped-shirted Tarzans walk the halls every day. I know that wearing vintage clothing has always been a trend, but it’s time to draw the line between vintage and Stone Age. Our morals tell us that we need to wear clothes. Moreover, we need to wear a sufficient amount of clothing. Those vestiges of the caveman glory days are better off abandoned for good. The age of the Neanderthal has long passed, but it is now seeing a renaissance in the form of teenage culture. We can only try to remember that there was a reason we advanced in the first place. Sure, we don’t have to be miniature Shakespeares or dress like the Amish, but neither do we need to emulate our ancient (to say the least) predecessors. Graphics by MICHELLE ZHANG and courtesy of UWEC.EDU In the words of the modern day caveman, “We’re so beast.” Literally. they’re funny, fast, and require very little thinking. In fact, that’s one of the benefits of and reasons for using slang. When overused, the only thing it does is undermine our own progress. At some point, we need to decide to stop embracing the Tarzan method of conversation and form a few original sentences. This trend of degeneration isn’t limited to speaking either. Re-

As pretty much anyone can tell, mankind has progressed. Approach it from any angle and you can see the vast changes we have made over centuries of work and development. We’ve gone from homemade to mass production, grass huts to towering skyscrapers, chicken scratch to great works of literature. It is most definitely something we can be proud of. Yet it seems that we have regressed lately, and I have to wonder why we are so intent on undermining our own advancement in society. One of the main areas in which we are getting in touch with our primitive roots is language. It is true that most of us have learned the technical nightmare of phrases like, “Me Tarzan. You Jane.” (For one, “me” is an objective and not a subjective pronoun…but I digress.) However, even though we profess to be highly educated and evolved, somehow it is becoming the norm to use phrases like “so beast”. Or, if you prefer, so pro/ ninja/fly/bomb, none of which make the slightest grammatical sense. Still, we have to admit that these phrases just seem to slip out in everyday conversation. And while it is fine to use slang or colloquial language, what concerns me is that we all use these terms more often than we speak properly. Rather than utilize the millions of words at our disposal, we opt RETURNING TO OUR ROOTS It may be the 21st century, but it seems that we are for basic, almost primitive responses that regressing toward our caveman days once again. result in unoriginal and undeveloped con-

jyang@apachepowwow.com

Discovering the Small Screen’s Silver Lining By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that television is polluting society, that it is mindless and inane. I used to make these statements myself when I was pretentiously determined not to dedicate any of my attention to anything popular. Now, though, I watch more shows than I care to admit, and naturally I feel the need to justify them. I’ve found that watching TV is not a completely unhealthy obsession; in fact, it’s one of the most fulfilling forms of entertainment and is also a fascinating and revealing window into the strangeness of our culture. As entertainment, television is undeniably unique in that it is continuous. There are book series and film series, but there’s nothing like experiencing new stories every week with the same familiar settings and characters. I love the thrill of another medical mystery or the discovery of another interesting rotting corpse while also having the joy of seeing strangers evolve into family and enemies evolve into lovers. I love shows with heart and insight, shows that are lessons wrapped in a story. After all, good TV does what all good fiction does—it makes people care. With a good television series, the audience always cares enough to come back week after week. If fiction is meant to give us relief and comfort, watching TV is a handy little hobby

to have around. Seeing something enjoyable (or better yet, relatable) onscreen is like having a loyal friend to catch up with on a regular basis (don’t look at me like that—I have real friends too!). Even with time travel and alternate universes, Lost is always still about that enduring

group of survivors, and no matter how many other love interests get in the way, you just know that Bones will never stray far from the dynamic between its two main characters. Watching these stories shows me that it is crucial for a series to have strong centric concepts from which other storylines and adventures then branch off. On a strange, subtle level, this has shown me the comfort of having somewhere to come home to and the importance of having

something to focus on. I don’t know where I’ll go in my life, and so many things seem uncertain, but I know that, just like the unchanging foundations of serialized stories, I’ll find a constant to keep me grounded. But aside from simple amusement, television is also one of the most effective ways to understand and spread culture. And I don’t just mean Jennifer Aniston’s hair on Friends, although this show’s universal popularity is

the quintessential example of how people across the world learned more about one nation’s culture and language through television. Art and entertainment are creations that cross cultural

boundaries, and because of a television series’ continuous nature, people are able to slowly absorb all its underlying themes and ideas as well as what they say about the country of origin. On a smaller scale, television is also how I learn about American culture. Let’s be honest—here in Arcadia, many of us are not quite in touch with certain American values, ideals, and ways of life. Though much of TV is made glamorous for the airwaves, from what I gather in reviews, it’s real enough to get a sense of how people operate. But because the content of TV belongs to an industry so painstakingly tailored to popular appeal, even unrealistic stories are pretty insightful looks at the public’s opinion. Every show’s renewal or cancellation, every rise and fall in ratings indicates something about what people want to see. And knowing even these little details brings me that much closer to society. So yes, I will admit to having been won over by television, this opiate of the masses, this corrupter of our individual thoughts. I am willing to accept my affinity for the small screen and to affirm that it’s no longer a guilty pleasure because TV is so much more than mindless entertainment. It’s a part of our culture, and no matter who you are I’m sure that among all the pointless trash on the airwaves, there’s an episode or two for you. jkuang@apachepowwow.com

Photos courtesy of RADIOTIMES.COM and INSERTFISHHERE.COM

Opinion

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March 2011

College Decisions Aren’t Your Last By DAVID KE Staff Writer

The college application process always brings out a type of ugliness in each year’s seniors. They look like zombies slaving away at the endless essays and staying up until the birds start chirping. The constant stress can be overbearing at times. After all, the notion that your choice of college decides the rest of your life is one that has been drilled into us since we were little. And the numerous miracle stories of Harvard students coming from the slums offer little encouragement. In the end, college decisions are not a final verdict of one’s worth, but rather an opportunity to write the next chapter in life. The idea that the first 18 years of your life and one college can determine the outcome of your entire life is silly. Who can say that they haven’t changed since they were a child? Likewise, if people continue to mentally develop until they’re 30, it’s a stretch to say their life is set in stone at 18. A certain poet sold his first poem when he was 20, and an aspiring politician came from the small local Occidental College. These two later became the great poet Robert Frost and President Barack Obama. If someone could accurately predict where people would end up based on which college they were accepted into, I would deem that a genuine display of ESP. There are just too many variables in life to make a judgment of one’s future based on his or her college acceptances. People are able to make so many choices in college, regardless of which one they attend, that their lives are still in their hands even after enrollment. It’s this freedom that makes college one of the most memorable times in life. Why else do college alumni seem to have school spirit almost to the point of fanaticism? Work interviews and applications don’t consist of only one question, “Where did you attend college?” for the good reason that college applications don’t only ask for GPAs and SAT scores. Everyone has an identity. And while college is part of who a person may be, it is not the biggest nor most important part. Most colleges have anywhere from 1,000 to 15,000 undergraduate students who were all unique before going to college. You don’t have fun watching basketball because you went to Stanford or are able to enjoy a relaxing evening with your family just because your alma mater hails from the Ivy League. When it comes down to it, all that stress over that final acceptance letter really is overblown. As senior Brandon Mittman said, “Every college has smart teachers and smart students, and every college produces both successes and failures. What really matters is how well the student takes advantage of the opportunities presented to him or her.” So now, when most college decisions have arrived and the sea of emotions has washed over the beach of seniors, we should enjoy the time we have. True, college dictates where we live and who we become friends with for the next four years, but ultimately, we are the ones who continue to shape our futures. dke@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of METAPEDIA.COM, ACTIONENVELOPE.COM, and INGRIDSNOTES.WORDPRESS.COM

Fail Entertainment: The Rise of Social Cannibals By SOPHIA TANG Staff Writer

Humans are the only animals with a sense of morality. We have ideals, laws, and a code of ethics inscribed into our DNA that make us resist cannibalism. We’re not carnivorous predators that chase down fluffy bunnies and innocent fawn and gobble them right then and there in the prairie. We have mothers who teach us to be good and follow the rules, rather than those who teach us how to properly skin a zebra or twist the head off a sea lion. We have principles…right? If we are the moral people we think we are, why do we have Fail Blog, a website devoted to capturing the humiliations of others and posting them for the whole world to see? Yes, all the videos of pogo stick accidents and people crashing into glass doors may be hilariously funny at first, but it just shows we have as little reasoning as animals…with the difference that we target our own kind too. Other things that challenge our principles are the celebrity “oops moments” and “fashion flub” features I often see on gossip websites as well as on Yahoo! and MSN. Contradicting the level of decency we have for ourselves, people would more likely click on an article defiling a person rather than on an article praising the same person. We skim through the article titled “Charlie Sheen is a Hit on Two and a Half Men”, but we will read through “Sheen’s Anti-Semitism Causes Chaos”. We don’t think

people’s achievements as inspiration for ourselves, we tend to take advantage of every slip that they make. True, it entertains me to find out that Lindsay Lohan entered rehab again for the umpteenth time after having a bad day myself, but really, my glee is only showing the low expectations I have for myself. If I truly aim to be a refined citizen instead of a vulture feeding on the remains of an overused piece of gossip, I shouldn’t get through a bad day at the expense of others. Even if the entire population were doing it, going along with debasing others would just make me a civilized cannibal—a human with no sense of respect for others or myself. Critics believed that American Idol’s ratings would take a nosedive after Simon Cowell left. Why? Without a biting critic to harshly insult and undermine others’ confidence, it Graphic courtesy of TIFFANY LAI seems as if viewers no ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS FINEST Is it right that longer want to watch a we’ve accepted failure as a source of entertainment? show that doesn’t amuse about why we do these things because they seem like natural instinct; a cheetah chasing down wounded prey mirrors our cursors steering at lightning speed toward rumors. After the 83rd Academy Awards came and went, I saw an equal number of “Worst Dressed” celebrity pictures along with “Best Dressed” photos. Instead of possibly reflecting on these famed

TCID:

them. Isn’t it shocking that watching others’ humiliating moments and failures makes us feel more competent? The short-lived fun and tear-filled laughs might as well die and turn into real tears once we realize how badly it reflects on the morals and self-respect we thought we had. And they said animals couldn’t cry...Even though there’s no one telling this season’s contestants the things that made me laugh before, like how they should “hire a lawyer and sue their singing teacher” or that they “have as much Latin flair as a polar bear”, I actually find myself cheering them on in a way that makes me feel more humane inside. I, along with many others, might want to evaluate the morals we thought we possessed. True, we don’t gobble our young when we are hungry or trample others to death, but we do still engage in a type of social cannibalism. Your little sneer or offensive blog comment might seem trivial, but when you join in with other sneering people and a thousand other insults, you become part of a whole menacing herd that stomps right onto others’ confidences without a sense of civility. Remember that this mindless herd can change direction any time and would waste no time laughing at me or you. I say we save our ephemeral merriment for our self-dignity and the sake of goodness. Let’s be better than those other people and save this civilization from an impending fate of cannibalism. stang@apachepowwow.com

March 2011

Opinion 11

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A Life of Sesame Street and Sesame Buns By VALERIE YU Staff Writer

There is always more than meets the eye. As we peer in the mirror, an ongoing struggle ripples and rages beneath the surface of those chestnut eyes or that straight black hair. No, I’m not talking about a war of conflicting emotions or ambivalence in choosing between a slice of red velvet cake and one of chocolate soufflé. And no, it isn’t one forcing me to choose between guilt and my conscience or between Ceramics and AP Art History for next year. No, no, and no. This conflict is different. This, my friend, is the struggle between Self 1 and Self 2—a conflict of identity. Naturally, as creatures who find order in classification and categories, we humans identify ourselves by culture, race, nationality, and ethnicity. Knowing those little background tidbits about a person gives us an image to judge, an image that we believe tells us more about the person than it really does. But what if we’re American, too? In a nation nicknamed the “melting pot”, an American can be a blue-eyed Englishman or a turbanwearing Indian, a headdress-wearing Native American or a sombrero-tipping Mexican. When we say that we are “American”, what do we really mean to say? I believe that it’s a word that embodies only half of our beliefs,

half of our lifestyles, half of our perspectives. Year’s Eve, feeling the charged frenzy surOur roots lie not only in American soil but also rounding the Super Bowl, and empathizing in various regions around the world, thickened with my fellow countrymen in times of nationby the customs, long-held traditions, and ideal crises and trauma. But my life is far from als of certain cultures. The tangle of American devoid of the vestiges of my Chinese heritage. and cultural roots has forever altered how we In fact, it’s quite the opposite. From speaking define ourselves, setting into motion that inCantonese at home to using chopsticks to eat ternal struggle between our heritage and our rice to watching Hong Kong dramas, I still American culture. However, if we come to that identify myself with Asian culture. During the point where everything evens out—warmly Summer Olympics, I feel mixed in my idenembracing both cultures and accepting tity more than ever; am I Chinese or the beauty of heritage—we will American? Can I truly be both become more at ease with our without abandoning one or identities as the unique indithe other? It’s easy to viduals that we are. accept the American As a Chinese part of me because I American born and have been born and raised in the United raised here. It’s the States, I, like many of other half—the you, have grown up Chinese half— enjoying the greasiwith which I have ness of French fries trouble keeping in and pizza and giggling touch. However, afat shows like Sesame ter much thought, Street and SpongeBob I have come to a SquarePants. I share win-win solution. the commonplace AmerThough at times I may ican experiences resent the roots MELTING POT Accepting that our heritage of my heritage of waiting for the is a blend of cultures will help us discover our Times Square ball clinging on to to drop on New own personal identities. me, pervading

Facing the Unpredictable By MYA HO Staff Writer

Change (v)—to become different. This word makes people do either one of two things: aim for it, or do everything in their power to try and avoid it. Typically, people who aim for change usually desire something different and better than what they already have. Why then, do some tremble at its definition? Perhaps it’s the newness of it all, perhaps it depends on how drastic the change might be. Nevertheless, an unfamiliar circumstance has the power to strike fear into practically anyone. With change comes the unpredictable— the underlying reason as to why many are apprehensive about taking it on. Brand new obstacles are introduced to the picture, all of which add to the fright. Think of it like this: all your life you’ve become accustomed to swimming in the clear, blue waters of a peaceful pond, being able to see everything beneath you. Change, however, is like jumping into stormy waters and looking down into the darkness, not knowing what dangers may lurk beneath the surface. It’s the question of the unknown that eats away at our better judgment, and to supply an answer (because we all want answers), our minds subconsciously imagine the worst-case scenario. I am one of the few who will admit succumbing to change’s intimidation before. As my family fell apart in the events leading up to a divorce, I quickly discovered that I was clinging onto the past and was unwilling to change into a completely new person. Fear took ahold of me. With my oh-so-joyful childhood days being tossed aside and the heavy burden of a new life thrown at me, at the time, I thought it was unfair and that I should resist

TCID:

the change. My reasoning was faulty though, because I soon realized that at some point, everyone is forced to leave behind the comfort of their youth and embrace new responsibilities whether they like it or not. That time to leave behind everything you once knew, however, is in itself a challenge. We must take that challenge though, because how we overcome or attempt to overcome it will define who we are as a whole. Everyone’s life is full of changes— mine just happened to change a bit earlier than others, but in the end, it is all for the better. What ended up happening that I probably would not have believed a couple years ago is that the change we went through ended up benefiting my family in the long-run. We learned to deal with the broken pieces of the past and move on, allowing life to resume its “normal” routine. Looking back, I clearly remember how I felt about the whole thing from the very beginning. Denial was the first step, when I refused to believe what was happening. Then fear of what came next followed. The last step was when I realized that the change helped us to focus on what really mattered—living happily. Sound cheesy? It’s really not. To people who are facing the same kind of predicament, in which they feel uneasy about a changing situation due to the unknown, I can tell you that any trepidation lingering in your minds is not fit to be there. Change has the ability to improve a situation but will not if not given the chance. So don’t let a new situation scare you into not tackling it. Just remember that not all dark, changing waters have monsters below. mho@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of MENTALIST.NET

my life, my thoughts, my appearance, and how others perceive me, I find that heritage is something to be proud of and to rejoice in. I am glad that I am able to speak Chinese, especially when China’s becoming a world power. I am glad that I get to eat real Chinese food, not Panda Express. I am glad that I feel like I belong if I walk the streets of Shanghai. I am glad that when I am climbing the Great Wall of China, I feel a strange, otherworldly connection with my ancestors. Thus, no matter how “American” or “white-washed” we become, it’s definitely true that down to the 46th chromosome in every cell we own, our ethnicities and the cultures that we come from cannot be altered. Little parts of our heritage still hold on to us in various ways, whether it’s using chopsticks to scarf down dumplings or having white rice as a main course every day, and they must be accepted. After all, how do we change the culture we originated from when it’s the past and something that shaped us as we grew up? As I have learned, it is definitely more meaningful and worthwhile to find beauty in the ancient arts of heritage than it is to sulk and harbor resentment. Only then will we appreciate our ability to eat hamburgers with chopsticks. valyu@apachepowwow.com

Graphic by CHRISTOPHER CHO

All Hail the Mighty Nerds By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

It’s a classic stereotype. There’s the popular charismatic person and there’s the belittled, nerdy one. I hope I’m not the only one who thinks this premise is getting stale. It’s not quite about bullying or self-esteem anymore. After all, nerds seem to be pretty well-accepted at this point. They get the popularity (and ample paychecks) that come from running Facebook and Apple. There are awards for great scientific and mathematical achievements. There are TV shows about nerdy things such as physics and glee club. But nerds still aren’t getting the level of social respect that they deserve. But we’re in academics-centric Arcadia, you might say, and clearly the majority of us are nerds. Yet this is always addressed with the laughing tone of self-deprecation. “That kid taking five APs—she’s just too smart; she’s crazy.” “Homecoming is at a museum? Wow, we’re such geeks.” Sound familiar? It’s even more prevalent in popular culture. The nerdy character with the loving crush is always so “cute” for being so hopeful. The Big Bang Theory’s entire premise is based on poking fun at the direct link between the main characters’ science knowledge and social awkwardness, and I’ll admit that it yields hilarious results. The truth is that society doesn’t take nerds seriously. I get it—the point of nerdy things is that they aren’t a part of mainstream culture, but that doesn’t automatically make them the butt of the joke. By now, the idea of nerds has evolved to encompass anyone dedicated to anything academic, eccentric, or on the outskirts of

popular culture, whether it be differential equations, Shakespearean sonnets, or something out of Comic-Con. I don’t think of the term “nerd” as an insult, but I’m saddened by how it is scoffed at. Basically, a nerd is simply someone with a focused, directed passion. I can’t quite understand why this is so laughable. Passion isn’t something to be ridiculed; it’s something to be celebrated. While the rest of us are struggling to find something to devote ourselves to, these people are set. They know what they love and they have the freedom to pursue it without feeling the need to seek others’ approval. Nerds are dedicated people, and we can’t judge them based simply on what they’re dedicated to. What does it matter if they like something others don’t, as long as they have their ideas and put them into action? While we laugh about a love of computer programming, it is easy to forget that the previous generation’s nerds came up with the iPhones, webcams, and social networks that we all can’t live without. It may seem ridiculous that a classmate enjoys English analysis and reads for fun, but it’s not so unlikely that that kid from 20 years ago is now writing your favorite TV show. We often don’t notice it, but the severely under-appreciated nerds make our lives so much more interesting and enriched, and it’s time we said thanks. So the next time you see that that one kid in your math class has made a discovery on his calculator, try not to smirk. He worked hard for the well-deserved excitement, and for all you know, he could have just created the new Facebook. jkuang@apachepowwow.com

PERFORMING ARTS

Orchestra Spring Concert By ANNIE HUANG Staff Writer

This Spring Concert was a new experience for the members of Orchestra and Band. It was the first year that these two musical groups have ever collaborated, and Orchestra Secretary junior Fannie Chiang said that she was “really excited because this concert showed how hard the music department works and how much time and effort [it] puts in to put on a great show.” Playing songs such as “Hoedown” from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo, “Fantasy on American Sailing Songs” by Clare Grundman, and “Point Lookout” by Brian Balmages, the members of both Band and Orchestra exuded confidence with every note. Senior Leslie Chang said that “this show came up pretty unexpectedly, as none of the Orchestra members expected to have a concert until [its] Pops Concerts.” However, it was just another opportunity for Orchestra and Band to display their excellence in music. The concert performers consisted of Orchestra 1 and 2, and Symphony Orchestra as well as Concert Bands 1, 2, and 3. Everyday, the musicians were challenged to play new, complex songs but willingly accepted these challenges. The eagerness and passion of these two groups fully embodied the mood of the concert. The lively and catchy tunes created a strong connection between the musicians and their audience. This successful collaboration has initiated a tradition. It will not be surprising to see these two group accompanying each other again in the future. ahuang@apachepowwow.com

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March 2011

Singing to the Last High Note of the Season that the audience appreciated; senior Bryant Chen commented that “the performance from Brea definitely pumped up the crowd.” Ultimately, Mark Keppel swept 1st place in the Intermediate Division while Brea Olinda took the

1st place trophy once again in the AdvancedMixed Division. Staff Writer For the seniors, The Big Powwow Invitational was an emotional occasion for them to say With a full house at the San Gabriel Mistheir goodbyes. Chanteurs Vice President senior sion Playhouse, AHS’ Chanteurs and New Spirit hosted their annual show choir competition The MUSICAL GALA Chanteurs members Stephanie Youssef said “it was a little difficult to come to terms with my last Powwow…at the Big Powwow Invitational on Mar. 18. end their final performance with a bang. end, my host group...went around and gave Seniors Micah Kwok and Kristal Ha us hugs. It was a sweet moment that I will started by announcing the host performance never forget.” from New Spirit at 6:30 p.m., followed by As the last competition of the season the four performances in the Intermediate before Chanteurs and New Spirit perform Division from Los Altos High School, Hart in Florida, the event was a success. Senior High School, Pacifica High School, and Daniel Duan felt deeply that “Chanteurs has Mark Keppel High Schools. AHS performed been the highlight of my high school career at 9:00 p.m. and started the Advanced-Mixed and I could not ask for a better ending to our Division competition among Hart High competition season.” School, Diamond Bar High School, Brea Olinda High School, and Glendora High School. Every group had distinct features cqiu@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of TIFFANY CHIEN

By CARRIE QIU

Percussion Taps It Off to the Sound of Success By KARINA LAIGO Staff Writer

Percussion drummed its way to victory this month. From Mar. 12 to 13 AHS’ Percussion A-Line and Open Line competed in the Winterguard International (WGI) regional competition in Arizona. Consisting of the themes of “Construction Zone” for ALine and “Black and White” for Open Line, Percussion was meant to go far even without music. “There’s only so much you can convey with Percussion,” sophomore Nicholas Warfield said, “but the quad section was able to get into a ‘fight’, and it was my favorite part.” But that doesn’t limit these students’ tal-

proud. With the scores of 83.85 and 82.40 respectively, AHS placed high amongst its competitors. Other than making our school proud, Percussion brought smiles to Band and Percussion Director Mr. Kevin Sherrill, who said, “They lived up to their potential and I was very pleased...the bottom line is that they had fun and that they’re improving.” Pleasing their teacher isn’t the only thing that Percussion members love about performing. “It’s always great when we get to compete and perform” added Chris. Nick knows that “striving to go to the next level in all of their abilities” is the BEAT IT O-Line and A-Line drum it out on the courts to pre- real reward. Percussion’s local championship will hold pare for the WGI competition. preliminaries on Apr. 2 with its finals on Apr. 9, really pays off on the dance floor,” junior Chris so look forward to hearing it! de Luna commented. And it did, with both ALine and O-Line placing 2nd in their divisions klaigo@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLIOTT LEE against a total of ten other groups, making AHS ents; if anything, it emphasizes them. “We’ve been practicing for a long time. It may be tiring, but the amount of effort put into the rehearsals

The Production of a Season: Bets, Debts, and a Missionary’s Assets By CHRISTINA ZHOU Staff Writer

Lights! Camera! Action! It’s showtime once again, and the Advanced Drama Department (ADD) is out to please. Currently, ADD is performing Guys & Dolls, a musical comedy centered on gambler Sky Materson and missionary Sarah Brown, whose conflicts derive from Sky’s bet with a cunning Nathan Detroit. Set in the bustling, sleepless city of New York, the play starts off with Nathan Detroit as he hides from the police, searching for a place to open up and restart his floating craps game and illegal gambling business. However, upon finding a location in a Biltmore Hotel garage, Detroit finds himself looking for trouble as he searches for ways to obtain the $1,000 that was set as the garage’s down payment. He soon meets Sky Materson, a gambler notorious for betting “sky” high, and strikes a bet with him, which ultimately initiates

all of Sky’s problems. Rehearsal for the production started

in early January, and ADD members have poured their hearts and souls into the piece. “We’ve rehearsed a good 100-plus hours,” said junior Gwen Vahey, “and everyone

is extremely involved. We’re all ecstatic about this production, and you can see our excitement through our songs and performances.” The musical itself will feature a variety of

a lighter mood and add more humor. In addition to that, the guys and dolls portraying the small bits bring the entire stage to life with their quirky choreography and cute ensembles,” commented Gwen. On opening night, Guys and Dolls has already received great acclaim. “It was extremely enjoyable to watch,” said sophomore Jessica Ho, “The musical numbers were entertaining, and the plotline had me on the edge of my seat. I was really enthralled by Sky’s journey throughout the play.” If you haven’t decided whether or not to watch Guys and Dolls, don’t delay! Guys and Dolls will start on A BLIND BET Calling all Mar. 29 and continue through Apr. gambling guys and dancing 2. Tickets go for $15. The play is dolls to the stage! expected to sell out on certain days, so hurry and get your ticket while you still can! singing talents from ADD members who will perform 21 czhou@apachepowwow.com songs, including “A Bushel and a Peck”, “Luck Photo by ELLIOTT LEE be a Lady”, “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Graphics courtesy of CASINOLAND.COM, FACWEB.CS.DEPAUL.EDU, and PROBoat”, and many, many more. “I think the audiMOWHOLESALE.COM ence will really enjoy all the songs. They create

performingarts@apachepowwow.com

March 2011

PERFORMING ARTS

March Nutrition Month: Eat Like a Performer! By VANESSA YU Staff Writer

As the month of March draws to an end, it upholds its nationwide name, National Nutrition Month. Developed by the American Dietetic Association, it focuses on the significance of making healthy food choices and creating beneficial activities. With our many Performing Art (PA) groups practicing rigorously daily and participating in heated competitions, it’s essential to eat right to keep members healthy and performing at their best. From frozen foods to energy-giving fruits, our PA groups share what type of foods they eat for top-notch performances.

Advanced Drama Department (ADD) Not only is our Advanced Drama Department (ADD) busy with its upcoming play, but Theater II is also quite occupied. Sophomore Ashley Poon said that because Theater II is “rehearsing all the time, [they] heat frozen foods to eat during breaks.” Though some may say frozen foods are far from being healthy, scientists clarify that their wholesome goodness can be just as nutritious as fresh foods, especially in fruits and vegetables.

orchesis (ODC) Orchesis Dance Company (ODC) has done more than an outstanding job in its energetic performances that leave us in awe. But how do its members’ bodies keep healthy after all those rehearsals? ODC Secretary junior Veronica Yu replied that they “eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole foods to gain carbs, and most importantly, water!” When ODC members eat carbohydrate-filled foods, it helps provide them with longlasting energy that fuels them with enough stamina to put on a great show.

Our talented ladies of New Spirit demonstrate that it’s not only important what kind of nutrition to eat before competitions, but that it also matters what you eat afterward. Junior Janise Qin described how “after competitions, [they] all go out to eat together as a group at places like Chipotle.” By choosing to eat at places like Chipotle that provide tasty food with tons of nutrition, New Spirit demonstrates that it’s important to keep a healthy body even after competitions.

pep squad With Pep Squad (Pep) practicing stunts and learning choreography for at least two hours a day, sophomore Allissa Cardenas emphasized that “Pep Squad members are supposed to eat things like chicken to get protein, and to not eat unhealthy junk foods.” When Pep members eat protein, they strengthen and build their muscles.

colorguard Every day after school, Colorguard members must have enough energy to endure its whopping three-hour practices. Freshman Katherine Liu specified that “because [they] stretch, dance, and work on choreography, it’s important to eat healthy foods right before practice and not too [many] sugary things because [it gets them] thirsty...during practice.” With Colorguard members already eating healthy foods during practice, their bodies will be fit enough to take 1st place at their upcoming competitions.

Chanteurs

Orchestra During Orchestra’s performances, musicians usually have to remain onstage for a period of time, ranging from a mere ten minutes to a lengthy half an hour. In order to not feel dehydrated while on stage, freshman Christa Lam explained that she “drinks a lot of water before the performance so [she] won’t be thirsty.” Water is a great energizer that our musicians use to look and play their best when performing.

Looking “Sharp” at Competition By STACEY NG Staff Writer

Percussion

With Percussion’s upcoming competitions, it’s vital for its members to practice intensely every day. Freshman Jonathan Chianglin said that “practices can go from one to three hours where [they] practice drills.” With such long periods of time of strenuous exercise, Percussion members need to have enough energy for a great rehearsal while maintaining a healthy body. Jonathan says that he eats “cereal and bananas for breakfast” to ensure that he has enough potassium and nutrition when performing in competitions.

new spirit

For Chanteurs members, it’s important to maintain a healthy body and keep their voices in good shape. Senior Stephanie Youssef explains that “dairy is [a singer’s] worst enemy because dairy coats [their] vocal cords and makes it difficult to reach [their] full range.” Before rehearsals, Chanteurs members “make sure to get a good breakfast in and bring a lot of water to stay hydrated.”

band

Band members compete on the streets as well as on the field, where they march for long periods of time. When marching in a strict formation under the sun, it’s common to feel thirsty. Junior Sheila Lo reiterated that “it’s important for [them] to stay hydrated, so volunteer parents wheel a wagon full of water bottles during competitions for [them]” because drinking water nourishes and reenergizes Band members’ bodies. vanyu@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of WORDPRESS.COM, ALLIANCEKOLKATA.CO.IN, BESTBUILDINGMUSCLES.COM, CHIPOTLE365.COM, COOLSPRINGS.COM, GEORGETOWNXBLOG.COM, IREFERENCE.CA, LYRICSDOG.EU, BLOGSPOT.COM, NYAPPLECOUNTRY.COM, and UBERCULTURE.CA

PEP SPIRIT Pep Squad members flash winning smiles.

There is so much more to Pep Squad than just cheering at football games and performing at assemblies. On Mar. 13, Cheer, Flags, and Song competed in their first competition of the season at the Sharp International competition at La Serna High School in Whittier. Practicing at least four days a week, our girls (and boys!) worked tirelessly to perfect their respective routines, eager to please both the audience and judges. Sophomore Diana Kwok said, “Time was limited, but we put all our efforts into our practices and performance, and in the end, it all paid off.” Performing to a Missy Elliott mix, Cheer had the opportunity to compete for the first time in three years, making them the rookie contenders among the triad of groups that made up Pep Squad. With only half of the team competing with a brand new routine, Cheer certainly had its work cut out, but pulled through, placing 3rd in the co-ed Varsity Cheer Division and receiving the Judge’s Award. Flags, having placed 3rd at Sharp last year, reentered competition season ready to show off its newly polished routine. The girls danced to a compilation of songs centered on a singular theme: time. With songs like “Better in Time” by Leona Lewis to Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”, these girls high-tossed their way to success as they beat out Bell High School. Their intricate routine, featuring several longdistance tosses, ripples, and foot-throws, landed them 1st place. Known for its impressive à la seconde sequences and pristine kick lines, Song returned to yet another Sharp competition with bragging rights, as its Lady Gaga-themed performance last year won 1st place. The girls hoped to once again impress as they performed to a medley of Christina Aguilera songs, high-kicking and pirouetting all the way to 1st place—yet again. Captain junior Kelly Mock said that she had “more enthusiasm and drive to get 1st again” and, at the end of the day, was satisfied with the team’s performance. “My girls definitely reached my expectations,” she enthused. With workshops running from Mar. 14 to 25, Pep Squad is holding tryouts for the incoming school year. But the season has yet to come to a close. Look out next month as a select group of Pep Squad members are scheduled to compete at a Sharp International competition in Las Vegas! stng@apachepowwow.com Photo by STACEY NG

SUMMER STUDY

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Last summer, I atte colleges in the country. exposed to all the exciti concentrations in fields graphic design, creativ concentration, everyone and portfolio prep. All c of which are practicing improve my artwork, b well. During off-hours, lectures, street festivals weekends, students hav Initially, it was the However, looking back the people around me di artists. Their ideas and u program to students int

Imagine it’s lunchtime, and you’re munching on a cheeseburger while chatting with friends about how awesome it is that National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is sending another rover to Mars. Now imagine eating a cheeseburger again, except you’re now talking to some of the top-notch scientists and engineers in the world who are actually building the rover. This is just one of the many amazing opportunities I experienced as a summer intern at NASA’s JPL. On the first day of my eight-week internship at JPL, I was assigned to a wonderful mentor from the Mars Public Engagement team. One of my main projects was to create a virtual tour of the possible landing sites for the rover Curiosity that will launch in late 2011. This opportunity was really cool because I got to work with a Mars geologist and learn about all the landing sites. Another one of my bigger projects involved designing and adding more features to a website that contains 3-D images of Mars. Some smaller tasks included posting news about Curiosity on JPL’s official Facebook and Twitter, and designing images using Photoshop and Illustrator for various purposes. I was also able to tour the buildings, listen to presentations by renowned scientists, and even witness Curiosity drive for the first time ever. Work days were nicely accompanied by weekend excursions that included the California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, and Six Flags—all expenses paid!. Although I was the only girl among the four interns, we still bonded and had lots of fun. During our spare time, we even built and launched our own model rocket from scratch. I applied to this program because I have a strong interest in all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. At AHS, I am on the Science Bowl team, and I participate in FIRST Robotics outside of school. Overall, my experience at JPL enhanced my interest in science and gave me a glimpse of the wonderful career opportunities in the field. If you have a passion for STEM, I highly recommend interning at JPL. The facilities are fantastic and you get paid to have fun too! - Jessica Liang, 12

By VANESSA YU

Staff Writer

Summer—the several short months when we can happily go through our day without pulling our hair out over mountains of homework or stressing about our many overwhelming classes. Images of an inviting swimming pool and fun-filled sunny days spent with friends cloud our minds and essentially describe our days. But while most of us are happily relaxing, some students are still diligently hard at work in summer study programs such as internships or college classes. Summer study programs exist all over the nation from the East to West Coast in numbers that are ever increasing. Most of these summer programs are available to all high school students, from freshman to seniors. Though most deadlines have passed, there is nonetheless a notable amount of openings in certain programs that can most definitely still be applied to. So don’t pass up any chances available to apply to summer programs or you might regret it! Students that have taken opportunities to join incredible summer study programs constantly praise how the programs have exceeded their expectations—making new friends, getting a glimpse at career prospects, and overall increasing their knowledge greatly. Now, these lucky students share their experiences about their exhilarating summers at different summer study programs, ranging from an exciting Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) at Stanford University to an internship adventure at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). vanyu@apachepowwow.com

Photos by VANESSA YU and graphics by ALWYNA LAU

March 2011

PROGRAMS 15

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ended a pre-college art program at Pratt Institute, one of the leading art . The school is located in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, so students are ing happenings of New York City. During its summer sessions, they offer such as drawing and painting, architecture, photography, fashion design, ve writing, and much more. Along with the classes you take for your e must also take three extra classes that include foundation art, art history, classes are taught by graduates of the school or current professors, many g artists. All my teachers were very helpful with not just giving advice to but with information on working for a career in the creative industry as , the program coordinates events to museums, concerts, musicals, guest s, and other landmark places in New York. Usually after classes and on ve free time to explore New York City on their own. school itself and the location that compelled me to consider the program. in retrospect, those two aspects added to the experience but not as much as id. The majority of the people there are eccentric, talented, and motivated unique artistic voices ended up shaping me the most. I would suggest the terested in the arts who want to learn at a new and exciting location. - Laura Tsu, 12

I took these college classes, Chemistry Honors and Natural Disasters, as part of the Early Entrance Program (EEP) from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA). What is the Early Entrance Program? It's a program that allows students up to 15 years old to try out some college classes, and if they decide that they fit the program (and if the panel of other students and the director decides that they fit as well), then they may enter CSULA as a college student directly. I decided halfway that this might not be the right program for me (obviously, I wouldn't be here if I didn't do that). I decided to join the EEP because I felt that it might be a really good learning experience and it also might've allowed me to go to college earlier. The prerequisites: taking the Washington Pre-College Test then the Entry Level Mathematics and English Placement Tests. However, given what they must have seen in me, the directors and panel decided to say no about this one and send me back to working in high school, which I did fine with in the last two years.I got some really nice classes out of the experience (Chemistry had a good lab portion and a nice building to go to, and Natural Disasters was a fun class to learn earth science in). I believe that people who really want to learn about the college experience should try this program out especially freshmen and sophomores. It's really different, as you have to be your own police about finishing work, showing up to classes, etc. But you also get to build up an awesome friendship with others who made it into the program. - Derek Chou, 12

The YLC I attended two summers ago was extremely educational. This outreach program focused on spreading awareness about Hepatitis B, specifically toward Asians and Pacific Islanders. It was led by outgoing college and graduate students interning at Stanford’s Asian Liver Center, and I was touched by their collective energy in educating high school students about this cause. Not only did we learn about Hepatitis B, but also about professional skills like how to write a resumé, develop efficient outreach strategies, and even effective advertising techniques. For three days, we attended lectures by policy makers and medical experts in the community, and how they used their skills to contribute to the cause. Scattered throughout those three days, we also collaborated in teams to develop our own outreach program for the disease, all leading to the final fourth day where each team presented its ideas to the founder of the Asian Liver Center. While this program is not necessarily the most intensive or well-known, I had a lot of fun getting to know other youths from all around America, from Georgia to New York. It was so much fun that I went back for a second summer! - Nancy Lam, 12

Features

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March 2011

Go Nuts for National Peanut Month

By LAUREEN MA Staff Writer

Are you nutty for peanuts? Because March is National Peanut Month! With a variety of recipes on how to use peanuts, you will be able to create delicious, mouthwatering dishes for the entire month. If you are allergic to peanuts, have no fear because there are alternative recipes to consuming peanut products. To get a fresh start in the morning, why not start off with a simple breakfast of classic pancakes? To spice it up, instead of using regular maple syrup, add ¼ cup of peanut butter to ½ cup of maple syrup into a saucepan. Heat it up and stir until the texture turns smooth. Serve generously over a stack of pancakes and enjoy! Another good alternative for a quick breakfast is peanut butter oatmeal. Usually, people refer to oatmeal as being a bland and dull breakfast choice. With this easy recipe, all you have to do is prepare one package of flavored instant oatmeal with the instructions on how to make it. Then, add one teaspoon of peanut butter to the oatmeal. This recipe makes one serving. For a small snack in between breakfast and lunch to get through the day, eat a handful of oven-roasted peanuts. Pour a layer of unshelled or shelled raw peanuts into a shallow baking pan and place the pan in a 350°F preheated oven. Leave the pan in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes if the peanuts are shelled or 20 to 25 minutes for unshelled peanuts. Remove the baking pan after desired results and let it cool off for a couple minutes. An additional choice for a midday snack is an Asian chicken salad lettuce cup. Just a side

note, this recipe involves more preparation than the others. First off, you will need 2 cups of finely chopped cooked chicken, 4 medium-sized green onions, diagonally sliced into ¼ cup, 1 can of finely chopped water chestnuts, ½ cup of spicy peanut sauce, 1 tablespoon of fresh

chopped m i n t leaves, 24 small Bibb lettuce leaves, and ½ cup of chopped roasted peanuts. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the ingredients together and mix it, excluding the lettuce leaves and the roasted peanuts. Then, carefully spoon 2 tablespoons of

the chicken mixture onto each individual Bibb lettuce leaf. Add the roasted peanuts at the top and you are good to go. This recipe makes 24 servings. Why not just skip lunch and dinner and focus on dessert recipes? The possibilities are endless when it comes to peanut butter, like peanut butter shortbreads, peanut butter cookies, or peanut butter fudge—the list goes on. For peanut butter shortbread, all you need is ½ cup of softened unsalted butter, ½ cup of granulated sugar, ¼ cup of creamy peanut butter, and 2 cups of all-purpose flour. The first step is to preheat the oven to 300°F. Combine all the ingredients with your fingers until the mix has a coarse texture. Press

the mixture into an eight-inch round pan. Then, with a fork, poke decorative wedges into the dough. Bake the shortbreads for about an hour and cut the wedges while they are still warm. Then, cut 16 wedge-shaped cookies for easy eating and it is time to take a bite. Now, for people with peanut allergies, there are several alternatives to consuming peanut products. For example, Sunbutter is made from roasted sunflower seeds and is made from a nut-free facility to ensure the safety of its consumers. It has the same texture as peanut butter and comes in a variety of flavors ranging from cream to organic to unsweetened, all the way to natural omega. All Sunbutter is peanut-free, tree nut-free, as well as glutenfree. For those not allergic to almonds, another healthy substitution is almond butter. Almond butter is also peanut and gluten-free and comes in two flavors: chunky and smooth. This is a healthy alternative because almonds are filled with proteins. So, with these quick and easy do-it-yourself recipes, have fun during National Peanut Month and be sure to celebrate right by baking these nutty and delicious foods. lma@apachepowwow.com

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE Photo courtesy of BABBLE.COM and DELUXEGIFTBASKETS.COM

The Wacky and Knacky Rhymer, Dr. Seuss By RITA WANG Staff Writer

As we venture our way through high school, many yearn for the elementary school days when recess still existed and homework was due at the end of the week. And most of all, we still recall reading classic children stories ranging from Disney fairytales to books by beloved authors such as Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. Famous for his quirky, lovable children’s books, Dr. Seuss has written 44 books and over 200 million copies have been printed still to this day in around 15 different languages. Surprisingly, Geisel had his start in the artistic field with car-

toons he drew for Vanity Fair and Saturday Evening Post and

advertisements for Standard Oil, an oil company. In fact, his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times before finally being published in 1937. Geisel credited much of his impeccable rhyming ability to his mother who often soothed him with rhymes when he was young. His mother also indirectly influenced his pen name, “Seuss”, which was his mother’s maiden name as well as his middle name. Mar. 2 is Dr. Seuss’ birthday and is also known as “National Read

Across America Day” in tribute to him. The most renowned of Dr. Seuss’ books is probably The Cat in the Hat, a story about two young children who are visited on a rainy afternoon by a mysterious yet enticing Cat who wreaks chaos onto their household but manages to make it all disappear seconds before the children’s mother arrives home. This book has marked one of the most well known characters in children’s literature, the cat with a red-and-white striped tall hat and

a red bowtie. With more than 11 million copies sold, this story was continued with a sequel, made into a film in 2003, and even has a ride following the plot line at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. What is so unique about this book is that it only has about 236 distinct

words, 221 of which are monosyllabic. The Cat in the Hat was written for first graders to promote literacy and its fame has definitely supported the cause. Another remarkable book with an iconic character is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. With the sweet, little Cindy Lou Who and the grumpy, malicious Grinch who steals all the Christmas trees and presents, this cherished tale has warmed the hearts of many. In light of Christmas cheer, the Grinch’s heart “growing three sizes larger” makes readers fall in love with this clas-

sic time and time again. This story was adapted into an animated film in 1966 and also into a live-action film of the same title in 2000 starring Jim Carrey as the infamous Grinch. The storyline has been referenced in even modern day television shows such as Glee. A little-known fact is that Dr. Seuss’ license plate actually said “GRINCH”. Story after story, Dr. Seuss has enlightened children of all ages with his knack for rhymes and whimsical plot lines. In contrast, some of his later books such as Yertle the Turtle contained historical references to World War II, which took place at the time. Despite being a children’s book author, Geisel did not have kids of his own and he actually wrote his first book the year he and his first wife found out she could not have a baby. Though he succumbed to throat cancer on Sep. 24, 1991, at age 87, Theodor Geisel has been and will be forever remembered as the admired, lovable, and witty Dr. Seuss. rwang@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of CAFEMOM.COM, CHILDRENSCLASSICS.COM, JUSTFORFUN-GAMES.COM, and SUSTY.COM

March 2011

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St. Patrick’s Day: Why Green? By SARAH QUON Staff Writer

Every year on Mar. 17, people all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. On this day, many people wear green, and those who don’t put themselves at risk of getting pinched! In fact, green is such a recognizable color for St. Patrick’s Day that one of the most famous traditions takes place in Chicago, where the Chicago River is dyed green. The tradition came about in 1962, when pollution control workers were trying to find a way to detect illegal sewage discharges in the river. They realized that they could use dye to find them and since it was around St. Patrick’s Day, they decided to dye the river a festive green. Together, they poured 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river. All of the dye kept the river green for an entire week! Nowadays, only 40 pounds of green dye are used to be more environmentally friendly, and the river stays green for only hours instead of a whole week. With that said, green may seem like it is the most recognizable symbol of St. Patrick’s Day; however, green was not always the color to symbolize this holiday. Originally, blue was the color of St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, the color

was named “St. Patrick’s blue”. It was considered one of the royal colors and was worn by knights and officers. Slowly though, the blue turned into blue-green and then to green. At first, one may think that green was chosen because it is the color of Ireland, but the colors of Ireland’s flag also include white and orange. The green represents the Irish nationalist tradition, the orange represents the Orange Institution, and the white represents the unity between them. While orange and white may seem like options for St. Patrick’s Day color, green is more symbolic of national pride. But that was not the only reason; since Ireland’s nickname is “Emerald Isle”, the color green was ideal. Since St. Patrick’s Day is in the spring, it was logical to choose a color that represented springtime: green. There was also a misinterpretation of the phrase “the wearing of the green”. It originally meant wearing or pinning a shamrock on one’s shirt, symbolizing the Trinity of the Christian religion. However, people took the phrase literally and green became the main color for St. Patrick’s Day. squon@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of OUREVERYDAYEARTH.COM

Features

Livestock are not “Lovin’ It”

By MICHELLE ZHANG Staff Writer

The growth of technology has distanced the average consumer from the manufacturing processes which produce almost everything people use. Though technology saves people a lot of time, the growing ignorance of consumers allows corporations to partake in ruthless profiteering, sometimes at the expense of animals. It is time for people to educate themselves about what they are really sinking their teeth into. McDonald’s: One of the iconic images in America, McDonald’s is not full of smiles behind closed doors. The chickens it orders are not humanely slaughtered; many are scalded to death in the defeathering process. A video protesting McDonald’s posted by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) depicts hundreds of chickens, many of which are still alive, bound upside-down by metal shackles and grossly slaughtered by a few men with crude knives. To help stop the unethical treatment of these chickens, PETA encourages people to boycott the fast food restaurant. PETA even offers a campaign packet on its website, which

includes stickers and leaflets to hand out. The bottom line is that every time people eat at McDonald’s, the poultry aren’t “lovin’ it”. Kentucky Fried Chicken: The video PETA provided for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is even more horrific than the video it provided for McDonald’s. The video depicts workers throwing chickens against the wall. More appalling is that workers kick and jump on clusters of injured poultry. One worker seems to be playing a game of hopscotch, by jumping from one chicken to the next. In some of these facilities, chickens are crammed into extremely dirty cages which are rarely cleaned. To avoid promoting such abuse, people should at least boycott, if not protest, their local KFC. In the end, where people eat is up to their own judgment. But, if people can temporarily boycott inhumane practices, it can lead to permanent change in the meat industry and the lives of these animals. mzhang@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of BLAWGIT.COM and THEENVIRONMENTALBLOG.ORG

Gotta Catch ‘Em All: Pokémon Black and White By BRANDON PANG Staff Writer

Pikachu. Bulbasaur. Charmander. Squirtle. These are but a few of the many Pokémon that hold a special place in our childhood memories. Pokémon, or Pocket Monsters, started as an idea influenced by Satoshi Tajiri’s childhood hobby of catching bugs and tadpoles. From its beginning, it grew to become the second most successful video game-based media franchise in the world, behind only Nintendo’s Mario series. Starting off with only a pair of Game Boy role-playing video games, Pokémon’s merchandise now includes manga, anime, trading cards, toys, books, and more. Even now the legacy continues as Pokémon released its newest game, Pokémon Black and White Version, on Mar. 6. Placed in the Unova region, a fictional country based on New York City, the protagonist follows a linear storyline aiming to become a Pokémon master by training a team of powerful Pokémon. Featuring 156 new kinds of Pokémon including the two newest legendary Pokémon, Reshiram and Zekrom, the latest Pokémon game incorporates

many of the old features while also adding new ones. For instance, new types of battling modes have been installed such as Triple Battling, which allows three Pokémon to fight at once, or Rotation Battling, which has three Poké-

mon fighting, but only one by one, tagging out when necessary. Pokémon Musicals, the new sub-game, which now replaces the previous Pokémon contests, allows players to dress their Pokémon and have them dance to music. However, the biggest change is in the technology both in and out of the game. Utiliz-

ing the capabilities of the Internet, every person has a device called the C Gear, which allows players to access a “Dream World” option on the Pokémon Global Link website. This “Dream World” allows players to build homes, plant berries for usage in the game, and socialize with other players. The C Gear also accesses wireless abilities of a DS or DSi, even containing a video chat feature. All these features, bundled up into one neat package, prove to be quite the asset. Reaching a total of a million sales in one day, the latest Pokémon Black and White Versions completely dominated the sales list for any previous Pokémon game. With a simple $34.99 price tag, the new games are flying off the shelves. After many years, buying new Pokémon games simply becomes a habit for many, but for others it is mandatory to have, especially for all players who “gotta catch ‘em all!” bpang@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of BOTCHWEED.COM and TOY-TMA.COM

Features

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March 2011

By ELLISON CHEN Staff Writer

If Hollywood is where celebrities launch their careers, then the Leipzig Zoo is where animals rise to stardom. Just last year, the zoo featured the famed Paul the Octopus, whose amazingly accurate World Cup predictions made him a household name. Since then, the Leipzig Zoo has found another clairvoyant phenomenon: Heidi the cross-eyed opossum. Humble in her origins, the North Carolina native traveled from Denmark’s Odense Zoo to Germany’s Leipzig Zoo in May 2010 and will be on public display in July. The Virginia Opossum, also known as the North American Opossum, did not always have such a good life, however. For the beginning of her two-and-a-half-year life, Heidi, due to her eye condition, dwelled in an animal sanctuary along with other animals that were unable to fend for themselves against predators in the wild. Hindered with crossed eyes, most likely caused by fatty deposits behind her eyes, the vulnerable Heidi was put on a special diet to correct this oddity—one that had turned her into an instant celebrity. Heidi made her big break when the German tabloid Bild first featured her in an ad for the Leipzig Zoo’s Gondwanaland exhibit. Soon after, Heidi made international headlines. In fact, Heidi was invited to the recent 83rd Academy Awards. Although she did not actually go, a stuffed duplication of her was given out as a toy in the VIP gift bags in honor of her. In addition, Heidi, attempting to replicate Paul the Octopus’ amazing feat, tried predicting the outcomes of the Oscars by placing her paw on labeled Oscar statuettes. Unfortunately, Heidi missed one category, opting for the long shot 127 Hours for Best Picture instead of The King’s Speech. Despite the minor blunder, Heidi did not wane in popularity at all. With 300,000 Facebook fans and counting, tripling those of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Heidi has already captured the hearts of many all over the world. Three particular enthusiasts even formed a band called OposSUM und die Beutelrattenthree and have sung a hit song titled “Opossum Heidi Schielt” (Opossum Heidi Peers) with lyrics including: “Heidi is so sweet. How nice that she exists.” With her captivating eyes and fluffy fur coat, Heidi awaits to be adored by all when the Gondwanaland exhibit opens later this year. Until then, doting fans will have to admire Heidi through their computers, waiting for what this awesome opossum will do next. echen@apachepowwow.com

Photos courtesy of CBSNEWS.COM and CONNECT.IN.COM

March 2011

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ADVertisements 19

ACADEMICS

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March 2011

Destination Imagination Dominates at Regionals heights. For “Spinning a Tale”, the teams must develop and present original three-act circular stories that demonstrates knowledge about one energy cycle of the team’s choice. For “Triple Take Road Show”, the teams must use three different storytelling methods to tell the same story to three team-chosen hypothetical audiences. In the challenge “Verses! Foiled Again!” the teams must design and build structures made only of aluminum foil, w o o d , a n d glue and test how much weight the structures Ph will hold. ot os Finally, f o r

By RACHEL THAI Staff Writer

COOL &

COLLECTED

Whether on stage or off, DI teams never fail to keep their cheerful composure.

Science Olympiad’s (SO) season of scientific endeavors and engineering antics began with its regional competition on Feb. 26 at Occidental College. SO competes in a series of testing and building events. Topics range from astronomy to geology, and team members build things like helicopters, musical instruments, and Rube Goldberg machines. Months of preparation paid off at Regionals as Co-Captain senior Derek Chou commented, “This year was a lot less rushed than last year, and I felt like [the team] prepared a lot more.” Each school in each event in the tournament is given a ranking, and places in events are added together to make up a school’s score—the lower the score, the better. SO placed 1st in five events out of a total of 23 events and got a total score of 148, placing 2nd to North Hollywood, which scored 74. Co-captain senior Jackie Chen commented that SO “has a very strong team this year” and this year’s team won “many more medals in individual events.” As one of the top eight schools at Regionals, SO will go on to its state competition, which will be held Apr. 9 at Canyon High School. Derek commented that “five 1st place medals” were “awesome to get” and that the team will focus on scoring more consistently in preparation for the state competition. Jackie expressed her “pride in the performance of our team” and that “we will definitely, definitely show up all those other teams at [our] state competition!” cchen@apachepowwow.com

rthai@apachepowwow.com

How To Spring Clean Academically By RACHEL THAI

Staff Writer

TSU AURA f L

By CHRISTOPHER CHEN

teamwork skills, or ability to build machines or structures. In the challenge “Unidentified Moving Object”, teams must design and build equipment to move various materials to and from towering

SO is 2nd in Region, Ready for State

tes ur co

Destination Imagination (DI) may be the “awesome-est” academic team on the face of AHS—no, on the face of this Earth. Unlike most academic teams, DI doesn’t overwhelm you with extensive facts and trivia; its challenges put its members’ imaginations to the test. DI competed in its regional tournament at South Pasadena Senior High School on Mar. 5. Eight teams from AHS competed in the secondary level of five different challenges at the competition. The competition is comprised of two challenges: the instant challenge, a mystery challenge the teams are given the day of the competition, and the central challenge, the challenge the teams prepared months for. The five central challenges are “Unidentified Moving Object”, “Spinning a Tale”, “Triple Take Road Show”, “Verses! Foiled Again!”, and “Mythology Mission”. The eight teams are 3-2-1 Glucose!, Minds on the Go, Phenomenon, The Seven Wonders, The Squishy Tomatoes, They-Who-Cannot-BeNamed, Veloci-DI, and Your Wurst Nightmare. Each challenge tests the team’s creativity,

“Mythology Mission”, the teams must create five-minute improvisational skits about a mission involving a mythical creature. In the first challenge, “Unidentified Moving Object”, The Squishy Tomatoes beat Phenomenon, winning 1st place; however, Phenomenon was awarded the Engineering Award for the machine it built. In the second challenge, “Spinning a Tale”, Veloci-DI competed unopposed and won. They-Who-Cannot-Be-Named won 1st place against The Seven Wonders by six points in their challenge, “Triple Take Road Show”. In the fourth challenge, “Mythology Mission”, Minds on the Go defeated The Bombsquaad, a team from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. Finally, 3-2-1 Glucose! won 1st place, beating Your Wurst Nightmare in “Verses! Foiled Again!” This competition was truly a learning experience for everyone, as DI is “a good combination of creativity and science. [Members are] learning about teamwork and getting things done, but in a different way. I’ve learned it’s important to listen to other people’s opinions in order to get along and to follow rules,” stated DI President senior Laura Tsu. Because all DI teams won 1st or 2nd place during this competition, they qualify for the State Competition in Yosemite on Apr. 9.

Staff Writer

Tired of continually getting A-’s? Tired of only getting 4’s on your Advanced Placement (AP) tests? Tired of being mentally disorganized? Tired of being tired? Then this is the guide for you! I will teach you all the tips and tricks on how to become the perfect student by doing some spring cleaning—in your brain, that is. Finally get those A+’s to finally make your parents proud! You won’t ever have

mindset is “Glee what? Charlie Sheen who?” and if every other word that comes out of your mouth is an SAT word, then you’ve either been living under a rock or have already achieved greatness. Step 2: Organize Your Workspace The first thing you need to do is push ev-

you can’t put “hanging out” on your college resumé. Even if you don’t have any homework or tests the next week, there’s always something you can do to become a better student. For instance, you could study for the AP test next month. If you’ve already finished that during winter break, you can always buy some random AP book and start reading it for fun. Step 4: Study This is the most important step in becoming a perfect student. If I have to teach you how to do this, then I’m sorry, but I don’t think even this guide can

START FRESH Wash away any mental clutter for spring cleaning. Dust out any bad habits, and start the spring out fresh. to sleep alone outside again (you’ll have this guide to keep you company)! Continue reading for a guide to cleaning out all that mental clutter just in time for spring. With these tips, you’re sure to become the perfect student! Step 1: Work With a Clear Head Empty your mind of everything that doesn’t have to do with fine dining—I mean, school. School and breathing. The goal is to not know anything unrelated to school. If your

erything off your desk. Next, throw away anything that isn’t related to school work or school. Throw away your Pokémon cards, your Glee season one boxed DVD set, your fashion magazines, iPods, Nintendo DS’s. All that should be left is your calculator, periodic table, a tall stack of AP books, a stack of paper, and a dozen wooden no. 2 pencils. Step 3: Don’t Have a Social Life If your friends ask you if you want to hang out this weekend, make sure to say no. I mean,

help you. The basic concept is to go in a quiet room without any distractions and read—no, absorb—the words from the books as if the information were the sun. rthai@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of KROOGY.COM. SEARCHENGINEPEOPLE.COM, and ZAZZLE.COM

March 2011

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ACADEMICS

QB Skyrockets Through Rocket Surgery By ELBERT WANG Executive Copy Editor

According to urbandictionary.com, rocket surgery is a play on words which mixes the two common phrases “rocket science” and “brain surgery”. Quiz Bowl (QB) competed at the tournament Rocket Surgery II at La Jolla High School on Mar. 19. Since La Jolla High School was the host, its teams did not compete. As one of QB’s premier rivals, La Jolla High School gave QB a better chance to double qualify for the High School National Championship Tournament (HSNCT) held this year in Atlanta, Georgia as there were 22 teams participating, which allowed four teams to qualify for the HSNCT. Entering the tournament with five teams of

four, QB distributed its eight best players among its A-Team and B-Team. Literature, science, and history specialists were divided among the five teams so that players complemented one another’s strengths. Some topics that were touched upon were computational math, Shakespeare plays, paintings, operas, European history, current events, and physics. At the end of the preliminary round, AHS’ A-Team and B-Team made it into the top bracket with six other teams for a chance to place in the top four and qualify. In the playoffs, AHS’ A-Team tied for 3rd and B-team placed 6th. Arcadia’s three other teams made it into the middle bracket and placed 9th, 11th, and 13th overall. Other schools that qualified include Torrey Pines High School, which placed 1st, University High School, which placed 2nd, and Canyon

Crest Academy, which tied for 3rd. At the end of the tournament, prizes were awarded to the players from Torrey Pines and the top four individual scorers. As the HSNCT takes place from May 27 to 29, in about two months, QB’s top team will compete against other top teams from around the nation. Having already begun its preparation, Adviser Mr. Chris Schultz commented that QB has potential to be a “top 20 team,” and the key is to “develop our younger players into top notch competitors.” Congratulations to QB’s top team for placing 3rd at Rocket Surgery II. Upcoming tournaments include the West Coast Invitational at UCLA on Apr. 3 and State Championships at UCLA on Apr. 16. ewang@apachepowwow.com

Healthy Habits: How to Manage Your Time By APOORV CHAUDHARY Staff Writer

Do you find yourself shuffling through Facebook photos for hours on end? Can’t seem to get a full seven to eight hours of sleep a night? Well, you need to work on time management. This guide will teach you how to manage your time so that you can finish homework and still have time for extracurricular activities and healthy breaks.

1.) Steer away from distractions. If you aren’t able to prevent yourself from going on the computer or watching TV, isolate yourself from those things. Turn your computer over to your mother and leave it off until you need it to do homework. Have a reliable friend change your passwords for Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites and eventually you won’t feel a strong urge to engage yourself in social media as much. 2.) Prioritize. This word that your parents tell you all the time is the single most important thing to a successful high school career. Always put what is most important to you first. If it’s homework, then don’t allow yourself to get distracted by things like Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and other forms of social media. If your priorities lie in playing video games, socializing excessively with friends, and non-school related activities, then do not expect high grades or much sleep if you don’t bother to do your schoolwork.

3.) Don’t dilly-dally. Don’t fret about how much work you have before you start it. Understand that you are in high school, and the workload will be heavy. Rather than worrying about it, just sit down and do the work. It’s amazing how much work you can do when you really set your mind to something and focus.

Social networking, TV shows, and games are the bane of us high school teenagers; however, with determination, focus, perseverance, we can overcome these obstacles and have successful high school careers. apchaudhary@apachepowwow.com

4.) Keep an agenda or to-do list. In your agenda, plan out your homework and budget your time. Allot a certain amount of time for each assignment and strictly follow your schedule. Keep fun time for the end primarily and give yourself small breaks in the middle. Be sure that your schedule allows you to sleep at a reasonable time so that you can have at least a good seven to eight hours of sleep. Graphics courtesy of APNIAPPS.COM, BLOG.WHOLESALERS.COM, WF360.TYPEPAD.COM, AND 3.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM

Speech and Debate Nails Nationals Bid and Speech Follies

By ANDY QIN Staff Writer

Of all the academic competitions, the National Forensic League’s (NFL) National Tournament of Speech and Debate (S&D) is the largest and has an 80-year history. The NFL has divided the nation into hundreds of districts in order to diversify its competition as much as possible. AHS is located in the East Los Angeles District, which is currently ranked 10th out of hundreds of districts in the nation, according to Rostrum magazine. Freshman Albert Gianatan tried his hand at the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, in which he performed brilliantly, making the fifth round of competition, one away from the final round. Albert also took home the satisfaction of having a 3-2 record among experienced upperclassmen as well as the fact that he was only two places away from attending Nationals. His performance exemplifies the promise that the entire class of 2014 freshmen in S&D brings with them, as they are diversified in their interests and unified in their ability to learn and adapt. Senior Patrick Han and junior Gina Oh went to compete in Public Forum debate for plane tickets to Dallas. The resolution for Public Forum debate, in which Gina and Patrick entered as a team, is as follows: Resolved: WikiLeaks is a threat to United States national security. The two opened their rounds with a win over one of San Marino’s top teams and continued through with their momentum. After Patrick and Gina, labeled as code 2A, lost to a San Marino team and had an unsteady record of 1-1, they went on a massive run, going 3-0 over the next three rounds. AHS Public Forum made the sixth and final round, in which they lost to a San Marino team, but luckily qualified with a record of 4-2. Patrick described the feeling as a “mixture between excitement and eager anticipation,” but that he “really [dreads] the Texas summers in a suit part.” Now Patrick and Gina will have to deal with suits in the characteristic Texas heat. Come Mar. 19, S&D will have its chance to qualify and join its debaters for the 2011 East Los Angeles National Qualifying Speech Tournament. After a long day of debating, nothing helps ease an S&D mind more than even more debating—in front of a large crowd, that is. Speech Follies 2011 consisted of S&D members putting on a two-hour showing of all the speech events and some debate exhibitions as well. Because this year’s season sent 16 individuals to the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) State Tournament, S&D needed all the funds that it could get. The Friday and Saturday dates delivered, as they usually do, selling out to a full-house audience. Only at Speech Follies could such a crowd be informed of the dangers of misplacing electronic waste, laugh at the antics of a 12-yearold and his best friend as they campaign for the U.S. presidency, shed tears at the lament of a newly-widowed woman, and become inspired to be their own superheroes all in the course of one evening. This opportunity for an audience to hear the stories and pass on the messages is what this team, in essence, is all about. aqin@apachepowwow.com

Student Life

22 In Love with Shakespeare By VALERIE YU

Staff Writer

““How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” sighed the AHS student, eyes fastened on the gold-embossed lines. At one point in life, we have all studied, recited, or performed his works. That’s right. It’s William Shakespeare, a name that has come to characterize not only an eminent playwright, but also his extraordinary works of literature. AHS students share some of their Shakespeare favorites, timeless works immortalized in the hearts of our students. “Currently, my favorite Shakespeare play is Romeo and Juliet. Though many scenes are impractical, it was Shakespeare’s language that caught me. He really knew how to use figurative language, and I love how Shakespeare uses the simplest things (like the stars) to complement Juliet’s facial features. On top of that, I enjoyed how Shakespeare made his ending bittersweet; Romeo and Juliet may have died, but their deaths are what causes the Capulets and Montagues to forget their ancient grudge.” - Michelle Kim, 9 “Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite Shakespeare play because it’s so light and comedic in a really romantic sense, despite a few dark moments. The twisting plots that encircle Hero, Claudio, Benedick, and Beatrice are so cleverly woven, and I love that somehow, those turns lead to such a beautiful and feel-good ending. I absolutely love the characters in the play too, especially Benedick and Beatrice—they’re so witty and sarcastic, but they both find their softer sides through love. As developing couples do in true romantic comedies, Benedick and Beatrice start out hating each other but fall in love in the end—so sweet.” - Joyce Li, 10 “I think that the play Twelfth Night is my favorite because it shows just how well Shakespeare can write his plays. The comic plot is different than others of its kind because it contains so many interconnected relationships. There is no single plot, but rather multiple plots from the love triangles and backstabbing involved. In the end, Shakespeare pulls out a rather overbearing deus ex machina (the return of Sebastian), a nice finisher.” - Alan Wang, 11 “Out of Shakespeare’s many plays, I think I liked Othello the most. I recently had to reread it for Senior English, and caught so many things that totally flew over my head sophomore year. Its themes are still so evident and applicable in today’s society. Usually, I don’t find dramatic works very realistic, but it still amazes me how Iago spins Othello and Cassio into his web; I’d like to meet [Shakespeare] one day.” - Nancy Lam, 12 Clearly, the romantic English nerd that lives within all of us is a real sucker for Shakespeare’s language—truly love at first page. In the words of Shakespeare, “Did my heart love till now?” Not until you read Shakespeare! valyu@apachepowwow.com

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March 2011

This Little Piggy Saved Lives By SOPHIA TANG

ers.” By the end of the week, the kids had raised $125, and three weeks later, $575 in total. The kids promoted the piggy bank they had raised so much money with, but as sixth grader Harjas Dhillon reported, “We passed it around

ment really just motivates us to do more.” These middle schoolers are so spectacular, they are the inspiration for high students. Anyone who joins Relay for Life to proSamantha plans to raise funds with toys mote the fight against cancer can be a superand stuffed animals, forming a booth to sell hero. This community event, “raffle tickets for a dollar at the sponsored by the American front of the school” to support Cancer Society, will take place students like sixth grader Anfrom June 25 to 26 in Arcadia. gie Ye, who said, “My aunt had But among all the people that breast cancer and it hurt my famiwill raise funds and participate, ly a lot.” Sixth grader Skyla Byers some stand-out heroes have alremarks, “People who have canready begun to emerge here in cer are struggling and I hope to Arcadia: a class of sixth gradhelp them with our money.” Sixth ers and a single cardboard piggy grader Emily Quach summed up bank. the universal purpose of fighting When Arcadia’s Relay for cancer: “Raising money helps us Life held its kick-off event on get one step closer to curing canJan. 27, one of the 125 people that cer.” These kids have the right came was Mr. Doug Townsend, idea. a sixth grade teacher from First Event Chairman of Arcadia’s Avenue Middle School. He took Relay for Life, Mr. Carter Spruill, one of the cardboard piggy banks believes what these students are for raising funds and brought it doing “sends a very powerful to class, telling his students that message” and can get more peothe spare change they dropped ple involved with Relay for Life. into the bank would help find a He said that “these kids aren’t cure for cancer. Photo by SOPHIA TANG looking for anything in return— Amazingly, the piggy bank SUPERHEROES Who says sixth graders can’t save the world? they do it because they just know was fed $15 by the class on the it’s the right thing to do.” first day. The kids took five to ten minutes every school…but it hasn’t been working out.” When Mr. Townsend’s students are one of the day draining themselves of loose change and Mr. Townsend started circulating a petition for highlights of this year’s Relay for Life. Relay wads of money they had brought to school. One the faculty to get involved, there was little re- for Life’s cardboard piggy bank had just been student, sixth grader Samantha Beltran, whose sponse. Three staff members eventually joined. introduced this year, and Mr. Spruill said, “I grandmother is battling cancer, collected $20 Yet the students are pushing forward and had no idea that the piggy bank was going to be from walking the neighborhood with her dad. have decided to start a cancer awareness club on as effective as it was with the students at First Another student put in the $20 he received campus. In order to inspire the middle school- Ave.” As we raise money for Relay for Life, let from his mom every Monday for bus fares and ers, the Hope Can Cure Cancer club visited us hope that this piggy bank and many others snacks, and opted to walk home and do without them at First Avenue Middle School on Wednes- will continue saving lives and being our ultijunk food for that week. Mr. Townsend said, day, Mar. 16. One of the club presidents, senior mate superheroes. “Not a single thought about missing out on Elaine Hsiang, said, “Knowing that there are these things, [they] simply wanted to help oth- future Apaches already involved in the movestang@apachepowwow.com Staff Writer

So Connected, We’re Disconnected By ARNAV CHAUDHARY Staff Writer

In today’s modern age, almost every student owns a computer, whether it be one’s own PC or one that belongs to one’s parents. It allows them to access various facets of social networking such as Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, and AIM. With these different methods of communication, the world has essentially shrunk, as almost everyone is hooked up to the Internet. Because of this, they are able to communicate with each other nearly all of the time. Students use the Internet for a variety of different reasons. Some use it as a means of expanding their knowledge while others use it as a mechanism to stay in touch with their closest friends. Sophomore Calvin Ho says that he mainly uses the Internet for things such as “Facebook and to talk to friends on AIM.” Apart from this, Calvin uses his computer for “homework” with Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Word. Calvin feels that “spending time on the computer is a bad thing because it’s a waste of time, since when most people are on computer they are quite unproductive and easily distracted.” Junior Tony Zhao has a similar perspective toward the Internet,

but he feels that it has “its ups and downs.” The ups include the ability to do “homework, socialize on Facebook, and use e-mail.” The downsides of Internet are that there are “distracting websites such as Tumblr, Formspring, and H u l u . ” Tony feels that

there are good t h i n g s and bad things about the Internet but said that the good should be utilized more. Other students feel that the Internet cannot be specifically categorized as only good or only bad. They feel that it is up to each individual to determine whether he or she uses it for

good or for bad. Senior Alex Bai says that he uses the “computer for just about everything.” Whether it be “communication, research, or entertainment,” Alex relies on his computer for all of them. For Alex, he cannot specifically say whether the Internet has had “a positive or negative effect;” however, it has definitely become an integral part of his life. Senior Justine Lee shares a similar perspective as Alex. She says that she’d like to claim that she uses her “computer most of the time for studying.” However, most of her “usage becomes for socializing,” but she feels that socializing is necessary to an extent. Moreover, Justine feels that the Internet “is definitely very useful and is very convenient.” However, she cannot choose either side because both sides “satisfy society’s need for instant gratification.” The advent of the Internet has served as a vehicle of good and bad in today’s society. While it has helped to globalize the world, it has also served to create distractions for newer generations. Personally, I feel that the Internet should be used in moderation and primarily for when people need it to conduct important business. No one can alter your relationship with the internet. Your boundaries are up to you. archaudhary@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of STXBLUEPRINT.ORG

March 2011

studentlife@apachepowwow.com

Student Life

Spring Sabbatical

By KARINA LAIGO

Staff Writer

With April coming just around the corner, all AHS students are preparing for one thing: spring break! This relaxing period before the last quarter of the school year is the force that pushes students through the Advanced Placement exams and finals. “I’m just happy that spring break is finally coming up,” said sophomore Anne Ying. But due to the economic climate that has gas prices rising, spring break can be as hassling as finals week. Luckily, going away is not the only way to enjoy spring break; whether you choose to “catch up on rest” as junior Andrew Chen pledged to, finish a great book, or learn how to do something new, the possibilities of this spring break are endless. Why exactly is spring break such a necessity? “If you didn’t have spring break you might just [go insane] from all the stress,” Andrew continued; he isn’t far off the mark. With our last long break in the beginning of January, our minds have gone into overdrive, and, according to freshman Harrison Ma, spring break “gives students a chance to rest from all their school work.” Harrison states that he is “mostly going to rest and just hang out with [his] friends.” But we all know what most students are looking forward to: sleep and rest

from all the stress from school! Like Harrison and Andrew said, sleep is one of the main promises of spring break that most AHS students are waiting for. School just flies by us in the blink of an eye, so we end up living on adrenaline and coffee. This spring break, don’t focus all of your time studying or worrying about that test. Instead revel in the sunshine and warmth. It is a freedom you will have for a limited time. klaigo@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of CHALKWALKERBLOG.COM

Lucky Charms

By EDWARD CHAO

Staff Writer

March is the month in which lucky charms are best put to use. From lucky money to lucky undergarments, every person has his or her own juju that helps them either get through the day or have good fortune. Let’s take a look at some lucky charms of AHS students. “Every Chinese New Year, my aunt passes out red envelopes to my cousins and me. Out of the seven envelopes, there’s usually one that

has more money. And every year, I wear my fu dai (a Chinese necklace that has jade inside for good luck) in hopes of getting that extra dollar. Ever since I’ve worn my fu dai, I’ve gotten that extra dollar.” - Clark Shao, 12 “My lucky charm is this Bok Choy Boy figurine that I like to keep around with me. It’s really cute, and it’s a clear white color. On the head is the Chinese symbol for xue, which is “snow” in English. Many good things have happened when I have had it with me.” - Jasmine Chen, 11 “I have this white sports bra that I never wash. I say that the yellower it gets, the luckier it gets.” - Anonymous, 10 “I have a lucky stuffed rabbit named Ears that I hug at night when I have a big day coming up. Whenever I have Ears with me, I feel safe.” - Anonymous, 9 Whether or not you believe in good luck or superstitions, we all have items that are special to us. When you are hoping for something to happen or have a big competition coming up, don’t let anyone go after your lucky charms! echao@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of MUDTRAP.COM

AP Programming

Student Profile: Lucy Manvelyan

By EVAN DELGADO

Staff Writer

As we all know, course selection is coming up, and with it a time of confusion, stress, and planning. Many students will opt to take as many Advanced Placement (AP) classes as possible, which raises some interesting questions about the culture of AHS. Senior Patrick Han said, “APs are important because they allow you to prepare for college. It also keeps us competitive in the global arena. Although they may be difficult, it gives good students the chance to show that they can handle college level work and open up a higher level of learning.” Freshman Isaac Klipstein took an interesting standpoint when he said, “I think that APs should have been a chance to have a higher learning experience, but have become something akin to collectables.” The very idea of an AP class is changing. Accustomed to classes that don’t require any time commitment, students may be caught off guard by these college level courses. In our present society, there is always a competitive spirit in everything we do, so it may seem natural that this applies to our education as well. After all, there is only a finite number of dream jobs in the country, and we’re a country full of dreamers. At this point in our lives, we discover what we want from life, and it seems in many cases that AP classes can help make it happen. But are we losing sight of the value of learning?

At the end of the day, these AP classes are what set students apart. Senior Jackie Chen said, “APs create an environment of higher learning. They can make our high school look good to colleges as well.” Whether you appreciate AP classes or think that they are misused, at the end of the day they are a staple of AHS culture and pervade our lifestyles. They have become a part of our way of life. So when you sign up for courses next year, how many APs will you be taking? edelgado@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of FORESTHILTALON.COM

By ELBERT WANG Executive Copy Editor

Freshman Lusine “Lucy” Manvelyan, a student in Mr. Sandy Silverstein’s English Language Development (ELD) class, recently tied for 1st place in a statewide essay contest sponsored by the California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Just ten months ago, Lucy moved from Armenia to Arcadia. In her essay, Lucy discussed her struggles with learning English in Armenia, but was happy to have a native speaker, namely Mr. Silverstein, as her ELD teacher at AHS. She

explained that Mr. Silverstein “makes lessons understandable, is patient, answers all of [her] questions, and encourages students to use new vocabulary in writing and speech.” Lucy appreciates that he is willing to dedicate time after school to discuss students’ progress in class. She observed that Mr. Silverstein is always prepared and keeps his classroom “clean and organized.” Following his example, Lucy believes she has become a better student. When asked about the greatest lesson he has taught her, Lucy said, “He has high standards for us, so I realize that I have to do my best.” Lucy added that people in Armenia are generally “closer” and more “family-oriented” than in America. At first, she was reluctant to move because she would be leaving countless friends and memories behind; she explained, however, that by improving her English through Mr. Silverstein’s patience, she has learned to adapt. Lucy summarized her favorite aspect of America in one word: “freedom.” Lucy’s dream is to attend a good college and find a career that she enjoys. Through hard work and persistence, we hope that Lucy may be successful in all her endeavors in America. ewang@apachepowwow.com

Photo by ELLISON CHEN Graphic courtesy of CLKER.COM

Sports

apachepowwow.com

Boys Volleyball Looks Smashing By STACEY NG Staff Writer

By EDWARD CHAO & ANDY QIN Staff Writers

The ritual—it’s an integral part of any athlete’s means by which he or she can enter his or her zone. Once in “the zone”, the athlete’s mind is impenetrable to any distractions, or any forms of intimidation. The star athletes at AHS are no different, as they disclose below exactly the various behaviors and rituals they undertake before attacking the playing field. “I don’t really have any special thing that I do before a race. Every race is different so the mentality I have going into each one is different, as are my methods in prepping for them. I always tie up my bangs into a palm tree-like miniponytail and wear my spandex inside out; however, I don’t think of it as good luck. But there is a friend whom I must talk to before each race in order for me to stay focused and keep my sanity.” – Jessica Sunkamaneevongse (Girls Varsity Track and Field) – 12

“We do what we call a ‘fairies’ chant in which we gather in a huddle and jump around in a circle chanting, ‘I do believe in fairies, I do, I do.’ It starts out quietly and gets louder and by the end we’re yelling it at the top of our lungs. It began with the cross country girls two years ago and eventually others started joining in. It’s just a way for us to let loose and have fun and pump us up before a race. It lets us all know that we’re there for each other, win or lose, no matter what.” – Helen Chou (Girls Varsity Cross Country) – 11 “We do this thing that’s called ‘deuces’ and when it’s only for when we’re hitting (on offense) and there are specifically two outs, two strikes, and two balls. When the first person notices that it’s this certain situation, then he yells out, ‘Deuces’ and it’s passed down until the whole team knows. It’s like a traditional superstition thing. If the guy strikes out, then we all say that someone on the team didn’t do it. To perform ‘deuces’, you take the second and third finger of your right hand and rub it on the right side of the bill of your hat. And when the pitcher throws the ball you take your hat off and hold it so like you’re asking for money (hat facing downward, which symbolizes ‘begging’ for a hit).” – Gary Huang (Boys Varsity Baseball) – 11 Graphics courtesy of COMMONS.WIKIPEDIA.COM and IMAGEENVISION.COM

March 2011

ada. Sometime during the game, both teams were matched point for point, but AHS proved dominant as the boys destroyed them 3-0. The “fairly easy” win, according to Stanley, owed credit to the team’s “good chemistry together” and the “falling apart” of the opposing team in the early stages of the game. The evidently leisurely scrimmage was met by what was bound to be an in-

tense match. Going against the number one team in its division, the boys battled it out with Valley Christian. The game ultimately resulted in a loss, with our boys trailing 1-3. The loss, though, unexpectedly set positive expectations for the season. According to senior Sergio Chen, the team is “looking really good in terms of the rest of the season,” adding that the boys “put up a good fight.” Sergio confidently stated that if the team were to play Valley Christian at CIF, he is “certain that [our Apaches] would beat them.” The loss served not only as a learning experience, but also as a motivator. Thursday, Mar. 10, marked the beginning of the team’s victory streak as it defeated San Marcos, pulling in a win with a score of 3-1. That Saturday, Mar. 12, our boys ended the home tournament victorious, beating out not only Temple City 2-0, but also South Pasadena, 1-0. Again, on Mar. 24, San Gabriel came back for another beating as the Varsity team, for lack of a better term, kicked butt, ending the game 3-0. With a positive exposition to their season, the boys’ hopes of obtaining the League Champion title only grow more prevalent. Stanley predicted during this “hopeful” seaPhoto courtesy of ALISA CHIA son that the team will “win league VOLLEYBALL Senior and go far in CIF.”

Last named League Champions in 2009, the members of Boys Varsity Volleyball are eager to reclaim that title. With long practices running from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., the boys are evidently working hard to achieve the win. Possessing various strengths and advantages, the team is confident that its goal will be met. Senior Alejandro De Mendoza said that the team possesses “strong hitters, height, and invaluable Varsity experience.” The combination of the three is sure to make for a powerhouse team. Made up of nine seniors, five of whom have been Varsity starters, Alejandro elaborated that, for the team, “experience will be the biggest thing.” Leading the team with experience, the seniors also hold the responsibility to stand as role models for the underclassmen. Senior Stanley Chen reminisced, “I remember when we were all freshmen we looked up to the seniors back then.” Standing in their shoes, Stanley feels that the senior influence on the team “gives [underclassmen] motivation to better themselves.” Just a few months from graduating, these upperclassmen are enthusiastic to up team morale. Senior Cole Giacopuzzi said, “I want to motivate the team no matter what situation we’re in and alBOYS ways keep [our] heads up.” On Feb. 28, the Apaches dominat- Garwing Lai spikes the ball back over the ed the first scrimmage against La Can- net to his unsuspecting opponents.

stng@apachepowwow.com

Boys and Girls Track and Field Gets Out of the Blocks By ANDY QIN Staff Writer

A series of cars pulled up at the Fresno hotel and opened their doors to reveal Arcadia’s track and field squad. It consisted of sophomores Glindyll Mancia, Andrea Look, Alyson Watkins, and Daniel Ting and juniors Irma Nugroho and Fiona Chu. The team checked in at approximately 6:00 p.m. after three consecutive hours of driving. Only 13 hours later, this squad represented AHS at the 2011 “Run for the Dream” California Indoor State Meet. As opposed to outdoor track, which is regularly run in California and all across the West Coast, indoor track is usually run on the East Coast because the weather is generally colder. However, this meet is usually designated as a pre-outdoor season exhibition of each school’s talent. On the subject of talent, this indoor meet was well in supply; Long Beach Polytechnic, Rio Mesa, and Rancho Cucamonga were the powerhouses in attendance, to name a few. Among all the indoor track venues possible, the Save Mart Center was perhaps the most suitable. Usually known for housing basketball games of the Fresno State Bulldogs, overnight this court was stripped and transformed into an indoor track. The track was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, its

pieces snapped in and bolted in place, providing a 145-meter circumference angled at about 35 degrees above ground level. Lined all along the center was an 80-meter strip of track that was designated solely for sprint events. For the rows of spectators, a giant JumboTron loomed over the center of the arena, complete with four giant screens to give ground-level broadcasting. Irma had to be ready to run a 400-meter leg for her team’s 4x400-meter relay after coming back from last season’s injury. She and her other 4x400-meter relay mates, Fiona, Andrea, and Glindyll, finished with a time of 4:21.64 minutes. Considering that this team was created without any seniors, AHS track has proven its capability to thrive. Daniel had anticipated this meet since the beginning of the season. He

entered in the 55-meter race in the qualifying meet at Riverside and just made the mark with 7.09 seconds. Looking to improve on his time, Daniel warmed up steadily prior to his race. He crossed the line with a time of 7.12, which was below his expectations, but only fueled him to work harder for the upcoming regular season. Glindyll particularly demonstrated the benefits of working hard during the season as she finished her 800-meter race with a time of 2:22.91, a phenomenal time by any standards. She took 3rd place overall at the meet, which made a huge statement about what her upcoming season would be like. Glindyll commented that this performance “showed what [she] needed to work on” for the upcoming league season. T h e upcom-

ing season followed soon afterward, as the team opened in a three-school meet against Bishop Amat and San Gabriel. Highlights from this Mar. 3 meet included junior Tony Moseley’s quick open 400-meter race time of 52.72 and senior Brandon Wu’s 300-meter hurdles seasonopener of 43.61. The eventual score: 93 AHS, 46 Bishop Amat, and 4 San Gabriel. As if this massive margin of victory wasn’t enough, a week later, AHS faced Temple City and La Salle in a triangular meet in which AHS wreaked similar havoc in taking the win on all four levels of competition. The team managed to do it again on Mar. 24 against Muir. Highlights from the meets included Fiona’s blistering 27.30 200meter race, Glindyll’s 2:20.94 800-meter race, and the Boys Varsity 4x400-meter relay clocking a speedy time of 3:32.01. With statistics like these, does it appear that AHS Track can go undefeated on all four levels of its competition for a third consecutive year? Let’s just say they surely appear on track to do so. aqin@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLISON CHEN

TRACK AND FIELD Freshman

Sarah Wang and senior Brandon Wu represent AHS at the league meet.

Sports

sports@apachepowwow.com

March 2011

Boys Baseball Steps Up to the Plate By STEPHEN CHU Staff Writer

Year after year, the AHS Boys Varsity Baseball team continues to stifle the other teams. Comparable to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a team in Major League Baseball, this team seems to have a surplus of talent and skill that stays consistent every year. A team that focuses on “taking the practice at 110% and showing it on field,” said junior Darren Kerfoot, has the potential to achieve great things. Teamwork will be key after losing last year’s seniors who were counted on dearly, but so far, this season looks bright and primed for a breakout year. “Our plan is to play the game pitch by pitch, be focused every time we step foot on the field, out-work, out-hustle, and be mentally and physically tougher than our opponent,” said Coach Nick Lemas. Despite starting the season with a 6-7 loss to South Pasadena on Mar. 4, the boys quickly bounced back with a 7-0 shutout against Pasadena Poly on Mar. 5. With wins against Temple City (4-3), San Dimas (3-2), Montebello (4-3), Burroughs (4-2), Muir (25 -0) and an unfortunate loss to Northview (3-5), the boys are off to an outstanding

start. A record of 6-2 shows promise, and also the kinks and nerves associated with the new season. “We need to stay intense, and focused every game,” said junior Gary Huang. Due to a new league rule, high school baseball players will no longer be allowed to use composite aluminum bats. Only BBCOR aluminum bats will be tolerated this season, due to a safety concern. “Because of this [rule], balls will not be hit as far and as hard, so we can’t expect many home runs this year,” said Gary. This rule ensures balls will be hit with less velocity, minimizing a chance of head injuries, but negatively impacting a significant part of baseball. Adapting to a younger, less experienced team this season will be difficult; however, expectations have soared, and are higher than ever. Coach Lemas said, “We expect to compete in every game. Some of our team goals include winning league and making a run in CIF playoffs.” Obviously the team still holds high standards for itself and is determined to work even harder, to make up for the lost talent. “This season, we developed a list of goals: win more than 20 games this season, win league, get out of first round of CIF, stay positive, score at least five runs a game, score first every game, and focus on one game at a time,”

said teammates Darren and Gary. With the 2011-2012 baseball season well underway, there are some key players that this Varsity squad will be depending on for veteran leadership to guide them throughout the season. Seniors KJ Edson, Tyler Dominquez, Haram Park, and Jonathan Wong and junior Erik Trask will anchor this team offensively and defensively. “This year’s team is a little less experienced, but we are deep with talent. I’m confident that as the season goes on and we gain more experience we will improve tremendously,” said Coach Lemas. The team lacks a star player, but makes up for it with a surplus of ready, hardworking, and talented players who are equally capable of sharing the spotlight. Through the ups and downs a baseball season presents, these boys will grow closer together and dominate the field as a united team. As stated by Coach Lemas, “Be prepared. Someone might be better than you, but if you’re more prepared you can still win,” the boys will once again hit it out of the park. schu@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLISON CHEN

AHS Player Smash Up By EDWARD CHAO

Staff Writer

Since the beginning of my time as an attendee of AHS, I have always envisioned myself as a scholar. Instead of going to the mall to watch the latest blockbuster, I spent my free time burying my nose in my textbooks. But after being on The Apache Pow Wow’s Sports staff for a few months now, I can’t help but wonder, “What if I were an athlete?” Would I decide to dedicate my athletic prowess to strength-enduring sports, like cross country or swimming? Or a sport in which I wouldn’t drown, like tennis. That’s when I thought, “Why can’t I be good at all sports?” Maybe I could build my own athlete! Baseball players have arms capable of throwing pitches up to 120 mph. With that kind of strength, I could throw various objects at great speed which would be extremely useful in numerous sports. Such versatility is an excellent asset for any kind of athlete, even soccer players who want to fend off their opponents. If I were to obtain a soccer player’s leg, not only could I be as fast as a cheetah, I could quicken the reflexes that allow me to sprint as fast as Usain Bolt. Such a rivalry would spark a great race in the next Olympics. Graphic by MICHELLE ZHANG

With the arms of a tennis player, I could strengthen the muscles in my arms and have the ability to swing with great accuracy. These features would help me obtain ripped masculine arms that would make every man wish to become me, and every woman wish they had me. With the torso of a swimmer, I could have massive upper body strength, excellent dexterity, and the ability to hold my breath for an extremely long time. This would come in handy for various athletic activities, such as running or swimming since I wouldn’t run out of breath so easily.

The legs of a basketball player could enable me to jump high, even more so than anyone else. But in addition to that, my basketball legs could be long and muscular, thus making me exceptionally tall and able to tower over everyone else.

All of these characteristics are those that I wish to have when I one day become my own perfect athlete. In the meantime, I should probably stick to those textbooks. echao@apachepowwow.com

Future Stars of Baseball

By CHRISTINE SUN Staff Writer

Sophomore Brendan Toy was introduced to the world of baseball at the age of three when, he recalled, his “parents took [him] to an Oakland Athletics game.” And it was this very game that started it all. Now, 12 years later, he is one of the most valuable assets to Varsity Baseball, and his speed, agility, and focus render him one of the most promising players in league. Teammate senior Haram Park praised Brendan for being “the fastest baseball player [he’s] ever seen” who will definitely make a name for himself “breaking stolen base records in his high school career.” However, Brendan’s excellence on the field isn’t just a God given talent; he worked his way up and even trained with former Major League Baseball pitcher Matt Whisenan. Reflecting on his experience, Brendan noted that working with Whisenan helped to “improve [his] skills from being a good baseball player on the field to knowing the game” inside and out. As for his future plans regarding baseball, Brendan hopes that when the opportunity presents itself, the times he shared with Whisenan will put him on the road to success. As a second year Varsity player, sophomore David Dominguez possesses a great deal of potential to lead the team to success in the future. Haram noted that “David will follow his brother’s footsteps as a future star shortstop” and predicted that he’ll “reach his full potential as he gets more experience in Varsity.” Senior Jonathan Wong added that David “has helped the team tremendously” and that he “couldn’t ask for a better teammate.” For more than 12 years, David has been playing and practicing with dedication, all in hopes of having a successful baseball career in the future. As for right now, David has his eyes set on playing college baseball. With his skill set, there’s no doubt that playing college ball is imminent. Jonathan summed up a true testament of David’s ability, stating, “He’s going to do huge things for us this year.” Like his peers on Varsity, sophomore Nick Sergi has been “playing baseball since [he] could walk.” A first-year Varsity member, Nick’s proved himself to be a valuable player; as Haram revealed, “no batter is tough enough to beat him, and he will definitely grow to be the star pitcher of his grade.” Nick called it a “great privilege” to “play and compete with the team at the Varsity level” and he has already made an impact. When asked what baseball means to him, Nick replied, “It’s a way of life.” Displaying talent beyond their years, it’s no wonder that these young players were chosen to be part of Varsity Baseball. Though they may be underclassmen, their pivotal role on the team cannot be overlooked. csun@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of LEAGUELINEUP.COM

CALENDAR

apachepowwow.com

Mini Oscar Recap Crossword

March 2011

Somewhere Over The Rainbow BY CHRISTOPHER CHO

Down

Across

5. Number of years that the Oscars have been held.

1. Where the Oscars are held 2. Movie that won Best Picture 3. Movie that won Best Animated Feature Film 4. Number of people who founded the Oscars 6. First person to win an Oscar

Season Your Spring Break With Basil Thai Cooking By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer

Three. This simple number has so much meaning. Three means unity, three points are needed to determine a plane/circle, and of course, there are only THREE DAYS UNTIL SPRING BREAK. We’ve all been working hard, and I believe it’s fine time to take a break. But before we run out screaming the lyrics to “Friday”, I’ve got a small secret that’ll brighten your spring break, and it’s Basil Thai Cooking.

Photos by GLUTTON GIRL

come have a seat

The modern Thai restaurant offers a unique zigzag shaped bar for seating.

Located near Souplantation and BJ’s at 411 E. Huntington Drive, Basil Thai Cooking is sadly overshadowed by other franchises. At first glance, the restaurant is very plain and doesn’t show much promise. However, step inside, and you’ll be greeted with fine customer service and dark, modern interior design. Among the contemporary furnishing, the bar and the back wall are the most eye-catching. Wrapping around the back corner to the front of the entrance, the unique zigzag shape of the bar puts itself in its own spotlight. And the threedimensional shapes created by planks of wood create an intriguing, textural collage on the wall. Pair this with excellent customer service, and Basil Thai Cooking is already a winner. After choosing to sit at a booth, my friend and I glanced over the menu. Ranging from $7 to $11, some items on the menu were a bit pricier than expected; however, the taste is well worth it. My friend and I ordered Sa-Tay, marinated beef kebabs for $7.25, beef Pad See Eu, which is noodles sautéed with beef, veggies, and eggs, for $7.50, Pad Thai, a classic Thai dish, for $7.50, and finally Sweet Sticky Rice and Mango for $6.50. The waiters were

extremely helpful, and the service was quick. But only when our food arrived did we realize some grave news: NO CHOPSTICKS! How are we Asians going to eat? With forks and spoons? Blasphemy! But as our focus directed toward the ap-

sa-tay your way

The beef Sa-Tay appetizer is seasoned with aromatic Thai spices and comes with savory peanut sauce for dipping. petizer set before us, the dilemma was quickly forgotten. The Sa-Tay not only brought about an aromatic smell, but was plated extremely artistically. It looked as if it was taken out from an Iron Chef battle on Food Network, and it certainly tasted like it too. Alone, the beef

was understated, but when topped with the peanut sauce, the Sa-Tay sang to the heavens. And true to its Iron Chef qualities, the small portion only included four kebabs, and they quickly disappeared into the vast emptiness of our stomachs. Next came our beef Pad See Eu and Pad Thai. Resembling Chow Mein, the Pad See Eu and Pad Thai incorporated many flavorful elements and infused them together into one dish. It was good, but not outstanding. While the noodles, egg, and vegetables had nice, strong bold flavors, the meats were boring, plain, and dry. It seemed a bit as if the chef forgot about the meats and added them in at the last second, resulting in a lack of infusion with the rest of the dish. As we finished off the last of our noodles, we prepared ourselves for dessert: the Sweet Sticky Rice and Mango. Originating from a home recipe that was served in the Thailand Palace, the dessert is truly fit for a king. At first bite, the sticky rice has a nice texture, not too firm or soft. Starting off a bit tangy, but ending on a sweet note, the sticky rice perfectly complements the ripe mango slices, which patiently sit on the side, as they await consumption. Spring break is not only about

Sweet and Sticky

The refreshing Sweet Sticky Rice and Mango dessert is a perfect finisher for a delicious meal at Basil Thai Cooking. traveling or hanging out with your fellow peers. Spring break is a chance to kick back and relax, and what’s more relaxing than a nice warming meal? In addition to that, Basil Thai Cooking isn’t too far down the block! Instead of driving for hours, a simple five minute drive down the road is all it takes to put your taste buds at ease. And for that, I give this family-owned restaurant a great 8/10! Until next time! And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell! You know you love me, XOXO, Glutton Girl. gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com

March 2011

calendar@apachepowwow.com

ask KAY

The Wishlist Evolution Need advice? Send your questions to BY MICHELLE ZHANG

askkay@apachepowwow.com or formspring.me/AskKay

CALENDAR

123456789 Sudoku

Check your answers at ahs.ausd.net

Q A Q A

What do I do when someone leaves me hanging on an important project? Figure out what’s going on with that person—personally and socially. If those people are having a family or personal crisis, remind them that for a little while they have to put aside their problems so that everyone can do their best. If they’re just slackers, call them out on it. In group projects, we’re supposed to find trust and friendship with our companions, so if your partners are failing to help out, make it clear that this grade is important and if they don’t hold up their end of the bargain, they can just do it on their own. How do you get over someone? That’s a very hard question that can vary from person to person. While some may say, “They didn’t even deserve me,” others may weep and cry, “What do I do? I can’t go on!” The person you should listen the most to is yourself. Though you may wallow in self pity and loathe your used-to-be-significant other, you have to remember that you are worth something. People break up and get together many times, but when you’re single, you have the chance to find yourself. Understanding that the person you shared a romantic relationship with is gone doesn’t mean you should fall apart or even hate the opposite gender. Always remember that there can always be someone else and that the “perfect boyfriend/girlfriend” doesn’t always exist. How do I manage my time better? Make a list of what you consider “homework” and what you consider “fun”. Make a quid pro quo (Latin meaning: this for that) table and decide how to ration your time. For example, if you have a homework assignment that takes an hour to finish, do the homework, then reward yourself with playing a game or watching TV for an allotted time. Remember to schedule yourself, make note of due dates and times, and leave constant reminders. Lastly, have the drive and self control to complete your task. Even if you have three problems left on your Chemistry worksheet, don’t leave it incomplete so you can play Modern Warfare or the new Pokémon game. Should you ever let your best friend date your “first love” or do you go by the girl code? Girl code, or any other code for that matter, while supposedly set in stone, always has little kinks in its rules and should therefore be understood as a guideline—not a rule book. Depending on the relationship you have with the potential “datees”, you should take notice of how much they mean to you. If you trust both your friend and “first-love” and want them to be happy, then why not let them be together? What harm could it do to let two people experience happiness with each other?

Q A Q A

Darwinism

BY MICHELLE ZHANG

Puzzle courtesy of WEBSUDOKU.COM

Perfectionist Pisces Feb. 19 - Mar. 20 By SUE WANG Staff Writer

As spring approaches and the days grow longer, you Pisces will utilize all your time initiating new projects, taking action, and pushing personal goals ahead. In March, you were braver and more energetic than usual, unlike your usual quiet and subdued selves. By channeling your immense burst of energy this month, you were involved in something productive and interesting. Since Saturday is your lucky day, you should engage in a particularly challenging task because the extra bit of luck will definitely facilitate your efforts and lead to your ultimate success. Wearing blue or turquoise enhances your mood, and eight is your lucky number. You are shy, romantic, and dreamy individuals who dislike noise, crowds, and attention. Instead, you are emotional souls who prefer poetry, romance, mystical settings, and privacy. You are often involved in music, dance, drama, or other forms of art, in which you can express your powerful creativity and unique ideas. Because you are idealistic, very sensitive, and intuitive, you possess a vivid imagination and are prone to daydreaming. Nevertheless, despite your tendency to live in your own world, you still suffer from a fear of rejection and low self-esteem because you constantly seek perfection and strive to be the best. However, you attempt to hide these insecurities in your effort to create an ideal, loving environment for your loved ones. Famous Pisces include U.S. President Andrew Jackson, writer Dr. Seuss, and actress Drew Barrymore. In relationships, you are a caring and supportive friend who is sometimes misled by other people’s outward appearances. However, what you value the most are soulful and sensitive friends who are understanding and can engage you in deep and serious conversations. Your emblem, the Fish, shows your duality: one side of you is wistful, instinctual, perceptive, and even transcendental, while the other is depressive, frustrated, and guilt-ridden. Although you are mostly passive, when you find your chosen path, you will dedicate all your time and effort to it; this slight obsessive-compulsive streak will enable you to achieve wondrous things, but it might also turn you into a workaholic. Having a tendency to be deeply affected by your environment, you either accept the challenges of life and rise to the top or give in to the easy way of oblivion and sink to the bottom. You are also easily bummed out when things don’t go your way. Just keep in mind the things in your life that you are thankful for and when faced with a challenge, don’t shrink back and be afraid. Just tell yourself you can do it! swang@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM, ETC.USF.EDU, FRONTROWKING.COM, KARA.ALLTHINGSD.COM, NUEVOSTANDER.COM, LAYOUTPARKS.COM, SKYSCRAPER.FORTUNECITY.COM and WORDPRESS.COM

CAMPUS FOCUS

campusfocus@apachepowwow.com

March 2011

TEAM PROFILES Fresh Reaction, 9 Members: Josie Lu, Chrystal Kim, Rianna Chu “We use different types of music and dances. We came from different dance genres. We mixed many different types of music to make it work. We’re from three different middle schools and yet we are one loving dance crew, friends, and P.E. buddies.”

FRESHHH,

AUTOBOTS, 10 Members: Dande Wang, Brandon Chang, Ryan Cheung, Chris Han, Albert Chen “We dance to hip hop and mainstream music. We prepared for this competition with two mirrors and a garage. We’re special because we’re Autobots.”

Members: Raphael Yang, Rhiannon Yee, Jerry Hu, Julia Wang, Samantha De Castro, Tony Zhao “We dance to a mixture of hip hop and b-boy music. We prepared for the competition by coming up with our own choreography and practicing a lot on the weekends and afterschool. Our team’s special because we have a really diverse crew in terms of dance styles. We should win because we worked really hard and have spent a lot of time making it the best we can. We’re awesome!”

Find out the champion on Photos by elliott lee and graphics courtesy of MTV.COM and made-in-china.com

Team Rock It, 12 Members: Kevin Liu, Peter Yang, Michelle Kim, Chris Lee, Dana Yamada, Joy Kang “Our dance crew is composed of members who all focus on different styles of dancing. What we do is showcase all those different styles in our hip hop music, so that even though our styles may not be wholly hip-hop, it falls under it generally. We spent at least three days a week, two hours afterschool, since the beginning of March. As the only senior crew, we feel like all our unique styles will push us over the top to win, and hopefully the judges think that also. Watch out guys, Team Rock It is going to rock the campus!”