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.”