May/June 2012

Volume 60, Issue 9

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

May/June y/ 2012

The Apache Pow Wow: Turning a New Page ‘11-’12 Leadership

In this issue:

‘12-’13 Leadership

Photo courtesy of READINGEAGLE.COM

OPINION pg. 4-5 Seniors Say Good-Bye: Pow-Wow seniors express their mixed feelings toward heading off towards college.

Graphic by AMAZONAWE.COM

PASSING THE POW WOW TORCH With the end of the school year comes both the end of the ‘11-’12 leadership reign and the commencement of ‘12-’13’s.

By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of PROMNITE.COM

FEATURES pg. 11 Wacky Prom Themes: A look at some of the weirdest suggested prom themes.

Graphic courtesy of PLPNETWORK.COM

STUDENT LIFE pg. 17 Teacher Appreciation Week: Students at AHS take time to give thanks to our educator.

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.

This issue marks the first Apache Pow Wow publication under the leadership of the 20122013 editorial staff. Leading the pack are next year’s editors-in-chief, juniors Stacey Ng and Melissa Song, and managing editor, junior Anna Naran, who are filling in the positions vacated by graduating seniors Kaitlyn Jeong, Rhiannon Yee, and Nancy Xiao, respectively.

The big three were selected by their predecessors and Pow Wow adviser Mr. Johnny Lee in early April. Then began a transition period as the new leaders interviewed candidates for the 20122013 page editors and general staff, which were announced in time for the new editors to work on their first issue.

A typical month in Pow Wow’s A-213 lab begins with story assignments. Writers submit ideas for articles to their editors, who then assign topics after gaining approval from the editorsin-chief. Rough drafts are usually written within the first week of the month. The second week is reserved for editing stories, while editors select articles to publish and begin formatting their pages. Final drafts are submitted by the middle of the month, and in the following week editors polish and finalize pages. Meanwhile, copy editors proofread each page and article and the fundraising chairs and ads staff work to raise money for the publication. The editors-in-chief then look over the entire paper a final time before sending the issue to the printers.

For the Pow Wow staff, all this amounts to

a familiar acquaintance with deadlines, efficiency, and collaboration. Page editors work with their writers in choosing story ideas. They must also learn to navigate Adobe InDesign and Photoshop in order to format their pages, and the editors-in-chief, who oversee the process, are always on hand to critique content and offer assistance. Kaitlyn was eager to point out the teamwork involved in the newspaper and the joy she found throughout the year in watching “a staff of 70 individuals unite to create [this] product each month.”

“Pow Wow is a student-run organization,” she stressed, “with students working with, teaching, and learning from other students.”

Rhiannon agreed with her co-editor-in-chief, when she said that it warmed her heart “to see seniors mentoring freshmen,” a bond that often develops in the lab. For Nancy, Pow Wow has been a “niche in high school in terms of friends and mentors,” where she “met and grew close to some of [her] best friends.”

With such fond memories of their time on Pow Wow, the former big three have high hopes for and plenty of faith in the new editors.

“I think their personalities temper each other to create the best possible leadership dynamic,” said Nancy, adding that she hopes the new staff will take the step to make “a paper good enough to enter in and win competitions.”

Kaitlyn expressed her belief that they “will take the program to new heights.”

The new editors themselves are eager to take on their responsibilities.

“The transition period definitely had its difficult moments,” Melissa acknowledged, “but figuring out how to overcome the challenges...makes this job grat-

ifying.” She also expressed her excitement to work closely with Stacey and Anna, and hopes to increase efficiency and make the organization more tight-knit, “more like a family,” for the staff members.

Stacey reflected that the “influence of individuals in [the] program has allowed [her] to learn and grow,” and hopes to impart the same feeling of togetherness to next year’s staff.

“I can’t adequately express my excitement over the coming year,” she said.

Anna has a different, but equally anticipated, role. As managing editor, she is responsible for Pow Wow’s funds, and works with the fundraising chairs and ads staff. “Dealing with adults, planning events, and handling staffs” have all been learning experiences for her in Pow Wow’s “unique environment”.

But she, too, is focused on “keeping the relationships close” on the staff.

The new leaders’ desire for bonding is no doubt a product of the camaraderie of the past year, much of which their predecessors are sad to leave behind.

“That’s probably what I’ll miss most...there’s always a group of friends in the lab,” said Rhiannon.

“In Pow Wow, I had the opportunity to interact with people who were as passionate, excited, and quirky as I am,” Kaitlyn said affectionately, “as well as the privilege of calling myself a member of the newspaper family.”

She is confident that she’s leaving the paper in good hands.

“I hope...they transform this paper and this program into something that belongs to them, and to the 2012-2013 staff,” she said. “I am so proud of the girls for having made [the transition] smooth. I couldn’t be happier.” jkuang@apachepowwow.com

2

NEWS

apachepowwow.com

Obama’s 2012 Campaign

that focused on advocating popular issues such as freezing student loan interest rates and taxStaff Writer ing the wealthy. He has also further defined Five years ago, a young African-Amerhis views on certain issues, recently endorsing ican senator from Chicago began his first run same-sex marriage and attempting to gain supfor president. Pushing for government reforms port from the younger demographic, a group under his slogan, “Change”, President Barack that was crucial Obama managed to capture the hearts of citito his victory zens across the country, ultimately winning the four years ago. seat of President of the United States. Now, five Still, current years later, after numerous successes and failpolls reveal a ures, President Obama is back on the campaign substantial detrail, hoping to garner support for his second crease in supterm. port for PresiOn May 5, amongst dent Obama thousands at Ohio State from his last University, President campaign, Obama officially began mainly due to his 2012 campaign, ralthe still-falterlying his supporters and ing economy directly speaking against and the unpopular Patient Protection and AfRepublican nominee fordable Care Act. “They have nothing positive Mitt Romney. Acknowlto run,” commented Republican National Comedging the economy’s mittee Communications Director Sean Spicer, continued slump, Presireflecting the view of many Republicans. “No dent Obama kept a posisuccessful incumbent, no impressive record, tive tone as he declared and no thriving economy.” that recovery would While current support for the Democrats need “sustained, persisseems low, with President Obama and Mitt tent effort,” something Romney approximately tied in national polls, that he would provide MOVING FORWARD President Barack Obama began his President Obama intends to spark the same faith over the next four years. presidential campaign on May 5. in voters as he managed to do during the last “We’ve been through too much to turn back is not just about how we’re doing today. It’s election. This election—as President Obama now,” he declared, asserting that a Republican about how we’ll be doing tomorrow.” explained—is “still about hope” and, as his new president would undo the slow but steady progThough President Obama’s campaign of- slogan suggests, moving “forward”. ress the economy has undergone over the past ficially began on May 5, the President and his few years. President Obama also focused on team have been garnering support and funds afu@apachepowwow.com the differences between himself and Romney, for over a year, mainly through public events Photos courtesy of ABCNEWS.GO.COM painting Romney as a detached millionaire and himself as sympathetic to the middle class. He also openly criticized the Republican Party, and proclaimed, “They will tell you that America is down and out, and they’ll tell you who to blame, and ask if you’re better off than you were before the worst crisis in our lifetime…the real question—the question that will actually make a difference in your life and in the lives of your children—

By ALISON FU

Bo Xilai’s Fall from Grace

By JING WANG Staff Writer

China’s infamous politician, Bo Xilai, has shaken the very core of Beijing with his new scandal.

Bo first came into prominence in Chinese politics during his term as mayor of Dalian, and then as governor of Liaoning. He was then appointed as chief of the Communist Party’s Chongqing branch, a term he served until his n March, which was due recent fall from grace in to multiple infractions.

Bo was the fourth child of Communist Party Member Bo Yibo, who eventually fell from porting Western trading favor in 1965 for supporting ghtist and counter-revoin China. Labeled a rightist lutionary, Bo Yibo was purged from the Communist Party. Bo himself elf was imprisoned during those years in the countryside, along with his siblings.

During the 1980s,, however, the Bo family regained its prominence rominence in politics and served in high gh ranking positions within China’s Communist Party. een a Bo has always been controversial figure, most notable for his crackdown own ing on organized crime during ng, his term in Chongqing, er and is now the center of China’s biggest political controversy. On Feb. 6, Wang Lijun, Bo’s lieutenant, es-

caped to the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu, where he offered evidence of Bo’s misconduct. He revealed that Bo had allegedly murdered English businessman Neil Heywood, who had connections to various business dealings within the Bo family. Without acknowledging any wrongdoing, Bo proclaimed that he may have “relied on the wrong person.”

On Mar. 15, Bo was removed from his post in Chongqing, but retained a seat in China’s politburo, which is a group of 24 people who oversee and supervise the Communist Party.

Bo was not dismissed immediately, as China’s leaders feared that the repercussions might

leave enough damage to separate the Communist Party. China struggled to maintain an outward image of peace and calm, and Jin Zhong, publisher of the magazine Open, said, “They want everyone to believe that the top level has no problem—that there’s no split and no struggle...but this is a false impression.”

Bo has been confined in his house in Beijing and is under constant watch by the Central Guard Bureau. He currently faces a disciplinary investigation, as does his wife who is suspected of havin having taken part in some of his misconduct, includin including the murder of Neil Haywood.

Hi His son, Bo Guagua, who is a student at Harv Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Govern Government, had this to say about his father’s downfa downfall in a letter to the Harvard Crimson: “I am ddeeply concerned about the events surroundin rounding my family, but I have no comments to make regarding the ongoing investigation.”

On Apr. 10, Bo was suspended from the Politbur Politburo and is still pending investigation for his lega legal violations.

Wh While Bo’s fall has triggered masses of disappr disapproval from China’s citizens and leaders alike, it also reflects on the unity and strength of the Chinese leadership team, which has prevailed through this struggle.

BO XILAI OUSTED Much to the dismay of many Chinese citizens, politician Bo Xilai was removed from his post after a major scandal.

jwang@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of NATIONALISTPOST.COM

May/June 2012

Hillary Clinton on India’s Oil Refineries

By LAUREN TRAJANO Staff Writer

On May 8, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised India’s refiners at a joint news conference in New Delhi, India for their cuts in crude imports from Iran, which would create great leverage for the international community to slow the nuclear weapons development in Iran’s capital, Tehran.

Last month, Indian officials stated that they would continue purchasing from Iran.

However, increased efforts by the U.S. and the European Union to strangle Iran’s oil trade to get Tehran to make compromises on its nuclear program forced them to think otherwise.

“I welcome the progress India is making to reduce its purchases of oil from Iran and hope to see continuing progress, because we don’t believe Iran would be back at the negotiating table unless there had been the unrelenting pressure of international sanctions,” Clinton stated.

Iran’s growing isolation has caused its crude oil output to fall from 3.2 million barrels a day in April down to 150,000 barrels a day in just two months. According to Vienna-based JBC Energy GmbH, that level hasn’t been hit since 1990, which was a result of the Iran-Iraq War. India, on the other hand, which already had its top two importers of crude oil reduce shipments with Iran by at least 15%, riled the U.S. by stating that it requires Iranian oil to meet its needs since it imports 80% of its crude oil and relies on Tehran for 12% of those imports.

Clinton responded by saying that the U.S. continues to find alternative crude supplies for India. “We have been consulting with India and working with them in some areas on alternative sources of supply,” she remarked.

Since India has a favorable relationship with Iran which is based on centuries of shared culture and reliance for trade, its Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna was careful to avoid characterizing the oil import reductions as a step against the crude-exporting country. Instead, he decided to frame the reduction as a business-oriented decision headed by oil industry executives.

“Given our growing demand, it is natural for us to try [to] diversify our sources of imports of oil and gas to meet the objectives of energy security,” Foreign Minister Krishna said. “Ultimately, it reflects the decision that refineries make based on commercial, financial, and technical considerations.”

Besides India, other major oil importers, such as Turkey, China, South Korea, and Japan, were also asked by the U.S. to reduce their purchases of Iranian oil by June 28 or face sanctions on financial institutions that do business with Iran’s central bank.

As Tehran’s 2nd biggest crude oil customer, India is crucial to U.S. efforts to jeopardize Iran’s economy until it agrees to put a halt on its nuclear program, which the U.S. and other Western nations hope will be the case. ltrajano@apachepowwow.com

May/June 2012

news@apachepowwow.com

NEWS

3

Protests Against Putin

halt to the disorder.”

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department expressed concern for the reports. According to Bloomberg magRussian President Vladmir Putin azine, Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner was inaugurated for his unprecedented disclosed that they “are disturbed third term on May 7. Russian citizens by images of police mistreatment of were quick to show their displeasure with peaceful protesters.” Turner violent protests the day beadded that the U.S. wants fore. An estimated 20,000 Russia “to fulfill its own pro-democracy protesters potential, and that means went on the streets of Mosgiving people the chance to cow with signs proclaimfreely express themselves.” ing “Putin is a Thief” and Putin has been in power “Down with Dictators”. since 2000, serving initially Authorities had auas president. He has spent thorized a permit for 5,000 the last four years as the people, but claimed that prime minister, and will stay around 8,000 Russian citiin power until 2018. Putin zens came; on-sight reportwill have the option to run ers actually believed there for a fourth term once his were between 20,000 to six years are up. Putin feels 50,000 protesters. The prothat foreign powers have not tests, which were organized supported his democracy; through social networking RIOTS IN RUSSIA Mobs filled the streets of Mosow to he has previously accused sites like Facebook, were protest against Vladmir Putin’s unprecedented inauguration, a U.S. Secretary of State Hillinitially nonviolent, but protest to which the police responded with violence. ary Clinton of encouraging when protesters attempted to cross a police-barricaded bridge, the truck near the detention center. Navalny “mercenary” Kremlin forces to protest against him. When asked about police responded with tear gas. At least was sentenced to 15 days in prison.

The protesters set up a camp in the the protests, he affirmed, “We want to 80 were injured and more than 450 were upper-class Chistye Prudy neighborhood live and we will live in a democratic arrested in the chaos that followed.

Those arrested were released short- in Moscow. There were about 2,000 pro- country.” ly after Putin’s inauguration concluded, testers throughout the day. However, local but some people felt they were illegally residents filed complaints and the police jmatsumoto@apachepowwow.

Photo courtesy of GUARDIAN.CO.UK arrested. Socialite Kseniya Sobchak were encouraged to “take action and put a

By JONATHAN MATSUMOTO

Webmaster

tweeted about how she was not “chanting” or “standing with [a] sign,” but was only “walking around town with a group of people that didn’t want to separate.” One anticorruption blogger named Alexei Navalny was arrested several times, with his lawyer claiming that he was being detained in a

Biden on Same-Sex Marriage beliefs and should not be passed. Although many delegates within the parStaff Writer ty disagreed, President Obama stated that gay couples should enjoy the same During Vice President Joe Biden’s rights as heterosexual couples. talk on NBC’s Meet the Press with David “At a certain point, I’ve just conGregory on Apr. 5, he said that he was cluded that for me personally, it is im“absolutely comfortable” with same-sex portant for me to go ahead and affirm marriage. He was also heartened by the that I think same-sex couples should growing acceptance of same-sex marbe able to get married,” riages across the naPresident Obama said. “I tion. Following his was sensitive to the fact previous statement, that for a lot of people, he was asked whether the word marriage was the administration will something that invokes institute a same-sex very powerful traditions marriage policy durand religious beliefs.” ing President Barack President Obama has Obama’s second term. always strongly backed Not knowing what gay rights, though his to say, he responded, position on same-sex “Well, I can’t speak to marriages has shifted that. I don’t know how throughout the years. to answer to that.”

During his administraThough he was speaktion, he actively suping strictly on his own, ported equality among all President Obama’s people, though his true advisers knew that he was speaking of a new MARRIAGE EQUALITY Vice President Joe Biden and President opinion became blurred Barack Obama expressed their views on same-sex marriage. when the subject of samepolicy that will eviing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the sex marriage came up. He supported dently come up in the reelection.

Vice President Biden’s unexpected Golden Rule; you know, treat others the civil unions for gays, but only until recently was he questioned about his move toward same-sex marriage made way you would want to be treated.”

President Obama continues to face unfaltering support for the equality of him the 2nd highest ranking White House official to embrace same-sex marriage, the growing calls of potential gay and les- marriage. “I am still working on it,” he which is currently legal in six states and bian voters to make same-sex marriages a said, ending his interview with ABC the District of Columbia, but remains un- part of the Democratic Party’s platform at News. recognized by the federal government. the convention in September. But to some His comment likely increased the pres- Democrats, the institution of a same-sex djenn@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of RAWSTORY.COM sure on President Obama, given that he marriage policy goes against Christian

By DANIEL JENN

was still “going to continue to wrestle” with same-sex marriage at the moment.

Later, he assured ABC News that he and the First Lady are “both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others, but you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrific-

s t a f f Editors Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editors Opinion Editors Performing Arts Editors Student Life Editors Features Editors Sports Editors Academics Editors Center Spread Editor Calendar Editor Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editors Photography Editor Executive Copy Editors Webmaster Fundraising Chairs

Stacey Ng and Melissa Song Anna Naran Katrina Chao and Regina Liu Ariana Arzani and Vanessa Yu Courtney Hang and Sarah Quon Christopher Cho and Christine Sun Ashley Chi and Stanley Shaw Edward Chao and Allan Gao Evan Delgado and Amanda Huynh Mya Ho Phoebe Shen Josh Bay Brandon Pang and Rita Wang Wilson Lin Kelly Ching and Helen Lee Jonathan Matsumoto Victoria Nakaganeku and Belle Zheng

Writers News Staff Opinion Staff

Performing Arts Staff Student Life Staff

Features Staff

Sports Staff Academics Staff

Center Spread Staff Calendar Staff Campus Focus Staff Advertisement Staff

Photo Staff Copy Editing Staff

Web Staff Adviser

Alison Fu, Daniel Jenn, Jonathan Matsumoto, Lauren Trajano, Jing Wang Rena Chen, Helen Chou, Yejean Kim, Jeanne Kuang, Shreya Maharana, Sophia Tang, Valerie Yu Ashley Cheou, Albert Hu, Victoria Nakaganeku, Emilie Wang Niki Chi, Kelly Ching, Courtney Hang, Daniel Jenn, Helen Lee, Grace Song, Kristie Sun, Emilie Wang Eileen Chow, Daniel Jenn, Jeanne Kuang, Jonathan Matsumoto,Victoria Nakaganeku, Sophia Tang, Emilie Wang Karina Laigo, Alice Lin, Andy Qin, Brendan Tran, Victoria Tran Vivian Chan, Rena Chen, Ashley Cheou, Leo Jiang, Jeanne Kuang, Utthara Rameshbabu Kelly Ching Rena Chen, Niki Chi, Alison Fu, Karina Laigo, Jing Wang, Michelle Zhang Katherine Bay Stephen Chu, Belle Chuang, Hazel Chuang, Albert Hu, Kenneth Vuong, Gorden Yao Vivian Chan, Leo Jiang, Elliott Lee, Tommy Liao Katrina Chao, Rena Chen, Helen Chou, Victoria Nakaganeku, Stanley Shaw, Lauren Trajano Emily Zheng Mr. Johnny Lee

Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of The Apache Pow Wow editorial board. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $250 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available.

Photos courtesy of PHOTOBUCKET.COM, PASTORSHAWN.COM, and WORDPERSS.COM

4

NEWS

Enriched Uranium Found in Iran

By JING WANG Staff Writer

The United Nations (UN) has discovered evidence at an underground bunker in Iran, leading it to believe that the country is closer than ever to enriching uranium to the level necessary for the production of nuclear weapons.

Iran, however, claimed the uranium was due to a technological glitch, but Iran’s nuclear chief, Fereydoon Abbasi, stated that Iran would not halt its uranium enrichment program. Abbasi stated, “We have no reason to retreat from producing the 20%, because we need 20% uranium just as much to meet our needs.” Abbasi announced that Iran will have built two nuclear power plants by 2013.

Experts in the field said that the traces of uranium they have found are enriched up to 27%, which is up 7% from Iran’s previous highest-known enrichment grade.

Enriched uranium is a type of uranium in which the percent of uranium-235 has been vastly increased through a process known as isotope separation. Enriched uranium is a critical component of nuclear weapons, and, in order to be used for nuclear weapons, uranium must be enriched up to around 90%.

While Iran said that its nuclear program is to be used for peaceful purposes, it has continuously attempted to enrich its uranium to higher levels, thus advancing past the threshold of what experts would consider necessary.

A diplomat in Vienna, who chose to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of this issue, said, “It is not necessarily a sign that Iran is enriching to levels beyond what it has declared.” He referenced the example that higher-than-normal levels of uranium enrichment have been found at the Nantanz facility in Iran.

This raises alarms everywhere in the Western world. Since this development came a day after a failed negotiation to reach a resolution in Iran’s nuclear development program, Washington D.C. amongst other places are all incredibly tense. While Iran proceeds with its weapons advancements, the West and the UN will continue to stay on high alert and watch closely.

NUCLEAR ACTIVITY Iran is getting closer to achieving nuclear weapons.

jwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of TECHNORATI.COM

apachepowwow.com

May/June 2012

New Era of Space Exploration Begins

By JONATHAN MATSUMOTO Webmaster

When the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center on July 21, 2011, it marked the end of one of the most prolific space programs of the past century. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had previously announced its intentions to open up space exploration to the private sector, and now private space exploration is a reality.

On Tuesday, May 22, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a Falcon 9 rocket with an unmanned “Dragon” capsule. The rocket successfully rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) on May 25.

The docking was considered very challenging, as the ISS rotates Earth at a rate of approximately 17,000 miles per hour. At that speed, a minor miscalculation

could have put the capsule off by enough to deem the mission as a failure.

After its launch, the Dragon capsule first had to catch up with the ISS, at which point various sensors determined that the Dragon was ready to dock with the ISS. They then moved the capsule within 1.5 miles of the ISS, at which point the ISS crew grabbed the capsule using the on-board robotic arm.

Previously, sending a spacecraft to the ISS was a feat held exclusively by wealthy and technologically advanced nations like the United States, Russia, and Japan. SpaceX has become rs private company to do so, marking a the first tre in space exploration. new trend NA NASA was quick to lavish praise on its newest contractor upon the mission’s sucTh Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon capcess. The sule w were designed and built exclusively by SpaceX SpaceX—NASA only provided funding. NASA membe were impressed and commented that members it had been done “in a manner that has been remark remarkable.”

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden later released a statement claiming that SpaceX “marks another critical step in the future of American spaceflight.”

Ho However, the mission was not flawless— it was far from it, in fact. The initial takeoff had to be ppushed back because of a problem in the e engine’s sensors, and a few hours before docking with the ISS, a similar problem

A NEW ERA SpaceX, a corporation intent on pushing the boundaries of space technology and modern science, successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon capsule.

with on-board sensors pushed the capture back y SpaceX p about two hours. Fortunately, e n gineers weree able to address the d the Dragon capsule problem, and successfully docked with the ISS EDT. at 12:02 p.m.

4 0 - y e a rX old SpaceX nd CEO and CTO Elon Musk recently secured his company a $1.6 ract billion contract SA from NASA 2 fl fliights ht to t the th ISS. ISS The Th to develop 12 Falcon 9 rocket that took off on May 22 was not part of the contract; however, because of its recent success, SpaceX has begun work on those 12 flights.

The rocket landed in the Pacific Ocean at around 11:42 a.m. EDT, signifying the end of the historic mission. With a successful Falcon 9 rocket launch under its belt, SpaceX has reasons to be optimistic. It is currently the leading contender to carry astronauts for NASA one day—even more so now that it became the first to the ISS. With NASA planning to visit Mars sometime in the near future, its next contract could be much bigger than $1.6 billion. “We’re at the dawn of a new era in space exploration,” Musk concluded. “There are no precedents for what we’re doing here.” jmatsumoto@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of BOINGBOING.NET and WIKIMEDIA.ORG

Facebook Shares Drop, Fingers Start Pointing than a year orchestrating the stock offering, meeting with other investors long before the Staff Writer company picked its bankers. But Facebook’s Just moments before Facebook went pubfuture as a public company is not yet over. lic, investors grew nervous about the compaMany public companies have had their own fair ny’s financial standings. After warning about share of drops and the challenges in mobile advertising, Facebook flops before atexecutives held a conference to apprise their taining appealing banks’ analysts on the business. Analysts at stocks, including Morgan Stanley and other firms have started Amazon.com. urging clients to lower their expectations. One The steps a potential buyer was told that the second-quarter small-time comrevenue could be 5% lower than the banks’ prepany has to take to vious estimates. reach public sucAs investors began transcess are depenlating the on-coming developdent upon laws ments in terms of financial exconcerning secupansion, Morgan Stanley was rity and privacy, still settling the price and the especially for the size of Facebook’s stock oflikes of Facefering. While some big combook. A company panies scaled back on their is restricted in terms of disclosing information plans, others placed large orabout its business, unless it does so under the ders. Nearing the conclusion direction of amending its prospectus. In any of the association, Facebook other case, releasing private information about and the Morgan Stanley bankthe business prospect of a company would be a ers decided they had enough liability. The company would be vulnerable to demand and interest for Facesecurities lawsuits, as investors would have to book to start its shares at $38. prove that mistakes were made, and not secuSoon after Facebook an- A ROUGH START Facebook’s shares have experienced rity frauds. Even though Facebook has reached nounced its public stock, its a sudden and unexpected drop in their prices. a point where investors contemplate pulling shares began to decrease. On May 22, the stock Rival bankers complained that Morgan out, executives start pointing fingers, and as its closed at $31 a share, which was more than 18% Stanley botched the debut. They claimed that stock dropped by 18%, the company is just very lower than is starting price. The initial public the bank set the price too high and sold too slowly finding its way to the top. offering of Facebook was supposed to be one of many shares to the public. Facebook’s manageMorgan Stanley’s most profitable advances; in- ment team is also sharing the blame. David Ebafu@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of TELEGRAPH.CO.UK stead, it is turning out to be a financial flop. The ersman, the company’s chief officer, spent more

By DANIEL JENN

18% drop raised generalized claims on regulations on the initial public offering (IPO) process.

Over the past year, Morgan Stanley assisted a few new faces in the technology industry, leading dozens of start-ups into public prosperity.

Facebook, which was once poised to earn Morgan Stanley $100 million in IPO fees, is beginning to create tension among associates.

May/June 2012

OPINION

opinion@apachepowwow.com

5

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Addict

To the Beloved Korean Dramas:

I never thought it would come to this. Never, since the fated moment I set my eyes on you. But alas, the end is near. The end, that is, of those good ole days with you, those good ole days of belting out peals of contagious laughter, of weeping a wailing waterfall of tears, of being told by my cousin to stop grinning creepily at the computer screen. After three years of frolicking through the flowery fields of Dramaland, it has come to this, this tragic parting of ways. I must admit—oh, how it pains me to utter these heinous words!—that you are no good for me. No good at all. And it took me 30 dramas to realize this.

To tell the truth—and to be fair—you give me no reason to hate you. I mean, look at you! You’re beautiful to stare at, absolutely winsome with your roller coaster of emotions, glorious when you play those heart-wrenching Original Soundtracks (OSTs). Sadly, it’s my own fault that we must keep our distance. Your attractive pull is just way too strong for me to resist. Why, dear K-dramas, there is an entire library of outrageous tales of wonder and woe that millions of worshipers have suffered just to be with you. There’s the med-school drop-out, the highway speeder who rocketed 140 mph home just to get a laptop charger so that she could watch the finale of Boys Over Flowers live. There’s even the girl who risked going to jail for her bootleg K-drama DVDs. Not to mention sacrifices! Study time, socializing with friends, sleep. For every drama marathon I’ve watched, my heart has stopped in fear of my parents catching me with you. I’m beginning to think I may have been cursed with a major soft spot for you since birth, my beloved shows. But it’s just a little theory. Nothing major. No worries. Nope. Nada. No way. Argh, who am I even kidding?! K-dramas, you should definitely be classified as an opiate.

But nonetheless, unhealthy obsession and all, you’ve got to admit—those were the best of times. Aside from my retinas blistering after staring at you for hours, there’s still no way of denying how lovely you are. For one, nobody tells stories like you do. It’s always a whooping riot, whatever the story may be, wherever that story may be—whether it’s a high school where adults don’t exist, a bygone era where manes of glory reigned supreme, or a world where cross-dressing nuns can realize their K-pop idol dream. Where else could I have feasted on such a guilty pleasure? Where else could I have wolfed down so many delicious stories? Alas, it’s my fault that I can’t stop visiting you in the wee hours of the morning, that I arrive to school sleep-deprived and zombie-like. But, ahem, getting back on topic. (My goodness, see how much you distract me?) We need a clean break-up, like a band-aid ripped lightning fast from a fresh wound. This relationship must end... ...But then again, we may be taking this a little too quickly. Let’s make re-watching allowable; I can just skip to your best romantic scenes and gut-busting moments of outrageous hilarity and maybe stare and squeal over the world’s cutest main leads for the millionth time. I don’t mind.

For now though, with college coming up, I’m sticking to this drama-free diet. I’m gonna miss ya, K-dramas. I’m gonna miss flipping through new episodes with a breathtaking sense of electrifying anticipation. I’m gonna miss those all-nighters and heart-wrenching pangs when I get to those jealousy scenes.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night! I hate to go and leave your pretty sight.

An Exhausted Viewer Who’s Signing Off at 2:00 a.m.,

Valerie Yu valyu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of KOREANMOVIE.COM and KENSINGTON.COM

Adventurously Inexperienced Dear Adults, Like many of my peers, I’m going to college in the fall. I’m going somewhere far from home, and I’ll be semi-independent for the first time in my life. The prospect is exciting to say the least, but I haven’t been getting the greatest feedback from those around me. In fact, the majority of comments I’ve received from parents and other adults are about the following few facts: I am not used to living in cold weather.

I need to learn to be responsible for myself.

I am very bad at ironing clothes.

I have poor life skills.

So I get the point. I’m unprepared for that grand old adventure known as life. It’s true—I have limited experience with living alone. To blindly look forward to adulthood would be what you folks consider “young and naïve”.

But what’s wrong with that? Of course I’m young and naïve. I’ve never had an opportunity to be anything but that. You all comment so derisively about the fact that we teenagers have grown up with parental help, and that “real life” will be surprising and new for us—but this is nothing bad. Like any other stage in life, we’re simply progressing from one environment to another. We’re growing up, and we have to start somewhere.

And as we grow, we will learn. Naturally, there will be mistakes and embarrassing little errors, maybe an occasional call to home for help here and there. Sure, it would be ideal to know every life skill straight from the beginning, but you can’t expect that to really happen.

Realistically, you just have to watch as we struggle to find our way, as we make mistakes that you would laugh at and then, learn to do it right. That’s what growing up is—gaining experience.

I’m going off to college with all the enthusiasm in the world, happily aware of my own naivete. I look forward to telling you about my mishaps in the snow or that one time I forgot to use the correct settings on the laundry machine. I’m excited to stumble on this road of life because it’ll mean I’m learning to walk. Being inexperienced at our age is nothing to be afraid of; it’s simply the only thing we’ve ever known. And now, it’s time to change that.

Young, naïve, and prepared for anything,

Jeanne jkuang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of RLV.ZCACHE.COM

6

OPINION

I Won’t Miss You, AHS...OK, Maybe Just A Little

By YEJEAN KIM Staff Writer

As we go on, we remember All the times we had together And as our lives change, come whatever We will still be friends forev—seriously?

Get out of my face.

All this sentimentality has started to give me a headache. Why does everyone insist on visually documenting every moment of the school day? Is it because there’s less than a week left of school, and we will never be in this glorious state of togetherness ever again? Or is it because they want to clutter up my news feed? I think it’s the latter.

As graduation looms over the heads of all 975 of us, the only thing I think I’m going to miss is all the drama that the end of the year should be bringing. So far, I have witnessed no sudden love confessions, random arguments, or anticlimactic breakups. Instead, all I see are people who look extremely good every day because they go to bed early and pick their outfits the night before. Where is the catharsis, the social train wrecks? Everyone’s inhibitions should be melting away in the summer sun, not going into overdrive because of Prom.

I never understood the hype about leaving Arcadia anyway. I mean, I guess it’s kind of nice to go to a school where bullying is almost nonexistent, allowing growth in ways that would have been suppressed anywhere else. The fact that there are so many niches isn’t that annoying either—and it’s somewhat heartening that the cool kids can be in Band, or Academic Decathlon, or football, or all three. Plus Arcadia is pretty idyllic, with all the trees and low crime rate.

But other than that, I have no regrets about leaving this sinkhole, except for the amazing people I’m leaving behind.

I’ve made friends that I hope to keep for a lifetime here, even though we’ll spread out all over the country come August. This affection, isn’t however, limited to just my friends though. I will miss every person who’s played a small part in this environment I’ve raged so long in. Even as we stood to take our senior panorama picture, while people yelled out different variations of the word phallus, there was a voice in my heart saying, You will never see these people together again, cherish the—ouch!

That guy just elbowed you in the throat trying to wave to his friend…no Apaches down indeed…

I looked out in pride on that long, oddly invigorating day at the Class of 2012— pausing for a moment to watch members of the Girls Cross Country team nearly beat a group of Orchestra guys in tug o’ war— and realized something that makes me secretly glad and openly mad: Arcadia will forever have a part of my hard, bitter heart. ykim@apachepowwow.com

apachepowwow.com

May/June 2012

Living, Working, Breathing Friendships

that may have lasting effects on my friends.

I am not an isolated entity. My actions have Guest Writer consequences, and I am the only person who During one of my last days before leavis responsible for them. ing for Wesleyan University, I remember evDuring one conflict, one of my friends, eryone telling me that I was going to “grow while in an emotional state, ended up telling up” over the course of the next year. That was everyone something my other friend confided not a surprise. What I didn’t realize, however, in her about. It was a stupid act done out of was how college would force me to reevaluhurt, and, despite the seeming cattiness of it ate friendships and my personal relaall, the consequences were very real. tionships with those around me. I soon This changed the dynamic between all learned that people build strong bonds of us. I learned that you can’t blame your with the friends they meet in college and mistakes on anyone anymore. We have with those bonds comes a responsibility, to do our best to confront and resolve the more than ever, to be a good friend. issue together because we can’t afford to The first month of college was a lose friendships here. We no longer have whirlwind. By some act of fate, I found our parents or adults to hide behind. We myself with a group of seven friends are the adults, and we have to begin actwhom I learned to love within a month ing like some. of meeting them. By October, I felt like Before coming to college, I never I had known my friends for years when, really put much thought into how I in actuality, I had only known them handled my friendships and relationfor a month. Perhaps the reason for ships with people. We rarely had any forming such strong bonds in a short COLLEGE Going through the days of college togeth- disagreements, and when we did, we amount of time has to do with that I er, friends inevitably develop strong bonds. tended to ignore them or avoid them. live with my friends. I see them evOver the last year, I discovered that part ery day. I eat every meal with them. I see them of growing up is to value friendship so much at your dance performance the next? They at their worst, when they are sick, when they more. Of course we’re going to continue to throw me in the ocean that is life, and then are ranting, when they are crying. Perhaps it’s make mistakes, but what makes you an adult, they jump in to save me. because, without any parents around, we’re or a good friend, is how you confront these We also go through disagreements and free to discuss our innermost secrets, views, problems and how you resolve and learn from conflicts, and it is often these moments that and desires. And it’s knowing these intimate them. We only have four years with the people make me realize how influential we are in each details that brings us together. we meet here, and we can’t afford to lose any other’s lives and the responsibility we all have In no way am I diminishing the impormore time. to honor these friendships. In high school, I tance of the friendships I developed before had a life separated from my friends. In colcollege. I love my high school friends just as etsui@apachepowwow.com lege, my friends are embedded in my life, and Photo courtesy of DESIGNLAND.US much as my college friends. But the friends I I am often forced to make difficult decisions meet in college affect me in different ways.

They force me out of the shelter that is my childhood. They force me to do and think things that I never would have considered just a year ago, and they make sure I know that they will always be my support system. After all, who, besides the friends you meet here, will debate with you on the morality of abortion one day, and come screaming your name

By ELAINE TSUI

Branching Beyond the Brilliant Shade of Arcadia

By VALERIE YU Staff Writer

Seniors of Class You-Wish-You-Were-OneTwo: This past year marked milestones. It was the year of ferocious windstorms and citywide power outages. It was the year of restful furlough days. It was the year of too many fire drills to count. Above all though, it was, for us seniors, the “Year of Moving Out”. From the first day we began slaving over college apps to the last day of “eeny, meeny, miny, mo” over where to go, we have been searching high and low for the next nest to call our home. Whether the winds of fate have blown us to Rome or Nome, this class that’s braved through four years of ups and downs together, will be graduating in a little more than a week together. But have no fear. As we prepare for our treks to different parts of the world, flexing our wings across 4 million square miles, getting ready to soar in all directions away, away, away, all we’re doing is expanding a network, pushing the pulsing root veins of the Apache tree far and wide.

For some odd, sentimental reason, endings always break my heart. They pain me, especially when I think about how things will never, ever be the same again. Especially when there will never be a way to return to those precious moments in time. I remember just as if it were yesterday—how, as the final bell of elementary school and middle school echoed down the halls, tears stained my cheeks. I remember realizing that the friendships I formed

TCID:

were ripe for change in the next year. We, the lauded stars of junior high, would soon be launched into a sea of 4,000 to constitute mere guppies in a river that never slowed its pace. Talk about a bad case of early-life crisis.

I walked into AHS with that in mind, wideeyed and dreading the end of these four years already. Most of all, I dreaded the time when we would scatter like dandelion seeds, windblown farther away from one another than ever before.

And then high school finally hit. Friendships were forged, stronger roots planted, perspectives changed. Now that June 15, the final day we have together before this “scattering”, looms menacingly on the horizon, I no longer see this as a parting of ways. True, we may not see some of our classmates ever again, but let’s take a look back at those four years, those 1,460 days that are now numbered to less than 10. Even though all my high school memories seem just a series of jumbled recollections, clips of film that skip and jump at unexpected junctures, I believe each cut holds profound meaning. Every wave down the hall, every unproductive project meeting at Borders, every day spent eating and laughing over lunch has been a sturdy strand of a spider’s web linking the 975 of us together. We have bonded through common experiences in a home we have shared.

AHS, our first home, has been like no other. Here, it is perfectly normal to be a nerd.

Here, band is not full of geeks. Here, though the desire to excel eclipses the need to fit in, we are here for each other, whether it’s with a

word of comfort on the worst of days or with a friend’s enveloping hug at the best of times.

No, we don’t have a cafeteria of harsh, divided cliques or lines of lockers that mark what’s mine and what’s yours. We have had the Arcadian experience, a web of encouragement, support, and true relationships.

Because of this network, I can now say to my freshman-self that as seniors, we will not be scattering across the nation and beyond.

The Apache Family of Class 2012 is not just encased in the brick and mortar of the halls of AHS. The Apache Family builds its nest at home, abroad, and everywhere, from Arcadia to Australia to Antarctica.

Five, ten, twenty, fifty years from now, I’m sure we’ll all meet again. It may be one spring morning as we open the fresh-off-thedoormat daily issue of The New York Times and spot a former Pow Wow member’s name on the byline. It may be a breakthrough in medical research, led by one of our AP Chem lab partners. It may be the evening news on which we’ll hear the voice of an APN anchor, and can’t help but say, with a smile, “Go Apaches!”

On June 15, 2012, we make our last solongs, farewells, and goodbyes after crossing the graduation stage. On June 15, 2013, we will have settled in our respective new homes.

But regardless of the miles in between, every member of the Class of 2012 will be one of the thousands of roots holding the Apache family together, together. Apaches at heart, charging onward. valyu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of AUSD.NET

May/June 2012

OPINION

opinion@apachepowwow.com

YOLO and Other Masterpieces Dear Vandals:

I would like to thank you for improving my once mundane bathroom experience. It was always distressing to go into a stall and realize that the toilet was in perfect working order, the toilet paper in abundant supply, and that there was nothing to read on the stall walls.

Now, I eagerly anticipate going into my favorite stall in the P-Hall bathrooms to read the apt discourse written inside. I have learned life lessons such as “YOLO”, “[Screw] yolo, Hakuna Matata is the motto [racial slur]”, “[Screw] you and your mom”, and my personal favorite, “Language! Y’all are rude” from this stall. Another part of your work I admire is the toilet seat covers stuck on the mirrors. It’s such an unexpected medium, and the juxtaposition of parts of my reflection and the wilting soggy paper is really innovative.

The only downside to appreciating your work is that I’m sometimes overcome by envy when I think of the exciting lives you must lead. I imagine you with sharpies and magic markers, hunching to write things near the stall’s bottom and trying to avoid falling in the toilet when you write things on the sides, while everyone else does his or her’s business, unaware of the magic taking place. I daresay some of you might even do this while you’re actually on the toilet, and I applaud you for such dedication. Forget the poseurs who say it constantly—no one embodies YOLO like you guys do.

While I am open-minded enough to see the value in what you do, sometimes I wonder if the administration is. For example, the doors to the A-Building restrooms are locked every morning and lunch, and its stalls are black so no writing can show. I can’t understand. Why would the school think we students want clean, usable bathrooms? It’s nonsensical. But you guys have found a way to wreak havoc, and by that I mean create your art, in the 35 minutes of passing periods in the day. On the off chance I gain entry, the newest pieces in the art gallery that you craftsmen have turned the A- Building bathrooms into astound me. If the huge piles of toilet paper in every other toilet are any indication, you’ve even expanded into abstract sculpture. You really have outdone yourselves. Bravo.

As for the boys, I have overwhelmingly positive testimonials from my younger brother that the bathrooms are like giant padded cells, if the padding were made of wads of toilet paper. But don’t worry—we all know that’s just your statement about the materialistic excess that infects the rest of us.

Even though no one appreciates the beauty more than I do, I’m afraid it must end. My bladder and some drivel called the rulebook insist it must be so. Apparently defacing property that isn’t yours is against the law.

All right, that’s just an excuse. The real reason is that everyone is afraid of you guys. I think it’s because writing things on bathroom walls, leaving wadded toilet paper everywhere, and sticking toilet seat covers on everything is so bad. I’m sure those of us who lack the artistic temperament can’t handle the audacity for much longer.

So, even though I tremble at the thought of retribution as I type this, I must ask you to desist until everyone else achieves the same enlightenment I have.

Forever your #1 fan,

Yejean Kim

POTTY POETRY Appreciating creativity in the most unusual places...even the bathrooms.

ykim@apachepowwow.com Graphic by RENA CHEN

Me and My Posse of Powerpuff Girls

By VALERIE YU Staff Writer

These days, I feel like I’m 18 going on 40. Nothing makes me feel older than flipping through Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—the channels of my childhood.

One flip and I’m haunted with TV shows of years past, feeling as if I’ve time-warped into a new, foreign generation. TV shows are more than just sessions of multi-color images flashing on a screen. TV shows are definers of entire generations. Yes, it’s that dramatic. Yet, as valuable as they are, when they’re gone, sadly, we’ve got to move on.

It seems only yesterday that I, a blissful 12-year-old, plopped down in front of the TV set to join Phil the 22nd century man, brawny Johnny Bravo, and magenta Courage the Cowardly Dog in their various adventures. Remember Zac and Cody, those lovable twins who wreaked havoc down the halls of the Tipton? Remember Kim Possible, that teen daredevil who fought crime alongside Ron Stoppable and Rufus, the naked mole rat? What about Raven and her clairvoyant abilities? Tommy, Chuckie, and Angelica from Rugrats? Mojo Jojo and the Powerpuff Girls of sugar, spice, and everything y g nice? Jimmy Neutron? Ben 10? Avatar: atar:

The Last Air Bender? Pokemon (“Gotta Catch ‘Em All”)? Sabrina, the Teenage Witch?

These are shows that we’ve grown up with.

Shows that beckon the 10-year-old inside to giggle out loud. To find that they’re out of our lives just like that is—to say the least— disheartening. Their absences, compounded with the invasion of new shows with younger actors and foreign animated characters, are a grim reminder that we have passed the age of the “kid shows” that once filled our free time with joy and laughter; worry-free, wrinklefree. Episodes are now a collection of stories from our past, indelibly embedded within our childhood memories. Whenever I think back, I feel the pink plush of the old rug my sisters and me used to sprawl over while watching Fairly OddParents, the tomato-spiced aroma of Mom’s homemade spaghetti as we got lost in the heroic adventures of Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles, the shivers I got whenever I saw those creepy episodes from Courage the Cowardly Dog. It all comes rushing back, like gifts wrapped beneath the dusty layers of time.

With that, I can finally say I understand the feel-

ings my parents get when they reminisce about Loveboat and M*A*S*H. It’s the feeling of a wave of generation giving in to the incoming tide of newcomers. It’s a cathartic relinquishing of the past, of a childhood that seeps away like sand after a heavy rainstorm.

Thank you, shows that we owe a decade of memories and laughter to. You may be gone, but you and your episodes will live on in our hearts forever. But for those of you who have left the silver screen scene, as permanent as your reservations are in my heart, I must say—thank goodness Spongebob Squarepants is still around. After all, that multicellular organism of Porifera really is one indispensable centerpiece of our collective past as teens of the first decade of the 21st century. Dear Spongebob, Patrick, Gary, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy—at 18, I enjoy watching you in each episode as much as I did when I was ten. Because to me, nothing beats the shows that you, reader, and I have shared. I mean, we’ve lived through Elmo’s World together. That has to mean something. valyu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of SHARETV.ORG, STARPULSE.COM, and WIKIA.COM

7

The Amazing Race [Location: AHS]

By HELEN CHOU Staff Writer

I can see it now, the massive line of cardinal robes, one after another behind handed their diplomas, the glorious sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” filling the stadium. In ten short days, that’s where all 975 of us seniors will be. But not so fast. How did we get here? Where did the time go? I still remember my first day as a freshman as if it were yesterday. Now, I am on the brink of tossing up my graduation cap along with the fellow classmates that I have grown with over the past four years.

Simply put, it has been quite a journey, but one that is not quite over. Thus, before we leave AHS once and for all, let us give our beloved alma mater one last parting glance and say what we have waited four long years to say.

Over these last few years, AHS has helped me grow tremendously as a student.

The academic rigor has helped me develop critical thinking skills and crucial study habits, as well as a work ethic that will propel me to success in the future, even beyond college. Every teacher I have had, has shown me the vital importance of a solid education, all the while pushing me to do my best. They have expected nothing less than the best from me and have thus helped me surpass my own standards.

But AHS is much more than simply academics. Frankly, I would say that the most valuable experience I gained here was outside of the classroom. Joining the Cross Country team on my first day of ninth grade was undoubtedly the best decision I made throughout my high school career. I have developed friendships that have seen me through my ups and downs, at my best and worst. There is nothing that makes any group of people bond more than suffering through a 10-mile run, both in the sweltering heat and pouring rain. The team has proven to me that dedication ultimately pays off, in sports, school, and in life. It is here that I bonded with people who share the same passion as I do for everything from racing to community service. That, I believe, is the most rewarding.

Rewind four years, and you’ll see a timid, reserved girl, overly self-aware and cautious of both herself and her abilities.

Along the way, I learned, through experience, how to reach out to grab life by the reins. I am proud to say that I am no longer that same timid, self-conscious girl who stepped onto AHS grounds four years ago.

No doubt, I still have a lot to learn, but I think it’s safe to say that this school has given me a solid foundation upon which I can build and grow. So thank you, to my teachers, friends, sisters, coaches, faculty, classmates, AHS; thank you, and I’ll see you around. hchou@apachepowwow.com

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FEATURES

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What’s to See in Summer 2012

By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

Summer movies are known for their popular appeal and box office success. This summer looks to be no different, with plenty of action and adventures to fulfill any cinema-goer’s desires. Here are some of this year’s most anticipated summer movies: Snow White and the Huntsman (June 1) onn of the This dark interpretation teen Stewclassic fairy tale stars Kristen h story he art and Charlize Theron. The hee evil is more or less the same—the m queen learns from her magic mirirrest ror that Snow White is the fairest maan of them all and sends a huntsman arrt to carve out her beating heart he for the queen to consume. The hiis difference is the violence—this eaachfilm features the huntsman teachlls, ing Snow White battle skills, which are later utilized in onscreen clashes.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (June 8) Accompanied by their beloved penguin companions, Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippopotamus continue their zany adventures around the world, this time finding themselves in Mediterranean Monte Carlo. To avoid suspicion while on the run from animal control, the four join a traveling circus that tours Europe and sparks fly between the zoo and circus animals.

The Am Amazing Spider-Man (July 3) A reboot re of the original film series, tthis movie stars Andrew Garfield, of The SSocia Social Network fame, as high school outcaast Peter Parker, who becomes the outcast titular titulaar ccomic book hero, and Emma Stone as a hi his love interest Gwen Stacy. This aadap adaptation focuses on character development vvelop as Peter struggles with his identity identtity and tries to piece together his past. H His attempts lead him to his father’s former formeer pa partner, Dr. Curt Connors, who possesses sesse an evil alter ego.

By EMILIE WANG

This year, box offices have already been heating up for the summer. With the projected releases in the following few months, the future looks even brighter for theaters across the nation. jkuang@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of ACESHOWBIZ.COM, COLLIDER.COM, ECLIPART.COM, and EMOVIECLIPS.COM

Do This, $ave That!

Staff Writer

For some, summer means going through intensive summer classes, while for others, it means checking things off of their bucket list.

But it’s hard to think about the future when that Abercrombie dress has your name on it, or you can hear Cold Stone’s triple fudge sundae calling you. If you use these tips, maybe by the end of the summer, your “college savings” piggy bank might actually not be in pieces!

Instead of blowing your money at the mall on summer clothes, try holding a swap-a-thon with your friends. Reserve an afternoon to trade your most gorgeous “not for me” leftovers. This way everyone gets a new outfit (or three!) without spending a dime. As you drive home with your new swag, make a pit stop at the mall for summer sales with your leftover money for sandals and sunglasses that’ll complete the look.

Instead of throwing away your bottles and cans, try recycling. Summer is a time when Gatorade and Arrowhead are frequent visitors to your backpack. Reduce your carbon footprint while increasing the weight of your piggy bank with just a short drive to the nearest Pavilions.

Instead of buying Starbucks and Yogurtland every day, try buying a $5 reusable popsicle mold, filling it with some juice and sticking it in the freezer. Or, blend together frozen and fresh fruits, honey, and veggies to make a healthy and yummy smoothie. Not only are the alternatives more healthful, they’re cheaper too.

Instead of lounging around the house all day, try getting a summer job. From washing your neighbor’s car to walking their dog, anything is better than sitting at home adding more digits to the electricity bill. To spread word of your services, print out 100 business cards to slip into neighbor’s mailboxes.

Instead of Facebooking and Tumblring all day, try earning some money for yourself while you’re online. If you sign up to the website Superpoints.com, you can get free gift cards by earning points. Every point equals one cent, and you can exchange them for a variety of $5+ gift cards.

They’ll give you a code for a gift card for Amazon.com, so it is perfectly safe and legal. To earn points quicker, click the “Super Lucky Button”, or open the daily email with points attached. Or, on fiverr.com, earn a

bit of cash by offering your services, from making a website, to thinking of a jingle, all for five dollars.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars going to a water park, try throwing a pool party.

It will be more sanitary, less crowded, and less expensive, but with the same amount of fun. Blast your favorite songs, hold a watermelon eating contest, make your own lemonade and salsa, and you’ve got a party!

It’s okay to splurge once in a while, but keep your long-term goal in mind. Leave your credit card at home because it’s harder to hand over to the cashier a handful of cash. When you receive change, put the bills back into your wallet, but put all the coins in your piggy bank. That way you’ll always be saving! ewang@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of FOODWINENET.COM, GROCERYSHOPPINGTIPS.COM and SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

May/June 2012

Summer Things To Do: Monrovia Friday Night Farmer’s Market

By VICTORIA NAKAGANEKU Fundraising Chair

Looking for a cute and unique place to take your sweet thang on Friday nights?

Well, then Monrovia’s Friday Night Farmer’s Market might just be what you’re looking for! Though farmer’s markets are generally open during the early morning (as food trucks tend to deliver in the a.m.), Monrovia’s market provides an opportunity to pick up farm fresh produce at night!

Starting at 5 p.m. and continuing on until 9 p.m. or so, the market has a little bit of everything for everyone. The market covers about two blocks on Myrtle Avenue and is littered with white tents and booths all along the closed-off street. The first half of the market is made up of the produce vendors, who sell fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as the dried versions of the healthy delicacies. Next up come the restaurant booths. Ranging from fatty finger foods like french fries and funnelcakes to other American favorites like burgers and ribs, there is certainly a decent variety to choose from. And although some items may be on the pricier side, trying a few unfamiliar munchies is an adventure well worth undertaking.

After getting your fill on the foodie part of the market, keep walking through the market and peruse through the various vendors. Mostly consisting of homemade crafts and the like, the booths sell clothes, toys, jewelry, and accessories for girls— and guys! Though many of the booths do sell the same items, it’s all part of the market experience—discovering, bartering, and then buying! For all those who want to live a little in their childhood memories, there is a section at the end of the white tents especially for the younger ones. Here, there is a guy who makes balloon animals, and there are few bounce houses as well.

But in the end, if the market really isn’t your thing, fear not! Monrovia still has its ever so classy restaurants and movie theater, the Krikorian, located on the same block. So, whether you go to just walk countless hours browsing through the market or to enjoy a good meal or even an enjoyable movie—the Monrovia Friday Night Farmer’s Market will definitely produce some good memories. vnakaganeku@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of FLICKR.COM

May/June 2012

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FEATURES

Barack Oproma, Pro Prombie ombie A Apocalypse pocalypse Instead In nstead of Enchanté? nst Enchan nté?

By EILEEN CHOW Staff aff Writer

Perfect prom dress? Check. Perfect shoes to go with said perfect prom dress? Check. Prom date? Check. But wait, we’re forgetting the most important part: the prom theme. The prom theme for this year was announced to be “Enchanté”. Some of you might complain, but it’s a much better theme compared to some of these outrageous trageous rejected ones, and with good justification. As you read through the list of the funniest rejected prom themes below, you can’t help laughing, shake your head, cringe, ringe, or perform a combination of the three.

Mitt Promney vs. Barack Oproma Dress Cod Code: Now is the time to bring out all your political campaign gear and represent!

Decoratio Decorations: Set up red, white, and blue streamers, debate stages, and voting polls. Include a poster of a donkey and an elephant so that students can play pin-the-tail on the opposing party large poste animal.

Whil While we would usually encourage students to lead politically active lives, we wouldn’t want any political catfights and spontaneous debates to break out. Remember that time when Preston Bro Brooks beat up Charles Sumner with a cane during a political meeting? We wouldn’t want a repeat of that now, would we?

The Prombie Apocalypse Dress Code: Code Any type of tattered clothing would be good. When in doubt, go for gray or any other dull colors.

Decorations Decorations: Black lights, fog machines, eerie music, go crazy. Think Halloween, except without all the sparkly fairies fairie and the pretty princesses.

Students will be split up into two groups: the zombies or the human survivors. Zombies will go around trying to drag unwilling (or willing) victims to the dark side while the humans will try to fend them off with mini w water- guns filled with punch. Wait, this is sounding more like one of those arcade games than an ac actual prom…

The Promfather Dress Code: For guys, pin-striped suits, sleek dress shoes, and naturally, fedoras are a must.

For the th ladies, suave cocktail dresses with hidden pockets to conceal items.

D Decorations: The whole interior would be set up to look like a bar…one that serves alcohol-free drinks, of course.

Need you ask why this theme was rejected? I’m sure that the administration wouldn’t be too keen on students joining up for organized crime. It would mean a whole lot of hassle and (probably) a pile of lawsuits if the studentss were to be caught up in vendettas, turf wars, or internal affairs of various famiglias.

echow@apachepowwow.com echo ow@apachepowwow.cco om Graphics courtesy of ACESHOWBIZ.COM and COLLIDER.C COLLIDER.COM CO OM

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Albert A lbert H Hu u

Alison Fu

Becca Lu

Belle Chuang

E milly Z heng Emily Zheng

G rac ce S ong Grace Song

Gorden Yao

Andy Qin

Elliott Lee

Helen Chou

Jeanne Kuang

By KELLY CHING

Eileen Chow Alwyna Lau

May/June 2012

Hazel Chuang

Photos by SENIOR STAFF OF ’11-’12 and courtesy of BLOGS.BABBLE.COM, BABYROCKINGHORSE.COM, and APE2ZEBRA.COM

For seniors everywhere, the high school clock is rapid bring sentimental seniors who reminisce about the incredi to be who they are now. For starters, senior Yejean Kim sh “When I got my first C in junior year, I thought it was the fault,” and with her example reminds those in similar sit early on in first grade that he had “a knack for dispute res though it happened at a young age, shaped one of the many will never forget the moment their passion for an activity Rhiannon reminisced about the first time her 12-year-old best, as she “immediately became addicted to the rush of [her] family and friends.” Her memorable first connection to them, especially when they re-tell the stories to others i High school will never just be a brief pit stop in th abundance of knowledge, experience, and individualism passageway of a high school adventure coming to a clos shaped them over the years.

May/June 2012

13

centerspread@apachepowwow.com

Kaitlyn Jeong

Laureen Ma

Nancy Xiao

Valerie Yu

Katherine Bay

Kenneth Vuong Lena Kalemkiarian

Rhiannon Yee

Staff Writer

dly ticking down. Fortunately, the end of high school careers tend to ble life lessons and unforgettable experiences that have shaped them hared a story that many other seniors and students alike can relate to. end of the world,” she explained. Yejean “realized it was [her] own tuations to “keep moving ahead” from it. Senior Andy Qin learned solution” after cheering up a few feuding buddies. This experience, characteristics that Andy now has. Others, like senior Rhiannon Yee, y or sport had sprouted. Going back to the years before high school, self ever danced onstage. That moment has changed her life for the being onstage, dancing under the bright lights, and performing for with her passion is relatable to many and will forever remain special in the future. e seniors’ lives. It will forever be remembered as a time when an developed as they crawled, walked, and ran through life. With the se, the seniors of AHS reflect upon the many life lessons that have

Victoria Tran

Leo Jiang Vivian Chan Stephen Chu

kc ching g@a @apa ach hepow o wow w.co o kching@apachepowwow.com

Michelle Zhang Utthara Rameshbabu

Yejean Kim

14

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STUDENT LIFE

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May/June 2012

Hopes of the 2012-2013 ASB and Class Council Summer Bucket List

By KELLY CHING Executive Copy Editor

Though it may not seem like it, AHS has its very own backstage crew pulling the strings and keeping the school together. Made up of a variety of students and advisers, ASB is one of the largest and most influential “backstage crews” at school. It’s no secret that Executive and Class Council have their hands full; they organize school assemblies and dances, class bonding events, clubs, and plenty more, but what else is there to understand about it? It’s difficult to describe everything that ASB attends to, but undoubtedly, the group only ever makes decisions with our well-being in mind.

So, let’s take a second to applaud the new, dedicated Council members as they take the first steps to being a part of the 2012-2013 school year’s ASB. “Next year, I hope to plan more exciting bonding events. As well as that, I also hope to make many more fundraisers to help raise money for the Class of 2015. The best thing about Council was bonding with my Freshman Council buddies! Next year, as Sophomore Council President, I hope I can make the same bond with those who are new to ASB.” —Kelly Hui, 9, 2012-2013 Sophomore Class Council President

“My hopes for next year are to create more events to make school more enjoyable for everyone, especially the Class of 2015! We, as a council, have done our part to make the school a better place and I hope we can continue our line of success next year.”

—Valerie Gaspirini, 9, 2012-2013 Sophomore Class Council Secretary

By HELEN LEE Executive Copy Editor

Seniors are beginning to pack up for college. Juniors are finally taking a break from AP tests, yet looking ahead into a dark cloud of college applications. Sophomores are getting ready to take on their AP classes. Freshmen are beginning to adjust to high school. With the school year ending, students are getting ready for the summer, but not before they do a final checkup. In the beginning of the year, many students set a goal for themselves to accomplish by the end of the school year, and now, it is that time again: the time to look at the outcome of this year.

Senior Nick Munoz explained, “When I received my acceptance letter to New York University (NYU), I was so excited because it has been one of my dream schools, and to know that I was accepted to NYU for an undergraduate of what I love to do, it was a wonderful feeling.”

Like many other students over the legaldriving age, senior Anisa Chu is “so glad she got her driver’s licence.” Anisa explained, “Everything is just so much easier when you can drive, and I’ve been looking forward to this for a very long time.”

Now that the AP tests are over, juniors Adeline Macfarlane and Bryan Shin are focusing their attention on sports. Adeline is ex-

cited that she “never played softball before, yet [she] made the team,” while Bryan was named Team Captain for the Boys Varsity Golf team. “This year, the golf team has done really well, so I am really proud to be the captain,” said Bryan.

Sophomore Chloe Chan had a slightly different accomplishment. This year, she “was able to make friends who will always support [her] when [she] is in times of need.”

When school is a challenge, it is friends that will always be right next to you to urge you to do the best.

Freshman Patrick Huang has been focusing his attention on the Certificate of Merit piano test since the beginning of the year and was able to pass the test with honors. “I put a lot of time into it, and the results were what I wanted,” explained Patrick.

Many freshmen made goals to be involved in AHS, and freshman Joliette Li was no different, stating that “in the beginning of the year, I was a little scared that I would be the odd one out at school, but I was able to pull through and made some great friends.”

Whether it be getting straight A’s or doing well in a sport, AHS students were able to reach their expectations and soar to new horizons. hlee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of AIEPRO.COM

Summer is just around the corner and with the extra freedom comes the chance to accomplish your silliest goals in life. Everyone has that one crazy thing they want to do before they die, and the time to do that is quickly approaching. So make the most of your summer and do the things you truly want to do.

“I’ve always wanted to try parachuting, because I am really terrified of flying and planes. Whenever I am on one, all I can think of is jumping out of it. So I want to someday actually try doing it, but safety comes first, of course.” —Brenda Hua, 10

“I want to go bungee jumping because I like the exhilaration and I want to experience the feeling of flying.” —Joanna Liao, 12

“I’m excited to be working closely with the intelligent and kind people on Junior Council. I’m also excited to help plan events, such as dances and fundraisers, in order to make our school a better place. I can’t wait to be able to get to know everyone, not only on the Class Council, but the rest of ASB as well!”

—Sharon An, 10, 2012-2013 Junior Class Council Girls’ Relations

Mission Accomplished

Performing Arts Editor

“I want to attend a wedding at Disneyland because I’ve always loved Disneyland, and since I rarely get to go, I want the happiest times my life to be there too.” —Catherine Huang, 10

“With our new principal, I’m excited to see how we will incorporate us into his plans and to work with him as we have many new changes coming about.”

—Jonathan Kwok, 11, 2012-2013 ASB President

Whether their efforts go unnoticed or not, ASB and Class Council are a couple of the most hardworking and dedicated programs on campus. It’s difficult to sum up exactly every intricate detail that is sorted out by each of them, but the question of how much effort they truly put into their work is answered by the incredibly organized events, fundraisers, and assemblies that are held by this swell group of kids.

By COURTNEY HANG

With the end of yet another school year comes the undeniable promise of freedom, freedom to do anything you please, fulfill your deepest desires. Let’s make this summer count and strike out some of those wonderful tasks on our bucket lists.

kching@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLIOT LEE and TOMMY LIAO Graphics courtesy of ELSERENOMS.COM and APERFECTWORLD.ORG

chang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of MOUSESHOPPE.COM and MUZIC-WORLD.COM

“YOLO” Advice from AHS Students

By EMILIE WANG Staff Writer

“#YOLO”. Have you been seeing that hashtag on tweets about a crazy dare, or somebody doing something stupid reckless? Like its forbearer TGIF from Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night”, both acronyms, along with their live-in-the-moment attitude, are earning permanent places in our lives. “YOLO”, or “you only live once”, is a modern way of saying aying “Carpe Diem!” !” or “seize the he day”, but focuses more on making snap ap decisions without hout considering the consequences. Although the abbreviation had been een bouncing around Twitter for awhile, it gained fame when it was coined by Drake co in his song “The Motto”. ng “Th Originally, “YOLO” was meant to be words of inspiration, but now it’s used as justicfication for risky behavior.

Freshman Andy Chen uses thee phrase “YOLO” as a way to hen have fun; “I use ‘YOLO’ when I’m doing something stupidly funny, like walking up to a ing an random girl and singing ‘Call For Me Maybe’.”” sophomore Anabelle Ho,, it “pushes her out of her comfort zone to try something new.”

While both girls view “‘YOLO’ as a source of inspiration, freshman Madeline Lee views it as a guideline for her life. She believes that “‘YOLO’ symbolizes opportunity, to make the most of what we are given now.”

So whether you view “YOLO” as an excuse to justify bad behavior or as a way to expand your horizons, don’t forget to have fun and let go once in a while, but make sure to stay wise and don’t go too far. ewang@apahcepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of KOCHIGEEK.COM, PEOPLE.W3.ORG, and WEHEARTIT.COM

May/June 2012

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STUDENT LIFE

National Teacher Appreciation Week

By DANIEL JENN Staff Writer

From the beginning of our educational careers, there were always teachers open and willing to guide us through the magical experience of learning. From teaching the alphabet through ceremonious songs and dances to illustrating somewhat distant philosophies, our teachers provided only what was best for us. Today, most of us are too busy wading in our own puddles of desperation for straight A’s that we forget to thank them. But from May 7 to 11, students were able to engage in National Teacher Appreciation Week, recognizing teachers for all their contributions to public education. Nothing says “I appreciate you” more than a shiny red apple and a few dozen homemade cookies.

There are many ways you can show your appreciation for a teacher. Many students who do not possess

any particular culinary talent opt for writing a long, heartfelt thank-you letter instead. Freshman Stephen Sakai often shows his gratitude using this method. During the writing process of his personal letters, he often includes how he “applies what [he] learned in the lesson to other things in his life.” He also adds how much he enjoys their lessons and how we wants to feel the same passion as his teachers do, especially for history.

Another common way that students often show gratitude is by personally thanking them. After the period is over, ju-

nior Calvin Huang often tells his teacher that he was carefully “listening to the lesson and paying attention.” Although many people think that paying attention should be a given, you would be surprised by how many people decide to doze off into their own dreams of marshmallows and sunshine.

If you do not want to attract too much attention when thanking a teacher, freshman Joseph Kuo can show you how. Usually quiet during class, he does “all the work that was assigned neatly and on time”. He never forgets an assignment and always prints out the required paperwork. Again, many people might see this as something they should already do, but it is still a great way to say, “Hey, I care about what I do.” Being organized and on-task, teachers often see his routine as an attitude of gratitude.

While desperately trying to finish that last ass assignment late at night, we forget ho how much effort teachers put in to creating it in the first place. For most of the year, we often forget to appreciate teachers and to embrace the teacher-student bond. For the teachers who after school for a few minutes, offer outside help to struggling kids, or dedicate all of class to students, AHS thanks you. djenn@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of DEVIANTART.COM and KARENSWHIMSY.COM

A Night of Enchantment: Prom 2012

By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer

Prom has been recreated every year for the students of AHS. As the last official dance that they will have at AHS before heading off to college, prom is one off the most memorable nights for thee seniors.

The Prom Committee has put ut in a lot of effort to make this night perfect rfect for everyone. As junior Class Senaenator Andrew Sun, President of the Prom Committee, said “We have ave met up with the dance planners and have visited the venue to ensure ure that the prom experience will be truly unforgettable.” This year’s ’s prom will be held at the majesticc Universal Studios with “Enchanté” as the theme, taking place on Saturday, June 9 from 7:00 to

11:00 p.m.

Prom will provide tons of fun activities including a photo booth, a caricature artist, and much more! Not only is there going to be activities, but for the first time ever, dinner will also be provided at this year’s prom for the first two hours. It will feature the world class cate catering of the worldWolfgang Puck renowned Wolfg uck and to better, there make it even bet re will be dessert buffet an amazing de uffet that will be served throughout ghout the entire dance dance! As most people Wolfgang Puck caters know, Wol special events at many sp vents includAcademy ing the A y Awards, so this is ddefinitely y not a small ordeal ordeal.

Many seniors have M already been to prom alr at least ast once before. Senior

Jason Park said, “I honestly really enjoyed prom last year because of the facility. Prom was very nice, well organized, and professional.” Other students however, have not yet had that chance. Senior Orenda Duong said, “I’m really excited for the dinner that’s included this year, as well as the venue, but mainly just spending the night with my date and an friends!” Don’t forget about our Prom Royalty though, they are known as R Mr. and Mrs. Arcadia and are hosted by Senior Council. Prom King and Queen will be announced during the later part of prom. T This year’s Prom Princes and Princesses are Clarence Irvin, Daniel Cheng, Bryan Mak, Katherine Thompson, Orenda Duong, Duo and Fannie Chiang.

Prom Pr can mean many things to people. Some remember it for the rest their So lives, w while for others, it’s just another dance w with their friends. To the seniors of 2012, definitely means a lot.

2012 prom p ksun@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of ALLCLIPART.COM

17

Fashion Through the Hours

By GRACE SONG Staff Writer

As our eyes wearily adjust to the harsh rays breaking into the bedroom, the inevitable daylight signals that another day has begun. As we all trudge toward either the bathroom or kitchen in the next few minutes, we will all come to stand in front of the closet sometime during our morning routine.

Although, for many of us, it may seem as though we have a closet full of nothing to wear, picking out the clothes for the day is more than picking out what we put on our backs to keep us warm. Within the intricacies of style and fashion lies the foundation of our personality and psyche. Thus, how does one begin to develop a personal style? As we start to navigate the underpinnings of style muses and fashion trends, we will see that behind every Chanel purse and Prabal Gurung dress is a woman (or man) who seeks to show the world a part of him or herself; a part spoken through the language of fashion.

1. Partake in fashion trends, but don’t get caught up in them. Remember when those rubber band bracelets became the hit of the season a few years ago? There’s a reason why they didn’t make it to the present.

Be fun and try out a few new trends of the season, but be wary not to become too easily swayed by these transitory fads.

2. Figure out what you want your clothes to say about you, then think again.

I grew up with my father telling me that “first impressions are last impressions.” Maybe it was the repetitive nature of my father’s fashion commandment, but that is something I always think about before I leave the house.

Remember, even if you’re going to the grocery store, you might bump into a cute crush or, more likely, every old foe you have had since grade school.

3. When it comes to fashion icons, don’t seek them, let them find you. When you’re following ten celebrity Tumblrs and a gazillion model Instagrams, it becomes difficult to define and narrow in on the style you really like. Your best bet is to sit back and let these style icons come to you.

I speak for myself when I say that I have watched The Devil Wears Prada religiously since its big screen debut in the summer of 2006. Though the main character, Andy Sachs, is infinitely more beautiful and physically fit than I am, the development of our fashion sense has progressed in similar ways. In the days of tennis shoes and waisttied jackets, I was the queen of flare jeans and figure insensitive T-shirts. But, as I grew older and out of my Capri length khakis, the pieces of clothing I wore on my back became more than fabric and cloth. Fashion became a way for me to express my character and emotions. So how did I become the eclectic prepster I am today? By embracing the tidal waves of fashion trends while slowly accumulating my true personal style. gsong@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BUYSILLYBANDSHERE. COM, CAPEMAYGALLERY.COM, and SPOTBAGZ.COM

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PERFORMING ARTS Saying Goodbye to PA’s Seniors apachepowwow.com

May/June 2012

By EMILIE WANG Staff Writer

When seniors leave for college, they leave behind their family, friends, and most of their worldly possessions. However, Performing Arts (PA) seniors also leave behind their fellow PA teammates.

Their dance partners, their stand partners, and the people who looked up to them as mentors or close friends will all miss the seniors when they say goodbye. These seniors, who have molded AHS’ talented underclassmen into who they are today and enabled them to uphold the tradition of award-winning excellence that has been a part of AHS for so long, need to be acknowledged.

Although the seniors will not physically be here next year, their teammates will remember them with every accomplishment the teams make. With every trophy brought back, every title won, the seniors will be remembered, and in return, their PA teammates hope they’ll always be cheering on the sidelines.

“I would like to thank Cathy Lee from Chanteurs.

Cathy has made my years in Chanteurs extremely fun with her bubbly and sweet personality. When I can’t get a dance move right, she’s [really] patient with me and has allowed me to grow as a performer. Good luck at Pepperdine, Cathy! I’ll miss you so much, but I know you’ll be right around the corner to go thrift shopping on the weekends! Love you! Thanks for being a big sister!”

“I want to thank Jennifer Ku so much for being such a good friend and helping me the past two years in Colorguard! I’m going to miss you so much next year, but I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me!

Love you!”

“I’d like to thank my favorite senior, Christina Manvelyan. She’s been an amazing friend and teammate for the last two years, and I’m so lucky to have her. Manvelyan, I love you to bits and pieces, and I hope you have tons of fun in college. Thank you for all the sleepovers, pasta, and clothes you let me borrow. Now, go make me proud!”

—Natalie Nunez, 10, Colorguard

—Katie Mazer, 10, Colorguard —Jazmin Maddela-Chan, 11, Chanteurs

“I want to thank Rhiannon Yee. She has definitely inspired me since 7th grade, and I’ve always LOVED watching her dance. It is because she always dances with such passion and energy that my eyes go to her and never leave! Rhiannon, thank you for expanding my horizons by allowing me to be in your dance that was out of my comfort zone.”

—Tina Wong, 11, Orchesis

“Jessica Namkoong was [the first person] who made me feel welcome in Orchestra. The Orchestra Freshman Bonding event at the beginning of the year, in which we played games, ate food, and met new people, was a blast! Jessica has the broken shoes to prove it. I would like to say thank you for helping me get accustomed to high school life. From talking to you at music camp to seeing you during passing periods, you have taught me what it feels like to be a true Apache. I will definitely miss seeing your smiley face next year!

Best of luck in college and with the rest of your future!”

“I would like to thank Florence Chung and Brian Bui. They’ve always been there for me, whether to support me or just to chat. I’m going to miss my marimba buddies! Have fun in college, and don’t forget to go to all of our competitions when you’re away at college!”

—Allison Kuo, 9, JV Percussion

—Emily Tom, 9, Orchestra

ewang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of MICHELLE-HUXTABLE.COM and Photos by ELLIOT

May/June 2012

performingarts@apachepowwow.com

Pops Concert

PERFORMING ARTS May the Music Be with You

songs, but it can move and groove to them too, with numbers choreographed by seniors Cathy Fundraising Chair Lee, Raphael Yang, and Sheryl Soenarijo.

Are you ready for a singing showdown?!

Junior Emily Lim, a two-year veteran in Well, Chanteurs and New Spirit certainly are!

Chanteurs, especially looked forward to all After holding auditions for solos, duets, and the group’s hard work paying off and “seeing other musical numhow much people enbers, these la-la-lajoy watching” the show. lovely music groups Though Chanteurs had on campus chose the multiple competitions best of the best to during the year, Emput together the anily felt that the May nual Chanteurs May Show was a “great way Show. Featured at to showcase our talents 7:00 p.m. on May outside of show choir” 24, the show was and a “good bonding performed again on experience for all the May 26 at 2:00 and members”. This year, 7:00 p.m.

Emily performed “PopuAlthough it was lar” from the Broadway only her first year in musical Wicked, a duet the group, sopho- SINGING SENSATIONS Ending on a high note and pleasing the crowd, with Raphael from the more Carrie Zhang Chanteurs members sing their hearts out at their last performance of the year. musical Standby, and an was excited for the acapella trio of a remix of display of talent. Out of the three shows, the Regardless of the location, the Chanteurs Lady Gaga’s “Telephone”.

Saturday showcase was generally the more an- May Show was certainly a night filled with fun This year, Chanteurs wowed its audience ticipated one since it is known as the one “when and musical wonder. Throughout the years, the members with spectacular numbers and unforthe awesome things happen”, though all the opening of the show has varied, but the 2012 gettable ballads, rounding off the year as a team performances have “lots of variety” because the May Show featured a sappy senior song to united in heart and song. members have so much “personality”. Her only both open and end the performances. And if its concern for the show was that there wouldn’t singing talent wasn’t enough to prove its skills, vnakaganeku@apachepowwow.com have been enough space for the performers in Chanteurs revealed that it can not only sing Photos by ELLIOT LEE

By VICTORIA NAKAGANEKU

By ASHLEY CHEOU Staff Writer

With the year quickly coming to a close and finals just around the corner, why not relax with the musical stylings of Orchestra and Band, who hosted their “Popping with the Pops” Concert? This annual event took place on May 22 and 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the North Gym. Each night had different Performing Arts groups. Jazz Band, String Orchestra, Concert Band, and Symphony Orchestra played songs from movies and musicals, featuring themes like mystery, romance, and memories. Both Band and Orchestra worked very hard, with numerous rehearsals and practices, to make this year’s Pops Concert the best. “I’m confident that the show went very well. With it being Mr. Tom Landes’ last concert, we all felt very motivated to make it a great show,” explained sophomore Alex Weisz. Orchestra President senior Jessica Namkoong was “very excited and highly [encouraged] parents, students, and staff to come and enjoy a wonderful evening full of music.” acheou@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of FREESTOCKPHOTOS.BIZ

19

Spring Show Grows and Glows

have been on Percussion’s World line for three

By ALBERT HU years, “loves the feeling of performing in front Staff Writer of family and friends”. Junior Chris Lum agreed The pounding of drums and swishing of and said that the cheers of the crowd “are why flags could be heard across the gym, across [he] performs” and why he loves it so much.

The show also came with entertainment the campus, and across the country. Back from apart from the pertheir successful trips formers.

Between to Dayton, Ohio, groups, the speaker Percussion and Colsystems were busy orguard were back with air-grams, shoutto business at home, out messages purwowing the North chased by audience Gym during their anmembers and pernual Spring Show on formers alike. MesMay 5. sages ranged from The show feaencouragements to tured groups of all “hellos”, with some sizes and ages, from jokes in between. As AHS’ award-winning if the atmosphere and Varsity Percussion a great show weren’t and Colorguard to enough, Percussion groups from Arcaadded a new element dia’s middle schools; that appeased many it had something for of its hungry audieveryone.

Varsity ence members: food Percussion performed trucks! With enough its show from this food to please palettes season, “Brief Eterof all kinds, the food nity”, a performance trucks added a nice that earned them 4th place in April’s Win- COLORGUARD & PERCUSSION twist to an already ter Guard Interna- Both put on their best as they perform at great program.

All in all, the antional World Cham- the annual Spring Show. nual Spring Show was pionships. The show is a favorite of the performers, especially for just that: a great show. With award-winning perthe seniors who made one of their last appear- formers and entertainment for the whole family, ances as members of AHS’ Percussion program. it continued the tradition of wowing the crowd, As senior Kevin Schroyer put it, Spring Show with its cheers heard across the gym, the camis “the final accomplishment, the icing on the pus, and across the country. cake” after four long years of hard work. The cheers of the crowd electrified the gym, and seahu@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of RONALD LEE nior Kaitlyn Forell, one of only three students to

the Little Theater because “the stage is really small, and we have a lot of people.” Some of the songs Carrie performed this year included Jason Mraz’s “Shy That Way”, One Direction’s “One Thing”, and Disney’s “I Won’t Say I’m In Love”.

Pep Cheers the Year

By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer

Pep Squad has worked hard this year and has become closer to each other than ever before. They have been cheering for AHS’ football and basketball games, as well as placing in various competition and events throughout the year.

Pep had two competitions in total this year and three fundraising events, if you can recall the spooky Halloween Haunted House fundraiser, Fifth Quarter Dance fundraiser, and the fundraising dance competition called Sharp. Pep Squad definitely benefits from all three of its huge fundraisers. The members had many hard, sweaty summer practices as well as exhausting after school practices. Freshman Kelly Li said, “We have practice every single day, and it gets really tiring, but it’s worth it because you get to dance in front of everyone!”

They’ve also been to all of AHS’ football games every Friday to show the students the true meaning of spirit. Pep Squad has helped the football team pump up the crowds with its enthusiastic cheers! The members mainly went to support AHS, but at the same time, they enjoyed

the football game in their front row seats. Just like any other school, AHS has had its ups and downs, but Pep Squad helps bring up the mood.

All of this could not have happened without the support of their beloved adviser, Ms. Tamra Erickson!

Ms. Erickson definitely had a big impact on AHS’ Pep Squad members, like Pep Leader junior Kristen Allmon. Kristen said, “Ms. Erickson has truly inspired me to become a better person and has opened my eyes to life.” Pep Squad teaches AHS’ cheerleaders not only to be better dancers, but also important life lessons such as being better at organizing, becoming a better person by showing more respect, and staying on top of everything they get involved in. Kristen added, “Being on the squad for three years now and going on to my fourth, has truly shaped who I am today.”

Pep Squad is one huge family, and the members overcome every problem together and push each other to do their best. It brought many friends that would have otherwise never met or seen each other before in their lives together. ksun@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of TINA TZENG

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Receiving the Pass: Coach Long Takes Over

By VICTORIA TRAN Staff Writer

After 17 successful years coaching AHS’ football team, Head Coach Jon Dimalante is stepping down from his position. Coach Dimalante will be replaced by Coach Chris Long to continue his legacy as head coach of the football team.

While at Serra High School, Coach Long played football with Coach Dimalante as his very own coach. After leading Serra High School to a CIF championship in 1989, Coach Long graduated from high school and attended Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC).

Later, he received a full football scholarship to play at the University of Eastern Michigan, where he played as a linebacker. After graduating with a degree in sociology, Coach Long decided to give coaching and teaching a try and contacted his old mentor, Coach Dimalante, for a coaching job. After coaching with Coach Dimalante for two years, he returned to his old school, LASC, to coach football for a couple of years. After, he became the head coach at Western Christian for three years.

He spent another three years at Hoover High School as the head coach before he returned to Arcadia last year to guide the football team as defensive coordinator and assistant coach under Coach Dimalante. With this much history and experience with football, there is no question that Coach Long has the dedication and the passion necessary to lead AHS to a successful season with, undoubtedly, many more to come.

His personal experiences with football have culminated into a “family-orientated” coaching philosophy, in which “care, hard work, [personal] accountability, and fun” are heavily

emphasized and constantly worked on during team bonding events, practices, and games. A dedicated family man himself with four sons, Coach Long believes that all the boys in the

THE NEW APACHE FOOTBALL COACH Coach Chris Long will take over Coach Jon Dilamante’s old position as AHS’ head football coach.

football program should be more than teammates—they should be brothers. As brothers, they are responsible for caring and protecting each other, whether it be on the field or in the classroom. “Don’t ever disappoint your brother, [and] protect the family first,” said Coach Long. If the team is a family, then success on the field and the chances of winning will naturally increase, especially if the family is the first priority. In addition, Coach Long believes that improvement starts with each individual, first as a person, then as a student, and lastly, as an athlete.

To reach its long term goal of bringing a CIF championship title to AHS, the team must focus on improving the offensive aspects of the game. Coach Long shows his determination and extensive understanding of the sport by already implementing a brand new type of offensive strategy during Spring Ball to keep the players physically and mentally in shape for next year’s fall season. Not only does he wish to snag the championship, but he also has a daily goal of teaching life lessons, the most crucial and fundamental being that a good work ethic will always pay off in the end. Coach Long strongly believes that individuals “have to compete in everything [they] do because what [they] put in is what [they] will get out of it.”

He hopes that teaching the boys such an essential lesson will allow them to accomplish their future goals and pursue their careers, whatever they might be. vtran@apachepowwow.com Photo by VIVIAN CHAN

Growing As A Team

By BRENDAN TRAN Staff Writer

By KARINA LAIGO Staff Writer

Every athlete has his or her own way of getting his or her head in the game, and AHS’ finest athletes are no different. Between team rituals and self-relaxation sessions, players hone their talents, their gusto, and their primal need to prove how worthy they are of being an Apache.

“I usually start to focus when I get to the field. I like to listen to music while I warm up, and I perform a handshake with my third baseman before we begin.”

–Lisa Rosas, 10, Girls Varsity Softball team “As a team, we run our warm-up lap around the field. As we pass home plate, we all spit, which is gross, but we do that before every home game because ‘it’s our house’. We listen to music too. As for me, personally, I think of goals that I want to reach and start [to figure] out how I’ll get there. Music and [my teammates] being crazy with dance moves and such gets us pumped.”

–Stephanie Noriega, 10, Girls Varsity Softball team “I honestly [do] nothing special. I don’t have a ritual or anything. [It’s] just getting my mind focused on the game and relaxing myself if I’m nervous. [All I do is] pray and try to get pumped up.”

–Melody Chang, 11, Girls Varsity Basketball team “I prep by listening to music and by talking with my teammates. Next, we, [as a team], warm-up and then we huddle before the game.”

–Bobby McDaniels, 11, Boys Varsity Water Polo team No matter what kind of preparation the player goes through, it’s all for one thing: to bring honor to the AHS name. Whether or not everyone wins, every single team members knows he or she played his or her hardest, all because they were able to buckle down and invest themselves into the game. klaigo@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of COMMONS.WIKIPEDIA.COM and IMAGEENVISION.COM

This year, the Boys Varsity Volleyball season was filled with uncertainty. Nobody knew what to expect. With very few seniors and many underclassmen on the team, it struggled throughout the season. Through 2:45 to 5:00 p.m. and occasional 6 a.m. practices, the team still proved thatt it wanted to n senior be the best. Captain hat he David Miller said that ar’s thinks that “next year’s eteam will be good because the underclassmen got experience this year.” He also thought the team members’ “focus and blocking were their weaknesses.”

With little veteran leadership and few m weaknesses, the team he still finished 7-6 in the Pacific League and made it to CIF. They faced tough on, which competition all season, was evident when four teams from the Pacific League placed top ten in CIF rankings. David also thought the boys’ “teamwork and cohesion were strong points for their team.”

The team’s family mentality greatly contributed to its well-deserved spot in CIF. In the first round of CIF, the team played La Mirada High School and won 3-2. In the

next round, it faced the number one seed in CIF, Warren High School. It was a tough task, and Arcadia lost 3-0. Despite the loss, David thought the team “did the best with what they had because they were stricken with injuries.”

To improve next season, David would “like to see more dedication and focus, in addition to the returning players getting better during the off-season.” Sophomore Howard Huang also thought that ““they all improved a lot compared to the beginning of the sea season because they had great grea coaches with valuable ab experience.” Head C Coach David Iosia and Coach Keli Pula held other jobs in Arcadia and Long Beach, but sacrificed their time and effort to teach and guide the team to success. With its brilliant coaches, the tteam plans to achieve a better record and advance vanc deeper into CIF next year.

Howard felt that y “the team didn’t always play to its full potential at certain times and often played down to the level of other teams.”

If the team avoids injuries and plays to its full potential, there are no limits for the more experienced Boys Varsity Volleyball team next year. btran@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of DOSPORTSEASY.COM

May/June 2012

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Sending the Baseball Out of the Park

By ALICE LIN Staff Writer

The season that was. For the past three years, the Boys Varsity Baseball team has been one of the top teams in League and CIF, even against tough competition in Division 2, such as Crescenta Valley, Harvard-Westlake, Cypress, and Pacifica.

After starting out well by winning ten games in a row at League and holding a 41-game winning streak, the Boys Varsity Baseball team is ending its unbelievable season with 2nd place in League with an overall record of 19-7. Head Coach Nicholas Lemas stated that although there “was a lot of pressure to keep that winning streak going, the boys did a good job of continuing it.”

So how did the team meet these goals?

It’s talent, and of course, dedication. Everyday, the Boys Varsity Baseball team practices from “2:00 to 5:30 p.m”, stated junior David Dominguez, and when the players don’t feel like they

have practiced enough, they “ask the coaches for extra time” to practice. Besides practicing and working on their hitting, the boys put in extra time to scout other teams.

They typically

The Boys Varsity Baseball team is also one of the best because of a component essential to every team:

ing field trips. David noted that as a freshman, the team went to a military base in San Diego for several nights to bond. There, the boys received dog tags, that many of them wear everyday for good luck.

Winding up the last few days of the season and the school year, the Boys Varsity Baseball team ended with a “pretty successful season,” Coach Lemas said. For seniors like Darren, with school ending in fewer than 10 days, “it’s definitely a bitter -sweet feeling,” and he’s “going to miss the game of baseball and playing it everyday, being in the sunshine with all [his] friends doing what [they] love.” alin@apachepowwow.com

look in to their pitchers and hitters to prepare themselves for how fast and in what direction the pitchers will throw and how hard those hitters hit.

camaraderie. At games, the boys stongly root for one another, often “yelling and screaming” when the team scores, stated senior Darren Kerfoot. Other times, before, after, or during games, David declared that the team has special “handshakes that need to be done at certain times”. Outside of school, the boys also participate in bond-

Photos courtesy of EXAMLINK. NET and INSIDESOCAL.COM

VARSITY BASEBALL Varsity Baseball endured a season of ups and downs with numerous wins in the beginning, but a deafening series of losses. Ultimately, however, the team emerged for the better and is prepared for the next season.

The Final Leg: Track Finishes with a Hot Streak

By ANDY QIN Staff Writer

When sports teams go on “hot streaks”, or a period of consecutive wins, the implication is that these periods will end. Eventually, the train of good fortune will come to a screeching halt.

Inevitably, no team can be perfect for too long without there remaining some aspect of legitimate competition. So how then, can the AHS Track and Field still be a legitimate team and have maintained a hot streak for a mind-boggling four years? What kind of team wins the Pacific League on all four divisions of competition for the outlandish team record of 176-0?!

It’s not as if the League has shabby competition; on the contrary, the League hosts such teams as John Muir, Pasadena, John Burroughs, and Crescenta Valley. To put this in perspective, when this year’s senior track members were freshmen, they will have ventured through their entire AHS Track and Field careers without ever having seen the team lose once, on any division. Certainly, success as grand as this does not come without its demand of genuine grit.

What does “grit” mean in this context? Its definition is best illustrated.

As early as September, long before any competitive track meet takes place, many groans can be heard from the field.

On a stiflingly hot Monday, Head Coach Christopher Schultz has just announced the day’s workout: what’s infamously known as a “five-four-three”. That’s 500m, then 400m, then 300m of com-

plete sprinting. Furthermore, if Coach Schultz sees that one running group did not contribute its best effort to the workout, one interval is likely to be redone. As one would expect, the athletes may get significantly tired, often affecting the “student” portion of student-athlete. Nonetheless, they maintain the academic requirements necessary to represent AHS in sports and bear the circumstances. Such a scene sums up the grit that AHS Track must assume for victory.

All of that preparation has willed many of its members to perform brilliantly. This year’s highlights include the 3:20.51 run by Boys 4x400m relay, composed of junior Nikko Ajao and seniors Alec Jen, Tony Moseley,

and Alex McElwee. Individually, Alex recently ran a personal best 47.97 in the open 400m, which as of this publication is the fourth fastest time in California this year. In his first year competing in the 800m, Tony clocked a blistering 1:54.82. One particular standout on the boys’ side is sophomore Vincent Bai, who qualified for the CIF Southern Section prelims meet, after having placed well as an individual 100m at Pacific League Finals. Vincent managed to run an 11.10 in the 100m, placing 21st out of 45 elite competitors from all across California.

Finally, senior Brian Chu was also crowned

the Pacific League Champion in the pole vault, jumping 12’0”. On the girls’ side, freshman Isabel Annino has been quite a standout, running a 46.40 in the Girls 300m hurdles race. At the Pacific League Finals, senior Janise Qin threw a 37’7” in the shotput and 103’2” in the discus, winning both. At the same meet, the Girls 4x400m relay, composed of sophomores Kyra White, Isabel, seniors Fiona Chu, and Irma Nugroho,, ran a time of 4:00.02. We would like to be able to list the accomplishments of every individual, but then we would run out of room.

Such is probably a good indication that Track has been pretty successful this year. After all, its hot streak is ongoing. aqin@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLIOTT LEE and VIVIAN CHAN

TRACK AND FIELD Members of Track and Field competed in events such as the relay, the pole vault, and the high jump.

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Turning Back the Clock: AHS’ Triumphs

By RENA CHEN & UTTHARA RAMESHBABU Staff Writers

“We placed 2nd out of 21 teams at our annual regional competition, the LA Surf Bowl hosted by the Wrigley Institute at USC. Our team this year did a great job of covering the areas we needed to cover. I’m really proud of this year’s team, and I’m really excited to see the team do even better in the coming year!” –Andrew Sung, 12, Ocean Science Bowl, “We placed 3rd at Captain Nationals, and admittedly we were disappointed, but later that night, one of our coaches reminded us that it was never about the place, it was about the journey, and the journey was incredible. To be honest, our expectations weren’t very high, but somehow we came together to form a winning team. It’s like watching sausage being made, no one wants to see it, but the end result is delicious.” –Aimee Borrayo, 12, Gov Team

“We were very successful this year as we finished 1st overall in the Bay Math League. We hope that we can continue to do well in the upcoming years. I think the juniors next year will be able to lead the team and get 1st again for Arcadia.” –James Cheng, 12, Math Team, Co-Captain

“We got 1st in Math Bay League this year and 3rd overall at a competition called Math Day at the Beach. The team took a lot of practice tests and reviewed thoroughly before competitions, and I’m proud of how hard we worked and how well we did. We really dedicated ourselves to the competition this year and have utter confidence coming into next year.” –Aritro Biswas, 11, Math Team

“We are so proud to be sending three teams to Nationals. So far in the preliminary rounds, all of our teams have done very well and, winning at least six of their games, our A and B teams have made it to the playoff rounds. We are so thrilled to have gone so far. This year’s team has worked incredibly hard, and it paid off!”

–Oishee Shemontee, 12, Quiz Bowl, Co-Captain “The 20112012 team was one of the strongest AHS has ever seen. We finished 4th out of over 50 teams in one of the most competitive regions in the entire nation. We also went to State for the first time in at least 25 years.

During that week in Sacramento, we put Arcadia’s name resoundingly on the map and as a top competitor too. Dare I say Nationals in the next couple years? Yes.” –Lynn Huang, 12, Academic Decathalon, Co-Captain

School reputation doesn’t come easily: we fight through tests of all sorts, athletic teams struggle for victory, and our academic teams hold a front of their own.

Throughout the year, the academic teams have been overlooked by some, but after the hard work, the members have dedicated to their trade, excelling in it and upholding AHS’ impressive name, it’s necessary to dedicate a page to their achievements. From Academic Decathalon to the new History Bowl, our academic teams have shown us another year of excellent work. Keep it up!

“This year’s Physics Team was able to surpass our previous record in the Physics Olympiad individual competition with four national semifinalists. We ranked 2nd in State as a team in the Physics Bowl competition this year, but I feel we could have done better. As Co-Captain, I really wanted us to make it into the national top five again, like our school did in 2009 as 2nd in the nation.” –Ben Li, 12, Physics Team, Co-Captain

“This year, we practiced for our regional competition at JPL. Unfortunately, this year we did not repeat our 1st place finish of last year, but we still won 3rd place. I am optimistic that the team will do well next year after I graduate because there are many strong returning members.” –Andrew Wang, 12, Science Bowl

“Our goal is to compete in History Bowl competitions held at the regional, state, and national levels. It is essentially a historical trivia competition, so we spend our time learning about different episodes from history, from ancient civilizations to wars and even to TV shows [that] portray aspects of history, like Mad Men. We hope to start officially competing next year, and to bring some glory to AHS.” –Mr. Gerry Wang, History Bowl Adviser

“Speech did remarkably well this year. We got 3rd place overall in League, had twelve state qualifiers, three state semi-finalists, and one state finalist. We are sending two competitors to the National Tournament in June.”

– Amit Akula, 12, Speech and Debate, Senior Officer

“This year, we were 1st in the county and 8th in the entire state.

Mock Trial for me was really about personal growth. You have an entire team with you, and we’ve had a lot of meetings—though some of them were not productive at all. And as I’m leaving this team, I’m going to be really sad because connections like this—people like this—are things that I don’t want to “This year has leave behind.” –Amy Wen, 12, been amazing! Despite Mock Trial the difficulties of finding a coach and putting together enough money for competitions, we did exceptionally well. Finally, after 15 years, we won 1st place at the LA Regional Competition and went on to place 4th at State.

Our plan is to just keep up the good work, hopefully place 1st at both regional and state competitions and go to Nationals next year!” –Irene Chen, 11, Science Olympiad, Captain

rchen@apachepowwow.com urameshbabu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of FEATUREPICS.COM Photos courtesy of JEANNE KUANG, AMY WEN, DUSTIN LIU, and UTTHARA RAMESHBABU

May/June 2012

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ACADEMICS

Class of 2012 Valedictorian as borderline neurotic.

“She stresses out over everything,” senior Victoria Shi said with amusement, “which I guess, for her, works.” Victoria, who has known Michelle since middle school, admired her friend’s dedication to studying and described

her academic record as “impeccable”.

In the classroom, she is reserved, poring Staff Writer over notes and textbooks, immediately recognizable as the studious one. Ms. Laura Galloway, who taught her AP U.S. History last year, Senior Michelle Zhang has been selected said that everyone wanted to sit with Michelle. as this year’s valedictorian, the highest acaThe teacher appreciated Michelle’s “exdemic honor given by the school. Assistremely diligent” nature, calling her a tant Principal Jennifer Lashier made the “very easy student to have”. announcement to the graduating class on “She was always so polite when she May 30 during the Senior Assembly. approached and asked questions,” Ms. A straight-A student through four Galloway recalled. “She was curious. She years of high school, Michelle was Pow really wanted to know things for the sake Wow’s Calendar editor this year, as well as of being better.” the president of Destination Imagination Aside from being a hardworking stuand Art Club. She plans to study molecudent, Michelle is known by her friends and lar biology at the University of California, classmates as a talented artist and an enBerkeley this fall. thusiastic fan of the BBC television series The valedictorian selection process Sherlock. begins each year with the salutatorians, “When the time comes to work, she students with grade point averages of 3.95 knows what to get done,” Victoria comor higher and excellent citizenship. Salumented, “but she definitely has a silly side tatorians are qualified to apply for valedicto her and can say some really oddball torian, which is selected by a committee things.” of teachers and students. The committee On June 15, Michelle will lead the reviews candidates based on grades, inclass into the Santa Anita Racetrack for volvement, and personal essay. graduation. Reflecting on her high school When asked how she reacted to the experience, Michelle expressed satisfacannouncement, Michelle replied that she tion and a hint of nostalgia. “couldn’t believe it.”

“These past four years at AHS were “There are so many smart people amazing,” she said. “I’ll always have a here. I’m humbled to have received this special place in my heart for my friends honor among my talented peers,” she said.

As a student, Michelle is known for her CONGRATS! Senior Michelle Zhang smiles and classmates here.” startling attention to detail, a trait which for the camera after receiving her plaque and jkuang@apachepowwow.com her close friends have fondly characterized bouquet of flowers.

Photo by JEANNE KUANG

By JEANNE KUANG

25 Choosing the “Best Test”

By LEO JIANG

Staff Writer

Stressing over test prep? Wondering whether to take the SAT or ACT? Relax! The reality is that neither test is superior to the other.

Although there is no hard evidence that proves whether the ACT or SAT is easier, you probably want to determine which test format is better suited to your strengths.

If you have a short attention span and difficulty maintaining focus, the ACT may be the right test for you. The ACT lasts only two hours and fifty-five minutes (plus thirty minutes with the optional writing test), while the SAT lasts three hours and forty-five minutes. Counselors also say that students who have difficulty with abstract and complex ideas may be better at the ACT. The SAT and the ACT cover both English and math, there are notable variations in content. For instance, in measuring verbal skills, the SAT focuses on vocabulary whereas the ACT concentrates on grammar, punctuation, and syntax. And if you want to avoid science and trigonometry, stick with the SAT, which has neither.

Both tests are made to measure what you’ve learned before college. When comparing the score distribution between the two, the vast majority of students perform comparably on both tests. ljiang@apachepowwow.com

Gov Team Goes to D.C. Chemistry Champion

By VIVIAN CHAN

Staff Writer

Placing a staggering 3rd in the nation, the 2011-2012 Government Team’s grueling journey has finally come to an end. Their work has undoubtedly paid off: back to back meetings until midnight, arguments, epiphanies, and victories have gotten them as far as 1st in both Regionals and State, and 3rd in the nation. Despite achieving such a high honor, members of Gov. Team felt a tinge of disappointment, as they had anticipated on settling for nothing less than winning the entire competition. But to senior Phillip Juarez, the values they “have learned, the work ethic [they] have acquired, the knowledge [they] have gained, and the people [they] have grown to respect and love, have made this whole year worth it.”

Alumnus Jimmy Tsouvalas told them a

couple months before the state competition that, “You do not become champions. You go in as champions and show them why you deserve it”, and that became the driving force for the rest of the year. Senior Vincent Ann recalls that it took him weeks to get over the loss, but when he did, he came to a startling realization; there was a “deep, overwhelmingly beautiful, yet disgustingly inseparable connection [they] all shared.”

They had all “gone through this year—together.

Through all the sweat and pain and perseverance and tears… nothing else compared.” All in all, Gov. Team isn’t something that you can just be a part of. It grows on you, it becomes a part of you. “It is a goal, an aspiration, a civic duty, but most of all, it is a way of life,” remarked Phillip. Every Gov. Team member will cherish the memories they forged this year. vchan@apachepowwow.com Photo by ELLIOT LEE

CONSTITUTION TEAM After overcoming challenge after challenge, Gov. Team found themselves representing California in the national “We the People” competition; they ultimately lived up to everyone’s expectations by winning 3rd.

By ASHLEY CHEOU

At the camp, Timothy will be given a college-level training course that emphasizes Staff Writer on organic chemistry, lectures, problem-solving exercises, lab work, and tests. “I go through a lot Senior Timothy Lee is a national chemis- of rigorous tests and lab experiments,” Timothy try champion who qualified to compete for a explained, “and it can get stressful at times, but overall it’s a really spot on the U.S. team good experience.” in the 44th annual InThere they will comternational Chemistry pete their hearts out Olympiad (IChO). for the gold, silver, Timothy is one of 20 and bronze with talented, driven stumore than 70 other dents from across the nations. nation who were welThis will be comed to a two-week AHS’ ninth time intensive study camp since 2003 that a stuat the United States dent has qualified for Air Force Academy in the prestigious study Colorado. camp and seven Over the course years since AHS had of the year, 12,000 of a student represent U.S.’s brightest took the U.S. in the IChO. part in this grueling “Doing the competition. The ini[IChO] has really tial three-part exam helped me further my eliminated about interest in the scienc11,000 candidates, es and has definitely and out of the remainbeen a life-changing ing 1,000 students, experience.”

This Timothy made the top TIMOTHY LEE Years of hard work 20. Of those twenty, and intensive studying has earned Timo- coming fall, Timothy will attend Stanford four will be selected. thy national recognition.

University to study Timothy first participated in the IChO as a sophomore under chemistry, converting his high school achievethe guidance of Mrs. Cherryl Mynster, his AP ments into a bright future.

Chemistry teacher. Timothy said, “She really inspired me to become passionate about sciacheou@apachepowwow.com Photo by ELLIOT LEE ence.”

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Ask Kay

Need advice?

Send your questions to askkay@apachepowwow.com

As a junior, should I go to prom this year? No one has asked me yet, so is it even worth it to go?

Of course it is! Prom is a rite of passage that separates the upperclassmen from the “underclassboys”—metaphorically speaking of course. You don’t need another person to ask you in order for you to go; being tied down to a creepy date would be as bad as not going at all. Go with your friends, or even ask someone out of our school. Dances aren’t about who you’re going with or what’s going to happen afterward, they’re all about the experience of a school sponsored night of fancy fun!

I can’t wait for the year to end, but how do I get over my senioritis? I’m not even a senior!

First, if you aren’t a senior, you don’t have senioritis—you are just in a sluggish rut. Second, take a weekend off to do something relaxing and fun like miniature golfing, shopping, or going to a park—something to take your mind off how far the year seems to be from ending.

During the week, have a specific thing planned every couple of days, like a movie night that could spice up your weekdays. But don’t skip out on the homework!

The Best Food Since Sliced Bread

By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer

“Serving the world’s finest food since sliced bread...” “Grilled to perfection...” “Burgers are addicting...” “An intriguing menu...”

What do these comments describe? Why, The Habit Burger Grill, of course!

With more than 50 locations around California and Arizona and its own food trucks, The Habit Burger Grill enticed me to try its delicious burgers.

The smell of charbroiled (for those of you unfamiliar with the term, “charbroiled” means grilled on a rack over charcoal) hamburgers lured me into its restaurant, located in Pasadena on 3733 East Foothill Boulevard.

The Habit Burger Grill has a typical American menu with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and the like. It also serves traditional side dishes (think french fries and onion rings). I had an order consisting of a Charburger and a side of onion rings. My Charburger, made of “100% fresh ground beef”, had an exceptional flavor, which came from “chargrilling on an open flame.” The burger was packed in two buns toasted to a golden brown with a creamy mayonnaise spread, fresh slices of tomato, pickle, crisp lettuce, and

sweet, delicious, caramelized onions inside. I savored and relished in taking every single bite. For only $3.95, this Charburger was an excellent choice. It was a traditional burger, nothing over the top or too fancy.

The onion rings were very traditional as well, with large rings of onions fried to a deep brown color. I love how The Habit Burger Grill tried to keep all its foods simple and familiar, with nothing too pretentious. It had a simple, understated elegance uncommon in b u r g e r joints.

I also love how the chefs there try to make their foods healthier. All my orders were low in grease and salt, making me feel much better about my rather unhealthy meal.

So, do you want a simple, cheap, delicious meal? Are you tired of soggy, limp fries and onion rings? Then go to The Habit Burger Grill! This place deserves a solid 8/10 for being so incredibly delicious. Until next time! And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell.

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I tried out for a lot of clubs/school activities this year and didn’t get into any. I’m feeling discouraged about getting into anywhere now; how do I get over it?

Understand that rejection is prevalent in the real adult world, so it is going to be almost everywhere you look. Take it all in stride as rejection should only make you want to prove yourself even more. Don’t let it hurt you that much. Be strong and stand tall. You are the best you are, and if they cannot see it, it is their loss.

Use this rejection as fuel to become something so much more amazing or awesome to the point where that club or group will regret never letting you in. You can always try out next year for something new anyway, and if you’re not feeling up to the rejection process a second time, create something new for the school and for yourself! From rejection, we grow as people, find our place in the world, and have the chance to really connect to something. Rejection doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it just means that the club or group isn’t where you’re meant to be. It could even set you on the path to what you’re meant for. Keep your chin up; it’s all part of life.

Last Day of School Maze

XOXO, Glutton Girl gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of SHERDOG.NET

Graphics courtesy of DISCOVERYEDUCATION.COM

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CAMPUS FOCUS

campusfocus@apachepowwow.com

May/June 2012

By KATHERINE BAY Staff Writer

As the pages of The Apache Pow Wow come to an end, we reflect on what a memorable journey we’ve been through together. From scorching car washes to intense candy apple competitions, we’ve reached the territory of joyous, bittersweet tears. After filling all the blank pages with words of wisdom, the staff of ’11’12 lived happily ever after. The End.

Graphics by JOSH BAY and courtesy of IMGCLIPART.COM Photos by ELLIOTT LEE, TOMMY LIAO, and VIVIAN CHAN