Volume 62, Issue 5
Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA
January y 2013
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Lady Apaches Turned College Recruits
By ZACHARY YEE
By ANNA WANG Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Senior Melody Chang’s list of basketball-related accolades is hardly lacking. Two-year Girls Varsity Basketball Captain. Awarded “All-Area Second Team” by Pasadena Star News. 2012 Pacific League Co-“Most Valuable Player”. AHS Girls Basketball record-setter for most three-pointers in a single game—ten. Apache Girls Basketball all-time leader in points and steals. Now, she’s reaping the rewards for her talent and tireless efforts, having been wooed by college coaches desperate for Melody to grace their team rosters. Melody’s current success has been in the works since her freshman year, when she led her Arcadia Lady Apache Frosh/Soph Team to a league championship. Crossing over to Varsity her sophomore year, Melody put in hours of practice and worked her way into a starting position. Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Don Young praised, “Melody is an extremely hard worker. She is very coachable and is constantly working on her game.” Now averaging 24.5 points per game, she is the star of the Arcadia Girls’ Basketball program and stands at the helm of an excellent team poised to win a league championship for the first time since 1979. The recipient of attention from numerous colleges, Melody narrowed down her choices to Claremont McKenna College, Lewis & Clark College, and Occidental College. With the head coach frequently attending games to personally witness her skills in action, there’s a chance Melody may be donning Claremont McKenna’s gold and maroon next year. Despite her basketball prowess, Melody has remained touchingly humble. “I honestly never had expectations for this success,” Melody said. “I was just playing to play, just pushing to get better. I didn’t think I’d be at this level. College ball is the chance for me to continue to work and improve. I never want to limit myself.”
Three years and sixty-six games ago, senior Francis Dean walked onto the tennis court, hoping to one day cement her name among the great players of Apache tennis history. What she didn’t know was that her goals and dreams would be accomplished, due in part to her excellent work ethic as well as a strong, supportive group around her. A star was born after Francis had won her very first tennis match, and a journey full of countless achievements and successes began. Never looking back from her first win, Francis continued to breeze past the competition and established herself as an elite player in the Pacific League. With lightning fast agility and powerful ground strokes, Francis managed to win the league title for singles three out of four years. And in addition to leading the Girls Varsity Tennis team to the CIF finals as well as the second round of State Championships, she received All-League First Team honors each year. All of the awards and individual accomplishments were certainly great, but Francis had her mind on something even better: a scholarship. Working harder than ever, Francis would actually stay at the courts long after exhausting games just to get extra training and practice. Scouts started taking notice when Francis would come out on top over other highly regarded tennis recruits, going 15-10 against 4-Star tennis recruits and 9-0 against 3-Star recruits. Finally, the University of the Pacific offered her a tennis scholarship, which she happily accepted. Teammate junior Tiffany Hseih reflected on the success of Francis as she stated, “She always works hard and has an amazing sense of sportsmanship; she definitely deserves everything she has gotten.” There is certainly more than enough for Francis to be proud of during her high school career. Keep up the great work Tiger!
awang@apachepowwow.com
Inside this Issue Rally Court Renovations:
zyee@apachepowwow.com Photos by DANA JEE and WILSON LIN Photos courtesy of WHITTIERDAILYNEWS.COM and WIKIMEDIA.ORG
The congested hallways and green-tarped gates are minor pains to endure now for a more beautiful campus later.
Entertaining “Cat”-harsis or “Meow”-lignant Addiction?: From Youtube videos to online memes, cats and kittens have made their way onto the mainstream.
IN STUDENT LIFE (PG. 14)
FEATURES(PG. (PG.8)8) ININFEATURES
Photo courtesy of CONSTRUCTIONSOLUTIONS-MANOJKUMAR.BLOGSPOTS.COM
Graphic courtesy of PHOENIXNEWTIMES.COM
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NEWS
apachepowwow.com
January 2013
Stories of 2012
U.S. Barely Avoids Fiscal Cliff
By ERIC CHO
By MICHELLE GU Staff Writer
Staff Writer
1. The U.S. Presidential Election: After guiding the U.S. through a bad economy, high unemployment rates, and a fractured political landscape, President Barack Obama was officially re-elected as America’s 44th president for a second term on Nov. 6, 2012.
Recently, President Barack Obama called for a scaled-back plan that would stop tax increases for middle-class Americans and extend benefits for the unemployed. However, Republicans demanded more details on this proposal before deciding on a process for the Senate to vote on. This process was an attempt to get America out of a crisis: the fiscal cliff. Both sides argued for most of the time before reaching a conclusion. Previously, Grand Old Party (GOP) Leader Mitch McConnell even remarked that his side wouldn’t “write a blank check for anything Senate Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff.” The principle dispute between the two sides continued to be over taxes, specifically the demand by which President Obama and Democrats produced to extend most of the tax cuts that were passed under former President George W. Bush. The Republicans opposed
2. The London Olympics: Costing over £9.3 billion, or nearly $15 billion, the London Olympics stirred up excitement with its performances and organized events. With athletes from over 200 countries around the world, the Olympics had nearly 50 million viewers.
3. Acts of Defiance Against SOPA: Also known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), SOPA promised to censor the Internet. When Wikipedia, Google, and other websites went dark in Jan. 2012 in protest, Internet users reacted with millions of complaints, mentioning the campaign over eight million times.
any kind of tax rate increases, which was evident in their rejection of Speaker of the House John Boehner’s fiscal cliff “Plan B”. However, both parties were able to come up with an agreement a few hours before the Jan. 1 deadline. Under a deal created by Vice President Joe Biden and GOP Leader McConnell, Congress permanently extended the Bush income tax cuts at $400,000 and below, and kept the estate tax threshold at $5 million along with the extension of unemployment benefits for one year. The decision also delayed the issue of spending cuts across the board for another two months. The deal also extended child tax credit and college tuition credit for another five years, and the Medicare “doc fix” for one more year. Capital gains and dividend tax rates rose from 15% to 20%, and a congressional pay fee was also put into effect, effectively halting a
pl lanneed salary bump planned forr mem mbers of Congress. members Th he bill received a vote of The 2257-167, with only 85 of the votes in favor from the Republicans, and, unsu urpriisingly, the reaction from the senaunsurprisingly, tors was w mixed. m “My main concern here is keeping this economic recovery going, and I think this package ddoes that,” said California Senator Barbara B Boxer. “The disagreement on this provision and that provision and other provisions
are large and wide, but the number of people who believe that we should go over the cliff rather than vote for this is very small,” stated Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. “It’s not that this proposal is regarded as great or is loved in any way, but it’s regarded as better than going over the cliff.” Economists predicted yet another recession if the fiscal cliff occurred. But Republicans and Democrats eventually joined together, and in the end, they succeeded in saving America from the fiscal cliff. However, the upcoming months will bring even more congressional issues to Capitol Hill that must be resolved. On Mar. 1, the automatic spending cuts which the fiscal cliff deal postponed for two months will be the center of the government’s attention once more.
mgu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BUSINESSWEEK.COM and DENVERPOST.COM
Increased Police Presence in Arcadia By VIVIAN WANG
4. Hurricane Sandy: As Hurricane Sandy unleashed its wrath upon the East Coast, at least 105 citizens met a devastating end. Thousands of cities were met with power outages and ruined property, racking up a whopping $60 billion bill for the government.
5. Mars Curiosity Rover: With 17 cameras, a laser capable of surveying and analyzing the composition of rocks, and many other instruments, the Curiosity rover landed on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012, marking a huge step forward in society. echo@apachepowwow.com Images courtesy of IMAGESHACK.COM
Editor’s Note In the December issue, the cover article, “Cross Country Victorious at Nationals”, was credited to Staff Writers Terri Shi and Erika Zheng. However, the writing of the article should be attributed to Staff Writers Shawn Xing and Erika Zheng.
both Representatives Chu and Napolitano have pledged to push harder than ever for improved mental health services and stricter gun control in Congress. “If we act responsibly today, we can prevent another mass casualty event from
funding needed to carry out mental health services and programs for all Americans.” With regards to gun control, however, Senator Feinstein in particular plans to reOn Dec. 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam introduce a legislation that completely bans Lanza, after murdering his mother at home, military-style assault weapons fatally shot 26 victims at Sandy and strengthen the 1994 Assault Hook Elementary School in Weapons Ban as soon as Congress Newtown, Connecticut. The is back in session, which is a move tragedy and loss of so many inthat Representatives Chu, Napolinocent lives shocked the nation, tano, and Schiff are also backing. prompting not only nationwide The entire AUSD has been grief and mourning, but also reaffected by the Connecticut shootigniting debates over gun conings as well; the Arcadia Police trol and school security. Over a Department has stated that in remonth later, the Newtown shootsponse to the shootings, it will ing is still making waves all review citywide standard safety across America, even in the San procedures as well as increase poGabriel Valley. lice presence on Arcadia school The shooting has spurred on campuses. a nation-wide call for the govIn the week leading up to ernment to strengthen the existwinter break, Arcadia Police Deing gun control laws and develop partment members made an active better mental health services in effort to reassure both students the U.S., issues which U.S. Representatives Judy Chu, Adam TRAGEDY IN CONNECTICUT Shooter Adam Lanza rampaged and parents by randomly visitSchiff, and Grace Napolitano through Sandy Hook Elementary School, leaving 26 deaths in his wake, ing and walking around various schools in Arcadia. Whether these and California Senator Dianne 20 of which were children. Feinstein have all expressed their support for. happening tomorrow,” Representative Chu increased security measures will continue reThe representatives and Senator Fein- wrote. “We simply cannot afford to delay an- mains to be seen, but the police’s presence has most definitely been a comfort in these troustein have all made similar statements regard- other day.” Napolitano chose to address mental health bling times. ing the Connecticut shooting: Representative Schiff expressed a reinforced determination issues rather than gun control as the main probvwang@apachepowwow.com to take on the National Rifle Association, lem and emphasized that everyone “must all a powerful gun rights lobbying group, and work together to secure and protect the federal Photo courtesy of NYNEWS.COM Staff Writer
January 2013
NEWS
news@apachepowwow.com
Apocalyptic Instagram’s Big Slip-up Business By LILY LING
Staff Writer
By MATTHEW LEE Staff Writer
12/21/12 Many believed the Mayan calendar predicted our demise, but Dec. 21, 2012 was just another day. With the world still here, many people are having a good laugh while some are left with empty wallets and red faces. Dec. 21, 2012 started out as an occasion in which many awaited their impending doom, but by mid-afternoon, the long awaited celestial event soon turned into a big laugh as vendors and businesses dished out “end of the world” merchandise to make a quick buck. From mugs and t-shirts to sleeping bags and electric generators, trinket and survival gear companies ironically looked forward to the event. Although the prediction of the apocalypse was incorrect, the prediction of soaring sales in the survival gear market came true as many paranoid individuals stocked up on the latest gear. The survival gear website Firstaidglobal.com reported a 400% increase in sales of their pandemic survival kits, making it one of the top selling sites prior to Dec. 21. Along with companies and vendors, hotels and restaurants tagged along on the “end of the world” craze by offering ridiculous deals and sales. T.G.I. Friday’s, a restaurant that many seek refuge in at the end of the week, was offering alcoholic beverages at a discount and had its dance floors and photo booths open for free to those over 21. However, many are speculating on whether or not it was morally correct to feed off people’s fears to make a quick profit. According to Lisa Bedford, author of Survival Mom, “People who have seriously prepared for this will feel burned and foolish... My choice is to inform and encourage, not feed the fear in hopes of making a book sale.” Although some have suffered loss, others went out to celebrate the end of the Mayan calendar as the time cycle began anew. Though many companies celebrated an early Christmas, the start of the new Mayan calendar meant big business for Mexico as thousands of tourists came pouring into the region to witness the end of an era and the start of a new one. With the endof-the-world hype over, many are just relieved about being alive and that another apocalyptic prediction has been proven wrong. Maybe now, the movie 2012 will be moved from the action genre to comedy! mlee@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of ACUS.ORG
“Fast, beautiful photo sharing”— over 100 million people see this logo every time they log onto Instagram, whether to post personal pictures or surf other users’ feeds. But with the company’s recent update of its Terms of Service, which stated that it had rights to share member photos to advertisement companies, some Instagram lovers became “Insta-haters”. Because it did not include any way for users to opt out of the new policy, many began planning to delete their accounts as an act of protest. After several hours of a continued backlash, Instagram apologized for any confusion caused and attempted to clarify the change’s intent. Founder and CEO Kevin Systrom wrote that the new policy “had been misinterpreted” and apologized for the outrage it caused. “It [was] our mistake that the language [was] confusing,” he admitted. This statement later proved to be insufficient, as many more Instagram users continued to leave the beloved service. The corporation reacted in an effort
to save face once again, this time by completely reverting back to the original terms which have been showcased since the application’s initial creation. Systrom added, “Instagram has no intention of selling your photos…We don’t own [them], you do.” It is unclear whether the current attempt to satisfy angry consumers has worked, as high-profile users such as National Geographic have discontinued all use of the photo-sharing tool, while others have also expressed grievances on other social networking websites. The controversy has already driven users to its other competitors, such as Flickr, Pheed, and Camera+. While these networks’ populations are still minuscule compared to Instagram’s, the latter’s memberships are slowly diminishing while the competition keeps growing. However, there are still high hopes for Instagram to restore its reputation among its users, as it still has a large fan base and continues to be under the reigns of the highly popular Facebook. lling@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of WIRED.COM
AUSD “Needs Improvement” By MICHELLE HUANG Staff Writer
With the recent release of Academic Performance Index (API) scores in California, AUSD has been put into the “needs improvement” category by the state. This year, AUSD’s overall score was 929, which is more than 100 points above the state goal of 800. For years, the No Child Left Behind act (NCLB) has been funding AUSD withh money to help the schools. hools. However, it requires ires every student—inncluding those in n subgroups—to be proficient in English and math by 2014. NCLB identifies schools as “behind” afterr two consecutive ve years of not making king acceptable yearly y progresses. The federal ral NCLB act has required that all students gradually increase their scores each year. All students must be at least proficient in English and math. Even though AUSD passed the target score by more than 100 points, some minorities did not meet the state’s expected growth rate this year. The federal NCLB set a gradually increasing goal to reach 100% proficiency in all students by 2014. Because this is regarded as an impossible goal, members of the NCLB have reconsidered this bill
and are expected to reform it by 2014. As a response to being placed in the program’s improvement category, AUSD is planning to restructure its Local Education Agency plan. According to the school website, AUSD will consult with parents and staff members to develop a method of improving student API scores. 10% of all NCLB funds will contribute to further advancing teacher and administration development. AUSD schools will be provided with assista assistance from NCLB to help su subgroups meet state stand standards. Parents can also hhelp to improve A AUSD’s situation. How well a parent assumes the role of a guardian ccan directly affect a child’s education, wh which contributes to AUS AUSD’s general API. The first rs step to improving a group is tto help the individuals in the group. Even though AUSD’s API score is higher than many other districts, our district will still be classified as “needs improvement” if the subgroups at AUSD are not all proficient at English and math. With a bit of motivation, hopefully they will reach the target score by 2014. Let’s do this, Apaches! mhuang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WRIGHT.EDU
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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 Kelly Ching 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 Daniel Jenn and Helen Lee Jonathan Matsumoto Ariana Arzani and Belle Zheng
Writers News Staff Ian Chan, Eric Cho, Sirej Dua, Michelle Gu, Michelle Huang, Matthew Lee, Lily Ling, Terri Shi, Justin Tang, Vivian Wang, Erika Zheng Opinion Staff Ben Geisberg, Lauren Frank, Mary Guyer, Daniel Jenn, Lily Ling, Tiffany Liu, Goldie Shen, Wilson Tan, Khanh Tran, Victoria Yu, Erika Zheng Performing Arts Staff Deedee Chuang, Michelle Gu, Megan Hong, Elisha Lee, Jonathan Lu, Victoria Nakaganeku, Terri Shi, Victoria Yu, Erika Zheng Student Life Staff Ian Chan, Eric Cho, Michelle Gu, Michelle Huang, Allesandra Jasso, Elisha Lee, Lily Ling, Leanne Peres, Briana Shen, Terri Shi, Kristie Sun Features Staff Yoko Chan, Elaine Chung, Allesandra Jasso, Amelia Jin, Rosemary Lee, Jonathan Matsumoto, Briana Shen, Goldie Shen, Belinda Shoung, Kristie Sun, Brendan Tran, Anna Wang, Victoria Yu Sports Staff Rena Chen, Sirej Dua, Lauren Frank, Amelia Jin, Daniel Jenn, Karina Laigo, Tiffany Liu, Jonathan Lu, Justin Tang, Lauren Tom, Brendan Tran, Shawn Xing, Zachary Yee Academics Staff Sirej Dua, Ben Geisberg, Michelle Gu, Daniel Jenn, Helen Lee, Tiffany Liu, Leanne Peres da Silva, Terri Shi, Wilson Tan, Khanh Tran Calendar Staff Rena Chen, Elaine Chung, Dana Jee, Karina Laigo, Christina Liang, Goldie Shen, Belinda Shoung Campus Focus Staff Kristie Sun Center Spread Staff Erika Zheng Advertisement Staff Tiffany Chandra, Jacqueline Chu, Diana Kwok, Randy Lee, Khanh Tran, Shawn Xing Photo Staff Deedee Chuang, Megan Hong, Dana Jee, Matthew Lee Copy Editing Staff Katrina Chao, Rena Chen, Megan Hong, Elisha Lee, Lily Ling, Victoria Nakaganeku, Kristie Sun, Khanh Tran, Rosemary Lee, Erika Zheng Adviser 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. Graphic courtesy of MYCUTEGRAPHICS.COM
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OPINION
apachepowwow.com
January 2013
Ask any current senior who has attended AHS for four years and he or she will remind you that they have felt the burden, and rewards, of construction for their entire high school careers. The mass construction on campus has brought students, teachers, and administrators obstructed hallways, noisy drilling, and several building changes. However, the benefits of the construction, the new, high-tech buildings, and clean landscape, have become more apparent as time passes. But, are these rewards worth the years of hindrance, or were we better off with the capable, traditional AHS campus?
By PAMELA HUYNH
By LAUREN KIKUCHI
Guest Writer
Guest Writer
The ongoing AHS construction hurts—not only physically, but also mentally. Physically, our legs have to travel farther; we are forced to make the long trek from class to class. Mentally, our brains have to work more productively; we are forced to find alternative routes before our passing period, rather than the previous absent minded walks we took before the construction. We sound spoiled and lazy complaining like this, but how else can we adapt to the massive changes to our daily student life? Especially after the most recent obstruction to the construction, we find ourselves taking narrow, Los Angeles traffic-like routes to J-Building, A-Building, and S-Building. Although the teachers may not find this as much of a burden as we do, getting to class is no longer a leisurely journey; it is a busy, chaotic mess as we push our way through bundles of people. We appreciate the understanding from our teachers who realize the seven minutes for passing period is now considerably more difficult to adapt to, but what about those of us who care about being late? On the first day of the construction, I was late getting from third period in A-Building to fourth period in J-Building by three minutes, an anomaly for me because I am usually three minutes early. No one questioned my tardiness except for me, as I tried to adapt to the traffic the next day but to no avail. We agree that the rewards—the new A-Building, S-Building, and Performing Arts Center—have all been built to propel our time on campus as an overall more enriched and opportunistic experience, and so far, it has been a thumbs-up for us. However, this does not change that students are not the only ones affected. Teachers, administrators, and staff members have all been forced to adapt to a change that does not always feel like a worthwhile one considering the side effects. Sadly, construction has brought a literal and metaphorical hole to the heart of AHS.
Essentially, anything that has to do with construction is a pain—the noise, the detours, and the traffic it causes. At AHS, we find ourselves in that irritating position, pushed up against each other in tiny pathways and forced to take detours around the school just to get from one class to another. It’s neither the most convenient nor the most comfortable solution, but we deal with it anyway. Why? Because the future and its rewards will compensate for our tolerance, worth all the years of hindrances and much more. Our school will be even prettier with the new landscape and all its new buildings that we, the students, will ultimately be reaping the benefits from. It won’t just be that AP Chemistry class in the equipped science building or that Intermediate Dance course in the classy Performing Arts Center that utilize modern and up-to-date facilities anymore. We’ll be able to compete with other top ranked high schools in the country with facilities all over campus that are uniquely built for our course’s every need, immensely helping us learn better and achieve higher grades. Besides, with the construction issue as with other annoyances we’re thrown with, I do believe that with time, we will get used to construction. It’ll be part of our school lives and admittedly, will take a while to zone out from all the construction noise but inevitably and eventually, it will just be there. Even though many of us may argue that construction should have started over the summer, it would have carried over to the start of the next school year anyway. As a senior, it is true that I won’t be able to go through a normal school day in August with all the new amenities, but I’ve come to accept that it’s okay. After all, its not actually important that I who’s done with my journey, specifically be able to experience the benefits, but future students who have their own paths to pave and complete here at AHS.
Graphic by BELINDA SHOUNG
The Fobbit: An Unexpected Journey By KHANH TRAN Staff Writer
In such an ethnically diverse and civilized society, one would think that people would embrace the rich, ever-growing melting pot of different cultures. Yet, racial slurs and insults are spouted every day toward “fobs”. Short for “fresh off the boat”, the word “fob” has been used to refer to the newlyimmigrated who have not yet assimilated to the “traditional” American culture. Considering that the founding fathers were originally immigrants, one would think that immigrants would become the shining example of Americans. Ironically, many self-proclaimed Americans have grown accustomed to self-deprecation, bashing those who have tried to attain the same American Dream via boats. And so came a highly specific, top-secret American culture that supposedly immigrants must know lest they be called “fresh off the boat”! Donning your home country’s clothing instead of mainstream and trendy American apparel? Fresh off the boat! Speaking in that thick accent of yours instead of a distinct, you-know-what American accent? Fresh off the boat! Grammatically incorrect and choppy Eng-
lish instead of eloquent and precise Shakespearean English? Fresh off the boat! As a fob myself, I still ponder about the true definition of this American culture that people speak of. And many times, I cringe at the thought of what I realize. Many self-proclaimed “real” Americans have a superiority complex over what they deem as offensive to their sets of ideals, whether they are about styles of dress or unorthodox behaviors. Such offensive subjects are then ingrained into the wonderfully discriminating stereotypes that many Americans have forged. Essentially, fobs are considered defective and inferior to those who are native-born, an allegation that turns out to be completely inaccurate. What those people do not realize is that many immigrants have excelled in school and lead successful lives. Underneath all those “fobby” appearances are real humans with limitless potential. Rather than condemning those who are different, we need to allow them to transcend the borders between their home countries and the U.S. to realize that they are not simply fobs. ktran@apachepowwow.com Graphic by BELINDA SHOUNG
TCID:
Follow the Yellow Risk Road By GOLDIE SHEN Staff Writer
Hypochondriacs cringe at the thought of dirt and bugs, those vectors of disease. Ironically, their desire for protection is what leads to their very defenselessness against allergies. Not only hypochondriacs, but all paranoid people have hidden themselves inside bubbles that unfortunately, quickly pop. The issue is that troubles are inevitable. Instead of avoiding challenges and living in fear, one should confront obstacles and leap over them instead of swerving away and never getting anywhere. Though a seeming paradox, it is dangerous not to take risks. Imagine if you never went out of your house in case criminals were on the loose. The imaginary criminals are likely in jail or in your TV set, but in any case, the one behind bars is yourself. As irrational fear shows, it is better to take risks than to sacrifice opportunities. It is safer to break through a cage to explore the world than to rot behind bars. However, courage is no excuse for being foolhardy. It does no good to be overwhelmed by the world in a single moment. The stairway to greatness is made up of little steps. Just as how King Mithridates legendarily sampled a bit of poison daily to develop immunity, people need to toughen up through carefully planned decisions. It may be difficult at first, but between staying clean and taking a vaccine, the latter is the only surefire cure. The prick of the needle
may sting for a second, but it beats suffering from a lethal case of illness later. The benefits of planning one’s course of action does not only apply to physical acts, but also to mental understanding. The fearful should learn about the outside world regardless of danger and unwanted knowledge. Innocence seems a precious, pure ice crystal, but naiveté is seen as ignorance. People should expose themselves to taking new opportunities or they will never grow tough armors that are immune to the inevitable storms to come. Many of those who support censorship protest against people’s embrace of knowledge, seeking to protect children, when in fact, they are only stalling. By disregarding such tragedies such as the Holocaust and slavery, pro-censorship groups are not giving victims their due respect. People should seek to know about the wars going on in the world and other atrocities instead of pretending that they do not happen. A pot has to harden through fire, and a sword must be sharpened by a stone. The human soul has to understand its darkest capabilities to choose righteous paths. Only then can people confront the comparatively mild fear and rage in themselves and others. Only then can such disaster enacted by human folly never occur again, and only by taking risks can people reach their destinations in life. gshen@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of KELLYSTONE.COM
January 2013
opinion@apachepowwow.com
OPINION
Word of the Day: Grunge
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By LAUREN FRANK Staff Writer
grunge n. 1. (Music, other) a style of rock music that originated in the U.S. in the late 1980s, featuring a distorted guitar sound 2. (Clothing & Fashion) a deliberately untidy and uncoordinated fashion style Looking for something else? Try: soft grunge, pastel Goth, Tumblr grunge, Lana Del Rey. Remember those good old days when grunge meant not caring at all, being a hippy meant loving universally and advocating liberalism, and bohemian was a nationality and culture? You probably don’t because most of those definitions have been done away with. Look on Tumblr and “grunge” means high-waisted ripped jean shorts. On Instagram, the hashtag for “bohemian” depicts girls with large flower crowns and lots and lots of rings. Obviously, these hashtag versions of older sub-cultures have changed immensely, but not necessarily for the worse. There is no doubt that the original definitions of those words still thrive today, but how popular culture perceives them has transformed immensely in response. Just as pop culture has changed over
the years, so have the sub-cultures around it in response, ever versatile in morphing to fit more modern ideals of beauty and appeal. Out with the baggy, over-worn clothes of the 90s, and in with the form-fitting, colorfully complementing clothes that blend the last decade’s trends with today’s. It’s more or less a matter of interpretation. When movements in the last century created these classifications of trends, they were passed onto a new generation who simply took what they knew from the older styles and, because of all sorts of different modern standards, interpreted them to fit these modern standards. It’s not purposefully trying to insult the original meaning; it’s just change, which can be seen throughout all fashion and fads, crazes and rages, and essentially, our culture. However, can the original definition even apply to the new ideas of these words? Whenever I talk to my friends about certain trends or even music genres, and the words “grunge”, “hippy”, or “boho” slip out, I always stop and clarify. I have this idea that grunge is a vision of Kurt Cobain and Daniel Desario in Freaks and Geeks mixed with Lane Staley, so when I mean girls in those high-waisted shorts, I say “Tumblr grunge” or “pastel grunge”. Hippies to me are people who went to Woodstock and those of the Summer of Love, while “bohemians” are residents of Bohemia. But hey, I’m willing to see it both ways: just because these examples have been changed by modern ideals does not mean that they are not true, but simply, they are different, contemporary interpretations. lfrank@apachepowwow.com
Graphic by CHRISTINA LIANG
The media seems to glorify violence. Talks of how a violent fight wasn’t graphic enough in a video-game or how there wasn’t enough blood in a movie scene constantly permeate conversations, bringing the issue of the effects of seeing violence to light. Does violence in movies or video games influence or push viewers to enact their own scenes of violence or are critics thinking too far-fetched? “People are becoming more violent, as seen in the recent and unfortunate Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. But, are video games and the media the cause of it? No they’re not, and I don’t think they can really ever be used as reasons for the violence. Sure, kids play with toy guns, see big action heroes in the movies with guns and play violent video games in which they use horrific weapons of mass destruction. But at the end of the day, people are still in control of their actions unless they are mentally ill, and even then, it still isn’t the fault of the media or video games. If you want to put the blame on something, put it on terribly lax weapons control laws, or poor monitoring of criminals. The media doesn’t put a gun in someone’s hand, the people who gave or otherwise sold them the gun did, and it is that person, and that person alone, without the aid of the media or video games, that pulled the trigger.”—Mary Guyer, 12 “When it comes down to a topic as serious as this one, there’s no doubt some science needs to be involved. And when we consult both sides of the argument, we can see they both come to the same conclusion: violent video games do increase aggressiveness. We can’t measure the effects of violence on every child who is exposed, but we can take preventive action to limit this exposure. Right now, video game publishers are pushing purely for profit; their games are incredibly realistic, and publishers will promote weapon makers used in their films. It’s so easy to access weapons; this push and influence might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. This influence, exposure, and manipulation of consumers is too much, and we have to draw the line
TCID:
now.”—Michael Chien, 9 “I believe that critics are getting a bit out of hand with this over-speculation. At their core, video games and movies are just different types of artistic media. And like all art, their purpose is to reflect and imitate life. Violence just makes the artistic experience feel more...real and more tangible—it serves as a factor in invoking deeper emotions and sympathies.”—Frank Fan, 11 “Faced with a tough question at hand, it’s best to look at the issue holistically. While studies have shown that violent video games and movies lead to desensitization, there is no direct correlation. And there’s not much harm in that. Instead, we should focus more on cases of violence that occur individually and try to find a common trait or circumstance that is relatively unique to these group of people who commit these violent crimes. People need to be rational and realize that games like “Call of Duty”, “Metal Gear”, or any other games don’t harm people. There are millions of people who play these games and are fine. It’s never justifiable to pin the actions of a few deranged and troubled people and associate it with a whole group of unrelated people. So when addressing this issue, it needs to be looked on rationally and holistically.”—Ryan Liu, 12 “The recurring themes of violence and the comfort that such scenes are used in every movie and video game influence people to more frequently commit acts of violence. Our culture has become more comfortable with gore and harsh images because they are seen all over the world today in so many ordinary
aspects of the media.”—Jazmin MaddelaChung, 12 “No matter how hard we try, we will never have a perfect society. It’s inevitable that some people are inclined to violence. It’s something natural. Of course, factors like violence in movies and video games have a looming influence, but I believe that they aren’t the sole breaking points. Violence in the media sets an example, and a bad one at that, but it’s not the only thing that causes people to be violent themselves. Other factors may come into play such as past experiences and trauma.” —Wilson Tan, 11 “Although someone’s actions can only be controlled by himself or herself, I think that multimedia definitely plays an important role in influencing those actions. I feel that human behavior is always persuaded by ideas of society, so when we have video games that exhibit violence as fun or movies with people killing each other as a duty, this will inevitably start happening in real life. The recent Aurora, Colorado shooting must be taken into account, as the perpetrator claimed to be like the Joker from Batman and ended up shooting many people, just like in the stories. Because violence in entertainment is now a hugely focused on, we can’t just ‘ban’ it from appearing. Our job as citizens is to understand that even when something seems reasonable in movies or games, it doesn’t make it right in real life.”—Ethan Wang, 10 “The media is somewhat developing and advancing our deranged minds, which results in aggressive behavior. Violence is no longer
new to our generation, in fact it is an increasing problem in our society. Just look at the recent news on school shootings and the rate of homicides to appreciate the extent of this ominous trend. The causes of violence are multifactorial, and violence in movies and video-games convey a model of conflict resolution.”—Victoria Cua, 10 “Everyone thinks differently, and what may seem violent for someone can be barely PG to another person. I don’t think the media is encouraging violence, but merely giving reviews according to video games that claim to have such descriptions of violence. To say that playing a violent video game makes one violent is as if someone says watching Barney makes one love the world.”—Luz Moreno, 9 “Critics should stop blaming violence on movies because cinematic scenes are viewed as a separate sphere from reality. Audiences watch the violence, which may actually be cathartic, but do not need to partake in what the actors and actresses are faking. The people who commit movie-inspired murders have likely already possessed psychotic tendencies that would have driven them to kill even before watching the movie scenes. On the other hand, violence in video games actually puts players in the roles of killers. Video-game violence has a harsher effect depending on the scenario than the amount of gore displayed in the game. For example, popularized war games tend to glamorize the killing of soldiers and downplay the cruel carnage of real-life warfare.”—Goldie Shen, 11
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FEATURES
Catfight For the Spotlight & Other Tails
Byy AMELIA JIN Staff Writer
looks like it will never fade away. From 1894 to now, cat videos are becoming more popular with every click. An art museum even dedicated an entire evening to showing cats playing... and being catty! While normally viewed alone on a computer screen, silly cat videos were projected larger than life, one after another, at the first ever “Internet Cat Video Film Festival” on Aug. 30, 2012 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. 10,000 videos from around the world
While YouTube may teach viewers how to do their own makeup, bring people one step closer to President Barack Obama, and even introduce the world to Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, this video streaming site is also responsible for one furry phenomenon: cat videos. With an explosion of purrs and meows, these frisky felines are capturing people’s hearts (and their rats) with their adorable, round eyes and quirky behaviors. Garnering millions of CATS AND CATS, EVERYWHERE views every day, cat videos are going Cats have been captivating the minds of viral and taking over the Internet, one humans everywhere. fur ball at a time. However, cat videos didn’t start to surface during the 20th century. The first-ever cat video was recorded by Thomas Edison, the renowned inventor of the light bulb. Created in 1894 to be viewed on a kinetoscope, an early motion picture exhibition device that Edison invented, the video showcased a 20-second moving picture of cats fighting in boxing gloves. The clip was digitized by the Library of Congress and uploaded to YouTube back in 2009. Apart from the black-and-white grainy quality, Edison’s video doesn’t look out of place amongst the many cat videos that reside on the Internet today. Being the person responsible for numerous inventions that dramatically influence our lives today, it’s fitting that Edison is the man behind the cat video phenomenon that
were nominated and considered for different categories such as “Comedy” and “Foreign Film”. Screened at the festival, 79 of the nominations were boiled down into 75 minutes of concentrated kitty shenanigans. As the moody Henri, the box-loving Maru, and the piano prodigy Nora scratch their way
to the top, many are questioning if cat videos are becoming an unnecessary addiction. Rest assured cute animal lovers. A new study from Japan shows that looking at cute animal pictures such as adorable kittens can actually improve a person’s productivity at work. The idea is that tiny animal faces doing loveable actions can trigger a caring impulse in humans, much like seeing babies. Another research shows that watching cute cat videos can also help with depression. For some 12 millenniums, humans have sought the company of domesticated cats. We feed them, shelter them, and love them. In return, they jump headfirst into empty grocery bags. That kind of hilarious action isn’t going unrecorded now. Whether you settle for watching videos of cats behaving badly, cutely, mysteriously, or sometimes all at once, every cat video displays the signature aesthetics: the surprise ending, the shaky camera, and a pile of kittens. ajin@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLOUDFRONT.NET, LOYALKNG.COM, and PROXX.COM Photo courtesy of PETSIDE.NET
Cartoons for All Ages
By ALLESANDRA JASSO Staff Writer
It’s Sunday morning and the only programs that seem to be on the television are news and infomercials. No one is home and the television seems like the best bet for some mindless entertainment. Different shows flick by as the channel changes, bringing back memories of being a little kid and watching cartoons. Spongebob Squarepants, Adventure Time, Invader Zim, and Regular Show still capture the attention of teens even after elementary school. Bringing back old memories, cartoons continue to be entertaining. Spongebob Squarepants was one of those shows that parents and children could agree on. When teens see it now, it reminds them of the innocent humor that had them rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter. It gives them a chance to remember what it felt like to be so easily entertained. With the pressure of school and extracurricular activities, childish humor is gladly welcomed. Newer cartoons like Adventure Time and Regular Show appeal to an older audience with their strange humor. A talking blue jay who is best friends with a raccoon can catch anyone’s eyes. As the characters complete odd tasks to save the day, it seems that the only option is to laugh at the lack of reality in it. The shows can also become serious at a moment’s notice, showing their ability to effectively appeal to many age groups. Life lessons seem to get through to an audience when they are subtly told by favorite characters. In Adventure Time, Finn has to contemplate the heavy theme of death and its inevitable nature. The creator of Adventure Time, Pendleton Ward, said he enjoyed walking the fine line between not too childish and not too mature. Rather than creating overly stupid or smart female characters, Ward said he tried to make them seem like normal girls he would want to be friends with. Cartoons allow people to experience their inner child by releasing the part of a person that laughs at silly things that have long since stopped being funny by watching cartoons. Sometimes it’s nice to laugh freely without worrying about being looked at as childish. For many students at AHS, cartoons are synonymous with childhood innocence.
apachepowwow.com
January 2013
Grammys 2013: Snubs and Surprises By y ANNA WANG Staff Writer
The beginning of a new year welcomes more than a sea of New Year’s resolutions. The 2013 Grammy Awards, the music industry’s biggest awards show, is just around the corner, and this year’s list of nominees is not without some surprising inclusions and exclusions. Although Justin Bieber was awarded two nominations in the 2011 Grammys, he was not nominated at all this year. It seems that it takes more to impress the Grammy voters than a sold-out tour and three hit singles on an album. Bieber accepted the news gracefully, saying only that he was “bummed” while on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Kanye West, whose history with the Grammys has been rocky (Taylor Swift remembers better than anybody), has again voiced his displeasure. Despite being nominated six times, the most any artist garnered, West unleashed a crazed rant during an Atlantic City concert on Dec. 29, 2012. Bemoaning the fact that his label’s 18 Grammy wins were “all in the black categories,” West then announced that Watch the Throne, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and “Ni***s in Paris” had been snubbed. Though most music fans, including me, know that “The A-Team” definitely merits its nomination for “Song of the Year”, Ed Sheeran was pleasantly surprised. The humble artist said that though his song was a smash hit in the United Kingdom and abroad, he was still “building up,” and didn’t expect a nomination this year. If he can get a Grammy nod now, then the world better watch out for Sheeran. Frank Ocean took the Grammys by storm. His album Channel ORANGE is critically acclaimed and the public just loves his iconoclast style. He actually tied for the highest number of Grammy nominations: six! He is also the only hip-hop artist to cross over into the major categories. There is no doubt that this year’s Grammy nomination list stirred up a lot of drama. Though snubbed, Bieber will surely get his time in the Grammy limelight soon, and West will probably get over his tendency to cause some more controversy in the future. As for Sheeran and Ocean… we’ll have to wait until Feb. 10 to see if they can continue celebrating. awang@apachepowwow.com
ajasso@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM, HUBIMG.COM, MARVELGROUP.COM, and WIKIA.COM Photos courtesy of GOTTAHAVEROCKANDROLL.COM and VHS.COM
STUDENT LIFE
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Arcadia’s Best Dance Crew By LILY LING
Got dancing skills marvelous enough to showcase in front of a humongous crowd? Well, that’s what several AHS students tried to prove they had in front of the entire school last month. Thanks to Freshman Council, a schoolwide competition called Arcadia’s Best Dance Crew featured The Elites, the Aerotypicals, freshman Eric Lee, and winner junior Michelle Loekman. The event took off with a solo performance from Eric, who has “been dancing almost his entire life.” In order to set the bar, he “came out with some basic moves to get the crowd going,” he explained. Then the Aerotypicals took stage, featuring a team solely of sophomores led by sophomore Louisa Kwan. They danced to a mash-up of songs and moves choreographed by Louisa. Afterward, it was Michelle’s turn to shine, who came out with a victorious freestyle contemporary routine to Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby”. Michelle commented, “I love to perform for a crowd and this was the perfect way to do it.” The last performance featured Eric once again as a member of The Elites, an all boy team showing off a hip-hop style dance. Michelle won, receiving “a three-foot trophy and $10 gift card.”
Staff Writer
Music’s connection with society can be seen throughout history. There’s no doubt that every culture has its own unique type of music. Research has also shown that producing music is an innate human tendency. Both scientists and researchers have found many examples where music helps the mind and body. Because of these positive aspects, many people have the impression that music is one of the basic necessities of life. Music has helped many people throughout history. Many people believe that music helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. Whenever he had writer’s block, he would play his violin to help him get the words from his brain onto the paper. In addition, Albert Einstein, a renowned genius, was said to be “too stupid to learn” in school. However, encouragement from his mother and music helped him become the bril-
lling@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy BLOGSPOT.COM
A Morning Nightmare: are: Tardy Sweeps By TERRI SHI Staff Writer
Tardy sweeps have hit AHS, and students have been rushing to ensure that they get to class on time. With the ongoing construction and huge campus, it iss much harder for some to reach each class before the bell ell rings. The school is g strict when enforcing tardy sweeps becausee arriving late to classs proves to be a bad habit it for some students. Howevwever, tardy sweeps can bee easily avoided, as there are many m steps students c a n take tto o preventt bbeing i tardy. AHS stu students are here to give their aadvice on how to avoid being tardy swept and how to show up on time. “My be best advice v ce would be to vi leave l ave right when le the bell ring rings, especially if your class is on the other o her side oof the ot school. If you wait wa too long and chat with th your friends, there’s a much higher possibility that you you’ll be
April 2013
Tune into the Beat: How Music Helps the Mind
By LEANNE PERES DA SILVA Staff Writer
studentlife.powwow@gmail.com
late.” —Sydney Huynh, 9 “It’s best to hustle along and find the quickest route with the fewest people. When you head toward crowded areas, the traffic is bad and you get trampled by other people. In the morning, go to school a little earlier and if you sit far away during lunch, pack up earlier.” —Lisa Zhao, 9 “Leave promptly from c class and go straight to your next class. If you want to talk to friends, try to find one walking the same way as you; but don’t go out of your way to talk. You have to think, ‘Is detention worth it?’” — —Jackson Stiles, 9 “My advice iis to wake up a little earlier h morning i bbefore f each the traffic gets bad. That way, you’ll be safe in the morning and have some extra time to talk to your friends or prepare for class. During lunch, you can check the time and if you’re worried that you’ll be late, just leave a few minutes early.” —Karen Zhao, 10 “The best advice: run. Other than that, set your alarm clock three minutes earlier and sit closer to your fifth period class for lunch.” — Haley Lam, 11 Tardy sweeps can be frustrating to both students and teachers. To circumvent these unecessary conflicts, it’s important for students to get to class prepared and on time. There are several ways to do this; just choose one that works for you and avoid getting caught in the tardy sweeps! tshi@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of ESSAYHELPERS.COM
liant man we know today. This shows that music has a crucial role in society as it has had a positive impact on many people in the past. Music has a visible influence on human behavior. In fact, it has been proven to be a link to the emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of a person. Studies have also shown that music can change one’s mood, since it has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions from a particular event. “I feel that music can affect a person’s mood in a variety of ways. I like to listen to classical music, since it helps me calm down,” explained junior Heidi Tang. There are many responses to music, since everyone perceives and responds to music differently. Rhythm is a very important aspect of music when studying the different responses to music. There are many occasions in which rhythm organizes the physical movements of a person. Some examples of these movements include the beating of one’s heart, the pace of a person walk, and the intake of de deep breathes. These physical movements can eeasily be detected. It is common for classical music from the Baroque period to cause a pe person’s pulse rate to relax with the beat of the m music. Music has also been shown to affect the frequency of brain waves. This means that rel relaxing music will help the mind concentrate mo more easily. “I believ believe that music iis very helpful. I usually listen to m music while
studying, since I feel it helps me concentrate,” stated freshman Vivian Huang. Music also has been shown to have power over memory and learning. Baroque music, music that has a tempo of 60 beats per minute, can help activate the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The simulations of the left and right hemispheres maximize learning and retention of information. Activities that engage both sides of the brain at the same time have been shown to help the brain process more information. As a result, many have noticed an increase in information retention while studying and listening to music. Sophomore Paula Torres feels that “music is like a miracle worker since it helps me retain information faster.” Background music is not a part of the learning process, but can only be used to improve memory. Recalling information is better when the same music is used during recall. There are also a few studies that support the idea that tempo is a key factor of music’s effect on memory. Thus it can be seen that music has many positive effects on a person’s brain. Music is known to help increase concentration levels, creativity and problem-solving skills, and improved memory and learning skills. Many students have realized the importance of music, and currently use it to study and retain information. ldasilva@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPART.COM and INSTITUEOFURBANECOLOGY.ORG
AHS’ Trov Trove of Extracurriculars By SHAWN XING Staff Writer
Extracurricular activities are typically defined as pursuits students partake in that fall outside the school’s normal curriculum. For some students, this activity may be a sport; for others this might include being a part of a club on campus. At AHS, it seems as if most students have at least one extracurricular. What are some favorites? For senior Tricia Xu, being a part of ASB “definitely shaped [her] character.” She explained that “as an underclassman, [she] was blessed to be in an organization that really took [her] in and gave [her] a home when [she] probably would have felt lost as a freshman.” On the other hand, junior Wilfred Lee feels strongly about being a member of Interact Club and the Speech and Debate (S&D) team. Wilfred claims that “through Interact Club, not only has [he] learned to have a new found appreciation for those in our community, but the club has also matured [him] and made [him] into a better leader, whether as part of Rotary ry orInternational or in the classroom.” More importantly, he expressed that he “gets to learn how w to be a better thinker and simply have fun with th some of the best people you’ll meet on cammpus.” For Wilfred, “even though debates and nd or competitions end up being individual events for the most part, team members are all there for or each other and S&D has really been like a second family.” While clubs and academics teams are certainly worthwhile, freshman Derrick Kim’s favorite extracurricular is being on the Boys Frosh/Soph Volleyball team. Hee loves playing volleyball, so being on the team m
“allows [him] to have fun while taking a break from academics.” Volleyball also provides Derrick with the opportunity to “show [his] competitiveness and athletic abilities.” “Advanced Drama is a lot of hard work. However, the satisfaction you receive when standing on stage in front of 900 people giving you a standing ovation kind of speaks for itself,” explained junior Liam Swan. Senior Janessa Floyd added that “Advanced Drama becomes a small group of friends who grow and learn from each other through an art they all love: theater.” Senior Craig Capps predicts that even if he doesn’t pursue a career in acting, he would definitely make an effort to maintain all the friendships he has made in Advanced Drama. At the end of the day, extracurriculars are exactly what they’re meant to be—an “extra” activity. Don’t feel discouraged if you have not found an interesting extracurricular to associate yourself with yet. There are countless opportunities to choose from, and each different activity holds its own unique benefits.
sxing@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BLOGUNION.COM and COOLCOLORBOX.COM
January 2013
arcadiaperformingarts@apachepowwow.com
PA’s Resolutions By ERIKA ZHENG
PERFORMING ARTS
Band: A Season in Review By MEGAN HONG Staff Writer
Staff Writer
With 2013 starting with a bang, many PA members have set resolutions for the new year. Bigger goals are ahead for PA members, whether it is a musical, academic, or personal goal. They will be striving for greatness in 2013! “Wow. 2013; I’m nearly done with high school. As a Band member, it’s been another amazing year full of achievement and fun. And, as always, time is lost. I know as a junior I should’ve perfected my time management already, but hey, I have the new year for that! I look forward to 2013 to enjoy my time at AHS and to prepare myself for the future. But in the end, you only go through high school once!” —Justin J. Lin, 11, Band “My New Year’s resolution for 2013 is not very long or big. I just want to achieve three things: first, to stop procrastination when it creeps on me; second, to be neater and more organized and not make it look like a tornado hit my house; and third, to work harder on my studies!” —Caryl Dann, 10, Orchestra No matter how daunting their goals are, PA members will be working hard to achieve their resolutions through personal trials and group challenges to make them even better musicians and students! ezheng@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of CLKER.COM
After long, enduring months filled with tiring, strenuous practices, Marching Band season has finally come to an end. From the beginning of summer to the end of 2012, members of Band, Colorguard, and Percussion had to stay for long hours after school and on weekends to work on their field show and marching routines. Their hard work has paid off as they concluded the season with a glorious number of awards and trophies along with new friendships and bonds. Let’s take a step back and see what they accomplished this year and how they managed to pull off such an astounding season. Kicking off the season with the Rowland Field Tournament, Marching Band dominated its first field show as Band, Colorguard, and Percussion all came home with shining first place trophies. In their first marching competition, the Placentia Band Review, Band and Colorguard again received the highest scores. Even in Northern California, the astounding group received sweepstakes in the Napa Band Review for marching, parade, and music. Looking back at all their shows and parades, freshman Kaylee Shaw thought that “all the Marching Band performances showed how much everyone in Band has improved, from the first show to the last.” Along with daily practices from after school to around 9:00 p.m., each member’s hard work and dedication helped the group succeed this season. The extra rehearsals definitely paid off as Marching Band was able to “concentrate on certain parts of the show and improve on different areas one by one,” Kaylee explained.
With more time to focus on perfecting each part, Marching Band was able to pull together flawless shows and parades. Besides winning awards and trophies, members of Marching Band also achieved something even more important during their rehearsals, parades, and competitions. They were able to create new friendships and bonds with one another. Kaylee said that one thing she enjoyed the most about Marching Band as a freshman was “being able to meet so many new people and creating new and lasting friendships along the way.” During the long bus rides to far away competitions, especially the seven-hour ride to Northern California, fellow musicians were able to enjoy some downtime to talk and bond with each other. Junior Kahui Lim “enjoyed the Northern California trip the most because [he] got to spend time with [his] friends.” Being able to create friendships and bond with one another also contributes to the group’s success as they are able to work more efficiently as a team. All the extra rehearsals have definitely paid off as Marching Band was able to enjoy a successful season and create new friendships along the way. Kaylee said, “Every time I watch our performances on video, it makes me feel proud to be in such an amazing Marching Band.” The hardworking group of musicians finished its last field show event for the Southern California Schools Band and Orchestra Association Championships on Dec. 1, 2012, and is now looking forward to the new year with different activities such as Concert Band. mhong@apachepowwow.com Graphics by COURTNEY HANG Photos courtesy of RONALD LEE
Where in the World is Chanteurs? By JONATHAN LU Staff Writer
The story of Carmen Sandiego, a former detective who becomes a thief, proves to be an interesting plot and storyline for a performance. This year, Chanteurs is themed upon the franchise, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. Chanteurs director Mr. Rick England chose this theme specifically because of the interesting ways that it can be interpreted. Chanteurs treasurer senior Jocelyne Liu stated, “I am super excited for this year because the dancing is going to be really fun due to the different styles we will learn as a group.” Chanteurs is not only a choir that stands in rows and sings, but is also a group that incorporates dance moves. On Feb. 2, Chanteurs is going to have its first competition at Citrus College. Chanteurs member junior Joey Tuan said, “This first competition is going to be tough because we have quite a few new members, and it is their first time
competing. We are also going to see how our equipment will work against the other groups. Since Chanteurs is self-funded, we don’t have a lot money in the program.” Chanteurs member junior Roger Hsu said, “I believe elieve that [Chanteurs] has a lot of talent and d the lack of accessories and equipment is made up by the dancing and singing.” Confidence displayed by the members of Chanteurs makes up for the lack off quality equipment. pDespite the lack of equipment and costumes, Chanteurs urs members have not lost interest in the competitions because use the members love to sing, dance, and perform. Jocelyne said, “The The songs may not be as good as last year’s because ause of the theme, but the theme of Carmen Sandiego di hhas bbrought h a whole new set of dancing styles, ranging from hi hip-hop to classic show choir dances.” Th The large variety of new dances also requires longer rehearsal times for the members. The incorporation of these different dances sparks a new interest for the members, eeven with the tough hours of rehearsal. W With the new types of dancChanteurs is learning, the exing that Ch tended rehearsal hhours seem to fly by with the fun new dances. “T “The different genres of dance that we are learn learning together express the different emotions of the movie,” commented Joey. As competition compe season approaches, Chanteurs members strive to be the best that they can be
through the practices that they have, but some are also in other extracurricular activities. “The season is going to conflict with the volleyball schedule that I have, have,” explain explained Joey. “Since Chanteurs overlaps with the vvolleyball season for about two months, I had to give up one or two game games of the volleyball season to pperform with the group last yea year.” Extracurricular activities ttake their toll as participant participants in multiple extracurricu tracurricular activities tire from the fatigue of const constant activities. T The new exciting changes to the Chant Chanteurs shows this year will bring a different sty style to the previous Chanteurs performances. T The members are ki hard h d and d striving i i to bbecome a top show working choir group, not only to participate in competitions, but also to perform for the school and a large variety of audiences outside of school. Chanteurs continues to bring its top performance, as it does every year. Even though it competes in many competitions, the group also has a show in which the singers get to show off and present their individual skills. “I feel confident about the individual performances this year at the annual May Show. This show is all about fun, and it incorporates modern music, mainly to entertain the students rather than for competition,” explained Jocelyne.
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The Choice of Actors and Actresses By ELISHA LEE Staff Writer
Genres are not only for movies and plays, but also for categories of acting as well! Being an actor or actress takes a lot of skill because there are so many unique forms of characters and individuals to bring to life. From dramatic to comedic to romantic, the list goes on and on! Since there are so many types, and everyone has different opinions and interests, we asked 50 people from both the Drama Department and other Performing Arts students at AHS and made a poll of their favorite avorite acting genres.
Comedic: 19 — 38% Action: 15 — 30% Romantic: 8 — 16% Dramatic: 8 — 16% “I have to say comedic acting! Watching comedies is a great way to relieve stress; sometimes you just need something to laugh about. Also, I consider myself to be a silly person, so I often perform comedic acting for my friends. It’s a great way to entertain and to get someone laughing!” —Ashley Zhao, 11, Choir “I like to watch plays, movies, etc. based on actions. This unique, yet common genre gets me excited and gives me an adrenaline rush; it really is a great feeling!” —Ernest Lei, 10, Band “Dramatic acting is definitely my style. When I watch it, it gets me thinking ‘what is going to happen next?’ It is also a great way to show off my acting skills.” —Edwinson Chan, 10, Chanteurs “My favorite is definitely dramatic acting. I love the feeling of getting into my role and feeling all the emotions of the character I am playing. It is also really nice to see the audience’s reaction when something surprising happens!” —Jordan Williams, 10, Theatre 2 “I prefer comedic acting because usually it is better suited for audiences. Sometimes on-stage romances can be a bit much for people; especially if the lovers don’t go well together. You absolutely cannot go wrong with comedy!” —Keith Harmel, 12, Advanced Drama Department, President “I like something in between romantic and comedic, so romantic comedies. I really like performing romantic comedies because it is incredibly fun and uplifting, and it also gives off a nice atmosphere.” —David Liu, 12, Advanced Drama Department, Treasurer
jlu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BOSTINNO.COM and MATTBABZ.COM
elee@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of MATHWAREHOUSE.COM
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HOW TO SURVIVE
apachepowwow.com
January 2013
JANUARY 2013 New Year’s Day
to k c a B l!!! o o sch
What happened to being productive over the break??, Time for an allnighter to finish work I had 2 weeks to do .
i n p s l e e to ke up e a w d an os the R h c t a w on T V Parade
Make a list of New Ye a r ’s R e s o l u t i o n s that I promise to follow this year. . .
Oh my gosh, z we had a qui today?
Spar k note the book I was supposed to read over the break
Where did the weekend go?!?! Another all-nighter. This won’t happen next weekend.
WHY S T U D DID I PUT YING U N T OFF I L L A S T MINUT E?!
ating k s e Ic l with l a m and friends
Last Friday of the break. I ‘d b e t t e r g e t started on my homework!
, Gettin ekend g used his we yself T the con m structio t o I p r o m i s e p o n n... tch u I’ll ca work.
DEAD WEEK!!! Martin Luther King Jr. Day
ool...
No Sch
ING CRAMM TIME!
L FINA 1&4 Periods
FINA2 L& 3 Periods
L FINA6 & 5 Periods
I survived.
wut chap OMG!!! str ! I’m so finals on? , but ho dy need 2 stu right no on mother is
Photos courtesy of DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, OVERSTOCK.NET, PHOTOSINBOX.COM, and THECALENDARSPOT.COM
January 2013
centerspread@apachepowwow.com
DEADWEEK 11
haven’t followed a single resoluti on so fa r
Gahh! I d i d n’t wake u p to m y alarm a nd now the day is gone.
time. I have deser ve I , y a d o T to relax.
the pters are I rlly ressed... your o w i met ttyl ow, lol :3
By Erika Zheng Staff Writer
where did the semester go? How to Study for Finals! 1. START NOW. s are Studies have shown that late -night, caffeine -spiked cram session pters a h c d n a s r e t p a h c t s e g c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e. Lo n g p e r i o d s o f t r y i n g t o i n d ay. t x e n e h t y c n re e h o f i n fo r m a t i o n w i l l re s u l t o n l y i n gro g gi n e s s a n d i n co l of o o h c S y t i s r J o y c e Wa l s e b e n , a n a s s o c i a t e p r o f e s s o r a t N e w Yo r k U n i v e it a o d d l M e d i c i n e, re co m m e n d e d t h at i f s t u d e nt s “n e e d to c ra m , t h e y s h o u Star t day ahead so that they can get a good night ’s sleep before the exam.” e i n fo r c e prepping and reviewing material now via shor t study sessions to r health your harming of instead late, too is it the informa tion in your mind before and the chances of doing well on finals. 2. HABITUATE YOUR SCHEDULE. for Create an effectiv e shor t term agenda that has plans by the hour. Study review to er the subject you will be tested on the followin g day, but also rememb subject for the finals you will take through out the week . Plan to focus on one up at a time and a little at a time to ensure that all the informa tion you picked during the semester gets filed into your long-term memory. 3. GET IN YOUR ZZZS. “Althou gh studyin g is essenti al, sleep is impor tant for learnin g,” Dr. Phyllis ed. She C . Ze e, a p r o fe s s o r o f n e u r o l o g y a t N o r t hw e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y r e m a r k atively g e n n a c s s o l c o n t i n u e d o n a n d s a i d t h a t “e v e n o n e n i g h t o f s l e e p d five n a , s s e a f f e c t p e r f o r m a n c e .” A n i g h t w i t h o u t r e s t c a u s e s c l u m s i n t four a h nights of no sleep causes hallucinations. One can only imagine w r m a n ce co n s e c u t i ve a l l - n i g hte r s d u r i n g f i n a l s we e k c a n d o to yo u r te s t p e r fo and semester grade. 4. EAT HEALTHY. run Healthf ul foods r ich in antioxid ants and Omega -3 will help your brain more work brain your better. Whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetab les will help brain efficien tly. Healthy eating makes for healthy blood flow that will allow your to pump blood faster to keep you on task and study more studiously. 5. UNPLUG. from I g n o r e t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n s o n Fa c e b o o k . S t o p t w e e t i n g. Ta k e a p a u s e become will g Studyin ard. dashbo Tumblr Instagra m and stop scrollin g down your notes more produc tive with fewer distract ions to hinder you. Focusin g on your the p to s y l n o t o n l l i w g n i z z u a n d tex t b o o k s w i t h o u t co n s t a nt b e e p i n g a n d b on you keep to also but aforeme ntioned from notifyin g you of the outside world, track. Isolate your soul and be prepared for the onslaught of productivity.
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STUDENT LIFE
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January 2013
Construction: “Apache”-ing Up Our School
By ERIC CHO Staff Writer
With thoughts of an upgraded facility and a cleaner environment in mind, the Pavilion and Rally Court were both closed for renovation purposes on Dec. 22, 2012, devastating hundreds of AHS students alike. According to ASB President senior Jonathan Kwok, however, “We won’t be gloomy for long.” While the Pavilion and the Rally Court held a special place in the hearts of Apaches, Measure I’s planned renovation will create an end product of even grander proportions. Previously introduced and passed by the city of Arcadia in 2006, Measure I, a local tax measure, gathered enough funds to renovate AHS’ campus. Rather than using these funds merely to clean and add a few touches to the area, the school board decided to begin the construction of two eco-friendly Pavilions along with a new Rally Court on the black asphalt near the S-Building. “When the SBuilding opened up in 2011, the black asphalt in the big rally court area was never permanent,” Jonathan remarked. The marvel doesn’t end there though. Due to the recent opening of the Performing Arts Center, the obsolete Little Theater and old Dance Studio will also be torn down, reserving area for an even bigger cafeteria featuring a student lounge center. Nevertheless, the interim of the cafeteria will continue to function for the remainder of the school year.
For the time being the construction sites will act merely as obstacles getting in the way of students, teachers, and staff alike. With the walls of chain link fences cutting off typically used routes, students in particular should walk at a brisk pace and prepare their route beforehand to get to their next class on time. “Don’t wait around class after the bell rings so you’re not late for your next class,” Jonathan advised. “If you know that you’ll need to talk to your teacher, make an effort to explain the situation to your next period teacher beforehand.” To alleviate the congested traffic students experienced, the school introduced a new system that better directed traffic flow. Whether it is taking the route directly in front of S-Building or the route next to the cafeteria, be sure to take note of your surroundings! Fortunately, all major campus entrances will remain intact, relieving the worry of changing drop-off locations. Evidently, the creation of a new Rally Court will impact AHS students with both short-term and long-term effects. While the construction will continue to burden the shoulders of AHS students until August, the benefits brought about through the finished construction will ultimately benefit AHS as a whole. Whether it be traveling from A-Building to D-Hall or venturing through the walkways of the dirt area, the newly created challenges are abundant. As Apaches we can endure anything, especially when they’re “Apache”-ing up our school!
Apache’s Declassified School Survival Guide By LEANNE PERES DA SILVA Staff Writer
With the new year ahead of us, it is time to start afresh and get rid of bad habits! A new academic year allows students to use new study tactics in order to excel in school. To do better in school, one must be ready to analyze and accept his or her flaws from last year and then start off the new year with a bang! Students must realize that from here on out, they can only improve and better themselves. To do better in school, one must be able to prioritize his or her time. A student must learn his or her limitations and accept that there are only 168 hours in a week. After accepting and understanding these concepts, one will be able to structure and improve his or her study habits. Using a time table allows students to balance their life by giving them a specific time interval to complete any homework and extracurricular activities that need to be accomplished in that day. “I like to use a time table, since it allows me to stay organized,” stated freshman Allison Kanaan. Learning how to effectively balance work, school, family, and friends is a tip that will be used your entire life. Successful students are those who open themselves up to new people, cultures, beliefs, and practices. There are many people with interesting and unique experiences that are sitting next to you in class, and it would be a shame not to get to know them. Being open-minded and meeting new people will prepare you for the real world. “I have realized that you always
have to be open to change, since you can never judge someone by how they appear,” stated sophomore Paula Torres. Lastly, one must always be attentive in class. This means that students should focus on classroom discussions and lectures and be respectful to the rest of the class by not disrupting the learning atmosphere. “Everyone should participate in the class, even if their attempts are a bit clumsy,” stated junior Heidi Tan. Students should try their best to ask their teacher questions if they’re in doubt of any concepts, as early clarifications can help future complications in the subject. These students demonstrate to the instructor that they are active participants in the learning process and that they take the job of being a student seriously. This just comes to show that the path of a successful student is not a smooth ride but will have hurdles along the way, which will have to be crossed with sincere effort and perseverance. Start off the new academic school year with your best effort, since you can only better yourself and carve yourself a bright future! ldasilva@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of ESSAYHELPERS.COM
In place of the old lunch Pavilion, two new pavilions will be built on the sides flanking the Rally Court. These new pavilions will both boast ecofriendly solar panneled roof- tops.
This new Rally Court will be the centerpiece of the quad. Instead of the previous circular Rally Court, this new one will be in the shape of a square and will be much larger.
echo@apachepowwow.com Photos by MATTHEW LEE and WILSON LIN Graphics courtesy of AHS.AUSD.NET and FREELIBRARY.COM
Cookin’ Up a Storm By BRIANA SHEN Staff Writer
Some students have beautiful voices, others are as athletic, and there are those who can bake a mean brownie. Now that seniors are nearing entrance to college and might live far from home, the secrets of culinary arts spread. Whether it’s cooking ramen or a feast, students discuss their experiences. With all the recipes brewing in his head, freshman Spencer Zhang commented, “I can make delicious ramen! It’s wet, noodly, and slurpy, so I don’t give a flying duck if someone dislikes it because I cooked with love.” Freshman Tara Agahi agreed that simplicity is important and said, “I like making cookies because they take a small amount of time to bake, but I also like salads and sandwiches since they require little work.” Sometimes the quicker the dish is completed the more satisfying it is. Although these foods save time, freshman Kimberly Ting puts extra work into her mouthwatering blueberry crumble. She enthusiastically described it as “crunchy on top with blueberry tart on the bottom.” Of course her skills don’t appear randomly; she “got interested in cooking by watching the Food Network and other cooking shows.” Some students, like
freshman Chrixy Lam, distribute food to friends during special events. Chrixy shared, “I like making cupcakes because they’re simple and rewarding.” She added, “Sometimes I just experiment with basic recipes and have fun, such as wrapping Oreos in chocolate chip cookies.” She gets her recipes by “searching online and tasting them, to see if something needs adjustments.” Chrixy became “interested in cooking by making basic lunches for [her] family, and it escalated from there!” Senior Ryan Liu takes Food Science and “makes whatever’s fast and easy when [he’s] hungry or needs to cook for [his] little brother.” Ryan stated, “Anything I make I’m proud of. It’s like having a child; no matter if it’s pretty or ugly, you’re proud of it, except you usually don’t eat your child.” Talent comes in a variety of shapes, but for some it takes the silhouette of a cupcake. These talented student chefs cook up a storm and enjoy sharing their creations. After all, a homemade cookie always beats the storebought disasters. bshen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BLOGUNION.COM and COOLCOLORBOX.COM
January 2013
academics@apachepowwow.com
ACADEMICS
Springing Into Action By KHANH TRAN Staff Writer
Speech and Debate (S&D) finished its annual Spring Varsity Debate competition at La Puente High School on Jan. 26. The event featured one-on-one debates, such as the LincolnDouglas Debate, and duo debates, such as the Parliamentary Debate. Both Novice and Varsity members were welcome to participate, as the competition was open to people with all levels of experience. With hard work and invaluble lessons learned from the previous Fall Varsity Debate, the team ultimately took home numerous trophies and medals. This was the second Varsitylevel debate tournament that the team has competed in this school year. The Fall
Varsity Debate provided S&D members with priceless lessons and mistakes to both fix and learn from. “Fall Varsity Debate was helpful for [Spring Varsity Debate] because it helped me adapt my style to fit the competition and judging pool in League tournaments, on top of also giving me some very valuable experience,” said freshman Victor Li, who was one of the finalists in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate along with sophomores Sukanya Mukherjee and John Quin and junior Hassan Noureddine. On top of the experience gained from previous competitions, the team has been holding workshops to enrich its ambitious and fierce deba debaters. Indeed, unlike the interpretational events, debate requires its
contestants to be quick and flexible thinkers on their feet, conjuring up logical and legitimate arguments in a matter of minutes. Although the competition was intense and grueling, S&D members proved themselves courageous and unfaltering as they snagged trophy upon trophy from their opponents. Despite being only a novice, freshman Michael Chien paired up with junior Joshua Tran in their Public Forum rounds, ending with a 5th place trophy in their hands. “It’s my first time topping a [Varsity-level] competition,” Joshua proudly exclaimed. “The fact that I did it with Michael makes it all the more memorable for the both of us. I could definitely not ask for another partner.” Michael also echoed Josh’s statement as he smiled, “We put a lot of time and effort and it all paid off!” The competition not only sharpened their speaking skills, but also sparked their newfound friendship. Other debaters have shared this long-lasting bond among their teammates, strengthening the team as a whole. Freshmen George Hou and Philip Chen, who reached 3rd place in Policy, humbly described their experience as one that would pay off when the team meets at the big State Tournament, which will be held later this school year. The competition was a success, but do not rest yet, Speechies! Spring Varsity and State Qualifications tournaments are coming soon. Continue to hone your wits, talents, skills, and, most importantly, friendships. ktran@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of NMACT.ORG
By TIFFANY LIU Staff Writer
What if everyone was promised admission to the college of their choice? What if college students could choose to only learn about what they were interested in without having to bother with the basic general education courses? In the movie Accepted, a spontaneous student named Bartleby Gaines creates his own college after being rejected from every university he applied to. Students begin to apply to his fake college, and soon enough, the institution becomes legitimate. His college allows students to come up with what they want to learn instead of forcing them to take classes they’re not interested in. Students are free to be creative and accomplish or learn whatever their heart desires without any strict rules to hold them back. The school offers many student-created classes that range from “Taking a Walk and Thinking about Stuff” to “Blowing Things Up with
M My Mind”, and anyone who is interested in the cl class can simply sign up for it. Although these classes may seem ridiculo lous, taking a class that a student is passionate ab about seems like a great idea and can be very be beneficial. For example, one hyper and energetic student who wanted a way to exert his energy in class while also spending his time wisely fo found it in the “Taking a Walk and Thinking ab about Stuff” course. An athlete who was deni nied an athletic scholarship because of an injury ch chose to create sculptures, and it became his tr true passion. These classes focus on what the students truly want to learn, but while having this much freedom brings happiness, in the real world, it isn’t ideal. Students who study certain subjects, such as the arts, have a difficult time succeeding in the field after college. Though careers in these fields may have the benefit of a large paycheck, the level of competition is so high that it’s almost impossible to get a job. Thus, people have to choose between their true happiness or something more reasonable when considering their future. Of course, every student is required to learn the four basic subjects: math, English, history, and science. These classes are a good foundation for education itself, but some students may go through their entire educational careers finding themselves unable to truly excel or become interested in any of these subjects. These students may end up failing or becoming trouble-makers instead, due to lack of passion or motivation. Additionally, the career choice that the student eventually decides on may not require a certain subject at all. But, while only taking desired classes is a possibility, the converse is also true: not everyone with a passion
will succeed in his or her endeavor. Talent and luck are required in addition to interest. But in Bartleby’s school, there is no pressure regarding grades or rules, and imagination is always allowed to run free. This may be one thing that keeps our society from improving with each new generation. The emphasis to “fit the mold” of this generations predecessors can be stifling, hindering new ideas and radical theories that may in fact prove to be beneficial to the world as a whole. Restraining creativity can stop people from being able to think outside the box and coming up with that one crazy idea that “just might work”. Careers that encourage imagination may add to the world more than simply working everyday as an accountant or as a shopkeeper. However, in today’s day and age, many of these ideas are not acknowledged. One may have an idea, but getting it approved by a company is itself a challenge. Many times these ideas require a large amount of money to succeed, since competition in the real world makes it extremely difficult to come out on top. And of course, the money required to back your idea can only be provided with a stable job. So, while being able to learn whatever one finds interesting would be great, in our society, many people cannot afford to take such a risk. tliu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BIGGERPOCKETS. COM and ZAZZLE.COM
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Bryn Mawr College By HELEN LEE Executive Copy Editor
As an all-women’s liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College offers women the opportunity to receive theeducation of a lifetime. And although it is an all-women’s school, men aren’t entirely excluded from attending: while the undergraduate program is reserved only for females, the graduate program is open to both genders. The school has approximately 1,300 undergraduate students and 450 graduate students, and over 60 majors to choose from. This allows students to have a variety of choices in putting together a unique and personalized schedule. Since Bryn Mawr is a small college, it pairs up with Haverford College as part of its Bi-College relationship, giving students many more class options than what was already availible to them. In addition, students can also attend classes at University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, making for 5,000 total classes availibile to Bryn Mawr students. But if classes at other schools don’t fit your taste, you can always try the combined A.B./M.A. program. This program is fast-paced, but students are able to obtain their Master’s Degree while also studying for their Bachelor’s Degree. It presents yet another challenge in addition to the speed of the program: a student needs at least a 3.4 GPA for their undergraduate studies and is required to maintain a 3.7 GPA for their graduate studies. With hard work and determination, a student can earn his or her Master’s Degree with just four years of college education. Don’t worry if continuous studying is not your thing, because Bryn Mawr’s Praxis program combines the education and the real research to further enhance students’ learning experiences. Praxis has three levels: the first two led by faculty and the third one by independent study courses. This incorporates education from the classrooms with the benefit of real-life experiences, and therefore gives students a better scope of how and where all their knowledge and expertise will come to use. Although studies aren’t easy at Bryn Mawr, the college community is supportive; this is obvious in the Honor Code, a trust that all students will live with integrity and respect. To unify the students, Bryn Mawr has events such as Lantern Night, in which the freshmen are presented with lanterns of their class color to symbolize their acceptance into the school, and May Day, in which the students gather together and play traditional games. This all-women’s college in Pennsylvania, just 11 miles from Pittsburgh, offers exceptional education in a comfortable environment while also allowing students to obtain real-life experience involving their interests. If you are looking for a small, liberal arts school, look no further, for Bryn Mawr just might be the school for you. hlee@apachepowwow.com
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SPORTS
Soccer Kicks its Way Into a New Season By JONATHAN LU Staff Writer
Every year, various students leave AHS, regardless of whether they carry a 4.0 GPA or are top tier athletes. Some of these graduates were Boys Varsity Soccer team players. The loss of the veteran members of the team may be sad, but this year, the incoming varsity members make up for the losses. The new additions to the varsity team might result in a stronger season than the last one. With new members on the team, the veteran members feel a lot more confident. ”Last year we lost a lot of good people on our team, [and] although we had our complications, we had a strong bond together as a varsity team,” commented Boys Varsity Soccer Team Captain senior Steve Burstyn. The varsity team had great chemistry last year and everyone was close with each other. Ever since the seniors left the team, “the team has lost quite a few players from last year, all of whom were very skilled,” explained Boys Varsity Soccer player junior David Nugroho. Although the team had a tough time last season, which ended in a 2-6-1 League record, it has improved its technique. This year, the team currently has a League record of 3-3-0. This is a good improvement from the previous season. Boys JV Soccer team player junior Harrison Ma stated, “Last year, our varsity team was still young, mainly made up of sophomores and juniors. This year, we have gained a lot of experience, and we hope to improve our League score.” Since the varsity team has been off to a good start this year, let’s hope that it continues to improve and reaches its final goal. “Our team has maintained the same formation as last year: a 4-3-3, which has four defenders, three middles, and three forwards respectively. Not many teams in the Pacific League use this formation, but it has been working well for us this year,” commented David. This group of athletes is also growing together as a team with the new group of players from the JV team. The new members of the varsity team who were formerly on the JV team “are easy to communicate and bond with. Maybe even easier than the seniors from last year,” stated David. Due to the new members who have good chemistry with the previous members of the varsity team, it has a renewed chance at a successful season. Even though the team has lost a large number of players, it has been made up for by the incoming varsity members. These new athletes are bringing “a refreshing energy to the team because of their new styles and skill sets, enhancing [the] team composition,” stated Steve. Let’s hope that the team can reach its goal and end the season with smiles on the players’ faces. jlu@apachepowwow.com
apachepowwow.com
January 2013
Getting Into the Zone
By SHAWN XING Staff Writer
Co-Captain sophomore Caira Benton and senior Melody Chang will be showing off their talents this season, according to Coach Young. Melody needs only 37 more three-point shots to break AHS’ record, which is impressive for a third-year varsity player. Likewise, Caira is becoming one of
the strongest sophomores, averaging about 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. Despite Coach Young’s personal beliefs about the team, the girls themselves are also preparing for a successful season. Co-Captain senior Christina Huynh explained, “To prepare for games, we usually shoot for an hour before the game as a team. However, the real preparation takes place before the game day. It happens during our practices.” Senior Syd Vuong expressed that “with zero period, two hours in the afternoon, weight room training, and more practices on Saturdays, [the girls are] at school more than [they] are at home.” Katie added that “there’s no time to waste if you want to be the best.” This is Syd’s fourth year in basketball, but she has never seen her team work so hard towards a common goal and sacrifice so much time for each other. Many only recognize the surface win or loss results after games, but never really realize the effort and determination behind each player. With every basket made and every game won, the Girls Varsity Basketball team is headed for a successful season in becoming Sophomore Caira champions.
While most know about the Girls Varsity Basketball team’s domination in the Wilson Lady Cat Classic Tournament, not too many know about how great of a season the girls are having. Senior Kerry Wang explained that the team’s current record is 7-1. Also, according to the Pasadena Star News, the team is 3rd in the area, which is an overall improvement for the program. However, junior Katie Mock believes that most people “are only aware of [the team’s] record so far,” but there is much more to learn about the Girls Varsity Basketball team’s progress. According to Head Coach Don Young, the team “beat both Sonora and La Habra High Schools” and is “definitely improving.” He said that the team “should be able to win more than 20 games this year.” Coach Young believes that AHS has never been known for girls basketball and that they are working to change that image. He feels that this is the girls’ year and they are hoping to bring home the second League GIRLS BASKETBALL Championship AHS has ever won. It has been 34 years since, and Coach Young is Benton and junior Christina Huynh taking names determined. in their game against Glendale High School.
sxing@apachepowwow.com Photos by WILSON LIN
The Language of Sports By DANIEL JENN Staff Writer
While it is fun to talk about sports with family and friends, it becomes confusing with all of the terminology that people use. There seems to be a different language for every sport. But with time and experience, e, it won’t be long until you start using similar phrases! Tennis, like many sports, is a primarily straightforward game. There are singles matches, which is when one player from each opposing team plays the other, and then there are doubles matches, which is when two people from opposing teams play each other. The objective of the game is for every player to use a racquet to strike a ball back and forth over a net until one side is unable to return the hit. Because of the game’s foreign origins, there are many terms that would seem unclear to a new spectator. Bagels, for instance, are not just your ideal everyday breakfast item. In tennis, a bagel means winning a set 6-0. “It’s an AHS tradition to ask a person you beat 6-0 how a bagel tastes,” sophomore Morven Sharp said. “Although it might seem funny, it is looked down upon because it’s basically bragging that you beat anplayer.” other player.
is important to track and field since it happens so often and can potentially affect the outcome of the race. “The reason why cutting is such a big deal in races is because it causes so [much] trouble. Running in your own lane is considered one of the basics, and if you can’t do that right, you shouldn’t be running,” he said. Volleyball, a sport consisting of two teams of six players, each separated by a net, also includes many obscure terms. Due to its guidelines, volleyball contains terms for ffoul play such as “double hit”, “net foul”, and “foot fault”. However, there is also a lot of slang that is used in the sport. In fact, the players themselves create a lot of terminology and chants they use during matches. Senior Timothy mothy Jan said, d, “A dome shot is when a player hits thee ball and the he ball lands on the opposing player’s head, hence the ‘dome’ in dome shot.” However, a “dome shot” is not used in volleyball as an official term for hitting another person on the head with a ball; rather, it’s a well-known phrase that people have grown accustomed to over time. There are so many sports out there, each with their own sets of rules and jargon. In the beginning, it may be confusing trying to understand what each word and phrase actually means. But once you start learning some of the lingo, it’s only a matter of time before you start to use them as well!
Cutting?!
Tr a c k and field is another great pasttime. After all, ll there is a variety of events that exists within track and field. The 400m is Senior Ricky Kyaw’s main event. One thing that bothers him in the sport is “cutting, [which is] when the runner on the outside lane runs in the inside lane.” Cutting
Bagel? As in the food?
Say what?!
djenn@apachepowwow.com Photos by WILSON LIN
By RENA CHEN Staff Writer
Filled with tension and anticipation before their match, sports players all have their own ways to prepare. Here’s how some athletes prepare for their competitions. “To prepare, I stretch and throw gamelike pitches. I also make sure I get a good sweat in before the game starts. We pump each other up with handshakes and other forms of motivation.” — Willie Okamoto, 11, Boys Varsity Baseball “I prepare myself mentally by picturing myself playing the game and see myself doing all those things that my team is counting on me to do.” —Thomas Tran, 11, Boys Varsity Cross Country “Before a volleyball game, I like to just sit down and try to focus on what I need to do and accomplish, and what my goals are. I pray with my team.” —Timothy Jan, 12, Boys Varsity Volleyball Whatever the outcome, preparation is always essential. It’s a constant before every challenge and more than anything, a reassurance to fans that the athletes are ready to play. rchen@apachepowwow.com
January 2013
CALENDAR
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Lights... Camera... Zombies? By ELAINE CHUNG Staff Writer
Roses? Check. Romance? Definitely. Zombies? You betcha. This coming Valentine’s Day takes romance to a whole new level by uniting the living and the dead. Isaac Marion’s witty yet dead serious novel is literally brought to life in the latest upcoming zombie flick, Warm Bodies, rated PG-13. In a plague-infested world where the infected can’t even remember their past lives, R, played by Nicholas Hoult, is set apart from his fellow zombies by his love for Frank Sinatra and his ability to think beyond the capabilities of a lumbering piece of dead flesh. Then R’s “life”
is completely turned around when he encounters and spares Julie, a human, during one of his hunting expeditions. Julie is a breath of life in R’s lifeless world, but are they doomed to become star-crossed lovers? Or will their relationship serve to transform their world as they know it? Expect more than the mindless carnage characteristic of most undead films in Warm Bodies, coming out Feb. 1. echung@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of BESTCLIPARTBLOG.COM
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Ask Kay Q: My friends and I are in different class periods this semester, and I’m worried that we’re going to grow apart. How can I stop this from happening? A: Schedules change—‘tis the life of a high schooler. Don’t fret though— friendships may be formed by having classes together, but they don’t necessarily break when you don’t. Q: I don’t know how to get around the construction! Help me, please? A: When you’re walking in the hallway from A-building to J-building, I hope you notice Dr. Ned Sutro waving around his plush USC finger—it’s to tell you which hallway to use. If you’re going toward J-building, walk on Campus Dr., and if you’re going toward A-building, feel free to inch your way through the lane. Good luck! Q: I can’t believe I’m going to graduate at the end of the year. Pinch me? A: PINCH EVERY SENIOR YOU KNOW! Just kidding. The semester has passed in a blink of an eye, and there are only several months before some students have to leave forever. So, make it your utmost priority to make those days unforgettable! askkay@apachepowwow.com
The Glories of Café Lori By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer
What better way is there to start off a new year than with delicious food? Whether you’ve tried Mediterranean or Armenian food before, a trip to Café Lori will not disappoint you. An abundance of different meats will satisfy a variety of tastes. This tiny café doesn’t seat a very large party since it has only a few tables. There weren’t many decorations and the room was dim. What was most amusing was that they used red solo cups to serve drinks. I wasn’t greeted when I arrived and stood awkwardly at the entrance as one of the waitresses was cleaning a table and glancing at me until she finally mentioned that we could seat ourselves. The workers were fairly inattentive, but they answered my questions regarding the menu. Overall, the service and ambiance were unimpressive. If you can get over the previous factors, get ready to dig in to a more than satisfying meal. I started off with a plate of borag, a deepfried pastry filled with cheese and herbs. It was similar to a mozzarella stick, but ten times better. The flaky, dumpling-shaped crust stood out against the mild, herb-infused cheese. I could’ve polished off a few of those!
Next, I tried the combo plate, which consisted of lula, beef and chicken kebabs, rice, hummus, pita bread, and a tangy salad. The meat sat on top of a bed of rice. Lula can be made of either ground lamb or beef, which is then mixed in with seasonings. It was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor although it was a bit salty. The beef was also tender, juicy, and peppery, as well as the chicken. The hummus and rice were average, but the salad—consisting of romaine lettuce, red onion, tomato, and cucumber—was perfectly tangy. The combo plate had so much more food than I could finish. Although you may not want to come because of the lack of ambiance or good service, you will definitely want to stay for the food. This small establishment earns an overall 4 out of 5 taste buds. Until next time! And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell!
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XOXO, Glutton Girl Café Lori Details Location: 138 E Lime Ave., Monrovia Prices: Borag appetizer, $1.00 per piece; Café Lori Combo plate, $12.50 Open Monday through Friday gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com Photo by GLUTTON GIRL
Puzzle courtesy of WEBSUDOKU.COM
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CAMPUS FOCUS
campusfocus@apachepowwow.com
January 2013
“In order to prepare for finals, I study my notes and reread the material in my textbooks. I also try to find some practice tests online. At the end of it all, I ‘try’ to get a good night’s sleep.” —Catherine Su, 12 “The way I prepare for finals is to study a little bit every day. Then the night before the final, I skim through everything again.” By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer
—Justin Chiu, 11
As the end of the semester comes to a close, finals can be the most frightening test you will ever take and could potentially affect your final grade. Finals are something every student is expecting. Some students choose to study for it last minute, others choose to wing it, and some will even study weeks or months in advance. Here’s how these students prepare for finals.
“Well, for me, I don’t particularly enjoy cramming. It’s either I know it or I don’t. So I just briefly review previous test information, and I get as much sleep as possible!” —Jessica Hsu, 12
ksun@apachepowwow.com kks sun un@ @a ap
Photos by DEEDEE CHUANG Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM and RAINBOWTRUNK.COM