January 2015

The World Is Our Campus Volume 62, Issue 5

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

January 2015

New year, new buildings

In this issue:

Photo courtesy of REASON.COM

NEWS pg. 2 California’s Bullet Train: In a few years, Californians will be able to ride from San Diego to Sacramento.

Photos by MILLIE WONG

OPEN FOR BUSINESS Recently completed and pristine facilities are ringing in the new year. Students will now be able to lounge in the renovated library and select from a wider selection of food in the Apache Cafe.

By SUKANYA MUKHERJEE Photo courtesy of IMGUR.COM

FEATURES pg. 6 Young and successful: These individuals prove that our generation will amount to greatness.

Photo courtesy of DESIGNWORKLIFE.

ACADEMICS pg. 14 An Insect’s Life: Love insects? Check out UC Riverside’s entomology major and the opportunities it offers.

Have a question, comment, or concern about The Apache Pow Wow? Email the Editors-in-Chief at eic.powwow@gmail.com Find us online at arcadiapowwow.wordpress.com

Staff Writer

Over the past four years, AHS has experienced a myriad of changes. Thanks to the Arcadia Unified Bond Measure I, several new renovations to our high school campus have been achieved. From welcoming our Performing Arts Center in 2012 to introducing Chromebooks in many of the classrooms, AHS has ensured students have a plethora of resources to excel. And with the start of the new semester, AHS is proud to welcome even more new features to our campus: the Apache Cafe and the Library and Resource Center.

The newly remodeled Library and Resource Center is equipped with cutting-edge technology and a clean, modern aesthetic paired with the old library’s bare brick walls, mirroring the design of most college facilities. Upon entering the library, students are immediately greeted by an open floor plan, centered around a circular reception desk.

Librarian Margo Butera exclaimed that with “a lot of students coming in, their first impression is that it’s like a college library, and I definitely feel that way as well. The furniture is also easily movable,” which helps if there’s a large group

of students.

On the right is a private student lounge, bordered by soft couches and bar tables and chairs for the comfort of the students. Senior Sai Chintamaneni commented that “the lounge and study rooms are pretty cool, especially because the study rooms have a TV.” The student lounge offers a cozy area to chat with friends, and the brand new study rooms in the back of the library are equipped with conference tables, power outlets, and flat screen TVs to help students get their work done. Similar to the lounge, the study rooms offer a secluded place to concentrate or brainstorm for a presentation. The new library also takes advantage of Arcadia High’s new Samsung Chromebooks—a new mobile computing platform that seamlessly connects students with teachers and their curriculum— replacing the antiquated desktops of the old facility. “This sect was donated by the Chinese Booster Club, so we’re excited about those for student use,” said Ms. Butera.

In regards to the removal of the classrooms that used to surround the perimeter of the library, Ms. Maureen Swensson noted, “The library is a lot bigger than it was before. I do love the extra space, even though there are more rooms to deal with.” Toward the back of the library, the new media center mirrors the style of a college classroom.

Ms. Butera loves “the fact that there is a

media center where teachers can bring their students. If you’re having a study group, or maybe three or four of you are working on a project, you can reserve the study rooms in the back.”

The innovations of the new Library and Resource Center go beyond a mere new coat of paint; they serve to boost the productivity and ease the stresses of AHS students, adorning our campus with any tools our students need.

The library isn’t the only building to get a facelift, though. Students who frequented the old cafeteria will remember the cozy seating and friendly faces. However, now that the new and improved Apache Cafe is slated to open in the very near future, AHS students can look forward to a spacey college-class cafeteria. Occupying the old cafeteria’s location, the building now houses a Juice Bar that will exclusively serve Robeks smoothies and juice, a Sports Cafe where athletes can grab a snack and relax after school, a pool table, and lounge areas. Mr. Carter Spruill commented that it’s “pretty exciting [because] we haven’t had that area opened up in a long time so we’re very happy about it.”

Freshman Kevin Chen summed up our excitement: “This is one great library and café, and this is one great school.” smukherjee@apachepowwow.com

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NEWS

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January 2015

Have train, will travel

By AMBER CHONG Staff Writer

California’s bullet train agency officially began construction on Jan. 6. After much controversy, the High-Speed Rail Authority broke ground in Fresno, deeming it the “central cog” of an innovative new transportation system. The rail line will stretch 29 miles from Fresno to Madera.

The HSRA’s initiative is to lay down 800 miles of track from Sacramento to San Diego by 2029.

While the California bullet train system has been in the works for many years, skeptics have made it difficult for the high-funding project to continue. They argue that ridership productions are low and would not be beneficial to many for a $68 billion price tag. “We’re talking about real money here,” said Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the taxpayer watchdog group Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “This is money that’s not available for health care or education, for public safety, or put back in taxpayers’ pockets so they have something to spend. This is money being drawn out of the system for a program that is going to serve very few people.” It will cost an average of $4 million a day to continue the now largest infrastructure project in the U.S. Gov. Jerry Brown disagrees, comparing the rail line’s construction to that of the great cathedrals in Europe. “The high-speed rail links us from the past to the future, from the south to the north,” he said. While addressing dozens of local residents, politicians, and contractors, the gover-

nor admitted that he too was concerned as to how the state would secure enough money. However, building a transportation system this extravagant would help generate over 66,000 jobs and reduce freeway traffic.

The HSRA also made a statement on Twitter, rationalizing with cynics who challenge the economics of the train, referencing Japan’s railway system and the positive repercussions it had on the country: “It affected neighboring areas and invited more companies to go there, allowing more people to travel. Property tax collections rose, populations went up, development around high-speed rail ushered in smarter and more sustainable planning. The cities became more like suburbs, instead of outposts.”

In 2010, the Legislature agreed to donate 25% of future greenhouse gas proceedings to the project, an estimated amount of anywhere from $250 million to $1 billion annually.

While there is controversy regarding the contruc-

FALL OF THE RUSSIAN Ruble

ing oil prices, Russia has been increasingly integrated in the global society. So now, WestStaff Writer ern banks are getting quite nervous about the Here in the U.S., we may think of the falling $610 billion loan they gave Russian compagas prices as a miracle, but in Russia, falling gas pric- nies. Former Soviet colonies, whose econoes mean rapid economic inflation. Because Russia is mies are largely dependent on Russia, will one of the main oil exporters in the world, the cheap- also feel the backlash. ening of its main export lowers the value of Russian Researchers say that when the ruble has currency on the world stage. With the added pressure reached rock-bottom, Russia is going to buy back of western sanctions on its economy (as a result of the market with copious amounts of dollars. It is tensions in then going to Ukraine last flood the westyear), Rusern market sia’s national with dollars currency, the and other westruble, is seeing ern currencies, a steep decline. including gold.

Researchers But there is alare saying that ways a backup not even Rusplan. In this sia’s money case, its saving deposits can grace will Russave its econosia’s alliance my now.

RUSSIAN OIL As the value of the Ruble goes down, oil with China.

The ruble China currently prices have been declining. was one of holds about the world’s worst performing currencies in 2014, $1.5 trillion, and in total more than $3 trillion dropping about 60% in value over time, but at equivalent in western currencies—an undefined the end of the year, it sharply dropped an adbut huge gold amount reserves. ditional 7%. As of now, one US dollar is equal Although it may seem that the falling to 60.30 rubles. oil prices and overwhelming western powers Due to Western sanctions, many of Russia’s in Russia’s economy is a good thing, it is not. banks and companies are unable to do business The biggest reason why Russia’s seeing its with Western markets. In an attempt to save the currency drop is mainly because of the U.S. banks, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a and EU, and officials over there know that. pact to give 1 trillion rubles ($19.6 billion dollars) mhuang@apachepowwow.com to Russian banks.

Russia isn’t the only country suffering from Graphic courtesy of MAPSOF.NET the ruble’s downfall. Thanks to 15 years of risPhoto courtesy of FRONTPAGEMAG.COM

By MICHELLE HUANG

tion project’s financial repercussions, many still anticipate the benefits that the bullet train may offer. achong@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.ORG and GALLERYHIP.COM

doing good while doing well

By JULIA LIN Staff Writer

The California State Senate’s Pro Tempore President, Kevin de Leon, has introduced two laws providing College Access Tax Credits for contributions to the “Cal Grants” program for almost 200,000 lowincome students attending a community or four-year college. The “Cal Grant B Access” awards financial aid to students for housing, transportation, and other school necessities such as textbooks. The College Access Tax Credits are available to any taxpayer who contributes to its fund.

“We know that so many of our college students, particularly community college students, are increasingly working full-time, managing school, job and family just to make ends meet. So [financial] aid has not always been sufficient for our community college students to be able to attend full-time and not have to work,” explained Audrey Dow, the vice president for external affairs and operations at The Campaign for College Opportunity, an organization that works toward equal circumstances for students to succeed in college.

The bills are expected to bring a higher graduation and enrollment rate in colleges statewide.

These new laws not only benefit college students across the state, but help the donors as well; this year, the donors will be able to deduct 55% of

whatever they donated from their federal tax returns. To claim tax credit, the donors must receive a certificate from the California Educational Facilities Authority. The applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis. According to the State of California Franchise Tax Board, 55% of contributions can be used as credit in 2015 and 50% can be used as credit in 2016. Unused credit may be kept for no longer than six years.

Governor Jerry Brown signed the laws in September, right before the tax-filing season. As the state treasurer was unable to spread word of the bill quickly, the funding has been moderate. About $6.3 million has been collected so far in benefactions.

The donation is tax deductible for federal taxes, but not state ones, meaning that the charitable gratuity will also lessen the strain of taxes.

State officials predict that text credits will be under much higher demand in the future. Drew Mendelson, spokesman for the treasurer’s office, believes that there was a “great deal of interest in them” this year, even without a great deal of publicity for the bills.

60% of the donations will reimburse the state’s general fund, while the remainder will go to the Cal Grants Program. The state estimates that the annual grant could increase from $1,648 to $3,000 or $5,000 per student.

“I challenge all Californians to contribute and make the future brighter by donating to the College Access Tax Credit Fund. … I know if it weren’t for financial aid programs like the Cal Grant program, I wouldn’t be here today,” Leon urged. jlin@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of SMALLBUSINESS.CHRON.COM Graphics courtesy of GENIUS.COM and VSU.EDU

January 2015

powwownews@gmail.com

Typos? Fix ‘Em with Strings

By KIMBERLY LO

Staff Writer

Have you ever wanted to take something back that you accidentally texted? Surely, everyone has had times when they wanted to retract something they sent. Especially when it comes to social media, where some things stay online forever, it’s easy to wish you could take back a text.

Now, with the Strings app, it is possible. The Strings app allows users to have more control over their text messages, including videos and photos sent over text.

The Strings app was created

by Be Labs, a startup in Seattle.

The Strings app’s main function is the ability for users to look over their sent texts and delete messages from both their own devices and their recipients’, unlike other apps that only allow deletion from the former.

Furthermore, the Strings app allows people to control access of the pictures and videos sent. Friends who want to download pictures or videos sent must first gain permission from the sender. Strings CEO Edward Balassanian said, “Friends can download content you share, but only if

you approve. Screenshots are detected and users are banned after violating this three times. And of course, you can de-

lete a string you create if, and when, you choose to and it will be deleted every-

where. From start to finish, users control their conversations on Strings.”

Various apps on the market allow users to better manage their photos, videos, and text messages. However, according to Strings CEO Edward Balassanian, Strings is the first app that lets users have complete control over their information.

Balassanian commented that “the challenge with ephemeral messaging apps is that they treat all content like it’s created equally, but we shouldn’t have to delete everything in order to delete some things. Rather than trying to make content disappear, we sought to give users control so they would feel confident and comfortable to share what they want with who they want, in any way that they want.” Of course, both recipient and sender must be texting using the Strings app in order for these functions to work at all, but as long as both people have the app downloaded, these functions can prove extremely useful. klo@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of IPHONETEXTGENERATOR.COM

CES Highlights & Technology in GPS. In addition, the watch can automatically track your sleep and record your sleep cycles. When Garmin’s own app store releases soon, it should provide additional loads of features to add

Among the most noticeable of its various changing parts and features are its Staff Writer built-in keyboard, microphone, mouse The Consumer Electronics Show control sensor, and clamp for holding (CES) is an international electronics tablets or cellular phones. What’s the and technology trade show, featuronly downside? Well… you ing numerous innovative and unique guessed it. It’s pretty expensive products and designs from profesand goes for about $300 on the sional developers worldwide. The market. trade show is held annually at the 4. Gogoro’s Smartscooter Las Vegas Convention in Nevada.

It’s just a beautifully fashThis year, the CES was held from ioned, electronic scooter with a Jan. 6 to Jan. 9 in Las Vegas. Footage range of nearly 100 miles… no and video clips from the show can be big deal. This wonderful prodeasily accessed and found online. uct made headlines as one of There were some products that the biggest hits at the CES. Its especially impressed and surprised vogue, techie look—coupled even newspapers and professional with the fact that instead of critics. having to charge the batteries, 1. Samsung’s JS9500/JS9000 the batteries are replaceable— Super UHD TVs puts it on the top of the charts What’s so special about anWATCH OUT The Garmin Vivoactive, pictured for projected consumer prodother new Samsung TV? Well, this ucts over 2015. above, has four different modes for four different will be the first widely accessible 5. Razer OSVR Hacker Dev sports.

HDR (high dynamic range) TV, Kit which delivers far more detailed images on to your techie sports watch. This is Already well-known in the gamand content. It also makes an impressive definitely one of the best buys for a true ing community for its special abiluse of Quantum Dot color technology, sports-aholic. ity to provide a virtual reality view of which details color expression and con3. Mad Catz L.Y.N.X 9 games, the astonishing gaming accestrast levels. Lastly, it is energy-efficient, This is what reviewers claim to be sory made top charts at the CES. It’s which is apparently a new trend among the “product that represents the Conan open-source software that is cominnovative technologies. sumer Electronics Show the best.” It patible with partners such as Unity, 2. Garmin Vivoactive looks like a freaky cross between a Sixense, and Leap Motion. The OSVR Reviewers say this is the best game controller and a multi-tool. To framework urges gamers to push the sports watch they’ve come across to me, it looks like a breed of a spider boundaries of virtual-reality gaming. date. There are four different, and all and an Xbox game controller. Frankly, unique, modes for cycling, running, it’s a “mad-looking mobile controlechen@apachepowwow.com swimming, and golf, along with a built ler,” as reviewer Evan Kypreos stated.

Photo courtesy of WIRED.COM

By ERIC CHEN

NEWS

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s t a f ff 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 Editors Campus Focus Editor Advertisement Editors Photography Editors Executive Copy Editors Fundraising Chairs

Katrina Chao and Stanley Shaw Belle Zheng Simone Chu and Terri Shi Victoria Yu and Erika Zheng Amelia Jin and Briana Shen Daniel Jenn and Justin Tang Elaine Chung and Lily Ling Allan Gao and Charles Xu Helen Lee and Tiffany Liu Josh Bay Brittanie Gaja and Rose Li Flora Ung Derek Lee and Belle Zheng Ben Geisberg and Millie Wong Michelle Gu and Hafsah Umerani Yoko Chan and Chelsea Cheng

Writers

News Staff Eric Chen, Amber Chong, Jessie Hui, Michelle Huang, Eileen Lee, Kaitlyn Liao, Andrew Lim, Julia Lin, Kimberly Lo, Sukanya Mukherjee, Emily Quach, Kristen Tran, Shawn Xing, Veronica Yu, Roy Zhang Opinion Staff Tiffany Chen, Amber Chong, Teddy Chu, Andrew Muliadi, Ben Geisberg, Julia Lin, Lauren Trajano, Madeline Lee, Niki Chi, Sukanya Mukherjee, Titus Wu, Veronica Yu Performing Arts Staff Jacqueline Chang, Eric Chen, William Hsu, Katie Huang, Celine Lee, Eileen Lee, Ellie Lee, Erin Li Student Life Staff Eric Chen, Ryan Fann, Eileen Lee, Ellie Lee, Andrew Lim, Andrea Liu, Emily Schube, Kristie Sun, Tiffany Tsui, Emily Wu, Sunny Wu, Shawn Xing, Gary Zhu Features Staff Tiffany Chen, Katie Huang, Michelle Huang, Celine Lee, Julia Lin, Cristian Nalbandian, Emily Schube, Cathleen Shen, Sunny Wu, Pearl Yang, Elyse Yao, Veronica Yu, Gary Zhu Sports Staff William Hsu, Peter Ju, Ellie Lee, Erin Li, Andrew Lim, Christina Read, Lauren Trajano, Titus Wu, Shawn Xing, Pearl Yang, Roy Zhang Academics Staff Tiffany Chen, Brittanie Gaja, Katie Huang, Derek Lee, Andrea Liu, Kimberly Lo, Sukanya Mukherjee, Andrew Wang, Sunny Wu, Elyse Yao Calendar Staff Jacqueline Chang, Jessie Hui, Peter Ju, Kaitlyn Liao, Andrew Lim, Debbie Moon, Emily Quach, Cathleen Shen, Kristen Tran, Andrew Wang, Kyle Wang, Emily Wu, Sunny Wu, Pearl Yang, Elyse Yao Campus Focus Staff Emily Quach Center Spread Staff Katie Huang Advertisement Staff Jacqueline Chang, Niki Chi, Teddy Chu, William Hsu, Michelle Huang, Peter Ju, Andrea Liu, Andrew Muliudi, Tiffany Tsui, Kyle Wang, Emily Wu Photo Staff Teddy Chu, Ryan Fann, Brittanie Gaja, Derek Lee, Debbie Moon, Stanley Shaw, Cathleen Shen, Kristen Tran, Titus Wu Copy-Editing Staff Ryan Fann, Jessie Hu, Madeline Lee, Kaitlyn Liao, Debbie Moon, Christina Read, Emily Schube, Andrew Wang, Kyle Wang, Elyse Yao, Veronica Yu, Gary Zhu 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.

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OPINION C h i n U p , Yo u ’ v e G o t T h i s

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Staff Writer

your passage, push it with all your might to construct it into a bridge. The liaison between

Don’t let trivial problems dictate your well-being. Maybe you didn’t accomplish

Chances are, you’ve probably seen some variation of this motto plastered on a teacher’s wall: “Life is not measured by the number of times you fall, but the number of times you pick yourself up.” Your inner cynic may scoff or ridicule such a naive way of thinking, but this philosophy should be our ultimate inspiration to advance full-steam ahead. Even if we derail off the track, there will always be an opportunity to merge with the original path again.

We’ve all had our rough days of feeling hopeless when we believe our self-worth is diminished by some silly matter that never should have taken a place in our list of priorities. Values will change throughout your lifetime, but nothing should ever rank higher than your emotional safety. However, that does not grant permission to laze around in the name of “happiness”. In order to secure unadulterated happiness, you must climb the craggy road and might lose your footing along the way.

Your ability to recuperate is a major achievement on its own. So cheers to you, reader, for mustering enough strength to dust off your shoulders. Cheers to you for accepting your blunders. Cheers to you for having faith in your own abilities. It’s not easy to recover from a seemingly devastating failure; when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. It’s cliché, yet empowering. When a wall blocks

a loss and a victory depends solely on your determination.

your New Year’s Resolution last year, achieve the mile time you aimed for, or the

By JULIA LIN

January 2015

grade you swore you would attain. Whether you strove to do your best is what should be paramount in importance. If you didn’t, it is never too late to put in more effort.

Perhaps you’re still down, and you despise yourself for not having enough spirit to stand up. It boils down to persistence in the long run. Remember that mental fortitude is strength as well. The single thought of wanting to overcome your struggles and refusing to abandon them is proof enough of your willingness to improve upon yourself.

Let’s celebrate not only the ups and downs through the years, but also the plateaus of personal development in between. The uphill and downhill battles should not be considered failures, but part of the learning process.

You’ve navigated only a portion of the labyrinth called life. Take a glimpse back into 2014 and realize the way your character has grown from your redemptions. It is now the start of 2015, and with every new year comes new obstacles. Setbacks are natural; in fact, you’ll fall into less traps as a result of experiencing mistakes earlier. After all, the new year serves as a new beginning: a springboard into the future. It’s too late to surrender now, not after tasting euphoria as well as the sweat and tears of the past year. The exit awaits you. jlin@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of TUMBLR.COM

Once an Apache, Always an Apache

By LAUREN TRAJANO

Staff Writer

For most of us, our first day of high school was by no means the best moment of our lives. I remember the anxiety and confusion that swelled within me as I roamed the halls of AHS, feeling utterly lost and in serious need of assistance. The queasy feeling I had in my stomach refused to subside, and I was left to deal with the painful uncertainty of my situation.

As a freshman, it was difficult to see all the upperclassmen roaming the campus.

They towered over me with their impressive heights. I felt small—both inside and out. I felt a strong sense of insecurity as I walked right beside these older, more mature men and women who even had licenses to drive a Mercedes or BMW on their way to school.

At the time, I practically idolized these students who drove such fancy cars.

But as the years rolled by, I have found out that all the worries I had in my little freshman mind were not worries at all. I no longer feel lost whenever I go to school; the upperclassmen have become much less intimidating and are more friendly-looking.

And also driving a car doesn’t seem so difficult or impressive anymore.

Now that my senior year comes to its halfway point, I have begun to realize that my years at this wonderful high school will soon be over. While taking part in the college application process a couple of months ago, I felt excited—I knew that there would be a college or university out there that

would enable me to pursue my goals and dreams. Just knowing that I have an opportunity to go after what I really want to do with my life gives me hope for the future.

But I cannot help but feel a little nostalgic. There are some days when I just ponder about my life and look back at all the memories I have shared with my fellow Arcadian friends and teachers. I remember that very first day of high school when I felt that I

would never belong in that huge crowd roaming the halls of AHS. I remember feeling intimidated, not just by the upperclassmen, but also by the vast enormity of high school.

That very first assembly I had to attend as a freshman made me scared of what high school would be like. It was impossible to ignore the sense of unity radiating from the other students present at that gathering. Their red and gold shirts shone brightly against the ceiling lights of our gym, while my pale green shirt stood out like a sore thumb. I remember looking at the other students, feeling like a stranger who just didn’t belong in their world.

And so, I was surprised when an upperclassman put her arm around my shoulder when the band started to play the tune to the AHS alma mater. Although I felt awkward and confused because I wasn’t familiar with the lyrics, I felt happy. It was at that very moment, that very moment when the red sea got up to sing and stomp to its special song, that I felt as if I truly belonged.

It was then that I finally understood that I could never be a stranger to this school even if I tried. I am a part of it all: the chorus of voices that sing our alma mater, the magnificent red sea that lights up our gym, and the group of students who bleed red and gold every time we have an assembly. I am a part of this amazing family, the AHS family, and I feel honored and proud.

No matter where I end up going for college or what I choose to do after I graduate, I will remember all the times I spent at this high school, my high school, because I will always be an Apache. ltrajano@apachepowwow.com

Graphic by BRITTANIE GAJA

OPINION

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January 2015

More Than Just Grades

By TEDDY CHU Staff Writer

With finals over, you’re either relieved or a bit disappointed in how your report card spelled out your grades for the last semester. It’s important to understand that no matter what your grades are, you are so much more than a few percentages earned in the past few months. AHS is a place of high achievement, so it is no wonder that many feel the competitive air around each of their classes. School does take up a good majority of our day, regardless of whether we’re in class, at practice, or doing homework. We must keep in mind, however, that despite all the effort that we put into our schoolwork, there is so much more that defines us as human beings.

Relationships with fellow students and even faculty and staff at the high school show a different side of you that transcripts can’t report. Your moral character and willingness to sacrifice for others while in class are good examples of times when letter grades can’t accurately describe who you truly are.

Standing up for what you believe in, whether that be an idea or a friend, shows character and is hard to put into any sort of evaluative scale. There is so much more to us than what our parents want to see on report cards or what SAT score will send us to whichever college we think we might deserve. Your potential fully exceeds what any sort of letter or percentage can ever measure.

Perhaps this news isn’t something you want to hear; you may have straight A’s and some solid test scores that all of your friends envy. Don’t get me wrong; you are definitely skilled in your own right (and kudos, by the way). However, this doesn’t mean that you aren’t subject to any other sort of harsh judgment outside of grades. Staying humble is perhaps one of the most important things to keep in mind when you are successful; there will be times when you may be on the opposite end of that spectrum. When you’re on the top, it is important to stay humble.

When you’ve hit a low, it always helps to stay hopeful. How you carry yourself and react to any sort of criticism is paramount to establishing who you are, and what other criticism is more important to a student besides their grades?

Keep in mind what other points can be evaluated while at school while striving to maintain academic success, and then set your goal to get A’s in every “subject” regardless if they show up on your report card. Pick up that piece of scratch paper and toss it in the recycling bin. Hold the door open for a few people heading into S-Building. Stand up for your friends if you hear someone calling them out. Congratulate them when they ace their calculus test, and accept their celebration when you do the same on your chemistry quiz. Desire to watch other people succeed as much as you desire to watch yourself succeed, and remember that success doesn’t only come in the form of a letter grade. tchu@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of BLUESEATBLOGS.COM, GOPIXPIC.COM, PIXSHARK.COM, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, and SPORE.WIKIA.COM

By SUKANYA MUKHERJEE

Staff Writer

I am famous. Googling my name leads you to 554,000,000 results. Articles are written about me and the havoc I wreak upon people, movies are watched to forget about me, and sweets are indulged in to silence my annoying voice. I am, the one and only, Stress. Everyday, I roam around watching people succumb to my terrors. Now, there are times when my visits are legitimate and serious, but I spent most of my time plaguing students like you who simply do not know how to get their work done. I watch you stare at your agenda. Spanish oral Wednesday. Calculus test on Thursday. English essay due Friday. Your jaw starts to clench as soon as you envision a night of restful sleep (something you actually do need) turning into an all nighter. The mountain of work, the shots of espresso, the Skype calls with your classmates—you know you need to stay awake. It all sounds very daunting. What baffles me is that you bother to write down everything you have to do (for those of you who can’t manage write down your assignments, all hope is lost) and then agonize over doing it. Why! People really make me sad. I tell my therapist sometimes how difficult it is to try to help people when they hate you. Everybody wants me to calm down and relax, but how can I when everyone needs me to get him or her fired up to work! And it’s not my fault that I’m so jittery! It’s all the coffee people drink.

A majority of my clients find it beneficial to drink highly caffeinated drinks at 3:00 a.m. What am I supposed to do? People make me so mad! I just—I just—one…two…three… My therapist told me to inhale and count to ten every time I get angry.

As I was saying, it’s entirely your fault that I have to bother you. I could have been hibernating and you could have been studying over winter break like you were supposed to, but no.

You just had to give in to my evil twin procrastination. Yes, it’s

By NIKI CHI

5

a shame we’re related. I’m going to set the record straight. I’m NOTHING like Procrastination. While Procrastination lounges around, I’m the one who makes sure we’re packed and ready to head out. I watch the clock. Putting off studying for finals until the last week is not a good idea. Yeah, that’s right. Procrastination is a liar. People always pin me as the bad guy just because I cause the occasional headache, minor stomach pain, anxiety attacks, and three times the normal amount of coffee consumption. But I’m efficient! You should thank me for helping you pull off two weeks of homework in one night.

Looking at all the different methods people have tried to get rid of me makes me laugh. The gyms sell stress balls. You think squeezing a ball a couple times is going to make your test disappear? There’s yoga, meditating, Advil, oh and my favorite—eating. These, sadly, are all temporary. You get a few minutes of resolve, gain a couple more pounds and look! I’m still here! You see, the only way to get rid of me is by managing your time, planning your assignments out, and turning off the Internet. The saying goes, work and then play, right? Not play, play, play and then work. The thing is, no matter how many times studies say that I release adrenaline and other work-inducing hormones into your body, only you can get the work done. Wouldn’t you rather have it done earlier, than later? If not for yourself, do it for me. Nagging you teenagers is hard work.

Oh, and I apologize if I’m a bit grumpy, I can’t help it.

You stress me out. Anyway, quit complaining like Procrastination. You have a paper due in 4 hours 27 minutes and 20 seconds. Don’t forget to submit it to Turnitin.com.

Oh, and remember that kid who was sleeping next to you in Calculus two days before the test? I’m visiting him next. smukherjee@apachepowwow.com

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My Outside Passion Staff Writer

Dear Mom and Dad, I know I shouldn’t be writing this letter since I have a ton of homework that I still haven’t done, but please, just hear me out. School is important, and I know that. Learning how to find the derivatives of a curve is very important for my future. Let’s also not forget the long list of honorary literary devices I need to know. Who could forget the almighty “synesthesia”? Not me. School is important. Period. But there’s something that’s been bugging me for a while, and I’m just going to say it now.

I like stuff outside of school. I know, I know.

It’s kind of a shocker. In reality, most of the time I spend “working” is actually just me researching for new recipes. There’s really never an end to this food galore.

Even now, my cooking knowledge is continuously growing. Just seeing how random items thrown together into a flame can create a delicious dish amazes me. While I was only curious at first, cooking slowly grew into one of my biggest passions. You guys might not see it, since you’re away at work, but I guarantee you that at least ninety percent of the time, I’m glued to the grill.

It’s easy to think that because I spend more than half my day at school, it should be my sole focus in life. But is that really practical? Do you guys like work because it’s enjoyable to sit in the office typing ‘til you have carpal tunnel? I would think not. School simply can’t satiate my desire to be the next

Iron Chef. While I could definitely be using all the time I spend “fooling around” to study, I think formulating a new beef wellington recipe would help me more.

To be honest, I’ve been able to bear with school only because of this outlet. I can’t possibly sit for hours on end reading about how the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

Cooking may be a hobby, but it’s a hobby that makes me happy.

And that to me, is the most important thing.

I want to be different. I want to be able to love something outside of the pages of a textbook. And while this may not necessarily be a bad thing, I, for one, am just not a book smart individual. Cooking makes me who I am and is what sets me apart from others. If it’s bad to love something with a passion, then I really don’t know what other road to take.

I’ll still try my best with my studies, and I’ll still try to figure out why I need to remember five pages of need statements, but I hope that after reading this, you guys can accept me for who I am.

I’m an individual with a passion, a lover for the sizzle of a grill, and a kid eagerly waiting for her parents’ loving support. I may not be the perfect model-A student, but I’m still that kid who loves to learn, except this time, out of a much more picturesque textbook.

With love and garnish, Your passionate daughter nchi@apachepowwow.com

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FEATURES

6

Not-So-Bad

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January 2015

What to Look Out for in 2015

By VERONICA YU Staff Writer

By PEARL YANG Staff Writer

Everyone has habits that they just can’t seem to cut, whether it be fidgeting, twirling hair, or cracking knuckles. However, some seemingly bad habits have been proven to have significant physical and mental health benefits! So stop whatever you’re doing and read on—you might find that you have one of these tendencies. In that case, don’t feel bad about it; you’re really only doing yourself a favor!

1. Eating Chocolate You’ve probably heard someone tell you that you should avoid chocolate like the plague. Weight gain, acne, sugar spikes, and high levels of caffeine consumption are all common reasons why people believe that eating chocolate is unhealthy, but this snack is actually not as bad for you as you might think. Dark chocolate contains high concentrations of antioxidants, which reduce the risk of having a stroke, prevent blood clots, and slow the growth of cancer cells, thus increasing one’s lifespan. Not to mention, chocolate is also a sure source for instant energy! Don’t use this as an excuse to nosh on ten Hershey bars though—in excess, chocolate still causes major health problems.

2. Chewing Gum The act of chewing gum can possibly improve both long-term and short-term memory! Weight loss is also linked with chomping on your favorite gum, since it stimulates a part of your brain that makes you feel full. Just make sure you dispose of your gum properly because gum is harmful to many animals, especially birds that choke trying to feed on it.

3. Daydreaming If you find yourself clocking out frequently during long classes, here is some good news! Although daydreaming is usually associated with laziness and wasting time, a study from the University of British Columbia states that allowing your mind to wander actually increases your ability to solve problems. This happens because when you are daydreaming, the part of your brain that works to solve problems becomes more active.

4. Drinking Coffee Ideally, a person should consume no more than three cups of coffee a day. The caffeine in coffee is a good wake-me-up, and it speeds up your body’s rate of metabolism. Enjoying a couple of mugs of your favorite beverage also counters common causes of diabetes. So go ahead and slowly savor your hot coffee, knowing that it’s doing you good!

5. Getting Up Late The early bird catches the worm! Nearly everyone believes this one, right? But don’t be completely fooled; sleeping in might be good for you, too. Do not take this as a green light to be late to everything, but some studies have shown that sleeping in has some health benefits. These benefits include the organization of one’s memory and improvement of long-term memory.

It’s finally 2015, and with the new year come new trends in fashion, technology, games, and more. This year is no exception.

Everyone is highly anticipating what new things will be coming out and trending this year. Well, let’s take a look into what cool, new items may be the hype in 2015!

1. Drones In 2014, drones were used more because they were a cheaper form of delivery, and they became more accessible to buyers.

This year will also be a big year for these flying robots. Drones are becoming cheaper, easier to control, and more versatile.

They can cost anywhere from $20 for a basic model at RadioShack to several thousand dollars for special ones with high quality cameras.

2. 3D Printer The number of 3D printers being developed is rising. CES, a company that makes 3D printers, is expecting to create 24 or more of them, which is a great increase compared to when there were only 2 3D printers 3 years ago. This year, everyone is excited to see the 3D printers create food and customized chocolate. The 3D printer continues to be innovated as we wait to see the new functions that the company is developing.

3. Memory Mirror MemoMi’s mirror allows you to stand in front of a mirror without physically wearing something and see how you would look with a virtual shirt on. This digital mirror is now being used in certain retail stores by customers. It allows you to change the colors of the outfit and gives you a 360° view of the outfit on you.

The mirror can also take pictures of you, which you can send

to yourself via email. This new digital mirror allows customers to “try” on something without actually having to go through the hassle of going into a fitting room and physically putting on clothes.

4. Games Many gaming companies are releasing new games that have been highly anticipated. Nintendo is releasing new “Legend of Zelda” and “Star Fox” titles. Sony and Microsoft are also releasing new games like “Bloodborne”, and “Halo 5: Guardians”.

“Star Wars: Battlefront” from LucasArts and Pandemic Studios is also coming out. This year will surely be an exciting year for gamers.

5. Marvel Movies RINGING IN This year, Marvel is THE NEW YEAR taking over the big screen The end of 2014 signals with two highly anticipated a new year full of highly movies and a television seanticipated innovations ries. Avengers: Age of Ultron and trends! and Ant-Man are sure to keep the audience captivated in movie theaters, while ABC’s Marvel’s Agent Carter will keep audiences at home on the edge of their seats guessing what will happen next with each episode. vyu@apachepowwow.com

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A New Generation of Enterprising Individuals

By MICHELLE HUANG Staff Writer What do you consider as success? A 4.0 GPA, a 2400 SAT score, and/or getting into an Ivy? Well, these young people are not much older than ourselves, yet have transcended what a typical student defines as success. They’re entrepreneurs, activists, creative masterminds, and social revolutionaries.

1. Mike Zhang, age 23 AHS alumnus Zhang started his airsoft gun company at age 14. After realizing that China produces them at a more efficient cost, Zhang convinced his parents to allow him to import the guns and sell them online for profit. He has caught the attention of some of Wall Street’s biggest firms: Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, and more.

2. Nick D’aloisio, age 19 Before even graduating high school, D’aloisio created a computer algorithm that would generate summaries from thousands of news sources. He named it “Summly”; soon after, Yahoo found it so impressive that it decided to buy the algorithm for $1.5 million and hire him for its News Digest section. Now, Daloisio attends Oxford University in London on an academic scholarship, and is continuing his employment at Yahoo.

3. Malala Yousafzai, age 17 In 2012, as a Pakistani teenager, she was shot in the head by the Taliban as a result of campaigning girls’ rights to go to school. Miraculously, she survived. Even though she was almost killed, Yousafzai still fights for girls’ rights to go to school in the Middle East. Since then she has won several awards, including a Nobel Peace Prize. Her autobiography, I am Malala, was a bestseller. Now, she’s using her fame to put more girls in school.

4. Lucas Duplan, age 22 After receiving his undergrad computer science degree from Stanford, Duplan is running one of the most hyped startups in the nation, Clinkle, which is basically a digital wallet. He

has been able to raise $30 million from the likes of Richard Branson, Peter Thiel and Andreessen Horowitz for an unreleased, secret product, and has attracted talent such as former Netflix chief financial officer Barry McCarthy, who is now Clinkle’s chief operating officer.

5. Tavi Gevinson, age 18 She is the founder, owner, and editor of the online teenage fashion website, Rookie. Aside from running the online magazine, she’s also friends with Vogue editor Anna Wintour and “This American Life” host Ira Glass. Tavi will be attening New York University this coming fall, after taking a gap year to pursue her career.

6. David Karp, age 28 Even though he never really finished high school or went to college, David created Tumblr in his spare time, a website which is now one of the top 10 Internet property valued at $800 million.

7. Palmer Luckey, age 22 After being homeschooled, he started taking community college courses at long beach when he was 14 and 15, eventually moving to Cal State Long Beach at 18. During his stay at the Cal State, he worked at University of Southern California’s Mixed Reality Lab as an engineer and eventually created Oculus Rift, a virtual reality gaming headpiece.

8. Brian Wong, age 23 Brian co-founded Kiip, a mobile advertising network that enables brands and companies to prompt consumers for commercial offers on virtual achievements, with his friends in 2010. Since then, Kiip has drawn the attention of mega companies such as Disney, Pepsi, and McDonalds. Kiip is active on over 1,100 apps, and has influence all over the globe.

pyang@apachepowwow.com

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January 2015

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8

PERFORMING ARTS

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January 2015

By ELLIE LEE Staff Writer

By KATIE HUANG Staff Writer

Hosted on Jan. 17, the 48th Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Recognition Show served to commemorate the end of the fall Band season and gave the audience a glimpse of what’s to come in the winter and spring season. The show also included extra features exclusive to the Spaghetti Dinner. For example, each show presented a different variation of the “Star Spangled Banner”, as well as the drill downs, which were led by this year’s drum major, Minphy Liao. From each grade, certain winners of this “Simon Says” like game were picked to represent their sections. The most highly anticipated drill down was for the seniors, because according to junior Tiffany Lau, “they dressed up in costumes and it was their last drill down, so it got a little emotional.”

Freshman Jennie Li emphasized that “five months of summer rehearsals, Band Camp, afterschool rehearsals, and even Saturday rehearsals” have truly brought together a close knit group of students, whose hard work and dedication were on display at the show. Tiffany expressed that “it was fun to perform for your friends and family because you got to show them what you’re part of and something that they may not have seen before.”

The Spaghetti Dinner was certainly not an event to be missed. We are already looking forward to next year’s performance!

You know that jittery feeling you get before you speak in front of the class? You know what’s more difficult than doing a simple PowerPoint presentation to your classmates? Being in front of your teacher one on one. For the Performing Arts (PA) groups at AHS, students are required to audition privately to join a certain PA group. Although these auditions are quite nerve wrecking, PA students should use different methods to relax before their auditions.

Breathing properly is the most effective. Without proper breathing, your brain will get less oxygen than it requires, causing your heart to race continuously. Take more controlled and slower breaths using this method. Inhale slowly through your nose for about five to seven seconds. Hold that breath in for about three or four seconds. Exhale calmly through your mouth as if you’re whistling for about seven to nine seconds.This method will help to regain the carbon dioxide balance in your body that’ll help you feel less angst.

What are some things you can chew on to help calm your nerves? Chocolate! Dark chocolate helps regulate levels of stress hormones. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, try a mango! Tropical fruits are packed with a compound called linalool that helps lower stress levels. Gum is also a quick and easy way to beat stress. Just a few minutes of chewing can reduce anxiety. Any crunchy food will do!

Slow down your heart rate down by blowing on your thumb.

Your thumb has its own pulse. If you can calm that pulse down, you’re also calming your heart. Blowing will cool your thumb and the cold is able to slow down your pulse, thus calming your heart rate. This method might also help reduce the speed of your heart rate because the act of blowing itself forces you to deepen your breathing.

Listen to calming music. Instrumental or nature sounds are more calming than vocals. Try dripping cold water on your wrists or ears. There are major arteries right underneath the skin of the wrist and ears, so cooling these areas can help calm the whole body. Another option is to groom your hair. Repetitive motions can cause the body to relax and it’ll give you something else to do!

In addition, talk to someone that’s close to you. A very effective way is to talk to someone you trust. Don’t be shy about your uneasiness. Tell them how you feel! Talking to people that you’re close to helps keep your mind off of your anxiousness, and the support you’ll get from your loved ones gives you that extra boost of assurance. Also, drink lots of water. Water is important for keeping your body hydrated and toxin free. This helps your mind focus better.

The most important way to relax before an audition is to be confident in yourself. Making sure you’re well prepared and having a positive mind set can really affect your performance. The more confident you are, the better you will do! Don’t focus on who’s in front of you; it’ll only distract you. Imagine you’re alone practicing on your own. Best of luck to all PA students on their upcoming auditions! elee@apachepowwow.com

khuang@apachepowwow.com

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Blooming at the

By EILEEN LEE Staff Writer

On Jan. 1, the 126th Rose Parade was held once again, featuring AHS’ Percussion team. The Percussion ensemble included A, Open, and World drumlines. Junior Ethan Chen explained that there were other performing arts groups from other high schools and organizations, including the Glendale High School dance team, professional dancers, and trampoline artists. Students endured practices

that lasted usually around four to five hours long. Practices took place every weekend for three weeks, with a few additional ones held during the weekdays.

When asked which practice was the most difficult throughout the entire process, Ethan mentioned the one on New Year’s Day, since it took place from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the morning. He stated, “Needless to say that it was freezing cold in the morning, and the teams had to practice for three whole hours!”

The Arcadia ensemble had a quite unique

experience this anyone in the enyear, performing semble had ever in two different done before beparts of the pacause [members] rade: the opening worked with proflash mob and fessionals: dancthe actual Rose ers, makeup artists, Parade. The flash and designers.” mob was new to Marching over the Rose Parade. five miles with Ethan rememsmiles on their bered the show faces, Percussion to be more interesting, since “six snare members definitely considered performing drummers including [himself] were giv- in the Rose Parade a new experience! en the opportunity to sit in the stands and essentially start the Rose Parade perforelee@apachepowwow.com mance with a nice surprise.”

Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM Though it was his first time performand SHUTTERSHOCK.COM ing in the Rose Parade, Ethan felt that Photos courtesy of 9NEWS.COM and “performing was different from anything LATIMES.COM

January 2015

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PERFORMING ARTS

9

Orchestra Conducts Side by Side Concert

By KYLE WANG

By JACQUELINE CHANG Staff Writer

“We create music.” The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has been supporting the creation of art and music creators on a global scale for 100 years now. The ASCAP is the only non-profit performing rights organization in the U.S. founded and run by its members, and it is set on transforming art and music creators into well-known stars. Some of its most successful members include Katy Perry, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Lady Antebellum, and they have benefited greatly from ASCAP during the earlier stages of their careers.

For the ASCAP’s 100th anniversary, an exhibition titled One Hundred Years and Beyond was held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In its Library of Congress Ira Gershwin Gallery, the showcase opened its doors to the public on Aug. 23, 2014 and is set to run untill Feb. 14, 2015.

One Hundred Years and Beyond will celebrate all that ASCAP has accomplished throughout the years, and the group’s alliances with other organizations in over 100 countries.

The Library of Congress’ ASCAP Collection recalls remarkable times in its past, explores modern art and works, and sparks dreams in the younger generation.

The showcase features 45 objects including several artifacts that played a great role in the up and coming ASCAP. The first ASCAP license that was ever issued was a significant event in ASCAP’s rich history: it was in 1914 to Rector’s Restaurant in New York City. One Hundred Years and Beyond is also featuring original manuscripts, audio material, sheet music, and lyrics to several of the greatest hits from the past 100 years including “White Christmas”, “The Pink Panther”, and “Poor Butterfly” (which debuted on Broadway in the 1916 production The Big Show).

Free and open to the public, ASCAP’s One Hundred Years and Beyond is definitely bustling with intrigued spectators and energy. This exhibition is a place you must visit, so do not miss out! Take a weekend to go up to the Walt Disney Concert Hall by Feb. 14, and you surely won’t be disappointed.

Staff Writer

As January is coming to an end, Orchestra has many events that are approaching. All of the Orchestra students are well aware of the upcoming trip to Florida this spring break, but only some are aware of the annual Orchestra Side by Side Concert.

The Side by Side Concert is an event in which Orchestra 2 and 3 perform onstage alongside various students of Arcadia’s elementary schools. Over the past few years, the concert has been slowly gaining popularity for its uniqueness. “I went to one of the concerts two years ago, and it was actually really cool. I liked the concert because it was fun to watch the elementary school students perform with the high school students. I would definitely go to the one this year if I had time,” said senior Perry Wang.

Like Perry, there are many students and adults looking forward to the concert.

Sadly, Orchestra 1 students will not be participating in the Side by Side Concert. Freshman Crystal Chin of Orchestra 1 stated that “it is a good idea for freshmen to not participate in the concert. Since it takes place a week after finals

week, it’s quite hard to adjust to the rigorous schedule.” However, Crystal has decided to put that extra time to practice not only for next year’s Side by Side Concert, but also to improve as a musician as a whole. “I just love playing the violin, and I think with the way our Orchestra 1 is playing this year, we will be ready to put on a really great performance in the Side by Side Concert [next year],” stated Crystal. Semi-professional violinist Crystal and her friends plan on working hard over the year in order to set a good example for the elementary school students at the next Side by Side Concert.

This year’s Side by Side Concert will beheld in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Jan. 31 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the PAC Box Office on the day of the event and are only $5 each. Whether you are free this Saturday afternoon or are just looking for a place to hang out with friends, this is the perfect place to go.

Not only will you be supporting Arcadia’s young musicians, but you will also be entertained with music played by talented orchestra members!

kwang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of DECAL.COM and EWEB4.COM

jchang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of EWEB4.com

Youth America Dance Prix

By ERIC CHEN Staff Writer

The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest international student dance competition. The prestigious competition offers $250,000 in scholarships to prodigious dance schools each year. It is one of the most respected ballet competitions in the world, hosting numerous dance style competitions and performances.

Its mission is to provide young, dedicated dancers with a stepping stone into careers as professional dancers. Regional competitions are held in 12 American cities and in 5 locations abroad. YAGP Finals are held in New York City each year, but only a selected few get to attend and compete in the prestigious competition. As its motto goes, the YAGP definitely is “ensuring the future of dance.”

YAGP was founded in 1999 by two retired dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet: Larissa Saveliev and Gennadi Saveliev. The competition soon rose to national fame in the U.S. before gaining international recognition.

At the competitions, artistry and technique are valued and judged equally; artistry relates to aspects such as beauty, swiftness, agility, whereas technique relates to well, technical skill. At many modern dance competitions, artistry has been

forgotten or disregarded while technique has continued to impress judges and the audience.

Luckily, at the YAGP, the judges comment on both artistry and technique. In essence, both aspects are worth the same amount of points.

In fact, there have even been instances where jurors have preferred the simple, but elegant dance over the overly technical dance.

Thousands of participants compete yearly for scholarships, totaling up to about 5,000 participants every year. Grand schools such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, and the Royal Ballet

School all offer professional guidance to top dance students who show potential. However, all participants are eligible for this opportunity, as motivation and dedication are just as important as skill.

Ethnic and cultural diversity thrive at the YAGP competitions. People of all shapes and sizes, races, and languages come to spectate or compete in the competitions. This competition promotes racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.

The YAGP has won multiple achievements and noteworthy accomplishments since its birth 16 years ago. Of the plethora of accomplishments are its $2,000,000 granted for scholarships and its membership count of over 25,000 dancers worldwide. In addition, the YAGP appeared in the “Works and Progress” program of the show How Judges Judge. The program has eventually become the most viewed in the entire series. This only goes on to prove the YAGP’s rising popularity among people of all ages. echen@apachepowwow.com

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10

WHEN IN DOUBT

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January 2015

By KATIE HUANG

Jan. 31 is National Backwards Day, it says. For one whole day, be prepare whether it is eating breakfast foods for This is the time to experiment with the th better with an unconventional method. that switches up your daily routine will While Backwards Day can just be a different, it can also be a time for you t always been too afraid to reach for. Utili on your fears and instead, turn them int your target.

No matter how you choose to celeb So remember to spend a little extra time Day one to remember!

January 2015

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FLIP IT AROUND 11

Staff Writer

, and the name suggests exactly what ed to do things completely backwards, r dinner or wearing your top inside out. hings you’ve always thought would work Backwards running? Go for it! Anything qualify as celebrating this fun day. a silly, entertaining day to do something to start accomplishing a goal you have ize this symbolic day to go “backwards” to new creative energy to work towards

brate this day, there is no wrong or right. e to make this year’s National Backwards

khuang@apachepowwow.com

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12

STUDENT LIFE

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A Balance Between Academics and Friends

By SHAWN XING Staff Writer

It is true that AHS students are incredibly immersed in their academic and extracurricular activities; however, it is also true that AHS students often take time after school, on weekends, or during breaks to simply gather and enjoy each others’ company, have fun, and relax. Activities ranging from paintballing and shopping at the mall to watching movies and drinking boba, students actively create time in their busy lives to spend quality time with their friends.

However, where exactly do AHS students spend the most time at with friends and what do they most often do together?

According to senior Audrey Wong, many AHS students come together with friends at the Westfield Santa Anita mall, AU79, Rita’s, Panera Bread, and Half and Half, as well as at destinations in Pasadena such as Blaze, Urth Cafe, and Lemonade.

In addition to these places for drinks and food, AHS students often go hiking and strolling at the beach! Audrey and her friends travel further on the weekends and breaks, such as to Glendale and Anaheim, to spend more time together and explore new places with different atmo-

High School Internships

By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer

Before deciding what major students want to apply for in college, many of them apply for internships to get a sneak peak of what job in a specific category would be like. High school is the perfect time for students to explore their different interests in life, and internships are an awesome way to begin this exploration. These students have been through a variety of different internships throughout their high school career.

“I did an internship at a media design place. It was good because I got to learn how graphics art design works and how to create a website. It enhanced my writing because I was a chief editor there for the articles that were posted up on the website. Interning there taught me independent works and how to run a professional creative meeting.”

—Melanie Ma, 12 “This year I interned at the Law Offices of Anthony Janji, and of the recently elected State Senator, Ben Allen as well. Interning at a law office and campaigning office gave me a close up view of both life in the workforce and in politics as well. Internships honed my practical skills around the office as well as broadened my perspectives on future careers.” —Jason Dong, 12 ksun@apachepowwow.com

spheres. Audrey shared, “During my freshman and sophomore years, I spent the majority of my time studying and telling my friends I was too busy to meet them. However, during my junior Year, a friend told me that he regretted not going out more during high school instead of spending all his time studying. He told me ‘that in ten years, you will look back at your high school life and remember times you were

with your friends instead of times you spent studying in your room.’” Ever since, Audrey has made it a priority to balance her academics and social life, as she believes this balance will lead to a more fulfilling high school experience.

Junior Eric Chen added that he and his friends spend a lot of time at Round Tables in Monrovia, which he deemed “an excellent place to hang out because of the beautiful surroundings of the restaurant and delicious pizza!”

Many parties are thrown there, and friends get to feast on wings, breadsticks, and pizza. “It is very important to take time to relax because too much stress is harmful for the body,” explained Eric. “You should cherish all the memories you can make with your friends by relaxing and hanging out.” Eric also mentioned that Tpumps and Honeyboba are common places for AHS students to get together.

Junior Andy Tzeng also believes that this balance between academics and friends is essential. He declared that “it is important to reward oneself with some rest and relaxation with friends after a heavy study session.”

Andy personally likes to meet with friends at their houses or his own house because of the quiet and friendly environment, which can be conducive for friendly chatting or studying. A couple other common places AHS students gather at are Starbucks and the Arcadia Public Library!

Although the workload from classes may often times be overwhelming, students at AHS are determined to balance academics with their social lives. Being with friends is simply another way to unwind, relax, and have fun! sxing@apachepowwow.com

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Conquer The Tests!

By EMILY WU Staff Writer

Let’s face it, most students at AHS are on their phones for countless hours each day. Instead of playing games, surfing the web, and texting, why not use your smartphone to help you ace your exams? Now, thanks to technology, there are hundreds of mobile apps to help students study. Here are some of the best free studying apps: Quizlet. Convenient. Effective. Entertaining. Who could’ve asked for a better study tool? Quizlet allows you to create your own flashcards, or search for decks created by millions of other users. Users can also play study games, which make learning more fun. This app is great for studying on the go, and it’s simple and easy to use. It’s bound to improve study habits, and help review for upcoming tests.

AppDetox. Do you ever get distracted while studying from apps on your phone? If so, AppDetox is the solution to controlling your app addictions! AppDetox allows you to block apps on your phone for a certain period of time to avoid being distracted. You create your own rules on when or how long a certain app is blocked. If you attempt to open a blocked app, AppDetox sends you a message informing you that you are not allowed to use the app, and it instantly exits out of the app for you. It’s the perfect anti-procrastination app, and it will definitely help you focus on your tasks. Unfortunately for iOS users, it’s currently only available on Androids.

Fetchnotes. This isn’t your ordinary notetaking app. Fetchnotes is a simple way to keep track of notes and to-do’s. Your thoughts are organized with hashtags, and categories are created from those hashtags. For example, you may type a key concept about the beginning of World War II and tag it #history. That key concept will be found in your own personal folder of #history.

Once you no longer need to know a certain key concept, you can archive it. This works with todo tasks as well. You can tag a task with #todo and archive it after you complete the task. Fetchnotes is a great way for students to memorize and review important concepts before tests, and also stay organized with convenient to-do lists.

Coffitivity. According to researchers at the University of Illinois, the ambient noise of a bustling coffee shop enhances creativity. Coffitivity, an app that was inspired by this research, recreates the ambient sounds of a cafe to help boost concentration and creativity. With this app, you can choose from several Coffitivity audio tracks to create your ideal working environment. You can also open your favorite music apps while Coffitivity continues to play, and adjust the volume of Coffitivity to create the perfect balance with your favorite tunes.

With these four free apps, you are bound to have a successful second semester! From digital flashcards to music that enhances creativity, you will be able to work more effectively and efficiently than ever before. So what are you waiting for? Get off Trivia Crack, and go download these useful apps now!

ewu@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of NATIVEMOBILE.COM

Jarnuary 2015

The Art of AHS Athletes

By EMILY SCHUBE Staff Writer

Arcadia High School: its beautiful campus, intelligent students, and, of course, succeeding athletes. AHS would not be a top school without its student athletes. Whether in football, water polo, golf, soccer, tennis, etc. it takes some serious talent in becoming an athlete. However, with practice this talent can be achieved at any sport. Here is a walk-through explanation on how to be AHS’ Student Athlete.

Step 1: Learn Your Stuff In order to be a great athlete, you have to know the rules of the game and what is right and what is wrong. For example, in baseball, it is a mandatory recommendation to eat sunflower seeds and chew gum. In soccer, every little push or shove must be dramatized in order to earn a free kick. In golf, it is required that you know how to snap. Those are just some must-know rules, but with more studying you are one step closer to becoming a contestant.

Step 2: Strut in the Hallways Being an athlete does not always consist of being on the court or field. In fact, most athletes participate by displaying their team spirit, more than actually playing. You see jackets, bags, backpacks, shirts, tank tops, visors, etc. etc. etc! The trading post is filled with Apache athletic equipment (oh and the food as well). Showing off your Apache style informs people of your athletic nature, connoting a “cool” factor.

I mean, people join track for the uniforms, golf is popular for its visors, and even cross country looks forward to its backpacks.

Imitating an athlete makes you one!

Step 3: Talk a Big Game You not only have to have a sense of style, but an attitude. When speaking athlete, have a proud and confident mindset while adding some technical terms in as well. You would think cross country runners would only talk about running, but the technical-athletic terms they use are nowhere near running around in circles.

Step 4: Follow Outside Sports Teams are considered family to each other, but that is only because they share a connection. This connection is a common professional sport. The Lakers, the Seahawks, and the Anaheim Ducks are just some examples of teams you must be aware of. Having a favorite professional team brings you in the clique, but only if others agree with your team. Whether you are with a group of Chargers fans or Raiders fans, choose wisely.

There you have it! The keys to becoming an AHS athlete. It can take a lot to become physically active and fuse into the AHS athletic department with skill and expertise. Actually playing the sport is a good suggestion as well, but with some practice and studying, anyone can blend in among the student athletes. eschube@apachepowwow.com

January 2015

By PETER JU

STUDENT LIFE

studentlife.powwow@gmail.com

Student Spotlight Karlen Bell

Dream Deferred Staff Writer

Do you use your smartphone or tablet before going to bed? Current studies show that people who use their smartphones or tablets an hour before bed get less sleep on average than those who sleep without using their electronics. For example, an interview conducted in Massachusetts showed that 54% of 2,000 students reported that they sleep near an electronic device. These students were shown to get substantially poorer sleep as opposed to their peers, who didn’t sleep near a phone or tablet.

Sleep is essential for your health, providing the energy you need for the next day. More times than not, not getting enough sleep will result in some mental lapses. If you have a test the next day, getting a sufficient amount of sleep is the key to doing well. Who wants to feel groggy and lightheaded in the morning anyway? Sure as heck, no one wants to be late to school and be met with a dreaded tardy sweep! The culprit for all these dire situations? Well it might be hard to break it to you, but it’s your smartphone or tablet! They are very helpful, don’t get me wrong. However they prove to be clear distractions when you’re trying to study or sleep. Let’s take a look at what some students at AHS have to say about the use of a smartphone or tablet before sleeping.

Junior Michelle Lin said, “Even though it’s bad to use electronics before sleeping, I still do it for things like essays, Facebook, and so on. The harsh blue light keeps you awake and alert but it messes up your circadian rhythm, or your sleep cycle. It tends to make you more tired in the morning. The best way to get a good night’s sleep is to not use electronics at least an hour before you go to bed, but I mean who does that?”

Sophomore Douglas Nguyen replied, “I use electronics before sleeping and my eyes hurt from the burning white screen, but I use them to play music. I don’t usually stay up late, but whenever I get a text I have the urge to reply so I might go to bed late.”

Sophomore Samuel Cui said, “Sometimes, I use my phone before going to bed. Personally, I don’t feel any differences in my sleep, but if I end up overusing it, I get less sleep.

I learned that the best way to sleep more is to charge your phone outside your room, which I do quite often now.”

Senior Stephanie Lim said, “I also use electronics before I go to sleep and consequently, I stay up longer and get less sleep. I [feel] that I can get better sleep by not using electronics at all.”

Due to the strenuous workload of rigorous AP and honors courses, many AHS students don’t get the recommended amount of sleep. More often than not, modern technology proves to be a constant distraction that keeps us from being productive, enjoying social interactions, or sleeping soundly. But let’s be real. Who can resist the mellodious chime of an incoming notification? pju@apachepowwow.com

Graphic courtesy of NEWS.BYU.EDU

By RYAN FANN

Staff Writer

Have you ever seen that guy with the pitch-dark sunglasses and the water bottle speaker walking around in the halls? Chances are, you have wondered who he is and why he plays dubstep music in the halls. Junior Karlen Bell has made an image for himself as “The Dubstep Guy” here at AHS. Karlen said, “I am half American and half Chinese. I’ve lived in China for 8 years and am also bilingual.”

His inspiration is Jim Carey, a renowned Canadian actor, because he convinced Karlen to be crazy and be himself.

His inspiration to play his music started in eighth grade, when he came across a small speaker in China, bought it, and “started using speakers to play music outdoors ever since.”

In tenth grade, he used to listen to radio stations and dance, but it was awkward when strangers saw him dance when there was no music being played. The small speaker turned out to be just what he always wanted, something that could play music to ev-

The Evolution Of Finals

By ANDREA LIU Staff Writer

Everyone grab your books, coffee, and energy drinks. Finals week may have just left us, but there’s another one coming up this semester.

There are many stages of finals, especially if you don’t study. The first step? You realize that finals are approaching faster than you thought and start regretting all those times you skipped or slept through your classes. So, of course, you’re determined to crack open that textbook and start studying. However, when you get home and see your computer, you start to watch one show on Netflix, just to make the upcoming pain a little more tolerable. Then, you realize that it’s going to be a whole week of testing, so why not one more episode? Or two? Or the entire season? Surely, you deserve this.

And then you realize that finals are closer than ever, and yet you still haven’t looked over a single page in your textbook. So you begin to panic, and wonder if you should run away from home. Of course, a random burst of motivation comes on and you actually begin to study. That’s when coffee starts to become

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your new best friend, because sleep is for the tions that weren’t even on the study guide. So weak. You can’t comprehend the material to of course, you wish that you could have studbegin with anyway. And this is when a pin drop- ied just a bit more instead of wasting all that ping can distract you out of your mind, so you time looking up cat pictures, and start hating boost yourself from coffee to sobbing, which yourself. But days go on as you slog through randomly motivates you to study (again). hour after hour and finally, you realize that you survived fiYou’re a legit studying nals week, mess now, and start with only a celebrating. single day to That is, until go, but then this semessomething ter. happens and This all you lose all sounds rathconfidence er exaggerto pick up ated, but it your textmight be the book over path you’re a g a i n , started down which leads A HIDDEN DISASTER Finals week proves to be one of if you hadn’t to a power the worst times in any students’ lives. even taken nap. a glance at When you wake up, you realize that it’s your textbook the day before finals week. So time for your first final. You head on to class, you might be wondering how to escape the maybe even accepting the fact that you might stages of doom for this semester, or just decidbomb all the exams in the entire week. When ed to give up already. However, getting good the teacher hands you the test, you see ques- marks on your finals isn’t really a challenge,

erybody, and hopefully when he danced to it, it wouldn’t be so awkward.

His favorite genre of music is EDM (electronic dance music) and his favorite genres of EDM are House, Tech House, Progressive House, Dubstep, and Hardstyle.

He noted, “I understand it is annoying for people who don’t like my music, but I try to not disturb them, even though it is almost impossible.”

It is easy to say that Karlen has garnered some popularity with his unique way of expressing himself through music. Hopefully after knowing more about him and his motives, when you see him in the halls, you can give him a wave or a smile instead of an awkward look. As we say in America, we are a country of freedom of expression and individuality. Karlen Bell proves to be an inspiration for many and is not afraid to present himself in the classiest of ways. rfann@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of KARLEN BELL

but you just need to take the right steps.

It may sound strange, but a key to success is chewing gum. Chewing gum helps boost mental performance, which is especially helpful when reading over your history textbook.

Another trick is to switch on the lights.

Bright lights while studying can increase the learning process and even ward off symptoms of depression, which we can all be especially prone to during finals week.

Try different study places. Switching areas in where you study increases information retention, so you don’t have to get on the nerves of the librarian. Try Starbucks, the park, or even a friend’s place to hit the books.

We all have instances in which we want to scream at our homework, or drown in our own tears while working on our essays. Now, it’s not such a bad idea! If you are able to relate a strong emotion to the subjects you’re studying, chances are, you’ll remember it better. Start thinking about finals week early because chances are, it’ll sneak up on you and end as a week of disaster. aliu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of PHOTOBUCKET.COM

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ACADEMICS

UC Riverside Entomology

By LAUREN TRAJANO Staff Writer

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is a public university that is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. It is located in the nice and quiet suburb of Riverside, California. Founded in 1907, UCR has taken part in the research in pest control and growth regulators responsible for growing citrus in our beloved state.

However, it not only houses important research collections in citrus diversity, but also in entomology.

Entomology is the study of insects, and UCR’s Entomology Department is highly respected by its students. The Department of Entomology offers undergraduate programs leading to either the Bachelor of Science (BS) or the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

The BS degree offers students with a strong interest in the natural sciences an opportunity to emphasize this aspect of their education. The BA degree is available to students who wish to obtain a broader background in the humanities and social sciences than is required of students in the BS program.

While its graduate program offers programs leading to the Master of Science (MS) or Doctorate (PhD) degree in Entomology, with research specialization in the following areas: arthropod vectors of plant pathogens, biological control, insect behavior, insect ecology, insect morphology, insect pathology, insect pest management, insect physiology, insect-plant interactions, insect systematics, insect toxicology, insecticide resistance, insecticide toxicology, medical/ veterinary entomology, molecular entomology, neuroscience, and urban entomology.

UCR’s Entomology Department also offers outreach programs where participants can introduce insects to children as important learning experiences. Rosie, the department’s pet tarantula, is a popular attraction for kids. The Walking Stick insect and Madagascar Hissing Cockroach are also showcased to the numerous second graders.

UCR’s Entomology students also visit on a monthly basis.

UCR even has an entomology museum which contains the second oldest insect collections of the United States. The first specimens were transferred over from the California State Insectary at Sacramento in 1923 and have been a part of the collection ever since. Donors like P.H. Timberlake, L.D. Anderson, and G.P. McKenzie gave away their sizable personal collections to add to UCR’s museum phenomena.

As a student of UCR’s Entomology Department, one can learn all about the structure, function, and behavior of certain insects and have the opportunity to share his or her passion with the younger generation. Not only that, but students can also check out ancient insects from UCR’s popular museum.

Entomology is an interesting major indeed.

ltrajano@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM

arcadiapowwow.wordpress.com

January 2015

F=MA Takes Full Force

By ELYSE YAO Staff Writer

People who have a knack for physics are hardly common. The select few who do, however, gather in the AHS Physics Team to learn and discuss physics, as well as have fun with likeminded people. Over the past few months, Physics Team members have had weekly meetings, improving their knowledge of physics and talking with the friends they’ve met and bonded with through the team. Finally, the members’ efforts came to fruition during the F=MA exam. After over half a year of studying and preparing, the Physics Team completed the F=MA preliminary exam for the Physics Olympiad on Jan. 26. The exam consisted of 25 multiple-choice questions and “tested participants on non-calculus mechanical physics,” according to Physics Team member senior Alan Shum. The exam covered basic knowledge of physics, including Newton’s laws, Kepler’s laws, mechanical energy, and kinematics in linear and rotational movement. About 300 top-scorers on the test

will move on to the semifinal exam. Then, the top 20 semifinalists go to a camp in Maryland, preparing to represent the U.S. in the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). According to Physics Team Co-Captain Sirej Dua, “Last year we had two students from AHS qualify for the

USAPhO semifinal, and this year the team has become much stronger.”

To prepare for the exam, Physics Team members spent every Monday listening to lectures and doing practice problems. As the exam approached, members had to focus even more on studying. Armed with a stockpile of

chips, soda, and other junk food, team members worked diligently. During these meetings, the members of Physics Team discussed the various topics covered on the exam. Physics Team participant senior Jane Bi said that “for the past few meetings, we have practiced many problems from previous years since we think that’s the best way to prepare.” By reviewing the released questions from previous years, the members of Physics Team were able to familiarize themselves with the test.

Scoring well on the exam is not an easy feat, as many of the questions were far more difficult than those found in AP Physics courses. Even if members do not move past the F=MA exam, they come out of the experience with more knowledge, pride, and a sense of accomplishment. Sirej added that, “It was amazing last year, knowing that months of passionate study of the world around us became useful when we competed, but the competition is just one step in the process of understanding and appreciating the world we live in.” eyao@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of ACADEMICS.AHS.AUSD.NET

Summer Programs for High Schoolers

By KIMBERLY LO Staff Writer

If you are looking to expand your horizons this upcoming summer, then consider attending a summer program. Participating in different activities can offer you insights into what your interests are and what you want to pursue in the future. Here are some exciting programs that will take place this summer.

Art and Architecture: The University of Pennsylvania School of Design holds Art and Architecture programs during the summer. The Art program offers students one Art Major class and one Art Minor class. Options include Sculpture Studio, Experiments in Video, and Animation Production. On the other hand, the Architecture program allows students to learn about architectural design skills such as freehand and technical drawing, designing, and model building. On weekends, students can visit nearby areas including New York City and Washington D.C. Literature: Rising seniors can apply for the MedillNorthwestern Journalism Institute, which is located at Northwestern University. During this fiveweek pro-

gram, students will develop their journalism skills by learning things beyond just writing.

Students will learn about different variations of journalism including photojournalism and audio. Over the course of the program, students will write articles covering different areas like news and opinion.

International Travel: Global Works offers summer service adventures, where students travel to countries such as New Zealand, Ecuador, Peru, and France.

There are three types of programs: cultural exchange, language immersion, and enrichment programs. Each program is unique and offers various opportunities for participants. These programs allow students to earn community service hours through activities such as teaching English and taking part in recycling

projects. In language immersion programs, students take language lessons and practice their speaking skills. At each location, students participate in fun adventures such as whitewater rafting in the French Alps and Toboggan sliding on the Great Wall of China.

Math: Stanford University has a summer Mathematics Camp that brings students from all

over the United States together. This four-week program is for rising juniors and seniors who have an interest in math and its applications.

The program includes a course, guest lectures, and a project in which students can research a specific area of mathematics. This is a great program for students with a passion for math and an eagerness to learn more about math in depth.

Politics: The American Politics Institute is a oneweek program held at Georgetown University.

This is a program where students learn about the government and the separation of powers.

During field trips, students can meet government officials and other staff to talk about national issues. Other topics students will explore include Congress, interest groups, foreign policy, and the impact of the judiciary. In addition, students will get to visit places including Capitol Hill, the National Mall, and the Democratic and Republican National Committees.

Science: Boston University’s School of Medicine offers the CityLab’s SummerLab Biotechnology Program. This program gives students hands-on experience with biotechnology work, and allows students to use their knowledge and understanding of concepts in their science labs. Topics investigated include hemoglobin electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, and Lowry assay.

There are just a handful of the hundreds of summer programs, but keep in mind that many summer programs have application processes and deadlines. If any of these opportunities interest you, check out the programs more in detail. klo@apachepowwow.com

Graphics courtesy of FLICKR.COM

January 2015

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Boys Basketball Swishes in

By SHAWN XING

Staff Writer

The Boys Varsity Basketball team recently began its season. The boys have a lot to look forward to this year, including working with a new Assistant Coach, Coach Sheeck Morris.

According to junior Matthew Hatfield, Coach Morris has introduced a whole new offensive system that is working very well for the boys. “Our new offense is the key to our success. If we can master it, we will do great this season,” expressed Co-Captain senior Brandon Wong.

However, the team got off to a slow start this season, losing to both Burbank and Hoover High School by only a few points. “We tend to start out poorly. After slow starts, we tend to roar right back,” explained Matthew. Brandon remains optimistic, confident that the team will bounce right back. Junior Samuel Reismann added that, to improve, the team needs to “play hard” from the beginning of games, as “other teams usually get out to big leads early in games. In most of those games [the team] manages to come back only to fall just a few points short of winning.” Overall, “things have been go-

BALANCED EFFORT Senior Kade Cheung’s hot shooting combined with superb team chemistry and cohesion have led to a successful season for Boys Basketball.

ing well, the team is quietly coming together as the players develop chemistry for the season,” Co-Captain senior Kade Cheung commented.

Kade continued, “the biggest improvement this year would probably be the amount of experience our team has.” The team has matured a lot in the past year, Kade concluded.

Last year, most of the boys were first year Varsity members. Many of the boys on this year’s team now have a year’s experience of playing on a Varsity team under their belt. In addition, compared to the previous year, the team has better three point shooters and better rebounders that help hustle and get to loose balls. Freshman David Chen added, “I believe the most important thing we need to improve on is to show more heart and to be more physical. From the game against Hoover High School, I really felt that we picked up the intensity.”

The players are working hard to be more aggressive and physical this season, and their efforts are beginning to show in games.

Winning League and CIF are in the boys’ minds this year. “We have a big chance of winning League. It would take a lot of hard work and effort, but the team is up for it... We have better, more serious players, and also a new coach and a new system,”

GETTING OFFENSIVE

Junior Matthew Hatfield directs the offense, which has been efficient and disciplined this season.

Staff Writer

Kelly Dopke is many things: a scholar, an upstanding member of the community, and a pleasure to sit alongside in class. But above everything else, Kelly is an athlete.

Starting her career when she was only six years old with club soccer, Kelly has been building her talents ever since. After having played JV Volleyball, Varsity Soccer, and Badminton as a freshman at Mayfield Senior School, Kelly brought her talents to AHS, lettering simultaneously in Varsity Soccer, Volleyball, and Track and Field.

But even in light of all her success, Kelly expressed a remarkable sense of humility, seeing herself only as a “developing athlete” who “always has more to learn from [her] coaches and teammates.”

When reflecting on the volleyball team’s performance this year, a tinge of pride finds its way into her voice: “I was really proud of our performance this year. Not only did we finish the season undefeated, but we also matched our best performance ever by reaching CIF semi-finals. To accomplish that in my senior year is simply amazing. It was definitely a tough loss, but to get that far is a tre-

mendous accomplishment in itself.”

For a second, she sounded downtrodden; but before I could say anything, her voice bounced back, “This has been the farthest Arcadia has gone in a long time, and I’m really glad to be a part of such a dynamic team.”

I never settle for ‘good’ because there is always something I can improve on. I think it’s the commitment to everything I do in sports that has brought me to where I am today.”

When asked to describe her most remarkable experience as an

TRIPLE THE TALENT

Senior Kelly Dopke has excelled at volleyball (left), soccer (right), and track and She paused for field during her time at AHS. athlete at AHS, Kelly had trouble a moment when asked narrowing it down to about her formula for suca single event. “For volcess. Kelly—who has the leyball,” she explained, reputation among her teammates of being both a leader and a “it was the reward of seeing my trainteam player —reinforced that she has ing pay off whenever I got an ace, a mindset of “constantly challenging a kill, or—above all—a block. For [herself].” At every practice, scrim- soccer, it was definitely beating Cresmage, and game, Kelly is 100% en- centa Valley 4-0 last year, and scorgaged in the moment. She said, “hard ing off a corner kick when we played work and determination are essential. Hart this year.” She kept going, “For

How Do You Rest?

By TITUS WU & ANDREW LIM Staff Writers

Athletes, just like students, can get overworked. Although some games are light and easy, other games can be tough and challenging. Not only that, but injuries may even occur. With every tough game must come a period of rest and recovery.

Apache athletes gave their take on how they rest up.

stated sophomore Ramsey Hoegel.

As the boys continue to work with Coach Ben Cordeiro and toward implementing Coach Morris’ new offensive strategies and plays, they will be in good hands this season. While the boys got off to a slow start, they are just getting started and they have a lot of potential this year. Look out for a great season from the Boys Varsity Basketball team. sxing@apachepowwow.com Photos by RYAN FANN

Athlete Profile: Kelly Dopke

By WILLIAM HSU

January 2015

track, my favorite memory was the first meet I ever competed in, when I broke my personal records in every event.” Then, she paused, looking at me with honesty in her eyes: “But really, the memories I cherish the most are when we won and succeeded as a team; when we knew that we had left everything on the court, or the soccer field, or the track.”

Looking forward, Kelly addressed her hopes for the upcoming soccer season and her future in college. She commented on her anticipation regarding the coming season, noting that AHS can look forward to a few intense home games against Crescenta Valley. In addition, Kelly is currently committed to the University of Idaho on a soccer scholarship and is “very excited to see what [her] future holds.”

With an attitude of humility, camaraderie, and commitment, Kelly Dopke cements herself as one of Arcadia’s best and brightest studentathletes. In everything she does, both on and off the field, we wish her the best of luck. whsu@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of DYLAN SHEN Photos by DEBBIE MOON and BEN GEISBERG

“It goes without saying that injuries will come often if you play soccer at any level. More than once I’ve had injuries from really tough games. If I have injuries, I ice up. Otherwise, I rest up like any other athlete, even when I’m usually not that tired after a game.”

— Courtney Chan, 9, Girls Frosh/Soph Soccer Generally, after a soccer game, everyone is exhausted. A cool thing is that the team gets these protein shakes after each game to replenish what we lost. Other than that, it’s just food and sleep.”

— Wes Pickering, 12, Boys Varsity Soccer “After the game, the team meets up and discusses what we did great and what needs improving. We rest up by watching the varsity game after our game and seeing if we could use any of their techniques to help our game out. Also, everyone usually eats a lot after the games, so I guess that’s how I rest up.”

— Jazmin Sosa, 11, Girls JV Basketball “I’m usually tired after a game because it’s almost nonstop movement in the water, such as treading and swimming. I get hungry from all the swimming, so I usually eat a bunch, and if possible, I try to go to sleep early. I have a shoulder injury from before, so it hurts when I pass and shoot, so I usually try to stretch it really well or ice it when I’m resting.”

— Nicole Sargent, 12, Girls Varsity Water Polo With every game, tiresome or not, our athletes should have a good recovery in order to stay healthy and maintain their energy levels. Though athletes can get overworked and tired after a close game, the important note is that they will be successful at their sport without overexerting themselves. Therefore, let’s cheer on our teams for a good and productive new season. alim@apachepowwow.com twu@apachepowwow.com

January 2015

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Girls Soccer Aiming for Perfection

By CHRISTINA READ Staff Writer

Girls Varsity Soccer kicked off its league season this month with a 7-0 win-loss record. This perfect record is not at all a far cry from its overall results, including preseason games, of 12-1. The team is now ranked not only 1st in the league, but also 53rd in California and 131st in the nation.

And the girls’ winning streak is due in no small part to their hard work and great attitudes. As Coach Ryen Piszyk told the Pasadena Star News, “Everybody is hungry. It’s a new type of mentality we have not had in the past.” The team has practiced hard all through preseason, including working overtime to stay fit throughout the summer before practice was even in session. The players’ many pre-season ‘friendly’ matches are also a testament to the hard work they have—and will continue to—put into their game.

Last year, the team finished its season extremely strong with 14 league wins and 0 defeats. It also reached the second round of CIF championships, an accomplish-

ment it hopes to not only reach once again, but to improve upon this year.

Coach Piszyk clearly doesn’t find these goals unattainable, as he told the Pasadena Star News, “We have depth on the bench we have not had in over five years.” The team’s new players are not only reaching, but

AIMINGFORPERFECTION

Freshman Serena Rosas and the team have continued their domination in the Pacific League. strengthening and surpassing the high standards of last year.

Recently, on Friday, Jan. 23, the girls faced off against their rivals Crescenta Valley High School

(CV). With the team already ahead by one goal, forward senior Megan Acosta scored a penalty kick to make the score 2-0, despite having been injured and forced to leave the field earlier in the game. This earned her the recognition of ‘Player of the Game’, for a match that was “one of the best of her high school career.”

The girls finished up the game with a 2-1 win, preserving their perfect league record. In two weeks, at the girls’ last game of the season, CV will be traveling here for a rematch, so make sure to come out and support the team as it finishes its league season strong!

Overall, the team has had a great start to its season, which will hopefully continue far into the year as the girls continue to advance through CIF. The players are carrying on their time-honored tradition of aiming high and working hard, and have a great chance at achieving their goals. As senior Kelly Dopke put it, “Don’t set limits, but seek to achieve the impossible”. Good luck, Apaches! cread@apachepowwow.com

Photo by STANLEY SHAW

New Players, Same Goal

By ROY ZHANG Staff Writer

Last year, Boys Varsity Soccer nearly made it to the CIF playoffs; this year, it plans to beat that performance. Although, the team does recognize that it will take a lot of hard work and dedication, it is willing to put in 110% in order to achieve success.

Senior Lucas Berger is hoping to make it to the CIF playoffs this year, and since this will be his last year playing as an Apache, he plans on “putting as much time and effort that is needed in order to achieve that goal.” Lucas hopes to contribute as much as possible in aiding his fellow Apaches to victories this season. The boys recognized how the loss of multiple seniors will hinder the the team’s abilities, but nonetheless, they are still confident that their team will be strong enough to make a deep playoff run once more.

Berger believes that the team will have to “perfect its fundamentals” and that newcomers will have to pick up any slack in order to match the skill of last year’s team. However, even with several newcomers

KEEPING THE BALL ROLLING Senior Chris Paul

dribbles through the defense. on the Varsity team, there is a higher likelihood that the team will achieve many of the goals it has set. In order to make it deep into the playoffs this year, Lucas believes that the players will have to “make sure not to make any silly mistakes, and make sure that they keep a level head while playing.” Playing for CIF is a nervewracking experience, but he knows that the newcomers will be able to handle it. The veterans are also a bit nervous since they will be aiming to live up to the legacy of the upperclassmen that graduated last year. It will be an intense game, but they all plan to play their hearts out. rzhang@apachepowwow.com

Photo by TITUS WU

Famous Sports Moments Lady Apaches Too Much for League

By PETER JU

By ELLIE LEE

Staff Writer

Many pro athletes, especially the top players in the world, are models for people who play their sport. Their skills and achievements are being talked about all the time. People always try to copy the unbelievable moves these pro athletes are able to pull off, by practicing as hard as they can so that they can perform the moves as smooth as the pros. These pro athletes are very capable of doing something that will be remembered and discussed about for years.

Here are some of our winter athletes’ favorite sport moments in pro sports.

Sophomore Russell Ma had this to say: “My favorite sporting moment in pro sports is when Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds of the game on Dec 9, 2004. The San Antonio Spurs looked like they won that game, leading by 12 with very little time remaining, but Tracy McGrady did the impossible to win the game. It is one of the greatest NBA moments, and I think it will never happen again.”

When asked about his favorite pro sports moments, sophomore Zechariah Karsana replied, “In Super Bowl XLII, Eli Manning spun out of a sack and threw a long bomb to David Tyree, keeping the possession alive, and David Tyree caught it with his helmet.”

Sophomore Thomas Tang’s favorite sporting moments in pro sports came “in a regular season game, the Lakers blew out the Knicks, but Nick Young did something that I haven’t forgotten. He thought he made a buzzer-beating three pointer, so he started celebrating, but it turned out he didn’t actually make it.”

Senior Adam Alonzo’s favorite pro sports moment is “when FC Barcelona won the Champions League in 2011 against Manchester United.”

Junior Jason Sawires had this to say about his favorite sporting moment in pro sports: “Robin van Persie’s Flying Dutchman header was pretty great.”

Hopefully, our Apaches can pull off moves and make plays just as spectacular as those at the professional level! pju@apachepowwow.com

Photo courtesy of PHOTOBUCKET.COM

What are some improvements and goals you’ve made for this season? Team Captain senior Melanie Chen replied with, “Scoring more points based on the improvements I’ve made over the past year. I have been working out day and night to improve on my shooting range from short corner to shooting at the three

I hope I can play for the Girls College Basketball at Pomona.”

Staff Writer What are some of your individThis year the Girls Varsity Basual goals in your final year of basketketball team kicked off its season ball? Senior Erika Olofson answered with a home game against Burbank with, “In basketball, I hope to always High. Arcadia defeated Burbank have an optimistic attitude to work with a score of 42-30. The girls next hard. After four years of pressuring played against Herbert Hoover High to do well and trying to live up to with a dominating score expectations, it’s been hard of 45-23. In their game to hold onto my passion for against Glendale High basketball. I will appreciate School, they won again my coaches and teammates as with a score of 52-38. much as possible while this Unfortunately, they lost season lasts since the season against Burroughs High always seems to come and School with a score of go in the blink of an eye. But 49-53. lately, I hope our team heartWhat is the reason edly pursues league. I honfor such a strong start to estly think we’re the team to this season? Sophomore do it! If there’s anything I’ve Lindsey Young said, learned from my four years “Well, in every game our of basketball, is that nothcoach emphasizes three ing comes easy. This season, things: focus, consistency, I hope this team will work and communication. Also, FORM A WALL hard enough to bring AHS Girls Basketball’s sweet stroke I think it’s the team’s hard and suffocating interior defense have led to victories. the championship!” Senior work. Most importantly, Yvonne To added, “I want our strong start this season is because point line. I’ve been working on post to improve in basketball and help the team’s heart led us to where we player moves to improve on scoring the team as much as I can. I want to are right now.” What are some things at the block. Another goal I have is make this season the best season I you learned from being on the Girls to change my attitude and work bet- have ever had in my four years in this Varsity Basketball team? Freshman ter as a team player. I want to get a program.”

Kailey Thai answered, “I learned closer bond among my teammates Best of luck to the Girls Varsity that a team’s stronger as one. Also, through the game by finishing strong Basketball team for this season! Your to be confident on the court, because through every practice and especially goals can definitely be achieved! you’re making a big difference in the games throughout the season. My elee@apachepowwow.com game. Most importantly, I learned goal is also to be able to play at the Photo by DEBBIE MOON how to work really hard.” next level, such as college basketball.

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January 2015

January 2015

CALENDAR

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Are you my Type?!

By PEARL YANG Staff Writer

If your New Year’s resolution was to start eating healthy without sacrificing taste, there is a great restaurant nearby that will help you make the transition! Natural Selection serves up organic, fresh, and natural dishes to diners looking for lighter meals.

Although the interior is relatively small, don’t be fooled! This place packs some serious punch for its size. Its menu offers rice bowls, salads, wraps, soups, sandwiches, burgers, and Mexican food, as well as a breakfast menu, kids meals, and sides. A “drink menu” is also available, with juices, smoothies, and shakes. Additionally, this cafe is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, with many choices on its menu made without animal products!

I ordered the Mediterranean Wrap, Spinach Salad, and a Vitamin C juice for my first time. The Mediterranean Wrap is made with grilled chicken breast, feta cheese, black olives, baby greens, cucumbers, hummus, and a homemade Mediterranean dressing. The spinach salad consists of spinach, almonds, onions, dried cranberries, feta cheese, fresh strawberries, and a strawberry vinaigrette. The Vitamin C drink includes oranges, cucumbers, pineapples, and parsley. Overall, I was very satisfied with the quality and taste of the food, and the Vitamin C juice definitely woke me up with an unexpected kick of parsley.

Natural Selection is perfect for lunch or a quick snack, and I would definitely recommend everyone to stop by. The dishes are delicious and come with lots of variety, and the drinks are equally good. You don’t have to feel bad about yourself next time you eat out!

By KYLE WANG

Staff Writer

Blood type, that is. Although not a common question here in the U.S., asking for a person’s blood type in Japan is the equivalent of asking for one’s astrological sign. According to Japanese scientists in the late 1920s, your blood type determines your personality.

Even though this concept has been disproven by later scientists, many people still believe in this theory.

There are four main blood types: O, A, B, and AB. Type O and A are common all around the world, with Type B a little less common. Type AB is by far the rarest. But having one of the rare blood types does not make you superior compared to the other blood types; it is just less common. Let’s take a look at the typical personality of each blood type.

Natural Selection 305 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006

pyang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTPANDA.COM and HOMEDESIGNINFO.COM

Type A:

People with Type A blood type are typically great listeners and make good friends. The best way for them to unwind is in a quiet place where they can sleep. They function best where it is neat and organized. Approximately 42% of the U.S. population has this blood type.

Type B:

People with Type B blood type are outgoing and friendly. They are prone to doing things to help others at the expense of themselves. They function best in a friendly and social environment.

Approximately 10% of the U.S. population has this blood type.

Type AB:

These people are extremely rational, not letting emotion get into the way of doing their jobs. They are independent workers who love freedom. Because of this, they function best when working alone; due to this, villains in Japanese media are often given this blood type (though there is nothing inherently evil about being type AB!). Approximately 4% of the U.S. population has this blood type.

Type O:

JESSIE By

Semester

Finals

These people are practical, using finding the best way to do things in the shortest amount of time possible. They are typically seen alone, although they do have a group of friends. They excel at many things, including physical endurance and teamwork. Approximately 44% of the U.S. population has this blood type.

Want to see if your blood type fits your personality or which blood type you would be most compatible with? Perhaps you just want to laugh at the innacuracy of it all? No matter what your reasons, if you don’t know your blood type, get your blood tested at your next doctor’s appointment and check back here. You just might be surprised!

kwang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of IPHONEWALL.NET and LAURAKOREA.COM

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January 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“My plan this year is to work harder than ever before.”

-Joshua Hu, 10

“My new year’s resolution is to have better time management.” -Abigail Abdella, 9

“I want to practice violin more, get better grades, and manage my time better.”

-Evan Chu, 11

By EMILY QUACH Staff Writer

“Every end has a new beginning.” A year full of memories has ended and we all welcome the new year; a new year full of new experiences, new relationships, and new goals. At the beginning of each year, we all make our own new year’s resolutions that we hope to fulfill. Here are some students’ resolutions for 2015.

Graphics courtesy of DEFIANCE.COM and WORDPRESS.COM Photos by EMILY QUACH AND FLORA UNG