September 2019

theapachepowwow.net

arcadia high school 180 Campus drive, Arcadia, ca, 91007 volume 67 • issue 1

the apache

september 2019

POW WOW

@ahspowwow quote of the month:

the world is our campus

est. 1952

Homecoming 2019

LOST IN ORBIT! On Oct. 12, students will have the chance to dance under the Endeavour before it leaves the exhibit at Homecoming 2019 at the California Science Center.

By ROBINSON LEE Staff Writer

It is that time of the year again! The sun is glistening, the air is cooling, and the clouds are creeping in this fall. The freshmen are well into their first month of high school, and the seniors are getting ready to wade through a marsh of college apps, both respectively preparing to begin the next stage of their lives. But in the midst of this circumstantial adversity for the elders and youngsters alike, fun is to be had, especially at this year’s Homecoming. In fact, this Homecoming will literally be out of this world with the theme of “Lost in Orbit”.

This innovative theme will be hosted at the Endeavor’s Samuel Oschin Pavilion at the California Science Center in Exhibition Park near the University of Southern California. The California Science Center is most certainly a place of learning during the day, but at night you are guaranteed to enjoy the space-themed venue as you dine, dance, and socialize under the gleam of the Endeavour, which retired a mere eight years ago after fulfilling its duty be-

New tariffs taxing chinese imports pg. 3

yond our planet’s orbit. Indeed, a major selling point of Homecoming is that this is the last year you can dance under the Endeavour in its current pavilion. It will soon be moved to an upright position in the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. This addition will make the Calfironia Science Center the largest science center in the western U.S. But before you rush off to buy your ticket, here are some facts to keep in mind.

Overall ticket sales started from Sept. 25 and will run until Oct. 10, but there are advantages to buying tickets as early as possible. For one, if you bought directly on Sept. 25, you could receive tickets for the low price of $50 with an ASB membership and $65 without an ASB membership. It is recommended to buy as early as possible as prices will rise by $10 between Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 and by $10 more between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8 until it ends at a final $15 markup for those who procrastinated buying tickets until between Oct. 9 and Oct. 10.

Students are ready to prepare for this event, especially this year’s Homecoming royalty: freshmen Prince Toby Luu and Princess Sydney Yee, sopho-

w h at ’s in s i de

NEWS “A 15% tariff is being placed on $300 billion worth of imported goods OPINION The top two apps that have shaped from China. The tariffs went teen lives in recent years are Vine and TikTok. into effect for a portion of the However, which is beter? goods on Sept. 1 and will go “Vine’s story is like a Shakespearean tragedy. It into effect for the rest of the was a beautiful, exquisite lover, gone too soon, goods on Dec. 15. Imports murdered by the one it trusted most: Twitter. taxed as a result of the Sept. 1 Truly deserving an F in the chat. But hark! On portion include shirts, pants, the horizon, what abomination rises from the shoes, jakckets, diapers, depths, here to defile the grave of our immortal TVs, coffee, meats, cheeses, platform? It can’t be—TikTok!” Photo courtesy of INDUSTRYWEEK.COM and books.”

VINE VS TIK TOK

pg. 4

more Prince Hunter Victorio and Princess Audrey Liu, junior Prince Josh Mar and Princess Kaylee Cheung, senior Princes Eric Kim, Roshan Kannan, Matthew Suszynski, and senior Princesses Shayli Johnson, Lisza Lo, and Katelyn Wang. The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at the Homecoming game. Congratulations to all of this year’s royals!

In an exclusive Pow Wow interview, sophomore Prince Hunter Victorio commented right after the royalty announcements that “it was great to win [the Homecoming title] in my second consecutive year.

I’m excited [about] Homecoming and I thank everyone for voting for me.”

Come make the most of this high school experience, you will not want to miss out! Without a doubt, this Homecoming will be an exhilarating event to remember, with an exciting theme, venue, and special features to look forward to. Do not forget to buy your tickets early, and hope to see you there! rlee@apachepowwow.net Photo by GAVIN DO

STUDENT LIFE “The 2019-2020 school year brings new memories, as well as new teachers.

A few of this year’s new staff are Mr. Andrade, Ms. Chan, Ms. Lew, Mr. Mittongtare, Ms. Protic, Mrs. Svetich, Ms. Valenzuela, and Ms. Winston.” Let’s give them all a warm welcome to Photo courtesy of PATCH.COM AHS!

NEW AHS STAFF pg. 16

in this issue: news 2 | opinion 4 | features 6 | advertisements 9 | student life 10 | center spread 12 | arts & entertainment 14 | sports 16 | campus focus 18

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theapachepowwow.net

September 2019

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INQUIRES INTO PACT BETWEEN

CALIFORNIA AND AUTOMAKERS

By ROBINSON LEE

Staff Writer

As the Trump administration has continued in its mission to roll back Obama-era environmental protections, states have responded with their own measures to compensate for the lack of federal regulations. California is one of these states pursuing new environmental protections, which has caused the state’s leaders to clash with the Trump administration.

One of these new statewide policies is a voluntary agreement between California and four major automakers: Honda, Ford, Volkswagen, and BMW. It aims to set fuel economy standards to a point higher than the Trump administration’s regulations, but lower than Obama’s.

This new state agreement has motivated the automakers involved to create vehicles of a higher fuel economy to meet states’ fuel economy standards, instead of splitting the domestic auto market into multiple sections tailored to both federal regulations and state standards.

The Department of Justice inquiry claims that by signing this agreement with California, these automakers are violating antitrust laws made to protect consumer choice. Additionally, letters from attorneys of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Depart-

ment to California’s Senior Air Official, Mary Nichols, claim California’s standardization efforts, which can potentially influence the automobile market nationwide, are overstepping their boundaries under the Clean Air Act. They also argue that such powers only belong to Congress, and finalizing the agreement appears “unlawful and invalid.” The Trump administration seems to be set on a course to nullify California’s authority to set carbon emission standards for vehicles and regulations requiring automakers to produce more zero-emission vehicles.

California state leaders have remained defiant against the threat in response to the Trump administration’s efforts. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has stated that the state “will continue its advance toward a cleaner future. We’re prepared to defend the standards that make that promise a reality.”

Governor Gavin Newsom has also weighed in, stating that “the Trump administration has been attempting and failing to bully car companies for months now. California stands up to bullies and will keep fighting for stronger clean car protections that protect the health and safety of our children and families.” The Trump administration has remained adamant in deterring new companies from joining the agreement as automakers under the threat of legal action,

such as Mercedes-Benz, have decided not to join the agreement. The director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, has defended the President’s actions to fight against the agreement by framing the situation as “a handful of irresponsible automaker… aiding California’s radical agenda that will hurt every one of us. California is trying to impose its failed policies on the rest of the country.”

As the legality of state jurisdiction over carbon-emission standards comes into question, automakers have gotten caught in the middle of a political feud that will not only influence the automobile industry, but future environmental goals as well. rlee@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of 360KARMA.COM Photo courtesy of CNBC.COM

GOOGLE PAYS RECORD FINE FOR VIOLATING

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY ON YOUTUBE

By SHIRLEY HUANG

Staff Writer

Allegations have broken out claiming that YouTube has been accumulating children’s user information with the intent of selling more advertisements to younger audiences. Now, Google, the company that owns YouTube, has settled on a $170 million fine with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to defuse these accusations.

The payment will mark a record fine under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. However, the $170 million penalty accounts for less than 1% of Google’s quarterly advertising revenue, raising concerns about whether this penance will be enough to stop tech companies from violating the privacy of their users.

Since before 2011, Google has been violating the privacy of children through YouTube’s advertising. YouTube has stated that no child under the age of 13 even watches YouTube.

Though, according to the FTC, Google allegedly promised American toy manufacturing Mattel that YouTube wouldprovide a platform allowing the company to read kids as young as 6-years-old.

“These companies put children at risk and

abused their power, which is why [the FTC is] imposing major reforms to their practices and making them pay one of the largest settlements for a privacy matter in U.S. history,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.

The FTC’s settlement consists of $136 million to be paid to the federal government and $34 million to the state of New York. It is also mandatory that YouTube has all content creators declare whether their videos are for

children, suspending targeted advertising on their content if so. The FTC predicts that with this penance, other businesses will follow in implementing systems that can distinguish videos directed toward children, and thus ensuring the protection of minors online.

Google responded to the settlement statement, “We know how important it is to provide children, families and family creators the best experience possible on YouTube and we are committed to getting it right.”

Additionally, Google has announced plans of incorporating algorithms meant to locate content tailored toward children in order to determine which users are minors. Not only will this limit data collection, but also terminate personalized advertisements for certain content.

Nonetheless, members of the FTC, and other critics, don’t believe that Google’s new algorithm nor the settlement is enough to prevent companies from taking advantage of targeted advertising and users’ personal data in return for larger profits.

FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter was one of two commissioners to vote against the settlement, her reason being that there was no guarantee that YouTube would enforce these new rules. FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra, the other commissioner to vote against it, stated that the company executives should be held accountable. Instead, Google has been fined an amount that will hardly impact the company.

Therefore, to many consumers apprehensive about their own privacy, it seems as though powerful corporations never face serious consequences, even when breaking the law. shuang@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of CNBC.COM

September 2019

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s t a f f Editors

By BONNIE CHEN Staff Writer

Editors-in-Chief

There have been drastic increases in teen vaping in recent years. In December 2018, the National Institutes of Health stated that about 37% of 12th graders reported vaping, a 9% increase from 2017. A lot of people, mainly teens, believe that vaping doesn’t cause that much harm to the body compared to smoking. However, this belief has been proven untrue.

According to a survey from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 66% of teen vapers are mistaken that the strong chemicals contained in e-cigarettes purely consist of flavoring. This was way off the reality. Reported by NBC News, nine out of ten cases that involve vaping have led to severe lung illnesses; there has to be something other than the sweeteners mentioned above. The main components of e-cigarettes include substances called solvents. Solvents dissolve the nicotine and marijuana-derived components (THC and CBD, for example) in order to make them inhalable for users. THC is the chemical responsible for the psychological effects of marijuana, in other words, it is what causes the euphoric feelings in users. City health officials have said that out of all the people they have interviewed, 89% of them had become sick after inhaling products that contain THC. As of Aug. 29, 298 people closely-linked to vaping have been hospitalized in the U.S. This number, collect by NBC News, was a 50% increase from Aug. 23, just a week before. This has become such a big problem in teens that the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) officially published a health alert warning residents about this case on Aug. 28. It was stated that 16 individuals have been hospitalized and confirmed with “severe chemical pneumonia” after the use of products containing nicotine or marijuana oils. Several cases are still under investigation, for researchers have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause that specifically leads to these diseases. “We believe, looking back through our cases, that we probably have seen this in the past,” stated Dr. Robin Deterding, Director of Breathing Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

According to NBC News, besides nicotine, marijuana, metal, and other components, e-cigarette fluids may also contain unknown factors that can be dangerous and even threaten the lives of e-cigarette users. A common concern between health officials is whether these undocumented components could be the reasons behind these lung illnesses.

“Vaping cartridges containing THC may include chemicals or additives that are unknown, unregulated, and unsafe,” said Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. “We strongly urge people not to vape.”

News Editors

bchen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM and INC.COM

Opinion Editors Features Editors Student Life Editors Arts & Entertainment Editors Sports Editors Design Editor Executive Copy Editors Photography Editor Campus Focus Editor Publicity Manager

Writers News Staff

Opinion Staff

Features Staff

Student Life Staff

Arts & Entertainment Staff

By EMILY CHEN

Sports Staff

Staff Writer

New tariffs taxing Chinese imports will cause an increase in the prices of various everyday goods. Products including clothing, technology, and food will all be affected. Retailers are attempting to alleviate some of the impacts, but American households are still expected to spend an extra $1,000 each year as a result of the tariffs.

A 15% tariff is being placed on $300 billion worth of imported goods from China. The tariff went into effect for a portion of the goods on Sept. 1 and will go into effect for the rest of the goods on Dec. 15. Imports taxed as a result of the Sept. 1 portion include shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, diapers, TVs, coffee, meats, cheeses, and books.

Although most stores will be forced to raise their prices in order to adapt to the tariffs, the price increases will not happen right away. Most manufacturers, retailers, and distributors have several weeks’ worth of products in their inventory. Many have even stocked up on goods that are being targeted by the tariffs in order to avoid paying higher prices for them later on. However, the extra stock will eventually run out, so prices are bound to rise.

David French, the senior vice president for government affairs at the National Retail Federation, stated, “It’s impossible for businesses to plan for the future in this type of environment.”

Instead of raising prices, some manufacturers are making changes to absorb the impact of the tariffs. For example, items are now being made with lower quality materials and smaller packages. Other manufacturers have chosen to accept smaller profit margins or are looking to other countries for imports.

“The supply chain can only absorb so much,” admitted French. Like retailers, supply “companies will have no choice but to eventually raise prices.”

According to the Union Bank of Switzerland, China supplies about 34% of products sold at Target, 26% of those sold at Walmart, and 20% of those sold at Costco. About 70% of shoes sold in the U.S. are imported from China.

Importing goods from other countries contributes to those countries’ economies. President Donald Trump intends to boost the U.S. economy and slow the growth of other countries through the tariffs, which are designed to encourage companies to import fewer goods from China, the U.S.’ economic rival, and manufacture more of their products in the U.S. As of now, President Trump has threatened to raise the tariffs from 15% to 25% in the next year.

Brandon Chen, Sandi Khine, and Alyssa Rave Margaret Lin, Samantha Rivera, and Jocelyn Thao Conner Hua and Tanya Lee Cassidy Chhay, Abby Choy, and Jocelyn Liao Emma Chen, Ariana Parizadeh, and Rebecca Tao Josie Chen and Kali Tam Michelle Lee and Anya Yang Jenny Qiu Moriah Chang and Roselind Zeng Gavin Do Lisza Lo Jasmine Oang

Copy-editing Staff

Photography Staff

Campus Focus Staff Publicity Staff Adviser

Bonnie Chen, Emily Chen, Leslie Chen, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel, Kylie Ha, Shirley Huang, Robinson Lee, Kaitlin Lee, Branden Leong, Kayli Mak, Janell Wang, Anabell Xu, Tiffany Zhu Emily Banuelos, Brandon Chan, Becky Chen, Bonnie Chen, Kate De Prima, Vritti Godani, Enzo Goebel, Abhiyan Kota, Robinson Lee, Kaitlin Lee, Branden Leong, Kayli Mak, Linda Qiu, Kaytalie Shang, Phoebe Wang, Braden Wong, Anabell Xu Emily Chen, Leslie Chen, Nicholas Chhay, Olivia Ge, Vritti Godani, Kylie Ha, Shirley Huang, Abhiyan Kota, Robinson Lee, Kaytalie Shang, Caitlin Wang, Leilani Wetterau, Braden Wong, Annalise Xiao, Ashley Zhao Emily Banuelos, Becky Chen, Ethan Chen, Lilian Chong, Kirsten Fuu, Abhiyan Kota, Charles Su, Pamina Yung Ethan Chen, Leslie Chen, Alan Lee, Caitlin Wang, Ashley Zhao Victoria Cheng, Lilian Chong, Enzo Goebel, Kylie Ha, Zoe Lin, Melody Lui, Linda Qiu Brandon Chan, Becky Chen, Ethan Chen, Hong Yu (Bonnie) Chen, Leslie Chen, Kirsten Fuu, Kaitlin Lee, Branden Leong, Zoe Lin, Kayli Mak, Linda Qiu, Kaytalie Shang, Janell Wang, Pamina Yung, Tiffany Zhu Emily Banuelos, Victoria Cheng, Nicholas Chhay, Lilian Chong, Alan Lee, Melody Lui, Caitlin Wang, Leilani Wetterau, Pamina Yung Melody Lui, Braden Wong Peixi (Olivia) Ge, Vritti Godani, Alan Lee, Kate de Prima, Leilani Wetterau, Annalise Xiao Mrs. Lesley 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 from $25 for a side strip advertisement to $100 for a full-page advertisement, with echen@apachepowwow.net vary square and popup advertisement options available.

Graphics courtesy of THINK.KERA.ORG and 1001FONTS.COM

Graphic courtesy of LITTLEACORNINC.COM

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By BONNIE CHEN

theapachepowwow.net

Staff Writer

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) is one of the most successful teams when it comes to women’s soccer, with over 500 victories in history. Out of the 23 current members of the USWNT, however, Megan Rapinoe seems to catch my attention the most.

Rapinoe is a 34-year-old professional player who serves mainly as a winger or midfielder.

Starting from the U.S. under-16 National Soccer Team in 2002, she progressively moved up to the Senior National Team in 2006. She scored 50 goals and assisted 59 in total, according to the U.S. Soccer website. Being one of the five players who had ever made two goals in an Olympic semifinal, there is no doubt that Rapinoe is a talented player. She’s more than just that, in fact, even those who have the slightest knowledge of her would know that she can be an important figure when demanding change.

Rapinoe was never afraid to speak her mind. This part of her personality, particularly, had a huge impact on the way I cope with my daily problems.

Rapinoe had always been pretty open with her political views and had voiced them on different platforms, including interviews, social media, as well as through other actions. She is sick and tired of the President’s double standards when it comes to gender. She has kneeled down during the performance of the U.S. National Anthem and particularly provoked the ire of President Trump and

September 2019

his supporters on Twitter.

Besides this, she is also an outspoken advocate on numerous topics such as equal rights, including equal pay between the Men’s National Team (USMNT) and the USWNT. The USMNT is known to have way better wages than the Women’s National Team. Upset as she is, she spoke up to organizations in charge. Together as USWNT, they have formed a bill to equal pay. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, she became an advocate for plenty of LGBTQ+ organizations, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The sponsorships by famous brands such as Nike and Samsung have helped her spread her voice all over the world.

Rapinoe’s confidence led me to believe that she wasn’t afraid of the consequences that might come with her actions. I believe that taking bold actions and voicing one’s opinions is the process needed to achieve a favorable outcome.

Rapinoe has shown me that it is okay to look different, think different, or even act differently.

This helps me acknowledge that there will always be people and different organizations to support the positive decisions I make, even if it doesn’t show. Therefore, I believe that Rapinoe, truly, is the role model we all need. bchen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of REFINERY29.COM

By ANABELL XU

Staff Writer

It has been years since Vine’s untimely demise, and yet I still find myself tragically weeping over the grave of what I believe was the greatest platform for self-expression ever conceived, perhaps even greater than the written word. Who can deny the masterful creation and conception, the gorgeous cinematography, the impeccable acting, the sophistication, the elegance, the poise, the comedic genius that went into every single Vine?

Vine’s story is like a Shakespearean tragedy. It was a beautiful, exquisite lover, gone too soon, murdered by the one it trusted most: Twitter. Truly deserving of an F in the chat.

But hark! On the horizon, what abomination rises from the depths, here to defile the grave of our immortal platform? It can’t be—TikTok! The center of cringe! The sanctum of sacrilege! The pit of pestilence! How dare it stand where Vine once stood? How dare it vandalize Vine’s memory with teenagers attempting to play Overwatch with a PS4 controller?

My god, look at this filth. Hitting the whoa? Child’s play compared to exquisite mannequin heads stuffed under hoodies. And what is this? The possibility for something called a… a duet?

Collaboration and the possibility for parody? Something that was originally intended for people to sing together but is now being used in a somewhat interesting and funny way, on my virtual video sharing platform? Heretical!

“I’m already Tracer” is nothing compared to the excessive proliferation of “dat (insert thing here) doe.” One was originally cringy but is now being used to promote small chuckles, and the other is just cringy! Vine was significantly better than TikTok because when Vine was cringy, it was even cringier than TikTok! Ha! Superior in every way.

Look at these sheep desperately falling over themselves for just a taste of TikTok fame! I will not stand for this grievous copyright infringement, I tell you!

You know, I was looking online, reminiscing over the good ol’ days—watching those Vine compilations that feature the same ten vines—and I discovered a heretic! A fallen devotee! Someone had put together a video of bad Vines!

“Bad vines!” I hear you gasp. “But there were no bad Vines! Just like there were no sponsored Vines, no cringy Vines, no Vines that were really creepy and probably needed to get removed from the platform entirely, no Vines that shouldn’t have been shown to children, no Vines that banked entirely on the attractive looks of their creators! Those are just TikTok things!”

Because we can’t be looking at things with the rose-tinted lenses of nostalgia! We can’t be only remembering the positive aspects of a platform that was so much worse than we remember!

We aren’t being unfair to TikTok and ignoring all the possibilities for legitimate creativity that the platform fosters in favor of cringe comedy and our need to feel better than people!

Because hey guys, look at how cringy this TikTok is! Vine was so much better. axu@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of VINE.COM and TIKTOK.COM

September 2019

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theopinionsection@gmail.com

By LINDA QIU

Staff Writer

A standardized test is no longer standardized when different forms of the test are issued without clarification as to why. In this way, the Scholastic Assessment Test, more commonly known as the SAT, has lost its claim to standardization.

In regards to the old SAT, College Board was very transparent about the fact that there would be an experimental section on every SAT. Only students who chose not to take the essay section were given this extra section. This experimental section had a purpose—it was unidentified and designed to be indistinguishable from a regular section so that students would take it as seriously as any other part. It was given for three main reasons: to test future material, to distinguish fairness and difficulty levels, and to detect cheating. Results from this section were analyzed across race, gender, socioeconomic status, and various other factors to determine equality in difficulty for all demographics. They were also used to classify question levels—for example, if 90% of students got a question correct, then test designers could classify it as an “easy” question, helping them select and arrange questions on future tests. And if a student performed outstandingly on all sections but the experimental one, then their test could be audited to investigate for unfair advantages.

In contrast, takers of the new SAT can easily tell which section is the extra one. After a reading section, a writing section, and two math sections, Section 5 is always the extra one. Most people believe that the new Section 5 is purely experimental, just like the extra section on the old SAT—but if that was the case, wouldn’t students being able to tell which section is extra alter the accuracy of the results? College Board has remained persistently mysterious about Section 5, stating that “To allow for pretesting, some students taking the SAT with no Essay will take a fifth, 20-minute section. Any section of the SAT may contain both operational and pretest items.”

The 2019 SATs added a new layer to this drama. This year, starting with the March 2019 SAT, many high schoolers who took the essay still had to face Section 5, contributing to the crisis of confidence in College Board. I myself was taken aback when I took the test in August. Imagine how surprised weary students were to be given an unexpected section that may or might not have counted towards their scores.

A competent, trustworthy organization would provide a definitive explanation for such an influential standardized exam. Until that happens, future SAT takers would be wise to take Section 5 as seriously as the four before it. lqiu@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTMAX.COM

By ROBINSON LEE

Staff Writer

The world of fanfiction is a wondrous place where writers can have fun as they write their favorite characters in all different situations.

Unfortunately, not all of these stories are gems; in fact there is a whole world of stories with repetitive tropes, horrible storylines, or grammar that disgraces the English language as a whole. Now you can find bad fanfiction on platforms from Fanfiction.net, Wattpad, and Archive of Our Own, but this article will go far and beyond to reach into the deepest parts of the human mind and scrape the bottom of the barrel all while keeping it PG. Have you ever thought that Harry Potter was too heretical? Did you read Sorcerers Stone and think that this book was not wholesomely Christian enough? Were you ever afraid that reading Harry Potter would lead you and your friends to practicing the dark arts to bring Satan into this world? Well, fortunately for you, there is a wholesome, family-friendly, white-washed adaptation of Harry Potter named, “Hogwarts School of Prayers and Miracles”.

This adaptation aims to throw out everything you loved about Harry Potter and replace it with a surprisingly humorous Christian version of the world of Harry Potter. Changes such as changing Dumbledore to Reverend Dumbledore and replacing magic with the power of prayer make this one stand out. Honestly, reading a quote from the fanfiction explains it all, “Hagrid laughed wisely. ‘Evolution is a fairytale. You don’t really believe that, do you?’

‘Yes I, do,’ Aunt Petunia screeched. ‘Well then prove it!’ Aunt Petunia could only stare at

him, and her big mouth hung open dumbly. Here she thought she was so educated... but she couldn’t even prove her religion.”

The next fanfiction is “Starved” by dirtybandaid, and this one was found on Archive of Our Own. The fanfiction seems to be heartfelt at first, covering the inner monologue of a young Dylan as he deals with his eating disorders. The fanfiction sees him go through his daily routine in school while showing him reflecting on his weight until it ends with him being hurt over a broken relationship with a friend. Like other fanfictions, it seems to be average, riddled with grammatical issues here and there while being pretty bland. It seems to be relatively unspectacular until you read the tags, “Eric Harris/Dylan Klebold, Columbine AU.” That’s right, this fanfiction is the prelude to a romance fanfiction series starring the boys who committed the Columbine shootings. The author of this fanfiction sees no problem with the situation and defends their work by stating at the beginning of the fanfiction, “I DO NOT CONDONE/PROMOTE/GLORIFY/ ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.” By all logical means this should not exist, but the imagination of the human mind ceases to amaze.

The world of fanfiction is a deep, endless hole where light doesn’t reach the bottom. Of course, there is comparably worse fanfiction such as one featuring Jesus and Hitler in a romance and Ben Shapiro as the Hamburger Helper, but we need to keep it clean here at Pow Wow. The lesson learned from these horrid examples of fanfictions? Not all ideas are good when set down in fine print. rlee@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of AMAZON.COM, FONTSPACE.COM, PINCLIPART.COM, USERLOGOS.ORG, and WATTPAD.COM

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By EMILY CHEN

Staff Writer

Despite being portrayed as dangerous in media, sharks are actually intelligent, quirky, and oddly charming creatures. I have reviewed a few species of sharks and rated them on a scale of one to ten: one being “kinda neat” and ten being “awesome!”

The whale shark is the largest species of fish in the world. It is navy blue with white speckles, can grow up to 40 feet long, and is equipped with a 5-foot wide mouth for engulfing prey.

Surprisingly, it only eats tiny organisms like plankton, crustaceans, and the occasional small fish.

This gentle giant scores 9/10: +2 for its size, +3 for its gracefulness, and +4 for not being able to eat me.

Although the great white shark isn’t the biggest shark in the sea, it’s the largest predatory one. While it can eat me, it probably wouldn’t. Only five to ten great white attacks occur each year, and researchers suspect that the sharks are just curious, not hunting. The great white gets 10/10: -2 for having a ridiculous amount of teeth (about 300), +5 for being able to leap an impressive ten feet out of the water, and +5 as a public apology for thinking it was more dangerous than it is.

While large sharks are awesome, smaller species deserve just as much attention. The epaulette shark is about two feet long. It lives in coastal reefs and hunts for food in shallow water or tide pools. This shark gets 8/10: +10 for the ability to crawl on land using its fins, and -2 for having polka dots, which went out of fashion in the 1960s.

Another small, coast-dwelling shark is the leopard shark. It hunts by burying its face in the sand and sucking out hidden fish, worms, and crustaceans. The leopard shark earns 6/10: +4 for somehow not swallowing sand all the time, +3 for not actually having leopard print, which wouldn’t look great on an animal that’s not a leopard, and -1 for having a misleading name.

In contrast to the sharks previously mentioned, some sharks don’t care for modern beauty standards. The goblin shark has a long, horn-like nose and light pink skin. Junior Anica Cao remarked, “It’s the unicorn shark of the sea!” It gets 7/10: +10 for being able to detach its jaw to grab out-of-reach prey and -3 for being too slow to just swim to it.

A similarly goofy looking shark is the hammerhead. The hammerhead shark’s head might look silly, but it is actually the key to its hunting strategy. Its wide-set eyes help it scan more of the seafloor for prey, and its broad head is especially useful for pinning stingrays to the ground before eating them. This shark deserves 8/10: +4 for being able to sense prey using electrical signals and +4 for occasionally swimming sideways when it gets lazy. Sophomore Leyna Chau said, “I would be its friend.”

There are hundreds of different species of sharks in the world. They might seem scary and vicious at first, but once you get to know more about them, they’re just as fascinating as any other animal!

echen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of KISSCLIPART.COM IMG.FREEPIK.COM, MEDIA. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

By ANNALISE XIAO

September 2019

Staff Writer

As a student, I can personally say that I am not rich, nor do I have all the time in the world.

Most students do not have a job and/or they are caught up in heaping piles of schoolwork. Here are some fun and inexpensive ideas that everyone can do for school.

As the new school year starts, an average student will most likely want new clothes. New clothes can be expensive though, so what is a cheaper option? You can try thrifting! Thrifting is an inexpensive way to look for vintage, stylish, and unique clothing items. When you go thrifting, it is important to keep an open mind about the clothing pieces that you will find at the thrift store. Almost all thrift stores do not have the specific items that you may be looking for, so be open to new styles/patterns that you’ll find. Stray out of your comfort zone and try something that you may not try on at your favorite store at the mall. Experiment with different patterns and outfits to find one that fits your personality.

There are also many Youtube videos about thrifting and thrift flips as well. Thrift flips are the process of altering a thrifted item (e.g. cropping a shirt) to change it into a more desirable/modernized look. Let’s say that you are at your local thrift store and you find a shirt that you really like.

You decide to try it on, but find that it’s too big for you. You could buy the shirt and crop it/ cut it at home manually to reach your desired length.

When most people enter a new grade, they’ll probably need some new school supplies. Plain folders and binders are boring for school, so what is a way to personalize those for yourself? One creative way is to add washi tape. Washi tape is Japanese paper tape and they come in many different designs and patterns. You can buy cheap washi tape online, at Daiso, or at other stores. Washi tape can be added to spruce up a folder/binder. You can add lines of washi tape in rows or columns in the folder. You can also mix and match different designs to add more color to your school supplies.

Many students complain about their common and boring school lunches. What’s another way to make your school lunches more enjoyable and fun? Try making bento boxes! Bento boxes are Japanese lunch boxes with various types of food. You can buy assorted cutters and punches for making your own customizable bento box! You can make cute animals or characters made out of vegetables, rice, meat, etc.. There are many Youtube videos, Pinterest ideas, and other websites that can provide a step-by-step tutorial on making bento boxes. Those sources may also provide creative ideas and helpful tips. However, making and assembling bento boxes may require a bit of time depending on how intricate your design is, so it would be best to prepare the day before school (i.e. Sunday afternoon/night).

axiao@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM, FREEPIK.COM, ISTOCK.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

September 2019

7

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By LESLIE CHEN

Staff Writer

A smoothie is a great way to start the day, or it can serve as the perfect afternoon drink!

Smoothies are surprisingly easy to make on your own and extremely customizable. Here are some tips on making smoothies that match your preference.

Add liquids.

Start your smoothie by picking a liquid base. This can be plain milk or a dairy-free alternative such as soy or almond milk. If you want your smoothie to be more fruit-based, opt for yogurt or coconut milk. Remember to add the liquid to the blender before the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged. Freshman Wilson Chen said he liked adding juice blends into his smoothies. “It gives my drink a more fruity taste, which I like,” he stated.

Choose the fruit.

Obviously, picking the fruit is an essential part of making your smoothie. Feel free to mix different flavors or just stick to one favorite. Bananas are a great base flavor and will give your drink a nice, creamy texture. Other fruits that work well include berries, mango, peaches, and pears. If you want to make smoothies regularly, it’s a great idea to freeze your fruit. Not only will they retain the same nutritional value and flavor, but it’ll also instantly chill your smoothie so that there’ll be no need to add ice.

Add extras.

If you choose to, try adding extra ingredients to your smoothie. If you want texture, add whole oats, nuts, or flaxseeds. For more flavor, add some cocoa powder, cinnamon, or vanilla essence before blending. Not only will it taste better, but it is also more filling. If you’re having a smoothie for breakfast or lunch, make it a well-rounded meal by adding protein. A spoonful of protein powder, peanut or some other nut butter, or some tofu will blend well with your drink and will give you an essential protein boost.

Add ice and blend.

You can add ice to your smoothie based on how thick you want it to be. Start with about one cup of crushed ice for a fairly thick smoothie that’s still drinkable with a straw. Omit the ice if you want your drink to be thinner and less cold. Cover and blend your smoothie until it’s nearly smooth.

Smoothies are simple to make and are a quick way to add a serving of produce to your daily diet. Hopefully, with the help of these tips, you’ll be able to make your drink in no time!

lchen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM, UIDOWNLOAD.COM, and VECTEEZY.COM

By ABHIYAN KOTA Staff Writer

The iPhone 11 was released on September 20, 2019. This is huge in the tech world, as a new generation is set to surpass the iPhone X as well as the fact that Apple wants to go beyond its competition, specifically, Samsung, with its recently released Galaxy Note 10/10+. To give a brief overview, here are some facts about the iPhone X: the average battery life is 10 hours, the phone costs $1,000, there is a high-performance camera with two sensors and multiple photography functions, such as portrait mode, and, of course, face ID. Compare that to some facts we already know about the iPhone 11; according to 9 to 5 Mac, the new generation is cheaper, at $699, but the Pro Max will be $1100, there is the new triple sensor camera, battery life is expected to be around 10.5 hours, and there are some new colors.

Move over to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, specifically the more popular 10+. The charge time is really quick on the 10+, just 30 minutes to get to 65%. Along with an average battery life of 11 hours, Samsung is already well ahead of Apple. The screen is also a great aspect as it is huge, 6.8 inches to be exact, along with the fact it is AMOLED, meaning it’s probably better than your TV screen. The phone features an aura glow color which emits shades of the rainbow depending on how the light hits the glass. The phone also comes with the S Pen, which is a really amazing technological addition. This pen can be used for many applications on the phone, such as marking texts, enhancing photos, and also has air features that are fun to use but take time to get used to. The phone costs $1100 as well, but, acknowledging the fact that the Note 10+ has much more to offer compared to the iPhone 11, this investment will be much more worthy than an investment on the 11.

I myself am an iPhone user, as is my family for years now. There is nothing that you can see wrong with, they are stylish, functional, technological, and great to use. But, the tides are turning. Samsung has proven that they could offer much more in terms of technology, complexity, and performance. So much so, that I am willing to switch to Samsung and a Note 10+ for myself. As always there are some drawbacks: the camera isn’t as good as others like the Pixel 3, and the response time isn’t as quick as that of the iPhone XS Max, but these are trade-offs I am willing to deal with because I want an extended battery life, a better screen, and a phone that functions as well as it looks.

akota@apachepowwow.net Photos courtesy of THEVERGE.COM and 9TO5MAC.COM Graphic courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM

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By KAYATALIE SHANG

September 2019

Staff Writer

What do you do when you’re stressed? Depressed? In a generally insecure state of mind?

Perhaps you retreat to a bath, with the majority of the time spent staring listlessly at the wall, or you instead steal your sister’s ice cream, inhaling the entire carton in under a minute. Nevertheless, after doing whatnot, you feel better for the time being. They’re relatively normal activities, so why do they have this effect on you?

The most prominent reasoning is the fact that humans desire social contact, as humans are a community-based creature. Thus, we tend to find warm things comforting. A study from Yale ran an experiment testing whether people would use warmth to lift their spirits. It consisted of questionnaires asking how long they’d stay in the shower/bath and how often they found themselves wishing for company. They found that lonelier people tended to stay in the water for longer periods of time, “substituting physical warmth for missing social warmth in their lives.”

This heat-based comfort extends to hot drinks, fireplaces, etc. Weighted blankets, or simply a pile of blankets can also mimick the physical weight of someone hugging you.

Contrary to the rather obvious reasoning for cups of tea, running water, like rain is known for being a calming element. But, isn’t that rival to the fact that humans like heat? Rain isn’t exactly known for being cozy (the rain aesthetic is, but not the weather itself). Well, it’s known as calming mainly for its sounds. The constant and rhythmic sounds of rain and crashing waves create what is called white noise. White noise is defined as a sound that contains the entire frequency of noise and thus will swallow up other loud sounds. Its factor of muting other sounds makes it an ideal sleep aid and helps in creating a peaceful environment.

Lastly, what about food? About how people will stress eat and turn to comfort foods in times of emotional instability? It turns out, certain foods that are sugary or fatty lessens the stress-related emotions. But beyond the abilities of the food actually fighting against the stress, the foods one labels comfort foods are also linked to their experiences growing up. I mean, it’s perfectly reasonable, isn’t it? You associate comfort with those certain foods because those foods are linked with memories of being taken care of. So, in emotionally troubling times, one turns to them to invoke a sense of security.

This article might not have helped your stressing, but perhaps you’ve absorbed some new ways of trying to ignore it. Maybe you can switch out your unhealthy habits with better ones, ones that don’t consistently impair you. Or maybe this article was just a thing you read from the comforts of your blanket as you procrastinate on doing the very thing that’s the source of all your issues.

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By KYLIE HA

Staff Writer

In our world, workaholism and constant busy-ness are often applauded, making it a challenge to rest. Without any of this, we would have nothing to contribute to those we love or to the goals we set. To make it possible to execute our plans and goals effectively, re-learning how to rest is more than beneficial.

With each passing month, our schedules seem to be getting fuller and busier. When we attempt to hang out with old friends, it’s no surprise to see that our next opening is much later in the month.

By planning and programming as much of our lives as possible, we leave little to no room to things that might even remotely rejuvenate or offer some rest.

Rest is about recovery. It is knowing that we are drained, tired, exhausted, and need to take a couple of steps back and rework how we handle the daily challenges in life. In order for our bodies to truly recover, we must receive a surplus of time off, including sleeping well at night. Being tired on a daily basis means re-evaluating the time frames we’re sleeping by and what frequently causes the shortage of sleep.

How we rest is also about refreshment. By incorporating activities, practicing “stillness”, or minimizing on what we do, it allows us to bring back the calm times in our spirits. If we continue doing things that deplete us when we should be finding things that fill us, refreshment is something that we will never obtain. It’s only achievable if we make more deposits into this bucket than withdrawals during our times of rest.

The definition of renewal is defined as resuming an activity or state after an interruption. To be made spiritually new, it’s spending time or doing things that refresh us mentally.

In our ultra-connected world, countless people are talking about different ways to disconnect from the stress of the modern world through books, podcasts, and messages. These “simple three steps to not feel overwhelmed” aren’t universal, though. In order to break away from the distractions in our lives, we have to know what distracts us and be willing to lay down a part of our agenda so that the most important people in our lives don’t feel like distractions. Setting limits and boundaries against whatever steals peace and rest from us is crucial.

Besides incorporating these three ideas into a part of our daily routines, making them a habit are key. In doing so, we will all be on the path towards eliminating spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical depletion from our lives.

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September 2019

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September 2019

By ETHAN CHEN Staff Writer

Each year, more than 13,000 students are treated in the hospital for backpack-related injuries. This, of course, is a surprisingly high number. Backpacks are designed as an efficient way to help us carry our things from place to place, so why is this happening? The answer is simple: backpacks that are too heavy! It may not seem like it, but carrying a heavy backpack around every day can have long-lasting or even permanent negative effects on your body.

What are the dangers of a heavy backpack? Backpacks that are too heavy are not only a hindrance on getting around quickly, but can also have devastating effects on your spine, shoulders, muscles, posture, arms, and lower back, all very important parts of your body. Lugging around a very heavy bag puts loads of weight on your shoulders, which can quickly lead to joint pain. Since the human body naturally wants to right itself in a way that allows us to remain balanced, carrying an overweight backpack will often cause you to lean forwards. In the future, this can easily result in poor posture as well as shoulder and neck pain. You might also begin to feel the strain of a heavy bag in your upper chest and back as the weight makes it difficult for your various ligaments and muscles to support you.

When is my backpack too heavy? It should be relatively easy to tell if your backpack is a little too stuffed for your own good. Red marks on your shoulders, shoulder or back pain, and fingers/arms falling asleep are all symptoms that your backpack is putting too much strain on your back. You should also be able to tell from weight alone when a backpack is too heavy. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a student’s backpack should have a weight equivalent to that of around 10-15% of the student’s body weight. Next time you have access to a scale, try weighing your backpack to see if it fits this range.

What can I do to prevent these problems? Well, simply decreasing the weight of your backpack is the simplest option. Often times, however, this is not possible with all the books and other miscellaneous items. Here are some quick tips on how you can deal with a heavy backpack.

Take out unnecessary items: This may seem obvious, but managing the items stored in your bag each day is important if you want to reduce your chance of back and shoulder problems. Make sure you only bring the essentials so that you can limit the strain that your bag puts on your body. Plan each day before school or the night before so that you can limit the amount of things you bring and lower the risk of heavy-backpack problems.

Use the bag how it was intended: Make sure you use both backpack straps while carrying your bag at all times. Even with a heavy bag, using both straps helps to distribute the weight of the backpack evenly upon your shoulders and helps to decrease the load on either of your arms.

Straps and bands: Typically, school backpacks on the larger side will come equipped with a helpful chest strap or connectable band that can help to provide support for your back by transferring some of the weight from your bag unto your chest. Larger bags might also come with a handy-dandy waist strap that helps even more by shifting weight from your shoulders and back to your hips, a much better way to distribute weight across your body. Even if your backpack doesn’t have these things, it’s easy and doesn’t cost much to purchase and apply your own straps.

Adjust your backpack: Most backpacks come with adjustable arm straps that allow the user to adjust their length to the optimal size. This can be very useful for taking some of the weight of a heavy bag off of your shoulders and arms. If your bag has adjustable straps fit them so that your bag sits as closely as it can to your body. Make sure it hugs your body snuggly so that it doesn’t sway when you walk, and the less space between you and your bag, the better.

And finally, Consider alternatives: This one is mostly situational. If your teachers and classes allow it, try and use electronic versions of textbooks, books, and other tools instead of the physical items. Most of us here at AHS have constant access to our school-distributed chromebooks, and oftentimes the heavy textbooks that you carry around on a daily basis can be found online. E-books are also a viable alternative to regular books, and typing assignments on your Google Drive instead of carrying around a set of paper notebooks can help to decrease the total weight of your bag. Ask your teachers about some of these options and whether they’re allowed or not. Hopefully this information will be useful in avoiding backpack related injuries! echen@apachepowwow.net Graphic courtesy of TUMBLR.COM

By BECKY CHEN Staff Writer

High school is one of the most important times of our lives, and stepping into it can sound scary and totally out of our comfort zones at first. The freshmen at AHS conquered the beginning of this milestone a few weeks ago, and for some, it was extremely nerve wracking.

Freshman Sarah Chao stated, “There were so many new changes that we had to adapt to.”

Another freshman, Gwyneth Ngo, said it was a “hard transition from middle school.”

One of the many concerns that the freshmen had was the workload compared to what they got in their middle schools. “There were many things I wasn’t used to,” Gwyneth admitted, “For example, having multiple tests and learning the chapters on my own.” Sarah agreed with this statement, saying that the most daunting part about entering high school was probably “the increase in the amount of homework.”

On the other hand, a portion of freshmen disagree with this concern, stating that the workload was not as bad as they expected it to be. Freshman Angelina Liu stated that the workload was, for the most part, manageable. “My friends have always expressed the difficulties of transitioning into high school and adjusting to the amount of homework given, but I learned how to manage my time well,” she contrasted. For some, time management is a skill that is extremely difficult to acquire. In regards to workload, Sarah declared that it doesn’t get that bad after you “eventually get used to it over time.”

All of the freshmen interviewed, however, agreed that high school was made a lot better with the influx of new friends. “Meeting new people and making new friends made everything more fun and exciting,” Sarah admitted. Despite being around unfamiliar people, Angelina stated that because they “shared the same excitement that I felt,” she was able to bond with these new people easily. “The campus and people I met were really nice and very welcoming,” Gwyneth pointed out. “The people around me helped make my first week good.”

Although the first week at high school was bad for some and good for others, most of the freshmen can agree that they are excited and nervous for the upcoming years of being an Apache. “My first week was a good experience overall,” Angelina concluded. “I adjusted pretty quickly to the people that were in my classes…It taught me a lot and I’m excited for the school year ahead.”

Best of luck, Apaches! Have a great four years at AHS! bchen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM, ISTOCK.COM, and PNGIMAGE.COM

September 2019

11

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By PAMINA YUNG and ABHIYAN KOTA Staff Writers

The 2019-2020 school year brings new memories, as well as new teachers. A few of this year’s new staff are Mr. Andrade, Ms. Chan, Ms. Lew, Mr. Mittongtare, Ms. Protic, Mrs. Svetich, Ms. Valenzuela, and Ms. Winston.

Mr. Ignacio Andrade: Certificated/RSP Mr. Andrade is a Resource teacher who specializes in co-teaching math. Mr. Andrade chose to teach at AHS because it is the most respected school district near Whittier, his hometown. “I wanted to move forward in my career but closer to home.” Before teaching at this school, he has taught Geometry and Algebra in San Fernando Valley at Birmingham Community Charter High School for three years. He also worked at Pacoima teaching the same subjects. So far, Mr. Andrade is impressed and thinks AHS is a fantastic school. “I love the vibes and culture. It’s such a rarity to find schools with such a balance of academics, culture, and community.” He describes his job as being a dream and hopes to earn his place as a permanent teacher. “My co-teacher, Ms. Tedei, is an awesome educator and I hope to reach her caliber someday.” Throughout the school year, Mr. Andrade plans to attend many sporting events and is eager to meet more teachers and students.

Ms. Rachel Chan: Counselor Ms. Chan is the counselor for the sophomore students with last names Lin - Z. AHS’ distinguished academic performance drew her to work at the school. She loves the gregarious and affable community of teachers and students. “I am excited to join a school where I get to collaborate with many different staff members and be a part of a large counseling department,” she states. Ms. Chan counsels students in academic progress and college and career goals. Students can also talk to her about their personal concerns and questions. One of her biggest passions being a counselor is supporting and guiding students as they find their talents and what they want to pursue. “I also love seeing students achieve their goals and take initiative and leadership in creating something new and I feel I have the unique position as their counselor to guide them on their journey and provide support.”

Ms. Michele Lew: Arcadia High Assistant Principal Ms. Lew first began teaching special education at an elementary school which she stayed at for three years. She then moved her career to a high school and continued teaching special education to students with moderate to severe disabilities in the Adult Transition Program, which teaches vocational and life skills to people ages 18 to 22. After twelve years of high school teaching, Ms. Lew decided to look for a different position and did some research on other high schools. She came across Arcadia High School and was very impressed with its academic success and the opportunities available at this school. Later on, she met staff and administrators and was amazed at how friendly and encouraging everyone was. She adds, “The teachers, students, and administrators are so warm, kind, and helpful and that’s the type of environment I want to be in.” Her residence in Pasadena also made Arcadia High a perfect location to teach at. She is excited about learning something new every time at the school and says, “I love to come to work every day!” Starting her new job this year, Ms. Lew is our assistant principal at Arcadia High School.

Mr. Akarin Mittongtare: CTE - Food Science and Culinary Arts Mr. Mittongtare teaches food and culinary science courses. This year is the start of his teaching career, as this is his first teaching job and position ever. Mr. Mittongtare is an AHS alumn and chose to teach at the school he graduated from, because of his love for it and a great chance to pass on his knowledge. He also values the many opportunities offered to students’. “As someone who has gone to this school before, I love the way Arcadia is always striving for excellence in not just academics but also extracurriculars.” Mr. Mittongtare recognizes great importance in every aspect of education this school presents. During the current time of his teaching, Mr. Mittogtare enjoys his work and is really “looking forward to growing and learning more as a teacher.”

By LILIAN CHONG

Staff Writer

With the countless numbers of influencing labels, “50% Less Fat!” “Less Sodium”, many believe that these labels are dependable and reasonable; however, the truth is otherwise. The seller’s motive in adding labels is to persuade buyers into purchasing their “low fat” product, making it not completely reliable. Differentiating a nutritious meal and organic meal is crucial; understanding the distinction between the two is key. This article will clarify the various choices in making a wholesome meal. Do organic products really mean anything in a healthy meal? They are certainly

pyung@apachepowwow.net and akota@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of ALLFREEDOWNLOAD.COM,

The Truth About Organic Products If you were to pick out an organic avocado, you might consider it safer more nutritious. However, organic food often does contain pesticides which farmers use to eliminate harmful insects.

Organic produce has higher non-essential nutrients that do promote health and prevent diseases.

Ultimately, the best way to sustain a healthy eating style is to “start eating more fresh produce rather than worrying about how they were grown,” as stated by ucdintegrativemedicine.com.

Your Choice Matters The choice of making the right meal affects your physical and mental strength. Every food section has its own limited serving amount. There is never a possibility for exceeding the limit of fruits and vegetables because they are both harmless and safe. However, eating an extravagant amount of protein can result in hyperproteinemia. Some of the main consequences are digestive issues and inexplicable weight loss.

Additionally, junk foods can cause serious health problems both physically and mentally. The obesity rate nationally in 2019 is appalling: 39.6% of American adults and 18.5% of American teens and children are obese. The word “obesity” has been going around for ages, however, each year, the rate is drastically increasing in number. Moreover, the choices and habits people make need to be controlled and improved.

Serving the Right Plate After gathering your knowledge about creating a wholesome meal, the last step is to craft! For breakfast meals, the serving size should be no larger than a large bowl of soup. If there is a limited amount of time in the morning, purchasing a box full of granola bars is convenient and essential.

It is best to make sure that the bars have full proteins and grains so they can keep the muscles and stomach strong and filled. In most cases, ravenous stomachs can often occur, and my only suggestion to you is to make yourself an actual breakfast meal. For lunch and dinner, I plainly suggest an enjoyable full meal during lunch and possibly a light-packed meal for dinner. This way, the plan keeps meals evenly balanced out so that one meal does not weigh more than the other. Tracking down foods that you consume can help keep a healthy mindset and a satisfied stomach.

As for these suggestions, you should finally visualize and understand what a healthy meal should contain. The healthy choices you choose to make reflect how you ethically eat and how you compose the right habits.

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IT IS UP

theapachepowwow.net

SEPTEMBER 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

cf.powwow@gmail.com

TO YOU

By BRADEN WONG Staff Writer

Life presents a web of dots, of decisions, which is beautiful in as many ways as it is intricate. However, not all decisions are made equal—because in life, one decision leads to thousands. A single change in perspective compounded over the years will change your life.

Imagine if last month, your counselor had swapped your 1st and 2nd period classes. In one fell swoop, everything changes. Suddenly, there are countless people you never met, faces you never saw, and conversations that never took place.

In spite of all those changes, that wasn’t even your decision, as your decisions are even more powerful.

Three years ago, at the closing of an all-school assembly, a young timid freshman made the decision to turn around in the final seconds before the doors closed and stay behind for an informational presentation for joining ASB. He had little idea of what he would run for and had every doubt over whether he would make it.

That was me three years ago. Now, that single moment has definitely been the most pivotal moment of my life. Because from that single moment came the decision to run for ASB, to run for president, and to make new connections that would last a lifetime. Almost four years of countless memories, experiences, and opportunities on ASB were boiled down into a single decision, made down to the last second, made not confidently, but with utter, wavering hesitation. Yet, that was all it took to start a chain reaction.

One decision is the turning point. One decision is what opens the door to thousands. One decision is all that it takes.

So today, as we make new decisions that define the rest of our year (and for seniors, the rest of our lives), let us be reminded that our choices matter. Talk to a teacher. Meet a new friend. Take chances, take risks, make new connections, because it only takes one to lead a change for a lifetime. With that faith, there’s no telling how the dots will end up. bwong@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of BEFONTS.COM, PINTEREST.COM, SOLIDBACKGROUNDS.COM, and VECTORSTOCK.COM

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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By LESLIE CHEN

September 2019

Staff Writer

Last week, Disney held its biannual exposition event called the D23 Expo. In a series of conventions, the company revealed many new ideas regarding its theme parks, movies, and TV shows. Here is some of the exciting news that was revealed.

Marvel The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) disclosed many announcements about its movies and TV shows. One exciting announcement was the confirmed release of Black Panther 2. The sequel to the highly-successful superhero film is scheduled to hit theaters on May 22, 2022 and will return with its original director, Ryan Coogler. Additionally, the company gave details about some of its new Disney+ shows. Studio President Kevin Feige announced new shows starring female heroines, including She Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and Moon Knight, making up for the studio’s lack of inclusivity over the past ten years. Because most of the shows haven’t started filming yet, Feige was unable to give too many details away. The one exception, however, was the animated series “What If…” , which will take one key element from a Marvel movie and change it, thus completing altering the course of the film.

Pixar After years dominated by sequels like Toy Story 4 and Incredibles 2, Pixar is finally back doing what it does best: fascinating, original stories. At the convention, the company announced its plans for new, animated movies. First up in March 2020 is Onward, a film about two brothers who quest through a once-magical land to use a spell to bring their dead father back to life. Next up in 2020 is Soul, a movie about a middle school jazz teacher (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who becomes separated from his soul, so another soul (voiced by Tina Fey) steps in to help them renuite.

According to Pixar, both these films plan to bring light to serious issues in a family-friendly way, making it a big step for the company.

Disney Parks Aside from movies and TV shows, Disney also announced new renovations to one of its major theme parks, the Epcot Center. Beginning in the next few years, the park can expect a new Moana-themed water experience, the first Mary Poppins attraction, a backwards Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, a Ratatouille ride, and much more.

Star Wars As one of the company’s largest and most successful franchises, there was lots to be announced about Star Wars. Disney released new clips from upcoming projects like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian, exciting millions of fans worldwide. If that wasn’t enough, actor Ewan McGregor officially declared that he would be coming back to his role as Obi-Wan after years of vague answers to questions about returning to Star Wars.

D23 provides the perfect experience for fans to learn more about their favorite franchises, meet up with actors, and come together as a community. Whatever the case, it’s obvious that Disney fans will continue to stay very, very busy! lchen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of WALLPAPERPLAY.COM and 1001FONTS.COM

By ASHLEY ZHAO

Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hear the color blue? Although most people experience color visually, around 4% of the world’s population is able to experience pigments through a combination of multiple senses.

These people have a rare neurological condition known as synesthesia, where their brains process stimulation in a way which allows them to experience several senses at a time. Synesthesia comes in up to 70 different forms, such as the ability to see sounds, hear the time, and even taste shapes. Some scientists believe that

the condition is a result of “cross-wiring” in the brain, where neurons and synapses usually contained in one part of the brain cross over to another. The exact reason for this phenomenon is unknown, but some researchers believe that these crossed connections are present in everyone at birth—it’s not until later in life that these connections are present. Many synesthetes use art as a way to illustrate what they experience, creating visually unique pieces of artwork.

Vincent Van Gogh Van Gogh’s work is well-known for being vibrant and full of expressive movement, which may be a result of the post-impressionist artist being a synesthete. Although this might seem like new information, evidence of Van Gogh having synesthesia is present in the many letters he had written to his brother—in one he revealed, “Some artists have a nervous hand at drawing, which gives their technique something of the sound peculiar to a violin.” Furthermore, Van Gogh attempted to take piano lessons in 1885 but struggled to have a good grasp on the instrument. The artist declared that each note evoked a color, making the experience of playing too overwhelming. His piano professor, alarmed by what he said, kicked him out of the center declaring Van Gogh was “crazy”.

Melissa McCracken Missouri-based artist Melissa McCracken visualizes the sounds she hears from certain songs into vivid oil paintings, showcasing how she sees musical notes as different textures and colors. Even different genres of music look different on a canvas for McCraken, and she stated that “expressive music such as funk is a lot more colorful, with all the different instruments, melodies, and rhythms creating a highly saturated effect. Guitars are generally golden and angled, and piano is more marbled and jerky because of the chords.” The artist also enjoys the many creative aspects of having synesthesia, especially

when it comes to music.

“The most wonderful ‘brain malfunction’ of all is seeing the music I hear,” McCracken described her experiences, “It flows in a mixture of hues, textures, and movements, shifting as if it were a vital and intentional element of each song.”

Daniel Mullen Based in Amsterdam, artist Daniel Mullen explores the sensory phenomenon with his ongoing painting series titled Synesthesia. Even though Mullen doesn’t have the ability himself, he teamed up with artist, filmmaker, and synesthete Lucy Engelman to illustrate how she perceives time, numbers, and letters. At first glance, Mullen’s artwork may appear just to be rows of colorful plexiglass. However, each piece is actually hand-painted and is a visualization of Engelman experiencing various time periods. For instance, the 1950s-1980s are envisioned in vibrant hues of pink, blue, orange, and green. In another one of Mullen’s works, representing ancient times between 5132-5097 CE, the colors are much softer, and the lines are thinner.

Being a synesthete isn’t something you should be ashamed of or something you should try to hide, as synesthesia is something that can make everyday life that much more interesting.

McCraken elaborated on this and remembered how she had “received many lovely emails from synesthetes who struggled with the sense that something was wrong with them just because they saw colors when listening to music.” Whether or not an experience is positive or negative, McCraken continued, “it’s always nice to know that someone can relate to you and that you’re not alone.” vkwan@apachepowwow.com azhao@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of POLYGON.COM Graphics courtesy of AFFIRMTIVHEALTH. and WALLPAPERCAVE.COM COM and 1001FONTS.COM

September 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

15

Top Grammy Winners

By CAITLIN WANG

Staff Writer

The music industry is constantly changing whether we like it or not. The Grammy Awards have been around for as long as we can remember. The artists who won these prestigious awards back from when it first started differ from those who win these awards today. Here is a mix of artists from back then to now, who have all won many Grammy awards and a music background on each.

Georg Solti: In the lead with 31 total Grammys, Georg Solti is “still the man to beat,” according to Fox News. He was a music director for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for more than 20 years. His recordings were highly praised as both a “conductor and solo performer.” To keep his title, he has earned more Grammys than any other classical or popular recording artist. His legacy lives on today.

Stevie Wonder: Slightly behind Solti, Stevie Wonder has earned a total of 25 Grammys. He is not only a singer, but also a songwriter, and record producer. One of these Grammys includes Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for his song, “For Once in My Life.” Wonder’s music career is also very impressive, considering he still continues to perform at 67 years old. He is also considered to be one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century.

Beyonce: Beyonce is one of the most well-known Grammy award winners today. She has won 23 awards out of 66 total nominations. Her first three Grammys were earned as a member of Destiny’s Child, following many others as a solo artist. She advises, “We all experience pain and loss, and often we become inaudible. My intention for...was to create a body of work that would give a voice to our pain, our struggles, our darkness, and our history. To confront issues that make us uncomfortable.” Beyonce is truly amazing, being the most nominated female artist in Grammy history.

Kanye West: Close behind Beyonce, Kanye West also falls into the category of modern-day artists who have won a high amount of Grammy awards. Out of 69 nominations, he has won 21 awards. A look into his mindset, “My greatest award is what I’m about to do. I’m always thinking about the future.” He is one of the top hip-hop artists in Grammy history, with Jay-Z close behind.

Each artist listed above is unique in their own way. From their music to their personalities, these musicians don’t have much in common besides the fact that they are among the top Grammy winners in history. It is truly astonishing how much these artists are able to accomplish throughout their lifetimes, allowing them to be rewarded so many prestigious Grammy awards. cwang@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of SUNCOASTFYMNASTICS.COM and 1001FONTS.COM

Ryman Arts

By ETHAN CHEN

Staff Writers

Just this previous summer, I applied and was accepted into the Ryman Arts Program (RAP), a non-profit organization that focuses on educating high-school level students in the arts. RAP not only provides free classes for those who are accepted into their course but a wide variety of necessary supplies as well.

Where did the program come from?

Herbert D. Ryman, the man whom the program was named after, was a professional artist who was most famous for his work in

sketching and visualizing Walt Disney’s first ideas for the Disneyland parks. Following his passing, Lucille Ryman Carroll, his sister, had decided to establish the program in memory of Herbert’s belief in the importance of mentoring youth in the various fields of art and creation.

Since then, the program has continued to offer free courses and materials for those deeply interested in the arts.

What exactly goes on at RAP? RAP hosts its three- to four-hour classes on a weekly basis. They operate independently at two different locations, California State Fullerton University and the Otis College of Art and Design. This makes it easier for students to attend a location more available to them. All of the location’s professors and staff are available to chat with before class, as long as they’re clearly available. Students are also free to talk with each other and are even encouraged to share their artwork with one another with the intent to offer constructive criticism.

However, once class begins, students are expected to take their seats and be ready to work. This should come as no surprise, because while the environment may seem very friendly and open, Ryman Arts is, after all, an extensive and strenuous course that will require your utmost concentration and full participation for

you to get the most out of.

Once class begins, students will take out their completed artwork homework assignments assigned at the end of the previous week’s class.

The professors heavily emphasize the importance of sharing your work as well as the ability to receive and give out good criticism and suggestions. After this short period, the professor will usually begin his or her lesson for the day.

While the class’s lesson will vary depending on what the professor wishes to cover in that class, usually they will focus on one major subject rather than jumping from topic to topic in order to remain focused and provide a smooth lesson.

Most often, lessons include mediums like pencil sketching, still-lifes, and drawing with pastels and specialized chalks.

Opportunities Along with its art courses, RAP also provides a large variety of opportunities for its students designed to help with applying to college, getting their name out into the world of the art industry, and more. Through various college fairs, art shows, scholarship counseling days, award events, and more, RAP makes sure that its students are provided with all that they need to continue working on their passions in the field of art and to find ways that they can incorporate art into professional job opportuni-

ties as well. This is definitely one of the most beneficial services provided by the Ryman Arts Program.

How do I apply?

Of course, being a competitive program that offers free materials and courses, Ryman Arts has a strict acceptance procedure. In order to apply, the applicant must fill out various interview forms and applications as well as complete two pencil drawings demonstrating your existing knowledge of still-life and pencilsketching aspects. Ryman Arts has an acceptance rate of around 50%, and you must also submit a teacher-recommendation letter for the program. Once you’re in, you can look forward to completely free college-level classes and materials fit for a true professional artist! The next time for applications at RAP will be for the Spring 2020 semester, so if you’re looking to apply have your applications ready by then!

You can view more specific details and information on the application process at the RAP official website. echen@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of CREATIVEMARKET.COM, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, and 1001FONTS.COM

16

SPORTS

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By MELODY LUI Staff Writer On Aug. 30, Varsity Football’s first home game of the season began. The Apaches, in cardinal and gold, started off the season by playing Vikings, in white and purple, from Valencia High School. The crowd was anticipating a great start to the season after the numerous wins from the Varsity Football team last year. However, despite their great efforts, the Apaches were unable to defeat the Valencia Vikings this time, ending the game with a score of 7-60 for the Vikings.

The first quarter was tough for the Apaches. Right off the bat, the Vikings already had a lead as they ran a touchdown. With the score at 0-6 and keeping the momentum, the Vikings continued with a pat attempt, which scored them an extra point. The crowd was unable to contain their discontent with the Viking’s untimely goal.

Trying not to get discouraged, the Apaches did their best to stop the Vikings. Their efforts bore some fruits, but the Vikings’ superior strength and teamwork scored them another touchdown in the first quarter.

When halftime started, the Apaches struggled valiantly, but were still unable to score any points, leaving with a score of 0-40. Despite the seemingly impossible situation, the third quar-

By ENZO GOEBEL Staff Writer You find yourself in pure and utter chaos, surrounded by flashing lights and screaming fans. Any passersby would stop in awe, consumed by the atmosphere as if they were witnessing a gladiatorial fight in the Colosseum. It is no normal Friday night; it is game night, and everyone is eager to see if their team will walk away in glory or shame. This is the beautiful phenomenon that we call American sports–but unfortunately, it also has a rarely-addressed dark side.

With student-athletes constantly pushing themselves to improve on top of school obligations, the pressure can be overwhelming.

Expectant parents, coaches, scouts, teammates, and even athletes themselves can create a hostile environment. This pressure to win throughout American youth sports in combination with the stigma surrounding mental health problems has blended together to create the perfect concoction for failure. Unfortunately, American society, the very cause of this problem, is also the only thing that can stop what is failing so many of our athletes.

“The professional consensus is that the incidence of anxiety and depression among scholastic athletes has increased over the past 10 to

AN INTENSE GAME The Apaches played a valiant game against the Valencia Vikings, but despite their efforts, the Apaches ended the night with unfortunate loss of 7-60. ter gave us hope and the Apaches were able to pick themselves back up. The Apaches were determined even after the Vikings scored so many times, and in the third quarter, wide receiver senior Isaiah Lopez scored a touchdown, the first

of the game for the Apaches. Just one touchdown was enough for the Apaches to recover their fighting spirit and the game continued with renewed vigor, the score now 7-60.

To our dismay, after the touchdown for

15 years,” said Marshall Mintz, a New Jerseybased sports psychologist, in an interview with The Atlantic. In fact, this is largely due to the implementation of professional training methods and specialization in lower level sports.

Sports have become a “way out” for many, and the pressure oftentimes becomes insurmountable- or at least that is how it feels.

As an athlete who has recently undergone meniscal surgery and six months of physical therapy, I can understand the feeling of being lost without the sport I identify myself with. Six months is a long time to be out of a sport; time that can be crucial to development. As a result, many athletes ignore their bodies, causing a spiral of injuries until they are no longer fit to compete.

I find it strange that when an athlete gets injured, medics rush to their side, but when they suffer from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), an anxiety disorder, estranged coaches try to keep their distance or push the athlete harder

to work them out of their “slump”. In a 2017 study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, 20.1% of the 269 college athletes screened were diagnosed with OCD. The second year’s study showed that 16.7% of 270 new student-athletes also showed major symptoms of OCD, and 5.2% met the full criteria. Compared to a rate of around 2.3%, the percentage of 5.2% shows that student-athletes displayed OCD symptoms at over two times the frequency of the rest of the population. The average age of student-athletes who displayed symptoms of OCD was 14.3–a staggeringly young age. Even worse, the students who met the full criteria had never been diagnosed in their lives.

Unfortunately, studies show that 60% of people suffering from OCD have at least one major depressive episode, and around 30% develop a substance use disorder. Untreated, OCD can lead to much worse. It’s common for people to turn to things like alcohol and drugs when the

September 2019

the Apaches, the Vikings bounced back, scored several more touchdowns and field goals and ended the game with an unfortunate score of 7-60, with the Vikings taking home the victory.

Wide receiver and safety junior Kayin Hall stated that he “knew this game was going to be a hard game,” but he still knew “as a team, they played their hearts out.” Although the Apaches went home without a win, they still played a good game, and this loss serves as a motivation to work even harder for many games in the upcoming season. As the season has only begun, the team may have been lacking in some areas of communication and teamwork.

Quarterback senior Mikey Hillier describes that he thought the Apaches “didn’t do that well as a team,” and that they can “do better offensively and defensively” by getting into the right mindset as well as preparing more throughout the week for the game. Despite the unfortunate loss, the Apaches can only get better from here as they continue to grow as a team and strengthen their bonds with each other.

Their skills will continue to increase as they compete against more teams throughout the season, and hopefully, they will be able to take home many more wins.

mlui@apachepowwow.net Photo by LEILANI WETTERAU Graphics courtesy of FONTSPACE.COM

disorder gets too severe.

Do not get me wrong, athletics have developed in spite of all these problems, in part due to the U.S.’ more than one hundred billion dollar budget. The methodology has been working, but it is the mentality that needs to be addressed. Parents and coaches often ignore the mental health problems of players in favor of fixating on the athletic glory ahead. This culture that athletes are raised in today, is limiting their ability to make choices at free will. To quote Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights, “If you’re not first, you’re last.”

So, what can we do to make a change?

While colleges can hire therapists and train staff to support athletes with mental health problems, coaches, as well as parents, can focus on supporting athletes by fostering a more welcoming environment during training and games. Letting go of the mentality that winning is everything will help athletes focus more on their mental health. Even if you’re not directly associated with sports, you can help by spreading awareness. The fact remains that winning isn’t everything; an athlete’s health is just as important as winning a game.

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September 2019

SPORTS

sports.powwow@gmail.com

By LINDA QIU

Staff Writer As with many school athletes, Girls Varsity Volleyball team member junior Sofia Mediana “decided to start playing volleyball in middle school just as a way to stay fit and hang out with friends.” But after playing, she realized how fun it was and was hooked. “Once I started paying thousands of dollars a year just to play, I knew I couldn’t just stop… The energy on the court and the chemistry between players are always my favorite things about the sport.”

However, playing sports in high school has its downsides. For Sofia, “The most difficult part of playing volleyball is probably having to deal with bad calls or just bad referees in general.

It doesn’t seem like something that important, but especially during a close game, one call can mean the difference between winning and losing. Playing well and communicating are things that we as players can control, but we can’t control a referee’s decision.” Not only that, but playing a sport can detract from studying and homework time. Long practices can stretch into evenings, and prevent student-athletes from having time to study. Sofia considers practices to be “pretty manageable most days, but games can make it really hard to find enough time to do homework.” She is taking three AP classes this year, so the workload is harder to manage than what she’s used to. “Sometimes we have to leave class early for away games, meaning we miss out on lessons or activities. We usually get back fairly late too, and on those days I have to stay up to get all my homework done. I’m an officer for multiple clubs as well, so meet-

By KYLIE HA Staff Writer We have all seen a couple of people in numerous sports who are inspired by something a professional athlete says or does — whether it be a signature dance to a touchdown, the last final sprint, or the idea of team loyalties. Especially in AHS, where a plethora of sports can be found, ranging from golf to water polo, it is easy to be influenced through the mannerisms, methods of dressing, involvement in team communication, and more from a famous competitor. What is it that the players in AHS look up to, and why?

Olympians and world-class athletes know what they are worth. That is why they trademark their names, catchphrases, and logos — anything that has the possibility of turning into money-making venues, such as Michael Jordan’s shoe brand. Sprinter Usain Bolt, trademarked his iconic “lightning bolt” stance he is so well known for. It’s not just Olympians though, plenty of pro-athletes, or those seeking to go big take note of these ideas.

Sophomore Aaron Chang stated, “I like to carbo-load a couple nights before my race by eating things like pasta, bread, rice, and more.

It gives me energy for the race, which is a tip I got from elite runners from magazines.” Carbo-loading is short for carbohydrate-loading, a strategy used by endurance athletes, typically those in cross country, to maximize the body’s storage of glycogen in the muscles and liver. By doing this the night before, it enables athletes to

work out longer and serves as extra fuel for the body to burn up.

Similar to Aaron, junior Merrick Hua takes food tips from competitors before he used to race. Although he’s not a runner anymore, he drinks “two bags of Gatorade powder the night before the race” because it helps to keep his body hydrated and ready for the race. Eliud Kipchoge, the famous Kenyan long-distance runner known for “Breaking Two” in the documentary by Nike, does something similar.

On the other hand, sophomore Grace Lee uses a different note to improve her athletic performance. Rather than focusing on elite athletes, Grace chooses to focus her attention on previous high school cross country runners and the notes she has taken after watching them run.

“I look at the statistics of other runners that are going to be in my race to see how fast they can run.” Former high school athletes who are known to be in cross country or track have channels where they explain their times, react to other runners, and more, which includes people like Katelyn Tuohy and Emma Abrahamson.

Athletic brands like Nike, Adidas, Fila, and Sketchers all have certain athletes that they sponsor, essentially, asking them to be the face of the company. Sponsoring various famous athletes allows these athletic brands to attach the skills of the athlete they are sponsoring onto the value of their products, inspiring fans of that athlete to buy that brand’s products. Meb Keflezighi, a former Eritrean-born American longdistance runner, was originally sponsored by Nike and switched over to Sketchers. His col-

laboration between his shoes gained followers, and his memoir about running, thinking, and acting like a champion runner was bought by millions. Many of the athletic companies that we commonly associate with sell a quantity of things, like shirts, shoes, pants, limited edition sweaters, and more. Sponsorships allow the competitor to gain profit and familiarity with the people, while these brands are able to set new trends, records, and more with one another.

Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, is exceptionally well known in the sports world for his famous bicep kiss. After scoring each touchdown, he raises his right arm to kiss his biceps, which is something we see all throughout our school and at games with players. Similar to Kaepernick, former NBA center Dikembe Mutombo is known for raising and wagging his pointer finger as in a “no, not in my house” after blocking a shot. Tiger Woods, golf superstar, gained attention to his move by punching the air with a swift punch after sinking a hole.

Although the athletes in our school may have their own pre-game rituals, traditions, and hand-shakes with one another, it is not hard to spot someone doing something that an elite competitor has done, it is just a matter of who notices.

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17

ings usually conflict with games and practice.”

Sofia manages her busy schedule by prioritizing whenever there is conflict. “Communication with my peers, teachers, and coaches is key.”

This year is Sofia’s first year on the Varsity team. She’s looking forward to playing on a higher level of volleyball and challenging herself. “Last year, I was lucky enough to be pulled up to varsity for CIFs, but now I’m really excited to compete as an official member of the team. Plus, a lot more people come to watch our games compared to frosh-soph or JV, so I always look forward to showing others how fun volleyball is.”

This year, the Girls Varsity Volleyball team is brimming with potential. They have what it takes to be a winning team: “Our team chemistry is pretty good; it’s always fun to play and be on the court with each other, which helps a lot with bringing out the most of our abilities.

Our coach is always pushing and encouraging us as well. I think we can improve on communicating on the court and just be more consistent in general. We have a lot of great players, so if we could play well 100% of the time, our team would be able to go really far in league and CIFs.” Right now, the team is undefeated in League, but Burroughs and Crescenta Valley will soon pose a tough challenge. “I think as long as we keep working hard and stay focused and energized, we’ll be able to pull through and get a win.”

lqui@apachepowwow.net Photo by EMILY BANUELOS Graphics courtesy of 1001FONTS.COM

18

CAMPUS FOCUS

theapachepowwow.net

By MELODY LUI Staff Writer

September is not only a month that is associated with the change in seasons from summer to fall, but it is also National Self-Care Awareness Month. A month to help others realize that one’s mental well-being is just as important as their grades or others’ well-being.

The phrase “self-care” was originally coined as a term for doctors to tell the mentally ill and the elderly that they should practice healthy habits and treat themselves well, but soon those with high-risk and emotionally draining jobs, like therapists and social workers, needed self-care as well. Self-care is beneficial not only for your mental health, but for your physical health as well. Self-care helps you become more energetic and spir, and helps you work effectively. Self-care can lead to self-love, and although many confuse self-love with being pretentious, treating yourself well will make others want to find their own self-confidence.

AHS is notorious for its hard courses and stressful workload, and this means we should be caring for ourselves even more than usual. Here are some ways that our fellow Apache peers take care of themselves: “I know before, I would write down all my stressors and try to figure out my goals and where I want to be mentally and in my life at the moment.

More recently, I like to calm down by hanging out with friends and getting boba.”

—Elena Chan, 11

“I relax by running because it relieves a lot of built-up tension in ny body. Being in nature helps you realize that your stress is nothing compared to how vast the world is.”

—Deborah Khaw, 12

As humans, we may be naturally selfish, but many still tend to ignore the importance of self-care. Love for oneself comes with many more benefits than one can anticipate, and loving yourself is the first step to a better and happier world around us. mlui@apachepowwow.net Graphics courtesy of BEFONTS.COM, CLKER.COM ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, PINTEREST.COM, and SOLIDBACKGROUNDS.COM Photos by MELODY LUI

September 2019