LANCER
EXPRESS
On the Grind
CARLSBAD HIGH SCHOOL CARLSBAD CA MAY 2018 VOLUME 32, ISSUE 4
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Mitchell Scaglione Amy Coval COPY EDITOR
Jacqueline Penn DESIGN EDITOR
Tatum Maston
NEWS EDITOR
Olivia Sklenka
OPINION EDITOR
Aja Ward
FEATURES EDITORS
Frankee Costan Maxwell Ward
SPORTS EDITOR
John Mayberry
PHOTO EDITOR
Nicholas Beith
BUSINESS MANAGER
Robert Casey WRITERS
Briget Boka Evelyn Freeman Gracyn Gambill Roland Lujambio Alex Marre Jamie Mullen Erin Smith Riley Sommers Dailey Sparks Madelyn Waumans Kristen Young Kathryn Zaloom PHOTOGRAPHER
Dominick Shrewsberry ARTIST
Karinne Burgess DESIGNER
Caleb Amory ADVISER
Danielle Ryan
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS |MAY 2018
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
W
elcome to May, Lancers! This month truly gave us the inspiration for the theme because it is truly the one thing all need to do: Continue the Grind. We are all so close, whether it be to summer, to a high school graduation, to moving up a grade. However, the month of May presents many challenges. As of May first, seniors have (or were forced to) commit to the college of their choice. Other than wait-lists, seniors are essentially finished with high school and invested in things like roommate searches, Housing forms, and move in dates. Unfortunately, seniors still have weeks until June 14th, making them a bit restless. All students taking AP test will be done in a matter of weeks, underclassmen are looking forward to moving up a level in the Carlsbad High School hierarchy, and teachers struggle to maintain the attention of these distracted students. For these reasons, the Lancer Express encourages you to “Continue the Grind,� and we present you with some students who are doing just that. Now, a short briefing of local events, both old and new. Spring sports are in full go, with both boys and girls lacrosse winning games across the board. Boys lacrosse recently won over SDA, making their record 10-8-0. Girls lacrosse recently took a win over cross town rivals Sage Creek, clinching the first win of their season. Baseball recently fell to our rivals to the south, LCC, after 3 hard fought games. The Lancers ended the series 3-0, however still keeping a record of 8-15-0. Softball has been winning, a possible foreshadow to another CIF championship. The Lady Lancers played CCA on April 27 and won 10-0. Lancer softball is with a record of 10-4-1. Senior assassins is coming to a close, but not without a good fight. 16 teams remain with the tensions higher than ever. The Grand Council enacted purge days on essentially everyday and updated the hit list for a competitive ending. Good luck to the remaining teams; stay dry seniors. Lancers, May is an exciting month. You will never be in this place in your life ever again; you will never get these moments back. Therefore, finish strong. Work hard, get the best GPA you can, study for your AP tests and truly finish the year strong. Continue the grind, Lancers. The Lancer Express aims to credibly inform the public, entertain, and inspire change through free expression and diverse perspectives. Student journalists strive to present all issues with fairness, impartiality, maturity and journalistic integrity. This magazine is written and edited by the students of the Advanced Journalism class. All content and editorial decisions are made by the student editorial board. Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff, Carlsbad High School or the Carlsbad Unified School District. As a public forum for student expression, Lancer Express welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to refuse inappropriate or anonymous letters. Both sides of any issue are welcome here. Letters must be directed to room 3104 to the Editor-in-Chief or by email to chslancerexpress@gmail. com. Letters may be edited for grammar and/or length.
LANCER
EXPRESS on the grind
STORIES
During the ASL Show, seniors Jacob Jenkins and Tayah Cluett dance the night away during their performance. Every year, the ASL classes work all semester to perform a series of popular songs with sign language dubs.
NEWS
2 3
Whats Happening? Who Rescued Who?
How the SPCA club spreads awareness about animal treatment
4
OP-ED Being a Senior is a Bear An inside look into the brain of a senior and ways to combat senioritis
Cover Photo: Alyssa Zurita
5
Don’t Let Them Fool You Arming teachers won’t keep you safe
6
Coachella: I Went So You Didn’t Have To
8
Life After Vine
9
In Theatres Now
How students feel about the long-lost app A review of 2018’s films thus far
FEATURE
12 13 15 17
10 Dear Applicant... 20 The various paths students follow after high school
All About Prom There’s No Place Like Home
SPORTS 21
Sporty Sistas
22
The Boys Join the Boards
The perspective of ampersand Americans
Stress on the Best
A look into a soccer player and successful student’s busy life
Chasing the American Dream Encinitas Resident, Tak Sugimoto, fulfills the American Dream in the face of discrimination
En Garde
24
How sisters Maddie and Samantha Lauro feel about commiting to colleges on different sides of the country
How a fun after school activity turned into becoming co-captains of the dive team
Skating Bye
Sophomore Alex Bye on her experience playing ice hockey
Sophomore Nisha Ahmed and her world of fencing
Carlsbad High School 3557 Lancer Way Carlsbad, CA
MAY 2018 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | 1
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS
Academic League
S
ome kids play sports to train their bodies, while others join Academic League to train their minds. Our Academic League went above and beyond this season when they made it to the playoffs and were the second runner ups at Westview high school, placing third place in North County. They won against Mission Vista and lost again Torrey Pines.
“9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL”
photo by Nick Beith Junior Lydia Schmidt and Senior Micheala Edgin run through one of the play’s scenes during the dress rehearsal at the Cultural Arts Center.
“9 to 5: The Dolly Parton Musical” opened on April 27th, after months of hard work. The play features three very different working women and their efforts to make the best of an everyday office job and put up with their sexist boss. The three lead actresses, Michaela Egdin, Grace Kellett, and Lydia Schmidt effortlessly portray the struggles women faced in the workplace during the 1970s. With their flawless acting and awe-inspiring voices the three leads steal the show. The feminist musical follows a riveting story line that will have you on the edge of your seat, as the working women struggle to the top despite the efforts of their sexist boss and his nosy assistant. Along with a heartfelt lesson of hard work and humorous Dolly Parton songs, the musical sheds a light on how far women in the workplace have come and allows for CHS actors to shine.
QUOTE FROM THE CAST Choir’s Season
C
hoir went above and beyond this season. Going undefeated this, winning first place out of six different competitions. Winning in Los Angeles, Burbank, San Diego, and Vista. Some students also getting awarded individually for their performances.
“I’m really excited for this show because we’ve put a lot of effort into it. Through countless hours of rehearsals and at home practices we’ve made the show really come to life. As a cast we have all became so close and created family like bonds with one another. Almost like the main characters in the show. As a cast we are so excited to bring the audience through the journey of the main characters as we tell the story about equality, standing up in the face of discrimination, and friendship. We hope the audience will come away from this with their eyes opened about such an important topic as well as a song or two stuck in their head.”
-Emily Brewer, 11
TOP 5 OFF-CAMPUS LUNCH SPOTS Results from a survey of 56 students 1. Sprouts
2. Lola’s
3. Rubio’s
4.Knockout
5. Board and Brew
“It’s close, fast, healthy, and you can buy things at a relatively fair price.” -Camryn Riccitelli, 11
“Quick and easy to call in and pick up your food. Good atmosphere,” -Dustin Rupp,11
“I love their Mexican food to begin with and their California bowls are my favorite. -Natalie Borla 12
“It’s quick and easy.” -Ananya Thridandam, 12
“Board and Brew isn’t a sandwich, it’s a lifestyle.” -Drew Kesslin, 12
2 | NEWS | MAY 2018
WHO RESCUED WHO? P
How the SPCA club provides information and support to animal organizations in need.
Art by Karinne Burgess
by Erin Smith
et owners can understand the cost associated with caring for million dogs and cats every year, yet about 5 million of these same their loved pet or pets. Food, vaccinations, flea control, toys, animals die every year from euthanasia. Due to the support of schools beds and medical assistance – it all adds up quickly. Shelters, and communities, this has dropped from about 25 percent to 3 like pet owners, frequently deal with financial challenges. Regardless percent. of whether the economy is up or down, abandoned and lost pets who “It’s important to encourage the community to adopt and rescue have found their way to a shelter need the continued generosity of animals from the local shelters instead of going to a breeder or a puppy others for food, shelter and medical care. The San Diego Humane mill” Riccitelli said. “Our club, helps raise donations to send to the Society (SDHS) and The American Society for the Prevention of SDHS and this helps not only the animals living at the shelters but Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are just some examples of organizations other groups in relation to this shelter.” that benefit from the support of others around the world. Animal shelters and organizations can always use a helping hand Animal shelters all around the world are being used to rescue and extra supplies. The club has organized a drive to benefit these stray and abused animals before they hurt themselves, hurt others or organizations since drives serve as an effective way to provide care and never find a place to call their own. Clubs and organizations, such as help for these animals that need it. the SPCA club, bring awareness to “We are in the middle of our wildlife these common problems and provide baby shower foundation drive since it Who: The SPCA club education, information and assistance is springtime, which means that more to people in the community. animals are continuing to be born,” Where: Mr. Riccitelli’s Room, “I think everyone can agree that Riccitelli said. “The humane society will 5004 animals are an important part of our be getting a lot of rescues so they need lives, whether it’s in the wild or as a lot of supplies that they can’t usually When: Every other Tuesday at a pet,” president of the SPCA club, afford or have.” lunch junior Camryn Riccitelli said. “I think, The SPCA’s purpose is to continue as humans, it’s our duty to do as much helping lost or abandoned pets and giving Why: To talk about current as we can to help them and take care of them a loving home. The club focuses on events concerning animals them in order to make them feel safe in helping individuals step up and do what our community.” they can for these organizations who in need and create drives to Communities who are getting dedicated their lives to help unwanted donate the proceeds to animal involved need to be aware that not all and abandoned pets have a safe, warm organizations. ASPCAs offer the same services. The home of their own. services offered depend entirely on the “The fund raiser we are currently Instagram: @chs.spca support the organization receives from doing is a donation drive which will be the community. This does not mean going on until about mid April and there people need to donate high amounts are two big donation boxes where you can of money, but rather be a responsible animal owner. It means that it is put donations in the office or the ASB room,” Riccitelli said. “There important to be aware of the animal conflicts happening today. are flyers all around school with a list of supplies they need and emails “All the spring animals are being born up at the animal shelters, are sent out to everyone as well as on schoolloop if someone needs so we are getting extra resources for them,” junior Gordy Nipper said. more information.” “The animal shelter can only do so much for these animals, so it is There are two words that represent a powerful meaning - “thank important to give back and give these small animals something to you”. But since animals can’t speak, it’s up to community members to grow up with.” let shelter workers know just how much their commitment to animals According to the Humane Society of the United States, it is is appreciated. estimated that out of over 150 million cats and dogs in the US, an “By creating this club, it allows shelters to have new possibilities average of 7 million end up in nationwide shelters each year. The both for the organization and the animals,” Riccitelli said. “Letting Humane Society explains that their animal shelters care for about 2 them know you care can help save more animals in the future.”
MAY 2018 | NEWS | 3
BEING A SENIOR IS A
BEAR
An insider’s look into the brain of a senior and ways to combat senioritis
by the editorial board
S
econd semester seniors can be equated to a bear. A bear works during crucial months, gathering food, finding a shelter, and completing all of the necessary tasks before the restful period known as hibernation. Likewise, seniors have worked all year; they have completed college apps, taken standardized tests, and many of them have already committed to their college of choice. Their work period finished, they begin to head off into the restful phase, a period of destressing and taking the foot off the gas in terms of school work. However, just as seniors prepare to rest until graduation, they get poked. Teachers work against the grain and try to force high levels of student participation, causing angry grumbles from the belly of the beast. As a bit of advice: Please, DON’T POKE THE BEAR. Teachers, you can try and tell yourself as well as your students that senoritis does not exist. And yes, although ignorance is bliss, acceptance is the first step to moving forward. So here it is: your seniors no longer care about your class. 4.5 GPA students will settle for 3.4s. That kid who shows up every day will show up once a week. However, throwing mass amounts of work at them will not push them to work harder. There are ways to get your students engaged once again, but it is going to take a change. Getting curriculum advice from students is most likely not something you have ever done, but hear us out. Give your students freedom. This might not sound like the best idea after reminders of how little students concern themselves with school, but more open ended assignments will allow students to be creative. Especially AP students. They have followed rigorous, straightlined curriculum for 3 years now, opportunities for
4 | OPINION | MAY 2018
them to show their humor or their artistic abilities will keep them engaged. Encourage group collaboration. Seniors are about to fly off to colleges all across the country in a couple of months. Give them the opportunity to work with students they know as well as some fresh faces. Group projects, posters, even group essays give teachers a chance to allow students to equate school to fun (at least in some respects.) In no way are teachers meant to feel responsible for the actions of these grumbly, second semester seniors. However, they should recognize the inevitability of the situation: senioritis is real. Although there are many discrete ways to avoid coming to class and seeing seven students in attendance (most likely because of parental influence), addressing the problem directly is also a great way to understand the mindset of the hibernation-ready senior. “AP STUDENTS NEVER STOP WORKING.” “SENIORITIS IS A MYTH.” Teachers, you know who you are. Declaring that senoritis is a some fantastical idea made up by lazy high schoolers will not help your students maintain stamina until the year ends. Forcing students to work even harder as their year comes to a close with only cause resentment and distaste for the class/subject. Do you really want to jeopardize a students interest in the class just because they had an unpleasant last 25 days of class? (P.S...not calling out any specific teachers... but you know who you are.) In the end, the best way to keep seniors interested and engaged is to accept the fact that they are, by nature, ready for hibernation. So, help the bears get ready for hibernation; let them prepare for the long, restful months to come. But please, DON’T POKE THE BEAR.
art by Karinne Burgess
F DON’T LET THEM O L Y Arming teachers won’t keep you safe. O
U
F
by Jacqueline Penn
ollowing the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl., politicians began floating the idea of arming teachers with guns, a position supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and President Trump. The idea of arming teachers serves as nothing more than a distraction from common-sense gun reform. The NRA spent $30 million to push Donald Trump’s platform, so his support for this position should be approached with skepticism. At Carlsbad High, 93 percent of the 41 teachers and staff surveyed oppose arming teachers, while 7 percent call for arming teachers on a case-by-case basis. The proposal to arm teachers relies upon the belief that more guns equates to more safety - a falsehood; policy should be driven by facts, not emotion or assumptions. Trump suggested providing teachers with a “bonus” to incentivize them to weaponize their classrooms. Since many public schools around the nation are overcrowded and starved of funding, the idea of offering a “bonus” exploits the struggles of public schools by dangling money in front of teachers as a form of bait. The idea that anyone would be willing to carry a murder weapon into a room full of children for a “bonus” is preposterous, downright insulting and undermines the very purpose of teaching: creating a safe, comfortable environment for students to learn and reach their full potential.
Q&A with Officer Maud: Carlsbad High’s School Resource Officer
Ultimately, police officers have the training and skill to best defend the public from gun violence. In the Carlsbad Police Department, recruits go through nine months of training in the Academy and six months of field training, as well as active shooter simulations and marksmanship training four times each year. A Washington Post analysis determined that arming one-fifth of America’s 3.6 million public and private school teachers could range from a $251 million to $1 billion price tag, depending on the level of training and caliber of firearms. It is highly unlikely that teachers’ training would allow them to gain a police officer’s marksmanship and levelheadedness during life-or-death situations. In an active shooter situation, when the police arrive and two individuals are holding guns, it becomes more difficult for the police officer to differentiate between the perpetrator and the teacher. While aiming for the shooter, a teacher could potentially strike an innocent student; this possibility could restrain a teacher from firing the gun in the first place. According to the non-profit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation’s study of the New York City Police Department between 1998-2006, “the average hit rate during gunfights was just 18 percent. When suspects did not return fire, police officers hit their targets 30 percent of the time.” As a CBS study found, increasing the presence of guns does not make people safer. In the vast majority of cases, civilians do not have the capacity to stand a chance against a shooter during a surprise attack. Rather than arming teachers, each school should have an armed school resource officer on campus; indeed, eighty-five percent of Carlsbad teachers surveyed support school resource officers carrying weapons on campus. Additionally, the National Association of School Resource Officers opposes arming teachers. According to the Washington Post, the “statistical likelihood of any given public school student being killed by a gun, in school, on any given day since 1999 was roughly 1 in 614,000,000.” Ultimately, arming teachers serves as a disproportionate reaction to the threat itself; at its core, it serves as an opportunity for the gun lobby to peddle more guns into the hands of civilians, with the ultimate goal of lining its pockets with money.
The idea that anyone would be willing to carry a weapon into a room full of children for a “bonus” is preposterous, downright insulting and undermines the very purpose of teaching.
How do police train for active shooter situations? “We do a lot of scenario-based training where the way you react to things is picked apart. After you’ve been trained, you get put through a scenariobased training experience and we want to see if you are reacting the right way. If you are not engaging like you need to be engaging, those are the people that tend to be weeded out of the process.”
How is Carlsbad High’s security? “I’ve worked at other high schools and I feel really good about what’s going on here at CHS in terms of security. The campus supervisors know most of the kids by face. Very rarely will a nonstudent come on, and if they do, we know about it pretty quickly. I feel very good about the security here as far as the gates and access.”
What issues could arise with arming teachers? “There’s more to it than just shooting a gun. Think about tactics: clearing rooms, taking hostage shots. Would you want a teacher taking a hostage shot with maybe a suspect holding your kid in close proximity to the suspect? I would rather leave it to the people who have had some serious, serious training on tactics and firearms. Even then, its still a dangerous, dynamic and volatile situation where anything can happen.”
MAY 2018 | OPINION | 7
COACHELLA I WENT SO YOU DIDN’T HAVE T O
by Frankee Costan
D
uring the third weekend of April, I attended the most iconic music festival of all time: Coachella. I am here to answer all the questions you may have about the festival and let you determine if it's really worth your money.
PERFORMANCES
Let’s discuss the obvious: the performances. I am not going to lie, I loved every single performance… except Beyonce (Beehive please don’t fight me). Most artists played for 45 minutes, performing 8 to 10 songs each back to back. Beyonce also played 8-10 songs, but it took her two hours. I understand seeing Beyonce live is an experience most people won’t get, but her performance was not for a festival. She would start a song, go off on a tangent and ten minutes later she started back up again. It was actually so easy to get to the front, you don’t even have to try. My group showed up for Tyler the Creator five minutes before it started and we got pretty close to the general admission barricade solely because the crowd was constantly being pushed forward. I also went to Mild High Club 10 minutes early and I could literally touch Alexander Brettin.
FOOD
You will be buying food and water at Coachella. You are technically not allowed to bring food into Coachella, but if you stick a few granola bars in your clothes security won’t know and you’re saving money. Along with two cliff bars, get an 8 dollar slice of pizza and that will be able to hold you over for the day. For drinks, they do have water refill stations but sometimes you really just want a nice cool water and 2 dollars for one is not bad.
68|| OPINION OPINION ||MAY MAY2018 2018
PROXIMITY
The size of Coachella is pretty big, so if you have back to back sets you are going to miss a part of them traveling from stage to stage. But with motivation and shoving you can make a 20 minute walk from the Sahara Stage to the Main Stage a ten minute one. The best stage is hands down the Sonora stage. It is an indoor stage with air conditioning and bean bags. This is great if you like small bands because most play in there.
HEAT
The heat wasn’t as bad as you think it would be. There is a nice breeze most of the time which honestly makes all the difference. In the rare occasion that the heat is getting to you, the Do Lab is the way to go. The Do Lab is a big tent where a DJ plays 24/7 and there are misters everywhere and everyone is loving life. But if you despise EDM, you can still hit up the Sonora for a good time, you will be exposed to new artists and get to sit down.
OUTFITS
The big part of Coachella is the outfits. There is pressure to go all out for all three days. I’m not going to lie, I felt better in a cute outfit and it makes for good pictures. You definitely do not need dress crazy if you do not want to though. I saw a ton of people in a tank top and shorts. The only must in your outfit is tennis shoes. I tried to wear sandals one day and I got such bad blisters, I literally went barefoot for twelve hours. You also need a fanny pack. Pickpocketing is a real problem and having your phone in your pockets (even the front pocket) is super risky. When moving through crowds you are bumping into so many people you would not notice if your phone got stolen out of your pocket.
WEEKEND 1 VS 2
The big controversy of Coachella is going weekend 1 or 2. To sum it up, if you are there for the clout, go Weekend 1. If you are actually there for the music, go Weekend 2. The crowds of the two weekends are completely different. SZA, The Weeknd, Tyler the Creator, Bleachers and The Drums liked Weekend 2 more, if that matters to you. To quote the drums, “ by measuring the levels of joy and happiness, Weekend 2 wins.”
graphic by Tatum Maston and Caleb Amory
THE FACTS COACHELLA IS THE MOST PROFITABLE MUSIC FESTIVAL
SOLD OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2004 WITH RADIOHEAD HEADLINING
FEATURES ROCK, INDIE, HIP
200,000 TICKETS WERE SOLD GROSSING $94.2 MILLION
HOP, ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC, ART INSTALLATIONS AND SCULPTURES
FRI S AT SUN
LAST YEAR
A 3RD
DAY WAS ADDED IN 2007 AND A 2ND WEEKEND
AT WEEKEND 1, THERE WERE 300+ ARRESTS (80% ALCOHOL RELATED; 20% DRUG RELATED)
ADDED IN 2013
SURVIVAL CHECKLIST Bandanna...
PORTABLE CHARGER
COMFY SHOES
SUNSCREEN LOTION
CHEAP SUNGLASSES
To protect your face from the blearing heat of the palm springs sun
FANNY PACK
BANDANNA
Comfy Shoes...
Walking and standing is all your going to be doing so you might as well make it endurable
Cheap sunglasses...
You don’t want to spend too much as it’s likely that you could lose them within the stampede
Portable Charger...
It’s vital that you don’t run out of battery and become stranded
Sunscreen Lotion... The beaming sun can leave you burnt for the rest of the festival
Fanny Pack...
To carry everything above
MAY 2018 | OPINION | 97
LIFE AFTER by Briget Boka
OUT OF A SURVEY OF 100 STUDENTS...
77% 34%
HAD THE APP WHEN IT WAS POPULAR
WENT ON VINE EVERYDAY
54%
LIKED VINE FOR THE RANDOM VIDEOS THAT WERE FUNNY FOR NO REASON
60%
WOULD DOWNLOAD A NEW VERSION OF VINE IF IT CAME OUT TODAY
J
anuary 17, 2017. A day that will go down in infamy. The day our beloved Vine died. On this day the app was officially shut down and was no longer alive. They say if you love something you should set it free. We all had to face this feeling when it came to Vine, but this social media app will still be in our hearts. Always and forever. It was a simpler time back then. We were able to rely on this app for happiness and a good laugh. All it took was six seconds for you to watch a video and fall in love. For in the six seconds you found yourself laughing, crying, or just confused on what you may have just watched. Vine was one of those apps that drew in crowds of all ages. My dad was a huge Vine fan and we would send Vines to each other daily. There were so many videos out there that one was bound to draw your attention no matter your age or sense of humor. In 2015, Vine began to lose its hype. I knew Vine was too good to be true and wouldn’t last forever. I’ll admit, I even forgot about the app, but to see it get taken offline, it still hurts. After having a year to grieve over the loss of the beloved app, new rumors of Vine 2 startled to circulate. The new app would be the same concept as the previous Vine just refreshed and rebooted. This rumor is the reason I wake up every morning and continue to live. Can Raven swim? Did Jared ever learn how to read? Is Miss Keisha still dead? This small chance of a new Vine gives me hope for the future.
VINE FACTS
1BILLION
Vine loops were played daily when the app was live.
8 | OPINION | MAY 2018
INE
200 MILLION
Users were active monthly in 2015.
Source: Elite-strategies
$30 MILLION
Some people gained their celebrity status from the app and have formed a large following from their “funny” content. People like Shawn Mendes, Cameron Dallas, Nash Grier, and Liza Koshy all got their social following on Vine. Once Vine went down hill and people stopped going on the app, many Viners went to YouTube to continue filming videos. Like any migration of YouTubers, there was a mass rush to Los Angeles and an increase in demand for Canon cameras. Everyone wonders why there’s always traffic in LA. I blame it on the wannabe YouTubers and beauty gurus, but that’s just me. It’s sad to watch people who made six second videos think they can make six minute videos. The biggest regret of my life so far is not becoming Vine famous and I’m sure there are other people out there that can relate. All you had to do was say or do something funny for six seconds and your Vine would most likely get millions of loops and revines. All I know is if Vine 2 comes out I will be trying my hardest to give the people what they want and make them laugh. At the end of the day, we miss Vine. You can’t deny it. There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t hear someone reference a Vine or see an old Vine on Instagram or Twitter. Those videos were iconic. When I need a pick me up during the day, I find myself watching Vine compilations on YouTube, but it’s not the same. Nothing will ever be the same. It’s like a piece of me is missing. I’m lost without it. I still miss you Vine.
Is the price Twitter payed to purchase the app.
5
Vines are Tweeted every second. Graphic by Caleb Amory
I N T H E A T E R S N Some OW of 2018’s films so far
by Max Ward
T
he last few years have served moviegoers with somewhat of a horror renaissance, with a series of film that not only serve as fairly scary flicks, but as genuinely great films. “A Quiet Place” joins this new pantheon of great horror films, telling the story of a single family stuck in a post apocalyptic world inhabited by blind aliens with hypersensitive hearing. The movie serves as “The Office” alumni John Krasinski’s mainstream directorial debut, and it delivers. The film centers around the absence of sound, focusing on the effort the family must take in order to survive in a world where they are nothing but prey, and they can’t even speak. The silence of the film speaks volumes, making the already white-knuckle film even more intense, since the silence magnifies the terror. The film takes inspiration from films like “Jaws” or “Alien”, using the absence of the aliens to slowly build up tension. Despite the lack of spoken dialogue in the film, the characters are very developed, with the realistic internal conflicts of each family member being placed center stage in the film, with the aliens simply heightening the conflicts of each character. The film ends perfectly, with viewers leaving the theatre with a spark of hope for the family. “A Quiet Place” is a great movie that adds onto the growing number of modern horror films.
I
t,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “It Follows,” “Stranger Things,” “Atomic Blonde,”; the number of nostalgia-trip films seems to be ever-growing, with the trend reaching its climax on the release of Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One,” a melting pot of 80’s pop culture, with practically every frame of the film packed with references to 80’s music, film and video games. Individuals looking for the heartwarming yet shallow films of Spielberg early career have come to the right place. “Ready Player One” is an enjoyable and action-packed film, telling the story of a group of teens going on a glorified Easter egg hunt to gaining control of the biggest video game company in the world. The film lies on the same plane as films like “The Avengers” and “Jurassic World”, where there is little to pick apart about the film past what is presented at face value. The film suffers from an overused teen adventure plot structure and underdeveloped characters, with Parzival, the main character of the film acting like a paper thin Marty McFly, and any other character never being developed past being a side character. One of the films most exciting features is the mass of 80’s culture Easter eggs present within the film and despite this feature seeming cool upfront, it provides little other than the ability for moviegoers to exclaim, “Hey, that’s (insert 80’s reference here),” whilst watching the film. All in all, “Ready Player One” is a fun film that creates inspires little more than nostalgia for the blockbusters of the 80s.
I
sle of Dogs,” stands out as a shining star among the masses of animated films that are geared solely towards children. While the film isn’t necessarily adult or mature, the film does cater towards an older audience, as a result making the film less accessible for children. The film is noticeably darker than director Wes Anderson’s other animated film, “The Fantastic Mr.Fox.” “The Isle of Dogs,” tells the story of an island that Japan exiled all its dogs to, and a boy who by any means necessary will retrieve his dog from said island. As simple as the plot sounds, it is tied in with political intrigue and family drama, ending up with a story that extends past just a boy trying to save his dog. The film manages to stay behind the line of over-stylization that many of Anderson’s film pass for the most part, but the deadpan voice acting and a major cast of almost entirely 40-year-old white men makes telling the dogs dialogue apart difficult at times. Despite this, the animators of the film managed to make each and every dog in the film very unique in physical appearance, maintaining the attention to detail prevalent in the animation of “The Fantastic Mr.Fox,” aiding heavily in making the main dogs distinguishable from each other. “Isle of Dogs,” is another stylized gem that proves Wes Anderson’s prowess as a unique director. From the Kabuki-style opening to the mannerisms of the dogs, “Isle of Dogs,” will stand as one of 2018’s most unique and prestigious animated films.
MAY 2018 | OPINION | 9
Dear Applicant... Various paths students follow after high school
by Dailey Sparks
Shaky fingers log into various poorly designed university websites wondering “is this the one?” A curse is spat at the computer as the page seems to take longer than ever to load. Then it hits… happiness or heartbreak. Nothing in between and no compromise. Often times students evaluate their self worth based on admissions decisions of various institutions. In reality, the school itself only matters so much. These four students disregarded the aforementioned norm and are chasing their dreams despite what other universities have said in their preset emails.
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J o hn
Ko un e l i s
he enormous number of colleges provides an overwhelming task for many students to find which one fits best for their specific needs. For John Kounelis, this task was made even more difficult by his passion to play soccer in college. “Out of all the schools that showed interest in me, Columbia was the one that I really wanted to play for, but I had a different college application process than a normal student. I’m not just going on College Fit Finder and picking the schools I want to go to,” Kounelis said “I am selecting from colleges who are interested in me for soccer rather than picking from any school that I want to go to.” With a prestigious college like Columbia University, many factors play into a specific student’s admission decision. While soccer may have been a defining factor, his acceptance was not based purely upon his performance in his sport. “Without soccer, I would have no chance of getting in, but it is still a mix of both academics and athletics,” Kounelis said “Soccer got my foot in the door, but if I didn’t have the grades the coaches were looking for, this would have never happened.”
10 | FEATURE | MAY 2018
Although everything in Kounelis’ application was in order including his athletics, academics as well as active communication with the coach, only so much control is held by the applicant in the overall process. “The Columbia coach and I were emailing back and forth around the beginning of my senior year. I was very late in the process with most schools due to injuries I endured, but I was still getting a lot of interest from a bunch of different schools across the country. I got a phone call from Columbia in January expressing their interest in me so I went in February to make it happen. I am now at Columbia playing soccer and I couldn’t be happier. ” Through all of the complications he endured, such as the contact injuries he endured, and individual Photo courtesy of John Kounelis factors playing into his decision, Kounelis held onto the hope that things would work out in his favor and in the end, everything fell into place and worked out in his favor.
Alex
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ith students committing to schools left and right, many times students feel as if they are settling, for senior Alex Brown and Emerson University, this is not the case. While she did not settle school-wise, there was a catch in her offer letter. “I will be attending Emerson College in the Spring of 2019, I applied to regular admission and I was wait listed for the Fall, but was offered guaranteed admission for the Spring” In order to give herself the best possible chance at receiving a positive admission decision, Brown involved herself in everything she could that she was interested in “I’ve been in journalism for two years and I am the editor and chief of lancer link I was also the manager of the men’s varsity basketball team
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B rown
B rennan
so I bulked up a bunch of my extracurriculars to get that experience and show the school how serious I am” Brown said. When looking at acceptance rates and average SAT/ACT scores on infinite college websites, it is easy to become discouraged from chasing goals, but despite the pages and pages of data, sometimes things end up working out. “There were times where I was like ‘I can’t even go here, why am I trying?’ I finally decided to just try and things ended up going well,” Brown said “I didn’t think I had any chance at Emerson at all, so I was all set on going to a different school that I got into and then I got in for Spring and everything changed. I decided to wait a semester and go to my dream school in the spring.”
Doy l e
hile looking at all the prestigious universities that barely accept any students, it becomes easy to get wrapped up in the stigma surrounding these schools. Senior Brennan Doyle is chasing his own dreams in a different way. “I will be attending Mira Costa in the Fall as a part of their Automotive Technology program,” Doyle said “if everything works out perfectly, after two years at Mira Costa, I will be transferring to a Japanese trade school to learn more specifically about working on Japanese cars,” Doyle said. Doyle knows he must have a plan in place to succeed in the industry due to the high competition in the industry and wealth of knowledge required to efficiently work on these cars. “I’m hoping that I can open up a shop here in the U.S. to work specifically on performance Japanese cars,” Doyle said. “But until then I will be more than happy to work for a few friends of mine who own shops already until I can start my own.” While he seems to have things figured out now, it was not always this way for Doyle. “I have always loved cars pretty much my whole life. My dad owns a IT business, so I always figured I would just work for him
Al ex
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Photo courtesy of Alex Brown
until one day I can own it myself, but about a year ago I realized that I’m not so sure that is what I would really like to do with my life,” Doyle said “cars on the other hand I absolutely love and now I can’t picture myself doing anything else.” Through dedication and focus, Doyle has set himself in a perfect position for success. “Everything is kind of going perfectly right now. If everything stays this way, I will be walking into my own shop in no time, but it really hasn’t been easy this far and it won’t get easier until I’ve made it.” Doyle said “I really don’t care though, I’m going to do everything I can to succeed.” Photo courtesy of Brennan Doyle
Hr isant h o p o ul o s
our long years dedicated to getting into Chapman film all boiling down to a single letter of rejection. Although senior Alex Hrisanthopoulos was denied from Chapman University’s prestigious film program, he did not let it stop him from pursuing his dream. Through hard work and heartbreak, Hrisanthopoulos has finally found a college in which he found a sense of belonging. “Since I got denied from my dream school Chapman, I am now going to go to Emerson College in Boston for film,” Hrisanthopoulos said “I’m really excited to start because the school is located in one of my favorite cities and they still have a very good program for film students.” With the study of film being such a niche subject, many programs have reputations and expectations surrounding them. Often times, the “best” is not the only option. “From the start of my obsession with making
films, I was told that Chapman is the best school for film. If you wanted to be successful in the industry, it was the only place to go,” Hrisanthopoulos said “I am now realizing that just isn’t the case.” Through it all, Hrisanthopoulos has kept a positive attitude and has continued to push towards his goals. “You have to trust yourself in that you have done everything you can up to a certain point. Dreams may work out and they might not, but whatever the outcome, the most important thing is your outlook on the situation. The college you go to does not define your college experience as much as you do,” Hrisanthopoulos said “Although I may not be attending my dream school, it doesn’t mean that my experience is going to suck and I am not going to be successful. It shouldn’t be that way for anyone.”
Photo by Dailey Sparks
MAY 2018 | FEATURE | 11
ALL ABOUT PROM Isaiah Ramos: An Insider to PROM Fashion
by Riley Sommers and Maddy Waumans
Lancer Express: Who has inspired your style for past dances? Isaiah Ramos: My style is mostly inspired by Hugh Jackman, I just love that man and everything he does. Harry Styles inspired my pink suit that I wore to formal. I also get inspired by people who are just walking around and I can picture myself wearing their outfits. LE: What is your outfit plan for Prom? IR: I’m not a hundred percent sure yet because I don’t know what my date is going to be wearing. Once I figure that out I will go into my workshop and make it nice and fun, just know I’ll be looking good. LE: What peices of your outfit are you planning on matching to your date? IR: To match my date, I like to get a tie or bowtie that matches an accent color on her dress. For formal, I matched my whole suit to her dress but for a more serious dance like Prom, I will only match a few key elements to hers. LE: How have you decided past dance outfits? IR: People have given me different ideas. I just look at clothing items and think it would be fun to wear. Sometimes people think it’s stupid but I don’t care what they think. LE: Where do you plan on going shopping? IR: If I have a good idea, I will look it up specifically online. Other than that, I will shop at Nordstroms or sometimes a thrift shop. The pink suit I wore to formal I found online. My formal date wore a dress with pink accents which gave us the idea. LE: What is your favorite part of Prom? IR: My favorite part of Prom is getting to pick out my outfit and match with my date. I love getting ready with my friends, then going to pictures and see everone all dressed up. Taking pictures with everyone is enjoyable because our whole class is there and it’s a nice way to take pictures that will last a lifetime.
Natasha Golemme: A look Into the PROM Instagram Account Lancer Express: How did you decide to take the lead in posting every girls prom dress this year? Natasha Golemme: I decided to make the girls Instagram account while I was in math class because I thought it would be fun and be the one to start it for the other girls. LE: What is the prom Instagram account and how do girls go about posting their dresses? NG: The prom Instagram account is
12 | FEATURE | MAY 2018
@carlsbadprom2018. Girls go about posting their dresses by direct messaging me a picture of their dress so that I can post it. LE: How has the Instagram helped other girls pick their prom dresses? NG: The Instagram has helped other girls pick their prom dresses by allowing them to be inspired by previous girls dresses and making sure everyone feels special at prom by having their own unique dress.
THEREʼS NO PLACE LIKE HOME THE PERSPECTIVE OF AMPERSAND AMERICANS
by Olivia Sklenka
photo by Nick Beith
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odern trends regarding immigration, according to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), show that America has been the most popular location to migrate to since the 1960s, with one-fifth of all migrants residing in the nation. The majority of individuals new to America can be referred to as “ampersand Americans,” meaning that those coming to The United States still hold formal and sentimental ties to what they consider to be their homeland. Students such as senior Sophia Stonebrook and sophomore Erin Smith represent the ampersand Americans in the CHS community.
Erin Smith was born and raised in Reading, England. Known for its annual Reading Festival, an outdoor rock music event, it’s a place Smith recalls to be very sociable. “It’s very old and quaint; however, the town is thriving with artistic expression and life,” Smith said. After moving from England to U.S. at the age of five, Smith has been exposed to the cultural and social differences between the two countries from a young age. Smith took note of the differences between the two countries and observed the way communities were structured to the aura of the people. Smith recalls distinct characteristics that are unique to each individual country such as the infrastructure in England not being as enhanced as that found in the majority of America. “The main difference between the United States and England is definitely the space. The freeways and houses are a lot smaller in England, but there is more wildlife,” Smith said. “So you might have a really small house but a massive yard. There’s also a noticeable difference in the personalities of people from both countries. Everyone in California is very laid back as opposed to everyone in England who tends to be more proper and timely.” Becoming a dual citizen was a rather strenuous process for Smith’s parents. From meeting certain criteria like preparing and submitting form N-400, which is the application for naturalization, and taking the U.S. Naturalization Test. “One of the things I am thankful for is that I am a minor,” Smith said. “Because of that, I gained my citizenship through them rather than undergoing the extensive process.” Perhaps it is the quaint aura the town projects or the memories made that tie Smith back to her homeland of England. Embracing what is known as the “ampersand American” lifestyle, Smith looks back on her five years in a different country proudly. “I am really proud to be from England,” Smith said. “That’s where my family is from and it’s my heritage. It is a part of who I am.”
During the day when her mind is not occupied with other thoughts, stu Sophia Stonebrook feels her heart wander 6,020 miles away from where she was raised in Carlsbad to a place very different: Warsaw, Poland. “I only lived in Poland for about six months,” Stonebrook said. “But it has influenced me and shaped my view on the world.” Even though Stonebrook resided in Poland for a short period of time, the country has left a lasting impact on her and the plans she has in store for the future. Like Smith, Stonebrook feels a strong sentimental connection with her country of origin. “I plan on studying abroad at some point when I am in college and would love to possibly move to a European country at some point in my life,” Stonebrook said. Not only has the country influenced Stonebrook’s plan for education, but it has also given her a wider understanding of the world outside of the United States. “I would say it has provided me with a more worldly understanding,” Stonebrook said. “I am so much more aware of all different cultures and people around me which I find very important.” graphic by Mitchell Scaglione
Size of Immigrant Population (Millions)
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2016
MAY 2018 | FEATURE | 13
14 | AD | MAY 2018
STRESS on the BEST A look into a soccer player and successful student’s busy life.
by Jamie Mullen
A
s a student athlete, balancing a senior’s schedule is no simple task. With her goal of success, Tina Oddone has kept herself on track, all while managing soccer and her grades. ¨I remember from a young age that soccer was always going to be my sport,¨ senior Tina Oddone said. ¨But I never knew how much pressure and stress it would bring into my life.¨ Oddone looks into her past and sees soccer practice, games and tournaments. Learning to balance a social life, schoolwork and her passion has been a challenge. She reflects on a life of eventful weeks at Carlsbad and weekends doing nothing but homework. ¨If I could go back and do my whole life over again, I would not change anything because handling my stress made me a better person,” Oddone said. “Managing my time has not been easy, because I have always taken AP and honors courses at Carlsbad.” While striving to improve her soccer skills, Oddone learned from a young age that hard work pays off. Budgeting time did not come easy and there were weeks when the payoff seemed impossible to attain. “Stress has really always been a part of my life but I have learned how to make time for everything,” Oddone said. “There have also been points in time where I thought my hard work would not pay off.” Oddone persisted when the times got tough and now, she understands how to balance a busy week. She has found a peaceful balance of soccer, fun and schoolwork. “I have always used soccer as a way to distract myself from school work,” Oddone said. “This might not sound conventional but soccer has been a really fun and stress-relieving thing in my life.” From games on the weekends and barely having enough time to study and finish her schoolwork, Oddone has found herself feeling better on the field. Oddone sees soccer as an opportunity to escape from her life at school and make new friends. “The girls I have met through soccer have helped me with so many
1.
things in my life,” Oddone said. “My teammates helped me get my mind off of school even if it was just for a few hours of practice.” Support from teammates and coaches gave Oddone motivation to continue her efforts. Her coaches have pushed her to do better and inspired her to continue doing well in school and maintain her soccer skills. “Courtney Drummond, one of my coaches, has been a big influence on me,” Oddone said. “She pushed us to our limits while also being respectful towards us. She is also a coach for college level soccer and she knew about my goals of playing in the future and helped me get there.” With the guidance of a coach, Oddone could see how success was attainable. She set her sights on UC San Diego to play soccer and major in Biology. “I have always liked science and I decided that I would like to be a pediatrician when I am older,” Oddone said. “I am also happy with my choice to attend UCSD, because I love San Diego and it is a great school.” Even when her workload in college becomes overwhelming, Oddone can always turn to soccer. She knows she will have to continue managing her schedule and her hard work will pay off. “I know that it might seem like a lot to handle in my first years of college but other people do it all the time, so why can’t I?” Oddone said. “I enjoy having a full schedule, it keeps me busy.” Tina believes that her choices and hard work have already shown to be successful. She sees a future for herself and will do what she can to achieve her goals. “I know that the choices I have made up to this point will help me in my future,” Oddone said. “I am ready to take soccer to the next level while also getting all of my schoolwork done.”
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1. Tina Oddone shoots during a game during her second year of soccer. Oddone has been playing soccer since the age of 3. 2. Oddone dribbles the ball down the field in a game against the Eagles. Although her team faced many challenges in this game, they persevered to win 2-1. 3. Oddone poses with the National Championship trophy . Her team qualified for nationals three times prior but could not find a way to win, However this being their last season their coach the girls did everything in their power to finally win.
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photos courtesy of Tina Oddone
MAY 2018 | FEATURE | 15
SENIOR ACTIVITIES: THURSDAY JUNE 7TH:
Senior Year book Distribution
FRIDAY JUNE 8THMONDAY JUNE 11TH: Senior Finals
TUESDAY JUNE 12TH:
Senior Trip: Six Flags Magic Mountain. Senior check out form due
WEDNESDAY JUNE 13TH: Senior Breakfast at Dave and Busters. Cap and Gown distribution
THURSDAY JUNE 14TH: Mandatory Graduation practice 8:00- 11:00 AM Gates open for Seating at 2:30 Seniors must arrive by 3:15
Precession begins at 4:15, Followed by the Graduation Ceremony at 4:30
FRIDAY JUNE 15TH:
Grad Night: Knotts Berry Farm
Lancer Express would like to thank our generous 2017-2018 donors. _____________________________
Gold
Jennifer Mayberry Purple
Steve & Lauren Sklenka White The Boka Family
Intro
Irma Maston Sabrina Locke RJ Sklenka Don Young Elizabeth Young Taylor & Jeremy Weisner Mary Ellen Scaglione Esther Groves The Scherner Family The Melgoza Family 16 | AD | MAY 2018
Don’t miss your chance to own the 2018 Purple Shield Yearbook. From now until June 6, you can purchase a yearbook for $75 with an ASB sticker and $85 without. After June 6, the price will be finalized at $100 for everyone. Buy yours today and save money! We only have 400 copies left.
CHASING THE
AMERICAN
DREAM
Tak Sugimoto fulfills the American dream in the face of discrimination by Aja Ward
MAY 2018 | FEATURE | 17
“When you get put in a camp with barbed wire and machine guns on the outposts you realize that something is totally different.” -Tak Sugimoto
D
ue to the rights given in America, many groups feel as though there are a multitude of opportunities and freedoms. The Japanese stood as one of these groups as they began migrating to America in the early 1900’s, hoping for peace and prosperity. However, America was not so welcoming. Due to the immense spread of communism in Asia during the time period, Executive Order 9066 was signed, forcing any Japanese person, regardless of citizenship, to an incarceration camp. While this action has since been regarded as “America’s Largest Mistake,” many Japanese-Americans still struggle with trusting the government. However, Tak Sugimoto, a 91 year-old JapaneseAmerican, has a different outlook. Sugimoto remains optimistic and appreciative of all that he learned from the era, regardless of the discrimination he faced throughout his childhood. In 1943, Sugimoto and his family moved to the largest incarceration camp in the United States- Poston, Arizona
“My parents were the first Japanese family to locate in Encinitas back in 1923,” Sugimoto said. “We were farming vegetables. We couldn’t own land because we were Japanese. There was the Asian Land Act [which allowed us to lease land for up to three years], so my mom and my dad leased a piece of land.” Many laws, such as these, prohibited the Japanese from truly reaching economic prosperity. When Executive Order 9066 was enacted, Sugimoto’s family was held behind barbed wire for the following two years. “We got the notice that we were all going to be evacuated,” Sugimoto said. “They just called it ‘evacuation relocation internment’. They didn’t tell us we would be incarcerated, in, to me, what was a prison camp. When you have barbed wire and machine guns, it’s incarceration definitely. I’m not bitter about it though because from that experience I gained so much in my life.” Sugimoto formed an “if you’re not wanted, don’t go there” mentality, from not only the incarceration camps, but the hardships he endured after. Through these experiences, he gained a positive outlook on life and the opportunities provided, revealed through the never-ending grind Sugimoto endured to achieve personal success. “My biggest wish was to graduate from San Dieguito High School,” Sugimoto said. “I saw it being built from the ground up. I was very fortunate. The student body had to vote on whether they wanted to allow me to come back or not. My close class friends approved me. The whole city took me in. In 1945, I was the first Japanese-American to graduate from San Dieguito.” From high school graduation, Sugimoto went on to join the military. Eager to join the Navy, previously only open to caucasion citizens, Sugimoto signed up for recruitment. After hearing that Japanese citizens were available for recruitment, Sugimoto signed up to test in immediately. “When I got through the medical training, we went back to the [Navy] recruitment office and the officer singles me out,” Sugimoto said. “He said he wanted to talk to me. He said that I was not qualified for the Navy physically, and as I turn around to leave he told me ‘By the way, you realize there’s no discrimination.’” After serving in the Navy for 2 years, then joining the National Guard for an additional 2 years, Sugimoto focused on rebuilding. He was determined to receive a college education, and follow a long term career path. In 1948, he met his future wife, Ruth, also a Japanese-American incarcerated in the 40’s and thought back to the difficulties his mother overcame when protecting their family behind barbed wire.
Sugimoto’s life by year
1923
Move with family to Encinitas, becoming the first Japanese American residents in the area.
18 | FEATURE | MAY 2018
1943-45
Relocates to the largest incarceration camp in the US in Poston, AZ alongside mother, sister and brother
1945
First Japanese American to Graduate from San Dieguito Academy
1950
Marries and has first child
“My dad had tuberculosis and [the camps] did not have any hospital facilities to take him, so they shipped him some place in Pasadena and we never saw him again,” Sugimoto said. “My mom was very optimistic and very cognizant, but I knew she was worried about the future of the family. My dad wasn’t with us and here we were all in one barrack, one room roughly 18x20 feet squared and that was our home for the moment.” Although these horrifying living conditions characterized the Sugimoto’s home for two years, Tak would not let this damper his mood. While it was a time of fear, his thirteen-year-old mind also viewed it as an opportunity for adventure. “Rumors went around,” Sugimoto said. “Someone said we would all be shot and left there. It was scary and believable. But I enjoyed [my time there]. I think back and I was only thirteen so for me it was a real lot of fun.” Before and after the incarceration, Sugimoto experienced various encounters of racism. While he still believes that Americans are some of the kindest people, he recalls the antiJapanese sentiment of the time to be harsh and hardening. “I remember a young boy being so surprised that I was Japanese, because I didn’t look like a “typical Jap” with buck teeth and big slanted eyes,” Sugimoto said. These stereotypes circulated throughout America as propaganda posters associated the Japanese with communism, rather than portraying them as peaceful peoples. Sayings such as “Exclusion: the solution that means peace,” or “One trap make happy Jap” were plastered on signs used in protests and riots.
“The one big issue that I still have is that they had a questionnaire,” Sugimoto said. “#28 and 27 questioned our loyalty to America and I thought that was totally uncalled for, but if we didn’t answer in the right manner we couldn’t leave.” When the incarceration camps closed in 1946, Sugimoto dedicated his life toward education and hard work. He went on to graduate from USC, began his own pharmacy in Carlsbad and started an Optimist Club for Japanese-Americans that has since grown to over 100 members. Though he maintains a positive attitude, the events that took place in the Poston, Arizona incarceration camp have continued to shape his life forever. “We wondered why, we knew we were there because we were considered a hazard or possibly dangerous,” Sugimoto said. “We accepted that, but when you get put in a camp with barbed wire and machine guns on the outposts you realize that something is totally different. I don’t think we put that many political thoughts into it. The Japanese really recognize authority. What was done was done, we had no choice. I was very fortunate.” Through this optimism, Sugimoto remains updated on current events and looks brightly into the future. While discrimination of his people largely shaped America’s past, he admires the leaps and bounds our nation has taken to further equality. “To be honest, before recent events I was worried, but now I look on TV and I am hopeful for future generations,” Sugimoto said. “I see what the teenagers are doing and I am proud.”
“What was done was done. We had no choice. I was very fortunate.” -Tak Sugimoto
1951
Accepted to USC and eventually takes a pharmaceutical track
1958
Graduates from University of Southern California
1974
Creates a Japanese American Optimist Club in Covina, CA and opens individual pharmacy
2008
Retires and continues living in his hometown of Encinitas
MAY 2018 | FEATURE | 19
En Garde Sophomore Nisha Ahmed and her world of fencing
by Alex Marré
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wo opponents, each with a blade in hand. Three minutes to ensure a position in the next bout. One stance begins the
timer. There is not one type of athlete when it comes to the sport of fencing. Each sword and piece of equipment is uniquely designed for one of three types of Sabre, Foil or Épée fencers. Sophomore Nisha Ahmed has been an athlete since the age of six when she joined aquatics, yet it wasn’t until Ahmed joined the world of fencing that she became truly passionate about a sport. The alternative sport became the first activity Ahmed found interest in not because of its popularity, but from fencing’s unique traits. “I always did sports because other people were doing them,” Ahmed said. “Fencing was the first thing that made me fall in love when I first saw it and made me feel passionate on my own.” The competitive nature appealed to Ahmed, but so did the support given by the other members in the sport. Although a solo activity, fellow fencers are encouraged to openly critique their opponents during practice in preparation for tournaments. “We’re all at different levels,” Ahmed said. “When I fence someone with more experience than me they’ll give me a lot of tips on how to improve and I do the same for less experienced fencers.” Sophomore Jayden Masukawa from San Dieguito Academy appreciates Ahmed’s take on his fencing, as Ahmed took it upon herself to show Masukawa the ropes when he first joined the sport. “Nisha trained there longer and taught me
some of the basics in the beginning,” Masukawa said. “When practicing I focus on why I lost a match and if it’s something to improve on physically or strategically.” Ahmed most commonly trains to participate in Épée fencing. Preparing for a tournament takes the dedication any other sport would. Ahmed will spend as many hours in the studio after practice she believes she needs in order to have the best chance in an upcoming bout. All throughout practice until the moment Ahmed stands to face her opponent, she experiences the same nervous excitement a passionate athlete knows well. “My strategy is based on confusing my opponent,” Ahmed said. “Before, I’m filled with nervousness but mostly excitement, but I love being able to train and compete with my friends in something I enjoy doing.” Although fencing was a huge change from what Ahmed was used to, it wasn’t until she began to focus on the different strategies and techniques in fencing Ahmed found a challenge with the sport. “Fencing is a weird thing. You start off really good,” Ahmed said. “You don’t have any strategies and moves in your head and you focus on hitting. It gets harder once you get better at it because you begin to overthink everything.” Although the pressure the sport brings can at times be overpowering ,it is the passion Ahmed has for fencing that drives her to keep improving her skill set. “I like fencing very energetically and disengaging my blade from another’s weapon,” Ahmed said. “I love the rush it gives you.”
Photos by Mitchell Scaglione Graphics by Caleb Amory
Ahmed shows the stances while approaching an opponent. For three years Ahmed has been a member of the Encinitas Fencing Academy advancing her technique.
Glossary Bout: a contest or trial of strength and ability, commonly found in fencing or boxing
Sabre: a weapon allowing an opponent to score with the edge of the blade
Épée: a rapier with a three-sided blade and a guard over the tip where contact is made
Foil: a weapon most commonly during competition and scores are only valid if contact is made with the opponent’s torso
20 | SPORTS | MAY 2018
SPORTY SISTAS
How sisters, Maddie and Samantha Lauro, feel about committing to colleges on different sides of the country. by Gracyn Gambill
SAMANTHA LAURO
MADDIE LAURO Grade:10
Grade: 12
College committed to:
College committed to:
UC Irvine
University of Chicago
Lancer Express: Did you ever think of going to this school before you got an offer for soccer? Maddie Lauro: I could see myself there before I got an offer to play there.
Lancer Express : Did you ever think of going to this school before you got an offer for softball? Samantha Lauro: I had never thought of attending this school, only because it was not a school I knew about.
LE: Was it your only offer, if not where else reached out to you? ML: I was in contact with other schools such as Oregon State and University of San Francisco.
LE: Was it your only offer, if not where else reached out to you? SL: I was fortunate enough to receive an email from the school itself and the softball program during my junior year, which made me look more into the school. I immediately reached out to the coaches after and that is how everything got started for me.
LE: Has your sister who also committed helped you throughout the process? ML: My sister and I had different paths because of our different sports, but it all paid off seeing each other going through the recruitment process. LE: How do you feel about the distance between you and your sister? ML: The distance won’t be a problem because of our relationship. LE: How do you plan on staying in touch? ML: I will be visiting Chicago a lot. LE: Did your parents encourage you to continue playing into college? ML: It was mostly my decision to continue my soccer career into college, not my parents’ encouragement. Playing collegiate soccer has always been a goal for me since I was little.
LE: Has your sister who also committed helped you throughout the process? SL: My sister’s recruiting process was much different than mine. She committed to UC Irvine before I even knew I had gotten into the University of Chicago, which shows how much of an outstanding athlete she is. LE: How do you feel about the distance between you and your sister? SL: I am definitely sad that I will not be able to see my sister every day once I go to college, but I know that I will go home whenever I get the chance to. LE: How do you plan on staying in touch? SL: I plan on Facetiming her regularly and starting a Snapchat streak with her. I might send an occasional letter in the mail to her too. LE: Did your parents encourage you to continue playing into college? SL: Like Maddie, both of my parents stood by my side during the entire recruiting process and helped make everything possible and I cannot thank them enough.
University of Chicago
University of California, Irvine
graphics by Tatum Maston photos by Nick Beith
Miles ight 2,013 ute fl n i m 5 r and 4 hou
MAY 2018 | SPORTS | 21
1
THE BOYS THE
1. Senior Orion Leherman attempts a back somersault dive in a straight position. There are three different
types of positions: straight, pike and tuck with straight usually being the
2
hardest formation.
2. Dive coach Don Cashmore
discussing his thoughts after their meet on April 24th. The bins the
divers are pictured in are makeshift hot tubs to rest in between dives.
3. Freshman Joseph Measer attempts a front somersault in a pike position.
In this particular dive, the multiplier is 1.5, meaning Measer could
potentially earn 45 points for the team.
4. Measer leaps from the springboard to try reach new heights as he
attempts a double front somersault in
a pike position. A pike is when a diver pulls his legs into his chest..
5. Senior Ben Goldstein flies through the air, cutting through the air and water to create the smallest splash
possible. The judges critique the diver
on the five different stages of the dive: The start, approach, take off, flight and the entry.
6. Sophomore Buffy Howe sings the
National Anthem as coach Cashmore
22 | SPORTS | MAY 2018
3
patriotically looks on. Cashmore
specializes in springboard diving.
How a fun turned into being the by John Mayberry
A
s he walks onto the board, senior Ben Goldstein can feel the cold water trickle down his back and his legs. At this point, he only can trust his training and the practice he has put in to complete one of his hardest dives, a reverse one and half somersault. If Goldstein can execute the dive perfectly, he could possibly earn a total of 63 points for his team. He begins to get a running start, jumping once, twice, then finally executing the dive with grace. This is the life of diver of Benjamin Goldstein, someone who only started dive last year, now co-captain of the boys’ dive team. “I love diving because it’s something you can pick up and have fun with,” Goldstein said. “There’s a lot of friends I’ve made through dive, friends I’ll hold for a long time. Originally, a couple of my friends joined dive because we were interested in exploring a new and exciting sport.” Joining Goldstein as co-captain, is senior Orion Leherman. Leherman began diving last year as well, and was the one to push Goldstein and his older brother, Oshean, to join the dive team as a light after school activity.
5
JOIN BOARDS
6
4
after school activity co-captains of the dive team.
In high school, competitors must use a one-meter springboard to complete their attempted dives. This may sound like a limitation for creativity, however, there are over 30 different dives which can be attempted in a three of different ways, with each dive and special instruction having its own score multiplier. For example, a reverse one and a half somersault when the diver tucks into a ball formation has a multiplier of 2.1. Total up the score from the three judges, with each judge giving a 1-10 score, multiply that number, and the diver gets his final score. “When figuring out what kind of dive I should attempt, I always have to consider how I can maximize the total amount of points I could earn,” Goldstein said. “Sometimes if you do a difficult dive poorly it’s just as good as executing a easy dive perfectly. It’s about finding balance with difficulty, complexity, and grace.”
Glossary 1.Straight Position- Considered to be the hardest form, this requires the diver to remain perfectly straight like a line throughout the dive. 2.Pike Position- In this position, the diver will pull their legs into their chest by bending at the waist and the diver’s thighs flexed straight. 3.Tuck Position- The most traditional of the three is the tuck position, where the diver is allowed to bend their knees and grab the shins in order to somersault through the air. 4.Somersault- An acrobatic move where the diver must complete a rotation head over heels in the air. Known commonly as a front flip or back flip. 5.Multiplier- In diving, the complexity of the dive can often be qualified by its multiplier. The harder the dive, the larger the multiplier. In order to find the final score of any dive, one must add the three judges scores and multiply the sum that by the multiplier.
MAY 2018 | SPORTS | 23
SKATING BYE SOPHOMORE ALEX BYE ON HER EXPERIENCE PLAYING ICE by Kristen Young
T
he blades cutting through the ice. The slap of the puck against the stick. The strength to get up and continue playing even after taking a tough hit. Balancing the multiple aspects of the sport, from staying upright on the ice to scoring and defending, hockey allows players to push their limits in different ways. Playing ice hockey has been sophomore Alex Bye’s passion since she was a young girl. She discovered this love for hockey after seeing her brother play and she was inspired by him to pick up a pair of skates, a stick and a helmet. “I enjoy how fast-paced ice hockey is,” Bye said. “In a lot of other sports you constantly restart, but in hockey there are not many stops.” Taking part in a sport that is considered by some to be maledominated can be hard at times for a girl. Bye has played on a boys’ team with District Hockey and a girls team with the Lady Ducks. Through these teams, she has learned to compete at a high level. Perseverance and the hours of practice helped Bye overcome stereotypes about girls playing hockey. “It can be hard to hear people say that girls can’t handle hockey and that we shouldn’t play,” Bye said. “It’s not the best feeling, but I try and ignore it to just keep playing my best every game.” The relationships built with her teammates are ones Bye hopes to never lose. The game requires a trusting relationship between teammates. Playing together for so long allows for this type of relationship to blossom and the camaraderie to bring out the strengths of each player in their position. “Alex is a skilled defenseman who has a good shot from the blue line,” teammate Karena Barrett said. “She is good at preventing goals by being physical and smart with the puck.”
24 | SPORTS | MAY 2018
Bye’s exposure to the world of hockey-provided through both of her teams-has helped her realize that with hard work, she can have a future with hockey. By traveling to different states for tournaments coaches see her and she gets an experience playing a high level of hockey. “Playing hockey has helped give me goals, such as going to a college to play,” Bye said. “Also, traveling for hockey is exciting because I get to see new places and get to play in big tournaments with many college scouts watching that can help me achieve these goals.” For Bye, the appeal of hockey is different than for other sports. The complexities of the game all contribute to the challenge of the sport. From general fitness to running plays, hockey offers many different styles of physical activity. “A typical practice for us has a lot of sprints, cardio and arm strength,” Bye said. “After, we go onto the ice and work on drills, plays and crashing the net. The games are very fast-paced and unlike other sports, you just keep going until there is a goal or a penalty.” Given that hockey permits lots of physical contact, players are bound to get hurt at one point or another. Bye knows all too well what it is like to suffer injuries in the sport. Throughout her years, she has experienced injuries ranging from bruises to sprained knees. With this in mind, Bye makes sure she takes precautions to ensure her safety on the ice. “The hardest thing about playing hockey is knowing the risk of getting seriously hurt,” Bye said. “You always need to make sure to keep your head up so you aren’t hit while trying to get the puck to a teammate.” Recently, her team-the Lady Ducks-competed in the 2018 National Championships and placed 12th in the nation. This tournament was held in Massachusetts and for Bye’s team it was the biggest competition of the year. “Nationals is a great way to end the season with my amazing team and I couldn’t have asked for a better way,” Bye said. Being able to take part in a sport she loves at a high level has given Bye important experiences she will never forget. Hockey has provided a path toward her future and helped her learn the importance of continuing what she loves, in spite of the obstacles. “For people who want to play hockey, be ready for lots of skating,” Bye said. “The sport is really physical and you can get hurt, but the relationships with your teammates and being able to play the sport are worth it.”
1.
2. First page: Sophomore Alex Bye follows through after taking a shot. Recently, she competed with the Lady Ducks in the 2018 National Championships.
1. As she sets up a pass to a teammate, Bye maintains her balance and composure. Her team practices
four times each week, during practice they work on everything from passing to hitting.
2. While turning away from an opposing player, Bye
protects the puck and looks for a teammate. In practice,
she works on her balance to ensure she is strong and fast on the ice.
3. Skating with the puck, Bye looks for a teammate or
an open shot at the goal. Although she is a defensemen whose main job is to prevent the other team from scoring, she often gets involved in the attack.
photos courtesy of Alex Bye
3.
MAY 2018 | SPORTS | 25
SIGNING TO THE LEGENDS by Dominick Shrewsberry On April 20th a group of advanced ASL students performed the first of two ASL Shows. This show was hosted in the CAC and it included many colorful classic songs and skits. 1. Seniors Jacob Jenkins and Tayah Cluett hold one another, after finishing the song “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. While they were dancing, many other “couples” danced to this song setting a romantic mood for the audience. 2. Senior Liz Spearing leads the chorus to “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest. All performers took a turn in the spotlight to lead the chorus and show off knowledge of ASL. 3. Antonio Garcia preform the song “Johnny B. Good” by Chuck Berry. For the song, the juniors and seniors wear time-relevant clothing so the audience can see what it would be like if they were in the 1950s. The performers dressed accordingly for each song, wearing costumes that matched the decade the song came from.