the
LANCER ex we h ave issues.
In this issue:
5 End the R-word
11 Orchestra at Carnegie
carlsbad high school carlsbad, ca may 2014 volume 27, issue 7
PRESS
15 Pay to play
19 V-ball’s big three
2 news
photo highlight
may 2014
photo by Danny Tajimaroa
Senior Emerson Diehl plays Hedy LaRue during her entrance scene in the spring musical, How to Succeed in Business without really Trying during the photo preview performance on Thurs. May 1. Hedy is the mistress to JB Biggley, played by senior Evan Ridpath. The play ran from May 2 through May 10. “It was fun to work with friends who I have performed with since my first year, “ senior Jessica Streich said. “We’re excited to go out with such a great play and make this show our last time performing on the CAC stage together.”
May/June 5/12 -16 5/17
Last of AP testing Voting open for Prom Court Prom Choir Auditions
5/21
Late Start Returns
5/23
Senior Ditch Day
5/26
Memorial Day No School
6/3
Senior Awards Night
Community
Highlights Vans art contest
Carlsbad Village Faire
W
hile many consider May the Fourth to be a day where people pay tribute to all things Star Wars, in Carlsbad, residents had another entertaining option to spend their day. For the 40th straight year, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosted its biannual street fair in the Carlsbad Village on Sat. May 4. With over 100,000 people coming from not only Carlsbad, but across the United States to attend this event, the Carlsbad Village Faire is considered the largest one day street fair in the country. To accommodate such a massive crowd, the fair ran from 8am all the way to 5pm and had over 900 booths for attendees to browse. Vendors sold a variety of local art, clothing, knick-knacks, ingenious gadgets and almost everything else shoppers could fathom. There were 50 booths dedicated to food alone, offering cuisine from a multitude of cultures and of course the Kiwanis Club’s traditional pancake breakfast. To ensure that people of all ages were entertained, the fair also featured a kids’ area with games, a slide, a bounce-house, face-painting and a rock wall.
I
n an effort to raise funds for the art department, Ms. Foulk’s AP Art students decided to participate in the Vans Custom Culture Art Contest back in March. Since then, the students have created four masterpieces out of sneakers in addition to finishing their portfolios for the AP exam. Vans Shoes sent the art class four pairs of blank canvas sneakers to be customize in one of four themes: art, music, action sports and local flavor. CHS’s submission included shoes transformed into waves, the flower field, animals musicians and a psychedelic camera. This work earned them a spot as one of the top 10 finalists for the California region. People then voted on the Vans website through May 12 and if Carlsbad received the most votes for the California region, the AP art students will be flown out to New York City, NY for a final event along with the regional finalists. The grand prize winner will be awarded with $50,000 for their art department and an opportunity to have their shoes sold in Vans’ stores. Good luck to these students!
Sports
Softball honors coach
O
n Wed. May 7, the softball team honored their coach, Danielle Kinley, by retiring her jersey and adding it to the Wall of Fame in the Lancer Arena. Kinley was born in Carlsbad and played for CHS during her high school career as number 12. During that time Kinley made All-California both her junior and senior year and helped her team win the 2003 San Diego Section championship. She continued her softball career in college by playing at Penn State as a center-fielder and team captain for the Nittany Lions. After college, Kinley was drafted to play professional softball for the Philadelphia Force. After retiring from playing softball and moving back to Carlsbad, Kinley continued to express her love for the sport by becoming the varsity coach for CHS this year. The team regards Kinley as a positive coach who motivates and pushes the girls. Under Kinley’s guidance, the lady Lancers are currently 6-2 in league, hoping to win a CIF championship after coming close in the past few years.
news 3
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Feaster wins Teacher of the Year emilio gonzalez staff writer
T
he Heisman. The Academy Award. NFL Most Valuable Player. Carlsbad’s Teacher of the Year. The Nobel Peace Prize. Each one of these titles are given to those who prove their excellence in their respective fields. However, one is meant to award those who guide others to their own individual achievements. One humbles and at the same time gratifies an occupation which many take for granted. Just ask Mr. Feaster, this year’s Teacher of the Year here at Carlsbad. The Teacher of the Year is nothing to be taken lightly. In order to be selected, a teacher must first be nominated into a pool by the majority of teachers at the school. Then once he or she is in the pool, a panel made up of all the previous Teacher of the Year winners come together and make the final decision. Yet to many, even with this meticulous selection process, its no surprise Mr. Feaster its no surprise he was selected for this crowning achievement. “I think its very well deserved, he does a lot for our students here not only as a P.E teacher, but as a coach for water polo,” Assistant Principal Julie Redfield said. Many who receive this award have been teaching for practically generations and have looked up to the achievement for many years prior. Yet for a while Mr. Feaster would have never even expected to be eligible for this honor. “After college I went back to my high school and was an assistant water polo coach,” Feaster said. “Once I started coaching, I knew I liked it and thats what I wanted to do and if I was going to be a coach then teaching went hand in hand.” Throughout his career at CHS, Mr. Feaster has shown range in his instructing abilities. Although he is widely acclaimed for his role as head coach of our prestigious boys varsity water polo team, he also teaches physical education. “It’s pretty impressive how he can manage to teach and instruct a class of our size,” said freshman Erin Sinai, a current student of Mr. Feaster’s P.E class. “Especially while being able to stay cool with all the crazy kids and fun during the whole period.” As if teaching hordes of meddling students is not enough on someones plate, people must also take into account that he also has to work to push our water polo team to their maximum potential. A workload that most people would struggle mightily, Feaster handles with ease. “I know it must be very rigorous, but he’s organized in his time management and is able to efficiently balance both
photo by mikayla ferarro
photo by mikayla ferarro
Mr. Feaster instructs his students about the task at hand with a consistent attitude. By always lending a helping hand, Mr. Feaster gains the trust and respect of his students. Even as little as teaching a student the basics of a game can help create bonds with them.
Mr. Feaster drills his varsity boys water polo in order to maintain the diligent work ethic that made them CIF champions. Even if it means showing some tough love.
coaching and facilitate his qualities as a teacher,” Redfield said. Yet there is a reason why he gets the attention as the Boys Water Polo Head Coach. During his tenure he has led them to 9 CIF Championships, not to forget the other 10 Swim CIF Championships that he also has won. Rings are not the only gold Feaster has won during his career, he has also won the rare respect of his players. “Feaster is a man who is really hard on his players, but he does it with love and treats his team like his own kids, his team is his kids,” junior and varsity water polo player, Conner Chanove said. Some resounding aspects of Mr. Feaster’s teaching style is his lovable sense of humor, the consistency of his attitude toward his pupils and his ability to render himself under control during the constant sound of rowdy children. “He always know the time to make kids laugh and always knows what to joke about. He’s just a jolly character,” Sinai said. “Me and my friends will be joking
“
Feaster is a man who is really hard o his players, but he does it with love and treats his team like his own kids, his team is his kids.” Connor Chanove
around, and where many teachers would stay away from interacting with us, Mr. Feaster joins in and really feels like a cool friend when were talking.” Not only does Feaster thrive in a student environment, he also has established himself as a lovable character with his staff. “He’s very equitable, he’s very respectful and gets along very well not only with his students, but also with his colleagues and peers,” Redfield said.
Feaster’s influence on his students and players is not minimal, in fact its tremendous. However, Feaster seeks to influence his students and players in a very specific, humbling manner. “The biggest joy I’ve always received from coaching my players is the impact I have on their lives,” Feaster said. “I’ve always told my guys I’d rather have them come back and tell me you’ve made me a better person than telling me I made them a better player.”
news 5
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Best Buddies puts on annual Ban the R-Word Assembly lauren t’kint staff writer
S
tudents lined up in front of the doors leading into the Old Gym as the bell rang for lunch on Thurs. April 24. With the smell of bean and cheese burritos wafting through the air as students filed into the bleachers, Best Buddies was ready to put on their annual “Ban the R-Word” assembly. Attracting local celebrities like Tony Hawk in the past, the purpose of the assembly is not just to show students a good time with free food and a chance to practice their autograph at the end. The club and the assembly they put on each year attempts to change the way people speak by making them aware of the effects words can have on their peers. “The assembly was good, we definitely had over 300 kids attend. Everyone was really respectful and it was a lot of fun. It meant a lot to have so many people come out and support the club this year,” senior club president Henry Gardner said. The club aims to stop the misuse of the word “retarded” in everyday language, which is heard too often around campus by Carlsbad’s own student body. Words hurt, and they want to end the prejudice established when students use these words towards one another.
To help raise awareness, the Ban the R-Word assembly is put on by the Best Buddies program. By pairing students with a Buddy, students are given an opportunity to make a difference in each others’ lives through Best Buddies, which is a nationwide non-profit organization. “It’s a club that’s entirely social. I think that having the opportunity to make such close connections with people is a very valuable experience for both the teens that are paired together, ” Gardner said. Apart from hanging out with their buddies during club meetings, Best Buddies also puts on an annual Prom, which took place on Sat. April 12 this year. Giving the buddies an event all for them, they have the opportunity to nominate their own Prom court, who’s King and Queen included Trevor Dean and Marisa Boerum this year. Students from all grades were allowed to attend. “The Best Buddies prom was in Del Mar...We danced, partied, and had so much fun,” freshman Nate Baer said. As president of the Best Buddies club here at CHS, Gardner has shown his dedication to the club even before he learned about it freshman year. “My brother’s girlfriend competed in the Special Olympics and I joined that in seventh grade. I’ve been doing that for seven years and it kind of just led to where
photo by elise chen
Junior Siomara Muñoz signs her name on the Best Buddies poster at the end of the Ban the R-Word assembly to show her support.
I am now,” Gardner said. Helping coordinate and present the assembly this year, Gardner and other club members were able to bring in guest speaker Randy Jones, a Padres hall of famer. Making an appearance at the assembly, Jones spoke of his experiences in professional baseball and the importance of tolerance, both on and off the field. With the combination of his inspirational
words, an outstanding performance by the Lancer Dancers and a generous donation of 200 burritos from the local Mexican food joint, Lola’s, the annual event was a hit. “The community came together to support Best Buddies and speak out against the R-word, and now it’s up to the students to pass on their message and make a difference,” Gardner said.
The recent opening of Sage Creek High School, just above three miles away from CHS, has also raised the message of this program, as the children now have a choice of where to attend school. The opportunity to fully understand the culture of Carlsbad, before the kids chose where they attend, adds an extra benefit to the program. “We just want the kids to know how great it is to be a Lancer,” junior Sarah Lang said. “Sage Creek is also a great school, but we just want to do our part to at least display what Carlsbad has to offer.” Many of the ASBers are quite excited to be working with the young kids and imparting their knowledge upon them. With an appearance by the Carlsbad mascot and Spirit Crew for the final session of the six weeks, the preparations have already begun. “We’re gonna come in, start off with a nice introduction,” Lancer said. “We’re gonna come in hot with lots of jumping
and clapping, and general loudness. Lance Lancer comes running in, the kids love every minute of it. Throw down some roller coaster, bananas, Cbad time and soon enough these kids are jazzed on becoming Lancers.” Although the aspect of encouraging younger students to go to Carlsbad is certainly an aim, the program is still maintained on the values of the Boys and Girls club. Teaching the kids how to be strong, caring people remains the main focus, regardless of the unconventional methods. “The Spirit Crew wants to show these kids that we can all come together,” Lancer said. “Regardless of race, gender, school you attend or any petty difference like that, we want them to share the experience of mutual support and love for all of their peers. If we can teach them that by wearing purple and screaming about bananas, it seems to me like a job well done.”
ASB spreads Lancer spirit to younger generations riley hoffman
W
staff writer
ith the newly founded Sage Creek High School opening this past year, Carlsbad High now has competition in trying to attract younger students to become Lancers. Lancer Pride is a constant at the high school, but this year’s ASB is looking to start it even earlier than the first day of freshman year. The students of ASB are currently undergoing a six week, collaborative program with the Boys and Girls Club of Carlsbad. The program brings ASB students to the after-school sessions that the club hosts, and has the elementary and middle school kids in the program learn all about life as a Lancer. With a different group of ASB students going in every Monday for an hour from April 14 until June 9, the program hopes to show the kids many different facets of the Lancer Life. This includes a group of some of the
football players, the Loud Crowd leaders and a few of the other groups on campus, but the six week program is only the beginning. “ASB this year is doing this program just to give the kids a taste,” junior Shelby Lee said. “We want to do a school-wide collaboration with the organization next year, if we can. We’re looking for the next generation of Lancers.” While this year the ASB class is being used as sort of a trial group, the hope is to expand from there, including sports teams, the arts programs and various clubs. Each will go and use their role in the school as a platform for teaching the kids about school spirit and respect for one another. “The plan is to just go in and show these kids what Lancer Spirit is all about,” senior school mascot, Lance Lancer, said. “We just really want to implement the love for purple. Show these kids that we are pure spirit, we are Lancers, we are Carlsbad.”
Upcoming ASB events:
April 14 - Welcome to Cbad Time: An intro to the culture at Carlsbad
April 28 - Dance with Carlsbad: Lancer Dancers and Xcalibur visit
May 12 - ASB bonding time: Teach about holding close friendships
June 2 - Lancer Day: Planning for the homecoming float
April 21 - Cbad Art: Drawing the crest, making posters
May 5 - Football at Carlsbad: Players teach kids about teamwork
May 19 - Cheerleaders in the house: Learning some of the famous cheers
June 9 - Loud Crowd: Visit from mascot and crowd leaders
6 news
may 2014
Old Town holds annual Cinco de Mayo celebration brooklyn o’neill
O
staff writer
nce a year, since 1982, San Diego celebrates Mexican heritage, culture and pride through Old Town’s streets for Cinco de Mayo. This year’s celebration on Sat. May 3 included four stages of live music, great food and over 50 vendors, which made this year’s festival one to remember. Cinco de Mayo is often misinterpreted as Mexico’s Independence Day and those who put on the festival worked to inform the community about the cultural significance of this event to Mexico. The history of this day goes back to The Battle of Puebla, when Mexico became victorious over the French in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. A holiday that started as a celebration of a historic event, has now become a cultural tradition. “Cinco de Mayo celebrates a change in the relationship between Mexico and the United States and it really should be considered a Mexican-American holiday,” junior Nicole Graber said. Many celebrations of this holiday exist throughout Southern California, but the Old Town celebration is the largest and most visited. This fiesta is very
important to the relationship between the Mexicans and Americans, as the cultures join together to participate and make memories around a historically important holiday to Southern California. “I love to see the colors of the Mexican flag: red, white and green, everywhere. It’s traditional when celebrating Cinco de Mayo to see them everywhere, in costumes, balloons, streamers and flowers,” Mexican dancer Mary Chapman said. “I love to see everyone enjoying Mariachi bands and Mexican folk music. It makes me feel very proud of our heritage; it is a reminder of who we are and how far we’ve come.” The holiday Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout the United States and is widely acknowledged in San Diego due to the close proximity to Mexico’s border. However, in Mexico itself, Cinco de Mayo is not as large of an event. “In Mexico, we celebrate with parades and music but that’s about it. It seems to be a much more popular celebration in the United States, with dancing, large parties, lots of margaritas, guacamole, tacos, salsa and tortilla chips,” attendee Luis Fernando said. Many choose to participate in the festivities that San Diego citizens held in
this local celebration which include live traditional music, lots of dancing, face paint and many joyful faces roaming the streets in a span of three days. Many visitors to San Diego found the Old Town celebration of the holiday unique. “This is my first time in San Diego and I’m thoroughly enjoying the crowds, the heat and the festivities,” attendee Alysha Cote said. “I am from Vancouver, Canada and although we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an annual skydiving event, it’s certainly nothing like the celebrations in Mexico or here in the US.” Even though there were many newcomers, lots of individuals are veterans of the festivities. The celebration has expanded beyond the small community of Old Town and has become a tradition of all the families who come to make memories every year. “I have been enjoying Old Town for Cinco de Mayo for over 15 years. The festivities and location just can’t be beat,” Fernando said. The event ran until midnight on Sun., May 4. The celebration has given people many memories but also brought individuals more knowledge of Cinco de Mayo’s significance. “It’s become a very treasured tradition,
photo by brooklyn o’neill
A Old Town vendor stands in front of her booth on Sat., May 3 for Cinco de Mayo. Every year Old Town holds this festival filled with concerts and food to honor Mexican heritage.
and is about so much more than food and drinks,” Chapman said. “It’s a great opportunity to spread Cinco de Mayo history while having a really good time.”
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editorial 7
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Lack of assemblies leaves school spirit lacking W
editorial board
hat does a gym packed with 3,000 students sound like? Perhaps it’s the clamor of legs stomping and hands clapping mixed together in organized chaos. Or maybe it’s the a symphony of voices calling out “Go Bananas!” at the top of their lungs as they rally in support of their school. Of course, this is all just speculation. We don’t know what all 3,000 CHS students coming together in one room to support our school sounds like because the events which are supposed to bring all of us together, assemblies, have been scarce this year. Assemblies are supposed to be a gathering of the entire school. A way to spread important information, acknowledge the achievements of students and faculty, hear from distinguished speakers, pump up the student body for upcoming events, etc. At CHS we have no shortage of reasons to celebrate. We have CIF winning sports teams, nationally ranked Speech and Debate, journalism and dance programs, an arts and performing arts department that is constantly recognized for their success and other programs and students with incredible talents who should be recognized. We even have a whole committee in ASB dedicated to spirit, which has made valiant efforts to spread Purple Pride throughout the campus. But yet, we have few assemblies and, as a result, our school has missed out on numerous opportunities to celebrate our accomplishments and enrich the education we receive. Of course, it’s not as simple as just bringing back assemblies. Whenever there is a sighting of this endangered species, we still can’t manage to attract the entire student body. Let’s take the one assembly that takes place during class hours, The Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corp Assembly, for example. This is prestigious group that only comes to a select number of schools. Every student, teacher and
staff member should have attended this performance yet there were plenty of classrooms still occupied when the Marines began the assembly. Why you ask? Because teachers refuse to give up class time for assemblies. From their point of view, when classes are two hours long, having one period miss out on that time can put them behind the others. Yes, assemblies can be an inconvenience that may throw off a teacher’s lesson plan, but they are still a valuable part of the high school experience. How can we expect our student body to show school spirit and support sporting events, school plays, dance showcases, etc. if our teachers set a precedent that it is okay to not attend school events. A study by Eric Schaps, Ph.D. from the Developmental Studies Center found that there is a positive correlation between students’ connection to their school and academic achievement. Assemblies foster this sense of belonging to their school which is so crucial to maintaining Carlsbad High School’s academic success. So, it is clear that assemblies need to be reintegrated into the CHS experience, but
one question remains: how? A solution that we’ve adapted lately is to substitute assemblies with pep rallies, but that’s like replacing sugar with Splenda—better than nothing, but not quite as sweet. ASB has tried their best to make these rallies appealing to the student body. They play music, put on performances by dance, cheer, color guard and other groups/individuals and try to get students and faculty from all grades and activities involved. What we mean to say is that this is not ASB’s fault. They’ve created a recipe that should make for success but for one glaring reason, the attendance at these pep rallies has been anything but successful. These pep rallies take place either at lunch, before school or after school. No matter how much effort ASB puts into these pep rallies, no matter how much they spend or what sort of gimmicks they put on in order to entice students, it will never compete with the lure of the world outside of school. We spend six hours a day in classes so why would a student stick around during lunch when a burrito from Lola’s or a slice from Knockout is calling
lancer express staff editor in chief: kelsey aijala section editors: julius koch vlad korobkin garrett snyder
business: alison casey
staff writers: calla blawusch natalie cortez eri flores kayla fraga emilio gonzalez john hankforth riley hoffman samuel horan jakob karlsson olivia langen jacob luna
their name? Maybe they’re curious about the prom fashion show or feel that Best Buddies Assembly is a good cause but they’ll find out this information eventually and in the mean time they can catch up on some sleep, go to the beach, get something to eat or do a myriad of other more appealing activities. Perhaps in a few years when CHS becomes a closed campus with a smaller population that can fit in one gym lunch assemblies will become successful, but until then the only way to gather the entire campus is during class. And because we are the ones pointing out this problem, Lancer Express would like to suggest a solution. If we adapt a late-start schedule on assembly days, then there will exist an hour of school for assemblies to take place without disrupting class time drastically. If administration will allow this and teachers make the small sacrifice of 20 minutes of class time every few months, then we can get back our assemblies. Students will still get their daily recommended dose of education but they’ll also get supplement of pride that is vital to their success.
editorial policy madison mcmurray brooklyn o’neill david rubinstein jenny simpson lauren t’kint savannah wardle chloe young tyra wu artist: stephen sweeney
photographers: elise chen mikayla ferraro jacquelyn nakamura kyle veidt
design: tyler dresser zack spanier tanner layton
As a public forum for student expression, Lancer Express welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to refuse inappropriate or anonymous letters. Letters must be directed to room 3104 or to the editor-in-chief. Lancer Express adheres to a strict policy regarding propriety of all photos and text. Controversial advertisements and opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff. Both sides of any issue are welcome here. Letters, questions or comments by emails to lancerexpress@gmail.com are welcome.
8 opinion
may 2014
High school, more like sigh school
Why can’t it be late start everyday?
kayla fraga staff writer
T
he majority of students will roll their eyes in dismay or groan in agony when asked how they feel about going to school. The hours spent over grueling math homework, social drama, tedious essays and nerve wracking exams all contribute to the unpleasantness of high school. Perhaps the worst part of school, though, is the sound of our screeching alarm clocks interrupting our sleep during the ungodly hours of the morning. With a sleepy haze still clouding our minds, we’re dragged from the comfort of our homes and constrained in a confined space with an overwhelming amount of people. As teens, most of us still aren’t entirely sure about what career we want to pursue in our adult lives. We put up with the annoyance that comes with taking math, English, history and science to get a feel for our strengths and learn how to apply our interests in the real world. We simply cannot avoid school; we need the monotonous lessons so we are prepared for the future. There’s no chance of changing the curriculum, but why can’t there be a change in school hours? If school started a little later there would be time to have our morning cup of coffee and regain a bit of our sanity. The day and all the struggles it brings would be easier to conquer. Researchers at the University of Minnesota, studied eight high schools in three states before and after they moved to later start times in recent years. The results showed that the later a school’s start time, the better off the students were on many measures, including mental
health, car crash rates, attendance and, in some schools, grades and standardized test scores. If something as simple as starting one hour later effects major factors such as mental health, driving, and test scores, then what’s the problem? The school day shouldn’t be shortened; it should get out at 3:35. There is still plenty of time to participate in after school activities and sports with an hour delay. An Education Next article presents studies show that with delayed school start times by one hour, standardized test scores increased by at least two percentile points in math and one percentile point in reading. The effect was largest for students with below-average test scores, which suggests that later start times would narrow gaps in student achievements. Most teachers don’t want to conduct a lesson at 7:30 a.m., nor do the majority
of students want to listen to a lesson at 7:30 a.m. By starting so early, the level of productivity declines; the solution is in a one hour delay. We are endlessly told by our teachers and staff members to go to sleep earlier if we’re having trouble waking up early in the morning. However, many teens find it extremely difficult to go to sleep earlier than 11 pm. This phenomena is no coincidence; studies from an Education Next article show hormonal changes during puberty, such as a later secretion of melatonin, shifting the natural circadian rhythm which makes it extremely difficult for adolescents to fall asleep early in the evening. In addition, computers used for writing essays and phones used to look up information makes going to sleep even more difficult. Blue light from these electronic devices, can trick the brain into
SAD, BAD, RAD
Seriously, the struggle is real, but what’s up with these schools?
Sunnydale High School
Abby Mount Boarding School
Not only does Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer have to go to school and do her homework like everyone else, but she has to fight evil demons and creepy monsters that continuously crawl out of the hellmouth that her school is built above. The staying up all nights to fight crime and save the world really makes waking up early in the mornings for school even more dreadful, what a drag.
Think we have it bad? Just imagine leaving the warm beaches of Carlsbad and attending an all-girls boarding school in the dreary, wet countryside of England like Poppy Moore in the movie Wild Child. The continuous rainy weather and absurd rules and regulation are beyond fathomable. Don’t forget the disgusting cafeteria food, hideous uniforms, and an evil head girl who dedicates her time to tormenting others...no thank you!
SAD
BAD
sensing daylight, which further delays drowsiness. Not using a computer or phone in today’s modern society poses an inconvenience in accessing information and is simply not an option. If school started at 8:35 am every day, mornings could be spent the way you want. Instead of rushing around in a sleepy daze, students could to get themselves and their school supplies together, while grabbing a granola bar to eat on their way out. Maybe that means having time to catch up on some sleep; or for the pro morning people of the world, having time to get in a workout or reviewing some material for a test you have that day. Starting later is not a foreign concept; many schools start within the hour of eight o’clock, including Mission Hills, Canyon Crest Academy and San Marcos high school. The benefits of starting the school day a little later are too many to pass up without consideration.
policy
Hogwarts School of Wizardry
Harry Potter has it made. He leaves his nagging aunt and uncle and snotty cousin to enroll in a school with loyal friends, talking hats and enthralling magic and wizardry. Who cares about waking up to go to school when there are quidditch games to attend, spells to recite and teachers who casually transfigure into cats. This school is magical, literally. Where can I sign up?
RAD
opinion 9
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Carlsbad, are you not entertained? john hankforth
I
staff writer
f you took the Loud Crowd, performers, and freshmen out of the bleachers, there might be a handful of kids leftover just there to have fun. In order to raise crowd support, an environment needs to be created that encourages students to branch out and participate. A lot of us need to ask ourselves what exactly we want out of high school. CHS can just be a stepping stone if you want it to be, but it has the potential to be so much more than that. Essentially, we are responsible for our high school experience. However, it is the school’s duty to facilitate an environment which is composed of more than just going to class and doing homework. Four years of this, four years of that, all set in place by a distant school board to raise admission statistics. Nowadays, the main difference between students is whether or not they choose to take AP, not what electives they choose to supplement their high school experience. Maybe the school is just too big now— shifting away from autonomy in order to get the biggest handful of students ready for the biggest handful of colleges. The need for packed classrooms prevents more
niche-like electives from springing forth. It seems the only way a student at CHS can have an impact on campus is through the formation of clubs, and even then, it can be difficult to commit to and find large support for them. With more students comes a greater need to do things in bulk, leading to a greater difficulty in doing things for individual classes. Even the food in the cafeteria would be different if the school were asked to serve a few hundred rather than a few thousand. If the classes weren’t so large, it’d be easier to find school-wide support. We might even have spots in the parking lot for everybody. When a student walks down the 3000 buildings, the only difference in color is the hole in the plaster where some guy punched it in. Even those corny track tryout posters are gone. It’s just white walls and tiles now. With thousands of kids stampeding through the halls, it’s difficult to ascertain as to why there isn’t any proof that these kids attend CHS. The student body lacks something that is integral to the romanticized high school experience. The same half dozen or so kids dress up for the same annual spirit days. We just don’t have that idealized sense of unity or identity around here. School spirit means more than wanting to go to the football games and pep rallies—it means feeling excited for end of
the year events, not apathetic indifference. It is up to the student to leave their own mark and define their high school experience, but at the same time, there is a structural problem in place. We don’t need to make it more difficult for students to come to these school events by telling them that they need to pay at the door, sign behavior contracts and even be breathalyzed. People get breathalyzed in two ways: when getting arrested by the police and when going to prom. Over time, we’ve turned assemblies into pep rallies and moved things like Battle of the Bands off campus and threw an entrance fee on it. Even though these activities are being pulled out of reach, the burden of the lack of spirit or support is
placed on the students. Yet by placing these barriers, the school discourages more and more students from coming to school events, leaving it to ASB and loud crowd to make up the entire audience. Moreover, if it weren’t for the notion that prom is culturally tied to the high school experience, it’d receive the same kind of crowd support as a home volleyball game. If the administration and the student body collaborated to bring more communal projects, encourage artwork to be displayed at the school or simply made it easier for kids to participate, we would have a campus full of students happy to be a part of Carlsbad without feeling like they need to be Loud Crowd to support.
In our culture now, fewer kids are taught the importance of chivalry and educated on the subject, so that when they grow up it is not as important to them. Since the parents aren’t teaching their kids about it, every generation after will continually disregard chivalry until we reach the point where there will be none left in the future. Sure, men still pay for dinner every now and then and open doors for women, but those moments are few and far between. It may not seem like such an important problem, but it would be smart for our generation to salvage what we have left of chivalry and expand on it, spreading it throughout and making chivalry more relevant again. There’s many people who would argue that chivalry is still alive and well, but there is not much evidence to support
their reasoning. Recently there have been studies to measure how many men still do chivalrous and respectful deeds, and the numbers were unsurprisingly unattractive. They showed that less than 40 percent of men look to open doors or carry a woman’s luggage for her up the stairs. These studies, although obscure, have showed how fewer and fewer people are doing chivalrous things, and it wouldn’t surprise me that more than half of the people not being chivalrous don’t even know what the word means, and that’s a shame. Don’t get me wrong, at least people aren’t doing the opposite of chivalry and being a self centered jerk. Well not all people, but you get my point. It’s never too late to change something about like this, because chivalry is not a physical trait, you weren’t born with a lack of respect and courtesy. Anyone can be chivalrous because it’s not a physicality, it’s a mentality. So with prom looming over the head of CHS students, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to show some chivalry here and there, and not to mention it’s a great way to make a solid first impression on your date’s parents.
Where for art thou chivalry? jacob luna
staff writer
A
sk anybody on the street about chivalry fading in our generation. About a third would agree and converse about it, another wouldn’t really care for it and the rest would argue that it’s alive and well. Chivalry isn’t even half of what it used to be a century ago. How many times do you notice a man pull a chair out for someone before they sit? What about giving up their seat on a bus or subway to an elderly man or woman? Or even give up their warm and dry jacket to give to their female friend (whether they have a relationship or not)? I’ll tell you how much, not enough. A chivalrous person is described as someone who has courage, shows courtesy and respect to people and is loyal to his peers. All of these are very good traits, but for one reason or another, chivalry is becoming less common. Chivalry in the twenty first century is dying off, as fewer people are both doing
and acknowledging it. There are a few reasons that people would argue against chivalry starting to dissipate. For most guys, there is a never ending struggle to find the balance between being quiet and mysterious and being a gentleman. This, however, doesn’t seem like a legitimate reason to be any less chivalrous. Men don’t like to act overly nice and thoughtful to women because some of them may feel this behavior comes off as condescending. Chivalry isn’t measured by how often you do nice and respectful deeds, it’s doing just enough of them to keep those things special when you do them. Being overwhelmingly nice and respectful will come off as annoying and obnoxious to others.
10 arts & entertainment
may 2014
Book to movie adaptation films continue to flop
Why are high school students this genre’s harshest critics?
chloe young staff writer
E
very teenager loves movies, from those gory horror films to chick flicks, but when it comes to book to movie adaptations, teenagers often deliver brutal criticism. Like most adults, teenagers have a very vivid idea of what a film should be like and who should play the roles, but unlike adults, teenagers are more likely to be swayed by bad reviews from friends. With teen movie attendance at only 15 percent and movie ticket sales at a 25 year low of $1.15 billion a year, Hollywood needs to move its focus to a different genre or fix what is broken with adaptation films. “A movie is limited to what it can portray,” senior Jeffrey Lee said. “Even the best special effects or animation can not replace the human imagination involved in reading a book.” When it comes down to it, fandoms are the driving force behind so many of these adaptation flops. Book series are out for years, three years in the case of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and 47 years for “The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring,” before they become movies and in those years fans are given the time to come up with rigid expectations that a movie really has no chance of meeting. “I get this set visual of how characters look after reading the book,” junior Cristian Acuna said. “How they are portrayed in the movie messes with what I pictured,
Fault in Our Stars,” “The Maze Runner” and 'The Giver,” so sometimes it can be really disappointing.” there still are plenty of chances for adaptations to do well. Accuracy is also a major issue, immensely so when it “To make all the fans of all these book series happy, comes to those books with historical significance. “Team filmmakers need to start going directly by the plot or they of Rivals: The Genius of Abraham Lincoln” was later just need to make a spectacular film that equals the book’s turned into the movie “Lincoln,” but historical accuracy greatness,” senior Courtney Carterette said. “When that was not a part of the transition. Abraham Lincoln taking happens, we can appreciate these movies a lot more.” a speech out of the lining of his hat and people in that time period memorizing the Gettysburg Address are both examples of logical fallacies produced by the desire to dramatize historical events. “You really cannot go Hollywood to learn history,” U.S. in making successful adaptations History teacher Mr. Dearie said. “You will either end up Mortal Instruments: City of Bones being disappointed or very misinformed.” The Perks of Being a Wallflower Over 28 percent of Americans have not read a book in over a year and teens are a significant part of that percentage. So, getting past some of the flaws and shortcomings of these films enables teenagers to gain a new perspective on the movie and gives them the initiative to pursue the book itself. “I think it is a good idea to make books into movies because a lot the time people are not always interested in the actual book series,” sophomore Roshan Ahmed said. “Seeing the movie makes people change their minds and go read the books.” The producers and screenwriters have the final say in how the movie turns out, but the author getting more hands on in the movie making process could contribute to The Hunger Games more successful adaptation films. With more than seven of these films coming to theaters this year, including “The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hollywood’s accuracy
arts & entertainment 11
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall jakob karlsson staff writer
M
ost of us think of Beethoven or Mozart when we hear the word orchestra. Although those are two of the most popular orchestra composers, orchestra is actually very familiar to our ears. You all know our favorite tunes from “Star Wars” and “Lord of The Rings,” well an orchestra is responsible for conducting those memorable jams. In high school orchestra, the only instruments used are the cello, violin, viola and the stringed bass; however, the ability to replicate modern orchestra is not downgraded at all. Recently, Carlsbad’s orchestra got to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which is one of the most prestigious venues for classical and popular music in the world. Senior Sam Oakes, cellist, has been playing with the orchestra for seven years and the Carnegie Hall experience changed his life forever. “It was pretty dope. It wasn’t like El Camino High School auditorium that we usually play in. I felt like the king of the castle when I walked in,” Oakes said. The opportunity to perform in front of professional judges at Carnegie Hall is very rare and it is even more rare to impress them. Not many people get the chance to say that, especially as amateurs. Being invited to the festival only occurs every six years so there is always a different generation of Carlsbad Orchestra talent that gets to experience the trip. “The experience went by a little too fast, I didn’t get time to actually realize it
Violin
because I had a lot of family and judges there so I was kind of nervous, but the hall is very spacious and beautiful, the panels are super intricate and the seats are red velvet. It just makes you sound really good,” junior violinist Gillian Allen said. For the 95 percent that have no idea about orchestra, there is a leader, more so, a point guard of the squad. This leader is called the first violinist or the first chair. For Carlsbad’s orchestra, the leader is senior Allyson Choi. Choi has been with the orchestra for the past seven years as well and she has gradually made her way up to the first chair. “I hold the position of concert master, or in my case, mistress, which is the title given to the first chair of the first violin section. I generally come out last on stage, tune everybody and signal the festival director that we are ready to go,” Choi said. Performing in front of judges at the legendary Carnegie Hall sounds easier than it actually is. Gillian Allen, violinist, is married to the game and has acquired a hefty experience for the job; however, in the hall, the outcome can be unpredictable. “I think it went more smoothly than we expected. When we played at Carnegie on Friday we pretty much nailed it. It couldn’t really have gone any better,” Allen said. “The judges had a lot of great things to say which was refreshing because the festival that we were at before had judges that gave us a good amount of constructive criticism.” Orchestra may seem to have performances that sound very alike, but really a variety of pieces can be played. While our orchestra was in New York,
Viola
The violin is the smallest instrument used in high school orchestra and it can make a variety of sounds due to the various bowing waves. It is the most popular instrument in the orchestra.
The viola looks like the violin but it is slightly larger and it possesses a deeper sound. The viola is the middle voice in the violin family, in between the cello and violin.
photo courtesy of jewelen toledo
Carlsbad High School’s Orchestra is in rest position while at Carnegie Hall on Friday April 18, 2014. The judges were impressed with their performances and had a lot of great things to say back to our fellow classmates.
they lured in the judges by playing some diverse, unique music. “We played a wide range of pieces, like a Latino style song called Las Sortija, and we played stuff from Tchaikovsky which has a more professional feel to it,” Oakes said. It’s not every vacation that people get to see New York City, especially for Carlsbad residents living on the side of the country. Since they only performed one morning out of the four day vacation, they got to wrap up their trip by exploring the tourist-filled New York City. The majority
Cello
The cello is the second largest instrument in modern orchestra. Sounding like the male voice, it is known to have the power to find love in a hopeless place.
of them got the chance to visit the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and the Museum of Natural History. Although that sounds great, being able to perform in Carnegie Hall was the most prized moment of the trip. “It was a really great experience, something I’ve been looking forward to this entire year, and not to mention playing in the amazing Carnegie Hall which was definitely one of those experiences I’ll never forget,” Choi said.
String Bass
The string bass is the largest instrument used in high school orchestra. It is the lowest pitched of the string instruments; however, it is also used in genres such as jazz and 1950’s-style blues.
12 may 2014
kelsey aijala
editor-in-chief
david rubinstein staff writer
erianna flores staff writer
jennifer simpson staff writer
tyler dresser
zack spanier
feat
graphic designer graphic designer Yosemite
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Distance from Carlsbad: Drive 782 miles, 12 hours 17 minutes Lodging: Camping -Reserve drive-in campsites in Elk Prairie Campground through Reserve America. Terrain: Coastal, forest Prairie Creek is the perfect summer getaway to take with friends and family. This beautiful state park consists of mostly old growth forest of coast redwood, western hemlock and Douglas fir with Sitka spruce and red alder near the 10 miles of sandy coastline. Tanoak, cascara, big leaf and vine maple and California bay can also be found on edges of prairies. Fern Canyon, with its 75 miles of hiking, biking, and backpacking trails, can also be found in the heart of this state park. It is strongly suggested that visitors enjoy some of the many picnicking and campsite areas along the coastal redwood paths.
Distance from Lodging: Eve Terrain: Rura With gorgeou authentic Cali recognized for Meadows, Ha activities whic bird watching
“Rafting was m - John Steccat
Sonoma County (Bodega Bay)
Distance from Carlsbad: 500 miles, 7 hours 35 minutes Lodging: (Vacation Home Rental) Bodega Bay & Beyond, (Hotel) Inn Terrain: Forest, coastal Sonoma County has a plethora of interesting and charming sights and keep the visitor entertained. The Charles Schulz museum, a museum d creations and life of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, which features a few renowned creations such as Charlie Brown and Snoopy, is in Sonoma. Bodega Bay, which is said to be one of the most stunning beaches espe the months of January to May when it is whale season. Many choose to Bodega’s trails and hikes or simply just relax. Finally, for all the sci-fi lo there is Rancho Obi-Wan. Rancho Obi-Wan is unlike any other museu The museum centers around anything and everything Star Wars, and c Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Star Wars memora
Monterey Bay
Distance from Carlsbad: 407 miles, 6 hour Lodging: Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Gos Terrain: Urban Pebble Beach is widely known for its coasta the perfect coastal cruise for all motorists. F Aquarium offers exotic exhibits, diving less tasteful, Carmel-by-the-Sea is the ideal dest
“I love how different the atmosphere is up t harbors was really cool. “ - Nicole Walker, senior Most students have uttered the cliche during their time in Carlsbad: “Man we are so spoiled here, why would anyone live anywhere else besides Carlsbad?” Of course this is true, there is no other place better to live than right here in sunny Carlsbad, California. However, this paradise we call our hometown can lull us into thinking there is nothing else worth seeing and visiting in the Golden State. That idea, however, is 100 percent wrong and sells our beautiful state short. The “Visit California” ads on tv, although corny when narrated by the likes of Betty White, Kim Kardashian and the Jonas Brothers, get one thing right: there is simply a ludicrous amount of sights to see and activities to enjoy in California. In fact, California is so large and there’s so much to do in it that it sometimes feels overwhelming figuring everything out. It is exactly this overwhelming sensation that we want to help you overcome by singling out a few prime locations. Think of this as just the Spark Notes of traveling; there certainly are oodles more sites to see than just these. The locations we have singled out, however, are a fantastic starting point for anyone interested in seeing exactly how beautiful and awe inspiring California really is.
A
D Lo Te Th It ea to de w its Th se va B go
“Th ev yo bu
ture
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
13
m Carlsbad: 400.6 miles, 7 hours 30 minutes ergreen Lodge, Cedar Lodge, and White Chief Mountain Lodge al us waterfalls, valleys and peaks Yosemite resembles the timeless and ifornia which has remained untouched by society. Yosemite is highly or its breath-taking views such as Valley View, Yosemite Falls, Tuolumne alf Dome, Cathedral Peak, Tunnel View and many more. A variety of ch incorporate this beauty are available for visitors who enjoy biking, g, backpacking, fishing, camping and picnicking.
my favorite part, but we also had a lot of fun rock climbing too.” to, freshman
Gaviota Wind Caves (Santa Barbara) San Francisco
at the Tides
activities to dedicated to the w of Schulz’s world There is always ecially throughout o stroll through overs out there, um of California. currently holds the abilia.
Distance from Carlsbad: 467 miles, 7 hours Lodging: San Remo Hotel, Touchstone Hotel, Hotel Beresford, Cova Hotel Terrain: Urban What’s better than going to prison without actually being in prison? Touring Alcatraz in San Francisco. This infamous facility provides historical insight as well as a killer view of the bay. However, the city also obtains far more cultural attractions such as the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Mission District Food Tours. San Francisco also offers international experiences without the international costs of travel. Stopping by Chinatown or Little Italy provides visitors with a healthy dose of diversity as they encounter the alluring foods, languages and lifestyles of these foreign cultures. “While we were there we went shopping most of the time, but my favorite part was going to watch the sea lions.” - Hannah Scudder, freshman
rs 24 minutes sby House Inn, Martine Inn, Pine Inn
al views and aquatic wildlife. Its famous 17 Mile Drive offers Forget the controversial stigma of Sea World, Monterey Bay sons and daily shows for all its visitors. For something more tination for art galleries and shopping.
there. Plus going to the aquarium and seeing the different
Distance from Carlsbad: 220 miles, 3 hours 22 minutes Lodging: No sleeping overnight, near Santa Barbara so plenty of hotels nearby Terrain: Coastal, rocky The Gaviota Wind Caves are a stretch of caves tucked away in the heart of Gaviota state park near Santa Barbara. To find where they are, take the 101 exit at Gaviota Campground, and veer to the right and up the hill. Follow the road beyond the gate and mountain lion danger sign, and you will see the start of the hike. The hike is about 3 miles round-trip, and 600 feet of elevation; however, almost all the incline increase at near the end of the hike, so be prepared. The trail starts off with a dirt path that leads into a single trail that goes up the hill. The caves lie at the top of the hill, and there will be a multitude of paths to take that will wind you around all the caves, so choose whichever looks best to you. Once you go around and explore to your heart’s content, it is recommended to find a nice cave to simply relax in and enjoy the spectacular views of the ocean.
San Luis Obispo
Distance from Carlsbad: 278 miles away, 4 hours 26 minutes Lodging: Bay View Inn, Avila Village Inn, Coastal Dunes RV Park, Avila Hot Springs Terrain: Rural, slightly urban Named America’s happiest city by Oprah in 2011, San Luis Obispo is nationally known for its friendly inhabitants and easy going atmosphere. SLO’s Farmers’ Market is popular as it offers hundreds of booths filled with organic and local produce along the downtown streets. For a more active experience, hiking, hot air ballooning, kayaking, horseback riding, ATVing and rock climbing are also available. The Charles Paddock Zoo and the abnormal Bubble Gum Alley also provide visitors with interesting experiences. “I loved walking around the Farmers’ Market. There were so many amazing foods to try there and everyone was super nice.” Sarah Nirschl, senior
Anza-Borrego
Distance from Carlsbad: 77 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes odging: rent campsites, pitch tents anywhere, rent hotel rooms (boo that option) Terrain: Desert The Anza-Borrego Desert State park is one of the largest national parks in the USA. t is on the far eastern side of San Diego County and is easily accessible via the 78 ast. This is the go-to-place for anyone interested in what the beautiful desert has o offer. The desert has become unfairly synonymous with boring emptiness; a land evoid of anything of interest for people, and just a place to drive through on your way to someplace actually worth stopping. However, Anza-Borrego has enough in s vast land reserves to keep even the most desert-skeptical visitor busy for weeks. There’s the open spaces available for off-roading and camping for the adrenaline eeking types, the wind caves and slot canyon for the adventurous types, and a wide ariety of flora and fauna species to observe for the nature loving types. The Anzaorrego Desert State park defies the unfair stereotype deserts everywhere have otten, and is a perfect example of how a desert can still be fun.
The desert is my favorite place to go. You’re so isolated. You get away from veryone, and there really is a lot to do. When it’s not too hot there’s a lot of hiking, ou can dirt bike or off-road. I mean worst comes to worse, you can always just uild a bonfire and check out the stars.”- Taylor Team, senior
Carbon Canyon Park
Distance from Carlsbad: 76 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes Lodging: Chase Suite Hotel, Hyland Motel, Embassy Suites Brea, Home(close enough) Terrain: Forest and lake Most people think that they need to trek all the way up to Northern California to see the majestically large Redwoods. Yet these same Redwoods seen in Sequoia National Park are also seen in Carbon Canyon park located just a short drive away in Orange County. Carbon Canyon Park features 10 acres of Coastal Redwoods, a smaller relative of the Giant Redwoods up in Sequoia, a four acre lake with two piers for fishing, and a 124-acre green space area perfect for picnicking and frolicking to your heart’s content. There are multiple trails that take the adventurous visitor right through the heart of all the Redwoods, and the entire park is dog friendly, so feel free to bring your trusty companion along for the ride. There are also eight tennis courts, three sand volleyball courts, two softball backstops and the large multipurpose field. “I haven’t been to this specific park, but I firmly believe that life is about memories. To me, accumulating memories with special people is a great thing, so I encourage people to take new avenues and take advantage of these opportunities.” - Mr. Hendricks, teacher
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student life 15
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Meeting the goal
Pressure to fundraise increases as school year ends
livi langen
staff writer
C
ar washes. Candy fundraisers. Catalog sales. Despite the abundance of attempts made by clubs and organizations to raise money, there still remains a significant lack of funds this year. While most sports programs are able to compensate for this disadvantage through sponsorships, the arts suffer due to a decrease in donations. This has dropped the arts departments below their annual fundraising goals by over $40,000. The recently enforced ban on pay-to-play requirements in extracurricular activities and sports has caused many students to complain and worry about reaching fundraising goals for their programs. However, the pay-to-play controversy is not a new topic. In 1984, the Supreme Court ruled that “educational opportunities must be provided to all students without regard to their families’ ability or willingness to pay fees or request special waivers.” Yet 30 years later, it remains a major topic of discussion among students, parents and teachers. “I understand the rule for no pay-to-play,” ASB accounting technician Kevin Simonds said. “It’s fair in the sense that it gives students all their high school has to offer, regardless of financial situation. Students deserve an equal opportunity when it comes to extracurriculars.” There is no doubt about whether the school should ban any pay-to-play policy; students should have the ability to get involved with everything this school has to offer. The only negative aspects to this principle have to do with a few of the extracurricular departments’ financial situations. “We’re a bit behind where we need to be in terms of money,” orchestra director Ms. Hall said. “As a teacher, I feel that it’s difficult to use class time planning for trips and talking about finances, so most of our fundraising and organization has to be done outside of class. It takes a lot of time, and everybody has to get on board with the fundraising. If we don’t bring in the money we need, we get behind our goal really quickly. That’s what’s been happening this year.” While the ban on pay-to-play has it’s clear benefits, this policy leaves students overwhelmed with immense fundraising goals. A couple of years ago, students would have received a personal estimate every few months to track how much they have contributed and a suggested amount of funds to raise. The idea was that the students were not required to raise money, but encouraged to
How to help:
participate in fundraisers. “It used to be that each student was at least somewhat responsible for raising their personal goal,” senior Courtney Carterette said. “We got updates every once in a while, and we went off of those amounts to see how much we needed to raise when the next fundraising opportunity comes up. Lately, the rules for fundraising have gotten really strict, and we can only see where the entire group is as a whole, not our individual donations.” Fundraising is a substantial challenge when expenses are so costly. For example, the theatre department has an annual goal of $30,000, band has a goal of $77,000, choir has a goal of $98,000, and orchestra has a goal of $105,000. With such high comprehensive goals, students’ anxieties increase as the year comes to a close. If the money is not raised by next school year, the 2014-2015 students will suffer from the previous year’s lack in funds. “I definitely did more to fundraise when we got those personal fundraising amounts to see how much we’ve raised,” junior Jayna Wrisley said. “Around every month, everyone got an updated paper saying how much we’ve contributed to the group so it was easier to track progress. It’s harder to get to our goal as a group when there isn’t much personal accountability to raise the money.” The performing arts are particularly struggling this year, considering costly festivals, competitions, costuming and tight budgets for new instruments. But the overwhelming question lies in the morality of whether schools should require students to pay a fee in order to participate in the program of their choice. Fortunately, CHS allows students of any financial background to be involved in whatever they please. Just this year, the arts departments presented students with numerous opportunities to gain experience in their skill sets. For example, dance competed in Florida and orchestra performed in New York City. Trips like these are extremely rewarding to students, but they are very costly. “This year we had two trips instead of our usual one. Chamber orchestra went to Carnegie Hall, and that was a pretty big expense,” Hall said. “String orchestra goes to Six Flags each year. This year we were lucky enough to get some help from Carlsbad Ed Foundation to help out with our trip payments.” Despite the lack in funds this late in the school year, there have been many recent opportunities to help the arts departments. For example, voting just closed for the “Vans Custom Culture” shoe contest, where CHS’s Art Department participated in a nation-wide competition.
Band: Anybody is able to donate to help Band at chslancermusic.org. The donations go towards future trips, as well as new instruments. Theatre: The department accepts any check donations to CHS ASB. This money will be used to purchase costumes and attend festivals, like their annual Shakespeare festival DTASC Choir: The next opportunity to help out the Choir Department is their concert in the CAC May 2931. The funds made from ticket sales will help next year’s choir programs compete and perform at many venues around Southern California. Orchestra: Come see the final performance at the CAC on June 5. The ticket sales will go toward purchasing new instruments and paying for trips.
Fundraising Goals 2013-2014: theatre
band
choir
$30k $77k $98k
orchestra
$105k “In March we started decorating Vans shoes for a contest, and each pair of shoes has a different theme,” senior Jamie Heller said. “We’re raising money for the Art Department, which gets very limited funding. Our teacher Ms. Foulk buys a lot of our supplies for us, so winning the contest would be really amazing. The prize for first place includes a trip to New York and $50,000.” Just as the Art Department relied on students to vote for their program online, other departments rely on students to attend events and fundraisers. There are always new events within the arts programs which present opportunities to help the arts. “For the most part, we do fundraising by raising money at concerts,” Hall said. “We also do a big gift wrapping fundraiser at the outlet mall each year, and various events like that. Our last concert of the year is coming up, and it would be awesome to get a lot of students out to the CAC to support orchestra.” Each department seems to have a number of donation opportunities readily available to anyone who wants to help. This assistance is very welcomed among the arts departments, so every student has the ability to do what they please, without fear that money will restrict their opportunities. “As a public education system, we want to make sure every student enjoys all the aspects of their experience here, whether it’s in the classroom or extracurricular,” Simonds said. “This school has a lot of great things to offer, and it’s reassuring to many students when they know that money is not an obstacle”
student life 17
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Fandoms live long and prosper calla blawusch staff writer
F
ace-painted fans rise in unison, knocking over cheetos and hot wings as the quarterback completes an impossible pass into the endzone. At the same time, “Walking Dead” fans clap clammy hands to their foreheads, groaning in agony as one of their favorite characters gets his face eaten off. Whether it’s sports, a tv show, a movie or something else entirely, fans provide energy to the material. Without the fans, there would be no recognition for the talented artists and athletes that entertain us, and the show business would not be as prosperous as it is today. While sports are a more traditional reason to get together with friends and scream your head off, the ability to stream shows and movies on sites such as Netflix and Hulu has given rise to a new type of fan. Some roam in packs and can be spotted by their proudly displayed t-shirts. Others hide their passion, releasing their feelings by running an anonymous blog on Tumblr. Either way, these people are the driving force behind the success of whatever they devote their affections to. What would a basketball game be without a home crowd stamping their feet up and down? What use is an empty movie theater? One fan does not have much influence, but a group of fans can make a huge difference. Such is the power of fandom. Fandoms are organized subcultures born out of many people sharing a common interest. The earliest fandoms date back to the 1800s when Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts demonstrated outside Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s house in protest of the beloved detective’s “death.” Though the 1970s, media fandom began to emerge, mostly revolving around science fiction. Fans of the television series “Star Trek” began writing monthly “fanzines,” and eventually organized several fan conventions where Trekkies could meet, discuss and revel in their favorite science fiction material. “Back in the day, like in any art movement, it would be the content creators that would get together and bounce ideas off each other,” junior Yaseen Hashmi said. “Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo or in more modern times Hemingway and Salinger would get together. The content consumers or ‘fans’ were not part of the creative process. Now, because of conventions like Comic Con as well as social media sites like Twitter or Tumblr, the boundary between content creator and content consumer has blurred. That blurring is where fandom is created.” This “blurring” of boundaries is no small phenomenon. The anecdote about “The Walking Dead” and football was not hypothetical. In fact, “The Walking Dead” continuously surpassed “Sunday Night Football” in ratings in 2013, making the AMC staple the most successful cable series in television history. Known for suspenseful drama and gratuitous apocalyptic violence,
photo courtesy of lia drelleshak
Cosplayers pose at Anime Los Angeles. The annual convention is not nearly as big as Comic Con, but feautres a warm, intimate atmosphere.
“The Walking Dead” is also famous for mercilessly killing off characters. The fandom has lobbied for their favorites, especially Daryl Dixon. Compassionate and yet fabulously hardcore, Daryl has elicited widespread campaigns by the fans under the tagline, “If Daryl dies, we riot.” “What’s good about the social media aspect is that the writers take feedback and base the content on what the fans want. However, some people have gotten so caught up in this that they sort of lose touch with reality,” junior Emma Wood said. “One really ugly incident in the ‘Sherlock’ fandom was when people sent death threats to Amanda Abbington, who was going to be playing a controversial character in the upcoming series. She’s a lovely lady and most of the fans adore her, but the small percentage of the fandom that thought sending death threats was an acceptable response tainted the reputation of the entire fandom.” The extension of fan power and the relationship between artist and fandom has been hotly debated. Unfortunately, “extremists” in the fandom receive the most press coverage, overshadowing those who truly care about the content and hold it to a high standard. “‘Doctor Who’ has kind of gotten a bad reputation for some misogynistic elements and the relationship between the content creators and content consumers has allowed for a healthier discussion of what the content should be,” Hashmi said. “The fans have a voice because they don’t want to see sexism on the show and the BBC doesn’t want to be boycotted. The discussion aspect benefits all sides, whereas without a fandom, the discussion probably wouldn’t be possible.” The root of the fandom community at this point can be traced to Tumblr, where fans from all over the world can share original artwork and writing, connect with those in
their fandoms and put humorous twists on the material through GIFs and Memes. “Tumblr is basically a bunch of people all posting what they love and sharing and communicating with each other,” Wood said. “It’s not just the original content anymore. It’s inside jokes and things associated with the show that aren’t even a part of the show and it all comes together to form this unique kind of culture.” The fandoms found on and off of Tumblr can form around anything. Books, movies, celebrities, TV shows, graphic novels and even radio broadcasts are all popular sources of fandom culture. Despite stereotypes, the beauty of fandom comes from the fact that people from all walks of life participate. “A lot of people see fans as super nerdy and socially awkward, but fandom people can really be the most normal and even confident people you will ever meet,” junior Lia Drelleshak said. “I know someone who is a cheerleader who watches ‘Naruto.’ She might not talk about it a lot but when she is in the right group she will. It’s still a part of her life even if some of her friends aren’t necessarily into it.” Fandom culture can be very complex and difficult to dissect. However, the family dynamic between the fans is undeniable. The fact that so many people care, not just about their common interests, but about each other, is something truly special. “Being in a fandom is one of the best feelings,” Drelleshak said. “At conventions, if people see you are sitting alone, they will come over and talk to you. You just have this instant connection with them because you are just as excited about fandom as they are.”
Meet (Some) of the Fandoms • • • • •
Hunters (Supernatural): One of the biggest and most influential fandoms. Misha Collins is their king and they have a GIF for everything. Sherlockians (BBC Sherlock): These fans are extremely patient, seeing as the BBC produces three episodes every two years (to be fair, they are 90 minutes long). They like to “play deductions,” pick apart every single second of the show and find creative ways to survive the hiatus. Whovians (Doctor Who): One of the “vintage” fandoms, the Whovians recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. They are known to be very friendly, constantly confused and ever hopeful that they will be swept off in the T.A.R.D.I.S. to travel time and space with the Doctor. Marvel (Avengers): Whether they are fans of the original comics or stay after the credits at every movie screening, the Marvel fandom revels in the perfect casting of all of the movie characters. They secretly like Loki the most. NerdFighters (John/Hank Green): These fans are incredibly optimistic and romantic. They follow the vlogs of the Green brothers on Youtube and are awaiting a film adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. Their slogan is: Don’t forget to be awesome!
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sports 19
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
The big three making noise for the BAD-C garrett snyder
T
editor
he SoCal stilts. The Tribad trio. The triscrapers. The triple JET. The big three. Three is the magic number, and the boy volleyballers of 2014 know that all too well. On the shoulders of the seniors, 6’8 middle blocker captain Taylor Bloomquist, 6’6 setter captain Emerson Waumans and 6’4 outside hitter Jakob Karlsson, the team rides a 17-10 overall record and 10-2 league record. Ranking second in San Diego and seeking out the second CIF title in boys volleyball history, the Carlsbad team must overcome cross-town rival LCC for the San Diego championship. The three boys on the court seem to have played together their entire lives, while the truth is just the opposite. As opposed to many of the sports teams at Carlsbad, this newly formed squad did not emerge from the frosh ranks or even a grassroots club movement. Instead, the trio has been put together over the past three years with Waumans as the sole originator. The Paul Pierce many would say. “As a left-handed player, he is a nightmare for other teams, but as a teammate he is one of the best friends and mentors you could ask for,” Bloomquist said. The three-year starter grew up playing basketball and recognized his knack for volleyball after making JV his freshman year. He created buzz around the sport in his second season as expectations were set for the young player’s performance. Around Waumans, the trio took form,
first with the entrance of a newly-enrolled student who was said to have played a bit of volleyball. A move that turned out to be monumental for the program’s standing. “Jakob came in as a sophomore from Arizona and we really didn’t have another guy on the team who was a leader, but right away he really backed up his hype and became the go-to-guy,” Waumans said. The Karlsson-Waumans combination became the norm on and off the court. The two started as sophomores in every varsity game, and created a reputation for themselves with their young talent. The duo caught the attention of many colleges throughout the west coast; however, Cal-State Northridge will convert them from Lancers to Matadors in the fall. Going into their junior year, the boys’ on-court chemistry could only be outdone by their off-court friendship. “We are really lighthearted and have a very hard time getting mad at each other, which actually helps us on the court,” Waumans said. “We do tend to mess around during practice, but luckily Taylor is able to settle us down and get us refocused.” Last year’s team was in desperate need of a middle blocker when in stepped Bloomquist, the final piece of the Big Three. It was his first year on varsity and more than a few players were anxious to see how he would fit into the puzzle. “From the beginning, he filled the void, and always played with a chip on his shoulder,” Waumans said. “He has a big heart for the game and will do anything to win, his drive to be successful really pushes us.” Bloomquist leads the team with his 235 kills on the season. His presence around the league is relatively new, but the future Sacred Heart Pioneer is
turning more than a few heads with his signature double pump celebration, a sight opposing teams are seeing far too often for comfort. The two Northridge-bound boys finished on the first team all-league last year, and Bloomquist looks to join them in 2014. “I love those guys and they have helped me get a lot better in the past two years,” Bloomquist said. “They put a lot of trust in me coming in and as the seniors now we have to carry each other to get to where we want to be.”
Of course the focus remains on the season now, and the performances the big three are stringing together. However, keep an eye on the future of the team, as next year a 19’6 void will exist in the starting line-up. Not to mention three personalities which no one can hope to replicate. “All three of them are so key and can change the game in an instant,” junior Emilio Bunnell said. “We’re lucky to have them and the roles they’ll leave behind will be definitely be difficult to fill.” This year, the three came in leading the number two team in San Diego and set high expectations for the finale of their story. Those around them seek to further their goals, and whether as a teammate, coach or spectator one thing is for sure upon entrance to the gym. The three starting seniors will do all it takes to leave their mark and very little has managed to stop them. photos by jacqueline nakamura
(above)Taylor Bloomquist #10 Captain Nickname: Younqq 2 year starter Right-handed Height: 6’8 Weight: 175 Shoe size: 13 Kills: 235 Blocks: 103 Digs: 55
(right)Emerson Waumans #16 Captain Nickname: Em2Raw 3 year starter Left-handed Height: 6’6 Weight: 205 Shoe size: 14 1 year 1st team all-league Assists: 513 Blocks: 73
(above)Jakob Karlsson #5 Nickname: Dragonslayer 3 year starter Right handed Height: 6’4 Weight: 190 Shoe size: 12 2 year 1st team all-league 1st team all-CIF Kills: 185 Digs: 93
sports 21
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Carlsbad to Carthage, Durie goes to the next level natalie cortez staff writer
P
eople constantly search for passion and adrenaline, a way to express and liberate themselves either through art, acting or sports. When it comes to sports there are a variety of options, so finding a talent may prove difficult. Senior Troy Durie began his lacrosse career in middle school after he moved from Texas to California at the age of 10. He played basketball, tennis and soccer, yet none truly gave him the intensity he sought. His friend, Spencer Beyer, constantly spoke about lacrosse and eventually convinced Durie to join the Carlsbad Youth program. “I was walking up to tryouts that year and I almost turned around to quit. There were all these people that played before and I‘ve never played. My dad was like ‘C’mon I drove you out here just go play’ so I went and played. I made the All Star team in my league,” Durie said. He never heard of lacrosse prior to his residence in California, but instantly found a strong interest in the sport. Durie backed up Mark Beyer during his practices in the youth program. He shadowed him and constantly asked questions. “I picked all my coaches’ brain. I just wanted to learn everything I could and play as hard as I could every time as if it
were the last time I’d ever play,” Durie said. Once in high school, Durie joined the boys lacrosse varsity team as a freshmen. His position on the field was long pole midfielder, which gave him freedom to play both offense and defense. He constantly pushed himself to play, aware that he was up against other athletes from a higher division. Now in his senior year, Durie leads his team alongside Christian Bosley and Spencer Beyer as captains. “Troy is a hard worker and he’s very vocal. He’s a much smarter player now than when he was younger. He’s always getting [his teammates] ready to play. It’s nice to have him on our team,” Coach Demuth said. Although Durie spends six days a week on the field for two and a half hours, he maintains a 4.2 cumulative GPA. Durie has taken honors and AP classes since his freshmen year. He is the vice president of Future Voters of America, a member of Fellowship for Christian Athletes and volunteers at his church, managing a youth group of 4th to 6th graders. “I say my grades always go higher during the season because it forces you to really focus on the work since you have limited time. So actually having less time, I worked harder. I do better when I’m at that extreme focus,” Durie said. Durie confirmed his commitment to Carthage College in mid-October after he and his teammate Dylan Harris were
photo by jaquelyn nakamura
Troy Durie bolts off the line to help middie Dylan Harris fight for the ball in a faceoff against La Costa Canyon High School, contributing to CHS’s triumph.
recruited by the school in Wisconsin. They are known within their lacrosse team as ‘Carthage Next Gen’. “We’re two peas in a pod. Troy pushes me a little. He makes me work harder both on and off the field, which is good. I need that kind of push sometimes. He’s always making sure everything is okay. If I’m not having a good day, he always asks me what’s wrong and tries to keep me in a good mood. It’s always nice to have someone like that,” Harris said.
Even though lacrosse demands an intense disposition, Durie leaves his fierce attitude on the field. Because of the influence Durie has had from growing up in Texas, he leads by example and attracts others with his respectful and kind energy. “My parents always told me that you have a chance to brighten someone’s day every time you see them. So I try to do that with everyone and make them feel good,” Durie said.
Boys golf finds new drive for success madison mcmurray staff writer
F
photo by jaquelyn nakamura
Junior Reece Bryan teeing off at the Crossings golf course in a home match against El Camino High School. The second year varsity player helped lead the team to victory on April 24 in anticipation for the following match against talented rival LCC.
ocus. Although we as students are instructed this daily, all of the distractions circulating around us prove focusing to be quite the challenge. For every varsity boys golf member though, the ability to clear one’s mind remains imperative in order to win. With tryouts taking place about two months ago, golf season is in full swing. Committed to excellence, the boys golf team dedicates numerous hours to mastering its technique—many of the members practice full nine hole rounds in their free time. Repeatedly training in every sort of medium prepares them for every match. “Physically our practices consist of many drills. We’ll do drills where they take puts from three feet and they’ll have
to make 50 three-footers in a row,” coach of varsity boys golf, Jason Puterbaugh said. “Often times we end practices with a team put, where we’ll pick a four or five foot put and they all have to make it in a row before they can leave.” Any advancement in this sport demands mental strength, as high scores distract any golfer’s concentration. Success requires the control to rid oneself of such thoughts. “There’s more to just golf. Some kids get very focused on just playing golf, the scores or shooting, and that ends up hurting them in the long run,” Puterbaugh said. Only one loss so far, the boys golf team is taking full advantage of its season, even winning against competitor Cathedral Catholic High School. The team’s course set straight for CIF and hopefully regionals, the team continues to work on its mental stability.
“Stay focused on what you have to do: the task at hand,” junior and varsity boys golf member, Reece Bryan said. “You have to forget your past holes and worry about what hole you’re on now or what’s coming up next.” Differing from last year’s team, three freshmen secured spots on varsity which has affected the team’s cohesiveness. After routinely practicing together though, their understanding for each other’s abilities developed. Focusing on every minor technique, they worked together to fortify their team and their chances at CIF. “I called them fire and ice in the beginning, because they could be really good, and then they could be completely cold,” Puterbaugh said. On their own, the team constantly trains physically and mentally; many of them golf independently, participating
in tournaments during their off-season. But dedication mandates levelheadedness; understanding that one bad hole or bad swing does not define an entire round or even an entire season. This understanding comes with the knowledge that mental and physical improvement requires constant self-assessment. Each player is responsible for how they perform under pressure. “It’s an individual sport: the only person you can blame is yourself,” freshman Cullen Plousha said. As the boys head into CIF and regionals, they are aware of their weaknesses, physical and mental, improving on them to hopefully bring home a trophy. “It’s just managing time. Once we get everything figured out and we’re in the moment, we get that adrenaline running—that’s when we play up to our potential,” Bryan said.
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Only 200 Left!! Prices will go up to $95 June 1 and will sell out ($90 w/ASB sticker) Purchase your yearbook on the CHS webstore or at the ASB Window
Lancer Express would Intro: like to thank its generous David Dohl Robin Tarr 2013-2014 donors! Sara Sands Purple:
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sports 23
lancer express, volume 27, issue 7
Spring sports complete a bee-sy season
A
s the school year comes to an end, spring sports conclude their seasons as the CIF season opens up. Track and field ended their season undefeated and became league champions. Boys lacrosse ended their season with a 10-5 record while baseball finished with a league record of 19-7. Softball and girls lacrosse managed to place third and fourth in their division respectively. Boys volleyball maintains a 17-10 overall
1
record and boys golf attained a 12-9 record. Boys tennis earns a 11-5 record and swim and dive prepare for their next meet against Fallbrook on May 14. CH bids farewell to graduating seniors who worked in order to make their last games and season something to remember; meanwhile returning Lancers begin to train for the next season.
photo by mikayla ferraro
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photo by elise chen
4
3
photo by jacquelyn nakamura
1. Senior Kyle Mendenhall hits a double into the right center gap that drives in two runs against El Camino. The Lancers defeat the El Camino Wildcats 6-0 on May 6 at the CHS baseball field. Baseball’s next away game is on May 12 against La Costa Canyon. 2. On May 2, junior Juliana McDonald pitches against El Camino. Unfortunately, girls softball lost to El Camino 1-0 at the El Camino softball field. The Lancers will be playing against Rancho Buena Vista on May 14 at CHS. 3. Lancer defender David Manning blows by a La Costa Canyon attacker while trying to clear the ball. The Lancers will play a home game again on Friday May 16 against San Marcos High School. 4. Senior Kevin Freeman comes around the 200 mark during the mile on April 24. In the end, he finished third with a time of 4:30.96. The post season begins on Tue. May 13 with Avocado West Prelims at El Camino High School.
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photo by kyle veidt
24 lancer in the crowd
Gaining a worldly perspective
may 2014
Tamayo turns the table on typical teaching tyra wu savannah wardle staff writers
A
s soon as a student walks into 8202, they are struck with the vibrant hues of red and orange. The walls are lined with flags from past travels, exotic landscapes and pictures of foreign faces. Vicente Tamayo’s passion for travel is evident in his demeanor. His eyes light up and he leans forward, engaging and transporting his listener to places across the globe. Tamayo, a world history teacher, went to Carlsbad himself and has taught here for eight years. Although teaching was not always part of his plan, his passion for AVID eventually led him to become an educator. “At first, it didn’t cross my mind when I was in high school. But then I started working with AVID at Buena Vista and Lincoln Middle School in Oceanside and I realized I wasn’t making much money like my friends were, but I was happy,” Tamayo said. With a general career idea in mind, Tamayo had yet to choose a subject. Regardless, he knew that he loved engaging and talking with students. A childhood memory eventually set him in the right direction. “I remembered a show I used to watch in middle and elementary school called the Wonder Years. It was a show that would always have a historical background to it and then tell the life of a kid during the 60s and 70s. I really liked that, so then I started pursuing history,” Tamayo said. Samantha Avalos, a former student, credits his teaching style as the quality that makes Tamayo one of her favorite teachers she’s had in her high school career. “He really gets to know us as students and we really get to know him as a teacher which builds a really good relationship,” Avalos said. “When you like the teacher you tend to learn more and really pay attention in class instead of sitting there bored out of your mind.” Aside from teaching, Tamayo also enjoys traveling and sports. Since college, traveling has become a major part of his life. Over the years, Tamayo has traveled to more than thirty countries. Unlike the typical traveler, Tamayo seeks to avoid tourist attractions and prefers to venture into more obscure destinations. “I love to travel, but I like to claim my type of traveling is different from other people’s. I hate tours. I’m one who just gets to a city and then just starts to explore the subways,” Tamayo said. “My traveling is a bit more on the rugged side, which is really cool because the food is better, the people are better and you see a lot more [culture].”
Of the countries Tamayo has been to, his favorites include Cuba for the difference in its politics, Bolivia for its people and China for its history. He is particularly fond of Japan because of its peaceful environment. “I love Japanese. Everything about the characters and how polite they are. No one’s really yelling at you. If you go elsewhere, everything is explosive but in Tokyo, it’s calm,” Tamayo said. From speaking to people of different cultures, Tamayo has formed a better understanding of how America is perceived as well as our perception of the rest of the world. “Americans look at other countries and judge without information. We automatically label them as a third world country. Other countries hear about America’s TV, politics, and sports, then make judgments about us. We don’t know much about their country yet we still form opinions,” Tamayo said. When asked about his most unique experiences, Tamayo claims it is less about the events and more about the people he interacts with. He gains more insight from approaching the natives in town plazas and listening to their story. “I gain more from someone whose parents and grandparents have lived there and walk past the statues and buildings everyday rather than a tour guide who tries to make the city look good,” Tamayo said. For those interested in gaining a new perspective from travel, Tamayo shares a few pieces of advice. Oftentimes eager tourists are easy targets for scams and swindling. Over his years of traveling, he has gained a few methods to avoid these situations. “A good strategy that I have is when you get out of the airport, let the dust settle and act like you’ve been there before,” Tamayo said. “Let the other tourists get sucked into the one taxi that’ll charge them $15 and take them around and lose them.” Tamayo prefers to travel alone because of his unconventional itinerary. He takes frequent naps in order to experience both the day life and nightlife. Because some people may not feel comfortable traveling to foreign countries alone, he does, however, recognize the benefit of having a travel partner. “It’s okay to go with a buddy, but that doesn’t mean you’re gonna spend the whole time with your buddy. Spend the day alone and then meet up at night,” Tamayo said. Above all else, Tamayo recommends “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. Although many travelers feel uncomfortable in other countries, Tamayo points out the flaw in that mentality. He believes that Coelho’s novel gives the open
photo courtesy of Vicente Tamayo
Tamayo in Machu Picchu , Peru, one of the new seven wonders of the world. Since college, Tamayo has visited over 30 countries and is currently planning a trip through Mexico.
mind necessary for delving into other cultures. “It’s a divine book and talks about everything you need to know,” Tamayo said. “In short, don’t be naive but trust in others. There are very good people out there.” Tamayo admits that his ventures are not always directly applicable to his world history classes. However, Mrs. Hachigian, a fellow World History teacher, believes that his travels help him retain the attention of easily distracted students. “To be a good teacher it really comes from within. A great teacher can be a great teacher even if they’ve never set foot on foreign soil, but I think he has both advantages,” Hachigian said. “He’s a good teacher naturally, and because he travels, he’s able to grab the attention of the kids so
he can teach them his experiences.” Even with the stress that comes with teaching 200 plus students, Tamayo maintains his optimism. “It seems like nothing could bring him down, even if he does get mad, he still lets it go. His attitude is very positive,” Hachigian said. “Certainly as a colleague you appreciate it if you’re feeling a little stressed out.” Above all else, it is the principle passion for exploration that he tries to relate to his students. Sometimes people get so caught up in the minute details that they fail to recognize difference in peoples’ values. “Not everyone likes what we like, not everyone appreciates what we appreciate,” Tamayo said. “We should realize that people have passion for other things that we’re not necessarily passionate about.”