The Paw Print May 2017 by The Paw Print

THE PAW PRINT May 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 4

send-off rally pg. 1 senior features pg. 2 prom pg. 12 reflections pg. 24

CONTENTS

2 13

news editors Raylene Factora Erica Gillespie news writers Ryan Factora Jaesung Park features editors Jacqueline Hofmann Min Ju Kang features writers Kulsoom Hasan Angelina Hernandez Hannah Kim Alina Truong Alyssa Truong Sydney Young Siena Zarrell centerspread editors Sarah Castillo Megan Chang opinions editors Samantha Hartung Ga Min Kim opinions writers Zoey Greenwald Skijler Hutson Minjoon Kang column editor Jong Hak Won sports editors Bryce Fenenbock Sarah Ziskind sports writers Harneet Arora Jasleen Arora a&e editors Erica Lee Kiana Quick a&e writers Allison Alben Aerin Choi Grace Foster Christine Joo Audrey Kim Mary Waugh copy editors Mina Jang Andy Song web editor Lauren Lee web editor in chief Morgan Smith editor in chiefs Jaeun Park Riley Villiers-Furze advisor Mrs. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shea

letter to the editors Thanks to the seniors for another successful year. This oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for you guys. Now hurry up and leave so we can run things. With love, Kiana Quick and Min Ju Kang

it’s time for our SENIOR class to SEND-OFF Story by Jaeun Park Photos by Erica Lee & Jaeun Park Layout by Jaeun Park

(From top to bottom, left to right) Seniors cheering and clapping to demonstrate their school spirit during their last rally cheer. Seniors Chase Smith, Sean Murphy, Shawn Orlanes, and Joshua Verbeck pose while waiting for the show to begin.

On April 21, seniors crammed onto the away side of the gym to be “sentoff” to their futures beyond high school. The cheer team, followed by the always talented dance team and hip hop team made appearances at the rally, like all the other rallies. During the hip hop performance, senior Jordan Rosales dazzled the crowd with incredibly flexible moves after an audio malfunction cut the performance short. However, interspersed throughout the rally was seniors putting items into a time capsule, to be opened in ten years. Almost all groups on the West Ranch campus, from ASB kids to our valedictorian Ryan Yoo to representatives from the Gay Straight Alliance were represented during the ceremony. Ryan Yoo, after a ten second applause break, placed pajama pants into the time capsule. “After an all-nighter,” Yoo said, rationalizing the item, “It’s nice not having to change before you go to school.” Other items included in the time capsule were polaroids and photos of the senior class, an SD card with all of the WRTV intros from the four years, a coffee cup used by Kailey Clark, and cleats from some of West Ranch’s athletes including Timmy Josten. “I had looked forward to seeing what people put into the time capsule, and learning what made a difference to them,” said Carson Bartholomew, senior and member of ASB. At the end of the rally, the students were treated to a great surprise -- faculty members of West Ranch streaming out, donning fairy wings and dancing. All in all, it was a great way to say goodbye.

SENIOR FEATURES In these next few pages you’ll find some of the students we have yet to feature, and trust me, we have saved the best for last. You’ve probably seen these kids around campus and it’s truly a shame we haven’t gotten to them sooner. On each page you’ll find students from all different parts of campus; we have the most down-to-earth musician, a pair of tennis stars, filmmakers, a vegan with a passion for helping people, a future doctor inspired by a personal experience, social media royalty, and twins who are polar opposites. These features not only showcase them as individuals, but their experiences as well. Everyone in these pages has a story, or in some cases, multiple stories to tell. So sit back, relax, reminisce and get to know a little bit more about the people you’ve seen walking these concrete floors for the last four years. Story by Riley Villiers-Furze Photos by Paw Print Staff Layout by Erica Lee

DOUBLE the

TROUBLE

Story by Riley Villiers-Furze Photo by Jaeun Park Layout by Erica Lee

Connor Williams and Skyler Brigmann do not act like friends. They bicker constantly and sometimes argue to the point of yelling. They make fun of each other. They’re both incredibly stubborn and disagree more often than not: They fight over the framing of shots, the dialogue of a script, the location. They even spent this entire interview arguing over their memories together. “Is there a friendship?” Connor jokes at one point. They are like an old married couple; they each have a talent of getting on each other’s nerves. It’s this argumentative nature, however, that has brought them closer. “I actually like that we argue. The fact that we argue actually produces better ideas because you each want the best content, so you have to argue for your case. It’s definitely clear to say that all the videos we’ve worked together on have been a culmination of different arguments that in the end produced what we both thought would be the best,” says Skyler. The arguing wasn’t always productive, according to Connor. “For the first thing we worked on, the arguing didn’t go very well. I would yell something out, and he would passively agree. And I would be like, ‘Well no, that’s not right,’ because it sounded like I was making sure that I wanted something that specific way, but when I yell something out, I want someone to slap me back and say, ‘No, idiot, we are

going to do it this way.’ We learned how to argue, I think,” says Connor. They balance each other out in a way that only best friends know how to do. Where Connor likes to be organized and plan every second of every shoot, Skyler is mellower and has more of a live-in-the-moment personality. They fight because they know what each other are capable of and for that reason expect only the best work. Connor and Skyler love to hate working with each other, but at the end of the day, there’s no one Connor respects more and wants to work with more than Skyler and vice versa. “He’s very good at what he does. I remember at one point I was so paranoid — this is going to be so sappy — I just remember thinking, ‘When is he going to figure out that he is too good to be working with me?’ And I was always waiting for that day to happen way back when we first started working together. I just thought he’d realize one of these days he wouldn’t need me anymore,” admits Connor. It seems odd that people this different and sometimes combative have as close of a relationship that they do. The bizarre and unconventional nature of their friendship is something straight out of a romantic comedy. Let’s hope they get their happily ever after as well.

THE

DIFFERENT SIDES

Munoz OF

Story by Grace Foster & Morgan Smith Layout and Photo by Erica Lee She is the founder of the impactful To Write Love on Her Arms club at West Ranch, a regular volunteer at the homeless shelter, and an advocate for protecting the environment. Senior Claire Munoz is known as a caring person to most. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit American organization aimed to help those battling mental illness and addiction. In her sophomore year, Claire decided to bring this impactful organization to West Ranch by starting a club of the same name. “There wasn’t a club like this on campus

before and mental health is something that affects a lot of us as young people, so I thought it was really important that we address it and talk about it,” said Claire. The club focuses on posting positive and uplifting messages on social media and spreading mental health awareness around school. “I’ve learned that by sharing my story and by starting the conversation about mental health, people feel comfortable enough to talk about their own struggles,” said Claire. “Sharing is an important part of the healing process. I want students to know that there is help available to them if they need it and there is no weakness in asking for it.” Along with mental health, Claire is very environmentally conscious. Recycling, water conservation, and especially veganism are all important ways that Claire tries to do her part to protect the planet. Claire first went vegan at the beginning of 2016. Her interest was sparked by AP Environmental Science here at West Ranch. She admits to not knowing much in the beginning, but knew she wanted to make the switch and began to educate herself on being vegan. “You reduce your carbon footprint when you cut out meat and those dairy sources,” said Claire.

Previously a vegetarian, meat was already out of the picture, so she immediately began with cutting dairy for her diet. Claire educated herself with a variety of literature and documentaries. She recommends “How Not to Die” by Michael Gregor and films like “Cowspiracy” and “Forks Over Knives.” “At first it was a difficult adjustment, but I would say after around two months I educated myself and I really got into it and it became easy for me,” said Claire. Claire didn’t just make this life adjustment for herself but because she knew this personal choice was beneficial to the environment. “I want to cause as less damage to the planet as I can and less harm to other living beings,” said Claire. Claire plans to keep up her vegan lifestyle after high school and in college. She will continue her education at College of the Canyons for a year before transferring to a university and continue working at the Nekter Juice Bar between Hook Burger and Presto Pasta in Valencia. “It’s a hard balance but I always have to remember I do have to get my sleep and I just try my best to figure it out. I always make it work but sometimes it’s difficult. But it’s senior year I’m trying to enjoy myself.”

the

REAL

campos franco Story by Morgan Smith Layout and Photo by Erica Lee

“Y

ou can give me a project that’s due in two months, I’ll do it in the first week.” How many of us have ever made a statement like this in hopes of getting our work done on time? And of that few how many would actually follow through with it? Senior Jorge Campos Franco has turned this statement into a principle that he follows. Jorge is able to make time for what he enjoys: recreational football, volunteering, computer science -- even with a rigorous class schedule as an AP student. Some of his friends think otherwise. “He works too hard for himself,” said senior Angelo Ramos. “I would like him to hang out with us more outside and relax a bit, but instead he’s studying for the MCAT already.” The love and camaraderie is apparent among Jorge’s friends by spending just one brunch period with them by the 300 building benches. Some, like Aman Thakur, have known Jorge since he first moved to Stevenson Ranch in the fifth grade. “He’s really funny and messes around a lot, so looking at him you wouldn’t really peg him as such a diligent student,” said Aman. “ I’ve learned a lot from him over the years and am glad I got to know him from such an early age.”

Likewise, Jorge picked up a few things from his friends, like computer science. While his friends began to upload apps they created to the Google Play store, he got bit by the coding bug and started to explore programming like Java. “It’s another language, it’s something you’re going to have to know in the future,” said Jorge. Even after coming to America with just a high school degree, Jorge’s father is

“Thinking your dream

school believes in you, that they’re going to give you a scholarship is incredible.”

just as successful a businessman as he is a dad. “If he was able to take on everything he went through, with the opportunities I have now being able to go to college, I can easily take on the medical field and the medical track and be anything I want to be.” Although Jorge developed an independent and explorative entrepreneurial spirit from his father, he admits that his father is the type of

person to get things done last minute. It can only be concluded that Jorge’s work ethic wasn’t something that was inherited, but an intrinsic rhythm of structure. Jorge is someone who is shaped but not deterred by his circumstances. When he was younger, his older sister Elisa, West Ranch alumni, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. While constantly visiting the Children’s Hospital after school, it became his second home. This experience is what influenced Jorge to want to become a neurosurgeon and go into the field of oncology. “What the doctors did for my sister was what really inspired me,” said Jorge. Currently he serves as the copresident for Wild Cats Against Cancer, a great start to the incredibly rough journey ahead of him. The MCAT. Medical School. Residency. Fellowship. The route Jorge wishes to pursue is attempted by few, but there is no doubt that attending USC will prepare him to be successful. He will attend this fall as a merit scholar with a full scholarship majoring in Human Biology with a minor is healthcare studies and computer science. “I didn’t think I would qualify for it, and when I did I knew I was going to take it,” said Jorge.

JUST Another STAR Story by Audrey Kim Photos by Audrey Kim & Erica Lee Layout by Erica Lee

You can find her walking around campus with a lacrosse stick in hand or whipping out her phone to film a new segment for her Snapchat story. From hair-dressing her dog to pulling off crazy shenanigans with her teammates, Audra Kim has made the most out of her busy life by recording it for the entertainment of her followers. Her personality has made a positive impact on many people through various social media outlets. “I started getting a lot of buzz for my snapchat stories. I’d do segments like ‘Cooking with Audra’ or ‘X Games.’ I just record the random things I do and put it all up. Random people started recognizing me around, and it was hype. On Instagram, I did promos for small businesses and charities who featured me back. It’s really awesome having a large following base because I get a lot of free food and swag for posting. Overall, I really just enjoy networking and making connections … meeting and talking to new people.” She was able to create and manage her image, despite having to move across the country to a completely new environment during her junior year. Lacrosse remained a constant in her life, but the vibe of Santa Clarita took some getting used to. “I moved from NoVA (Northern Virginia

right outside of DC) during the summer. Moving across the coast was pretty crazy but even crazier was that my fam became bicoastal since I moved out with just my dad. Transition-wise, it was tough because NoVA has its own special lingo, which is like a whole another language and no one else understands it. Like if I said “peel on three” here no one else would know it meant to ditch.

“Cow tipping has a good chance of being checked off my bucket list there.” But now I’m fluent in NoVA, Cali and the English language. The biggest bummer for me was not being able to find any country stations on the radio here.” Although Audra spends a lot of time on the lacrosse field, she is able to fill her free time with activities that she cares about and some much-needed lounging like any other high schooler. “I like playing guitar and singing really loud. I like writing songs, but I don’t do it in my free time I do it during school. I also like running mucks and making Snapchat stories. I video pretty much everything I do. I love having rip seshes … I take my lacrosse stick everywhere. Whenever I can, I get a homie and we

go on either side of the street and throw the ball back and forth over cars as they go by. I like being active, but I also like laying around all day on my phone scrolling through twitter and eating chips.” Audra’s hard work and dedication to her sport gave her the opportunity during her junior year to commit UC Davis as a Division I athlete for lacrosse. She is planning on majoring in communications and pursuing business in the future. UC Davis offered her more than just academic and athletic pros which made her decision easy. “I want to learn how to milk a cow, but I have a feeling I’ll learn how to do it at UC Davis, even though I’m majoring in Communications and not cow milking.

GARCIA THE

TWINS

Story by Alison Alben & Mary Waugh Layout and Photo by Erica Lee

Twins are always together, always going to the same school, and there’s always a chance of being called the wrong name. This is the life of Jovan and Koby Garcia: identical twins who will be attending University of California, Irvine in the fall. Jovan hopes to become a Registered Nurse and attend another program to become a nurse necitist, while Koby hopes to go into the field of biomedical engineering. Though both were aware the other was applying to UCI, neither hoped to go to the same college. “I have always been interested in engineering, and I wanted to go into making prosthetics. So I figured that biomedical engineering was the choice for me,” Koby said. Though his brother is interested in one aspect of the medical field, Jovan plans to go into another. “I knew that I always wanted to do something in the medical field; at first I wanted to be a plastic surgeon, but then I realized how much school that was actually going to be,” said Jovan. After some research and influence

from peers, Jovan was able to commit to a specific major. “My friend’s mom is a nurse necitist, so she just basically influenced my decision,” said Jovan. The two have been together since elementary school, and it seems that they’ll be stuck with each other for a few more years. However, when they did find out the news of their futures, neither Koby nor Jovan actually celebrated committing to the same school. “I found out when he told our mom. I was kind of disappointed; I wanted us to go to different colleges. Our mom definitely celebrated, but not us.” In fact, they would have rather gone separate ways. Both Koby and Jovan were originally deciding between the same two schools, and it just so happened that they chose the same. Neither directly told each other that they got in. Rather than hearing from each other, the Garcia’s friends revealed the news. “I submitted my SRI to UCI, and the next day when everyone asked where I submitted and responded UCI, they were like ‘Wait, you’re going to the

same school as Koby?’ My only response was, ‘Oh, he submitted too?’” Jovan stated. Jovan was shockingly surprised since he was 90 percent sure that Koby was going to UCSD. In actuality, Koby chose to go to UCI because of the extra financial aid they offered. The two have concluded that they will not be rooming together in order to meet new people. “We roomed our entire lives, and it’s time to do something different, grow apart from each other a little bit,” said Koby, making sure to emphasize the apart. His brother agreed. “We’re going to try to meet new people and everything, but we will still stay in contact for sure,” said Jovan. As Jovan said, they have similar majors, so they’ll more likely than not be seeing each other on campus. The Garcia twins plan on furthering their education. After Jovan completes his undergraduate and graduate program, he plans to intern at UCI’s hospital. Once Koby finishes college, he wants to go into making prosthetics.

NOBLE

MAN

Story and Photo by Jong Hak Won Layout by Erica Lee

Senior violist, David Noble, is not only possibly the nicest guy at West Ranch, he also has the funniest jokes, the quickest wit, the most insightful and attentive responses, and he’s a musician. But sorry ladies, he’s taken. Still, that doesn’t mean that we can’t dissect this man, so let’s dive in. Noble has played viola for the West Ranch orchestra for four years, but he has also played for an outside string quartet. “I started with violin, but I felt that the field was really overcrowded with violins, and I had a feeling that I’d be presented with a lot more opportunities if I learned to pick up the viola, and it did,” said David. The viola is usually a forgotten

instrument since most people can’t physically tell it apart from a violin. In the orchestra at West Ranch, it’s only David and three other players who play the viola compared to over almost a dozen violinists. And when the rest of the orchestra is off track on a piece, David is also one of the few players who wasn’t responsible for the cacophony. “Being a violist, I was more in demand for different groups. It allowed me to join a string quartet,” said David. “Being in a string quartet, we made it into a tour of the East Coast, and we got to have a set of master classes and perform a concert in Carnegie Hall. If I didn’t do viola, I probably wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity.” However, the benefits of being in a

quartet extended beyond just a trip to Carnegie Hall. Because for David, simply learning to play the notes in front of him just isn’t enough. “In an orchestra, you rehearse with a conductor, and the conductor has a very clear image of how he wants the music,” said David. “Whereas when you’re in a quartet, each of you has your own vision, and you combine that and experiment with it in order to create your own sound.” It is that experimentation with music that he seems to enjoy more than anything else. At orchestra rehearsal, David is completely honed into what he’s playing, as if he’s already thinking about how the piece he’s playing could be modified and experimented with. “All of art and music is experimentation. Almost everything you do with music, whether it be practicing, rehearsing, performing, it’s experimentation, and finding your own voice, your own sound and taking a piece of work that was written and making it your own.” And that philosophy of experimentation and breaking from the set norms of a musical piece spill over into his own personal taste in music. When he mentioned his favoritism toward Impressionist music he said it was because “that’s when they were sort of breaking free from the really strict structures and rules from the classical period and really experimenting with composition and creating these new sounds and colors.” However, access to this kind of opportunity in a string quartet requires a distinct harmony amongst group members. What time practices should be held at, at what place, how often, what pieces they should play, what modifications to pieces need to be made, and what concerts to play, are just some of the things they need to all agree upon. “Generally, we were able to hold together pretty well. We were good friends, and I knew a lot of other groups that weren’t good friends. When you’re not as good friends, it creates a lot of tension and that spills into the music. You can tell when a group doesn’t like each other in the music because there’s a lot of conflicting ideas and sounds going on.”

Noah Morrow and Quincy Walter-Eze have spent half of their tennis careers together, so it’s not a shock that they have such a strong connection on and off the court. Noah and Quincy, or “Q” as Morrow calls him, are like stereotypical best friends, but turned up to the max. Anyone who sits down with them for even one minute can see how strong their friendship truly is. When one laughs, the other laughs with him. When one is sad, the other is there comforting him. It is like their happiness depends on each other. “He’s probably the one person that can make me laugh all the time. High school would not have been the same without Q,” says Noah. It’s funny though. Sometimes friends that know each other very well find it difficult to work together. This is not even close to the case for Noah and Quincy. They play with ease on the court having never lost a league game together. “We have such a good time on the court. Our chemistry is just perfect. It’s just so much fun to play with Q. We literally laugh during the match. The other teams get annoyed because we’re having such a good time on the other side, and they’re stressing out. Sometimes we don’t even know why we’re laughing; we’ll just look at each other and start cracking up,” says Noah. It’s no wonder they crack each other up on the tennis court. Their numerous inside jokes had them laughing just talking about them during the interview. “One time I walked into class, and one of the light covers was hanging off the ceiling. I saw it but didn’t really think anything if it. I went over to my seat, and

nothing but

LOVE

my teacher had seen me and she goes ‘Quincy did you touch the light?’ and I said ‘No, I didn’t,’ and she responded, ‘Yea, you did.’ So anytime someone says that they didn’t do something, we respond ‘Yea, you did,’” says Quincy causing Noah to fall into a fit of deep belly laughter. Not only do they make each other laugh, but they make everyone else laugh around them. During this interview they had me laughing right along with them. As Noah’s eyes would crinkle and Quincy’s deep voice became an ever deeper laugh, I would find myself lost in laughter. They’re happy people that make everyone else as happy as they are too. “Every moment is so fun. All our moments are a great time,” says Noah. These two are the true definition of

soulmates. Quincy and Noah may have known each for only five years, but with their connection, it seems like they have known each other their entire lives. They are so close in fact that they have plans to attend the University of Redlands together and continue playing tennis. “We’ll stay friends probably forever. We’ll probably room together and just reminisce on all the fun times we have had,” says Quincy. Many people say that will remain friends after high school, but it is very evident with these two that they definitely will. Their friendship is unbreakable, and in fact, they’ve only had one fight that was resolved quickly. It’s hard to find a more perfect pair than Noah and Quincy. Story and Photo by Riley Villiers-Furze Layout by Erica Lee

Jenny

from

the

BLOCK

Story and Photo by Sarah Castillo Layout by Erica Lee

As the sun starts to peak over the horizon on a chilled Saturday morning, the sounds of rushing pool water break the silence of dawn. Across the pool, one captain can be heard cheering on her teammates even louder than the rest. Despite the early morning, she keeps morale high with her dry jokes and positive support. While most West Ranch seniors relish the weekend as a time of sleeping in, senior Jennifer Wong dedicates the extra hours she could be sleeping to something bigger than herself: swim. Jennifer has been an integral component of the West Ranch swim team, swimming varsity for all four years of her high school career. Jennifer has been swimming at the Canyon Aquatics Club for all 12 years of her swim career, and still manages to dedicate just as much effort into West Ranch’s varsity swim team, all while balancing her rigorous AP and honors schedule. It’s hard to believe how much work she invests into her sport and her team. Perhaps it is her self-sacrificing mentality that earned her one of the coveted West Ranch swim captain positions. “The team knew that I put them before myself, and that I would do everything I could so that they would have the best season possible,” said Jennifer. “I believe that a captain should be

an example for the team, and that’s my form of leadership. Leading by example.” For Jennifer, her high school experience is one of the major factors influencing her to dive into her swim career at Seattle University this fall. “Sophomore season, I just fell in love with the team atmosphere at West Ranch. I knew I wanted to continue that in college. I loved the school, and I loved the team when I met them,” said Jennifer. “I’m looking forward to train at a higher level with my college team.” However, Jennifer’s plans do not stop at college swim. She hopes to use the knowledge she’s gained throughout her swim career to study sport and exercise science and help athletes like her. “I’m really fascinated by the subject. In my last two years with West Ranch swimming, I started coaching some of the other high school kids. I was helping them with injuries, injury prevention, and also technique. That’s what made me want to go into sport and exercise science,” said Jennifer. Aside from her hustle in swim, her various athletic accomplishments, and impressive academic pursuits, she ultimately remains, at her core, a good friend and a good teammate. “She’s never negative,” said one of

Jennifer’s closest friends, senior Megan Ruff. “She’s definitely sarcastic, but she always has a uniqueness to her that always brings a different vibe. She’s an awesome leader. She always knows how to take charge and I think she knows how to please everybody, but get the job done.” As Jennifer continues to pursue swimming in college, it is apparent her combination of hard work, care for others, and genuine personality has her destined for greatness. As for the teammates she’s leaving behind, she has one final piece of advice. “Have fun when you’re swimming, if not, there’s no point in doing it.”

PROM 2017 Story by Kulsoom Hasan Photos by Kulsoom Hasan Layout by Jaeun Park On April 29, West Ranch seniors gathered in excitement for one of the major highlights of high school: prom. After hours of preparation for this special night, West Ranch upperclassmen and their dates graced the red carpet on their way to the busses that would take them to the night of their lives. Upon arriving at the Gene Autry Museum, students were served dinner and lead to the dance floor, where a DJ and a slew of flashing colored lights entertained the cheering, dancing crowd.

P O

R M

2017 West Ranch High School students slow dancing after the crowning of Prom King and Queen.

romenade

One hallowed prom tradition is the promenade, when promgoers can prance their dazzling dresses and sharp suits down a red carpet in front of a crowd of well-wishers.

(Clockwise) Seniors Darren Chang and his date Alison Park walk across the amphitheater together. Seniors Katelyn Thompson and Shannon McGrory walking together toward a night of fun and memories. Senior Adira Kruayatidee and her date McKellan Cook strutting down the carpet together. Young Kim and Sally Gu show off their stylish attire.

PROM 2017

the d a n c e

â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I enjoyed the most about prom was just going crazy on the dance floor with all my friends from elementary school. Everyone jumping up and down, laughing and smiling; it was a great way to mark the beginning of the end of high school. Forks up,â&#x20AC;? said senior Suren Aghazadian.

PROM 2017 After being crowned Prom Queen, senior Maya Evans basks in joy. Cheerleading captain and fellow senior Kailey Clark congratulates her with a big hug as other girls lavish their adorations onto Evans. In the bottom left, Prom King Chris Kodoma is being similarly embraced with congratulations.

“When Maya was crowned it was as if everything fell into place. I couldn’t think of anyone who deserved the title more,” said Liesl Block, one of the Prom Princesses.

this is OUR time footloose

“It’s something I will always remember and it was one of the best nights of my life.” Chris Kodama, 2017 Prom King

PROM 2017 At midnight, as students were loaded back onto the charter busses that would take them home, they left not only with their friends and dates, but also with the lasting memories they would cherish forever.

(Above) Prom attendees filing upstairs, off the dance floor as the party begins winding down to a close.

Story by Raylene Factora Photos by Jaeun Park Layout by Sarah Castillo

Nawal Khan

PSYCHOLOGY

I think going to COC is more beneficial than going to another college because you have a lot more time in deciding on what you want to do in the future, and for me personally I chose COC over any other college because I don’t think I am that prepared enough to be thrown into an academically competitive environment my first year of college. I think it’ll also help me because I’ll have time to focus on finding an internship through a COC program for my specific field of study.

Nathan Gonzalez

COMPUTER SCIENCE

COC is approximately 1.2 miles from my house, so I can practically walk there. Also, in terms of food and clothing, I think I can save more money because I can walk home and eat lunch. I don’t think I will spend too much money eating at the college. I am looking forward to learning and preparing myself for a new career. I feel excited but also a little scared because it’s something new and I don’t know what to expect. Overall, I think it will be a good experience.

Alyson Chin

COMMUNICATIONS

I decided to go because I didn’t really love any schools I got accepted to and just wanted to transfer to another school that I knew I loved. I’m not sure specifically what job I want but I feel like there are quite a few viable options with my major. I think attending College of the Canyons will definitely help save money right now for the future so I won’t be in too much debt like most college students.

Story, Photos, and Layout by Sarah Castillo

Michael Haggenmiller

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

I was very excited: had a little happy dance. I really loved the camaraderie that was present on campus. You know everyone is really passionate about the school and what they were doing. And so that was a big sell for me. I hope it expands my horizons. I really hope it helps open my eyes to new experiences and new opportunities that I can take advantage of. It’s such a global campus. The diversity there is incredible and so I really hope I learn a lot and keep my mind open to all new possibilities.

Adira Kruayatidee

BIOCHEMISTRY AND GLOBAL STUDIES

Obviously I was in shock. It’s one of the most applied to schools in the nation. I think [I got accepted] because of all the things I did outside of academics. I’ve done a lot of social activism work and cheer. I’m looking forward to being in an environment where kids are as equally motivated to be changemakers, innovators, activists, whatever that may be for them. I hope that UCLA will help me find what I’m passionate about and be the change I wish to see, whatever field I may be in.

Christopher Phorn

COMPUTER SCIENCE

It was very surreal. It never really hit me; I was in shock for a long time until I actually visited the campus on their engineering open house. UCLA was always my number one choice. You don’t get this kind of combination of price, good academics, research opportunities, beautiful campus, and diverse community at any other campus. I know it will be very challenging, especially in the school of engineering, but I’m looking forward to it.

Navid Zaman

HUMAN BIOLOGY

Overall it’s a great school; it’s a private school so they really help advise you to get into graduate school. I’m looking forward the football games and going to all the sporting events and just having a good time and the academics.

Irene Lee

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

One of the biggest influencing factors was that I was accepted into the freshman science honors program, which only about 60 people get into, so classes are very small. Because USC is private, it feels like you’re in a more tight-knit community. You can definitely be in a class with less people; professors will probably know your name without you having to try too hard. I hope USC makes me more of an outgoing person, makes me have good relationships with professors, and probably have a good network with a lot of people.

Mckellan Cook

ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

I really like the emphasis they put on minoring or double majoring because that’s something I really want to pursue while I’m there. I want to try to double major in film in someway because I have a lot of family who did that. I say [USC is better than UCLA] because they have a lot more money because it’s a private school and because of that it opens up a lot more business opportunities once you leave the college.

Story by Sarah Castillo, Morgan Smith, & Riley Villiers-Furze Photos by Sarah Castillo & Erica Lee Layout by Sarah Castillo

Heather Han

aims high

As seniors march around campus in their newly purchased, overpriced college sweatshirts, excitedly chattering about the classes they’ll take in the fall, senior Heather Han has a different Statement of Intent to Register to submit. Instead of attending an institution of higher education, Heather is enlisted in the Air Force and pursuing Special Operations. “I look forward to be able to say I’m serving the U.S. military. It really clicked with me, and it all made sense. To say that I have a purpose serving the U.S. Air Force in Special Ops, it would be one of my greatest accomplishments and one of my biggest sources of pride,” said Heather. Even though boot camp begins in the summer, Heather has already started preparation to become physically and mentally fit for the journey ahead of her. Besides her already rigorous APladen schedule, Heather’s afternoons have been occupied by endless miles of running, push-ups, and pull-ups. Despite the physical and mental toll Heather has endured, it ultimately proved to be a testament to her drive and motivation for her cause. “She’s very strong for her age, something we don’t see in most applicants,” said Staff Sergeant Matthew Smith. “She’s very proper, very mature, the type of individuals we look for.” Heather initially enlisted in the Marine Corps, but through her experiences in the last several months preparing

for boot camp, she later realized she wanted to pursue the Air Force instead. “I thought it better fit me. Both branches instill different kinds of discipline and structure, and I wanted to focus on honing my skills in endurance, discipline, and intel,” said Heather. “But the Marine Corps

“She is going to be a good leader...I see her more as an asset. Someone you want to keep around because she brings that positive light.” -STAFF SERGEANT MATTHEW SMITH will always and forever hold a special place in my heart because they initially inspired me to pursue my passions with excellence and with the sense of ‘mission accomplishment’. I’ll never forget that.”

Story, Photos, and Layout by Sarah Castillo Although the military is very different from the traditional lecture halls in university, Heather mainly chose the military for many of the same reasons students attend college: to continue learning and growing as a person. “I didn’t have a work ethic, and I wanted to develop that somehow,” said Heather. “I definitely want to be more disciplined and structured. I want the strong mentality. I want to learn endurance, discipline, and structure through the military.” However, for Heather, the military is not her final destination. After serving, she intends to join the FBI. “I discovered through my successes and failures in high school, I ultimately realized I want to help people,” said Heather. “I want to help fight terrorism somehow, so I think whatever will help me in that direction is my plan for now. For now, I see that as the FBI, but who knows, I may make the military my career.” No matter where Heather goes after her time in the military, Sergeant Smith has no reservations about her potential. “She is going to be a good leader,” said Smith. “I’ve always been taught, ‘A good leader leads, a great leader inspires others to lead.’ If she can keep that mentality, she can influence others, and it will just be a snowball effect. I always tell people ‘You’re either an asset, or a liability,’ and I see her more as an asset. Someone you want to keep around because she brings that positive light.”

You might hear Devon Cottrell before you see her: whether it be the hard thump of her oversized knock-off Doc Martens along the art room floor or the metronome-like clack of her 5-inch platform heels across the hallways. But when you do finally see her, you are no longer thinking about the sounds she was making. Instead, you stare at the bright blues, muted golds, daring reds, and sparkling silvers that lay across her face. Devon is a senior at West Ranch who plans to attend Cinema Makeup School in North Hollywood next semester. She has wanted to go there for quite some time and has taken AP Studio Art classes and practiced makeup throughout high school to prepare herself. “I love makeup so much. It allows me to transform myself to look like a different person: not my normal day-to-day makeup but if I go really to the extremes. I can become a different person through makeup and I think that’s really cool. That’s really expressive. It’s true art.” Every other student at West Ranch seems to be on their way to a four-year academic school, but Devon, as always, is choosing to go outside the norm. Devon’s course at Cinema Makeup School will only be 28 weeks and includes an array of classes from simple beauty makeup to creature design and sculpting classes. “My brother is taking the traditional route of school so my parents have been totally okay with me not taking the traditional route of school, especially because they have known

for a long time that I was not going to go to college because I don’t really have good grades. I have never seen a typical general education as something interesting and so I have never really done well in school. I have always been so interested in art and they know I am super interested in art so when I said

I can become a different person through makeup and I think that’s really cool. That’s really expressive. It’s true art. that I wanted to do makeup as a career or go into an art field ... they were totally supportive of me doing that.” Academic excellence is constantly pushed onto students, along with an even greater pressure to attend a highranking university. Often, because of this intense competition, there is an underlying prejudice against those who fail to fit that mold.

Fortunately for Devon, many people other than her parents have been supportive of her decision. “Other students think it’s really cool. I am known for my makeup I guess which I kind of love; I live for it. People are like, ‘I am going to COC,’ or, ‘I am going to CSUN,’ and I am like, ‘I am going to Cinema Makeup School for special effects makeup,’ and they are like, ‘Oh that’s so cool! I wish I could do that! That seems so cool!’” There is good reason for Devon’s popularity as a makeup artist too. She started taking makeup seriously freshman year and has been delivering gorgeous looks ever since. Additionally, she has already completed two special effects makeup courses at Cinema Makeup school during the summer, giving her previous experience in the field and an edge over her peers. “I have always been interested in art and I just view makeup as another medium of art. The summer going into freshman year my friend Savannah got me really interested into ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’ It’s so makeup heavy and I think makeup is so cool. That really inspired me to do makeup as a full time job.” After Devon finishes schooling, she plans to stay in the Los Angeles area to work in the entertainment industry for various special effects departments. With it being such a short course, Devon will enter the professional world before most people her age, but her school provides placement opportunities where she can start off. Whatever she does, she will do it looking good with a confidence as strong as her step. Story and Photos by Skijler Hutson Layout by Sarah Castillo

Devon Cottrell

finds aa new new foundation foundation finds

a small poll of the Class of 2017 Data by Senior Staff Members Layout by Erica Lee

43.1% said 1-10 times 12.7% said 10-20 times 17.6% said never 26.5% said 20+ times

48.1% said 1-5 times 15.7% said most of the time 25.9% said never 10.2% said â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have homework?â&#x20AC;?

How many times have you turned in homework late?

How many times have you been late to class?

1234

AP European History

AP Calculus

19.4%

Chemistry

50.5%

24.3%

What was the hardest class at West Ranch?

Health

5.8%

a brief history, from 2013 - 2017 first day of high school for the class of 2017, two fire alarms go off during second period

2013

July

August

September

October

December

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West get married

the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics

2014 January

November

February

March

April

May

June

first day of sophomore year for the class of 2017, the last few kids born in the 90s enter high school

July

August

September

October

November

December

the 50th Superbowl between the Broncos and the Panthers is held in Santa Clara, California

2015 January

February

March

April

May

June â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Wars: The Force Awakensâ&#x20AC;? is released in theaters

Caitlyn Jenner announces her transgender status

July

the Rams announce their return to Los Angeles

2016

January

August

September

October

November

first day of junior year for the class of 2017

February

March

April

May

June

Donald J. Trump is elected President of the United States

at the Rio Olympics, Simone Biles wins 5 gold medals

July

August

September

October

February

March

November

December

May 30, 2017 -- the West Ranch High School Class of 2017 gradates

first day of senior year for the class of 2017

2017 January

December

April

May

June

R efl

i o

e c t o i ns

Our very own Paw Print seniors reflect back on their four years of blood, sweat, tears, and a touch of happiness.

Before entering high school, my expectations of my teenage years were based off of books such as “Harry Potter,” “Hunger Games,” movies such as “Princess Diaries,” and TV shows such as “Teen Titans.” As the end of senior year creeps up on me, as my 18th birthday inches closer, as the looming figure of adulthood begins to cast its shadow into my life, I was disappointed to realize that my life wouldn’t turn out to be anything like the aforementioned staples of pop culture. I was never told I was actually a witch, my dad isn’t the secret prince of some country, I could pretty much count out being one day whisked away to a private, expensive boarding school, and I definitely never got superpowers. Throughout my high school life, I was waiting, waiting for so long, to have my super secret, super special superpower revealed. Where was my my rich, duchess great-aunt who suddenly needs an heir? Where was my teenage adventure with a dash of romance? Admittedly, it was an incredibly conceited way to approach life. Everyday, I was waiting to be plucked out of my classroom, my house, my boring, average life and be whisked away. I was waiting for my “specialness” to be revealed to the world. It was a bitter pill to swallow, to realize that even though my whole life I had been told by my loving parents, by Disney movies, by TV shows, by young adult novels, that I was special, that I was different, even believing that I was fabulous, beautiful, brilliant, even though I believed that I just had to wait for my day in the sun, even though all of this, I wasn’t very special at all. I’m average, just another speck on Earth, little, insignificant, me. I think that’s the most profound lesson I was forced to learn in high school. A lesson that Photos by Jacqueline Hofmann & Erica Lee Layouts by Jacqueline Hofmann

reinforced itself every time I wasn’t top of my class. Every time I was ignored or passed over for people more interesting, gorgeous, fit, intelligent, insightful, and mature than me. In high school, I didn’t discover I was born a genius, I didn’t find an amazing talent or superpower. Things will not magically work itself out for me. The only one who can affect any sort of change in my life is me. I can’t wait for my secret royal bloodline to reveal itself. I have to take control over my own life, fight my own battles, rely on nothing but my own efforts. And now, after working my butt off and getting into the college I wanted, after progressing through high school on nobody’s merits but my own, I’m okay with that. And you should be too. Thank you to Mrs. O’Shea, Mrs. Hunsaker, Ms. Hall, Ms. Slayback and Ms. Rush -- of all my teachers over the years, I’ve never forgotten being in your class, and I hope I never will. I also want to thank my parents and my little sister, for being there for me throughout everything.

Don’t brush your teeth -- you’ll get cavities either way. Don’t skip breakfast -otherwise you’ll be grumpy and fat. Don’t take short showers -- the drought will end with or without your help. Don’t choose studying over going out with your family -- that test will be curved anyway. Don’t go to practice over hanging with friends -- laughter is the best ab workout. Don’t rush out the gate when the bell rings -- give it 15 minutes and save yourself the sweat. Don’t bite your nails -- it hikes up your caloric intake. Don’t do your homework the day it is assigned -- you wouldn’t have anyway. Don’t work in retail if you’re a shopaholic -- your paycheck goes right back to where it came from. Don’t work in the foodservice industry if you’re a foodie -- your paycheck goes right back to where it came from. Don’t work with kids if they annoy you -- you don’t have to look far to know what I mean. Don’t compare yourself to others -- yeah, you are probably the worse one. Don’t buy a planner -- you’ll never use it. Don’t learn from your mistakes -buy another planner the next year. Don’t do it for college -- three hours of notes a night isn’t worth it. Don’t watch “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” -- you will lose hope and a small fraction of your life. Don’t ask so many questions -- find the answers yourself. Don’t say you “just wish high school was over already” -- you are wishing to be closer to death. Don’t wait for time to pass -- it never stops anyway. Do do whatever makes you happy -- even if that means laughing at the phrase “do do.”

When I was told to write this reflection, I struggled to think of something I could write that would be particularly profound that wasn’t already terribly cliched that would capture all four years of my time in high school and that would still fit in half a page of the layout. Inevitably, I will fail at least one of those things. Let’s start with at least one cliche. I think the one thing that has defined my path through high school more than anything else was the struggle to create an identity. The person I was four years ago would probably never recognize the person I am today. From the things I enjoy doing in my free time to the clothes I wear to the people I spend time with on a daily basis, there is very little of my identity that has remained static and unchanged. This isn’t unique to me either. Everyone I’ve known since freshmen year has changed to the point their freshmen selves wouldn’t recognize who they are now, because high school is more than just about learning what atoms make a nitrate compound or learning the meaning of “to be or not to be.” Forme andeveryone elseIknow,highschool wasaprocessof self-discovery and a discovery of others. I discovered that I have this strange desire argue with everyone and channelled it into the debate team. discovered I’d rather spend hours researching obscure plans philosophy than actually doing my homework. At this point, I should mention the people who I have fortunate enough to consider my friends. High school would have unbearable without them. Whether it was going to Disneyland forced to listen to their K-Pop in their cars (looking at you and Steven) or listening to to how hard it is to sew cosplay (cough, Sarah), each of those was something special that I don’t forget about. How ironic that we can only miss what we had once it is gone.

o I and

been been or being Michael costumes want to

Four years seem like it should’ve felt a little longer than this. I still feel like a freshman, timidly wandering the campus trying to find my classes (partially because I never bothered to learn where any classes were except the ones I had each semester). It really does go by fast. Every year when looking at the graduating class, I’d think “That’s going to be me in 3 years… 2 years… next year...” and it’s surreal now that it’s happening. In hindsight, I feel like I should have stressed less and enjoyed more, but hindsight is 20/20. But I am glad that I got involved. My version of getting involved was choir. It’s not the most glamorous or conventional activity to partake in during high school, but it’s what I enjoyed. And of course there was the Paw Print. I may have been late to the party, only joining this year, but it was fun. I guess it really is important to find your niche. High school is way more tolerable that way. I’ve always mainly focused on going to class and going home as soon as possible, but having something to do solely because you want to is a must. You meet new people and create new memories. Don’t take it for granted.

If high school was anything for me, it was one big identity crisis. Where did I fit in on campus? At one point I questioned if this campus was even a place I could fit in. On top of this caveat, I have to constantly monitor my behavior to avoid being stereotyped as the loud, angry black girl. As talkative and argumentative as I am, this was a very difficult task. My potential to express myself comfortably was atrophied. Am I the ambassador to West Ranch from the whole African-American race? Of course not, but I didn’t want to reaffirm baseless, wholesale stereotyping. Eventually it was the pressure of being a minority that created the identity you see today: your local civil rights activist. This was a role that I, at first, took up gingerly. When I considered, “Am I going too far?” I had a revelation that from thereon changed the outlook of my approach. I thought about the giants of the Civil Rights Movement -- King Jr., Marshall, Parks -- and imagined that they, too, had their moments of doubt, moments where they questioned if they were pushing the envelope too far. Where would most of us be if they had acted upon their doubts and quieted themselves? I know for sure that I wouldn’t be in the position to write this reflection today. I hope that one day my insistence to fight the good fight will provide the same opportunity for a young girl like me in the future. If I ever made you uncomfortable, good; it means you have enough heart and conscience to see right from wrong. Just what you do with that discomfort I hope it is for the better, or my work will be in vain.

I’ve been waiting in anticipation to write this senior reflection ever since my freshman year, and yet here I am, typing this up at 1:30 A.M., a mere six hours before it’s due. If you’re reading this, I assume you’re in high school, and in that case I hope my reflection acts as advice to help guide you throughout this journey. Welcome unfamiliar environments with open arms. You may feel overwhelmed at first, but keep in mind: this new environment is designed for your own selfgrowth. Don’t wait on others to give you what you need; rather, take every initiative that school gives you to be your best self. High school classes are demanding, and they are not meant to be easy; they are meant to challenge you to become a better and more knowledgeable student. No matter how much “unfair” homework your teacher assigns you, every teacher’s job is to nurture your success, and this success cannot occur unless you are willing to change as well. Sadness is temporary, and one bad day, one bad week, even one bad year, will be nothing in comparison to the overwhelming love and joy you will experience when you finally throw your graduation cap toward the heavens. Adversity is merely a testament to your resilience. However, remember that your peers can be going through a storm even when your day is full of sunshine. Offer them kindness when things may seem bleak. Lastly, remember four years of high school is a lot of time. Time for friends to change, peers to change, and you to change. Change is not necessarily bad. You will leave high school a different person than when you first stepped foot. I know I have. And that is completely okay. Success in high school is not quantified by your GPA, how many sports championships you win, or what prestigious college you choose to attend. Rather, it is quantified by the laughs you share with friends, the improvement you accomplish in the classes you struggle with, and the relief when you finally find your place in this world. Be brave in your endeavors. Join clubs that inspire you. Talk to people you’ve never met. Ask for help from teachers. And never forget you’re destined for greatness. “I thought high school was going to be like the TV shows and movies…” Don’t worry. I won’t bore you with what my expectations of high school were. I won’t give you cliche advice either. I just want to share my high school experience. For me high school was about passing out in classes, binge-watching TV shows to avoid my priorities, crying almost every night, and eating as much as possible. This was my life for three and a half years. It was draining. I would have mental breakdowns and anxiety attacks. I even ended up in the Looney Bin. Staying at a mental hospital helped me find a way to be happy without being the best, which is the most important thing I have learned in high school. For years I was robot, taking AP classes, doing community service, joining clubs. This semester I learned how to be a human. And it feels good. Going out and exploring makes me feel like a newborn child. I got a taste of LA, and it was delicious. I learned laughter is key to a happy human life. Everyday I laugh loudly, I laugh often, and most importantly I laugh at myself. I’m grateful for my family’s support and encouragement. I’m grateful for my friends who got me through high school. And I’m grateful for being in this program for six years. Journalism has taught me confidence, teamwork, and patience, so I’m sad to say that I won’t be continuing journalism in college, but I will always be a journalist at heart. I look back at the times when my friends and I would try to keep each other wake to get an extra hour of studying and I laugh because all those late night FaceTime calls and study sessions at Barnes were worth it. We all got into amazing colleges. Every tear I shed, every hangout I missed, every cupcake I stress ate was worth it. It was just yesterday that I thought four years was going to be unbearable. But in a blink of an eye, it’s May and I’m about to graduate. And on that note, I’d like to quote a good friend of mine. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Thanks Ferris.

My dad and I are driving. I can’t remember the destination or what started the conversation, but I do remember that the sun filled the sky with an unbelievable amount of light and swaddled the car in warmth. As my 5-year-old self looked out the window to try to find a dragon in the fluffy white clouds my dad said to me, “You’re special. Your entire life people are going to try to tear you down, but just remember you’re special.” The conversation changed as quickly as it started, but to me, the car was silent. My dad, my role model, called me special. It was in that car -- on the sunny day with the dragons in the sky -- that living up to this label, to this specialness, became my priority. But what did this mean; how am I special? Junior high was the best time in the life of Riley. I was one of the smartest kids at my school, in the sickest elective, and I fell madly in love with the coolest boy ever. We texted every day and never talked at school: the beauty of being young and in love in junior high. I was very loud, very outgoing, and overall very awesome. Then, the greatest tragedy of life turned my world upside down; my best friend told me I wasn’t popular enough to be friends with her. I cried for days while listening to My Chemical Romance on repeat. It was a dark time for me. That’s when I vowed to never be one of those girls. I didn’t really know who those girls were, but I knew I wasn’t going to be one. So I started high school as cynical as cynics come. I refused to be a teenager and closed myself off. I scoffed at spirit events, made fun of the popular kids, and spent all my time at home. I was mean and insecure and unhappy, but none of that mattered because I thought I was being special.

Nothing meant more to me than living up to my dad’s label. This desire consumed me and I was unstitched, taken apart, and once again suffocated in this blinding need. I lost myself along the way, and acting special became just that, an act. During my junior year some friends invited me to a football game, and despite it going against everything I believed, I went. Ignoring my instincts and stepping out of my comfort zone that night was the best thing I could have ever done. The hot stadium lights made me sweat uncontrollably as I cheered for our team, which was getting pummeled ruthlessly. I laughed with friends, formed inside jokes, and actually enjoyed myself at a popular high school experience. It took West Ranch’s football team losing by 50 points for me to win myself back. That night I shed my cynicism like a layer of skin, and learned that it was okay to peak a little. For once since starting high school, I felt young and free, limitless and alive. My father’s words set me on a journey all those years ago and now here I am. I have changed more than I ever expected to, but I’ve learned that the change I feared is what in the end made me truly special. Now at 18 years old, I can’t tell you who I’m going to be in four, eight, or 20 years. I can’t even impart some magical senior wisdom that will make you have the best high school experience ever. What I do know, is that no matter how much time passes, I am still that 5-year-old girl sitting in her dad’s car watching the dragons fly through the sky. And thanks to West Ranch, I will be special.

THE PAW PRINT