Issue 1

VOL. XL ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 4, 2019

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL www.pvphsnews.com

BE THE ONE TO SAVE A LIFE Suicide lifelines on IDs bring awareness to mental health issues EDITORIAL PAGE 4

THIS IS OUR TURF

A WHOLE NEW LANDSCAPE

KEEP CALM, SUTURE AN

Vandalism on campus shocks Peninsula

Program sparks controversy over college admissions

Senior participates in UCI Medical Intensive Program

NEWS PAGE 3

OPINION PAGE 4

FOCUS PAGE 6-7

NEWS

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WELCOME TO THE PANTHER FAMILY Peninsula High Welcomes Six New Staff Members to Campus

SOfIA LAURO AND LYNN TANISAKA

SOfIA LAURO AND LYNN TANISAKA

Jackie Payne has been a credentialed math teacher for 28 years. This year she is Peninsula’s new Math Intervention Teacher, and says she joined because of how well she feels she connects with kids.

“I have found that I have a knack for making difficult concepts easier to understand,” Payne said. “I have taught students as young as sixth grade and as old as college, but the high school environment is where I click and feel the most comfortable.”

Payne says her main goal at Peninsula is to help students who struggle with math.

She advises students to work toward mastery with every day, and mentions that the only way to fail is if they do not try.

Dr. Jennifer Panagos came to be part of Peninsula’s faculty this year as an associate principal. She has been an educator for 12 years and has worked as an administrator for six.

“I have been interested in becoming someone who can support teachers and help them become better at their jobs,” Panagos said. “That is what drove me to become an administrator.”

This year, Panagos mentions that her goal is to focus on coordinating with teachers who work specifically with Peninsula’s higher-achieving students.

She wants to assure that such students can go through the year being less overwhelmed.

SOfIA LAURO AND LYNN TANISAKA This year, Thomas Conena joined Peninsula’s staff as a teacher of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This is his 34th year teaching science at the high school level. According to Conena, he found a passion for all types of science when he was in college.

“When I was an undergraduate student, I first wanted to be an engineer,” Conena said. “However, I realized I did not want to work in a field with such a heavy base in math and that I wanted to find a career where I could work with young kids.”

Conena says his main goal this year is to be involved with the school. He says he wants to ensure his students know that he is approachable but emphasizes that in his classes, kids must learn their material and be responsible for their work.

SOfIA LAURO AND LYNN TANISAKA Caitlin Cooke joined Peninsula’s faculty this year as a part-time librarian. She says her biggest hope during her time at Peninsula is to gain experience in library education, which is her area of focus.

Before focusing on library sciences, Cooke pursued a master’s degree in history. Because of all of her time in school, she advises that students attempt to find academic success by getting to know all of the resources that schools have to offer.

“Get used to using the library,” Cooke said. “Learn the Dewey Decimal System. These things are crucial for college and graduate school.”

KAITLYN HO AND KRISTEN LU Dave Rozas is Peninsula’s newly installed school resource officer. Rozas taught at Rolling Hills High School in 1987 as a teacher of Student and the Law. He has returned to help Peninsula in preventing crime and decreasing drug use. He has 38 years of experience in law enforcement with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, spending 30 years at the Lomita Police Station.

While at the Lomita Station, Rozas served as the Sergeant of the Community Resource Team and was the station’s Safe School and Disaster Coordinator.

During his time with the Lomita police, he constructed the Sheriff’s School Safety and Disaster Plans that are still in effect.

SofIA LAURO AND LYNN TANISAKA Nicole Sullivan is Peninsula’s new school psychologist. She found her passion for psychology in college after switching her major seven times and realized she wanted to pursue a career as a psychologist in a high school setting.

Sullivan says her purpose this year is to reach out to every student by helping them to feel safe at Peninsula. She says she loves walking outside and watching all of the smiling faces at the school.

“I hope to spread the message that kindness is everything,” Sullivan said.

“Everyone has something going on in their life, and it is really important for people to face others with that awareness in mind.”

AMANDA KALAYDJIAN

KYLE FELLER

MADDIE YEH/THE PEN

NEWS 3 NEW LAW MANDATES SUICIDE HOTLINE BE PRINTED ON STUDENT ID’S KAITLYN HO, KRISTEN LU AND MAKAYLA LUI At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, students may have noticed additions to the back of their student identification (ID) cards on registration day: several phone numbers pertaining to suicide prevention. Continual growth in suicide rates among people ages 10 to 24 in the United States caused California to enact preventative measures in response, in particular Senate Bill 972, a state law enforced on July 1, 2019 that mandates the National Suicide Prevention Hotline to be displayed on all student IDs from seventh to 12th grade.

This requirement applies to all public,

chartered and private schools.

The ID cards may look different for each school, but they all convey the same message that there is someone there to help. At Peninsula, IDs list the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, Crisis Text Line, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services phone number and The Trevor Project Lifeline. However, although at first these new installments appear to be resourceful, these additions are controversial.

According to the Children’s Hospital, suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 10 to 24, with its primary causes being social isolation, access to means of self-harm, difficulty in dealing with sexual orientation, losing loved ones and physical illness. Taking into account the subject matter, junior Ananya Chaudhari believes that the addition of the suicide prevention hotlines on students’ IDs will be helpful.

“Even at the beginning of the school

year, I noticed that there was discussion among students about the numbers on the backs of the IDs,” Chaudhari said.

“At least people will know that there is always a resource available for people in need of help.”

People in support of the inclusion of these hotlines on student ID cards believe that the simple existence of this form of support is beneficial to students who have suicidal thoughts. Spanish 2 and 3 MCR teacher Pia-Marie Kawagoe expressed how even the accessibility of the lifelines can be helpful. “[This law] lets kids know that if they do not have anyone to talk to, there is always someone there that cares about them and wants them to be okay,” Kawagoe said.

Although suicide is still a major cause of death for people in the United States, there are preventative actions that can be taken. The World Health Organization assesses that approximately 800,000 individuals take their own lives each year. They mention that the

most effective means of reducing that number includes taking measures that are comprised of school intervention, providing community support and training of mental health professionals.

Sophomore Taryn Loui also articulated how the printing of these numbers on IDs is also effective at preventing suicide.

“Suicide is not very easy to talk about, but I think it should be addressed,” Loui said. “I think the addition of the phone numbers would give students a close resource to help them in case they or anyone else needs it.”

ALEX YOO/THE PEN

FOUL PLAY: PENINSULA FOOTBALL FIELD VANDALIZED alex perez On Sept. 5, Dr. Brent Kuykendall informed students at the back-toschool assembly that the football field was vandalized the previous weekend. The suspect drove his or her car through the gate between the Kelly Johnson Fieldhouse and the football field, creating circular skid marks also known as “donuts” on the field. While the perpetrator is currently unknown, students and faculty members, particularly the athletes and coaches, hope to have answers regarding who is responsible soon.

“I believe the situation is being handled appropriately, but I am very

curious as to how the investigation is going and if there are any leads,” head football coach David Young said. “I know law enforcement and Peninsula’s administration are on the case, and I hope that they continue to pursue [the matter] until the vandals are caught.”

Since the football field is made of real grass instead of turf, athletic teams and faculty have had to work to preserve

tread marks and patches of dirt spread throughout. Because many of Peninsula’s athletic teams use the field consistently for practices and games, it can not be redone until the following summer, which will affect all of the teams who utilize it.

Not only does the damage to the field impact its appearance, but it also poses potential safety hazards such as athletes tripping over holes created by the car

Many students have been expressing a desire for the vandals to be fined, but this possibility would depend on how much the damage costs. For example, according to attorney and writer for Criminal Defense Lawyer, an online legal encyclopedia, Mark Theoharis, any damage to property that is over $500 could be charged as felony vandalism. The most common punishments for such a crime could include incarceration, a $25,000 fine or mandatory hours of community service.

The amount of community hours and time of confinement would also depend on the severity of the act, and if the vandal is of legal age or not. This means that if the perpetrator is a student, or falling on the dirt surface that was it would be the school’s decision to formed by the tire treads. decide how the student is punished.

“We just started tryouts, and the “I would personally like to speak to conditions of the field affect how the whoever did this because I [feel] that game is played,” senior and varsity soccer our school deserves an apology [from player Ciara Munz said. “When the ball him or her],” senior and varsity football hits the bumps formed by the car, it can player Nico Anvaripour said. “They disrupt a play. It is also important, should be fined and suspended from especially now, that the field is in their school. Nobody [should be able good condition so that coaches to] vandalize our house and get away can really determine a player’s with it.” ability.”

NOBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO VANDALIZE OUR HOUSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT. - SENIOR NICO ANVARIPOUR the quality of the field. Due to the maintenance efforts from the school, the field had been conditioned for sports activities prior to the vandalism. As a result of the defacing, the field now has

27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Rianne Aguas Asumi Shuda MANAGING EDITOR Ana Willoughby DESIGN EDITOR Alex Yoo HEAD OF BUSINESS Elana Ho NEWS EDITORS: Kaitlyn Ho Kristen Lu WRITERS: Tiffany Cha Sofia Lauro Makayla Lui Alex Perez Jack Sedillos Lynn Tanisaka OPINION EDITORS: Fiona Andersons Jacci Engler WRITERS: Maddy Christen Sophia Der Rin Anna Mytko Imogene Tomicic FOCUS EDITORS: Minji Jeun Fiona Yang WRITERS: Caitlyn Lee Jazmine Mesina Tilly Safavian STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Keila Bara James O’Dea WRITERS: Rosalie Burich Yaseen El-Magharbel Emma Mulligan Abigail Shane SPORTS EDITOR: Casey Syal WRITERS: Jeremy Kim Marcus Kim Angelina Mendoza GRAPHICS Shai Becker Patrick Chan Helen Huang Alicia Jeong Jihee Seo Maddie Yeh BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Ashley Deng Caroline Horn Lina Kugaya ADVISER Jaymee DeMeyer “The Pen” is the student newspaper produced by the advanced journalism students of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. It is published eight times per year. Advertising inquiries may be directed to Advertising Manager Elana Ho at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editor, which are accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or to Jaymee DeMeyer’s mailbox.

Copyright © 2019 Cover Design by Alex Yoo Back Cover Design by Tali Fortis

LIFELINES ON IDS OPEN THE CONVERSATION ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES editorial staff On the outside, a student’s worries revolve around an upcoming test, an essay due at 11:59 p.m. or organizing a meeting for his or her club. However, there are battles many of these individuals face that may not be visible from the surface, such as mental health issues and, in particular, suicide. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death nationally for ages 10 to 24. This reality pushed states like California to take measures toward suicide prevention. However, we still have not completely reached the point of having open conversations about such matters. Therefore, we must alleviate the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues by giving students extended resources to receive help during such struggles.

A measure California in particular took toward the prevention of youth suicide is Senate Bill No. 972, which was a revision in the California Education Code. Proposed on Sept. 17, 2018 and commenced on July 9, 2019, this bill required all public and private schools that issue student identification cards (IDs) to include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In addition, it authorized the addition of other emergency phone numbers pertaining to this issue. In response, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) administered immediate crisis support hotlines of the following: emergency assistance number 911, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and The

Trevor Project.

The inclusion of these lifelines on IDs allow easy accessibility to such resources, as IDs are required for students in the PVPUSD to attain school materials and participate in various events. This, in turn, exposes these hotlines, thus the topic of suicide, to students, reducing the stigma surrounding the subject. Despite these efforts, there is still opposition against bringing the topic of suicide prevention into the public’s eye.

According to FOX40 News, a number of concerned parents voiced that speaking too much about the subject of suicide could introduce suicidal thoughts into the minds of students who would not have considered it otherwise. It is evident that there still exists a sense of discomfort in discussing the topic.

However, restricting such a conversation could result in further stigma about suicide, which would increase a sense of reluctance in students to reach out for help.

Nevertheless, suicide prevention is becoming heavily emphasized by various educational systems, including our district.

As of the 2019-20 school year, all PVPUSD employees are required to watch two videos regarding suicide prevention. In the 2017-18 school year, wellness centers were established at both Peninsula and Palos Verdes High School as well as the addition of a yoga course and a school psychologist.

These various changes and installments are the result of the efforts made by PVPUSD to raise awareness about suicide and provide an opportunity for students to seek guidance and support.

Nevertheless, more must be accomplished to remove the unspoken fear of the conversation surrounding suicide prevention.

Including hotlines on IDs, establishing wellness centers and providing yoga classes is only the beginning of tackling this issue. In order to take the next steps, there needs to be opportunities for open conversations between teachers and students in the classroom. This would allow for both students and faculty to express their opinions and present solutions regarding the rising suicide rates and do so in a personal setting.

Classrooms are places where students and teachers alike can safely express their opinions, thoughts and emotions. We must continue to exercise our rights to keep our classrooms as safe places.

Safe zones like these are needed more than ever. From college admissions to being promoted in the workplace, the level of competition between all participating individuals in today’s world only continues to increase. This want to not only conform to the needs and desires of others, but also to achieve what society brands as success causes many to lose sight of their own passions and visions. This reality begins with our generation, where our growing minds must endure such pressures while we are still beginning to understand who we are and who we want to be. With this comes mental health issues and even suicidal thoughts, which only perpetuates this cycle.

As a society, we are obligated to speak about such a deeply rooted issue in our world, as awareness may be the only solution to preventing it.

NEW FACTOR IN COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS SPARKS VARYING OPINIONS SOPHIA DER RIN According to Statista reports, by 2028 it is estimated that 14.98 million students will be enrolled in public colleges. Due to this wave of incoming students, college admission offices are actively working toward ways to conduct the acceptance process in a way that acknowledges the student as a whole. The College Board recently implemented The Environmental Context Dashboard, or Landscape, a wide range of metrics evaluating the socioeconomics of the area the applicant is from. These include neighborhood unemployment rates as well as the percentage of households in poverty and of single-parent households. This information is then sent to admissions officers along with test scores and applications. The Landscape system is not necessary because it would exclude key information about a student’s own educational, familial or mental challenges and would create biases against students from specific neighborhoods.

Although Landscape displays economical struggles between students of different backgrounds and social classes, many pointed out that this goal has been already accomplished within other parts of the college application process. Landscape is not necessary because application processes do not exclusively view demographics when deciding whether

or not to accept a prospective student.

Students are given the opportunity to provide a more accurate summary of themselves to colleges through essays, transcripts and extracurriculars.

“Programs like [Landscape] are only one small piece in the college application process,” director of Peninsula’s College Career Center Julie Arico said. “A student is already given the opportunity to level the playing field through essays, grade point average and various other factors.”

The statistics Landscape measures also do not represent any details about the student’s personal life. A score that measures the crime rate in a neighborhood does not expose colleges to a student’s work ethic. To an extent, statistics can assist colleges in measuring both mental and educational challenges. However, colleges benefit more from learning about the personal experiences of the student. This is part of the reason students are asked to write essays for applications, which is in order to allow for an accurate retelling of a student’s own personal experiences.

Statistically, a student’s adversities can be measured, but a student’s difficulties can not truly be measured by [such observations],” senior Lucas Arico said.

“I believe most of the factors Landscape measures have less of a connection to the student themselves.”

Landscape also creates a bias against students of specific backgrounds or origins.

It is unjust to undermine the dedication and work a student has put into their college application just because they may have faced less adversities. Colleges are always looking to diversify their student body, and that could mean rejecting hardworking students simply because they have not faced as many disadvantages as an average student.

“I think when colleges compare students based on their lifestyles, things get tricky,” senior Bri Bennet said. “For example, if two applicants score the same SAT score, both worked hard to earn the score. One should not be accepted over the other because they have scored a higher [adversity score] only because a college wants to diversify their student body; it is simply unfair.”

patrick chan / the pen

THE PEN PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

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opinion

GUNS N’ ROZAS SRO is added to Peninsula Faculty Despite Controversy

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VE. MY JOB IS TO BE PROACTI IT IS TO BE WITH THE STUDENTS [OF PENINSULA TY. AND] ENSURE THEIR SAFE -DAVID ROZAS

JIHEE SEO / the pen

FOCUS

6

USING THEIR SKILLS SENIOR JUSTIN AN PARTICIPATES AT UCI SUMMER MEDICAL INTERNSHIP TILLY SAFAVIAN This past summer, senior Justin An participated in a two week intensive medical program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He stayed with 20 other high school students in dorms on campus and took a bus each morning at 5:30 a.m. to the laboratory. Once An arrived at the lab, he and the other students were separated into four groups. Two groups would spend the day in the lab learning how to suture; how to use laparoscopics; or work the Da Vinci Machine, a surgical robot designed to make more precise cuts, and perform other surgical skills. The other two groups observed live surgeries in the operating room.

“Being in the operating room is an experience that is really hard to come by for high school students,” An said. “I was really lucky to be able to go and watch live surgeries.”

On his first day of the program, An had the chance to observe a colonoscopy, where a part of a man’s colon was removed because it had been invaded by cancer

cells. An explained that although the surgery itself was fascinating, the dynamic of the O.R. was what caught his attention.

“The doctors were moving so quickly and with such precision,” An said. “While doing this, all of the surgeons play music.

It is really funny. The surgeon was playing punk rock while performing surgery.”

Although An spent most of his high school career participating in programs not affiliated with the medical field, his mother urged him to apply because almost all of An’s close relatives pursue careers in the medical field. After the program, An told his close friends about his experience at the program.

One of these friends, senior Arpit Jalan, described An’s feelings about the program.

“When he came back, he shared with all of us the most exciting parts,” Jalan said. “He raved about the Da Vinci machine and seeing live surgeries.”

Senior Laura Jankowski is another friend who heard about An’s experience.

“It was like a mini Grey’s Anatomy,” Jankowski said. “The program was very hands on for him

and was such a great learning experience.”

When he was growing up, An’s grandmother was paralyzed from the waist down. Seeing her live in a wheelchair pushed An to have an interest in neuroscience and spinal injuries.

“I feel like this [medical program] peaked an interest that has always been at the back of my mind and has made me more interested in what the medical field has to offer,” An said. “Whether you are going into neurosurgery, urology, pediatrics or orthopedics, there are so many things you can do and pathways you can take.”

When asked what he learned from the UCI Summer Surgery Program, An explained that although he learned much about surgery and medicine, he also learned a lot about himself.

“I feel like working in the medical field gears toward my own character of being able to help people,” An said. “There are so many discoveries yet to be made; so many different things that can be done that I want to be a part of. Whatever I end up doing in my life, it [will] be something that helps people for the better, and changes people’s lives.”

Alicia Jeong/ the pen

7

FOCUS

S TO HELP THE ILL JUNIOR MELISSA QIN CREATES NEW HOPE FOR THE CITY OF HOPE HOSPITAL CAITLYN LEE On June 17, junior Melissa Qin started her eightweek long internship at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California. Qin applied for and participated in the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute (DMRI) Summer Program, a program made to provide high school and undergraduate students insight into the diabetes and cancer fields. In DMRI, students participate in research, patient care and marketing technology.

At the end of the program, the students’ work is compiled into a presentation of their research for the City of Hope medical community.

Out of the 2,100 high school and undergraduate students who apply for an internship, only 82 are selected per year. After finding out about the internship over the winter break of her sophomore year, Qin had an interest in trying out for the medical program.

“I found the City of Hope through Peninsula’s Walk for Life,” Qin said. “From there, I found student opportunities and applied to multiple

programs, and I was accepted into [the DMRI].”

Qin applied to research Type One Diabetes, which is an inherited condition that causes the pancreas to produce insulin.

Qin’s research was based on the late stages of long term, non-obese diabetic mice. Some symptoms of late stage diabetes include eyes, kidneys, nerves and blood artery complications.

Through research, Qin hopes to find a way to cure patients of these symptoms.

“Type One Diabetes is very common because it starts in young kids and is mostly genetic,” Qin said. “By the time they reach the age of 50, their fingers start having problems and the sides of their eyes get blurry. It makes the quality of life harder.”

During her research, Qin was mentored

by City of Hope Medical Center’s joint Ph.D. student Shannon Tang. She taught Qin how to genotype, check urine glucose for diabetic mice and transplant bone marrow.

“Melissa was very interested in research

and interest is the most important motivation,” Tang said. “The lab was different from her imagination, [so] I helped her develop the idea for each experiment and [showed her] how we design the whole project.”

With eight weeks of experience now under her belt, Qin plans to reapply next year for the DMRI internship. She hopes she will be selected for the cancer section at that time.

“In the future, I also want to try to [enter] the cancer [unit], since City of Hope is known for Diabetes and Cancer,” Qin said.

“I just want to [experience] both [fields].”

Junior and Qin’s friend Alexis Soriano saw the dedication Qin put into the diabetes research. She felt inspired by Qin’s effort to achieve her goal of eventually becoming a medical doctor through this internship.

“The research that [Qin] took part in finding [shapes] our society, especially our generation,” Soriano said. “It shows how young kids like us actually have the ability to impact the world around us.”

SOPHOMORE PROVIDES AID IN TREATMENT FOR BURN VICTIMS IN MOZAMBIQUE MINJI JEUN, JAZMINE MESINA AND FIONA YANG From Aug. 10-15, sophomore Blake Dee worked in Mozambique, Africa as a member of a surgical team affiliated with the medical program, Ohana One, to treat burn victims.

Ohana One focuses on directly providing and developing surgical and anesthesia programs in areas of need through single missions, such as the one Dee participated in. The organization also strives to create opportunities for surgeons and anesthesiologists to volunteer globally, and this goal extends to high school students, like Dee. “I started to get interested in burns and [how to help the] African kids,” Dee said. “[It] is one thing to hear about how these African kids are struggling, but it is another thing to actually see them being really injured.”

Dee was introduced to Ohana One by his mother, Michele Dee, a member of the board of Ohana One and a pediatric anesthesiologist at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Having gone on several medical missions in the past,

Michele Dee wanted her son to also have the opportunity to share that experience.

“For kids, especially on the hill, it is practically the end of the world if their cell phone is low on battery or there is no Wi-Fi available,” Michele Dee said. “[In contrast], the children we see on these trips do not have the resources to put a clean bandage on a wound or take pain medicine for burns that cover significant parts of the body.”

During the mission, Blake Dee redressed the wounds of children and adults, helped nurses during rounds and comforted families in times of need. This experience helped emphasize what Michele Dee wanted her son to learn from this trip.

“I mostly wanted Blake to gain a perspective to see how lucky we are to have everything we need at our fingertips,” Michele Dee said.

A senior from Chadwick School, Hailey Chen, also had the opportunity to join Blake Dee on this medical mission. Both Chen and Blake Dee were stationed in the plastics section, and helped apply bandages to patients that did not need surgical help.

“Blake and I helped the nurses do their rounds

in addition to smaller tasks like [cleaning wounds] and applying medication,” Chen said. “I personally connected with the medical mission because I have received serious burns that required surgeries before, and I felt like I was helping others in situations similar to mine [through this trip].”

Despite the gratification he received from helping the victims, Blake Dee initially found it difficult to adapt to the environment, mainly due to his lack of experience in the medical field. However, he was able to overcome this obstacle with guidance from his mother, as she showed him tips on how to handle certain procedures of the medical mission. By the end of the trip, Blake Dee not only gained experience in the medical field, but also learned about the gratification that comes from doing that work.

“I felt compelled to show Blake what ultimately lies at the root of my profession, [which is comforting and healing the sick],” Michele Dee said. “[By the end of the trip], I was proud to see the [big smiles] Blake was able to put on [all of the childrens’] faces.”

Student life

8

CLEAT SWEEP CHANGES THE GAME Junior invents device to clean softball cleats

ROSALIE BURICH Junior Jeanie Benedict has been playing softball for 12 years and recently created a device to help softball players bypass the problem of dirt and grass weighing their cleats down on the field. This device is called the Cleat Sweep and is a small metal rod that scrapes the dirt and grass off the bottom of softball cleats.

She patented this device herself and is planning to sell it soon. This device is small and portable, which is convenient for practical use on and off the field.

Although catered toward the softball community, she hopes this invention is useful for any sport that uses cleats such as soccer and football.

“I am excited to see the microcosm of future events with this invention,” Benedict said. “This experience has given me so much knowledge, and it is motivating me to do more work [with the business world] in the future.”

Benedict’s experience with field equipment through years of playing softball taught her that clean cleats lead to better playing on the field, and it is hard to maintain clean cleats throughout the game. She hopes the Cleat Sweep will solve this issue, enhancing performance on the field. Through this process, she has gained new business skills to help her in the future.

Benedict’s passion for softball and aspirations of going into business in the future were the catalysts in creating the Cleat Sweep. This invention exposed her to the business world early and allowed her to become more independent and self-motivated. Since Benedict has never created a business and is new to the industry, she still has a lot to improve on for future projects.

“This process provided me many things to learn from,” Benedict said. “I have learned how to problem

solve, and [since this process got tedious at times,] I learned to have a lot of patience.”

Throughout this process, Benedict learned what techniques were successful and unsuccessful, such as the correct material to use and the size of the device.

The mistakes she made in the mechanical process helped her realize the trial-and-error process required to become a successful entrepreneur. Benedict has yet to fully introduce the Cleat Sweep to fellow softball teammates, but she has explained the mechanism of her business to them. She has gotten their feedback about it as well.

“Jeanie has told me a little information about her business and it is super cool. I would love to learn more,” senior and varsity captain Kelly Beaupre said.

“This is a really creative idea that I would find [very useful] when I am on the field.”

Benedict hopes to inspire other young and aspiring entrepreneurs by proving people of any age can create whatever they put their minds to. She has inspired her teammates and impressed them with this device.

“I know her business will be [extremely successful] in the marketing world and [it is impressive] that she developed it herself,” senior and varsity player Katie Rusek said. “Its simplicity and small size makes it very convenient for a variety of sports and ages, which will make it more successful and easy to sell.”

With the support from her teammates on softball, as well as her friends and family, Benedict feels confident that the Cleat Sweep will be successful and helpful to all athletes. Her dream is that, once this device is released to the public, it will become a big hit.

“Ideally, the Cleat Sweep will gain popularity and impact at least our community, if not many others around the world,” Benedict said. “I worked very hard on this and hopefully my dedication will pay off in the long run.”

IDEALLY, THE CLEAT SWEEP WILL GAIN POPULARITY AND IMPACT AT LEAST OUR COMMUNITY. I WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS AND HOPEFULLY MY DEDICATION WILL PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN -JUNIOR JEANIE BENEDICT

ashley kim / the pen

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Student life

R AVELS ABROAD TO PURSUE ST T N O R F F E I M UDIES NAO EMMA MULLIGAN

In early August, junior Naomi Effron was given the opportunity to study diplomacy abroad with the Naale Elite Academy (NEA). Wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps, who studied abroad in Israel during high school as well, Effron found NEA amidst researching for academies in Israel. She believes that this opportunity will provide an unforgettable experience and provide a new learning environment.

“Since [I was seven years old], I was hopeful that when I was in high school I would [be offered the same opportunity my father was given],” Effron said. “When the opportunity was handed to me, I did not even think twice before signing up for the program.”

In applying for NEA, Effron had to complete intelligence quotient tests along with math and comprehension exams.

Effron was one of the 450 students to be accepted into the program, and her acceptance came with a complimentary dorm, plane tickets and a monthly allowance.

Effron believes that studying abroad has many benefits.

Coming from a Jewish family, Israel is known to be the best place for her to experience the Israeli culture.

“I learn something new about Israel everyday that I am here,” Effron said. “Being in boarding school teaches you to compromise with others. When you have four other roommates, things can get a little chaotic, but with some compromises and rules, everyone can stay happy and [things run smoothly].”

Despite the change in her schooling and environment, Effron believes she is adapting well

to Israel’s community. For example, she feels obligated to improve in public speaking and debate, as the academy offers an environment where she is encouraged to excel in her major of diplomacy. She is hopeful that NEA will provide her with new knowledge on this topic.

“Everyone is brutally honest and upfront,” Effron said. “If they have an opinion or thought, they make sure to make it heard rather than keeping it to themselves.”

Junior Nicole Tang has been friends with Effron for several years and recognizes that she is a hard worker and an openminded person. Tang believes these traits will enhance Effron’s experience abroad.

“I think she will gain a lot of experience just being in a different place,” Tang said. “[I believe that] she will come back more responsible and [be more confident] in her abilities because she [has been] on her own.”

From across the world, Effron continues to stay connected with her family, especially her sister and freshman Hana Effron.

“She puts so much effort into everything she does,” Hana Effron said. “That inspires me because I want to be that way when I am older.”

Hana Effron believes that her sister studying in Israel is beneficial to her religious background. By studying abroad, it will allow her to connect with her family better in the future.

“Since our family is Jewish, it is important for us to embrace our culture,” Hana Effron said. “When Naomi was given the opportunity to study abroad in Israel, she [knew she] had to take it.” helen huang / the pen

sports

ANGELINA MENDOZA

10 CROSS COUNTRY

Varsity boys’ and girls’ cross-country competed in the Eagle Invitational on Sept. 14 in El Segundo and the Woodbridge Classic Invitational on Sept. 21 in Norco. Both boys’ and girls’ varsity placed in the top 10 for both meets. The team has been concentrating on remaining dedicated with runs every day after school and Saturday mornings to prepare for the season.

Varsity head coach Chris Foster has been coaching Peninsula’s cross-country for six years and believes that this year’s first meet was the best start to a season he has seen since he began coaching.

“Everyone is in much better shape with more people training over the summer and working hard,” Foster said. “The more confidence we gain as a team, the stronger we will perform.”

Junior and varsity boys’ runner Saquib Rawda believes the team has the potential for success in the postseason this year.

“Based on how this team has been working, I feel like this year CIF is definitely within reach and can achieve some really strong performances,” Rawda said.

Along with the team’s performance-based goals, senior and girls’ varsity captain Diana Kalantar is excited about how much the team has improved.

“We are creating an amazing new culture for the team where we not only have strong [individual] runners, but also have a strong [overall] team where all of our runners train hard,” Kalantar said. “We are connected by a bond that feels like family.”

The team believes that the supportive dynamic among the runners this year has helped them succeed. The team’s family bond not only helps them stay motivated, but also helps them train and perform in unity.

The team is looking forward to competing in their next meet, the Saturday Central Park Invite in Huntington Beach on October 5.

GIRLS TENNIS MARCUS KIM Girls’ varsity tennis has had success in the Bay League, winning the league title from 2011-17. However, in recent years, the team struggled to reach this level of performance due to injuries and the graduation of seniors.

Nevertheless, varsity head coach Mike Hoeger is excited for the season.

“I am very optimistic about this year,” Hoeger said. “I think we have the possibility to be just as good or even better [than previous years]”.

After placing sixth in the newfound Open Division last year, the team looks to capture the title of Bay League Champions again. The team has played two matches so far this season, one against Westlake High School on Sept. 10, and another against San Marino High School on Sept. 12. The team started with a 14-4 victory against Westlake, but the game against San Marino resulted in a 7-11 loss.

“The loss was a much needed backstep for the team,” Hoeger said. “It is a great example for the players, especially the new ones, that there will be some ups and downs during the season.”

With the addition of four new freshmen this year, sophomore Cydney Yamamoto believes that team bonding is important. The team never knows who they will be paired up with for doubles play, so being comfortable with all players on the team is crucial to success.

“We have all been practicing with one another to get to know each other and better prepare for the remainder of the season,” Yamamoto said.

Senior and captain Alicia Carmona feels that one of her main responsibilities is to integrate new players into the team.

“This year we have a very new team and my job as a captain is to make everyone feel welcomed and united,” Carmona said. “The spirit at our matches is amazing because everyone on the team feels connected to each other and we all cheer each other on fiercely.”

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW JEREMY KIM

FOOTBALL

This year, the varsity football team looks to improve upon last year’s successes, a season which resulted in their placement as runnerup in the CIF Division 11 playoffs. The panthers were rewarded with a promotion to Division 10 this year and are led by seniors and cocaptains Jack Haworth, Daniel Meyerhoff and Luke Seymour.

Meyerhoff is looking forward to playing at the higher division. He believes that the new level of competition will force the players to push themselves on the field both mentally and physically and bring out the best version of the team.

“It takes the whole team to compete with [higher level teams], so it motivates everyone to do their best and put in as much work as they can,” Meyerhoff said.

However, varsity head coach David Young knows that in order to have a strong season this year, the team cannot live in last year’s glory.

They must recognize that they are a different team than last year and create their own identity.

“The key for this year’s team is to forget about last year’s successes,” Young said. “We need to create our own successes, hit the restart button and start to make our own way.”

The team has started the season 1-4 in non-league games. Haworth sees the biggest room for improvement in working on the team’s chemistry and getting everyone to play together.

“We all have different [skills] that we can bring to the table and contribute to the team, so once we [work] together, that is when we will be successful,” Haworth said.

In spite of these changes, the players hope to bring everything together in time for Bay League games, which begin on Oct. 4 with the Remember the Titans game against Leuzinger High School.

ANGELINA MENDOZA

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sports

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The girls’ varsity volleyball team is looking forward to a new season under coach Kevin Williams. Many of the team’s starting players graduated last year, so Williams is focused on having the new players work together. He is working with his younger players to improve their performance and communication throughout the season. “[This team has] a ton of potential,” Williams said. “This season has had its ups and downs so far, so every day we try to get better and work on our chemistry on and off the court.”

As a new member on varsity, sophomore Harley Johnson is excited to bond with the other girls. She believes they have come out strong so far in the season, but that they can always strive for improvement.

“We have very good communication on the court and are constantly talking,” Johnson said. “Our serves have been very consistent, but we need to be more accurate with our passing.”

This season, Scotte Massey is acting as girls’ varsity volleyball’s assistant coach. Massey is currently working on adjusting to volleyball’s different style.

Senior and varsity captain Peonia Chan is excited for her last season with the team. Chan is anticipating many new experiences as she gets to know the new players.

“I am most looking forward to the memories we will create,” Chan said. “Every year that I have been on varsity, it has been different and I think that is the beauty of it. Each year has something new to offer.”

Chan believes that the team’s success will only be attained if individual players put in work on their own.

“Although we are a varsity team, our potential as individual players and teammates is not diminished,” Chan said. “We hope that by improving our playing skills, we can improve our work ethic.”

HELEN HUANG / the PEN

WATER POLO

GIRLS GOLF

MARCUS KIM

JEREMY KIM

The boys’ varsity water polo season has begun, with the team hoping to reach the round of eight in the CIF-Southern Section tournament, just as they did last year. With three starting players transferring to Palos Verdes High School, as well as three seniors graduating, the team is looking to some fresh faces to match last year’s playoff success.

Varsity coach Jeff Kaye has been coaching the team for the past four years. He noted that the loss of players has proved difficult for the team, making this a transitional year.

“We have taken a few hits this season, but we are going to continue to keep fighting and doing our best to compete,” Kaye said.

Sophomore Jaiden Thakor agrees that the key to success this year lies in the team’s connection with each other.

“I think that the beginning of the season will be filled with obstacles, but as we get used to playing with one another, we hope to play well together and overcome the struggles of the season,” Thakor said.

“The overall chemistry among the team is a big part of our success.”

The team has played in two tournaments this season as well as 12 non-league games, where they have four wins and eight losses. One tournament was at Garden Grove High School on Sept. 13-14, where the team went 2-2, and another tournament was at Schurr High School on Sept. 19-21, where they went 1-3.

Senior and varsity captain David Amano expressed a lot of enthusiasm about entering the new season.

“I have been getting to know the team’s strengths and weaknesses and how to get to know each other better in and out of the pool,” Amano said.

The varsity girls’ golf team aims to win the Bay League title after placing second in the Bay League behind Mira Costa High School last year. However, varsity head coach Glenn Van Enk feels that this will be difficult, especially with six new players on the team this year. Van Enk believes that the players need to work on their short game such as chipping and putting in order to improve their respective scores.

“They can all get it onto the [middle of the course],” Van Enk said.

“However, when they get near the green, getting it into the hole has been their nemesis. We have had a few clinics to address those issues.”

The new members of the team are adjusting to playing at the varsity level. Junior Allison Kwon is looking forward to her first time travelling to new courses for matches and playing with the other upperclassmen on varsity. In order to improve, she realizes that each player must understand her strengths and weaknesses and have the determination to practice regularly even outside of school practices.

“We need to analyze what areas we need to work on and really focus on those,” Kwon said. “For me, it is putting and chipping.”

Senior Eujin Oh is excited for the season with her new varsity teammates. She believes that although the team has many new players, they can still be successful if they work diligently on their game.

“We have a lot of potential to do well,” Oh said. “If we practice a lot and go into games with a positive attitude, we can win Bay League.”

In addition to competing, Oh is cherishing her final season together with her teammates, particularly their team meals at Sandwich Saloon in San Pedro before every away game.

The team has a 3-5 record so far this season and will play next at Los Alamitos High School on October 7.

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