The Pen

the

PEN

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School www.pvphsnews.com Vol. XXXIV

Issue 7 April 25, 2014

If we tried, all of us could write fifteen pages on the consequences of the Industrial Revolution.

But how many of us know how to apply for a loan? Change a tire?

Pay taxes?

OPINION

INTO THE WILD

English teachers explore new titles for future core reading NEWS Page 3

ABLED DIFFERENTLY Students and staff reflect on their relationships with disabilities FOCUS Page 7

LIGHTS! CAMERA!

Action! First- ever student film festival shows on campus this May STUDENT LIFE Page 8

Page 4

HOT SHOT

Mitchel Charles sets a personal record in shot put SPORTS Page 10

the

PENPRESS YOUR FACE HERE

PASS

Want one of these?

S S E C C A L L A • Reporter Pick up a tryout packet from H52 and join the staff next year as a:

• Editor • Columnist • Freelancer • Photographer • Graphic Designer

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Congratulations to all those who placed at the NSPA/JEA write-off competitions this year!

From left to right: • Jina Kim - Honorable Mention in Feature Copywriting • Uswah Shabbir - Excellent in Editorial Copywriting • Chris Kong - Honorable Mention in Sports Copywriting • Meria Ogawa - Superior in YB Sports Copy/Caption • Rebecca Jeon - Excellent YB Academics Copy/Caption • Florencia Park - Excellent in Review Copywriting

The Pen holds itself to high standards when it comes to informational accuracy. We are as disappointed as our readers when this is not the case.

The Pen was notified shortly after publication of the previous issue that one section of the UC Admissions infographic on page 12 was based on erroneous data.

Because the word “accepted” was used instead of “enrolled” in the 2013 Applications and Admissions bar graph, it led readers to falsely conclude that there were far fewer offers of admission than was actually the case.

Additionally, the figures used in the Freshman Class of 2013 pie graphs were inaccurate.

2

NEWS

In the Works

By JOVEN DU Starting next year, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District plans to modify the core reading list, providing teachers and students with a significantly more diverse pool of reading choices.

“Even as Director of Curriculum, I won’t be the one to say, ‘this book needs to be on the list,’ PVPUSD Director of Curriculum Joan Romano said. “The choice is totally on the teachers.”

Every few weeks, teachers and district members gather to discuss which books can be newly implemented into the system.

Upon approval, the choices can be used in schools throughout the district.

“Reading [different] books would be interesting. I think that adding in a wider variety of books would benefit [the student body],” junior Natanael Troy said.

The district is working to finalize teacher book selections before finally implementing the new list. For the time, this push will only affect students in grades

6 through 12. Later, a revamped canon might extend to elementary students.

While the change comes on the heels of the Common Core adoption, Peninsula students should not expect major shifts in the English department’s curriculum.

“Even as Director of Curriculum, I won’t be the one to say, ‘this book needs to be on the list.’ The choice is totally on the teachers.”

PVPUSD Director of Curriculum, Joan Romano “Much of the kind of teaching that Common Core seems to want is what already has been happening here for several years now,” English teacher and English Department Chair Bruce Colin said. “If

CHRISTOPHER MICHEL/THE PEN

With the school year coming to a close, the English Department has begun discussing potential changes to the current core novels list.

anything, we’ll have a bit more flexibility and won’t be as tied down having to do some things.”

Because teachers will have greater opportunity to choose what they want their students to read, book selection may vary somewhat from class to class.

Some books have already added to the curriculum in the past few years, including Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” and Jon Karkauer’s “Into the Wild”.

“We are pushing for rich reading materials and are making a transition in the district to the Common Core,” Romano said. “We can make a change.”

Some classics like “The Great Gatsby” and “Hamlet” will continue to be taught.

“The truth is much of what we’ve been doing -- from introducing nonfiction reading into our curriculum and emphasizing evidence-based writing -- will continue to be done,” Colin said. “[At Peninsula], we’ve always been focused on preparing students for college and career readiness.”

Revamping the Heart of the Hill: New owners plan to renovate Peninsula Center

By SONIA DESAIDAMLE Peninsula Center has been a favorite after-school hangout area for Peninsula students ever since its construction during the mid-1950s. After serving Palos Verdes residents for so long, the center is now scheduled to undergo $12 million worth of renovations over the next year.

In May 2013, the property was purchased

by Vestar, a commercial property management company operating in California and Arizona, for $87.3 million. Vestar has since made plans to upgrade the shopping center. The added facilities have the potential to attract new businesses and to replace those who have recently left the site, including Burger King and Hallmark Peninsula Stationers.

Peninsula Center is currently 294,000 square feet and home to dozens of shops and eateries. When renovations have been completed, the area will be approximately 310,000 square feet.

Three small commercial buildings will be constructed and two existing ones will be renovated. In addition, the columned area will be demolished to make way for the parking lot to be widened to allow easier access for cars throughout the area.

“I hang out at the Peninsula Center every week, sometimes more than once a week,” sophomore Laura Griffin said.

“I’m really excited to see how it will look when the renovations are done.”

Many companies in the center expect an increase in customer traffic after the renovations are completed. For example

in August, Petco will be relocated to the space that formerly housed Pier One Imports, which will give it almost double the square footage it originally had. Petco will also be taking several of the shops behind Bonbon Island to increase its area to fifteen thousand square feet. The added space will make way for a grooming salon, which many Petco customers have been asking for for a long time.

“Customers have been asking us to take their pets in and groom them for ages, but up until now we haven’t had a salon at this location,” Petco Store Manager Diane Kennedy said. “The new renovations will not only allow us to please our customers, but it will also attract new ones.”

Kennedy also said that after

construction is completed, Petco will invite students to see the animals on display in the new facilities.

Along with existing stores being upgraded, the center will welcome new businesses to the hill. Vestar has not indicated which new retailers will join the center, According to website Palos Verdes Patch, stated that the new standalone buildings in existing parking lot areas will become restaurants. A Target may also be added, according to Rite Aid assistant store manager Edison Cornejo.

“I have been going to the Peninsula Center all my four years of high school,” senior Graham Amstock said. “I would love to see what new improvements will be made there, and most of all what food options will be introduced.”

3

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Izma Shabbir Stephanie Minn COPY/DESIGN EDITOR Sunnie Kim MANAGING EDITOR Zohair Lalani NEWS EDITORS: Mina Zhang Tunika Onnekikami WRITERS: Amani Jalota Joven Du Sonia Desaidamle OPINION EDITORS: Caroline Park Uswah Shabbir WRITERS: Prashila Amatya Robert Broadbelt Sama Shah FOCUS EDITORS: Lauren Lee Soolgi Hong WRITERS: Esther Chu Jina Kim Marine Fujisawa Valeria Park STUDENT LIFE EDITORS: Fatima Siddiqui Florencia Park WRITERS: Alex Bologna Elisabeth Darling Jasmine Kim Rachael Ku SPORTS EDITORS: Amy Valukonis Noah Werksman WRITERS: Chris Kong Danielle Castaneda GRAPHICS Angela Song Jackie Uy Juliette Struye Justin Boisvert Yasmine Kahsai Isabelle Wang BUSINESS & ADVERTISING Liliana Pond ADVISER Katherine Crowley “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 Liliana Pond at (310) 377- 4888 ext. 652. The Pen editors appreciate Letters to the Editors, which may be accepted up to one week before publication. You may submit them to H52 or Katherine Crowley’s mailbox.

Copyright © 2014

Design by: Sunnie Kim Front Page Illustration by: Yasmine Kahsai

4

The School of Life learn

Things to do before how to write a check how to change a tire how to write a resume how to apply for a loan how to pay taxes

By PRASHILA AMATYA and SAMA SHAH A survey of 100 Peninsula students shows that 91 percent of students are interested in learning more practical skills in high school. Although high school provides students with knowledge to prepare them for academic life in college, it does not provide students with the basic skills expected to live as independent adults. Skills such as balancing a checkbook and writing a resume become important when students move out of the comfort of their homes.

When students are presented with real-world

Editorial

­

By EDITORIAL STAFF

We are taught that everything we have done for the past twelve years has been leading up to the spring of our senior year: the time of college decisions. This past month has been spent eagerly awaiting notifications from our own schools and those of our peers.

However we students need to realize that “college” and all that surrounds it—waitlists, rejections, acceptances, finances—are

91%

of students believe that more vocational classes need to be taught at Peninsula.

ANGELA SONG/THE PEN

27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

*Survey of 100 students

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL

issues, they will not draw on their knowledge of Shakespeare or trigonometry. Rather, they will need social and vocational skills to resolve their problems.

Eighty- two percent of students think that Peninsula would benefit from the addition of vocational courses. Unfortunately, the accessibility of these courses for the South Bay may decrease. Due to a potential lack of funding designated by the California state budget, the Southern California Regional Occupational Center’s programs, which offer internships and work experience to high school students, may be discontinued.

This change reflects the mentality that students need only be prepared for the academic aspects of their college and future life.

“The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program helps not only with college readiness, but also [with preparing] students for life beyond academia,” junior and third-year avid member Niki Khajavand said.

While it is true that classes such as Economics and AVID are offered to teach students real-world skills, these classes should be supplemented by additional courses that directly assist students in gaining practical, applicable knowledge.

“Economics helps students develop logic and decisionmaking skills,” AP Economics teacher Len Lyberger said. “[Students] have to weigh the extra cost of taking an action, and compare it with the extra benefit of taking the action. This skill applies to many decisions that will face them down the road.”

More and more, students have been focusing their attention on achieving a perfect 5.0 GPA and perfect standardized testing scores so that they can attend prestigious universities. The byproduct of this change in mentality is a generation unprepared to survive in the real world.

extremely personal.

A degree of etiquette is required during such a critical time. Social media outlets like Facebook profligate both news and gossip about acceptances and rejections. Understandably, seniors are excited to share these monumental decisions.

Even so, publicizing all nine acceptances on Facebook or Twitter goes completely overboard.

Announcing every college result to people online, many of whom frankly do not care, fishes for praise and congratulations. Distastefully broadcasting every step of such a personal journey only reveals

a student’s insensitivity and desperation for flattery.

Underclassmen, realize that much of this process is an individual one. So much more goes into a college decision than prestige or rank, including family finances, specific programs and campus life.

It is only when college application time falls upon underclassmen will they understand the complexity of the experience. Until then, the college-bound senior need not explain every acceptance, rejection, deferral or final decision.

Students do not choose their school solely on its

place on US News & World Report’s list of “Top National Universities,” so bringing up a school’s rank is blatantly rude.

In reality, the college decision process is overwhelming, thrilling and, at times, painful. Underclassmen, respect the privacy of seniors’ college decisions, because there will come a time when you will seek the same respect from others.

Seniors: before we let the world decide our choices and whether they are right or wrong, we ourselves must be content with our decisions first. The rest ceases to matter.

OPINION

don't

Models: SUNNIE KIM & ALLEGRA MILLER

tolerate,

By SAMA SHAH Tolerance is defined as the ability to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not agree with. It is “putting up with” something or someone. Society must be more than tolerant of people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Society must be accepting of diverse sexual orientations just as it is of other biological traits.

Forty-seven percent of Peninsula students know someone who has been bullied due to sexual orientation.

Clearly, LGBT students still encounter some disrespect for their sexual preferences.

“After I came out [as lesbian,] one of my friends was not very supportive and that ended the friendship we had maintained

since kindergarten,” freshman Sabrina Harnois said.

Twenty-one percent of Peninsula students claim to be merely tolerant; While six percent of students claim to accept LGBT students, shockingly, 12 percent still say that they are neither tolerant nor accepting of LGBT students.

Tolerance is touted as good enough, causing many to proudly proclaim their tolerant

personalities. However, by making these proclamations, people are solely acknowledging their oppositional feelings

DANIYA HAJI/THE PEN

accept as the best form of coexistence proves how small peoples’ hearts are.

The first step students should take toward acceptance is understanding.

In the context of the LGBT acceptance, those who do not fully comprehend different sexual orientations and genders reject them too readily.

The media, by stereotyping people who identify as LGBT, adds to the lack of

"After I came out [as lesbian,] one of my friends was not very supportive and that ended the friendship we had maintained since kindergarten.”

Freshman Sabrina Harnois toward those who are different.

Essentially, asserting tolerance

understanding and acceptance.

Stereotypes, such as most transgender women are simply men in drag, sharpen the unwelcoming atmosphere surrounding the entire LGBT community.

“Many people think that bisexuality does not exist, that bisexuals are just simply ‘confused’ and that [people are] either straight or gay,” junior and President of the Gay Straight Alliance Club Laurie Marqueton said. “There have been people who have called me a liar for identifying as bisexual because they thought I wanted attention.”

Students should counter this poisonous atmosphere by learning to fully accept and celebrate LGBT students, just as they accept a person of a different race or religion.

5

D

I S

ABIL

ITIES

OR JUST ABLED DI FFERENTLY 6

Yang says disability is a part of who she is

FOCUS 285 Million people are estimated to have visual impairments, according to the World Health Organization.

By MARINE FUJISAWA & VALERIA PARK This June, 31 graduates will be recognized as valedictorians.

Valedictorian status is earned by having a 4.0 GPA, which usually results from countless hours spent studying. Senior Amy Yang is a part of this prestigious group, yet she possesses one distinct characteristic that separates her from the others - she has cerebral palsy.

Yang was in kindergarten when doctors first diagnosed her with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that is caused by early brain damage and affects a person’s ability to control their muscles.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cerebral palsy is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases among young children. Approximately one in every 323 children were diagnosed with cerebral palsy in 2013.

“In elementary school, even though I was happy and everything, I felt different from everyone, inferior, in a way,” Yang said. “But then I went to middle school. I accepted my disability as something that was a part of me. I coped with it, and I guess it boosted my selfconfidence.”

As she learned more about herself and cerebral palsy, Yang began to accept her disability.

During middle school, she embraced the philosophy that everyone is unique in his or her own way, and this newfound understanding helped her move forward and look to the future, Yang said.

Consequently, Yang’s disability has not inhibited her from achieving educational success. Along with attaining the title of valedictorian, Yang has been taking academically rigorous courses, including five Advanced Placement classes. Earlier this year, she was also a part of Peninsula’s final competing team in Scholar Quiz.

With all the academic success Yang attained, it may be hard to imagine the obstacles she had faced throughout her childhood. Since elementary school, she encountered challenges from others not understanding her capabilities.

In eighth grade, Yang felt that

due to her speech impairment, she was prevented from trying out to speak at graduation.

Furthermore, Yang has missed extra-curricular events because of her cerebral palsy.

Para-educator Kathy Ryyth, who has been with Yang for nine years, spends lunch with Yang so she can focus on eating.

“She has to miss out in all the lunchtime activities to eat,” Ryyth said. “A lot of people take it for granted that they can do two things at once. [It is important] to inform people about this [situation] so people can understand.”

Ryyth says that she and Yang had an instant connection the day Ryyth was assigned to Yang, and they have been good friends ever since. Ryyth participates in many of Yang’s classes and said she remains close to Yang. “[Amy] has always given 110 percent so she is truly an inspiration to everyone that knows her,” Ryyth said. “It’s a gift [that I came across this job].”

Although she had to go through difficult circumstances, Yang’s disability has helped her learn more about herself and her peers. In fact, these experiences she endured has helped her accept herself as she is.

“The most important lesson that I learned from my disability is [to not be] afraid to realize that you’re different from everyone,” Yang said. “[My disability] is a part of me I have to accept. It makes me who I am.”

In the upcoming fall, Yang will be attending California State University Long Beach.

She plans on majoring in engineering with an emphasis in computer science and will look for more inspiration in college. In addition, Yang will be applying to the Engineering Honors Program and will pursue a career in helping others with cerebral palsy.

“I want to help design a device that will help other people who are in my situation,” Yang said. “I’m excited to interact with other people and meet cute guys.”

As Yang moves on to college, she is excited for becoming more independent, meeting new people and achieving success in engineering to aid others.

In the 2010 U.S Census, 5.2% of the uninstitutionalized children population reported having a disability.

According to the University of California, San Francisco, 6.8 million Americans use devices to help with mobliity.

Of those 6.8 million, 1.7 million Americans use wheelchairs or scooter riders in 2013.

John Hopkins Medicine reports that about every 2-3 schoolchildren out of 1000 are hard of hearing or deaf

Passionate about supporting special needs

By JINA KIM Para-educator Juan Flores had or an aide to those with hearing others anymore because there are never planned on building a career impairments. so many people who struggle with helping students with disabilities.

“I actually know someone who this little part of life.”

But when he unexpectedly came is an audiologist and he guided Senior Alyson Kim also works across the opportunity, he took it. me along the way as I tried to with students with disabilities.

The passion that motivates Flores make decisions about my future,” Kim is the club president of to continue his work as a paraMcGuinness said. “I also was able Best Buddies, which promotes educator, an aide to students with to see how passionate he was friendships between students from special needs, also drives other about his career, which solidified the general education department, students to pursue similar careers. my interest in working with people called Peer Buddies, and students The most important value with special needs.” from the special education Flores has gained from his McGuinness also has the population, the Buddies. experience working in this “Students who happen field is patience. After years to have a disability shouldn’t “You have no idea how good of working with a particular be, and are not in our club, that feels—it’s like there’s student, Flores witnessed the defined by just their disability, culmination of their combined but celebrated for all their somebody who can’t see and all of efforts as the student received a sudden they can see because you abilities,” Kim said. his high school diploma.

Para-educator Ed Hamlin show them how to.”

“We all thought it was plans to work with people going [take longer] before with disabilities for the rest he graduated, but he do so of his life.

Ed Hamlin, Para-Educator on time,” Flores said. “It was “[I learned] to be patient, probably my biggest moment understanding, compassionate [to see] him, [hear] his name called opportunity through the SCROC and more than anything, to listen onstage and see [his family] smile.”

ASL classes to directly interact more than [to] talk,” Hamlin While Flores found his passion with people who have hearing said.“This is something I’ve always later in life, senior Rebecca disabilities. By seeing the lives of had with me.”

McGuinness has been involved with those who are unable to hear, He recalls an instance in which this field since her junior year.

McGuinness became inspired to he taught a student with to read, McGuinness recently became a help people with this disability. a skill that was difficult for the part of the American Sign Language “It’s a nice feeling that I can student at the time.

(ASL) class in the Southern talk to them and make them “You have no idea how good California Regional Occupational feel comfortable in a world that feels—it’s like there’s Center (SCROC) program this that definitely doesn’t cater to somebody who can’t see and all past year. Even before she finished [their] lifestyle...because of their of a sudden they can see because the first year of her ASL class, disability,” McGuinness said. “I you show them how to. That’s McGuinness had already set her never take for granted how easy something inside—nobody can give sights on becoming an audiologist, it is for me to communicate with you that,” Hamlin said.

7

Lights, Camera, Action: Peninsula Hosts its first film festival

By ALEX BOLOGNA On May 15, 2014, after three months of preparation, Peninsula will host its first annual film festival, displaying student-made drama, comedy, documentary and silent films. The lack of a school-governed film exhibition motivated coordinators Seth Cohen and Tim Coleman to set out and organize the Peninsula Film Festival (PFF).

Raising awareness of the growing film community at Peninsula Drama teacher Seth Cohen and English teacher Tim Coleman designed the PFF to provide filmmakers a chance to have their work recognized and appreciated on campus.

“I have been planning to make a film of some kind before [leaving] high school for a while now,” junior Cairo Smith said. “It was one of those lazy day plans that never really happened, but the PFF gave me a serious incentive.”

Smith, writer and director of the short film, “The Undead Language,” said he has always had an interest in

storytelling and in writing. His father, who is a voice actor in video games like “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” encouraged him to pursue filmmaking. Although Smith does not see his submission winning him much fame or fortune, he is excited to enter the contest to ensure the continuation of programs that promote creativity and collaboration.

In fact, teachers and students that have been working to create these kinds

“I have been planning to make a film of some kind before [leaving] high school for a while now.”

Cairo Smith

of programs hail the PFF as a culmination of their efforts. To add legitimacy to their project, Coleman and Cohen have invited a panel of entertainment industry professionals to judge student work.

This year, Coleman has taken over the video production classes at Peninsula, discarding the old curriculum and implementing new lessons geared toward narrative filmmaking. His students study award-winning films in class and collaborate with one another to produce

short films fit for entry into the PFF. Junior Alex Kokka, an avid film buff since childhood, also hopes to pursue a career in film. Kokka has taken both Video Production and Coleman’s Harbor College Film Appreciation class offered at school. As a result of Coleman’s encouragement and the opportunities PFF offers, he was inspired to submit his most recent production in the comedy genre.

“Before the change [in the video production class,] I just kind of watched movies for fun,” Kokka said.

“But [ever] since I was introduced to the technical and the more creative aspects of film, I [have treated] it as more of a fine art rather than just blockbuster [entertainment].”

Enrollment for Video Production is now open for next year, and Coleman and Cohen continue efforts to enhance the program. They highly encourage the collaboration of student filmmakers, and speculate that no matter how successful the PFF is this year, next year will be bigger. Coleman envisions Peninsula to become the high school film capital of Los Angeles.

“The one thing that I’ve seen from students over the last five years is that the level of creativity is astounding,” Cohen said. “[The Pen Film Festival] is only going to be as good as the students make it.”

JACkIE UY/THE PEN

Peninsula California youth ambassador succeeds in Sacramento

By ELISABETH DARLING On March 15, junior Daniel Mellor, the only California Youth ambassador from the South Bay area, and 14 other student state ambassadors traveled to Sacramento to discuss the critical shortage of counselors in our public school systems and school funding.

Afterwards, Mellor met with Senator Ted Lieu to further tackle the issue.

“California has an average counselor to student ratio of 1,016 to 1,which is four times the recommended amount,” Mellor said. “[It’s a problem because] when students don’t get the help they need, they have trouble getting a higher education.”

At Peninsula, there are a total of six academic counselors and one safe school counselor.

“I went there to represent our

8

school since we have one of the best [counselor to student ratios] in state,” Mellor said.

The California Youth Ambassadors’ goal in Sacramento was to get the Department of Education to take action on the counseling issue. The state superintendents gave the ambassadors their word that the topic will become a priority, which was considered a “huge success” by Mellor.

“The economic downturn of the last few years has affected public education and for our government leaders to hear directly from our students makes a big impact,” Terri Lewallen, director of the College and Career Center said.

Mellor will be a California Youth Ambassador for the rest of his high school career.

“It was a really cool experience since I am interested in politics,” Mellor said.

COURTESY OF DANIEL MELLOR

Junior Daniel Mellor poses with Calif. State Assemblyman Ted Lieu after discussing the shortage of counselors at public high schools. Lieu supported the group’s ideas.

[

STUDENT LIFE

YASMINE KAHSAI/THE PEN

Peninsula students cope with extreme distress

By ELISABETH DARLING and RACHAEL KU According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 18 percent of the US population is affected by anxiety. At Peninsula, a survey of 94 students reveals that 16 percent also suffer from anxiety.

Freshman Sarah* is among this group, suffering from low-level anxiety. She seldom gets panic attacks but when she does, they are set off by triggers such as school and other daily pressures.

“It doesn’t happen all the time, but if I’m really stressed and something minor happens, I get really dramatic,” Sarah said. “I just blow it way out of proportion.”

Getting stuck on a homework problem or even spilling something is enough to make her feel panicked.

“I don’t get them at school, but if I mess up on something, then suddenly I become a failure,” Sarah said. “If someone says something to me and I misinterpret it as an insult, then suddenly they’re ganging up on me and attacking me.”

During her attacks, Sarah’s muscles start to tense up and she begins to hyperventilate.

“It gets harder to focus and a lot of times I’ll start yelling,” Sarah said.

At first, Sarah’s mother assumed these symptoms were merely part of normal teenage stress. As Sarah started going to therapy, her therapist realized that her condition warranted a medical diagnosis. Last year, she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

After struggling alone with her panic attacks since middle school, Sarah was relieved to find out that there were other people experiencing the same problems.

“I was actually relieved [when I was diagnosed,]” Sarah said. “I had been having panic attacks for a

couple of years and just [being] able to put a name on my anxiety makes [coping] a lot better.”

Sophomore Greyson*, however, suffers a more severe form of anxiety. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with social anxiety.

“Before I got diagnosed, it was

to breathe, and experiences a suffocating pressure on her chest.

Situations that trigger her attacks range from class presentations to ordering food in a restaurant. Even being left alone can trigger panic attacks.

“It’s the time when I’m left

“Just [being] able to put a name on my anxiety makes [coping] a lot better.”

Greyson

really difficult to go out and do things,” Greyson said.“I want to be this perfect person, but when you let people [become] close to you, they are going to see your flaws. My problem is that I can’t accept that.”

Her anxiety does not only impact her social life and relationships, but also affects her grades, as she finds it hard to participate in class.

“Just the sheer amount of people at school is enough to make me anxious,” Greyson said. “Raising my hand to answer a question or to read a passage is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to do.”

A large part of Greyson’s anxiety stems from her self-consciousness.

“I feel like if I’m not super smart and really pretty and insanely talented, then people are going to severely dislike me. And that’s what worries me the most,” Greyson said.

Along with social anxiety, Greyson also suffers from panic attacks, triggered when she feels uncomfortable. During her attacks, Greyson feels shaky, finds it hard

alone with my thoughts that I get a chance to really think about all the times I screwed up or all the dumb things I said throughout the day,” Greyson said. “I mainly think about every possible thing I could do wrong in a situation. It’s a lot of negative thoughts directed at myself.”

{

Greyson has found it easier to cope with her disorder since her diagnosis. Knowing that she is not the only one coping with social anxiety has made it much easier for her to accept.

In fact, according to the ADAA, Greyson is one of 15 million other Americans who deal with social anxiety.

Greyson has found that going to therapy has helped her cope with anxiety by talking to a professional. Her best friend Amanda has also helped her realize that her anxiety does not define who she is.

“Before, it was just this constant question of ‘what’s wrong with me?’” Greyson said.

“But now that I know what’s wrong with me, it’s easier for me to cope with this disorder.

I’m not as alone as I thought.” *Sarah and Greyson’s full names have been kept confidential.

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT STRUGGLES WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER? DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER?

44% YES

56% NO

16% YES 84% NO

*survey taken of 94 students

9

SPORTS

Panther baseball keeps its eye on the ball

Guess Who?

At a home game on March 8, Peninsula’s #12 David Odle (left) makes contact with a pitch from El Segundo’s #35, Mitch Thompson. Odle contributed one hit and Max Green (below) earned the win in the Panther’s come-from-behind victory as the team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to clinch the game 7-6.

CAROLINE RAND/THE PEN

Rebounding from its California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) semifinals loss last year, Panther baseball is lighting up the Bay League with its firstplace 15-3 record.

Since his arrival at Peninsula in 2012, head coach John Hangartner and his staff have propelled their athletes into an era of success.

Former MLB pitcher and second-year Peninsula pitching coach Brian Bowles has shaped his pitching staff into one of the best in the nation. The eight-man rotation gave up a mere 22 runs in the team’s first 15 regular season games, marking the fewest number of runs allowed at this point in the season in the school’s fifty year history.

“The batters we face get tied up by the movement and mechanics of our pitches,” Bowles said. “We are striking out more batters and throwing more strikes than ever before.”

Two-year batting coach Don Slaught, who appeared in the 2006 World Series with the Detroit Tigers, is teaching his players how to maximize efficiency in their swings.

“Hitting is not just about bat speed and slugging,” Slaught said. “A good swing is all about delivery and timing.”

On April 16, in Peninsula’s 6-4 home win over Palos Verdes, the Panthers highlighted their offensive improvement by scoring five runs in the fifth inning.

After trailing 4-1, the Panthers retaliated with two two-run doubles and an RBI single to bring them back into the lead.

Even though the Panthers completed fewer hits than PV, their efficiency in run production was what ultimately led them to victory.

“We have been preparing for these kinds of tight situations,” senior outfielder Jake Sahagian said. “With the experience and confidence of our coaches, our team has the ability to come alive when facing adversity.”

In Peninsula’s away game against Palos Verdes, the Panthers swept the Sea Kings in a 10-inning pitcher’s duel. The first run was not scored until the top of the tenth inning, when Peninsula exploded with ten runs.

“It didn’t matter that we were facing our biggest rivals,” varsity pitcher and batter Max Green said. “We played to win, and it took every player we had to come through.”

At the Coachella Valley Tournament on the weekend of March 24, Green got on base more than 75 percent of the time and gave up only two runs after pitching seven innings, a complete game, against Burroughs High School.

“Coach Bowles helped me a lot with my consistency up on the mound,” Green said. “It was a long tournament, but we stayed focused.”

Three-year varsity player and starting catcher Phil Bernstein believes in the team’s improvement.

“We have unfinished business from last year,” Bernstein said, “and now we know what to expect.”

Hangartner, who has led the team to winning over two-thirds of its games, lauds his players on their resilience and pride.

“Our team may be known as an underdog,” Hangartner said, “but the kids play with the strength and courage of a championship team.”

With only eight games left in the season, Peninsula ranks fourth out of 70 teams in Division III.

Charles and Pillsbury leave a lasting legacy

By NOAH WERKSMAN

You may know me as the “Italian Stallion.” I am a varsity track team captain, and I compete in the long-jump, triple-jump and the short-distance relay events. I have blonde hair, I am 5’9’’, and I love being on Link Crew. I am close buds with David Odusanya.

Answer: Daniel Pallidini

10

Track and field shot putters junior Audrey Pillsbury and senior Mitchel Charles are making headway into the regional spotlight.

This year, Charles broke his fourth school record while Pillsbury claimed the girls’ school records for both discus and shot put.

“Our athletes know that they are competing against no one but themselves,” shot put head coach Doug Esparaza said. “If they are motivated and want to put in the time, then they will excel.”

In the South Bay Championships on the weekend of April 19, Charles and Pillsbury crushed personal and school records. Charles launched a 12 lb. shot 58.1 feet, breaking his personal best for a third consecutive time and crushing the

Varsity shot putter Mitchel Charles launches the “shot” during his warm-up routine.

Charles broke the school’s record for longest shot put throw with a 58.1 foot launch on April 12 at the Arcadia Invitational.

20-year-old school record by 20 feet.

Charles was named Male Athlete of the meet.

On the same day, Pillsbury conquered the discus-throwing event with a 134foot launch. She beat her opponents’

HANETHZIE GRANADOS/THE PEN

By CHRIS KONG

scores by an average of over 20 feet and broke the school record by four.

Charles, the third best recruit in California and the seventh best in the nation, will be headed to Princeton next year to join its track and field team.

11

12