Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913.
VOLUME 105 ISSUE 9 MAY 30, 2019
IN THE NEWS
SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
Farewell Assembly
Yearbook Distribution
Last Chance Dance
SPHS said their goodbyes to the Class of 2019 at the last assembly of the year today, Thursday May 30.
Yearbooks will be available for pick up for juniors, sophomores, and freshmen starting today, Thursday May 30.
LCD will feature food trucks, karaoke, and an escape room on the Tiger Patio Friday night, Jun. 1.
YOSEMITE 2019
STORY CHRISTINE MAO PHOTOS ALICIA ALDERETE & ANDRÉS OYAGA
camp at one site for the entirety of the trip and taking day hikes rather than finding a new place to sleep each night.
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Each group had drastically different experiences, participating in unique bonding activities. One group had a particularly rough trip with two of their students having to evacuate on the first day due to illness, and the rest evacuating out 12 miles a day earlier than the rest of the groups after heavy snow covered their tents, making it difficult to breathe during the night.
PHS seniors and faculty advisors embarked on a four day trip to Yosemite from May 19 to May 24 as per the end of the year tradition. Unlike other years, the weather was much colder and snowier than usual, which presented a few unique challenges for the seniors. A total of 60 seniors and five teachers participated in the trip, and to promote more interaction between different social circles, seniors were grouped with those who they were more unfamiliar with. The students were split into five groups and journeyed separately throughout the duration of the trip. Naturebridge, an environmental education organization, provided guides who led each group on different trails, trekking to destinations such as Yosemite Falls, Little Yosemite Valley, and Mirror Lake. Different from the prior year’s trip, the unpredictable weather varied from snow to rain to sun, so teachers and guides were more apprehensive about letting students backpack. As a result, three out of the five groups base camped instead of backpacking, opting to set up
Despite the quite irregular and difficult experience, students in this group felt as though the experience was exciting and bonded them greatly. This sentiment was shared by most other students, regardless of what struggles they endured on their own treks. “Many before me have spoken of the wonders of nature at Yosemite,” senior Ryan Jeong said. “However, what truly stuck me the most was how the common hardship of trekking through the rough terrain brought out the essence of teamwork in everybody. This trip taught me to see the best in those around me, and I would exchange nothing for these precious memories from Yosemite.”
CHAN’S PLANS
SEX EDUCATION
GRACE KIM
SPUSD’s health education program has made many useful additions, and destigmatizing masturbation would be the next logical step. Page 6
The kindhearted senior and Karen Offenhauser awardee shares her journey of resilience and selflessness.
Tiger sits down with new athletic director Anthony Chan to discuess his plans for the upcoming sports season.
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TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM
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TIGER MAY 30, 2019
NEWS
A Year in Review STORY KIMBERLY HSUEH & LUYANG ZHANG
PAGE TALULLA CHOW & MADDIE YOO
AUG: Marquez Shooting
OCT: Rainy Homecoming
South Pasadena resident and actor Vanessa Marquez was killed in a officer-involved shooting during a welfare check on Thursday, Aug. 30. The shooting is currently under investigation and her mother has since filed a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit against the City of South Pasadena.
The annual homecoming football game against the Temple City Rams was interrupted by an unexpected thunder and lighting storm that soaked both players and spectators. After senior Hyurk Ju Lee was named the Royal Tiger and the poor weather conditions refused to improve, the game had to be postponed to Oct. 15.
JAN: STEM Building
NOV: Midterm Election
Science and mathematics classes moved into the newly completed STEM building on Jan. 22, after over a year of construction. The new class spaces relocated the math classrooms from the bungalows and gave all science teachers their own classrooms. Currently, some classrooms equipped with lab tables still lack normal desks, although they are expected to be installed in the coming months.
The Nov. 6 midterm election prompted South Pasadena citizens to vote on a variety of city issues as well as electing city officials. Councilmembers Diana Mahmud and Michael Cacciotti were both reelected to city council and voters rejected the highly controversial Measure N, which would have legislated the repeal of the Utility Users Tax.
MAR: Senior Prank
APR: iKomo wins Nationals
A senior prank sent multiple students to the health office during lunch on Mar. 29. In the midst of throwing water balloons and spraying Silly String at the sophomores, several seniors were harmed in the process when a student unexpectedly retaliated with pepper spray. South Pasadena police broke up the confrontation and paramedics were called to the school to treat the affected seniors.
MAY: Hartsough Award Computer science teacher Mr. Garrett Shorr was named as the 2018-19 recipient of the Hartsough Award during the annual assembly on Friday, May 17. ASB commissioners honored several teachers, including Spanish teacher Mr. Joshua Whitney, who was presented with the the Heart of Gold Award and English instructor Ms Rama Kadri, who won the Rookie of the Year Award.
PHOTOS JAYDEN EDEN, ANDRÉS OYAGA & COURTESY OF SARAH DE LA O
The varsity Virtual Business team brought home a first place win in the National Business Plan Competition at Microsoft headquarters in New York City. Their company, iKOMO, is an interactive game that seeks to improve financial literacy by allowing players to invest cryptocurrency into digital pets. After their win, the team was invited to speak to technology executives and participate in workshops at Silicon Valley.
New Athletic Director SPUSD administration announced that Mathematics teacher Mr. Anthony Chan will be taking over as the new athletic director (AD) next school year. The news took place after it was announced that Mr. Gregorio Luna, who has held the position for the last five years, would not be returning as AD. Luna will instead teach social studies classes full-time. Check out page 13 for Tiger’s interview with the incoming AD.
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
NEWS
Senior Awards Night STORY ADAM KWOH & NICOLAS LIU
PAGE TALULLA CHOW & MADDIE YOO
GRAPHICS TALULLA CHOW
PHOTOS BRONSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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he SPHS faculty and members of the South Pasadena school community honored graduating seniors of the 2019-2020 class during the annual Senior Awards Night Wednesday, May 29. Seniors recieved scholarships and awards were for their notable accomplishments and achievements in their four years at SPHS. SPHS faculty presented the scholarships to outstanding students in areas such as leadership, sports, art, and language.
WELDON AWARD
Alekzander Grijalva
Grace Kim
Rachel Lu
Andrés Oyaga
The 90th Annual Weldon Award is presented to six members of the graduating class in honor of former SPUSD president and local businessman William H.R Weldon, commending recipients for their integrity and impact on the South Pasadena community. The over 25 members of the SPHS faculty took part in nominating the 2019-2020 Weldon Award recipients. This year seniors Alekzander Grijalva-Moreno, Grace Kim, Rachel Lu, Andrés Oyaga, Sage Pierone, and Sarah Uriarte received the prestigious award.
Sage Pierone
Sarah Uriarte
Pictured from left to right: Alekzander Grijalva will study engineering at Harvey Mudd College, while Grace Kim will pursue computer science and business at the University of Southern California. Rachel Lu will major in sociology and public policy at Brown University. Andrés Oyaga will enroll at Middlebury College, studying conservation biology. Sage Pierone will attend the University of California, Berkeley majoring in computer science and Sarah Uriarte will join Brown University’s Class of 2023 undeclared.
SPORTS
LEADERSHIP
Crary Sportsmanship Award
The Aydin Salek Award
Lauren Kafkaloff
Rachel Lu
The Kathryn Crary Sportsmanship scholarship is awarded to Lauren Kafkaloff for her contributions to the varsity girls’ basketball team. Kafkaloff has been a part of SPHS’ team all four years of high school, but was considered a key player on the team’s road to CIF this year. She will be majoring in computer and cognitive science at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Aydin Salek Award acknowledges the contributions of a single student through leadership both on campus and in the larger community. Rachel Lu received the award for her contributions to SPHS as a CASC representative, bridging state and local legislation and improving school programs to bring positive change on campus life. Lu also served as online managing editor of Tiger Newspaper and was a member of the Peer Mediators.
Logan Svihovec-McCarty Logan Svihovec-McCarty receives the Kathryn Larkin Crary Sportsmanship scholarship for his participation in SPHS varsity football. The running back has been a valued player to the team’s offensive line, as he was commended by his coach and team for his quick thinking and footwork. SvihovecMcCarty will be attending Cal State University Chico undeclared in the fall.
ACADEMICS The Helen Burr Scholarship Yoli Patzkowski The Helen Burr Award recognizes a student’s commitment to the study of a foreign language and culture during their time at SPHS. Yoli Patzkowski was named the recipient of this year’s award for her dedication to learning the Spanish language, expanding her knowledge and interest in foreign topics with activities such as TASSEL and Academic Decathlon. Patzkowski will begin pre-med at Occidental College in the fall.
ART & DRAMA Dickson Family Award
The Afram Family Scholarship
David Pérez Espinosa The Dickson Family Art Award honors the achievements of students in the visual arts in the community and at SPHS. David Pérez Espinosa was selected as the recipient this year, commending his illustrative talents in the art classroom and contributions to the South Pasadena Art Council (SPARC). Pérez Espinosa will be continuing illustration at the Art Center College of Design.
Chi Chow The Afram Family Scholarship celebrates the high mathematical performance of one SPHS student on behalf of the parents of current AP Language teacher Mark Afram. Chi Chow won the 2019 award for his academic success in the SPHS Math Department, serving as a member of the SPHS Coding Club. Chow will attend UC San Diego as a computer science major in the fall.
SCHOOL & COMMUNITY Karen Offenhauser Award
The Friends of ‘64 Award
Grace Kim
Phoenix Bekkedal
The student who receives the Karen Offenhauser Award is voted on by the graduating senior class, recognizing the influence of this individual on SPHS. This year’s winner, Commissioner of Academics Grace Kim, has left a positive legacy on the school environment through her many contributions to SPHS. Kim will join the University of Southern California’s Class of 2023 in the fall, majoring in computer science and law.
The Friends from ‘64 Award was inspired by a group of South Pasadena women who have sustained their friendships since graduating in 1964. The award celebrates the strength of one student in following his or her life pursuits through connection to the school and community. Phoenix Bekkedal claims the 2019 award for her persevering connection to SPHS as seen through her devotion to friendships. Bekkedal will attend Pasadena City College (PCC), majoring in biology, beginning in the fall.
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TIGER MAY 30, 2019
SENIOR PHOTOS
Alicia Alderete Fifth period was a class I always looked forward to even when it was the root of my stress. It taught me how to work as a team and how to become an efficient leader. Remembering back to my first TAAGLAA with Luke, Kate, and Elaine, to my last with Andrés and Dom, it made me meet people I probably would never talk to if I wasn’t in this class. I am grateful for all the relationships I have made and the ones I strengthened, Tiger gave me a family here at SPHS. I’m going to miss buying food for assignments that literally gave me a reason to eat picturesque meals. Spending hours after school for deadline and going to sports games that I never would have attended are features that only motivated me because they were about Tiger. Watching my first photo printed as the front cover last year was truly a proud moment for me; knowing my work was in newsprint was a rush that I will always love and will very much miss. I will miss much more too, Room 615 and my photogs, I wish them all luck and can’t wait to see what they will get to accomplish next year.
SENIOR PHOTO PORTFOLIO PAGE TALULLA CHOW & MADDIE YOO
ILLUSTRATIONS KATE ROGERS & ELAINE YANG
Andrés Oyaga I love birds so much that in the summer of 2018, I turned to photograph all kinds of aves from blue-footed boobies to steller’s jays. I was at peace whenever I found myself in the middle of nowhere with a bird book, binoculars, and a camera in hand. The excitement of capturing a bird in midflight, mating, or fighting pushed me to get the perfect shot every day. As junior year came to an end, I decided it was time for me to test my skills. Tiger Newspaper crossed my mind instantly, and I applied with a mediocre portfolio. Although apprehensive, I got into Tiger, and thus began a year of incredibly challenging assignments. Despite this, I am so grateful I joined a community of driven and intelligent teens that unknowingly pushed me to produce my best work. I have learned so much from Tiger in the short year I was a photographer, and I would never swap the lessons learned or experiences had for anything else.
Tony Chen I appreciate Tiger for the honor to photograph. Tiger did not just teach me skills to achieve perfection but also introduced me to so many things beyond the classroom I could not have known otherwise. Those challenging and entertaining assignments allowed me to meet new people and enjoy photography. I always had the most rapturous chats with my fellow photographers in class! They’ve taught me English and we shared stories together. At the end of the year, I am touched when I look back to all of the issues we’ve published and endeavors we’ve contributed, and I can tell how much my photographs have improved throughout the year! Thank you, Tiger. I wish I had another year!
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2018 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013
STAF F ED IT OR IA L
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OPINION
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MATT WAKUMOTO MANAGING EDITORS OONA FOLEY, Print RACHEL LU, Online NEWS ISABELLA TSAI, Editor ADAM KWOH, Associate OPINION PETER WANG, Editor AANJI SIN, Associate FEATURE ALEX BETTS, Editor DOMINIC MARZIALI, Associate SPORTS NOAH PARKER, Editor PRESTON SHARKEY, Associate DESIGN KATE ROGERS, ELAINE YANG, Co-Editors TALULLA CHOW, MADDIE YOO, Associates PHOTOGRAPHY ALICIA ALDERETE, Editor OSCAR WALSH, Associate COPY CAROLINE KIMBEL, MAYA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITERS AUDREY ERNST, CAT FLORES, KIMBERLY HSUEH, NICOLAS LIU, CHRISTINE MAO, MATTHEW TSAI, RAYMOND YEO, LUYANG ZHANG PHOTOGRAPHERS TONY CHEN, JAYDEN EDEN, ANDRÉS OYAGA, SOPHIE YEUNG ILLUSTRATORS NICHOLAS FORMAN, DAVID SOHN BUSINESS & ADS HYUN KIM WEBMASTER ALEX PARRA FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN VOL. 105 NO. 9 DISTRIBUTED ON MAY 30, 2019. DISTRIBUTION: 1436 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.
TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE ADVANCED JOURNALISM NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030. LAYOUT AND PHOTO IMAGING ARE COMPLETED ON-SITE. PRINTED BY L.A. WEB OFFSET PRINTING, INC., EL MONTE, CA. SIGNED ARTICLES APPEARING IN TIGER REPRESENT THE WRITER’S OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE STAFF, STUDENT BODY, FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATION OF SPHS. ORIGINAL STORIES WILL CARRY BYLINES, ALTHOUGH STORIES REWRITTEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL WRITER WILL NOT RECEIVE A BYLINE. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE BYLINES. CONTACT THE PUBLICATIONS OFFICE AT (626) 441-5820 EXT. 2615 BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M. FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. TIGER WELCOMES ARTICLES, LETTERS OR REBUTTALS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS. ALL LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIABLE, BUT NAMES WILL BE WITHHELD UPON REQUEST.
TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS/ENABLES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET AND REACH GOALS, AND WORK COOPERATIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. TIGER IS A FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE SPEECH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA ED CODE 48907. ALL REMAINING CURRENT TIGER NEWSPAPER POLICIES ARE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER. COM INCLUDING: CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
Being accountable starts with transparency, not ignorance The city continues to withhold information on the officer-involved shooting of Vanessa Marquez, making no effort to accept accountability for her death
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outh Pasadena’s tight-knit community is one of the city’s most commendable qualities, leading to a valued tradition of trust and communication between city leadership and its citizens. Even though on the surface there does not seem to be secrets kept from the public, some residents continually face unresolved questions. In August 2018, South Pasadena resident Vanessa Marquez, who was noted for her role in the drama series ER, was shot and killed in a South Pasadena Police Department officer-involved shooting after she was visited for a welfare check. Yet nearly 10 months and a $20 million lawsuit later, SPPD and the city refuse to release any information and work towards providing closure to both Marquez’s family and supporters. South Pasadena has made no effort to address any community concerns, only commenting on the officer-involved shooting as a justified decision. Although Marquez’s case is under investigation by the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, the city continues to withhold information such as the audio communications, body cam video, and names of officers who were present. Despite multiple Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests to SPPD and the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, residents have seemingly been misdirected as both departments ignore requests by directing residents to other resources. It is unacceptable for a city to ignore its residents, especially when a matter is so important to multiple communities in Los Angeles. Marquez was a role model as a Latina actress and public figure, making her death even more of a public priority. The city has an obligation to respond to Marquez’s death and uphold the legacy and impact she had locally and nationally. Marquez’s case has left her family and friends in a state of stress, a burden that should never be brought upon those experiencing
such tragic loss. Clearly, Marquez’s family has continued to grieve after filing a $20 million wrongful death lawsuit against South Pasadena in February 2019. SPPD and the city may have the ability to withhold evidence from the public, but this decision is both damaging to the city’s reputation and relationship with the public. A city that publicly claims that its decisions are justified should have nothing to hide from the public, especially evidence as simple as the officers’ identities. It should be the obligation of a city to ensure that information is transparent between itself and its citizens, while remaining accountable for its decisions by working closely with residents on issues they care about. The city’s decision to ignore not only the public, but Marquez’s family and friends, is especially concerning. Failing to meet personally with or aid Marquez’s loved ones shows a lack of compassion and dignity. If South Pasadena truly cares about its residents, as it claims to, the city should actively work to resolve issues that are imperative to those who have already suffered at the fault of the city. The most reasonable method of keeping the city accountable is to address community questions and concerns in a town hall meeting. This is more likely to happen under the new leadership of SPPD Chief Joe Ortiz, who hopes to set up a meeting following the completion of the Marquez investigation. A meeting would not only allow for residents to hear the perspective of the city, but would allow the public to voice their own opinions in an open discussion. Simply opening any line of communication shows a willingness to be transparent, which is a step closer to making sure all issues and perspectives are heard by the city.
Boos & Bravos Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of May. BOOS
BRAVOS
BOO to AP test memes for unauthorized discussion of confidential College Board intellectual property.
BRAVO to Memorial Day for allowing us to sleep for 14 hours instead of studying for finals.
BOO to booing. The year of living lovingly must end as upliftingly as it began.
BRAVO To all the kids who were accepted to the ultra competitive organization of JV Tiger, er, we mean Copa.
BOO to all the seniors who won’t trade spots in grad seating.
BRAVO to all the people who experienced the wonders of the peacock for the first time.
BOO to the Gatsby prom theme; if we wanted to party with uber-rich snobs, we would go to San Marino.
BRAVO to this year’s Parti Gras theme. “Camp” was so original.
TIGER
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OPINION
Incorporate masturbation into sex ed Discussing masturbation in health classes could remove harmful stigma around female sexuality STORY CAROLINE KIMBEL ILLUSTRATION NICHOLAS FORMAN California sex education guidelines have recently advocated for elementary school teachers to discuss gender identity in kindergarten classes and for high school health teachers to give relationship and sex advice to LGBTQ+ youth. While these additions are progressive, there is still more that should be included in high school level sex-ed to ensure lessons are fully comprehensive. Most health classes at SPHS are missing something essential: masturbation education. According to a recent Tiger survey, 68.5 percent of students surveyed said that they have never discussed masturbation within an SPUSD class. While it may appear taboo to some, we should be teaching young people that it’s perfectly normal to explore their own bodies. The stigma specifically around female masturbation reinforces patriarchal norms that sexual pleasure is only for males, and that females don’t, and shouldn’t, like sex. Sex ed should encompass masturbation education to promote sexual health and limit patriarchal relations. Despite historically misinformed medical notions that designate masturbation as unhealthy or dangerous, it has a plethora of health benefits. During masturbation, dopamine is released, which can reduce stress. According to PlannedParenthood. org, masturbation can reduce menstrual cramping and one’s likelihood of developing some cancers. It can also help people identify their own sexual desires. Moreover, it is normal, healthy, and nothing to be ashamed of.
Some argue that the stigma around masturbation is far removed from today’s society, but this is only partially true. Our society heavily stigmatizes female masturbation, which perpetuates rape culture by placing the idea into males’ minds that sex is designed for their benefit, making them more willing to violate their sexual partners later on. If females were told that it was normal for them to want to masturbate, it could make them more comfortable with their sexuality, which could empower them for future sexual encounters and deteriorate male sexual dominance. The ideal classroom discussion on masturbation wouldn’t encourage the act, but rather inform students about how to do it safely. Some parents may believe that masturbation conversations should only be held at home. Yet, according to Tiger's survey, 78 percent of SPHS students have never discussed masturbation with a parent or guardian. If masturbation education is not integrated into health classes, most students will never be educated on its benefits, and will likely only receive information from the internet, or worse, from porn. Although integrating masturbation education into sex-ed might be difficult at the state level, a good place to start is within our own health classes at SPHS. The more informed the teenage population is in terms of comprehensive sexeducation, the further removed our society can get from damaging historical stigmas around female sexuality.
Confessions of a genetic duplicate STORY NICOLAS LIU ILLUSTRATION DAVID SOHN
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have come to regard “Evan,” the name of my identical twin brother, as a frequent alias. I remember too many conversations in elementary and middle school in which being the genetic and physical duplicate of someone else was the butt of every conceivable joke. For a while, he and I found these interactions hilarious, and even when I was by myself I ended up referring to myself as “we” or, a favorite among my friends and admittedly myself, “Nevan.” This mentality seemed to fade in high school. I began to notice that when my peers brought up my unique sibling situation, it was not always for a quick laugh. I got tired of explaining to people that I have never switched my clothes or classes with my brother to mess with classmates or teachers, and I began resenting anyone who ever collectively called us “the Twins” or me individually as “the other one.” “Nevan” had effectively lost its luster, and I saw that those around me were seriously yet unwittingly sustaining a toxic situation that kept me from seeing myself as “Nick” or Evan as “Evan.” This is understandable behavior for people who do not have siblings, or the much larger majority of people who are not identical twins; most do not know what it feels like to share every part of their personality and being with someone else. Still, it underlines a pressing
FAREWELL
STORY OONA FOLEY ILLUSTRATION MAYA WILLIAMSON
Love to my haters The worst contribution I have made to Tiger was easily my swim coverage during the spring of 2017. My 13 halflength, nearly stats-less articles prompted a passionate 500 word email response from swimmer Hyun Kim, a much needed critique of my “work.” To quote: “Do you guys interview the coaches about the team's performances or do you guys just go off on a limb and assume things about the team? Some of the statements given by Tiger staff in the articles are just plain wrong about are [sic] opinions of the meets...” Though fully warranted, the scathing review frustrated me because I knew Hyun was right about the low quality
articles. Forced to confront my superiority complex in regards to sports writing, I felt absolutely incompetent. Hyun is now our business/ads manager and has become a good friend of mine in the past year. And thus I love Tiger. It allows students to push and empower each other. Working on this publication has given me the opportunity to befriend and collaborate with incredibly critical thinkers. It has allowed me to fall in love with so many people based off the power of their intellect. Because of Tiger, I can call my harshest critics and biggest role models my best friends. My time spent eavesdropping on such people in the glassroom has shown
concern that jeopardizes the identities of all siblings. People should be able to see individual siblings for who they are alone, not necessarily for who they are related to. This applies to students with older siblings as well; no one should have to dwell in the accomplishments or reputation of their brothers or sisters long graduated. A necessary step in achieving this is understanding how to properly dismantle the “Nevan” mindset. People are not going to suddenly be able to discern between my brother and myself on command, nor will they always be able to act with the understanding of how much it matters afterward. It will have to start with at least acknowledging that siblings are different people. I am fine with being called Evan if the person who calls me that does not mean to suppress my identity, and I will know that they mean well if they can understand where I am coming from. Friends of any siblings should be able to see them the same, as if they were only children without any shoes to fill. That means forgetting what their siblings have done, however remarkable, and acting differently around each of them if necessary. Despite what it may sound like, I love having a twin. I am so thankful for having someone I can always talk to and sympathize with. Still, the unique biological circumstances I was born into should not entitle other people to treat my identity like a circus act. An only child is as much of a human as a sibling or twin, and people should act accordingly.
me how to believe in something, as much of my political socialization consisted of me drinking every word of conversations between Isabel Barbera and Olivia Nouriani. Tiger has inspired me as a writer and a thinker, with the likes of Brandon Yung, Matt Wakumoto, and Maya Williamson never failing to drop my jaw with their distinct abilities to make words sound better than they should. This support system has afforded me the chance to make mistakes, from having to phone-afriend Truman Lesak across the country to compensate for my technological ineptitude to accidentally writing an unpublishable TAAGLAA about illegal trespassing. There has always been someone far more talented than myself around to help out and learn from in times of crisis (throwback to the CMYK disaster of June 2018). So thank you to all the wonderful minds
on Tiger that have humbled me. Thank you to Hyun and the rest of my haters for giving me the space to develop as a writer, editor, and person. And most of all, thank you in advance to next year’s staff for upholding the Tiger spirit of helping each other grow.
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
DESIGN
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FAREWELL from the DESIGN EDITORS Kate Rogers corner,” when Luke casually mentions, “We’re going to Europe, you should come.” One “Sure, that sounds fun!” later and it was set. I had never even been out of the country before and here I was winging an entire trip on my own, just because I happened to be in that corner of Room 615 on that particular day.
I should preface this part of the story by saying that I’m not a graphic designer. I didn’t even know about Adobe software until about a year ago. My application included a sketch of Benedict Cumberbatch. I’m just a kid who likes to draw things sometimes. So, when asked by last year’s design editors if I’d like to fill their position, I didn’t really know what to say. By default, Elaine and I were the only returning members of design staff, so I ultimately accepted the position because they needed me to. I had zero skills to do so, but I figured I’d sort it out. I can tell I’ve put up a convincing charade this past year that I know what I’m doing, because people come to me with questions. “How do I do a text wrap?” “How do I make three columns instead of two?” Let me be honest; I have no idea. I really don’t. My YouTube history is plagued by tutorials on how to curve text boxes.
ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG Having to apply for college really makes a person evaluate their accomplishments, and in doing so, I’ve realized I have winged my entire life. All of it. I never even intended to apply for Tiger. I wanted to try out for Pep. Who knows why? I can’t even do a cartwheel. Of course I knew of Tiger, and had always admired the illustrations, but I admired from afar. All of the illustrators were so talented; I never thought I could create anything of the same caliber. It was only after my friend Luke encouraged me to fill out an application that I even considered it. Fast forward a year and I’m sitting in the creative quarantine, lovingly dubbed the “artsy Tiger people
Perhaps I should know what I’m doing to considered qualified for my position on award winning publication. Perhaps. But concerns aside, things have worked out so
be an all far.
All that said, had I not befriended the new girl in freshman PE, things would have been very different. So, Elaine, thank you for being a wonderful collaborator. I really can’t believe we pulled it off. If I must pass on an anecdote I’ve learned during my high school career, it’s that it’s okay to have no idea what you’re doing. I have lived a life built on “why not”s. I have made big decisions with jarring spontaneity. Not knowing what I’m doing can be incredibly stressful, sure, but things work themselves out. And while I may not have ever intended to apply for
Tiger, I’m really glad I did (the thought of me as a cheerleader is laughable). Tiger has been one of my greatest unplanned endeavors to date. I met incredible friends because of Tiger. I went to Europe for four weeks because of Tiger. I got lost in Europe for a brief period because of Tiger. I have been able to work among incredibly talented individuals and contribute towards something I was so in awe of just some short years ago, because of Tiger. Did I ever truly know what I was doing? Nope. But it was fun, and that was all that mattered. So if you even have the slightest flare within yourself that you might want to join Tiger, I encourage you to apply, even if you never planned on it. Because who knows, you might end up getting lost in a foreign country because of it, and that’ll make for a great story someday. It feels weird to say, but I don’t think I’ll miss the newspaper right away, even though this article seems to suggest otherwise. However, in a year — in two years — when I’m sitting in the library at 2:00 a.m. trying to get an essay done, I’ll hear someone say something along the lines of, “If I don’t find this file within the next two minutes I’m going to strangle everyone in this room and then myself,” and I’ll think of Tiger and all the nonsensical goofs from the editor’s room will come back. I will remember how good Elaine’s British accent is, and how many brilliant unique ideas Isabella has (along with how good she is at drawing). I will recall just how red Alex’s face can get, and how Andrés can make very thorough diagrams of biological processes on the whiteboard. I’ll remember how Rachel and I have the same taste in colorful socks, and how it all started in the “artsy Tiger people” corner with a video about a dolphin. And while I may not feel sentimental now, I know I can speak for myself in that moment, when I say that I’ll miss Tiger. I’ll miss the experiences, the interactions, the friends I knew, the friends I made and all of the ridiculousness. So, peace out Tiger. It’s been (and will be) real.
Elaine Yang
ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS I’m very grateful for Tiger and all the opportunities they have given me the last two years. I’ve met wonderful people here who helped me grow as an artist and as a person. Thank you Kate Rogers for keeping me level-headed throughout deadline and being my first friend at South Pasadena. You are such a talent. Thank you Rachel Lu and Isabella Tsai for stressing out with me through college applications and brightening my day. Also, thank you Peter Wang for teaching me how to do drop caps.
8
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
CLASS OF 2019
Abelson
Sam
UC Berkeley (Neuroscience)
Abelson
Sydney
UC Berkeley (Microbial Biology)
Abu Karash
Zain
Arizona State University (Medical Studies)
Abundo
Madison
Northeastern University (Finance/Marketing)
Adams
Aidan
Cal Poly Pomona (Kinesiology)
Alderete
Alicia
CSU Monterey Bay (Visual Arts)
Alegria
Caitlyn
Pasadena City College (Psychology)
Alva
Mia
CSU Los Angeles (English)
Amezquita
Melia
Pasadena City College (Environmental Studies)
Angkasa
Kyra
UC Santa Cruz (Technology and Information Managment)
Arakawa
Kai
San Jose State University (Philosophy)
Argueta
Gustavo
CSU Los Angeles (Biology)
Atkinson
Zane
Pasadena City College (Biomedical Engineering)
Au-Rivera
Sebastian
UC Riverside (Business Administration)
Azat
Lily
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Baker
Teddy
San Francisco State University (Film)
Baranets
Katya
San Diego State University (Russian)
Barbera
Henry
UC Los Angeles (Design/Media Arts)
after sphs: class of 2019 Tiger Newspaper’s annual After SPHS survey yielded responses from 373 graduating seniors regarding their plans for life after high school. Beside each name is the institution of higher education each student will be attending and their intended major, occupation, or other pursuit. PAGE KATE ROGERS & ELAINE YANG
TOP COLLEGES PCC
92 16 14 14
UC Riverside USC UC Berkeley
7 UC Irvine
9
Shelton
Scott
Purdue University (Mechanical Engineering)
Shen
Kalex
Art Center College of Design (Graphic Design)
Sherrill
Renay
National Academy of Sports Medicine (Undeclared)
Shettleroe
Sydney
Virginia Military Institute (Psychology)
Arizona
New Mexico
California
New York
Colorado
North Carolina
Shim
Andrew
UC Riverside (Computer Science)
Connecticut
Oregon
Sidhu
Uday
Pasadena City College (Civil Engineering)
Florida
Pennsylvania
Sim
Daniel
UC Riverside (Philosophy)
Smith
Marc
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Illinois
Rhode Island
Smith
Max
Siebel Institute of Technology (Master Brewer)
Indiana
Tennessee
Songkhao
Pat
Azusa Pacific University (Allied Health)
Iowa
Texas
Suh
Peter
UC Riverside (Psychology)
Suk
Gene
UC Merced (Business Managment)
Sun
Chris
Pasadena City College (Business/Computer Science)
Svihovec-McCarty
Logan
CSU Chico (Undeclared)
Kansas
Utah
Louisiana
Vermont
Massachusetts
Virginia
Sweetman
Landon
Work
Michigan
Washington
Sy
Sarah
UC Riverside (Theater, Film, & Digital Production)
Minnesota
Washington D.C.
Szilagyi
David
UC Riverside (Psychology/Music)
Takarabe
Jackie
Westmont College (Kinesiology)
Out of country
Tan
Vincent
St. John’s University (Actuarial Sciences)
Other plans
Tang
Justin
Pasadena City College (Zoology)
Missouri
Barnes
Jacob
East Los Angeles College (Criminal Justice)
Barrera
Emma
Whittier College (Psychology)
Barrientos
Jason
Cal Poly Pomona (Kinesiology)
Tashiro
Kyle
UC Irvine (Biology)
Baugham
Wressey
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Taylor
Christina
UC Berkeley (Undeclared)
Tessier
Kristoff
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Tetreault
Lucas
Pasadena City College (Sports Media)
Tilley
Rainey
Carleton College (Biology)
Tom
Dillon
CSU Long Beach (International Business)
Topete
Saul
Pasadena City College (Computer Science)
Torres
Sabrina
Loyola Marymount University (Marketing)
Tran
Tyler
Transitional School
Tsai
Isabella
Pepperdine University (Business Administration)
Tse
Jeremy
Gap Year
Tyszka
Matt
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Urbina
Sofie
Pasadena City College (Business)
Uriarte
Sarah
Brown University (Biology)
Uwabo
Hannah
UC Riverside (Nursing)
Vasquez
Anthony
Syracuse University (Broadcast Journalism)
Velasco
Leslie
Prasad City College (Medicine)
Villapudua
Hayley
New York University (Media, Culture, and Communications)
Wakumoto
Matt
New York University (Media, Culture, and Communications)
Wan
Andy
San Diego State University (Audio Design)
Wang
Rebecca
San Jose State University (Child & Adolescent Development)
Warren
Haruko
University of Southern California (Mechanical Engineering)
Waters
Caleb
UC Santa Barbara (Political Science)
Wei
Shirley
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Westmoreland-Joseph
Savian
Pasadena City College (Kinesiology)
Whetsel
Maÿlis
Columbia University (Computer Science)
Wilbur
Andrew
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Wilhite
Amadea
Sarah Lawrence College (Botany/Film History)
Williamson
Maya
Lewis and Clark College (Undeclared)
Wong
Austin
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Wong
Ryan
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Wong
Jeremy
CSU Long Beach (Kinesiology)
Wooton
Katelyn
Pasadena City College (Kinesiology)
Wu
Elene
UC Los Angeles (Mathematics)
Wu
Steven
Vanderbilt University (Music)
Xi
Daniel
Unknown
Xiao
Johnny
Arizona State University (Aerospace Engineering)
Xie
Blake
Pasadena City College (Economics)
Xiong
Michael
UC Berkeley (Chemical Biology)
Xu
Kevin
UC Los Angeles (Microbiology)
Xu
Jiamin
UC Los Angeles (Electrical Engineering)
Xu
Nathan
Springfield College (Health Science/Pre-Physical Therapy)
Xu
Yidan
Gap Year
Yang
Elaine
Scripps College (Art/Media Studies)
Yang
Haley
San Francisco State University (Political Science)
Yeo
Raymond
Brown University (Computational Biology)
Yim
Joseph
Santa Monica City College (Unknown)
Yip
William
UC Santa Barbara (Aquatic Biology)
Zhang
Angela
UC Los Angeles (Electrical Engineering)
Zhang
Anna
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Zhang
Kayla
University of Michigan (Undeclared)
Zhang
Richard
UC Riverside (Biology)
Zhang
Yuxin
Pasadena City College (Business)
Zhang
Zoe
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Zhu
Jonathan
Northeastern University (Business Administration)
Zhu
Lance
UC Riverside (Electrical Engineering)
Bayog
Gabe
Pasadena City College (Programming)
Bea
Evelyn
Pasadena City College (Anthropology)
Nevada
Out of State:
106 students
In State:
Beadle
Jonah
Pasadena City College (Business)
Becker
Jeremy
Pasadena City College (Anthropology)
Bekkedal
Phoenix
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Benton
Dylan
University of Iowa (International Relations)
Dominguez
Diego
Pasadena City College (Radiology)
Jacqui
CSU Los Angeles (Biology)
253
students
Betts
Alex
Northwestern University (Civil Engineering)
Dominguez
Blake
Aidan
CSU Long Beach (History)
Donlevy
Jett
Art Center College of Design (Film)
Dominic
Gap Year
Bock
Elizabeth
Duke University (Gender Studies/International Relations)
Donnelly
Bonk
AJ
Boston University (Biology)
Duaso
Wynorlin
Rasmussen College (Nursing)
Betsy
Loyola University Chicago (Undeclared)
Botros
Stephanie
CSU Fullerton (Civil Engineering)
Eaton
Brown
Kim
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Echenique
Helena
Cornell University (Animal Science)
Echeverria
Ruben
Pasadena City College (Engineering)
Ellis
Daniel
Pepperdine University (Biology)
Howland
Noemi
Smith College (Undeclared)
Lee
Philip
Escajeda
Andrew
Gap Year
Hsiao
Addison
UC Riverside (Studio Art/Media Film Studies)
Lee
Espinosa
Michael
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Huang
Haoming
UC Irvine (Engineering)
Estevez
Amanda
Georgetown University (Government)
Huang
Shannon
Fernandez
Alex
Marist College (Undeclared)
Huerta
Fernandez
Justene
Pasadena City College (Radiology)
Foley
Oona
Foo
Bullock Cabbell Cadena Calandra Calderon Calva Campbell Capua Carrasco Carrillo Carrizales De Lara
Case Castillo Chan Chan Chau Chavez Chee Chen Chen Cheung Cheung Chin Choi Choi
Dillon Eva Audrey Rae Diana Lindsey Jack Zeu Christian Justin Ixchel Bea Bryan
Edward Ryan Evan Tony Misty Flora Miranda Steven Hannah
Jade
University of Pittsburgh (Nursing)
Nakagawa
Dylan
University of Oregon (Business)
Nam
David
Carnegie Mellon (Music)
Navarro
Amalia
UC Irvine (Criminology, Law, and Society)
Nealson
Lorena
CSU Channel Islands (Art)
Nguyen
Alexander Purchase College (Undeclared)
Noueihed
Jenna
UC Davis (Biotechnology)
Ogawa
Alana
University of Pittsburgh (Undeclared)
Ortega
Bella
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Ortega
Jack
Pasadena City College (Criminal Justice)
Osborne
Jael
George Washington University (Political Science)
Osburn
Wyatt
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Osoy
Liz
Cal Poly Pomona
Los Angeles Valley College (Business/Finance)
Oyaga
Andrés
Middlebury College (Conservation Biology)
Yoosung
UC Los Angeles (Music Education)
Oyaga
Jonathan
Pasadena City College (K-6 Special Education)
Leon
Bella
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Paixao
Jiji
Pasadena City College (Psychology)
UC Los Angeles (Biology)
Lew
Christie
Gap Year
Pan
Pan
UC Riverside (International Relations)
Tony
Pasadena City College (Writing)
Li
Jade
Parsons School of Design (Illustration)
Park
Rachel
Pepperdine University (Undeclared)
Huff
Justin
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Li
Charles
Pasadena City College (Political Science)
Park
Soyoun
Santa Monica College (Music)
UC Berkeley (Sociology)
Hugasian
Ashley
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Li
Johann
Baylor University (Mechanical Engineering)
Parker
Noah
UC Berkeley (Public Health)
Oscar
Gap Year
Hunt
Jade
Pasadena City College (Animation)
Li
Sheila
Loyola Marymount University (Business)
Patzkowski
Yoli
Occidental College (Pre-Med)
Foord
Addison
Tulane University (Political Science)
Hunt
Olivia
Pasadena City College (Sports Medicine)
Lih
Jean
Columbia University (Political Science)
Pei
Lucas
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Fortunelli
Francesco Carnegie Mellon University (Mechanical Engineering)
Imel
Eleanor
CSU Fullerton (Marine Biology)
Liu
Ryan
UC Berkeley (Computer Science)
Perez
Nicole
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Fouser
Clara
UC Santa Cruz (Linguistics)
Ip
Boris
UC San Diego (Cognitive Science/Neuroscience)
Lopez
Gabe
Pasadena City College (Business)
Pérez Espinosa
David
Art Center College of Design (Illustration)
Fuller
Joshua
University of Oregon (Undeclared)
Jabalameli
Ella
Moorpark College (Nursing)
Lopez
Jessica
Seattle University (Undeclared)
Phillips
Emma
New York University (Viola Performance)
Fusco
Giuliano
UC Santa Barbara (Biology)
Jabalameli
Laya
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Lopez
Kassandra
Pasadena City College (Political Science)
Philpot
Theo
Juniata College (Professional Writing/Digital Writing)
Gallagher
Mia
UC Santa Cruz (Film/Digital Media)
Jamerson
Louis
New York University (Liberal Studies)
Lopez
Lauren
University of Saint Mary (Criminology)
Pierone
Sage
UC Berkeley (Computer Science)
Gallego
Jaden
University of La Verne (Kinesiology)
Jang
Yeana
CSU Los Angeles (Spanish)
Lopez
Sebastian R.
CSU Los Angeles (Animation)
Pineda
Nathan
CSU Long Beach (Kinesiology)
Gamble
Seia
Gap Year
Jeon
Hoyoun
Pasadena City College (Psychology)
Losorelli
Lance
UC Irvine (Bioengineering)
Pizzaro
Kevin
Pasadena City College (Medicine)
Garcia
Alynda
Pasadena City College (Forensic Psychology)
Jeong
Ryan
UC Riverside (Chemistry)
Lu
Rachel
Brown University (Sociology/Public Policy)
Pluas
Joshua
University of Michigan (Chemistry)
Garcia
Amber
Emerson College (Marketing Communications)
Jimenez
Deija
Pasadena City College (Business)
Lucas
Lily
CSU Channel Islands (Psychology)
Porcu
Nicolo
University of Southern California (Computer Engineering/Computer Science)
Garcia
Emily
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Johnson
Livvy
University of Victoria (Art History/Visual Studies)
Lucido
Candice
Pasadena City College (Physical Therapy)
Quezada
Luke
University of Southern California (Media Arts/Practice)
Gibson
Eamonn
Southern Illinois University (Metal Smithing/Art)
Jones
Kai
Northern Arizona University (Undeclared)
Lukavsky
Abbie
San Diego State University (Communications)
Quirk
Nathaniel
Cal Poly Pomona (Mechanical Engineering)
Giles
Owen
Universal Technical Institute (Undeclared)
Jun
Joyce
Calvin College (Undeclared)
Ma
Shay
UC Berkeley (Computer Science)
Ramos
Joshua
Art Center College of Design (Film/Media)
Gill
Hunter
UC Merced (Business)
Kafkaloff
Lauren
University of Pennsylvania (Computer & Cognitive Science)
Maguire
Mei
University of Washington (Environmental Science)
Rathi
Akash
New York University (Philosophy)
Godinez
Jillian
Pasadena City College (Sociology/Child Development)
Kaiser
Julian
Pasadena City College (Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering)
Mahoney
Frenchie
Santa Monica College (Undeclared)
Recendez
Isa
Marymount California University (Psychology)
Gomez
Jason
UC Irvine (Biology)
Kawakami
Ashlyn
Pasadena City College (Forensic Science)
Maldonado
Jackie
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Riffle
Anna
Pepperdine University (Business Administration)
Gomez
Lexi
Santa Clara University (Political Science)
Kawamura
Ringo
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Mancini
Laura
Pasadena City College (Political Science)
Rogers
Kate
University of Washington (English Language)
in London (Film Studies)
Gong
Elaine
Art Center College of Design (Product Design)
Kemanian
Jayden
Pasadena City College (Cyber Security)
Manzo
Jake
Wesleyan University (Undeclared)
Romans
Lucas
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Kim
Ben
UC Santa Barbara (Computer Engineering)
Marino
Michael
Work
Romero
Angel
Pasadena City College (Engineering)
Kim
Grace
University of Southern California (Computer Science/Business)
Mark
Ramya
UC Irvine (Public Health Sciences)
Rosales
Marlon
Glendale City College (Undeclared)
Kim
Hannah
Cornell University (Business)
Marquez Salvatierra
Ronald
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Rosales
Ricky
CSU Los Angeles (Civil Engineering)
Kim
Ju Hee
Boston University (Undeclared)
Martinez
Jonathan
Pasadena City College (Communications/Business)
Rufus
Chloe
Pacific Northwest College of Art (Art)
Kim
Julia
Otis College of Art and Design (Fashion Design)
Mastromatteo
Rita
University of Southern California (Global Studies)
Safaoui
Danny
American University of Paris (International Finance)
Kim
Martin Jean
UC Davis (Evolution, Ecology, & Biodiversity)
Mayemura
Matt
Chapman University (Business Administration)
Sagare
Meghana
University of Southern California (Neuroscience)
Kim
Nicky
Reed College (Psychology)
McCullough
Rose
Southern Oregon University (Theatre Arts)
Salazar
Nico
The Culinary Institute of America (Culinary Arts)
King
Ashley
University of Southern California (Neuroscience)
McLane
Sean
San Jose State University (Computer Science)
Sanders
Jack
University of Utah (Undeclared)
Kayleen
University of San Francisco (Nursing)
Pasadena City College (Astronomy) UC Santa Barbara (Global Studies) Sonoma State University (English) Pasadena City College (Early Childhood Education) Pasadena City College (Psychology) UC Santa Barbara (Chemistry) University of San Francisco (Advertising) CSU Los Angeles (Computer Engineering) Pasadena City College (Fire Technology) Pasadena City College (Business/Marketing) Whittier College (Undeclared) UC Santa Cruz (Psychology) Pasadena City College (Sociology)
Alexandra New York University (Political Science) Kyle
Myer
Texas Christian University (Political Science) St. Louis University (Public Health) Pasadena City College (Graphic Design) Pasadena City College (Computer Science) UC Santa Cruz (Mechanical Engineering) Pasadena City College (Biology) UC Berkeley (Chemistry) UC Berkeley (Linguistics) UC San Diego (Undeclared) UC Irvine (Cognitive Science/Neuroscience)
Jaemyung University of Southern California (Applied Mathematics) Richmond University - The American University
(Business Administration/International Business)
Choi
Lynnette
Chow
Chi
UC San Diego (Computer Science)
Gordon
Caden
University of Oregon (Human Physiology)
Choy
Danielle
UC Irvine (Political Science)
Gordon
Jack
New York University (Undeclared)
Chuang
Ryan
Pasadena City College (Psychology)
Gray
Rachel
Gap Year
Chun
Harrison
Pasadena City College (Business)
Griffin
Sean
Pasadena City College (Business)
Clark
Flannery
Warren Wilson College (Undeclared)
Grijalva
Alekz
Harvey Mudd College (Engineering/Physics)
Clark
Micah
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Grossman
Miles
Pasadena City College (Business Administration)
Colerick
Kal
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Guo
Jessica
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Connolly
Catherine
University of Oregon (Business)
Gutierrez
Canela
University of New Mexico (Psychology)
Cooper
Wyatt
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Gutierrez
Christian
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Kushigemachi
Lena
UC Riverside (Computer Science)
McManus
Lee
Pasadena City College (Welding)
Sandoval
Cortes
Matthew
Unknown
Gutierrez
Marina
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Animal Science)
Kuwahara
Lindsey
Georgetown University (Global Health)
McPherson
Connor
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Sannibale
Henrique
University of Colorado, Boulder (Environmental Science)
Cortes Palacios Ari
Pasadena City College (Journalism)
Halberg
Lucas
Loyola Marymount University (Business Administration)
Kwon
Ashley
Berklee College of Music (Vocal Music)
Michlin
Cole
University of Utah (Mechanical Engineering)
Santana
Max
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Cui
Tom
Work
Hall
Rebecca
UC Santa Cruz (Psychology)
Lai
Dallas
University of San Diego (Psychology)
Min
Brandon
UC Riverside (Undeclared)
Schermerhorn
Wolf
CSU Fullerton (Undeclared)
Dangermond
Fenna
University of Southern California (Psychology)
Ham
Seung
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Lam
Kyle
Drexel University (International Business)
Mirhan
Kelly
Loyola Marymount University (Business Administration)
Schroeder
Adam
Pasadena City College (Philosophy)
De La Rosa
Jacob
Glendale Community College (Forensics)
Han
Samuel
Unknown
Lao
Alison
UC San Diego (Nanoengineering)
Moe
Alexa
University of Southern California (Human Biology)
Seo
Erin
Pasadena City College (Fashion Design)
De La Torre
Justin
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Held
Brooke
UC Santa Cruz (Economics)
Lashgari
Milad
University of Colorado, Boulder (Neuroscience)
Montano
Lucian
Pasadena City College (Studio Arts)
Serrano
Jazzy
University of Washington (Undeclared)
Dekle
James
University of Southern California (Undeclared)
Ho
Stanton
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Hospitality Managment)
Lee
Brandon
UC Berkeley (Biology/Neurobiology)
Moore
Hannah
Pasadena City College (Psychology)
Shaffer
Star
Pace University (Studio Art)
Deng
Natalie
UC Berkeley (Political Economy)
Homma
Yuuki
Missionary Work
Lee
Eunice
Pasadena City College (Biology)
Moranon
Joy
Pasadena City College (Nursing)
Shang
Yixuan
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Logan
CSU Los Angeles (Accounting)
Brian
UC San Diego (Mathematics)
Detman
Kai
Harvey Mudd College (Engineering)
Hornish
Eamon
University of Oregon (Business)
Lee
Hyurk-Ju
CSU Fullerton (Nursing)
Mullin
Jaden
University of Southern California (Human Biology)
Shanny
Dicker
Nathan
Colorado State University (Ecosystem Science and Sustainability)
Hornish
Uma
University of Michigan (Biology)
Lee
Joshua
Wheaton College (Sociology)
Muñoz
Ruben
Pasadena City College (Undeclared)
Sheldon
Total Number of Students Going to College
359
10
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
Mid-May winter wonderland: A snowy Yosemite escape STORY MAYA WILLIAMSON PHOTOS ALICIA ALDERETE & ANDRÉS OYAGA PAGE KATE ROGERS & ELAINE YANG
F
ounded by former SPHS science teacher Greg Ring along with two other teachers in 1979, the South Pasadena Yosemite Trip aims to foster student connections through hiking trails and camping within small groups. The class of 2019 celebrated the Yosemite Institute’s 40th year with more snow than usual, giving students the unique opportunity to leave their comfort zones, weathering the terrain in rough conditions. Tiger senior photographers captured the experience. “Overall, the experience was challenging but we all had positive attitudes throughout the entirety of the trip and we made bonds with each other that will last a long time. Even though the trip was difficult in the moment the trip was type 2 fun and we now have so many memories to share!” senior Kyle Tashiro said.
YOSEMITE
TIGER MAY 30, 2019
FEATURE
FEATURE
Et Cetera MAYA WILLIAMSON
Noah Parker is a horrible neighbor
LOVINGLY HANDMADE EVERY DAY, the grains of brown rice are freshly air popped under high temperatures and packaged inside the store.
Viva’s Poprice offers a South Asian twist on popcorn Poprice is an inventive fusion of Eastern and Western flavors STORY LUYANG ZHANG PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIVA WU Whether buttery, cheesy, or something in between, popcorn is a snack that brings back memories of everything from movies with friends and family to carefree Thursday afternoons at the farmers’ market. Viva’s Poprice offers poprice, a healthy and fun spin on popcorn in hopes of reminding people of these fond moments. Similarly to popcorn, popped or puffed rice is made by swelling plain brown grains under high temperatures; however, since the snack is brown rice-based, it does not contain GMOs and is higher in fiber than popcorn, meaning that it can better promote cardiovascular health. Popped rice snacks originate from Southeast Asian countries but have spread throughout the world to take the form of popular treats such as muri in South Asia and Rice Krispy Treats in America. Viva’s Poprice incorporates classic Western flavors such as caramel and cheddar with the popped rice’s traditional asian taste to create a snack that rivals popcorn in flavor and texture. Unlike many of the corporate entities surrounding it, Viva’s Poprice is an independent business, which adds a feeling of authenticity and family-friendliness to the customer’s experience in the store. The store owner, Viva Wu, and the employees are very upbeat and accommodating to each customer in a way that brings a special energy to the store environment; they offer to walk new customers through the making of star shaped poprice with the help of a video and hand drawn comic books. Each customer is
also offered samples of all of the store’s flavors so they can make a well-informed purchase. Wu is known to invite the casual passerby as they walk down the street to come in and sample the poprice, which always means lots of new faces and voices continuously arriving at any given time in the store. This vibrant atmosphere inside of Viva’s Poprice is made complete with its invitingly modern yet cozy design, with varying shades of white and gray painted the walls and floor that are punctuated with decorative lights inside of display cases. The poprice for the most part stayed true to the classic tastes of popcorn: the outer layer of flavoring in the caramel, cheddar, jalapeno, and butter flavors were very much the familiar, tried and true coatings on most popcorn. Surprisingly, rice in the snack had a light, subtly grainy flavor that popcorn lacks, which was a pleasantly surprising complement to the other flavors in the snack. The poprice also did not have the hard husk in its center of it as popcorn does, which saves the consumer from having to eat bits of kernel. However, ranging $4-14 for a relatively small bag, the poprice felt a bit too pricey, especially because the bill became much more expensive than the popcorn to which it was supposed to be an alternative. Even so, the unique flavor of the popped rice and Viva’s excellent customer service makes the snack well worth the higher price. Address: 525 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801 Hours: 5:00p.m.-10:00p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Sun. Price: $$
I’ve lived directly across the street from Noah Parker for my entire life. In 18 years of living adjacently on Diamond Avenue, our sisters became best friends, we developed mutual hatred for each other's dogs, and our parents established a tradition of making pizza together in the Parker’s kitchen. Despite all my efforts, though (I was always and continue to be the more invested member of our relationship), Noah and I never really created the proper neighborly bond I had always wanted. It took two years on Tiger, me forcing him to be Feature associate, and him proceeding to disappoint me for a full year, to bring us to a point where I can actually call him a friend. I joined Tiger expecting to gain a lot of useful skills for college and my résumé, but when I look back on my three years, I can’t really pin down a profound, life-altering lesson to define my experience working for this paper. That’s not to say didn’t learn anything — I probably discovered more sitting with my peers in the glassroom of Room 615 than I did in any academic course. Writing for Tiger taught me lessons that will be invaluable for rest of my life, like how to self-reflect in a productive way and how to maintain curiosity for the world around me. But those are mostly things that I probably would have learned naturally through growing up. What really singles out Tiger as a defining part of my high school development was not the things it taught me, but all the things Tiger gave me. Tiger gave me passion, like actual, real passion that remained consistent through all the times I was giving up on all my other obligations. Tiger gave me an audience, to show me how my thoughts and words matter. Tiger gave confidence in my own talent and ideas. It gave me something to be proud of, but more importantly, things to strive for. Tiger gave me people that will forever humble the narcissism I developed through all the other gifts this paper brought me. Tiger Newspaper is full of artists and journalists who are far kinder and more talented than I. Tiger has given me great friends and even better role models. For three years, Tiger re-gave me the two people in my life I think I deserve the least (Matt and Oona, thanks for letting me stick around for this long). Tiger gave me Caroline Kimbel, the only person I trust with the Tiger Style Guide more than myself, and Tiger, after all these years, finally gave me Noah Parker.
11
TIGER
12 MAY 30, 2019
FEATURE
PERSONALITY PROFILES GRACE KIM: EMBODYING STRENGTH AND KINDNESS STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI PHOTOS SOPHIE YEUNG
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enior Grace Kim has become an SPHS legend for all the best reasons. She is known for her reassuring smile, and her calming presence and lighthearted disposition is on full display each and every day. A Weldon award recipient, Kim knows to savor her time in South Pasadena’s tight-knit, caring community. At just 8-years-old, Kim and her family were conned into giving their savings to an individual who repeatedly intimidated their family with legal and spiritual threats. Kim’s parents agreed to follow the man from their home in South Korea to Georgia, where Kim’s parents were forced to work for the conman’s son alongside the parents of five other families for no pay.
CARING FOR OTHERS IS SECOND NATURE for senior Grace Kim, whose immigration from Korea and childhood struggles forced her to become independent at a very young age. She is regarded for her incredible responsibility and diligence, working hard even when nobody is watching. Hoping to improve the lives of immigrants’ in the future, Kim will pursue computer science and law at USC.
In Georgia, Kim was bullied at school because she was unable to speak English. Foreboding of her future resilience and resourcefulness, Kim taught herself English in roughly three months with the use of a dictionary and various worksheets to defend herself. Meanwhile, Kim was forced to grow up quickly since there were no adults available to take care of her and her younger siblings. “That was difficult because I was only 8-yearsold myself and my siblings were only 4 and 6. I didn’t want to tell my parents they were not treating us well because they came home at 2 a.m. and left for work at 6 a.m. Not only did I see them rarely but I didn’t want to burden them.” As the only person caring for her siblings, Kim rapidly came to understand the importance of being responsible for everything she took part in. When Kim was 11, her family, along with five other families, finally left the home and drove across the country to Riverside. After moving
a total of 15 times in her life, her family settled in South Pasadena. Kim’s seamless integration into South Pasadena is best epitomized by her reaction to a nearby fight that broke out during her interview with Tiger. She immediately — and politely — paused the interview to follow the fight to Diamond Avenue to make sure that nobody was seriously injured. Growing up, Kim’s father was a staple of her personal development. Kim’s father — a former Special Forces Officer in the South Korean military — was often straightforward and down to Earth, like Kim, and taught her the importance of work ethic. Just like her father, Kim prefers to work behind the scenes, so her decision to run for ASB came as a surprise to her family. As a commissioner, Kim has demonstrated a drive and work ethic that many of her peers on ASB revere and could not imagine reaching themselves. In addition, her passion for mental health advocacy and her work on ASB often go hand-inhand. As the Commissioner of Academics, Kim recognizes that students need to be committed to their school-work, but also firmly believes that academics should not ruin a student’s mental well-being. “To me it’s very important that everyone around me is feeling okay and doing well. The biggest thing I learned from [Georgia] was to be conscious of the feelings of people around me because you never know what everybody has gone through.” Now, Kim wants to pursue a degree in computer science at the University of Southern California to develop an app that helps immigrants adjust to a foreign country since she saw her own parents struggle to adjust to American life and culture; in the future, she seeks to pursue a law degree to hold criminals like the one that manipulated her family accountable.
SARAH URIARTE: ASSIDUOUS BEYOND HER YEARS STORY ALEX BETTS PHOTOS ALICIA ALDERETE
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or most of high school, senior Sarah Uriarte has flown under the radar. The humble upperclassman has worked conscientiously to improve the lives of others in her diverse pursuits. Recently, she attained the acclaim she has long deserved; Uriarte was named a Weldon awardee and commended at the PTSA Honorary Service Award Luncheon for her initiative and empathy. Uriarte’s curiosity regarding medicine spans a decade; she recounts wanting to learn about the underlying healing processes of broken arms and cuts in elementary school. Once in high school, she took action, and her incredible descent into the medical fields has spanned disciplines and communities. At SPHS, she is known for founding Tiger Medicine, a school club, and creating the Health Fair, which hosts roughly 20 local health organizations including Planned Parenthood, Keck Medicine, and the Red Cross. “I started Tiger Medicine because I wasn’t sure what I could do during high school to get ahead and learn about the medical field and the opportunities [available to me]. The club is a space for interested students to learn about the anatomy of certain biological structures through dissections, talk to healthcare professionals about their education, and get certified in CPR.” Extending far beyond SPHS, the Girl Scout earned her gold award for spearheading a fitness workshop for the youth group at St. James Church and a mental health panel discussion at the Calvary Church. For two years, Uriarte has interned for a graduate student studying microbiology at CalTech, aiming to unearth the different relationships between proteins that could potentially be key targets for developing antibody chains and fighting diseases. Because
apparently that’s not enough, Uriarte gained hands-on medical experience at Huntington Hospital in the neuroscience stroke unit and through the SPHS Red Cross club as first aid responder. “At Huntington Hospital I would assist doctors and nurses with minor healthcare roles such as feeding patients and getting them water, as well as clerical work like filing charts. I [especially] like feeding patients because I can bond with them during a scary time. It’s nice being in a position to help others with their immediate needs.” As the past captain of varsity girls’ country and a varsity member of girls’ track, Uriarte barely ever gets a breather; the athletes on varsity cross country and track get a basicallynonexistent two week break. Insanely, both seasons encompass practices that run two to three hours a day, six days every week. However, the senior has found joining these teams to be one of the best choices she has ever made. “[Running taught me] to appreciate the value in hard work and love watching my daily efforts in practice pay off during races. I like challenging myself and being the best I can possibly be. It is hard, but that’s part of the beauty of it; being able to persevere through hard work is a great feeling.” Uriarte’s assiduousness is remarkable, yet it may even be overshadowed by her lightheartedness. With her 15-20 hour work week at Mathnasium and heavy senior course load of four APs, it would be easy to lose optimism. Instead, she always maintains a cheerful demeanor and has an omnipresent, contagious laugh. As she heads to Brown University to study psychology, she will undoubtedly remain grounded and humbled by remembering the jobs her father and immigrant mother have worked to provide her with these opportunities, of which she has taken full advantage.
ONE WOULD NEVER KNOW of senior Sarah Uriarte’s demanding schedule, which includes internships, cross country, and running Tiger Medicine. She approaches life with humility , laughter, and grace, motivated to make the most of the opportunities available to her because of her parents’ hard work.
TIGER 13 MAY 30, 2019
SPORTS
SPRING MVP: ADDISON HSIAO How the senior libero led boys’ volleyball to a Rio Hondo League title
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hile many athletes can be seen around campus boasting their freshly-made varsity jackets, senior Addison Hsiao opts for a more retro look. Although the SPHS swimming and football lettermans on his jacket belong to his late father, Hsiao doesn’t mind showing them off and carrying on his legacy.
STORY RAYMOND YEO PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE
which he earned himself a plethora of awards, including first team all-tournament at Camarillo, all-RHL second team, and the team MVP. “Addi was not just a leader, he was also a great guidance to the younger ones coming into the program,” said Coach Ivy Chew. “Many underclassmen look up to him not just as a player but as a big brother. He’s able to show the fun side of volleyball while also taking care of business.”
Undoubtedly, losing his father in the beginning of senior year was the toughest challenge Hsiao had to overcome. Although the emotional burden may still loom large, Hsiao has been able to translate such difficulties into inspiration. As a result, the senior has seen the fruits of his hard work pay off both athletically, in the form of an all-RHL Most Valuable Player award this year, and academically, with his recent commitment to UC Riverside.
Hsiao’s latest season was his most impressive yet. In addition to winning a league MVP, Hsiao also led the league in digs, serve receives, and sets, all three of which are key metrics in measuring a libero’s quality of play. In his three years on varsity, Hsiao has accumulated an outstanding 20-4 league record, captured three league titles, and been recognized numerous times as one of the best players in the league. However, Hsiao believes his greatest achievement has not been recognized. The senior did not miss a single practice or game in his four year high school career.
Hsiao didn’t begin playing volleyball until eighth grade, but he flashed encouraging signs from the start. He won a spot on the junior varsity roster his freshman year, made great strides as a player, and ultimately earned the team’s most improved player award. His rapid development only increased his passion for the sport, and as a result, the libero swapped out high school basketball with club volleyball the upcoming fall. The sophomore earned himself a spot as a role player on varsity, where he had the opportunity to learn from many upperclassmen.
“Becoming an influencer and a leader on the team motivates me to push past my limits to win,” said Hsiao. “I choose to lead by example as well as vocally.”
“Watching players like Greg Luck and Matt Scholtz, both MVPs, motivated me to want to play on their level,” said Hsiao. “Their winning mentality started to transfer onto me.” Determined to earn more starts, Hsiao invested his summer into perfecting his craft. The libero’s meticulousness not only benefited his own game, but also led to his emergence as a much needed leader on the varsity squad. Hsiao would carry his confidence throughout his high school caree in
A THREE-YEAR VARSITY PLAYER, Addison Hsiao anchored the South Pasadena defense and won the Rio Hondo All-League MVP.
As the initial pangs of loss are replaced with feelings of gratitude and remembrance, Hsiao’s father continues to live through his son in a multitude of ways. While the two may have a similar charming smile and poised demeanor, the most resounding quality between the two is their ability to treat strangers like family. Hsiao’s ability to treat his teammates and friends like family has enabled him to become a true leader, one who cares about others just as much as himself.
Chan’s plans for the athletics program STORY MATTHEW TSAI PHOTO OSCAR WALSH SPUSD announced on May 15 that Mathematics teacher Mr. Anthony Chan will take the athletic director position for the 2019-2020 year. Mr. Gregorio Luna will not return for a sixth year as athletic director and Chan will face many early challenges, such as coordinating games amidst construction of the new athletic facility and filling multiple coaching positions. Tiger sat down with Chan to discuss his vision for the athletics program. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Tiger: What drew you to the position? Mr. Anthony Chan: I’ve always been really involved with our school outside of the classroom. I just love advising the junior class and coaching because it gives me an opportunity to see kids outside the classroom and I think athletic director was a natural fit. So I’m excited for the position. Tiger: What unique skills do you bring to the athletic director position? Chan: I think that I’m enthusiastic, very communicative, positive, and I’m a great unifier. I have the Commissioner of Spirit and Athletics in my fifth period, so I met with them for 10 minutes at the end of class to chat and said, “Let’s think of ways to bring more people to games and not just the main sports. I don’t want see only football or basketball, I want to see people at water polo games. Water polo does great. How do I get those sports involved?” I think I’m a great communicator, I’m very organized and I’m eager to learn. I think that’s the biggest thing. I’m excited to learn. Tiger: What are some things you’ve seen in the operations of our athletic program throughout your time as a coach/teacher that you think you could improve upon? Chan: I think we’ve done a tremendous job already in terms of being organizationally sound. I think we can improve upon efficiency. Right now, I think the community views the program as unstable and I don’t think that’s true. The coaching staff is great. And I need to continue to support them more. It takes time to build a successful program. You need coaches to stay around.
ALONG WITH BEING THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, Chan will teach one class next year. Tiger: What is the biggest thing you want to accomplish during your time as AD? Chan: My main goal focuses on three words: efficiency, transparency, and community. I want to see practices start and finish on time. Students are very busy and they can’t have practices run four hours. I want your time to be valuable. I hope that I’m efficient in organizing the schedule, making sure that teachers know when you need to leave, and being efficient with scheduling buses. With transparency, I think that all the things that we’re doing are great, we need to communicate them out. Transparency and community come together as one big picture for me. I want to let the community know that these are the great things we’re doing and spotlight the athletes that don’t get spotlighted. Badminton, girls’ soccer, and track and field are doing great, but people only see the big sports. Tiger: Are you going to put an emphasis on winning? Where does winning come in your priorities? Chan: The first misconception that I want to address is that the administration doesn’t care about athletics. I think that they definitely care about athletics. But
they also care about academics and balancing the two. In terms of winning, I’ll tell you now, winning doesn’t happen overnight. Winning is a byproduct of work. When you look at programs that have struggled, it takes time to build those programs, fundamentals, and get wins. It’s going to happen over time and I can’t promise you overnight success, but I am excited to see the coaches and kids excited to be there. Tiger: Is there anything that you want all the students, parents, and community to know about your new position as AD? Chan: The biggest thing is that I’m excited. My vision is to have a very efficient, organized system. I want to make sure we communicate well and be transparent. I think it’s important to let people know this is exactly what I’m doing. There’s nothing hiding there. I’m going to let you know all the good stuff and the things we’re working on. In terms of maintenance, I want to make sure I’m very clear. If you have a problem with the gym, you let me know, it’s gonna clearly go up the ladder so that it gets fixed. Chan’s full interview with Tiger will be posted online at tigernewspaper.com
TIGER
14 MAY 30, 2019
SPORTS
SPORTS
Farewell-Gate STORY NOAH PARKER ILLUSTRATION MADDIE YOO
SETTING THE TONE EARLY, senior Gabriel Lopez started the game with a home run.
Seniors outclass teachers in annual softball clash STORY NOAH PARKER PHOTO JAYDEN EDEN
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fter months of unnecessary assignments and untimely tests, the senior class was finally able to take out their frustrations against their teachers as they cruised to a 15-4 victory in the annual Senior vs. Faculty softball game. Five seniors went yard during the Tuesday lunch match, as the teachers proved to be no match for the Class of 2019. Gabriel Lopez wasted no time getting the seniors on the board, lifting a flyball over the centerfield fence to give the Class of ‘19 a 1-0 lead. The team continued to pile on with a Jacob Barnes dinger and a grand slam from Katelyn Wooton. By the second inning, the teachers’ demise was clear, as the seniors took a double digit lead thanks to homers from Noah Parker and David Szilagyi. The effort was present on the faculty side, but the understaffed team was unable to put together a complete game. However, the enthusiasm brought forth by Math teacher
Andrew McGough and history teacher Sean Regan was well respected by all in attendance. In one memorable play, Regan hustled out an error by a senior fielder and slid in safely at second, earning applause from the crowd for his sudden burst of athleticism. Over 30 seniors participated in the game, with a large number hailing from the baseball and softball teams. The game attracted a large contingent of students from all grades, as well as members of the administration, who were posted in the left field bleachers. “The softball game has always been a South Pasadena tradition,” Commissioner of Athletics Jack Sanders said. “I thought that it wouldn’t happen this year since there was so much going on but I think it turned out really well.” The softball game wraps up the 2018-2019 SPHS athletic season. Summer practices for multiple programs will begin shortly, as South Pasadena seeks more athletic success under new leadership.
My Tiger career got off to a worse start than most; my debut really was something special. The first print article I ever wrote will go down in Tiger lore as one of the worst disasters since Matt’s TAAGLAA. Filmgate (which really was a -gate of its own) became the biggest meme of the sports section during my time on staff. Long story short, I made a lot of enemies through that article. But hey, a good writer has a lot of enemies, right? Like Johnny Manziel, the potential was there, but the off-field issues were numerous. I liked to mess around a little too much (which I really blame on Preston, he brought it out of me). I co-wrote nearly every article because why not? Deadline was optional in my eyes. I have to thank Brandon for the turnaround. Even though the process of writing the Concussion spread had me philosophizing on the merits of doing anything in life, it really set me on the right track. For one of the first times in my life, I was actually proud of something I created. Despite some of the lows, Tiger really has been my rock for the last two years. Fifth period is always a relaxing time; room 615 is a safe space. I can always look forward to seeing my sports squad at the back table, or the strange probing question from Matt, or my daily Big Head Basketball feud with Ray (don’t tell Hogan). And for all the time Tiger has taken in my life, it has paid for itself many times over. Most of my fondest high school memories can be attributed to Tiger: messing around (ahem, I mean covering) with Preston at football games or listening to completely sober late night messages from Matt, Maya, and Oona. Both my prom dates were on Tiger, but Maya (handshake) “kindly” pointed out that all three of her prom dates were Tiger grown, so who I am to brag? And hell, it probably got me into college as a résumé booster. So although I’m beyond ready to leave, my time on Tiger will hold a place in me long after I’m gone from South Pas. It may not be the articles or the editing, but the relationships I built with the people I might not have been friends with. So thank you everyone.
Tony Chen
Oscar Walsh
Tony Chen
Oscar Walsh Andrés Oyaga
PHOTOS OF THE YEAR Favorite moments captured by Tiger staff photographers this year. Jayden Eden
Sophie Yeung
Tony Chen
Tony Chen Andrés Oyaga Jade Li ‘19
Sophie Yeung
TIGER 15 MAY 30, 2019
FAREWELLS
As per tradition, the final print issue of the year includes senior farewells, in which graduating staff members reflect on their past year(s) on Tiger and at SPHS.
I’ll bring the berries STORY RACHEL LU ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG This farewell was supposed to be iconic. Since my sophomore year, I have dreamt of writing with hilarity, wit, profound ruminations, and most importantly, zero clichés — but all I can muster on this almostblank google doc (cliché #1) is that I bring a box of berries to every single Tiger deadline. I’m really not sure how or why the tradition began. Maybe it was an unsuccessful attempt to counteract the reliance on Pavilions bread (our lifelines) — or just that they were the first thing I saw on my food run, but at some point these berries have become my identifier on every deadline. I became a staff writer my sophomore year, stepping over that ~Room 615 threshold~ with Isabella, Matt, Maya, and Oona. As they (and everyone else) knew, I was overly ambitious, overexcited, and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I did know, though, that I loved writing; somehow, I deduced that writing about anything and everything might help me figure it out. Tiger became my chosen vehicle. Two years later, Tiger has not made me become a particularly prolific writer (obligatory shout out to LEGENDS Sammy&David&Brandon), given me college preparatory-level time management skills, nor has it made me realize my *defined path* as a journalist. Tiger has, however, helped me find a passion for everything I have ever written about. My first breaking news article on sexual assault and indecent exposure stemmed an unrelenting care for what has manifested in the #MeToo movement, and school board
coverage led to a fascination with education policy and funding formulas. To me, this is the quintessential coolest part of journalism: writing an article allows all of us to become momentary experts for at least one article. I am most grateful to have gained my own expertise though, on the people that have surrounded me in Tiger. This is also why we all fall into the cliché of shoutouts. Since we started, everyone has found their own “thing.” I have become the girl with the CASC and the clogs and the berries. Oona is the hottest and coolest sexpert I know who has lent us all some of her vocabulary (heinous, canceled, wild). Matt requires an audience for each of his jokes, which is fair since they deserve to be appreciated in mass consumption. Maya constantly stuns me with her all-around talent in essentially everything; and Isabella loves cupcakes more than anyone ever should, but she’s also the only person I will ever co-write with (proudly so). This family promised in my Tiger acceptance letter has grown bigger, along with my gratitude. Noah has delved into the sports realm developing Matt’s foundation. Alex is one of my longest friends whom I’m lucky to have been in awe of in such close proximity. Andrés and Alicia are the warmest and kindest people I will ever come across. Kate and Elaine have tolerated me messing up their art and laugh with me in the best ways; they are also going to be Rich and Famous someday. I have admired Tony’s forever and continuously appreciate seeing his friendly face on campus. I am going to college with Raymond and am excited to catch up with him beyond ACL recovery updates. So thank you Tiger. I am so excited to see where you continue. Until next time… I’ll bring the berries.
Finding purpose rather than balance STORY ALEX BETTS ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS I’ve been told a lot this year that I’m extreme. I am either too serious or too comical, and I infamously talk too fast and turn into a human tomato. I’ve never entirely found self-confidence or satisfaction in my identity because of that social awkwardness. I’ve tried to balance a lot in high school, from sports and employment, to Tiger, Virtual, and classes, and I originally thought that my (extreme) involvements would make me more interesting. That’s not true; while I maintain that these things have allowed me to know more people, they haven’t necessarily made me more happy, maybe just more busy. In contrast to all that, Tiger stands out. I have always loved sports, and Tiger quickly became a creative, serious outlet to explore high school athletics beyond actually playing. I loved the credibility associated with our newspaper and the idea that my work had applications to South Pas. I came to really take pride in my role and work as a student journalist. All of my insecurities were swept away by a byline, a photo or two, and an article. Last year, I watched and worked as Brandon, David, Dashiel, Amelia, Alina, and Sammy wrote with ease, somehow completing remarkable pieces in a fraction of the time of the other writers, but also while having fun. They set a tone of balance —
between professionalism and fun — and relatively quickly most of us found that stride alongside them. Tiger provided a crucial safe space for me: one where I could grow as a journalist and a person, finding friends in staff while also looking up to the veterans. That safe space was kind of uprooted this year, with the shift to Feature. I was never unhappy with being the Feature Editor, I was much more intimidated than anything, because I have never consumed enough content or known enough restaurants or people to be a good editor. In the end, though, it was definitely a blessing in disguise. I’m a major casualty of senioritis (as evident in my garbage online presence); I could not have handled posting all of the online sports articles. Unlike my fellow seniors, I won’t walk away from Tiger with lasting friendships or ridiculous memories. On a frequent basis, I still morph into a red-faced, stammering senior who hasn’t found the balance I’ve always coveted. But, if anything, writing articles and informing others has helped me find something greater — my purpose. Further, working in Feature — something I thought I would never do — has taught me to nix first impressions and try to discover the stories we may overlook. Working alongside these twelve other seniors — Matt, Oona, Rachel, Isabella, Noah, Kate, Elaine, Maya, Alicia, Andrés, Raymond, and Tony — has taught me to appreciate the wide breadth of talent, personality, and vibes in Room 615 during fifth period. It’s a very interesting, diverse group of seniors, but, fortunately, we definitely found our own collective balance in this paper.
TIGER
16 MAY 30, 2019
FAREWELLS
A formal confession to my wrongdoings STORY MATT WAKUMOTO ILLUSTRATION NICK FORMAN Sweating profusely, I tried to slip into the crowd of people circling my sophomore year lunch table. Many of these people, who thought there had been an altercation, were now walking away, disappointed by the lack of fight and confused by the abundance of frogs on the ground. Little did they know, a few minutes before, I had hit my friend Dylan Benton violently with a bag of preserved amphibians from a Biology classroom. Extremely embarrassed, and sure that the Janets were close to abducting and expelling me, I walked with my face covered to my Tiger Newspaper class period. For whatever reason, I expected to receive scorn and ridicule from my classmates. Instead I received only applause from editors and my fellow staff members. The only callout I received was confused snapchats of Bruce sweeping frogs and a clever Boo and Bravo mention, which Oona Foley wrote. Although this support seems inconsequential, it became reflective of my relationship with Tiger for some time: I make wild mistakes, and Tiger serves as an incubator for my support and recovery. When I wrote a whole basketball article about the wrong team, and messed up scores almost every week while focusing
on creatively writing articles, my editors merely laughed and provided methods for avoiding such mistakes. These miscues contrasted with small successes to show me how invaluable it was to have a group of people around you who would support you regardless of your actions. Although having this support should not encourage carelessness, it does create an atmosphere where people can feel fully insulated and safe. This is the atmosphere that has given me the greatest range of emotions and experiences in high school. Looking back, my only regret was acting at times in my own self interest. For a program that has given me so much, I feel like there were times when I thought more in my self interest than for the greater good of other people on staff. If I had to force all of this into a metaphor, I would say that high school, and extracurriculars in particular, is like Mr. Wielenga’s Tragedy of the Commons. In many places kids are busy trying to work out their own value; actions are motivated by self-interest and are not really sustainable communities. But in places like Tiger, where most students are focused on the greater good and development of all people, there is a real, genuine connection and accountability that people share. From becoming way too invested in sports teams I was covering, to annual Tiger Thanksgiving, I would not trade my safe Tiger family for anything.
Thoughts outside the glass room STORY RAYMOND YEO ILLUSTRATION MADDIE YOO Almost everyone calls me the Andre Ingram of Tiger. Actually, no one does, but I wish they would. I mean I’ve got a lot in common with the 32-yearold Laker rookie. We’re both 6 foot 3 inches, are of African-American descent, and have an impeccable facial hair game. Yet, unlike Ingram, I won’t be returning for a second campaign. I can now see why Tiger doesn’t like taking senior staff writers. It took me a few months to become accustomed to journalistic writing and at that point I had already contracted a severe case of senioritis. I’d still like to think I was of some help, covering the most boring school events and being a reliable last minute sports fill-in. Surprisingly, I exceeded my expectations and wrote more articles than I thought I would; I even went out of my own way to write an ACL column. Am I just using this paragraph to justify my right to be on Tiger in late May? Kinda.
Now for the cheesy bit. I’m truly grateful that I got to spend my fifth periods in Room 615 this past year. I got to reunite with kindergarten bestie Matt and eighth grade Geometry buddy Noah (a.k.a. MVP of Awesomeness). Even all the editors this year were super chill, and I’ve learned that Mr. Hogan is one of the most beastly yet caring teachers on campus. From watching sports games with Noah and Preston instead of doing work at deadlines, to admiring Peterus Wangus with the speed and tenacity of a cheetah, Tiger became a part of my life outside of school as well. Most importantly, though, it provided me with an environment full of respectful people and a platform to share my ideas with the world. If you’re still reading this and you’re not a close friend of mine, I’m going to categorize you as a sentimental dork. But I respect that, and I’m sorry if I let you down. This article was short and sweet: just like my time with Tiger.
Fate, cupcakes, and unexpected lessons learned STORY ISABELLA TSAI ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS
that the world needs to see Tiger’s attempt at a Try Guys-inspired sailing video).
When I first heard about Tiger, I was a seventh grader dead serious about being a journalist. A family friend was on staff and introduced me to Tiger and I was majorly impressed. At that time though, I was attending another school district and quickly mourned the loss of an opportunity I thought I would never have. But by a weird turn of events, I found myself at SPMS the next year and promised myself that once I was in high school, I would apply for Tiger.
Despite my determination to avoid covering sports, I was sucked into taking the girls’ tennis beat and spent most of that fall as probably the only student spectator at their matches. Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it and got to know a lot of the players really well. Some of my best memories of sophomore year was co-writing girls’ water polo (and lots of other random articles) with Rachel, tag-teaming the Snapchat coverage and game notes in the pouring rain.
Flash-forward four years, and now I’m dead serious about not being a journalist. I realized I’m not cut out for it, but I don’t regret spending my whole high school career in Room 615 at all. I came into Tiger expecting something like The Paper (shoutout journalism class freshmen year), determined to write in every print issue, and adamant that I would never, ever, write for sports.
Being on Tiger was not without its stresses. There were countless deadlines where I felt like nothing was ever going to get done and there were moments after sending the issue off to the printer that I panicked, worrying that I spelled someone’s name wrong (sorry Talulla). I even managed to wander into a coach’s grudge with Tiger and long story short, the word “lawsuit” was thrown around.
It wasn’t long after I joined Tiger that all my expectations were quickly shattered. Tiger is nothing like the MTV reality series, thank God. I learned that I cannot write for opinion; the Colin Kaepernick con article was my first published print article and subsequently the last time I ever wrote for the section. I didn’t even end up writing in print as much as I had planned — there was also a short-lived attempt at an online-only Tiger staff (I think
As much as I will miss Tiger, I’m ready to let go and turn the page on this chapter because I know that it will be in good hands. Matthew’s already “usurped” me and Adam is ready for all the challenges that that the position of news editor brings. I’m excited to see what next year’s staff will do, and I have no doubt that when I get my hands on the first print issue next fall, I’ll be proud and impressed just like I was back in seventh grade.