My Five

BY RACHEL AMSTER ’22

RYAN JACOBS History Teacher MAX COHN ’22 Student TRACY DOMITRZ School Counselor QAI HINDS ’23 Student

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DESCRIBE A MEMORABLE MOMENT FROM YOUR TIME AT CSW:

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IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ONE PERSON, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

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WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO END THE DAY?

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT?

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WHAT ANIMAL OR MYTHICAL CREATURE DO YOU WISH EXISTED? My first and every subsequent graduation because it was there that I learned that every year I would lose pieces of me when members of our community move on to other communities. Graduation reminds me to appreciate who and what I have here because I stay but the students don’t. The time my friends forced me to join the basketball team. I had never played a sport in my life, and was endlessly embarrassed by the thought of playing on a team surrounded by people judging me for being very out of shape and very unskilled. But it’s ended up being an incredible experience. National Coming Out Day when they put the chalk out and everybody was doing LGBTQUIA artwork on the path around the quad. It was such a happy and supportive environment. I haven’t really been a part of a community like that before. My very first USC meeting. Walking into that room full of people of color was so fulfilling for me.

The invisible man, because I get nervous eating in front of people. Joey Diaz. I find him to be a beautiful human being and an absolutely hilarious comic and storyteller. I also think that he embodies the notion that you are not defined by your past. My dad, because he passed away when I was younger and I would love to ask him if he thinks the Lions are going to win the Super Bowl. My late greatgrandmother. As I have gotten older and more interested in our culture and where I come from, I now have all of these questions for her and she has passed.

Hand-in-hand with my eight-year-old daughter, Darwin. Take a steaming hot shower, put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants and just chill. Then, before I go to bed, I reflect on the day. With double-stuffed Oreos and milk and a crossword puzzle. Going to sleep. I love laying in bed and relaxing with nothing to do.

Mango and sticky rice. It’s particularly a Thai dessert. My favorite dessert to order at a restaurant is always a Crème Brûlée. A black and white cookie from Lyndell’s bakery. My favorite dessert is anything cakey or from the bakery.

Falkor the Luck Dragon from The Neverending Story and Puff the Magic Dragon. I really can’t understand why in 2021 we still don’t have crazy bioengineers trying to genetically invent centaurs. I think somebody really has to get on that. I wish that Remi from Ratatouille was alive and my pet/personal chef/best friend. If I was asked this like six or more years ago I would have said mermaids, but they aren’t actually good creatures. So I would love to see a real Phoenix, the fiery bright bird.

40 • THE GRYPHON Fall/Winter 2021-22Milly Chen ’23 enjoys a

special Lunar New Year dinner in the dining hall.

REUNION 2022 April 29 – May 1, 2022

Every year we come together to celebrate all alumni/ae and this year we are excited to welcome our CSW alumni/ae BACK TO CAMPUS! This spring, from April 29 to May 2, we will take the time to also honor those alumni/ae who are celebrating a milestone year. In 2022, this includes the classes of 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017! We will provide regular updates on programming as Reunion approaches so please be sure to check in periodically. If you are interested in volunteering to help shape reunion weekend or have any questions then please contact the CSW Alumni/ae Office directly at alumni@csw.org.

CSW will continue to monitor public health conditions and share risk-mitigation strategies as Reunion 2022 approaches. We will require all participants to complete a health screening form prior to attending the Reunion.