See pages 16-25
December 2014
Volume XXVII, Issue II
Umbrellas for suffrage
photos by Kristine Liao
Junior foreign exchange student Jiaqi (Amy) Gong has experienced life on both mainland China and the island of Hong Kong and hopes for peaceful relations between the two regions.
The 2014 Hong Kong protests continue, yet the Chinese government shows no sign of backing down. By Sara Boivin, Staff Writer & Kristine Liao, Web Editor-in-Chief
E
nter Civic Square! I call for you all to go inside Civic Square! Defiance covered up hint of fear or hesitation in the voice of Joshua Wong, 18-year-old student leader. After breaching the security barrier, the several hundred demonstrators followed Wong’s lead and flooded into the courtyard of the Central Government Complex, otherwise known as Civic Square. The tensions arose as police officers entered the scene with red posters declaring, “Stop Charging or We Use Force”. (continued on page 2)
M
irror on the w m , r all, irro
M
Margarita By Chloe Le, Staff Writer
D
ecember can be a hectic time for Nancy Hormuth. Pass by her office and you may find her under an enormous pile of Hefty bags filled with basketballs, pink bows, socks, blankets and giant teddy bears. And with each day come more and more gifts donated by SMCHS peer ministers and staff members. However, those Hefty bags will not remain in her office for long. In fact, each item will find its way from under the little Christmas tree into the hands of underprivileged families, all thanks to SMCHS’s annual Adopt a Family program. (continued on page 2)
By Maggie Morris, Copy Editor
y alarm sounded at 5:15 a.m., like a call to war -- a war with myself. I opened my eyes, swung my feet onto the floor and arose from my bed. One foot at a time, I walked slowly, cautiously almost, towards the oval pane of shallow glass resting upon my wall. I spent about 30 minutes in front of her -- staring, scrutinizing and hopelessly attempting to correct a multitude of minute flaws that seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. I examined myself from head to toe. Is my forehead too vast? Is my nose too small? Are my cheeks too rosy to be fixed with a puddle of foundation? Arms too flabby? Chest too flat? Stomach not flat enough? My eyes move further down. Muffin tops. No thigh gap. Small feet. Weird toes. “Maggie, you’re not ‘on point’ today,” I whisper to myself regretfully. “You shouldn’t have worn that, stayed up late, done that, seen that and eaten that. Maybe if you hadn’t done all of those things, then you would look ‘okay’.” I drag myself away from the force field that is my mirror -- pulling me in while I try to pull away. (continued on page 9)
wh o is
the f airest one
In this issue Sweet as
π ●
page 13
DIY Christmas gifts ●
pages 16-17
12 days of Christmas finals ●
page 29
ll ? a of
Check us out online!
www.smchseagleeye.com
2
Fight through the storm The Eagle Eye
Puddles of injustice - Protestors in Hong Kong use umbrellas as a symbol for their movement.
(continued from page 1) Later that night, the police arrested Wong and used pepper spray against the demonstrators. The horrors of Sep. 26 gave birth to the 2014 Hong Kong protests, better known as the Umbrella Movement, named after the protestors’ use of umbrellas to protect themselves from pepper spray and tear gas. These protests arose in response to the Chinese government’s decision to disallow civil nomination for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive. The reform declared that a nominating committee would elect candidates for the public to vote on. Junior Jiaqi (Amy) Gong, born and raised in mainland China, is a foreign exchange student at SMCHS. Before her move to America, she often visited Hong Kong with her family, who now lives there. “Me and my family, we support free election and want democracy and independence for the people in Hong Kong,” Gong said. “I want Hong Kong to stay the way it is.” Hong Kong residents enjoy rights not seen on the mainland, including freedom of expression and assembly. However, worries are arising over the increasingly oppressive Chinese government and the gradual diminishing of those rights. “I went to a boarding school [in China] and you had to cut your hair, just like a boy’s, and you had to wake up in the morning at 5 to run miles,” Gong said. “It’s really strict and you’re just like a study machine. Students in Hong Kong are more social and they join activities like the movement right now. You can unite with society and show your religion, beliefs and po-
litical opinion.” For Gong, Hong Kong is a refuge from the limitations she felt during her life in mainland China. “My whole family is Catholic and that’s unusual in China,” Gong said. “Since religion in China was kind of oppressed, we went to this church far away from my home -- it’s in the country, like a small village. It’s not dangerous, but they kind of block stuff like that because communism has no God.” Two days after the taking of Civic Square, the police who had already resorted to tear gas threatened to use rubber bullets if protests escalated further. The crowd shouted out its disapproval as it reluctantly retreated to avoid bloodshed. “It could have easily gone as bad as Tiananmen Square because they were fighting for the same thing; they were fighting for democracy,” said junior Kristi Fecarotta. “But the people of Hong Kong knew from the past what could happen. I don’t think they had the numbers to fight against the communist government.” However, the movement did not end. On Sep. 29, tens of thousands occupied the main streets of Hong Kong in response to the use of tear gas the night before. Now, after two months, the streets remain the headquarters of protestors, yet the government shows no sign of backing down. “The transportation is really bad because of the people on the streets who are walking and demonstrating,” Gong said. “My parents do business there and the economy is also influenced by the movement.” There are already signs of democratic rights being curtailed, including physical and cyber-attacks on Hong Kong journalists critical of Beijing.
illustration by Sara Boivin
“I believe that what the civilians are doing is right because they are fighting for what they believe and I’m an advocate for standing up for what you think,” Fecarotta said. “But I also think that what the Chinese government wants is what the people are going to get. [The government] just has so much power.” The political and cultural differences between mainland China and Hong Kong have created a controversy that affects the international world, especially the British, as Hong Kong was formerly part of the British empire. However, the issue has been left solely to the hands of the local protestors without any international involvement. “[This issue] affects the U.S. especially because in more recent times we have acted as the global police officers since in many situations we’re generally always the first one to send aid in,” Fecarotta said. “We should also care and make sure we’re voting for the people we truly want and use it to our advantage.” The privilege that Americans have to elect and vote for their leaders is not one that is shared on a global scale. Although the protests of Hong Kong are occurring halfway across the world, students at SMCHS are still being affected by them, whether it’s on a political or a personal level. “I just hope China and Hong Kong have a good relationship,” Gong said. “Hong Kong is a great city and where my family lives. Mainland China is where I was born and I still have friends and relatives there, so I really hope they have a good relationship.” As the government remains silent, umbrellas continue to raise in persistence and hope.
News
Eagles take on Santa’s role (continued from page 1) Adopt a Family is a volunteer program for students, families and others to purchase Christmas gifts for underprivileged families in Orange County. The program started in 2006 when Nancy Hormuth, the director of campus ministry, and her daughter, Lisa, decided to pair up with Dale Junior High School in Anaheim. “Ninety percent of [Dale Junior High School] lives below the poverty line,” Hormuth said. “My daughter and I decided to bring the two schools together to make a difference in the lives of Dale’s poorest students.” Lisa is in charge of organizing the families at Dale while Hormuth handles the program from SMCHS. When Hormuth receives the list of families from her daughter, she invites SMCHS students and staff to “adopt the families” at Dale for Christmas by purchasing gifts for them. “Out of beautiful hearts of giving, the peer ministry classes and other faculty at SMCHS provide these families with wonderful gifts,” Hormuth said. “Then the gifts are loaded in my truck and taken to Dale.” After the gifts are distributed to the families, Hormuth receives amazing responses. The joy that the adopted families experience gives her the satisfaction of knowing she celebrated Christmas the right way. “The stories that are shared with me are so moving and the look on the faces of these students are memorable,” Hormuth said. “They call SM their Christmas angel.” As she sees the true meaning of Christmas through the actions of SMCHS students, Hormuth is both proud of and astonished by the contributions made through Adopt a Family. “The generosity of the students and teachers of SM is beyond any words I might use to express my gratitude for supporting this program,” Hormuth said. “To know the
SM community has helped them with not only material goods, but with a sense of caring and love has touched these young lives in unforgettable ways. This is truly Caritas Christi in action.” For Ally Carey, senior peer minister, Adopt a Family has opened her eyes to the sincerity of Christmas and the reality of the gap between the privileged and the less fortunate. “It puts our lives in perspective,” Carey said. “We have no idea how lucky we are that our parents provide presents for us and this is our norm.” Family is one of the most important aspects of the holidays and Dale has become a part of the Eagle family. “We are called to give ourselves with expressions of love and caring toward others,” Hormuth said. Carey also believes that the virtue of family plays a huge role during Christmas. She recognizes that the holiday spirit can bring families closer together in tough times. “We are all a part of a family as children of Christ,” Carey said. “By providing for other families it makes them a stronger unit as well.” Like Carey, Hormuth is touched by the concept of Adopt a Family and how it can change someone’s Christmas in such a substantial way. “The idea of the more affluent giving to the less fortunate at Christmas really tugs on the heart strings of not only us at SM, but also at Dale and these Dale families,” Hormuth said. “Christmas has always been a season of love and charity.” Through the Adopt a Family program, Hormuth, Carey and many other SMCHS students and staff celebrate Christmas in the right manner in order to bring the holiday spirit to others. The Eagle family has contributed to over 100 families each Christmas. So leave out the milk and cookies, because SMCHS is coming to town. Ho ho ho!
The Eagle Eye Staff Staff Adviser Ashley Pagel Print Editor-in-Chief Alex Barber Web Editor-in-Chief Kristine Liao Managing Editor Alexa Hines Copy Editor Maggie Morris Photo Editor Adam Campbell News & Sports Editor Carly Desmond Feature & Opinion Editor Shannon Pierson
Staff Writers Monique Beals Sara Boivin Claire Calcaterra Anna Cannon Ethan Crocker Edison LaCour Chloe Le Avery Lewis Kiera Makowecki Camille Manese Alana Mayes Carlie McCabe Tara Peterson Paige Schuck Perla Shaheen Megan Snader
Sports
The Eagle Eye
3
Fair play
illustration by Sydney Mahl
SMCHS and JSerra attempt to sew together a torn relationship. By Camille Manese, Staff Writer
A
n older brother takes his younger brother to the playground right by their house. They race to see who will glide down the slide faster. They compete to see who will swing higher on the swings. The older brother continues to triumph over the younger brother. A few years later, the two brothers return to the playground and perform the same races. The younger brother now beats the older brother. Tension rises. This is the case between SMCHS and JSerra. After so many years of beating their younger “brother”, SMCHS has recently faced some tough losses to JSerra. Oct. 10, 2014 was not just an ordinary league-opener game for the SMCHS varsity football team; this was a turning point which amplified their rivalry with JSerra Catholic High School. Tensions rose between the Eagles and Lions at SMCHS’s Homecoming game when a group of JSerra students tore apart an SMCHS flag. The Eagles not only suffered a tough loss, but they were left in utter shock and infuriation. Let’s rewind to the start of this rivalry. In 2003, JSerra opened the doors to their campus in San Juan Capistrano and SMCHS was
no longer the only Catholic high school in south Orange County. Competition was inevitable. Rich Schaaf, SMCHS athletics director, who has worked here since 1987, remembers how SMCHS and JSerra became rivals. “We weren’t in the same league together at first,” Schaaf said. “[JSerra was] playing other smaller Christian schools. Once they got put in the league with us, it started to grow from there.” Principal Ray Dunne notes that this rivalry has intensified within the past few years. "I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that they're more competitive in football,” Dunne said. “Everybody in the Trinity League thought that JSerra was the win you were going to get, but that's not the case anymore." As the two teams become more evenly matched, there comes a point where one may question if this rivalry motivates each school to become better. Senior Claire Archibald believes a healthy rivalry is a matchup between two schools that inspires each team and their fans to win the game. "Instead of being a healthy rivalry, it has become more of an emotional or a personal thing,” Archibald said. “I think that the 'r' not only stands for rivalry, but stands for respect. If you don't respect the school, and you don't re-
spect the people, then that's when it gets out of line." Archibald faced a predicament when her date for the Homecoming dance, a JSerra student, was accused of destroying the SMCHS flag at the game. He and a group of his friends dressed up as SMCHS students and sat in the Eagles’ student section in the first half of the game. They stole the SMCHS flag and brought it back over to JSerra’s side. TheLion students grabbed and ripped it. Archibald clarified that her date “was not the one to rip it”, but he was the one to steal it. The following night, Archibald was optimistic and encouraged her date to attend the SMCHS Homecoming dance, but both were unprepared for the reactions of the SMCHS students. Enraged and upset students confronted the JSerra student about this situation, but before any physical harm was inflicted, security guards, deans and Dunne intervened. “We had a good talk,” Dunne said. “I said [to him], ‘You know, you realize that there wouldn't be any problem if you hadn't done what you did. And that's the thing that got students here angry. You could have come here and had a nice dance with your date.' And [he] agreed and he said that he didn’t really think through what he was doing. I do think he felt sorry
for what he did. I think it's a matter of thinking before you act, which, with teenagers, is sometimes hard to do.” Dunne said that this rivalry may be transforming the words and actions of students in unfavorable ways. Seven years ago, when he was principal at Servite, he worked to improve the relationships between opposing schools. “All of the schools in the league came together for a dinner at Servite,” Dunne said. “This was a way that the ASBs from each school got together and got know each other. Hopefully we can get something like that going. Not just with JSerra, but with all of the Trinity League schools." Despite frustrations from each school, SMCHS and JSerra are working to improve their relationship with each other. Both Dunne and Rich Meyer, JSerra Headmaster, wish to prevent incidents that provoke ill-mannered behaviors from occurring in the future. Following the SMCHS Homecoming, they met to make plans to ensure a friendly rivalry. They agreed upon possibly attending each other’s school Masses and allowing for student leaders from JSerra and SMCHS to come together. “We can improve and make steps to make a healthier rivalry by recognizing a common vision between JSerra and Santa Margarita,”
Meyer said. Meyer sent out a letter to all JSerra families which encouraged all JSerra students to keep their minds focused on respecting others. “We should strive to be respectful of [SMCHS’s] fine institution and the people associated with it,” Meyer wrote. “We do not condone behaviors that demonstrated disrespect. We know our competition with SMCHS will at times become intense, especially on the athletic side of the register, but let’s never lose sight of the fact that our schools have a very similar educational and spiritual mission, one that highlights our similarities far more than our differences.” Dunne hopes to inspire all SMCHS students to truly be an example of Christ not only during sporting events, but at all times. "When you have a charism of Caritas Christi, you have to learn to live that,” Dunne said. “And that means that you have Caritas Christi, the love of Christ, for not only your good friends, but people you may not get along with well. Now that doesn't mean to let your opponents win the game, but you treat them with respect. If we can get to a point where JSerra students respect Santa Margarita students and Santa Margarita students respect JSerra students, then I think the playing ground will be a little better to play in.”
4
The Eagle Eye
Sports
When munch time meets time The truth behind student athletes’ appetites. juice cleanses have the nutrients to be a replacement for homemade smoothies, these cleanses lack the nutritional balance necessary for an athlete’s success. Containing only carbohydrates and no healthy fats or proteins, these cleanses will bring fatigue to athletes who rely on their energy stores to play at a dynamic level. Protein bars can also be great fuel but it’s important to always read the ingredients. Rule of thumb: if you are struggling to pronounce an ingredient listed, then you probably should not eat it. “I usually avoid bars or energy drinks to get energy for games because I’m afraid I won’t choose the right ones,” said senior softball player Alex Heinen. “I focus on drinking a lot of water throughout the day and try to stick with healthier and fulfilling eating habits.” MacDonald believes that Lara and Kind bars are the best to eat because they provide real ingredients that are easily defined on the packaging. She emphasizes that eating right is not only important while you’re in the game, but also after the final play has ended. Whether you’re in a year-round sport or choose to take it a little at a time, following healthy nutrition is a smart idea for teenagers who are constantly growing, studying, competing, socializing and everything in between.
By Avery Lewis & Perla Shaheen, Staff Writers
H
e slides into home base. She makes a turn for her final lap. He runs the ball into the end-zone. She forces her body into the back tuck. Behind every star moment is blood, sweat, tears and calories. It is no surprise that student athletes have huge appetites. It is a simple equation: teenager + hard work = a lot of necessary fuel. SMCHS athletes certainly do not disappoint on the field, but when it comes to getting the healthy food they need, some require a little encouragement. Junior Austin Barrette needed that support during his first days on the varsity football team. Even from the start of his high school season freshman year, he knew that his body would not be able to adjust to the strenuous workouts and practices that the entire team had to complete. “It became a whole new playing field -- from the easygoing eighth grade recess playground to the rough competition of Trinity League football,” Barrette said. “I figured that I needed a new nutrition plan to get me through the tough training we have to do.” Erin MacDonald, R.D., for 20 years and mother of SMCHS seniors Eric and Ryan MacDonald, gives health tips and advice to many teenage athletes in order to push them towards successful seasons. “Calories are essentially fuel or energy points,” MacDonald said. “So if you have enough calories you have enough fuel -- fuel you turn into your activity and your recovery.” A common misconception is that eating less to lose weight is important to stay in shape for a sport. Lesser calories will only decrease the athlete’s level of play. In order to understand what makes a player healthy, the athlete must look at different factors in themselves and others. “[Calorie intake] really does vary from person to person,” MacDonald said. “It is going to vary based off gender, height, weight, type of activity, the intensity of activity and the duration of activity. An athlete’s diet needs to have pretty much an equal amount of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fat.” High-endurance sports, such as football, swimming and cross country, require a greater calorie intake than stop-and-go sports such as baseball, softball and golf. Additionally, the heavier an athlete is, the more calories are needed. This explains why the 300 pound linemen never seem to stop eating. “At first I was surprised at how much everyone else on the team ate, and then I found myself eating
photo by Adam Campbell
Chomp - Student athletes’ big appetites keep their stomachs wanting more fuel -- but is it the right fuel?
constantly because of all the work we were doing,” Barrette said. “For some of our games the guy I’m supposed to consistently tackle could weigh up to 240 pounds and if I go out there weighing 190, I’ll get killed.” Carbohydrates provide energy, fat sustains energy sources and protein aids post-workout recovery. A balanced diet for an athlete consists of 40-50 carbohydrates, 20-30 percent proteins and 20-30 percent fats. Senior Brooke Hertel has a year round season of high school and club volleyball. She focuses on having a well-balanced healthy diet, so that her energy will never be drained during any game or practice. “Before a game I have chocolate milk or a bagel and usually as many calories as I’m hungry for,” Hertel said. “On and off season I eat the same types of foods like pasta and dairies because I have to stay on track to play my best.” Athletes need to maintain good nutrition if they’re planning on having energy for their games. Instead of sugary sports drinks, Macdonald recommends making your own smoothie. Start with a fruit or
milk base and add in your favorite fruits. “Making your own smoothie is usually the best choice because you
can add some protein powder, oats and chia seeds, which are my favorite ingredient,” MacDonald said. Although many believe that
MENTER & WITKIN ATTORNEYS AT LAW
19900 MACARTHUR BLVD. SUITE 800 IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612 Tel.: 949-250-9000
Handling claims against insurance companies for 14 years.
Sports
The Eagle Eye
5
Live &
Learn
courtesy photo
Guarding the ne(s)t - Junior goalie Alex Hunter keeps a watchful eye on the play in front of the net.
How to prevent sports injuries during this cold winter season.
No Zamboni, no problem SMCHS roller hockey team skates into the new season.
By Edison LaCour, Staff Writer
T
he horn sounds. Fifteen minutes of play in the books. The players skate off and the teams clear the benches. It is the end of the first period of the hockey game. However, this playing surface does not need a 9,750-pound monster Zamboni to come out and smooth away the bumps in the ice. These hockey players don’t need ice. The SMCHS roller hockey team is one of the lesser-known squads on campus, but also one of the most decorated. The team competes in the Anaheim Ducks Inline Scholastic League (ADISL) where it plays against other teams in the Orange County-Los Angeles Metro area. “Most high schools in Orange County have a roller hockey team and they compete with us in the ADISL,” said senior forward Kevin Martin. “We play teams from all over Orange County, from public schools like Tesoro to Trinity League teams like Mater Dei, in Irvine. However, if there is a game in Corona or Huntington, it’s canceled. Nobody wants to drive out there.” Although both roller and ice hockey involve a black rubber puck, quick shifts and big hits, they do have some differences. “In roller hockey we play fouron-four rather than the five-on-five that ice hockey plays,” Martin said. “Also, in roller hockey there is no offside and no icing.” With most of last year’s leadership from the class of 2014 departed, it is time for the class of 2015 to shine. This year, senior defenseman Brenten Kelly will be wearing the captain’s “C” on his jersey. The captain is in charge of leading his team and discussing calls with referees. “I have been playing roller hockey for four years now and was an alternate captain last year,” Kelly said. “So when my coach told me that he named me captain for the first game of the year and the rest of the season, it was a big honor. I was very thankful for the opportunity to captain this great group of guys.” Kelly and the coaching staff are in the process of finding two alternate captains. “I would say Dylan [Kinney] and [Kevin] Kmart [Martin] are very good potential candidates for the alternate captain,” Kelly said.
“They are the other seniors on the team and the rest of the guys look to them for leadership. They would be two guys I would want to wear the ‘A’.” New to the coaching staff is English teacher Bruce Fleming. Fleming started out by skating at the local rinks with his friends and became an avid hockey fan. After completing the Inline Hockey Coaching training program, he turned to the SMCHS team to share his newfound knowledge. “I have been wanting to get involved with the team ever since I got here in 2006,” Fleming said. “However, they had plenty of people so they never needed me. This year they needed me, so I was happy to oblige.” The team is excited by the challenge of winning league. Although they are part of a young team, the players are looking to prove themselves as serious competition in the ADISL. “We are very much a program going through some growing pains so to speak,” Martin said. “We are taking on a new group of kids with varying skill levels and we are trying to help develop the new guys’ skills, like our new backup goalie who can barely stand in his crease, but he’s getting there.” Sure, the Eagles have some new players, like junior goalie Alex Hunter, sophomore Collin Marx and freshman Robby Roesgen, who are all learning the ropes. But the Eagles plan on making a legitimate run for the title despite their underdog role. “Our coach tells us that SMCHS has a tradition of not having the best regular season, barely making the playoffs and then doing very well once playoffs start,” Kelly said. “We are in a good division this year with a lot of tough teams, but I think we should also be able to turn it around and have a better regular season and go far in the playoffs. It should make for a good final year for me and the rest of the seniors.” The roller hockey team plays on weekends throughout the winter sports season. Admission and parking for games are free, and each game consists of three 15-minute periods. “I would love to see the Eagles’ Nest out there at some of our games,” Kinney said. “We normally do not have a lot of people come to our games, but I’m sure the boys would love to play in front of a crowd and that could even help us play at a better level.”
photo by Anna Cannon
Game time - Trainer Nick Anderson tapes senior wide reciever Conner Bianchini’s ankles before a football game.
By Anna Cannon & Ethan Crocker, Staff Writers
I
t was a Thursday afternoon in October 2012. Sophomore Christian Ydens made some key blocks from his offensive tackle position at a JV football game. He got off the ball, then hit and blocked his man. The ball-carrier made a cut and ran full throttle into a pile of bodies, Ydens included. Once Ydens got up, he felt some serious pain coming from his ankle. Later that week, Ydens found out his season was over. He tore every ligament in his ankle and would not be able to walk for three months. Ydens is not the only athlete who has been sidelined by an injury. In fact, injuries are far too common. But what is often forgotten is that injuries can be prevented. “Know your limitations,” said athletic trainer Nick Anderson. “It’s okay to push them, but don’t exceed them by a great deal.” Training begins with pushing yourself. Athletes are often stuck in the mindset that it’s best to work through pain and discomfort. But pushing too hard can cause longterm effects. “It’s a fine line between pushing too hard and teaching mental toughness,” Anderson said. “It’s a tough balance to find, but it’s vital to staying healthy.” Injuries can occur when athletes are unprepared. Proper warmups and stretching are essential to preventing injuries. “Really strengthen your muscles,” said senior Kelsey Flaharty, who tore her ACL and meniscus playing soccer last summer, causing her to be sidelined for six months. “Make sure you aren’t taking [your exercises] too lightly.”
Foam rollers and stretching also keep muscles loose and ready to perform. “Stretching is something that can keep athletes from getting hurt,” Anderson said. “Stretches should be for held for 30 seconds and should be done for three repetitions.” Some athletes even wear braces or extra paddings to help prevent injury in the first place. This can save athletes from injuring vulnerable areas, like knees and ankles. “I was lucky in that I was wearing my knee braces,” Ydens said. “I would have torn up my knee along with my ankle if I wasn’t wearing them.” Perhaps the most challenging aspect of injury is the fear. The risk of injury acts as a distraction for athletes, often making them less involved and concentrated in the game. While caution is key, too much caution can lower performance. “Don’t play timid and afraid of getting hurt,” said senior Conner Bianchini, who broke his collarbone last football season. “That will just increase your chances of getting hurt.” Regardless of precautionary measures athlets take, accidents do happen and injuries can occur. “Most athletic movements are so dynamic and there are so many factors that could go wrong that could lead to injury,” Anderson said. Once injured, athletes may struggle to accept the fact that they can no longer play. “It’s not only frustrating, but [the emotions] really wear on you,” Flaharty said. “It’s like, I know I could be out there helping my team, but I can’t do anything from the sideline.” Often the emotional dismay outweighs the physical pain. “It killed me not being out there
with my teammates,” Bianchini said. “That hurt more than my collarbone did.” Injured athletes to try to recuperate from their injuries as fast as they can so they can get back in the game. But this restlessness can lead to complications and even additional injuries. “I recommend waiting until you are fully healthy to return,” Bianchini said. “I took a big risk by rushing back as fast as I could.” Luckily for Bianchini, his risk paid off. He returned to playing football and has remained uninjured throughout this season. Once athletes do return, however, they must be careful not to aggravate their injury. “I had to change the whole way I run in order to take the pressure off my shins,” said senior Corrina Thompson, who had a bad case of shin splints that removed her from running cross country for six months in 2013. There’s always a chance of injury for even the smartest players. Ydens never anticipated that he would tear every ligament in his ankle, Flaharty never meant to take out her knee along with the ball, Bianchini never intended to break his collarbone and Thompson never expected to push herself so hard that it took her out of the race. So is the game worth it? “Not being able to play has really shown me how much I need [soccer] and what it really means to me,” Flaharty said. “Everyone has a chance of getting injured, but it’s worth it for playing the game that you love.” Bianchini, Flaharty, Ydens and Thompson all returned to the sports that once betrayed their bodies. Knowing the keys to prevention and recovery are essential in ensuring that injuries don’t overtake your love for sports.
Big Bad Wolfe Ironworks Bernie Wolfe, CFT www.bbwolfeironworks.com 949-292-8156
Developing Fitness From the Inside Out Wellness - Nutrition - Fitness - Supplements
The Eagle Eye
Sports
Committed! By Alexa Hines, Managing Editor SWIMMING Sydney Franzen, Rice University “I didn’t even want to go on my Rice trip. But after I stepped onto campus, I just felt more at home. The girls were very inviting and the pool is outside, which was similar to what I am in now, and I just got good vibes from it.” Katie McLaughlin, UC Berkeley “I chose Berkeley because I loved the coaches and the team. It felt like a family. Everyone is focused on how you are as a person. I am looking forward to training with the team and meeting new friends. I want to reach my full potential, but still be happy swimming.” Audrey Johnstone, Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo “I chose Cal Poly because it had the perfect mix of academics and athletics. It is the perfect location between LA and San Francisco with great weather. The swim team felt like a family when I visited, which was welcoming.” Aaron Magazine, Towson University “I chose Towson University because of the welcoming coaching staff and swimmers and the diverse and positive community of the school itself. I also chose it because of the unique feeling of home as soon as I set foot on campus. Towson makes me so excited for the road ahead.” Jerod Magazine, Providence College “The reason why I chose Providence College was because of its reputation for having both excellent academics and athletics. The team was very welcoming and I felt right at home as soon as I stepped on campus. The coaching staff is really geared toward making sure their athletes perform to their full potential.”
College athletics survival guide Y
By Carly Desmond, News & Sports Editor
ou have worked tirelessly for years, enduring long practices and sore muscles all the while envisioning playing at the collegiate level. But what do you really know about college athletics? Some of the greatest student athletes from the Class of 2014 shed some light on their college sports experience.
Haley Wan Princeton, Water Polo
What did you do between graduation and college to prepare mentally and physically? The summer after graduation, I was a part of the USA Youth National Team for water polo and spent all summer training with them. We had five to seven day long trainings of five to eight hours a day every month and also played a couple of tournaments. I played in the Junior Pan American games in July and in Youth World Championships in August. I also played with my SOCAL club water polo team and participated in Junior Olympics. The entire summer and national team trainings helped me prepare mentally for the toughest college practices. Do you feel that your coaches properly prepared you for the level of play? How? My high school coach prepared me well for college athletics. He was tough on us and our practices were hard but still helped us remember why we play the sport.
In terms of athletics, if you had to do it all over again, would you do it exactly the same? I would absolutely do everything exactly the same. I learned a ton about the game and had so much fun, that I don’t know if there was anything better than my time [at SMCHS]. Plus, winning a couple state championships and a national championship never hurts.
VOLLEYBALL Claire Archibald, Iona College “I chose Iona because it has the perfect balance between academics and athletics. It is so close to New York City, and I just wanted an experience somewhere besides California.”
Sarah Cwiertnia, University of Pennsylvania “I chose UPenn because when I went on my visit, it was a very special visit for me. I will be going to college with a girl that I have known since kindergarten. I am really excited to be going to college with one of my best friends.” Caroline Figueroa, Loyola Marymount University “I chose LMU because they have good athletics and are also religious. I am looking forward to traveling and representing my college. I am also excited to meet new people.” Alex Heinen, Boston University Hailey Archuleta, Syracuse University “I chose Syracuse for softball because of the coaches and the academics it has to offer. I instantly clicked with the coaches. They are the people I want to be with if I’m going to go to school across the country. I know they will take care of me.”
Brian Desmond University of Denver, Ice Hockey How did SMCHS prepare you for college hockey? I feel like I was pushed to do my best at SMCHS. I learned more in my three years in the SMCHS ice hockey program than I had in the previous 10 years. Plus I had the time of my life playing with all my best friends.
Abigael McShane, Providence College “I have known that Providence holds a high reputation for success in academics, but what helped me make my final decision was not only the amazing academics I would receive there, but the team. The Providence team is a welcoming family that I felt a part of almost immediately and also at home with, even thousands of miles away.”
SOFTBALL Jayme Cone, George Washington University “I want to play with my sister [junior Jenna]. So, it was nice they offered scholarships to both of us. I didn’t know what type of campus I wanted, so it is nice that George Washington has two campuses -- one in the city and one outside. There is so much history in the city as well.”
7
Alexandra Kroigus Villanova University, Tennis Taylor Prevonost UCLA, Football What did you do between graduation and college to prepare mentally and physically? I trained at Redline, a sports performance facility, and I also trained with John Walker, a personal trainer for athletes, and some SM football teammates who were also playing in college.
What advice would you give to a high school athlete preparing for college? A different type of energy exists in the college athletic environment as both your teammates and your competition want to be there and do well, which is not always the case in high school sports. It is very important to look at whether or not you are a good fit for the team. I did not fully realize the time commitment college athletics is, and having a team I love makes it all the more enjoyable. Do you feel that your SMCHS coaches properly prepared you for the next level of play? Santa Margarita isn’t like every other school; the balance of academics and athletics allowed my college environment now to be totally doable. My SMCHS coaches provided structure within practice, challenged and guided me and developed my game. I came to Villanova already knowing how to be a team player and conduct myself at practice.
WATER POLO Nikki Doumas, UC San Diego LACROSSE Nico Houser, Wagner College “I chose Wagner because of its close proximity to New York City. I also really liked the guys on the team.” TRACK & FIELD Kaitlyn Merritt, Stanford University “I chose Stanford because it is an amazing school academically and athletically. After meeting the coach and a few of my future teammates, I knew I wanted to be a part of their family. It really had all the aspects I was looking for: strong academics, team camaraderie and awesome school spirit.” BASEBALL Nick Meyer, Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo
Natalie Willis University of Southern California, soccer What is something you wish you knew in high school about college athletics? I wish I knew how much time consuming soccer really is since you have double days and practice every morning. Also, the intensity and dedication you need to compete is completely different than club or high school sports. What advice would you give to a high school athlete preparing to play in college? I would tell athletes to do their summer workout because you can never be too fit. Also, you should always have a healthy diet because you will only be allowed to eat certain foods that your nutritionist will give you.
courtesy photos
8
The Eagle Eye
photo by Maggie Morris
Looks can deceive Beyond the idea of the “perfect family”, divorced families learn to adapt while separated.
Sp l
Feature
O
it inTW p i eces
Students affected by divorce cope with a broken family puzzle. By Maggie Morris, Copy Editor & Claire Calcaterra, Staff Writer
S
even years ago, when she was 10 years old, Jessie’s* parents got divorced. It was 11 days before her sister’s thirteenth birthday and her mom was nearly eight months pregnant with her third child. Jessie had always thought that her parents were happy together. She was wrong. The stereotypical image of two happy parents, a handful of kids (and perhaps even a dog named Spot) is a sharp contrast to the reality that more than half of the families in America are split in two by divorce. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 percent of U.S. marriages end in divorce. Oftentimes, the cut is not clean. “At first, the divorce caused a lot of drama and tension in my family,” Jessie said. “Especially when my brother was born and my sister and I discovered that my dad had left the marriage because he was having an affair with an old family friend.” When Jessie was 14 years old, her parents tried to get back together. Ultimately, the relationship ended again in more pain. “My sister and I didn’t trust my dad and believed it would go wrong and our mom would get
hurt again,” she said. “This led to a lot of resentment towards both of my parents, and I felt really alone during this time. My sister and I felt that our parents were teaming up against us.” Jessie's family situation only worsened as her father perpetuated the affair that had broken off the marriage in the first place. Not only did he altogether stop contributing to Jessie's family, but he also continued to tell them about his new life without them and how happy he was. “In March, he announced to my sister and I over a group text message that he proposed to his girlfriend,” she said. “That was the last time I had communication with my dad. I told him I was embarrassed to have him as a father because all of my friends back home knew what he was and it embarrassed me that people knew I was related to him.” When one parent chooses to remove themselves from the family equation, the other parent has to compensate for the loss. “I consider my mom's house to be home,” said senior Maeve Gerrity. “I spend 90 percent of my time with her and she is my sole supporter.” Megan’s* parents divorced two years ago. Not only did the status of her parents’ relationship change, but so did Megan’s relationship with her parents. Megan states that she has become much closer to her father,
for he has been the calmer parent throughout the whole divorce. Her relationship with her mom, however, seems to be on a completely different page. “Since the divorce my mom has changed into someone I don’t even know anymore,” she said. “I know that she is hurt emotionally, stressed out and not used to living and doing things alone. But all of this has caused the relationship with my mother to go from best friends to me not even being able to be in the same room as her.” Traditional families experience everyday life together, celebrating holidays and milestones in direct proximity with each other. But for divorced families, this is often unrealistic. “I usually spend Christmas Eve and morning at my mom’s and for Christmas dinner we go to my dad’s,” Gerrity said. “We spend Easter with my mom. It’s hard sometimes because I only really see my mom’s family and not really my dad’s.” Since her parents’ divorce, Megan’s view of everyday life has been impacted. She states that some things most people take for granted, she now longs for. “I can’t remember the last time I saw my whole family in the same room,” she said. “I would-do anything just to come home and be able to see my parents and my sister. Even family dinners -- they may seem pointless and annoying to every other kid, but that’s the thing I
miss the most.” Children of divorced parents oftentimes grow closer to each other because they bond over experiencing the same situation and feelings about the split. “My sister is one of the strongest people I know,” Jessie said. “She’s at college now and doesn’t communicate with my dad either, but has always taken care of any issue with my dad. If I fought with him, she stood up for me. If I fought with his wife, she stood up for me. She stands up for my brother as well. She always says, ‘I never want you have to deal with him alone.’” In the wake of divorce, older children may experience divorce in more dramatic way than young children who don’t remember the divorce. For some children, it only seems natural for their family to be separated. “My parents got divorced when I was 3 so they’ve been divorced for 13 years,” said junior Devin Costello. “I don't remember how it used to be because I was so little [when it happened] but they are completely different people so I can’t really see them ever being together.” Divorce, while painful, is sometimes seen as the more amicable solution to the conflict that occurred while the parents were married. “My family is much better separated,” said junior Dakota Brady. “I get along with both parents and not having to choose a side in arguments makes life easier for both me
and my brother.” Whether or not the divorce ends up being amiable, it is rarely peaceful for the children who must reorient their worldviews. “Now that my parents are divorced, it makes me question everything I have ever known,” Megan said. “I can’t expect anything anymore.” While she now juggles two bedrooms, two houses and two separate families, Megan has had to teach herself how to make sense of her family situation. “This is hard, and I know that,” she said. “I am learning how to deal with it by taking one day at a time. I have to keep moving on; I have to restart.” Although families may become accustomed to living life in a divorced state, there still remains an emptiness where a once-whole family used to be. This can cause lasting impacts on the children that extend beyond the confines of the immediate situation. “I think because of my parents' divorce, I have a little bit of distrust towards men and relationships in general,” Jessie said. “I don’t feel like I can trust anyone, even my best friend. It’s been said that you often end up dating or marrying someone like your parent of the opposite sex, but I pray every day that I don’t end up marrying a man like my dad.” *Names changed to protect privacy.
Feature
The Eagle Eye
Mirror worshippers
By Maggie Morris, Copy Editor (continued from page 1)
T
hen I march to the bathroom, use it wash my hands and face. There’s another one of my glassy friends. This one is bigger. I trudge downstairs to the wafting scent of chocolate. Mom made muffins. I remind myself that I don’t deserve one because I don’t look ‘okay’ today. I sit down. You may not have a muffin, Maggie. I have one anyway. A wave of regret washes over me. Why does it matter what I eat? Yes, I want to be healthy -- who doesn’t? But the reason I’m so concerned about eating this chocolate muffin is that I saw my reflection this morning and my stomach was a little too big for my liking. But what would happen if mirrors did not exist? If I couldn’t see what I looked like, I would never be able to scrutinize my appearance. In fact, I would probably just accept it. I counted 13 mirrors in my house. Thirteen places to immerse myself in the most precise image of my appearance. We are all mirror worshippers. We bow down to glass in sheets of
squares and circles, searching the pane for things unknown, drowning each bone and curve in a lake of sorrow and tears. We come so close that our breath fogs the glass. And we take the plunge -- diving into the monsters that reflect the depths of our souls. The concept of mirror worshipping doesn’t only apply to those who are concerned about their weight. It applies to the people who think they have ‘chicken legs’ or that their hair is too curly or their acne is too obvious. We live in a culture of mirror worshippers and we encourage it. This morning I walked into the girls’ bathroom to make sure I looked “okay” before I let almost 2,000 other students look at me too. I still didn’t look “okay”. No matter how many times I look at myself in my mirror, I probably still won’t think I look “okay”. Even if my hair is perfectly straightened and my eyelashes are long and full and my skin is clear and my stomach is flat. I still won’t. What we’ve been told is true: how you feel about yourself isn’t based on your appearance. It’s based on a decision to love yourself; a conscious choice to say “[insert your name here], you look
great today. Not just “okay” but great.” For the past month I haven’t worn makeup -- okay, maybe a little mascara here and there -- but I decided not to wear makeup to see if it would make me less of a mirror worshipper. It did. I didn’t have to plaster my face with products designed to cover up ‘flaws’ and I spent less time looking at myself in the mirror as a result. I loved myself for my heart, instead of for the reflection in the mirror. Sylvia Plath, renowned poet, knew all about mirror worshipping. In fact, she was a mirror worshipper herself. In her poem “Mirror”, the speaker, disguised as a mirror, reveals, “Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me, searching my reaches for what she really is.” Even in 1961, when Plath published “Mirror”, men and women of all ages drowned themselves in mirrors that reflected back images untainted by love or dislike, images only of truth. And ever since the invention of mirrors, we have been mirror worshippers. But we have more power than the mirrors for, even though we treat them like gods, we’re the ones who have two feet. We have the power to walk away.
9
photo illustration by Sydney Mahl
Hiding behind a mask - Teens often have another image in their heads of what they should look like.
Fl wer p wer
Club plants seeds of kindness to grow throughout SMCHS. By Perla Shaheen, Staff Writer
I
t’s a bad day. School’s been stressing you out and you’ve been a little down about something at home. Then, while you’re walking to class, a friend hands you a flower and tells you how much you mean to them. Suddenly, that bad day becomes a whole lot brighter. Established by the Peacemakers Club, Flower Friday has already become a day students can look forward to. Once about every six weeks, club members hand out plastic flowers to students—each one given along with a sincere compliment. The purpose of the plastic flowers are so that they last forever, just like the effect of the kind words attached. Those who receive a flower are advised to pass it on to someone else to continue the chain of compliments for the rest of the day. “The idea of spreading understanding and positive feelings is beneficial to everyone involved,” said club moderator Bryn Dubois. “Those who are giving genuine, thought-out compliments are going to feel better for having done so, too.” Flower Friday isn’t a new idea. This day began as a tradition at the Yosemite Sierra Summer Camp (YSSC) that junior club president Shannon Pierson had gone to for four years and senior JeanneAnn Faris went to for six. It was held on Sundays instead of Fridays and the entire camp would gather to give and receive flowers
photo by Elizabeth Sorenson
Friendly hands - Junior president of Peacemaker’s club Shannon Pierson passes on a flower with a heartfelt compliment to freshman Julia Amabile.
with heartfelt compliments. “Flower Sunday was one of the things I looked forward to the most about going to camp because it’s an opportunity to genuinely tell someone that you appreciate their place in your life,” Faris said. “I’m so glad that Peacemakers brought this day and opportunity to SMCHS because it really does make a difference on students to know people care about us.” The Peacemakers Club stands firmly upon five peaceful ideals: peace, empathy, acceptance, compassion and equanimity. Peacemakers focus on human rights abuses, but they knew that this could be a good way to spread
the peace ideals to their teachers and classmates. Pierson established this day to accentuate the five ideals and, after the recent first Flower Friday, the outcome has already shown success. “I knew the idea would be perfect for our club and I hoped that by bringing it to SMCHS, it would fulfill the Peacemakers’ purpose to change the world,” Pierson said. Now that this day has come to SMCHS, the circulation of flowers spreads happiness. Sophomore Alex Nobida received a flower that changed her mood for the rest of the school day. “When someone made the ef-
fort to tell me what they appreciate about me, it made me feel better to know there are still genuine people out there,” Nobida said. “It’s really so simple to make someone’s day different, and there’s honestly no reason why we can’t.” Because of Flower Friday’s goal for peace, the Peacemakers plan to continue shocking people with kind acts that have an impact on their day. The colors of the flowers being passed will be consistently changing, and even the day they hand out the flowers will be a surprise. By doing this, art director of Peacemakers, junior Elizabeth Sorenson, believes they can keep stu-
dents on their toes and give them a positive boost when they least expect it. “I feel like Flower Friday really brings SMCHS together as a community because it gives us a stepping stone to really know each other and spread the idea that we aren’t alone,” Sorenson said. “The ideals of peace and equality remind us that we can form together to become an unstoppable force of positivity in the world.” Since the teachers can also be a part of this day, the joy doesn’t have to stop in any part of the school. The distribution of flowers reaches out to every aspect of the SMCHS community and is able to touch hearts of both teens and adults. “I think that the club’s visibility is still in the process of growing, but a few of the teachers with whom I have spoken told me that they really enjoyed the idea and how it spreads positive feelings,” Dubois said. “The emphasis on encouraging students and staff to focus on the positive is conducive to getting along and trying to think about things from another person’s perspective.” SMCHS students found a way change the lives of others through kind words. Peacemakers have made it their mission to change how the world thinks and were able to start out on our campus. Now that this tradition has been passed on to our school, it can be continued to spread joy for years to come. Who would you give your flower to and why?
Fear factor The Eagle Eye
10
Opinion
The disease doesn’t destroy you. You already did that yourself.
only leads to hype. Frequently, the ideas the media presents constantly contradict themselves depending on the source. According to one radio station you’re safe, but just change the station and doomsday has arrived. “With diseases, I consider myself thoroughly informed by the media or slightly hysteric, depending on the day,” said junior Elizabeth Sorenson. Stressing over diseases only speeds up the hair greying process. Thinking about diseases does not
cure or save people’s lives. Care packages do that; actions do that. These disease scandals keep us from being proactive in other areas of our lives. While they are important issues to tackle, we can’t let just the thought of the disease destroy us. The media creates an unnecessary panic. People change their habits and natural inclinations to “adapt” to the “new” disease. What most people don’t realize is that the new cleanliness trends are not as well-tested as known practices. Even the armor we use to stay healthy on a normal basis offers skeptical protection. “You’re just hurting yourself with hand sanitizer,” said junior Aashi Patel. “You are actually killing all the healthy bacteria on your hands, leaving the bacteria that can resist hand sanitizer on your hands. Sure, it kills 99.9 percent of the bacteria but that 0.1 percent [it does not kill] is the bad type.” The fear of the next “deadly epidemic” is not worth changing your life style and your habits. Death is inevitable; it’s what you make of your life that really matters. We can live in fear and hiding or just know there is danger and still choose to live. Don’t get yourself down because a “new” indestructible virus or bacteria has appeared; take a chill pill and don’t let the media scare you.
of September? It does not exist. It is time we bring out the other cancers out of the pink shadow, and start raising awareness for other cancers as well. We must remember not to be so narrow-minded and to help out some of the lesser known cancers. Recently November has passed, but let’s see how many people wore purple for pancreatic cancer, white for lung cancer or even zebra print for carcinoid cancer. Very few people may be able to honestly say they represented one of these
colors in honor of these precarious diseases. Now December is upon us and as we begin to make our plans for the years’ biggest holiday, let’s try to remember those who weren’t lucky enough to be with their families this Christmas. December may not be a specific Cancer Awareness Month, but it is the end of the year. It’s time to start fresh for 2015, perhaps by wearing teal and white for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January.
By Megan Snader, Staff Writer
Y
All
illustration by Megan Snader
world makes us believe the bad germs outnumber the good. We forget we are protected by our own God-given antigens and dollars that fall into research centers. The truth is that disease outbreaks are serious situations. Many people do die, but the idea that people are dropping like flies due to diseases like Ebola is all a mental trick based on panic. The media and news allow people to network and raise awareness to be able to offer assistance to the infected.
However, the media has as much power to filter information as it does to spread it, which also tends to create unfounded phobias. “Media makes people who are ignorant about the actual disease and its spread think that everyone is going to die,” said science teacher Kate Graham. Your ears take in jokes, exaggerations and false facts but they also have the capacity to absorb the truth. Fact and fiction jumble together to create a kafuffle which
P NKED
Out “Save the boobies” but what about the rest of the body?
By Anna Cannon & Edison LaCour, Staff Writers
O
ctober is prominent for being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but how many people know that October is also Liver Cancer Awareness Month? People walk around sporting pink socks, or showing off bracelets depicting the statement, “Save the boobies.” But how often do people wear dark green in support of liver cancer? Those diagnosed with liver cancer only have a 16 percent survival rate, whereas breast cancer’s survival rate accumulates to be around 89 percent. No cancer is easy, but why is one more advertised than the other? “Breast cancer is probably one of the most notorious types of cancer, and the survivor rate is huge,” said senior Claire Archibald. “I think the survivors are trying to make people aware and show that they have successfully been able to make it through it.” Archibald, who knows a multitude of people affected by this disease, has seen how this cancer personally affects a community.
Whenever anyone hears the word “cancer,” they immediately think of the worst case scenario. They picture the death rate and forget about the survivor rate. “Cancer is cancer,” said junior Catie Woodward. “It’s a malicious beast that hurts so many people and takes so many people away from this world way too early.” Hope is an important aspect of fighting these diseases. By promoting how many people have survived such a cancer, like breast cancer, the masses start to believe that the word “cancer,” isn’t a death sentence. “It’s good to know about breast cancer, but it’s disappointing that no one really knows about other months,” said senior Rebecca Thomson. “People usually only know about breast cancer in October.” Almost every month is designated as a Cancer Awareness Month, but no one seems to know about them. “I think that breast cancer is the most supported type of cancer and the people and groups that have been supporting it have done a great job spreading the awareness,” Woodward said. “I can’t think of any other type [of cancer]
the spreads that much awareness.” People persuade other people to follow suit with their opinions. It is human nature. One of the most well-known examples of this is the media. “It’s so much easier to say things like ‘save the boobies’ rather than ‘save a lung,’” Woodward said. With all the pink everywhere, it seems as if our color spectrum has also been “pinked out” as well. The other colors seem to have disappeared, or have been over shadowed by a massive crowd of pink. “I think purple might be for prostate, but I could be totally off,” Woodward said. The color for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is actually blue, but very few people are aware of this fact. It’s all we seem to know, it’s all we seem to see. For the entire month of October, every athlete owns every pink accessory possible. Stores set out all their pink items up front, and every item usually gives proceeds to an organization for breast cancer research. Where is all the blue for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month or orange for Leukemia in the month
hite y uar &w Jan uoise rq l: tu lly vica r ry : ke e C rua uct Feb bile d er & n add gree ll bl a G rch Ma ctal: ore lue l o C kb dar ney: Kid ge n ora iple lt Mu oma: lan dy e m gun bur
y Ma a & om lan lack e M :b skin : grey in a r B
July Sarcoma: yellow Bladder: marigold, blue & purple
Te Ap st ri Es or icul l op ch ar pe ho id : r He iwin gea bu ne ad kle l: rg ck & u : ivo nd ry y &
ou’re facing fatigue, muscle pains, severe headaches, tummy pains, and inexplicable bruising. You have Ebola. So, you’ve only got a few days to live, and your organs are soon to burst. At least, that’s what they want you to think. Whether we know it or not, we are constantly paralyzed in fear of the next “deadly epidemic”. Our brains fall prey to a state of panic as they register: “Gosh, today there is Ebola, yesterday there was West Nile virus, and tomorrow who knows what's going to kill me!” In the ’80s, the epidemic was AIDS. When this disease came to light the whole world went nuts. While the outbreak of this disease was a tragedy, it seemed everyone everywhere imagined an explosion of contagion. “In truth, experts have known for many years that in the vast majority of the world, AIDS has had little impact on the ‘general population’,” said Brendan O’Neill in The Guardian: The Exploitation of AIDS. We are all a little sick. Undeniably, there are manifestations of good germs and bad germs in our bodies, but the glorification of certain outbreaks throughout the
September Childhood: gold Gynecological: peach Leukemia/lymphoma: orange Ovarian: teal Prostrate: light blue Thyroid: teal, pink & blue
October Breast: pink Liver: emerald green November Pancreatic: purple Lung: white Stomach: periwinkle Carcinoid: zebra stripes illustration by Megan Snader
Feature
The Eagle Eye
11
ounds of the soul No matter the genre of music, our daily soundtracks are much more than melodies.
By Monique Beals, Staff Writer
I
t is the night before your major test. All of your efforts to cram facts into your head seem to be unsuccessful. Then, you reach for your phone and turn on your favorite song. Instantly your worries drift away and you feel at ease. Oftentimes, when we are stressed or anxious, we find that music can express our feelings when words cannot. Whether we are worried about school or attempting to make it through an afternoon workout, we find ourselves turning to music to make these tough situations easier and to take our minds off of the difficult task in front of us. In fact, it is scientifically proven that music not only improves the quality of sleep and reduces stress, but it also actually makes you happier. According to Discovery News, music causes your brain to release dopamine, “the feel good chemical.” Pharrell Williams, the artist behind the hit song “Happy”, particularly understands the concept of music bringing joy into people’s lives. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Williams explained how he hit rock bottom before his popular song came out, but the happiness his simple melody brought to the world is what brought him back from this difficult time in his life. “My music is being used for something that’s greater than myself,” Williams said. “I get that.” SMCHS students certainly seem to be using music in the same way.
AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE
For junior Nicole Walker, country music is her go-to soundtrack. “Country music is important to me because it is something that explains how I’m feeling,” Walker said. “A lot of the songs are really relatable, and it always makes me happy. I’m happy even just talking about it.” This past summer, Walker travelled to Nashville, Tennessee to get an authentic southern country music experience. It wasn’t just the music that enticed her, but it was also it was the people, the community and the camaraderie.
MEANINGFUL MELODIES
As Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Francis Cabildo otherwise known as Mr. C says, music not only allows him to develop a relationship with himself, but also with God. Every Mass day, Cabildo transforms the gym from a place filled with cheers and chants to a place filled with songs and sounds of worship. In general, Cabildo believes that music allows us to “express the words that cannot be spoken.” He wants people to be able to connect with God by using music
courtesy photos
Music of our lives - Clockwise from top: Cabildo is always finding ways to use music to draw his listeners closer to God; Smith is all smiles in her band uniform at a football game; Walker strikes a pose with one of her favorite country music stars, J.T. Hodges.
“
Music speaks to the soul in a way that others can’t.” ~Francis Cabildo, assistant director of Campus Ministry as a vehicle for prayer. “Not all of us are poetic,” Cabildo said. “We cannot express the same things that a lyricist can. Music speaks to the soul in a way that others can’t, and putting prayers to music is a way of expressing beauty.” Cabildo goes on to explain how music has been a blessing in his own life. “It is a gift that is not mine,” Cabildo said. “It is on loan. I’ll do with it what I can and try to use my gift to give back to God.”
EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
As an assistant drum major in the SMCHS band, junior Julia Smith truly appreciates not only the entertaining part of music, but also the technicality of it. Music has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. “I’ve grown up with music,” Smith said. “My parents actually met in marching band.” This musical culture within her family has not only influenced Smith’s hobbies and lifestyle, but also the styles of music she enjoys. “When I’m feeling nostalgic, I
listen to Ray Charles and the Beatles -- kinds of music that my parents listen to,” Smith said. “I also like indie music for myself. Bands like Two Door Cinema Club and Vampire Weekend are some of my favorites. And then I have some alternative music influences from my brother.” While Smith may listen to different types of music depending on her mood and who she is with, all these styles have the same positive effect and underlying meaning for her. “Music is my outlet,” Smith said. “I need music. It is a purge of emotions for me. It is a catharsis.” Smith says she has some of her fondest memories associated with music, but it has also given her strength in more difficult times. She recalls a time during her freshman year when she was just getting to know people at school and music had “lost its color” for her, but now she cannot imagine her life without it. “I think music is special because it comes directly out of you,” Smith said. “There is nothing between you and your art.”
illustration by Sydney Mahl
Cancer is the cause for every 1 in 4 deaths. Stand Up to Cancer now! Join the Eagles Stand Up to Cancer Club and support this organization today. Or check out the website at standup2cancer.org
Safety 1st Driving School
Making Orange County and Los Angeles County a better place - one safe driver at a time!
Call (949) 250-7001
The Eagle Eye
Feature
of
13
kind
Nothing about their love is problematic or statistical.
Sweet as Pi - Math buffs Shawn Supernaw and Renee Blanc make the perfect pair.
By Kiera Makowecki & Carlie McCabe, Staff Writers
I
n 1998, a young Shawn Supernaw was a senior at Wilson High School and his future wife, Renee Blanc, was in her first year teaching and coaching at SMCHS. “I always joke with her and tell her it was meant to be,” Supernaw said. “She just laughs and calls me crazy.” Fast forward 16 years. Supernaw is in his first meeting at an unfamiliar school. He is introduced to the entire SMCHS Mathematics Department and meets the lead Algebra II teacher, Blanc. He said the feeling he got while shaking her hand was quite different than those of the firm handshakes of the others. Could it be? Was this his moment of love at first sight?
“I knew I was going to marry her the moment I saw her,” Supernaw said. “I knew she was really, really special.” As the year went on, math department lunch conversations about standard deviation turned into meaningful dinner discussions about values and future plans. Faith has always played a huge role in the life of Blanc. Her passionate way of talking about Christ soon rubbed off of on Supernaw, who converted to Catholicism a few years ago. “It's all kind of new to me,” Supernaw said. “So it's cool to actually attend services with Miss Blanc because she knows so much about the Catholic faith.” The catalyst of their relationship occurred when Blanc suggested that Supernaw attend a Kairos that she was leading. “It was funny because it ended
up being a big fiasco,” Supernaw said. “There were too many female chaperones, so she didn’t need to go. But Miss Blanc wrote me a letter that was really, really sweet. I read it at least once a week.” Their relationship began to flourish over Thanksgiving, when Blanc invited Supernaw for dinner with her family. He felt right at home. As their relationship progressed, Supernaw became more assured that this was the woman he was meant to marry. When it came time to pop the question, Supernaw felt the urgency to act NOW. Who cared that it was Tuesday and a school night? Certainly not him. It was the last day of September and Supernaw told Blanc that he “was going to get a new phone and tutor kids in Long Beach.” In actuality, it was the day every man both fears and awaits.
photo by Kiera Makowecki
On his way to Blanc’s parents’ house in Fountain Valley, he said he rehearsed over and over the words he would say to receive their blessing over the marriage. “Her dad talked to me about stuff that makes marriage work, and the importance of having a faith-based relationship,” he said. “Miss Blanc's parents have been married for about 50 years, so they are very inspirational.” That same night, Supernaw asked Blanc, oh so casually, if she would like to go to dinner at Ruby’s on the Huntington Beach pier. “We take walks to relax often, so it was like any other night,” Blanc said. “We walked down to the sand about 8:30. We were listening to waves and talking, and he was quieter than normal, which doesn’t really happen much. He said something about my parents, and I said that I think they know that you’re
not going anywhere. Then he took a step back and got down on one knee.” Now, these two love birds are engaged and could not be happier. “I think we're in that period in which we are still shocked,” Blanc said. “Yeah, I’m still kind of shocked that she said yes,” Supernaw added. The wedding is scheduled for July 25, 2015 and a few lucky SMCHS faculty members will be attending. “There will be some SMCHS faculty, but it is a very small church so as much as we would love to have everyone come, it is just not doable,” Blanc said. As for now, they have the church booked and Blanc has even said yes to the dress of her dreams. On the behalf of all the SMCHS students, we wish you a blessed marriage.
Why paper keeps me sane
Paper beats rock every time, but does it beat computer or tablet? By Alex Barber, Print Editor-in-Chief
A
lright, all you need on your desk is a piece of paper and a pen.” The shocking statement of the century. “Does anyone have paper?” “Also, does anyone have a pen I could borrow?” I always have paper, and ironically, I’m more aware of the amount of paper in my folder this year than I was last year, when we actually used it on a regular basis. Perhaps a part of me is still hopeful that I might actually get to physically write on a sheet of paper with a real writing utensil today, so naturally I must be prepared for this triumphant moment. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between. Maybe I’m denying a harsh reality: the paper days are gone. Let’s face it, our lives are dominated by the powerful presence of technology. We complete all our schoolwork on our Yoga tablets, we communicate via text message, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat instead of writing letters (a lost art
even before our time), and we read books and articles off of a computer or tablet screen instead of a page marked with ink. Is paper still relevant in today’s society despite the mediums that have replaced it? From my perspective, the overwhelming answer is yes. Don’t get me wrong, I love not having to go to my locker during 15-minute passing period because all the books and notebooks I need are on my tablet. Having all my notebooks on one device, and in one program for that matter, is extremely convenient and highly organizational, especially for those who shove random sheets of paper in their backpacks and call them class notes (even if they can’t dig them up later to actually study them). Then again, I never had problems keeping my notes in the right place. Now, I long for the once familiar feel of my pen or pencil pressing against the lined pages of a spiral notebook. I miss turning the pages of my notes and knowing exactly what was on each page. The fact that I have to zoom out to see the entirety of notes I took in a given class period doesn’t settle well with me. With a classic notebook, you
never had to worry about scrambling to find a specific note or problem as you do on OneNote where the pages (literally) go on forever in three different directions. The days of almost complete concentration during class when I didn’t have a high-tech distraction on my desk are seemingly gone forever. Multi-tasking during a lecture is all too tempting. Staying on task is all too infrequent. And most importantly, doodles with a stylus just aren’t the same. Not to mention the miserable degradation of my handwriting over the past six months (although I never had great handwriting in the first place). Call me crazy, but I miss the good ol’ days when I carried an actual textbook to class. In past years, I always opted to carry my bigger textbooks to class instead of shoving them in my backpack. Perhaps it’s just personal preference, but something about the tangibility of my study materials appealed to me. I like being able to study from an actual book with two bookends and pages in between and being able to flip between pages easily. Using an online textbook makes me feel too confined within the
screen and slightly out of control. This doesn’t exactly make me more willing to study, either. In fact, I was overjoyed a few weeks ago when Mr. Fox assigned us a dozen calculus problems from our Practice AP Workbook, which is the only physical book in my locker this year. Even better was going over the problems in class the next day and marking up the pages with real ink. Quite liberating, really. I would bet all of you have dreamed of receiving a college acceptance letter to the school of your choice in the mailbox. While most schools still send out letters (only to those accepted), applicants find out whether they are accepted, rejected or waitlisted by email first. The minimization of paper has put less of an emphasis on every facet of our lives in which paper used to exist. No matter how reliant you are on technology, nothing can beat reading a good book in its physical form. The intricate design of the cover. Its embossed letters. The pages’ careful binding. The musky smell and yellow tint of a library book’s worn pages. Often, a book is a work of art in itself that no graph-
ic designer could ever convey via computer or tablet screen. Even in our world dominated by the next best tech tool, I think it’s important we spend some quality time with paper every once in a while. Get off your phone or computer and grab a book. Write in a journal. Become one with the papyrus of our ancestors (okay, maybe not that far). And hey, you’re already doing this extremely well. Give yourself a pat on the back. You’re reading a newspaper! Humanity longs for closeness, and it’s important we retain our relationship with paper even if it is not manifested as often as some of us may like. My friend told me recently I was crazy for purchasing an actual planner with pages and space to write in my assignments and obligations with ink or lead. She told me I better get used to it because soon the paper days will be over. Should that day when technology threatens the existence of paper ever come to pass, I will take up arms with a pencil as my sword and a spiral notebook as my shield. I’m not insane; I’m just a paperkind-of-girl living in a technology world.
Feature
Double take The Eagle Eye
15
Just 60 miles from Hollywood, SMCHS’ campus harbors celeb look alikes. By Carlie McCabe, Staff Writer
Ashley Retoske - Sadie Robertson
Lillie Lustig - Heidi Klum
Malachi Ospina - Will Farrell
Julia Machuga - Anne Hathaway
Tia Thorson - Hayden Panettiere
Danielle Field - Zooey Deschanel
Nat Buberl - Ellen DeGeneres
Edison LaCour - Russell Wilson
Ryan Buononato - Josh Duhamel
Matt Akins - Anderson Cooper
Though Ashley Retoske may not be the actual daughter of Duck Dynasty’s, Willie Robertson, she in fact could be Sadie Robertson’s identical twin. “Around 10 people have told me that I look like her,” Retoske said. “When I smile and my side profile is portrayed, I seriously look almost identical to her.”
These two curly haired, humorous individuals share a few things in common. “People tell me I look like Will Farrell…maybe I have a future as being an anchor man?” Ospina said.
With their blonde hair and blue eyes, these two have quite comparable features. “Hayden’s awesome,” Thorson said. “A lot of people have told me that I look like her, and I even met her when I was in second grade so that made it that much better.”
Though there are gender differences between these two, they seem to resemble one another. “The comparison is funny,” Buberl said. “It’s fine though because we both like the same things.”
These two similarly have brown eyes and a great smile. “I really didn’t have any idea who this guy was until a few of my friends told me I looked like him,” Buononato said. “I’ll take it! He’s married to Fergie, so that’s fine.”
Comparisons between these two long legged beauties include their fabulous blonde hair and their passion for fashion. “I really love Heidi Klum’s fashion choices in her everyday life and her opinion of the fashion pieces she has in Project Runway,” Lustig said.
Petite figures and radiating smiles make Machuga and Hathaway look so much alike. “A few people have told me I look like Anne Hathaway. I love all the Princess Diaries movies, so I took it as a compliment,” Machuga said. “But, let’s just hope they were not comparing me to her in the first Princess Diaries movie.”
Not only does Field seem to be following in Deschanel’s footsteps singing-wise, but they look alike as well. “Everyone keeps telling me I look like Zooey Deschanel ever since I cut my hair, and I don’t know why!” Field said. It’s definitely the bangs.
Lacour’s haircut is what makes this look alike so realistic. “Grady Higgins and Greg Lane were the first to tell me I looked like him, and I didn’t believe them, but as I put a picture of me and him side by side, I saw that we were very similar,” LaCour said. “I’m happy with this comparison; I like the guy.”
Their piercing blue eyes and fair skin make the resemblance obvious. “Anderson Cooper must be really handsome if he looks like me,” Akins said.
DIY Christmas By Avery Lewis, Staff Writer
I
t is said that it feels better to give than to receive. But when you look into your wallet and realize that it is nearly empty, you panic. It is supposed to be the season of giving and, as of right now, you are hopelessly empty-handed. Giving does not require taking a loan out of the bank, but rather simply showing your sincerity. With a little help from our “Broke Student’s Guide to Gift-Giving”, it is a guarantee that you and your receivers will be feeling great.
Whether its students prepping for finals or parents organizing for the holidays, everyone could use some relaxation from all the stress. These handmade bath bombs will have your receiver thinking you are the bomb. What you will need: - 16 ounce box baking soda - 1 cup cornstarch - 1 cup citric acid or Cream of Tatar - 1 cup epsom salt - 3 T. oil (any oil you prefer: canola oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil, etc.) - Liquid of choice (Use any essential oil, extracts or strongly brewed tea. This is what gives the bath bomb fragrance. The more you add, the stronger your bath bombs will smell.) - A few drops of food coloring - A mold (Anything from an ornament mold to a muffin tin.) Step 1: Dry Ingredients. In a bowl whisk together the baking soda, cornstarch, citric acid and salt until the lumps are removed. Step 2: Wet Ingredients. In a separate bowl, thoroughly mix together the oil and liquid fragrance of choice. Step 3: Fizz. Add the wet ingredients into the dry mixture while whisking. A slight fizzing reaction will occur due to the citric acid, but keep on whisking until the mixture begins to clump together. Step 4: Color. Add in the food coloring. The more you stir in the coloring, the more monochromatic the color of the bath bomb will become. For multi-colored bath bombs, separate the mixture into separate bowls and add a different color to each bowl. Step 5: Shape. Using a lot of force, press the bath bomb mixture into your mold. Tap around the outside to loosen the bomb from the mold. Step 6: Dry. Pop the bath bomb out of your mold and set aside to dry for at least a day. Step 7: Wrap. Get creative putting the finishing touches on your gift. For example, wrap your bath bomb in tulle and tie off with a bow.
all photos by Avery Lewis
Everyone loves a warm cup of hot cocoa when it’s chilly outside. This tasty homemade peppermint hot cocoa is a super fun way to treat friends and family. What you will need: - 1/2 cup powdered milk - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder - 1/2 cup sugar - 1/6 tsp. salt - 1/4 cup chocolate chips - 1/4 cup crushed candy canes - 1/4 cup mini marshmallows - 1 jar - Ribbon or decorations
For the grill master himself. Gift your dad this BBQ rub and grilling for him will never be the same.
This mug is a perfect gift to warm the heart of coffee, cocoa and tea drinkers. Once complete, fill the mug with goodies or gift your masterpiece as is. What you will need: - A blank mug - A Sharpie - An oven
Step 1: Make. Layer ingredients into the jar starting in order with the powdered milk and ending with the marshmallows. Press down firmly after each layer. Step 2: Embellish. Seal the lid on the jar and decorate as you desire. Step 3: Directions. Attach directions of how to make the hot cocoa onto the jar: To make cocoa, combine the jar’s contents in a bowl. Mix 1/3 cup of hot cocoa mixture with one cup of boiling water.
This gift is a creative and personal way to tell your parents or sweetheart why you love them. It is guaranteed make your receiver’s heart melt.
Step 1: Personalize. Draw or write on the mug with pictures, quotes, names or anything you desire. The possibilities are endless and there is no right or wrong, so have fun with it! Step 2: Set. Heat your oven to 375°F and bake the mug for 30 minutes. This sets the Sharpie ink to ensure your personalization will upkeep. Step 3: Cool. Set your mug out to cool completely. Make sure not to wash the mug until it is completely cooled. Washing is preferred in the sink rather than the dishwasher in order to maintain the personalization’s vibrancy.
What you will need: - 52 reasons - 1 deck of cards - A hole punch - A metal ring - Scissors - Glue
Step 1: Reasons. Think of 52 reasons why you love the person you are giving the gift to. Either type up the reasons into individual text boxes and print them or handwrite your reasons on a piece of paper. Make sure the reasons fit on a playing card. Step 2: Assemble. Cut out the reasons and glue one reason onto each playing card. Hole punch each card and connect with a metal ring. Step 3: Watch. You will not want to miss your receivers look when they open this gift.
What you will need: - ½ cup paprika - 3 T. brown sugar - 3 T. dried oregano - 3 T. ground coffee - 4 tsp. kosher salt - 1 T. black pepper
Step 1: Combine. Mix together all of the ingredients in a bowl. Step 2: Presentation. Put the rub into an airtight jar of your choice. Decorate and gift wrap jar as desired. (Rub is good in an airtight container for up to 2 months.) Step 3: Instruct. Make sure to attach these directions to your gift: Up to 2 hours before grilling, coat 2 pounds of either chicken, seafood, beef or pork with 1 T. of olive oil and 2-4 T. of Dad’s BBQ rub. Cook and enjoy.
The Cookbook Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies “Skip the boring chocolate chip cookies (for the holidays at least!) and go instead for a kiss of peanut butter and Hershey’s that your family, guests or Santa will go crazy over! They’re absolutely TDF (to die for). My family always leaves these cookies out with milk for Santa along with some carrots for the reindeer of course!” -Alex Barber Ingredients Method - ½ cup sugar Heat oven to 375°F. - ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar Combine ½ cup sugars, softened but- ½ cup butter, softened ter and peanut butter in bowl. Beat at - ½ cup peanut butter medium speed until light and fluffy. - 1 egg Add egg, vanilla and salt. Continue - 1 tsp. vanilla beating until well mixed. - ¼ tsp salt Add flour and baking soda. Beat at low - 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour speed, scraping bowl often, until well - 1 tsp. baking soda mixed. - ¼ cup sugar Shape dough into 1-inch balls. If dough - 48 milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped is too soft, refrigerate 30-60 minutes. Roll balls in ¼ cup sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until very lightly golden brown. Immediately press 1 chocolate kiss in center of each cookie. all photos by Paige Schuck
Brownie in a Mug Ingredients - 1 microwaveable mug - ¼ cup sugar - ¼ cup flour - 2 T. cocoa powder - Pinch of salt - 2 T. olive oil - 2 T. water - Scoop of ice cream (optional) Method Add dry ingredients in mug. Add oil and water. Combine until it’s smooth. Microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds. Scoop on ice cream and any other desired toppings. *Careful! It may be hot. “This started out as a joke I found on the Internet. I showed my parents and we wanted to try it out. Once we did, it became sort of a custom around our household. It’s super quick, simple and only takes about two minutes before you have it ready to go!” -Anna Cannon
Eagle Eye staff favorites for a very merry (and yummy) Christmas season! By Paige Shuck, Staff Writer
Homemade Apple Sauce Ingredients - 8 large granny smith apples - 2 cups sugar - 1 ½ cup water - 1 tsp. cinnamon - 1 tsp. butter - ¼ tsp. nutmeg
Method Peel, core and slice the apples. Cook apples, sugar and water in a pot over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. The apples should be tender. You have two options to decide how you want your applesauce’s texture to be: 1. Chunky applesauce: Mash the apples with a potato masher, fork or whisk. Add the spices and butter. Mash some more. 2. Smooth applesauce: Transfer the ingredients from the pot to a food processor. Add in the spices and butter. Blend until it’s how you want it to be.
“It is SOOOO good!! It’s full of butter and sugar and it’s fattening and absolutely irresistible! A spoonful of Heaven!” -Carly Desmond
Banana Nut Bread Ingredients - 1 cup butter (2 sticks) at room temperature - 2 cups sugar - 4 eggs - 3 cups flour - 2 tsp. baking soda - 2 tsp. salt - 4 mashed ripe bananas (about 2 cups) - 1 cup sour cream - 2 tsp. vanilla extract - 1 cup chopped walnuts
Method Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil a 9 x 5 x 13” pan, or a 8½ x 4½ x 12½” pan. Mix butter and sugar in an electric mixer until smooth then add eggs. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt and add to butter mixture. Add in bananas, sour cream and vanilla extract. Mix in nuts and transfer to the pans. Bake for about an hour, or until the tester-stick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes. “We always end up with some mushy, brown bananas, and this recipe is the perfect way to use them! It’s slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I recommend enjoying with a glass of milk while it’s still warm.” -Paige Schuck
Bacon Wrapped Dates “I found this bacon wrapped date recipe a few years ago online and ever since it has been a family favorite and a Christmas tradition. It may seem strange at first, but they are really delicious I promise!” -Avery Lewis Ingredients - 32 pitted dates - 2 oz. shelled, salted, whole pistachios - 2 oz. apricots - 1 pound lean bacon Method Cut the apricots into 32 strips. Thinly slice and halve the bacon strips crosswise. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Stuff each date with 3-4 pistachios. Wrap each stuffed date in a strip of apricot and slice of bacon. Place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Flip each date after 6-8 minutes. Transfer cooked dates to a paper towel to drain.
Bubble Bread Ingredients - 1 package frozen Bridgeford bread rolls - 1 box butterscotch pudding - 1 cup brown sugar - 1 stick melted butter “We’ve always made the bubble bread, since before I was born as a Christmas breakfast tradition. I love the tradition because it tastes really good.” -Ethan Crocker
Method Place rolls in a pan. Sprinkle pudding and brown sugar over the rolls. Pour melted butter over the rolls, pudding, and brown sugar. Cover with a couple of towels to warm it up. Let sit for 8-16 hours. Cook at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. *It gets pretty dark on top!* Invert onto a plate.
The Eagle Eye
18
Christmas
Spice up your sweater vest T
Christmas edition!
By Adam Campbell, Photo Editor & Alana Mayes, Staff Writer
he weather’s a bit cooler and you’re all bundled up in your comfiest sweatshirt for school. You’re good to go for the school day. But wait. Not so fast. Where’s the spice? Santa Claus, mistletoe, evergreen trees, strung lights, gifts, nativity scenes, faith, Advent calendars, snow, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and so much more make up the season of Christmas, but sometimes all it takes is a funky sweater or some cool accessories to show some Christmas cheer. How would you describe your Christmas style?
Liam Gibbs
“My family is very old-fashioned when it comes to Christmas, so I try to put Christmas in my dayto-day outfit...socks, undershirts, just the little things.”
Ally Campbell
Jack Jennison
“My Christmas style is unique and full of spirit! The first time I saw Elf the words ‘the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear’ stuck with me from a vocal and fashion perspective. I hope I spread Christmas cheer!”
“My Christmas style is comfy. I don’t really care what I wear as long as it’s Christmas related and keeps me warm.”
Yvonne Kim
“I’m pretty tacky when it comes to holiday clothes. I’ll wear all the ugly sweaters and whatnot. I like to be warm and comfortable but stay festive. The more bright colors and holiday accessories, the better!”
Nicole Renna
“I accessorize for Christmas because I know if I don’t, I’ll be on Santa’s naughty list. Every year during Christmas time, I open my closet and attempt to dress like Buddy the Elf because ‘the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.’”
Carlee DiNicola
“I like lots of red and silver, fun Christmas socks and, of course, a lovely, ugly Christmas sweater.”
all photos by Adam Campbell
Katie Holcomb
Christine Elqura
“I would describe my Christmas style as that of a typical teenage girl: fuzzy socks and a silly Christmas sweater.”
“Christmas is my favorite time of year. I only get 25 days to show off my love for Christmas, so I like to go all out with accessories, especially festive earrings, sweaters and socks!”
The Eagle Eye
Christmas
Why I still believe
19
“HO! HO! HO-ld up. What do you mean I’m ‘too old’ for this?”
By Shannon Pierson, Feature & Opinion Editor
F
or the past 16 Christmases (coming up on 17), I’ve woken up to undeniable, irrefutable evidence. Gifts laid under the tree, stockings stuffed with goodies, crumbs of cookies left behind, along with a half-full glass of lactose intolerant milk (because who the holly are we to know his dietary habits?). Although my faith in old Saint Nick remains strong, I have been bedeviled by many sleepless nights lying awake in my bed, wrestling with one of life’s biggest questions: Is Santa Claus really real? I’m not going to lie to you, the whole Santa Claus thing is a hard sell. Believing that a very jolly, very large old man takes it upon himself every year to travel to approximately 91.8 million houses to deliver Christmas gifts to nearly 378 million children in a matter of 31 hours (taking into consideration varying time-zones and the Earth’s rotation) takes a tremendous amount of faith. Or does it? Buckle your seatbelts, SMCHS. You’re in for a wicked plot twist. We all perceive Santa to be this mystical fictional figure when in retrospect his holiday antics are entirely realistic and can be credited with reasonable explanations. All we have to do is connect the dots. For example: the empty plate of cookies on Christmas morning. What’s the explanation? It could
illustration by Shannon Pierson
Claus-o-phobic - Parents are commonly pressured to tell their children the “truth” (well...not necessarily) about Santa Claus due to peer pressure from non-believers and their own doubts.
only be Santa Claus’s Christmas Eve appetite. Another example: the Christmas music at SMCHS with “Oh Holy Night” on the intercom. How do we reckon this happened? Clearly elves have rigged the speaker system. See? Making sense of the Christmas season is that easy. All you have to do is leap to festive conclusions based upon convinc-
ing evidence. The problem is that so many kids nowadays aren’t even trying to believe anymore. To think that anyone would waste one minute of their childhood (or adulthood) not believing in the spirit Christmas… It’s an elf-ing shame. And who ever bought anything more than a fruitcake for the Burgermeister Meisterburgers and Ebenezer Scrooges of the world?
Open your eyes SMCHS! Proof of Santa’s existence is everywhere—you’re just not looking for it. You can find proof by investigation of your doubts (because Heaven knows you’ve got some). Remember all the classic questions you’d ask mom and dad as a kid? Like, “How does Santa’s workshop manage to make toys identical to the ones at Walmart?” and “How does Santa have enough
cash to give gifts to millions of children?” Well, these questions have simple answers if you approach them logically. There are three potential explanations that stand out to me: 1. Santa has some serious dough, and I don’t mean cookie dough. For all we know, Santa could be loaded (unless he’s just been re-gifting us all these years). 2. Santa is a modern day Robin Hood: stealing from Target, and giving to the people who want stuff from Target. (Maybe he’ll bring me Alex from Target.) 3. The most realistic of the three: Santa probably owns a 3D Printer that busts out those toys. In fact, the first 3D Printer was no doubt produced in the North Pole workshop. Perhaps the device’s supposed inventor Chuck Hull asked for such a machine in his Christmas list. Santa could have easily 3D printed him his own 3D printer, and today Hull passes off Santa’s 3D printed 3D printer as his own invention. Are these theories provable? Nope. But they aren’t disprovable either. And that’s the important part. Sometimes seeing is believing. At the end of the season, the only question left that will need answering is whether or not you choose to believe. That choice could make all the difference in transforming your Christmas from magical to just another business-as-usual holiday. I HO, HO, HOpe one day you all will come around. I mean, I did ask for it in my Christmas list. I’m confident Santa won’t disappoint.
Happy Birthmas!
Combo presents: the tragic consequence of having a December birthday. By Ethan Crocker, Staff Writer
W
e all share our birthday with someone, whether they are famous or not. But no shared birthday can compare to sharing that special day with Jesus, Santa and the overpowering presence of
the Christmas season, causing a tug-of-war situation for attention and time. This is the plight of every person who is born in the month of December. The struggle is especially real when it comes to the presents. For some reason, people think that it is acceptable to gift someone with a December birthday a birthmas
present. By that I mean a present that covers both the birthday and Christmas. I mean, are you kidding me? Most people get to celebrate their birthday and Christmas. What makes us December birthdays any different? Why must we be confined to just one party or gift for both occasions?
illustration by Sara Boivin
I’m not saying that having a December birthday is a bad thing. In fact, it is great in many ways. From the cooler weather to the festive moods, December birthdays can actually be awesome. In some cases, even, combo presents can be a good thing; the birthmas present can be so large that it is enough to cover both Christmas and their birthday. Like when senior Abigael McShane was given tickets to the Hannah Montana concert in 2007. “I was so happy that I cried tears of joy that were like the tattoos on Lil Wayne’s face,” McShane said. In most cases, however, the birthday boy or girl looks up with a fake smile of gratitude while inside they are secretly plotting how they can make up for this injustice. That feeling of sadness and insecurity can have a lasting effect on the child. It causes a lack of trust in people and a lack of faith in all of humanity. Having combo presents based on the fact that there is a big holiday in the same month isn’t groovy. These birthmas presents are uncool and unfair. It’s something that is horrible, terrible and all around not bless. Combo presents make people
feel overlooked on their birthday. Just because a month is busy doesn’t mean birthday should be forgotten. Just like when junior Charlotte Driscoll was given a blender from her parents when she was unsure of what she wanted for either her birthday or Christmas. “I was confused when I got the blender, but I soon realized my mom had gotten me the appliance that the family needed,” Driscoll said. This happens a lot on December birthdays. Overlooked, forgotten and undervalued, these poor children are forced to overcome massive odds in order to celebrate their birthdays in a quality way. The birthmas present is just one small symbol of the larger issue that your December birthday is not as important as others’ birthdays. You non-December babies: try to remember our pain the next time you celebrate your perfect birthday in other months. These birthmas presents need to go. The proper respect and attention to the December birthdays needs to reign. Together we can fight this injustice and finally rid the world of the atrocious combo present or birthmas gift.
Christmas
The Eagle Eye
SoCal Christmas No snow? No problem. By Carly Desmond, News & Sports Editor
W
eirdly enough, our frigid 68-degree ‘winter’ weather allows us to get out of the house with no more than a light jacket. While the weather doesn’t give evidence to the holiday season, the events that take place throughout southern California do illustrate the Christmas spirt.
Ice Rink at the Spectrum
Dates: Oct. 3, 2014 to Feb. 16, 2015 Time: 11:00 a.m. - varies Where: Irvine Spectrum www.skatespectrum.com
21
Merry CROSSmas By Anna Cannon & Megan Snader, Staff Writers Across: 2. The inhabitants of Whoville. 4. In the movie, The Santa Clause, Scott Calvin gives his son a _______ _______ to keep in touch. 5. Who says, “Bah Humbug”? 9. “All I want for Christmas is my two _______ _______.” 11. Typical Christmas flower. 14. The famous black and white movie in which a man goes back in time to see how life would be of he had never been born. 18. How many times does Santa check his “Naughty or Nice” list? 19. Santa Claus’s favorite snack. 20. Buddy’s favorite food in Elf. 22. Lean in for a kiss under the _______. 23. Rudolph’s girlfriend. 24. “Stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that _______ _______ soon would be there.” 25. The first state from the U.S. to officially recognize Christmas in 1836. 26. You’re on the “Naughty” list, so you get _______ in your stocking.
Down: 1. “It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a _______.” 3. The Grinch carved the _______ _______. 6. The red nosed reindeer. 7. “Baby it’s _______ _______.” 8. “The weather outside is frightful, but the _______ is so delightful.” 10. In the movie, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolph and Hermey tavel to the _______ _______ _______ _______. 12. “_______ roasting on an open fire.” 13. Name of the rabbit in Frosty the Snowman’s hat. 15. “_______ _______ nipping at your nose.” 16. Another name for Santa Claus. 17. The Grinch’s dog. 21. In The Santa Clause trilogy, the head elf is _______.
Disneyland at Christmas
When: Nov. 16, 2014 to Jan. 6, 2015 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Where: Disneyland Park www.disneyland.disney.go.com
Sawdust Winter Fantasy
Dates: Nov. 22 to Dec.21, 2014 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Where: 935 Laguna Canyon Road www.sawdustartfestival.org
Christmas Train
Dates: Nov. 28 - Dec. 23, 2014 Time: varies Where: Irvine Park Railroad www.irvineparkrailroad.com/content/irvine-park-railroad-christmas-train
Candy Cane Lane
When: Dec. 1 to Dec. 25, 2014 Time: Night Where: El Corzo, RSM www.facebook.com/pages/CandyCane-Lane/113704758699678
Laguna Nigel Holiday Parade
When: Dec. 13, 2014 Time: 10:00 a.m. Where: Crown Valley Parkway between Nueva Vista and Crown Valley Community Park www.lagunaniguelparade.com
Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade of Lights Dates: Dec. 17 to Dec. 21, 2014 Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Where: The parade starts and ends off of Bay Island. www.christmasboatparade.com
To see answers please visit: www.smchseagleeye.com
Check us out
ONLINE!
Score reports Interactive polls Weekly school updates ! NEW Humans of SM
www.smchseagleeye.com
The Eagle Eye
Christmas
23
It’s a Kerscher The not-so-classic Christmas card. By Alex Barber, Print Editor-in-Chief
C
onsider yourself lucky if you receive a Christmas card from the Kerschers. You probably won’t see four smiling faces, but a row of Christmas trees beaming back at you. Who said a Christmas card had to be ordinary? “I think it’s what sets us apart,” said junior Julia Kerscher. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like what we do, other than online. The people we know just do normal serious sibling and regular family photos.” For the past two years, the Kerschers have posed for their Christmas card in Christmas tree costumes. What began as a funny stunt soon evolved into a tradition. “Three years ago we were on a family cruise and we had our picture taken after a formal dinner,” Kerscher said. “We thought it would be funny if we made weird faces to freak the photographer out a little bit. We printed it out and
Christmas
were like, ‘Ohmygosh, this has to be our Christmas card.’” Complete with the signature “From our awkward family to yours,” the Kerschers had no qualms about revealing an unconventional side of themselves. “We like to have a good laugh and my family really doesn’t take things too seriously,” Kerscher said. The next year, they were on Pinterest looking at Ellen’s feature on awkward family photos and came across some Christmas tree costumes. And that was the end of it. There are no signs that the Kerschers will ever revert back to any Christmas card pose close to ordinary. “We’ve done Christmas cards for as long as I can remember, but they were just from vacations and such,” Kerscher said. “My ideal Christmas card is something funny that’s original and not boring. That makes them different and memorable.” It seems that the Kerschers step
up their photo game each year. Last year they took the picture on their lawn, and this year they will take it at the last place you would expect to see Christmas trees frolicking: the beach. Catch them next year on the moon (just kidding…hopefully). They aren’t sure what funny costumes the future holds for them, but as of now, they plan to stick with the Christmas tree theme. Not that anyone’s complaining; in fact, the Kerschers got rave reviews after their successful Christmas card photo shoot last year. "We posted an Instagram of the photo we eventually sent out and there were tons of comments about how funny it was,” Kerscher said. “Everybody seemed to really like it.” In today’s world where photos are edited and re-edited to convey perfection, perhaps we can take a lesson from the Kerschers, who aren’t afraid to have fun and appear a little silly.
photo by Adam Campbell
A Christmas TREEt - Junior Julia Kerscher poses in her not-so-classic Christmas card getup.
Merry Christmas Love,
Staff
Alex, Kristine, Alexa, Maggie, Adam, Carly, Shannon, Monique, Sara, Anna, Ethan, Edison, Avery, Kiera, Alana, Carlie, Tara, Paige, Perla, Megan and Mrs. Pagel
31951 Dove Canyon Drive, Suite C, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679 (located in the Dove Canyon Plaza)
WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH AN EXPERIENCED TUTOR & BE BETTER EQUIPPED FOR SCHOOL!
We will provide one-on-one attention and tools to help your student tackle asssignments, the SAT and the ACT head-on and go on to excel academically, in their career and in life! - English, Math or Science K-12 - SAT and ACT Test Prep - Math all levels through Calculus - Chemistry, Biology, Science all levels - AP all subjects - History all levels - Spanish 1-4 - French 1-4 - College Prep - Physics - English all levels
% 25 OFF ANY PACKAGE
“I don’t know where to begin. They helped my son with his reading beyond my expectations. Pricing is reasonable and his tutor was professional and smart. We are thrilled! Bring your kids here and you will never look back!” ~Susan C., Coto de Caza, CA “My daughter has been struggling with homework. I decided to do something positive and signed her up with Academic Learning Labs. She is there 3 times a week. Suddenly, no more fighting. She is doing better in school and is more confident because she knows the answers.” ~Kate C., Coto de Caza, CA
YOUR SUCCESS STARTS WITH US - CALL TODAY!
949-546-0800 WWW.ACADEMICLEARNINGLABS.COM
Christmas
tRADitions The Eagle Eye
B
25
By Megan Snader, Staff Writer
ikini, turtle neck. Sweat, shiver. Hot, cold. Something is always changing. Whenever life seems to be spinning out of control -- whether it be your grades, your friend drama or even just the bipolar California weather -- one thing always stays the same. Tradition. Christmas is loaded with warm and fuzzy rituals. But SMCHS students give these typical customs a twist.
Deck the Halls
“It is an explosion of light,” said junior Victoria Holm. “When I am trying to go to sleep I can see it all coming in through my bedroom window.” Holm and her family don’t stuff the inside of their house with Christmas gear, instead they encase the outside with 15,000 mini lights starting mid-December. With her dad’s experience as an electrical engineer, their light display has won the Ladera Ranch Community Best Use of Lights award. “Every year my dad puts on a light show where he coordinates our Christmas lights to the beats of his personal music station,” Holm said. “So when cars drive they can tune into our radio station.” According to Holm, the way the lights sync to the music is through a computer program her dad uses. However, their Christmas lights don’t flash in a gentle, peaceful manner keeping the slower tempo of classical Christmas songs. Her house turns things up a notch. “The music we play is usually a heavy rock or metal version of Christmas songs from the Trans Siberian Orchestra,” Holm said. “We are a rock and roll family.” The Holms worry about keeping their audience entertained so each year they try to pick different songs to present their audience with something unexpected. And it works because her house is always crowded in December. “It’s funny because when I want to park at my house, I have to drive around till they go away,” Holm said. “But it’s worth it because I think it’s fun the way we share our Christmas spirit.” photo by Adam Campbell
Silent nights, shining lights - Junior Victoria Holm’s house is alight with an array of colors, twinkling on tempo to Christmas tunes.
The Toy Story is Real
“When my brother and I were little my mom would tell us all stuffed animals come alive on Christmas,” said junior Kathryn Luher. On Christmas Eve, not only does the smell of sweet cookies linger in the air and the fresh green pine tree stand charming and tall, but the little Luher children await in bed for midnight to come. Midnight means Santa Claus and Santa Claus means magic. When the clock strikes midnight the whole Luher house is animated by the Christmas spirit. The magic goes from being in the air to be manifested inside the small plush toys for the Luher children’s Christmas. “Together my brother and I had 40 or 50 stuffed animals combined,” Luher said. “So my mom would gather all of them each year and line them up on the couch by the fireplace facing the Christmas tree. It would look like they had been waiting and watching Santa.” Every Christmas morning the two siblings were convinced that the toys had a mind of their own and walked down the stairs at night to meet up with Santa. It was the only logical explanation.
Travel Game Strong
“He had a bag full of little candy canes that he was handing out to kids that came up to him,” said junior Nicole Walker. “Security didn’t say anything.” Picture the morning. Long Beach Airport is crowded. And Santa Claus is Idaho-bound getting ready to embrace a new style of air travel: the airplane. However, this man adorned in a red coat and naturally grown white beard is none other than Walker’s uncle, who dressed up as Santa to walk through the airport. The Walkers gather anually to spread the Christmas cheer, but in 2013 they traveled with Santa himself. Kids all around them were in shock. Whispers echoed in the crowd as kids for a moment had their Christmas hero walk right by their side, no lines necessary. Santa was a real person at that moment, not a shopping mall celebrity. Walker believes that for those kids, that day will forever be, “The day I saw Santa at the airport.” “Even when we were on the plane, one of the moms goes, ‘Kids don’t fight. Santa Claus is on the plane,’” Walker said. “They looked up and around saying, ‘He is?!’ Those two kids were quiet and behaved the rest of the flight.”
photo by Adam Campbell
First is the worst - Junior Shayna Aigner has chosen her old sweater for her family’s annual ugly sweater competition.
You = Christmas Tree
“I’d give myself a three in sweater making skills,” said junior Shayna Aigner. When it’s time for her family’s Make the Ugliest Christmas Sweater competition, Aigner really gets her game face on. “You get an old sweater and put everything and anything you can find Christmas related and attach it to your sweater: pine cones, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tissue paper, wrapping paper,” Aigner said. “It’s super weird and wacky and we turn out like walking Christmas trees.” These couture Christmas creations usually don’t make it out of the house. The grading is really informal. This relatively new tradition is all for laughs and good times. “It’s a good Christmas activity because it’s something that anyone can participate in and get everyone in the mood and stoked for Christmas,” Aigner said. The best sweater she’s seen was made by her cousin, who is a character himself. He not only rides a motorcycle with a pet squirrel in his jacket, but is also a master sweater maker. Hot glue, pins and string bind everything to his sweater. “If you could just give him a hug you’d understand what it was all about,” Aigner said. “But he had fuzz balls, pine cones, ornaments and even a teddy bear on his sweater, so you couldn’t even hug him because there was so much stuff attached to his sweater.”
Trees & Elves & River
“It’s something really dorky and I don’t tell any of my friends,” said senior River Crawford. One night of the year, during the Christmas season, Crawford unleashes her inner-elf. “When I was little, my mom bought my brother and I elf costumes that were too many sizes too big,” Crawford said. “She made us wear them to decorate the Christmas tree. The outfit came with a hat, an apron and mitts.” After that night, there was no turning back. It is now an official Crawford tradition for the family to set aside a night none of them are busy in order to decorate their tree in their elf getup. “Around seventh grade there was a time we were sick of having to get dressed up, but now it’s exciting,” Crawford said. “First we had to grow into our outfits and now we are growing out of them. That’s okay though because I don’t know if my brother is going to want to do it when I’ll be in college.” Of course, with an elf suit comes elf responsibilities, so Crawford and her brother alternate who gets to put the first ornament on the tree. “This year it’s my year,” Crawford said. “My favorite ornament to put up
courtesy photo
Elf on the ground - Senior River Crawford dons her elf costume for tree decorating.
26
The Eagle Eye
Feature
Taste of Break the OC bubble Cure your case of the travel bug by exploring unique Laguna destinations within Orange County. New Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna unites SoCal favorites: steak, beach and hockey legend Teemu Selänne.
By Kiera Makowecki, Staff Writer
H
ockey legend Teemu Selänne used to be coached by the Anaheim Ducks, but now it’s his turn to call
the shots. For 10 years, Selänne dreamed of having his own restaurant. On Nov. 10, 2013, his dream became a reality with the grand opening of Selanne Steak Tavern. Selänne co-owns the restaurant with his good friend and neighbor Kevin Pratt. The two men both have impressive dedication and commitment to making their restaurant a destination for family and friends to relax, enjoy great food and have a unique dining experience. However, one of the most striking features of the restaurant is its location. “We did not want to begin plans on the restaurant until we found the perfect location,” Selänne said. “Obviously, Laguna Beach was our number one choice and it’s not very often that anything comes available in that area. That’s why, when the spot opened up, we jumped on the opportunity right away. It was a dream come true.” Selänne’s incredible team of chefs is another aspect that contributed to the quick success of the restaurant. The team is led by executive chef Joshua Severson, who is known for his own twist on the contemporary American steakhouse through his distinctive dishes. To add to the incredible talent is pastry chef Heather Fisher, who pleases her customers with playful, retro treats. “Our staff is unbelievable,” Selänne said. “It takes a lot of pride and a lot of work to be good, but they are incredible. They are all doing the things they love to do which makes the restaurant even more special and successful.” The hand-carved wooden doors of the restaurant lead into an elegant foyer, containing a marble fireplace from the original building of the historic 1934 Pacific Coast College. Bliss Home and Design in Corona del Mar contributed to the flawless interior design through inspiration from European restaurants. “My wife, Sirpa, and I didn’t really want to have a traditional steakhouse,” Selänne said. “We went for a more European-style interior, you know, a lot of light colors.” As far as food goes, Selanne Steak Tavern is top of the line and it is GOOD. People all over southern California are raving about the dishes. “[My favorite is] this signature steak, 40-ounce rib eye,” Selänne said. “It’s very big and we call it ‘Lord Stanley’. It’s too much food for one person, and it’s really meant for two, but I am always up for a challenge.” Selänne’s two youngest sons, who are currently SMCHS students, also share their favorites. Freshman Leevi Selänne recommends “the flat iron steak with mac and cheese.” Senior Eemil Selänne agrees and adds, “Don’t forget the lemonade!” Conveniently located on the Pacific Coast Highway, Selanne Steak Tavern invites the Orange County community and visitors from all over the world to escape to a modern and relaxing atmosphere that will satisfy anyone’s appetite.
I
By Kristine Liao, Web Editor-in-Chief
nstead of another average weekend roaming the malls or strolling the beach, discover a more diverse perspective within Orange County. There’s no need to travel across the country, or even up to Los Angeles or down to San Diego, to feel refreshed and renewed from the Orange County bubble. The bubble can be broken from within.
Costa Mesa SoBeCa District
photos by Kristine Liao
Shopping spree - Above: People of all ages roam around thrift shop Buffalo Exchange. Below: SEED People’s Market is a work of art in itself.
Along Bristol St. lies The LAB and The CAMP. No, these are not laboratories for scientists or campgrounds for spending the night, but rather artistic collections of unique shops and restaurants for people who want to be inspired. The LAB, “Little American Business”, was transformed from a night vision goggle factory into an anti-mall that combats retail monotony. With off-beat shops like Urban Outfitters and Buffalo Exchange, The LAB appeals to trendsetters who aren’t afraid to try on something crazy and deviate from what’s “in”. The delicious food served at Gypsy Den Cafe, Habana, Zipangu and more attracts the appetites of customers of all ages and cultures. But The LAB is so much more than just shops and restaurants. The tunnel made of leafy vines, the tree trunks wrapped with colorful knitting, the wall murals bursting with creativity, all contribute to the ambiance of The LAB. Right across the street from The LAB is The CAMP, a green gathering spot. All of the shops and restaurants at The CAMP promote a health-conscious and eco-friendly lifestyle. The organic theme of The CAMP is present in its shops, restaurants and outdoors. The handcrafted and recycled items of SEED People’s Market, the drool-worthy teas and coffees of Milk+Honey, and the vegetation immersed everywhere in the architecture create the atmosphere of a small, quaint town. The CAMP also has various artistic features such as a sign post with arrows pointing towards different destinations, stairs with “green” sayings on every step, and multicolored mailboxes for each business.
Santa Ana Artists Village
The Artists Village in Downtown Santa Ana is a neighborhood of constant innovation and imagination. On the first Saturday of every month, Second Street Promenade is blocked off from traffic for the Art Walk. Over 40 galleries open their doors for visitors to appreciate the paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. Outdoor events are on display as well, often with musicians and dancers performing in the middle of the street or jewelry booths set up on the side of the road. The variety of arts ranges from modern graffiti to folk crafts. As night starts to settle, the trees light up and photos by Kristine Liao illuminate the iconic fountain at the center of the street. The sidewalk Night stroll Above: The iconic fountain and Christmas lights characrestaurants and cafés offer a relaxing ambiance. terize Second Street Promenade. Below: Booths with arts and crafts The Artists Village is a great place to be not just on the first Satfill up the street. urday of the month, but on any other day of the month as well. The Santora Arts Building is open every day for visitors to admire its architecture, galleries, shops and food. Right across from it is the Grand Central Arts Center, another must see. This three-story building contains the Grand Central Gallery, the Project room, the Grand Central Theater and the Gypsy Den Café. But this brief description does not reveal the entirety of the Artists Village. Only a trip up there yourself will reveal to you all its nooks and crannies. So plan to spend the perfect first Saturday of the month or any other regular day at the Artists Village of Santa Ana, appreciating the art and savoring the food.
San Juan Capistrano Old Town
photos by Kristine Liao
Back in the days - Above: The quaint atmosphere of Ramos House Café is paired with its quality food. Below: Vintage colored glassware line the windowsill of the Ortega Trading Post.
Although visually and historically significant, Mission San Juan Capistrano is not the only attraction in the area. The Old Town has a lot more in store for discovery, such as the charming Los Rios Street and the vintage Ortega Trading Post. The Los Rios District is actually the oldest continuously occupied neighborhood in the state of California. The neighborhood is consists of private residences, but also various small businesses such as tea and coffee houses, art galleries and gift shops. With the white picket fences, cursive written signs and colorful fruits and blossoms, every single little house’s cute and cozy atmosphere is impossible to resist. The petting zoo, train track and museum add the finishing touches to this adorable neighborhood. The Los Rios District makes an ideal site for a photoshoot or just a quiet weekend stroll. The Ortega Trading Post is just a couple minutes’ walk from the Mission. Unlike the Los Rios District, the Trading Post is neither picture-perfect nor serene and clean. An antique shop with goods of all sorts, customers are rarely seen exiting empty handed. Ranging from colored glassware, to vintage furniture, to indigenous accessories -- the variety is endless. Whether it’s a treat for yourself or a gift for a friend, the Trading Post will always have something in store for discovery. Next time you make a trip down to Old Town San Juan, make sure to budget enough time for adventures beyond the usual.Look out for the restaurant with a chandelier made of wine bottles, the antique section with magazines from the ‘30s and the tucked away Hidden House Coffee in Los Rios.
Feature
The Eagle Eye
27
Resolutions that never were… until now Tips that will help you accomplish your New Year’s resolutions on time. By Tara Peterson, Staff Writer
I
t’s Dec. 31 and your outfit is on point, you are surrounded by friends and the countdown to the new year has just begun. Fifty-nine seconds. In a flash, you start to remember all the goals you set for yourself last year, but failed to accomplish. Thirty seconds. Frantically, you decide to set a new goal, something you will keep this time. Ten seconds. The clock is ticking. There’s no use now, this will be a year with no resolutions. Besides, they never get accomplished anyways. Time’s up. Confetti flies, everyone yells and you are resolution-less. But before you sell yourself short and decide that setting a goal for the year will just be another disappointment, think again. Here are four simple steps to guide you towards your 2015 New Years resolutions.
1. Make it personal.
“Each year, I look back and realize how much I changed,” said junior Samantha Drust. “I make that the basis for setting my goals so that they go with the course of how I am growing up.” As a junior, Drust decided that her resolution this year would be to maintain good grades in order to be comfortable with her GPA when she begins to apply for colleges next year. “Remember what is most important to you,” Drust said. “Make it personal because the more personal it is, the more likely you are to execute it.” Make sure that the resolution you decide on means something to you. If it is something you are passionate about, the motivation to continue pursuing it throughout the year will come easier.
2. Stay motivated.
Senior Kaitlyn Merritt finds herself making resolutions to practice pole vaulting for at least 15 minutes a day, but she always lets the goal slip through the cracks as her daily routine catches up to her after the holidays. “When I do make New Year’s resolutions they usually last a few weeks,” Merritt said. “Life catches up to me and I forget about them and don’t prioritize them.” After winter break, the wave of schoolwork is enough to drown in, and resolutions are replaced by mounds of homework and tests to
When the ball drops - A new year calls for a new you. illustration by Sydney Mahl
study for. In order to avoid this, setting constant reminders for your goal is the way to go. “Write it down for yourself,” Merritt said. “It is a permanent way to remind yourself of your goals.” To keep your goals within reach for the new year, it is imperative to stay motivated. Putting sticky notes around the house is a good strategy to remind yourself and to keep you reaching for it all year long.
3. Get others involved.
“At the beginning of dance season, each of us set individual goals on how we want to contribute to the team,” said senior Maeve Gerrity. “We support each other through it for sure.” Dance team is always trying to do its best when competitions roll around. The dancers set individual goals along with group goals at the start of the season in order to remind each other of what they want to accomplish as a team. “When I set a group goal I am able to look at the people next to me and be reminded that I need to work hard for them and for the team,” Gerrity said. When your friends are supporting you and giving you motivation to complete your goal, there is no way things can go wrong. Whether you tell your whole crew or just one friend, having someone there to motivate you throughout the year will be a good way to keep focused and remember the goals you set.
Junior Kalina Tidland lives the best of both worlds as she pursues a singing career. By Alexa Hines, Managing Editor
W
ho did you turn to in middle school when something went wrong? Was it your parents? Your sister? Your best friend? Did they listen to you? For junior Kalina Tidland, it was a pen and a notebook. “I started writing songs and playing guitar when I was in fifth grade,” Tidland said. “That was when people started being mean. I started to song-write because I felt like if I was complaining to someone, they didn’t really care and didn’t want to hear it. I needed to get it out somewhere, so I would write songs about it.” Fast forward six years and Tidland has recorded songs, released music videos, performed at VidCon and open mics and started a demo CD. Her single, “Dead End”, is already on iTunes. Tidland uses her middle name as part of her stage name, Kalina Tyne, because “‘Kalina Tidland’ just doesn’t have a ring to it.” Tidland is only at the very beginning of what she hopes will be a long journey. While most people want to go into business or become lawyers or doctors, Tidland wants to pursue singing and songwriting as her profession. “I want to do this as a career,” Tidland said. “I have always wanted to sing, but the music industry is confusing. There is no one way it can happen, which is a little stressful, but I have my ideal path.” Tidland has had support since the beginning from her twin sister, Kassandra, and her parents. “My mom, dad and my sister sort of ‘manage’ me,” Tidland said. “They always support me. I can always sing my songs to my sister and she’ll tell me if she likes them or not. It’s really nice.” In February 2013, Tidland posted her first original song, “Captivated”, currently with over 400 views, on YouTube. But a couple months later, in August, Tidland posted the corresponding music video, which has over 2,600 views to date.
“Social media has helped,” Tidland said. “I made my own website and it allows me to get my music out to people, even if I don’t have a record deal. People can make and produce their own music and get it out to the world so people can hear it.” Tidland credits her success to social media as well as many artists, like Taylor Swift. One of her all-time favorite songs is “All Too Well” by Swift. Tidland also believes that life around her influences her music. “Everything around me influences me at some point,” Tidland said. “Back when I first tried writing songs, the only artist that really influenced me was Taylor Swift or old artists that I had been listening to. I didn’t go into pop music at all. I thought I was too cool for it.” Now, Tidland is influenced by both music on the radio and music from the ‘40s and ‘80s. “Every situation around me, TV shows and people influence me,” Tidland said. “Because if it’s not happening to me, it is happening to someone else. I can still write about it.” Whenever she receives inspiration, Tidland grabs her notebook or her phone, whatever is close to her at the time. Inspiration could come to Tidland at any moment, even during class. “Trying to get down ideas at school is the hardest thing in the entire world,” Tidland said. “You hold up your phone pretending you are [talking] on your phone, but you are really singing into it. Teachers think you are texting when you are really getting down lyrics. I promise I am not texting in class. It is also really hard when you have headphones in and want to record a voice memo, but friends want to talk to you.” So what is there to look forward to? Tidland just released a music video in November for of her new single, “Whole”. She is also working on an EP. “It is hard to perform somewhere when you don’t have anything to give them like a CD,” Tidland said. “Once I have an EP, I want to be able to perform more.”
“Perform more” might be an understatement. Tidland hopes to win a Grammy in the future for her music and go on a world tour. “It would be so crazy if Taylor Swift presented the Grammy to me,” Tidland said. “She’s the queen. I want to go on a world tour because there are places in the whole world that want to hear your music.” Her love for Swift has existed for awhile. Actually, the first time Tidland performed was when she sang “You Belong with Me” by Swift at her sixth grade talent show. “Me, my friend and my sister thought it would be really cool,” Tidland said. “All of us were plucking it, but I was playing the chords. I only had an electric guitar and they put a microphone in front of the amp, so the amp was screeching. We couldn’t hear ourselves, so we were screaming. The people in the front row were plugging their ears.” Besides conquering the world with her music, Tidland hopes to collaborate with some top artists from today’s music. “I want Macklemore to rap with me,” Tidland said. “I can sing, and he can rap. I think that would be crazy. I think it would just be cool to have any rapper, like Iggy [Azalea].” Her favorite memories come from the interaction with fans that enjoy her music and songs. “I really like when I sing a song and somebody says that they really liked it and they point out a lyric that they can relate to,” Tidland said. Whenever she feels like giving up, Tidland remembers what people want, and sometimes need, to hear. “When it gets really hard, what I think about is, ‘This song that you just wrote, if you don’t keep trying to get it out there and you don’t keep recording and keep putting out videos, then some person that really needs to hear it never will. I write songs when I can’t find a song that’s already released that says exactly how I am feeling. I write for the people that need to hear it and for me.”
4. Always get back up.
Even Jesus fell carrying the cross -- three times -- but he got back up every single time. Just like Jesus, you are going to fall. There is going to be a time when you put your goal on the back burner and forget about it for awhile. There may even be a point when you are back to square one and almost ready to give up. Regardless of the challenges you face throughout the year, the most important step is to remember to pick yourself up and learn from your mistakes. “If I fail, then I know I have to try harder next time,” Drust said. “I use the failure as motivation to keep going and accomplish my goals. There is a reason why it didn’t go your way, so you need to just learn from it.”
photo courtesy of Brittany Keene
Living her dream - Junior Kalina Tidland performs her song, “Dead End”, at the Emma Griffith Charity Concert.
1
28
10 W
9
Opinion
1. The Chapel: Going to be with Jesus is definitely a good idea at any time, but especially in times of struggle and distress. The Chapel is usually empty (except for Jesus) and you’ll find some peace and solace inside of it. Plus, it always smells unusually good in there.
3
2
2. Junior lot: Even though it’s not technically permitted during school, crying or otherwise, the junior lot is a good place to cry (if you’re a freshman or sophomore). The juniors there will probably take pity on you and maybe even give you food. Avoid crying here if you’re a junior or a senior. That could be embarrassing.
3. Counseling: The counselors have seen everything. They’ve seen laughter, they’ve seen tears. Rumor has it they’ve even seen full-on temper tantrums on the floor. There’s a good chance they’ll let you cry it out and then help you with what’s really bothering you.
4
4. Behind C building: Hardly anyone takes the back door out of C. Plus there are some nice bushes which provide privacy for your breakdown.
Campus crying guide
10. Mr. Remmell’s Room: Mr. Remmell is even more emotional than Mr. Trotter.
9. Mr. Trotter’s Room: Mr. Trotter is supposedly one of the most emotional male teachers on campus.
The Eagle Eye
By Maggie Morris, Copy Editor
e get it. You’re sitting in your precal class, staring blankly at the board, dumbfounded by the array of graphs and equations -- seemingly written in another language -- that cover the board. You can’t take it anymore. Suddenly you feel the tears welling up in the corners of your eyes, you start to sniffle aaaanddddd…whew! You’re saved by the bell. As you run out of class attempting to conceal your obviously watery eyes, you panic. You realize you don’t know where you can go to let it all out. Okay, maybe you’re a freshman and you haven’t even taken precal yet. Or maybe you’re a senior and your biggest struggle is handbells. But we’ve all been in that uncomfortable situation where we need to cry at school. The question that remains is: where to cry? Have no fear! The Campus Crying Guide is here! *Note: All locations were tested by professional criers.
8
8. Stairs in the back of the S building: This is an especially good location if you are in class and ask to “go to the bathroom”. These stairs are unpopular in the first place, secluded from classrooms and are hardly ever frequented during class (except by expert criers who know where to cry).
6
6. The bathroom: Classic. Whether you cried in the bathroom during lunch while you ate alone on the first day of freshman year, or you haven’t made it there for a crying sesh yet, you should definitely put the bathroom on your crying bucket list. The flushing toilets conceal the sound of sobbing.
5
7. Third floor of the R building: The only people that have class in here are freshmen and, as long as you avoid them, you’ll be safe to cry in the always-empty banquet room on R3. Just be sure that you don’t trip while attempting to climb the stairs, blinded by your tears.
7
all photos by Adam Campbell
5. Football field: Seems odd to cry out in the open, smack-dab in the middle of one of the more well-used areas on campus. But no one ever goes on the football field during school, except maybe for P.E. So you can be out in the open, basking in the sun, crying as loud as you can and no one will ever even notice.
Opinion
Final Countdown The Eagle Eye
29
It’s the most horrifying time of the year. By Sara Boivin & Ethan Crocker, Staff Writers
12 Days ’Til Finals (DTF): Start the Trek into Darkness 11 DTF: TreatYo-SelfSyndrome
The beginning of the end has officially started. It doesn’t matter what kind of student you are: full-IB, all academic, half honors and half academic -- this time of the year brings out the same dread in all of our souls. Like most natural disasters waiting to happen, the initial calm eases you into a false sense of security. Finals seem so far away right now. Twelve days to study is (in theory) plenty of time. Chances are you have at least two to three classes that don’t need to be studied for anyway! The quiet denial in your heart is keeping you from confronting the hard truth about this impending reality. But for Zeus’s sake, you haven’t even obtained all your study guides yet! “What sort of sadist would start studying without all their study guides,” you think to yourself. “It’s unfair to the other subjects. I should probably nap instead.”
This always happens to you at least once: a simple, ineffective strategy of splurging on food and free time for the entire day so you can relieve yourself of stress. “Everybody needs a break from studying,” you say. But just to change the game, this is all done before any actual studying. It seems like a good way to get all the distraction out of you. You’ve essentially done nothing to grant such a privilege to yourself, but you promise to make up for it later. Your teachers are telling you that if you wait until the night before then you will fail. You sit there and internally accept this challenge and promise yourself that you will prove your teacher wrong. As Britney Spears once sang, “There are only two types of people in this world.” In this case, it’s the ones who start preparing and 10 DTF: the ones who sit on their butts doing nothing. Two roads are in front of you. One road means that your studying starts now, the Two Roads other means procrastination has strengthened its forces and your parents’ efforts to motivate you have failed. “Well baby, I hope Diverge that you came prepared. I run a tight shift, so beware,” Spears sang. If you’re a good cupcake and you hit the books, then you’re on the party path to success. If you’re a non-preparing bran muffin, you need to take some advice from Spears and work on a plan.
9 DTF: The Gummy Bear Stratagem Hopefully, now you’ve started to fill out your study guides and prepare for your finals. One of the first key problems when starting your study guides is the amount of back-tracking you have to do. It’s no secret among students that reading something once doesn’t usually make the information stick. However, for finals, rereading half of your textbook is unreasonable. You could never focus that long! That’s where the Gummy Bear Stratagem is used. First created by college students, the Gummy Bear Stratagem is effective and delicious. Step #1: Narrow down the chapters in you book where you need to focus your brain power the most. Step #2: Procure a bag of Gummy Bears. Step #3: Place one Gummy Bear at the end of every paragraph. Step #4: After you read each paragraph, reward yourself with the Gummy Bear. Step #5: Repeat process as you turn pages. Step #6: After book is read, eat any remaining Gummy Bears.
8 DTF: American Homework Story Nobody really knows how or why it happens, but it does. Your teacher (probably math) is trying to teach you an entire chapter of new material. Along with this outrage is continued distribution of homework. To you, it’s the system trying really hard to ruin your life for no reason. Now on top of putting off finals, you have to put off homework too! We’ve been there, we’ve hated it too, but you’ve got to bust out these assignments fast. If anything, take this extra work and use it as leverage to help tilt your borderline grades. As history has shown, waiting until the week of a huge moment isn’t always the best time to start preparing. Perhaps nobody in history knows this 7 DTF: better this Pharaoh Rameses II, after his kingdom was pilfered by swarms of frogs, locusts, disease, darkness, lice, bloody water and dead first born sons. Seven Now having a bad test isn’t nearly as bad as having your entire kingdom cursed by God, but having a bad grade stay bad or having a good grade tarnished Plagues of is one plague that could stick with you forever. Dedicate one day this week to each subject. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Egypt
6 DTF: Series Leading to Unfortunate Events
Take it from finals veterans: starting a marathon of an entire TV series like The Walking Dead six days before your finals is the equivalent to jumping off a building without a hang glider in hopes of learning how to fly. It will be your downfall. Eating, watching TV and doing anything that isn’t studying is your brain’s way of rebelling against the mass amount of work that awaits it. Repeat to yourself this mantra, and perhaps the demon sloth inside of you will be exorcised: “The dreading is worse than the doing. Just start on something.” The power of Christ compels you... to work!
The time to consult the Oracle -- RogerHub -- has come. Goals need to be set. Not only are finals less than a week away, but by now you have all your materials and 5 DTF: The you’ve decided which subjects to prioritize. You spend a few moments digging into the dark depths of your backpack to find those study guides that your teachers Behoovening gave you so long ago. You finally find them and think it is time you start looking at them. You pick one and start working. But you quickly get bored and before long you’re back on your phone. You finish working feeling accomplished and proud of all the work you have done. Or not done.
4 DTF: The Hunger Shames Alright, you’re on the road and you’re making progress! Nothing is stopping you -- except for your constant trips to the fridge! Good gracious, you’re not even hungry and you still keeping going back. You know something’s up when you keep going back to the fridge for dry broccoli. There’s still nothing to eat, there’s still plenty to study and you’re still really distracted, but that’s not going to stop you from going. Assuming the Gummy Bear Stratagem is no longer in effect, studying with friends (possibly hunger-judgmental ones) at non-home places or on a really comfortable chair can all help counter this. As long as it becomes more work to walk to the fridge than to study, you’re doing it right.
3 DTF: The Demon Sloth Returns He’s going to try and come back for a second run like every horror movie villain eventually does. It’s going to be a Friday, the one right before finals. The start of the weekend and the first mile in the race. You either push through the pain to finish and come out on top or, like a whale, you give up on life and beach yourself. You are kicking yourself for waiting until the last minute. Slowly stress begins to factor into your sanity. You are on edge and have a short fuse. You are not looking forward to the long night that lies ahead of you. You are 201 percent overstressed right now. It’s impossible to deny. Whether or not you’ve been spending your 2 DTF: Paranormal time studying, the seeds of doubt and distress are upon you. Right about now you’re questioning why you even go to school. What’s the point? Why can’t we opt not to take finals if we like our grades? Why do humans feel the Activity need to put their young into 13 long years of forced learning? Nevertheless, your complaining and begrudging feelings go ignored by your apathetic peers. Coffee and soda become your new best friends as you prepare for the all-nighter that lies ahead of you.
This day is strictly reserved for the first tests you have. You know, the first two on Monday. If there is one last piece of advice to give to you, it is sleep. 1 DTF: More sleep will make the cake for you on finals day. Ever notice how in class, you zone out hard when you’re tired? It’s pretty impossible to stay focused. The Final For a test -- let alone two in a row -- it’s the same. When you don’t sleep, you miss things: key words, directions, the numbering on your scantron. If you Countdown study, put in the time and effort and bring your army of knowledge with you on test day, you’ll be fine (or at least survive, if nothing else). Jumpy, exhausted, running purely on caffeine, you walk into your classroom, take your seat, say a prayer and take your final exam. Now I’m going say it like it was 0 DTF: The Time has meant to be said: don’t bother studying today. Nothing you study right before a final will make a monumental grade difference. Double checking a few things like equations, facts or little tidbits of info is fine, but trying to cram in another chapter is honestly a waste of time. If you prepared these last twelve days, you’re golden. Good Come luck with finals everyone! And may the odds be ever in your favor. illustrations by Sara Boivin
Go Eagles! Patrick Imburgia & Paul Loskutoff 25882 Wright Circle, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 1-800-FLAVORS
Opinion
The Eagle Eye
31
Looking back at 2014 From political affairs to announcements in pop culture, and everything in between, here are a few dates that stood out in 2014. By Carly Desmond, News & Sports Editor
January:
1 Colorado legalizes marijuana 10 Wiffenpoofs acapella group performs at SMCHS 11 Teemu Selänne retires after 21 NHL seasons 24 Laker Girls make an appearance at SMCHS’s winter sports rally 29 Archaeologists discover the oldest Roman Temple at Sant’Omobono
2
February:
Seattle Seahawks defeat Denver Broncos 42-8 to win Super Bowl XLV 6 Jay Leno ends his career on The Tonight Show 7 Winter Olympics in Sochi begin 21 President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama
March: 1 8 21
4
Ellen’s Oscar Selfie goes viral and shuts down Twitter Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 with 239 people disappears, prompting the most expensive search effort in history Divergent comes to theaters
April:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier comes to theaters 13 Bubba Watson wins the U.S. Golf Masters 29 Donald Sterling is banned from the NBA
May:
13 Esteemed journalist Barbara Walters retires after more than 50 years 13 Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa Maria, is discovered off the coast of Haiti 31 PSY’s “Gangnam Style” becomes the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube
June:
1
SMCHS Confessions becomes popular on Twitter 6 The Fault in Our Stars comes to theaters 8 Rafael Nadal wins his ninth French Open title 13 Los Angeles Kings defeat the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup Finals in five games 15 San Antonio Spurs defeat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals 26 Luis Suárez is expelled from the FIFA World Cup for biting incident 27 Transformers: Age of Extinction comes to theaters
July: 8 13 14 17 28
Four, the fourth book in the Divergent series, is released Germany defeats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the FIFA World Cup The Church of England votes in favor of allowing women to become bishops Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is shot down, killing 298 people on board K117 begins #livethefourth
August:
8
6 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge sweeps social media West African Ebola outbreak is categorized as international concern 11 Robin William dies 14 Hungry Shark Evolution game is released 22 K118 begins #livethefourth 23 Brad Pitt marries Angelina Jolie
September: 1 7 7 9 16 16 17 18
Lync craze Derek Jeter retires Serena Williams wins her third straight US Open women’s tennis singles SMCHS mourns the loss of beloved music teacher Nick Kraus History teacher Tessa Fleming plays on Jeopardy iPhone 6 is released Red Band Society premiers on FOX Emma Watson addresses UN Headquarters in New York City, helping launch the campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to advocate for gender equality 19 Maze Runner comes to theaters
10
29
October:
Best Homecoming rally ever produced by ASB 27 Taylor Swift’s new album 1989 is released San Francisco Giants win third World Series in five years
November: 1 3 4 21 24
SMCHS Soccer League “SM Liga” begins World Trade Center opens as a memorial and museum Americans vote in mid-term elections The Hunger Games: Mockingjay comes to theaters Grand Jury arrives at decision in Ferguson Missouri Case
32
The Eagle Eye
The Notepad
By Roland Pan, junior
Flipping from fall to winter By Alyssa Yokota, senior “After taking photography, I focused on taking silhouette pictures. I had one of my friends flip in front of the sun so that I could get a strong image.”
Little Joys
By Isalbella Otis, junior “The latchhook is of a golden retriever in a field of flowers. It reminds me to find joy from even the little things in life.”