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VOLUME IV. EDITION VII
MAY 27, 2020
PINEWOOD’S FIRST VIRTUAL GRADUATION By AANYA SETHI Copy Editor For the first time in Pinewood history, the graduation ceremony is going to be virtual. As of now, the remote ceremony will happen over Zoom on May 28. This graduation may not be what was expected, however, seniors are making the most of it. Senior Esmi Pistelak is looking forward to her online graduation with as much excitement as she would an in-person ceremony. “I am so glad we are getting a virtual graduation – some schools aren’t getting any form of graduation so I’m very grateful that Pinewood is putting in so much effort to make our zoom graduation as memorable as possible,” Pistelak said. While the seniors are grateful for the remote ceremony, they are looking forward to receiving their diplomas in person. “We all want to walk and throw our
caps in the air together,” Pistelak said. _Therefore, Pinewood also plans to host a second graduation ceremony in August. This event, if the county guidelines allow, will be held on campus. If the shelter-in-place is still in effect in August, the ceremony will be cancelled and our seniors will be mailed their diplomas. _However, no matter the situation, Pinewood seniors remain strong. Principal Gabriel Lemmon commends the seniors for their strength. “Though this is a difficult time, they have been amazing in the way that they have adapted and persevered. They are my heroes!” Lemmon said. _The seniors would like to thank their peers and teachers for making their high school years a truly unforgettable experience. “To everyone who we won’t get to see on our virtual graduation before we leave, thank you for everything you have done to make our time at Pinewood so full of happiness and memories,” Pistelak said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SMUGMUG
VIRTUAL GRADUATES Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Pinewood class of 2020 will be the first to have a completely online graduation rather than an on-campus one.
PINEWOOD TEACHERS SAY GOODBYE
By SRINIVAS BALAGOPAL and SID SAMEL Co-Editor in Chief and Managing Editor
Psychology teacher and school councelor Tina Maier will be retiring at the end of the year. She will be moving to Grass Valley, where she looks forward to focusing on her artwork and spending time with her grandchildren. She will miss both the Pinewood students and faculty, and she is very proud of how well the communty has dealt with the current situation. PHOTO BY ELLA HAUN
Chemistry teacher Melissa Geinitz will be moving to Colorado, where she and her husband grew up, after living in the Bay Area for the past three-and-a-half years. She will miss the amazing community built up by the Pinewood students and faculty. She misses seeing her students face-toface, and she hopes for all the best for them in the future. PHOTO BY SAM KING
“I have really loved my time in the classroom with [my students], and seeing their journey as students. I’ll miss the memories that were created and all the laughs, and getting to know them as people.”
Statistics teacher Amarnath Santhanam will be moving to Oklahoma City, OK over the summer. Once the next school year begins, he will be teaching high school level math at the Casady School. Although he loves the Pinewood community, he is excited for the new experiences he will have in his new environment.
PHOTO BY SAM KING
Math teacher Rachel Phillips will be leaving Pinewood to take on a position as Associate Director of the Santa Clara campus of the Art of Problem Solving Academy. The academy provides opportunites for students seeking to challenge themselves beyond the classes provided at their schools. Phillips will also be moving to San Ramon, in order to be closer to both her new workplace and her horses, as part of the career shift.
Mandarin teacher Charlene Chiang will be leaving Pinewood in order to open up herself up to a larger learning audience, She plans to begin creating videos on YouTube and hopes to eventually open her own language center to continue teaching foreign language classes. She is proud of her students for opening themselves up to a new language and culture, and she hopes that they will continue to do so in the future.
PHOTO BY SAM KING
PHOTO BY VIVIAN REED
The Class of 2020 School Survival Guide
By SRINIVAS BALAGOPAL, CARTER BRADY, REILLY BRADY, SANIA CHOUDHARY, and SARAH FENG Co-Editors in Chief, Section Editors, and Staff Writer
Q: While going to college itself is a big step in life, so is just preparing to get ready to step into this new chapter. What would you say to the current sophomores and/or juniors about how to prepare to go college and to take this new big step? A: Annika Mihara: It is of course a huge step in life and I am very close with my family even though I am not going across or out of the country, it’s not like I can just drive over to see them, so I think it is really important to spend time with your family before you leave. If your college does events in your area, take that opportunity because it is a good way to get to know people that you will be going to college with before you start, which can ease anxiety about making friends when you get to college. Pepperdine hosted an event for admitted students in Palo Alto that I went to, and I ended up making a friend, so also just don’t be afraid to put yourself out there at events and socialize with future classmates because you could end up meeting some really great people. Q: Time management is difficult in high school, with school, extracurriculars, and social life. What did and/or did not work for you in terms of time management? What would you recommend to the current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to help them better and more effectively manage their time?
A: Carter Brady: I was really busy pretty much all of high school, so I’m probably not the best to speak on this one, but I enjoy keeping myself busy, so I can’t really blame it on anyone else. This is a pretty basic tip, but I always try to get homework done a couple days ahead so I have at least a little bit of free time. Q: What makes Pinewood & its students special? A: Aaron Movschovich: This pandemic has reaffirmed why I love this school so much. We came together as a community, we did the zoom calls, the student council did everything they could, and we all came together. That’s what makes Pinewood so special: we came together instead of trying to get through this on our own. Q: What advice would you give to your freshman year self ? A: Sam Cue: I was scared of the upperclassmen, like Oh God, what do they think of me? After the Cue Quad presentation, I was so embarrassed, but they don’t even care. You really don’t have to care so much about what others think of you, first year of high school -- take advantage of that. Freshman year is so good -- you can mess up, and you have time to change things, but you should also still be focused and motivated.
“FAQ” continued on p. 12
SENIOR REFLE WHY I’M GRATEFUL TO BE A PANTHER HOW PINEWOOD HAS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT ITS STUDENTS EVEN WHEN WE ARE AT HOME
By SARAH FENG Co-Editor-In-Chief “I’m so burnt out,” a friend from another school texted me. “I’m overwhelmed with work, and my teachers are leaving me to figure it out on my own.” “I’m scheduling my own ‘block periods’ during the mornings so I can keep up with all my homework,” another friend told me. “Otherwise, I fall so far behind.” “I’ve lost all motivation and sense of self. LOL,” another friend is texting me about her school failing to accommodate distance-learning, at the very moment I am writing this article – a verbatim message. “Really?” I always found myself responding. “That sucks. I’m sorry to hear that.” But I puzzled over why I couldn’t offer a similar experience. Friends from other schools spoke of unending piles of homework that they barreled through day and night, complex and tangled material that they were forced to unravel in solitary confinement at their desks – and, although it was unsaid, I knew part of their stress was brought on by the intangible, fuzzy static of total isolation created by the pandemic. With ironic laughs and memes, they talked of floundering in their workload with no helping hand of salvation. I found myself wondering for the first weeks what exactly they were referring to with “burn-out.” In the past weeks, I’ve puzzled over why I haven’t shared their fatigue, and the answer is: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zoom classes. Talks with famous figures on Wednesdays. Meeting with teachers for one-on-one conferences that must be a pain to schedule on the part of the teacher. Constant emails checking in, asking how are
PHOTO TAKEN BY KATHERINE CHUI
SCIENCE AT HOME Organic chemistry students participate in a chocolate-themed lab mailed to them by chemistry teacher Sabra Abraham.
you, offering a helping hand, tunneling through the otherwise unending blandness of remaining at home, the dizzying color and motion of life slowed to a stop. In the unstructured, blurry sea of the pandemic’s isolation, I’ve never felt like another motionless point swept away in the
THANK YOU, PINEWOOD ADVICE AND REFLECTION FROM A PINEWOOD EVERGREEN
PHOTO TAKEN BY REILLY BRADY
STAYING CONNECTED Seniors celebrate spirit week through daily lunchtime Zoom calls with their grade.
annals of online learning; everything our school has done is painstakingly designed to keep us precariously balanced afloat. Every Zoom class that tentatively preserves the same classroom dynamic as before bobs us towards the distant horizon of the day when quarantine ends. Crying emotionally in our final journalism all-staff meeting? Check, even if it’s a silent, slow-motion sob behind muted microphones. Making crazy and unnecessarily elaborate campaigns for our AP Government class elections? Check, turning our Zoom backgrounds to our individual campaigns and still arguing heatedly over the results. Laughing about the various antics of AP Physics students? Check, made all the better with the added chat feature, producing some of our class’s wildest moments yet. Complaining about assignments, worrying about homework, being late to class – check, check, check. All of these ticks of the natural high school experience have assimilated themselves to this newfound online experience. In a time when so many experiences have collapsed into dust, don’t you find it beautiful that Pinewood is still alive and singing? That we are still being pushed to go further and faster than before, that our teachers expect us, with full confidence, to keep up with the curriculum? No quarantine rigor mortis of inspiration and motivation – beyond the typical 8 a.m. fatigue? No settling for the status quo of gloom and regression of progress? Academics retain their fluid vitality, even thumping with the soft heartbeat of a newfound reflectiveness we’ve developed in our isolation; I even find myself engaged with acquaintances and participating in school-bonding events. My grade student council hosted an online college celebration and a Netflix Party for us; we have Zoom Spirit Week as I write this. Think of how much effort and care is poured into each interaction from every part of the student body and our faculty. No one has to do any of this – it’s not required. But Pinewood students and teachers go the extra distance. It cannot be easy for the administration to
By OLIVIA PAGE Features Editor The last 18 years of my life weren’t stable; my childhood was riddled with heartbreak, curveballs, change. The one constant during that mess? Pinewood. Thirteen years is a lot of my life. Spending that time at Pinewood is one thing I wouldn’t trade for the world. 13 years means jump rope with Mr. Slayton in second grade; it means trying not to run in the red hall at Middle Campus. It means collecting as many charms as possible so I
be scheduling constant Zoom calls to check in with the senior grade about our thoughts on graduation. It cannot be simple for ASB to be constantly hosting events on their Instagram. And yet: I log onto my email every day to find flurries of emails telling me to participate in new events. Believe me, I know it’s frustrating, and the workload is still so heavy. My friend and I spent over 30 hours on a single homework assignment spread out across two weeks, and there have been countless moments where we wanted to give up or laughcry at the endless list of problems. So many plans that my friends and I have sketched out for our last, golden weeks of senior year have been scrapped in favor of tepid FaceTime alternatives. I also don’t doubt how incredibly difficult it is for each person to help out their family each day and maintain their focus on Zoom classes. While it’s completely legitimate to feel sad about this situation and what it’s taken away from us, though, I think we should keep in perspective how much our school is doing to keep us engaged. Yes, we still have so many unchecked boxes on the bucket lists we so excitedly prepared for the end of our senior year, including graduating in-person, our senior banquet and all those spontaneous, late-night trips we texted about with our friends. For students in other grades, it is terrible that your events and plans have been cancelled too. But think of WISCR Wednesdays, SWAG Time, block schedules from 8 to 3, and all those aspects of the typical high school experience that Pinewood has allowed us revel in for our final days. We’ve become accustomed to this because Pinewood is always so tight-knit, but when I hear of friends from other schools telling me what it’s like in their environments, I am shocked. I’ve taken Pinewood for granted. They have stitched together one of the most supportive, engaging safety nets for us with a few days’ notice in April, and for the past week, I’ve just been feeling grateful to be a panther.
could make Ms. O proud. It means transitioning to Upper, finally feeling like a big kid. It means lip sync battles, cheering front row in the Panther Pit, growing up, parking on Senior Island. It should mean walking across a stage, just how I had envisioned. Tiny, first-grade me sat in the bleachers of the gym, imagining how it would feel when it was my turn. When I get to shake my principal’s hand, and accept my diploma. When I get to hug all of my classmates. Because we did it. Things have changed, and I won’t get that dream. It’s a hard one to let go of. It’s much
harder to let go of when the other traditions that accompany the last two and a half months of high school are taken away as well. Us seniors sit at home, and days pass when we know we should be getting ready for prom, cheering for spring athletes on Senior Night, meeting friends for random shenanigans, heading to our Senior Banquet, having our last class. I haven’t yet figured out how to truly accept that loss. The good news is I’m not alone. This school is my home. Pinewood lets you grow, fail, experiment, succeed. In March, I felt completely comfortable displaying a series of
ECTIONS LOOKING BACK ON SENIOR YEAR By REILLY BRADY Editorial Editor It was a Friday in March. It was one of those days packed with busy classes and eventful breaks, and I was trying to stop and soak it all in, but the day just kept barreling ahead. I remember details in a flurry of images: participating in a water gun fight in biology, taking photos at lunch, moving projects to my car during art class. But around 3:30, I was able to suddenly take a breath. For a Friday afternoon, campus was still bustling with people, mostly seniors, gathered on the Cue Quad or strolling through the halls. Why were we all still here? Some would even venture out to their car, only to return a few minutes later, still drawn back to campus. I found myself walking circles around campus in a daze, trying to force myself to remember this day, seeing Pinewood in a way I had never seen it before. Even once I was able to bring myself to leave, I still couldn’t get that scene out of my head, and I will never forget the image of Pinewood campus filled with wandering seniors on that Friday afternoon, the last day of our senior year spent on campus. Being at home instead of at the campus we know and love is not easy. We want to be physically at Pinewood, creating memories with our senior class and soaking up our last few weeks of high school together. Over the years we have imagined what it would be like to be a second-semester senior, waiting for the day we could ditch school or take a trip to Disneyland. It’s hard to look beyond these missed events, and after long, draining hours on Zoom, I often find myself daydreaming about how our senior year should have been. However, Pinewood is not just a place, and it’s not just its traditions. Though its campus and activities help to define Pinewood as a place we know and love, in the end, it is the people that truly create the community feel. Although I am saddened at the cancellations of many of these senior year events, what is most devastating is the absence of seeing people in person. I joined Pinewood in the middle of second grade and have witnessed the unmistakable sense of community since my first day as I was welcomed by my classmates. Our grade has always been special, and though some have left while others joined, the bond has remained. Because of the people, I often reminisce about my senior year with a smile. Before school started, we gathered to decorate the parking lot and spend unforgettable moments
artwork in the office that was accompanied by a personal statement about my parents’ divorce. Anyone could walk in and read it, but I didn’t care. This community is safe, supportive, and it wants to see you for who you are. To any students who have not yet reached the end of their years at Pinewood, take this piece of advice, and please hold it in the back of your mind. Go to every single sports game you can, go on late night food runs with your friends, volunteer in assemblies, watch a cappella perform, drive your friends downtown for lunch with windows down and music blasting. During
together in preparation for the beginning of our senior year. We started the first day with an epic senior entrance, wearing our matching shirts, filling the gym with overwhelming energy. On our senior class trip, we witnessed a helicopter rescue during the day and silently watched hundreds of stars shine above us at night. We cheered on each other at football games and supported injured classmates. We participated in spirit days, showing up with crazy hair, sporting our trusted green and gold colors, or dressed head to toe in pink. For homecoming, we attempted roller skating, leaving the rink with bruises and scrapes. At the Jamboree, we sold bucket hats and supported our fellow classmates in musical performances. We traveled to an amusement park for formal, our fancy hairstyles ruined by the twists and turns of the rollercoaster. We decorated a car in all gold to show our panther pride. At the last home basketball game, we filled the panther pit with unprecedented noise and cheering, demonstrating our Pinewood spirit. We pulled off an impressive lip sync performance dancing to songs of the 2000s, taking first place in the competition. The next day, we wore our class shirts and took photos together on the Cue Quad. While that may have been our last day on campus, it was not the last day of our senior year. We continued to make memories, watching movies through Netflix parties. Over Zoom, we still connected with each other through lunchtime video calls. We participated in self-timer challenges and dressed up for spirit days. Through game pigeon, we battled each other in 8-ball and archery. We supported each other as we each selected colleges. We displayed our “Class of 2020” signs in our front yard with pride, delighted to be a part of our class.
PHOTO TAKEN BY HAILEY ALEXANDER
SENIOR SPIRIT Seniors Esmi Pistelak, Natasha Thompson, Ainsley Carpenter, and Reilly Brady celebrate the Gold Rush spirit day.
Senior year has not been easy, but just because we are not in person does not mean our senior year is ruined. Because of our community, we still had an unforgettable senior year. Our grade has emerged from the experience closer than ever. I am lucky to go to a school that supports me and is working tirelessly to give us the second semester we had hoped for. I love my Pinewood community, and I am incredibly grateful for the past ten and a half years spent at Pinewood. And just because our senior year has panned out differently than we expected doesn’t mean our senior year ended on that Friday in March.
your senior year, use the question what will I remember more? when deciding if you should do that one thing or opt out. I can’t tell you how many times I actively asked myself that question. I chose to do whatever it was every single time. This is how I spent my time at Pinewood, and I have no regrets. In a time like this, having no regrets is a blessing because my time got cut short. Your senior year will not end how the class of 2020’s ended, but take advantage of the school you attend and the opportunities in front of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Pinewood.
LIVING IN THE MOMENT By ETHAN WALSEY In-Depth Editor PHOTO TAKEN BY ETHAN WALSEY
THE MAN BEHIND THE CAMERA Senior Ethan Walsey poses with his beloved camera.
Close to one year ago, I was on my way to my grandparents’ house to celebrate my seventeenth birthday. I was in the backseat on my phone: business as usual. My attention shifted, however, to the parcel that my mom reached around her seat to place in my lap. Eagerly I tore open the tissue paper and was instantly hit with a wave of confusion. I was staring at an Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 170 film camera. I thanked my parents out of courtesy and tried to internalize my bewilderment. Of course I was confused. The gift was unprecedented. I had never owned a film camera before, nor did I know how to work one. Little did I know, however, that in about a year, my entire life would revolve around this silver rectangle. My birthday celebration came and went, and before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye to the numerous family members that drove in to see me. But before they left, I got an idea. “Hey everyone, would you mind if I took a picture of you guys?” I said, eager to try out my new foreign contraption. The idea was met with unanimous excitement. Everyone gathered in close, the flash went off, the mechanism whirred, and the moment was over. My first instinct was to look on the back to see the photo. Upon doing so, I realized something: I wouldn’t be able to see the photos until I had used all the film on the roll, and sent it in to be developed. I was immediately overtaken with excitement; I just had to know how the photos looked. I started photographing everything in an attempt to expedite the process. I took pictures of friends, family, nature, strangers, and everything that I deemed “photograph-worthy” (which was most everything). After I developed the first roll and saw how they came out, I had to take more. I developed roll after roll, took what seemed to be infinite photos, and scanned every one to be able to keep it digitally forever. The mixture of excitement about seeing how they came out as well as the inimitable contrast that the film photo flash creates is why I never stopped despite the expenses. Months went by. I kept shooting. I started a social media account so all of my friends could see the photos too. My love of photography grew and grew until it wasn’t just the final product I was chasing, but it was the literal documentation of the memories themselves. I barely thought about how the photos would look once all was said and done. I just cared about making sure not one memory was forgotten. That was my goal. Of course it was impossible, but I tried to get as close as I could. Then, 867 photos later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. But it didn’t necessarily change in a bad way. I know, I know. Finding silver linings within this pandemic seems like a futile attempt of turning an insurmountable negative to something reminiscent of a positive. But the thing is, I feel like I am able to take this seemingly insignificant hobby and turn it into an outlet that my friends and I can use to reminisce and remember the times we had. And what better time to think back on the “good old days” than in the middle of a time period where you can barely go outside. I was the one that took the photos, so it didn’t really benefit me. It benefited my friends. My muses. My models. All of those memories that I was fortunate enough to document on my trusty camera served as a digital time capsule on social media. If you wanted to relive a moment that you couldn’t get out of your head, there’s a good chance you can just find it in my photo album folder, which is now available for public viewing. If you wanted to reminisce about the good ol’ days before COVID-19 hit, there is no better way to do so than going to emotion-filled photos of the events themselves. At every social gathering I was at, I had to watch and wait for the perfect moment to click that button on my camera. I was forced to take into account everything going on around me. I couldn’t miss a single moment, nor did I want to. The point is, not one second did I take any of what was going on around me for granted. I wanted to savor every last millisecond to the point where I lugged a dorky camera everywhere I went to make sure nothing went to waste. Sure, I loved the concept of taking pictures, but what I loved even more was the look on my friends’ faces when they saw them fully developed in all their glory. Every now and then I hear a murmur on social media or over the phone: “Oh, I just wish I didn’t take for granted what I had before. If I had known that it was going to get this bad, I would have paid more attention.” Of course, that thought crossed my mind. The only difference is that I had it in that car ride to my grandparents so long ago. I knew that this camera was an opportunity to miss nothing and remember everything. Of course I’m not done making memories, just like I’m not done taking photos, and while the world has been put on “pause,” I have been given the chance to ask myself: was it worth it? Bringing the camera everywhere I went, spending money on film and development fees, paying for the development of photos that didn’t turn out well … was it worth it just to document some social gatherings, trips, and concerts? Absolutely. My friends aren’t just my friends; they’re my inspiration, motivation, and everything in between.
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THE PERENNIAL May 2020
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WEST Quinn Bates • Santa Clara University • Mechanical Engineering
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Catherine Blotter • Brigham Young University • Advertising Audrey Cutler • University of Utah • Business & Ballet Cecily Eivers • Chico State • Business Administration Chloe Fiske • California Polytechnic State University • Communications Bella Fuller • University of Oregon • Business Katherine Han • University of Southern California • Communciations & Film Hannah Johnson • Santa Clara University • Psychology Max Lemmon • Santa Clara University • Business Peirong Li • UC Berkeley • Chemical Biology Abigail Liao • Pitzer College • Economics & Media Studies • Women’s Swimming Commit Annika Mihara • Pepperdine University • Business Administration Ellery Mitchell • Occidental College • Undecided • Women’s Softball Commit Aaron Movshovich • UCLA • Political Science (Pre-Law)
H AWA I I
John Myers • University of Denver • Business Esmi Pistelak • UC Berkeley • Modern Language & Business Management
Miranda Wiener • Brigham Young University, Hawaii • Psychology
Tyler Riches • University of Utah • Business Peter Schusser • Loyola Marymount University • Business Liam Smith • University of Puget Sound • Exercise Science • Men’s Football Commit
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Srinivas Balagopal • Imperial College London • Molecular Bioengineering Miles Redman • University of Bath • Computer Systems Engineering
TURE NORTHEAST Maddie Ashley • Lehigh University • Computer Science & Business Carter Brady • Johns Hopkins University • Neuroscience Alexa Brown • University of the Arts • Musical Theater Annika Duan • Boston University • Undecided Sarah Feng • Yale University • English & History Nate George • Lehigh University • Materials Science & Engineering Kiley Haberkorn • Brown University • Psychology Tina Huang • New York University • Math & Economics Natasha Thompson • Vassar College • Computer Science • Women’s Soccer Commit Ethan Walsey • Tufts University • Biopsychology Angela Yao • Brandeis University • Undecided Samantha Zagha • Northeastern University • Political Science
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THE PERENNIAL May 2020
PREDICTIONS
Senior Predictions Maddie Ashley Srinivas Balagopal Cadmus Balkanski Quinn Bates Catherine Blotter Carter Brady
Reilly Brady Alexa Brown Ainsley Carpenter Evelyn Chenye Megan Chou Katherine Chui
Sam Cue Audrey Cutler Anni Duan Cecily Eivers Austin Farhoudi Sarah Feng
Chloe Fiske Bella Fuller Nate George Kiley Haberkorn Katherine Han
Ryder Heit Tina Huang Hannah Johnson
Anna Kozlov
After a brief stint rising to the FBI's top coder, Maddie returns to the private computer science sector to hack every Webkinz account and ensure no Webkinz is left unloved. Srinivas orchestrates his own Clone War, each of which competes to be a better Editor-in-Chief than the last. After years as a pro soccer star, Cadmus will retire and live among a pack of moose in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. As his final Eagle Scout project, Quinn sacrifices himself by uploading his consciousness into the Barracuda mainframe to finally fix Pinewood's WiFi, once and for all. At the first BYU vs. University of Utah football game, Cat cheers so loud that she levels the mountains of Provo and powers the western half of the United States for a year. After decades spent toiling in the research labs, Carter uses his massive amount of neuroscience knowledge to happen upon a breakthrough: finally discovering Obama's true last name. As an act of political protest, Reilly decides to paint the White House with camouflage colors, making the president homeless. Alexa will become the first person in history to win 3 EGOTs, making the first-ever 3-GOT. Ainsley wins the Michigan Grand Prix, and as a prize she receives a lanyard she will never take off until she dies. Evelyn becomes the NFL's highest-scoring player, leading the league in tackles despite her small stature. After quickly rising to the highest level of golf competition, Megan will win the Masters tournament with a record-shattering score of 18 — a hole in one on every hole. After publishing a book of puns that were so bad the Supreme Court ruled they would not be protected by the First Amendment, Chui will go to federal prison, assemble a following of "underlings," and pull off an escape, leaving behind only a handwritten copy of the entire script of the movie "The Imitation Game." In an act of teenage rebellion, Sam rejects her family's heritage by starting a multi-trillion-dollar smartphone company called “Pineapple.” Audrey closes a multi-billion-dollar fashion deal while setting the world record for number of pirouettes in a row as the star role in The Nutcracker. Anni pixelates herself, enters Minecraft, and permanently changes her last name legally to 'Yes' to protect her identity and hide from the federal government. Cecily creates a friendship bracelet that goes around the entire earth and bankrupts Michael's in the process. Austin will accidentally change the Earth's tidal patterns and cause chaos in the nautical world after he deadlifts the moon out of its orbit for maximum gains. Baffling physicists, Sarah will talk so fast while accepting a Pulitzer Prize that her words travel back in time and she becomes the first person to accept the award before she receives it. Using her freshman year Lip Sync video as an audition, Chloe wins a spot as the star backup dancer on Beyonce's latest world tour, taking on the stage name "Chole." Bella starts a zero-waste summer camp for diabetic children in Oregon, where she instructs watercolor and charcoal multimedia artwork. Nate drives 2,740 miles every weekend to Los Angeles to wrestle Aaron in the UCLA quad, making the journey in a record 3 minutes and 25 seconds at supersonic speed. When Kiley receives a college art award, they announce her name, but she is nowhere to be found despite her perfect attendance record. Katherine is attacked by enemy seagulls who mistake her laugh for one of their own when she is on the beach directing the production of the newest live-action adaptation of "Pusheen: Small but Mighty." After years of hard work, dedication, training, and therapy, Ryder is finally able to become "Ryder Okay." Inspired by her government project role this year, Tina takes over the world as the first anarchist ruler. Hannah unsurprisingly surpasses Charlie D’Amamamm by billions of followers through her viral challenge, “Boiling Water Challenge.” Anna has an existential crisis because she can’t figure out if her name is pronounced Anna or Anna.
Natasha Kumaraswami Max Lemmon Peirong Li Abbey Liao Annika Mihara Ellery Mitchell
Aaron Movshovich
John Myers Livvy Page Gavin Phillips Jonathan Phillips
Esmi Pistelak
Sameer Prakash Miles Redman
Tyler Riches Peter Schusser Liam Smith
Tash Thompson
Kelly Tsu
Ethan Walsey Miranda Wiener Makenna Wolcott Katie Woods Angela Yao Courtney Young Sami Zagha
After studying in the Duke chemistry lab, Natasha discovers Kumaraswamium, the 119th element. After becoming an accomplished sports journalist and SoundCloud mixer, Max will finally achieve his dream of using his beats to launch Russell Westbrook’s rap career. Peirong legally changes her name to “Pay-right,” using her prize money from her Nobel Prize in Biology to buy out the stock of Paypal. Abbey is the first person to swim across all seven oceans consecutively without taking a breath. After graduating Pepperdine, Annika attends the prestigious business school Saltdine to open up a successful chain business. Ellery leads a widely successful adaptation of a Shakespeare play, “Twelfth Night,” into an interpretive softball game, called “Twelfth Inning.” To legalize civilian tank ownership, lawyer Aaron wins over the Supreme Court with his argument “Tank go pew pew,” with the only dissenting vote being from a certain English math teacher. John invents a new sport combining soccer, cross-country skiing, and football: FootSocSki. Livvy, after years of meditation and preparation, will finally face her one greatest fear: the surfboard. She will become the first world soccer surfing champion. Gavin settles down on a raspberry farm, where he lives with his five pet jellyfish. Used to Californian winters, Johnny freezes into a block of ice on the first day of college in Minnesota and doesn’t thaw until spring. Esmi grows “Simply Esmi” into the largest cooking show in North America and Czech Republic, and starts her own line of gluten-free products that become household staples. After Tom Cruise retires from acting, Sameer stars as a stunt pilot in Mission Impossible 45-85. After graduating from the University of Bath in England, Miles will be immediately taken into custody by the CIA for attempting to organize a coup to return America back to Great Britain. Having never stopped the insane growth spurt he had in high school, Tyler will return to the 20-year class reunion at a height of 16 feet 8 inches. After graduation, Peter shocks everyone by revealing that he is actually from Dallas, Texas, and he has been faking his accent the entire time. Liam will shatter records by qualifying to compete in and winning every single event of the 2024 Olympic Games, most notably being the first solo swimmer to get gold in synchronized swimming. In her first goal as a professional women’s soccer player, Tash kicks the ball so hard that it travels around the world twice, realigns the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and knocks over Tyler Riches, who is now 16”8’. Kelly becomes the greatest lawyer in history by wordlessly staring down the jury and opposition until they drop charges, becoming infamous in the legal world as the “Tsu-nami.” Ethan achieves modern art fame by replicating Andy Warhol’s soup can prints with film photos of refried beans. Miranda comes back from her first year at BYU Hawaii with the best tan of anyone in the class of 2020. Makenna starts a worldwide trend with her stunning and creative hairstyles while simultaneously leading the U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team to three world championships. Katie buys out a massive plot of forested land in the Pacific Northwest and renames it “Katie Woods’ Woods.” Angela starts a popular Instagram artwork account with millions of followers, illustrating political and societal issues of our world. Courtney achieves her life goal, not from her award-winning work in immunology and microbiology, but when Doja Cat follows her back on Twitter. Sami Zagha makes history to become the following: 1. The first highly successful sports photographer that has photographed every single Olympic event. 2. An Olympic medalist herself for horseback riding. 3. Becoming the horse itself.
9
IN-DEPTH
The PERENNIAL May 2020
Student Spirit Superteam
By SARAH FENG Co-Editor-In-Chief I walked into school one morning to find myself doused in a rainfall of gold glitter. People shoved flashy tinsel pom-poms into my fists and urged me into the long line of cape-wearing onlookers who were preparing chants. As I shuffled into place, bleary-eyed from my recent nap during free period, I wondered what was happening, brushing elbows with brilliant loops of green beads and satin tutus. Literal cars –– yes, sedans and Range Rovers –– were parked in the hallways in front of our science classrooms. While I found myself pondering the logistics of how they had backed the cars into the hallway, shouts swept through the crowd. Athletes and student council members crouched in the cars, holding handfuls of balloons. “It’s Gold Rush,” explained the classmate next to me –– a celebration of the major basketball game happening that night. Bewildered but bemused, I watched people roar and twirl past. The glitz towering over me, I imagined the countless hours that Carter, Ethan, Ainsley, Natasha, Miles, and Audrey and our 2019-20 ASB must have poured into this scene. That night, at the Gold Rush game, my classmates and I ascended the bleachers, knock-kneed but newly warm with the movement sputtering around us. Student council members had coordinated a golden dress-up, and we shimmered in a blaze of color. A champagne-fizz of noise cracked the quiet: a spirit representative stood up and launched into a chant. At first, embarrassed, my friends and I murmured half-heartedly, trying not to be noticed by the people around us. This kept
up for a while, but before we knew it noise snaked into the air and enveloped us, a wild crackle. Our senior class representatives snapped loops of beads through the air, yelling at us to be louder. We found ourselves shouting as far as our voices could stretch. As I left, I watched the student council members ease into the bottom bleacher, discreetly whispering plans for new cheers.
Our student council spends hours inside and outside of school observing us and ensuring that we can have these golden polaroids of the high school experience that are so quintessential and elusive; constructing these requires a keen eye for detail and a drive for the happiness of others that each of our representatives possesses. How convenient: the group in charge of our scholas-
PHOTO COURTESY OF ETHAN WALSEY
SENIOR STUDENT COUNCIL The class of 2020 senior student council dressed in full purple gear, ready to inspire others and spread the spirit.
I – and the rest of my grade – am in awe of what these six have accomplished this year, as well as the Associated Student Body representatives. The hissing fry of our voices in the air of the Panther Pit that night. The flicker of red stripes and blue stars cascading over the turf on America Dress-Up Day. The veined glow of the projector screen playing A Quiet Place disrobing us from the earthly upholstery of a mundane school day and transplanting us into the lush greenery of a horrorscape, all while we curled around our friends.
tic happiness happens to consist of the most empathetic people on the planet. The class of 2020 is special –– special, and lucky. We are one of the most spirited, cohesive classes, where the arteries of our friendships pulse and crisscross from friend group to friend group, unbreakably strong. When I stop to think about it, one of the main reasons is because of the leadership we have had over the years hasn’t stopped at the perfunctory menu of annual events. Year after year, without fail, our student council has come together to roll in a runway of new
events to reshape our class’s footprint on our school’s legacy, which will be shown for years to come. With our grade in ASB, we saw Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Filoli Gardens replace locations that had been sturdily in place for years. We saw the grade Instagram and Snapchat quiver to life, pulling the most recalcitrant of students into dress-up days. We saw our lip sync dances rise and ripple into more complex and cinematic ensembles every spring; we haven’t lost in three years. Our student council and class advisors spend days behind the curtains choreographing, sketching, and envisioning the best way to distill the energy we flaunt all year into a series of physical movements, collecting props and envisioning stunts. Without them, we would mill listlessly onstage. The thing is, we pride ourselves on that invisible web that tangles us all together, but that web isn’t there by mistake. Through student council and ASB’s constant, persistent efforts, and their smiling observance and interactions over the years, that sensation that bridges each of us in the class of 2020 is the feeling of being firsts. I’m sure that every grade that comes through high school feels that they are also first in so many of their own respects. It’s probably a part of growing up. Nonetheless, I would like to relish the feeling of being a uniquely bonded class through our years at Pinewood. Thank you for all of you have done, student council. To Carter, Ethan, Ainsley, Natasha, Miles, and Audrey, our senior student council, and Cat, Reilly, Ryder, and Maddie, our seniors on ASB, all of us notice your dedication to our grade, and to bettering Pinewood for future classes.
To Our Senior Editors ... We Thank You.
Sarah Feng | Co-Editor-In-Chief: Sarah has always been someone I look up to as a role model, whether it’s being a writer, a senior, or the editor-in-chief. I remember the first time I read her poem and thinking she is the kind of poet that I aspire to be. Despite being the extraordinary writer that she is, Sarah is always humble and never makes anyone around her feel bad. I am amazed at the level of dedication and devotion Sarah has for this paper. She spent hours and hours editing and taking extra responsibilities, and like she said, journalism is her home. I don’t know what The Perennial would be like if Sarah wasn’t a part of this family. Because of her exemplary work and leadership, Owen and I have the precious opportunity to keep building on what she has already accomplished. Sarah has been my editor-in-chief for two years, and I could not have asked for a better one. If there is a hall of fame for The Perennial, Sarah’s name would be at the top of that list. What I admire the most about Sarah is how accepting and helpful she is. Even though she has a lot of work to do as well, Sarah offered to help me with edits because she understands how stressed juniors can be during AP week. Outside of Journalism, Sarah is my go-to person for advice because she is so kind and accepting. From stats homework to course selection to standardized testing, she is not only helpful but also encouraging. She truly wants her peers to succeed. Sarah is the kind of senior that I want to become, reliable and kind to all the lower grade students as well. We will miss Sarah as one of our best writers and a legendary editor-in-chief, and she is always welcomed to pop into our lunch meetings. And like we promised, we will mail The Perennial to her every month. I can go on and on about how great Sarah is, but anyone at Pinewood can agree that Sarah Feng of 2020 will go down in not only The Perennial’s history but also Pinewood’s history. - Eva Liu (Copy Editor)
nial. Her uplifting comments and calm presence always put me at ease. I was a bit nervous about writing for Features, but Olivia made it fun with her kindness and compassion. She checks in regularly with her writers and is always easy to reach. Even though I was only a Features writer for a few months, she made a huge impact on my writing skills. Her encouraging words motivate her writers and everyone around her to work harder, and her quiet, yet powerful leadership skills inspire. Olivia runs Features seamlessly and never complains. She makes the work look easy, even though it certainly is not. Working with her in the layout room, I could see the amount of effort Olivia put into her page. She truly is dedicated and hard-working, and we all know that she will excel in whatever she sets out to do. Wake Forest is lucky to have her! -Aanya Sethi (Copy Editor)
ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE CHUI
OUR SENIOR EDITORS The class of 2020 senior editors for the Pinewood Perennial
Katherine Han | Media Director: Katherine Han, the tiny human she is, gives off huge amounts of energy in the layout room. K Han wrestling with Chui continues to be my favorite memory of layout, especially when K Han actually won. K Han reminds me of a mini version of superwoman, exceeding the expectations and truly expanding the paper with the media team. I know that sometimes her work can be really stressful and frustrating, but she has always done it, like a superwoman would. I remember she was so tired one time that she fell asleep on the floor during layout, and of course, Chui splashed water on her. And there it is again, Chui vs. K Han part two. She is a trailblazer, and the media section of The Perennial simply would not exist without Katherine Han. K Han brings so much happiness and makes everyone around her feel loved. She is a special one. If you have not heard her seagull or in my opinion dolphin laughter, you have truly missed out. Once she starts laughing, the whole staff at layout will burst into laughter. I can’t help but smile when K Han starts sing-
ing “Into the Unknown” for the 30th time in layout or when she runs into my lap to give me a hug. She is always kind. She once brought amazingly delicious chocolate for all the editors at layout. I don’t know what layout would be without K Han, and neither do I know who is going to drive me to Teaspoon or feed me fried chicken next year. She promised that she will come back and visit, and she will be in some serious trouble if she doesn’t come back and fill the layout room with her seagull laughter. The Perennial will miss all the joy and hard work K Han gave to us, and USC is so fortunate to have her since we all know K Han will continue to shine at college. And I personally will miss the love and warmth K Han brought to me with her hugs, jokes, high-pitched laughter, and most of all, our infamous (at least to me) H period adventures. - Eva Liu (Copy Editor) Olivia Page | Features Editor: Working with Olivia as a writer was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a member of The Peren-
Reilly Brady | Editorial Editor: When I joined Journalism as a freshman, I was nervous and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. But when I was assigned to write for Reilly’s section, she instantly made me feel at home. As my editor, she was an exemplary leader, giving guidance when necessary but also allowing her writers to have creative freedom and explore their own interests. Working for her boosted both my confidence and skill in writing and made me realize how much I love Journalism. This year, I was lucky enough to be able to continue working with her in the op-ed section, where she helped me through my first few issues as a new editor. Collaborating with Reilly on 2-page spreads is one of my favorite Journalism memories thus far; I witnessed firsthand her incredible ability to put together a visually and thematically pleasing page. A comforting presence in the layout room, I always felt like I could go to her for advice; throughout the year, she guided me and set an example for the whole editorial staff. I’ve learned so much from Reilly’s leadership, and I know how much she’ll be missed next year. - Owen Terry (Opinion Editor)
continued on p. 12
THE PERENNIAL May
ARTS & CULTURE
The Students Behind the Scenes: Honoring the Senior Actors/Actresses By LULU DIFFENBAUGH Staff Writer
Brown said. CARTER BRADY
With annual shows for each class, Pinewood has made a huge effort to incorporate the performing arts into its curriculum starting from Lower Campus and onwards. In high school, Pinewood Performing Arts puts on annual fall plays and spring musicals that students can audition to be in. Several students of the class of 2020 have been participating in theatre throughout high school. ETHAN WALSEY
Senior Ethan Walsey has been in seven Pinewood productions including “The Wedding Singer,” “As You Like It,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and more. He was also cast in this year’s spring musical “The Beauty and the Beast.” “The thing that I am going to take with me to college is the idea that I should seek out people that I truly feel comfortable being myself around, just like the people in Pinewood theater. The level of comfortability that I have with them is unparalleled, and I am going to do everything I can to try to find people that give me that level of comfortability,” Walsey said. ALEXA BROWN
Senior Alexa Brown participated in several plays such as “Rumors,” “Metamorphoses,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and more. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from PPA is that you can’t let what other people think about you get you down. You have to be confident in yourself, or others won’t be confident in you. It’s taken me a while to learn that one, and I’m sad I didn’t get to experience it for as long as I would have liked to at Pinewood, but I’ll keep it with me for the rest of my life,”
Senior Carter Brady has participated in “Shrek,” “The Lion King,” “Metamorphoses,” and more. He was also cast in “Beauty and the Beast.” “If I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ or ‘Metamorphoses’. ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone’ was just a super fun show to work on, had a super tight-knit cast, and gave me a chance to tackle a role that was both serious and funny, and ‘Metamorphoses’ was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the chance to perform in a pool of water and be a part of a really beautiful-looking show,” Brady said. CATHERINE BLOTTER
Senior Catherine Blotter has been participating in Pinewood productions since seventh grade. She has performed in “Shrek,” “The Wedding Singer,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and more. For this year’s spring musical, Blotter would have played the lead Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.” “The biggest thing I learned from PPA is to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Whether a piece of choreography is bugging you, or you have a lot of schoolwork on top of your already hectic schedule … at one point you just have to take a step back and remember why you love performing at Pinewood in the first place,” Blotter said. CECILY EIVERS
Senior Cecily Eivers has participated in Pinewood theatre by performing in productions but also through helping backstage, helping with tickets, and more. She has performed in “The Wedding Singer,” ‘The Drowsy Chaperone” and “As You Like It” and was cast in “Beauty and the Beast.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SMUGMUG
WEDDING SINGER In 2018, the PPA put on a production, “The Wedding Singer,” with a cast full of energetic, excited, and encouraging actors that inspired the 2020 seniors.
“One of the biggest things I have learned is to never be afraid to face your fears. For the longest time I had anxiety in front of people…. However, once you reach the stage, it is completely different than you would expect. Once I was on stage, my stage fright disappeared. It is a completely different energy,” Eivers said QUINN BATES
In addition to performing in productions, senior Quinn Bates also did some stage managing during high school. He performed in “The Wedding Singer” and “The Drowsy Chaperone” and staged managed for “As You Like It.” “I have learned a lot about myself personally, but I have also learned how much PPA is a family. Every year for every show it is a massive group effort and everyone is there to support each other,” Bates said.
because Ms. Linza worked so hard and gave us so many opportunities. My favorite memories have come from Take Note and the PPA,” Pistelak said MAX LEMMON
Senior Max Lemmon has performed in several Pinewood productions. He performed in “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “As You Like It.” He was also cast in “Beauty and the Beast.” “I threw myself into territory I had never even considered stepping into, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I have derived so much growth as a person from choosing to be open-minded. Consciously choosing to step outside my comfort zone has made me proud to be who I am,” Lemmon said COURTNEY YOUNG
ESMI PISTELAK
Senior Esmi Pistelak has performed in all of the spring musicals throughout high school. She has been cast in “Shrek” during middle school and “Into the Woods,” “The Wedding Singer,” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” She was also cast in “Beauty and the Beast.” “PPA has really helped me grow as an actor and a person. I absolutely love acting, but singing has always been my favorite. Take Note A Cappella has been … the best part of high school for me
She makes art at home as well, including painting landscapes and making sketches because she finds it relaxing. “It is a great hobby and I think being artistic and creative will be super helpful in whatever I do, but I don’t plan on studywood artist who has been making art for ing it. However, it is one of my favorite all of her life. She has really found herself pastimes, and I have no intention of stopthrough her art and learned a lot through ping anytime soon,” Fuller said. the classes at Pinewood. “My work in AP Studio Art: 2D Design KATHERINE CHUI Senior Katherine Chui is also very talthis year has introduced me to art such as installations and t-shirt making which I ented in the art realm. She is an illustrahave really enjoyed. Last year, my concen- tor for the Perennial and loves coming tration of health and illness helped me up with ways to convey an argument or work through some tough events in my story that fits well with the writing. She loves photography, traditional painting, life as I was able to express myself through and creating different atmospheres and my artwork. This year, I’ve learned a lot little worlds with color and light. Her faabout activism through my investigation vorite art class at Pinewood has been AP of women’s activist art,” Brady said. Studio Art because there are no prompts, In her free time, Brady also loves to cre- allowing her to add her own interests into ate sketches or do calligraphy projects. her art. “It’s truly a class that relies on your passion and interest and lets you experiment BELLA FULLER Senior Bella Fuller excels at drawing however you want,” Chui said. She has worked with resin, fire, shadand painting. She has been making art for ows, and scale. In fact, she built a reflective most of her life. pool in her backyard and took incredible “I used to only use watercolor, but now, photos with it. my preferred mediums are charcoal, waOutside of Pinewood, she runs a small tercolor, acrylic, pen, and just graphite. photography business. She also runs a I like painting landscapes and still-lifes a week long art camp every summer along lot. I also like making some more abstract with Brady and senior Sarah Feng. They pieces that combine contrasting ideas,” have done this for the past three years in her backyard, where they teach about 12 Fuller said. As a junior, she took AP Studio Art: kids art skills and give them tools to experDrawing and Painting, and as a senior, she iment with. “In college, I’m currently planning on took AP Studio Art: 2D Design. studying math and art and will definitely “They are great classes because they recontinue illustrating for my school newsally push me to be as creative as possible. paper and helping out with the literary The classes have made me a much better arts magazine,” Chui said. artist and helped me form good habits,” Fuller said.
Senior Courtney Young has participated in every single Pinewood production since the spring of 2017. She performed in “Into the Woods,” “Metamorphoses,” “The Wedding Singer” and more. She was also cast in this year’s musical “Beauty and the Beast.” “I think Pinewood was able to successfully make me appreciate the community that theater creates. I can be bummed that I didn’t get a role, but I know that I get to bond with my fellow cast members,” Young said.
Leaving Their Mark: The Class of 2020’s Best Artists
By SOPHIE ASHLEY Staff Writer Though the class of 2020 is moving on and leaving Pinewood, their legacy here will not be forgotten. Many students in this year’s graduating class have unique artistic abilities that they worked hard to improve at Pinewood and will now carry with them for the next stage of their lives. KILEY HABERKORN
Through pursuing her love for art, Haberkorn discovered many different mediums of art that she enjoys. “I like making art that looks similar to rap album covers, with lots of words, details and surreal aspects. I also like making art that raises awareness about modern-day epidemics because I feel that artists have a gift to express concepts visually in addition to verbally, and they should use that to their advantage,” Haberkorn said. In her free time, she enjoys upcycling clothing and drawing abstract and surreal portraits. Haberkorn plans to continue with her art career in college, as well as in her free time. “Art is very meditative and therapeutic to me, so I think it will always be a part of my life,” Haberkorn said. her art career in college, as well as in her free time. REILLY BRADY
Senior Reilly Brady is another Pine-
PHOTO BY KATHERINE CHUI
WATER PROJECT Senior Katherine Chui created a reflective pool to capture some stunning underwater photos. OLIVIA PAGE
Senior Olivia Page pursued her art more seriously after taking Art Theory, noticing how much she was improving and deciding to work harder on pursuing her art. She has taken most of the art classes offered at Pinewood, but she enjoyed AP Studio Art the most since she could challenge herself and explore themes that are more personal to her. She also enjoys using a variety of mediums for her art. “I would say I have recently been getting into graphic design a lot more and abstraction, so I definitely have a soft spot for that. In addition, I love painting as well,” Page said. In her senior year, she was voted Artist of the Month during March and had her pieces shown in the office at Pinewood. However, she has decided not to major in art and design in college. “I am focusing on business, and hopefully, I will be able to bring my creative side into the field that I choose to go into. Art is something that I love, so I am definitely not going to abandon it,” Page said.
THE PERENNIAL May
SPORTS
POTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ZAGHA POTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ZAGHA
Thank You for Everything
This year has been a crazy one. I’m not just talking about the coronavirus, although it goes without saying that this is (hopefully) the peak of the crazy; I’m talking about the whole package of my senior year. No matter how many times people told me that it’s gonna fly by, no matter how much they told me to enjoy it, I still thought, “Oh come on, it’s gonna be months! How fast can it go by?” Well, Aaron from August 2019, here I am, writing an article to try and articulate the overwhelming gratitude and pride I feel for the soon graduating class of 2020, after my senior year passed in what now feels like a month. If I said everything that I really wanted to say I would probably take up an entire newspaper on my own, so I’ll try to limit myself to writing about sports, but, if I do digress, please excuse me. Our class was truly incredible in so many ways, and sports were no exception. You guys were captains, MVPs, leading scorers, and rowdy cheerleaders. You fought through injuries, took everything in stride, and always came back stronger and better than you were before. You left me with memories that I will certainly remember for the rest of my life, and for that I am truly grateful. I will forever remember walking out onto the football field and seeing the sideline filled with my second family. I will forever remember watching those same classmates drop 25 in basketball games or hit dingers on the baseball field. I will forever remember cheering in the Panther Pit, making up random stuff when the By AARON MOVSHOVICH Sports Editor
POTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ZAGHA
classic “defense!” wasn’t doing the trick (nerf or nothin’, never forget). I will never forget the four years of bonding, conditioning, cheering, crying, and participating in the incredible community that we had the great fortune of being part of. I will never forget the immense pride I felt when I watched Liam, Abbey, Megan, Ellery, Cad, and Tash sign their commitment letters to play their respective sports in college. Quick required message for the underclassmen: enjoy it while it lasts. Play every game like it’s your last, put your all into everything you do, and keep trying new things. I know it’s cliche, and I know you’re probably rolling your eyes at me, but trust me, it all goes by wayyyyy too fast. Next time someone tells you that it’s gonna be over before you know it and you think “I’ve got so much time,” remember that I was there too. Now, I’m not saying that you’re also gonna experience a global pandemic that cuts three months off of your senior year (which, by the way, I really hope you don’t), but I’m just saying that you’ll blink and it’ll be over. Make sure you have no regrets when it is. Finally, I just want to thank my graduating class. All of you are incredible, and I know you will do incredible things. You are going to go on to be doctors, lawyers, scientists, and engineers. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I am watching a presidential election and one of you is on that debate stage. Go on and change the world. I just wanted to tell you that you’ve already changed mine.
POTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA ZAGHA
THE PERENNIAL May
FEATURES
An In-Depth Perspective: The Senior Class
Calling All Fields of Study for Seniors
short of jaw-dropping. Of course there were complaints, sweat and tears behind the scenes, but that never stopped If I had to choose one word with which them from coming together in the end. to describe the class of 2020, it would They celebrated their childhoods with a be family. Families may not be perfect. tribute to the 2010s, complete with cosThey may have their disagreements or tumes and hairstyles. Watching the lip challenges, but they will always end up sync, one could pinpoint any individual sticking together. in the group and see that they were givThis notion of each grade at Pineing every move their all. The effort put wood being its own family seems to be forth by each senior showed the family the norm, but there that has formed in this is something special senior class. about this specific seI was once told that nior grade. No matter having a Blotter and a the trials they endure, Riches in the same grade this group of 53 seniors creates a perfect mix manage to maintain of students who end their unity. up being more spirited Despite being quarand unified than all the antined for the last rest. Though the class semester of their high of 2020 fulfills this crischool careers, this teria with the presence group is approaching of seniors Catherine the situation from Blotter and Tyler Richevery possible angle es, the class of 2020 has and doing everything something extra. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL BATES in their power to stay This grade bond did 2020 STRONG The graduating class together. Even from is a tightly-knit, unified group. not build itself around their own homes, the two individuals — it’s a seniors can be found having lunch or unique web of love and caring whose dance parties over Zoom, laughing as if identity is defined by the qualities of they never left campus. In the face of any each individual, and that’s what makes obstacle, the family survives. That’s not this class so unique. something anyone can achieve; it takes The class of 2020 will always have a something special. special place in my heart and that of evThere is no better example of their eryone at Pinewood. Between their unfamily dynamic than the seniors’ final lip beatable lip syncs and massive participasync. After weeks of preparation, stress tion in all things spirit, the 2020 seniors and hard work on all fronts, they put tohave made their mark and are not to gether a dance number that was nothing be forgotten.
By KIANA DUGGAL Staff Writer
By MICAELA RODRIGUEZ STEUBE Staff Writer
From majors in math to psychology to exercise science, there are so many fields someone could choose to pursue. There is a major for everyone and anyone; the tricky part is finding what you love and deciding if that’s what you want to pursue. This year’s seniors have chosen a wide variety of fields to study, all of which they are sure to excel in. From liberal arts to STEM to business and all of the other fields, Pinewood’s seniors have a wide array of subject areas to choose from. A sizable amount of seniors have chosen a major relating to STEM. Biology, chemistry, kinesiology, and materials science are just a few science majors. Mechanical engineering and computer science are two other fields of interest. Senior Carter Brady, who will be attending Johns Hopkins in a few short months, has chosen to major in neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system. While some have chosen to go down the STEM track, others prefer liberal arts. Musical theatre, English, history,
and psychology were some of the liberal arts majors that were chosen. Graduating senior Alexa Brown plans to study musical theatre at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Advertising was of interest to current student body president Catherine Blotter, who plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall. Business is the preferred major for many seniors, including Bella Fuller who will attend the University of Oregon. Some seniors are choosing to also study business administration and business management. For example, Esmi Pistelak has chosen to study business management and modern language at University of California, Berkeley. The senior class has chosen schools all across the country, and every single one of them is sure to do great. Some have even chosen international schools. Srinivas Balagopal will be studying molecular bioengineering at the Imperial College in London. Whatever field our seniors choose, the Pinewood community could not be more proud to congratulate the graduating class of 2020.
ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA PAGE
MAJORS GALORE The class of 2020 has a wide variety of interests, resulting in a very well rounded selection of majors that they plan to declare as they head off to college.
Senior Spring Athletes Quarantine Rundown: By SAMANTHA HSIUNG Staff Writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIAM SMITH
SENIOR SEASON Liam Smith, captain of the baseball team, looks forward to continuing his athletic career in college.
Dented water bottles, worn out balls, the odor of sweat diffusing through the air — this was Pinewood’s field. Once crowded with athletes from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the field is now barren of students. Due to COVID-19, Pinewood seniors were given unfortunate news in March: they are unable to play in their spring season of high school sports, which was their last opportunity to be a Panther athlete. Pinewood senior Liam Smith was a devoted member and captain of the baseball team before COVID-19 cut off his spring season. “Hitting, fielding, just going to practic-
es or games and putting in work ... I’ve played baseball since I could run, and I could never imagine my last season playing it would end like this,” Smith said. Upon hearing the news, Smith was furious and in denial. However, he is now shifting more of his focus towards college, as he plans to attend University of Puget Sound. “I am going to be play[ing] football in college, so that will take up most of my time, but I am considering walking on to the baseball team,” Smith said. Pinewood senior Carter Brady had also been in a spring sport prior to COVID-19. Being a member of the track team for all three prior seasons, he was excited to be participating in track once more. The news of the cancellation of spring sports was upsetting for him. “Losing my last season obviously isn’t fun … I was very sad about my sports career ending much earlier than I had anticipated,” Brady said. Fortunately for Brady, he has been able to stay in touch with many of his track teammates, especially the seniors. Before shelter-in-place was implemented, he went on a socially distanced run with another track teammate. Like Smith, Brady is uncertain what the future holds for him. He is still deciding which sports he wants to play in college. “I’m looking forward to playing on intramural teams [for other sports] in college. I don’t know if I’ll keep doing track in college, but I will definitely keep running,” Brady said.
What are seniors up to? tis so much worse,” said Pistelak. Outside of the classroom, seniors are trying to keep in touch with their friends On March 13, when it was announced to maintain a strong class bond. Many that the campus would be closed, devare connecting via a grade group chat, astation rippled across the school. The Netflix parties, or video games. grade that was impacted the most were As the school year begins to wind the seniors. For many seniors, these last down, many seniors feel nostalgic few months were supposed to be a whirland are unhappy about all of the wind of events and traditions — starting events that they are missing due to with musicals and awards ceremonies, the lockdown. then parties and prom, and ending with “There are so many end-of-year acfinals and graduation. Instead, due to tivities that I’m going to miss such as the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors prom and graduation, but I’m the are currently finishing up the most upset about Letterman’s school year with Zoom classes Luau because my team had a and group FaceTimes. three year streak going, and we Quarantine has not only really wanted to make it to affected the social lives of four,” Pistelak said. many students, but it Seniors are trying to has also impacted their push all of the missed education. Distance events back, gradualearning is a major tion included. The leap from in-class current plan conlearning. Senior sists of a smaller Esmi Pistelak zoom graduahas recently tion on May observed 28, along ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA PAGE how the with an learning KEEPING IN TOUCH Students have been filling time with some event in style has group apps such as FaceTime, Zoom, and Netflix Party. August, impacted the classroom dynamic. hopefully in-person and more formal. “Everyone seems less motivated, and “We can go down in history as the there seems to be a lot less joking and Class of 2020 who had a Zoom graduaplayfulness among my classmates. [Distion, which I think will be pretty cool,” tance learning] has also made my senioriPistelak said. By KARINA ARONSON Staff Writer
PERENNIAL May
Continued from p. 7
NEWS
Honoring Our Senior Editors
Sam Cue | Arts & Culture Editor: As a copy editor, reading over the Arts and Culture page at layout was not work; it was delightful. Sam has been an extraordinary mentor, and she helped her writers to grow tremendously this year. Sam may not be the loudest leader, but her sweetness encourages her writers to come to her for guidance. Reading over all the pages at layout, Arts and Culture is definitely one of the strongest sections of the paper, and that could not be done without Sam’s charismatic leadership. I remember going to the first editor meeting during the summer, and at that time, a lot of the senior editors seemed a little intimidating. But not Sam. She is always smiling and so incredibly sweet to everyone; she brings a ray of sunshine wherever she goes. It’s the small things she does that melts my heart. I still clearly remember when she ran across the hallway to give me a hug and tell me happy birthday. And I will never forget her writing down all of the editors’ Starbucks orders and satisfying everyone’s wishes. Duke is so lucky to have her, and The Perennial will always hold a place for her in our heart: the sweetest Arts and Culture editor. – Eva Liu (Copy Editor) Ethan Walsey | In-Depth Editor: The In-Depth section was like an infant at the beginning of the year, birthed and raised by the ever-caring parent that is Ethan Walsey. Not only did he develop the section into a beautiful collage of articles, anecdotes, and articles, but he also strove to help each and every one of his writers grow and find their voices. He would always go out of his way to help his writers find new topics, explore new styles, and secure interviews. I remember Ethan stopping me in the hallway or in the middle of rehearsal every time the paper came out to talk to me about my article. My fellow In-Depth writers and I looked up to him, for his dedication, creativity, and kindness. As the section grew, he never failed to meet the new challenges we faced with humor (albeit dry) and plenty of enthusi-
asm. I looked forward to every meeting to hear the new ideas that Ethan would present. The infant that was In-Depth soon grew into a toddler, into a small child, from Ethan’s nurturing — it was thanks to him that In-Depth learned to stand. I know he will bring the same spirit to Tufts, but he will very much be missed by Perennial staff, and in particular the In-Depth team next year. – Prithi Srinivasan (Copy Editor) Katherine Chui | Creative Director: From day one Chui was the most supportive editor I’ve met. Now as I’ve gotten to work with her for the past year on the visual side of the Perennial, I am honored to call her my friend. Chui would always blow everyone away at meetings and layouts with her creative and gorgeous designs and illustrations. Her eye for how she finds beauty in the simple things continues to blow me away. She has and still looks for ways to improve herself and the projects she works on. It was also not hard to see that anything she worked on she loved and had a passion for; her whole heart and soul would be melting in the design. She loves to help others and makes sure that everyone is doing their best whether they are a photographer or a writer. If someone is stuck, Chui is always right there and has the most beautiful and creative way to help you out and make sure that you succeed. She never makes you feel inadequate, but able to perform better than you thought you could! I can remember her sweet and warm smile during interviews for the position, her excited and eager energy during our lunchtime meetings, and her quiet yet defining guidance. Chui’s love, compassion, and confidence definitely reflects in those she mentors and in their work. Anyone and everyone can and will for many years see the impact that she has made on the Perennial and Pinewood. – Vivian Reed (Photography Editor) Aaron Movshovich | Sports Editor: Whenever layout gets a bit dull, or the room grows tense as the deadline to finish the paper
quickly approaches, there is one thing you can count on happening every month. Out of the blue, Aaron will make an incredibly absurd joke about an entirely unrelated topic, and seconds later, the entire editorial staff will be falling out of their chairs with laughter. Aaron’s ability to lighten up any room makes him a wonderful addition to the editorial staff. However, humor is far from all Aaron brings to The Perennial. His work ethic shows in the wonderful pages that he puts together each month which are consistently innovative, vibrant, and showcase everything happening in the world of sports. Aaron has been a wonderful mentor to his writers this year, helping first-time writers schedule interviews and teaching them about the journalism process while also continuing to provide direction for older writers. Outside of Journalism, I have had the pleasure of knowing Aaron for several years and have seen his transformation from a chubby, mushroom-haired kid who was snubbed in the 6th grade best hair competition to a hard-working, humble, and charismatic senior. Aaron has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my life and in fact, it was his prodding that got me to first join Journalism last year. Since I have joined, I have gotten to see firsthand how hard Aaron works and the true dedication he has put into journalism. The entire editorial staff is sad to see our beloved sports editor go, but I know Aaron will continue to bring this same spirit to UCLA! – Sean King (Copy Editor) Srinivas Balagopal | Co-Editor-In-Chief: I met Srinivas when I joined the debate team last year, and I was instantly struck by his pure enthusiasm for whatever he’s doing. This year, as I got to work more closely with him in Journalism, I saw this yet again. Whether he’s starting an all-staff meeting, working individually with an editor in the layout room, or putting together the final PDFs of the paper, he seems to genuinely enjoy his job as CoEditor-in-Chief of The Perennial. I remember how he would sometimes send an excited text
to the editors’ group chat as early as 5 a.m. the day of layout to hype us up; I think this perfectly encapsulates how devoted Srinivas is. He’s possibly the most hardworking person I know — he regularly stays in the layout room after the 7 p.m. deadline to make sure that every little detail of the paper is exactly how it should be. He never hesitates to do whatever is necessary to publish the best paper possible every single month. Srinivas has had an incredible impact on The Perennial, and he’s leaving big shoes to fill. Journalism won’t be the same without him. – Owen Terry (Opinion Editor) Carter Brady | News Editor: Throughout all my time in Journalism, Carter has been with me every step of the way. He was my editor when I was a writer during my freshman year; I copy edited his section as a sophomore; he was my co-editor for news this year. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I genuinely cannot imagine Journalism, and even Pinewood as a whole, without Carter. He has always been there to encourage me to be a better writer/editor/person when I needed a push, and at the same time, I can always count on him to rein me in when necessary. I think that everyone, not just his writers, but anyone who has ever interacted with Carter, can attest to his bottomless patience, his hard-working attitude, and his immediate, unquestioning helpful and friendly personality. I’ll never forget my first layout, when I was dropped in the deep end and Alexis made me create the page without her help. If it wasn’t for Carter, I doubt I would have made it out of the layout room alive that night. Carter, I really can’t express how thankful I am for everything you’ve done for not just me, but the Pinewood community as a whole. We’re going to be sad to see you go, but Johns Hopkins is so, so lucky to have you. – Sid Samel (Managing Editor) Thank you to all senior editors, writers, videographers, illustrators, and photographers who made this year great!
Quarantine Questions: The Seniors Weigh In you should still have fun and do what you like with family and friends. Missing an assignment or a class or getting a “bad” grade will not affect you at all—no matter how big it may seem at the time. I think the most important thing I can say is to keep your eyes on the prize: know there is more out there and more opportunities for you waiting on the outside.
Continued from p. 1 Can you describe an experience at Pinewood that you believe represents your entire time there? Natasha Kumaraswami: The morning of the lip sync when we had our final practice, there was this feeling in the air … We were aware that this would be the last time we performed like this together, and we wanted it to be so special. … I will never forget the moment at the end of the lip sync when we all huddled together; it felt like all of us got even closer. Angela Yao: Definitely how I learned the language … in middle school I didn’t really speak English. I started talking to people at Pinewood and that’s how I became fluent. … Everybody at Pinewood is so friendly, and I hope that continues to be my experience in college and later in life. Jonathan Phillips: I’d say joining the football team. … I didn’t think the whole idea of the family bonding as a team was entirely true until I joined football. Pinewood is the same way; when you come you join the family whether you realize it or not. Everyone is there to help you. What is your biggest fear about this situation? Max Lemmon: That the virus will cause disunity, rather than unity. We need to mobilize as a society, especially our generation – we need to come together and find solutions to our world problems. Humans tend to be short-term thinkers, and it leaves us with future baggage that we will have to deal with. What was your process in discovering what your interest was, what you wanted to pursue in college and in life? Courtney Young: In the summer before senior year, I applied for a STEM focused summer program and I chose the “Introduction to Plant Microbiology” concentration. To be honest, I didn’t really know anything about microbiology, and
What is your biggest regret?
PHOTO TAKEN BY KYLE RICHES
2020 VISION: Some members of the Class of 2020 pose wearing their class shirts on the Cue Quad terrace on Mar. 13, the final day of in-person classes at Pinewood due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
I couldn’t tell you one thing about plants, but I decided, “Why not?” During the program, I decided that learning about microbiology was really interesting and we also studied basic genetics of microbes. So when it came time to check the major box, I chose “Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics” because it felt like the perfect combination of my interests. If there’s an opportunity to see whether you would like to pursue something further, take it! As to some general advice, please take it easy! Things will work out in the end and your hard work will pay off. How were you able to keep yourself motivated during your deepest lows? Samantha Cue: I think in high school, there is a lot of pressure coming onto you ... and it can be difficult to cope with in a time where you are also growing into an adult. I think a big misconception about being a senior and going to college is that we all have our lives sorted out and are ready to be an adult ... and personally, I do not feel that way at all. I think it is normal to always feel a bit out of your comfort zone, but if you keep your mind focused on a goal ... you can achieve these goals and make yourself proud. It takes a lot of strength and determination to work hard, but in the end, it is completely worth it. However, this is not to say that everything has to be a struggle because
Catherine Blotter: Not keeping a journal. Whatever emotion I feel, I feel it very strongly. When I’m happy, I’m so happy. When I’m sad, I’m devastated. When I’m excited, I’m through the roof. It’s heightened compared to other people. Each day is a whole different experience, and I wish I was able to write all of those feelings down.” Maddie Ashley: I wish I joined more clubs at the start of high school. I was really nervous and intimidated by the upperclassmen, and [I didn’t have] any experience. I wish I joined robotics and did more sports -- you get involved in communities that you don’t have the chance to anymore. I wish I got to know some people who do those clubs. I wish I reached out to more people. Especially with coronavirus, there are so many people in the senior grade that I have not had full conversations with that I would have liked to. What are your biggest aspirations going forward? Anna Kozlov: I want to travel more, ... get involved in research, get more active in clubs, and do more service. Sameer Prakash: [I want to] finish up my pilot’s license, which I wasn’t able to do because of the quarantine. Peter Schusser: Obviously, since I’m going to college, I’d love to give a proper thank you to all my teachers that helped me over my last two years at Pinewood, and also [I want to] get the opportunities to say bye to my friends, give them hugs, and thank them for making high school fun.