The opening notes of “Turning Page” by Sleeping at Last pacified the Friday night crowd’s screams and cheers. It introduced a serene contemporary dance choreographed by Advanced dancer Karina Amezcua (12). Her dance kickstarted the electrifying dance show that was “Dance Army,” West High Dance Department’s awaited January show. “Dance Army” consisted of performances by Advanced,...

So, it’s another one of those leadership things?”    The prospect of applying to Kizuna Leadership in Action during the fall semester of my junior year wasn’t a thrilling one. Between academic coursework and my desire for restful weekends, committing to a ten-week program with a 90-minute long commute to Little Tokyo seemed completely out of the question. In the days leading up to my first...

   To use the common cliche, the ability to “think outside the box” is highly prized as an integral part for the development of independent thinking. Despite this, West High’s educational curriculum seems to place a far greater value on churning out an elusive 6/6 score on timed writes than encouraging the growth of creative writing styles outside the conventional grading system. This begs...

   Since the dawn of literature, authors have hooked readers' attention through engaging and dramatic blurbs on book jackets. Conversely, A Series of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket defies this traditional way by cautioning readers in the very first novel about the Baudelaire orphans’ pitiful life after their parents’ death: “I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your...

   Amongst the diverse variety of clubs in West High, Photography Club is undoubtedly one of the most popular ones. Many West students share a passion for photography, and Photography Club supplements the students’ passions through steadily advancing their photo-taking skills.   Photography Club President Evangeline Ojo (11) wanted to boost the members from beginner to advanced level, hoping...

   This past fall, representatives of West High traveled to Korea to immerse themselves in Korean culture. From visiting cultural sites to learning about the language and enjoying traditional food, the attending students shared an unforgettable experience that will last a lifetime. In July 2024, West High’s Korean teacher, Mrs. Lee, was invited to the International Conference of Korean Educators...

   Picture this: it’s a relatively relaxing Sunday afternoon, but you start feeling a little bored. So, being the chronically online person you are, you decide to open your favorite social media app TikTok. You smile slightly at the joys your doom scrolling will bring you when you're faced with a dreaded pop-up notification. TikTok has been banned. That app that you use almost every day to send...