the warrior

CONTENTSCONTENTS

profilesBETHANY CLEMONS

ALEC VARSAMIS

JORLIN WANG

ERIC PINSKY

NATALIA VEGA

ROBOTICS

FALL FASHION

RUSH HOUR

CHECK IT OUT

sports stats

6/7

8/9

12/13

18/19

20/21

22/23

24/25

26/27

30//31

#26/27

#10/11 #34/35

FOOTBALL/GOLF

WATER POLO/TENNIS/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

32/33

CURRENT EVENTSPERFORMING ARTS34/35

36/37 STRESS & ANXIETY

38/39 BALANCING ACT-EXTRACURRICULARS& EDUCATION

40/41 ISIS CRISIS

42-43 LOVE ADVICE

a letter from the advisera letter from the adviser

V A L L E Y C H R I S T I A N HIGH SCHOOL magazine

Liz Fenwick, ADVISER

EDITORSClaire ChaneyJordan DawkinsCamilla MaraisAlyssa TeixeiraTaylor Ferguson

PHOTOGRAPHERSKitty LoTara CrutchfieldSteven LightKeaton MillerJessica JoudyNina MaAngel VirelasChris Dunham

WRITERSJoyce ChoSi ChenKailee BeneventoLeia WangHannah LeeIsabelle TruongAria ZarrabiDevyn Kelly

WEBSITESissuu.com/vcsnewsnews.warriorlife.netwww.vcs.net

MAGAZINE CORRESPONDENCEValley Christian High School100 Skyway Dr #110, San Jose, CA 95111

Contents (c) 2014 Valley Christian High School, except where noted. Opinions expressed in The Warrior are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of its editors or policies of Valley Christian High School.

3 | The Warrior

WELCOME TO THE FALL ISSUE OF THE WARRIOR MAGAZINE, 2014. This year, we have welcomed a host of new Valley Christian students and teachers, celebrated new dedications to the Lord with a life changing chapel speaker, and grappled with the complexities of our second year as an iPad 1:1 program. With the growth of the high school student body, we saw an upswing in the traffic on the hill and were suprised to learn of the challenges the security team faces on a regular basis. Along with the stress of balancing school, extracurricu-lars, and their social lives, the Warrior Staff set out to tell the stories of our three-dimensional student body and the ways in which they are impacting our school, community, and world at large. What they found are stories that will challenge you to look at our multi-faceted students and faculty and allow you to view them as our Creator does.

In additon to stories and events that happen on our campus, the Warrior Staff delved into issues that are affecting our world as a whole. Our edtors sought to inform our student body about current events with accessible articles, thorough research and thought-pro-voking ideas. The staff covered stories about ISIS in the middle east and the Domestic Violence within professional sports.

We explored our fun and funky side through three-dimensional design, fall fashion photography, and the witty love advice column. This fourth issue of The Warrior magazine is one that helps capture some of what our Warrior staff finds important to our student body. It is the culmination of hours of work spent writing, photographing, and designing. We hope that you will soak up every word, be inspired by every photograph, and be challenged of the amazing things that God is doing through our student body.

New Teachers oN campus Do You recoGNIZe Them?

Elizabeth Hope BarnardMs. Barnard teaches English 10. She finds human communication fascinating because “literature reveals things about human nature.” During the short time she has been here, the thing she loves the most about Valley Christian is its diverse student programs, which gives students opportunities to use their God-given gifts.

Fun Fact: She mentioned the idea of “whole people”, that students are more than just students; they are God’s cre-ations who are gifted with great talents, so school should be more than just academics. Valley Christian allows stu-dents to pursue their dreams and talents whether it is in music, sports, science... This way, students do not let their God gifted talents go to waste.

Faith Coralyn Moss TuckerMs. Tucker teaches Physics and Chem-istry and she is also involved with the astronomy club. She has a real passion for science, especially astronomy. The reason she loves astronomy is that it is a great way for her to look at God’s cre-ation. In an interview, she shared, “We [humans] are so tiny in this universe, but at the same time so important to God.” Her experiences with science helped her tremendously in finding her spiritual path.

Fun Fact: She makes her science classroom look amazing with ornaments and posters!

Victoria May FryeMs. Frye teaches dance and Junior High color guard. She has been danc-ing since kindergarten. She studied dance and costume design in college, and has a master’s degree in Educa-tion. Her favorite thing about Valley Christian so far has been the faculty, staff and students’ commitment to this school. She said “the students take pride in being a part of Valley Christian” and she thinks it is rare and wondrous.

Fun Fact: She has many different interests and almost declared seven majors in college!

This has been a refreshing new year at Valley Christian High School. In addition to around 400 freshmen, 16 new teachers have also joined the school community. The subjects they teach include a wide variety from science to literature to dance. As a result, most students, no matter what classes they take, have had the chance to meet at least one of our new teachers. It will take time for students to get used to our new teachers because everyone’s style and personality is different, but we are looking forward to learning all about these new members of our Valley Christian family. The teachers we interviewed kindly provided information and fun facts about themselves. Come check out what they shared with us!

4 | The Warrior

New Teachers oN campus Do You recoGNIZe Them?

Micah Caleb ShyuMr. Shyu, the new Algebra 2 and Old Testament teacher, used to be a substi-tute teacher at Valley Christian. During that time, he developed a deep love for the student body so he chose to become a full time teacher. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Davis and is getting his Master’s from Western Seminary in Old and New Testament theology and youth administering. He has a close relationship with Jesus and his best advice to students is, “Put God first and be yourself!”

Fun Fact: If he ever gets the dog he really wants, he would name it Buddy.

Preston Thomas HamiltonMr. Hamilton is a new teacher in the history department. He teaches Ancient and Modern World History because he thinks history itself is an interesting story with many fun facts to explore. When asked about how he was hired by Valley Christian, he talked about two major things the school looks for in a teacher: their credentials and where they are at spiritually. The selection of new teachers is heavily focused on these points to make sure that students can look up to their teachers as mentors, both academically and spiritually.

Fun Fact: Mr. Hamilton has wanted to be a teacher ever since he was a young boy.

DJ BaluyotAmong all the teachers in the history of Valley Christian, Mr. Baluyot is probably the one with the coolest name. He teaches Dance, Hip Hop and Theatre 1. He is really devoted to serving others and enjoys being a teacher because he wants to be a role model to young people. As a young boy, his dream was to become a professional NBA player, but unfortunately he did not grow tall enough to meet the requirements. Talking about his love for teaching, he quoted Amelia Earhart, who once said, “I fly for the fun of it.” For him, he teaches for the fun of it.

Fun Fact: He is growing long hair for dona-tion in the future. He now has the longest hair in his office.

A few months have passed since the beginning of school, and the new teachers have all found their special places in the school’s programs and bonded exceptionally well with the students. They believe that they are here on a mission, that God led them here for a reason that will benefit our school. They are wonderful people and are absolutely fun to be with! It is going to be an exciting experience to get to know them this year and see them become trusted members of our faculty.

Winter 2015 | 5

Article by Si ChenPhotos by Tsz Yan LoDesign by Tsz Yan Lo

5ways to dress Cute in dress codeArticle by Alyssa TeixeiraPhotos By Jordan Dawkins, Keaton Miller and Nina Ma

Autumn and winter are officially here, and with them the fabulous fashions of this fall! As the days get shorter and we pack away our T-shirts and flip flops, some of us are left staring at our closets and asking the dreaded question, “What am I going to wear?” But have no fear! Here are a few quick and easy ways to spice up your wardrobe this Fall!

1) Layers!

You know that uncomfortable lull between summer and fall? Not hot enough for skirts and tank tops, but not really cold enough for sweaters and scarves? A quick fix for this conundrum is layers! It may seem like a pretty basic style tip. This is a fundamental fashion statement that your mother has probably nagged you about ever since you could dress your-self. “Don’t forget a sweater!”, she preached to you. Nagging mothers aside, when done right, layers can help make an easy and simple outfit for school. A camisole paired with a light sweater, a cardigan and a scarf is a good way to dress for unpredictable weather. Match this with a pair of jeans and some boots and you are ready to go!

2) A Fun and Funky Flannel

It’s 7:00 A.M., you are late for school, and you haven’t even started to get ready...yikes! My suggestion? This must have fashion staple filling up closets everywhere: flannel. Once synonymous with the lumberjack, the flannel is my go to whenever I need to look cute quick. You can dress it up or dress it down. Want something a little more grunge? A flannel, a green army jacket and some boots should do the trick. Want something a bit preppier? Try buttoning up your flannel all the way and throwing a sweater and a statement necklace over it. Ta-da! The power of the flannel!

3) Maxi Skirts

You know what’s great about maxi skirts? Everything! Maxi skirts are one of the most versatile items in your fashion forward arsenal. That floor length fabric can go a long way in creating a more dressy (but totally simple) look. For a more casual setting, such as school, a maxi skirt can be paired with a jean jacket and a fun necklace, or a sweater. The possibilities are endless! Say you had a birthday party or dinner to go to after school, but didn’t have time to change. A maxi skirt is good way to get a transferable look that can be worn night or day.

4) Statement Necklace

Once a fashion statement for fancy people, the statement necklace has made it’s way into day-to-day fashion! And thankfully, it has! The statement necklace is a bold way to tie together and outfit and, well...make a statement! If you ever feel like your outfit is missing a little pizzazz, the statement necklace will come to the rescue.

5) Denim, Denim, Denim!

We all have our favorite pair of jeans. Those worn out but reliable pants that just fit us in an almost mystical way. Well hang on to your hats ladies and gents, because denim is taking over in a big way! Denim skirts, denim jackets, denim button ups. No matter how hard you try, you can not escape denim this season. Denim is a great way to put together a casual look. However, denim has been reinvented as more than just a casual fabric. Denim now offers a pop of edgi-ness to our worn out looks. A denim jacket over a dress creates a new boho type look that is all the rage this season! So forget what you previously thought about your favorite pair of jeans, because denim is fierce and ready to spice up your wardrobe.

6 | The Warrior

Dr. Jennifer Carauddo, D.C. Chiropractor

Every morning at 7:30am, on the intersection of Monterey and Skyway Drive, crowds of cars line up to drive up the hill that is ahead of them. This exhausting traffic takes place at the bottom of the hill of Valley Chris-tian High School. The hill’s traffic and its frustrations have been topics that have been majorly discussed since the beginning of the school year. Students have been unhappy with having to set their alarm clocks fifteen minutes earlier to make it to class before the bell rings, and parents have been expressing their frustration with having to brake every four seconds.

“I feel like traffic is worse this year,” said Susi Ballif with a sigh, recalling her slow drives up the hill. The seniors had not truly experienced the reality of what people call “Valley Christian Traffic,” because this year is their first but last year where they have their super cool senior parking passes, which permits them to park on campus. But now that they know, they have been dissatisfied with the time it takes for them to reach their parking space.

The faculty had a fairly simple perspective about Valley Christian’s traffic delay. While the students panicked at the oceans of cars, the teachers were rather calm and patient. They admitted that they did not like it either, but their spirit was more toward enjoying the inevitable. Mr. Smith, high school counselor, said, “If you want to avoid traffic, it’s easy. Just take advantage of Fehren and the Walmart on Monterey!”

Everyone at Valley Christian knows that all campus parking and safety are regulated by the security department, consisting of four armed guards, and eight security guards. Joel Gonzalez, the head of the department, had some reasonable explanations for the excessive traffic this school year. The first reason was that the Junior High enrollment size is very large this year. Just because the high school students do not interfere with them during school hours did not mean that they were not on campus at all. The second possible reason was the outnumbered class size of the freshmen, the biggest grade class in the high school student body. He then made his point, saying, “Valley Christian is an educational institution, not a place for parking.”

Mr. Gonzalez also explained about the immense work the security depart-ment does for the student body, proving that complaints regarding Valley Christian traffic actually might be “third world problems” compared to the issues they face. As the enrollment size increased, the city of San Jose made a decision that Valley Christian has to reduce 20% of the traffic flow. This is a required task for the security department, and good news for those who are affected by traffic in the mornings because now everyone is on the same boat. But this is definitely not an easy task with the crowds of cars going in and out of campus every day. As of March 25, 1212 cars drove up the hill of Valley Christian between 7-9am. The security guards go through over 1500 cars a day and over 5000 cars per week. The security department actually might be the one that goes through more exhaustion during the school day, dealing with almost too many cars both before or after school. This is a topic that needs much thought, and something that definitely needs consideration. Patience cannot ever hurt anybody, but rather it is a sign of appreciation to the security department, who keeps the school safe and guarded against any danger.

Valley

By: Joyce ChoPhoto By:Keaton Miller

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S u s h i M a r u

262 E. Jackson StreetSan Jose, CA 95112(408) 998-8170

On Thursday, September 18, 2014, hundreds of Valley Christian students gave their hearts to Christ, and even more were inspired by the God-breathed words of Nick

Vujicic.

Born with a rare disorder known as tetra-amelia syndrome, Nick lives a life with no limbs.

Growing up, Nick often pondered his purpose in life and society. “Why was I born like this?” and “God must not exist, or He doesn’t love me” were questions that he found his young self asking quite frequently. Nick struggled with depression, constant feelings of isolation and the inability to conform to social standards. He admitted, “It was definitely difficult as a child to work out who I wanted to be and where I was going to fit in; trying to find a purpose in your life is everyone’s question. Why am I here? Who am I supposed to be? That goes beyond a job or occupation and I just didn’t feel like I had any value because of bullying and teasing. My parents were always tell-ing me that God loves me and has a plan for me, but I really didn’t see that plan at all. And so I asked God for arms and legs and he didn’t give me arms and legs, so I started believing that he didn’t exist.” But Nick didn’t come so we would sympa-thize with his plight. He came to deliver a powerful message which touched us all.

Nick discussed the importance of having a relationship with God in his life. He said, “Without my Christian faith, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” He first became interested in learning about the Christian faith when he opened his Bible and read the book of John, the catalyst of his everlasting relationship with God. As a result, his life became significantly changed. Nick was no longer a confused and angry child. He said, “God can do miracles with broken pieces. I have a relationship with God. I don’t just put him in my pocket and pull him out when when I need him.”

From Limbless to Limitless

Nick Vujicic Spreads His Message to Valley Christian Students

“Without my Chris-tian faith, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

10 | The Warrior

From Limbless to Limitless

Nick Vujicic Spreads His Message to Valley Christian Students

Along with sharing about his own personal faith and struggles in life, Nick talked about bul-lying in school and performed an informal survey of the students in the gym. He asked us to raise our hands and clench our fists if we had ever considered committing suicide. The results were appalling. Mrs. Shak responded, “His informal survey shocked me, that 1 out of 5 have consid-ered committing suicide. I know that it was just a rough ballpark, but the point is there were a lot of clenched fists; who knows what that number is. But the fact that there are a lot, and at a Christian school shows that everybody is hurting and we don’t know many students came down to worship and accept God into their lives after hearing what Nick had to say. Arjun, a junior, stated, “When everyone came down, it showed a sense of togetherness, understanding, and community.”

Students and faculty around campus all

seemed to agree that Nick’s speech during chapel was impactful to everyone that heard it. Mr. Sizelove commented,“I thought he was very real and honest. He was transparent, which I think most everybody appreciated, especially sharing with us his internal faults and what he was going through. Because you could definitely see what his external disability was. He has no arms or legs, and while we may not be able to relate to not having limbs, we could definitely relate to the internal struggle.” His inspiring story served as a model for many students to live by. It’s amazing to realize that we all have the power to be influential and have that real and raw con-nection with the God of our universe. It is inspir-ing to see how Nick has been able to achieve so much through his positive attitude and constant relationship with God.

Born with a rare disorder, Nick lives a life with no limits.

Fall 2014 | 11

Aleeza Roque A Girl After God’s Own HeartBy Leia Wang

Sitting in the conservatory building, dressed in black Nike shorts and a neon workout top, Aleeza Roque (12), is completely concentrated on the iPad in front of her. Seeing me approach her, she dims her laser beam focus to a bright, cheerful glow. This is typical of Aleeza. A brilliant student with a 4.7 weighted GPA, her passions lie in engineering and have led her to positions as the mechanical engineering leader of the ISS satellite development team and the project manager of the AMSE rocketry team. “She’s compe-tent, responsible, and takes initiative. But most of all, she loves the Lord,” describes Mrs. Lane. Despite her rigorous classes and her leadership roles on the AMSE and ISS teams, she still man-ages to make time for what she loves.

Out of all the things I do, reach-ing out to people in need is

most important to me.

Three years ago, Aleeza started Project Hope Street as an outreach ministry through her church. To kick off the program, the church worship band that Aleeza is a part of put on a concert and raised over three thousand dollars. The funds from this concert went to the first couple of proj-ects, including buying shoes for victims of domestic violence. Project Hope Street now undertakes five projects a year and is sponsored by small companies from all around the Bay Area. When com-plimented on her work, she laughed and waved it off claiming, “It’s not me. My church has been right alongside me every step of the way.” This past summer, Aleeza undertook her most ambitious project yet. Starting a program called GEMS, which stands for God, Engineering, Math, and Science (yes, she did come up with the name), she specifically targeted children living in the family supportive housing center in San Jose. Responsible for the planning and preparation that went into this integrated learning and Christian

“

”

12 | The Warrior

Aleeza Roque When God tells you to go and make

disciples of all nations...“

”He doesn’t make boundaries.

summer camp, she spent months creating lesson plans, gathering materials, and visiting the shelter to ensure that everything would be perfect. “I planned lessons that would teach the kids about God through science,” Aleeza explained. “For example, we would make Alkaseltzer rockets and tell them that God is the thrust we need to overcome the drag of obstacles we face.” When the day finally came for the first day of camp, Aleeza and four other students drove down to the shelter and met the thirty eagerly waiting kids with smiles and gifts. They then split the kids into three age groups from five to seven, eight to ten, and eleven to thirteen. The teacher of the oldest group, Aleeza found herself faced with the responsibility of reconciling God’s existence with the difficult issues these junior highers face. She was frequently asked, “If God is good, why am I here?” As she helped them wrestle with these tough questions throughout the week, Aleeza was able to guide three out of five of them to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. “I just love those kids so much,” Aleeza stated. One of the kids in Aleeza’s group was especially curious. Thirteen-year-old Reymarc just moved here from the Philippines with his dad and two brothers. Shy but smart, Reymarc was over-joyed to get the comic book Bible the volunteers were giving out as a “graduation” gift. One of the three that had given their lives to Christ, Aleeza could see a transformation within Reymarc. “I saw him at a grocery store two weeks later. When I asked him about the book, he proudly said that he had finished it,” Aleeza gushed. When I asked how desperate the need was, she responded by saying that she hasn’t even been allowed to photograph the kids due to their conditions and legality reasons. Aleeza plans to go back to visit during Christmas break. She also disclosed ideas for her next project: an outreach program to love on and provide for at-risk kids. She finished by saying,

Fall 2014 | 13

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3 DIMENSIONAL STUDENTS

16 | The Warrior

3For this issue of The Warrior, our editing team was

inspired by anaglyphs. By layering red and blue on an image what was once one dimensional, when viewed through the right lens, becomes

three dimensional. The students that we selected to feature in each of these profiles share traits that are hardly one sided. It is often easy to pass judgements on our fellow Valley Christian students by their appearance, clique, sport or activity. However, we wanted to go past the one dimensional views of our peers and dig deeper. From an aspiring chef to a synchronized swimmer, each individual is more than what meets the eye. The anaglyph style we fell in love with at the beginning of the school year helped us showcase these five profiles of some of Valley Christian’s

multidimensional students. We learn in Genesis 1 that we are all made in the image of God. It is important to us to not only view others for more than what meets the eye but also remembering that they are God’s workmanship.

“Five profiles of some of Valley Christian’s multi-dimensional

students

““ “

Story and page design by Claire Chaney, editor

DIMENSIONAL STUDENTS

Fall 2014 | 17

By Hannah Lee

InternatIonal CompassIon & love

InternatIonal CompassIon & love

Bethany’s Devotion for International Students

By Hannah Lee

Bethany’s Devotion for International Students

InternatIonal CompassIon & love

Bethany’s Devotion for International Students

Excited, yet hesitant; stressful, yet eager - these mixed emotions ensue when the first day of school starts to creep up. But no big deal! You get to see your friends again! Reuniting with friends is great, but what if you were friendless on the first day of school? Or how about the entire first month of school? Attending a new school, making new friends, feeling comfortable in a new environment - sounds pretty frightening when you don’t have support by your side. What’s even more terrifying is the fact that high schoolers tend to stick with the same friends they've had for years. We hang out with friends we know because we’re uncomfort-able with change and don’t want to put ourselves in situations of discomfort and alienation. Though some consider change as unpleas-ant, Bethany Clemons’ heart is passionate for change. Her hopes are to share her love and compassion with

By Hannah Lee

18 | The Warrior

our international student body through her genu-ine, bright personality and leadership qualities. Her

goal is to allow her peers and international friends to know how much she cares

for them and how excited she to get to know everyone in our

school. Leadership and fresh-man Bible teacher, Mrs. Smith, kindly describes Bethany’s efforts as “self initiated and an example of true leadership.” For example, Bethany recently

invited a group of interna-tional students to her house,

providing dinner and games, in hopes that their fellowship

will bond both Bethany and the international students with each other.

Bethany strives for a change towards some-thing she is “passionate about without waiting to get asked or told by a teacher.” Bethany’s dedica-

“When you know more

people, high school is so much

more fun.”

tion to the international students on our campus is not just to be kind, it’s to be a light unto others. “Her faith is really what drives her. From what I’ve seen from her, God is real in her life and she knows who she is in Christ and takes the initiative to impact others with that,” comments Mrs. Smith, on Bethany’s spiritual life. When asking Bethany how she chooses to establish friendships with international students, she responds by saying,"I try to put myself in their shoes and I think, 'If I had to make a huge move, and come to a completely different school that I have never been to, not knowing anyone, would I want someone to come and be my friend?'" Students that are new to Valley Christian, more often than not, don't know very many people, so it's hard for them to step out of their comfort zone and interact with other students. Since Bethany is able to acknowledge their discomfort, she takes the initiative to become their friend. Her bright and energetic personality is contagious and comforts those that she approaches. Sharon Ly, a senior and international student, positively describes Bethany and her family as “super nice, very open with everything and easy to talk to.” Sharon appreciates the fact that Bethany put in the effort to invite her over by thankfully commenting, “Normally, people don’t invite international students to their houses. She’s probably the first one to do that.” Having been at Valley Christian since freshman year, Bethany has friends other than international students but prefers to associate herself with these students. In response to asking how she manages both friendships, she heart-warmingly responds, “I love the international student community so much, they are my best friends. They are the friends that I want to be with at lunch and want to hang out with. My other friends often ask where I am at lunch, but I really feel like it’s important to get to know others and not stay necessarily in the same friend group all the time. I like to reach out to different friend groups. Because when you know more people, high school is so much more fun!” Bethany’s love and compassion for others is obvious through her bubbly and smiling personality. You can’t help but want to become friends with her.

Fall 2014 | 19

Photos By Tara CrutchfieldPhotos By Tara CrutchfieldPhotos By Tara Crutchfield Photo By Amy SmithPhoto By Amy SmithPhoto By Amy Smith

ALECVARSAMIS

20 | The Warrior

He just does things in a different way,” Jim Varsa-mis comments with a smile as his son Alec, a senior at Valley Christian, sears his flatiron steak with precision. Sporting his crisp navy French Laundry apron and the unmistakable flicker of passion in his eyes, Alec moves to his impressive knife collection to start the accompanying water-

cress salad. The ease with which he cooks is a product of almost 15 years in the kitchen, 12 of those since his first original recipe. Alec’s “foodie” household nurtured his fascination in all things culinary, inspir-ing his junior high dinner party menus and discovery of The French Laundry. Awarded three Michelin stars under the leadership of his chef icon, Thomas Keller, this restaurant has set a new standard for dining. Alec proceeded to save his money for 2 years to pay for his family of 3’s meal there. After finally enjoying his magnificent experience of dining at The French Laundry, Alec and his family not only received a tour of the kitchen and an autographed menu, but a note from Chef Keller on their bill informing them that their whole meal was on the house. Motivated by these inspiring encounters, Alec took advantage of a family friend’s connections and found himself as a sous chef in the kitchen of LB Steak in Santana Row. “It was so much prep work,” Alec recalls from the Friday and Saturday nights he worked at the restaurant over the summer of last year. Hungry for work closer to that of Keller’s, he left the LB kitchens in the pursuit of culinary prestige. This objective led him to the October booksigning of Manresa’s, a Michelin-star restaurant in Los Gatos, latest release. Sharing his story and his business card from the steakhouse, Alec’s ambition was met with an invitation for a trial at Manresa. The two day, four hour “try out” involved practicing the kitchen’s prep work, cooking techniques, and seeing if “the kitchen worked for him, and he worked for the kitchen.” Alec got the gig. While many of his peers lifeguarded or scooped ice cream over the summer, he found himself in the prestigious, intense, 14-hour work days of the culinary world. “It was mind-blowing thinking about the extraordinary meal I had enjoyed here before - I was now a part of making it. It was so cool to see,” Alec recalls. The toughest part of the job? “At Michelin star restaurants, every guest is treated like a VIP.” And this dedication to perfection takes its toll on the staff. “Every year, Manresa has an event called the Citrus Modernista,” he explains, “It’s essentially a meal produced with citrus varieties from a grove in the Santa Cruz mountains that supplies exclusively and only to Manresa. The staff get to go up as well and help pick the fruit, kind of like a bonding-retreat. Every time I would go though, there would always be different staff, as people are constantly quitting or leaving. It’s a tough business to be in.” Since his senior year has started, Alec is taking time off his culinary career at restaurants to focus on academics. But his foodie adven-tures are far from over as he continues to cook for leisure, and explore the tastes he finds through his travels. Locally, his favorite restaurant is Oak & Rye, which he found on his favorite foodie-finding website (eater.com), and is constantly inspired by the culinary scene of the Bay Area. To get his culinary fix while managing his classes, Alec has taken on catering. His most recent event was a housewarming party this year, delighting his clients with glazed ribs, salmon en papillote, raspberry gazpacho, and other eats. With a dinner for 10 coming up on his calendar, Alec is planning a 10-course meal, hopefully involv-ing his guilty pleasure and favorite ingredient: foie gras. When asked about his future plans (and begged to please open his own restaurant one day), Alec shares his plans of getting his degrees before culinary school or becoming professionally involved in a restaurant. Even with all the strains and stress apparent in being a chef, Alec’s passion, precision and talent is apparent. “Cooking is a joy, an escape, and you get to feed people! It’s so rewarding.”

story by Camilla Marais, editor photos by Claire Chaney, editor

“

Fall 2014 | 21

Her journey started in France and ended in Italy. At the end of her trip, she had visited 12 hotels including a wide variety of ranks, from 5 star to no star, and studied their management styles. Once, in a small village called Sault in Provence, France, she actually had the chance to “run” a family inn for three days when the owner of the inn mysteriously disappeared. She helped three groups of tourists with check in and all the necessary procedures out of mere kindness. When the owner finally came back, she did not receive any thanks, but she was filled with joy nonetheless. The phenom-enal experience made her feel like she was one step closer to her dream. If that was to be her favorite moment on her Europe trip, the views of the Seine had to be the next in line. She walked along the riverbank and saw the breathtaking beauty of the river, lively and endlessly flowing, decorated with boats. The timeless Notre Dame de Paris stood by the river, along with other magnificent cathedrals and edifices. Her heart was touched by Europe’s rich culture and history. When she laid eyes on these sceneries, it was like all her stress had been taken away and replaced with a peace of mind. Listening to her tell the story of all the fun she had can make anyone want to pick up their luggage and go travel right now, but she said, “traveling alone may sound cool, but it was lonelier than anything she had ever experienced.” Her darkest moment on the trip was losing all her money and ID in a train station in Geneva, Switzerland. She looked away for one minute to read the timetable, and when she turned back, her purse was gone. Just like that, all her money and ID were gone in an instant. It happened so fast, she did not know how to react. Alone, in a foreign country and able to speak only bits and pieces of the language, she panicked, starting to look through her luggage desperately. People passing by her watched, but did not help. No words could describe the overwhelming fear in her heart. Her mind knew that if she could get help from the police, everything would most likely turn out fine, but her emotions made her want to forget her trip and just sit down and cry. It was like all the pressure had accumulated because she had no one to share her frustrations with and had finally reached a point that shook her. She made herself calm, bitterly accepting the reality that she had no money, no passport and no friends. She picked up the phone.

To understand her answer, first one must know her background. She is gentle girl

with a love for small animals, but she con-siders herself mentally strong and indepen-

dent. Having always been fascinated with different cultures, travel is her number one hobby. She has left her footprints in Africa,

South America and Asia, but her map of the world was still incomplete. Europe was

her missing puzzle. Her dream was to study hotel management at VATEL Hotel and Tourism Management

International Business School and one day own an hotel in the streets of France. Other

than traveling, visiting successful and famous hotels in Europe was the biggest

motivation for her trip. “The hotel business in Europe is prestigious and has a long

history,” she said shyly, “the management there is better than it is in America.”

She tried to communicate with the police and people from the embassy the best she could, all the time cling-ing to the rest of her luggage, which was all that she had. After the longest four hours of her life, she was able to get a temporary passport and board the train. Fortunately, she had booked her hotels before the trip so she had a place to sleep that night. She said for the first time in her life she felt grateful that she did not have to sleep in the streets. She thought about all the times her parents told her the possible dangers of the trip and she pretended to listen to them; but she did not heed them because she didn’t think it could really happen to her. As it turned out, it did, and she realized how much it really shattered her. That night, she called her parents and cried on the phone, letting out the tears she had held back for so long.

Obstacles can certainly test a person. By placing herself in difficult situations alone, she saw the weak-nesses in her nature but was able to find the strength from God to overcome them. In the end, she did things she never imagined she could. “Isn’t this more mean-ingful than one year in school?” she asked me, but did not demand an answer. For a girl like her whose dream is to see the world with her own eyes, this journey is her most valuable treasure. Her name is Jorlin Wang, and next year she will be a senior at Valley Christian.

The Europe Trip

Many say their dream is to travel around the world, but how many actually take this dream and put it into action? Not many. She is a girl of our age, a student at Valley Christian. Around her 18th birthday, she decided she would travel around Europe alone as a birthday present for herself. “All my friends, all my family, told me it was a bad idea,” she said in a pleasant tone. “Most people have their gap year after they finish high school, but I decided to have it before my senior year.” I looked at her. She did not look like the rebellious type of girl with her hair carefully combed to the back and an elegant silver necklace around her neck. Nor did she look very strong. Even the place she chose to have the interview was an artsy little cafe, so very naturally I asked her why she made such a decision. “Because Europe is the birthplace and the foundation of hotel services,” she answered.

story by si chen design by Angel Virelas

Fall 2014 | 23

Her journey started in France and ended in Italy. At the end of her trip, she had visited 12 hotels including a wide variety of ranks, from 5 star to no star, and studied their management styles. Once, in a small village called Sault in Provence, France, she actually had the chance to “run” a family inn for three days when the owner of the inn mysteriously disappeared. She helped three groups of tourists with check in and all the necessary procedures out of mere kindness. When the owner finally came back, she did not receive any thanks, but she was filled with joy nonetheless. The phenom-enal experience made her feel like she was one step closer to her dream. If that was to be her favorite moment on her Europe trip, the views of the Seine had to be the next in line. She walked along the riverbank and saw the breathtaking beauty of the river, lively and endlessly flowing, decorated with boats. The timeless Notre Dame de Paris stood by the river, along with other magnificent cathedrals and edifices. Her heart was touched by Europe’s rich culture and history. When she laid eyes on these sceneries, it was like all her stress had been taken away and replaced with a peace of mind. Listening to her tell the story of all the fun she had can make anyone want to pick up their luggage and go travel right now, but she said, “traveling alone may sound cool, but it was lonelier than anything she had ever experienced.” Her darkest moment on the trip was losing all her money and ID in a train station in Geneva, Switzerland. She looked away for one minute to read the timetable, and when she turned back, her purse was gone. Just like that, all her money and ID were gone in an instant. It happened so fast, she did not know how to react. Alone, in a foreign country and able to speak only bits and pieces of the language, she panicked, starting to look through her luggage desperately. People passing by her watched, but did not help. No words could describe the overwhelming fear in her heart. Her mind knew that if she could get help from the police, everything would most likely turn out fine, but her emotions made her want to forget her trip and just sit down and cry. It was like all the pressure had accumulated because she had no one to share her frustrations with and had finally reached a point that shook her. She made herself calm, bitterly accepting the reality that she had no money, no passport and no friends. She picked up the phone.

To understand her answer, first one must know her background. She is gentle girl

with a love for small animals, but she con-siders herself mentally strong and indepen-

dent. Having always been fascinated with different cultures, travel is her number one hobby. She has left her footprints in Africa,

South America and Asia, but her map of the world was still incomplete. Europe was

her missing puzzle. Her dream was to study hotel management at VATEL Hotel and Tourism Management

International Business School and one day own an hotel in the streets of France. Other

than traveling, visiting successful and famous hotels in Europe was the biggest

motivation for her trip. “The hotel business in Europe is prestigious and has a long

history,” she said shyly, “the management there is better than it is in America.”

She tried to communicate with the police and people from the embassy the best she could, all the time cling-ing to the rest of her luggage, which was all that she had. After the longest four hours of her life, she was able to get a temporary passport and board the train. Fortunately, she had booked her hotels before the trip so she had a place to sleep that night. She said for the first time in her life she felt grateful that she did not have to sleep in the streets. She thought about all the times her parents told her the possible dangers of the trip and she pretended to listen to them; but she did not heed them because she didn’t think it could really happen to her. As it turned out, it did, and she realized how much it really shattered her. That night, she called her parents and cried on the phone, letting out the tears she had held back for so long.

Obstacles can certainly test a person. By placing herself in difficult situations alone, she saw the weak-nesses in her nature but was able to find the strength from God to overcome them. In the end, she did things she never imagined she could. “Isn’t this more mean-ingful than one year in school?” she asked me, but did not demand an answer. For a girl like her whose dream is to see the world with her own eyes, this journey is her most valuable treasure. Her name is Jorlin Wang, and next year she will be a senior at Valley Christian.

The Europe Trip

Many say their dream is to travel around the world, but how many actually take this dream and put it into action? Not many. She is a girl of our age, a student at Valley Christian. Around her 18th birthday, she decided she would travel around Europe alone as a birthday present for herself. “All my friends, all my family, told me it was a bad idea,” she said in a pleasant tone. “Most people have their gap year after they finish high school, but I decided to have it before my senior year.” I looked at her. She did not look like the rebellious type of girl with her hair carefully combed to the back and an elegant silver necklace around her neck. Nor did she look very strong. Even the place she chose to have the interview was an artsy little cafe, so very naturally I asked her why she made such a decision. “Because Europe is the birthplace and the foundation of hotel services,” she answered.

story by si chen design by Angel Virelas

Fall 2014 | 23

Walking on Ice By Devyn Kelly

Thechill that hits your face when you walk through the doors, the blades cutting through the ice, the crowd cheers or awes as the ping travels through the arena. The smell is distinct, carrying through the air, ladies and gentlemen this is hockey. The game is known by many but loved by few, one of the few is Eric Pinsky. The San Jose native was born into hockey, loving it from the moment he stepped onto the ice. His parents were like many San Jose families in the late 1990’s, embracing the new franchise, the San Jose Sharks who moved to San Jose from San Francisco. Eric started skating when he was the young age of 1 and a half and from then on he knew that this was his passion. He geared up to play in a real game when he was only four years old. He started playing travel for the San Jose Jr. Sharks, then played squirts for the Santa Clara Blackhawks, and since PeeWee’s, which is 12 and under, he has played for the Jr. Sharks. I had the pleasure of playing along side Pinks, as they call him, in his second year of Pee Wees. My job is to watch and coach hockey and in 2009-2010, Pinks had one of the most dominant Pee Wee seasons I have ever seen, scoring 96 points in less that 45 games. He averaged 2.23 points per game, which in the hockey world is remarkable. He made the move to TIER hockey when he was thirteen. TIER hockey is when you play higher quality teams, at a higher level, these levels are considered AA and AAA. Eric played his first year of TIER hockey at the bantam level, playing with mostly kids a year older. Hockey is separated by birth year, so as a 97 birth year he was playing with kids born in 1996. “It is different from any other sport. People tell you all the time that it is easy and it is no harder than any other sport, but no one can play at the level we do, without putting in the work. It takes a different type of person to play this game, the bond and community is different than any other sport I have experienced.

A hockey team is a family and I will go out and fight every weekend for my brothers and I know that they will do the same”, says Pinks. His first year of Bantam was when he suffered his first major injury, he got tangled up in a game, he fell and severely injured his shoulder. He continued to play though waiting until the off season to have surgery, battling all season and he continued to be a top player on his squad. The next season he made the jump to the highest level offered in San Jose, AAA hockey. This team was stacked with talent, I saw it first hand, but Pinks brought talent and hard work and went on to put up 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 regular season games, against the top players in the nation. When the playoffs rolled around Pinks was a clutch player, scoring 4 goals in five games. He continued to play AAA the next year at the 15U level. When 16U rolled around, Pinks was working tremendously hard and unfortunately suffered a gruesome knee injury, tear-ing his meniscus. Eric was facing a strenuous rehab and was likely to be out at least 8 weeks, but he had his mind set on returning much earlier and he came back in about half the time and was back contribut-ing. Unfortunately, he only played, 10 games this year, but in those ten games he scored 5 goals and added 2 assists. This year the North American Hockey League prospect has played all 10 of the teams games, scoring 4 goals and 1 assist. He is not only a leader on the ice but off, his hard work and leadership has earned him a letter on his jersey, playing 18AAA he will one of the assistant captains. The talented senior is also playing some defense this year logging over twenty minutes a game. Look for the exceptional young man to be playing in the NAHL this next upcoming year.

Photos by Steven Light

24 | The Warrior

A hockey team is a family and I will go out and fight every weekend for my broth-ers and I know that they will do the same.

““””

Fall 2014 | 25

A fish out of W A T E R

By isabelle Truong

about starting a new high school in the middle of September, Natalia’s tenacity and determination takes her to soaring heights. She plans to join the 2020 Women’s Olympic Synchronized Swim-ming Team, which isn’t surprising as she is currently on one of the top synchronized swimming teams in the nation, The Aquamaids, based in Santa Clara, California. Back home in Puerto Rico, Nata-lia was also a member of the Puerto Rican Synchronized Swim-ming National Team. She’s competed all over the world, including in countries like Finland and Peru. But believe it or not, being on an extremely competitive synchronized swimming team isn’t the most difficult challenge that Natalia faced coming to California and Valley Christian. I asked Natalia about her life and school in Puerto Rico,

of seriously pursuing a career as a synchronized swimmer. “So tell me about your life and synchronized swimming,” I asked.

and her transition to California. She informed me that while there were some similarities, there are definitely some differences, too. In Puerto Rico, she lived with her family,

consisting of her parents and two siblings, whereas she now lives with her teammate and her team-mate’s grandmother. Natalia came from an all

girls school, where she had close friends who she misses dearly. “It was kinda hard to leave them,” she admitted. She also mentioned that attending an all girls

school is much different than attending a

Junior Natalia Vega just moved to California a month ago from her hometown of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her decision to move here was made only a week before she actually flew out, in hopes

co-ed one. I asked if there was some sort of culture shock, since California is quite different from Puerto Rico. “The culture isn’t too different. We celebrate the same holidays,” she

The only distinguishing factor is the fact that she doesn’t get as many opportuni-

26 | The Warrior

Natalia sat in her beautifully embellished competition suit as she laughed, “They’re pretty much the same thing!” Even during her sometimes stressful long hours of practice and her apprehension

Jump. Splash. Repeat.

replied. Natalia claimed that she enjoys the same things any average teenage girl likes to on the week-ends: go shopping, get Starbucks and hang out with friends.

ties to speak her native language, except when she’s in AP Spanish class and when she talks on the phone with her parents.

Her aunt and her cousin were both swim-mers, and her dad was a water polo player who, fun fact: actually played with Mr. Carlson! Nonetheless, it was mainly Natalia’s own personal decision to participate in syn-chronized swimming. I asked her how she maintains a healthy balance with her swiming and school work, and she replied with, “It’s pretty tiring, and sometimes I question why I chose this sport, but in the end, I realize how much I love it. The feeling after you’ve com-peted and when you get first place is worth it.” For the past couple of years, Natalia had been traveling to Buffalo, New York and Miami, Florida often for her monthly competi-tion. She competes

regularly and often in major events, such as the U.S. Nationals, U.S. Opens, Junior Pan Ams and Junior World’s. Natalia’s love and passion for the sport is clearly evident, and surely there will be many glimpses of suc-cess in her future.

“It’s my passion... It’s my life.”

Natalia often misses her family back home, and tries to keep in contact with them on a daily basis. She stated that if she had the chance to go back home at least once a month, she would gladly choose to; however, her busy competition schedule only allows her to visit on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, she is currently adjusting to her new life and school quite well. Natalia has estab-lished a new group of friends, who are helping her get through the stress of junior year. Her friend and fellow roommate Alex Meredith-LeRoux described her as “really fun to live with, and she has an easy-going personality.” Initially, Natalia was a little uncer-tain about coming to Valley Christian, but she has been enjoying her classes and the overall environ-ment. After Natalia completes high school, she has plans to attend a college with a strong synchronized swimming program.

When I asked her about her experience with synchronized swimming, she told me, “Before school and after school, I’m always in a pool.” Natalia started synchronized swimming when she was just eight. Her family encouraged her to swim because they had a strong background playing various water

and her transition to California. She informed me that while there were some similarities, there are definitely some differences, too. In Puerto Rico, she lived with her family,

school is much different than attending a

The only distinguishing factor is the fact that she doesn’t get as many opportuni-

Fall 2014 | 27

Photos by Chris Dunham

replied. Natalia claimed that she enjoys the same things any average teenage girl likes to on the week-ends: go shopping, get Starbucks and hang out with friends.

ties to speak her native language, except when she’s in AP Spanish class and when she talks on the phone with her parents.

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VarsityFootball

WAR- ZONEWAR- ZONE

Seniors

Juniors

Sophomores

28

1

21

LeagueStats

# 52 in STATE

# 3 in CCS

246.2

Rushing Yards Total TDs Interceptions

43 10

Valley Christian

National Average

# 1 in WCALs

Who’s Got HANDSCollin Johnson

Hot WheelsKirk Johnson

Graph from MaxPreps.com

Golf

Freshmen

Sophomores

JuniorsSeniors

2

1

2 2

WL

13 Matches

3 10

Strokes Lost By

Strokes Won By

Average Score

22

27

220

Wins

Losses

Girls TennisVarsity Junior Varsity

1327

391

FreshmenSophomoresJuniorsSeniors

Biggest Competitor

MITTY

Weapon ofChoice

WilsonorBabolat

RecordVarsity

13-8Junior Varsity

7-5

Boys Water Polo

inWCALs

#5

GOAL!!Jasper Evans- Nick Hoefling-Connor Barnett-

623630

Goals Over the Season

ASSISTSNick Hoefling-Connor Barnett-

3131

SWIPED!Steals Over the Season

Nick Hoefling-Connor Barnett-Jasper Evans-

483434

FreshmenSophomoresJuniors

By Devyn Kelly

NFL is worried about financial reprecussions and acts as if this is okay, tomorrow’s football players and citizens will normalize this behavior because of the weight the NFL carries in people’s opinions. Steven Light, Valley Christian’s Junior Varsity wide reciever, strongly stated, “Just because it’s someone important or professional, we should still treat the situation just as anyone else who committed the crime. If we don’t take this seriously, the players will act as if it is ok and it will [continue], which can lead to escalations.” Starting Varsity Linebacker, senior Colby Labauch agrees, “We should take a stand because the victim might be threatened, therefore they would not report the crime.” These two football players hit the nail right on the head. In the New Testa-ment, most notably in Colossians and Ephesians, Paul writes to the church that husbands should love their wives in the way that Christ loved the church. This standard of morality is upheld by the laws of our government and celebrities and professional athletes should be subject to these laws without exemption.

“Domestic Violence is one of the most commonly commit-ted crimes in the NFL, behind only Drug and DUI Arrests,” reported Estaban (totalprosports.com). From the year 2000

to the present, there have been ninety six domestic violence charges filed in the NFL. This does not include instances where the crime was not filed. Today in the NFL, domestic violence makes up about 55.4% of the crimes in the sport (fivethirtyeight.com). Most recently, the NFL has had to deal with the Ray Rice incident: an incident in which he was originally suspended for two games when a video was released of him dragging his fiancé out of an elevator by her hair on February 15 (espn.com). The commissioner received major flack and was criticized for not administering a harsher punishment for this brutal crime. Months later, a new video was released of him physically striking his fiancé in the elevator on that same night. This put an end to the burning questions on how this whole debacle got started. Roger Goodell immediately suspended Rice indefinitely. Moments later, he was cut by the Baltimore Ravens. Ray Rice is currently appealing the suspension and is looking to play on another team. This now raises questions about Roger Goodell’s integrity about violence in the sport and if he can do his job and keep the games honest. Other athletes have a variety of viewpoints. Paul George, Indiana Pacers small forward, tweeted, “I don’t condone hitting women or think it’s cool, [but] if she ain’t trippin then I ain’t trippin...lets keep it movin lol let the man play.” This viewpoint raises a dilemma about the whole issue. If the woman, or whoever is the victim of the crime, is not filing charges, is it still something that deserves this much attention? If you ask me, domestic violence is unacceptable. Professional sports players are role models. Children and teenagers look up to them and look to emmulate their behavior. The leader of the NFL needs to take a stand. The NFL does not condone drug use and gives a player a one year suspension when they are caught smoking marijuana. But Ray Rice knocks his wife out cold and drags her out of the elevator by her hair and only gets a two game suspension until a video showing the incident goes viral? This is a moral issue that needs be addressed. Roger Goodell needs to take a stand and create a standard for NFL suspensions for all crimes. Just because the abuser does not go to jail, does not mean he should not be punished. Whether the commissioner steps down or takes con-trol of this situation, something needs to be done. Because the

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Emotions: A Tapestry of Tales

“The Taming of the Shrew”A Valley Christian Theater Production

by Hannah Lee

This year’s spectacular fall theater production went by the name of “The Taming of the Shrew” by the oh-so-brilliant

William Shakespeare.

Briefly speaking, this show tells the story of Katherina, “the shrew”, who no man seems interested in marrying because of her ill-tempered personality. But until Kate finds a suitor, her sister Bianca isn’t allowed to date. This upsets Bianca because she isn’t able to pursue her relationship with Lucen-tio. So in hopes of dating Bianca, Lucentio seeks out Petru-chio as a potential suitor for Kate.

This production had been in preparation since before the new school year even started. Casting was finalized in May, which meant most summer hours and the first two months of school were spent rehearsing, rehearsing, and you guessed it, rehearsing. The amount of time these students dedicated to this show was unbelievable. Justin Callisch, a junior who played the role of Lucentio, said,”We started rehearsal in late June for about 3 hours a day. We usually had rehearsal Monday through Friday but we had some breaks here and there. We all put so much time into the show. We worked 3 hours a day from 2:00-5:00 during the summer and from 3:00-6:00 when school started. But as opening night got closer, the rehearsals started getting longer. The entire week before opening night we had rehearsal from 3:15-10:00. It was mad-ness, but fun.”

These hours may have seemed hectic and tiresome, but with the comfort and enjoyment of friends around, rehearsal hours were not as bad as they seemed. It’s a joy to have those around you with the same passion and being able express that passion with them. Keaton Miller, a sophomore who played Hortensio for the Understudy Cast, replied that rehearsal hours are “...very tiring but we all enjoy it and were really good friends, so that’s what gets us through all the long performance nights and long rehearsal nights.”

Although there may be endless hours of rehearsals devoted to

perfecting every scene, everyone gets a bit nervous before their grand performance. Ryan Orlando, a senior who played the lead role of Petruchio stated,”I do get nervous. It took me a while to get confident with my character. I get nervous every night, it is never good to ever feel “comfort-able” about a show. I want a show to always push my limits, and this show has done exactly that. I believe that there is always room for growth, and nervousness is my gateway for growth.”

With adrenaline pumping through systems, sweaty palms, giggles backstage, and final prayers, you could tell the actors were ready to perform. As the actors scattered their way onto the stage, the audience became quiet, and their eyes opened with excitement.

The teachers’ preview was filled with laughters and chuck-les from not only teachers, but surprisingly, junior highers as well. Although it may have seemed as if the junior high-ers were disturbing the show, their interactions and laugh-ter actually helped teachers enjoy the show even more. Mrs. Cronquist thoroughly enjoyed watching the play and remarked,”It was a lot of fun because there many audience interactions, and even though it was a teacher preview, we had a lot of junior highers there, and so they interacted more with the actors, and that was great.”

Overall, opening night was a success! The play was incred-ibly entertaining to watch thanks to the enthusiastic and animated performances done by the students! The students hard work was shown through their acting on stage with no signs of nervousness shown, thanks to the profes-sional presentation of each character. An audience-favored character seemed to be Grumio, played by Carley Madsen, because of her energetic and erratic personality. Mr. Sisson commented, ”I liked The Taming of the Shrew a lot. The students were very animated and very mobile onstage and that’s what drew in the audience’s attention. They definitely put a lot of time and effort into it, I know it often takes away from their studies, however, they proved that they put all their time to good use.”

From Script to Scene

*these are not synonymousby Claire Chaney

STRESS &STRESS

ANXIETY*&ANXIETY*&*these are not synonymousby Claire Chaney by Claire Chaney*these are not synonymous

It is no secret that high school students are under an immense deal of pressure. Between classes, athletics, extracurriculars, standard-ized tests (and preparation), and struggling to have a social life some-where between the three, life can get pretty chaotic. Amidst the chaos, it’s easy to get swept away in a whirl of stress, worry, and even anxiety. Although stress and anxiety seem to be synonymous in our crazy worlds, there is a major difference between the two that is exceptionally important to understand.

High school students face all kinds of stress. Samuel Han defines stress as “the feeling you get under pres-sure.” Pressure for some comes from parents, for others from themselves, some from the desire to succeed, and still others from the pressures of future looming before them. Amanda Ernenwein, a senior, says “the biggest stress comes from trying to balance extracurriculars and my workload while keeping grades high.” Sophomore Gabbie DeLeon adds, “I felt more stress last year than I do this year because I was still learning how to balance my schoolwork, this year is much easier”. Many students begin to feel increasing stress junior year, as college applications are on the horizon. For some, the stress caused by these various factors can contribute to increased anxiety.

While many people deal daily with stress, anxiety goes much deeper. “Symptoms of anxiety and stress are driven by the same chemi-cal reaction; stress is a normal response to a threatening situation and anxiety is largely caused by worry or fear” (HealthStatus). Clini-cally defined, anxiety is “a disorder characterized by a state of exces-sive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks” (dictionary.com). It is important to note that people can feel anxious without having anxiety. Those who deal with anxiety disor-ders can be dealing with anything from generalized anxiety disorder or social anxiety to depression, OCD, and specific phobias. Many of these can be related. Senior Sydney Leal speaks candidly about her experiences with both anxiety and depression. “The summer between freshman and sophomore year it got so bad to a point where I couldn’t even really find the energy to get up and do things. Even the littlest thing could upset me. It took some time, but I finally got the guts to tell my parents and start talking to someone about what I was feeling. I think what prevented me from seeking that help sooner was the fear of feeling like I wasn’t strong, or not being what people might perceive me to be. It was really huge for me to get the help I needed and I think that people

should know that whatever struggles they’re facing that they aren’t alone in what they feel.” Although stress can con-tribute to anxiety, and anxious.

The nature of both stress and anxiety causes students to seek peace in a variety of ways. Perhaps one of the best ways to find this much needed relief is through scripture. Matthew 6:25-27 speaks on having peace although worry surrounds us. Stress is not fun, but ultimately is a part of life that can be given up to God. By doing so, feelings of peace are promised to us. 1 Peter 5:7 shifts focus to anxiety. Through trusting God with our fears and what causes our anxiety, we can begin to have peace. In addition to seeking God’s guidance amidst these struggles, remember that if you’re feeling a certain way, chances are someone else is or has too. While it is easy to feel alone in these situations, recent studies suggest that nearly one in six young adults have some kind of anxi-ety disorder. Consider that and know that you are not alone in your struggles!

If you are interested in further informa-tion on anxiety causes or treatment, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s website.

STRESS

Photos by Jordan Dawkins

A C T

xtracurricularsEThe Balancing A C T

No student can be an tight-rope walker when the rope they walk car-ries so much baggage.

Trying to succeed in school by completing homework and attempting to have a social life at the same time is already a big enough feat. But when you throw in the desire for hobbies and a drive to participate in clubs or outside activities that the school provides, the pressures can easily pile up and become overwhelm-ing. In fact, the difficulties of trying to find a balance in this hectic schedule that many students have can feel like trying to perform in a circus act. Junior Kelsey Lorensen knows this all too well. “I love theatre. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” she stated with a pointed attitude. “But it requires so much time and effort that sometimes it’s hard.” Recently, Kelsey and many of her class-

mates were participating as either actors or techies in Valley Christian’s produc-tion of Taming of the Shrew. Though the play was fun for both actors and staff, it took much dedication that sometimes could not be devoted strictly to theatre. “Rehearsals for the show always last for hours, which is to be expected,” Kelsey explained during the time, “But especially lately, they have lasted from 3 [in the afternoon] to 10 at night.” The actors were given breaks whenever their character was not on stage, and during that time, they could do homework and study for classes. However, for specific characters, especially the lead roles, the actor was expected to be on call for the majority of the rehearsal. In Kelsey’s case, she had practically no time to do homework, and completes most of it when she gets home late at night. This left her little to no time to 38 | The Warrior

Article By: Taylor FergusonPhoto By: Tara CrutchfieldDesign By: Si Chen

A C T

xtracurricularsThe Balancing A C T

herself, and even more limited family time. “Now that I think about it... I haven’t really talked to my brother in a long time,” she said, a bit shaken. “The only time we have to talk is when we’re walking to our classes and see each other in the hall.”It’s not just hard for theatre kids. Sophomore Mia Martins and Junior Allissa Williams filled in the Warriors staff on the time constraints of colorguard. “Colorguard practices are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” Mia let us know. “They last from a few hours on the weekdays to a full day on Saturday. We’re talking 10 hours.” Between a day of school, practice and trying to get homework done after that, both girls said they have very little free time. And with Saturday dedicated to colorguard and nothing else, they don’t have much time for friends either. “I get to see my friends on Sundays during youth group, but if anyone wants to go to the movies with me or hang out, I can’t do it,” Allissa told us. “Also, if you want to actually improve in guard, you have to practice outside of the scheduled practices.” All of this stress piled on top of stress isn’t healthy.

There is a recommended 8 hours of sleep a night, and students aren’t getting that if they want to take on a sport, or perform in a play. It essentially comes down to a decision: do well in school and get enough sleep at night to function, or do what you love but not be able to do as well as you should in school. It can be unfair to students when they are forced to compromise their mental health just to do what they are entitled to do in the first place, and they are left questioning why they are being pun-ished for doing both. So how can we fix this? How can Valley Christian students change their fate from being perpetually stressed and overall unhappy? I’ve struggled along with everyone else, and found the only solution to be scheduling your time. Always remember that your mental and physical health should be the things you hold most important to you as you go through your high school years. By scheduling your time correctly, you may be able to reduce the ridiculous stress that’s fallen on your shoulders. Sometimes, however, even that is not enough, and you have to step back for a moment. Recall that grades are only grades. It sounds cliche, but they do not define you. I’m not dis-couraging doing your homework, but if you are overscheduled and desperately need sleep, I’d recommend you choose sleep above all else. Your wellbeing should be your priority. Though it feels like it’s impossible to walk this tight rope, keep in mind that it’s okay to fall once in a while. No one can do it perfectly.

38 | The Warrior

ISIS CRISISBY CAMILLA MARAIS

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY

Between the news, newspaper articles, and online broadcasts, our media has been bombarded with news of the world’s newest terrorist threat: ISIS. Some have heard bits and pieces, regarding beheadings of our own citizens and Obama’s public speech of US military strategies. With our country becoming more directly involved, it’s important for us as students and Americans to have an understanding of this situation. Here is a basic summary of the who, what, and when of the group, with links to more recent information below.

WHAT: While there are a plethora of rebel groups found throughout the Middle East,

what makes ISIS so alarming and what causes backlash from other cults is their brutality. In January of 2014, ISIS overthrew Syria’s govern-

ment, killing off Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This action caused President Obama to intervene, authorizing airstrikes but making it clear he did

not deploy ground troops to fight. “ISIL (ISIS) poses a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, and the broader Middle East—including American citizens, personnel and facilities,” Obama said. In June of 2014

however, ISIS took Mosul, Iraq; releasing Sunni insurgents from prison, looting $425 million from banks, occupying an airport, several government and military buildings, a police station, and assum-ing control of the country’s largest oil facility. Oil being the energy source of not only Iraq but

most of the world, this is a big deal. Iraqi reli-gious groups took the country’s senior Shi’ite

religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s call to arms saying, “the legal and national responsi-bility of whoever can hold a weapon to hold it to defend the country, the citizens and the holy sites.” While brave, the untrained fighters were

no match for ISIS, resulting in the slaughtering of thousands, as well as 300 military advisors being sent by President Obama to Iraq. In early July, ISIS

officially claimed its territory as Anbar province (west of Baghdad) and most of Nineveh (north of Baghdad). A month later, ISIS overtook the larg-

est dam in Monsul, which also happens to be their water and electricity source.

WHO: Composed of Sunni Muslims, The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), recently named Islamic State of Iraq and the Levent (ISIL), is a growing terrorist group posing threats to the Middle East, the United States and our allies. Leading ISIS is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a native Iraqi who was also involved in Al-Qaeda leadership during 2010. ISIS poses a direct threat to Iraq’s neighboring countries by over their governments, energy sources and natural resources.

40 | The Warrior

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY

STAY CONNECTED: https://twitter.com/ISIS_Media_Hub - Hourly Twitter

updates on ISIS’ most recent moveshttp://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/the-isis - ISIS’

latest online updates

SHIITE AND SUNNI MUSLIMS: Identifying the two sects of the Islamic faith, Sunni and Shittes, is key to understanding this situ-ation. ISIS has recognized themselves as Sunni Muslims. While both under the same “religion”, the relationship between the opposing types of Muslims is civil, while divided. Their public images contradict this reality- the United Kingdom’s Telegraph describes them saying, “radical Sunnis are disgusted by cultic practices or religious art that distract from the teachings of Mohammed, Shiites embrace a messianic cult of martyrdom and ritual self-mortification”. This divide dates back to the origins of Islam itself. At the Prophet Muhammad’s death, Shia Muslims believed the leadership should have been passed to his son-in-law Ali bin Abu Talib (starting the continuing trend of Shiite discontent with Islamic leaders), where the Sunni sect was pleased that the prophet’s companions took over. Fastfoward to modern times, where while each sect has powerful militant groups, there are many places in the world where they coexist peacefully. As we can see from their history, the topic of conflict has never been about religion necessarily, but about power. It’s true that powerful

terrorist groups have come from each sect, such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, but when discussing these radical groups, it is more appropriate to simply state the opposing sides as ISIS and Al-Qaeda specifically. By referring to these terrorist groups by “Sunni” or “Shiite”, we are including millions of people who aren’t active in these radical movements and most likely do not share/support such ideas.

“We need to make sure that we’ve got clear plans, that we’re developing them. At that point, I will consult with Con-gress and make sure that their voices are heard...but there’s no point in me asking for action on the part of Con-gress before I know exactly what it is that is going to be required for us to get the job done.” -PRESIDENT OBAMA

MONEY AND WEAPONS: Taking weapons directly from battlefields in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has armed itself well. With heavy hearts, CNN can also confirm that, “the group has also reportedly received funding from wealthy individuals in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, and Qatar and then used the money to buy arms on the black market.” These individuals are motivated by Iran and Syria as threats, the shared anti-Shiite sentiment, and the desire protect fellow Sunnis from violence sanctioned by Assad and Maliki. Reportedly, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar have passed legislation banning such aid, but the governments have done little to enforce the laws. A study performed in December of 2013 revealed the donations funneling through Kuwait and to the rebel groups. “Today, there is evidence that Kuwaiti donors have backed rebels who have commit-ted atrocities and who are either directly linked to al-Qa’ida or coorporate with it’s affiliated

brigades on the ground,” the report said. “ISIS makes more than $10 million each month through extortion, the collec-tion of taxes and fees in areas under their control, selling oil from fields it controls, and through looting the homes of people who fled under threat of the militants.”

CHRISTIANITY: ISIS militants declared the per-secution of all Christians (who would not convert to Islam) under their reign in early August of this year. About 60,000 in number during 2004, the city’s Christians fled their homes to the mountains, abandoning their possessions and money which was later taken by ISIS militants. Threatening to extermi-nate tribes in northern Iraq as well as the thousands of Christians, ISIS left the refugees stranded without food, water, medicine, or other supplies. The U.S. military, authorized by airstrikes, dropped down food and medicine to the thousands of Yazidis stranded on Mount Sinjar.

Fall 2014 | 41

Q:

LOVE ADVICEBy Alyssa Teixiera

Where can I find a nice guy?

A:Might I suggest amazon.com? That website has all kinds of neat stuff! Just the other day I found a popcorn maker that doubles as a cotton candy machine on amazon.com. You can also check Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond. I suggest these places because they are huge! You are bound to find a nice guy wandering around one of those places. If you have no luck with either of these locations, you may want to check out the annual “Nice Guy Convention” that is hosted by the president of the Nice Guy Foundation each year. I also listed likely locations you would find nice guys below, hope this will help!

• The ice cream store • Barnes and Noble • Parks • Wherever you see a cute dog or cat • Toys R’ Us • Target • Libraries

Q:Dear Alyssa,I’m in a bit of a situation. So this girl I’ve been with for a while hasn’t been talking to me after our anniversary a week of ago. On our anniversary, I gave her a pretty blue box with a dead rat in it with the message, “I love you.” She dropped the box and walked away and hasn’t talked to me since. I feel like she might have misunder-stood the gift for me deceptively giving her a rat in a pretty box. The gift is a metaphor for our relationship. Even though she might be a dead rat on the inside, I will still love her. So what do I do? I don’t get what I did wrong. In fact, I think the gift was rather profound and deeply personal.

A:Hi there friend! Sorry to hear about your relationship troubles. Here is my suggestion:

1.) Get in your car2.) Drive to the nearest hospital3.) Seek professional help :)

Q:What do I do if my boyfriend is far away? (Aka in a long distance relationship)

Oh the long distance relationship...this is always a sticky situation to be in. The way I see it you have two options.

Option 1: Give up all hope of ever seeing this person again and come to terms that your relationship’s demise is ultimately inevitable.

Option 2: Try your very hardest to make it work, even though all the odds are against you!If you do go with option two here are a few suggestions to keep the magic of your relationship alive even if you are miles apart:

• Call each other every day no matter what. Even if it means only talking for three minutes while one of you is going to the bathroom and the other one is trying study for a math test.• Send each other care packages! You can fill them with fun little mementos of your relationship like a lock of your hair or a list of all the things you’ve eaten for the past week. You know, fun things like that.• Write each other love letters. This is a romantic form of expression as old as time. You can never go wrong with a detailed account of your emotions. Write him/her a poem or recount an awkward moment from your childhood.• The important thing to remember with long distance relationships is trust. If you can’t trust your man/woman to keep your instagram account password a secret, I would strongly advise you to not enter into a long distance relationship with him/her.

Q:

A:

IM A NICE GUY AND MY FEDORA ROCKS SO WHY DO I NOT HAVE A GIRLFRIEND? TELL ME.

Look at your life and look at your choices...re-evaluate.

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By Alyssa Teixiera

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