[Student Reporters] S.O.S. Is anyone out there? Turns out, There is

It is normal to expect community service clubs common interest clubs social clubs or political clubs on a high school campus. At Peninsula High however a new kind of club with new ideas and most importantly new students has revealed itself to student life. Every week a club called Stressed Out Students (SOS) gather together to talk about stress pressure and supporting each other as peers. The purpose of SOS established by two students on campus is to unify stressed students and encourage support. This may be a familiar story. What is special however is that this club directly reaches out to new students including transfers and freshmen. Invitations are sent out to new students to attend a luncheon in the school College & Career Center. Members of the club make treats such as cookies to share with the attendees. "The hard part about school is fitting in. It's normal for teenagers to search for their identity. Especially for transfer students it's hard to take the initiative to make new friends with a pack of strangers. For freshmen there is always that division after middle school" said Christine Lopez the safe school counselor and the faculty advisor of the club. The SOS Club attempted to organize a buddy system; however with the unexpectedly huge turnout of students they also came to realize that there were more lonely peers than anyone had realized. While everyone ate lunch the SOS members asked questions interacted with new students and welcomed them to Peninsula. The new students also naturally mingled with themselves also. "It's going to take time but in the long run SOS is going to be a useful way for new students to find their place here" said Regina Lemont the SOS co-president. With a supportive student body and faculty the new students found that it was easier to try to fit in. "I was so happy to know there was such a club like that on campus. They were not judgmental at all. It's a relief to know that my high school life isn't going to be so bad" said a Rhode Island transfer student. SOS is currently working on furthering their cause and to continue bettering the social lives on campus with plans of future meetings and events.

2010.02.07. 14:44

[Student Reporters] First “Eagles” Scout Award Given in Phelan VFW

On December 1st 2009 Koreans were clapping hard with their eyes gleaming as Isaac Pak a Korean-American student received an "Eagle" Scout award in the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Phelan. Isaac Pak has been participating as a member of the boy scouts in the Phelan VFW for 9 years his goal being to receive the "Eagles" scout award. "I feel great honoring both the Veterans and representing our country this way" says Isaac Pak. Korean Americans have made an impact on the VFW and showed how Koreans can do as much. "I am very proud of my son and I am really glad that a Korean-American was the first ever to receive the highest award given in a Caucasian VFW area" says In Ja Pak Isaac's mother. It was big news for some Koreans as one of them was the first to win the best award. "We showed those people how Korean can be the best and from now on they may not underestimate us" says Hee Young Lee a student's mom. In some Korean people's perspectives Isaac getting the "Eagles" scout award was not as important as the fact that a Korean was the first to get the award. "I am much honored and I feel great that Isaac has won the Eagles scout award because he deserved it. I've seen him grow and I've always seen him work hard to earn what he has now" says Dave Bazylak a member in the VFW. Isaac proudly says his nine years of working paid off because he was not also glad to win the award but even gladder in the fact that he honored his own nationality. To some Korean-Americans in Phelan December 1st 2009 was a great day for them as a student of their kind was the first to do something in a place which they weren't born in. Some think Isaac Pak achieving the Eagles scout award had an impact on Korean-Americans living in Phelan.

2010.02.07. 14:43

[Student Reporters] Unusual Volunteer Activity: A Mini Concert with Expressionless Elderly

On the fifth of January Daewon Foreign Language High School's traditional music club Dodri went to Gangnam Geriatrics Hospital to play Korean classical music. At first Dodri members having been awarded in several competitions were confident that they could play well in front of all elders of the hospital. The instruments were a keyboard haegums daegums and gayaguems. However as the performance time got closer all members were half-confident and half-worried. At around two o'clock about a hundred patients came down to the first floor. Almost all the elderly had to use wheelchairs because they could not move by themselves. Even though it was really difficult for them to move thankfully many elderly came down to enjoy the performance. The songs we played were Gunbam Taryoung Doraji Taryoung Saeyasaeya and Arirang. Most of the songs were famous Korean traditional songs that Dodri members expected the elderly to be very active during the performance. However almost no one smiled or sang the song as Dodri members played the instruments. So stunned and concerned was the president of Dodri Min Hye Joon that she later asked the chief doctor of the hospital Lee Joo Sun why they had no joy in their faces. After the performance when I asked President Hye Joon why she looked upset she replied anxiously. "I am very worried why the elderly did not have any joyful expression in their faces. Dodri members all expected that all the elderly would be very happy to participate in our little concert. We have practiced and waited so long for this volunteer activity and are somewhat disappointed about this situation." Unexpectedly the chief doctor's answer to President Hye Joon's question was simple. "The elderly are so used to having expressionless faces that doctors cannot really do anything. To tell you the truth even though all doctors try to communicate and have pleasant conversation with every patient it is really difficult to change their expressionless faces." After hearing the answer President Hye Joon and other Dodri members decided to stay longer in the hospital and converse with each elderly who participated in Dodri's mini music concert. As they started to talk with the elderly - about their school lives hobbies and families - and asked them questions their expressionless faces changed to smiley faces. What the elderly needed were not formal musical performances but caring pleasant conversation with grandchild-like students. The more they talked to each other the more laughter they shared. Nowadays the importance of volunteer work has tremendously increased. In fact almost every student participates in at least one volunteer work. There are two possible reasons that have led so many people participate in volunteer work: for some people happiness and fruitfulness; for some people especially students for college application. However Dodri members now have another special reason for their volunteer activity - for bringing smiles to lonesome elderly through heart-to-heart interaction!

2010.02.07. 14:43

[Student Reporters] I‘m a Gleek

On the second Wednesday of December Glee broadcasted its long awaited season finale. As a new show on the Fox network Glee has gathered countless committed followers of the show. Children teenagers and even adults tune in every Wednesday night to listen to the Glee cast perform covers of popular songs while still attending to their personal and school needs. The show has been present in the daily school life of Harvard-Westlake students; therefore prompting the creation of a Glee Club at the lower campus. As a newly formed club it is steadily gaining popularity. The first song that rendered the show's popularity was their cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" as it reached number one on the iTunes' "Top Songs" list. Consequently the middle school Glee club performed "Don't Stop Believing" as their first song to initiate the club. Teachers believe that the new show is indeed very encouraging because the plot does balance very controversial issues such as teen pregnancy and gay rights while aiming to provide a therapeutic outlet for the high school students and teachers through the Glee club. "I watch the show religiously and I like the fact that they show a lot of diversity in the Glee club because I have a lot of friends with different ethnicities and it just shows that different people can find many things in common such as singing and become life long friends" says Rachel Hall a junior at Harvard-Westlake. Others however find the "diversity" of the club is just a sham because "Glee is trying to create the perfect high school experience by putting the popular quarterback and cheerleader in the same group as the 'nerdy' kid in the wheelchair and the gay kid" argues Phil Walters a senior at La Costa Canyon High School. Even with the critics the show and the school club continues to grow in popularity. The club is preparing to put on a small show in front of the student body as they start to practice new songs once they return from winter vacation. As for the rest of the committed "Gleeks" as the show calls its fans they wait for the second season to start in late 2010.

2010.02.07. 14:41

[Student Reporters] Why is Community Service Momentous

It is widely known among students and parents that community service is an important factor that many students want to put in their portfolio for college admission. However not many know about the influences and effects of community service. What exactly does community service give us other than that? Community service is a voluntary activity that does not pay. This is important for training young adults to get prepared before they become one of the members of the society. Through community service especially for students they are able to learn and obtain qualities of a good citizen as they are offering help to others. Students are able to find the worth of their labor and learn responsibilities. Samar Hydoub a junior at Korea Kent Foreign School (KKFS) teaches English at Joongkok Welfare House and she said "Even though I was different from the young students they were only amused but didn't treat me differently. They followed along pretty well and I felt worthwhile of teaching English." Another student Hyo Lee a junior at KKFS said "Teaching is hard and requires great patience and responsibilities." "In Community service providing help to a person who is in need makes the volunteers to offer everything they have but expecting nothing in return. Though there are no rewards the act of volunteering itself is very meaningful" said Christine Chun a junior student at KKFS. Community service may connect to student's future career. Laura Chung a junior at KKFS said "I tried to find community service activities that are related to my future career a math teacher. I was fortunate that the school had already offered a place for community service regarding teaching. It was also a great opportunity to learn how to get close with young students." Jason Lee a junior at KKFS had helped disabled people work and earn money at a Welfare center. Since Jason was willing to work in the business field helping them was a good chance for him to learn how difficult it is to get paid. "I was glad and proud to help the people who were having difficulties in working" said Jason. "It was also a good experience for my future career" he added. To participate in community service properly and effectively students should find activities that are around them and easy for them to perform. Finding a community service related to one's interest and career is one of the good ways that makes volunteering significant for the students' lives. Lastly community service should not be a short-term activity. It has to be done continuously and not to mention should be enjoyable.

2010.02.07. 14:40

[Student Reporters] World History Teacher Adopts a Baby from China

With between one and three million orphans China is always looking for adoptees for its abandoned babies. For Monty Armstrong an AP world history teacher his three year adoption process embarked when his wife who had always wanted kids asked a simple question "What if?" Then Mr. Armstrong and his wife applied for adoption through Holt International an adoption agency operating in 12 different countries. They were matched to Lin Zhi Yuan in China. Yuan had been abandoned when he was one month old and then taken to an orphanage where his cleft lip was repaired. He had been in foster care for two years when the adoption was arranged with Mr. Armstrong. In June of 2008 Mr. Armstrong and his wife flew over to Beijing. They spent several days traveling in Beijing and northwest China for the first time. Finally on July 1 Mr. Armstrong and his wife had their first physical contact with Yuan now named James Albert. "When I first met him two thoughts crossed my mind. My first thought was that he was very cute. And second that he was a lot bigger than we thought he will be" he said. After returning to Los Angeles in July 2008 James has had a relatively easy and smooth transition. He is learning how to swim and getting bigger every day. Mr. Armstrong describes James as an "absolute speed demon on his tricycle" and a lover of the movie "Cars." More updates about James's transition and Mr. Armstrong's trip to China can be found on the web at www.jamesalbert.blogspot.com. When asked about the changes in their lifestyles Mr. Armstrong quickly answered "Free time evaporates." His wife has cut down the number of hours she works every day while Mr. Armstrong tries to "jam in all of his work at school" in order to spend more time with James. "We plan to expose James to the Chinese culture. When he gets to be 14 or 15 we want to take him to China" said Mr. Armstrong.3

2010.02.07. 14:40