Leaving so soon?

Progress brings with it nostalgia. With PHS’ current field season ongoing in which the Turkey Tussle looms familiarly, and with the Homecoming Dance to celebrate: we experience pep rallies, spirit days, activities in our lively quads, and the energetic heights of this time in our football games. . As the Homecoming Dance draws near, the weeks are filled with pep rallies, spirit days, and, most of all, football games. These games are not just to support our team’s players and success though; they additionally display an array of dances, athletics, stuntwork, and music! These games are made up of more than just the team players. They’re also a stage for an array of dances, stunt work, and music! But with so much of the growth we are experiencing here at PHS currently, and with seniors on the edge of their lives’ new challenges: why not give them a chance to voice their reflections? Let's discover one of our seniors’ views and reflections from PHS’ Football Team, Cheer Squad, Marching Band, and Orchesis Dance Group. For some, this season marks their last at PHS as they look ahead to their lives after high school. Let's discover one of our seniors’ views and reflections from PHS’ Football Team, Cheer Squad, Marching Band, and Orchesis Dance Group.

Starting with the iconic foundation of these cheerful events: The PHS Football Team’s Allen Reyes. First, I spoke to the football team’s Allen Reyes. When inquired about how he feels with it being his last field season: Allen answered “It feels great, you know? Last ride with my guys. Hopefully we do something special with the team that we have.” Afterwards when he was offered to thank anybody, Allen again showed a close bond and commitment to his teammates as he replied “Probably my friend Brandon: he's been with me the whole ride and it's just been a long journey.” When I asked about how he feels with it being his last field season, Allen answered “It feels great, you know? Last ride with my guys. Hopefully we do something special with the team that we have. I have to thank my friend Brandon. He's been with me the whole ride and it's just been a long journey.” In so many competition-rooted programs it’s important to both appreciate those who have guided you, along with offering advice to others. To anyone hoping to play a part in PHS’ football team: Allen advises to “just do your best you know? Most people come out here and say they want to be on the football team and it's just really a waste of time: so if you want to come out and play just be committed and do your best.”

To anyone hoping to play a part in PHS’ football team: Allen shared “Just do your best you know? Most people come out here and they just want to be on the football team and it's just really a waste of time: so if you want to come out and play just be committed and do your best.”

Moving onward, we hear from our senior cheerleader: Victoria Arroyo. “I actually really like it being my last season. I’m kind of just tired; I’m excited definitely! But I’m tired.” Victoria, demonstrating the importance of positivity in her dedication to cheer, recites her favorite memory as a PHS cheerleader as she stated “Once I got my driver’s license I was allowed to drive people, and one time we didn’t have a bus to go decorate the Rose Bowl for Turkey Tussle; so I drove a bunch of the girls from cheer and that was a really fun memory.” In being a part of a group, it’s crucial to not only trust your peers’ equal effort, but trust them personally as well. A celebratory round-off to the Turkey Tussle’s excitement is the annual Homecoming Dance; Victoria expresses “I’m going to the last homecoming dance. I’m excited. I have a prospect in the works… I’m excited with it being my last year; I’m gonna run for the homecoming court. It’s just gonna be a great year overall.”

Next in our senior lineup we have PHS’ Pride of Pasadena Marching Band’s Aidan Vazquez. Aidan voices his feelings on his last field season as he says “I’ve made a lot of good memories. I’m definitely gonna miss the people you know; the experiences. And you know, it was fun while it lasted.” Across the many trips these programs have all taken, a wide array of memories have been lived and created. Describing his favorite memory formed in marching band, he says “Years prior there was a senior who's now an alumni; he axe-bombed the bus my shopmhore year. And that’s something I’m gonna remember for a while…” Influences, particularly those older than you, can instill both goals and unforgettable memories; whether good or not. An example of a non-axe-bombing influence is stated in Aidan’s thanks to someone who has helped him: as he answers “I’d most like to thank my old section leader. He’s the person who taught me, and he’s the person who inspired me to achieve a better standard.”

Our last PHS senior, Abeni Moore from the Orchesis Dance Group, reflects on her last field season occurring with her reply of “I’m honestly really sad: I’ve loved Orchesis, it's been my favorite part of PHS honestly so I’m gonna miss it a lot. But I’m really excited!” She continues to voice both her personal recollections and Orchesis’ accomplishments along the past few years, and answering the inquiry of who she would liket to thank: Abeni communicates “I think I would have to thank both my coaches from last year: Ms. Temple and Chan because even though they’re not here anymore they had a huge impact on me inside and outside dance. They were always there for us and I just love them.” Similar to each of the other programs we have heard from, Abeni’s views assert the value, connection, and influence of role models. Regardless of who they are, teacher or student: they do make a difference. In response to the question of if she will be attending Homecoming, Abeni answers “I am going to this years homecoming dance, and it's honestly again really sad because that’s like one of my favorite things throughout the year; and at the end of the previous year I’m always looking forward to it so I am also really sad about that.”

Just as Homecoming’s musical mosh pits and classic party attire mark the end of the Turkey Tussle with its escelelation of exciting home games and pep rallies: we see these seniors who are persistent, excited, and nostalgic. Our school’s tradition of the Turkey Tussle began about 70 years ago, and an old steam locomotive’s bell is what we call the Victory Bell today. Regardless of how many times we’ve won this bell here at PHS, the students partaking in each and every program are both the foundation and the key to our success as a school.

With progress comes nostalgia. PHS’ current field season is going strong and the Turkey Tussle looms familiarly. As the Homecoming Dance draws near, the weeks are filled with pep rallies, spirit days, and, most of all, football games. These games are made up of more than just the team players. They’re also a stage for an array of dances, stunt work, and music! For some, this season marks their last at PHS as they look ahead to their lives after high school. Let's discover one of our seniors’ views and reflections from PHS’ Football Team, Cheer Squad, Marching Band, and Orchesis Dance Group.

First, I spoke to the football team’s Allen Reyes. When I asked about how he feels with it being his last field season, Allen answered “It feels great, you know? Last ride with my guys. Hopefully we do something special with the team that we have. I have to thank my friend Brandon. He's been with me the whole ride and it's just been a long journey.” To anyone hoping to play a part in PHS’ football team: Allen advises to “just do your best you know? Most people come out here and say they want to be on the football team and it's just really a waste of time: so if you want to come out and play just be committed and do your best.”

Next, I heard from senior cheerleader, Victoria Arroyo. “I actually really like it being my last season. I’m kind of just tired. I’m definitely excited! But I’m tired.” I was curious to hear about her favorite memory being on the team: “Once I got my driver’s license, I was allowed to drive other people, and there was this one time we didn’t have a bus to go decorate the Rose Bowl for Turkey Tussle; so I drove a bunch of the girls from cheer and that was a really fun.” In being a part of a group, it’s crucial to not only trust your peers’ equal effort, but trust them personally as well. A celebratory round-off to the Turkey Tussle’s excitement is the annual Homecoming Dance; Victoria expresses “I’m going to the last homecoming dance. I’m excited about it being my last year! I’m gonna run for the homecoming court. It’s just gonna be a great year overall.”

Next in our senior lineup we have PHS’ Pride of Pasadena Marching Band’s Aidan Vazquez. Aidan voices his feelings on his last field season as he says “I’ve made a lot of good memories. I’m definitely gonna miss the people you know, the experiences. But it was fun while it lasted. Years ago there was a senior who axe-bombed the bus my sophomore year. And that’s something I’m gonna remember for a while…” Influences, particularly those older than you, can instill both goals and unforgettable memories; whether good or not. Luckily, not all of Aidan’s influence draws from traumatizing axe-bombing. “I really want to thank old section leader. He’s the person who taught me, and he’s the person who inspired me to achieve a better standard.”

Our last PHS senior, Abeni Moore from the Orchesis Dance Group, reflects on her last field season. “I’m honestly really sad, I’ve loved Orchesis and it's been my favorite part of PHS, so I’m gonna miss it a lot. But I’m really excited! I think I would have to thank both my coaches from last year: Ms. Temple and Chan because even though they’re not here anymore they had a huge impact on me inside and outside dance. They were always there for us and I just love them.” Abeni’s views assert the value, connection, and influence of role models. Regardless of who they are, teacher or student: they do make a difference. “I am going to this years homecoming dance, and it's honestly again really sad because that’s like one of my favorite things throughout the year; and at the end of the previous year I’m always looking forward to it so I am also really sad about that.”

Like every year, the school is filled with a buzz of excitement as homecoming draws near. And, like every year, it’s a time to acknowledge and thank those who are moving on to greater things, the wonderful seniors who are as much of a role model to us younger students as their role models were to them.