West High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Torrance, CA)

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11 'N FCS Yi' very lunch was used up, summer school was a must, Sundays became a day for study instead of rest, and three days a week for two hours, West High students gave up their free time to partake in a challenging program called Academic Decathalon. Coached by Science Department Chairman, George Floratos, and teacher Ron Marra, each participant had high hopes of making the nine member team including three alternates. This team, recognized in Octo- ber, went on to compete in an all day match of the minds between many top notch Los Angeles County schools. West High hosted the all day competition for the second year in a row. The ten subjects students were tested on throughout the day included History, Fine Arts, Science, Litera- ture, Economics, Math, an essay, an interview, Super Quiz, and two speeches, prepared and impromptu. Two of our members, seniors John Lewis and Ken Hsiang, received individual recognition awards for their speeches. Excitement peaked at the final event, Super Quiz, which be- came our strongest point of the day with West's team placing second. Overall, the Decathalon team placed eighth among 65 participating schools. Although our main goal was to place in the top ten, said junior member Steve Lurie, We could have done better had the nine members been chosen earlier in the season. Coaches Floratos and Marra replaced former coaches Marsha Dollarhide and Anna Kasparian and devised a new training tactic. By having a group of at most 50 students cooperatively research Academic Decathalon topics, Floratos eased the load on the would-be team members. He also asked teachers of the different subjects to lecture the students during lunch and after school. l'Talking about the information with different department teach- ers was a big plus in helping us make top ten, stated Lurie. Despite the drop from last year's placing, the 1986 team placed third, the '88 team was pleased to place so highly in the match. However, Floratos expressed the hope of placing in the top five next year. Layout by Jenny Lin Copy by Susan Pearson Photos by Li-Chen Lin, Tom Sherman, and Jenny Lin W Molding his brain for the Decathalon, senior Tim Stowe absorbs information in the area of Fine Arts. Relaxing before their hectic day starts, seniors John Lewis and Jamie Ozenne play with V the computer. x7 Blocking out the world, senior Sharon Krinsky gropes deeply for the answer to a Super Quiz question. 'Q Proudly representing our school, senior Audrey MacLeod keeps score for West. D Top row: Coach Ron Marra, Paul Yoon, Ken Hsiang, Tim Stowe, John Lewis, Charlie Suh, Jamie Ozenne, Duncan Stewart, Steve Lurie, Chou-Han Lee, Coach George Flora- tos. Front row: Laura Conrad, Sharon Krinsky. O FI I: FI III E ITE I II If! E I: FI T H Fl L III Pl 'x 2 5 . K X S X- fx i Qi 'Q ,gs .. .,,, - x. E it .1 m i . Q S. 1 I- t X x 'SS . 5 'N- 'Nw WEST W ,Qu i

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112 III' I IZITII3 M ww Mhjgrfio! Applications are due in one week! Why'd I wait so long to get started? This is going to be a major pain. I know l'll have to stay home all weekend and maybe even miss a day of school for all the time l've wasted, I need to borrow someone's typewriter - quick! Why am I doing this? I never expected it would be so much trouble. Preparing for college, taking the SAT, Achievements, choosing and applying for colleges, etc., was a time of panic and sweat for many seniors. Going to college and preparing is really a pain. I think high school life is much better, commented senior Ray Chang. Anxiety really set in when college-bound seniors desperately searched for where and how to spend the next four years or more of their lives. Counselor Melton Plygren suggested that Hstu- dents should visit campuses and check out the environ- ment to get a feel for what they like. Consciencious applicants felt like all of their high school life has been spent preparing for college. Thoughts as to which classes to take and what activities to get involved in turned out to be crucial decisions. l'The only reason I joined Student Council was so it would look good on my transcripts. lt's all bogus! remarked senior Mark Yee. Ju- nior Debbie llershberg felt like her Hwhole life revolves around getting into the college of my choice. On the other hand, many students viewed the whole idea of college with fear. l'l'm scared of facing things alone, admitted senior Chie Furuya. Junior Kendra Thurber ad- ded, l wish I couldjust run away to the Fiii Islands and get away from all the pressures and future decisionsII Copy and Layout by Susan Rosta Photos by Bill Hardy, Li Chen Lin, and Cindy Pu ...M Maw I. s..,,.-- , ....- NNN X 'XP' 11- MWfI,.f ,.nv ,,HI..mmwff:wf'w:, M, I 3 Critically analyzing what El Camino has to offer, senior John Lewis weighs his options. 57 Trying to beat the clock, senior Angie Lee rushes to meet an application deadline. g Tired hom a day's tour, senior SunAe Lee and junior Li Chen Lin take a rest.