West High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Torrance, CA)

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I Friends enhance a student's life ome on, let's go on the merry-go-round! l want my horse to go up and down too! Let's go tell Santa what we want for Christmas. No, this is not the speech of a bunch of five year olds. Instead, they are the words of a group of high school friends as they lose them- selves in the magic of Christmas, breaking from the pressures of life. Friends played an important role in a student's sojourn through the rigors of West. They were those with whom one could act silly around and not be criticized for it. All they did when their friends acted a little strange was to laugh along. Friends are those who laugh at your dumb jokes, said senior Christina De La Rocha. Friends were also those who held the same interests as oneself, sharing books, computers, sports, music . . . These common pursuits enhanced the bonds existing between friends. Though this was impor- tant, the most substantial function of a friend was to support one in hisfher endeavors, whatever they may have been. They were there in the difficult transition period from childhood to adulthood. They pushed students dovm the road to success and pulled them from the sometimes fatal jaws of depression, cheering their buddies on when they triumphed and picking them up when they fell. Most importantly, they were always there. Friends let us know we're not alone. stated senior Jenny Lin. Copy by Reid Mangan and Chao-Yi Wei Layout by Chao-Yi Wei Photos by Li-Chen Lin and Chao-Yi Wei Shifting to low gear, junior Li-Chen Lin relaxes among her stuffed friends. Sharing a common love of books, junior Maili Velex and senior Sujata Dube laugh at a ridiculous title. 1 5 f I 5 5 J U Q u 3 1 law - -K W? sa Fl?IElXIlfl'5 27

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i26 R i . Q .3 ii 7 in 1 ii X ff ' L Cuddling with his dog Buck, freshman John Mangan shows that friends comes in all forms. 'D Making ffiends with Raggedy Ann, seniors Katy Chang, Gloria Huang, San-Yi Lin, and Cindy Hung share the Christmas spirit. 'Q Proving that the child inside never dies, seniors Laura Holbrook, Amy Schrader, and sophomore Ger- berta Royce enjoy a spin on a corousel. Caja I CN Vo C I IXILI IL' J Z Q, 2 f Q, www ff M Vim ,,, ff fi i y , i isii , llir f ,rii if i lirr i i yy

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I li'll I llXlTl'l'u n' I! Ll l.l.l I I I Students volunteer time for the community ' apers rustle as the music sheets are passed out. Let's go singing, calls out the leader of the group. Waitl protests a caroler. Aren't we practicing first? Caroling for hospital patients wasjust one of the events sponsored by the Service Club in their crusade to help people. The members ofthe club also contributed many hours counting cans of food at the Salvation Army and running the LA County Academic Decathalon, which West hosted for the second consecutive year. But the Service Club was not the only organization on campus that helped the community. The members of CSF, with sponsor Edna Murphy, gave a Christmas party for children enrolled in the Salvation Army's day care center. After a few minutes, onlookers couldn't distinguish the high school students from the toddlers as all joined in the games of ring-around the rosey, hokey-pokey, and duck-duck-goose. The group, Peer Counseling, whose main purpose was to help troubled students with their problems, also played duck-duck-goose. It was, however, far from a game for the members. It was an exercise to train these people to help others. You have to learn and accept yourself before you can help others, said Judy Chang. Some students didn't limit their volunteer works within school organiza- tions. Some worked in local hospitals or in programs such as Safe-Rides. Whatever the students of West chose to contribute to the community, their actions showed that West cares. Copy and Layout by Chao-Yi Wei Photos by C. Wei, A. MeUa, B. Hardy, and J. Lin