In this Freaky Friday-esque Nighthawk Note, seniors

and freshmen switch perspectives, reflecting on days

gone by and anticipating days ahead.

Volume 1 | Issue 1 | October 8, 2012

“gumption”

PSAT Testing

Homecoming

Trimester 1 Ends

MIZEL-ISMS

TAMMY CHEN & JACKIE WIBOWO •

Rewind the clock back one year. The

intercom bleeps to life, and a familiar voice

greets us—it’s Mr. Mizel, being his usual

enthusiastic self. His sunny tone suddenly

drops, and a more serious edge creeps into

his voice. He calls for complete silence,

intimating that he has significant news. The

typically raucous classrooms have simmered

down to a low murmur. The student body is

collectively in the dark; what's going on?

And then he drops the bomb.

Del Norte's 2011 API score is 863, the

highest in the entire district—

surpassing Mt. Carmel (825), Rancho

Bernardo (841), Poway (853), and Westview

(860). But what does that mean? What goes

into the number?

Academic Performance Index scores

are published each year for every public

school in California. They’re measured on a

scale from 200 to 1000 – the statewide target

for all schools is 800. Scores are calculated

from standardized testing (CST and

CAHSEE) reports, although each section is

weighted differently.

Scores are normally released during

the summer, which begs the question: why is

our 2012 score so late? According to an

announcement by the state Department of

Education, the release of this years' API

scores was delayed due to an ongoing

investigation involving a cheating scandal.

Reportedly, students at 11 high schools

and one middle school took pictures of

questions on the CST test and posted them

on the Internet. This complication has

postponed the API scores for 147 schools

across 94 districts.

SAHIL CHINOY & OMAR ALI •

This is your newspaper. Seriously.

These twelve pages are full of your

friends, your teachers, your clubs, and

your teams. You, the students, are what

make Del Norte great, and you, the

students, are in turn what make this

newspaper great. Because an article is

only as interesting as the people it’s

about, and you, Del Norte students, are

just about the most interesting people

out there.

This is the first print edition of a

newspaper we want to become a lasting

institution at Del Norte. The Talon is not

for mere dissemination of information;

The Talon is for building a community.

Within these pages you’ll find

familiar faces and faces you’ve never

seen. You’ll find clubs you’re a part of

and clubs you’ve never heard of. You’ll

find teachers you’ve had and teachers

you didn’t even know existed. That’s the

beauty of The Talon: it highlights your

niche in Del Norte’s culture while

simultaneously exposing you to the

ideas and accomplishments of others.

But Del Norte is not all good;

nothing ever is. By depicting Nighthawk

life honestly and accurately—both the

good and the bad—The Talon is also a

catalyst for change, an impetus for

forward movement. And that’s what

makes our school special: with the past

in mind, we focus on what’s next.

We enjoyed creating this

newspaper, Nighthawks. We think

you’ll enjoy reading it.

Yours truly,

Del Norte High School

16601 Nighthawk Lane

San Diego, CA 92127

Adviser: Cara Jenkins

(858) 487-0877

cjenkins@powayusd.com

Our mission is to inform and entertain the Del Norte community with a well-written and factually sound newspaper. As a student-run

organization, The Talon aims to report on issues relevant to Del Norte students,

prompting the discussion that serves as a catalyst for growth. The Talon pledges to respect the opinions of all and seeks to

encourage the diversity inherent in the Del Norte community.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING/DESIGN EDITOR

AD MANAGER

PRINCIPAL ARTIST

Omar Ali

Michael Bulkin

Tammy Chen

Sahil Chinoy

Rosa Chung

Emma D’Esopo

Jennifer Hayashi

Eric Inumerable

Rachelle Juan

David Manzano

Ashley Mitchell

Bella Noet

Chase Paisley

Karli Renken

Maggie Sharpe

Kat Stapleford

Wesley Wan

Jackie Wibowo

Sophie Zanders

Jessica Zhou

Arina Alexeeva

Vivian Bui

Jill Swartzentruber

The Talon is the official newspaper of Del Norte High School, and is published by Del Norte

Network. The views expressed in The Talon do not necessarily represent the opinions of Del

Norte High School administration or the PUSD Board of Education. Unsigned editorials reflect

the beliefs of The Talon editorial board. The Talon is a collaborative effort with Del Norte Network, and applications for prospective

members are always available. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be signed. For

advertising rates or information please call, email, or write The Talon at the address above.

P A G E 2

WESLEY WAN & ROSA CHUNG •

Fleas jump. Elephants roam.

Nighthawks soar. Remember the

excitement that we’ve all felt as we sat

in anticipation, squirming in the

stadium seats, watching the great Mizel

himself ride in on his skateboard?

Hearing the same speech this year, were

our newest Nighthawks as gripped by

his words? Did they fathom the wild

ride they had in store? One thing is for

sure—the dynamic of Del Norte High

School has changed drastically since its

inception and the Del Norte the rest of

us walked into is not the same Del

Norte they are entering.

The unique difference between

our classes was exemplified at the

Freshman Orientation. Three years ago,

the senior class came into Del Norte

excited, daring, with ideas already

flowing. They sought to sculpt the

‘distinctively Del Norte’ culture that

makes us so strong today. They were

forced to grow and experiment, and

ultimately, they made Del Norte what it

is today.

But these freshmen! Were they

anything like the seniors were three

years ago? No. No, they came in

expectant. Emma Dorn (9) laughs, “I’m

just really excited. I mean, I was really

nervous, but now I’m just super

excited.” They came with respect,

anxiousness, and even a twinge of fear.

They’ve already heard about what Del

Norte has to offer. They were more like

freshmen than the seniors were on that

first day of high school. That’s not to

say that these kids are anything more or

less than the seniors. They’ll contribute

to this high school’s culture as much as

those who created it. They’ll be the

ones to take up the legacy, and they’ll

be the ones running this school in three

years. But, for now, they’re our beloved

freshmen.

They filed in. They took their

seats. They watched and listened,

drinking in every word that Mr. Mizel

said. They jumped when our adored

Sammy Salek, alumnus, came out and

pumped them up, filling the whole gym

with Nighthawk spirit. After that, they

split into groups to get to know each

other, and soon smiles and laughter

were caught everywhere. Link Crew

Leader Mariana Gomezellanos (11)

commented on their diversity: “My kids

were from Las Vegas, El Centro,

everywhere...I know they’re excited to

take on the Del Norte Legacy.”

They’ve definitely got their share

of trials and tribulations before them;

and as the seniors’ two million minutes

come to an end, all of us must come

together to start theirs. Welcome

aboard, Class of 2016. We’re ecstatic to

have you.

photo by VIVIAN BUI

October 23, 2012 PUSD College Fair

at Mt. Carmel High School

November 30, 2012 UC and CSU application

deadline

November 16, 2012 Counselor Recommendation

packet due

January 1-3, 2012 Most private school

application deadlines

Deadlines are approaching quickly for seniors to put together their college applica-tions and submit them. Here’s a brief glance at what you need to know.

SAHIL CHINOY •

Many seniors’ most-visited web-

site has recently changed from Face-

book to the Common App as they stare

blankly at white screens, searching for

that elusive spark of inspiration. Long

nights and stressful weekends lie in

store for the seniors applying to college,

but Del Norte’s Counseling department

is providing many resources to help.

Thirty-three college representa-

tives from schools like New York Uni-

versity, the University of Southern Cali-

fornia, and the University of Chicago

will have visited campus by November

16, talking to interested students at any

grade level. The counseling department

will also hold application workshops

every Tuesday morning in October.

Over 130 colleges will be present

at Poway Unified’s annual College

Fair—this year, it’s being held at Mt.

Carmel on October 23.

Visit the Counseling website for

news and updated information.

THE TALON | P A G E 3

photos by VIVIAN BUI

D E L N O R T E

NUMBERS

STUDENTS

TEACHERS

FACULTY

OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN

SPORTS LAST YEAR

AP EXAMS TAKEN BY DN STUDENTS IN 2012

STUDENT-LED CLUBS ON CAMPUS

F O O T B A L L 2 - 3

G I R L S X C 1 - 0

B O Y S X C 1 - 0

F I E L D H O C K E Y 2 - 3

G I R L S V O L L E Y B A L L

14 - 3 B O Y S W A T E R P O L O

4 - 8 G I R L S T E N N I S

4 – 5

G I R L S G O L F 8 - 3

P A G E 4

photo by ERIC INUMERABLE

P A G E 5

art by ANISSA RIVIERE

SOPHIE ZANDERS •

Cailah Eugenio (10), shown left, effectively

combines polka dots and lace, creating a very

distinctive style. Mixing patterns has been in vogue

for the last year and will continue to be popular. As

fashion moves forward, it becomes bolder and less

restrictive. Her nude shoes avoid drawing attention

away from the rest of her outfit.

Justin Shin (10), shown middle, looks both

classy and preppy. Short sleeved button-up shirts and

glasses are hard to pull off for many, but his fashion-

forward outfit is decidedly cool. His boat shoes are

currently very popular. They were prominent in the

‘80s and have recently been enjoying a revival—

some might go so far as to say they’re the new Vans.

Ashley Huynh (12), shown right, wears a dress

with side cutouts—a great way to show skin without

revealing too much. Cutouts in more than one

location might be considered uncouth, but when

well-done, they work for both day and evening

dresses. Her collar and buttons are a nostalgic nod to

the ‘50s, and the A-line style she wears is flattering

on everyone.

Expect to see these three students’ bold styles

out on the quad in the coming weeks.

looking BACK

and AHEAD

N I G H T H A W K N O T E t h e BELLA NOET •

Listen to good music, kids. I wish

I’d known to do that as early as fresh-

man year. What you hear on the radio

is not good music, at least not most of

the time. “Call Me Maybe,” “As Long

As You Love Me,” “Blow My Whistle

Baby”: no one will remember these

songs come next year. It’s still fun to

rock out to them in your car, don’t get

me wrong, but when it comes down to

it, you want to be that kid that knows

good music. Even if that’s pretty pre-

tentious sounding, it’s true. At least

know the basics. Nothing is worse than

sitting in a car with someone when

they ask you to name the song playing,

and you genuinely have no idea what it

is or who the artist is. Then it turns out

to be someone like Elton John, some-

one who you should know. Trust me,

I’ve been there, and I will probably

stay there for a while. Moral of the

story—listen to good music, listen to

the oldies, try to find new stuff that

you really do like, because no one’s

favorite artist is really Ke$ha.

CHASE PAISLEY •

Second trimester of my junior

year, I began a pretty intense job

search, applying to ten or fifteen res-

taurants around North County without

success. Eventually, I got my job—but

I didn’t get it through applying, I was

offered the job by a family friend. I

took up work at a successful sushi res-

taurant in La Jolla, and let me tell you,

it was sweet. People always tell you

life is about who you know, and I’d

never appreciated the saying until I

was offered my job. I have the job that

I do solely because of my positive re-

lationship with the owners. Relation-

ships can’t be taken for granted. Work

at your relationships. They will open

more doors than most other things in

life. Maintain them, nurture them, care

for them. A personal investment in a

friendship can be life changing, and it

might bring opportunity that you

wouldn’t believe; you can’t ever dis-

count that fact. Don’t close a single

door or opportunity for yourself in high

school, and you’ll turn out fine.

MICHAEL BULKIN •

Although the day that I can call

myself a senior isn’t very near, the

anticipation began the second I walked

onto the Del Norte campus. Since then,

every time my mind drifts off, thoughts

about the excitement of ruling the school

flood my consciousness. New school

spirit has come about at Del Norte—in

no small part due to this year’s

graduating class—but I feel that the

Class of 2016 can raise the bar even

higher. When the day comes to finally

roll into my senior parking spot, Del

Norte will have evolved into a model

school. I can picture a gym full of CIF

banners and not one empty seat at any

sports event. Our class will be incredibly

tight-knit, and everyone will be

enthusiastic about finishing high school

with a bang. We’ll be the first class to

really have any traditions to perpetuate,

and we’ll make sure to both continue

those and start new ones. Finally—and

perhaps most importantly—after these

next four years we’ll have made such a

strong impression on each other’s lives

KARLI RENKEN •

How do I imagine things will be

like when I’m a senior? For starters, the

level of spirit is going to be off the

charts. This is the first year Del Norte

has really had spirit—the seniors came

together and formed "the Flock." Not

only has it made football games more

exciting and energetic, but it has inspired

the whole school to be much more spir-

ited. We freshmen plan to keep the en-

ergy that the Flock brings alive for the

next four years. We’re also going to in-

spire future classes to have pride in our

school, and develop Del Norte’s level of

spirit into force to be reckoned with.

When I’m a senior I also hope we can all

be a big family. Right now all of the

freshmen are new to the school—we

don't know each other very well, and

though we see each other in the hall-

ways, we never say hello. By the time

we’re seniors, I really hope that unfa-

miliarity will have disappeared. Instead

of being strangers and never really con-

necting with one another, I hope we’ll all

be able to talk like we’ve known each

other all our lives.

EMMA D’ESOPO •

When I entered the gates of Del

Norte on the first day of school, I was

shocked by how big the campus was. I

saw a couple of familiar faces, but for

the most part I felt like a lost little kid

wandering the aisles of a Super Target,

not knowing where I was supposed to go

the whole entire day and searching for

another freshman who could help. But

then came the pep rally. I had no idea

what to expect, but I couldn’t have asked

for a better way to start the year. I was

intrigued by all of the performances and

all of the kids screaming with Del Norte

pride. I knew from that very first day

that my four years are going to be

amazing. The football games have been

awesome, and the Nighthawk pride at

school is huge; everyone wears their Del

Norte T-shirts and hoodies. When I’m a

senior, in 4 short years, I hope the school

spirit is just as prominent, if not more. I

hope that every Friday, every single stu-

dent has their blue and green on. And

lastly, I hope that every Nighthawk is

looking out for each other like we’re all

one family—all part of one nest.

OMAR ALI •

Our senior class is

unique because, in a way,

we’ve been seniors for

four years. When Del

Norte started off with a

student body of 500

freshmen and 200 sopho-

mores, we immediately

meshed together and

acted as a collective sen-

ior class. We established

the clubs, the athletic

teams, and the classroom

rigor. We set the prece-

dents.

The sense of owner-

ship we developed to-

wards Del Norte was un-

shakable and unmistaka-

ble, no matter how much

flak we got from Poway,

RB, Westview, and Mt.

Carmel.

Of course, it wasn’t

all smooth sailing. Our

first yearbook cover was

branded with a winged

fish dubiously labeled a

Nighthawk by the year-

book staff. At the time,

this was unfathomably

embarrassing. But looking

back, there could have

been no better symbol of

the ambitious group of

fourteen- and fifteen-

year-olds that comprised

our school in its infancy,

yearning to spread their

wings and fly.

OMAR ALI •

There’s always been an el-

egant and understated duality

between the freshmen and senior

classes of each high school. For

the freshmen, the jump from

middle to high school is the

biggest transition they’ve made in

their lives. Oftentimes, freshmen

are struggling to define

themselves as individuals while

trying to fit into the culture set in

place for them by the seniors.

Throughout it all, the freshmen

are eager to look ahead at what

their high school experience has

in store for them.

In a setting like Del Norte,

still developing its culture and

traditions, the freshman class is

given unparalleled opportunities.

To put it another way—if Del

Norte was a garden, the Class of

2013 is essentially a group of

gardeners. We tilled the soil,

planted the seeds, watered them,

and witnessed the first sprouts.

Not every seed we planted saw

daylight, but we were not

deterred.

Despite knowing that we

wouldn’t be able to stick around

to see the garden in full bloom,

we toiled away, establishing the

programs of Del Norte and pour-

ing our souls into perfecting

them.

Now, joined by a new group

of gardeners, the Class of 2016,

it’s on us to teach them

everything we know. That’s not

to say that the freshman class has

no responsibilities of its own.

When our class departs, we leave

behind a school that needs to be

tended to with patience and love.

We rely on the freshmen to make

sure that our legacy lives on. In

return, they get to inherit a school

where opportunity is boundless

and rewards are abundant.

There’s a lot for the Class

of 2016 to look forward to in

their four years at Del Norte. To

paraphrase our wise principal

while sticking with my metaphor,

“Spring is coming to Del Norte—

are you in?”

art by ANISSA RIVIERE photoshop by JILLIAN DUDLEY & VIVIAN BUI

P A G E 8

photo by ARINA ALEXEEVA

DNN Director Jillian Dudley’s escapades in the “city that never sleeps” show her the cutthroat, yet addictive nature of the film industry.

RACHELLE JUAN •

Most students can only dream of what it feels

like to sit in the director’s chair, but the dream

became a reality for Jillian Dudley (12) at NYU’s

Tisch School of the Arts Filmmakers Workshop. This

past summer Dudley took a red-eye flight to New

York expecting the bright lights of the big city, but

she was greeted instead by Greenwich Village, where

she got to experience the raw side of America’s most

famous metropolis. In the quiet of NYC’s charming

suburbs, Dudley found herself behind the blue light

of her computer screen editing films from four to 14

hours a day.

With two college courses to complete, Arts &

Culture and Visual Story Telling, Dudley divided her

time between classes and

projects. As she began to

juggle rigorous editing

days alongside her

tricky film projects

while trying to make

new friends, sleep

became her last

priority.

“No one is holding your hand anymore,” she

states. “[NYC] is truly a cutthroat city.”

While pitching her original ideas in front of her

relentless professors and peers, Dudley quickly came

to grips with the inner workings of the film industry.

“You can’t fall in love with your idea,” she

admitted, “because they will tear you down… [But],

it has definitely opened my eyes to a new perspective

of the world and an understanding of myself as a

filmmaker,” she says.

Dudley encourages her fellow Nighthawks to

embrace their artistic ambitions. But she passes along

a fair warning.

“One of the hardest parts is having to face the

fear of your own ideas,” she advises. “You’re putting

your own emotional state into art and people will tear

it apart.”

Hardships aside, Dudley has tapped into her

Empire State of mind with confidence in her future as

a filmmaker.

“It’s not always going to be easy, but you have

to trust your instinct and creativity.”

in

A B R I E F H I S T O R Y O F T H E T A L O N b y S A H I L C H I N O Y

THE TALON | P A G E 9

TAMMY CHEN •

An immovable wall, they stand,

instruments strapped to their chests. Blank

and emotionless. Intimidating. The snares

and quads have their sticks poised while the

basses and pit raise their mallets high.

Unmoving. Then, in one swoop, they all

come down.

The Del Norte Drumline is one

impressive group, but they weren't always

this way. Founded in 2010, they were a

scraggly, motley collection of musicians, all

with little to no drum corps experience.

"When we started, we thought we

were good," reflects bass drummer Robert

Clark (12), "...but then when our second year

rolled around, we were like, all right, we

thought we were good, but we need to get

better."

And improve they did, and at an

astonishingly fast rate. During their

inaugural season, the Drumline helped the

marching band place 1st in almost every

tournament they entered.

Then, one year later, their first season

of Winter Drumline commenced, and they

came running out of the gate, placing 4th in

the Scholastic B Class of the American

Drum Line Association Championships.

"It sets the bar," notes drum captain

Mijah Gift (12), "The higher the bar is, the

better we get."

"And the bar

raises every time,"

concedes bass drummer

Brian Asburry (11).

Jumping into this

year, the group isn't taking

anything for granted. They held

weekly practices over summer, and,

during the school year, they hold

afterschool sectionals twice a week on

top of full marching band rehearsals.

"Basically, if you join

drumline, it's a full dedication to the

percussion ensemble," admits Clark,

"because once you're in it, you're a

part of the family."

Family. After so many hours

together, rain or shine, this once

scraggly, motley group has

blossomed into something close to kin,

a bond they all can fall back on.

"It's impossible not to get that

brotherhood and that friendship," remarks

bass drummer Jacob Ranjbaran (12).

For this family, the bar is set. The

expectations are high. And their sticks are

poised, ready to go.

photo by SAHIL CHINOY

art by ANISSA RIVIERE

photo by JILL SWARTZENTRUBER

KAT STAPLEFORD •

(1) My favorite superhero is the Green Lantern.

(2) In high school, I was an “average” math student. I actually dropped out of

pre-calculus upon the suggestion of an uninspiring math teacher who didn’t

provide any additional help. This motivated me to become a better

teacher and support students who struggle in math.

(3) The worst job I ever had was working in a pet shop. I

cleaned up animal feces for three hours a day—for two

months.

(4) I have three sons: Vinny and Mitch, my 7-year-old twins,

and Diego, who is 9.

(5) Two of my favorite things to do as a kid were

body surfing and going to Baskin Robbins. My

favorite flavor of ice cream was—and still is—

Winter White Chocolate.

(6) I was actually Mr. Nevares’ math teacher at

Poway High. I remember him as a good kid and

student. English was his gig even back then and

he was just as tall as he is now.

(7) My boys and I got into boogie boarding

this last summer. We spend a lot of time

outdoors.

(8) The only thing that I really hope to do

someday is to orbit the earth.

(9) I met my wife in a calculus class in college at SDSU. She

had the top grade in the class, which I was also going for. I

ended up with the second. We eventually married inside the

Space Theatre.

The Talon investigates how Del Norte students manage the delicate act of juggling school with extracurricular activities. The sixty-four clubs on campus demand ample amounts of time and effort and, in response, our Nighthawks have developed the attitudes and habits of true leaders and visionaries.

KAT STAPLEFORD •

Academics. Sports. Social life.

Balancing activities while maintaining one’s

grades can be a challenge, and leading a

club only adds to the pressure. Considering

the benefits, however, it’s well worth it—

being involved can help teach organizational

skills as well as offer experience in

planning, leadership and communication.

Del Norte has 64 clubs on campus,

and 60% of our school is involved in

athletics. Programs like Link Crew, PLUS

and class councils have extremely large

member bases, and high profile clubs like

DNN, Nighthawk Nation, FCA and KIN

Club also attract great numbers of students.

Not only is DNHS an active campus, it’s a

top academic school. So with involvement

high and strong academics, how do Del

Norte students manage such heavy loads?

Michelle Castillo (12) runs two

clubs—Kaibigan (Filipino-American club)

and K.I.D.S. (hip-hop club)—while also

being involved in others. She recommends

that people remember their priorities: “I

wrote a list at the beginning of this year

putting my priorities in order. This helps

when conflicts arise.” Castillo also suggests

that students be careful of time-consuming

habits that interfere with productivity.

Matt Dalton (12), who manages

operations for DNN, Nighthawk Nation,

Key Club,

and DECA, says, “If you want to survive an

extensive workload, you first need to accept

that you won’t get recognition for all those

sleepless nights, rude clients and hard work.

You’ll run into apathetic people who won’t

appreciate all your effort, but if you can

extract the bold passion that everyone has

inside, you’ll learn to be satisfied with

seeing the happiness that your projects bring

to people.”

Many club presidents recommend

asking one’s trusted advisers for support

when the to-do list gets overwhelming, and

always remembering why one got involved

in the first place.

Castillo says, “I always remind myself

WHY I do what I do.” Many club presidents

also stressed the value of personal

satisfaction. Lindsay Stevens (12), founder

of Del Norte’s PLUS, offers similar advice.

“Through all the stress, just remember that

you’re doing what you are for a reason.

Keep your eyes on the prize, make time for

fun, and try not to take it all too seriously.”

She adds, “I can’t imagine not being

involved. If you balance your time, and do

what you enjoy, it’ll definitely be worth it in

the end.”

MAGGIE SHARPE •

It’s a simple fact of modern government that political

campaigns, especially those viewed on the national stage, are often

characterized by half-truths and mudslinging from both sides. The

2012 presidential race is no exception.

One thing that does make this campaign unique, though, is the

epic amounts of unadulterated cash being pumped into the political

machine. With the court case Citizens United (which equivocated

money with free speech and lifted any limits on donors) came a

new era of politics dominated by the Super PAC. Negative ads

are no longer ended with the obligatory “I’m so-and-so and I

approve this message.” Instead, the fine print proclaims

organizations with cryptic names that usually include certain

buzzwords like “American,” “Freedom,” or “Liberty”.

But, of course, these political sales pitches that inundated

television before the Olympics started in July would be nothing

without the seemingly outrageous things that candidates say.

Thirty second spots rarely have the time to fit in context,

though. Each candidate has several sound bites that are sure

to haunt them until November 6, but two really stand out.

For Romney, it’s his most recent blunder: a cellphone

video from a high-roller fundraiser. In the video, he writes

off nearly half of the American populace as feeling entitled

and victimized. His words seem harsh at best, and brutally

Socially Darwinist at worst, but when one considers he’s

speaking to a room full of millionaires, it’s obvious that

there is some major groupthink at play. The message isn’t

all that different from the one pumped out by Romney’s

campaign; it’s just that it sounds a lot meaner to ridicule

people for expecting food, shelter, and healthcare, than it

does to praise those who are pulling themselves up by

their bootstraps.

Obama, usually renowned for his gilded tongue

and mesmerizing orations, has a sound bite that sounds

so bad when taken out of context that the Republicans

could frame an entire convention around it: “You

didn’t build that.” In context, the quote is a statement

about how small businesses couldn’t thrive without

the infrastructure, regulations, grants, and programs

that government provide. Out of context, it sure

sounds like Obama is saying that you shouldn’t get

the credit for your business success. Romney’s big

message for his campaign is that Obama hates

businesses, big and small, and that would have

been his message regardless. But Obama sure

made it easier.

“

”

But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be

harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future.

“

”

What is needed in our country today is not

complicated or profound. It doesn't take a special

government commission to tell us what America needs. What America needs is jobs.

Lots of jobs

P A G E 1 0

STAFF EDITORIAL •

It seems that it takes an iron will

not to cringe at the thought of college

tuition, especially in recent years when

private school costs—namely those of

the coveted Ivy League schools—have

skyrocketed to prices approaching

$60,000 per year. Four years of that

could relegate the average family to

Top Ramen dinners for quite a long

time. However, there’s clearly an ardent

drive towards these schools, and on a

massive scale, no less. The Ivy Leagues

each receive approximately 30,000

applications annually, yet ultimately

only accept about 2,000 students,

driving the acceptance rates down to ten

percent or lower. Such a selective

nature makes them seem like some sort

of elusive Holy Grail—easily desirable

for shallow reasons. Pride, glory, and

the presumably outstanding caliber of

education found at these institutions

give their names a golden sheen—but is

that prestige really worth the price tag?

There are arguments to be made

for both sides, but in most cases Ivy

League schools do have adequate merit

to back their inflated reputations. Ivy

League schools generally attract a

stronger professorship of prize-winning

authors and scientists, allow for more

manageable class sizes conducive to the

best learning, and house a concentrated

population of the brightest minds in the

nation. They have the resources (read:

money) to provide for students with an

attentiveness that would be difficult to

match at larger, though more

economical, schools. But while having a

prestigious name on one’s résumé is

impressive, most private sector jobs

focus only on the institution from which

the candidate’s graduate degree came

from. The undergraduate institution is

largely ignored for people beyond

public scrutiny—the value behind an

Ivy education is more in the experience

than in the lasting implications. To

clarify: while a Harvard graduate and a

UCLA graduate may receive the same

pay out of college, there is something

subtle about the history-rich

environment and supremely qualified

professors at Ivy League schools that

make the undergraduate experience just

a little more enlightening. Finally, what

a family can afford versus what a family

wants to afford are two very different

animals. Financial aid offices claim

generosity, but ultimately what they

give tends to cover only the minimum

requirement of the family’s needs. Even

with that aid package, a family will

likely have to cut corners to make ends

meet.

An Ivy League education has a lot

to offer. It’s undeniably enriching and

obviously enticing. However, no school

is right for everyone, and students have

to be very careful to weigh the benefits

and costs in the context of their own

situations—like a pair of designer jeans,

even the brand doesn’t justify the price

if they don’t look good on you.

the twitter trap THE TALON | P A G E 1 1

“ “ DEL NORTE PERSPECTIVES:

What has been your favorite part of

this year so far? UDAY SURESH (11) JUNGWOO SON (12)

OMAR ALI •

I came across a nugget of wisdom on my

Twitter stream the other day: “Twitter is not the

place for one to file his inane complaints about life.”

In 72 characters, a friend of mine had completely

undermined a ritual practiced by 500 million people

200 million times a day. In a world where a Google

search of one’s name can be just as important as a

résumé, a Twitter or Facebook persona can mean the

difference between getting and not getting a job.

So, where does one draw the line between re-

straining his speech and simply amplifying his pri-

vacy settings? The pervasiveness of Twitter in our

day-to-day lives necessitates that we sacrifice some

of our free speech for the sake of maintaining a pos-

itive public image. However, the easiest way to

avoid having to worry about filtering oneself is quite

obviously to bolster one’s privacy settings.

While a lot of people will sound off claiming

that privacy settings defeat the purpose of Twitter,

they offer no solution for defending oneself from the

typical workplace social media monitoring. Many

schools and businesses watch their employees and

students on the web to ensure that they aren’t mis-

representing the name of the institution—because

you aren’t a Harvard student, government official, or

Qualcomm employee only when you’re in uniform.

Take, for example, former US Congressman

Anthony Weiner, whose world was torn apart when

he accidentally posted a sexually suggestive picture

on his Twitter account. The scandal, dubbed

“Weinergate,” garnered press attention for weeks

until Weiner finally resigned from office. Weiner,

although he was engaging in inappropriate behavior

off the clock, carried the titles and responsibilities of

his job at all times, and thus the consequences for

his slip-up were far-reaching.

We can argue all day long about whether it is

ethical for a workplace to restrict the free speech of

its employees in order to maintain a positive public

image, but the reality of our day and age is that

online activity is very much a part of one’s persona,

and when it negatively portrays an individual, it be-

comes a red flag to his superiors.

Good Twittiquette demands that we refrain

from posting inappropriate pictures, messages, slurs,

and ideas on the Twittosphere, but what if you’re

really itching to Tweet about the wild night you had

on Saturday? Should you have to censor yourself

from a few good laughs between friends over the

Internet? The answer is simple. Pump up those pri-

vacy settings, make sure what you’re saying is okay

with your followers, and let it all free. After all,

#YOLO.

JESSICA ZHOU •

The Internet’s a powerful and s cary place, no

doubt about it —that’s why we lock down our social

networking accounts like they’re Area 51 in

anticipation of what anyone who stumbles across

our online identities might think of who we appear

to be. The necessity for privacy exploded with the

standardization of Facebook, which, being such an

organized outlet for pictures, thoughts, and corre -

spondences, has the potential to expose one’s life in

frightening detail. In other contexts, though, privacy

can be a purposeless frivolity that undermines the

very purpose of social media.

Twitter rivals Facebook as one of the web’s

social media giants, but beneath that shared label is a

fundamental difference in purpose. To quote their

respective self-descriptions, people use Facebook to

“keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number

of photos, share links and videos, and learn more

about the people they meet,” while Twitter is an

“information network that connects you to the latest

stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you

find interesting.” It’s alright to share your personal

information with only the people that you’re com-

fortable allowing to get to know you better, but

Twitter is dedicated to the flow of information

across the Internet, a task best accomplished without

walls being put up around various accounts within

that network. Take, for example, the recent Arab

Spring: without the large-scale and public exchange

of the dissident opinions of everyday people, those

Middle Eastern countries might well still be stuck

under the thumbs of the oppressive governments that

stoked the flames within those average strangers.

Twitter’s also designed to curb the personal stuff,

with a 140 character limit on Tweets and a lack of

an extensive bio—it’s all pretty low-risk. Further-

more, common sense and propriety dictate that you

shouldn’t be posting anything you wouldn’t want all

your Twitter followers (or Facebook friends, for that

matter) seeing anyways. Privacy shouldn’t be an

excuse to abandon accountability, but it’s becoming

just that. Most importantly, though, is the question

of why: why make a Twitter account in the first

place, if you’re just going to shut yourself off from

the community that you wanted to join? Go ahead

and protect your Tweets if you really feel like

they’re special enough to warrant an exclusive audi-

ence—but know that it’s a counter-culture gesture

that alienates you from the community at large.

art by PAIGE RUONALA

SAHIL CHINOY •

My first tour of Del Norte dirtied my

white shoes and it filled my lungs with

dust—but it left me with a profound sense

of energy. We had barely more than an

empty lot and an office at the neighboring

middle school, but I tasted the hint of a

vision.

That same vision hit me over the head

on the first day of school as I, alongside my

new classmates, swirled through the tunnel

of new teachers on pristine concrete,

overcome with nervous excitement. And

three years later, that concrete has been

sullied by tens of thousands of footsteps,

but it’s been worth it. We’ve gone from a

group of strangers to a flock of

Nighthawks, and throughout our journey,

we’ve redefined.

When we built the clubs, the teams,

the culture, and the attitude of Del Norte,

we didn’t copy Mt. Carmel or Poway or

RB. Sure, we took some of their teachers

and some of their students, but from the

very beginning, Del Norte has been about

building a better high school, and that’s the

vision I felt so powerfully more than three

years ago.

The question is, then, did we lose

something along the way? Are we missing

out on the “high school experience”? Did

we, by refusing to adopt the traditions and

culture of other high schools, forget

something essential?

I’m referring to, of course, the all-too-

familiar moniker of “Del Norte Middle

School.” Sometime between August 2009

and today, we were branded against our

will. Don’t ask me what prompted it, but

apparently there existed a group of students

who didn’t think our version of high school

was a legitimate one.

And we are by no means a regular

high school. We don’t have the cliques, the

rebellion, the class warfare between the

nerds and the jocks which—if John Hughes

is to be trusted—is present at every school,

without exception. We’re, on the whole, a

group of kids who take school, sports, and

spirit seriously, and I don’t think many high

schools in the world can say that.

Maybe it’s the concept of pride that

seems so foreign to those at other schools.

I’m not talking about our football games or

our pep rallies, because pride goes far

beyond that. I think the Hughes-esque

concept of the high school experience is

borne of resentment; I think high school

students are expected to be miserable at

school. We’ve managed to escape that

culture through pride, the notion that with a

little bit of effort, we can make high school

the best time of our lives, a place that we

aren’t trying to escape every day.

Apparently, that notion is novel to those

who refer to us as a middle school.

So no, we’re anything but normal, and

if that means we’re missing out on the

“high school experience,” maybe it’s not an

experience worth having.

You see, Del Norte started from

scratch, and we’re better because we did.

Never forget that, Nighthawks.