2 Thursday, June 19, 2008 Farewell A heart felt farewell BITTERSWEET: Senior Class President thanks those that have inspired us. Since freshman year I’ve been reading these “farewell” articles, and every year I read these corny speeches I can hardly discern as heartfelt and personal. And so, as class president, I’ve been asked to write my own farewell, and after four years of trying to discover what a true farewell letter is composed of… I think I might have finally found it. I could easily write about our accomplishments, what we’ve achieved as a class and that list can go on forever. But in my opinion, there’s nothing very sentimental about listing the clubs we’ve started or traditions we’ve instilled. It’s not to say our work has been irrelevant, but every year a class has achieve some source of greatness, and as class president writing a farewell to my friends, my family, I want to say something that actually reaches their hearts, and touches them as individuals rather than addressing simply “the class.” First and foremost, no speech can be written without expressing gratitude to those who deserve it. And every year, we learn just how stressful it is to be a class advisor, and how to appreciate what each person has done. And I don’t intend to make a long list, but you give credit to where credit is due and Mr. Sherrick, Mr. Marcheque, Ms. Palmer, Mrs. Mkrtchian, Ms. Hazlett this article isn’t long enough, nor are any words great enough to express my, and my class’s gratitude for you. What you have done for us goes beyond the fine print of “teacher responsibilities” when you applied here. What you’ve done for us goes beyond the simple title of “friend.” You guys have gone the ephemeral quote “above and beyond.” And for those who don’t know, these two men served as 2006’s advisors as well, so they have persevered through two years of rowdy seniors aching to escape the gates of GHS. As I began to grow up, I’ve always heard of students creating special rela- Gervea Ornopia tionship with teachers, but never thought it to be true until you two truly reached out to us as more than just teachers, but caring people willing to do anything for us. And so… these words may be few, and they can in no way express what I truly feel, what WE truly feel… but… thank you, thank you so much. And now to my senior cabinet…what can I say? Seriously…what can I say? I wish I could list every single anecdote, but no one would probably understand our stupid inside jokes, but us. To have people you can truly rely, it’s a feeling of comfort nothing can replace and I feel blessed to have been given that gift. I love you Lennie, Pateel, Erin, Kristen, and also Henrietta! And so as class president, I’ve finished my formalities, my thank yous are done and my formal announcements of our accomplishments are finished. So now it’s time for what I want to say. Time to speak my heart out or forever hold my peace. Every time I think about us graduating, I want to cry, and it’s just so odd because it’s a paradoxical combination of jubilee and sadness. The thought of never seeing some of you again, some I’ve known for 12 years, or some I just met…it breaks my heart, and then the thought of seeing you all go on to the next step of your lives, going on your path of success fills it with joy. To the class, it has been an honor to serve all of you. It feels so sad to depart this place, but it is time for us to discover what life has in store for us. All of you have left your own legacy and from the bottom of my heart, I am proud of ALL your achievements. Please continue living the dream because I know that each and every one of you will make a difference in the world today. Go Class of 2008! I love God, my family, my best friends (Go KAG and RAK!), my ASB family and Ms. Hazlett, Mrs. Rogerson, my four wonderful advisors, the CLASS OF 2008, and all those who have inspired me. Thank you for making these four years memorable! Congratulations Class of 2008 on a job well done! Editor-in-Chief says goodbye JOURNEY: Explosion’s Der Sarkissian thanks editors and recalls GHS memories. Dear Class of ‘08, Sometimes, I catch myself smiling knowing that nothing can bring me down. And I smile, knowing that the next four years of our lives are going to seat us in the front row of the biggest mental and emotional roller coaster. I smile looking back at the past four years and feel enamored at how much Glendale High has offered us, how much it has taught us, and how much it has changed us. It wasn’t only through rigorous classes, draining AP tests, or sleepless nights. It was through the friends we made, teams we beat, and lessons we learned that make us feel more than ready to take what we have absorbed and move on. I catch myself smiling imagining that everything in high school will and is beginning to pay off. Think back- freshman year. It felt like yesterday when I first walked in through the black gates, looking up at everyone passing me by. And now to think we are here, sitting at the crossroads of life. Who knew it would come so fast? We have come so far from the frenzied freshmen we were, to the superior seniors that have accomplished so much and will leave everlasting marks on Glendale High. This is my second year in journalism, and it has been the best two years of high school by far. It has definitely been an interesting year, and I have grown so much through my experiences here. I am thankful for every editor, staff reporter, photographer, and assistant who has put as much heart into the paper as I have. It has been a short reign as Editorin-Chief, but a bumpy one indeed. This year would not have been possible without everyone’s input and hard work. I want to thank Dick Holway for his endless support of Dynamiter programs. He really shows us that “Once a Nitro, Always a Nitro.” And to Johnny Harrison at Lexus of Glendale, a huge THANK YOU. You have brought smiles and tears of joy to hundreds of students in our school and district with your generous monetary donations. I would also like to thank the senior class for funding this senior edition. As for my hard-working staff, I want to thank Ivetta for her dedication to the paper and her constant strive for perfection. I want to thank Taron for his phone calls to Vrej Hobar and all the businesses that have supported us this year. I want to Christina Der Sarkissian thank Shaunt for almost getting me arrested at midnight on deadline night. I want to thank Pateel for her optimism, spreading her effervescence like the peanut butter on my sandwiches. I want to thank Tania and Jenna for eventually finishing their pages. And not to forget Kyle Nessen! I can’t thank you enough for all the pictures you took for the paper and for showing up at every game and school event. Plus, the front page looks amazing! You truly have talent, and we are so pleased that you shared your gift with us. Last but not least, thank you Mr. Lancaster, for dedicating so much of your time to the betterment of our school. You invested countless hours after school waiting for the paper to be done, sometimes not leaving until late at night. Thank you for keeping the Nitro spirit alive and encouraging it among your students. As for Tina and Carin, the pressure’s on you. Next year is your year, and it is your turn to take advantage of the beauty of freedom of press and continue producing papers that remain as a school archive forever. June is coming to an end, and with college decisions out of the way, the future is only as bright as we see it. With the start of summer just around the corner, change is all around us. We are beginning to see past the high school gates and into the never ending opportunities that lie ahead. Where will we end up? Who will we become? The class of ‘08 has really been special. We will graduate with school records in countless sports and leave with new traditions. We have incredible athletes, good musicians, talented chefs, and academic stars. GHS has allowed for these talents to flourish and has encouraged us to pursue our interests, providing us with room to experiment and shine. A wise man once said, “Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” So make the best with what you’re dealt and take advantage of your hand. What lies ahead is uncertain, but it will surely be filled with both sweat and success. My ode to you, seniors, is to keep your chin up and eyes open; don’t let life pass you by. It is now the time to set aside 18 years and begin one of the most enthralling journeys of our lives. Love Always, Christina Glendale High School Explosion President shares closing remarks Anahit Isaghulyan “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate your mind on the present moment.” Many of us have been counting the days to our graduation and sadly it is here. Four years of our life at this school ends today. Go back to the day you first walked into this school, nervous about finally attending high school. During our first rally, Homecoming Dance and Oratorical, we set out to create memories and as we leave, memories are all we have. Never again will we be in high school as a student. Never again will we stand in the crowded bleachers at our Homecoming football game and watch our classmates take victory upon our rivals. Never will we walk the packed “J” building as a student. Never will we again hear the planted cell phone ring during Oratorical. Never will walking the halls of Glendale High School feel the same way. Whether it was the best of times or the worst of times, our time at Glendale High School is and will always remain precious. I have been blessed and privileged to be surrounded by young men and women who all have the ability to bring remarkable change to the world. I am talking about all of you seniors. You are all capable of doing the impossible so don’t give up when all odds are against you. Enjoy what lies before you, and do not concentrate your mind on the future or the past. Class of 2008, you have left a lasting impression on Glendale High School. Your enthusiasm, hard work, care and support have made all the difference. Thank you to Ms. Hazlett for always being there for our ASB students as a role model and as a friend. Thank you to Mr. Lopez for lending us a helping hand when we needed it most. Ms. Sassounian, your advice and encouragement has been a great help throughout these four years of high school. Dr. Earl, your support and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated by all of us in ASB. To Mr. Sherrick and Mr. Marcheque, thank you for your constant care and support of our class. Without you two our class would never have been this successful. All of us have had special teachers at GHS including myself. To all of my teachers who have inspired and kept their faith in me, thank you. Mr. Khachmanyan and Ms. Collins thank you for always taking the time to trouble your minds about my abilities and my future. Furthermore it was a great honor for me to serve as your ASB President. I will move on to the next stage of my life as a confident, motivated young woman and I owe it all to my teachers and friends. Remember seniors our journey together comes to an end now, but it does not mean our paths will never cross again. I hope to see all of you at our reunions. Thank you for all of the memories. Congratulations class of 2008!