Student Life

By Haley Alvendia

During high school, students often experience burnout, a term describing the immense stress or exhaustion people feel when overwhelmed. Research has shown that about 75% of high schoolers and 50% of middle schoolers have described themselves as “often or always stressed” by schoolwork. During the college acceptance season, 66% of high school seniors stated that they felt “often or always worried about being accepted in their chosen college” (Washington Post, 2019). Burnout affects a person’s well-being by negatively impacting their physical and mental health. Because of this, students and adults should take the following steps in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and diminish the occurrence of burnout

Exhaustion vs. Good Sleeping Habits 

Exhaustion is a leading cause of burnout due to the fact that it undermines people’s ability to work effectively or maintain focus. Exhaustion can stem from poor sleeping habits as well as inefficient time management. Our bodies need a proper amount of time to rest in order to reset and prepare for the next day, as well as to regulate our mood and re-energize our cells. The National Sleep Foundation has recommended an amount of seven to nine hours of sleep, but it can range from six to ten hours depending on the person. For most teens, the temptation to stay on electronic devices during later hours of the night can lead to delayed sleep. In order to help reduce this temptation, you can set an alarm to at least 30 minutes before you sleep in order to remind yourself to put down your phone or any other device. 

Procrastination vs. Productivity

Feeling detached from your assignments or projects and lacking productivity are also major symptoms of burnout. Many high schoolers currently feel they cannot accomplish or succeed in many tasks due to overwhelming work and poor time management. One way to reduce these feelings is to reach out to people around you. You can also find learning opportunities such as internships. Rest and relaxation are also important for maintaining long-term productivity. In addition to this, you should reach out to teachers and trusted adults in order to understand the reasons for your inner conflict. 

Even if a friend or family member is experiencing burnout, listening and expressing ways to avoid the feelings of being burnt out is encouraged. Burnout can feel like a never-ending cycle, but by understanding and taking action to prevent it, you can take steps to create a more healthy and happy lifestyle. 

By Uyen Pham 

Diamond Ranch Visual Art and Performance Art programs, including Band, Orchestra, and the Dance Program have planned to end the school year off with a bang! Our very own talented students have coordinated several events to entertain and spread happiness amidst a pandemic. 

Dance

The Dance Department will be hosting the annual Dance Concert virtually on April 17th. The event has been in the works for several months now, and just like every year, the concert will have a theme. This year’s theme is “Seasons;” this choice allows the viewer to have their own interpretations of the meaning. As the days go by, each recorded dance piece is in the process of being edited together to form one cohesive video through programs, iMovie and Inshot. 

Kimberly Tobias, President and Captain of The Dance Company, reassures us that the Dance Department is not stopping any time soon. “The Dance Department is eager and highly motivated in continuing dancing no matter what obstacles we face, with the help from our dance director, Ms.Megan, the Dance Captains, and council members of the dance department,” she says. 

Orchestra

As for Orchestra, Nicole Arena informs us that they are getting small musical groups together to perform at the Solo Ensemble Festival virtually. At this event, musicians that have been practicing their chosen piece will perform for judges and be graded. This will take place towards the end of February with no set date and will all be virtual. Everyone will record their respective parts and each piece will be digitally combined. Later on, the performances will be available for viewing on Youtube around the second week of March. 

It doesn’t stop there, although these performances are still in development, the Orchestra has been practicing a few pieces such as the Star-Spangled Banner and Spring Breezes in which they hope to play towards the end of the year.

Band

Max Ding, the president of Band says that they are creating a performance video for graduation as well as their own virtual solo or small group performances. Around late January band chose their groups and pieces to work on, from that point on they have been practicing on Zoom. Soon, these video performances will be submitted to get critiqued and scored. After this process, each video will be edited together and posted for everyone to see, however, there is no set date yet, so stay on the lookout!

Max says hopingly, “If it is safe to do so, we will do our best to ensure a live performance for our members because we really deserve one at the end of this difficult school year.”

Choir

It looks like there are plenty of shows to look forward to and let’s not forget about Choir. Although our choir has no plans for this quarter, they have something in store for all of us near the end of the school year. Whether that is a video performance or something else we’ll have to wait and see! Who knows what they have up their sleeves.

With many shows coming up, be sure not to miss them and support our VAPA students. Despite the limitations that have been put on them, they have worked hard to push through and provide everyone with a show. 

By Kimberly Tobias

Clubs at Diamond Ranch High School provide the opportunity for students to participate in activities that ignite their passions and interests, develop long lasting relationships, and learn real world skills. Shared interests between students create a sense of unity. As one of Diamond Ranch’s many clubs, Robotics Club does all these things. 

 

Robotics Club teaches STEM concepts to club members in order to create blueprints for building their inventions. These blueprints begin the process of robot construction through sketches and strategically placed materials. 

Richard Vallejo, the President of Robotics Club, explains that club members use their creativity to form ideas and concepts. Some of the best concepts are the ones that originally came off as strange and unconventional, which end up working successfully through a combination of the unique thought processes of each member in the club.

The construction of a robot may seem daunting, but Robotics Club has come up with a simplified process that works to everyone's advantage. Each club member takes responsibility for one component of the robot, such as building the robot frame. After the robot has been built, tested, and approved by the club, the robot is used to compete against schools in the community. 

The Robotics Club participates in an annual Interleague Competition which determines their position at the regional level. Last year, Robotics club reigned 1st place for the entirety of the season, as well as ranking 1st out of 27 in the Interleague Competition. The club was ecstatic that their hard work paid off, bringing Diamond Ranch home the honor of finishing the year ranked 13th in the entire state of California.

President Richard explains that his favorite part about building robots and competing with his team is the having the ability to express himself creatively by experimenting his ideas. Richard leads the Robotics Club in spreading knowledge of STEM throughout the community in hopes of generating excitement towards learning. The Robotics Club periodically travels to elementary schools in hopes of engaging with younger students about the world of robotics, as well as hosting Robotic Family nights to be inclusive of all ages. 

Robotics Club is always open to students who are interested and committed to pursuing knowledge on the team and within the community. Robotics Club has not let their success stop during the pandemic; they are now using their creativity to find safe ways to remain active. Robotics Club is more than a club, it is a community that functions as a creative outlet for students. 

By Guadalupe Loza and Citlali Sandoval

Each school year, a new ASB (Associative Student Body) Executive President is elected to represent all DRHS students and lead the ASB student body. Senior Brenda Guillen, a 4 year member of ASB, is the Executive President of  2020-2021.

In 2017, Brenda Guillen was a typical freshman at DRHS, searching for an extracurricular that fit her personality. ASB caught Brenda’s eye because of the friendly environment, prompting her to join as a general council member that year. “It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I became a part of the executive council,” she says. Since then, Brenda has been a part of the executive council as the student store manager during her sophomore year, Junior Class President, and now Executive President. According to Brenda, her experience and qualities as a leader has prepared and motivated her to take this position.

As The Executive President, Brenda does a lot behind the scenes. She leads all of ASB and appoints various tasks to different members in order to maintain productivity. In addition, Brenda tells us she “attend[s] extra meetings with Mrs. Raco, clubs, the Executive Council, the Pomona Unified School Boards, and whoever requests [her] presence.” She also sometimes attends meetings with athletics, parents, and even Diamond Ranch’s staff. 

Brenda’s position comes with many responsibilities and strict deadlines, but she always feels supported by her amazing team and says, “as ASB executive President, I wouldn’t be able to get much done without my Executive and General Council.”

For a few years now, DRHS’ ASB presidents have all been female, but despite certain claims it has nothing to do with gender. “To get the ASB president position, one must be qualified for the position,” says Brenda. Just like all council members, ASB presidents must be elected and win votes from other students at DRHS. Brenda says “In ASB we are a very diverse family, and it’s probably one of our best qualities.” 

Unfortunately, Brenda’s term has been affected by the school’s closure due to the pandemic, but she continues to strive to make this year memorable and enjoyable for all. ASB assembles in online Zoom calls and operates under the slogan “we plan for the worst, hope for the best.” While this position can be time consuming and communication with organizations outside of the campus is difficult, Brenda focuses on the rewarding parts of her job; according to her receiving “positive feedback or interest in our events and activities,” is more than satisfying.

Brenda says her aspirations for the future are to “graduate, get accepted to my top schools and then get my degree.” She plans on majoring in sociology with a minor in psychology. Brenda is honored and excited to be this year's ASB president at Diamond Ranch High School.

By Uyen Pham

Faith Henderson is a hard-working individual with ambition, a warm heart, and a driven mindset; some of the key reasons why The Panther Post has chosen to recognize her for December’s Senior Spotlight. When I met her for the first time I could feel her bright energy fill the room — even though my phone’s screen. Not only does Faith have a warm presence, but she also has an impressive list of accomplishments.

Heavily involved with the school, Faith is the ASB Executive Secretary, president of multiple clubs, and the captain of both the soccer and track teams. According to her, school spirit is kind of her “thing” and she enjoys attending school events as much as she loves hosting them. 

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Faith is taking on these leadership roles while simultaneously balancing several AP courses. Faith’s driven mindset has allowed her to take on many responsibilities like these since her freshman year. She sheepishly mentioned that her slogan throughout her first year at Diamond Ranch was, “High school is what you make of it, and if you approach it with the right mindset, you’ll do great.” When she finds the time to relax, even though school and sports “is her life”, Faith loves to read books, listen to music, write, and engage in outdoor activities when outside.  

When it comes to her friends and classmates, Faith values the connections she’s made learning from each one of them, proclaiming with warmth in her voice that she wouldn't have wanted to go through high school with any other group of teenagers. Her high school memories mean a lot to her, although she does think her peers just assume she’s “busy all the time.” With all the extracurriculars and AP courses Faith takes, she advises underclassmen who want to follow a similar path to take things “one at a time” and to not procrastinate. Most importantly though, Faith suggests self-confidence, stating, “Just trust yourself. You can do it.” Faith has done many great things in her four years at Diamond Ranch High School, and yet she still confidently stands by the statement that the achievement she is most proud of is “surviving high school.” 

Clearly, Faith Henderson has made an incredible impact on Diamond Ranch with her kind, passionate, humorous personality and her involvement in the community. From her extracurriculars to her determined mindset, she shines in many ways, making her a picture-perfect fit for the first Senior Spotlight!

By Haley Alvendia and Jasmine Gonzalez 

*This article was written on November 10, 2020. The state of affairs of COVID and athletic regulations have since changed. Please check your local news for real-time updates.* 

Currently, the Diamond Ranch Cross Country, Football, and Boys and Girls Volleyball teams have begun socially distanced practices to start off the Fall Sports Season. In order to limit the risk of COVID-19 spread between athletes, coaches are implementing strict rules and precautions that will keep practices safe and productive. Many parents and athletes are wary about the start of socially distanced practices, but leadership in athletics assures us that sufficient measures will be in place to protect both athletes and coaches. Lisa Cheney, the Athletic Director, said, “The PUSD and Diamond Ranch administration have done a great job in keeping our student athletes safe. The safety of our students, coaches, families, and community is the top priority.”

Many athletes are excited about the start of practice, but many are also concerned or cautious about the risks that come with it. Steven Ochotorena, member of Varsity Cross Country and Track, said, “I think it’s a good idea because some athletes need sports to be able to get exposure for college.” Conversely, many feel that resuming practices is “scary” or “too soon” due to the risk of COVID-19, especially for the sports that include passing a ball. Volleyball player Prachi Bodiwala expressed her concern for Fall contact sports, ”I feel that it will get harder for us to keep our distance from one another.”

Although many athletes have expressed mixed feelings about the recent start of practices, the coaches are making sure their players are appropriately distanced while working hard and keeping focused during practice. For some sports, the cancelation of competition and practice affected their team spirit tremendously, and the start of socially distanced practices has greatly improved their moods. Coach Martinez, the Head Football Coach, stated, “Team spirit is high and the players are really pumped to be on the field competing and getting in shape.” While some sports could find strength in isolation and remote practices, many sports depend on team activity in order for players to really immerse themselves in the game. Cross Country and Track Coach Charlie said, “Socially distanced practice helps us stay on top of things and work harder; it’s a little more self-driven.”

Both Cross Country and Football have taken similar precautions and organization techniques in order to keep their practices safely distanced and active. Both sports separate their teams into pods with no more than 10 athletes each, making sure that all players are 6-8 feet apart the entire practice time. These pods have different session times, in order to prevent all the athletes from coming to school at one time. The athletes also wear their masks when entering or exiting the school and when needed throughout the practice.

In order to keep the practices smoothly running, the coaches each have different expectations for their seasons and athletes. Football usually has up to six months of practice to prepare for their seasons, but due to COVID-19 they now may have only two. Coach Martinez has lost many players to graduation but thankfully has several returning members that will bring up the team: “I feel that if we are able to play [at all], considering everything that has happened, we should be okay. We lost some good players to graduation, but we have some key players returning that should fill in for what we lost last year!” Since Cross Country is a running sport, many athletes were able to run or work out around their neighborhoods during isolation, but Coach Charlie still has expectations for this upcoming season, “I want the athletes to have fun. Although there is COVID, I want us to still have a season, so we have to stay safe and follow the regulations in order to keep going.” 

While many athletes are still getting used to the start of socially distanced practices, we are lucky to be able to have our sports programs this coming school year. As the different sports seasons make their comeback, athletes and coaches will have to work hard in order to prepare and condition for the beginning of competition. “We all need to work together and stay as positive as we can. We will get through this and get back to doing what we love,” said Athletic Director Lisa Cheney.

By: Haley Alvendia

Due to the pandemic, the 2019-2020 School Year’s Spring Sporting Events were canceled and leaving athletes unable to practice or compete. To prevent an entire cancelation of this year's athletics, State CIF and the Southern Section have made adjustments to the sports schedules that could save this year's Fall and Spring Sports Seasons. In order to ensure a safe and successful transition back for the sports teams, officials have condensed the three seasons into two, starting in late December. 

 

The Fall Sports Schedule has relatively remained unchanged except for a later start date, with CIF competitions beginning in December and ending around March. The Winter and Spring sports seasons merged together starting competitions in late March to avoid overlapping into June. 

 

The Diamond Ranch Fall Sports Season, including Cross Country, Football, and Boys and Girls Volleyball, will start on October 19th. Although officials are unsure when the teams will be able to participate in competitions, the teams can still practice and condition for the upcoming events. Diamond Ranch Athletic Director Lisa Cheney stated, “Right now we cannot participate in any contests, but we are hoping by December/January we will be able to.” For this reason, all athletes must abide by the approved PUSD, CDC, State, and LA County COVID-19 guidelines to participate in their sport(s). 

 

Many athletes have described their current situation as “a change” or “a struggle.” Athletes’ inability to train alongside their teammates has left athletic students feeling unmotivated to practice on their own. Varsity soccer player Lupita Espinosa says, “As we quarantined, it was much harder for me to gain motivation to work out and practice my sport. I feel like I’ll have to work 10 times harder now to be able to get back to where I was.” 

 

This combined sporting schedule provokes a stressful decision for athletes involved in different sports that are now conflicting. As captain of both the Girls Soccer team and Short-Distance Track, Faith Henderson is left with a dreadful decision to make. “This change is going to put a lot of multi-sport students who were reliant upon college scholarships in a tough spot,” says Faith bringing up a real conflict that may occur. 

 

While choosing between two sports is a burdensome choice, Senior Luke Garciduenas, a member of Boys Volleyball and Boys Soccer, is grateful to have a season at all. “Personally I am just happy that as of right now we have a season and hope that things get better,” Luke says, as he’s preparing to work hard for a season prioritizing safety.

 

The cancellation and postponement of each of these sports programs have been devastating for many athletes, coaches, schools, and families. Officials remain unsure of further effects COVID-19 will have on athletics, but as far as they know, the 2020-2021 Sports Seasons are still continuing practice and hopefully athletes will be competing again soon. 

 

CIF Southern Section Schedule

https://cifss.org/news/july-20-2020-update-and-2020-21-sports-calendars/