Change. Try to Embrace It.

Written by Ms. Berman

Change.  Some fear it.  Some fight it.  Some challenge it.  Some judge it.  And some, such as myself, try to embrace it.  I like to think of change as a new chapter, a part of growth, and that no matter how old we are, we should continue learning and improving our life's work.   A student recently said to me that "all hell has broken loose at IS."  This is how things may appear at the moment, as we await in anticipation of Mr. Ankeney securing his position as principal of our school.  In a close-knit community such as IS, once one essential component is threatened, it throws the entire community off kilter.  No one likes it when things are out of his/her control.  With the eminent budget cuts, parents are anxious about losing the integrity of the programs at IS.  Students are wondering how the upcoming year will be different in terms of school pairings, course selection, and class sizes.  Teachers are questioning whether they can work any harder than they are already doing now.  But it is important to remember that times such as these bring about self-reflection, as each person is thinking about what he/she values most and how their pivotal goals can be attained. 

Taking the time to think, really think, about the roles that we play in life is critical in order to continue evolving as human beings.  Sometimes the conclusions that we come to will surprise, disappoint, or alter other people's perception of us, but it is essential that we know what we want to achieve and how to go about doing so.  And that brings me to pathways.  I have often stated that there are many different pathways to get to the same place.  As a wise colleague of mine once said, "there would be no need for maps of New York City if everyone took the same route to the same location."  Not only do people need to take different paths, but they need to move at different paces.  So when you find yourself on a path that doesn't feel as if you are going in the right direction or at the correct pace, you probably aren't.  It is time to think about how you function best, and be open to taking an alternative route.  These are patterns that are being established for the rest of your life.  Although change can cause some angst, it can also allow for new opportunities.  For it is often the very things that we fervently resist in life that bring us the most satisfaction in the end.  Change.  Try to embrace it.

One Essential Question

Written by Ms. Berman

Dedicated to the Class of 2012

I am swimming up steam against a formidable current.  I can hear my support team cheering from the  distance, providing me with sustenance, but for right now I am alone with my mind.  Life is so grand, and that is not something I can tell anyone else… it has to be felt.  And this current of which I speak is growing at an exponential rate, as more and more data is being cast upon Gen Y-Not?, most of which is skewed to appear incredibly dismal.  “Ms. Berman, I am worried because I haven’t studied enough for the SAT and the ACT,” L. said to me yesterday.  “Not all students have to take a prep course,” I replied, “just sit down with a review book and take a couple of practice tests and see how you do.  You are busy on the weekends pursuing the arts… Do you really want to attend a college that wouldn’t accept you because you made this a priority?”  Over and over again, I am having these conversations, trying to convince students that how they spend their time should be driven by their passion… but the societal supposition is prevailing, and I often feel as if I am the sole dissenter.

My assertion is not a qualitative assumption, but is based upon the understanding that life is not just about getting into college, but the experience therein and thereafter.  This realization manifested at a cost, and remains a poignant and painful memory associated with my early teaching years… 

Alex (not his real name) came from a family of 3 children, all of whom were fathered by different men who then abandoned their children.  His mother did sewing/mending to support the family.  Alex desperately wanted to attend the UC Santa Barbara Summer Pre-College Program, and thus I rallied the staff together to raise the money so he could live in the college dorms and attend classes for six weeks.  His older brother had just joined an East LA gang and Alex needed an escape.  Fast.  Alex excelled in all of his coursework at UCSB.  More important, he met other college-bound students from all over the country who filled his head with new ideas about the possibilities of the future.  Upon his return, Alex decided his “reach” school would be Harvard University.  For the sake of brevity, suffice it to say that Alex landed a full ride to Harvard, graduated four years later with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and then moved to Oakland to pursue his graduate studies at UC Berkeley.  Looking back on this period in my life, as a new teacher in my twenties, I made a cardinal error.  As I communicated with Alex during his college years, I would ask him about his coursework, his family, his health and goals, but I failed to ask a pivotal question: “Are you happy?”

After Alex began his studies at Berkeley, we lost touch.  Years later, when I heard his story from his former high school guidance counselor, I realized, regardless of our intentions, we had all misguided Alex in our collective quest for his success… In the midst of his graduate research in Engineering at UC Berkeley, after he was married to the love of his life, Alex had an emotional breakdown.  You see, Alex never wanted to be an engineer.  He had taken a class at UCSB because I had suggested he try it out, and he had been successful in the course.  He then continued in that field because he knew it would provide him an income that would enable him to later care for his family, would make the high school teaching staff proud after all we had done for him, and he would finally achieve his ultimate dream of success.  But there was a kink in his plan.  It was never his dream.

Alex wanted to be an artist.  Four years at Harvard.  Two years at Berkeley. A wife who adored him.  Six months in bed.  Alex learned to look within himself to find his passion. 

Today I know that whether a student is aiming for Santa Barbara City College or Stanford University, there is only one essential question educators should be asking: “What is your passion?”   I was young and naïve when I was mentoring Alex, caught up in the hype of doing what everyone had told me was “the thing to do” in education.  Push kids to reach their potential.  Get them into college.  Tell them to make their parents and teachers proud.  Period.  But an adolescent is much more complex than this.  It is not my role to push, get, nor tell, but rather to provide support.  It is obvious to anyone who truly knows me that I live my life with passion, and that is precisely why I view it as grand.  Students should be afforded the same opportunity.   And thus, no matter how formidable this current grows, I will just have to be a stronger swimmer… for all of my students, but today I am swimming in honor of Alex.

Alex is currently living in San Francisco, working in the field of graphic design.

A Collective Cry of "ANKENEY!"

Written by Spencer Cunningham c/o 2013

The first day of school for any freshman is terribly difficult, especially when you know so few people. My first day in the summer of 2009 at San Diego High School of International Studies was no different. I was the little fish in the ocean, ignorant and scared. I remember getting in line with 50 or more other students to get my schedule for first semester. I remember getting to the front of the line and having a man ask me what my name was; I told him. He then proceeded to ask me from what middle school I had come from and if I was nervous for high school, even though he could easily tell that I was. Then later, perhaps lunch or nutrition break, he approached me again. He asked how my day was going so far; I told him “good”.  He then smiled, an expression that would always be on his face for the next two years, and even now, even in the light that he has received a pink slip. It took me several more weeks to discover that he was, in fact the principal, Mr. Ankeney, and he was just as nervous as I, as it was his first year as well at SDHS IS.

Several weeks later, I had made a close group of friends. They were familiar with my family, and they realized that, according to them, Mr. Ankeney looked like my dad. Of course, in the haste of the usual teen contradictoriness, I said no. But they pressed on, and I would continue to deny it . However, even if Mr. Ankeney did not look like my father (truthfully, if my dad still had a beard, they would have a slight resemblance), his compassion and caring for all of his students could be compared to the best father’s compassion and caring for his children. Mr. Ankeney is a father figure for IS, and as a student body, we are his children. He cares for each and every one of us, and we all have the same feelings towards him as well.

Mr. Ankeney is the best principal I have ever had. Fact. In my years of elementary and middle schools, I have had a numerous amount of principals, but none of them would do the things that Mr. Ankeney does. Every day, whenever he walks by, you can always count on hearing a collective cry of “ANKENEY!” from a large group of students. We respect and care for him. There aren’t enough adjectives in the world to describe how awesome, amazing, cool, great he is. And when we heard that he might not be returning to us in the next school year, of course we were outraged. I urge the people responsible for his pink slip to greatly reconsider the position you have put him in. There will never be another principal ever like him. Ever.

Mr. Ankeney: The Foundation of I.S.

Written by Kalvin Payne c/o 2012

I.S.Benefit Showcase
http://is.sdhs.sandi.net/images/2011/IS%20Benefit%20Showcase%203-25-11/IS%20Benefit%20Showcase.htm

There is so much to say about the wonderful night we all had at I.S. Benefit Showcase. It was a great turnout and it couldn’t have been done without the amazing students and faculty at I.S.

Everyone who participated on stage performed amazingly. There were such a variety of performances, from dancing and live entertainment to acting and much more, that no one can deny I.S. is a unique school that stands together as a big family. The environment was so rich with students, parents, and teachers who care about our well-being so much so that they all contributed to help us raise this money.

This was the first event of its kind at I.S., but will not be the last. Although there are too many people to thank, I believe Mr. Ankeney should be praised for his huge effort in this event because, without him, none of this would have been possible. He allowed us to enjoy the wonderful talent of our students while in the presence of our family and friends. Words can’t even express the amount of appreciation I feel for Mr. Ankeney’s  effort in ensuring that this wonderful event was a success. He has been there every step of the way for our school and gives so much of his time and effort. He leads us all with his unwavering faith and keeps us looking forward.  Mr. Ankeney is the foundation for our school and keeps us all together. Whenever we need anything from him, he isn’t far behind to help us achieve it.

Words can’t even express the amount of gratitude our school feels for Mr. Ankeney. He is faithful, caring, hard-working, and responsible. I don’t even believe these words can sum up the amount of how great a leader Mr. Ankeney is to our school. He leads our school like no other principal and to lose Mr. Ankeney would be like losing the heart and soul of our community.

For those of you that came to the event, and even those that didn’t, I’d like to ask that you take a bit of your time and thank Mr. Ankeney for his huge effort, because without him this event and more importantly, our community, would not be possible. Thank you, Mr. Ankeney, for all that you give to your students and faculty, and how much you care about our community.

"Do what you love"

Written by a former I.S. Student

In response to The Silent Majority of Teens:

The same exact issues are prevalent at the college level. The pressures to perform are multiplied, especially when a lack of performance can crush your lifelong goals and aspirations. The weight of that pressure accumulates because now you are paying for your education. Your parents are investing thousands upon thousands of dollars on YOU, expecting you to meet THEIR expectations. In this school I am surrounded by prodigies; sons and daughters of doctors, lawyers, politicians, and CEOs. I used to think that I was less fortunate because my parents aren't college graduates or even high school graduates. I admit that my freshmen year in college I felt ashamed that I didn't have the best clothes, wasn't a member of a sorority and didn't fit in with "those girls". But I soon realized how blessed I really was to be in this situation. My mother did not educate me on how to get into college, how to get a medical degree and how to have a competitive edge. Instead she taught me how to be sincere, empathetic, loving and accepting. She taught me how to work hard, but to never let stress overwhelm my life. She taught me how to work selflessly instead of selfishly. With this outlook I have been able to succeed at a top university. I get recognized by faculty not solely on my performance but by my character. I do not exhibit the jealousy, competitiveness and disrespect that other students do. When I commit to a project (be it in research or in the community) I commit to it wholeheartedly because I LOVE what I do.

I tell this to my residents all the time, "Do what you love". Freshmen always come to this school thinking that they want to be doctors or politicians, but as soon as they begin to take these courses and they don't do well, they start to feel like failures. They go from being a big fish in a little pond to a little fish in a large pond of overachievers. But not everyone is meant to be a doctor or a lawyer, and that's OKAY! If you love to write, than WRITE! You don't need to fit the mold that society built. Doing what you love leads to success because you will put more effort into what you do, and you will be happier doing it.

A Triathlon to Remember

Written by Tonia Berman

Does high school have to be a “Race to Nowhere?”  I often hear that nothing can be done to change this ominous situation.  I guess that is true for those who resist change, but as educators it is our responsibility to embrace change.  Change requires faith.  As a parent, I have had faith in my children more than they have ever recognized.  I think it is because moms are supposed to think highly of their children.  As an educator, I believe that my students are capable of much more than they are given credit for.  Thus when a random idea pops into my head that provides students with an opportunity for empowerment, I feel compelled to act upon it.  And that is precisely how I happened upon the idea of I.S. Ambassadors (ISA).  I knew we needed a group of students to represent our school at events such as Freshman Orientation, and it made sense to organize a roster rather than seeking volunteers every time such an activity arose.  A few text messages and classroom announcements later, I was astounded by the outpour of enthusiasm… within 48 hours I had to close the club at 60 members and start a wait list!   What did this say about our student body?  The drive for leadership, developing community, and, yes, the desire to have strong college applications, was phenomenal. 

Watching ISA unfold over the course of the subsequent weeks was an acute reminder that if given the proper resources and support, students can create, organize, and implement programs and activities of the highest caliber.  Put it this way, I wasn’t the person to suggest we come up with a mission statement (ISA is dedicated to improving the I.S. community by promoting student involvement in both campus-wide and community-based activities.  ISA fosters the union between the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders to encourage leadership and enthusiasm) or define the difference between committees and task groups.  I honestly don’t remember when I first learned of the term mission statement, but it certainly was not in high school.

As the state and district continue to grapple with financial shortfalls, the students of ISA have decided to take matters into their own hands… “Let’s plan a benefit event,” a student suggested several months ago.  On March 25, 2011, ISA will be hosting the first (presumably annual) I.S. Benefit Showcase.  All of the arrangements, from the organizing of the food, the Facebook Event Page, the line-up of entertainment, the collection and wrapping of the silent auction items, the plans for set up and clean up, and the greeters at the door are being planned by the students.  It has not been perfect.  Meetings can get heated, feelings hurt.  But the club is real. 

No adults will be on stage the evening of the Benefit Showcase… but many of us will be sitting proudly in the audience.  Generation Y-Not? Seniors will soon graduate and disperse to their respective colleges.  I have faith in these students, as I do in my own children.  They will have the skills and confidence to make the changes our society is in dire need of.  Never doubt the power of the individual.  These students realize that their voices and actions do matter, that they can make a difference, and I believe they will.  I implore all high schools to provide students with the opportunity to develop student-driven programs.  High school does not have to be a “Race to Nowhere.” I don’t claim to have all the answers.  I do hope, however, that clubs such as ISA will make high school more meaningful for our students.  Will high school always be a turbulent time?  Absolutely! However, instead of settling with a “Race to Nowhere,” let’s look for alternative methods that will afford our adolescents the option to experience a “Triathlon to Remember.”

Make it Happen (Caver Anthem)

Lyrics for "You Can Make it Happen" (CD to follow)

MY NAME IS CHRIS YOUNG, I ATTENDED SAN DIEGO HIGH CLASS OF '07

AND I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SUCCESS IN SCIENCE

I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO EVERYONE AT I.S.

WHO REALLY MADE ME SEE THE POSSIBILITIES...

SOMETIMES YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU CANT FULLY APPRECIATE SOMETHING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU...

The same ones who thought they knew it all had to see

Popularity can't help you escape reality

And Friends were the glue, connecting the youth

To the very self, so we all find the truth

And there's a progression when they focus on you

And the time is now, I hope it's on you

I took a yellow bus that attracted like a magnet

Put me in the upperclassmen type classes

Just Freshman in biology

Ms.Berman acknowledged me

said, "You'll be a genius see"

And I didn't believe that

Cuz I ain't get the "As"

It wasn't fresh

Up In I.S, all I got was an F

Yep!

And then we had to feel harder and rough

Cuz its clear, I can't compare myself to my peers

Then I grew up every year

Now my mind steers

JUST LISTEN, JUST DEVELOP A VISION

AND IT, will happen

AND IT, will happen

See I told you first

School is the mice race

And the rat race is happening on earth

You gotta run hardest first

Across the universe

(I had some struggles in high school, but it's like...making it through all that is a big deal. Then you see, man if this could be mine? Maybe the world is mine?)

These are the words that I want you to hear

When it's hard to choose love over fear

I mean, man, we come from different type of homes

Different type of skin tones

But hey, we could fly from the same sky

Can't you listen when you giving high fives

To the people that's accepted into college why

I GOT INTO UC DAVIS

I GOT INTO UC IRVINE

I remember I ain't get none of the typical design

But I knew I would see

There was a educated mind that was made in me

And when your visions can become a reality

You'll be an adult, and you'll be smiling--

Like man, I manifested, addressed it man I'm doing it clear

Love yourself and school can't give you the fear

Just a lesson

And in life when your heart feels broken,

Keep your ears washed and keep your eyes open to: THE UNIVERSE

Feel me?

Cuz anything's possible y'all.

Keep it open to the universe

And Keep progressin

Stay intelligent

And keep reading

And keep learning

And keep earning

More

You can glow

You can do anything nothing is impossible, matter of fact

You can do anything nothing is impossible, matter of fact

You can do anything nothing is impossible

You were born divine, your spirit is unstoppable

Every obstacle is just a test

Digress, then you'll see through percepts

Progress is a process

Take a second, don't be hatin

Just be waiting, just be waitin

Yeah, you never learned that thing called Patience

Activity and action are two different things

Break the hand of the slapping queen just to become a queen

Tell her no, I can't take the evil that you give to me

Tell her yes, positivity over the negativity

Say, I inhale when I'm mad just to breathe and realize all I need is me

The Universe will provide.

My name is Chris Young, I went to San Diego High School just like you did, and just like other people went to other schools.

And I want you to know I am a representation and YOU are a representation of right now. And right now, the World is yours.