My advice to underclassmen

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Katie Adaya in Op-Ed

Katie Adaya

Chronicle Reporter

As senior year winds down, I would like to reflect upon my past years. Here is some advice I would have told myself based on my experiences and some advice I would like to share with underclassmen.

1. Don’t procrastinate: “Due tomorrow do tomorrow” is a common phrase many follow. Don’t wait until the last minute to work on a project, assignment, etc. Although you might get away with it at times, it will catch up one day and you’ll have to face the consequences.
2. Join clubs/sports: It’s important to join anything that sparks your interest. You might think that a sport or a club isn’t “for you”, but you never know unless you try. It could also be the other way around. You might think that you like something but once you join you realize that it doesn’t interest you anymore.
3. Volunteer: Look for internships or any local organizations and apply to volunteer. You can gain a lot from these volunteering opportunities. For instance, you learn how to work with others, manage your time, expand your knowledge, and discover abilities you didn’t know you had.
4. Take your time on college apps: Once again, don’t wait until last minute to complete something as important as your future. Write your essays on time and try to get an admissions counselor to revise your essays and take the advice they give you. Also, don’t forget to research important factors of colleges that interest you, such as the environment, school size, and student life.
5. Have fun: With everything being stressful, don’t miss out on after school and school activities, like football games and school dances. Those will be one of the most unforgettable memories you’ll treasure when looking back at your high school years.

Cool off this spring with some boba tea

Posted on March 12, 2019 by frida larios in Features, Op-Ed

Frida Larios
Chronicle Reporter

With our clocks changed for daylight savings, it’s a sign that spring is approaching.

One of my favorite things to do during a sunny day is sip on a refreshing drink, but sometimes lemonade and Arizona teas get old so here are some great boba places to try near by.

1. It’s Boba Time
This boba shop is probably the most well known in Los Angeles because there are many locations including one down the street from our school. If you’re looking for just a quick drink of boba this is the place to go.
6660 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

2. Pearl’s Finest Teas
This fairly new boba shop is very well known for their creative drinks such as their Horchata Milk Tea, and Orange Yuzu which has an instagram-worthy look to it. It’s located right in the heart of Fairfax and is perfect for people looking for something different.
523 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90048

3. Mini Monster
Located in Citywalk, just take the red line from Hollywood and Highland to Universal City for this very unique and adorable boba shop. You can choose if you want your beverage in a regular plastic cup, or a giant glass light bulb which you can refill for half the price of whichever drink you want. You also get the option to put a flower crown on your drink or cotton candy.
1000 Universal Hollywood Dr Suite 143, Universal City, CA 91608

Maximizing your concert experience

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Sidney Gonzalez in Op-Ed

Sidney Gonzalez

Chronicle Reporter

With music being accessible in just the press of a button, we tend to want more of it. If you have a favorite artist or band, you usually want to experience their music live. But you might not be too familiar with the concert experience, so here are a few quick tips so you can enjoy your time.

• Getting your tickets

Most tickets are purchased online and if this is your case, make sure you know when they go on sale. Sometimes there are pre-sale tickets, so sign up for them if you can. When they go on sale make sure you have your method of payment and information on hand, and  refresh the page during this time to see if you’ve been let into the queue. Sometimes you are unable to get tickets and they sell out, but there are other places where you can get tickets. Websites such as TickPick offer resales.

• Make sure you have your tickets at the gate

If you have a physical copy, make sure the ticket is secure and with you. For digital tickets, make sure you either have good Wifi to access the ticket or screenshot it and prepare to demonstrate it at the gate.

• Plan for the weather

Make sure to check the news or your weather app for the day of and dress appropriately. If it’s going to rain, bring a poncho, raincoat, or umbrella. If it’s at night, it’s likely to be cold, so bring a sweater just in case.

• Plan to get there early

Typically the area around the location will be very busy if a crowd is to be expected. Plan to leave early enough to give you time to get caught up in traffic or find another route and still get there in time

• Don’t stress over getting there a slightly late

Most bands and artists do not arrive and start performing at the exact time treated on the ticket. Also, there is usually other artists opening for them, so unless you also want to watch them, don’t worry too much.

• Buy merchandise before the show

A lot of people are very interested in buying merchandise as a memento, if that’s you, consider going before the show during the opening acts as the line is least likely to be as long compared to later on at the end of the show.

•  Plan your ride back

Not everyone has a car, so make sure to plan how you’re going to get back. No matter the time of day, traffic and crowds get in the way of a commute. For public transportation, make sure you know the location of stops and stations and around how often they pass as well as the route. For those taking Uber or Lyft, it’s a good idea to find a distinguishable place to put as your location, that way there is no confusion to where you are.

• Be aware of the type of concert it is

Not every concert is a sit down and in your own seat type of event. While there, look around you to check the area. Rock concerts in particular are known for their mosh pits, so know what you’re getting into and remove yourself from that area if you are uncomfortable.

• Don’t look at your phone the whole time

People tend to get caught up on the taking photographs and recording videos when they go to a concert. Put down your phone even if it’s only for a few songs so that you are able to enjoy the experience and the music.

Metro’s “big” change

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Rafael Hernandez in Op-Ed

Rafael Hernandez
Chronicle Reporter

Before 2018 ended the LA Metro Board of Directors approved on Dec. 6 to give trains letter names over keeping the color system. I think that this approved plan will not be a huge change at all and that train riders will still call them by their current names. This approved plan won’t be implemented till 2028 when the Olympics is set to happen in LA.

I went around school and asked a student and a teacher who ride the train on a daily basis how they felt about the change and if they prefer the current system or the new one.

NMA Senior James Mezovari said, “I don’t like that change. Everything right now is simple and easy to understand. By changing the system most people will get confused, I prefer the color system.”

TCA Senior Natalia Torres said, “I think it’s pointless because everybody knows it as it is right now. So why change it? Just to confuse people? I prefer the color system because the new system is pointless.”

Color system over to letter system names (Draft):

Blue line -> A train

Red line -> B train

Green line -> C train

Purple line -> D train

Gold line -> E train

New rail lines going to be added:

K train ( LAX to Torrance )

Q train ( Sylmar to West LA )

S train ( Downtown LA to Artesia )

Roma: A Changing Perspective

Posted on February 25, 2019 by America Flores-Hernandez in Op-Ed

Chronicle Reporter
America Flores-Hernandez

Receiving 10 nominations for the 91st Academy Awards, Alfonso Cuaron’s cinematic reflection of a troubled childhood not only has broken barriers between typical film plots, but also opens a new door for underrepresented cultural groups. Winning three more Oscars in his directing career, Cuaron focuses this thought provoking family drama through Cleo, an indigenous domestic worker (of Oaxacan-Zapotec descent) who goes through many problems while working for a family who’s relationship grows apart.

With great effort from the cast and crew, the film won in three categories within the most important for the Oscars: foreign language film, cinematography, and directing.

Cuaron’s view towards this year’s awards show was targeting the actors in their selected nominated films and how they make a difference based on the roles they partake, “as artists, our job is to look where others don’t.” Roma is also a personal journey for the director himself going back to a metropolitan Mexico City in the 1970s, an enclave in which he grew up. In which comes the distant memory of the housekeeper who raised and cared for him while dealing with problems of her own.

Watching the film is something else that even I felt I could relate too, and so did my mother. Yalitza Aparicio, the film’s leading actress represents the Academy putting a step towards diversity based on the selection of movies they choose. Having an indigenous individual make it to the ranks of other well known actresses also reminds other aspiring young females who are in that sector that they can make anything they put their mind to. Even if it seems impossible.

Welcome 2019 scholastic journalism week

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Mayeli Acuna in Announcements, News, Op-Ed

Scholastic Journalism Week 2019 is here, running from Feb. 17-23 with different activities to follow everyday. Join along and support this dedication to our community. Here is a list of the daily engagement.

Tuesday, Feb. 19 – #RealNews. High school journalist do important world, not fluff. What #RealNews have you reported in the past year?

• Our story on mental health has been one of great importance as many teenage students may be going through a tough time and it must be spoken about. Therefore, Katie and I took matters into our own hands and worked on an advice column for the first issue of the 2018-2019 school year.

Wednesday, Feb 20 – #EverydayJournalism. Wednesday’s focus is about the hard work that students journalist do every day. It’s #EverydayJournalism

Thursday, Feb 21 – #SavingDemocracy. Scholastic journalism often has to step up and report on public officials and public institutions because of the systematic gutting of professional newsroom around the U.S. How are you doing your part in #SavingDemocracy

• As a high school journalist our duty is to speak in behalf of the other students and whether it be regarding a controversial issue we must remember that we have our rights just as real reporters do.

Friday, Feb. 22 – #NewVoices #studentvoice. Fourteen states have instituted anti-Hazelwood laws since that disastrous 1988 decision. But #NewVoices laws guaranteeing freedom of the press for students are being considered in Nebraska and Missouri. Help spread the word about the value of #StudentVoice.

• The Crimson Chronicle staff will be holding a gathering where anyone will be allowed to share their concerns regarding the school community. It will be held on Friday during lunch and it will be a new beginning for all of the Hollywood High students to have a voice alongside the Chronicle staff.   

My experience in Cuba

Posted on February 12, 2019 by frida larios in Op-Ed

Frida Larios
Chronicle reporter

During winter break, my parents and I visited Cuba to see the country for what it really is before it possibly changes.

Throughout our one week trip, we went to six different cities in Cuba, the first being Havana. Right when you land you realize how different this country is. You’ll rarely see any advertisements on build boards or posters, and you definetley will not see any offers for free wifi or wifi at all, which is really scary at first, but turns out to be a super refreshing detox.

Right when you step out of the airport you’ll see colorful, vintage cars waiting for you to get a ride.

Once you drive into the capital (Havana), you see that every building is very old, some more preserved than others. There are lots of Spanish style buildings that will make you think for a second that you are in Europe instead of Cuba.

The local people in Cuba are some of the kindest people I have ever met. With wifi and internet being very hard to get in all of Cuba, people don’t really focus on what they don’t have but instead they enjoy everything they do have. They welcome you with warm smiles and after a few minutes of talking, they will treat you as if they have known you their whole lives.

During my short visit, I learned so much about Cuba’s history and culture and do hope I can go back in the near future. Going to this country should be on every travelers bucket list.

Visiting Abandon Mall

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Rafael Hernandez in Op-Ed

Rafael Hernandez
Chronicle Reporter

During my sophomore year my friends and I decided to visit an abandon mall. A mall only an hour and a half away from Downtown LA. We did not know what expect. We were also expecting not to get in. When we finally arrived we walked around the mall till we noticed that a fence blocking the entrance to the parking lot was wide open. After a long debate on whether we should try to get into the mall or not. We decided to go in and not take this very big opportunity. We eventually found a hole on the wall and one by one we all entered.

It was very cold and very quiet. The cold air coming from the hole on wall and the sunshine coming in through the open roof was very soothing. You can hear drops of water dripping from the roof. It was very relaxing, we all sat in the middle of the floor taking it all in.   We then continued to look around till the sunset.

The day I met Mayor Eric Garcetti

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Rafael Hernandez in Op-Ed

Rafael Hernandez
Chronicle Reporter

It was freshmen year only a few months before my first year of high school ended. I had been taking pictures with my camera for only 9 months and didn’t really have a clue as to what I wanted to do. I would always take the Gold Line and ended up in Sierra Madre the last station. I found out that the Gold Line is getting an extension and will open up in just few weeks. I was very excited and couldn’t wait for that day to come. Riding the Gold Line various times during my freshman year that just the thought of new stations opening made me very happy because it meant I’d get to visit places I’ve never been before.

The day finally came and I got up right on time. Got my camera and headed out. It takes about 40 minutes from Union Station to Sierra Madre. I thought that the train would continue to the new stops but when I got to Sierra Madre they made all the passengers get off and form a line to get onto a train that runs to the new stations. While waiting to get onto a train everybody suddenly started looking towards the back of the line. I turned around out of curiosity and saw the Mayor. He was shaking hands with those waiting in line. Eventually he was shaking hands with the person behind me and I genuinely didn’t know what to say or how to act.

He then came to me and I smiled, shook his hand and had a good three minute conversation with him about what I wanted to pursue after high school. I then eventually got on the train and visited all the new stops.

Sat with Raf

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Rafael Hernandez in Op-Ed

Rafael Hernandez
Chronicle Reporter

It was early in the morning, on my way to Hollywood High. I got on the 207 bus and noticed that nobody was sitting next to this African American homeless man. I’ve been riding the bus my whole life and learned to not care who was in the bus. If I saw an empty seat I’ll sit. I smiled at the man and he smiled back. I sat down and put my camera in my backpack, the man saw that I put my camera away and immediately told me that my camera reminded him of his youth and when he worked at universal studios. I introduced myself and he introduced himself. Ironically his name was Raf which immediately lighten up my morning. He talked about how he would work there every summer and the fun experience he had working with friends. He talked about how he saw all the backstage things and how everything worked.

Sometimes people we ignore have the best stories and experience in life.