Fall Edition

Mission Early College High School Volume II Edition I

Inside
Stories
The New Grill in School
Cafeteria Finally Open
Brian JACINTO-Writer
Students race to the small café
in order to beat contestants to the
line, failure will mean having to
wait an extensive period of time
before getting your food. This is
how it was before MECHS got a
new cafeteria. Now it is a “golden
age” because students don’t have
to wait as long in order to satisfy
their growling stomachs.
The cafeteria took an extensive
period of time to be established
and that frustrated some of the
students. Now it’s open and it is
page 2 serving students and staff. The
cafeteria started serving around
the first day of September and that
made students ecstatic.
The new cafeteria has double the
lines and a much increased seating
capacity than the old cafeteria.
Sophomore Salvador Fernandez
said, “The [new] cafeteria is pretty
cool, but it took [too] long to be A group of sophomores smile as it is the first day they get to eat in their new cafeteria. Jackie ARTEAGA-Photographer
ready…the old cafeteria [was] The cafeteria is better due to its Lara said, “It’s bigger than the will now have a more enjoyable
cheap and the line was really long, bigger capacity and faster service portable so it’s something bet- experience during lunch, and
and with new one I [now] think it’s according to many students in ter”. enjoy their time in MECHS.
going to be better and faster to get MECHS. Sophomore Edmur With the new cafeteria students
food.”

page 3 MECHSimum Capacity

All Classifications
page 5
Freshman Renee Espinoza, Sophomore Amanda Bond, Junior Estephania Nuñez, and Senior Nelly
Campos evolve throughout their journey at MECHS. Matthew ALONZO-Photographer
Karla SANCHEZ-Writer
August 8th, the first day of
school at Mission Early College
High School, students whisper
page 6 to one another anxiously; some
look frightened, others excited
and happy, and others have a
superior air to them. Those who
look scared are most likely fresh-
men. The happy and excited ones
are probably sophomores, who
are thankful for finishing their
first year at MECHS. The juniors
are just happy to see their friends
on a regular basis again. Junior
Alex Castillo says, “The only
reason I came back to school
was to see my friends [because]
I miss them.”
With no question as to who
have a superior air to them --
seniors, have finished all but one
year at MECHS with flying col-
ors, some even finishing their
Associates and attending UTEP
this fall semester.
Finally, the school many doubt-
ed has all classifications Most
students are excited about having
all classifications. Sophomore
Micheal Amaya says, “It [all clas-
sifications] makes it feel more
like a regular school, but I think
it’s getting packed.” Sophomore
Valerie Tafoya agrees, “The
lunch lines are so long, it takes
forever to get food, and some-
times you don’t even get to eat.”
Most freshmen students are
excited about attending MECHS.
Freshmen Jasmine Yerena says,
“It’s a great opportunity, its fun
and I love being here.” While
most can agree the hardest thing
as a freshman is managing work
load Fernie Valles didn’t hesitate
in disagreeing, “Ms. Lara!!!!”
But he later rethinks this and asks
“Oh wait is she going to see this?
While most are excited about
having all classifications, some
students don’t seem to notice.
Senior Martha Cruz says, “I real-
ly don’t even talk to people who
aren’t seniors.” On the other hand
senior Joseph Saucedo tells fel-
low student Steven Segal, “You
should be thankful, because
thanks to [all classifications] you
have a girlfriend”
It has now become a circle,
with one classification prepar-
ing to leave, as new ones replace
them.

Freshmen Amorette Visser fires a sponge
full of whipped cream at Mr. Ray’s face.
Jackie ARTEAGA-Photographer
Freshmen Kaira Henderson observes as
the launched sponge flies towards its des-
tination. Jackie ARTEAGA-Photographer
It was a drizzling experience for some
students in MECHS during an obstacle
course. Contestants faced water balloons,
mini scooters, hula hoops, and a battalion
of sharp shooters. A competing sophomore
named Diego Oliveros said, “People were
throwing balloons at me and they hurt if
they didn’t pop.”
It was a cloudy yet hot afternoon Au-
gust 14, 2009, the day the school decided
to set up the Obstacle Course designed by
leadership and Ms. Alcantar.
The obstacle course had an array of
levels and teams. Oliveros’s says, “We
had to do 10 hula hoops then we had to
run and then jump the rope ten times and
then get into the carts and roll ourselves to
victory!”
The day was a summer splash to
remember and according to Ms. Alcantar
their will be another one soon to come.
With construction out of the way, Ms.
Alcantar said leadership will be more ca-
Alex Castillo rolls with style into the finish line. Eric WALDEN-Photographer
Л= 3.14? More like 25 cents…
Math instructor Andrew Waxman had
whipped cream smeared all over his cool
science goggles and his black trash bag
was smoothly converted to an apron in the
pie throwing contest in August.
According to Waxman
the contest was not good
or bad, “it was exactly
what I expected and peo-
ple got to throw things
at the teachers without
getting in trouble.”
Despite Waxman
being the main target for
the students, he wasn’t
scared to get hit except
for when he saw that one kid that gave
him the goose bumps, “Jamie Soto, he
was the only one that hit me in the face.”
Bedsides Waxman there were two other
targets for the students to hit, biology
instructor Mr. Ray being one of them was
playfully taunting and mocking the stu-
dents to throw and aim better. His taunting
did test the student’s anger a bit but there
was one student who used his anger a bit
more proficiently, “Cabral Jerry, it’s the
first time that they got me and he got me
in the goggles,” said Mr. Ray.
Summer
Splash
Course
Brian JACINTO - Writer
pable of making a better, longer, and more
fun obstacle course.
Some people said the obstacle course was
to short and easy. Celia Garcia said, “It
wasn’t so much competitive, but it was re-
ally fun.” Leadership will try and intensify
the difficulty of the course
The obstacle course/Hawaiian day was
a relaxing day for students. They could
forget about the pressure from work which
was an objective for the organizers. Many
people agreed it was a good day and it
seems that the next ones to come will be
better. Ms. Alcantar said, “The course was
easy but it was meant to be fun which
it was for the participants. We will have
another one once the school construction
is over.”
Oliveros’s final words were, “I would
really like to do it again but I think [it will
be better] if we could’ve had more time
to plan it and get more people involved.”
Many people are waiting for it to happen
2
Bobbi FOSTER-Writer
Ray claimed he would be a better
participant if the game was switched and
he was the one throwing the pie instead of
the students because he would use his sci-
ence smarts, “I understand physics, when
you throw harder you miss
more.”
The third teacher, English
instructor Mrs. Clarke got off
easily because she wasn’t as
big as a target as Mr. Wax-
man and probably didn’t get
hit more than five times. “I
was disappointed because I
thought they were trying to
be nice like holding back,”
said Mrs. Clarke.
The price to hit the teachers with a
pie was 25 cents--not really a pie--just a
sponge covered in whipped cream. Al-
though it wasn’t a real pie students would
still give anything to get a chance to hit
a teacher, “it feels good to torture them
for once,” says freshman Karen Rojo she
wasn’t the only one searching for revenge.
Students like junor Robert Mendez had a
good reason for revenge, “If the teachers Wild sponge with whipped cream splashes
were throwing the pies, they would prob- Mr. Waxman the math instructor.
ably want revenge too.” Jackie ARTEAGA-Photographer
A flying pink water ballon eyes it’s next
again hoping for the new improvements victim. Eric WALDEN-Photographer
to be added, because most people such as
Oliveros hoped the course was more long
and elaborate. Ms. Alcantar said, “Leader-
ship will plan a longer and more difficult
course with added equipment, such as
bicycles and a possible water features at
the end of the year.”
Karla Cruz-muros dodges water ballons while sliding on her scooters.
Eric WALDEN -Photographer
Stephanie Sanchez calls for the first two teams to compete.
Eric WALDEN-Photographer
 3

Fun in the Sun

Sand, swimsuits, and tons of
water (which do not exist in the city of
El Paso) were celebrated by the students
of Mission Early College High School.
Beach Day on August 14th was an all day
event put together by Leadership and Ms.
Alcantar.
The sponsor of the activity is
delighted everything went well and still
had the chance to have fun with the other
students. Ms. Alcantar said, “I think it
was very successful…the obstacle course
went well. We accomplished everything
we wanted to accomplish. It was a big ice-
breaker for the students…it showed [the
freshman that] they can do things other
schools cannot.”
Daffney MYERS - Writer
E��� WALDEN - Photographer
The wet weather made some happy
and others gloomy, but sunny or not
some people did not like their activity.
Freshman Aiden Martinez responded, “I
guess it is good that we get to [have] more
dressed up [days]. But we have free dress
as it is.”
Sophomore Haylee Fierro was in
a more positive mood and ready for the
anything. “It is pretty cool [to get dressed
in beach wear],” said Fierro. The smile
she wore spread from one ear to the next
spreading the joy she felt.
The rain was an unexpected extra
addition to the day for some of the stu-
dents who participated in beach day. “[I
am] pretty excited even though it is rain-
ing and cold…it feels like we are at a
beach because it is wet, sandy, and cold,”
said junior Eric Walden.
Coming in beach wear was not
easy for some people to do. But senior
Rene Orantia was happy to dress the part.
Orantia said, “It was really cool and really
fun dressing like a beach…most classes
participated.”
The ice breaker on August 14th
did its job well and helped many of the
freshman make new friends. It was a fun
and interesting day thanks to Leadership.
Leadership followed up Beach
Day with Movie Night on September 18th
and an outdoor screening of “Gremlins.”

Ms. Alcantar looks for revenge.

Principle Dr. Aguirre spots his next dry prey.

Faculty Car Wash

Joseph SAUCEDO - Writer
Karla BERNAL - Photographer

Students weathered the blistering heat Regardless of the light rain

on Friday, August 24th in an effort to
express appreciation for instructors and
faculty members. Ms. Alcántar, in col-
laboration with Leadership members,
organized a non-profit car wash.
Held on a Flexible Friday, some stu-
dents made the extra effort to partake in
the event by using ‘free’ class periods to
go out and show their support.
“I thought it would be a good way to
show teachers that we are thankful for
what they do and it sounded like an event
that would also be fun,” says Senior
Nelly Campos, a proud participant in the
Leadership orchestrated event. Students
participating in the car wash were work-
ing cooperatively, washing, rinsing, and
even parking the cars.
showers later that day, students who
participated in the car wash say that the
teachers were thankful and appreciative.
In light of El Paso’s unpredictability
when it comes to weather, our own Mr.
Brewer humorously pointed out that
the ill-timed showers only confirmed
Murphy’s Law. “When you wash your
car, it rains.” When asked why he chose
to partake in such an event, “...a student
offered and I thought it would be fun for
them to wash a gigantic van.”
“[Leadership] will be doing some-
thing for teachers every month and I’ll
be happy to help with what I can,” says
Campos. Students interested in volun-
teering are encouraged to sign up for
Leadership with Ms. Alcantar in the Pac
Room.

Senior Bernice Nevarez makes sure that every part of the car
is clean.

Senior students wash Mrs. Bonilla’s Senior Jonathan Shoman gazes down as Senior Daniel Anaya has the ultimate Senior Hatty Lara has fun drying a car.
black Hummer. he helps clean Mrs. Bonilla’s Hummer. water power in his hands!
 Story By: Joseph SAUCEDO
Pictures By: Eric WALDEN

partially to blame for ‘Seniori-

Se•nior•i•tis (\,sē-nyər-’ī- tis’ among a multitude of other
təs\) – A crippling illness affect- sources.
ing high school seniors every- Many of the May gradu-
where. It is often characterized ates are regularly attending
by chronic laziness, excessive UTEP though they have not yet
absences/tardiness, and dismis- completed high school courses
sive tendencies. required for a diploma. Senior
Many high schools across Edna Vazquez says, “I think
the states are plagued by the most of the UTEP students think
illness, blissfully unaware of its the same way in terms of giving
source and detrimental effects priority to our college courses
on seniors. over high school classes.” Does
Senior Steven Seigel an Associates Degree make our
says that Senioritis, even in mild May grads any less prone to the
cases, “…can lead to dissatisfy- perils of Senioritis?
ing grades.” In short, failure to “There isn’t too much
attend class, both high school to prevent it [Senioritis] other
and college-level, can be severe- than having reality check,” says
ly disadvantageous by the time Seigel. Attending class on a
Finals Week arrives. habitual basis and prioritizing
Though the cause is are some of the few preventative
unclear, Senior Jackie Gallinar measures that can be taken.
says that, “Having the feeling
of living up to expectations,” is
Senior Nelly Campos visists Nurse Brisette to be sure she is not infected with Senioritis

SENIORITIS
CHECKLIST
Attention seniors! The following test will
assess your level of Senioritis. Answer each
question truthfully and calculate your score.

1. You’ve ‘ditched’ 2 or more classes this se-

mester.
2. You don’t attend 1 or more of the classes
listed on your Flexible Friday Sheet.
3. There are Fridays you ‘forget’ to turn-in
your Flexible Friday Sheet.
4. ARMI is a class period you are comfortable
arriving late to, or even ‘ditching.’
5. You arrive late to school on a daily basis.
6. You often study minutes before an exam.
7. You’ve done one of the following with your
Senior Mike Caracoza’s Senioritis forces him to crush any lowerclassmen he sees.
Flexible Friday
• Driven to Pavo Reàl for a quick swim
• Watched Transformers 2 at the dollar movies
• Went off-roading near the SAC
• Just took off and headed home for the day
8. You are constantly called into the office in
regard to your attendance.
9. You finish homework late at night or the
morning it is due.
10. You’ve disregarded most of the work assigned
this semester.
0-2
Level 1: You are right on track. Nothing more than a sea-
sonal case of Senioritis. Contact your doctor immediately
if condition worsens.
3-5
Level 2: There is room for improvement. It’s time to con-
sider attending class on a regular basis and studying for
exams well beforehand.
6-8+
Level 3: Outright Senioritis! Your infirmity is highly con-
tagious. It would be best to distance yourself from peers. Juniors Eric Walden and Brandon Manning bow down to Seniors Wendy Rodriguez,
This is by far the most severe degree of Senioritis. Monica Flores and Nelly Campos.
 FASHION
Trends Tiffany Zuniga
Daniel Trejo Gabriel Duron

Fashionistas
The “Fashionistas” cat walk down the runway, every single
day. They make the rules and they break the rules but still
always look fabulous. These type people always have a
pair of zebra printed high heels hanging around in their
closet.
Cheros Preps
Is a shortened name for “Ranchero” and originated Hollister, Pac Sun, American Eagle, Aeropostale,
from the Mexican culture. The attire usually requires Abercrombie and Fitch every brand in the mall you
matching boots and a belt. The cowboy hat is always name, they got it. And they make sure you know
a must. “Cheros” can be seen ripping up the dance they have name brand clothes because the name,
floor in the middle of a duranguense song. “Hollister” is printed in big white letters across
their shirt. Not to mention their clothes always
Fashion Speaks match to perfection.
You’re walking down the halls of Mission High School when
you see some guy with a neon green, three-foot Mohawk. When
Vanity Flores
Dominic Alonso you go to the vending machine, you notice a girl with a pair of
red heels clacking away down the hallway. You discover she’s
not the only one doing the clacking when you see a boy with George Ugalde
white cowboy boots and a perfectly matching belt. Through the
doors of Mission are different fashion trends worn by everybody,
from “Rockers” to “preppies” and in-between. In the trendsetter’s
mind they represent more than just style. Their style represents
culture, personality, appearance and the most important, who
they truly are.

Bobbi Foster-Writer
Martha Cruz-Photographer

Jocks
The “jocks” can be seen screaming, “Score” like
a mad man around the fields. The extra talented
kid is always running around in Reebok basketball
shorts and pair of Nikes. Things like heels and ties
are a hidden behind thousands of soccer trophies
under their bed.
Rockers
From dark black eyeliner to purple spiked up hair,
the “rockers” know how to cause a conversation
with their black baggy pants and their graphical
band ties. “Rockers” can always be spotted at a
Metallica concert shaking their heads and hair in an
adrenaline rush.
 6

New On Campus
armi
W����� - M����� ANAYA

The following takes place be-
tween 8:10 am and 8:15 am.
Students run around frantically,
hurrying to reach their classrooms
in time. The sound of footsteps,
confusion, and doors slamming
drown out everything else. The fol-
lowing takes place from 8:25 am
to 8:30 am. Students entered their
respective classroom, trying to find
a seat. Anchors John Pacheco and
Xavier Martinez inform clueless
students of upcoming events and
important announcements. The
following takes place from 8:30
am and 9:00 am.
Peeking inside English teacher
Sergio Perez, students are discuss-
ing a novel. Students in music
instructor Joshua Brewer are going
over their agendas and learning
how to become better students.
Math instructor Andrew Waxman
works with his students to interpret
President Obama’s quotes.
ARMI class has commenced
this year for the first time in
the Socorro District, including
MECHS. It has begun with the sole
purpose of helping students who
need the extra help in class. “The
district has started with this class
to provide during the mentoring
periods accelerated information
to the students who need it,” Vice
Principal Ivette Savina says.
MECHS does not have a high
rate of failure. So how are we tak-
ing advantage of this class? Savina
explains, “Here at MECHS we are
using it to show our students how
to be successful. We use specific
Photo Provided By: Alex CASTILLO
Xyxyxxyxy xyx
G���� ���� ����� �� ARMI ����� �� ����� ������ �� ��� ��� ���
S�������� [D����� V�������]
Sophomore Damian Valencia goes over notes in ARMI class. Pho- Junior Eric Walden writes all of
tographer - Alex CASTILLO his good habits.
Photographer - Alex CASTILLO
activities with hopes of showing Pearson says, “I think that this thought it was pretty cool to go
students how they can access the class is bad because it adds more to high school. But I was kind of
information they need.” work than what we are already do- surprised they were extending
Students have mixed emotions ing.” Despite feeling overloaded, our time in school and I didn’t
about this new class. Students like Pearson adds she will give that like that.”
junior Juan Bolanos are excited class her best. “I will probably MECHS instructors are work-
about ARMI class. Bolanos says, pass it because I can’t let myself ing hard with Savina and Princi-
“I really like this class because it fail anything. I still think I’m go- pal Dr. Aguirre to adjust to this
helps you reflect upon yourself. ing to pass,” Micaela says. new period. Savina says, “We
You get to develop good studying Freshman who had high hopes try to promote organization and
habits.” of starting class later found time management. We think that
Not everyone shares Bolanos’s themselves disappointed to learn those skills are important to have
feelings. Sophomore Micaela school will now start at 8:15 am. and practice so you can become a

Volleyball
Freshman Erik Duran says, “I very successful student.

Phoenix
Article By: Miguel ANAYA Activity
Center
P������������ - Gabriel SANCHEZ

Photographer - Alex CASTILLO

“Mine!” yells senior Eddie Gardea as he quickly reacts
to the incoming ball.
Everyone on the field slowly
squats down, watching the server with
squinted eyes. The sun beats down on
their backs as their eyes lock firmly on
the server. The server raises the ball up
slowly, holding it like sort of trophy.
She tosses it up in the air and smacks
it into the other direction, the sound Leadership students prepare a poster for an upcoming Josh Cardoza listenst to his favorite
of the impact sends a rush of adrena- event. music in the PAC.
line through every player. Volleyball
sponsor Adrian Estroga keeps his eyes
glued to the ball as it flies back and
forth between players, ready to point
out any rule violations and pronounce Sending the ball soaring over
the winner. the net, freshman Paulina
Samenego fights to break a
tied score.
Geometry teacher Estorga will be organizing and monitoring
this year’s MECHS volleyball tournament. “Before [we had orga-
nized sport tournaments], we had students playing volleyball [during
lunch either way] and Ms Alcantar took it upon herself to organize
the students into a tournament. Last year, Coach Arvizu organized
the tournament and this year it was fallen upon me to do it,” Estorga
says.
Students are getting into the action, whether they are playing
or watching. Junior Angel Cepeda says, “I entered the tournament
because volleyball is a fun sport and I hope our team wins.”
Queens of the Court Captain Alex Castillo says, “Our prize will be
pride and knowing we beasted it up out there.”
This year’s sports sponserer Estorga said he made major
improvements to make the games as fun and efficient as possible.
“Last year we had the problem of having students taking classes at
Valle Verde during scheduled games and they couldn’t make it. This E���� P������ ��� E�������� C������ ����� ����� ����- D����� ����� ��� ����� ������ �� ��� ���.
year I took that into consideration and asked everyone when they ��� �� ��������� ����������.
could play so that we didn’t run into that problem again.” Games
will run into the end of the month, so students will still be able to
get a glimpse of the players tearing it up.
 7

New Year, New Faces

By Karla Sanchez & Valerie Tafoya

A new school year has brought new
staff to Mission Early College High
School. MECHS not only has a new
freshman class but, new teachers and staff
members for this 2009-10 school year.
MECHS now has a new teacher for 10th
grade chemistry, dance, physical educa-
tion, BCIS (Business Computer Infor-
matrion System), 9th grade English, 11th
grade English, government. Gloria Jurado
is the new office clerk, Ms. Quintanilla
the new attendance clerk and Mr. Miranda
is the new counslor.
The new teachers have praised Mis-
sion Early College High School. The new
dance teacher Ms. Perez said, “I’m really
excited, I have a supportive staff, a sup-
portive administration, that encourages
me and, the students are great.”
The new staff members prefer
MECHS and are happy of being part of
the staff. “I love it, I couldn’t be any-
where else”, said new Physical Education
teacher, Ms. Gonzalez.
The new BCIS teacher, Mr. Bonilla,
said, “Should I tell the truth?”when asked
about how MECHS first got in touch with
him. Bonilla got in touch with Dr. Aguirre
first with the help of Mrs. Bonilla.
MECHS seems to bring a new envi-
ronment to many of the new staff mem-
bers. Sophmore chemistry teacher, Ms.
Abano’s old high school had a population
of 3,000 students. “Nobody knew each
other” Abano said.
The new teachers described their previ-
ous jobs. Mr. Bonilla said, “I was teach-
ing, but I was doing credit recovery in
Socorro high school for super seniors.”
Abano said,“Standardized tests counted as
major grades” in her previous position.
The teacher from other cities or states
commented on how changes have come.
The new chemistry teacher, Mrs. Abano,
has just moved to El Paso from North
Carolina. Abano said, “The people [in El
Paso] are friendly and helpful.”
The new school year was a new start.
Mrs. Adrienne Abano, Ms. Monica Perez,
Ms. Yanel Gonzalez, Mr. Raymond
Bonilla, Ms. Angela Clarke, Mr. Segio
Perez, Mr. Robert Acosta, Ms. Gloria
Jurado, Ms. Cristina Quintanilla and, Mr.
Humberto Miranda were all part of this
new start. They now represent MECHS
staff and enjoy being here.

Ms. Perez is one of the many new teach-

ers at Mission Early College High School.
Her curriculum is dance and health.
Photographer- Matthew Alonso

Having much knowledge about chemistry, new teacher Ms. Abaño will give insight New teacher, Mr. Bonilla, works hard on Attendance clerk, Ms. Cristina Quintanilla
about molecules to sophomore students. his lectures, as he is proud to be apart of places a phone call.
Photographer- Matthew Alonso the Mission Staff. Photographer- Evelia Fraire

Phoenix Flames & Embers

Photographer- Matthew Alonso

Members
Nohemy Aleman Mitzelle Escobar
Gaby Velez Hattly Lara
Ana Vasquez Alyssa Colacion
Lisa Garcia Estefania Nunez
The Phoenix Flames coordinator, Ms.
To prevent any injury, everyone
Alex Castillo Griselda Arreola
Perez, shows everyone a section of the
tryout dance. stretched out their muscles by doing Valerie Molina Courtney Magnason
butterflies. Photographer- Eric Walden
Photographer- Eric Walden Jessica Dominguez Miriam Pando
Leyla Palacios Amanda Lujan
Meagan Alvarado Joanna Rodriguez
Alex Apodaca Wendy Garcia
Gizelle Silerio Jazmine Gallardo
Ana Diaz de Leon Kaory Flores
Jeana Nevarez Daphne Myers
Clarissa Herrera Kaitlyn Iager
Everyone stretches out their back so it would be easier to move and dance around. Rocio Fernandez Erika Quiroz
Photographer- Eric Walden Michelle Jimenez

A Blast of Silence
The plaza theater gives you a unique
sense of the old art-deco style with a new
age spirit. When you are seated, a light
show representing an elaborate day and
night rendtiton behind it, different to start-
ing a movie as opposed to previews. In the
end it’s worth the drive and the cost.
I saw a movie called “Blast of Silence”
at the plaza film festival on Friday, Au-
gust 14th. The movie was black and white,
we had to see this movie because the one
we wanted was sold out. I found that the
movie was a good mix of suspense, action,
and mystery for a black and white movie
from the early 60’s. The movie begins
in New York City with a hit-man named
8
Student Submissions
Matt Chapman - Special to The Phoenician
Frankie Bono who was there for a job from only more dismayed after realizing that a few moments later Frankie
Cincinnati. The movie begins at Christmas he still has a job to do and that’s the only is tracked down by the
time with a cetrtain emptiness that Frankie reason he’s in New york for. Frankie then target’s bodygaurds
feels being away from home with no fam- becomes distraught from his job as and is shot and kil-
ily. He sees a world around him filled with he has to kill a bystander who lexd. The title,
happiness and family togetherness and gets in his way of finishing “Burst of Si-
feels at times bitter that he can not experi- his job. After talking lence” comes
ence that happiness. The feeling of loneli- with his bosses he is from the si-
ness gets worse when frankie sees some told that he signed a lence that
old friends form the orphanage he grew up contract and has to finsh is brought
in and they invite him in for a Christmas the job or it’s his life in to Frankie when
Eve party, only reminding him what the jeopardy. The moment of he is shot and killed.
happiness of family brings. He soon falls climax comes when the guy Overall I thought the
in love with a girl he knew, but he is re- Frankies is supposed to kill movie was a good movie, it had
jected after finding out she already has a falls into his trap. Frankie kills a good balance of action with a mes-
boyfriend. The dismayed Frankie becomes him and barely gets away. Only sage.

Costa Rica Zach Reyna - Special to The Phoenician

When you travel, you often buy
a postcard of one of your favor-
ite attractions since it depicts the
beauty of the experiences you had
there much better than any picture
or story you can write. Not in Costa
Rica. In this Central American
paradise, you dive deep into these
picturesque articles of postage and
experience the adventure first hand.
While the tour was conducted
through EF Tours, whose purpose
is to introduce and educate stu-
dents about foreign countries, that
doesn’t mean learning a few facts
and figures here and there made the
excursion any less thrilling. Over
the course of two weeks in June, we
learned little bits about the geogra-
phy of Costa Rice while swimming
at the foot of La Fortuna, one of the
country’s most gorgeous waterfalls.
We witnessed the biodiversity over
the region by walking the paths of
INBIOparque, a reservation show-
casing the different species unique
to the country. We discovered Lake
Arenal was the largest in the land
while kayaking through its waters.
And you can really only learn how
sporadic the whether is over there
when you experience a sudden
downpour in the middle of horse-
back riding in the mountains (it
literally felt like someone poured
buckets of water on us!).
Though activities such as zip-
lining through the jungle (and a
kilometer between mountains at
that) were exhilarating, unique and
sometimes plain scary, it was just
as fun to sit and relax on the beach
with your friends, old and new. It
can be said that traveling with the
people you hold close to your heart
can really put a test to your rela-
tionship but in this Latin American
heaven it’s hard not to love every-
one you meet. Over the course the
trip, the different groups of friends
began to merge and fuse, introduc-
ing us to new friends and strength-
ening the ties to our existing ones
to create lasting bonds that span a
lifetime.
But don’t worry about being left
out of this amazing opportunity,
for those of you who wish they
could’ve gone there’s going to be
another trip to Costa Rica filled
with some familiar activities as
well as new expeditions to enjoy in
2011.

Senior Zach Reyna and a fellow travaler Claudia Ramirez try on

their shells

Artists of the Future

By Laura Saucedo
Picture on bottom: “Black Bird L”

Anna Patino-Artist