Class of '06 says goodbye - My High School Journalism

Seniors 11
ON GUARD JUNE
By: Richard Allen
Photo Editor
Monica Chase is defi nitely not
what one would call the “typical
female.” Anyone who has known
her since elementary school,
where she attended Thompson
Elementary, would say that
she has always been unique.
“I’m Monica Chase and I feel so
Asian today,” said Chase. Chase is
18 years old, and is indeed Asian.
“That’s probably one of my traits I
hold in highest regard,” said Chase.
Born a true Japanese-American,
Chase claims she fi ts the stereotype
perfectly. She shows what some
might call an obsessive interest
in anything Japanese—food,
art, technology, and the culture.
Chase plans to obtain a degree
in technology, specifi cally computer
science. She is attending Pacifi c
Lutheran University in the fall to
begin her post-secondary education.
“I’m nervous about college,” chase
said, “But as long as I know that
I’m doing what I like, I’ll be okay.”
After college Chase will be
pursuing a career in Computer
Systems Analysis. These are highlyskilled
technical individuals who
develop and examine
c o m p u t e r s ,
work with data,
and supervise
p r o g r a m m e r s .
Chase said,
“I feel like I’m
going to be really
prepared in
the type of
degree and
job I want.
At Spanaway
Lake I took
Rick Pittser’s
PC Repair
classes and
learned a
great deal of
i m p o r t a n t
m a t e r i a l . ”
As part of
Pittser’s class,
Chase has
taken training
to obtain
certification
in A+ and Network+. These and
many other certifi cates are required
to work in certain computer fi elds.
“I’m still waiting to take the Master
Exams they’re just really expensive,”
said Chase. Each test costs well
over $100, and Chase is planning
to get the discount vouchers.
Along with PC Repair, Chase was
also enrolled in several Advanced
Placement courses; two years of
Japanese, art classes, and others
required classes to graduate. Her
favorite classes, were Japanese,
Drawing, and PC Repair. “Computers
and drawing are two of my
By: Becky Stoll
A&E Editor
He’s smart, funny and talented
or at least that what all his friends
say. But if you sit down with Curtis
Theimer, then you would
know that everything
his friends say is true.
He has worked really
hard through his high
school career to get
where he is today.
He has attended
Spanaway Lake High
School since the
tenth grade, taking
courses such as
science, humanities,
photography and
video productions.
Theimer has been
passions, I also
love learning
Japanese. It’s
important to
me that I speak
at least some
of the language
so that I can
c o m m u n i c a t e
with that side
of my family,”
said Chase.
Chase had
several favorite
teachers at
Spanaway Lake,
including Nina
Taniguchi, Rick
Pittser, Joann
Parr, Karissa Beckman, and Kathy
Hammad. “Not only have these
teachers helped me academically,
but they have also given me much
encouragement and even just a
listening ear when it came to subjects
not related to school. They’ve all be
so supportive these last three years,
and I thank them. I love them all.”
Don Sticka was Chase’s favorite
school administrator. “He helped
me through a rough time I was
having during my junior year,” said
Chase. “During that year he asked
me if I really should have been
on campus because he thought
Photo courtesy of Monica Chase
really active in school activities.
He was vice-president of the
photography club, co-captain of
the video yearbook and an anchor
for the SLHS News. His favorite
past times at school are editing
on iMovie. He loves taking photos
using his black and white camera
and doing digital manipulations
on the computer. Curtis’s face will
be featured on the SLHS mural.
Senior Jacob Talbot said, “Curtis is
really dedicated. He is really devoted
to his friends and work.” The unique
thing about Curtis is that he gets paid
while working at school. Theimer is
a Bethel School District Computer
Technician. So as soon as his school
day ends he starts his day of work
with out ever leaving the building.
When Curtis is not at school
2006
Chase perseveres her way through Spanaway Lake
Photo By Richard Allen
I graduated the year before. I
thought it was pretty funny.”
Spanaway Lake holds many
memories for Chase. She thinks of it
as a place where she has grown a great
deal academically and humanely.
“I also made a lot of new friends,”
said Chase. “Of course, I was able
to keep in touch or connected with
old friends. It’s funny how people
seem to drift apart or come back
together in high school.” Chase said
that she would defi nitely miss her
friends after high school because she
knows she will be busy and it will be
hard to keep in touch. “I don’t want
to turn into a hermit,” Chase said.
In ten years, Chase sees herself
graduated from college and working
as a Computer Systems Analyst. Soon
after she plans to settle down and
get married once fi nancially stable.
“I look back to before high school
and realize how much I’ve changed
as a person,” said Chase. “Trying
to go through life with struggles,
insecurities, and disappointments
has taught me so much about
responsibility, perseverance, and
patience. Despite the hardships
I’ve been given, I am proud to
be the unique individual I am,
and no matter what people try to
take from me, they cannot take
the pride I have in my identity.”
Behind the scenes with Curtis
he enjoys spending time with his
girlfriend Amber May, hanging
out with friends and playing video
games. He enjoys joking around with
everyone he comes in contact with
as long as they are on his good side.
Talbot said, “ The funniest thing I
can think of him doing is when he
was wearing his Star Wars Jedi robe
on the morning announcements.”
Curtis plans on attending
Clover Park Technical College after
graduation. He wants to become
a video producer and produce the
next Star Wars. After he fi nishes the
courses at Clover Park then he wants
to transfer over to the Art Institute
of Seattle to further his fi lm career.
Curtis has a good further
ahead of him. He’s hard working,
dedicated, and determined.