The best and worst of high school exposed
By Cassie Orona
Senior Farewell Issue

    In high school, we always will remember the best times and the worst times. Whether we tripped in front of a crowd or made a difference in the school we're in, you'll never forget your high school experience.
    "The best part of my high school experience is being a leader. ASB has given me this chance to do just that and being able to communicate with my fellow classmen and setting some sort of an example has been very rewarding in my life," says senior class ASB President, David Sanchez. "The worst part was starting off this last year bad." Senior Latasha Terry, however, seems to concur with Sanchez. "Being involved in high school especially in my senior year, has been a blast. Cheerleading and ASB rock!" Her worst experiences were the AP Testing and the junior AP classes she took. "In the end, it was all worth it though."
    "The best part of my high school experience is meeting new people and having some of those people become your best friends and the one's that you'll never forget," says senior Katherine Galvez. "The worst part was my math and science classes and of course, when 'Doc' was here."
    "Being yourself and kickin' it with your friends are the best memories of my high school experience," says senior Diana Orozco. "On the other hand, getting up early to be at school definitely wasn't cool. '05 baby!" Senior Ricardo Avila has the same perspective on his high school life as Orozco. "The worst part was all the homework that you go through, but the best is actually graduating and getting out of high school."
    Senior Chris Chase doesn't seem to want to leave high school even though he's glad to be graduating. "The worst part is having to leave this place. Only the best memories will stand out the most. On the other hand, the best part is the fact of having so many good friends and teachers that were easy going. Parties were the time to chill and where some weird hook-ups would happen. This was where the 'real you' would come out." Senior Travis Boyd says," Being in football and gaining all the friends and having my family's support was the best part of my high school experience." Boyd's worst part of high school and for many of us out there will agree with him, were the "lame rules we all had to put up with like TNT, detentions, and things of that nature that kept us even further from being in class or getting our educations."
    With all her friends from the past four years and adding in some new friends, has been the best part for senior Billie Makshonoff. " The worst is realizing that this is really the end and I'm not going to see all these people on a daily basis. I'm going to miss high school even though I'm so excited for our graduation." Senior Heather Brown seems to agree with Makshonoff. "The non-stop laughs since the very beginning was so awesome! The worst was when Angela Gomez and I had this 'one bad day.' I don't think anything else could've possibly gone wrong."
    Senior Brandon Harris says learning to weld different things was one of his best times at high school. "The drama is what kills all the fun of high school." Senior Elysia Groves says, "Meeting crazy people, like myself is what makes high school so much fun. The worst part is that these four crazy years go by so flippin' fast!" Congratulations to the senior class of 2005!

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I learned that…
By Cindy Mey
Senior Farewell Issue

     As we go through the four years of high school, for some you learn a lot of things. Things that may teach you the good and the bad things about life. Many lessons are meant to teach you either not to do it again or to do something better. But you know some lessons are not really learned, they are meant to make you think twice before you do it again.
    "When life leaves you unexpected bumps, why quit…when over a couple more bumps is your biggest dreams that you have been working towards." Stacia Molina
    "You really get to see who your true friends are…." Ashley Kerr
    "You should not really care what people say about you…it's not going to have a big effect in your life in the long run! You know what I mean?" Shauna Pardo
    "What I learned in high school is the same thing I learned in kindergarten, except more drama." Nina Acosta
    "Things learned in high school are lessons you can take and use it afterwards." Sarah Hofman
    "To be aware of the consequences of all your actions, and what effect they may have on the rest of your life." Paul Heredia
    "Don't be a fool for love!" Joel Cuevas
    "High school can be a breeze…it's not as hard as it seems as long as you work hard at it." Maria Santillanes
    "I learned how to not really be there, but still pass!" Charlie Groves
    "If you want to be the best, do the best!" Lauren Pinkney
    "Take the opportunities you get for granted, because you are going to need them." Jessica Silva
    "Hard work, perseverance and determination can take you around the world. Oh yeah and drugs are bad." Victor Corrales
    "Don't mess up in the beginning because you'll regret it in the end." Adam Rodriguez

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Goodbye, farewell, amen.
By Cristina Sauceda
Senior Farewell Issue

"We do not know the true value of our moments until they have undergone the test of memory." Georges Duhamel
    Well guys we're almost done with the best years of our lives. In just a matter of days we will have to venture out into the real world with no parents to guide us and no more friends by our sides since we are all going our separate ways. What do we have left? Memories, which will always follow us around. From freshmen to senior year we have experienced ups and downs, whether it was with grades, teachers, or even drama. There is still that single memory that will either haunt us, make us laugh, or make us cry until the day we get old when we can't remember much of what we did the day before. Herewith, the Class of 2005 reflects what their favorite memories are throughout their experience here at Colton High School.
    In high school we date like crazy, but never do we think about finding that one person that gives you butterflies when you see them. Senior Elila Casillas remembers the day when the love of her life, Senior Johnny Ortega, asked her out on January 27, 2004 at 11:07 after being best friends for two and a half years. What about those funny moments that embarrassed us very much that we try and forget but friends never want to? Senior Marjorie Salvatierra remembers when she slipped and fell by the ceramics classroom trying to get to class. Senior Steve Ramirez remembers a moment (that I believe he enjoyed very much) when two girls were fighting during second lunch in front of him his sophomore year and one of the girl's breasts decided to jump out of her shirt and say hello to the world. Senior Sophia Rocha tried to ditch with her friend, Senior Debbie Diaz, in the girl's shower and Melva found them and kicked them out. I am pretty sure our freshmen year we were all pretty scared to get lost, get beaten up or just get made fun of, but some students are lucky to have their siblings already in high school that know the ropes. Senior Tina Martinez remembers when her big sister Juanita would walk her to class everyday, which was really lucky because I know I got lost my first couple of days here at Colton. Friends are very important in high school whether they help you with your problems or just make you laugh when you need it the most. Senior Lyle Ivie remembers how close the ROTC B-ball team grew together as a family throughout tournaments, and as the years went by.
    We go through different stages in life. We start as embryos, then become babies, then children then into somewhat mature teens. Teen years are said to be the hardest but in my opinion they are the best. So far I have loved high school even though I have had my fair share of drama but I also had my great moments with all my friends. All I have to say is Elila, Johnny, Daniel, Ryan, Aaron "Rollie," Juan, Josh, Eileen, Sophie, Lyle and Ernie: I want to tell you that I love you all and I really enjoyed these past years with you guys. Even though we are all going our separate ways this year I want you guys to know that you are my best friends. I LOVE YOU AND WILL DEFINITELY MISS YOU ALL!!!!
I wanted to go out with a memorable quote and in order to do this I sought the help of my friend Steve Ramirez.
    "Your probably telling yourself I'm gonna GET THE WORLD BY THE TAIL, PULL IT DOWN AND WRAP IT AROUND AND PUT IT IN MY POCKET, well I'm here to tell you as I go out there you're not going to amount to JACK SQUAT."- Chris Farley
    Thanks Steve. Well guys, we're done I hope all of you have a great life and never be scared of what lies ahead because you never know you might end up making the big bucks. As for those who still have a year, two or three years to go, have as much fun as possible in high school because before you know it, it will all be over. Oh yeah one more thing:    Class of 2005 Rocks!!!!!

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My mommy says I'm special
By James Walker
Senior Farewell Issue

You know, this is supposed to be a reflective story, recounting my various experiences through high school and on this paper, but there really is nothing requiring that I do that, so I'm going to babble on. Can you say shameless promotion? Because there's certainly going to be some. Can you say acid? Because it's going to be mentioned, though not in a promotional manner. Is there any reason your eyes should drag any further than this? Nope, because it's all senselessness from here, my brother…or sister-err, person of absolutely no non-symbolic relation.
        So, I was walking down the other street the day and as I found, pigs don't live in tennis shoes, so I had to get a smoothie to save the moles from the Sith. Amazing, isn't it? I know…you should all listen to Brazil, because you know...so the school food is disgusting, pseudo-fake faux food. It's plastic, but not horrible tasting! That's the great lesson I've learned from my time at this school: the key to supreme happiness is either tacos or "O.J. did it". Also, the fries I think have nicotine in them, which is why you can't stop eating them, and desire to have more over the weekend. Groovy, eh?
    I was going to try and retrieve, for all of your viewing pleasure, a story that never made it to the presses last year, a certain story about the swim team in one of the later issues that had nothing to do with the swim team, but was twice as good…sadly, the story has either been eradicated or hidden, so I can't. Poor you.
    Anyway, it's time from some shameless promotion. I have a friend in Guitar, and this friend in Guitar had a band, a band which some of you may have heard, some of you who might have thought bad of them at some point…well, you suck. This band that is of my friend from Guitar is Wookie Star Command, and they are great! I want you all to go and worship them, right now! No particular reason, just do it. I COMMAND YOU! Hah, like acid but better, that slays me.
    Has your IQ dropped yet? Wow, you're persistent. TIME FOR MORE BABBLE!
    If you've ever played Kingdom of Loathing, you'll have noticed that there is a chowder golem in Fernwarthy's Tower. I like chowder, clam chowder, chowder with clams and bacon and potatoes and celery and oyster crackers that you eat with a spoon from a small bowl at home or several various restaurants across the world! It's very good you know, so good I don't really think that even the poor budget of this school could ruin it if it were made from the Cafeteria. Not to say that the lunch ladies are bad cooks, but the food that they have to buy because of the horribly low funds in this school doesn't taste that great. They're only doing the best that they can.
    I found a new band lately that I like, and I found them at this school, though they're not a local band so much as one with a label who has concerts in places around. They're called The Kinison, and they are great; don't listen to them. You are not worthy. Brazil is much the same, so don't even think about going to hear them, or hearing any of their songs from any source whatsoever. If you haven't heard them before now you never get to! I'm writing a writ here that prevents any of you from hearing them at all no matter what you do, even if it doesn't count for anything or run further than my person. HAH!
    Anyway, I've found that my time here at Colton has been good. It's wonderfully chaotic, callous, with some very good teachers, interesting people for which to befriend, and blah. That's the only credit I'm giving it! EXPECT NO MORE! And that's all I have to say.

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Michelle's Manifesto
By Michelle Choiselat
Senior Farewell Issue

    We've been preparing for the "real world" for the last four years, taking in information our teachers felt was vital to know. This coming Wednesday, the world will be thrust into our hands and we're expected just to deal with it. The same thing happened to generations before us and they survived; this should be considered a simple task. However, we've come to a fork in the road. We can take the easy path, take the words our teachers said for truth, and become functional members of society. Or we can take that daunting path, question everything we're told, dissect it, and mold it until we are satisfied with the outcome. We can find our own "truth." I'd like to think that the daunting route is so much more appealing. I want to move mountains, change the world, and be someone worth knowing. I want to see things for what they are, without the sugarcoating.
    This journey will definitely not be easy. I am more than expecting to make mistakes as I go, but I'm not afraid. The adventurous spirit dwelling within me speaks louder than that fear instilled in me by those who've been there before and had their regrets. What differentiates me from them is that I refuse to have regrets. I expect mistakes, but regrets? I will define my mistakes and learn from them, but I refuse to let my mistakes define me. By taking the so-called "easy path," I'd be making the biggest mistake of my life, and I would regret my entire existence. I don't want opportunity to just pass me by. I want to be in the action, making the discoveries, uncovering truths, and educating people.
    Whether I care to admit it or not I have learned my fair share of lessons from my teachers, friends, and family. The wisdom they have bestowed on me will always have some bearing on my life.   I have come to realize that nothing really is what it seems; that there is this wall of dishonesty that often covers up the true interiors. When I come face-to-face with that problem I know I'll just have to climb the wall. I've discovered that you can't depend on other people to be open-minded because no one ever really is, no matter how liberal they claim to be. Everyone has their biases, and they can be hard to overcome. I've learned that amongst the people in the world, there is someone out there meant for you, and when you find that person, they will have been waiting for you. No one was ever destined to live life, alone.
    Finally, I have come to realize that while few of us will ever be famous or legendary, our lives will be (and have been) significant in the eyes of someone else and that no one is better than anyone else. I will have my ambitions and you will have yours.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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The end of a chapter, the beginning of a new
By Nina Acosta
Senior Farewell Issue

My fellow graduates and under classmen, the 2004-2005 school year once again has shattered at the blink of an eye and all of us have moved a step forward in the game of life. Some of us will go on to college and some of us will not, but all of us will have the memories we have shared here at Colton high. They are infinite and frozen forever in our minds and hearts. We can all look back and wish to change events that have happened in our lives and despite the bad, wouldn't change anything because it has helped us grow as individuals. I know for a fact that I will miss all my friends, my teachers, and most of all, the insurance policy on my childhood. We will never have this again but somehow I think the seniors' legacy will live on because we had the best prom, and the best protest in Colton High School history. Walking across that stage means everything to me because it is the end result of all the hard work I have done; for all the times I complained I didn't want to go to school and all the times I wish it would be over, it's only ironic justice that I wish it didn't have to end. These are the years we will look back on and pass on stories to our kids, and our grandkids. We'll be able to start lectures with "when I was in high school…" Gosh, I feel old already. We have so much ahead of ourselves; we have our lives to live ahead of us. It can only get better from here, and nothing can hold us back. As I leave behind all my junior friends I wish them the very best their senior year and hope they cherish every moment because before you know it, its gone.
All my love and good intentions go out to: Kyle McKnight, Ilka Hernando, Nataley Romo, Janessa Larios, Arline "Wifey" Cruz, Robert Campos, Suzy Gentili, Randy Diaz, Samantha Gardner, Krystal Cass, Ashley Dahlke, Alyssa Isgett, Jonathan Carrasco, Krystal Toronto, Adriana Rodriguez, and Andrea Ordaz. To all my teachers over my four years who have armed me with the knowledge to make a name for myself: Ms. Wilson, Mr. Wurz, Mr. Rainey, Mr.Gerard, Mrs.Donnely, Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Abbot, Ms. Paulsen, Mr. Housmanzadi, Dr. Adesina, Mrs. Barioni, Dr. Gonzalez, Ms.Folta, Mr. Gage, Mrs. Cestaro, Mr. Delgado, Ms. Lacy, and Ms. Ramirez. To my friends who are graduating with me, I leave you with this, " A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education he may steal the whole railroad." -Theodore Roosevelt.

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Read this, it's worth $55
By Paul Heredia
Senior Farewell Issue

"The time of your life." The years of high school are like a "box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." For some, they open up that box and receive a path that leads them straight to happiness, but there are those that really have to search hard through their box.
    As high school can take you in many different directions, it is your decision on which way you want to go. Whether it is straight to that good piece of chocolate, the searching through various ones to see how each tastes, or the unfortunate ones that never find that piece of chocolate that may be sitting right in front of them. I understand that in high school it is very difficult to stay on the right path with the many distractions that can't help but find you one way or another. The drugs, alcohol, and sex come and go in high school and for some it hits them hard distracting them from their family, friends, and life. But, it is those that need to have the most inner strength in themselves to get through those bad pieces of chocolate. It shows great strength for one to come from so far in a hole to still have life within them and keep moving forward trying to better themselves with each step they take. You must remember that no matter how hard you think you have it or how bad your life may be going there will always be someone in this world that has it harder then you do. Then there are those ones that step into high school and focus on one goal, and do not take their eye off of it for anything. It's these people that have the responsibility to help those to find their good piece and take full advantage of what they have. "With great power comes great responsibility." Helping others can be the most reassuring and fulfilling thing one can do in life, and it is the opportunity to show that the transfer of power or strength can be a chain reaction.
    High school is a very difficult place to grow and learn, and you never know what may come up or happen in this period of life that is supposedly supposed to be the time of your life. These pieces of chocolate that we go through without any thought, hold the understanding of life and the roads to many different places, within one simple box.

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Regrets are the natural properties of grey hairs
By Sarah Hofman
Senior Farewell Issue

    AS I SIT HERE, I look back on all my years of high school and all the drama that has gone, I think about how really petty the events really were. So now I am asked to think of my biggest high school regret and I think I could truly say that I regret burning bridges with friends of the past for stupid reasons that I thought were major at the time. I am going to use this privilege to recognize those people that I feel bad for burning the bridge to our friendship. One person is Ashley Kerr, the event that changed our friendship was a very lame one (you and I both know he wasn't worth it). A very major one is Jason Thomas, whom I have known since kindergarten. I wish we could put all the stuff that happened behind us.
    Another regret that I have is allowing time to separate friendships that I had with people through the years. This is why I want to apologize to the Chavez twins, Jessica and Ashton. I feel bad that I haven't really talked to you guys even though I wanted to. Well, I hope that we can all have fun at graduation. There are a lot of other people that go along with my high school regret, but I would like to give other seniors a chance to say what their regret is.
    When asked what his high school regret was, Eric Ewing didn't waste any time, saying, "moving to North Carolina my sophomore year. Because it made me fall behind and now I have to make up credits I lost." I could only imagine that a lot of seniors have gone through the same sort of thing and now they have to make up a lot of work because of one move. My best friend went to Redlands High School for only a semester and now she is way behind and is having to make up all the work she missed that one semester, and that sucks. But it isn't always a regretful move that has made senior years hard for people. For instance Chris Cisneros regrets just not trying hard enough which would've allowed him to have a "kick back" senior year.
    As all of us know high school is full of drama and high school romance. I know from experience that a lot of high school relationships don't last. But a lot of people are afraid to say that that is there high school regret, which is very true for Ricardo Muro. When asked what his regret was, it was hard for him to think of a way to say it with out hurting a person's feeling. His final regret was "not spending enough time with my friends, instead I hung out with my ex- girlfriend." I bet that at the time when they were together he liked it, but we all have a tendency to regret things we did in a relationship after it's over. Now to the drama of high school, I know when I was thinking of my biggest high school regret that the fact of creating drama in my life was a huge part of it. For Katherine Galvez it was definitely her regret. Her exact words were, "telling my business to people, because then it got around school and people would talk." I know that a lot of you have had the same thing happen to you at least once in all the years you've been here. You can't help but tell people who you think you can trust your business and then some how everyone finds out.
    It's the conclusion to the last story I will ever write for the Pepper Bough, it feels like it really is over. The sad thing is, I can't wait to walk across the stage in a few days and then hear that we are done! But I would really like to leave this school not holding on to any regrets, because that would be very unhealthy. So to all of you mentioned or not, I hope that you had a good time in high school and I'm sorry if I made it bad at any point in time. I hope that if any of you have a regret that you will leave it here in the halls of Colton High! Good Bye 2005!!

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Durd is the Word
By Sean Durdle
Senior Farewell Issue

DAY 1
It's the end of the year,
But have no fear,
The rest of our life ahead, Look not into the past,
But the future instead, For it will come fast,
Finally we move into this world "real,"
Trying to stay young like we feel,
This life we know,
This life we'll leave,
This life we'll go,
This life we'll lead,
The teachings we learned,
The teachings we taught,
Remembered by those who sought for thought,
These times are past and forever gone,
Yet not forgotten while we press on…
DAY 2
Boy I am sure going to miss getting up about a half hour late and rushing to school as slow as I can. I'm really going to miss blowing off assignments to hang out with my friends. As Victor Valdez put it best last year in his column, "I hate busy work." Busy work is the most horribe and tedious thing I ever encountered. I will have no regrets leaving this school, because I know that everything I could have done I did, and all the other stuff I didn't care about doing. The truth is that I have less than a week left and I have completely checked out. I'm just done with the school thing for now and can't wait 'till it's official. I also put in a two weeks notice at my job because I'm starting a new one, and have given up doing any type of work for the last days there too. Once I graduate, a lot of things will be different. By the time this column comes out I will have already moved to Redlands, started a new job, and have classes picked out for college.
DAY 3
This weekend we moved to Redlands. All together it was probably a good 24 hours of moving. I would also like to thank my friends Scott Holm and Phillip Salamanca for putting in a lot of effort helping me move. So now I have to get up earlier than I'm used to, to commute to school, which sucks. I also already started my new full-time job. So right now I'm stretched pretty thin,and really can't wait to get out of school.

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What better time to be honest now…
By Shauna Pardo
Senior Farewell Issue

    In ten years most of us are going to look back and say… "I wish that I would have just said something to that person back in high school." Well, here is my chance! Now that we approach the end of the year and graduation is just around the corner, my chance has come to say my final farewells… to my teachers.
    Glenn Mitchell (Honors English I)- Mr. Mitchell… I would have many things to say to but I have to save room for other teachers. I want to know what exactly we did in that class! Every time we would start an assignment, you would end it half way through. But I have to admit, that was a fun class to be in, right Lauren Pinkney?
    Juan Velez (Spanish I)- Mr. Velez, alright, Fue mi peor ano escolar de mi vida!!! Pero la verdad es que me hizo appreciar el Ingles mucho mas y le doy las gracias. Got it?
    Luis Checo (Biology)- Hey Checo… I bet you don't even remember me or my class, we were pretty chaotic. Remember this though, "put me in check, Checo."
    Lucy Tillema (Honors English II)- Miss K, which I will always know you by, I learned more in your class than anywhere else, even though you are a little crazy duck…
    Deborah Zeller (Geometry)- Zeller, I learned more life lessons in your class than geometry, oddly. But I'm sure you'll remember our class with Barry White (Derek Sims) and the jock (Jonathan Albiso), to be the most utterly annoying class ever. Keep listening to Dr. Laura!!!
    Harold Strauss (Weight Lifting)- Coach Strauss… that was an awesome class! I bet you loved that class to having all your old softball players, actually doing something besides eat. I sure hope you still entertain your class by turning on that music and showing how it's done on the dance floor.
    Jacob Adesina (Chemistry)- Dr. Adesina, halo ow are you? I ope you do vary weawl in de up coming yers. "Doctor, doctor, give me the news. I got a bad case of loving you!" and always remember: "I no wan to se your smiling face ecept on Tursday."
    Stacey Baker (Performance Art)- Mrs. Jay… you've inspired us all to become bigger Star Wars fans. Even though you would never do the Chewbacca call, we forgive you.
    Veronica Elder (Algebra II)- Mrs. Elder, our class may have been one of the worst classes you had but you loved us never the less. Always remember the bird call, the writing on the wall, and your continual displacement of your breakfast.
    Randall Burkholz (English IV)- Mr. B… this year was… interesting. There is not a way to describe you without slandering your name so I'll just say this, I'll be sure to never forget your class.
    Larry Pearce (Physics)- Mr. Pearce, you are the craziest teacher I have ever had, I guess that's why so many people love your class. I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish the semester with you but you probably wanted me out of there anyways. I know 7th period will always have a place in your heart.
    John Czach (Principle of Democracy & Economics)- Czach… I'm glad I had you as a teacher in these subjects, they aren't my strongest point. I loved being your student and your Teacher's Aide. I'm sorry I won't be the one getting you fat for the upcoming years, but I'm sure you'll find someone.
    Those are my farewells. We will all have a point in our lives, regardless if we want to or not, when we will think of a teacher we loved, hated, or just remember for any odd reason, and talk about them or mention them to our kids. "I remember I had a teacher like that." And I got the special chance to say how I felt about them. Regardless of how I felt there are many students who feel the opposite and that's ok. Farewell teachers of Colton High, in the year of 2005.

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