Flashback: Senior Year FACT Newspaper

I haven’t posted a flashback in a long time, since August at least. Even then, it wasn’t very awesome. Subsequently, here comes a flashback straight from the end of Senior Year.

Back in my Freshman year of college, I was a shy, timid fellow. So the best way I could communicate with the majority of FACT students (mostly feminine), was through the FACT Newspaper. Click here to see all that stuff and fluff.

Apparently, in my Senior year of high school I issued a “FACT REUNIFICATION” newspaper to honor all the memories we had during the school year. Unfortunately, I am unable to locate a copy of it. BUT, I do have quite a few articles from it that I can show you :).

So, FACT people, we’ve pretty much become our own secluded group by now. I’m sure you realized that 99% of the awards at awards night went to us. and 50% of those to Erica Carillo, Howard, Minh, etc. Damn nerds =D Anyhow we’ve become our own odd little clan against the school, perhaps isolated a bit because everyone knows we’re better than them. And its pretty much true. If you check out the office and notice the flags up on the wall, about 80% of those are ours too. And I’m sure theres other lazy ass people like me who didnt turn theres in too.

The point is- through all of the work that teachers have given us and all the (excuse the cliche) trials and tribulations that we have been through, we’ve basically come to take over the school. I mean, who the hell else would the kids have cheated off of? Those ‘not honor student’ kids? Hell no. FACT class of 05 baby.

Sincerely,
Rick James

”

So this is it—the end—the close—the big finish, for us, the FACT class of ’04-’05, the senior graduating class of 2008. The truth of the matter is that this had not hit me until those last two songs at Imada Plaza on Prom Night. It was then, huddled in a mass group hug, with friends and old faces—theses former strangers who were now family—theses brothers and sisters who have grown to be nearly inseparable in these past four years. It was then, as “Graduation by Vitamin-c” and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day” echoed into eternity, ringing into my ears, striking my nerve and soul—joined by the harmonious singing of friends, it hit me.

Memories began to flow—the sweetest memories of living— the joys and sorrows, the shared moments so deafeningly etched into our memories, moments that we hold so dear. Memories such as, the “Cold War” between John and I (that Caesar’s Square I built), slipping into the mud outside Mr. Munson’s class in an attempt to snatch at Mackenzie’s hat, tripping Huyen in Mr. Murray’s room (Bwahahaha Howard had the best burn on Huyen), my “Rejection Spree” (0 – 7 Was it? I can’t remember any more!) =], the first days in high school (boy oh, boy), the FACT Ice Cream Social, MARS RAHS FACT Projects, Stalin Day, Piggy and the Conch, FLATLAND….. everything and anything, this only being freshman year! Wowzers…. Starting to play WoW, those were the days……… “Your Mom” Jokes (Which have now evolved into “That’s what she said”).

Sophomore Year, the Euro Nuremberg Mock Trial (Admiral Karl Doenitz Lives on FOREVER!), Schirmers… erm…. Well you know (just ask Earf!), that long chain of movies we watched week after week ( Remember Erica and Judy?), the Euro Round Tables (I think because I am… because I am Descarte!), Mr. Pyle’s “Frings” (You know you loved ‘em Earf!), George and Lenny, Atticus and Mockingbirds, Lockhart, CANDIDE, the Communist Manifesto, Penis Envy (Gotta love Freud!) Our First AP test!

Junior Year! Gatsby, VOC, Discovery Science Center (Nearly getting cooked cooking hot dogs!), Aids Walk! The Second “Cold War”!, Blandford and Bunnell, AP Physics (More like Phy-SUCKS), AP US Super Hero Projects! John’s Epic Spanish Video for Jackson! Annie! Girlfriend! Winter Formal!

Senior Year! Hamamoto! Video projects (I can’t ever listen to Bohemian Rhapsody the same way again!), “I will work HARDER!”, Swing It Live! (International Week!), 50^th Anniversary! “The Horror, the Horror!” Hamlet Saga! “Get thee to a nunnery!” Watching Branagh’s Hamlet at my place with the gang! Hiep’s Surprise Birthday! Winter Formal! Sadies! Ahhhh! Hell Week! AP Test Spam! And now Prom, to come full circle—to close, yet to continue making new memories.

In these past few weeks leading up to our graduation, I have been searching for “closure”, hoping to find a sense of meaning and fulfillment in these past four years leading on to graduation, then to college, then to the rest of our lives. But, I have come to realize that in our experience here, at Rancho, or be it wherever we may be in the future—the friendship, laughs, tears—the memories never have to end, we carry them in our hearts and in our minds wherever we go. I say this to remind us that we are never alone, that in our experience as FACT students, we have become a family, united and strong. Remember the laughs we had, and the love we shared. Best of luck to all of you in the future!”

– Jonathan Elizalde.

And now…. the controversy. Apparently I forgot to put a FACT article on purpose inside the FACT finale newspaper, but it apparently was leaked by email to everyone in FACT. Back then, it caused quite a bit of drama at the end of our Senior Year – with Howard being the distributor, and to this date “an anonymous” writer who I will still not disclose the information of. Have fun reading below the DRAMA. DRAMA. DRAMA.

After going through virtually each and every response to this email, I feel the necessity in my heart and soul to address what has resulted indefinitely from the emailing of this article to the FACT students.

Let me first say that I did not intend for ANYONE to read this article. The author of the article sent it to me hoping for me to incorporate it into the “FACT finale reunion” newspaper. On an initial glimpse of the article, I thought it’d be necessary to incorporate all opinions of high school (including this pejorative one). However, on second thought, I decided to withhold it from the newspaper indefinitely, for the effects it would create upon our little FACT community. Now that it is actually out, all paradigms have shifted and people have started accusing others of writing the article. Rightfully so, for the tone and opinions of the article are indeed hurtful… However, let me address a few people before I continue with my ultimate message.

To Erica, Eden, Minh, & Earth: I am truly sorry if anything in this article offended you. You all are going to prestigious colleges in the fall in an effort to gain joy for the rest of your lives. You all have bright futures ahead of you, equivalent to your intelligence level. Some of you are becoming doctors and lawyers – helping to save the world like Doctor House (played by Hugh Laurie) Mondays at 9 only on FOX or fight criminals like the people on Law & Order, SVU. Keep in mind that NOTHING should steer you short of your goals and ambitions. Especially this one article. Let this article not hurt your self-esteem, for it should motivate you to work harder than ever before in an effort to fight the opinions addressed. Also, keep in mind that unless you know for sure, don’t go around ignoring people or telling other people that you KNOW who wrote the article, because truly – the only 2 people who know is ME and the author of the article, who will remain “Askewed”.

Let me go on to clear something up. Many of you think Howard Nguyen wrote the article. Let me straight out declare that he is innocent of the malicious crime you accuse him of. He is NOT the author of the article. I haven’t lied much in my high school career, so you should accept this as FACT (pun), that Howard is innocent. Also, I am going to respect the wishes and opinions of the author by keeping the article anonymous, like he/she wants me to. If you ask me, I will NOT respond.

Now, to the rest of you, I realize some of you find this funny, some of you find this horrible, and some of you could give a rat’s ass. Whichever the case, nobody should go around accusing anyone of writing the article unless they know for sure who it is (which, you can’t possibly, know). Keep in mind though that this person decided to do this in secrecy, rather than reveal to the entire world their opinions, probably due to their desire to maintain their image or decrease the drama that might self-destruct the Class of 2008 and the FACT family we have fostered over the last 4 years.

Before I leave, let me repeat that people should stop accusing people of crimes unless they know definitely that they are guilty.

Let’s keep in mind that…

In Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding, the kids assume that there is a “beast” on the island, when it fact it doesn’t even exist (it is just a pig’s head). By accusing anyone of this crime, you are just making an assumption that might turn out to be as false as “the beast” itself.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, an innocent black man is accused of a crime solely based on his crime. Please do not accuse people solely based on their POSITION in the school (example: Howard Nguyen just because he is Salutatorian).

In The Great Gatsby, written by Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby is accused of killing Myrtle just because he wants to take the blame for Daisy. Please do not make the same mistake of accusing the wrong person in the creation of this article.

Finally, in Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, the raven is accused of being an evildoer due to his messages of love and peace brought forth by “Sugarcandy mountain”. Do not accuse the wrong person because you think they might think a certain way, when in factthey don’t.

That’s all for now. I’m out. Good luck, and may the fact bonds that brought us together keep that way.

United we stand. Divided we fall.

The Original Article:
Symmetrically Unbalanced

By Askewed

 

Oh it’s finally the end of our great high school career.  Great?  Ha ha, far from it.  But yes, thankfully it IS the end, for we shall not have to see unbearably annoying faces in our lives ever again.  For a few of us, high school would be full of great memories of the awards they got, the teachers that loved them, and all their friends.  For the others however, high school memories are traumatizing and dreadful because of those special selected few and their mindless supporters.  Let’s take a trip down the memory lane of Ranc-hell to highlight those dreadful, oh I mean “wonderful” memories.

FACT!  Whenever we mention FACT, people always thought we were saying “We belong to FAT”.  So we were this little family going for period to period together, like a happy family.  Emphasis on LIKE.  Even just from the beginning many fellow FACT students were conniving for their success in the future.  For instance, giving money to Mrs. Daniels on Chinese New Year?  That’s literally bribing a teacher for an A by using a holiday in which elders (usually those who are married) are supposed to give money to the young, not the opposite.  Right then and there I realized that hard work will get you no where.  Kissing ass may have to be the only choice.  But oh noooo, we can’t succumb to such a low-life tactic.  I’ll get back to that later though, for FACT is the issue at hand.  Okay so basically we had Daniels, who was a b****, Durand, who acts like he doesn’t play favorites when he obviously does, and Martin, who just absolutely adores our 2008 valedictorian.  But hey, this is just freshman year.  Sophomore year has more differences.

YAY we finally have a teacher that is FAIR.  Go Mrs. Schirmer, WOOT.  Too bad she’s stepping down from her position as club advisor for CSF due to the number of students cheating to get into her club!  So CSF is full of cheaters that want to graduate in white, BUT NHS is full of students who are PRO HAXOR CHEATERS that don’t get caught.  Why do I say this?  Well our 2008 NHS president is the biggest cheater of them all! HAHA, NHS, the national honors society, for students who show academic honesty.  What a joke.  90% of the students in the club cheat daily. 9% cheat occasionally.  And the last 1% is the REAL honest academic scholars who do not cheat.  Nice statistics eh?  Let’s go in depth about our NHS president now that we are on the related subject.

So I guess the world does revolve around him eh?  Well that’s obvious, because he IS the world! All teachers love him, all students love him.  He wins everything.  He gets to come into class 20 minutes late, but it’s okay because we NEED him to live.  It’s okay if hecheats because no one has ever seen that happen. Oh no no no.  In his El Vaquero speech it says he is one that has high morals.  So I suppose one who steals study books from Barnes and Nobles has high morals?  Guess my morals are way too low then.  So is everyone else’s, since teachers favor him so much.  So much that grades don’t even matter for awards, since people who RIGHTFULLY deserve them do not get them.  Rancho is pathetic, and so are the teachers and administration.

So APUSH and Mrs. Bunnell.  She won the Most Organized award. So a stack of papers and random crap lying around is organized? OKaaaaaY!  Oh and the secret to getting on her good side is by getting your house burned and then get her sympathize with you.  This also works on all other teachers.  But hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get to the top!

Student of the Month.  How come many in our whole Rancho school career have never gotten this award?  Well, I’ll tell u the secret.  You have to be a student league cabinet member, that’s why!  Mr. Chau is in charge of this award, so of course he approves all his little minions to get the award.  Oh you must be wondering how you can get nominated as EL and LA Vaquero.  That’s even more simpler. If you kissed a** enough to as many teachers as you can, you will be nominated for sure.  Still have doubts?  Then join Yearbook and become editor!  Then it will be 100% that you will be a nominee!  Why? Cuz you do SO much work as yearbook editor, just like all of our editors this year!  They ditch, drink, party, pretend to work, act like they work hard, and are vicious if you ask them about any yearbook related material.  Yep, super hard work.  Not for the faint-hearted student.

Guess turning gay makes you more humble, since our valedictorian went from supporting ELEPHANTS to supporting WEED. WOOT.  This allows our planet earth to shine of course.  Along with half-mexicans that get to brag about getting into Stanford with FINANCIAL AID, NOT scholarship money.  Our school keeps this all under control though with it’s tight and strict rules.

NO seen CHEATING ALLOWED.  ALL OTHER FORMS OF CHEATING ALLOWED.  PREFERRED IF YOU WANT TO JOIN NHS. STEALING OF SCHOOL MATERIALS UNALLOWED.  However, stealing of possessions and materials that belong to other students IS allowed on campus.  Especially Sidekick phones.  Ms. Koerner supports stealing of such items fully with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. She will yell at you if you come reporting such incidents, for the school takes no responsibility.  Unless your planet earth or go to Stanford.

Sadly, I must end our little session together now, for I can’t bear to speak, or rather type, about these nice memories any longer. You can say I’m bitter or jealous, but I’d prefer if you just assume I’m mentally askewed from this traumatizing high school experience. Hope justice prevails in college for the honest few that are reading this.  Doom to the rest of you.  :]

Anonymous Email:

As some of you may know, the final FACT newspaper as published by John Tran was NOT complete.  He decided to omit this article due to the truths presented in it, as they lay too far on the extreme side.  The 2008 Edition of John’s newspaper is incomplete as it does not encompass all the thoughts and feelings of every student who wanted to leave a last note.  Of course, this article may deem delightful to some while demeaning, even treacherous, for others. This article was indeed… heh… a bit harsh and the students subject to such “critique” are not all former FACT students, so go ahead and spread it as far and wide as you wish.  Long live the infamy that lies solely at the tender hearts of  ’04-’05 FACT, at the very cores of our scholars, and ultimately at the very depths Class of 2008!

–and I can guarantee you; even if you can IP track this email and find who sent this aricle out, you will still be at a loss for the author.  This is NOT the author but someone who found the article quite intriguing–so intriguing that it must be sent out to all former FACTstudents.

And on a personal note, I took great joy in reading this article; I only wish the rest of you would engage in the same kind of delight.  Ah, the glee that struck through me as my heart fluttered with delight–someone who had the ability to express MY thoughts and feelings oh-so clearly.

Have fun with this article.

And lastly, to those were mentioned in the article, have a great summer, knowing that the truth is out.

Sonny’s response:
Dear F.A.C.T. Class of ’04-’05,
The missing article is THE SHITTTTT!!! Ahaha! Whoever did this, props man! LOL! Even though it was harsh, I’m taking it as a joke. I advise all of you to do the same. Senior year is coming to a close and what a humorous way to end it! Ahaha! Oh. Please excuse me for the profound language and the lack of professionalism in this e-mail. I just fiound it so amusing! Ahaha. Once again, funny funny. Much love to everyone and good luck in the future! English AP stuff due tomorrow! Oh no! 🙂

Regards,
Sonny Hoang

P.S. Again sorry for the language, but you guys are all seniors for fuck sakes. So suck it up! 🙂 Nighty night! See you guys on the 18th! Except for Eva! 😛

Chris’s response:
This is a pretty interesting article. Apaprently someone had quite a bit of time to think about all of the instances, make up examples and then write this essay which has very few grammar errors and such. Kudos to you. Good luck to all in guessing the writer…..its like “THE MOLE” :]
I agree 100% with Sonny

Howard’s response:

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!

100% right on sonny. my god, what a fantastic way to end the school year. take that statement as sarcastic or not, it still matters.

Judy’s response:

WAYY TOO GOOOO!!! FINALLY, someone tells the cold, hard truth. props

Tanya's response

I dont understand why SONNY would say this is an awesome piece of work, and then all you idiots to agree.

I find a lot of this information to be highly offensive and the writer is a bitter and jealous coward. You are incompassionate of your classmates and your point of view is a bit elementary. I understand where you are coming from with the corruption of Student League (and also you forgot to mention ASB), but to whale on the students that has worked hard and has CARED enough about their grades despite of all the obstacles most of them had to go through. I thought it was totally FUCKED UP to talk about Eden’s tragic incident like that. She lost everything and you expect her to just keep going and keep on doign the school work that she usually does? Can’t you be a bit more compassionate to a person that has become homeless and lost most of her possessions in one day. It takes awhile to sort things back in order, and while you are at home on your comfy ass, bitterly studying for your classes, she is trying to balance school and her life outside of school. If you werent so ludacrisly observent and criticizing of others and maybe focused more on your school work, you probably would have gotten some or more awards, therefore making you less of an inconsiderate asshole.

If you dont feel that FACT is like a family, then why are you putting the time and effort into writing offensive, biased, and such hateful words to intentionally hurt these people. This is not the honest brutal truth that you are speaking. They are boldly stated OPINIONS from a person with a different perspective and intake of their highschool career. Don’t flatter yourself too much by saying “its the cold harsh truth”, because it is not. You had no support for your arguements, your critques are ridiculously shallow and from a very limited third person point of view. Here’s the reality check, the TRUTH is Earth, Eden, Erica, etc.. got the awards, whether you THINK they deserve it or not. Everyone has busted their asses to have gotten to where they are today, and for you to try to take that away from them, you are the one that obviously has their morals misplaced, along with your heart. You dont know the circumstances they are under, or the obstacles, or inside story they have to deal with. This is a hallow article that contains nothing valuable but the outlooks of a HATER. I honestly wish you the best future you are able to provide for your superficial and dramatic/attention-seeking self.

CLASS OF ’08 BABYYYYYY!!!

Howard’s response:
aww, what a sentimental and thoughtful email. you bring tears to my eyes with your righteousness, tanya tran! :’)

Judy’s response:

Agreed. and BTW, my props was NOT about the dissing people but the
part about my sickkick being stolen! i love my FACT friends. don't

Sunny's response:
Thank You Tanya. You said everything I wanted to say <3.

Brian's response:
epic. but yeah it's the end of our senior year....

so lets forget about it , yea? aite cools

why dig up the past.

Mackenzie's response:
I can't believe I wasted a few minutes of my life reading this sad excuse
for an article. It is apparent from the very first bashing paragraph
that whoever wrote this is simply seeking some meager and cowardly form
of retaliation against the people who actually excelled in high school.
And to publish something anonymously only further highlights the
cowardice of the writer. So congratulations to you, mystery writer! You
crouched over your computer screen with some ill and malicious thoughts
running through your mind and were able to squeeze out an "article"
expressing your discontent for the people who did better than you. Such
a pathetic form of vengeance is something every educated former FACT
student should commemorate! Congratulations…you finally got people to
notice you!

Attacking the FACT teachers…what a genius way to start off your
article. Let's spend a whole paragraph bashing the people who tried
their hardest to educate us and prepare us for the rest of our high
school career. Firstly, your attack on Mrs. Daniels was by far the most
pathetic attempt of this poor paragraph. It truly saddens me to see
someone take an open swing at a hormonal woman who was pregnant with
twins. Such complete misunderstanding of her uncomfortable situation
makes me wonder if there is truly any hope for us FACT students. I
thought we were supposed to be intelligent? If one can't even recognize
that someone is being a "bitch" because she is burdened with carrying
two children inside of her, I greatly question the "intelligence" FACT
students were believed to embody. Secondly, to strike Mr. Durand for
his favoritism, further shows the confused mindset of the author. If
you had opened your eyes a little, you would have seen that Mr. Durand
favors all students…as long as they show human-like characteristics. It
is apparent, that you do not. Just because you were too preoccupied
with becoming a FACT wallflower and could not engage in an actual
conversation with your biology teacher, does not justify your attack on
him. And thirdly, Mr. Martin….ah, Mr. Martin. All I have to say to you,
mystery writer, is that I'm sorry you couldn't win over the so
desperately desired heart of Mr. Martin. Because you failed to become
his pet, let's attack the student who actually got to know him over the
years of high school. Mystery writer, is your aim misguided, or do you
simply have none at all?

Next, let's attack Earth, the perfect example of a student who was able
to maintain popularity and academic success. "All teachers love him,
all students love him," you say? I'm sorry that is such a crime. My
view of the FACT students just plummeted again. What have we come to
when we find it more acceptable to bash the well-rounded people who
succeed past us than to beat down out own egos and humbly say, "Good
job"? Has bitterness replaced praise? It sickens me to see that someone
is so blinded by their white-hot jealousy that they have to plead
"corruption!" to feel better about themselves and their own
shortcomings. "Guess my morals are way too low then"…I guess so.

Now on to my favorite passage…the section that so heartlessly (and
moronically) attacks Eden. If you had any doubts about the article,
they were just confirmed. How can we even, for one second, agree with
such swine who argues
"Oh and the secret to getting on her good side is by getting your house
burned and then get her sympathize with you"? To whoever wrote such a
blind, heartless, and monstrous statement, I regard you as nothing more
than the most vile scum found in the deepest crevices of the earth. You
are truly a sad excuse for a human being. I'm sorry, mystery writer,
that we aren't all devoid of emotions like you are. I have an idea…why
don't we all gather in typical mob-formation and torch your house (yes
you, mystery writer) and all of the possessions you hold dear to you?
Maybe your own "inner-self" will be impervious to having all of your
worldly possessions destroyed. "But hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do
to get to the top!" I wonder if that applies to all things. You know,
like writing a hurtful article at the end of high school, when your own
life is about to take a horrible turn for the worse now that you no
longer have others to sneer upon and may be forced to look inward?

Next, let's talk about Student of the Month. Is it too much to assume,
mystery writer, that you were never Student of the Month? This topic
isn't even worth discussing, since it is blatantly evident that the
mystery writer is biased based on their own failure to attain a picture
of himself/herself upon the Rancho billboard. One brief comment though,
I do commemorate the mystery writer on their statements against the
yearbook editors. I mean, it's not like they stayed after school for
hours upon hours throughout the year to compile images and articles for
OUR yearbook. Mystery writer, if you have a yearbook, you should burn
it. Don't you know it is the product of party-animals who couldn't care
less about Rancho? And as for their vicious behavior towards your
pointless yearbook questions, don't you know its only because they're
hungover, and not because they're simply sick of spending all of their
time on a yearbook that ungrateful people will only come to criticize?

Oh, and the next passage is very fun to talk about. The author has
somehow managed to incorporate homophobia, politics, and racism all
into one paragraph. I'll make this comment brief, however, for I don't
feel such controversial matters should be discussed so lightly. First:
is it such a crime for someone to be gay? Religion aside, are we not
all human, regardless of our preferences? If people find it offensive
that their valedictorian is a homosexual, then it proves exactly why
THEY'RE not valedictorian. To attack a beautiful and kind person over
their sexual preferences is unforgivable. I hope whatever god you
believe in lets you rot in whatever hell suits your fancy. Second: I
didn't know that the Green Party was represented by weed. Thanks for
enlightening me. And as for you, mystery writer, you MUST be a
democrat, because you're such an ass. Third: Erica got into Stanford,
and it had nothing to do with her race. She is brilliant, and it is sad
that people feel the need to attack her because their minds are
inferior in comparison.

So now scurry, all you FACT students who read and approved of the
"anonymous" article. Try and cover your tracks, or, should you be more
bold and openly idiotic, defend your opinion on that sad bit of
rubbish. Feel free to challenge my own opinion (I would really enjoy a
good read), but unless you are the "mystery writer", I really don't
value what you have to say. And as for you, mystery writer, I challenge
YOU. Come out and say who you are. If you truly believe the things you
said in your article, and are just "askewed" by your high school
experience, then you should have no problem with stepping out and
admitting to it. Unless of course you ARE the coward I suspected you to
be…:]
trip.

to you, anonymous none. props...

Howard Nguyen’s response:

after reading mackenzie’s response, i feel so guilty that i am now going to admit that i wrote the OTHER anonymous article; the one in the actual “published” newspaper.  i have never agreed to the “eden’s house burning down thing” anyway but i do believe that the other points remain valid (for the most part).  accuse ME of being bitter and jealous (which might be a fairly good chance) but not askewed mentally, please.  and to erica, john tells me you cried; john tells me you think i wrote this article; for you crying i am sorry but for you to think i wrote the article, i have no other words except that you may choose to believe in whatever you want. just remember, i’ve stayed a faithful friend each time for 4 years.

of course many of you might come to the conclusion that i wrote this article because el/la/val were all critiqued. where was sal?  i’m quite clueless myself so if you can come to answer this, i will love you indefinitely.

best regards,

howard

Jamal’s response:

I just wanted to say I didn’t write that article

’08 baby

Its crazy how much school effects the relationships between friends

:\

Erica Carrillo’s response:
To Tanya and Mackenzie: Thank you for saying what I wanted to say but could never put into words as well spoken as yours. I’m proud to have known such wonderful people as you who take the time to defend your closest friends when they are put down and insulted.To those of you who found this anonymous article “funny”: You may say it is a funny way to end the senior year, and you may see it as just a joke, but I’m sorry if those of us mentioned and brutally attacked in the article do not feel the same way. If you do not understand how we can see this as slightly more than a twisted joke, try putting yourselves in our places and having everything you’ve ever accomplished and everything you’ve ever stood for criticized and doubted by a fellow classmate.

To the writer of this letter: I could not say anything more than what Mackenzie said. You must have a lot of time to compile such hurtful comments to say about those who have succeeded in their high school careers. My main concern is why you didn’t just write a blurb on everyone. I’m sure you could’ve dug up some personal obstacle that each individual would LOVE to relive at the end of their senior year. Then not only do you bring down people for their personal accomplishments, but for things that may be out of their control. To attack us for what you may not understand, okay. But to attack people for living a certain lifestyle or receiving what you seem to think is special treatment because of life changing incidents – that is just a shitty thing to do. Really… so many people seem happy with this article. This could be your moment to get that recognition you’ve been missing throughout your high school career. I bet you’re just to “humble” to take credit for it…

To John and Howard: I combine this message because I wanted to let you both know that it was unknown to me that I cried. I was hurt, but I don’t remember tears? And Howard, you’re my calc buddy. I did not believe that you could write the horrible things included in this article. I think we all have people in mind as to who could’ve written this article, but I personally don’t want to BELIEVE it was anyone that we even know because as far as I know most of us that were in FACT remain friends. It sucks to know that someone so full of  animosity is among us…

Chris Pham’s response:
I was wondering if anyone thought that this article could’ve been from someone outside of FACT that was just bitter towards everyone else. For me, it is hard to believe that anyone in FACT could have really written this article about the other students. FACT is a family, and to many of us including myself, one of our most cherished memories. For those that were aimed at in the article, i hope you guys can just forget that the article ever happened. After all the years together i refuse to believe that it was anyone in FACT. It was just like the NBA Finals game 4, the Lakers never really lost and the series is tied 2-2 :]

Brian Nguyen’s response:
You’re right mackenzie, tanya, and erica.

I don’t know how the people who were bashed truly feels, but i think we should forget about this. All we’ve done so far is suspecting each other. Do you guys think that maybe the mysterious writer’s true intention was just that?

Since he / she did not receive the bond and relationships that we’ve built up in the past four years, that person has created an article made to rip our bonds apart. And it did just that.

Don’t suspect; we need to move on.

“Where is the love?” Black Eyed Peas. Seriously….i guess the person who wrote the article  was never in the web of our friendships; i’m sorry that you never got an opportunity to be part of it. If you were, you would know that Eden, Minh, Erica, and Earth are all great human beings.

To Minh

I don’t hate you. I am just very sad that you never told me the things you should have after all you called me your “best friend.”

Vu Trinh’s response:
I am deeply perturbed upon reading this disturbing article.  How can such a person write these comments on fellow Fact students? I am well aware that I know very little of the events that had come to pass since my absence these past two years. But to state such an obscene remark at Eden ‘s tragedy coupled with racism manifest in the final paragraphs?  That is crossing the line.  It is blatant foolishness to take this a joke, especially when such insults may acutely hurt other’s feelings.

Now with my tirade aside, just my .02 to everyone to not brood over this.  I do agree with Brian that this article may just have been calibrated to sow discord within our friendship, but we have to keep moving on.

A shout out to all of the fellow Fact buddies:

I MISS ALL OF YOU GUYS

Really painful when I have to move away, I still keep and reflect on the cherished memories back at Rancho with you guys.  But hey, I am still breathing and thinking.  I wish you all the very best to come, and keep looking forward!  Hope to meet you all sometime soon ^_^

Earth Hasassri’s Response:
to all those who’ve read the article, and to all those who haven’t:

this article wasn’t funny. the people addressed were hurt, and for one person in a family to hurt others within their family, as well as one outside of it, is for one person to ruin friendships, family connections, and trust.

i won’t address the contents of the article, for the words of mackenzie, tanya, and erica have all expressed the arguments, the concerns, the heartbreaks that were needed to be expressed.

nor will i address the author of this article, because for someone to write something so malicious, they must have already been attacked, if not by an article, by the people addressed in the article and the “institution.”

it’s the final days of high school, and the final moments we have together. i have truly wished all my high school life to have been in FACT. i have wished dearly for the family bonds that i have seen throughout the years, that of which i have sometimes been excluded from.

but we have all made the best of what we have. and the best of what we have right now is to spend these last days in friendship. i love each and every one of you FACT nerds, and it’s a shame these last high school days have to endure this drama.

i do not want, however, my last memory of high school, my last emotional feeling of high school, to be caused by this “missing article.” so if anyone mentions this article to me, i will not respond.

so because i wasn’t in FACT, and because i couldn’t include an article in the newspaper, i will add my piece into here.

Howard Nguyen’s response:

firstly, i’d like to say sorry to earth for saying those mean things. those words should have nver escaped my lips (or fingers) but i was bitter, disappointed, let down, that you would actually come to believe i wrote something this malicious.  of all the people who thought i wrote it, you were the most hurtful cause i thought we were good enough friends, for you not to backlash like that.  of course you’ve got more of a foundation for your accusation and i don’t blame you for that; its all up to faith now, isn’t it?

but anyway, we ARE leaving in a few days and it’s going to be over soon so i can only hope for the best for all of us.

to everybody else who thought i wrote the article; if you guys aren’t going to speak to me until i say something along the lines of “i admit i wrote it”, i guess this is the end for us ’cause i won’t be admitting to something i didn’t do.  of all things, i would never write something this vile and vicious.  of course, there were moments when i was bitter but overall, i’ve cherished my high school experience and all the memories that came along with it. <3

i will be seeing you all at graduation, except for eva, of course. and i have never been feeling so joyously sad in my life.  oh, what a mix of emotions.

-howard

Jonathan Elizalde’s response:
Guys, regardless of what has happened—remember we’re a family.

I, for one, am truly ashamed that a person would take it upon themselves to disrespect the bonds we’ve made–disrespect friendships we’ve earned and the trust we’ve shared these four years.

You’re fucking with the family, you’re fucking with all of us.

I am equally ashamed of the accusations going round of speculation as to who wrote it and why—to point fingers makes us no better than our true opposition. To bicker amongst ourselves strains our bonds–hurts our friendships destroys everything we’ve worked for.

I beseech all of you, look past what has happened—let us show how much of a true family we are–how strong we are—look past this, to see beyond to the memories, laughs, and love we’ve shared.

Unity through family. Family forever.

-Jonathan Elizalde

FACT ’04 – ’05 Family

Tanya Tran’s Response:

I dont think we should point fingers.. this reminds me of that lesson Ms. Daniels taught us about the red scare. Let’s just forget about who wrote this article, because whoever wrote it obviously just craved attention, and by keep addressing it, we are giving this pathetic excuse of a human being the glory they wanted. Forgive, but not forget.

Mackenzie, 🙂 i love your writing style. THAT was the funniest & most lovely piece of writing i’ve read. tehehe. i laughed till i got cramps.

Earth, even though you werent in FACT, we all know you should have been & we all love you, therefore you are in it.  & im incredibly proud of the changes and hard work you put in to changing yourself for the better. x)

Lets end highschool with no drama or doubts in our fellow classmates. I’m sure whoever wrote this feels really low and shitty. Hopefully they realized that thier mediocre outcry was an inacceptable, intolerable, and inappropriate jealousy phase.

Justin Bouavanh’s response:
Well since I haven’t been here or been able to read the shit through the hotmail e-mail that whoever has.  Note to person:  It doesn’t work.  I’ve been reading it on Tanya’s e-mail and been like.. WOW!  WTF?  Somebody’s a little bitter and pissed off.  I should totally be like I wrote the article so everybody would be mad at me instead of being suspicious about who wrote this. (Obviously I couldn’t have because I’ve had no clue what’s been going with you guys for the past two years, except for maybe a few people).  You guys are graduating.  You made it together as a family over the past 4 years.  As a past FACT student it hurts to see such mean things written about my family members!  I love Erica, Earth, Eden, Minh, and whoever else the article attacked.  Even though they could’ve forgotten about me but it’s still love, yo, no doubt.  How could somebody write such mean things?  I hope you never have heart surgery, Anonymous, because if you did, the doctor would never be able to find it.  I say forget this article and just move on with your lives people! You’re graduating!  I’m sad that I couldn’t be there with you guys but I’m still happy for each and every one of you.  Peace out and Grats!  Everybody from FACT!

PS:  I’m moving back so if I find out who wrote the article, there’s going to be hell to pay!

Much love to FACT,
—- Justin Bouavanh (using Tanya’s e-mail since mine doesn’t work).