Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries members took a deep breath in unison during practice as they prepared to lift their teammate, their trust in each other’s hands. The precise and technical art requires extensive training to perform in unison with different pieces of equipment such as flag, rifle, saber, drill and dance.
“A key ingredient to our team’s bond is communication and understanding,” Auxiliaries Co-Captain Junior Eliza Mata said. “We make sure everyone has a voice and isn’t afraid to ask questions and make comments.”
Auxiliaries attend eight total competitions throughout the year and are judged on various categories, such as technique, choreography, execution, marching, and unity.
Yearbook
Yearbook dedicates their busy year to working within their specialized “pods,” or groups of two photographers, two copywriters and one designer.
“We always plan ahead so nothing gets chaotic and mixed up,” Designer Freshman Anderson Huynh said. “The pod system helps us stay organized since everyone has a specific duty in the pods.”
To ensure that they acknowledge everyone’s input, the leadership system has been redesigned from a hierarchy to a team. Editors include the staff in the entire process of creating the book and are eager to help them whenever they need it.
Even with their systems, setbacks are inevitable, such as issues with InDesign, deadlines and changes in design elements and templates. However, they’ve overcome these challenges by working together and staying calm while focusing and solving the problem.
Peer Listeners
Peer Listeners gather in multiple circles and listen to the facilitators read and talk about their own experiences related to the topic at hand. Going around the circle, others have a chance to chime in their thoughts about the subject.
Training begins at 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. every Wednesday to learn skills to become a “red shirt”, senior members trained and equipped to work one-on-one with students to deal with their emotional and mental distresses from their life, personal and academic. As they are under the counseling umbrella, they strictly follow the three C’s: confidentiality, commitment and caring.
“The peers are great together because they know each other from the inside out.” Peer Listener Program Director Ms. Susan Hook said. “Most people never know what we do but we save lives. We listen and the person is encouraged to come up with the answer.”