Senior Spotlight - Taylor Hughes I

By Varun Roperia

There are few among us who can lay claim to the level of accomplishment and variety that is indicative of Taylor Hughes I. He manages to fuse academic aptitude, social finesse, and athletic prowess in one chiseled, masculine package. These attributes allowed Mr. Hughes to attain election to the lofty post of Senior Class Lt. Governor, as well as allowed him to secure a nomination for Homecoming King. There is no one who comes in contact with the venerable Taylor Hughes and walks away without a sense of fulfillment, and speaking to him brings some sort of spontaneous enlightenment at every possible occasion. He is an integral part of the ESHS’s unique tapestry.

Birthed in Torrance on September 26, 1991, and moving to El Segundo when he was 2, Taylor Hughes I had an anything but ordinary childhood. Speaking in full sentences at 6 months old, his parents knew they had cultivated an extraordinary child. He was immediately enrolled into gifted programs in school and excelled in them. He quickly earned the respect and love of all the teachers who had the pleasure of teaching him. Overshadowing his peers in middle school, he soon entered high school. Taking leadership positions in clubs such as Chief of the Native American Club of El Segundo, he soon gained the esteem needed to become the Senior Class Lt. Governor, and quite possibly the most beloved student of all of El Segundo High School.

Taylor, as any such accomplished student would, plans to attend a prestigious college. He hopes to eventually attend MIT, and is applying to UCSB, Cal Tech, Occidental, and UC Berkeley. He hopes to pursue a future in which he invents prolific nanotechnologies, or perhaps work to cure cancer. In preparation for this, Mr. Hughes works with tireless academic agility to attain entrance into such a competitive institution. He has taken a plethora of AP and honors courses, such as AP Biology, AP Language, AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Economics, and English Honors grades 9 through 11.

Taylor’s time at El Segundo High school has also been peppered with not only athletic participation but achievement. A member of the Varsity Swim team, he has tried his best to contribute to the victories of our beloved school, and contributed to our athletic program by being manager of the Varsity Waterpolo team. Mr. Hughes’ exploits into exploring the rich variety of student life at the high school include being a member of the Junior Statesmen of America and Interact Club, as well as holding the positions of treasurer of the Scuba Diving Club, treasurer of the Ping Pong Club, and former vice president of the Backpacking and Woodland Survival Club. Clearly, such varied interests stand as a testament to the commitment, diversity, and myriad of skill sets Taylor Hughes I brings to the table.

His responsibilities as Senior Class Lt. Governor include assisting in planning school events, ten year reunions, and organizing senior activities. The style and grace with which he manages to do this is astounding. He plans to “break free of the past, and set up new and dynamic forms of governance.”
Upon introspection, Taylor comments that his friends and family are very important to him. His family is, “very close-knit…we have family dinners every Sunday night, and I can always rely on them for support…we enjoy board games and they strengthen our caring and compassionate familial ties.” His friends, such as seniors Sam Nusbaum, Alex Richardson, James Meyerhoff, his half-brother Nic Curcio, Zack Reed, and Cathy Broderick complement and bolster his already admirable personality and desirable accomplishments, and he extends this love to all his classmates. “My friends and family keep me going, as inertia keeps the earth in orbit.” This quote is a heartwarming example of the friendly sentiment that empowers Taylor.

Seeming to fit the social connotation of "well-rounded", Taylor Hughes is a true gem, and greatly contributes to the wellbeing of all around him. A philanthropic, informed, active, logical, and rational young man, he will undoubtedly continue to do great things in his life, and we are fortunate to have him with us in the Class of 2009.

 

Election Update 2008 - Sarah Palin Controversy

By Varun Roperia and Taylor Kagy

    The Republican National Convention served as the location for the unveiling of one of the most controversial and exciting decisions in modern American politics. The event this describes is the announcement that Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska and a woman hitherto unknown to nearly all Americans, would be John McCain's running mate. This startling decision resulted in complete upheaval in the political atmosphere as a whole. What were the reasons for this nomination? McCain was clearly attempting to pander to the disenfranchised 'Hillary supporters' as well as attempting to unite highly zealous, conservative Republicans and Christians. Palin is simply unfit to lead anything except the smallest state in the union in terms of population. These are indeed harsh words, but the actions of the current governor of Alaska and previous mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 9000) have resulted in a resume no one should accept.

    Palin has a record of little political experience, most specifically her position as mayor of a small town in Alaska and less than two years as governor of the state of Alaska. The small town she left behind is now in financial ruins, making her record not so pleasing. If she were devoted to her political standing and her state, city, etc. many would think that she would have the integrity to go back and fix the problems that she had left behind for others. Apparently that is not the case, since the town is still in 'financial ruins' and yet she stands as running mate to McCain who is on the ballot as the republican candidate for presidency.

    Not only does Palin have little political experience, but she lacks experience with national level politics. Due to lack of public statements of her views on political national policy issues, it is safe to say that she may be, according to Presidental scholars, "the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in history". Before debating with Biden, Palin will be coached on whatever issue she was going to be debating before making any public statements that could endanger the reputation of Republican party, although as it seems, the reputation has already been ruined.

    On the topic of the Iraq War, Palin has yet to give her statement and opinion on the matter, also stating she has no 'clear opinion' yet. Although her son is going to fight the war in Iraq, Palin hasn't 'given much thought to the war in which her own son, her own blood is going to fight in. Obviously, Palin has no foreign policy experience. It seems Palin isn't too clear, or aware for that matter, about many of the issues that are of great importance to this country. Although one major issue that she seems to have a 'clear stance' on, is the issue of Global warming. Palin says that she does not believe in 'man-made global warming' and supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife refuge. Palin also is a strong believer in 'creation science' and wants it to be taught in public schools; as if there wasn't enough controversy and trouble dealing with budgets and removing classes from schools in the first place. She is also against same sex marriages in the country, stating that she thinks that same sex couples should be denied the same benefits that straight couples are granted and believes that the government should have the right to tell a person whom they can and cannot marry.

    McCain certainly thought he had a master plan to win the votes of many woman by asking Palin to be his running mate, but as many can see, this certainly was a wrong move. Not only would she make a horrible vice president, who has limited experience in politics, but there is a chance that the 'aging' McCain could pass away and then Palin would take his place. Can anyone say automatic presidential abortion/impeachment needed...perhaps even a fourth-year abortion? Americans have an unhealthy desire to see average people promoted to positions of great authority. No one wants an average neurosurgeon or even an average carpenter, but when it comes time to vest a man or woman with more power and responsibility than any person has held in human history, Americans say they want a regular guy, someone just like themselves. President Bush kept his edge on the "Who would you like to have a beer with?" poll question in 2004, and won reelection. This is one of the many points at which narcissism becomes indistinguishable from masochism. Let me put it plainly: If you want someone just like you to be president of the United States, or even vice president, you deserve whatever dysfunctional society you get. You deserve to be poor, to see the environment despoiled, to watch your children receive a fourth-rate education and to suffer as this country wages -- and loses -- both necessary and unnecessary wars.
Opposing viewpoints welcomed. Please write to the Bay Eagle. thebayeagle@gmail.com

By Cora Chong

By Cora Chong