Page 4 September 14, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
Torrance High School Celebrates Centennial
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Monday, September 11 to celebrate 100 years to the day that Torrance High School
opened its doors for the first time. Here are some photo highlights from the historic event celebrating a century of Tartar pride:
Principal of Torrance High School Karim Girgis accepting the proclamation on behalf of Torrance High School from L.A. County Supervisor
Janice Hahn, along with Board President Terry Ragins.
TerriAnn in Torrance
Students gathered out in front of the high school witnessing the historic ribbon-cutting.
The Joyful Art of Organizing in Torrance
By TerriAnn Ferren
During the summer, have you, like me, overlooked
the clutter and building up of “stuff”
around the house to such an extent that you
finally decide that enough is enough? Well,
that happened to me this week. One extra
book on the stack I have already read, or the
little tchotchke that moves about the house to
different places, or the pile of folded clothes
destined to be donated…had finally gotten to
me. It was time for some spring-cleaning and
organizing before the end of summer, which
officially ends on September 22. Spring-cleaning
in summer, you ask? Definitely yes.
First, I began ripping out the old phone line
in my office I had tacked around a doorframe
to a fax machine I no longer used. Who knows
why I had not removed it before, but just that
one action made me feel great. Then I moved
over to the pile (rather, piles) of books and
files. Files need a home in a storage bin, so
off I went, seeking additional organization bins.
Because of the suffocating heat and humidity
of the week, instead of venturing miles to
the container store, I ended up at a big box
store and lo and behold found just what I was
looking for--plastic bins. An added bonus was
that the bins were much less expensive than
the ones I intended on buying. Home to tidy!
That afternoon, after piling my files into the
containers, I realized the bins weren’t quite the
size I imagined, so fitting them into the storage
container was a little tricky. But it worked. Have
you ever seen all those organizing cubes and
trays just aching for use at the store? Pondering
their use, do you also imagine yourself all
organized and neat? Do you, on occasion, get
the bug to clean and organize?
After moving some things into the garage, it
made my office and guestroom look larger and
gave me a sense of accomplishment. Maybe
you, like me, usually keep things tidy, but on
occasion let things get a bit out of hand, and
some major organizing is called for.
Thinking about being organized, I decided
that asking some South Bay residents how
they feel about being organized would be fun.
I mean, am I the only one who yearns for the
calm of order while fighting the entropy law?
Absolutely not.
Young adult and South Bay resident Jillian
Vasquez told me, “I always organize. I organize
clothes and I often organize my make-up. I
organize my haircare products--I have a drawer
for haircare and one for make-up. I get all my
organization things from Daiso and I measure
them and make little areas so I can adjust them.
I feel very clean and accomplished. If I go to
bed at night with a dirty room, I don’t sleep
well.” Jillian told me she makes her bed every
day and even organizes her clothes by color,
using matching hangers.
Then I spoke with teenagers from West
High School in Torrance about their organizational
skills. What I found out was surprising.
Fifteen-year-old Kiran Abayaratna told me,
“My mom used to do everything for me, but
then my sisters—well, I sort of started doing
everything she does for myself. So I organize
my clothes and have cabinets for everything I
wear. For shoes, we have like a box so it’s not
a mess all the time.” Kiran told me he feels it
is simply easier keeping things organized and
added, “If you can keep yourself in the habit of
staying organized, things become a lot easier.”
Eric Berg, age 16, told me, “I think of my
organization as organized chaos. I leave it where
it is and I remember where it was. I just keep
everything in one spot. That’s where I keep it,
so it is bad organization…but it’s also good in
my own way. I know where my things are. If
someone cleans up, I am lost.”
Maxwell Johnston, age 15, said, “I try and
stay organized most of the time, but I live with
a little brother and he’s 13. It is kinda difficult
because he usually leaves everything around and
I have to pick up after him sometimes. We have
kinda found this balance finally, and it is nice
because now I know where everything is. It is
much easier now.” Maxwell told me he tells
his younger brother to pick up after himself
and it seems to be working. “You have to keep
reassuring them as to what to do because they
never listen the first time. It is repetition,” added
Maxwell. Wise words from a 15-year old!
Next I spoke with Elissa Nakano, age 15,
who told me, “I like to say I am organized,
but I am not really sure--it is relative. I mean,
I think in my household I am organized, but
that is just because my parents are kind of
unorganized.”
Mia Hasenmayer, age 15, said, “I feel that
I am pretty organized ‘cuz for me, I get annoyed
and anxious if things are out of place
or if my room is a mess. I have to clean it up
that second.” Sitting next to Mia was her best
friend from preschool, Abby Howell, age 15,
visiting from San Jose, who attends Leland
High School. Abby told me, “I think for me,
I like coming home to a really organized room
and waking up to an organized house and it
is really nice. I think when you get into the
habit of being organized, it just makes you feel
better and cleaner as a person. It gets you in
the habit of being organized not just in your
house or room, but in everything else.”
After speaking with the young adults and
teenagers, I realized they have very good habits.
And they were very open with advice on how
staying organized leads to an organized life.
Although confessing I don’t color-coordinate my
clothing, or have them all hanging on matching
hangers, I do okay. And I try and not let
things get out of hand. Most of the teenagers I
spoke with had a clear handle on their rooms.
All of them knew how to organize their world.
Listening to them gave me a sense of pride
in our young American teenagers in Torrance.
Not only were they articulate, responsive and
forthcoming, but they took time and shared
their knowledge of what works for them. I was
impressed. Inspired about organizing yet? •
Photos by TerriAnn Ferren
Cutting the ribbon celebrating the first 100 years! Cheer Squad.
Mia Hasenmayer, Abby Howell, and Elissa Nakano.