Livingston High School’s THE LANCE 2012 The Senior Issue Editors-in-Chief Cover Artist Carly Abenstein & Marlena Idrobo Cydney Williams The Lance Staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Carly Abenstein Marlena Idrobo NEWS EDITORS FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR OPINION EDITOR Ari Gilberg Emily Bae Madan Atreya Shivangi Khanna Karli Weitzman ADVISOR COVER ARTIST Joseph Trad Cydney Williams From The Desk Of The Editors-In-Chief As I was going through piles of my old school things, I came across a “So don’t wait for someone to tell you it’s too late, writing assignment from Mr. Trad’s sophomore English class called “The Things I Carry.” I had written about being an “average” LHS student – to ‘Cause these are the best days” - Graham Colton whom winter break is a prolonged study session and any grade lower than As we take our last steps at graduation, we refl ect on the good and an A is unacceptable. “Whether I am feverishly scribbling an in-class essay, the bad of the past four years, on the lessons we’ve learned rather racking my brains for a multiple choice test, or sitting at my desk worrying over the grade I am about to receive, I carry with me a fear of failure,” I than the mistakes we’ve made, and on the people who changed us wrote. “This fear is everywhere: hiding in my overstuffed folders, glaring for the better rather than those whom we’ve chosen to let go. through the numbers on my calculator, and permeating my friends’ lunch- High school isn’t about the terrible grade you received in Chem- time conversations.” istry Honors or the afternoon you spent avoiding a close friend Certainly, this is an exaggerated portrayal of my high school years and because of a fi ght you had earlier that day. It isn’t about the morn- thankfully does not ring true with every student. But as students at LHS who ings you destroyed your closet desperately trying to fi nd something entered as freshmen afraid of getting lost, and became seniors struggling to to wear or the all-nighters you pulled to fi nish the Poetry Project make time for college applications, each of us learned to overcome this fear of failure time and time again. As freshmen, we managed to make the transi- junior year. We will remember the nights spent out past curfew tion to high school-level workloads and expectations. We took a leap of faith with our best friends and the days we expected to receive scantrons and enrolled in that honors class, joined as many clubs as we could, and blemished by vivid pink marks but to our surprise found few. talked to new people, trusting and hoping that the legions of upperclassmen The words “I can’t wait to get out of here,” echo through who’d gone before us could illuminate the way. the crowded halls almost every day. Anticipation for the future, Now, we are wiser, tougher, and more prepared. We have four years of whether that means venturing off to college, joining the workforce, experience under our sleeves, and have had countless opportunities, both in- enlisting in the armed forces, or exploring other cultures and reli- side and outside of school, to grow as individuals. Whether through classes, teams, competitions, performances, or clubs, many of us have contributed gions, may be exciting and life-changing, but the knowledge we’ve in meaningful ways to the school and to the larger Livingston community. acquired and the personal growth we’ve experienced should not be Some memories may blur together – all those late nights, test grades, out- forgotten. We are a remarkable class of ambitious intellectuals, tal- ings with friends – but the ones that stand out are the ones to treasure. More ented artists, determined athletes, brilliant writers, proactive lead- important than the hours we spent memorizing information for classes was ers, incredible scientists, gifted musicians, and several extremely the development of friendships and lifelong skills, including the ability to well-rounded and charismatic individuals. I’ve been fortunate communicate our ideas and manage our time (well, at least for some of us). enough to be surrounded by such an infl uential and inspiring class We learned that yes, stress and competition are facts of life for as long as we’re in school, but they can serve as motivators that push us to succeed. for almost thirteen years. We are such a vibrant, determined, and resourceful class of graduating Livingston High School has presented us with endless oppor- seniors, and that knowledge will sustain us wherever we go. So keep in tunities for success and has given us the skills, experience, and touch with your high school friends, and have the confi dence to go out there understanding to move forward wholeheartedly on whatever path and make new ones. Make the most of your summer. Keep that paper you’re we may choose. To the Class of 2012, I hope you always put your proud of, your senior prom ticket, anything with a memory attached to it. best foot forward and that wherever life may take you, you keep a Laugh always. And above all, remember that LHS has given us the insight, part of your childhood close to your heart. courage, and experiences of a lifetime. Now, we’re ready to work toward achieving the goals we’ve been dreaming of. - Marlena Idrobo - Carly Abenstein June 2012 Statistics and Facts LHS Lance 3 “Take it in, take it with you when you go Who says you can’t go home” -- Bon Jovi The Most Attended Colleges Farthest Distance from LHS COLLEGE STUDENTS LOCATION DISTANCE Rutgers University 33 Arad, Israel 5,731 miles County College of Morris 23 Jerusalem, Israel 5,705 miles Binghamton University 15 Portland, OR 2,876 miles Pennsylvania State University 13 Los Angeles, CA 2,773 miles Montclair State University 12 Las Vegas, NV 2,509 miles New York University 12 Tucson, AZ 2,486 miles University of Maryland 10 Tempe, AZ 2,387 miles University of Michigan 9 Austin, TX 1,731 miles The College of New Jersey 8 Santo Domingo, DR 1,560 miles University of Hartford 8 New Orleans, LA 1,296 miles Loyola University Maryland 7 Lincoln, NE 1,281 miles Seton Hall University 7 Boca Raton, FL 1,248 miles Cornell University 6 St. Petersburg, FL 1,158 miles Stevens Institute of Technology 6 Columbia, MO 1,056 miles University of Massachusetts Amherst 6 Jacksonville, FL 940 miles Syracuse University 5 St. Louis, MO 939 miles University of Delaware 5 Madison, WI 919 miles Indiana University 5 Atlanta, GA 869 miles Livingston High School Class of 2012 Address: 30 Robert Harp Drive Colors: Green and White Mascot: Lancer Students in Graduating Class: 404 Class Offi cers: Josh Fleishman, Sohan Mone, Emily Seltzer, Shannon Zuber Homecoming King and Queen: Johnny Cherichello and Nancy Yang Prom Song: “Collide” by Howie Day Winner of Senior Games: The Yellow Team Winner of Academic Team Seniors vs. Teachers: Seniors! Winner of Sumo Wrestling/Jousting: Everyone… (What happened to jello wrestling?) Number of Students Recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program: 44 PLACE STUDENTS NEW JERSEY 124 NEW YORK 66 PENNSYLVANIA 51 MASSACHUSETTS 23 MARYLAND 20 MICHIGAN 13 CONNECTICUT 12 VIRGINIA 9 WASHINGTON D.C. 5 DELAWARE 5 FLORIDA 5 INDIANA 5 OHIO 5 VERMONT 4 ILLINOIS 4 ARIZONA 3 CALIFORNIA 3 MISSOURI 3 NORTH CAROLINA 3 SOUTH CAROLINA 3 4 LHS Lance Valedictorian and Salutatorian June 2012 Zachary Lustbader: Future U.S. President Meet the Class of 2012 Valedictorian If Peter tried to “eliminate” you so that phy, and going out with my friends? In all he would be valedictorian, how would you seriousness, anyone who hopes to achieve defend yourself? academically and not live under a rock is If? Where have you been for the past three going to struggle to fi nd a balance, and months? I’ve had to invest in a twenty- I’ve learned to spend my time effi ciently four-hour security staff to protect myself, understanding concepts so I can also take but the ingenious Peter just keeps coming advantage of the time I have with my peers up with new ways to get past my body- in high school. guards. And he made most of them quit after the series of shark attacks. What are you going to be majoring in and what do you hope it leads to in your Photo Credit: Lors Studio future? What makes you so irresistible to women? Right now, I’m looking at possible How do you feel about competition at What are you implying, editors? concentrations in economics, government, LHS? Zach Lustbader will attend Harvard University. I think most of the competition tends to be hope I can encapsulate how I really feel pretty healthy. It drives students to push “My goal has been to compete and to lead so about what this transition means for all of themselves academically and hopefully the graduates. to learn as they wouldn’t otherwise be that everyone is pushed to meet his or her able to. The key is to make sure that no potential.” - Zachary Lustbader What legacy do you hope to leave behind one takes the competition the wrong way; at LHS? when people push themselves too hard or What will you miss most about LHS? applied math, or advanced coloring book Hopefully, I won’t just be remembered as try to undermine someone else’s success, Defi nitely my friends. They’ve had a studies. Truthfully, I’m not sure what path someone who achieved academically and the “hyper-competitive” people aren’t profound impact on how I look at the I want to pursue, but I hope that whatever I extracurricularly, but rather as someone doing anyone a favor.