Note: Photo courtesy of Noelani Taitano // AEE
by Ryan Bada // Co-Technology Editor
Every year, Carson Complex Academies of Education and Empowerment have their annual Freshmen Games for their 9th graders. The Freshmen Games is a day filled with fun games and team-building activities planned out by AEE’s Leadership and is held at Veterans Park. Although it seems all fun and games, its significance goes beyond that.
Mrs. Denise Rendon, the AEE Leadership advisor, explained that the purpose of the games is “to get the freshmen familiarized with AEE as well as an opportunity to meet with other students.”
Some students had their own expectations about the Freshmen Games. However, it turned out to be the opposite of what they thought it would be.
AEE freshman Melina Alvarado stated, “I expected the games to be lame, but it was very fun. I got to bond with other students I didn’t know whether they were in my classes or not. It was a great break from everyday life as I can enjoy the day stress-free.”
Another AEE freshman, Alani Garcia said that she expected the games to be “too crowded and competitive for her to participate, but it ended up being very fun and enjoyable.”
Some of the activities that they’ve played at the games include Rocks, which Melina explained it as “in other words, it’s Capture-the-Flag,” an egg-and-spoon race, and a Riff-Off, a singing competition that is a reference to the movie Pitch Perfect.
The freshmen can also get along with the upperclassmen who are part of AEE Leadership.
AEE senior Kelly Cobos said that over the past 3 years of being in Leadership, she “loves to be a mentor, a friend, and a role model for the freshmen, someone they can look up to.”
Kelly even explained how the Freshmen Games changed her a few years back. “I used to be a very shy person but the Freshmen Games was unforgettable because I’ve met my friends that I’m still with today. Without it, my experiences here in AEE would be very different.”
The freshmen are also informed about what to expect for the next few years in AEE, such as the A-G requirements, information about the 2 academies: SJTA and ATCA, and other fun events that are going to happen throughout the year.
As AEE continues to carry the tradition, the Freshmen Games can hopefully leave a mark that the students can look back upon as memorable and worth remembering.