PAGE 4
Summerly Iverson Production Editor
Do you ever feel like the school year , or your life in general , passes you by without remembering most of it ?
Well , senior Claire Somers doesn ’ t . Everyday of this school year since the second day Somers has been “ Somerizing ” her daily experiences on Facebook , numbering them and ending each one with # clairessomeries .
Somers has been at OCSA for 5 years in the Production & Design Conservatory and has worked on numerous shows , but among her peers she ’ s
Features June 2016
Claire Somers :
Somerizer , Prom Queen , Koala
What inspired you to Somer-ize every day of your senior year of high school ? I actually didn ’ t do one for the first day , but the second day I came home and made a list of like four things that happened that day and just continued doing it for the next couple days . People told me I should do it for everyday of school , and here we are today .
What are your plans after graduating ? I ’ m going to go to IVC for a couple of years and then I ’ m going to get a job and get paid . I ’ d also like to travel , so I might look into a job that I can travel with . well-known for her daily Someries .
The posts typically cover the main events from each block , special events , funny quotes from friends , and complaints about homework .
The majority of the Someries are surprisingly long and detailed , which is fortunate for Somers because she ’ ll remember almost every detail of her senior year .
To write a Somery , Somers said , “ I sit down in front of my computer and start at the top of my day , usually from when I wake up or get out of the car at school . I then go in chronological order of the day and just brain
them . That ’ s the life .
dump everything . I usually don ’ t remember what I end up typing unless I go back and read it .”
However , Somers faces an important question : Should she continue to do the Someries after she graduates ?
Somers has said , “ I ’ m thinking about it . Some people have requested that I do , so I might . It ’ s also just nice have those memories forever recorded on the Internet .”
Somers also recently won the title of Prom Queen , along with senior Tamar Rubin ( ACT ). When asked how she felt about winning , Somers responded , “ It was pretty cool .” Just like you , Claire !
If you were a food , what would you be and why ? Probably pizza . It ’ s a great food to share with friends , and there ’ s so many different types of pizza , so you never get bored of it .
If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life , what would it be ? To be completely honest , I would rather have all music or no music , but if I had to pick one off the top of my head , [ it would be ] “ Ode to Sleep ” by Twenty One Pilots .
The first official Somerie , recording a few events from the second day of school .
How do you feel knowing that a year after your first Somery , Facebook will be sending you a memory everyday for as long as you still have a Facebook ? I think it ’ s pretty great . Senior year tends to be a big year in a lot of people ’ s lives , so it ’ ll be cool to be reminded of all the good times I had .
What ’ s your favorite Disney Channel Original Movie ? I ’ m torn between a few . “ Wendy Wu : Homecoming Warrior ,” “ Johnny Tsunami ,” “ Minutemen ,” and “ Princess Protection Program ” were all great movies . “ High School Musical 2 ” was also pretty good .
If you were an animal , what would you be and why ? I ’ d probably want to be a koala at the San Diego Zoo . All those guys do is sleep in trees all day and people bring food to
What would your perfect burger be ? Slightly toasted bun , meat , tomato , cheese , grilled mushrooms , a little bit of lettuce , pickles , In-N-Out spread and ketchup . Mustard is weird .
One of the Special Editions of the Someries that covered prom . Special Editions typically include school and friend related activities that don ’ t take place on campus or aren ’ t on school days .
Two Years Does Make a Difference
Hannah Peterson Arts Editor
For the past two years , Allison Harbin has been teaching AP Art History taking up a special place in many students ’ hearts . This year , Harbin is also teaching a conservatory course : Film Photography for Visual Arts . The spontaneous , light-hearted atmosphere Harbin creates leaves students laughing and excited to come back to class .
Growing up in Georgia , Harbin was similar to OCSA students because she learned to love the arts in high school .
“ I fell in love with photography . I loved the idea of making meaning out of everyday life . From there , I fell in love with art history in college , and decided to pursue my PhD . in Contemporary Art and Photography ,” she said .
Harbin went to graduate school at the University of Virginia to double major in Studio Art--her main medium is photgraphy--and Art History . After , she started teaching Art History at Rutgers University in New Jersey , where her “ dissertation
[ was ] on contemporary women artists from around the world .”
After getting married to her wife , Harbin moved to her lifelong dream state , California , and found a job at OCSA .
Her open mind has let students explore the world of film in their own unique way .
“ I have loved teaching at OCSA … There are so many diverse opinions and approaches , but it all seems to work and coexist well together . I think I might have learned more than my students did ,” said Harbin .
Sadly , even though Harbin has had wonderful experiences at OCSA , she is not going to return next year .
“ It was such a difficult decision to leave , but I got an amazing opportunity to work at Rutgers University at a center that promotes racial and gender equality in coursework and research . It will give me the opportunity to finish my dissertation next May so that I can get my PhD . in Art History ,” she said .
Harbin is excited for this opportunity , but will miss the OCSA atmosphere , “ I ’ ve LOVED teaching at OCSA and I told myself I wouldn ’ t leave unless I got a dream position , which I did ! I ’ ll definitely be back to visit and will keep in touch !”
She will be greatly missed by VA and AP Art History students . Her love of exclamation points and deep , unexpected classroom discussions will live on through the graduating senior class and those who are coming back to further develop their new passion for photography .