KIA: Kingpins In Action

When one thinks of a kingpin, one should consider the head pin in the triangle of bowling. It is the most important pin, because depending on where the ball hits it, it would cause a strike. When a person looks beyond that obvious definition, one will also find that kingpin can refer to the most important person (people) in a group. With that in mind, every year, in high schools around the world, the seniors consider themselves the kingpins of their respective schools.

At KIA, this perception is no different. I have challenged the seniors to be more than just the next graduating class, but often times they need to be reminded that they are still a part of this school. Sometimes they treat the rest of the campus as if they are above it. However, there are times when being a senior means serving others, in a fun way. Take recently for instance. The seniors spent the night at my apartment making cookies to serve at the next evenings 2nd Annual Homecoming Bowling Tournament. Over these two evenings, the senior class showed their industriousness and spirit.
The seniors spent Wednesday, 17 Dec. at my apartment making no-bake and sugar cookies. A year ago as juniors they did the same thing, except the cookies were made at Russell's house and Mrs. Legue's (another H.S. teacher) house. I vaguely remember how much of a mess this activity created at those venues, but when the mess came to my doorstep, I was astounded. Flour flew everywhere at the students rolled out cookie dough and made various shapes. Some students (Samantha, pictured above, and Grace) spent much time under blankets, because my apartment is evidently colder than what they are used to.

Meanwhile, who was left to do all the work? That's right, the guys. Well, that is not entirely true. I just happened to take photos of Samantha and Grace sleeping, Jennifer and Kyanne studying Calculus, and Kyle cleaning up. Really, everyone who showed up helped out in whatever way he or she could. The result was several dozen of each no-bake cookies and sugar cookies, which we sold all of them.

The real purpose behind the making of the cookies was to build unity within the class. Many of these students have grownup together, away from their respective home countries. And in a handful of months will be separating to go their own ways throughout the world. While graduating can be difficult for any senior, it can be especially difficult for those who have never really known their home-country and will soon be several thousand miles away from the only thing they have ever known as home: Kunming China. So along with cookies, the seniors used the new KIA logo and created their own team t-shirts--Kingpins In Action--to represent their unity during the bowling tournament.
Samantha (you may recall that last year at this time her family was dealing with the recent loss of her infant sister, caused by a vehicular colision with a drunk driver) was unable to join us for the bowling, but the rest of the girls got together to show their spirit. From left to right we have Jennifer "Seoul Power" (Korea), Grace "Twinkle Toes" (Idaho), and Kyanne "Little Red" (Oregon). While I have given their home-country or state, all three of these young women have been in China so long that each of them hesitates when asked where home is.
All the Kingpins got together after bowling for a class photo. The girls you know, but across the back are Weng Bong "St. Francis of Assisi" (Weng Bong's English name is Francis, Singapore), Russell "How Hot Am I" (Ohio), Kyle "Hyperbowla" (Korean math whiz), and Tim "Int'l Hunk of Power" (California). Of course the real kingpin stands flexing in front of them all, looking a bit like Wolverine I might add. The Kingpins In Action took third place out of six teams, behind the Staff (1st) and the freshmen (2nd). And as mentioned above, they sold all their cookies.

The strange thing about bowling: When the pins are knocked down, including the kingpin, the pin-setter simply replaces them for the next bowler. Similarly, these Kingpins will eventually graduate, and next year, a new set of Kingpins will take their place. But for now, they are the most important students in my life, and I only have five more months with them.