Senior panel provides step toward reality

Deirdre Newman

COSTA MESA -- At Estancia High School, teachers know Ivan Marquez as

Ivan, but in the local club scene, he goes by his DJ name -- “xplicit.”

On Thursday, Ivan’s two worlds fused as he introduced a senior panel

to the topic of tableism -- the art of manipulating two records at the

same time.

The senior panels, which will be a Newport-Mesa Unified School

District requirement for graduation next year, enable seniors to explore

their passions to see if they translate into viable career paths.

“It gives seniors a way to go out and investigate what’s important in

life with a clean slate,” said Principal Tom Antal. “They get

instructions but it takes a lot of creative investigation and soul

searching.”

This is the third year that Estancia seniors have presented their

senior panels. Corona del Mar High School was the first school to adopt

the project.

Students start working on their projects as soon as they unpack their

shiny, new binders and receive their locker assignments. The four phases

of the project include researching and interviewing experts in their

chosen field; writing an essay based on their research; completing at

least 15 hours of hands-on experience; and putting together a portfolio

with a technology component.

Then comes the daunting task of providing an eight-minute presentation

to a panel of teachers.

Marie Rodriguez, 18, said she had a twinge of stage fright before she

presented her study on animal rights.

“I was really nervous, but I knew the teachers and what I would say,”

Rodriguez said. “I knew if I just kept calm, it would all be fine.

Afterward that feeling of relief was so cool.”

For Ivan, or “xplicit,” who has been a disc jockey for the past three

years, including a short stint in a Los Angeles club, the experience

solidified his desire to be a DJ.

“I got out of it a greater attachment to what I’m doing,” said Ivan,

17. “I consider it to be my career goal. I would like to be on the radio

no matter what time of day or night.”

“I think it’s really good experience for some kids who aren’t

comfortable in front of an audience,” said Pauline Maranian, drama

teacher. “It’s good for interview practice because they’re all going to

be out there getting a job.”

Antal said the presentations impressed him.

“I thought they were terrific,” Antal said. “And it came from this

seed they had within themselves. We just put legs under it.”