Editor’s note: The La Jolla Village News is partnering with the journalism class of La Jolla High School. Keep an eye out for stories written by students of LJHS on various topics that affect the community. In celebration of La Jolla High School’s 90th anniversary, a journey through time has taken place. In the past 90 years, many things have happened: the first landing on the moon, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the election of the first African-American president. And during all those monumental steps in history, La Jolla High was there to witness them. For about the past 10 years, the United States has been preoccupied with fighting in the Middle East. Starting in 2001, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. attacked Afghanistan and its Taliban government. Later, America became involved in the Iraq war. For the current students at La Jolla High, this means that for more than half their lives, they have lived in a war. Since the start of La Jolla High School’s creation in 1921, this is just one of the four wars that have happened: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm (not including Iraq and Afghanistan). During these time periods, the students acted both in different and similar ways. After searching through the school archive, the Hi-Tide (LJHS’s student newspaper) found some amazing relics from the past newspapers. For one thing, many young men went straight to the military after high school. In 1946, The Hi-Tide interviewed seniors to see what their plans were after high school, and three boys were joining the Navy. Some young men even lied about their ages so they could join as quickly as possible. A LJHS junior named Charles Walden was killed in action during his service in the South Pacific, and was only 17 when he entered the Army. Especially during Vietnam, and the draft, it can be expected that La Jolla’s students were involved. And it was not just the men, but also women who decided to aid U.S. armed forces. Although women were not fighting, some made parts to be used in the machinery of weapons or tools. Others were nurses, spawning presentations for the young LJHS girls about joining the Cadet Nurse Corps. Some participated in smaller, but no less helpful or needed ways, like knitting or sewing, sending care packages, or writing a friendly letter to a soldier overseas. Of course, in this time period, it was more common to get married quickly after high school and start a family. And it was not unheard of to have a boyfriend in the military. One LJHS Hi-Tide writer even wrote: “Broken thoughts of a son, brother, or sweetheart,” in the spring of 1945. In some ways, wars affect La Jolla High students in identical ways as it has in the past. To this day, young men and women are still joining and fighting for our country. However, there is no draft and most students will continue on to college, then a career, then marriage. In the end, it is important to remember that La Jolla High School is one of the most acclaimed schools in the nation. The school produces students that benefit the community and themselves. La Jolla has left a legacy that is hard to live up to, but if La Jollans can come together as a community, everyone can recall the past and look forward to the future. ?— Katie Allen is a 15-year-old sophomore at La Jolla High School. She attended Torrey Pines Elementary and Muirlands Middle schools. She participates in tennis and lacrosse, and has dabbled in theater. She enjoys music, cooking, traveling and reading and hopes to attend school on the East Coast and receive a degree in liberal arts.