By Khalida Sarwari
Some people graduate from high school and never look back. But not Tiffany Zai. After accepting her diploma and flipping the tassel on her cap, the recent Saratoga High School grad returned for one final project.
Zai’s mission: refurbish a worn-down trailer used by the marching band for hauling instruments and equipment to various competitions across the state. The 18-year-old has been at work on the vehicle in the school’s rear parking lot since June, working on it three to four times a week for about three hours at a time.
“The stickers were peeling off; it just looked really old,” said Zai. “I heard comments from students saying, ‘Why hasn’t anyone tried to fix the trailer?’ People were wondering if there’d ever be a renovation, but there were no official plans.”
When Zai, who was a member of the marching band throughout high school and is also a senior Girl Scout, was choosing a project for the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, she decided to take on the renovation of the trailer. To qualify for the Gold Award, the project must benefit the community, Zai said. She called the project “Boosting School Pride” and recruited the help of a handful of current and former band members.
“Since the marching band is part of promoting school spirit at football games and various events, the trailer that hauls the equipment to all these events is one of the first impressions that the public sees,” Zai said. “Upgrading this trailer, which is one of the most outward symbols of our school, seems like a natural place to start.”
The work has entailed removing vinyl stickers that, according to Zai’s estimate, were attached to the trailer at least a decade ago; repainting the vehicle; and finally, making stencils for the trailer’s new design. The renovated trailer will boast a logo of a falcon, the school’s mascot.
“It will look really different,” Zai said.
Donations of paint, tools and supplies aside, the project cost Zai around $250. The Girl Scouts pitched in for half of that, she said.
Once the work is done, Zai plans to host a trailer-warming party, open to anyone, but especially the band department, where she’ll present a slideshow of the two-month renovation process. Zai will also submit a written summary of her work to a scouting committee for approval.
The experience has been rewarding, albeit time consuming, said Zai.
“It’s definitely taking a lot more time than I expected,” she noted. “It’s also been kind of fun, because I have a lot of my friends helping me. We’re a close community in band, so we enjoying seeing each other; we enjoy working together.”
Added Zai, “I’m really into art, so designing this trailer has helped me use those skills and help the community.”
Eventually, Zai will say goodbye to her school and her home in Los Gatos as she makes the move to the East Bay this fall, where she will attend UC-Berkeley. Her dream is to work in the medical field.
