February 2017 by Hoofprint

the

Hoofprint

Walnut High School Walnut, CA Volume 49, Issue 4 February 9, 2017 www.whshoofprint.com

Percussion Ensemble placed second in the Percussion Scholastic Concert A category at the Southern California Percussion Alliance competition on Feb. 4 at Valencia High School. Marimba player junior Jack Huang uses a technique called Stevens Grip while playing a rendition of “Memento Vivere.” “During the performance, I felt that I was in my prime and I was full of confidence with my team because I knew we were ready,” Huang said. “In the end, I was full of joy because all of the effort we put in during practice finally paid off.”

PHOTO BY JEFFREY TRAN

ÎŠ

Mission We, the Hoofprint staff, strive to inform the student body in an accurate, timely and objective manner. While we take responsibility for the legitimacy of our reporting, we also recognize the freedom of the press and speech given to us under California Education Code 48907. We seek to reflect the diversity of the

table of contents

Scene

Investigative reporting

Duke Bakery offers unique Taiwanese delicacies with a touch of European style.

As flu season approaches, be aware of the symptoms of common sicknessess.

school and to be an open forum that encourages student expression and discussion. Through our

coverage, we hope to represent the distinct character of the Walnut community.

Staff

In-depth

Print Editors-in-Chief: Cherie Chu, Sabrina Wan

Examine the role different stereotypes play in the student body.

Online Editors-in-Chief: Lisa Shen, Jo Ann Sun Media Manager: Brian Wu Managers: Olivia Chiang, Vivian Lee Business Managers: Airi Gonzalez, Jeffrey Tran Photo Lead: Jeffrey Tran Photo Manager: Airi Gonzalez News Editors: Jessica Huang, Melissa Kim Opinion Editors: Brian Chen, Phillip Leung Feature Editors: Natalie Jiang, Albert Law In-Depth Editor: Angela Zhang Scene Editor: Sophia Ding Arts Editors: Kevin Arifin, Angela Cao Sports Editors: Haixin Guo, Julie Lee Video Manager: Eunice Lin

Opinion

Arts

Public displays of affection are common, but should they be allowed on campus?

In its second competition of the year, dance places first in five categories.

Social Media Editor: Samuel Compolongo Online Media Editor: Caroline Huang

Photographers: Jamie Chen, Samuel Compolongo, Sara Corona, Richard Zhang Staff Writers: Sarah Aie, Andre Alvarez, Florence Ao,

Longform

Anabelle Chang, Erica Chang, Amber Chen, Emily Chen, Jamie Chen, Kelly Chen, Nicole Chiang, Jocelyn Chow,

Various types of illnesses affect more than just the individuals themselves.

Jason Corpin, Sara Corona, Tristan Gonzalez, Brian Honng, Jeremy Hsiao, Justin Jiang, Brandon Lai, Austin Lam, Isaac Le, Samantha Lee, Isabella Leung, Annie Li, Ashley Liang, Ashley Lin, Kyle Lin, Elaine Liu, Cynthia Lu, Jason Luna, Amy Lo, Emily Ng, Bella Pan, Isabella Pollalis, Uniss Tan, Athena Tang, Emmeline Tantry, Sean Wang, Brandon Win, Sherman Wu, Anna Yu, Irene Zhou Adviser: Rebecca Chai

Contact & Media For business/ad inquiries, email business@whshoofprint.com Walnut High School 400 N. Pierre Rd. Walnut, CA 91789 (909) 594-1333 www.whshoofprint.com @WalnutHS_News @WalnutHS_Sports @whspublications @whspublications

Feature

Junior Brock Cooper designs clothing and sells them through his social media.

18 Sports

Coach Cecil Woods has played golf for the past 30 years and has passed on his expertise to Walnut golfers.

february 2017

Flu season brings decline in health With the weather fluctuating from hot to cold and students coming down with chills, it seems as if flu season has come. Despite the sudden deterioration in student health, sick students are still attending school regularly instead of resting.

Breakdown of common illnesses Methods to treat sickness Learn about the most common sicknesses, how they are transmitted and methods for prevention. SOURCES: STUDENTHEALTH.GEORGETOWN.EDU AND UHS.PRINCETON.EDU

To recover more quickly from being sick, utilize these essential methods to provide relief during the flu season. COMPILED BY NICOLE CHIANG AND IRENE ZHOU

Resting at home

Common cold Symptoms coughing sore throat runny/stuffy nose minor headaches

Fever

Symptoms high temperatures severe headache body ache fatigue

Transmission skin-to-skin contact airborne droplets bacterial contamination saliva

Prevention wash hands often avoid touching eyes/nose/mouth avoid sharing sanitary items avoid close contact

Transmission bacterial infection sharing foods/drinks

Prevention stay hydrated wash hands often avoid close contact

Allergies Symptoms runny/stuffy nose puffy/watery eyes sneezing itchy throat

Transmission not contagious

Prevention strengthen immune system reduce contact with allergens take prescribed medication

“[When I’m sick], I’d rather stay [at] home in bed to rest and get better. Sometimes it can be hard to catch up when I get back, so when I’m at home my grandma calls the school to check what homework Christian Cobarrubias, 9 I have to do.”

Taking medication

Harmeena Sandhu, 11

Eating comfort foods

Stomach flu Symptoms vomiting fever headache fatigue

Bronchitis

Symptoms excessive coughing lung inflammation shortness of breath mucus buildup

Transmission sharing food/drink

Prevention wash hands before meals drink lots of clear liquids

“I usually take medication after I’ve gotten sick. It’s usually NyQuil, Tylenol, or Motrin. Even though some people don’t take medicine, I do because it’s scientifically proven to help.”

Brandon Arca, 11

“When I’m sick, I like to eat soup and noodles, usually pho. The taste of pho is my favorite because it’s a mixture of comfort and warmth, and it always makes me feel better.”

Staying hydrated Transmission viral/bacterial infection exposure to air pollution

Preventing the spread of sickness Do you think students should stay at home when they are not feeling well?

Prevention avoid lung irritants (smoking) wash hands often

Teacher perspective Joseph Khouzam Health

“Students should stay home if they’re sick or ill so the viruses and bacteria in the student’s body won’t travel and infect others. Staying home also helps the student recover faster, and they’re able to get more rest.”

COMPILED BY SARAH AIE, JEREMY HSIAO, ASHLEY LIANG AND SHERMAN WU

Rachel Wong, 10

“It’s important to stay hydrated because when you’re not hydrated, your brain loses the ability to concentrate. If you’re sick, drinking water can soothe your throat and help to flush out the toxins.”

Student perspective Nancy Lamb Spanish

“They should stay home because they need the rest to recuperate and when they come to school, they can get the students and teachers sick too. When they are at school, it’s just too hard to pay attention during class.”

Izabella Hubbard, 9

“It would be better for [sick students] to stay at home and rest until they get better. I stay home because I don’t want to affect the other students around me. I know I won’t be able to do my best if all I’m focused on is that I feel sick.”

Chriselle Badua, 11

“Students should stay at home when they’re sick. They should get plenty of rest. Especially when you’re really sick, coming to school will just make it worse and you won’t feel good throughout the day. It’s better to get rest.”

School procedure for sick students

investigative reporting

Student statistics These statistics reveal the average number of students who attend school when they are sick.

BASED ON A SURVEY OF 282 STUDENTS

Students must undergo a series of steps before the school nurse can check students out on school for sick leave.

1 2 3

ABSENT

COMPILED BY ASHLEY LIANG SOURCE: DONNA MCANALLY-CUELHO

Reason:

Assessing the situation After you describe your symptoms, the nurse will make an educated decision on how to handle your condition.

7 out of 10 students think that the

3 out of 10 students are currently

school should do more to prevent sick students from attending school

attending school while sick

On a daily average,

Taking action Students will have their temperature taken or blood pressure checked. Temperatures exceeding 99 degrees are considered unsafe for school.

30 to 40

students are absent from school because of sickness

52% of

students always come to school when they have a cold

Notifying guardians In severe cases, parents or legal guardians will be notified to pick up their child from school.

On a daily average, at least

10 to 20

students visit the nurse’s office because of sickness

Reasons for students coming to school sick 67%

52% 46%

24%

er oth

pr per efe so ren nal ce

pr k es wi eep sure th in o cla g u f ss p es

wo sch rkl oo oa l d

Students are only permitted to come back to school after a full 24-hour recovery.

always come to school when they have a fever

pa pr ren es ta su l re

17% of students

Recovery

Alternative medicines for maintaining health Students utilize a variety of traditional alternative medicinal methods from different cultures to prevent and cure sicknesses. COMPILED BY MELISSA KIM AND SHERMAN WU SOURCES: NCCIH.NIH.GOV, AHCEDMONTON.COM, PACIFICCOLLEGE.EDU

Acupuncture

Finger Pricking

Cupping

Acupuncture is an alternative form of medicine that involves a series of thin needles being inserted into different parts of the body. It works to relieve muscle pain as well as head and stomach aches.

Pricking is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to remove “bad blood” from the body. Although the practice has changed over time, some cultures still apply it, typically by pricking their fingers in order to prevent sickness.

Cupping utilizes small cups to tightly compress sections of skin, usually on the back, to relieve muscle pain and heal the body. It often results in bruising and burns. The method has recently been gaining attention from its popularity among famed athletes.

Samuel Liu, 10 “[Acupuncture] was relatively painless, and it felt like a massage. I felt my energy improve. I think others do it because they want to improve their [physical] capabilities or just for the health benefits of it.”

Ryan Kim, 9 “When I was younger, my mom and grandma used to prick my fingers and toes near the cuticle if I had a stomachache. [Releasing bad blood] is a common belief among Koreans. I would always feel much better afterwards.”

Tylor Wang, 9 “I do it to relax my muscles and release the tension. If certain spots are sore or hurt, that part will heal. I do them because of golf and kendo. I only do it about once a month. I feel relaxed and don’t feel as tight.”

february 2017

05 EDITORIAL CARTOON BY AMY LO

Editorial Taking action It’s the dramatization, the intrigue, the shock value that pulls us into the stories featured on our news feeds. Yet, the effects of these jarring tactics gradually fade away as we resume our everyday routines. As the days roll into weeks and months, the once headline-grabbing events become incidental and are eventually forgotten. Before we know it, we have fallen back to passive, distant admiration about the movements that initially mattered to us. The recent violent protests at the University of California, Berkeley over the planned appearance of a public speaker were met with uproar and nationwide condemnation. The violence undermined the school’s staple of free speech and resistance against oppression. While organized protests that instigate violence and disorder warp civil intentions, peaceful protests garner public sympathy. The demonstration should resonate deeply with students here, as Berkeley is a school some of us know, admire and perhaps aim to attend because of the initiative its students are known to take. Yet, most of us haven’t spoken out on behalf of the principles we personally endorse—we haven’t taken action into our own hands. In addition to advocating and organizing through public awareness campaigns, students should engage in community service on issues they care about and contribute to open discourse in classrooms. Though protests are unlikely to be immediately effective, any eventual social change needs a starting point. The civil rights movement, for instance, wasn’t successful until decades after its head start in the 1920s. Progress takes patience and understanding, and we should not only observe from afar the issues we hold close to our hearts but also express that support through direct involvement in the efforts that enact the changes we wish to see. Ω

Retraction: In December’s issue of the Hoofprint, we made an error (due to a poorly cited source) regarding the statistics of foreign language speakers in the world. We apologize for this mistake and will be sure to minimize statistical errors in the future. The actual percentage of people in the world who speak each language is: Chinese: 1,343,755,000 / 7,478,408,000 = 17.9 % Spanish: 417,000,000 / 7,478,408,000 = 5.57 % German: 128,000,000 / 7,478,408,000 = 1.71 % French: 128,000,000 / 7,478,408,000 = 1.71 % SOURCE: NATIONSONLINE.ORG

HOW TO GET YOUR OPINIONS PUBLISHED: 1. If you’re interested in getting your work published, type a reply to an article or situation on campus and email it to letter@whshoofprint. com, or draw a comic or political cartoon in black ink and turn it in to Ms. Chai in D-1. 2. Include your name, grade, first period class and phone number. (Anonymous letters will not be published.)

How to better shape your life With the end of our high school careers approaching, deciding whether or not to take a gap year may play a significant role in determining our future. Brian Wu

student’s entire life, college is what

suggestion to those who truly do not

Media manager

will define who they are. However,

feel as if they are ready for college

the purpose of college is to expand

or have a grasp of what they want

I’m not crazy.

our horizons, our knowledge, our

to pursue. This allows people to find

I swear. What if we

education and enhance who we

what they love, what they want to

took a year off after

really are. Our parents and teachers

do, and to hone in on the path they

high school. Let’s call it… a gap year.

instill in us the importance of college

choose for themselves. Going into

This past summer traveling

as it leads to a greater education,

college blindfolded, without a sense

through Japan and staying in hostels

something irreplaceable in today’s

of direction, is basically wasting both

where up to 8 people shared a room, I

world. Although I definitely believe

time and money.

met people from Australia, Germany,

in receiving a college-level education,

I also understand that some

Thailand and even a group of guys

I also believe that it does not

may use a gap year in order to save

from Chicago. As a 17-year old

necessarily have to come directly

up for college. In other words, an

student traveling by myself, I made

after high school. Because let’s face

individual may spend a year working

small talk with these people and in

it: a lot of us don’t have the first clue

each conversation I was told that they

as to what we will be doing five or ten

housing. Again, gap years open up

were taking a year off either before

years down the line.

opportunities and provide another

fund

tuition,

textbooks

and

college or before graduate school. I

A gap year would be most

must admit, at first I thought, “Wow

beneficial to those without a clear goal

these people are obviously crazy.”

or direction in life. It allows students

A gap year may sound absurd,

As I started to think more and more

to explore, open up their minds

but I think it has its merits. It is

about this concept of a gap year, the

and gain a deeper understanding

definitely not everyone’s cup of tea

more it made sense to me.

of themselves. In this gap year,

but for some, it might be just the

option for those perhaps more economically disadvantaged.

At Walnut, students tend to

students can travel, work, learn, and

thing to get them headed on the right

think that college is everything,

experience what the “real world”

track. And besides, it can’t hurt to

college is the culmination of a

has to offer. Essentially, it is simply a

learn your different options. Ω

Q&A Student opinions on the value of a gap year

COMPILED BY SHERMAN WU

Alison Cher, 11

“I did [consider it], but I don’t think I will because I know I wouldn’t be as productive as I could be. I’d probably end up sleeping until noon and watching TV and eating junk food until midnight.”

“I would consider a gap year to travel, have fun and to figure out my interests. I haven’t really found the time to find the Codie Chang, things that I really like. 11 I would use that year to figure that out.”

Nicole Howard, 12

“If you don’t know what to major in, then you can take a year to volunteer or work in different fields and see what you like. It could give you a break from just studying and you can try new things. ”

opinion PHOTO BY AUSTN LAM

Balancing health and academic success Suffering through sleep deprivation, poor amounts of nutrition and constant mental stress may result in academic performance, but are ultimately not worth it. The negative health consequences associated with these practices are detrimental in the long run. Olivia Chiang

entire meal just to finish reviewing

Manager

notes one last time. Every day I see students in the library during lunch

It’s 2:04 a.m.

doing exactly that instead of eating

With a large cup of

lunch (what they should be doing).

SOURCE: SLEEPFOUNDATION.ORG

Tips for maintaining your health

Sure, good grades pave the way

in anything, let alone school itself ?

to better opportunities and an

Being in a constant state of anxiety,

increased

success

stress and depression is not fun, and

in the future, but there are

it surely is a lot less enjoyable than

many

than

having a couple of unsatisfactory

chance

alternatives

of other

coffee in hand and

While many might think this free

undermining one’s health. These

grades here and there. To say that

a huge stack of unfinished papers

35 minutes is a great opportunity

include building self-confidence

these states of mind disturb one’s

piled up on your desk, you struggle

to study for fifth period’s test,

and staying true to oneself, that

learning process in school is an

to keep your eyes open, wondering:

food deprivation leads to energy

serve the same purpose. In fact,

understatement. They not only raise

should I stay up re-doing math

deprivation, impaired focus and

many successful people like Steve

a health concern but also interfere

problems to save that borderline

poor memory—all factors far more

Jobs and Michael Dell, both college

with overall academic performance

grade or should I call it a night and

important and necessary for fifth

dropouts, did not earn top grades

and can even worsen grades along

study during lunch?

period’s test.

but made those alternatives work

the way.

None of the above, actually. 2

Some believe that we can

a.m.’s are for sleeping and lunches

always make up the sleep we lose

are for eating.

or the meals we skip, but we cannot

While getting that extra hour of

make up the questions we miss on a

sleep may not mean much compared

test. While this is true, it’s important

to earning that letter A grade, it’s

to take into account the long-term

time to set things straight. Your

effects of both that determine

health trumps your grade point

which, health or grades, we need to

average. It’s a given that if your

prioritize one over the other. A lack

health starts to suffer then oftentimes

of sleep can lead to permanent

so will your grades.

Caffeine does not replace sleep. It temporarily blocks sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increases adrenaline production.

Z Z Z Teenagers (14-17) should be sleeping an average of 8-10 hours a night. Young adults (18-25) should be sleeping an average of 7-9 hours a night.

instead. Here’s where health comes

Yes, it is debatable whether or

into play. Without leading a healthy

not a couple more hours of sleep is

lifestyle beforehand, how would

worth losing that letter A grade, but

these opportunities and successes

it is evident that nothing should be

work out? They won’t.

valued over health. Being healthy

Think about it this way. In 10

is the basic foundation of what we

years time, no one will care what

do; if it is destroyed, everything

grades you got. No, this doesn’t

that follows including grades will

mean “don’t study” or “don’t try.”

become destroyed soon enough.

This means work hard and do your

So the next time you are having an

memory loss and stress-related

best, but not to the point in which

inner battle with yourself, to stay up

By eating instant noodles for

conditions, such as depression and

your health becomes a second

studying or go to bed, be mindful

dinner to save an additional 10

anxiety, while an unhealthy diet

priority.

of health’s critical role in our lives

minutes for studying, weight gain

leads to various heart problems,

and an unhealthy diet are inevitable.

diabetes and obesity.

What’s even worse is skipping an

Grades are not everything.

Cutting sugar and refined carbohydrates can improve mood and lower risk for mental health problems. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

The same goes for mental

and how overcommitting ourselves

health; without mental well-being,

to academics has the capability to

how would you be able to do well

undermine that role. Ω

february 2017

PHOTO BY JEFFERY TRAN

PDA: A touchy school subject Although PDA is generally considered negative, it may not affect others as much as we think it does. Albert Law

us. For example, we ask our friends

Feature editor

if we are making the right decision in talking to a particular boy or girl.

couple

This sense of fitting in makes us feel

making out in front

secure and confident. When we see

of your locker. What do you do? Do

our closest friends showing affection

you just look at them awkwardly, or

to their boyfriend or girlfriend, it

do you tell them to move? I’m not

elicits a weird feeling because we

sure either.

have a special connection with

Public displays of affection (PDA)

should

allowed

our friend. But on the other hand,

when we see strangers making out,

campus. It’s not necessarily as bad

it doesn’t affect us because we don’t

as other people portray it to be.

have the same connection. Maybe

Perhaps it’s because I’m only an

that’s why we take more notice of

adolescent and therefore, I possess a

PDA among our friends.

less conservative perspective on this

I feel that PDA should be allowed

issue. In regards to PDA, there are

because it’s just a way for students to

many social factors that ultimately

express their feelings in public. Does

influence a person’s views. There’s

PDA affect students physically or

your

mentally? For bystanders, it could be

friends. There are movies. And

embarrassing and uncomfortable.

there’s personal experience.

But what can be done? Students feel

parents.

There

are

Parents have a role in the way students view PDA. There are

intense feelings, and they want to do things to express themselves.

parents who openly hold hands and

Okay. I got it. This is the best

kiss in front of their child, while there

way to explain it. There is a sense of

are parents who are very distant.

pride that comes with PDA because

Some parents also disapprove of

it is a way for students to show off

kissing between their child and

the love they have for each other.

their child’s partner. These different

Basically, when you finally find that

childhood experiences can influence

person who likes you as much as you

someone’s perspective, but regular,

like them, you want to hold their

prolonged exposure to PDA can also

hands and show off to the public.

promote acceptance. When we find a new partner, we often seek approval of those around

Let’s face it. Especially at school, PDA is inevitable. Ω Continued at whshoofprint.com

Student thoughts on PDA 251 students give feedback on the amount and type of Public Display of Affection they see on campus, including opinions on what is appropriate. They also show whether or not students think that the administration should place tighter restrictions on PDA on campus. Are uncomfortable seeing PDA

When have you seen PDA on campus? before school

48%

93%

What crosses the line? 70%

kissing

passing period

95%

holding hands

during lunch

96%

hugging

after school

86%

Believe the administration should restrict PDA

45%

other forms of PDA

22%

feature

NO IDENTITY (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) | The model covers his face to reflect the brand’s slogan. | Cooper’s friends pose for the Gold Kids tee. | The Anchor tee features a nautical theme.

Get rich and live in paradise PHOTO COURTESY OF BROCK COOPER

Junior Brock Cooper designs and sells clothing for his own personal clothing line.

Olivia Chiang

to be a positive individual who

photos

Manager

will always strive for something,

among his personal photos.

whatever that would be.”

At that time, Cooper released

“I’m not rich, nor do I live

his

merchandise

turn into a normal, washed-up brand.” After

Cooper’s

graphic

It all started in sixth grade,

clothing pieces inconsistently—

artist receives the hand-drawn

when Brock’s brother, Quinn,

ranging from one item per month

designs,

This was not a limiting

designed a simple tank top which

to another item four months

drawing into a vector image so it

barrier, but the segue for junior

ultimately pushed Cooper to

later. Since then, he started

can be printed on clothing. Once

Brock Cooper to start up Rich

attempt to design his own apparel.

focused

Cooper confirms the design, the

Paradise,

independent

In addition, his father worked in

solely on his brand, which

piece is sent to the silk screen

streetwear clothing brand that

the clothing embroidery industry

has accumulated over 1400

artist, who then prints the

breaks down stereotypes. Models

which provided a connection to

followers and has consistently

design on the apparel. It usually

for his brand wear ski masks to

the graphic artist Cooper works

released one piece of apparel

takes about one week for each

cover up their faces to eliminate

with today.

every month. Cooper spent the

item to be completed. The final

in paradise.”

labels surrounding self-image.

separate

account

transforms

the

“I want to give people the

whole month of December 2016

touches include coordinating

“My brand is a vision for

satisfaction of making stuff that

brainstorming about what to sell

photoshoots

myself, where I want to be when I

they actually want to wear and

next, whether it be shirts, long-

apparel for his followers to get

grow up and the lifestyle I would

that they will enjoy wearing,”

sleeves or sweaters, and what

a sneak peak and request pre-

like to live,” Cooper said. “My

Cooper said. “I’d be lying if I

design elements to include for

orders.

brand reaches out to those who

said it weren’t for the money. I

the new apparel.

are like me, because everyone

named it Rich Paradise because

“After I started integrating

is the fact that the stuff I do is

has potential to go somewhere

I wasn’t in the circumstance

Rich Paradise [posts] on [my

limited. I’m not making 1,000

in life. Rich Paradise is meant

where money was exactly a ‘go-

Instagram], people jumped on it

or 1,500 [of the pieces], I’m

for the go-getters, [for] those

to’ for me. Money to me is like

and said, ‘Wow, this is cool. I like

making [around] 70 sweaters

who will do anything to reach

finding your first love; when

it,’” Cooper said. “The biggest

and whoever gets it, gets it,”

success no matter the outcome.

you grow up lacking something,

thing I’ve learned from this

Cooper said. “When someone

Money is incorporated in my

which could be anything, it

is patience, because I’ve been

[asks] ‘Is this left?’ and [I say]

clothes because Rich Paradise

makes you determined to have

patient with myself to not drop

‘Sorry, everything sold out,’—

is aimed to those who want to

it,” Cooper said.

[apparel] every week. Keeping

that keeps me motivated because

it at one per month is good

people are reaching out to me to

personal back

strive and become rich. However,

Rich Paradise originated Cooper’s

model

the

“What keeps me motivated

joining the Rich Paradise Club

from

for myself and my company

buy this stuff. I’m not reaching

doesn’t mean you have to be

Instagram

because it keeps it limited, so

out to them.” Ω

a money craving monster, but

seventh grade, when he posted

it’s not like Rich Paradise will

account

Continued at whshoofprint.com

From paper to fabric Cooper follows this process when designing new apparel.

01 Drawing Cooper thinks of new designs and translates his ideas on paper.

02 Creating The artist then turns the design into a vector image so it can be printed.

03 Printing The design is then printed on a shirt through silk screen printing and embroidery. Find more of his merchandise @RICH.PARADISE on Instagram COMPILED BY OLIVIA CHIANG

february 2017

Gaming for charity

PHOTO BY SAMUEL COMPOLONGO

TWITCH STREAM | Blackford plays multiple games online to entertian his viewers and to contribute toward charity

Nick Blackford streams games live and donates toward charities. Sarah Aie

is a lot like the gaming community

Staff writer

today. It was full of players that also loved the game, and we all just wanted

Complex

characters.

Potions

to have fun.”

and spells. A world of imagination.

From there, Blackford pursued

From playing Final Fantasy VII on

that passion and began to stream

the original Playstation console to

his gameplay through Twitch, a

streaming live games for everyone to

video platform that supports live

watch, gaming has always been a big

broadcasting. His setup consists of

part of math and computer science

Window Capture, a software that

teacher Nicholas Blackford’s life.

captures the user’s computer screen,

Blackford first discovered his love for gaming in his childhood, during

and a webcam to record facial reactions and commentary audio.

which he invested hundreds of hours

“With YouTube, you can watch

immersing himself in each game’s

videos that are maybe a few days

unique experience.

old. There became this demand for

“I played a lot of online games

content that was live. Because people

growing up, like Diablo 2. In that

wanted current content, streaming

game, you were constantly being a part

became a popular platform, and it

of the community and meeting new

developed from there,” Blackford said.

people in that. I spend an unlimited

“I like being a part of that community

number of hours on that game; it was

because you get to interact and

a lot of fun. In a lot of ways, that game

support others who like playing the

same games that you like. It’s evolved

That’s what so cool about it. It’s a

Blackford connect with his friends,

so much to get to where it is now.”

congregational experience,” Blackford

but also provided him with a way

On Twitch, Blackford is most

said. “I remember my friends and

to interact with students outside of

well known for playing Hearthstone,

I would always crowd around the

school.

an online strategy card game that

television screen [to play] console

“I’ve always thought of myself as

includes collecting cards and battling

games. Now, because you don’t have to

being a pretty open person, so I don’t

against other competitors. Over the

have that local network anymore, you

feel like I have anything to hide from

past five years, Blackford has acquired

can do the same type of connection

my students,” Blackford said. “It’s also

37 followers and around 10 to 30

with people from all around. There’s

part of them getting to know me as a

people view his live streams.

not this deep thing that I get out of

person, and not thinking of me as just

“Being able to connect and form

gaming; it’s just fun and it’s a way

a teacher figure that’s going to punish

relationships has always been a part

to meet new people and make new

them for doing something wrong but

of the community that I’ve been in.

friends.”

rather as a person they trust.” Ω

Gaming always brings people together.

Streaming has not only let

Continued at whshoofprint.com

Expressing her faith through actions Junior Crystal Xu spends her time volunteering and helping others at the Hsi Lai Buddhist temple. PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL XU

Ashley Liaag

the administrative leader.

Staff writer

GIVING BACK | Xu volunteers at temples to help the elders pray and babysit kids.

much work there is, but it’s really

“Because I’ve been volunteering

fun. The environment that they have

for so many years, I eventually just

there is incredible, and it takes away

From running the registration

went and asked the project leader if

my stress too.”

to designing the daily schedules

there were any open positions since I

campers,

loved going there so much,” Xu said.

members influenced her religion the

volunteering at a summer camp is no

“He said yes, and basically I’ve been

most. Both of her parents, as well

easy task. Even so, junior Crystal Xu

going whenever I’ve had the chance.”

as her grandmother, are Buddhist.

gives back to her community through

As administrative leader, Xu is

Because of this, Xu has learned to be

assisting at the Hsi Lai Temple in her

placed in charge of registration and

free time.

educating

young

Growing

up,

Xu’s

family

more accepting of others.

preparation for activities, along with

“My parents raised me to be

The Hsi Lai Temple, one of the

the other organizers. For retreats,

open-minded, to be aware that there

largest Buddhist temples on the west

she works both with the children and

were different faiths and to respect

coast, is located in Hacienda Heights

behind the scenes, doing paperwork

each one,” Xu said. “It wasn’t until

and hosts overnight summer retreats

while also helping to teach Buddhism

recently that I started to commit

as well as Kids’ Camps, which take

classes in her spare time.

to Buddhism. I loved the message

place over the course of a weekend.

“It makes me really proud to

of treating everyone with respect,

Starting in eighth grade, Xu was

be able to help out at the temple,”

regardless of who they were or what

offered the chance to volunteer at a

Xu said. “There’s kind of a sense of

they had done.” Ω

retreat and after four years, became

responsibility when I realize just how

Continued at whshoofwprint.com

in-depth

Different types of stereotypes

“The idea of a male having to be unemotional has made me at times afraid to open up to the people I love most at times where I’ve needed help. It’s also helped me in seek help knowing that this stereotype isn’t healthy.”

Student statistics

Racial

The stereotypes that cover us

Where do you see stereotypes portrayed the most? 75%

Gender

Racial stereotyping and scapegoating can have harmful affects both on the groups being stereotyped as well as the people who stereotype. Ignoring the identity of an individual for preconceived notions of their race can breed ignorance and misunderstanding.

The clothes we wear say a lot about us, our appearances at once establish first impressions and incur immediate judgments. On a deeper level, the things we are involved in, the people we surround ourselves with, the posts on our Facebook timelines give an outward impression of who we are. Internalized stereotypes regarding one’s identity can also be harmful. When dealing with race or gender, we are assigned at birth. Immediately after we enter this world, there is a preconceived notion of who we are. As a result of those expectations, we often fall into the stereotypes that others use to define us. Pink is for girls, and blue is for boys. Stereotypes allow us to make a split judgment based on previous experience; what we’re told, and what we tell ourselves. This becomes dangerous when we apply stereotypes to dynamic individuals with complex backgrounds and identities. Like the clothes we wear, stereotypes cover us and influence others’ perceptions of us. Race and gender stereotypes seem to stretch beyond everyday inconveniences or misunderstandings to rigid definitions of who we are or who we should be. Stereotypes can bind, restrict and limit us, and there is no choice in the stereotypes that we wear. We should be more aware of this when judging others

10%

TV, Movies

Other

Magazines

Books

10%

5% Female 54% Male 44%

Gender stereotypes are more nuanced in nature. From gendered toys to television shows, gender roles play a large part in developing our interests, likes and dislikes. The phrases “girls shouldn’t...” or “boys don’t...” may have been integral in shaping our sense of self and the way we carry ourselves.

Do stereotypes accurately portray the characteristics of certain groups? 71%

21%

Sometimes

Other 2% 8%

Racial Identity

Yes

On a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being to a great extent), to what extent has your identity been influenced by the stereotypes associated with your race, gender, etc.?

The Model Minority An example of racial stereotyping is the controversial concept of the model minority. Asians are often portrayed as the “model minority.” The successes of Asian-Americans are capitalized on as a testament to the ideals of opportunity and the American dream. However, people fail to account for the different socioeconomic background of Asian immigrants.

Gender Identity

BASED ON A SURVEY OF 229 STUDENTS

Stereotypes allow us to make sense of complex situations or people, but stereotypes can become harmful when generalizations are applied to individuals. Part of fixing the problem is addressing the judgments we all hold and our oversimplifications of others.

Christopher Ramirez, 11

Hypermasculinity and Hyperfemininity

Asian 79%

Latino 8%

White 6%

Other 5%

Black 2%

Hypermasculinity and hyperfemininity can arise from gender stereotypes as an overexaggeration of traditional traits, interests, or roles associated with females and males. In men, hypermasculinity is often characterized by extreme aggression and assertiveness while, in women, hyperfemininity is characterized by passivity and conforming to feminine gender roles.

72% of students have been inaccurately stereotyped based on their race.

5 To a great extent 4% 4 14% 3 33% 2 28% 1 Not at all 21%

58% have been inaccurately stereotyped based on their gender.

Growing up as a girl vs. growing up as a boy in America SOURCES: WWW.CENSUS.GOV | WWW.JEC.SENATE.GOV | WWW.HEARTOFLEADERSHIP.ORG

“When I was younger, I wouldn’t put my hair down and people were always like “oh, you should put your hair down more.” Sometimes they’ll also ask me “why don’t you wear skirts” or something and my mom is always like, “why do you dress like a guy.” I get a little bit mad when they say this, but I know it’s not them.”

Birth 50.8% of the US population is biologically female Gendered toys and clothing are introduced immediately after the baby is born.

Jonelle Lin, 10

49.2% of the US population is biologically male

Angela Zhang, In-depth Editor

Childhood

Adolescence

By the age of 13, 53% of girls deal with body image issues

Only 19.3% of engineering degrees are awarded to women

Stereotypes are introduced in the media, by family members or friends, and play a large role in how boys and girls begin to view themselves. Boys are 5 times more likely to be classified as hyperactive

Gender stereotypes begin to become barriers, dictating the interests of individuals. Issues dealing with self-perception and identity arise. Men enroll in engineering and computer science courses at a higher rate

Adulthood On a percentage basis, women earn 79% of what a man earns Significant discrepancies in the way men and women are treated appear. The wage gap is an example of this. More than 80% of job losses in the United States during the recession were among men

At a glance: How we are perceived COMPILED BY JASON CORPIN, ISABELLA LEUNG AND KYLE LIN

Security beyond stereotypes Teachers give advice about how we can look beyond stereotypes both in the perception of ourselves as well as others.

Stephanie Tufenkjian | Math “Personally, as a woman who is interested in math, a lot of people in my years thought that was weird. Stereotype has been observed in my life, but it never stopped me; it made me more determined to pursue my interests. It’s like ‘you’re not going, I’m going to do whatever I want.’ Each day, we make a decision as to how we’re going to deal with some of the hard things in life. We can either work to overcome them or we can give up. Don’t give up. Continue to be positive. Support other people who are in similar situations and give it time.”

Vicky Flowers | Special Education “I work with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They’re a very careful, kind and sociable group. Some students might be reluctant to talk because they might not want to be friends if they see a student as “having problems.” I think students think this way because of their upbringing. Usually if you’ve been exposed to someone [with disabilities] you get a better understanding. I think a lack of exposure causes people to stereotype special needs students. The more we interact together, the more open the general population is to special needs.”

COMPILED BY ISAAC LE, KYLE LIN AND EMILY NG

Rajasri Rajkumar, 12

Cameron Walker, 12

Sebastian Hernandez, 11

Karen Liu, 10

“When I first moved here, a lot of people asked me why I didn’t have an accent, and I didn’t want to eat Indian food in public. Especially in middle school, you feel kind of judged because of how you eat; [eating Indian food] is considered quite messy here, but I really overcame it eventually when I found a better group of friends. I started inviting my friends over, and they really started liking my culture.”

“I’m an athlete, so people assume that I’m like not smart I guess. Because I’m White a lot of people think that I’m racist, or stand-offish, but I’m not like that. It’s kind of just helped me relax and take a step back and get to know a person first before I judge them.”

“[I have been affected by stereotypes] mostly through race. Most people don’t think I’m Asian, I’m only one-fourth Chinese. The only way to know a person is through conversation. But before coming to this conclusion as an adolescent, it was like every race or group of people had a list of what they’re capable of doing which is a very wrong way to perceive anyone.”

“When I get stereotyped as being smart because of my ethnicity, I usually do not give an indication to react negatively to the statement. If I were perhaps in a different environment where Asians are not the majority in a school, I would try to stay on the quiet end and at a lower key than I am now.”

february 2017

they’re handling. I want to be there for more people because it’s just so hard.” — For a period of time, junior Stacey* was scared. Scared that her mother’s cancer would never get better because it After two years, his mother’s cancer was Michael* always was going to strive

thought he and maintain his

position as the top seventh in his sports team. He trained his entire life to finally secure a national position. But at the last second, news broke that his mother had breast cancer. Michael opened his door slightly in the early morning to

inactive and presumably had died off. “Family is there to stay for each other through thick and thin, because no matter what happened, I knew I was going to be there for [my mom]. I was willing to give everything important in my life,” Michael said. —

they were so distressed. Later, his parents confessed that his

Witnessing a loved one in pain can be a heartbreaking

“At first, my parents tried to hide the fact that my mom

experience mostly when you are not certain whether they live or not. Especially for sophomore Maria*, at least. Her sister was

had cancer because they didn’t want me and my siblings to be

diagnosed with lupus, which has some of the same symptoms

scared or worried,” Michael said. “However, a month before her

that cancer patients have, a hereditary disease.

chemo treatment, they came out.” Prior to his mother’s diagnosis, Michael was ranked as

“Chemo was hard for [my sister] because she had to eat certain foods and look out for certain pH levels in her food,”

the seventh best player in the USA team association among

Maria said. “She took really hard classes, and she has to balance

individuals 14 and under. He was also sponsored by a German

it out along with her health.”

company. However, when the news broke out, Michael’s father had

The treatment and its effect brought unwelcome changes in her daily life. With the constant medicine intake, Maria’s sister’s

to take care of his wife on a daily basis, leaving no time to take

mood would be extremely bipolar and she would say things that

Michael out for practice.

hurt. No matter how much the word’s hurt, Maria would always

“I used to practice five times a week, two hours every day, but afterwards, I rarely went to practice, and I fell behind

originally inert at stage two, but then it aggravated. “She had to go through chemotherapy and she started losing her hair. I would help her take the pieces of hair out of her clothes because they would get stuck in the cloth,” Stacey said. Not understanding how grave the situation was, Stacey often got mad at her mother because of the stress she was going through to care for her mother. “I blamed her [for] the stressful times, and I always

up for her and just be there for her because she is so

eavesdrop on his parent’s intense argument, not knowing why mother had stage three breast cancer.

progressively got worse. Her mother’s breast cancer was

tolerate it because she knew how much pain her sister was in. “It really opened my eyes to people who could be struggling

to those that went everyday. I quit and dropped my position

with some things that aren’t in their control and how it affects

because I wasn’t able to hone my skills anymore,” Michael said.

how they put themselves out to the world. It’s really hard

“It was really depressing because I had to give up the sport that

because your feelings can get so hurt. I just try putting myself

I put all my time into, however my mom was more important.”

in their shoes because I don’t know how I could handle what

had to rely on other people just for simple tasks like getting a ride or something.” Stacey said. Although at times there were negative feelings toward her mom, Stacey knew that she would always have her mom’s back. That’s what family is for. — Nearly 14.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with cancer while 1.5 million people have been diagnosed with lupus. “I just felt sad and scared because I never thought that someone in my family would get cancer, especially my mom. It was hard for me because I could never know if anything was going to happen without warning, and it was just really unpredictable,” Michael said. ¨It made me more aware of the pain that people had to go through. Before when my friend’s relatives had cancer, I would feel bad, but now, I can relate better with a lot of other people.¨ “It’s so scary because after putting myself in that situation I realized that it could affect me as well. It’s taught me to appreciate what I have because I don’t know what could happen to me,” Maria said. Although we may never experience what Michael, Stacey

ÎŠ

There to stay By Natalie Jiang and Albert Law, Feature editors

longform

scene PHOTOS BY ASHLEY LIANG

INDULGE IN PASTRY HEAVEN (LEFT TO RIGHT) | Breads and pastries offered at Duke range from fruity strawberry puffs to savory red bean buns. | With an open space and bright lights, the bakery is light and airy. Small carts make it convenient to navigate around the store.

A taste of Asian delicacies at Duke Bakery

Duke Bakery offers distinct and unique flavors with their signature buns, while catering to all tastes and taking inspiration from both Asian and European influences. 1370 S. Fullerton Rd., Rowland Heights

the

The overall effect was incredibly

building, the employees were busying

with butcher paper in place of trays.

middle of Diamond Plaza, a favored

Suitably

positioned

relaxing and the monochrome color

themselves trying to rearrange and

It was a bit confusing at first, but

shopping and dining center in

scheme added a sense of elegance as

restock the breads and pastries.

after some help from the employees,

Rowland

well.

However, they quickly assisted me

the setup proved to be very intuitive.

Heights,

Duke

Bakery

undeniably makes a grand first

Another element of the bakery

when I asked about Duke’s specialties

Inside each shopping cart-basket

Ashley Liang

impression. Although small in size

that I noticed drew a lot of inspiration

and best-sellers. They were very

hybrid, there was a pair of tongs

Staff writer

compared to the larger dim-sum

from Taiwanese culture are the signs

knowledgeable about their business

that were to be used for selecting the

restaurant adjacent, Duke advertises

and placards lining the walls. They

and were extremely patient with

breads. From their relatively small

a tasteful, minimalist sign that is

are written in both Mandarin and

me— being a first-time customer.

but distinct selection, I ultimately

inviting and alluring.

English, and a few included a bit of

As with most Taiwanese bakeries,

decided on the French Garlic Soft

Duke Bakery is a Taiwanese fusion bakery known for its milky buns and use of organic recipes.

The most prominent feature of

history about the Asian origins of

Duke follows the similar concept of

Bread, Strawberry Milk Bread and

Combining the sophistication of

the bakery is its spaciousness. It has an

the ingredients. I found it to be an

a buffet-style serving station where

bestselling Hokkaido Azuki & Milk

an upscale European shop with the

appealing exterior, but is still evidently

interesting addition, even if it wasn’t

customers are intended to take a

Toast.

signature tastes of Asian baking,

small from the outside. However, the

very substantial.

basket and choose which items to buy

Averaging $4 a piece, the pastries

this cafe boasts a variety of different

high ceiling and simple decor inside

The service is very impressive

from. However, it’s unique in that it

and breads aren’t exactly a bargain. Ω

pastries that can be enjoyed by all.

creates a more spacious atmosphere.

as well. When I first entered the

had miniature shopping carts lined

Continued at whshoofprint.com

Cafe Valer: comfort food heaven

PHOTO BY ISAAC LE

Whether you’re looking for something healthy or savory, this cafe is the perfect place for brunch, afternoon tea and snacks. 112 Plaza Dr., West Covina

When I first entered the cafe, I

comforting feeling.

was surprised by how small it was.

There were cafe desserts on

There was a little more than a handful

display that added an aesthetic factor

of tables, making it difficult to find

to the restaurant. Despite being behind

seating for a family of five. However,

glass, they were extremely enticing.

Isaac Le

we were able to move a table next to

As I approached the cash register,

Staff writer

ours, mitigating the problem. Though

I heard laughter from the kitchen

the soulful music was slightly hard

that showcased the close relationship

Cafe Valer offers a multitude of

to hear over the noise in the mall, it

between the employees. My dad and I

comfort foods and desserts made to fit

worked with the warm paintings on

were greeted by a warm smile. Ω

anybody’s tastes.

the wall to give the cafe a homely,

Continued at whshoofprint.com

SWEET TOOTH | The cafe showcases a variety of desserts, ranging from cakes and cupcakes to pies and creme brulee.

february 2017

Buoyancy in Train’s “A Girl a Bottle a Boat” Eager to please, Train’s new album, “A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat” tears away from the band’s roots in rock and instead gravitates toward pop. PHOTO COURTESY OF ITUNES

15 “Drink Up”, a funky rock song

a rollercoaster of highs and lows,

alternating between a moderate,

“Play That Song” is the soft rocking

upbeat drift and a more thrilling

of boat with its smaller changes in

chorus that ups the tempo. “Drink

tempo and sounds. Monahan, lead

up, drink up!” the song shouts,

singer, adopts a toned down country

Jamie Chen

encouraging the audience to enjoy

accent apparent in the soulful long

Staff writer

the moment then letting the moment

notes. In the instrumentals, the

Released Jan. 27, 2017

slip away. Like the song suggests,

guitar is dominant over supportive

Back in the late 2000s, when

the moment of the chorus is brief as

piano. “Play That Song” is the classic

pop music was growing out of its

it shifts back to a slower tempo, but

romantic pop song.

rebellious rock phase and into a hip

quickly builds up again, each lyric

Following not after is “The

hop, electro sound, Train exploded

building up to the climax. Once at the

News”, an edgier, modern pop

into the top charts with “Hey, Soul

chorus again, the background guitar

that uses a faster beat, a keyboard,

Sister”, throwing back to the early

and drums introduce new qualities

drums and a sharp guitar sound. It’s

2000s sound with its jaunty ukulele

that provide the song with the variety

hopeful, well paced, and has a fast

strumming. Now, eight years later, the

it needs. With “Drink Up”, Train

flow of lyrics that gives it a rhythmic

band is hoping to bounce back with

shows their songs are about strong

effect. Though the structure of the

“A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat”, an album

vocals and instrumentals. Between

song is mostly uniform, the chorus

that challenges the dauntless spirits

the alternating tempos and sounds

has a sound so unique it’s keeps the

of the 2009 album but is streamlined

and lyrics, “Drink Up” perfectly

listener intrigued.

with today’s contemporary styles.

captures the sense of liberation Train

Though the album introduces genres

wants its listeners to feel.

“Lottery” starts off as a cute, lazy guitar song but rapidly develops into

new to the band’s music, it aims to

The face of the song, “Play

fast paced pop song with a staccato

appeal to older fans who will be able

That Song”, is slower and conveys

beat. Each beat accelerates in sync

to reminisce on the past.

an intimacy not found in “Drink

with the lyrics of the song. Ω

Train opens the album with

Continued at whshoofprint.com

Up”. While the previous song was

Fourth season of “Sherlock” falls short of prequels Sherlock’s fourth season switches its traditional charm for an enthralling action drama, but still struggles to live up to the high expectations crated after a year long hiatus. Released Jan. 2, 2017

Brandon Win Staff writer Actors Benedict Cumberbatch

previous Sherlock seasons, focusing

called useless. Furthermore, when

fourth season, which I personally

returns to impeccably play his role