Colt Quarterly - Quarter 3 by The Colt Quarterly

Q C Volume 3 Issue 3

Brea ing k the the k n Ba

Student finances at El Camino 7 Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Online @ my.hsj.org/ca/southsanfrancisco/thecq and coltquarterly.wordpress.com 8

Editor-in-chief Catherine Tadina Photo Editor Katrina Nolasco

Art Director Christen Alqueza

Quarter 3 Editors Managing Editor Rebecca Gigi

CONTENTS

Page Editors Marcus Ismael Ryan Kratsas-Love Katrina Nolasco RJ Refuerzo Marivic Victoria

Editorial Interns Paula Eberle Kayla Kohlmeister

Staff Writers Christen Alqueza Erin Lynch Justin Sanchez Bisma Shahbaz

Photographers Ray Concepcion Marcus Ismael

Lead Researcher Shannon Keach

Online Editor Catherine Tadina

Adviser Adam G. McLearan Printer Folger Graphics Hayward, CA

Pg 4 South San Francisco responds to recent violence After the recent death of four males in Old Town December 22, community members and the South San Francisco Police Department are striving to keep the rising level of crime under control. By RJ Refuerzo

Pgs 12-13 Students who shine: Sports Edition From bowling to fencing, students participate in a variety of sports outside of school that may not be as mainstream. Their passion and dedication is showcased in their talents. By Bisma Shahbaz

Pg 14 Student Survival Guide: Web presence With Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr becoming increasing popular worldwide, students need to be aware that what they post can not only get them in trouble now, but follow them forever. By RJ Refuerzo

Pg 25 Choosing the right path: Gangs or success Since the recent outbreak of violence in the community, gangs and crime have been on the minds of many students. The importance of making good choices, getting an education and resisting the urge to break the law is explored. Editorial

3 Q

Volume 3 Issue 3 March 10, 2011

Pg 23 Successful students Students expand themselves with extra curricular activities and some manage to continue to raise the bar and set high standards for themselves while seeing the rewards for their hard work. By Marcus Ismael

Pg 28 Shovelware or garbage goes there? With the 2010 gaming year over, many games fell below expectations compared to other highly anticipated counterparts. Save your time and money by leaving these games on the shelves. By Ryan Kratsas-Love

ON THE COVER Pg 16 Student finances at El Camino The Colt Quarterly staff recently conducted a survey of 836 El Camino students. We take an in-depth look into money sources, student spending habits, employment and socioeconomic status. By Catherine Tadina Breaking the bank: Students crack open their piggy banks to get at the funds, sometimes with explosive results. Photo Katrina Nolasco

El Camino High School

1320 Mission Rd. South San Francisco, CA 94080

Colt Quarterly Mission Statement The Colt Quarterly is a news magazine dedicated to inform the El Camino High School student body and staff of the issues that affect the school and community. We strive to publish each magazine with accuracy and journalistic excellence and provide a forum guided by the ethics of journalism. Our goal is to represent the voice, passion, and diversity of the El Camino student body. We attempt to achieve journalistic excellence through thorough research, accurate reporting, and a structured editing process. All content is realized and produced by the Colt Quarterly staff. For a copy of the Colt Quarterlyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editorial policy please contact the adviser or editor-inchief.

South San Francisco responds to recent violence Police and community make new efforts to maintain public safety after death of four young males By RJ Refuerzo

NEWS Briefs

Increasing violence and homicides have been a problem for South San Francisco citizens in recent years, but the grotesque 2010 statistics have the city taking a more active role in the struggle to curb violence. Public meetings have been called to consider the rise in homicides and other crimes in the past few months and to improve public relations between police officers and civilians. San Mateo County recorded 20 homicides in 2010, not including vehicular manslaughter or other means deemed justified by peace officers. This number has steadily risen since 2009, in which 14 homicides occurred. From 2000 to 2006, the number escalated from 10 in 2000 to 33 in both 2004 and 2005 before dropping to 23 in 2006. It stayed below 20 until the triple homicide in December.

Feb. 24 to Mar. 1

Campus Security Officer Laura Janero said that the gang problem had been anticipated to travel down the peninsula, according to law enforcement. “From being in the business for 22 years, I honestly believe that there’s really no one to blame; it’s just the way things are going,” Janero said. “The sudden surge of violence is a concern and we all want to pitch in as a community and give all the information we know to law enforcement and to anybody else who needs our help.” Three Linden Avenue homicides on December 22 have brought about new concern, and in response the City Council proposed and later passed a $400,000 program to hire four additional officers to promote synchronization between the force and the neighborhood and add a second police officer as a school liaison. The Peninsula Conflict Resolution

Center has been working in conjunction with the San Mateo County community to figure out the best way to meet the needs, according to the PCRC Associate Director Michelle Vilchez. The committee came into play by coordinating with South San Francisco High School after 15-year-old Jose Lopez Manuel was killed in a drive-by shooting earlier in May of 2010. Janero hopes that the $400,000 grant will work, and aims to follow up in any way she can at El Camino. “Get all the right people to say they’re going to do what they need to do, and it should work,” Janero said. “Everybody in the community has to get in there and make it work. And we’ve got good students that I’ve seen in the years that help us in security turn those kids around too. We can do it; we just need as many people as possible to do it.”

Students can stop by the The Career Center to sign up for the College of San Mateo, Skyline, ITT, City College, and the Boy’s State Summer Program presentations.

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

AVID 9-11 classes went on a tour of five central valley college campuses on February 24-25.

Campaigning

for the 2011-2012 ASB and Class

Officer positions runs from Monday, March 7 through Friday March 18.

Junior Prom bids went on sale March 7 for $170 in the cafeteria during lunch. Prices will increase

Howa endennt t n i r e p Su Cohe

News !

Associate Superintendent Adolfo Melara

Superintendent Cohen resigns Questions arise as to who will take over as new superintendent after Melara’s term is over By Catherine Tadina Dr. Howard Cohen officially resigned as superintendent of the South San Francisco Unified School District December 17, 2010 amid allegations of questionable hiring practices. Associate Superintendent Adolfo Melara has temporarily assumed Cohen’s duties for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year. Cohen’s attempt to hire interim Assistant Superintendent Vince Kilmartin as the interim bond liaison to manage the $162-million Measure J bond at the November 18 board meeting resulted in a disagreement between Cohen and the Board of Trustees. The board deemed this hire as an unethical use of district money. After the fallout at the November 18 school board meeting, Cohen filed an unexpected leave of absence December 6. Kilmartin once worked with Cohen in West Conta Costra County Unified School District, and later at the at by $10 for every following week.

The Sojourn to the Past trip to the deep South will be taking place from Thursday, March 10 to Saturday, March 19.

the Waterford Unified School District, where Cohen had hired Kilmartin’s educational firm Total School Solutions to manage the district’s master plan. In Waterford, Cohen was accused of mismanaging district finances, hiring unnecessary TSS staff and costing the school board $124,000 instead of the initial $33,000 intended for “polishing the school’s district plan. Cohen had also initiated pay increases of 5.2 percent, including a raise for himself, five months before the school board approved them. As Cohen signed a three-year contract with the South San Francisco Unified School District, the district is bound under contract to pay Cohen with his full salary of $171,289 and benefits—while he is on administrative leave—until his term expires on June 30, 2011. Science teacher Sanjay Makhijani was “extremely shocked” at the fact

that Cohen is being paid the full salary and has been critical of the board’s decision in signing Cohen with the three-year contract. “[Cohen’s salary] could have paid the salary of two teachers for the year,” Makhijani said. “Yet, we had layoffs of two valuable teachers” Upon moving to the South San Francisco Unified School District, Cohen had attempted the same practices. In addition to attempting to hire Kilmartin from TSS, Cohen pushed for administrative salary increases at a time when the district was forced to lay off teachers, reduce programs, and school budgets. The School Board is currently in the process of searching for, interviewing and eventually hiring Cohen’s replacement. As of February 28 the board is actively looking two possible candidates, Melara and former SSFUSD Superintendent George Kozitza.

The third quarter grading period ends Friday March 11.

There

will be a PTA meeting on March 22 in the Large Conference Room.

El

Camino Cheerleaders will be competing at Nationals in Disneyland on March 26.

Students with book bills will not be able to recieve their transcripts untill all book bills are paid.

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Staying on track with Senior Project By Rebecca Gigi As the start of second semester rolls around, many seniors are feeling the pressure when it comes to beginning their Senior Projects. Senior Project is a “community minded learning experience designed to stretch a student personally, socially, and intellectually, and challenge them in a way they haven’t been challenged before.” With all the deadlines for important documents needed to complete the project, seniors may feel the stress in trying to keep up with it all. “Trying to get the paperwork signed can be very difficult because there are a lot of papers to keep track of and tryin to get a hold of mentors by the specific dates,” senior Amanda Cotla said. As of right now, seniors should have their topic selected with their teach-

Last Chance! Another fundraiser being held will be a Bingo Night on March 29 in El Camino’s cafeteria. Each ticket will be $40 and only for eighteen year olds and up. Each sold ticket from a senior will knock off $15 from their ball bid. -Don’t miss out on one of the last fundraisers before Senior Ball!

er’s approval, the Mentor Agreement form, Parent Permission Letter, and Plagiarism form signed as well as having their Proposal Letter and first draft of their paper completed. The total of 30 hours (15 with a mentor and 15 doing community service related to their topic) should be well on their way. Teachers suggest that whenever students have the slightest question, one should ask immediately to avoid leaving out any details or paper work needed in the future. Newly introduced this year to students was the need to create a blog online to record their experiences while working with their mentor and community service. The blog will be a part of the portfolio that contains everything students should have recorded during their project that both teachers and panelists will be looking at during presentations in June.

tes

t da n a t r o Imp

ue arc h 23t of paper d M f  dra Second ue pril 6 ft of paper d A  Final dra e 1 Jun ay 31- sentations M  Panel Pre Overall, students need to remember that Senior Project is helping them prepare for life after high school and it’s challenges, as well as helping with communication skills, finding jobs, etc. “I feel like it’s a good project to help students become more independent when they leave high school and are on their own,” Cotla said.

The expense of Senior Ball By Marivic Victoria On May 1, 2011 the Senior Class will be holding their Senior Ball at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Due to the cost of such a high class venue, the Senior Class is still in need of fundraising to pay for the event. The cost of holding Senior Ball at the Academy of Sciences is approximately $40,000. To raise the funds, the Senior Officers have put on fundraisers throughout the year in order to reduce bid expenses. “Senior sweaters and homecoming t-shirt sales brought in majority of the profit,” Senior

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

Class President Charlene De Castro said. Another large sum has come from snack boxes and selling food and drinks like nachos and Eggettes after school. To date, the Senior Class has been able to raise most of the money but still has around $2000 left. “Of course we’re trying to exceed that goal so bids will be even cheaper, but that’s only possible with some help from our class,” Senior Class Secretary Matthew Tan said. To meet the May deadline, the senior officers have set up a few more fundraisers in order to reduce bid prices, such as the annual

Rent-A-Senior on held on February 16. Students had the opportunity to bid on seniors who put themselves up for auction with the proceeds directly to that senior’s ball bid. Seniors have also sold different types of deserts from Gateway Company in the hopes of paying off the last of the expenses. There are delicate delights such as Moca Cake, Lava-Licious Hot Fudge Cakes, and Brown Poppers. Tan felt strongly in “doing it big” for the Senior Class and that they deserve that much.

Filling out the FAFSA with ease Photo Katrina Nolasco

Financial aid guru Paul Wrubel takes EC families step by step through the application process By Christen Alqueza FAFSA Night, an evening assembly put together by El Camino’s Counseling Department, was held on Tuesday, January 11 in the Little Theatre. Financial aid guru Paul Wrubel from Palo Alto guided college-bound seniors and their parents through each step of filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Despite the lack of publicity of FAFSA Night, the Little Theatre filled up quickly with a crowd of about 125 students and parents, while 30 Spanish-speaking families met in the library for the Spanish presentation by experts from Skyline. All eager to learn how to cut today’s escalating college costs, families were told about the impact of the burden of tuition on the working class, briefed on how the federal government uses the information from FAFSA to determine how much to grant each family, then guided step-by-step on how to fill it out. On stage, Dr. Paul Wru-

bel -- a former high-school administrator and expert on college funding with a Stanford PhD -- lightened the mood by relating to the audience’s disdain for the filing process as he went on about the relatively droll subject, jokingly calling it a “stupid process.” Wrubel has been coming to El Camino annually for FAFSA Night on his mis-

Taking time out: Paul Wrubel takes time after his presentation to personally answer families pressing questions.

first-come, first-served basis. He also revealed several common misconceptions about financial aid, such as the belief that one will save money by living off campus, which is not necessarily true: If one indicates on the FAFSA that he/she is plan-

everyone who files for it will receive some offer from the government, even if it is in the form of a loan. “He gave us useful information, like to just put the money you have left after paying all your bills away and how to get as much fi-

“He gave us useful information, like to just put the money you have left after paying all your bills away and how to get as much financial aid as possible,” - Senior Chloe Cruz

sion to universalize access to post-secondary school. He’s written hundreds of articles on the subject and was even featured on talk shows to spread his wisdom. His tips included avoiding scam sites like fafsa. com, which actually charges applicants, and to file the FAFSA as soon as possible, since grants are given on a

ning to live on-campus, the government will recognize that as more need for aid, and they may bestow them with even more money. Another myth that families often accept as true is that a family’s income is too high to get anything out of filing the FAFSA. Wrubel cleared the haze on the subject, clarifying that

nancial aid as possible,” senior Chloe Cruz said. Families should go to tuitioncoach.com, a site which Wrubel himself co-founded, to find more tips on paying for tuition. Although it is already months into the 18-month filing period, potential applicants have nothing to lose.

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

1. The mural, headed by Math teacher Demian Martens, was assembled piece by piece in the Academic Building over the period of two weeks in early February. Photos Marcus Ismael 2. Senior Francisco Brosas performs his silly commands during Rent-A-Senior to junior Charlie Balton February 25. Photo Shannon Keach

Photo

3. Juniors Sharmaine Bautista and Sarah Ling actively listen during an ICC meeting February 9 Photo Ray Concepcion

3 2 2 8

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011



News

4. Senior Tim Landicho and junior Elisabeth Rodriguez perform during EC’s Talent Show, The Next Big Thing, February 25. Photo Katrina Nolasco 5. Freshmen (from left to right) Brandon Reformado, Justin Louie, Josh Paed, and Brandon Gip participate in the Valentine’s Rally February 17. Photo Marcus Ismael

6. YouTube stars (from left to right) Michelle Martinez, Erin Paula, Summerbreeze, Jayne Rio, and Jenny Suk perform during El Camino’s first INSPI(RED) benefit concert January 28. Photo Katrina Nolasco

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Top ten section finish with two wrestlers going to State

BOX Scores

For the first time in its history, El Camino’s wrestling team has not only placed in the top ten overall for the first time, but has sent players to CCS and the CIF Championships. In league, El Camino placed third overall, while Half Moon Bay placed second and South San Francisco High School placed first. “We were expecting to do well this season, but not well enough to have a chance to send some people to state.” senior Omar El-Kurd said. After placing first at PAL’s, sophomore Marlon Diokno, senior Trevor Kelly, and senior Brian Ha, advanced to CCS. All three wrestlers along with senior Omar El-Kurd and senior Johnny Carr were given the opportunity of advancing to CCS. “Marlon has improved a lot this season” said Coach Dio Cerda. “He’s a lot more confident and just his skill in general has improved greatly since last year.” “I’m a little nervous for CCS” Marlon Diokno said. “There is another wrestler from Gilroy High School,

Photo Katrina Nolasco

By Ryan Kratsas-Love

Locked in battle: Sophomore JV wrestler Derick Nubla goes to the mat with a Terra Nova opponent at the PAL champoinships February 12 in Burlingame.

Leif Dominguez, who is in my weight class and pretty good. He’s one of my biggest challenges. Despite all the nervousness, I’ll pretty confident that’ll make it to CCS” Diokno said. Although they had a successful season, the team had to overcome some obstacles not only as a team, but as individuals. “We’ve had some shortcomings, just getting everyone to show up to practice was a challenge in itself,” Omar El-Kurd said.

Girls’ Frosh/Soph Basketball Record 5-5 2/1 vs. Carlmont 39-11 WIN 2/4 vs. Oceana 37-23 WIN 2/8 vs. Westmoor 23-26 LOSS

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

“Not only that, but making weight was a big challenge for a lot of people. If they didn’t make weight, they wouldn’t be able to wrestle and any chance at CCS or even State would be gone.” “We were expecting to take PAL’s” said Omar El-Kurd. “I’m pretty confident that this year we’ll do pretty well at CCS.” El- Kurd said. At CCS, Marlon Diokno placed in the top eight, both Omar El-Kurd and Johnny Carr placed in the top 12, Brian

Ha placed second and took the silver medal, and Trevor Kelly came in first place, taking the gold and becoming section champion. Both Trevor Kelly and Brian Ha will advance to the CIF Championship which was held on Saturday, March 5 in Bakersfield at the Rabobank Arena. This is also the first time the El Camino Wrestling Team has placed in the top ten overall in its years of competition.

Boys’ Frosh/Soph Basketball Girls’ Varsity Basketball 1/14 vs. Burlingame 25-59 LOSS 2/2 vs. Burlingame 32-58 LOSS

Record 3-6 2/1 vs. Carlmont 29-49 LOSS 2/4 vs. Oceana 53-29 WIN 2/8 vs. Westmoor 38-50 LOSS

EC basketball wins over Westmont By Ray Concepcion The El Camino’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team playoff game against Westmont high school Warriors February 24 proved to be exciting from beginning to end as the Colts won in a close game with a score of 4845 After losing the jump ball, junior Truman Lee managed to steal the ball only six seconds into the game. The Warriors quickly came back with a shot by Warrior Nick Wahl. After a quick exchange of points, the Colts went on a streak with points by juniors Anthony Knight, Brandon Halal and senior Justin Eclavea. The first quarter ended with the Colts up with a score of 11-8. Warriors Alex Kamara,

Boys’ Varsity Basketball Record 6-4 2/17 vs. Half Moon Bay 47-45 WIN 2/18 vs. South City 46-49 LOSS 2/24 vs. Westmont 48-45 WIN

Wahl, and Marlen went on a short lived hot streak bringing the score to 1215. The Colts ended the first half with a score of 21-18. Moments into the second half, Eclavea brought the score to 23-18, Kamara came back with a lay-up, leading to an exciting exchange of baskets. The Colts and Warriors fought for control of the game as Wahl had back to back to back baskets, tying the score at 26-26. Senior Allan Santos played a tremendous defensive game with a series of blocks and steals allowing the Colts to end the quarter five points ahead of the Warriors with a score of 34-29. The Colts playoff game ended with the Colts on top at 48-45.

Girls’ Soccer 1/18 vs. Mills 3-1 LOSS 2/11 vs. Mills 10-0 LOSS

By Erin Lynch The El Camino Cheerleading Team hosted the eighth annual Cheer Around The Bay Competition in the big gym at El Camino High School on Sunday, January 23rd. Cheer and dance teams from cities and schools around the Bay Area came to El Camino to compete and spread their pride. Teams and schools that competed included All Souls, Balboa High school, The Baypoint All Stars, Deer Valley High School, El Camino Advanced Dance team,The Eclipse Elite All Stars, Jefferson High School, Mercy Burlingame, Premier, The Rebels Elite, Sequoia High School, and Woodside High School. Teams competed in four different categories cheer divisions, mascot, and dance. El Camino Cheerleaders, as the hosts, were excluded from competing and performing to prevent from any accusations of bias from the judges. Mercy High School was one of the more victorious schools,

Boys’ Soccer Record 3-6 2/11 vs. San Mateo 1-4 LOSS 2/14 vs. Hillsdale 0-6 LOSS 2/16 vs. South City 0-2 LOSS

% Sports

Photo Katrina Nolasco

ECHS cheerleading squad hosts successful cheer event

winning multiple first and second place awards in cheer and dance. For the past eight years, El Camino had hosted this event to fundraise for the Varsity Cheerleader’s trip to Nationals as well as other competitions. This year the cheerleaders put all proceeds towards paying off last year’s budget shortfall of $20,000. The main duties of the El Camino Cheerleaders were to take and sell tickets, help with crowd control, and to bring spirit and school pride to all those in the audience. “I’m glad to help because it’s important for the Varsity Cheerleaders to pay off their debt”, JV cheerleader Candace Chappell said. Cheer Around The Bay was a successful fundraiser, raising one thousand dollars at the snack bar alone, and is expected to have raised more funds to put towards paying off the teams’ debt.

Wrestling Trevor Kelly places 1st and Brian Ha places 2nd @ CCS and advances to State, held March 5th in Bakersfield, CA

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Students who shine: eth Roque hours, senior Kenn o tw t ou ab r fo a week competitions. hree to five times competitive cycling in rs he ot t ns ai ag te a quick practices to compe subsequently took he d an ng cli cy to duced him d race against Roque’s uncle intro petitive cycling an m co in rt pa ke ta -50 miles, nted to cycles between 15 interest. Soon he wa he , es tic ac pr ur g his two- ho to 200 miles. other people. Durin he even cycles up s ay ” Roque rd tu Sa on es g to the finish line, cin ra and sometim d an st fa ly al of going re way for him to “I love the feeling unique, and also a is e os ch he t or sp get into fact the ds it challenging to fin said. He loves the He . fit y sta ly ost important t he keeps trainget around and m petitive people, bu m co ly al re t ns ai ce ag higher levels and ra diet. d keeps a proper an g, in d still be good; tic ac pr s ep ing, ke any body type an ve ha n ca e on , ng cycli When it comes to endurance. t for him, it’s all abou

Why do students join sports? Some join to stay in shape or compete. Others join because they are inspired by their idols or family, find it relieves stress, and it’s a way to stand out from the crowd. But what if

t the age of five, fr eshman A basketba shley Jim ll , softball, Jimenez h enez didn or volleyb ad her pa ’t enroll in a ll li r e k e n ts enroll h her friend Every Sa er into a s. turday, Jim Instead, bowling le hours with enez pra ague. ctices at her leagu Serra Bow e to prep though co l for abo are for u mpetition ut two p c s oming co a re tough, make new mpetition she enjoy friends a s. Even s them be nd spend she has a cause she time with tendency gets to them. Dur to get fru her best, ing comp strated e and it thro e titions, a sily when ws h her suppo she’s not rt, “My bro er off. Her method doing of refocus ther just ta helps a lo ing is to tu lks to me t,” Jimene rn to a nd tells m z said. Jimenez h e to relax as won o whic h ver $250 trophies. of sc hola rship mon ey and co untless

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

Outside Sports Edition By Bisma Shahbaz

Photos Ray Concepcion and Marcus Ismael

your sport isn’t offered at school? What if you were a fencer, a mixed martial artist, bowler, or competitive cyclist? Four El Camino students share their stories behind why they joined their unique sport.

“T

rain hard, be humbl e, fight dirty,” is ju nior Allen J Obinian Obiniana has been a’s motto. tra in in g in m ix ed martial arts sin being inspired by ce the age of six, af the start of the Ultim ter ate Fighting Cham Two times a week, pionship (UFC). for about two hour s, Obiniana goes to become part of my Pacifica to practice. lifestyle for 10-11 “It’s years now,” Obini mixed martial arts an a said. Obiniana as a way to relie uses ve stress. “There’s punc hing a guy in nothing like the fe the face,” Obinian el in g of a said jokingly. He techniques, along works hard to mas with training to bu te r ne w ild hi s stamina. To him, th doing push-ups, w e biggest challeng hich he hates, but e is according to Obini only makes me stron ana, “What doesn’t ger.” ki ll m e Obiniana hopes to one day have kids , and get them invo character,” Obinian lved because, “It bu a said. ilds

eys the that ob d n a h of e legacy bout “th ’s a a p is d n g , fencin her gra e Balton o carry t li r y a a h w C ort, her o junior amily sp . f r n is on e a c o n n lt e e a f e B s rb .” . Maste rld Serie because it had e intellect u o g W a l le a n g take encing professio ested in fencin into a f mon mis d r m e o r h c being a e t t d s in e ame enroll to rea The mo She bec parents actice. ou have r r Y e p . h e s e d m k a a at to a she h now wh t mind g niques t k n h a c o t t s e and so t n e o v d c you ha skills an tracted. “It’s a y act it e ing the is h t d e g r o in ete in ef gett to comp m, and b d le in to her is b m a ’s is now ponent first co cket, she ar will be her your op on said. lt ja a B g in ,” c n not be e op it r first fe . Next y vent she would s e r h do to st e h g t o in inst ceiv his e eck. After re ompetition aga ing for t in a r t f nd her n c o u e o s t r r a a a l e im y a med a legit to her h a gold it and due w , n t u io o it t pe walks d if she surprise

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

R.J. Refuerzo Note: Student Survival Guide- Web Etiquette Picture this: You’ve just attached your personal statement to your scholarship application. You receive confirmation that your application’s been successfully sent. You’re free… right? Not quite. Your application joins every Tweet, every hastily posted Facebook update, every incriminating photo of you ever posted. With more and more frequency, colleges are searching the web for the “real you.” Here are some tips to keep colleges from redflagging your apps and maintain respectable web etiquette:

Find Websites Tumblr

Youtube

Twitter

1. Yeah, we all know Facebook and Tumblr are hot sites to post photos, but the world doesn’t want to see photos of your “first binge!” or “getting high!” Even if the photos are fake, colleges and school administrations won’t know the difference. Posting on the world stage and not expect any negative repercussions is just plain naive, especially when attempting to persuade authorities that the beer bottle is just root beer. A picture is worth a thousand words, and one of them is likely to be, “Denied!” 2. Speaking of words, the other thousand is a word limit on each update, yet people still find ways to butcher the English language in 420 characters or less. I get it: abbreviations are meant to cut back on character counts and time, especially when you’re on the go, but where’s the line separating efficiency from readability and appropriateness? The line is before “lol wat didu do 2day @ da park?” and definitely before “hEY wh@’2 7Eh PL4n 70D4y?” Even worse is the way people curse more than a Harry Potter movie, and purposely throw grammar out the window. People get offended when others assume things based on how they speak online, but these assumptions are never unfounded. If you speak “jankily”, you’re presented as “janky.” Bonus tip: Lay off the caps lock. No need to scream that you’re

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

at TANFORAN with your “PEEPS”; we won’t read your post any louder. 3. Watch what you say in your profile. This should be the most obvious, but for some reason it’s the most overlooked. Try your best to keep your profile information as current as possible, because facebook.com/ YOU is the worldwide representation of who you are. Just as important as your status updates are those Facebook groups you “like” because you find them funny or relatable. These pile up on your page faster than Tetris blocks, but never clear away. Colleges won’t find “NAZI PARTY!” anywhere as funny as you hope they will. Take some time to take the embarrassing ones off your profile before colleges take you off their lists. 4. Did you know that the very first thing teachers and colleges see is your email address? Students tend to miss this completely, firing off professionally written emails and submitting over-the-top applications without considering that colleges may be put off by “naughtyhottie@aol.com.” Complete your web presence with a professional address using your real name and perhaps a meaningful year, and use a modern supplier like Google Mail. Guys, this doesn’t mean you need to stop using “THUG_LIFE@ yahoo.com”; just make sure colleges receive a good email.

By Paula Eberle This year, El Camino High School has resumed its relationship with San Francisco State University, allowing student teachers to once again take over classrooms and learn how to teach from veteran El Camino teachers. For the first time in three years, El Camino has accepted seven student teachers to partner with master teachers to learn the practical application of teaching. This semester, classes will be taught by student teachers Alan Calac, Apri Chanenian, Bambi Fleemen, Brandon Chrale, Casey Peterson, Rachel Lauderdale, and Sal Costanzo. “It was a little bit hard [to give up

intimidating and tiring, but fulfilling,” Calac, the student teacher for science teachers David Jordan and Kathleen Ravano, said. Lauderdale, a student teacher in the English department appreciates the relationship she has developed with her mentor teachers. “My master teachers are extremely helpful. Anything I need help with they give me advice on, but are also open to my own philosophy,” Lauderdale said about English teachers Adam McLearan and Sobrero. For students, having a student teacher is helpful. “They add insight and you can have more one-on-one conversations,” senior Brian Trinh said.

CampusLife

Student teachers to the rescue!

my class] because I got attached to my students,” English teacher Mary Sobrero said, “but I was glad to give it over because [Lauderdale] taught a few guest lessons and was awesome.” Sobrero also said that her students are a good fit for Lauderdale because the students want to do really well and impress both Sobrero and Lauderdale. Science teacher Kathleen Ravano said that she was also glad to give up her class. “[Calac] is a great professional development person for me, in that he is a technology native and I am a technology immigrant,” Ravano said. To Alicia Vosberg, having a student teacher is really helpful. “I love having [a student teacher] because… they have fresh eyes on things and are very creative,” she said. For the student teachers themselves, it is a very helpful opportunity. “It is

Teenage depression...Things can be better By Kayla Kohlmeister Have you ever felt like there wasn’t anyone there for you? Like you will always be alone? For people who suffer from depression, they feel this way every day. Depression isn’t just a disease that adults get and isn’t reserved only for teenagers with “problems”. Many teenagers are depressed, ranging from middle school students to college age teens. Unfortunately, many have developed unhealthy ways to cope with these feelings including substance abuse, cutting themselves, eating disorders, and committing suicide. In the year 2007, more than 42 million suicides were committed by teenagers ages 15 through 24. Many people believe that depression can only occur in people who live in abusive homes or have traumatic events hap-

pen to them. In actuality, people can become depressed from a chemical imbalance in the brain’s neurotransmitters which balance your emotions. There are many things depressed people do to try and “escape”. One of the more widely known methods would be “cutting”. Cutting is when a person purposely injures themselves by actually cutting skin, usually on the wrist but also on the legs and sometimes the stomach. Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia can also be found in depressed teens. People may also turn to drugs or alcohol. An El Camino student who asked to remain anonymous shared her story of her depression that started in sixth grade. Her reasons for cutting herself varied. “I

had family that always made me feel terrible. They would say really mean things that always made me feel like less of a person. Also, my friends were always hurting each other as well as me. And lastly I was depressed because of things my boyfriends would say and do to me.” She never really considered suicide but she may have done so had she continued down that path. Because of counseling, her life is much happier and she hasn’t cut herself in over a year. If you know a friend is depressed and is harming themselves, going to a counselor (is the best thing to do) or urging them to ask for help. Depression isn’t as far away from you as you think and no one is immune, but help is out there for those who need it.

Art Christen Alqueza

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

t is said that “money makes the world go round.” If so, then how does money make El Camino students’ worlds go round? Where does students’ money come from and what is it spent on? To answer these questions, the Colt Quarterly staff conducted a school-wide survey of 836 El Camino students detailing their money sources and spending habits.

STUDENT FINANCES BY CATHERINE TADINA

Money Sources

et’s face it; everyone’s all guilty of asking for money from their parents. But should parents be students’ primary source of funds? The survey results show that students’ greatest source of money comes from their parents; an average of 37 percent of students’ money is given to them freely by parents without requiring repayment. The next greatest source of money comes as gifts given by relatives, with an average of 19 percent. Seniors get an average of 17 percent of their money from jobs—higher than any other grade level; lowerclassmen only get an average of six or seven percent of money from jobs. It seems that the major

sources from which students get their money has changed over the years. “When I was younger, my parents made me work for what I wanted,” economics teacher Joel Compton said. Learning the value of money caused Compton to think twice about his purchases. Compared to earlier generations where teens usually had to work for their money, over the years more and more students have been receiving their money freely from their parents. What could possibly account for this change? Why is it that most kids don’t work, but are merely given their money as opposed to working for it? This trend can be attributed to increased competition in high school. As the chances of getting into college are get-

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

ting harder and harder, more and more students are focusing more on academics and less on work. Students are taking more and more AP and Honors classes, joining clubs, and participating in athletics as well as volunteering after school. Students are simply too busy to work when their hours are filled with studying, homework, and participating in activities that will give them an edge in college applications. “[My parents] want me to focus on school first,” senior Reginne Ang said. “If I start working then I might get sidetracked because of all the money I’m earning.” Another possibility, according to Compton, is a change in parents’ mentality. He hypothesizes that many parents have changed their outlook

over the years, becoming more lenient—or “doting” on the younger generations. While freely giving teens money may be convenient for students, it may hurt them in the long run. When students receive money without working for it, they may not understand its value and may thus take it for granted. This causes them to be unprepared when dealing with finances in the adult world. “When you give something for nothing, it’s like welfare at an early age,” Compton says.

Spending Habits

ot surprisingly, students spend the majority of the money they receive on entertainment, including movies, video games, music, and books. On average, students spend

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$140.07 a month on entertainment, which is 85 percent of the money they get per month. It is also interesting to note that males and females spend their money differently. Females spend more money than males on clothes with 25 percent for girls versus 16 percent for boys, grooming expenses at seven percent for girls versus three percent for boys, and school supplies at five percent for girls versus two percent for boys. On the other hand, males spend more money than females on food with 19 percent versus 13 percent, entertainment at 34 percent versus 30 percent, and transportation at six percent versus five percent. Male students typically spend their money on video games, eating out, transportation-related expenses including their own cars, and electronics, whereas girls

tend to spend more on beauty products and clothes. In total, male students spend more money a month than female students. According to the survey, male students spend an average of $192.85 a month whereas females spend an average of $76.30 a month—a 40 percent difference. Out of 628 responders from the 836 surveyed, 26 percent used credit cards or debit cards. “It’s a bad call for parents to give their kids credit cards,” Compton said. “It’s easy to spend for credit when you haven’t earned it.” If students consider about the work it took to earn the money they’re spending, they might make wiser decisions when it comes to spending money. Although El Camino’s eco-

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March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Money sources for all student levels

El Camino students spend money on...

Types of jobs of El Camino students nomics curriculum focuses little on lessons in teaching students practical lessons in managing their finances, several El Camino teachers teaching economics classes are planning to include more lessons on financial literacy in their curriculum. Compton stresses the importance of training kids in financial literacy at an early age. He feels that his parents had prepared him better for managing finances as an adult by making him work for his money as a kid, compared to his younger sister who readily received money from her parents much like the majority of El Camino students, and according to Compton, “had to learn the hard way” in the future.

El Camino’s Workforce

l Camino students who currently have or have had jobs in the past are generally employed in the retail sector. The next dominant industry in which students work are family businesses, followed by the food service industry. A low percent of students earn their money through babysitting. Students with jobs earned an average of $11.99 an hour—60 percent more than California’s current minimum wage of $8.00. The higher the students’ economic class, the lower their

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

Other

money

work hours. Among the students who classified their socioeconomic statuses, students from low-income households worked for significantly more hours (16 hours on average) than did students from upperincome households (six hours on average). In correlation, El Camino students who qualified for free or reduced lunch (55 percent) worked 17 hours on average as opposed to students who did not qualify for free lunch (26 percent) who worked 15 hours on average. Students from lowerincome households have a bigger need to work for money whereas students from upper-income households usu-

source

ally work to supplement their funding. Surprisingly—and disconcertingly—the gender gap concerning earnings doesn’t just exist for adults. Female students earn an average of $9.91 an hour, whereas male students earn an average of $14.21 an hour. Female students earn 70 percent of what male students earn, or 70 cents for every dollar that male students earn. This percentage correlates with what statistics indicate: according to the US Census Bureau in 2004, women earn 77 cents for every dollar that men earn. There are several possibili-

Spending habits of female vs. male students

Money flow based on socioeconomic status

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ties that might contribute to this disparity: four percent of El Camino’s workforce—all male—have indicated that they work in the construction industry, where pay is higher and where women may be less inclined to apply and get hired for jobs— clearly indicating to the gap. Other possibilities are that female students make less than men because they are less assertive about asking for raises, or have less chances of being hired for higher paying jobs due to the gender discrimination that still exists in society. “It’s a shame,” Compton said. “But I think there’s still a [sexist] attitude out there.” In addition, today’s stagnant economy has made it more and more difficult for high school students to find jobs. Jobs that high school students

used to have are now being taken by college students and other adults who, in turn, cannot find jobs or have lost their jobs due to the recent economic downturn. “[Most work places] don’t want teens,” El Camino Work Experience Coordinator Skip Del Sarto explains. “I guess to them, teens are not as reliable.” Senior Michelle Coronado has been looking for jobs since the end of her sophomore year, but to no avail. “I’ve applied almost everywhere,” Coronado said. “I feel I had really good qualities and for them to reject me makes me feel discouraged … If I can’t find a job as a teen, how about as an adult?” She also believes that race discrimination also plays a factor in her difficulty in finding work.

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March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Year

Blueprint for Th

Counterclockwise starting at top: 1. El Camino High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very first administration lead by principal Robert Keropian. 2. Photo taken in 1915 from what became the base of campus towards San Bruno Mountain of the duck farm that occupied the land El Camino would be built on. 3. Architect Donald Francis Haines proposed plan of the El Camino Campus published in the newspaper in 1961. Notice the round design of the Little Theater at the far left. 4. Former principal Robert Keropian speaks with Colt Quarterly reporters in a 2011 interview.

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

ECHS

“If you were to ask anybody what was special about El Camino, it was that they were innovators,” ...says Robert Keropian, the first principal of El Camino. Built on land that was once a duck farm in 1961, Keropian and community members built the school from the ground up and helped make El Camino known worldwide as one of the top schools in the nation at the time. In order to lessen the overcrowding at South San Francisco High School with 2,200 students and double session shifts at 7:30 then at 10:30 a.m. “Camino Real”, the school’s original name,

ness leaders and the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and invited them to become associate faculty members who taught in classrooms and vocational counseling for students. Students were regularly treated with “master-classes” from experts in numerous job areas, something quite unique for that time. Keropian set out on a mission to find the best teachers in the country to help teach his future students. Flying to Arizona one

he Future was built to accommodate 1,500 students. From the steel framework to picking the mascot, Keropian had a say in what El Camino was going to be like from the very start. He looked to community members and parents and asked what they wanted from their new school. Twice a week for the first year, Keropian met with parents for coffee and tea where they helped develop rules, philosophy, and curriculum. Structure, safety and athletics were some of the top priorities for parents but one thing that kept coming up is that should El Camino become known for its unique take on education. Keropian met with busi-

week and Washington the next, Keropian recruited a brand new faculty, looking for those who would, “care more about their students than the subject they were teaching.” Keropian recruited people like Tom McCormick, former Green Bay Packers coach for the as head football coach, the world’s decathlon champion as a history teacher, and a high jump champion in the business department. When selecting his first faculty Keropian admits, “My opportunity [as principal] was different; I didn’t inherit any faculty, so I had an unfair advantage.” In rare weather, it snowed on the first day El Camino opened in 1962. In addition, students from South City

took ducks from the nearby cemetery and set them loose in El Camino’s pool in reference to El Camino’s history of being a duck farm. Not everything was there waiting for the first class of incoming ninth and tenth graders; El Camino was not the school we know today. The school was built in two phases. During the first year, only the cafeteria, academic building, science building, main office, and the locker rooms were finished. The next year, students were able to use the gym, industrial arts building, and Little Theater as they were completed. The Little Theater was intended to be a particularly special element of the school. The initial plan for the theater was for it to be a circular shape with a rotating stage and small intimate setting of about 500 seats, unlike South City’s 1,500 seat theater. The theater was also intended to be available for the city to use for other events. But when the bids came in for the unique theater, they were too high for the existing budget, so Keropian was forced to downsize, resulting in the theater that exists today. “We didn’t want El Camino to be like other schools. We wanted to be different with a lot of innovations,” Keropian said. El Camino received national recognition in its

opening years and faculty from schools from all over the world wanted to see what the fuss was about at El Camino. Professors from places like Moscow and Germany visited for one year to experience the high spirited atmosphere and teaching at EC while attending seminars Keropian created for them. With the publicity also came heavy criticism especially towards Keropian’s more controversial methods. Being sued for the school dress code and lobbying to change laws in Sacramento so students could go on trips around the world were just some of the hardships Keropian overcame. “I told the Superintendent and School Board, ‘Let me coach my own team at El Camino, and if you don’t like me get rid of me,” Keropian said. For 30 years, Keropian was principal, leading the school to school spirit awards, a 99 percent graduation rate, and groundbreaking two-hour lab classes, El Camino set the standard high for other schools to follow for many years to come. “It makes so much sense that we’re all in the huddle at El Camino and that we’re doing this together in the end,” Keropian said.

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Colts practice diverse traditions By Christen Alqueza

“I felt like I couldn’t express myself when we didn’t do that much projects anymore, than doing textbook work.” Sophomore Lizandro Leverman

“Its really fast paced, compared to last year. It seems teachers expect more.” Junior Antonella Boucher

Students Speak Out: What’s different in English this year due to the new pacing guides?

By Justin Sanchez

“It’s more difficult than last year beacause it’s different types of work than I’m use to since it’s more to the textbook. Junior Jallen Bitanga

There are higher standards and an increase in expectations of the students. Senior Adrienne Viray

As third quarter comes to a close, some students may have noticed how the spirit and festive feelings of the holidays have all but disappeared. Since we live in a dominantly Christian country, many Americans are ignorant of the celebrations of other cultures, such as those of China and India. Just as Christians experience Christmas spirit in the winter, the holiday spirit of some other cultural holidays can be experienced throughout the year. One such holiday is Chinese New Year, which was celebrated just a month ago starting on February 3 and lasting fifteen days. Although it fell on a weekday, it is supposed to be a fortunate day devoid of negativity, so some students still made efforts to celebrate. Senior Janice Wong celebrated the first day of the lunar new year of the hare with excessive amounts of food at family gatherings, lighting fireworks, and the traditional exchange of red envelopes filled with money. Sophomore Jenny Tai commented, “I only got two envelopes this year, but that’s okay.” Even some teachers joined in on the festivities; Ms. Vosberg handed out red envelopes to her Chinese students. Some of the more traditional observers have unique customs for Chinese New Year, such as not washing one’s hair that day so as not to wash away the good luck, or refraining from saying or writing the number four because it is similar to the word for death in

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

Chinese. Following the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year comes several more days of symbolism. The seventh day of the New Year fell on February 9 and is called Yan Yat, which is everyone’s birthday, symbolizing the day man was created. Another holiday, Diwali, a Hindu festival that many Indian students celebrate here in the U.S. In the fall, celebrators of Diwali prepare lots of sweets weeks in advance. Then, during the actual five-day festival, families come together to pray in traditional Indian garb in order to thank the gods for bringing light into the world. “The sweets are gifts to god and they also symbolize the ‘sweet’ year we will have after the prayer,” senior Avasinita Kumar said. El Camino students of different ethnicities observe Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, which occurs in different months every year. This year in May, observers will fast for 30 days, only consuming drinks and beverages before dawn and after dusk. They also devote more time for prayer during this month. After the arduous fasting period is over, Eid el Fitar is celebrated, a day during which observers eat loads of food to make up for all the fasting. “My family and family friends prepare the food buffet-style, then we get together at like eight different houses, expected to eat full meals!” senior Swaaliha Abdul-Rahman said. Art Christen Alqueza

By Marcus Ismael For most students college is still just a few years away, but for some, college is tantalizingly within reach. Students like seniors Emily Sison, Matthew Tan, Nathan Huey and Sammie Mui, have started early reaching for success. They have involved themselves in community and school programs as well as maintaining good grades and have been rewarded with early acceptances into the colleges they wanted. For Emily Sison, being a successful student is being a person who is, “willing to learn, retain the information and apply it to their life.” Sison has made it through four years of high school with excellent grades in all her classes. She has also taken the time to balance out her academic life with athletics because to her, extracurricular activities are just as important as school. “I recommend students to start extracurriculars early and stick with it for a long period of time,” Sison said. She also recommends that students have some sort of idea of what major they may want to take in college and then research the colleges that cater to their needs. Then students should maintain their grades as well as involve themselves in many of the community service opportunities offered at school. Sison has been accepted into UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, UC Merced, and UC Riverside. Her early acceptance is attributed to her ELC (Eligibility in the Local Context) which allows students in the top four percent or their class to be accepted early.

In Matthew Tan’s opinion, grades and extracurricular activities don’t mean anything if a student does not have the skills to back those activities up. For him, being a member of ASB and Key Club, service is important, but it’s more of the traits of dedication and commitment that are more important. “You have to sacrifice your time outside of the classroom and commit yourself to extracurriculars and really make an impact,” Tan said. It’s true that colleges don’t just like to see that students are part of clubs and take an active part in their community, but also like to see long time commitment and dedication. Sticking to something over long periods doesn’t just make your applications and records look better, but also helps others. While maintaining grades is one thing Nathan Huey knows is important, he also agrees with Sison and stresses the significance of extracurricular activities. Huey has participated in many clubs at school such as Key Club and Interact Club where he volunteers for events like the Relay for Life fundraiser. “Service is important to me because it helps the part of the community that cannot help itself,” he said. Not only has Huey taken advantage of the many opportunities provided by clubs here at El Camino, he has also participated in sports like football, wrestling and track. For Huey, sports and volunteering are just as equal as grades. Admissions officers look to see that students are willing to reach out to their community. One of the top students in her class, Sammie Mui has made her academic efforts stand out amongst her peers.

StudentLife

Students share keys to high school success

She has been in yearbook since her sophomore year and is now the editor-in-chief. She is currently part of El Camino’s ASB, Key Club and Interact Club. While extracurricular activities are important to Mui, school takes center stage. This year alone, she is enrolled in three AP classes and is able to balance work in and out of school. For all students, doing the work is one thing, but when it comes to challlenges, students often struggle not in the homework itself, but rather asking for assistance. “If I’m confused with anything, I ask for help, whether it’s from friends or from the teacher,” Mui said. For Mui, success with homework, projects and extracurricular work is simple. “Every assignment counts, no matter how little points it’s worth,”Mui said. Successful students are successful for a reason. They put in the effort to make sure that they get and maintain good grades throughout high school. Successful students also utilize all volunteer and extracurricular activities whether it be through school clubs or sports and remain committed to these activities. Finally, the key to being successful isn’t just measured in grades and service but through commitment and dedication. Being a part of the school and community shows colleges and employers that one is prepared to do anything and everything. Art Christen Alqueza

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Step by step: Completing senior project

Opinion POLL

The seniors of 2011 have had to deal with new restrictions regarding picking a project theme. We gripe and complain for a good 24 hours about how cooking and job-shadowing have been scratched off the list, then get over it and move on. When one looks at the big picture, one will see that there’s still a broad list of themes to choose from that doesn’t involve generic items. Upon reading the official handbook a few times, a good, feasible, seemingly worthwhile idea came to mind. For my senior project, I chose to do charity work. While working at various volunteering sites, I decided to record my experiences and post them up on the internet. My main goal was to prove to the world that the internet is a valid resource for spreading information that has a positive effect on society. I really hoped to inspire the web community to follow my example and perform their own acts of service and selflessness. Finding a mentor is probably the most stressful part

of the entire project. Hours of research on the internet and playing “phone tag” with local businesses is something one wouldn’t usually enjoy doing with their time. At one point, I was honestly ready to just give up. But, I finally found salvation the minute I logged into my e-mail account and saw that I had a new message from Facebook. At first, I was ready to delete it, but I glanced at it again and saw that it was a message from my cousin’s friend. My heart jumped and I was cheering loudly in my mind. I read through the entire message and was excited to see that

What will determine if you go to Senior Ball or Junior Prom? * 238 Students Polled

24The Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

he had agreed to be my project mentor. Going forth with my senior project organization was really one of the key factors of being successful. It won’t do anyone any good if you lose a signed contract or spill coffee all over a research paper draft. A tip that I strongly suggest everyone follows concerning this project is to keep all of your things neat and tidy. That way you won’t have to worry about losing any important documents. Coming up with a volunteer site relevant to my project seemed quite difficult. For my community

service hours, I joined a non-profit organization and made videos about my experiences at the site and the benefits of volunteerism as well as environmentalism. I really could not wait to get started. All of this seemed so overwhelming. It may seem scary at first, but the senior project really isn’t something anyone should be nervous about. Through my experiences one can see that it really takes dedication to have a successful project. If you focus, follow instructions carefully and NEVER procrastinate, you’ll be able to push through this successfully.

Photo Marcus Ismael

By Katrina Nolasco

d. c.

f. h. e.

a. Cost 56% b. Venue 1% c. Date 28% d. Interest 7% e. Book Bill(s) 3% f. Parents 1% g. Conflict of Events 0 h. Other .01%

Opinion F Art Christen Alqueza

EDITORIAL

Choosing the right path: Gangs or success It’s everywhere: it’s in the music we hear on the radio every day, the graffiti on the streets, to the different colors and symbols in the outfits teens wear. It’s in the news: teens dealing drugs in the streets and dying in drive-by shootings. The increasingly overwhelming persistence of gangs has a negative effect on society and the surrounding communities. The sad truth is, more and more teens are falling prey into the allure of gangs without knowing the full repercussions of their choices. While there are some reasons why teens join gangs that simply cannot be prevented, such as a dominant gang influence in their neighborhoods, there are some reasons that can be avoided. One of them is family ties to gangs. A teen may have a family member who belonged to a gang, and thus may feel the pressure to follow their footsteps. Although it may not be easy to stand up to the pressure, it’s in one’s hands to break the tradition. Go to college, make something of oneself and wrench oneself free of gang influences. Just because they didn’t go to college and made a life on the streets does not mean one has to follow the same path. There are also instances wherein

teens are immersed in family problems at home that they resort to a life living in the streets with gangs, who become a “second family”. Such teens may have parents who are never present, and the street becomes their home. What they have not realized is that there are lots of other people out there who can listen to them … people who are not gang-affiliated and have their best interests at heart. The community is overflowing with people willing to lend a helping hand. There are school counselors, teachers, church leaders, willing to give mentoring and advice. Moreover, there are numerous community groups that can help teens get off the streets and out of gangs— establishments such as the Boys and Girls Club, local churches, or the city library. Never think that one is destined for a life of crime. Look elsewhere for activities to channel one energy positively! Perhaps the number one reason why many teens want to join gangs is because they want excitement, financial gain, and respect from their peers. However, there is more to gangs than just that. Most gang members are pawns used to make other gang mem-

bers rich and feared. Gangs force members to rob, steal, fight, and even kill. Did they think they were going to become rich and famous after dealing crack on the streets? Did they think everyone was going to respect and revere them, now that they’re a member of a gang? Many people who join gangs end up regretting it in the end. A lot of gang members who have spent a majority of their lives in and out of prison regret the opportunities they missed as a result of joining gangs. Does a group that advocates violence upon joining sound like a healthy organization? Gangs have no contributions to society other than crime, death, and burgeoning prison membership. Unfortunately, individuals who feel that they have limited prospects in life are the most vulnerable for falling into gangs. However, gangs only offer false hope; a supposed life of financial and economic progress only consists of a life of crime and violence. Sadly, many teens will continue to fall for that false hope, and too often the realization of a wrong decision made only comes after serving a long prison sentence or after lives are destroyed.

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

COLUMN Tales of an average, observant 21st century teenager

If you can’t say something nice...STHU

We, the students of El Camino, are fortunate to attend a safe and welleducated high school. We’re lucky enough to have brilliant teachers that care about their students and an organized student government that actually listens to the student body about what it wants. Although if the average student walked the halls of our school and listened to the conversations that float around the hallways between classes, they might think otherwise. Teenagers seem to complain about everything and not appreciate what they have. We have the tendency to desire something, receive it and then complain because it’s not exactly what we expected. We constantly criticize the staff and ASB on fundraisers and dances. The secretaries constantly recieve rude students that complain. We even like to bash the Video Art team on the weekly video announcements. We enjoy complaining about what everyone else is doing, but really, what are we doing to make the school better? It’s a sad day when someone works hard on something and they get bashed for it. Teenagers like to point out the tiniest of mistakes, but sometimes fail to see the big picture. They like to ignore the good things and fixate on the bad. For example, students look at a beautiful mural that took years to complete, and they make fun of it because there are a few smudges in the corner, or “hate” it because the EC is in South City blue. The following are just a few of the many things that most students should, but don’t really appreciate at school: School comparisons We have beautiful buildings, sizable classrooms and the fairly solid scenery. The people are friendly, the

with Katrina Nolasco rooms are spacious and it’s not that difficult to get around. So, why do we love to compare our school to other schools around the Bay Area? Sure, it would be nice to go to a school with sharp, modernized buildings or a bigger football field, but, honestly, does any of that really matter? Every school has its flaws, but as long as you’re provided with a desk to sit in and a teacher that cares, you really have no reason to complain. Student Publications To some students, the school magazine might just look like a stack of paper stapled together. The yearbook might look like a giant book with lots of pictures in it. Yes, we all have our opinions about what’s written in the magazine or the way the pictures were taken for the yearbook, but most of the time, those opinions don’t make sense. I can take criticism. It’s acceptable to criticize something if you don’t believe it was done right. The only problem with these incessant complaints is the fact that no one really has a valid reason behind why they have a problem with it. There are a few rare occasions where a student would throw the paper on the desk

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

and groan “I don’t like it!” But, when someone would ask, “What’s so bad about it?” their response is usually “I don’t know, I just don’t like it!” If you have a real complaint that you want fixed, write a letter or approach a staff member calmly. You really don’t have to shout to the world how “stupid” these publications are. The bottom line is that you have the right to complain about whatever you want, but if you don’t have a good reason as to why you’re complaining, you may as well just keep it to yourself. Spirit days/ School Events There always seems to be that one kid that rolls their eyes at a lunch time event, or the one student that “boos” the performances at a school rally. Sometimes, it can be understandable, but mostly it’s out of hand. Why would you attend a school event if you’re just going to whine about it? If lunch time events aren’t really your thing, the practical solution would be to NOT WATCH THEM! You have no reason to hang around and make fun of the students that had the courage to get up on stage and perform. These events are planned diligently by groups of students that take their time to give the student body a chance to have a little fun once in a while. If you’re going to be sore about it, you probably don’t deserve to join the party anyway. It’s not against the law to complain about something you’re not particularly happy with. But, if you’re just complaining for the sake of complaining, your voice will most likely never be heard nor respected. It’s not crucial for one to be in love with every little thing that their peers do for their school. I’m only asking that you appreciate the effort that goes into every thing you complain about.

Art Christen Alqueza

CON

By RJ Refuerzo

The key word: expectations. All year, we idealize this night to impossible proportions, tragically becoming victims of our own imagination. As a result, this year’s event is struggling to even begin to satisfy the expectations with its limited budget. All year, fundraisers have been planned and events scheduled, yet the lack of interest has defeated all efforts. I know I speak for them when I say how frustrating it is for so many people to expect so much while doing so little. El Camino is a campus of tradition, which in this case is a fancy way of saying “we have to buy in, or else people will think we don’t care about El Camino’s history.” This creates tension between classmates, promoting competition to impress onlookers. And the costs! This year senior not only have to pay only for excessively pricy Ball Bids, but for attire, transportation, and everything tied to finding a date as well? Thoughts of Senior Project, AP Exams, and finals inhibiting your ability to find your dream date? The easy fix is

to not go! Ball’s notorious for breaking hearts, but no one ever talks about the shattered friendships over the night’s expectations,

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done, hair done, everything done. The day has finally come; Senior Ball is here. The perfect dress has been picked out, the perfect date is waiting in the living room with the perfect corsages, and the perfect limousine is waiting in front of your house. Throughout high school, Junior Prom and Senior Ball are the most highly anticipated dances of the year. Months of preparation go into making this one night the most memorable nights of your high school life. New venues get proposed year after year, topping the previous senior ball venue,

Senior Ball because what’s fun for one simply isn’t for others. Don’t bother with the ludicrous financial, emotional and psychological risks. People are best off having a blast with their companions elsewhere. The rest of the world is waiting to be owned. The impossible expectations, outrageous costs, and physical and psychological stress make for a recipe of disappointment. All things considered, a ridiculous sum of money is dropped on FIVE HOURS, and even if someone can somehow shovel that guilt to the back of their mind the entire night, one still needs to contend with all of the drama. Besides its attendees, the only thing feeling more empty inside during Ball will be your wallet.

Art Christen Alqueza

cy makeup, and get their hair done in a classy up-do. It isn’t every day that a girl can wear such fancy attire. And it’s truly not every day a girl can feel like a princess. As for boys, this is a time for them to show the girls how truly suare they really are, how classy and mature they be at an event like this. Formal dresses are the ultimate classy date. Because Senior Ball comes once a year, it is a chance for seniors to enjoy one of their last dances together. It’s a time to dress like James Bond or Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a time for friends to enjoy each other’s company and enjoy one of their last big event before graduation.

truly making it a night to remember. For girls, these dances are an opportunity to find elegant dresses, apply fan-

By Marivic Victoria

PRO

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Shovelware or GARBAGE goes there? By Ryan Kratsas-Love 2010 was a huge year in gaming. From the epic and adventurous tale of ex-outlaw John Marston in Red Dead Redemption, to the fast paced and high octane action in the blockbuster Call of Duty: Black Ops, there was something new for every type of gamer. But unfortunately, as for everything good in this world, there is always something bad. Some games last year were so bad, you just have to ask yourself: what were they thinking?!

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Prior to its release, EA’s attempted revival of its first-person-shooter franchise Medal of Honor was surrounded in controversy due to its use of the Taliban in its multiplayer component. Commercials and advertisements claimed that industry giant Call of Duty had “met its match” and that it was the most realistic FPS ever made. They even used a few of Linkin Park’s songs in a trailer, just to try to hype it up. It sold 1.5 million units in five days, about 25 percent of what Call of Duty: Black Ops sold in its first 12 hours of release. Not only did it have terrible sales, it featured an extremely short, lackluster, and clichéd campaign, and a god-awful Call of Duty rip-off multiplayer component. If anyone reading this is thinking about giving this game a try, DON’T. Just stick with Black Ops and Halo: Reach, or heck, even Bad Company 2, just for good measure….please.

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Imagine the sick and twisted fantasies of every teenage boy rolled up into one creepy and perverted package, and then turned into a video game; Dead or Alive: Paradise for the PSP is precisely what you would get. The entire objective of the game is to convince scantily-clad women to allow you to take pictures of them doing ridiculous tasks like beach volleyball, pool hopping, and playing poker. To win their affection, you do things like give them new swimsuits to wear during photo shoots. Honestly, I cannot understand what kind of sick, low-life perverts would even make this disgraceful abomination of a video game.

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As Kung Fu Rider for the PS3 begins, you assume the role of one of two characters: Toby, a private investigator, or his secretary Karin. The entire point is to escape the slums of Hong Kong by rolling down hills on an office chair, yes that’s right-an office chair. Why, you ask? Because it’s the single most ridiculous choice on the face of the planet. How about a skateboard, or a shopping cart, or even a scooter? The functionality of the Playstation Move only reaffirms my belief that motion gaming is just a cheap, lack lustered rip off of way of the industry just trying to make money. Half the time the movements of the controller don’t even register. There are only six different tracks to race down in the game, all of which are basically the same and unlocked fairly quickly. However, there is one relatively entertaining aspect of the game: when you crash, the Playstation Eye takes a picture of your face and shows it on the screen as you crash in-game. Honestly, the only question for this game is, why? Why does it exist? Why is he trying to escape from Hong Kong in the first place? And why the heck is he using an office chair?!

>:(

Whats Hot and WHAT’S NOT : Grammy Winners Justin Beiber

Bruno Mars

Lady Antebellum

Eminem

NOT! Esperanza Spalding

HOT! Arcade Fire

Drake

28The Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

Lady Gaga

Katy Perry

Doctor Who:

Bigger on the inside By Shannon Keach Although many Americans have never heard of it, Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction television series in history. The series has influenced generations of youth in the United Kingdom has quite the cult following in the United States and with good reason. Not many science fiction series have such the wide array of depth that can be found in a single Doctor Who episode, and that’s what makes them truly great. The series really does have something for all ages with its quirky humor and sometimes insane pacing it is the poster child for escapist television. Doctor Who, which takes place mostly in England, although it has plotlines all over the universe, is about the Doctor, a 907 year old Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who is the last of his species taking refuge mostly on Earth. While traveling through all of time and space the Doctor and his human companions become mediators for all kinds of intergalactic conflicts using a time machine called the TARDIS. Over the course of the series, the part of the Doctor has been played by 11 different actors, this means that the Doctor was “regenerated” 11 times each time becoming a new man in order to cheat death. The most recent incarnation of the Doctor is played by Matt Smith, who is quickly becoming a popular rendition of the age old alien as he begins to make the series his own. What makes this series great is its timelessness. The Doctor is an ever

Ratings

KEY

Excellent!

Strong recommend

evolving character, changing from actor to actor yet still remaining odd at the same time. Perhaps one of the greatest attributes of the show is that conflicts are solved without resorting to violence. By promoting nonviolence, the show is highly family orientated. However, just because it lacks the in-

herent gruesome violence of most modern television series doesn’t mean that the show doesn’t have some aspects of horror in it. This talent shows through in the fifth season episode “Time of the Angels” as the Doctor battles an army of the frighteningly murderous statues called the Weeping Angels while keeping up surprisingly witty banter with his companions. The superb writing in the show is successfully brought to life with the performances of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Smith does an excellent job of showing these values by giving the Doctor a new whimsical

Good

Recommended

Average

Some will like some will not

quality that hasn’t been seen in his previous incarnations. All the while Gillan’s performance as the fiery Amy Pond gives the viewers a spunky no nonsense heroine. When new viewers watch this show, something that they should always keep in mind is that the show that does not really take itself too seriously. Sure, there are many episodes in the series that are grand and well written, but there are also episodes that are really horrible. For some, this will be a definite turn off if the series is not first approached with an open mind. Another fore warning to new viewers, as the series has been around for nearly 50 years there are certain references that new viewers will miss. However, picking up the series in the fifth season with Matt Smith is an excellent place to start because the more confusing aspects of the series are usually explained when there is a new Doctor or when he picks up a new companion. Doctor Who really is an excellent series that has many years experience by bringing its viewers entertainment and joy. If you are interested in experiencing something different from anything that is on television then this show is for you. The fifth season is available on DVD for a relatively low price online. In short, keep a look out for the new season that premiers this spring. This truly a great show to watch and I highly recommend that everyone give it a chance. Much like the TARDIS, the series is bigger on the inside, containing much more depth and charm than first meets the eye.

Not Good

Do not recommend

>:(

Art Christen Alqueza

Reviews

Awful!

Avoid at all costs

March 2011 / Quarter 3 / Colt Quarterly

Nevermore Review By Kayla Kohlmeister

I am always excited to tear through a new paranormal romance, especially one that has the potential to be quite exciting. While cruising along the shelves of Barnes and Noble I happened to stumble upon the book Nevermore by Kelly Creagh. The depressing title certainly fits the story, since it focuses on Edgar Allen Poe’s stories It centers on cheerleader Isobel and gothic Varren. They are thrown together as English partners and grow closer. Isobel learns more about Varren’s secret writings in his journal. The story interlaces Edgar Allen Poe’s poems into narrative supernatural occurrences. The main story used in the book

would be The Raven, but they also use The Masque of the Red Death, and The TellTale Heart. Like anything else in the world, this book is not perfect. Isobel‘s friends are portrayed too stereotypical for my taste. One confusing message that the author presents would be the complicated narrative writings by Poe which were used in the story. This book requires patience and slow reading. If you love it when opposites attract, then you will certainly enjoy the book Nevermore. If you have trouble with poetry then you may want to think twice about picking it up. Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5. :)

True Grit: Old and new By Paula Eberle

On Christmas 2010 a new version of the 1969 film True Grit came out in theaters. To many fans of originals, newer versions are frequently looked on as never being “as good as the original.” Having seen both, I beg to differ. While the original was a classic western film, it couldn’t keep my attention as well as the newer version. Both movies follow a headstrong young girl named Mattie Ross, and her adventures as she hunts down Tom Chaney. Accompanying her are Rooster Cogburn, a US Marshal with “true grit” who works for the county and La Boeuf, a Texas Ranger, as they follow Chaney and his gang.

While both films were adapted from the same novel, they provided different outlooks on western life. In the 1969 version everyone is portrayed as nice and the setting is light and colorful. The tone in the newer film is much darker and foreboding, which adds an eerie feeling that something is about to happen. While Jeff Bridges and John Wayne were close in talent, Bridges performed just that much better. While both films had their strengths and weaknesses, the 2010 version was a better portrayal of what the story is all about. The 1969 version of True Grit earns 3 out of 5 and the 2010 version earns 5 out of 5. :D

By Erin Lynch As teenagers, we tend to be both short on cash and time. This limits the venues we choose to eat at and usually the quality of what we eat. But with just a few dollars in my pocket, I was able to get a pretty decent lunch at some of the local taco trucks around South City. El Tacotote is located on McLellan Drive, parked on the side of the road next to undeveloped land near Trader Joe’s. The location is easily accessible for El Camino High School students. Prices vary from one dollar for a taco, to five dollars for a big burrito.

The menu doesn’t have as much variety as a traditional taqueria, but you do get more than what you pay for compared to the cheap, unhealthy fast food served at restaurants like McDonalds. After ordering, I only waited about five minutes. I first tried their tacos. The tacos are small and filled with your choice of chicken, beef or pork, and your choice of condiments. I really enjoyed

Colt Quarterly / Quarter 3 / March 2011

them, but preferred the beef over any of the others. The next thing I tried was their burritos. Their bean and cheese burritos are simple, but still tasty. This is the perfect place for teenagers on a budget to visit for quick meal. El Tacotote deserves three out of five stars. I then visited a second taco truck, Ruddy’s Taco

Truck located down the street from Tanforan on El Camino Real & Bayhill, to compare the prices and quality of both. Again, I ordered the largest bean and cheese burrito which is simple, but it had a better taste than the one I had ordered at El Tacotote, so I assumed it was just better quality food, but equal in price for just five dollars. Ruddy’s Taco Truck deserves 5 out of 5 stars, and if your willing to go a little farther than outside of school, it will definitely be worth it. I recommend Ruddy’s Taco Truck over El Tacotote any day.

Photo Marcus Ismael

Delicious meals on wheels: Taco trucks