DIG MAG Summer 2020

SUMMER 2020

LO N G B E AC H L I F E S T Y L E • C O M M U N I T Y • I N S P I R AT I O N

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PHOTO BY REINA SUIO

TA B L E O F CONTENTS

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Editor's Letter

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Fresh Take: Psychology Building

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DIG In: Food Fusions

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DIG the Look: Hot Hair Trends

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Where to Next: Balboa Park

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Report Card

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Quick Questions: Jason Smith

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Check It Out: Feline Good Social Club

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Hidden Figures: Sculpture Technician

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From Our Editors

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Break the Chain We shine a spotlight on some of the most unusual and unique shops in Long Beach, selling everything from roller skates to punk rock.

BY DELANEY TRAN

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Look Up These photos of CSULB’s architecture will help remind you that there’s beauty in simplicity.

BY RYAN GUITARE

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All It Takes Is Courage If you don’t believe in destiny, this CSULB dance major’s road from deportation to graduation might change your mind.

BY ANIKA LJUNG

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One Year at a Time College is full of new experiences and self discovery. One CSULB student reflects on her time here, saying goodbye to who she once was and hello to who she will become.

BY MIREYA TAGLE

D E A R REA DE R, Life has been crazy. We've always lived with some unpredictability, but this level of chaos was something we never expected. Who would have thought one day we would be going about our normal routine, and the next day, see it all go to null. Everyone has been affected by this virus in some way; there really is no way to compare one person’s situation to another.

I believed that, upon hearing news of the campus shutdown, I would return on April 20 and everything would be back to normal. I did not know that on Wednesday, March 11, I would be saying goodbye for the last time.

For the staff at DIG, it has been a much tougher journey than usual to get this issue completed. There have been more revisions, more problems to solve and more modifications that we’ve had to tackle as a team. But never did we compromise, because we choose to still give you the best we can, even under these circumstances.

This senior year of college has been one of my hardest years physically, mentally and emotionally. I felt like everything in my life happened all at once: family, school, friends and DIG. It was a lot to take in, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to attest to this.

I can also tell you that this school year has been one of the best years of my life so far. I can’t explain it, but I felt so in tune with myself and was finally giving myself time to become this version of Delaney I thought would take years

to achieve. And I think one of the things that led me to find that self-love and confidence was DIG. When I applied for the editor-in-chief position, I was 19. I lacked self-confidence, was doubting journalism as a major, and didn’t think I deserved the position. Who was I to be editor-in-chief?

It’s been a crazy journey being part of DIG, the best part being the sense of community we had. If you walked into our office on a busy day, you would find a group of instant friends, all gabbing about random-yet-hilarious-if-youwere-there topics.

The staff and the people behind DIG are what I will miss the most. Every print copy, every social media activity, every website posting was brought to you by talented and passionate individuals. I’ve learned so much, made so many friends and am filled with memories that I will always treasure.

While we never got to say our goodbyes in person, I am truly honored and thankful to have them in my life. I loved every moment. And I see now why I was chosen to be editor-in-chief. With that, I am officially letting go of my position at DIG. Signing off for the last time—

LOV E A LWAYS ,

Delaney Tran EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editor-in-Chief Delaney Tran

Features Editor Jade Lew

Art Directors Gabby Gobaton Tracy Keller

Assistant Online Editor Nahid Ponciano

Online Editor Annika Brandes

Assistant Social Media Editor Jaclyn Lim

Social Media Editor Niyah Maldonado Multimedia Editor Reina Suio Senior Editors Anika Ljung Chelsea Quezada

Assistant Multimedia Editor Stephanie Cornejo PR & Promotions Jewel Dayoan Kodie Redongo

Graphic Designers Louis Lopez Insha Khan Rachel Hogg Faculty Advisers Robin Jones Gary Metzker Jennifer Newton

FIND US ONLINE! digmagonline.com Instagram: @dig.mag Twitter: @digmag Facebook: @digmagazine Submissions: digmagonline@gmail.com Advertising: Joshua Villas Steven Zuniga advertising@daily49er.com 562-985-1740

DIG MAG is the insider’s guide to Long Beach for the CSULB community, inspiring readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through in-the-know stories about the latest in food, arts, entertainment and culture; in-depth features about people and trends on the campus and in the city; poetry, fiction and literary journalism written by students; and beautiful photography and design.

Published by the Department of Journalism and Public Relations at CSULB, it is produced entirely by students.

California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA-4 203, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 © DIG and 49er Publications Board 2020 DIG MAG is a publication of the DIG and 49er Publications Board.

Psychology Building PHOTO BY REINA SUIO SUMMER 2020

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• DIG In

FLAVOR FUSIONS STORY AND PHOTOS BY EDDIE INFANTE

Craving Korean food?

Mexican food? Why not together?

Long Beach is home to almost half a million people and has become a melting pot of cultures and traditions. Not surprisingly, it's also a place where you can find different combinations of cuisines. Fusion food is a term used when various foods, ingredients or preparation from different cultural backgrounds are blended. It takes familiar foods and combines different ingredients and cooking styles to create something unique and tasty. Here are three of the best fusion restaurants in Long Beach.

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DIG In •

Burger Daddy 149 Linden Ave., Long Beach eatburgerdaddy.com Burger Daddy has created a traditional American burger with a twist: a katsu patty. Katsu is a crispy, fried cut of meat or seafood coated with flaky Japanese panko breadcrumbs. Burger Daddy’s mouthwatering katsu burger is made with a panko-fried beef and onion patty complete with Japanese barbecue sauce and red relish on a classic hamburger bun. You can pair it with the matcha milkshake, made with Fosselman’s vanilla bean ice cream and traditional Japanese matcha powder.

Sura Korean BBQ & Tofu House Restaurant 621 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach surakbbq.com Sura is a Korean kitchen and pub located in downtown Long Beach that serves traditional Korean dishes such as kimchi pork belly fried rice and yukgaejang. But they also created an entire menu of fusion foods, including Korean tacos and Korean sopes. Sopes, handmade corn shells, and tacos are customary Mexican dishes that Sura has made with traditional Korean meat, including spicy pork and bulgogi. Be sure to catch their happy hour, which has a different menu each day and even includes $2 Korean Taco Tuesdays.

Thai Curry Pizza & Thai Food 929 Redondo Ave., Long Beach thaicurrypizza.com Pizza is the perfect comfort food, especially for a night in with Netflix, but sometimes you want to switch it up. Thai Curry Pizza has created an interesting fusion food: Thai curry chicken pizza with yellow curry sauce instead of traditional marinara sauce, bell peppers, mozzarella cheese and chicken. Pepperoni pizza may be a classic, but with one bite of this Thai pizza, you’ll be sold. It explodes with flavor from the curry and crisp bell peppers, while keeping the traditional mozzarella cheese to tie it all together. A small pizza costs $13, but it's big enough to share. Or not.

Who’s judging?

At press time, all of these locations were providing only takeout and delivery options due to stay-at-home orders. Please check their websites for updates.

SUMMER 2020

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• DIG the Look

A BREATH OF FRESH HAIR

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY CHELSEA QUEZADA

One of the best ways to make a statement is to display a piece of your personality in your hair. These four Cal State Long Beach students are putting their own spin on the latest hair trends.

To Tie For Hair inspiration can come from many places, but food science student Shauen Lopez gets theirs from their grandma. Both are fans of the ever-so-versatile silky bandana. Lopez enjoys tying it on their head and around their neck.

“Most days I’m wearing one of hers,” Lopez says. “It’s mostly an old lady thing, which I love.”

The floral bandana tied over their bleached hair is from La Bomba, a vintage shop on Retro Row. It’s a transition for Lopez, who used to sport beanies, but now gravitates toward the silky textile. They find that accessorizing is the perfect way to spice up an outfit.

“Most of what I wear is basics, so I like to scream with my accessories,” Lopez says.

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DIG the Look •

All in a Dye's Work Art student Alana Lynch adds color to her life by transforming her hair into nearly every color of the rainbow. Her naturally brown locks have been dyed since she was a sophomore in high school, and her hair is often a conversation starter with people she’s met in college.

She went for a bold orange in March after finding a bottle of dye she bought a long time ago. She planned on dyeing it a peachy color before friends suggested she go a different route.

“They were like, ‘What if you did [an] orange ombre?’ and I was like, ‘Bet.’”

To All the Scrunchies We've Loved Before One of the most beloved hair accessories of the 20th century has made a welcome return, and elementary education major Kate McPheeters loves a good scrunchie. Her high ponytail is completed with a cheetah print knot.

“I used to dance, so it was the easiest thing in ballet to put my hair up in a bun and call it a day,” McPheeters says.

An avid scrunchie wearer since high school, the 21-year-old is excited that more people have jumped on the trend and that scrunchies today have a wider variety of styles and fabrics than the ones of the past.

Clip It Good Trends can also be practical, as is the case for Julia Dixon, who pulls back her bangs with Urban Outfitters barrettes embellished with rhinestones and pearls. She is also a fan of the classic snap clips popularized in the 1990s.

The psychology student believes that hair can be an added source of confidence and an extension of people’s personalities.

“I think you can style hair in so many ways; it can really make a statement,” Dixon says.

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• Where to Next?

A DAY TRIP TO BALBOA PARK STORY AND PHOTOS BY SYDNI INGRAM Explore a place filled with beautiful art, nature, culture and history

In 1868, San Diego civic leaders set aside a plot of land and dubbed it City Park. It was later renamed Balboa Park after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to have seen the Pacific Ocean. Today, the park is filled with museums, theaters and gardens, and the history, culture and plant life displayed there perfectly unifies the beauty that is San Diego.

Timken Museum of Art 1500 El Prado, San Diego This is a prime spot in San Diego for people who have an eye for fine art, as it contains works from American, French, Russian, Italian, Spanish and Dutch artists. A recent exhibition called “Captivating Women” displayed paintings of women by European and American artists exploring both mythological and actual scenes from the late 19th and early 20th century.

Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden 2125 Park Blvd., San Diego With more than 1,000 roses in over 130 varieties, this garden is located across the street from the main section of Balboa Park. Established by Inez Grant Parker, the San Diego Rose Society and other companies, it includes hybrid tea roses, old roses, floribundas and other varieties in multiple colors. The garden is perfect for visitors looking for a beautiful backdrop where they can take photos and bask in the scenery.

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Where to Next? •

San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Drive, San San Diego Zoo is one of the top zoos in the U.S. The idea to establish a zoo in San Diego came to Dr. Harry Wegeforth after he heard a lion’s roar at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. This zoo holds more than 3,000 animals and a variety of species. The habitats of these animals are set up to be similar to those in the wild. For example, the flamingos are in an area made up of dirt, with some vegetation and a shallow body of water. This resembles the lagoons and lakes where flamingos are found in nature. If you’re an animal lover, this is a must when visiting Balboa Park.

San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado, San Diego The Museum of Man is one of the most popular of the 17 museums in Balboa Park. It was one of many built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Exhibits include educational displays about ancient Egypt, the Mayans and the Kumeyaay, indigenous people native to San Diego and other Southern California areas. Another exhibit explores the concept of race, its origins and racism. Most of these exhibits have been around for years; the newest one, “Cannibals: Myth or Reality,” is a great stop for people interested in history and anthropology.

Botanical Building and Lily Pond 1549 El Prado, San Diego The botanical building is another historic feature in the park; it was also built for the 1915 exposition. It contains more than 2,000 plants, and there's a large lily pond in front. Some of the plants featured include ferns, orchids, cycads and seasonal flowers. The lily pond is filled with koi fish and lilies. This is a great place to have a picnic on the grassy area or to relax and read a book on a bench nearby. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, it gives you a sense of peace and serenity.

Balboa Park was closed at press time due to stay-at-home orders. For the latest updates or to experience the park from home, go to culturalpartnership.org/updates.

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• Report Card

REPORT CARD

BY JOSH SEPETJIAN

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Netflix)

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We’ll never know if “Tiger King” would’ve become the cultural sensation it is if we weren’t all trapped in our homes these last few weeks. Regardless, the exploits of Joe Exotic and his cavalcade of catloving compatriots have lodged themselves firmly into the public consciousness. This docuseries is compelling in the same way watching a car accident is, except it’s not just a car accident: It’s a car crashing into a train, which then goes careening off the tracks into a TNT factory. It’s both outrageously hilarious and deeply tragic—an American story of ambition and loss that proves reality is often stranger than fiction.

The Killers - Caution (Island Records)

B+

“Caution,” the first single off of The Killers' upcoming album “Imploding the Mirage,” sees the band lean into their classic new-wave inspired sound as hard as ever. The spacey, atmospheric, new-agey intro gives way to a bass-and-drum-driven verse. Everything is soaked in echoey reverb, including Brandon Flowers’ vocals. When the chorus hits, the instruments open up and Flowers delivers a triumphant and catchy vocal melody. The retro-sounding synth passage that closes out the chorus helps complete the new-wave aesthetic. The song also features a guitar solo courtesy of Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham. Overall, it’s an effective teaser for the band’s forthcoming project.

Doom Eternal (Bethesda Softworks)

B+

The 2016 reboot of the “Doom” franchise was met with acclaim, thanks to its no-nonsense presentation and blissfully brutal combat. In its sequel “Doom Eternal,” the experience of chainsawing, shotgunning and rocket-launching wave after wave of demons is just as entertaining as it was four years ago. The main sticking point is that the game feels a little more bloated than its predecessor. The worldbuilding is pretty overwritten and there are entire sequences spent walking through empty halls reading text logs while you could be flamethrowing hellspawn instead. There are so many systems and upgrade trees to come to grips with, chances are you’re probably going to end up ignoring a lot of it. It’s still a fun, worthwhile experience; it just could have benefitted from the tighter focus 2016 “Doom” had.

The Way Back (Warner Bros.)

B

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Ben Affleck has made a career the last few years off of playing sad, old, washed-up dudes. That trend continues with “The Way Back,” a movie about a once-promising-athlete-turned-alcoholic who takes on the role of head coach for his former high school’s basketball team. Director Gavin O’Connor has a history of making sports movies that focus more on the human drama outside of the game, and “The Way Back” is no different. It’s shot very intimately, with lots of small, quiet moments, and Affleck turns in a stellar performance as a self-destructive addict. As good as these elements are, the movie as a whole is pretty formulaic. It’s supposed to be a story about the impact Affleck and the players have on each other, but we see surprisingly little of their interactions. Presumably, a lot of important character moments happen off-screen. “The Way Back” is still worth a watch, but with so much talent involved, it would’ve been nice to see it executed a little better.

Quick Questions •

GROUND BOUND STORY AND PHOTO BY MARK LINDAHL

Cal State Long Beach junior jumper Jason Smith was set to be the first Big West athlete to compete in two NCAA Track and Field Championships events: the long and high jump. His journey was cut short when the meet was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

How did it feel when you found out you were no longer able to compete in the NCAA Track and Field Championships?

“It was a range of emotions, but I came out there with a lot of goals that I was aiming to accomplish. I had to deal with the family part of it because, already before I even got there, there was talk that they weren’t even going to allow the families to be [at the event]... That was definitely a big part of my sadness and anger and disappointment, not being able to compete for them, not being able to have them watch me, not being able to represent Long Beach at that level, in two events...It was a lot of disappointment, too, because I felt like I was so close to achieving all those goals that we came in there to do. It was just a real unfortunate, tragic, tragic situation.”

How did the news hit the team?

“When the news had initially happened, our whole track team got called to a meeting in the Pyramid. At the meeting, they mentioned I wasn’t going to be able to compete. I was on the way back home and a lot of them reached out to me, and they expressed how they felt for me. So I reached back out to everyone else because I know it’s not just a 'me' thing, you

know. This effects everyone, everywhere. When it’s something you can’t control like that, just harping over it and being down about it, it’s not going to change anything. I guess people were trying to stay positive in that and being there for the emotional support. Luckily enough, most of our [jumpers] are coming back. I just told everybody to stay focused and that we’ll get through this, and if anybody needs anything, I’m here for them because I’ll be around still.”

How are you keeping such a positive attitude during this hard time?

“I’ve been calling my mom every day, talking to her, checking in on them, hearing that everyone is still OK. But I’ve just been telling myself, ‘Well, right now, Jason, you’re in good shape, you’re in good health, you know you kind of get this down time to regroup.’

And I’ve just been telling myself this is all a part of a bigger picture. Once maybe this is all said and done, something greater will come from it. I’ve just been trying to stay optimistic in that sense and just keep the faith going. Everything happens for a reason, so as long as the people who I care about are healthy and nobody got that stuff that’s going on, then I’m happy too, even though I can’t do what I love to do.”

SUMMER 2020

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• Check It Out

GET GIDDY WITH A KITTY STORY AND PHOTOS BY JADE LEW

(562) 900-6127 | felinegoodsocialclub.com 301 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

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Check It Out •

O

riginating in Taiwan in 1998 and gradually spreading to the rest of Asia and Europe, cat cafes are establishments where people can interact with cats while enjoying a drink or a small bite to eat. The trend extended to North America in 2014, where there are now over 100 cat cafes and related establishments, according to the cat cafe directory site Meow Around.

Despite the growth in popularity, no cat cafes had ever been established in Long Beach—until Feline Good Social Club opened in August 2019. Owner Pam Leslie realized that a cat lounge would be the purrfect environment to introduce rescued cats to potential furever homes.

Feline Good Social Club gives people a chance to interact with cats, and cats a chance to be adopted into a furever home. For a small admission fee you can “get giddy with a kitty” by booking a 30-minute or 1-hour lounging session to relax and cuddle with the cats. This fee helps to buy food and toys for the cats, keeps the lounge operating and pays the cats’ rent.

Unlike your typical cat cafe that serves food and drinks, the lounge does not offer any refreshments (for humans), but you are more than welcome to bring your own. Do so at your own risk, though—the cats will pawsitively swarm you for handouts.

“This place is really nice,” says Erich Banaag, a customer visiting the lounge for the first time. “I already have two cats of my own, but this makes me want to adopt a third cat!”

The creatively-designed and spacious lounge is a heaven for cats, filled

with soft pillows, numerous toys, cat perches on the walls and cat trees.

Every inch of the space is designed to keep the cats comfortable, safe and entertained. There are also plenty of bean bags, cushions and chairs for humans to use as well—just make sure before sitting down that the spot isn’t already occupied by a napping feline!

You can learn all about the residents of the lounge by checking out the wall of purrsonalities by the front entrance.

Here, pictures of the cats and their adorable quirks are on display to help you get acquainted with each of them.

One of the most easily identifiable kitties you can see strutting around is the lounge’s purrmanent resident, Fancy Feet, a dashing tuxedo cat dubbed the establishment’s “Director of Entertainment,” who fittingly loves to entertain visitors by taking a few spins on the large cat wheel.

Should you meet an adoptable kitty you’re pawsitively smitten with, you can apply to adopt your new furry friend via Long Beach Felines, the non-profit cat rescue organization that the lounge’s cats come from. Simply head to their website, longbeachfelines.org, to fill out the adoption form and a staff member will be in contact with you shortly.

The space also hosts a number of special sessions each month. Some of their most popular events include Cats & Mats Yoga, where you can experience a yoga session guided by a certified yoga instructor, as well as Paints & Purrs, where you can have fun painting—all while in the company of the lounge’s pawsome kitties.

Feline Good Social Club was closed at press time due to stay-at-home orders.

Please check their website for updates.

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• Hidden Figures

FORGING A PASSION STORY AND PHOTOS BY TATIANA ROQUE Meet the shop technician at the CSULB sculpture department, a student who creates jewelry alongside her visual art.

Dounya Mouzoon, 28, spends most of her nights in the studio of the sculpture department at Cal State Long Beach, doing all sorts of things. At any given time, she could be working with jewelry, sculpting a figure or helping out students who come in. As the shop technician, she assists students and makes sure the studio is kept clean. She gave us this account of how she discovered her love for metals and sculpture and what she does in a typical day.

Interest in Jewelry

"My interest started when I was a senior in high school. I took a jewelry class with some friends and none of them took it seriously, since it was just for fun, but I discovered I had dexterity and I fell in love with it. I became extremely passionate and curious to discover more; I like working with the materials. And I enjoy manipulating metal to fabricate my visions and designs into something tangible."

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Hidden Figures •

Choosing to Become a Sculpture Major "I came to CSULB with a background in metals. I’ve kept custom jewelry fabrication as a hobby since my senior year in high school, and it became such a passion that I ended up as a bench jeweler through Signet Jewelers, working full-time while working on my own craft.

"Given my experience, I was certain I was going to join the metals program here at CSULB. But after experiencing a few sculpture classes with professors who were so informative and awe-inspiring, I couldn’t help but allow myself to be lured in. I realized that sculpture meant I could fabricate anything, that I could still keep my passion but allow myself room to learn about different materials and to explore myself conceptually."

Becoming a Technician "I work as a shop technician in the studio of the sculpture department. I never really applied for the position, but my professors noticed my passion for art and my work ethic, so they offered me the job, and I’ve been so thankful ever since.

"I make sure students are working safely and efficiently, unlock equipment for students and occasionally help them with their projects, and I clean and make sure everything is put away neatly. I love this job!"

Acquired Skills "I spend a lot of time working intuitively.

Once I have a vision, I’ll draw some sketches to flesh out the processes and nuances, but I mainly like to jump right in and allow my experience with the material to unfold itself into something meaningful and personal.

"I have bench jewelry skills, such as soldering, forging, wax carving, stone setting and casting. I also have skills with welding and using various metal and woodworking equipment.

"I hope to keep honing my skill set and to use my skills to create art that is meaningful and pithy."

ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEPHANIE HOLT

Our graduating staff editors answered: What was something you were scared to do, but did it anyway?

DIE KO

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EY TRA N L AN

Trade comfort for growth!

REDONG O

PR & Promotions Whether it’s a leap of faith or a baby step, take it. Trade comfort for growth and you’ll be surprised where it takes you, regardless of the outcome. Finishing my bachelor's degree has always been a goal of mine, but the inner thoughts kept coming through. Once I finally committed and began my journey, doors of opportunity opened up left and right. All of those doors would still be closed if I didn’t take that first step.

So, take it.

NA SUIO R EI Multimedia Editor During my freshman year, I realized that I didn’t enjoy the major I initially picked, and I was scared of changing it. Although my previous major had financial incentives, I knew I had to put my happiness first and changed my major to journalism to pursue photojournalism. If you ever find yourself in my position, listen to your heart and do what you think is best!

ID PONCIAN O Assistant Online Editor It’s OK to try new things, even during the last semester of your senior year of college. I know we would all like to have everything together and be absolutely certain of life after college, but that’s not always the case for a lot of us, and that’s perfectly okay. If you want to explore different fields, then do it.

I did and I’m grateful for doing so. As everyone says, it’s never too late.

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Editor-in-Chief Change is so scary for me. It’s hard for me to go with the flow, to just do things, to just make friends. College was all of that.

I end my college journey filled with happy memories that I put myself out there to be EIC (among other things) and lived my life. Stay uncomfortable, achieve impossibles and let life surprise you, dear reader.

Listen to your heart!

Try new things!

H NA

Let life surprise you!

L DA YOA N WE E J

You’ll find your happiness!

PR & Promotions When I first came to CSULB, I was scared I would dread every second of university life. The coursework, the professors, and everything in between. Over time, I created some of the strongest relationships with some of the most beautiful people I have ever met and my heart has never felt so accepted.

Word of advice: You WILL find your happiness.

Take a chance!

IKA L JUNG

Just go for it!

LS HE

EA Q UEZA D A

Senior Editor Auditioning for college immediately before undergoing back surgery was a huge fear of mine. Not only was rejection almost inevitable, but knowing I would have to tell professors about my surgery after getting accepted was something I dreaded. I ended up getting into all of my top schools, and I would have deeply regretted not going for it.

C

AN

Senior Editor I was able to get over my fear of rejection when it came to applying for internships and jobs. The best advice I heard during the past four years was to just go for it, because you never know what doors will open for you. Sometimes you need that push to get out of your comfort zone.

ST E

A

Study abroad!

IK NN

A B R A ND ES Online Editor I think my biggest personal accomplishment was studying abroad. My parents were hesitant, but I worked hard, saved for it myself and received a scholarship. It was my first time being alone in a different country, but it was the best experience of my life! Please study abroad if you can!

A PH

NIE CORNEJ O

J

AD E L E W

Features Editor Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I was scared to be myself for a long time because I was afraid of what other people would think of me. Finally, I decided to not care about what others thought and just take my first step, and that was to dye my hair. Now, my hair is one of the things that defines me. Just be you, now—you’ll thank yourself later for it.

Follow your passion!

Assistant Multimedia Editor Don’t be afraid to do what you’re passionate about! I’ve always enjoyed writing and multimedia journalism but feared not making enough money or living a stable life. My first year of college I was working toward a law career but changed my mind a year later. I’m proud to say I’m a journalism major and excited for where this career will take me. Weigh your options.

Be yourself!

AC TR

Y KEL LE R

Take the first step!

Art Director Turns out, things are much less scary once you take the first step. From starting college, to new jobs or relationships, to going abroad, I now look back on the those decisions as huge catalysts for growth.

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Live life with your heart and soul. Never let it stop you from your vision of success. Have no fears, no impossibilities,

NO REGRETS. Front, spread & back photos by Reina Suio Assisted by Delaney Tran

STORY & PHOTOS BY DELANEY TRAN

L

ocally owned shops that are individual in both their character and their existence line many of Long Beach's streets. It is no surprise that many of these mom-and-pop businesses have lasted over 20 years and continue to thrive in a city that cherishes and celebrates the unique. Here are four of our favorites. All were closed at press time due to stay-at-home orders but continued to maintain online stores.

420 E. Fourth St., Long Beach fingerprintsmusic.com It was July 1992. Long Beach dweller Rand Foster felt the city lacked record stores, so he decided to open one himself. Belmont Shore thrived with local businesses, and there, Fingerprints Music was born.

The name was derived from the concept of fingerprints: a little residue that doesn’t damage a product, yet also signifies a previously touched item. A friend of Foster's who dabbled in graphic design came up with the name and created the store's logo.

After 18 years, Belmont Shore was transforming into a strip of chain stores, and the

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rising rent was taking out local-based businesses. Foster decided to move locations, to Fourth Street.

Throughout its years, Fingerprints has offered more than just music; it also sells DVDs, books, art and apparel. The shop has also hosted well-known artists such as Cage the Elephant and Foo Fighters, indie bands like Prophets of Rage, art shows, book readings and movie nights. “[Fingerprints] is kind of a hub that is more than a CD shop,” Foster says, “and it is the heart of what is reflected in the city.”

3440 E. Broadway, Long Beach iguanaimports.com Any customer who walks into Iguana Import Gallery will marvel at the eclectic collection of products. Ranging from furniture to apparel to candles and gift items, the shop imports products from local artists all around the globe, including South America, Africa and Europe.

Established in 1993, the shop came from partners in life and business Jorge Valdez and Tom Reed’s passion and love of diversity. It is why the shop fits in Long Beach—the city is as multicultural as what is reflected within Iguana’s walls.

“It’s celebrating world culture

and creating a curiosity of the world,” says David Rhoden, the candlemaker at Iguana. “The idea of the store was to create a curiosity and promote learning about different cultures.”

The name Iguana ties into the theme, as well. Iguanas symbolize wisdom and understanding of civilizations, societies and art, which is why customers are urged to ask questions about the products.

The items are beautiful to look at, but also have different cultures and histories behind them. It’s what gives the store its distinct personality, from the hanging Moroccan lamps to the incense scent that will follow customers even after they leave.

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It was a "side hustle" that became something she thought would never happen.

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DeadRockers is an homage to rock, rockabilly and punk in niche shop form. The skull signage on the storefront is just a peek into the realm of black, leather and metal inside. Vinyls, patches, housewares, bags, clothing, art and so much more are packed within the store.

In short, it is owner Lindsay Shaver’s heart, soul and passion.

It was a “side hustle” that became something she thought would never happen.

Since a young age, she had always been into music and punk, but there weren’t that many places for her to buy merchandise.

“Online ordering wasn’t fully a thing yet, so once I turned 18, I

1023 E. Fourth St., Long Beach deadrockers.net started seeking out brands and record labels and started selling,” Shaver recounts about the start of her virtual shop in 2005. “I actually started selling on MySpace—that was my first channel. Then I would do pop-ups at roller derby bouts and punk shows and car shows and anywhere with subculture involved that would let me.”

In 2012, an opportunity came up to start a physical store. For about four years, she shared the space with Top Sekoms, a local skate shop, but the owners eventually went on independently. Shaver took over the space, renovated it, and has fostered its growth ever since.

2148 E. Fourth St., Long Beach planetrollerskate.shop Formerly known as Moxi Roller Skate Shop, Planet Roller Skate Shop is all love, all skates, for all.

Though they recently moved a few doors down from the original shop, they still maintain the name Moxi Roller Skate Shop on the storefront as an homage to their identity and history.

The shop was originally owned

by Michelle “Estro Jen” Steilen as an extension of her Moxi brand. After no longer wanting a storefront, Steilen sold it to Shayna “Pigeon” Meikle, who renamed it Planet Roller Skate Shop. The store is no longer selling just the Moxi brand, but instead several brands of roller skates.

Employee Olivia Crosby says that after Meikle took over, the

store became “nondenominational: derby, dance, street skate, man, woman, straight, queer, this was something for you—a product that represented you.”

“I have been here for 10 years, and this has become my family and my life,” Crosby says. “The only thing you have to do to be a skater is to skate. And that’s the way it should stay.”

She states that every employee is a passionate skater and works at the shop because their “heart’s in it,” always happy to share their knowledge and experience with a customer.

Every summer, they provide free lessons at Bixby Park, but they welcome anyone into the roller skating community anytime.

"I have been here for

10 years and this has become my family and my life."

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The Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach is where sporting events like basketball and volleyball are played. The shaded side of the pyramid and the cumulonimbus clouds create an interesting light and dark side.

The stairs to the third floor of Liberal Arts-1 on upper campus.

I have always been interested in stairs for their intriguing leading lines, lines that subconsciously lead the eye to a specific part of the image and composition.

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Photos of buildings at Cal State Long Beach shot on color film offer a different view of things we see every day.

BY RYAN GUITARE

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The Theater Arts Building, where performances are held, has vines growing to the roof. They caught my eye as they were unusually growing on the underside.

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The Social Science/Public Affairs (SSPA) building on lower campus has white bars that cover the windows parallel to the ground. This picture, like the others, has a light leak, where light seeps into the camera, causing the film to expose with color that wasn’t supposed to be there. The light leak showed up at an angle that contrasted with the white bars, which I found lovely.

Window symmetry on the Architecture and Urban Planning building on lower campus. Windows are my favorite to photograph—it is so pleasing to the eye to see symmetry. Taking this photo, I looked up and saw calmness.

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A bridge connects the Hall of Science to the Molecular Science buildings. The lines in this photo lead straight to the ball of light caused by the light leak that almost looks like a portal to another universe.

Reflections and shadows on the glass of the Molecular Science building. At certain angles, they reflect another image within the photo. The reflection of the building is almost symmetrical in the 90-degree cut of the architecture.

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The Microbiology building on the east side of middle campus near the Hall of Science. I used the lines sloping down to the left to focus the eye on the city behind the building in the distance.

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All It Takes Is Courage

STORY BY ANIKA LJUNG PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERESA SEGURA

Teresa Segura, a dance major at CSULB, believed it was destiny that her visa didn't work.

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A

t 11 years old, Teresa Segura was deported.

Twelve years later, she can still recount the moment as if it were yesterday: walking toward the heavy door labeled Tijuana, the immigration officer’s presence looming behind her like a wall separating her from her life in the United States.

Left with only her brother, she walked opposite a line of people waiting to cross the border into the United States, where her mother and other siblings were.

“It was humiliating,” she says. “They had us on display as if we had been arrested.”

That same day, she and her brother flew back to their birthplace of Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved back into their grandmother’s house.

She didn't know it at the time, but it was the beginning of the trials and triumphs that would bring Teresa to her current place in life, as a senior dance major at Cal State Long Beach.

Like so many of her fellow students, she got here through a combination of determination, faith, and family.

Born and raised by a single mother in a poor community, she knew struggle from her earliest days. The streets in her neighborhood were made of dirt, and delinquency was the norm. She lived in her grandmother’s house with her mom and three older brothers: Gerardo, Rogelio and Oscar.

There were four families under one roof, sharing a single bathroom.

Her life began to shift when her middle brother, Rogelio, wanted to take advantage of his American citizenship and find better education by working in California, his birthplace.

Teresa was 7 years old when she first obtained a visiting visa and crossed the border to start her new life in the United States with her family.

“I remember not liking it right away,” she says, laughing. “I was so young and missed the interaction I had with my cousins and friends back home.

Nobody here played outside like we did in Mexico.”

The family moved around a lot; at some point they even lived in a garage. Finding affordable housing that allowed five people was impossible, and with the scarce job market, her mom and brothers had to work

“I was so young and missed the interaction I had with my cousins and friends back home.”

at multiple factories just to keep the family afloat.

They often traveled back to Mexico to visit family. It was during one of those trips when Gerardo, Teresa’s eldest brother, decided he wanted to stay in Mexico. They made a plan for him to escort her back to their mom in the U.S. before he would return to his hometown for good.

At the border, they ended up going to different immigration windows, something they had never done before. That’s when Teresa was stopped by an officer.

As she was taken away to be interrogated, her brother was already crossing the border into the U.S. When he realized his sister had been stopped, Gerardo rushed to her aid, and they were both questioned, their documents checked and baggage rummaged through.

“I was so well trained to handle immigration officers that I knew what they were going to ask, precise things like what street I live on, where my parents work and where I eat lunch,” Teresa says. “I already knew what was going to happen as soon as I was detained. They even started speaking to me in English. We had been caught. And I was going back home. I’m a big believer that I have a guardian angel. I felt it through all

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my life. So I felt a protection—I didn’t feel scared.”

As an 11-year-old, Segura had only her brother to take care of her. She coped with the pain of losing her mother, who had made the heart-wrenching decision to stay in America with Rogelio in order to obtain citizenship, so she could eventually bring

Left to right: Rogelio, Gerardo, and Oscar with Teresa.

Teresa back with the best opportunities possible.

Teresa rarely saw her mom in the years following. They would sometimes go two to three years without seeing each other. In her mom's absence, Gerardo had a significant and lasting impact on Teresa’s life.

“I became his daughter," she says. "The way the bond developed, he became my dad, mentor and biggest influence. He encouraged me to start dancing. Although he was only 24 at the time and couldn’t provide money for me to take class, he always gave me support. He found me a place to work, a place to train and waited for me at the bus stop every night to walk me back home.”

Gerardo went to all of his sister’s school meetings and dance events. With his guidance, she graduated high school and obtained papers with the help of her mother, and it was time for their goodbye.

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“I remember walking through the gate at the airport to board my flight back to my mother,” Teresa says. “I turned back, and he was crying. He was the only emotional stability I had for most of my life. When I think of him, I think of home. ” It was living in Guadalajara that allowed Teresa to find her life’s passion—dance.

Since money and resources were tight for her family, she never would have been given the opportunity to connect with her culture and develop her artistry in the U.S. “I like to think it was destiny that my visa didn’t work,” she says. “I always felt an emptiness of not fully knowing my culture. I felt like I was living a double life while bonding with my roots, because there was a heavy side of me that felt abandoned and alone.”

Moving back to the U.S. as a college student proved a culture shock to Teresa. Guadalajara had few resources: one computer for her whole school, middle school teachers without degrees, music instructors who knew how to play only a few chords and dance studios without stages or even opportunities to perform.

At Cerritos College, she was greeted with a library full of computers and a theater to dance in. The days when she had to travel three hours round-trip by bus to take a dance class were gone, replaced by a hope she always knew was possible.

Teresa emphasizes that she never felt like a victim. The perspectives she gathered from living with only her brother as her guardian, guiding her through challenges, led her to the independence, compassion and deep understanding of the world she has today.

“If it had been the other way around, if it was Gerardo who got stopped at the border and not me, he would have told me to keep going, and I would be on a completely different path,” she says. “The human spirit carries on very far if we know how to manage it. I lived both worlds, and this journey was my destiny.

"You change the world by becoming the best version of yourself, and that, in turn, affects others. All it takes is courage.”

“The human spirit carries on very far if we know how to manage it.”

STORY BY MIREYA TAGLE ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEPHANIE HOLT

A four-year journey of challenges and new experiences.

T

he past four years have been a rollercoaster of emotions and learning experiences. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that, in a couple of weeks, I will be graduating college and begin conquering my dreams.

The road has not been easy, but all the obstacles I have overcome have prepared me to face whatever obstacle may be next.

I grew up in the city of Cudahy, a small town in Southeast Los Angeles, and attended a K-12 school. I grew up with the same people I met when I was five years old and was used to seeing familiar faces year after year. I had the same teachers for multiple years, which allowed me to really get to know them.

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In 2016, I began my college career. When I stepped foot onto the campus, I felt like a small fish in a big pond. I came from a graduating high school class of 175 students to a university with nearly 40,000 students. I was swimming in uncharted waters.

OPEN TO CHANGE

As a freshman, I felt lost at times. I wasn’t used to how big Cal State Long Beach was or the number of students in a single lecture hall. I was scared of being judged, letting down my family and not being as smart as I thought I was. Freshman year was all about being open to change.

Entering sophomore year, I was feeling more comfortable with my classes and was adjusting much better to school and work. I was taking more journalism courses that really interested me and kept me wanting to learn more. I finally realized what career path I wanted to pursue: I envisioned myself as a reporter at a Spanish language network and signing off saying, “Desde Los Angeles, yo soy Mireya Tagle.”

THE STORM AFTER THE CALM

In my second year in college, my family and I lost everything we had in a house fire. So many memories were lost in a matter of minutes.

Family videos on VHS cassettes, photographs, all my books and notes had gone up in flames. At that moment, I felt that all my hard work in high school, and up to that point in college, had gone down the drain. All the certificates I had earned over the years, all the college acceptance letters I had kept as memories and all the work I had completed as a college student thus far were all gone.

I have always prioritized school and continue to do so today, but during times like the fire, all I thought about was helping out my family and rebuilding. I started contemplating taking a semester or even a year off from school. My family did not want me to do such a thing. “Has avanzado mucho, no puedes renunciar ahora,” my mom said. "You are so ahead, you can't give up now." My brother told me that I should not do something that we both knew I was going to regret. He reassured me that together we were going

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to get through it all one way or another. He made me open my eyes about the situation.

That, by far, was the hardest semester both personally and academically. I was trying to stay afloat on assignments while trying to relocate with my family. College is not as easy as they make it out to be in movies, so surrounding myself with great people all these years helped anchor me down. They helped me get old Mireya back, but better than ever.

NADA EN ESTA VIDA ES PARA SIEMPRE

Junior year was a year of acceptance and becoming more confident in myself and in my work. I immersed myself in school, began my Spanish minor and was determined to continue my education and grow as a student. I finally decided to go to my professors' office hours, something I had never done before. Staying focused on school and myself made me become the woman I am today.

That year, I learned that “nada en esta vida es para siempre,” as my mom would always say. It means: Nothing in life is forever.

If I could talk to 18-year-old Mireya, I would tell her: Let go of the rail.

Stop worrying so much about things that aren’t in your control. Try not to procrastinate, because you know how hard staying up late can be, even after several cups of coffee. Lastly, don’t be scared of change. Once you take that leap, you learn to become stronger. Change is good.

A NEW CHAPTER

I am anxiously awaiting graduation as months turn into weeks. Looking back on the past, I am glad I decided to continue my education, because it has opened a gateway to new possibilities. The possibilities are endless. Maybe I’ll be working at a lifestyle magazine, becoming an entertainment reporter or even becoming a radio personality. Who knows what the future might hold for me?

I am a bit scared, but I mean, who isn’t?

I will soon be turning the last page in this chapter and getting ready to start a new one.

I am ready.

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Don't be afraid to choose your own path. Sometimes the road less traveled is the right direction to take.

Photo by Reina Suio

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