A st udent ' s journey f il ming Cit y Col l ege' s st at e championship basket bal l t eam
P. 20
DRAMADAD
A f at her accept s a chal l enge f rom his son and t akes t he st age at Cit y Col l ege
P. 6
Ed i t o r i n Ch i e f Jo n n y Ri c o
M a n a g i n g Ed i t o r Je n So u za
N e w s Ed i t o r D a v i d A h u m a d a
A r t D i r e c t o r D i a n g e l a Ve r a s
Sp o r t s Ed i t o r So n n y Ga r i b a y
A s s t Sp o r t s Ed i t o r Vi c k y P i n e d a
A r t s & En t e r t a i n m e n t Ed i t o r B r i a n M o h l e r N e w s l e t t e r Ed i t o r K r i st i n D i x o n
St a f f W r i t e r s Je sse A l t i l i o , Ja d e B e n n ,
A n g e l Ca za r e s, Sc o t t Ga r d i n i e r , M a d a i Gu r r o l a , U y e n P h a m , El i sa b e t h Ve r m e u l e n
A d v i s e r N i c o l e Va r g a s
CO N TA CT I N F O RM A TI O N :
Ci t y Ti m e s
Sa n D i e g o Ci t y Co l l e g e
1313 P a r k B l v d | Sa n D i e g o , CA 9 210 1 N e w sr o o m : B T- 10 1
E- M A I L : c i t y t i m e s@ g m a i l c o m
A p r i l 16 , 20 19 | Sp r i n g 20 19 Ed i t i o n P u b l i sh e d a s Th e Ja y Se e s (19 4 5- 19 4 9 ), Fo r t k n i g h t l y (19 4 9 - 19 78 ), Ci t y Ti m e s
(19 78 - p r e se n t ) I n c o r p o r a t i n g n e w sp a p e r s Te c o l o t e , K n i g h t O w l & F l i c k s
D I STRI CT P O L I CY STA TEM EN T: Th i s p u b l i c a t i o n i s p r o d u c e d a s a l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e u n d e r Sa n D i e g o Ci t y Co l l e g e ?s D i g i t a l Jo u r n a l i sm p r o g r a m A l l m a t e r i a l s, i n c l u d i n g o p i n i o n s e x p r e sse d h e r e i n , a r e t h e so l e r e sp o n si b i l i t y o f t h e st u d e n t s a n d sh o u l d n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d t o b e t h o se o f t h e c o l l e g e d i st r i c t , i t s o f f i c e r s o r e m p l o y e e s
M EM B ERSH I P S: Jo u r n a l i sm A sso c i a t i o n o f Co m m u n i t y Co l l e g e s Ca l i f o r n i a Co l l e g e M e d i a A sso c i a t i o n A sso c i a t e d Co l l e g i a t e P r e ss Ca l i f o r n i a N e w sp a p e r P u b l i sh e r s A sso c i a t i o n
Di a n ge l a Ve r a s p h o t o
D EA R L EGEN D REA D ER, Th a n k y o u p i c k i n g u p t h e Sp r i n g 20 19 e d i t i o n o f L e g e n d m a g a zi n e
I a m c o n f i d e n t y o u w i l l f i n d t h e st o r i e s i n t r i g u i n g a n d i n t e r e st i n g
I a l so w a n t t o t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k a l l o f t h e su b j e c t s o f t h e se a r t i c l e s f o r o p e n i n g u p a n d sh a r i n g t h e i r o w n u n i q u e st o r i e s w i t h o u r r e p o r t e r s a n d a u d i e n c e s
W i t h t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e m a g a zi n e , m y t e n u r e a s Ed i t o r - i n - Ch i e f o f
Ci t y Ti m e s a n d L e g e n d i s c o m i n g t o a n e n d a n d I f i n d m y se l f i n a r e f l e c t i v e st a t e
I w i l l b e g r a d u a t i n g f r o m Sa n D i e g o Ci t y Co l l e g e i n M a y w i t h a n a sso c i a t e d e g r e e i n Jo u r n a l i sm a n d t r a n sf e r i n g Sa c r a m e n t o St a t e U n i v e r si t y
A s I l o o k b a c k a t n o t o n l y t h i s p a st se m e st e r , b u t b o t h se m e st e r s i n w h i c h I w a s g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o se r v e a s EI C, I c a n 't h e l p b u t f e e l p r i d e i n a l l o f t h e a w a r d - w i n n i n g w o r k t h a t t h e e n t i r e st a f f h a s p r o d u c e d
M a n y r e p o r t e r s a n d e d i t o r s, l i k e m y se l f , w i l l b e g r a d u a t i n g t h i s se m e st e r a n d c o n t i n u i n g o n t o f o u r - y e a r u n i v e r si t i e s l i k e SD SU I a m v e r y h o n o r e d t o h a v e h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k a l o n g si d e t h e se v e r y t a l e n t e d j o u r n a l i st s a n d w i sh t h e m n o t h i n g b u t t h e b e st i n t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a n d c a r e e r s I h o p e t h a t t h e f u t u r e a l l o w s u s t o c r o ss p a t h s a n d w o r k t o g e t h e r a g a i n a t so m e p o i n t
Re a d i n g a n d e d i t i n g t h e c o n t e n t p r o d u c e d b y t h e n e w e r w r i t e r s t h i s se m e st e r l e a v e s m e v e r y o p t i m i st i c t h a t t h e Ci t y Ti m e s a n d L e g e n d a r e l e f t i n v e r y c a p a b l e a n d t a l e n t e d h a n d s N o t o n l y a r e t h e w r i t i n g sk i l l s e v i d e n t i n t h e w o r k t h e y ?v e p r o d u c e d , b u t t h e l e a d e r sh i p q u a l i t i e s a r e t h e r e a s w e l l a n d I k n o w t h i s g r o u p o f st u d e n t j o u r n a l i st s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o p u t o u t a w a r d - w i n n i n g w o r k I l o o k f o r w a r d t o r e a d i n g t h e c o n t e n t e v e n a f t e r I ?m g o n e I ?d a l so l i k e t o t h a n k p r o f e sso r N i c o l e Va r g a s f o r h e r g u i d a n c e I k n o w I w o u l d n o t b e g r a d u a t i n g i n M a y i f i t w a sn ? t f o r h e r e n c o u r a g e m e n t I h o p e y o u e n j o y t h i s m a g a zi n e a n d e n c o u r a g e y o u t o k e e p r e a d i n g t h e Ci t y Ti m e s w e b si t e , n e w sp a p e r a n d f u t u r e L e g e n d e d i t i o n s
Si n c e r e l y, J o n n y Ri c o Ed it or- in - Ch ie f
c o e h f a m c a a r V a l st a c c o st C h a w t a e
e se u r o f a a n t e n e l d i s r y r y e i r h s i s r e l s r e o n I g
B y J e n So u z a | M a n a g in g Ed it or
Th e Ci t y Ti m e s w e b si t e t o o k h o m e a Ge n e r a l
Ex c e l l e n c e a w a r d a t t h e 20 19 Jo u r n a l i sm
A sso c i a t i o n o f Co m m u n i t y Co l l e g e s st a t e c o n f e r e n c e i n Sa c r a m e n t o . Th i s w a s Ci t y Ti m e s' f i r st e n t r y i n t o t h e p r e st i g i o u s c o m p e t i t i o n si n c e t h e h i r i n g o f f u l l - t i m e a d v i se r N i c o l e Va r g a s b e f o r e t h e f a l l 20 18 se m e st e r Th e D e c e m b e r 20 18 e d i t i o n o f t h e L e g e n d m a g a zi n e a l so b r o u g h t i n a w a r d s i n m u l t i p l e c a t e g o r i e s f o r st a f f m e m b e r s ?I t 's i n sp i r i n g t o b e su r r o u n d e d b y st u d e n t s w h o a r e so c o m m i t t e d t o e m b r a c i n g d i g i t a l j o u r n a l i sm ,? Va r g a s sa i d . ?I t i s a n h o n o r t o b e r e c o g n i ze d a l o n g si d e so m a n y o u t st a n d i n g p r o g r a m s i n t h e st a t e .?
Ed i t o r - i n - Ch i e f Jo n n y Ri c o r e c e i v e d a n a c h i e v e m e n t a w a r d f o r st u d e n t l e a d e r sh i p a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n , a s w e l l a s r e c o g n i t i o n f o r h i s f e a t u r e st o r y, Th e U n c e r t a i n Ro a d H o m e , t h a t c o v e r e d Ci t y Co l l e g e st u d e n t a n d m o t h e r L o l a Ch e a t h a m a n d h e r st r u g g l e w i t h h o m e l e ssn e ss Th e p h o t o s a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e st o r y w o n a n a w a r d i n t h e m a g a zi n e p h o t o st o r y - e ssa y c a t e g o r y, t a k e n b y Ti f f a n y Ri h a n a , t h e f o r m e r m a n a g i n g e d i t o r o f t h e Ci t y Ti m e s, a n d Ri c o
A r t s a n d En t e r t a i n m e n t e d i t o r B r i a n M o h l e r w o n
t w o se p a r a t e a w a r d s f o r h i s st o r y, Fa t e o f t h e I n t e r n e t B u f f e r i n g i n Co u r t Th e a r t i c l e w o n f o r f e a t u r e st o r y a n d i n f o r m a t i o n a l g r a p h i c , a v i su a l o u t l i n e a d d e d t o t h e st o r y o n t h e h i st o r y o f n e t n e u t r a l i t y
M o h l e r a l so w o n a n a w a r d l a st se m e st e r i n t h e o n - t h e - sp o t n e w s w r i t i n g c o n t e st a t t h e JA CC r e g i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e a t Ca l St a t e Fu l l e r t o n .
A r t D i r e c t o r D i a n g e l a Ve r a s w a s a l so r e c o g n i ze d , r e c e i v i n g a n a w a r d f o r m a g a zi n e d e si g n / l a y o u t "
Th i s i s a g r e a t r e c o g n i t i o n a n d v a l i d a t i o n o f a l l t h e h a r d w o r k t h a t t h e e n t i r e st a f f p u t i n , " Ri c o sa i d "
W e d o n 't d o i t f o r t h e a w a r d s, b u t i f w e c o n t i n u e t o d o t h i n g s r i g h t , m o r e o f t h e se a r e c o m i n g i n t h e f u t u r e . "
Th e 3- d a y st a t e c o n f e r e n c e r o t a t e s f r o m Sa c r a m e n t o t o So u t h e r n Ca l i f o r n i a a n d a l l o w s m e m b e r sc h o o l s t o c o m e t o g e t h e r f o r sp e a k e r s, w o r k sh o p s, c o n t e st s a n d m e e t i n g s
So m e o f t h e w o r k sh o p s a t t h e c o n v e n t i o n i n c l u d e d t a l k s a b o u t t h e a n a t o m y o f f a k e n e w s, j o u r n a l i sm l a w , u si n g d a t a i n st o r i e s a n d p i t c h i n g st o r i e s w i t h i m p a c t Th e Ci t y Ti m e s st a f f t h a t a t t e n d e d w i l l b e sh a r i n g w h a t t h e y l e a r n e d a t t h e e v e n t w i t h t h e i r st a f f d u r i n g t h e se c o n d h a l f o f t h e sp r i n g se m e st e r
B y Jon ny R i co | Edi tor- i n- Chi ef
@Jonyr i co
The st age has become t he
f ami l y busi ness f or t he
Tal l aksen f ami l y. But t hi s endeavor di d not f ol l ow t he t r adi t i onal f at her- t o- son rout e.
I nst ead, i t was t he son, W i l l i am Tal l aksen, who i nspi red and passed al ong t he l ove of t he cr af t t o hi s f at her, G ar y Tal l aksen.
W i l l i am Tal l aksen i s a f or mer
San D i ego C i t y C ol l ege dr ama st udent who now l i ves i n
O regon Bef ore he l ef t , he i ssued an i mpact f ul chal l enge t o hi s dad, who he bel i eved was capabl e of bei ng a par t of t he dr ama progr am, t oo.
?I dare you t o do i t ,? W i l l i am Tal l aksen t ol d hi s f at her af t er hi s f i nal per f or mance at C i t y C ol l ege.
G ar y Tal l aksen was hesi t ant at f i rst .
?I t t ook me si x, seven years,? he sai d.
But af t er hi s son moved out - of - st at e, t he l onel i ness of not havi ng hi s son near hi m drove G ar y Tal l aksen t o C i t y C ol l ege t o enrol l as a st udent .
?E ver ywhere I l ooked (I t hought ) ?W i l l i am was i n t hi s t heat er, W i l l i am di d t hi s pl ay? and i t j ust got me exci t ed t o do more and more.
?I di d i t t o t r y and i mpress hi m.?
C omi ng back
t o school
hel ped
G ar y
Tal l aksen i n unexpected ways.
H e st ar t ed cl asses and want ed t o l ear n as much as possi bl e but never t hought of get t i ng on st age when he wei ghed about 400 pounds
G ar y Tal l aksen al so suf f ered a T I A , al so known as a mi ni st roke, due t o hi s wei ght .
A ccordi ng t o U.S. N at i onal
L i br ar y of M edi ci ne, ?a t r ansi ent i schemi c at t ack ( T I A ) i s a st roke t hat l ast s onl y a f ew mi nut es I t happens when t he bl ood suppl y t o par t of t he br ai n i s br i ef l y bl ocked.'
T he T I A ser ved as a wake- up cal l f or G ar y Tal l aksen, who was now i nspi red t o t ur n hi s l i f e around H e l ost over 150 pounds, whi ch he credi t s t o wal ki ng al l over t he C i t y C ol l ege campus
N ow back i n school , G ar y
Tal l aksen i s doi ng somet hi ng he enj oys, al t hough he never t hought he?d be a per f or mer. T he cl osest he ever got was a r adi o D J j ob.
?I worked at an A M r adi o st at i on
worki ng mi dni ght t o 6 a.m. f or a shor t t i me,? he sai d. ?I was i nt r i gued by t hat , so when I came t o C al i f or ni a I got i nt o t he C ol umbi a School of Broadcast i ng (but ) when I f ound out how much i t was goi ng t o cost , I st opped.? June Ri chards, t he f or mer dr ama di rect or at C i t y C ol l ege when W i l l i am Tal l aksen was a st udent , has had t he oppor t uni t y t o see
t he el der Tal l aksen per f or m on st age.
?I t meant so much t o see you on st age and t o have t i me wi t h W i l l i am,?wrot e Ri chards t o G ar y Tal l aksen i n an emai l af t er havi ng seen one of hi s pl ays.
W i l l i am Tal l aksen drove t o San
D i ego f rom O regon, pi cki ng up hi s f or mer prof essor al ong t he way t o come see hi s dad per f or m at t he Savi l l e T heat re.
?I t was an ext r aordi nar y gi f t f or me t o be wel comed back t o San D i ego by W I L L I A M M Y ST U D EN T,? wrot e Ri chards t o G ar y Tal l aksen i n anot her emai l .
I n hi s t i me at C i t y C ol l ege, G ar y Tal l aksen has par t i ci pat ed i n t wo N ew Pl ay Fest i val s i n addi t i on t o pl ayi ng K i ng M i das i n l ast semest er ?s product i on of M et amor phosi s.
A ccordi ng t o G ar y Tal l aksen, one of t he bi ggest obst acl es he has f ound i s memor i zi ng hi s l i nes. H e t hi nks i t mi ght be due t o t he T I A he suf f ered, but current C i t y C ol l ege dr ama di rect or
t o Ta re pr Va da pu do r u t h of l o di pr i n hi C en m t h no m E de Ta m
" I d a r e y o u t o d o i t . "
W i l l i a m T a l l a k s e n t o h i s f a t h e r
on on h r y ng an up he m or an Y t o . ge, ed n as of n, as es. t o ut ge
K at her i ne Rodda sai d i t i s nor mal f or some st udent s t o st r uggl e i n t hat aspect .
?L i ke most peopl e, l ear ni ng l i nes can be a chal l enge,?Rodda sai d. ?For some i t comes easi er t han f or ot hers (but ) he knows t he work t hat he has t o put i nt o i t ?
A nd i t i s t he work et hi c t hat G ar y Tal l aksen br i ngs, whi ch shi nes t o t he rest of t he cast members i n t he product i ons he t akes par t i n. ?H e i s a ver y dedi cat ed man,? sai d Vanessa F l ores, who pl ayed hi s daught er i n M et amor phosi s ?H e put s a l ot of t hought i nt o what he does. H e put s i n a l ot of t i me r unni ng over hi s l i nes out si de of t he t heat er.?
F l ores al so poi nt ed out t he amount of t i me G ar y Tal l aksen put s i nt o l ooki ng f or f eedback f rom t he shows di rect ors and f rom t he dr ama prof essors H e seeks advi ce and ways i n whi ch he can bet t er hi msel f and hi s per f or mance.
G ar y Tal l aksen?s t i me on t he C i t y
C ol l ege st age mi ght be comi ng t o an end soon as t here i s a l i mi t t o how many t i mes a st udent can si gn up f or t he dr ama product i on cl asses H e i s now ment al l y prepar i ng t o t ake t he more gener al col l ege cl asses l i ke mat h and E ngl i sh i n order t o compl et e hi s associ at e degree.
O ne aspect of col l ege l i f e t hat G ar y Tal l aksen was not abl e t o avoi d i s t he soci al medi a i nsecur i t y
?T here?s st i l l somet hi ng l acki ng t here,? he sai d. ?M aybe i t ?s a Facebook t hi ng, cause I ?m on Facebook al l t he t i me and post al l my pi ct ures f rom t he shows. (But hi s son) he never get s on and l i kes anyt hi ng on my page.
?A nd as a dad, f rom my son who was an act or, I ?d l i ke (t hat recogni t i on).?
H e i s now t hi nki ng of t r yi ng I nst agr am
an essa Ti rad o i s m o re st u d en t t h an at h l et e.
Th at i sn ? t a k n o c k o n h er ab i l i t y. In fac t , Ti rad o h as b een i n st ru m en t al i n t h e San Di eg o Ci t y Co l l eg e so ft b al l t eam ?s su rp ri si n g t u rn aro u n d t h i s seaso n .
Bu t Ti rad o i s d i fferen t t h an h er t eam m at es an d m o st o t h er st u d en t -at h l et es at Ci t y Co l l eg e. Un l i ke h er t eam m at es, w h o m ay m ake t h ei r w ay t o Bet t y Ho c k Fi el d fro m c am p u s ac ro ss t h e st reet , Ti rad o d o es so fro m t h e UC San Di eg o c am p u s i n L a J o l l a, w h ere sh e at t en d s c l asses fu l l t i m e.
Her d ec i si o n t o at t en d b o t h sc h o o l s si m u l t an eo u sl y i s a rare o n e, b u t n o t u n h eard o f. Team m at e an d l o n g t i m e fri en d Al yssa Go n zal es d i d so l ast seaso n , sp l i t t i n g h er st u d i es b et w een SDSU an d Ci t y Co l l eg e b efo re d ec i d i n g t o at t en d Ci t y exc l u si vel y.
Si m i l arl y, w h i l e sh e w as a st u d en t -at h l et e o n t h e b ad m i n t o n t eam d u ri n g t h e 2 0 1 3 an d 2 0 1 4 seaso n s, b ad m i n t o n c o ac h Darb y Du p rat at t en d ed UCSD fu l l t i m e.
?It w as very st ressfu l ,? rec al l ed Du p rat .
UCSD i s o n a 1 0 -w eek q u art er syst em as o p p o sed t o t h e 1 6 -w eek sem est er syst em u sed at Ci t y Co l l eg e, w h i c h c au sed sc h ed u l i n g c o n fl i c t s b et w een Du p rat ?s sp o rt an d h er st u d i es.
?M y fi n al s (h ap p en ed ) w h en w e h ad st at e c h am p i o n sh i p s b o t h years, so I w as real l y st ressed ,? sh e sai d .
Th e ad d ed st resso rs d i d l i t t l e t o keep h er aw ay fro m t h e sp o rt , h o w ever.
?I real l y en jo yed b ad m i n t o n , so I st i l l p l ayed ,? Du p rat sai d Sp o rt s w eren ? t al w ays i n Ti rad o ?s p l an s w h en sh e m o ved t o San Di eg o fro m St o c k t o n . Her fresh m an year at UCSD w as sp en t aw ay fro m t h e
g am e en t i rel y w h i l e sh e fo c u sed o n h er st u d i es.
?I t h o u g h t t h at I w as d o n e (w i t h so ft b al l ),? t h e 1 9 -year-o l d sai d . ?I t h o u g h t I w o u l d n ? t b e ab l e t o d o b o t h sc h o o l an d sp o rt s.?
Ti rad o w as so su re sh e w as d o n e w i t h sp o rt s, t h at i t d i d n o t fac t o r i n t o h er c h o i c e o f u n i versi t y at al l aft er sh e g rad u at ed fro m h i g h sc h o o l .
?I p i c ked UCSD fo r t h e ed u c at i o n ,? t h e b i o l o g y m ajo r ad d ed . ?I c o u l d h ave g o n e t o an o t h er sc h o o l fo r so ft b al l b u t I c h o se UCSD b ec au se t h at w as t h e b est ed u c at i o n t h at w as av ai l ab l e t o m e.?
A year sp en t aw ay fro m so ft b al l d i d n o t t ake aw ay Ti rad o ?s d esi re t o c o m p et e.
?I en d ed u p b ei n g real l y b o red ? It ?s b een a p art o f m y l i fe, al l m y l i fe,? t h e sh o rt st o p sai d .
"So l ast year w i t h o u t i t , I w as ju st b o red . I d i d n ? t k n o w w h at t o d o w i t h m y ext ra t i m e.?
Ext ra t i m e i s n o l o n g er a p ro b l em fo r Ti rad o . Bei n g a Kn i g h t req u i res h er t o m ai n t ai n a fu l l c o u rse l o ad at Ci t y Co l l eg e, w h i c h sh e d o es t h ro u g h h er sp o rt an d o n l i n e c l asses. Th ese u n i t s,
c o m b i n ed w i t h h er c o u rses at UCSD, p u t h er at 2 5 t o t al u n i t s fo r t h e
h I o e o r e r o l e t s m y o s , e t I o a o r a r l y e r e , r r e
sem est er.
No n e o f t h e c l asses sh e i s t ak i n g at Ci t y Co l l eg e w i l l c o u n t t o w ard h er d eg ree. Sh e?s al read y c o m p l et ed m o st o f h er g en eral
ed u c at i o n c l asses St ayi n g o n t o p o f h er ed u c at i o n an d sp o rt s, w h i l e t ryi n g t o m ai n t ai n a h i g h g rad e p o i n t averag e, t akes i t s t o l l o n h er so c i al l i fe at t i m es Sh e
rem em b ers n i g h t s w i t h l i t t l e sl eep aft er ret u rn i n g l at e w i t h t h e t eam an d h av i n g t o st u d y fo r c l asses t h e n ext d ay Th e fat i g u e d o es n o t sh o w i n h er p l ay Sh e i s an i m p ac t p l ayer o n a t eam fu l l o f t h em
Ti rad o i s t i ed w i t h t eam m at e Sab ri n a Fi g u ero a fo r sec o n d m o st st o l en b ases i n t h e Pac i fi c Co ast At h l et i c Co n feren c e Kn i g h t s c at c h er Carl ey Gran t i s t h e o n l y p l ayer i n t h e c o n feren c e w i t h m o re
Th e Cal i fo rn i a Co m m u n i t y Co l l eg e At h l et i c Asso c i at i o n n am ed Ti rad o c o -p l ayer o f t h e w eek l ast m o n t h w h en sh e w en t 8 -fo r-1 1 at t h e p l at e w i t h an OBP o f 7 8 6 o ver t h ree g am es Sh e al so sc o red seven ru n s o ver t h at sp an
Sh e h as m ai n t ai n ed a b at t i n g averag e o ver 4 0 0 fo r m o st o f t h e seaso n
Ti rad o p art i al l y c red i t s sp o rt s fo r keep i n g h er o u t o f t ro u b l e w h i l e sh e w as g ro w i n g u p i n St o c k t o n , w h i c h w as l i st ed No 1 0 i n USA To d ay?s l i st
" I t hought I was don e." - Va n es s a Ti r a do
o f t h e m o st d an g ero u s c i t i es i n t h e Un i t ed St at es i n 2 0 1 8 .
Her p aren t s, Al b ert Ti rad o , an ed u c at o r, an d Bren d a Est ac i o , a sen i o r d at a an al yst , w ere b o t h h i g h sc h o o l at h l et es, p l ayi n g b aseb al l an d so c c er resp ec t i vel y.
Van essa Ti rad o p l ayed sh o rt st o p an d sec o n d b ase fo r St . M ary?s Hi g h Sc h o o l , a Cat h o l i c i n st i t u t i o n , an d i s o n e o f t h ree fo rm er St . M ary's st u d en t s o n t h e Kn i g h t s ro st er.
Si st ers Al yssa an d Al exi s Go n zal ez are t w o o f Ti rad o ?s t eam m at es an d h o m et o w n fri en d s. Th ey w ere a m ajo r i n fl u en c e i n h er d ec i si o n t o p l ay fo r Ci t y Co l l eg e
sp ec i fi c al l y.
?Th ei r fam i l y t akes c are o f m e,? Ti rad o sai d .
?Wh en I w as d o w n h ere l ast year, k i n d o f b y m ysel f ? I w an t ed t o g et o ff c am p u s an d d o st u ff. I m i ssed so ft b al l so I u sed t o c o m e o u t an d h an g o u t w i t h t h em an d w at c h t h ei r g am es.?
Sh e fi rst at t em p t ed t o ju m p b ac k i n t o t h e sp o rt at UCSD. Ti rad o asked t h e so ft b al l c o ac h i n g st aff at t h e u n i versi t y ab o u t w al k i n g o n t o t h e t eam , b u t w as o n l y o ffered a ro l e as a p i n c h ru n n er. Ad d i t i o n al l y, Ti rad o sai d c o ac h es t h ere w o u l d n o t al l o w h er t o t ry o u t fo r a p o si t i o n at al l . Sh e d ec l i n ed , o p t i n g t o l o o k fo r a t eam t h at c o u l d o ffer h er m o re p l ayi n g t i m e.
J u g g l i n g o b l i g at i o n s at t w o sc h o o l s h as i t s d i sad v an t ag es fo r t h e t eam . Ti rad o m i ssed h er t eam ?s M arc h 1 2 c o n t est ag ai n st Ri versi d e Co m m u n i t y Co l l eg e i n o rd er t o t ake a fi n al exam . Head coach LeeAnn Taylor is hap p y to have her on t he roster, even if it somet imes causes p red icament s like t his ?Th ey are st u d en t -at h l et es,? Tayl o r sai d . ?If t h ey n eed t o t ake a t est , I g et i t .?
Th ere i s u n c ert ai n t y i n reg ard s t o Ti rad o ?s fu t u re b o t h o n an d o ff t h e fi el d . It rem ai n s t o b e seen w h et h er sh e an d t h e rest o f t h e Kn i g h t s c an
m ai n t ai n t h ei r h i g h l evel o f p l ay an d m ake a p l ayo ff ap p earan c e fo r t h e fi rst t i m e si n c e 2 0 0 8 .
L eav i n g San Di eg o c o m p l et el y m ay b e i n t h e c ard s fo r h er fu t u re. M o st rec en t l y t h e c o ac h i n g st aff o f Harv ard h as b een i n c o n t ac t w i t h h er an d h as req u est ed m o re i n fo rm at i o n fro m h er fo r a p o t en t i al t ran sfer. Sh e h as al so ap p l i ed t o o t h er Iv y L eag u e sc h o o l s an d UCL A, w h i c h w as h er fi rst c h o i c e aft er h i g h sc h o o l .
A c h an g e i n h er m ajo r m ay al so b e i n o rd er n o w t h at h er c areer p l an s h ave c h an g ed .
?Ori g i n al l y I w an t ed t o g o t o m ed sc h o o l , b u t I t h o u g h t ab o u t i t an d m y d ad i s a t eac h er an d m y au n t i e i s ac t u al l y a su p eri n t en d en t o f sc h o o l s,? sh e sai d . ?I?ve al w ays b een aro u n d t h e c l assro o m vo l u n t eeri n g .?
M o st rec en t l y, Ti rad o vo l u n t eered at t h e Preu ss Sc h o o l , a g rad es 6 -1 2 c o l l eg e p rep arat o ry sc h o o l p art n ered w i t h UCSD. It i s d esi g n ed t o assi st p o t en t i al fi rst g en erat i o n c o l l eg e st u d en t s.
?Fo r seven m o n t h s I t u t o red a l i t erac y en ri c h m en t c l ass an d I real l y l i ked i t ,? sai d Ti rad o , w h o i s c o n si d eri n g c h an g i n g h er m ajo r t o h i st o ry. ?I t h i n k I w an t t o g o i n t o ed u c at i o n .?
Th e o n l y c ert ai n t y i n t h e n ext c h ap t er o f Ti rad o ?s at yp i c al c o l l eg e c areer i s t h at i t w i l l h ap p en aw ay fro m Ci t y Co l l eg e. Bu t fo r n o w , sh e i s h ap p y t o b e w h ere sh e i s.
?I?m ju st g l ad I g o t t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o p l ay t h i s year,? sh e sai d .
( So f t b a l l ' s ) b een a pa r t o f my l i f e, a l l my l i f e." - Va n es s a Ti r a d o
When was t he l ast t i me you checked on your f r i end?s amount of sl eep, meal s t hey?ve eat en i n a day or t hei r caf f ei ne i nt ake?
?We al l have bad days and r un i nt o rough pat ches,? sai d M arci ano Perez, dean of St udent A f f ai rs and a member of t he C i t y C ol l ege C ol l aborat i ve C are Team ?N o one i s i mmune t o t hi s ?
C ommuni t y col l ege st udent s have a subst ant i al amount of ext ernal st r uggl es. M ost j uggl e a prof essi onal and personal l i f e. W het her i t ?s work, school , f r i ends or t hemsel ves, f i ndi ng a bal ance can be ext remel y di f f i cul t M ai nt ai ni ng grades, t urni ng i n homework, showi ng up f or cl ass and event ual l y t ransf err i ng al l add t o a st udent ?s pl at e
Payi ng bi l l s, keepi ng t hei r hours at work, preser vi ng f r i endshi ps al l whi l e at t empt i ng t o keep t hei r sani t y i s somet hi ng t hat ever yone st r uggl es wi t h on a dai l y basi s.
?Peopl e t al k about exerci se, di et i ng, and t aki ng care of t hei r bodi es but t hey ki nd of negl ect t hei r ment al heal t h,?sai d
A bi gai l W i seman, peer educat or coordi nat or.
San D i ego C i t y C ol l ege has resources f or st udent s t o access hel p T he $21 st udent heal t h ser vi ces f ee al l ows st udent s t o vi si t t he St udent H eal t h C ent er i n A - 180
St udent H eal t h Ser vi ces and M ent al H eal t h Ser vi ces are bot h i n t he same bui l di ng St udent s are el i gi bl e f or wal k- i n ment al heal t h counsel i ng, or by appoi nt ment , M onday t hrough Fr i day.
M ent al heal t h counsel i ng, peer educat ors, di sabi l i t y programs and suppor t ser vi ces (D SPS), as wel l as a C ol l aborat i ve C are Team, are avai l abl e f or C i t y C ol l ege st udent s.
?T here seems t o be a st i gma around get t i ng hel p f or ment al heal t h, but you?d cer t ai nl y go t o t he doct or when you have a headache, why not vi si t st udent heal t h ser vi ces when you?re st r uggl i ng ment al l y?,?sai d Perez.
I t can t ake some peopl e a l ong t i me t o f i nd out t hat t hei r l oved ones are st r uggl i ng, but i f you st ar t t o not i ce si gns t hat a f r i end mi ght be st r uggl i ng,
i t mi ght be t i me t o open up t o t hem about seeki ng hel p.
M ent al heal t h counsel i ng provi des a hel pf ul i nf ographi c on how and when t o hel p f r i ends.
I f your f r i end i s exper i enci ng one or more of t he f ol l owi ng si gns, t hey may be f eel i ng a change i n ment al heal t h:
- t al ki ng about sui ci de
- acqui r i ng means t o sel f - harm
- i sol at ing t hemsel ves
- f eel i ng hopel ess, desperat e or t rapped
- usi ng dr ugs or al cohol more t han usual
- suddenl y changi ng mood, sl eepi ng pat t erns or eat i ng habi t s
- exper i enci ng anger, anxi et y or st ar t i ng t o exhi bi t reckl ess behavi or
?Feel i ng sui ci dal or havi ng sui ci dal t hought s does not mean you?re al ways goi ng t o f eel t hat way,? sai d W i seman ?T hey mi ght be a si gn of bei ng compl et el y over whel med and di sconnected T hat person j ust may need someone t o val i dat e t hei r exper i ence.
?Just by t al ki ng wi t h t hem can save
l i v pa t h t h R co R he S ge t h m w i n t h co co al be se
l i ves.?
To hel p your f r i ends, st ar t by bei ng pat i ent and suppor t i ve. Tal k t hem t hrough t hei r i ssues and l et t hem know t hat t hey wi l l get t hrough t hei r st r uggl es Reach out t o prof essi onal s and counsel ors who can l end suppor t . Reassure t hem t hat i t ?s okay t o ask f or hel p, and t hat t hey can f eel bet t er. Suppor t i ng and i ncl udi ng yoursel f i n get t i ng hel p wi t h t hem can real l y ai d t hem t hrough t hei r rough t i me.
A nyone can hel p a st udent or a f ami l y member i n cr i si s by t al ki ng and st ayi ng wi t h t hem," W i seman sai d.
Some t hi ngs t hat you shoul dn? t do are i nval i dat e t hei r exper i ence or mi ni mi ze t hei r st r uggl es. D on? t back of f i f your concerns are rej ect ed or encourage poor copi ng mechani sms l i ke dr ugs or al cohol . You shoul dn? t f eel bad about bet rayi ng your f r i end?s conf i dence t o seek out si de hel p i f it benef i t s t hem D on? t mi ni mi ze t he need f or prof essi onal hel p.
D r. Juan ?D oc? Ri vera, prof essor of t he Personal G rowt h 140 cl ass, shared t i ps about prevent i ng a cr i si s.
?Bel i eve i n t he dreams t hat you hol d dear, because your i nner mot i vat i on can hel p prot ect agai nst cr i si s," Ri vera sai d. ?O ne pract i cal way t o use t hi s i s t o connect your dreams t o your school work because, i f we can choose our cl asses wi sel y, t hen i t ? l l (event ual l y) cont r i but e t o our dreams
?H avi ng act i ons t hat are al so consi st ent wi t h your meani ngf ul pur pose al so i nocul at es agai nst a maj or i t y of cr i si s i n pl aces l i ke home, work or school . Seeki ng sol ut i ons rat her t han assi gni ng bl ame gi ves you energy and di rect i on t o avoi d cr i si s. D evel op cl ose rel at i onshi ps t hat are mut ual l y suppor t i ve and account abl e so you can ask f or hel p and gi ve hel p when needed."
D oc ment i ons t hat combat i ng cr i si s i s di f f erent f or ever yone
?E ach person i s uni que and beaut i f ul , but t hese suggest i ons woul d be adapt ed
f or each person?s t hought s, dreams and l i ves ?
M edi t at i on, yoga, ar t t herapy and group counsel i ng al l of f er ways t o de- st ress at C i t y C ol l ege on a weekl y basi s. St udent s can wal k up t o t he ment al heal t h counsel i ng t abl e and get hel p and have someone l i st en t o t hem r i ght on t he spot .
?E ver ybody t hat ?s on t hi s C i t y C ol l ege campus i s a par t of t he C i t y C ol l ege f ami l y, and t here?s a resource f or t hem,?sai d Perez. ?I t can be as easy as a 'hey, are you okay? ' j ust t o l et t hem know t hat ot her peopl e see t hem and t hat t hey mat t er, (t o l et t hem) be t he best person t hat t hey can be on campus ?
Suicide Lifeline: I f you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts , you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800- 273- TALK (8255) any time of day or night, text COURAGE to the Crisis Text Line at 741- 741 or chat online.
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The much ant icipat ed event where f ans can dress up as t heir f avorit e comic book charact er and embrace t heir f andom This event brings t housands of people f rom around t he world so be sure t o pl an in advance
San Di ego Ci t y Col l ege Com m encem ent Cerem ony 20 19
? May 24
The graduat ion ceremony f or San Diego Cit y Col l ege st udent s. The ceremony st art s at 5 p.m. and is l ocat ed at t he San Diego Convent ion Cent er in Bal l room 6A
Bi g Bay Boom ! ? Jul y 4
Sout hern Cal if ornia?s l argest f ireworks show can be seen f rom Shel t er Isl and, Harbor Isl and, Nort h Embarcadero, Marina Dist rict , Coronado Ferry
Landing or boat ing on t he wat er.
Rock ?N?Rol l Mrat hon San
Di ego ? June 1-2
Beginning at Bal boa Park, t his rock ?n rol l t hemed marat hon inf uses music and running This event incl udes a marat hon, a hal f - marat hon, and a 5K. Runners can regist er f or f ree t hrough t he St . Jude Foundat ion
20 19 San Di ego Count y Fai r ? May 31-Jul y 4
This year?s t heme is Oz- some, and at t endees can wal k down t he yel l ow brick road t o a worl d inspired by ?The Wonderf ul Wizard of Oz ? Guest s can visit t he Emeral d Cit y, t hen f ol l ow t he yel l ow brick road t o hop on one of t he many carnival rides.
Legacy Week ? May 24 -27
This event , l ocat ed at t he USS Midway Museum , incl udes a wreat h ceremony, benef it concert , bl ood drive and f amil y act ivit ies The cel ebrat ion of mil it ary herit age wil l run f rom 10 a.m. t o 5 p.m. The Freedom Concert wil l f eat ure Daught ry on t he f l ight deck.
San Di ego Pri de Parade and Musi c Fest i val ? Jul y 13-14
Pride weekend kicks of f wit h a f ree 15 mil e parade st art ing on Universit y Avenue and Normal St reet at 10 a m Af t erward, cel ebrat e and dance wit h t housands of peopl e honoring t he LGBTQ communit y wit h l ive ent ert ainment f rom over 10 0 ent ert ainers in Bal boa Park ( 6t h Avenue and Laurel St reet ) .
Im peri al Beach Surf Dog Com pet i t i on ? Jul y 28
It ?s dogs surf ing! Wat ch over 60 dogs hang t went y as t hey surf t he waves in Imperial Beach This f amil y f riendl y event begins at 8 a m at t he Imperial Beach Pier/ Port wood Pier Pl aza.
Cardi f f Dog Days of Sum m er ? Aug. 11
The 14t h Annual Cardif f Dog Days of Summer is a f ree event t hat has overs 140 dog- rel at ed vendors, rescue groups and adopt ion agencies It al so f eat ures dog cont est s, l ive music and f ood t rucks It runs f rom 10 a m t o 5 p m
Luau and Legends of Surf i ng
Int ernat i onal ? Aug 16
Locat ed at Scripps Pier, t his surf ing compet it ion f ocuses on part icipat ion and support of t he cause - - surf ing abil it ies are not t he f ocus. Sponsored t eams wil l be paired wit h a surf ing l egend This is a f undraising event t hat benef it s Moores Cancer Cent er
l ood d onat ion vans often come to San Dieg o Cit y Coll eg e to p rovid e a l ife- saving service, esp ecial l y d uring a t ime w hen b l ood is in hig h d emand . Ho w ever, n o t everyo n e i s el ig ib l e t o d o n at e b l o o d an d h eal t h y st u d en t s are b ei n g t u rn ed aw ay d u e t o FDA reg u l at i o n s St u d en t s w h o p assed t h e sc reen i n g an d d o n at ed b l o o d ju st o n c e w i l l h ave saved ab o u t t h ree l i ves, ac c o rd i n g t o g i v i n gb l o o d .o rg , b u t so m e st u d en t s are t u rn ed aw ay d u e t o l aw s t h at t h e Am eri c an M ed i c al Asso c i at i o n reg ard s as d i sc ri m i n at o ry
On e reg u l at i o n sp ec i fi c al l y t ar-
g et s LGBTQ m en
Ac c o rd i n g t o t h e FDA w eb si t e, a m an c an n o t d o n at e b l o o d fo r 1 2 m o n t h s af t er sexu al c o n t ac t w i t h an o t h er m an .
Th e AM A h as c al l ed fo r an en d t o w h at t h ey refer t o as t h e ?g ay b an .?
?Th e l i fet i m e b an o n b l o o d d on at i o n fo r m en w h o h ave sex w i t h m en i s d i sc ri m in at o ry an d n o t b ased o n so u n d sc i en c e," AM A b o ard m em b er Dr. Wi l l i am Ko b l er sai d i n a st at em en t .
?Th ere i sn 't an easy an sw er,? w ro t e Xan Peral t o , a fo rm er n u rse w i t h t h e San Di eg o Bl o o d Ban k , i n a Fac eb o o k m essag e
?Th ro u g h sc reen i n g , t h ey t ry t o
el i m i n at e ri sk s as m u c h as p o ssib l e ?
Ci t y Co l l eg e st u d en t Em i l y Co o p er b el i eves t h i s l aw t o b e u n fai r.
?Si m p l y d en yi n g so m eo n e t h e ab i l i t y t o d o n at e b ased o n sam e sex sexu al p art n ers i s p reju d i c ed ,?
Co o p er w ro t e i n a Fac eb o o k m essag e ?I t h i n k i f yo u h ave p ro o f o f a c l ean rec o rd , i t sh o u l d n ? t m at t er w h o yo u sl eep w i t h .?
Co u n t ri es l i k e It al y h ave sw i t c h ed t o i n d i v i d u al assessm en t t est i n g an d h ave seen n o ri se i n t ran sm i t t ed i n fec t i o n s fro m b l o o d d o n o rs, b u t t h e U S st i l l h as t h e 1 2m o n t h w ai t i n g p eri o d
Davi d Pr adel was a st udent repor t er f or N ewscene dur i ng t he f al l 2016 semest er, worki ng on a spor t s package f or t he weekl y t el evi si on news broadcast , when he not i ced somet hi ng
Pr adel , who pl ayed basket bal l dur i ng hi gh school , di scovered somet hi ng di f f erent about San D i ego C i t y C ol l ege men?s basket bal l t eam t hat made i t uni que.
H e not i ced t he pl ayers became more t han t eammat es. T hey became brot hers
?T hey were al l i n i t t o wi n,? sai d Pr adel , who was worki ng t oward an associ at e degree i n communi cat i on and had al ready obt ai ned a degree i n j our nal i sm at t he t i me ?W hen t hey t ol d me t hat t hey were goi ng f or t he st at e champi onshi p i n t he i nt er vi ews, I di dn? t t hi nk much of i t because t hat i s somet hi ng t hey t ypi cal l y say
?I t wasn? t necessar i l y t he way t hey were pl ayi ng I t was t he way t hey were act i ng on t he bench ?
Pr adel had no i dea when he st ar t ed, but by t he season?s end, t he K ni ght s woul d f i ni sh as st at e champi ons, a f i rst f or C i t y C ol l ege
D ur i ng t hat unexpect ed r un t oward a t i t l e, Pr adel l i ved exper i ences t hat he woul d l at er on cher i sh, some capt ured by hi s camer a and ot her i n hi s memor y.
Pr adel sai d he woul d park hi s car by H arr y W est G ym even when he wasn? t cover i ng basket bal l games and eat hi s l unch. H e woul d wat ch t he men?s t eam pr act i ce t o ki l l t i me bef ore repor t i ng on ot her spor t s ?Seei ng t he l ove t hey had f or each ot her as brot hers - - t hey weren? t j ust t eammat es, t hey were f ami l y,?Pr adel sai d. ?I l ear ned a l ot j ust f rom wat chi ng t hem, and hear i ng what coach M i t ch (C har l ens) had t o say dur i ng pr act i ce T here?s t hi ngs t hat
you can t ake away f rom t hat and appl y i t and use i t f or l i f e ?
Bei ng a suppor t syst em t o ot hers and not l et t i ng anybody f eel down af t er t hey made a bad pl ay were val ues Pr adel t ook and appl i ed t o hi s medi a st udi es
W hi l e at C i t y C ol l ege, Pr adel t ook courses i n Radi o, Tel evi si on and Fi l m as wel l as D i gi t al Jour nal i sm. H e al so repor t ed f or N ewscene, t he C i t y T i mes and L egend magazi ne, wi nni ng awards f or hi s work.
?Bei ng t here f or someone el se, t hat st uck wi t h me si nce t hat season, al ways l endi ng a hand, bei ng t here and appreci at e t he person t hat i s next t o you,?Pr adel sai d.
A mont h af t er t he K ni ght s won t he champi onshi p, on t he mor ni ng of A pr i l 18, 2017, one of t he K ni ght s?l eaders, N at e E dwards, t ook hi s own l i f e.
?D ur i ng t he season, he was t he
guy t hat was pushi ng me,? sai d Pr adel , who i s now st udyi ng Tel evi si on, Fi l m and N ew M edi a at SD SU. ?E ver y t i me, bef ore t he game, he woul d come up t o me and ask me how I was doi ng and (say) ? I appreci at e t he vi deo you made ?T hat made me f eel great ?
T hrough i t al l , Pr adel gai ned ski l l s t hat woul d hel p hi m not onl y produce an award- wi nni ng document ar y about t he K ni ght s?wi nni ng season, but open a di scussi on about ment al heal t h and sui ci de prevent i on wi t hi n a communi t y i n whi ch i s i t of t en over l ooked.
Sui ci de i s t he 10t h l eadi ng cause of deat h i n t he U.S., accordi ng t o t he A mer i can Foundat i on f or Sui ci de Prevent i on T he organi zat i on, t hough, est i mat es act ual numbers t o t o be hi gher due t o t he st i gma surroundi ng sui ci de t hat l eads t o underrepor t i ng.
H avi ng a ment al i l l ness l i ke depressi on si gni f i cant l y i ncreases sui ci de r i sk among bl ack t eens and adul t s, accordi ng t o t he Sui ci de Prevent i on Resource
C ent er.
A s a hi gh school st udent at C l ai remont H i gh, Pr adel worked on hi gh school spor t s hi ghl i ght vi deos. W hen he st ar t ed C i t y C ol l ege, he was i nt erest ed i n T V medi a, but wasn? t real l y i nt o hard news, pref err i ng spor t s.
Pr adel st ar t ed wi t h t he C i t y T i mes i n 2014 as spor t s edi t or T hat was when he f i rst met C har l ens and st ar t ed hi s spor t s repor t i ng
?I di d a year at C i t y T i mes, got t he hang of i t al l , wr i t i ng f or pr i nt , i nt er vi ews, get t i ng a f eel f or spor t s repor t i ng,? sai d Pr adel , who won second pl ace f or a prof i l e i n L egend magazi ne at t he 2014 Jour nal i sm A ssoci at i on of C ommuni t y C ol l eges Sout her n C al i f or ni a C onvent i on
D ur i ng Pr adel ?s f i nal semest er at C i t y C ol l ege, he t ook Radi o N ews Product i on wi t h prof essor Scot t C hat f i el d.
Pr adel
recal l ed t hat he di dn? t t hi nk audi o was a bi g deal bef ore t he cl ass, but he l ear ned val uabl e audi o edi t i ng ski l l s i n t hi s cl ass.
?I f i t wasn' t f or t hi s cl ass, I don? t t hi nk I woul d' ve l earned so much about audi o st or yt el l i ng and how t o t el l a proper st or y t hrough audi o,? Pradel sai d. ?I st ar t ed t o pl ay wi t h audi o, somet hi ng di f f erent , somet hi ng new ?(I t ) ki nda i nspi red me t o t hi nk out si de t he box when i t comes t o t el l i ng a st or y wi t h i mages, (t o) not j ust t hi nk about t he i mages. T hi nk audi o f i rst ?
Pr adel l ear ned a l ot i n hi s t i me at C i t y C ol l ege, f rom audi o and st or yt el l i ng t o meet i ng deadl i nes and per f ect i ng hi s i nt er vi ewi ng ski l l s.
Pr adel edi t ed, narr at ed, di rect ed and produced t he ent i re ?T he C i t y?s
C hampi ons?document ar y ?I t h t h
as he n n? t ch el l el o, nk o st o at nd nd nd y?s
t hought about havi ng an assi st ant but t hi s i s a passi on proj ect f or me,?Pr adel sai d
O ne of Pr adel ?s creat i ve consul t ant s was Bi l l y K hang, a f or mer C i t y C ol l ege st udent who worked wi t h Pr adel on N ewscene.
?D avi d?s eyes woul d l i ght up when he t al ked about t he men?s basket bal l t eam,? wrot e K hang i n a Facebook message ?W hen D avi d had t ol d me t hat one of t he pl ayers had t aken hi s own l i f e t ears came down hi s eyes ?
K hang, who now works f or K YM A N ews 11 i n Yuma as a mul t i medi a j our nal i st , encour aged Pr adel t o go t hrough t he process of creat i ng t he document ar y
?D avi d was t he cl osest person f rom N ewscene t o t he t eam,? K hang wrot e.
?W hen he t hought about t he i dea of maki ng a document ar y I t ol d hi m he shoul d. I mot i vat ed hi m t o put
ever yt hi ng he had i n t hi s st or y so t hat ot hers who mi ght be suf f er i ng as wel l can do somet hi ng and maybe he coul d save a l i f e.
?I ?m so proud of D avi d and ever yt hi ng he?s done wi t h t he document ar y. To D avi d i t was more about usi ng t he f unds gener at ed f rom t he f i l m and set t i ng up a schol arshi p f or t he pl ayers chi l dren. T hat ?s how bi g of a hear t D avi d has I t ?s al ways i n t he r i ght pl ace. Proud t o cal l hi m my f r i end and col l eague ?
T he document ar y won an award f or best st udent f i l m i n t he O ni ros Fi l m A wards i n I t al y Pr adel wi l l al so be screeni ng t he f i l m i n N ew York i n June, and wi l l be j oi ned by N at e E dwards?mom, C assandr a E dwards
Pradel and Cassandra Edwards recent l y ret urned t o Ci t y Col l ege f or a screeni ng of hi s document ar y and a di scussi on wi t h Ci t y Col l ege?s M ent al
H eal t h Counsel i ng Charl ens was al so t here.
?T hi s f i l m i s so wel l done, i t st i rs up al l t he same emot i ons as when i t f i rst happened,?C har l ens sai d.
Pr adel has a new proj ect i n mi nd and i s pl anni ng t o use t he ski l l s he l ear ned at C i t y C ol l ege and f rom N at e E dwards t o do more t han mul t i medi a j our nal i sm.
?I di d i t f or hi m,? Pr adel sai d ?You can (al so) say because of hi m, t hat ?s how I was abl e t o make sure t hi s i dea never j ust f aded, because i f he was here he woul dn? t want me t o gi ve up.?
Sui ci de L i feli ne: I f you or someone you know may be st r uggli ng wi th sui ci dal thoughts, you can call the U.S. Nati onal Sui ci de Preventi on L i feli ne at 800- 273- TAL K (8255) any ti me of day or ni ght, text COU RAGE tothe Cri si sText L i ne at 741- 741 or chat onli ne.
ari a Sal azar, w h o h as o ver t h ree d ec ad es o f exp eri en c e d o i n g
h ai r, i s b ac k i n sc h o o l at San
Di eg o Ci t y Co l l eg e.
Sal azar i s w o rk i n g t o w ard h er b arb eri n g an d est h et i c i an l i c en ses at Ci t y Co l l eg e?s
b arb er sc h o o l
Th e Barb er Pro g ram at San Di eg o Ci t y Co l l eg e i s an even i n g p ro g ram d esi g n ed fo r st u d en t s w h o h ave fi n i sh ed o r are al m o st fi n i sh ed w i t h t h e c o sm et o l o g y p ro g ram .
Th e st u d en t s are p u rsu i n g a l i c en se i n
b arb eri n g , al so k n o w n as t h e ?b arb er c o n versi o n ?
Th e p ro g ram al so o ffers h ai rc u t s t o st u d en t s an d t h e p u b l i c A reg u l ar h ai rc u t
c o st s $ 7 b u t Ci t y Co l l eg e st u d en t s rec ei ve a 5 0 % d i sc o u n t w i t h t h ei r st u d en t IDs.
Sal azar h as h ad h er c o sm et o l o g y l i c en se fo r n earl y 3 5 years, w h i c h g i ves h er t h e ad v an t ag e o f en t eri n g st rai g h t i n t o t h e
b arb eri n g p ro g ram
Su d i e Ph i l l i p s, a p ro fesso r an d d ep art m en t
c h ai r o f t h e c o sm et o l o g y p ro g ram , d esi g n ed
t h e c u rri c u l u m
Ci t y Co l l eg e o ffers t w o p ro g ram s t o g et h er,
c o sm et o l o g y an d b arb er.Th e p ro g ram s req u i re st u d en t s t o fi n i sh 1 ,6 0 0 h o u rs o f a
c o sm et o l o g y p ro g ram an d an ad d i t i o n al 2 0 0
h o u rs t o b e ab l e t o ap p l y fo r a sec o n d d eg ree i n b arb eri n g
Ac c o rd i n g t o Ph i l l i p s, st u d en t s avo i d p ay i n g t h e h i g h fees o f p ri v at e b arb er p ro g ram s, w h i c h c an ru n u p t o $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 .
At Ci t y Co l l eg e, st u d en t s o n l y h ave t o p ay fo r si x u n i t s, eac h o n l y $ 4 6 an d p u rc h ase a
b arb eri n g b o o k t h at c o st s $ 1 5 5
?I w as h ap p y ,? Sal azar sai d ?I w as t h i n k i n g ?Oh m y Go d , t h i s i s an o p p o rt u n i t y an d t h ey 're g o i n g t o save m e a l o t o f m o n ey b ec au se I?m n o t g o i n g t o a p ri v at e sc h o o l .??
Th e b arb eri n g p ro g ram i s b ei n g l ed b y Ken M ayo r, an exp eri en c ed b arb er w h o h as b een ju g g l i n g w o rk i n g at a b arb er sh o p an d sal o n
"
fo r t h e p ast fo u r years M ayo r al so w o rk ed at Pau l M i t c h el l as an i n st ru c t o r.
?M y jo b g o es w i t h m e. I d o n 't g o w i t h m y jo b . I w an t ed t o b e ab l e t o t ak e m y jo b an y w h ere,? M ayo r sai d
He b el i eves t h at p ro fessi o n al i sm i s t h e m ai n p ri o ri t y an d k ey t o su c c eed i n g i n t h e b arb eri n g i n d u st ry .
Th e m ai n g o al o f t h e b arb eri n g p ro g ram , ac c o rd i n g t o M ayo r, i s fo r st u d en t s t o p ass t h e st at e
b o ard an d o b t ai n a l i c en se i n c o sm et o l o g y an d b arb eri n g .
Ac c o rd i n g t o Ph i l l i p s, Ci t y
Co l l eg e st u d en t s h ave o b t ai n ed a
1 0 0 % p ass rat e.
Th e su c c ess rat e o f t h e p ro g ram al so c o rrel at ed w i t h t h e d ed i c at i o n t h at t h e st u d en t s p u t i n
?I c an o n l y w o rk o n Sat u rd ay an d Su n d ay ,? sai d Sal azar, w h o at t en d s Ci t y Co l l eg e o n a d ai l y b asi s, o ft en p u t t i n g i n n earl y
1 5 -h o u r d ay s. ?M y g o al i s t o h ave m y t w o l i c en ses b y t h e en d o f t h e year, an d I?m g o i n g t o d o i t ?
Sh e p l an s t o o p en u p h er o w n
b u si n ess an d sal o n .
?I h ave g ai n ed a l o t o f n ew t ec h n i q u es fo r m en ?s h ai rc u t , " Sal azar sai d . "We al so l earn ed t h e
1 4 st ep s o f sh av i n g I'm g o i n g t o b e ab l e t o u se t h e razo r an d t h en I?m g o i n g t o b e ab l e t o sh ave
?Th e o n l y t h i n g t h at i s d i fferen t i s t h at t h e b arb ers c an sh ave, c o sm et o l o g i st s c an 't , " Ph i l l i p s sai d .
"Al m o st every t h i n g (el se i s) t h e sam e ?
b a p e 1 ,6 an l i c S es rec t h e o ri O o n ap ? t h e
a l w ay s h av e y o u r g o a l i n
w n ew u t , " h e t o en en t ve, i d . h e as o f
b al an c i n g h er ac ad em i c an d p erso n al l i ves, c o m p l et ed t h e 1 ,6 0 0 -h o u r c o sm et o l o g y p ro g ram an d i s n o w b ac k fo r h er b arb er l i c en se.
San t a exp ressed g rat i t u d e, esp ec i al l y fo r t h e h el p sh e rec ei ved fro m Ph i l l i p s as w el l as t h e c o n ven i en c e o f t h e o ri en t at i o n .
Ori en t at i o n s are h el d reg u l arl y o n Fri d ay m o rn i n g s an d n o ap p o i n t m en t i s n ec essary
?If I c o u l d n 't m ak e o n e Fri d ay t h en I w as ab l e t o m ak e t h e n ext
o n e w i t h o u t a sp ec i fi c d at e,? sh e sai d .
San t a al so ap p rec i at ed t h e si g n i fi c an t d i fferen c e i n t h e c o st c o m p ared t o p ri v at e b arb eri n g sc h o o l s.
?Oh m y g o sh , yo u c an 't c o m p are g et t i n g q u o t ed $ 2 6 ,0 0 0 fo r a p ro g ram ,? sh e sai d ?(An d ) g et t i n g m o n ey b ac k fro m fi n an c i al ai d fo r b arb eri n g , i t 's l i t eral l y ei t h er $ 3 0 0 o r $ 6 ,0 0 0 fo r t h e sam e exac t c ro sso ver p ro g ram ?
San t a m en t i o n ed t h at h er so n an d d au g h t er are al so very
p assi o n at e i n c o sm et o l o g y an d b arb eri n g . ?Ho p efu l l y i n t h e fu t u re (w e c an ) o p en u p o u r o w n fam i l y b u si n ess,? sh e sai d .
San t a g ave h el p fu l ad v i c e t o st u d en t s w h o are c o n si d eri n g jo i n i n g t h e p ro g ram , st ressi n g t h e fac t t h at t h ere w i l l b e c h al l en g es al o n g t h e w ay
?J u st al w ay s h ave yo u r g o al i n m i n d , yo u r en d g o al an d ju st g o t h ro u g h i t ,? sh e sai d . ?Yo u c o n t ro l w h at yo u d o ?
Tat t oos st uf f eyes wi t h wonder, but t he wonder f ul l y wi cked st uf f C l ayt on L l ewel l yn creat es cr awl s i nt o t he mi nd l i ke a spi der l ayi ng eggs.
L l ewel l yn i s a t at t ooer at T he V i shuddha C reat i ves i n Sout h Park and works as an adj unct ar t i nst r uct or at M i r a C ost a and C uyamaca communi t y col l eges where he t eaches i l l ust r at i on, desi gn, dr awi ng and ar t hi st or y. H e?s al so a f ul l - t i me dad
?I grew up dr awi ng pi ct ures of babi es on spi kes,? j oked L l ewel l yn, l ovi ngl y cr adl i ng hi s ei ght - week- ol d daught er ?I ?m a j ust a 43- year- ol d got h ki d.?
L l ewel l yn hel pi ng Ryan open V i shuddha
C reat i ves i n 2010
?I t aught hi m dr awi ng and he t aught me t at t ooi ng,? L l ewel l yn sai d. ?Ryan i s one of my bi ggest i nf l uences st i l l
?O ur shop i s a non- compet i t i ve space. I ?m al ways aski ng hi m f or i nput , ?W hat do you t hi nk about t hi s???
L l ewel l yn l i kes N i kko H ur t ado t at t oos. H e?s al so i nt o l i ne work and t he G er man t r ash pol ka st yl e devel oped by Si mone Pf af f and Vol ker M erschky.
T he ar t i st pai nt s a por t r ai t of hi msel f dr awi ng at age t wo, but hi s vor aci ous passi on f or ar t devel oped i n t he 1990s when he at t ended San D i ego C i t y C ol l ege
L l ewel l yn?s f avor i t e prof essors were YC K i m and D ebor ah Babyl on, t he l at er of whom i s now a col l eague at C uyamaca.
H e t r ansf erred t o SD SU ?s ar t progr am and ear ned hi s mast er ?s degree f rom t he San Fr anci sco A r t I nst i t ut e.
L l ewel l yn br i ef l y t aught sket chi ng f or i l l ust r at i on and communi cat i on at C i t y C ol l ege ?I ?d t ake st udent s out i n t he communi t y t o do sket ches of L ogan H ei ght s or t he N avy shi pyard,?L l ewel l yn sai d.
L l ewel l yn?s f r i endshi p wi t h an aspi r i ng
t at t ooer, C hr i st opher Ryan, a st udent he t aught dr awi ng at Sout hwest er n, l ed t o L l ewel l yn
becomi ng a t at t oo ar t i st
H e st ar t ed goi ng t o Ryan f or t at t oos, becomi ng t he pupi l and t hei r f r i endshi p l ed t o
A r t i st s t hat i nspi re L l ewel l yn i ncl ude Fr anci s Bacon, Phi l H al e, Jenny Savi l l e, Rober t Rauschenberg and Pi ot r Jab?o?ski
?Jab?o?ski di d al l t he ar t f or t he vi deo game D i shonored,?L l ewel l yn sai d.
L l ewel l yn i s an avi d gamer who grew up pl ayi ng D ungeons & D r agons.
?I ?ve got al l t he ol d books,? L l ewel l yn sai d ?I was bor n i n ?76 and bought my f i rst (D & D ) set i n ?81 at t he (K obey?s) swap meet .?
N ow he pl ays Pat hf i nder wi t h a group of guys he?s known f or over a decade.
?M y f r i end moved t o M i nnesot a,? L l ewel l yn sai d ?W e st i l l FaceT i me and pl ay onl i ne over Rol l 20 on a f l at T V.?
L l ewel l yn sai d he doesn? t l i ke nut s and bol t s? he?s dr awn t o t he wonder, magi c and myst i cal aspect s of l i f e.
?I t r y t o un- know t hi ngs,? he sai d ?I ?d l i ke t o i magi ne greml i ns are r unni ng my car engi ne.
?M y phi l osophy i s t o f orget t he desi gnat i on bet ween real i t y and magi c. I real l y l i ke t he j our ney ? t he poi nt of depar t ure i n ar t .?
A monst er l ovi ng st udent of myt hol ogy and occul t i sm w i t h a f et i sh f or t eachi ng, dr aw i ng and t at t ooi ng
L l ewel l yn ut i l i zes t he di gi t al dr awi ng t echni ques he t eaches st udent s t o ease and speed up t he t at t ooi ng process, sket chi ng ever yt hi ng he does i n l ayers on an i Pad usi ng Procreat e
?I ?m t hi nki ng of get t i ng a doct or al onl i ne i n myt hol ogy and occul t i sm,? sai d L l ewel l yn. ?M y l ef t l eg i s most l y si gi l s and magi ck symbol s.
?I have an A br acadabr a t at t oo, whi ch comes f rom A r amai c. I t means: ?as I speak I creat e ?T he phr ase used i n H arr y Pot t er, A vada K edvar a, i s t he opposi t e, meani ng ?as I speak I dest roy ?
?I made t he mi ddl e C bl ue as a sor t of j oke? st are i nt o t he deep bl ue C .?
T he mesmer i zi ng A br acadabr a t at t oo gl amours t he ar m he t at t oos wi t h.
?T he t at t oo i s on my power (r i ght ) hand si de,? sai d L l ewel l yn. ?T he ot her si de (hol di ng hi s baby gi r l ) i s my prot ect or hand.?
H e?s proudest of a smal l hear t t at t oo on t he t humb on hi s prot ect or hand H i s 10- year- ol d daught er hel ped hi m t at t oo i t when she was ni ne
T he prot ect or hand mi ght have saved hi s l i f e i n 2011. A f t er V i shuddha C reat i ves? f i rst ar t show,
L l ewel l yn drove home af t er dr i nki ng
?I t was my l ast dr i nk and I cr ashed my car and basi cal l y severed my hand al l t he way t o t he bone,? sai d L l ewel l yn. ?I can pal m t hi ngs but t he hand doesn? t work
?I can use i t t o pi n down f or t at t ooi ng but not much el se Somet i mes I wi sh I had a hook,?j oked L l ewel l yn, st i l l hol di ng baby.
L l ewel l yn t hi nks t hey?ve had around 40 ar t s shows now at V i shuddha and l oves keepi ng act ual ar t on t he wal l s i nst ead of t he nor mal t at t oo f l ash t hat decor at es ot her shops.
T hei r ar t show l ast mont h, Pet al s t o
t he M et al I I , was f l owers and heavy met al t hemed O ne of t hei r previ ous ar t shows cal l ed C abi net of C ur i osi t i es, essent i al l y descr i bes t he V i shuddha
O r i gi nal l y bui l t i n 1914, t he 30t h & Fer n shop i s housed i n what was hi st or i cal l y t he Bur l i ngame G ar age, and t he decor i s f ul l of t he st r ange and unusual , f rom myt hol ogi cal obj ect s l i ke cr yst al skul l s t o unnat ur al t axi der my and magi cal masks
?Ryan i s a di ver, he col l ect s st uf f , but peopl e br i ng us st uf f t oo,? L l ewel l yn sai d ?Some of t he st uf f came f rom Paxt on G at e i n San Fr anci sco and N ecromance i n L A
?W e?ve got st uf f l i ke gi ant sl ugs, a t wo- headed chi cken and a j ar of t eet h supposedl y f rom an ol d ment al i nst i t ut i on.
?M y house i s f ul l of st uf f si mi l ar
t o t he shop? st ones t hat supposedl y came out of a dr agon' s bel l y, sper m whal e t eet h, goat skul l s, and l ot s of Jack Bur t on f rom Bi g Troubl e i n L i t t l e C hi na, my f avor i t e movi e char act er of al l t i me.?
Roal d D ahl once wrot e t hose who don? t bel i eve i n magi c wi l l never f i nd i t For L l ewel l yn magi c i sn? t al l hocus pocus because t he way t he way he sees t he wor l d? l i f e i s f ul l of magi cal moment s
?Bei ng an ar t i st i sn? t easy,? L l ewel l yn sai d. ?E ven i f I won t he l ot t er y ? I ?d st i l l t each and t at t oo.?
D isclosure: T he author is a client of L lewelyn and accepted a free tattoo in the past.
