SAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL
THE VOLUME 67, ISSUE 4
MATADOR
801 S. RAMONA STREET, SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.US
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
PHOTO BY KEN YU
Inside the Pages
News, p.2-3
Focus, p.6-7
Features, p.11
Drama club holds auditions for its spring musical.
Discover why student publishing deserves more attention at school.
Senior Raphael Lipana expresses himself through art.
2 NEWS
THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Achieve3000 program aids students in class despite difficulties PHOTO COURTESY OF JANET CHAI
Achieve3000 guides students to understand critical concepts in English and develop their reading comprehension skills through its five-step program. “Achieve3000 is a reading program targeted at our EL learners,” SDAIE/SEI teacher Janet Chai said. “The program adjusts the reading level of nonfiction articles according to a student’s Lexile score.”
BY CHELSEA LAM FOCUS EDITOR
A
chieve3000 is a program with 12 levels of lessons. It accommodates students’ Lexile reading level and assists them with their nonfiction reading and writing skills. The program was first introduced to the district in early 2017 and was implemented in the school in the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Its mission is to increase the literacy skills
of each student in one classroom, which has been shown through the improvement of students’ learning over the past years since the program was founded. “One engaging and helpful feature of Achieve3000’s 5 Routine Lesson is that it allows teachers to publish opinion polls before and after reading,” Achieve3000 representative Shelia Wells said. “The Writing Routine allows teachers to consider extending aspects of the curriculum into full-blown, formal essay assignments, which
are very helpful for application of the Writing Process.” Despite the program being present in the classroom for a few years, teachers have faced small conflicts inside the classroom as more students begin to use the program. Students have found alternate ways to get around the program to avoid putting effort into learning the material. Additionally, there are difficulties with translation which affects Lexile scores. “The reading comprehension questions are quite difficult for
students to do on their own,” SDAIE/SEI teacher Janet Chai said. “Students change the language on their laptop, which then translates the articles into their home language. This then affects the Lexile score, and the score may not accurately reflect a student’s ability. This program is also challenging, as it depends on students’ motivation to learn English.” Although the program has its issues, others have thought otherwise about its positive impacts in the classroom.
“If teachers utilize this program regularly, two to three times a week by assigning readings and activities, students’ reading levels will grow about two levels by the end of the year,” ELD Site Instructional Specialist Amy Erenay said. “This is very important for English learners and all students who are reading below [their] grade level.” Despite problems with the program, Achieve3000 helps teachers and is on its way to help students increase their Lexile scores.
MFOL promotes pre-register voting program for students March For Our Lives aims to inform students about the possibility of pre-registering in order to prepare them as they near the age of voting and give them the opportunity to impact upcoming elections. BY TAMMY VUONG BUSINESS MANAGER
To encourage youth participation in politics and elections, March For Our Lives (MFOL) is organizing Google documents, PowerPoint presentations, and a video for high school students about preregistering to vote. Voting preregistration is for students ages 16 to 17 that would like to sign up to vote before turning 18. Students have differing opinions towards pre-registering to vote. Senior Sandra Chuong agrees with the beneficial outcomes of pre-registering to vote. She says it will aid in creating a safer environment for students and future generations. “Pre-registering for teens is an integral part of introducing how impactful one’s voice is.” Senior Sandra Chuong says “Voting goes beyond swearing in a new president, it also helps make economical and environmental changes.” Pre-registering to vote allows students to take part in upcoming elections right
when they turn 18, which gives students a chance to voice their opinion. Social studies teacher and
“Pre-registering for teens is an integral part of introducing how impactful one’s voice is. Voting goes beyond swearing in a new president, it also helps make economical and environmental changes.” Sandra Chuong Senior
MFOL adviser Henry Osborne emphasizes the importance of
students pre-registering to vote. “We’re trying to increase youth participation in voting, [as] they are the most underrepresented group [of] voters in our society,” Osborne said. “With so many elections being so tightly contested, getting young people to express their political views by voting is super important. We’re trying to encourage students to take more of an active role in civic life.” Some students try to remain neutral, especially if the topic starts to get controversial. However, they still feel preregistering to vote would have an impact on teenagers and younger generations. “I personally am pretty neutral when it comes to politics, so I don’t really feel anything towards it,” junior Donnovan Hernandez said. “Teenagers are more involved in politics than adults sometimes, so it will affect them more.” Students ages 16 to 17 can pre-register to vote online through the Los Angeles County voter registry office. There is no specific deadline to pre-register.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOS.CA.GOV
The poster details how and when students can pre-register to vote. Everyone has the opportunity to pre-register as it can be done on paper or digitally.
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
THE MATADOR
NEWS 3
BRIEFS PAWS begins weekly volunteering BY KYLIE CHUNG
On Nov. 11, the school’s Promoting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) released sign-ups for volunteer opportunities at animal shelters. To volunteer, a minimum of five service hours from PAWS are required. If students meet the requirements, there are three shelters they can sign up for: Pasadena Humane Society, Sante D’or, and North Central. Each shelter has different age requirements, which are listed for students on the animal shelter interest form. Each shelter requires proof of vaccination and parental consent, and students have until Dec. 31 to sign up. For more, students can visit the club’s Instagram, @sghspaws.
District overhauls board trustee election system BY KEN YU
In 2020, the district began plans to change its current method of electing members to the Board of Trustees from an ‘at-large’ system to a ‘by-trustee area’ system, aiming to open more opportunities for Board candidates who would have been underrepresented. The current hybrid-system allows registered voters within the district’s boundaries to elect Board candidates from trustee areas. The newly proposed ‘by-trustee area’ system only allows Board candidates to be elected by voters within the trustee area the candidate runs in. The district has held two public hearings for feedback on the proposal before drafting the new trustee areas in cooperation with a professional demographer. Post-drafting hearings for further feedback will be held on Jan. 11, 18, and 22.
PHOTO BY KEN YU
Juniors Suzet Figueroa (left) and Yahir Hernandez (right) practice their singing before they audition for the prelude to “Once Upon A Mattress.” A successful audition requires that they time their voices to both the piano keys and the rhythm of the song.
“Once Upon a Mattress” arrives to musical scene The Drama Club begins production on their new musical “ Once Upon A Matress,” an adaption of the hit film “The Princess and The Pea” BY TRISTAN ING OPINIONS EDITOR
Drama teacher Kelsey McNeilly presented the musical “Once Upon a Mattress” as the latest theater production in the works. Unlike Drama club’s last production, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which had a combination of both masked and unmasked actors, the singers of “Once Upon a Mattress” will keep their masks on in order to adhere to COVID-19 safety standards. Visual and performing arts teacher Cecilia Revilla will head the musical aspects of the show. Revilla had wanted to produce this play since 2019, when she first pitched it to McNeilly. “I’m so excited.” Revilla said. “There were some plays we did over Zoom and Discord, but it’s [going to be] so much better live.” Auditions occurred
on Dec. 9 and 10 with many students trying their luck. Many auditioneers felt the pressure of performing in their audition and hope to get a role in the play. “I felt relieved [after auditions] because at least I got that out of the way,” senior Brianna Ruiz said. “I was not exactly prepared, [and] before auditioning, I was listening to the songs. Singing with a mask on is hard because, at some point, it got too close to my mouth and messed up my vocals. I’m hoping to get one of the smaller roles in the play.” + “Once Upon a Mattress” will provide a stage for students to show off their talents more effectively than on Zoom, and its large cast list allows many students to get together and have the opportunity to participate in the
production. “I try to make a space where students can have a voice, [and] make big choices and feel safe to have opinions on what the show should be like.” McNeilly said. “The main thing I wanted was a happy show with a happy ending. I chose [this musical] because, ultimately, it is a show about a community of people who feel trapped, coming together to set themselves free. I think that feeling trapped and needing to come together are themes that we can all relate to after the past two years.” The show is planned to run on April 15, 16, 20, and 22. Following health guidelines, there will be an audience limit of approximately 150 people, with members sitting in their own private sections in order to maintain social distance.
ASAP returns to campus BY JUSTIN FANG
The program After School Academic Progress (ASAP) has returned to the school and is available to students who need assistance in their science and math classes. Jennifer Wright (E212) is available on Mondays and Thursdays for regular and AP Environmental Science and AP Biology. Robert Johnson (E107) and Patrick Waugh (E213) can teach regular Biology, with Waugh open on Tuesdays and Johnson open on Wednesdays and Thursday. Ryan Wong (E110) is available on Monday to help those who need it in Chemistry (Honors and AP).
Winter Reading Challenge starts BY RICHARD TRAN
GRAPHIC BY ANDREW LAM
The Alhambra Library has challenged people of all ages to read more from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Based on the time spent reading, various prizes can be won. Along the way, people can complete different activities for a chance to win the grand prize. Everyone can help Alhambra reach the community goal of 150,000 minutes of reading. Sign up and get started by visiting alhambralibrary.beanstalk.org
4 OPINIONS 'Rich' literature
THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Phones fueling irresponsible behavior ILLUSTRATION BY XIAOYU FAN
American author RICHARD TRAN NEWS EDITOR
I
hated the cotton fields. In the freezing morning and in the sweltering heat, I picked cotton. As I bent down, I felt a tap on my back. Everything went black. As I looked up, I realized I was in class. My teacher was calling me, but I was too immersed in my reading to hear. That was one of many times I found myself so invested in a story that I experienced it firsthand. Reading has always captivated me by sparking my imagination and letting me learn about things I would never experience. It has also pushed me to pursue a career in English. I often got lost in libraries and the stories they guarded inside. Yet, as I grew up, I started finding American literature stale, losing my once fanatical desire to read. In search of something new, I turned to the internet. Asian books became my main reading sources. As I read these books, I found myself hating who the main character was, but I slowly grew to love them as they developed into someone fit to fill their role. As I saw the faults within the characters I read about, it made me more aware of my own faults and motivated me to fix them. After overcoming my own struggles, I found myself captivated by American literature again. I was able to understand and sympathize with the problems portrayed in American literature. I could put myself into the shoes of the characters I read about. Reading has also helped me be more understanding. Because of it, I learned to consider everyone’s perspective in a situation. When I argue with someone, I try to take a step back and look beyond the moment to better understand the situation. By doing so, I clear my mind and find a solution rather than erupting with frustration. As an aspiring English teacher, I want to help others find their love for English, like I did through books. I always felt like I lived vicariously through the books I read, giving me an escape from the real world. I lived as a knight, a magician, and a war refugee, rather than a kid with no friends. I want to pass on my love for reading, so they can get lost in countless stories, just as I do daily.
Staff Stance
Cell phones harmful to academic learning
P
hones are like bricks. While they are good for developing the foundation of relationships, they can just as easily be harmful towards students. The fragile, easily distracted minds of students are like windows. When the two elements collide, damage is caused. When students use their phones, unrestrained their metaphorical window gets shattered. Phones affect students' attention spans. It also affects them socially, as the temptation of their phones makes it harder and less interesting to talk to other people, including friends and classmates. Students who depend on their phone will find it harder to pay attention in class. Inperson learning does not do them any favors; constant use of their phones leads to decreased attentiveness and difficulty
MATADOR BULLRING Students share their opinions on current topics.
Do you feel using phones in class frequently disrupts learning?
following directions. Because humans are social creatures, interacting with others is beneficial to critical thinking. However, using phones during such interactions harms that skill. Phone usage has become so common in conversations that the usual feelings of reservation and mindfulness attributted to social interactions go out the window. In conversations falling back to the phone has become a no-brainer especially when it becomes hard to hold that conversation. In that case, students end up isolating themselves from others to avoid any sort of interaction, dissuading students from taking any sort of risk talking to others in class. Despite the damaging effect phones have on students, it is illogical to live life without them due to their convenience. Phones can really help students get through the day, either by helping them stay in touch
Celest Luviano, 9 "I noticed students using their phones more in class. When I look around the class, everyone is less engaged with the curriculum and the teacher.”
with friends or enabling them to research topics on a more portable device. However, that should not mean that it is okay to use the phone costantly when the usage interferes with a student’s education. Close dependency on phones leads to negative effects on a students’ psyche. The solution is to limit screen time on the phone. Most phones have built-in features capable of such a task. Limiting screen time is beneficial to students because learning restraint at a young age will translate well into their futures. While the phone can offer up a lot in the form of entertainment and connection, a lot of the time spent with it should really be better used building up real experiences and moments. They have to be made organically, which means Googling or swiping through videos will definitely not suffice.
Tammy Huong, 10 “It's hypocritical for me to say this because I use my phone in class, [but] there’s been a lack of focus. I feel like as long as [people] do their work, they’ll be okay.”
Diego Martinez, 11
Ryan Giberti, 12
“With distance learning, kids are now just used to being on technology more. I think kids being on their phone is just going to happen all the time now.”
“It’s a lot more frequent. Back then, you would only have one, two, or three [people]. Now, you probably get about half the class. I think it definitely affects them in a negative way.”
INTERVIEWS BY LYNDA LAM PHOTOS BY KEN YU
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE STAFF.
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
OPINIONS 5
THE MATADOR
Campus supervisors disrespect students
'Fan'tastic piano
Although some campus supervisors develop strong bonds with students, there are outliers who abuse their authority over students and scold them over trivial offenses. BY NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR
F
or years, campus supervisors have blatantly disrespected students with a complete abuse of the power imbalance they have over students. A wakeup call is desperately needed for a workforce that has never been kept in line by anybody, and the school needs to take measures to make sure that these workers support, not attack, the student body. Campus supervisors do not keep problems from happening; they actively seek them out. When a student does something miniscule, the scolding that follows is usually filled with condescending, belittling language that escalates the situation. The student is always put in a spot where they have to either take a blatant attack on their character or escalate a simple situation. If a student responds at all, they are labeled as disrespectful, rebellious, and a dictionary’s worth of negative words. School teaches children to treat people the way they want to be treated and capmus supervisors should follow suit.
The behavior of campus supervisors has created a lingering fear amongst the student body. At school, more than anywhere else, students deserve to feel safe. When even the smallest mistake, like forgetting an ID when leaving early, can get them a long, grueling scolding by a supervisor, the feeling is the exact opposite of safety. Admittedly, some campus supervisors are nice people and do their job well, and even seem to really know students personally, shown through high-fives and fist bumps. However, the minority of campus supervisors that are nice people do not justify the majority of them that are problematic on campus. The school can easily solve this problem by creating a stricter code of conduct for campus supervisors and creating a streamlined system for students to report problems with supervisors. The students, teachers, and administration at the school have worked hard to create a loving, mutually respectful school environment, and it is time that campus supervisors follow suit to maintain that environment.
Talking notes XIAOYU FAN FEATURES EDITOR
I ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN ING
New district fundraising policy inconviences clubs
XIAOYU FAN FEATURES EDITOR
Recently, the district implemented a new policy requiring that all fundraising activities begin at 4 p.m. instead of just right after school like before. When the policy came out, many clubs were confused and disappointed because the policy made it difficult to capitalize on the rush of students leaving school. This policy has brought great inconvenience to clubs and students and must be reversed. The change in fundraising start time hurts clubs because the time immediately after school is usually the most popular time for fundraising business. If clubs wait until 4 p.m. to do fundraising, many students will have already been picked up and taken home, meaning that the club will lose many potential customers. With fewer customers, starting fundraising at 4 p.m. will greatly reduce the amount of money that the club could make, which is unfavorable to club development. If a club raises less money, it will be harder for them to purchase gear and prepare cords for graduating students. Gear and cords can help strengthen the
ILLUSTRATION BY XIAOYU FAN
bond between club members and act as an incentive to stay within the club. Thus, taking away funds for these things can jeopardize a club's longevity. The shortage of funds may lead to the failure of the club to operate normally and face the dilemma of losing club members and the dissolution of the club. One can say that starting fundraising immediately after school will raise safety and overcrowding issues. The chaos that stems from overcrowding can affect students safely getting picked up. However, clubs have done this before. To avoid concern sabout safety on the day of the fundraiser, the club cabinet can organize and let students line up so as not to cause a disordered situation. In addition, the fundraising location can be away from the parking lot to avoid unsafe conditions due to its close proximity to the road. In order to promote club success, the school district should abandon this policy and change the fundraising time of clubs back to the same as before. In this way, clubs will be more motivated to hold fundraising to raise more funds, so club members can enjoy better benefits.
THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print News Editors Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editor Sports Editor Features Editors Copy Editor Business Managers Digital Editor Reporter Adviser
Andrew Lam Ken Yu Jeremy Gutierrez Richard Tran Tristan Ing Nan Jiang Chelsea Lam Lynda Lam Adwik Chaturvedi Joseph Cho Xiaoyu Fan Mytam Le Justin Fang Laura Cai Tammy Vuong Katelyn Lau Kylie Chung Hanna Jalawan
The Matador is published monthly online and bi-monthly on print by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 800 copies per issue are published at CA WEB PRINT Inc. The Matador is a public forum for student expression and highly encourages responses in reaction to issues discussed in the paper. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, not the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are the opinion of the entire staff. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested) to Ms. Jalawan’s email: jalawan_hanna@ausd.us.
met my best friend, the piano, when I was five years old. During practice, I seemed to be naturally skilled with it and was often praised by my teachers. I could play nearly every tune as I practiced over the years. The piano matters so much to me because it has witnessed my growth. My favorite childhood memories are connected to playing classical music on the piano at big events such as elementary school graduation and New Year concerts. In addition, it is the piano that helped me get through some difficulties. In 2019, I came to the United States without my piano, starting a completely new life. I felt lonely and had a hard time fitting in because of language barriers and unfamiliarity with the environment. Fortunately, one of my classmates, Kaiyi, invited me to her singing program because she heard that I could play the piano. Initially, I was hesitant and was afraid to make a fool of myself. But the moment I saw the piano in the rehearsal room, my heart began to beat so fast. It was as if there was an inner voice from the piano calling, “Hey, Xiaoyu. I’ve really missed you!” I sat in front of it, playing "Für Elise" as if I have stepped into wonderland. Through weeks of practice, I and other music lovers became a real team, and their encouragement and company helped me regain my confidence. Thanks to the piano, I was better connected with my classmates, made friends, and, more importantly, gained confidence in my life in the U.S. In the meantime, my outlook on life took shape because of the piano. I attended church and played the piano accompaniment during the services in the 10th grade. Although I am not religious, seeing the praying people smiling and immersed in my music showed me that music offered them relief. Through church, I’ve learned that music knows no borders. The power of piano can heal people's hearts, and as a piano enthusiast, I was motivated to contribute to the enjoyment and happiness of those around me at that time. Unfortunately, I haven’t practiced piano in a while because of work and I am beginning to realize that I might lose my love for the piano if this continues. The fear of losing it makes me anxious and guilty. Looking back, getting involved in music was unbelievably incredible for me, and it was about time I returned to playing my beloved piano and enjoying the glamorous stories that the music vividly painted.
THE MATADOR
6 FOCUS
preparing to publish
Chatting with student writer Adwik Chaturvedi Q:
Q:
Q:
HOW DOES
a writer just go about finding a genre? Does he just go write all of them or read every one?
WHAT IS
your biggest tip to getting started to becoming a writer?
HOW DID
you realize that you wanted to get up and write a novel?
to hear the rest visit .com/sghs-matador
INTERVIEW BY KEN YU GRAPHICS BY LYNDA LAM, MYTAM LE, CHELSEA LAM
A:
A:
A:
I say go with what you’re interested in. If you’re interested in history, but you want to write fiction, you can make historical fiction. It depends on what you like as a person and who you are and how easily you can make your writing flow. There’s one big thing people are afraid of, that’s writing in general. Like, how do you write? Writing is a huge task, right? There’s so many things that go into it. It’s super hard to keep to do and keep track of everything. One huge tip would be to read a lot. Just get advice from people. They could be your friends, they could be your family members. It doesn’t matter. Just get advice. And once all of that advice accumulated, you start seeing how you are as a writer. I started talking to my friend about stuff. Since I already did some writing, it started with a detective series. I went ‘Oh, I could do something like this’. There’s a French guy and conflict between how he’s an outsider compared to the world of Victorian London. Then the idea started to flow more and more, and I got more ideas.
or scan the code
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
FOCUS 7
THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Student publishing deserves recognition ADWIK CHATURVERDI LIFE AND ART EDITOR
“You are still young” is a very prominent phrase that is used against students aspiring to chase their dreams. It might be true, but it is not exactly right. More than ever, there is an increase of students getting into the field of writing. Yet the world still seems to facilitate the notion that student publishing does not deserve much respect, as it is not of the same caliber as published pieces by adult writers. It might take time to change this mindset, but it is important to understand that student publishing should be taken more seriously. Creativity can be represented in a variety of mediums. One of the best ways creators can show their creativity is through writing. Characterization, world building, and creating a story out of them are some of the most important parts of writing, serving as ways for students to exercise their artistry. Thus,
when student writers produce original pieces, they should be taken seriously. Most writers are understandably afraid of publishing their writing because of the long and complicated process. Acknowledging student writers can serve as motivation for others to publicize their work. More writers can help improve the diversity of the writing community and provide student writers new experiences about the writing process. As a result, an increase of students publishing their work can influence other students to take risks in order to achieve their dreams. As time passes, the world and society changes for better or for worse. Students are quick to learn about these changes through social media or other platforms, all of which influence the way they view societies, cultures, and people in general. This influence can bleed into one’s way of writing. Thus, student writers can pave the way for modern writing as
their work will come from a more contemporary lens. Although publishing students’ work can be a great way to support students, it is understandable as to why many do not take them seriously. Student writers are still inexperienced and have much to learn about writing. Advanced skills are not always taught in middle or high school, which leads to a lack of being a capable writer. However, in this day and age, many students have access to a variety of resources that can help them with learning about writing as a whole. Thus, acquiring different techniques and skills can be done by any individual, regardless of grade level or age. Student writers deserve more attention for their creativity, ability to inspire others, and their modern take on what a writer should be. They can become the difference between literature being abandoned in its past or advancement for a new generation of writers.
8 LIFE AND ART
THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
a cheery winter concert
lights out Senior Alvin Ye (right) acts out a scene with a ginger bread man along with other materials. “I think everyone has a little bit of nervousness [when performing], but what I do with [it] is I put it into how I perform,” Ye said. “You can use that feeling of being nervous in your voice to sound happier, [sadder], or angry” Ye feels quite satisfied with the show and hopes the audience liked it. “I think it went pretty well, as long as the audience liked it in my opinion. Things I would do differently are a lot of picky stuff and personal mistakes I made but other than that I think it was a good performance as a whole. Both Band and Drama did great.”
‘twas santa! Sophomore Alyssa Silva (right) excitedly points far away during the performance of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” “What we could have done differently is perhaps do a full fluent rehearsal as if we were performing so any wrinkles could be ironed out,” Silva said. “It would have helped with some of the problems, but overall [the show] was great.” As one of her first performances, collaborating with the band was a new experience for Silva. “It was nice. We didn’t have much actual collaboration besides the final rehearsal,” Silva said. “However it was personally my first time hearing them play and it was lovely. Our school has a really good band.”
a ‘note’-able act Senior Rachel Tran (left) prepares her pieces of music while waiting to play the next few songs of the concert. “I was a bit sad, yet relieved, that this was the last Winter concert I would be performing at,” Tran said. “Now that I’m done with all these holiday tunes, I can start focusing on learning newer music. However, I’ll still miss being able to perform these fun Christmas songs with my fellow band members.” As a senior, Tran’s previous experience performing helped with her nervousness. “I was a bit nervous to be performing again after such a long time, but after the first song, the familiarity of performing at a concert came back and all my nerves were gone,” Tran said.
PHOTOS BY KEN YU
LIFE AND ART 9
THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
Encanto repeats Disney formula
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Hip-hop glorifies misogyny NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR
A
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY
In Encanto, Abuela tells the story of how the city and house was created with Mirabel experiencing it herself. BY JOSEPH CHO SPORTS EDITOR
D
isney’s Encanto is a musical comedy about the Madrigal family and their magical powers and how it affects their family dynamic. With a relatable story and catchy songs, Encanto is a great Disney movie. Underneath their perfect exterior, each member of the Madrigal family is bursting with unspoken and unresolved trauma. The pressure to live up to their “abuela’s” (grandmother’s) expectations is too much for the characters to bear. However, the story of each Madrigal is expanded upon by songs that set back the
film’s narrative. Despite this, Encanto is the movie to see if one enjoys catchy songs and sorrowful stories. Encanto follows Mirabel, a girl who did not receive magical powers like the rest of her family. The plot focuses on family stability and how the actions of others can affect anyone around them. The family’s magic is maintained by an unmelting candle, but it is threatened by a mysterious source. Mirabel must explore her family’s history and her relationships with relatives to get to the bottom of the mystery. Although Encanto is an attention grabber, there are a few moments that might force viewers
to stop watching. Each song tells the characters’ problems and their feelings toward the family, which further builds the storyline. Yet, with a total of eight songs in the movie, it sometimes seems as if the music comes in at the wrong time. This distracts the audience from the main plot, such as in the song “Surface Pressure” sung by Luisa. The scene suddenly shifts to Luisa holding the Earth but then later jumping into clouds. After the song is done Luisa just says, “Go to Bruno’s tower.” Most viewers would expect some more content from Luisa right after the song. The songs were very catchy, however, and it gave a mixture of hip-hop and rich culture. Encanto focuses more on
the music and animation during the songs rather than the beautiful narrative. Although Encanto is an awesome film, it is just another Disney movie. A majority of Disney movies include emotional scenes, then some music to lighten the mood, and then back to more emotional scenes. Since the release of Frozen, the format has become quite stale and offers little to the audience. Every scene is predictable, and soon, the entire film starts to become less enjoyable. Encanto follows the same concept causing it to lose its thrill. Despite its flaws, I would still recommend watching Encanto because of its enchanting narrative, family themes, and neat animations.
Winter foods to warm your heart, fill your stomach JEREMY GUTIERREZ NEWS EDITOR
If there is one thing that people enjoy doing, it is making traditions. In the cold winds of the winter months, it is inevitable that people crave warmth. One method of staying warm, aside from starting a fire, is food. Hot drinks are a common form of warm foods, such as the multinational hot chocolate. The sweet drink originated in Mesoamerica and is enjoyed during winter to this day. In Mexico, the drink is called “champurrado,” which is made of “masa” (corn dough), “piloncillo” (shaped cane sugar), Mexican chocolate, water or milk, cinnamon, and star anise.
Soups and stews are often eaten as well. They are hearty and filling, as well as easily made. Chicken noodle soup is an easy-to-find meal, even canned, and fairly cheap as well. It is the go-to food during the cold and rain or when one is sick with a cold or an upset stomach. Soups are not limited to the cultural West either. During the winter holidays, Ethiopians eat a lamb stew known as “yebeg wot.” The meat is fatty and tender due to a high-calorie diet given to the lambs, and is accompanied by onions, tomatoes, garlic, “kibbeh” (Ethiopian butter), berbere spice mix, and various spices. The highlight of winter, to those with a sweet tooth, is the myriad of desserts. Cookies,
“A MUG OF HOT CHOCOLATE AND A BOOK” CC/BY CC0 1.0, ALISA ANTON
A hot mug of sweet chocolate is essential to warm up on a cold day. Cuddle up with a blanket and a book, and the perfect winter scene is set.
cakes, and more are stuck in the oven, waiting to be enjoyed with anticipation. In America, gingerbread cookies are one of the most well-known symbols of winter, usually accompanied by a gingerbread house. Fruitcake is another. One of the most unique winter desserts is the Yule log, a rolled cake made to resemble an actual Yule log, a hunk of wood burned during winter among some European pagan traditions. The actual cake is sponge and is iced using
a chocolate buttercream. It is most common in European countries, such as France. What all these foods have in common is their ability to bring people together, especially as many of these foods are made during holidays when extended family comes together. Whether it is a family meal, a hot drink, or a delicious snack, it takes a lot effort to bake or cook something over long hours, and to do so for family is the ultimate act of love.
gainst the backdrop of protests, petitions, and an increasingly politically active teen demographic, the new decade has spurred the progression of equal rights in the country. Centuries-long institutions have been challenged for being sexist, but the world’s most blatantly misogynistic subculture, hip-hop, has remained uncriticized. Ever since hip-hop’s creation, it has rewarded artists for objectifying women, and doing so has become a staple of the genre and the daily lives of rappers. In 2021, it is inappropriate, backwards, and erases decades of civil rights advancements made by women. The most disturbing display of toxic masculinity is shown through the lives of rappers, where their lyrics spill over into real life. Future, the pioneer of the famous “for the streets” label to describe unloyal women, has since had children with eight women. When a man who has had children with eight different women becomes the poster child for fighting unloyalty in relationships, it shows the frightening influence of hip-hop in silently degrading the rights of women and the power imbalance between men and women in a society that has come to love hiphop. In modern America, girls grow up listening to music that objectifies them and grow up with unrealistic body images in order to try and fit the perfect description of a woman in hip-hop. This is projected to a grand scale through female hip-hop artists. When “WAP” by Cardi B rode the airwaves in 2020, it was the result of a whole generation of women having these standards forced onto them, and even making a song, marking their conformity to the patriarchy that ultimately only sees them as things of pleasure. Most hip-hop fans see this as only a form of creative expression in an age where artistic control is so broad. However, if the only creative output an artist can put out is sexism, maybe they should stop making art. Using the same ideas and lyrics over and over again, especially if it attacks half the planet, is lazy at best and extremely bigoted at worst. Students are increasingly active in social issues, but supporting these artists while campaigning under the banner of equal rights is hypocritical and counterintuitive. Students should take a more active voice in combating casual sexism in their daily entertainment and rethink who they want to support.
10 SPORTS
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
THE MATADOR
Winter Sports SEASON PREVIEW Basketball
Soccer
Boys
Boys
SUMMARY: “The team has worked since the summer to prepare themselves for their games,” senior center Tyrone Rafanan said. “We have put in many hours of practice to develop our skills to raise our chances at victory. In order for our teamwork to become better, our group would go out to get some food and hang out with each other. We get a better understanding of each other off the court, and that understanding translates to teamwork on the court.”
SUMMARY: “We’re not doing the best, but we’re gaining experience and confidence for the season,” senior midfielder Tony Barreto said. “We just have to see what happens.”
(13) Senior Raphael Lipana warms up with a few practice to prepare for the next game.
PROGRESS: “It’s been a little hard. We’ve just been gaining our trust with each other. We need to learn how to communicate and we’re working on all that,” Barreto said. “But, mostly during practice, we’re usually communicating. When we do our jog afterschool before practice, we’re usually talking to each other while running. Some of us do hang out after school with each other. Right now we’re trying to get it back and put in that work.”
PROGRESS: “[To] be honest, our team is very raw in its current state,” Rafanan said. “Many of the younger players are talented, but they still need some more refinement before they can truly shine on the court. For what we need right now though, we need to learn to listen to our coaches better and to learn from our mistakes. Sometimes, we don’t pay attention to our coaches enough, and as a result of that many mistakes will be made.”
GOALS: “Because of the pandemic, we lost a whole year in soccer and none of us really played,” Barreto said. “Hopefully, we make the playoffs and have a good season and a fun season.”
GOALS: “This year, I hope for my teammates to have fun, and for the younger players to develop themselves as much as they could and then some more,” Rafanan said. “It’s a shame I won’t be able to play with the younger guys anymore when I graduate but I will be there in the future cheering for them and wishing for their success.”
Girls SUMMARY: “Preseason has been pretty good. In the beginning, we were all kind of struggling because I feel like losing has an effect on the next day like ‘Oh we’re not doing good.’ But, we’ve been winning lately and that’s because we had patience and communication,” senior midfielder Alexis Alas said. “For that to work, it’s not one person, it’s everybody on the team because without a team, you can’t win. I feel like just being patient with our progress, we can do great things.”
Girls SUMMARY: “It’s been a rough preseason so far. We need to work on our dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, defense, and general athleticism,” senior point gaurd Tammy Si said. “Our weakness right now is just basketball. We need to improve at basketball.” PROGRESS: “We have practice every day and the weekend for about two hours a day,” Si said. “We have played a couple preseason games and participated in some tournaments.” GOALS: “I hope we can win a couple of games and make it to CIF,” Si said. “We are improving right now though so hopefully we can continue the upward trajectory.”
Senior point guard Tammy Si dribbles the ball in a girls varsity game against El Rancho yesterday.
PROGRESS: “When it comes to teamwork, it depends on our connection. We don’t really see each other as a team but as family,” Alas said. “We’ve all been playing together for four years now. It just depends on each person and how we treat each other not as players but as a family. Patience too. Patience comes slowly. If you just wait and see your improvement together as a team, I feel like you guys will achieve your goal together.” GOALS: “For the season, our goal is to keep working hard and hopefully make CIF this year,” Alas said. “Currently in our rankings, we’re third place, so, I’m pretty sure if we work together with our coaches, that’ll play a significant part because if you have a good coach, you have a good team.”
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
THE MATADOR
FEATURES 11 PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAPHAEL LIPANA
Senior Raphael Lipana is painting his fourth masterpiece for AP Drawing about political bias. His dedication will help his career path, as he strives to become an art professor and aid younger generations in discovering their own unique artistic abilities (left).
Lipana cracks into creative expression Senior Raphael Lipana dicovers his newfound love for art and begins to pursue it. BY TAMMY VUONG BUSINESS MANAGER
G
rinning from ear to ear, moving the paintbrush stroke by stroke, and slowly painting detail by detail to perfection, senior Raphael Lipana’s biggest aspiration is to become an artist. Lipana has grown much as an artist, practicing different styles of art, like surrealism, abstract, and realism. At a young age, Lipana has been interested in various aspects of art, ranging from
its aesthetics and form to its representation and expression. He started to gain interest after collecting different mythological books about dragons, dinosaurs, and monsters. Lipana used the books as a reference as he spent hours drawing the different creatures. Art continued to be one of his favorite hobbies to do, especially during quarantine. “I love everything about art,” Lipana said. “The colors, patterns, techniques, and just the overall creative freedom in art. I love dissecting and analyzing other people’s
artwork. Art helps me see the best in everyone and every situation.” Lipana became more passionate about art after discovering the depth behind it. He began doing his research about the variety of art forms and genres. Learning the meaning behind art helped him connect with others and vice versa. Lipana also takes his time to study different artists and their techniques in hopes of improving his skills and his understanding of art. “I admire the style Van Gogh uses,” Lipana said. “Each stroke
is meaningful, and there isn’t complete blending used, so it shows all the colors in each piece. I like M.C. Escher’s work, too, because of the complexity in his use of multiple vanishing points, which gives an art piece so many more levels of viewpoints and dimensions.” Lipana further pursued his dream by posting his artwork on an art Instagram account (@raphaels_artstudio) he created about three years ago to monitor his art growth. He additionally is taking AP Drawing this school year and plans to continue his passion
for art by becoming an art teacher in the future. “I started an Instagram art account just for fun and to see how much I’ve progressed in the few years I’ve committed to drawing,” Lipana said. “I was recommended by Ms. Jung to transfer into AP Art. Jumping into that class was scary because I saw the great works of many other students, and it made me question my ability. Learning new techniques, basics, and principles of drawing give me so much joy, unlocking my creative freedom in each piece I make.”
Vogel connects flights, connects with others MYTAM LE FEATURES EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF JORDAN VOGEL
English teacher Jordan Vogel enjoys a traditional German breakfast with his parents, wife, and some German family friends in Recklinghausen, Germany.
Walking through the streets of Recklinghausen, Germany, he feels a sense of comfort. The small streets, local stores, and most of all, the people, created a homey environment. As he continues his morning walk, he feels almost as though he has always lived in the small town. English teacher Jordan Vogel has been traveling ever since he was born. Because family and friends lived across the country, road trips were a basic necessity to his family. The long trips provided time for Vogel and his family to create memories solidifying their bond. “From the time I was a little kid, I traveled across the country,” Vogel said. “As a kid, some of my favorite memories are with family members— goofing around in the backseat on a road trip with my sister or getting to hang out with my cousins.” His love for traveling has only grown since. As an adult, Vogel
has visited about 42 different states and various countries such as Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Italy, Germany, and France.
“The things that are familiar to us can be great,but there’s so many other things— places, food, and history— that we don’t realize or don’t get the chance to experience.” Jordan Vogel English teacher Similar to his younger self, traveling has continued to allow Vogel to connect with his loved ones. He continues to explore the world with his wife and
has found that their bond has strengthened as they explore different cultures. “Trying new food, going on adventures allows you to get to know people much better,” Vogel said. “As my wife and I were dating, something that has helped us connect in visiting new places or visiting places that were special to each of us like from when we were kids or with our families.” In addition to connecting to his family, Vogel has found that traveling broadened his perspective on the world. From these experiences, he is glad that he has had the privilege of learning about different cultures, which he hopes to share with his future kids. “I think it’s really easy to get stuck in our own little bubbles and our own routines and our own,” Vogel said. “The things that are familiar to us can be great, but there’s so many other things—places, food, and history—that we don’t realize or we don’t get the chance to experience.”
thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
THE MATADOR
12 FEATURES
Gomez learns self-love through college advising BY TAMMY VUONG BUSINESS MANAGER
L
aying back, exhausted from a full day of reading over and giving feedback to Personal Insight Question responses, college adviser Jennifer Gomez reminisced of the time that she was a student. However, compared to the students who highly anticipated success, she was the complete opposite. Gomez became motivated to be a college adviser after her amazing past experiences with college advisers and counselors. With their advice, she was motivated to attend college to become who she is now. She hopes to be just as useful to current students. “I wanted to be a resource and advocate for students with whom I identified: first-generation, low-
income, historically disadvantaged students, and families who are brought up with the idea of pursuing an education or finding a job beyond high school, but are not sure where to look, where to start, or who to ask,” Gomez said. Because she came from a lowincome immigrant family, Gomez did not feel that she deserved to become a successful person. At a young age, she was taught to keep her head down. Over time, she developed imposter syndrome, feelings of self-doubt towards one’s own accomplishments. “I grew up believing I didn’t belong in certain rooms, or I did not fit the description of success,” Gomez said. “Success to me at the time meant having a good job, stable income, having a nice house, nice cars, traveling the world, getting a driver’s license, and, overall, not having to be afraid to live life. Growing up, I
never had an example of someone who was ‘successful.’” However, Gomez is currently healing and learning about her own identity, allowing her to grow, especially this past year as a college adviser. She continues to be inspired by students who constantly strive for a better future and learns to believe in herself more because of them. “I saw a reflection of myself in many students,” Gomez said. “I found myself often telling [students] ‘Don’t overthink it!’ Sometimes we get caught up thinking about the what-ifs, the unknown, and worrying about the future, that we forget to live in the moment. With time, I have learned that I belong in all the places I am and all the places I will go. I’ve put in the work, and it is now manifesting itself in everything I do.”
College adviser Jennifer Gomez graduated from Cal State University, Los Angeles with a bachelor degree in Child Development in May this year. She enjoys spending time listening and giving advice to students.“ As cliche as it sounds, the students here all inspire me to be better,” Gomez said.
Branching into a new direction Olivera finds his halo for school KYLIE CHUNG REPORTER
Coming home from a long day of school, junior Angel Olivera sits down at his table. He sets down his phone and pulls out his homework. While it may not seem much, Olivera was not always like this. In freshmen year, Olivera would often neglect his educational responsibilities. Instead, he spent much of his time on his phone, playing video games, usually disregarding his homework and studying. Additionally, it was hard to focus in class. “I didn’t like thinking about school, so I didn’t try my freshman
GRAPHICS BY MYTAM LE PHOTOS BY HANNA JALAWAN, MYTAM LE PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER GOMEZ
year,” Olivera said. “I thought school was very boring. I didn’t enjoy math, English, and science because I wasn’t paying attention.” His grades were noticeably lackluster, which brought the attention of Olivera’s father. After several talks with his father, Olivera began to change his habits, bringing up his graddes. “My dad would go into my room, sit down, and talk to me,” Olivera said. “He would say, ‘You shouldn’t be having this type of grade. I know you don’t like school, but you still have to try your best because you still have to graduate if you want to get somewhere in life.’” As he continues to thrive in school, Olivera plans to graduate and attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Olivera hopes to make his family proud by following in his father’s footsteps by becoming a plumbing contractor. “Honestly, the biggest step that helped me in school was my dad motivating me,” Olivera said “It was knowing that Dad was out there on my side to back me up. That’s what I needed to really just push through.”
Teloxa tells of hope, determination KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Cheers bounce off the walls framed with college posters as another person steps away from a list taped to the wall and a new name is added. Junior Daisy Teloxa watches excitedly. The following year, her name would be on that list with “Cal State Fullerton” right next to it. Teloxa’s transition to high school was not easy. The different school environment and lesson complexity posed a challenge to her as she struggled to adjust. “When I [was] a freshman, I was nervous,” Teloxa said. “My siblings [helped], which was amazing. My
mom always wanted the best for me and my sister too. [She] is younger than me, and knowing that she looks [up to] me pushes me to want to be better, so she knows that she can do well [too].” Although she found support in her family, adapting to the workload was difficult. She aimed to make the most of her opportunities by joining the college preparation program “Pursuing Our Dreams through Education and Responsibility” (PODER). “You get to know everyone there,” Teloxa said. “They’re a second family. We spend a lot of time together and the class helps me with knowing where I want to go.” Through PODER, Teloxa not only realized her own potential for success, but the potential for everyone’s success. Teloxa strives to set herself as a role model in seizing opportunities and applying herself to school. “Somebody told me, ‘Shoot for the moon and you may land in the stars,’” Teloxa said. “Shooting high is [an important] goal because even if we don’t make it, we will land somewhere, wherever that is.”