The Matador: Issue 2 - October 28, 2021

SAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL

THE VOLUME 67, ISSUE 2

MATADOR

801 S. RAMONA STREET, SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776

WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.US

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

charging back: matadors tackle school life again

PHOTO BY KEN YU

Inside the Pages

News, p.2-3

After the death of School Community Coordinator Hoi Vinh, the school pays respect and shares his legacy.

Focus, p.6-7

Follow environmental science teacher Jennifer Wright’s journey on becoming more sustainable.

Features, p.12

Spanish teacher Sonia Schecter overcomes obstacles to make the American Dream her reality.

2 NEWS

THE MATADOR

brave

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

noble generous

influential

compassionate

kindhearted

honorable

family-man

hardworking admired

approachable inspiring strong warm

helpful loved

In Memoriam JANUARY 1, 1944 – OCTOBER 1, 2021

Honoring the memory of Hoi Vinh The Matador staff is deeply saddened by the passing of Hoi Vinh. We send our condolences to his family and friends who are dealing with this unfortunate event. Hoi Vinh was an influence on the school community and his efforts to help the school were duly appreciated. He will be missed.

PHOTO BY KATHERINE HUANG

Due to an unexpected brain aneurysm, School Community Coordinator Hoi Vinh passed away on Oct. 1.

Before Vinh emigrated from Vietnam to the U.S., he volunteered at refugee camps, translating important information for the refugees. He continued to help others by working at the school translating in Vietnamese for students, teachers, and parents. Vinh emmigrated to the U.S. in 1979 with his brother and his family. Even in a new country, he continued to work hard to help others. Vinh began to work at the school in 1984. He was well known in the office among his coworkers. Although Vinh had not shown previous health issues, he collapsed on Sept. 13 while getting ready to go to work. He was then rushed to Garfield Hospital where he stayed for two weeks. Vinh’s funeral took place on Oct. 15, which his family and coworkers attended. Vinh believed in not being indebted to anyone, thus Vinh’s family will not be accepting money donations. However, those who wish to contribute are able to send flowers or share a memory on Vinh’s obituary at rosehills.com.

“I have known Mr. Vinh for over 30 years. Mr. Vinh really enjoyed working with the families and staff at SG. He would always look forward to meeting with his Viet club and have their end of the semester potlucks. He was always willing to help. I would like to share this picture of Mr. Vinh hard at work.”

-Beatriz Macias, School Community Coordinator “I have known Hoi Vinh since 1986, when I started working at SGHS. He was a quiet man, fast walker, and always willing to assist students. When Hoi shared about his past, I learned so many things about him and never looked at him or life the same way. I learned he was a man of great courage and had a heart that never stopped growing. He did not let his past stop him from making a future better and kinder for us all. Despite the challenges he endured, he continued to always look forward and have a real impact on the lives of many. He helped so many students navigate through high school and into college. He certainly had an impact on my personal life. How he lived his life will always inspire me to be a better human being. I had the chance to tell him that ‘Some people’s legacies are written on monuments, but yours will be written on lives.’ Hoi, You will be missed.”

-Sabrina Morales, English teacher WRITTEN BY CHELSEA LAM INTERVIEWS BY LYNDA LAM PHOTO COURTESY OF BEATRIZ MACIAS

NEWS 3

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

BRIEFS California COVID-19 rent program begins second round

BY KEN YU

The California COVID-19 Rent program’s second round of funding began on Oct. 1. The program was signed into action over a year ago

by Governor Gavin Newsom and extends past the state’s eviction moratorium which ended on Sept. 30.

The program aims to assist renters with rent payment and landlords with reimbursement for unpaid rents. To date, the program has paid out $1.2 billion and those in need of assistance are strongly encouraged to apply.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANA DIAZ-FERGUSON

English teacher Virginia Vasquez receives her teacher of the year award with great pride from LA County in Sept. Vazquez has since received California’s Teacher of Year award, being one of five in the state.

Vasquez wins California Teacher of the Year

BY NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR

A

fter an extensive application process, 11 years of hard work paid off for English and PODER teacher Virginia Vasquez in the form of the highest honor a California teacher can get. On Oct 15, she was presented with the “California Teacher of the Year” award.

Vasquez won the district level award in April 2021 and the county in Sept. 2021, which

allowed her to become the state’s teacher of the year. She was one out of five recipients, and the first from San Gabriel High School in 29 years.

“It starts at the district level, then county, then state,” Vasquez said. “The application [was] rigorous and required a lot of essay writing, letters of recommendation, and an interview.”

Vasquez, in her years of experience, has strived to prioritize community building in the classroom. Through this, she has built long lasting, personal

relationships with each and every student who walked through her classroom doors.

“Mrs. Vasquez had played a big part in reminding me that there are [teachers] who are willing to help us students out,” senior Samantha Martinez said. “They can take time to understand our personal problems and be able to talk about them.”

Vasquez has a positive influence on not only students, but teachers around campus as well.

“I’m incredibly blessed and fortunate enough to call Mrs.

Vasquez mi amiga (my friend),” said Spanish teacher Eliana Deniz. “I’m always learning from her and ‘borrowing’ strategies she uses in her classes.”

Due to Vasquez being the only L.A. County teacher to win the award, students were excited for and proud of her when the news finally spread around campus that she won.

“San Gabriel High School [has] got it,” senior Andrea Torres said. “It makes me feel proud to have been taught by someone the world acknowledges [as one of the best].”

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY MCNEILLY

Performers at the Oct. 8 Open Mic Night. Top row, left-toright: Julian Rivera, Elijah Luna, Jonathan Lopez, Adwik Chaturvedi, Kerah Johnson, Nallely Sosa, Ethan Cazun, Vivian Lam. Middle row, leftto-right: Sofia Duran, Abigail Escamilla. Bottom row, left-toright: Vivian Phan and Samantha Martinez. Each student showed off their perseverance throughout their performance.

Open Mic Night opens door for talent JEREMY GUTIERREZ AND RICHARD TRAN NEWS EDITORS

Open Mic Night, a recent event organized by the Drama club, gave students a chance to showcase their creative side. Assorted acts, including singing, comedy, dance, and instrumental performances all made appearances at the event, which took place on Oct. 8 at the Little Theater. There were 12 performers in total.

All students were welcome to join; even during the show, students were invited by club

members to participate. Despite this, most performers were members of the Drama club.

“Ms. McNeilly really pushed me to sign up,” senior Nallely Sosa, who had sung “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars said.

“At first, I was kind of skeptical.

I was a little nervous, but she really inspired me. She’s resilient, outspoken, and really great with an audience. [She] really pushed me towards performing.”

The performers and staff had worked for weeks before the performance in order to be ready for the show. Despite this, some issues were inevitable. During an act, one of the mic stands had

broken, although it was replaced quickly.

“I practiced twice a week for three weeks to prepare for Open Mic, so I could give the best performance I possibly could,” freshman Elijah Luna said. Luna had sung “Left Brain, Right Brain” by Bo Burnham with fellow freshman Julian Rivera, although they had to hold the mic due to the stand breaking.

“The only thing that I would have done differently is have a second mic on stand by just in case.”

Drama club will be hosting a show in November and another mic night in December. The

Drama club has plans for several more events in the near future, extending through the rest of the first semester.

“Drama Club will be doing the Halloween Maze at the end of October,” drama teacher Kelsey McNeilly said. “Then we have our interactive, fully immersive, production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, first week of November. Then, we will do another Open Mic in December!”

For those who want to participate, the club is currently accepting new members, and meetings are open to everyone every Friday.

Alternative Income Form substitutes National School Lunch Program

BY LAURA CAI

The Alternative Income Form (AIF) records the total number of the district’s low-income, English learners, and foster youth population in a school. The district encourages families to fill out the form so the school can receive funding from the Local Control Funding Formula— legislation that prioritizes investments to districts and charter schools with higher percentages of students in more financial need.

Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and fill out the AIF, may receive incentives such as a $500 college savings account, a P-EBT card, or free or reduced fees for Advanced Placement tests.

Peer counseling hosts program-awareness scavenger hunt

BY JUSTIN FANG

To raise awareness of the program, the school’s Peer Counseling team will be hosting a scavenger hunt from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12. Whoever finds all 14 posters around campus will be entered into a raffle.

In order to qualify, participants must find all of the posters and take pictures of each one. Afterward, they must post one of the pictures on their Instagram story and tag the Peer Counseling Instagram account (@ sghspeercounseling). The rest of the pictures are to be sent directly to the account. The winners of the scavenger hunt will be announced on the last day of the event.

The start of the Dress Code Committee

BY RICHARD TRAN

The debates regarding the current dress code has led to the formation of the new Dress Code Committee. Currently, they are trying to get people on board. Anyone interested can fill out the form by scanning one of the QR codes around campus. From this feedback, the committee can start organizing meetings.

However, changes to the dress code will take time as they have to go through the district school board. The goal for the committee this year is to recruit members, review the dress code, and make policy recommendations.

4 OPINIONS Can't be 'Lau'd

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

TikTok Controls Your Soul ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN ING

Lonely start KATELYN LAU DIGITAL EDITOR

I

stared at the striking matador painted on the wall and held my breath. I kept my head low, walking through ecstatic, scream-filled hallways. Friends excitedly hugged each other around me. A voice in my head that I was well acquainted with crept in, “Why aren’t you with anyone? Where did your friends go? Everyone is staring at you.”

Throughout my first day at the new school, the voice grew more unbearable. While everyone sat in groups during PE, I sat down alone on the gym floor, anchored by miserable thoughts. Nervously fumbling through my backpack, I reached for my only source of comfort—my phone—but realized I didn’t have it.

I felt thudding footsteps behind me and turned to see a girl stooped over me with a smile.

“Hey, you look lonely,” she said.

“Do you want to come to sit with us?”

Her words shocked me. I decided it was better than sitting alone, but I felt a different kind of anxiety as I struggled to join their conversation.

I met a new friend in class—my first friend I got to sit with during lunch. The next day, she asked me to stay with her after class and I agreed.

After a few minutes, the knots in my stomach started forming again. It was an unbearable pain this time. When I looked up, my eyes searched for her, and the devastating realization hit me. She left me alone. My mind started swirling with thoughts. I fled to the nearest restroom in a panic.

Then, I heard the click of a stall door.

I froze in front of the sink, washing my hands. I looked over to see a girl I met in the PE group kindly greet me.

I screamed at myself to say something to her. She was getting farther away from me. Hesitantly, I tapped her and mumbled, “Can I sit with you for lunch?” I prepared for some kind of judgment, yet no questions were asked.

“Oh, of course!” she replied.

The tension in my chest finally disappeared and the knots in my stomach were undone. To my surprise, the friend group was big, and I was overwhelmed but content.

After three years, I have gotten incredibly close to this group. They’ve made me realize many things about friendships and helped me meet more people. Sometimes, the creeping voice visits me with the pulling in my chest, but they always help me relieve the pains.

Staff Stance

TikTok trends fuel theft and pranks at school

R

ecently, a series of TikTok challenges have inspired students to commit crimes on campus, which aroused the attention of the district. As a result, Principal Debbie Stone sent an email to all students' parents regarding TikTok challenges on social media. In these challenges, such as “devious licks” and “slap a teacher,” students destroy public property, steal things, and even attack teachers.

Obviously, these challenges promote destructive and harmful activities, and students should not partake in these challenges.

It is irresponsible to destroy public property just to gain popularity on social media. In the “devious licks” challenge, many soap dispensers, toilet paper holders, and paper towel dispensers were torn off the restroom walls. Toilet paper and paper towels were either flushed down the toilet or stolen by students. These pranks not only left the bathrooms in poor condition, but also caused damage to

MATADOR BULLRING Students share their opinions on current topics.

What are your thoughts on recent TikTok trends concerning the school environment?

school property, resulting in students finding themselves in inconvenient situations. The poor conditions of restrooms may cause students to be distracted from their teachers' lessons and feel uncomfortable. Students can focus on learning when they feel clean, healthy, and safe at school.

These TikTok challenges are dangerous, destructive, and even illegal, as they violate the Education Code. The "slap a teacher" challenge prompts students to film and post videos of a student slapping or hitting a teacher or staff member. Such behavior threatens teachers’ personal safety and frightens students. The atmosphere of violence on campus degrades the learning environment and instills bad behavior in students.

These behaviors, if uncorrected, will become habits, and may lead to serious crime in one’s later life.

One can say that participating in these challenges is just students seeking excitement in their mundane school day, so it does not need to

Candy Tang, 9 "I don't understand why these trends are funny. They are damaging the school property and hurting others."

be taken seriously. However, the “excitement” they seek is dangerous and comes at the expense of others’ well-being. While students posted these challenges on TikTok in order to get likes and clicks, they did not realize that these actions will cause an unsafe campus environment, concerning teachers, students, and parents.

The key to solving these challenges is to let the school and parents work together on educating students to distinguish right from wrong and to not mindlessly follow trends. Schools should emphasize the seriousness of these challenges to students and educate them to be rule-abiding citizens. Parents should also supervise their children and not let them blindly imitate videos on TikTok. By ensuring teachers and students’ safety and an appropriate campus environment, the school run better and provide everyone with a comfortable learning and working environment.

Wei Da Chen, 10 "I think it is disrespectful to people and the school environment."

Viviana Espinoza, 11

Noah Gurule, 12

"I think it's childish because there is no purpose for doing all that. They wouldn't act that way at home, so they're damaging the school for nothing."

"It shows how dumb our students are becoming thinking that vandalism is the best option for getting views [and] how they are becoming more disrespectful for damaging the school environment."

INTERVIEWS BY ADWIK CHATURVEDI PHOTOS BY KEN YU

DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE STAFF.

OPINIONS 5

THE MATADOR

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Does the cafeteria sufficiently distribute lunch?

YES: NO:

S

ince the beginning of the school year, the school’s cafeteria has efficiently served students food by adding more meal pick-up locations and the addition of more cafeteria workers. This is beneficial to the student body because it makes getting lunch much safer and quicker.

In addition to the large number of students at school and COVID-19 restrictions, the cafeteria has noticeably expanded the number of locations for students to pick up lunch and breakfast, such as the addition of a cart near the auditorium and another near L-building. This has made access to food easier and safer for everyone to prevent a mass of students lined up in a single cafeteria. It is important that students adhere to these precautionary steps, especially during a time where there are a multitude of students on campus and a number of cases previously reported.

It should also be noted that the cafeteria workers are hardworking, as they have to bring their carts out to locations where they distribute food every morning and afternoon. With greater demands this year, it is obvious that the cafeteria has been hiring more workers, which reveals the dedication to ensuring that all students are served at school.

On the contrary, many would argue that the lines are too long and crowded at each location during lunch due to the increase of students this year. This, in turn, goes against social distancing protocols and precautions. However, there are also locations where they will serve one meal to make it easier for everyone to get their food. Halfway during lunch time, the lines and crowds of students become less of a concern.

In the end, the cafeteria has never failed to help provide the best for students on campus even with the rise in demand as a result of universal free lunch, as they expanded their ideas on how to improve meals and distribution methods.

F

ollowing state legislation, the district has started offering all students, regardless of income status, free meals for the 2021-22 school year. Although this idea is rooted in goodwill, its implementation has created problems.

Since the school year started, students have encountered congested lunch lines, a nosedive in quality of food, and many other issues that the district needs to resolve.

After reading the COVID-19 guidelines, the school still managed to create a situation where hundreds of students need to line up with only centimeters of space between them. In normal times, this would be an uncomfortable way to get lunch, but during a pandemic, this is inexcusable incompetence that puts the entire student body at risk. It is fair to assume that the school knew that with free meals, many more students would stop bringing their own food and default to the convenience of school lunch. Yet, they only made minimal preparations, such as an ineffective secondary line that the students can choose to line up in.

In addition, it does not seem like the district was prepared to make such a drastic shift in the amount of food it was serving every day. This unpreparedness translates to obviously lower-quality meals compared to years past. What used to be pho and ramen became “cheese bread,” a piece of cheese on bread that is meant to be the entree in a meal that feeds a high school student. This type of food is unable to provide a teen with nutrients for the day.

Although it is true that the school has technically succeeded in abiding by state legislation and offering a meal to each student, it has failed to do so in a meaningful manner. It violates COVID-19 guidelines and offers sub-par food to students, which is more of a problem than a solution. The school, before this even started, had publicized the solution to their own problem. Staggered lunches were proposed before the summer started, and it was a great way to keep students away from each other while also giving them more time to enjoy their lunch. However, inexplicably, the school just decided to go with a normal lunch schedule, which no longer makes sense under current circumstances and the new offering of free lunch.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHELSEA LAM AND TRISTAN ING

WRITTEN BY CHELSEA LAM AND NAN JIANG

AP classes mirror college classes RICHARD TRAN NEWS EDITOR

With long lectures and difficult assignments, the difficulty of Advanced Placement (AP) classes mirror their college counterparts. Some may say college classes are much harder. Yet the rigor of AP classes is undeniably similar, as they cover the same content and instill the same important habits students learn and need.

AP classes cover the same material as their college counterparts. Since both classes cover the same content, the difficulty of one mirrors the other. As students will learn the same concepts at the same difficulty, their understanding will be at a similar level. For example, in AP English Literature, one will be learning how to write different types of essays and analyze literature. In college, a student would be doing the exact same thing. In both classes, students will be writing essays while analyzing poems and books.

However, the content is not the only thing taught, as good habits are another important component of success in an AP class. These habits include studying more, time management, and critical thinking. Students learn these skills through the difficulty of the

'Tri'pping Out

class. Once students see bad scores on tests and notice their grades drop, they begin to study and make it a habit to study more. They learn how to manage time by arranging when they will study. Critical thinking skills are taught by the curriculum, as they have to analyze text for homework, tests, and essays. AP classes not only teach their subjects at a higher level, but also skills that will help students succeed in the future.

Those who argue AP classes are not comparable to college classes ask how high school students could learn topics college students are learning. They say college classes should be out of reach for high school students.

However, one difference between college classes and high school classes is the length of classes. College classes last a single semester while high school classes last a whole year. This gives high school students double the amount of time to learn the same exact content college students are learning. With all this extra time, they can be taught at a much slower pace, giving them a much easier time.

Although students may not be doing as well as they expect in AP classes, they should remember they are taking a college-level class.

AP classes cover the same topic and teach skills needed not only in college but for the rest of

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

Ken Yu Andrew Lam Jeremy Gutierrez Richard Tran Nan Jiang Tristan Ing Chelsea Lam Lynda Lam Adwik Chaturvedi Joseph Cho Mytam Le Xiaoyu Fan Justin Fang Tammy Vuong Laura Cai 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 encouragesresponsesinreactiontoissuesdiscussed inthepaper.Theopinionsexpressedarethoseofthe 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.

their life. Students are able to learn by taking time to comprehend the content. AP classes may take more time, but at the end of the day, students understand subjects at a college level.

Only a game TRISTAN ING OPINIONS EDITOR

W

hen I was four years old, I saw Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark. I was amazed and inspired to recreate one of my favorite scenes at my daycare, Child Time, the next day. As a kid, I had trouble distinguishing people from imaginary characters.

I daydreamed so much that usually, out of boredom, the people I knew would transform into imaginary characters, and I’d start to interact with them differently.

It was usually harmless. But that day was different. I wanted to recreate the Indiana Jones scene where, tired and in a crowded street, Jones shoots the master swordsman who challenged him to a fight. I was Indie (Indiana for short), and the swordsman was my friend Chauncey.

I don’t remember much of Chauncey, but he was my friend.

I just went up to him, told him I was his friend, and he just accepted it. So there he was, banging toy trucks together when I snuck up behind him. I grabbed a long tree branch (the ones daycare advisors repeatedly told us NOT to pick up) and swung it at him.

I whacked him like an owner hitting his dog with the newspaper, and he recoiled in defense. He was beaten and injured, his arm dotted with tiny red branch marks, and I might’ve left a long red line across his forearm. He was confused, crying. “Why did this stranger hit me?” he probably asked himself.

Not more than five yards away, a daycare adviser saw the carnage and sprung into action. That’s when I blacked out.

Sometimes, I wonder if it even happened. A few years later, I came across Chauncey again. I made sure to make amends with him, telling him I was sorry for hitting him with a tree branch.He had no idea what I was talking about, but he accepted my apology nonetheless.

It just scares me sometimes. I used to tell that story a lot to my friends and family, but not even Chauncey of all people knew it happened. Maybe he just had a bad memory, or maybe it was all in my head, regardless, I make it a habit of remembering what I did nowadays. So I do not have another problem like what surrounded Chauncey again.

6 FOCUS

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thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 2021

SUS AINING HE FU URE Sustainability can come in different forms. Whether it is reusing plastic bags, or upcycling clothes, it is important to preserve what the Earth has now, so that there are resources for the future.

Sustainability maintains significance in human culture

BY JUSTIN FANG COPY EDITOR

Over the last few decades, “sustainability” has primarily been associated with the environment. The effects of climate change have become more severe over the years, affecting millions of people all over the world.

This propelled the concept of sustainability to the forefront of most people’s lives and has influenced politics, given the amount of legislation passed in the name of environmental sustainability.

When it is used in environmental science, sustainability is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support the health and well-being of all. The 20th century was arguably the most significant time in human history when people were hit by the reality

of their polluted environment.

Fossil fuels, used everywhere for transportation and manufacturing purposes, are limited since the resource it is derived from the nonrenewable ancient remains of living organisms, and there is only so much within of those in the Earth’s crust. Additionally, logging was a very lucrative industry because people needed timber for construction and energy production. The reliance on wood became so great that acres of forest were being cut at an accelerated pace, resulting in deforestation, and giving rise to concerns regarding soil fertility and erosion. Natural landscapes take decades, if not centuries, to recover, meaning human actions can have a significant imprint on the environment.

The ambition to be more sustainable as a society has influenced various

technological advancements and inspired the creation of different techniques to meet such a goal. In agriculture and logging, practices like crop rotation and selective logging help improve the overall health of the soil, so it can be continuously used.

With respect to energy, innovations such as solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams convert natural energy into electricity.

Clean power production cannot be without clean energy consumption. Hence, the development of electric transportation. Recycling of materials, like plastic and metals, has become a prominent method of sustainability not only residentally, but commercially as well. Living sustainably ensures that future generations can also thrive and prevent the escalation of climate change’s effect.

FOCUS 7

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Making the ’Wright’ choices: living sustainably

BY CHELSEA LAM FOCUS EDITOR

F

ive Earths. That is how many Earths were needed to sustain environmental science teacher Jennifer Wright’s lifestyle. She knew she had to make a change and set an example not only for her family but for her students as well.

Ever since Wright started teaching environmental science and expanded her knowledge about the numerous environmental issues

surrounding her, she has been committing to sustainability within her household.

Eventually, the lesson on sustainability soon became an objective for her students to learn more about.

“When I started teaching environmental science, I started understanding more about human impacts on the environment,” Wright said. “I almost feel as though everything I do should be ‘green.’ However, I've tried to make a lot of small changes rather than make a big and expensive leap into a completely different lifestyle.”

Wright and her family sought alternatives to sustainability one step at a time. This included eating beef only once or twice a week, switching from paper napkins and paper

GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM

towels to cloth, and being more conscious about their water use.

“Our biggest changes have been with things such as diet— eating a lot less beef, being very conscious of water and electricity usage, using reusable containers, and overall trying to reduce waste and consumption,” Wright said. “The challenge is getting myself to think about the environmental and economic impacts of wants versus needs.”

While focusing on making her own household sustainable, she began to inspire her students in the classroom with her lessons on teaching solutions to environmental issues.

“My biggest goal as a teacher is to get students to understand how humans are impacting the environment as a whole, but

also how we as individuals can negatively and positively impact the environment,” Wright said.

“I've had some students ask about how to start composting at home, others have become more conscious of their choices and producing less waste, and I've had former students come back to visit or email and tell me their majoring or working in an environmental field.”

Although Wright's sustainable practices have inspired some of her students, she hopes that the mentality of being sustainable spreads throughout the entire school.

“My biggest wish would be getting our school district to invest in making our campuses more sustainable,” Wright said. “For example, we have so much open space for more trees

and native [or] water efficient plants. We've lost a lot of trees on campus to disease, old age, storm damage, or maintenance and they haven't all been replaced. It would be great to have more trees for shade and cooling, but also, more trees means more carbon capture and storage.”

Wright acknowledges that sustainability can be a drastic change from most people's current lifestyles, but that people can still achieve sustainability with gradual steps.

“It's not about making giant changes all at once, but we need to start making changes,” Wright said. “We need to remember that we all have an impact. Our choices will determine whether that impact is good or bad."

90%

94%

of glass products in the U.S. today are made up of recycled glass because when recycled, they do not lose their quality or purity.

of food thrown away ends up in a landfill rotting and releasing methane and CO2 into the atmosphere.

95%

80%

of textiles have the possibility of being recycled or reused, but almost 80% goes to the landfill.

of items Americans throw away can be recycled, but the nation’s recycling rate is only 28%.

SOURCES: ecofriendlyhabits.com, tamborasi.com, rts.com, abc. net.au

8 LIFE AND ART

RECIPE OF THE

MONTH Red Mac and Cheese

JEREMY GUTIERREZ NEWS EDITOR

M

acaroni and cheese is a staple, especially in the south. Creamy, buttery, and of course cheesy, the dish seems to be the ultimate American comfort food, but it isn’t exactly unique to the states alone.

Red mac and cheese is my greatgreat grandmother’s Mexican take on the classic recipe, which she taught to my mother, who taught it to me. Each of us added something new, black pepper by my mother, red pepper by me. While still creamy and loaded with cheese, it is also slightly savory and sweet, enhancing the experience.

INGREDIENTS * for (2 to 4 servings)

- 7.05 oz. (one pack) pasta shells - 1 ½ tbsp. powdered chicken bouillon - Around 4-8 oz. sliced Monterey Jack cheese - 6 cups water - 4 oz. canned tomato sauce Optional: - Ground black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste (I prefer about 1 tbsp of each)

DIRECTIONS 1) Fill a pot with 6 cups of water and let boil 2) Add pasta as well as chicken bouillon into water and stir then boil at high heat for 10-13 minutes.

3) While pasta is boiling, slice preferred amount of cheese in medium-thin slices.

4) Remove pasta from heat and drain with a colander then add pasta back to pot.

5) Stir in the canned tomato sauce to thoroughly coat pasta.

6) Add sliced cheese, bury each slice in the pasta a little to melt faster.

7) Cover the pot and let it sit at lowest heat until the cheese is melted.

8) If extra heat is desired, black and red pepper can be added to the pot.

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Fall celebrations: taking a glance at cultures worldwide Diwali, India

Diwali is the Hindu festival of light. It occurs on the night of a new moon before the Hindu month of Kartika. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Nov. 4. In India, floral patterns of colored sands called rangolis are placed outside homes as symbols of welcome. Families also dress up in clothes bought for Diwali and visit temples together. The name Diwali comes from the rows of clay lamps called “deepavali” that are lit outside of homes.

The lamps symbolize how light wins over darkness. The use of these lights however is not just reserved for homes. Colorful lights are also used in decorating buildings and some cities will even hold firework shows for the public.

MassKara Festival, Phillipines

The MassKara Festival, also known as the Festival of Smiles, is a holiday celebrated in the Philippine island Bacolod. The festival highlights are on the fourth Sunday of every Oct. and are held around Bacolod Public Plaza. The Bacolod Festival was created to lift the spirits of the people of the island after a sharp decline in the price of sugarcane and the death of 700 people after the MV Don Juan sank. Masks, or “maskara” in Filipino, are worn during the festival and have diverse designs. Events in the MassKara Festival are numerous and varied. Street dancing competitions, food festivals, and music festivals occur there as well.

Mehregan, Iran

Mehregan is among the oldest traditions celebrated in history, dating back to as far as three to four millenia. An ancient tradition rooted in Iran, formerly known as Persia, Mehregan is a festival dedicated to the Persian mythological divinity Mithra, contemporarily known as Mehr, who symbolizes friendship, love, and affection. In the celebration of Mehregan, participants often wear new clothes to celebrate an old tradition where the king of Persia would give away his summer clothes and, wear a robe instead. A decorated table is set with many things such as a burner for kondor/loban (frankincense) where espand, seeds from Syrian rue, are thrown on as well.

Great New Moon Ceremony, USA

One of the seven sacred Cherokee, also known as the Tsalagi or Aniyunwiya, Native American traditions, the Great New Moon Ceremony is celebrated in honor of the first October new moon and the belief that the world was created in autumn.

Filled with traditional dances, the ceremony involves providing offerings to a sacred fire and a purification ritual. The beginning of the Cherokee New Year also begins in this ceremony as those participating offer thanks to the Great Spirit and ancestors of the past.

WRITTEN BY KEN YU AND ANDREW LAM “Diwali, Trafalgar Square” CC BY-NC 2.0, Paul Carvill (first) “MassKara Festival 2019 Photos by Constantine Agustin” CC BY-SA 2.0, Constantine Agustin (second) “Mehregan Table in UCTI University of Malaysia 2011” CC0 1.0, Babak Bita (third) “Native Indian masks (UBC)” CC BY-SA 2.0, fboudvillet (fourth)

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LIFE AND ART 9

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

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tips and tricks for a

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safe halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, students of all ages are becoming increasingly excited for the spooky holiday. However, with this excitement, some may forget the importance of safety. It is important to remember that while Halloween is a fun holiday and a great excuse to hang out with friends, it is also one of the deadliest days of the year, with the chances of being injured or even killed in a vehicle accident being doubled. This year is also different from others because on top of the typical Halloween safety rules, students also have to worry about being protected from COVID contraction. Most older students remember the basic rules, but it is always a good idea to review them. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

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Make sure you are with a group of people you trust.

Stay in well-lit areas with a lot of other people around.

Inspect your candy before eating to ensure it hasn’t been tampered with.

Bring a backup light source, such as a flashlight, just in case it gets too dark.

Watch for cars as you cross the streets.

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Adhere to COVID safety rules.

Try to dress brightly in order to improve visibility of presence.

Don’t wear something too constricting that makes it difficult to move around.

Opt for face paint or makeup instead of a mask in order to prevent obscuring vision.

Keep cell phone easily accessible.

GRAPHICS BY KYLIE CHUNG WRITTEN BY KYLIE CHUNG

‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ steps up characters ADWIK CHATURVEDI LIFE AND ART EDITOR

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the highly-anticipated sequel to the original Venom film. Did the sequel live up to the anticipation? Yes, it did.

Whether it be the movie’s action scenes, iconic villain, or improved writing and acting, Venom: Let There Be Carnage has been an improvement from its predecessor all around.

Transitioning from the events of the first film, Venom: Let There Be Carnage starts with Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy) being introduced to a detective that tells him to speak with Cletus Cortland Kasady, a serial killer who refuses to talk to anyone else other than Brock.

After a brief meeting between Kasady and Brock, an experiment on Kasady derails, causing him to turn into Carnage. This kicks off the rest of the narrative, which is filled with a multitude of thrilling scenes to keep the audience gripped.

I enjoyed watching the first Venom movie, and I was hoping to see an improvement in his character’s development. The film did deliver on this, developing both Venom and Eddie Brock’s characters. Brock is now more confident about controlling Venom and his powers during action scenes. Additionally, Venom still acts as Brock’s guardian, which definitely adds an element of humor and Marvel Cinematic Universe-like feeling to the film itself. As a sequel, I think that the characters in the movie should see some change or improvement, and that was evident in both Eddie Brock and Venom, which is something that I was glad about.

Many have critiqued the film for its mishandled narrative and action sequences, something that I would disagree with. For a sequel, I wanted the writing to improve, or, at least, stay consistent. I would not say that the narrative was a large improvement. However, its writing style remained quite the

PICTURE COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES

The iconic villain of Spider-Man and Venom, Carnage primes his symbiotic weapons to attack his enemies. The two fight many times during the short one hour and 30 minute runtime of the film.

same, which is the least I could ask for from a sequel. In addition to the narrative, Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s action scenes were phenomenal. Seeing Venom fight against Carnage to the end was exciting and interesting.

Whether it be the powerful choreography of the fights or just their presence on screen, when a brawl between the two would occur, it would be enjoyable to see it through.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

is definitely a step up. However, it still suffers from an array of obstacles, one of the most major being its rating. Currently the film is rated PG-13, an appropriate rating given to most super hero oriented movies. Yet, this is exactly my problem with the film. If Venom: Let There Be Carnage was given a higher rating than PG-13, such as an R rating, much of the movie’s plot would have been able to develop in a more serious way.

The general narrative of this film is serious, and it is unfortunate that the plot does not continue in this tone.

Altogether, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a sequel that I highly recommend if one is a fan of action-adventure films.

With a consistent narrative, thrilling action sequences, and improved characters, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a great sequel and improvement for the character itself.

10 SPORTS

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

PHOTO BY KEN YU

Senior wide receiver Nicholas Duong (2) walks down the field after the win against the Montebello Oilers at the first homecoming game in two years on Sept. 30. The Matadors won 42-28 against the Oilers, opening their league season with an overwhelming performance.

Making history: football storms league straight to playoffs Varsity boys football took the stage with an early undefeated record, having only lost once in the entire season to date.

BY KEN YU PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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PHOTOS BY KEN YU

Junior running back Robert Lucero (top) dashes across the field, aiming for a touchdown. Lucero. In the match against the Moors, Lucero had 33 carries for 230 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. He is also a leading rusher, carrying 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns so far in this season.

fter an invigorating 28-17 win over the Alhambra Moors at last Friday’s home game at the Matador Stadium, the varsity football team will be going to playoffs for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Bolstered by a successful preseason, the Matadors confidently entered the season, adding two more victories to their win streak in the beginning. However, the 7-0 run ended when the team lost 35-0 against Bell Gardens at an away game on Oct. 15.

“It was a huge learning opportunity when we lost to Bell Gardens,” football head coach Kevin Encinas said.

“We weren’t as humble as I wanted us to be. This week, we just preached being grateful, appreciating each other and being humble, and you can tell it impacted us in the game.”

Bouncing back from the loss,

the Matadors battled the Moors for the opportunity to secure the title of tri-city champions and their spot in playoffs. The team secured an early lead in the first half with bold touch downs but faced a slump in its defense as Montebello began to encroach. The Matadors curbed the advance, widening the gap after halftime with an additional touchdown.

“We had a mistake in coverage,” Encinas said. “Our defense gave up one score but we bounced back from it.”

The current varsity team has been with Encinas for years. Most players began when they were freshmen playing for the frosh tem and faced huge hurdles in the infancy of their entrance into football and the years in-between.

“It feels great to win,” senior wide receiver Nicholas Duong said. “I’ve been in the program for all 4 years and our freshmen team used to be 0-10.

It really feels good to win after at all the work we have put in throughout the summer.”

The team’s long history of

working and bonding with one another were one of the biggest driving factors in the team’s stunning performance in the season compared to past years.

“Our team is tight,” Duong said. “Everyone is comfortable and familiar with each other which is why I think our team can achieve. When new people join our team, we welcome them as family. We are a family.”

As the season draws to an end, the varsity football team will be aiming for the league title, a longtime goal of the team and its coaches. Armed with experience and the trust built up over years, the Matadors will be playing Schurr this Friday at the Matador Stadium on Senior Night.

“It’s i ncredible,” Encinas said. “I don’t think we’ve been to the playoffs in 10 years. To go to the playoffs was my goal for this group and I’m just so proud of them because we have the opportunity to win league, and potentially make a great run in the playoffs. I’m just so proud of them.”

SPORTS 11

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

(1)

(2)

2020-21 Fall Varsity Sports Scoreboard FOOTBALL VS MONTEBELLO

(W) 42-28

@ MARK KEPPEL

(W) 49-12

@ BELL GARDENS

(L) 35-0

VS ALHAMBRA

(W) 27-18

VOLLEYBALL PHOTOS BY KEN YU

@ SCHURR

(1) Seniors Eric Dam (left) and Jordan Wen (right) run side by side at the beginning of the race. Groups like them begin at a moderate pace together, before adjusting individually.

VS BELL GARDENS (L) 3-0

(2) Junior Varsity runner Sabrina Kha poses for the camera, just before closing out her race. Even with an upsetting performance at the second league meet, the Matadors remain motivated to advance to CIF. Kha’s positive attitude reflects that of the team as the season inches closer to CIF every day.

S

ix cross country teams congregated in the home of the Matadors on Oct. 13 to compete in the second Almont League cross country meet. Being the penultimate meet before league finals, the Matadors did not put up promising performances, and must improve en route to a potential CIF performance.

The meet kicked off with the

frosh/soph teams racing against each other. In this race, the Matadors failed to impress, with the boys finishing last place out of four, and the girls frosh/soph team not participating.

Freshman Christopher Gomez has shown steady improvement over the last three races, setting a new personal record (PR) in each race he partakes in. He started with 31 minutes at the Rosemead invitational, then 28 minutes at the first league meet, and now finally, 25 minutes. “[Although we lost], I feel great.

@ MARK KEPPEL

(L) 3-0

@ MONTEBELLO

(L) 3-1

@ ALHAMBRA

(W) 3-2

@ BELL GARDENS

(L) 3-0

TENNIS

Cross Country spurred to improve after second league meet

BY NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR

(L) 3-0

I PR’d by almost four minutes,” Gomez said. “I just kept running [to achieve this PR].

After the subpar performance by the frosh team, the varsity team brought the Matadors back into the competition, with both the boys and girls posting third place finishes in their races.

“Everyone had the mindset to improve [in this race],” senior Eric Dam said. “This led to me also wanting to improve [and win].”

Although the race did not go the way the Matadors wanted it to, it was still a moral victory,

and many members developed newfound confidence from their newly set PR’s from the recent race. The team hopes that their unwavering determination can carry it to new heights this season.

“I think the team is going to do great this year,” senior Isabel Olachea said. “There’s a lot of determination this year, and I’m positive we’ll go [far].”

The school will host another league meet on this Saturday, this time being the Almont League Finals where the Matadors must place top three to advance to CIF.

@ MARK KEPPEL

(L) 13-5

VS MONTEBELLO

(W) 14-4

@ ALHAMBRA

(W) 10-8

VS SCHURR

(W) 11-7

@ MONTEBELLO

(W) 14-4

VS ALHAMBRA

(W) 10-8

CROSS COUNTRY Second Home League Meet SENIOR MEN 3 MILES TENTH PLACE JUNIOR WOMEN 3 MILES THIRD PLACE

Varsity tennis grounds Schurr 11-7 Emerging from a rough preseason, varsity tennis blew through their league matches, Schurr included.

KATELYN LAU DIGITAL EDITOR

I

nching toward the end of the season, girls varsity tennis won an 11-7 match against Schurr on Oct. 12.

Improvements showed themselves in the match as the Matadors held onto longer rallies than in previous matches.

The starting lineup saw adjustments as singles began to secure points and games. Within the last set, the Matadors began to get worn-out, causing the Spartans to win seven matches.

“During the Schurr game, doubles played outstanding again like they did the first time,” Coach Steve Akiyama said. “We probably have the second, third, and fourth best doubles teams in the league right now.”

Doubles won 3-0 against the Spartans during the first and second set. However, during the last set, the Matadors lost one match. Due to exhaustion and frustration, the Matadors began diminishing in concentration with volleys going out of bounds and groundstrokes to the net.

However, the first two sets had the doubles secured for a win no matter the outcome.

“I was pretty confident going into the game,” Junior Maribelle Chavez said. “We had previously beat them when we played at their school.”

The newly paired doubles partners, Chavez and senior Chelsea Kha, have won every set they were placed in besides one. The duo coordinated efficiently with incredibly fast returns and angled volleys, not

losing a single match against the Spartans.

“I was nervous to play with the number one since my strings were on the verge of breaking,” Senior Victoria Chong said. “The tiebreak on my last match made me even more anxious because our rallies were very long and I was afraid of overhitting a ball.”

The tie break ended in a 6-7 game. Although the game was lost, many points were earned.

Chong’s quitck returns and adjustments to the short balls won her many points.

The Matadors achieved an 11-7 match against the Spartans, tying for second place against Alhambra in the Almont League. The final game of the season will be at home against Alhambra held on Oct. 26.

PHOTO BY KATELYN LAU

Senior Joey Lin readies herself, maintaining a steady gaze across the court towards opponent.

12 FEATURES

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH Listen to Hispanic voices of the school as they share their story

Schecter secures American Dream

BY KATELYN LAU DIGITAL EDITOR

A

t the end of a strenuous escape from El Salvador to the U.S., Spanish teacher Sonia Schecter peered up through the tinted van windows, hidden beneath blankets and bedding. The night sky was awash with bright, booming fireworks, marking her entrance into a new life fraught with struggles and success.

Beginning in 1979, a destructive civil war in El Salvador broke out between the government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front. Stepping outside and being caught in the middle of a battle was a well-known risk for Salvadoran citizens. At the age of 20, Schecter and her mother began their escape to the U.S. “During the war, I missed nature,” Schecter said. “I missed the rivers and the playful, peaceful environment. I missed seeing my friends and the people I grew up with.”

Spanish teacher Sonia Schecter has her students work on a project during class, while answering some questions from her students (top). Schecter began teaching at the school in 2012. With much hard work and dedication, Schecter was able to become a teacher and have the life she always wanted.

The journey was grueling, Schecter had long stretches of land to travel combined with the anxiety and fear. Unsafe environments and conditions like hunger, posed dangers to personal health.

“It is about about 2,500 miles from El Salvador to here, and a lot of it was by train, car, and foot,” Schecter said. “We traveled with a group of people. I was very fortunate to have my mom with me.”

However, crossing the border was not the hardest part as she faced a whole new world of problems in the U.S. Due to her being an undocumented immigrant, Schecter was forced to pick up odd jobs to provide for her family.

“I just worked very hard jobs and a lot of people took advantage of me because I didn’t have documents,” Schecter said.

“At the end of the week, people said, ‘Okay, we’re not gonna pay you,’ and I said, ‘Well, what?

I worked.’ Then they would just say, ‘Well, we’re gonna call

immigration if you don’t work.’”

The difficulties of finding well-paying jobs were compounded by the fear of immigration control. Schecter came to the U.S. undocumented with full awareness that she was not welcomed. She faced discrimnation due to her accent and her newly-learned English.

“Immigration was hard,” Schecter said. “I would be at a bus stop and fear that immigration would come and take me back to El Salvador.”

Despite the odds, Schecter persevered, obtaining her citizenship at the age of 28.

She attended Santiago Canyon College before transferring to California State University, Long Beach for college, receiving her teaching credentials at 42.

“If you come for the American dream, you can achieve it,” Schecter said. “The obstacles are only in your mind. If you can remove the obstacles from your mind, you can go around the obstacles that are physically outside of your mind.”

Guzman grapples culture through dance, family MYTAM LE FEATURES EDITOR

As he sees big, brown boots shuffling back and forth to the rhythm of the music, he finds his foot tapping to the beat. He was never truly interested in dancing, but after spending a summer in México watching his family dance until sunrise, he decided to join in tonight.

But it would not be his last time.

Senior Cesar Guzman began dancing the zapateado, a traditional Mexican dance, when he was eight with his sister. The dance originated from Spain, having the Spanish root word “zapato,” meaning “shoe,” since the dancer would tap their shoe throughout the dance. Guzman’s family would typically go to rodeos and watch bull-riding shows on the weekends. After

the show, they would go dancing together, bringing along other family members and friends to join in. To Guzman, the dance allows him to be closer to his family and culture.

“I feel like I can connect to my culture well because my community focuses a lot on dancing,” Guzman said. “They basically do it every day. Everyone is having fun, enjoying the culture you don’t typically see around here. When I dance, all I feel is happiness knowing it’s what I love to do.”

Although he was not fond of dancing from the start, he slowly learned to love it with the help of his grandfather. Because his grandfather would give out his bulls to bull riders, Guzman grew up seeing people dance after the rodeos. This allowed him to appreciate zapateado more, resulting in it becoming one of

GRAPHICS BY CHELSEA LAM PHOTOS BY KATELYN LAU PHOTOS COURTESY OF CESAR GUZMAN, SONIA SCHECTER

his favorite hobbies.

“Without my grandpa, I would have never liked dancing,” Guzman said. “He is the reason I got connected to this part of my culture in dancing since we would always go to events.”

After the death of Guzman’s grandfather last December, it has made it hard for him to feel comfortable dancing again.

Going to the dancing events reminded him of his grandfather’s death, so it was painful seeing people be joyful as they partake in his old hobby. Guzman knows he will dance again in the future, but he wants to focus on healing first.

“My grandpa and I had a strong connection,” Guzman said.

“It doesn’t feel right anymore.

I am not comfortable as before when we would go together. Just looking at everyone else having fun doesn’t feel the same way anymore.”

Senior Cesar Guzman dresses up, ready to dance the night away with his friends and family (top). Guzman smiles at the camera and throws up a peace sign as he stays at his grandfather’s farm in México in the summer (bottom).