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MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL
VOLUME 64, ISSUE 3
801 S. RAMONA STREET, SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776
FRIDAY, November 9, 2018
Students shine in Poetry Out Loud
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Reused ID pictures face criticism BY WALLY LAN
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Senior Donna Hernandez wins first place at the district Poetry Out Loud competition held at the auditorium on Oct. 25. She performs “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E. Stallings, a poem about how things defy logic. BY MEGAN TIEU
Senior Donna Hernandez took first place at the ninth annual Poetry Out Loud (POL) district finals on Oct. 25 at the school auditorium. Hernandez advances to the county competition on Feb. 7, 2019. Representing the school, seniors Cathy Do and Donna Hernandez and sophomores Jasmine Flores, Joseph Pandur, and Lesly Ramirez competed against other poets from Mark Keppel and Alhambra High School at the district competition. The poets who performed were their school’s top five finalists. Hernandez performed “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E. Stallings, which is a poem that rekindled her love of fiction and fantasy. “It reminded me of how I was in freshman year,” Hernandez said. “I was really into fiction and fantasy, [but] no one really wanted to talk about the extraneous subjects. For the past three years, I’ve been working to get rid of all the idealistic parts of me, so this poem kind of spoke to the way I was.” The third place winner of the district finals and first place winner of the school competition was sophomore Joseph Pandur, who performed “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Albert Guest. The poem focuses on being successful in a task that is conceived to be impossible. “The poem is easy to understand, because it can be applied to everybody,” Pandur said. “Everybody at some point of their lives is always told, ‘You can’t do this,’ [but they will still try to do it anyways].” Before performing at the district competition, Pandur described the event as a “diabolical task.”
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Sophomore Lesly Ramirez performs her poem “Dead Butterfly” by Ellen Bass. “I had already competed twice. I didn’t feel nervous or worried,” Ramirez said. “There is no single word that can describe the terror, the fright, the anxiousness, the confidence, and the excitement of this competition,” Pandur said. “I don’t know one word that can describe a wide spectrum of feelings.” POL is a national recitation contest in which students choose, memorize, and perform a poem in front of an audience and a panel of judges. English teacher and POL judge Jordan Vogel believes that finding the right poem is the key to understanding and memorizing the poem more efficiently. “My biggest advice is to find a poem that you really relate to or understand,” Vogel said. “I think that makes it a much more powerful and better experience.” Senior Cathy Do can attest to this
advice as she chose to perform “Beautiful Wreckage” by W.D. Ehrhart. The poem not only gives insight into her culture but also is meaningful to her. “I chose my poem [because] my grandpa fought in the Vietnam War,” Do said. “It’s a really emotional poem for me, because I’ve seen him go through so much.” Hernandez will be competing at the POL Los Angeles County competition on Feb. 7, 2019 at the Cerritos Center of Performing Arts for a chance to advance to the Sacramento state competition. She will be performing two poems: her original one from the district competition and an additional pre-19th century piece.
The reuse of old ID photos sparked controversy among students and faculty on campus. However, students are now able to go to the Guidance Office and return their old ID card in order to take a new picture and receive a new card, on which they can name the clubs that they are involved in. Guidance Office Technician Beda Ramirez said that the Business and Activities Assistant Principal last year was the one responsible for the decision of reusing old ID pictures. “The old administration wanted the same picture because they said it was not needed [to take a new picture],” Ramirez said. “[They] thought it would be more money, [and] it would [cost] more time wasted. [They] just wanted the same picture for four years; [they] didn’t care.” Assistant Principal of Activities Diana Diaz-Ferguson said that logistics were the main reason for the reuse of old ID pictures. “It’s something that we’re looking at for next year,” Ferguson said. “There was some system incompatibilities between the technology [but] we do want the most current picture.” Computer Technician Daniel Lopez confirmed in an email that there was more than one technological issue involved. “[There was] a delay in waiting for a third-party photography company to supply our campus with more recent student photos,” Lopez said. “There was also a delay in setting up a brand new ID computer and an issue relating to account software permissions.” Unforeseen weather circumstances also played a role in ID pictures being reused. “A power outage that affected a large swath of properties in the area knocked out our photo camera thereby halting our photo taking ability,” Lopez said. Lopez assures that with the new ID cards this year, these issues are less likely to occur. “Each of these issues required much dedication to resolve and thus resulted in previous year’s photos remaining in play,” Lopez said. “Going forward, there are no expected delays for next year’s student photos, so they will come in a more timely manner.” Senior Skyler Hixson said that ID pictures may hold sentimental value to some students. “I wish it was my senior picture rather than my sophomore picture because I wanted to keep it for later to show that this was me [during] senior year,” Hixson said. With the Guidance Office now retaking photographs, Hixson could get his senior year memento.
opinions
LIFE & ART
FEATURES
Restroom policies restrict student needs pg. 5
Hernández dances into maturity through folkloric ballet pg. 9
Chen Yang learns from kendo journey pg. 11
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
The matador
NEWS
BTA garden inspires local school BY VINCENT MARESCA
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m Va n Wi g Elementary, in between research trips to the local arboretums, visited San Gabriel High School (SGHS) last month to take a closer look at the school’s garden in front of the B-Building. Recently, a grant was given to Catalyst SGV, a company behind organic and welfare projects, by the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance. The grant was for a specific kind of project —a garden. Van Wig Elementary in La Puente was chosen for the project. Garden Coach and Lead Catalyst of Catalyst SGV, Jesse Chang, was the garden tour guide. Business and Technology Academy (BTA) has been taking care of the garden for five years now and the garden has been open to volunteer work on Thursdays. “I think one of the advantages of [SGHS] is that it has space,” Chang said. The garden is less than one-fourth of an acre in size garden and includes a rainforest section that refills and recharges habitats and their water table. Alongside various crops, trees have been planted as well, in memory of teachers who have passed away. Academy Coordinator Nicole Manalang is proud of the garden and its five year history at SGHS.
“I feel that the garden was made to inspire others,” Manalang said. “So that to see others getting ideas from the hard work of the BTA kids and garden club is fantastic.” During the tour, the representatives of Van Wig spoke of their streak of “brown thumb” with organic matter. The Van Wig representatives, teachers Maria Koreen, Wendy Anson, and Marta Castellanos, gave the SGHS garden high praise and said it was inspiring. “Seeing the garden in a school setting made me realize that we can do it too,” Castellanos said. “It was fun to be able to pick my own onions and even plant some broccoli.” “The San Gabriel High School garden was an outstanding example of what a garden may look like at a school site,” Koreen said. “Building a garden from the ground up will be an amazing experience for our little [Transitional Kindergarten] and Kindergarten students. “The garden is inspiring.” Anson said. “I learned a couple of tricks to keep the weeds down, too. And the mosaic tiles add a wonderful touch. For a garden in transition, it looks fabulous.” Chang was pleased by the Van Wig teachers’ reactions and experiences. “It’s kind of cool to see this garden inspire other schools to do something similar,” Chang said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSE CHANG
Teachers from Van Wig Elementary visited the school’s garden last month to study and learn how to grow their own school garden.
Results of November midterm elections BY KENNY LAM
With President Trump’s presidency reaching its halfway point, the midterm elections gave a chance for Democrats to flip the House of Representatives in their favor. Voters also decided on various Propositions that will potentially affect California residents. Proposition 7: Daylight Savings, PASSED The passing of Proposition 7 has not immediately changed daylight saving time (DST). Instead, it will allow the state legislature to decide whether or not they want to make a change to DST. Depending on how the state legislature votes, California may practice year-round DST similar to Arizona or continue current DST practices. However, even if the state legislature agrees on a decision, the change will be ultimately decided by the federal government. To reiterate, Proposition 7 has not made immediate changes to DST. Proposition 10: Local Rent Control, NOT PASSED In response to rising rent prices of houses in California, some local governments have begun to pass rent control laws that limit the percentage amount that rent can be raised, in hopes of making housing more affordable for tenants. Proposition 10 was intended to further expand the adoption of these rent control laws by repealing a state law that had previously limited the use of rent control in California. But with its failure to pass, the use of rent control will remain limited only to a handful of local governments. However, rent control will likely continue to be an important political issue in future discussions. As a supporter of Proposition 10, junior Jeffrey Mendoza said that the lack of rent control laws will cause continued financial burdens for renters. “My parents used to live in apartments,” Mendoza said. “[Rent] was expensive so they decided to ... move out and actually buy a house because it would have been more convenient, instead of just paying [rent] every month.”
Proposition 12: Farm Animal Confinement, PASSED With the passing of Proposition 12, new minimum space requirements have been established for calves and pigs. Furthermore, egg-laying hens must be raised in a cage-free environment. Those who do not raise these livestock under the space requirements will be prohibited from selling their products. Senior Kelly Phan, a supporter of Proposition 12, said that the new space requirements were an improvement from the current treatment of livestock. “You see in YouTube videos animals that are in cramped cages and not being able to move,” Phan said. “[The cage] looks like it’s torture for them.” House Majority Swing By winning over 23 former Republican seats in the House of Representatives, Democrats have now gained the majority in the House, while Republicans still maintain control over the Senate. With control over the House, Democrats will be able to provide further checks and balances on the Trump administration. They will now have the ability to start investigations on President Trump and his Cabinet members, and they will be able to check and challenge policies that Republicans try to push. English teacher Cady Burkhart said that although she is excited for the Democratic House victory, she is afraid of possible gridlock and partisanship between Democrats and Republicans. “The House candidates that were elected … are in opposition of everything Trump stands for,” Burkhart said, “but they’re going to have to figure out a way to work with [Trump] on some things.” Other Elections Gavin Newsom was elected as state governor, replacing former governor Jerry Brown. Alhambra Unified School District board member Adele Andrade-Stadler, Repetto Elementary School teacher Katherine Lee, and Ross Maza have been elected as Alhambra City Council members. To view complete results of the California midterm election, visit <vote.sos.ca.gov>.
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NEWS
History Through Food brings past to present
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
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briefs Band to perform in 2020 Rose Parade BY ELSIE WANG
Marching Band will be performing in the Rose Parade with Alhambra High School and Mark Keppel High School on Jan. 1, 2020. The Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD) Band, composed of an estimated 400 students from the three schools, will be watched by millions as they march the 5.5-mile route. “The most difficult part will be endurance,” junior and head drum major Andy Lam said. “[The band] has never marched that far.” The AUSD Band will be holding rehearsals throughout this year and next year to practice playing and coordinating the three distinctive marching styles from each school into one. PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Members discuss future plans and goals at the first meeting in hopes that the club will grow and leave an impression on the student body. BY MELODY ZHANG
History Through Food is a new club that aims to combine food and history to tell a story about historical diets. President and junior Sherry Lam wanted to create a fusion of two topics that people usually would never associate together to spark interest. “At the moment, [I’m] focusing on opening discussions about the circumstantial cultural impact on food in the time period,” Lam said. The idea to put together food and history came partly from a seventhgrade social studies project that Lam’s friends did, where they made videos showcasing historical recipes and how to make them. “Another factor was influence from my sister who shared popular medieval Europe recipes with me,” Lam said. Lam wants to be able to make the food and gain knowledge of the significance of food history. “Generally speaking, I am interested in the living experiences of people from the past—their clothing, vernacular, habits, and routines—because of the
THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print Editor-in-Chief, Digital Managing Editor News Editors Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editors Sports Editors Features Editors Copy Editors
Photo Editors Business Managers Media Manager Community Editor Video Managers Adviser
Kenny Lam Eileen Ong Selina Han Shawn Ho Elsie Wang Melody Zhang Donna Hernandez Sally Pham Angela Lu Chelsea Nguyen Ivy Ho Vivian Zheng Chelsea Li Eric Mai Henry Chow Qilin Li Echo Dieu Lucas Jorgensen Wally Lan Amanda Lerma Katherine Huang Megan Tieu Lu June Lin Katie Phan Kimberly Quiocho Clara Quach Brianna Huynh-Tong Enrico Gonzalez Jennifer Kim
Reporters: Lauren Ballesteros, Wendy Chau, Aaron Lu, Vincent Maresca, Jocelyn Montelon, Tiffany Nguygen, Winnefer Wu, Zhou Ye Xin
The Matador is published monthly by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 1,600 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 staff. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested), to H-2, or Ms. Kim’s mailbox.
differences and similarities that reflect their impact on how we live modern life,” Lam said. Vice president and junior Stephanie Tran says that food can tell a lot about a person’s culture and background, and it operates as a way of preserving cultural identity as people bring their own traditional style of cooking wherever they travel or move. “For example, the hoecake was a sort of pancake, consumed by slaves, made from corn, water, and fat,” Tran said. “Its simple taste, ingredients, and preparation [tell] you a lot about what was available and unavailable to the people of that era.” Tran wants people to be able to take away some sort of experience from their club. “Maybe they can even start to get into the habit of thinking about the background of food they consume on a daily basis and learn to appreciate some of food they may often take for granted,” Tran said. Besides discussions about how recipes or diet changes were affected in the time period, Lam also aims to open people’s minds to topics rarely talked about.
District installs new databases for students
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
New databases are currently available for student access through school Wi-Fi. BY ZHOU YE XIN
Three new databases have been added to the online resources K-12 students can access. Their purpose is to contribute reliable information to students relating to the state’s curriculum and was inputted by the Technology Information Services (TIS) on Oct. 12. Because of the need for more online content relating to California’s curriculum,
Portfolio Club paints way to art careers BY KATIE PHAN
Portfolio Club, started by junior Joshua Yuan, aims to guide students in the process of applying to art colleges, majoring in art, or getting a job in an artrelated field. The club was created when Yuan noticed that people were interested in art but did not have proper resources to look to for help. Portfolio Club’s goal is to create a community where fellow artists can help and support each other by conducting meetings where students can work on art pieces or give constructive commentary to each other. Meetings are every Tuesday at SA-6 during lunch. PHOTO BY EDSEL L HARVEST LOUISVILLE CC/BY
Hoecakes, a staple in the South during the Civil War, is an example of foods History Through Food wants to explore. “I hope that this club will encourage people to start expanding on topics they have never considered before, such as the impact of circumstance or culture on the development of food,” Lam said. Meetings are every other Thursday during lunch in SA-6.
state executive secretary Nancy McFadden allowed the state to spend $3 million on the K-12 Online Resources Project. This project gave all K-12 schools in the state access to three online library databases at no cost. The new databases that were added are ProQuest, Encyclopedia Britannica, and TeachingBook.net. It contains sources such as magazines, journals, books, photographs, maps, and newspaper articles. “On these online databases are collections of information that have been filtered by a group of editors, and it’s updated on a daily basis,” school librarian Lorraine Tom said. “The information is checked for accuracy, relevance, and [whether it is] up to date.” Responsible for implementing and checking the system’s function, Alhambra Unified School District’s (AUSD) TIS wants to spread student access to the databases. Currently, it can only be accessed if students have an electronic device connected to the school’s Wi-Fi. “In the near future, we plan to work with the State Library to configure authentication so [that] AUSD students have the ability to log in from outside the district network using their email username and password,” AUSD Director of Technology Ashton Potter said. The State Library will be able to contract with the providers for the next five years, giving K-12 schools continuous access until then.
Water filter installed, provides convenience BY AARON LU
A new water filter was installed in the cafeteria at the start of the school year after environmental science teacher David Whitman negotiated for the installation in April 2017. The water filter allows students and staff to replenish their water bottles. “It’s good for us because we can refill our water at anytime,” sophomore Rick Tan said. “I can drink as much water as I want without having to worry of running out.” The water filter has so far saved using over 8000 plastic water bottles. Whitman is currently seeking to replace old water filters in the future.
AUSD hosts 15th Food and Wellness Fair BY KATIE PHAN
Alhambra Unified School District’s (AUSD) 15th annual Food and Wellness Fair welcomed students, parents, and staff to learn about its food and nutrition services at Monterey Highlands Elementary School on Nov. 2. Food vendors that supply AUSD with breakfast and lunch items provided samples of new foods. Attendees tasted the samples and gave feedback, which will then be used by AUSD´s Food and Nutrition Services to decide what to add to school menus. Amongst the foods sampled were vanilla and chocolate ice cream cups, chicken egg rolls, and strawberry pancake bowls.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
S”tong” buddy bonds
Brianna HuynhTong Friendships for life
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any people have been a part of my life in the last 17 years. Many have come and gone, few have stayed. Family will always be my number one priority. Everyone else in your life cannot guarantee that they will be there forever, but family is forever. They’re my biggest support system, and I love and will love them endlessly. Then, there’s everyone else in the world: friends, acquaintances, strangers. Let’s see—as of where I stand now, I have two best friends, four good friends, several friends, and a surplus of acquaintances and strangers. My time at San Gabriel (SG) was bound to be short; four years is almost nothing, and I can say that time definitely flew by. And with time flew by many people. I never expected to become the best of friends with everyone I met nor did I expect to carry it across the border to college. With many people coming and going, I knew I had to be conscious of my peers. I have built up a wall in order to protect myself; that’s my “tough” exterior. I have this indescribable fear of getting hurt; I just won’t allow that to happen to myself. In turn, I have grown to be extremely aware of the people around me and the people I allow in. Of course, it is somewhat inevitable, because I can’t meticulously read everyone, but I try. It has made me into a better listener and observer. It has gotten to a point where if you’re not a decently kind person at heart, I have no desire of knowing or interacting with you. I know I should be trying to make the best of everything with everyone, especially since it is my senior year, but I feel like I’ve had enough. A person with a genuinely kind heart and good morals is the type of person I would like to be associated with. In the past, if you mistreated me in any way, I would have come up with a million excuses for you, because I wanted to believe that you were better than I thought. I, unfortunately, have surpassed that point and will no longer attempt to justify wrongdoings. Of the 2,000+ people at SG, I have stumbled upon a few hidden gems. They have been there through the best and the worst. They are the voice of reason to my madness and of my sanity. They are the true bona fides of society. It is true when they say that your circle of friends gets smaller and smaller as the years pass. As odd as it may sound, I feel as though I have no place in rank in my “friend’s” lives. It sometimes seems like I am not a priority or I am placed last. However, I am not too upset about it. It may sound bizarre, but we are all nearing the end of our journey at SG, and I am starting to normalize getting used to being less dependent on others. Don’t get me wrong though, I still love meeting new people. It is, after all, my last year. There’s still more to explore in the remaining months, and I am ready to make the most of it. So here’s to my family and several friends: thank you for being a part of my life. I appreciate you to the fullest and love you until the end.
opinions
Editorial
Transgender policy limits identity expression
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he United States as well as the rest of the world has had periods of strict conservatism. Even before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, there has been a record number of attempts to remove the rights of LGBTQ+ people. In recent years, various policies were implemented by the Trump administration with the intent to further strip away the rights of the those in the transgender community. With a newly proposed anti-transgender policy, the Trump administration poses a larger threat to the transgender community now more than ever. The policy, outlined in a draft memo by the Department of Health and Human Services, was recently obtained by the New York Times. It would rescind President Barack Obama’s previous policy which gave a broader definition of gender. The Trump administration is now proposing to redefine gender as unchangeable so that a person is permanently considered male or female based on their sex. This
is not to be confused with gender, which is a classification of its own because sex is assigned at birth whereas gender is what individuals identify as. By proposing a policy that targets the transgender community, the Trump administration is essentially denying people of federal recognition due to their birth-given sex. Instead of allowing a transgender individual to identify themselves, the Trump administration is going to permit the government to make that paramount decision for them. The policy will drastically affect the lives of over 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender by exposing them to further bullying, harassment, and discrimination in addition to the hostility many already may face from family members and their community. It will cause a rollback of transgender rights which will only make it more difficult for transgender people to gain access to health care and genderappropriate restrooms, especially if they are students. The policy excludes
students from Title IX, which is meant to prevent sexual discrimination and protect their rights to use whichever restroom and locker room is in accordance with their gender identity. According to the draft memo, the government would resolve any dispute over ambiguity by having the transgender person undergo genetic testing, which may do more harm than good as it may be considered an infringement of constitutional rights. However, according to a letter addressed to the Trump administration, signed by over 1,600 scientists, no scientific test can “unambiguously determine gender or even sex.” This highlights a potential flaw in the Trump administration’s reasoning to restrict gender to a binary model. Furthermore, gender is not a straightforward concept. The policy is an inhumane restriction which will inhibit people’s rights to identify as their preferred gender, leading to the termination of civil rights for the transgender community.
A step back into the closet BY ZHOU YE XIN
Employers overexert student workers BY LU JUNE LIN
tend not to hire as many people as needed to cover the shifts. This is so that they can limit the number of people that they osses can exploit teenage need to pay. As a consequence, employees workers and fail to take end up having to work double the into account that they are amount of time that they are supposed to. only students. In addition Employers tend to manipulate teenagers to schoolwork, students have to juggle by glorifying their role in the workplace, extracurricular activities, family claiming they have no one else available affairs, and their financial situations. to cover the shift. This makes teenagers Many students are unaware of the feel obligated to accept the shift, details involving work permits and regardless of its inconvenience. the policies involved in working as In some cases, bosses may call workers a minor. Consequently, bosses take last minute to get them to cover someone advantage of teenagers by having else’s shift. Regardless of the threats the them work overtime. boss hurls, mental health should be the High school students mostly work number one priority. Workers should either for the experience or the extra not feel guilty for not wanting to cover pocket money. For me, it was more for for the shift, because it is the employers experience. I wanted to learn how to responsibility to find people ahead of balance school, work, and all of my time. extracurricular activities. Knowing If you feel overworked, find time the commitments I had, I requested to to talk with your boss and ask them to only work for four days a week when reduce the number of hours you work. In I applied to my first workplace: two the case that your boss refuses to cut your weekdays and the weekend. ILLUSTRATION BY ECHO DIEU hours or if you do not see a significant At first, my boss seemed to be decrease in your hours, immediately very understanding. He had agreed to a Although the hours were not consult your career center adviser. maximum of four-hour work days during impossible, I no longer had as much time Student labor is cheap, but bosses the week, just like how my school work to spend with my family and friends. don’t consider that students have their permit stated. He would also let me leave There was no set schedule, so I would own lives. If you feel that there is tension as soon as the clock struck 10 p.m. After a week of having my preferred schedule, work at different times each week. Due to in your workplace after your hours have this, it was near impossible to plan events been reduced, do not be afraid to quit and random days were added in because find another job. After all, we are students there was a shortage of available workers. with my family and friends. According to career experts, bosses still learning from our experiences. Before I knew it, I had to work six days
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a week with minimum of four to five hours each day. As soon as it surpassed the 20 hour limit, my boss violated the Minors’ Work Regulations, which outlines the maximum work hours for Monday through Thursdays to be four hours and Friday through Sunday to be eight hours.
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINION OF THE STAFF.
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OPINIONS
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
High school parking prices exclude students BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO
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ne of the top complaints among student drivers is the school’s parking permit fee. When the price to buy a year-long permit is as high as $30, the school potentially excludes many students and risks their safety. Ironically, faculty and staff members, get free parking. The school needs to rethink its parking policy. A student must apply for a yearround permit in order to legally park on campus. One of the stipulations that the district adheres by is that the student’s name must be on their family’s insurance policy as an additional driver. Some parents are reluctant to do this because it increases their own cost for insurance. The fact that the permit can also expire when a student fails to keep their insurance up to date leads to students potentially buying a parking permit more than once a year. These expenses are too much for lower-income students, which make up 80.4 percent of the student body. In that sense, it is not fair to have them pay so much for parking when the majority may not be able to afford it. Students who have trouble relying on their parents to
pay for school related fees are at a heavy disadvantage. Students who park on the streets risk getting towed due to the South parking lot’s exclusion. Students not having parking permits is a serious concern for the neighboring streets as it increases traffic and causes complaints from the nearby households.
Street parking potentially harms students walking to school or returning to their vehicles late at night, putting them at an unnecessary risk. The major traffic surrounding the area can lead to potential car crashes, pedestrian injury, or worse. Too many student drivers are parking themselves in areas where the school is no longer responsible for any
accidents occurring. Students also frequently question what the payment money is used for and claim that the school should clearly state that on the permit application. The school should try their best to quell the various complaints from student drivers. Instead, the school does not inform the student body, leaving them unaware of information that they should definitely know about. When it comes to campus parking, the school is one of the more accommodating; in fact, San Gabriel is the only school in the district that offers it. At Mark Keppel and Alhambra High School, students park their cars in the neighboring streets because of the lack of parking spaces for student vehicles. In contrast, the South parking lot has an abundance of parking spots that go unused each day. The school cannot use the same logic as others in the district because there is plenty of room to situate every student driver. Lastly, school faculty and staff are allowed to have their vehicles in the parking lot without paying the same fee as students. If adults with jobs are able to get free parking, students whose “job” is to go to school and get an education, should have the same privilege. ILLUSTRATION BY VINCENT MARESCA
Restroom policies restrict student needs bladder is unreasonable. Students should not be thinking about grades when it comes to deciding if they should use the restroom during class or not. Teachers usually set their bathroom
BY LAUREN BALLESTEROS
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eeping students from going to the restroom or even rewarding them with extra credit for not going appears as a common trend in teachers’ restroom policies. Teachers who enforce such policies are unjust and do not consider the basic health needs of the students. Because the California Education Code does not provide any specific regulations in regards to restroom usage, teachers have the freedom to set their own policies. For instance, one specific policy in the school would be a system of restroom passes, in which students are granted a number of passes at the beginning of the semester, and teachers reward them with extra credit for each pass unused at the end of the semester. Thus, not using the restroom will affect students’ grades positively, but at the same time, using the restroom will do no real damage to one’s grade. However, rewarding a student with extra credit based on the ability to control their
policies to their benefit—they often deny students the right to leave class in order to maximize their teaching time and to prevent disruptions. The problem is that the need to pee may take over the brain, preventing the student from being able
to focus and learn the material anyway. Allowing the student to leave the class for the few minutes it takes to use the restroom will ultimately have more benefit to the learning process. Others may stand on the side of the teacher and argue that using the restroom is the student’s responsibility to take care of on their own time. Though this may be true, a human being does not have control over the urge to relieve their needs. As a result, a student will not always have to use the restroom when they have the time to. Long lines and lack of time during passing periods prevent students from taking care of their restroom issues on their own time. Therefore, using the restroom during class time is a reasonable request. Consequently, the teachers that do have fair restroom policies face less complaints from the students. As a result, teachers should work towards considering fair policies that allow students to take care of their basic human need to use the restroom without offering rewards or punishments. ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA LU
The Matador Bullring
Do you feel your grades are solely based on merit?
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In some classes, tests are worth a lot. If you fail a test, your grades drop while homework doesn’t bump up your grade.” -Dennis Thai, 9th grade
INTERVIEWS BY SELINA HAN
I think it’s based on how hard you work and how much effort you put [into] your assignments. It’s also based on how much you talk in class.” -Lili Tran, 10th grade
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Grades are defined by your merit; it doesn’t really take into consideration other factors, but there is a small portion of the grade that comes from working with others.”
There are some topics where you just have to be good at it and others where you can study and do well. It’s talent versus hard work; you need a sweet balance.” -Wendy Zamora, 12th grade
-Jason Gonzalez, 11th grade PHOTOS BY ENRICO GONZALEZ
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“Lu”ok at my merch
Angela Lu Gaining reve“lu”
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he loud chatters and musk of body odor from over 50,000 people filled the convention hall. I struggled to walk around everyone as I made my way down the hall, tiptoeing to peek over strangers’ shoulders. Once I reached the artist alley sign, my eyes sparkled in amazement from the rows of colorful prints and sparkling charms towering over my 5’ 1” body. Anime Expo opened my eyes to something I never thought could be a job. I have been working in the anime convention scene since eighth grade. My Fourth of July weekend consists of me carrying boxes, organizing clothes, setting up and taking down the booth, selling products, and more. During these times, I have never considered it as actual work, because I found it to be thrilling and enjoyable. In the winter of my sophomore year, I decided to step into the industry myself. The most nerve-wracking part was overcoming my self-doubts. What if no one likes my art? What if I lose money because no one wants to buy them? How are other people able to achieve success? What makes me different from them? Perhaps I am underage and inexperienced, but everyone has to start somewhere; I needed to take the first step forward for myself. After that, everything fell into place. The initial rush of excitement about the endless possibilities I could do with my ideas pushed me further to pursue my passion. It is a very tedious process, but I enjoy and appreciate everything that goes into it: designing, marketing, manufacturing, communicating, and shipping. My first creations were anime buttons, and it felt so unreal to hold the finished products in my hands. The physical weight of the items grounded me to reality; it made all the hand cramps, breakdowns, and sleepless nights worth it. Nothing can be more rewarding than a physical representation of everything I accomplished, and I wouldn’t give this feeling up for anything. I am able to combine my love of art and anime into something profitable. Most importantly, I find joy in what I do. Seeing the way people’s faces light up in pure joy is an absolute bonus, because I know that my art was responsible for the smile on their face. One of my favorite memories from selling was when one of my followers recognized my art at the BTS Love Yourself concert, and she told me how much she enjoyed my creations. It touched me knowing something small I created out of my own enjoyment gave someone the same happiness it gave me. Compliments and small chats became reminders of why I continue to draw and make merchandise. I have steadily built my business and reputation from online sales and concerts. Despite the competition, I am thankful and fortunate that after two years into this business, I have the opportunity to table at Anime Los Angeles in January. Even though this hobby of mine is time-consuming, I enjoy doing what I do, and I want to continue this for as long as I can.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
FOCUS
1,729 (80.4%)
STUDENTS AT SGHS HAVE FREE/REDUCED LUNCH
WHAT EXTRA ACADEMIC HELP DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PAY FOR?
82.5% N/A 8.8% PREP CLASSES 8.7% PRIVATE TUTORING WHAT SCHOOL RESOURCES DO YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF?
32.3% CTE CLASSES 20.2% COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS 11.3% FREE SAT CLASSES 8.9% COLLEGE CAREER ADVISING
4%
FREE AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING
44.4% N/A OUT OF 124 RESPONSES
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY ANGELA LU
College does not to break your ban BY MELODY ZHANG AND TIFFANY NGUYGEN
Money is an issue that factors heavily into a student’s college decisions. While there are many colleges to choose from, the fear of student debt can limit one’s options. College education is now more expensive than ever, and the money required to attend a four-year public institution in 2017-18 increased by a staggering 123 percent since 1997-98, according to a report by the College Board. Besides the required tuition, living and boarding expenses are the next highest in what students have to pay for, and they are obligated to dorm for a certain amount of time at most colleges. With the monetary requirements of being a college student, high school students need to start planning how they can reduce future student debt as soon as they can. Students have a variety of options when it comes to earning or saving money for their college education. “Go for any scholarships you can apply for, even if it’s just a small amount, like $500 or $1,000; [it] all helps,” history teacher Henry Osborne said. Throughout their high school career, students can work during the summer or while they are
attending classes. Ano alt ernat ive is t o s financial aid by fillin The Free Applicati Federal Student Aid f Facilities on camp as the College and Center (CCC) and th run by the CCC sta multiple opportunitie information about coll for minors, and othe prepare for college. Stu messages about college and resources through application by texting to 81010. “That’s where I sen for everything,” Care Education adviser Pa Serrano said. “So st connect through text downloading] the app Another way to sav debt is to go to a comm first two years. Upon r credits, students can t level college, which is a going directly to a f Students can also tak reduced or free tuition colleges, such as East or Pasadena City Coll those within close pro Students can also graduate degrees, s doctorate, or Ph.D., wh expensive. “If you spend all of your bachelor’s degre extra money left over post-bachelor ’s deg “Whereas if you go [f you might have some you won’t be in deb degree.” Saving up enough can be achieved thro careful spending. Som taken now include k much money is used earns throughout a ce Applications such as M and others can aid in journal or Google also do the same. “It’s not just a it’s about how y English teacher “Learning how conscious about does help.”
FOCUS
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Boettcher shares her journey on paying off debt BY CHELSEA LI
History teacher Stefanie Boettcher, a recent graduate, is still paying off student loans borrowed in college. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2011 and her teaching credentials in 2013. Boettcher had no intentions of borrowing on an annual basis every year until her dad lost his job. Her dad took out a Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students loan, and he advised her to take out a separate loan, so she would have extra money to pay for her classes. “In the beginning, I didn’t really need to [work during college years],” Boettcher said. “Then later the economy crashed; no one was hiring anybody, and I had zero experience. The loans were just how I lived.” Besides student loans, she also applied
for financial aid for six years to decrease her debt. However, her subsidized and unsubsidized loans continued to increased in cost over time. “I eventually maxed out [the] total [money borrowed allowed] they had for Cal State students. I left school with about
“The loans were just how I lived.” $31,000 in loan debt,” Boettcher said. She is currently paying the subsidized loan with two percent interest rate and the unsubsidized loan with at least six percent interest rate. Subsidized loans are based on the borrower ’s financial needs and do not charge interest when students attend school at least part-time. A grace period of six months is given after the student graduates from college. Unsubsidized loans
Free community college BY EILEEN ONG
C a l i f o r n i a re s i d e n t s c a n attend any community college in California for free through a state program that covers tuition fees. The California College Promise Grant (CCPG)’s goal is to make higher education more affordable and accessible to students who otherwise cannot pay for the cost of college. Tuition currently costs $46 per unit for all community c o l l e g e c o u r s e s . A c c o rd i n g to the California Community Colleges system, the grant gave out more than $803 million in financial aid to over half of the 2.1 million community college students in the state for the 2013-14 academic year. To n y Tr a n , S a n G a b r i e l ’ s East Los Angeles College ambassador, said that CCPG is based on a previous financial aid program. “ T h e g r a n t i s f ro m a f e e waiver we used to have,” Tran said. “We used to have a Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver, and if you qualified for the
fee waiver, it waived your tuition.” T h e B O G F e e Wa i v e r changed its name in 2017 to CCPG. However, its eligibility requirements, application process, and benefits remain the same. Qualification for CCPG is determined by demonstrated financial need. “Everything is sent to [Free Application for Federal Student Aid],” Tran said. “We determine your income through FAFSA, and if you qualify with your income, you can get the grant.” Once qualified, students are expected to maintain certain academic and progress s t a n d a rd s i n c o l l e g e . T h e i r grade point average must be at least 2.0, and they must pass more than half their classes. Inability to sustain the minimum requirements may result in loss of grant eligibility. The grant only covers tuition; it does not pay for books and supplies. Vi s i t < i c a n a ff o rd c o l l e g e . com> or the College and Career Center for more information.
are given regardless of income and charges interest rate from the start of the borrowing period. The school that the student attends determines the amount the student can borrow for both loans. “My subsidized loans are smaller and I’m almost done paying them off,” Boettcher said. “So, that’s about $100. [For] my unsubsidized, I pay about $260 a month on them.” When Boettcher graduated, her debt totaled up to f ive f igures. With th at experience, she advises students to do their research before taking out loans. She also recommends enrolling in direct payment, that way students “will get the benefit of a slight, tiny little bit break on the interest.” “I didn’t really need to take out the last year of loans,” Boettcher said. “I just did it just in case. I could have [had] $7,000 less in loans.” Even though Boettcher already has a bachelor’s degree and continuing debt, she plans on furthering her education. “I want to [get my] master’s, learn more updated scholarship on history, and really solidify my content knowledge and use that for my classes in the future,” Boettcher said.
Earn degree in high school BY CHELSEA NGUYEN
While students are in high school, they have the golden opportunity to complete an associate’s degree (AA) at the same time. San Gabriel is currently in partnership with East Los Angeles College (ELAC) to implement the Early College Program (ECP). Introduced last year, the ECP is a dual enrollment program that prepares students academically for the following years ahead by exposing them to studies in different fields. Participating in the ECP is completely free of charge and books are provided at no cost. An associate’s degree helps to prepare a student for a career and can help to transfer into a fouryear institution, if desired. An AA takes two years to earn, whereas a bachelor’s degree takes four years. The main differences between an associate’s degree and bachelor’s are the time needed to receive it and the more advanced study required for a bac helor’s degree. Sophomore Calista Lee, who started ECP last year, believes that the program is rewarding with all its diversity in classes.
“I took ECP because I thought it would be advantageous to take college classes in high school,” Lee said. “I thought that it was very beneficial to me financially and academically.” Having an AA degree allows one to go to a UC, CSU, or private university/college and get placed as a junior when they enter college as a high school graduate. This provides a head start in finishing studies quicker. “Being offered a chance to receive an AA degree [while] receiving a high school diploma would give me a head start,” Lee said. “I could be two years closer to graduating from college.” Students are taught on campus by professors from ELAC to make the class feel similar to a college classroom. By touching on various topics, students learn from social sciences-based curriculums while becoming more aware of the educational and real world. Being a four-year commitment, ECP is required for students to take part in this program for all their high school years. Check with the College and Career Center for more options.
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LIfe and art
Review: The Hate U Give captures reality of social injustice BY WENDY CHAU
There are simply not enough words to describe the film adaptation of Angie Thomas’ book, The Hate U Give. Groundbreaking. Emotional. Real. Unpredictable. Directed by George Tillman Jr., The Hate U Give showcases social injustice and police brutality in the eyes of a young black girl named Starr Carter (played by Amandla Stenberg), who balances two lifestyles. Attending a school in a white community, Carter needs to avoid black stereotypes. In her black neighborhood, she struggles to fit in because she is considered “too white.” The film encapsulates unjust police treatment in the black community. Through family sacrifices, violence, activism, and Carter’s journey of growth, it is no doubt that it is categorized as a drama and thriller with well-developed characters. The Hate U Give projects many emotions throughout the film. When Carter’s childhood friend, Khalil, was unjustly shot by a white police officer, it induced a sense of fury and rage, because it was due to a misunderstanding that clearly
PHOTO COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
Amandla Stenberg plays Starr Carter, a conflicted high school student, in The Hate U Give directed by George Tillman Jr. stemmed from racial stereotypes. Khalil’s death sparked protests from the community to end social injustice once and for all. As the only witness, Carter has to decide whether or not to speak up about it—at the cost of losing her reputation at school. I definitely received more than I expected from this film. The Hate U Give had my jaw dropping and heart pounding at
First Look: MapleStory 2 exhibits vibrant world, 3D graphics
PHOTO COURTESY OF NEXON
Original characters such as the Slime monster and Empress Ereve make a return in “MapleStory 2.” BY ECHO DIEU
“MapleStory 2” is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game released in October by Nexon. It is set in a colorful, 3D isometric world where players’ characters go on adventures with others to fight monsters and complete quests. “MapleStory 2” is the sequel to the 2003 “MapleStory” game, featuring many of the same non-player characters (NPCs) and monsters with changes made to their designs and stories. The game offers various features for players to tinker with, including an open world, a black market, mini games, and customizable homes. Players can choose from nine classes: Runeblade, Archer, Assassin, Berserker, Heavy Gunner, Knight, Priest, Thief, and Wizard. Each of these classes specialize in melee, ranged, or mixed combat styles and draw their power from different stats: strength, dexterity, luck, and intelligence. Players are given many options to personalize their character’s appearance, allowing them an outlet to express their individuality. They can choose their gender and pick from different hairstyles, skin
colors, eyes, and clothing. As players progress further in the game, they can design their own outfits and dye equipment in-game, creating endless possibilities for unique looks. The game focuses heavily on player-toplayer interactions with party quests, boss raids, clubs, and guilds. Players can easily queue to find other players to do party quests with, which helps facilitate the process of looking for others to fight alongside in dungeons. For those seeking to test their abilities, players can engage in direct combat with other players or prove themselves in server-wide mini games that examine their mechanical skills. “MapleStory 2” provides an immersive experience for players with many of its intricate details. Players can follow along the main questline and read its stories by watching cutscenes and conversing with NPCs. Characters and NPCs come with their own voices, enhancing the interactive experience. The game’s collection of background music shows off a wide variety of styles such as dubstep, ‘90s pop, and neo-orchestral and Celtic music. “MapleStory 2” is available for download on Steam.
the suspenseful climax, my heart fluttering during lighthearted scenes, and my eyes teary when I was furious. It became my personal favorite film of all time. Although The Hate U Give tackles serious issues, it was able to do so in a light, yet powerful and effective manner. However, it does not solely focus on these issues because Carter’s friendship and
relationship problems were able to bring a refreshing, light aspect to the film. I would strongly recommend this heartfelt film due to its honest entirety and lack of filter on real world issues. Not only was it not afraid to touch upon controversial topics, surrounding ethnicity, but it was able to do so in a powerful, entertaining, and emotional fashion.
life and art
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9
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALINA HERNÁNDEZ
Junior Hernández performs a routine from the Mexican state of Chiapas. The movements are slow and timid, with elegant gestures meant to show off the dress.
Hernández dances into maturity through folkloric ballet BY DONNA HERNANDEZ
For junior Alina Hernández, dancing is a rite of passage. At the age of eight, Hernández was introduced to baile folclórico by her mother, who also started dancing at a similar age. Baile folclórico, or folkloric ballet, is a traditional Mexican dance best known for its ballet-like characteristics and emphasis for local folk culture. “Each region of Mexico has their [own] style of dance and dress, so we learn different techniques and [dress accordingly] for each,” Hernández said. Stepping foot on the stage is an out of body experience, according to Hernández. This is due to the overwhelming pressure to execute the performance flawlessly.
“When I get on stage, I feel a rush, but a good rush,” Hernández said. “The adrenaline is so fast, I don’t feel present sometimes, [and it] makes me feel like I’m flying.” In spite of their love of the art and cultural tie, the competitive nature of the sport created a toxic environment that led to Hernández and her mother going on hiatus. Her instructor from her former dance team was harsh towards both dancers and parents. “My mom had enough, and we left to find a new professional group,” Hernández said. Due to the unexpected break, Hernández learned to appreciate the role dance had in her life and its contribution to her maturity. “I [came] to be proud to show off my culture instead of dancing because my mom told me to,” Hernández said. “I began dancing for myself and those around me.”
The dancer also realized that in order to become a better ballerina, she needed to prioritize her well-being. “I began [to] focus on [keeping] my body healthy, [my] technique, and mentality,” Hernández said. Ultimately, the experience motivated her and helped her look past the harsh criticism from others. “[My current dance group,] Sol de Fuego taught me that mistakes are okay and can help you [discover] what you need to fix yourself,” Hernández said. Hernández does not regret having gone back to dance due to the opportunity it provided her to get in touch with her culture. “When I’m dancing—even at practice—I feel like I have a purpose,” Hernández said. “Dancing helps remind me where I’m from,
because those dances have been taught for generations.” One of Hernández’s favorite dances is inspired by the Mexican Revolutionary War and is native to Chihuahua, Mexico. She takes inspiration from one of the original dancers, Juana Gallo, who used the dance to represent the women who sacrificed their lives fighting for their country. “The dance has very sharp and defining movements [that resemble a soldier’s],” Hernández said. “They never smile in this dance [and are] very serious and prideful.” Hernández hopes to use her dancing as a platform for the stories she has learned so that others may also understand its cultural significance. The ballerina also learns from the art to become a stronger person much like the individuals that came before her.
Haunted doorway to victory BY CLARA QUACH
PHOTO COURTESY OF YANNET MARTINEZ
Dressed up as Rosie the Riveter, social science teacher Terri Reyes poses in front of her winning Halloween door.
To celebrate Halloween, the Associated Student Body hosted its first Halloween Door Contest for fourth period classes. The class with the ultimate door design was crowned the winner and awarded a pizza party. As Halloween approached, many classes were eager to win using their best decorations. Out of all the participants, social science teacher Terri Reyes and her class won with their It-inspired decor. “I was so excited and proud to find out we won,” Reyes said. “I know my class put in so much effort into our project, and [we] could not be more proud of our final product.” Reyes’ class went all out for the contest. The class got together in order to come up with the perfect plan: circus-theme decorations covering the door and the doorway, along with an instrumental medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas playing in the background. The decorations extended from the entrance out to the hallway. “As a class, we first started brainstorming about [which] Halloween theme would be fun to create,” Reyes said. “We all shared our ideas and visions, which ended up with a circus entrance and a nod to the movie It.” As their decorating progressed, they constantly came up with new ideas and tried
to integrate them into their design. “We were able to come up with the intricate design, because we pretty much set no limits to what we could bring to life,” Reyes said. “The more we worked on the props, the more ideas came to [our] mind to make it even more extravagant.” Reyes enjoys creating a cozier atmosphere within her class by making her class festive, “I am all about decorating and [had] always decorated my classrooms every year according to the seasons,” Reyes said. “This competition had my name [written] all over it.” Through the school-related activity, Reyes was able to strengthen her relationships with her students. “I wanted to tell them how great of a job we really did and how proud of them I was,” Reyes said. “I am also all about boosting school spirit with a good competition.” Senior Jennifer Tan said that they deserved the title, because they worked hard on their design “It was great to see so many creatively decorated doors, [but] I was happy when my class was announced as the winning contestant,” Tan said. “We had a lot of creative ideas and Mrs. Reyes was really dedicated to it.” The class is looking forward to their pizza party today.
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sports
2018-19 Fall Sports Scoreboard FOOTBALL VARSITY 10/19 @ Schurr
33-42 L
10/26 @ Montebello 9-42 L
JV 10/18 @ Schurr
N/A
FRESHMAN 10/18 @ Schurr
0-50 L
10/25 Montebello
0-46 L
CROSS COUNTRY VARSITY 10/31 @ LEGG PARK
(B) 3RD (G) 5TH
JV 10/31 @ LEGG PARK
(B) 6TH (G) N/A
GIRLS TENNIS VARSITY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EL CAMINO REAL, KRYSTLE EHARA
10/23 @ SCHURR
11-7 W
10/28 vs ALHAMBRA
4-14 L
10/30 vs HUENEME
13-5 W
10/31 @ MONTCLAIR
4-14 L
7-11 L
10/ 23 @ MARK KEPPEL 15-3 W
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL VARSITY 10/19 @ Mark Keppel
0-3 L
10/24 @ Montebello
2-3 L
Workout of the Month: Rainbow Strech BY KATIE PHAN
1. Sit in a cross-legged position. 2. Rest your right elbow next to your thigh. 3. Raise your left arm over your head and reach as far as you can. Hold for 30 seconds and switch sides. PHOTOS BY BRIANNA HUYNH-TONG MODEL: KATIE PHAN
Varsity girls tennis sets sail to defeat Vikings in CIF after three year drought BY SALLY PHAM
JV 10/18 @ ALHAMBRA
(Top) Senior Patricia Nuestro, playing number one doubles, returns a shot against the Vikings on Oct. 30 during the first round of CIF match played at home. (Bottom left) Freshman Jessica Hu, playing number two singles, hits a forehand against the Vikings. (Bottom right) Senior co-captain Stephanie Tan, playing number one singles, serves against the Vikings.
Varsity girls tennis triumphed over Hueneme High School in the first round of CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) playoffs on home courts by a score of 13-5 on Oct. 30. “I felt happy knowing that all the team’s hard work from practicing and sweating under the sun finally paid off,” junior Lily Ta said. “We worked super hard to make it to where we are now.” According to Ta, the top three teams from each league advance to playoffs. The Matadors qualified for the CIF playoffs by placing second overall in the Almont League. They scored 10-8 (W) against Alhambra, 4-14 (L) against Mark Keppel, 10-8 (W) against Montebello, and 11-7 (W) against Schurr. “[Playoffs are] a chance to prove to ourselves that we are as good as all the other
players in league,” junior Kayla Lau said. For the first time in three years, the girls advanced to CIF playoffs. “There were so many emotions I was feeling, but I mostly felt excited and nervous,” Lau said. “I mean it’s playoffs, so it was scary.” The Vikings traveled from Oxnard, California to compete against the Matadors, marking the fourth consecutive year for the Vikings to qualify for playoffs. Despite the overwhelming pressure, the Matadors demonstrated their skill and dexterity in their victory and eliminated the Vikings. “Going against the [number one doubles] always makes me nervous, especially with Hueneme, because they weren’t from our league,” sophomore Laureen Huynh said. “We had no idea what to expect.” The Vickings proved to be a formidable opponent as they displayed their agility on the courts.
“[They] had quick movements and [effectively] set each other up,” senior cocaptain Shirley Fung said. In the second round of the tourney, the girls were eliminated by Montclair on Halloween day. Co-captain Stephanie Tan is proud that the team ended the three-year drought and looks forward to what the team can accomplish in the future. “I hope the team [continues] to make it to CIF and win all of their playoff matches,” Tan said. “There is no doubt in my mind that they will, [because] they had a good [junior varsity] season.” The Matadors concluded with a successful season overall. In individual play, two double teams consisting of senior Patricia Nuestro and sophomore Laureen Huynh, and juniors Kayla Lau and Lily Ta will continue onto CIF Individuals on Nov. 19.
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Ulloa perseveres through marathons
WHAT’S THE
WORD? FAMOUS HALLWAY QUOTES OVERHEARD BY THE MATADOR STAFF PHOTO COURTESY OF LEAH ULLOA
“Why do vampires not have friends? Because they suck.” “What does a house wear to a party? Address.” “You dress coded my drawing?!” - student after a teacher critiqued her drawing “Because I couldn’t bring a knife!” - student when asked why she painted a spork red for her Halloween costume “Honestly, I don’t even sleep anymore. I just nap a lot throughout the day.” - student after being questioned about her sleep schedule “I’m literally gonna pour a gallon of water on you for being so dry.” “I lost my glasses but I need my glasses to find them.” - student joking about losing their glasses
Ulloa has her picture taken by her daughter during the New York City Marathon. She said seeing support from her family always motivates her. BY SELINA HAN
Math teacher Leah Ulloa knew her months of training had paid off as she ran alongside other racers in the streets of Chicago when she finished her most recent marathon this past October. “I’ve run my whole life,” Ulloa said. “I did my first race when I was six. My parents were runners. What really got me started was my dad was in charge of the Mile 3 water station in the LA Marathon when we were kids.” Volunteering and seeing all of the participants running together inspired
Ulloa to want to run someday in the future. “I remembered going to that and [thinking], ‘I want to do that someday,’” Ulloa said. “Then when I turned 30 I [remembered] I really would like to do that and then started training for half marathons. After that I thought, ‘Okay, I think I’m ready to train for a full marathon.’” After training for and finishing her first marathon, Ulloa ran the LA Marathon as her second. She dedicated the race to one of her students who had passed away and to her late grandmother. “[It was] really memorable because after a certain amount of time things start to hurt,” Ulloa said. “Your legs start to hurt.
Your feet start to hurt. I just remember thinking, ‘This is just pain but I’m here. I’m living. I can experience this.’ It was a beautiful day and I remember thinking this girl, Sandra, won’t get to see this. She won’t get to do this anymore so it really made me value life.” Although marathon running is very intense, Ulloa enjoys it because she gets to see her loved ones support her and because she’s surrounded by people just like her. “It’s like a metaphor for life,” Ulloa said. “If you can run a marathon, you can handle any obstacle in front of you. You go through every single emotion when you run a race, at least I do.”
Chen Yang learns from kendo journey BY LAUREN BALLESTEROS
Achieving his freshman year goal, sophomore Ahmik Chen Yang made the USA national team for kendo, a Japanese form of fencing with bamboo swords. He qualified for the team after a day-long tournament and eventually placed second at the 2017 All United States Kendo Federation Championships in San Jose. Despite the team’s loss by one point, Chen Yang now feels proud of their accomplishment. “I was really sad at first,” Chen Yang said. “After the tournament, I felt good because in the end, it’s a national tournament, and we were able to represent SCKF (Southern California Kendo Federation) [as] one of the top teams in all of the United States.” Chen Yang learned kendo starting around fifth grade and faced hardships in the beginning due to his young age and small size. He found himself unsatisfied with his first matches, making him want to quit.
“My first few tournament matches were against these huge, big, and strong people so I kept getting pushed around,” Chen Yang said. “I kept getting pushed out of bounds. I got bruises left and right.” Flash forward several years, now “taller and stronger,” Chen Yang dedicates a good amount of his time to kendo. Ironically, though, he lacks passion and interest in the sport. “I don’t enjoy [kendo] but I’m good at it,” Chen Yang said. “I didn’t want to continue, but my parents forced me to. Because of that, I had some impressive outcomes—I began winning tournaments instead of losing them.” Though he may not enjoy kendo, he believes the life lessons and morals to “respect his elders” that come with the sport positively impacted his life. More importantly, he learned to persevere and continue with his talents, inspired by the Japanese culture and essence of the sport. “Never give up and keep on going,” Chen Yang said. “That is the spirit of kendo.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF AHMIK CHEN YANG
Chen Yang (right) competes in a kendo match for his home team in Rosemead, Gedatsu Kendo Dojo.
Pandur spearheads student voter registration drive on campus
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Pandur casts his ballot at the mock election event held on Nov. 1 in the Multi-Purpose Room. In the future, he plans to play a role in shaping the United States government. BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN
Tired eyes follow sophomore Joseph Pandur as he takes a deep breath and delivers an informative speech about the importance of registering to vote. The sound of muffled coughs and shuffled
papers echo throughout the MultiPurpose Room while Pandur passes out forms to students. With determination, Pandur organized and spoke at the voter registration drive at school on Oct. 16, demonstrating his strong belief that more students need
to be ready to participate in the United States (U.S.) government and do their part. Pandur has been civically engaged by actively keeping up with the news starting from the young age of 12. “That [was] when I first paid a bit more attention,” Pandur said. “I started reading newspapers a bit more often. I watched news [channels] more often.” As Pandur grew older, his family encouraged him to stay up to date with the most relevant political news. Pandur said that the push his family provided him helped him form opinions that could be more efficiently supported. As a result, his upbringing has been a major factor in his passion for political involvement. “My dad always says that it’s important to stay informed,” Pandur said. “And he’s right, because if you don’t know what’s going on, then you have a narrower view of the world.” He strives to inspire youth to view voting as a privilege and help them understand the significance of utilizing a free tool that will allow them to shape the government and society. “I believe that voting is a civic duty,”
Pandur said. “Even if you are not old enough to carry out that [obligation], it’s still your [job] to ensure that others carry out their civic duty.” With his desire to spark change in others for a good cause, Pandur can potentially see himself pursuing a career in politics. “I’ve given some serious thought [about] getting involved in politics,” Pandur said. “Maybe state government. I want to do some good work for fellow citizens. That is my life goal. I’m just figuring out what I have to do [in order] to achieve such a goal.” In Pandur’s eyes, there is more to politics than just annual involvement in the voter registration drive. As a citizen, the affairs of the U.S. government affects every single person and every component of the nation. Pandur believes that understanding its complexities and taking initiative are just the first few steps in citizen involvement in government. “If you discover the rest of the world, you’ll be so happy that you found it,” Pandur said.
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The matador
Friday, November 9, 2018
FEAtures
Family stays together Students bond with family through experiences
Lost cousins spark newfound connection
Family means everything to senior Lindsey Nguyen. Growing up, she was taught to always love and prioritize her family. She enjoys spending time with them whether they are out having fun or at home simply doing nothing. Throughout the years, Nguyen has built a strong relationship with each family member. However, she recently discovered that she had another relative she had never seen before. “[My family is] so important to me,” Nguyen said. “But I actually have family members that I have never met and that kills me.” On the road to visit her uncle with her paternal out-of-state relatives in July, Nguyen wondered if her uncle had ever had a child before. Her questioning led to intriguing information about her 28-year-old cousin that her family had never met. “My grandfather had mentioned [my cousin] when I was little, but I never thought much of it until now,” Nguyen said. She took an immediate interest and decided to search for
him. With the help of her father, she found him on Facebook. “I [searched up] his name and picked whoever looked most like my uncle,” Nguyen said. “Luckily, this was a no-brainer because the two are almost identical.” Once she built up enough courage, she contacted him on Facebook and introduced herself as his cousin. Despite his initial shock, Nguyen and her cousin have remained in contact on Facebook ever since. However, they have not yet met in person. “I have been getting to know him and telling him about the rest of our family,” Nguyen said. “My family lives in Seattle and Houston so [we might meet him] in May when they come to my graduation.” The profound discovery of her cousin has led to another lasting familial relationship for Nguyen. “I can’t believe he had been [uncontacted] for 28 years,” Nguyen said. “I feel so blessed to have been given the chance to meet another family member.”
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Manzo experiences values of family
Pullian finds strength through hardships
Pullian (second from right) visits his little brother in Georgia with his mother and stepfather in October. ARTICLES BY BRIANNA HUYNH-TONG, QILIN LI, LAUREN BALLESTEROS GRAPHICS BY ZHOU YE XIN
Manzo (right) and her family smile together at a birthday party as a relative cracks a joke behind the camera.
Junior Isaiah Pullian lives in an unconventional family—his parents have been divorced since he was 10 years old. In the following six years of his life, he grew up living with his mother in San Gabriel, while his father lived in Fayetteville, Georgia. Seeing his father only once a year or less, Pullian gradually overcame the emotional struggle of not having a fatherly figure around to teach him to “be a man” or to shape him into a responsible person. Rather than sitting around and feeling sorry for himself, he instead saw this as an opportunity to learn to do “everything on his own” and become “the man of the house.” “At first it was kind of hard not having my dad around,” Pullian said, “but I really just matured on my own. As for my day-to-day life, it doesn’t affect me at all. It’s not like the world is just going to stop just because I want to see [him].” Along with his father living in Georgia, his younger brother decided that he wanted to live there, too, after living with their mom for his whole life. This impacted Pullian and his
life at home, but he still looks at the positives. “My life at home is great but definitely different without my brother and dad around,” Pullian said. “I do miss [my brother] at times, but I also think it’s better for him there [because] he has more opportunities for basketball, and his schooling system is better.” He was given the opportunity to move to Georgia with his brother, but he decided against it to maintain his current lifestyle. “I chose to stay because I’m almost done with high school, and I have a lot of friends here in San Gabriel, so [I] might as well stay for my last few years.” Pullian said Despite living in a family that is different from the rest, Pullian still thinks of himself as an equal to his peers and does not think his family differences should define him. “I don’t see my life as any different,” Pullian said. “I still have guardians like everyone else; I’m no different than someone living with both parents.”