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The matador
Wednesday, september 18, 2019
NEWS
College Board updates AP curriculum, registration
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN TIEU
Junior Jasmine Flores checks her AP English Language and Composition stream to complete her assigned unit assessments. The stream includes unit guides with topics that appear on the exam and an AP question bank consisting of practice problems. BY WALLY LAN
The College Board implemented changes including new AP resources and registration deadlines to the AP exam system for the 2019-20 school year in hopes of improving students’ chances of success. Free AP resources, including unit guides
College and Career Center joins Instagram
and the AP question bank, will be available for students and teachers on the College Board website. “I believe that students will really benefit from the new AP resources,” sophomore Stephanie Rodriguez said, “because not a lot of students were as fortunate to buy resources on their own so with the new ones,
they can get them for free.” The new online resources raise concerns as the actual AP test is completed physically with paper, pen, and pencil. “Timed, hand-written exams are a bit different and maybe more challenging than electronic tests for some students,” AP World History teacher Henry Osborne
Sharing table decreases food waste, provides nutrition
BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO
The College and Career Center (CCC) created a new Instagram account to spread awareness about the resources it provides. The push towards social media was due to Remind’s recent update which now limits the number of people who can be connected to one group. “We had over 500 students and parents who were linked to it,” Serrano said. “We were maxed out. We’d have to be charged money per person.” The CCC hopes to achieve the same student engagement it had with Remind and aims to draw students in with colorful design elements that cannot be done with physical copies. “The Instagram posts are more eyeappealing,” Serrano said. “It’s not just a whole paragraph of information, but on the flyer in brief bullets. It’s a lot easier to read a flyer than it is to skim through a paragraph.” Many seniors look at the new Instagram page as a resource for their college search as it is “more convenient” to see their posts online. “When I go on my feed and see [the] Instagram posts, I see a different variety of colleges that we are able to visit,” senior Sophia Lin said. “I know that when I see them I have a mindset of knowing where I could go to, and I could also share this information with my friends.” To stay updated with the CCC’s announcements, follow them @sghsccc.
said. “Skills and habits like annotating documents and brainstorming ideas for essays still need to be taught and reinforced in class.” With the new exam registration deadline requiring students to register by October, Osborne said that students generally should commit to their classes at registration unless unforeseen situations arise. “Changing one’s mind about completing a goal because it becomes difficult rarely leads to a sense of accomplishment or growth,” Osborne said. “In the 2018-19 AP World History class, 106 of 107 students took the exam. Many felt they would not pass, yet over 79% did, and many students earned scores of 4 or 5.” Junior Michael Wong said that the new registration deadline is detrimental towards students questioning whether or not they should take the exam(s) in addition to their normal course loads. “People who are uncertain now have the added stress of deciding whether or not to prepare for an expensive test,” Wong said. In addition to the $94 exam fee, the College Board added a $40 cancellation fee for students who decide that they no longer wish to take the exam after registering. “The new fees make it more difficult for some students to choose whether or not they still want to take the AP tests for their classes,” junior Nathan Chung said. Sophomore Sandra Lopez said that committing to the AP exam would result in students pushing themselves in order to study and be more prepared. “Some advice I have for students [who] are concerned about having to make a decision earlier is that they should look at it as an advantage,” Lopez said, “because they either don’t have to worry about the test, or they can have more time to get serious about it.”
PHOTO BY TANVI MAI
Senior Sam Ly places a pack of Craisins in the bin labeled ‘Fruits/Veggies.’ “I’m allergic to fruit so I have to put all my fruit into the baskets; that’s kind of beneficial for me,” Ly said. BY MELODY ZHANG
A new sharing table has been added to the cafeteria where students can place uneaten food and drinks into bins. At no additional cost, students who are hungry can pick up extra food items. After a senior project by alumnus Matthew Perez showed the amount of food discarded in school, physical education teacher Carla Fujimoto decided to take action. “The sharing table started because people witnessed me going through the trashcans to pick out all the uneaten
packaged foods and fruits and vegetables,” Fujimoto said, “so I would wash off the discarded fruits and make it available for students in physical education.” In a meeting with AUSD Food Service Director Judy Huffaker, she brought up the concept of the sharing table. “My suggestion was if [the students] don’t want it, why don’t you have a place where they can put everything out there,” Fujimoto said, “so if others want to eat more, then they could take it.” With the help of Principal Debbie Stone, the sharing table came to fruition. Students, who are required to take a main entree, fruit or vegetable, and milk, can
leave the unwanted items at the table. “[Students] essentially have to have three items on their tray to go ahead and make sure that their nutritional requirement is filled,” cafeteria manager Roxanne Venegas said. “Whatever they don’t want on that tray, they can donate to the table, and then whoever wants to come and partake in the food that’s leftover is more than welcome to.” Students can take items from the sharing table to save for after-school activities such as sports, clubs, and other programs. “Sometimes you’re not always able to pack a second meal for your clubs or your sports,” Venegas said, “so [students] can take advantage of this and still get some nutrition in them.” The sharing table works in conjunction with the Food Recovery Program on campus. Throughout lunch, food will be available in the bins. “If it’s taken, good; if it’s not, the milk is the only thing that is tossed in the end,” Venegas said. “We put the fruits and sides that we’re able to give to the foundation into their bin.” Senior Sam Ly said that he likes the idea of the table and finds himself always putting something in the bins. Ly also sees other students using the sharing table. “It gives everyone a chance to put away the food they don’t want,” Ly said, “and if someone wants [something] they can just take it from the sharing table.” Although the sharing table was recently implemented, Venegas noticed few leftovers in the bins. “I just want to see the kids engage in the programs we have here on campus,” Venegas said, “whether it’s free breakfast, the sharing table, or just coming to lunch to make sure that they’re full and ready to learn.”
The matador
NEWS
Debate watch party brings political scene to campus
THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print
Lauren Ballesteros
Editor-in-Chief, Digital
Kimberly Quiocho
Elsie Wang Managing Editor News Editors
Katie Phan Wally Lan Melody Zhang
Opinions Editors
Aaron Lu Sally Pham
Focus Editors
Chelsea Nguyen Zhou Ye Xin
Life and Art Editors
Ivy Ho Ken Yu
Sports Editor Features Editors
Eric Mai Andrew Lam Qilin Li
Copy Editors
Amanda Lerma Brandon Tran
Photo/Video Editors
Tanvi Mai Megan Tieu
Graphics Editor
Winnefer Wu
Business Managers
Wendy Chau Cissy Lu
Media Managers
Mytam Le Tiffany Nguygen
Reporters
Lily Cam Leane Che Tammy Vuong Irene Yue
Adviser
Hanna Jalawan
The Matador is published monthly by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 1,000 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. Jalawan’s mailbox.
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Briefs Vending macine drops prices, adds new features BY MELODY ZHANG
After a change in companies, vending machine prices have been marked down from $1.35 to $1 per item. “It’s a lot easier and more convenient [now],” sophomore Thanakrit Naisanguansri said. “You don’t have to take out coins, you just have to take out a dollar bill.” Along with the drop in prices, a new feature allows for cashless forms of payment. These include debit or credit and mobile payments, such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. New snacks are available as well.
BY ELSIE WANG
In an effort to encourage more student political involvement, the social studies department hosted the first Democratic Debate Watch Party on Sept. 12 in the Multipurpose Room. What had initially begun as a classroom idea proposed by the students of social studies teacher Nicole Manalang quickly grew into a schoolwide event with more than a hundred students in attendance. “[The turnout] warmed our hearts,” social studies teacher Laura Galiazzo said. “We knew our kids were politically savvy. I think they feel like this is an important time for them to be involved.” Through the watch party, the teachers encouraged the students to think for themselves and find their own political voice. “I’ve been telling every single one of my classes I teach, ‘This isn’t my president. This is your president,’” Manalang said. “‘This is the man or woman who’s going to decide if you’re going to war, if the economy is going to be good when you’re out of high school and college.’” Fo r s e n i o r A n g e l Vi l l e ga s , w h o intends to vote in the primary election, watching the debate was important to
thematadorsghs.us
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
PAWS lends a hand to animals in need BY LEANE CHE
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Students and faculty pack the Multipurpose Room to watch the third Democratic debate on Sept. 12, filling out debate bingo cards and eating snacks provided by the teachers. him. A child of immigrants, Villegas related to the debate in many ways. “I knew the work my parents did and had to do to give me the life I have,” Villegas said. “If [my parents did] that and [could] get so much accomplished here in America, imagine what all these other people could do.” Galiazzo said that she wants students
to participate in politics, whether it’s in local elections or in their hometown, and find and campaign for someone they support. “This is going to affect them in the future,” Galiazzo said. “Every four years, we’re going to go through this. Their vote is going to matter and their voice is going to count.”
New club paves runway for fashionistas BY TAMMY VUONG
Providing a space for fashion enthusiasts to express themselves, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) Club is a new club put together by sophomores Celine Truong and Laurie Trinh out of their mutual interest in fashion. The two have wanted to start a fashion club ever since their freshman year and were inspired by their friend, who was Vice President of one at Alhambra High School. “I’m excited to start this club, especially since we’re in a time where fashion is one of the most influential art forms,” Trinh said. “I hope to achieve an open and comfortable space for [students] to express their creativity and their ‘color’.” Each meeting, they plan to host small activities relating to fashion, such as designing moodboards, teaching how to sew, and completing projects about fashion-based careers. The goal is to host
a fashion show near the end of the year as one of its major events. “We want to either show off trends, thrifted, or make [clothing] from scratch,” Trinh said. “We welcome anyone to [walk] the runway, regardless of them being [a member] or not.” The club plans to attend the Santa Monica FIDM Debut show in April, which displays designs from FIDM alumni. “On the day of Debut, the club will also have the choice of touring the FIDM campus in LA and attending the preparty right before the show,” Truong said. The club encourages all students with an interest in fashion to join, whether they choose to express their style or not. They anticipate their first meeting, hoping to meet new and diverse students. “I’d be interested in joining t h e f a s h i o n c l u b, ” s e n i o r Savannah Olmos said. “I’d want to learn about new fashion trends that everyone is wearing. I think [we should] maybe learn about what makes an outfit show off our personality more.” Meetings are held every Friday in E-106 during lunch. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURIE TRINH AND CELINE TRUONG PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WINNEFER WU
Sophomores Celine Truong (right) and Laurie Trinh (left) pose in their everyday outfits. “Fashion has a soft place in my heart,” Truong said. “It’s not just about the trends, it’s about all of the hard work that goes into making each clothing piece and accessory.”
Promoting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a new animal service club, offers students a chance to assist and interact with animals. PAWS seeks to aid animals in need by raising awareness through various methods and provide opportunities for students to gain experience with and exposure to properly handling animals. Currently, PAWS has organized two events in the Los Angeles area for the first semester. Members will be volunteering as horse helpers and assistants for rabbit adoptions. Meetings are held every other Wednesday in A-204 during lunch.
Fall production cast revealed BY WENDY CHAU
The lead roles for this year’s fall production, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” will feature junior Jakob Pabon as Peter, junior Jami Gallardo as Black Stache, and sophomore Kelly Hoang as Molly Aster. “Peter and the Starcatcher” is a prequel that provides the backstory of the characters found in “Peter Pan,” such as Captain Hook and Wendy. Despite the addition of music in the prequel, it is classified as a play and not a musical due to the ratio of spoken dialogue to music. The production will take place in the auditorium with tickets priced at $7 for students and $10 for adults. Show dates are expected to be Nov. 18 and Nov. 19.
AUSD publishes quarterly magazine BY AMANDA LERMA
AUSD School News is a new quarterly magazine that brings awareness to new programs, field trips, and technology at schools throughout the district. Each issue will feature a column by various administrators and associations about upcoming events. “I think this magazine will be a good idea,” junior Joselyn Sanchez said. “Students should be updated about news that will affect them so that they’ll know about changes in advance and how to prepare for them.” Featuring a back to school theme, the first issue introduces AUSD school principals and the Positive Behavior Supports Learning on the cover. The next issue will be published on Nov. 16, accessible online at schoolnewsrollcall.com and at schools.
To read more articles, visit www.thematadorsghs.us.
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The matador
wednesday, september 18, 2019
Silver “li”ning
opinions
Editorial
School fails to care for restroom maintenance Qilin Li
Good enough
I
like being good at things—I mean, who doesn’t? The feeling that you get after doing something well or being satisfied with your performance—the pride, it’s incomparable to any other. I don’t know where this desire to do well came from because I didn’t grow up excelling in anything in particular. I was mediocre at a wide array of things. I was never enrolled in piano or violin lessons, nor did I ever find myself in art classes or on sports teams. Every weekend and after school, I’d go home while other kids ventured off to practice their talents. Perhaps a reason why I haven’t committed to a hobby is that I don’t have a natural aptitude for anything. Sure, hobbies don’t require you to be talented or skilled, but it’s pretty hard to draw for fun when my artistic capabilities stop at a smiley face. Don’t get me wrong, I still tried to seek out a hobby. In fact, I’ve had my fair share of trying to find a niche of my very own. Painting was the very first thing I attempted. I wasn’t expecting a Monet piece, but I was certainly frustrated when my canvas revealed nothing but a muddy mix of colors. Then, I tried playing the piano but only ever learned how to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with three of my fingers. I even tried growing flowers and fruits, but none of my plants made it past the seedling phase. I know it’s unreasonable to expect excellence at first try. If I wanted to recreate “The Starry Night,” I would need to work towards it, not expect it the moment I pick up a paintbrush for the first time. Still, my rudimentary skills did nothing but discourage me from trying to improve on anything, and I gave up on seeking a hobby; I felt like I wasn’t good enough at anything to persevere. To compensate for the fact that I did not shine in any skill, I began trying academically. I remember trying my hardest on every test and assignment, wanting to be the best in school since I didn’t have anything else to flaunt. Still, being the best seemed impossible: people were better at writing than me, solved math problems quicker than me, performed better on tests than me, and countless people have outranked me at competitions. Trying my best wasn’t always enough to me. Yet, I kept putting in effort. I completed tasks not in hopes of being the absolute best but with the intention of pleasing myself. Comparing myself to others was inevitable, but I learned that it was my source of motivation and that I had to keep from obsessing over it. I’m definitely not the most exceptional now, not even close, but I’ve realized that being the best might be unachievable. Striving to be perfect won’t benefit me in any way; it’s an idea that’s intangible and there’s no way I can embody it. However, being the best I can within the limits of my own capabilities—even if that means mediocracy—can be good enough.
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ampus restrooms are lacking in supplies and fail to meet the expectations of students and state laws for privacy and sanitation. The restrooms’ inadequacy leads to uncomfortable restroom visits that could easily be resolved. Regular maintenance and a higher priority on privacy are crucial to make using the restrooms a less harrowing experience. Campus restrooms’ conditions are a glaring violation of basic health codes, such as the California Education Code 35292.5 which expects school restrooms to be stocked with soap, paper towels, and other necessities “at all times.” The frequency of which the restroom toiletries are refilled is far from “at all times” and closer to seldom, if at all. For instance, soap dispensers have been removed from the walls with no signs of future replacement. This becomes a major health hazard, especially during lunch, since students are unable to wash their hands thoroughly. By not adhering to state laws for basic sanitation, the restrooms essentially become nurseries of filth. Even though student expectations are not written out, restrooms should also adhere to them to provide students with a decent restroom experience. One
of the main student expectations that is not being met is proper privacy. This is especially true in the boys’ restrooms where the absence of partitions between the urinals creates severe awkwardness. Students respond to this by using every other urinal to have some privacy. Since only half of the urinals are in use, the lines for the boys’ restrooms grow tediously long. This problem is most consequential during the strict eight-minute passing period where students attempt to use the restroom quickly to get to their next class on time. Furthermore, the locks for some stalls in the locker room do not work, adding to the discomfort. By not providing simple privacy, the restrooms fail to accommodate the most basic of expectations. Campus boasts a football field encircled by a quarter-mile track, two baseball fields, and a location that is surrounded by beautiful mission-style structures. The unacceptable condition of the restrooms has no place in a school like this. Worst yet, when other schools come to visit for sports games or other events, they are forced to use the clogged toilets, step on the grimey tiled floors, and wash their hands from a leaky faucet. The restrooms are a humiliating stain on the school’s name.
Some argue that the campus restrooms already serve their basic purpose, so there is no need to spend time and effort to make them better. However, it is cruel to force students to use restrooms of low standards, much less ones that violate state laws. This is not to say that an extravagant amount of money should be spent on improving the restrooms, only enough money to make sure that student expectations are met and state laws are followed. Any time and effort invested into improving their comdition would yield beneficial results. Immediate changes need to be made to the restrooms, lest their neglected state worsens. The maintenance of the restrooms relies on both the staff, for refilling and cleaning them, and the students, for taking care of them. Therefore, both sides should be educated on their responsibilities to ensure that the restrooms remain clean and sanitary. After education, comes improvements where partitions between urinals are installed, the soap dispensers are replaced, and any other necessary changes to the restrooms are made. The education of the students and staff would allow the improved quality of the newly renovated restrooms to be upheld.
Campus restroom’s dirty secret BY ZHOU YE XIN
Government negligence leads to deforestation BY SALLY PHAM
Yet, deforestation and fires have surged since Bolsonaro took office in lames engulfed the Amazon January with his pledge to open the Basin over the course of three rainforest to development. With Brazil’s weeks. Though climate change economy struggling, Bolsonaro sees has been a major factor in the Amazon as the country’s greatest catalyzing many blazes, these recent fires were intentionally set by farmers in response to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s calls to develop the region for agricultural purposes. The intended outcome resulted in devastating fires that exploits the earth’s natural resources. The Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and emits about 6% of Earth’s oxygen. Not only is the Amazon a predominant factor in the production of oxygen that cleans the atmosphere, it is also a massive reservoir of carbon that slows down climate change. Moreover, the Amazon is home to the largest concentration of biodiversity on the planet. When these exploitable resource. Under his command, forests are cut down, the habitats of plants the majority of fires burning in the Amazon and animals are destroyed, and many started in pursuit of mining, logging, species risk extinction. If another 10% of the and agriculture. To further his agenda, ecosystem is lost, the remaining rainforest Bolsonaro packed his cabinet with climatewill dry up into a savannah. change deniers and agribusiness executives.
F
Bolsonaro’s government is pushing towards a campaign to block environmental protection programs. The goal is to facilitate construction projects like dams, bridges, and roads in the Amazon. Although these developments would be beneficial for humans, it would ultimately disrupt the natural functions of the ecosystem and make illegal logging and mining operations easier to bypass. With the encouragement of the Brazilian government, deforestation of the Amazon has surged to its highest level in a decade. The Amazon rainforest provides tremendous value when intact, and its destruction has tremendous costs. In order to effectively manage forests without endangering rare species and risk global environmental damage, it is imperative that companies do not clear large areas of forest and should be required to plant new trees after completing their service. As a community, the world must be careful not to destroy these important ecosystems or else future generations will be deprived of these essential resources. ILLUSTRATION BY MELODY ZHANG
DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINION OF THE STAFF.
The matador
OPINIONS
College Board prompts student failure BY ZHOU YE XIN
T
he College Board modified the AP (Advanced Placement) registration process to prepare students for the AP tests for the 201920 school year. This includes turning in fee waivers and registering to take the AP tests earlier. However, pushing the registration date forward is counterproductive and should not have been changed. The changes were an attempt to increase the passing rate, but the date change might instead increase the number of failing scores. Indecisive students or those who are not confident in their studying skills are being forced to decide whether they want to spend a large sum of money quickly. If they do decide to take the test and consider dropping it or register late for a test, they will have to pay a $40 fee instead of the previous $16 cost for every AP test cancelled. As a result, the College Board earns a lot
more money as unprepared students who are not willing to pay the late fee fail the test. Furthermore, being forced to make an early decision brings more stress to students who recently came back from
summer vacation and are still getting accustomed to their new schedule. Students are already occupied with exploring the school’s clubs and extracurriculars as well as transfering classes. Adding the weight of deciding
what AP tests to take will bring unnecessary stress. Others may argue that the changes will ensure that registered students are less likely to cancel their registration and in turn, increase the number of test-takers. However, this may not be the case as students, especially those self-studying the subject, will not be able to familiarize with the material or test format enough to gauge whether they feel competent enough to pass it. This leads to fewer students willing to sign up for AP tests as they are afraid to committing them. In essence, the College Board changes may not work as intended: the date and fee change will not get more students to sign up for the test. Instead, students should be able to register at the usual date, but be required to pay the increased late/drop fee. Enough time is given to students to decide if they want to take the AP test and the fee will discourage lastminute second-guessers. ILLUSTRATION BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO
No time to adjust to new strict policies BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN
T
he district school board has recently enforced new policies regarding fundraisers, which were announced for the first time during the Inter-Club Council meeting on Aug. 21. As a result of the sudden announcement, along with how strict the policies are, many campus clubs have been unable to fundraise efficiently. These policies include the mandatory acquisition of a permit for on-campus fundraisers that require a table, the requirement of an adult chaperone at off-campus fundraisers, and an automatic 5% withdrawal from fundraiser sales. Permission slips also need to be completed by cabinet members to attend off-campus fundraisers. More policies will likely be enforced in the future as the district is trying to ensure student safety during fundraisers. Although the policies are meant to protect students, they should have been introduced and implemented in a more gradual manner—rather than one month into the school
year, interrupting many planned fundraisers. The school district needs to plan the roll out of new policies more strategically in order to allocate enough time for school administration to inform club advisers of said policies. By doing
so, clubs on campus would be able to promote and host fundraisers without any complications. In addition to the unexpected policies, they are also unnecessarily strict. Because off-campus fundraisers now require a chaperone,
many will not be able to happen because club advisers will not always be available or they will not be able to stay for the entire duration of the fundraiser. If the usual club adviser is not available, it may also waste unnecessary time to find a willing replacement to supervise the fundraiser. Considering that various clubs need fundraisers to keep their treasury af loat and to keep their club functioning efficiently, it can be said that these events are crucial to the maintenance of a running extracurricular ecosystem. Requiring an adult chaperone to attend offcampus events may also cause superf luous difficulties, possibly preventing students from even trying to set up a fundraiser. When implementing new policies like this, the school district should keep student needs in mind and be more organized in terms of disseminating information. Students should also have more input in policies that directly affect them because new policies, although implemented with good intentions, can be detrimental to the success of a club. ILLUSTRATION BY WINNEFER WU
The Matador Bullring
How should school restrooms be improved?
“ “
I think school restrooms should be improved by adding walls between urinals so that there is more privacy.”
-Elijah Muniz, 9th grade INTERVIEWS BY WENDY CHAU AND TANVI MAI
I think that there needs to be better hygiene. Therefore, restrooms should be cleaned more frequently. We, as students, should also be more responsible.” -Crystal Louie, 10th grade
“ “
We should make the urinals work better, have soap, and make sure that there is not as much writing on the walls of the restroom stalls.”
The school should make the pad and tampon dispenser more convenient because it’s too much work to get a token from the office.”
-Gina Huynh, 12th grade
-Daniel Florez, 11th grade PHOTOS BY TANVI MAI
thematadorsghs.us
WEDNESDAY, september 18, 2019
5
“Don”e with pollution
Brandon Tran Environmental issues
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limate change and pollution have been a major concern for me since I learned about the potentially devastating effects they will have on the entire planet, which has made me worry about the sustainability of our lifestyles. I have placed a great deal of effort in mitigating this by promoting environmentalism and working to create a positive difference as I believe it is necessary to do so for the sake of everyone who will be affected by it in the future. Initially, pollution was only a minor issue to me. It was a problem for the future, maybe even the far future where it would never affect me. In other words, it was someone else’s problem. However, I gradually realized that this was far from true, as well as an incredibly selfish way of thinking. I have seen an enormous amount of litter throughout parks, cities, and beaches, much of which was plastic or styrofoam and can easily enter the ocean. I have inhaled smoke from cars nearly every time I go to school or downtown. I have felt the sweltering heat that has worsened in recent years. This was more than enough to convince me that I should do everything I can to reduce pollution before it becomes disastrous. Now, I view climate change and pollution as major detriments to society and have worked to fight them. I have joined the Environmental club and a nonprofit, student-led organization known as Stand Against Plastic Straws (SAPS) to minimize the impact of waste. I have spoken to my friends and family about this topic and explained why it is essential for us to tackle this issue now. This impacted their lifestyles as they began to recycle more often, showing that advocacy can be effective at making change. Even so, I want to do more. There must be fundamental changes to drastically reduce pollution, and I will do as much as I can to push for this. This is extremely significant to me as pollution will create drastic damage to the world and society, making this extraordinarily urgent. I feel that this is one of the most pressing issues we face today and must act as soon as possible to prevent extreme repercussions. I want to do all I can to preserve the environment and maintain the beauty of nature. My goal is to stand against pollution, plastic waste, and overconsumption. I aim to create direct and impactful reforms to combat these issues by informing those around me about their significance and working with organizations, such as SAPS, to promote change. This can include anything from lifestyle alterations to political action for large scale change. Through this, I intend to create a meaningful impact and effectively reduce pollution in any way I can.
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The matador
WEDNESDAY, september 18, 2019
FOCUS
OPINION: Students need knowledge about nutrition BY AMANDA LERMA
Proper nutrients help the human body perform at an optimal level, and some students’ ignorance about what nutrition is hinders them from leading a healthy lifestyle. The food plate, a nutrition guide, introduces the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy. With a variety of diets such as ketogenic, veganism, and vegetarianism, it can be hard to understand how nutrition fits into these categories. Oftentimes, celebrities are the catalysts in launching major trends, and diets are no exception. However, when students change their diet to conform to a celebrity’s, they do so without understanding the complexities of a major diet change and end up lacking essential nutrients. According to the school survey, the most well-known diet among students is vegetarianism, which totals at 33.11%. Limited knowledge of other diets, for example pescatarianism ranging at 4.97%, makes it difficult for students to understand how to diet safely and nutritiously when adopting new eating habits. One diet that makes students especially susceptible to a nutrient deficiency is veganism. Transitioning to a vegan diet can be complicated when
it comes to obtaining certain nutritious elements like protein, calcium, and Omega-3 fatty acids. If students are unaware of what food items within their diet can provide these nutrients, it may result in a lack of adequate nutrition. Students should receive education about physical health alongside nutritional health at school. This includes learning about what nutrition is, healthy eating practices, and the relationship between diet and health. Nevertheless, there is a lack of emphasis on taking culinary or nutrition classes at school, and students are not receiving proper education on nutrition. Students are then forced to find off-campus solutions for nutrition education. While physical education is meant to cover topics such as nutrition, students rarely learn about the topic and how they can implement it into their everyday life. The school offers a single culinary class to educate students about nutrition and this leaves many in the dark. In order to seriously attempt to teach students about nutrition, more culinary or nutrition classes should be offered, and physical education classes should devote time to discussing how different diets affect the body.
DIGESTIN DIFFEREN DIETS
STUDENTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON NUTRITION
Which one of these diets do you know the most about? Vegetarianism Fasting Veganism Ketogenic Pescatarianism N/A
33.11% 20.53% 13.91% 9.60% 4.97% 17.88% OUT OF 302 RESPONSES
Do you think you eat healthy? No Yes
56.73% 43.27% OUT OF 342 RESPONSES
Do you think the school cafeteria provides well-balanced meals? No Yes
57.14% 42.86% OUT OF 350 RESPONSES
Outlook on body positivity BY KATIE PHAN
In response to the media’s obsession with unrealistically thin bodies, the body positivity movement has emerged. It is the belief that people of all body types are accepted, worthy of self-love, and deserving of respect from others regardless of size and shape. Activists challenge diet culture and fatphobia while working towards the representation for an array of diverse bodies. By doing so, they work to empower marginalized people, such as those who are plus-size, transgender, or of color. Body positivity is more about mental health than physical health. It is about embracing bodies, rather than feeling as though one does not fit societal standards of
health and beauty. When p love their bodies, regardles and insecurities, they deve positive attitude regarding In doing so, they may be m practice a healthier lifestyle As more companies beg size models in their advert is more diversity in media As a result, the way in whi is presented and viewed by changed. Unsurprisingly, t movement has incited confl from many people. Many c positivity the negative conn promotes and normalizes b unhealthy. As a result, ther that increased body accepta
FOCUS
NG NT
WEDNESDAY, september 18, 2019
When diets and deities align BY MEGAN TIEU
As a Hindu, junior Hritika Chaturvedi was taught from a young age that “the human body is not a burial ground for animals and birds,” and that one should adopt a vegetarian lifestyle to prevent the harm of animals. “My nuclear and extended family are all vegetarian,” Chaturvedi said. “Our religion believes that the methods of food production must be acceptable in terms of nature, compassion, and respect for other life forms.” This vegetarian lifestyle traces back several generations and is mostly a result of her family ranking and religion. “My ancestors and I belong at the top of the caste system—the Brahmin class,” Chaurvedi said. “Brahmins pursued reputed occupations, such as teaching and doctory. We were teachers, not fighters in the army, and thus, did not need a muscular build.” Chaturvedi said that the best diets
N
people respect and ss of imperfections elop a more g their self-worth. more inclined to e. gin to feature plustisements, there representation. ich the body y society has the body positivity flicting responses critics give body notation that it being obese and re is a genuine fear ance may prevent
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are dependent on the quality of the food, which is irrespective to the type of food a person eats, whether it is vegetarian, vegan, or nonvegetarian. To her, one of the many wonderful aspects of being vegetarian is the Indian cuisine, which primarily consists of plant-based dishes. “My favorite recipes include that of my mother’s plates,” Chaturvedi said. “She combines many dishes unique to distinct regions and traditions of India. All such are absolutely delicious.” However, being a vegetarian comes with some inconveniences. She often experiences times where it is hard to find restaurants accommodating to a vegetarian diet. Many vegetarians also lack some necessary nutrients, such as Omega-3 and protein, that are more so found in meat. “My family and I consume lentils and dairy products with nutrients that would otherwise be found in meat and broth,” Chaturvedi said. According to Chaturvedi, adopting
a vegetarian lifestyle comes with plenty of environmental, health, and economic benefits that ultimately outweigh the cons. For example, she and her family have contributed to the reduction of global warming by not consuming meat. In addition to helping out the environment, vegetarians are also less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease, certain types of cancer, and obesity. “Although not absolutely applicable to all who belong to the world’s vegetarian population,” Chaturvedi said, “the benefits of vegetarianism [include] a lowered saturated fat and cholesterol consumption, an extended life span, and a lowered risk of developing certain cancers.” Having been a vegetarian her whole life, this is a lifestyle for Chaturvedi and is something she has no intention of changing in the future. The best notion associated with vegetarianism, she said, is knowing that no animal has been slaughtered for her consumption.
Macronutrients and Micronutrients Macronutrients are nutrients needed in large amounts and include protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Carbs 45-65%
overweight people from recognizing the health risks that are associated with obesity. Nevertheless, the main goal is for people of different body-types to feel more secure in their appearance and perceive themselves as good enough. Though body positivity is a multifaceted issue, it preaches the idea that it is only right that people should not be ridiculed for their weight and dietary choices. People must realize that there is a difference between teaching health awareness and flat-out bodyshaming. The message of body positivity is simple: society must stop sending toxic messages about being overweight and should instead show that everyone has a right to exist in the world without incessant ridicule and shame.
of total calories
Micronutrients are nutrients needed in small amounts and include vitamins and minerals. Teenegers often lack calcium, iron, zinc, and Vitamin D in their diet. SOURCE: healthychildren.org
Fats
Proteins 10-35%
20-35%
of total calories
of total calories
Sources of calcium: meat, leafy greens, legumes
Sources of iron: beans, lentils, tofu
Sources of zinc: seeds, nuts, egg yolk
Sources of Vitamin D: fatty fish, cheese, mushrooms
GRAPHICS BY ZHOU YE XIN
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WEDNESDAY, september 18, 2019
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LIfe and art
Lai turns bling into business BY LILY CAM
Reeling in over $200 within three weeks, senior Sydney Lai opened an Instagram-based jewelry store (@syd. jewelry) in an effort to make extra money. There, she sells a variety of authentic and occasionally faux items, ranging from freshwater pearl earrings and gold-filled necklaces to traditional jade bracelets. She caters to students and other Instagram users in the San Gabriel Valley area. “Money motivates me,” Lai said. “That’s why people call me ‘Shmoney Lai.’” So far, Lai has sold approximately 16 items, including bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. All her items are priced at $30 or less. “My mother prices them,” Lai said. “I choose pieces that are simple in design in order to keep the prices low.” Despite recently opening for business, Lai’s online store has received widespread support and attention. One follower commented on her first post, describing Lai as a ‘hustler,’ as others left positive remarks on her second. Lai found that having an Instagram-based store made it not only easy for her to receive feedback or comments on her goods; it also forced her to break out of her social circle. “Owning an online jewelry store allows me to communicate with other people,” Lai said. “It makes me feel happy to see people wearing my pieces.” Lai works closely with her parents, Tom Lai and Su Pho, to run the online store. Her parents produce the jewelry while she manages the Instagram account, advertising items and working one-on-one with customers to fulfill orders. “I take pictures of jewelry that I think are simple, cute pieces people would buy to post on my page,” Lai said. Although opening an online store is new territory for Lai, she is no stranger to
jewelry itself. Her parents taught her basic jewelry-making techniques, such as how to macrame, a process of weaving and how to wire up, a method of shaping jewelry to add small details or attach parts, in addition to knowing how to string. Her parents have been working in the industry for the past 30 years. “My dad works with metals, like gold, and diamonds,” Lai said. “My mom works with beads and crystals—stringing them while my dad makes rings and all the metal items.” However, Lai has not always been fond of jewelry. She used to dread spending long hours in her parents’ shop and feared getting robbed whenever she wore customized necklaces. Only as she grew older did she learn to appreciate jewelry. “Jewelry gave me a connection to my parents because they’re really involved in their work,” Lai said. “They love jewelrymaking.” Lai currently has over 30 products posted on her page, but she also welcomes custom orders. However, she urges that customers request items at least a week in advance, as her family goes through a different process to make such orders. Her father sketches jewelry designs on a MacBook and awaits approval from clients before custom jewelry is made. “If the clients like the sketches, my dad will bring them to the building he works at,” Lai said. “There, machines mend the metals using heat and then my dad just fixes them up.” Lai is excited to expand her audience as she continues making sales. She encourages other young aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own businesses, as the possibilities of success are infinite. “Always take your chances because you’ll never know where you’ll end up,” Lai said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY LAI
Senior Sydney Lai sells different kinds of jewelry in a variety of colors and styles, such as orange carnelian bracelets, pearl studs, and gold-filled rose quartz and garnet earrings.
Are You A VSCO Girl?
VSCO girls live a trend-centered lifestyle inspired heavily by the aesthetic of VSCO, a photo-editing and social media app. Scrunchies - Typically worn on wrists and with friendship bracelets O versized T-shirts - Worn over shorts Vans, Birkenstocks, or Crocs - Typical footwear choices (can be worn with long white socks) Hydro Flask - Used to advocate an ecofriendly message like “save the turtles” Stickers - Used to decorate Hydro Flasks (e.g. images of passions/hobbies or feelgood messages like “good vibes” or “choose happy”) Puka shell necklace - Worn to show love for the beach Fjällräven Kånken backpack - The go-to backpack for its trendy style
Written by Andrew Lam Graphic by Kimberly Quiocho
Life AND ART
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wednesday, september 18, 2019
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TikTok hits ‘woah’ factor BY LILY CAM
Only recently did a TikTok craze take students by storm, despite the fact that the app was released in 2018. TikTok offers many features that allow users to interact with one another, such as uploading comedic lip-syncing clips and video collaborating, otherwise known as dueting. The app, once known as ‘Musical.ly’ before Chinese company ByteDance bought it, was changed to ‘TikTok.’ Musical.ly had a very similar layout, but the major differences between them are their logos and audiences. Creator content on Musical.ly was lip-syncing heavy, so some initially expected the content on TikTok to be the same. “Originally, I was like, ‘TikTok is so cringy’ but I downloaded it as a joke,” junior Mabel Nguyen said. “I kept making videos, and now I spend at least an hour and a half on the app every day.” On TikTok, users enjoy participating in trendy dances, like the ‘woah,’ where one swivels both of their hands as if they were turning a steering wheel. They can also partake in occasional video challenges as waves of comedic videos and trends roll in. “The TikTok community is different from other ones,” junior Kay Au said. “You’re able
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LILY CAM
Freshman Laura Cai smiles at her phone as she attempts to create a new, enticing TikTok to share with her followers and friends. to connect with people from all over the world and see how everyone interacts with each other outside of the sheltered community we live in.” However, not all of the features TikTok has to offer pleases users. Lacking anonymity is a concern among students. “There’s only one thing I believe TikTok should change about their app, and it’s to not tell users who has recently viewed their profile,”
Minecraft respawns with assistance from Pewdiepie
freshman Laura Cai said. Moreover, there are underlying issues within the TikTok community. Cai occasionally comes across mockery on the app, something that deters her from fully enjoying the app. “Sometimes the community acts rude towards influencers,” Cai said. “I think more positivity and kindness should be spread so we can create a friendly online environment.”
Review: Big Softee brings even bigger flavor to San Gabriel Valley
PHOTO BY KEN YU
Minecraft offers different experiences with each game. Students can augment their experience with mods, texture packs, and shaders like Sildur’s Shaders, the one used above. BY TANVI MAI
After a declining popularity in recent years, “Minecraft” returns to the gaming community and storms the YouTube algorithm today with the help of YouTuber Pewdiepie. “Minecraft” was first released in 2011 with little to compare to major competitors like “Angry Birds” and “Pokémon.” Throughout the years, the game began to develop. Sophomore Na Lin enjoys the new updates the game has to offer compared to its previous years as a standard sandbox game. “It’s a fun game for all ages, where you mine, look for diamonds, and defeat the boss, the ender dragon,” Lin said. “I like how Mojang updates the game and listen to the feedback of players.” The game has much to offer like the multiplayer feature, the ability to play with multiple friends on community public servers. Senior Donna Tu likes to play with her friends during her free time. “It’s one of my favorite things to do when I’m stressed,” Tu said. “When I just want to have fun, I hop on and play
Minecraft with my friends.” Recently, however, Pewdiepie began to indulge in his own “Minecraft” adventure. As an influential gamer with over 100 million subscribers, the old game resurfaced in the gaming community. “I think the reason why people came back was because they were feeling nostalgic about the old days,” senior Levin Chang said. “Influencers, such as Pewdiepie, encouraged people to come back.” Just after a few weeks of posting “Minecraft” videos, Pewdiepie reignited the game for many students, reminding them wistfully of their go-to sandbox. The game once again became a platform for fostering friendships and bonds. “It influenced me a lot,” sophomore James San said. “I’ve been playing for many years and multiple hours a week with my friend, making me a happier person.” According to Google Trends, “Minecraft” dominates as the current most popular game; it continues to hit higher searches than any other game. Therefore, it can be said that most people who played “Minecraft” never really quit- they only took a long break.
Nevertheless, TikTok continues to bring users together as friendships are commonly formed whenever the app is mentioned. “TikTok has made it easier for me to bond with people because I can just be like, ‘let’s go on TikTok and it starts up a conversation,” Nguyen said. “I always find myself saying, ‘oh my god, that’s from TikTok, or I heard this song from TikTok, so it’s just TikTok everywhere.’”
PHOTO BY SALLY PHAM
Big Softee’s Hong Kong style milk tea soft serve bears a strong resemblance to traditional boba milk tea. BY SALLY PHAM
When Big Softee opened for business in Monterey Park last summer, the emerging softserve shop immediately gained popularity for its authentic flavors that represent the spirit of the Asian American community in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV). For Asian Americans raised on unconventional flavors from exotic countries and for people who want to think outside the soft-serve box, Big Softee is a welcoming choice that excels in those criteria. Upon my arrival, I was welcomed by a large neon sign of its logo. My eyes were immediately drawn to the massive menu in front of the counter that was written in Chinese and English. The red and gold colors inside the shop constitute traditional Chinese culture due to the owners’ Hong Kong background. The interior of the shop features minimalistic designs with plain white walls and polished wooden furnishings. The overall environment
was homey, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for customers to enjoy their frozen treat. Big Softee serves a wide variety of soft-serve flavors that rotate weekly. For instance, two weeks ago, the shop had a selection of five unique flavors: tofu flower, Hong Kong style milk tea, Tahitian vanilla, matcha almond, and mango jasmine tea. Though the selection of available flavors is limited, each flavor is heavily influenced by Asian culture. Before I decided what to order, an employee graciously offered samples of the available flavors that week. My friend and I decided on the Hong Kong style milk tea and mango jasmine tea soft serves. Both choices had the right balance of sweetness and depth of flavor. The ice cream was delicately made as the texture was smooth and creamy. The total for our order came out to be $9, which was a reasonable amount considering the large portion size. The Hong Kong style milk tea soft serve had a nostalgic taste of the classic milk tea that I grew accustomed to drinking as a resident of the SGV. The soft-serve had a strong tea taste, yet it was not overbearing. The Hong Kong style milk tea flavor was exactly how I imagined it to be—a staple flavor for milk tea lovers because of its likeness to its drink counterpart. Meanwhile, the mango jasmine tea had a balanced flavor of mango and jasmine; neither overpowered the other, and the tartness of the mango paired well with the sweetness of jasmine tea. Overall, the shop offers reasonable prices and two sizes—regular and large. I would definitely recommend giving Big Softee a shot because the shop explores the depths of the Asian American community through its unique approach to soft serve flavors. Since flavors are regularly rotated, customers are able to try new ones every week. Big Softee is located at 128 S Atlantic Blvd in Monterey Park, and is open from Monday to Thursday from 2 to 9:30 p.m., and Friday to Sunday from 12:30 to 10:30 p.m.
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THE MATADOR
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
2019-20 Fall Sports Scoreboard
SPORTS
Girls varsity volleyball defeated by slim
BOYS FOOTBALL
VARSITY
VS MONTCLAIR @ ROSEMEAD @ GLENDALE @ GANESHA
(L) 28 - 29 (L) 14 - 41 (W) 33 - 6 (L) 28 - 36
GIRLS TENNIS
VARSITY
@ SOUTH PASADENA
(W) 11 - 7
VS WESTRIDGE VS MARANATHA
(L) 0 - 18 (L) 4 - 14
VS ROSEMEAD
(L) 4 - 14
VS SOUTH PASADENA
(L) 8 - 10 (L) 5 - 13
JV
@ ROSEMEAD
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY
@POLYTECHNIC VS WALNUT VS MONTEBELLO VS ALHAMBRA
(L) 0 - 2 (L) 0 - 3 (L) 0 - 3 (L) 0 - 3
CROSS COUNTRY JUNIOR BOYS SOPHOMORE BOYS SOPHOMORE GIRLS
18th 24th 8th
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Senior setter Vicky Vo (11) sets the ball for senior middle hitter Amy Eng (23) as junior opposite hitter Kaya Luong (22) and senior outside hitter Solimar Zubiate (1) cover Eng’s advance. BY KEN YU
Onlookers watched with their breaths held as the points stacked up in the final set between Glendale and San Gabriel in the Matador Arena. The crowd screamed with each point scored, and cheers filled the gym for each save. Girls volleyball hit the ground exhausted as Glendale took the victory 3-2, the final set sitting at 14-16 for the Matadors on Aug. 28. As preseason kicks off, girls volleyball’s home game against the Dynamiters is one of hundreds occurring around the world. With the Matadors winning the first set 25-22 after a round of heated plays, Glendale reciprocated by winning the second set 25-16. Frustration was in the air with penalty points given to
each side after rule violations occurred. “I was frustrated with [myself] not being able to do anything and not being able to do it right,” junior middle hitter Tiffany Thai said. The third set was in the school’s favor, having scored 11 consecutive points and setting Glendale on the backfoot. Senior outside hitter Stephanie Nguyen pressured the team with hits, earning roaring approval from the crowd as San Gabriel took the victory 25-11. “[Hitting] felt like the greatest thing ever,” Nguyen said. “It makes me feel like if I can do it once, I can do it again.” If San Gabriel won the fourth set, they would win the game. With renewed vigor, Glendale engaged the team in several rallies, eventually triumphing 25-17. Both sides were now at a tie and
tension skyrocketed during the fifth set. “We lose our momentum after we win because we allow the other team to have a really big build up,” senior Julie Le said. In a breathtaking finale that had onlookers on the edge of their seats, the two teams squared off in rally after rally. San Gabriel tirelessly made their way to 14-11, where their next point could be the winning one. Thoughts of victory quickly left their mind as Glendale caught up, pulling ahead by two points and securing the victory. “Having the points being so close, 14-11, we just kind of went downhill from there,” junior libero Kimberly Yip said. “We got too excited about it.” In spite of this loss, the varsity team is looking forward to the rest of their games this season, having high hopes for themselves.
Tennis clawed by Tigers in first preseason loss BY TAMMY VUONG
After a successful victory in the first pre-season match, girls varsity tennis met its first loss during a pre-season home game with a score of 0-18 against Westridge High School on Aug. 30. At the start of the match, the singles and doubles players repeatedly hit the balls into the net, falling behind and scoring zero points. The Matadors were determined to prolong the rally and strived to tire out the other team by aiming the ball to open courts for them to chase. As the match progressed, the doubles players found themselves neck and neck with their opponents, trading continuous deuces (40-40). However, the Matadors began feeling overwhelmed as the first round progressed, losing one game after another. “I felt anxious because it was just our [second] pre-season game, and we still [had not] practiced much,” junior Karina Vera said. “I just wanted to play as best as I could, but that didn’t work very well. I [could] kind of feel the pressure of having to play well and all.” Moreover, the Matadors noticed their opponents had more experience, especially in serving and volleying. Both teams vigorously swung the ball back and forth across the court, determined to be the victor. By the end of the second round, the Tigers won 6-0 consecutively in both rounds, bringing their score to 120. Despite the defeat, the girls continued
working with different strategies. “I tried to look for an open court,” junior Lisa Houn said. “I tried to hit hard so they [could not] return the ball, [but] I wasn’t putting enough topspin to make the ball go in.” Nevertheless, in the third round, sophomore Tianna Duong and her doubles partner, sophomore Leane Che were close to a triumph, scoring 4-6. Duong said that the opponents’ hits would fly farther back so she and her partner would try to support each other. The two would also aim for cross-court hits to exhaust the opponents. “We made sure to recover as soon as possible after hitting a ball that’s far left or far right just to try and hit the next ball,” Duong said, “but sometimes we forgot in the adrenaline rush. When either of us [were] volleying we made sure to watch the ball if one were to need backup.” Coach Steve Akiyama said he was content with how his team played, despite lacking the experience and practice needed since the team was put together in less than three weeks. “They played as well as a brand new team could play,” Akiyama said. “Like I’ve told the team, no one has given up. [These are] growing pains that a young team has to go through.” In spite of the loss, the Matadors remain optimistic about their matches. “We’re all human,” Duong said. “No one is perfect. Just because we lost, it doesn’t mean we should give up. We take that loss and learn from our mistakes. With practice, it doesn’t make perfection, but it does make it better.”
PHOTO BY MEGAN TIEU
Junior Lisa Houn returns the ball to her opponent with a backhand during the home game against Westridge on Aug. 30.
FEATURES
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wednesday, september 18, 2019
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STEP INTO THE ARENA W e l c o m i n g N e w Te a c h e r s Arihec Fabela: Math Q: What do you want students to know about you? A: “I w a n t my stu d e n ts to h a ve a se n se o f belonging in my classroom. I want them to know that this classroom is not mine, it’s theirs. They have control over their education. I want them to become empowered, become successful individuals, be proud of who they are, who they represent, what their backgrounds are, and bring them to this classroom. Math, we learn it in different perspectives, so I’m not here to make them feel bad. I’m here to empower them and make them become successful individuals.” Q: What is your zodiac sign? Do you think it is accurate? A: “My zodiac sign is Libra, and I think it’s pretty accurate because I’m an introvert. I like to talk, [and] I like to get to know people, but I also have those moments where I need my personal time so that’s why during my conference period, I close my door. I can be by myself and do what I need to get done.” Q: What are your hobbies? A: “I like to play board games. Game night is one of the things I’m always passionate about. I also like running, jogging, [and collecting] postcards.”
Gabriel Ybarra: Math Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: “To me, math is one of the harder subjects, so I think one of the best parts of teaching it is seeing the students who struggle at the beginning of the year understand the concept. [Knowing] that I had something to do with that feels pretty good.” Q: Does being a teacher impact how you treat your own children? A: “I think it does because when you have a kid of your own, you try to go easy on them, but as a teacher, I know if you don’t challenge a student, they take advantage and find an easy way out. So I take the stuff that I give to my students, [and] I try to do the same thing with my son. [I] try to challenge him because I know that if I’m not hard on him, then he’s going to think that school’s easy.” Q: What do you wish you learned to do when you were younger? A: “I always wanted to be a baseball player. I played in high school, so I [wish] I upped the training more. Maybe I would’ve had the opportunity to play if I took it a little bit more seriously.”
Nicaela Alvarado-Eaks: English Q: What compelled you to become an English teacher? A: “English was the only thing I was really good at, and [I also] wanted to be Mrs. Goodwin, [a previous teacher of mine]. She fed me, she gave me advice, [and] she was mean to me. She just gave me everything that I didn’t get from my family.” Q: How long have you been teaching? What classes do you teach? A: “I’ve taught for 23 years, but this is my first time teaching here. I [currently] teach sophomore English and an English as a Second Language class.” Q: What do you hope to accomplish by teaching here? A: “I hope to teach students and prepare them for what they need in college and [during] their lifetime.” Q: If you could live in one season forever, which would it be? A: “Winter, because it’s cold. I have scarves and hats at home.” GRAPHIC BY WINNEFER WU PHOTOS BY CHELSEA NGUYEN, TIFFANY NGUYGEN, ZHOU YE XIN PHOTO COURTESY OF ARIHEC FABELA INTERVIEWS BY LILY CAM, CHELSEA NGUYEN, TIFFANY NGUYGEN, ZHOU YE XIN
Jamie Kohl: Special Education
Q: Why did you focus your teaching on special education? A: “I have a background in [special education]. I understand it because I also grew up in a special education class, so I have a big draw towards understanding students who are in [my] class.” Q: What kind of connection do you have with your students? A: “Even in one month, I have seen their academic growth and I love seeing that. Sometimes, they don’t realize that I think of them like [my children] and see that same potential in them. [It’s what makes teaching worth it].” Q: What kind of activities do you do during the weekends? A: “I like to be with my family. I have two boys and I do a lot of family activities with them. They’re in sports and the Boy Scouts. We go to sporting events, [go on] bike rides, go to the park, [and] we play.”
Marcus Galan: Physical Education
Q: Can you give a brief description of your career in the past and how it resulted in becoming a Physical Education (PE) teacher? A: “I’ve played sports all my life. After high school, I played football in Minnesota. Then after college, I got into coaching, and a lot of the coaches started getting into my mind about becoming a teacher. I never really thought about becoming a teacher, but after coaching, I realized I wanted to teach kids different things, [and] PE is the perfect way to teach kids certain sports that they never really get the opportunity to try outside of school.” Q: What do you want your students to know about you as a teacher? A: “[I want them to know] that I’m a fun teacher if you’re open to anything that we’re doing for PE, but if you’re kind of closed off and are not open to anything, I’m [going to] do my best to get you to feel comfortable and have a good time in my class.” Q: What’s your favorite cuisine? A: “Chinese food and Mexican food, [such as] carnitas, tacos, rice, and beans.”
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Wednesday, september 18, 2019
The matador
FEAtures
STEP INTO THE ARENA W e l c o m i n g N e w Te a c h e r s Kelsey McNeilly: Drama, Film, Technical Theater Q: What do you like the most about teaching? A: “I love working with students. I think students are the best. I like that I can make a difference in someone’s life. I always like to give high fives and a huge smile at the door because I know that the simplest things can make someone’s day better, and I love being able to make someone’s day better. I like being able to see students grow from someone who can’t talk in front of anybody to being someone able to perform. I think that’s a magical thing.” Q: What kind of impact would you like to have on students? A: “I want people to be unafraid of taking risks and to set up a theater program that is inclusive and loving. I want people to feel safe, for them to take ownership, and to advocate for themselves. Those are the things that are important to me.” Q: If you could visit any place, where would it be? A: “I would want to go to Bali because there’s really cool shadow puppetry there, and I’m really inspired by that. It seems like a really colorful and beautiful
Logan Schreiner: English, Yearbook Q: What do you like most about the school so far? A: “I’m really excited about teaching yearbook. That’s, in a lot of ways, new. I think it’s fun being more of an adviser than a teacher. I’ve been learning, just in the last month, a lot from the students, and that’s been really fun. I like teaching high school students with a little more maturity and a little more life experience. That’s already been a little more interesting to me, so I’m really looking forward to continuing that.” Q: Do you have any visions for the upcoming year? A: “I want to teach more story writing, and that’s what I’m actually doing first quarter. I think teaching narrative is something that some schools where I taught before have been against and just wanted more informational, argumentative writing. I think with teaching more creative writing, more stories, and more poetry, students will hopefully discover that they actually like writing.” Q: What is one thing you have always wanted to do? A: “I think I’ve always wanted to become fluent in another language. I know Spanish pretty well and I can kind of read French, but I would love to be an expert. I’ve never traveled to South America. That’s also something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Patrick Waugh: Biology, Environmental Science
Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: “I think my biggest inspiration was my mom because she was also a science teacher, and she’s now an assistant principal at a high school. I’ve always enjoyed working with students, whether I was tutoring in college, private tutoring, or coaching.” Q: What are you most excited about at SG? A: “I’m really excited about the community. So far it seems like everyone’s really involved, and there’s a really neat group of students that seems to really get along. I’m excited about being a part of that community, going to football games, supporting homecoming, and going to volleyball games. It is a lot different than when you teach at a junior high or college, to be a part of this community of students.” Q: What is your favorite activity to do outside of school? A: “Definitely going to the beach. The beach with my dog is where you’ll find me after school all day, every day.”
Clair Zhao: Mandarin
Ubaldo Villa: Math, Special Education Q: What influenced you to become a teacher? A: “Working with my counselors from school influenced me to become a teacher. I wasn’t planning on going to college, so one of my counselors from my high school was like, ‘Try it out, take some classes, see if you like it the first semester, and then we’ll see if school is something for you or not.’ So, I ended up taking some courses at Rio Hondo and I enjoyed it. Since then, I kept going until I got my degree and my credentials in special education.” Q: Why did you decide to teach math? A: “I love math. It’s reasoning, so everything makes sense. I believe the world revolves around math and it’s just something that is for me. I wanted to become a teacher because I want to be a positive influence on students. At times, it’s not the content that we teach but the positive experiences we have that shape us into who we are.” Q: What is one of your proudest moments? A: “I have a one-year-old and a three-year-old. Teaching them and watching them grow is something that makes me proud every day.” GRAPHIC BY WINNEFER WU PHOTOS BY IVY HO, MEGAN TIEU PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAIR ZHAO INTERVIEWS BY IVY HO, MYTAM LE, AMANDA LERMA, ELSIE WANG, ZHOU YE XIN
Q: What made you want to teach Mandarin? A: “Back when I was in college, I found my passion in the Chinese language and culture, and I also majored in Chinese at UCLA. I really enjoyed the class there. Teaching is also a form of helping people, so I wanted to choose this career.” Q: What do you want to teach your students? A: “I want to teach my students the language and the culture of China. I want them to have different perspectives and also to not just grow in language or academics, but also in the way they think, so they can be open to different cultures.” Q: What is your favorite movie? A: “It’s called The Wandering Earth and I watched it with my friend. The movie brought me to tears. It was set in the far future and follows a group of astronauts and rescue workers guiding the earth away from an expanding sun, while attempting to prevent a collision with Jupiter. I like it because it reminds people that we need to do more to protect our planet, and people from all countries can work together rather than competing with or harming each other.”