The Matador: Issue 8 - April 17, 2019

2

thematadorsghs.us

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

The matador

NEWS

Talent show cancelled after rescheduling

BY LAUREN BALLESTEROS

After rescheduling the Winter Talent Show from Jan. 18 to April, the show was ultimately cancelled due to a faulty fire curtain in the auditorium.

“There are regulations we adhere to,” Assistant Principal of Business and Activities Diana Diaz-Ferguson said.

“One of the major inspections that we have is our Annual Fire Inspection.

The auditorium is a part of that and was inspected by the fire department along with our classrooms and school facilities.”

ASB was ready for the talent show, but because the auditorium is closed for inspection, they cancelled the talent show0 . They expected the auditorium to be open after spring break, but ASB adviser Cecilia Revilla told them the auditorium would not be open for the rest of the year.

“Administration had told us there was an issue with the fire curtain in the auditorium,” senior ASB president Lindsey Nguyen said. “So, just for precautionary measures, we decided not to have the show after all. We had our theme ready and our decorations were made, but they’re going to be used next year instead.”

Sophomore Peter Huynh, who was planning to participate in the talent show, was disappointed to hear that it

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKOB PABON

Sophomore Jakob Pabon (left) and senior Jonathan Huezo (right) got the chance to perform at Open House after the talent show’s cancellation. They played six songs, including their original song, “Oh Love.” “It’s always really cool to perform in front of friends and seeing everything come together,” Pabon said.

was cancelled.

“I was going to sing,” Huynh said. “[The talent show] was probably the only chance I could [have to] share my talent to the public. I originally joined choir at Temple [Intermediate School], and

being able to get the chance to sing to the public again was something I always dreamed of doing after promoting to SG.” Instead, the talent show contestants were allowed to showcase their performances to the school during Open

House in March. ”I knew that I wasn’t going to have a big audience at the talent show,” sophomore Jakob Pabon said, “so I only [saw] that as more of a practice for something bigger.”

Choreo dance team wins two trophies at Nationals

BY ERIC MAI

Choreo dance team competed a t M i s s D a n c e D r i l l Te a m U S A a t Santiago Canyon College on March 22 and 23 and brought back two trophies: third place for Large Pom and second place for Small All Female Hip Hop. The team rigorously prepared for the competition in the months leading up to Nationals. The school’s dancers were shocked when their name was called during the awards ceremony.

“The ending to our competition will be an unforgettable one,” junior Sophia Lin said. “I did not expect t o p l a c e s e c o n d f o r Al l Fe m a l e a t Nationals. It was absolutely insane.

This was such a proud moment, and this is something I will always cherish forever.”

Although their routines were rehearsed extensively, some Choreo members felt they danced in the shadow of other teams, including those from other states and countries like Japan.

“I didn’t really expect to win b e c au s e t h e p e o p l e t h a t m y t e a m was going against were really good,” freshman Ivy Lu said. “I’m not saying that my team didn’t have [visuals and techniques]. I’m just saying that the other teams kind of overpowered us.”

Although intimidated by the caliber of other teams, the dancers believed they pushed through and put out their best performance.

“Everyone at the competition was

so good, from teams being in World of Dance and individuals dancing since they were two, it just led to altering my mindset to be even better than them,” Lin said. “The adrenaline really helped all of us bring out our energy and our showmanship as well.”

Paired with their high energy was their choreography that featured big moves to show the dancers’ sharpness.

“My favorite part of the [choreography] is where we do the jump into a pirouette, then to a twoperson stunt,” Lu said. “Although it was very difficult, it was my favorite because it challenged me.”

Lin also said that her favorite choreography was for “16-shots,” which was the song for their opening hiphop piece.

“I just believe that this is the strongest and most energetic piece I’ve ever felt while dancing to it,” Lin said. “Everyone in the audience always goes crazy when they see it, since it is the opening.”

With the season ending, Lu still has ambitions for her following years as a dancer.

“Knowing that this was my last competition, I was obviously sad,” Lu said,“but at the same time, I’m excited to see what the future holds for me.

Improvement is a big thing for me because I know I can improve a lot.”

Miss Dance Drill Team USA was Choreo’s last competition of the season. Their dance showcase will be on May 3.

The matador

NEWS

School resource officer passes away

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.

3

briefs School enforces stricter communication policy

BY KENNY LAM

Following the increased enforcement of the district’s communication policy, coaches will only be able to interact with their athletes through the Remind app rather than Facebook and text messages.

The official district policy 5141.41 states that school employees may not use “personal social media sites, or other forms of electronic devices, to communicate with students.”

“The environment and culture of where things are and how social media [is], and [how] everybody has a cell phone and contact and so forth—things can get inappropriate [between coaches and student-athletes],” Athletic Director Dondi Teran said. “[The district wants] to eliminate that.”

BY VINCENT MARESCA

Veteran officer of the Alhambra Po l i c e D e p a r t m e n t ( A PD ) a s w e l l as school resource officer for the district, Emmanuel Araneta, passed away suddenly on April 1.

Ar a n e t a w a s a p r o a c t i v e o f f i c e r according to staff, giving aid to plenty of student programs. On top of veteran status at the APD, he was also a veteran to SGHS, working at the high school for a decade.

W h e n n e w s o f Ar a n e t a ’ s d e a t h surfaced, staff members and students alike were devastated. Reactions of the deceased officer by staff were filled with grief and worry for his family.

The closest link to Araneta was within the inner staff, specifically the Student Welfare Department along with the campus supervisors. Andrew Contreras, campus supervisor at SGHS, shared his experience with Araneta.

“I had the pleasure of working with Emmanual for around eight years, and it was a positive experience,” Contreras said. “He always helped when we needed his assistance with matters on campus.

He enjoyed working with young people because of his family.”

Am y Wu , As s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l o f Student and Employee Welfare, said Ar a n e t a c o n t r i b u t e d m u c h t o t h e community.

“I got to work really close with him last year as Assistant Principal of Student Welfare, and he was very compassionate and he was caring for the students,” Wu said. “He would always stay after when he needed to. Even when his day was done and his shift was done, he would come in if needed because he worked beyond his job description.”

thematadorsghs.us

Wednesday, APRIL 17, 2019

HOSA earns recognition at state competition

BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALHAMBRA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Late Officer Emmanuel Araneta receives the Regional Exceptional Service Award for his outstanding effort as San Gabriel High School’s resource officer on June 25, 2017.

In 2017, he was awarded the Regional Exceptional Service Award, by the National Association of School Resource Officers.

Before endeavors with the district, Araneta was also part of the military before an honorable discharge five years in. He was also a park ranger and

worked as a school officer in Compton.

“He cares about students and staff so much that he works over and beyond,” Wu said. “Araneta was dedicated to his work, and strong emotions around the staff show this.”

Araneta is survived by his wife and three children.

PBIS experiments with positive currency

BY VINCENT MARESCA

Following a recent implementation from Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), an organization of positive reinforcement reaching out to schools, a new system around currency is being enacted.

SGHS will soon receive the new Bravo Cards.

Bravo Cards is a new form of currency with the purpose to give students reassurance and positive reinforcement for issues beyond just academics.

Examples include stress, anxiety, and depression. Bravo Cards have been given by a few teachers. They are being used for other purposes however, since the intended system is currently unfinished.

The focus of the Bravo Cards is to acknowledge the entire student, or as school psychologist Frank Tobias said, “What we really want to focus on is having a campus and a school where we’re addressing the whole student, not just their academics but also behavioral difficulties and social-emotional functioning.”

Tobias has explained the reasoning of why

PBIS started to spread their influence at school.

“Any PBIS school needs what’s called an acknowledgement system, [which] basically reenforces or [gives] acknowledgement to students who are engaging in what’s been established as the school’s expectations,” Tobias said.

The PBIS system is hoping for the Bravo Cards to be the perfect acknowledgement system for students overwhelmed by negativity.

“It’s part of the PBIS movement that’s going to take a couple years to establish, and it’s really all about providing an environment for students and staff that is positive, predictable, [and] has multiple levels of support for all,” Tobias said.

On top of acknowledgement, there is a rewards system in the making, but details are unclear. The final process of the Bravo Cards will be finished next school year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN ROSE

The Bravo Cards’ prototype is currently only available in certain classes. The design is still being developed.

Members of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club competed at the California HOSA State Leadership Conference in Sacramento from March 28-31.

Junior Michelle Vuong placed third in Pathophysiology and will be advancing to HOSA International Leadership Conference. She was also recognized in HOSA Happenings, an event centered around creating a newsletter about the accomplishments of the SG HOSA chapter. Juniors Celine Fung, Kenny Ho, and Winni Luong and seniors Kristina Kwok and Sally Tran were also recognized for the Barbara James Service Award, an event based on the number of volunteer hours dedicated to medicalrelated services.

District surveys to better school environment

BY MELODY ZHANG

The district recently partnered with the University of California, Los Angeles to create the School Climate survey before spring break. The survey aimed to gather information on how students feel about their overall school experience.

“The information helps us in terms of deciding how resources should be allocated in terms of how to best support our students,” Assistant Superintendent of Student and Employee Welfare John Scanlan said.

The survey is part of an overall process in the creation of the Local Control and Accountability Plan.

Gum removed to prepare for summer

BY CHELSEA NGUYEN

Starting before spring break, the gum removal process was put into action at school. Because summer school will be held at SGHS, the custodians are trying to get a jumpstart before summer begins. “[We remove the gum] with razor blades and sticks,” school custodian Rene Reyes said. “The cost is just that you have three to four custodians working.”

To prevent more gum from being seen on campus, Reyes advises students to bring napkins to place their gum in and or to refrain from spitting gum on the floor.

To read more articles, visit www.thematadorsghs.us.

4

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

wednesday, April 17, 2019

Crying a whole “Han” river

Selina Han

Finding happiness

I

t’s just kind of hard to be happy when everyone around you is trying to convince you you shouldn’t be. I remember the time when my mom first explained to me that she and my dad were divorced. I literally shrugged it off because I figured I’d rather have happily separated parents than parents that fought together everyday. Plus, he always treated me to McDonald’s whenever he visited.

Thankfully, my first grade teacher took it upon herself to subtly inform me that I was not okay. In fact, I was far from it. Long story short, she screamed at me in front of my class and called my mom from work for an emergency parent-teacher conference to discuss the grim future that would be my life if she didn’t immediately sign me up for therapy. My mom was offended that her child-rearing methods were being challenged, my teacher was offended that my mom was challenging her challenge, they exchanged some fire Cantonese insults and after a few minutes, my mom left the room victorious.

Unfortunately, that’s not the complete truth. My teacher probably did end up winning that fight since she managed to curse me with this self-fulfilling prophecy. I remember asking myself if I really was okay, and if I was, why? Did I not care about my own dad? And here I am now, a decade later, crying over the fact that I’ve never eaten a meal with both of my parents at the same time.

It’s just so easy to write your own sob story--to wallow in selfpity and compare yourself to others and wish your life was like theirs.

I’m angry at myself for letting this one decision affect my life the way it did all because I allowed people to decide for me what a “normal” response would be and let my parents’ divorce define me.

I don’t think it’s feasible for me to summarize 17 years of thinking into a 500-word column, but the one thing I want to have on print is this: Stop taking yourself so seriously. I was this dramatic little kid praying to a god that I didn’t even believe in, asking for a sign that I would be okay. I eventually learned that it’s okay to not be okay. Sometimes we just need to cry it out and let it pass because life goes on with or without you.

But if that god really answered my prayers, thanks for the weird sense of humor and more importantly, for my best friend.

Thank you for letting me meet Chelsea Li, the one person who knows the entire story of my life and still decided to stay. We’ve all faltered in the face of adversity, but it’s just so much easier when you can talk about it to someone you love. Chels, thank you for everything. Thank you for hugging me whether I’m crying tears of joy or sadness. And finally, thanks for listening to this story for the 100th time now. It becomes easier and easier to think about my life whenever I’m with you.

opinions

Editorial

Prom leaves big hole in wallet

P

rom is not all it is made out to be. Initially, prom was a simple dance where seniors wore their Sunday best. Nowadays, prom has become over-the-top and just an excuse to flex for a night. What was once a night of fun has turned into months of careful planning and expensive decisions. Prom is so extravagant and elaborate that the idea of prom has become incredibly sensationalized and commercialized.

Students make prom seem like such a big deal when it should just be a carefree event to experience with their friends. Instead, students worry all year about buying a dress, renting a tuxedo, beautifying themselves, transportation, and flowers. They treat prom as though it is an award show rather than the high school dance that it is. This is mostly due to social media and the social norms that it projects onto students. It has painted prom as a luxury night where everything must be grand and elite. There is so much pressure on looking the best that students lose sight of what prom is for—memories. People become caught up in taking the best photos to post on Instagram rather than living in the moment and enjoying themselves. Prom expectations are escalating for no reason.

Now, lavish promposals and Louboutins are the standard.

Furthermore, prom is expensive.

Students get part-time jobs to pay for prom, just to enjoy it for a measly four hours. They buy flamboyant dresses with a hefty price tag just to sell their dress the next year despite having some sentimental value, but not enough to want to keep it forever. Students pay more than a hundred dollars on a ticket to listen to overplayed songs like “Mo Bamba” and “Nice For What” all night.

This money could be put to better use; it could be used to travel, have a fine-dining experience, or to simply go out with friends. There is a multitude of things seniors can do to create lasting memories before everyone parts ways other than prom.

What truly makes prom memorable are the friends students hang out with and how they make use of their time. It is no secret why prom is so sensationalized in high school culture. It is a time to dance, dress-up, and take photos to save forever. At the end of the day, the amount of fun someone will have at prom will not depend on how much money they spent, rather, who they spent their time with. Students may end up going to prom after-parties and having a better time under no supervision and restraints. Going to prom will not make or break your high school experience, it is entirely up to the consumer.

ILLUSTRATION BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO

Date of prom complicates attendance

BY LU JUNE LIN

U

nlike most schools, San Gabriel High School’s prom will be held on a Friday for the second year in a row. This scheduling will inconvenience attending students as they would have to prepare on a tighter time constraint. Due to this, most of the students have decided to not attend prom and instead hang out with their friends on that day.

Prom starts at 7 p.m. For those with a sixth period, which is the case for most students, they will be able to leave school at 2 p.m. Although prom is on a collaboration day, this would only give students approximately five hours to get ready. It can be difficult to schedule makeup and hair appointments around a school schedule. Not only that, getting to the venue in Los Angeles will take an hour or even more with rush hour traffic, reducing the already short time for preparation. In addition,

students may want to take photos with their friends or date prior to the dance. This time crunch can make it a stressful experience for the students, instead of being an enjoyable one.

Not only is it inconvenient that prom is on a Friday, but it is also falls on the same day as numerous sport meets and competitions. State Leadership Conference for Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), league finals for swim and track and field, and National High School Journalism Convention for newspaper and yearbook are all happening on April 26. FBLA’s conference and journalism’s convention take place in Sacramento and Anaheim, respectively. The distance and time it would take to travel from the events to prom make it infeasible to attend both. As for swim and track and field, their meets are known to last for a long time. The meets go by a certain order of events, so even if students decide to participate in both the sport and prom, they would have trouble getting there

in time before the door closes at prom.

Some venues have strict restriction for entrance: after a certain hour, no one else is allowed entry to the venue.

Usually, prom tickets tend to sell out fast but as of April 11, only 107 prom tickets out of the projected 400 were sold. The date conflict with the different events may be a reason behind the low ticket sales. This goes to show how the date for prom is problematic as it clashes with everything else.

It would be ideal if there is communication between the clubs and the class council. If prom cannot fall on a Saturday, then there should at least be transparency with the clubs and sports team to pick a day that does not overlap with other events.

The whole idea of prom is for students to experience and enjoy the fun memories that will be made in spending time with each other. Students should not be stressing over which events to miss out on, and be granted the opportunity to attend them all.

Prom-a-thon

BY ECHO DIEU

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

The matador

OPINIONS

thematadorsghs.us

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019

WiFi filters restrict student needs

BY LAUREN BALLESTEROS

S

tudents nowadays are accustomed to using the Internet to research information for assignments or projects, but when they come to school, they are restricted from using certain educational websites due to the school’s WiFi restrictions. These excessive restrictions prohibit students from accessing useful information that could help them learn.

The school restricts students from viewing websites that may be distracting or contain explicit content. However, numerous educational websites are unintentionally swept under these categories; consequently, students cannot access them.

Teachers often provide time in class for students to do research for assignments in order to lessen the amount of research done at home. When schools block educational sites, students are forced to research certain topics on their own time. Students without Internet

access at home may rely on class time to make progress on their assignments; however, with web filters, they may find that they are unable to access certain

information they need. For example, students may search for pictures for a project, but will find that they are unable to access certain photos because they are classified as “entertainment.”

Also, students are oftentimes

expected to gather accurate, trustworthy information from multiple sources for assignments. In this case, when they turn to the Internet for help, filters are a disservice to students—they are unable to evaluate the credibility of the information without access to a variety of sources.

Though it is important to block certain sites to keep students on task and prevent them from seeing inappropriate content, the school’s web filters are too restrictive. Now, it appears as if the school creates a universal ban on all sites that are the slightest bit related to the content it tries to block. However, some of these sites are potentially educational and useful for students. Web filters should limit distractions and non educational content, not make research more difficult for students.

When attempting to block students’ access to certain material, the school should work towards blocking more specific criteria. Websites should be banned only if they contain explicit content or are meant to distract students from learning.

ILLUSTRATION BY VINCENT MARESCA

Pop culture romanticizes mental illnesses

BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN

W

ith the establishment of “quirky” influencers on social media platforms, suffering from a mental illness has become an eccentric trait. Many influencers exploit mental illnesses to appeal to their young audience for comedic or aesthetic effect. However, mental illnesses do not make someone cool or relatable—they are disorders that affect your mood, behavior, and judgment for long periods of time.

Some people take advantage of the available social media platforms and thrive off of attention from posting about their feelings online. Thus, we become increasingly desensitized to the actual symptoms and severity of mental illnesses. Due to the increased romanticization of mental illness in our society, some individuals find themselves falsely expressing that they have depression or anxiety. Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder have become more glamorized in our society, especially among adolescents. Those who are

actually affected by mental illnesses tend to not spell it out in shining lights, often because they want to be known for more than something that holds them back.

Mental illnesses are even marketed on merchandise such as clothing, which downplays the seriousness and attention individuals with clinically diagnosed

mental illnesses deserve. Mental illness is not trendy or something to rep on a hoodie, like with YouTube influencer Corinna Kopf’s merchandise, in which the definition of anxiety is plastered on an article of clothing. Though cases like this are just beginning to pop up among sellers, the idea of a brand claiming mental illness as its property is repulsive.

Generally speaking, many adolescents find mentioning mental illnesses to be humorous and light-hearted fun.

Countless memes have been shared on this same topic, whether it be someone claiming to have depression after failing an exam. This kind of humor is common among modern friend groups, which may make many people oblivious to the damage it actually deals to the overall scope of mental health. Though it may seem to be harmless, this kind of humor is contributing to the idea that mental illness is a joke, but mental illness should not be treated as a joke.

With so many mental illnesses intertwined in our pop culture, it would be unrealistic to ask the human race to stop romanticizing mental illness.

Of course, it is normal and expected for feelings of sadness and occasional moments of anxiousness to arise in our everyday lives. If you feel that you may genuinely be suffering from a mental illness, then a visit to a local physician or mental health expert is highly recommended, but self-diagnosis is problematic and ineffective. Rather than exaggerating, the way we express our emotions and feelings should be more carefully thought through.

ILLUSTRATION BY VINCENT MARESCA

The Matador Bullring Is prom worth the cost?

“ “

For the seniors, prom could be one of the last couple things they do with their friends before leaving for college [so] it is definitely worth it.”

-Belinda Thai, 9th grade

INTERVIEWS BY VIVIAN ZHENG

I believe that going to prom is worth [it] because prom is an unforgettable moment in your life and is a great time to hangout with friends and your special person.”

-Carlos Garcia, 10th grade

“ “

I think prom is worth it [because] it’s something that you’re always going to look back to when you’re an adult, and it’s a good conversation starter.”

I do not think prom is worth going due to the high cost, and you also have to pay for extra expenses like if you have a date, you have to buy stuff for her.”

Corey Tran, 12th grade

-Giselle Gonzalez, 11th grade PHOTOS BY MEGAN TIEU AND KATHERINE HUANG

5

W”ho”lesome things

Shawn Ho He scored lucky

“

It takes a village to raise a child.”

For me, it literally did.

With no parents around, I was essentially everyone’s child in my family. I’ve been cared for and nurtured by many of my aunts and uncles and relatives who aren’t a part of my immediate family, but it was mainly my grandparents that took care of me.

I grew up with this being the norm but always knew it isn’t supposed to be.

Only when I’m in trouble would I hear the Cantonese words that mean “Go pack up your clothes in a trash bag and live with your mother.” Although hearing it was a rarity, those words served as a reminder that I was being done a favor when being cared for. It wasn’t their obligation to let me leech off their income. I felt like a burden and the only form of repayment I knew was listening to my grandparents and their wishes.

My grandfather put a large emphasis on my academics and career choice. He wanted me to do well in school like many other parents do and find a profession in medicine. I understood his intent was to better his future care, as Confucianism establishes the idea that children should care for their caretakers when they have aged.

Thousands of years of filial piety and here we are—still unable to defy the head of the family and instead conform to his wants and desires.

Years and years have passed, and my grandfather still continues to speak.

He would tell me how his friend’s son graduated from UCLA and is now a pharmacist with a high salary and countless similar stories. As I entered the car, he starts again. I complied and told him I would be a doctor. Little did he know that because of him, I developed a subtle hatred for medical professions.

In high school, my friends encouraged me to join Journalism and Speech and Debate. Journalism sparked my passion for the pursuit of truth, and Speech and Debate had me loving the life of identifying loopholes and revealing interpretations. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer.

But then the science and math courses I took easily became my favorite courses. I didn’t immediately excel in either, but I found myself to be looking forward to them everyday.

The joys of my junior year when I loved cutting open cats, added a half drop too much of NaOH to the HCl solution, and feared yet sadistically loved pop quizzes from my favorite teacher. What intrigued me the most was the human body. Something I use every day and know barely anything about.

My earlier aspirations to be a lawyer was just a facade that seduced me with the enticing thought of defying my grandfather. I claimed I had resented medical professions, but what I actually resented was my grandfather’s expectations for me. Although I am indebted to him, I wanted to do things for myself, not for him. So this time, I guess he scored lucky because he got just what he wanted: a grandchild entering the medical field.

6

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 2019

OPINION: Talking about mental health should not be taboo for men

FOCUS

OPINION:

Practicing mindfulness benefits students

BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN

BY ZHOU YE XIN

Although mental disorders have relently become less taboo to discuss, they are still looked down upon and often viewed as trivial.

The disdain towards discussion about mental health is especially evident towards men as a result of society’s double standards. Men are often under the impression that they need to be “manly,” and showing vulnerability is not considered masculine. Men should be able to speak openly about mental health and not be shunned as a result.

Being a certain sex does not make it easier to cope with anxiety or depression, so seeking help should be equally advocated among men and women. Encouraging silence and endurance teaches male teenagers to cope with their accumulated stress from school in other ways. According to the University of Rochester Health Encyclopedia, men with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will oftentimes cope with their symptoms through substance abuse.

Furthermore, unstable mental health can lead to mental disorders and eventually suicide. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the amount of men who committed suicide in 2017 was 3.54 times greater than women. Being assured that men will not be judged for seeking help will prompt more men to take steps towards improving their mental health and decrease the amount of men who attempt or suicide.

People may argue that seeking help will not change the number of men who are mentally unstable. The University of Rochester Health Encyclopedia states that some mental illnesses are more common among women who are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression, but social support plays a role in helping them recover from these illnesses.

Given that more men commit suicide than women despite less men suffering from mental illnesses, talking about mental health will play a role in decreasing the amount of men who commit suicide.

All in all, men should not be ashamed of seeking support when mentally ill. Society needs to stop teaching men to hide their feelings in order to appear masculine and instead advocate the communication of feelings and proper care of mental health. Schools should make the subject of mental health less taboo by discussing mental health and teaching students how to address other people’s mental illnesses as well as their own mental illnesses.

Every day, students and adults are bombarded with various stress-inducing distractions and situations. Journaling about them and practicing meditation and yoga are helpful ways to reflect on your actions and emotions, while also narrowing down what works for your health. Though meditation and yoga are not substitutes for professional help from a medical expert, integrating these methods for calming down and focusing into a daily routine may be a beneficial idea that can leave a positive impact on one’s health and mentality.

Studies have proven that meditation and yoga have real health benefits—physically and mentally. Yoga and meditation lower blood pressure and increase overall heart health.

Chronic and inflammatory pain are also reduced from doing yoga. After practicing in both, individuals are likely to experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety with lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, as reported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2006.

Meditation and yoga can be utilized to increase stress management in and out of the classroom. Practicing these often leads to more focus and concentration daily. In 2013, a study led by the Association for Psychological Science found that students who underwent at least two weeks of mindfulness exercises developed better short-term memory and sharpened verbal reasoning. Falling asleep usually comes more easily, which improves the quality of a night’s rest.

Journaling is another outlet of mindfulness that can alleviate stress and provide insight into contributing to your mental health. This can be accomplished through a physical or digital journal, but recycled papers or recording your voice can also be used to recap your day.

Stopping to breathe and taking a break can often seem like a waste of time in a busy schedule. This mindset should not stop anyone from giving these practices of mindfulness and relaxation a try. It might seem daunting at first and difficult to consistently keep up the practice, but start with baby steps. Conducting online research in regards to the different types of yoga and the possible steps of meditation can be the first step. Even journaling a few minutes every day will lift weight off your shoulders.

- Meditate - Declutter your room/closet - Take a break from social media - Write a journal - Do breathing exercises - Spend time outside - Pamper yourself: face mask, massage, get your nails done - Try doing something nice for someone you care about - Take a mental health day MODELED BY ERIC MAI PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE HUANG AND ANGELA LU

New things to try out to de-stress:

SELF-CARE IDEAS

Mental hea treated the

Faced with the burden of determining their futures and eventually the rest of their lives, high school students spend massive amounts of time dedicated to studying and participating in extracurriculars to be accepted into their dream college. Oftentimes, students will disregard their physical health to succeed academically, but mental health is usually even less prioritized. With stress corroding the minds of countless high schoolers, mental health should be taken as seriously as physical health.

When confronted with fatal health problems, people will scramble to see doctors and stay in hospitals in hopes of recovering. However, those with mental disorders such as depression are less likely to seek for help. Depression can result in suicide which, according to the National Health Service, is a leading cause of death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-34 overall. Despite the serious risk of being mentally unstable, people do not address it as promptly as a physical injury when they should.

Furthermore, mental health

DISCLAIMER: These articles do not and cannot constitute medical advice.

Please seek a doctor or medical professional for guidance amd treatment.

affects a person performance. of Happines mental illnesse by 20%. Anot the Pelagia R that a person correlation to health. Altho not guarante one’s mental h physical health mind decreas heart disease a passing away mind makes p and maintain a positively affec academic succ People may health problem is why studen and physical This is only ap because stude from

FOCUS

alth issues should be e same as physical ones

n’s mood, happiness, and According to the Origins ss report, overcoming es will increase happiness ther study published by Research Library found n’s happiness has a high o the person’s physical ough correlation does e causation, improving health may also improve h. Research finds a healthy ses the risk of coronary and a 32% less chance of y from cancer. A healthy people more productive a better mood, which can ct students’ wellbeing and cess. y argue that some physical ms are contagious which nts take school days off, health is not the same. pplicable to some absences ents will take a day off school

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

if they are physically incapable of maneuvering their way to classes.

Students should also be able to take a day off if their mental health is suffering, as it will impair their capability to learn or get out of bed. Time will be wasted at school when students could instead spend the time addressing the problem.

Mental health is as important as physical health, given its dangerous risks if not properly taken care of. Being one of the main causes of stress and mental health problems in students, schools should advocate proper care of mental health. Instead of ignoring mental health, schools should allow students to go home if their mental health is negatively affecting their ability to learn and excuse absences. San Gabriel High School could promote the use of school psychologists and programs such as Gateway to Success and get rid of the stigma around mental illnesses. The school should also introduce culturally relevant mental health services such as therapists to assist in improving parent-student relationships in minority families.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 2019

Burning out of fuel

BY ANGELA LU

Physical, emotional, and behavioral signs and effects: - More prone to illnesses; changes in sleeping habits and appetite - Loss of motivation and detachment; lack of satisfaction; pessimism Procrastination and reduced productivity; negilience of responsibilities - Use of food, drugs, and alcohol

Working hard is often perceived as one of the many signs of being successful, rather than a single factor in order to achieve success. However, this association has created a dysfunctional image of work and productivity, leading to a chron ic case of stress as known as burnout. Burnouts are caused by three main variables: depersonalization, emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, and lost a sense of accomplishment.

Causes from everyday tasks, work, lifestyle, and personality: - Overworking, imbalanced social life and lack of self-care; not enough sleep - Working in an overly demanding environment with high expectations, lack sense of accomplishment; high-achieving, perfectionistic traits

Signs of burnout in daily activities, work, and school: - Always exhausted -Simple chores are overwhelming or mind-numbing - Feeling helpless, overloaded, and underappreciated

There are positive steps to establish control and balance stress in your life: -More social contact between friends, family, and coworkers; have someone to listen to -Taking time off; getting good night’s sleep -Healthy diet and exercise

Do you feel comfortable talking to people about your mental health?

49.22%

YES NO N/A

38.74% 12.04%

Have you ever sought professional help regarding your mental well-being?

YES NO N/A

16.75%

76.44% 6.81%

How often do you talk to others about your mental health?

SOMETIMES OFTEN NEVER N/A

55.50%

7.33% 29.32% 7.85%

OUT OF 191 RESPONSES

Self-care vs self-love

BY IVY HO

Self-care and self-love are often associated with each other.

Although these two terms are used interchangeably because of their

STUDENTS GIVE THEIR TAKE ON SORTING THROUGH EMOTIONS, ATTAINING MINDFULNESS, AND TAKING CARE OF ONESELF.

similarities, there are important differences to note between the two.

Self-care is vital: it is the act of taking care of yourself physically and mentally. Whether it be staying in for the night to relax instead of going out or going to bed early, selfcare can make you feel renewed.

Adding it to your routine is a way to replenish yourself and relieve stress because you are purposely making sure you get time to feel at peace.

Self-love is just as important as self-care. Whereas self-care is about recovery, self-love is about cultivating gratitude and acceptance of yourself. Self-love stems from self-care. Practicing it means treating yourself positively, letting go of the fear of judgment and the comparison

mindset because you are satisfied with being you.

To sum it up, self-care allows you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself and self-love provides you with a sense of confidence.

However, not everyone employs the same method and reinforcing self-care and self-love. Some may feel better after simply putting on a face mask and calling it a day while others need much more than that to feel better.

Self-care is only part of self-love as it just addresses the physical aspect. Both are essential in living a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle. With regular practice in self-care, you can transform your life.

7

8

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019

LIfe and art

Spring Gallery draws in student artists

BY TIFFANY NGUYGEN

The Spring Art Gallery showcased various pieces in the foyer of the Auditorium for students and staff from April 3 to 5.

Amongst the contestants were juniors Ashley Guan and Joshua Yuan and senior Tim Xu, who created pieces that placed as the top three finalists of the art gallery. Honorable mentions include pieces by junior Joshua Yuan and seniors Echo Dieu and Johanna Hernandez.

Xu recreated an oil pastel drawing originally created by Paul Cézanne as admiration for Cézanne’s unique art style and was voted first place. He plans to continue art past his graduation.

“I have an idea of becoming a product designer, but I won’t let go of my hobby of doing art,” Xu said. “I would like to have a mini gallery of my own art in my future home.”

Guan incorporated humorous elements into her art submission and placed second.

“It was an assignment from art teacher Ms. Jung, and I was supposed to make a parody of a famous painting,” Guan said. “I chose ‘Girl With a Pearl Earring.’ I got the idea of using Kermit [the Frog] because he reminded me of my friend, who really liked Kermit.”

Working on his piece for about seven hours in art class, Yuan drew a skull as the main focus of his still life submission.

“The skull was one of [pieces that] drew me in because it was a technically difficult item to draw,” Yuan said. “It also has this representation of the balance between death and life, which I thought was interesting.”

The biannual art gallery, which started three years ago, originally displayed art by Art

PHOTO BY ZHOU YE XIN

Juniors Joshua Yuan (left) and Ashley Guan (right) with their winning pieces during an Art Club meeting, in which the winners of the Spring Art Gallery were announced.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIM XU, ASHLEY GUAN, AND JENNY LEE

Senior Tim Xu places first with “Oil pastel drawing of fruits” inspired by the original artwork of French artist Paul Cézanne. Junior Ashley Guan places second with a painting titled “Frog with a pearl earring,” which was based on artwork by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Junior Joshua Yuan places third with an untitled still life drawing of a skull.

Club members in art teacher Karen Keller’s classroom. The event has since extended art submissions to students outside of Art Club.

“[This] gives a platform [to] student artists, otherwise they don’t really have a platform— other than the little bits in one class here or

there,” Keller said. “This year, I’ve seen a lot more students come through [and with] so many different art styles.”

Truong takes down mixed martial arts as hobby

BY SALLY PHAM

PHOTO BY KATHERINE HUANG

Senior Kelly Tsan is screwing in rails for a staircase in the set of the upcoming Spring Play.

Tsan builds future plans for technical theater

BY HENRY CHOW

In the Little Theater, Senior Kelly Tsan can sometimes be found working endlessly on one set after another, but the restless nights and weeks of work before the grand show definitely pay off. Here at school, Tsan pursues her creative endeavors of technical theater by helping the drama department with sets for school productions.

“I first got into theater [tech] in freshman year, when my sister brought me to work on a set and as part of backstage crew for Noises Off,” Tsan said. “It was kind of stressful because it was my first show, and it made me really nervous, but it was really fun.”

After working on her first show, Tsan did not plan to work with theater again. However, she decided to continue working with the backstage crew for Steel Magnolias.

“I enjoyed my first experience with [theater], and I also made some new friends that I wanted to keep up with,” Tsan said. “All of that kind of brought me back.”

The new techniques that she learned as a backstage crew member gave her insight on how to use hand tools, power tools, and ropes

as well as communication skills.

“It’s probably made me more open with people,” Tsan said. “I’m not as shy about talking to new people or just going up to them and saying hi.”

Throughout her four years in technical theater, Tsan’s favorite show is a “toss-up between Steel Magnolias and She Kills Monsters.”

“Steel Magnolias was really fun and my first actual production that I worked on start to finish,” Tsan said. “She Kills Monsters was probably the best show [in terms of] crew, cast and plot. The costumes, special effects, painting, and set building were really fun.”

Tsan also encourages other future theater enthusiasts to take advantage of their opportunities.

“Get outside experience if you can, with colleges or community theaters, because those are probably where you’ll probably end up studying the most in-depth about it,” Tsan said. “It’s where you’ll get the most professional experience.”

Tsan hopes to gain more experience for the future and pursue her passions in college.

She intends to work as either a front-of-house manager, production manager, or set designer.

Junior Raymond Truong recalls the adrenaline surging through his body as he prepares for another round of sparring in his mixed martial arts class. Tension surrounds the ring as both fighters sway side to side facing each other. The two martial artists carefully scan for an opening in the other’s defense before striking with vicious speed and accuracy.

“Sparring other disciples definitely made me a better fighter,” Truong said.

“The more challenging the opponent is, the more opportunities there are to improve.”

Prior to enrolling into the class, Truong was unaware of the intensity and physical demands of the sport. In the beginning, he felt inferior compared to his more experienced peers—almost as if he was just another punching bag for their disposal.

“On my first day of class, my coach did not know that I was inexperienced, so when we sparred, he kicked my butt,” Truong said.

Despite his rough welcoming into mixed martial arts, Truong persevered through the arduous training in hopes of improving his mental and physical strength.

“The real loss is when you back down from a challenge,” Truong said. “Now, a punch doesn’t feel so bad and facing an opponent is not as scary.”

Mixed martial arts also brought Truong out of his shell.

“I was a timid kid back then,” Truong said. “Mixed martial arts helped boost my confidence and I gained a lot of new friends

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAYMOND TRUONG

Junior Raymond Truong commemorates his last day of mixed martial arts class by taking this photo with his coach and peers. “I set my profile picture to this photo because I wanted to remember the experience I had with them,” Truong said. from the class.”

Truong credits his childhood friend for introducing him to the combative sport.

What began as his curiosity soon became a hobby that Truong dedicated every weekend practicing.

“Nathan would tell me about how he was learning self-defense and how fun it was,” Truong said. “One day, he said that he wanted a partner to train with, so I decided to join him.”

Although Truong no longer attends the classes due to the high expenses, he values the experience he shared with his coach and peers. He hopes to continue mixed martial arts in the future and meet new people while reconnecting with old friends from the class.

The matador

Life AND ART

Bopomofo Cafe brings fresh taste to 626

thematadorsghs.us

wednesday, April 17, 2019

9

Waffle ventures for students’ affection

BY SELINA HAN

I g r e w u p w a t c h i n g Wo n g Fu Productions on YouTube, so when I found out one of the founders, Philip Wang, was opening a boba shop, I knew I had to go. Since officially opening a month ago, Bopomofo Cafe has gained a lot of traction in the San Gabriel Valley.

Bopomofo Cafe prides itself on using fresh and high-quality ingredients. The cafe uses real fruit, pressed juice, looseleaf teas, and clearly states that none of their drinks have artificial flavoring, syrups, or fructose.

The first thing I noticed when I went in was the simplicity of the menu.

Bopomofo Cafe offers a dozen drinks and five different food items. Of the 12 drinks, four of them were coffee items and the other eight were teas. The prices of their drinks are a bit higher than those of nearby boba shops, so I personally would not go there just to order a basic tea or coffee that I can get a block away.

However, since it was my first time there, I ordered the Jasmine Milk Tea with boba and one of their signature drinks, Kiwi Lemon Green Tea. The Jasmine Milk Tea was pretty good, but the Kiwi Lemon Green Tea was what really stole the show.

The drink highlighted the freshness of the natural ingredients that Bopomofo Cafe specializes in, and it tasted as if it were homemade because it was natural

PHOTO BY ENRICO GONZALEZ

Waffle wanders from her home to greet students as they walk to school in the morning.

PHOTO BY SELINA HAN

Bopomofo Cafe offers 12 different drinks in two sizes. The Jasmine Milk Tea (left) is one of their Premium Classics and the Kiwi Lemon Green Tea is one of their signature drinks.

BY ENRICO GONZALEZ

and unprocessed.

I visited Bopomofo Cafe several times in the past month and found that since the cafe is located in a plaza, it can be difficult to find parking. The cafe is still relatively new, so it tends to be very busy on weekends, especially when word gets around that the owner is in the cafe.

In spite of all of this, the atmosphere of Bopomofo Cafe is very welcoming.

When I visited, the staff was inviting and helpful. They offered to explain their menu items to me while I was ordering and after I got my drinks, I was told to let them know if I wanted anything

Every day at around 7 a.m., on the corner of Montecito and Grand, wanders Waffle—the six-year-old domestic shorthair cat. Her owners are mindful that she enjoys venturing off to greet students by rubbing against their legs and purring, seeking affection.

“As a kitten, she was always interested in the outside world so we could never keep her inside,” Jose Bueno said.

“Neighborhood dogs aren’t exactly her friends because she loves taunting them, but we’re glad the students get to enjoy her.”

Senior Kelly Loc has seen Waffle on multiple occasions, the most recent being on April 15 when the curious feline came towards her.

“As I approached Waffle, she started to playfully meow and walked around my legs,” Loc said. “I gave the cat a good pet before getting picked up from school, [so] I got cat hair all over the bottom of my legs and the sleeve of my hoodie.”

A family friend of the Buenos gave Waffle to Jose’s daughter, Karen, nearly six years ago when Waffle was a small kitten.

“Waffle is my daughter’s cat—which makes me her grandfather—and was gifted to her from a family friend when my daughter begged to have a cat,” Jose said. “My daughter lives in San Francisco [now] and unfortunately, with tight pet policies, has asked us to be Waffle’s guardians.”

Waffle’s name was inspired by the 1985 comedy drama The Breakfast Club, one of Karen’s favorite movies.

“It’s one of my favorite movies, and [I] thought it would be a great reference to a group of cats—I also just really enjoy breakfast foods,” Karen said.

According to Jose, Karen—despite living nearly 400 miles away—is fully aware that Waffle ventures on these social expeditions every morning.

“If you were to ask my daughter, she’d say ‘Jealous.’” Jose said. “Waffle tends to get a lot of unwanted affection from her mother, so we find it kind of amusing and interesting that Waffle loves the attention she gets from strangers—it really is a part of her daily routine.”

Karen would like to eventually adopt two more cats with similar breakfast related names to accompany Waffle.

“My daughter is a crazy cat lady and insisted that Waffle would be one of three cats she eventually wants to have,” Jose said. “She hopes to call the other two Pancake and Bacon and the three would make The Breakfast Club.”

changed.

The cafe itself is pretty spacious, but there were not a lot of tables and seats for customers to sit at. My experience at Bopomofo Cafe was pleasant due to the great service I received and their unique menu items, but I would not find myself coming here often just because there already are so many other boba places nearby that are cheaper. With that being said, I would still recommend others to give it a try, especially if they are looking for healthy drink options. Bopomofo Cafe is located at 841 W. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776.

Dumbo flies straight into viewers’ hearts

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC.

Dumbo reaches out for the feather, blowing on it until he accidently breathes it in through his trunk. This event gives him the confidence to fly.

BY AMANDA LERMA

Following the classic story of the baby elephant who discovers he has the ability to fly, Dumbo soars to new heights as a live-action film. The movie is packed with childhood memories and emtion.

Struggling circus owner Max Medici, (played by Danny DeVito), hires former horse riding star and former military man Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) alongside his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) as caretakers for the newly purchased elephants.

When Dumbo is born with humongous ears, Medici fears it to be the downfall of the circus, as they become the joke of the town. However, once it is discovered that Dumbo is able to fly, the circus rises in popularity. Dumbo’s astonishing ability soon garners the attention

of V. A. Vandemere, (Michael Keaton), an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo as the main attraction of his latest entertainment venture.

As the most recent live action Disney movie, my expectations were high because of how successful the previous remakes were. For a live-action film, however, Dumbo loses some of its charms from the animated version of the movie.

Unlike the original 1941 animated Dumbo, the newer film focuses more on human characters rather than animals. This adds a unique backstory for older audiences as Dumbo was the protagonist of the 1940’s film, but Milly and Joe often take the stage in the newest edition of Dumbo. Despite the title being Dumbo, Dumbo himself feels like a side character, only there to aid the character

development of others. With the children playing such major roles in the story, Dumbo becomes just another animal meant to unite the family.

While Dumbo is filled with tragedy, the characters provided comic relief that kept an overall positive tone. In several instances, Dumbo is faced with dramatic events that keep the audience on the edge of their seats as they wait for some miracle of events to save the baby elephant. Focusing on the love held within a family, characters are given moments where they truly learn what is means to be family.

Dumbo is an entertaining movie with a twist in the plot that soars above expectations.

I would recommend Dumbo for anyone with an affinity for Disney movies or is interested in a charming, yet dramatic movie about a baby elephant with big ears.

10

thematadorsghs.us

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

The matador

sports

Powderpuff holds annual event at Matador football field

BY JOCELYN MONTELON

A tradition that allows new people or friends to reunite and share a memory of high school is Powderpuff, a game of flag football played between the junior and senior girls. The Powderpuff game ended with a final score of 21-7 with juniors defeating the seniors for the first time in a long time. It took place on March 15 at the Matador football field.

“The environment [was] pretty calm, not hectic,” junior Katey Casillas said. “I think it was because the coaches [tried] to teach us the best way they can. It [was also well] organized. I enjoyed [Powderpuff] because it [gave me an] opportunity to test my capabilities and [to] try to push myself to do better. It [was] always fun practicing with the coaches and my teammates, and learning something new each time.”

In the first quarter, an argument occurred between a junior and a senior because there seemed to be a misunderstanding due to the senior trying to block the junior. Despite the minor argument, the girls left it aside and continued to enjoy the game. After the first touchdown was made by the juniors, the seniors followed up and scored a touchdown for their team roughly five minutes after.

“One memory that was fun was when anyone scored a touchdown, the whole team would run down to the end zone and everyone would just be surrounding each other, screaming in excitement,” junior Emily Phuong said.

The crowd cheered on the girls as they went from one side of the field to the other, trying to get past the defense and score a touchdown for their team.

“The experience has been pretty fun,” senior Evelyn Hernandez said. “It [was] most of my friends [participating] so they made it fun.”

Once the score was a tie in the second quarter, the juniors scored again and broke the tie entering into the third

PHOTO BY JOCELYN MONTELON

Junior Adilene Martinez (center) steals the football and runs through the senior’s offense. Junior Priscilla Contreras (right) moves to block senior Summer Macias (left) from pulling Martinez’s flag from her waist. quarter.

“The energy that others [gave] off on the field is what [got] my attention,” junior Priscilla Contreras said. “The game overall was so much fun, once I played.

I was nervous but at that point it didn’t matter. I really wanted to do it just for fun.

I think the game was entertaining, not

just for me, but for the audience as well.”

Once the game was over, both teams reunited in the middle of the field to congratulate one another. They went their separate ways to take pictures of their teams.

“I was super excited to play. I know the basics of football and getting the

opportunity to be on the field was pretty awesome,” senior Summer Macias said.

“Being a senior just made me realize this was going to be the last time I participate in Powderpuff. I enjoyed working hard with my team and just having fun with everyone on the field.”

To get weekly sports updates, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SGHSthematador.

Bishop cheers in class,sidelines

BY MELODY ZHANG

As the badminton players ducked and weaved around each other, English teacher Melissa Bishop-Magallanes found herself cheering and gasping alongside the audience with each point scored.

Although Bishop had previously attended mostly football games, it became apparent to her that many of her students were a part of the various sports teams. After going to a couple of basketball games, she found herself inspired and wanting to attend more games.

“That was just incredibly fun and my son went with me and I’ve never seen him so excited,” Bishop said. “He was cheering and he said ‘Show them no mercy, SGHS.’” Aside from being able to support and cheer on her students, Bishop learned more about previously unfamiliar sports, such as badminton.

“I didn’t realize how ignorant I really was and it was just fascinating to experience a whole new type of play with all of its different rules,” Bishop said. “Badminton is one of few sports that clearly are played co-ed, and I thought that was super fun to watch because that’s a very different dynamic than a lot of sports that are not [co-ed].”

Seeing how students support each other and do their best is an aspect of the San Gabriel community that Bishop finds inspiring.

“I know how pounded our kids get with work and [how they] are diligent and hardworking in the academic arena,” Bishop said, “and so when there’s also that sport element that’s attached to their life that they do and aspire to so well, it’s

invigorating to watch that kind of youthfulness and enthusiasm.”

The chance to watch students play in an unfamiliar sport showed Bishop a different side of them.

“Sometimes classrooms can be a little more cutthroat, although I’m blessed this year,” Bishop said. “I don’t feel like students are too competitive with each other in my classroom and so it’s nice to see that side where kids are supporting each other.”

She also noted that going to different sports games with her family helped expose her children to the different communities and activities of the school as well as validate her work as a teacher.

“It’s about being part of the community and so the idea of [the students] helping support my community is very powerful,” Bishop said. “ I also hope [my kids will] understand that kind of community when they’re in high school and they’ll want to be a part of it.”

Bishop said that students knowing that teachers care for them makes them feel important.

“It’s a very concrete statement of their importance that we would give our time after school to go cheer them on,” Bishop said.

Although dance competitions are farther and not as local, Bishop has future plans to include those to her schedule.

“I’m going to make a purposeful attempt next year to kind of calender out when [Choreo is] dancing and see if I can get to more of those next year, so every year a little bit more,” Bishop said.

The matador

SPORTS

thematadorsghs.us

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019

11

2018-19 Spring Sports Scoreboard BADMINTON

VARSITY

4/03 VS MARK KEPPEL

(W) 15 - 6

4/05 VS SAN MARINO

(L) 9 - 12

4/08 @ ARCADIA

(L) 5 - 16

3/20 VS ALHAMBRA

(W) 17 - 4

4/03 VS MARK KEPPEL

(W) 16 - 5

JV

BASEBALL

VARSITY

4/02 VS SCHURR

(L) 0 - 10

4/05 @ SCHURR

(L) 1 - 25

4/09 @ BELL GARDENS

(L) 0 - 16

4/09 VS BELL GARDENS

(L) 5 - 13

JV

SOFTBALL

VARSITY

4/02 @ MONTEBELLO

(L) 2 - 13

4/04 @ ALHAMBRA

(L) 8 - 10

4/04 @ MONTEBELLO

(L) 17 - 3

JV

SWIM VARSITY 3/21 @ MONTEBELLO (B) (W) 113 - 38 (G) (L) 46 - 109 4/02 VS SCHURR

JV 4/02 VS SCHURR

(B) (L) 53 - 116 (G) (L) 6 - 133 (B) 47 - 105 (G) 28 - 122

BOYS TENNIS

PHOTOS BY KATHERINE HUANG

(Left) Junior Simon Ma and (right) Wesley Szeto, with a backhand shot, receive shuttlecocks during a rally in a boys doubles game. The San Gabriel badminton team competed against Alhambra in a home game which resulted in a loss and final score of 10-11 on March 22.

Matadors clash against Moors in battle for points

BY ZHOU YE XIN

The San Gabriel varsity badminton team rallied against the Alhambra Moors during a mesmerizing home game. It ended in a loss with a final score of 10-11 on March 22.

Sophomore Gary Gao’s first boys doubles game led to a tie after the second set, forcing him and his partner to contend against the Moors for victory in the final set. After the overwhelming smashes, the boys won the heated match. Despite winning the round, Gao said there are skills and techniques that can still be refined.

“For doubles, it’s so fast paced, sometimes my mind gets so blank. I hit a random shot, and then we lose the point because of it,” Gao said. “I need to work on my speed and my smashes.”

Attentive eyes from their teammates watched juniors Wesley Szeto and Simon Ma during their boys doubles games. Barraging their opponents with heavy smashes from

the start, the duo quickly bombarded their enemies and widened their gap in points.

After gaining a quick point from a smash, light from the Moors’ eyes dimmed as they started to lose hope in winning the match.

“I definitely set up for my partner in order for him to attack and to play aggressively,” Szeto said. “I was also able to tell him weaknesses of the opponents that he wasn’t able to recognize, so we were able to get more points off of hitting to that specific player due to his weakness.”

During his round, Szeto swung his racket downwards, forcing the shuttlecock to meet the ground in an instant. Executing a net kill, the most aggressive shot in badminton, made it impossible for the opposing team to receive, and the gym boomed with cheers and excitement from team members who watched expectantly near the bleachers.

“Knowing that my team supports me and has my back, it helps me a lot,” Szeto said.

Juniors Michelle Kung and Ariel Pan

Tennis confronted at match point, suffer first loss of league

VARSITY

4/02 VS SCHURR 4/04 @ MARK KEPPEL 4/09 @ MONTEBELLO

(W) 17 - 1 (L) 5 - 13 (W) 14 - 4

4/04 VS MARK KEPPEL

(W) 13 - 5

JV

VARSITY

TRACK

4/04 @ MARK KEPPEL

(B) (L) 24 - 103 (G) (W) 87 - 40

FROSH

PHOTO BY ELSIE WANG

4/04 VS MARK KEPPEL (B) (L) 55 - 71 (G) (L) 40 - 83

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY

4/04 @ SCHURR 4/09 VS MARK KEPPEL

(W) 3 - 1 (L) 0 - 3

4/02 @ BELL GARDENS

(L) 1 - 2

JV

Junior Kenny Luo returns the ball to the Aztecs in a doubles match, winning the first set 6-4.

BY ELSIE WANG

Winning match after match and CIF just around the corner, boys varsity tennis’ rhythm came to a sudden halt when Mark Keppel defeated them (13-5) on Aztec courts April 4, putting the Matadors and Aztecs on par in an intense battle for first in the Almont League.

Whether the Matadors would win the Almont League for the first time in years or share the victory with the Aztecs,

the reigning champions of league for over a decade, depended on the game.

Throughout the season, the Matadors were on a roll, winning their first five games and taking zero losses. Having beaten the Aztecs at the beginning of the season, the Matadors walked in heads raised that cloudy afternoon, expecting to take another win.

“I think we were too overconfident,” freshman Jaxon Huynh said. “I felt a little bit off that day. Everyone was so good, [but

displayed teamwork and synergy during their girls doubles match. With similar playing styles, the duo utilized drive shots to push shots to the middle of the court.

“As someone who isn’t good in rotation, I was amazed at how well we were able to cover each other throughout the game,” Pan said. “If one person couldn’t get a bird, the other one [would].”

Despite putting in their best effort, the badminton team lost to Alhambra.

Badminton Coach Jordan Tien believes the team can learn from this experience and with future games as well.

“Against teams we can’t win against, we’re looking to play against them and gain experience and improve,” Tien said.

“Against teams that we obviously can beat easily, we’ll just try our best to not disrespect our opponents.”

The badminton team’s next away game will be April 19 against Mark Keppel.

that day], we just fell apart.”

However, senior Michael Chen and his doubles partner, junior Kenny Luo, were doing well, winning two out of three of their sets. A dynamic duo, their specialities complemented each other and allowed them to score points against unsuspecting Aztecs consistently throughout the match.

“Having Michael as my partner really benefits me as a tennis player,” Luo said.

“He has the ability to keep tennis balls in play from the back while I am able to volley against our opponents in the front. We both play aggressively.”

All eyes were especially on the duo’s third set against a formidable Aztec pair.

The two teams rallied back and forth in a total of 12 games, the last and longest match of the set. Results were unclear throughout as the score pivoted from a draw to pulling ahead to tying in a game of cat-and-mouse.

It came down to the Matadors leading 5-4.

Chen and Luo needed just one more game to win the match, but were unable to pull through towards the end, losing 5-7.

“We had a lot of pressure on us,” Chen said. “[The Aztecs] got the last game which took the match to a longer point. We weren’t doing what [we] were supposed to and shots were not going in. At the beginning, I had a feeling that we had a chance, but that feeling just went away.”

Despite the Matadors’ loss, the boys won their matches (7-1), guaranteeing them a spot in first. The Matadors tying with the Aztecs will be determined by how well Mark Keppel does in their next two matches.

12

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

Wednesday, APRIL 17, 2019

FEAtures

S"p et " a c u la r C o mpa nio ns “Her name is Siri, and she’s a black American shorthair. My brother found her in a box on the street [and] chose her because his friend wanted the other kittens.

[Once] she accidentally ran out the front door around three in the morning [and] I looked for her for about 30 minutes. For the longest time, I watched videos and read articles on how to get a cat to come home. I felt like she was lost forever. I left the back door open, and half an hour later, she came sauntering like nothing happened; I was at a loss for words, but I was overjoyed.

She doesn’t like people in her personal space, [so] the only time she lets [me] pet her is when she walks up to [me] herself. Either she walks up to me and rubs up against me, or I’ll grab her and won’t let her leave until she scratches me.” -Cindy Bui, 12th grade “His name is Tekashi. He’s a three-month-old male bearded dragon. I got him because I saw a few videos online and they really interested me.

A lot of people don’t find reptiles cute but I really like them, [and] I spend a lot of time with him. When I get home, I take him out of his tank and start playing with him because when they’re little, you have to create a bond with them so they are not vicious when they’re older.

I don’t have much to do except for homework after school, and after getting him, I actually have something to do. I take him on walks [with a] reptile leash. As weird as that sounds, he’ll just walk around and eat plants. I also take him with me to stores, and it catches the attention of people;. He just really makes me happy when I spend time with him.”

-Allison Hernandez, 10th grade “We named him [Nemo]; he’s a maltipoo and poodle mix. We named him something related to water for feng shui reasons.

We got him because my mom wanted a dog and asked my dad and me. I think it was because I was stressed [and] she thought a puppy would make me happier. He’s not trained or licensed for therapy, but to me, I use him for therapy. He’s helped me hang in there. Whenever I get a headache doing homework, I play and hang out with him.

Sometimes, in the morning on the way to school, he whimpers for my mom to open the car window, but she says ‘no,’ so then he farts and makes her open the window anyway. I think he likes to smell the world. He once had the window open while wearing sunglasses, and that was cute.” -Fionna Quach, 12th grade “I have seven tortoises: one Sulcata tortoise, three Russian tortoises, two Leopard tortoises, and one Greek tortoise. I’m not the biggest fan of fluffy or furry animals; I’m more into the scaley, unique terrestrial animals.

They break the stereotypical reptile taboo where people think they’re just boring [animal.s.] They develop quirky personalities as they mature, and they show it towards you.

My first tortoise, Quacca, occasionally exchanges head bobs with me. Also, one of the most rewarding aspects of having tortoises is raising them from a two-inch hatching and watching them mature into a healthy juvenile.

As a person who is easily frustrated, a tortoise can really calm you down. They’re very therapeutic and calming, which is why I recommend owning tortoises. When you own a tortoise, you have to slow down and take things at a nice, easy pace.” -Sam Ly, 11th grade

GRAPHIC BY WINNEFER WU PHOTOS COURTESY OF CINDY BUI, ALLISON HERNANDEZ, SAM LY FIONNA QUACH, SOLINET WONG INTERVIEWS BY WENDY CHAU, KATHERINE HUANG, QILIN LI, ELSIE WANG, VIVIAN ZHENG

“[His name is Shadow and] he’s part shih tzu, part poodle. We wanted to adopt because we feel bad that so many dogs are in shelters.

I’ve always wanted a shih tzu-poodle. My older daughter just went off to college and I wanted something to hug, so I wanted something that’s half-Asian, halfEuropean. A shih tzu’s from China and poodles are from Germany, so a shih tzu-poodle is half-Asian, halfEuropean, just like my daughter.

He’s very loving. Everytime he sees people he runs up and he just falls on his back and wants a belly rub.

He loves sitting on our legs so when we’re watching tv on the couch, he’ll sit on our legs and he’s just a very loving dog. He likes long walks and we found out that he loves playing fetch. But [a] challenge is [trying] to find out what he doesn’t like. [It] looks like he might’ve had some issues with what he’s seen, but we’re in the process of getting him some help. We’re getting a dog psychologist.” -Solinet Wong, school counselor