The legacy of a world changing charity pg. 11
The ever evolving life story of Professor Chuck Cecil pg. 29
We appreciate you taking the time to pick up one of our magazines!
Our staff is pleased to present to you a magazine full of stories we hope you find as interesting to read as we found interesting in researching and writing. From stories about charities making a difference in the world to local history, we have something for everyone.
We have been a tight-knit staff spending hours, working on our craft with the help of our advisor Nancy Kaplan-Biegel.
Many of us will be continuing our education and transferring to a four year university in the fall in large part thanks to what we learned at Skyline College.
This magazine will provide insight into our creative side which flourished with the tools we learned in class. It has been our pleasure to cover news, sports, feature stories and opinions.
Thank you again for your continued support of The Skyline View!
Best regards from your Editor-in-Chief,
Joshua D. PicazoEditor-In-Chief
Joshua D. Picazo
News Editors
Joshua D. Picazo & Graham
Breitbarth
Focal Point Editor
Sean siapno
Opinions Editor
Nishad Karulkar
Sports Editor
Kathia Noriega
Chief Copy Editor
Joshua D. Picazo
Multimedia Editor
Graham Breitbarth
Social Media Editor
Danielle Cosino Reporters
Alex Gonzalez
Ileana Guillen
Zach Hernandez
In the San Francisco Bay Area, many residents are familiar with The Shops at Tanforan, colloquially known as Tanforan. But not everyone is familiar with the history behind the history of the establishments that once stood where the mall stands today, and what the future plans are for the mall.
Initially it was a race track for horses, then a temporary detention center for Japanese Amercians during World War II and is currently home to various retail stores and restaurants ranging from Target to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery. The next plan for Tanforan Mall is to turn it into a biotech campus, as well as housing.
Tanforan Racetrack welcomed visitors since its doors first opened in 1899 until a fire forced it to cease operations in 1964. While they were rehabilitating from an injury, Seabiscuit, an award-winning thoroughbred racehorse, was house in their stables.
During the racetrack’s 65 year old history, it was utilized as an ephemeral detention center for Japanese Americans who lived in the Bay Area , due to Executive Order 9066.
Upon the signing of the Executive Order, individuals who were perceived to pose a threat to national security would be moved from the west coast to noncoastal areas. Due to the recent military attack against the United States that was commited by the Japanese military, there was a rise in racial prejudice and anti-Japanese sentiment, which led to Japanese Amercians being forced to relocate to relocation centers, more commonly known as internment camps so they could not not spy and pillage on behalf of Japan.
While the racetrack was still in operation, it was used as a shortterm “assembly center” to house Japanese Americans detainees who lived in the Bay Area before they were to continue their journey to an internment camp.
Since Tanforan was a racetrack, and was meant to have stables for their racehorses, it was not equipped to house people and despite the fact that the army constructed 180 barracks in less than two months that would be the temporary residence for roughly 8,000 people.
As a result of Tanforan being a racetrack, Since Tanforan was a racetrack, and was meant to have stables for their racehorses, it was not equipped to house people and despite the fact that the army constructed 180 barracks in less than two months that would be the temporary residence for roughly 8,000 people.
In addition to building temporary housing, the horse stables
that were meant for horses were converted into shelter for Japanese Americans. The conditions of the temporary assembly center were dehumanizing and was not well equipped to serve countless families and individuals.
Examples of the deplorable conditions included poor housing conditions, limited supplies of hot water for detainees, limited qualities of laundry facilities, and those who were subjected to living in converted horse stables could smell manure and other ghastly smells that omitted from where the horses were stabled.
Almost all of the detainees who were held at the Tanforan Assembly Center, would go to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Delta, Utah. In 2022, the TACMC (Tanforan Assembly Center Memorial Committee) unveiled a bronzed statue of two little girls who were en route to Tanforan based on a photograph taken by Dorothea Lange, a photojournalist who’s well known for the photos she took during the Great Depression.
In 1964, a fire destroyed Tanforan racetrack and the racetrack’s 65 year history came to an unexpected tragic end. Seven years after the tragic fire destroyed Tanforan Racetrack, the shopping mall we know today was built on the grounds of where Seabiscuit once raced.
Within a year of the mall opening their doors to the public, a statue of Seabiscuit was erected at Tanforan to honor the thoroughbred who was stabled at Tanforan Racetrack. Tanforan Mall has been in operation since 1971, and boasts a wide selection of retail stores such as Target, JC Penny, Journey’s, as well as dinning options such as Chipotle, Panda Express, and Sarku Japan.
After serving the community, and Bay Area residents for more than thirty years, the land Tanforan Mall stands on was bought by Alexandria Real Estate, a Southern California based real estate company who plans on converting Tanforan Mall into a biotech campus, as well as housing. The location is close to the freeway, as well as public transportation, such as BART and SamTrams, which serves San Mateo County and part of San Francisco.
Tanforan Mall has such a rich, and controversial history and is an integral part of the community, serving families since 1971. Many community members have fond memories of shopping here, but not every shopper is aware of how it was once an assembly center that housed individuals who had done nothing wrong, but were being persecuted on the sole basis of their ancestry.
By acquiring the land the mall currently stands on, Alexandria Real Estate is doing more than just transforming a shopping center into a biotech campus, it is further changing the history of the land that once was home to a racetrack, an assembly center, and presently a mall.
Change is ever present in the Bay Area, a region that is known for innovation, so it just makes sense that Tanforan Mall is evolving from a galleria to a biotech firm.
Ileana Guillen/The Skyline View
Football, baseball, and basketball. The big three I like to call them. If anything we can even include soccer in there as well. Something that these sports all have in common is their heavy representation in mainstream media. On a typical night out with friends hitting up your local Wingstop, or Dave & Busters, these are the sports blown up on their massive TV screens.
However, it’s time to step away from all that light and dwell into darkness. Actually, it’s not all that dark, it really depends on the alley you step into. A bowling alley that is.
Bowling was a strike of success in the 1950s and 1960s of the U.S. Its popularity owes thanks to the introduction of the automatic pinspotter. Instead of a manual set-up, people didn’t have to wait anymore for their pins to reset. Thus, making bowling bloom into a popular sport. Bowling alleys were even open 24 hours because of its huge success. In fact, this concept is somewhat still alive to this day.
Local bowling alleys such as: Sea Bowl, Hometown Bowl, and Classic Bowling Center all adopt a similar late night fun vibe with hours up until 2 a.m. While Sea Bowl is unfortunately shutting down on May 31, 2023, it’s still an awesome place to check out for bowling like the other alleys.
Hometown bowl specifically is a late night spot. Among the three, it’s the dimmest location for nighttime play,
offering various neon lights and signs. It’s the perfect place for those who enjoy that nightclub aesthetic. And besides bowling, it even has a mini arcade or pool tables that anyone can use if they wanted to try a different activity.
Classic Bowling Center really lives up to its name as everything about it truly feels like the “classics.” Having been open since 1985, it still sells that retro bowling alley style. Darlina Monteverde, a CSM alumni, works at Classic and has a lot to say on this vintage spot.
“I’ve worked at Classic for like three or four years now and it used to be crazy.” Monteverde says. “There used to be these nights called ‘Dollar nights’ and we would be open until 2 a.m. But some of my regulars said that Classic used to be even open for 24 hours.”
Housing over 60 playable lanes, it’s one of the bigger alleys out there. There’s practically a spot open for anyone. Michael Santos, a second-year respiratory care major, started bowling at Classic in the summer of 2021. What started as a fun activity with friends eventually became a passion of his.
“I’ve met some of my closest friends from bowling at Classic. They’re also my mentors and helped me improve my bowling.” Santos says. “Seeing myself improve honestly made me really happy and I got the confidence to join league.”
Both Classic Bowling Center and Sea Bowl have the entertainment aspects that Hometown holds, but their lanes hold competitive play as well. With leagues happening nearly every night, bowlers come in weekly to compete against each other.
“I joined my first league at the end of 2021, but now I bowl almost every day since I’m in four different leagues. I also
just try to practice a lot.” Santos says. Among the leagues that Michael bowls are also two junior leagues. From kids ranging from 6-yearolds all the way to 21-year-olds, junior leagues allow kids to have fun, but also compete to improve their skills and earn scholarships.
Tiana Cruz, a first-year biology major, is one of Santos’ teammates and has been bowling at classic for about ten years now.
“It was all fun at first but I got uninterested after my freshman year because I was doing other school activities.” Cruz explains. “But I got back into it in my senior year because I wanted to bowl competitively.”
Bowling became an outlet that these teammates grew to love. While both of them have very different journeys, in the end, it all led them to appreciate the sport of bowling.
“Bowling really made my mental game stronger and social skills better.” Cruz says. “My self-esteem has gone up and hopefully I’ll be able to make it far one day and end up on TV representing the Filos of Daly City.”
With both Michael and Tiana, including their third teammate, Christian Chan, an upcoming student at Skyline, they are just one part of the vibrant Filipino culture thriving at Classic. As a matter of fact, leagues cultivate a flourishment of cultures ranging from senior leagues, Japanese leagues, Chinese leagues, and LGBTQ+ leagues.
Although bowling isn’t widely recognized in the mainstream world of sports, it’s a sport that anyone can enjoy. Whether it’s for competitive play, or simply leisure among a group of friends, bowling will always be a relic of a time period that remains undying. So, spare yourself the time, split a game with friends, and go bowl some strikes.
“I love being able to watch good players perform well and play in entertaining matches.”
“There is nothing like the hype of the crowd and the beautiful coordination.”
“Watching players work together and their footwork skills are my favorite parts.”
“It’s so cool to see the crowds and fans so into the matches.”
From the electric chants of the crowd to the energy on the pitch, professional soccer is an event like no other.
With the superstar talent, passionate fan bases, and iconic clubs and stadiums, this sport delivers unrivaled amounts of entertainment and excitement to viewers all over the world. Soccer is popular everywhere, but it thrives in Europe, with rooting for your hometown team basically being a way of life.
In the United States, the game of soccer is not nearly as beloved as sports such as American football and basketball, but its popularity is certainly growing.
Lynn Kyaw, a student at Skyline, has been a fan of professional soccer ever since he was young.
“I used to play soccer myself, so I know that the game is challenging,” Kyaw said. “That makes it enjoyable to watch these teams competing so hard to get a trophy or a position.”
Soccer is undoubtedly a difficult and tiring game. That is recognized and respected by fans all over.
Another student at Skyline, Brandon Campanelli, knows the energy it takes for soccer players to play, and that contributes to the reason why he loves watching the game so much.
“Playing pickup soccer games
will make you appreciate the athleticism it takes to play at the highest level,” Campanelli said.
Another compelling aspect to soccer is how many different leagues and teams there are. There are always different matches and tournaments going on which can keep you interested in the sport at all times.
An anonymous survey was conducted around Skyline to find out which leagues students paid the most attention to. The Premier League seems to be the most popular among students here, which is the highest level of the English football league system, and generally regarded as the most talented league of them all.
The Champions League was another popular answer, which is an annual tournament consisting of the top teams in each of the high-level European leagues.
Campanelli loves tuning in to the Champions League since it includes the best teams and talent in Europe, but he also loves paying attention to Ligue 1, which is the primary league in France.
“I enjoy watching Ligue 1, and I root for Marseille,” Campanelli said. “I love their jerseys and how passionate their fanbase is. Plus, Alexis Sanchez is the best Chilean player ever, and he’s a great veteran for the team.”
Kyaw has a different set of leagues that he mainly tunes into, and he has his own favorite teams and players.
“I mainly watch the Premier League and Spain’s La Liga,” Kyaw said. “Overall, I root for PSG, and Lionel Messi is one of my favorite players.”
Soccer is clearly a beloved sport, even though it is not as popular as others in America. There will always be fans of the game here, and those fans are die-hard for the sport.
“The global competition is the coolest part about soccer,” Campanelli said. “There’s no sport that comes close to international popularity.”
There are so many aspects to this game that make it such an entertaining event to watch. The passionate fans, worldclass players, and action-packed matches make this game what it is, and it is something that can never be replaced.
“If you’re new to watching professional soccer, I would recommend finding a reason to root for a team, even if it’s as shallow as liking the jersey,” Campanelli said. “You might actually start loving the team.”
Soccer is more than a game. It is a cultural experience that ignites passion, energy, and pride.
“Playing pickup soccer games will make you appreciate the athleticism it takes to play at the highest level.”
- Brandon Campanelli
There’s almost no doubt you can remember the last time you drank clean, uncontaminated water without having to do much except turn a faucet. More than likely, it didn’t even process through your head to worry that the water could’ve been dirty or contaminated.
The global water crisis is an issue that plagues millions, according to the UN in 2019 just over two billion people lack access to “safely managed drinking services,” which was roughly 28% of the global population at the time.
Thirst Project is a charity that aims to end that crisis and for the last 15 years, they’ve been in the good fight to provide over 500,000 people with safe drinking water.
However, let’s go back 15 years to the summer of 2008. The origin of the Thirst Project. Seth Maxwell, the founder of Thirst Project was a 19-year-old college student in Los Angeles. After learning about the global water crisis and just how many people it affected. Maxwell gathered seven of his closest friends and hit the streets, handing out bottles of water for free to get people to talk to them on Hollywood Boulevard. In just three days from learning about the crisis to talking to strangers on the street in LA. Maxwell had managed to turn those three days into 15 years of Thirst Project changing lives.
Maxwell and his friends thought they were finished after those three days. People gave back for the bottles they took and they managed to make $1,700 to fund rehabilitation for a freshwater well. In the days after their success on Hollywood Boulevard people started calling them, asking them to come speak at various schools about the water crisis.
Thirst Project was born from one single moment that changed Maxwell’s life. In the 15 years since, the organization has changed hundreds of thousands of lives. They’ve held active projects in 13 different countries and are currently active in four.
The global water crisis deprives those who suffer from it more than just their health. It takes away their lives, education and so much more. Thirst Project has documented thousands of stories over the years of women and children who have to walk nearly four miles to nearby water sources only to bring back contaminated water. In the hours it can take to retrieve water for their families women and children miss out on opportunities for education better jobs, and even better lives.
Think about the last time you took a four-mile hike or the last time you walked from your house to the other side of your town. Imagine having to do that walk every day to obtain a basic human need that might not even be safe to use. It’s hard to imagine that being your reality, but the truth is that for millions of people, that is their reality.
Fixing the global water crisis is a daunting task, but not an impossible one. Thirst Project isn’t tackling this issue alone. Throughout their work, they’ve learned that students are a driving power in changing the world. After talking to over half a million students
about the crisis they’ve seen one of the most powerful waves of change makers in their lives. Their goal is to end the water crisis with this generation of students and create a better tomorrow.
In response to an inquiry by The Skyline View, VP of Marketing and Partnerships Luke Romick stated that “Inspiring, empowering & activating young people is core to our missions at Thirst Project & Legacy Youth Leadership. We truly believe that you have everything you need, right this moment to make a difference on any issue that you care about and we’re living proof of it. Led by an extremely young staff, supported by an army of student ambassadors and ripe with passion for helping every generation leave this planet better than they found it.”
Romick shows a drive and passion for Thirst Project that’s only rivaled by his colleagues and the generations of students they’ve empowered for change.
“Together, this generation, everyone alive today WILL be the ones to end this. WE will be the ones to push the water crisis into the history books. We invite you to learn more here and join us.”
-Thirst Project’s Mission Statement
“Over a decade ago, our Founder Seth Maxwell spoke at my High School in the middle of rural Ohio and my life was changed - truly. To be made aware of such a massive global issue that didn’t get a second of nightly news yet was so easy to solve - I pretty much dedicated my time & summers at college and my entire professional career thus far to supporting our mission of bringing safe, clean water to those who need it most. I couldn’t be prouder to be living proof of the inspiring work that young people across globe are doing to end the water crisis with Thirst Project.”
“As a 16 year old high school student who didn’t think I had the power to make a significant difference in this world, Thirst Project quickly taught me otherwise. Now, at 22, I have the ability to mentor students in their fundraising efforts to help end the water crisis and teach them the same lesson I once learned. Being a part of a movement of young people working together to help provide clean water to those who don’t have access to it will continue to inspire me each and every day.”
“It’s the highest calling, the greatest responsibility, and the ultimate privilege. Working to provide access to a basic human right that sustains lif, in a world where 700 million people lack access, there aren’t many other ways to better invest my time.”
In light of their work with students, Thirst Project set off to create a generation of world changers. They’ve inspired students to start their own movements and not just tackle the water crisis, but issues that meant the world to them as well. In 2016, a movement started behind the scenes of the Thirst Project. That movement would later be known as Thirst Projects’ sister charity Legacy Youth Leadership, a nonprofit student activism organization designed to uplift students into creating their own change in the world. It officially launched in 2020 and to date has engaged with over two million students across the world.
Legacy Youth Leadership has helped students both online and in their schools through their programs. They offer online courses designed to help students improve their skills and turn their dreams of change into a reality. It’s a reminder that although the world may seem troubled and dark at times, there are people wanting to fight to make it a better place.
Thirst Project and Legacy Youth Leadership may be different organizations, but their end goal is the same. The goal of making a better tomorrow, of creating a generation of world changers. The story of both charities is inspirational and it’s a legacy to create a better world for the future. It’s an encouragement to chase your dreams and change the world the way you want to. After all, Seth Maxwell was no older than you when he learned about the water crisis. His determination started a movement that has affected millions. If he can do that, what’s stopping you?
Whether your passion is solving the global water crisis, ending discrimination, or any other matter of things. The fact of the matter is this, you’re living in a generation that will not take no for an answer. We’re in a world where the youth will no longer sit and wait to be pushed around. They’re here to take action, to solve the problems of the past. Thirst Project and Legacy Youth Leadership are standing with us as they change the world. If you ever think you can’t or need help, see what they have to offer and what they have to say. They may just believe in you even if no one else will.
Editors note: Graham Breitbarth has worked with the Thirst project over the last four years of his life. Photo Courtesy of Legacy Youth Leadership2014: Thirst Project raises more than $1,000,000 in a single year for the first time
2019: 10th Annual Thirst Gala raises more than $400K for the first time while celebrating Thirst Projects 10th anniversary
2019: Thirst Project teams up with cast of Mean Girls to raise funds for a clean water project resulting in over 800 donors
2020: Legacy Youth Leadership is officially created and begins helping students world wide
2023: To date Thirst Project has raised over $14M funding over 3,400 clean water projects for over 500K people
By Danielle Cosino Social Media Editor
In a world where you can have an abundance of negative things in your life, the concept of “TwoMany” serves as a reminder that you can never have too much positivity.
This abundance of positivity, like support and love, is what drives Skyline student and entrepreneur Albert Jacob Colendres (Jacob) to continue to grow and improve as an entrepreneur, and strive to expand his businesses.
Growing up, Jacob knew that he always wanted to be his own boss but never considered becoming an entrepreneur.
“I didn’t know that business and entrepreneurship was an opportunity for me until my sister started her own business,” Colendres stated.
It was the beginning of the pandemic and everyone was stuck at home. Like most people during quarantine, Jacob spent his days sleeping in or playing video games.
When his older sister started a small business selling keychains, Jacob realized that he wanted to do something positive and productive for himself. After witnessing the success of his sister’s business, that gave Colendres the final push to start one of his own.
“The way she ran her business really inspired me to follow in her footsteps,” Colendres said. “The way that she went about making her stuff, and the hard work I saw her put in, kind of rubbed off on me.”
In August 2020 during his senior year of high school, Colendres launched his first small business on Instagram: TwoManyPearls.
Pearl necklaces were on the rise throughout social media at the time, so Jacob decided to take advantage of this upcoming fashion trend. This pearl trend, plus his love for fashion, resulted in TwoManyPearls becoming a jewelry business dedicated to selling pearl accessories.
TwoManyPearls was run entirely by Jacob on Instagram. From the getgo, he wanted that business to be his own thing.
Colendres admitted that he threw himself into the deep end when starting TwoManyPearls. He didn’t have a logo created or a website when his business initially launched; however,
he knew he had this vision for himself when stepping into the entrepreneurial industry.
“I have a picture in my head of where I want to be, so I always chase that success.”
He marketed and promoted TwoManyPearls by word of mouth through social media. He encouraged his close friends to repost TwoManyPearls’ content onto their own personal Instagram pages.
“I found out about TwoManyPearls during the pandemic off of my friends’ posts on social media,” said TwoManyPearls customer John Macahilas.
Eventually, Jacob established a giveaway system to promote his business, which turned out to be a very successful method in gaining engagement.
“It just snowballs. Once people see free things, they might as well join in for that opportunity,” Colendres stated.
Another customer, Kayla Devila, was a winner of these giveaways.
“I won an all-white pearl necklace, and upon arrival, the jewelry was not only as presented and described, but also the packaging was well-thought out,” Devila stated.
Building trust and creating a personalized connection with his customers was really important to Colendres.
Danielle Cosino/The Skyline ViewA lot of thought and care went into the entire process of producing an order, from creating the necklace to delivering it. Each pearl accessory was handmade by Jacob himself, and
each order was either hand-delivered or shipped with a personalized thank you note.
The dedication that Colendres put into his business didn’t go unnoticed by his customers.
Customer Daniel Urista stated, “I had made a request for some green pearls and even though he didn’t have them in stock he went above and beyond to get pearls that matched my description and even sent me images of trial pairs to make sure the final product was up to par with what I had in mind.”
Another fellow customer, Maya Gemora, stated, “He’s such a hard worker and has genuine intentions so I knew I had to support. He also consistently recognizes his customers by reposting them showing his appreciation for their support.”
Although Colendres ran TwoManyPearls independently, that doesn’t mean he was always doing things alone. There is a huge support system of family, friends and mentors behind his success so far.
Jacob is part of CIPHER (Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education & Research), a learning community offered at Skyline College which provides educational experiences for students who are interested in hiphop culture.
The courses offered under CIPHER are general education courses built in the context of hip-hop. Additionally, the learning community has partnered up with Skyline’s business division to incorporate business courses into CIPHER.
Nate Nevado, the founder of CIPHER, explained that “Part of it is really because many students that we serve in CIPHER hip-hop learning community, a vast majority of them are business and entrepreneurship students.”
Nevado has been an important
and influential person in Jacob’s entrepreneurial journey. Nevado has expressed his joy of having Jacob be a part of CIPHER and watching him grow as an entrepreneur.
“In the future, he’s going to be one of our greatest success stories,” stated Nevado.
“This is someone who’s so creative and so innovative. He doesn’t allow himself to be boxed in by society. He understands the importance of breaking through those boxes, reinventing the box, or eliminating the box.”
Business Professor Soledad McCarthy is another influential person whom Jacob has turned to for guidance and support.
“When I was still doing TwoManyPearls, I asked for her help,” Colendres said. “She really broke down how
much I’m worth, how much I should be putting out my products for because when I was doing it at first, I didn’t really take that into account.”
McCarthy describes Colendres as a “true entrepreneur.”
“He has that hustle mentality and is open to suggestions. He doesn’t take things too personally and adjusts things as needed.”
This support system is a main motivator for Jacob, providing him with that abundance of positivity in his life–the whole concept behind “TwoMany”.
Something Colendres had always wanted to do coming out of high school was to create a clothing brand. With the skills and experiences that he gained from taking business courses, being a student of CIPHER and from running TwoManyPearls, Colendres felt that it was time to branch out. Towards the end of 2022, he started a new business venture, TwoManyStudios.
“A lot of my professors really influence me [in] a lot of ways and I couldn’t be in the position that I’m
in to drop my first collection without having those experiences, without being able to take those and implement it into my life.”
The first ever drop of TwoManyStudios is the “Guardian Angel” t-shirt, inspired by his faith. It’s a simple black tee with the clothing brand’s logo on the front and a pair of angel wings with a cross spread across the entire back.
“Every time I look at it, it symbolizes the guardian angel for me. Something’s gonna always be there to protect me, something’s gonna always be there to keep me going in the right path and keep me motivated, and keep me strong. Every time I look at it, I get that motivation to keep going. That’s what I want people to experience throughout the shirt.”
Colendres expressed that he will be running TwoManyStudios entirely different from the way he ran TwoManyPearls.
“I’m taking a step back. I’m actually having a process throughout the stuff that I do and the stuff that I post. That’s why I’m not really as active as I was on TwoManyPearls. I wanna make sure that the stuff I put out
is quality, and it’s true to myself. If the process takes longer than TwoManyPearls, it’s fine with me.”
However, two things will stay the same: Jacob’s commitment to creating products that’s true to himself, and building and maintaining a personal connection with his supporters and customers.
Many of his customers from TwoManyPearls know about TwoManyStudios and are looking forward to what Colendres has in store.
“I’ve heard of his clothing brand! I would purchase a product from it, as I believe in his vision and think that the quality he produces is really well-made.” said customer Kayla Devila.
While TwoManyStudios is a new chapter in Jacob’s entrepreneurial journey and in the world of TwoMany, it doesn’t mean that it will be the last.
“As an entrepreneur, opportunities are endless,” Colendres stated.
“The job will never be finished for me. I’m just hungry to keep producing, keep moving forward with whatever I want to do, keep being creative, and also teach the
younger generation that it’s possible.”
Since he was surrounded by counselors and professors who served as a beacon of guidance and inspiration, Colendres wants to become that same beacon to those who are looking into becoming entrepreneurs and stepping into the business industry.
One piece of advice Colendres would give to an aspiring entrepreneur is, “Don’t feel rushed. I know that you want to see results. You want to keep working hard, and I definitely say that keep working hard because hard work is what’s going to get you there. Everything takes time. It’s a process, so trust yourself, trust the grind.”
“If you want to expand, go ahead. If you want to pivot and move to a different direction, by all means do it because, like I said, trusting yourself is more important than limiting yourself and not doing what you love. If you do love what you’re doing, if you have that passion for it, then nothing’s going to stop you.”
Jacob wants to serve as a reminder that it is possible, and hopes that his story will inspire others to tell their stories and be who they want to be.
By Kathia Noriega Sports Editor
“I feel like Starbucks uses more sugar and so it’s usually sweeter. Which isn’t a bad thing, I just personally prefer a less sweet beverage.”
- Marci Garcia
Philz and Starbucks.
Two coffee shops with the same business ventures but two completely different brands.
Starbucks is a staple of the morning coffee run for many coffee lovers. Since the grand opening at their first location in Seattle Pike Place Market in 1971, Starbucks has been able to cement a reputation as a great, commercially successful coffee chain, selling an average of 8,070,428 cups of coffee a day.
However in January 2003, Philz had their grand opening in the Mission District of San Francisco. What started as a small business in the Bay Area, now has coffee lovers across the country preferring Philz Coffee drinks over the popular Starbucks Coffee.
The average college student might begin drinking coffee due to the amount of hours they put into their schoolwork each semester. It is used to help them stay awake for longer periods of time.
Skyline student, Kirsten Perez, prefers to drink Starbucks coffee. In fact, Perez was drinking a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino during her interview. She explains that she prefers to drink a more sugary coffee every so often, but she doesn’t consider herself a coffee drinker.
“I only go to Starbucks when I go to school and that’s only twice a week,” Perez said. “I’m not addicted to coffee, I just get it whenever I need a drink.”
Moreover, prior to her interview, she wasn’t familiar with Philz whatsoever. She prefers to go to Starbucks because it’s everywhere
and more convenient for her to grab a quick refreshing fix, whether that’s in the form of a strawberry frappuccino or a mocha macchiato.
Skyline student Mari Garcia likes to drink both tea and coffee. However, she prefers to make tea at home every morning, and sometimes likes to drink a coffee later in the day if she needs.
She explains that her preference is Philz coffee because it’s less sweet and more robust in flavor.
“I feel like Starbucks uses more sugar and so it’s usually sweeter,” Garcia said. “Which isn’t a bad thing, I just personally prefer a less sweet beverage.”
Ellie Grubb actually works at Philz and really enjoys her experience there because of the environment and good energy that it brings. She explains that they use more pure ingredients compared to Starbucks. She mentioned that Philz uses more natural sugars such as honey instead of caramel syrups.
She enjoys more coffee than tea, but she still really loves to drink chamomile and other coffees throughout the day during her shifts.
Her passion for working at Philz really shines through when she talks about how much she prefers their natural ingredients and the process of making a good cup of coffee.
“For me it just seemed like a better choice as of what I’m putting in my body,” Grubb said. “Personally I like the taste more, I feel like it just tastes more flavorful.”
She explains how Philz makes drip coffee, which means they use fresh beans, grind them and then filter the beans through coffee filters. A more natural way of making coffee.
Clearly, both Philz and Starbucks Coffee have cornered the Bay Area coffee drinking market in their own respective ways. While some consumers prefer the more potent coffee blends that Philz offers, others take advantage of the quick and convenient accessibility that Starbucks is known for.
Bakery menu
Starbucks breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, egg bites, plain bagels, everything bagel, cake pops, sandwiches, protein boxes
Philz plain bagels, everything bagel, blueberry muffin, butter croissant, chocolate croissant, cinnamon roll, fruit danish, banana bread, traditional kouign amann, almond croissant, etc
Coffee blends
Starbucks
Different levels of decaf espresso roast, blonde espresso roast, decaf espresso roast, and signature espresso roast
Philz
Darker blendscardamom, herbs, tobacco, walnut, cherry, etc.
Medium blendshazelnut, chocolate, vanilla, etc. Light blends - cherry, floral, grape, etc.
Seasonal drinks
Starbucks
Summer - pineapple passion fruit refreshers, paradise drink
Fall - pumpkin spice latte, other pumpkin flavors
Holidays - peppermint mocha, caramel brulee latte, chestnut praline latte, toasted white chocolate mocha, iced sugar cookie almond, etc.
Philz
No seasonal drinks
Ingredients Starbucks
Prices Starbucks average $6 Philz average $6
Starbucks
You earn one star per dollar, but if you preload and pay using your Starbucks card, you earn two stars per dollar.
Philz
Doesn’t currently have a loyalty program
By Alex Gonzalez
Movie theaters have dramatically lost their popularity in recent years, causing economic hardship for the industry. For decades, going to the movie theaters has been an activity enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s seen as a time to bond with family and friends over our similar interests in movies, or simply unwind after a long week.
However, this tradition has been slowly fading away, and is in serious danger of not existing at all in the near future. This leaves with the question of why exactly are movie theaters suffering in the first place.
The movie theater experience has quickly gone downhill due to ongoing recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, competition with streaming services, and an overpriced experience. The ramifications of coronavirus were felt through all the industries in the world, with movie theaters not being an exception to this.
According to CNN.com, Regal cinemas has decided to close 39 theaters across the country this year, with 11 of them being in California.
This comes after its parent company, Cineworld, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. On the other hand, fellow movie theater giants Cinemark have been able to slowly build their way back up in terms of revenue, with around a 200 million dollar increase in revenue since 2021.
However, it’s still projected that this spike still won’t be able to fully make up for the losses endured during the pandemic. The movie theater industry was one that had already been seeing a decrease in overall sales in prior years,
with the pandemic only seemingly sealing it’s fate.
When paired up with the fact that streaming services have been dominant in recent years, it makes more sense why movie theaters have been left in the dust as of late.
With options from Netflix, disney plus, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and more, it’s getting increasingly more difficult for people to be convinced that going out to a movie theater is the better option.
In fact, Prime Video even has their own section of movies that where films that are still showing in theaters are available for streaming only days after their initial release.
This leaves many wondering why they would even think that leaving the comfort of their own home is the better option.
The overall pricing difference between the two also doesn’t necessarily help the cause for movie theaters.
Sure streaming service subscription costs can accumulate very quickly, but it may be a more beneficial investment in the long run. You’re paying to have access to hundreds of movies and TV shows, while the selection of current movie theater options don’t always compare.
For example, the average price for a single ticket at a movie theater in the US is $11.75. This doesn’t include concessions, with a small bag of popcorn alone coming in at an average price of $10. This can add up in a hurry, especially when you go out with friends and family.
In comparison, a Prime Video subscription is going to cost you $8.99 a month. This allows you to watch the latest movies from wherever you’d like, without having to pay extra for snacks.
This wouldn’t of even been a debate even a couple of years ago, but with the quick advancement of streaming services, it’s gotten harder for some to justify paying for movie tickets.
Going to the movies will always be a tradition cherished by millions of people across the country, no matter the circumstances. Movie theaters are still going to be the more viable option for many across the world. Some people don’t have access to an internet connection at home for streaming services, so going to a movie theater may be their only option.
However, when both options are on the table, it’s pretty easy to see why movie theaters continue to struggle.
By Lesieli Petelo Reporter
For many college students, spending time on their phones or other handheld screens is a normal part of daily life but, recent findings suggest that too much screen time could be taking a toll on college students’ mental health - and that spending time in nature might be the key to feeling better. But college students are just part of a larger whole.
The pandemic forced many college students to spend more time in front of their screens, which then raised concerns about the mental well-being of students, especially during such a remote and technology-driven period. High screen time exposure, defined as more than six hours daily, is associated with worse quality of life, particularly in mental and social health. The lack of a standard definition for high screen time among young adults highlights the need to better understand the impact of screen time on college students’ mental health, and how it varies with different levels of exposure. As screen time may compete with time spent outside or in restorative environments, understanding the interaction between screen time and green time on mental health is also essential for promoting optimal health for college students according to a study published by the Journal of American College Health titled “Screen time and mental health in college students.
Time in nature as a protective factor”[1]. Such timely information further highlights the importance of addressing the impact of screen time on the mental health of college students. Furthermore, the very same study conducted by Deyo et al. sampled 372 college students and later suggested “that too much screen time could lead to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. However, spending time in nature - or “green time” - was found to have a protective effect against these mental health symptoms.”
Deyo et al. reasoned that “while different studies have used different criteria to define high screen time, there is a clear need for a better understanding of how screen time affects college students’ mental health, as well as how screen time interacts with other factors like time spent outdoors or in restorative environments.”
“In recent years, the amount of time spent on handheld screens, or ‘screen time,’ has risen sharply due to advances in technology and the popularity of social media,” contended Dayo et al. in their article findings.
However, there is an invaluable need for further research to fully understand the complex effects of increased screen time during the pandemic, and the association of green time as a protective factor.
Professor of Psychology at the College of San Mateo, Dr. Erica Yoon, echoed her concerns regarding the credibility of the study if it is not supported with additional similar research.
Yoon raised concerns about the association between increased screen time and adverse mental health or other conditions, as well as the potential impact of social and economic factors on screen time use.
“We need to be careful in terms of making any claims that are causal, what is causing another and then to think about whether the green time that they think about is specifically about nature, per se, or if it just has to do with exercise in general that doesn’t need to be linked to the literature directly,” said Yoon.
Yet, Yoon does agree with the study’s claim about the negative impact of screen time on college student’s mental health. However, she cautioned that the research on this topic is mixed, and it is challenging to control variables in studies to determine causality accurately.
“While the study’s claim may be consistent with previous research, it is essential to interpret the results with caution,” said Yoon.
Moreover, additional CSM faculty and students stress personal concerns about the effects of screens on mental health, and whether the literature provided by Deyo et al. is enough to be supported.
Gil Perez, a personal counselor for the College of San Mateo, examined the relationship between the two variables while remaining critical of the study’s findings.
“There is that association between not just more screen time that is adversely affecting the mental health, but also it could be the other way around, where it’s the adverse mental health or other conditions that are affecting screen use. So I think it’s a little bit hard to tell how much we can say about it now,” said Perez.
While experts weigh in with their observations and critiques of Deyo et al. study, student opinions add a unique lived experience to the conversation about the impact of screen time vs. green time on mental health.
Seini Petelo, a second-year student at CSM reflected on their lived experiences as a college student who graduated during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think college students are on their screens a lot in order to avoid living with the reality that their lives are about to get more difficult given the way our world is structured,” said Petelo.
“For example, when one is constantly on their phone, they might be exposed to a lot of triggering material and disheartening news and if someone is exposed to that constantly, it can have an effect on their outlook on life subconsciously and result in a lot of stress,” said Petelo.
Petelo’s observation highlights the potential negative effects of constant exposure to triggering material and disheartening news through our phones, and this issue is particularly relevant as we navigate a post-pandemic world where remote and technology-driven lifestyles have become the norm for many college students.
As the world navigates past the pandemic that has forced all to adapt to remote and technology-driven lifestyles, it is crucial not to neglect conversations revolving around the impact of increased screen time on college students’ mental health. The study conducted by Deyo et al. sheds light on the negative effects of high screen time on mental well-being and the protective effects of spending time in nature.
However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the complex relationship between screen time and mental health. As we continue to navigate this new normal, it is imperative to prioritize our mental health and seek a balance between screen time and “green time.”
“I do agree with [Deyo et al.], that screen time has negative impacts on college students’ mental health, but I do think there is some nuance to this conversation,” said CSM Student Lisa Nguyen.
Danielle Cosino/The Skyline ViewStudies have shown that college students with more than 5 hours of daily mobile screen time have an increased risk of depression symptoms, and high screen time exposure (greater than 6 hours daily) is associated with worse quality of life, particularly in the areas of mental and social health. The lack of a standard definition of "high screen time exposure" for young adults highlights the need for a better understanding of the impact of screen time on mental health and how it varies with different levels of exposure.
Studies that examine the relationships between screen time and green time to college students' mental health lead to specifying whether green time can act as a protective factor in the relationship between screen time and mental health.
Exposure to nature, or "green time," can reduce stress and improve psychological well-being across all ages. Research has shown that exposure to nature is associated with decreased stress and improved mood among college students, and theories suggest that time in nature can result in relaxation and enhanced mindfulness, leading to improved mental health. However, there is less research on the relationship between nature and anxiety or depression in college students.
Exposure to nature, or "green improve psychological well-being has shown that exposure to decreased stress and improved
Green Time and
Studies that examine the relationships green time to college students' mental whether green time can act as relationship between screen
health. The lack of a standard definition for young adults highlights the need impact of screen time on mental health levels of exposure.
A study was conducted during the Spring 2021 semester when the university offered in-person and virtual learning options in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited from the psychology Sona online participant pool and completed online surveys through REDCap™. The study assessed green time, screen time, anxiety, depression, and stress using various self-report questionnaires. The measures were assessed using reliable and valid psychometric properties and were approved by the university's institutional review board. As initially predicted, screen time increased anxiety, depression, and stress in college students, and later suggestions were made promoting green time activities and investing in natural areas on campuses may improve the psychological well-being of students.
SOURCE: Journal of American College Health
By Lesieli Petelo"green time," can reduce stress and well-being across all ages. Research to nature is associated with improved mood among college
and its Impacts
relationships between screen time and mental health lead to specifying as a protective factor in the screen time and mental health.
need for a better understanding of the health and how it varies with different exposure.
"Therefore, it may be beneficial to promote strategies that redirect students to non-screentime related activities."
Dayo, Wallace, and Kidwell's Implications
There is perhaps no form of artwork as accessible as murals. It costs nothing to walk around your neighborhood and take a look at the stories artists present through these pieces.
The subject matter touches on all aspects of the human experience, be it political, familial, religious, and abstract concepts.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, the Mission District experienced a new wave of immigrants, mostly from Mexico. With it came bakers, construction workers, and artists. The works and legacies of these artists are most prominently found in the hundreds of murals across this neighborhood known to locals simply as La Mission .
Immortalized in these murals are local musicians like Carlos Santana, religious icons such as La Virgen de Guadalupe, San Francisco activists and much more.
A combination of President Franklin D Roosevelt’s public works programs featuring art and the explosion of Diego Rivera onto the international scene with his frescoes inspired local artists to create their own works within the
neighborhoods they live in.
In a city constantly seeing demographic changes and gentrification, these murals have stood the test of time, many dating back 50 years if not more. They are more than just murals, but snapshots of different eras, different people and cultures that have left their mark on San Francisco’s working class communities.
From Clarion Alley to 24th and Mission, very few spaces in this part of the city are left untouched by art.
“The importance of public art is not disputable,” muralist Marta Ayala said. “Even if the art does not make any sense, what brings the art home to our hearts and soul is color.”
“Color carries pure energy and by just being near it or looking at it we receive immense benefits,” Ayala added. “Not only creating public art liberates the artist but it liberates the place where it resides as well as the people.”
“Murals have been around for many thousands of years to share stories all over, and many murals have impacted the world by highlighting different social issues,” said Monica Navarro-Marroquín who has also worked on Mission District murals.
“I think it is very important and Clarion alley is very aware of that for protections of artists rights especially when
big corporations are using murals for their financial benefits,” said muralist Keyvan Shovir, who has two murals in Clarion Alley.
The San Francisco Arts Commission says it would be impossible to count how many murals are in the city due to many being on private property but many websites and blogs show exhaustive lists numbering in the hundreds.
Precita Eyes for example, founded in 1977 works to preserve these murals in the Mission and lists a dozen murals created in just the period between 2020 and 2021, during the COVID pandemic. This shows how even during global crisis’ the need for murals perseveres.
“Every one is unique with unique stories in our lives. We have a creative state of mind.also We have a logical state of mind. So tap into the creative mind we should find on our way.” -Keyvan Shovir
“I like to answer this question with a quote from Attar-e- Neyshapoori,Attar is one of the most famous mystic poets of Iran,” Shovir said when asked what he hopes people take away from his murals.
“His works were the inspiration of Rumi and many other mystic poets. هر چه در فهم تو آید همان بود مفهوم تو” “your concept is what you could understand(based on your capacity and understanding and your wisdom),” added Shovir.
“What I’m hoping is that each individual based on their life experiences and their knowledge about what is happening around them , could have empathy and understanding of these issues.”
“Also celebrating their name and their life and spreading their name.this people lost their life because of these issues such as police brutality,women rights and human right.what we need is change.”
“Say her name. Mahsa Amini. Woman , Life , Freedom.”
“In Lake’ch means ‘I am another yourself,’” said Ayala.
“It was meant to be a window for the people to look thru and see nature and to take care of our planet. There are two women made of rocks meaning to hold the trees down to prevent deforestations, there another mountain in the back ground of a woman sleeping and part of her is Caracol the Astronomy site the Mayans had near Chichenitza...”
Ayala’s mural found on 3rd and Mission street, in the middle of the urban densely populated neighborhood offers a look into the nature we often miss living in the city.
“The mural was also intended to be at kid eye level, that is why the animals. The rocks on the right hand side are peyote bulbs and at the bottom a waterfall with the entire Mayan calendar sprockets. It is said that if you look at them , molecular DNA gets awaken to bring us back to the beginning so that we remember our true origins and recuperate our power.”
us back to the beginning so that we remember our true origins and recuperate our power.”
“CAMP is a living narrative of the struggles, victories, and visions forward of and for our communities and sharing our stories in real time,” said Megan Wilson of the Clarion Alley Mural Program.
“The work also provides a powerful vehicle for supporting social/political justice and dismantling intersectional oppression. The space is accessible and open to the public 24/7, creating an environment that is unique and always changing, reflecting the changes happening in our greater world,” added Wilson.
Joshua D. Picazo/The Skyline View In Lake’ch mural by Marta Ayala on 23rd Street and Mission Street
By Gabriel Mendez Freelance Reporter
He always wears a patch patterned flat cap, only taking it off when it’s time to teach. Charles Cecil, or Chuck as he prefers it, is an Anthropology Teacher here at Skyline College, while overall more old fashioned then most others at the college, he is experienced at his job and it shows.
A local boy Chuck grew up in GI housing on Coyote Point. There he attended Burlingame High School and the College of San Mateo. After, he transferred to San Jose State University and then got his Master’s Degree in archeology from San Francisco State University.
When asked why he went down this path, Chuck states, “I was drawn to archeology of ancient cities and peoples.”
His journey began when he was doing archeology in San Jose as a bachelor’s student. “That got me very interested in seeing what was there before.” his curiosity started local but it inevitably took him around the world.
His archeological career took off in the Southwest, where he worked before grad school. His job, excavate any artifacts before a coal mine destroyed it.
“What we were doing was archeology, clearing areas in front of where the coal strip mine was going to work.”
His work on Black Mesa in the Navajo Reservations, helped preserve history. From there he worked at San Jose State, working on a field school studying ancient structures in Hovenweep Utah.
“It’s a massive set of canyons with stone towers and such in them… Why would you put an absolutely vertical stone tower on a large boulder in the bottom of the canyon and make it four or five stories high?”
“Did you figure out the answer to that question?” I asked him.
“No.” he told me with a chuckle. That’s the thing you got to like about Chuck, he’s always in a good mood. The day to day grind can be exhausting, but he keeps on smiling. It can be a great pick me up for any student that sees him walk into class. I know it’s helped me at least.
He then finally got his Masters degree, in a most spectacular way. He worked on the ruins of a Mayan City.
“The maps from my thesis were the basis for an archeological park in El Salvador… The original footsteps so to speak.” For those who dread having to sit at a desk writing an essay on your laptop for days on end, here’s a possible alternative.
Despite his grand travels, he stays humble about the entire thing.
“For me its always been about expanding knowledge for people”
If you’re in the mood for the more recently deceased, Chuck’s got something for that too. He had a long career as a Forensic Anthropologist helping identify dead bodies so that they can be brought to their loved ones. “I did it from about 1985 to 2022.”
In addition to this important work Cecil was employed to help with the investigating of some of the most notorious serial killers in California.
He worked on the investigations on Dorthea Fuentes in Sacramento. Along with other killings done by an infamous duo.
“Charles Ng and Leonard Lake, these serial killers in San Francisco, who would take people, families, young families up to Calaveras County…” These people would then. “kill the man and children and keep the women as sex slaves until they got tired of them and killed them.”
Gabriel MendezHowever what might have been his most impactful case happened out of country.
“While I was at the museum, I was contacted by the medical examiner of el salvador and supreme court of el salvador and was asked if I would be available if I could help them with some massacre sights with the civil war that had been going on.”
His work with the United Nations on what is known as the El Mozote Massacre is a case of international importance. I find it best to let him tell you the story.
“It was a sight that had about 1,000 people in this village, and they were for the most part whipped out by the army. And I still haven’t figured out why.”
He was sent down by The Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, so he could train people how to do the necessary archeological work needed to figure out what had happened. He recalls arriving on the site and discovering that the pits dug had turned out nothing. So he examined the buildings in the area.
“I turned around to a burned out house right there, and looked down and saw the head of a humorous, you know the upper arm bone, the bone there with the bullet hole in it.” The bodies of the villagers had been burned.
“After we excavated the room we came up with 96 what we would call clusters of cranial bones… It showed that individuals were deceased when brought in there, and they were laid down in there and it looked like then machine gunned and then some kind of accelerant thrown on them and then grenades thrown in the room…basically cremated in there.”
His work was a hard but necessary part of uncovering the truth.
Chuck’s life can be an exciting time to listen to, and he’s a good teacher to have. Although, admittedly he is behind on the newer technologies. That being said he’s more than just
a teacher whose class can check a box on your graduation requirements. It’s a proof of concept for what a Community College student can do. Skyline College is just the starting point for our adventure, and we can take it around the world.
Gabriel Mendez Chimpanzee Skeleton Replica bening desplayed to the class Gabriel Mendez A human skeleton replica used for educational purposes.
