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May 20, 2016
ACADEMICS
Stagg Line Senior Edition
Soft-spoken scholar seeks tech First generation Latino pursues career in computers and technology JOANN SAGARAL
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is mother, his model of persistence, is the reason he strives for knowledge. Miguel Vega is a young man aspiring to become one of the great innovators that will shape the future of technology. He is part of a growing percentage of Latinos pursuing a STEM career. Due to his early exposure to technology, he has been inspired to become a part of the lucrative field known as computer science. Vega has already been accepted into the University of Pacific. He is content with staying in Stockton near his family. This will be the first-time that anyone from his family will attend a postsecondary institution. Moving to America was something for which Vega’s mother had sacrificed high school. She held multiple jobs, sometimes simultaneously. Through her experiences, she emphasized the value of education. Labor-worn and reflective, she told her eldest son, “In order to have a stable paying job, you need education. If you want a happy life, you need this stability.” The family began their stay in this country at humble means, residing with
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Political involvement inspires academic path for Garcia-Espino ROSA GARCIA Who knew picking up a paper off the floor could be a starting point for someone’s career path? It’s easy to let a great opportunity be tossed into the garbage, but sometimes it's worth taking a second look. Ruth Garcia-Espino explained that last year in her history class she threw away a paper off the floor, but after looking at it she realized it was a flyer for an internship. Her interest piqued, in that moment she realized it was a perfect opportunity for her in taking the next step in pursuing her political career. Independently she took the opportunity to email about her interest in the internship, despite feeling discouraged at first, and she waited for a response. Soon enough she was contacted by former council member Dyane Burgos Medina. “When I found out I got accepted that was a starting point,” she said. “I felt accomplished because I had been in clubs," she said, but didn't get involved as I liked to.” Garcia-Espino, third in her class with a 4.21 GPA, has been involved on campus in clubs such as Key Club, where she is the vice president and AVID, where she is the president. After being consumed with AP classes, sports, and community service, Garcia-Espino decided to add another extra-curricular on her plate. She took the opportunity in taking the
next big step in pursuing her goal. She explained how this had opened a lot of doors for her politically and made her aware about the world of politics. In a way, this was her outlet that became a start for something more. She canvassed around multiple precincts in Stockton and worked out of the campaign headquarters for U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, to advocate for key policies and legislation. This exposed a lot of the campaign process to her. “I learned so much,” she said. “It taught me to voice my opinion under any situation.” This pushed her to learn more and to continue finding ways to be involved. She also joined the Young Democrats of San Joaquin County, put together by Susan Talamantes Eggman, a member of the California State Assembly. Through this program she explained that it had exposed her to what government was all about, from bill to law. Also she got the chance to attend the a Democratic state convention in San Jose where she listened to keynote speaker Vice President Joe Biden. Along with visiting the capital, this all sparked more motivation for her in pursuing politics. Currently, she is volunteering for Michael Tubbs' mayoral campaign team. Being a well rounded student doesn’t always come easy, but for Garcia-Espino it's easy when hard work and dedication pays off.
I would try to pass with the bare minimum. Now I put my best effort into the tasks I'm given.”
relatives under the same house until they could afford a place of their own. Luxuries, more specifically electronics, were things that Vega became engaged with. He was the first of his extended family to receive things such as a radio and more importantly, a Nintendo 64. Vega began to enthuse over the technology of tomorrow. Breakthroughs in robotics and nanotechnology have inspired his career choice in computer science and engineering. He was not always confident in his plans. Throughout his high school career, Vega began to confide in his teachers. Instead of being withdrawn, he learned how to open up more to his instructors as well as students. Most of his freshman year was spent by him “trying to find good people” that he could affiliate with. He cannot easily mingle with his peers outside of school mainly because he lives almost 20 miles away. This year, Vega is able to drive, so transportation is no longer a hurdle. The past three years have been strenuous for he was responsible for both his academics and domestic chores. His mother continues to maintain a heavy work schedule, so Vega must also be partially obligated to the upbringing of his younger siblings. Their education is also something he takes a part in, tutoring them regularly whenever he finds the spare time.
Miguel Vega
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOANN SAGARAL
MATH MAGIC
Patino aspires to improve lives through the power of mathematics MATTHEW KIMANI
Most aspiring employees of Google, Oracle, Microsoft and other top tech companies choose to study computer science, computer engineering, cryptographer, or any of the myriad of other subjects that put them in direct contact with computers and their essential functions, but Daniel Patino has chosen a different path. “Engineers, ssthey’re good at the building part, but they’re not good at the mathematical part,” Patino said. “I’d much rather be doing math than trying to build something.” Patino plans to apply his mathematical talent to the study of Applied Math so that he can secure employment as a researcher in one of the many tech firms of Silicon Valley. And while the idea of working for a tech company without having studied computer engineering or a related field may seem counterintuitive, it actually makes perfect sense. “On any research team, you need different fields to come up with the whole picture,” Patino said. “They also need mathematicians to do the mathematical aspects of
all the work. That’s what I want to do.” Patino intends to do the foundational work that is necessary for engineers to do their job, the work that requires a deeper knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of math and science than engineers typically learn. And he’s already got a plan all worked out for it, too. His path begins in San Jose State University and he hopes to take it through UCLA and potentially CalTech on his way to the PhD. “There is a quote I saw one time — ‘If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail,’” Patino said. “I knew that if I didn’t have a plan to get where I wanted to go, I would still be stuck where I am right now, and that’s not what I want.” Patino doesn’t want to
work for just any company, either. He only wants to work for the very best. “Probably Google,” Patino said. “Google’s building the future. That’s what I want to do — the technology of the future.” In this he is motivated more by altruism than by the desire for money and prestige. He sincerely wants to improve people’s lives by making simple, everyday tasks more convenient, and Google, according to Patino, is at the forefront of such technologies. “I like seeing all the new stuff that Google has, and I like helping people,” Patino said. “You can’t not have technology nowadays. I want to find a way to put the two together so that the technology that I help create helps people.” Applied Math is definitely Patino’s dream career, but if it doesn’t meet his expectations, he will “think about changing career options.” He simply cannot envision himself pursuing that career if the classes for it are uninteresting. “I’m still a ways down the road,” Patino said. “Right now, that’s my goal. I’m going to see what happens.”
SPORTS
Stagg Line Senior Edition
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I used to think recruiting was COMMITTED easy, but now I know it’s stressful Three football and takes hard players sign work.” to college - Minot State University Lavante Bushnell
May 20, 2016
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I used to be a king. Now I’m a pioneer.”
Kevin Johnson
- Lewis and Clark University
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Freshman year I used to be a goofball and uncoordinated. But now I’m a team player.” - Sterling University Phillip Strother GRAPHIC BY MARLEENE PHEAV
Hitting home runs from the start
Christina Martinez has overcome obstacles, is eager to continue softball
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MY'KAYLA MOORE
he’s watching. Watching the pitcher. Watching the ball. Anticipating. The ball is thrown, the other team hoping for a strike, but no. That doesn’t happen often when Christina “Brick” Martinez is up to bat. She has been playing pretty much her entire life, but her “moment” finally happened on April 23, 2014, when she hit her first home run in that softball field, which had been built only recently, during a game against McNair. “I didn’t even realize I had hit it out until a little bit afterwards when it was announced,” Martinez said. “I felt so excited, I couldn’t even believe it, to be honest.” Coming from playing travel ball for 10 years, Martinez says she’s always had that work ethic, and starting out on varsity her freshman year, she had always tried to live up to that. “At first, I didn’t think they knew how hard I worked until we actually played our first game. I feel like that's when they actually realized ‘Woah, this freshman's actually really good,’" she said. "It made me push harder, because I wanted to prove myself.” She says it’s not as easy as it looks, though. There's so much more that goes on behind the scenes of these games. Multiple practices and long hours can really take a toll on your body. Not to mention injuries that can occur.
When asked if she had faced any obstacles relating to her not being able to play, Martinez instantly has an answer. “I remember my freshman year, I had broken my arm during a game. I was out for eight months. It was hard for me because I had made the varsity team and in the end I couldn’t even play. It was kind of like a ‘Well, there goes my freshman year’ kind of thing.” She also talks about how it put her in a bit of a slump, because not only was she unable to play, but she felt like she had let people down. Martinez explains how when she had finally gotten out of her slump, she had to go to physical therapy to help her arm get better. She also mentions that she had actually rushed it a bit because she was so eager to get back into the game and play again. Martinez says she loves the fact that people think of her as someone to look to
awesome “to beIt'sable to do
something where you're as passionate about it as I am.” Christina Martinez
Spurlin swims to the next level SATHINA FLORES
From a distance the game looks deceptively graceful and fluid. The players seem to glide through water. The ball skips and moves from one unstretched arm to the next. The spectators can hear the grunts and gasps of the players. But underneath the surface, though, it is a grueling struggle. Parker Spurlin, goalkeeper, plays a vital defensive role. He sees the whole game played out. “I see it play by play, pass by pass," Spurlin said. But what he doesn’t see are the little things underwater or the slick quarrels between players. “My main focus is where the ball is, that’s what I see, I’m always looking for the ball.” Spurlin’s been goal-
ie for two years. “Being goalie, it's the last line of defense,” he said. It also brings the “pressure to be at your best.” It’s the position that got him scouted to play on the Delta College water polo team. Head coach Mike Maroney is not just the water polo coach for Delta but also a referee. As referee he saw him in action. Marcus Sherman, Stagg coach, knows Maroney and was able to get Spurlin in contact with him. “I’m really excited, a little nervous…to where I’m going to fit in all of this,” he said, “but I’m really excited to be in the pool with these guys. They look really good.” He’s expecting to get “one heck of a workout everyday” and push himself to an extent he’s nev-
for inspiration. “It’s awesome to be able to do something where you're as passionate about it as I am. Plus I feel like the fact that people look up to me makes me work 10 times harder. It’s important for me to live up to my ‘legacy,’ I guess, so that people can see that if you try hard enough, you can go beyond the standards that people try to put in your head. I know I did it, and anyone else can as well.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOANN SAGARAL
Hard work pays off for Jasmine Pharms ARACELI VALENCIA
er pushed himself before. “I’m making a really high goal for myself, get there and a little bit more.” Every goal, missed shot and turnover means a sprint back to the other end of a 30 meter pool and every opportunity to pass or shoot involves a constant clawing just to get some little patch of free water. And know that any letdown, any hesitations means almost certain humiliation with a heaping portion of water up their nose and the other player’s flutter kicking feet in the gut. “I really want to play for as long as I can and be a part of it as long as I can no matter what player, coach, whatever it may be I want to be a part of it.”
It’s been over 10 years since a girl has signed a letter of intent to college on a sports scholarship. On April 13, after being No. 1 in the section, No. 2 in the state and No. 8 in the country, senior Jasmine Pharms has broken the streak. She sat alongside her coach, father and mother as they congratulated her for her achievement. That day was the turning point for her future. When she was younger sports were a family legacy. Her parents put her in multiple sports like cheer, softball, soccer and football, trying to find what would be the best for her because they wanted her to excel. “My mother and father were both athletes so I figured they wanted us to be athletes too,” Pharms said. Her parents earned an athletic scholarships to University of Washington. Her mother for track and field and her father for football. Her mother’s scholarship was revoked when she got pregnant. After her father finished played college
ball, he played for an area league called New York Dragons and then he got drafted to play for the Cleveland Browns NFL team, but a month later he went to jail without playing a single game. “My mom made it, but she didn’t really make it,” she said. “So I figured she wants the best for me and she wants me to be like her but make it out all the way.” When Pharms came to high school, she lived up to her mother's expectation. She played volleyball, basketball and track and field. Now as a senior, she was awarded most valuable player for each.“Everything I’ve done in my high school career wasn't a waste of time,” she said. “Hard work pays off on the court and the field.” Pharms has been to state twice and has thrown a personal best at 47’9” in shot put. Now, Pharms has signed with California State University, Northridge, where she will be doing her shot put event and studying kinesiology to become an athletic trainer in the future.
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We used to be ...
May 20, 2016
As we become adults, we are moving on to college, the military and the workforce, but most importantly, we are finding ourselves. In high school we may have been defined one way, but in many cases we grew to be something else. These seniors have found their niche in sports, sciences, music and many other areas. From freshman to senior year, we grew more than we ever thought we could.
Stagg Line Senior Edition
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"We used to be dependent of each other. Now we are independently making different life choices."
“I used to want to be an engineer. Now I am aspiring to be a scientist.”
“I used to be a shy little girl. Now I am a woman who's determined to achieve any goal in life.”
—Teresa Joao
—Justin Ha “I used to be a misguided, troubled and lost individual. Now I am a confident, self found, outgoing, college bound legacy.” —Sharley Mendoza and Sarita Cobos “I used to be shy, timid to meeting new people. Now I am open to adventure and what the future has to offer me.”
—Alberto Vargas
—Alfonso DeVille “I used to not wear a weave. Now I do.”
—Aryana Salvador “I used to be nobody. Now I am a mechanic.”
—Maria Barbosa
“I used to be a dead broke. Now I am blowing stack to stack.”
—Charmaigne Gresham
“I used to aspire to be a scientist. Now I excel more at music.”
—Christian Alexander
Now we are the leaders of the future
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PASSIONS
May 20, 2016
Stagg Line Senior Edition
THREADING A DREAM Miller designs own clothes to stay unique
GAMELA BRICE
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or Quenzaven Miller, a dark memory has followed him through a single pair of pants, a reminder that has brought him to the light of his true calling that is fashion. It is not the pants themselves that have gotten him through difficult times, but what they represent. “After coming to grips with the death of my dad I had to find something more positive rather than negative to put my mind on, and that’s how my black pants came about,” Miller said. “My mom found my father’s black pants and decided to give them to me. These were the same black pants he was wearing in the car accident.” After cutting and making his father’s pants into his own he began experimenting with more
of his clothing. “For me it’s all about imagination, because you cannot think about how you want your vision to be or look without that.” However, after the traumatic loss of his father at the age of 2, it wasn’t long until Miller began to suffer from low self esteem. Today he agrees that confidence is a vital component to success, and clothing helped him achieve that feeling. “Fashion gave me the mindset of ‘when I look in the mirror, this is me, this is who I am,’ Miller said. “It’s true that people can tell you that look nice or that you’re very cute, but at the end of the day when you go home and get into your bed you don’t have those people,” he said. “You start to realize that those people and social media are not going to help you boost your self esteem.” Miller plans to ex-
Hills interested in physical therapy
LUCI TOMAS
Kimberly Hills always thought that helping others is an important value in society. “If we don’t help others how do we expect to get anywhere in life?” she said. Volunteering has helped Hills create a strong desire to help others. Once her aunt took her to a homeless shelter to help the homeless, she felt more eager to go out and do it again. She explained how she would sit down to talk to the homeless and they were like ordinary people. “It made me realize that they are in need of help and they’re truly deserving.” In fifth grade Hills was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She still copes with this complication today. “I had it for so long that I learned how to get through it and live life,” she said. This type of arthritis causes inflammation and stiffness to the joints and could spread from the hands to the
legs, and even to the back. When Hills first got the complication, her hands swelled up and she suffered from exhaustion. “I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. Hills said that recently her back has been in tremendous pain to the point where she began began physical therapy at San Joaq u i n General Hospital in French Camp. By volunteering and receiving therapy herself, the passion of becoming a physical therapist became more realistic. “Receiving physical therapy has helped me get a perspective and make sure I do what I have to in order to get the best care,” she said. She finds the therapy and exercise to have helped her significantly with mobility. In the fall, she’ll be attending California State University, Stanislaus, where she will be majoring in kinesiology. “I want to show how something bad can be turned into something good.”
press this discovery that he has found within himself with others, through not only design ideas, but photography, along with selling and modeling his own quality clothing fit for different personalities, at a reasonable price. By embracing his identity and his interests, he believes that he is truly living in the memory of his father. “I look just like my father,” Miller said. “I am his only son, I am the only one left that carries the last name Miller.” “Therefore, I am putting forth my best effort to make him proud,” he said. In hopes of obtaining this success he would like to learn the business aspect of fashion before stepping into the industry. Miller understands that without having this knowledge he could be setting himself up for failure.
“I plan on getting my business degree during my two years at Delta, and then I would like to transfer to the Art Institute in Sacramento.” Miller is in the process of practicing independence by taking control of his own future, “I’m by myself, I don’t have anyone to necessarily guide me through life because my family does not support PHOTO ILLUSTRATION JOANN SAGARAL who I have chosen to be,” he said. “I’ve been doing this by myself since I’ve moved out here to California, besides living in my mother’s house.” However, with isolation he has found courage. “I know that this is what I want to do and I know this is my dream. I’m going to make it somehow, someway; this
I know that this is “what I want to do... this is my dream.” Quenzaven Miller
Friends train together, aspire to enter military
Eckerty, Dayrit, Lopez to join the Army ANGEL GONZALEZ
The Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, National Guard all are in charge in some way to protect the United States from foreign or domestic threats. Stagg has had many students that have gone on to serve for their own reasons and dreams. These organizations give students opportunities they could have never gotten on their own. These three young men are going to move on with their life and go into the Army, all hoping to be successful and travel the world serving their country in the best way they know how. They train hard daily to get physically fit, and they are prepared to endure what’s to come. “There is never a day that we don’t work out,” Rolando Dayrit recounts. They all are either at physical training that they do with future soldiers of the Army or on the days that they aren’t training they all go to the gym to get even stronger. They go to physical training Tuesdays and
Thursdays for two hours each day, every week. “We work on mainly cardio with some push-ups, situps, and we do a two mile run,” Joseph Lopez says. “Success is making a living, having a stable life, and not having any problems,” Dayrit said. He was first motivated to join because of stories his mother told him about his grandfather. “He traveled around the world and even trained with Bruce Lee,” he said. Hearing these stories, he was inspired and wanted to follow in his footsteps and get that same honor and glory. Also following the glory, this time put forth by his father, Justin Eckerty is going to enlist as a future soldier. He trains with the future soldiers
still. He wants to travel the world and get to go to distant places. He recalls his experience of talking with his recruiter. “When I first wanted to join, I didn’t want to go to the office because I was nervous,” Eckerty said. “I didn’t know what to expect.” He then called a recruiter and set up an appointment. “I went in and talked to him, I took the practice ASVAB,” Eckerty said. “I talked to him about jobs, and options in the Army and about college.” He plans to go in as infantry and more than likely go abroad for work. Eckerty feels that it is one of the best ways to serve his country. College can get expensive at times, with all
the fees and classes people need to take. College is out of reach for many potential students, but the military offers a path plus added benefits like paid tuition. Lopez is benefiting from going into the Army. There he hopes to travel and serve his country but also get an education he could not afford otherwise. “I decided to go to the Army and I figured out they pay for college,” Lopez said. “Just three years of work and then college, that’s not bad.” He is going to be the first in his family to go to college. After the Army he wants to just have fun. “My life motto is just to go with the flow and with all the stuff I have heard, it seems like I would fit in,” Lopez said. “I want to study marine biology and Hawaii is a really great place to do that.” The three are all very much excited to serve and are eagerly awaiting their days in boot camp. They may all have different reasons to join, but they all want to serve the nation just the same.
Stagg Line Senior Edition
STRUGGLES
CONQUERING CROHN'S
May 20, 2016
Godinez makes lifelong illness reason to pursue medical career
but not mentally.”
Itzel Godinez PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOANN SAGARAL
incorrectly diagnosed her disease as stomach flu and lactose intolerance. The symptoms of nausea and indigestion got worse for Godinez. It was not until her junior year that she was referred to a gastroenterologist. Crohn’s Disease affects the small intestine and makes it difficult for any nutrients to be absorbed by the body. She is unable to consume spicy foods, chocolate, and caffeine. These foods would trigger “flares,” in which her small intestine would become inflamed. Godinez has experienced both a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, as well as surgery to clean out her intestines. As a result, Godinez was absent from school for extended lengths of time. Post-surgery, Godinez’s health changed dramatically. No longer was
her face pallid and solemn. Now she can fully express her personality, which has always been bubbly. As a result of her treatment and care, she aspires to become a nurse. She hopes to transfer to UC Davis from Delta College and receive her Bachelor of Science in nursing. Ideally, Godinez would like to move on to UCLA in order to concentrate her studies in pediatrics. When she has completed her schooling, Godinez wishes to work for the Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera. This hospital nurtured her during her multiple procedures. Godinez now feels she owes her loyalty to them. Her disease is something she is more verbal about. She has come to accept that she will have to live with it for the rest of her life, but she rejects it as something that defines her.
Life: a cycle of losses and gains
McFadden supports ailing mother, deals with loss of brother
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oy, meek, and timid are no longer words affiliated with Itzel Godinez. Whenever she is in a classroom, her giggles are contagious. How she’s progressed from victim to conqueror is remarkable, considering her ailment is incurable. Godinez was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in her junior year of high school. It is responsible for her small stature and her inability to eat certain foods. Her peers recalled her as looking sickly and pale as a freshman. She was quiet, and unbeknownst to others, enduring great pain. “I would come to school physically, but not mentally,” Godinez said. The initial visits to the doctor had
CELINE LOPEZ
He straps on his helmet and puts on his gloves. He rides his motorcycle for his mom. It’s a love that can’t be described in words, only in the revs of his bike as he rushes to the hospital after school to see her. Isaiah Mcfadden was asleep when his mother received the diagnosis. She had sepsis, a life threatening illness caused when the body is overcome with infection. “That morning she wouldn’t wake up,” Mcfadden said, recalling that day a year ago. He chokes up as he describes his mom in pain. “We went to see her and she had a bunch of cords in her and her hands started to change colors,” he said. Soon, her organs started to fail and she eventually had to have her limbs amputated. She lost her limbs last April and May. In June, Mcfadden’s brother died. His older brother Marvin had been a role model for Mcfadden, despite not being the closest out of his five siblings. His death had hit the family hard. “Whenever he was around, he was a big impact in my life,” Mcfadden said. Marvin was the only one that had gone to college, and Mcfadden now is doing well in school with a mindset that pushes him for success, to make better of himself de-
Singing helps to ease pain ARRIANA SMITH
I would come to “school physically,
JOANN SAGARAL
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spite the obstacles he has faced. For one, he’s never stayed at one school for very long due to constantly moving. Mcfadden returned to Stagg for his senior year, after moving schools during sophomore year. He stopped playing football so he could take care of his mom. “I wouldn’t be able to see her,” he said. “So I decided to spend more time with her than play football.” During this time, his mother put money aside to help him buy a motorcycle. “I was the only one with transportation,” he said. Mcfadden would run errands for his mom, make her appointments, and pick up her medicine. Mcfadden says he grew up faster than he should have. But with the losses came gains. McFadden realized a practical future for him, one where he can
grow up on his own while still caring for his mom. He is going to Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Arizona, a decision that wasn’t easy to make. He’ll learn a trade that'll drive him into the workforce as soon as possible, and he plans to send money home. He’s unsure of how often he’ll be able to visit, but is assured that they can stay in touch through video chat. His older brother Wandel has been financially supporting the family, but McFadden said he would like to relieve him of some responsibility. “I’m trying to take a lot of stress off him in the future,” he said. “It will make life easier.” The hardships he said have even helped him develop stronger social ties. “Before I was a shut-in,” he said. “I became, in a way, more open.” New relationships and the freedom given by his motorcycle became a “distraction,” he said, which “took a little stress off from (his) responsibilities.” But the freedom his motorcycle provides is different than it would be for most teenagers. The motorcycle is responsibility. It is passion. It is love. Now, it is purpose. Although Mcfadden gave up a lot to support his family, he has not lost ambition for himself. With success in his vision, he hops on his motorcycle, wondering where it takes him.
Some days Audrey Weir Graham's World History class would fill with a mesmerizing melody, others a soft sob. For Makayla Hannah, sophomore year was a turbulent time. Day to day she didn't know what emotions would surface. Unsure of how to deal with those emotions, she quickly latched onto the only thing she knew was a constant in her life: music and her love for singing. “With all the loss and pain I had to endure, I was so grateful to have my music,” she said. “It was therapeutic in helping reassure me of my sanity.” All within a few months Hannah had to cope with the death of her boyfriend and had to emotionally remove herself from the relationship she had with her mother due to her mother’s substance abuse. “I don't think I was handling my problems properly,” Hannah said. “I would break down at random times during the day.” Hannah became so depressed at one point she saw church as her only escape from reality. There she became very close to the pastor's daughter, a relationship which would later develop into a sisterly bond. Wanting to spend more time singing, she jumped at the opportunity to join choir when she entered high school. “I started choir my freshman year knowing nothing about how to read notes,” she said. “Now, I feel like I was put on this earth to sing.” She also sings every Sunday with her church's choir where she has been able to use the skills she learned at school. Some of her musical inspirations include gospel singers Tamela Mann, and Mahalia Jackson along with soulful crooner Etta James. Hannah said there's nothing else she would rather do than sing professionally. She acknowledges the fact that she can always improve, and she loves the musical diversity that choir has to offer her. “They’re pieces I know I would never pick up myself,” she said. “So when Swope assigns something ethnically diverse, I get anxious to learn and ultimately perfect it.” She plans to stay in Stockton for about seven years after graduation for school. She plans to find her home somewhere in the South and pursue sociology and music education. Along with music she wants to study psychology and pursue a career as a social worker. She aspires to be a social worker that children can connect with on a more personal level, planning to own a theater where the children she consoles can use music as an outlet for their struggles. “I know what it feels like to desperately need someone to talk to and seek advice from,” Hannah said. “That’s why I want to help others.”
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Senior staff
Stagg Line Senior Edition
May 20, 2016
What we will BECOME...
“I used to be quiet and shy, unable to approach and talk to people. Now I volunteer and help out my community, along with my closest friends and family.” —Araceli Valencia
—Marleene Pheav
“I used to be anxious and afraid of people looking at me when I spoke my opinion, but now I’ve found my greatest passion behind the lens of a camera.”
—My’Kayla Moore
“I used to not be able to express myself, but now I express myself creatively through my art work and I love it.”
—Rosa Garcia
“I used to be ashamed of what I wanted to do in the future, Now I am confident in wanting to be a cosmetologist.”
—Arriana Smith
“I used to be a neuron. Now I am piecing together all my knowledge so far to create my brain.”
“I used to be afraid to explore and ride on a plane. Now I’m more adaptable and could travel many places if I choose to.”
“I used to be all jokes and making people laugh. Now it is going to help me make friends and bonds that will last for the rest of my life.” —Angel Gonzalez
“I used to be afraid to show people the real me but now I no longer need to hide because I’m comfortable with who I am and the person I’ve become.”
—Luci Tomas
“I used to have a small voice and no purpose. Now, I am a leader, a writer, a thinker and I will serve others in a career where passion meets purpose.”
—Celine Lopez
“I used to keep all of my thoughts and opinions in a journal because I was afraid to speak up. But now I speak my mind freely and unapologetically. —Gamela Brice
—Sathina Flores
“I used to be cynical about this city and this school, but now I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot to be grateful for here.”
—JoAnn Sagaral
“I used to be a sorry excuse for a boy, but now I am well on my way to becoming the man I want to be.”
—Matthew Kimani