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ince its doors opened 60 years ago, Amos Alonzo Stagg High School has been home to many thousands of students. With each new year comes a new graduating class, each hoping to be more memorable than the last. Like a diamond, each class is unique. Each group of students grows up in its own world. The seniors graduating have been formed by years of pressure from school and their own personal lives. One thing makes our graduating class especially unique: We will be the last class born in the 20th century. In this special edition, we share some of the brightest diamonds in our class and unearth the pressures that have formed them. Stagg Line
May 12, 2017
Senior Edition
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Stagg Line
Rivalry brews relatability
Cornelison, Qualls bond over school competition Jefferson
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Long-time rivalry. Yet it almost looks like romance. You might find them staring at each other, romanticizing about who will have the highest grade. “I gave him the wink,” Samuel Cornelison said. “Is there an online dating service for nerds?” laughed Alexander Qualls. These two have been pitted against each other since the start of high school, fighting for the top spot in the class. Some of that rivalry began back in elementary school where they both attended Kohl Elementary. Their relationship was SamuelCornelison on and off. They became intermingled through the idea of academic achievement. Their eighth grade year they took algebra at Stagg. “That class was hella easy,” Qualls said. “We both had 110 percent and we were competing at how high our percentages could be.” After that, their rivalry turned into a cooperative mission to help each other push themselves beyond their limits. “What’s pretty funny is that we are not that huge of rivals,” Cornelison said. “People just make it seem like we are.” Some of that rivalry comes from their class rank. Qualls is expected to become valedictorian for the class of 2017 with a GPA of 4.63, and Cornelison right behind him with 4.58. Achieving a high grade is no longer their motivation. But when it comes down to being handed an award, Qualls said, “The awards are just a result of the stuff I wanted to do in the first place.” Cornelison and Qualls have received countless awards. Cornelison was one of the few in the nation to be commended as a National Merit Scholar, yet he doesn’t seek fame or recognition. “Don’t talk about it,” Cornelison said. “Be about it.”
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Qualls agrees. They’ve both experienced the awkward face of praise and recognition. “When they announced my honor choir thing on the all call (I cringed),” Qualls said. “I do it for myself, I don’t do it so that I can tell other people.” Their humbleness will extend to their graduation speeches. “I don’t have wisdom to impose on the Class of 2017.” Cornelison said. For the major part, while they’ve become leaders in clubs and representatives AlexanderQualls of the campus, they strive to see everyone eye to eye. Some may put them together on a pedestal, they frequent to step down. Their academic similarity causes some to confuse them for each other. “We are kind of similar,” Qualls said. “Tall, both white guys, both play sports, involved. I do see how people get us confused.” Their achievements come with some frequent sacrifices. Cornelison has had to balance sleep and social life. Qualls was unable to continue Stagg’s choir as his schedule progressively began filled with AP classes. Cornelison also had to chose AP classes over orchestra. Their electives were no longer kickback courses where they could take time to breathe and enjoy performing arts. AlexanderQualls Regardless, they’ve enjoyed the sleepless nights of homework induced drama. They enjoyed each other’s push to success. “If there’s a group in class,” Qualls said. “I’m still going to want to work with Sam because I know I am going to be able to do well if I work with him.”
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I do it for myself, I don’t do it so that I can tell other people.”
Smith still smiles through the pain
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Few young people have experienced the death of a family member, the overwhelming depression and the total ErykahSmith loss of all motivation. Fewer have experienced this heartbreaking event several times like Erykah Smith. Smith had a passion for dancing that was nurtured by her grandfather. When she was younger, he took her to gymnastics and later dance practice. In high school, dance class further strengthened Smith’s connection with her grandfather. “It was a part of me,” she said. Smith said she was always referred to as the “hyper one.” Her joy infected those around her, something her grandfather always pointed out. “That’s who I was… just happy all the time,” she said. Smith never thought that things would change so drastically. This bond was broken with the death of her grandfather her sophomore year. Smith not only lost her mentor and inspiration but her “closest friend. I felt lost without him,” she said. In this devastating time, her only solace was continuing to dance. On stage, “it was almost as if he was there with me,” she said. Dance class was an escape from reality. For a moment, “it was like it was just me and him.” But when the class was lost and later the club, this connection faded. “We weren’t able to express ourselves like we could before,” Smith explained. “But I also lost my connection with my grandpa.”
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When junior year came along, Smith’s situation graduate,” she said. at home suffered. After multiple moves between her “ I wanted to see how proud they’d be.” mother and her sister, Smith was finally able to settle down and live with her father. “I’ve always been closer with my dad,” she explained. Being able to live with him brought back fond memories. Now that she was away from all the stresses her mother’s sickness brought, Smith was finally able to “be a kid for once,” she said. But this unbelievable comfort would meet a short end. Smith was dragged into court, used as a pawn in her parents’ custody battle. “The sad part was I was never close with my mom,” she explained. “What she said destroyed what little relationship I had with her.” But through it all, she only grew closer with her father who fought to keep her by his side. That’s what made Oct. 22 so painful, when her father passed away. “Some days I don’t believe it really happened,” Smith said. The loss of her father was almost too much to bear after all that had happened since entering high school. Coming to school, participating in sports and even just getting out of bed was a daily struggle. Smith tried her best to “smile and forget. Nobody knew what was going on except Mr. Oki.” But trusting people became a fear, an insurmountable obstacle. It wasn’t until this year that Smith was finally able to open up about her situation. “I was surprised how much people cared,” she said. “I never would’ve guessed they’d be so understanding.” Now Smith lives with her sister again, growing closer like their father would have wanted them to. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERYKAHSMITH Through everything that has happened, Smith explains A two year old Erykah Smith is pictured above with she and her siblings have “grown closer than ever.” Graduation will be “disappointing,” however. her cousin, Joy. As a child, Smith was always in relaSmith will be the only one in her family to “actually tives’ homes because her she rarely was taken care of by her own parents.
Senior Edition
05.12.17
Football leads to college
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Dinwiddie, Haywood utilize athleticism for future success
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In typical teenage movies high school football is the sport of status. Dreams of the sport taking them far in life are common as it is for Cutrell Haywood. “I see it taking me to the pros,” Haywood said. Haywood has been playing the positions of receiver and cornerback since he was 11, and he has not looked back since. As it is for many, his chosen sport heavily has to do with his family’s influence.
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“My brothers played football so it just naturally happened.” His family will be moving out to Idaho with him for this upcoming school y e a r . Those siblings are the most excited for this move, as this is “what
they were waiting for.” He has signed with Idaho University, which is offering him a full ride for football. “Signing makes me feel like I made it, like I’m doing something with my life and have actually accomplished some of my goals,” Haywood said. The sportis paying for college, where he plans to major in either business or communications. At Idaho he is not completely sure he will be playing his typical position of receiver, though it is preferred. “I’ll play wherever they need me,” he said, “I’m a go-getter.” The transition from high school football to college football is daunting for Haywood, but he believes that attitude of someone who wants to go far in life, especially through football, has to be strong enough to get past any worries he may have. “It’s going to be school, football, sleep and repeat. No wild social life, I’m going to have to let that go.” For Jalend Dinwiddie football is not one of his career options. “I’m not going to say I don’t want to, because that’s every athlete’s dream, but I think I have more potential elsewhere like in engineering or computer science.” Despite this, football and all his accomplishments will remain prominent in the next few years of his life as it has been in the last 12. While he is an undersized linebacker, he finished his high school career with 167 tackles. “I’m one of the top in the state, so I proved a lot of people wrong.” Despite being offered spots at other colleges, Dinwiddie is looking toward to San Jose State University as a preferred walk-on. “I had a lot of other preferred walk-on offers from division one schools but no actual full-ride scholarships
so financially it wasn’t really feasible.” For some division two schools he had full-ride scholarships but those schools could not provide what he wanted academically by not having his chosen major. As this year SJSU has an entirely new coaching staff they were unable to give him any offers of signing. This means he will have to compete to potentially earn a spot on the team. Due to his size. he will be converting from linebacker to safety, where they already have four players. “I’m going to really have to compete and
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earn my spot.” In preparation of this change he is going to have to work hard during the summer, “getting faster, getting bigger,” to ensure that he reaches the highest physical potential he can.
Ayala balances school, home
Krietz: epitome of school spirit
At a time when deportation and immigration controversies are a major topic in the United States, Moises Ayala was forced to balance those issues while remaining successful in school. This problem hits close to home. In the summer of 2015, Ayala’s father was arrested for driving under the influence. Since then, his family has been trying to prevent his deportation since it was found he was undocumented. In order to appeal to the court, Ayala is dragged to Oakland MoisesAyala and San
From running through the bleachers during football games to hosting quad activities during lunch, senior Isaac Krietz has been widely seen around campus. He’s become quite a character around campus. He could argue that he has the most school spirit. Ever since elementary school, Krietz knew he wanted to be involved in school. Growing up, he saw his older brothers participate actively in school and, of course, he wanted to follow in their footsteps. Although it may have seem that Krietz has the utmost confidence being the “hype man” around school, he didn’t exactly ease immediately into it. He believes the only reason why he was capable of being front and center at rallies and in the stands is because of the people there. “They sync in with me,” he said. “It’s pretty much easy because everyone is usually doing the same thing as me.” If it weren’t for his friends’ encouragement, he believes he would have had a boring senior year. At first, Krietz had plans to “check out” and just have a relaxing year but figured out that he wasn’t going to have as much fun. Krietz won homecoming king after running on a whim. “I had a whole group of friends and family supporting me,” he said. “I put myself out there and I grew a lot from that.”
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PHOTO BY STEPHANIEMATSUMOTO Ayala has tried his best to attend every senior activity hosted this year to show his school spirit and to cherish the time he has left in high school.
Francisco as a way to evoke sympathy. As a result of these sessions, Ayala has had to miss out on school, affecting his academic career. This adversity hasn’t deter Moises from keeping track academically. His home situation motivated him to better himself. Junior year, Ayala found himself thinking about the future. It wasn’t until Ayala took a hard look at his grades, work and accomplishments that he realized he had potential to continue on. “It was very hard dealing with those types of things but I was able to push through it,” he said. “Seeing an end goal really helped me arrive there.” With two brothers now having been to jail and his mother fighting for his father’s citizenship, Ayala has had a rough life. Throughout his high school career, Ayala was to forced to create a stable presence academically and socially at school while his home life gradually became another source of stress. This balance can be tedious to find when things don’t go as smoothly as planned. While his family has overall tried to help each other become successful, alcoholism and scandal has made a great impact on the Ayala family. While these last four years may not have been ideal, Ayala holds no resentment towards his family. Instead of letting his personal issues control his life, he’s grown from them. “I’ve come to learn that asking for help can actually be a sign of strength, not weakness unlike many would believe,” he said. “I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to grow. I used to be a very shy insecure person and now I’ve become someone I genuinly want to be.”
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It means a lot to him to have been able to participate in school. He’s felt as if he’s grown because of how he’s managed to balance his priorities. Overall, he feels as if he’s leaving high school on a good note. “School always comes first, though. If you put your all into the work it will all fall through and the fun will come later. It’s worth it.”If it weren’t for his friends’ encouragement, he believes he would have had a boring senior year. At first, Krietz had plans to “check out” and just have a relaxing year but figured out that he wasn’t going to have as much fun. Krietz won homecoming king after running on a whim. “I had a whole group of friends and family supporting me,” he said. “I put myself out there and I grew a lot from that.” It means a lot to him to have been able to participate in school. He’s felt as if he’s grown because of how he’s managed to balance his priorities. Overall, he feels as if he’s leaving high school on a good note. “School always comes first, though. If you put your all into the work it will all fall through and the fun will come later. It’s worth it,” he said.
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Stagg Line
May 12, 2017
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f you ask a 90s kid what they remember most from their childhood, they’ll probably talk about Saturday morning cartoons. Cartoons like “Scooby-Doo” were able to make the ordinary detective show more engaging with whimsical characters and a talking dog. Cartoon Network aired shows like “Pokemon” and “Samurai Jack” that captivated children with their strange, interesting worlds. Anime from Japan like “My Neighbor Totoro” found a place in the hearts of Western kids. Adults criticize these cartoons for being absurd, refusing to see the larger themes they expanded on. As they enter adulthood, these seniors reflect on some of these lifelong lessons.
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Pokemon made me become more outgoing. Ash was always out and about, looking for Pokemon, exploring and meeting new people and that made me want to do the same. I was tired of sitting inside by myself and now I’m much more social.”
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Beast Boy from Teen Titans always stuck out for me because he was really out there and didn’t do what the others really wanted him to. He was his own person, and that’s influenced decisions my decisions as I’ve gotten older. Plus I really like to eat.
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Dragon Ball taught me that properly managing my anger is important to being succesful in life. Utilizing it for the proper reasons and not just blowing up was extremely important in the show and it’s important in my life. Plus, Gohan has the best character progression in the show.
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Growing up they were characters that showed you had to face your fears, especially in a world where you’re not very comfortable. It relates to reality because there will always be something scary and unknown that you have to overcome.”
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As a kid, Scooby Doo showed me that monsters weren’t real and I had nothing to be scared of. As I’ve gotten older, I realized there is no real reason to be scared of most things. Teamwork has had a larger significance as I’ve grown up too.”
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Samurai Jack had to go on this journey not only to help himself but help his teacher as well. He helped others. I’m still trying to reach out and help others if they need me. I’ll be there for them and support them in absolutely any way that I can.”
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ASB teaches Goodwin to lead Leiva
an organization that thrives off student participation and knows that “participa The Associated Student Body was tion has gotten better, but it isn’t the best shaken up four years ago when former it could be.” adviser, Michelle Canfield, left Stagg Goodwin is also active on campus mid year. Allison Goodwin has followed besides her leadership in ASB. In AVID, ASB’s journey since her freshman year. Goodwin was able to organize the class She recalls her aspirations as a kid of bealong with the club to host Stagg’s special ing a leader among peers. needs students their own prom. “Since “I wanted to be part of ASB,” Goodwe don’t do much with our special needs win said. “I wanted to get involved, do students people tend to forget about something for the school.” them,” Goodwin said. “We seclude them Treasurer her freshman year and to protect them in a way.” class president since soph Goodwin posed the omore year, Goodwin has idea to the student counbeen able to lead several cil and administration and events on campus. Acthrough ASB she was able to AllisonGoodwin cording to Goodwin, this handle costs and needs. She year ASB was able to truly made sure to push expenses flourish. “We’ve had more through a tight budget. feedback and participation from kids In the last four years, Stagg hasn’t this year than in the past four years.” hosted a special needs prom. “That’s the In the past, ASB struggled with biggest project I’ve led,” she said. “It’s the student participation, which led to canlegacy I wanted to leave here, something celed dances among other events. But for them.” Goodwin was there to improve student Approximately 50 special needs stucommunication and outreaching. ASB’s dents attended the prom. They took picTwitter feed was not always filled with tures at a photo booth, and danced with reminders and alerts for students. For students and volunteers. Nurses, adminsome time, students were unaware of istrators teachers and advisers observed ASB led activities due to a lack of comthe event. One from Edison recognized munication. the need to have a prom at their school. Now, students receive the occasional AVID and ASB hope to continue Twitter alert and are reminded of activthe event and Goodwin is happy to have ities through the Monday bulletin and started that tradition. More so, she is posters lining the halls. Goodwin underglad to have had the opportunity to give stands that communication is crucial for back to her peers.
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PHOTO BY STEPHANIEMATSUMOTO Allison Goodwin passes out paint to students painting the senior walk. She made painting free since “seniors would already be worrying about money.”
MESA pushes Garcia to persist through challenges Matteo
What does one learn from MESA? For the various students that trickle through the program, there are a few unifying lessons to be learned. The class imbues students with creativity, problem-solving skills but most importantly leadership abilities. “I’ve learned so much about being a leader from MESA it’s unbelievable,” said MESA class president Jordyn Garcia. Since sixth grade Garcia has participated in the program, picking up these skills along the way. Along with appeals from her friends and teachers, she said, “I originally joined because I was interested in the projects.” Most notably, she has participated in the mousetrap car project every year. Coming into a high school MESA program was overwhelming for Garcia. “A lot of the easy projects we did became more challenging,” she explained. In order for students to continue to progress, the projects increased in complexity, causing students to adjust their thinking. “There were a lot of times where
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JordynGarcia I would be so frustrated I couldn’t do anything,” she said. Some of these high-level projects included the solar backpack and last year’s boat competition. Garcia along with a few other students were tasked with building a boat that could not only float and hold people but traverse through a course. “I had no clue what to do,” she said. These moments of doubt and frustration were especially prevalent on “build nights” and on the day of a competition. During a build night, teams going to MESA Day gather together for several hours to finish and polish a project for the competition. While working on her mousetrap car last year, the car broke. “I tried so hard to focus but it seemed impossible,” she said. Garcia persisted through the night and ended up taking first place that year.
PHOTO BY PHILLICITYURIARTE-JONES Jordyn Garcia tests her mousetrap car. On Mesa Day last year, her team took first despite complications. “If I didn’t have Walter, I don’t know what I would’ve done,” she said. Many of her frustrations throughout the years were soothed by the program advisor Andrew Walter. Garcia also credits her leadership to her advisor, who saw potential in her when she didn’t. “I was a clueless freshman,” she said, remembering how she wandered aimlessly through the class. Now as president, she
thanks Walter and past officers for the lessons they’ve taught her. “I tried to be as fun and interactive as he is in the classroom,” she said, alluding to how sarcastic and nonchalant he can be. Despite the difficulties and frustrations that MESA brings, Garcia has learned to appreciate the stress. “I don’t think I would be prepared for my future without MESA.”
Taylor rewrites ‘tall guy’ stereotypes Phillicity
He towers over the student body and his voice booms through the campus. He is a danger playing defense on the football field and a driving force with shot put. Still, when passing this giant in the halls, students are met with a smile and wave, a warm hug if the situation warrants it. Though he has such a menacing size, senior A’koben Taylor is a kind colossus. His size has pushed him in the direction of sports but his consistency and honest passsion has kept him there. Throughout his high school career Taylor has been an active athlete but as a junior in high school he found a true and complete joy in shot put. As of now his record is 45.8 feet and his average is about 40 feet. He attributes his success not to his height, though it may play a role, but rather the strength that has to go into each throw. “There’s more technique than just size,” Taylor said. While he sees the sport as relaxing it also brings out in him the spirit of competition. “When you see someone who throws better than
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PHOTO BY PHILLICITY URIARTE-JONES A’Koben Taylor has competed in track and field as well as football.
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A’KobenTaylor you it shows that you aren’t reaching your full potential.” Though he has been doing well in shot put and appreciates what it brings out in him, he does not see a future with it. “It’s fun for now.” He is currently sixth in league. When presented with someone who throws better than him he is not intimidated. “All I can do is keep on practicing until I can hit the same (distance) too.”
05.12.17 Drama creates individuality in Guerrero Aaron
No one knows the importance of practice more than Mariposa Guerrero. In every practice performance for drama, she acted her heart out to prepare for the show. She rehearsed lines for hours, trying to perfect them and embody her new character. She was introduced to the drama program by choir teacher Mark Swope and then transitioned to Marc Glassberg’s drama class. Guerrero hoped drama would help her burst out of her shell of social anxiety. Her hopes turned to reality and she now regularly participates in class discussions and speaks with confidence. Guerrero says she “becomes one” with the character through acting. “If you become a different character, you can get to know a different character,” she said. Whether she must be the protagonist or antagonist, she enters a separate mindset to better emulate and understand the character. “You have to be downright dedicated, it has to consume your
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MariposaGuerrero life,” she said when asked how she felt about performing in a play. Between productions in drama, she often compares herself to Glassberg, evaluating how he teaches the program. Guerrero believes that she could teach the class just the same way or “maybe even better.” These thoughts make her question her future: will she aspire to be a professional actor or something related to the field of drama? Despite these questions, Guerrero is leaning more towards becoming an English teacher, “maybe an acting teacher as a second choice,” she said. There is no doubt she will always love acting, though. “I’ve learned everyone has their role to play,” she said. Guerrero’s dedication will continue to drive her to play her role in this big production called life.
A production isn’t all about one person. It’s about working together to create a groove.”
PHOTO BY PHILLICITYURIARTE-JONES Taeya Johnson and Joshua Hughes can always be found together in choir teacher Mark Swope’s class. Whether they’re sitting at the piano or singing the newest pop hit, they are always together. Their mutual friendships Louis Fuentez would eventually bring Having someone in them together. the same class as you for s e h T In performances, the aeyaJoh g nson JoshuaHu three years may not be two friends never sing touncommon. But when it’s gether. But when Hughes your best friend, it makes goes up on that stage, “I you feel very fortunate. pened to ask me.” She de- cool person because he turn into his number one This is the case for two se- scribes how they bonded talked to everyone. It was fan,” Johnson said. niors who came together over the similarities the a bit of a surprise when Although she never over a few silly games in two shared, including a he talked to me,” Johnson had the courage for solos, love for music and sing- said. At that moment she choir class. saw an opportunity to be- Johnson is glad she can be Joshua Hughes and ing. herself around Hughes. Taeya Johnson Barber Hughes decided to come friends. “Our friendship helped have been part of the take on choir because he For Hughes, it was a me be more open,” she choir program since they knew sophomore year he different story. “At first, I said. were sophomores. “It all had talent. “ I knew it didn’t see the instant con- Even though they started with Swope put- would be one of the best nection,” he said. To him, may never sing on stage ting us in groups to get to things I can do in high it didn’t seem like she was together, they will always know each other,” John- school,” he said. Hughes interested in building a have fun singing no matson said. “We played a knew that his voice would lasting friendship. ter what. “If we are in the game talking about what be a nice addition to their “She honestly did car together we do our not say anything to me, our favorite movie was talented choir. Johnson saw Hughes but I knew people that own deut,” Hughes said. and what grade we were And to them, that’s a conin and (Josh) just so hap- and thought “he was a she knew,” Hughes said. cert within itself.
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Palacio strives to be more than ‘the magician’ Ernesto
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“Magic man” or “that card guy” is what students called him. People would walk up to him just to GilbertPalacio see the next magic trick up his sleeve. But Gilbert Palacio is more than a deck of cards. These requests made him feel like the school circus act and he left. “People only know me as the Magic Guy,” Palacio said. “It was my identity and I didn’t like it.” During the second semester of sophomore year, Palacio attended Stockton High. “I had more freedom then and I thought I would just work harder my last two years.” Palacio’s attendance as an underclassman at Stagg was spotty. “I started ditching because I had more freedom to do whatever I wanted,” he said. “I finished my work early and I would just sit there and not do anything. I just got bored of that.” To fill his time with something he felt was more meaningful, Palacio skipped class to wait at Sam’s Cafe until Mr. Otto’s Bookstore would open up. He soon befriended both owners, “Mr. Sam” and Tim Otto who was a former Stagg teacher. Palacio would go to Sam’s Cafe to eat until Otto’s bookstore
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opened up to hang out during school hours. “Mr. Otto was driving and he saw me walking,” said Palacio. Otto’s teaching past couldn’t allow him to continue ditching. He told Palacio that although his store doors were always open to him, it was time to go back to school. “He told me to get in and he drove me back to Stagg.” Otto told Math Department Chair Andrew Walter what Palacio was up to and why his attendance was slacking. About a week later, on the way home from a MESA field trip, Walter and fellow math teacher Kathy Sady set Palacio straight. “Magic had consumed and ruined my life,” Palacio thought on that long ride home. “I went on YouTube and found Zach Mueller and I saw his cardistry video and I thought whoa, you can do that with cards?” He then looked up all of the basics of cardistry and learned them. Within a few months, he started making his own cardistry videos. “I didn’t realize that there was a whole cardistry community on Instagram.” Palacio was shocked that his material was being picked up by others. When he’s not in school trying to make up for his mistakes, Palacio goes to San Francisco for cardistry meetups. “It’s more appealing than magic... I like making moves that people in that community can appreciate.” Palacio said. “Magic didn’t ruin my life, I just didn’t want that to be my identity.”
PHOTO BY MATTEODANFORTH Gilbert Palacio’s passion for cards began as a useful icebreaker, a way to stop being anti-social.
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As a member of all three publications on campus, I enjoy using my voice to tell the stories of others.
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Our paper is not only a reflection of our reporting but of our individual talents. We all shine in our own way.
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I enjoy challenging myself physically and mentally. I push my own limits”
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I have an affinity for fine details, like how there’s a lens cap on the camera above.”
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I can make anyone smile and laugh, no matter the situation.”
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My activism shines through every aspect of my life, especially through my love for books and films.”
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People that know me know that I live and breathe silly antics.”
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I’m as charismatic as they come. I can adjust to anyone I’m hanging with.
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