Stagg Line 2018-2019 Issue #5 by Stagg Line Newspaper

Stagg Line

Home of the Delta Kings

Amos Alonzo Stagg High School

PRAYING FOR BETTER DAYS

1621 Brookside Rd

Stockton, CA 95207

Volume 62 Issue 5

02.01.19

Community gathers to find ways to cope with trauma and prevent further gun violence Donavin COLLINS & Oleedia HARRIS

Buddhist monks from Temple Wat Dhammararam perform a blessing before the formal program began. The Southeast Asian community pays their respects to the fallen children and their families through multiple rituals and performances.

EFORE HE WAS SHOT, SURVIVOR Samnang Leam thought it was “just a couple of fireworks.” After she received the call, Tori Verber Salazar, who worked in the District Attorney’s office, stood in the “empty streets” and “thick air” with disbelief. Years after the schoolyard massacre, all involved can vividly remember that day for its impact. Though, can all be proud in the progress made towards an end to gun violence?

“

PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ

PTSD

til later on in his life. “I never dealt with it and didn’t even know that I was suffering from PTSD,” he said. Just a couple of minutes of his childhood affected many of his years to come. “I was always nervous and tense. Any loud noise would freak me out.” To prevent these types of complications, Verber Salazar suggests that a huge emphasis should be put on the mental health of everyone involved. “By focusing on the mental health of others, we’re taking steps in resolving the consequences of gun violence,” she said. “We know now that we have to help them heal, respect their journey through grief and work on trauma care for all.” With a tone of activism, Verber Salazar also said, “There are already laws in place to send those who pull the trigger to jail, but why do we wait until then? The victim has been harmed, their family has been harmed, their friends have been harmed, and the community has been harmed.” Gun violence has become the second leading cause of death for American children. What can be done to put an end to gun violence and its effects altogether? Julie Schardt, a survivor who was a teacher at the time, has spent years trying to solve

that problem. “For some people, it starts with childhood or with poverty or with who you hang out with,” she said. As suggested by her and many others at the memorial, even the little things can stop someone from pulling the trigger. “It could be as simple as taking out your phone and talking to someone you haven’t talked to in a long time. When you’re broken from society, you either want to check out altogether or want to bring down other people with you.” Among those who agree with the idea of putting more emphasis on emotional support rather than gun laws is Leam. “The most important thing is to care for your peers and others you may not even know,” he said. “You always hear about kids being bullied, and it could be something like that that triggers them.” Before the memorial’s end, facts about Stockton’s community were presented. With tears of joy in their eyes, they celebrated together. In 2018, there were 40 percent fewer less homicides than in 2017, and 31 percent decrease in shootings. Maybe some progress is being made.

Virginia Tech

Parkland

There are laws in place to send those who pull the trigger to jail, but why do we wait until then? Tori VERBER SALAZAR District Attorney

”

What are the signs? — See page 5

Prominent school shootings over the past 30 years Cleveland

Jan 17, 1989 6 people killed 32 injured

Columbine

Apr 20, 1999 Apr 16, 2007 15 people killed 21 injured

33 people killed 23 injured

Sandy Hook

Dec 14, 2012 Feb 14, 2018 28 people killed 2 injured

17 people killed 17 injured

Santa Fe

May 18, 2018 10 people killed 13 injured

First-year electives looking to find dedicated students Brianna RODRIGUEZ

PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ

Seniors Kaitlynn Ford and Gabriel Hernandez and freshman Maurice Cheatum do an improv exercise as a warm-up for their sixth period Drama class. They were in a library and the two guys were arguing over who is the father of the girl’s baby.

For students who like to get up out of their seat or act as different personas, Speech and Debate and Drama may be the classes for them. Electives such as Speech and Debate and Drama had to introduce new material to students and make a solid foundation that the teachers hope will last for future years. Despite having little guidance from other teachers, James Medrano and Tim Allen are working to create a productive learning atmosphere for their students. “Clearly because speech is new, there was no predecessor before me to hand me a guide,” Medrano said. “It really all just

came from my head.” He didn’t do it all by himself. “I’m regularly asking my students for feedback and input.” As second semester goes on the electives are gradually making progress. “It’s going fairly well,” Medrano said. With him not having much experience with debate he said, “We’re going a little slowly.” His students have enjoyed speech more because it’s focused on the individual. “They are a little shook as to the sudden academic jump and rigor,” he said. “Debate is very group orientated. It takes a lot more time and cooperation, note-taking, and research.” Senior Cyrus Hinojos has embraced every aspect of Speech and Debate. “The culture is

GRAPHIC BY MARISSA GONZALES & KEVIN GUTIERREZ

On Jan. 17, the 30th anniversary of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting, members of the community gathered in remembrance of everyone affected, especially the five children who died. Between the ages of 6 and 9, all were refugees from Southeast Asia. The memorial began with a number of Khmer traditions to honor those lost. From that point on, survivors described how they still suffer from the trauma. As Verber Salazar, now the District Attorney, admitted, the proper actions weren’t taken in the moments of grief. “Not only are the victims and their families terribly impacted by this type of trauma, but so are their friends, their neighbors, and their community,” she said. “We didn’t realize how important it was for all of us to work together and heal.” In fact, the impact it had on Leam didn’t even cross his mind un-

great.” He says his favorite thing about presenting is “making people laugh.” With the new semester he is excited to learn the art of debate. “Arguing is fun sometimes,” he said. “But I’d like to learn how to do it in an organized fashion.” Drama has had a similar year to Speech and Debate. “It still has some growing to do,” Allen said. After years of not having Drama as an active class on campus he explains the difficulties with trying to reboot the course. “Most people aren’t aware of the class,” Allen said. With it being an elective he points out that students need elective credits to graduate. “A lot of students don’t know what they’re getting into and just end up in the class.” This

causes a lack of enthusiasm and interest within the class, making it hard to get students engaged. “Drama has been gone from Stagg for four years at least,” he said. “No one really has experience putting on a production or being in one.” Starting a program from scratch means no one knows anything. “That’s been the hardest part. Everyone has to be brought up from square one without having any sort of example.” Having two levels of drama next year, beginning and intermediate, he hopes to see successful productions and a strong ongoing program. “You need a group of students that are committed to the production and know what they’re doing to guide the students with less experience.”

What’s happening? Boys volleyball There will be tryouts Feb. 11, 12, and 14 in the main gym at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Contact Coach Mona @ 209-400-3643 for more information.

Incentive dance Tomorrow will be the free incentive dance for students with a 2.0 or higher GPA or perfect attendance. The dance is from 7-10 p.m.

Keep updated at our website staggonline.net — Click on the QR code to get there.

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Opinion

The Stagg Line

EDITORIAL

02.01.19

Art classes should be funded like others

ll schools have a yearly budget. The Visual and Performing Arts Department is given $13,000 to share equally throughout the year. Mathematically each teacher receives $2,600 to purchase the necessary supplies to run their classes. This money might seem like a decent amount, but it’s not when you have five teachers who teach five classes each day. This budget is realistically amounts to about $520 per period. This is nowhere near enough money to provide good quality art supplies for an entire year. The small total of $520 is not even a fraction of what is spent on textbooks. A textbook typically costs $70, but keep in mind that all the core classes get supplied with this, which only adds so much more to that cost. If a student has a desire to pursue a career in the arts they would not be

properly supported like the core subjects - math, English, science, and social studies. Not only is the distribution of money not enough, but also the coverage falls short. The art classes usually learn what the primary colors are and do typical projects like drawing and painting. Yes, this is what an art class should do, but they should also get educated on the history and value of art. For example, they could learn about difference between the Renaissance and Medieval art eras, as well as learning about different influential artists like Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo.

Dependency on phones can lead to disconnection

Aidan Danforth

revolves around cell phones. Even trying to address this problem is a hassle. Adults talk about their teenage years in comparison to ours. They can describe how connected their friends groups where because of the absence of technology. Recently I and other staff members of the Stagg Line participated in an experiment. We voluntarily had our advisor lock our phones in a cabinet and store these buzzing distractions away. For a single school day other journalists and

STAGG LINE Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207 The Stagg Line is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards include the following: ff All-American: 22 times ff Hall of Fame ff First Place, Best of Show: 6 times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker: 7 times Stagg Line journalists over the years have won many awards and scholarships, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year.

I began the day feeling a bit more irritated than usual. Throughout the day multiple reporters shared how the day felt longer and boring. Classes seemed stretched out and extensive. We were agitated. Our patience was weak. Initially we felt stuck, but after a while that temper quickly faded. Even though we realized how desperate we truly were for our phones, our class was less distracted and more productive. Our lunch period that day was different from usual afternoons. A loud conversation echoed in our back room. Instead of being engaged in our phones, our staff was entertained in a single conversation. A conversation that everyone participated in. With phones it’s easy to have a more personalized humor and style, which allows someone to easily avoid a conversation. By simply making our jean pockets a little lighter, a day without cell phones became more social.

The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free to students and staff members. Our website staggonline.net is updated regularly with online exclusives. The Stagg Line is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means, student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance and all students on campus are encouraged to volunteer ideas. The staff editorial, which appears at the top of this page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. A personal column is signed and reflects the point of view of the writer, not the paper. Readers are welcome to submit letters for publication regarding any story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to publish any letter that is not libelous, obscene or inflammatory. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters may be given to any staff member, delivered to A8 or emailed to dbott@stocktonusd.net

Current and older issue PDFs are available at issuu.com/staggline

PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ

With such basic knowledge not being covered, it is not surprising art remains in the shadows. Art can help students expand their imagination, develop different cognitive skills, and allow them to express their

creativity. Not being provided with enough supplies or knowledge can be a setback for those students who actually enjoy the beauty of art and plan to pursue the study of it in the future.

Body art in the workplace can be seen as barrier

ART BY JAKE MARCELINO & SERINA SIENG

ave you ever tried leaving your phone at home? Or just turning it off for a couple hours? In today’s culture we are dependent of our handheld devices but by stripping ourselves from them we feel anxious. It is common to go out in public and see how less social we’ve become. Tables and seats are occupied by teenagers who are staring deeply into their phones. A couple of words may be spoken, a few laughs might be shared, but in many instances a group conversation looks disconnected because of phones. During group activities I pour more attention to a friend who is constantly on their phone. I’m busy speculating what my friend is entertained with, rather than enjoying the company of others. As a senior, going off to college means less time with these friends. Spending quality minutes making memories has become more important. I’m upset when an evening out with friends

An art student needs to scrape the sides of the paint circles just to get enough paint to finish their assigned project.

Oleedia Harris

hey always say not to judge a book by its cover, but does that really stop us? Body art is a great way of self expression and seems to be on the rise with young adults, but is it accepted in the workplace? Will having visible tattoos and piercings be the one thing that stops you from getting the job? There is no obvious yes or no answer, but it’s always good to be prepared. As much as I value self expression, you have to be realistic. Not every company wants the same image. A bank may want a more professional look consisting of slicked back hair and no visible body art. On the other hand, corporations such as Starbucks may allow hair dyed vibrant colors along with piercings and tattoos. I think it would be awesome for all jobs to let employees be self expressive through body art without it ruining their public image, that’s just not the reality of things. What do you expect employers to do? They have to consider their customers. They have to consider their employee’s visible piercings and tattoos may

ART BY JAKE MARCELINO & SERINA SIENG

be off-putting or offensive to their clientele, investors, or even the public at large. But I get it. I don’t necessarily want to feel obligated to take out my septum piercing everytime I have a job interview. But guess what, if taking out a piercing or covering a tattoo is what I need to do to get and keep a job and help me take steps forward with my occupation, then that is exactly what I’m going to do. So, if you know you’re going into a job field that doesn’t care what kind of body art you may have or if it’s visible or not, I suggest you go for it and be fully

self expressive. However, if you know a job would see that piercing you value so much as a disgrace to their public image, then taking it out while at work or for an interview is obviously in your best interest. You may get tattoos that are easily covered in the workplace. As much as employers may or may not feel like companies limiting their appearance is against their rights, there is reasoning behind it and employees must stand by that. At the end of the day, private businesses have the right to hire whoever they want.

EDITORS

REPORTERS

Maria Castillo & Kevin Gutierrez editors-in-chief / features

Shannon Bradberry

Brianna Rodriguez news

Yalie Ceesay

Oleedia Harris opinion Donavin Collins entertainment

Cevina Calderon Fine Finau Marissa Gonzales Solomon Juarez

Niko Rosete sports

Camila Kendall

Aidan Danforth web

Jake Marcelino

Serina Sieng graphics Don Bott adviser

Monze Martinez Krystena Meza Kenyon Pierce Angel Vasquez

Opinion

02.01.19

The Stagg Line

Who is prepared for a natural disaster? M y house is usually quite loud with seven people doing their daily hustle and bustle. However, on the stormy night of Jan. 6, while I had my hands plunged in soapy water, our house was taken over by deafening silence and blinding blackness. The power was out. I began searching for light sources only to find that my Marissa Gonzales only hope would be a few decorative candles we had on coffee tables and desks. Without technology I had nothing else to do so I decided to lie in my bed until I fell asleep. My mind began racing, like any normal person without distractions would, and I fell upon this question. How many of us are prepared for a natural disaster to happen? As time ticked past I thought of the possibility of this power outage extending for days. If the storm had continued to thrash through Stockton for more time than it did, families wouldn’t have the means to keep going about normal life, especially in the cold of winter. In the case of a power outage an average household would lose the use of refrigerators, water heaters, stoves and many other necessary amenities. In more extreme circumstances the possibility of losing the use of gas and water lines would not be out of the question. To many of us the idea of a natural disaster sweeping away all our resources seems outlandish, but with climate change on the rise your average tropical storm easily becomes a full on hurricane. Of course, the furthest thing from the minds of residents of Northern California is hurricanes but right here in our city of Stockton we face the risk of flood every rainy season. Growing up I’ve heard my father say about a thousand times that the levees could “break” any day. While this might be irrational anxiety the possibility of the levees eroding or flooding could easily become a reality. The city of Stockton has taken steps to raise the levees and repair them. On Aug. 22, 2018, the Chief of Engineers with the US Army Corps of Engineers signed a report that would pass the Lower San Joaquin River Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study to Congress. This study essentially proved that the levees in the Lower San Joaquin area need repairing. Although this is a step towards preventing the risk of Stockton undergoing major flooding, in the meantime citizens are still advised to be prepared for the worst. Paired with flood risk the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning in the San Joaquin County on Jan. 20. Close calls like this are the reason families should be prepared for the carpet to be ripped from under them. According to the California Department of Public Health it is advised that northern California households have an emergency kit already made for the case of disaster. This kit is advised to include non-perishable food, water, firstaid essentials, and other important items to have ranging from

ART BY SERINA SIENG

energy sources to basic toiletries. In some places it is advised to have an independent energy source connected to the house such as a generator. In California a house is allowed to have a backup generator under 50 brake horsepower and run it for 200 hours without a permit. I learned by asking around that not many families are prepared

with the necessary items for survival on hand. In addition to this many students find that they also would not be prepared to fight the masses that would show up at grocery and convenience stores in any case of disaster. The reality that many of us don’t see is that a natural disaster can strike at any moment. Whether it be a major storm or the flood risk we face, it is always smart to be prepared for the worst.

More shades, more consumers

Abusive relationships lead to many false assumptions

he lack of inclusivity towards people of color in the beauty industry is astonishing, but not unexpected. For a while the industry has neglected people of color as consumers, but AfricanAmerican women spend about $7.5 billion annually on beauty products so that is a foolish practice. Makeup brands like YSL, Tarte, and Beauty Blender are some prime examples of brands that have been called out for a lack of foundation shades. These brands have launched 50 shades of white, but only have about three dark shades to choose from. Why are people of color still an afterthought? Have they not made there point? What else do they have to do? When it comes to beauty there is a narrow window on what is considered beautiful and that idea is what may stop brands from adding more shades in fear it may “damage their credibility.” News flash: including people with darker skin tones can improve their brand, and increase sales! The black community would gladdley support inclusive makeup brands. In middle school I was very insecure about my skin and my facial features, so I began wearing makeup, to hide what society had convinced me were flaws. While looking for makeup in drug stores I realized, there is nothing here my color. At the

time my mom was not going to let me buy a $40 foundation from Sephora, so the drug store was my only option. The first item I bought was a BB cream, that was a few shades too light. I felt uncomfortable wearing shades to light, but I had no other options. I was thinking to myself why is there no color that looks like me or anyone darker than me. Eventually I began mixing shades to create something close to my complexion, but that gets so tiring. I just want to put on something and go, without the extra steps. Waking up almost 1 hour earlier to mix foundation and put makeup on was too much. During that time I found an interest in YouTube so I turned to that platform for answers. Was there anyone who had the same struggles as me? Turns out there was a whole community of POC who faced these problems also. Influencer Nyma Tang has over 800,000 subscribers on YouTube. She has a series on her channel called “The Darkest Shade Series!” where she reviews brands’ darkest shades. Tang’s career took off because her videos were directed towards people of color with deep skin. Her platform on YouTube inspires girls and boys with dark skin to feel comfortable with themselves. Tang doing this series also helps people with deep skin find brands that cater to them. Fenty Beauty, Makeup

Yalie Ceesay

“

News flash: including people with darker skin tones can improve their brand, and increase sales!

”

Forever, and, Maybelline are all setting the bar on what brands should be doing, catering to each demographic, and representing every skin tone. Especially the first Fenty Beauty launch in September of 2017. Rihanna came out with her own makeup line that included 40 foundation shades with so many undertones. This launch was praised because Rihanna created an inclusive shade range that catered to everyone: light, dark, and anywhere in between. “It was also important that every woman felt included in this brand. We are all so different, with our own unique skintones,” said Rihanna. This is what all brands should be doing. The beauty industry needs to do better.

hey won’t answer the phone. You keep trying to get a hold of them but nothing is working. You ask yourself what you did wrong, what you might’ve done to upset them. You apologize — for what, you don’t know, but you do know that it will make them happy. This happens almost every other week. You know their behavior is toxic but you just can’t leave them. This isn’t just a hypothetical situation, this is real life for many teens in relationships. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, nearly half of all women in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Females ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experienced the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence

Angel Vasquez

includes assaultive and coercive behaviors. Physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, all fall under the category of domestic violence. When women are caught in the trap of domestic violence, they are often told to “just leave.” It’s not always as easy as it might seem. INFOGRAPHIC BY ANGEL VASQUEZ

Early signs of domestic abuse Condescending and “joking” Abusers often make fun of their partner’s looks, family, and friends and claim that they are only joking.

Lack of empathy

Abusers might not seem to care that their partner had a bad day. They might even say that they have it worse.

Blame shifting Abusers never take responsibility for their actions and wrongdoings. It’s always someone else’s fault.

Love bombing Abusers will smother their partners early on in the relationship, often giving excessive proclamations of love online.

Constant lying One of the most notice able early signs of domestic abuse is how abusers lie to their partners excessively. Often, abusers will lie so much they forget the original lie they told.

SOURCE: LOVEISRESPECT.ORG

Women who are caught in the whirlwind of domestic violence might feel obligated to stay. Society pushes women to have a “rideor-die” mindset; women with this mindset are made to believe that they should support and be with their partner no matter what. When considering these domestic violence situations, it’s important to keep in mind that the victims have grown to love their partner. Jennifer Willbrough, ex-wife of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, discusses what it was like to live through her ex-husband’s abuse in a blog. She talks about how she was coerced her therapist into keeping quiet about her experiences in order to protect his career, and how she would have left if he was a “monster” all the time, but he wasn’t. Willbrough’s experience highlights what it means to be in a relationship where domestic violence is prevalent. Judgment and responsibility should be considered in application to these circumstances. While someone might have demonstrated bad judgment by staying in an unhealthy or dangerous situation, it does not mean that they are responsible, or asking, for the abuse perpetrated against themselves. It’s not always easy for women to “just leave.” Most of the time, it’s the exact opposite.

The Stagg Line

AGE

Features

02.01.19

is just a

NUMBER when in

LOVE

Monzerrath MARTINEZ

Love can be a risky thing. People tend to be cautious on the topic especially when it comes to the person they may date. Some may put a limit on how much older or younger a potential partner can be. So what happens when the person you like is older by at least one year? Seniors Aline Arias, Jose Correa, and Alyssa Nueno are just a few examples of students at Stagg who are committed to relationships in which their significant others are older. Some are relatively new to the older love scene, like Correa. “She’s 20 and I am 17 and we have been dating for five months,” he said. His girlfriend Brittani Eppler is currently a student at San Jose State University. “At first my parents were slightly hesitant because of our age difference,” Eppler said. “But then they met him and our parents met each other so later on they were fine with it.” For some couples maturity can be a problem, but Correa and Eppler know how to manage. Correa said, “She’s been through what I’m going through so she can kind of show me the ropes.” Eppler said that she does see that her boyfriend has become more mature but she also understands that “he still has to live his senior year, which I’ve already lived.” Perhaps one of the most understanding parts of their relationship is that they have trust in one another which gives them the opportunity to have friends of the opposite gender. They both agree that jealousy is not a route they would like to find themselves tangled in. Alyssa Nueno and her boyfriend Andrew Muthart are a couple who met two years ago. Since the beginning, their personalities were compatible and they have remained together ever since. “He was a

Hello, , Marhabaan, Sata srī akāla

Ulices CONTRERAS & Aline ARIAS & Brittani se CO R R E A

EPPLER

“

senior and I was a sophomore (My parents) warmed up when we started dating,” Nueno to our realtionship because said. they realized that what truly “In the beginning, my matters is our hapiness. parents saw our relationship as weird given the fact that he is two years older than me,” Nueno said. “They later warmed up to our relationship because they realized that what truly matters is our happiness.” For this couple distance is not an obstacle. Muthart is currently training locally to become a welder. Meanwhile, Nueno is finishing her last year of high school. She is hoping to be accepted to University of the Pacific for this upcoming fall. This way she and Muthart will both be in Stockton. Nueno believes that what has kept their relationship successful despite the age gap is communication. She said, “We

Alyssa NUENO senior

”

She remembers hearing stories from her grandmother in Malaysian, and soon enough she started getting a grasp for that language. Senior Mew Kusakul knows English, Chinese, Malaysian, and Thai. Kusakul’s native tongue is Thai, being that she was born in Thailand. She has been in the United States for five months as an exchange student. Luckily for her, she had learned English back home. In Thailand Kusakul learned Chinese since it’s a common language to know there. Since she got here, she began to get a taste for Spanish, and so far it hasn’t been easy. She said, “Spanish is rare in Thailand so I had never really heard it. I’m going to keep practicing it, though.” Not only does Kusakul know multiple languages, but she has also had the fortune of traveling to many places, taking advantage of her skill. She visited Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, and Switzerland. “Every country is wonderfully unique in so many ways. Knowing multiple languages lets you

T H A RT & A

lyssa N U E N

learned how to talk and figure out our problems.” In the future once both are respectively done with their studies in Stockton they plan to move out of Stockton. Distance is something that they don’t plan on experiencing. For Arias dating her one year older partner is nothing new. “We will be coming on our four-year anniversary,” she said. However, this will be the first year in which their age gap makes a difference. Her boyfriend Ulices Contreras, a Stagg alumnus, is now enrolled at California State University, Chico. Contreras said, “We are now about 133 miles apart so that’s difficult. It’s difficult not being able to be with her everyday.” For Arias the feeling is mutual, but she comforts herself in knowing that her boyfriend comes back to Stockton every weekend. Arias and Contreras are thankful to have both of their parents’ support. Arias said, “Every now and then my mom tells me I know it’s hard but you guys can make it work.” Contreras’s parents are just as supportive. “Aline and my parents have built a strong relationship and they love her,” he said. When it comes to the serious commitment of a long distance relationship, Contreras said, “If you really want to be with someone you will make it work.”

Learning languages aids communication skills Maria CASTILLO

Andrew M U

Goodbye, Zàijiàn, Lā k̀ xn, Selamat tinggal

communicate with people around the world and it’s amazing,” she said. Maha Kamran, a junior, is also gifted with the ability of knowing multiple languages. She knows Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi, and English. She was born in Pakistan where she learned Urdu, the mother tongue. She moved here with her family two years ago. Just like for Kusakul, Kamran also learned English in school. “English is the universal language. Wherever you go you’ll find people who speak it or who know it a little,” she said. She is now learning French, and she plans to add Spanish to her language list later on. Despite knowing the language, Kamran struggled a bit in her AP English class, but that didn’t stop her from keeping her grades high. Both girls agree that a key factor to learning multiple languages is hearing, observing, and practicing. Kusakul said, “Watching YouTube videos and seeing how they pronounce words, then making sense of them lets you actually use the word. It’s a step-by-step process.”

New Year’s resolutions lead to better health choices

Seniors take on the challenge of leaving negative life choices to change for the better in 2019 Cevina CALDERON As 2019 begins, sudden positivity floods the world. People begin to question which habits to keep and which to change in the new year. Almost always healthy lifestyles are a top priority for a new year. Eating better and feeling better is what people aspire to do. For senior Angelina HangPres healthy eating is her goal. Recently she started her ketogenic diet, also known as the keto diet, in hope to lose weight. According to the Charlie Foundation for ketogenic therapies, the keto diet is focused on being “high in fat, adequate in protein and low in carbohydrates.” HangPres is motivated to do this diet not only because of her aspiration to lose weight but because of her family. They have a history of unhealthy eating that eventually leads to different health complications. “My uncle is diabetic and he told me I should join him on this diet,” she said. The keto diet is known for managing weight and preventing diseases like such as epilepsy, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Changing her eating habits has been a challenge for her. “For the first few weeks it has been pretty difficult because I still have junk food at my house,”she said. A

transition like this takes time and dedication. Her first and hardest steps towards following this diet deal with her cutting out certain foods she eats often. “I’ve been trying to cut out carbs and sugar completely.” New year’s resolutions are famously known for being broken. However, this resolution for HangPres is more than a temporary goal. “I want to make it a long term goal because it’s been helping me a lot,” she said. Another senior, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a new years resolution to stop smoking. Health wise he feels as though his lungs have been highly affected by his habit. According to the New York Times, “Smokers can expect to lose about 10 years of life expectancy.” Recently the senior has had trouble breathing properly. To discipline himself if he falls back into smoking he does push-ups. Aside from the health effects of smoking his family also inspires him to give up this habit. “I don’t want my sister to start doing it because she’s younger and looks up to me.” Smoking is also in his family history. “I could see people in my family who smoke cigarettes coughing a lot,” he said. Hearing the constant coughs worry him and make him hope he will never be in that shape.

PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ

Senior Angelina HangPres eats her salad during lunch at school. She prepares her lunch every day before school, but has only recently started doing that because of her New Year’s resolution to start eating healthier, so she adopted a Ketogenic diet. She has been keeping to it for the past month so far and believes she can make it through.

Features

02.01.19

Phobias limit possibilities

Krystena MEZA

We all know what the feeling is like to be afraid of something. Phobias are nothing to joke about when it comes to people whose fears are serious. Phobias are based on anxieties and fears that are usually extremely personal. This is a type of anxiety disorder that is explained by an intense and non-stop fear of a person, place, or thing. Senior Enekeyo Sakata feels uncomfortable around open waters, a form of aquaphobia. His fear started at a very young age and he is one of the many people that has this phobia. “I had no idea it was a real thing until I started looking more into it. Sakata says he would be on the verge on fainting because of his aquaphobia. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Just the thought of open waters gives me really bad headaches.”

Sakata wishes this wasn’t a thing because of the different places he could’ve gone to. “I would be scared of traveling to other places because I know there is open water under me.” In the early years of his phobia he would tell himself that he should not be afraid because of how feminine it sounds being afraid of something. As he got older he learned to just accept the fact he has a fear of open waters. As for junior Valencia Flores she has a fear of zombies (kinemortophobia). She believes that the zombie apocalypse is going to happen. “I cannot go around anything that has to do with zombies because my heart starts beating super fast and I feel like my body is going numb. The look of them just gives me the creeps.” Flores doesn’t like going to a place that has anything to do with zombies because when she was younger she watched zombie

movies with her parents which triggered the phobias in her mind. For sophomore Alicia Leaños, she has a fear of butterflies and of anything that looks like a butterfly, which includes moths. Her phobias started when she was riding her bike when she was around 7 or 8, and then suddenly a butterfly landed onto her hand and drove her to get scared and fall off of her bike. “Every time I am around any type of flying object I get super scared, but when I’m around either moths or butterflies I feel like passing out and I start having trouble focusing.” She does not enjoy the month of March because that is when moths usually tend to come around more. This holds her back from doing any type of fun things during spring because of how panicky she gets just thinking about butterflies or any type of butterfly-like insect.

The Stagg Line

Former DCA student reflects on past mistakes

Shannon BRADBERRY Coming from an environment of drug addiction, lack of ambition, and low income, it is hard to imagine a life outside of that realm. Dreaming of things you’ve never encountered, your imagination often fails to understand the tenacious journey one endures to change for the better. It took a lot of self realization for junior Manuel Rosaz to notice how toxic his surroundings were. Choosing to enroll himself into Discovery Challenge Academy (DCA) was one of the best decisions he has made for himself. DCA is a program that aims to reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts or students approaching a similar situation. They equip their cadets with the life skills, respect, education and self discipline they’ll need to succeed and become productive young adults. It is a residential program that holds very high standards for incoming students. While at the academy, cadets learn new habits that transform them into intuitive individuals. To acquire these expectations, DCA incorporates military tactics that challenge the resilience they each possess. As the first day of the program approached, Rosaz was consumed by fear and intimidation. Leaving his family for five and a half amount of months to live with strangers My whole attiwas a feeling he had anticipated since he signed up. tude changed “My whole attitude changed when I got there. when I got there,” Rosaz said. “Usually I don’t listen to what Usually I don’t anyone tells me, but I obliged listen to what right away. They scared the crap out of me.” anyone tells me, Adjusting his behavior in but I obliged an unfamiliar environment was where he learned his greatest right away. lessons. “When I actually worried about myself it made me refer back to my behavior at Stagg,” he said. “I was always trying to be in the mix and involved in activities that really have no meaning.” The friends he surrounded himself with didn’t necessarily care about his future or his general well being, he added. He realized he was trying to distract himself from the realities of life that were approaching too quickly for him to notice. Enrolling back into public school, the risk of falling back into old habits isn’t difficult for some. Rosaz believes he has made a change in himself and wants to keep it that way. “I’m constantly seeking better,” he said. “If I’m not benefitting from a situation then I shouldn’t pay attention to it.” Brandy Thurman is the principal of DCA and she explained how rewarding it is to witness the change students face within this rigorous program. “Some of these kids go through so much,” she said. “Watching their growth throughout this journey is what gets me out of bed every day.” Thurman believes these kids simply need someone to believe in them. “With a little bit of confidence behind them, they are capable of anything.” The program offers various clubs and activities to keep students engaged. Rozas joined the running club when he first entered the program. They prepared members for a half marathon during the last few months of DCA. “I wanted to give up so many times,” he said. “It was hard to waking up before school every day and using all my energy to run.” “Manuel was very dedicated,” Thurman said. “I observed how personal this journey was for him.” Reaching the end of the DCA was so rewarding for Rosaz. “The feeling I had walking across that stage was amazing,” he said. “Looking out to my family and seeing how proud they where was the best feeling ever.” When he takes the time to think about who he was before the program, he feels slightly embarrassed. “I thought I had everything figured out,” Rosaz said. “I was so disrespectful and ignorant to how important my education is.” DCA was a big reality check for him. Rosaz aims to set the example for his younger siblings because he never had that role model himself. Being away for so long made him appreciate his family more and take into account all the sacrifices they make for him.

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ART BY SERINA SIENG

Junior develops a love for alligators Brianna RODRIGUEZ

Cats, dogs, even horses. Ask kids their favorite animal, and these may be the most common answers. But what about alligators? For junior Alanah Grisby her fascination and love for alligators began when she was 10. Television shows like “Gator Boys” and videos online are the platforms that exposed her to the species. “My sister got me started on it,” Grisby said. “She would always watch stuff about alligators so I became interested.” Like every person who has a crazy love for something, Grisby has a large collection of alligators. Figurines, stuffed animals and even pictures, anything that represents the large reptiles, she has it. “I have a lot of pictures on my phone. More pictures of them than anything.” One of her favorite memories was going to Florida and being able to see alligators in person. “It was a dream come true.” Grisby was bummed when she wasn’t able to go to Gatorland but was grateful she at least got to experience Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park. She recalls being able to physically hold an alligator. “It was really cool holding him,” she said. “I felt like the person working there because everyone was coming up and touching him while he was in my arms.” It was that moment when she realized what she would do with her life. “It brought me so much joy,” she said. “This is why I was put on this earth.” Her dreams don’t stop there. Grisby’s passion for the animals have helped her plan out the rest of her life. “I’m going to go to college and major in zoology,” she said. “I plan on studying abroad in Africa and study the savannah safari.” After she earns her degree she would like to reside in Florida and work with alligators and other animals. With alligators being her main focus, Grisby is an animal lover in general. “I want to help the animals that are endangered,” she said, adding that she dreams of opening an animal sanctuary one day. “Alligators aren’t endangered, but of course they will be

PTSD

What’s on your mind?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is when one has experienced a traumatic event and has trouble recovering from it. Often students who have been exposed to events that have a lasting impact tend to develop “triggers,” that envoke negative emotions in their mind which causes them to become aggressive or hostile towards the source of the trigger.

PHOTO BY MARIA CASTILLO

Junior Alanah Grisby describes herself as “the biggest alligator lover.” In the summer of 2017, Grisby had the chance to hold an actual alligaor at Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park in Florida.

there!” Planning to help as many animals as she can she wants to go down in history as someone who made a difference. Grisby wants to make people realize that alligators are not cold-blooded killers. “People think that they’re just going to kill you,” she said. “Only if they are provoked, like may wild animals. They’ll think about it first, unlike crocodiles.” She goes on to explain the differences between crocodiles and alligators. “They have different mouth structures and alligators are able to feel love.” While crocodiles will kill their own children, Grisby explains, alligators are able to express their love for their offspring She wants to let the world understand these misjudged creatures.

Symptoms

• Depression • Low energy • Trouble sleeping, along with nightmares • Avoiding event related things • Isolation • Having sudden shutdowns

Treatments

• Stay active and social (self care) • Try meditation or other relaxing activities • Seek professional help from a therapist or a doctor • Brain Spotting is a proffesional treatment that is offered at Healthy Start

Manuel ROSAZ junior

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Resources

• You can always go see a certified therapist • 1-800-855-4673 (Teen Help Line) • 1-800-273‑8255 (NAMI) • Healthy Start is always available to students SOURCE: MAYOCLINIC.ORG AND MENTALHEALH.NET

6The Stagg Line

Entertainment

02.01.19

‘Glass’ breaks movie standards Aidan DANFORTH

ART BY SERINA SIENG

Blockbusters featuring allminority casts represent positive step in film industry Donavin COLLINS & Angel VASQUEZ Hollywood. Yes, it’s the iconic industry that produces blockbuster movies, but it’s also traditionally known for its lack of diversity. Twenty years ago, it wasn’t a surprise to find no movies starring people of color take home an Oscar, let alone be nominated. However, even more so recently, it seems as if people of color are finally being given the spotlight. Movies such as “Black Panther” and “BlacKkKlansman” have been nominated for multiple awards, signifying progress towards racial equality. Even with last year’s “Get Out,” an explosion of public support was thrown towards director Jordan Peele for his choice to address racism with different underlying themes. The movie was not only supported because of this, but also because he had a cast made up of people of color. Peele made sure to avoid the problem of being stereotypical with his characters and their problems, and he included a soundtrack that primarily came from black artists. Junior Daishawd Shelton admires these decisions to produce more movies with diverse casts. “I’d rather watch a movie that has an ethnic cast because it relates to the ethnic children and

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I’d rather watch a movie that has an ethnic cast because it relates to the ethnic children and shows them that they can reach success. Daishawd SHELTON junior

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shows them that they can reach success,” he said. However, he and others still think there is enough room for more diverse movies, which help to teach others of different races. “We still need more progress though because there’s only a few movies that have chose to

actually show different cultures, like ‘Black Panther,’” Shelton added. Even with the teachings of different cultures to the audience, there also comes some drawbacks, according to senior Carmina Amparo-Salmasan. “I don’t like how it’s stereotypical a little bit, but at least it shows a part of that culture,” she said. “Crazy Rich Asians,” which was released last year, was meant as a way of “emphasizing the Asian culture,” but fell victim to including some stereotypes, Amparo-Salmasan said. No matter the small mistakes, she still admires the movie for signifying equality. “The film industry is making progress, even though ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ was a little stereotypical.” Hollywood hasn’t just done a good job of raising the representation of different ethnicities, but gender and sexualities as well. Last year, all eyes were on the new Warner Bros film “Ocean’s 8” because of its all female cast. The film was a success in terms of revenue and audience satisfaction. “If you

Shyamalan continues trend of impressing viewers with surprising twists, but leaves behind a displeasing ending.

GRAPHIC BY CAMILA KENDALL & MONZERRATH MARTINEZ

What’s new in entertainment? Movies “What Men Want” (Fantasy) - Feb. 8 “The Prodigy” (Thriller) - Feb. 8 “Cold Pursuit” (Drama) - Feb. 8 “Captain Marvel” (Fantasy) - Mar. 8 “Five Feet Apart” (Drama) - Mar. 15 “Us” (Thriller) - Mar. 22

just have a cast with a majority of them male, there’s a whole bunch of women that might not be able to relate,” freshman Kimi Matsumoto said. ”It’s getting better, but there’s always more room for better diversity.” The spring of representation didn’t stop at all female casts and majority black casts. “Love, Simon,” a film from 20th Century Fox, stood out to audiences by being the first film released by a major studio to tell the story of a gay teenage romance. The rom-com was able to successfully tell a story of a teen figuring out his sexuality without having this be the only focus of the film. Hollywood has taken big leaps in terms of representation through film. They have started to move away from majority white male casts as being the norm, and now towards having mixed casting. Audiences are now able to watch as these people from different ethnicities, sexualities, and genders are able to take the stage and represent their communities.

M. Night Shyamalan is known for his dramatic and captivating movies. “Signs,” “The Sixth Sense” and “The Happening” prove that the director has mastered the art of surprise endings. You’ll never expect what twist he will play next. His latest movie “Glass” is no different. “Glass” is the third installment in the “Unbreakable” series. The movie is based around superheros, but with a different approach. Unlike Marvel films, there isn’t any need for special effects or flamboyant action scenes. Instead, “Glass” takes a deeper and more methodical approach to the typical comic book story. The movie revolves around characters who possess superhuman abilities but they question whether their powers are truly real. The plot is far better and unique for a superhero story. We watch as their doubts and weaknesses play out into the plot. “Glass” has an outstanding cast that is able to express the mindset of each complex character. Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy, and Bruce Willis display their superb acting talent. Together, they show how emotionally driven the movie is. Their performances add a much needed level of detail for their characters. It’s impossible to look away from McAvoy’s performance.

His character, Kevin Wendell Crumb, suffers from multiple personalities. McAvoy not only plays this character but the several other personalities. His versatile acting allows the audience to witness the 23 different personalities. The performance is breathtaking. Every time he switches personalities the audience cowers in fear. The idea of his character is creative and fascinating but sinister as well. The level of talent from the actors and the director made “Glass” a must-see thriller. Besides the stellar performances, the movie is deeply interactive. As the audience, you are invested into the film. Gaps installed into the climax allows the ending twist to be completely unpredictable, although these holes create an unsatisfying end to the series. “Glass” is an unsettling experience that needs to be seen.

TV Premieres “Super Bowl LIII” - Feb. 3 “The Challenge” (Season 33) - Feb. 6 “Grammy Awards” - Feb. 10 “Doom Patrol” (Season 1) - Feb. 15 “The Voice” (Season 16) - Feb. 25 “The Simpsons” (Season 30) - Mar. 3

Nearby Concerts Lil Xan, Santa Cruz - Feb. 1 ASAP Rocky, San Francisco - Feb. 2 Marc Anthony, San Jose - Feb. 8 Ja Rule, San Francisco - Feb. 17 Joji, San Francisco - Feb. 20 Ella Mai, Santa Cruz - Feb. 20

Trending News Zac Efron set to star as leading role in movie on serial killer Ted Bundy. Michael Jackson documentary receives criticism for allegations. The New England Patriots will face the Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl LIII on Sunday.

Sports

02.01.19

The Stagg Line

Dominating the court

Despite disappointing season for team, sophomore Summer Hong shines Camila KENDALL Point guard and shooting guard Summer Hong has been dominating the court for varsity this year, and what is really impressive is she is just a sophomore. Hong started playing basketball her eighth-grade year for Pacific Safety Academy. “I just fell in love with it, the skills really came naturally to me, and I did not have any real struggles when I was starting out.” But once switching from middle school to high school basketball, nerves began to set in. “Playing for PSA was just for fun and not really that competitive, but now playing for Stagg it’s like the real deal and it actually counts toward something.” She became more self conscious of her abilities because she expected the girls to be more gifted in the game than she was. “I was scared that the girls were bigger and better, but I kept pushing and kept trying my hardest.” Despite what she imagined to be obstacles she continues to push herself for not only her but also for the team as well. Hong has seen tremendous growth since her freshman year. “I really didn’t know what I was doing freshman year but my coach helped teach me the basic skills and I improved from there.” Some advice given to her that has stuck with Hong throughout her sea-

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I really didn’t know what I was doing freshman year but my coach helped teach me the basic skills and I improved from there. Summer HONG sophomore

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son was that she should always give it her all no matter the circumstances. She applies these words to not only on the court but to her school life as well. Although Hong has been a great addition to the team one aspect she desperately hopes to improve for this season is her mindset. “When playing a more skilled and competitive team I tend to get nervous a lot before games. Also when we’re losing by a lot my confidence goes down very much throughout the game.” To help calm herself down Hong often listens to artists such as NBA Youngboy, Haiti Babii, and Likybo. She has also received plenty of help

from her teammates and coaches to alleviate herself of this tension. “I would describe my team as caring, goofy, hard working, and keeps pushing even when we are down by a lot.” Her biggest inspiration on the team is Cheyanne Gaines, who inspires her through her leadership skills and how well she plays the game. For Hong to be a sophomore and playing varsity it brought up some admiration among her teammates. “She pushes herself hard and to be on varsity as a sophomore it takes a lot of guts because she is going against older girls and so for her to take on that role in being our point guard and being strong with the ball takes guts,” said Jazlynn Jinnies. Through hard work and natural skill Hong found her way to fit among her older peers on the team. “We needed her, she’s really good...and has heart,”Jinnies said. “Just because she’s younger does not mean she can’t play at the same skill level as we do,” said De’Bohray Harris, who was able to develop a bond with Hong during their summer league. “We are always on the same page and she plays really well. Her skills are really developed.”. The bonds she has made has made her experiences so much more special for Hong and her time on the team so much more meaningful. “My favorite game was during preseason against Galt because we all contributed and played our hardest and ended up with the dub.”

Try out after losing a bet, stay for the slamming

Jose Gonzales finds his passion on the mat

Freshman Jose Gonzales grabs his opponent’s wrist in attempt to break him down. He goes on to win the match with a pin allowing Stagg to win the dual against Chavez. PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE

Krystena MEZA Although freshmen typically have nothing to do with varsity, freshman Jose Gonzalez has put together a 16-8 record as a wrestler this season. During a friendly game of basketball, he and his friend decided the loser would have to take on wrestling in the winter season. Towards the beginning of the season he said, “The ones I have won quickly were against new people like me. I have beaten people that are veterans… those were quite a bit tougher.” What made Gonzalez decide to stay in wrestling was because of how much fun he had “slamming people,” and knowing that he has the technique to do so. He also did research after enjoying the sport and developed an inspiration of Kyle Dake, a Team USA wrestler ranked No. 2 in the world. “The older teammates that I look up that to, as good mentors that I aspire to be like one day are seniors Kevin Gutierrez and Aidan Danforth because they are a couple of the best wrestlers I know.”

Gonzalez plans to continue wrestling throughout high school and possibly into college. He constantly works on his skills and building his strength. What he believes is the reason for him doing so well is all the cardio he has done in the past and how much muscle he had already built before joining wrestling. The goals he has set for himself is making it to Masters and qualifying for State. In the beginning when he first brought the idea of doing wrestling to his parents, they thought he was crazy because of how small he was. The only struggles he goes through with wrestling is making weight. “It’s difficult making the right weight because I tend to eat a lot and get carried away with eating too much.” In wrestling you have to make weight in a certain weight class meaning you have to stay below a certain weight so if you are ever over the weight limit you have to cut the weight fast. “What wrestling has helped me with so far is self defense as well as having a longer lifespan.”

Sophomore Summer Hong drives the ball towards Edison’s basket in SJAA conference action. The Delta Queens went on to lose the game 60-20. PHOTO BY FINE FINAU

attle BEATS “Never Bend’ by 03 Greedo gets me hyped before my game because it says ‘my momma made me a star.’” Marissa LOPEZ Senior

“Skoompin’ by ShooterGang Kony always puts me in a good mood before a match.’” Fodia CEESAY Sophomore

“Thotiana’ by Blueface has a catchy chorus and it gets me hyped.’” Michael GARCIA Junior

“Drip’ by Lil Baby always puts me in a competitive mood before my match.” Gregorio PICHARDO Sophomore

“Don’t Like’ by Chief Kief gives me good energy that I need before my games.’” Masiah WEST-AYELE Sophomore GRAPHIC BY FINE FINAU

Who’s coming to our house?

Boys Basketball

Boys Soccer

Wrestling

Girls Basketball

Girls Soccer

Tonight (Senior Night) vs. Bear Creek HS 5:00 / 7:15 PM

Tonight (Senior Night) vs. Bear Creek HS 4:00 / 6:00 PM

No remaining matches

Tuesday, Feb. 5 vs. McNair HS 4:00 PM

Tuesday, Feb. 5 vs. McNair HS 4:00 / 6:00 PM

News

The Stagg Line

02.01.19

Neglected program seeks more funding VAPA waits for approval for more classes and supplies to expand possibilities in art classes Shannon BRADBERRY Nadia Dutra is a senior who believes the art program deserves more recognition. “Art allows me to express myself in ways I can’t with words,” she said. “I grew up around art and it’s really unfortunate to see the lack of supplies and resources our campus has.” The Art Department has the usual paint brushes, pastels, color pencils, and paint. But with their limited budget, the teachers find it hard to fulfill the desires of passionate students. “We don’t have anything super luxurious,” art teacher Chuzin Vang said. “It’s affordable and comes in large quantities for a whole class.” Vang believes there are some students who have a real knack for the arts, like senior Jaycee Mangmoradeth. “Art is my favorite hobby,” Mangmoradeth said. “I can’t really venture out and see what I’m capable of with the supplies we have here.” Although he appreciates the supplies offered to him, he still thinks there should be more funding. The Visual and Performing Arts Department receives $13,000 per year, which is divided evenly between the five teachers covering art, drama and music. The money is issued to teachers in the beginning of the school year in hopes they get required supplies for the upcoming year. If the money isn’t used by March 15, it could possibly roll over to the next year or just be taken back.

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“When students misuse the supplies, it creates hesitation for more funding,” Vang said. Every student is held accountable for their own actions. It’s up to the teachers to discipline and take action in a situation like that. “If we could just invest in more things like stencils, posters, styrofoam for sculpting, and rulers, more kids would be engaged,” Dutra said. “I think they don’t really participate because we have to share and wait for certain supplies.” Even though core classes are considered more important than VAPA courses, Principal Andre Phillips and Assistant Principal Gurvinder Chauhan hope to get their ideas approved and expand the Art Department. “We want to find a teacher who has a degree in digital art,” Phillips said. “That would entertain so many students because it’s new and uses cool technology.” Depending on that answer from district board members, they will have more information on whether or not they will receive more funding and start the hunt for a digital arts teacher. Every year the department receives a different amount of money, this school year was more than the previous, and they will be getting the ex-

“I grew up around art and it’s really unfortunate to see the lack of supplies and resources our campus has. Nadia DUTRA senior

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PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ

Senior Nadia Dutra makes due with the art supplies given to finish her project. She paints a lighter stoke around the text to give her name a more 3D look to it. She had to scrape the sides of the circles to just get enough paint to fill in the picture.

act amount for the upcoming 2019-20 school year shortly. “If there were more money for field trips maybe it would spark that interest for students,” Principal

Andre Philips said. “Going to an art museum and taking a tour can show them how to appreciate art in all of its forms.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Adkins scholars program provides financial guidance From Malcolm X to Barack Obama, many are known for their influence. However, who are other influential African Americans?

Nicholas ROSETE

Applications, financial aid, grants, scholarships, and college. For those who consider themselves to be college-bound, these words are so common that they have probably grown tired of them already. In March of last year, one of Stockton Unified’s directors introduced Principal Andre Phillips to a program that would help to alleviate some of the stress associated with college. “She recommended this program that comes out of Fairfield in the Vallejo County area called the ‘Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program,’” Phillips said. “So I went down there and visited the program for one day and it was an awesome experience.” Students participating in this program meet once a week to do homework, create a portfolio with all of their grades, certificates, resumes, letters WILLIE B. ADKINS SCHOLARS PROGRAM Dress for Success

Making the Dream a Reality!

To join the program you are required to wear uniform; a polo shirt with buttons and khaki pants.

SAT/ACT Preparations

When you join the program advisors will assist you with your standardized testing.

Supportive Services

Advisors will be there to help with your journey in high school. They can also assist with health/medical care.

Individual Consultations

If you need to speak to someone personally, advisors will be there to handle situations one-on-one.

Tutoring

The Adkins program offers support for all classes. They want you to feel comfortable to ask questions during homework/discussions.

What’s online?

GRAPHIC BY YALIE CEESAY

they have written to colleges, and then go on college trips. “The program was originally put together for African-American students, but it has morphed into more of an open program and what they do is get these kids on track to be ready for college, get scholarships, and instill values within the students,” Phillips said. “That’s their premise.” Every Wednesday, there are approximately 30 students who show up to become more prepared for their future. One of those 30 students is junior Destiny Allen. “They help you find different scholarships to apply for, teach you about financial aid and grants, and even give you free SAT prep,” Allen said. Junior Karis Carter is looking forward to the college visits most. With this program, students have the ability to go on a trip to the college of their choice. “I’m really looking forward to all the college visits because I would love the opportunity to go to Stanford and see what it’s like,” Carter said. There are no requirements or prerequisites necessary to be involved in the Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program. “We have to find a way for these kids to connect with something, but with things like sports, you can’t participate unless you have your grades in check but with Willie B. Adkins, you don’t,” Phillips said. “They will continue to work with you and mentor you throughout your high school career regardless of your grades.” Students who are interested in becoming part of the program may go to www.williebadkins.com and submit an application. After being accepted, attend the weekly meetings held on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in The Spot.

WeeklyGallery Check out our website for weekly galleries featuring AP Biology labs, Dungeons and Dragons Club and the wrestling team battling for a league title.

Revel became the first black congressman in 1870. In today’s Congress, there are 56 AfricanAmericans.

Bridges was the first AfricanAmerican student to desegregate an all-white school in Lousiana.

Ruby Bridges

Hiram Rhodes Revel McDaniels led the way to success after becoming the first AfricanAmerican to win an Oscar.

As a civil rights leader with W.E.B. Dubois, Baker spent her life working with the NAACP.

Ella Baker

Hattie McDaniels With still room for better representation, Marshall is the first of the two black Supreme Court Justices.

Thurgood Marshall

Turner was the only AfricanAmerican who was able to lead a two-day sustained slave rebellion.

Nat Turner GRAPHIC BY DONAVIN COLLINS & OLEEDIA HARRIS

15 Seconds of Fame

Watch how senior Risa Kinard has taken an interest in cursive after observing her mother’s writing. She enjoys practicing her calligraphy.

Weekly Sports Focus Visit our website to see Jasmine Khan talk about how wrestling strengthens her.

Read about how Xochilt Juarez plays for the emotional connection with her teammates.