October 2019

THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXXII NUMBER II

october 17, 2019

theaztecnews.com

VIEWPOINT PG. 3

FOCUS PG. 4-5

features pg. 6

Teenagers become politically active

Student fears and how to overcome them

Nintendo lauches Mario Cart Mobile

NEWS Mark Keppel welcomes new student IN BRIEF bank staff Mark keppel hosts their anuual homecoming ASB held the homecoming dance at Oct. 12. This year, there was an increase in safety precautions in order to keep the dance fun and safe.

UPCOMING Fall fest Fall fest will be held on Friday Oct. 25. In contrast to last year, there would be no game to go along with the event. Rather, this event will be focused more on the food festival and the 20 clubs selling at the event. Fall fest will start at 5:30 and end at 8:30.

Mark your calendar 10/17 - District College Fair 10/23 - Collaboration Schedule 10/25 - Fall Fest 11/1 - Pupil Free Day 11/6 - Collaboration Schedule 11/8 - Minimum Day 11/11 - Veteran’s Day 11/13 - Collaboration Schedule 11/20 - Collaboration Schedule

HANA KIKUCHI Staff Writer

On Sept. 30, Mark Keppel introduced a new student banker. After the previous banker, Esther Cai, resigned from her position, Ms. Jane Yeh, was hired. On Oct. 16, Yeh began to work independently.

Yeh is accustomed to the school environment. Previously, she worked part time at Repetto Elementary School as a school coordinator. There she would translate information for the school and work with the parents.

However, at Mark Keppel, she plays a different role. “It was very interesting to work at a high school versus an elementary [school]...

I was a school coordinator [at Repetto Elementary School] so we deal more with the parents and now i’m dealing more with students, so there are a lot more changes.”

Because of these drastic changes, she has found difficulty in getting accustomed to the new job. This has caused the lines for the student bank to move slower. However, the manager of the student bank, Ms. Alejandra Perez, says that though business at student bank has been a little slow, it is better than what she expected.

Students have also reacted to Yeh working at the student bank. According to senior Belinda Lau, when she first saw Yeh behind the desk, she was surprised. “I was just going in, and I was like, oh, it’s a different person,” says

Student bank staff Jane Yeh poses for a picture.

THE AZTEC/ISABELLA COFRESSI

Lau. However, Yeh hopes to become part of the Aztec family and improve at her job. “I feel that I still need to learn a lot more both personally and professionally...All I need is time [to improve],” states Yeh. As the new student bank staff, Yeh hopes to positively impact the school. She wants students to be more independent and re-

sponsible for their event or activity, so that in the real world they will know what to do.

Yeh adds that she believes, “the two core values is responsibility and friendship. Students should bring this idea around with the” She hopes, as time passes, to “improve everything [about the student bank] and help the student bank grow bigger.”

Keppel boasts three National Merit finalists SELINA MARTINEZ Co-Editor-in-Chief/ Viewpoint Editor

THE AZTEC/ISABELLA COFRESSI

National Merit Winners Mikayla Kwok(12), Jeffrey Szeto(12), and Kevin Wong(12) poses for a picture.

CollegeBoard has recently named Mark Keppel seniors Mikayla Kwok, Jeffrey Szeto, and Kevin Wong as National Merit Semifinalists. This coveted title is awarded to the 16,000 seniors who scored in the top 1% on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) during their junior year.

The PSAT is administered annually to about 1.6 million students across the nation. Students take the PSAT in October of their junior year, receive their scores in December, and are notified of their national merit status in September of their senior year.

Kwok, Szeto, and Wong will now apply for a chance to become a National Merit Finalist that qualifies them for many prestigious scholarships.

THE AZTEC

2 NEWS

OCTOBER 17, 2019

NHS hosts the UC/Personal statement

Keppel presents Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland TIFFANY NGUYEN-TRAN Staff Writer

IZABELLA COFRESSI A&E/Features Editor/ Chief Photographer On Oct. 8th, the National Honor Society hosted a Personal Statement Workshop from 6 to 8 PM in the school cafeteria. The purpose of this meeting was to advise and give tips to students on how best to complete their college application essays. College Advisors Ms. Stephanie Pagaza and Ms. Annie Chiang went through every UC PIQ prompt, as well as every Common Application prompt, giving advice to students on how they should approach each question.

The goal for this presentation was simple: get students thinking about how to write these essays, rather than giving a step-by-step process on how to do them.

“We help facilitate the brainstorming process because these essays are where you can get personal and explain more about how you are in and out of the classroom,” says Pagaza. Lists of each UC and Common App prompts, in addition to thought provoking questions, were provided to students.

Ryan Chow (12) beginning the UC/personal statement presentation.

One of the biggest points that were emphasized during the presentation was how students are more than just their grades and test scores. “Of course colleges look at your grades and your extracurriculars, but your PIQ and personal statement is basically a free space for you to talk about yourself outside of that,” says Chiang. Students put an enormous amount of pressure on themselves to get perfect grades and high SAT scores, but that is only one part of your college application. “Grades and your SAT scores and all that are just numbers, they don’t say much about you and those don’t define you,” explains Pagaza. At the end

THE AZTEC/ IZABELLA COFRESSI

of the day, no one can deny the fact that having to write essays about yourself is a difficult task. When coupled with the task of applying to college, this can be a daunting task. However, no one has to go through it alone, especially with the vast amount of resources that Keppel offers.

‘The most helpful tip I can give [to writers] is to really [have them] picture the reader of their essay saying, “After reading this essay, I know what this person is like in real life, even though we have not met,”says Chiang.

Monterey Park holds Geranium Festival MEILY TRAN Staff Writer On Oct. 12, Monterey Park held their 6th annual Geranium Festival and Art Walk in Barnes Park. The first ever Geranium Festival was held in McDonough, GA at Big Spring Park. It was dubbed the Geranium Festival after planters Lois and Kirg Carney donated several hundred of their geraniums to the then-called Henry County Chamber Arts and Crafts Festival.

While McDonough’s Geranium Festival celebrates art of all themes, Monterey Park’s focal point is the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos. As kids took train rides around Barnes Park on the Royal Express, attendees were able to admire jewelry, decorated glass bottles, and other Dia de los Muertos-centered works from local artists. One booth run by Monterey Park’s Bruggemeyer Library put out Dia de los Muertos themed coloring sheets. Children flocked to booths where they could decorate their own skull or plant geranium flowers. Others attendees displayed their Dia de los Muertos altars for the contest held later that evening. “I really love the diversity in food, in the culture, and in the multiple occupations displayed around the park,” says junior Gordon Wu.

Other than the Dia de los Muertosthemed activities, there were many STEMbased booths as well. The United Sciences Club from Mark Keppel returned to the Geranium Festival this year with another fun science activity for younger attendees.

This time, United Sciences helped kids make lava lamps from plastic water bottles.

Junior Lauren Wang says it’s a good way “to expose kids to science experiments so they’ll learn [more about] science.” However, attendees didn’t need to go to the United Sciences booth to learn more about science. Mark Keppel students volunteering for the club Planet Save walked around the festival informing attendees on environmental problems and corresponding solutions.

Meanwhile, costume contests were held at the main stage. The contest included both the attendees and their dogs, where participants competed to see which pair had the best costume. Attendees also participated in other events and games, including musical chairs, hula hooping, and rock wall climbing. “I think that it’s a great activity for the kids and the family,” comments Wu.

Mark Keppel High School Theatre Company presents this year’s fall play, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” opening on Oct. 17 and running until Oct. 19. This rendition of the show is not a typical Alice in Wonderland story, as it contains parts of different shows as well as the book.

When selecting for plays, the possibility of having a message in the play is taken into consideration.“In the case of Alice, I really want to pull out the imagination of students. I felt that [the character of ] Alice would be a great opportunity to let [kids] have free range in their imagination,” says Director Page Phillips. This production also allows Director Phillips to encourage her actors to use their own imagination and interpretation to build upon their characters.

In the previous productions, the characters were more concrete and established. However, this year, the characters are more subjective, which allows both the performers and the audience to interpret the characters through their own imagination.

In addition to Director Phillips’ hopes of a good turnout for the play, she also wants the audience to remember the message that the story is trying to convey. She says, “The main word that Alice uses is curiosity, I think that this is a very healthy thing for teenagers to have. I wish that they were even more curious at times.’’

THE AZTEC/ MEILY TRAN

Catherine Peng(11) and Cassandra Yu(11) holding up an informational poster for Planet Save.

For others seeking ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Bruggemeyer Library is holding activities in the following weeks to honor the Hispanic community’s

heritage and culture. On October 20, teens and adults can go to the Friends Room to learn the history of the rebozo.

THE AZTEC 2019-2020 Maple Duong

Jasper Duong

Danny Estrada

Natasha Miyano Staff Writer

Ellis Yang Staff Writer

Izabella Cofressi

Mala Hu Staff Writer

Tiffany Nguyen-Tran Staff Writer

Fiona Zeman Staff Writer

Hana Kikuchi Staff Writer

Amy To Staff Writer

Ms. Yaklich Advisor

Annie Lam

Meily Tran Staff Writer

Ms. Gutierrez Principal

Madelyn Leong

Ryan Wong Staff Writer

Editor-in-Chief/ Focus Editor

Copy Editor

Selina Martinez

A&E/Features Editor/ Chief Photographer

Editor-in-Chief/ Viewpoint Editor

Quennie Zeng News Editor

Laura Chen Sports Editor/ Business Manager

Ryan Bautista Staff Writer

Katherine Dodge Staff Writer

Fiona Chan Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Staff Writer Staff Writer

The Aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is printed

by News publishers’ press.

Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not of the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are staff editorials, and reflect the opinion of the staff.

Letters to the editor are welcome and are subject to editing. Letters can be given to Ms. Yaklich in room A134 or sent to theaztecstaff@gmail.com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. We do not acknowledge unsigned letters.

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OCTOBER 17, 2019

THE AZTEC

VIEWPOINT 3

Vaping: should it go up in smoke?

MADDY LEONG Staff Writer Vaping involves the use of an electronic vaporizer which simulates the action of smoking cigarettes but without the burning of tobacco. Many people vape today because there is a misconception that it is safer since it only utilizes water vapor. However, this is false because most vapes still contain nicotine, just without the harmful chemicals that accompany tobacco. Recently, a new generation is becoming addicted to nicotine, but instead of through cigarettes, it is through e-cigarettes.

JUUL has become the top e-cigarette company in the nation. “I think vaping is more popular than normal cigarettes because they are more easily attainable and can be easily hid[den] away since they are portable and look like flash drives,” says an anonymous Keppel student.

This “easily hidden away” feature is bad news for schools. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey conducted

in 2017, 11.7 percent of high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

Marketing can be a cause of the increased usage of vaping by minors. “We [need] to stop capitalizing on vaping in the media,” states junior Karen Gi. Gi is referring to the vape artists who influence younger generations into thinking that vaping is “cool.” According to CNBC, Altria, the maker of Marlboro, invested $12.8 billion for a 38 percent stake in JUUL on Dec. 20, 2018. The sudden entrance of Marlboro, a former top cigarette company, into the JUUL company can be viewed as them trying to hop onto the trend of vaping in order to become relevant and profitable once again.

However, this decision by Marlboro has resulted in teens becoming addicted to nicotine. In schools, this issue only worsens since teens can feel pressured into trusting e-cigarettes since they have been advertised to be safer. Though e-cigarettes carry fewer toxins and chemicals than tra-

ditional cigarettes, that does not change its ability to create nicotine addiction in younger generations. Aside from nicotine addiction, e-cigarettes have other side effects. As stated in an article by John Hopkins Medicine, nicotine itself elevates blood pressure and heart rates, therefore increasing the risk of heart attacks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Sept. 19, 530 total vape-related illnesses have been reported in the U.S. This number is a big issue since there are still many others getting addicted to nicotine due to the fast delivery of Juul products.

However, when asked how to solve the issue of vaping, physiology teacher Fazeelat Dhala states, “Education could be one [solution]. It’s not just educating children though, it’s educating the parents and communities around us to show that this is what happens when students or people vape,” and then, once the public is educated, they “will rally behind, helping to stop students from vaping.”

Teens take on global political issues ELLIS YANG Staff Writer After giving an emotional speech at the United Nations summit, 16-yearold Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg sparks new discussions on the power of the youth’s voice relating public political debates.

Thunberg became emotional as she recited her stinging televised speech “How Dare You,” protesting against climate inaction. Whereas most audience members saw her as a global icon, more conservative viewers began forming their own criticisms about her. Split opinions about Greta praise and vilify her efforts which open new conversations about the credibility and importance of the young teens’ opinions and input about political topics.

Teens’ voices are rarely taken into consideration when global leaders speak of moving towards a more utopian society.

Often criticized for having a lack of maturity, teens are instead viewed as rebels and apathetic. Although it is biased to generalize an entire generation based on one out-spoken teenager, many adults tend to do so anyways.

Another pivotal argument critics have when disregarding younger people’s input is their belief that teens are naive and do not understand the laws that must follow before endorsing a reform.

In high school, students are not taught

Sixteen year old Greta Thunberg speaks at press conference in Brussels.

about how their government functions until senior year. That leaves the vast majority of teens lacking background knowledge on the legal processes of introducing government proposals to the public. “[Teens] might not have enough experience to always figure out what is possible to achieve and what is not possible to achieve, and how soon it’s possible to achieve it,” states U.S. History and Government teacher Ms. Bennett.

Despite these disadvantages, America’s youth is a vital audience that must be represented in society. Often times, it may seem that political changes do not affect youngsters. However, adults fail to

COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

Drug use remains a prevalent issue among youth.

Drug Awareness HEMI BARRIENTOS Staff Writer Today, many leading causes of death among teens can be directly or indirectly attributed to drug use. Whether the drugs were prescribed or not, drug consumption is always dangerous. Drugs such as heorin affect your brain and motor function, whcih also leads to clinical depression, paranoia, lowered inhibition, risky sex, neurological impairment, sleep deprivation, heightened senses along with being clouded, distortion in time, mind and judgment.

The odds of addiction are 1 in 6 if used in your teens. As teenage bodies are underdeveloped, a teenager can easily fall victim to drugs and their effects. According to Vox News, “out of 1,677,435 cases of self-poisonings of people ages 10 to 25 from 2000 to 2018, 27.5 percent involved over-the-counter pain medications.” With ease of access, more and more students have been able to get ahold of these drugs.

COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

realize that although it may not affect the teens in the present, it can drastically alter their future.

Youth bring a new perspective to the table when discussing political debates.

Their input can remind global politicians to create a better society for the children of their nation. “The youth are the future of America,” says junior Athene Yu. “Our ideas are just as valid as others. Although we might not have the same experience or background knowledge, it is still one aspect of how a topic can be perceived.”

COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Data acquired in 2013.

College fly-in programs offer high school seniors new perspectives SELINA MARTINEZ Co-Editor-In-Chief/ Viewpoint Editor A defining part of the college application process is the list of schools a student chooses to apply to. As students assess which schools they would like to go to, not being able to see a certain school in person might make some decisions even harder.

Enter fly-in programs. Many colleges such as MIT, Columbia, and CalTech organize and fully fund a 2-3 day program that brings high-achieving high school seniors from across the nation to their campus.

Attendees receive an immersive experience and receive lots of information about the school. While fly-in programs do require a separate---albeit short---application and are not indicative of whether or not a stu-

dent will later be accepted for admission to university is in session. Fly-in attendees that school, fly-in programs are helpful in observe actual college lectures and sleep broadening the perspectives of students in the dorms with undergraduate hosts.

Senior Justin Chai recently participated in This immersive experience is invaluable. the Discover Swarthmore fly-in program Senior Hillary Tran, who recently attendat Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. ed Scripps’s fly-in program in Claremont, “Discover Swarthmore opened my eyes up California says, “Everything was unfiltered; to the possibility of I sat in on college me going to a liberal “My favorite part of the fly- classes, ate at the arts college,” he says. in program i went to was dining halls, utilized “It also made me re- definitely interacting with on-campus resourcconsider what kind es, such as admisthe people.” of student I wanted sions offices and di- SENIOR HILLARY TRAN to be: a well-balanced versity programs, and student with a broad perspective or a sin- slept in the dorms. Unlike campus tours or gle-subject focused student with a strong visits, I got experience typical student life specialty.” on campus and really think about whether Among what makes fly-in programs or not I can envision myself at this college unique is the fact that they occur while the (Scripps) for the next four years.

Chai adds, “You really can understand if you’re the right fit for a college by seeing it in person, not through a virtual tour or some edited paragraph answers on the colleges’ website.”

Most fly-in deadlines are between the months of August and early October, and fly-in programs typically occur sometime between September and early November.

Students should consider applying at the beginning of their senior year. “I recommend fly-ins to people who are skeptical about leaving the state or people who are unsure about the type of school that is their fit. If you’re defaulting to going to a UC or CSU, you should consider a fly-in to be sure that you’re not missing out on seeing colleges outside your perspective,” says Chai.

THE AZ

4 FOCUS

acknowledging

OUR

FEARS VOICES: wHAT IS A fear OF YOURS that you would like to share?

THE AZTEC/ JASPER DUONG

Friend group chats amongst themselves while another friend attempts to engage and listen in on the conversation.

“My phobia would be not being able to meet the goals I have set for myself.”

Syeda Ullah, senior.

“I’m paranoid that someone will walk into the restroom while I’m in it so I lock the door, regardless if I’m at home or in public.”

Nicole Dao, senior.

What are we really missing out on?

LAURA CHEN Sports Editor/ Business Manager Shaped by stereotypical movies revolving around the ideal high school experience, high school students often feel the need to constantly hang out with their friends or attend certain events in order to combat their “fear of missing out,” which is also known as FOMO. With society’s advancing technology and increasing popularity in social media outlets, people are constantly aware of their friends’ whereabouts. “Since we have so many forms of social media, people always broadcast their events or social gatherings and that makes people feel like they are missing out on things because they can see it everywhere,” says senior Jordan Tse. According to a poll that the Pew Research Center for Internet and Technology took in 2018, 95% of the teens polled had access to a smartphone and 45% of them responded that they were frequently online or on social media.

Wanting to feel included is a big factor when social gatherings are taking place. Spanish teacher Mr. Isaac Alvarado expresses that people in this generation take the time to create material and content in order to “get people to follow and like them” on social media. It has become a social habit to fear that they are not enjoying the same experiences as their peers.

While some experience FOMO due to their need to feel included, others wish to have the ideal high school experience that they envisioned for themselves. “[Having the] huge fear of missing out made me want to rush fun experiences to avoid a boring year for me. It was not a good idea since it felt like I had to go out almost every weekend to ensure that I had a ‘balanced’ lifestyle,” says senior Zerlinda Lee. FOMO could also take a psychological toll on one’s mental health. In extreme cases of this fear, it could negatively impact one’s well being. “Anything in moderation can be okay because it can encourage you to go out, take yourself out of your shell, and be more social,” says Alvarado. “I feel like social events while the earth is in existence are infinite. They’re going to occur again, so I can always go to the next one. The world is not going to end if [you] don’t go to [events] sometimes.”

“I have lepidopterophobia, which is a fear of butterflies. I think of butteflies as flying caterpillars, and that scares me.”

Lucy Wang, junior.

“I’m scared of bikes because I fell on one before.”

Warren Dao, freshman.

“I’m scared of cuts, slashes, or open wounds. They make me feel really uncomfortable.”

Lennon Xue, junior.

“I’m afraid of wet bread, because it is moist and disgusting.”

Joyce Yang, freshman.

“I have trypophobia, which means I get anxious of holes because that’s WILD.” Allison Chiang, sophomore.

“I’m afraid of ghosts… They are scary and I do not know what they are.”

Alden Okashima, freshman.

VOICES AND PICTURES BY MAPLE DUONG AND RYAN WONG.

ZTEC

OCTOBER 17, 2019 5

Overcoming what is to come MAPLE DUONG Co-Editor-in-Chief/ Focus Editor Chronophobia, also known as a fear of the future phobia, can be classified as an extreme fear of time passing, leading to an increased amount of anxiety within a person, as stated by PsychologyToday. Chronophobia itself is a unique fear that could be brought upon a person by various different means, such as a simple conversation where

a friend or peer brings up the idea of how “time moves so fast.”

According to Psychology, Eighth Edition by David G. Myers, when a person is faced with a possible dangerous situation or feels a sense of anxiousness, the amygdala, a part of a person’s brain that influences fear and aggression, sends signals to other brain areas to increase alertness.

This particular function is what gives people a “fight or flight” response to potentially threatening circumstances, or in this case, a response to feelings of anxiety.

There are, however, numerous amount of factors that can contribute to a person’s fears, in particular, their fear of the future. “I think students sometimes have a large fear for their future because of their parents telling them to go into a certain career or field. The disappointment of not following through could get to them,” says sophomore Jamie Lei. Lei also emphasizes how she also has a good amount of expectations of her own. “In all honesty, I think my own fear of not meeting my expectations is

worse than my parents,” says Lei, an aspiring pharmacist.

On the flip side, students like senior Diego Herrera have mixed feelings about their future. “I’m excited about my future though in some aspects, like being able to be out on my own in college,” explains Herrera. “But I’m also nervous for my future because of the things I have to do alone, without the continuous help of my parents.”

According to the Washington Examiner, 67% of Americans polled at Harvard University in 2017 have a widespread fear of the future that can be attributed to political factors, in addition to economic policies that have caused a divide. Despite this statistic, Lei and Herrera are hopeful that people can overcome their fear of the future. “If you’re always thinking and fearing about what is to come in the future, you [won’t be able] to focus on the now,” says Herrera. Lei also believes that by “expecting the unexpected,” people can essentially learn to accept their future as it comes along and be able to adapt.

What do you fear the most?

DEA TH 19.2 %

Failure 37.4%

JUDGMENt 14.1%

HEIGHT S 16.2%

OTHER 4%

100 STUDENTS WERE POLLED.

Something TO SCREAM ABOUT QUENNIE ZENG News Editor Suspense, jumpscares, and eerie music: these are what most people think of when they hear the words “horror movie.” There are two types of people in this world, To several people, like freshman Tyler Lee, horror movies are considered a large red flag that should be avoided at all costs. Similarly, junior Matthieu Gol agrees, and chooses to steer clear of horror movies. “[I] strongly dislike horror movies because [of ] the sense of fear that is created when I watch it,” says Gol. However, there are also some people who thoroughly enjoy the thrill from these types of films, like senior Josephine Lim. Lim believes that all horror movies are

considered “fine if there is adrenaline [created],” says Lim. With such varying reactions, one would begin to question why people have such extreme opinions about horror movies.

The main reason for the differing opinions of horror movies can be attributed to how our brain is wired. Based on PsychCentral’s “Why Some People Love Horror Movies While Others Hate Them,” some people are wired to enjoy high levels of physiological arousal when watching horror movies, while others, for the same reason, are not.

Each person has different wiring and because of this, everyone has a different opinion on horror movies.

In Phycology Spot’s “What horror movies do to your brain,” they state how the Arousal Transfer Theory can also explain the varying opinions on horror movies. According to the theory, the negative feelings created by these movies intensify the positive feelings we experience at the end of the movie. Essentially, we like watching these movies because it is like riding an emotional roller coaster.

Often times, people create childhood associations with fear. Lee mentions that it is because “some people might have a fear of the thing in the movie rather than the jump scares and whatnot,” he says.

Knowing all of this information, there are still ways one can get over their fear of horror movies. Though it is difficult to change the way someone is wired, there are still little steps that one can take, some being to watch horror movies with friends. “With friends, [watching horror movies] feels much different: the environment is different. My friends would be joking around with me and taking the movie as a joke. This helps me focus on what we’re saying rather than the actual movie itself,” explains Gol. Lee himself agrees, stating how, “if my friends wanted to watch horror movies, I would watch it with them [because] it would be more fun and less scary.”

In the end, no matter whether or not a person enjoys watching horror movies, people should give it another try.

“Face your fears, it might surprise you. Most people are scared of horror movies because they don’t watch them, but if you took the chance to watch horror movies, then you might start to enjoy them,” says Lim.

6 A&E

OCTOBER 17, 2019 THE AZTEC One of Keppel’s talented artists: Vivian Lam ANNIE LAM Staff Writer Senior Vivian Lam first started doing art when she was ten years old, but it was not until eighth grade that she started to take it seriously. Lam became really interested in art once she met her close friend, Winnefer Wu. “I admired her so much and got inspired so that motivated me to start drawing more,” she says. Both of them are currently working on an online shop where they will be selling art merchandise such as buttons, pins, and acrylic charms that they have designed themselves. They plan to launch their shop on November 20th of this year on Big Cartel, an online website.

Currently, Lam is the historian of the art club and is enrolled in Drawing & Painting ¾, with previous experience from when she took Draw-

ing & Painting 1/2. She is also part of the technical theater class and “... sometimes help[s] with the designs of the sets,” Lam says. She makes designs and illustration pieces that use warm pastel colors. Inspiration for her art pieces come from anime and from multiple artists that she follows on social media. “I see these features

“...Without art, the world would be so boring and plain...”

- SENIOR VIViAN LAM. that other artists have, like how they draw their hair or how they draw their eyes and I get inspiration from that,” Lam states.

Art is a really important aspect in Lam’s life. “[Art] means everything to me because it’s [how] I can have

a clear perspective on something or someone or the way I portray my emotions,” she says. Lam finds it is easier to express herself through her art. “Whenever I explain something to someone they get confused, but when I draw it out, they can understand that a lot better,” she explains.

Lam also offers advice to those who want to start or have just started studying or producing art and do not have any prior background or experience. “Just do it anyways because if you [get] jealous and just beat yourself down...you won’t go anywhere and your art won’t improve so [you just] got to do it,” Lam explains.

She highly recommends everyone “...to do art because it’s a skill that everyone should have and there are so many careers you can do with art.

Without art, the world would be so boring and plain.” Lam says.

THE AZTEC/ IZABELLA COFRESSI

Comedian Lilly Singh seizes spot Inktober 2019 as new host of the Late Night Show, renamed “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” FIONA ZEMAN Staff Writer

FIONA CHAN Staff Writer

show to go to a woman of color is beginning to encourage many other individuals to see that there are no set genders to a specific position or job.

Lilly Singh, Youtube star, comedian, and paid internet As previously mentioned, Singh says that she wants to personality has taken on a new pobring on a diverse set of guests sition as the new host of the “Late onto the show during her stay as Night Show”, now known as “A host. Freshman Rachel Wu says, Little Late with Lilly Singh”. She “...they are the minority and the has become the first female of color people who accept each other are to host this American entertainthe majority. I think that’s a great ment show. Singh’s goal for her change for us.” Previous guests time as executive producer and host have all been mainly all white of the show is to bring on a diverse Americans. There were hardly any new set of guests and to “produce a guests who were persons of color, show that is unlike what white male let alone anyone of another race. producers have done in the past,” This not only affects and brightens according to a New York Times arthe views of many adults who have ticle. never seen themselves represented Singh may not have mentioned COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES on screen, but also young adults her other goals and intentions, but and children who are starting to see being nominated as new host has started something bigger a change and embrace this as something that may possibly than she may have realized. “...I am choosing a career that spark something greater as time goes on. Minority groups mainly men do, so it is an inspiration to me. Other peo- are rarely represented on television, especially in such presple won’t feel scared or discouraged by the [fact] that the tigious positions. If young women and other minorities career they chose is mainly [done by] males.” says senior alike are both able to grow up seeing people who look like Jessica Luo. Not only has Singh shown the spotlight on them in positions of power, they will know that they themminorities in America, she is becoming an inspiration to selves can do the same. many women and other minorities. The past hosts of the Late Night Show have all been men, so for the position of host and executive producer of such a famous, well-known

Mario Kart goes on tour as heavily anticipated mobile app launches DANIEL ESTRADA Staff Writer “Wa-hoo!” Mario has been taking the internet by storm for almost a month noww. Mario Kart Tour has become a global sensation with over 90 million downloads, breaking records with its sales. The game is available on iOS and Android, and includes new carts, characters, tracks, modes, as well as bringing back classic characters and tracks everyone knows and loves. Due to this being a mobile app, the game play controls are a little different, but players can choose between simple and drift steering. Players compete against computer-controlled racers, but Nintendo plans to add their heavily coveted multiplayer mode soon. To top everything off, this app is free for everyone to download, with in-app purchases available.

Mario Kart Tour has become Nintendo’s biggest mobile launch in just one week., beating the previous record-holder “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.” According to CNN Business, the game has earned $12.7 million in its first week, growing by $1 million a day. Players all around the world race against each other in healthy competition.

Something to watch out for when racing is throwing a green shell or a banana because those items can come back and hit your own character, making yourself even part of your own competition.

The game will introduce multiple updates as time goes on, bringing with it new tracks and characters. This coming Oct. 22, Tokyo is coming to Mario Kart Tour! Enjoy the new update coming, featuring new characters and tracks in Tokyo, along with the classic Rainbow road. Good luck gamers, and happy racing!

As October sets in, the Inktober challenge takes over.

Inktober is an online challenge designed to encourage artists around the world to create a new drawing everyday over a period of 31 days. Artist Jake Parker started Inktober in 2009 to improve on his own inking skills because he wanted to encourage others to work on positive drawing habits. Every year since then, millions of people worldwide to participate in Inktober. According to the official Inktober site, Parker says, “Anyone can do Inktober. Just pick up a pen and start drawing.” Each day and each prompt can be interpreted however the artist views the prompt. His company began posting rules and prompts for each day of the month in 2016.

The rules are simple; make a drawing, post it, hashtag it with #inktober2019 and repeat everyday until Oct. 31st.

All you need to participate in Inktober is the motivation to continue daily and have some creativity.

Many students at Mark Keppel High School are participating. Many of which are not in art club or even in an art class. They just enjoy taking on new challenges.

Sophia Dimas says, “Inktober is just a fun activity I can do with my cousin who enjoys drawing,” and similarly Melody Trinh says, “It’s a good pastime and bonding experience because I do it with my little sister.” Inktober can also be something that allows you to be introduced to a new hobby you never knew, or forgot you enjoyed.

“It is a very nostalgic experience because I haven’t drawn in a long time,” Dimas says. “I’ve seen it around on social media pages and my sister has previously participated as well, I decided to take part in it this year because I wanted to try it and because she was doing it again,” says Trinh who recently got introduced to Inktober.

The prompts for each day can be found on the Inktober website, or under #inktober2019 on any social media platform. Even if you are completely new to drawing or have not drawn in a long time, lessons are available on the Inktober website. They have classes for beginners, intermediates and advanced.

COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

THE AZTEC

7 SPORTS Aztecs fight hard against Schurr Spartans at Homecoming

OCTOBER 17, 2019

RYAN WONG Staff Writer The Aztecs endured a loss at the homecoming game on Friday night against the Schurr Spartans, 20-52.

Despite the Spartans grasping a 14 point lead against the Aztecs, senior Hugo Montes landed a touchdown for Mark Keppel. Ending the first quarter with a score of 6-14, the Spartans successfully re-advanced the ball into the end zone at the beginning of the second quarter. Soon after, senior Andrew Escobar scored another touchdown for the home team that ramped the score up 12-24, further closing the score gap.

Both teams were able to put forth their strongest offense in the third quarter, but the Spartan’s fierce defense prevented the Aztecs from catching up. At the turn of the fourth quarter, the Spartans were able to advance the ball into the end zone once more. Soon after, the Aztecs were able to bounce back and finally score. However, in the later half of the fourth quarter, Schurr gained another touchdown concluding the game.

Despite the late loss, the team still remains hopeful. Coach Tuttle seeks to push the

The Aztecs get into defensive position against the Schurr Spartans.

team to improve by the next game against Bell Gardens. “We didn’t come out very well, at the start of the game, we came out slow… turned the ball over too many times, we didn’t execute stuff that needed to be executed,” said Tuttle. “I think we have definitely improved since the beginning of

the season.” Junior Carson Fernandez says, “I feel like people were taking things too personally and they started to focus less on the game and started to focus on who is on the other team.”

Nonetheless, Fernandez and the rest of the team remain optimistic for the remain-

THE AZTEC/ IZABELLA COFRESSI

der of the season to come. “I’m feeling confident for the next game against Bell Gardens, I’ve felt confident for every single game we’ve played this season more than previous years,” Fernandez said. “The team has a lot more heart now compared to before.”

Girls’ Tennis dominates 13-5 against Montebello Oilers JASPER DUONG Copy Writer

Senior Nikko Inocencio blocks Webb’s attempt to score a goal.

COURTESY OF KYLE MATSUDA

Boys’ Water Polo loses by one in close game against Webb KATHERINE DODGE Staff Writer In a close game on Oct. 11, Boys’ Water Polo lost to the Webb High School Gauls 8-9. After struggling in the first half, Keppel made a comeback to tie the game in the second half. From then on, the game was back and forth with no one taking a clear lead. With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, the Aztecs lost the ball and Webb capitalized on Keppel’s mistake. Webb’s set player scored to take the lead, leaving Keppel no time to score.

The Aztecs failed to score any points in the first half. Team captain senior Jayden Young said, “We need to be more confident in our shots instead of relying on someone else to shoot it for us.” The team also struggled to shut down Webb’s set player on defense. The score for the first half was 0-4. However, Keppel did not give up. After a very motivational talk from Coach Lam, the boys started the second half with renewed energy. Lam stated, “Once the second half hit, we started picking it up. I think they played off each other well and

were able to make it a close game.” The team started to run faster defensive plays to prevent the set player from scoring, and their passing and shooting improved.

Unfortunately, in a fatal blow to Keppel’s game, Young got mistakenly ejected from the game with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter. The stat keeper incorrectly recorded that Jayden had three ejections instead of two, taking him out of the game.

The situation was not cleared up until after the game, so Young, the main set defender, was not in the game when Webb’s set player scored the winning goal.

Despite their loss, the second half of the game left the team hopeful for their upcoming league games against Montebello and Schuur. “We’re going to put up a good fight. It’s going to be a close game, but I think we’re going to pull out a win,” states sophomore Justin Lee. Coach Lam expressed hope that this game against Webb will motivate the team to play even harder against Montebello.

The Girls’ Tennis team faced off against the Montebello Oilers on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Montebello High School. Last Thursday, the team defeated the Alhambra Moors in their previous league game with a score of 10-8. In the game against Montebello, the Aztecs came out victorious with a score of 13-5, making this their fifth win streak in Almont League.

Although the team won by a large amount, there were still struggles with some of the matches. “My partner and I need to ‘finish up’ the games and not give away points to our opponents,” says senior captain Tammy Xaypraseuth. Communication and synergy are especially critical in matches of doubles so that there would be no mistakes in giving up easy points.

In order for them to win more games and points, the team plans to figure out how to properly talk to each other to prevent these types of losses. “In future games, we have to try harder to stay consistent so the other team will not gain as many points,” said senior captain Johline Yao.

Being in sync is always a challenge for any sport, as it requires a good relationship between the players. In order for them to strengthen each other’s morals, “we support each other by watching each other play and cheering for one another when one of us gets a good hit,” says Yao. The team practices for two hours on Monday and Wednesday, but some of the players go out and practice on their own time to improve their individual skills. The team members are focused on working together, but there are also matches where competitors play one on one. These types of matches are mainly focused on individual skills as the players do not have to communicate with any other teammates on the court.

Since the team is only half way into league, the Aztecs still have a long way to go and finish off the season. For them to win the Almont League, they would have to defeat San Gabriel, Schurr, and Alhambra in their next games. “We are aiming to be undefeated in Almont League and hopefully place in CIF,” says senior captain Audrey Thomas.

THE AZTEC

8 SPORTS

OCTOBER 17, 2019

Girls’ Volleyball scores big at San Gabriel’s senior night RYAN BAUTISTA Staff Wrtier The Girls’ Volleyball team played against San Gabriel on Oct. 15, earning a win of 3-1 in their last league game as they continue into the playoffs.

During the first set, the Aztecs struggled with San Gabriel’s overwhelming offense, unable to keep up with the constant spikes despite senior Yuumi Llyod’s high blocks.

This resulted in the loss of set one with a score of 19-25. “Even though we want to be a great offensive team, we came to realize that for the team we were given, defense is everything. At the beginning of our game, our defense wasn’t there, but we got it together later on.” says senior captain Leilani Hughes.

Regrouping before the second set began, the Aztecs turned the game around, reinforcing their defense while still maintaining a strong offense. Breaking through the Matador’s constant blocking, Keppel finished the set with a score of 25-13. “We have good interactions and we can play well together, but at the same time, when we communicate poorly we don’t play as well as we possibly can. Between this year and last year, our team definitely works better together and has improved in overall skill.” says senior Gloria Lu. Using this burst of motivation, the Aztecs cleared out the third and fourth sets, winning each with a score of 25-13 and 25-

THE AZTEC/ IZABELLA COFRESSI

Athlete’s Profile: Alyson Gee AMY TO Staff Wrtier

Senior Leilani Hughes prepares to serve the ball and start the match.

THE AZTEC/ RYAN BAUTISTA

14 respectively. “The crowd was definitely louder in favor of San Gabriel. We were playing on their home court on their senior night. But, we had come into the gym confident.” says junior Kyla Miyano.

This match had not been the first game played against the Matadors. While the Aztecs may have come on top the first time, winning 3-0, San Gabriel had improved.

“We had played and beat them once before so we could kind of know what to expect, but because it was their home court and

their home court, they definitely had a lot more morale and played much better than they had the first time,” says senior captain Alyssa Lopez-Ramirez.

With this being the last league game of the season, the Aztecs were able to make their way into the first round of the CIF matches with a league record of 6-4. “Now that we’ve made playoffs, we’re hoping to make it to the second and third rounds before our season ends,” says Ramirez.

people are close enough.” While the season deadline approaches, Chung hopes he can accomplish his goal to reach a time of 16:30. He aspires to run in the Hakone Ekiden, a two-day, long-distance relay race in Japan that lasts 218 kilome-

only going to get harder but everyone is pushing through.” He believes his team’s performance this year has shown “huge amounts of dedication and hard work being put into the sport compared to previous years.” Just last week at the Bell Gardens Invitational that took place at Cerritos Regional Park on Oct. 12, freshman Keanna Luu, sophomore Aidan Sakuma, and senior Gloria Lu all medaled and set new personal records for themselves. To medal, you must place amongst the top 75 within your race, which is no easy feat when you must compete with hundreds of other runners.

With only one race left before the final meet, the cross country team must run faster than ever before to ensure their place in CIF. “We always cross that finish line no matter what,” Wong says, showing the determination the runners have. “It’s what we train for.”

Cross Country prepares for last league meet before CIF

MALA HU Staff Writer Yesterday, Mark Keppel’s cross country team faced six other schools at their second to last league meet, which took place at Legg Lake on Oct 16. Ending their league season, the Aztecs hope to finish strong and make their way into CIF. Senior captain Edison Chung looks back on their accomplishments with fond memory. With only one meet left, the members find themselves more determined than ever to do their best in hopes of earning a spot on the CIF lineup. To do so, they must score amongst the top eight in varsity at the final meet for Almont League. “We have a way bigger team than previous years and our runners are way more dedicated and competitive,” says Chung. “All of us have potential to reach CIF, but as it is, only a handful of

“We always cross that finish line no matter what.” -Junior ethan Wong ters.

Junior Ethan Wong shares Chung’s sentiment. “Our team has practices six days a week, from Monday to Saturday. During the week, the times can vary from having morning practices from 5:30AM to 7AM or afternoon practices from 3PM to 5:30PM,” he says. “With our continuous practices every week, our workouts are…

Alyson Gee has been on the Cross Country team since her junior year, and is currently entering her last season at Mark Keppel. From a young age, she trained and ran in 5K races every year in December with her father and sister. She has grown to enjoy running because it relaxes her and clears her mind. “Running is not something new that [anyone has] to learn, rather it is something that [anyone] can easily measure how well [they] are doing and how much [they have] improved,” says Gee. She has medaled for running Novice Girls while being on the team.

Although Gee enjoys running, she still faces challenges along the way. In the previous season of cross country, Gee injured both her knee and leg, which made it difficult for her to run. Despite her injuries, she pushed through the barriers with the support of her team and her coaches.

They provide her with encouragement and motivation, which immensely helps her to overcome the challenges she faces and shapes her into a stronger person. “[My teammates and coaches] still cheer me on.

During practice, they push me as hard as they know I could go,” Gee explains.

Some of Gee’s cherished memories include spending time with her teammates on bus rides. “Bus rides are memorable and enjoyable to me because you can just see everyone singing and dancing. You get a real sense of how close we have become throughout the year and the family we have built,” explains Gee. Other than bus rides, she also enjoys eating out with her teammates after a meet. She believes that eating out with them after a meet, creates a stronger bond within the whole team.

In the previous season, Gee was able to improve her personal record (PR) with the support of her teammates. For this season, she hopes to do the same for the three mile races, as her current PR is 26 minutes and 15 seconds. She thinks that seeing her personal record improve overtime is very rewarding, as she sees all of the hours she spends during cross country practice pay off.

SPORTS CALENDAR Cross country

Football

On 10/26 The Riverside Invitational at Martin Luther King High School On 11/5 at Legg Lake Park

On 10/18 against Bell Gardens at Bell Gardens On 10/25 against Montebello at Montebello On 11/1 against Alhambra at Alhambra

Girls tennis On 10/17 against San Gabriel at Mark Keppel On 10/22 against Schurr at Schurr On 10/25 against South Pasadena at Mark Keppel On 10/29 against Alhambra at Mark Keppel

Boys water polo On 10/29 against Schurr at Schurr