The Matador: Issue 6 - February 12, 2020

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

The matador

NEWS

District addresses students’ concerns regarding coronavirus outbreak

PHOTO BY PIXABAY

The 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China on Jan. 31, 2019 and has spread to 28 countries. There are 13 confirmed cases in the US, with four in California. The virus is spread person-to-person, suspected through respiratory droplets that end up in other people’s mucous membranes.

BY ZHOU YE XIN

A

petition initiated two weeks ago by user Concerned Aztec on Change.org called for AUSD to shut down schools until the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is contained. In spite of the petition’s popularity, AUSD does not plan to close its schools.

Working closely with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Los Angeles County Department of Public H e a lt h ( L A C D PH ), AU SD is s u ed a coronavirus communication message on Jan. 27 to parents and staff via email. The message provided factual information from the LACDPH regarding preventive measures for the virus and students’ safety at school.

“There is no immediate threat to the general public [and] no special p r e c au t i o n s are required,” L A C D P H said. “People should not be excluded from activities based on their race, country of origin, or recent travel if they do not have symptoms of respiratory illness.”

A t t h e d i s t r i c t ’ s Fe b . 4 b o a r d meeting, George Murray, Assistant Superintendent Facilities & Planning, introduced new cleaning modifications to keep the risk of the COVID-19 at bay.

This includes “cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are high touch area points” and providing students access to sanitation at schools.

“As of today, we ordered an additional disinfectant and hand sanitizers for areas in the schools that don’t have immediate access to sinks, running water, soap, and paper towels,” Murray said. “Not all of our high school rooms do, so the custodial staff will be working with the principal to see where those areas are and to place hand sanitizers in the room for students and staff.”

A second message was issued by the

“

district on Feb. 5 addressing the rumors relating to the virus.

“Ensuring the emotional well-being of our children is critically important, especially during a time when truths, partial truths, and misinformations are circulating,” the district said. “Please talk with your children and provide them with accurate and factual information.”

Despite the district’s message of reassurance, senior Sergio Arias still found his parents to be feeling worried after hearing about the virus.

“At one point, my mom wanted me to get my homework in advance,” Arias said. “[She didn’t want me] to [go to] school because she’s worried about the amount of students in a tight space.”

With a verified case in both Los Angeles County and Orange County and a false rumor of a case in Arcadia, junior Becky Huang found herself

Data correct as of Feb. 11 GRAPHIC BY MELODY ZHANG SOURCE: WHO

Although the cases of COVID-10 surpasses those of SARS and MERS, its case fatality rate is around 2.4%, which is significantly smaller than SARS’ 9.6% and MERS’ 34.4% case fatality rate.

Ensuring the emotional well-being of our children is critically important, especially during a time when truths, partial truths, and misinformations are circulating.” overly cautious at school.

“I’m trying to stay away and prevent any physical contact with others at school,” Huang said. “I have noticed that people are ill, and I’m not sure if they have the coronavirus. I hate it.”

The LACDPH advises that people continue to practice general hygiene measures to counter the virus and flu.

The department states that regardless of the concern that has manifested among students, the risk of the virus spreading among Los Angeles County residents is low.

To stay up-to-date on the COVID-19, a coronavirus informational meeting will take place at the school auditorium on tomorrow at 6 p.m. Updates regarding the virus will come directly from experts and translations will be provided in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

GRAPHIC BY LAUREN BALLESTEROS

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. have emerged in California, Washington, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

NEWS

The matador

Academic Decathlon places highest in years

thematadorsghs.us WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

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briefs BTA honors Kobe Bryant’s passing

BY LEANE CHE

Business and Technology Academy (BTA) honored the recent passing of Kobe Byrant by designing a Bryant button for their annual b u t t o n f u n d r a i s e r. Af t e r s o m e discussions, BTA will be purchasing books written by Bryant for students to read at the school library with the money raised.

Leftover money from the Bryant buttons will be donated to the general fund for athletics. The last day to purchase any BTA button is tomorrow.

WASC recommends intervention time

BY MELODY ZHANG

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY WU

The Academic Decathlon members place second in Super Quiz for Division II, winning 35 medals and a trophy, on Feb. 6 at Quiet Cannon.

“To get a perfect score for [the honors] section of the Super Quiz was wonderful,” junior Joseph Pandur said.

BY ANDREW LAM

The Academic Decathlon team competed on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 against 38 other schools in Los Angeles County and placed seventh, improving 13 places from last year and winning 35 medals.

The club previously did not have enough members in one of the GPA brackets. Since the team was able to send a full team this year, it set a goal to qualify for the state competition.

“We were able to get a full team with many strong competitors to participate in the county competition,” senior President Michelle Vuong said. “While working closely with the teams from Mark Keppel and Alhambra, there was a potential for all schools to qualify for state.”

To achieve its goal, the club invited a teacher to lecture and created study resources. “[The club] took more tests and even asked Mr. Gin to help with economics,” senior club vice president Cindy Tu said. “At one point, the team made presentations on certain topics to help inform other competitors.”

Out of all study methods, junior Joseph Pandur found that quizzing other members was the most effective.

“Quizzing peers [is the best method] because you get two things done at once,” Pandur said.

“One, you get to review material, and two, you get to learn more about your teammates and build stronger bonds.”

The results of the competition were announced on Feb. 6. Junior Sophia Ng won

three medals in art, mathematics, and essay.

“I’m happy about getting the medals, but the best reward was just being in the team,” Ng said. “When our team’s place jumped up, I was happy to be with my other teammates cheering.”

Vuong said the team grew by forming a stronger bond not only with each other but also between teams from Alhambra High School (AHS) and Mark Keppel High School (MKHS).

“The camaraderie [was] strong between SGHS decathletes,” Vuong said, “but the team grew to include both AHS and MKHS decathletes to strive towards a common goal, which is to bring AUSD to the state competition.

We managed to pull through in the end, and I am extremely proud of my team for their dedicated commitment.”

After a visit from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in March 2019, the school is looking to create intervention time for academically at-risk students during the day. Henry Osborne, history teacher and Alhambra Teachers Association member, said that one possible reason is that the school is “not a neighborhood school.”

“Many of our students come from Rosemead,” Osborne said. “It makes it very difficult for students to come early or to stay after school to get any type of tutoring or intervention.”

In the process of restructuring the educational system, a committee may be formed to implement these changes in the 2021-22 school year.

Rotary Club awards teachers mini-grants

BY LEANE CHE

Board proposes eliminating valedictorian, changing graduation requirements

BY ELSIE WANG

Following the recommendation of California School Boards Association, the Board of Education is seeking to change Board Policy 5127’s graduation requirements and activities among all high schools. This proposal may potentially increase the number of students participating in graduation and rid the long-standing valedictorian-salutatorian system.

Currently, Board Policy 5127 allows graduation ceremonies to include recognition of valedictorians and salutatorians to honor superior academic achievement. The

proposed academic recognition program will expand to three levels: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude, similar to how colleges honor graduates.

Recognition will be based on an individual student’s cumulative seventh semester grade point average.

“Sometimes, it comes down to a tenth of a point as to who gets the valedictorian and salutatorian,” Patricia Mahony, Assistant Superintendent of Student/Employee Welfare, said. “Many students have a grade point average that is 4.4 or higher. Why not allow them to be celebrated and recognized for their hard work?”

However, some students said they believe eliminating valedictorian and salutatorian discredits the effort that the would-be valedictorian and salutatorian put into academics.

“It’s not right because there are people who worked hard to try to earn that title,” senior Victor Ton said. “People drive themselves day-to-day studying and getting good grades, pushing themselves further. They’ve pushed themselves as far as possible, and now, it’s like they’re getting a participation award.”

In addition to this change, the board plans to allow students who can reasonably be expected to complete graduation requirements during the summer to participate in graduation exercises. These students will receive the diploma when requirements are fulfilled.

“As a district, we spend a lot of time talking about equity and we have a number of kids who come to school with many, many challenges,” Superintendent Denise R. Jaramillo said. “[The policy] is something that would really expand that recognition of equity. You’ve got kids who work and hold jobs or life is just a little more different and challenging for them, so we really believe it would go a long way in helping students.”

The board recommends that the award recognition program be adopted for the 2020-21 school year and new graduation requirements be adopted for this school year.

The first reading of the proposal will be held at the next school board meeting on Feb. 25.

The Rotary Club of Alhambra presented the annual mini-grants to AUSD teachers on Feb. 4, some of whom include science teacher Kenneth Ma and English teacher Alicia Canzano.

The Teacher Mini Grant program was created to “supply teachers with money to implement a classroom project that is not paid for by the district.” These mini grants aim to benefit students of all grades and programs.

Lip sync battle seeks to boost school spirit

BY ZHOU YE XIN

To provide the opportunity for “students to see the side of their teachers that they are not able to see in the classroom,” the Senior Class Council (SCC) plans to host the school’s first lip sync battle, which will take place in the auditorium on Feb. 26 from 3:30-5 p.m.

Students and staff will compete for the best lip sync performance, judged by a panel of students and staff. Presale tickets can be purchased from art teacher Francesca Jung at SA-6, any SCC member for $2, or at the door for $3.

To read the full articles, visit www.thematadorsghs.us.

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WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2020

Flying “Tieu” places

opinions

Editorial

Normalizing edited photos warps self-image Megan Tieu Passport to happiness

I

remember my first time on an airplane. As any six year old would be, I was initially filled with jittery, excited energy. This feeling soon faded away after it dawned on me that I would have to stay contained in a confined space for six long hours.

As my nervousness and restlessness slowly drifted away, I discovered a more mellow side of myself.

I remember feeling like the plane and all of its passengers were stuck in time as I pressed my hands against the airplane window and watched as we soared over clouds. When we finally arrived in New York City, my eyes grew large, mesmerized by bright billboards and towering skyscrapers that loomed over the millions of busy people. It was a wonder to see.

Before that trip, I had only been exposed to suburban life on the outskirts of Los Angeles, so the stark contrast of alluring urban life intrigued a younger me and fueled my desire to explore.

Since then, I have had my fair share of adventures across the country and around the world; I have fallen in love with the calm, congenial scenery of Norway, the tropical atmosphere of the Dominican Republic, the vibrant culture of Thailand, as well as many other captivating destinations.

These travels brought color and excitement into my dull, predictable life. Although the vacations themselves tended to last for short periods of time, memories of ziplining over Hawaii or visiting art museums in France would constantly be replayed in my head and reinvigorate me with happiness and motivation. They gave me something to smile about and something to look forward to. That was, until high school.

Balancing workload and extracurriculars was a manageable task but also one that depressed me. I refused to go on any vacations, fearing that they would only distract me from my studies and hinder my productivity. I would not even allow myself to think about traveling because I was well aware of how easy it was to be sucked into the idea of adventures again. I regarded vacations as fantasies that weren’t meant to coexist with school and work life. Sadly, these thoughts were extremely misguided and looking back, I now realize how clouded I was by a workaholic mindset.

I owe it to my mom for helping me rekindle my love for traveling.

She ignited a flame when she dragged me onto a trip to Alaska that I had no interest in, and she stoked the embers by planning a week full of exhilarating hikes. The serene, idyllic landscape of Alaska re-opened my eyes to the wonders of our Earth.

Miles and miles of trekking on rugged terrain felt arduous and draining, but the reward was absolutely marvelous and worth it. It was there, standing at the mouth of a roaring waterfall, where I felt free and happy.

I

n a society where beauty standards are constantly changing, individuals have resorted to using photo editing apps and filters to feature a flawless look. Usage of such apps has normalized the altering of one’s physical appearance, whether that be in body type or skin tone.

These alterations, while allowing people to feel a sense of satisfaction about a photo, may decrease their satisfaction in their own bodies.

All accessible at the tap of a finger, FaceApp, FaceTune, and BodyTune offer users the chance to adjust their features to fit their preferences. Although this seems convenient to people who feel more confident about an edited photo, they may fail to remember that is exactly what it is, a modified copy.

Changing the body to fit whatever society deems as beautiful at the time takes away from self-love.

Many people get wrapped up in fitting the beauty standards set by social media influencers and celebrities alike.

While some may say that it is all for fun, the possibility of

body acceptance drops. With numerous apps and resources to edit photos becoming popularized, the act of altering photos has become increasingly normalized.

Throughout social media, photos have been edited to show a desired body type or skin color. Magazines often edit celebrities to have a more “appealing” appearance, causing many of their readers to change themselves as well.

These changes may lead to detrimental effects on mental health. It creates ideas of unrealistic beauty standards that may cause damage, both physically and mentally. Normalization of photo editing apps targeted for the body may lead to body dysmorphia, a disorder where one becomes obsessive over a perceived flaw in appearance. Obsessing over this flaw could cause social anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder.

Using these apps will cause more damage than good if users do not learn to regulate usage and become emerged in fixing every little thing they perceive as flawed. In an effort to make these changes, individuals

may turn to plastic surgery in the hopes of finally being able to look like their photos. However, it does not guarantee that they will be satisfied, and, in turn, people may become caught in a never-ending cycle to manually design a perfect body, or at least what they perceive as perfect.

Currently, society is reaching a point where there is an increased struggle for body positivity and body acceptance. It is a social movement where different body types, ranging from all sizes and shapes to skin color, are now seen as positive. However, as individuals use these apps to create a facial feature or a body structure that is not their own, they invalidate the shift towards body positivity.

By constantly changing the appearance, people create the idea that their body types are unwanted and that the features they are changing are undesirable.

While it may be argued that editing photos is not the cause of low self-esteem, it may result in people becoming less accepting of their body.

Edited pictures: love letters to a false persona

BY MELODY ZHANG

Technology creates parent-child division

BY IVY HO

T

he impact of popular culture and technology on parent-child relationships is becoming increasingly problematic. Both influences have contributed to a growing divide between the traditional roles of a guiding parent and an obedient child.

As children become absorbed in technology, they have less desire to communicate with their parents, leading to a lack of time spent with family.

Nevertheless, when families do spend time together, 86% of smartphone users will check their device while speaking with friends and family according to a report by BankMyCell in 2019. As a result, time families spend together often becomes interrupted family time rather than real quality time.

In addition, when parents become

increasingly out of touch with new technology, they lose their ability to regulate their child’s usage of

them. While parents struggle to gain proficiency and comfort with the latest devices and applications, children born in this digital era have already mastered

them. This creates a knowledge gap between parents and children and can lead to unhealthy situations. For example, many parents know their child has a phone, but they do not know what kind of mature applications are on it.

Nevertheless, when parents do try to limit their children’s usage of technology, children may retaliate as a result of being addicted to their devices, causing disagreements. Instead of seeing how placing restrictions on technology can be beneficial, children see it as if their parents are practically ripping their devices out of their hands.

Although technology can be incredibly beneficial with its ease of access to information and entertainment, children should not need to use it all the time. People should prioritize family relationships over it.

The game, video, or article will be there forever, but family will not.

ILLUSTRATION BY WINNEFER WU

DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINION OF THE STAFF.

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OPINIONS

thematadorsghs.us WEDNESDAY, february 12, 2020

Students get caught up in pep rally tarp

BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO

D

uring pep rallies, several blue tarps are laid out on top of the basketball floor to keep the court clean and undamaged, but this form of “protection” endangers students who could potentially injure themselves during performances or spirit games. The administration should prioritize students’ well-being over a gym floor’s quality, especially during physically demanding events such as a pep rally.

The tarps are incredibly flimsy and are not at all suitable for physical activity, so they may flare up and get caught on the front of students’ shoes. Not only does tripping ruin the performance’s visuals, but it also can cause injury and embarrassment to the students afflicted. Performance teams work tirelessly for several weeks in order to showcase their routines, but team morale can easily be ruined if students trip or fall

mid-performance. Even people walking on the tarps are at risk of injury, especially during spirit games when participants are energized and ready to run.

Others argue that the tarps are needed to protect the basketball floor and are necessary in order for the condition to be preserved. While this is understandable, the tarps do not even properly serve their intended purpose. The cheap, thin material of the tarps does little to prevent scratches that occur during pep rallies. In addition, the tarps flap up frequently, exposing the court floor, rendering the tarps useless. The Matador Arena is already used almost daily for different sporting events without the tarp. Pep rallies are not any more aggressive on the floors than these other activities.

The administration does not take

into account how unessential the tarps are as they provide minimal coverage to the floor below it and wastes the time of those involved in setting them up. If the administration is going to keep placing tarps down, one large tarp should be used instead to ensure that it does not flare up when students perform on it. A solution that would not require purchasing a new tarp would be to tape the existing tarps together during pep rallies. This would help minimize the risk of injury, considering students usually trip due to the tarp lifting up in places they are not connected.

ILLUSTRATION BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO

Underpaid teachers undermine education quality

BY BRANDON TRAN

I

ncreasing wages for teachers has been proven to have positive results for students across the country.

For instance, a nationwide study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press Journals found that raising teachers’ wages by 10% decreases high school dropout rates by 3-4%. This was mainly a result of higher teacher retention as teachers were more willing to continue teaching at schools that have higher salaries. This exemplifies how it is essential for teachers to be paid well in order to ensure that their students succeed. If the district truly wants to help students, raising teachers’ wages would be a proven way to do so.

It is necessary for teachers to be able to afford living in San Gabriel.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in the country was about $63,179 in 2018.

Meanwhile, the average cost of living in San Gabriel is about 43% higher than

the national average, according to salary. com. However, the district does not even pay most teachers enough to afford the

same standard of living as the average American. As a result, many teachers with families may not receive the income that they need to live comfortably. If teachers are not paid fairly then they may be forced to live farther from school.

While it is true that this salary is higher than other districts in the area, it is still low compared to other types of careers that may attract more applicants.

Raising teachers’ salaries would not only compensate them for their work but also incentivize more people to become teachers. This would make the pool of applicants larger and more competitive, which would ensure that only outstanding teachers are chosen.

As a result, higher wages for teachers would benefit the students, teachers, and society as a whole.

ILLUSTRATION BY WINNEFER WU

THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print

Lauren Ballesteros

Editor-in-Chief, Digital

Kimberly Quiocho

Managing Editor News Editors

Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editors Sports Editor

Features Editors Copy Editors Photo/Video Editors Graphics Editor

Business Managers Media Managers Reporters

Adviser

Elsie Wang Katie Phan

How does technology affect your family relationships?

“

Wally Lan

Melody Zhang Aaron Lu

Sally Pham

Chelsea Nguyen Zhou Ye Xin

Ivy Ho

Ken Yu

Eric Mai

Andrew Lam Qilin Li

Amanda Lerma Brandon Tran Tanvi Mai

Megan Tieu

“

Winnefer Wu

Mytam Le

Tiffany Nguygen

Lily Cam

Leane Che Irene Yue

Hanna Jalawan

class of San Gabriel High School. 1,000 copies per issue are published at CA WEB PRINT Inc. The Matador is a public forum for student expression and highly encourages responses in reaction to issues discussed in the paper. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, not the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are the opinion of the staff. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested), to H-2, or Ms.

“

Sometimes, we’re on our phones instead of interacting with each other, so when I spend time with my family, we can’t have our phones out to avoid ignoring each other.”

-Shukmei Kwan, 9th grade

My parents don’t mind when we use technology during family time, but I do see it as rude so I don’t use my phone when I’m talking to people.”

-Jacob Garcia, 10th grade

“

Wendy Chau

Tammy Vuong

The Matador is published monthly by the journalism

Jalawan’s mailbox.

The Matador Bullring

Technology brings my family together. My mom and I would text each other throughout the day. When I’m not feeling well, I can always text my mom about it.”

-Angel Galicia-Cooper, 11th grade

Technology doesn’t negatively affect my family because my mom and I have a tradition where we watch the news together, and we talk about our day.”

-Darren Le, 12th grade

INTERVIEWS BY IVY HO

PHOTOS BY MELODY ZHANG

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Re“ken”dling bonds

Ken Yu

I

Finding family

never really knew what it was like to have a functional family at home. I can’t even remember when I first started visiting my dad on the weekends instead of seeing him every day at home. When I was moving out of our rental home of seven years, I found the divorce papers in my room. I wasn’t shocked. I was thirteen, and I had already pieced together that my parents were separating. However, it didn’t stop the discovery from being a mocking reminder that my dad wasn’t an active part of my life anymore.

Sure, I visited him on weekends, but beyond that I never saw him. I realize I had taken those weekends for granted.

In the winter of seventh grade, my dad was hospitalized. I didn’t find out until I got into my stepdad’s car that day when he turned and told me, “Your dad’s in the hospital.” The drive was silent, and I wasn’t sure when I broke the silence with my tears. At the hospital, all I could do was stand by his side, croaking out ‘Dad’ like a broken record as I watched his chest rise and fall with a machine’s assistance.

I left hours later, sparing one last glance at him as if it was my last.

The years up until now were rough. I was disconnected with my family following the incident. I was so afraid that they’d end up in the hospital bed comatose like my dad.

I didn’t want to have to go through a graduation where everyone else would be taking photos with loved ones while I had no one. It was terrifying. I couldn’t sleep for a while without the thought crossing my head. But what I lost in my fear, I found in the people I worked with through the years. I realized that family could be beyond blood too.

Everytime I stepped into a messy office of hazardously strewn newspapers, I saw something more— I saw a family. A family of questionable kids who barely scraped by each deadline, but hey, we scraped by together and that was what counted. At home, I was already trying to bridge the gap in my own ways.

I was aware of how tired my mom and step-dad could be sometimes. So I took on some of their daily household tasks whenever I could, even if I had to push off homework. I bonded with them over break and vacations, and I felt the support and love wash over me again. I made time to keep visiting my dad to talk about everything that’s happened, even if I wasn’t sure he’d be able to hear.

I may not know what a functional family feels like in the end, but I know what a loving and supportive one does.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

FOCUS

RESOURCES If you or someone you know is suffering from unjust behavior due to their sexuality, use the following resources.

LGBT National Helpline Center www.glbthotline.org 888-843-4564 Active Monday to Friday 1-9 p.m.

Pride Institute https://pride-institute.com 888-616-5031 Active 24/7

Trevor Project www.thetrevorproject.org 1-866-488-7386 Active 24/7

For help on campus, reach out to Peer Counseling, Gateway to Success counselors, school psychologists, teachers, or the nurse.

EMBRACING ALL

KINDS

OF LOVE

CELEBRATING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, BURKHART SHARES HER STORY OF COMING OUT.

PRONOUNS SHOULD BE USED ACCORDINGLY

BY CHELSEA NGUYEN In society, it seems as if physical features overshadow the person inside.

Individuals often assume others’ gender at first glance. Some may wrongly label a person as a “he” when they consider themselves a “she.” Although accidental, it is something to correct immediately as addressing someone incorrectly will only leave them feeling disrespected.

If one presents themself with long hair and traditional feminine features, it is automatically assumed that they are a woman who goes by “she” or “her.” This is similar to the pronouns “he” and “him,” which people determine by factors such as facial hair and masculine features.

For some, recognizing them by their preferred terms validates their gender.

Taking a brief look at someone does not guarantee that the gender assumption

GRAPHICS BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO AND ZHOU YE XIN

is correct. If one is confused about what pronoun to use, it is best to ask.

Those who are not comfortable with pronouns such as “she” or “he” will most likely lean towards identifying themselves as “they/them/their.” Other options include “ey/em/eir.”

R e c e n t l y, p e o p l e h a v e b e c o m e increasingly open and accepting of using pronouns that one identifies with.

Integrating these terms into society has made it more inclusive and caught the attention of governmental procedures.

For example, the 2016 census allowed people to select their ideal pronouns for the first time.

Pronoun approval has gradually increased throughout time. Some may feel uncomfortable in their own skin when mistakenly identified as a different gender than which they favor. It may be an honest mistake, but it is important to provide a safe and welcoming space for all.

The matador

FOCUS

From the bottom of her ‘Hart’

BY MYTAM LE

S

he felt her heart beating faster and hundreds of butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

S h e saw the boy on the same floor of her dorm: he was an amazing actor and seemingly perfect. But the resident assistant also caught her attention. Her beautiful curls and spectacular voice were just as breathtaking.

This feeling struck English teacher Catherine Burkhart with confusion and wonder as to why she was falling for two different people of opposite genders.

During her years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Burkhart decided to explore her sexuality. She realized that she was not heterosexual as she learned more about the LGBTQ+ community, she currently identifies as queer. “[Initially] at school I threw that closet door open,” Burkhart said. “I learned about the bravery it takes to come out in the face of that heteronormativity and that even though [it is] a struggle we end up stronger because of it.”

Burkhart’s sister accepted her sexuality, but her parents held traditional views. Burkhart felt a need to be a different person when she was around her parents.

“I didn’t want to divide myself anymore, trying to be two different people,” Burkhart said. “I just told them over lunch. My mom said she thought it was just a phase caused by my exposure to

liberal ideas at UCLA. My dad said nothing [to me for months].”

While Burkhart’s mother steadily accepted her sexuality, her father felt uncomfortable addressing the topic and had a difficult time talking about it.

Burkhart’s mother passed away in 2017 and in the following year, her father passed as well. Both never confronted her about her true sexuality, making it harder for Burkhart to handle their deaths. “[It’s] been hard losing them and never being able to have closure with that,” Burkhart said. “I think they both silently accepted me over the years, but never saying that explicitly [led to a] space [that] was left between us. They never really took my sexuality seriously and pretended it wasn’t there.”

She recognizes that her parents needed more knowledge about the topic. She felt as if she should have been there to help them understand.

“I do believe that no matter how long they lived, they would remain firm in their love for me and their inability to accept fully all of who I am,” Burkhart said.

Although she did not educate her parents, she educates her son, Nicolas. She tries her best to surround her son with many LGBTQ+ people around him, such as Nicolas’ godfathers: Spanish teacher Victor Garcia and his partner Conrad Nadeau. She also explains to him how families do not have to be the traditional mom and dad.

“Last month, he told me that h e w a n te d me to marry a man so that he could have a dad, [and] we talked about it,” Burkhart said. “[After] about two minutes, he was ready to move on. But, he knows that he can tell me or ask me anything.”

Throughout her journey of discovering her sexuality, she advises students who are questioning their own sexuality or struggling to come out to remember that it is perfectly normal to not have all of the answers about oneself.

“I would say to trust yourself and surround yourself with people who love you,” Burkhart said.

“Make sure you have a safe place because coming out, especially to [your] family, can be hard. Life and love is full of complexities.

We can live happily inside that complexity.”

“Life and love is full of complexities. We can live happily inside that complexity.”

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

7

GRADUAL ACCEPTANCE

BY WALLY LAN

1777: Thomas Jefferson

proposes Virginia law so that homosexual intercourse is no longer punishable by death.

1924: Henry Gerber, a

homosexual rights activist, establishes the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in America.

1969: Police forces raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

In response, the LGBTQ+ community violently riots against the police, leading to the start of the LGBTQ+ movement.

1971: The U.S. Civil Service

announces that homosexuals will no longer be excluded from employment due to their sexual orientation.

1987: Virginia Urbine starts

the Project 10 program, a Los Angeles Unified School District program that aims to support the LGBTQ+ community and students through education.

2002: New York City extends

the definition of “gender” in order to protect transgenders and people refusing to identify as a gender for employment, housing, and accommodations in the New York City Human Rights Law.

2015: The United States

Supreme Court legalizes samesex marriage in all 50 states.

2019: Hundreds of

businesses, including 62% of the Fortune 500 companies, are offering transgender health benefits. The number of LGBTQ+ elected officials increased from 559 in 2018 to 704.

Visit our website for more information on other LGBTQ+ related topics: thematadorsghs.us

8

thematadorsghs.us WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

The Matador

sports

BLACK M A M B A Kobe’s Legacy

A

fter his sudden passing, Kobe Bryant left behind not only friends, family, and millions of fans, but also an impressive legacy. Throughout his lifetime, Bryant supported, inspired, broadened, and trained the next generation of athletes.

The “Black Mamba” was an alter-ego created by Bryant in an attempt to separate himself from sexual assault accusations in 2003. However, the nickname evolved into a model mindset, dubbed the Mamba Mentality, for not just aspiring athletes but to anyone chasing their dreams.

The mentality encourages people to beat the competition by committing oneself to tireless, determined work.

In 2013, Bryant founded a production company that is now known as Granity Studios. It aims to spark young athletes’ imaginations and encourage them to reach their full potential. Granity Studios has produced shows, podcasts, and films that are all centered around sports. Some are focused more on the technical aspects of

sports and the analysis of the game, while others include a storyline where the Mamba Mentality is used to overcome an obstacle.

B r y a n t also launched the Mamba Sports Academy, which uses the “Mamba Mentality” as its focus for training.

The facility trains athletes of any age with any b ac kg r o u n d e xpe r ie n c e.

Additionally, Bryant was also a well-known supporter of the Women’s National Basketball Association and he personally coached his late daughter, Gianna, and her team.

Through the Mamba M e n t a l i t y , Gr a n i t y S t u d i o s , Mamba Sports Academy, and other enterprises Bryant made, his legacy continues to give to the sports community.

“[At our last home game] I took my jersey and we set it on the chair because obviously he’s not going to be forgotten. I actually tried to score 24 points, but I came up short one point and I was really sad. I immediately cried when that happened.”

-Denise Jimenez, 12 “At our games, we had a 24-second shot clock violation for every game in honor of his jersey number 24. Both teams lined up on opposite free throw lines and let the time tick down. We’d greet each other, say good luck, and honor the game in favor of Kobe.”

-Raphael Lipana, 10

ARTICLE BY ANDREW LAM, GRAPHIC BY KIMBERLY QUIOCHO, PHOTOS BY PLAYO CO., SEEKPNG, PIXELSTALK CC/BY

Kobe Bryant makes a snake gesture with his hand, a nod to his moniker, the “Black Mamba.”

The matador

sports 2019-20 Winter Sports Scoreboard

thematadorsghs.us

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

9

Matadors headlock league finals, secure CIF spot

BASKETBALL

BOYS VARSITY @ BELL GARDENS

(L) 54 - 56

@ MONTEBELLO

(L) 43 - 50

@ ALHAMBRA

(W) 45 - 42

@ MARK KEPPEL

(L) 47- 63

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN TIEU

To junior Dallas Roberts, volleyball is a way to overcome her insecurities and focus on being the best version of herself.

GIRLS VARSITY @ BELL GARDENS

(L) 34 - 41

@ MONTEBELLO

(W) 71 - 32

Roberts spikes down competition

@ ALHAMBRA

(W) 66 - 35

BY AMANDA LERMA

@ MARK KEPPEL

(L) 23 - 49

@ SCHURR

(L ) 43 - 65

SOCCER BOYS VARSITY

PHOTO BY LILY CAM

With a two-in-one on his Spartan opponent, sophomore Ronald Pena “already knew the fight was his” at Almont League Wrestling Finals on Jan. 25. He will be competing at CIF this Friday.

BY LILY CAM

VS ALHAMBRA

(W) 0 - 0

@SCHURR

(L) 0 - 5

VS BELL GARDENS

(L) 1 - 3

@ MARK KEPPEL

(W) 2 - 1

GIRLS VARSITY @ ALHAMBRA

(L) 0 - 4

VS SCHURR

(L) 2 - 4

@ BELL GARDENS

(L) 0 - 2

VS MARK KEPPEL

(W) 3 - 0

The wrestling team entered the Almont League Wrestling Finals with one goal in mind—to prove that for what it lacked in experience, it made up for in passion and determination to make it to CIF. The finals were hosted at Montebello High School on Jan. 25, where six wrestlers placed within the top three of their weight divisions and are advancing to CIF. The wrestlers started practicing a week before their first meet with their new coaches: Coach Kevin Encinas, Coach Gabriel Aguilar, and Coach Daveena Banda.

“Coach Encinas trains at my Jiu-Jitsu facility,”

Aguilar said. “He told the main guy that there was a wrestling program at San Gabriel, and if no one came in to coach, the program would die. Coach Banda and I took the opportunity.”

The meet started off with boys and girls lighter weight classes, with an exception in the 182-pound weight class, where varsity wrestler senior Mel Pastenes wrestled. He and his partner were first, meaning all eyes were fixed on them. Having lost to him at a past dual meet, Pastenes was determined to redeem himself but was eventually overpowered once again.

“He was definitely more experienced than I am,” Pastenes said. “I tried to take two shots on him and he knew exactly what moves to pull whenever I was on top of him. However, I noticed I could’ve kept turning him over whenever I had him in the double leg shot.”

The boys matches continued until championships. Varsity 126-pound sophomore Jacob Resendez secured his spot for second place after winning two out of his three matches.

In his most memorable match, Resendez fought back-and-forth with his opponent from Mark Keppel until he finally re-dropped and pinned his opponent with a wrist-half.

“It feels good to make it to CIF because I put a lot of hard work and dedication into wrestling,” Resendez said. “I’m proud of how hard our team has worked even though we started late.”

In contrast, the female matches ended earlier since only three of five of them were able to compete. However, the following day, the team found out that six of their wrestlers, including two girls, qualified for CIF. “The fact that they qualified here, in a district where there aren’t many females participating in wrestling, is a huge statement to everybody that the girls are here to compete and wrestle just as hard as the boys,” Banda said.

Junior Dallas Roberts adjusts her stance, preparing to move as the volleyball is tossed high into the air and sails over the net. A teammate races forward to pass the ball, and it is quickly sent spiraling into the air by a perfect set. Roberts leaps into the air and slams her hand onto the face of the ball, leaving nothing but a white streak for the other team to see as it hits the floor.

Roberts was only three years old when she began playing, first developing an interest by watching her father play.

“My dad is my role model,” Roberts said. “My dad played, so I kept watching it, and then I got into it. He showed me all the positions and all the rotations.”

Roberts used to play at Glen A. Wilson High School, where she and her team won five out of six tournaments. She credits her past successes to a healthy team dynamic.

Her transition to the Pasadena Volleyball Club allowed Roberts to experience a new atmosphere surrounding the game.

“Club is more fun for me, while high school is more competitive because you might have scouts watching you,” Roberts said. “My teammates are a big part of how I play. I just like having a team that has a mindset of winning and being competitive.”

Her drive to improve her mental and physical health encouraged Roberts to create a stronger mindset through volleyball.

“I was going down a bad path for a while, and I needed to get my mind off some bad stuff,” Roberts said. “Sports and competitiveness helped me get back to where I needed to be. It helped me stay distracted from everything I wanted to do but knew wasn’t a good thing for me.”

For now, she plans to play for SG during her senior year. Meanwhile, Roberts will continue to play at the club and live under the influence of volleyball.

“Playing has affected my life because you’re always out, and it gives you a good mindset,” Roberts said. “Just staying motivated and carrying on with what I want to do in life.”

10

thematadorsghs.us WEDNESDAY, february 12, 2020

THE MATADOR

Life and art

Circles continues Miller’s legacy through new waters

PHOTO BY WARNER RECORDS CC/BY

Malcolm John McCormick’s Swimming was released in Aug. 2018, a month before his accidental drug overdose.

Circles’s release allowed for some fans to finally move on, knowing that his music still lives on.

BY KEN YU

Mac Miller’s posthumous album, Circles , was released on Jan. 17 by Warner Record at the wish of his family a year and one month after the rapper’s accidental drug overdose in 2018. Under the recommendation of a friend, I gave Circles a go, stepping into a musical world beyond what I had ever experienced.

Circles was created with the intention of balancing out Miller’s previous album Swimming as its companion album, continuing Miller’s critical look of his depression and hardships in a sound

that is vastly different from Swimming.

Opposed to Swimming’s driving beats and consistent funky profiles, Circles heads into more experimental arrangements that cover diverse genres like low-fidelity (lo-fi) and R&B. Although both albums are equally carefully crafted and draw in listeners, the difference is clear with Circles’s increased weight to the lyrics, as to Swimming’s less vivid lyrics.

Miller eases into the album with the title track “Circles,” relaying his thoughts through his raspy vocals and weighty lyrics.

A rock-on-your-feet ambience saturates the song, conveying a feeling of being without direction where Miller wearily admits that “I cannot be changed, no / Trust me I’ve tried” as if he is caught in an inescapable circle of change and relapse. From this line, he references his attempts to come clean with his drug addiction, which were met with no success to his frustration and exhaustion. “Circles,” is also his subtle statement that he is unsure of where he is in the circle of sobriety and relapse, singing “Stumblin’ around you been guessing your direction/ Next step you can’t see at all.” The languid guitar riffs in the background reinforce this feeling of aimless wandering. The dream-like tone offered by the vibraphones drift over a steady cymbal beat that brings a sense of calm, the type of calm for introspection.

His self-analysis is not limited to just “Circles”, and like Swimming, each song is connected through the lyrics that reference past songs. In “Complicated,” Miller says “Inside my head is getting pretty cluttered” and later in the album’s lead single, “Good News,” he says, “I spent the whole day

Byte falls short of predecessor

BY AARON LU

Byte is a six-second video app that allows anybody to post videos they might find interesting, creative, or e n t e r t a i n i n g. L au n c h e d o n Ja n . 2 4 by the co-founder of Vine, Domonic Hofmann, the app is a follow-up to the successful 2013 Vine app. Byte has no limit to the kinds of videos users can make and watch, as long as it follows community guidelines The app has a range of videos users can make. Byte has many specific categories for popular types of videos that people want to view or tag their videos in, creating an easier way to navigate the app.

H o w e v e r, t h e a p p does not have any features for users to edit videos, which means that making videos is inconvenient for creators who are just working on their phones. The app only offers a start recording button that can pause until the time is up. In addition, Byte does not offer users any filters or text to add to their videos other than the caption. Thus, users must post from their camera rolls if they want an edited video.

Since Byte is not very different from other video-sharing apps, it does not really stand out. This concept of an app has already been done multiple times and has already found success in

TikTok, the most trending short video app at the moment. Byte emphasizes that its videos are only six seconds long because of evidence-based studies on attention spans. However, this does not seem to be enough to increase usage of the app.

However, those who grew up with Vine might have a different opinion.

During its reign, Vine was the most popular and easiest form of entertainment users could find through an app. Thus, the nostalgia from Vine could draw in some new Byte users.

The only major change from Vine is how Byte pays its creators, its changed design, and new layout.

To e a r n r e v e n u e , Byte uses ads. However, u n l i k e Ti k To k , B y t e ’ s ad systems differ by not having ads in front of Bytes or on the following feed, and by not having ads based on retargeting. This is refreshing as people tend to dislike frequent ads, and many often feel violated by targeted ads.

Despite the variety of content on Byte, it is not unique compared to any other apps with a similar concept.

The excitement surrounding Vine has passed, and it does not feel like Byte will be able to live up to its predecessor.

Although, Byte was created to entertain its users through other users, not many people are actually using it.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BYTE

Byte’s interface is similar to TikTok, yet it falls behind in features and convenience.

in my head/ Doing a little spring cleanin’,” creating a noticeable link that ties together an out-of-thisworld experience, as each song now feels skillfully weaved into others like chapters to a story.

The narrative Miller tells feels like he is swimming in a circle steeped in his want to step away from drugs while combating his depression. Circles tells Miller’s story as an unintentional final goodbye to his

fans. His m u s i c pulls up the blinds slightly on Miller’s mind, offering fans a way to make peace with his passing and a final glimpse of his genius.

PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS CC/BY

Proceeds from Miller’s Circles goes towards the Mac Miller Fund to support young musicians with resources.

How to Say “I Love You” Around the World Japanese 愛してる (ai-shee-teh-roo): This phrase means ‘I love you,’ but the Japanese prefer to express love through different ways and phrases.

Aishiteru. 月が綺麗ですね ? (soo-kee gah kee-ray deh-soo neh): Meaning ‘The moon is beautiful right?’, this phrase is the equivalent to saying I love you in an indirect way.

Suki ga kireidesu ne?

German Ich lieb dich (ish lee-buh dish): I love you.

Ich habe dich lieb (ish ah-beh dish lee-buh): Meaning ‘I love you lots,’ this phrase is a platonic way of expressing love.

Italian Ti amo (tee ah-moe): I love you.

Mi sono affezionato a te (mi sono

ah-feh-zhee-o-nah-to a teh): If you do not feel the same, but you are still fond of the person, this is the phrase to go with.

Tagalog Mahal kita (mah-hal kee-tah): The most common way of saying ‘I love you.’

Iniibig kita (ee-nee-eebig kee-tah): A poetic and old fashioned way of saying ‘I love you.’

Greek Σε αγαπώ (seh ah-gah-po): The most direct way to say ‘I love you’ in Greek.

Se agapó. Σημαίνεις τόσα πολλά για μένα. (si-meh-nees to-sah po-lah yah meh-nah): This phrase is a round-about way of saying I love you for the shyer people, meaning ‘You mean so much to me.’

Siménis tósa polá ya ména.

WRITTEN BY KEN YU GRAPHIC BY IVY HO

The matador

FEATURES

TELL ME WHAT’S THE

WORD? PICKUP LINES COMPILED BY THE MATADOR STAFF

“Girl, be careful around me while I clean up because I don’t want to accidentally sweep you off your feet.”

“Do you know where my glasses are? Because I can’t believe my eyes that you’re this cute.”

“Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?”

“I’m learning about important dates in history. Wanna be one of them?”

“Are you French? Because Eiffel for you.”

Three cups, three balls. As each ball seemingly phases through the bottom cup, locksmith Clifford Pigott found himself amazed by the shopkeeper’s performance as a teenager. Yet, the trick itself turned out to be simple; a fourth ball created the illusion of a ball moving between cups.

“I was really kind of disappointed because [I was] thinking, ‘Oh, that’s really simple,’” Pigott said about the key to a common trick.

“I would do it for people and then I would show them how it worked. They would be as disappointed as I was, so I had to learn not to show the secret.”

Pigott’s beginnings with what became one of his favorite tricks, cups and balls, propelled him to take his interest more seriously. As a teenager, he went to the Magic Wand shop in Pasadena to meet with other passionate kids.

“Every month, the owner would open up the store in the evening,” Pigott said. “The kids would come and they would get to perform for one another and do their latest trick; [it was] like a club.”

After turning 21 years old, he became a member of the Magic Castle, a invite-only club for magicians and magic enthusiasts in Hollywood.

“Being at the Magic Castle and performing for people is always special because there’s the expectation that something magical is going to happen,” Pigott said. “We’re at the Magic Castle. The surroundings are magical, it’s enchanting.”

11

Schreiner welcomes new baby, experiences, memories

BY QILIN LI

English teacher Logan Schreiner and his wife Destiny nervously chatted with family members on their baby’s expected due date, Dec. 27. The pair had been anxious about the baby arriving too early that it disrupts Christmas festivities, or too late that their relatives would already return home and miss the birth. An hour after the discussion, Destiny’s water broke.

This represented nothing short of a “crazy” yet “strange” experience.

“I felt like it was action time and I needed to do a bunch of stuff,” Schreiner said, “but we ended up staying at home that night [and] I finished making dinner. It’s not like the movies where you have to head to the hospital right away, but I still felt like we had to get all this stuff ready.”

Two days of labor not only welcomed a baby but also a new lifestyle. From a new sleeping cycle to a different daily routine, Schreiner is always adapting and adjusting to his new life as a father.

“Everything’s constantly changing,” Schreiner said. “It’s exhausting but also interesting. It’s easy to settle into your own life and do your thing for a long time and not notice time passing, but that will not be the case with the little one. All of these normal things that you do automatically, you [now have] to talk about and decide on.”

Schreiner returned from his three weeks of paternal leave after his daughter, Aurelia, was born. During his leave, he constantly checked emails and uploaded his lesson plans onto Google Classroom. Although he has now returned to work, Schreiner misses being with

Pigott brings his magic skills to table

BY MELODY ZHANG

thematadorsghs.us

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

The magician does close-up illusion magic, mental magic, and stand-up magic.

Pigott said that he realized that it did not matter how simple the magic was, although easy to perform, acting and presenting it in a certain way is what makes the tricks even more amazing. Magic not only allowed Pigott to entertain, but also taught him how to talk and perform in front of an audience.

“To me, it gave me strength and the ability to communicate to other people, whether it’d be in a small group or a larger group,” Pigott said. “Magic is a great thing for anybody who is uncomfortable or a little shy.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLIFFORD PIGOTT

“Mentalism can be done on a grand scale, for thousands of people,” Pigott said. “It’s an amazing type of thing that entrances people.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOGAN SCHREINER

English teacher Logan Schreiner holds his daughter Aurelia at just over a week old while adjusting to his new sleeping cycle. “I held her a lot in that chair because she slept way better when held during those first few weeks,” Schreiner said. his daughter and wife.

“It’s hard to be away from Aurelia,” Schreiner said. “My wife has been spending her first few days alone with Aurelia. That can be pretty difficult [and] I wish I could support my wife a little more.”

Schreiner anticipates many more memorable firsts after giving Aurelia her

first bath and seeing her first few smiles. He has also realized the weight of this newfound responsibility of caring for another human life.

“Having to take care of another helpless person is really strange,” Schreiner said. “When there’s constantly someone who needs you, you have to be aware and intentional. It’s an exhausting but weirdly beautiful experience.”

Chen volunteers across borders

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TAMMY VUONG

Junior Ahmik Chen (fourth from the top left) and other members of the Nikkei Youth Association promote community service and cultural education by travelling to other countries and generating connections with people with different backgrounds.

BY BRANDON TRAN

Laughter fills the air as Nikkei Youth Association (NYA) junior club president Ahmik Chen plays games with children in Mexico. He rolls a die and sprints around a track with rocks in his shoes as a metaphor for accomplishing his goals despite difficulty. Through this, he learned more about himself and met new people.

Volunteering in Mexico last summer along with students from several countries, including Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia, Chen helped students in impoverished communities.

“We want to create a program in Los Angeles for Nikkeis around the world to be a part of the area’s first inter-exchange program,” Chen said.

Chen learned many lessons from the people he met. This had a profound effect in shaping how he interacts with others and his outlook on life.

“The trip made me be more optimistic with the people I’m with and to be grateful for what

I have right now,” Chen said. “I’m more positive around my friends, and a person’s greatest strength is their positive energy. I learned more about myself and how to appreciate what I have right now.”

Chen was also able to take part in various fun activities and learn directly from the community.

“We had all of these activities about selfreflection, like how to make someone feel more like themselves, that included teamwork and individual activities,” Chen said.

Seeing a different culture first-hand made Chen’s experience enjoyable. He was able to connect with his Japanese heritage and learn more about how Japanese people from other countries lived.

“The experience was one to remember,” Chen said. “I went with people my age but from a different culture. Somehow, we were still connected because I am Japanese-American, but people over there were Japanse-Mexican. The connections meant a lot. It’s great having friends from different areas and different cultures.”

12

thematadorsghs.us

The matador

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

ed a sly Solis watch hakal and Le D the t at ga te au S ta S le n Junior coup LA and Orego C U n at ee th tw e be hakal finds football gam for PODER. D his ip tr om ld fr fie lly a amenta Rose Bowl on is differs fund things ol lk S ta ith s w ay p w hi al his relations gue [and] we ar ly re ra e . “W previous ones id. sa l ka ha D out,”

When seniors Yin Yin Myo and Haipeng Yu’s seventh grade English teacher placed the pair in the same group, neither of them knew that in the next four years, their worlds would revolve around each other.

“I didn’t think much of it at first,” Myo said.

“I just thought he’d be another nice group mate that I would possibly talk to during school.”

That one encounter flourished into many more interactions. Their differences in music tastes and interests sparked Myo and Yu’s curiosity about each other, leading to them forming a close friendship. After a year filled with memorable hangouts, Yu decided to confess his love for Myo. “[She] is a fun person to be around,” Yu said. “Whenever I would think about our time together, my heart would beat faster, and that’s when I realized that I liked her [as] more than a friend.”

The couple credits their strong friendship as the foundation of their stable relationship but says it can sometimes cost them.

“We had a good relationship as friends and it carried into our relationship,” Myo said.

“Sometimes, it would get awkward because whenever we have a bad argument, it could cost us a relationship and a friendship.”

The transition from friendship to relationship was not smooth for the pair because the two faced the challenge of overcoming Myo’s parents’ disapproval.

“My parents are very protective over me so

ARTICLES BY LILY CAM, SALLY PHAM PHOTOS COURTESY OF YIN YIN MYO, LESLY SOLIS GRAPHICS BY QILIN LI

FEAtures

Carrying a four-page essay on why he loves his girlfriend, junior Saugat Dhakal arrives at school hoping it will make a good birthday gift.

Junior Lesly Solis loves it.

The two have been together for nearly two years. Having met on the first day of school in freshman year, they became familiar with one another after being partners in English class.

Immediately, Dhakal was attracted to Solis.

“Our teacher moved us next to each other, and my first impression was that she was really beautiful and [I wanted to get to know her better],” Dhakal said. “She gave me her Snapchat, and we started talking from there.”

Dhakal expressed his feelings to a few mutual friends. Solis eventually found out and confronted Dhakal, but the two did not start dating until Dhakal asked her out months later on May 1 of their freshman year.

“We were [walking] by the [cafeteria],” Dhakal said. “I wrote her a poem, and I showed it to her. In the poem, I put the words ‘Will you go out with me?’ in bold. She read it [and said], ‘Awww, that’s so cute! Yes!’” The pair remembers many outings, including their first date at El Pollo Loco, the first time they danced together at a birthday party, and the time they spent the day at Knott’s Berry Farm on a field trip.

“I’d have to say my fondest memory with him was when we first danced together because he didn’t really know how to dance to Spanish music, so I taught him,” Solis said.

it was hard to keep our relationship hidden,” Myo said. “Often, it would make planning dates extremely difficult; even seeing each other after school was a challenge.”

Myo’s parents’ disapproval caused the couple unease because they feared that her parents would prohibit them from future interactions.

Despite this barrier, Myo and Yu continued to foster their relationship. “[Myo’s] parents didn’t really know much about our relationship because we were afraid of how they would react,” Yu said. “We try to make plans in advance to make the most of the short time we have together.”

Since the beginning of high school, Myo’s parents have given her more freedom and have come to accept her relationship with Yu. To commemorate her parents’ acceptance, the pair spent a day together at Knott’s Berry Farm.

“We chose Knott’s as our date spot because both of us aren’t fans of roller coasters so we wanted to get out of our comfort zones and ride the scariest ones,” Yu said. “It was a memorable experience because we usually spend three hours together, but we spent almost 10 hours in each other’s company that day.”

Since then, Myo and Yu have been making up for the lost time they had before her parents’ acceptance.

“I definitely feel a closer bond between us than before,” Myo said. “Spending quality time together has strengthened our relationship beyond messaging online.”

Despite the clear chemistry the pair has, Solis faced backlash from her father who was unsupportive of the idea of Solis being in a relationship, let alone one with Dhakal.

“It was hard at first because my dad didn’t want me dating and prohibited me from seeing him,” Solis said. “But over time he [got used to it and realized that Saugat and I were serious].”

Solis said that being with Dhakal has changed her as a person.

“I have more self-love,” Solis said. “Before, I didn’t care about anything and I was irresponsible, but he made me realize there’s more to life. He made me have hope.”

Three months away from their two-year anniversary, Solis and Dhakal plan to spend Valentine’s Day at a restaurant. They hope to continue their relationship for many years to come.

“I do see a future with him,” Solis said. “In the future, we want to support each other both financially and education-wise. After high school he wants to major in psychology, and I want to major in criminology, so we’re making ourselves better day-by-day to reach our goals.”

Dhakal shares one word of relationship advice that he followed throughout his relationship with Solis.

“The key to a long and healthy relationship is to be yourself, don’t try to be someone you’re not, [and always talk your problems out],” Dhakal said. “Take your partner seriously, be there for them, and support them.”

Seniors Yin Yin Myo an d Haipeng time togeth Yu er at Knott s Berry Farm spend quality break. “It w during spri as our first ng time at an together, a amusemen nd we felt t park so happy e going on a xploring an ll the rides, d ” Myo said .