The Matador: Issue 5 - January 28, 2022

SAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL

THE VOLUME 67, ISSUE 5

MATADOR

801 S. RAMONA STREET, SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022

Bridging art and academics

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KEN YU

Inside the Pages

News, p.2-3

Focus, p.6-7

Features, P.11-12

After the surge of the Omicron variant, the district continues its enforcement of safety measures.

Follow Jung’s journey into the world of art and learn how to further foster craftiness and creativity.

Senior Kelley Chin explores her inner fashionista and her path in fashion.

2 NEWS

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Recapping the Omicron surge The recent surge in COVID-19 cases put into perspective, one event at a time Omicron officially classified Nov. 26, 2021

Testing Labs backlogged by surge January 2022

“How Ominous Is the Omicron Variant” CC/BY SA 2.0, iSO-FORM LLC

Omicron is identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Despite its noted mild symptoms after contraction, Omicron is highly infectious and accounts for the overwhelming surge in COVID-19 cases in recent months.

“Preparation of the RT-PCR Reaction” CC/BY SA 2.0, Dean Calma

The winter holiday surge in COVID-19 cases, propagated by Omicron’s infectiousness, backlogged labs operating polymerse chain reaction (PCR) tests, prompting the district to temporarily switch to antigen rapid tests for two weeks. PCR tests resumed last Friday with antigen test kits provided to students who have not registered for the testing program.

Surprise Monday off for students Jan. 10, 2021

Changes made to masking guidelines Jan. 14, 2022

“Kids walking back to school” CC/BY SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Due to rising omicron cases, the district decided to have students stay home on Jan. 10, giving students the monday off. Students recieved an at-home test kit the week before in order to test themselves on monday and report their results to the district.

Free test kit order site available Jan. 20, 2022

“Cloth face mask on white backround” CC/BY SA 2.0, Filo gèn’

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clarified its position on the efficacy of cloth masks, opting to label N95 and KN95 masks as the “highest level of protection” offered. Cloth masks were noted to be the least protective as the CDC encouraged the usage of N95 and KN95 masks after alleviating concerns about shortages. In response, the district changed masking guidelines to require surgical masks or N95 and KN95 masks over cloth masks.

Free N95 masks distributed Jan. 22, 2022

“Covid-19 home test kit, rapid test, self test kit” CC/BY SA 2.0, Jernej Furman

The Biden administration has been focusing on helping citizens fight against covid with it’s push for testing. In a bid to make test kits more accessible, the Biden administration announced its plan to give all Americans four free at home rapid tests. The program was available on Jan. 19th and take 7-12 days to ship to families Additionally, people with health insurance are eligible to recieve up to eight free at home test kits as their insurance will cover the costs.

“White FFP2, KN95 respirator.” CC/BY SA 2.0, Flickr

Alongside the Biden administration’s push for free test kits, they have also encouraged the use of masks by dealing with the problems of high cost and low supply. The government provide masks for everyone by shipping them to pharmacies where they will be given out.

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NEWS 3

THE MATADOR

BRIEFS No spectators at AUSD athletic events

BY LAURA CAI

To mitigate the current surge of COVID-19 and the spread of the Omicron variant, no spectators are allowed at indoor athletic events in any AUSD school as of Jan. 4 and will be effective until Jan. 31. However, an email will be sent prior to the date to review the circumstances and change the implementation if needed.

Only athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, and administrators are allowed inside during games. Additionally, no food is allowed during games. However, drinking is still permitted; students should maintain distance when drinking water. Because of the food restriction and lack of an audience, food sales are not authorized. Moreover, all sports games were canceled for the week of Jan. 10 PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSD

After winter break, cases of COVID-19 on campuses are on the rise across the district. In the first several weeks of the spring semester, confirmed cases have peaked for a time and are now beginning to decline gradually

District response to surge creates uncertainty

BY XIAOYU FAN FEATURES EDITOR

D

ue to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the district implemented a series of plans to respond. However, as the pandemic fluctuates, these plans may be adjusted.

In order to reduce the risk of infection from large crowds as much as possible, the school suspended sports games for a week and rescheduled big events such as the Winter Ball.

“I think the [suspension of] games was the right move. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it was handled poorly,” junior Bliss Truong said. “I got my results late and found out I had COVID, [and] could have infected my friends and classmates. As a studentathlete, I would be disappointed [that] I can’t do what I love and compete, but the way the school handles things makes many people including myself even more frustrated.”

The school has adopted safety precautions, like requiring all students and staff to wear a surgical, N95, or KN95 mask in both indoor and outdoor locations and temporarily provided two weeks of at-home antigen testing kits because of a backlog in lab testing capacity.

“In all public places, like public schools, you can wear a cloth mask over, but you have to have a surgical or N95 mask inside,” Principal Debbie Stone said. “We have surgical masks at the office. Teachers have them in their classrooms, so students can ask for the masks. The surgical mask is very available [at school], but we are getting more [N95 masks] now.”

Although students are not required to be vaccinated to return to campus, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has reinforced the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and continues to emphasize that they are the strongest defense against serious illness and hospitalization.

The DPH also now strongly recommends vaccination boosters for everyone age 16 and older when eligible.

“I think school should have a vaccine mandate, no matter how much protection the vaccine could provide to us,” junior Haoyang Zhou said. “If everyone in the school is vaccinated, the positive rate should decrease. With that being said, the school environment will become a much safer place with a vaccine mandate.”

If a student or staff member feels sick, they can remain at home to rest until they fully recover without any symptoms. The school requires teachers to post materials and homework on Google Classroom, so students at home can catch up on their work.

Preventing COVID-19

“All the homework that I assigned to the students that are in physical school, I post on the Google Classroom,” English teacher Scott Myers said. “I have told all the students that [are] either home sick or quarantined to try to keep up as best as they can. They don’t have to turn in [their work] right when they come back. They can have extra time. Usually, if they were absent for one week, they have one week to make it up.”

With the ever-changing conditions of the pandemic, safety protocols may be changed in the future. Information regarding more protocol instructions will be emailed to families.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

As the pandemic enters yet another turning point, caution and proper health practices are critical to protecting yourself and others.

Get vaccinated. Schedule an appointment to get the first dose, second dose, or booster shot as soon as possible, unless certain medical conditions prevent you from doing so.

Vaccinations do not grant absolute immunity but significantly blunts the side effects infection and is one of your greatest protections from the virus.

Get tested. If you have not registered with the weekly PCR testing program, do so now.

When testing, whether PCR or rapid test, properly and carefully follow the instructions to prevent false positives or negatives. Remember to use your rapid test kit as soon as possible once the sealed test card is open.

Communicate. There is no shame in contracting COVID-19. However, it is your responsibility to communicate your situation to others, notifying friends and family of their possible exposure.

Sanitize. Around the campus and within each classroom are hand sanitizing stations for your convenience. Make use of them as a habit to form another barrier to prevent the spread and contraction of COVID-19. Regular usage of hand sanitizer goes a long way to prevent infection.

Mask up. Masks are one of your first defenses against infection. Wear them properly over the nose and ensure it fits snugly on your face. Try your best to wear surgical, N95, or KN95 grade masks, as they are now required by school guidelines. Cloth masks alone are not allowed unless paired with a surgical, N95, or KN95 mask. Surgical masks can be provided at school if needed.

COVID-19 booster guidelines

BY RICHARD TRAN

The Center for Disease Control and Protection has approved the use of the Pfizer booster shot. Those who received a Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccination can get either the Pfizer or Moderna booster shots.

Those between the ages of 12–17 should only get the Pfizer booster shot.

The district is also holding a COVID-19 vaccination and booster drive to encourage students and families to get fully vaccinated.

BRAVO raffle date announced

BY RICHARD TRAN

The BRAVO raffle was recently announced to be held on Jan. 14 However, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the date has been pushed back to today at lunch.

Do not forget to submit your BRAVO cards at the pancake.

The prizes from the raffle include airpods, hydroflasks, speakers, and many more.

ATA helps the hungry

BY TRISTAN ING

The Alhambra Teachers Association’s Food Pantry has launched a biweekly food distribution for those in need of a meal. Anyone interested in donating should visit https://bit.ly/ ATAFoodPantry to register.

The pantry will be located at 3030 W. Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801 and will be open on Feb. 2, Feb. 16, March 2, March 16, and March 23 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Alternate arrangements can be made by calling (626) 289-1933 for those unable to make it during one of the scheduled dates.

4 OPINIONS 'Ky'tchen

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Trapped in a fog of COVID-19 ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA CAI

Cooking up joy KYLIE CHUNG REPORTER

O

ne of my biggest passions in life, cooking, stemmed from my cousins when I was only four years old.

Whenever I went to their house, they let me bake cakes from boxed cake mixes. They often babysat me when my parents were occupied with work, and I took huge pride in my baking, naive to the fact that I was just following instructions on a box.

When I was nine years old, my parents enrolled me in a culinary course, which helped me realize just how little I actually knew about cooking. When I finished the course, I learned much more than I expected, which furthered my love for the art.

I spent much of my free time in the kitchen, following recipes online, and eventually, creating my own.

My favorite part about cooking, though, has always been the people.

When I was younger, it was a means for quality time and bonding between my cousins and me. As I grew more seasoned with my cooking, I began paying more attention to reactions to my food. I dreaded serving something I deemed mediocre.

Once, I was asked to make something for a potluck. I had been wanting to make cake pops for a while, and I thought it would be fun and fairly simple. In reality, it was a disaster.

When I finally figured out how to stop the cake from sliding off the stick, it was midnight, and I was up until 1 a.m. dunking the remaining cake into the candy melts. When I looked at the finished product, I felt disappointed in myself. However, nobody seemed bothered by the imperfections, which allowed me to remember that my food looking unprofessional would not make them any less happy with it.

Seeing people’s smiles after taking a bite out of my dish would always fill me with happiness and a sense of accomplishment. Their reactions are my motivation to continue expanding my cooking knowledge. Recently, I started a club called Chef’s Guild with my friends, dedicated to teaching others how to cook, because a few of my friends wanted to learn how to cook. We realized that other students might be in the same situation, and we felt like it would be a fun experience to socialize and share our experience with others. I still have a lot of room for improvement, but as of right now, being able to cook and share my passion with the people around me makes me truly happy.

Staff Stance

School safety decisions lack student input

A

s each day passes by and the number of students who get infected by COVID-19 and the Omicron variant continues to surge, it is especially more dangerous to have constant face-to-face interactions. Every day, students and staff are constantly in contact with one another, which increases the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Given that students play a key role in the structure of schools, students need to be given the right to voice their opinions on topics that generally concern their safety.

Because issues, like staying at school despite the pandemic, mainly affect students, having student input in district decisions would acknowledge their rights and help students mature.

Although the school is mainly made up of students, the district has rarely incorporated student voices in the many safety guidelines it has implemented, such as having to stay

MATADOR BULLRING Students share their opinions on current topics.

How well do you think the school has responded to the COVID-19 case surge?

in school during a pandemic. These decisions impact students the most, and not considering their voices takes away a part of their freedom.

Furthermore, lack of student input in school rulings contradicts the point of a public school, which emphasizes the concepts of democracy and citizens’ rights and implies that every student has the right to question and challenge any regulations that go against their safety.

Although the district needs to make the most impactful decisions, some may believe that students are not mature enough to make significant decisions for the school due to bias. This is true, to an extent, but high school students are the ones experiencing all the regulations passed out by the district.

The district should actively try to consider how students will react to their judgment. Moreover, due to the monetary sum that the district receives for students that attend class, it can sometimes be biased

Ethan Cazun, 9 “[The school responded] pretty poorly, they should’ve handled this better by giving us a week off because the new variant [is] more spreadable."

in its decisions. This could lead to a prioritization of its own special interests, which is why the district should reach out for student input as a way to prevent any partiality in its rulings. Allowing students to voice their opinions on important resolutions involving their safety can train them mentally and for the future.

As a result, schools, the district, department of public health, and the board of education need to actively listen to the voices of students on topics related to their safety. The district should send students’ families surveys to incorporate students’ opinions in their decisions, especially on staying in school during a surge in the pandemic. This will not only benefit students, but also the staff, who are in contact with students every day. With students’ opinions in school safety decisions, it can keep the school and allow students to mature from understanding different perspectives.

Kaylie Hua, 10 "The school has reacted very well [to] the surge of new COVID cases since they’re making students wear masks [more] often."

Andrew Lugo, 11

Maki Chen, 12

“We’re doing good right now. We stopped sports for a while to keep us safe, so I feel like the school should just keep going like they’re going right now.”

"School should already have the [COVID] test [for students]. [Also] students who aren’t willing to take the vaccine shouldn’t be at school.”

INTERVIEWS BY TRISTAN ING PHOTOS BY ANDREW LAM DISCLAIMER: THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE ATTRIBUTED WRITER. ARTICLES WITHOUT BYLINES ARE THE OPINIONS OF THE STAFF.

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OPINIONS 5

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SGTV provides invaluable service to student body

ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN ING

BY KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

S

an Gabriel Television (SGTV) is the school’s student-produced public announcement program with roots in the distance learning homeroom videos played throughout last year. SGTV provides critical information to the student body and is a step toward re-involving students with the school community.

In lieu of a public announcement

system on seemingly indefinite hold, SGTV is the modern and most reasonably appealing medium to pass on important information to the student body. It outweighs the school bulletin in accessibility and presentation, making it all the more engaging for students.

Teachers themselves only have to remember to post a link of the video or play it toward the end of class.

In addition, SGTV is purely studentdriven, allowing for opportunities to become involved with the school as a whole. The program coordinates with the

technical theater class and the various other school facilities and departments to gather relevant information to present in a digestible format. A student community is driven not only by school spirit, but also knowledge of school events where students can come together for a common goal.

Just like the weekly bulletins, SGTV is just as susceptible to falling out of regular use, as teachers become too preoccupied to post the link or play the video in class. The information provided can also be obsolete because students have the ability to receive weekly notices via email that contain the general important information such as week schedules, student sales, and upcoming day-offs. However, SGTV has the capacity to cover more than general school information and can become a source of club and sports news, and it is arguably less susceptible to falling into disuse due to the fact that the video link is sent via email each Wednesday.

SGTV has the potential to become more than it is now with its fresh approach toward delivering relevant information. Combined with a strong media presence through the class councils’ social handles, students can become more involved and proactive with how they engage campus activities and events, leading to a livelier and more active student body.

Government-funded tuition necessary for future MYTAM LE FEATURES EDITOR

P

ursuing higher education through college is an amazing path to start one’s potential career in many fields.

However, the cost of tuition continues to rise, making it difficult for average Americans to be able to obtain a college degree without taking on loans. In order to make colleges more affordable, public institutions' tuition must be government-funded to allow all students to pursue higher education, eventually benefiting the economy and society as a whole.

Due to college’s high cost, approximately 58% of adult Americans do not have a college degree of some type.

If college became easily accessible to those people, more would acquire higher education, allowing the population to better understand the world around us, and become educated on topics like social inequality and climate change.

Having more people understand the complexities of such topics can provide different perspectives to tackle the issues.

There is a clear disparity in education between low-income and high-income people in the country. Students who come from privileged backgrounds are able to afford and excel in college, something that low-income students cannot easily obtain. It is unfair that a college degree can only be earned by those who are able to afford it. Every student has the potential to pursue their dream degree and career if they were given the chance, which can be achieved if college is free.

ILLUSTRATION BY MYTAM LE

Some say that more people with higher education will increase competition in certain job fields, which makes it harder for people to get a job. However, for innovation within different fields, such as technology, to occur, there needs to be people who have the resources to do so. Colleges have a plethora of tools that allow students to develop their critical thinking skills, enabling them to develop new ideas. But, if education is not available for everyone, some may miss out on said “opportunities,” resulting in a potential loss in innovation. The new discoveries could have been a push for more jobs, which would improve the economy.

Having a well-educated country is crucial for a successful future, which is why government funded tuition is necessary for low-income Americans.

The economy, as well as citizens’ wellbeing, would continue to improve, allowing for a future free of social inequalities for the future of the country.

THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print News Editors Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editor Sports Editor Features Editors Copy Editor Business Managers Digital Editor Reporter Adviser

Andrew Lam Ken Yu Jeremy Gutierrez Richard Tran Tristan Ing Nan Jiang Chelsea Lam Lynda Lam Adwik Chaturvedi Joseph Cho Xiaoyu Fan Mytam Le Justin Fang Laura Cai Tammy Vuong Katelyn Lau Kylie Chung Hanna Jalawan

The Matador is published monthly online and bi-monthly on print by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 800 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 entire staff.

Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested) to Ms. Jalawan’s email.

'Gut'ting norms

Coming out proud JEREMY GUTIERREZ NEWS EDITOR

I

sit up at my desk, glance at him, then put my head down.

Embarrassment and shame floods my mind. Fear chokes my throat, and tears appear in the corners of my eyes. There was no reason for it, really.

Irrational shame and irrational fear. Of course, from the ages of 9 to 11, I wasn’t the most rational person. Even in the most progressive of families, the prospect of being queer brings fear to a child.

My parents are some of the most accepting people I know, but the concept of anyone knowing was unthinkable to young me. I could barely understand myself, and I was the one experiencing it. I had my first crush in the fifth grade, not that I was aware of it at the time. He was tall and had nice hair, and I was mean to him.

The whirlwind of emotions that had been swirling around my head for years could only get out through anger. I resented him because I liked him, and I didn’t even know it yet. He was sweet and smart, and I didn’t understand what that meant to me.

Since then, I’ve matured. I realized my own identity, which made the whole situation all the more embarrassing. I also realized that the people around me really didn’t care, although that took a little more time to process. I came out to my best friend at the time the following summer, then a couple others. But I trusted her more than anyone else, and she knew before my own parents. Not that they didn’t know already. I had done things before that had hinted at it, and they never put any pressure on me.

My parents readily accepted my identity. It was not like how it is shown in the media, for me at least. There were no tears, no arguing. I put a note in their room while my mother slept (my father was at work), and she just called me in when she found it.

Amusingly enough, she asked me if I had any questions. I don't remember how my dad responded, but both essentially couldn't care less.

Since seventh grade, I have been openly and proudly queer, more or less. It wasn’t exactly by choice though. Nobody had outed me, but my personality was enough for most people to assume. My voice might’ve even tipped people off. I’ve met others like me in the years since then, and they are invaluable to me. My best friends, my support network, my community.

It helps to be surrounded by other queer people. They give me a sense of community, a shared culture, and a feeling of solidarity.

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6 FOCUS

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Crafting creative minds Artistic navigation: Jung’s journey to art teacher Before Francesca Jung became an art teacher, she experimented with college majors and jobs until she realized that teaching art and mentoring students was her calling.

BY KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

P

itch black. Art teacher Francesca Jung’s world is pitch black—only because her eyes are closed tight, pondering, wondering, until a sudden thought sparks to life. Eyes fluttering open, her world flares with a flash of white that melts away into a hue of colors that decorate the painted walls. The room explodes with colors that swirl into ideas for her next work.

At an early age, Jung was surrounded by art. Her mother was an artist, and Jung often found herself painting right beside her, engaged in brushwork and creativity. The hobby became a passion, and it became more than a future career: it also became a way of seeing the world for Jung.

“I think with art, it’s not just about career,” Jung said. “Since I know the foundation of art and what the process entails, I look at things differently. I think of it as, ‘These colors are

ones I’d use effectively and in these ways.’ I dissect them more than other people because of these foundations.”

Despite her passions, Jung’s journey in pursuing art was fraught with ups and downs.

Majoring in art was easier said than done because of the vast number of art specializations

I was doing that, a friend of mine got into the Art Center College of Design. She showed me a catalog of all the art that students were putting together, and that made me fall in love with product design. I love the way you have to consider the user’s point of view.”

Jung’s commitment to

and deadlines.

“I was getting depressed in a way,” Jung said. “The commute was long, so that made me start thinking more and I was like, ‘I don’t think I can take this anymore.’ So I decided I had to do what I like. Not settle.”

Luckily, Jung found a fondness in her weekend

"There are moments here and there that you know you did something that has helped somebody, and those are the little things that make teaching worth it."

Francesca Jung Art Teacher she could wander into. Initially keen on majoring in interior design, Jung made the switch to product design, one of the many unexpected twists in her life.

“At first, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Jung said. “I kind of wanted to do interior design, so I looked into a lot of architecture books, and while

empathy and passion in art led her to another unexpected profession: teaching. Fresh out of college, Jung landed a weekday job as a product designer at a toy company and a weekend tutoring gig at a nearby art portfolio school.

However, she found it difficult to enjoy work on most days because of the grueling hours

job, realizing how much she looked forward to working on the weekend. In another twist of life, Jung would find herself taking on the mantle of teaching after a particular encounter at her weekend job.

“I was helping a girl with something she had done and explaining to her what she should fix and what she did

wrong,” Jung said. “The ‘aha’ moment was when she told me.

‘You know what, you explained it way better than the other teacher.’ When I heard that, I went, ‘Maybe I really would like this job.’”

In her time teaching, Jung has learned many new lessons as she continues to weave art into an education system increasingly emphatic toward STEM subjects. Her past experiences make up the palette for each art class she mentors, guiding each student in her care to craft their own style and their own bonds with one another.

“Not all students have role models,” Jung said. “So I always want to be there for all students, especially for those that don’t have an adult in their lives that they can look up to and learn from. There are moments here and there that you know you did something that has helped somebody, and those are the little things that make teaching worth it.”

Fun Facts: Kinesthetic learning

Kinesthetic learning methods can help people retain information for a longer period of time and significantly expand the scope of scenarios their learned knowledge can be applied toward.

WRITTEN BY JUSTIN FANG GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM

About 5% of the population is considered kinesthetic learners, but many people mistake themselves as one because they have not properly explored all learning types.

Kinesthetic learners must work their way through problems and activities, such as origami or constructing models, in order for them to learn.

FOCUS 7

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Fold a Matador Bull Face To make this Matador bull, you will need a 6-inch by 6-inch square piece of paper which is included in this newspaper!

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4

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Fold paper in half both ways

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Crease downward to flatten the two triangles onto each other

Fold flaps out to form the ears

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5

Fold from corner to corner

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Fold the upper flaps almost to the centerline to form the horns

Fold bottom upward to form the chin

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Flip over

Push paper in from both sides

Fold bottom flaps on top of the flaps made in Step 5

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Draw a face

GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM, CHELSEA LAM, LYNDA LAM INSTRUCTIONS FROM WWW.ORIGAMI-INSTRUCTIONS.COM

8 LIFE AND ART

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year of the

TIGER

A year of power, prosperity, and strength, Lunar New Year is a time to explore Asian culture.

Du leaps into heritage through lion dancing

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RONNIE DU Senior Ronnie Du performs a horse stance while holding a lion head. Thrugh multiple years of practice, Du enjoys practicing, where he is able to put all of his hard work and efforts in.

BY KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

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rimson red flourishes through the air, framed with inky black streaks. Feet shifting and arms springing under an elaborate lion dancing mask, senior Ronnie Du revels in the festive music and pounces in the air to the delight of those watching.

Fascinated by lion dancing as a kid, Du was always eager to watch and— not until 2018— perform the dance himself.

The traditional Chinese performance art dates back centuries with its meaning and roots varying among different cultures.

“The lion represents strength, stability, and superiority,” Du said. “Lion dancing is meant to bring good luck, fortune and scare away evil spirits.”

Du was aware of a glaring concern with himself and those in the same demographic as him: cultural disconnection. Beyond his fascination with lion dancing, Du found an important connection to his heritage and the ancient history that prowled in the art’s vivid movements.

“Lion dancing has a close touch with religion and Chinese ancient history, which is something that most people don’t know,” Du said. “When I lion dance at temples, I learned to pay my respects to the Buddhist gods and goddesses. I learned about the certain movements of

lunar new year traditions KYLIE CHUNG REPORTER

Red envelopes are exchanged between family and friends.

Full of money, the envelopes symbolize luck and prosperity throughout the year.

lion dancing through the understanding of the three famous soldiers/generals from The Three Kingdoms period: Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.” Lion dancing has invited Du into more than a world of Chinese traditions and customs. It has also connected him to many mentors and friends in the lion dancing group he joined called ‘Immortals Lion Dance.’ In his years as a lion dancer, Du’s journey was fraught with cherished memories and lessons.

“I learned to never give up and to keep going with whatever I had left in my tank for any occasion,” Du said.

“I look up to my coach and leader of the team who provided me rides to practices, gave me advice, critiqued my skills, and acted like a great older

Traditionally, a family dinner is prepared, celebrating the new year.

It is filled with traditional food such as noodles, fish, and dumplings. Each dish has its own meaning.

mentor.”

Once part of the audience years ago, Du now performs at the temple he first came face to face with lion dancing. Embodying the meanings of the lion, Du strives to continue honing his skills and further explore his culture, enduring with strength and stability.

“Before, I knew little to nothing,” Du said. “Like others around my age, I didn’t focus too much on culture before and felt more Americanized.

Performing a cultural art that dates centuries back shows my engagement to my culture. At least now I can say, I have somewhat of a better knowledge of my culture compared to where I was before.”

New hairstyles, clothes, taking showers, cleaning your home, making your bed, and general hygiene can symbolize a fresh and new start to the year!

It is believed that the lion dance wards off evil spirits and bad luck, so it is often performed during ceremonies to bring luck to the audience.

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LIFE AND ART 9

The Book of Boba Fett met expectations

BY ANDREW LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

T

he Book of Boba Fett is a brand new Disney+ series from the Star Wars franchise and is a spin-off of The Mandalorian. With such tightlipped marketing that said little about the plot, I had nothing to base my expectations on; because it is a Star Wars show, I only expected it to connect to past Star Wars media. So far, The Book of Boba Fett has succeeded in integrating with the Star Wars universe and has broadened its borders by exploring previously unaddressed aspects of the galaxy far, far away.

The show wastes no time in cementing itself in the Star Wars setting. Within the first minutes of the show, Boba Fett has flashbacks from past movies. Additionally, the phenomenal costuming in the show brings to life numerous alien species—both new and old—with precise detail. All these factors come together to make The Book

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW LAM

No-bake cheesecake A creamy, soft no-bake cheescake that will melt in your mouth with a single bite.

Ingredients: - Graham crackers -16 oz cream cheese (brick style, not spread) - 1/3 cup sour cream - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 2 teaspoons lemon juice - 2 tablespoons Granulated sugar - 1 tablepsoon Brown sugar - 1 cup powdered sugar - 1 ½ cup whipped cream Directions 1. Crush graham crackers in bowl until grainy. Stir the crumbs with two tablespoons granulated sugar and one tablespoon brown sugar.

After that, stir seven tablespoons melted butter and spread it out to form crust in springform pan. Once done, place into refrigerator while preparing cheesecake filling.

2. Next, mix cream cheese with powdered sugar in separate bowl. Add lemon juice, vanilla extract, and sour cream. Set aside once done.

3. In another bowl, get heavy cream and beat until stiff peaks. Combine with cream cheese mixture.

4. Now, get graham-filled springform pan and spread cheesecake batter evenly on top. Once done, leave cheescake in refrigerator for about four hours or more until firm.

5. Enjoy!

WRITTEN BY CHELSEA LAM PHOTO COURTESY OF SUGARSPUNRUN.COM

of Boba Fett feel cohesive with past Star Wars media. This continuity immersed me in the Star Wars world and made the stories seem that much more real, which can be hard for a franchise with space wizards and planet-destroying space stations.

The best part of The Book of Boba Fett is that it explores new parts of Star Wars. For example, episode two heavily focuses on the Tusken Raiders, a group of desert nomads who were usually depicted as aggressive savages.

The Book of Boba Fett instead gives insight into their intricate cultural rituals and gives them an atypically sympathetic portrayal.

The trailers also promise to delve into the criminal underbelly of Star Wars, which has been criminally underdeveloped. Exploring these parts of Star Wars keeps the franchise from feeling stagnant and made me excited to see how the show will expand on it.

My one gripe about the show is that the majority of the first few episodes are flashbacks.

I disliked how the flashbacks did not progress the story or even hint at the show’s overall plot and oftentimes felt slower than the rest of the episode.

Admittedly, the flashbacks were necessary since they presented character-defining moments from Boba Fett’s history, but I was left feeling like there was a better way to present that backstory in a way that was not as slow, repetitive, or predictable.

It does not matter if you are into Star Wars or not; my verdict remains the same: I would recommend anyone to watch this series. Although the show is tied to other Star Wars projects, the connections are not integral to the plot, and even if a viewer does not understand certain references, it will not take away from the show. The Book of Boba Fett absolutely works as a standalone show that gives fans a much anticipated deep dive into the iconic bounty hunter’s character.

10 GAMES

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022

CROSSWORD This issue’s crossword theme is Peer Counseling! Peer Counselors are fellow students who can offer confidential support to students struggling academically or emotionally. Students can schedule a meeting with a Peer Counselor through the link in their Instagram bio.

For the hints, use the “Meet your Peer Counselors” post on the Peer Counseling Instagram @sghspeercounseling. The answers are their first names.

ACROSS

DOWN

3. Is terrified of blood and needles

1. Describes themselves as “family-oriented”

5. Has a shoe resale hussle

2. Is involved in volleyball and track

6. Has been a cheerleader for three years

4. Captain on the cheer team

7. Can play five different instruments

5. Favorite snack is pineapple mooncake

9. Does yoga every morning

8. Addicted to boba and obsessed with Minecraft

11. One of their favorite shows is Rick and Morty

10. Has played the piano since they were four

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022

THE MATADOR

FEATURES 11

humans of san gabriel

The most influential person in my life was my aunt. My dad and mom were often busy; they had to deal with problems of their own. So, she took care of me along with my sisters in many ways. We stayed at her house more than our own. We are there five times a week and only go home on the weekends. She gives us a place to stay after school, makes food, and brings us out to have fun. Just a few weeks ago, she took us out with some other family members to get boba and eat hotpot. Life without her would be very different. She’s basically like my mom and really helped me and my sisters.

Senior Angelyna Tan loves the idea of being involved with clubs as she always has something to achieve. “I enjoy being involved in school—my life is never boring,” Tan said. “I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have succeeded in a long term project for my clubs.”

Unlocking Tan’s heart: Key Club Senior Angelyna Tan becomes a better leader through the Key Club expierence.

BY LAURA CAI BUSINESS MANAGER

C

lick. The last edit of the day. Senior Angelyna Tan finishes up her graphic for Key Club’s social platforms, giving her a sense of relief after a busy, but typical, day in her life.

Tan is involved in six clubs and has a leadership position in five of those clubs. She is the president of Key Club, drill captain, vice-president of the band council, co-section leader of the trombone section, Senior Class Council officer, and a member of the National Honors Society. Although Tan is passionate about all of her clubs, Key Club is the most significant to her.

“Key Club holds a special place in my heart—I have poured so much of my time and effort into building and maintaining the club,” Tan said. “I love the social aspect of Key Club [as] I have met many amazing individuals

through leadership and service.”

If it were not for Tan’s leadership and effort, Key Club would not be at the place it currently stands. There are currently 250 active members and over 2,430 service hours cumulatively.

“When I first joined Key Club in my sophomore year, club membership had been on a steady decline, and many students did not know what Key Club was,” Tan said. “I learned that Key Club has been a household name at SG since the 1960s, [which propelled me] to continue to build Key Club’s legacy and share opportunities that Key Club has to offer to students for many generations to come.”

Even with her presidency beginning the year of distance learning, Tan still poured equal effort to that of in-person learning, as evidenced by the current status Key Club holds.

This was the beginning of Key Club’s noticeable online presence, made possible by cabinet officers

and her effort.

“I managed numerous social media platforms and shared graphics and flyers that became a Key Club signature,” Tan said.

“With this strong base to build off of, I became determined to build a strong Key Club legacy and continue our success. This would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of my fellow cabinet officers.”

Tan has found skill sets that stemmed from her endless devotion and perseverance to Key Club. Although this might seem strenuous and abundant to most, it is a passion and joy for Tan. “I have learned so many valuable lessons on what it takes to be a kind and compassionate leader,” Tan said. “Key Club has been a big factor in my life; it has shaped me into the person I am today. My motivation to stay involved in numerous clubs and activities largely stems from the passion that I have for my clubs. I love doing what I do. ”

“

Danielle Holland, 10

I think the greatest accomplishment of my life is committing to music for so long. I’ve been doing music since I was about seven years old, and I’m 16 now, which is a whole nine years that I’ve been doing music. I’ve always felt like it was a bad thing that I did music for so long because it could come off as though I only had this one skill or this one interest. But, it became a part of who I am and helped me develop my personality.

Creating something new is so simple with music. Of course, I’ve had some rough patches, but the more I thought about it, the more I would ask myself, ‘Why would you quit now after how much you’ve learned?’ Questioning myself like that just makes me think about how grateful I am for the people who taught, introduced, and encouraged me to continue pursuing music because I love doing it.

“

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELYNA TAN

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Nathan Chung, 9

Got a story you want to share? Reach out to us at sghsmatador@gmail.com or on our social media!

INTERVIEWS BY KYLIE CHUNG PHOTO BY KYLIE CHUNG PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE HOLLAND

FEATURES 12

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022

Fitting in is not for Chin Senior Kelley Chin explores the different realms of fashion, learning to express her creativity and confidence.

BY ANDREW LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

P

reparing for school, senior Kelley Chin looks through her closet ready to pick out an outfit for the day. As her eyes scan the clothes, possible combinations fill her mind. Finally, after settling on one, she walks out the door with confidence in her newest outfit.

Chin’s interest in fashion sprouted from a strong dislike of the school uniforms she had to wear, which were plain and drab to her. She discovered her newfound confidence from dressing how she wanted to.

“I hated the idea of wearing clothing that restricted me creatively,” Chin said. “Not until the past year or two, I started to build the confidence to dress how I wanted to.

During my freshman and

sophomore year, I was a lot more shy and afraid of others’ opinions of how I dressed and acted.”

However, Chin’s fashion journey was not a solo endeavor. Her sister and her best friend were important in driving her to continue her passion through their honest

being the hardest critics, but deep down, I really knew this was their honest opinion, and they just want the best for me.”

Chin describes her fashion style as “confident, chic, and fashionable.” To top off her outfits, she gravitates toward multipurpose accessories like vintage watches and sunglasses.

“You should wear what makes you comfortable, not what society places as ‘normal.’”

Kelley Chin Senior criticism.

“My sister and my best friend were definitely a big factor in motivating me to pursue fashion,” Chin said.

“They knew me the best and knew what I was good at. They were big supporters by always

Her fashion inspiration comes from a wide range of sources, such as social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram as well as influencers.

“I get the most inspiration from people like Matilda Djerf, Sofia Richie, and Abelyn

Alexa,” Chin said. “They advocate for body positivity and openly support brands that are environmentally friendly, which is one of the most important ideas of the future in fashion. They inspire others and show how you can dress minimalistic and look elegant at the same time.”

Chin’s dream is to become a fashion buyer and eventually a celebrity stylist. From her own fashion experience, Chin has advice for others trying to define their own style.

“Nobody in the real world cares about what you wear,” Chin said. “You should wear what makes you comfortable, not what society places as ‘normal.’ Find inspiration from the internet and start by building your closet with basics and neutrals and continue adding items in your wardrobe that show your inner personality.”

Senior Kelley Chin poses for the camera as she sports various outfits. “I love wearing blazers and adding a pop of color,” Chin said. “The model-offduty look is the basis of my style.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLEY CHIN