The Matador: Issue 7 - March 25, 2022

SAN GABRIEL HIGH SCHOOL

THE VOLUME 67, ISSUE 7

MATADOR

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ILLUSTRATION BY CHEUK FUNG CHEN

Inside the Pages

News, p.2-3

Focus, p.6-7

Features, P.11-12

Drama Club prepares for its second major production of the year: Once Upon a Mattress.

Alumnae Cyndia Chung aids her family who is navigating their way through the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Senior Anais Cabral preserves the passion for gardening that she and her grandma shared.

2 NEWS

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Drama Club prepares for Once Upon a Mattress musical production in mid-April PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY MCNEILLY

(Left to right) Seniors Tien Nguyen, Win Aung, Samantha Martinez, Vivian Phan, and Kelly Hoang work together on creating a set piece. “The biggest challenge is getting a list of props because we have many different props in different scenes and it gets really wild,” Aung said.

To purchase tickets early, scan this QR code, visit https:// sghsdrama.ludus.com, or speak to a cast member.

ANDREW LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

D

rama Club is preparing for their newest musical Once Upon a Mattress. The plot is based on the story of The Princess and The Pea. It is the club’s second major production of the year after A Midsummer Night’s Dream in November 2021.

The pandemic had complicated Drama Club’s preparation for the musical. In particular, the Omicron variant raised doubts that the show would even be possible. Multiple aspects of the set building process were set back as a result, such as purchasing lumber and shipping

times.

“Lumber prices are really high, things take longer to ship, so building the set is tough. The students come in on Saturday, and we put together the set using the blueprints created” Drama teacher Kelsey McNeilly said. “It’s important for the actors in the musical to help build the set because it gives everyone a sense of ownership in the creation of the show! It’s really important to me that the students and the community view the show as their show.”

Although the production has experienced some difficulties, involvement in the musical has given the performers an opportunity to explore new

characters.

Senior Welton Czhang, who initially auditioned for the role of King Sextimus, was moved to the role of the First Knight and ended up cast as the Third Knight.

“Overall, I was gunning for the role of King Sextimus and didn’t get it, but I do not mind the position I have received,” Czhang said. “I joined Drama Club over distance learning, and then, I learned it did plays, and I had to be in it. One thing that really influenced me was a previous alumnae talking about Drama Club and the plays they put on, and that convinced me! Thus, I thrust myself into the next play that would be available, Once Upon A Mattress.”

Being involved in the play has provided students a role of responsibility. Senior Win Aung, who is the backstage manager, enjoys having people count on him to have the necessary props ready for the scene.

“My responsibilities as a backstage manager is taking care of the props like where the props go in each scene,” Aung said. “Who is coming onto the stage next, whoever’s in the backstage, if we have a scene with their parts, I have to tell them that they’re up, and they have to go out, get the props, and everything. My favorite part is being the person that people really count on because I’m in charge of something. It’s hard for me to

explain, but it gives me this pride of being in charge of this area.”

The Drama Club hopes to leave audience members feeling happy after the show. Beyond that, the goal is to inspire students who watch the musical to pursue their passions the way the cast has.

“The theater is an amazing place, and there is no better feeling than a bunch of people getting together to tell a story,” McNeilly said. “Making theater teaches lifelong lessons: teamwork, hard work, multitasking, responsibility, and leadership.”

The show dates for Once Upon a Mattress are April 15, 16, 20, and 22.

Tickets can be purchased at https:// sghsdrama.ludus.com/.

District lifts mask mandate indoors TAMMY VUONG BUSINESS MANAGER

To keep up with the state’s new guidelines for masking indoors, the district is lifting the mandate on it for all schools, effective March 11 at 11:59 p.m. The district has also been closely working with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which strongly recommends following the state’s new masking guidelines.

Although the district states that masks are not required to be worn indoors, they are highly encouraged when in close proximity with others. Individuals like Government and Economics teacher Raymond Gin believe that because of the constant interactions with other students and teachers, schools are different from other workplaces. He adds

that students and staff have their own rights on whether they would like to wear it or not.

“The whole thing about lifting mask mandates in schools is that you have a lot more people transitioning through a smaller space because we still technically have to wear masks if we are on public transportation, on airplanes, and buses,” Gin said.

“Sure, we don’t move around like that, but we have just as many bodies and people, so that’s why I’m leery of that. I understand where it’s coming from, but you know what? I could still take some precautions.”

On the other hand, some individuals may feel that lifting the mask mandate will be risky for themselves and their loved ones.

One such student is senior Jose Horta, who has family members

living with him with a greater risk of contracting the virus.

“I believe that the district lifting the mask mandate indoors isn’t the best idea,” Horta said.

“These mask mandates can affect those at home like elderly, parents, and people who are at greater risk because of certain illnesses they have. With many students still not being sanitary, it poses a greater risk for those with weaker immune systems.”

The school will continue to mitigate the spread of the virus by practicing clean hygiene through hand sanitizer use and infection case monitoring. Furthermore, prior to Spring Break, students will take home rapid antigen test kits to keep track of any new cases. More updates about mask mandates will be sent through emails to parents.

PHOTO BY KEN YU

As COVID cases continue to decrease within the state, Governor Gavin Newson officially lifted the mask mandate indoors starting on March 11.

Despite the lift, many students continue to wear their masks.

NEWS 3

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BRIEFS Journalism staff competes in SCJEA, wins awards

BY RICHARD TRAN

Persepctive students faced a devestating admissions cut that was recently postponed.

On March 12, seniors Mytam Le, Chelsea Lam, Tristan Ing, Ken Yu, Samantha Phung, and Sophia Quach participated in the Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA) competition at the Maywood Center for Enriched Studies. They competed in a variety of categories such as Editorial Cartoon, Newspaper Layout, and Yearbook Layout.

A few members of the Newspaper staff placed in the SCJEA competition.

Le placed fourth in News Layout, Lam placed ninth in Editorial Cartoon, and Ing placed fourth in Editorial Cartoon.

UCB lawsuit no longer threatens prospective applicants

Celebrating the life of Retired Superintendent

“UC Berkeley campus from the Campanile” CC/BY NC 2.0, Kent Kanouse

BY XIAOYU FAN FEATURES EDITOR

O

n Feb. 10, a California Court of Appeal ruled that the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) must follow a lower court’s order requiring the university to freeze student enrollment.

The Berkeley neighborhoods accused UCB of failing to address the effect of increased

student enrollment on housing, homelessness, traffic, and noise.

The lawsuit forced UCB to reduce the enrollment for the fall 2022 undergraduate students by at least about onethird. As a result, around 5,100 freshmen and transfer students who would have been admitted for fall 2022 may not have been able to receive such an offer.

“As a student, it was really sad to hear about the lawsuit

[because it made] the admission process more competitive than before,” senior Guoxi Wu said.

“However, it is understandable that the neighborhood filed a lawsuit against UCB due to their daily life being greatly impacted by the increasing student population and that UCB is possibly violating laws.”

In response to this situation, UCB prepares to implement new enrollment strategies to

minimize students’ concerns as much as possible. Their two strategies are increasing online enrollment and asking incoming students to delay enrollment for spring 2023. However, UCB promises that it will be prioritizing California students for in-person enrollments.

“It’s very relieving to hear that [UCB is] on the students’ side,” senior Sandra Chuong said.

“I think online enrollment or delaying isn’t a bad idea at all, and if a student truly wants to be a Cal bear, then they will do whatever it takes even if that means not having a traditional freshman year or taking a gap year.”

On March 14, legislation was passed by the state and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom; this gave the state’s public colleges and universities 18 months to complete any court-ordered environmental review before forcibly reducing or freezing the campus population. This is a process of reviewing the potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets local environmental standards.

This took effect immediately, allowing UCB to proceed with its original plan to enroll more than 5,000 students.

“Seeing how fast the legislation was passed, I feel gratified because it shows how the government acknowledges that education is essential to students and future leaders in the growing economy,” senior Silvia Wu said. “Now students are able to obtain the opportunity to be reconsidered

by UCB, which is exciting news since all applicants want to be given the chance to attend an excellent school.”

With the legislation passed, applicants to UCB will not be affected by the lawsuit.

However, it is unknown how UCB’s housing situation will adjust for the upcoming fall semester.

BY JOSEPH CHO

In memory of retired Superintendent Dr. Julie Hadden, the district will hold a tribute at Alhambra High School tommorrow at 10. a.m. to celebrate her life and legacy. Dr. Hadden was a former assistant principal at the school and contributed to the district as a member of the Alhambra Unified School District Adult Education Division. A memorial scholarship fund has been established in honor of Dr. Hadden, and donations will be accepted at the tribute. For any inquiries about the event, refer to www. ausd.us.

Two “Little Free Libraries” open in Rosemead

BY JEREMY GUTIERREZ

On March 2, for Read Across America Day, two Little Free Libraries, sponsored by the Rosemead Beautification Commission, opened in the city of Rosemead. These libraries are houseshaped boxes in which one can exchange or donate books for their community to encourage reading and increase access to free books. The two libraries within Rosemead are located at Garvey Park (7933 Emerson Place) and Rosemead Park (4343 Encinita Avenue).

Attending Rosemead’s Youth in Government event

BY KATELYN LAU

On March 17, select seniors had the opportunity to participate in a brand new inagural program coordinated by the Rosemead City Council, spending a day at the city hall. Students filled out a Google Form application and were initially supposed to follow a paticular government employee such as the mayor, city clerk, and the city manager after a presentation. However, due to low attendance, students toured the city hall instead and learned about each department.

On April 7, students will be able to take another trip to meet guest speakers and lead a mock council meeting.

4 OPINIONS Artistically 'Chel'lenged

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Social pressure of masking unmasked ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN ING

Faded passion CHELSEA LAM FOCUS EDITOR

W

hen my first grade class was given an art assignment to recreate Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting "Starry Night" with pastels, my fascination with art began to blossom. My teacher’s enthusiasm inspired me to continue drawing not only in class but also in my room.

The joy of watching anime and my love for art inspired me to create my own series of comics reporting fictional news.

Crafting a plot with my own characters in my style gave me a sense of control of my own world as a kid.

I began officially exploring art in fourth grade through drawing books to guide me on how to perfect the features of a person.

I’d spend several hours at my desk watching tutorials and using my books until I created a piece that would bring a smile to my face as I add another art piece to my collection.

This routine continued at school during my classes where I’d scribble on my homework and collaborate with a friend to make a conjoined comic series for our other friends to read.

At one point, my mom began to notice the immense amount of time I committed to my art that prevented me from focusing more on school. The continuous lecturing would echo in my head as I stripped away the time and supplies I used for art until my desk cleared with my drawing notebook and the scratch papers full of sketches.

Over time, my art phase became a memory, and I would use my art skills solely for school projects and assignments.

However, when senior year arrived with the opportunity to take AP 2D Studio Art, I saw the class as a chance to rediscover my passion for art. AP Art was a fun and exciting experience for me because it rekindled my love for art.

As months passed by in the class working on art pieces nonstop, the joy that art once brought to me was no longer there. I thought AP Art would revive my lost love for art, but it all felt like a task rather than something I was doing for fun.

Staff Stance

Mask mandate lift divides students’ opinions of others

S

ince the lifting of the mask mandate on March 14, students can now decide whether or not to keep their masks on at school. The danger of COVID, however, is still present, especially in the school. Although students are now presented with the option to unmask, students should still make an active effort to keep their mask on for the safety of the school community.

It is vital for the school community to look out for each other. In a campus with hundreds of students, it is especially easy for a viral disease to spread due to constant close contact in the hallways, the classrooms, and the cafeteria. Even with masks on, the school typically has the largest number of daily COVID cases in the district. On March 21, the school accounted for about 25% of the district’s total cases. In a district with 18 schools, the school has enough COVID cases to match almost five schools if the cases were

MATADOR BULLRING Students share their opinions on current topics.

Do you believe students will keep their masks on now that the mandate is over?

evenly distributed. If students now choose to go to school maskless, the consequences can be devastating, especially for those at high risk.

The San Gabriel Valley has a high Asian and Hispanic population, many of which live with older people in their households. It can be argued that young people contractingCOVID is a small problem, but in the later stages of one’s life, infection can be potentially life threatening.

Students are not ready to completely return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle. With masks off, it is more important to practice safety measures, like social distancing, to ensure the safety of all parties.

Removing masks creates a false sense of normalcy, reviving a prepandemic reality where things like physical touch and sharing food were socially acceptable.

Unfortunately, that just is not the case yet. The pandemic is still real, and people can still contract COVID easily.

Yicheng Mei, 9 "Yes because of many reasons, [such as] concerns over safety along with more personal, like self esteem or just as a fashion statement."

Some may argue that the pandemic is soon to end because of the widespread lifting of mask mandates. Additionally, getting the virus now means nothing more than just a few days in bed and a low fever. However, there can be long-term symptoms of COVID that makes unmasking not worth the risk such as indefinite loss of taste and fatigue. Although this might only affect a percentage of the people with COVID, it is still better to take the proper precautions to combat the virus until it is certain that it can be easily and surely neutralized.

Students have the choice whether or not to wear a mask, but they should make the educated decision in protecting themselves and those around them by keeping their masks on. COVID can easily resurge, putting the community at risk. As students, and members of the community, it is important that they play their part in fighting the pandemic.

Kevin On, 10 "Maybe [because] a lot of students don’t really care about COVID, and to them, the mask might be unnecessary."

Milagro Benitez, 11

Mia Valdez, 12

"Yes because people don’t want to get COVID, especially those who had it already."

"I feel like some will, except the rowdy kids, because I think they don’t care if they get COVID."

INTERVIEWS BY JEREMY GUTIERREZ PHOTOS BY KEN YU 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

Overabundance of national holidays waters down their message

'Nan'tionalism

BY ANDREW LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

T

his month is National Women's History Month—and National Celery Month. Today is supposedly celebrating National Medal of Honor Day, Tolkien Reading Day, and National Lobster Newburg Day as well. In today's world, it seems as if just about every noun has an entire day dedicated to it. All these nonsensical national observances cheapen more meaningful national months and days that matter and are just another way for businesses to sell another product.

An excess of national observances degrades the prestige of having an entire day or month dedicated to a particular occasion. National Women's History Month, for example, became a national celebration in the 1980s after passing multiple rounds in Congress. In this case, the dedication of an entire month is appropriate since the contributions of women to the world are oftentimes overlooked. Needless to say, celery is nowhere near significant enough to be celebrated over a month. Unnecessary national observances of such trivial things can be declared by anyone, which detracts from more important national celebrations.

Given that anyone can declare a national day for something, it is no surprise that companies have used it as a marketing tool.

On days such as National Donut Day, many donut shops may offer special deals. Having

Viva la patría NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW LAM

a day dedicated to a product gives people a reason to go out and buy that product. Using national observances to sell products is an insult to the legitimate holidays. It makes it seem as if the same distinction that has been given to subjects as noteworthy as Black History Month is no better than another space to advertise.

Arguably, there is some fun in dedicating a day to something pointless. A sizable amount of these national observances are about food, most of which may be deemed unhealthy and would not be eaten if the day was not dedicated to it. For instance, meatballs and hot fudge sundaes have their own days.

However, people do not necessarily need a calendar to tell them what they should treat themselves with. If someone feels like biting into a meatball or cleaning out a bowl of hot fudge sundae, then they should just do it.

The criteria for something to get a national day or month must be stricter. The standard must be set higher than playing “Mad Libs” with the phrase "National ____ Day." National observances should highlight some national achievement or struggle that has had a lasting impact on America. Only in this way can the importance of such a significant distinction be preserved, and maybe, we can save some space on the calendar along the way.

Students underutilize school counseling services possible and see less use in the long run. The cloud of stigma and uncertainty will not be cleared out immediately, so students need to take those first steps into reporting to counseling. They should make it an occasional habit to check in with their counselors whenever possible to update them on anything that has been going on in their personal lives.

Students do not have to be afraid or worried about the counselors. Personal issues and stress already take up much of students’ plates, so let the counselors handle the rest.

THE MATADOR Editors-in-Chief, Print News Editors

ILLUSTRATION BY TRISTAN ING

KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

As the school year enters its final stretch, students from all grade levels also face a mounting weight of stress. The dominant idea among students when approaching such stress is to avoid talking about it. Students need to be reminded and forgiving of themselves when it comes to seeking help in school counseling services.

When a teacher asks a student to report to the counselor’s office it is inevitably going to be associated as a sign of trouble. Then, it goes without saying that any meeting with a counselor might pan out to generally be misrepresented as being in trouble. It only becomes natural that students hold a general wariness toward counselors, associating them with disciplinary action rather than emotional wellness and guidance.

The reality is that counselors do not

simply call students in and chew them out for anything wrong a student has done. They ask “Why?” in their process to understand and listen, which is a valuable service that students can access voluntarily. The counselors have met with hundreds of students in their career, so it is more than likely that they have advice for many situations students find themselves in, no matter the severity.

To many, it seems that the counselors should be a last resort to turn to. That is true.

Counselors do act and are generally regarded as a final pillar of support to lean on when students find that nothing else works. But there is no waiting line that tells a student exactly what order they should go in when it comes to seeking help from individuals.

Students should not have to exhaust all their resources before turning to counselors because, in the end, counselors are one of those resources.

Counselor services are available whenever

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 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.

M

y parents were naturalized because my second grade teacher told us that in the event of an earthquake, they couldn’t save me. They’d take a look at my green card and just move on. She asked the class to raise their hands if they were a citizen, and 25 enthusiastic arms shot up in the air. Only mine was glued to my desk.

In fact, my dad got so scared that by the next week, he started the process of rejecting our nationality in order to create a reality where I would be saved in an earthquake. Ten years later, what came instead was a numbing identity crisis. My dad and I gave up who we were for a shiny black passport and visa-free entry to Mexico (a privilege we never used, by the way).

I used to be proud of being American, but recently, I’ve been thinking more and more about who I really am. I grew up in an environment that forced me to recite a pledge of loyalty to a piece of fabric every morning ever since I was six years old. In the decade that I have been a U.S. citizen, not once have I been called American because the color of my passport never really mattered to the people that asked, “Where are you really from?”

But deep down, I love that question. I love telling them “I’m from China,” and seeing their eyes light up like they didn’t already imply that.

I love going on tangents about how much I love China. The barbeque stalls that line the avenues of my hometown, the grandiose boulevards in Beijing where, despite my longest stay only being a few weeks, I always felt at home. Questioning my status as an American only served to deepen my love for the Chinese half of me.

Being Chinese American means that I have to apply for a visa to go where I love. I think that’s the part that hurts the most. The piece of paper stapled to my passport is a painful reminder that I will never be Chinese enough in China, and here, I won’t ever be seen as a true American. Proof in print that neither of my home countries really claim me.

I’m going to have to leave my Asian American Alhambra circle for college in a few months, and I’m excited. I can’t wait to find out more about myself in college, away from the city I have known almost my entire life, and blaze my own path to selfdiscovery.

6 FOCUS

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ABOUT THE SITUATION

WHERE TO DONATE

President Putin announced a “special military operation” on Ukraine on Feb. 24, beginning what is now known as the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukrainian citizens began to seek safe shelters and leave their homes to flee to neighboring countries such as Poland. The Russian forces have, to date, approximately 10,000 troops in Ukrainian territory.

The country’s capital, Kyiv, was heavily guarded as the Russian military forces approached. Now, the forces have surrounded the capital.

CARE: A humanitarian group that is supplying Ukrainian families with water, food, and other supplies.

70.1%

of students believe the U.S. should not militarily intervene with Ukraine and Russia.

UNICEF: UNICEF is repairing bombarded schools and concentrating on helping Ukrainian children with their health, safety, education, and psychosocial needs.

Nova Ukraine: A non-profit organization that sends aid packages, ranging from baby meals to hygiene products.

52.4%

of students would not volunteer to help Ukraine.

53.7%

of students do not think the conflict will result in World War III.

OUT OF 231 RESPONSES

RUSSIA V WRITTEN BY KATELYN LAU, LAURA CAI GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM, LYNDA LAM

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FOCUS 7

Escaping Ukraine: Alumna aids family Alumna Cyndia Chung shares the story of her nephews fleeing Ukraine due to the Russian-Ukraine War.

BY KYLIE CHUNG REPORTER

F

eb. 24, 2022. Lying on their bed in Turkey, alumnae Cyndia Chung and her husband switch on their hotel TV. But instead of the usual programs, the couple is met with countless different headlines delivering the same message: Russia had officially declared war on Ukraine. Making matters worse, there were reports of explosions around several major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, where several of their family members had been living.

“It was unimaginable,” Chung said. “We immediately called our nephews, but they either didn't have a signal, or too many were trying to get through to loved ones that the call didn’t go through.”

It would be three days before the couple could contact their family again, and even then, communication was inconsistent.

"Because our nephews are in the warzone, they change paths, and they change their minds a lot about where they want to go," Chung said.

"Without proper transportation because roads are closed or blown up, or they are stuck in traffic, it is difficult for them to go

anywhere even when we're trying to help route them to safety."

When their family fled, they were unable to bring anything other than some clothes, a cell phone, and a little cash. After finding a refuge, they were able to contact Chung again who tried her best to help them.

“We tried to send money into their bank accounts, but when they went to the bank, they couldn't get money out," Chung said. "There was no money in the ATM. One cousin didn't want to leave. He was not sure what to do. Our nephews tried to convince him. We tried to convince him. He was

panicking. So his brothers had to leave him.”

Upon contacting his brothers, Chung and her husband attempted to route them to Poland after hearing that American troops were stationed there to rescue refugees. The brothers had to walk hundreds of miles and were forced to sleep in abandoned underground train stations.

“We tried to help them find trains that were still running to get out of Ukraine," Chung said. "They luckily got on one of the last trains.”

Currently, Chung’s family members are residing in Slovakia as refugees. They are having a hard time

VS. UKRAINE

adjusting to their new harsh environment. Because there are so many other refugees, the brothers are cramped in confined spaces, and their anxiety continues to rise as they are unsure about the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

“Our nephews are all very glad and thankful they got out of Ukraine alive,” Chung said. “Although people have been very welcoming and caring in Slovakia, they are limited to a certain area and have no privacy as everyone is cramped together with military and police guarding them. Right now, a lot of people are praying for the people in Ukraine.”

8 LIFE AND ART

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT R&B singer Frank Ocean maintains relevance despite inactivity

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“Elden Ring”: The next generation of “Dark Souls” An ambitious collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, “Elden Ring” tells the tale of one becoming the Elden Lord.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRUSTREVIEW. COM

One of the many bosses in “Elden Ring” is shown within this concept art preparing to launch an attack. Players will encounter bosses like these out in the open world, transforming any gameplay session into a challenging boss fight.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONSEQUENCE.NET

NAN JIANG OPINIONS EDITOR

Since his last album, Blonde, Frank Ocean has released some singles here and there but never anything to satisfy the public’s need for new music. Most artists would have faded from the limelight in six years, but in 2022, Ocean is still one of the most important artists to grace my playlists.

People love Ocean so much that at a music festival, they booed Drake off stage in anticipation for Ocean. He was never confirmed to be there, but the people put that sliver of hope above one of the biggest artists of the generation.

Because no matter how big Drake is, he will never be what Ocean is.

Ocean is not just an artist; to me, he is an escape. People use escapes when there are problems, and as the years fly by and each passing day carries the weight of the last, Blonde keeps getting better, more comforting, and more understandable. Paragraphs of words left unsaid, problems left unsolved. Things I will never tell another soul, but it exists in high definition between me and Ocean.

The world has a consensus that since 2016, our lives have slowly unraveled and has grown marginally worse every year. I think many have developed a nostalgia for the artists whose works are permanently tied to the years that they see as the peak of their lives. For the good times, artists like Lil Uzi Vert were there, and for the bad, Ocean was always the comforting embrace that keeps people’s days going.

Artists and listeners move on from specific pieces of music, but the world has been anchored to Blonde for six years now. With the worst of the pandemic now in the rearview mirror and things seemingly getting better, I cannot help but anticipate the next piece of musical therapy by Ocean.

BY RICHARD TRAN NEWS EDITOR

E

merging from the dim and dull underground, the player opens the door to the realm of the Lands Between, seeing the bright foliage, ruins, and a colossal glowing tree in the distance. A breathtaking view fills the screen, arousing a sense of awe and amazement within the player as well as excitement to know where this ambitious project of Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the Souls series, and George

R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, will lead in the game “Elden Ring.”

In its release, the game obtained amazing reviews from many critics and continues to do well. It is obvious why “Elden Ring” is so highly rated given its amazing and gratifying gameplay.

Its combat has the player take a third-person perspective while traversing the game’s world. There are also a variety of weapons to choose from, each with its unique moveset and abilities.

I often find myself spending hours experimenting with the

PHOTO BY RICHARD TRAN

Aside from the intense gameplay of “Elden Ring,” players can enjoy the many scenic views that can be experienced in the game, ranging from beautiful forests to horrifying dungeons.

different types of weapons, including daggers, greatswords, curved swords, katanas, hammers, and many more, and their skills, all of which provide endless entertainment for the player.

The combat is very fluid and engaging, so much so that I often find it hard putting my controller down. One focal point of the combat is the dodge roll. As seen in many other games of the Souls franchise, the player can perform a roll to become invincible for the duration of the animation. Timing rolls with the enemies’ attack soon turns into a song and dance where the player needs to find the right tempo while also attacking the enemy. Each boss has its own tune that the player needs to learn in order to best them. One boss fight might be fast paced while another might be slow. These boss fights are challenging and difficult, yet rewarding and captivating.

Becoming lost in boss fights becomes a common occurrence as players spend hours and hours achieving victory.

However, one problem many players have with “Elden Ring’’ is the difficulty. FromSoftware, the game’s creators, is known for their difficult, rage-inducing games, and “Elden Ring” is no different.

Many players tend to quit after attempting to beat the first boss. Despite this drawback, the combat is fair, and the difficulty only makes victory that much sweeter and worthwhile. The feeling of frustration and anger after spending hours fighting a boss turns into pure euphoria after winning, a feeling that is hard to find in the current generation of games.

Even though it is advertised heavily, the story of “Elden Ring” is, in a sense, hidden. The lore

is not found through gameplay and is instead found in the environment and descriptions. It is not put outright, forcing players to specifically look for it. This may turn away some who find a clear narrative integral to a game with such a fascinating world.

The community is another part of the game that can be very fun to engage in but frustrating at the same time. “Elden Ring” allows players to leave messages for other players anywhere in the world.

This has spawned many inside jokes within the community such as calling any animal a dog and other jokes that are not suited for younger audiences. However, the community has a dark side to it that players will encounter while playing “Elden Ring.” There is a feature in the game that allows players to invade other players, giving the game a “player vs. player” element. This would be a great feature if players did not abuse game-breaking bugs that made fights meaningless. For example, there was a bug that would almost always instantly defeat a player’s character if they were in proximity of the invader.

This bug was frustrating to say the least, making multiplayer the worst part of the game. However, the developers at FromSoftware were quick to fix this bug in a timely manner.

“Elden Ring” is one of the best games created this decade, and I would recommend it to anyone who is familiar with the Souls series or anyone who is interested in playing a Souls game. However, if one is not an avid gamer, I would not recommend “Elden Ring,” as its difficulty tends to push away many new and experienced gamers.

LIFE AND ART 9

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

springing into spring As winter goes to sleep, spring awakens, giving light to new life. In celebration of the season, enjoy cooking, cleaning, and creating.

Fluttering folds: butterfly Spring crêpes A dish originating from France, crêpes are thin, light, and have a subtle flavor that allows them to be paired with almost anything. There are plenty of local stores that sell crêpes, but they tend to be pricey. If one is craving crêpes without the hefty price tag, they are surprisingly simple to prepare at home.

1

5

- 1 tablespoon of sugar - Salt (as desired) - (Optional) splash of vanilla extract *Makes around 4 servings

Crease downward to flatten the two triangles onto each other.

3

2

Fold square from corner to corner.

Ingredients - 1 cup of flour - 1 cup of milk - 2 eggs - 2 tablespoons of melted butter

The onset of springtime is indicated when butterflies begin emerging from their winter hibernation. To fold this butterfly, a 6-inch by 6-inch square piece of paper is needed, which is provided in the newspaper.

Flip over.

6

Fold in half.

Fold in half both ways.

7

Optional: cut corners then unfold.

4

Push paper in from both sides.

8

Fold upper flaps almost to centerline to form the bottom wings.

Directions Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together all listed ingredients until smooth.

Do not worry if the batter is thin; it should be the same consistency as heavy cream.

Step 2: Heat up a small pan on mediumlow heat and grease it with oil or melted butter.

Step 3: Pour approximately 1/8 cup of batter into the pan. Because the right amount of batter varies by pan size, one can play with proportions until one finds the right amount.

Spring cleaning 101 Spring break is around the corner, and students will likely have a lot of free time. While some spend the long break playing games, others pick up something else-a bucket and a mop. However, not everyone knows what to start with when it comes to cleaning up, so here are some ways to clean one’s room: WRITTEN BY JOSEPH CHO GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM

Step 4: As soon as the batter is on the pan, swirl the pan around to ensure that a thin layer of batter evenly coats the bottom.

Step 5: When all of the batter has set, flip the crêpe.

Step 6: Leave the crêpe on the pan for another 15 seconds or until it begins to lightly brown. Then, remove from the pan and place on a plate.

Step 7: Enjoy the crêpe by filling it with any desired toppings, such as Nutella and strawberries!

WRITTEN BY KYLIE CHUNG PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLA HAU

9

Fold bottom corner upward.

10

Fold excess downward.

11

Fold in half.

12

Add a design to the butterfly!

WRITTEN BY ANDREW LAM GRAPHICS BY ANDREW LAM

10 SPORTS

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

Track and field hurdles into season strong

PHOTOS BY KEN YU

(Left) Junior Brian Huang and senior Tommy Truong dash in the 400 meter sprint event. The two runners focus exclusively on getting ahead.

(Above) Sophomore Brandon Chie prepares to launch into the fourby-one event. His grasp on the baton is unflinching.

BY KEN YU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

I

n their first home track and field meet in nearly two years, the Matador track and field team came out on top against the Mark Keppel Aztecs on March 10. Varsity point totals came out to 136-117, and freshman/sophomore levels came out to 111-105.

As this was the first home track and field meet in years, excitement and nervous energy filled the air as athletes gathered down at the Matador stadium to check in and

prepare for their separate events. To freshman Christopher Gomez who ran the mile and 800-meter and fourby-four relays, the meet was a new experience after his prior seasons in cross country and swimming.

“I was pretty nervous during those [seasons], but I feel like the experience I gained from them helped me a lot here,” Gomez said. “I know not to beat myself up too much if I don’t perform as well as I want to.

I did better than our pre-week races.

I [beat my personal record] on [the] mile by five seconds.”

Despite the loss on both levels of the boys teams, the score gap

was tight with the Matador boys inching right behind the Aztecs in overall point totals. Point placements fluctuated as boys events shifted top placers. On the other side, girls varsity and freshmen/sophomores demolished the Aztecs, overtaking them in several events from sprints to high jumps.

“We could have done a bit better in passing the batons,” Gomez said.

“Other than that, we all did pretty good. I know we all tried our hardest.

The other team had a pretty big gap, but on multiple occasions, we almost closed it out. That was pretty exciting.”

Coming back from two years of inactivity, the team immediately jumped into intense practices and pre-season invitationals to bring everyone, new and old, into the fold of competitive racing. Improvements across the roster have been seen as newcomers slowly draw out their potential and veterans get back into the groove.

“I’m really surprised right now because I was stuck at 1:10 at the 400-meter [relay],” senior Isabel Olachea said. “I’ve improved to 1:05, so I’m improving faster than I normally would because [conventionally], it would take me from the first meet

until the prelims or league meets.”

Regardless of win or loss, the track and field team continues to make strides in self-improvement, setting goal after goal to break through. “[It was] hard transitioning from the 100s [and] 200s, to the 400-meter [relay],” sophomore Matthew Ng said. “I’m so used to using all my energy in one go, [and now I have to] conserve it more. That was really hard, [and it got even harder]. For frosh/ soph boys, we lost to Mark Keppel. But personally, I think I got a lot better than last time which is a win for me.”

Junior varsity badminton smashes Mayfield Cubs ADWIK CHATURVEDI LIFE AND ART EDITOR

W

ith endurance, the junior varsity badminton team won its first league game against Mayfield on March 18.

Altogether, junior varsity emerged victorious with the score at 9-4.

In what seemed like an endless game, anxiety and anticipation engulfed the atmosphere inside the gym, as all one could hear was the constant and grueling hits of a racket and birdie. For sophomore Fiona Liu, who competed in the junior varsity girls double, this energy was nerve-racking yet exciting.

“I was somewhat [shaken] in the beginning, which affected my performance as a result,” Liu said. “But as we continued throughout the match, I got more and more comfortable. In the end, we won both of our doubles sets.”

Even though Liu won her event, she is still keen on learning more about badminton and improving her skills, both within the season and in the future.

“In the future, I would like to improve my game through general practice and practice matches,” Liu said. “I hope to be good enough so that I can play with anyone, not just my partner, and so that I can play against any school.”

Along with winning most of its matches in the doubles category, the

Matador badminton team was also able to stand its ground in junior varsity boys and girls singles. One of the athletes who shined in the category was freshman Leimin Wang whose past experience helped with his overall performance.

“I have had past experience of practicing badminton so the tryouts, when joining the team, were a little easier for me,” Wang said. “Getting the fundamentals of badminton is really crucial, and my experience really helped with that. As a result, I was not really nervous during the game. Whenever I play badminton now, after I serve, everything comes naturally.”

Coming out on top and winning both of his sets, Wang is quite satisfied with his results and performance. As a freshman and a new recruit, he cares for the badminton team and hopes to see it improve.

“In the future, I am hoping that the entire badminton team improves its skills so that it can go against stronger and more adept schools,” Wang said. “In addition, I hope that we can come together and become a stronger and more respected team overall.”

Although the Matadors were able to crush their competition, there is still much needed improvement across the entire team. Senior Jason Tran firmly believes this, and as captain of the Matador badminton team, he is trying his best to help improve the situation.

PHOTO BY KEN YU

Freshman Leimin Wang focuses on the birdie. Following a 9-4 victory, the Matadors start their junior varsity season 1-0.

“As captain this year, I am trying my best to make the team actually function,” Tran said. “We are starting from scratch due to the pandemic, and I’m managing everything by myself. The team is, and has been, disorganized. However, we are working on improving ourselves and becoming the team that we used to be.”

THE MATADOR

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

FEATURES 11

Practice makes perfect for Powers’ crochet

After 10 years of crocheting, junior Jaylene Powers acquires the skills to share her art with others as well as start a business.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARLA HAU, JAYLENE POWERS

Junior Jaylene Powers shows off her floral bucket hat at school after working on it for four hours (left). Powers enjoys sharing her creations with her friends and family (bottom). She wants to share her crafts with others in the future. “I hope to open an Etsy shop and possibly get a vendor’s license to sell at markets,” Powers said.

“Maybe one day I could even open my own boutique!”

BY KYLIE CHUNG REPORTER

F

inishing her last equation, junior Jaylene Powers sets down her pencil and picks up her crocheting hooks to begin her next project. She weaves the royal blue yarn between the hooks, starting the base of her hat. Before Powers knew it, three hours passed, and she was done with yet another order.

Powers started crocheting

at the young age of eight. Ever the creative child, Powers was eager to jump into crocheting when she was first introduced to the idea.

“In elementary school, my best friend’s aunt had [a crocheting] business,” Powers said. “She’d make all types of crochet things, and she [taught] us how to crochet. At the time, I was obsessed with making friendship bracelets, duct tape wallets, and anything DIY. I thought crocheting would be a cool hobby to add to my list.”

Of course, crocheting did

not always come so easily for Powers, as she had a hard time learning the stitches.

“Even holding the crochet hook was hard for me,” Powers said. “But after years of practice, I eventually got the hang of it. I became consistent [during] the pandemic. Being at home allowed me to hone my craft and become faster and more skilled.”

As in-person learning resumed, Powers’ expertise did not go unnoticed. She started an Instagram account (@jays. crochet_), showcasing her

creations with her friends and family. Upon posting, people began asking her to make them things, and Powers realized that she could transform her hobby into a business.

“It is stressful knowing that people want to order things,” Powers said. “I did have a period where a bunch of people started ordering at the same time.”

Juggling so much on her plate was difficult, but Powers’ family was more than willing to help. As an experienced Etsy shop owner, Powers’

mother always supported her daughter’s hobby. While Powers currently does not have the time to build a full-fledged business, she hopes to open an Etsy shop and get a vendor’s license by the summer.

“Sometimes I do get a little burnt out when I have so many orders, but I remember the satisfaction of crocheting,” Powers said. “The most enjoyable part about it is seeing my customers wear my products. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing someone wear something you made.”

Ly liberates emotions through art CHELSEA LAM FOCUS EDITOR

Picking up her paintbrushes and gliding them across a canvas, a feeling of passion and joy sparks within senior Sarah Ly. The mixture of vibrant colors allowed her to envision herself in the world of art.

Ly’s love for art began in preschool, but it did not fully develop until she entered her junior year of high school where she took art classes at school, which eventually led to her taking AP Drawing. There, she explored the different depths of art and learned more about her relationship with it.

“When I took Ms. Jung’s art class, I learned new techniques and the basis for art,” Ly said. “That sparked confidence in my art, as I had an environment to expand my skill and the support of Ms. Jung.”

Art became a form of comfort

for Ly because she was able to navigate around her emotions and understand more about herself through challenges. Her

“The stresses in my life disappeared for a bit. Art became my getaway from the world even just for a moment.”

Sarah Ly Senior

art provided a healthy and safe method to convey her deepest thoughts.

“I enjoy art because it helps

me express emotion when I have a hard time communicating,” Ly said. “It also allows me to get away from my worries; the stresses in my life disappear for a bit. Art became my getaway from the world even just for a moment.”

Recently, Ly was accepted

by Otis College, a private art and design school located in Los Angeles. She was awarded a scholarship for incoming freshmen based on academic and artistic merit and financial need.

“My hands were shaking when I first got an email from them before I opened the acceptance letter,” Ly said. “I applied because my friend, who has followed my journey for years, convinced me to give it a try, and she was the first person I told.”

Although Ly has not committed to Otis College yet, she is excited to continue her journey as an artist.

Before, art was simply one of Ly’s hobbies, but as she saw the positive effects it had on her happiness, she

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH LY

Senior Sarah Ly’s favorite art piece was inspired by the saying, “Seeing one’s true color for the first time when you see your soulmate.” With much hard work and dedication, Ly found that the piece challenged and improved her artistic skills.

realized how impactful it could be for her in the long run.

“I have a lot of self-doubt in my skills mainly because art was always just a hobby I enjoyed,” Ly

said. “I never thought it could be a career choice. But I took a chance and went for it, and because of it, I was able to have an opportunity to continue my passion.”

THE MATADOR

FEATURES 12

Cabral cultivates family memories

form long-lasting memories and appreciate the beauty of the Earth.

“When I was younger, I would run around in the grass, and she enior Anais Cabral spritzes would spray me with the water her beloved apple tree with hose,” Cabral said. “I remember just cool water, reflecting on the laughing and having so much fun day she got it. It felt like yesterday learning about the different types of when her grandma teased her for flowers and all the different flowers bringing home a whole tree for she would come home with.”

Valentine’s Day instead of a bouquet Recently, Cabral’s grandma of roses like everyone else. passed away. Her death was difficult Between the ages of four and to process for Cabral, as they had a five, Cabral’s grandma introduced strong and meaningful relationship her to the wonderful with each other. world of gardening.

Nonetheless, It started off small Cabral was able with helping her to find a sense of grandma do some of comfort with her the gardening chores, garden. but it soon evolved to “Every time I Cabral maintaining see a flower or her own luscious and tree, I think of diverse garden today. her,” Cabral said.

“Little by little, “When it rains and my grandma would I can smell the wet have me water the dirt, I think of her houseplants with a and all the fun and Anais Cabral Senior cup of water, check memories that we the soil, and make had.” sure they were in the sun to get In the future, Cabral wants to all the nutrients they needed,” continue gardening. She sees it as a Cabral said. “My house looks like way to celebrate and remember her a forest with trees and roses and a grandma’s life and their relationship. bunch of flowers that don’t match “I think I will continue to garden whatsoever, but I wouldn’t have it in the future because it will be a small any other way.” way to always have my grandmother One of Cabral’s favorite aspects with me even though she’s not here of gardening was how it allowed her anymore,” Cabral said. “She loved to bond with her grandma. Being the to garden, especially when I would only two people with green thumbs help her. I feel a little sad when I in the family, planting flowers and think about it, but I know that exploring what nature has in store eventually, I’ll turn it into a happy were amazing ways for the two to way of remembering her.”

BY MYTAM LE FEATURES EDITOR

S

“When it rains and I can smell the wet dirt, I think of her and all the fun and memories that we had.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANAIS CABRAL GRAPHICS BY TRISTAN ING, ANDREW LAM

thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022