OPINIONS
“Trump reflects problems of American society, not isolated inicident” pg. 5
LIFE & ART “Popular frozen dessert reviews: Sweet Lab, Freezin Point pg. 8
SPORTS
“Matadors defeat Aztecs in Homecoming game” pg. 11
THE MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/NOVEMBER 10, 2016/ VOLUME 62 / ISSUE 3
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.US/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
TRUMP TRIUMPHS Tom Cheah Republican Donald John Trump stunned the world as he pulled an upset win against his heavily favored rival, Democratic Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, in the presidential election. He won 279 electoral votes, satisfying the 270 vote requirement to clinch the presidency. In his victory speech, Trump thanked all his supporters and emphasized the importance of unity for the nation. “To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump said. “I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans.” Trump’s victory marks the historic end of Clinton’s second bid for the presidency. In her concession speech, Clinton stated that her loss was painful and “will be for a long time,” but also wanted to remind her supporters of the importance of a “peaceful transfer of power.” “Donald Trump is going to be our president,” Clinton said. “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.” Trump’s political campaign began in June 2015 when he announced his bid for the White House and emerged as the front-runner for the Republican Party’s nomination. He won the official Republican presidential nomination against 11 other Republican party presidential candidates in the primary election. His platform focused on tax cuts, stricter enforcement of immigration laws, and the renegotiation of trade deals. The election divided the nation as it had to choose between Trump and Clinton, two candidates whom both had historically low popularity ratings. On Election Day, Trump pulled out crucial victories in the battleground states of Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics teacher Raymond Gin stated that “the feeling of part of the population being ignored” played a role in the election results. “White America felt that they were not being heard of serviced anymore,” Gin said. “Certain gender gaps, educational gaps, and the gaps between rural and urban [voters] had a
Photo courtesy of Fortune
Trump, the 2016 president-elect, stands at the podium as he prepares to deliver his victory speech. hand in his victory.” Despite these results, Gin stated that Trump’s victory will probably not bring many effects to California, the San Gabriel Valley, and San Gabriel High School, and that the “four years will go by very quickly.” Senior Bhone Thiha stated that he was surprised by the results, but was “glad [the election] went the way it did.” “We have an outsider who will fight for American lives,” Thiha said. “[Trump] is an actual man who knows what he’s doing and who’s gonna fight for you.” Junior Christina Yuan was “very disappointed about the results” and does not approve of Trump’s political views. “It means that a lot of people are angry,” Yuan said. “I just feel like there is going to be a lot of turmoil.” English teacher Valerie Larson felt “shocked and mortified” by the turnout. “I think our country will go backwards in terms of civil
Asian American Association promotes diversity
Photo by Michelle Ho
Asian American Association cabinet members (left to right): Michael Han, Wendy Shi, Jiaxin Li, Emily Su Joanne Chau Ranging from Key Club to the Interactive Community of Medicine, San Gabriel High School offers a wide assortment of clubs. Now, there is a new addition to the bunch—the Asian American Association (AAA). AAA was recently created by juniors Jiaxin Li, Wendy Shi, Emily Su, and Michael Wang. Inspired by the Association of Latin American Students, this club provides an environment
of unity and comfort for students with diverse cultural backgrounds. AAA focuses on cultural identity, allowing students to learn about different ideologies and to open up about their own customs. “We make every effort to maintain a strong support for those who feel insecure in their social identity,” Shi said. “In addition, [AAA] creates a comfortable atmosphere for everyone, where [members] can learn about other cultural experiences while expressing [their] own.” Despite its name, AAA is not exclusively for Asian-American members. They welcome students of all ethnicities and background with open arms. “We speak English [during meetings], not Chinese,” Su said. “Embracing various cultures is important towards breaking stereotypes in society such as, ‘All Asians speak Chinese.’” Throughout the school year, AAA plans on talking about scholarship opportunities that cater to diversity and working on writing skills through peer editing. In order to further create recognition, members will work together to create a video that addresses student opinions about diversity and culture. “We hope to promote general awareness among students about their ethnic backgrounds by sharing stories and family history,” Wang said. AAA meetings will take place every other Wednesday in L202, in Mr. Woo’s class, during lunch. The next meeting will be held on Nov. 23. As their motto says, “Embrace the culture, embrace the love.”
rights,” Larson said. “I think [life] will be harder for college students, women, and people of color in this country.” Trump’s unlikely victory shocked not only the American people and San Gabriel students, but also investors around the world, causing global stock markets to plunge temporarily. In addition to its victory in the executive branch, the Republican party secured a majority in both the US Senate and House of Representatives. With his lack of diplomatic, political, or military executive experience, it is unknown how Trump will act as president, setting America on an uncertain path. “Everything has to be aligned for things to happen,” Gin said. “Whether they will happen or not, we’ll have to wait and see.” Trump will be sworn into office on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2017.
Additional reporting by Nian Capili and Kevin Contreras.
Student receives ‘moth’ full of salad in school lunch
Photo courtesy of Michael Zhu
A dead moth was found in senior Michael Zhu’s lunch. Karina Matias Something unusual happened during lunch to senior Michael Zhu on Oct. 10. While eating lunch with a group of friends in the cafeteria, he realized that there was a moth in his salad. “At first, I thought the cafeteria added meat [to] the salad, but then I felt grossed [out] after realizing it was a [dead] moth,” Zhu said.
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Local Election Results: SG alumnus wins judge, AUSD board president re-elected
NEWS
Homecoming rally psychs student body
Photo by Sydney Trieu
Photo Courtesy of kimforjudge2016
C arl os C ari l l o While the polarizing presidential election between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump grabbed most headlines, important local elections, including a seat in the Senate, were contested on Nov. 8. In a unique Senate race which featured no Republicans but rather two Democratic nominees. Attorney General Kamala Harris defeated Representative Loretta Sanchez by a margin of 25 points.. Harris had been largely favored to win the race in the weeks prior to election day, having received endorsements from key Democratic leaders such as incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer and President Barack Obama. The former Attorney General of California will become the first African American to represent California in the Senate. Locally, incumbent Democratic Representative Judy Chu won the 27th Congressional District of California—where the San Gabriel Valley is located—for the fifth consecutive time, beating Republican Jack Orswell by 34 points. Chu, a former Garvey Unified School District Board Member and five-term mayor of Monterey Park, was the first Chinese-American Congresswoman elected into office when she first won the 27th district in 2008. Kim L. Nguyen, Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice, won a seat as a Los Angeles Superior Court District Judge (Office 158), beating David A. Berger by just over three percent. Nguyen, who will become the only current Vietnamese American serving Los Angeles County’s Superior Court, is also a San Gabriel High School alum, and later graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles and Harvard College. Finally, in the Alhambra Unified School District Board race between incumbent president Patricia Mackintosh and challenger Yvonne West Palma, Mackintosh successfully defended her seat in an eight percent win with nearly 22,000 votes cast. In addition to congressional, judicial, and school board elections, various statewide propositions were voted on on Tuesday, many of which could impact San Gabriel High School. Proposition 55, which extended a tax on incomes $250,000 or greater that funds public schools and healthcare, and Proposition 58, which allows schools to develop bilingual or multilingual educational programs, both passed with large margins. Unrelated to education, Proposition 63, which enforces background checks for the purchase of ammunition, and Proposition 64, which legalizes recreational Marijuana for people over 21 years of age, both passed. On the other hand, Proposition 61, which sought to lower prescription drug prices for everyone to the price that military veterans pay, and Proposition 62, which aimed to repeal the death penalty, both failed to be passed. After the long election cycle, it will be another two years before more propositions and congressional seats are contested.
Cheer and the audience roar as the ASB announce the homecoming court for 2016. Eva Her nandez The Matador Stadium was decked out in streamers, balloons, and stand-up, hand drawn posters of characters from the 2009 Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog. The music from the soundtrack played over the loudspeakers as students filed into the bleachers. Band opened the rally with a performance of “Dark Side” by Kelly Clarkson and “Confident” by Demi Lovato, followed by the flag salute and the national anthem. Senior Cristopher Cruz then came to the microphone to promote the varsity football Homecoming game on Nov. 4, as well as the Homecoming dance on the following day. His announcement was followed up by another performance from band. The song performed, “Bad” by Michael Jackson, included a dance number that received high praise from the crowd and other performance teams. “I just had fun with the dance,” senior Alberto Garcia said. “I felt a sense of closure because it was my final Homecoming Rally performing, and I’m finally done.” The presentation of Homecoming Court began with Princess Mia Rodriguez, accompanied by her mom. “It felt surreal,” Rodriguez said. “Walking down the aisle [with my mom] felt bittersweet. It’s all coming to an end, but I’m happy that I got to share that moment with my mom.” Prince Daniel Phan was then accompanied by his brother, sophomore Jordan Phan. “I had been hinting to [Daniel], because I wanted to walk him,” Jordan said. “It made me feel happy that he actually chose me.” Their speeches were read by ASB advisor and music teacher Cecilia Revilla. Homecoming couple Princess Anney Lin and Prince Chi Hoang then walked the red carpet, with Lin accompanied by science teacher Ryan Wong and Hoang accompanied by his mother. “I was really proud and happy that I got to walk with the person I admire the most—my mom,” Hoang said. “It felt extra special because I got to show her what my school looked like.” Princess Vicky Ong was then announced with Samson Tran, with Ong accompanied by former science teacher and volleyball coach Larry Kanow and Tran accompanied by his mother. “I could feel the love from all my friends,” Ong said. “[Mr. Kanow] said that it was an honor to walk me.” Princess Cassidy Pham was announced next with Tom Cheah, with Pham accompanied by her father and Cheah accompanied by math teacher Huong Tran. “[My dad] was really surprised,” Pham said. “He thought that I would ask my friends, so he was happy that I came to him first. It warmed my heart.” Finally, Princess Victoria Vu was announced with Prince Winston Hau, with Vu accompanied by her father and Hau accompanied by English teacher Melissa Bishop. “I never expected to be in that situation in the first place,” Hau said. “When I asked [Ms. Bishop], she was really surprised. She was [so] happy that she was jumping up and down.” The rally concluded with band’s performance of the alma mater, to which students on the field huddled together to sing along. Though there were some hiccups, the rally was an overall success and received positivity from the crowd.
Student receives a ‘moth’ full of salad in school lunch Continued from pg 1 Immediately after his initial shock, Principal Debbie Stone arrived, and he explained what he had just seen to her. Stone then took the salad tray and gave it back to the lunch ladies. “She asked me if I wanted a new salad, and I said no,” Zhu said. “Then she told me that she [would] report it to the District.” The cafeteria manager, Rosaline Méndez, was shocked about how something like that could have happen to a student’s lunch. “We don’t package any of the food here. It’s packed at Central Kitchen, and we don’t control any of that,” Méndez said. Stone thought Zhu’s situation was “absolutely disgusting” and stated that “unfortunately, it’s something common that happens at different schools and even at restaurants.” “These packages of food are being looked at before they given to schools,” Stone said. “I think in order to prevent these incidents, it’s to be more diligent before [the food is] put out for students.” Although finding any type of insect in school lunch is unpleasant, according to <eatthis.com>, there are many type of insects that find their way into everyday food. Chocolate may comprise of cockroaches, and even marshmallows may contain as many 19 maggots. Zhu stated that the school should credit him for finding the moth so they can improve their lunch quality.
NEWS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
LCAP Expo highlights district
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Speech and Debate triumphs at Fall Classic
Photo courtesy of Jessica Sandercock
Speech and Debaters line up outside Schurr High School after the tournament. Sydney Tr ieu
Photo By Michelle Ho
A representative from Brightwood Elementary School showcases their LCAP goal. Mi chel l e H o The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Expo was recently held at San Gabriel High School with the intention of educating parents and students of the district’s overall objective for students and the district’s annual goals. “The district has a plan. As a part of the LCAP, we want to show parents, [and] the community that the educational opportunity of their children [is] being supported by the District,” Denise Jaramillo, assistant superintendent of Business Activities for the District, said. In hopes of convincing others to continue funding their programs, all schools within the District were allowed to display their work at the LCAP Expo. “Allowing clubs and programs the opportunity to showcase their work to the public gives that certain organization a chance for parents to decide whether or not the money used to fund the program is worth it or not,” chemistry teacher Kenneth Ma said. The LCAP focuses on a specific set of goals for the district such a providing students with fully credentialed teachers as well as a academically appropriate place to work; implementation of California’s academic standard includes Common Core State Standards in various subjects, parental engagement in academic achievement, encouragement of student engagement, and conservation towards factors that may affect one’s efforts in a school environment. “The LCAP allowed new programs to be added. The addition of technology such as Google Chromebook carts allowed us, [the school], to enhance our students’ knowledge of the technological world,” Francine Santamaria, fifth grade elementary teacher at Ynez Elementary School, said. “I think parents want to know what’s going on and how their money is being spent. The LCAP is a good way to physically show them.” Information booths as well as physical displays of student achievements were set up along the campus. Not only were the booths a visual way to display the usage of the funds given, but they allowed people to interact with and experience what certain programs offered. For example, as a representation of San Gabriel High School, Medical Careers Academy (MCA) was allowed to arrange a booth with adviser Amy Wu in charge. The students of the program demonstrated how one would be able to tell whether they have breast cancer as well as water education, such as understanding the difference between water and sugary drinks. “I feel like the demonstration MCA was able to provide at the LCAP Expo was like a two-way road.,” sophomore Shawn Ho, a member of MCA, said.” You help others learn more about the world around them, and you receive support for your club in return.”
NAPS Club seeks to assist animals S el i na H an After several months of planning, a group of sophomore girls and a new teacher at San Gabriel High School are introducing their new service club, Nurturing Animals Promoting Service (NAPS). The club is led by Caitlin Kan, the president of NAPS. NAPS’s goal is to ensure the wellbeing of animals through community service and fundraisers. “As president of NAPS, I hope to impact others by influencing them to help animals while building a bond amongst the members of the club,” Kan said. “We have a lot of exciting events planned during the school year.” Kan looks forward to fulfilling her role as a cabinet member of NAPS, along with her four close friends who share her passion for helping animals. One of these friends is Katherine Huang, the public relations officer of the new club. “The idea of starting an animal club really piqued my interests since I have an immense passion towards helping animals,” Huang said. “I also want to provide an opportunity for other animal lovers to engage with the animal part of the community.” Huang decided to be a part of the cabinet in the hopes of “expanding [her] social horizons and establishing better communication and leadership skills.” Kan, Huang, and the other three cabinet members manage NAPS with their adviser, history teacher Stefanie Boettcher. “The girls convinced me [to be their adviser]. I wasn’t totally sure on it but they were very responsible. They wrote me a page describing what the club is, what duties they would have, [and] what the adviser would do,” Boettcher said. “The fact that they did that [made me think], ‘Okay, they’re serious about this.’” Despite having no prior experience of being a club adviser, Boettcher has high hopes of executing her responsibilities for NAPS. She looks forward to seeing how the club will grow and evolve and hopes students will take this opportunity to give back to animals that live in shelters. Boettcher encourages animal lovers to attend NAPS’s first meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16 in A204 during lunch.
All eyes fell on stage as senior Raymond Hu and sophomore Angela Lu stood nervously alongside five other finalists in Dramatic Interpretation (DI). One after another, names were called, and trophies were awarded—Hu, fifth place. And Lu, third. Competing in the Spartan Fall Classic invitational hosted by Schurr High School, the Matador Speech and Debate team made their debut in the first varsity tournament of the year on Oct. 29. Novice, junior varsity, and varsity members alike partook in the competition, testing the waters with their scripts for the new year. “It was really great practice for our league tournaments that are coming up,” Speech and Debate coach Jessica Sandercock said. “It was also really good practice for the novice too. I think that what [the team] needs is practice, and that’s what I preach—that practice makes perfect.” Lu felt that she had expectations on her shoulders, as it was her first varsity tournament as a junior varsity team member. “[The expectations] pushed me to work harder, and I hope to be better prepared for the next tournament so I won’t have any self-doubts about my speech,” Lu said. “I wasn’t mentally ready [for the final round], but I was really happy I managed to do well during the preliminary and semifinal rounds.” Hu builds on that sentiment, saying that “seeing a hundred people walk around in suits and knowing that you’re going to give a 10 minute speech to them is very daunting.” Despite this, he believes that overall, the tournament was a good experience. “A big part about tournaments that make them fun are the teammates you’re with,” Hu said. “I usually rant about how I messed up, and we laugh about it.” Along with Hu and Lu, senior and captain of DI Joy Portinga was also a semifinalist in Oratorical Interpretation. She expressed her “secondhand pride in having members of [DI] make it to finals” as well as her enjoyment of the tournament. “I had a lot of fun,” Portinga said. “I made new friends across schools, which is one of the reasons why I love to compete. Also, [the team] took a lot of pictures, which helps me commemorate my last year in Speech and Debate.” Speech and Debate’s next tournament, Fall Novice, will take place on Nov. 12 at Gabrielino High School.
UCLA field trip offers campus experiences Jessica Tr an In efforts to receive a firsthand view of college, San Gabriel students attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus field trip on Nov. 3. There, students had the opportunity to interact with the campus. “I [attended the field trip] because I’m thinking of applying. I wanted to see how the campus was like,” senior Marilyn Nguyen said. By 8:30 a.m., the bus, carrying 30 students, left for the campus tour. After two hours, students arrived at UCLA. From there, a tour guide walked students around the campus and introduced the different aspects and major buildings of the university. “There were so many students there and [seeing] the different buildings was my favorite part,” Nguyen said. When the tour was over, students were asked to choose between two orientations: life science or engineering. In each orientation, students met with professors of the courses and dove into the specifics of the different majors and overall information that someone should know when applying to the university. Senior Aaron Sun, who attended the engineering orientation, shared his experience. “[The orientation] was informative,” Sun said. “We got to visit the engineering department and they showed us the stuff they did inside there.” Inside the engineering building, students had the opportunity to see the first computer that was invented in UCLA called the Arpanet. On the other hand, junior Justin Nguyen felt his anticipation of the trip did not align with the reality of the campus tour. “I wanted to see the campus from someone else’s perspective,” Nguyen said. “I expected a lot and I was disappointed. The campus tour was really brief and general. I went there before and I experienced more on my own rather than with a tour guide.” Among all the UCs, UCLA is ranked second. Over 40 ,000 students attended UCLA for the 2016-17 school year beginning on Sept. 19.
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Better “Ta”gether
Nathan Ta Returning the favor I don’t know how I am still functioning. My closest friends, who literally took care of me emotionally and physically like I was their child, all graduated last year. Now, I’m all alone. T h e y w e re a l l s o h e l p f u l a n d kind to me. Whenever I was sad, I would run to one of them, and they would comfort me until I felt better. Whenever I was happy, whether it was from something as little as getting an A on a test or something as big as my flight to Massachusetts, I would tell them, and they would congratulate me and say that they were proud of me. They were basically my home, and whenever I was with them, nothing could hurt me. I felt like they were the first people I could trust in a long time. I’ve told them things that I’d never thought I’d tell anyone before. Instead of ridiculing me, they accepted me for who I am and what I’ve done in the past. At this point, I knew that they were people I would hold dear for the rest of my life. Without them, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. Ever since they graduated, I don’t really know to whom I can express my feelings to. Yeah, I can talk to my other friends, but I can’t fully express my feelings to them because they don’t know certain things that my closest friends know. But I realized that this is my senior year. I started to wonder if there are other people who are going through the same issues as I did last year. After thinking about this, I realized that this year was for me to take care of others, not for me to be taken care of. I mean, come on, it’s senior year. After submitting all my college applications, all I have to do is maintain my grades. Other than that, I can chill out and have more time to relax and hang out with my friends. Meanwhile, all the underclassmen are struggling with high school either from the massive work load from AP classes or from being new to the school. I don’t expect anyone to open up to me because I mainly keep to myself and I can’t hold a conversation to save my life. But I hope I can give someone the same feeling I felt last year with them, even if it’s something as little as helping them with homework or giving them advice. I’m not sure why I want to do this. It could be that I want to feel the way the seniors last year felt when they took care of me. It could be because I want to feel important to someone. Whatever the reason may be, all I know for now is that I want to be able to help any of my underclassman friends with any problem they may have. This little personal goal of mine may be too much to ask for, being the socially awkward child I am, but then again, so is having a good night’s sleep at this point. At the end of the day, I just want to be able to help underclassmen in any way I can. If I can’t achieve this goal, it wouldn’t really bother me too much. I just hope that the underclassmen will be okay. After all, it’s only an uphill battle from the start of high school, to the moment you open up your email with a college acceptance letter.
OPINIONS
Editorial
$149 million infrastructure improvement bond lacks sufficient oversight From the dilapidated hallways of the IA buildings to the urinal that floods in the E-building, San Gabriel High School (SGHS) undoubtedly needs infrastructure work, considering that the school is over 60 years old. Luckily, Measure HS, a bond that that recently passed, can generate up to $149 million for classroom repairs, asbestos and lead paint removal, and classroom and science lab upgrades for all high schools in the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD). Despite the potential of Measure HS, a further examination of the bond’s language questions the affirmative vote due to the accountability issues it presents. If the bond is implemented, there is no guarantee that the promised products will be delivered. According to the bond text itself, projects “may be delayed or may not be completed.” This clause is problematic because it allows for unrealistic goals and may further stagnate infrastructure. If the District is unable to fulfill all of its goals due to financial issues, this bond is effectively a waste of money, as it will incur a $280 million debt. Supporters may argue that the
“independent Citizens Oversight Committee” will keep the AUSD on track, so uncompleted projects will not be an issue. This may be true. Oversight is beneficial to keep the District accountable. However, this committee must follow California Education Code section 15278, which stipulates that the school board will appoint the committee’s members. Several board members have explicitly supported this bond, which is normally not a problem. However, the board is acting as judge, jury, and executioner. Even though the board put the bond on the ballot in the first place, the potential for cronyism, conflicts of interest, and selections of “Yes-men” for this oversight committee is possibile. It is uncertain that the board will choose a balanced committee. Moreover, the selection of a previous Citizens Oversight Committee raises some eyebrows. Just eight years ago, the bond committee was headed by a community member, who was charged 20 years ago with embezzlement of over $31,000 from the Alhambra Police Officers’ Association. Despite the misgivings of hiring a felon, there is probably “no
prohibition preventing ex-felons serving in public appointment positions, or even holding public office” according to attorney Kelly Aviles, vice president of Open Government Compliance of Californians Aware. When we asked about the employers of the other previous oversight committee members, the AUSD bond consultant said via email that this information was “irrelevant.” Yet, according to Aviles, “the law requires the [Board] to fill certain categories of members,” and thus “the law presumes that the company they worked for would be disclosed.” Ensured transparency by the District is questionable here. Overall, this bond can be beneficial. However, the questionable accountability could bar Measure HS from achieving its full potential. In order to improve the oversight aspect, the Citizen Committee Board should be voted in by AUSD’s constituency. This is the best way to ensure an impartial and balanced assessment of District’s achievement. Until then, that urinal in the E-building will continue to terrorize SGHS.
First black president leaves lasting legacy Lucas J orgensen On January 20, 2009, the United States of America took a huge step forward. And on that day, the U.S. inaugurated its first black president, Barack Obama. Was this new president going to be what the people needed or would he be the opposite? Now, as the eight years of the Obama administration comes to an end, some will thank the President for all he has done to improve this country; others will think that America is better with him gone. He has worked hard throughout his eight years in office to ensure the U.S. is a better place when he leaves, and while that is a subject of some debate, we can all agree, Obama was better than whoever is up next. However, just like every other president, there were some things that he could have done better and things he did just right. During his presidency, he changed the U.S. forever. For example, he was the first black president, he has raised the
employment rate in the U.S. by about 9 million jobs, he got Osama bin Laden, and so much more. He restored good relations with Cuba and has worked with Iran to stop terrorist threats in the Middle East. During the administration, the President has also made plenty of controversial decisions, some of which may be a challenge for the next president. These may include, the “Obamacare” fiasco, the terrorist group ISIS, and opening the borders at Mexico. There is also a situation of racial tension under the president’s administration and it seems to have no end. While the President certainly tried to improve the country’s state, it definitely could’ve gone better. Now, it’s not like he’s the first president to mess up trying to help. Mistakes were made by all of them, and it still hurts their memory today. It will be difficult for America to readjust to a new president; but one thing’s for sure, President Obama did the best he could for this country and will be missed in the Oval Office.
For reals this time, thanks Obama for your presidency
Illustration by Jennifer Cheung
Students react to new president-elect of the United States “I feel like his personality is not suitable to be president.” - Lauren Ballesteros, 9th grade
“I’m pretty neutral so I don’t know what to think.” - Phillip Lee, 10th grade
“America made the worst decision. It shows how uneducated the majority of Americans are.” - Delane Ly, 9th grade
“I don’t really like [Trump] but he has some good points, like about immigration.” - Wilson Tran, 10th grade
“I’m kind of scared about America’s future. I wish the best to the rest of the Americans; we still have a little bit of hope.” - Joyce Bo, 11th grade “I kind of knew it was going to happen.” - Robert Razo, 11th grade
“I cried myself to sleep. This is disappointing.” - Leanna Ramos, 12th grade “I’m afraid that he might start something big that might affect us. I don’t feel like joining the milatary anymore because I think Trump’s leadership could be catastrophic.” - Victor Ortiz, 12th Quotes compiled by Virginia Situ
OPINIONS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
Trump reflects problems of American society, not isolated incident K el l y H o Throughout the 20-month clown fiesta that was the election season, the people heard it all: Donald Trump is an immigrant-hating, racist misogynist. Even non-English speaking grandmas knew his name. And now, he has become president-elect. For a predominantly blue state like California, such news is devastating for many. But were the election results surprising? They were, but at the same time, they were not. Trump’s victory is shocking because more than half of Americans were against it; with each of his scandals, media, politicians, and constituents responded by reiterating that his behavior was “outlandish” and “not what America stands for.” So how in the world did Trump win? From the beginning, Trump’s remarks about his daughter, Mexican immigrants, and building walls—despite their immorality— were not as abnormal as people thought. There are Americans who share the same ideology as he does—even people who do not support him make similar actions and comments. When a 2005 recording of Trump was released, the public was appalled to hear that Trump bragged about how his stardom allowed him to sexually assault women without consequence. People criticized him for acting “against America’s values.” However, Trump’s sexual comments were not out of the ordinary. To say that such comments about women, minorities, and illegal immigrants are not characteristic of American society is giving others a “get out of jail, free” card. Trump’s words and actions are common; they are not isolated incidents. In response to the tape, Trump dismissed his remarks as “locker room
talk.” In a CBS article, NBA and NFL players alike defended the locker room and denounced Trump’s idea of “locker room talk,” claiming that no such talk exists. However, it was hypocritical of such high-esteemed sports leagues to criticize Trump while ignoring the amount of their own players that have been charged for similar actions. According to USAToday’s NFL arrest database, more than 35 NFL players were arrested for sexual assault, domestic violence, and battery from 2013-16. In an Excelle Sports article, female college athletes spoke out against sexual harassment being dismissed as “normal” for women in the sports world. Even at the high school level, disrespect towards female students runs rampant and out of public view. Last year, campus feed phone app Ogle became popular throughout San Gabriel High School; this app allowed students to anonymously post photos of others and make comments without a filter. Photos of female students from San Gabriel High flooded the app, with many peers making sexual, disrespectful comments about what they would “do” to each female student. Sexual assault and harassment are problems. Trump’s comments were an opportunity to acknowledge and address those issues, not focus on what is or is not “locker room talk.” It was comfortable to take the easy way out and declare Trump as the worst of America—a false representation of the country. But now, he actually represents our country. We can no longer use Trump as a scapegoat to dismiss society’s systemic problems; rather, we should use him as a precursor to resolution. The next four years will be painful, but we must not give up. Trump is a symbol of American ignorance. If we continue to point fingers at Trump, then we will become part of the problem. It is time for this hiding to end and for change to begin.
Illustration by Kelly Ho
Gender norms should be broken in school dance traditions Ki m P ham We are climbing up corporate ladders and running for president. We are demanding equal pay and respect from catcallers. Woman are progressing in wonderful ways, and yet we still can’t ask guys out to the homecoming dance. For nearly as long as dances have existed, high schoolers have expected young men to make the first move and ask their female classmates. This isn’t any different from so many other gender-specific expectations and assumptions that are made around dating and romance: guy asks for girl’s number, guy asks girl out, guy proposes to girl. Although women aren’t exactly sitting by the phone waiting for Mr. Right anymore, the custom and belief persists that men are still expected to take the lead when it comes to initiating relationships. To continue this expectation is detrimental to the progression of both genders. It places stigmas on
MATADOR
Editors-in-Chief News Editors
Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editors Sports Editors Features Editors Copy Editors Photo Editors Artist Business Managers Website Editors Multimedia Editors Blogs Manager Community Editors Adviser
Sydney Trieu Thomas Wang Joanne Chau Nathan Ta Sunny Chen Eileen Ong Karina Matias Kim Pham Lu Yue Wang Jennifer Cheung Jessica Tran Uyen Sy Kim Ta Michele Thai Selina Han Kelly Ho Shirley Dinh Eva Hernandez Andy Yung Sunny Chen Michelle Ho Vincent Maresca Anny Li Wu Christina Lov Tom Cheah Kathy Quach Kevin Contreras Michelle Ho Vivian Wong Carlos Carillo Virginia Situ Jennifer Kim
Reporters: Nian Capilli, Lucas Jorgensen, Chelsea Li, Vincent Maresca, Kayla Tang, Emily Valentin The Matador is published monthly by the journalism class of San Gabriel High School. 1,600 copies per issue are published at J. E. J Print Inc. The Matador is a public forum for student expression and highly encourages responses in reaction to issues discussed in the paper. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, not the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are the opinion of the staff. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested), to H-2, or Ms. Kim’s mailbox.
men and women, and adds to the long lists of social rules that each sex already feels the need to adhere to. Women who do not hesitate when it comes to asking guys to dances are deemed as too masculine, too assertive, too dominant, or worse, not being “chase-able” enough. On the other hand, guys have the constant pressure of trying to figure out how to ask their dates, and are viewed as weak or emasculated if they decide to not initiate the gesture. Aside from reducing the chances of missed opportunities or mixed messages, the greatest benefit that comes out of girls being able to ask guys to dances is simply regaining the choice to. Women are limited in their choices all across the border of cultural societies, even in ones considered to be progressive. So when it comes to things that we have the ability to take control over, like asking a guy out to Homecoming, it is a waste to throw our own opportunity away simply because it might not be considered the “norm.” Illustration by Vincent Maresca
The Matador Bullring
How would you ask someone to a school dance?
“ “ “
I’d probably just ask them if they wanted to go to the dance with me when we’re alone and might get them a gift as well.” -Caroline Liu, 9th grade
I would probably buy flowers and just ask them at school.” -Antonio Huerta, 10th grade
“
I would bring it up in a conversation and maybe have a poster with me, or I’d probably just ask her straight up.” -Enrique Gaitah, 11th grade
I would take them to a fancy dinner and I would ask them there and buy them a cake afterwards if they say yes.“ -Kathy Bach, 12th grade Photos by Sunny Chen
5
Leaning “Han” myself
Selina Han Not enough My biggest fear is not being enough. I’m scared of not being smart enough, nice enough, pretty enough…the list goes on. I’ve always stayed awake at night wondering how I became the person I am today. Whenever something bad happens, my mind always goes to my parents’ divorce. But recently, I’ve realized that the divorce never really impacted me the way most people expected it to. I’ve realized that the divorce served only as an intangible scapegoat that let me avoid facing my problems. My parents got divorced when I was three years old. At that age, we weren’t even capable of tying our shoelaces, let alone grasping the concept of marriage and divorce. As a result, I thought it was normal to see my dad only twice a month. I grew up as an only child with my mom and grandparents in a small but cozy apartment complex. My cousin, Benjamin, and his mom lived with us for about five years. In those years, Benjamin served as the sibling I’ve always longed for. Benjamin excelled at everything he did. He was smart, athletic, and seemingly better than me at everything. I looked up to him and saw him not only as my role model, but as my competition as well. This was the first time I started comparing myself to someone. When I was around six years old, my aunt and Benjamin moved to China. At first I celebrated because I thought that meant he wouldn’t be able to fight with me over my toys, but I didn’t know it would be permanent. I didn’t know that I was losing someone I loved. Benjamin motivated me to try in school, and he pushed me to become a better person. I never felt alone in that apartment because he was always there to bother me. When he left, I became insecure, and it was the first time I truly felt alone. As I got older, I realized that everyone around me lived with both of their parents, not just one of them. My apartment was relatively quiet compared to everyone else’s. Without anyone to talk to, I was left alone with my thoughts. Whenever someone found out my parents were divorced, they would pity me. I would be asked if I was okay countless times until it reached the point where I wasn’t okay anymore. As ridiculous as it sounds, I started blaming myself for their divorce and set out to make my mom’s life as easy as it could be. Consequently, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I tried really hard in school, and I was determined to show my parents that I was capable of being what they wanted me to be. I was taught that education was the key to success, and I knew that if I did well enough in school, I could get a good job and buy the house my mom has always wanted to live in. I’m starting to realize now that the only person who has ever pressured me to do anything is myself. My parents never forced me to go into a specific field or to take Honors and AP classes. They just want me to be happy. To me, high school is different from middle school because you have more freedom. I’m starting to ask myself what I care about. I’m distancing from myself from negative people who I thought I needed and am spending more time with people who love and care about me. I’m still as lost as ever, but I’m starting to learn to take care of myself more and to stop putting other people’s needs above my own. I’ve realized that one of the greatest mistakes one can make is to do things purely for the approval of others as I have done my entire life.
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
The Matador Muse
LIFE & ART
Tech student Cruz excels in woodwork
To my city I’ve been living in you since I came out the womb. Although you’re home to many of my homes, I hate to be living in you. Your streets are nothing in the day, but the night is just a call away. Once the sun comes down, the game changes. Your walls plaster with graffiti. Your noises keep me up at night. Your helicopter chases your police searches, and your ambulance sirens. Life lessons you taught me like “stay safe” and “keep my eyes peeled” so I don’t get my phone taken. When the cops come around, just take a deep breath and relax don’t look too suspicious, don’t put your hands in your pocket. DON’T BE YOURSELF. You showed me the matter of life and death at the age of 6 due to a drive by right before my own eyes.
-Jeanette Michel, senior
Photo by Nathan Ta
Senior Cristhoper Cruz progresses on constructing a stand for the office. Anny Li Wu Of the many talented students in San Gabriel High School, woodshop teacher John Mason did not hesitate to answer that senior Cristhoper Cruz was one of his hardest working students. When asked about Cruz’s favorite thing to do in the class, he said it was to ‘obviously work’. Cruz also enjoys being in Mason’s class. “Mr. Mason forgets that he has told us stories and he tells us again either way [which] never gets old,” Cruz said. Mason teaches his students different technical skills, and Cruz expresses appreciation for Mason’s tutelage. Cruz went from knowing nothing about woodshop to knowing how to make cabinets, benches, and even wooden roses for his sister. “I made a big flower for my sister. It is like a sunflower and has ‘Grumpy’ carved on it because my sister is always grumpy, and that’s her nickname,” Cruz said. “The bench was for my mom so she could drink her coffee outside in the morning.”
Cruz’s first big project was the bench, which Cruz hopes to keep until he grows old. “I was really happy about all the work that I put into the bench,” Cruz said. “It was [a project that I got to] took home. It was cool seeing my mom’s face when she saw it because she couldn’t believe what I made.” Cruz is currently making cabinets with his classmates as practice for competing at SkillsUSA, an organization where students from different schools come together to compete in wood skills and other technical skills like auto tech. “I want to place in top three. I want to also gain experience from competing,” Cruz said. In hope of placing at SkillsUSA, Cruz offers advice to students. “I think the main goal is to take things we learned with us into our future,” Cruz said. “Just take risks in life and take hold of the opportunities that are given to you in life.” With many skilled wood workers, Cruz hopes to be able to place and take home a win at SkillsUSA.
Popular frozen dessert reviews: Sweet Lab, The Freezin Point Dragon’s Breath
By far, one of the most popular dessert items that has been catching everybody’s attention on social media is called Dragon’s Breath. Mistaken as ice cream, Dragon’s Breath is a treat consisting of colorful cereal puffs with liquid nitrogen poured over them, creating a fog surrounding it. What makes this dessert unique is that people are able to exhale the fog as if they were a dragon. Dragon’s Breath is prominently sold at a cafe named Chocolate Chair in Los Angeles, but a local cafe in Rosemead, Sweet Lab, began selling this exhilarating treat. I arrived at Sweet Lab around 1 p.m. with a warm welcome from the employees and noticed a small amount of people inside. Dragon’s Breath isn’t on their menu, but they have a sign near the cash register notifying customers that they do have it. The sign states, “Dragon’s Breath, a crunchy cereal swimming in liquid nitrogen, designed to make you breathe ‘fire’ when you eat it!
(This is NOT ice cream).” Dragon’s Breath comes with multiple different kinds of flavored dipping sauce. I ordered the Dragon’s Breath with a strawberry dipping sauce because, according to the worker, it is one of the most popular sauces along with mango. The whole treat was about $5.99, which I felt was a bit overpriced. As I waited for my order, I watched the workers to see how they prepared this special treat. They had a massive container holding the liquid nitrogen; and poured in the liquid nitrogen into the cup causing a large amount of fog to rise out of the cup. When my order was ready, I was in complete shock seeing the treat in person. The workers first warned me to not touch the cereal or digest the liquid nitrogen. Flakes of ice surrounded outside the cup with the fog all over the place. I dipped the cereal puff into the sauce, hearing a loud crackling noise. My first bite blew me away with a strong crunch, and I was able to exhale the fog like a dragon. Although it was a fun experience trying it, the liquid nitrogen sent cold burns in my mouth. I recognized the bigger pieces caused a larger cold burn effect and had a more cloudy texture. In my opinion, it’s best to eat the cereal puffs at a slightly fast pace to avoid the cold burns. In my opinion, Dragon’s Breath isn’t really meant to eat for satisfaction, but it is something to eat for entertainment around others. Although it is a little overpriced, it is still worth the experience, and despite the pain from the cold burns during and after the treat, it’s still fun and entertaining to eat with others.
Thai ice cream rolls
When I first viewed these ice cream rolls on Facebook and Instagram, I thought to myself, “Whoa, this looks so interesting and gorgeous; I have to try it.” Originally from Thailand, ice creams rolls received popularity across the globe due to social media. In response to the rising popularity of the dessert, a few cities in the U.S. started selling this unique kind of ice cream. Workers prepare it by pouring creamy custard and any desired toppings onto a cold plate. Then, they mix it all up, flatten it out, and roll it up. The presentation of the ice cream presents a more organized and beautiful look, which is much more unique compared to regular scooped ice creams. There are multiple places in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley that sell Thai ice cream rolls. One of these places is The Freezin Point in Monterey Park. I arrived around 2 p.m. with the workers welcoming me in. The menu consist of 10 flavors rang-
ing from halo halo to milk tea. I decided to get something basic and ordered the Nutella-flavored ice cream with strawberries and bananas. This frozen treat was about $7, which is pretty overpriced. I was able to view the workers creating the ice cream rolls, which was quite entertaining since I never really expected ice cream to be shaped into that kind of style. When everything was prepared, I admired the gorgeous presentation of the frozen treat. There were multiple rolls of Nutella ice cream topped with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, two Pocky sticks, and drizzled Nutella. Since the ice cream was rolled up, it made a big difference compared to regular scooped ice creams because it had a flakey, buttery texture. However, it was a little difficult to scoop some out because of the added layers. The ice cream itself was marvelous, but the flavor of the toppings packed a punch to complement the ice cream itself. Depending on your sweet tooth, you can order very sweet or balanced flavors. There are 10 different flavors at the Freezin Point, and the Nutella one was at perfection—not too sweet and not too bland. With the Thai ice cream rolls, I’d personally give it a rating of five out of five. The flavors, the presentation, the unique look, and nice texture make this frozen treat tempting to try for anyone despite the price. Thai ice cream rolls are definitely changing the game of ice cream by attracting people due to its uniqueness and its splendid presentation. Photos and reviews by Nian Capili
LIFE & ART
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
9
Art teachers Jung, Keller showcase vivid, colorful backgrounds
Photo by Michelle Ho
Art teacher Francesca Jung holds one of her geometric-inspired pieces. Jennifer Cheung Inspired by her mother who was an artist, art teacher and Senior Class Council adviser Francesca Jung has been creating art since kindergarten. Although discouraged many times, she achieved her dream of pursuing a career related to art. Jung always knew she wanted to be an artist but was unsure about what path to take in college. However, she made her decision during her senior year of high school. “I majored in product design,” Jung said. “My friend showed me a catalog of [Art Center College of Design], and that is when I got interested.” She is passionate about designing consumer electronics—specifically, medical electronics. Her dream job was to be a product designer at Koninklijke Philips N.V., a company dedicated to electronics and healthcare. Her passion for medical appliances stemmed from experience with the ill. “A family member was sick, and then that was when I thought, ‘How could I improve something that my family member could use?’” Jung said. “I think it is interesting how anything you design can affect somebody’s life. After completing college, she got a parttime job on the weekends teaching at an art school for high school students while looking for a full-time job as a designer.
Eventually, Jung was offered a position in design but never quit her job as a teacher, working all seven days of the week. However, she realized that she loved her weekend job but was miserable as a designer “It made me rethink what I was passionate about,” Jung said. “I really liked working with kids, so it was risky. But I did take a risk, quit my job as a designer, and started working on my [teaching] credential.” Through her credential program, she received another part-time job as a substitute teacher at an inner city charter school. “It was very tough working with those students, but at the end of the day when I leave, I realized I was never stressed out,” Jung said. “I was always happy about doing it, so that confirmed that [teaching] was for me. Everyday is different, every kid is different, and the fact that I can see and work with those kids is very rewarding.” After teaching for a year at San Bernardino Middle School, Jung searched for another job, finding herself at San Gabriel High School. Jung’s advice to students who plan to pursue an art career to think about their interests, since art is very broad. Then, make an art portfolio for colleges and universities. Most importantly, Jung emphasizes her last piece of advice: “Whatever you are passionate about, art or not, pursue it, and have confidence.”
New Power Rangers movie will release in 2017
Photo courtesy of Lionsgate
Eva Her nandez Bright suits made of spandex, gigantic metal robots that combine to make an even bigger robot, and villains both comical and serious are all elements of the Power Rangers TV show created by Haim Saban. Since its debut in the United States in 1993, Saban’s Power Rangers (PR) has grown in popularity among younger generations. It has been 19 years since a PR movie was put into production, and since then, there hasn’t been much demand for anything PR-related. However, it has been made official that another PR-related production will be set to release on March 24, 2017. “I’m looking forward to it because it was a big part of my childhood, so I’m excited to see it now,” senior Cavan Bo said. Intended to be a reboot of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers storyline, the cast will include Dacre Montgomery as Jason
(Red Ranger), Naomi Scott as Kimberly (Pink Ranger), RJ Cyler as Billy (Blue Ranger), Becky G as Trini (Yellow Ranger), Ludi Lin as Zack (Black Ranger), Bryan Cranston as Zordon, and Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. So far, only one official trailer has been released by Lionsgate Movies, but critics and fans alike have been reviewing the material and creating theories for certain elements of what is shown. “I’m fond of [Becky G],” sophomore Alyssa Rosas said. “I feel that it’s pretty good that she’s a singer [and] she’s been given a role [in a movie]. It’s a good step forward.” In an article by ScreenRant, it is said that because Rita Repulsa (Banks)’s new look resembles the Green Ranger’s costume, she may have been a former Power Ranger as well. “I’ll probably take my [12-year-old] brother to go see it,” senior Marissa Cordova said. “He likes a lot of superhero stuff.” Fans of the original series are also clamoring to view the official website of the character’s high school, Angel Grove, which was a signature location in the original series. The site provides biographies of each Ranger in the form of newspaper features, as well as a few news articles related to the characters. An Instagram account for the fictional school’s newspaper is also advertised on the website, containing pictures of the cast and production as well as fan-submitted photos. More information will be revealed as March 24 edges closer. However, it is evident that as more information is revealed, the building hype for the movie will mount even faster.
Photo by Michelle Ho
Art teacher Karen Keller features a ceramic piece with senior Kelly Nguyen. Shirley Dinh From being a mom to being a full time teacher at San Gabriel, ceramics and art history teacher Karen Keller gradually made her way into this school. Through her kids and her passion for art, Keller decided that being an art teacher was a good match for her. “I loved to put things together, something not necessarily from a kit but from stuff that I [could] find, [and] I’ve always enjoyed making things,” Keller said. Before becoming an art teacher, she would bring her kids and their friends to their sports games and visit historical sites within locations that had artistic significance. “As a mom, I found that I really enjoyed spending time with my kids and their friends, taking them on field trips or excursions, [and] working with them,” Keller said. “Putting the two together was kind of how I got to where I am today.” Before specializing in clay, Keller was a “mixed media type of artist.” She did not discover her passion for ceramics until taking some courses at Cal Poly Pomona. “I never touched clay until I was in
college, and I’ve done a lot of creative activities growing up. When I went to college and took a class, I really enjoyed it,” Keller said. “The professors there were encouraging and helped me to learn and perform all the parts of the process [in ceramics].” Keller describes her favorite part of the process of creating a ceramic piece. “I am really fond of the building [and] carving with clay, and [I] am very much attracted [to] the surface of the clay,” Keller said. Inspired by her students everyday, she wants to give them a piece of advice about the process of making a piece. “[Because the process] involves failure, [where] things start getting to a point where you don’t like it, and things are being destroyed, it requires restarting, and learning from that is a really good thing,” Keller said. “We always think of failure as an end, and not something to learn from. [But] when we can learn from failure and move on, we can build our knowledge in different ways, [and] I think that is something quite evident when we’re working with clay.” Although Keller does not have enough time to create her own art outside of school, she expresses the desire to display her pieces in various galleries.
Volunteer to give love, receive thanks Chelsea Li Thanksgiving is down the block, and families are preparing lavish dinners for reunions. To be warm and cozy under a protected roof, stuffed with a pumpkin pie after dinner, and sitting next to loved ones is a gift. Not many can afford to have bread on the table, or are even fortunate enough to stay in a house. As people set their tables with lighted candles, the homeless wonder if they can survive the crisp cold night half-full. The homeless accounts for runaway teenagers, mentally-disabled adults, LGBT+ members who have been disowned by their families, veterans, the unemployed, and much more. Let the homeless community know that they exist in busy downtown LA by volunteering. Thanksgiving Volunteer Spots Los Angeles Regional Food Bank LA Food Bank, 2825 East 54th Street, Vernon, CA 90058 (323)234-3030 The Mission of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank collects donated products from the government, supermarkets, and companies. Products are prepared and then distributed to people in need throughout Los Angeles county. *Minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old. Link for minors: <https:// www.lafoodbank.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/10/release.pdf> Midnight Mission 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, California 90014 (213)624-9258 The Midnight Mission helps people of all ages get back on their feet and
become productive in their community. Services and facilities are offered to drug addicts, alcoholics, and those in poverty. Food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene and medical assistance are prepared to support them since 1914. Fred Jordan Missions 445 Towne Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013-2124 (626)915-1981 Fred Jordan Mission, located on the corner of Town Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, lies on Skid Row. Surrounding the area is the misplaced and outcasts of our society. However, every Thanksgiving Day, Jordan and his wife welcome volunteers to help out behind the kitchen and pass out meals in front of the streets.
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THE MATADOR
SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
2016-17 Fall Sports Scoreboard BOYS FOOTBALL
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
CO-ED CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS TENNIS
VARSITY 10/14 @ Alhambra 10/21 @ Schurr 10/28 @ Montebello 11/4 vs Mark Keppel
VARSITY 10/18 vs Bell Gardens 10/20 @ Mark Keppel 10/25 vs Montebello
VARSITY 11/3 @ Legg Lake
VARSITY 10/11 @ Mark Keppel 10/13 vs Montebello 10/18 @ Alhambra 10/20 vs Schurr
12-6 11-7 17-1 16-2
L L L L
JV 10/11 @ Mark Keppel 10/13 vs Montebello 10/18 @ Alhambra 10/20 vs Schurr
12-6 14-4 10-8 15-3
L W L W
FROSH 10/13 vs Alhambra 10/20 vs Schurr 10/27 vs Montebello 11/3 @ Mark Keppel
22-6 63-7 45-0 25-14
21-14 27-6 47-12 32-0
L L L W
L L L W
JV 10/18 vs Bell Gardens 10/20 @ Mark Keppel 10/25 vs Montebello FRESHMAN 10/20 @ Mark Keppel 10/25 vs Montebello
3-1 3-1 3-2 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0
L L L L W W L L
JV 11/3 @ Legg Lake
FROSH 11/3 @ Legg Lake
(B)
3rd
(G)
5th
(B)
2nd
(G)
6th
(B)
6th
(G)
5th
Ha, Lau shatter shyness through sports
Photo courtesy to Marcela Negrete
Photo courtesy to Roman Hernandez
S unny C hen
Chelsea Li
As a student who had always wanted to prioritize her studies before all else during high school, senior Phuong Ha never could have imagined herself finishing her second year of varsity tennis as one of San Gabriel High School’s key tennis players. The quiet and individually-played sport, however, seemed to go hand-in-hand with Ha’s reserved demeanor. What she did not realize when joining the girls tennis team as a freshman was that the sport would teach her far more than what was discussed inside classroom walls. “Like any other sport, tennis is a time commitment, but it is an adventure. The greatest lesson that I have learned from playing tennis is to not care about what others have to say about me and just focus on myself,” Ha said. “Since tennis is such a quiet game, the players can easily hear what others are saying about them. Once you play enough, you learn to focus on only your game and disregard all the extra noise.” These lessons weren’t learned through simple victories, unfortunately. Ha quickly realized that the biggest challenge she faced on the court was one that she produced herself, long before the first serve of the game was even made. “Going into a match, my mindset wasn’t on playing to win but playing [to not] lose. I was so afraid of making mistakes that I would overthink every single shot,” Ha said. “To overcome my biggest challenge, I stopped overthinking, and I just went for the ball. I stopped trying to be this perfect tennis player that my mind created, and I just had fun.” The sport had also introduced her to friends whom she shares four years of memories with, teammates that she otherwise would have never met in high school. “My fondest memories in tennis [were] the time I spent with my teammates. From complaining about how [tan] we are to singing on the bus, I would give the world to experience that all over again,” Ha said. Now that Ha has recently finished her final season of tennis at San Gabriel, she can adamantly say that her overall experience has been bittersweet. “There were moments where it became too much, and all I wanted to do is give up,” Ha said. “However, there are times when I wished time could stop, so I [would] enjoy the moment just a little bit longer.”
As the sun shines and releases its scorching heat from the sky, sweat drips down senior Brandon Lau’s forehead as he keeps running. When the droplets of rain get in the way of his eyesight and embed themselves along the beads of sweat, he never thinks of stopping. Throughout Lau’s high school years, his passion for running has made him less shy and awkward, opening more opportunities for himself. From being in cross country to track and field, he finds comfort in seeing his teammates and coaches. “My team motivates me to keep running,” Lau said. “I have also received a lot of advice from my coach, which I am grateful for because I would have never become who I am as a runner today if he did not help me. I get and share advice with my fellow captain, Carlos. The team is basically my family away from home.” Lau has teammates to look up to and teammates to practice with on a normal basis. However, once the race begins and he sprints his way forward, he is basically on his own. Cheers and noises are blocked out of his head as he steps in front of the white line. The only thing on his mind is to not slow down. Lau’s perseverance to finish was shown during his freshman year. He injured himself while racing, but he did not want to quit in the middle of the race. “I tried pushing on through pain, but that [did] not help at all,” Lau said. “[It] made me feel hopeless, especially when [I knew I] could have won the race, but ended up on the back because [I was] suffering from pain.” Now as a senior, Lau is more experienced, providing his underclassmen with consultation and guidance because he does not wish for others to encounter the same pain he did. Participation in both cross country and track and field has taught Lau how to push onward whenever it gets hard and competitive. On the track, he is a fit captain and reliable teammate. Off the track, he knows how to confront challenges as difficult as his 800-yard dash mid-distance runs.
Last girls volleyball game ends in bittersweet loss Michelle Ho The last volleyball game of the season was just a mere break from competition for the volleyball underclassmen, but to the graduating class, it was just that--their final volleyball game, an end of an era. Feeling a mix of emotions, senior Amy Tang started off the first set of the game with a serve. “Being the first to serve in my last game meant so much more to me than anyone would understand,” Tang said. “It finally occurred to me that this was going to be my last game.” Tang began the score with 1-0. Roars from the crowd and the feeling of anticipation urged the players to continue playing on. As if moments passed by in seconds, Montebello took the lead of 15-13 despite senior Vicky Ong’s ace on the other team. However, by the end of the first set, the team was not able to acquire the win―the opposition won, 25-17. Montebello kicked off the second set, creating a different attitude. After the first serve was completed, the San Gabriel High School’s girls varsity volleyball team seemed to be a mere whistle away from winning the set. At 24-22, a timeout was
called and the teams from each opposing side gathered to hear the words of their coaches. The opposing team managed to tie the score up to 24-24. The game’s intensity increased as another timeout was called right before the Matadors could win the set. The team was able to win the third set by a score of 25-15; a minute was taken for the athletes to switch sides and have a little talk with their coaches. The fourth set started several moments before junior Christine Doan completed her serve. Through their teamwork, the team easily made the first six points. However, the final score of the set was a win for Montebello, 25-21. It was the fifth set when bursts of energy exploded throughout the players as they realized that it was their last chance to win. With a close effort, the girls varsity volleyball team was unable to win their last game, with Montebello’s score of 15-13 in their last set. “This last game taught me that life is full of obstacles,” junior Rebecca Ho said. “I realized that this loss just adds to a list of milestones that I had to go through and inevitably completed. I will always remember this game over the other because it’s the last time we [the volleyball team] get to play as a team, a family.”
Photo by Michelle Ho
Senior Vicky Ong goes up for a s p i k e a s h e r t e a m m a t e s c o v e r h e r.
SPORTS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
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Matadors defeat Aztecs in Homecoming game Ki m Ta With only eight minutes and nine seconds left in the third quarter, the score snapped from 14-6 into 19-14 as Matadors hollered and screamed in joy. It was the game of the season. The Homecoming game against Mark Keppel High School on Nov. 4 marked the end of the varsity football for the year. There was a crowd of all ages, both familiar and unfamiliar to San Gabriel, and a Homecoming court of 10 seniors awaiting their time in the spotlight. The evening commenced with grand performances by cheer, Choreo, Colorguard, drill, and Marching Band. “I would say probably [that] performing my last homecoming routine with Choreo [is my most memorable moment],” Homecoming princess senior Mia Rodriguez said. Then, as the scoreboard timer ticked, people filed into the football stadium, the sound of footsteps ringing across the top of the bleachers. One by one, every varsity football member ran down the steps to the field as the crowd’s roars, yells, and cheers amplified. As the first quarter began to settle in, the Mark Keppel Aztecs scored after their third down, making the score 6-0. Despite the score of 8-0, the Matadors attempted to attack. With seven minutes and seven seconds remaining in the second quarter, wide receiver senior Juan Coronado added six points to the scoreboard. But before halftime and the Homecoming king and queen announcements, the score settled at 14-12 after another touchdown made by Coronado; Aztecs held a small lead. Outside linebacker senior Joseph Vega who is the second in the league in tackles gave his opinion on the transition of the game from second to third quarter. “On defensive we started out slow; it was just miscommunication,” Vega said. “When we came [to] third quarter, we got our minds right and we just balled out after that as a unit. It made our seniors feel good as seniors because we got one more win, improving from last year. Progress is progress, that’s one quote I live by.” Marching Band gave the crowd a spectacle during halftime. Then the moment came, after Homecoming court was announced—the Homecoming king and queen were revealed.
Photo by Sunny Chen
F re s h m a n J o s e p h D o l l o w a y r u n s f o r a t o u c h d o w n a s a n A z t e c a t t e m p t s t o t a c k l e h i m . The suspense passed, and seniors Winston Hau and Cassidy Pham were announced as the 2016 Homecoming king and queen. In the third quarter, both Matadors and Aztecs displayed plenty of tackles, fouls, and interceptions. Then, the Matadors both on the field and in the crowd looked up high into the picturesque night sky as the scoreboard timer counts down from eight minutes and nine seconds they witnessed a touchdown made by quarterback junior Brandon Nguyen that gave Matadors a lead of 19-14.
“[Scoring] was no big deal for me, personally,” Nguyen said. “[But scoring] got everyone hyped up.” At six minutes and 44 seconds in the fourth and final quarter, the Matadors managed to keep up their diligence, resulting in a raised score of 25-14 due to a touchdown by freshman Joseph Dolloway. Everyone was on the edge of the their seats with the possibility of a secured victory all the way until the end of the game. It was then and only then, at the ten second mark, that the Matadors came out on top—the final score 25-14.
Interclass dodgeball game raises school spirit T h o m a s Wa n g A lone figure stood in front as the other seniors backed away from the incoming volley of dodgeballs. Fearlessly, senior George Rodriguez prepared for the juniors’ attack. Catching one ball earned him cheers from the crowd. Rodriguez then caught another. Finally, the crowd went ballistic after the third catch. In a display of dominance, Rodriguez cemented the seniors’ lead in the second round of dodgeball. In a joint effort by Senior Class Council (SCC) and Junior Class Council to raise school spirit, a dodgeball game between seniors and juniors took place after school in the Matador Arena on Oct. 21. SCC member and referee Kylie Tran moderated the rounds. Due to fewer juniors participating, some seniors were shifted to the juniors team in order to balance the teams. Despite some early technical hiccups, the first round commenced with a single ball planted in the center of the arena, and the seniors were able to take possession of the ball. Cautious, they passed the ball around before launching the first shot. A miss. The pace of the game continued on this reserved trajectory, as two more balls were introduced. Both teams followed a similar game plan. They backed up and dodged the balls. Once all the balls were collected, the teams rocketed them simultaneously in a volley. Although methodical, both teams were not able to eliminate any of the opposition. Finally, senior Christopher Bell was able to eliminate junior Christian Le. The member count on both sides then began to steadily drop, but the action was not quite there. Eventually, the match was stopped in a stalemate by Tran. In the second round, four balls were lined up in the center of the arena. When Tran gave the signal, the seniors bolted toward the balls, taking advantage of the juniors’ slow start. With sole possession of the balls,
the seniors launched their initial attack. They eventually knocked out juniors, Peter Khant and Christian Le. In response, the juniors mounted a counterattack and hit two seniors, Winston Hau and Vincent Nguyen. Yet after the hectic beginning and after players began to trickle out, the tempo of the game slowed down to the same methodical approach of the previous bout. The seniors were at an advantage. At the front, Rodriguez was able to single handily neutralize the juniors’ offense. He was able to catch over three balls and deflect even more. “[My mindset] was to get everyone out,” Rodriguez said. Playing for the junior side, senior David Auyeung displayed his impressive agility, as he was able to dodge the focus fire of the seniors. However, his impressive performance was unable to save his team. Three people eventually remained on the juniors court. In a quick one-two combination, the seniors knocked out two, leaving junior Randy Liu alone on the court. Despite dodging all attacks until Tran called the round, the seniors were the clear victor. In the third round, the juniors were able to remedy their slow start and clashed with the seniors for ball possession. In this chaos, both teams bled players. However, the juniors were able to edge out a slight advantage. Due to superior catching, the juniors were able to strangle out the seniors, and they won the third round after eliminating every single senior, avenging their second round defeat. Afterwards, interclass matches were held. The winning senior team took on the juniors. However, there was no definitive end to the last game because the game was called off due to on-court conflicts. According to Tran, there will be different games each quarter between the classes with dodgeball being the first. Once Freshman Class Council is established, these interclass games aim to incorporate all grade levels.
Photo by Sydney Trieu
The senior team waits for senior Kylie Tran to start the match, eyeing the dodgeball.
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
FEATURES
HOMECoMING 2016: Dreams Do Come True in New Orleans Left: Homecoming princes (from left to right): Samson Tran, Tom Cheah, Winston Hau, Daniel Phan, Chi Hoang and Homecoming princesses (from left to right): Vicky Ong, Cassidy Pham, Victoria Vu, Mia Rodriguez, and Anney Lin gather for a group photo of the Homecoming Court. Right: Winston Hau and Cassidy Pham pose together after being presented as Homecoming King and Queen.
Top Left: Seniors Juan Coronado, Emanuel Hernandez, and Cristhoper Cruz place their hands over their heart as band plays the American National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Top Right: Senior band members Dion Jiao and Lisa Nguyen perform their dance “JuJu On Dat Beat” during halftime at the Homecoming Game. Top Left: “I was really surprised because I was hugging my sister beforehand, and she wished me luck,” Homecoming Queen Cassidy Pham said. “I turned to look at her reaction first before anyone else’s.” Top Right: “I opened the book expecting for a blank, so when I read the golden letters ‘king,’ I was ecstatic [and] the cheers of the crowds made the night alive,” Homecoming King Winston Hau said. Bottom Left: The Matador football team lunges to bring down the Aztec runner to prevent him from scoring.
Photos by Sunny Chen and photos courtesy of Furious Photography