FOCUS
“What does poor look like?” pg.6-7
LIFE& ART
SPORTS
“Cinespia: outdoor mov ie showings” pg.8
“Jones promoted to director” pg. 10
THE MATADOR
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/SEPTEMBER 17, 2015/ VOLUME 61 / ISSUE 1
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.COM/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
New classes adopted due to student interest K a t h e ri n e H o o n g The 2015-16 year brings new classes such as AP Spanish Literature, AP Art Studio/ Drawing, and Video Game Design to students of San Gabriel High School. Spanish teacher Eliana Deniz has introduced AP Spanish Literature to avid students who desire to continue learning the language after Spanish 5/6. Deniz has been collaborating with her mentor from BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment) since 2012 and has urged for an AP Spanish Literature class in order to challenge students to learn how to speak and understand Spanish eloquently. Although the making of the class began slowly, with the help of AP Spanish teacher Victor Garcia, Deniz was able to scout enough potential students for the literature class. Like any AP Lit class, AP Spanish Literature focuses on analytical writing and critical reading. Students are required to read a variety of texts ranging from poems to novels, such as Don Quixote, and are expected to understand the historical, political, and cultural context.
Photo by Sydney Trieu
With the same objective of creating a new level of difficulty, AP Art Studio, taught by Francesca Jung, challenges students to create a compilation of 24 art pieces that shows their understanding of the principles and elements of design as well as their creativity. There are three categories in the portfolio: concentration, breadth, and quality. Students have complete freedom to choose and mix mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, color pencils, etc. Although AP Art Studio is a class, there are no actual art lessons because the students are expected to be already well versed in drawing and painting. As students start working on their art pieces, Jung gives help to students who need critique, advice, or opinions. Jung believes that a class like AP Art Studio is necessary in San Gabriel. “There are many skilled and talented students at San Gabriel High School who do not have the opportunity to explore their artistic creativity and hone their skills,” Jung said. Since the beginning of Jung’s career at San Gabriel, Jung has emphasized the need for an AP Art Studio class and made it her goal to start one. There were not enough students who had signed up for the class until this year. Likewise, Qui Nguy began the new Video Game Design class to let students explore their imagination as they learn how to create games on a program called Construct 2. Nguy focuses on teaching students how to create the foundation of a video game, which consists of the mechanics, graphics, music, layout, character design, and plot. After creating the basis for the game, students then move on to creating the actual game itself. In groups of four to five, students each have a certain job, from pitching ideas on how to advertise their game to coming up with a game concept.
Junior Grace Li works on her piece for AP Art Studio. Li’s concentration is “fantasy houses.”
continued on page 2
Awnings constructed, provide shade
Photo by Sydney Trieu
Students congregate beneath the roofs while waiting for the bus. Vivian Wong Heat waves and rising temperatures can affect students exposed to the sun. Recently, the school has added roofs to provide shade for those who take the bus. Assistant Principal of Activities Matthew Dultz mentioned that the construction of the roofs was an idea made by the district’s construction committee before his arrival to San Gabriel. The purpose of the roofs is for students “to be protected from the sun and rain.” Construction of the roofs began prior to the beginning of the school year and was completed on Sept. 8. “I think it’s really a great addition. We’ve been waiting a long time to get the roofs. We were in the process of getting them approved,” Campus Supervisor Jeff De Salvo said. Many students expressed appreciation for the new roofs. “I like the new roofs because there is shade and we do not have to be in the sun. It’s easier to know which line to go to, [and] it makes everything organized,” freshman Connie Moondragon said. Although there were positive feedback about the roofs, sophomore Henry Nguyen believes that the new roofs are useless. “The roofs are not useful, and I would’ve wanted the money to be spent on new books rather than the roofs,” Nguyen said. Future renovations for the school are currently being discussed. “There is always something to better the school. The garden area is going to be redone again for the fall and spring, [and] with winter on set, the facilities are going to prepare the school to hold down for the possible El Niño season,” De Salvo said. The roofs will provide shade and shelter as the California drought drags on and hot weather persists.
San Gabriel High School ‘beats the odds,’ places ninth in Newsweek national ranking K i m Ta a n d E ri n Tru o n g As of 2015, San Gabriel High School has placed ninth on Newsweek’s “Beating the Odds” list, which is a category that they consider when ranking the nation’s top high schools. “Beating the Odds” identifies high schools in the nation that excel in helping students overcome economic disadvantages and prepare them for higher education. This achievement was first acknowledged at the Aug. 25 Alhambra Unified School District board meeting, as well as during the Aug. 28 pep rally. In addition to being ninth nationally, San Gabriel is also California’s highest ranked school in “Beating the Odds” with a graduation rate of 98.5 percent, college-going rate of 96.9, and a comparative poverty rate of 87.1 percent. Because of widespread financial strain amongst the student body, San Gabriel provides various services and programs to ease monetary needs, such as fee waivers for AP exams and the SAT and reduced or free lunches for students who apply for them. College and career preparatory classes also help to ready students for life after high school. Additionally, San Gabriel encourages support from external sources, such as Matadors’ families and the sur-
rounding community, as well as organizations that encourage or aid students with college or career opportunities. “I think what we’ve been able to do is allow the community to be able to come in and support the students as they need,” Principal Debbie Stone said. “We kind [of] break those walls. We want any and all support, especially towards college. It makes sense that we want a college going culture.” Stone attributed San Gabriel’s high graduation and college-attendance rates not only to its provided services and programs, but also as “a testament” to the efforts of students. “The students are truly why [Newsweek is] giving us the award. They should own it and be proud,” Stone said. “There’s that recognition for their work. They’re surpassing a lot of expectations and beliefs from people.” Stone also expressed belief that the strong relationship between the school and its students helped contribute to its high ranking. “There’s that welcoming feeling. Many students feel that they belong.” Stone said. “I think there’s things you have to be on campus to feel. The connections to college and careers that are happening; it’s all those extracurriculars, all those efforts to engage the students.”
Photo by Newsweek CC/BY
Newsweek website shows San Gabriel’s statistics and ranking in the nation.
NEWS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
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New classes adopted due to student interest continued from page 1 At the end of the year, the students are allowed to participate and submit their creation to an annual competition held by Construct 2. Tiffany Truong, senior and Video Game Design student, expressed her thoughts regarding the new classes. “I haven’t really heard much about AP Spanish Lit, but I really love how AP Art Studio and Video Game Design are bringing a new element of creativity to the table,” Truong said. “They allow students to pursue their passions while still helping them prepare for the future.” The teachers have expressed their hopes for their new classes, wishing that the classes will continue in the future as they expand and become a part of San Gabriel.
Graphic by Christy Deng
SUMMER TIMELINE
Photos by Sydney Trieu / Graphic by Cassandra Chen
School prepares for WASC accreditation visit C hel sea H uynh In preparation for an accreditation visit from the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) visiting committee in March next year, San Gabriel High School’s staff, teachers, and administrators have been meeting during minimum days to discuss student work, teaching strategies, leadership, and data. WASC is an accrediting association that collaborates with state governments and divisions of the federal government such as the Department of Education in order to align the accreditation process with the planning process for California public schools required by the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), a document that outlines a school’s goals. Every year, parents, students, teachers, and administration work together to update these goals and come up with SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes) in order to establish student achievement and make sure students are college and career ready. According to <www.acswasc.org>, an accreditation is a “voluntary dual-purpose process that schools must be worthy of the trust placed in them to provide high-quality learning and clearly demonstrate continual self-improvement.” An accredited school provides quality education to its students and is committed to improvement. WASC awards five types of accreditation, with the highest award being a six-year term with no review. “The purpose of WASC is to make sure that the school’s functioning the way that it should to help students achieve. They’re looking at all different aspects of the school to make sure that we’re doing everything we need to have students graduate high school and be college and career ready,” Assistant Principal of Instruction Jeannie Gutierrez said. In the accreditation process, schools must participate in an intensive study of all aspects of their school to ensure that students are receiving the highest quality of education. Afterwards, the school is required to write a self-study report. The WASC visiting committee will then visit the school for evaluation. Because WASC is self-study, which means that it focuses on self improvement, students, parents, and teachers are asked to fill out surveys throughout the year for feedback on how the school can improve. WASC co-leaders Karen Johnston and Lu Ann Haslam put together
minimum days for the school staff to discuss about WASC. Teachers and administrators are put into focus groups facilitated by chosen group leaders to evaluate student progress and classroom teaching. According to Johnston, WASC is a “continuous cycle.” “It is really never supposed to end because our school community is always trying to reflect, collaborate, and use data to help us better meet the needs of our students. We hope to earn a WASC accreditation of six years (with a three-year mid-term visit),” Johnston said. There will be a WASC student meeting on Sept. 21.
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
NEWS
Lack of zero periods, TA classes compromises student schedules B ri t n ey Ti ng and Lu Yue Wang Students at San Gabriel High School were subject to major class compromises with the removal of most zero period classes this year that had been previously available. Zero period classes that were removed include regular and Honors Trigonometry/ Pre-Calculus, P.E. 1/2 and 5-8, AP Chemistry, and Economics. The current spread of zero period classes include Video Game Design, World History, AP Psychology, Advanced Band, and Teacher’s Assistant (TA). According to counselor Solinet Wong, sophomores and juniors have been the most affected by these changes. Students who wanted a zero period class were required to reconsider which classes they should take. Difficult decisions were made, with many students having to sacrifice one class for another. “There was a class I wanted to take, but if I were to take it, I’d have to sacrifice another one of my classes, which I didn’t want to do [either]. Somehow, I managed to get a completely different class as well,” sophomore Kathy Quach said. Some students pointed out some possibly beneficial effects of the lack of a zero period class. Ambitious students who want to take extra classes by utilizing zero period may overestimate the amount of work they can handle and the reduced sleep that comes with it. Limiting the choices of zero periods may compel them to reconsider and perhaps save their otherwise lost sleep. However, other students argue that people who choose to take a zero period may already understand that there will be extra work and adjust their work and sleep habits accordingly. “Personally, I think it’s a bad idea for the school to limit our students to what classes we should take because it’s not their responsibility,” junior Raymond Hu said. “It’s our choice to take whatever classes we want.” Despite how inconvenient the insufficiency of zero period classes sounds, the students of San Gabriel are not severely affected by the curriculum change, with only 5.3 percent of surveyed sophomores and juniors stating that they are affected by the lack of zero periods. The prospect of adding more zero period class options next year still remains uncertain, but students who want more classes make the most of what they have this year and wait for new opportunities.
Anthony Yang When students want to help their teachers, they have the option of applying for a Teacher’s Assistant (TA) class, where students assist their teachers with duties ranging from running errands to sorting papers. However, beginning this year, there have been some claims by teachers about the lack of TAs available for their classes, creating a higher demand for TAs and the inability to help teachers perform certain tasks. TA positions being limited was not without reason. According to the Assistant Principal of Guidance, John Scanlan, having a large amount of TAs tarnishes the quality of one’s senior year. “I went to a UC review conference a few weeks ago, and they told us what they look for in student transcripts [is] the quality of senior year programs and studies,” Scanlan said. “We thought we were doing the [seniors] a disservice by putting them in TA positions.” For the 2015-16 school year, a new TA contract was drafted. Changes were made, such as prohibiting students from grading assignments or entering grades. Scanlan advised these changes due to former violations of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants rights of confidentiality to students. “We looked at how TAs were utilized and found that we could have several FERPA violations,” Scanlan said. “Grades are your information. You have the right to keep the information to yourself, and when you have a TA inputting those grades into Powerschool, that is a FERPA violation.” While those changes were made to protect student rights, some teachers feel that it leaves the TAs with less work to do in their TA period, and teachers with more work to do in addition to teaching their classes. Math teacher Sheree Mar feels the restrictions keep TAs from doing the tasks she needs to be completed. “I want more TAs to help me in class, but they aren’t allowed to do much of anything anymore,” Mar said. “They can’t help me grade homework or input grades anymore.” The new changes will remain in place for the remainder of the semester until the TA contract expires in December. When TAs renew their contracts upon returning to school from winter break, the changes will most likely still apply to them for the rest of next semester.
Math classes adjusted to Common Core standards To m C h e a h As the 2015-16 school year enters its second month, San Gabriel High School continues to adapt to the Common Core State Standards Initiative for mathematics. The state of California adopted the standards on Aug. 2, 2010 and began implementing them during the 2014-15 school year, making the 2015-16 school year the second year of implementation. This academic measure aims to create uniform educational standards across the nation and better prepare graduating high school students for college programs or joining the workforce. According to the California Department of Education, the Common Core mathematics curriculum revolves around teaching students certain essential techniques such as problem solving, abstract reasoning, precision, structure, and strategic tool usage. The old system of classes, which included Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Trigonometry/ Pre-Calculus is being phased out and replaced by Accelerated or Integrated Math I, II, and III. These new courses combine techniques from the different courses of the old system. After completing Math III, students are able to advance to subjects such as Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, Statistics, or Calculus. Teachers have expressed mixed sentiments about having to adjust their lessons to comply with Common Core standards. Some raised concerns about the Common Core level of rigor or the types of textbooks being used in classrooms. “I’m concerned that the students will [find that] the
level of rigor they are offered [is not enough]. Even Honors Algebra II for certain kids is not rigorous enough,” math teacher Harmonie Bassette said. Math teacher Nicolas Nguyen worries that the new textbooks “lack foundational math” and disservice students who “are a bit weak on foundational math, like [basic] skills and mechanics.” Despite their concerns, Bassette and Nguyen also enjoy some aspects of Common Core. “It is going from teacher-centered to studentcentric,” Bassette said. “This is the aspect [of] Common Core that I really like, and [also] that it’s very application oriented.” Nguyen thinks that overall “Common Core has good intentions.” He states that it has not changed his teaching style in a major way. “It just pushes me to apply more of what I’ve already been [teaching] in terms of connecting the classroom and learning theory with outside classroom applications,” Nguyen said. For teachers like Bassette, Common Core can also be another tool to encourage students to explore mathematics and sciences beyond the high school level. “I’m hoping that more students see the relevance of math in a technology-rich world. For kids to say that you don’t need math past adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing is no longer true,” Bassette said. “You really do need to understand exponential growth and decay, especially if you’re going to into the sciences. And I personally do want our students to consider the sciences. That is where the push is. That is my hope.”
Speech and Debate team prepares for school year with new coach
Photo by Sydney Trieu
To prepare for upcoming competitions, novice Speech and Debate members approach a calendar with competition dates. Shir ley Dinh After an eventful summer for the San Gabriel High School Speech and Debate team, the students begin the school year with high spirits and high hopes for future events. With a new coach and a new room in the S-building, the students of the team prepare for upcoming tournaments and competitions. Some students will be participating in their first tournament on Oct. 10. The tournament, Package Deal, will be held at Arcadia High School where novices have the opportunity to experience entering a real competition, as well as try out different events such as extemporaneous and impromptu speeches. “There are a lot of different events for different types of people, so it’s a lot fun,” freshman Derek Lew said. “Speech and Debate [has] a enjoyable environment.” Another tournament, Fall Novice, will be held on Nov. 14 and will involve both novices and junior varsity members competing in their chosen events. “I have faith that we will do well this year. We have dedicated junior varsity, varsity members, and a helpful coach who are [all] willing to help out the novices,” junior Mei Chau said. “Due to the small group of novices, we don’t have to worry about them not getting enough help.” Jessica Sandercock, the new coach, states that she wants the team to compete and eventually qualify for state and nationals. This year, the state competition will be in San Francisco while nationals will be in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sandercock has faith in the students and believes that their positive attitude will get them far. “I think they are super smart and most of them have competed before, so it’s a matter of not wanting to get in their way and [being] able to promote their success as much and help them along the way,” Sandercock said. “They have all been super welcoming and really great to me in trying to get my [bearings] straight.”
OPINIONS “Yang” in there
Anthony Yang “Reinventing myself” When I received my transcript during my junior year, my class rank jumped out at me the most. “158,” it said. Initially, I was perfectly fine with my class rank. It could have been worse. While some students were in a bit of distress for not making it in the top 10 percent of the class, I rolled my eyes and scoffed. However, I began to wonder if I really applied myself in high school. I did relatively average on my tests and turned in a late assignment or two. I would get just above a 3.0 and I would be content. Sophomore year hit me in the face with a 0-6 period schedule. I took AP World History, where I constantly succumbed to the infamous “AP Thursday.” At the same time, Trigonometry was a different language to me. Getting my first C on a test crushed me. Even though I knew I needed help with study habits, I never bothered to seek help, which is one of my biggest regrets. Another regret I have is that I didn’t bother getting involved in service clubs like National Honor Society, Interact, and Red Cross. I was eligible to join National Honor Society, and there weren’t really any requirements to join Interact and Red Cross. The reason why I didn’t join was out of laziness. I had the grades, recommendations, and service hours for National Honor Society, but I didn’t have the drive to finish the essay. Not only that, I didn’t even have the desire to walk to the classrooms where the club meetings were held. Constant stories and comparisons from my mom about students at her workplace getting excellent grades while focusing on varsity sports and having a social life and a job nearly drove me crazy throughout my summer. I never did sports, nor did I have a real social life and a job, and I had average grades. It made me look at myself and my high school life with disgust. It took the entire summer for me to realize that I had been a slacker throughout my high school career and that I could never get that time back. I had three years to get awesome grades and look like I meant something in the faces of university admissions officers. I mean, getting a weighted GPA of 3.5 is nice, but I knew that I kept slacking off in the process. The amount of time I spent slacking off could have been used to study, do my homework, and possibly receive better grades. I knew that I could have received top notch grades with just some more effort. In fact, being in my senior year, I look back and wonder, ‘Why it was hard to get at least a B on my Pre-Calculus tests? Why did I always fall victim to the infamous AP Thursday?’ I know that if I could go back in time, I would fix everything, but I must go back with my current mindset. By the time senior year came, I set very high expectations for myself. I decided that I would get at least a 4.0 for the first semester. I developed a strong drive to study hard and fill up my report cards with A’s. Of course, I was supposed to do all that in the last three years and I knew that. However, I lacked the drive to do so. My drive to strive for a high GPA is to end high school knowing that I have received at least a 4.0. It may be too late to make a strong impression on admissions officers, but at this point, I’m not doing this for them anymore. I’m definitely doing this for myself and I’m truly committed to achieving my goal.
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
4
Trump fails to fairly speak of immigrants Mari o Mand uj ano Highly controversial and unfiltered opinions regarding immigrants exclusively from Mexico were recently expressed by real estate developer, reality star, and 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump—which brought me to ponder the logic behind his unyielding beliefs. In one of his statements, Trump said that Mexico was sending its “rapists” and “criminals” to the U.S, insinuating that the Mexican government intentionally amassed its undesireables to direct them across the northern border. According to an original analysis of data from the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) from <immigrationpolicy.org>, roughly 1.6 percent of immigrant males ages 1839 are incarcerated, compared to the 3.3 percent of native-born Americans. Generally speaking, people do not immigrate to commit crimes; they immigrate to escape from poor living conditions—most commonly from violence or lack of a maintainable source of income in their homeland. Also, a study conducted by the American Immigration Council declared that immigrants are less likely to be criminals than the native-born Americans. Allow me to put the issue into perspective. Obama has deported slightly over two million people during his years in office, igniting trepidation within the hearts of those who are undocumented. When an individual who has spent his lifetime earnings and possibly witnessed horrendous experiences to reach the promised land is aware that he may potentially be deported for any reason, he will take exceptional measures to avoid it, which would reasonably include a refusal to be involved in any criminal
activity. Thus, it would be logical that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes. “Neither I nor my parents are documented. We came to this country to succeed and nothing will take away that desire. We are not criminals, we are certainly not rapists; we are simply human beings with a dream,” senior Omar Garcia said. The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, grants citizenship to all people born or naturalized within U.S. borders. The billionaire, Trump, expressed his disagreement with the Amendment, deeming it “unconstitutional.” He proposed a mass deportation of millions of immigrants along with their nativeborn children, despite the status of their citizenship. In light of that, perhaps the deportation should start with Trump’s wife, Melania Knauss, who was born in Sevnica, Slovenia. Not only does Trump plan to deport millions, but he also has a passionate ambition to “inexpensively build a great wall at the southern border” and have the Mexican government pay for it. Assuming that Trump does become president and manages to squirm past the slim chance of Mexico paying for the construction of this “great wall,” what is to prevent the trafficking of drugs and people via tunnels? To strip someone, let alone millions, of their dreams and aspirations is an unpardonable deed. Trump’s beliefs contradict Thomas Jefferson’s stated inalienable God-given rights to all human beings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Though the Electoral College system prevails in the United States, I strongly encourage all eligible voters in the next election to vote for a candidate much more considerate than Donald Trump. Illustration by Lu Yue Wang
Media craze turns presidential elections into joke S yd ney Tri eu The year is 2020, and Kanye West is now the President of the United States. First Lady Kim Kardashian announces that she will introduce an official clothing line that includes scandalous dresses that everyone—yes, everyone—in the country must wear. Kanye begins enforcing “Three Minutes Kanye,” where everyone must listen to his rap songs at least fifty times a day, with no exceptions. A year into Kanye’s term, 20-year-old Deez Nuts decides that he has had enough and rallies support to overthrow Kanye’s authoritarian regime. Kanye is outraged. A second civil war erupts. The world is in chaos. That was a joke. Do you know what else is a joke? The presidential elections. Admittedly, such a statement is direct and harsh, but the 2016 presidential race is honestly becoming comparable to a celebrity gossip forum. You have Twitter photoshop wars between Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, people declaring for the 2020 elections left and right, satirical applications from 15-year-olds, and Donald Trump. What is there to take seriously? Between the media and the rest of society, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to see the whole electoral process as a joke, a farce for petty entertainment instead of the crucial government function it is supposed to be. “There are a wide variety of [opinions]. The adults [I know] are pretty absorbed in the discussions, [presidential] statements, and policies,” said s e n i o r M a r y Tr a n , p re s i d e n t o f the Student Advocates for Voter E m p o w e r m e n t ( S AV E ) c l u b . “Some of the candidates are taking things seriously. But [others], intentionally or unintentionally, based on their representations, [are] making a big joke out of this [2016 election].”
But the real problem is not Kanye West or celebrities. “Arnold Schwarzenegger proved to us that celebrities can be good candidates [in the elections],” Eric Hendrickson, the adviser of SAVE, said. “Not necessarily good leaders, but good candidates.” The issue is the fact that billions of dollars are being spent to run these presidential campaigns—and for what? “[The] ‘wow’ factor, [instead of] substance, seems to be more important [in elections], and [candidates] pander to people who believe in that,” Hendrickson said. “[Candidates] feel like they need to do something outlandish to stand out.” In 2012, an estimated 57.5 percent of eligible citizens voted in the presidential elections, dropping from 62.8 percent in 2008. With declining participation in the polls, it is only natural for candidates to want to garner as much attention as they can, no matter the means. However, this poses a question—what does it really mean to win the presidential race? Does it mean you were the most qualified candidate? Or does it mean you were the most entertaining? Jokes and Internet memes aside, the presidential elections are a serious matter. The “what ifs” could become a reality. What if Donald Trump becomes president? What if Kanye West actually decides to run and wins, come 2020? What will happen to the country then? Even if the 2020 elections are five years away, our attitude towards the upcoming 2016 elections can have far-reaching effects. Nothing is wrong with the occasional pun or stand-up comedian, but remember, the nation’s future is at stake. We may all joke now, but the better question is, who will have the last laugh? If anything, should the country go down in flames under rapper Waka Flocka Flame, well, at least you can say you tried. Illustration by Emmanuel Maresca
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
OPINIONS
Seniors deserve more consideration S t a c y C h a u a n d I l e a n a P erez The beginning of the school year should mean time for new opportunities, teachers, classes, and identification (ID) cards for everyone. But for seniors, this was not the case. Instead of receiving new ID cards, it was decided that the entire senior class would be using their picture from the previous year. In addition to the issue concerning the IDs, seniors have to pay in order to have their pictures appear in the yearbook, while the underclassmen are given their place in the yearbook for free. This, of course, has angered many seniors, especially the ones that are unable to afford the prices. “I think it is dumb because it’s our last year. We should not have to pay to be in the yearbook. We’re seniors,” senior Daisy Cruz Robles said. “I’m not taking my senior portrait. I would rather go somewhere else and pay to take pictures and actually get pictures.” The problem is not just the fact that only seniors were impacted; it is how seniors are the ones who have stayed in the school the longest. T h e re f o re , s e n i o r s deserve to be treated as if they have priority over the rest of the student body. Being able to have their pictures on the yearbook should be expected. It is understood that senior portraits can be expensive, which is why seniors are forced to pay for them instead of the school. However, there should be some balance so that seniors are not the only grade being forced to pay for spots in the yearbook. It is not fair that seniors are the only class required to pay to be featured
in their yearbook, while everyone else gets to be featured for free. “It’s ridiculous because everyone else in the lower grades does not have to pay for it,” senior Jennifer Mesa said. “Seniors are supposed to be a priority and we have to pay for our spot [in the yearbook] as if we haven’t earned it.” Since senior portrait sitting fees are quite pricey, some seniors cannot afford them, which is completely unfair. Appearing in a high school yearbook, especially as a senior, should be something everyone can participate in. Charging such high fees automatically excludes some students from this activity. It is devastating to see students not be featured on their last yearbook beacuse they are unable to afford it. Despite the fact that those who do not pay will not have their pictures featured in the yearbook, there will still be a page listing their names. Even though the changes and high prices were not intentional, the effect they have had on the seniors has been negative. Seniors should not feel as if they are being neglected by the school, and should have received some clarification on the issues. Additionally, the prices should be worked out so that every senior has the opportunity to appear in the yearbook and live the full high school experience. As the inconveniences regarding the IDs have had a great impact on the students, especially the seniors, new plans are being processed for the next school year. The plan is supposed to make the ID process more efficient in delivering and producing the IDs for all grade levels. Hopefully, all will go well with the plan next school year, so seniors, do not feel neglected. Illustration by Cassandra Chen
Illustration by Cassandra Chen
MATADOR
The Matador Bullring
Editors-in-Chief
Cassandra Chen Erin Truong Managing Editors Carolina Garcia Amy Yee News Editors Nathan Ta Sydney Trieu Opinions Editors Carolina Garcia Amanda Molina Focus Editors Christy Deng Emmanuel Maresca Life and Art Editors Ileana Perez Kim Pham Sports Editors Frank Lieu Carolina Loaisiga Features Editors Kelly Ho Amy Yee Copy Editors Ying Chow Eva Fong Chelsea Huynh Photo Editor Sunny Chen Artists Eva Fong Kim Ta Lu Yue Wang Business Managers Katherine Hoong Jessica Tran Website Editors Stacy Chau Thomas Wang Multimedia Editors Tom Cheah Anthony Yang Blogs Manager Katherine Hoong Adviser Jennifer Kim Reporters: Hellgert Almontes, Shirley Dinh, Manny Ibarra, Susan Lam, Mario Mandujano, Edward Rivera, Uyen Sy, Britney Ting, Vivian Wong The Matador is a public forum for student expression and highly encourages responses in reaction to issues discussed in the paper. Submit comments as a letter to the editor, signed (anonymity is guaranteed if requested), to H-2, or Ms. Kim’s mailbox. The Matador is published monthly by the journalism staff of San Gabriel High School. 1,600 copies per issue are published at J.E.J Print Inc. The opinions and views expressed in The Matador do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the school or the Alhambra School District. The Matador and the Alhambra Unified School District do not endorse the vendors advertised in this paper.
What are your thoughts on immigration in America?
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My parents immigrated here. That’s the reason I’m here. People come here for a second chance and a new beginning. Everyone deserves that, right?” -Xareny Rodriguez, 9th grade
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Immigrants are people too.” -Wesley Do, 10th grade
It’s been happening since the beginning. That’s how America came to be. It’s ridiculous that now, a country made of immigrants is denying them.” -Angela Rodriguez, 11th grade
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It’s definitely a problem because we are being over populated, but I do support it because people are looking for freedom and happiness. If it wasn’t for immigration, I wouldn’t be here today.“ -Ulysses Ng, 12th grade Photos by Sunny Chen
Sp”erin” the pain
Erin Truong “You’re going to be okay” The story of the shy, introverted bookworm isn’t a new one, though I was perhaps something of an extreme case. As a girl, I was known for being quiet. Quiet and horrifically awkward. At one point, my parents had me attend church just so I could do some socializing. At least, that was the official reason. For all I know, they took me to church because they thought that only divine intervention and the grace of God could save me from my own awkwardness! Well, whatever their reasons, that plan didn’t work. Thrusting me into church did nothing to make me less of a wallflower. No, change came slowly for me. There was no divine realization that drove me to become more extroverted, no finish line for me to reach, no great trial that made speaking my mind a necessity. For all intents and purposes, nothing really pushed me to start being more open. Outwardly, it seemed to just happen. So then, how did I manage to change so drastically? O n e w o rd : m e d i o c r i t y. N o t a particularly heartwarming or enlightening answer, I know, and certainly not an attractive one. But it’s the honest truth; I lived my life under a crushing pile of expectations, and I suffered from it. For me, nothing was good enough but perfection, whether it was in my academics, my hobbies, and yes, even my social life. If I couldn’t communicate as well as I should have, then why bother trying? That’s what I thought. But then I stopped caring. I took a look at what I was trying to achieve, saw the toll it was taking on my health, and gave up. I stopped trying to grind my mind and body to bits to achieve an unattainable standard, and I was rewarded for it. You see, the fact is, being perfect is impossible. Oftentimes, the standards we set for ourselves just can’t be reached, and there’s no shame in being unable to. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to make it. So take it easy. Conquer the world on a day-by-day basis, and know that no matter what, you are not lesser for not having passed a certain milestone or achieving an accomplishment. No matter what anyone says, you will always be worthy. In life, there are going to be people that see you as subordinate for not matching their standards of success, but do not be discouraged. In the long run, they’re nothing but flies—annoying, true, but dismissible. I learned that, and nowadays, I’m more open with the things I enjoy. I don’t particularly care if people look down on me for them; I’m having fun, meeting new people, and indulging in new experiences. I’m learning and I’m growing, and I’m not ashamed. Why do their opinions matter? No, what matters is you: what you do, what you want, and what you need. And if what you want to do is to be wherever you are, then no one has any right to stop you. The naysayers, they don’t know you. You know you, and you get to choose for yourself what you can and can’t do. So do what you can, have fun, and ignore the haters. You’ll get where you need to be someday. Have faith in that, and don’t worry, don’t worry. You’re going to be okay.
LIFE & ART The Matador Muse
THE MATADOR
Just a Fish I am a little fish in a big blue sea. I keep swimming and swimming but no one seems to notice me. I live in a sea where others want to eat me. I keep swimming and swimming to find a fish to help me, but all I got was a shark that treated me like a flea. Then one day I kept swimming and swimming until I found a little fish just like me, in this big blue sea. -Shirley Dinh
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
8
Remakes dilute pool of movies Thomas Wang The old saying goes that imitation is the highest form of flattery. If this is true, the movie industry is full of sycophants. Just last month, the Fantastic 4 reboot bombed in the box office and received negative reviews, and in March, a Cinderella movie was released to critical acclaim and box office success. Despite being received differently, both movies are remakes of established series. However, they are only the tip of the iceberg. Repackaged with 21st century special effects, m o v i e re m a k e s have found a hold. The purpose of remaking a movie can be attributed to a variety of reasons. The makers might be doing it for financial reasons because of an already established fan base. It would be a safe investment to repeat the same things over again, like a movie version of the Call of Duty franchise. Either way, movies with all too familiar plotlines are constantly being pumped out. Is there anything wrong with that? No. A remake’s purpose lies in introducing its audience to the source material. For example in 2013, the sixth movie adaptation of the The Great Gatsby was made. Considering that the last cinematic adaptation was in 1974, it was reasonable to remake the movie to introduce
the original novel to a new generation. However, reasonable becomes ridiculous when remakes are being produced from few years after the original was released. Fantastic 4 was rebooted only 10 years after the prior movie. It makes less sense for foreign movie adaptations. The American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released in 2011; barely two years later the Swedish version was released. Yes, the original was in English, but there are subtitles for a reason. In recent years, there has been a trend of movies using folklore as inspration. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter puts a Rated R spin to the siblings. Even though they may be creative, these types of movies suffer from the same flaw as remakes: the lack of originality “Sometimes [movie companies] overdo it and kill the franchise off,” senior Raven Tsan said. Remakes do not offer anything new to Illustration by Eva Fong the already existing lore. They are not the groundbreakers in the cinema world. No matter how much critical acclaim they receive, they will never hold a candle to classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Godfather. They are safe, and they do not push the boundaries. They are just movies remade and rehashed, diluting the richness of cinema in the process. Flattery will only be able to get you so far.
Cinespia creates unique outdoor movie experience for everyone S h i rl e y Di nh Watching a movie with friends and family underneath a sunset creates unforgettable memories for everyone. Cinespia, located at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, is now the place to go to when it comes to outdoor movie theaters in Los Angeles. Although a cemetary may seem like a weird location to hold movie screenings, it provides the perfect atmosphere for film fanatics to share their love for the big screen. Starting in 2002, Cinespia has been screening classic, timeless movies from the 1930s to the 1990s, unlike the summer blockbusters that fill up seats in indoor theaters. Inside the Hollywood Forever Cemetery lies a spacious, grassy field where the movie screenings are held. Many
moviegoers treat it as a picnic area and bring their own food and drinks. If people forget to bring blankets or snacks, they can go to the Cinespia store, located by the themed photo booths for people who want to capture their memories. To keep the joyous atmosphere alive, a DJ blasts music as the sun sets and after the movie ends. Junior Jazmin Campos highly recommends the outdoor movie experience after going to Cinespia twice. “I loved everything about it. The people, the electric atmosphere yet somehow at the same time, the chill vibes,” Campos said. “You also get to see the sunset behind a lot of palm trees, and once it gets dark, you’re watching a movie under a bunch of twinkling stars.” To avoid going to an outdoor movie theater unprepared, junior Kimberly Wong suggests bringing food, blankets to
lay on, pillows, and of course positive vibes. “The environment is a lot more relaxed than an indoor movie theater, and it’s a different experience every time,” Wong said. Upcoming film screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery include Carrie on Sept.19, Back to the Future I and II on Sept. 26, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct.31 to celebrate Halloween night. Aside from Cinespia, other trendy outdoor movie theaters in Los Angeles include Street Food Cinema, which has food trucks for people to buy food from, and the Electric Dusk Drive-In, where people can relax in their cars and watch a mix of adult and family friendly movies. Students can go to these movie theaters to relieve stress and hang out on weekends.
The following Instagram posts feauture San Gabriel High School students Jazmin Campos, Sunny Chen, and Kim Pham enjoying the summer at Cinespia, an outdoor movie screening event on Aug 29.
Photos courtesy of Jazmin Campos, Sunny Chen, and Kim Pham / Illustrations by Katherine Hoong
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THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
LIFE & ART
Shows return, premiere for Autumn lineup Scandal
Photo courtesy of ABC
Once Upon a Time Premiering with new princes, princesses, villains, and of course shocking surprises, the popular ABC show Once Upon a Time returns at last and will begin the long awaited continuation of last season’s twist. Season four started off with Elsa (Georgina Haig) and Anna (Elizabeth Lail) telling their stories and trying to convince the other characters to help them find each other as they battle the Snow Queen (Elizabeth Mitchell). After the Snow Queen’s defeat, the season took a turn that had the characters searching for the writer of a mysterious magical book, which tells the stories of all the characters from Storybrooke. Meanwhile, Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) allied with villains, and together, they hatched an evil plan that would change Storybrooke forever. While the last season of Once Upon a Time revolved around the heroes and villains constantly fighting one another, viewers can expect something different this season since the savior, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), has become the new Dark One. Furthermore, since the villains and heroes have switched roles, viewers will be in for a treat to see how the characters adapt to their new lives. Additionally, season five will be filled with new adventures and exciting new love interests involving Henry (Jared S. Gilmore), Emma’s son, so the viewers can look forward to that as they tune in to watch the new season. Season five premieres Sept. 27 on ABC.
Gladiator and problem-solver Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and her associates are back for another season of political drama and excitement in the program Scandal, which will premiere Sept. 24 on the ABC network. The show is a political thriller series loosely based on Judy Smith, who was the administration press aide of former President George H.W. Bush. Washington D.C. is drowning in a sea of scandals and controversies, and it is Pope’s job to clear people’s names and protect public images. Extremely cunning and sharp, Pope is a former White House Communications Director who was on the campaign team for President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn). Within the series, Pope faces conflicts in her business and work, and eventually those problems intrude on her personal life. The love triangle between her, President Grant, and B613 Agent Jacob Ballard (Scott Foley) drives her insane and affects her relationship with her father, Commander of the B613, an intelligence branch within the CIA unknown to the public. “Olivia finds that every single thing about her life has changed in unexpected ways,” creator Shonda Rhimes said of the new season. In season four, Elizabeth North (Portia de Rosi), was a recurring character. Recently, it has been revealed that Rosi will be a series’ regular. Viewers can expect this season to top the last one.
Photo courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Company
Scream Queens
Photo courtesy of ABC
Written and directed by Ryan Murphy, the director of American Horror Story and Glee, along with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, Scream Queens is a show that will premiere soon on FOX network. The series premiere will air on Sept. 22, and new episodes will be released Tuesdays at 6 p.m. The cast of the show includes well-known celebrities such as Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, Ariana Grande, and Nick Jonas. This upcoming television series will be a horror and comedy anthology, centering around the sorority Kappa Kappa Tau. In the year 1995, a sorority pledge goes horribly wrong, and a sorority member gets dekappatated (decapitated). On the 20th anniversary of the murder, someone seeking vengeance starts to massacre members of the sorority in remembrance of the crime. A character on the show will be killed off every week, a characteristic similar to that of the mystery novel by Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None. Through its unusual combination of horror and hilarity, this show will continue to bring fans into the horror genre. “This genre has really exploded in the years since The Walking Dead came on and made a huge impact. It brought horror back on television in a major way. I do think the more the merrier,” executive producer Ryan Murphy said. Briefs compiled by Ileana Perez, Susan Lam, and Jessica Tran
Different cultural television dramas bring families, friends together K im P h a m a n d A m a n d a M o l i na
Korean Dramas Whether you love the flair for dramatics or detest the frustrating love triangles, Korean dramas (perhaps better known as K-dramas) have been extremely popular among both Korean and American viewers. Unlike Western television series, most K-dramas are produced as complete series with fully developed storylines that last 12- 24 episodes. The episodes usually air on a weekly, back-toback basis. Sometimes it seems as though the majority of Korean dramas are about sweet, poor girls who fall for rich, snobby guys. They then turn them into rich not-so-snobby guys while still dealing with the inconvenience of rich snobby guys’ families. However, K-drama genres can range from romantic comedies to action series to historical pieces. Whatever the genre, serious and comical elements are combined to highlight family dynamics, societal pressures, and of course, romantic relationships. Korean actors are notably skilled at being able to convey intense emotions through the screen, something that American actors tend to lack. The depth of hard hitting plot-twists and storylines are recognizable to viewers all over the world. There’s a reason why you might hear something along the lines of “one episode and I was hooked” when viewers talk about their experience with a good K-drama. Despite the unforgivable amounts of homework, you will probably somehow manage to find yourself finishing a whole drama within an afternoon.
Telenovelas (Spanish dramas) The formula for Spanish telenovelas is a simple one: a happy couple against an evil world of class divisions, envious secret admirers, wealthy families about to file for bankruptcy, and a good dose of dramatic slaps. Each episode makes for one spine tingling hour of fist clenching and sitting on the edge of the seat. Unlike other dramas t h a t g o on for several seasons, novelas continuously air over a period of time ranging anywhere from five to ten months. The types of characters in novelas are often repeated. There is the priest, who has sympathy for the antagonist, and tries to get him to come clean. But the priest becomes weighed down by the dark confessions and breaks his silence, and as a result loses his priest- hood. There is also the malicious mother and son duo who plot against evIllustration by Eva Fong eryone. Then there is the lovers that are made for each other and overcome all obstacles for their love. Alongside the happy couple, there are always the bitter ones, the ones who are only together to scheme against the happy couple and separate them. These recurring characters make a telenovela, and they are easily spotted and entertaining. Although telenovelas can sometimes become cheesy
and predictable, they are a common ground in many Hispanic families. Parents and even grandparents grew up watching them. When relatives from other areas come over, warm chatter about who is going to end up with who fills the air. The foreseeable plot creates a certain comfort when watched. Although the most severe misfortunes cast themselves upon the amiable and charming protagonists, the predestined happy ending provides some relief. At the end of the road, after having all of your emotions dragged through the mud, the telenovela reaches a glorious and gratifying end. Ends are tied and detestable antagonists are punished for their cruel deeds, leaving viewers tearyeyed and alleviated from the suspense all at once.
SPORTS
THE MATADOR
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
2015-16 Fall Sports Scoreboard GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS FOOTBALL VARSITY 9/12 vs. Gendale 9/19 vs. Marshall FRESHMAN 9/10 vs. Glendale 9/17 vs. Marshall
27-17 L 36-8 W
24-6 L 36-34 W
VARSITY 9/5 vs. Flintridge Prep 2-0 9/8 @ Temple City 3-0
W W
JV 9/5 @ Burbank 9/8 @ Temple City
W W
3-0 3-0
CO-ED CROSS COUNTRY VARSITY 9/30 @ Legg Lake
League meet
JV 9/30 @ Legg Lake
League meet
FRESHMAN 9/30 @ Legg Lake
League meet
GIRLS TENNIS VARSITY 8/31 vs. La Salle 9/8 vs. Arroyo 9/9 vs. Rosemead
13-5 11-7 9-9
W L W
JV 9/8 @ Arroyo
14-4
L
2015-16 Fall sports previews Volleyball This year’s team has 12 returning varsity members and the expectations and goals are exceptionally high. The captains of the team are both seniors: Gabriela Gonzalez and Julia Vuong. When asked who the key players are, head coach Larry Kanow replied, “We don’t have a key player. Everyone has a part. Everyone [has to be] contributing.” Kanow’s expectations for the team are “to go as far as we can in playoffs and win CIF.” Though it is only pre-season, Gonzalez said that “there has been a lot of improvement,” and senior Joanna Che added, “there’s always room for improvement.”
Photo by Stacy Chau
Junior Vicki Ong goes up to block a ball from senior Gabriela Gonzalez during after school practice.
Football Jones promoted to Athletic Director C a ro l i n a L o a i s i ga After several years of being a PE teacher, Keith Jones was more than ready to become San Gabriel’s new athletic director after former director Patricia Hill was transferred back to Mark Keppel High School to pursue her new position as an English teacher. Jones had previously been involved in coaching San Gabriel’s boys basketball, girls basketball, wrestling, boys soccer, golf, baseball, track and field, and football, as well as academics. “I taught math for many years and I recently became a physical education teacher,” Jones said. “When the opportunity came along to be athletic director, I decided to apply. I was the athletic director about 13 years ago, but the job has changed a lot; almost everything is done on the computer.” Jones wishes to maintain a positive, responsible, and organized environment, one in which all San Gabriel student athletes feel safe and protected. “I expect all of our students to experience everything that high school has to offer, and this includes being able to represent San Gabriel High School in the community while playing sports,” Jones said. “I want to create a sense of pride in being a Matador. It is my goal to increase participation in sports.” Many athletes and coaches are pleased with Jones’s position as the new athletic director, including Cross Country head coach Steve Morales. “[Jones] has really helped the Cross Country team and the track team in terms of fundraising and paying competition fees,” Morales said. In order to begin the school year with a fresh start, Jones hopes to make a few adjustments regarding encouraging staff and faculty members to make more connections with student athletes. “Any changes I make would be in an effort to get the faculty more involved in coaching. I would like to have coaches here on campus. I believe this is a way to build strong programs,” Jones said. Becoming the new athletic director has been no easy feat, and it has kept Jones occupied with various activities such as making sure that all teams are provided with the right equipment, ensuring that varsity teams are in good condition, and supporting Matador home games. The new position has created a new and unfamiliar environment for Jones, but it is a reality that he embraces and appreciates.
Photo courtesy of Alex Garcia
After San Gabriel’s varsity football team scores a touchdown, senior Milton Pereza celebrates.
Summary: Under head coach Joe Ledesma, football has adopted a new mindset and goals and is on the path to a fresh start. Qualities: This year’s team is different from last year’s due to the improvement in team bonding and the brotherhood that unites the team on the field. “The strength is our brotherhood, nothing else to it, and being there for each other, the love for the game,” Ledesma said. Comments: “We [are] going to be champions; we are going to go to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and we are going to play our hearts out,” senior Milton Peraza said.
Tennis Summary: Despite the scorching summer heat, the girls varsity tennis team is back on track for another chance at becoming league champions for another year. “Summer practice was not the usual organized chaos. We lost about 5 weeks of practice with the dead period,” varsity coach Steve Akiyama said. “But once we got to use the courts, everything started to get back to normal.” Team Captains: The team captains for this year are seniors Kelly Chu and Shirley Dam. Expectations: “The team is about right where I thought they would be this year with all the new varsity players,” Akiyama said. “We have two more weeks to get prepared for league play. What happens after that is up to the team.” “We have been working really hard and we still are. We are each getting better each day and I believe that as a team, we can get league champions again,” junior Amy Chheor said.
Photo by Ying Chow
Senior Shirley Dam prepares to hit the tennis ball while practicing for her upcoming match.
Cross Country
Photo by Stacy Chau
Senior Allen Au-Yeung and sophomore Carlos Carillo sprint towards the finish line during one of the Cross Country’s late practices.
Summary: With San Gabriel High School’s fall season approaching, Cross Country begins preparing for their competitions. The team has been working hard throughout the summer and now the team is on track to accomplish the goals they set for themselves. Qualities: The team has been improving significantly under the guidance of head coach Steve Morales, who has been training them throughout the summer and during school practices. “The team has been working really hard,” Morales said. Key athletes: Senior Allen Au-Yeuong, sophomore Carlos Carillo, and freshmen Carolina Ye and Alyssa Rojas, are expected to place well and lead the team this upcoming season. Briefs compiled by Kelly Tam, Hellgert Almontes, Amy Yee, and Manny Ibarra.
11
THE MATADOR
Tell Me
what’s the
WORD. Famous Hallway quotes, Volume Seventy-one
“No Child Left Behind? More like No Child Left Untested.” - Teacher expressing thoughts on education.
“Whenever I walk into math class, ‘I Need A Hero’ plays in my head.” - Student messing around in math class. “What do you get when you put a watch around your waist? A waist of time. - Student telling jokes to a teacher.
All quotes overheard by The Matador Staff.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
FEATURES
Nguyen transfers from Mark Keppel, starts anew in San Gabriel S unny C hen and U yen S y Transferring to a new high school during one’s junior year can be daunting for many, but Kelly Nguyen took this opportunity with eagerness. Nguyen spent her freshman and sophomore year at Mark Keppel High School, where she struggled academically. Since she was an active participant of many clubs on campus, Nguyen felt overwhelmed trying to balance her academic life with extracurricular activities. “I think the main reason why I transferred to San Gabriel was basically to start over academically because at Mark Keppel, everything was very stressful. It was just a lot of studying and homework and all-nighters,” Nguyen said. Nguyen also believed that the environment was very hectic. She did not believe that she would be able to handle another year in such a pressuring atmosphere. “People did have fun, but in my opinion, the overall environment there was just about schoolwork, and that put a lot of pressure on me as an average student,” Nguyen said. On her first day of school at San Gabriel, Nguyen was surprised at how different the environment was from Mark Keppel. “At San Gabriel, everyone is laid back and just doing their own thing. It seems like there can be plenty of time for extracurricular activities and it’s just not as stressful,” Nguyen said. Throughout Nguyen’s life, she, like many others, went through a lot of tough obstacles ranging from issues with family to those at school.
“The hardships in my life have given me a different perspective on life and made me a more insightful person. I would tell others, ‘Don’t look in the future too much’ or ‘Don’t dwell on the past too much. Just look forward.’ For me, to get the day going, I would tell myself, ‘Tomorrow will be a better day.’ I try to focus on the tomorrows because you never know what good things can happen,” Nguyen said. Nguyen has a motto behind her advice, and many can probably relate to it. “I tend to worry about my future and dwell in the past more than anyone. Once I do, I worry a lot and start to feel very overwhelmed and stressed out. If I think about my future, I feel lost because I’m not sure what I want to become or what my life will be like 10 years from now,” Nguyen said. “However, when I dwell on the past, I get stuck in the memories of the past and blame myself for the things I’ve done wrong. I get a feeling that I’m never going to be able to forgive myself.” Since both the past and the future hold negative emotions for Nguyen, she has learned through experience the best way to deal with her burdensome thoughts. “It’s important to move on from the past and focus on the present. This advice has kept me motivated to keep living life to the fullest and be ready for what the future has for me,” Nguyen said.
Photo by Sunny Chen
Inspired by the blog Humans of New York, Humans of San Gabriel began in the 2014-15 school year to broadcast the stories of San Gabriel students. For more stories, like SGHS The Matador on Facebook or visit The Matador’s new Instagram account @ thematadorsghs.
Dultz assists San Gabriel after Takeshita’s transfer N at han Ta With Chris Takeshita now working as an Assistant Principal at Alhambra High School, Matthew Dultz has taken over his position as the Assistant Principal of Activities. Dultz spent the last 15 years with the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD). He began working at Mark Keppel High School, where he taught Algebra 1 through Calculus AB and was the varsity baseball coach. After six years of teaching at Mark Keppel, he transferred to the San Gabriel Math Department. Halfway through the 2012-13 school year, he was asked to return to Mark Keppel to work as the Assistant Principal of Student Services. In early May, he was told that he would be transferred back to San Gabriel High School. “The announcement wasn’t made until the board meeting on June 1, so I actually had to keep it to
myself for a long time, which was difficult,” Dultz said. “My reaction was actually one of surprise because the rumor was that I was going to be moved to Alhambra High School, so I was pleased to hear that I would be returning to San Gabriel.” Dultz has expectations coming into San Gabriel, which include supporting the Associated Student Body (ASB) and being as transparent as possible in terms of budget and finances to benefit the entire student body. “It’s definitely very busy in this office and there is a lot to get done. It seems like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that I need to do,” Dultz said. “If I am able to support all the various aspect of what SGHS has to offer inside the classrooms to our athletics programs as well as ASB extracurricular events all while staying within budget, I’ll be a happy camper by the end of the year.”
Photo by Stacy Chau
JACQUELINE HERRERA
New counselors arrive to assist Matadors Herrera’s lived in California her whole life, having resided in both northern and southern California. When Herera was in high school, she always felt like her counselor wasn’t really available. She didn’t go into counseling at first, but she knew that she always wanted to be helping people. She became a counselor because she felt like she never had one. “I think what motivates me is just being able to guide my students. My students give me strength, and all the movivation I need,” Herrara said.
JANETTE CHOW
DENISE FERNANDEZ
Last year, Fernandez, who divided her time between San Gabriel and another school in Ramona, was only available three days a week to San Gabriel students. However, this year, she is now a full-time counselor with the “Gateway to Success” program. “Primarily, I want to focus on working with the 9th and 10th graders with the barriers [as] to why they are not coming to school,” Fernandez said. “So whether it’s family problems or friend problems, I really want to work with them so we can really discuss those barriers.”
After earning a degree in computer engineering from CalPoly and a Masters in Sociology from La Verne, Chow realized that she would rather have a job that involved helping people. “My inspiration for being a counselor comes from my own experience in high school. My own counselor in high school guided me through a lot of things, and I wanted to give back,” Chow said. “I’d like to help students before and after high school, such as their future careers or on college.” Chow advises all students to work hard and achieve their goals. Briefs compiled by Shirley Dinh, Nathan Ta, and Amy Yee. Photos by Sunny Chen
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 12 FEATURES New teachers log into San Gabriel Messenger THE MATADOR
Diana Han
Veronica Arellano
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
“Listen to your teachers, do your homework, and go to college.”
What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you so far?
Lives in: U44 Math II EDGE (English)
Getting lost on campus and somehow finding my way to my destination no matter how lost I was. What are some of your tips for surviving high school?
What’s your favorite leisure activity?
Lives in: A206
I like to go to the gym everyday after school to stay active and relieve stress. I also like to bake and go on Pinterest. Do you have any special talents?
U.S History I know how to knit.
Ask for help and be involved in school activities and events! Show school pride and enjoy school before it ends.
Rhoda Dizon
“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Cruz McPherson-Alfaro
Lives in: E214 English 1/2 American Lit
“Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!”
“Nada te turbe. Don’t let anything disturb you.”
What’s your favorite leisure activity? I love yoga, anything active. I learned how to jet ski, so anything where I can be outdoors. After class, I like to do yoga because it teaches you how to be calm and patient. I like to bring that to the classroom with my students because sometimes they stress and panic from so much work.
The Matador
What are some facts about you that not a lot of people know about?
Lives in: P205 Spanish 1/2
Did you take journalism in college? How did it affect you?
I graduated high school one year early. I have studied abroad in Mexico and Spain and I love to travel to Italy and Hawaii. What are some secret talents that you have?
Yes, I did. Journalism helped me become a strong writer. In high school, I was shy. I was an artist, I was in band. It helped me develop a voice. I love interviewing people and writing about places and different cultures. I feel like I became a strong writer and I’ve used those skills to help my students become stronger, too. Sometimes they don’t like writing, but I try to help them understand and be better at it.
It might not count as a talent, but I love to knit scarves. Every year, I would knit scarves for my seniors as a parting gift. I also make holiday cards for my friends and family.
Kenneth Ma
“I was babysitting kids this week and all they were watching was Frozen.”
Jessica Sandercock
“I really want frozen yogurt right now.”
What is your advice to students?
What are some secret talents that you have?
Lives in: S3 English 3/4 Speech and Debate
I love singing. I was in choir during high school and college. During my high school career, I won second place in the talent show. Later on, I auditioned for American Idol and made it to the judging panel.
Lives in: E213 Chemistry Academic Decathalon
What’s your favorite leisure activity?
My advice is to students who want to survive high school is to know that high school will eventually pass.. keep in mind that this is the beginning of learning more about the world. What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you at SG so far? I’m really bad with names so I’ve been calling a lot of students by the wrong name. I have 5 or 6 Tracy’ in my class!
I love going to Indie Rock concerts and traveling. Do you have any weird quirks? I laugh at myself and my own jokes even when others don’t laugh with me.
Stella Lin
“Take it one day at a time.”
Leah Ulloa
“If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.”
Sophia Sune
“Really hungry. I am always hungry. Maybe that’s it, a quirk or something. I love food.”
Lives in: A208
Human Geography World History Academic Decathlon
What are some facts about you that not a lot of people know about? I lived in South Korea for a year and developed a fondness for kimchi so some people laugh at me. It’s good if you fry it up. What’s your favorite reading genre? I read history stuff, but I kind of like the teen novels. I love “The Hunger Games.”
What advice do you have for students?
Lives in: L120 Math I Statistics
Don’t procrastinate, ask questions, be resourceful, and be kind. Where is your favorite travel destination? My favorite place to travel is Hawaii. What are your hobbies? I like to run and I’ve been running since high school. Running helps me de-stress.
What is the weirdest thing that has happened to you so far?
Lives in: L208 Math I Applied Statistics Geometry
Kids coming into my room expecting Mr. Nguyen. One time, a crowd of kids came in during lunch and then they took a few minutes to realize: ‘wait, this isn’t the correct room!’ What are some facts about you that not a lot of people know about? I was in varsity track and field for all four years of high school. I got to go to second round CIF my senior year for long jump. The furthest I’ve jumped is 17ft and in triple jump was like 36 ft. But that was in high school, I can’t do it anymore.
Quotes gathered by Stacy Chau, Katherine Hoong, Manuel Ibarra, Susan Lam, Uyen Sy, Nathan Ta, Britney Ting, Sydney Trieu, and Vivian Wong Graphic by Kelly Ho, Photos by Sunny Chen