LIFE&ART
“San Gabriel alumnus opens barber shop” p.8
SPORTS
“Staff beats seniors in annual basketball game” p.10
FEATURES
Kwan, Kanow’s decadeslong legacy ends in
bittersweet nostalgia”
THE MATADOR p.12
SAN GABRIEL HIGH/APRIL 14, 2016/ VOLUME 61 / ISSUE 8
WWW.THEMATADORSGHS.US/801 S. RAMONA ST., SAN GABRIEL CA 91776
State Senators announce new bill at San Gabriel
Photo By Sydney Trieu
Senior Leo Liu speaks at the senate press conference to show his support for Senate Bill 1050. S h i rl e y Di n h a n d N a t h an Ta California Senator Kevin De León (D-Los Angeles), several other elected officials, and community leaders announced the College Readiness bill, Senate Bill (SB) 1050, at a press conference in the Matador Arena on April 8. Coauthored by Senators Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) and Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), SB 1050 was created to help high schools that enroll 75 percent or more lowincome, English learners, and/or foster youth students, also referred to as Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Plus students, to enhance their college readiness programs. “[SB 1050 promotes] higher education, [is an] effective way to create upward mobility, and can critically drive economic competitiveness. A student’s zip code can make the difference [between] admission or rejection. California high school graduation rates are increasing; however, only 42 percent meet the A-G requirements,” De León said.
Spring play premieres tomorrow C a ro l i n a L oai si ga The annual spring play, “Noises Off,” will be featured in the auditorium for the first time in 14 years. “Noises Off” will be a comedy feature of a play within a play, in which the characters of the play are reenacting another play called “Nothing On.” The play is split into three main acts; the first act features the cast running around missing cues, illustrating a disorganized play. The second act highlights the behind the scenes of a play production, showing the cast members in distress and a deteriorating relationship between the members. The last and third act shows the cast still trying to hide their imperfections and continue on with the show, but they cannot get rid of the bad tension surrounding them during the production. Senior Daymian Castro is a main character in the play and expects the play to be a hit among the students. “This is my first time being in a play, the production and crew have worked very hard to make this happen,” Castro said. Tickets are currently eight dollars presale, five dollars with ASB at the student bank and 12 dollars at the door. “Noises Off” will be playing at the auditorium April 15, 16, 22, 23 at 7 p.m. and April 21 at 4 p.m.
The funding will come from Proposition 98 and the state government; however it is up to the school to apply for a K-12 College Readiness Block Grant, meet criteria, and decide what to use the money on.This can mean a variety of things from opening up more AP classes to providing professional development for the staff. “We believe that SB 1050 will create more opportunities for the youth of all backgrounds. If students don’t have a sufficient amount of counselors, then the parents and students would not know what to do,” Stewart Kwoh, Founding President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said. SB 1050 also aims to increase admissions to Universities of California (UCs) and Cal State Universities of students from schools with LCFF Plus students. Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento)
commented on how UC admissions should be about a student’s effort, rather than a competition to grab any remaining position available. “Some people want to talk about UC admissions as a ‘zero sum game.’ I have it, you don’t. This is not what it should be about, it should be about [working hard],” Pan said. “This is not good for California as a whole. Everyone who works hard should be given this opportunity to go to college.” Many senators and officials from school and college districts also spoke at the press conference, including Garvey Elementary School District board member Henry Lo. “Our parents look to our public schools as modern day Ellis Islands for their children to reach the American Dream. I support this bill, because it attempts to ensure more students are qualified to be admitted to a UC, so everyone competes on the same academic level,” Lo said. Seniors Trista Rios and Leo Liu also spoke at the press conference. “I believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to discover their own path to higher education,” Rios said. “Approving this bill will provide students from all backgrounds the resources to navigate the collegiate world.” Senior Eric Thai, who attended the conference, commented on how SB 1050 could be utilized. “Since our counselors provide expert knowledge in college, we probably won’t need the funds to train counselors,” Thai said. “Instead, we need to increase the rigor in classrooms to better prepare our students. In order to get this bill passed, De León must introduce the bill to the senate, allocate the funding, and get the bill approved by the governor of California. Principal Debbie Stone felt honored to have the school host the press conference. “[San Gabriel] was chosen to host this press conference because our school has over 75 percent students that are economically disadvantaged. Our school is eligible for the funding and resources from this senate bill.” Although De León has not heard any opposition towards SB 1050, he said that “those who do oppose the bill are opposing economic growth.”
FEATURES
K w a n , K a n o w ’s d e c a d e s - l o n g legacy ends in bittersweet nostalgia Sydney Tr ieu
Photo courtesy of Larry Kanow
Larry Kanow and Chris Kwan attend an alumnus’ wedding.
“History? Mr. Kanow has the history. Me? I am history,” volleyball coach Christopher Kwan jokes as he oversees the boys volleyball practice alongside head coach Larry Kanow. Kwan pauses, his gaze scanning the court before continuing. “This is my last year.” With 21 years of coaching experience and 17 league championships under his belt, Kwan is no stranger to the San Gabriel High School community. Taking home victories in both the local Almont League and in the California Interscholastic Federation, Kwan and Kanow have created a tight-knit family with both the girls and boys volleyball teams since the 1990s. But in 1987, the beginning of the Kwan’s freshman year, there was no boys volleyball team. The team was formed later that year, with Kwan as one of its very first players. It was then that he met Kanow, whom Kwan describes as his teacher, coach, mentor, and above all else—friend.
continued on pg.12
NEWS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
2
HOSA advances to nationals Speech, debate at Aloha Edward R iver a
Photo courtesy of Amy Wu
HOSA members compete and place in the state leadership conference in Anaheim on April 7-10. S h i rl e y Di n h Placing in multiple events, students of the HOSA-Future Health Professionals club attended the 2016 state leadership conference in Anaheim on Apr. 7-10. The competition took place over a span of four days, with 2650 students from 145 different schools gathering to compete in different health care events. The competitive events at the conference tested the knowledge and skills of aspiring health professionals. These events showcased skills in Health Science, Health Professions, Emergency Preparedness, Leadership, Teamwork, and Recognition. Competing members were also able to go to workshops taught by professionals in the medical field. “I found it really enjoyable overall because I got to display my medical skills and attend workshops that helped support my medical passion,” junior Michael Lam said. “Since it’s my first time competing, I’m pretty disappointed that I didn’t place so hopefully I’ll do better next year.” Out of 11 events total, San Gabriel students placed in seven events, with 4 out of 28 members moving onto Nationals. Sophomore Mellony Li and senior Tiffany Chin
placed top 10 statewide and 7th statewide in Medical Math, respectively. Senior Mary Tran placed top 10 statewide in Human Growth and Development. As a team, Tran and senior Yvonne Cui received the Bronze medal in Emergency Medical Technician. Senior Katelin Lam received a silver medal in Healthy Lifestyle, while senior Megan Ma received a gold medal in Extemporaneous Health Poster. “It’s good to see all my efforts put into good use as well as seeing how driven each and every one of our competitors have become over the course of this year,” Ma said. “[As president of HOSA], this definitely convinced me that all of the members will make the best of every situation.” As the adviser for HOSA, science teacher Amy Wu shared her thoughts on HOSA’s success at the competition. “This is our third year as a school [competing], and our second year [moving on] to nationals, so we’re very excited about going,” Wu said. “It was a good experience because it was the largest HOSA competition [to date].” San Gabriel High School’s HOSA was also recognized as being a 100 club, a feat that can be achieved when all members are affiliated. Currently, Tran, Cui, Lam, and Ma are preparing for Nationals, which will be held in Nashville, TN on June 22-25.
LAA members visit The Broad museum, City Hall Il eana P erez Latino Academic Alliance members had the opportunity to visit The Broad museum and City Hall on April 5. The members of the club left campus after second period and arrived at the museum by 11 a.m. Once the students arrived, they were allowed to split up into groups and view the different art and sculptures at the museum. The members were given about two hours to walk around and enjoy The Broad’s three levels. Students were also encouraged to ask and answer questions on the handouts they were given. “My experience was better than I expected it to be,” freshman Krystal Leal said. “I got to see many amazing paintings and [learn] what they mean.” After their visit to The Broad, the members walked over to the Colburn School to have lunch. The students had the opportunity to briefly visit the college and try the school’s food. After lunch, the members were taken to City Hall, where they had the opportunity to go up to the top of the building. The building is 27 stories tall, and the members were able to go to the very top and view the city of Los Angeles. After ending their day at City Hall, the members returned to school.
Photo by Ileana Perez
LAA members admire Inflamatory Essays by Jenny Holzer at The Broad museum.
Armed with their best Hawaiian attire, Speech and Debate competed once again at Schurr High School’s invitational tournament on April 2— the Aloha Tournament. Several members of Speech and Debate including senior Andy Le, junior Joy Portinga, and freshman Angela Lu broke finals and won first place in Dramatic Interpretation, third place in Oratorical Interpretation, and fifth place in Dramatic Interpretation, respectively. “I honestly did not expect to break, but then when I did I was extremely happy because I felt like all my work and practicing actually paid off,” Lu said. “I think I owe it to my captain and co-captain, Joy and Andy, because they are the ones that helped around the school year especially in the beginning, which really helped me grow from my script.” After winning her first award at Aloha, Lu says she plans to stay in speech for another three years and compete again in Aloha since it was a pleasurable experience. “I thought my experience there was overall great because Aloha [isn’t] just with the people in our league. I was able to see other people from other schools that we weren’t able to see during other tournaments. So it was great just seeing different people,” Lu said. “Compared to most tournaments there was a lot of downtime since in between rounds instead of having like an hour break, [there was] an hour and thirty minutes. So it was nice talking to other people that are outside of my events. Everyone is in like Hawaiian-themed shirts or lace...outfits that you wouldn’t be able to wear during most other tournaments... It felt a lot more chill.. That’s what makes it different.” At an Aloha tournament, participants are permitted to compete in however many events as they like, which gives the debaters much freedom and makes the overall experience enjoyable.
Photo by Sydney Trieu
Speech and Debate competitors with their leis and awards after the competition at Schurr High School on April 2.
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THE MATADOR
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2016
Clubs perform, visit Knott’s Berry Farm E ri n Tru o n g
Members of choir, the Matador Band, the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), and various other clubs visited Knott’s Berry Farm on Friday, April 8. Band and choir performed in the Fiesta Village as part of the Performance in the Parks promotion, wherein Knott’s hosts choirs, bands, orchestras, and dance groups in order “to perform and have a great day at the park,” according to Knott’s official site. At Knotts, choir sang three songs: “Blackbird,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “Viva la Vida.” Beginning Band played “Pep Rally Rock” and “Paint it Black,” while Concert Band performed “Shut Up and Dance.” Marching Band played “Superstition,” “Uptown Funk,” “Can’t Hold Us,” and unexpectedly, “Pretty Fly” after members of the audience called for an encore performance. San Gabriel’s band and choir participate in the Performance in the Parks promotion annually and have been attending the event together for eight years. ALAS’s trip to Knott’s is also yearly, but they
do not participate in the park’s performance promotion. However, ALAS and other clubs, such as Vietnamese Club and Chinese Chess Club were able to visit Knott’s Berry Farm because that day, Knotts offered lower ticket prices. “It’s always good to have a little break from school since it can get really [stressful], and that was one of the reasons I decided to go to Knott’s,” ALAS member junior Juan Cai said. “The trip was really worthwhile because I had lots of fun with my closest friends from ALAS. It was kind of raining but you could still enjoy the park.” Choir teacher Cecilia Revilla, who organized choir’s trip to Knott’s, stated that the trip was “a treat [for] the choir and band kids.” “[The field trip] is always stressful, and this year it was hard with the whole chaperone situation and getting fingerprints,” Revilla said. ”It’s a lot of work to get it all together. [But] I was very happy with the way it all turned out and I think the kids had a lot of fun, so it was worth it.” Students returned to San Gabriel around 8 p.m. that day, after leaving the park at 7 p.m..
Photo by Erin Truong
Band members perform songs such as “Shut Up and Dance,” “Superstition,” “Uptown Funk,” “Can’t Hold Us,” and unexpectedly, “Pretty Fly” at Knott’s Berry Farm. The field trip is well known within the choir and band class.
NEWS
MESA places at regionals Tom Cheah After triumphing at the preliminary competition, the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) club continued its stride, winning 18 medals at the regional competition. With their projects ready, 33 MESA members gathered at school on a Saturday morning to take a school bus to California State University, Long Beach, the location of the Regional Senior MESA Day competition. Members checked in their projects and competed in arithmetic tests according to their grade levels. 9th, 10th, and 11th grade competitors had to take solo math tests, while 12th grade competitors were grouped together in teams of two or three and took team math tests. Within the math competition section, there were two categories of competitors: delegates and at large competitors. Those competing in delegates placed for math in the preliminary competition, while at large competitors did not. For scoring, delegates competed against only delegates and at large members competed against other at large members, creating two separate pools of math contestants. After finishing the math tests, MESA members competed in their respective events, such as Prosthetic Arm, Mousetrap Car, and Speak Out. Results were announced at the end of the competition; San Gabriel MESA members placed in at large and delegate math, Speak Out, and Balsa Wood Model Airplane. “I actually didn’t expect to place for math so I was really surprised when my name was called,” sophomore Rou Wen said. Wen, who placed first for 10th grade at large math, felt that preparation was the key to her success and that the “competition was quite challenging.” She looks forward to future competitions to test her skills. Even though not all members were able to place, they still found enjoyment in the competition. Reflecting on his experience, senior Milton Pereza stated that he “had a blast” and felt “very accomplished to compete” with his mousetrap car. Regional Senior MESA Day concludes this successful competition season for MESA. For current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, more opportunities to compete will come as the next school year rolls around.
OPINIONS Raising “Hell”
Hellgert Almontes Mind vs. Heart There is a constant battle for power between my mind and the thoughts inside my mind. My heart and my mind dance around in a circle, lunging at each other with surgeon-like bladework to try and execute each other. They fight for dominance, fueled by my dangerous overthinking. When I was 10 years old, my godmother got into a near-fatal car accident and she was rushed to the emergency room. Tangled tubes erupted from her mouth, wheezing with every breath as her weak lungs struggled to receive oxygen. The sight of her so close to death could not be comprehended by my 10-year-old mind at the time. But I remember clearly to this day the words she wheezed to me in her native language of Spanish: “Will you take care of me and always show that you care about me?” She selflessly lived her life caring more about others than she cared about herself. Every single act of kindness and affection she committed was fueled by the emptiness and loneliness she endured after losing her husband to cancer. She struggled with depression for months and months after his death. She would wake up in the middle of the night crying from the nightmares. She had always pretended that everything was fine, but I always saw it in her eyes that she was dying on the inside. My godmother took care of me like the son she never had. I became the single grain of happiness to her, an escape from her painful reality filled with losses. After losing her house and her husband, I became the single thing she wouldn’t be able to lose. So I promised her that I would take care of her as I sat at her bedside in the hospital. Realizing that I had almost lost her, I changed and began to learn how to care for others before myself in order to cope with the near loss and avoid feeling pain and misery. I never thought it was possible to care about another person more than you care about yourself. I grew closer and closer to her, and she meant so much to me. One day I went to visit her and she couldn’t recognize who I was and had no recollection of her memories. She was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It progressed, getting worse and worse. I spent months and months desperately trying to get her to remember me with little to no success. No matter how many acts of kindness and affection I did for her, she was unable to recall them. I couldn’t stand losing the person who I cared for the most, so I created a fantasy inside my head in order to pretend like she cared when she was unable to. But all it ever was a fantasy inside my head that allowed me to escape the misery. My head tells me logic and reason, but my heart feeds me false hopes and delusions in order to maintain a level of sanity. But it keeps driving me insane. My heart felt like it was slowly and silently dying on the inside because I grew to care about her more than I loved myself. I began to doubt myself, wondering if it was worth enduring the pain to love someone who didn’t love you back. But I made a promise to her that I would always take care of her and and care about her, and I intend on keeping it no matter how much it hurts me.
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Editorial
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An SG wish list for Senate Bill 1050 State Senator Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 1050 (SB 1050) at a press conference on April 8 in the Matador Arena. Targeted at increasing college acceptance rates, especially for low income students, SB 1050 will offer a block grant that focuses on college-readiness programs and improvements of “A-G” completion rates. At San Gabriel, more funding is crucial to create impactful collegereadiness programs; in addition, career preparation should not be overlooked. San Gabriel offers many Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Although numerous, these classes lack support. AP classes demand more funding for their activities and equipment. When the AP Chemistry textbook is older than over half of the student body, something needs to change. With the College Board constantly modifying standards for AP tests, updated books are pertinent to keeping up. For AP Chemistry, the test was modified as recently as 2015. Furthermore, lab equipment and even field trips are important in creating hands-on experiences that are invaluable
even after college. The cost may seem excessive for a small branch of classes, but AP classes are the definition of collegereadiness because they are supposed to be college courses; however, the lack of funding says otherwise. If the classrooms were the engines to a child’s education, the counselors would be the steering wheel. Counselors are supposed to advise a student on their future. However, when there are over 2000 students and only five counselors, many students do not have the opportunity to seek their guidance. These counselors are overburdened. The majority of the students are first generation Americans, so the importance of having an amply-staffed guidance office can mean the difference for many students. To short change the counselors is to short change a student’s future. While SB 1050 is solely focused on college-readiness, college is not the only future for students, so the school should support alternative routes outside of post-secondary education. San Gabriel
offers only two industrial art courses in woodshop and auto technology. Despite the fanfare emphasizing the importance of college, there are viable options besides a degree. Being a mechanic or a plumber are valuable professions that do not require a college education. Even for college-bound students, these classes provide real-life skills that apply what is taught in the classroom. Geometry, trigonometry, and physics are implemented to find a practical solution to real-life problems. Problem solving and real world skills will ultimately carry over for all students participating in the industrial arts. The bottom line is that more funding should be focused on all aspects of life after high school. The intense focus of merely getting into college is not enough. If San Gabriel wishes to prepare students for college, investing to create an updated and authentic college experience through their AP curriculum is vital. With proper funding, San Gabriel will not be an institution that churns out test takers but rather, young adults who follow the SLOs as “Successful College and Career Ready Students.”
Illustration by Emmanuel Maresca
College rejection should not dictate future C hri st y Deng In regards to college rejection, being denied is one of the worst feelings ever, whether it comes as a simple folded letter through the mail or an admissions portal online. College admission season is something high school seniors highly anticipate. One decision could determine students’ futures, and will make or break them. Getting rejected from schools is deemed as embarrassing and almost taboo, especially amongst students in San Gabriel High School. However, one should not allow a rejection to dictate their future and the person they are. Colleges usually tell students, “Just be yourself.” It is not bad advice and it does bring hopes up for many young students aspiring to attend prestigious schools, whether it be UCLA or somewhere across the country, such as Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. Being yourself is essential during the college admission process, if you also have five Advanced Placement classes, seven extracurriculars, remarkable SAT or ACT scores, and have discovered a cure for disease. But even if you are not the brightest student or you do not have the best grades or the most extracurriculars, where you start does not define who you are. Where you end up is the most important. America’s educational system has brainwashed many students into believing that their lives are doomed if they do not get accepted into their top-choice
school. People like Katie Couric, one of the world’s most renowned female journalists, was denied from her first choice, Smith College. Steven Spielberg, one of the most popular directors and producers in film history and co-founder of DreamWorks Studios, attended California State University, Long Beach instead of his dream school, USC, which rejected him. To all the seniors who are facing multiple rejections as college admission season comes to a close: take your rejection letters as another pathway to more opportunities. In the end, the prestigious college you were dreaming about attending will be nothing to you, and you will be happy at wherever you end up going for higher education. Illustration by Lu Yue Wang
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016 OPINIONS 5 “Ying” and yang Prom influenced by peer pressure THE MATADOR
I l e a n a P e rez The closer the prom date gets, the more and more seniors are asked whether or not they will be attending the dance. Whatever answer the senior gives, he or she is often judged for it. If they answer ‘no’ they are judged for missing out on such an important life event. If a senior answers ‘yes’, they are judged for going with the norm and following everyone by going to prom. The opinions of others should not matter when making a decision on whether or not to attend prom. If one does not want to go, then they shouldn’t go. However, if they really want to go, they should go and not feel embarrassed to say it. It is true that prom is a once-in-a-lifetime event and should be experienced by everyone who wishes to attend the dance. If one has dreamt of attending their prom and having a magical night, then one should do just that. There is absolutely no shame in wanting to attend prom. After all, isn’t that what prom is for? Aren’t seniors supposed to attend prom and have the best night of their lives while they are at it? Under no circumstances should anyone feel like they are unable to attend prom, especially if they have always dreamt about attending. Not having a date or not being asked should not stop anyone from going. Honestly, not having
a date to prom is not that big of a deal. Prom does not require one to have a date, so go with a group of friends, but do not miss out on this high school experience just because you do not have a date. Also, the fear of being judged for going to prom and doing what everyone else does should not stop anyone from attending. Prom is a night meant to be remembered and all seniors who wish to go should go. No one should feel embarrassed to admit that they have always wanted to attend prom and make it one of the best nights of their lives. After all, whether one chooses to attend prom or not is entirely up to them. However, no one should let others make them feel ashamed of wanting to attend this once-in-alifetime thing. Nothing or no one should stop you from attending prom and having the time of your life. Illustration by Lu Yue Wang
Team success depends on members M a n n y I b arra A team’s victory is an accomplishment for all of its members. The coaches do have an effect on how successful their team is, but there is a limit to how much they can do. They help mold and teach the players everything they need to know from the basics to the advanced level. Their main goal is to bring out the best of their players in order to contribute to the team and lead them to a win. “I think it depends on both because you need a coach [who] can bring the team together, but you also need players who appreciate [what] the teamwork is all about,” swimmer Angela Lee said. Both players and coaches need to be able to give their best to help each other. They are tied by a symbiotic relationship where they both are nothing without the work of others. A good player is someone who cares about not only the team, but the success of the whole team and their own self-improvement. Meanwhile, a good coach is someone who drives the team but knows their boundaries. “On our soccer team, when we lose, instead of looking
MATADOR
Editors-in-Chief
Managing Editors News Editors Opinions Editors Focus Editors Life and Art Editors Sports Editors Features Editors Copy Editors Photo Editor Artists Business Managers Website Editors Multimedia Editors Blogs Manager Adviser
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.
Illustration by Katherine Hoong
The Matador Bullring
Cassandra Chen Erin Truong Carolina Garcia Amy Yee Nathan Ta Amy Yee Carolina Garcia Amanda Molina Christy Deng Emmanuel Maresca Ileana Perez Kim Pham Frank Lieu Carolina Loaisiga Kelly Ho Sydney Trieu Ying Chow Eva Fong Chelsea Huynh Sunny Chen Eva Fong Kim Ta Lu Yue Wang Katherine Hoong Jessica Tran Stacy Chau Thomas Wang Tom Cheah Anthony Yang Katherine Hoong Jennifer Kim
Reporters: Hellgert Almontes, Shirley Dinh, Manny Ibarra, Susan Lam, Mario Mandujano, Edward Rivera, Uyen Sy, Britney Ting, Vivian Wong
ahead and helping each other out, we blame each other and there is no cooperation. But as a team, we have to learn how to cooperate,” soccer player Juan Cai said. As Cai said, the actions of the teammates have many consequences, which can either benefit or negatively affect all the teammates. It all comes down to the players and how much they are willing to achieve success. Although a coach is a main part of the team, the players make up the most crucial part. Their mentality in the field allows them to continue and not give up. Eventually, it is the teammates who take the win and not the coach. The coaches do help and push the players, but the players are the ones who do not give up no matter what. It is up to them to make the scores and take the victory they have worked hard for. No matter how hard a coach may try to guide the team to a win, if the players do not have the motivation to improve, the coaches will not be able to do anything. The players do represent the coaches, but people should take into consideration that coaches cannot improve the team if the players are not giving it their all in return.
Should all grade levels be able to attend prom?
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No, prom is an event that’s supposed to be special for the seniors only.” -Eduardo Alanis, 9th grade
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I think they should because if all grade levels are able to go, underclassmen also get to experience something only the seniors usually get to.” -Cindy Tan, 10th grade
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I think everyone should be able to go so we can all meet each other and not just stick to our own grade levels.” -Cong Chen, 11th grade
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I think not all grade levels should be able to go because it’s the last dance for just the seniors to be together.“ -Jazmine Cabrera, 12th grade
Photos by Sunny Chen
Ying Chow Painting my own canvas “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my third grade teacher asked the class. Hands shot up all around me as my classmates eagerly waited to share their future careers. Only I didn’t raise my hand because I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Granted, I was only a third grader, so it was okay if I didn’t have any plans yet. However, I, a senior now, am about to graduate, and I am still as clueless as ever. When I try to picture my own future, all I can see is a blank canvas, void of any color and imagination. My family and I moved to America when I was three. I attended school, followed instructions, did homework, and figured that I had to get good grades in order to satisfy my parents. Going into first grade, I had no idea what a dream was; they were just the shadows that appeared in my sleep. Consequently, I did not aspire for anything and worked only for a short term goal—passing my classes. While my peers dreamed of being firefighters, astronauts, or even Power Rangers, I just thought of being…me. I had no dreams or any direction in life to head towards. I suppose that my aimless wandering can be contributed towards my indecisiveness. My life of uncertainty makes it hard for me to pursue my goals and stick with them because I worry that I will come to regret the decision I’ve made. I am constantly stuck in between options and question the consequence of my actions. What if I choose to major in psychology and am unable to find a job later on? What if I try a new course and end up hating it? Making decisions always filled me with dread whether it be a life changing decision or a simple, unimportant decision. I can’t even choose an outfit without hesitating, much less choose a college or career I would be interested in. There was a point in time when I felt like a failure. I had no dreams or goals and I definitely did not have a plan. School constantly emphasized the “Road to Success,” but I couldn’t find my road; I was running around in circles on a dirt track. I was sure to end up on the streets while all my peers were majoring in importantsounding fields that I never even knew existed. All my friends took as many AP classes as they could in order to get into their dream college of University of California, Berkeley or University of California, Los Angeles. And me? I randomly chose a few AP classes just for the sake of taking them because I had no idea what college would be the best for me. The only thing I knew for sure was that I did not enjoy science, and that was about the extent of my certainty about the future. The school system did nothing at all to help me in finding something I was passionate about. School had no influence on my career choice or rather, the lack thereof. I am about to graduate from high school just as lost about my future career as I was when I entered high school. While everyone is preparing for their futures, I am struggling to find myself as mines looms closer. Though I currently do not know how I will end up in the future, I do know that I should fully apply myself to what I do and hopefully, my blank canvas will fill with color, showing me a direction to head towards.
LIFE & ART
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Elevate takes barbershops to next level A n t h o ny Yang
Since my toddler years to about now, the feeling of getting a haircut at a barbershop would either be tense because I was scared of the barber, or painfully awkward since I cannot start conversations with complete strangers to save my life. With these previous experiences, I was initially skeptical about Elevate Barbershop on Main Street because I thought it would be the same old, same old. I was totally mistaken. Since the barbershop is new, it looked like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the interior was a complete contrast to the exterior. The inside of the shop consisted of a contemporary design. Dark chandeliers, flat-screen televisions, and brightly-colored walls decorated the shop. The owners of Elevate Barbershop, Joshua Lewis, a San Gabriel High School 2005 alumnus, and Daniel Ordonez, started this business with a certain vision in mind. “We saw an opportunity to create something unique, something that’s going to impact the world...Things that are trendy, things that are old, have a little bit of edge.. And that’s something we’re trying to honor here,” Lewis said. I felt the need to have a haircut since it has been three months since my last one. Elevate Barbershop offered me a free haircut and I accepted their offer. As soon as I walked into the shop, I was instantly welcomed by multiple barbers. The prices seem a bit more expensive than the mom and pop shops; $20 for kid’s haircuts, $25 for men’s haircuts, and $30 for women’s haircuts. Current students with at least a 3.0 GPA will get a 50 percent discount on their haircut. According to Ordonez, the
purpose of this promotion is not only to attract students, but to motivate students to do well in their studies. I scheduled my haircut with Jose Rodas, who is often called “Biggie” by clients. As soon as it was my turn for my haircut, Biggie made sure I was comfortable. Since I am not a descriptive person, I showed him a picture of my old haircut from last year. Biggie was very meticulous at cutting my hair. He made sure that each portion of the hair on my head was cut evenly. While Biggie was cutting my hair, we talked about life’s biggest woes, work ethic, and anime. I was really fascinated about Biggie’s love for “Pokemon.” However, we also talked about how with just a few actions, our lives can be improved or destroyed. After Biggie finished my haircut, Biggie added some products to my hair to style and I was free to go. I liked my haircut, and which is the goal for Lewis and Ordonez: optimal client satisfaction. However, their reason for their goal is not just to make a profit. “When you have a nice haircut, you’re in a good mood. That feeling is intoxicating, so when you’re walking the world and you’re feeling good about yourself, that energy rubs off on others, because you look good and feel good,” Ordonez said. Getting my haircut at Elevate Barbershop was an excellent experience that I would never forget. My awkwardness faded away when Biggie initiated the conversations and took my requests for my haircut. I would definitely recommend Elevate Barbershop, especially since prom season is coming up.
San Gabriel High School alumnus Joshua Lewis and Daniel Ordonez opened Elevate Barbershops in Alhambra. The store offers a 50 percent discount on haircuts for students with a 3.0 GPA.
Elevate Barbershop Address: 1015 E Main St. Alhambra, CA 91801 Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: Closed Matador Rating: 5/5
Graphic by Lu Yue Wang
Students showcase artisic talent at annual Art Gallery L u Yu e Wa n g Upon opening day of Art club’s annual art gallery, student artworks lined the walls and tables, showcasing a collection of various mediums. From abstract to realism and painting to ceramics, all kinds of pieces were on full display in the auditorium hall. Ceramic and button sales went on at the front entrance as the doors were open for free admission into the gallery. The gallery itself showcased an array of artistic talent from current students and San Gabriel alumni. Like last year, everyone was allowed to submit their artwork to the gallery, and each piece was guaranteed a spot for display. “It’s really amazing. I didn’t expect to see so much amazing artwork,” junior Agustin Galvez said. “It feels like a legit museum. I love the creativity of the people.” The art submissions included clothing designs, graphic art, fan art, paintings, photography, concept art, and ceramic models. One wall in particular, which was dedicated to various photo manipulations of history teacher Raymond Gin, received much attention from many visitors. Additionally, there were decorated bottles, hand crafted sculptures, and more mixed media creations. Overall, only praise and positive remarks could be heard throughout the gallery as visitors viewed the art. The art gallery has now become an annual tradition and opportunity for students to not only showcase their talent
and creativity to their peers, but to gain inspiration from the artists of San Gabriel. “I hope [the visitors] see all the creativity and they’ll be influenced by these artists. And if they’re interested in art, all these amazing artworks will be able to help them with their own ideas for different artworks in the future,” Art Club President Jocelyn Phuong said. In addition to getting a spot for display, every artwork was automatically entered into a viewer’s choice competition, in which visitors had the privilege of voting for their favorite piece. Each visitor received a slip of paper upon each visit to write down the corresponding label number of their favorite artwork. Once they have decided on what piece to vote for and had written the piece number, the slip was returned to the Art Club cabinet members. Visitors could vote as many times as they Photo by Lu Yue Wang wanted and all of the votes were tallied. As of now the three winners have not been announced. “They were all so great and creative. It was very hard to decide which one to vote for,” sophomore Lexi Tang said. The owners of the top three pieces will each be receiving a prize from Blick Art Materials, but they are still being kept as a surprise for the winners. Currently, no date has been set for announcing the voting results, but according to Phuong, the results and awards will most likely be given within this month.
8
SPORTS
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
10
2015-16 Spring Sports Scoreboard BOYS VOLLEYBALL VARSITY 4/7 @ Bell Gardens 4/9 vs Cerritos 4/9 vs Katella
3-0 1-1 2-0
W T W
BOYS TENNIS VARSITY 3/22 @ Pasadena 3/24 @ Montebello 4/5 vs Alhambra
BADMINTON
VARSITY 4/5 @ Mayfield 4/7 vs. Mark Keppel 4/14 vs. San Marino
10-8 10-8 11-7
SOFTBALL VARSITY 3/26 @ Bellflower 3/26 vs Mountain View 4/12 vs Lassen
W W W
TRACK AND FIELD 20-1 19-2 11-10
W W L
VARSITY 4/6 vs Bell Gardens Girls Boys
64-63 L 67-60 W
SWIM 9-6 15-1 9-1
L W L
VARSITY 3/10 @ Bell Gardens 3/17 vs. Montebello 4/7 @ Schurr
W W L
BASEBALL
VARSITY 3/22 @ Bell Gardens 3/25 vs Mark Keppel 4/5 @ Montebello
3-2 12-0 12-5
L L L
Staff beats seniors in annual basketball game Kim Ta
Photo by Cassandra Chen
The staff players anticipate a rebound after a long three point shot by the seniors.
It was the fourth quarter of the staff vs. seniors basketball game and the atmosphere was intense. With a little more than one minute left, the scoreboard displayed a contested score of 61-61. Seniors were led by William Dolloway and Frank Lieu who faced off against campus supervisor Andrew Contreras, basketball coaches Judy Huang and Man Cong Nong, track coach Joben Mutuc, math teacher Ronnie Woo, and Assistant Principal of Activities Matthew Dultz. The staff vs. seniors basketball game included many three pointers, blocked passes, and fouls, resulting in a win for the staff with the score of 63-61. Unfortunately, there were a couple of seniors who played on the staff team due to a shortage of staff players, such as Melissa Quach, Tiffany Giang, Andrew Moc, and Andres Olivera. The game started with an energetic first quarter where both the staff and seniors went from being two or three points behind, with the staff gaining an advantageous lead with the score of 20-13 at the end of the first quarter. Many students and staff members cheered and roared for the players as the second quarter began. As the time was ticking, the ball was passed back and forth from player to player everywhere on the court, going into halftime with the score of 36-24. The third quarter was initiated with a three pointer from the seniors two minutes into the game, gaining 36-29. Point after point of two pointers and several three pointers on both teams ended with the score of 47-43 going into the last eight minutes of the game. Lieu tipped the score for the seniors to 59-55, gaining a lead from the staff with two and a half minutes to go in the last quarter. Time was running out and the audience counted down the final seconds of the game. With a final endeavor to win the game, Lieu almost made the shot, but missed the basket as the buzzer sounded to end the yearly staff vs. seniors basketball game with the staff on top with the final score of 63-61.
11
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
FEATURES
San Gabriel’s “black market” shares their secrets Chip sales leave students chipper
Spam musubi sales roll in profits
E ri n Tru o n g San Gabriel High School’s young entrepreneurs may not necessarily be members of BTA or FBLA. Some students looking to make a quick buck in school have established their own small businesses, selling foodstuffs to their peers away from the eyes of staff and faculty members. Chip* is one such vendor, specializing in—of course—chips, as well as soda. They enjoy a brisk trade, with a bag of chips and can of soda being a dollar each. However, unauthorized sales by students are prohibited in the Alhambra Unified School District, making vendors like Chip a part of San Gabriel’s “black market.” “I choose to make money this way because it’s quick and people are always demanding chips,” Chip said. “I don’t feel like I’m breaking any rules because I’m not harming anyone! [Selling food is] just benefits for me.” There are risks to being a part of San Gabriel’s “black market.” At any time, Chip is at the mercy of their customers, as there is the risk that their customers could snitch on where they purchased their goods if questioned by administrators. Chip, however, believes in their customers’ integrity. “I take the risk because I trust my customers to know the code of conduct when buying my chips,” they said. “[Like if] they’re asked, they should lie to protect me.” Chip uses the money from their food sales to supplement their lifestyle, such as going out, buying food, and shopping for clothing.
Anthony Yang
Thomas Wang A black market thrives within San Gabriel High School—however, instead of drugs or firearms, spam musubi and candy are the go-to contraband. According to Matthew Dultz, Assistant Principal of Business and Activities, federal law prohibits students from selling food items unregulated on school grounds. However, in a survey of 78 students, 79 percent agree that the unregulated sale of food items should be permitted. When asked, an anonymous junior stated that buying food from other students allows him to “help [his classmates] out because [they] actually put work into [selling].” Other reasons for the high levels of support for student vendors include having an alternative to school food, as well as providing income and business experience for the vendors. Of the 21 percent of students who opposed having unregulated food sales, safety and potential lawsuits were the main concerns.
While many entrepreneurs begin as adults, some students in San Gabriel High School start young. One such student, Musubi*, specializes in selling spam musubi to their classmates. Musubi began selling at the beginning of second semester in order to make money for themself in an effort to avoid having to ask their mom for money. They buy materials such as seaweed, spam, rice, as well as ingredients they do not wish to reveal for the sauce in their spam musubi. Musubi usually starts making their spam musubi at 8 o’clock at night for sale the next morning and often runs out of stock by lunchtime. Musubi is well aware that other students are also selling snacks to the student body, but does not consider them to be competition, as Musubi does not notice other vendors selling around school. As a result, they do not feel the need to cut prices or improve their product in order to attract customers. “There [are] actually a lot of students in San Gabriel High School [willing to buy from student vendors], [and] there are enough sellers to meet the demand,” Musubi said. Curently, Musubi does not plan on expanding their business, since they believe that hiring workers to help increase sales is too much of a hassle. Musubi stated that they are satisfied with the state of their business and is currently making a decent profit from their spam musubi sales.
*Names changed by request and gender-neutral pronouns used. Graphics by Lu Yue Wang
Junior English classes express student opinions through political cartoons J e s s i c a Tra n To instill the art of visual argument in her students, English teacher Georgia Daniels assigned her junior classes a project: creating an editorial cartoon. The purpose of the project was to draw a cartoon that satirized a controversial subject that the students felt strongly about. Editorial cartoons center around a contemporary political or social message while incorporating the cartoonist’s commentary and stance on the subject. These cartoons generally exaggerate the flaws of the subject matter in order to question the status quo and draw awareness to the issues at hand. “[Visual argument] is part of the AP curriculum approved by most colleges,” Daniels said. “[This assignment] requires careful focus on each rhetorical element to see the elements we don’t [usually] see, [such as] interrelationships.” Students were given a packet featuring
cartoons from the Herb Block Foundation, many of which illustrate diverse issues that are still relevant today. Student cartoon topics included American politics, education, terrorism, and issues at San Gabriel High School. Daniels expected her students to use their imaginations to make a thoughtprovoking presentation and end up with a work product that wouldn’t be hateful, she said. The cartoons were due on April 4, and a small art exhibit was held in Daniels’s classroom, where students walked around the class and made observations about the message of each cartoon. Afterwards, students had to draw inferences and reach a conclusion about each cartoon’s meaning and call to action. DISCLAIMER: “The views and opinions expressed are those of the artists and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Alhambra Unified School District, its schools, administration, staff, and faculty.”
Illustration by Samantha Wu
“In my opinion, teachers [receive] unfair treatment,” Samantha Wu said. “Teachers and students should be [told] the reasons behind [unfair treatment].” The image criticizes the contract nonrenewals within the administration and staff at San Gabriel High School; the toy shape-sorter represents the school and the blocks represent the teachers.
Illustration by Ivy Thong
A student with a passion has a dream that she cannot freely chase. “I feel like we all have a dream,” Ivy Thong said. “We are told to chase it but then as students with the world ahead of us, many of us feel anchored by its ‘rules.’”
Illustration by Rebecca Chan
The image accounts for the young victims who are kidnapped out of their w i l l a n d s o l d f o r s e x t r a ff i c k i n g . “ I c h o s e h u m a n t r a ff i c k i n g a s m y t o p i c [because] this is an ongoing problem in the world. This is a small tribute to those who have suffered and are suffering,” Rebecca Chan said.
FEATURES
THE MATADOR
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
12
Kwan, Kanow’s decades-long legacy ends in bittersweet nostalgia
Photo courtesy of Michael Ramsay
Kwan (left) with Kanow (middle) and Michael Ramsay (right). S y d n e y Tri eu
continued from page 1 “I stayed in volleyball because it was fun—,” Kwan begins, distracted by the squeaks and scuffles of volleyball practice in the background. Kanow takes the opportunity to interrupt. “He stayed because of his talent and skill. Dedication. Camaraderie. Teamwork.” Kwan falls silent, pausing for an afterthought. “And volleyball was the only sport that was winning at the time. Some things never change.” Kanow never had Kwan as a student. They instead forged their partnership on the court, bonding through grueling practices, hard-earned victories, and fond memories. “Having Kwan on the volleyball team was excellent,” Kanow says. “Back then—and even now—the kids have been dedicated. But before, they were more mischievous. They’d do things like pretending to kick field goals through the basketball hoops in the gym… but they were good kids.” After graduating, Kwan returned to San Gabriel, despite
wanting to coach at the college level. “I didn’t [know I wanted] to be a teacher when I first started—when I first graduated from high school or from college,” Kwan says. “After several years of traveling and coaching, I just found that it was more fun and rewarding [to] coach back at the high school level. You form relationships—connections with the kids—they’re more than just student athletes.” He continues, saying, “I think the kids [mean] more to me than I realized.” “People ask me, ‘Would you still do this again if you knew what was going to happen?’ In a heartbeat,” he affirms with a nod. “Being able to work and play in the community I grew up in… I can relate to anything [students] throw at me, so it’s worth to see them all benefit and have the chance [for me] to give back. That’s another opportunity—giving back to all the kids.” Kwan adds that the opportunity to work with Kanow completes the experience. “Working with Mr. Kanow—it’s not even working,” Kwan says. “It’s a lot of fun, talking about ways to help the kids get better and [remembering] a lot of stories from the past… [Kanow] taught me to work hard and be compassionate—even if people think I’m not, I am.” Current volleyball players and alumni alike are familiar with the Kwan and Kanow dynamic—their longtime history fostering a near inseparable bond. “Chris is like the older brother, the one who’ll be blunt and honest with you,” junior Elizabeth Nguyen says. “Then you have Mr. Kanow, who’s like a father because he’s caring but knows when to put his foot down.” Ali Oliver, a volleyball player from the class of 1996, builds on Nguyen’s thoughts, saying that “together, [Kwan and Kanow] are magic.” “[Kwan] complements Kanow so well. He carries out Kanow’s methods and cherishes history the way Kanow does,” Oliver says. “[Any] player who has played for [Kwan] and Kanow feel a special bond.” Despite Kwan’s history with the volleyball team, he will not be returning to coach at San Gabriel next year due
to the non-renewal of his teaching contract. Upon hearing the news, Kanow, along with the rest of the volleyball staff, resigned from their coaching positions, decidedly ending the current era of volleyball at San Gabriel. “It’s hard to say we’re going to leave a legacy now,” Kwan says, glancing over the bare walls of the Matador Arena. “Look up there—we don’t have any banners [for volleyball].” Without the banners, the volleyball team’s victories, year after year, go unnamed, lost in the school’s history. “So how is anyone going to know what we’ve done?” Kwan continues. “Yeah, the current students will know, but in time, they’ll graduate, and what will be left here?” Kwan believes the volleyball alumni will preserve the memory of the team—preserve “what Mr. Kanow created at San Gabriel.” “San Gabriel volleyball can’t be recreated anywhere,” Kwan continues. “The dynamics—everything fell into place. The kids we get, their family lifestyles, where they come from…” He stops, choosing his next words carefully. “Legacy… well, it’s the kids. It’s all the kids.” “I can say I’m both,” Kwan muses thoughtfully, tying together his experiences with the volleyball team. “I’m an alumnus. I was a volleyball player here. And I was a coach. I’m one of the few fortunate enough to say that.”