The Matador - April Issue

Opinions“Classic literature vs. contemporary fiction” pg. 4

THE

Matador

Volume 59, Number 7

Life & Art“Cultural Clash: egg tart meets champurado” pg. 8

Focus“A Tale as Old as Time” pg. 6-7

S a n G a b r i e l H i gh S c h o o l

801 Ramona St., San Gabriel, CA 91776

wednesday, april 30, 2014

www.thematadorsghs.com

Academic Pep Rally acknowledges achievement S onny H y

Freshman Cassidy Pham laughs at a joke during the class contest for comedy.

The sophomores set up an obstacle course to determine the best class.

The theme of Monsters University resounded across the arena full of decorations and displays of hard work. Two Academic Pep Rally (APR) sessions recognized students for their accomplishments and hard work they all did throughout the year.

“APR was not easy at all, but I would have certainly done it again,” senior Alison Lo said as she thought of her experience working in ASB. “It was so fun, and seeing the students scream and shout about how much they take pride in their class was amazing.”

Marching Band played “Them Changes” as their featured song, while Drill, Colorguard, Choreo, and Cheer performed. their own routines. As the students settled, Class Council skits were performed in accordance of their years intermixed with performances by the dance groups. Each council’s skit prided themselves while being supportive of the entire school.

“They definitely got our class spirit captured; this rally was special,” senior Kevin Tien said.

Seniors Helen Chhea and Oscar Molina were awarded the Renaissance Award for their efforts in academics and well-roundedness in extracurricular ac-

Robb remembered at garden ribbon cutting

The Business and Technology Academy (BTA) held the ribbon cutting for their garden on April 26. They also dedicated a tree in honor of their founder John Robb.

To read the article, go online to thematadorsghs.com.

Photo by Derek Deng

tivities around school. Athlete of the Year awards were also handed out to seniors Nancy Liang, Oscar Molina and Joann Phan, each for their endeavors in sports and maintaining their grades despite their commitment to their sports.

“It was more fun because I got to see the hard work of everyone in the school,” sophomore Madelyn Areyan said.

Guidance counselors Elaine Jong and Solinet Wong announced the stories of the Phoenix Award winners while also celebrating all members of the Phoenix Court, each student successfully graduating and overcoming obstacles. Seniors Nadine Alvarez and Franco Capodici were awarded the Phoenix award while seniors Aaron Vollaire, Wayne Pollock, Manuel Aviles, Michelle Nguyen, and Jessica Villa were on the Phoenix Court.

Ending APR, Mr. Hopper rallied the students to a conclusion with each class responding to his compliments by rallying to their respective classes.

“This was one of the highlights of my senior year despite all the hours we devoted. ASB worked extremely hard for this and all of our hard work was showcased,” senior Kaylah Medina said speaking of her memories for the effort Associated Student Body (ASB) devoted to the endeavor.

Junior Class Council (JCC) dances to a rap composed by junior Aydin Hau.

Senior Class Council (SCC) shows school spirit by waving their class flag.

Photos by Derek Deng

Teachers speak out about power outage tions about the power outage at the board meeting.

In their speeches, both teachers questioned the va“Is it possible to turn off the lights? I want everyone lidity of deciding to keep students at school without to see how it feels like to be in a power outage,” Eng- any means of electronic communication. lish teacher Sabrina Morales said to the school board “There were no [working] phones and computers; as she began her speech addressing the power outage if there was an emergency, nobody would know,” that left San Gabriel Morales said. “Everywithout electricity or one thinks that ‘the communication on lights went out, no big April 16. deal,’ but as an adult in The outage was a charge of kids, I could result of a blown transonly hope that nothformer on a utility pole ing would happen.” near the school’s main Morales recalled a past gate. Teacher Elizabeth emergency in 1988, in Makarem, who also which a student threatattended the board ened the school with a meeting, speculated weapon. She criticized that the blown transthe district’s actions, former could have stating that having stucaused a secondary dents present without Photo by Steven Ho fire, which would have any security measures endangered students Faculty member Sabrina Morales voiced her discontent in place was reckless. at San Gabriel due to over the expectation of teachers to continue class in Morales also adthe lack of working the dark at the District board meeting held April 22. dressed the issue of fire alarms. the school’s lack of a Makarem, Morales, and several other representa- safety plan, which was available on the school site tives of San Gabriel were present at the Alhambra but was not accessible due to the outage.

Unified School District (AUSD) board meeting held “Where is our school safety plan, which is supon April 22, in which events such as the power out- posed to be legally updated once a year and should age were discussed. The blackout was reported to the [be] in every teacher’s hands?” Morales said.

AUSD early in the morning; however, Principal Jim After Morales’s speech, Hom stepped up and shared Schofield and Superintendent Laura Tellez-Gagliano her experience about teaching in the dark, keeping order decided it was best to keep students in school. Morales without power, as well as naming other problems. and fellow English teacher Lin Hom made presenta*This article is abridged. To read the full Eri n Truong and A my Yee

article, go online to thematadorsghs.com.

NEWS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Environmental Science students cook food in the quad

2

AUSD adopts new state policies, economic guidelines under LCFF Oscar M olina

Students made solar ovens out of cardboard and aluminum foil to cook food with temperatures that surpassed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, under the instruction of teacher David Whitman.

Photos courtesy of Natalie Ma and Jennifer Kim

Left: Junior Calvin Hoang carefully adjusts a foil-covered cardboard oven in preparation for cooking. Right (top): Marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers roast on the bottom of the oven. Right (bottom): The students successfully bake cinnamon buns with the heat from the oven.

MCA promotes diabetes awareness through food fair A m y Ye e Student-prepared salads, entrees, and desserts were showcased in the Multipurpose room on April 18 as Matador faculty members were invited to Medical Careers Academy’s (MCA) second annual food fair for diabetes awareness.

“Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic,” MCA teacher Cynthia Okimura said. “[MCA] is learning about diabetes, and students are beginning to realize the [bodily] impact it can have.”

Students in groups of four were given the task of planning and preparing for the event; these groups operated independently to contribute to the food fair by choosing recipes. Research was needed to ensure that the recipes were healthy, appetizing, and low in cholesterol.

Prior to the fair, students had been learning about diabetes for two weeks through class work and group activities.

In addition to raising awareness about diabetes, the fair also showcased a diverse array of food from all around the world, with dishes such as Mandarin chicken salad, fettuccine chicken alfredo, and spring rolls.

“We put a lot of effort into making a healthy and tasty salad,” sophomore Jenny Leong, a member of the group that made the Mandarin chicken salad, said. “I think our dish tastes good because of the sauce.”

Typically “unhealthy” dishes were also featured–desserts like strawberry shortcake and berry filled chocolate crepe cups.

“We got [our recipe] off of an app, iCookbook Diabetic,” sophomore Emily Nguyen, a member of the group that

prepared the strawberry shortcake, said. “[My team] liked strawberries and cheesecake, so we decided to choose it.”

The Matador staff reacted positively to the fair, and praised the MCA students for organizing the event.

“I enjoy the fair; it’s very dynamic, and the food promotes eating healthy,” math teacher Nicholas Nguyen said. “I enjoyed the salads and desserts.”

The consecutive success of MCA’s two food fairs has led Okimura to plan similar events for the future, which would involve students and hands-on learning experiences.

“Last year’s fair was all about eating healthy,” Okimura said. “We’re going to do it again, but with a different theme.”

With the success of this year’s fair, MCA aims to continue the tradition of awareness-raising events.

- v i ew Pre

The Alhambra Unified School District is in yet another phase of adopting new policies for the sake of complying with state requirements and trying to benefit the community.

The District is embracing economic guidelines under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which requires the development of a Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

The LCFF, part of the 2013-14 Budget Act, intends to provide $2.1 billion to school districts and charter schools.

The policy aims at simplifying how state funding is provided to local educational agencies (LEAs). Attempting to assist disadvantaged students and incorporate parents into decisionmaking, the LCFF will concentrate on eight key areas: basic services, implementation of state standards, course access, student achievement, student engagement, parent involvement, and school climate.

“On a broad spectrum, [LCFF] takes money that was sent to the District for a specific purpose, and it gives the District more freedom on how the money is spent,” Principal Jim Schofield said.

Through LCAP Section 2, Goals and Progress Indicators, every three years the Alhambra Unified School District needs to make a plan outlining the intended use of the money based on the eight state priorities. This is the first year that the District will create this three-year plan, which will be implemented for the 2014-15 school year; the plan is to be evaluated annually during its three year duration until a new plan is formed. The annual evaluation of the plan needs to comply with LCAP Section 3, which requires identification of the actions and expenditures made to meet the intended goals.

To fulfill LCAP Section 1, which deals with “stakeholder engagement,” the District created a website where parents, students, and community members can give suggestions on how to: strengthen student engagement, improve school climate, and allocate funds.

Principal Schofield explained that although it may appear that San Gabriel High School is receiving less funds, the reality is that the District is covering the cost for many expenses that it once did not.

“The net result for the school site is [that] we have a little more [money] to spend on things unique to San Gabriel that can benefit the students,” Principal Schofield said.

On June 17, the Governing Board of Alhambra Unified School District will hold public hearings at 1515 West Mission Road, Alhambra prior to the final review and adoption of LCAP and the Budget of the District, scheduled to happen on June 24.

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OPINIONS Do Re Mimi

Mimi Lam Of Mice and Mimi I came into this world alone and I remain walking this Earth all by myself.

Ever since I was a child, I felt that my life remained in solitude because I had no guidance. I had to figure everything out by myself, while I taught my little siblings what I learned.

No older brother or sister gave me free answers in life. My whole life was a journey to find treasure chests, but with no maps or tour guides to help me.

My first contact with other people was shocking as I had no idea how to present myself and interact with others. I thought my whole life would be lived with my parents forever and I would never have to meet people I didn’t know.

Talking to my parents was like solving a puzzle. My diction was limited to a few English words, which I had to use sparingly to help them understand.

They always told me what not to do and I would abide by their wishes.

My mother would tell me that I needed to assume that everyone is a bad person and untrustworthy. This probably explains why my friendships never lasted more than five years. People came and went out of my life, most of them not even knowing half my life story.

The people whom I did entrust my secrets, ended up spreading them the minute they left my lips. Ever since, I have listened to my mom and bottled myself up. I ended up having trust issues with everyone I met, even if they were a genuine person. I thought everyone had an ulterior motive and would eventually stab me in the back.

My mouth was a cage and so were my grandparents’ strict rules. They drilled good etiquette and academics into my brain until that was all I did at their house.

But one remotely fun thing that was allowed was reading, the only appropriate outlet at the time. Reading correlated to more knowledge to them, and I spent most of my time sitting and plowing through page after page.

Suddenly, these four walls didn’t seem as restricting and instead, I was taken to another universe. I didn’t have to live my bland reality, because I had many others within the texts I scoured.

I realized that other people have their own stories and I shouldn’t judge them because they could be just like me.

Maybe the reserved ones never learned how to socialize and that’s okay neither did I. Everyone has an escape they can run away to for a couple of hours.

Words were folded out for me, and they allowed me to become the characters I grew to adore. Two cover flaps with pages in between allowed me to create my own story. I found my passion in other characters and other mediums, such as movies. These moving pictures acted as another dimension of my own life. I was the main protagonist, the enemy, or even that little extra in the background.

My story may not involve a lot of traveling, exploring new restaurants, or experiencing new activities, but it did expand my mind to the point where I could change my perspective as fast as someone could change their outfit.

I didn’t need to walk halfway across the world to make myself more interesting, because it was all in the flick of a page.

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Editorial

4

Appreciating teachers’ kindness On a normal 9-5 hour job, most get an hour of lunch break, but if you are a teacher then that is not always the case. Teachers have the opportunity to enjoy a short lunch of only 40 minutes to themselves, yet many teachers go out of their way and sacrifice that time to spend it helping students. They open up their doors and classrooms to welcome students and present them with an alternative to spending lunch outside. Whether it be for a club meeting, lunch tutoring, or just as a hangout spot, teachers’ classrooms are a sanctuary for many students in San Gabriel.

However, as it has become routine for students to naturally head to a specific teacher’s classroom for lunch, it has also become routine for students to forget to be appreciative. Teachers are doing a fantastic deed for students as they welcome them at lunch—not because it is required, but because they care for students. Teachers’ classrooms have become such a haven that the world would fall apart for many

students if one day their teachers told them, “You cannot stay here today.”

This is homage to those that have taken in students with open arms.

By opening up their classrooms out of the kindness of their hearts and the passion they have for assisting students in their endeavors, teachers make it evident that the school is supportive.

Students easily pick up on teachers’ optimistic attitudes, and in turn end up feeling the same way. Because students can easily feel content due to teachers’ simple actions, students should be highly grateful of the teachers who allow their lunch period to be much more enjoyable and satisfactory.

Students need to appreciate what these teachers do and understand that they do not open up their classes because its required by their contract, but out of their compassion and desire to be mentors and friends.

Moreover, as teachers become figures outside of the traditional teaching classroom environment,

Classic literature

VS

As time wears on, themes in literature have quickly deteriorated in significance and meaning.

Where classic literature focused on vital aspects of humanity: the senses, society, and personal struggle, contemporary fiction has predominantly focused on components of modern society that grow tiresome and exasperating as more books are published, such as: love triangles, romances that are undeniably impossible, drug use, and overly sexual themes because that is what some authors think sell.

In The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Plath writes about her endeavors struggling with depression and anxiety, unable to focus on her substantial success and general life because of her internal struggles. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Huxley criticizes society by showing the effects pleasure can do to human nature and emphasizes how the arts are essential for the human mind to be completely aware of the world. Kate Chopin focuses on issues of feminism in her novel, The Awakening, which tells the story of a woman who feels trapped in her marriage.

These books and other classics use complex and simple yet sophisticated language that has incontrovertibly dissipated in modern language, should contemporary fiction be integrated in school curriculum, the language used in older books would completely perish, and modern slang would ultimately supersede it. Classic literature is taught in schools because the values integrated in them are ones that should never be forgotten and always appreciated; the language and sense of writing used should be what students adhere to.

It is disheartening to know that some schools are contemplating replacing classic literature with contemporary fiction like The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which is an overdramatic, overdone love narrative with no real moral to t h e s t o r y, m u c h l i k e a l l h i s o t h e r b o o k s .

Some people may argue that contemporary fiction has simpler language students can understand, but that notion only further regresses literature and language; by continuing to teach simplified works of literature, generations will grow accustomed to the simpler words and become unable to form articulate streams of sentences as complex and intricate as those who wrote books considered classics. Classic literature should be taught throughout the world no matter what generation it is, only then could we preserve the beautiful language that has served as the essence and foundation of the literary world would be completely disregarded and utterly desecrated.

-Vanessa De La Rosa

such as through club meetings or just plain lunchtime hangout discussions, they help unite the school. They bring an extra dimension— a human and sympathetic dimension— to the rigorousness and flatness of students’ lives just showing up to school to learn.

We discover that teachers are people with lives, not just mechanical beings who live at school. By opening up their doors, we develop more than just teacher-student relationships, but also genuine friendships that compel us to come back and visit. They provide us shelter from the sun, the rain, and social awkwardness. Students gain a sense of belonging.

Illustration by Jennifer Thai

Contemporary fiction

It is impossible to imagine the main character of The Fault In Our Stars, Hazel Grace, recite line-by-line The Rime of the Ancient Mariner just as it is impossible to perceive Moby Dick as a romantic tale of bestiality between man and whale. Writing captures life in the author’s perspective, their era, and their beliefs.

Literature has changed over time, parallel with our culture as a whole; it is disrespectful to disregard literature because of its age.

Great Expectations left me with little expectations for my high school literary career. I was left to believe classics from the past were all going to be exhausting descriptions. However, upon reading The Bean Tree, my love of reading rose from ashes left by Great Expectations. An epiphany came over me; literature is a manifestation of life at the time of its writing; culture seeps into the author’s thoughts and portrays an entirely different story based on what time period the stories are being read in. If I was reading Great Expectations in 1861, I would most likely have loved its criticism of Victorian society in Britain; however, I live in 2014, and I have had the pleasure of reading The Bell Jar, The Scarlet Letter, and Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been simultaneously.

These three literary works differ greatly from one another, different eras of writing, and drastically different topics. They also share one thing in common: I love each of them. Books are timeless.

The depth of The Fault In Our Stars, which has seen its use as a learning tool by teachers, should not be neglected because of its modern style; it should be analyzed by students to see how literature from the past has changed, yet has remained true to the core.

Literary style and words have changed but the core of literature is to present universal truths that can apply to anyone, transcendent of time.

The applicability of classics is not to denounce modern works as irrelevant; students will learn to value classics because of their timeless merit. Literature is not about snobbish condescension; literature embodies life in the form of prose and poetry; literature illustrates life beyond a superficial portrait; literature is life, and it grows old, but begins anew.

-Sonny Hy

Illustrations by Cassandra Chen

5

OPINIONS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Yin and ‘Yang’

Anthony Yang The quirks of life

Schools fail to recognize the importance of the arts A n n i e H uang Every so often, I would find myself on the paint-covered floor of my bedroom, painting the time away for no reason at all. Each stroke that I made, however, would guide my guilty eyes back to the pile of unfinished assignments, stacked on top of one another as they fought for my attention. Soon enough, I find myself stop doing one of the few things that actually make me happy and instead staying up late studying for tomorrow’s AP U.S. History test or finishing yet another rhetorical analysis essay.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of school funding for arts programs went from 20 percent 10 years ago to only four and three percent, respectively, in the 2009-10 school year. In addition, at more than 40 percent of secondary schools, coursework in the arts was not required for graduation in the 2009-10 school year. Pablo Picasso once said, “We are all born artists. The key is to remain one as you grow up.” But how are we supposed to remain what we want to be, when everything and everyone around us is discouraging us from becoming that person?

As shocking as this may sound, not all of future high school graduates are going to become doctors and lawyers.

Somewhere out there, there is an aspiring actress or actor, dancer,

or singer, who is hoping that one day she or he will leave her or his mark on Broadway. “I love [dancing] so much! When dancing, I get to lose myself, yet find myself at the same time, “ junior Amber Dykeman said. “It relieves [me of] stress, and lets me spend time with people who have the same passion as I do.”

However, the overbearing amount of pressure that school places on students to have good grades in A-G requirement classes continues to crush the passions of many students.

I n e v i t a b l y, t h e re w i l l always be students who cannot solve every math equation out there and who do not excel in writing essays. These students, who struggle to keep up with their class work and homework everyday, are not at all incapable of achieving great things. They are simply being dragged behind by the discouragement from society and the failure of their school to putting more emphasis on what they like doing best.

Art, unlike bioengineering or ophthalmology, is not renowned for its consistency. However, the instability of career paths in the artistic area should not be a reason for schools to treat any form of art as only a hobby and not a profession. It is psychologically manipulative for influential learning environments, such as school campuses, to be imposing these ideas on students and making it difficult for them to pursue their interests. It can be inferred that it is not the cruelty and ignorance of society toward the arts that the reason for the lack of appreciation for the arts today, but many schools’ unwillingness to acknowledge something so great and vital to society.

Of course, not every singer or actor will become famous, just like how not every artist will find their works on museum walls. However, we should never conform to the unreasonable standards of our schools simply because they fail to recognize the importance of the arts, the soul of this monotonous society.

Illustrations by Annie Huang

Editors-in-Chief

Steven Ho Oscar Molina Chelsey Tran Kristy Duong Rebecca Lei Opinions Editors Vanessa De La Rosa Lauren Kakazu Focus Editors Sonny Hy Amanda Molina Life and Art Editors Derrick Chi Annie Huang Sports Editors Marvin Luu John Truong Features Editors Maggie Cheng Crystal Wong Copy Editors Angela Fong Chelsea Huynh Mimi Lam Christopher Lan Photo Editor Derek Deng Artists Cassandra Chen Annie Huang Emmanuel Maresca Jennifer Thai Business Managers Carolina Garcia Ileana Perez Website Editor Tran Lam Blogs Manager Judy Tang Adviser Jennifer Kim Reporters: Kathering Montelon, Hanfrey Deng, Vanessa Huang, Frank Lieu, Carolina Loaisiga, Cynthia Navarro, Justin Toyomitsu, Erin Truong, Anthony Yang, Amy Yee, Richard Yue Managing Editor News Editors

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 American Foothill Publishing Co., 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.

The Matador Bullring Where do you hang out at lunch?

“

Under the canopy right by the cafeteria or with all of the track kids by the trees. Or with my friend at the tables in the quad.”

- Eva Hernandez, 9th grade

“

At the basketball courts playing ball with my friends.”

- Andrew Ayala, 10th grade

“

At the library with my friends, breaking the rules and talking to the librarian.”

- Steven Te , 11th grade

“

At the tables outside of the cafeteria where [I] talk to my friends about afterschool plans.”

- Wendy Yang, 12th grade

Photos by Steven Ho

“Anthony, why are you so weird?”

Throughout my life, even during high school, I have often been asked that question. Sometimes, people simply asked my classmates why I was what I was, either privately or right in front of me. My personality mixed with my lack of social skills at the time—it didn’t create such an attractive result. I will admit: I am weird, and I have been all my life.

My eccentricism was and still is my way of expressing myself. Free speech right?

Most of my “normal” classmates went through the process of trying to fit in during their younger years of elementary school, then a period of trying to find their identity, and at last a stage of expressing and maintaining their own identity. In my case, I can say that the process was very accelerated.

Growing up, I was a very sheltered and introverted kid. I didn’t know how to talk to others. I was simply taught to speak my mind whenever something piqued my interest. When I applied that lesson to school, people would stare in suspicion. It constantly felt like I committed a capital crime. Nevertheless, I never strayed away from my interests.

I grew up as the kid who was out of place since I had very different interests compared to other people and never bothered to follow along. Everyone would be talking about Maplestory, their Tamagotchi toys, and the Black Eyed Peas, while I’d be left out of the loop with my origami, Anime, and Korean pop music and dramas. My life was like a secret garden.

My social skills weren’t up to par for my age at the time. I never understood why people were followers. I never understood why people didn’t have an open mind at the time. I didn’t know how to talk to people and receive a mutual response like dogs and fleas. I frequently felt like asking someone, “How do I make friends?” Now that I look back, it seems coherent to me that we were all immature.

After all, kids will be kids, right?

By eighth grade, my mind matured just like the others. Everyone finally cared less about what others did and began to express their own identities. Everybody’s minds expanded and opened up to trying different things. Soon, I began to share more and more of my interests with others. At that moment, I felt like I finally won. Everybody could finally express themselves without disapproving looks.

Now that we are in high school, we have different clubs to suit our interests.

We can openly talk about our interests without a second thought. In the way I see it now, everybody is weird, including people who live gray lives.

What I have figured out over my life is that although society will think a particular activity is “weird,” sooner or later, many people might pick it up and turn it into a trend. I can proudly say that I was into Kpop fan before all these trashy groups. EXO? How about EXNo. Everybody, regardless of age, should live life to express themselves and find their own interests—not be a drifting puppet. I have no reason to take offense as to why people think I’m weird. It’s boring when people are the same. When more people are weird, there’s expression and diversity to our society, like a rainbow. Take one moment and just be weird, it makes a huge difference in life.

FOCUS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

6

4 1 0 2 M PRO e m i T s A d l O s A Tale

7

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Prom is not the only option R eb ecca L ei As the season for panicked dress-shopping, packed nail and hair salons, and tuxedo rentals loom ominously over the horizon, it is easy to get caught up in the shiny sparkles and “same dress” drama of the so-called “defining moment of one’s high school career”–Prom.

However, many forget that going to Prom is not an obligation, but a choice. Too many students allow their relationship status or the “do I have a date?” question to define their self-worth, and forget that while Prom can be a milestone high school dance, Prom is only a high school dance, and not attending does not mean the end of the world.

Instead of spending upwards of $100 just for a fourhour long dance, where most of the time is spent taking photos with one another purely because of peer pressure, one should strive to choose an alternative that will actually be enjoyable–eat out with your family, step away from your computer long enough to take a hike, gaze

FOCUS

at the starry nighttime skies, watch some movies, read some books–the possibilities are endless.

One should take some time for oneself to immerse in a hobby. For once, people should sleep early, realize that AP exams are over, and finally stop studying that accursed review book. Teenagers, walk around the house and rejoice in the fact that there is no strange, disgusting body odor lingering in the air and venture into the next room and feel relieved uninterrupting a couple’s kissing session. The next morning should not be feeling sleep-deprived and hungover, but happy and fulfilled.

So many teenagers allow the social stigma of “Prom” to go straight to their heads, and so much of their selfesteem is affected by one single, “life-changing” question: “Will you go to Prom with me?” The fact that Prom does not define the content of one’s character is left in the dust, forgotten.

While going to the Prom may sound like fun–and certainly may end up being fun– it is important to remember that there are alternatives, and it is perfectly okay to spend the night gazing at Ryan Gosling’s abs in Crazy, Stupid Love and crying into a Chipotle burrito bowl instead of dancing.

Junior Class Council casts spell on timeless prom S onny H y Prom is like making the perfect baked potato. You cannot possibly just toss in as much cheese and sour cream and bacon and think that monstrosity will be good; it takes meticulous effort and precision to truly make the best baked potato, or prom. The 12 members of Junior Class Council (JCC) deserve praise for working hard while also balancing their academic load. Prom is not the only task they undertake; they also commit time to the Academic Pep Rally (APR), class gear, and other events pertaining to the junior class. It is not easy planning out something that requires months and months of specific details that people can easily say is “ugly” or “not worth the money.”

“This was an intense amount of work. I could never have done it without my other council members,” junior Teresa Truong, president of JCC said. “These people worked just as hard as me. Working on something so grand and big is not easy, but we get it done with each others’ support, especially our adviser Cecilia Revilla who never gets enough praise for her work.”

The amount of work placed on each member of JCC was part of a year-long endeavor to craft the prom that every high school student looks forward to. Many people do not understand the scope of the work that JCC does, thinking that they just pick the colors of the table and call it a day. This is not what they do; they pick the color of the centerpiece, table cloth, chair cover, and the chair itself, the

DJ, who are the chaperones and how many are needed; there is an endless amount of planning that is needed to keep Prom from not being a disaster.

“They are really creative; they put in a lot of hard work and it is so organized,” junior Izabella Portbanco said as she revealed her thoughts on JCC. “APR was a beautiful success; everyone was so spirited in my class,.”

However, JCC is not the only one putting work into Prom. Revilla, the JCC adviser, plays a crucial role in establishing what is going to happen, and why everything is happening. With multiple years of experience, Revilla guides JCC toward success and avoiding disastrous mistakes that could compromise the integrity and grandeur of Prom.

“The planning started around last year; we have to book a place in advance,” Revilla said. “This is going to be different from the last Prom at Disneyland Hotel; we are having it in a different location in the hotel. We also have surprises.”

Prom is themed around a classic-era Disney style, with touches of Beauty and the Beast sprinkled in. All parking expenses will be covered for the Disneyland Hotel parking lot.

“I feel like they did a really good job. They are the type of students you want to be in class council,” junior Jacky Fu said about JCC. All the decorations, including classical flowers and traditional ornaments, are old-themed; all of these contribute to the overall Disney theme. There will be an all-you-can-eat candy table, a caricature artist, two souvenirs, a free photo-booth, and Disney characters.

Gender should not stop people from asking M im i L am

Photos courtesy of JCC

how do you feel about prom? "" ''the last big night out with your friends in a school

'" 'it's fun. it's a night where people have fun and relax and focus on something besides schoolwork.

's one thing a moment to hang out with your frieitnds, but it's , ever,'' no one wiSENIORll Sarai everMillanforget another to be formal. it's an exciting night,'' SAID.

event where we just have fun. prom is

senior christopher lew SAID.

Quotes gathered by Sonny Hy

been to one. I know that people have There's something special about it had"“''I haven't moments that they wish they could do over and over again. i just want to have fun

. '“ ' it's really fun, and who doesn't want to go? it isn't the only thing in high school,'' JUNIOR Elizabeth rangel SAID.

like anyone else,'' SOPHOMORE christopher phay SAID.

''i don't really know what prom is about, but it seems really glamorous. everyone thinks it's a special day. prom is a time where ,'' FRESHMAN kelly ho SAID.

those around me can be happy

The Promposal winner gets a free tux rental! Great.

I mean, it is great if you are a guy or a very flamboyant woman.

I cannot help but believe that this is just a gimmick to influence guys to ask the ladies to prom. Where is all the love for the women who are asking the guys to prom?

The Sadies dance came and went, and it feels as if females left their confidence on the Sadies dance floor.

It seems like an unspoken obligation to have guys pay for most of the event, including tickets, limo, corsage, and all that jazz.

It’s not the financial standings between men and women being unequal, but society’s pressures to have males take charge in doing all the work. Ever since childhood, people have been exposed to these kind of subliminal messages. Fairy tales, especially, implicitly state that women should take on the role as the damsel in distress and the prince charming will swoop in and save her.

Senior Christian Majano asked junior Julie Truong to prom during her cheer practice. Even though Truong expected Majano’s promposal, she decidedly claimed that when it is her senior year, she will ask Majano to prom.

“If [a couple] was together, like me and Christian, then I bet the girl would ask the guy,” Truong said. “If [a girl] wants to ask a guy, then go for it; no one is going to judge you or anything.”

Modern promposals are basically the same concept.

Women wait until the perfect guy asks her to prom, putting extreme pressure on the guys, even if both counterparts know they are going to the dance together.

When a couple is together, it is still expected for the guy to formally ask, notifying the public that they are “officially” going to the dance. This is odd because couples should already have a predetermined notion that they are going together. I don’t see the purpose in putting all the effort and cost only for the girl to say an expected “yes.”

Couples could just discuss whether they could both attend the dance. In movies, people straight out just ask the person and leave all the extravagance at home. No posters or roses were needed.

I highly urge the ladies to go ahead and ask someone special to prom, because prom will only be a once-ina-lifetime opportunity. Prom is no time to be shy to ask one’s closest friend, significant other, or even a person one found attractive, because guys feel the exact same way.

It doesn’t appear that guys are fazed, because within their whole lives, they have gotten used to it. It is up to the ladies to break this social norm. Even though society has made it far in its advancements, people still have a ways to go when it comes to gender equality.

Illustration by Cassandra Chen

FOCUS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

6

4 1 0 2 M PRO e m i T s A d l O s A Tale

7

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Prom is not the only option R eb ecca L ei As the season for panicked dress-shopping, packed nail and hair salons, and tuxedo rentals loom ominously over the horizon, it is easy to get caught up in the shiny sparkles and “same dress” drama of the so-called “defining moment of one’s high school career”–Prom.

However, many forget that going to Prom is not an obligation, but a choice. Too many students allow their relationship status or the “do I have a date?” question to define their self-worth, and forget that while Prom can be a milestone high school dance, Prom is only a high school dance, and not attending does not mean the end of the world.

Instead of spending upwards of $100 just for a fourhour long dance, where most of the time is spent taking photos with one another purely because of peer pressure, one should strive to choose an alternative that will actually be enjoyable–eat out with your family, step away from your computer long enough to take a hike, gaze

FOCUS

at the starry nighttime skies, watch some movies, read some books–the possibilities are endless.

One should take some time for oneself to immerse in a hobby. For once, people should sleep early, realize that AP exams are over, and finally stop studying that accursed review book. Teenagers, walk around the house and rejoice in the fact that there is no strange, disgusting body odor lingering in the air and venture into the next room and feel relieved uninterrupting a couple’s kissing session. The next morning should not be feeling sleep-deprived and hungover, but happy and fulfilled.

So many teenagers allow the social stigma of “Prom” to go straight to their heads, and so much of their selfesteem is affected by one single, “life-changing” question: “Will you go to Prom with me?” The fact that Prom does not define the content of one’s character is left in the dust, forgotten.

While going to the Prom may sound like fun–and certainly may end up being fun– it is important to remember that there are alternatives, and it is perfectly okay to spend the night gazing at Ryan Gosling’s abs in Crazy, Stupid Love and crying into a Chipotle burrito bowl instead of dancing.

Junior Class Council casts spell on timeless prom S onny H y Prom is like making the perfect baked potato. You cannot possibly just toss in as much cheese and sour cream and bacon and think that monstrosity will be good; it takes meticulous effort and precision to truly make the best baked potato, or prom. The 12 members of Junior Class Council (JCC) deserve praise for working hard while also balancing their academic load. Prom is not the only task they undertake; they also commit time to the Academic Pep Rally (APR), class gear, and other events pertaining to the junior class. It is not easy planning out something that requires months and months of specific details that people can easily say is “ugly” or “not worth the money.”

“This was an intense amount of work. I could never have done it without my other council members,” junior Teresa Truong, president of JCC said. “These people worked just as hard as me. Working on something so grand and big is not easy, but we get it done with each others’ support, especially our adviser Cecilia Revilla who never gets enough praise for her work.”

The amount of work placed on each member of JCC was part of a year-long endeavor to craft the prom that every high school student looks forward to. Many people do not understand the scope of the work that JCC does, thinking that they just pick the colors of the table and call it a day. This is not what they do; they pick the color of the centerpiece, table cloth, chair cover, and the chair itself, the

DJ, who are the chaperones and how many are needed; there is an endless amount of planning that is needed to keep Prom from not being a disaster.

“They are really creative; they put in a lot of hard work and it is so organized,” junior Izabella Portbanco said as she revealed her thoughts on JCC. “APR was a beautiful success; everyone was so spirited in my class,.”

However, JCC is not the only one putting work into Prom. Revilla, the JCC adviser, plays a crucial role in establishing what is going to happen, and why everything is happening. With multiple years of experience, Revilla guides JCC toward success and avoiding disastrous mistakes that could compromise the integrity and grandeur of Prom.

“The planning started around last year; we have to book a place in advance,” Revilla said. “This is going to be different from the last Prom at Disneyland Hotel; we are having it in a different location in the hotel. We also have surprises.”

Prom is themed around a classic-era Disney style, with touches of Beauty and the Beast sprinkled in. All parking expenses will be covered for the Disneyland Hotel parking lot.

“I feel like they did a really good job. They are the type of students you want to be in class council,” junior Jacky Fu said about JCC. All the decorations, including classical flowers and traditional ornaments, are old-themed; all of these contribute to the overall Disney theme. There will be an all-you-can-eat candy table, a caricature artist, two souvenirs, a free photo-booth, and Disney characters.

Gender should not stop people from asking M im i L am

Photos courtesy of JCC

how do you feel about prom? "" ''the last big night out with your friends in a school

'" 'it's fun. it's a night where people have fun and relax and focus on something besides schoolwork.

's one thing a moment to hang out with your frieitnds, but it's , ever,'' no one wiSENIORll Sarai everMillanforget another to be formal. it's an exciting night,'' SAID.

event where we just have fun. prom is

senior christopher lew SAID.

Quotes gathered by Sonny Hy

been to one. I know that people have There's something special about it had"“''I haven't moments that they wish they could do over and over again. i just want to have fun

. '“ ' it's really fun, and who doesn't want to go? it isn't the only thing in high school,'' JUNIOR Elizabeth rangel SAID.

like anyone else,'' SOPHOMORE christopher phay SAID.

''i don't really know what prom is about, but it seems really glamorous. everyone thinks it's a special day. prom is a time where ,'' FRESHMAN kelly ho SAID.

those around me can be happy

The Promposal winner gets a free tux rental! Great.

I mean, it is great if you are a guy or a very flamboyant woman.

I cannot help but believe that this is just a gimmick to influence guys to ask the ladies to prom. Where is all the love for the women who are asking the guys to prom?

The Sadies dance came and went, and it feels as if females left their confidence on the Sadies dance floor.

It seems like an unspoken obligation to have guys pay for most of the event, including tickets, limo, corsage, and all that jazz.

It’s not the financial standings between men and women being unequal, but society’s pressures to have males take charge in doing all the work. Ever since childhood, people have been exposed to these kind of subliminal messages. Fairy tales, especially, implicitly state that women should take on the role as the damsel in distress and the prince charming will swoop in and save her.

Senior Christian Majano asked junior Julie Truong to prom during her cheer practice. Even though Truong expected Majano’s promposal, she decidedly claimed that when it is her senior year, she will ask Majano to prom.

“If [a couple] was together, like me and Christian, then I bet the girl would ask the guy,” Truong said. “If [a girl] wants to ask a guy, then go for it; no one is going to judge you or anything.”

Modern promposals are basically the same concept.

Women wait until the perfect guy asks her to prom, putting extreme pressure on the guys, even if both counterparts know they are going to the dance together.

When a couple is together, it is still expected for the guy to formally ask, notifying the public that they are “officially” going to the dance. This is odd because couples should already have a predetermined notion that they are going together. I don’t see the purpose in putting all the effort and cost only for the girl to say an expected “yes.”

Couples could just discuss whether they could both attend the dance. In movies, people straight out just ask the person and leave all the extravagance at home. No posters or roses were needed.

I highly urge the ladies to go ahead and ask someone special to prom, because prom will only be a once-ina-lifetime opportunity. Prom is no time to be shy to ask one’s closest friend, significant other, or even a person one found attractive, because guys feel the exact same way.

It doesn’t appear that guys are fazed, because within their whole lives, they have gotten used to it. It is up to the ladies to break this social norm. Even though society has made it far in its advancements, people still have a ways to go when it comes to gender equality.

Illustration by Cassandra Chen

LIFE &ART

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

8

Cultural clash: egg tart meets champurado

Dishes are compared and contrasted to show all the similarities and differences between the two cultures.

Asian delicacies

Mexican Cuisines All briefs written by Vanessa De La Rosa, Hanfrey Deng, Cynthia Navarro, and Anthony Yang

Utencils

Utencils

Like most people, Mexicans eat their ethnic foods predominantly with forks, spoons and other utensils.

Certain foods such as tacos, tamales, burritos, and pan dulce (sweet bread) do not require any utensils, so people simply use their hands.

Most people are aware that in East Asian cuisine, chopsticks are used as utensils. Chopsticks are used to pick up food like pincers, contrary to popular belief where chopsticks are presumably used like forks. For many people, chopsticks are quite confusing to use at first, which is why most East Asians start using chopsticks as young children. In restaurants, instead of ordering individually, everybody orders what they want and the dishes are placed at the center of the table for everybody to share.

Sauces/ spices

People integrated into Mexican culture often use certain sauces and seasonings to enhance and heighten the flavors already in the food. The renowned sauce in Mexican culture is Tapatio, a very hot sauce made from red chilis. Many ingredients Mexican people usually douse their food with are are onions, cilantro (coriander), radishes, lemon, hierbabuena (mint), green salsa, pepper, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and avocados.

Several street vendors who sell fresh fruits and chicharones de harina (pork rinds made of flour) often carry salt, lemon, and Tajin, a piquant chili powder, as toppings for the various fruits they sell, a common tendency many Mexicans adhere to. Most street vendors also sell boiled corn and raspados, adding mayonnaise, butter, powdered chili, queso seco (powdered dry cheese) and corn syrup respectively.

Sauces/ spices The slight, salty soy sauce is lightly dribbled across the warmly steamed dumplings.

In East Asian cuisine, a wide variety of sauces and seasonings are used to enhance the flavor of the dishes. Not only are they used as dipping sauces, but they are also often used as ingredients in dishes, such as barbeque pork, hot pot, and peking duck. Such sauces that are added to the dishes are spicy Sriracha, smoky black vinegar, and gooey oyster sauce. Each one of these sauces adds its own distinctive touch to the dishes and affects their presentation.

traditional recipes A special type of cuisine is served during the threeday celebration of Lunar New Year. Niangao, a Chinese cake made from glutinous rice, is eaten for good luck because its Chinese pronunciation, which literally means “sticky cake,” sounds like the words that literally mean “year high.” It symbolizes the consumer with “rise higher” in the new year. Lastly, a Chinese tradition for the new year is to eat from a Chinese candy box lucky candy. Chinese candy boxes are red platters where there is an assortment of candies.

dishes

Many people know the typical Asian dishes, such as fried rice, kung-pao chicken, and egg rolls.

However, there is a slew of other tasty Asian foods out there. Egg tarts, rice noodles, and steamed dumplings are a few to name. These are examples of Hong Kong Dim Sum dishes. Hong Kong Dim Sum is typically served in the morning until early lunch hours.

Tea is commonly served with the food. The dishes are served to customers in a small steam basket, which are kept warm in a heated cart. Dim Sum is often a time to eat, drink tea, and socialize with friends and relatives.

cooking styles A highlight of the Asian cuisine is the variety of ways dishes are cooked. To start off, steaming dishes is a widespread method to cook food, such as BBQ-pork buns and fish. Nifty rice cookers take advantage of the steaming to prepare rice.

Another Asian food preparation highlight is the use of stone or clay pots to prepare dishes, also known as “hot pot.” This method uses a stone or clay pot to hold the food before the server lights a fire under the pot, creating a very tasty and fresh experience.

traditional recipes

Some food is traditionally served to celebrate certain holidays. During the days of Lent it is usually common for people to not eat meat on Fridays to show dedication to their Catholic beliefs witch many of Mexican decent follow. During Christmas it is common that families gather to make tamales and champurado,a thick hot chocolate like drink, to warm their fingers. At events like Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), people visit cemeteries to honor their loved ones who have passed and partake in delicacies like “pan de muertos”, candy skulls and other treats as well. As the years pass by, some recipes can fade away, while others can flourish with a little help and a happy appetite.

dishes

The crunch of that first bite of a crisp, salted tostada, or a sip of warm, champurado is an experience that can have anyone coming back for more.

One can always find a great place to fill their bellies with authentic Mexican food. Hundreds of recipes are passed down through generations, but only some dishes really stand out. Some very known dishes are like beans and rice,enchiladas, posole, and tacos. While the food is good it is also creative. Like ceviche for example is raw fish marinated in lime juice. Simple and delicious.

cooking styles

When cooking special foods such as tamales, Mexican people use dried corn husks called hojas de maíz to wrap them. They are then filled with dough made from corn flour and stuffed with various ingredients depending on what the person prefers, such as meat, vegetable, and cheese. The wrapped tamales are then put into a tamale steamer, which is filled with water in order to slowly yet completely cook them.

Some Mexican people may use a “comal,” a thin flat pan used specifically for tortillas, and others may simply roast the tortilla over an open flame on the stove. Hibiscus flowers are often boiled and to make agua de jamaica, or in English, Hibiscus water. Other fruits and vegetables are blended and flavored with sugar and water as well to make a differing variety of “aguas frescas,” including flavors such as tamarindo (tamarind), horchata, and watermelon.

All illustrations by Cassandra Chen

9

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

LIFE &ART

‘The Bunks’ get on top of instruments, bottom of music lovers’ hearts C a ro l i n a L o a i s i g a New bands are sprouting everywhere. Every few minutes, a person remembers the beauty of music and is compelled to do more. Such is the case for juniors Andrew Duran, Christian Espinoza, John “Jack”, and senior David Munoz. They all came together and mixed their styles to form their new band with the style of punk rock and soul rock­—”The Bunks.”

All of the members of “The Bunks” are experiencing being in a band for the first time: Duran as drummer, Espinoza as singer, “Jack” as bass player, and Munoz as guitarist.

“We were hanging around one day and we suddenly thought to make a band,” Espinoza said.

“We’re all really good friends and have the same taste in music, [so] it made sense.”

With a senior in their group, The Bunks overlook the haunting fact of graduation, wheareas Munoz sees no difficulty in continuing.

“I’m trying to take music seriously, not make it my first priority. But it is something I really want to continue doing,” Munoz said.

The origin of the band’s name, “The Bunks,” came from one of the group’s friends, Tyler Busteed, who would always say the word “bunk” to

them, referring to something boring or one of their ridiculous actions.

The band practices every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Their rehearsals s are generally two to three hours long, either rehearsing for a performance or for the sole purpose of enjoying music.

“The Bunks” have high hopes for their future, but for the most part, they just want to be able to project music to their friends and themselves.

“We don’t really mind if we become big, but however far this band will take us, we just want to play,” Jack said.

The band still has a limited number of fans and is trying to promote themselves via social media such as Instagram, Twitter and projecting their music onto the music application, SoundCloud. They reached many people with their first performance. Sophomore Gladys Meza was invited to their first appearance and was satisfied with the group’s performance.

“I didn’t think they would be that good, but their performance was just amazing and had me dancing,” Meza said.

Wherever “The Bunks” go, their success is palpable and will be heard throughout school.

Photo by Derek Deng

From left to right: Senior David Munoz, and juniors Andrew Duran, John “Jack,” and Christian Espinoza came together to form ‘The Bunks.’ Their style of music blends the style of punk rock and soul rock. All four members in the band never experienced being in a band before.

Art students recognized for their work San Gabriel Fine Arts Association Contest Victoria Le, freshman awarded first in digital art Jimmy Lim, junior awarded second in mixed media Andrew Gurrola, senior awarded first in mixed media Arely Perez and Wendy Gonzalez, seniors awarded second and third in sculpture American Museum of Ceramic Art juried show Meili Chen, freshman Artwork: “Phoenix Nest” Rina Tim, senior Artwork: “Ballerina” Ryan Quach, senior Artwork: “Nautilus”

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SPORTS BOYS VOLLEYBALL VARSITY 4/01 @ Bell Gardens 4/03 vs. Schurr 4/08 @ Mark Keppel 4/10 @ Montebello JV 4/01 @ Bell Gardens 4/03 vs. Schurr 4/08 @ Mark Keppel 4/10 @ Montebello

3-0 3-0 3-0 3-2

L W W L

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014 SOFTBALL

CO-ED TRACK

BASEBALL

FROSH. 4/10 @ Montebello(Boys) 77-48 W

(Girls) 64-62 L

VARSITY 4/01 vs. Alhambra 1-0 L 4/04 Schurr 3-0 W 4/08 Bell Gardens 7-3 W 4/11 Bell Gardens 3-0 W JV 4/01 @ Alhambra 15-2 W 4/04 Schurr 3-0 W 4/08 Bell Gardens 14-1 L 4/11 Bell Gardens 2-1 L

VARSITY 4/10 @ Montebello(Boys) 106-21 L

(Girls) 107-23 L

2-0 W 2-0 W 2-0 W 0-2 L

Boastful athletes sacrifice sportsmanship Oscar Molina Without a single sign of stress on his face, the runner stepped forward to the starting line of the 100-meter race and pounded his chest like an alpha male gorilla. He reminded himself that this was just another ordinary meet; soon he would be a spec, meters ahead of the other runners: he would win first yet again.

A larger-than-Earth ego has allowed many athletes to reach where they are today; without it, they would not have had the confidence to strive to be the greatest. However, a cocky attitude for any high school athlete is unacceptable and damaging for both the individual and those around. There needs to be a fine line between having confidence, and being cocky and arrogant.

For the most part, despite one’s level of capabilities, it is healthy for a person to maintain a good self-esteem because it allows a person to stay motivated and able to respect themselves as an individual. The problem arises when one is unable to control and keep the monster inside the cage. When an athlete begins broadcasting his or her confidence to the world, it immediately becomes viewed as boastfulness and narcissism. An excessively large self-image can prevent an individual from evaluating oneself honestly and cause emotional pain, especially when failure may occur. Cocky athletes can build themselves up so much that they do not expect to fall, but when then they do, it is devastating.

Cocky athletes also need to acknowledge that regardless of the activity they participate in, most of the time there is always going to be someone who is better, which is why no one should view themselves as superior; and, even if there are no better individuals, there is still no reason to make others, who may not be as great, feel inferior. There is no need to brag about one’s success, if one is already a successful athlete. In fact, boasting may reveal an underlying insecurity about one’s true ability.

Furthermore, cockiness is just the start to alienating other athletes, whether they be from the same team or another. One cocky athlete on a team is enough to cause disharmony because it can make others feel incompetent, as if there is no reason for putting in effort.

Rather, a strong and capable athlete should be a role model, not a bully, and use one’s skill to assist and motivate others. There is no purpose in being the best athlete around if one does not have any respect from their competitors.

In terms of off-the-field or off-the-court conduct, a successful high school athlete should not expect others, students or teachers, to treat one any more special than others.

Yes, one’s accomplishments may be great, but out of one’s “sport zone,” an athlete is back to being a typical student. It is unnecessary to go around school acting like one is more significant than others.

Ultimately, humility is the key to becoming and staying a respectable athlete. Tamed and controlled confidence should be enough to empower any individual.

Illustration by Emmanuel Maresca

VARSITY 4/01 @ Baldwin Park 10-9 L 4/08 Bell Gardens 9-1 W 4/10 Mark Keppel 12-5 W JV 4/08 vs Bell Gardens 6-4 4/10 vs. Mark Keppel 4-4

L Tie

10

SWIM VARSITY 4/10 @ Alhambra(Boys) 90-78 L

(GIrls) 92-68 W J.V 4/10 @ Alhambra (Boys) 105-47 W

(Girls) 110-46 W

CO-ED BADMINTON 4/01 @ May Field 4/15 @ Alhambra

19-2 W 17-4 W

Gonzalez receives sports scholarship Ileana Perez Swinging a bat without missing an opportunity, avid softball player Mercedes Gonzalez earned a full scholarship to Luna College in New Mexico.

Gonzalez was filmed by her current travel ball team, Lady Hawks, and the video was sent to different colleges. “My travel ball team recorded my hitting, my out fielding, my catching, and when that was all done, they put it together in a video, then they sent it out to colleges. [They said] if the colleges like you they will contact you.” Gonzalez said.

Several colleges that were interested in Gonzalez’s talents contacted her, but at the end, she chose Luna College. Her scholarship will allow her to play as a catcher for the school team.

“I had about 15 schools that wanted me to play for them,” Gonzalez said. “But I really wanted to go to Luna, because they are the ones that put the scholarship right on the table.”

Gonzalez plans to attend Luna College for two years, and then transfer to the University of Florida, which has been her goal since she was young. Gonzalez hopes to continue to develop her skills and to eventually play professional softball. However, if playing professionally is not an option, she will continue on with majoring as a

Photo by Derek Deng

home visit social worker.

Gonzalez currently plays for San Gabriel High School’s varsity softball team and The Lady Hawks. Gonzalez prefers travel ball softball because there are greater challenges.

“Travel ball and high school ball are very different,” Gonzalez said. “Travel is more competitive [because] you do not see the same people every time you play, while in high school ball you play the same team twice and you know what to expect.”

Gonzalez is proud to have earned a full scholarship to Luna College and has now gained the confidence of knowing that she is good enough to continue playing after high school.

Gonzalez believes she has earned the scholarship because of all her hard work. She did not give up, because she lives by the quote, “You get what you work for.”

11

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

Tell Me

what’s the

WORD.

Famous Hallway quotes, Volume Sixty-four

FEATURES

Where do YOU hang out?

“Where you sit in the cafeteria is crucial because you got everybody there. You got your Freshmen, Yu-Gi-Oh Guys, Hipsters, High-Sock Jocks, Asian Nerds, Cool Asians, Varsity Jocks, Unfriendly Hypebeasts, Girls Who Wear Crop Tops, Guys Who Wear Crop Tops, Challenger Wannabes, Senioritis Victims, Sexually Inactive Band Geeks, The Greatest People You Will Ever Meet, and The Worst. Beware of The Student Body.” -Inspired by Mean Girls

“Aw, my phone died. Now I won’t be able to take selfies.”

- Student complaining about selfie problems.

“Don’t quote me.”

- Teacher complaining about being quoted in the newspaper.

“We have to build a city? Like in Clash of Clans?”

- Student comparing project to a game.

Photo by Hanfrey Deng

Socializing. Studying. Fighting to the death. Checkmate. Sheree Mar’s classroom, L211, embraces the ideal qualities for an environment that allows students to enhance their lunch time experience. Many of the student who lounge in this classroom are either current or former Mar students, or avid chess players.

“There are a lot of chessboards in the cabinets since the chess club gathers here. I just play chess against my friends,” senior chess player Eric Vong said.

Vong has also said that Mar is a teacher who is often mild-mannered and lenient. While the environment has a free-for-all ambiance, the students do maintain some sense of order and control.

Mar’s classroom is open every day to students who want to study and play chess. If one ever wants to check mate, they should check into Ms. Mar’s classroom during lunch.

“You let them leave for games, but you won’t let me play the games on my phone?”

-by Anthony Yang

- Student complaining about sports teams leaving class early for games.

“Aw man, there’s no mirrors in here.”

- Girl walking into the L building restroom.

“Are you still messing it up or are you solving it?”

- Student watching friend trying to solve Rubik’s Cube.

“I’m at 87%, is school over yet?”

- Student complaining about their phone battery draining.

All quotes overheard

by The Matador Staff.

Overwhelmed by the abundance of tools—saws, drills, hammers, sandpaper—an outsider might walk into the chilly wood shop room and wonder what is so appealing to the venturers who regularly stay in there for lunch. However, to them, the room is just right. The wood shop room is a comfortable escape from academics. It is a sanctuary, a second home.

“I come here since it’s fun to hang out with friends and I want to finish my project,” senior Richard Pham said. ”It’s better for me to stay in class and work on my project because I actually get to make stuff [rather] than talk about nonsense at lunch.”

The cool and intricate atmosphere surrounding the students provides them with a pleasant opportunity to temporarily abandon outside realities. The smell of fresh sawdust evokes peaceful emotions. The feeling of smooth, polished projects being finished is a sight to behold. Delving into wood shop is an invigorating experience.

-by Hanfrey Deng

Photo by Ileana Perez

Photo by Anthony Yang

Once through the band room doors, every step is a gymnastics battle over duffel bags, over chairs, over music stands, over people themselves.

One might mistake the room for a Hunger Games film set with the mob of famished students battling to the death to shove their Tupperware lunch container into the lone microwave. The bustling room fills with the shrill sounds of a student struggling to hit that high A flat. Ouch, he tried.

Many swim and band students choose to make the band room their second home during lunch because they feel welcomed there.

“I am comfortable around [these students],” junior Quacvi Mai said.

“And I like the music they play [in the room].”

Tammy Cognetta, the teacher in charge of the band room, opens her doors to all of her students to let them get away from the normality of lunch.

“I haven’t eaten with adults in years,” Cognetta said. However, despite the chaos that surrounds her, Cognetta has found a home with her students.

“I could never leave this room,” Cognetta said.

-by Ileana Perez

Villegas explores career as police officer K at heri ng Mont el on Laying on his stomach until the Marine blew his whistle and said “go,” San Gabriel Police Explorer Omar Villegas sprinted to a cone as fast as his legs could go, dropped down on his face, crawled on his body—just as if he were going under a cargo net 18 inches off the ground. Then he dropped on his knees and hands to crawl another 10 yards. Villegas then got up and zigzagged around six more cones like a true Marine.

Villegas dragged his partner five yards and carried him 30 yards back. Villegas then picked up two ten-pound ammo boxes and ran 30 yards, zigzagged past six cones, dropped the ammo boxes, threw a baseball as if it were a grenade, and did three pushups. Villegas rapidly got up with the two ammo boxes, zigzagged around the six cones, and sprinted back to the finish line.

Villegas, a sophomore at San Gabriel High School, competed at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Competition at Santa Clarita on April 5 and 6 with the San Gabriel Police Explorers against approximately 40 different explorer departments.

Villegas was awarded third place for the fitness challenge test with a score of 98 out of 100 points.

“When I heard my name I was really happy,” Villegas said. “I haven’t thought of doing it.

Knowing the fact that I accomplished something and I represented San Gabriel Police Department, I had a good feeling knowing that I showed that

even though the competition was mainly on sheriffs [in the] LASD, we showed that San Gabriel Police Department stepped it up. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a sheriffs competition—what matters is that we stepped it up.”

Villegas knew it was going to be hard—but that didn’t stop him from trying against 400 other explorers. He practiced as long as he could to prepare for the explorer competition.

One thing Villegas learned at his explorer academy was that “failing to prepare represents failure.”

“I’ve been doing pushups, working out ahead of time, like two weeks and preparing myself,” Villegas said. “It resulted in me getting an award.

So, to prove to do something that you want to do, you have to go for it. I did the best I can. I did everything I can do. I was hoping to get first place but there is a lot of people out there.”

Villegas figured that joining San Gabriel Police Explorers would help him in his career of becoming a police officer, and it did by giving him courage, life values, and morals, as in respect towards his parents and many other things.

Villegas’ brother, who was also an Explorer, motivated him to follow in his footsteps since he said it had changed his life.

“I love explorers. I love all the physical activities that we do in explorers,” Villegas said.

“I never regret joining.”

Villegas encourages others to join the San Gabriel Police Explorer Program because of its transformative influence on his life.

Photo courtesy of Janelle Su

Sophomore Omar Villegas shakes the hand of a San Gabriel Police Department officer as he is congratulated for placing third place in a rigorous fitness challenge test.