OpinionsDouble perspective: driving pg.

4-5

FocusWhat makes you happy? pg. 6-7

FeaturesNail art is more than a hobby pg. 12

THE

MATADOR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014
O scar Molina

S A N G A B R I E L H I gh S C h O O L

VOLUME 59, NUMBEr 5

801 RAMONA ST., SAN GABrIEL, CA 91776

www.thematadorsghs.com

Miranda honored with red owers, blue jeans

Debbie Stone promoted to District

to develop my skills, Stone said. Although officially the new Coordinator, Stone still As the new Coordinator of Educational Services- has not transitioned to her new District office because English Language Development (ELD), Debbie Stone, the Districts flexibility has allowed her to finish up now the ex-Assistant Principal of Student Instruction her last tasks at San Gabriel. Stone admits that she at San Gabriel, will will miss her work be supervising the in instructional serdevelopment and vices and the stu implementation dents with whom of the ELD Pro she developed re gram throughout lationships, but she the Alhambra Unialso acknowledges fied School Dis that she is content trict at the K-12 with now having dulevel. Stone was ties that are more appointed to her focused and concennew position at trated. With her new the Jan. 7 school position, Stone plans board meeting. to implement her Its an honor philosophy of being to have been se hands-on and visible lected for this poat the school sites. sition, Stone said, In light of the tranbut Im also oversition to the Com whelmed with the mon Core Standards, work it will take to Stone looks forward oversee K-12. to observing and imPhoto by Derek Deng Stone received proving the program her position after Stone was promoted to Coordinator of Educational Services- offered to students having accepted English Language Development after working since 1994. learning English, or the proposal by whose primary lanthe Board and having undergone an interview in guage is not English. competition with an elementary school principal. The I want to take a look at the bigger scope, so I can interview consisted of a panel of three: District Super- build something cohesive, Stone said. intendent of Educational Services Dr. Gary Gonzalez, Having been with the District since 1994 as a chemDirector of Elementary Education Janet Lees, and Direc- istry teacher, Beginning Teacher Support Assessment tor of Secondary Education Brad Walsh. In taking the (BTSA) provider, instructional specialist, and assistant offer, Stone implicitly accepted to undertake the new principal, Stone will be leaving San Gabriel, but not position if selected. her Alhambra Unified home. Moving every five to six With this new job I feel like Im going towards years is part of the process through which she spreads something that is going to build me and challenge me her skills.

Photos courtesy of Kathy Sanchez

Left: Miranda is remembered as a kind and caring person who wore a smile wherever she went. Right: Mirandas coworkers decorated her bus and wore red owers for her funeral services.
Kri s t y Duong Silvia Miranda, a bus driver for the Alhambra Unified School District, died on Dec. 30 in Fontana. Every morning and after school, students at the Klingerman and Muscatel stops were greeted with a smile as she drove up to the bus stop and opened the doors, often with her red hair neatly tied back into bun with a bandana or a red flower adorning it. She liked to make people laugh and smile, bus driver Becky Hernandez said. She was never mad or sad. If she was a superhero, laughter would be her superpower. I personally think of her as a hero. My hero. Miranda was described as a kind-hearted person who constantly watched over others. She was not just a bystander. Silvia was the nicest person. She was always there if you needed someone to talk to and would go out of her way to help other people. She was always taking care of everyone, her friend and coworker Kathy Sanchez said. Miranda was born on September 22, 1979 in Guanajuato, Mexico. She previously attended Wilson High School and later worked at a clothing factory called St. Johns with a relative until it closed. Soon after that, she found a job at Durham School Services. After working at Durham for about one and a half years, Miranda applied for a job with Alhambra Unified School District Transportation Services and worked there until her death. She was also described as an outgoing and friendly person who always wanted to be in the mix according to her cousin Juanna Chavez. She was my cousin and my best friend. In the mornings, I would go to my bus and do the morning routine, and she would come up to my bus and be like Whats the agenda for today? So now that shes gone, I feel like Im still waiting for her, Chavez said. Her funeral services took place on Jan. 8 at the Resurrection Church in Los Angeles where all the attendees wore red flowers, just like the ones she would typically wear to school. Chavez set a duct tape hair bow and school bus keychain next to Miranda during her viewing. Before her funeral services began, senior Kristy Nguyen had students sign a note for her as a sign of a symbol of our gratitude and a way we could say thank you and goodbye once more. I wasnt as close to her as others were, but I felt that she was a big part of our lives since she was the first person we saw early in the mornings. She always had a great big smile and was always kind towards everyone. I felt the need to thank her because she always kept us safe and made all of us feel like her own children too. She was just that positive and loving, Nguyen said. On Jan. 10, students wore a red shirt, blue jeans, white bandanas, and flowered clips to show respect for Miranda. During the winter pep rally, a moment of silence was taken to remember her and a red balloon was released into the sky in her memory.

Administrators conduct schoolwide tardy sweep

Mi mi Lam School administrators enforced a surprise tardy sweep, gathering around the E building for any stragglers after the bell rang on Jan. 13 shortly after lunchtime for fifth period. No prior acknowledgements of the sweep were issued, so the late students got away with only a warning. I want to give students the chance to make the correction before we start to have penalties, Principal Jim Schofield said. We noticed that we [have] been seeing more students going to class after the tardy bell has rung, and it [is] a trend that we do [not] want to see grow. Now, consequences in the form of lunchtime detention will occur should an actual tardy sweep be enacted. If the student were to not attend during lunch, he or she will serve detention for an extended time after school. There is going to be a phone message that goes out [to the families] that talks about the fact that we are doing these [tardy sweeps] for real, Schofield said. It is like the real world where [there are] consequences that meet the crime so to speak, but if you do not take care of business, then that consequence will increase.

Photo by Mimi Lam

Principal Jim Schofield lectures students about being punctual. Due to the lack of prior notication, the tardy students got off with a warning.
Only a relatively small number of students arrived to class late, so the campus security and administrators did not make the student tardies much of a major predicament. However, Schofield does believe [punctuality] is something that students have a great control of. Students will be warned of future tardy sweeps, so that they will have adequate time and knowledge to prepare to hurry to class.

NEWS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Students apply for Luu to compete in county Poetry Out Loud Cash for College
S t even H o A m y Ye e To assist college bound seniors, the annual Cash for College workshop will be held on Feb. 1 at San Gabriel High School from 8 a.m to 12 p.m.. Students and their families are invited to attend the free public event for help on how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Cal Grant Verification forms required to apply for Cal Grants. FAFSA is required for financial aid, while Cal Grants offer financial aid and grants for any qualifed student attending a California college, university or technical school in California. Assistance on completing the California Dream Act Application for eligible AB540 students will also be available at the workshop. A quick checklist of documents to bring while applying for the FAFSA include 2013 income, tax, and bank information, and any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, or child support payments. Im hoping to learn how to assist my parents on making the financial burden easier, senior Sofia Ong said. Besides offering help with applications, Cash for Collge workshops present opportunities to earn scholarships worth up to $1,000. For more information, call (888)-CA-GRANT or visit www.calgrants.org/cashforcollege. After winning first place at the district level competition of Poetry Out Loud, senior Alex Luu will represent the Alhambra Unified School District at the county competition on Feb. 5 at the Cerritos Centre for the Performing Arts. Luu performed a rendition of Walt Whitmans poem, A March in the Rains Hard-Prest, and the Road Unknown at Alhambra Highs Little Theatre and was announced the first seed, allowing him to advance in the competition. I really want to win because poetry is a big part of my life, Luu said. It has helped me get through a lot of things and build a confidence inside me. Luu has been practicing his poems at least five times a day in order to prepare for the county competition, where he must win first place again to move onto the state competition until he can qualify for nationals. Although Luu will have to square off against about 15 other individuals, the winners of their own districts, he feels inspired to push himself harder. Im a little scared but it gets me more motivated to improve, Luu said. I expect a lot of heated competition because Ive seen a lot of people who made it to countyits pretty rough. But I will keep on practicing until I hit it. Luus current English teacher Katy Burkhart, who encouraged him and her other students to participate in Poetry Out Loud, believes that Luu has a good possibility of winning at the county competition. I believe that Alex will be amazing, Burkhart said. His poems are well selected and hes got the talent to hold his own. Luu is required to memorize another poem in addition to the one he performed at the district competition. After many suggestions from Burkhart and much deliberation, Luu chose the poem, Constantly Risking Absurdity by Lawrence Furlinghetti. Luu enjoys the surreal experience of becoming the speaker of the poem as he recites it, and gradually understanding the intentions of the poet. Luu plans to

Photo by Mimi Lam

Senior Alex Luu re c i t e s Wa l t Whitmans A March in the R a i n s H a rd Prest, and the Road Unknown in f ro n t o f f i v e judges at the district level of the Poetry Out Loud competition. Luu will be moving on to the county level of the competition.

Sophomores to take CAHSEE in February

Chelsea Huynh Due to the early arrival of spring break in the month of March, the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Examination) will be given out to sophomores a few weeks earlier this year. There are certain times when the CAHSEE can be held, and for the 2013-14 school year, they will fall on Feb. 4 and 5, as well as during the spring break. However, because spring break, as well as the rest of the schools schedule, were set in advance before the CAHSEE dates were released, students will have to take the test on Feb. 4 and 5. In past years, the CAHSEE was held around late February or March, which gave teachers and students time to prepare for the big test. With the early test dates, it is no surprise that the sophomores will have to work extra hard. I think it is a lot of pressure because my teachers are giving me a lot of work to prepare for it, sophomore Chin Chiao Liang said. The CAHSEE is a very important test that all students must pass in order to receive a high school diploma. It is comprised of two parts: mathematics and Language Arts, which also includes a writing prompt, graded on a scale of one to four. The passing score for each of the two sections is 350 out of a total score of 450. Students who do not pass a certain section will be given more opportunities to retake the CAHSEE during their junior or senior year. Although the CAHSEE will be held a few weeks earlier, the San Gabriel faculty believes that the students will be well prepared, no matter what the circumstances are.

bring his younger brother to the competition in hopes of encouraging him to appreciate poetry and speaking. Luu writes spoken word poetry in his free time. Over the winter break, he and his friends directed a video of his original piece, New, and posted it on YouTube and Facebook. Luu will become the second San Gabriel student to move onto the county competition, preceded by alumnus Calvin Lam who went up to the state division. Luu has learned much about self-confidence and his own speaking abilities through this competition. The support from my friends and teachers, especially Ms. Burkhart, has truly been a blessing to me, and its helped me realize so much about my voice that I overlooked before, Luu said. Luu has confidence that with dedication and perseverance, he can continue to advance in the competition.

february 2013
Cash for College

1 8

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)

5 12 19 26

Club Picture Day

7 14

SAT

Lincoln Holiday (No School) Presidents Day (No School)

11

Collaboration

13 20 27

Valentines Day

15 22

18 25

Reverse Collaboration/ Celebration of Learning/ Senior Panoramic Picture

21 28

Collaboration

Llamas set to compete in annual ROP competition

Reb ecca Lei and J ud y Tang Aspiring cooks, woodworking hopefuls, and potters-in-training are among some of the candidates that will compete at the annual Regional Occupational Program (ROP) competition. The competition is held every year and candidates selected from high schools all over California compete at district, county, and regional levels with one single winner as a result. Junior Jacqueline Llamas, a passionate chef at heart, is one of these candidates, entering the preliminaries with her specialty carrot cake with caramelized bacon bits. Cooking and baking since the age of six, Llamas has developed a love for being in the kitchen, though she has never competed before. I would really benefit from the experience [of being in a cooking competition], Llamas said. Hopefully my passion and love for cooking will take me far. Llamas was chosen as the lone competitor from San Gabriel by Culinary Arts teacher Debra Cruz, who felt that Llamas history and talent for the art of cooking would make her a worthy candidate. Even though this is her first time competing in an actual competition, I have faith in [Llamas], Cruz said. I think she has a fair chance at winning. The ROP competition is held annually for students who wish to display their talents in areas of trade, such as ceramics, woodworking, or the culinary arts. Candidate hopefuls first go through an interview at their respective high schools, and if selected, the candidate advances to the district level, where they will show off their skills. Im a bit unsure, but I think that the odds are in my favor, Llamas said. I have my family supporting me, so that gives me some encouragement to win. If I pass the preliminaries, Ill be using my grandmothers recipe for German chocolate cake to impress the judges. Llamas believes that her natural cooking talent and passion for working in the kitchen will contribute to her aspirations for a possible career in the field of culinary arts. Itd be great if I won, Llamas said. It would be wonderful to bring pride to San Gabriel and to myself.

Photo by Derek Deng

Junior Jacqueline Llamas quickly minces an onion in second period Culinary Arts, a skill she mastered during her childhood.

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

NEWS
laws, Yung said. On a different note, a slightly larger pool of people are allowed to carry out abortions. Nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants in California are now allowed to carry out abortions during a mothers first trimester of pregnancy. English teacher Georgia Daniels thinks that the purpose of the new law was to make the services more available to the women who need them. I am not in favor of restricting access to health care when health care is needed, Daniels said. A more relevant change, which would cater to many working class citizens, is the raising of the minimum wage in California. The previous rate of minimum wage was eight dollars; the changes, which will take full effect starting July, will bring the wages up to nine dollars. Head Campus Supervisor Raul Ramirez thinks the minimum wage raise is a good thing. Ramirez also thinks that the one percent at the top of the social ladder could afford to give workers a little bit more than that. Its good for the economy, Ramirez said. People have more money to spend. Its to every citizens benefit that people are paid a decent wage: a wage [with which] people can survive, so they can spend money and pump it right back into the economy. Although a portion of these new laws did not immediately take effect, Californians can expect a mix of changes to take hold throughout the year.

Citizens vote on marijuana

A n t h o n y Ya n g In the state of California, two groups have proposed ballot initiatives, that will legalize Cannabis, a scientific name for marijuana, and may be added onto the 2014 California ballot. Since the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales in the state of Colorado on Jan. 16, Cannabis advocates have been gathering signatures for the two ballot initiatives. One will be titled The Marijuana Control Legislation and Revenue Act, while the other will be titled The California Cannabis Hemp Initiative. The initiatives will legalize and apply a sales tax on Cannabis; proponents of the initiative claim that the legalization of Cannabis will reduce crime since the initiatives will prevent law enforcement from acting against Cannabis users. According to the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), a person charged with possession of marijuana is fined with $100. MPP also states that California has the fourth largest rate of arrests for marijuana possesion. Why not legalize [marijuana]? If its not as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco, then it should be legalized, senior Johanna Quach said. The proposed ballot initiatives are supported by Calif. politicians Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Kamala Harris. Newsom believes that the initiatives are a step in the right direction. This is about real people. Communities are devastated because of this abject thing called the drug war. Forget the politics. This is the right thing to do, Newsom said in a Huffington Post interview. California has a history of ballot initiatives concerning marijuana. In 1996, California voters passed an initiative to legalize medicinal use of marijuana and in 2010, former

New laws come with new year

Hanfrey Deng Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession. According to the latest Field poll, 55 percent Stricter gun control, easier access to of registered California voters supported abortions, and higher minimum wages marijuana legalization. With the majority are among the slew of laws that are being supporting the legalization of marijuana, put into place in California throughout proponents are scrambling to collect over the new year. Some laws were set to 150,000 signatures required to qualify to be take effect immediately on the 2014 ballot. at the year s start while While supporters of marijuana some were expected to be legalization have been increasing, implemented at certain there have also been those who points in the year. oppose the initiatives to legalize Some beneficial marijuana. Senior Jenny changes were enacted, Bui believes that marijuana such as the users will still have issues restriction of with the drug even if it is employers legalized. However, Bui from taking supports the medicinal advantage of use of marijuana. their employees If [voters] pass the initiative, immigration status then people will still abuse the as a means of leverage. drug, Bui said. However, there were Backers of the initiatives more controversial feel that the legalization of reforms, such as the marijuana should wait until 2016, banning of plastic bags at due to the larger voter turnout Illustration by Cassandra Chen grocery stores. during presidential elections. MPP Additional restrictions Communications Director Mason Tvert against guns were also put into effect. believes that the 2016 presidential election will For example, gun owners must lock show how many people support the initiatives. up their firearms where felons and the [MPP] believes a 2016 initiative will mentally ill live, and kits that modify best demonstrate just how much support ammunition magazines to holster more there is for ending marijuana prohibition in than ten rounds are against the law. California, Tvert said. Junior Simon Yung expressed Although a majority of voters support the concern for the adverse effects that legalization of marijuana, the state will not might result from magazine capacity know until the 2014 election or 2016 election. restrictions. In the end, the voters will decide whether Criminals still get to do whatever marijuana will be legalized or not. they want because they dont follow the

Photo by Derrick Chi

Juniors Coco So and Star Bojorquez struggle to claim a chair in a spirit game of blindfolded musical chairs during the winter pep rally, as an excited crowd cheers them on. ASB spirit committee leader Ryan Duong guides the blindfolded students as they wander aimlessly toward the chairs.

Winter pep rally recognizes sports, remembers bus driver

C h e l s e y Tran Silence descended upon the Matador Arena during the winter pep rally as senior Kristy Nguyen asked those in attendance to have a moment of silence for bus driver Silvia Miranda. According to Nguyen, the Associated Student Body (ASB) was originally supposed to lead the moment of silence but in the end, their advisor Cecilia Revilla asked her to conduct it. Students were encouraged to wear red tops as well as red roses and bandannas in honor of Silvia Miranda. It was really heartwarming to not hear a sound for once. The silence that fell upon the Arena was proof itself of the respect and love people had for Ms. Silvia. I wanted everyone to remember and acknowledge her even if they didnt know her personally. It was one of the most memorable and moving events that has occurred within my last four years at San Gabriel, Nguyen said. The pep rally proceeded with the classic performances, spirit games, and introductions of the winter seasons sports team members. Band played pop tunes such as Die Young by Ke$ha, Cant Hold Us by Macklemore, and I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift as students filed into the arena. Show Choir sang the Star Spangled Banner, a change from the usual playing of the national anthem by band. Junior varsity and varsity cheer performed a cheer and a routine consisting of stunts and dancing to boost school spirit. Winter sports teams, basketball, soccer, and wrestling, introduced their team members, acknowledged their junior varsity teams, and invited everybody to attend their next game. Choreo also performed a dance routine. However, the appropriateness of their song choices came into question. It was great but the lyrics were inappropriate, junior Jane Foster* said. Regardless, their aesthetics did not disappoint as was evident by the applause. Choreo was the best part because they can dance [well], senior Josue Belmontes said. The Drill team was unable to perform because some members were unable to finish some medical forms in time. Despite this unexpected change, drill plans to save the routine they planned for this rally for the Matador Showcase, according to co-captain Carol Lam, junior. While waiting for ASB to change activities, a group of students started the wave. It went around the gym at least twice. The wave was a lot fun, the first one, but it was kind of disappointing when people stopped standing up and moving, senior Naree Dachrucha said. According to Dachrucha, all of the wave attempts after the first one lost momentum and participation as it continued around. After the pep rally, students talked amongst themselves about it. Even though it was spirited, it had a sad atmosphere because of the death of Silvia Miranda, junior Aydin Hau said, the Matador Marching Bands drum major. The winter pep rally concluded with the traditional fight song and alma mater, played by the Matador Marching Band.
*Name omitted by request.

OPINIONS
Garcia later Carolina Garcia
My passion, my power
Dont be nervous, dont be nervous, I said as I walked on stage toward the awaiting spotlight. After I said my two lines in a two-hour play, I waited for a reaction from the audience, but none ever came. Backstage I paced back and forth all night, wondering why I wasnt good enough. During my freshman year, when I received a part in the school play, The Outsiders, it did not matter if it was the smallest part. I planned to make my performance memorable. Instead, on the last night of the play, I was sitting on a curb quickly drying my tears before my moms car parked in front of me. I was discouraged and certain that I would never audition for another play; right there and then I vowed never to act again. Since those performances, I began to become paranoid. Talking in front of the class was like a death sentence. I had lost all confidence. I was angry at myself; how dare I allow myself to shut down. How dare I be so used to success that when I failed for the first time I quit. How dare I become a wall between me and my dream. There are millions of people who will tell you that you arent good enough. However, we owe it to ourselves to be that one person to say Yes, I am good enough. Starting my sophomore year I decided to pursue my love for public speaking and took up Speech and Debate. I signed up for an event called Orical Interpretation (OI). After working extremely hard and with the help of my OI captain Justin Yeh, I began to receive positive feedback, and in varsity competition I broke to semi-finals. I couldnt believe that I, the girl who had badly played a character with two lines, was good enough. Slowly my confidence rose enough to check out a script for Dramatic Interpretation (DI). I spent one week memorizing and perfecting it. Then, I asked the assistant coach, Angel Pinedo, for his opinion on my performance. He loved it! Andrew Nguyen, the head coach, and Angel encouraged me to compete in the upcoming competition with my DI. For a second I remembered the feeling of failure, but this opportunity was not worth missing. As I was walking, I heard some people talking about auditioning for the spring play. I did not expect to do anything with the information, but on audition day I found myself sitting in the Little Theatre waiting for my turn. Three weeks and five days later I did not find my name on the cast list. I miraculously did not cry, because that same day I was told that I was good enough to compete with varsity members at the upcoming competition. Walking away from the darkness of the school and towards the light of the buses, I realized that I had been wrong to decide the level of my ability based on another persons opinion. Confidence is now one of my biggest traits. I show it while performing and speaking in public. In the end, the overall lesson I learned from my experience was to not fear failure, because what does not kill you only makes you stronger.

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Editorial

Internet liability jeopardizes, exposes personal safety

Are you sure you would like to delete this post? This is a permanent action that cannot be undone. This warning commonly precedes users attempts to delete their photos, posts, accounts, or any other online records. This sense of reassurance that anything and everything can be effaced off the Internet for whatever reason allows users to lower their appropriate caution for the online content they post. However, users are mistaken. Deleting content merely makes it inaccessible to the public, but it is never out of reach of service providers, determined hackers, and the government. Internet users should be more aware of the content they post because nothing truly disappears. Recently this month, a group of security researchers successfully hacked into the files of Snapchat, a picturemessaging service that is increasingly popular with teenagers and children. Snapchat reassures its users that the pictures they send will self-destruct immediately after being viewed, but that is not the case. The hackers posted the usernames and telephone numbers of 4.6 million users simply to demonstrate how it is possible to uncover private information and supposedly-deleted photos. In December of 2013, hackers were able to steal the usernames and passwords of over two million Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other accounts. Although users cannot stop these breaches in Internet security, they can be responsible for the content they choose to post to minimize the consequences of having their posts resurface. Colleges and employers are increasingly browsing through an applicants social networks to judge their character. Pictures of wild partying and posts containing foul language could possibly jeopardize the likelihood of being accepted or hired. Sending pictures of racy or illegal activities in confidence that it will be deleted is also advised against in case it were to resurface. It is in the best interest of Internet users to be informed about which applications are safe to use and which methods companies administer to ensure protection. In order to avoid judgment on both a personal and professional level, one should consider long and short term effects of posted content. However a person chooses to express themselves ultimately comes down to what standards they set for themselves and how much they are concerned about their image.

Illustration by Carolina Garcia

Asking for rides should not be condoned as shameful or negative

O scar Mol i na Sweat dripping down my forehead uncontrollably, my fingers trembling across my keyboard, I nervously open my Facebook message box and type the words, Can you please give me a ride? It is painful. Every time I ask for a ride I feel embarrassed, like I cannot carry my own weight and support myself. I go from being a friend to a burden that one has to drag around. Being involved in a plethora of activities during high school, I have had to travel a lot to be here and there, whether it be a volunteer service at the Los Angeles Food Bank, or visiting the prom site. In addition to worrying about the actual event, I also have to be concerned with the challenge of getting there and back home. With a newborn sister at home, and my parents always busy with work or errands, it becomes difficult to ask them to take time out of their hectic schedules to drive me somewhere. Typically, if an event is close enough to home, I hop on my bike and pedal away. Despite arriving sweaty to wherever I am going, I would rather bike somewhere than make someone drive me. However, the problem arises when the location is farther away. People, whether it be my friends or their parents, who drive me places may question why I have not learned to drive if I always so desperately need to go places, and I can only respond by saying that I have not taken the time to learn. Although not having a license may be my fault, through experiencing my parents taking my friends and I places, I have learned what it is like to be both the driver and the asker, me usually being the latter. I, as an asker, hope that drivers understand that I do not intend to make it troublesome for them; I am only looking for some assistance. That is all a ride is, assistance. If taking me somewhere hurts you, then know that it hurts me just as much to ask. By accepting a ride, I become indebted to the driver. This is why I always display basic etiquette when asking for a ride. This includes, but is not limited to: saying thank you and please, pitching in some gas money if possible, offering the person a ride the next time you can, or not destroying the car. If drivers deny me rides, it is not a problem. It is their vehicles for crying out loud and they can do whatever they want. Drivers should not feel bad because I understand that it can be problematic. I am a big boy and will manage to find some way to get to where I need to go. Drivers just need to know that I, along with other askers, are wholeheartedly thankful to those who can lend a helping hand.

Illustrations by Steven Ho and Oscar Molina

Public service announcement: driving me home or driving me crazy?

S t even H o My car is my castle. As soon as I passed my driving test and got insurance for my brothers Camry, I gained a new sense of power and independence behind the wheel. My mixed CDs are personal bards. My trunk is a private storage dungeon. On my drivers throne, I am king. But if I learned anything from driving myself to cross country practice and school for six months was that a golden seat comes with burdens. So many times would friends ask me for rides home or to a common destination. I slowly started to realize that I was being seen as taxi and not a friend when the first thing people ever say to me was, Hey, you drive right? There is a stigma floating around that driving makes a person cool and those who refuse are to be shunned. Regardless, I feel uncomfortable because I live under the pressure of simply having a license. Drivers should feel welcome to decide yes or no and not be labeled rude or a bad friend if the answer comes out negative. People who ask for rides need to understand that driving costs money. I pay for my own gas and black gold is precious. Ride-hitchers also need to be aware that my car is my property, my vehicle, my castle, and respect is key. I hope I speak for parents as well when I say that driving disrespectful high-schoolers is a pain. When the situation is serious, we would definitely open our castle doors to all who need help, but all persons in the back seat should at least be polite and give a genuine, Thank you afterwards. I know what it feels like to not have the luxury of a car. I used to walk everywhere because I never wanted to bother anyone for rides. My philosophy was that if I never asked for rides, I would never have to give any myself, so I rode the bus everywhere. However, I think it is my right to reject people of rides if it makes me uncomfortable. I should be able to say no to giving a person a ride if I know they will insult my Lorde CD. The bottom line is that I did not get a license to drive people around. I got it to become more independent and get to places I need to be. In my honest opinion, the hardest part of learning how to drive is learning how to say no. If your destination is along my way, then sure, I invite you into my castle. But if you are not going to respect my throne, consider yourself banished.

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Concept of beauty is subjective

A m a n d a Mol i na Beauty has often been misconceived as how good something looks on the outside; most of the time what is in the inside does not mean anything if the way you look on the outside is not up to standard in the eyes of modern society. The way that humans are constantly judging each other based on differences in appearance is no way to live and is completely unfair to the person being judged. As for the people doing the judging, they probably do not know the person and have no right whatsoever to criticize at all. A profound case of misjudgment based on appearance occurred during the sophomore year of motivational speaker Elizabeth Velasquez. Velasquez came across a video on YouTube that changed her life forever. The video was titled The Worlds Ugliest Woman and it had a picture of her. It was only a mere eight seconds long, but somehow this video that ridiculed a teenager managed to get four million views. The worst part was not the video, but all the nasty and offensive comments left by insensitive viewers who did not understand how to sympathize. The fact that so many people are willing to spend time watching such a distasteful video and exert so much effort to ridicule another human being is appalling. People are finding entertainment in anothers suffering by watching a video that degrades and shames a teenager for something she cannot control or recover from. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Velasquez made her feelings very clear and left a message for all the people who had made such horrid comments about her. You can tell me to kill myself. You can tell me that I am awful and ugly and Im this horrible monster, but thats your opinion and I respect it, Velasquez said. What viewers probably did not know was that this woman struggles with a rare syndrome that is still undiagnosed. It inhibits her from gaining any weight and only two other people in the world have it. This goes to show how cruel and insensitive people can be to one another. The idea of people making judgments based on her looks is disgusting and childish. They had no right to criticize her when they did not even know her or her story. This woman who

OPINIONS
chi-apet

has no power to reverse her syndrome or change the way the world has perceived her has to sit back and watch people make hateful comments even though they are clueless about the syndrome she lives with. All the malevolence that certain humans manage to put on another human being is unacceptable. The people who believe it is okay to just play around with someones feelings do not understand what it feels like to be on the other side. They are not putting themselves in the position where they would be the one being humiliated. After so much hate was sent her way, Velasquez still managed to forgive and forget, and empower those who have faced the same cruel superficial nature in society. In our beauty obsessed culture, anything other than beautiful is a crime and denied acceptance. People do not give each other the chance to actually get to know each other and base everything off of looks.When somebody just happens to look out of the ordinary, people are so quick to analyze them completely and make false judgments based on the way they look. Societys guideline of beauty above all should never be the case. It is time to stop judging and begin to understand that the way we appear on the outside does not define who we are as people. We define who we are by the way we act and the compassion we show, not by the way we look.

Derrick Chi
17 Going On 18
Seventeen years and a few days ago, my mother carried me in her arms after she gave birth to me, her very first child in her family. Throughout my entire life, my parents have made my decisions for my sister and me. This started ever since I was about five years old when my parents had already signed us up for Chinese school. From two in the afternoon to about six in the evening, I would sit through hours of lecture about something I had no enjoyment for. When I was about seven, we were already taking swimming lessons. It was their lifelong dream to see us both competing against other swimmers and bringing home shiny medals. They were happy to tell people we were learning how to swim, but I was not. I want to learn how to dance, I told my parents months after I started my swimming lessons. My parents looked at me disgustedly and played it off without realizing how serious I was. Although I enjoyed swimming and it was a sport my father used to do, I did not learn to love it as he did. When I first entered high school, I managed to have a little more power on the things I wanted to do. I joined clubs at school without having my parents telling me what to join. But that did not change the fact that my parents were still bugging me and controlling my life. I remembered wanting to take Spanish as a foreign language rather than Mandarin since I knew some from taking it at a very young age. Of course, I needed to inform my parents before actually signing up for the course. You must take Mandarin. It is part of your culture and it will help you in the long run, my parents told me stupidly. I was furious. I did not need my parents to tell me what to take and what not to take. Even if I tried convincing them that taking Spanish would benefit me more than taking Mandarin, they never bothered to listen to what I had to say or never cared about the decisions I planned on making myself. They thought whatever decisions I made were wrong. As I grew older, I realized that my parents made decisions for me because they wanted me to succeed. They knew what was best for me. My parents wanted me to take Mandarin because they wanted me to learn more and know more than the basics. They made me take swimming lessons because they knew that swimming could prevent me from becoming obese. In a few days, I can officially call myself an adult. I can finally make decisions for myself like an adult, and I can finally take charge of the decisions I make without having my parents decide them for me. I can finally control the rest of my life. I learned to live with my parents making every decision for me ever since I was little. Although they believed that I would learn something from their judgment and decisions, I did not. My parents have failed to teach me how to make my own decisions whether it was as simple as choosing a sport I would like to participate. Even though I am going to become a legal adult and my parents may not be able to make decisions for me, I respect them for knowing what was best for me from this day on.

Larger sized clothing has diminished in society

E m m a n u e l M a re s c a You are eager to try on your brand new clothes and show them off. Unfortunately, your worst nightmare is realized when your new shirt just will not button up. You ensured it was your size, but it does not fit. The clothes you normally wear that you received last year still fit fine. It is becoming apparent that popular clothing lines have been gradually marketing to a thinner and smaller sized group. This standard is fairly new. As of December last year, many teenagers in the L-XXL size range have been noticing that gradually fewer and fewer stores carry their sizes. The remaining stores only have weirdly fitted and compressed varieties of clothes that are not much bigger than the medium sizes. What makes the predicament of few oversized clothing options worse is the problem that designers do not put enough effort and variety into their designs. People are subjugated to ugly clothing simply because designers put more emphasis, thought, and detail on smaller sized clothing. Youve never seen such hideous clothes in your entire life [in the plus size section]... Its insulting what these designers do to these women, American fashion consultant Tim Gunn said in an interview with fashion magazine Fashionista.

Illustration by Erin Truong

More often than not, the larger sizes in stores are misleading. Anything above a medium fits tight around the arms and the stomach area is rather short and snug. I have taken many clothes back to several stores in the mall and asked why they fit so tightly for an XL. The answer is always the same: it is an athletic or slim fit. It goes against the whole purpose of the XL size, thinning them down to mediums and passing them off as extra-large. This sizing issue, apparent in many popular stores such as Forever 21 and JC Penney, is a blatant allusion to the beauty standard that only skinny people can be socially acceptable and look beautiful in fashionable clothes.

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 John Truong 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, Amanda Molina, Cynthia Navarro, Jennifer Thai, Justin Toyomitsu, Erin Truong, Anthony Yang, Amy Yee, Richard Yue Managing Editor News Editors

Editors-in-Chief

The Matador Bullring

How have you been keeping up with your New Years resolutions?

I bike with my dad at night, cook with my mom, and Skype with my sister because shes in college. I want to spend more time with my family. - Emily Dong, 9th grade

I want to get my grades up, so [I] study and do homework. - Dulce Argona, 10th grade

By pulling every thread of my determination together to get out of bed and do work. - Aydin Hau, 11th grade

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. Kims 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.

I want to become an airplane mechanic...so Im trying to gure out motors [because] you know, a motor is a motor. - Giovanny Ramirez, 12th grade
Photos by Derek Deng

FOCUS

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

THE MATADOR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

FOCUS

HAPPINESS EXISTS IN MULTIPLE FORMS UNIQUE TO PEOPLE

Jud y Tang Happiness is a Chipotle chicken bowl; happiness is letting out a fart after a long day; happiness is wearing sweats all day long; happiness can be anything. Happiness is prosperity, joy, a freedom from suffering, and a good life, according to PBS.org. But one of lifes most subjective questions is What does happiness really mean? Does it mean different things for everyone? Biologists from the National Center of Biotechnology Information found that happiness is simply a series of neurochemically based emotions. Because the word happy has been so overused, it is difficult to define in terms of science. Instead, biologists consider human emotions as positive and negative, each associated with centers in the brain, known as the reward and punishment centers, respectively. Enzymes such as hydroxylase and decarboxylase create neurotransmitters called dopamine and serotonin, which regulate emotions based on bodily actions. Dopamine is stimulated by rewarding experiences such as eating savory foods, taking recreational drugs, or conducting sexual activity. Serotonin controls many functions, including moods, behavior, hormone regulation, and depression. Dopamine and serotonin are believed to cause happiness. Competing [in sports] makes me happy, senior Sebastian Nandy, who plays football and runs track, said. Often the successes and achievements we attain in the pursuit of certain goals evoke feelings of happiness and content. For some, the feeling of having done kind and benevolent actions for others brings senses of satisfaction. What makes me happy is making other people happy, freshman Emily Dong said. People exhibit emotions of happiness as a response to a variety of stimulants, but there are simply too many to name, because happiness really means different things to different people. I feel happy knowing I have my familys support, my volleyball girls support, and people who are always there for me, sophomore Gabriela Gonzalez said. Martin Seligman, a psychologist and the author of Authentic Happiness, describes happiness as pleasure, engagement, and meaning. Pleasure is the happy part, engagement is the good life part, and meaning is the contribution to a bigger world. Seligman believes all three parts are important to leading a happy life. I feel really happy whenever I get good grades or meet my parents expectations, junior Frankie Zhuang said. Everybody has different experiences and lifestyles, so the meaning of happiness differs from person to person. What satisfies and makes one person smile and laugh could probably anger and annoy someone else. The things in life that can bring happiness vary, and we live our lives by trying to find what brings us the most pleasure and contentment. Because our human instinct is to find what brings joy and fulfillment, we reject things that bring us discontent and continuously endeavour to find what makes us happy. People need to try out different things and find out how they feel about them, in order to find their happiness, school psychologist Art Pangilinan, Dr. Art, said. From the food that satisfies your cravings, to being comfortable in your environment, or just relaxing without a care in the world, bliss is unique to every person. Happiness is love; happiness is joy; happiness is anything you want it to be.

ILLUSTRATION BY CASSANDRA CHEN; RESPONSES COMPILED BY THE MATADOR STAFF.

LIFE &ART
Twerking
A trend that became widely popular in 2013 was twerking, a dance in which a person squats and shakes his or her butt up and down. In the month of April, singer Miley Cyrus posted a video of herself twerking in a suit that covers her face. Twerking became an even bigger hit in August 2013 when Cyrus twerked on Robin Thicke at the Video Music Awards.This event became infamous, and it also led to a lot of negative talk about Cyrus. Mileys twerking influenced a lot of people, junior Stella Liang said. It made them believe that exposing themselves in such manner [is] acceptable. Then twerking went viral. Videos of how to twerk or just girls twerking began to appear all over the Internet. Twerking was the hottest trend that everybody wanted to do. [Twerking] should not have become so popular, junior Octavio Duran said. It makes all the girls posting these videos look wrong. Although twerking was not seen as something acceptable, it became the new trend, and it still is.

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Major Internet trends of past year linger on

Six seconds for a video seems like an awful short amount of time to make anything decent video, but the new app Vine made it happen. Vine was released earlier in January 2013 and captivated the Apple and Android user audiences. Months later, Vine was still going viral and so were the videos. These six second videos started appearing on Facebook walls and even Facebook pages were also made. People would find joy and laughter in these short videos which were meant to be funny. Vine videos soon became the talk of the year, when everybody was asking, Did you watch that one Vine where...? or That Vine was totally funny! You should watch it. Ill send you the link. Vine videos were and still continue to be concise six second videos that people enjoy in a quick glance. Vine videos grasp ones attention span in as little as six seconds, which makes it more enjoyable than seeing a one minute video. Vine videos were so popular in 2013 because they were short, funny, and to the point.
Background image courtesy of Vine List compiled by Carolina Loaisiga

Vines

Image courtesy of ryot.org

The Fox by Ylvis

A series of events in pop culture shocked the world, but the question that most people never asked themselves finally came out, What does the fox say? Most people were saying, Well, it hasnt really crossed my mind. But for two Norwegian comedians by the stage name of The Ylvis Brothers, the idea was also out of the blue. While writing a theme song for the new season of their comedy show, the brothers were sharing ideas and the topic changed into the sounds that animals make. But there was one animal that was not said and that is when one curious brother asked the other: What does the fox say? They recorded their song and made a video to go with it which left viewers with mixed emotions. The video had different animals dancing and the song went through the noises they make. The sounds that the brothers decided that a fox says were Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding and Wa-pa-pa-papa-pa-pow. Some people took it as a complete joke and got a laugh out of it; others thought the idea was clever. Whether the fox says those things or not, the video got 12 million views on YouTube in less than a week.
Image courtesy of Personalweb.about.com Image courtesy of ylvis_thefox_ezstatic.com

All briefs written by Ileana Perez, Amanda Molina, and Carolina Loaisiga

Favorite fashion trends fade away, reinvented as new year launches

C h e l s e y Tr an With the new year upon us, we can now take a clear step back and examine what the hype was in 2013 in regards to clothing. Crop tops and high-waisted bottoms made a reappearance and flower crowns became mainstream. Some other trends arose and faded away just as quickly. I think the top trends for last year were combat boots, crop tops for girls, and grunge sort of clothing, like dark clothing, for fall. My personal style is very grunge and dark clothing, sort of like The 70s Show in a way, junior Calvin Sied. For a while in summer, crop tops could be found everywhere one looked. Everything from tanks to long-sleeved shirts to graphic tees were cropped and will probably remain cropped for a while longer. Graphic tees made a comeback last year. Their diverse style caters to a wide variety of personalities. Witty phrases and breathtaking scenery decorated the shirts of many students. Superheroes, bands, and flowers were also common. Graphic tees made a smooth transition into winter and will most likely remain present for at least another year. Lana Del Reys popularity in 2013 ushered in a year of flower crowns. These colorful headpieces were worn practically everywhere, from formal dances to summer music festivals. Peplum is a detail on clothing that flairs out at the waist. This whimsical style came back with a passion in 2013. This detail could be found on shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, even on some jackets. However, one may rejoice or mourn, depending on personal opinion, because peplum is on its way out again. Its more formal feel limited its opportunities to be worn, taking away from this pieces desirability. 2013 fashion favored the 90s it seems. High-waisted pants were all the craze last year, possibly to make up for all of the bare midriffs. Event though this blast from the past is often associated with mothers, this style was quickly snatched up in stores and became a wardrobe staple not long after. I think [high-waisted pants] look kind of weird, except some girls can rock it. Crop tops are cute, but sometimes its too short, junior Michele Quach said. Trends are generally recycled. Which decades fashion will we get inspiration from next?

Photos by Chelsey Tran

Junior Shannon Hang (left) and senior Nick Wong (right) start off the new year by wearing some of the most popular trends in fashion. Hang wears a long-sleeve crop top with her light-wash denim jeans. Wong wears a simple graphic tee, which displays an artistic decoration in front of his shirt and khaki shorts to match with his white graphic tee. With the new year just entering, many new and old fashion trends will appear around school.

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Inuential actor, actress inspire todays teenagers

Actress: Jennifer Lawrence
by Mimi Lam

LIFE &ART
by Carolina Garcia

Actor: Johnny Depp

In Hollywood, Im obese. Im considered a fat actress. While for actress Jennifer Lawrence, this is miles away from being true, she inspires thousands of people from giving in to the media and Hollywoods high standards. I do think she is an inspiring person. She is one of those actresses who does not get caught up in being famous, and she stays true to who she really is, junior Melissa Benavides said. In 2013, she gained recognition for her acting talent when she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and several other awards for Best Actress in Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence is also best known as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. She proved that men are not the only ones who know how to pull a punch and become a lead action hero. When Im watching a movie she has a role in, it really feels as though the character shes playing is really her own self, Benavides said. That takes a lot of talent to be able to do. Putting her acting skills aside, Lawrence also promotes awareness about body image. She uses her role in The Hunger Games to lead her adolescent audience to the right path of a healthy diet. Despite her adult roles in American Hustle, she still keeps a clean image and does not allow herself to give into pressure. Lawrence explained how she works out at the gym in order to maintain a healthy and fit body. She vowed to never lose weight for roles. We have the ability to control this image that young girls are never going to be seeing. They see enough of this body that they will never be able to obtain and its an amazing opportunity to rid ourselves of that in this industry, Lawrence said in The Guardian. Although Lawrence makes quite the sums of money from her huge box-office movies, she lives modestly with her parents. $10 million and Im still living in my parents condoIve always lived in a tiny rat-infested apartment in New York, or a little condo in LA, or a normal house in Kentucky. I think it would be very bizarre to live in a big mansion by myself, Lawrence said in Elle Magazine. On the surface, Lawrence attends red carpet events and Oscar parties, but her contributions in 2013 made her an influential person. She stands out among the Hollywood glamour with not only her good looks, but also her bravery to break the rules in the entertainment industry. I think having the ability to overcome the fame and the money in order to stay your true self definitely takes a lot of courage, Benavides said. To take notice in how an actor/actress decisions affect individuals and to take part in positive actions makes a good role model. Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most successful actresses and will hopefully continue to make a positive Photo by MingleMediaTVCC BY impact to people in following years to come.

Johnny Depp brings a new meaning to the word generous. While Depp was filming in London, his daughter was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Doctors diagnosed her with an E. coli infection and treated her immediately. To show his appreciation, Depp visited young patients there dressed in his Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean costume and donated one million dollars. Depp has given his time and support to Childrens Hospice Coalition, Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Dan Marino Foundation, and The Shelia Witkin Foundation. Depp has taken into heart his fans and their dreams. Depp celebrated the life of one fan in particular when he wore a bracelet with the engraved message Today is a gift have fun. There was also an engraved Age 11 and the name Dustin. The quote is from Dustin, who died at age 11 from cancer. Depp wore the bracelet when he put his hands in the cement on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I cant tell you how much that meant to us that our sweet Dustin was there with him, Lori Butterworth of the Childrens Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition said. He has inspired all of his fans to be generous, especially the fans who started Johnnys Angels: Depp Fans for CharityTM. The charity was founded to honor him, raise funds for Childrens Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition (CHPCC), help families in need to find out more about childrens hospice options in their local area, and raise awareness of the needs of sick children and their families. Depp dropped out of school at age 15 and was introduced to acting at the young age of 21. He received his first role a year later when he starred in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street. Depp, unlike most young actors, did not become fame obsessed; he has remained humble even to this day. Depp was recently named number one autograph giver by Sheknows Magazine. My cousin chased Johnny out of the airport when he was about to get into his car; he noticed her and gave her an autograph, freshman Marlene Chi said. He was really nice. Most celebrities would just leave. The famous actor is also unique from other actors and actresses. Some actors make a career out of being themselves in a movie, Tim Burton, a famous director, said in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I enjoy those real character actors that [become] different creatures, and he is that way. Depp is an inspiration who has done so much for those in need, he has worked hard every day of his life to advance in his career, and his devotion to all his charities and priorities is respectable. Every time he accepts an award, he always thanks his fans; he is truly being sincere. He never forgets that his fans are what inspire him to succeed in his Photo by Georges Biard/CC BY acting career today.

Upcoming year brings excitement to awaiting audiences

L a u re n Ka k a z u As the new year begins, it is definite that this year will be a whirlwind of things to look forward to. From local concert tours of famous music artists to upcoming movie releases, people of all ages will have many things to be excited about in 2014. Like in previous years, movie theaters will be bustling with people eagerly waiting to watch either the sequel of their favorite film or the next superhero movie. Among the people who will definitely take a trip to the movies this year is senior Kevin Chuong, who is waiting to watch the movie The Amazing Spiderman 2 when it releases on May 2. Ever since the first Amazing Spiderman movie, I kind of liked it better than the last three Spiderman movies, Chuong said. What gets me excited is how they might introduce two villains [that] I know: the Goblin and the Rhino. Well-known music artists, such as Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga, will release new albums and make appearances at upcoming concerts or other events. Sophomore Ericka Yap is expecting to buy Taylor Swifts fifth studio album, which was announced at the American Music Awards to be released soon. If [her next album] did come out this year, of course I would buy it, Yap said. Sophomore Christy Deng is also excited to hear her favorite music artist One Direction, when they begin their Where We Are Tour on April 25 promoting their third studio album, Midnight Memories. Deng plans to see them on their tour when they perform at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 12 and 13. Im beyond excited, Deng said. Its [going to] be my second time seeing them in concert. I just get all happy thinking about it. Other events happening in 2014 include numerous award shows such as the Grammy Awards, which will air on Jan. 26, and the Oscars, which will air on March 2. With new things occurring in the music and movie industries, people will have so much to look forward to this year.

The Matador Muse

A Lone Minds Wish
One boy distant and cold Walks to school all alone No one to be with No one to laugh with Which is another average day He walks in school and it starts Students taunt him Strangers join in with them No one can feel his misery No one can see his tears Just nobody but himself He finally got home and saw a card It actually played Happy Birthday With an unfamiliar mood It was joy and happiness Something he had missed Since the day he turned five The card granted him one wish Any wish he wanted He clasped his hands together and Wished to be able to feel things So he will never be numb anymore Just one wish will bring him back From his cold and sick mind. -Anthony Yang, 10

Illustration by Cassandra Chen

SPORTS
BOYS BASKETBALL
VARSITY 1/6 @Monrovia 1/8 @ El Monte 1/10 vs. Mountain View 1/14 vs. Mark Keppel 1/17 @Schurr JV 1/6 @ Monrovia 1/8 @ El Monte 1/10 vs. Mountain View 1/14 @ Mark Keppel 1/17 vs. Schurr FRESHMAN 1/6 @ Monrovia 1/8 @ El Monte 1/10 vs. Mountain View 1/14 vs. Mark Keppel 1/17 @ Schurr 75-53 L 53-34 L 59-15 W 56-38 L Cancelled N/A N/A N/A N/A Cancelled N/A 50-48 W N/A N/A Cancelled

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

Athletes return to fundamentals

Step 1 Step 2

10

SoccerStep Over
Carolina Loaisiga

Soccer is arguably the worlds most popular sport due its basic requirements: a ball, a net, and people with exuberant enthusiasm. There is no other sport with a rich ancestry as soccer, orginating from various countries around the world; however, they all share a common link: a ball and a net. Step 1: To start, dribble the ball with your left foot. Make sure to keep the ball close to you. Step 2: Plant your left foot firmly on the ground next to the ball. Step 3: Swing your right foot completely around without touching the ball. Your left foot should still be parallel to the ball. Step 4: Then, tap the ball with the outside of your right foot and start dribbling away from your opponent.

Step 3

Step 4

GIRLS BASKETBALL
VARSITY 1/3 vs. Mayfair 1/6 @ Montain View 1/8 @ El Rancho 1/10 @ Gabrielino 1/14 vs. Mark Keppel 1/17 @ Schurr JV 12/18 vs. Mayfair 1/8 @ El Rancho 1/14 vs. Mark Keppel 1/17 @ Schurr FRESHMAN 1/8 @ El Rancho 1/14 @ Mark Keppel 1/17 vs. Schurr 6-42 L 61-14 W 53-36 L 43-36 W 62-38 L Cancelled N/A N/A 55-13 L Rescheduled N/A N/A N/A

Photos compiled by Derek Deng

BOYS SOCCER
VARSITY 1/7 vs. South Pas. 1/9 @ El Monte 1/14 @ Bell Gardens 1/16 vs. Mark Keppel JV 1/7 vs. South Pas. 1/9 @ El Monte 1/14 @ Bell Gardens 1/16 vs. Mark Keppel 5-0 L 10-0 L 5-0 L N/A 2-2 T 4-1 L 5-0 L N/A

WrestlingShots
Reb ecca Lei

Step 1

Step 2

Wrestling is a fundamental element of human interaction; children do it with each other just as much adults tumble with one another. Step 1: By stretching your leg back, execute a lunge until your frontal side is practically in contact with your opponent. Step 2: Drop to the floor, and with your knee touching the bare floor, lean into your opponent in front of you, closing the miniscule distance between you and your competitor in this technique. Step 3: Using the full force and strength of your arms, grab your opponents legs in order to restrict their movement as much as possible. Step 4: By making a sudden movement to immobilize your opponent, sweep them off their feet and onto the ground.

GIRLS SOCCER
VARSITY 1/9 vs. El Monte 1/14 vs. Bell Gardens 1/16 @ Mark Keppel JV 1/9 vs. El Monte 1/14 vs. Bell Gardens 1/16 @ Mark Keppel 3-1 L 2-0 L N/A 7-0 L 6-1 L N/A

Step 3

Step 4

CO-ED WRESTLING
1/8 vs. Mark Keppel 1/15 @ Montebello 1/22 @ Alhambra N/A N/A N/A

Photos compiled by Derek Deng

Hernandez shares passion for wrestling and choreo

Steven Ho You want to dance? If asked this question, sophomore Penelope Hernandez would have to decide whether she was about to get into a dance battle or a tussle. As a two-year member of Choreo and first-year member of the wrestling team, Hernandez has learned to release her emotions through body rolls and making bodies roll. Although she is the only girl on the wrestling team, Hernandez feels that the wrestling mat is no less her home than the dance floor. I wrestle because I like to take my anger out in a safe way, Hernandez said. I have to let out my emotions. Along with expressing her aggressive side, Hernandez began wrestling because her older sister Helimar Hernandez and older brother Matthew Tafoya were both on the wrestling team and encouraged her to try out. They were pretty violent and they liked [wrestling] a lot so I thought I should try it, Hernandez said. Although the first few practices were strenuous and tiring, Hernandez gradually learned to enjoy the workouts and the team. The wrestling teams exercises included stretching, running, and tumbling, forcing her to be continuously active. Hernandez said that her three coaches, Alex Cabral, Rudy Gastelum, and Paul Escobedo, push her to her limits regardless of her being the only girl. [The coaches] are really tough on me and treat me like all the other teammates, Hernandez said. Hernandez wrestles against both boys and girls in her weight class. At her first wrestling match of the season against Bell Gardens, Hernandez recalls feeling nervous. I was wrestling a guy, and I knew he wasnt going to go easy on me just because I was a girl, Hernandez said. Even though she lost the match, Hernandez was proud that she went out there and tried her best. Balancing both Choreo and wrestling practices is not a problem for Hernandez. Although both are tiring in their own ways, she can prioritize her activities without complaint. Senior co-captain Eddie Escobar admires Hernandez for her positive effect on the team. [Penelope] gives our team a whole different perspective, Escobar said. Shes a good wrestler too. She beats some of the guys and does well against the lightweight group. Hernandez describes her wrestling team as a family that is always behind her. The guys really care about you, Hernandez said. If Im upset or feeling weird, they would give me advice and comfort me. Hernandez has hope that with enough dedication and determination, she will improve as a wrestler, dancer, and multi-tasker. Hernandez hopes that she will never have to decide between both activities and hopes to continue being an active member of both until senior year.

Penelope Hernandez

Photo by Derek Deng

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THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

J o hn Tru o n g school activities, Alvarez was given permission from doctors to make her return. It was difficult at first to comeback because I was starting all over, Alvarez said. I was lost. I struggled. Basketball was not Alvarezs first sport as she was a cheerleader for eight years prior to joining the organized basketball team as an eighth grader at Garvey Intermediate School. Prior to being diagnosed with leukemia, Alvarez played on the freshmen girls basketball team, where she received the Most Valuable Player award, leading her team in many statistical categories such as scoring and rebounding. After having an outstanding basketball season, she was promoted to the varsity team. After being given permission by doctors to play basketball, current girls varsity Head Coach Lyle Honda was at first reluctant to allow Alvarez to participate in full contact play. Coach Honda made sure that I was able to play, Alvarez said, but he was also always worried for me, so he told me to just take it easy in my first year back. It is now Alvarezs senior year and she is in full shape to play basketball. It has been three years since she has played in an Almont League basketball game; however, her cancer is currently in remission and doctors have told her that she is still not considered cured until she reaches the age of 20. Thus, as a precaution to prevent the cancer from coming out of remission, Alvarez continues to receive chemotherapy once every month and takes chemo

Alvarez battles leukemia, returns to basketball

SPORTS
Luusing my mind

Certain sports lack school support

C a ro l i n a G a rc i a The San Gabriel soccer team quickly guides the ball towards their opponents goal and the forward kicks the ball in attempt to score. After several rebounds, San Gabriel victoriously lands the ball in the net. The team excitedly celebrates their goal and turns to the stands to observe their crowd. Only there is hardly any crowd; there are only 15 spectators whose claps are barely audible. There is an unequal amount of support in school towards these winter sports. During a basketball game, there are cheerleaders and Choreo, Drill, and Band members. Soccer players and wrestlers can only hope for their family and close friends to show up to their games and matches, but even that is not definite. While all three winter sport teams train equally hard, support seems to glide over to basketball. The source of this attention is not hate towards some sports, but cultural influences and trends in the school and nation. Soccer and wrestling, the commonly ignored winter sports, have naturally learned to appreciate their committed and devoted fans. However, this does not mean that basketball players do not value their fans. I appreciate having my family come to every game, senior soccer player Angel Garcia said. [Having] them there encourages me to do my best. A few families and other devoted fans unfortunately do not and are unable to fill up the stands, and the absence of spectators is obvious. Its disappointing that classmates dont come to games because I know [that] with their support, the team will have the spirit to push themselves, Garcia said. It is noticeable that support affects a team, and for that reason all sports games should be advertised and recommended for students to attend. Every San Gabriel student should make a resolution of trying to attend different sports games for the fall, winter, and spring seasons at least once to support the teams. Dance groups and Band members, if possible, should make the time to attend a variety of sports games other than the usual basketball and football games. Since the positive atmosphere in basketball is great, it would be desirable for all sports to receive the same recognition. It is apparent that soccer games lack amenities, like a snack bar and score board, but these inconveniences are hardly noticeable when one is jumping up and down in the spirit of the game. Fall season should not only be known as football season, winter season not only as basketball season, and spring not only as volleyball season. There are not only three sports at San Gabriel high school; San Gabriel has numerous sports that are craving attention.

Stepping into the Matador Arena, ones attention is instantly diverted to the brown, hardwood court. Girls with distinct, red and blue jerseys are jogging in unison around one side of the court. Then, the sound of the blasting rap music keeps the heartbeat of the moment at a fast pace. A typical girls varsity basketball game is set to start. For senior forward Nadine Alvarez, this basketball game is not typical to her. It has been more than two years since she received the news that she had been diagnosed with leukemia, a rare blood cancer. Since then, she had to take a long leave of absence from both school and basketball to receive many grueling chemotherapy treatments. In Alvarezs sophomore year, a lump had developed in her thigh, and it was when she visited the doctor that she received the life-changing diagnosis that she had cancer. After receiving the news, Alvarez was required to stop all school activities and immediately start her chemotherapy. The chemotherapy made me feel very ill because it is like a poison in you, Alvarez said. A tube was stuck into my chest as a way to get the [chemotherapeutic agents] into my blood. Throughout her bout with cancer, Alvarez recalls having received much attention from friends, family, and strangers. In 2012, for example, her friends held a car wash fundraiser at Spikes Bar in Rosemead to raise money to fund her hospital treatments. It was a huge success, as over $6,000 were raised. After a year long hiatus from

Marvin Luu

Sports blind to differences

In a society where social media has allowed individuals to discriminate against others on a regular basis, the world needs sports more than ever. Sports are an activities known for their universal nature because sports are blind to prejudice. Anyone can play basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, baseball, or any other game without being judged for their appearances and emotions. Although there will always be the ignorant remarks from the stands, all the talk does not change the outcome of a game or a performance of an athlete. The only thing that is analyzed is the way in which a player demonstrates his or her performance on the court or on the field. The problem in sports does not stand in who is discriminated by sex or race, but rather by the voluntary racial divide that people who watch sports create. When Yao Ming first surfaced in the National Basketball Association, he had already been playing basketball for over 12 years. Ming was expected to play well only because of his apparent height advantage; he eventually proved the critics wrong by developing some strong post moves to complement his rebounding abilities. However, earning respect was still difficult for the 7-foot-6-inch center. Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin s rise to fame took on a completely different challenge. If Lin was an African American perhaps Linsanity would never have reached the type of attention it had. The clear reaction to his sudden success only reaffirms what many are thinking inside their heads: there is no way that a 6-foot-1-inch Asian point guard can succeed in an elite class of stars. Lin is currently starting for the Houston Rockets and continues to put up solid numbers for his team. The universal joy for sports may never be questioned as sports diplomacy has reined as a popular alternative to solving international issues as well as domestic issues. Sports managed to reunite a struggling nation as what the late Nelson Mandela did with rugby union. During the 1995 World Cup, the former South African President managed to bring together both white and black athletes in a movement that would forever change the course of South Africa as a nation and produced a new era in the sports world forever. Overall sports do not judge people but the world still manages to generate the racial comments and prejudices that we read about everyday. However, these comments often come from the individuals from the outside looking in. The players, themselves, understand that it does not matter who is dribbling the ball but, rather what they can do with it.

Photo by Derek Deng

pills every night. The chemotherapy actually made my hair fall off twice, Alvarez said. I think my hair naturally turned curly because of it. The entire experience has changed Alvarez, as she said that she saw the good in people through their prayers and help. As a testament to this, the Make-a-Wish Foundation gave her the chance to take a fully paid vacation to Hawaii with her family of seven. My cancer actually made me more religious because it taught me to stay strong and to have faith, Alvarez said. I also learned to appreciate things more and to not take things for granted.

*78 people were surveyed

Graphic by infogr.am

FEATURES Nail art is more than a hobby

whats the
Famous Hallway quotes, Volume Sixty-two

THE MATADOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014

12

Tell Me

L a uren K ak az u They gleam under the UV lights of classroom P104 as English teacher Joan Lee teaches her five classes of 36 students, expressing her artistic talents on a personal canvas: her nails. As many of her students and coworkers have seen, Lee always changes her nails every week. Her usual designs include Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters and colorful designs. Im open to everything, Lee said. Lee began painting her nails as a child and got into nail art when she was in high school; she has done this ever since. Eventually, I began learning stuff online, going on Youtube and learning different techniques, Lee said. It started getting more elaborate as Ive gotten older. Now I do pictures of things with different colors. Not only does Lee do nail art for herself, but also for the female students at San Gabriel. Students who know Lee go to her to get their nails done for special occasions, such as prom. Lee estimated to have done seven or eight girls nails the previous year. I like doing it for the kids [because] I know not everyone can go get their nails done, Lee said. They usually ask for plain, pinksimple designs.

WORD.

Want to hear a joke? My life. - Student complaining about her life. Hipsters everywhere are suffering from pumpkin spice latte withdrawl. - Student poking fun at hipsters. If you cant laugh at yourself, Ill be happy to do it for you. - Student joking around with friend. At the beginning of the year I used to dress boho but now Im hobo. - Student losing motivation to dress up for school.

Painting the nails of other students helps Lee with her teaching. While doing their nails, Lee talks to the students and tries to help them. A lot of the kids talk about their lives, Lee said. We talk about school and their future. Lee also gets to know her students on a personal level. She learns some of their interests and hobbies. Its usually things that I would never know about people, Lee said. Among these students was senior Ashley Ung whom Lee found out after doing her nails that she had a black belt in karate. I started looking at her nails when she started teaching, Ung said. I just started asking her about it, and she told me that she did them for herself. Ung requested to have her nails done for her aunts wedding. She plans on asking Lee to do her nails again when prom arrives and recommends other students to go to her as well. I think its really nice of her. She takes her own time to do it, Ung said. She really enjoys it though. Lee exercises her imagination, through many of her other creations. Besides creating nail art, Lee bedazzles her shoes and she bakes. With a bottle of nail polish in hand, Lee helps San Gabriel students not only with their nails but also with their personal lives.

English teacher Joan Lee showcases her latest nail art design which features vintage roses and Swarovski crystals.

Photo by Derek Deng

Senior Ashley Ung snaps a picture of her painted bow-themed nails to post on a popular social media app to impress others.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Ung

Story of my life

All quotes overheard by The Matador Staff.

Illustration by Cassandra Chen