Volume 58, Number 7 801 Ramona St., San Gabriel, CA 91776 Friday, March 15, 2013

KensenFBLATalent Show

Controversy arises over Los Renombrados finalists

Is it necessary to make students take fruit daily?Student Inspired:

Gifted students showcase their inner passions at the annual Talent Show

Lauren Kakazu

A packed auditorium and much antici-pation came together when ASB presented the annual Talent Show on March 8 with “A Bug’s Life” as the theme. Hosts junior Ryan Duong and sophomore Teresa Tru-ong brought laughter to the audience. In between acts, Yearbook and JCC adver-tised by making little skits that not only entertained but also encouraged the stu-dent body to buy a yearbook and attend prom.

Featur ing nu-merous San Gabriel students, the show allowed students, teachers, and fami-lies to watch the dif-ferent talents that were d i sp layed . Each compet i tor went face-to-face for the chance to place either first, second, or third.

A majority of the competitors were ei-ther singers or danc-ers, but the student who placed third for this year’s tal-ent show, junior Frankie Zhang, used yo-yos to catch the audience’s and judges’ attention: Zhang also competed in last year’s talent show.

Another student, who not only brought excitement to this year’s talent show but also for all four of his high school years, was senior Henry Mak, a dancer and All-Male captain, who placed second.

After performing against many other singers, sophmore Ellice Tellez, who also performed in the talent show last year, placed first at the 2013 talent show.

“I was so excited. I didn’t know that I was going to win because I didn’t win last year,” Tellez said. “I was so happy. I’m still happy.”

Before the talent show, Tellez was scrolling on Youtube to find the perfect song to sing when she found the song “I’d Rather Go Blind” performed by Beyonce in the movie Cadillac Records. She eventu-ally found the original version, which was

sung by Etta James.“I changed my

song a lot. I actually changed it four times. [The song] was good for me vocally. It is a good song in gen-eral,” Tellez said. “It’s a classic song, so you can’t go wrong with it.”

After winning the talent show, Tellez felt more willing to tryout for next year’s talent show. She has even considered changing her act.

“I’m definitely going to do it. I feel more prepared for the next talent show,”

Tellez said. “I think next time I’ll do a little dancing and s ing ing . Maybe

[play] guitar.” Tellez appreciated the support from her

friends. “I want to thank them for suport-ing me, and for making signs and giving me flowers,” Tellez said. “I also want to thank Tech and ASB for putting on such a great show.”

Because of all of the talented students who brought entertainment, San Gabriel can expect more excitement and talent when ASB holds the next talent show in 2014.

Prisci l la Liang

In a survey of 100 students of all grade levels, almost half felt that the way the Los Renombrados finalists were chosen was unfair.

On Feb. 28, 35 Los Renombrados semi-finalists, along with the entire school, awaited the names of the finalists at a cer-emony dedicated to the award. Out of the 35, 23 became finalists. The semi-finalists were described as the top four percent of the senior class, but not purely by academic standards; the amount of service contributed to the community is also considered.

After congratula-tions were said and the finalists went to gather in the Multi-Purpose Room, the topic of the fairness in the decision of the Los Renombrados finalists arose. For those who knew the finalists, some believed that the pamphlet handed out describing the finalists was deceiving. “It is kind of misleading be-cause the pamphlet says

that the Los Renombrados finalists are the top four percent, [but] that is not always the case,” senior Judy Low said.

Regarding the extra-curricular services that are taken into consideration during the decisions, Low said, “You can’t measure how a student can be at the top four percent with just service [because] merit cannot be

measured.” All 35 semi-finalists

were placed through an interview process that helped decide who were to be among the 23 finalists.

“There was a com-mittee and they had to follow a rubric, so I trust that the com-mittee made the right decisions,” Guidance Counselor Elaine Jong said.

“The semi-finalists should be proud that they are role models,” Jong said.

Steven Ho

After witnessing apples after bananas, after peach-es, being thrown away without a single bite, senior Kensen Tan was inspired to survey students about their opinion on the state-wide nutrition law that requires students to take one item of fruit per lunch.

“I thought [the law] was pretty wasteful,” Tan said. “I thought it created more trash in our school. This is not useful at all.”

Tan initially asked his AP Government teacher Raymond Gin about the new law, and then went to speak with Principal Jim Schofield about it. After gaining more information about the new nutrition law, Tan devised questions for a survey regarding the mandatory fruit selection.

With the help and support of three teachers, Pek Lee, Sheree Mar, and Cecilia Revilla, Tan compiled a simple, four-question survey that the aforementioned teachers gave out to the students in their classes. Tan categorizes these surveys as “convenient sampling,” which means that the surveyed people were chosen because they were around him. However, Tan believes that due to the diversity of the three teachers’ classes, the results represent the majority of the school.

After analysis of the statistics, the general opinion

is rather mixed. In the survey done with 205 students, 38 percent of them did eat the fruit, while 33 percent of the students did not; the remaining 29 percent of students ate the fruit occasionally. Although no posi-tion was achieved to reach a full majority, the issue is still a hot topic because a significant ratio of students disposed of the fruit or gave it away.

Results were much more conclusive when the students were asked if they want the cafeteria to stop asking the students to take an item of fruit with every lunch tray. 60 percent of the students surveyed claimed that they would like to have the cafeteria make fruit optional, while 20 percent of students said that they wanted to keep the rule and 20 percent did not have a strong opinion on the rule. This large number convinced Tan that something should be done with the law, or the attitude of the students should be more flexible and understanding.

“Students should not throw away the fruit. Maybe the cafeteria can provide more choices of fruits,” Tan said. In addition, Tan proposes that the school’s food administration should survey students to ask what kind of fruits they would like to eat.

Tan hopes that through his hard work with these surveys, he can advocate for change to one day repeal the law if enough students feel it is necessary.

Jordan Luu sang “Fall” by Justin Bieber at the talent show on March 8 in front of an enthusiastic audience.

Photo by Nana Akahoshi

Left: Senior Kensen Tan compiled his own surveys to uncover the truth behind the new fruit nutrition law.Above: In a survey of 205 students, 60 percent feel that fruit should not be a mandatory part of lunch.

To see a video of the winners, visit The Matador Online.

Photo by Derek Deng

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NEWS 2 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Scanlan returns, takes position as Assistant PrincipalKristy Duong

Approaching the end of a year-long season, the Matador speech and debate team competed at State Qualifiers at California State University, Long Beach on March 2. Junior Justin Yeh won seventh place in the final round of Oratorical Interpretation, managing to qualify for the state championships that will be hosted in Valencia, California in late April.

State and National Qualifiers are supposed to reflect the culmination of the year-long effort and practice of speech and debate members. Although the team did not match up to the number of state qualifiers last year, it was a relatively decent result for a team that had to make many adaptations in the middle of the year.

“Taking over [the team] in the middle of the year was a challenge. However, it’s been a fun and exciting learning experience for me and our members,” Coach Andrew

Two new AP courses proposed to meet student needs and expand curriculum choices

Christopher Lan

To kick off the beginning months of next year, there is debate on whether two new AP classes should be added to the school’s curriculum. Since AP Human Geography is a success in Alhambra High School, some teachers were intrigued in how the AP classes can benefit San Gabriel High School, so they brought up the idea of bringing two new classes here. These new classes are AP Human Geography and AP Environmental Science.

These two AP classes are not new to the district, but are fairly new to San Gabriel High School since schools like Alhambra High School were already implementing them for years. AP Human Geography is most likely going to be added for the upcoming school year of 2013-2014, while AP Environmental Science will be added the following year of 2014-2015. Both classes are targeted specifically for the freshmen class, so freshmen can be more prepared for upcoming AP classes such as AP World History or AP U.S. History.

“I believe these classes will most likely be added. The goal is to better prepare people for not only upcoming AP classes, but also for the A-G requirements,” history teacher Henry Osborne said.

Although it is not completely certain whether AP Human Geography will be added, it will contain two sections, or in order words, two classes. For future ninth-grade students who are interested in taking AP classes but are not sure about the difficulty level, they will be offered the opportunity of taking these new AP classes so that they can grasp a better understanding of what AP classes are like.

“AP Human Geography is created for students to have more [of] a world perspective such as looking at ethnic conflicts, geography, culture, and religion. The reason for the introduction of this class is to get students with [an] AP frame to get an opportunity to be better prepared for AP classes,” Davina Dominguez said. Teachers and administrators are looking forward to the change since it might benefit the ninth graders.

“We currently have no AP offerings for our ninth graders, and we felt that this would give them the opportunity to transition AP courses for tenth grade,” Assistant Principal of Instructions Debbie Stone said.

2013 AAEDE Scholarship Opportunity Who’s Eligible?

Award Amount:

1) Must be Graduating High School Senior, Class of 2013

2) Demonstrate financial need (to be eligible for financial aid, applicant must have submitted a FAFSA form by the

March 2013 deadline.)

3) Cumulative high school unweighted GPA (out of a 4.0 scale) must be 3.0 and above.

4) Only U.S. Citizens are eligible to apply. (Please note, affiliates of AAEDE are not eligible to apply.)

Requirements: *1) Complete the AAEDE Scholarship application.

2) Include the required 500-word essay on one of the chosen topics below:

A) Please describe an instance, event, or permanent condition of adversity in which you have overcome (or are still overcoming). What did you learn? B) Name and describe the one person (famous or not famous) who has significantly influenced who you are today. What did you learn from him/her? C) If you could change the world, what would you change? D) What is your dream, vision or hope for your life, career? *3) Provide one Letter of Recommendation. The recommender must fill out the recommendation form and attach a letter and seal/sign over the envelope flap. Applicant’s name must appear on the front of the envelope. 4) Provide an official sealed copy of your high school transcript. 5) Please include a copy of your FAFSA SAR Report. (Please refer to sample report on our website.) *Scholarship application and recommendation form are posted online at www.aaede.org and also distributed to high school administrators/counselors. Please check your high school website or ask your scholarship coordinator for more information.

There will be (3) awards of $500 each and (3) awards of $1000 each.

A total of 6 scholarship awards will be offered.

216 W. Garvey Ave. Ste. #E, Monterey Park, CA 91754-1688 • (626)572-7021 • info@aaede.org • www.aaede.org

Hoping to collaborate with students and staff to increase school spirit, John Scanlan has returned to San Gabriel High School as the Assistant Principal of Business and Activites after working for student services at Mark Keppel High School for the past year and a half.

Scanlan previously worked at San Gabriel for 15 years, teaching special education, world history, and U.S. history. In addition, he was the Athletic Director and helped to coach baseball, basketball, and football. Scanlan graduated at San Gabriel High School with the class of 1992.

Scanlan plans to implement new changes to this school.

“I am hoping to increase school spirit, create new guidelines for dances and fundraisers, and help to organize more extracurricular activities. It’s going to take a lot of collaboration,” Scanlan said.

In addition, he hopes to change the contracts for dances and change the way that some activities are advised and regulated.

Ryan Duong, a member of the ASB spirit committee, feels that Scanlan will have a positive impact on this school and possibly bring more opportunities for ASB to experiment with new ideas.

“I feel that there will definitely be a change, but it’s too soon to feel anything yet. [However, Scanlan might be able to] expand our horizons. ASB might have a greater chance to achieve great things. We could have more spirit games and themes and get people more interested in school spirit,” Duong said.

Scanlan looks forward to working with students. Though many of them have not seen Scanlan’s impact yet, the students will likely see what he has to offer to San Gabriel within the coming months.

-Tran Lam

John Scanlan, a San Gabriel alumnus, returns to San Gabriel after working at Mark Keppel High School for a year and a half. He will try to work hard to cooperate with students and staff in order to bring new changes to Business and Activities at San Gabriel. In addition, he hopes to encourage students to show more Matador pride.

Nguyen said. For the next month, Yeh will be training to put up a strong

show at the State Championships. “I will be working with most of the coaches, and maybe other Oilers, to improve my chances of winning state [championships]. This year was a really challenging year for the team because we lost our head coach and everything isn’t where it should be,” Yeh said.

The rest of the team will focus on performing well in the National Qualifiers in mid-March. Afterward, the team will practice for the upcoming season, which starts next year.

“I am hoping to end the year well-prepared for next year’s tournaments and with a goal of growing into the best team we can be,” Nguyen said. He expresses his optimism and confidence in next year’s team.

“I expect us to move forward, with the advantage of summer practices and a permanent coach to move closer to being a strong and successful team,” Nguyen said.

Speech and debate team competes at State Qualifiers

Photo by Derek Deng

3 NEWS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

MESA competes at preliminaries

WASC evaluators visit school for status check-up

Jenny Bui

Jenny Bui

Students from different backgrounds and academic levels met in the Matador Family Center to talk to two representatives from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) on March 4.

The two representatives were Tracy Rutkoski and Raquel George who walked around campus and observed classes to check on the current status of our school.

Invited in the morning by Principal Schofield, students were ready to share with Rutkoski and George how they felt and what they thought of San Gabriel High School.

Five years ago, WASC representatives evaluated San Gabriel High School for three consecutive days. WASC’s revisit meant that the association needed to check-up on the current status of our school.

As a way to get closer and truly understand what the majority of the school thought, the two representatives asked various questions during the luncheon with students. The luncheon consisted of 28 students and the two representatives themselves since staff and faculty were not allowed in the room.

This restriction gave students the opportunity to answer the questions more comfortably.

One of the questions George and Rutkoski asked the students included their opinion on

Photos by Derek DengTop: WASC Representatives Raquel George and Tracy Rutkoski eat lunch with students in the Matador Family Center. George and Rutkoski questioned the students without staff members present to encourage truthful answers.Bottom: Students listen intently to their fellow peers’ replies while Rutkoski takes quick notes on her iPad.

On a sunny morning, students gathered at school to compete for the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Day Preliminaries at California State University, Los Angeles on Saturday, March 2.

From San Gabriel High School, 47 students total competed in their respective events and prepared their projects months prior to the competition date.

MESA adviser Nicolas Nguyen reflected on the competition and the students’ performance.

“The students have been preparing themselves for this day where they show off what they have learned in theory class and applied to real life situations and problems involving engineering,” Nguyen said.

Although some students were disqualified for not meeting the requirements in their respective events, students were able to appeal to the judges and continue competing with their projects. Disqualifications and appeals occur often in competition.

At preliminaries, students compete against other high schools in the Los Angeles area. The judges for the event were college students from California State University, Los Angeles.

The top three winners of each event will move onto the regional level on April 6. In total, 25 students from San Gabriel High School qualified for the regional level of MESA.

The students competed in Math Team Quest and Solo Math in which students competed in their math level; the

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Photos courtesy of Nicolas Nguyen

other project events were Prosthetic Arm, Mousetrap Car, Civil Structures, Model Science-Human Brain, EggXpress, Balsawood Glider, and Speak Easy.

Students who qualified for the regional level were Jenny Bui, Carolina Garcia, An Huynh, Derek Lam, Tuan Lam, Connie Luong, Jestin Ma, Jesus Mesa, Oscar Molina, Sang Ngo, Kathleen Nguyen, Duyen Phan, Thao Vi Phan, Gloria Quach, Anh Truong, Lan Truong, Carlos Villanueva, Fangyou Xie, Christopher Yan, and Chris Yu.

Ribbons were also given to those whose projects displayed excellent design, performance, and creativity. Students who received recognition in these areas were Elvis Ha, Tuan Lam, Jesus Mesa, Oscar Molina, Carlos Villanueva, Fangyou Xie, William Yam, Christopher Yan, and Chris Yu.

The MESA program aims to aid underrepresented students while bringing together a wide diversity of students from all backgrounds.

MESA Club’s Project Manager, junior Sang Ngo, has been participating in the club and competing at MESA Day since her freshman year.

“Everybody in MESA is so diverse and cooperative. It was nice to see everybody perform at their best. Their hard work paid off, and it will be exciting for those who qualified for the regional level. I cannot wait for students to improve on their projects and learn from each other so that they can bring it their all in a few weeks,” Ngo said.

Preliminaries brought rewarding results for the MESA team. Qualifying students are hard at work to improve their projects and compete at University of Southern California on April 6.

what they thought the school does well. Executive Board President, senior Breann

Tang-Gaddi, enthusiastically spoke up about her opinions regarding the school.

“Our school promotes diversity well because that’s instilled in our classrooms. There are also so many clubs on campus that revolve around culture like the Mandarin Club, Vietnamese Club, and more,” Tang-Gaddi said.

Senior Jonathan Rivera spoke his mind on the discussion about how the school gives equal attention to every single student and challenges everybody to do their best.

“The classes are what you make of it. If you study then you will succeed. I like being in a regular class because it makes me comfortable for the academic level I am at, and I enjoy it a lot,” Rivera said.

When questioned about the students’ process of talking to school counselors, students mostly agreed on that the process was simple and easy.

“We can walk into the guidance office and request for an appointment. Usually you are able to talk to your counselor by the next day,” senior Arella Tagdhis said.

Overall, students were patient and proud to be able to talk about San Gabriel High School and the values taught in the classrooms.

The diversity and different perspectives brought by each student showed the unique harmony San Gabriel High School possesses.

Top: Senior Carlos Villanueva prepares to test out his mousetrap car. Second: The MESA team poses after the awards ceremony. Bottom Left: Sophomore Elvis Ha gets ready to launch his glider. Bottom Right: Members pose next to their boards.

NEWS 4 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

FBLA sets record for state qualifiers and awards

Chelsey Tran

Spirit week brings cheer on campus

First celebrated in Palo Alto, Calif.in 1952, “Spirit Week” has turned into a concept celebrated nationwide. It was first called “Friendship Week” and used to welcome back students. It was officially renamed “Spirit Week” in the 1970s and has remained so ever since.

Now “Spirit Week” is used to promote school spirit, enthuse and unify the student body, and create memories that people will remember for years to come. Some schools, like Palo Alto, attempt to unite the school with friendly competition and unite each class by giving them a common goal.

Posters and streamers decorate the walls of schools during Spirit Week. Students dress up in quirky clothing according to the themes that shake up

While many people were in pajamas and sleeping in bed on Feb. 23, 85 San Ga-briel High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members were dressed in business attire at 6:45 a.m., ready to go to the an-nual FBLA competition, which was held at Gabri-elino High School this year. The competition, which in past years has been held at West Ranch High School, was changed to a different location due to the splitting of the former overly large Gold Coast section. Due to size issues, Gold Coast split into two sections: the Gold Coast section and the Mission Valley section.

At 7:30 a.m., students from 17 schools gathered to take on the challenge of bringing their re-spective schools glory by placing in the many categories of business-related events. For some contenders, the competition ended with a plaque, and some gained the opportunity to attend a trip to the state competition held in Santa Clara. Sophomore Bicky Bui was one of the people who placed high enough to ad-vance to the next level.

“It was nerve-wracking because it was my first competition ever,” Bui said. “It was fun because I got to meet all these new people and socialize.” Bui placed first in the Creed contest, and recited FBLA’s Creed after she obtained her plaque, as per the requirement for the first place winner of the contest.

However, the competition did not only consist of examinations and performances. The competitors were able to change into appropriate casual clothing for lunch at Big League Dreams, a ballpark located in West Covina. The participating schools social-ized through interactive games.

“I liked that we didn’t go to Magic Mountain [this year]. I loved the fact that we were able to interact with other students [at Big League Dreams]. We were all together

While many of us were fast asleep at 6 a.m. on February 23, 2013, SGHS students were already up to attend the annual Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition. As they dressed in their finest business attire and prepared to fulfill a day they have trained for all school year, none of them could have predicted the many accolades they would win. The students spent all day attending intense workshops and fiercely competing in 33 individual and team events to qualify for the State Leadership Conference held in Santa Clara in April.

This competition for FBLA members is known as the Mission Valley Section Conference. It was held at Gabrielino High School with 600 participants from 17 high schools. This year proved to be very special because San Gabriel High School placed 4th in the Sweepstakes Award beating Mark Keppel and Alhambra High School. Sweepstakes Award are based on points for each events won. In addition, the school received the “Above and Beyond” Award for the highest representation of students during the Rose Parade Float Decoration.

Thirty-Seven FBLA members beat out 600 students as they placed in 25 categories. Twelve FBLA members Yadanar Oo, Charlie Diep, Ryan Kao, Ryan Duong, Bicky Bui, Eric Hong, Brian Choy, Justin Yeh, Connie Luong, Gloria Quach, Seleen Chan, and Alan An, successfully advanced to State Leadership Conference where they will get a second opportunity to represent SGHS. On another high note, one of our very own officers, Charlie Diep was elected as Mission Valley Section Vice President of Membership officer.

This was truly a positive and memorable event and it couldn't have been possible without the dedication of all FBLA members, advisers Qui Nguy, and chaperones Beda Ramirez, Vicky Yum, Monica Ochoa, Justin Dulgarian for supervising and proctoring at the competition.

Below are the results of the students who placed the top 10 in their events.

Creed Job Interview Future Business Leader Personal Finance Public Speaking I

Bicky Bui 1st Place

Yadanar Oo 2nd Place

Yadanar Oo 2nd Place

Alan An 3rd Place

Rebecca Lei 5th Place

Public Speaking II

Sports Management

Intro To Technology Concepts

Hospitality Management

Business Communication

Eric Hong 4th Place

Ryan Duong 6th Place

Glory Quach 5th Place

Sofia Htet 8th Place

Emily Quach 9th Place

Accounting I

Impromptu Speaking

Technology Concepts

Economics

Entrepreneurship

Mimi Lam 9th Place

Justin Yeh 3rd Place

Megan Thai 7th Place

David Chen 7th Place

Chelsea Huynh 9th Place Vivian Huynh 9th Place

Business Math Business Calculations Word Processing I Business Procedure FBLA Principle & Procedures

Eric Hong 3rd Place

Charlie Diep 5th Place

Frankie Zhuang 6th Place

Chelsea Huynh 8th Place

Seleen Chan 6th Place Connie Luong 8th Place Leslie Chan 10th Place James Nguyen 9th Place Macy Nguyen 9th Place Michelle Lok 7th Place

Computer Applications Cyber Security

Computer Problem Solving

Intro To Business Comm.

Global Business

Ryan Kao 4th Place

Ryan Duong 2nd Place

Seleen Chan 5th Place

Connie Luong 3rd Place

Mytien Le 10th Place Cindy Pham 8th Place Brian Choy 5th Place Jason Ngo 8th Place Justin Pham 7th Place Justine Pham 10th Place Stephanie Chea 9th Place Alexander Ta 8th Place Henry Tran 10th Place Cuiting Yu 8th Place Tammy Truong 10th Place

in one section and playing against each other, but still interacting,” said Vicky Yum, office manager and FBLA chaperone. “I thought it was a great experience.”

Students then boarded buses to head to Gabrielino High School and change back into business attire for the Awards of Excellence Ceremony. Loud cheers filled Gabrielino High School’s gym as school names and respective members were called. 37 San Gabriel FBLA

members out of 600 total attendees placed in 25 catego-ries. Out of the 37, 12 made it to state: Alan An, Bicky Bui, Seleen Chan, Brian Choy, Charlie Diep, Ryan Du-ong, Eric Hong, Ryan Kao, Connie Luong, Yadanar Oo, Gloria Quach, and Justin Yeh. San Gabriel’s FBLA also placed fourth in the Sweepstakes Award, and first in the representation of students at the annual Rose Pa-rade Float Decorating volunteer service. One of the key components to the success of the competition was the

leadership of the president of both the Mission Valley Section and San Gabriel’s FBLA, senior Yadanar Oo.

“Since I am the first president of a new section in California FBLA, I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me in terms of building a strong foundation. I am very happy with the way everything turned out,” Oo said. “Along with my section director and section team, we were able to increase membership, create section projects, increase communication between the section team and the chapters, and host a successful conference.”

Also instrumental in the turnout of the overall competition and the day’s events was FBLA’s adviser, Qui Nguy who has been FBLA adviser for eight years.

“[Being adviser] takes [up] a lot of your personal time, but at the end I think it pays off, and its great that

students have this kind of experience,” Nguy said. “I really liked when we sat as a group, cheering for each other as names were announced and people started walking on stage. The best part is seeing members root for each other [and] seeing students shine is really one of those things that money cannot buy.”

Nguy expressed his anticipation for the state competition which will be in Santa Clara on April 18-21.

Mimi Lam and Rebecca Lei

the school’s normally contained atmosphere.San Gabriel just had a Spirit Week that

revolved around the Sadie Hawkin’s Dance. Although the minimum days made it difficult for Executive Board to spread the word about Spirit Week, they managed to garner much involvement before the week’s end. Spirit committee consists of Ryan Duong, Koby Khauv, Megan Molina, Jonathan Rivera, and Teresa Truong. They plan the events during spirit week and host the lunchtime activities. “It was hard to get volunteers on the first day because no one really knew about it but by the karaoke day, we had a lot of people eager to participate,” junior Ryan Duong said.

The target contestants were couples because of the dance, but not many couples in particular participated. The karaoke event was the most successful. Executive Board does take suggestions for spirit week events so try sharing your ideas for the next one.

Sophomores and couple Jessica Kuo and Aydin Hau show school spirit by adorning similar outfits for “Twin Day.”

From left to right: (Back Row) Sophomore Teresa Truong, sophomore Bicky Bui, junior Pauline Vu, junior Katherine Nguyen. (Front Row) sophomore Amie Truong, and sophomore Kim Luong dress up in Catholic youth group uniforms from San Gabriel Mission for “Throwback Thursday.”

The 37 participants who placed in their respective events pose for a photo in the Gabrielino High School gym after the FBLA competition and awards ceremony on Saturday, February 23.

Photo by Derek Deng

Photo by Derek Deng

Photo courtesy of Michelle Lok

5 OPINIONS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Staff Stance

Nana Akahoshi

My inspirational chef“Oh, is that sushi?” My friends would

always ask me the question whenever they see me eat an “onigiri,” or rice ball, because they look a bit similar to each other since they both contain rice and sea-weed. As one of the few Japanese people in the area, I always encounter questions regarding what I have for lunch because the food I eat is uncommon compared to the usual American and Chinese food my peers eat every day.

In my culture, the lunch box, or “ben-to,” is a main part of school life. Bentos are lunch boxes that are stuffed with appetiz-ers, fruit, salad, and, of course, rice. But Japanese bentos are not stuffed with food randomly, but rather they are organized and focused on color coordination as well. Being organized and color coordinated creates the ultimate Japanese bento.

Whenever my friends tell me how good my lunch looks, I feel really happy. The reason behind it is because my grandma is the one who prepares my lunch for me every day. Whenever I wake up in the morning, I go straight to the kitchen and see my grandma cooking lunch. My grandma is the best cook I know. It always seems like she has a cookbook in her head since she can make any appetizer from barely any ingredients.

My grandma has been a great inspira-tion in my life, especially when it comes to cooking. Because of my grandma, I am able to eat so many delicious foods I never even knew existed. There were times when my grandma offered me something that seemed like it would not be so delicious, but whenever I gave it a try, I never regret-ted taking the chance.

I remember when I was still a small girl, maybe around the age of three or four, my grandma made homemade yogurt-flavored jello with fruit inside for our Thanksgiving dessert. Since I was young, all I did was observe my grandma make the jello with my older sister. It was like magic to me. My grandma did not really measure the amount of ingredients she added to the dessert, but what surprised me the most was she did not use measure-ments to make the dessert delicious. She told me that her fingers and eyes are the measures for her. That was the first time I saw my grandma cook in action and was inspired to cook just like her.

A few years later, when I was old enough to hold a knife, I decided to make a tapioca dessert with coconut milk. Unlike my grandma, I could not use my fingers and eyes as measurement, but I still did my best to make it taste delicious. When I was finished, I served it to my grandma first. That was the first time I gave my grandma something I made by myself. She told me it was delicious. It was an honor to hear the comment from my grandma because she is such an inspiration to me and I admired her so much for her amaz-ing cooking. After receiving her approval of my dessert, I started to occasionally make the dessert, and it eventually became my specialty.

Eating my grandma’s delicious cook-ing for so long made me want to become a great chef just like her. I wish that one day I will be the one bringing a smile to my family with my dishes. As of now, I am still challenging myself and can only cook a few things, but I hope that one day, I can give my best meal to my grandma and make her happy.

The future is uncertain. It is constantly changing, and can never be predicted. These tenets have never been more true than for students graduating high school and deciding what the next step in their lives will be.

Typically, the experience is described as frightening as well as enthralling. How-ever, when students at San Gabriel are being indoctri-nated into choosing college as their future plan because of a nagging fear of failure, a change has to be made.

Members of the staff em-phasize that if a student does not attend a college, then they cannot succeed in life. This scare tactic attempts to terrify students and in-still within them a fear to push them into choosing col-

lege as their post-secondary choice. In a poll of over 131 students from all four grade levels, over 65% agreed that the staff utilizes college as a scare tactic, creating ideas that students who do not attend college will be poor, ignorant, and ultimately unsuccessful.

Drama teacher Patrick Posada agreed “college is the most important thing anyone can do.” Differing from other staff members however, Posada maintains that college should be used as an experience for people to further their talents and study their interests. Artists, musicians, actors, and writ-ers have a place in college, and can further themselves and their possible career options by going to college.

Administration is predominantly college-orientedWon sam sushi?

“The only way you can be an artist is if you are fully educated,” Posada reasoned, “You only get the breath of inspiration if you have your mind blown by college.” Posada also emphasized that skills essential to being an artist like discipline and hard work are directly taught on college campus across the nation.

Although college can have positive influences on students and act as the gateway to a world of op-portunities, college is not for everyone, and should not be a cookie-cutter path for every student’s future. Trade schools, technical schools, and joining the military are all viable options that should be addressed and fully ex-plored as possible futures.

Guidance Counselor Elaine Jong admitted that college is heavily advocated by the counseling staff, al-though other options are discussed based on each student’s specific needs. However, over half of the students polled disagreed, saying that college is the only option heavily encour-aged by the staff.

Students should feel en-titled to their own futures and the choices that come with them, undisturbed by constant influences of lim-ited choices. Although col-lege is often the best option for graduating high school students, that subjective truth needs to be discovered by each individual student in their own time without opin-ions that mirror propaganda.

“I didn’t apply for Los Renombrados just for the cords or the recognition; it was something that my teach-ers suggested and I decided to go through with it,” senior finalist Isai Fernandez said.

Los Renombrados is an honor that many hold extremely close to themselves as it is a prestigious award that is not just determined through the ones with the highest academic grade point average, but also through many other factors that involve clubs, sports, and volunteering.

“This award has done so much for me. I was walking to class the other day and a student that didn’t even know me just came up to me and congratulated me,” Fernandez said.

“It feels good to have won this award,” senior finalist Freddy Garcia said. “This is a great way to look back and see all the accomplishments and to think about the hard work that you go through in order to get to the point that you have accomplished.”

In the past few years, Los Renombrados has declined in popularity as some began to believe that the award was pointless and that many of the students’ were driven to become one of the finalists solely on the fact that they wanted another the cord that the award comes with.

“This award does not get me into college,” senior finalist Linh Phong said, “I applied because it was a goal I had since being an underclassman. The cord is just a cherry on top of it all.”

Other controversies have stirred up with the selection process and how teachers have lost much of their power in the determina-tion of the finalist for the award. Many students are starting to believe that the administrators should not have as much involement in the process since the teachers spend more time with the students.

“I personally think that there should be a balance between teachers and administrators when it comes to the selection process, but yet again not everyone has the same teacher and we all had to go through the same interview process,” Fernandez said.

The award’s meaning and inspiring message should shine above all. It does not matter how the award is determined or who is involved in the process; it does not matter about the motives that drive seniors to apply; what does matter is that the award gives hope to those who are working diligently at school and in the community.

“As a role model, I think that we stand for students that [who watched] us get the award and feel inspired that t h e y c a n a l s o achieve what we got ,”Garc ia said.

Los Renom-

b r a d o s u s e d t o

mean some-t h i n g , m e a n

something to me. I remember freshmen

year, the students who were rewarded Los Re-

nombrados were students who embodied everything

I ever admired: honesty, class, intelligence and ultimate dedica-

tion to San Gabriel. The students who received them this year still have

these attributes. Where the problem lies, is in the system itself. Some students

have all but lost respect for this questionable system that exists today. It is reserved only

for students who have displayed dedication and excellence for San Gabriel, bestowing upon

them a holy achievement through a benevo-lent system to reward students. However, its

contemporary state not only fails to reward students adequately, but it is also almost entirely

disrespected and disregarded as a pointless award that very few, if not anyone, attach any sentimental value to. The Los Renombrados assembly, where selfless students are being honored, has become detrimental to the school environment as some students and teachers look on in

disgust or genuine confusion.“This is embarrassing, I remember freshmen year I

looked up to this. This award was reserved for those with stupendous dedication and adoration for San Gabriel. But now, it is treated only as a ticket for sashes and cords.

What happened to it? There is really no point in even trying to achieve it,” junior Angelica Luc said.Students cannot possibly be expected to care about Los Renombrados when they

do not have the slightest inkling of what it represents, or at least what it represented. Freshmen are thrown into the crowd as they watch the “most popular and smartest seniors

[they] know,” freshmen Kenneth Tran said. This thoroughly displays the nonsense happening at San Gabriel; students are watching random seniors obtain an award where they have to sit

in the scorching sun, sweating and questioning what is happening. Its own description of the award being “prestigious and ... rewarding students who have displayed remarkable dedication

to the school,” is betrayed by the fact that no one knows why these seniors are being rewarded, or even what they are being rewarded with.Teachers and favoritism are two things that cannot be separated, but the panel of three teacher in-

terviewers is vital in circumventing this detrimental behavior. Los Renombrados was established for the students by the teachers. The administration has scarce direct contact with students, not because they despise

these hard working young men and women, but because of the nature of their work. The majority of students attend classes diligently while almost never having contact with administrative members; yet the administration

and counselors are the ones on display presenting the awards. These students should be given their reward by their respective panel of teachers who have spent countless hours with the recipients.Los Renombrados remains a historical bookmark in the timeline of San Gabriel. In my own experience, I used to

respect and full heartedly love this award; however, now as I look upon its unfortunate current state, I am disheartened.

-Marvin Luu

-Sonny Hy

The student body expresses conflicting stances on the Los Renombrados award and assembly process

Illustration by John Truong

OPINIONS 6 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Is this outfit nice enough for others to notice? Does my hair look fine? Many teenagers tend to be self-conscious not only about their appearances, but also about their personality. In the cruel world we call society, people judge others and ultimately place them into their corresponding social hierarchy. And in order to reach the top of that ladder, what other option do teenagers have left to raise their status? That option is trying to blend in with the crowd.

Due to influences from the media, new fads and trends have greatly impacted teenagers’ self-esteem levels. I remember hearing discussions about people wanting to obtain the latest fashion trends. The next thing I knew, the majority of the teenage population sported those goods and became part of that crowd. As more teenagers give in to the latest styles, others, who have yet to join in, may feel separated from their friends.

According to Web MD, teens often feel internally pressured to do the things that they think their peers are doing. Realizing that everyone else is following the trend, many of us would assume that complying with those standards is the best way to fit in. This type of peer pressure causes teens to accommodate themselves to

The light shines onto the stage as ballerinas gracefully dance. One single moment. One single spotlight. One chance to be part of the American Ballet Company.

As I sat there watching Center Stage, I cried, laughed, and stared at Sachsa Radetsky’s dancing. Even so, the movie also shows a topic that most 21st century teenagers face: peer pressure. For instance, Maureen Cummings, in the movie, resorts to becoming bulimic because of the pressure to be skinny and slim in order to “look” the part that ballet companies seek for. Meanwhile, Jody Sawyer is pressured by others to quit becoming a ballerina when it has been her lifelong dream to dance. It was a roller coaster of emotions and nail biting.

Although some might deem it as an exaggerated Hollywood movie blown way out of proportion for entertainment purposes, I see that there are stark resemblances and similar scenarios seen in classrooms at school.

Peer pressure can be organized into a wide range of categories because it varies between each individual, each group. Common peer pressure makes it difficult to do well in classes or even cause the failure of the class because others are. In a sense, peer pressure is like “monkey see, monkey do” only in this case, it is “monkey see, monkey pressured to do” whether it is in relationships or academic environments. For instance, the Kaiser Foundation reports that about 50 percent of teenagers feel that they are pressured to “regard sex in relationships.” Some students at school, however, understand the dangers of peer pressure.

“Peer pressure at school can be a serious issue in some cases, but students should learn to think for themselves,” junior Breena Li said.

At times, students feel that if they don’t follow what others want them to do or what the majority is doing, then they don’t belong or will be ostracized for not going along. It’s human nature for us to copy those around us but at times we lose our judgment and common sense because we are too caught in the moment. At times, refusing to do something can be hard. But learning to trust in yourself and disregard what others want you to do is an appropriate way to to solve the situation you are in.

Peer pressure. We all know about it. Many of us may have succumbed to it before, and its prevalence is most visible in the high school scene.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, it is completely normal and expected for adolescents to be surrounded by peers so they have someone to rely on. It is all a part of social growth, and there are obvious positive factors about having peers around. Being around our friends helps us grow as people, such as learning how to handle conflicts in social settings or even learning how to love one another. But when the people we end up surrounding ourselves with play a negative role in our lives, what do we do?

Many people say that teens fall into the trap of peer pressure in order to “fit in” for many reasons. U n h a p p i n e s s , f e a r o f b e i n g d i f f e r e n t , a n d sense of seclusion from a larger whole are typically the biggest reasons.

Peer pressure takes on many different forms. We hear stories about several kids in our class going to nightclubs or drinking at kickbacks, but we also forget about the much more common situations that go on every day. People do not only feel pressured by peers to participate in risky behavior such as sex or smoking, but they also feel pressured by their peers, whether directly or indirectly,

society’s standards instead of focusing on individualism. As stated by Kendra Cherry from Net Places, “Conformity

is best explained in relation to peer pressure, especially when large groups of people hold the same opinions and beliefs. It’s not uncommon to feel uncomfortable in a situation where your opinions and beliefs are not the same as others in the group.”

Peer pressure makes us second-guess the image we portray and may continue to influence teenage decisions in social institutions. However, it would be best if teens can express themselves once in while, without joining the bandwagon. Having the latest clothing item or the newest cell phone does not define the kind of individual we all may be. Just because others are sporting these new fads does not mean it is necessary for a person to do the same exact thing.

“It is best to be whoever you are. You would eventually be happier with friends who love you for who you truly are. I understand the need to fit in, but I don’t approve if people change just to fit in,” senior Christine Ton said.

It is tough to be different from everyone else. But wouldn’t it be better to stand out in the crowd? By focusing on what makes us the individuals we are now, we can truly portray an image that shines the brightest.

The desire to ‘fit in’ causes teenagers to succumb to social peer pressure

to strive for success and sometimes near-perfection. Go to school, get a high GPA and SAT score, go to a name-brand college, cash in six figures a year, wear threads from Saks Fifth Avenue, invest in a personal trainer, and roll up to your ten-year high school reunion in a

shiny Mercedes-Benz. This doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

But when all of this is

the product of peer pressure

and you know y o u w o u l d

u l t i m a t e l y b e happier doing something

else, why do it?Sometimes, it is one’s own

sense of insecurity or need for justification that leads one into

peer pressure. “Everybody else is doing it, so why shouldn’t I? Maybe I’ll be better off if I did it. Maybe I’ll be happier.”

Although it is easier said than done, there is always a way to

avoid peer pressure. We must remember that the decisions we

choose to make in life are always in our hands, in our control, and

we should not be influenced or disturbed by the words and actions

of others. If everyone believes “thin is in”

but you like the way your body is, changing your body image might make you less happy in the end. If all of your friends want tattoos and you don’t, it’s okay to not get a tattoo. Whatever the situation is, do what benefits you and your happiness, even if you tread away from the current mainstream ideas everyone’s heads are revolved around.

Fitting in may not be as glamorous as they say

Natal ie Tran

Social constraints exist in all types of groups

Jel ina Luu

Jenny Bui

Illustration by Jelina Luu

Illustration by Annie Huang

Illustration by Annie Huang

Illustration by Annie Huang

Illus

trat

ion

by A

nnie

Hua

ng

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 JEJ Print Inc. The opinions and views expressed in The Matador do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the school or the Alhambra School District. The Matador and the Alhambra Unified School District do not endorse the vendors advertised in this paper.

Editor in ChiefNews Editors

Opinions Editors

Focus EditorLife and Art Editors

Sports Editors

Features Editors

Copy Editors

Photo EditorArtists

Business Managers

Website Editors

Blogs ManagerPhotographers

Adviser

Lauren FukumotoJenny Bui

Steven HoMaggie Cheng

Monica LamNatalie TranDerrick Chi

Debbie DinhMarvin Luu

Oscar MolinaSandy Peng

Julianne TengChristopher Lan

Priscilla LiangJenny Wu

Hana NgoAnnie Huang

Jelina LuuJohn TruongIrene Hong

Chelsey TranCeline DangYadanar Oo

Karen RiveraNana Akahoshi

Derek DengSonny Hy

Jennifer Kim

Reporters: Kaleen Luu, Brian Rios, Crystal Wong

7 OPINIONS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Assistant Editors: Vanessa De La Rosa, Kristy Duong, Annie Huang, Lauren Kakazu, Mimi Lam, Tran Lam, Rebecca Lei, Jelina Luu, Kather-ing Montelon

Near-death awakening

Jenny Wu

‘Jen’erally Me

According to the U.S. Navy, over 70 percent of the world is covered by water. We rely on water to survive. Maybe that’s why we’re so attracted to it.

The ocean is majestic. Vast. Beautiful. Whenever I’m at the beach, I feel calm and mystified by the beauty of the ocean and the rays of sunlight bouncing off the sparkling water.

However, I didn’t always feel like this. The ocean may be amazing to most people; it may take our breath away at first sight. But when I was in sixth grade, I had a traumatic experience that I can never forget.

As a tradition at my elementary school, the sixth grade class would go “camping” before promoting to seventh grade. When I was in sixth grade, I went to Camp Surf in San Diego.

I learned about marine life and went rock climbing with my friends. I was even allowed to climb onto the rock jetty that stretched into the ocean. I had the time of my life there, or at least compared to the rest of my life as a sixth grader.

Then one day, we were allowed to play on the beach for about two hours. As a safety precaution, the camp counselors told us that lifeguards were posted, and if we were in danger or trouble, we should raise our fists into the air so they could spot us easily and come to our rescue.

Like most people say when they look back on their lives, I was young and stupid. When I was playing in the waist-high waves with my friends, I remembered that it was “more fun” to jump up when a wave approaches.

So after maybe five times of doing so, I lost my balance and fell onto the sand. I tried getting up after my embarrassing fall because I didn’t know how to swim. I thought, once I get up, I would be fine. No harm done. Boy, was I wrong.

After getting up halfway, I was suddenly knocked over by the next incoming wave and sank back under the water. I opened my eyes and saw the rough wave roaming over my head. I couldn’t breathe. Then, the tide went back out, and I was graced with a few moments of needed air.

Next thing I knew, I was hit by another wave. Since I was sitting on the ocean floor, there was no possible way any lifeguard could have seen me, even if I raised my hand as high as it could go. All I could do was swallow the salty ocean water that kept entering my mouth as I struggled to keep from drowning. I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t think. I didn’t know what to do.

My life didn’t flash before my eyes like people say it does when they encounter near-death experiences. I had to get out of the ocean as fast as possible because my life depended on it. Thankfully, my friend was right next to me and pulled me up after my third fall.

Looking back, I should have noticed that we were getting farther away from the cabins and the water level was getting higher and higher. I wish I could have done it differently. To this day, I still can’t swim, but I don’t regret what happened.

This experience made me realize that life can be taken away in an instant, or in my case, a matter of minutes. I want to live life by the fullest, and not let dumb mistakes run my life. I want to live without regrets, and that’s what I intend to do.

Letters to the EditorOn this date, February 7 of 2013, I received a copy of “The Matador.” As I was

reading through the articles, I was disappointed to see a rather large bias in one of your articles. The article titled, “New district-wide door-locking policy creates controversy over benefits” by Jenny Bui and Steven Ho, came off to me as very biased towards supporting the policy. Though they did mention statements against it, they were reluctant to move on to the end of the subject. The writers seemed very enthusiastic about supporting the policy and then came off very lethargic about the cons of the policy. Your writers failed to elaborate on how a locked-door would be very ineffective toward a person carrying a harmful weapon. They also neglected to mention that the person could very easily break down a door, shoot through the window of a car that is passing them by, and they could easily acquire keys to unlock the door. What about attendance offices? Those rooms are open at all times, making them prone to danger as well. Although there were a lot of opinions from teachers, who sometimes cannot be honest for the sake of their jobs, there were little viewpoints of the students.

If you would kindly address this situation I would be deeply grateful.Sincerely, Colin Stas, 11th grade

I read the article, “ Think twice before agreeing to consuming alcohol.” I absolutely agree with the author, Monica Lam, because underage drinking is bad and dangerous for teens like me. We should not even try a sip of alcohol because first time consumers do not know their limits. Teenagers may even have an addiction when drinking alcohol. They may have reasons to drink such as dehydration, depression, peer pressure, or even boredom. If underage drinkers are caught, I believe that there should be very strict punishments because it is a felony. Teachers should go over the effectiveness of drinking because teachers now a days might not even think about that topic. Underage drinking is a very serious problem and there should not be a single person under 21 drinking alcohol.

Sincerely, Eric Vong, 11th grade

W e are all familiar

with the phrase “we don’t know what we have until

it’s gone.” In my case, I beg to differ. To be honest, I never realized how lucky I am until recently.

My family rarely has this problem so I never understood the effects that it has and how common this problem really is. As I was taking a walk the

other day, I started to smell this indescribable scent. I developed a headache through the constant exposure to this poisonous stench. I automatically knew what I smelled. This odor that is so unfamiliar to me in my own home, but common in the public: the scent of a lighted cigarette.

I am proud to say that my family has been smoke-free even before I was born. Yes, my father was a smoker before, but upon the notice that I was on my way, he quit smoking for his family’s future health. I am blessed to not go through the dangers of secondhand smoking, but not every family is fortunate enough to say the same. Then again, I start to wonder if people understand the consequences of this dangerous substance. I will not judge those who choose to smoke on their own free will because it is their decision and their responsibility to understand what they are getting themselves into, but I will do something if they irresponsibly smoke in front of innocent bystanders who do not deserve to contract health problems because of another person’s action.

“It is unavoidable. I always try to hold my breath [around cigarette . When I was little, my dad use to smoke but he quit,” sophomore Bicky Bui said. “I try to avoid it as much as possible. I avoid it mainly because of the health problem,” sophomore Seleen Chan said.

According to WebMD Health News, particles emitted from tobacco smoke “are a risk factor for chronic lung disease” and can “lead to conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, and are also a risk for lung cancer.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also stated that secondhand smoke effects are equivalent to those physically smoking the cigarette.

More than that, secondhand smoking also causes air pollution. In an experiment done by the Tobacco Control Unit of Italy’s National Cancer Institute, three cigarettes can cause more air pollution than a diesel car’s exhaust. Not only is the smoke from a cigarette affecting the health of the population, but it is also affecting the Earth’s atmosphere. Though many people are somewhat aware of the health consequences, many are oblivious to the long term problem that is currently rising.

My long-term goal is to live a long and happy life. In order for that to succeed, I must be healthy; but with the environment that I live in, how can I be sure that I will not have a sudden asthma attack from an ignorant smoker? My family has done what they can do to keep my home a safe and healthy environment, but what can they do if a stranger starts smoking in a public area? It is up to those who choose to smoke to understand that what they are doing is harming themselves and those around them. It is unlikely that smoking will be banned, but if smokers realize that the consequences are more serious than their actions begin to quit this harmful act, we will become one step closer to a healthier world.

-Monica Lam

Many people are oblivious to the detriments of secondhand smoke

To read more Letters to the Editor, go to <www.thematadorsghs.com>

FOCUS 8 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

In California, when people think of public uni-versities, the first types of schools that come to mind tend to be the California State Universities (CSU) and Universities of California (UC). According to bigfuture.collegeboard.org, public colleges tend to offer lower tuition rates than private schools, but because these colleges are state government-funded,

less financial aid can be offered to a student. Located across the state, these colleges can offer any type of

environment that fit the needs of a potential student, such as those near the ocean like UC San Diego, or

those near the city like CSU Los Angeles. A potential student may be accepted or rejected from a certain

school based on the availability of their desired major. According to californiacolleges.edu, the standard cost

of attending a CSU is $23,444 living on-campus, $24,299 living off-campus, or $17,139 living with parents for Cali-

fornia residents, and the standard cost for a UC is $31,700 living on-campus, $28,600 living off-campus, or $23,600

for those who plan on living with their parents. Additional fees will have to be paid for

students who plan to attend a college out of their state of residency.

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

For-profit schools: education with strings attachedIn our ensuing recovery from an economic nadir, for-profit schools have atypically become a mainstay. These institutions make up a small

fraction of America’s educational establishments, but the number of schools has mushroomed since 1992. For-profit institutes are educational organizations that are corporations and often have stockholders. They function as a business and the product they market is education. Such schools like DeVry University, Everest College, and University of Phoenix are for-profit universities. The general consensus of these schools is that they tend to concentrate on personal gain rather than teaching their students. For-profit schools recruit their students assertively and target lower-class income students. However, I am not out to denounce for-profit colleges, but simply shed light to them. The School of Visual Art in New York City is a respected institution as is Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida.

For-profit schools entice its potential students with its flexible schedule and lack of acceptance requirements. As a result, a significant amount of people who attend for-profit schools cannot attend a traditional college due to a busy schedule. They offer flexible courses such as online classes, evening and weekend courses and part-time courses. Therefore, for-profit schools allow their students to go on with their busy lives while still receiving an education on their own terms. However, according to a 2010 Education Trust report, the graduation rate at University of Phoenix (the nation’s largest college system) was nine percent. A majority of for-profit schools aim to provide a vocational skill which is helpful because students can focus on their career goal rather than spend time on courses irrelevant to one’s desired profession.

“I decided to attend [the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising] despite the expensive tuition cost because it fits me. I’m really looking forward to my major’s future courses and visual displays. For-profit schools have its ups and downs,” alumna Kim Nguyen said.

“I’ve done my side on researching information about [Art Institute of California] and it is true that many students drop out before graduat-ing. The percentages of those that graduate is terrible and a lot of students do take out loans believing that they can pay the school back after they graduate,” alumna Karen Wong said. Wong is a third-year student at Art Institute of California and majors in graphic design.

Although for-profit colleges may have some appealing pros, they do come with a negative stigma which leaves their accredita -tion questionable. Job recruiters and employers might think lowly of an online degree, thus deeming their education valueless. Consequently, attending a for-profit school would be a waste of time, money, and effort altogether. Many of these schools charge more than their non-profit counterparts. Tuition for online universities can range from $20,000 per year to as much as $42,000 per year. Despite their comparatively trivial numbers, for-profit students account for approximately half of student loan defaults.

Attending a for-profit school varies between each person, although the drawbacks seem to outweigh the advan-tages. It is a calamity when students are swindled into paying tuition for a curriculum that did not benefit them

after graduation.

Jobs you can earn

without a 4-year degree

1. Dental Hygienist

2. Online Advertising Manager

3. Web Developer

4. Sales Representative

5. Medical Secretary

6. Insurance Sales Agent

7. Mechanic

8. Cosmetologist

9. Hair Stylist

10. Tax Examiner

11. Electrical Technician

12. Industrial Repairer

13. Construction Inspector

Illustrations by Annie Huang and Jelina LuuCorkboard from happyhomechildrencare.org

Photo courtesy of secondnaturebros.wordpress.com

Community CollegesAccording to californiacolleges.edu, there are a total of 112 community

colleges in California. In order to enroll and become admitted into a com-

munity college, a person must meet one of three requirements: be 18 years of

age or older with or without a high school diploma, be a high school graduate,

or have the equivalent of a high school diploma. Compared to public and

private universities, community colleges, also known as junior colleges, are

the least costly. Although community colleges are considered the cheapest,

students can also apply for scholarships in order to help pay for any college

fees. Those who attend community college can complete their general educa-

tion (GE) courses, such as English, math, science, and history, at a lower cost

than if they were enrolled at a public or private university. After fulfilling GE

courses, students can decide to transfer into a four-year public or private

school and earn a bachelor’s degree in a specific field.

Briefs by Kathering Montelon, Brian Rios,

Chelsey Tran, and Jenny Wu

9 FOCUS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013 THE MATADOR

Jobs you can earn

without a 4-year degree

1. Dental Hygienist

2. Online Advertising Manager

3. Web Developer

4. Sales Representative

5. Medical Secretary

6. Insurance Sales Agent

7. Mechanic

8. Cosmetologist

9. Hair Stylist

10. Tax Examiner

11. Electrical Technician

12. Industrial Repairer

13. Construction Inspector

List compiled by Annie Huang

TRADE/VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Illustrations by Annie Huang and Jelina LuuCorkboard from happyhomechildrencare.org

MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Students who are interested in applying for either the military or the Navy, both careers involves law enforcement.

Although senior Sergio Aparicio is not interested in the military or the Navy, Aparicio is still interested in law enforcement, which the Military, Navy, and Police Force all fall into the same category.

“First , I wanted to join criminal justice, so I went to Cal State to see any courses of criminal justice. Cal State only had a few courses, so did other colleges. I decided I wanted to go to the police academy instead. The violence and crimes really influenced me in going to the police academy,” Apaericio said.

According to the website <Navy.com>, one of the benefits of joining the Navy is that there is a huge opportunity of earning a college degree or even an advanced degree, an outstanding composition package, complete with competitive pay, tax benefits, and comprehensive health-care coverage, and a world-class training in technical fields that are also in high demand in the civilian sector. For undergraduate degrees you don’t have to put college on hold while you

pursue a career in the Navy. In fact, much of your on-the-job training and experience can translate directly to college credit. Classes that the Navy could cover through its large variety of educational assistance programs.

Private or independent colleges tend to be the the most costly; however, they can also be considered the cheapest. A private university has the resources to offer generous financial aid to any potential students based on their financial need. Since many college-bound students make their decisions based on their household’s income, most do not apply for any private schools. This can be considered an advantage for current students who are attending private schools because the student-to-teacher ratio is much smaller compared to community colleges and public universities. According to californiacolleges.edu, there are over 75 non-profit independent colleges and universities in California. Since all private colleges are different from one another, require-ments for attending a certain school vary depending on the school and a student’s place of residency. According to californiacolleges.edu, the standard cost of attending an independent college (based on median costs) is $50,470 living on-campus, $48,397 living off-campus, or $42,451 living with parents for California

residents.

This after-high-school option offers specialized training

in a specific career. At these colleges, you typically only take

career-related courses. Generally, you complete the program

in an uninterrupted period of time and receive a certificate of

completion or an Associate of Science degree at the end of the

program. Finding a college that is accredited is recommended

because an accredited college guarantees that academic work

may be transferred if you decide to pursue a more advanced

degree. However, training in a specific career may limit your choices

if you decide to pursue a different path later on. Attending a

trade school diminishes the opportunity of receiving a well-

rounded education that a liberal arts program can offer.

“[I definitely] recommend community college over vocational

schools just because kids now-a-days tend to change their minds

about what they want to do in the real world and tech schools

don’t give that option,” Career Technician Monica Marquez said.

Briefs by Kathering Montelon, Brian Rios,

Chelsey Tran, and Jenny Wu

NEWSLIFE & ART 10 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Voted “Best Tea Room in Pasa-dena” for four years in a row by Pasadena Weekly, Scarlet Tea Room and Fine Dining offers a variety of lunch and dinner meals and courses. For those who like after-noon tea, a 5-course afternoon tea is offered for $32.00 per person with their choice of tea, scarlet sor-bet, homemade scones, tea sand-wiches, petite desserts, and fresh berry romanoff. For those who do not prefer tea, this restaurant also offers extravagant dishes such as freshwater black mussels, grilled lamb chops, and Sicilian pista-chio crème brulée. The Scarlet Tea Room also provides catering services for private and corporate events. Reservations are available to ensure a wonderful meal at this award-winning restaurant.

OLD TOWN PASADENA

According to Bird Pick, this tea lounge originates from a legend about the ancient prac-tice of cultivating the finest tea leaves. Extraordinary birds with acute senses would pick out the best leaves for their own nour-ishment. To try to strive for the best, Bird Pick starts with the

c a f e & b r e w e r y

finest tea leaves to make their tea. The rich aroma and eccentric flavors are the first thing you notice as soon as you step foot into their tea lounge. What makes this tea lounge special is that they not only make tea and have low prices, but they also sell their own tea leaves for you to enjoy a brewed cup of your own. f o o d & d e s s e r t s

If you just stand outside the dainty shop of ‘lette macarons in Old Town Pasadena, you wouldn’t even have to go inside to become mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of colors. Just by standing outside, you can already catch a glimpse of a display full of colorful macarons. Ac-cording to the official site of ‘lette macarons, their macarons are hand-made daily, so customers will al-ways be satisfied with how fresh each bite tastes. ‘lette macarons has 12 everyday classic flavors and sea-sonal specialties to choose from. Each almond cook-ie-filled goodness comes with their own unique fla-vor, so every time you try one, you’ll definitely want to try the rest.

At 21 Choices, you will find a long menu – and a long line. 21 Choices is a popular must-have in Old Town Pasadena. There is a variety of unique fro-zen yogurts to choose from, such as Oreo Cookie Magic to Red Velvet Cookie Dough. Though 21 Choices is a little farther and pricier than the local Yogurt-land, this frozen yogurt shop is definitely worth a try.

Yummy Italian food with great service? Yes, please. Buca offers basic Italian specialties, includ-ing pasta, pizza, salads, and des-serts, such as cannolis and Italian creme cakes. The heartwarming atmosphere and the caring ser-vice from the servers make this restaurant great for family lunch and dinner outings. They even of-fer a table inside the kitchen area for adventurous diners.

shops & entertainment

Blazers, shoes, skirts, tops, dresses. This thrift store has it all. Crossroads has a ton of one-of-a-kind clothing items for the hipster in you. The pricing here is fairly reasonable, considering that these clothes are used and vintage. With a little bit of digging, you can almost always find a quirky pair of velvet shorts or a sheer vintage blouse to spruce up your closet.

Photos courtesy of Crystal Wong and openacolormemine.wordpress.com Briefs compiled by Celine Dang, Crystal Wong, Maggie Cheng and Vanessa De La Rosa

Color Me Mine is a place where artists and non-artists alike can go and have fun by painting their own creation from a wide variety of ceramic shapes. The numerous pieces they have to choose from are diverse, ranging from ordinary plates and bowls to mushrooms, and even Dis-ney characters. Color Me Mine also has an extensive assort-ment of unique colors to choose from to prevent limitations of one’s creative capacity. After painting, the employee’s fire it to be ready to be taken home. With its unique and extensive range of paints and ceramics and the courteous employees there to help, Color Me Mine is an enjoyable experience for all ages.

11 LIFE & ART FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Oscar-nominated movies meet high expectations

Zero Dark Thirty is a wonderful dramatization that exposes the con-voluted plot behind the search for terrorist leader, Osama Bin Laden. It brings to light many disregarded aspects of the manhunt, such as the CIA’s use of torture on suspected detainees and the genius tactics that greatly aided the capture. As for the arguably most famous aspect of the movie, Kathryn Bigelow’s success-ful portrayal of the main character Maya was able to reflect the true determi-nation and intellectual power that her character was supposed to embody. Especially for those who are interested in how the

United States dealt the lethal blow to terrorism, Zero Dark Thirty pro-vides a dramatic, yet interesting, experience for the audience. The movie reflects superb directing and character portrayal. I would recommend it for anyone interested in a U.S. victory in the war against terror. Both the plot and acting make Zero Dark Thirty one of the top movies of the generation.

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy about Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany Maxwell (Jenni-fer Lawrence). Pat is a former mental patient who deals with bipolarity who one day meets Tiffany, a widowed sex addict. During the film, themes like marriage issues and men-tal illnesses are explored. The casting for Silver Linings Play-book was perfect. After watch-ing the movie, it was difficult to imagine anyone else acting the parts of the cast. Cooper and Lawrence do a wonderful job in portraying their characters, and the chemistry is very apparent. The movie also takes issues like

marriage and mental illness, and turns them into things that are easier to accept while staying lighthearted enough for viewers to stay interested. The film leaves you cheering Pat and Tiffany on, and it just goes to show that even among movies, there are silver linings.

Photo courtesy of 4.bp.blogspot.com

Photo courtesy of wallzoa.com

Photo courtesy of mymercercountyohio.com

Photo courtesy of demandware.edgesuite.net

Les Miserables is a movie adap-tion of a musical based on a book by Victor Hugo. All of the interac-tions between characters are sung leaving little-to-no dialogue. The story is set primarily in France. Les Mis has an all-star cast that includes Helena Bonham Carter,

Sacha Baron Cohen, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, and Amanda Seyfried. Despite

how strange the “no dialogue” may seem, the actors managed

to sing many catchy songs that move the audience and con-vey their character’s emotions. Anne Ha-thaway plays struggling mother and prostitute, Fantine. Her

acting brings the audience to tears as she sings “I Dreamed a Dream.” This is especially different because it was origi-nally sung live. This musical has thieving inn owners, re-

formed convicts, rebellions, and love wrapped up into what seems to be the longest song ever written.

Argo, winner of The Oscar’s Best Picture Award, is a historical thriller directed by award-winning director, Ben Affleck. The film features CIA agent Tony Mendez (Affleck), who

is obligated to rescue a group of American refugees from the

danger of Iranian militants by posing as a Canadian film producer. In addition to its serious plotline, the film incorporated some deadly accurate satire and humor that turned it into

an enjoyable experience. Along with Ben Affleck, pro-

ducers George Clooney and Grant Heslov composed a mix of irony and mood-lightening humor through this historically accurate film. Argo tells a story of American heroism that was classified for over 20 years, and highlights the dangers and successes of a mission during the terrifying Iran Hostage Crisis.

Photo courtesy of 2.bp.blogspot.com

Reviews compiled by Annie Huang, Chelsey Tran, Christopher Lan and Rebecca Lei

SPORTS 12 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

B O Y S T E N N I S

B A S E B A L L

B O Y S V O L L E Y B A L L

S O F T B A L L

VARSITY2/27 vs. Temple City 3-0 W 3/5 University Irvine 3-0 W

JV2/27 vs. Temple City 2-0 W3/5 vs. Ocean View 2-1 W3/7 vs. John F. Kennedy 1-2 L

FRESHMAN2/26 vs. Crescenta Valley 1-2 L 3/5 University Irvine 2-1 W3/8 vs. Arcadia 2-0 W3/13 vs. Crescenta Valley 3-1 W

VARSITY2/26 vs. Temple City 5-13 L 3/5 vs. Arroyo 11-7 W3/12 vs. Rosemead 12-6 W

JV3/5 vs. Arroyo 12-6 W3/12 vs. Rosemead 12-6 W

VARSITY2/23-3/9 Bonita Tournament vs. Roosevelt 1-10 L vs. Cantell 9-9 T vs. Charter Oak 3-9 L vs. Duarte 14-12 W 3/12 vs. Bell Gardens 8-2 W

JV2/23-3/9 Bonita Tournament vs. Loyala 0-8 L vs. Alta Loma 0-25 L 3/12 vs. Bell Gardens 0-12 L

VARSITY3/1 vs. Mountain View 6-5 W3/5 vs. Marshall Fundamental 6-5 W3/7 vs. Baldwin Park 3-7 L3/8 vs. Bassett 0-11 L3/13 vs. Pioneer 0-11 L

JV3/1 vs. Mountain View 4-0 W3/5 vs. Marshall Fundamental 6-12 L3/7 vs. Baldwin Park 4-13 L3/8 vs. Bassett 12-31 L3/13 vs. Pioneer 15-6 W

C O - E D B A D M I N T O NVARSITY3/7 vs. Azusa 16-5 W3/12 vs. Polytechnic 19-2 W

C O - E D S W I M

VARSITY3/7 vs. San Dimas 56.5-50.5 W

C O - E D T R A C K

VARSITY3/5 vs. Duarte (G) 68-95 L (B) 116-52 W3/7 vs. Pioneer (G) 105-45 W (B) 121-36 W

After joining the track and field team for the first time in her junior year, she qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) in the 100m race. Now, Diana Nguyen leads the team as the senior girls captain.

Nguyen identified her successful experience on the team as “unexpected.” With a passion for running and competing, she decided to compete in sprints and participated in the 100m and 200m races and the 4x100m relay.

“Track is a demoralizing sport if your running times don’t meet your expectations,” Nguyen said.

Despite having the required skills to perform with con-fidence, Nguyen becomes extremely nervous at the start of her races, but once she takes off, she focuses on her form and on relaxing.

“As captain, I try to be a good model and not give up,” Nguyen said, “so the rest of the team doesn’t give up.”

With a personal record of 12.9 seconds for the 100m race, and 27 seconds for the 200m race, Nguyen hopes to train vig-orously throughout the season and make it to CIF once again.

As one of the starters for varsity girls tennis, I have a job to win as many games as possible to help the team win the match. However, we tend to forget our other key players off the court. Many do not notice how important a non-starter also is on the team.

We tend to have an image that non-starters, or “bench warmers”, do not do anything for the team and just sit at the side while the starters play in the game. However, this is not the case. Non-starters are always cheering on the team even when things are getting worse for the players. “Whenever it is a close game, [we] non-starters cheer loudly so we do not lose against the opponent’s cheering and mo-mentum,” volleyball player David Pham said.

Koby Khauv, JV boys ten-nis team member, was once a starter but is now a non-starter cheering on the team. “Al-though I felt less important when I was moved from a starter to a non-starter, I found out how being a non-starter and cheering for the

Nana Akahoshi

Br ian Rios

The dynamic duo of Head Coach Jason Carson and Assistant Coach Steve Morales has revamped the Matador track and field program with a new philosophy. The 2013 season is Car-son’s inaugural year as head coach and Morales’ first year as a Matador coach.

Carson worked under the recently retired Ted Brock for one year and is looking to build upon the progress the two achieved last year. Carson and Morales are appreciative of the talent within the track and field team. “We have a talented team. Senior Diana Nguyen qualified for CIF last year, Senior Kenneth Ng is a great long jumper, our varsity boys have a competitive 4x1 team, and we have talented freshmen,” Carson said. Despite the talent, Carson and Morales em-phasize an intense practice schedule to further develop the team’s ability.

Carson’s specialty lies in sprints, hurdles, and relays whereas Morales’ forte is long distance running. A typical day of practice begins with stretching and a 45 minute warm-up along with various drills. The remainder of the practice varies between each athlete. “I bring a different perspective to practice; I focus on repetition and rest and have the long distance athletes running more miles,” Morales said. Morales was an elite runner at East Los Angeles College and Califor-nia State University at Los Angeles, which acts as a motivational method to the team. He uses his prior experience as a runner to encourage the Matadors.

“Our student-athletes are going to compete and are going to learn to train daily,” Carson said. His goals this season are to stay healthy and to compete. This season’s expectations are loftier than those of previous years. Morales would like to help return San Gabriel’s glory days in track and field. With Morales’ unique coaching methods and Carson’s leadership coupled with the potential of the athletes and an intense prac-tice, the goal might seem closer than expected.

Joining a sport is a commit-ment, a commitment that in-cludes dedication, dedication that includes: attending multiple practices, showing off the full-est of one’s capabilities, making every play count as if it was a crucial turning point match, and most importantly paying

Mimi Lam

Badminton Shirt $5Shoes $40-80Racket $20-150Total $65-235

Track & FieldSpikes $20-100Running Shoes $40-100Sweater $25Sweats $10Total $95-235

Girls SwimGoggles and Caps $20-30Girls swimsuit Practice $20-90Competition $50Girls Total $90-170

SoftballSpirit pack (2 shirts, game pants,belt, 2 pairs ofsocks) $77Cleats $20-40Glove $40-100Total $137-217

BaseballUniform (jersey,Game pants) $80-90Cleats $50-70Glove $80-200Total $210-360

Boys TennisRacket (and a S pare) $20-200Tennis shoes $55-130Strings $10-100Uniform $30Total $115-460

Boys VolleyballShirts $10VB Shoes $60-90Total $70-100

Carson land Morales lead track team into direction

Photo by Derek Deng

Sports Expenses

Illustration by John Truong

for one’s equipment and gear in order to partake in playing the sport. Most would say that people should join the sport that one is passionate and willing to put their time and effort on, but money taken out of the pockets must be taken into consideration. After all, there are some people who simply cannot afford the expenses that are needed to par-ticipate on a sports team.

teammates was actually an impor-tant part of the team,” Khauv said.

Being a starter, I would never know how it feels like being a non-starter. However, I do know how important they are to the team. Every time I was in trouble during a match, our non-starters would always cheer out, “Nice shot!” or “You can do this!” Believe it or not, these cheers motivated me to do better and try harder to win the match. It often gives me courage during the worst times.

Non-starters are always in the shadow of the team and not no-ticed by most people. This happens because the starters are always out during the match playing their best, while the non-starters are on the side watching the game.

However most people do not know how much the non-starters are doing for the team. Whether

the team is win-ning or losing, the non-start-e r s a re a l -ways there to

cheer and en-courage their teammates . Non-starters

may be the u n k n o w n MVPs.

Illustration by John Truong

Substitutes boost morale and confidence

Nguyen runs into successOscar Mol ina

Photo by Derek Deng

Boys SwimPractice $10-20Competition $20-30Goggles and Caps $20-30Boys Total $50-80

13 SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Gender Gaps: Female sports are often overlookedHigh School Sports Professional Sports

Photos by Derek Deng

Sonny Hy Karen Rivera

Gender discrimination in athletics at San Gabriel is almost non-existent essentially. Globally, discrimination based on gender still exists. Females and males are seen as equal partici-pants in all sports. The unusual attri-bution of stereotypical gender roles have no role as all students have the opportunity to enlist in sports with-out overbearing judgments.

“I believe that in the current so-ciety women are not being treated equally,” junior William Nguyen said, a varsity tennis player.

It can be seen at San Gabriel that there is an equal or even larger proportion of females than males in sports. On campus, there is no stigmatizing of females or males because of their activity in sports. Friendliness and teamwork are core curriculums that are instilled in each and every student, whether or not they are participating in a sport. Standards do not apply as support courses through the veins of all stu-dents who represent San Gabriel to the upmost standards. A few years ago, a female student was allowed to try-out for the football team despite her gender, a feat that is banned in the NFL.

Overall, San Gabriel High School has a track record of being non-discriminatory and fair to all genders that want to participate in sports.

The world came together during the 2012 London Olympic to witness the greatest athletes compete on the biggest stage. Whether the athletes were female or male their beloved country’s people watched in hopes of attaining a gold medal. From Misty Mae-Treanor and Kerri Walsh to the USA’s men’s basketball team support-ers equally supported these profes-sionals. Although the Olympics united many, nothing seems to change after.

Compare watching an NBA game to a WNBA game. Not the players. However look at the crowds and the publicity differential. An NBA game draws in more than a million people a night during a nationally televised game as to where a WNBA game is left in the shadows. The WNBA has not succeeded at capturing a large audience because of marketing.

The approach itself has been described as the main problem of women’s sports leagues at the profes-sional level. Women’s sports has been targeted toward fans of the game, however when one is used to watch-ing a more physical and entertaining style, watching a slower paced league is not the same. Women’s sports league can be saved, but the approach has to change. Women’s college sports have a growing fan base and those are the crowds that the professional leagues should focus on.

1. Lift your legs up straight with your heels together and feet pointed. Keep your hands flat on the floor or put it behind your tailbone. Relax your neck and back.

Remember to inhale when you bring you legs up and exhale when you bring them down into the circle.

Workout of the Month- Butterfly Kickouts (Pilates)2. Slowly bring your legs down and out to form a circle, remembering to keep your legs straight and feet pointed. Then bring your heels back together and lift your legs back up straight.

Is there gender equality in high school and profess-ional sports?

Out of a poll of 50 students, over half agreed that gender equality is not apparent in both school and professional sports.

FEATURES 14 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Tell Mewhat’s theWORD.

Famous Hallway quotes,Volume Thirty-six

All quotes overheard by The Matador

staff.

“Do you guys live in the same house?”

- Student asking about siblings.

“Wait, I’m going to be lopsided.”

- Student talking about carrying heavy backpacks.

“You just dig in, just like food.”

- Student talking about shopping at Forever 21.

“I fell in love with her typing.”

- Teacher sarcastically talking about meeting wife online.

“I got stopped by an orange light.”

“If it has four legs, and it’s not a table, we’ll eat it.”

- Teacher referencing today’s society.

“Is it your birthday again?”

“You’re preaching to the choir, but we’re a band.”

- Teacher talking about the digestive system.

Abacus counts on ancient instruments every Thursday

Uplift your spirits during school in A208

The epitome of all the sauces: Sriracha

- Student explaining why she was late.

- Student talking about late birthday presents.

- Student talking to teacher.

“You have good poop if it plops out of your butt.”

I rene Hong

Rooster sauce. Cock sauce. Sriracha. Known for its green cap and logo of a rooster, Sriracha has grown from a local San Gabriel neighborhood business to a national product, especially with the new Sriracha-fla-vored Lays.

“It plays a big role in my life and I love so much that I eat in a one-to-one ratio with rice,” freshman Phong Dang said.

T h e sauce is a p r o d u c t o f Huy Fong F o o d s I n c . , w h i c h was cre-ated in 1980 by Chinese-V i e t -n a m e s e founder D a v i d T r a n . The com-pany was n a m e d af ter the vessel that t r a n s p o r t e d

Oscar Mol ina

Tran Lam

Five thousand years ago, the abacus was developed in China and has trickled into other cultures. Now, the Abacus Club at San Gabriel is inviting students to research on the history of the ancient invention, how it relates to math, and how people can apply it to modern problems.

Started by math teachers Kevin Nong and Emily Wu in February, the club’s purpose is to introduce students to different ancient inventions and how these inventions relate to current math concepts.

“We hope that talking about the history of the abacus and other an-cient instruments can be brought to attention and increase their interest in math,” Wu said.

Meeting at lunch every Thursday in L201, its members are learning about the history of the abacus and how human kind has been utilizing it to make calculations more accurate.

The abacus is a calculating tool that is mainly used in Asia to help solve arithmetic problems. The instrument was used for centuries by merchants and clerks to help keep track of and calculate the numbers.

Students have formed a research group of four and are in the pro-cess of making posters in order to inform others in the school about the Abacus Club. The club is planning to showcase these posters on Back to School Night.

“Joining the club has allowed me to learn how to work in groups and get better at doing research,” freshman Stephen Kang said.

In the near future, the club is hoping to learn more about other ancient inventions and teach students about the process of researching.

1 pound of top sirloin beef, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 tablespoons of honey3 tablespoons of Sriracha hot sauce2 tablespoons of vegetable or canola

oil1 tablespoon of soy sauce1 teaspoon of ground cumin1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon of salt8 skewers1 whole Boston lettuce (optional)1 whole cucumber, cut into 1/8-inch

slices (optional)1/2 cup of sour cream (optional)1 whole lime (optional)

Pastor JP Geronimo preaches several bible verses using a Power Point slide show. Uplift meets every Wednesday during lunch in A208.

Illustration by Yadanar Oo

Quick-and-easy recipe: Honey Sriracha Beef SkewersIngredients-

Recipe courtesy of <www.inspiredtaste.net>

1. Combine all ingredients and mari-nate the beef in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

2. In the meantime, if wooden, soak the skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.

3. Evenly portion the beef cubes onto each skewer and cook as desired. We recommend using a cast iron pan over medium heat. Allow the skewers to cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until preferred. The skewers can also be cooked on an indoor or outdoor grill.

4. Serve the skewers as is or with lettuce, sliced cucumbers, cilantro, and sour cream mixed with the juice of one lime.

directions-

final product-

Photo by Derek Deng

Photo courtesy of <www.inspiredtaste.net>

-Compiled by Sandy Peng

With a fresh start to the year, there are bound to be changes and new additions at San Gabriel High School. One addition is the newly created Christian club called Uplift. Formerly known as “Cross Movement,” it was previously established by Kathering Victory, and has been recently revived by San Gabriel High School counselor, Elaine Jong. Uplift is a source of completing community service, playing games, and expressing inspiring messages to fellow club members.

“Basically what we do is [the pastor] will explain common needs and share our faith in Jesus Christ in the club,” teacher Ted Olivos said.

Mainly ran by Pastor JP Geronimo, meetings usually consist of discus-sions about Jesus Christ and how he strengthens the Christians’ everyday lives. Pastor JP will usually talk to the students about the Christian faith and show them scriptures, sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible, through a PowerPoint.

“I want students to join the club because it’s to reaffirm and be strong in our faith. I think the teenage years are tumultuous, and I think to under-stand that your faith can really pull you through these troubled times will make something really miraculous happen out of something that might seem desperate,” Olivos said.

The club meetings are on Wednesdays during lunch in room A208, and the advisors are Elaine Jong, JP Geronimo, and Ted Olivos.

[We’re] definitely welcoming of anyone who comes by because we have a lot of leadership opportunities since we’re small. If you join us you can definitely help with the activities for the club,” Elaine Jong said.

him to the United States. “It’s really important in

Vietnamese cultural and people normally eat with Pho, but I go ahead and eat with everything,” said senior Georgia Luong, who keeps a bottle of the sauce in her kitchen, room, and in Raymond Gin’s classroom.

The company has four types of sauces: the origi-nal Sriracha, the Chili

Garlic, the Sambal Oelek (chili paste), and Sambal Badjak (chili paste with on-ions). A mix of spicy

and tangy flavors, the sauce has be-

come delicious on anything, from pizza t o p a s t a . The product has become such a big flavor that it has become an ingredi-ent used on t h e F o o d N e t w o r k . Iron Chef Michael Sy-mon finds Sriracha his favorite Thai

h o t s a u c e , using it in his

chicken wings.

The Abacus Club, introduced by math teachers Kevin Nong and Emily Wu, meets Thursdays in L201 at lunch. The members are currently learning about the history of the abacus.

Photo by Derek Deng

15 FEATURES FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Senior Jairo Avila is right on track with NASCAR

Kather ing Montelon

Vincent Gabucan works very hard and is able to manage his time wisely as a teacher, writer, and a stand-up comedian.

“It’s a hobby of mine,” Gabucan said. “When I am not teaching, I am a writ-er, and I’m an actor also, and one of the things I did before was stand-up comedy.” Gabucan said.

After a long week of teaching high school stu-dents, Gabucan spends his leisure time writing on the weekends.

“When I’m not [teach-ing at] school, I’ll write. I’ll do a little bit of writ-ing, maybe like twice or three times a week,” Ga-bucan said.

Gabucan’s father in-spired him to become in-terested in stand-up com-

edy. “My dad does a really great job of connecting

with people [with] his stories and the way he acts. I try to be humorous or funny [while I’m teaching] because, I think sometimes it gets boring and teach-ers need to make it interesting,” Gabucan said.

Besides Gabucan’s fa-ther’s inspiration, Gabucan was also influenced by the Saturday Night Live sketch show.

“A show that I really like to watch is Saturday Night Live, which is like a Satur-day night sketch show, and I would think that it really influences how I see com-edy and its like one of my favorite things to watch, and I think I’ve seen every episode of Saturday Night

Live ,and its been on for like thirty something years. So, I would say that’s my favorite show to watch and it really influences how I tell jokes,”

Gabucan said. As of now, Ga-

bucan finds every chance he gets to bring humor into his class.

“ W h e n e v e r I can say some-thing funny I’ll try to say it, but not in a way that it distracts from what I am doing but to help me on my teaching. I think it’s nice to have a good sense of humor,” Gabu-can said.

Q. What essentials will you bring to your STAR testing rooftop camp out?

A. “Either my guitar, ukulele, or both. I’d probably bring a tent or something to sleep on, a cell phone, laptop, and hopefully get Wi-Fi and get some work done. [I will live on the roof on] Tuesday, April 9 around noon, depending on the weather. I will come down the next day during lunch and [in between] the day I will come down to use the restroom.”

Q. What was your first car?A. “I didn’t start driving until I turned 16, and my parents gave me a 1970 Dodge Dart.”

Q. What was your dream job when you were younger?

A. “I wanted to be an actor.”

The inside scoop with Principal Jim Schofield

Comedian stands up to role outside of class

Principal Jim Schofield enjoys working in the principal’s office before packing supplies for his rooftop camp out on Tuesday, April 9.

Senior Jairo Avila’s hobbies may be similar to those of his peers’ and friends’ hobbies, but there is certainly one thing that sets him apart; Avila is a two-time Grand Cart

National Champion, and a state and national American Speed Association Model Late Series Champion. Avila began racing with go carts at the age of five, and ever since, he has been competing around the

United States, including Florida, Indiana, and Texas. Avila practices for competition at race tracks, such as in Baldwin Park. Races between drivers are sorted through age brackets. Racecar driving may look like an

individual sport, but, in fact, Avila has a pit crew to work with.Avila’s accomplishments do not come without consequences. He has suffered from a broken ankle and two

cracked ribs in previous competitions. This, though, has not dampened his spirit. Through racing, Avila has met a few National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) drivers, including Mario Andretti, Kyle Bush, Jeff Gordon, and his role model and inspiration, five-time racing champion Jimmie Johnson.

Avila has a lot of future plans in mind. He plans to go to college to become a mechanical engineer, obtain his NASCAR license, and hopefully become a NASCAR driver one day “if everything works out.” And for those who are interested in this sport, “just start off having fun [and] talk your parents [about it],” Avila said.

The requirements include starting out with a go cart and from there, moving up the ladder.He drives late-model cars, which includes Toyota and Ford. His previous sponsors include Monster and

Red Bull, and Alligient Airlines, which is based out of Las Vegas.Although he may spend a lot of time focusing on his hobby, Although difficult to do, Avila still finds the balance between racing cars and school, even though racing cars is a “week to week basis.” Avila

has been shy about being a racecar driver, but in the seventh grade, his friends found out since “[his] teachers knew and the word got out.” With this unique hobby, Avila should not have to be shy

about it anymore. - Priscilla Liang

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Photo courtesy of Jairo Avila

Photo by Derek Deng

Photo by Derek Deng

When he is not teaching Geometry, Vincent Gabucan spends his time acting, writing, and doing stand-up comedy. He was influenced by his father and Saturday Night Live.

Photo by Derek Deng

FEATURES 16 FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013THE MATADOR

Shamrock Shake back for MarchMaggie Cheng

If you are craving a sweet mixture of mint syrup and vanilla ice cream all in one cup, then you are in luck: the Shamrock Shake is available at all McDonald’s restaurants nationwide.

As I was drinking the shake, I felt that it was a little too sweet, but maybe it’s because I don’t re-ally have a huge sweet tooth. For a 12 fluid ounce shake, there are 73 grams of sugar.

“The Shamrock Shake is too sweet for me. If the shake was not as sweet, then I would enjoy it much more,” junior Brenda Che said.

Nonetheless, I finished the swirly green concoction of mint and ice cream.

According to McDonald’s website, the 12 fluid ounce Sham-rock Shake is 530 calories and the 22 fluid ounce is around a whop-ping 820 calories.

“Even though the Shamrock Shake has a lot of calories, it tastes pretty good and I absolutely love the mint flavoring,” senior Lu-wena Wou said.

It is quite a hefty load just for one drink, so I would recommend only trying this drink once a year.

Since the Shamrock Shake is here for a limited time only, I say forget about your waistline for an hour and taste this sweet brew since this promotion does not last all year long.

Price:Small- $1.89Medium- $2.29Large- $2.59

Grade: B-

Photo by Sonny Hy