download a PDF of this edition - My High School Journalism

the Stagg Line
09.24.10
VOL. 54 NO. 2
ON THE WEB
staggline.com
Soccer gallery
ON THE BLOG
staggline.blogspot.com
SEYMA TAP speaks
about the pain and
loss felt after Rin Ros’s
death.
NIKKI LAWRENCE
talks about her experiences
while running for
homecoming princess.
INSIDE THE ISSUE
Stagg Star Search
NEWS IN BRIEF
UC Deadline
The UC application for
the fall semester will
be available in October.
Students may start
sending UC applications
beginning Nov. 1 and
are due by Nov. 30.
Scholarships
Go to the Stockton
Unified School District
website to fill out the
general scholarship application.It
will be due
Friday, Jan. 15. Go to
the Career Center for
more information on
scholarships.
College Application
Workshop
University of the Pacific,
CSU Stanislaus, UC Merced,
and Sacramento
State will be having
workshops on Monday,
Oct. 18, in the library
during fifth and sixth
period. Students may
sign up in the Career
Center and must have
a 2.5 GPA in order to
attend.
Football game
There will be a football
game tonight. Junior
varsity starts at 5 p.m.
and varsity starts at
7:15 p.m. The team
will be going up against
Bear Creek.
the Stagg
Line
NSPA Hall of Fame
newspaper
Amos Alonzo Stagg
High School
1621 Brookside Rd.
Stockton, Calif. 95207
Lissette Rodriguez
Jeremy Dela Cruz
Home of tHe Delta Kings
Rising above the influence
Tubbs inspires
by describing
his life story
A poet once said that a rose grows between the cracks
of concrete because the rose chooses to grow. It chooses to
prove nature’s laws wrong and grows without the example
of others. This poet is Tupac Shakur. Although some people
don’t see a poet in a person who is commonly associated
with violence and crime, Franklin High School graduate
and Stanford University student Michael Tubbs thinks differently.
“A lot of times hip-hop is demonized and sometimes
rightfully so,” he said. “But there are ways you shift
what people are listening to, to make it positive.”
Alex Olacio, freshman, was inspired by this metaphor
on Tuesday, Aug. 31 when Tubbs presented to the student
body in the gym. Olacio sees himself as that rose rising
from the concrete when he thinks about everything that
he has had to deal with. He has lived with only one parent
since he was 4 years old, he has never really gotten adjusted
to living in one place, and his dad has been in jail for a few
months now. When his dad was around, Olacio questioned
how his dad was able to provide for him and his family. “He
found ways to get us clothes and food and stuff,” he said. “I
don’t know how, though.” Olacio still finds hope in becoming
a football player, despite his rough upbringing.
Tubbs has seen proof of shifting ideals after presenting
to church audiences, high school, and Stanford University
students. He has looked through social websites such as
Myspace and Facebook and on people’s headlines and walls
he sees the acronym “SWAG” a phrase that he has borrowed
from hip-hop artist Soulja Boy which means “Show
the world all your greatness.”
Junior Trenese Manning finds more inspiration through
finding connections to many of Tubbs’s own struggles
throughout his life, especially with struggles such as their
families relying on government funded aid for food. “Eating
peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner sometimes
will be the only thing,” Manning said. “What he
went through is pretty much what we’re going through
now.” Even though Manning does find it challenging to
sometimes get to school in the mornings due to lack of
transportation, she still does all she can to reach a goal similar
to Tubbs. Manning wants to be the first person in her
family to go to college.
However, students getting to college can sometimes be
more difficult in a community such as Stockton, Tubbs
says. It isn’t lack of motivation, he said, but the “haters”
who will arise especially when one strives to achieve. “If
you’re trying to be different, people aren’t going to like
you” he said. Tubbs, on the other hand, finds motivation
from the “haters.” He references hip-hop artist Jay-Z and
his song “So Ambitious,” and says that just like the song he
finds motivation from the people who tell him he can’t do
something.
Tubbs hopes to not only spread this message to those
he speaks to but also through various programs and nonprofit
organizations. His website, www.mdtubbs.com, has
become a way of spreading his message as well.
This last summer he started a college application consultant
program for students coming from low-income households
and troubled communities called the Stanford Phoenix
Program. Through projects such as this, Tubbs wants to
ensure that his personal goal can be realized now. Growing
up he always told himself that “when (he would) make it,
(he would) make sure everybody else knows they can make
it.”
New faces aim for ‘student ownership’
Frequently leaving his office door open,
Chan Sam busily types on his computer,
assisting students who are free to walk in.
Inspirational posters cover the walls of the
photos by Erica Trevino
Assistant Principal Youlin Aissa talks about
her trip to France with students when she
was a social studies teacher.
Tubbs speaks to students about his past and how his experiences
reflect his achievements.
tiny room depicting phrases like “Go confidently
in the direction of your dreams” and
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with
a single step.” To some, these clichés have
been too overused to have any meaning. To
Sam, however, these posters reveal his style
of counseling. “Overall I have a strong student-centered
philosophy.”
Developing plans to improve the school,
guidance chair Sam and Assistant Principal
Youlin Aissa are the new faces on campus.
Speaking of his transition into the head
counselor position from the Institute of
Business, Management, and Law, Sam believes
that some of the challenges he faces
are “bringing a different philosophy to the
school” and “trying to understand the culture
and traditions of Stagg.”
As head counselor, he recognizes that
“our students want to do better” and so
he has been hard at work to bring successful
practices from his old school to Stagg.
“We’re making a big push,” said Sam. “Every
week we have something going on for
seniors.”
One project that Sam is involved with is
attempting to meet with students to inquire
about their plans for graduation and high
school. While seniors develop career plans,
freshmen will be focusing on completing
photo by Tiffany Pech
personal assessments and graduation plans.
“Every year will be progressive toward the
end.” Sam said.
Meanwhile across campus, the newest
assistant principal meets with students sent
to M-1 for disciplinary issues. Wearing a
multi-colored wig for crazy hair day, Aissa
wants to improve the school’s atmosphere.
“My plans are to help with the continued
improvement plans and bring back a sense
of spirit and culture to Stagg High.”
Aissa describes Stagg as “a school that has
the potential to be a model school.” She recognizes
dedication, spirit, and “a lot of drive
both among staff and students.”
Before coming to Stockton, Aissa worked
in the nearby small towns of Waterford and
Patterson. She was previously a social studies
teacher before earning her administrative
credential from CSU Stanislaus. Her
change in profession came from her desire
to impact more students. “I wanted to do
things to reach a larger portion of students
not just the ones in my classroom.”
A common element between Sam and
Aissa is their commitment to what they call
“student ownership.” Aissa says that “too
many of our students don’t take ownership
of our school.”
Sam reflects that during his tenure at
photo by Mia Torres
As Tubbs makes his way around the gym to acknowledge every student, he engages his young audience by dissecting samples
of popular music and analyzing their deeper meanings.
photo by Tiffany Pech
Tubbs shows the students his SWAG. According to him,
SWAG means showing the world all your greatness.
Guidance chair Chan Sam is currently working
on improving the graduation percentage
and to bring more quality service to students.
IBML, he was able to get “the students to
take ownership of the school” by encouraging
them to care about campus events. He
recognizes that the only difference between
students from each school is the amount of
effort given to academics. “This is my challenge:
how do I get these students to make
a commitment and gain a better future?”

Opinion
the Stagg Line
2 09.24.10
EDITORIAL
Penalties teach responsibility
A
nervous student runs through the
hall looking for campus security
monitors lurking in the shadows.
The student is almost to class when he
is snagged by the front office and asked
where his identification card is. The student
rifles through his backpack, knowing that
he doesn’t have his ID, hoping to fool the
campus security monitor.
Shaking his head and making a confused
expression, he finally gives up the charade.
Instead of being dragged off to the book
room to get a temporary ID sticker, this
year students will have to pay $5 to get a
new ID.
While $5 may seem like a lot of money
for one day without an ID, we’re betting
that any student who has to pay the fine will
never forget their ID again.
We think this new punishment is a great
idea and is a good way to teach students
responsibility.
The whole idea of having to pay for
forgetting an ID just once may seem harsh,
but what about when the student running
through the halls grows up and gets a job?
Many jobs, nowadays, make their employees
carry IDs or they are not allowed in
the Stagg Line
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd.
Stockton, CA 95207
(209) 933-7445 ext. 8487
The Stagg Line newspaper is a member of the
National Scholastic Press Association and the
California Newspaper Publishers Association.
Awards and recognitions include the following:
X 16 consecutive NSPA All-American rankings
X NSPA Hall of Fame, 2005
X NSPA First-Place Best of Show five times
X JEA Impact Award, 2002
Stagg Line student journalists have won
many awards and scholarships over the years,
including California Journalist of the Year,
National Story of the Year, and
National Photo of the Year.
the building. Many businesses have cards
with barcodes that allow workers access to
the building. If a worker were to forget her
ID then she would have no way of getting
into her office, let alone complete her job
for the day.
It is not that hard to remember an ID.
If a student would just throw the ID with
something that she will never forget to bring
to school, like a backpack or cell phone, she
would never forget to bring it. This would
completely solve the forgotten ID problem.
If that student forgot her homework or
textbook, she would be punished by a drop
in grades or detention; this is basically the
same thing.
For some it may seem extreme, but
maybe it needs to be. According to Sandra
Johnson, the textbook clerk, the number
of people forgetting their IDs has been a
staggering decrease since the new policy has
taken effect.
Not only is the ID relatively easy to remember,
it also teaches each student responsibility.
Having to remember to bring their
IDs everyday will make each student look
more closely before leaving the house, making
sure they have everything they will need
STEREOTYPES:
Wide-eyed and adorably innocent, my
friend’s 5-year-old sister looks up
at me from the “Glee” rerun we’re
watching. She asks me a (not so) simple question.
“Are you an emo?”
My friends and I laughed, wondering where in
the world she picked up the term in the first
place. It’s a question I’ve fielded several time
before (though not quite as frequently as of
late), something I’ve always responded to with
an exasperated sigh or a patented eye roll. This
exasperation stems from a simple hatred: I hate
being stereotyped.
It used to happen all the time, usually by
those people… With their baggy pants down
by their ankles and their several-sizes -too-big
white T-shirts,
and that awful
rap music…
Oh,
gosh… Sorry.
That’s embarrassing…
You know,
to start off a
column about
the perils and
inaccuracy of
stereotypes
and then end
up stereotyping
people,
right after
complaining
about being
stereotyped.
Jeez, well,
that won’t
happen again…
For as much as I may detest being stereotyped
and labeled, instinctively I judge people
based off a single glance. Using this likely inaccurate
information, I make judgments of people
I don’t even know, to keep my distance.
Without any truly conscious thought, we
form judgments of people, and it is with these
judgments that we either isolate others or allow
ourselves to be isolated. While it is true that we
endeavor, and not wrongfully so, to surround
ourselves with like-minded individuals, it is
how we filter our company that leads to problems.
By forming judgments of people on the spot,
we close ourselves off to countless possibilities
in friendship. This is what leads to the creation
of cliques,
something I
didn’t believe
in until
recently.
For whatever
reason,
likely a large
oversight, I
felt that our
school was
exempt from
the classically
cliched image
of high school
portrayed by
nearly every
teenage movie
or television
show ever created.
Take MTV
for example, a
art by Mikeala Axton
Chelsea Collura
Editor-in-Chief
for the day.
Forgetting homework and projects will
not completely disappear, but if this new
punishment can teach one student responsibility,
then isn’t it worth it?
So next time you go running through the
network with
many shows
supposedly
grounded in
reality, based
around their
selling point
of young
adults.
A new
show began
airing recently,
the succinctly
named
“If You Really Mikeala Axton
Knew Me.”
The show is centered around a team of people
who travel from high school to high school,
attempting to breakdown stereotypes, and, (like
every other MTV show) reveal the surprising
stories behind everyday teenagers.
The show typically concludes with a room
full of teary-eyed teenagers who vow that they
will never look at their peers the same way
again.
However, as I learned in a substance abuse
prevention program over the summer, the effects
of an emotional event like this only last for
a few days at the most. True change is rare.
Even when it comes to “True Life,” a program
that showcases the typically overlooked
but difficult lives of today’s youth, how long do
those stories really affect the way we look at the
people around us?
The answer is not very long.
And yet, probably due to the obvious reasoning
of money, these shows keep being put on
the air, like “Teen Mom,” “The Hills,” and the
new “World of Jenks.” While these reality shows
claim to break down stereotypes and get to the
Lissette Rodriguez
Editor-in-Chief
Don Bott
Adviser
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and
distributed free of charge to students and faculty.
Our newspaper is a long-standing open forum
for free student expression. Student editors and
reporters make content and style decisions with
the adviser offering guidance. Editorials reflect the
view of the entire editorial board and therefore are
unsigned. Opinion columns reflect the view of the
writer. Readers are welcomed to write letters to
the editor. We will make every effort to print any
letter as long as it is not libelous. Letters longer than
250 words may be edited. Unsigned letters will be
printed only in unusual circumstances, and only
when we know who the writer is. Letters may be
brought to the newspaper room, A-8, or emailed to
dbott@stockton.k12.ca.us
Claire Scheffer
News Editor
Mikeala Axton
Opinion Editor
Missy Rae Magdalera
Features Editor
Alisya Mora
Entertainment Editor
Taylor Hurles
Sports Editor
Michelle Pheav
Graphics Editor
Erica Trevino
Photo Editor
Xe Xiong
Web/Multimedia Editor
Kristin Acevedo
Copy Editor
Jeremy Dela Cruz
Blog Editor
halls desperate to dodge the CSMs because
they will make you pay $5 for a new ID, ask
yourself why you couldn’t remember it that
morning, why you couldn’t throw it in your
backpack the night before.
Maybe it isn’t the CSMs fault.
raw emotion of things, they undermine themselves
by perpetuating the very thing they are
attempting to disprove.
“If You Really Knew Me,” in the show’s
opening sequence, advertises its goal of getting
down to the real essence of people, tossing aside
their affixed label.
However, as the show’s cameras follow around
students from different social groups, captions
above their head read “punk” or “cheerleader”
beside the students’ names. As if these are the
words that define them.
“World of Jenks” follows a young filmmaker
on his quest to capture on video disadvantaged
people and their “unique stories.” The show
advertises itself as raw and real, but in actuality
glams up the simplest moments, to give them
the illusion of drama and significance.
If an autistic kid being helped to climb up
rocks on the beach is a truly touching scene,
then allow it to speak for itself. There shouldn’t
be a need for the insertion of dramatic music or
other effects.
My point here is that even the shows devoted
to breaking down stereotypes and discarding
labels stereotype and label. Maybe stereotypes
truly can’t be broken through TV shows, making
their claim of interest completely invalid.
In trying to break stereotypes, the shows must
first stereotype. They take “the jock” or “the
loner” and attempt to make them label-free, but
in doing so, they first have to label them such,
defeating the purpose.
In the end, we shouldn’t need these shows
to do the talking for us. If stereotyping is a
problem big enough to need television shows
to fix, then it should be taken on as a personal
endeavor. If it’s a matter of people hurting other
people, then it’s people that need to create a
solution.
Annamarie Cunningham
Harmony Evangelisti
Faith Harris
Damon Heine
Nicole Lawrence
Jera Machuca
Gabriella Miller
Tiffany Pech
Annamarie Rodriguez
Reanna Rodriguez
Seyma Tap
Chesiree Terry
Mia Torres
Art by Seyma Tap
Even television shows that attempt to
disprove labels promote close-mindedness

09.24.10 Opinion
the Stagg Line
3
Let’s get together members of
our church and community
on Saturday Sept. 11. We’ll
gather 200 copies of the Muslim
holy book, the Qur’an, and burn
them.
Although this event never
occurred, Rev. Terry Jones from
Gainesville, FL had the media
criticizing his weekend plans with
his community and had many
leaders in America, including the
president of the United States,
informing him that he was making
a mistake. Even with a title
that connotes a strong picture of
Fanning the flames of hate
Reverend’s retaliation highlights post 9/11 intolerance
Kristin Acevedo
“a man of god,” his values, perceptions, and state of mind, to me, fall
into question.
I wonder how so much hate can burn in the heart of one man, who
claims to deliver God’s message to fellow Christians. Those flames of
hatred were nearly welcomed to leap out of the hearts of Jones and his
followers and consume those Qur’ans.
Discrimination is not only a part of America’s past, it is happening
now in the land that is derived from people all around the world,
the land that welcomes any race, opinion, and religion, except for the
Muslims and homosexuals of course. We are “The Land of The Free.”
As God “told (Jones) to burn the Qur’an,” I can’t help but doubt
that the One who loves all the little children of the world is claimed to
have encouraged an act of pure resentment. Evidently we must have
a bad connection if people are claiming to be receiving messages like
this. Of course, there is a possibility that a man with his state of mind
intertwined with a long, thick stream of abhorrence could somehow
get the wrong idea. I’ve heard it every time the issue was brought up
Not
being
able
to go to the
movies on a
Friday night
because your
parents won’t
let you – may
seem like a
difficult life.
Caring for a
5 year old who
has epilepsy
and suffers
from spasms
at least 20 times a day – that’s a
really difficult life.
Junior Jeana Correa and sophomore
Andres Flores know how
it feels to really have that difficult
life. Their younger brother,
Jaden, can’t walk, talk, or even
eat on his own. He depends
on his family to go through his
everyday routine.
That routine typically includes
feeding him through a “G” tube,
which is two inches above his
belly button. They change his
diapers, give him showers, and
make sure he is comfortable.
But Correa doesn’t seem
incredibly bothered by it. “I like
staying home with him, hanging
out by ourselves.”
Correa and Flores have done
several things to accommodate
their brother in a wheelchair,
such as completely remodeling
their house. They widened the
doorways and built ramps for
both the car and their stairs.
They have adapted to these
obstacles, so it gets frustrating
when other teenagers complain
they have such a horrible life.
“Students haven’t seen or
experienced hard until they seen
him,” said Correa. “He has been
through a lot with his short life.”
The spasms that he has multiple
times a day is one of those
obstacles that he faces. If the
spasms act up really bad a near
by family member will swipe a
magnet across his chest, which
activates his battery pack sending
a shock to his brain every 10
seconds to slow them down.
He will have
this condition
for the rest of
his life. When
the siblings
go out as a
family, many
pedestrians act
as if they have
never seen a
person with
disabilities.
These people
make the
family feel as
though they
are not “normal.”
This sometimes makes it
uncomfortable for their family
to go out in public. “People stare
at us when we are out, my mom
can’t stand it,” Correa said.
This is not Jaden’s fault because
he will never be in control
of his spasms, and more than
likely he will always be in a
wheelchair.
“He will be dependent on our
parents our whole life,” Flores
said.
Few teenagers have to deal
with disabilities on a daily basis.
Between writing essays and
deciding what to wear in the
morning, being in a wheelchair
doesn’t seem to occur to them.
Teenagers are so wrapped up
for discussion – this man is out of his mind.
But maybe he is in his mind? However, his mind has
absorbed so much, possibly too much, hatred that it grew
twisted, that his view on the right, or in this case Godly, decisions
was warped. Hatred. It’s a terminal mental illness that I
classify as Hatred Entwined Disease, HED. And as for the followers
who so easily melted into the thought of the audacity
and disrespect coming from a mosque being built at Ground
Zero, where the Twin Towers once stood, this illness is apparently
contagious.
Yes, to some it may seem wrong to build a mosque, a Muslim
church, only two blocks away from where 9/11 occurred,
but why exactly is this wrong?
After a group of Muslim terrorists destroyed the World
Trade Center, an attack that claimed approximately 2,976
lives, a tall, dark wall was put up in the eyes of most. This
wall excludes or singles out all Muslims. This wall
classifies all Muslims as being the same as those terrorists,
full of anger and full of hatred. This wall is
kept high and strong in those eyes by their beholder’s
own hatred, because to them it is safe to
say that all Muslims are the same.
Building a mosque at Ground Zero isn’t a
slap in the face to America, it is saying that
this wall must come down for it was not
Muslims who attacked the United States on
9/11; it was terrorists, who were Muslim.
It’s simple, and once a person is able to
comprehend this statement, the wall begins to
decrease in height and the edges are no longer
surrounded by darkness; the hatred clouding
a person’s perception, a symptom of HED, is
fairly relieved.
since 9/11
Jul. 21, 2005
May. 2, 2010
Mar. 11, 2004
Dec. 12, 2004 LONDON SUBWAY &
ATTEMPTED BOMBING
MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS PHILLIPINE MARKET ATTACK BUS BOMBINGS
OF TIMES SQUARE
190 people killed. 15 people killed. 56 people killed.
TERRORIST ATTACKS
Feb. 6, 2004
MOSCOW METRO ATTACK
40 people killed.
Physical disabilities gives
students a new perspective
Annamarie Rodriguez
Information compiled by Damon Heine
Graphic by Tiffany Pech and Michelle Pheav
“
Between writing essays
and deciding what
to wear in the morning,
being in a wheelchair
doesn’t seem to occur
to them.”
with the present that anything
other than “me” doesn’t seem to
exist.
I am one who is guilty of over
exaggerating about how bad a
situation can be. I don’t usually
think about how hard others
have it. I always think “oh, poor
me.” But in reality others have
it harder, and they roll with the
punches. When my parents say
“no” to me going somewhere,
there must be a reason for it.
Considering what others
have to go through, why can’t I
understand where my parents are
coming from?
In this day and age some of
us act as if our parents have the
obligation of giving us everything.
And when we don’t get
what we want, we overreact and
act like we have the hardest life
imaginable.
Others like
Correa and
Flores have
had to live
through these
everyday
realities since
elementary
school. “We
had to deal
with more
than others
had to deal
with,” Correa
said. “We had to grow up a little
faster.”
Despite what it may seem he
is not completely helpless. Jaden
goes to most of the football
games in his wheelchair to support
his brother and sister. He
expresses himself through gestures
or by moving his head. And
when he gets frustrated he either
cries or yells out for his mother.
Jaden’s challenges symbolize
the everyday struggle and
the commitment of high school
students like Correa and Flores.
You can’t always get what you
want, but it’s not going to be the
end of the world because there is
always someone who has it harder
than you. So it’s important to
not take things for granted and
keep everything in perspective.
Jeana Correa,
Andres
Flores, and
their brother
Jaden pose for a
family picture at
Correa’s house.
Correa and
Flores are faced
with the daily
task of helping
care for their
brother.
photo courtesy
of Jennifer De
Weese-Godoy
Recession affects
teen employment
As the unemployment rate
is steadily increasing, what
does it mean for teens that
want a job? Well, for a teen like
me that simply means I’ll have to
work twice as hard.
From the day I turned 16, I
was determined to find employment
in order to help my family
with everyday expenses and to
have some extra money in my
pocket.
Before the summer break, I
started looking, but I have not
found a job yet. However, I convinced
myself not to get discouraged.
Most other teens will give up
after the first few rejections, but
they have to understand the competitiveness
of today’s working
world.
No matter how competitive,
I have always been taught to be
persistent. Instead of just scrolling
down on my laptop and clicking
the “apply online now” button, I
have learned that there are better
ways to get a job.
Although I am trying my best
to find employment, I do understand
why it’s not paying off as
much as I had hoped.
If an employer had an application
from a middle aged man
supporting a family and a teenager
that just wants some extra
money, they’re most likely going
to call the man for an interview.
Whether it’s just a part time
job to have some extra spending
money or a job that helps support
a family, jobs are scarce. It takes a
while to find a job, but it’s especially
difficult when we’re going
through an economic recession.
I’m not at all claiming to be
an expert, and I am not trying to
pretend I know what’s best for
you, because I don’t. Everybody’s
situation is different.
If you really want a job, the
best thing to do is talk to the
work experience coordinator, find
places that are hiring, and be confident
when attending interviews.
Although I’m already competing
with too many people in the
workforce, I feel obligated to
share with you who’s hiring. I
already have interviews, so what
could it hurt?
Some places that are accepting
applications and interviews in-
Graphic by Tiffany Pech
and Mikeala Axton
Faith Harris
clude John’s Incredible Pizza Co.,
McDonald’s, Burger King, Togo’s,
Starbucks, and Long John Silver’s.
Now, I’m not just giving you
these names so you can apply
online and never look at the site
again.
Check your email daily and
constantly look at the website to
see if there are any other open
positions you can apply for. Not
only this, but definitely walk in
after about a week.
By walking in to a place you’ve
applied for work, you can gather
much needed information, such
as openings and recruitment
events.
What I did was ask for shift
managers, supervisors and department
managers.
Just walking in to speak with
them is impressive, but having
actual questions about the job
at hand makes them even more
interested to learn your value as
an employee.
Now, when I say to have questions,
I don’t mean asking things
about what’s in their food or how
fattening their desserts are.
Ask about their employee
benefits, their health standards,
and their schedule flexibility. Asking
about these things displays
responsibility and genuine interest,
both of which are extremely
important. Jobs definitely aren’t
the easiest things to find, nor are
they simple to keep.
However, with a little hard
work and a lot of determination,
it is very possible to find employment.
Anyone looking for a job
should consider the following:
be observant, be willing to work,
and, most importantly, be persistent
in going after what you want.

4 09.24.10
09.24.10
Star
Martial artist:
Sophomore
Victor Chhun
practices his
“freeze” dance
move after
school in the
R-Wing with his
dancing crew.
photo by
Kristin Acevedo
Dancers:
S T A G G
hip-hop dancers ‘aim’
to create new club
Nicole Lawrence
It starts out with an interest
and then it progresses to a passion.
That is how some great
talents start. Nobody really
knows what they are good at
until they put forth the effort
to try new things.
Christian Nigrana, sophomore,
has been watching
his uncle dance since he
was in elementary school.
Nigrana decided to imitate
his uncle’s moves
and then later tried to
make them his own.
Inspired by this art of
motion, Nigrana decided
to share this
newly found passion
with his fellow
classmates at
John Tyler, Victor
Chhun, and
James Tran, both
now sophomores
as well. The
group then decided
they would
become their own
dance crew. Chhun
and Tran watched
videos on YouTube
and other websites
in order to educate
themselves more
about dancing and
practicing their own
moves.
Later, as they came
to high school, they
invited their new friend
Victorious Gemma to
join their dance crew.
Nigrana said he sometimes
gives his friends advice
on new moves but, “we
all have our specialties in dancing.”
Their dance moves
come from different styles
like b-boying, break dancing,
and clown walking.
“I feel like myself (when I
dance),” Chhun said. “When
I mess up, (Nigrana, Tran, and
Gemma) just laugh.”
Chhun says they have a very
tight bond. He loves dancing with
his close friends because he knows
that they won’t judge him. Nigra-
S E A R C H
“Artists in Motion”
na uses dancing to feel happy, to
“relieve stress,” and to forget about
whatever troubles he had that day.
Gemma also uses dancing to help
him emotionally.
“I feel free,” Gemma said.
“All my stress is gone and I don’t
have to think about all the rough
times.”
Gemma, who had just joined
the group last year, feels at home
with the others. “I feel like they
are accepting me as their own,”
Gemma said.
One day, the boys ended up
with English teacher Martin Bagnasco,
and he encouraged them
to become a club, which is now
called AIM, or Art in Motion.
English teacher Harold Brown
agreed to be their supervisor
which excited the boys, and soon,
they were ready to take immediate
action and make sure that their
club started out on a good note.
“We were in shock,” Victor
said, when he described how the
club started.
“It’s great now that we have a
place we can dance,” Nigrana said,
referring to being able to practice
in the theater as compared
to practicing in the R-wing or at
each other’s houses. They think
that this will help them expand
the club and hopefully get more
people to join.
Right now, there are currently
seven participants. Chhun thinks
that this new club will help Stagg’s
reputation.
“I think we are the only school
in Stockton that doesn’t have a
dance team,” Chhun said. “Hopefully
we will make a difference.”
(clockwise from
top) Jennifer
Hernandez,
junior, poses
for her photo
shoots to build
a portfolio and
also at a car
show with a fellow
model.
photos
courtesy of
Jennifer
Hernandez
Features
the Stagg Line
Talent comes in many forms
whether it is natural or
learned. When one discovers
such gifts, they may choose to
exceed others’ expectations and
as a result emerge among the
rest of society as stars.
The Stagg Line found five of
these gifted teens who rose
above the average and exhibited
great dedication in pursuing
their passions.
Boat racer:
Xe Xiong
“Step up” is a phrase commonly
used in movie titles, songs,
and even sports, but what does it
mean? For junior Rachel Martinez,
stepping up means becoming
more mature and being able to
command her team.
Martinez is a coxswain, the person
in charge of a rowing boat, for
a competitive rowing team called
the Deep-Water Rowing Association
through the University of the
Pacific. She sits at the front with
headset gear, giving directions to
her rowers, and steers the boat;
Martinez is the coach on the boat.
For every boat, there is a different
number of seats, but Martinez’s
boat has eight rowers.
“We have to work together …
you need everyone; you can’t do it
alone.”
“I have to know everything”
she said. “I have to tell (the rowers)
it’s wrong” whenever they
row in the wrong motion, even
if the males on her boat are many
years older than her.
Since she became a coxswain,
Martinez coxes for a boat of males
because, she said, “they are stronger
and go faster.”
When Martinez first started
rowing during seventh grade, she
said the coach had them “hop
right in and if (they needed) help,
(they had) to ask the coach.”
Her first experience at a coxing
was when the team was short on
coxswains. She said, “I was hella
scared because I didn’t know what
to do.”
In her first year as a coxswain,
no one had faith in her and
thought she’d fail, but because she
coxes males in the varsity team,
she quickly progressed. During
her eighth grade year, Martinez
went to nationals with her team
and they placed 12 th .
“Before, when there was a varsity
team,” Martinez said, “they’d
always yell at me.” But despite
their harsh criticism, Martinez
said, “I like getting yelled at
Rachel Martinez
… That’s how I got hella better.”
Criticism is also what helped
her attain her current title of head
coxswain.
She said, “After a lot of practice,
everyone wants to be in my boat.”
And at the end of her first year,
things “finally clicked … ‘oh, this
is what you’re supposed to do.’”
“She’s really experienced and
good at what she’s doing,” said
Eric Weir, the director of rowing
at the University of Pacific and
also the coach for her team.
Although Martinez coxes most
of the time in this nine-month
program, she’s also a “great rower,”
Weir said. Martinez still goes out
to row once or twice a year.
Martinez said being a coxswain
has helped her become a better
rower. “When I go out as a rower
... I know what not to do and I
could correct myself if I’m doing
something wrong.”
Weir said she has a good chance
of getting scholarships for rowing
at universities. Rowing is
“such a different-looking sport,”
Weir said.
“It’s a team building sport” and
students can also get scholarships.
The new recruits don’t need to
have experience, they “just need
commitment and (to) come every
day.”
black belt works to qualify for nationals
Chesiree Terry
Senior Jasmine Villanueva enjoys
applying eyeliner and mascara
every morning, and she is known
for her delightful scents of perfume.
However, she is not afraid
to embrace the other side of her
personality, which includes the
vigorous sport of taekwondo.
Her coach, Julio Ramirez,
represented El Salvador for taekwondo
on the national team in
1996. In 2002 he decided to be a
teacher. Little did he know that a
few years later, he would become
Villanueva’s inspiration.
Ramirez is happy to be her inspiration,
“I want her to make nationals
but it depends on her, not
me,” he said.
Not only does she want to
make nationals, but she wants to
pursue her talent as a career.
Each drop of sweat dripping
from her face is a testament to her
hard work to achieve this goal.
She aims to receive a scholarship,
but she knows better than anybody
how difficult it is. “It is very
When Jennifer Hernandez
was a little girl, she would watch
music videos on television and
imagine herself in them.
“When I was younger, I used to
think I could rip off the screen and
jump in the video,” she said.
Now, as a junior, she no longer
has to imagine.
Hernandez works as a model,
and, not having modeled for even
a full year yet, has quite an impressive
résumé already.
Her first step, she says, was
a photo shoot at the waterfront
downtown. From there, her uncle
Larry took her portfolio and presented
it to “Street Low” magazine.
This led her to the Palladium
in San Jose, where she modeled
in a car show, representing “Street
Low.” It was at this car show that
she got to perform as a dancer in
concert with hip-hop artist Davina.
hard to get a scholarship,” Villanueva
said. “They only pick about
one from each state.”
Even if Villanueva doesn’t make
nationals, she has gained much
more from the experience than
she expected.
She has gained discipline,
strength, and most importantly,
closeness with her brother.
D e s p i t e
all their hard
work, they
have time for a bit
of lighthearted practice.
“There have been
times when things got
rough between us,”
she said, laughing.
“We try to
beat each other
up; we try to kill each other.”
Although she can joke about
it, she understands the difficulty
of the task she wants to take on.
While blood and sweat would
make some girls flinch, Villanueva
allows her busted lips, injuries,
and the stress of making weight
Model:
Mikeala Axton
“It just kind of happened,” she
said.
Hernandez soon gained a
manager for her modeling.
Her friend, a performance
artist, is managed
by her
husband, who
offered to manage
Hernandez as well.
Her manager, Ernie,
got her into rapper
E-40’s “Out of Control”
music video,
where she worked
as a background
dancer. Through
this video, Hernandez got to meet
and talk to other rappers like Mistah
F.A.B. and Hood Starz. While
taking pictures and chatting with
them, they gave her advice for her
modeling, telling her to stay focused
and passionate.
While the E-40 video was a
definite milestone in her blossoming
career, it was not her first
experience with music videos. Pre-
Jasmine Villanueva
motivate her. Spending spare
time teaching the white belts and
waking up with sore muscles has
become all too common for her;
these are the very things that push
her to work to her full potential.
She is extremely glad that her
mom brought the passion of
taekwondo into her life. “My
mom wanted us to learn selfdefense,”Villanueva
said.
“I think it’s a
great way to self
defend!”
While she is having
fun doing what she
does, she realizes the
importance of being
alert and focused.
Of course, Villanueva
claims
to have learned from the best.
Ramirez feels proud to pass on
his skills. “I have been doing this
for 21 years and it is important to
teach them and show them what I
know,” he said.
Villanueva said she has learned
a lot. She learned to count to 10
viously, she was in a music video
with underground Bay Area artist
Extreme, for his song “Tattoo
My Name,” filmed, appropriately,
at a tattoo shop.
But even
with all
these experiences
under her
belt, Hernandez still
struggles with insecurities.
She’ll sometimes
worry about her body
image. “I’ll feel insecure
sometimes so
I’ll go to the gym a
lot,” she said.
Luckily, she has the support of
her family behind her, with her
uncle Larry who got her into car
shows, an encouraging father, and
a mother and sisters who help her
with choosing outfits for events.
However, not everyone in her
family is supportive.
“My older sister gets jealous,”
she said. “(But) I ignore it, she
doesn’t faze me.”
and can say the salute in Korean
which is one of the key steps of
having a better understanding of
the culture of taekwondo.
Through the years, she has been
building up this talent, constantly
pushing herself to get better.
With her coach by her side for
support and her brother on the
other side challenging her to be all
she can be, Villanueva has found
her passion and her talent that she
will cling to for the rest of her life.
modeling jobs open doors
for future career
Jennifer Hernandez
leader steers team towards successful season
“
I want (Jasmine)
to make
nationals but it
depends on her,
not me.”
Julio ramirez
TAEKWONDO
TEACHER
Prioritizing is another challenge
on Hernandez’s plate, having
to balance work and school.
“I focus on school first, and if I
have time I’ll do some modeling,”
she said.
But, while she is modeling,
Hernandez always keeps in mind
what she feels a model should be –
“Somebody to look up to, a strong
person... and classy” – because, she
says, there are too many “hoochie”
models out there. These standards
are a large part of why she draws
so much inspiration from Latina
singer Shakira.
“I look up to Shakira the most
because she’s not a hoochie,” she
said. But, in addition to “staying
classy,” Hernandez’s best advice
to herself and others is simple: be
yourself.
“You don’t have to be perfect,
you just have to be yourself,” she
said.
“When you’re yourself, you’re
the most beautiful person ever.”
photo by Erica Trevino
Junior Rachel Martinez uses her headset gear to communicate with her rowers during practice and competitions. The first two rowers are people with
good rhythm, the middle four have to be strong, and the last two are technical. Although she is not a rower, coxswains are considered the backbone of
the boat and are essential in guiding them through the waters.
Musician:
artist uses instruments
as emotional outlet
Annamarie Cunningham
It’s funny how something that
happened completely by chance
could change a person’s life. “My
mom got [both] my sister’s electric
guitars, and I just wanted
one too,” Lisette de Leon, senior,
said. It may be hard to believe that
something as trivial as wanting a
guitar because her sisters had
them changed her life, but, believe
it or not, that’s the
case for de Leon.
De Leon
started with
voice lessons,
switched to violin,
moved to piano,
and eventually came
to rest on playing the
guitar. She has played
on and off since fifth
grade but really immersed
herself in
playing it around
freshman year.
She took all the emotions connected
to her high school experiences,
her freshman year especially,
and channeled them into her
songs. Music, she said, “was a way
to vent all my emotions.”
Although de Leon has been
playing guitar since fifth grade,
she has only composed four songs.
“A lot of others are in progress,”
she said.
Since she started playing guitar,
piano has been on the back
burner. Like many other people,
she just plays piano for fun; piano
is not really incorporated into any
of her songs so far. De Leon learns
pop songs by ear and plays them
Lisette de Leon
on the piano, which is a talent itself.
Even though music has guided
de Leon through the troubles of
high school, she doesn’t particularly
want to pursue it as a career.
She has been offered shows at coffee
places, but she was “too shy”
to play. “I’d like to keep playing,
and I’m always up to learn more,
but it’s more of a hobby,” she said.
She does intend to pursue some
form of arts after high school.
“Maybe baking or photography,”
she said.
De Leon
looks up
to the whimsical
but dark sounds
of piano player Regina
Spektor, the emotive
lullabies of Dashboard
Confessional, and the
earthy vocals and guitar
of Zee Avi. All
three of these artists
have a slightly
cynical edge to their music, just
like de Leon. “A lot of my friends
think my songs are depressing,”
she said. But even with her gloomy
sound, de Leon has the folk, mellow
feel of Bob Dylan or Joanna
Newsom.
Even though they are slightly
depressing, de Leon’s songs are
catchy. Her family has always supported
her music. “I hear them
singing (my songs) in the bathroom
and its like, ‘Hey! –you’re
singing it wrong!’” Thankfully,
hearing her songs constantly
hasn’t gone to de Leon’s head. She
remains just a guitar player. Just a
girl who loves music.
photo by annamarie Cunningham
Though senior Lisette de Leon has been asked to play gigs for The Empire
Theater on Miracle Mile, she prefers to play for self enjoyment.
5
Senior Jasmine
Villanueva
spars with her
younger brother
Jonathan during
practice. In
order to win
points, they
must aim for
the circles on
their gear. By
the age of 13,
students may
begin aiming
for the head to
score higher.
photo by
Erica Trevino

Sports
the Stagg Line
6 09.24.10
Cheerleaders find
a home in new
stadium
The music begins. Junior Malibu Manivong prepares for her stunt.
The cheerleaders are practicing the final pose.
Manivong goes up but begins to falter when her leg is grabbed. She
starts to fall to the floor but is narrowly caught by another teammate.
She grabs her foot, flashing a painful expression.
The coach runs up, worried that Manivong has been hurt. She says
she is fine and they practice once more. This time, though, a girl is late
to her spot. The coach begins to yell, “The game is Friday!”
This was two days before the first football game in the new stadium
and every cheerleader was feeling the pressure. “I was nervous to perform,”
Manivong said. “I didn’t want to mess up the first game in front
of half the school and the parents.”
She was not alone. Senior Meilani Quilenderino said she had been
nervous the entire day of the game, but once the game began, she was so
excited that she “couldn’t stop moving and shouting.”
The performers then took the field for their first halftime show. The
song began with “the tradition continues” and hand movements added
two days before the game.
Quilenderino said they had been changing moves the day of the
game. The stunts began and each was nailed.
When the song ended, the cheerleaders began to shout for Stagg to
win and jokingly mocked the Franklin cheerleaders. They exited the
field with proud expressions.
But for some, including Quilenderino, the stadium was more than a
new place to cheer or to hold Friday night football games. “It has really
brought everyone together,” she said.
“I dreamed a lot to see our boys home. There was a sparkle in their
eyes. It was a great way to start off the new year.” She also said that
the boys like it when they cheer and complain when they don’t cheer
enough.
She also said that the team specifically picked songs for their halftime
dance that had to do with traditions changing and coming home. They
also added a cheer apart from their dance in order to get “the crowd
more involved.”
But not everyone was excited for the game. “I had mixed emotions,”
senior Peter Sriboonrevang said. “I wondered if we were going to lose,
or how our performance was going to turn out.”
He also said that he was nervous about the more advanced stunts being
performed during the halftime.
In the end, he said it was really all about the crowd. “We do a big part
to motivate the crowd and pump up the overall spirit.”
Manivong agreed, and said that it was amazing to see all the people
in the stands, but they all needed that extra spirit.
“Our boys needed it, too.”
Beyond the side-cramps, burning
calves, and constant thirst for
water, junior cross country runner
Danny Castillo has to deal with severe
asthma.
Respiratory problems and running
usually don’t mix. When he
was young, Castillo said running
was a stress releaser from his academics.
However, his interest grew during
the fifth grade. His teacher insisted
that he should run the 5K in
the Asparagus Festival to strengthen
him for the many other sports
he participated in.
However, the race inspired him
to run as a sport rather than as a
work out.
“Not to brag,” Castillo said,
“but I guess you can say it’s something
I’m good at.”
Running has largely helped Castillo
with his asthma and has been
a prominent health improver. Castillo
has since been an active runner
for five years.
Castillo has had breathing problems
since he was 1. His asthma has
complicated his performance in
some sports he’s able to participate
in.
“I’ve actually had series of severe
asthma attacks especially during
school.” Without being athletic
in any other way, Castillo’s lungs
would “burst
up.”
“(Cross country)
is so physicallydemanding,
you want
to make it a
way of life,”
new coach
John Hittle
said. “It does
require that
drive and you
have to stay on
it all the time.”
Of 35 runners
on the
team, Castillo
is the only
three-year veteran,
taking his
role as captain.
“I have the
most experience
on the
team, and, no
offense, even
on the coach.”
Castillo says
nobody on
the team really
knew about his
asthma the first
year he joined
cross-country.
It was until
during one of
his races that
he was having
bad breathing
problems.
photos by Taylor Hurles
Malibu Manivong and Delta King Mascot (above left), Diana Cuevas and
Sabrina Serrano(above right), Philip Laufiso (bottom), and other Varsity
cheerleaders and football players, felt the pressure and excitement taking
the win at the first game in the new stadium.
Running through pressure
Alisya Mora
Claire Scheffer
photo by Chelsea Collura
Junior Daniel Castillo placed fourth at the Stockton All
Area meet in a three mile run at American Legion Park.
“I came in after the first race,
pushing real hard to finish, and as
soon as I was done, I collapsed on
the floor.”
His previous coach became angry
as well as worried.
“He didn’t know what was happening
and I didn’t know what was
happening, until someone threw
my inhaler at me.”
As a freshman, Castillo was really
new to the high school system,
and wasn’t aware he needed a
physical to participate.
His drastic
“
fall was enough to
disqualify him for
that race and the
two after.
However, despite
this, he was
allowed to continue
running his
match.
In the beginning
of the season,
the team’s former
coach wanted five
really good runners
immediately
on varsity, allowing
flexibility on
when students got
their physicals.
The coach was
primarily focused
on building the
team and Castillo
“was the remaining piece.”
Shortly after, Castillo made an
appointment for his physical.
The physical examiners were in
shock at Castillo’s eligibility to participate
in the match.
“They said to me, ‘I don’t know
how you ran, I don’t why you ran,
but you needed to get your physical
anyways.’”
His parents weren’t aware his
asthma was that bad, Castillo said.
During his eighth grade and
freshman year his asthma had
worsened with running because
he never had to push himself that
much before.
However, “if I keep working out
my lungs,” he said, “I will be able
to control it better.”
This year Hittle feels as long as
Castillo watches how he goes about
his running goals, he has no limits.
Castillo’s increase in breathing
problems has also led to an increase
of spending for medication.
He now takes three specific
medications all having to do with
his lungs.
Castillo’s parents also take him
to a nutritionist and personal trainer
to manage his health.
“It’s basically just spending a lot of
money to keep me alive,” he said.
This year Castillo
was almost
I came in
after the first
race, pushing
real hard to finish,
and as soon
was done, I collapsed
on the
floor.”
John Hittle
COACH
barred from
joining crosscountry
because
he is underweight.
He particularly
blames
wrestling for
his weight loss.
“I had to drop,
drop, drop, and
I’ve grown into
that unfortunately.”
There were
times, Castillo
said, when he
would come
home from
practice and
neglected to eat
because of his
determination
to keep stability
of his weight.
As of now, Hittle said, he’s
learned to manage his health and
tries to maintain a runner’s diet of
gaining protein the healthiest way.
However, unlike his teammates,
Castillo has also been advised by
both his physician and personal
trainer to consume four thousand
calories a day.
Castillo works himself every
practice, running approximately
five miles, including the different
distances, sprints, and hills the
team encounters.
“My parents had a problem
with my athleticism,” Castillo said,
“(however) they are very supporting
and they’re as much as committed
with what I do.”
Football players feel
the tension while
taking the win
With 18 seconds left the Delta Kings are hanging on to their 19-17
lead over the Franklin Yellow Jackets and holding back any feelings of
excitement and anticipation. Franklin is lined up to make a field goal
that would push them over the edge for the win. Senior Phillip Laufiso
had a choice to make. “I came out of the game and asked if I could block
it,” he said. “If you really want something you go and do it.”
He didn’t realize that he would become a key member in the play
until fans in the crowd erupted with loud cheers, chants, and yells; the
Delta Kings had won their first game. “I was excited that I was part of
the reason,” Laufiso said. “I felt I helped out with the win.”
The X’s and O’s that are normally drawn with leisure now have
names. They are represented by key players Laufiso, Francisco Ortigoza,
and Andre Lindsey along with the other varsity players on the field. Every
play after the 10 minute mark of fourth quarter was a major part of
the reason they left proud with a win.
It all began with a fumble by the Yellow Jackets, recovered by Stagg at
10:16 left in the game. This turned into a touchdown, leaving Franklin
with a narrow lead of 17-13.
Defense held the line and the ball was returned to the explosive offense.
As the players continue to move up the field Ortigoza threw a pass
to Lindsey. He caught the ball in the end zone for the touchdown that
provided the lead.
The crowd was roaring with excitement, their hearts raced, anxiously
awaiting the win. The players felt tension before and after they walked
off the field and into the locker room.
Senior Louis Thomasson felt pressure from the crowd. “After we won
I felt relief,” he said. “If we would’ve lost, we would’ve lost fans.”
Since Thomasson is one of the captains on varsity he anticipated pressure
all around.
To him losing the game would be a disappointment not just because
it was the first home game, but because to the team it was just another
game where their goal was to win.
Thomasson and other players only wanted to focus on their performance
rather than pay attention to all of the excitement in the crowd
and letting down the alumni.
Varsity head coach Don Norton agrees. “It was more pressure, more
buildup,” he said. “We would’ve been disappointed if we would’ve lost.”
While Thomasson felt many of his emotions during the game, sophomore
Jesus Hernandez dealt with his emotions after. “After the game I
looked at the crowd and I loved it,” he said. “The fact that there was a
lot of people; I didn’t expect that many.”
The crowd exploded like the after game fireworks blasting off
into the sky. Chants of “Stagg State,” led by the football players
echoed through the stadium. “I felt that we made the crowd
proud,” Thomasson said.
Fall sports season is here.
Below is a list of both home
and away games in October.
10/7 Oak Ridge
10/15 Tokay
10/21 St. Mary’s
10/28 West
10/8 McNair
10/15 Tokay
10/21 St. Mary’s
10/28 West
10/5 West
10/7 St. Mary’s
10/12 Edison
10/5 Edison
10/7 McNair
10/12 St. Mary’s
10/14 Tokay
10/19 West
10/21 Edison
Gabriella Miller
10/4 St. Mary’s
10/6 Edison
10/11 McNair
10/13 Tokay
10/18 West
10/20 St Mary’s
10/25 Edison
10/27 McNair
10/1 St. Mary’s
10/6 Edison
10/8 McNair
10/13 Tokay
10/15 West
10/20 St. Mary’s
10/22 Edison
10/27 McNair
10/14 Tokay
10/30 TCAL
Bold - Home games
Graphic by Mia Torres

09.24.10 Sports
the Stagg Line
7
Ink helps players think positive
Tattoos inspire three athletes to persevere through loss
New coach helps
establish team goals
Jeremy Dela Cruz
Whether during practice or games, every athlete
knows the feeling of gritted teeth, sweaty uniforms,
and aching muscles, universal elements in the
sports world. New volleyball coach Gabe Padayhag,
however, adds two unconventional elements: pencil
and paper.
Padayhag asks his varsity team to write expectations
of themselves and of their team, creating lists to
be read before practices.
He says that reading their goals allows the team to
understand that “every athlete is asked to be mentally
prepared.”
Each individual writes three things she does for
herself and three things she does for the team in the
hope that doing so will commit the expectations to
memory.
Team captain Amanda White likes this new aspect
of practices, but says that she initially had doubts
about the strategy. “Sports aren’t about feelings,”
White said.
“We’re not used to coaches wanting to know that
stuff.” She recognizes, though, that if Padayhag never
asked them to write expectations they never would
photo by harmony evangelisti
Varsity coach Gabe Padayhag instructs players to move
their feet towards the ball, when attempting to pass.
photos by Chelsea Collura
Juniors Samantha Mendez and Albert Rubio, as well
as senior Frankie May, are inspired by their inked
skin to continue playing sports. Despite the obstacles
they face whether they be death or a family member
absent from the stands, they still continue to chase
their dreams.
have created goals, which allow players to “have something
in (their) minds that (they) want to reach.”
The writing team-building activity, which White
describes as “strictly Padayhag,” is about one of the
only different features of having a new coach for
the varsity team. In actuality, Padayhag’s transition
into his position has been smooth since he has been
coaching Stagg volleyball off and on for five years.
Speaking of his predecessor Martin Bagnasco, Padayhag
said, “The good thing is he and I have similar
coaching styles.”
Bagnasco also has an agreeable view of Padayhag.
“He’s fully qualified and I think he’s doing a very
good job.”
Padayhag’s major concern about guiding the team
is something that coaches everywhere struggle with:
the height of players. “The girls we get are good people.”
He joked about wishing for a six foot tall setter: “I
just wish that genetically they were taller.”
Padayhag, however, has strategized ahead of time
for games where their opponents have height advantages.
“We can implement a much faster game against
taller teams.”
Having coached boys volleyball for the San Diego
Volleyball Club, Padayhag is also an athletic alumnus
of the Stagg soccer team, a sport he played for four
years.
Unlike many with solid sports backgrounds, he is
“not necessarily interested in wins or losses.” Padayhag
contends that an often overlooked aspect of volleyball
is playing with effort.
“If we lose, but we’re able to say ‘I’ve left everything
on the court, then we’re great.”
White enjoys the positivity Padayhag brings to the
team. She doesn’t mind his occasional sternness since
she knows it’s all for a good purpose.
“I think he’s strict because he doesn’t just want us
to be good volleyball players.” White said. “He wants
us to be good people.”
As a coach, Padayhag understands that he “can’t
make anyone do anything.”
During days where morale is low, the only thing
he can do for each player is remind them that “it’s not
about them, it’s about the team and their contributions
to the team.”
Like many of the veteran players, White feels some
disappointment about having a new coach for varsity.
At first, White was “a little nervous about the
change.”
“Ever since freshmen year I’ve had this dream of
being on varsity and having Bagnasco as a coach,”
She said.
“It’s not good or bad now, but I’ve just had to alter
my dream a little, it’s just straight up different.”
Fortunately, White still has “a really good relationship”
with Padayhag.
“He wants to teach us to be great volleyball players
but to also succeed in life.”
With the written expectations in mind, she knows
that “the skills (they) learn in volleyball apply to life
as well.”
Chelsea Collura
He won’t be there sitting in the
stands when she goes up to bat
this year during the softball season
and he won’t be there to tell her
how great of a game she plays but
“he’s got (her) back.”
Her inked skin will forever
retain the famous phrase from
“The Lion King”, hakuna matata,
because either way, for junior Samantha
Mendez, playing softball
again will mean “no worries.”
Since the day that her brother
passed away Mendez promised
herself that she would never play
another game and the only way
that she would was if somehow or
someway he would come back.
After many unanswered prayers
she realized he would never walk
back through the door.
“That day I got home from softball
practice, I washed my cleats,
I washed my socks, I washed my
shirt, and my pants,” Mendez said.
“I stuck it all in my softball bag
and put it high in my closet.”
That was definitely the last time
that anyone would see her on the
field for the remainder of the season.
However, that mirror that reflects
the tattoo on the back of
her neck is her daily reminder
that, though her brother is gone,
her dreams remain in front of her
waiting to be realized.
Mendez soon had a change of
heart.
“I knew that it would hurt my
mom to see that her daughter was
staying away from her dreams,”
Mendez said.
Looking
ahead...
The pre-season was rocky with
a few injured players. However,
the team pulled through and overall
their record is 4-4-2. Senior
Gilberto Camacho, varsity player,
is looking forward to the season
and says the team is “ready to give
it all.” Stay tuned for more soccer
coverage Issue 3.
For more photos...
SL
staggline.com
It was the first time in 10
months that she faced reality and
picked up the softball that she had
hid from herself for so long.
“He would have wanted me to
continue.”
Like Mendez, senior Frankie
May relies on his dreams to push
him further in football.
Even though his grandmother
isn’t so keen on him playing, she
is there for him in the stands when
she can be and tattooed on his
skin – “truly blessed” – when she
can’t.
Since infancy, May’s grandmother
has been his support and
inspiration to do well in school.
“She took care of me most
of my life. If it wasn’t for her I
wouldn’t be at this school today,”
he said.
His grandmother has strived to
put a roof over his head and food
in his stomach.
With that, May believes that
“she’s the best grandmother that
anyone can have.” Because of her
he offers something new to the
team and gives his opponents a
reason to believe that “if you didn’t
make me, you can’t break me,” exactly
what the tattoos on his arms
display.
With the death of his grandfather
and his uncle getting “locked”
up, junior Albert Rubio unlike
May struggled to find the significance
of the phrase “family is forever.”
“I didn’t want to do any school
work. I didn’t even want to go to
school,” Rubio said.
Football no longer seemed to
appeal to him because someone
would be missing.
His grandfather had always
been his inspiration because he
“always used to see (him) there in
the stands.”
But still, even though he has
passed on, the letters that Rubio
receives from his uncle still push
him to do well in school and play
football even better.
No matter where his uncle or
grandfather may be, he knows that
“thinking of them pushes (him)
harder.”
Just like Mendez and May, Rubio
isn’t going to see his uncle or
grandfather in the stands every
time he looks up when the football
team scores a touchdown or
wins the game.
However, the missing pieces of
his family remain “tatted” on his
chest and “close to his heart.”
He has finally realized the importance
of the phrase.
One way or another his family
is always going to be there whenever
he needs them. No matter
where they are to Rubio, that’s
family and they are “forever.”
Each tattoo has a separate
meaning and a different story left
to be told.
For these three athletes their
tattoos keep them on the field and
continue to push them to chase
their dreams.
The black ink is permanently
imprinted on their skin and all
their worries fade away because
no matter what, their loved ones
are “always going to be by (their)
side.”
“I’m never going to let them go,”
Rubio said.
Senior Gilberto
Camacho
(above) and
senior Ivan
Contreras (left)
charge players
from Chavez
while on
defense.
photos by
Kristin
Acevedo

News
the Stagg Line
8 09.24.10
Temporary IDs
eliminated,
saving school money
Students are now required to wear a colored lanyard representing
their individual small learning community which has given way to a
new rule that if a student does not wear their new lanyard they receive
a detention in the alternative suspension center.
The disciplinary actions depend on how many times the students
must be told to wear their lanyard. First time is a warning, second
time is detention, third time is a period in ASC, next is a whole day in
ASC, and if the problem persists, a parent administrator conference is
scheduled.
Another new school rule this year is the elimination of the paper
temporary identification card that became so common last year. Now
students must pay $5 for a new ID or have the charge added to their
book bill, which is required to be
“
We are
trying to build a
sense of community
behind SLCs
... When we see
students wearing
their appropriate
lanyards, we
know they’re our
kids.”
Carol
Sanderson
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Damon Heine
paid in order to graduate.
Not all students are agreeing
with the new policy. “I liked
it better when they had paper
ID’s,” Rigoberto Certa, sophomore,
said. “It made it easier if
someone forgot their ID.”
With the new rule implemented,
there has been a significant
drop in students requiring IDs.
“The names of students wanting
temporary IDs would take up to
three sheets of paper,” said Sandra
Johnson, book clerk, who was In
charge of printing them last year.
Now the highest number of students
would be six a day, she said.
Another reason why the paper
IDs were stopped was that it provided,
according to administrators,
an excuse to skip class. Students
would leave in order to get
IDs but would continue to miss
class.
It also cost the school a great
deal of money on paper and ink.
One roll of sticker paper can cost up to $20.
As for the distinct lanyards that all are wearing, administrators are
supporting it as a way of bringing people together. “We are trying to
build a sense of community behind SLCs,” Assistant Principal Carol
Sanderson said. But it’s also as much of a safety concern as it is a system
of unity.
“When we see students wearing their appropriate lanyards, we
know they’re our kids,” Sanderson said. And while the need for IDs
is declining with the cost being heightened, the need for lanyards is
growing significantly.
Lanyards are distributed in the ASC detention center. And an estimated
up to 10 students a day come to room M-1 in need of a new
one. As with IDs, the money students owe (lanyards cost $1) is put on
their book bill.
There is also a debate on whether students have to wear their SLC
lanyards or choose to wear their own. “We never said they couldn’t
wear their own,” she said. “Some students even wear both.”
Not all students see the new policy as a bad thing. “It tells you
the difference between people who go here and who doesn’t,” Monte
Franklin, sophomore, said. Like it or not, the lanyards rule is here to
stay.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT A NEW CULTURE?
Spanish Club Meet Wednesdays during lunch in A-1
Chinese Club Meet Thursdays after school in B-3
French Club Meet Fridays during lunch in B-2
Hmong Club Meet Fridays during lunch in H-5
THE RED SCARE
Homecoming traditions
overshadow varsity
defeat at the hands of
the Lodi Flames
Assistant principals Carol Sanderson and Josh Thom rode a
tandem bike towards the end of the parade.
INTERESTED IN HAVING NOTHING BUT FUN?
Dance Club Meet every day after school in L-3
Anime Club Meet Mondays and Wednesdays during lunch in R-7
Bike Club Meet Thursdays after school in front of F-7
Science Club Meet Tuesdays during lunch in G-6
MESA Meet Mondays and Tuesdays after school in K-3
INTERESTED IN BUILDING A RESUME FOR COLLEGE?
French Honors Society Meet every other Friday after school in B-2
California Scholarship Federation Meet every other Tuesday during lunch in F-6
National Honors Society Meet every other Monday during lunch in C-1
AVID Meet Fridays during lunch in B-9
INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
Red Cross Meet Wednesdays during lunch in K-1
Circle of Friends Meet Wednesday during lunch in R-17
Link Crew Meet Mondays after school in R-21
Key Club Meet Tuesdays during lunch in B-4
Information compiled by Reanna Rodriguez
Graphic by Michelle Pheav
Senior cheerleaders Meilani Quilenderino and Peter Sriboonrevang celebrate
their homecoming royalty victory during halftime.
Varsity wide receiver Andre Lindsey, sophomore, is tackled by four Lodi Flames on his way to making a touchdown. Stagg lost against the Lodi
Flames 52 to 31.
photos by Harmony Evangelisti and Lissette Rodriguez