The Blazer
John Muir Early College Magnet High School
November 15, 2021
photo courtesy of Ricardo Robles
Back To School Full Force
by Oshea Foster
This fall, John Muir High School (JMHS) students and staff return to campus for a more interactive in-person learning experience due to the release and effectiveness of the vaccines.
Last year was difficult for most students because of the various challenges that online school presented. Learning from a home environment was difficult for many students because of the multitude of distractions that arose.
When asked what were some of the difficulties with learning from home, senior Matthew Fowler from the Engineering and Environmental Science Academy (EESA) said: “Procrastination and having my phone with me.”
Many people were able to subdue these interruptions by moving them away or moving away from the distractions, but in truth, even though they were out of sight, they were not far away and still easily accessible. On top of that, there were smaller problems that only worsened the experience for students.
Faulty technology was a burden because of the frequency in which problems would occur. Wifi would cut out without warning, or would be spotty due to the internet being used by several people at once.
In addition, Chromebooks would malfunction and would not work properly. Amiya Morton, a senior in the Arts Entertainment and Media (AEM) at JMHS, had plenty of recurring Chromebook troubles.
“I would be kicked out [of meeting rooms] or I would log in and there wouldn't be a call in the schedule and it turns out I missed the class but it really just didn't show up on my screen” she recalled. “Technology isn't reliable so to have everything: your work, your grades, school…”
Family members could also be a hindrance to the learning process as they would cause much racket which would disrupt the learning environment and cause students to lose focus.
Because of all of these issues, students missed out on a good portion of their education. Dr. Lawton Gray, principal of JMHS, believes that even more was lost than just a proper learning environment free from malfunctioning technology and accessible distractions. He spoke on this, saying, “If you haven't had that close contact with a teacher for over a year and a half, there will be holes.”
However, not all had to be lost. Dr. Gray further went on to say that, over the summer, courses were offered to students to recover the educational time that was lost during the ersatz virtual school year: “The students need to take advantage of those opportunities and ask questions” concluded Gray.
However, midway through the 2020-2021 school year, the first vaccine for COVID-19 was released. From there, it was mass manufactured and made available to those who needed it most. And, thankfully, by the start of the 2021-2022 school year, the number of cases were low enough for students to return to campus.
The return to campus also brought about a new, and more arduous schedule. The biggest difference is that the start time shifted from 7:50 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., which, at first glance appears to be a gift to the students, however it came with a mass set of complications. School starts later, transversely, school also ends later, yet, after school activities remain in the same time slot.
This was a major change for athletes such as volleyball players who had away games. They would have to depart from school early, missing two learning periods instead of just one. Noel Johnson-Montoya, a junior in the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, has been at JMHS for three years, thus she has experienced both the previous schedule and the new one.
“I'd say I'm pretty good at time management but I am a little bit behind in my last class... because I'm missing some work that they do in class.” the volleyball player said.
Blame for this can appear to fall on multiple places however Montoya, and the other volleyball players will continue to miss important class time until CIF takes note of the students academic situation and changes the game times to an appropriate, and later time.
In addition, the schedule placed an extra class after lunch, altering the normal system of one class after lunch to end the day. “For me it's harder because I have a class in the D building, so I'm often late to that class”, says Christopher Molasco, senior in the AEMA. He added that the “Day feels longer” because of the extra class positioned after lunch.
Even though students are back in school, like in pre-pandemic times, we are yet to have the freedom to operate as in times of pre-pandemic. There are several protocols and procedures that have been incorporated by JMHS, with the intent to keep the students safe and to keep the school open.
First, there is daily checking at the door; which consists of a series of questions asked to determine whether a student may be ill or not. Secondly, they make sure every student is wearing a mask and if they do not have one, one will be provided. And finally, there are hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the school to provide the students with a way to feel safe and clean. But even with all of these in place, Dr. Gray still worries that students might not understand how important all of the protocols are. He says that he “wants students to know that they are just as part of the solution as the adults are.”
Extracurricular activities are also a big part of the return to campus. Last year was bleak for many of the sports teams and musical groups due to a lack of participants and shortened seasons. This year, more students are coming out to be a part of teams and seasons are lengthening again.
Fowler recalls last football season well, “We have more players now...the covid season, we didn't have as much team bonding as you would during a normal season.” This proved to be a common theme among extracurricular activities scheduled during the height of the COVID-19 era. Because of the social restrictions, group chemistry and bonding was apparent at far lower levels than usual. Now, teams and groups can rebuild and incorporate more social aspects into their programs which will improve the quality of the programs but also the health of the students.
The move back to campus has its difficulties as students were forced to readjust. There are academic benefits as well as struggles due to the new schedule however the return of sports, extracurriculars, and in-person teaching and social interactions outweigh the inconveniences of having to re-adapt to life at JMHS.
Math Teacher Isabell Cheng
Spanish teacher Gabriella Gonzalez Madrigal
History Teacher Cuauhtemoc Mauricio
New Staff Joins the Mustang Family
At The beginning of the 2021 school year at John Muir High School (JMHS), the enrollment went up, creating a need for more staff. Some of our staff rejoined us this year with a new position. In addition, Muir added three new staff members.
There were open positions for staff here at Muir that have now been filled. It was known that we were missing a Spanish teacher and a history teacher. For the first three weeks of school we all asked ourselves, when are we going to get the teachers for those classes? Why is it taking so long? Due to many issues of COVID-19, it has been difficult to fill these positions.
When asking principal Dr.Gray if these positions were going to be filled and how he said, “We are working hard to find the right candidates for the position.”
The history teacher has now also been hired. His name is Mr. Cuauhtemoc Mauricio and he teaches World History, U.S. History, Government and Economics.
When asked why he chose to teach at Muir, Mauricio responded, “My teaching beliefs align with Muir’s mission and values. It’s important to be part of a school that has a focus on student interests and prepares students for life after high school.”
So far, Mauricio feels it's going great and acclimated to the atmosphere here at Muir.
He said, “I've come to quickly realize that Muir is a unique place with a strong sense of community.”
Meanwhile, some of the new staff here are taking on the responsibility of multiple roles. A few of the teachers working multiple roles here at the school that are Ms. Isabelle Cheng and Ms.Nadia Elhawary.
Cheng is a new Math teacher here at Muir who teaches Integrated Math 1 and 2. This is her first year as a full time teacher although she has had lots of experience teaching before this. Before being a full time teacher she used to be a student teacher for one semester and a geometry summer school teacher for three summers.
With her new position here at the school as a new math teacher she said, “There's a lot of things I need to learn and I am extremely excited to work with the math team here and Dr. Gray. They have all been so supportive of me.”
When asked what she likes about JMHS so far she said, “I love the students, staff, and faculty. This is such a small and very supportive school that has a familial feel to it. I feel like I can be myself, which is the best for a job like teaching. It's only been a few weeks but it has been very exciting!”
Cheng is also the new head coach of the swim team. Before being the head coach of the swim team here at JMHS she was an assistant coach and head coach to the swim team at Diamond Bar High School. Before that, Cheng was a competitive swimmer for ten years and a coach for the past eight years.
Like Cheng, Ms. Nadia is another one of the staff members taking on multiple roles here at JMHS. Ms.Nadia is a counselor and Pasadena City College (PCC) professor here at the school. Before this, Ms.Nadia was more of a student teacher/intern.
With her new official position at the school, Ms. Nadia said, “Honestly, I am really in love with the idea that I am able to be a school counselor because I think it's such a powerful role within a high school. I don't think people understand you choose students classes, you help them with all their resources and everything. A counselor kind of chooses what kind of teachers you have, you know you choose the whole path.”
When asked what she hopes to contribute with her new position, Ms.Nadia said, “ I don't want to just feel like I am in a factory line you know. Like those assembly lines where you're like next, next. I don't want it to feel like that. I want it to feel like when you walk in we interact, we bond.”
She also said, “I just want to create a space where they feel safe and they know that it's just not about their grades, it's actually about how they're feeling. We just had a whole pandemic were still in and it's like why is nobody asking how are you really doing or how are you really feeling? I hope to uplift, and I hope to really bring a different perspective.”
Overall it is important to Ms.Nadia to have a relationship with her students. She feels that being someone who looks like her students and comes from the same community as her students is very powerful to help her connect with them as someone who understands them.
When asked how was she adjusting to her new roles she said, “I think I am adjusting fine I'm learning, I'm still getting things like access to stuff but I think I am learning like how to meet with my students like how to still be myself how to not be overrun, take deep breaths when I need it. I know there's more to come. I know it's going to get more busy. I know all of that I know I am just starting.”
In October, the new Spanish teacher, Gabriella Gonzalez Madrigal, joined the Muir family, coming from a charter school. She is a welcomed addition to the school and rounds out the staff here.
photo courtesy of John Muir Alumni Association
Football is a Success Despite Cancellation of The Turkey Tussle
by Valeria Luna
John Muir High School (JMHS) Varsity Football team is getting back to business in the 2021 season after COVID-19 left them with a shortened season last year.
John Muir football came off of a winning season in 2019-2020 finishing 11 and 3 overall. COVID-19 disrupted the entire 2020-2021 season. The season was not only postponed until the spring, but was also shortened to only five games, where the team finished 2 and 3 overall.
Preparations for this season have been focused on getting the players to work better as a team and improving focus, all while adhering to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
This year, the players are required to get tested weekly if they are not fully vaccinated in an attempt to minimize any transmission of the virus.
Some COVID-19 restrictions put in place affect how practice and training run. Players can’t train all together in a large group, so they separated into smaller groups based on positions to practice skills. The player groups are then spread out along the field for safe distances.
The players also need their gear, but there was a delay in this causing the first week’s game against Carson City High School to be postponed from Friday, August 27, 2021 to Thursday, September 2, 2021.
The game against Carson ended with JMHS’s first victory of the season, defeating Carson 36-0.
The rest of the season proved to be a success for the Mustangs,despite problems this season, finshing the season with a winning record of 7-1.
Every year John Muir High School’s (JMHS) Varsity football team plays against Pasadena High School’s (PHS) Varsity team. This is a tradition that has been going on for a long time now. Last year didn’t go so well for the Mustangs, but this year the focus has been to bring the bell back. This year the Turkey Tussle was scheduled for the 29th of October, of 2021, at the Rose Bowl.
The Turkey Tussle is the annual homecoming tradition between John Muir High School and cross town rival Pasadena High School. This tradition began in 1947 when the game was played between Pasadena Community College and John Muir Junior College.
These two schools played until 1953. In 1954, the annual rivalry was played between what is now John Muir High School and Pasadena High School.” Whoever wins the game ends up taking the ‘victory bell’ to the winning school.
The victory bell is a trophy to rotate between John Muir High School and Pasadena High School, being kept for the year by the team that wins the homecoming game.
JMHS quarterback, Mahki Clark, when asked how the team felt about going up against PHS, he stated, “ we feel very confident and prepared.”
Clark added that the players were looking forward to “winning the bell back.”
Unfortunately the turkey tussle got cancelled due to a vaccinated football player testing positive for COVID-19. "
According to Muir Athletic Director Afredo Resendiz, the team couldn't play because we didn't have enough players that could take the field.
"Once a student(s) tests positive for COVID-19, the Pasadena Health Department and the CDC require an 8-day quarantine for all unvaccinated students who were exposed to the virus. That quarantine made it impossible for us to play the game, because the 8-day period went beyond the date of the Tussle." said Resendiz.
Because this is the homecoming game and has become a storied rivalry for generations, the cancellation has been a blow to the community.
"The game is the focal point for an entire homecoming weekend for both schools. Alumni hold events like reunions, picnics, BBQs, etc.. People fly to California from out of state for the game" said Resendiz.
Many of the JMHS students were disappointed by the cancellation of this annual event that brings the community together and allows students to leave their mark on history.
Resendiz continued, "This was the first year in decades where both teams had undefeated league records and were going to play for a Pacific League championship. But, more than anyone, players and coaches look forward to this game every season, especially seniors. Playing in the Rose Bowl is something these kids dream about as kids. None of them could have ever imagined the game would be canceled, but that's exactly what happened. It was devastating for them and a bummer for most stakeholders at both schools."
As of yet, the Turkey Tussle has not been rescheduled.
The Mustangs entered the playoffs on Friday, November 5, 2021 with their first game against Highlands High School at home. Even though the team had a great winning season finishing 7-2, they lost 40-7 to Highlands in the first round of the playoffs.
Seniors Stress Over Next Steps
by Oshea Foster
Every year during the Fall, John Muir High School (JMHS) seniors begin the long-dreaded college application process to try to get accepted into various universities across the country or world, even.
The application process might normally begin to take shape in the 9th and 10th grade with introductory items, such as favorite schools and possible career interests, while the upperclassmen deal with financial aid forms and college essays. Even with this 4-year preparation process, when the majority of seniors begin applying to colleges in the fall, there is still much stress that surfaces.
Even though the process focuses on upperclassmen, it begins with the underclassmen. Nadia Elhawary, better known to the students as Ms. Nadia, is a counselor at John Muir High School. Her role in the college application process is to help the 9th and 10th graders get familiar with the idea of college. Unfortunately, this process has been stalled in recent years due to the pandemic, as were many other processes.
When asked about difficulties of working her position in regards to the college process, Ms. Nadia stated that, “The challenge for 9th and 10th is that since we are in a pandemic, a lot of the work is healing from the pandemic.I haven’t got to college with my 9th and 10th graders because it doesn’t feel relevant yet”.
On the front end, the process is slow to start for the new students, but on the back end, the veteran students are dealing with issues of their own. Ms. Nadia’s previous position was geared more towards the seniors and recalls those difficulties well, saying that the most difficult parts were “Students being really discouraged”
The process looks different depending on the student because there are different applications for colleges. Common applications open in August and are generally used for private universities and some out of state ones. The applications for CalStates open october 1st and University of California (UC) applications open august 1st.
Students often wait until the eleventh hour to complete their applications because the importance of them is often not fully understood. In addition, Alejandra Diaz from the counseling department testified that because of the pandemic, “deadlines have been extended and testing is not necessarily part of the application anymore.” This allowed students to further procrastinate and put off the process.
Diaz notes that “feeling overwhelmed and feeling unprepared” are the most difficult parts of the process for seniors. “The essay and the recommendation will always be the things that take the longest, but now there are added stressors. There are more deadlines and we haven't been around each other”.
There is no guarantee to eliminate the weighing feelings but there are ways to relieve them. Diaz suggests that you should start early to get ahead of the pressure. “Don't wait till the last minute because the application websites tend to go crazy because there are too many people on it”.
She also believes that the “Brag Sheet” is helpful because “It helps organize all of your activities and things you've been involved in and those are the hardest things to remember when you're applying”. The counseling department is there to help with the process every step of the way, just dont wait till the last minute!
photo courtesy of Ricardo Robles
ASB Attempts to Return School Activities and Revive School Spirit In the Midst of a Pandemic
Annual activities like Homecoming, Spirit Week, and other activities are coming up and the Associated Student Body (ASB) officers are planning for John Muir High School (JMHS) students to have fun and get involved.
Being in ASB and planning school activities was hard enough without COVID-19 restrictions, and now they have to find a way for students to have fun and engage in school activities while being safe.
Due to the pandemic, ASB has to not only be in charge of students’ fun, but also make it safe for all attendees. ASB is responsible for every student’s experiences here at Muir.
When asked about how she feels to have the responsibilities of ASB president, Jade Williams, replied “It is a little stressful. Overall, it's really fun to be able to plan events for the school, and we anticipate that this year will be filled with events. It is a huge responsibility and a large time commitment.”
Planning school activities requires creativity this year. The plan is to have homecoming this year outside because that is where there is the most circulation of air.
When asked about how homecoming is going to happen this year, Williams said, “We are planning an outdoor homecoming this year to abide by COVID-19 regulations. Although we won't be at an off campus venue this year, we will still decorate the area to look very good, so that shouldn't stop people from going.”
When asked how they are planning on providing a safe and fun homecoming experience, Cassandra Franklin, ASB advisor replied, “The school district is allowing all Muir students to arrive as usual with their permission slips filled out and mask requirements apply. However, any guests that are coming with seniors need to have proof that they are vaccinated.”
Of course there can’t be a homecoming without money to pay for everything, so when asked about how they fund raised money for all these activities, especially homecoming, Williams replied, “We fund raised for homecoming though dine out nights, selling during lunch, and from donations. We also had funds from the 2019-2020 school year that haven't been touched for over a year, so we had enough funds to organize a homecoming dance.”
Most students would say that spirit week and homecoming was a success despite difficult conditions such as having it outside, but other than that the expectations of what they wanted homecoming to be, were met.
photo courtesy of JMHS instagram
Homecoming Is a Success Despite Many Restrictions
by Valerie Ruvalcaba
John Muir High School will host homecoming to welcome back home the alumni or graduates on October 30, 2021. Homecoming is always a highly anticipated event here at John Muir High School (JMHS).
Since traditions are so big at Muir, homecoming is always a huge event that everyone is encouraged to participate in, whether it’s going to the game, the dance, participating in spirit week, or doing it all. It’s a moment for the whole school, and city, to come together to have a good time and make memories.
Students began campaigning for homecoming court and the king and queen were announced at the pep rally at lunch the day of homecoming. The homecoming king was Charles Bennett and the homecoming queen was Lluliana Lopez.
Since the graduating class last year didn’t have a homecoming, we are expecting the homecoming queen from two years ago to come and crown our next homecoming queen.
When asking Azucena Delgadio, a sophomore at JMHS, why she choose to run for homecoming court she said, “ I decided to run because I wanted to have a new and different experience, a senior in my math class that is running for homecoming queen was encouraging me to run so, yeah”.
This year's homecoming dance was hosted at JMHS on the school campus on the tennis courts to adhere to the strict COVID-19 safety regulations.
The reason for homecoming being on campus this year is because the school needed to secure a venue that was COVID-19 safe, outdoors, with no noise ordinance before 10 pm, and close to the school for everyone to attend. Casandra Franklin, the Associated Student Body (ASB) advisor said, “We are fortunate to be able to have such a space on our campus.”
Franklin continued, “Surprisingly, that space is larger than any venue that our school has purchased in the past five years.”
The homecoming committee decided that Harlem Nights would be a great theme for this year's homecoming. ASB as a group thought it would be good to add the Roaring 20’s to that theme. The roaring 20’s is referring to the 1920’s when after World War I people were living their lives to the fullest and prospering.
In regards to this, Franklin said, “So with the pandemic shutting everything down and us coming back to school, we wanted to make some noise and have a great party to show that the 2020's are going to be memorable years as well.”
ASB President Jade Williams said, “I hope they have a good time and are able to enjoy the event with their friends. For some people, this is their last homecoming and for some it’s their first. Regardless, I hope this is a night where the students can relax and enjoy themselves with their friends and possibly meet new people. The event will hopefully be even more enjoyable if we get the bell back, but even if we don’t, the homecoming dance will be fun. I hope people don’t get caught up on the venue, because the event will be what you make it.”
The event went off without a hitch and the students and staff really enjoyed being able to have a dance and some sense of return to normal.
Artwork courtesy of Amiya Morton
Artwork depicts students sitting in desks separated by 6 feet and plastic shields and a school sign with a mask hanging off itStudents Return to New Later Schedule
John Muir High School (JMHS) is operating on a different schedule from last year's schedule due to the new requirements from the state to help with student academic performance.
The start time for the 2020-2021 school year was 7:50 AM and the end time was 3:00 PM, the schedule has shifted forty minutes later which is causing a ripple effect in the whole school day.
According to the Senate Bill No. 328, “The school day for high schools, including high schools operated as charter schools, shall begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m.”
And since the state specifies how many minutes each school must have during the school year, if the day starts later, it must also end later.
On the surface, a later start time appears to be minor, but the effects on school day performance and after school activities is major. The majority of students and staff dislike the new schedule for multiple reasons.
When Muir chose to start the day forty minutes later, at 8:30, they also had to add the 40 minutes they took off in the beginning to the end. Making our school day end at 3:40.
The schedule affects students' lives in a few ways. One of which is the ability to participate in sports. Sports are a big part of the culture here at JMHS with many students participating in them. With the later start time, sports have taken a hit.
Many of the student athletes here at JMHS have to miss classes at the end of the day because they have to prepare for their game or travel to the opposing team’s school. With the later start and ending time, they are forced to miss more school to make it to their game on time.
When asked about the schedule, Katharine Hart, a freshman on the volleyball team, stated “I do not like the current schedule because we get out so late that now the sports start later and that means that you get home later”
Some teachers say that since the students are getting forty minutes extra sleep time, their students are more alert, but since that forty minutes was subtracted in the beginning, 40 minutes has to be added at the end of the day, so students are more tired towards the end of the day and tend to not focus because they are so tired.
Last year’s 2020-2021 school year schedule only had one class after lunch. Now, in the 2021-2022 school schedule, there are two classes after lunch, which really tires the students out because they have a full three hours of class time after eating which is very difficult to focus on.
A final concern for students with this new schedule is the amount of time that they have after school to complete their homework or spend time with their families. Forty minutes lost with family or on studying seems small at first glance, but when it comes to time over the course of the entire week, it adds up.
English teacher Totam Dao, says “For instance, if teachers are still assigning a ton of homework, students will still stay up late, and still be tired the next morning.”
Overall, the new schedule has not proven to be the favorite for students and staff.
This schedule could also affect students’ personal lives.
When asked how he thinks it will affect students, Dr. Lawton Gray replies “It's a 40 minute difference from before and so it just pushes things back 40 minutes.”
The new change in the schedule is a little difficult to cope with, but students are managing well. Even though the schedule has its ups and downs, everyone manages to power through because no matter what, there are some laws that need to be obeyed for staff and student safety and for the sake of the future.
Celebrating Latin Heritage
October was Latinx Heritage month here at John Muir High School and all across the United States. The month-long celebration commemorates Mexican-American and other Latinx-American achievements made in the U.S as well as their struggle to persevere and thrive.
The observance of Latinx Heritage month in the United States first began on September 14, 1989 with the Presidential Proclamation 6021 given by George W. Bush.
Since then, celebratory and honorary actions in the name of Latinx Heritage take place all across the United States. Yet this year at Muir, there was a lack of those events.
The 90 minute assembly, that typically takes place during this month, includes poem readings, performances and various known speakers that present about the topic of Latinx heritage, did not ensue.
So then what happened to the events?
Ms Johanna Moore, a Spanish and English teacher at Muir that is usually in charge of planning the events, about what happened. The general consensus is that many complications came up that hindered the planning and execution of the events.
According to Moore, there were supposed to be ”Afro-Cuban drummers and Folklorico dancers that performed throughout the month but they canceled.”
She attributes the cancellation primarily to the “dates that had to be changed a couple times due to conflicts with the school’s schedule and COVID-19 safety regulations.”
In addition to the role COVID-19 has played in the cancellation and restriction of many school events like Latinx Heritage month activities, there are other things that impact the school’s ability to make important events like this happen.
One important point is, although approximately 70% of Muir’s student body is considered of Latinx descent, there isn’t a formal student group to organize and represent Latinx heritage.
Ms. Moore hopes that by next year, there will be a group of students that are willing to direct, plan, and execute activities and events for Latinx month as well as truly represent the Latinx culture and heritage throughout the year.
Let’s activate student and school administrators to support the creation of a group dedicated to Latinx Culture and Heritage representation so we make sure we don’t go another year without these important celebrations.
photo courtesy of affinity magazine
Seniors Prepare for Next Stage of Life: College and Beyond
It is college application time for all seniors here at John Muir High School. From now until the end of November, seniors will be working to get their applications in to various colleges in preparation for the next stage of their lives.
The process is a difficult one for many students because of its many requirements; personal essays, recommendation letters, community service and excellent grades.
I would be the first in my family to go to college which is why I look at going to college as such an important thing. I want to make my parents proud and show my younger siblings that it is possible.
Everyone has different reasons as to why going to college is important to them.
Destiny Morones, a senior in the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy says that going to college is important to her.
Morones said, “I will be able to have more opportunities to get a better job that pays more.”
When asked why going to college is important, Dr. Nancy Gonzalez, a counselor at Muir said, “College is important for many reasons. College can give you a better opportunity in the job market, more stability, higher income, more opportunities.”
College can introduce you to new interests and careers because you get to take a variety of courses and learn about topics that were not available to you in high school.
College is also a time to learn about yourself, explore different options, and gain some independence. Whether you are getting a certification through a trade school, or a Bachelor's degree through a 4-year university, or beyond that to your Master's, or Doctorate degree, a degree lets employers know that you can follow through and accomplish a goal.”
I definitely agree that there are a lot of opportunities that come with going to college and personally for me I think what I want most is to gain independence and find myself more freely instead of worrying what my parents think or would have to say about my life simply because they put so much pressure and stress onto me and I feel like I can't really do what I want to.
A higher education that will get us where we want to go. Life is waiting for us, so let's get those applications done.
Is College Really Worth It?
As the deadline for college applications fast approaches, the trending conversation amongst our seniors is college.
During the COVID-19 shutdown many students have taken the time to sit and ask themselves who they are and what they want from themselves, a major factor that plays into their future is whether or not they choose to go to college.
As I constantly stress, majority of JMHS’s student body consist of a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) population. Being that the education system -- especially the collegiate education system -- is known to be built against people of color, many of our students are on the fence about seeking higher education.
Simply put, I asked students and staff, Is college a scam you have to participate in?
In comparison to the 20th century where you don’t qualify for a decent job without a Bachelor’s degree, many Americans today find themselves working at a high-paying job without a high school diploma. In 2021, a college education is futile. However, most marginalized students do not have the privilege of painting college as an option.
Dr. Rustin of Muir’s Social Sciences department mentions that college might not be for everyone, especially for “creatives and independent type workers”. However, he also stresses that it is hard to believe that college is an “unnecessary luxury...for folks who are really coming from nothing”.
As a result, marginalized families hold more value to a college education because it is something that is not given to us. Muir’s lead college counselor, Ms. Diaz supports Rustin’s concept when she indicates that “...for families with higher economic status [college is] the status quo...we [people of color] have to fight for it…the ultimate goal”.
Because of the major college gap between BIPOC and non-BIPOC students, our school has taken advantage of our Early College Magnet Program in order to close the gap and give our students the equal access we historically have not received. Even still, Dr. Rustin ponders on whether equal access to higher education is the “...best path towards freedom and liberation for our groups”.
While I have gained powerful insight from both sides of the debate Dr. Rustin’s response satisfied my burning question.
“College is part of a bigger scam, which is this belief that we only have one life and you got to spend as many hours as possible working and climbing up the career ladder.” American culture is built on capitalism and capitalism thrives off of hustle. Whether that hustle pays off or not, our society thrives. While college is highly encouraged, especially for careers such as medicine, college is essentially made to distinguish a status quo and to ensure Americans’ hard work.
If you are a student who read this column to decide whether or not to apply to college then I apologize because I do not have the answer. I do, however, have advice from interviewing Dr. Rustin which is be a sponge.
“Just be a sponge. Just absorb all the experiences that other people have done and then make your decision from there.”
Reach out to people from both paths who have been in the same position as you and learn from their experiences. Does that life suit you?
Either path will be a long and strenuous journey so make sure you choose what is best for you and only you.
Boys Soccer Prepares for 2021 Season
John Muir High School’s (JMHS) boys soccer team is back in action after a tough season last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last season COVID-19 disrupted all sports and postponed many of the seasons. The soccer team struggled due to many factors including public health restrictions that limited their ability to practice.
The team only played four games last season which is not really enough time to develop chemistry as a team and skills individually.
This season the team is almost completely back to normal, there are just some safety measures that need to be taken.Vaccinated players are required to get COVID tested weekly, while it is optional for those players who are vaccinated.
In addition, COVID-19 continues impacting sports and forcing teams to alter how they run practices.
“The main thing that we’re doing differently is that some of the guys wear masks during practice but not a huge difference yet,” says head coach Gabriel Estrada.
Although the exact dates have not yet been determined for teams to play. The team is still moving forward with preparing for their first game which gives the team time to focus on their first opponent and practice on any specific skills and drills that they might need more work on.
Coach Estrada said, “We don’t have a date for the first game yet, potentially it can be on November 16, 2021 at home, but it's not set in stone yet.”
The team is trying to be very focused on the skills and chemistry of the team in their practices.
“We are training hard, we're practicing on communication when in games and also practicing our running to become faster and stronger” says junior soccer player Christian Loza.
As the team moves forward toward the start of the season, they are working hard to improve from last year’s record.
With new players and a renewed focus on teamwork the outlook is good.
“There are new players that are pretty good and experienced,” says Christian. This season we have some promising new players joining the team after last season's team was very small.
The team is anticipating their first game in mid-November and the team is feeling confident and prepared for a good season.
Girls Soccer Returns in Full Force
by A.J. Robles
This season the girls soccer team has more players than last season which is a promising start.
Last season, the girls team had low participation due to COVID-19, which resulted in a bare minimum roster and not always playing a full team. Their record for last season was 0-7.
The team is working on improving their record this season, and that has started with increased participation.
“Last season was a struggle from not having a full roster. Girls couldn't get injured because of no replacements” said varsity left back, Rosa Menjivar.
With the increase in the number of girls participating in the program, there is a lot of room for improvement and the girls will not carry the load of a full team on just a few players.
“This year we had 43 girls trying out for soccer, plus the 13 returning players from last year,” said Mario Hernandez, the girls varsity soccer coach.
Even though this year is shaping up to be an improvement over last year, it is not with out its difficulties. This year, because of the increase in COVID-19 cases despite the vaccine roll out, there are still restrictions on sports and training, especially with an increased number of players.
“There’s a bit of changes in training due to COVID, they have to maintain social distance and wear masks during practice,” said Hernandez.
When asked how this is affecting the players, Menjivar said, “It’s very difficult for some of the girls to wear their mask during practice, and also players sound muffled due to their mask.”
Coming off of such a difficult season, the team is really focusing on what they can do to improve and build on their strengths.
“The girls' strength is team effort, they're united as one,” said Hernandez.
When asked about the new team dynamic and her outlook on the season, Menjivar said, “I feel good and our chemistry as the team is good together.”
One thing the team is working on is helping the newcomers develop their skills and work well together as a unit.
The 2021 season has 13 league games scheduled for this season. Their first game is on December 3rd against Arcadia, one of their toughest opponents, but according to Hernandez, “We’re practicing to be at our best for all our games.”
The match ups will be difficult especially since most schools have club players and will absolutely pose a challenge this year.
“The toughest opponent is Arcadia, but we will for sure beat some people this year” said Hernandez.
This year the girl’s soccer team looks really good so far, they just need work on skills to see success. As a team they work on their communication and passing because by doing so they improve and build on their strengths. There’s a lot of potential in all the girls this season from returning and newcomers.
Senior Pep Squad Member Kennedy Hackett and family
Senior Band Member Michael Rodriguez and family
Senior Football Player CJ Owens and family
Senior Year and the Memories We Make
Due to COVID-19, students had to leave school for what was supposed to only be a two week period, but turned into a year and a half before finally returning to campus.
The students who left campus as sophomores are now back on campus as seniors. It's their last year at John Muir high school, and one must wonder, What are they looking forward to? Are they excited or nervous? Are they sad? Worried? Why is Senior year so special?
Senior year is probably the most exciting year for students because of all the senior events. Of course this senior year will be a bit different compared to the other senior years pre-COVID.
Senior events are usually what most people think of when they remember their high school experience. These events range from sporting events, homecoming, prom, to graduation. Due to COVID-19 the 2020 seniors missed all of them, and this year the 2021 seniors have restrictions placed on the events.
Cynthia Lake, the senior class advisor, is in charge of helping the seniors organize and facilitate their events.
When asked about how the senior events this year may be affected, Lake said, “We can't make absolute plans for many events until they are cleared by the PUSD Health and Safety protocols. If we receive PUSD permission upcoming events would be, Magic Mountain Fright Fest in October, Roller Skating, Grad Night at Disneyland, and many other activities.”
When asking students what they were looking forward to this senior year the majority answered senior events, more specifically prom and graduation.
Destiny Morones, a senior in the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy (BE), said, “I look forward to graduation and going off to college.”
As excited as they are to be leaving high school, a few of them do acknowledge that they will miss many things about high school.
Leslie Santos, a senior in the Arts Entertainment and Media Academy (AEM), said, “I will miss the amazing people that I've met and all the memories we have created.”
It might be a bit of a stressful and chaotic year for us seniors but we've already made it this far and I know we can make it even further.
Lake wants seniors to keep in mind that “You should strive to become the best person that you can achieve while in your last year of compulsory education. Take advantage of any skills achieved while stuck in remote learning last year. Focus on time management, organization, self care.”
Be willing to take risks and be comfortable with the unknown. Never neglect your learning or your imagination. Face rigorous challenges in order to prepare for your adult life. You are 'Stangs 4 LIFE. Period.”
Contributing Writers
Sade Anderson
Kimberlee Hoover
Valeria Luna
AJ Robles
Valerie Ruvalcaba
Jacqueline Soto
Carlos Vargas
Marcos Villarreal
Mission Statement
The Blazer is produced by the Journalism Class at John Muir High School. It is a completely student-run newspaper, and all content is revised by student editors. Our goal is to re lease a high quality, informative, and factual newspaper that accurately depicts the John Muir community. We, the Journalism staff, understand and will apply our rights under the California Education Code 48907. This newspaper does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the John Muir High School administration, faculty, or the PUSD. For any questions or concerns, letters to the editors are always welcomed. They can be sent to The Blazer’s email at jmhsblazer@ gmail.com where editors reserve the right to edit any submissions for clarity.