Features

SALVADORAN CULTURE

Published on Dec. 15, 2022

Story by Victor Merino

Salvadoran culture is very broad and different from the many Spanish-speaking countries. While El Salvador is known as the smallest country in Central America, it still has amazing landscapes, jungles, beaches and much more. The country has a wide variety of traditional dishes which are delicious and unique. Also, there are slang words that are used to communicate and name objects. Keep reading to find out more about El Salvador and its culture.

El Salvador proclaimed its independence from Spain and the rest of Central America on September 15, 1821. It was acknowledged by the United States on August 4, 1824, and for a while they were a member of the Federation of Central American States. On May 1, 1849, the United States recognized Salvador, now El Salvador, as a separate, independent state after the Federation's separation in the years 1838–1840. El Salvador is an amazing place with beautiful landscapes.

El Salvador is known as the "Land of Volcanoes" due to its frequent seismic and volcanic activity, although don't be too alarmed. This country has lots of breathtaking and jaw-dropping landscapes. An example of this is Lake Ilopango, which is a beautiful body of water that lies in the center of El Salvador. Another example of a mesmerizing body of water is Playa El Tunco. This beautiful seaside attracts a lot of tourists and rich residents in El Salvador. “El Tunco is a renowned surfing spot in El Salvador,” according to TripAdvisor. Finally, Las Ruinas de Tazumal is a site with ancient pre-Columbian ruins. Located in Chalchuapa, El Salvador, these ruins are fascinating to see and to learn about the origin of this Mayan temple and the people who built it.

El Salvador offers a wide variety of mouthwatering pastries, desserts, and traditional foods that you shouldn't miss out on while visiting. El Salvador is home to the delicious dish known as pupusas. These resemble flatbreads but are made from corn or rice flour. You have a choice of not only the flour you use, but also the ingredients you put inside. The pupusa can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including beans, cheese, pork and zucchini. There are numerous other foods as well, such as salpicon, riguas, pasteles, panes con pollo and gallina. Not forgetting the sweets and pastries, some of the Salvadorans' favorites include empanadas, quesadillas, torrejas, nuegados, leche poleada, budin and many more. Finally, some beverages that Salvadorans enjoy are horchata, ensalada de fruta, atol de elote, chilate, atol chuco, kolashampan and many other drinks. Though some of these beverages, pastries and desserts can also be found in other Latin American countries. El Salvador has its tourists in for a real treat.

El Salvador has a very open and diverse slang culture. Usually, these expressions are not used or heard in formal Spanish. "Bicho" and "cipote" are two examples of these words. Both words mean youngster, kid or teen. Some of the same terminology are also used in other Latin American nations. Salvadorans also speak in terms like “desmadre,” which is used to refer to “a mess.” “Bayunco/a” is a term to mainly point out someone's foolish behavior.

El Salvador has its own distinctive traditions and foods that make it distinct. The way the language is used differs from Spanish in other countries. Consider visiting El Salvador one day to discover all the things that make this country special.

THE DEATH OF MAHSA AMINI

Published on October 26, 2022

Story by Ashley Rodriquez

Mahsa Amini is a young, 22-year-old who went on a trip with her family to Tehran, the capital of Iran. On September 16, 2022, Amini and her brother got stopped by the police for allegedly having her hair visible to the public, violating the law for women to cover their head with a scarf.

Amini was arrested by the police, got thrown violently into a van, was severely beaten, and eventually suffered a head injury from that impact. Later, she was transported to a detention center to get “through training” to learn how to wear a hijab and dress properly but eventually got taken to a hospital.

Her brother and family were not informed that she was taken to the hospital. She then went into a coma and died three days later at the hospital from her head injuries. Later, Amini’s family were informed by other people that she had passed away, not from the hospital or police.

Over the years, Iran has been having their anger build up from how many times women have got harrased. When they saw how Amini died, they knew enough was enough. They needed to do something.

In Iran, women do not have as many rights as men. Women also do not have much legal protection from domestic abuse or sexual harrasment, which results in men doing whatever they please to women. Men over there think women are lower and less strong than they are. Women are not allowed to work as a lawyer, judge, or police officer.

A student at Reseda High, Nava from Iran, who is not comfortable releasing her last name. She has both her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and her sister-in-law who all live in Iran. Nava states that a woman has to have permission from their husband or father to either go somewhere or get something signed like a passport. She says rules in Iran are so strict, especially for women, because it is an Islamic republic, which means people in Iran have to follow all rules and laws in Islam, the Muslim religion. In Iran, they have a strict government. All people have to follow the many rules in the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

Women are protesting across Iran, burning their hijabs and cutting their hair for the “morality police’ to see in front of thousands. Reporters on the news are showing videos and photos of protests in Iran, and images on Google, Twitter, Instagram pages are showing cars burning up into flames and people with signs up in the air. At this moment, on October 5, 2022, at least 83 people are dead and approximately more than 1,000 have been arrested in Iran. It is difficult to know how many casualties there have been because the internet over there has been shut down now and then since the protests began.

At this point, the people of Iran are angry. They see women, and even men, being stopped in the middle of the street, harassed, and assaulted. They have been harassed in their own homes.

These people from Iran want to know their future. They want their daughters to have a good life. They feel like their rights have been violated, and their people are getting murdered by the government. They deserve a positive future and need change now.

BEHIND THE SCENES: WRITING THE REGENT ROAR

Published on October 25, 2022

Story by Tana Villanueva

In light of our newspaper (finally!) getting a spot on the school website as well as our ongoing advertising efforts in the form of posters and flyers around campus, I decided to interview a few of our student journalists about their writing process.

The first step is to find an interesting topic for an article. Many of us like to write about things that interest us. “I gravitate mostly towards natural disasters and sports,” Ricardo Hernandez said in an interview. “I just pick things that interest me.”

Another reporter, Alaya Bell, feels the same. She writes about things that she and her friends would consider interesting. “I write about things that me and my friends would actually want to read and genuinely be interested in.”

Ashley Rodriguez writes about urgent topics about important information. “I did an article about baby formula shortage,” Rodriguez shared. “I thought that was alarming and that people should know that.”

After staff writers think of a topic, they do their research through both the Internet and through interviews. One of the journalists, Yamille Guzman, commented, “If it’s a recent topic I’ll search up the headlines on the internet and see if it’s a reliable source and if not, I’ll skip it and move on to the next source.” In one of her articles, namely about Queen Elizabeth II, she used multiple sources, both old and new, to document the late queen’s reign.

Sometimes, writers have to take some precautions before they write an article. For Angelica Villa’s article on permanent makeup, she used pictures showing what happens when permanent makeup goes wrong. “I had to contact the owner of the pictures and ask for permission to use them. When he wrote back and gave me permission, I started putting down the information I had for my article.”

Many journalists write articles in order to interest readers. Stephanie Cruz expressed that she writes articles to “have people view them, make sure they’re interested in reading them.” Bell agreed, saying that she writes “to entertain people, have something that people are genuinely interested in, and write something I’m proud of.”

However, there are a lot of other reasons that we write articles. Guzman writes to inform people. “I like keeping people updated so that no one is left behind.” For example, her work on the articles about Andrew Tate and Queen Elizabeth II was done to inform readers so that they could come to their own conclusions.

There are many things that we like about being on the newspaper staff. Several journalists reported that their favorite part of writing is how much they learn about the topics they cover. “I like learning about new things and expressing them in my type of way,” Hernandez said.

Cruz concurred, “I like getting to learn more about the topics.” However, finding sources can be difficult sometimes. “One thing I don’t like is when I don’t find the exact amount of information to write about,” she admitted.

Ironically, a few of us don’t like the process of writing itself. Hernandez added that “I don’t like that [writing articles] takes a lot of time and focus.”

Guzman feels the same. “I like doing the research. When it comes to writing, there’s spelling, grammar… those parts of English,” she admitted.

On the contrary, despite the time, care, and effort that it takes, the writing part can be quite enjoyable. Rodriguez has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. ”I always liked writing,” she explained. “Articles are fun because I could put my own writing in it, and I can also put stuff from the Internet into my own words.”

Furthermore, Jose Cruz adds that there isn’t anything that he dislikes about writing articles. “When you write it good, and you're able to read it and go ‘Oh, wow, it’s interesting!’ That’s what I like about the writing process.”

In addition, I asked each of the journalists about their favorite articles that they’ve worked on or written. Rodriguez told me about her report covering Mahsa Amini, a woman in Iran who was killed for not wearing her hijab correctly. “I think that we should know how she died and that it wasn’t right, how she was treated.”

Many journalists also expressed how enjoyable it was to conduct their research and interviews. Villa said that she enjoyed her interviews at the Wellness Center. “I liked it because the people there were really nice and gave me information to make my article a good article.”

Jose Cruz, who worked on the Andrew Tate article, enjoyed hearing differing opinions from students even if he wasn’t invested in the topic himself. “I don’t watch him or pay attention to him, but it was fun.”

All in all, writing can be an incredibly rewarding experience. We get to learn more about things we are interested in and get other people to be curious as well. Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into the work that goes into creating news articles and that you continue to read articles in The Regent Roar in the future!

RCHS POLICE ACADEMY

Published on October 7, 2022

Story by Julie Lopez and Katie Arellano

Police Academy is a law enforcement, award-winning organization. It equips pupils for any job path they choose. It instills in them self-control, respect, and future readiness. Students who attend Police Academy receive physical and mental preparation for careers in law enforcement. It teaches them how to collaborate. There are numerous options for pupils to succeed at the Police Academy. They participate in tournaments, events, and field trips. Their graduation rate is 100%. Nineteen AP courses are available. Twelve honors classes are suggested.

The Regent Roar had the glorious opportunity to talk to Police Academy’s Coordinator Ms. Alise Cayen. She has served in this position since the doors first opened back in 1998. As coordinator for the Police Academy, she is responsible for overseeing a number of teachers and counselors, managing budgets, writing federal reports, planning events, bringing guest speakers, preparing all important paperwork, and at times, being a disciplinarian.

“The absolute best part of this program is that all the teachers, the officers, and myself all care about the kids and we work together to make sure no one gets lost in the cracks,” Cayen said. She gave some advice to those who are considering joining the Police Academy: “I would tell them that if they like law enforcement or even if they have no desire to be a law enforcement officer,… the structure of the program is going to make them a better person and the leadership skills… will help them in any career that they have.” She shared that the three words she would use to describe the Police Academy are “structured,” “family,” and “fun.”

The Regent Roar had the amazing opportunity to speak with Coach Monique (Mo) Burgess. Coach Mo is a teacher and physical training instructor for the Police Academy Magnet. He joined the academy about 6 to 7 years ago. “The best part about being in the Police Academy is being able to see the same students for four straight years,” Mo said. Coach Mo is responsible for teaching cadets physical training, fitness, agility, stamina, strength, and more along with talks about the importance of leadership, responsibility, and teamwork. When The Regent Roar asked Coach Mo what inspired him to take this job, he mentioned that he was not entirely sure what the job was when he was interviewed. However, after finding out what the job was about, he thought to himself, “I need this job. I love it too much.” He would have been disappointed not to have gotten the job. Mo described the academy as “fulfilling,” “challenging,” and “life-changing.”

This academy is well respected and will assist you in starting your chosen career path, no matter what it may be. The faculty and staff are outstanding. They will help you and provide guidance. There’s a feeling of family among the students, and they take care of one another. As a group, they address issues and deal with the consequences. You'll need to learn how to listen to and respect your superiors if you want to join. It will benefit you when applying for college. It takes a lot of determination to complete the program, but it is worthwhile.

COVID IN RETROSPECT

Published on September 29, 2022

Story by Lorenz Jimenez and Victor Merino

The COVID-19 virus affected many of us, which contributed to our social isolation and negative mental, bodily, and emotional impacts. Many people experienced friendship loss, family member separation, and in some cases, pet separation, which caused them pain. Coach Areloa, for instance, emphasized the difficulties faced by several of his football players in obtaining scholarships or other possibilities that were subsequently denied to them. Furthermore, he struggled to connect with his students since he could not be himself in Zoom meetings and could not get to know them better on a more intimate level. He also describes himself as an outdoor enthusiast; therefore, he was upset when the government told us to stay inside because his usual pastimes were now restricted. On the plus side, since he didn't have to go to school, he could develop a closer bond with his newborn daughter, who he could see grow over the course of her first two years of life. This connection to his family aided him in becoming a better father by enabling him to spend more time with his kids. Coach Areloa, Mrs. Caal, and Coach Mo were occasionally all quite concerned about the academic achievement of their kids because they were frightened that many people would have found it difficult to learn how to utilize technology or have a tougher time grasping topics. After all, there's a chance that kids' learning time was disrupted by multiple distractions.

Even though many people had opportunities to connect with others or spend time with their loved ones, some people weren't very fortunate. According to Ms. Caal, many kids were unable to interact with one another or work in a group setting once more. She had also lost contact with several of her friends and family members since some of them were afraid of the virus and didn't want to contract it. Additionally, she began to worry about her parents' health as a result of this. She also mentioned that she was under financial difficulty because her kids were now at home, and she needed to buy twice as many groceries to feed them. Given that she was the sole parent working at the time, this added to her stress and impacted how she managed her time. She had to work twice as hard. Coach Mo also experienced a similar issue because the risk of infection made it difficult for him to socialize with his family and students. Moreover, due to teaching online, he also struggled to instruct his soccer players and ended up experiencing neck and back aches from sitting for long periods of time.

The impact that the pandemic had on students was broad and compelling. Students felt trapped at home and stressed over their academics. For example, in Sebastian Meza’s case, he stated that he was going through tough times emotionally and financially. Depression was creeping up on him, and stress was fueling his mind. He faced the feeling of the stress of putting his siblings and family first for them to be doing well, which led to disregarding his mental health. Having that type of responsibility caused his schedule to be affected in that he had to sleep later, would rarely have the ability to eat, and worked twice as hard for his family to be financially stable.

Although COVID-19 was a significant virus that affected many of us, it was a great opportunity for us to get to know one another, develop amusing interactions with one another, engage in various forms of self-care, adapt to new work schedules, and in some cases, improve our physical abilities. Yes, there were some drawbacks, but overall, it strengthened our bonds as a community and allowed us to rely on our loved ones, as well as the memories we were able to make.

GET TO KNOW MR. PARK

Published September 29, 2022

Story by Stephanie Cruz Perez

Mr. Park went to Cal State Northridge and majored in anthropology. He is primarily focused on cultural anthropology with an emphasis on Mesoamerica and its people. Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. Mr. Park is now at Cal Lutheran finishing up his master’s on Educational Leadership. He took a lot of English and Philosophy courses in college. He loves classic literature because it gives an interesting comparison to modern times and its relativist nature comparing different times and seeing the similarities of our lives despite being in the past with different context of society and history. He also loves Asian literature as well.

Mr. Park has always loved books and thought it was a great way to expand one’s thinking so that encouraged him to become an English teacher. He loves being a teacher because he likes working with students. “To see students apply themselves and develop a sense of accomplishment is always rewarding but also, kids are funny,” he stated. The hardest part of being a teacher is that the work never stops, there is always something for teachers to do and, it'll always keep appearing, said Mr. Park.

His hobbies are reading, playing and working on guitars, photography, cooking, painting every once in a while. He loves learning new things a lot. Whether it's a subject, new skill, or hobby, he just wants to experience more. Mr. Park’s inspiration is a sense that nothing really matters so, he may as well live his life, while accepting that nothing matters. What he loves most about himself is his creativity and passion. One thing he would change about himself is to be more organized as well as being dedicated because he often moves into different things without finishing so he feels as if his rate of improvement slows down.

He became the person he is today because of his anthropology class, which really shaped him as a person. “When you learn so much about how humans and society start and change, it gives such a perspective on the now. I learned about the commonalities of humans and really tried to understand the relative nature of humanity; and when you see that, it just makes you think about what is important and why,” he said. Mr. Park’s biggest goal this year is to find contentment in his life in whatever form it takes.

ANDREW TATE VS. RESEDA HS

Story by Yamille Guzman, Jose Cruz, and Alaya Bell

According to the media and the news source Insider, Andrew Tate is misogynistic and creates some violent comments about women. Andrew Tate is an internet and social media star that has blown up by surprise in the last month or so. The reason why he got so popular is the reason for the controversy for too many women around the world. Andrew Tate is a man that is spreading absurd truths about women to young adults, but to many men, Andrew Tate is an inspirational man who helps bring back the masculinity of the past. In multiple media sources, there is evidence of Andrew Tate hitting women, but those accusing him forget to add the part where multiple women who are seen in Andrew Tate’s video confess saying that it was a consensual act. Yet there are many conspiracy theorists thinking that he forced the women to confess on camera or they would receive a worse punishment. These are the unsolved mysteries about Andrew Tate. Is he really a controversial misogynistic man, or is he really speaking the truth helping bring back the masculinity that was in the past helping young men in their relationships? Keep reading and you may figure out why people think he is good and why he is bad according to students at Reseda High.

THE PROS

According to Ryan Paymani, Andrew Tate absolutely deserves a platform. These are his reasons: "So first of all, he has misogynistic tendencies, but it's a...50/50. You can either take it as he is funny as hell and is speaking facts or he's just a misogynistic piece of...and that he hates women. If you take it in the first way, half [of] what he says doesn't make any sense, but when he gets into that moment, he is speaking absolute facts about how women are mistreating men all over the world and how everything has changed over the years. It used to be that men were superior. Now it's women thinking that they can run over men, and it doesn't have any impact on the world, but it really does." Another question The Regent Roar asked him was if Andrew Tate is a good influence. "No, not for the younger generation, but for the older generation, yes." He also thinks that is his true persona.

THE CONS

Selina Fabianova thinks that Andrew Tate does not deserve a platform. When asked, this was her opinion: "Too much fraud, [he is] too cocky... Also, on some occasions, he is a good influence." She also thinks he puts on a fake persona when his gives his opinions. "It is absolutely fake... He thinks because he has money he can change himself and make himself better."

IN CONCLUSION

These are the reasons why the presence of Andrew Tate is one of the most controversial subjects on the internet. In the polls The Regent Roar created, most females were against Andrew Tate, and most males were for Andrew Tate. At the end of the day, everyone will have their own opinion, and they may create an influence on people around them, but many stick to their original viewpoint. Life is a never-ending cycle of controversy. Before anyone embarks on their journey researching him, remember your morals, your values, and how you grew up when watching his content. Be wary of his influence and the negative effect it could bring to you or your life.

Reseda Class of 2022 Faces One Ending and a New Beginning

Published June 3, 2022

Story and Photos by Giselle Benitez

Reseda’s seniors are entering their final days of high school with graduation on June 9 only a few days away.

The Regent Roar asked seven seniors “How do you feel about graduating and what is to come after?”

Graduation is a bittersweet moment that celebrates four years of hard work at Reseda as students cross the bridge from childhood to adulthood. Congrats to the class of 2022!

Seniors share their thoughts on graduation from Reseda Charter High School

Published June 2, 2022

Story and Photos by David Perez

All graduating seniors have gone through 13 years of hard work throughout their lives, and now graduation is right around the corner on June 9.

The Regent Roar asked seniors, “What are your thoughts knowing you’re about to graduate?”

The class of 2022 has put in all their effort just to reach this moment in their lives, and they are all looking forward to getting their diplomas on June 9. The Regent Roar wishes these seniors best – they deserve it!

Mr. Hwami is the math hero of Reseda

Published May 27, 2022

Story by Carlos Lopez

Mr. Tamuka Hwami is a mathematician who pushes the boundaries and limits of math and physics, while students consider him a hero for the countless times he’s saved them from failing tests.

Hwami used to teach at a school in downtown LA for nine years and tutored math and physics at a college, which gave him the idea to pursue a career in mathematics. Hwami has been teaching math for 14 years, and students at Reseda are lucky to have him.

“Reseda was my choice because Mrs. Cagle reached out to me and told me that it would be a perfect fit for me,” Hwami said. “I took her word, and I have been in love with the school ever since.”

Now, instead of tutoring, Hwami teaches pre-calculus, calculus, AP Calculus and physics. Besides math as an obvious favorite subject, he enjoys history because he loves learning about past events and likes to see the changes in the world.

Before deciding to teach, Mr. Hwami already decided on what he wanted to major in.

“I settled with mathematics and physics because I’ve been told I was an expert with dealing with numbers and it brought me the most enjoyment out of other subjects,” he said.

He also mentioned that finding math teachers is difficult for schools, so his ability of teaching his subject gave him more options to teach.

One mathematician that inspires Hwami is Sir Issac Newton, who invented the laws of motion in physics and calculus. These two subjects intrigue Hwami because they teach why some things happen in the world.

During the pandemic, online learning had a massive impact in his teaching because math requires a lot of communication. Teaching over Zoom made it hard to pin down student errors and help them.

Hwami mentions that “getting to know the students is a big part of teaching.”

Hwami strongly believes that everyone can and should learn math. He says that “Being good with numbers gives you a lot of opportunities for jobs and it's an amazing skill to have in life.”

Hwami understands that it can be very difficult to learn math, but students just need the right steps to start. His classroom door (Room S4) is always open to anyone who needs help or needs a math hero.

reseda high introduces new film class

Published March 23, 2022

Story by Esmeralda Sanchez

Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Park both teach Reseda’s new film class as an elective.

The new class provides students who are passionate about making movies or other aspects of video production with new opportunities. The class also serves as a stepping stone in experience for those curious about film.

Sanchez describes the class as a "timeline and understanding of how the movie industry works."

"It'll focus mostly on the history of movie making from the first still film, still pictures and then eventually moving into motion picture," Sanchez explained.

Mr. Park said that students should expect the class to be about "watching movies, going into listening to interviews from the directors and, really, just trying to see what goes into making films."

Students will also explore career pathways of different film crew members such as directors, editors and costume designers, which are all important people that help create these movies.

Students will not be making films but will instead learn more about the processes of making movies.

Assignments are not long, take only a couple minutes to complete and are actually fun.

"Even Kahoot is an assignment in this class. The Kahoot will relate to a video that they watch through YouTube, it is used as a reflection," Sanchez explained.

Intro to Film pairs students of all experience levels and backgrounds with teachers who are willing to guide their students in the journey of learning about film. The new film class will surely be a hit.

Coach Samantha Lopez shares expectations of soccer student-athletes and her inspiration to coach

Published March 21, 2022

Story by Flor Torres

Girls soccer Coach Samantha Lopez’s message to students and athletes? “Give me your best on and off the field.”

At just 23 years old, Lopez is the girls soccer coach and a physical education teacher for Middle School and High School. This is Lopez’s first year teaching at Reseda Charter High School.

Lopez’s biggest inspiration to become a P.E. teacher is how exercise benefitted her academically and physically.

“I wanted to give that back to others,” said Lopez.

She played soccer when she was young, but great coaches made the sport even more enjoyable. “I respected and looked up to my coaches. They made it look so easy,” she said.

Coach Lopez comes from a sports fanatic environment. Being outdoors and talking about sports became common for her. Lopez noted that she is thankful for her parents, who put her in sports, where she “grew a passion for physical activities.”

She has a younger brother that also plays sports, which allowed her to learn more about different sports.

Coach Lopez stated, “I believe being involved in sports teaches many life lessons determination, preparation, hard work and community building skills.”

Lopez has high expectations of her team and her students.

“What I expect from my students is for them to give me their best,” she said. “They all have big potential to do well in what they put their mind to, and if they do their best in classes and sports, it will show.”

Ms. Collosi sparks curiosity in students through the science of life

Published March 21, 2022

Story by Aida Baltayan

After graduating high school at 16, Ms. Collosi’s curiosity about the world around her led her to Reseda Charter High School. Biology teacher Ms. Collosi shared her teaching journey and what she's learned over the years as an educator with the Regent Roar.

Her journey in education started in 2014, when she taught a variety of classes at CSUN, including “a biology class for elementary school teachers to go on to be teachers of young children and conservation biology.”

Being an educator can be challenging, especially now as we continue to emerge out of COVID; so what has encouraged her to continue teaching?

This is Collosi’s third year at Reseda High and in public school, but her original intent wasn’t to become a teacher until she was already teaching. Conducting a class at CSUN about cell division was her deciding factor.

In her CSUN class, there was a student who seemed uninterested in the class and more focused on starting a family. She explained to the student that “errors in cell divisions can lead to chromosomal abnormalities or infertility.”

Collosi saw a spark of understanding and has “been chasing for that feeling ever since.”

That's currently one of her challenges: students not caring about the incredible world around them.

“It’s hard to teach curiosity,” says Collosi.

There are countless amounts of amazing organisms and ecosystems to discover. Collosi gives a tide pool as an example: “it's such a beautiful interplay between the ocean where all life originated and the land where humans have since taken over.”

A biology teacher's “job relies on students being curious about the world,” she says.

Biology is such a versatile subject to learn about. The science of life begs the question why are not only humans, but all organisms, in this world so similar yet so different?

There are many lessons to learn in life and in biology class. Collosi’s lesson? “The world is a beautiful complex place and biology is a science where almost all of the rules get broken at some point or another and there's a beauty in that complexity and sometimes we just have to be willing to accept the messiness; there's a spark there that's really powerful.”

It must be difficult to teach students who initially have no interest in what is being taught, though Collosi aims to change that. After having to remind students to keep their long hair out of pig intestines, what’s driving her to keep teaching?

According to Collosi, “capturing that look of sudden understanding and wonder, where something somebody had been struggling with suddenly makes sense and then following that the curiosity and excitement of seeing somebody understand and now wonder about the world around them.”

ResedA Regents Dance: Member Brenda Garcia recalls how the team came back victorious

Published March 21, 2022

Story by Rebecca Ponce

Reseda Charter High School’s Dance Team came back to school on Monday, March 7 as winners after their first competition.

The Regent’s Dance Team had their first series of wins at the yearly World Class Championship’s competition on March 5. The girls came out victorious in the categories of hip-hop, lyrical and small group hip-hop.

On the day of competition, the team was up since 5 a.m. to make sure everyone was ready to go.

Dance team member Brenda Garcia explained what it was like for the team and herself on this tightly-packed day as well as how they prepared for the competition weeks prior.

“We would prepare by doing daily meetups, practice for 4 hours a day, and rehearse.” she said.

Learning dances takes patience and time, though working under pressure is normal, especially when performing in front of a large audience.

“At first, I felt very nervous, but, during the dance, I felt very confident,” said Garcia of her experience. “I did work under pressure, but I reassured myself that I could do it, and in the end it will all be worth it.”

All the hard work paid off, and, according to Garcia, “It feels amazing to come back as champions.”

Melissa Morales shares the challenges and skills, improving her communication skills and earning money

Published March 21, 2022

Story and Photos by Lauren Carpio

Working can be a stressful thing, especially for those who work and are full time students. Somehow, though, they manage to push through all the obstacles and take advantage of the benefits they have.

It is hard for students to find the time to balance both work and school, but not impossible. Student workers are eager to provide for themselves, develop more as people and take in all of the advantages they have while being student workers. It all depends on how they manage their time.

One student, Melissa Morales, shares her experience as a student worker and how she’s used it to her favor despite the challenges.

Morales is a senior who works as a hostess at the Cheesecake Factory in Sherman Oaks. She is the main host at her job, so her daily responsibilities include guiding guests to their seats as well as front desk work.

She has been working there for a year now and works four days a week — Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday — for roughly 20 hours total.

To Morales, the most stressful thing about her job is having to deal with a handful of “uncooperative Karen-like guests.”

For Morales, it was even worse during the COVID mandate where she “had to check their vaccine cards and ask them politely to put on their mask.”

When asked if she would quit her job and work elsewhere, Morales eagerly exclaimed, “Yes! I hate working in customer service. Anything but customer service!”

Morales tries to the best of her ability to not let work interfere with her school life. Of her schedule, she said, “I recently changed it to Sunday mornings only because it affects my sleep schedule, and I need to wake up early for school.”

It is definitely a challenge for Morales to work, go to school and, on top of that, deal with her home-life responsibilities. She is an AMEM student, so finding the time to film something, especially when they have to take unknown factors into consideration, is even more stressful for her while also working. However, she has pushed through these challenges and learned to see the bright side of working.

Although Morales hates dealing with rude guests, she is glad that she gets to communicate with others as she used to be a very shy person. She had “huge social anxiety” and didn’t like having to talk to strangers. Before, she would avoid going up to workers to even tell them they got her order wrong.

Her job, however, has helped her step out of her comfort zone. She believes that her communication skills have improved ever since she started working and having to talk to different people everyday.

Another benefit Morales sees that comes from working is, obviously, her paycheck. She enjoys having the money to buy herself the things she wants such as k-pop albums and concert tickets.

Morales is also saving up for something big: “I’m planning on going to Cal State LA and majoring in photography, so I’m trying to save up for the tuition.”

Working and being a student is not an easy combination for most and definitely comes with its challenges. However, for Morales, it does come with its rewards, like learning time management skills, improving her communication skills and earning money.

Book Club inspires more students to read

Published March 21, 2022

Story and Photos by Malka Miller

Here at Reseda, there is a book club led by Mrs. Prosin, the school librarian. They discuss books they are currently reading or choose a book that they want to read as a group. Students in the club also do fun activities that have to do with the book. The purpose of the book club is to get more students to read and to enjoy reading.

“What we do is we read the book, and we sit down and talk about it,” said member Rossy Menendez.

Why is reading books so valuable? Here’s why.

“Many studies show that reading for pleasure helps kids and adults. It helps students with reading comprehension and fluency, vocabulary development, and writing techniques,” said Mrs. Prosin, the Book Club adviser. Plus, it teaches empathy, helps people learn and explore relationships, and improves mental health. It is one of the healthiest habits a person can practice. Plus, it is fun and all about personal choice.”

Book Club is not just about reading. It is about engaging with others and reading with each other.

“I hope Book Club exposes students to genres and books they might not normally read. I hope it gives students a place to meet other readers. I hope they offer students a place to feel safe and valued, and I hope students make some new friends,” Prosin said.

Book Club is a place where students can have fun and read but also feel safe and valued. Students who are interested in Book Club should stop by the library at lunch on Wednesdays.

Reseda football players receive college offers

Published March 15, 2022

Story by David Perez

Two hard workers have opportunities in front of them and are a few steps closer to successful football careers.

Many Reseda Seniors have applied to colleges and universities, and, starting in January, Reseda’s seniors started getting their responses. Many Reseda seniors are hoping to get into dream schools, but most hope just to get the opportunity to go to a great school and get a solid education. They want to have the chance to say they accomplished what they wanted to do.

Two Reseda seniors have received the opportunity to play football for amazing schools. These seniors played very important roles in Reseda football, performed their best and caught schools' eyes. Now it’s time to play those important roles for a university and show them how much more they have in them.

During this college acceptance season, they are hoping for the best in their futures and what is to come as well as hoping to make their parents proud.

Jason Wagner, running back of Reseda’s football team, and Zion Johnson, safety, were honored to get accepted into Lakeland University, a beautiful school in Sheboygan, WI.

Wagner has also received offers to Graceland University and Ohio Wesleyan University. Johnson got offers from Norwich University, Tabor University and Chapman University.

These seniors are very hard-working, and many schools are jumping at the opportunity of having two potential future NFL players come play for them first.

Wagner and Johnson have these impressive schools in mind, but they hope to wait and see if their dream school accepts them and gives them another amazing opportunity.

Both expect to face many challenges, but they hope to be able to face these challenges, get the best out of their experience and get a sense of being independent.

Wagner said, “I expect to face the challenge of adapting to a new environment such as the new place I'm living if I go out of state and the challenges of adapting to the classroom/class schedule environment.” Wagner is prepared for what is to come and achieves his goals no matter what gets in his way.

On the other hand, Johnson is prepared to face certain challenges and be ready to overcome them as well.

Johnson said that the challenges he plans to face are “staying motivated and completing classes.”

Wagner and Johnson are both patient and hope to get accepted to additional universities. At the moment, Wagner is still undecided, but Johnson has his hopes set on UCLA.

Both seniors deserve these opportunities as they both have worked hard for and put all their effort into their futures. These two Regents have big goals for the future, and this could be the first step in reaching them.

Action!: Gavin Lee discusses his experience with filmmaking

Published March 3, 2022

Story and Photo by Lauren Carpio

Reseda Charter High School has its very own aspiring director in the making: Gavin Lee.

When Lee first got a hold of his dad’s camera in middle school, he instantly became interested in filmmaking. He is currently a senior in high school and has continued to be passionate about it ever since. Students won’t ever see him walking around school without his camera on hand; he carries it with him everywhere he goes and calls it his “baby.”

Lee takes pleasure in all things camera. Whether it’s filmmaking or photography, he is fond of it. He plans on majoring in film after high school and is set on becoming a director.

“I see it as a very possible career. I cannot see myself working in any other jobs besides behind a camera,” he declared.

Lee is very spontaneous about his films. He is fascinated with the idea of exploring different topics and doesn’t wish to be tied down by only filming one specific thing every time. However, there is one topic that he is slightly more drawn to.

“I think one topic that I always come back to is the idea of what it means to love or be loved, whether that be people loving people, loving family, you know, loving the work that you do. That’s one topic that I always come back to,” Lee said.

Baggage and stress come with directing, but Lee finds a way to push through. His favorite thing about film-making is when it is close to finishing.

“There is like a moment where you remember why, why you started the project in the first place, why it is so important to you,” he highlights.

There are a lot of ups and downs that come with film-making, and it’s not easy. Even with all the obstacles and downsides, however, Lee is able to push through each time. He enjoys what he does and the end of each project will always remind him of why film is so important to him to begin with.

Follow Gavin on instagram at @ohheymynameisgavinandimakefilm to see his growth as a film-maker as well as his photography skills.

The Regent Roar profiles chemistry teacher Mr. Kim

Published March 2, 2022

Story by Nicolas Lugo

Mr. Kim sat down with the Regent Roar to discuss the challenges of teaching chemistry and what he loves about Reseda.

Mr. Titus Kim is one teacher in the Reseda High School faculty; he teaches chemistry. His students describe him as a cheerful, attentive and polite person who makes his students feel excited when they are in chemistry class.

He feels comfortable at Reseda because he feels students’ voices are heard.

“I especially appreciate how our school has been genuinely seeking out the input of our students,” he explained.

For Kim, parts of teaching chemistry are challenging.

“One challenge of teaching chemistry is trying to capture how interesting and fun life can be if we look at the world and our lives through the lens of chemistry,” he said. He compares how fun and complicated a subject as important as chemistry can be.

However, if Kim had not been a teacher, his life would have taken another course.

“If I didn’t become a chemistry teacher, I would have most likely pursued my interest in sociology and would have liked to learn and research more about diaspora communities,” he said.

To conclude, Kim knows how difficult it is to teach chemistry; however, he claims he can capture the attention of the students and make it an interesting and fun class.

Students learn to knit creatively with Ms. Cagle

Published February 24, 2022

Story by Genesis Lopez

People have many varieties of interests, and many have considered exploring new ones — some which they had no idea they were into until they decided to try. These activities allow students to be creative, use their imagination and maybe even relieve stress.

Reseda math teacher and Knitting Club sponsor Ms. Cagle began knitting as a child after seeing her grandmother and mother knitting together, which sparked her curiosity in learning more. Her mother later taught her at the age of 9.

Knitting is a fantastic hobby in which people can spend their spare time. It has numerous benefits and allows knitters to develop skills such as patience and hand-eye coordination, which connects what someone is looking at and doing with their hands.

Cagle mentioned that “It's a valuable ability to have, as it allows us to take advantage of having some extra money. Believe it or not, people create and sell their designs on Etsy.”

Cagle also said that “Knitting is just as good for you in terms of reducing stress and making you feel calm” and believes that “We rarely feel the moment of anything done by ourselves because we are too attached to our mobile devices.”

Her journey teaching knitting began while she was teaching at a university, where she had a project involving knitting with middle schoolers “to get them better with mathematics.”

Her club later began at Reseda High when she was knitting a present for her dear friend before the holidays. Her student spotted her and expressed an interest in learning knitting. Ms. Cagle happily agreed to teach her, saying ”it led to my student bringing other friends over .”

According to Ms. Cagle, knitting is an ancient technique that has been practiced for centuries. It was originally used to make fishing nets and metal strands by men.

The lesson of the day is: When it comes to a new hobby, jump in and start. What’s the worst thing that could happen? Everyone can learn, and everyone might make mistakes, but there is always a solution that can be found.

“This club is informal at the moment,” Ms. Cagle says, but if students are interested in learning to knit with Ms. Cagle in Room S4, she is more than willing to teach those who want to learn.

According to Ms. Cagle, “Everyone is welcome.”

Mr. Lee joins Reseda High School faculty as new counselor

Published February 22, 2022

Story and Photos by Flor Torres

A new counselor, assigned students in the 9th-12th grades in the Science Magnet, Phoenix Academy and Alternative Curriculum, has arrived at Reseda High School.

Mr. Daniel Lee was first a health teacher for 5 years at Los Angeles High School and has been a counselor for 18 years. He was working at Kennedy High School previously and is now the newest counselor at Reseda High School.

Other than working Lee shares his love for LA teams; his favorite teams are the Lakers, Dodgers and Rams.

“I love LA,” Lee noted. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley.

Lee is excited to be at a new school around new people. “I am very happy and excited to be here at a new school with new students and staff,” he said.

Lee shares his hopes for the student body: that “students have a desire to work hard in High School so they can be college and career ready.” With Lee’s help, students can graduate from high school and go to college or start a career after leaving Reseda.

Lee is ready to encourage students to keep trying their best in high school and to prepare them for their future.

Pilar Fisher: Reseda High School’s musical prodigy speaks on her work

Published February 17, 2022

Story by Esmeralda Sanchez

At 16 years old, Reseda junior Pilar Fisher, also known as Athena, plays the piano, sings and produces music. In her free time she enjoys skating. Fisher has also started her own clothing line, Trippy_Kitty.co.

She started her journey in May of 2021. Fisher has been singing since she was an infant, and music is her coping mechanism. She produces neo soul, R&B and lofi pop music, some of her works being “Eyes.Mp3” and “Nuke (Feat. Nk music).”

Her first release was on Nov. 24, 2021 with “Eyes.Mp3”. Some of her inspirations are The Weeknd’s album “Trilogy,” XXXtentacion, Rihanna and Deftones. She hopes to make a career out of music and sees herself on stage.

“I think music’s a dope thing, and everyone should be able to chill out with it,” Fisher said.

“Some people like to go out and skate, some people like to hang out with friends, just making music and singing always made me feel really good,” she added.

She has collabed with a couple of her friends to make music. Former Reseda junior Izaiah Farmer made a beat for Fisher that she used in her song titled “I added rain sounds lol.” Fisher also collaborated with Ventura musician TurgeySanwij on the song “Stockholm.”

“Music is just tight, and I hope people get to hear my music,” Fisher said. For future projects, she would like to produce dark R&B and Air Pop.

Fisher uses the app “DistroKid” to distribute her music to other apps like Soundcloud and Spotify as Athen. Those interested can also find her as @_la.vie.en.rose_._ and @athen._._ on Instagram, where she posts about her music and her upcoming projects.

Enterprising student Yesenia Morales creates treat making business of her own

Published February 17, 2022

Story by Flor Rivas

A student with her own business makes cookies, cakes and many other treats.

Yesenia Morales is 17 years old and likes to bake and make sweet treats. Morales learned to bake at the age of 9 years old by watching her sister bake cakes and observing her steps, and she announced and created her official business in March of 2020.

Morales stated, “My sister would bake cakes once in a while, but I would crave them, so I taught myself. I learned by mistakes and YouTube.”

When Morales was in 8th grade, she used to make strawberries covered with chocolate for her friends. Morales started selling her treats at Reseda Charter High School when she was a freshman in 2020.

Morales' inspiration to make a business out of her talent is her family. She likes to work hard and help her family. “My family are hardworking and humble. My sister would encourage me to sell at school to experience salesman,” Morales noted.

She gained visual knowledge on baking TV shows and social media. The majority of the time, Morales receives help from her sister Guadalupe.

Morales enjoys making treats. Morales said, “My business helps me to meet new people and it gives me an opportunity to show my talent.”

When Morales started her business, it was a side hustle, but once she met more people, she began to think of growing and expanding her business.

Morales uses platforms such as TikTok and Facebook but mostly Instagram. Follow her at @yesisweetempire to watch her business grow and grab a sweet treat!

Izaiah Farmer is a 17-year-old aspiring artist of many talents

Published February 11, 2022

Story by Vanessa Zelaya-Jimenez

Izaiah is a 17-year-old talented musician and Reseda High School student who wishes to pursue his passion for creating music. Through hard work, time and dedication, he is working his way up to get where he wants to be.

Izaiah can play the piano, guitar, drums, bass and saxophone. In only a time span of three years, he learned to play all five instruments. In addition to these, he wants to learn how to play the trumpet. Farmer’s main genres of music are lofi and indie. He can make beats by sampling every instrument he plays.

With over 1,000 followers on Instagram and more than 10,000 plays on SoundCloud, he has released eight songs and collaborations with different upcoming artists.

Farmers’ main inspiration for making music are artists like Clairo, Steve Lacey, D’angelo and Prince. He started making music in fifth grade, and sees himself “definitely” continuing to do so in the future because “it's really fun” and makes him happy.

To support up and coming artists like Izaiah, students can listen to his music on Soundcloud and follow his other socials. He's very passionate about making music and, he releases his music on socials and platforms such as Soundcloud as @izaiah ZayZay, @Zay, Instagram as @izaiah.zayzay, Tik Tok as @izaiahzayzay and Youtube as Izaiah ZayZaY.

Diego Saucedo, a hard-working junior, finds a way to balance school, home and his work

Published February 9, 2022

Story and Photos by Roya Farahani

The obstacles student workers face are no joke. Student workers are individuals that are taking on multiple tasks at the same time, such as school, something that takes about 8 hours of their day; home life and a job. Being up late doing homework to keep grades up and working hard to get a paycheck is not an easy job for anyone.

For some, balancing school and home life is already hard. But for others, it’s just not enough of a challenge, and they crave more to push their limits and get a feel for the responsibilities of adulthood.

Diego Saucedo is one of these hard-working individuals that likes a challenge.

“I work at Taco Bell on Reseda and Vanowen,” Saucedo shared. He was hired not too long ago and is working around “4-5 days a week, school days, 3.5 hours and non-school days, about 8 hours.”

When asked how he handles work, school and his home life, he responded with, “It’s hard to balance it all, considering I get home around 11ish, but if I don’t get my work done during the time I get off, I do it the following day. It’s hard to stay balanced, but you just have to stay dedicated.”

He wanted a job so that he could support himself “and not have to beg for money without actually earning it.”

It might shock some considering that this is Saucedo’s first paying job, as he says “I worked with my mom before, like helped her out, but that was like once in a while. But, as in actually committed and getting paid, this is my first job.”

Hearing about someone so dedicated hopefully inspires others to go out and try to look for a source of income, get a glimpse of growing up and become more independent.

Swim team trains and builds endurance for their upcoming season

Published February 9, 2022

Story and Photos by Mallory Blake

On Feb. 1, Reseda students got back in the pool after not being able to finish their 2020 swim season.

Swim practice is held Tuesday-Friday at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks (VNSO) Pool from 6-7 a.m. Students wait at school by the flagpole at 5:40 in the morning to be ready for the bus ride to the pool, and they leave at 5:45 sharp in order to get to the pool when it first opens.

During the first week of practice, swimmers try to build endurance by swimming multiple stretches of 50 meters while using different techniques. Many swimmers haven’t trained competitively since pre-COVID, if at all.

Penelope Serefas, a senior who was previously on the swim team during her sophomore year, said, “It was definitely difficult to get back in the water, but what made it easier for me was running a few miles everyday, rock climbing and doing at home workouts during lockdown.”

Swimming is a great sport to keep athletes in shape in their offseason, if they participate in fall or winter sports. The training is intense, as the swim team’s first meet is in six weeks. Results will be seen fast, and improvements will be made under the direction of the coach, even if someone doesn’t know a whole lot about swimming.

Yamille Guzman, a freshman said, “The team and coaches are so friendly. They give constructive criticism. I was struggling a lot with my strokes, but they are helping me improve it.”

After practice is over, all the swimmers go to the locker room to shower, get dressed and go directly to school. There are many challenges faced in what happens after swim practice, as students are in programs where uniforms are required to be worn to school on certain days.

Swimming can lead to job opportunities for students that pay well, whether full-time or part-time, such as lifeguarding. Even the greatest swimmer in the world still needs a lifeguard to be there, just in case something goes wrong during training.

Coach Fowler gave her advice to those that want to start swimming competitively but don’t know where to start: “Swim is like anything that you try for the first time. There's going to be challenges. It’s going to be hard, it's going to be uncomfortable, but the more that you practice and the more that you show up for yourself, the better that you'll become. Don't be afraid to try something new because you are trying to avoid those uncomfortable feelings, those feelings happen to everyone.”

Reseda High School swim team members practice at VNSO Pool the morning of Feb. 4.

Ms. Julia Hanson discusses why she became a teacher and what she loves about it

Published December 13, 2021

Story by Nicholas Lugo

Ms. Hanson told The Regent Roar what it’s like to be an Algebra teacher and what inspires her every day.

Ms. Julia Hanson is part of the Reseda Charter High School faculty and is one of the algebra and geometry teachers. Her unique and engaging manner is never boring and makes students excited to go to math class.

For Hanson, the idea to become a teacher came to her at a young age.

“I started thinking about teaching when I was in college, when I was eighteen or nineteen years old,” Hanson declared. She has been commenting since she was in College star with the idea to become a teacher, besides, she strat teaching at twenty years old.

About what inspires her to become a teacher, she exclaimed: “The students! My students are amazing.” She doesn't hesitate about who or what inspires her. She also says she loves seeing kids learn.

For Hanson, teaching math is not difficult at all.

“I chose to be a math teacher because I’m good at math and I’m good at teaching,” she told The Regent Roar. She expresses that she was always good at ​​algebra in addition to being very good at explaining math to others.

To conclude, Ms. Julia Hanson loves teaching and also loves witnessing her students learn new things day after day in each of her classes.

Student artist works hard on making herself happy through makeup

Published November 18, 2021

Story by Flor Rivas

No one is born with a talent for makeup, as this talent takes practice and a lot of time to perfect. Sandra Perez is one such student with an eye for makeup.

Perez is a beginner makeup artist that is brave enough to learn new things. She is a 17-year-old Reseda Charter High School student that loves to do makeup on herself despite knowing that it can sometimes be challenging.

Doing makeup isn’t easy, but anyone can learn if they aren't afraid of challenging themselves. Perez demonstrates how proud she feels to make other people feel cute and happy.

Perez was 15 years old when she first developed an interest in makeup, and that’s when she decided to practice and learn more about it.

Perez explains, “Every time I do my makeup, it makes me feel cute.”

Doing makeup on herself seems easy for her when watching her. However, she finds it difficult to do it on another person, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

Perez feels that if she practices enough, she will be able to turn this talent into a career. She doesn’t yet have a social media to share her talent with the world.

“It’s not something that I want to do at this moment, but I’m planning to make one,” Perez concludes.

Having favorite things is really difficult because there are always different things that one might like.

“My favorite part of doing my makeup is doing eyeshadow because you can play with colors,” Perez notes.

Makeup is tough when it comes to mixing and playing with colors, but with the right blending, miracles can happen.

Anyone can learn new things if they really want to, not if they just say so. Trying a new skill like makeup takes courage and patience to practice because it isn’t easy. With time and effort, one can learn a lot of new things.

“I understand you — it’s not easy, but trust me. Don’t give up. Just keep practicing,” Perez empathizes. “Keep it up and try new things.”

Do the same as Perez. If a hobby can inspire happiness, try it. Fear shouldn’t stop anyone from learning new things that can be part of one’s life.

Band and Colorguard: Reseda’s Drum Major and Colorguard Captain sit down with The Regent Roar for a Q & A

Published November 18, 2021

Story by Ada Garnica

Band and colorguard are so much fun, but what's even more fascinating is the hard work that goes into their talent and routines. Color Guard Captain Sofia Sharifie and Band Drum Major Ishaan Gupta work hard to make everything perfect and make everything look and sound amazing.

Color Guard Captain: Sofia Sharifie

Q: What made you want to do color guard?

A: In freshman year, I had no clue what color guard was. I didn't even know they had color guard in Reseda. But I went to my first football game, and I saw them perform their halftime show. I thought that was really cool and I didn't really think I would join it. I saw that they were advertising for winter guard and to join, and one of the captains came up to me, and she introduced herself, and she explained what colorguard was. And so I decided to join, and ever since then, I really enjoyed being in color guard. I don't regret joining at all.

Q: How long have you been in color guard?

A: I've been in color guard since freshman year. I started in spring season, so it's been a good two years.

Q: Would you consider doing color guard after high school?

A: Yes, actually. I've been thinking about doing guard after high school, so maybe I can join an independent team and a team that may be near my area. I think it would be really fun, and I wouldn't want to stop doing color guard after high school.

Q: How long does it take to come up with a routine?

A: It does take a little bit of time. I take a moment to think of things that would look fun and cool to do and it would take a good one rehearsal to make up a whole routine for probably just a couple minutes of a song. It is easy but it can be hard to make a routine.

Q: What inspires you when making a routine?

A: The music. If I'm really feeling the music, I like to put a lot of emotion, and I like to be extra, alot of flow and depending on how the music makes me feel.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: I think being in color guard is an amazing experience, and I think if you’re not good at it, or even if you think you are bad at it, it's something that helps define you because it can bring out a different person in you. Once you learn how to be a good performer, your confidence goes up, and that's a really big thing that I took from being in colorguard. And that's why it's really important to me now.

Drum Major: Ishaan Gupta

Q: How long have you been in band?

A: This will be my fourth year in marching band, and I have been in concert band for eight years now.

Q: What made you want to be in band?

A: The middle school I went to had a traveling jazz band that would come to elementary schools, and I heard them three or four times, and once they came to my elementary school. So I thought joining band would be fun.

Q: What instrument do you play, and was it hard to learn?

A: I play the flute, and the flute was not terribly difficult to learn. I just put a lot of practice into it early on, and I got really good and I took private lessons. Trumpets are a little more difficult because I've been learning it on my own but I’m working on it.

Q: Would you consider doing band or playing an instrument as a career?

A: I don't think I would. I think bands are a lot more fun when I don't have to stress about it.

Q: Do you get nervous when playing in front of a crowd?

A: I do get nervous when playing in front of a crowd, but you get used to it.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: Join band!

Join band or color guard because — with the amazing people and coaches — it could be an experience that students will never forget.

Elina Adenyayeva: Reseda’s Cheer Captain discusses challenges and day-to-day life of a varsity cheer captain

Published November 12, 2021

Story and Photo by Sivan Bendor

There are already challenges with being a cheer captain, but what other challenges are there when Covid is a factor?

Elina Adenyayeva is the cheer captain for the varsity team and is open about the challenges and the responsibilities that come with being cheer captain.

Adenyayeva first joined the cheer team in her second semester of sophomore year. She enjoyed cheer in her old school, and it was the reason she chose to join cheer here at Reseda Charter High School.

In the interview, Adenyayeva discusses the responsibilities of being cheer captain and what jobs she has to do.

She explains, “We teach a lot of cheers and little things like motions and jumps and things like that”.

Although this role is difficult with the amount of responsibilities she has, Adenyayeva says that she enjoys being captain because she has made some close bonds with her coaches and her teammates. She likes this aspect of cheer because the other cheerleaders not only see her as a captain, but also see her as a friend they can come to in and out of cheer practices.

Adenyayeva discloses what a normal day is like for her as captain: “me and Natalie, the other cheer captain, change for practice and at 4 we start to lead stretches to the other cheerleaders.” Adenyayeva adds, “This will get them ready for the practice that we have planned for them.”

To add, Adenyayeva states that their practices vary from different stunts or cheers to routines for pep rallies.

Later in her interview, Adenyayeva confides in The Regent Roar about the difficulties with cheer last year and what it was like with the Covid pandemic. During competitive cheer season last year, the team wouldn’t perform live but instead would record videos and send it to be reviewed.

Coming from this place and getting back into in-person cheer this year was a struggle the team needed to adapt to since they now have to perform live in front of an audience and in front of people in the stands during games.

Adenyayeva recommends others to join cheer as it is a great way to build bonds with other people — especially if you are new to the school and want to make new friends. It’s also a great way to get in shape as they do routines and dances that make for great exercise.

Although cheer is fun to be in and you can make a lot of friends, Adenyayeva says, “with all the challenges that come with being cheer captain and having to lead the other cheerleaders, I have enjoyed every second of it and don’t regret being in cheer.”

Adenyayeva concludes, “cheer requires a lot of hard work, perseverance, determination, and dedication. It won’t be an easy job to be on the cheer team, but being a part of something like this is something you don’t want to miss out on”.

Master Moon sets example for NJROTC students through Taekwondo

Published November 12, 2021

Story by Jorge Perez

Not all parents want their children to fight and hurt themselves. But is Taekwondo more than this?

Master Moon is a taekwondo master who has spent almost 30 years of his life teaching Taekwondo to set an example for the community and show what Taekwondo means.

“Taekwondo is a Korean martial art form,” Master Moon relates and adds that the sport is about “honor, integrity, character, achieving excellence.”

Master Moon says that students can start learning Taekwondo as early as four years old. However, people usually hurt themselves when they practice Taekwondo. Taekwondo requires bravery and enthusiasm.

“The students usually break bones every time they are testing different techniques such as front kicks, back kicks and punches in the face,'' Master Moon explains.

Students must also pass a two-day test given by the Marine Corps. It is not uncommon for students to fail the test multiple times. If they don't pass the test, then they fail the class.

Master Moon comments that the purpose of this test is “to demonstrate proficiency and learn to execute new techniques: blocks and kicks and punches.”

However, if students pass the test given by the Marine Corps, they might be promoted to a yellow belt. According to Master Moon, the yellow belt shows that students make progress every time they test.

Master Moon is a black belt himself, which is required to be a teacher and master of Taekwondo.

For Master Moon, teaching Taekwondo is a work of heart. He summarizes his passion with this statement: “For me, I experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that I can contribute to the community — help develop our young leaders of tomorrow.”

Reseda’s dance team through the eyes of one member: The dance team is a family for Amy Phan

Published November 12, 2021

Story by Sofia Romero

Amy Phan, one member of Reseda’s dance team, tells The Regent Roar about the pressures she faces, what it’s like to be a team member, practicing for upcoming shows and what inspires her to be on the dance team.

Phan told The Regent Roar about what is coming up for the team: next week, they will be learning new choreography and training for a new show.

In the last months as part of the team, Phan has practiced from Monday to Thursday. When there are football events, Phan tries to put other things aside since the dance team is her priority in these moments.

"The dance team is really committed to what they are doing. They have a lot of confidence, and it doesn't matter if you messed it up — you have to keep going. It's not about learning the movements; it's about your confidence,” she explains.

Personally, for Phan, dancing generates confidence, is something that reduces her stress and is where she can express herself through music and choreography.

One of the most demanding things about the dance team for her is the pressure that she feels when learning new choreographies or new movements.

She tells The Regent Roar that she often over-thinks a few days before a performance; the fact that some steps can be forgotten, the possibility that things won’t come out correctly, or stress and nerves are all thoughts that win her over.

She adds: "especially when your teachers see you dance, and you see their disappointed face, that causes a lot of pressure." And she also fears failing her teammates.

However, the team is supportive no matter what.

"I would describe the dance team as a family," Phan expresses.

Despite her fears, she also mentions that the dance will not judge her if she fails.

Phan concludes, "They make you feel very comfortable even if you messed up. They still hype you up and support you. They are really kind and respectful. Even if you don't do it on the first try, they make you feel very comfortable — basically your safe place.

Melida Amaya, soccer player, tells The Regent Roar all about her favorite sport

Published November 10, 2021

Story by Nicolas Lugo

Amaya balances the importance of getting good grades in her classes with having fun in each of her soccer practices

Student Melida Amaya has dedicated all her time to thriving on the RCHS soccer team. As a student, Amaya needs to know how much time she can dedicate to her soccer hobby so that she has enough time to do all her homework. She needs to be responsible and dedicated for her success on the soccer field to be consistent.

She tells The Regent Roar, “I choose soccer because I think it’s a good hobby.” Amaya affirms that soccer is her favorite sport which is a healthy way to spend her free time.

"My motivation for going to all my practices is to see my friends and make the practice more fun," she mentions.

“We practice 3 days a week,” she declares, and the practices are long and tough for most of the players.

Despite the grueling practices and her dedication to the sport, Amaya also manages to excel in her schoolwork.

Amaya needs to know how important it is to keep good grades in high school while she has fun with friends in her favorite sport, soccer.

Sareena Del Campo takes playing violin in class and turns it into a passion

Published November 5, 2021

Story and Photos by Ada Garnica

It seems like not many people play the violin. Nowadays, it's all about guitar, piano, drums and the occasional ukulele. When Sareena Del Campo plays, it looks like it would be impossible, just like any other instrument, but the music that a violin can make is so beautiful. What's more beautiful is the hard work that goes into learning and playing the violin.

“When I was in 6th grade, I took a string class and I chose to play the violin,” Del Campo reminisces about how she learned to play the violin.

When asked how long it took her to learn the violin, Del Campo responds, “It took me a semester, and I was struggling at first, but then I got it.”

Some people that play make it sound so easy and so simple to learn how to play the violin, but then some try and fail.

Del Campo expresses that she likes “the music that the violin makes” and that she “found it the most interesting.”

The violin is an instrument of beauty, and the beauty in the hard work some people put into playing the violin makes it even more fascinating.

Del Campo shares, “I feel happy” when playing the violin, and plays with a big smile on her face with a visual mood change. During her interview, it was noticeable that she was tired after a long day at school, but when she started playing the violin, she looked more at peace.

As advice to others, Del Campo shares, “Learning how the notes work and actually learning the notes will be a big help. Another thing is patience. Patience is really important when learning to play the violin. You will not get it at first because no one does but once you do, it is the most amazing feeling ever.”

Playing and hearing the violin is almost like therapy, so try to learn to play this beautiful instrument. At first it may be difficult, but as Del Campo says, “all it takes is hard work and patience.”

Ms. Ana Caal, one of the kindest teachers at Reseda, shows her tough side as Police Academy instructor

Published November 5, 2021

Story and Photos by Nicolás Lugo

Ms. Ana Caal balances being super sweet while teaching in a strict and disciplined magnet program.

Caal is part of the Reseda Charter High School faculty,teaches Middle School students and, as a major challenge, is also a teacher at the Police Academy. Kindness, understanding and respect are some of the virtues that this great teacher shows her students in each of her classes — they feel welcome and at home.

“I started teaching sixteen years ago,” Caal explains. She tells The Regent Roar that she has gained experience over the years practicing her profession as a teacher, both in middle school and in high school.

“I love being a Police Academy teacher!” Caal proclaims. But despite the experience she has teaching, she expresses, “At first, I was scared.”

Even with the feeling she had on the first day as a teacher at this academy, she has shown that over time, she has managed to handle each of her classes in the best possible way.

However, some people influenced her to become the teacher she is today.

“My students inspire me, my previous teachers and professors,” Caal says about who is her teaching inspiration. Caal clarifies the reasons why she was inspired to dedicate herself to being a teacher and why she is one of the best of the Reseda faculty for the didactic and entertaining way she teaches her classes.

About the future, Caal muses, “My next dream right now is to one day go back to school and get my National Board Certification.”

She feels that with that certificate, she would stand out from the others.

Ms. Caal, one of the sweetest and most excellent teachers of the Reseda faculty, clarifies that one of the greatest achievements of her life is to be a sweet person in the field of aunt, daughter, and, of course, as an exemplary mother who also serves to give others’ children the best education. At Reseda High School, she already stands out from the crowd.

Reseda staff member loves teaching yoga

Published October 27, 2021

Story by Maria Orellana

Ms. Kaufman is an English and P.E. teacher who works hard to teach her students yoga.

Kaufman leads a group of classes and guides students through the secrets of various yoga styles, techniques and philosophy.

Yoga is something that helps students mentally, helps students to be focused in their classes and gives students more energy after having a tiring day. In general, yoga helps to remove any stresses students may have.

Kaufman has been practicing yoga individually for 18 years, which helps her not to be stressed or tired, and has been teaching at Reseda for three years.

Yoga is something that helps all students not to be angry and to have emotional stability.

According to Kaufman, yoga gives students “a little time for what” they “really need.”

That could mean time for relaxation and mental health.

Reseda’s yoga teacher helps all students learn helpful positions and alignments so that their body is more relaxed.

Yoga gives students time to “play around with their bodies,” gives students “time to be a kid again,” and gives students time to laugh and have fun, Kaufman shares.

Kaufman has been teaching yoga for three years, which has helped her to be mentally well. “Yoga gives energy and gives students the place to stay focused,” Kaufman notes

Every day, she learns more about yoga, and she has seen changes in her own health. She explains how yoga helps students who only walk with their heads bowed and helps them have better posture.

Ms. Kaufman is a great yoga teacher who shows authenticity in her personality. She has energy and a true passion for teaching and wants to educate and inspire others through yoga.

Exciting Start to the Season: The robotics club celebrates a glorious achievement

Published October 26, 2021

Story by Talin Guliani

The Reseda Regent Robotics have had an exciting start to the season.

On Oct. 2, 2021, the robotics season for Reseda High School began with a competition for VEX, a type of robotics competition with small bots that play a game, at Viewpoint High School. The competition was a hectic and exciting experience as told from the perspective of some important members of the Reseda Regent Robotics.

During this competition, Reseda had three teams competing: 20X, 20Y, and 20Z. Driver for team 20Z, Sean Marquez, team captain of 20X, Leander Suico and co-captain of 20Y, Tyler Vaughn, commanded their various robots through the competition as best as they could.

Due to this being the first competition of the season, a couple of the teams didn’t do as great as they would have wanted to.

According to Vaughn, his team, 20Y, didn’t do so well. Or as he mentions, they performed, from the “competitive point of view: awful.”

Suico remarked that “the competition wasn’t so nice.”

However, this doesn’t mean that all went bad. As Vaughn later stated, from the “learning point of view,” the team did “amazing,” adding that the team learned what they needed to.

Sean Marquez brings a positive spin to the competition, commenting on how 20Z achieved “around 5th-6th” place and remarking that they made it to semi-finals.

Marquez later says that during the competition, they “did manage to get the Judge’s Award.”

Achieving a Judge's Award means that 20Z did well in every category and amazingly in their interview with the judges.

All of this is even more impressive considering that teams at this competition had more matches to play than in previous years. Previous years saw eight matches per team, but this year, matches range from “around 10 to 14” according to Suico and Vaughn.

This was because COVID regulations were in place, fewer teams were present. But the competition had the same amount of total matches, thus having a higher concentration of matches per team.

Even with this obstacle, 20Z was able to get 6th place and earn an award, while 20X and 20Y were able to learn from their mistakes to be better for next time: a competition on Oct. 23.

Young 16-year-old teen works and goes to school part-time, balancing academic success and helping her mother

Published October 21, 2021

Story by Jared Hernandez

Do teenagers really work to help their families? In Josselin Lopez’s case, yes.

Lopez started working in June at a fast food restaurant trying to find a way to help her mother. She has found success in it, from going to work and taking the bus, to being able to buy herself a car and going to work easily.

“It was a bit confusing and difficult, having to wear a mask while moving around is a bit stressful. People not wearing masks risking others' health was a big problem at the beginning,” Lopez states about what it was like starting a job in a pandemic.

She also shares that being in her shoes isn't easy. There was and still is a lot of criticism in addition to minimum wage and rude customers.

Lopez’s plans don’t just include helping her mother; she also plans to help her peers. Another reason why she started working was because she's planning to move to a different state where she would be united with her elder brothers to work with them. She also wanted to have an idea what it would be like working with them.

Lopez encourages young teens who want to get a job like her to go for it as a lot of people are struggling financially and are barely able to pay for necessities. Getting a job now could help students in the future with employment experience and responsibility.

Consider what teens’ goals are. Do young adults want to gain experience or try out a future career path? Do they find it enjoyable or just simply want to make money for future college expenses?

With goals in teens’ minds, they can look for part-time employment that will help them reach their goals. Student workers should also consider California’s specific labor laws like working at fast food restaurants or a supermarket. This will help teens determine age limits as well as the number of hours they can expect to work per week.

Single mothers like Josselin’s in the U.S. can face many barriers to employment, like finding affordable and predictable childcare and predictable work schedules. Of all mothers in California, about 4.21% of them are single. It hurts to see single mom’s having two jobs and killing themselves — stressing themselves out and working to exhaustion — so their children can have a brighter future.

Lopez made the decision to wake up early to go to school and part-time to balance success and school and to help her mother. What Josselin did to help her mother was a brave decision. Surely others would've done the same thing to help their mothers and find ways to balance studies and work.