Page 16 • Tedford bakes cakes • Avery beads El PeopleGato • Friday, October 4, 2013 • www.elgatonews.com and knits Jane Matchak likes coffee almost as much as people by Rachel Salisbury She would consider her coffee habit an addiction, and she says, “When I go days without it, I Opinion Editor get headaches. In drug addiction terms, they like to call those withdrawals.” Not many LGHS juniors have been mistaken for a junior in college as often as Jane Matchak also runs a blog that consists of photos of “accidental art” she finds on Matchak has been. Between her retail job, busy academic schedule, and and within 100 yards of the high school campus. When describing her eclectic pastimes, Matchak, like many other working high school blog lg-accidental-art.tumblr.com, Matchak said, “What some students, sometimes struggles to find a balance between her people see as spilled pudding and bags of smushed fruit, I see adult sense of independence and her teenage responsibilities. as installation art, a source of humor, and a way to pass Having been a sales associate at the American Apparel in my time in the hallways.” Her friends also get involved, Valley Fair since July of last year, Matchak has gained both sending in pictures of things they see fit for the web- work experience and an appreciation for those who have site. Of the many submissions, Matchak’s favorite has to work with the public on a day-to-day basis. As a sales been a piece of dried lunch meat stuck to one of the associate, Matchak is responsible for helping customers school’s windows. and keeping the store organized. She says that her job Matchak is actively involved in school academics “has its good days and its bad days, its terrible customers and extracurriculars, but when it comes to sports, she and its cool customers.” Overall, Matchak would consider describes herself as “athletically able but athletically her employment at American Apparel a positive experience. unwilling.” In her opinion, the school should be less focused Some of her closest friendships are with her co-workers, and on sports and more focused on other aspects of student life. courtesy she enjoys helping customers plan outfits for events like music J.Matchak For Matchak, “high school is a good time for people to learn about festivals and Halloween. themselves,” because high school is more tailored to the individual student. “If you don’t In her free time, Matchak likes to take naps, play with her dog, draw, explore the Bay use this time to learn about yourself, I think that’s a big mistake.” Area, spend time on the internet, and drink coffee. “I like to drink coffee, make coffee, As she continues on through high school, Matchak hopes to have even more oppor- think about coffee, and spend my money on coffee. Coffee is a very large part of my life.” tunities to discover the things that make her an individual. Azizi is a problem Solver Parker travels the wOrld by Hana Beach by Kelsey Fleming Editor-in-Chief World Editor Senior Armon Azizi is a builder; he takes apart and puts together bicycles, puzzles, motorcycles, and Ambitious, intelligent, cultured—Parker Williams is a junior at LGHS with a multitude of dynamic cars in his garage. As a scientist, Azizi has always been puzzled by the world around him. “I never accept interests. This summer, Williams participated in People to People, a program aimed at increasing global anything unless I know how it works,” Azizi explained. This need for confirmation and understanding awareness and facilitating communication between cultures. The program focuses on creating “global has led Azizi to take apart and put back together the world around him. “As a child, everything had to citizens,” people with a broad and clear understanding of the world around them. Williams, acting as be proven to me. I took apart and put back together anything and everything I could get my hands on. the only student ambassador from Los Gatos this year, traveled in a delegation of thirty-five students There is something so reassuring and calming about knowing how an object works,” explained Azizi. from New Zealand and Australia. For seventeen days, Williams traveled to different museums, Parliament His tinkering began with bicycles: first rebuild- buildings, and iconic landmarks. During his trip, Williams learned about Maori and Aboriginal cultures ing them to learn how they worked, then modifying by examining local customs and having one-on-one conversations with Parliament officials and members them, and finally creating a motorcycle-bicycle of the communities. hybrid, which Azizi claims to be one of his greatest Over the course of his trip, Williams ventured to places like the Parliament building in Wellington, inventions. Although Azizi admits that the high New Zealand, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; the movie set from the The Hobbit in Hobbiton, New school workload has severely limited the amount of Zealand; Wellington Harbor, New Zealand; and Australia’s Wildlife Sanctuary where he encountered many time he spends fiddling with items in his garage, it exotic animals including kangaroos and koalas. Williams also visited numerous rivers, waterfalls, and has not kept him from taking on his latest project: volcanoes where he participated in activities like hiking, rock climbing, and rock propelling. Williams fixing his father’s old BMW. “At first the project was said, “My favorite part of the trip was snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef.” During the snorkel, Williams overwhelming, everything needed to be fixed. I would saw a giant clam, a sea turtle, and various species of fish. try to fix one issue, then I quickly realized that the Because of his trip, Williams has a broader understanding of the world. He hopes that this genera- root of the problem lay somewhere else completely,” tion will be able to bridge the gaps between cultures in the global community. Williams is not only Azizi remarked. Through his hours of rebuilding and passionate about the world and the global community, but he also has a fervor and focus on helping in building things in his garage Azizi has realized that the Los Gatos community. He’s a dedicated member of the Leo’s Club, a community service club at LGHS he is simply a natural problem solver. focused on improving the community. Azizi plans on building a better future for the One class that Williams particularly enjoys this year is Intro to Business. In this course, Williams is world. He believes the world of physics, although learning about the broad and exciting world of business. He hopes to find a career in this field some- interesting, is rather limited. He looks to the medi- time in the future. By taking this class, he is taking steps toward his future and dream occupation. As cal field in hopes of putting his problem solving Williams continues to study hard and volunteer in the community, he is optimistic and enthusiastic abilities towards helping others. “I can combine my for what the future holds. passions of science and working and socializing with courtesy A.Azizi my co-workers and patients while at the same time making a concrete difference in the lives of others,” Azizi explains. He spent the summer interning at UCSF where he was able to get a feel for the medical field. Azizi spent the internship perform animal testing in UCSF, a process that he deemed, “worth it, because I know I through the testing I will eventually help an actual person.” Azizi’s inquisitive nature is seen throughout all facets of his life. He cannot settle with eating good food or listening to “mad rhymes,” Azizi demands an understanding of how to cook fried rice and rap like Biggie Smalls. (He even went as far as writing his own physics rap last year.) Simply put Azizi is a builder, an idealist, and most importantly a rapper. To see Azizi rap, scan the QR code on the right! courtesy P.Williams Jamie Tedford starts Teddy Cakes to pursue her passion by Liat Rubin and creates her own combinations of frostings and cupcake flavors. Everyone begs her to make Sports Editor cupcakes for them!” Another friend, senior Melanie Goetz said, “Jamie never disappoints to It’s ten years from now. You are wandering the streets of Manhattan and come across an make fabulous cupcakes for every occasion! She's even made football themed ones for adorable cupcake cafe. The sign in front says “Frosted,” in pastel blues, yellows, and the Superbowl.” The wonderful reception of her cupcakes by friends and family has pinks. Overwhelming aromas seep through the warm, bright cafe out into the chilly led Tedford to start accepting orders for batches of her marvelous cupcakes by email New York streets. Something pulls you in, maybe it’s the classic red velvet cupcake at [email protected]. She even has an instagram dedicated to displaying her or maybe even the half chocolate, half graham cracker cupcake with a brown creations, @teddycakes. sugar crumble and a chocolate glaze topped with a marshmallow. Sooner or later, Extremely dedicated to her passion, Tedford plans on studying Hospitality and whether it’s the absolutely stunning array of sweet treats or the simple warmth Hotel Restaurant Management at and welcoming nature the cafe exudes, you find yourself inside, indulging in a Washington State University to give bite of what you have come to believe is heaven. But allow me to clarify, this herself a solid basis for creating a isn’t heaven, this is senior Jamie Tedford’s future cupcakery. successful business. Tedford’s passion for baking first started through a fascination with the TLC Tedford takes baking cupcakes show Cupcake Wars. After watching countless episodes, Tedford decided it was time to a whole new level. Whether it’s to try out the art of cupcake making for herself, and she was immediately addicted. her lemon cupcakes with raspberry Tedford loves how baking “allows [her] to decorate so simply yet extravagantly at buttercream topped with fresh rasp- the same time!” berry and lemon wedge or banana cup- She took her passion for cupcake-making beyond her own kitchen last summer when cakes with chocolate mousse fillings, topped she worked at Jen’s Cakes in downtown Willow Glen. Her boss Jen Kwapinski came in third with a honey-cinnamon buttercream and place on the third season of The Next Great Baker, a TLC baking competition. This job was chocolate ganache, a customer is sure no simple apprenticeship, Tedford worked eight to ten hours a day honing her baking skills. to be satisfied. So if you do happen to She made the majority of the shop’s cupcakes, becoming a supreme decorator and baker. find yourself sitting in Tedford’s future Her fantastic baking skills have made Tedford the official caterer for her friends and families’ cupcakery, sit down, relax, and indulge in the beauti- events. Senior Nicole Leppi, who is a good friend of Tedford, said, “She makes the best cupcakes ful creation of a skilled baker and wonderful person. courtesy J.Tedford