My Family Lived in Fear of My Abusive PAGE 10 Father Leave Us Alone About L.A

illegal immigration p.20 food paradise p.14

january-february 2009 www.layouth.com

also inside 5 learning to beatbox 6 my favorite sound essays

struggling to lower 24 my cholesterol

My family lived in fear of my abusive PAGE 10 father Leave us alone About L.A. Youth involved. Newcomer’s orientations are held every other month on Saturday mornings. Call for info at How did L.A. Youth start? (323) 938-9194. Regular staff meetings are held every Former teacher Donna Myrow founded the nonprofit Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. teen newspaper in 1988 after the Supreme Court Senior Writers: Lia Dun, Marshall HS • Brandy Hernandez, Hawthorne Academy • Sylvana Insua-Rieger, Beverly Hills HS • Se Kim, Pacifica Christian HS • Hazelwood decision, which struck down student press Where is L.A. Youth distributed? Charlene Lee, Walnut HS • Samantha Richards, S.O.C.E.S. rights. Myrow saw a need for an independent, uncen- L.A. Youth is distributed free to teachers at public and sored forum for youth expression. L.A. Youth is now private schools throughout Los Angeles County. It can Staff: Amani Alexander, Pasadena HS • Gabe Andreen, Pilgrim School • Stacey Avnes, S.O.C.E.S. • Benjamin Bang, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Anisa Berry, View Park Prep HS • Jessica Carreiro, celebrating its 21st year of publishing. also be picked up for free at many public libraries and Wilson HS • Raymond Carrillo • Patricia Chavarria, Cesar Chavez HS • Cecilia Cho, Burbank HS agencies that provide services to teens. • Sally Choi, The Linden Center • Sarah Chung, Fairfax HS • Emily Clarke, Palisades Charter HS • How is L.A. Youth doing today? Vanessa Cordova, Glendale HS • Britawnya Craft, Warren HS • Jose Dizon, La Cañada HS • Melissa Etehad, Santa Monica HS • Rene Franco, Providence HS • Esteban Garcia, Warren HS • Jacky L.A. Youth now has a readership of 500,000 in Los Angeles How is L.A. Youth funded? Garcia, Lynwood HS • Genesis Godoy, Environmental Charter HS • Mike Gutierrez, Santa Fe HS • County. Hundreds of students have benefited from L.A. Youth is a nonprofit charitable organization Ashley Hansack, King Drew Medical Magnet HS • Fiona Hansen, Marlborough School • Brandie L.A. Youth’s journalism training. Many have graduated funded by grants from foundations and corporations, Hanson, North HS • Emily He, Whitney HS • Brett Hicks, Loyola HS • Crystal Huh, Crescenta Valley HS • Destiny Jackson, Mayfair HS • Sharon Kim, Beverly Hills HS • Allison Ko, Wilson HS from college and have built on their experiences at donations and advertising. • Kevin Ko, Wilson HS • Justin Koh, Cleveland HS • Elliot Kwon, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Sam L.A. Youth to pursue careers in journalism, teaching, Landsberg, Hamilton HS • Elis Lee, Crescenta Valley HS • Joyce Lee, La Cañada HS • John Lisowski, research and other fields. Our Foster Youth Writing What is L.A. Youth’s mission? Laurel Springs School • Brian Lopez-Santos, Marshall HS • Carla Love, Ouchi HS • Amanda Ly, Mark Keppel HS • Stefany Macario, King Drew Medical Magnet HS • Cathleen McCaffery, Marlborough Project has brought the stories of teens in foster care to We will provide teens with the highest level of School • Edison Mellor-Goldman, L.A.C.E.S. • Diana Musina, Beverly Hills HS • Jasper Nahid, New the newspaper. For more info, see www.layouth.com. journalism education, civic literacy and job skills. We Roads School • Jennie Nguyen, Wilson MS • Michelle Paik, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Jean Park, will strengthen and build our relationships with more Harvard-Westlake School • Yana Pavlova, Hollywood HS • Casey Peeks, Marlborough School • Taila Proctor-Jackson, Village Christian HS • Camilla Rambaldi, Taft HS • Fahiya Rashid, Hollywood HS • How do teens get involved with L.A. Youth? teachers to bring relevant issues into the classroom Jackie Rosen, Palisades Charter HS • Solange Rubio, Leuzinger HS • Francisco Sandoval, Nogales HS Teens usually join the staff of L.A. Youth when they and improve the quality of education. We will reach • Aaron Sayago, Fairfax HS • Aaron Siegal-Eisman, L.A.C.E.S. • Charlotte Toumanoff, Marshall HS read the newspaper and see a notice inviting them out to the community to better educate policy makers • Kaitlyn Tsai, Walnut HS • Juan Valdovinos, Fremont HS • Hennessy Valle, El Camino Real HS • Jessica Wang, Walnut HS • Stephany Yong, Walnut HS • Jisu Yoo, Glendale HS to a newcomer’s orientation. They also get involved about teen issues; create a more positive image of teens through our summer workshop for writers. Sometimes in the mainstream media; and raise the credibility and Publisher: Donna C. Myrow a teacher or parent will encourage them to get awareness of L.A. Youth. Editors: Mike Fricano, Amanda Riddle Associate Editor: Laura Lee Administrative Director: Robyn Zelmanovitz Design Consultant: Wayne M. DeSelle

L.A. Youth is published by Youth News Service (YNS), a not-for-profit corporation. Editorial offices are at 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Phone (323) 938-9194. Free copies of L.A. Youth Website: www.layouth.com. E-mail: [email protected] L.A. Youth would like to express its gratitude to the following individuals for Los Angeles teachers who donate their time, patience and expertise to our writers: L.A. Youth is distributed free six times a year to high school or middle school teachers in most of L.A. Youth Board of Directors Los Angeles County. Teachers also can look forward to getting a free copy of the L.A. Youth Teacher’s Gail Boyle — Union Bank of California Paul Catherwood — The Capital Group Guide with each issue. We do not share your info with other organizations or businesses. Vanna Dao—Los Angeles Times Eva Semple Davis — Warner Brothers Home Video Elizabeth Del Cid — Burke, Williams & Sorenson, LLP (L.A. Youth alum) Fred Freeman — Writer/Producer Gohar Galyan—UCLA Anderson School of Management student (L.A. Youth alum) Douglas Mirell — Loeb & Loeb LLP I would like to receive L.A. Youth Ken Preston — Business consultant free of charge six times a year. David Rickley — Los Angeles Times Jeff Sperber—Educator Rosabel Tao — Spot Runner Name The Los Angeles Times donates the printing of L.A. Youth.

School L.A. Youth Advisory Board Stephen Clark, HUD • Noel Greenwood, Los Angeles Times (retired) • Bill Leider, Leider, Turner School Phone Ext. and Assoc. • Spot Runner • Loretta Thompson, Loeb & Loeb LLP • VPE Public Relations • Zeek Interactive, Inc. Address Many thanks to our friends who made this issue possible: Annenberg Foundation • Bay & Paul Foundation • Bing Family Foundation • Blue Shield of City Zip code California Foundation • Brinson Foundation • The California Endowment • The California Wellness Foundation • The Capital Group • Marcy Carsey • Carol and James Collins Foundation • Compton Foundation • Brad and Grace Ellis • Endeavor Foundation • Ethics and Excellence E-mail in Journalism Foundation • The Ford Foundation • Leonard Green Foundation • Guenther Foundation • The James Irvine Foundation • Los Angeles Times • Majestic Realty • McCormick Special delivery instructions: Foundation • Northrup Grumman • Open Society Institute • Parsons Foundation • The Rose Hills Foundation • Robert Ellis Simon Foundation • Lon Smith Foundation • Sony Pictures • Helen and Jeff Sperber • S. Stern Trust • Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation • Stuart Foundation • I would like: copies (20-copy minimum order) Surdna Foundation • Union Bank • Weingart Foundation.

Also: Jan Langer • Susan LaTempa • Dave Novotney • Mike Sergieff • Leonard Simon, PhD. • Mail to: L.A. Youth Subscriptions, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036 Rick Terry.

or call (323) 938-9194 or e-mail [email protected]. To get a subscription through the mail, send $15 for one year (six issues) to: Circulation Dept., L.A. Youth, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Provide name, address and zip code. Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com january-february 2009 m a i l CONTENTS

These are letters we stacle that comes her way. received about stories in Breanna Juarez the November-December East Valley HS (North Hollywood) 2008 issue of L.A. Youth: Cover I found this article interest- My friend became ing to read because it made me Story: a teen mom think twice. I think it’s sad how This article was a real eye- Michelle had to find out what Leave opener for me because I never responsibility really is the hard us alone really thought about how a preg- way. I don’t think students have nant girl feels about her preg- the right to judge her. Students A boy’s family nancy. I would usually just think shouldn’t have treated her differ- lived in fear of his those girls didn’t care about ently because she was pregnant. abusive father school, but this story about Mi- Nobody has the right to judge chelle proved that was wrong. you. You learn from your mis- page 10 Michelle cared about school, takes. Also, it’s amazing how she she just never had sex educa- can take care of her daughter and tion. People usually look down go to school. on pregnant teenagers and shun Joana Garcia them, when what they need is a East Valley HS good friend to help them through that rough time. I think there I really enjoyed this story should be more people like Sol- because it shocked me to know ange in this world. Kudos to her how so many teenagers are preg- for being such a good friend. nant even if it wasn’t their inten- Cover illustration by Bianca Tran tion. I have a friend who also got Edison Mellor-Goldman, San Gabriel HS pregnant at an early age. She was 17, Los Angeles Center so shocked to find out she was for Enriched Studies I really enjoyed this article. pregnant. I was pretty shocked My sister is a teen parent and too, but I think she didn’t really I’ve seen how hard it is to have a mind having a baby and is glad child. Many teenage girls don’t with her decision. I have to say realize all the time and stress that I think that Michelle made A mouthful of beats...... 5 Gay couples should that goes into having a baby. the right decision to not give Learning to beatbox has given Your article really explains and up Kaithlyn. I think this article be allowed to marry...... 19 Ben a talent to be proud of. shows what teenage girls go shows that you shouldn’t give up Stephany believes same-sex through when having to care for no matter what obstacles are in marriage is a civil rights issue. a young child. your way, even if it means sacri- My favorite sound ...... 6 Neshan Vidal ficing certain things in your life. Essay contest winners wrote about San Gabriel HS Krisnel Miraflor I’m glad she came here...... 20 gaining the ability to hear, the Pokémon Wilson MS (Glendale) Brett became more understanding I admire Michelle’s strength theme song and applause. and courage to continue with I loved this article. It made of illegal immigration after learning school even though she was me realize that if someone is a Finally friendship...... 8 his housekeeper’s story. pregnant. Even after she had teenage mom it doesn’t mean Camilla feels more confident and her baby, she went to school. I she is an irresponsible, sexu- outgoing after making friends. Acting against AIDS...... 22 thought it was awesome that her ally active weirdo. It just means friend Solange stuck with Mi- that she made one bad deci- Putting on a play about AIDS made chelle through everything. She sion. Before reading this article I My food paradise...... 14 Jessica realize that teens are at risk. even threw her a baby shower. I would probably judge someone Edison loves going to the Fairfax Farmers think Michelle is a strong girl and who was a pregnant teenager. Market, eating food from all over the world. that she can get through any ob- Now if I were to meet a pregnant Eating right Continued on page 4 I wish the violence while eating out...... 24 would stop...... 16 Brandie is eating healthier after learning she had high cholesterol. Five teens discuss the effects of gangs and Send your letters to L.A. Youth racial fights in their communities and schools. L.A. Youth Book & CD reviews...... 26 5967 W. 3rd St. Suite 301 Violence survey results...... 18 L.A. Youth writers review the books Beastly Los Angeles CA 90036 More than 1,000 teens told us about and I Am Not Esther, along with CDs by or [email protected] their experiences with violence. Beyoncé, Janelle Monáe and AC/DC. www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth m a i l Continued from page 3 teen, I would get to know them She has shown me anger is not the Korean. My friends say that I speak Converse. This taught me to be crowded place with weird hobos before I judged them. solution, it’s the problem. Sally is Chinese with an accent and some- more open about the way I shop grabbing things off disorganized Arlene Ohnaian an inspiration for me and I learned times I string Chinese and English and I thank him for that. By read- tables full of holey, smelly and Wilson MS many things from her article. Sally together when I’m speaking to my ing Jasper’s article, I learned that stained clothes. Just think, those has made me stronger. parents. They understand English by shopping at thrift stores I can are someone else’s clothes that This article shows that you Elaine Phan but they still say it sounds funny. find great clothing, save money you’re buying. You don’t know can go on with life after having a San Gabriel HS It’s awesome that Elliot found his and help the environment. where they have been, what baby, you just have to have faith. I Korean side again. He’s inspired Jonathan Quiros they’ve done in them. It just seems believe Solange is a fantastic friend After reading the article me to not lose my Asian side. Clark Magnet HS kind of disgusting to me. Honestly because she stood by Michelle’s “Leaving my anger behind” I Heather Tran I’ll try it but I still may shudder at side in the good times and the began to think about the books San Gabriel HS I think this article is great for the thought. bad times. Although Michelle has I’ve read, where the main charac- everyone to read. Going green and Kevin Tu made mistakes in her life, she and ter had the same problem as Sally. Finding Thrift saving money is what everyone San Gabriel HS others may learn from them. I never imagined that the events in store deals should do these days. The article Rosallyn Soto the books I’ve read could happen I have never been one to shop at changed my point of view on new My fight against East Valley HS to real people. While reading the thrift stores but “As good as new” clothes and thrift store clothing. world poverty article, I felt very sad and admired really made me think another I used to think thrift stores were The article “Making a differ- I love the article “My friend is a Sally’s strength. Although I do not way about the way I shop. I mostly kind of dirty and it was weird to ence close to home” is really inspi- mom.” My mom had my brother know her, I’m very proud that she shop at department stores at the wear someone else’s clothes. Thrift rational. Poverty around the world at 17 and she is far from the stereo- has overcome her problems. mall and pay no attention to how store clothing may be used, but it is very real and everyone should typical “pregnant teenager.” She Davie Sy making and shipping all the tons is the same quality as brand new be aware of it. The high school stu- got her GED and is one of the hard- San Gabriel HS of clothing affects the environ- clothing. This article taught me to dents in the article have contribut- est-working people I know. It’s easy ment. save money, because why would ed a lot to a great cause and surely to think the worst of young teenage I am Korean and This article made me realize you pay more when you can pay many others will follow in the fight mothers but in reality they’re just American that I can find good clothing at less? against global poverty. Everyone girls who made the wrong deci- When I saw the article “Stuck be- a thrift store. Jasper found a pair Jamie Phan can make a difference close to sion. tween two worlds” I immediately of Diesel skinny jeans at a much San Gabriel HS home or around the world! Brenda Sandoval connected to it. This was very in- lower price than you would at any Ricky Wai San Gabriel HS spiring to me. It takes a lot of guts department store and a pair of red I think of a thrift store as a San Gabriel HS to try to mix two very different The article “My friend is a cultures and remain fluent in both. mom” is just awesome. I admire Elliot had to mold his personality Michelle’s strength to be able to in such a way that he could relate juggle school life and taking care of to both Americans as well as Kore- a baby. Her friend Solange is great ans. He expressed the emotions it too. I don’t think I would have been feels to be an immigrant very ac- supportive or helpful. I definite- curately. ly would have been one of those I am an Asian Indian who people who whisper and think moved to America just before negatively toward pregnant teens. middle school. When Elliot writes Kudos to the two of you and I hope that he felt alone and out of place, for the best! I thought about how it felt when Irene Diep I first moved to California. He is San Gabriel HS lucky to have found people who he finally feels comfortable with. I learned to Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of control my anger Indians where I live. But this ar- “Leaving my anger behind” ticle has made me realize that as was a great article. I am glad that long as my friends accept me for someone can share with others who I am, I will always be at ease about their bipolar disorder. It’s with them. not embarrassing or shameful to Sayonika Mohnata say that you have a disorder. I can Clark Magnet HS (Glendale) give you so many names of teens who are affected by their past, but I really enjoyed reading “Stuck it’s also how they react to it today. between two worlds.” I relate be- The author here decided that she cause I’m Asian and was raised in needed help so she reached out. the United States, too. My Chinese Lily Che isn’t perfect, but at least I know it. San Gabriel HS I understood how Elliot felt when the taxi driver said rude things I give extreme props to Sally. to him because of how he spoke

l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com interests

A mouthful of beats Learning to beatbox has given me a talent to be proud of

By Ben Bang the song plays. Then I start daydreaming about 16, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS grabbing a mic and performing on stage. I realize that I’ve been taking a shower for half or years, I’ve had a dream of per- an hour when steam covers the whole bath- forming on stage. I’ve wanted to room. feel the excitement of getting I finally came closer to my goal of perform- Fattention from a huge crowd. ing when I beatboxed along with my friends. A However, I never had a chance. I am few months ago, my church friends gathered horrible at singing, playing instruments, around after the service and started playing acting, telling jokes and dancing. One drums, bass and acoustic guitars. Before think- time, when I was 11 years old, my vio- ing about it, I jumped in with a mic, followed lin tutor told my parents that I was not the beats of the drums and started beatbox- only “not good” at reading music, but ing. My friends were amazed. However, they also had no talent at all. As for danc- told me, “You need to learn how to play drums! ing, I went to a party one time with my You’ve got all the beats in your head!” I didn’t friends and danced. After the party, my like this comment since I knew that beatbox- best buddy called me and said, “Ben, I ing can be an instrument, not just a step to like you, you are cool and all that, but learning the drums. just don’t dance please. You were even Since then, I’ve beatboxed a few times with making me embarrassed when you my school friends while they played guitars and tried to robot dance or whatever you saxophone. They said, “Dang, you’re good! It were doing.” sounds good all together, too.” I felt like I would never reach my goal of performing until I started beatbox- Even my parents are impressed ing. With beatboxing, I actually have something Felix Zenger, a famous beatbox- special about me that has caught other people’s er, describes beatboxing as “making Ben (center) beatboxes with friends Perry Nguyen, 14, playing the saxophone, and David attention. I was proud when my parents heard music out of your mouth.” Beatbox- Ha, 15, on the electric guitar. Photo by Jasper Nahid, 14, New Roads School me beatboxing and their response changed from ing developed when it became a part “Let’s stop making noises in the house since your of hip-hop culture in the 80s. With the book, it sounded more like a fart or just some air beatboxers because I had never seen a beat- sister is studying,” to “Well, you’ve got some tal- help of microphones and amplifiers, it’s now coming out of my mouth. Each time I tried “high boxer other than my friend. While watching ent there, son. Try to do something with your easier for a beatboxer to perform in front of a hat,” which should sound like a sprinkler, too Zenger, Roxorloops and Joel Turner beatbox, talent. Start a club or something so that you will large crowd. much spit came out of my mouth. The hardest, I thought to myself, “How in the world can actually achieve something with that.” In seventh grade, I was on the verge of falling however, was the “snare drum,” which sounds they make such sounds?” They made all sorts Now it’s a habit to beatbox whenever I hear asleep watching a talent show when one of my similar to the “kick drum” but has a more cym- of mechanical sounds, DJ scratching sounds hip-hop, pop songs, rock songs and even clas- friends went on stage without any instruments, bal-like quality. I sounded really pathetic com- and imitations of trumpets and electric gui- sical music. But, I have to practice more so that introduced himself and started making insane pared to my friend. But after months of practicing tars. After that, I went on YouTube to check I can create my own style of beatboxing. I have sounds out of his mouth. The beats came out of daily, I was able to beatbox more than a minute out the Beatbox Battle series and more beat- been working on making some scratch sounds, nowhere and soon I started clapping with the without messing up or going off beat. boxing video clips. Because it was summer, I a noise that helicopter blades make as they spin crowd and rocking my head. The sound effects After eighth grade, I moved to the United watched tutorials about beatboxing skills al- and advanced snares to embellish the beats. he used reminded me of a DJ scratching a turn- States. I had a very hard time with English and most every day. One day, when I tried to learn I keep practicing so I will be ready to perform table or computer sounds. It was unbelievable. I was too busy adapting to a new environment “abra scratch,” which sounds like a DJ scratch- when the chance comes. I felt as if he was from another planet. to focus on beatboxing. ing a turntable, I practiced for four hours to get But this June I was searching videos on You- the hang of it. my first try was full of spit Tube for the first time. Suddenly I thought, “If Once I found out about more skills, I prac- The next day I asked my friend how to beat- there are millions of videos, won’t there be ticed everywhere. I love practicing while taking Ben hopes box. He tried to teach me the basic beatbox- ones of beatboxers?” I typed “beatbox” into a shower since the structure of the bathroom beatboxing ing skills. The first time I tried the “kick drum,” the search and hundreds of videos showed makes the sounds echo, and beatboxing sounds will one day be which should sound like slapping a hardcover up. I was surprised when I saw videos by pro- better when it echoes. I will turn on my iPod, recognized as its put it in the corner and start beatboxing to add own instrument. more texture to the music. While beatboxing, Go to layouth.com to watch a video of Ben beatboxing I feel relieved from homework, grades and all of my worries. I just follow my flow of beats as www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth essays

2nd place $30 Favorite sound The Pokémon essay contest w i nners theme song

1st place $50 takes me back

By Lubina Kim No longer deaf, Wilson HS (Hacienda Heights) hen I was 6 years old a personal alarm rang in my head every Saturday telling Wme to get up, grab a bowl of cereal and I love the sound go watch Pokémon. The Pokémon theme song is my favorite sound because it brings back nostalgia for my childhood. When I first moved to the United of a rattle States from Korea in kindergarten, I had a hard time making friends. The language barrier restricted me from hanging out with anyone By Ariana Mendoza besides my family, but Pokémon helped me step Marshall MS (Long Beach) out of my boundaries. The song sounds like cheesy battle music. eople don’t understand that deaf It begins talking about the determination people can hear also. Some of of the main character (Ash Ketchum) and them have one deaf ear, hear- how he’s going to “catch ‘em all.” To anyone ing aids or a cochlear implant. over the age of 10, the lyrics sound like total The sad part is they can’t hear as crap, but to me, it reminds me of my 6-year- Pwell as normal people. But they might have old self. Pokémon was like an imaginary the sounds that are important to them, like I world I desperately wanted to live in. It was have. a dreamland full of unusually cute animals I was born deaf. I can’t hear at all. When I that can be captured and kept as pets. Instead was 5, I had an operation for a cochlear im- of asking for ponies, I asked my parents for plant so I can hear much better. Sometimes a Pikachu, an overgrown, obese look-a-like when noises are annoying me, I take my im- mouse with red cheeks. plant off. I went to many places so I can speak During the summer my parents bought me well. I started learning sign language when my first pack of Pokémon cards. It consisted of I was in the sixth grade. I stopped speaking 12 normal cards and one hologram. The cards at school, but I still speak at home. It’s really evolved into an obsession for collecting. hard to be hard of hearing. I hit jackpot on my first set of cards. My When I was a baby, my mother always hologram ended up being Raichu, the evolved bought me rattle toys. The stuffed red puppy form of Pikachu, and the card immediately with the rattle in it was my favorite. At first I attracted many of the neighborhood kids. I didn’t know it rattled. After the operation, I didn’t have much street smarts dealing with was playing with it and I heard weird noises trades so I easily allowed myself to be sweet coming from the toy. I shook it over and over talked by a ninth grader. In exchange for my again and it rattled. I started to like my rattle hologram he offered me a stack of his “best” toys. Sometimes my mom took my rattle toys cards. I hastily accepted and I ended up getting away because they bothered her, but she let 50 lousy, bent energy cards with a value of me keep my stuffed puppy. I love to hear the nothing in the Pokémon world. Although I felt rattle because it was my first sound and now, Ariana Mendoza holds really bitter toward him, he ended up teaching every time I hear something rattle, it reminds a picture of herself as me how to haggle and trade. me of my past. a baby with her stuffed Recently I was sent a Smosh YouTube parody My dad and step-mom are buying toys puppy rattle. Photo by of the show’s theme song. As the opening notes for their baby. My step-mom is four months Anisa Berry, 17, View Park of the song played I perked up and sang along. pregnant. Sometimes I shake the new rattle Prep HS I haven’t heard the song in years and yet I had toys. At that moment I feel like I’m 5 years old every word down. It made me realize how much again. It’s a very joyful sound in my life. I miss being a kid.

l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com 3rd place $20 and timid as I am, I made my way up to the podium, unsure of what I was supposed to new essay contest: do. In a matter of seconds, my fellow class- Applause is mates began to clap. Uh-oh, do I go with the flow this time? Do I clap even if I’m the one What era would music to standing up there? I guess I go by the motto, “When in doubt, FREEZE.” I froze and stared my ears at the entire school. For some strange reason you live in? I suddenly felt an adrenaline rush. I realized at that moment that they weren’t just clap- If you could choose any time—past, present or future— By Jonathan Trinh ping—they were clapping for me. San Gabriel HS The sound of hundreds of hands striking to live in, what would it be? Maybe you’ve dreamed against each other is amazing. It was like a hen I was younger, I never real- stampede of jungle animals sprinting right about what it would be like to live during a certain time ized what clapping was for. I mean, by me. Just knowing that they are all clapping period, like when dinosaurs roamed. Or maybe you Wdon’t seals clap? Seriously though, for you is an extraordinary feeling. I felt so why are we smacking our hands against each good about myself at that moment, like I wish you could have witnessed a histori- other? It hurts. Surely, there must be more to could overcome anything that got in my way. clapping than just making a lot of noise. That day I figured out that clapping cal event, like marching with Mar- But what could it be …? was actually a sign of approval; tin Luther King Jr. Perhaps you In elementary school, we my classmates recognized would have little assem- achievement and were could see yourself living in Eliz- blies, as I’m sure ev- acknowledging eryone knows. And me for it. abethan England, the Old West typically speak- Clapping— or the peace and love of the 60s. ers would come applause to be to speak to the exact—has Some of you might imagine what school about become one living in a future world would be something im- of my favorite portant con- sounds. Even like or maybe you love your life and the cerning the if the applause students. At isn’t for me, I potential of the world at this time, right now. Describe the end of every still remember your life in your ideal era and explain to us why you’d speech, the whole how I felt that student body very first time. want to live then. would begin to clap Nowadays, I clap and hearing that ini- even louder for the tial clap, everyone joined person who is receiving in. Not knowing any better, the applause. You’ve got to Write an essay to L.A. Youth I had to go with the flow. How- hand it to them, they deserve ever, I wondered, “Why are we making so the applause. And I feel I can understand and tell us about it: much noise?” the wonderful emotions he or she is feeling Essays should be a page or more. Include your name, school, age and phone A few years later the idea and purpose of and how exhilarating it must be for all these clapping finally hit me when I experienced people to applaud for you. I now associate number with your essay. The staff of L.A. Youth will read the entries and it firsthand—I was the person up there get- applause with being successful, so I guess pick three winners. Your name will be withheld if you request it. The first- ting the applause. It was an awards ceremo- you can say that my favorite sound is the place winner will receive $50. The second-place winner will get $30 and ny and I happened to win an award. As shy sound of success. the third-place winner will receive $20. Winning essays will be printed in our March-April issue and put on our website at www.layouth.com.

Go to layouth.com to read the honorable mention essays Mail your essay to: and a few more favorite sounds … L.A. Youth We received hundreds of essays • crunching an apple 5967 W. 3rd St. Suite 301 from readers about their favorite • turning the page of a book sounds. Some of the most popular • dog scratching at my door Los Angeles CA 90036 responses were “school bell,” • leaf blower “rain” and “my mother’s voice.” • my mom’s empanadas frying or [email protected] We also got many unusual • zipper responses. Here are some of them: • my priest’s voice DEADLINe: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth friendship

Finally friendship I used to be shy, but making friends helped me become more confident and outgoing

By Camilla Rambaldi it. I’d say, “Please don’t say that.” She didn’t say, invite the three of them over to my house for like I had something to share with others. My 16, Taft HS (Woodland Hills) “This girl is crazy,” as I thought she would. In- dinners. We had some really fun nights. We shyness was not as bad. Most of all now I had stead, she laughed about it. She was so nice that were always laughing. Robert always had some- friends to rely on. I was proud of how much always thought having friends would be the I felt comfortable opening up to her. I even took thing funny to say, Ben was the perfect person I’d changed and no one could bring me back ultimate happiness in the world. In mid- out my planner in front of her. I told her that it to debate politics with and Jasmin loved watch- to the person I used to be. dle school, I’d see this group of friends and was probably the most important thing I had. ing my mom make pizza. I never felt happier. I When the year ended, I decided to switch Ithey were always smiling and laughing. I People at my old school made fun of me for be- was finally part of my own group! I would come schools because CHAMPS didn’t have the ac- wanted that so badly. I had always been shy ing so organized, but Jasmin loved it and even home and talk about my friends every second. ademics that I needed. As I hugged my friend’s and I was never able to look anyone direct- goodbye, tears dripped down my cheeks. Even ly in the eye. though I didn’t want to leave, I felt strong My problems began in elementary school. enough to confront my future because of the I was shy because I was always put down for I never felt happier. I was finally part new person I had become. the most absurd reasons. They said I was too In 10th grade, I ended up at Taft High School. short, that I was annoying, that my feet were of my own group! I would come home My mom wanted to send me there my fresh- too small and I didn’t know how to dress. (I man year, but she knew I wasn’t ready to be at never wore jeans because I hated denim and and talk about my friends every a school with more than 3,000 students. Even always wore skirts.) In middle school I was though I felt more confident about myself, I made fun of because I was too neat and I was second. I told my mom about all the wondered if I’d find similar friendships as the labeled the school freak since I studied a lot. ones from CHAMPS. The insults piled up and I stopped speaking things we laughed about and all the At first I felt scared walking down the halls to people. I would try to tell a joke and no one with so many people. I had trouble finding would laugh. They would just stare at me and good times we had in physics class. the right rooms for class. I had so much more make me feel so stupid for even deciding to homework every night and I really needed more talk to them. I even had trouble reading an es- than just my parents to help me figure out what say out loud in class unless I practiced it a mil- asked me to help her get organized. I told my mom about all the things we laughed classes to take and how to prepare for college. lion times. I would be wondering what people We started to hang out at school. We walked about and all the good times we had in physics I felt alone at times, and wished I had a friend were thinking about me. I felt as if I was a girl to class together, or just sat around the lunch class. I told her how Jasmin was so smart and to talk to. who had nothing special to share with others. area talking. Spending time with Jasmin made helped me with all the formulas. In November, I met my true best friend, Ar- I was so insecure. me feel good about myself. I would always shitha. She was a sophomore like me, and we I desperately wanted a true best friend and a make her laugh because of my neatness and new clothes, new me met in biology class. Arshitha saw I was hav- group of friends that I could talk to about fash- all my jokes. Jasmin listened to everything I had I felt like it was time for me to stop dressing ing difficulties adjusting to the new school and ion, politics or just joke around with. to say and always wanted to know my opin- in my usual plain skirts and dresses. One of that I missed my old friends. She helped when I Things changed after middle school when I ion about certain things, like if her hair looked the biggest changes was when I started wear- wasn’t sure if it was worth dropping one of my started going to CHAMPS (Charter High School better up or down. I was happy that somebody ing jeans. After days of persuading me, Jasmin honors classes and even an AP class to be on of the Arts—Multimedia and Performing). On wanted my opinion. CHAMPS made me feel brought me to the mall. I went to Rampage by the tennis team. I really didn’t want to, but she my first day everyone was so nice to me. They like I was free to express myself without the myself because Jasmin wanted me to surprise thought it was a great idea and that a sport on all came up to me and asked me where I was fear of being made fun of. It was the opposite her. I remember being there for about an hour a transcript would show how much effort I put from. I started to feel that I could relate to them of middle school. and a half deciding which ones to buy. I finally into extracurricular activities. As time passed, and that we had a lot in common. I felt like I Soon Jasmin and I became friends with picked a pair with gold jewels on one side that we became really good friends. was in an environment where I could find my Robert and Ben. Every day during lunch, we were elegant and simple just like me. Arshitha would come over to my house group of friends. would joke around, and usually the reason why I couldn’t wait to wear the jeans at school whenever she got the chance, and like Jasmin, we were laughing was because of me. Either I the next day. I spent the night curling my hair she loved my mom’s food. We’d meet up on the she didn’t judge me needed to get my hand sanitizer or I couldn’t and picking out the perfect top to match them. weekends at El Torito to talk and during the I met Jasmin on my first day. We were talking walk around in the heels I was wearing be- When I got to school Jasmin went crazy about week we would sit at Starbucks, drinking the about an assignment, then she asked me what I cause of the bumpy concrete. It might sound how much she loved my jeans. Other people vanilla frappuccinos that we both loved. Se- liked to do for fun, what my interests were and like they were making fun of me, but not at all. said they looked good as well. It made me hap- nior year we’ve both had pretty busy sched- how I found out about CHAMPS. I asked her For once in my life, I started to feel like part of py. I felt accepted and confident, but I was still ules, but even though time is limited, we still the same. Jasmin would use the f-word a lot, something. the same person. The person I wanted to be had try to find time to hang out even if it is just for which bothered me a little bit since I didn’t re- The four of us became best friends. We start- been stuck inside—jeans helped let her out. 10 minutes. Right before winter break we spent ally cuss back then and wasn’t used to hearing ed calling each other “the four amigos.” I would I felt a lot more secure about myself. I felt a whole day shopping together for friends’ gifts

l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com and just hung out at the mall. There were several times when I was hav- University. When I talked to my parents about the same interests as I did. I was already in an- Being friends with her is different than being ing problems with my parents about college. it, they seemed to be more open to my ideas other club with Arshitha, California Scholarship part of a group, because in my group I didn’t I wanted to apply to several four-year colleg- about college. I feel less stressed now. Federation, but I didn’t feel like I had a large role have a relationship where we would share se- es, but they wanted me to attend a community in it. To get people to join I had to put myself out crets or personal things. With Arshitha, I can college and then transfer. Arshitha helped me i was ready to be a leader there during club rush, which is a day when all tell her anything, like if I don’t like someone find a two-year school, Marymount College, At the beginning of senior year, I decided to the clubs set up tables at lunch with signs to re- who bothers me, if I have a crush on someone, which is affiliated with the transfer system at start my own club called Script Dialogue Club, cruit members. I was intimidated, but I thought, or even if I am having problems with myself. the private college I want to go to, Chapman where I would be able to meet people who had “I can do this.” I had to push myself to speak loud enough. As I was holding a huge sign, I yelled, “Please come join Script Dialogue Club! Any- one interested in meeting people from the en- tertainment business?” Camilla (left) felt more Twelve people ended up joining the club. It’s comfortable at a large been really interesting getting to know them high school thanks to her and hearing their opinions. During our meet- best friend Arshitha ings we’re always laughing and making jokes as Vaidhyanathan, 17. we come up with ideas. We write short scripts, film them and meet people from the entertain- ment business. We meet every week, and I have to stand up and give short speeches about what’s going on with the club and what we have to do. Before I was too shy to stand up and express my point of view. Now, I’m not afraid. The club also improved my social life because I made new friends through the club and I started hanging out with them. I can finally say I’m proud of who I am. I’ve met people who love me for the way I am. I’m sad that I barely talk with my CHAMPS friends now, but they will always remain important to me. My friends at CHAMPS and Taft made me more confident. I’m no longer afraid to go up to people and share with them who I am. When I met my boyfriend for the first time at Fall For- mal, I asked for his number and started up the conversation, after he asked me to dance. After becoming friends with such wonderful people, I realized that there was a vibrant personality inside me that just needed to come out.

Camilla says her friends helped her realize the positive aspects of herself, like her sense of humor.

www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth domestic violence

Author’s Name Withheld

hen my father went to jail for hitting my mom, I thought everything was going to be fine. But it wasn’t. Things got worse after he was released from jail. He turned into some kind of mon- Leave us alone ster who kept coming around harass- Wing us and hitting my mom. I thought it would never end. I I feared my father hated feeling that way and I’m grateful I finally feel safer. When I was small my dad would get mad often but he would never stop didn’t scream or hurt us; he would just leave and go drinking. But when I was around 10 he started getting more terrorizing my family controlling. He’d tell my mom, “You can’t go out.” He’d also scream at her over every mistake she made, like if a meal she cooked didn’t come out as good as he wanted it to. I couldn’t stand it. I would go outside and kick the soccer ball or play with my little brother so he wouldn’t have to hear their yelling. I was afraid that one day my father would get out of control over something more serious and hit my mom. I will never forget July 4, 2004, when I was 12. I walked into my parents’ room and saw my father hitting my mother. He was on top of her swinging at her. I was paralyzed. My father was twice the size of me and I knew I couldn’t do anything. Then I heard my mom repeating “call the police, call the police.” As soon as I came to my senses I called the police. My father saw me dialing and stopped hitting my mother. I thought I was next but he walked right past me. He hung around until the police arrived, I guess prov- ing to us that he wasn’t scared. The police took him and placed him in the back seat of the patrol car. I felt bad that he’d been arrested—after all he was my father and he had done everything for our family. But him being away meant peace at home. My mother was happy, even though she had to work extra hours because my father was no longer supporting the family. I also felt free. I wasn’t worried because I thought he’d be in jail for a few years. But after about four months the police called to let us know that my father had been released. My mother went to court and got a restraining order, which meant that he couldn’t come within 100 yards of us. But to me that restraining order meant nothing—it was just a piece of pa- per. I knew my father didn’t like to follow rules. Would he come back to do something to me for calling the police?

What does he want? After he got out of jail, he would call and the caller ID showed that he was staying with one his brothers not far from our house. My mother didn’t want anything to do with him. He called the house or my mom’s cell phone every day. I would hear my mom ask him, “What do you want?” After she hung up I’d ask her what he said and she’d say he didn’t say anything. I didn’t know why he was doing this. I wanted him to leave her alone. I was afraid that he would hurt her. Every day after school I would wait on the corner or in front of our house until she got home. When she was late I would worry. When she arrived I would think, “She made it.” I would ask, “What took you so long?” “The busses were running late,” she’d say. Illustration by Edison Mellor-Goldman, 17, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies

10 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com Before the problems at home started I was a “If he comes back around, call us.” Other times ing. My hands were sweaty and my heart beat him with his homework, encourage him to good student and never got in trouble, but then I wouldn’t bother to call the police because I faster. read, tell him what’s right and wrong. It’s a good my attitude changed. At school I couldn’t fo- didn’t think my father would get caught. As he walked up to the house I was standing feeling to know that I’m doing the right thing cus on my work and it was hard thinking about behind the metal screen door. He said, “Bring for my brother. He told me he wants to be like my mom all the time so I pushed everything we had nowhere to go me your brother.” “What for?” “Hand him over,” me. I felt proud. That also encouraged me to aside. I wouldn’t listen to my teachers. I would I felt like running away with my family— he yelled. “Either you bring him to me or I break believe in myself more and to convince myself Leave us alone throw papers at my science teacher. When he just packing our stuff and starting over some- the door and take him.” I figured if I didn’t obey that I wasn’t like my father. I didn’t turn out like called security I’d leave and go to the P.E. field. where else. But that wasn’t possible because him he would break it down. My hands were my father and if my brother follows in my foot- I would sit on a bench alone and think of how we didn’t have enough money. Then I thought shaking as I unlocked the door and opened it. steps, he won’t turn out like him either. my home used to be before my father got all of leaving on my own, but I couldn’t leave my I told my brother to go with him. I didn’t know My mother told me recently that my father crazy. How our garden was all nice and neat mother and brother. if I was going to see him again. But I knew he was out of jail. Not long ago I spoke with him because he took care of it, but now it was dead. One night I saw him choking my mother. As would never hurt my brother because he loves on the phone. He seemed like a completely dif- How my mother didn’t have to get up early to soon as I turned on the lights he stopped. An- him too much. ferent man, more calm. He told me he wasn’t go to work but stayed at home, and wasn’t tired other time on Valentine’s Day my father threat- I ran to our neighbors and asked them to drinking or doing drugs anymore. I won’t take all the time. ened my mom. A few days later she asked me, call my mom at work to tell her that my father his word for it until I see it for myself but in a At home I’d just lie on my bed sleeping or “Do you want to move?” I was tired. I guess she had taken my brother. Then I made my way to way I believe him because he has a new fam- thinking. Doing homework didn’t even cross was tired too. She said there was a program school. I couldn’t stop thinking of my broth- ily with a newborn. I don’t fear for my mother my mind. By the end of the semester I was fail- that would move her, me and my brother to a er. I went to the restroom during lunch and anymore; he has a new life and so do I. ing English, science and math. I had to go to in- house in another state and pay for the first three sat in a stall just thinking of him. Is he OK? Is Many times when I was lying in my bed I tersession to bring my grades back up. I didn’t months of rent. I told her I wanted to move but I he scared? looked up at the sky at night through my win- want to tell anyone about my problems. I felt thought if we did, he might hurt our other fami- On my way home from school I saw lit- dow and asked, “Why me?” hoping to get an like they wouldn’t understand. My best friend ly members. “OK,” she said, “then we’ll stay and tle kids playing and they reminded me of my answer. But I received just silence. I’ve stopped brother. The more I thought about him the caring about why because it doesn’t change madder I got because I didn’t do anything to anything. School is my number one priority. prevent my father from taking him. When I I take harder classes and stay after school to I will never forget July 4, 2004, when I got home I was surprised to see my mother. ask my teachers how I can improve. I want to She said, “Your dad has been taken by the po- go to college and become someone in life and was 12. I walked into my parents’ room lice.” She explained that he pulled up when she have a better future. If I have kids I’m going to was waiting for the bus. She found a sheriff’s be the best father I can be. It’s hard to think and saw my father hitting my mother. He deputy and 30 minutes later they surrounded about those bad times but it helps. My past is a my father a block from the house. When she reminder not to change who I am. I’m not him. was on top of her swinging at her. I was finished telling me I was happy. I felt that we By being a good role model for my brother, I can could start living our lives again. But I couldn’t change his and my life for the better. paralyzed. I heard my mom repeating enjoy it because I figured they would release him early again. “call the police, call the police.” As soon Things should have been better but I had too much anger inside. My mother would cook the as I came to my senses I called the police. same thing three days in a row. I didn’t want to Where to turn eat the same food. One time I snapped. I yelled at her, “I’m tired of eating this!” At school I start- f you’ve been a victim of would call me to go out and I’d make up an ex- go through this.” ed acting up again. Idomestic violence, you can cuse not to go. “I’m tired” or “My mom won’t I thought it was never going to end. One get support and referrals to let me go out.” He took it personally and we time he kept insisting to see my mother’s purse. i won’t become like him counseling centers by contacting: stopped talking. He had his gun tucked in his pants. My mom Then one day I was alone in my room try- After a few months my dad started coming said, “Put the gun away and I’ll show you what ing to think of all the good things my father Los Angeles County Rape to the house. For almost a year he came around I have.” He gave me the gun and told me to hide did, to put what he did to my mom in the past, & Battering Hotline (24/7) and bothered us; sometimes he was drunk or it. Alone in my room I thought of using it and but the bad memories would take over. I re- (310) 392-8381 high. As soon as I saw him coming I would send taking my own life. I thought if I did everything membered how he would yell at my mom at www.peaceoverviolence.org my brother, who was 5, to go play with his friends would go away. But my father would probably the dinner table. I did that too. I was becoming a house away. When my father was near my go crazier and kill my mom. So I wrapped the him. I didn’t like hurting anybody, especially National Domestic mother I wouldn’t let her out of my sight. Al- gun in a shirt and hid it behind my dresser. my mom. I didn’t want my brother to live with Violence Hotline (24/7) though he intimidated me I would stand tall Looking back it’s crazy that I thought of that. another version of our father and go through (800) 799-SAFE with an evil stare, as if saying, “Don’t mess with At the time I thought he was going to get away what I went through. I said to myself, “I’m not me.” After he left I would relax. I didn’t have to with everything he did and we were always go- going to be him. I’m not him.” Break the Cycle pretend to be that tough guy I’m really not. ing to live like this. But soon after, he got ar- I began improving my behavior. I stopped (310) 286-3366 He kept coming around more and more. rested again. getting into trouble. Although I still had an- www.thesafespace.org Once we called the cops but he ran out as soon On Nov. 29, 2006, when I was 15, I was get- ger toward my dad, I tried not to think about Provides legal services and as he saw me dialing. The police would arrive ting ready for school when I heard my father’s him. When I’d get upset I would go to my room counseling to teens if you’ve late every time I’d call. They didn’t do anything. truck pull up. I couldn’t reach my mother be- and stay there until I calmed down. At times I been in an abusive relationship. They just asked us questions like, what did I see? cause she didn’t have a cell phone and she would cry to let the anger out. What did he look like? Then they’d leave saying, wasn’t at work yet. I stopped what I was do- I’m my brother’s father figure now. I help

www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 11 Show us what Los Angeles means to you. Maybe it’s your neighborhood, your favorite l.a.youth hangout or the place you go to get away from it all. Maybe L.A. means your family or your friends. You could show us how the city inspires you. Perhaps you define L.A. by the problems you wish you didn’t have Art Contest: to deal with, like 1st pl ace gangs. Enter our art contest and $75 show us what 2nd & My los Angeles L.A. is to you. 3 rd pl $50 ace rules

1) Contest entries must be original artwork of Los Angeles County youth ages 13 to 19.

2) The work may be done in any medium, including acrylics, oils, charcoal, pencil, pen, watercolor, collage, multimedia, photography or sculpture. The dimensions should be 8 1/2” by 11”. Three-dimensional artwork should include a photograph of the artwork.

3) Each artist may submit only one entry.

4) The artist’s name, age, address and phone number should be included on the back of the artwork. If the artist is in school, the school’s name should be included. If the artwork was created as an assigned project in a classroom, the teacher’s name should be listed. Artwork will be returned if a return address is provided.

The teen staff of L.A. Youth will select a first-, second- and third-place winner as well as some honorable mentions. The first-place winner and his or her teacher will each receive $75. Second- and third-place winning students and teachers will each receive $50. Winners and honorable mentions will be published in the May-June 2009 issue of L.A. Youth newspaper.

Questions? Contact (323) 938-9194 or [email protected].

Send submissions to:

photos and illustration from l.a. youth archives L.A. Youth 5967 W. Third St., Suite 301 DEADLINE: March 31, 2009 Los Angeles, CA 90036

12 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com vv

Bag a great job in LA’s largest help-wanted section: The Los Angeles Times Jobs section. N_\k_\ipflËi\kiXZb`e^XgXik$k`d\gfj`k`fefiX ]lcc$k`d\^`^#pflËccÔe[k_\X[m`Z\pfle\\[Xe[afYj pflnXek`eK_\K`d\jfiXkcXk`d\j%Zfd&afYj

To advertise, call: 1.800.922.0539

Are you a foster youth in Los Angeles County? Do you want to let other teens Contact Editor Amanda Riddle at know what foster care is like? (323) 938-9194 L.A. Youth is looking for foster youth ages 14 to 18 who H or [email protected] want to write an article to be published in L.A. Youth. Invite Amanda to speak at your By joining L.A. Youth, you can: school, group home or foster agency about writing for L.A. Youth. ❒ earn $100 for each story published Got questions? ❒ Improve your writing skills by working with an editor H Go to layouth.com and click on the ❒ help other foster youth by sharing your experiences Foster Youth link to learn more and read ❒ inform others about “the system” stories written by foster youth.

www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 13 exploring l.a. My food paradise I’ve grown up going to the Farmers Market, eating dishes from all over the world

By Edison Mellor-Goldman the many reasons why I’m not a vegetarian. 17, Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies Some mornings, my family settled down between The French Crepe Company and a Mexican y memories of the Fairfax restaurant that is no longer there. My then 4-year- Farmers Market define who I old brother had a habit of sitting at the counter so am. I’ve become a big foodie he could flirt with the cute waitress. Whenever I because of the thousands of try to place the root of his playboy tendencies, this hours I’ve spent there. is what comes to mind. Now in its place there’s a For my family, it was new Mexican joint called Loteria, which has some almost like our market, of the best south-of-the-border cuisine I’ve ever Msince there was only a smattering of regular cus- pigged out on. Though relatively expensive com- tomers, including us, who would show up to the pared to the rest of the market, it’s well worth it. open-air food court on weekend mornings. When It’s a good idea to split those shredded beef nachos I was younger, the market was going through fi- with a friend, though. Trust me, you can’t eat it all nancial problems. The creation of The Grove next on your own. door changed the market, but also kept it alive. Be- Since I’ve been a sushi fiend for as long as I can cause of The Grove, an upscale outdoor mall, the remember, I was thrilled when a sushi restaurant Farmers Market is now a more “hip” place, but it came to the market, though “sushi crevice” might has kept essentially the same vibe. Ever since The be a more apt description. These days, Sushi A Go Grove became a teenage hotspot, I’ve been trying Go does a good amount of business considering to spread the gospel about this little taste of history it’s just about the smallest purveyor in the Farmers that’s right next door. Market. When I first started going there, I suspect I When I was younger, my weekend mornings was one of their only customers. The owner knew blended into a collection of smells, sights and crav- what I would order every time, an eel handroll and ings. We would park in the old parking lot and I a spicy tuna handroll, and he even gave me a free would get that instant high that can only come from mug at some point. They had a “C” on their health being barraged with the scents of hundreds of types code inspection, they gave the place a terribly cli- of foods all at once. Often we would go to Charlie’s ché name and they continually hired cashiers who and I’d get my silver dollar pancakes, and if I was didn’t speak a word of English. Since then, their lucky I’d see a couple of Mickey Mouse-shaped ones prices have gone up by about a dollar on every item, thrown in there. The older woman who owns the their health code rating is an “A,” they have a ded- place has memories of me sitting on the counter to icated following and now they have a new cashier order when I was a little kid. who speaks some spotty When I was a little older, I frequented The English. Somehow it still Gumbo Pot on the west patio. The oyster po’ boy feels like the same funky C sandwiches were, and still are, my life. These warm, place it’s always been. deep-fried oysters in sweet harmony with chilled There are many other tomatoes, lettuce and thin slices of lemon are one of delicious eateries, such as [A] One of Edison’s (pictured) favorite the stunning pizza at Pat- meals at the Farmers Market is an sy D’Amore’s, the hearty eel hand roll from Sushi A Go Go. pedeh (pronounced pih- [B] Edison says Patsy D’Amore’s is day), which are Middle home to some of the best pizza in the Eastern pizzas, at The Vil- area. Their first restaurant is credited Edison says don’t lage, and the comforting with bringing pizza to Los Angeles be afraid to try Chinese food at Peking and Patsy’s daughter Filomena carries something exotic. Kitchen. There’s some- on the tradition. [C] Edison has gone thing for everyone, waiting to Sushi A Go Go so often that the to be discovered by an ad- owner (pictured) knows he usually venturous eater. orders eel, spicy tuna or salmon roe.

14 l.a.youth January-February 2009 My food paradise I’ve grown up going to the Farmers Market, eating dishes from all over the world

Farmers Market

6333 W. 3rd St. (at Fairfax) Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 933-9211 www.farmersmarketla.com

Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

[A] One of Edison’s (pictured) favorite meals at the Farmers Market is an eel hand roll from Sushi A Go Go. [B] Edison says Patsy D’Amore’s is home to some of the best pizza in the area. Their first restaurant is credited with bringing pizza to Los Angeles and Patsy’s daughter Filomena carries on the tradition. [C] Edison has gone Photos by Allison Ko, 17, to Sushi A Go Go so often that the Wilson HS (Hacienda Heights) & owner (pictured) knows he usually Edison Mellor-Goldman, 17, orders eel, spicy tuna or salmon roe. Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies

January-February 2009 l.a.youth 15 violence in the community

ast fall L.A. Youth decided to bring attention to the persistent problem of violence in the community. We asked our readers to share their thoughts and experiences through a survey and our essay contest. The more than 1,000 responses we received to our survey showed us that many teenagers are concerned about violence at school and in their neighborhoods. Nearly two- thirds of survey respondents said they see or experience violence at least once a month. Nearly a quarter of respondents said they do not feel safe at school. (Turn to page 18 for survey results.) Our essay contest asked readers how violence affects them. We published the winning essays in our November-December 2008 issue. Because of the large response to the survey and essay contest, we decided to bring together five L.A. Youth staff writers and a juvenile court judge to examine this issue in more depth. At the roundtable discussion, they talked about their experiences with violence and what can be done to make teens feel safer. Excerpts from the discussion are printed here. The full text can be found on our website at www.layouth.com, along with a six-minute video of the discussion. I wish the violence would stop Teens suggest solutions to racial fights at school and gang problems

Britawnya Craft, 17, Warren HS (Downey): There’s been several times where a lot of our fights at school happen racially, racial motivat- ed. They may start out as one thing but everybody comes together and they just go at it. … What they ended up having to do is get more police officers to come. It was featured on the news several times and it just went on for like a whole week. Juvenile Court Judge Cynthia Loo: What did you do to protect yourself? Britawnya: Most of the time I spent after school in a teacher’s class while most of this was going on or I’d try to go the back way home so I wouldn’t get caught up in anything. Solange Rubio, 17, Leuzinger HS (Lawn- dale): When I was in 10th grade, I wasn’t at lunch but it [a fight] started. I understand that it was racial and then later on that day it ex- tended to outside the school. That same day at school there were helicopters and it really made it seem like more than what it was and it scared me more than it should have. Judge Loo: Do you think the school dealt with it well? Solange: They did suspend and expel those who were involved. They have tried to kick out more of the gang members or anyone who Participating in L.A. Youth’s roundtable discussion were (from left to right): Britawnya Craft, Esteban Garcia, Solange Rubio, shows that they are gang related. Juvenile Court Judge Cynthia Loo, Raymond Carrillo and Juan Valdovinos. Juan Valdovinos, 17, Fremont HS: Around that area [South Los Angeles] there are the Crips and wanted to steal my mp3 [player] and my ways wanted to, in a sense, fit in. … I knew the some suggestions that you all have. and the Bloods and the Florence so there’s al- cell phone. My friend came running and he consequences, which is why I never crossed the Esteban Garcia, 16, Warren HS: High school ways violence no matter what time of day. Just stopped them. Since then I started getting a line [and joined a gang] but I was always in the unfortunately many times is too late, you know, yesterday there was a fight about to break out ride. I stay at school all day until my mom picks middle. I knew the consequences of my brother to prevent this. Character building starts at in the morning as soon as I was walking to me up from school. went to jail, I’ve seen the stories of many people, home but once we’re in school we have to have school. It gets tiring after a while. It has to stop. Raymond Carrillo, 18, Polytechnic HS in Sun of how their friends die, how their homies die, that support from teachers, we have to have I mean I want to get out of here and move on Valley (2008 graduate): My brother was, I won’t how their family members die. People want to that support from our school. with my life and this violence and gangs, it’s mention any gangs, the names of them, but he be accepted and they’re willing to risk all those Britawnya: The police aren’t doing enough. not letting me do what I want. … Once I was was also in a gang. I was always around them things just for acceptance. I’ve had guns pulled on me walking outside walking to school and they came up to me because most of my friends were in gangs. I al- Judge Loo: Why don’t we talk now about and they’re a hundred feet away from me. It’s

16 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com violence in the community

like the police aren’t doing enough to stop the violence and it’s happening more in the poor neighborhoods and nobody’s saying anything Readers respond to gang essays and the kids become a part of that. Solange: I think more understanding from the teachers, because at my school a lot of stu- We don’t often receive letters to the editor in response to our essay contest winners. However, dents feel like some of the teachers don’t get many readers wrote to respond to the winning essays from the contest “How has violence affected what they’re going through and they just think that everything is OK so why aren’t you getting you?” in the November-December 2008 issue. We decided to print them here to let others share the good grades. The teachers that do put more their experiences with violence. The essay contest winners wrote about hanging out with a gang, understanding and try to speak to students, being scared in their neighborhood and an uncle who was shot. they really end up helping a lot of people that I’ve known change and it was because of them, because the teachers took the time to under- one of the most sad and in North Hollywood there’s a lot and violence in our cities, but the author found her way out, stand and not just pick on them like you know, scary essays I have ever read was of gang violence. You can’t even they don’t put so much thought yet she still had to suffer the loss why aren’t you doing this, why aren’t you doing “Sucked into the wrong crowd.” go outside without seeing graffiti into it until it happens to them or of her “best friend” Gabby. This that, get out of my class, you’re acting up. Just a few days around gang on the walls and alleys. This essay to a person close to them. When shows that even if you go the Raymond: Any organization or any type of members can change your life. shows that anyone can change we are teens, we are naive and wrong way, there’s always a light group or program that would bring forth love. Knowing that the author hung but they have to really want to believe that we know everything at the end of the tunnel wait- Because the truth is that what changed my life around a gang just because of change. Kids nowadays have the and that we are too young to ing for you. All you have to do is was not people giving me an attitude, was not a friend made me feel I should mentality of “I’m so cool because die. We hang out with the wrong choose to find a better crowd. people disrespecting me or anything like that watch out for who my friends I’m smoking” or “Look, I’m in people— people we think care Bernice Portugal but the people that really changed my life were are. I had a friend who was gang- a gang, I’m so cool now.” If this about us and for our safety—be- San Gabriel HS those people that loved me even though I dis- banging but sadly lost his life person can change, anyone can. cause they are going through respected them. avenging the loss of his friend. Gabby Rodriguez what we are going through. They It’s amazing to hear about Juan: There’s not programs outside of school. Clearly it’s not worth going into East Valley HS feel like our second family. I have the everyday events that threaten Usually they don’t go home after school, they’re a gang just to feel stronger than been through something like this, someone’s life. I’m lucky that I just out in the streets and they need somewhere other people. I think the people you hang but I finally realized that if they can go outside without any fear of to go because sometimes they just don’t like Brayan Lopez out with are very important. really did care about me, they harm. It’d be wonderful if every- their home because there’s violence at home East Valley HS (North Hollywood) That’s why “Sucked into the wouldn’t allow me to do crime one else could say that too. too and they want to escape from that. wrong crowd” really caught my and get chased by cops or do Robert To Britawnya: At my school there’s over 4,000 The essay “Scared for my life” attention. If you hang out with drugs. San Gabriel HS kids and you’re pretty much on your own. was inspirational. I can relate gang members, that doesn’t mean Diana Tran There’s no one you could talk to. to how life can be so dangerous you’re a gang member but to an- San Gabriel HS “Sucked into the wrong Audience member: What gives you hope? sometimes. I know how it feels to other gang you’re just as good as crowd” shows that making the Britawnya: Having an understanding of the live in poor communities where a gang member. So you can get I liked this essay because the right friends can shape your outside—what’s outside of our city, what’s out- there is always gang-related ac- jumped or shot just because you things that happened in it relat- future. My friends and I were side of L.A., what’s outside of the gang. It gives tivity going on. I really feel sad hang out with gang members. ed to real life out here. I feel bad kicking a hacky sack back and me hope that this isn’t going to go on forever. for those who have to live in such I think it’s important to choose when I walk down the street. If forth when this gang came up You can go to another place and it’s not going poorly managed neighborhoods your friends wisely. you were to walk down the streets and started trying to steal it. We to be as bad as this. just because their parents cannot Angel Siajes you would see many words on knew if we did something there Esteban: Education is personally what I love afford to live in better communi- East Valley HS the wall claiming rival gangs, was going to be fighting. So we but for a lot of people unfortunately it isn’t. But ties. I always hear about gang-re- sometimes with a line through played it smart and just stood I think that through that and writing and art, lated shootings and other types of It’s sad to know you almost lost the words, meaning “war.” All the there. The gang saw we didn’t try bringing that out in them really can inspire violence on the news. After hear- your uncle to the violence that drug and alcohol use that hap- to get it back so they threw it back them to understand that we’re together. ing about these types of things was going on around him when pens now is ridiculous because at us and left. Sometimes think- Solange: I know that I want to break the ste- on the news it really scares me, he was selling drugs. I’ve been people don’t know that if this ing smart pays off. reotype of where I come from. I’m always put especially when I have to walk in that situation where I didn’t doesn’t stop we’re just going to Jonathan Lam down by others who know where I come from, home from school. I like how this feel safe walking around an area, keep passing this to our siblings San Gabriel HS Leuzinger, and they’re like you’re not smart person described how her life was wondering if me and my family and our younger generations. enough. Because you go to that school you’re affected by violence and how she would make it through the day Anthony Acosta It must have been hard to see not going to go to college and you’re not going prayed every night that the vio- without something happening. Hutchinson MS someone you know lose their life, to do anything. I have this motivation to just lence would stop. This is why my I always wondered if my uncle especially a close friend. Growing prove them wrong. heart goes out to those who are would live until the next day. I’ve After reading the essay up hanging around a gang must Juan: If we go out and be successful and constantly affected by violence. lost two uncles to gang violence. “Sucked into the wrong crowd” have been hard. It’s sad that vio- come back and give back to the community, Byron To Jose Pulido I began to think about all the lence is an option some people that would make a really big difference, to see San Gabriel HS Hutchinson MS (La Mirada) people in this world who are like take, even though there are other that there is hope, that if we can do it they can that. It’s sad how teenagers get solutions. I wonder if gang vio- do it. Why be surrounded by all these people The essay that really caught “Sucked into the wrong killed, injured, even mentally lence will ever stop. that are just bringing you down when you could my attention was “Sucked into crowd” really opened my eyes. damaged because they went into Calvin Hwang do so much better? the wrong crowd” because living Everybody knows there are gangs the wrong crowd. I’m glad that San Gabriel HS www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 17 violence in the community

What do you think would help teens stay safe at school? Violence survey results Weapons searches ...... 46% Keeping gang members off campus ..... 44% This fall we asked our readers to share their experiences with violence in their neighborhoods and at More encouragement to care about school from teachers and administrators ...... 44% school. Here are the answers from the more than 1,000 teens who responded (thank you very much for More discipline when students do helping us out). We randomly chose three people to win $100 for participating. Congratulations to: Ernesto something wrong ...... 37% Tapia of Van Nuys MS, Joshua Uyeda of Shery HS (Torrance) and Jose Quiros of Foshay Learning Center. Stricter security ...... 29% Random locker searches ...... 29% Note: Some percentages do not add up to 100 because respondents skipped a question or checked all the answers that applied. Requiring students to wear uniforms ... 17% Other ...... 11% RESPONDENTS WERE: How often do you see or experience Do you feel safe at school? Gender: violence in your community? Yes 76% No 24% Where to turn 46% Male 54% Female Hardly ever ...... 30% The last time you felt unsafe, how did you A few times a week ...... 24% If you answered no, why don’t you feel safe? handle it? Ethnicity: Once a month ...... 21% Gangs on campus ...... 49% Talked to a family member ...... 40% 8% White 12% Black Once a week ...... 11% Racial fights ...... 44% Talked to a friend ...... 38% 54% Latino 7% Asian Every day ...... 8% Violence in the surrounding I kept it to myself ...... 25% 26% Other Never ...... 6% neighborhood spills into the school ..... 39% I haven’t felt unsafe ...... 24% Bullies ...... 39% Talked to a teacher or Community violence How has violence in your community Students bringing weapons other trusted adult ...... 19% Have you ever seen or experienced violence affected your actions? onto campus ...... 39% Other ...... 6% in your community? When I go out I look around for Gang tagging ...... 34% I reported it to the police ...... 4% Yes 89% No 11% people who might cause trouble ...... 41% There are not enough security guards 23% I don’t go out after dark ...... 37% Other ...... 20% Do you know of anti-gang or violence If you answered yes, what types of violence have I’m unable to go where I want ...... 29% Students making Internet threats against prevention programs in your neighborhood you seen or experienced in your community? I go directly home after school ...... 25% other students or the school ...... 19% that help teens keep safe? Gang tagging ...... 68% I haven’t changed my behavior I’m not sure if there are Someone being jumped ...... 66% because I feel safe ...... 25% How often do you see or experience a any programs where I live ...... 65% Someone being threatened ...... 59% Other ...... 14% conflict such as fights, riots or someone Yes but I’m not interested in Theft ...... 45% I’ve gotten involved in illegal activities ... 11% making threats, at your school? joining a program ...... 20% Shootings ...... 42% Hardly ever ...... 30% Yes I’m currently involved in a program .. 8% Drive-by shootings ...... 31% How has violence in your community made A few times a week ...... 23% Yes but I don’t have Other ...... 14% you feel? Once a month ...... 18% transportation to get there ...... 5% I worry about my friends Once a week ...... 12% Yes but I’m afraid of retaliation and family members ...... 56% Every day ...... 11% if I were to join ...... 3% I worry about my future ...... 35% Never ...... 7% It doesn’t affect me ...... 28% How do you feel about the police? Where to find help The littlest things get me angry ...... 17% How does your school respond to situations They don’t respond quickly enough ..... 35% I want to fight other people involving violence? They don’t arrest the people Teen Line when they make me angry ...... 17% Students don’t feel safe who are the cause of the problems ...... 33% (800) TLC-TEEN or I have trouble concentrating at school .. 11% reporting violence ...... 42% They harass teens ...... 26% (310) 855-HOPE Security is effective ...... 41% They’re doing all they can ...... 25% www.teenlineonline.org How do you feel about violence in your There aren’t enough I don’t know ...... 22% Confidential help line for teen community? security guards to control things ...... 24% They make me feel safe ...... 22% callers. Call between I wish there was less violence Teachers and staff There aren’t enough police officers 6 p.m.‑10 p.m. to speak with but it could be worse ...... 47% take too long to respond ...... 22% in my community ...... 17% a trained teen counselor. It’s ruining my community ...... 38% The security guards There are too many police officers There’s nothing anyone don’t do anything ...... 9% in my community ...... 10% 211 can do to reduce it ...... 22% Dial 211 or (800) 339-6993 My community feels safe ...... 18% What do you think would help teens be safe What do you think could reduce violence? (24/7) There are times when in their neighborhood? Active neighborhood watch programs .. 40% Directory assistance for social someone deserves it ...... 15% More adults involved in teens’ lives ..... 45% There’s nothing anyone can do because services in Los Angeles Coun- Other ...... 7% More after-school activities ...... 45% there will always be violence ...... 39% ty, including gang prevention More places to hang out More police officers ...... 34% and intervention programs. School safety like parks and libraries ...... 41% Harsher punishment for criminals ...... 30% Do you feel safe going to and coming from More police ...... 38% A peer-to-peer mediation/ school? Keep schools open later ...... 22% conflict resolution program at school .. 29% Yes 75% No 25% Other ...... 12% Other ...... 8%

18 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com gay mriarriaghts ge

Gay couples should be allowed to marry At first it wasn’t important to me, but I came to see this as a civil rights issue

By Stephany Yong ment of the debate. 14, Walnut HS “Well,” I thought, “it is also wrong to stop two people who love each other from being hile I got ready for school on Nov. joined by the strongest bond there is: marriage. 5, the day after the elections, I It doesn’t matter if homosexuality is against kept the radio on waiting to hear your religion. The government is secular.” The Wthe outcome of Proposition 8, more I thought about it, the more it made sense. the measure that would take away the right By not letting same-sex couples have a right as of same-sex couples to marry. My ears pricked basic as marriage, it is the equivalent of degrad- up as the results were announced. ing them to second-class citizens. “I think the results are pretty much final,” People say if gay couples have families, their said KIIS DJ Ryan Seacrest. “Prop. 8 passed.” kids will be taught the “gay” lifestyle. If straight I couldn’t believe it. How could this prop- couples can raise gay kids, why can’t gay cou- osition pass? I always thought of California as ples raise straight kids? Gay couples could be liberal. You would think the citizens of Cal- loving parents who would teach their kids tol- ifornia, which imprisoned Japanese-Ameri- erance, equality and empathy. These are traits cans at internment camps during World War that many people who voted for Proposition II, would recognize the wrongs of discrimina- 8 lacked. tion and vote against propositions that would diminish a group’s rights. It’s important to speak out Around the country, gay and straight peo- Although my dad and I disagree on a lot of ple poured into the streets in the days after things, we’ve always agreed on saying what’s on the election carrying posters and chanting to our minds. A supporter of civil rights, I found protest the passage of Proposition 8. People myself passionately against Proposition 8 while joined hands and were fighting for something Dad was the opposite (he would honk when they were passionate about. My heart ached as we passed by “Yes on 8” rallies on the street). I sympathized with the protestors. Same-sex When I told him I was writing an article on my couples should be able to celebrate their love Illustration by Jennie Nguyen, 14, Wilson MS (Glendale) opinions, I was surprised by how happy he was. and devotion through marriage. Even though I was writing about something same values drove him to seek an education thinking independently of my parents. In May, that went against his beliefs, he was proud that I stood apart from my family in America, start his own business and raise the state Supreme Court ruled that banning I was strong enough to voice my opinions. My conservative dad disagreed. “Why are a family. I still keep those values dear to my gay marriage violated the California Constitu- In 2004, 62 percent of voters opposed gay these people protesting?” he asked as we were heart. My parents are my role models. The val- tion’s protections against discrimination. After marriage in California. In 2008, 52 percent were watching the news. “The people have spoken ues that drove Dad to succeed inspired me to the ruling, conservatives put Proposition 8 on against it. Things are changing, and so am I. So through the ballots and don’t want gay mar- work hard for what I wanted. the ballot to re-establish marriage as a union as I sat in my room on Nov. 5, disappointed by riage. They should respect voters instead of Another value I learned from my parents is between only a man and woman. I first heard the results, I thought, “How are we going to make pushing for something that people already vot- to think independently. My parents are both Re- of the proposition while my mom and I were progress? Where are we going if we continue to ed against.” publicans, but they do not always vote Republi- in the car listening to KFI (a conservative talk have prejudices?” Just like how I challenged my “Well, Dad,” I said, “if it concerns taking can. My mother is pro-choice and my dad agrees radio station). I shrugged it off. “I’m not plan- family’s beliefs, I hope people keep challenging away people’s rightful freedoms, people should with many of President Barack Obama’s poli- ning to marry a girl,” I thought. “Why should I Proposition 8. I look forward to waking up soon stick up for what’s right. Just because the major- cies such as investing in alternative fuels and re- care if gay couples can get married?” to a radio announcement that same-sex couples ity has more people, it isn’t always right.” newable energy. My parents are educated voters As I listened to both sides debate Proposi- can get married in California. “You’re becoming too liberal,” he retorted. who read about the issues before they vote. That tion 8 in world history class, I heard a class- Am I too liberal? Sure I am in the eyes of need to be informed has always fed my curiosi- mate bring up the violations against civil rights my dad. Raised with 10 siblings in the small ties; because of it, I read newspapers and maga- that Proposition 8 posed since the government Stephany hopes town of Kudat in Malaysia (where homosex- zines and discuss what is going on in the world shouldn’t be able to stop love between two peo- the continued uality was never discussed), my dad still em- with my parents. They encourage me not to care ple. This got me thinking, “Why shouldn’t gay protests against braces and preaches traditional values such as about what others think of my opinions. couples keep the right to be married? It does Proposition 8 will loyalty to the family and living humbly. Those But it was Proposition 8 that really got me not hurt the marriages between straight cou- help gay couples ples.” get the right to A friend who was for Proposition 8 said that marry. Go to layouth.com to read more views on gay marriage gay marriage was “wrong and gross,” which was the most ignorant and crude sounding com- www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 19 immigration

I’m glad she came here My friendship with my housekeeper gave me a better understanding of illegal immigration

By Brett Hicks 17, Loyola HS

hree years ago I watched news stories about students walking out of schools throughout Los Angeles to protest a Tproposed bill against illegal immigration. I didn’t think much about it at the time, and I didn’t have an opinion about immigration. Back then I wasn’t informed about political issues. But seeing kids my age get involved made me wonder why they were protesting. I thought about my former housemaid’s story of coming to the United States illegally and I realized I had a personal connection to this issue. I wanted to be more informed about immigration. Emilia was my family’s maid for 15 years. She took care of our family by preparing our meals at times, cleaning the house, and watching over my older brother and I when my parents were busy. She lived with us for several years. She was like a parent because my parents were constantly working. During seventh grade my mother told me about Emilia’s past. Civil war made life hard for her in El Salvador. Emilia, just like thousands of others, needed to escape in search of a better life. She left her 3-year-old daughter Marlyn with her mother and came to America alone. She arrived in the United States with the help of coyotes (people who help others cross the border for money). When I heard about this, I was shocked. The At top: Brett still gets together fact that Emilia went through such a difficult with his former housekeeper, experience surprised me. I could never pic- Emilia, at his house on Sunday ture her holding on to a moving train to reach mornings. Right: One of Brett’s the United States. I felt that I had someone to favorites memories is playing look up to because of her courage and bravery at the park with Emilia. Photo to do what she did. I also felt sorry for Emilia (at top) by Cathleen McCaffery, 17, because she went through so many hardships Marlborough School back home and God knows she experienced even more hardships on her way here with the fear of border patrol catching her and sending her back. Leaving her daughter must have been difficult as well. That Emilia risked so much to come to the United States meant that she had a lot of courage and it was the right thing to do for her daughter. My mother told me Emilia arrived on my family’s doorsteps in Bel-Air in September 1991, a few weeks before I was born. She’d been rec-

20 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com ommended by another housekeeper who was migration in America. I recently watched the the country? Another dilemma is the MS-13 her relative. The first couple months were very I couldn’t picture movie Innocent Voices about the civil war in El gang from El Salvador. When Emilia lived in hard for Emilia. She would sob in her room, Salvador in the 80s. It was about an 11-year-old an apartment in West Hollywood, some MS- wondering if she would ever see her daugh- her holding on to boy who was recruited to the army. He escapes 13 gang members would come to the apart- ter again and realizing there was no way to to find his mother, but their village was burned. ment building and hang around its pool. She go back home. If she returned to El Salvador a moving train to Before I saw the movie I knew there was oppres- was afraid of them because they were dan- to visit her family, it would be very difficult sion in some countries, but I didn’t know ex- gerous. Allowing more people into the Unit- for her to cross the border again. My parents reach the U.S. I actly what it was. I was shocked to think about ed States is not as simple a solution as I wish gave Emilia her own room and made her feel at how people dealt with this. It gave me a bet- it could be. home. Emilia saved all the money she earned felt I had someone ter sense of what people in war-torn countries I kind of regret I didn’t ask Emilia about her working for us to send to her family in El Sal- were going through and why they wanted to life in El Salvador as much as I should’ve. Basic vador. She wanted them to leave the warfare to look up to come to the United States. stuff like what were you like as a kid? I have al- and move to L.A. Some media portray illegal immigrants ways considered Emilia a true best friend. She because of her as “aliens” who harm America’s economy is kind, loving and has a wonderful sense of hu- she’s always loved me by taking jobs from citizens because they’ll mor. We never had any arguments. We always My mother told me that when I was born, courage. Emilia work for lower wages. What they don’t show had a good time. I get birthday and Christmas a smile came on Emilia’s face. She felt as if she is that these “aliens” are arriving from harsh cards from her every year. She always writes, had her own child to take care of and it made also went through nations where they are surrounded by pov- “I love you, hope you’re doing well. You’re in her happy. Later my mom told me that Emil- erty and political strife. I have watched Lou God’s hands.” She didn’t forget about me. She ia saw me as her son. I felt thankful because I so many hardships Dobbs on CNN. He talks about illegal im- still had me in her heart. It reminds me of how never thought that somebody (other than my migrants as “aliens” and says they should go she loves me. parents) would think of me that way. back home. home. Listening to him is hurtful and frustrat- She moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 2006 but I remember as a child, we would spend our ing because he is always so negative. I have Arturo couldn’t find any work out there as a afternoons at Beverly Glen Park. I would run also researched policies on immigration such plumber, so they returned to L.A. We stayed around the nearby golf course touching each I’d have a chance to see her. I’d come home as the DREAM Act. I wish this would become in touch when she moved. It now feels good hole’s flag pole while Emilia would chase af- around 12:30 and we’d go to lunch. I’d tell a law because it would allow undocumented to have her in my life. ter me, trying to catch up to me with her arms her how I was doing in school. We’d go to Ba- students who complete at least two years of I think teens should be aware of immigra- stretched out in front of her, panting for air. ja Fresh or the Olive Garden. Sometimes I’d college or two years in the military to apply tion and they should form their own opinions. During my first years of school, we would spend have dinner at her house and she’d serve rice for U.S. citizenship. Emilia’s story has given me a better sense of our mornings having hot Cream of Wheat or and beans and chicken. Afterwards I’d play why people leave their countries and come to oatmeal, and chocolate milk. Also, Emilia with her daughters. She was like a 1950s mom. a border fence isn’t the answer the United States. I’m glad Emilia has been would accompany us on our family road trips She puts in a lot of effort to making her house I hear news stories about how we are pay- able to have a better life here by having a to Yosemite National Park, Idaho and Big Sur. perfect. She invited me to Gabriella’s birth- ing taxes to build a fence along the U.S./Mex- home and raising a family and I think every- Having her with us on vacation made me feel day parties and I’d play with Gabriella on the ico border to keep immigrants out. My friend one should have the opportunity to do that. like she was part of the family. moon bounce. Spending time with her out- agrees with building a fence because he thinks I believe that people who are in America ille- She moved out of our house when I was in side of my house, I got to know her as a per- that people should wait in their home nations gally should be allowed to apply for citizen- second grade. She was still our housekeeper son. She helped me with my Spanish. I’d try to obtain a visa or permission to come here le- ship. Just because they came here illegally off and on, but she came only three times a to order meals in Spanish and she’d help me gally. I don’t agree with the fence. The fence should not be an excuse to kick them out. The week. Later on, Emilia married Arturo, who say the right thing. Now I can speak to her in would not reduce illegal immigration because world needs to understand their reasons for was our plumber, and started a family in Rese- Spanish. I am fortunate to have her see me as people can figure out a way to get around it. doing so, just like Emilia’s story. We need to da. They had a daughter, Gabriella. Eventually, part of her family. Also, fences represent our country’s negative give them a second chance, even if they ar- Emilia’s daughter Marlyn moved to Califor- She was also there for me. When I had prob- view toward illegal immigrants. rived here illegally. nia to live with the family. Her dream final- lems at school, she’d help me out. Once there Emilia got her green card, which means she ly came true when she was reunited with her was a guy who was being a jerk. He put me has permanent residency and can live here le- daughter. Unfortunately, Emilia’s mother did down trying to be cool. We’d get into fights. gally. She has helped me put a personal face on not want to relocate to Los Angeles because My dad would tell me to fight back and Emilia illegal immigration. The hardships she faced Brett likes she did not want to leave El Salvador. Although would tell me to walk away. Her advice made back home and on her way here made me be- making pancakes her mother passed away recently, she was able more sense. If you fight, the problem is just go- come accepting to more open immigration. I for Emilia when to come to Los Angeles to visit her family being to escalate. The next time he was a jerk, I don’t think immigrants should have to face she comes over fore she died. ignored him and we didn’t get into fights any- such burdens to get to the United States. Peo- for breakfast. Even though Emilia moved, I still spent more. ple shouldn’t have to sneak into the country, time with her. On the first Thursday of the I have been trying to learn more about Emil- but we still have to let people in for the right month, I’d get out of school early. That’s when ia and her past to broaden my views on im- reasons. How can we keep criminals out of www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 21 sexual health

Acting against AIDS Putting on a play made me realize teens are at risk and need to protect themselves

By Jessica Carreiro Tommy Guns, lasers, an atomic bomb and a One time, a few of my friends and I got on no other purpose, I thought, than to make us 17, Wilson HS (Long Beach) shotgun. My Tommy Gun sounded halfway the topic of bad jokes. One after another we’d afraid to go outside. I found out that in 2006, between gargling water and choking. It got a tell an absolutely terrible joke and laugh hys- California had the second-highest rate of AIDS used to watch documentaries on the In- laugh, but not the kind I was looking for. The on- terically at it. More and more kids came over in the country, with 140,000 cases. In Los Ange- dependent Film Channel and HBO about ly sound Mr. Bowden laughed at was the shot- to join the conversation until the whole class les, African Americans accounted for the high- AIDS victims in Africa and Thailand, and gun. “That’s her impression of Dick Cheney,” he had migrated into our group—even our look- est number of AIDS cases at 17,960, followed Ifeel sad but not scared. It was happening said. I ended up replacing the others with com- out. It came my turn to tell a joke. “What’s the closely by whites and Hispanics. there, in third world countries that had noth- ic book sounds like boom and zap. I thought, difference between a pile of dead babies and a Soon, he gave us a deadline to return with ing to do with my life in L.A. Even when I heard “Sure, I’ll be embarrassing myself, but it’s on- pile of rice?” I looked up at my friend. Her eyes our own articles. I researched online and found statistics on the news about AIDS affecting ly in front of freshmen.” were wide open. At first I thought the joke was out that the number of people with AIDS has teens in the United States, I still didn’t feel it The play was a joke, and each day of prac- too offensive. I turned around and there was fluctuated and, in many cities, was on the rise. related to me. No one I knew had AIDS But I couldn’t connect with the statistics. and not being sexually active meant I Numbers don’t feel real; they char- couldn’t get AIDS. That’s the way I acterize people as a mass. They thought until my drama class put don’t convey any sort of person- on a play called Carriers. Now al struggle. I know teens should take the One day Mr. Bowden sat threat of AIDS seriously. us down and slipped a tape of Everyone moaned when Mr. And the Band Played On into the Bowden, my drama teacher, told VCR. It was a 1993 docudrama us that we would be performing on the discovery of AIDS before the play. The drama class has put anyone knew what caused AIDS on the play every two years for a or even what to call it. I teared up long time. I’m sure that in 1992 at the end when the main char- the dialogue was hip and hap- acter died. But even though it pening, but today it’s out of date. was a true story, it still felt like At one point, a guy with AIDS just a movie. who is accused of spreading the I put the same emphasis on HIV virus begins his monologue, the four letters of AIDS as I did “I’m Garren. And you’ve got to on the three letters of VHS. AIDS admit, I look good!” Who says was old and distant. No one talk- stuff like that? I thought, “Mr. ed about it. It couldn’t touch me. Bowden can’t actually believe I was more worried about SATs that this play is going to mag- and getting into college. ically cure AIDS. It’s time to move on.” it Finally hit me that My friend didn’t want to act teens can die from aids in it either. She said, “If kids are I changed the way I thought going to do it, they’re going to about AIDS when I heard about it do it. Watching some play isn’t from someone I knew. A few days going to change that.” before the show, Juan, a senior in our class who I never really talked cheesy Sound effects made Illustration by Fiona Hansen, 16, Marlborough School to, said quietly, “I knew someone who it even worse died of AIDS.” The room was silent and Juan I had the most embarrassing part for one tice I found a new way to keep it funny. “Watch Mr. Bowden standing behind my seat. “Go on” was hesitant as Mr. Bowden asked question af- reason: sound effects. I can’t even roll my r’s this!” I’d say to my classmates as I attempted he said. I finished the punch line almost whis- ter question. Juan had to pause to keep from cry- to pronounce my last name correctly and they an Australian accent with my lines. No one pering, “You can’t pick up a pile of rice with a ing. It was clear this was hard for him. But he expect me to do sound effects? The title of my took practice seriously. For goofing off, it was pitchfork.” He looked down at me expression- kept talking. I wanted to look away and plug my character was “Miss Public Health” and her job all pretty strategic. It was a key part of the op- less, then slowly turned around and walked ears, but my curiosity wouldn’t allow it. is to kill off sexually transmitted diseases. My eration to always have a lookout—someone back to his office. Not two seconds went by Juan’s friend, a senior at the time, was a her- teacher’s instructions were to come up with five standing just out of sight pretending to run before everyone was laughing. oin user. “He said he was going to stop, but that shooting noises for when I zap away STDs like their lines while keeping their eyes open for Each day, Mr. Bowden would bring in an would only last until his next fix,” Juan said. crabs and scabies. I came up with grenades, the teacher. article with a depressing statistic designed for “Users never clean their needles and they share

22 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com with everyone.” Juan choked up. “Then one day of the fight against AIDS. We wanted the audi- he told me he had AIDS. He seemed scared. I’d ence members to know about AIDS and how never seen him like that before. Things start- to protect themselves without living in con- Facts about HIV/AIDS ed happening so quick. We had been told that stant fear of it. So much of how sexual educa- you could live years with AIDS, but within a few tion is taught is scaring teens. My sex ed class HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes AIDS (acquired immune months his face was already changing. It be- was a joke. The slides showed pictures of STDs deficiency syndrome). This illness weakens the immune system, making it less came pale and pasty, like he was dead or some- and the teacher constantly pounded into our able to fight infections and diseases. Currently there is no cure for AIDS. thing. I could hardly recognize him.” brains that “the first time can be the last time” I couldn’t take my eyes off Juan as he cried, and how “the safest sex is no sex at all.” Telling 1. You cannot get HIV from ... looking down at the ground. “Barely a year af- teenagers not to have sex and assuming you’re • working with or being around someone who has HIV ter he had been diagnosed his immune sys- giving them all the education they need is not • sweat, spit, tears, clothes, toilet seats, or through everyday things like sharing tem gave out, and he died.” Juan took a deep only naive, it’s life threatening. Teens need to a meal, insect bites or stings breath. He seemed glad to get that off his chest. know that sex doesn’t kill, diseases do, and • donating blood So many thoughts were racing through my there are easy ways to prevent them. • a closed-mouth kiss (but there is a very small chance of head. “The kid was 18 when he died of AIDS?” getting it from an open-mouth or “French” kiss with an “Could this happen to one of my friends?” I i hoped our audience would listen infected person because of possible blood contact) felt awful about how easy it had been for me The day of the show consisted of four con- to shrug off the pain that AIDS has caused so secutive performances. At 8:15 a.m., the first 2. You can get HIV from ... many people. I felt ashamed that I had acted audience poured in. Never before had so many • sexual intercourse or oral sex freshmen been so intimidating. I looked at the • birth, if your mother is infected kids in the audience. Loud, popping their gum, • sharing needles with someone who is infected texting, listening to their iPods—they weren’t • a blood transfusion (risk is extremely low) AIDS was old and going to make this easy. But despite a few but- terflies, I wasn’t nervous. The lack of curtains, 3. HIV can infect anyone, male, female, young, old, gay or straight. Don’t think distant. No one costumes and paid admittance made the play you’re not at risk just because you’re a teen. More than half of all new HIV feel less professional and more like I was just infections in the United States occur among people under the age of 25. Almost talked about it. talking to the audience. I felt comfortable. 11.8 million youth around the world are living with HIV or AIDS. Throughout the The first performance went well. I got a cou- world, almost 6,000 people ages 15 to 24 become infected with HIV each day. It couldn’t touch ple laughs, though I’m not sure if they were laughing at me or with me. With each perfor- 4. You can live 10 or more years with HIV without showing any symptoms. me. I was more mance, I tried to make my sound effects fun- nier to lighten the somewhat serious mood. 5. Birth control methods like the pill or the patch give you no protection from worried about They seemed to be reacting just like we want- HIV. Condoms protect you, but only if they are used correctly. ed them to. Our jokes were followed by laughs SATs and getting and at times they were so into the play they’d 6. You can get tested anonymously and without parental consent at a local forget to close their mouths. health clinic. To find a clinic near you that offers free or low-cost HIV tests, call into college. I At the conclusion of each performance, the the STD/HIV hotline at (800) 758-0880 or go to aidshotline.org. cast came together for a question and answer changed the way session with the audience. It was amazing to see how much I had learned when I saw how I thought about little the audience knew. How could they actu- 2, 3” and we’d all join in “(562) 570-4000.” After aware they had HIV. I don’t want to scare you ally think there is a cure for AIDS? One fresh- a while it seemed tedious and kind of cheesy. into thinking that if you have sex you’ll instant- AIDS when I heard man asked, completely serious, “Can you get Then a girl who had been asking a lot of ques- ly get AIDS, but I also don’t want you to think crabs from the beach?” A question that some- tions and joking around about not going out- that there is nothing to worry about. If you are about it from one in every audience asked was, “Is it better side anymore, shouted out from the back of sexually active, wear a condom. It might not to use two condoms?” I laughed at Juan’s re- the room, “What’s that number again?” We re- seem like such a hassle when you consider the someone I knew. sponse, “No double bagging!” Using two con- peated it as she typed it into her phone. I knew alternative. And go get tested. Most cities pro- doms is unsafe because the friction can cause that even if we didn’t get through to anyone vide free HIV testing at their public health cen- the condoms to break. Once the audience start- else in that audience, we got through to her ters. All you have to do is show up. Your life is like as long as AIDS didn’t affect me, it didn’t ed getting comfortable, the questions became and she’ll be safer. worth it. matter. I pictured myself in Juan’s position, more educational. Someone asked, “If you get Looking back, I know I wasn’t the only stu- thinking about how I would feel if I lost one an STD and you get pregnant, does your kid get dent in my drama class who didn’t understand of my best friends to AIDS. It was scary know- it too?” Mr. Axelson, a health teacher for one the point of the play in the beginning. And I’m ing there was nothing I could do. Juan’s sto- of the classes in the audience, replied, “In the willing to guess that I’m not the only teen who ry showed me that any of my sexually active case of syphilis, yes.” I had no idea. has found it hard to connect to a disease that Jessica wants friends could get AIDS and I couldn’t protect Before the performance we had been told seems so distant. But the fact is, AIDS isn’t dis- teens to take them. I finally realized that that was the point to memorize the number to the Long Beach tant and too many people find that out too late. AIDS seriously. of the play—to get people to understand that Health Department, where teens can go to get About half of all new HIV infections in Los An- AIDS can affect you, whether you’re the one free HIV testing without having to tell their par- geles County last year occurred among peo- with the disease or not. ents. Throughout the question and answer ses- ple aged 15 to 24, according to the Long Beach I finally felt like I was a part of the play and sions one of the cast members would shout “1, Aids Foundation. A quarter of them were un- www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 23 ChealthATEGORYHERE

Eating right while eating out After learning I had high cholesterol, I made my diet healthier

By Brandie Hanson 17, North HS (Torrance)

ast year my friends and I were out for a late night dinner at Denny’s after a long day at Disneyland. I saw a spork on La Denny’s advertisement. I wondered out loud, “Why do they call a spork a spork and not a foon?” My friend Jessica said she wouldn’t be able to say, “Pass me a foon please,” with a straight face. These kinds of kooky conversa- tions are typical when my friends and I go out to eat, which used to be almost every day. I love to eat, I love food, and in a small city like Tor- rance where I live, eating out is the only thing that’s fun to do with friends. But for me eating out so much wasn’t a good idea because of my high cholesterol. The summer before my freshmen year I went to the doctor’s office for my usual check- up. I got my blood taken because I had been sick. My doctor called a couple nights later and told my mom my cholesterol level was 186, too high for someone my age (a healthy level for adults is less than 200, but my doctor said that when you’re younger you have had less time to build up cholesterol so it should be lower). Nei- ther my mom nor my dad have high cholesterol so it was most likely not hereditary, meaning something that came from them. It was a shock because I would always laugh when I saw those Vytorin commercials for pills that lower your cholesterol, in which the people look like the food they eat. But now those Avoiding the fried food and steak on the menu, Brandie (right) ordered a chicken salad when she ate out commercials weren’t so funny. with Julie Park, 17, of North High and two other friends. Photo by Anisa Berry, 17, View Park Prep HS We talked about it after my mom got off the phone. The reason seemed obvious to us. I had imals such as steak and ham, but also cheese rich goodies. I love cheese but I stopped eating At home instead of munching on all kinds of been eating McDonald’s every day after school and some oils. Also trans fat, found in many it completely. It was fairly easy because cheese things, I began to snack only when I was hun- for the past six months. I would order six-piece fast-food products, raises your bad cholester- stays in the deli drawer in my fridge. Out of sight gry on fruits and veggies. There were usually Chicken McNuggets, large fries and every once ol, LDL (low-density lipoproteins). out of mind. It was harder to stop using butter Tupperware containers of fruits and veggies in a while a Coke. I knew it was unhealthy but because I spread it on many things like bread that had already been cut in the fridge. I did it didn’t matter at the time. I cut back on junk food and dairy and crackers, but I did. It was easier to stop eat- have days when I would go to 7-Eleven and go I didn’t know much more than the basics After learning all this, I decided that I ing eggs because they had to be cooked, so no crazy and buy a bunch of snack food—a Slur- about cholesterol. I knew that it built up in the wouldn’t eat out so much and I would eat eggs meant less time and effort. pee, chips, candy and Hostess cakes—because arteries. My mom told me that having high cho- healthier at home. I still loved food but I wanted I started to bring a big fruit salad to school I would get the munchies. After stuffing my face lesterol could lead to a heart attack and heart to stay healthy for my family and friends. every day. I would eat it in third period and on days like that I would feel sick but it didn’t disease when people get older. Heart prob- Whenever I would buy or eat something I that would be enough to fill me up for the rest ruin my diet since it was once in a while. lems ran on my dad’s side of the family so I would look at the nutrition facts on the label of the school day. I also cut down on snacks. My mom started buying healthier snacks like knew having high cholesterol put me at a great- and check to see how much saturated fat there Sometimes I wouldn’t bring money to school baked chips, 100-calorie snack packs, fruit and er risk. My mom did more research on choles- was, if there was trans fat, and of course the to resist the temptation to buy the unhealthy veggies, and cooking healthier dinners. My fa- terol. From her and my doctor I learned that amount of cholesterol. I was disappointed to stuff they sell like Chinese food, big choco- vorite meat had always been steak but my mom the causes of higher cholesterol are diets high find that a lot of dairy products had a lot of cho- laty brownies and all kinds of chips and can- made fewer steaks and more salads. Once the in saturated fat, found mostly in food from an- lesterol so I had to cut back on all the creamy, dy from the vending machines. food in the kitchen was healthier it was easy.

24 l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com Fast food comparison

would like teens to know what they’re eating at these restaurants so they will I try to live a healthier lifestyle. For a typical 2,000-calorie diet, you should consume no more than 65 grams of fat and 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day. Note: Nutritional information was taken from the restaurants’ websites and My doctor didn’t mention exercise could way home from my friend Christy’s house. www.chipotlefan.com. help lower my cholesterol but my mom did They’re all within a mile. How could I resist and I stayed on my soccer team even though the temptation when it was a minute’s drive McDonald’s 40g fat, 95mg cholesterol it wasn’t as much fun as it used to be. away? In an article in the Los Angeles Times, Big Mac: 540 calories, 29g Chips: 570 calories, 27g When I got my license my sophomore the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research fat, 75mg cholesterol fat, 0mg cholesterol year I’d pass Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC, found that the average Californian lives near Medium fries: 380 calories, Total: 1,623 calories, 67g A&W, Taco Bell, Wienerschnitzel, a Chinese four times as many fast food restaurants and 19g fat, 0mg cholesterol fat, 95mg cholesterol restaurant and a Mexican restaurant on the convenience stores as grocery stores and pro- McFlurry: 620 calories, duce vendors. I think that the number of fast 20g fat, 55mg cholesterol Healthier options food restaurants and convenience stores sur- Total: 1,540 calories, 68g Souplantation rounding us is overkill but in the end it is still fat, 130mg cholesterol Chicken noodle soup: 170 Eating healthy and exercising will up to us to choose what we eat. I started driv- calories, 3g fat, 30mg cholesterol help keep your cholesterol low. A ing a different way and carrying less money to Burger King Caesar Salad Asiago: 270 good cholesterol level for teens is avoid temptation. Double whopper: 900 calories, calories, 22g fat, 30mg cholesterol lower than 170. Your cholesterol is 57g fat, 175mg cholesterol Low-fat buttermilk cornbread: high if it is 200 or higher. Back to the doctor for A follow-up Medium fries: 360 calories, 140 calories, 2g fat, 10mg cholesterol The summer before junior year, I went back 20g fat, 0mg cholesterol Total: 580 calories, 27g Brandie’s tips for to the doctor to get my blood taken to check on Dutch apple pie: 300 calories, fat, 70mg cholesterol being healthier my cholesterol. Every time I looked at the ban- 13g fat, 0mg cholesterol dage I worried, “How much did my cholester- Total: 1,560 calories, 90g Subway • Read labels. I used to read la- ol change? Was it better or worse?” fat, 175mg cholesterol Six-inch club sandwich: bels to find out if a food was fat- A couple days later my doctor called with the 320 calories, 6g fat, 35mg cholesterol tening but now I read labels for results. I remember my mom listening intently Chipotle Chocolate chip cookie: 210 cholesterol, too. I look for food and asking how I could change my diet and what Burrito with steak, rice, pinto calories, 10g fat, 15mg cholesterol that has less than 5 percent of I should do. My mom got off the phone and told beans, cheese, guacamole, Total: 530 calories, 16g your daily value of saturated fat my dad and I that my cholesterol was higher. It salsa and lettuce: 1,053 calories, fat, 50mg cholesterol and of cholesterol. Be aware that was 200. I felt defeated. I couldn’t think of any- some foods, like avocados, have thing I did wrong. My diet was way better. healthy fat but nutrition facts I’d been able to keep my diet healthy but don’t show the difference be- when my friends started to get their licenses options are healthier. I usually stay away from in cholesterol will never die, but I’ve definite- tween good and bad fat. we had more freedom to eat out, which made meats that are higher in saturated fat, like steak, ly cut back. Even my boyfriend tries to keep • I eat smaller servings by or- it harder to eat well. We started eating out al- and fried foods because oil is also high in sat- me healthy, which is comforting. When we go dering a side or a salad instead most every day after school because we hadn’t urated fat. Salads with dressing on the side out to eat he doesn’t let me order eggs. Since of an entree when I go out to eat eaten all day. We’re hungry and bored so we go are usually the best option. No dessert. With- I can’t order eggs, he can’t salt his food so it’s with friends. to Jack in the Box, Chipotle, Subway—almost out a dessert menu on the table it’s much easi- a win-win situation. His dad salts his food all • I don’t carry as much mon- anywhere we feel like. er. Sometimes at dinner I will eat less than my the time and has high blood pressure so it’s a ey as I used to so I can’t buy One week it was Wahoo’s on Monday, In- friends do. I order a side or a salad instead of a habit he’s picked up from his family. snacks when I’m not at home. N-Out on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning meal. When I get to choose, we go to Subway I’m healthier now and in better shape. I’ve • Exercise. You’re supposed to before I went to school my mom said, “Try to or Souplantation, which are healthier. been going to the gym at least three times a keep your body in good shape. come home after school and have dinner at This summer I went for another check- week since I stopped playing soccer my junior It makes your heart healthy. home.” She was beginning to worry about how up and found that my cholesterol was up to year. And you’ll be surprised to know that I • Find ways to resist temptation, much fast food I was eating. I thought, “OK 224. The doctor came to the conclusion that haven’t had McDonald’s since eighth grade. such as driving a different route Mom I’ll try.” After school that day I got bo- the problem was just in my genes. My mom so you pass fewer fast food res- ba and then I went home to eat dinner, which and I asked about medication but the doctor taurants. was macaroni and cheese, one of my favor- said I was too young for the benefits to out- • If you’re worried about your ites, but not too healthy. Then Baja Fresh on weigh the possible side effects. health, get your cholesterol Thursday and El Torito on Friday. I realized I Brandie says checked at a doctor’s office or shouldn’t be eating out so often but I thought i’ll always eat healthy eating healthier health clinic. It’s better to know. it was a phase and after a month we’d get tired I’m trying to lower my cholesterol so it doesn’t have to It’s not that hard to change your of going out to eat. doesn’t get worse. Every morning I eat oat- taste bad. lifestyle. The problem with eating out is that you have meal, which is proven to lower cholesterol. I to ask for the nutrition facts; they’re not star- eat a lot of fruit, which has no cholesterol. My ing me in the face, so I’m left guessing at which love for eggs and butter and other foods high www.layouth.com January-February 2009 l.a.youth 25 com . h t

Books u layo . www ------a mia

gar -

flower

learns that his selfish

even planting a even

drug habit.

Even though the message of “you shouldn’t shouldn’t “you of message the though Even

the first book I’ve read to mention the website. I the website. mention to read I’ve the first book

Toward the end of the book it got really suspense really got it book the of end the Toward in, believe you what for fight to you tells book This I was frustrated that they forced her to change her her change to her forced they that frustrated was I becomes and rules the to adjusts she while a After a in live I because confusion her to relate could I However, after meaningless searching on However, in interested was I down. book the put couldn’t I tries to become nicer, become tries to

mend this book. this mend attached to her 5-year-old cousin Magdalene and her her and Magdalene cousin 5-year-old her to attached She cult. the liking starts She Daniel. cousin, teenage Kirby? or Esther she Is is. she who decide to has five with live I where house a is which home, group have you home group my At staff. adult and girls other with. agree don’t I things are there but rules follow to the with agree doesn’t Kirby—she with same the It’s resist. to wants she so rules cult the escape would Kirby if out find to wanted I ful. cult the about learning liked also I mom. her find and different. was it because recom totally I way. your going aren’t things if even and aunt are shocked. They place her in a room and and room a in her place They shocked. are aunt and the from verses memorize to her forcing door, the lock Bible. like her, was that everything away took They beliefs. appearance. and manners slang, clothing, her ness talking think ness I girls. part But to thatthe is best furniture where story classic talks some or this isn’t little a dark when fairy gets It tale. happy-go-lucky a and character major a dealing withof the abuse ev with dealing me like teens actual characters, the judged being or teased getting like life school eryday their in myself put could I appearance. their by shoes. fresh is story the familiar, is cover” its by book a judge century. 21st exciting—very and find love on MySpace. I really enjoyed this it because really I enjoyed MySpace. on find love was he in nightclubs and MySpace attractive. Slowly aren’t ways money-grubbing and he transforma beast’s The measures!). (drastic den like this me really made humble to spoiled from tion on focus allowing to the book came early, It book. his personality traitsof likethe rest his awkward nor character’s nor findhim love. to for was really hoping - - - - -

version of of version

ruary 2009 sther ackson J E Kyle doesn’t realize that doesn’t Kyle Kyle is desperate to find a to desperate is Kyle

Choi

January-Feb estiny ot ot ally growls.

th S D u N

by by s

yo . w

a to break the spell after the spell his break girlfriendto dumps

. ie m m

l v

calls him shallow and embarrasses him in front front in him embarrasses and shallow him calls

A re She doesn’t follow the rules so the cult always finds finds always cult the so rules the follow doesn’t She When she gets to their community she realizes realizes she community their to gets she When The book begins with her finding out that her begins her that finding withbook her out The The witch curses witch himturning by The beast a him into Sixteen-year-old Kyle Kingsbury attends a wealthy wealthy a attends Kingsbury Kyle Sixteen-year-old The book is about a 14-year-old girl named Kirby, Kirby, named girl 14-year-old a about is book The Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale was a page-turner. page-turner. a was Beale Fleur by Esther Not Am f you love fairy tales and romance as much as I do, do, I as much as romance and fairy tales love you f then Beastly is most definitely the book for you. Alex Alex you. for book the definitely most is Beastly then eviewed

eviewed

26 dent a way of punishing her. One time she takes the kitch the takes she time One her. punishing of way a was she because hair her off chops and scissors en uncle Her all times. at braided neatly it have to forced a biblical name, Esther. While she’s showering they they showering she’s While Esther. name, biblical a long a with them replace and clothes all her away take blouse. modest a and shoes white plain skirt, white she’s part of a strict religious cult called Children of of Children called cult religious strict a of part she’s to name Kirby’s change leaders cult The Faith. the to take her, Kirby throwstantrum a crying,take her, by to cuss her the scene, throwingand ing despite things. But anything. understand say seem They family doesn’t with them.goes she so ing mom, who is a nurse, is being sent to Africa to help to sent being is nurse, a is who mom, Kirby with she leaves family She members the needy. arrive cousin and uncle her When of. heard never has who is forced to live in a cult and struggles to find her her find to struggles and cult a in live to forced is who against acting her about read to exciting was It mom. next. happen would what know to wanted I cult. the R Center Linden The 15, I By Fleur Beale Fleur By true love I him, since her kiss didn’t work. Kyle even tries to even Kyle work. kiss didn’t her him, since all his money and popularity won’t fix the unnatural popularityand all won’t his money or claws his long his body, hair covers that of amount his uncontrollable of the whole class. He’s upset the girl who is actually actually is who girl the upset He’s class. whole the of witch! a … giving and the or him find two his years to true love, broken. be can spell never without (of course) planning on going with her. He He her. with going on planning course) (of without for vote the During prank. a it’s that school the to blabs stu goth the then but wins Kyle court, Dance Spring everything going on. going everything pop and gorgeous is He school. private City York New Dance, Spring the to girl goth ugly an invites Kyle ular. Beauty and the Beast. I really liked that the book took took book the that liked really I Beast. the and Beauty to relate to easy was it because times modern in place R (Lakewood) HS Mayfair 15, I Beastly Flinn Alex By Flinn invites us into a modern and edgier and modern a into us invites Flinn 27 th

Music u yo . a . l -

- - - for

me.

hat ruary 2009 T way like

message

long

any January-Feb

ranco a junkie

rocking.

has

ene goes R

ce keep

by I

this:

adrenaline

C/DC’s Black Ice takes me back to the glory days of of days glory the to back me takes Ice Black C/DC’s rock n’ roll when it stood as the reigning symbol of of symbol reigning the as stood it when roll n’ rock C/DC Black My favorite song is “Rock ’N Roll Train.” Its power Its Train.” Roll ’N “Rock is song favorite My If Black Ice has any message it’s this: keep rock keep this: it’s message any has Ice Black If The lyrics on all the songs on Black Ice (as well as well (as Ice Black on songs all the on lyrics The

eviewed f R crowd-pleasing rock n’ roll. n’ rock crowd-pleasing partying 3) 2) women gorgeous scoring 1) categories: an anyway? I message it’s house chorus and Angus Young’s guitar riffs make you you make riffs guitar Young’s Angus and chorus house go away anytime soon. anytime away go be about. AC/DC is proof that classic rock n’ roll won’t won’t roll n’ rock classic that proof is AC/DC about. be rebellion. I think that modern bands such as Fall Out Out Fall as such bands modern think that I rebellion. somewhere “rock” word the with typically out, rocking most AC/DC songs) can be broken down into three into down broken be can songs) AC/DC most Jack” “Big song The live. played being is song the like feel beyond are that problems have I that forget me makes to supposed is roll n’ rock what is that And control. my the brute force of rock established by Led Zeppelin, The The Zeppelin, Led by established rock of force brute the in Back album, 1980 legendary band’s the of off thing in the chest that sticks to AC/DC’s formula of simple, simple, of formula AC/DC’s to sticks that chest the in lyrics the for AC/DC to listens who But title. the in some like sounds that riffs catchy with funky jam a is adrenaline an for way long a goes message That ing. home of pile a through me get to enough than more is junkie like me. The energy emitted by these old geezers geezers old these by emitted energy The me. like junkie CD: Black Ice Black CD: Boy, Nickelback and Hinder have taken away much of of much away taken have Hinder and Nickelback Boy, thunders that song epic an is Machine” “War Black. with Young’s breakneck solos. breakneck Young’s with instantly ride the for along Young Angus Having work. A Who and AC/DC in the 70s. Black Ice is a 15-track kick kick 15-track a is Ice Black 70s. the in AC/DC and Who A 16, Providence HS (Burbank) HS Providence 16, ------CD’s instru CD’s

Kim

took

haron away.

instrumental

S ’s by

D C

breath

anelle Monáe’s debut album, Metropolis: The The Metropolis: album, debut Monáe’s anelle Chase Suite, transports us to another world, a fu a world, transports another to us Chase Suite, Monáe fearlessly reveals her political views in “Sin in views political her reveals fearlessly Monáe new up pick I and album complex a is Metropolis Each song reflects a different mood and tells a dif a tells and mood different a reflects song Each The music on Metropolis is influenced by differ by influenced is Metropolis on music The his eviewed R sound is fresh and captivating. and fresh is sound sible to say this is just a pop or soul album. Being a Being album. soul or pop a just is this say to sible the of end the At lover. her to farewell bids sorrowfully away. fades and strength loses voice haunting her song, in Metropolis. strictly forbidden es are what most younger listeners would call “old,” her her “old,” call would listeners younger most what are es ent genres like classical, soul, opera and pop. Monáe Monáe pop. and opera soul, classical, like genres ent Cindi Purgatory,” “Cybertronic In upbeat. and ergetic she Jane” “Sincerely, In President.” “Mr. and Jane” cerely, my compositions T addresses violence and teen pregnancy. “These kids kids “These pregnancy. teen and violence addresses huge fan of classical music and opera, this opera, and music classical of fan huge guilty falling with something human, of a in love Some gone off to their fall.” Monáe explains her dissatis her explains Monáe fall.” their to off gone Some blends these types of music so well that it’s impos it’s that well so music of types these blends round killing each other, they lost they minds, they gone/ gone/ they minds, they lost they other, each killing round problems we face. On this concept album, Cindi album, May this On concept face. we problems harmonic and vocals powerful of balance the by prised mental compositions took my breath away. I was sur was I away. breath my took compositions mental en is song, favorite my Moons,” “Many story. ferent President.” “Mr. in Bush W. George with faction turistic the same that faces city called Metropolis influenc its though Even it. to listen I time every things instrumentals. CD: Metropolis: The Chase Suite Chase The Metropolis: CD: weather (a cyborg) flees her city after being found cyborg) found city afterflees being her (a weather They quittin’ school, making babies and can barely read/ read/ barely can and babies making school, quittin’ They J 18, Beverly Hills HS Hills Beverly 18, Janelle Monáe Janelle ------beats.

disaster

Godoy

a meaningless

com . the was

repetitive t Genesis

of u

and

layo . album

s a Beyoncé fan, I bought the album “I Am … Sa Am … “I album the bought I fan, Beyoncé a s ex iTunes, on released was it day the Fierce” sha

Her first single “If I Were a Boy” had strong vocals vocals strong had Boy” a Were I “If single first Her Before, Beyoncé actually created songs with good good with songs created actually Beyoncé Before, The worst song is “Diva.” Just imagine “Na na na na na “Na imagine Just “Diva.” is song worst The he eviewed R solo album, consists of two discs. The “I Am …” disc Am …” “I The discs. two of consists album, solo couldn’t listen to them again after the first time. time. first the after again them to listen couldn’t diva is a female version of a hustla/ Getting money, money, Getting hustla/ a of version female a is diva song. the throughout repeated money” getting divas disaster because of the meaningless lyrics and repeti and lyrics meaningless the of because disaster dies (Put a Ring on It)” was her second single and its its and single second her was It)” on Ring a (Put dies of making you dance, the songs on the “Sasha Fierce” Fierce” “Sasha the on songs the dance, making you of Destiny’s old her to turn back to want you make disc contains ballads revealing Beyoncé’s beautiful voice. voice. beautiful Beyoncé’s revealing ballads contains disappointed. “I Am … Sasha Fierce,” Beyoncé’s third Beyoncé’s Fierce,” Sasha Am … “I disappointed. because lyrics T and good lyrics, which made it appealing. “Single La “Single appealing. it made which lyrics, good and a was album the surprise, my To all about. was album actly at 12:07 a.m. But as I listened to the album, I was I album, the to listened I as But a.m. 12:07 at actly www her first solo hit “Crazy in Love” or every girl’s heart girl’s every or Love” in “Crazy hit solo first her Child days. Child break anthem “Me, Myself and I.” I still think that Be think still that I I.” and Myself “Me, anthem break lyrics and extremely catchy beats. How can we forget forget we can How beats. catchy extremely and lyrics

fun beat made me anxious to see what the rest of the the of rest the what see to anxious me made beat fun Beyoncé this album. album. this that gives me a headache. The songs were so terrible I terrible so were songs The headache. a me gives that tive beats. tive CD: I Am … Sasha Fierce Sasha … Am I CD:

Fierce” disc you will find a hip-hop vibe. But instead instead But vibe. will hip-hop a find you disc Fierce” A yoncé is talented; she just didn’t work hard enough on on enough hard work didn’t just she talented; is yoncé Yet, the songs lacked creativity and soul. On the “Sasha “Sasha the On soul. and creativity lacked songs the Yet, 16, Environmental Charter HS (Lawndale) HS Charter Environmental 16, “Video Phone” is another pointless song with a beat beat a with song pointless another is Phone” “Video Join the staff of L.A. Youth at the next Newcomer’s Day No experience necessary. Come with your story or drawing ideas and bring a friend to L.A. Youth at 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036.

You will be invited to stay for the regular staff Next ion: meeting which starts at 1 p.m. orientat ay, Saturd Feb. 7 Call (323) 938-9194 noon 11 a.m. - e-mail [email protected]