ASA Entertainment visits Downey High

Amanda Davila, Staff Writer
May 3, 2016

As bullying becomes a worldwide issue, Downey High School arranged a visit from ASA Entertainment which took place on Wednesday, April 13, in order to create a powerful bullying prevention assembly.

Unlike an ordinary assembly, ASA entertainment gave their lectures through pro skating and BMX riding in order to connect with the student body as they were speaking about the determinants of bullying and how to prevent it.

Sophomore, Issaia Beltran felt moved by the assembly due to the fact that he has recently found a passion in skateboarding.

“This assembly really caught my attention because it wasn’t a normal sit down and listen lecture; it was interactive and exciting,” Beltran said. “Having the X Games medalist perform really made me want to listen to the words that were being said, which is good because bullying is a serious topic.”

The main purpose of the ASA entertainment Tour is to provide schools with the information needed to prevent bullying. As the skaters performed tricks on the half pipe they described different types of bullying to the audience.

With a positive view on a negative topic, Celeste Sanfelippo, 11, shares her story on how she took the topic and created it into something that affected her life in a positive way just like the ASA Entertainment tour does.

“Bullying has affected my whole life. What I mean by that is now I am stronger than others mentally. My advice to other people who are getting bullied is to stay strong and go see someone who you trust,” Sanfelippo said.

Downey High School’s student body was gathered outside to listen, as the message of peer-to peer bullying was discussed.

The assembly created a memory for senior, Lesley Delgadillo, has spent these last weeks trying to spread more information about bullying to the student body.

“This assembly really motivated me to spread the word about bullying as much as possible,” Delgadillo said. “Although I only have a couple weeks left of high school I hope the ASA Entertainment comes again next year because it really brought great information in such an attention grabbing way.”
The ASA Entertainment tour put on a successful assembly for Downey High School as these pro-skaters continue their tour in hopes of spreading the topic of bullying prevention in a creative way to other high schools in the nation.

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Amanda Davila, Staff Writer

During the summer of 2015 at Huntington Beach’s U.S. Open, Amanda Davila could win an Oscar because she created a chaotic scene due to her fear of sharks.

“I had gone to the U.S. Open with my best friend Leslie, but this was a different experience,” Davila said. “I’m not one to create a scene.”

Davila talked about sighting what she thought were two sharks while being inside the ocean. She had seen two fins in the ocean; her first instinct was to start yelling about the so-called sharks. She immediately went to let the lifeguard to let them know what she had seen, but the lifeguards couldn’t make out what Davila was telling them because of how bad she was crying.

“It was a mistake; I swear I would have never done that,” Davila says. “Anyone would have freaked out if they saw sharks in the water, even if they weren’t exactly sharks.”

Throughout the chaos she created, she found out those two sharks in the water were actually two dolphins. She received some unfriendly stares and created enemies because of how she disturbed the beach, especially from a mother with three small crying children.

“This mom probably hated me for making her three small children cry,” Davila said. “I felt terrible.”

Leslie Murillo, who had gone with Davila, also provided more details about what had happened that day. Murillo being terrified of ocean water was more than happy to not have been involved with Davila’s chaos.

“I’m terrified of the ocean because you have no idea what is around you” Murillo said, “so I wasn’t in the water with Amanda when she yelled and I am so happy I wasn’t.”

Davila could have had a nice normal day at the beach. Instead she created a mess believing she had seen two sharks while swimming in the ocean. Lifeguards quickly began to evacuate people from the water; in the end to find out those two sharks were instead two dolphins.

Bruno Braka, Staff Photographer

A day at school for junior, Bruno Braka, is not like every other student’s day, as he is involved in both Yearbook and Newspaper that fill three periods within his schedule. Not only is he involved with journalism, he also finds time to play lacrosse and help out at his parents’ restaurant.

“I never pictured myself being this involved all I was into was lacrosse,” Braka said. “But it all changed junior year when I decided to get involved with yearbook and newspaper, and although the year is just starting out I can already see myself being a lot more busy. The great thing about it is that I’m learning to manage my time wisely.”

Aside from his wide involvement with extra-curricular activities, Braka takes his school work very seriously. Throughout his high school career, he has managed to keep his GPA above a 4.0, taking not only regular college prep classes, but challenging himself with rigorous AP and honors courses.

Leonard Braka, Bruno’s father and owner of Ricci’s Italian Restaurant, has supported him through his busy schedule.

“It’s like I see Bruno grow more and more each day,” Braka said. “He manages to help me and his mother around the restaurant and still keeps his grades up. I’m surprised he finds the time to do all that he does.”

Braka has established many connections with a variety of people throughout his three years in high school. Dale Schlegel, one of the lacrosse coaches at Downey High School, had coached Braka throughout his freshman and sophomore years at Downey.

“Bruno was a great kid to have on the team,” Schlegel said,” the team rallied around him. He’s a real team player.”

Braka wants to make a difference within his school through his participation in school. He has immersed himself within journalism because he wants to capture moments that make others proud of their school. He also wants to serve as an example to others, by getting involved within his parent’s business, sports, and journalism. He hopes other will find, that truly, anything is possible.

The Downey Legend

The Downey Legend

The Downey Legend

ASA Entertainment visits Downey High

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