Five Questions with Sophia Paik

Joey Flores, News Editor

October 30, 2012

Q1: You are co-president of CSF and secretary for Key Club, amongst other board member positions. What is your main motivation to be involved in these clubs, especially as a board member?

A1: Well, for Key Club, I have compassion and the urge to serve the community. Ever since I was young, the community offered a lot of stuff to me. Like the Downey City Library offers the Summer Reading Program, and I always loved doing that. I feel like Downey offers so many things to us and it makes me want to give back. And for CSF, I did it for academic reasons, and I did it to help people see their academic goals and to help recognize their academic achievements.

Q2: As a Key Club board member, what do you hope to improve on in the club?

A2: First of all, I really want to see people get more involved. Right now, our club members aren’t as involved as I’d like them to be. They’ll come out to one or two events, and sometimes not even one event for a month. I want them to become more active, and not because it’ll look good for college. I mean, at first it’s not really bad if they’re doing it for college, but by the end I want them to be doing it because they genuinely want to give back to the community.

Q3: What initially interested you in Key Club?

A3: To be honest, my sister was president of Key Club, so that’s why I joined, even though I didn’t really know what it was at first. When I found out it was for community service I thought it was interesting to serve the community, and I thought it was a fun way to serve because in the process, you meet a lot of new people.

Q4: How do you juggle AP and honors classes and your club duties?

A4: It’s all about time management. Sometimes I procrastinate, but it really is about learning how to manage your time. And I think sleep deprivation plays a huge part, but I also think it’s worth it in the end.

Q5: Do you have any advice for future ambitious students?

A5: Just go for it, you know? High school only comes once, so you don’t want to miss the opportunities that it offers. Don’t just study because then you’re going to look back and regret it and ask yourself why you didn’t get involved in clubs. Really consider joining a club and especially a sport because I personally think that sports are a great way to meet people. So you should just go all out because it’s only four years and you’re only young once.

About the Contributors

Joey Flores, News Editor

Joey Flores is a 14-year-old sophomore at Downey High as well as a writer and News Editor for The Downey Legend. Flores chose to join the 2012-2013 staff because he wants to gain experience in journalism, since he aspires to work for Details or Rolling Stone magazine. He plans to attend the University of Oxford or NYU. “I have a minor obsession with the U.K.,” Flores said when asked why he wanted to attend the University of Oxford. He admitted that he will miss his friends and family when he’s away for college, although he won’t be missing the California weather. The News Editor always preferred English over any other subject. “When I was younger I always preferred English because I felt that I had the freedom when it came to creative writing,” Flores said. Along with being on the newspaper, he is also taking Honors English 10, which will help enhance his writing skills. Flores’ main goals are to fulfill everything that comes his way and to come up with interesting stories that will receive multiple views. The staff member enjoys listening to indie and alternative rock. He is a big fan of the 80s band, The Smiths. Flores loves doing community service and is a member of the Key Club. The News Editor enjoys helping others and wants to help “beautify the community.” Flores has volunteered at recovery centers, like Rancho Los Amigos. He participated in a carnival for the disabled patients at the RLARC. “It was very eye-opening because you realize that they are incapable of doing much, but they never give up,” he said. Although Flores has a lot on his plate- being The Downey Legend’s News Editor, volunteering at rehabilitation centers, and succeeding in AP European History and Honors English 10- he will manage to stay on top of everything and make his sophomore year a memorable one.

Ashley Lozano, Business Manager

Ashley Lozano, 17-year-old senior at Downey High, is this year’s Business Manager and staff photographer for The Downey Legend. Lozano’s hobbies include taking pictures, going to Disneyland, and hanging out with friends. She wants to become a better photographer and be more involved with the school, which is why she joined the newspaper. “I think the newspaper is a great way to meet and talk to new people and get more involved in school activities,” Lozano said. Her goals include making The Downey Legend more popular among students and to get more viewers. She’s part of the business team because she wants to get the word out about the site while becoming the best Business Manager The Downey Legend has had. She also hopes to make this a memorable year. Lozano wants to leave the classroom a better photographer, and wants to travel all over Europe someday. She always liked taking pictures and started show an interest for it because her best friend’s brother is a photographer. Her parents bought her a Canon Rebel T3 camera, giving her an even bigger interest in photography; she also grew closer to enjoying it more since she has always wanted a camera. Lozano is on the right path to achieving her goals by joining the newspaper, working hard to become a better photographer and Business Manager, and making this a successful year for The Downey Legend.