Our Culture: Spanish Heritage Month
November 2, 2022
About the Writers
Madeline Hidalgo, Editor-in-Chief
As a three-year veteran, Madeline Hidalgo, 12, returns to the Downey Legend as a first year Co-Editor in Chief with intentions to make every minute count as her high school career comes to an end. By building up her academic resume as an active member of the robotics team, multiple clubs on campus, and Femineers, she hopes to get into a good college and achieve her dreams of becoming a civil engineer. Her passion for her extracurriculars fuels her to stay active no matter how busy because she loves to see her peers succeed.
“Honestly I just love being involved. In all my extracurriculars I am a leader or I hold responsibility which gives me a purpose and I love what I do,” Hidalgo stated. “In a bunch of different ways we also help other people and provide them with opportunities to build their resume and push for education.”
“Honestly I just love being involved. In all my extracurriculars I am a leader or I hold responsibility which gives me a purpose and I love what I do,” Hidalgo stated. “In a bunch of different ways we also help other people and provide them with opportunities to build their resume and push for education.”
Zinadin Rosales, Multimedia Manager
Returning to the Downey Legend as multimedia manager, Zinadin Rosales, 11, chooses to dedicate his year to looking for inspiration in a unique way. As a creative, Rosales has many aspirations to share a new perspective while being very social and building strong connections to the community and his work. Still, he holds a special connection with his group of friends who share similar interests. He enjoys spending his free time playing basketball and spending time with friends. Aside from Newspaper, Rosales is also involved in the Downey Water Polo Swim Team, as well as ASB. In the future, he hopes to graduate from FIDM College and start his own global clothing brand where he can produce unique pieces.
Rosales sets out to find the good and the unique in different places. With such aspirations, Rosales acknowledges the importance of taking a step back to recollect under difficult circumstances: “...take it step by step… if you get all those thoughts in your head you’re going to stress yourself out even more and the pressure gets to you” Rosales stated. With this, Rosales hopes to reach the readers of The Downey Legend with a reassuring message that expresses that life is valuable and the way someone lives it influences personal experiences, as well as the people around them.
Rosales sets out to find the good and the unique in different places. With such aspirations, Rosales acknowledges the importance of taking a step back to recollect under difficult circumstances: “...take it step by step… if you get all those thoughts in your head you’re going to stress yourself out even more and the pressure gets to you” Rosales stated. With this, Rosales hopes to reach the readers of The Downey Legend with a reassuring message that expresses that life is valuable and the way someone lives it influences personal experiences, as well as the people around them.
Marissa Vallejo, Podcaster
As a first year podcaster for the downey legend this year, Marisa Vallejo is a junior and is an active member of the community already. As a youth group leader for Camp Savio she is familiar with giving back to the community and being a part of a team. Outside of school, she’s a babysitter to her kid niece, and nephews. She’s looking forward to collaborating and growing as an individual this year through sharing ideas and stories with the Downey Legend team. Some of her personal philosophies include, “block out the haters” and “fake it till you make it”. She describes herself as a personable, honest, individual who loves to talk.
“My grandpa was a hard worker, I saw him happy and he inspired me to be happy and work hard because it pays off…” Vallejo states, attributing him as one of her biggest inspirations.
“My grandpa was a hard worker, I saw him happy and he inspired me to be happy and work hard because it pays off…” Vallejo states, attributing him as one of her biggest inspirations.
Anthony Torrez, Podcaster
This being his first year at the Downey Legend, Anthony Torrez De La O, 12, plans to use his last year at Downey to work on his skills as a podcaster and journalist. He’s a very articulated person and always knows how to keep a conversation going to get the information he is aiming for. De La O finds enjoyment in being able to be one of the people get their information from, and with his well articulated way with words, he plans to work towards eventually becoming news anchor.
“It feels good to deliver the news to people. People have always depended on that one channel for what is going on around the world,” De La O stated. “You have the power to entertain and inform. It’s important to have reliable and valid news and information.”
“It feels good to deliver the news to people. People have always depended on that one channel for what is going on around the world,” De La O stated. “You have the power to entertain and inform. It’s important to have reliable and valid news and information.”