BirdBox
February 6, 2019
About the Writers
Michelle Salinas, Videographer
With strengths in design and a passion for video, Michelle Salinas, 12, hopes to show what she’s made of during her time at the Downey Legend. “I want to change something,” Salinas said. “I want to show what just a high schooler can do.”
While me and Michelle Salinas were both newcomers to the Downey Legend at the beginning of this year, our similarities seemingly ended there. She was outgoing, funny, and friendly where I was shy, quiet, and reserved. Despite this, she jumped at the chance to write my staff bio and in the process, became the first friend I ever made in newspaper.
As a videographer, her job has been to capture the various going ons of students on campus, but she does so much more than that. Michelle uses her role at The Downey Legend to bring the staff together. No matter how tired and jaded one might become from working on deadline after deadline, starring in one of Michelle’s videos is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. To this day, I still have vivid memories of Michelle filming my very poor attempt at the Bird Box challenge in the pouring rain.
As Michelle’s time in The Downey Legend comes to an end, the publication will be forced to say goodbye a vital glue that helped bring the staff together. No matter how gifted at their craft future videographers may be, they will always be in the massive shadow cast by Michelle Salinas.
-Lukas Luna
While me and Michelle Salinas were both newcomers to the Downey Legend at the beginning of this year, our similarities seemingly ended there. She was outgoing, funny, and friendly where I was shy, quiet, and reserved. Despite this, she jumped at the chance to write my staff bio and in the process, became the first friend I ever made in newspaper.
As a videographer, her job has been to capture the various going ons of students on campus, but she does so much more than that. Michelle uses her role at The Downey Legend to bring the staff together. No matter how tired and jaded one might become from working on deadline after deadline, starring in one of Michelle’s videos is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. To this day, I still have vivid memories of Michelle filming my very poor attempt at the Bird Box challenge in the pouring rain.
As Michelle’s time in The Downey Legend comes to an end, the publication will be forced to say goodbye a vital glue that helped bring the staff together. No matter how gifted at their craft future videographers may be, they will always be in the massive shadow cast by Michelle Salinas.
-Lukas Luna
Adrian Soto, Writer
As vice president of Downey High School’s writing center, tutor Adrian Soto, 12, shares his passion for helping and teaching his peers. “Humans have a core motivation of being happy and making others happy,” Soto said. “For me, aiding and tutoring my peers is how I found happiness.”
Ever since I met Adrian, he has had a passion for writing. He has gone above and beyond his essays in his previous classes. Given that, he became a tutor in the Writing Center and eventually became the vice president. Not only that, Adrian decided to join Newspaper to express his passion for writing where he can write about important things happening in today’s society, or simply write about something that occurred on campus.
Adrian is someone who not only cares about himself; he goes above and beyond to help those around him. He tutors people who need help and are struggling in classes for free, as he wants others to succeed and improve on what they are struggling in. If Adrian notices that something is wrong, he will ask them if they are ok and if they need someone to talk to, he is there.
-Brianne Galindo
Ever since I met Adrian, he has had a passion for writing. He has gone above and beyond his essays in his previous classes. Given that, he became a tutor in the Writing Center and eventually became the vice president. Not only that, Adrian decided to join Newspaper to express his passion for writing where he can write about important things happening in today’s society, or simply write about something that occurred on campus.
Adrian is someone who not only cares about himself; he goes above and beyond to help those around him. He tutors people who need help and are struggling in classes for free, as he wants others to succeed and improve on what they are struggling in. If Adrian notices that something is wrong, he will ask them if they are ok and if they need someone to talk to, he is there.
-Brianne Galindo
Lukas Luna, Co-Copy Editor
In his second year as Co-Copy Editor, Lukas Luna, 12, intends to fulfil his future plan of continuing his passion for journalism. With this being his third year in Newspaper, as well as being a Downey High School writing center tutor, Luna works hard to challenge himself. He is always willing to push his boundaries, as he just recently interned for “Voices of Creativity” this summer where he got to interview author and educator, Renaldo Lawrence.
Luna explains that covering event stories are his favorite part of Newspaper. “It’s the most memorable, the most exciting,” Luna said. “It’s hands on, where you feel the most official, where you’re able to get those ‘in the moment quotes.’
Luna explains that covering event stories are his favorite part of Newspaper. “It’s the most memorable, the most exciting,” Luna said. “It’s hands on, where you feel the most official, where you’re able to get those ‘in the moment quotes.’