Category: Feature

  • Taking Action with Poly Global Fund

    This year Poly Global Fund adds to Poly High School’s wide variety of clubs. Around the beginning of August before the school year began 11th grade PACE students Lail Khansa and Jacob David realized that Poly did not have a club that helped communities suffering internationally and decided to take action. 

    Khansa, the club president, started the club with the goal of trying to help people. He said “I started the club to help people that suffer from issues out of their control such as hurricanes or countries with high crime and poverty. This became especially important to me after visiting a third world country and seeing how poorly people were living.”

     Poly Global Funds main purpose is raising awareness for multiple different causes as well as donating and providing aid to various non profits. The group meets up and discusses diverse problems not only in the community but around the world. Members also participate in voting on what cause to donate and provide for in this school year’s upcoming quarter.  For example David said “We want others at Poly to know that there are Syrian refugees who are struggling to just find and provide basic shelter or food for their families.”

    11th grade PACE student Matthew Long said “I like the concept of the club and the idea of putting resources together to assist those in need. Even if our donations are not large in value, the club brings attention to global issues, especially those that are not as widely recognized.”

    Poly Global Funds is also a very inclusive and welcoming group. David said “The club meetings are a great way for my friends and I who all come from different backgrounds to come together for a greater cause.” 

    Khansa said “There are people from other pathways that meet together and are donating to certain causes making them feel more a part of the community at Poly.” 

    Long said “I joined the club initially because my friends, Jacob and Lail, came up with the club during the summer and I wanted to help the idea come to fruition.” Long also said being an active member in Poly Global Fund makes him feel more included in the Poly Community as he has met new people and he is hoping to expand the club so people across campus can also feel a part of the charitable community. 

    Meetings for Poly Global Fund are held every gold Friday in Sarah Schol’s classroom (309). By donating or participating in Poly Global Funds future projects will help the community along with those all across the globe, aiming to help the world one cause at a time.

     According to the World Vision website 689 million people live in extreme poverty surviving off of less than $1.90 a day, as well as more than 600 million children currently experiencing multidimensional poverty right now. You can help fight poverty by volunteering at local homeless shelters and low income schools, attending rallies and demonstrations to increase awareness and many other options.

  • Stop by College & Career Center Today

    Stop by College & Career Center Today

    Many students look towards the idea of going to college or university after high school. Not many have the resources or knowledge of how to begin applying for colleges or financial aid. Fortunately, Poly has a place where students can visit and ask questions about college and how to prepare for their future. 

    Located on the first floor of the 800 building is the College and Career Center. Here, you can talk to advisors about college and work experience. Students from all grades are welcome to visit the room and take advantage of the resources offered.

    The head of the College and Career Center is Sylvia Womack. As a high school student, she knew she wanted to be an advisor because she liked working with people. After gaining a degree in sociology, she began her career path that led her to where she is now. She worked for the city for seven years with the Youth Opportunity Center. This gave her experience in working with other high schools and helping students begin internships and prepare them for career positions. Her time at YOC allowed Womack to further her career path to becoming the head of a College and Career Center and helping students discover what they want to do. 

    Along with Womack, students can meet two USC college advisors, Casie Bonstein and Enrique Ruiz. Both advisors have been where many students are now and are using their knowledge to help make things easier for future college and university students.

    Bonstein enjoys being able to be someone that the students can look to for support and motivation for their future. She had her own advisors during school and was thankful to have support from her parents. She enjoyed her college experience and hopes she can provide students with the same resources she had. She said, “I like you guys, you’re all really smart, creative, and talented. You’re all college material and you need someone to help you out with that and here I am.”

    Ruiz is a recent graduate of UC Merced. He said during his years in high school, he was also advised by someone who helped him learn better about college and applications. Due to that, he wanted to give back in the same sense. Growing up in the Long Beach area, he knows many students are first-generation and low-income. He wants to help students realize that college can be an option and possibly lead them forward in the future.

    There are many services at the center that students can take advantage of. Inside the room, you can talk to the advisors, browse college pamphlets, or sit and work on any applications you have. You can also view their page on the LBPoly website to gain access to scholarship opportunities, any jobs around town, and learn when college representatives are going to visit Poly. When talking to Bonstein and Ruiz, you get the opportunity to ask questions from people who have experienced what college is like. They’ll be there to discuss what it is you want to do after high school and research which path may be best for you.

    The center isn’t just for seniors applying to colleges. Anyone of any grade is welcome to walk in and see how they can prepare for their senior year. The College and Career Center is a place where people want to talk and give you all the information they have. You can learn about the Early Academic Outreach Program, the Upward Bound program, and many more programs that prepare you for college.

    One of Womack’s favorite parts of in working with students is making students aware of their opportunities. She wants students to be as informed as they can about their different options after high school. Going to college isn’t the only way to gain success and if you do want to go to college, you don’t have to be the perfect student. She wants to show students the different avenues they can take to achieve the goals they want. Womack recommends students use the center’s resources as often as they can: “Don’t wait until the last minute to come. I would say start as soon as you can. Come in here at least once or twice a year up until senior year. Senior year you wanna be in here as often as possible so we can help you with the college process or with whatever plan you have after high school. The sooner you start that process, it makes it easier for you when you’re a senior. You can put a lot less on your plate if you plan ahead of time.”

    However, the College and Career Center doesn’t only have to be a place where you talk about college. Ruiz said he knows that when talking about college, the topics can fall under “This is due now, and this is due next, you gotta do this,” so he welcomes students to come in and talk about other topics and even get to know more about Bonstein and himself. He said, “There is a lot of stuff you can relate to us about. Don’t be afraid, just come in and talk to us. If you’re interested in anything after high school or what life is like after. It doesn’t have to be college, it can be work, it can be trade schools, or options you might have. Just talk to us.”

    Bonstein hopes every student visits the center, she says that if she can help as many students as she can by easing the tensions of thinking about college and life after high school, then she feels that the job is being done correctly. Her favorite motto for the center is: “You come into the College and Career Center feeling pretty stressed out, but leave feeling a little better about [life] after high school.”

    As advisors, both Bonstein and Ruiz hold education to a high standard. Bonstein looks for a more equitable future for higher education and hopes that the students she advises are a part of it. Ruiz values the education he received and pursued and hopes that other students can see their education in the same way.

    You can visit room 801 for any advice about life, after high school, and how to prepare for your future. You can also sign up for a 15-minute in-person appointment with the link on their Instagram bio, @lbpolycollegencareer along with visiting their page on the LBPoly school website.

  • The Debate Team

    Throughout the month of September to March, our very own Debate team has been competing for a chance to compete for the state championships in April, which they succeeded in doing.  They’ve been discussing various speeches including bills and legislation and spontaneous argument also know as SPAR, which they have ten minutes to prep for. The topics could be random or in some cases picked from a list. Our team consists of thirty-two students, some being Samantha Williams, Inanna Khansa, Alexis Lam, and Althea Agul. This year two seniors being Inanna Khansa and Hamid Torabzadeh were both nominated to compete at state, which is a great opportunity for them to get experience and to build up their resumes. 

    In total there has been a number of 12 tournaments, which they succeeded in winning five. They been prepping once every week during their club and Alexander is proud of how far they have come. He said,” I believe some of my students can make it to the nationals and not just state.”

    Alexander has been competing at state and congress for 29 years and still is very passionate about it regardless of it being online last and this year. He said, “We have been having a good year and I’m very proud of how far we have come because my students have been working very hard.” Last year one of Alexander’s students was a semi finalist and considering it was online it was probably a tuff match. Aside from just teaching his kids tips about the competitions he helps distress them from any anxiety by getting them to the competitions in time, getting them plenty of food and water, and Lots of encouragement. 

    The sessions vary as they could range from an hour to an hour and a half. However each events are uniquely different. For example, A varsity level prompt two speech get two mins to prep, whereas a noves tournament  get five minutes to prep, which can be very impactful since the students are on a major time crunch. 

    Their last at state tournaments is a three day tournament from April 29 to May 1st and their last competition is the week right after being either the 6 or 7th of May. Around ten to fifteen students are going to Compete and the students are looking forward to it and many more.

  • Mask Mandate

    We’ve spent months wearing all types of masks to prevent catching Covid-19. But, with time, we found better ways of keeping ourselves safe. As more people get vaccinated and fewer Covid cases arise, California, along with other states, eased on the mask mandate. Recently the California Governor, Gavin Newsom, stated that starting March 1, the state may allow the public to enter the indoors without a mask. After March 11, places such as schools and daycare centers may also drop the mask mandate. This announcement was met with different reactions. Students all over Poly shared their views on the announcement. 

    In response to how he thinks the mask mandate lift may work out, 10th grader Omar Estrada said, “I personally see no difference since everyone already basically has no masks outside of class but overall I think everything will be the same.” 11th grader, Jessica Diaz believes that we will see a split all around the school between students with masks and without. 

    In addition, 11th grader Danisha Bo said, “People should keep wearing their masks, not everybody is vaccinated, and people will get more sick, it will spread exponentially to the point we might go back to zoom.” Bo also added that people should get vaccinated and be mindful of other students, as they might have people at home like elderly people or people who can’t afford to get covid at home. 

    11th grader Jannah Mohammed believes that if people want to wear their masks is up to them, as she understands it gets hot, and hard to breathe, especially in some classrooms that don’t have an AC. 11th grader Vanessa Cruz said that she doesn’t care if students want to wear their masks, it’s up to them. They all agreed that they would continue to wear their masks to stay safe and believe people should not judge others for wearing or not wearing their masks. 

    When asked if they think the lift will create an impact such as a surge, Diaz said, “I don’t think so because there’s a vaccine for it. I think it’s going to be normal.” Estrada said, “Yeah, Covid cases at our school may increase a bit more. But nothing big enough to shut down schools for two years again.” 

    Overall some students like Diaz, Estrada, Bo, Mohammed, Cruz all mentioned that they would continue wearing their masks in their classrooms.

    Wearing masks became the new norm. Only being able to see eyes and the top of heads is something expected when going outside. Most were fine with wearing them, knowing it would ensure their safety, while others had difficulty with the mandate. When the vaccine was created, many received the shot, which made a better fighting immune system against Covid. Having the vaccine, vaccine booster, and wearing a mask were all great combinations for avoiding Covid-19. Now, with the choice of wearing masks, there is no knowing how things will work out. All you can do is decide on whether you want to continue wearing masks or not, the choice is yours. 

  • Prom/Grad night 2021

    The class of 2021 officially had their senior prom at Poly High School. The theme of the dance was Enchanted Forest. Since the class of 2020 didnt get to have their prom because of Covid-19, I feel like they tried to do their best at throwing a prom during a pandemic. Usually, from what I know, prom is held at a different location, instead of school, but this year prom was held in the quad. They had different activities, such as arcade games, a 360 photo station, Karaoke and of course a DJ and dance floor. They also had Chick-fil-A boxes that came with a chicken sandwich, chips, a cookie, and sauce. For those who weren’t feeling the chicken sandwich, they also served burgers and a variety of drinks. Over all I think they had many different activities considering our current situation.

  • Cleanliness and Safety as Lockdown Lifts

    Although cleanliness in most public spaces is kept up by janitorial staff or maid services, the CDC recommends that you also take preventative measures of your own.

    The Center for Disease and Control Prevention has created an extensive list of preventative measures for public places to consider when reopening to minimize contact and contamination. It’s quite extensive, so being able to quickly give a shorter list of quick behaviors to look out for both at home and out and about are important.

     

    1. Watch the staff at a restaurant.

    Keeping an eye on how they move around if they wear gloves or not, and how thoroughly they clean off surfaces could keep both yourself and others safe. Ensure that they space tables out carefully, are wiped down carefully if/when you have the chance. They should wear masks consistently, and there’s a possibility they were told to also wear gloves. While their individual cleaning habits cannot be tracked, making sure your server keeps to the guidelines can keep both yourself and others safe.

     

    2. See how they handle other customers.

    It’s not a restaurants’ responsibility to keep everyone happy, but it is their responsibility to keep everyone safe. If a customer is unwilling to wear their mask or follow the CDC guidelines for dining safely, that is their own fault. However, if the restaurant continues to cater to this individual, regardless of their dangerous behavior, the restaurant would be at fault. They are not only putting their own employees but other patrons in the restaurant in possible harm, regardless if they are dining inside or outside.

     

    3. Make sure Inside/outside dining areas are clean, and spaced out accordingly

    Inside dining has been recently allowed by Los Angeles County, but outside dining is still provided as an option. While outside dining was a way for restaurants to cope with the ban on inside dining, both are now open to the public in almost any restaurant you can think of. Some have welcomed inside dining with open arms, some less so. But the rules and needs of outside dining should still be followed in the restaurant to the best of the staff’s ability. Open windows and large/empty spaces between tables could still be upheld. Cleaning should still be done meticulously, and masks and gloves should still be worn.

    4. If you can, watch how they make food

    While some cooking is done in the background, or as passive entertainment with a small view, some diner-style restaurants have large openings where you can see into the kitchen area if you’re sitting at the right tables or booths. Get one of these, if you can, and while you wouldn’t be able to tell what each dish the workers in the kitchen are making, see if you can pick out how they make food if they’re wearing gloves while doing so, and how often they may or may not clean the counters or their hands, and if the chefs themselves wear masks. While kitchen cleanliness has always been an important part of restaurant hygiene, it’s even more important now.

     

    5. Don’t allow your own cleanliness habits to slip

    When in public, the first person you need to look out for is yourself, especially in restaurants, while keeping an eye on the environment around you, make sure you don’t put yourself or those around you in danger. Always wear a mask unless eating, ensure that you can stay a safe distance away from others, clean up after yourself, and ensure you’re touching as few surfaces as possible. 

     

     

    Now, however, there are dangers to having a less-than-suitable cleaning routine, either inside your home or out with others. Having a less than reliable cleaning staff could get your entire business shut down, and not cleaning your home properly, with parents and students now going back to work or school, could cause one or more people in the household to get sick, or worse. Weekly, routine cleaning is needed to keep everyone in a restaurant or at home safe. 

     

    1. Clean yourself off once you get home

    A quick and easy way to make sure possible hazards don’t enter your home is by tossing your clothes in the washer once you get home and putting on new, clean clothes. It’s possible that airborne and contact germs found their way onto your clothes and yourself, taking a shower and getting into clean clothes once you get home would be the best way to minimize germs entering your household.

     

    2. Make sure you have a regular cleaning schedule

    As entering and leaving your home becomes more commonplace, it’s important that you keep the spaces you frequent the cleanest. Having a reliable cleaning routine when you return home is a good thing, but germs can always enter your home, and cleaning your home often and with good disinfectant would be an easy way to keep your home and everyone in it safe.

     

    3. Make sure to clean any packages that come to your doorstep

    Home delivery before the quarantine was a common practice but became almost necessary when stuck at home and in need of quickly delivered, commonly used necessities. However, being able to know where exactly packages you order have been, or how well they’ve been handled is impossible. Along with yourself, and your home, clean the boxes that you bring into your home before opening them, and ensure anything your order is cleaned before being brought into your home. 

     

    4. Minimize the guests in your home

    Much like at the beginning of lockdown, being able to stay home and isolated with your roommates and family are the easiest ways to stay safe, but with the slowly loosening restrictions on dining, outings, and visitors, having a person or two in your home wouldn’t be a terrible idea. However, that doesn’t mean you allow them to easter through your home, forgo watching their hands, or minimizing the time they stay with you. It would be a safe bet to meet on your lawn, porch, or outside your home, and if you do allow them into your home, make sure to clean up after them, and any surfaces they touched.

     

    5. Always have cleaning supplies on standby

    Being able to keep yourself and your home clean isn’t a new idea, but with the dangers, we could still face, even with the slowly lifting precautions of the lockdown, having a small stock of cleaning supplies tucked away in a bathroom or closet could be necessary in case something worrying happens, and the harsher lockdown is put back into place. Cleaning supplies were a bit hard to come by in the beginning, and if there were to be a second lockdown, finding cleaning supplies would be near impossible.

  • My Pfizer Vaccine Experience

    My Pfizer Vaccine Experience

    With the pandemic changing lives drastically, the creation and distribution of a vaccine is crucial to the return of a “normal life.” As the various vaccines rolled out it has become a new controversial topic, with various conspiracies involving Bill Gates, microchips and the government all undermining the public’s trust in Covid-19 vaccines.

    Despite the controversy, misinformation and politics, I was determined for months to get the vaccine. As a student-athlete (in person), restaurant worker and volunteer at my local church, I felt as if it was necessary for me to get the vaccine. Recently on April 17th, I had finally got my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Here’s how the vaccination process went.

    Luckily for me, the process was made easier since I had such ease scheduling appointments. With three members of my family being employees for the city alongside my job as a restaurant worker, I am considered to be a somewhat high priority individual for getting vaccinated.

    Despite this, it still took persistence. It took three appointments for me to get my first vaccine shot.

    The first attempt was at Dodger Stadium on March 12th for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Both my mom and I waited around an hour, in a line that looped around the hills of Los Angeles. Upon arrival, I was denied the vaccine shot since I am not old enough for the Johnson & Johnson shot specifically (you have to be 18 to get a one dose vaccination shot.) It was frustrating. After weeks of anticipation, waking up early in the morning and getting out of bed, only to be denied a vaccination shot.

    The second attempt was through my dad. My dad had signed me up for a vaccination appointment on March 22nd at a high school in Lynwood through his job within the school district. Once I arrived, the wait in line was quick. The volunteers at the vaccination site were on point, both taking my temperature and verifying my appointment in a matter of minutes. Through this appointment, I was scheduled to receive the  vaccine which was a two dose shot. But, once again, I was denied the vaccination shot. This time I was denied since the organization providing and funding the vaccinations did not allow Moderna vaccinations to anyone under 18 (even though all two dose vaccinations are allowed to anyone above 16). At this point I was not surprised but still disappointed, I understood the vaccination process was already long so these constant setbacks seemed like a waste of time. After this failed appointment, both my mom and dad made constant efforts toward my vaccination.

    These previous attempts lead up to my third and final attempt. My first dose of the Pfizer vaccine was scheduled for March 27th at a Kaiser hospital in Los Angeles. Once my final appointment was scheduled, I understood the requirements, age limits and even the side effects since my family members had received their vaccinations (and since I learned so much through the other attempts).

    Both Kaiser appointments were quick and seamless, with the workers giving simple and clear instructions. The entire process took under 25 minutes, including the time it took to find a parking space, wait in line and receive the shot. For those that are used to amusement parks, you could compare the Kaiser vaccine experience to the line to a popular ride, they gave clear instructions throughout the process, with railing and stickers on the cement to direct you in the proper direction.

    The process started with a 5 minute wait in line after confirming your information. Once finished filling out the paperwork and reading about the vaccine, you are led by a volunteer into the tent where people were getting their shots. You then wait until a spot opens up. Once you sit down in a seat, you are then introduced to the medical professional and confirm whichever dose and vaccination you’re getting. After this you receive your shot. From my experiences and everyone I’ve talked to about the shot the first shot itself was less painful than expected and quick while the second shot was the more painful one (but it didn’t still hurt all that much.) Immediately after you take your shot you’re instructed to wait 15 minutes in a waiting area in case of any side effects (nothing happened to anyone both time during times during the waiting period.)  

    The side effects after receiving the shot were tolerable. The first shot had only left my arm sore for around three days. The second shot was different, I was left with a fever the night of the shot and a headache three days following the shot. 

  • How much has online learning affected how students live in their rooms?

    How much has online learning affected how students live in their rooms?

    Due to students being stuck in their room for months on end, the condition of their workspace has taken a toll on them. It has been a drastic change, and students have been forced to transition from physical in-class schooling to online learning with virtual classrooms. How much has this change affected how students live in their rooms?
    Many students have reorganized the layout of their room in order to improve productivity. Joseph Diress, a senior at Long Beach Poly, had stated that he’s “in the process” of a room makeover. With Diress being involved with Poly’s drama team and other on-campus activities these changes have greatly influenced his creativity. So far he said that he’s done “a lot of rearranging,” learning how to manage space while making his room more “roomy.” Through this process he has added things like a rug, bookshelf, alarm clock and other “nicknacks to help [his] workflow.” Although he’s made little changes so far, he’s said that they’ve already “helped with the workflow and creative process.”

    This presents another relevant idea among students, many make their room more comfortable in order to accommodate for their time spent on their computers. Aasha McLyn, another senior at Long Beach Poly, rearranged her room by moving her desk to her wall near the windows in order to allow her to look out her windows during zoom calls. This change of furniture among other small changes such as candles and hanging lights has helped her “mentally” she said, making her “room feel like a more comfortable space to be in for more portions of the day.”

    Alongside both Joseph and Aasha, I have felt many of the same experiences. With my involvement with various on-campus activities such as leading Poly’s Black student union, devoting hours on the track at track practice and spending extra time in various teachers’ classrooms, the change to online school has taken a toll on my highschool experience. In order to both increase productivity and feel more comfortable, I have made big adjustments to my room. Ranging from buying Funko pops to getting a new desk and rearranging the layout of my room, I’ve spent a lot of time and effort toward making my room more suitable for online schooling and comfort. This is because I’ve learned that the condition of my room affects my mental state and that investing in my workspace is investing in myself.
    Students have made these accommodations, both big and small in order to succeed throughout online school. “It’s kind of a barrier,” Diress said concerning the challenges of learning at home. “physical school helps with mental health and many other things.” Making changes can help overcome that challenge, as McLyn said about her room, proclaiming that as a result of the changes in her workspace she has become happier while in it. These changes for students that are active socially and on campus have played a key role in their online schooling experience this year.

  • My Family’s Firefighter

    My Family’s Firefighter

    Three young girls stand behind a firefighter on an old fashioned fire truck
    Kelly Rodriguez and sisters with retired Long Beach Fire Department Captain/Investigator Patrick Wills. (Photo courtesy Kelly Rodriguez)

     

    I know this firefighter who’s been there my whole life. His name is Pat Wills. Well, he was a Fire Captain with the Long Beach Fire Department in Los Angeles, but he retired not that long ago. He now teaches cops to become good. He met my mom just after my sisters died in a fire. At that time he was supervising investigators of the Long Beach Fire/ATF Arson Unit. Pat made sure living in unpermitted converted garages won’t happen anymore. It’s illegal now. When I was young we used to go downtown Long Beach to the city hall to fight for my sisters’ law, Aviles Law. Aviles Law was first made official by the City of Long Beach in 2011, and then became a California state law in 2013.

    A young girl with man smiling
    Kelly Rodriguez with Pat Wills. (Photo courtesy Kelly Rodriguez)

     

    Pat never left our lives since my sisters died. He has helped us a lot for our sisters. Every year when it’s our birthday he comes and brings us flowers or if he can´t make it another firefighter comes and we take pictures to send them to Pat. Pat’s wife also bakes us cupcakes. They’re the best. 

    A family stands posing for a picture
    The Rodriguez family with Pat Wills. (Photo courtesy Kelly Rodriguez)

     

    Pat is working on a book about my sisters. He’s been working on it for years, and it’s coming out soon, like around April 2021. He just needs half of the people in the book to sign it so he can  have the rights to say my sister’s name and their names.

  • Dangers of Long-Term Screen Exposure

    Dangers of Long-Term Screen Exposure

    Screens in 2020 have become the fulcrum of many people’s personal, professional, and familial lives. Almost every interaction between people is done with a phone, chrome, laptop, or desktop. Because of this, many can spend tens to hundreds of hours looking at a screen over the course of a month. And with school going online in March and continuing into the 2020-21 school year, it would come as no one’s surprise if teens and young children who have spent all of this time staring at screens begin to show eye problems beginning in their late teens or early twenties.

     

    Eye problems have already existed in recent generations affected by the introduction of electronics. Many young people spend most of their social life on apps behind a screen, and the extended exposure has already proven to cause multiple eye problems. These problems are described on UMPC: Life Changing Medicine and can include eye irritation, nearsightedness, and long-term retinal damage.

     

    The retinal damage can also lead to a possible loss of sight, as UMPC says, “Studies show that blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. This can lead to early age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to loss of eyesight.”

     

    This is caused by a blue-light that screens emit, that can cause erosion at the back of the eyeball, and can eventually lead to blindness. The best way to avoid any long-term ramification that comes from staring at screens for hours at a time is to take time away from them, and allow your eyes to rest from the strain.

     

    The best way to counter this is to minimize the time spent on all devices, regardless of how big or small they are. With developing eye problems, and the warning headaches and eye fatigue of eye strain, The Clinical Eye Institute suggests the 20/20/20 rule to assure that your eyesight doesn’t deteriorate due to eye strain. “For every 20 minutes a person is working they take a 20 second break, looking at something 20 feet away.”

  • My Braces Experience

    My Braces Experience

    I feel at some point everyone wanted to have braces whether you needed them or not. Prior to me having braces, I would see people with them, and I never really realized that these people were having their teeth moved by it every single day. 

     

    Before I get into my experience with having them I wanna give a brief explanation of what braces are. Braces have different parts to it, so first brackets (this is what holds your wire) are glued to every tooth, then you start with a thin wire  placed to go through each bracket, your wire is what is moving your teeth. Braces wires come in different thicknesses, you usually start with a thin wire, and upgrade to a thicker one little by little then the wire us attached to the bracket by rubber bands, which are your choice of color. Then every month you MUST go in for a check up where they change your color bands (may switch to different colors) and the bands may be smaller making your braces tighter, which makes your teeth move a bit faster, and you may also get a new wire, but that depends on how much your teeth has moved since your last check up. Braces straighten your teeth, and also fixes your jaw, over bite, and under bite.

     

    Now I have had my braces for about 4 months now and let me tell you something… these braces have a lot more maintenance than I thought! 

     

    So first thing I had to do was go in for a consultation where they see if you can benefit from braces treatment. The next thing they do is fix anything with your teeth, for example, one of my teeth had a root canal so before I got my braces they had to get that removed and I also had a small hole in my tooth that they had to fill. After all that is done they sized my teeth to add molar bands (brackets on your molars but wrapped around the tooth instead of just in front). After that the next appointment is when you get your full set of braces. 

     

    Now I was really excited to get these braces – I been waiting forever to get my teeth straighten – but what I didn’t realize was the maintenance that came with braces. Literally ANYTHING you eat will get stuck in your braces and it’s not easy to get the food out. I always have to rinse out my mouth after I eat. And within the four months I’ve had braces, I’ve broken four brackets total off my teeth, which you have to go in and get redone. I have also had my wire come out on the ends many times, which you also have to go in and get placed back in, if your wire comes out at the ends your braces will NOT work. 

     

    And going in every month is a lot too, when you go in every month they tighten your braces, so you feel some pressure on your teeth for about two days and if you miss appointments your braces won’t work because you didn’t go get the adjustments you need. Also if you miss your monthly appointment that adds another month to your braces treatment. Braces has also changed what I eat, I try to stay away from hard foods because it’s better than breaking off your brackets and that’s hard for me because I like crunchy foods.  

     

    It has also affected my night routine. In order to keep my teeth clean and white, I brush my teeth for 10 minutes each night, which is a long time to be brushing your teeth, not saying 10 minutes is needed but you know I gotta keep these teeth nice and white and especially since you gotta get in between your braces. You’re also supposed to floss every night which is difficult to do cause you have to go in between your braces before even being about to floss, but I went ahead and purchased myself a water floss to make it easier, it’s like a water gun that constantly shoot out water to clean out the food from in between your braces and teeth. This replaces regular flossing completely and it’s way faster. 

    But the results in my teeth in just four months are amazing!  The before and after pictures of my teeth show you the results: p

     

     

  • New Dog in Town

    New Dog in Town

    Kelly Rodriguez, center, with Zion, left, and King, right.

    This is Zion, my dog. The small dog is my sister’s dog, named King. We are going to talk about King first. We got King when he was two weeks old. My mom got him from my grampa for $50. We have had him for two years now. He´s really smart and we don´t have to put a leash on him. Also, we never trained King or Zion.

     

    Zion is a really good dog. We got him when he was two months old. Zion was my brother’s dog at first. My brother’s name is James. He paid $400 for Zion he was supposed to pay 800, but my tia’s girlfriend was friends with the girl who sold Zion to us. James and I agreed that I would take care of Zion when he’s at work.

    Zion when he was a puppy.

    So I took care of Zion and my brother would come home and not give him any attention because he was tired and Zion would make a lot of mess, so my brother decided he wants to sell him and my mom was okay with it because she doesn’t want him. After all, he’s going to grow big but I told both of them no I’ll keep him since I take care of him more than my brother since he’s always working. My mom said no I can´t keep him but I begged her to let me keep him and she said okay.

     

    Now Zion is seven months. He’s a husky mixed with a   german shepherd. Zion still makes a lot of mess. I walk him every day for like 30 minutes or less. I take him everywhere with me because my mom doesn´t want him in the house. Sometimes when I try to go somewhere I can´t because of him since my mom doesn´t want to babysit him, so I just stay home or try to figure out something.

    Zion is in the festive Halloween spirit.

    Zion is an indoor dog because I live in an apartment and my neighbor has other dogs outside and they don´t want Zion close to their dog because he’s big so I try to take him out when I go somewhere.

     

    Zion loves meeting new people and kids, he is so nice to them. One day we went to the dog beach and he lay down next to someone and tried to hug them – I got a little jealous.

     

    Zion is my whole world, the only one who makes me happy. Also, dogs are better than people.

     

    Kelly Rodriguez with Zion.