A Tribute to the Smiling Superhero

Angelica Fregoso, Staff Writer
June 9, 2016

When one conjures the persona of a superhero, he or she typically deliberates ethereal abilities, such as flying or x-ray vision. These seemingly otherworldly beings typically acquire superpowers through a mutation; however, what truly constitutes a superhero is his or her capacity to accomplish marvelous feats in an unparalleled manner. According to his older brother, senior, Pablo Santos, the superpower of Jesus David Santos was his ability to cause another person, a complete stranger, to smile, no matter what the circumstances may have been.

Santos was the kind of person one becomes jovial thinking about; the mere deliberation of his smile elicits a grin upon the thinker. Whether he was bouncing an imaginary basketball around the legs of strangers, or serenading them with a congenial song while strumming a ukulele, David Santos refused to allow estrangement to occur between himself and another person. His buoyant aura permeated every room he walked into.

Attributed to his passion for soccer, Santos was an expert at FIFA and lived by the mantra that people should always keep a smile upon their faces, which he exercised on a diurnal basis.

David Santos is a hero who fought valiantly against brain cancer, yet, passed away on May 20, 2016. It must be asserted, however, that cancer did not triumph; Santos did. He won the battle because the memories he shared with others will be perpetual within their hearts. Santos will live on in the spirits of those he was acquainted with, as well as the achievements they accomplish that are inspired by his memory.

During his 16 years upon Earth, Santos lived his life to the fullest. The indelible memories he made with his friends and family shall remain in their hearts, while Santos’s soul departs to heaven. Although life is fleeting, the memories constituted during its prevalence are everlasting.

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About the Writer

Angelica Fregoso, Staff Writer

After realizing that 4,382 students registered in less than a week to join Downey High School, Angelica Fregoso had the desire to go out there and spread the word about newspaper. She cannot wait to interview new students and write their stories to fit in with the others located in the Legends category.

“Nobody in this school really knows each other,” Fregoso said. “I mean there are so many students now, so I believe it is possible to have them get to know one another by getting to read each others’ stories on Downey Legend.”

If she is able to promote newspaper to the students, then those students can read stories about others’ lives and view them differently.

“Many people, many stories,” Fregoso said, “and when students pass each other without knowing who they're walking by, mainly because of how they dress or how they talk, it's kind of sad, because one can't simply judge a book by its cover.”

She knows how it feels to walk past students and not know who they are. During her freshman year, Fregoso moved to Downey High from St. Emydius, a private middle school, that only had about 250 students.

“That school was so little,” Fregoso said, “almost everyone knew each other.”

During the middle of her sophomore year, former newspaper writer, Akhila Nalamilli, mentioned the Downey Legend newspaper with Fregoso.

“Angelica is a very nice girl,” Nalamilli said. “Her writing is amazingly done and a great use for newspaper.”

Fregoso's love for writing came to her when she was in first grade; as she started taking tests on The Magic Treehouse: Age of Dinosaurs, she loved the idea of being able to write her own stories and include her own characters and make her own world.

It is not really a goal to write those kinds of stories to this day, Fregoso pointed out. Joining newspaper was to become open-minded and to write actual stories of actual people rather than typing fiction.

“Although it seemed interesting to write what I want my characters to say and how I want my world to work out,” Fregoso said, “I think it's better to write what real characters say and how their worlds work.”

Knowing how she had a flowing passion to accomplish this goal, Norma Fregoso, mother of Angelica, agrees that she can do it.

“My daughter has always been a creative writer,” Mrs. Fregoso said. “Ever since she was a young child, she has expressed interest for writing stories.”

Fregoso's writing also inspired her friends to improve on various things like essays and CQTs.

“Angelica's very passionate and puts all her emotions into her work,” Carolina Marin, Fregoso's best friend said. “Not everyone has the ability to express themselves correctly, and I feel that she is capable of conveying her point thoroughly and emotionally without confusing or misleading the reader.”

With much more to experience, Fregoso patiently waits for what stories she will be writing about in newspaper, and to obtain knowledge about the lives of students, teachers, and the citizens of Downey.

The Downey Legend

The Downey Legend

A Tribute to the Smiling Superhero

The Downey Legend

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