Five Questions with Terrell Donaldson

Q1: When did you first become interested in football and why?

A1: I became interested when I was in middle school. I went to Sussman and transferred to Marshal Middle School, in Long Beach. I thought it would be fun, keep me out of trouble, teach me a lot, and help me make new friends. I actually started playing when I was a junior on JV, and this year I’m on varsity.

Q2: Have you let the fact that you are hard of hearing affect your playing?

A2: Yes I have. I would have started earlier if I didn’t let it affect me, because at first, I thought I couldn’t play since I’m hard of hearing, but when I started my junior year, I was thinking like, ‘awe man I should of started way earlier’.

Q3: What are some of the obstacles you’ve come across because you are hard of hearing and how do you get past them?

A3: Sometimes I have trouble hearing the coaches and the other football players, but I try my best to pay close attention, hang in there for the sport and the team, and always give it my all.

Q4: Who are your biggest supporters?

A4: Well, my parents thought it was dangerous at first, but I proved them wrong and that I am capable of doing anything I want to do, but they always supported me. The football players are very supportive of me because I’m hard of hearing, so they always tell me just in case I miss something; I can always depend on them. They help me a lot.

Q5: What college do you plan on attending and would you like to play football there?

A5: I would like to attend Long Beach College, but I’m not sure yet. I want to become a doctor because I want to help save lives and find a cure for cancer.

About the Contributors

Sara Cabrera, Writer/ Copy Editor

Sara Cabrera, a current senior, is an optimistic writer for The Downey Legend. For Cabrera, journalism is not just a hobby or a class; it’s a passion and a future career. According to Cabrera, she started her sophomore year, yet to discover her writing talent. It was Mrs. Stratford, her sophomore English teacher, who recommended her to join The Downey Legend. “I was a bit intimidated about the whole thing at first,” Cabrera said. After some time to think and a few pushes from Mrs. Stratford, Cabrera made the decision to join. “It was the greatest choice I ever made,” Cabrera said. Cabrera not only dedicates most of her time to writing for the online newspaper, she also enjoys dancing at a very popular dance studio: Santa Fe Springs Performing Arts Center. Her dancing skills helped her make the Downey High School Dance team for the 2013-2014 school year. With motivation to major in journalism and minor in dance, her dream is to travel around the world for six months after she graduates from a college somewhere in the east coast. She also plans to get a part time job as an interpreter, because she is fluent in sign language. Cabrera’s goal this year as a writer is to make The Downey Legend more popular and known to the students at Downey High.

Norma Flores, Sports Editor

Norma Flores, 12, is a writer and photographer for The Downey Legend for the second year in a row. She wants to portray Downey High through images that kindle others to want to be involved with their campus. “I’ve always had an interest in writing and photography,” Flores said. “I would like to show others what I’m capable of.” A goal Flores has in mind is to be an FBI agent, criminal profiler, or a part of the Behavioral Analysis Unit because she is interested on how an individual’s mind is persuaded to commit a certain type of crime. Her main interest is swimming, but she also enjoys reading books and writing whatever comes to her mind. Flores’s hobbies are working out and running because she feels free when doing so. One of her dreams is to become an Olympic swimmer. “I want to make my life worth it and would like to impact on other’s lives too, because the world has a lot to offer to us,” she said. “We shouldn’t conform because we each have some sort of role to play, and we should push ourselves over our own comfort zones and be daring.” Although Flores may have a lot to show to her peers regarding her capabilities, she may also inspire those who do not know her through the dedication expressed by her own skills.

The Downey Legend

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Five Questions with Terrell Donaldson

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