Separation of Church and State

Jasmine Fernandez, Alexis Gutierrez, and Jesus Aguayo-Cerda
April 5, 2019

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About the Writers

For Jasmine Fernandez,12, it’s about the journey and the destination. As a student involved in almost all aspects of Downey High from Theater to Newspaper she loves having goals and pursuing success. “In five years I want to be pursuing something more.” Fernandez stated, “The thing that I would want the least coming out of college is not knowing what to do.’’

When I first met Jaz I was surprised at how lovable she is. This girl who is the current Editor in Chief for newspaper, who is a quiz bowl state champion, and the president of the writing center, put so much on her shoulders and will make you surprised at how well she handles everything that gets thrown at her. Jasmine Fernandez is the girl who makes you want to live her life for even a second, adored by all who meet her and baffled by how many faculty members she has befriended; to the point where she even attended board meetings.

She is the silly person everyone wants to be friends with, I mean if you saw someone sitting in a Panera for eight hours wouldn’t you have the urge to go speak to this mindless girl?

Many people call her ‘mom’ seeing how she cares for all of her friends, and honestly everyone who she meets. Instead of calling her my mom I would prefer to call her my comrade, seeing how we both go through the same struggles in life, dealing with the drawbacks of high school and life.

Rather than letting the torments get to her and slow down her path to Cornell Jasmine confidently thrives on through high school, as she states, “I am so grateful for the opportunities i’ve had and lessons i’ve learned in those gates but i’m also really excited to move onto the next”. Having the ability to push obstacles out of her way to focus on what actually deserves her attention, causes many around her to envy her, and secretly hate her, but that is besides the point.

-Vanessa Carillo

Alexis Gutierrez, Writer

As a returning Downey Legend news staff member, Alexis Gutierrez, 12, plans to expose more of what Downey High School has to offer. “I returned to newspaper because explaining new aspects of school life has really put me out there,” Gutierrez said. “I can't wait to continue discovering downey's little stories.”

When I first met Alexis Gutierrez we did not get along whatsoever. We share the same opinions, but for the most part we are very different people. In the beginning we constantly argued in a manner that was not friendly at all. We would constantly get on eachothers nerves to the point where I think both of us would get irritated solely by looking at the others face. However, as time passed by we slowly—and I mean very slowly—developed a friendship. Alexis may be very opinionated and outspoken, but I’ve learned to appreciate her for it. Plus we have pretty much all the same opinions so that helps. As opposed to myself Alexis takes pride in her work and puts forth all her effort to do a great job. She has no fear in sharing her opinions and voicing her concerns which really impresses me. She can easily accomplish any task put in front of her and I have no doubt in her ability to accomplish any goal of hers. I consider Alexis a vital part of The Downey Legend and I am grateful for all the arguments we’ve had so far. Alexis Gutierrez is as corny as it sounds an independent and candid person who can do most if not all things she sets her mind to. She also never failed to call me out on my malarkey, so she should be thanked for that.

-Jesus Aguayo Cerda

Jesus Aguayo-Cerda, Writer

Formally enrolled in AP U.S. History and currently enrolled in AP Microeconomics, senior Jesus Aguayo-Cerda believes that the social sciences are the least harrowing classes he has to take in his high school career. “I wouldn’t say I enjoy it; I’d say [social science] is the least painful out of the classes you have to take,” Aguayo-Cerda said. “It teaches you about different branches; it’s more vocal and not all ‘grunt-work.’”

Despite Jesus’s obviously biblical stemmed name, Jesus is an actively assertive person. He consistently and repeatedly voices his honest and true opinion. At such a ripe age he knows who he is, what he likes and what he believes in. Jesus speaks his mind without fear of consequence. Jesus seeps bravery in an unusual sense, he doesn't jumps off cliffs nor does he stop criminals to the best of my knowledge. Instead he expresses his mind which is something that most people are too afraid to do these days.

Along with his privacy he holds his political views to heart without wavering. Jesus has such a passion for freedom of speech that he joined podcast for the freedom of voicing his opinion.

He pursues to become a politician with strong and high morals for individual choice. Jesus is an passionate writer when the subject relates back to his values. When I first met him he really annoyed me and we fought constantly but with time I got used to him and started to find his sarcasm slightly funny.

-Alexis Ortiz