One drop at a time

At the American Red Cross blood drive, in the gym on Wed. June 6, Paloma Moreno, 12, waits to get her blood taken. Students were allowed to donate the normal way or use to use the ALYX machine, which collects the highest amount of red blood cells.

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief
June 21, 2012

Students ages 16 and older rushed to the gym on Wed., June 6 throughout the school day to do their part in the race to save humanity by donating pints of blood to The American Red Cross. ASB encouraged students to save lives by providing t-shirts and refreshments to donors.

Although the wait in line may have been a bit time consuming, students felt a sense of accomplishment by giving a part of themselves to help a person in need.

“I’ve never donated blood but I really wanted to because I think it’s for a very good cause,” junior Karina Lizarraga said.

Other students feel personally committed to the cause because of family tragedies or accidents. Giving bood is a way to prevent accidents from getting any worse than they already are. It keeps loved ones safe in the event of a serious injury or disease.

“My family started donating blood more frequently after my cousin was diagnosed with Leukimia,” junior Chris Vasquez said. “Now I like to donate as much blood as possible.”

Along with regular blood donations the ALYX donations were also available for students who wished to give a more. The ALYX machine collects the highest amount of red blood cells and requires donors to be a certain weight to give blood. Many students could not donate due to weight limits, low iron levels, and anemia. The upcoming Six Flags field trip held for the Physics classes also limited students from donating due to safety precautions.

“It’s too bad many of the people I know could not donate,” junior Alejandra Roque said. “They were really excited to donate.”

Although ASB may not have received as many donors as expected the blood drive was still a success. The fact that students took the initiative to take time out of their schedules to donate blood is an achievement on its own. Surely, there will be many more students who are willing to donate at future blood drives.

About the Contributor

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief

Hanna Suarez, Editor-in-Chief of The Downey Legend, stepped into the world of journalism as a junior, as she carried on the challenge of the Arts and Entertainment Editor as her first position. The young writer was hesitant when first applying to join the staff, and doubts of acceptance crossed her mind. “I was kind of scared to join,” Suarez said “I didn’t think I would be much good.” Nonetheless, the hopeful student took the risk and was happy when she received the news of being selected as A&E Editor. She quickly adapted to the hectic environment and filled the newspaper room with her humor, as well as adding a sense of warmth and kindness. After successfully filling her section editor position, Suarez did not fret when the opportunity of E.I.C. was presented to her. She quickly grabbed the new title, and felt confident taking on the new role that was attached to more responsibilities. “I felt capable of handling the job well,” Suarez said. The leader was comfortable being promoted to a more prestigious position, and held her ground.

While college years are ahead of her, the student is savoring the moments she has left in high school, taking in her senior year and trying to make the most of it. The Downey Legend editor is an active member in the school marching band, playing the clarinet and euphonium. The senior also enjoys spending time reading while having 3^rd Street Coffee in hand, and listening to indie bands and artists such as The xx and Lana del Ray.

Once she graduates, the ambitious writer hopes to build a successful career as E.I.C. of her own magazine, making newspaper a foundation for her future endeavors. She anticipates stepping foot into the real world, attending the USC Annenberg School of Communications or FIDM. The young and talented individual has prospered as a writer and leader; providing the staff with a model of success, she leaves big shoes to fill.