Character does count
Throughout the week of Oct. 15 to Oct. 19, Downey High School’s ASB encourages students to display qualities of the six pillars of character, during Character Counts week, by plastering posters around campus. “It was hard to spread this around the student body, but even if it gets to one persons, it’s enough,” Jenifer Sicardi, 12, said.
October 26, 2012
From Oct. 15-19, Downey High School’s ASB promoted Character Counts Week by raising the spirit of the student body with walls of posters around campus. By doing this, ASB hoped to highlight the necessity of determining good character.
ASB played a significant role in this event, as the members set up posters all across the halls of Downey. The posters that caught the student body’s attention the most were the 2 twelve foot long posters on the C building. Each poster displayed the six pillars of character: responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, citizenship, and respect.
“It’s something that everybody knows about, but this week was dedicated to just those six pillars,” Jennifer Sicardi, 12 said.
Sicardi is an ASB member that was put in charge of this week’s events along with the help of her assistant Selena Dolmuz, 12.
Another selfless act of kindness ASB did was giving out hand made goodie bags to students with special needs to show that a small act of selfless generosity goes a long way.
“Our plans to involve and raise awareness to the entire student body weren’t as successful as we had hoped, but even it gets to one person, it still means something,” Dolmuz, 12 said.
Although involvement amongst the students’ was limited, some teachers still had strong opinions for Character Counts Week. Football coach and substitute teacher Mr. Ward had much to say towards the six pillars and what they stand for.
“Personally, I think it’s great that our school helps guide and socially advocate the students towards good character,” Ward said.
Most students remember Character Counts Week from their adolescent days, and although it has many different meanings, it’s overall purpose is to spread the word of obtaining good character within yourself.

When she is not running the staff or writing stories, Buenrostro enjoys jogs around her neighborhood, making healthy shakes and other concoctions, or swimming in the waves at Huntington Beach. “Time doesn’t really exist when I’m in the ocean,” Buenrostro said. Buenrostro also loves live music; she has been to various concerts including Young the Giant, Arctic Monkeys, and Walk the Moon. Buenrostro plans to graduate and attend an out of state school far from California. “As much as I love Downey High,” Buenrostro said, “I can’t wait to go to college in a new environment.” While away at college she hopes to major in biology and medicine to start her path towards her career goal of being a doctor. Buenrostro aims to make her final year at Downey High School rewarding in both her academics and her position on The Downey Legend staff.

The soft-spoken Menendez lives her life to the fullest of its potential each and every day. She is a proud film enthusiast, lover of Asian cuisine, and self-proclaimed introvert – though she claims to enjoy wasting away the weekends with her friends. Nonetheless, rather than having a traditional quinceñera with the spotlight on her, Menendez chose to travel Europe alone. “I’ve always wanted to go, just to see new places I’d never seen before.” Menendez says. “I wanted something new. She still longs to travel the rest of the world – all the while, documenting her trips through a camera lens. A small girl, Menendez has big dreams ahead of herself.
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