The Crusader encourages community dialogue on public matters. Letters submitted to the Crusader may be edited prior to publication and must include a full name and class grade. Please email letters to either Opinion Editor, Antoinette Gilbert ([email protected]) or Paula Pichay ([email protected]) or visit www.bonitavistacrusader.org to view additional letters.
Dear Editor,
I was very excited to read the article, “The hard reality represented through Barbie,” written by Madison Knudson in the Crusader. For many years, women have always been told that they are unable to do what a “man” can do. However, this article on the movie supports the fact that women can do much more. There have been some contradictions towards Barbie due to setting expectations or standards for women like being skinny or tall or just being perfect. This article showed a different perspective. It represented the women who face problems with themselves involving imperfections and flaws and problems like harassment or not having a voice at jobs. This article states, “…Barbie is encouraged to forgive herself for her imperfections and mistakes which represents ‘all the impossible expectations placed on modern women.’” I agree with this statement because it shows the world what women go through on a daily basis. Knudson does a wonderful job in writing this article because she also describes that women can overcome their problems, which is very true. I would like to thank the editors and writers for publishing this article regarding women’s issues, as it is a very important topic in these times.
Sincerely,
Angel Ong
Dear Editor,
I wanted to give my opinion about the article “Q&A: What is ‘the Baron way?’” by Madison Knudson. Given that Bonita Vista High School has now been shaped by the principles of ‘The Baron Way’ ever since Mr. Romero’s arrival as the principal, it’s crucial that there’s an article addressing what exactly this phrase means. What I really enjoyed about this article was that the questions asked allowed for a lengthy and informative answer from Mr. Romero. Never was there a question that could be answered with a simple yes or no, but rather prompted in-depth answers that were key to figuring out what ‘The Baron Way’ meant.Although this Q&A serves as a great read, I did notice an error revolving around the article as a whole along with a small grammatical mistake. It appears that the article has been placed in the wrong category, which in my opinion, minimizes its overall impact. Rather than being under ‘Arts & Cultures’, I feel that an article like this belongs under the ‘Features’ category as it aligns with the content. Furthermore, I also spotted a grammatical mistake in the third response from Mr. Romero, where it’s seen that there’s no closing quotation mark at the end of “Hey, Romero, ‘the Baron way.’ I hope that you take my feedback into consideration as I believe that these mistakes could be easily fixed.
Sincerely,
Adam Ramirez
Dear Editor,
I sincerely enjoyed reading the Crusader article, “An addition to tradition” by Lauralai Gilbert and Gabrielle Hebron. The article summarized the story on the involvement of our Special Ed program during this year’s homecoming. I truly agree with the points made within the article and have a special appreciation for it as my brother is also in the Special Ed program here at BVH. The point made within the article by interviewee Viviana Balleza, is one that I have also noticed throughout my brother’s education, where those of the special needs program tend to not get as many opportunities as someone within the regular curriculum would. When my parents and I heard of Sophia Cervantes and Beto Peralta-Villarreal being given the opportunity to be on the homecoming court, we were all ecstatic. For a long time, we wished for the best high school experience possible for not only my brother, but also every student within the Special Ed program. I truly adored reading about the people who were able to make this opportunity happen for Sophia and Beto and value all the work that has gone into the article. I would like to truly thank the Crusader for covering this story as it has been something that has truly brought happiness to not only my family and I, but my brother as well. Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Madeleine Mann
Dear Editor,
While scrolling through the Crusader website, I stumbled upon an article entitled “Relighting the candle of a burned out future” written by Grace Na. Not only did the title alone catch my attention, learning about her worries about planning her life after high school relates to many of us high school upperclassmen trying to figure out what we want to accomplish in life as we make the transition into adulthood. What resonated with me was when Na mentioned how she feels uncertain when someone asks her “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It seems to be much easier to answer this question when we are young. When asked, she did not hesitate to reveal that she wanted to become a ballerina and fashion designer. However, when it feels like the dreams we once pursued may not be as realistic to accomplish, it can cause a sense of worry. But it is always good to have a hobby or interest which helps us acquire skills important in any field of work. I am not too worried about Na since she is a hardworking student and participates in extracurricular activities. Having her in IB Dance/Dance 2 is admirable to see the dedication to her craft being reflected on the dance floor. I wish her the best in her future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Renz Bulante
Dear Editor,
I have recently read “The loss of multiple benefits” an opinion piece written by Carlos Cartlidge. In his article, he mentions the fact that students at Bonita Vista High won’t be required to take the PSAT anymore and that there may be a loss of benefits because of this decision. As this is an opinion piece, I appreciate the new perspective Cartlidge brings up, but I would overall disagree with his stance. Essentially, the points Cartlidge brings up are very interesting. For the first example, he states that taking the PSAT allows for the opportunity for scholarships. But the study provided only states that students gain these scholarships if they are, “qualifying PSAT scores.” While I do appreciate the optimism on this point, the majority of students wouldn’t be able to obtain the said scholarship. That said, Cartlidge does bring up a good point that the PSAT can be practice for the SAT, which many students will take later on. Cartlidge does a great job tackling a topic that is very difficult to persuade readers. I appreciate this new perspective, and look forward to Cartlidge’s other work in the future!
Thank you,
Eliza Noblejas
Dear Editor,
I appreciate the recent article published titled “Warning! SUHSD Superintendent brings awareness towards recent student pick-up incidents” as it’s so important to speak out on topics that could be potentially harmful to students. It’s terrifying to think that any student at BVHS could be kidnapped or trafficked while trying to get home after school. This topic is so significant to discuss with younger teens, especially young girls. If students aren’t aware of the ways they may be convinced to get into a car with a stranger, they may fall victim to the strategies of human traffickers. With many students hanging out at the shopping center after school or taking public transportation, it wouldn’t surprise me that somebody would take advantage of the innocence of a young person and try to lure them into a horrifying situation. Having an awareness of tactics that traffickers may use to captivate young teens, especially girls could save so many lives. Additionally, I appreciate all of the input Principal Romero contributed to this article when discussing past incidents he experienced at Montgomery High School. All in all, thank you so much for publishing an article about this topic. I am sure it will help the students at BVHS have more of an awareness of their surroundings outside of school and this article may help in preventing these incidents from occurring in the future.
Sincerely,
Amira Alramadan
