The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow
With a passion for baking since her childhood, sophomore Daniela Hernandez has started a business making and selling a variety of sweets, including cupcakes and cookies. “I started making cupcakes, trying different recipes flavors, just things that I wanted to do things and that I liked,” Hernandez said. “It kind of just started from there and ever since I've been just taking orders and like delivering them. I've been getting some great feedback and it's been fun.” Photo Credit: Daniela Hernandez

Passionate Patissier: Meet Daniela Hernandez

Kathryn Peterson
March 10, 2022
Sophomore Daniela Hernandez practices to improve her baking skills.
Skilled Kung Fu competitor: Meet Nathan Ly

Skilled Kung Fu competitor: Meet Nathan Ly

Ayma Malik
March 8, 2022
Sophomore Nathan Ly trains and competes in Kung Fu.
After‌ ‌dedicating‌ ‌much‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌running,‌ ‌senior‌ ‌Danyom‌ ‌Yosief‌ ‌gets‌ ‌to‌ ‌show‌ ‌off‌ ‌his‌ ‌ talent‌ ‌during‌ ‌competition.‌ ‌Training‌ ‌rigorously,‌ ‌Yosief‌ ‌competed ‌to‌ ‌win.‌ ‌“There’s‌ ‌more‌ ‌out‌ ‌there‌ ‌to‌ ‌ look‌ ‌out‌ ‌for‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌feel‌ ‌like‌ ‌my‌ ‌job‌ ‌as‌ ‌an‌ ‌athlete‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌accomplished‌ ‌yet,''‌ ‌Yosief‌ ‌said.‌ ‌“I‌ ‌know‌ ‌ there’s‌ ‌more‌ ‌out‌ ‌there‌ ‌for‌ ‌me‌ ‌and‌ ‌there’s‌ ‌probably‌ ‌even‌ ‌better‌ ‌people‌ ‌than‌ ‌me‌ ‌out‌ ‌there‌ ‌so‌ ‌I‌ ‌ can’t‌ ‌stop‌ ‌working‌ ‌hard‌ ‌even‌ ‌after‌ ‌I‌ ‌reach‌ ‌my‌ ‌goals.”‌ ‌Photo‌ ‌Credit:‌ ‌‌Jevon‌ ‌Dyer‌

Devoted Runner: Meet Danyom Yosief

Gray Barranco
February 14, 2022
Senior Danyom Yosief finds passion and relief in racing competitively in cross-country.
As her stress piles up from a tough homework assignment, Rollf decides it’s time for a brief break. Rollf got into position and cracked her neck to release built-up tension. “I crack my bones for stress relief, out of boredom, when I’m nervous, or just to fidget around with,” Rollf said. “It’s usually quiet in class, so when I get bored and start cracking my bones, my neighbor will look at me weird because of how loud it is. When I’m by myself, I can enjoy the sounds of it without receiving weird looks.” Photo Credit: Madisyn Rollf

Crackin’ Bones: Meet Madisyn Rollf

Raeness Lantaya
February 7, 2022
Madisyn Rollf started cracking her bones after witnessing her father.
Finishing another hard workout session, senior Ventisislav Yankov studies his side triceps after training shoulders and arms. Beginning his junior year, Yankov began to start taking the gym seriously and working out to improve the way his body looked. “I remember the best memory of my training experience when I benched 225 pounds, which was my goal for six months,” Yankov said. “I failed that benchmark three times before that and when I finally hit it, I felt very happy.” Photo Credit: Ventisislav Yankov

Certified Personal Trainer: Meet Ventisislav Yankov

Naila Yazdani
February 3, 2022
Yankov landed his first job as a personal trainer after rigorous amounts of work over the last two years.
Mending to her plants, sophomore Christine Wu digs in the soil with her shovel. Working on farming since she was twelve, gardening has become her number one hobby“ Although gardening can become quite a labor intensive hobby, I like the work even if my back can be sore from it,” Wu said. “I can always turn to gardening for relief from the stress I feel in life. It is relaxing to sit down and focus on a plant. It's always heartwarming to see your hard work grow and bloom.” Photo Credit: Madelynn Evans

Finding Peace In Gardening: Meet Christine Wu

Madelynn Evans
January 28, 2022
Learning to grow flowers and vegetables establish a healthier coping mechanism for stress.
Helping a client with their design, senior Jhonathen Romo is figuring out the best graphic styles for their product. He now customizes personal items for his client to purchase with the help of software. "It is satisfying running my own business," Romo said. "Being able to work on my own time and balance it easier than a clock in type job. And it is cool seeing the build up of something you own." Photo Credit: Jhonathen Romo

Driven Innovative Designer: Meet Jhonathen Romo

Ava Julian
December 14, 2021
Romo is displaying his skills by creating custom graphic designs for clients.
Showing off her extensions and nail swatches, junior Adriana Bonilla is ecstatic for her next client to visit her at-home nail salon. This passion has taught Bonilla many new skills, artistically, socially and professionally. “It's so exciting when friends and family will trust me with such big events,” Bonilla said. “When people have details that they need me for, it's nice that I can add something small to their special days.” Photo Credit: Paola Bonilla

Dedicated Nail Artist: Meet Adriana Bonilla

Ashley Harris
December 7, 2021
Junior shares her journey starting an at-home nail salon.
While playing in one of her tournaments, math teacher Tawanna Ervin prepares herself to hit the cue ball to make a shot. “I think I'm more logical than some people and definitely see the angles on the table, even though I always can't get the ball to go in that direction,” Ervin said. Photo Credit: Tawanna Ervin

Ambitious Pool Player: Meet Tawanna Ervin

Gray Barranco
November 16, 2021
After a rigorous day of teaching quadratic formulas and factoring, Tawanna Ervin spends her afternoon playing competitive pool.
Skillful Acrobat: Meet Davis Leavitt

Skillful Acrobat: Meet Davis Leavitt

Lucas Grubb
November 9, 2021
Meet Junior Davis Leavitt who has been flipping since he was 6. It all started when he got a trampoline for Christmas.
Looking at his finished look, junior Karim Abd-Elmalek poses for his next Instagram post. Through drag, Abd-Elmalek has tested what he is truly capable of, breaking boundaries and becoming more confident. “It's nice to let people out there in the world know what I’m doing,” Abd-Emlalek said. “I am a person doing this type of thing, and there's not a lot of people who are my age that do this." Photo Credit: Ashley Harris

Teenage Drag Queen: Meet Karim Abd-Elmalek

Ashley Harris
October 29, 2021
Junior Karim Abd-Elmalek hopes to inspire others through his journey with drag.
Fierce Jiu Jitsu Trainee: Meet Michael Ennis

Fierce Jiu Jitsu Trainee: Meet Michael Ennis

Gurleen Swaich
October 8, 2021
Jiu jitsu fighter Michael Ennis, works with the Vinny Magalhaes Jiu Jitsu team to perfect his weaknesses and be the best martial arts player he can be.
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