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The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

All content by Vinh Tran
Four years, forever grateful

Four years, forever grateful

Vinh Tran
May 11, 2018
Thank you for reading my articles for the past four years.
Dear freshman me…

Dear freshman me…

Vinh Tran
May 4, 2018
After four years of high school, I've gained some tips and advice I wish I learned before I even started my high school life.
The best life lessons I learned, I learned from a dongle

The best life lessons I learned, I learned from a dongle

Vinh Tran
April 27, 2018
I learned numerous life lessons from just a dongle, who would have thought I'd be grateful?
Adulthood within reach

Adulthood within reach

Vinh Tran
April 20, 2018
With only a couple months left until I turn 18, here are 18 things I want to do before I become an adult.
SATIRE: PRO/CON: Yodel boy: musical genius

SATIRE: PRO/CON: Yodel boy: musical genius

Vinh Tran
April 9, 2018
Another month, another internet meme has gone viral. However, the yodeling boy in Walmart has much more in store when it comes to his musical genius.
An Hour In ...Photography

An Hour In …Photography

Vinh Tran
April 5, 2018
Photography students take photos for a project and their portfolios.
SATIRE: Owning a Hydro Flask makes you a better person

SATIRE: Owning a Hydro Flask makes you a better person

Vinh Tran
March 22, 2018
Hydro Flasks just make you a better person. Simple as that, so go ahead and spend $40 on one.
Are you ready for a nine to five?

Are you ready for a nine to five?

Vinh Tran
March 15, 2018
With the thought of receiving hundreds of dollars, students are tempted to apply for part-time jobs. However, they don't realize the sacrifices one has to make for a job.
SATIRE: VinhMD, the epidemic that is senioritis

SATIRE: VinhMD, the epidemic that is senioritis

Vinh Tran
March 5, 2018
Are you counting down the days til graduation? You may have senioritis.
SATIRE: Love is a lie orchestrated by the government

SATIRE: Love is a lie orchestrated by the government

Vinh Tran
February 14, 2018
The government is trying to take over the world by using Valentine's Day.
Political Party Ads created in Government

Political Party Ads created in Government

Vinh Tran
February 12, 2018
Students in Mr. Joseph Juliano's Government class are creating their own political parties in order to have a better understanding of the different parties.
Sin city: aptly named

Sin city: aptly named

Vinh Tran
February 5, 2018
Crime rates in Las Vegas have been steadily increasing. There needs to be immediate action in order for the city to improve.
SATIRE: Clothes make the man

SATIRE: Clothes make the man

Vinh Tran
January 25, 2018
My life has one focus, clothes. Even if I lack any sense of style or responsibility, hopefully wearing expensive clothes will suffice.
Expecting failure

Expecting failure

Vinh Tran
January 10, 2018
Following an array of disappointment, it's not much of a surprise when one starts to expect it at every turn.
Learning to welcome change

Learning to welcome change

Vinh Tran
November 10, 2017
I recently moved to a totally new environment and I’m struggling to call my new home, home.
The risks of commitment

The risks of commitment

Vinh Tran
October 30, 2017
Commitment is a double-edged sword, there are numerous high risks and high rewards that come from following up on responsibilities.
SATIRE: Las Vegas, in dire need of sports teams

SATIRE: Las Vegas, in dire need of sports teams

Vinh Tran
October 17, 2017
With only the Raiders and the Golden Knights as the only major sports teams, Las Vegas needs to step their game up.
PRO/CON: Sitting down for what you believe in

PRO/CON: Sitting down for what you believe in

Vinh Tran
October 1, 2017
Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the National Anthem sparked outrage. Though, it isn't justified.
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Drugs: localized toxicity

Vinh Tran
September 22, 2017
The opioid crisis has become more of an issue in Nevada.
Opportunities: to take or not to take

Opportunities: to take or not to take

Vinh Tran
September 16, 2017
Should one take every opportunity that appears before them? Are some things worth the risk?
SATIRE: The old world is ending, prepare for the apocalypse

SATIRE: The old world is ending, prepare for the apocalypse

Vinh Tran
September 7, 2017
With Hurricane Irma and Jose in the way, you know what that means. Nuclear apocalypse! Here’s how I imagine human life in the next couple of weeks.
The influence of music

The influence of music

Vinh Tran
September 1, 2017
I’ve looked up to my favorite artists growing up, even now I still consider musicians my inspiration.
Are we moving too fast?

Are we moving too fast?

Vinh Tran
August 24, 2017
Some may say life moves too fast, I, on the contrary, think life moves at a terribly slow pace. The wait between having your hand held and finally living your own life is too long to handle.
Slideshow: Prom 2017, "An Elegant Affair"

Slideshow: Prom 2017, “An Elegant Affair”

Vinh Tran
May 30, 2017
This year's prom was at the Veil Pavillon and was themed after the live remake of "Beauty and the Beast."
A daily dose

A daily dose

Vinh Tran
May 25, 2017
Depression is something some of us have experienced, yet a handful of teens continue to stay quiet.
Split! Five bands I miss seeing onstage

Split! Five bands I miss seeing onstage

Vinh Tran
May 15, 2017
Five bands that I would like to see get back together
Is there anything to celebrate on World Press Freedom Day?

Is there anything to celebrate on World Press Freedom Day?

Vinh Tran
May 5, 2017
World Press Freedom Day is more important now than ever due to the dangers freedom of speech faces today.
Denial of responsibility: an epidemic

Denial of responsibility: an epidemic

Vinh Tran
March 28, 2017
What are the steps to getting your life together? One should first stop making excuses and follow with their obligations.
Shooting in film never (f)stopped being popular

Shooting in film never (f)stopped being popular

Vinh Tran
March 19, 2017
I enjoy using both DSLRs and SLRs, I can’t part with either one of them.
Context doesn't matter apparently

Context doesn’t matter apparently

Vinh Tran
March 8, 2017
The Wall Street Journal has gone out of context in order to make a youtuber look like an all-around terrible person.
PRO/CON: Oakland Raiders pillage Las Vegas

PRO/CON: Oakland Raiders pillage Las Vegas

Vinh Tran
February 17, 2017
Las Vegas does not have millions lying around to fund another stadium. The Raiders should instead stay in Oakland, or at least find funding elsewhere.
"Muslim Ban," what is happening?

“Muslim Ban,” what is happening?

Vinh Tran
February 3, 2017
Although it's called the "Muslim Ban," there is still confusion about what exactly is happening with the order Trump signed earlier this week.
Chivalrous acts in the modern day

Chivalrous acts in the modern day

Vinh Tran
January 27, 2017
What is Chivalry?
Fashion: the ridiculous markup explained

Fashion: the ridiculous markup explained

Vinh Tran
January 17, 2017
Brand names are everything these days when it comes to selling clothing and accessories. But how do they make their name popular enough to be worth more than the garment it's printed on?
A year after the fall of Ziggy Stardust

A year after the fall of Ziggy Stardust

Vinh Tran
January 7, 2017
On January 28 of last year, David Bowie passed away. Yet his music will still live on, whether it has been one or forty years. His message is timeless.
PRO/CON: The all-seeing eye of the school district

PRO/CON: The all-seeing eye of the school district

Vinh Tran
December 13, 2016
With the prevalence of schools adapting to adding a video camera inside classrooms, I'm wondering why they're doing that when there are many negatives about it.
Photo Credit: nathanmac87

Gather ‘round children, this will be disappointing

Vinh Tran
December 1, 2016
Numerous people are complaining about their president, even when they can't do anything about the outcome of the election.
I am thankful for...

I am thankful for…

Vinh Tran
November 4, 2016
When I was younger, I had completely different things I was thankful for during the Thanksgiving time. I'm not sure if it's a mix of cynicism or the fact that the 'truth' about Thanksgiving has been exposed.
"You like Iron Maiden? Name five songs right now"

“You like Iron Maiden? Name five songs right now”

Vinh Tran
October 30, 2016
Everyone should be allowed to enjoy music without fear of prejudice.
Mumbling≠Artistry

Mumbling≠Artistry

Vinh Tran
October 13, 2016
Hip hop and rap music are an ever-changing genre that differentiates itself from decade to decade. But the most recent trend for rappers today is to rely on autotune and sing with inaudible lyrics.
Opinions? What are those?

Opinions? What are those?

Vinh Tran
October 2, 2016
John Lennon once said "We're bigger than Jesus," which enraged thousands Christians and even the Ku Klux Klan. Today, if I was to say that pizza is an overrated food item, I would have tomatoes thrown at me until the end of time.
#Adulting—a fancy way to say incompetence

#Adulting—a fancy way to say incompetence

Vinh Tran
September 15, 2016
The #adulting is the latest trend to catch the attention of teenagers and parents alike.
Living the anti-social social life

Living the anti-social social life

Vinh Tran
May 12, 2016
The phrase "please leave me alone" will always be interpreted as spiteful and negative. But people do not understand that the constant annoyances of other people's concerns occurs so frequently throughout the day.
DLC: Don’t listen (to the) customers

DLC: Don’t listen (to the) customers

Vinh Tran
April 28, 2016
Oh boy! 2016 sure has a lot of great games coming out—too bad you will have to spend upwards to $100 to enjoy one of them at it's fullest.
Homework doesn’t work out

Homework doesn’t work out

Vinh Tran
April 22, 2016
Having to constantly pick up my head and tape my eyes open during the day is a major annoyance. If only homework didn't take so much of my time, I would be ready for any school day.
PRO/CON: Let’s get physical

PRO/CON: Let’s get physical

Vinh Tran
April 7, 2016
Learning in an environment where technology replaces the old pen and paper method of taking notes makes me wonder, “does this really need to be replaced?”
Dear Diary, this is how my Spring Break went...

Dear Diary, this is how my Spring Break went…

Vinh Tran
March 30, 2016
What did you do over Spring Break? Because mine was pretty interesting.
Ever since I was a little boy...

Ever since I was a little boy…

Vinh Tran
March 9, 2016
Gender role classification denies freedom and restricts the skills of those who want to break away from the social standard.
Guns and bloodshed replace toys and playtime fun

Guns and bloodshed replace toys and playtime fun

Vinh Tran
March 1, 2016
Having one’s childhood ripped from them is something that the world cannot silently ignore yet some choose to.
Satire: Social justice warriors, true freedom fighters

Satire: Social justice warriors, true freedom fighters

Vinh Tran
February 23, 2016
Over the years, people have gotten more easier to offend, even if whatever they were offended by was unintentional. In this article, I will show you how to properly address sensitive topics, while being politically correct.
Nicktoons, a splat from the past

Nicktoons, a splat from the past

Vinh Tran
February 4, 2016
Upcoming crossover movie, "Nicktoons" has been announced by Paramount Pictures to cater towards children today that didn't experience the classic cartoons. Have you ever wondered how do the classic Nicktoon characters feel about the current state of Saturday morning cartoons?
PRO/CON: The problem with the big bang

PRO/CON: The problem with the big bang

Vinh Tran
January 27, 2016
With recent action taken against the constitutional right to bear arms, is it morally acceptable to revoke these rights?
How to life hack your entire life

How to life hack your entire life

Vinh Tran
January 15, 2016
Life hacks are a trend in social media in which the poster insists that the standard way of doing a task is ‘totally’ wrong. Here’s why they should be left in the soil to rot.
Old Year's resolutions

Old Year’s resolutions

Vinh Tran
January 7, 2016
After a decade and a half of New Year's parties, I have gotten sick of promising lies to myself that will never see the light of day.
On the first day of winter break, I...

On the first day of winter break, I…

Vinh Tran
December 20, 2015
What will you be doing during winter break?
PRO/CON: Syrian Refugee Crisis: Not America's concern

PRO/CON: Syrian Refugee Crisis: Not America’s concern

Vinh Tran
December 11, 2015
The Syrian Refugee Crisis is a difficult situation to find a side with. Some want to accept the refugees, while the latter think otherwise. I however, believe that the U.S.'s internal problems are a higher priority.
Politics, Schmolitics

Politics, Schmolitics

Vinh Tran
November 16, 2015
America's youth are too busy gabbing about how fabulous Paris Fashion Week was instead of the political issues in regards to the presidential debate and rising prices of necessities. Do the issues America faces even matter anymore?
Would you forgive a father who was embarrassed of his own son? Your path for enlightenment is now darkened by a shadow of a man you once looked up to. 
Photo Credit: Gabi Fernandez

Does the death of thousands justify corporate profits?

Vinh Tran
October 6, 2015
Tobacco companies hold the planet in their greedy hands. They infect the population with a cloud of fallacies, death, and anguish.
An Hour In ... Health Science II

An Hour In … Health Science II

Vinh Tran
September 28, 2015
This hour was spent observing Health Science II students taking the blood pressure of their peers.
While taking dean Sherrae Nelson's blood pressure, Sophomore John Paul Avenido is aided by Mrs. Donna Hatch to ensure an accurate reading.

My profession is not a costume

Vinh Tran
September 22, 2015
Popular T.V. show, ‘The View,’ berated Miss Colorado for wearing her nurse scrubs instead of a gown, like contestants usually wear.
Keeping your cool

Keeping your cool

Vinh Tran
September 16, 2015
Life tests your sanity every day, one of those challenges we face is anger and how we can control it
Procrastination can lead to a student without any idea of how the real world works and the expectations of how life will be.  Illustration by Gabi Fernandez

Satire: Preparation? A preposterous pain

Vinh Tran
September 3, 2015
Summer is ending and the stress is piling: it's time to get ready for another year of Instagram likes and Twitter follower count. This guide for preparing for school will guarantee an expulsion before you can ask for AP lunch.