Alexander Alcantar was a troublemaker as a kid. He wasn't so good at school and he would steal many things. Now, he is twenty years old and is a high-school drop out and talks about how difficult life can be. Alexander still has many dreams and goals to accomplish. Although he is a high-school dropout...

Patricia Alvarez went to Animo Jackie Robinson Charter High School. Patricia graduated from Animo Jackie Robinson three years ago. She is in the class of 2017. She went on a college trip for a week in her junior year of high school. Patricia went to many colleges and universities. Patricia fell in love...

In 2005, Anayeli Ugarte found out she was pregnant. Her life abruptly changed when her daughter came into her life. But she still loves her kids the same, even if she wasn't able to follow her dreams.    Anayeli went through more struggles than she should have at 16-17 years old. But she...

Katherine Cooke is a teacher at Animo Jefferson Charter Middle School. She teaches both drama and Read 180. She had many influences in her life which were her parents and her sister. She was not rich.  To buy food, she had to count out coins from a bucket of change. Her dad was her teacher. She...

Juan Sigala didn’t have much money as a kid. He wasn’t very good in school either.   He would play in the street, not worrying about the things we have to worry about now. Even if there was nothing to play with they would still find a way.   His dream was to build a family....

Alejandra Castillo, who attended Animo Jefferson from 2012-2015, graduated on Saturday as valedictorian at Animo Ralph Bunche High School.   While at Animo Jefferson, Alejandra wrote for the Bulldog Bugle, publishing 21 stories while on staff and serving as co-managing editor while in eighth...

Imagine leaving behind your child in order for you to guarantee a better future for them. When Catalina Lagunas, an immigrant from Mexico, was 22 years old, she had to leave her son, Jose, in Mexico.   “It was a really difficult choice, but necessary because we needed money, I had to support...

A tattoo is a body  modification where a design is made by ink, dyes, or pigments that are permanent on your skin. These are drawings people get which can have a meaning or just be on their skin because they want a tattoo.   Mario Garcia, campus security officer   The security guard...

Imagine not being able to be as active as those around you. Going to the hospital every few months to check how your body is holding up.   Elizabeth Millan was giving birth when they informed her that her daughter, Xitlacly Ibanez had a heart condition: heart murmur. During her pregnancy,...