Culture Fair is April 2nd

By Christina Izquierdo and Canisha Crawford

The Culture Fair will be held at Garinger from 2:30-5 p.m. April 2.

Ms.Stanley, who is in charge of promoting the fair, is looking for people to perform such as poets, rappers and singers. She is getting help from her fellow students and trying to plan for the weather that day so events can be held outside and food and donations inside the building.

She said people should be involved in the culture fair because we are all from some where, and we have not embraced other cultures as we should. We should get to know and understand each other from different backgrounds.

Those who want to get involved should see Mr. Shelton or Ms. Stanley.

Garinger’s first All-American

Tresor Mbuyu scores a goal in the second round of playoffs against Watauga HS.                                                                (photo by:tarheelsportsphotography)

Mbuyu warms up before the second round of playoffs.     (photo by:tarheelsportsphtography)

By Francisco Gonzalez
Earlier this season, senior Tresor Mbuyu was nominated for Top Drawer Soccer All American team and put on the watch list. On Friday October 24 he was officially named All American, making him the first All American at Garinger and the only player from North Carolina to be on the All American team for 2014. On Sunday December 7 the NSCAA, the official national soccer coaches association, also named Mbuyu “All American.”

“It wasn’t a surprise for me” said David Garrett, the Garinger varsity soccer coach, “Tresor is one of the best players I’ve seen… his passion and dedication make him what he is.”

Mbuyu had an outstanding season, beating his records from his previous season. Last season Mbuyu was all conference, all state, the Charlotte Observer’s Player of the year and had a total of 34 goals. This year Mbuyu earned All conference, All Region, All State, Charlotte Observer player of the year again and All American for Top Drawer Soccer and the NHSCAA. He scored 56 goals in his favor, making him the top scorer in the state.

“Its an honor to be nominated for All American and without my teammates I would have never made it to where I am this season.” Mbuyu takes great pride in his team, he said he knows its not just the individual achievements but the team effort  that counts.

The Wildcats made it to the third round of playoffs this year, the furthest any Garinger soccer team has ever made it. This being Mbuyu’s senior year, he hoped to win a state championship.Although the wildcats season came to a tragic end, as they lost 3-0 to the now state champions Reagan High, Mbuyu said he is proud of what they accomplished.

“I just wanted to finish the season off strong,” he says. With his high school season over and college recruiters on the hunt for Mbuyu, he says he hopes to be in college next year (he has a few offers already), continuing to do what he does best which is “playing the beautiful game of soccer.”

Education: Mexico vs. United States

By Jazmin Perez

Education is an important aspect in most countries; Mexico and the United States are no different. However, there are many differences between the educational systems of the United States and Mexico.

Poverty is a serious problem in Mexico that affects education, as students begin to work early to help their families which makes hundreds of teenagers leave school without complete basic studies.

Instead, the government of the United States has a higher education and a more stable economy than Mexico. Therefore more schools provide support programs such as school breakfast and school buses.

Schools in Mexico do not offer these due to lack of interest because the government spends money on other things and lets education aside.

Mexico’s future necessarily involves education. United States succeeded, what has been achieved thanks to those who have invested in this area and made it the priority. Education in Mexico is not looking toward for the future, and it does not promote change in current and future generations.

In my opinion, education in Mexico and in the United States is very different as the United States has the budget to cover all the resources needed while Mexico does not invest in education.

But I found a big problem in what I studied in both countries – students do not take advantage that teachers are making things easier. They give us information material to perform the tasks, and we still do not comply with it.

In Mexico the teachers have a different way of working, because it works by competencies. The student has to find the information, and take the most important to work with your task.

In conclusion, education should be taken as the main task for the future, and this we must start with ourselves, with or without the resources.

Wildcat named Player of the Year

By Jaden Jones

Garinger student Tresor Mbuyu was named the Charlotte Observer’s Player of the Year in men’s soccer. – Photo by Jaden Jones

From birth he was destined for greatness, one would say.

Charlotte Observer player of the year, Tresor Mbuyu, an all-state junior from Garinger High School, has achieved greatness all his life.

The future seems bright for the gifted young forward from Congo.
Moving from Congo at a young age of 13, Tresor had begun his interest in the sport of soccer. Tresor’s opportunity to play for the Garinger Wildcats has earned him the respect of his teammates and coach. When asked how he feels to have this amazing honor, Tresor simply replied, “I am thankful for having great players and this was the most amazing season I have ever had in my life.”

Tresor’s respect for  his teammates, peers, and his coach is enormous. “They’re proud of me and they were excited to win the conference but we didn’t win it all,” Tresor said.
Tresor was also asked about the other awards he has achieved over the years and how they compare to this award, and he simply answered, “It’s kind of the same, but this is my first time winning Player of the Year.”
Another question was asked about the support of Tresor’s friends, teammates, coaches, and family. He replied, “My coaches train me and I also train myself. My friends and family also help me train.” His motto is “I learn about life with a soccer ball at my feet.”
Tresor’s father also impacts him on and off the field.

“My dad helps me with training and he also helps me with staying in school,” he said.

With the awareness of his future approaching, Tresor has not yet made a choice of the college he would like to attend.  “I want to play for college and go play for the pros.”
Tresor was asked of his final thoughts over young his career. He replied, “Without God I would not be where I am now.”

Born to play

Tresor Mbuyu

By Vanessa Robles

As early as he can remember, he’s been touching a soccer ball.

His parents are proud of him and his dad attends every soccer game he can.

Throughout his life he’s been asked to go play in Europe, and he is only at an age of 16.

Playing as forward in his past and present teams, Tresor Mbuyu has always has of luck of scoring goals. Tresor says he doesn’t know what motivates his goals, he just scores them.

Coming from Congo at an age of 13, he started playing soccer there and still continues playing so he can grow in skill.

As of now, Tresor attends an academy named One7, where he has been honored to travel and play in  such games as the regionals in Virginia and nationals in Chicago.

Garinger High is the school Tresor attends. The school has also given him an opportunity to play in the school team.

“If I had to choose between school and soccer, I’d choose soccer,’’ claims Tresor. As a junior, he is close to graduation and plans to play college soccer. Tresor is not decided on what college he wants to attend but he’s sure that he wants to make it to college.

His favorite player, a Brazilian named Lucas Moura Rodrigues, is also a part of his inspiration.

At the end of a game, Tresor’ s dad gives him words of inspiration, such as “you did great, I’m proud of you son,” and that is what touches him the most, Tresor said.. The emotion after each win touches Tresor as well as his coaches, family and friends.

‘’It simply did not take countless hours of training, money, extra time, etc… For me to be a good player somehow I learned all about life and the game with a ball at my feet,’’ he said.

Soldier honors Garinger with a patriotic gift

By Kimberly Monge

David Breton and his fellow soldiers hold the flag in front of the helicopter in Afghanistan.

A flag from more than 7,000 miles away was presented at Garinger on Friday, November 8, thanks to a Garinger teacher and her son.

Doreen Bourque, an OCS teacher, received a flag and a certificate from her son David Breton, who is in the Army National Guard and stationed in Afghanistan. The flag was flown at an American Army base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan for 1.1 hours on September 27, 2013.

David Breton is a mechanical engineer and a pilot in the army. David sent the flag to Garinger because he wanted to inspire students, especially in JROTC, to achieve their dreams and to show respect for his job and United States. He hopes it will be meaningful to those who want to join the army straight after they graduate from high school.

“Every young man and woman should see it and think about all the people
that came before them that made the choice to serve their country. I made the
decision while I was in high school and not a day goes by where I think back
to then and thank God for all that I have today,” Breton wrote in an email to his mother.

Why is Garinger receiving such an honor? Breton sent the flag to Ms.Bourque because he wants to show respect for her as a teacher at Garinger as well as a mother.

At 1 p.m.  Friday there was a tribute to veteran’s ceremony at the flag pole in front of the school. Mr. Cofield played the National Anthem, while JROTC cadets raised the flag. Captain Brown gave an overview about the importance of honoring the veterans. Each veteran was saluted while their name was announced.

Captain Brown presented the flag and Ms. Bourque presented the framed certificate to Principal Drye.   The certificate recognizes Garinger’s support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Principal Drye gave a speech about being grateful to receive two honorable gifts and appreciating the veterans serving our country. Lastly Captain Brown gave a closing remark.

“My son has served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well, and our flag represents that freedom isn’t free. There’s a cause. There’s an ultimate sacrifice that our young men and women put on the line everyday of their lives. So, freedom isn’t free,” said Captain Brown.

Ms. Bourque said that her son gift is a legacy that will inspire someone else who wants to join the army. She said when she sees the flag; she feels that her son is here on campus with her.

November 8 was a special day for David Breton because it happened to be his 36^th birthday. It is the same day that we celebrated his gift to us.

“I’ve deployed three times now and sure it’s hard, but I think of my family and how I’ve paid for them and myself to live in our Country. I love my country and I serve to show it,” Breton wrote.

Montagnard’s struggling life

By Diu Romah

The Montagnard people of Vietnam are the people who live in the mountains, which is why the French called them “mountain people.”  They live in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Montagnard includes five languages: Jrai, Rhade, Mnong, Koho and Bahnar. Their traditions are the same, except they are different languages.  They are all having different struggles through life; it is like part of their survival. Vietnamese people are the people who have a better life. They live in a richer way, which is why the Montagnard people work for them and earn enough  money to get food.

A Montagnard teen’s life is very different from the teen’s life in the United States. Teens struggle through school and jobs. They do not have enough food; all they have are  potatoes and rice. Their parents  have to work for Vietnamese people to get meals for their if their kids go to school.

Some of the parents die young and early because they can’t handle working too much with not enough food. Some kids go to work by helping their parents grow crops. Teenagers who do go to school often do not have enough money to pay for their supplies. Some teenagers’ parents end up not letting their kids go to school; they just want their kids to work and be able to have their own money.

Teens in the United States have a better life than teens there. Teens that are born in the United States act a lot cooler, and very differently than teens back there.

They go to school, but then they have free time. Here they stay busy by working and focusing on their school, but back there the teens don’t focus on their school or education – they just don’t care.

That is why many Montagnard people move to America. They were poor and their parents just wanted their kids to go to school and be able to have a good education, and be successful. Teens back there struggle more because even though they are young, they still have to work. In addition, they have to go around searching for food for their family to eat.

The school back there does not have as much stuff as in the United States. United States has calculators, but there the school does not provide any calculators and it is much harder, especially if they are in high school.

Some of the teens just don’t want to go to school. Kids can drop out of school at any age, it does not matter if you are young or not. In addition, it does not matter if they attend school at a higher age, they do not go by age as in the United States.

They also allow kids to drive before 18 years old. If you know how to drive, then you just have to drive, you do not have to get your permit and driver license.