Josh Ibarra Profile

California native and Morningside sophomore, Josh Ibarra comes from the city of Santa Ana, California and graduated from Valley High School before attending Morningside. When meeting Josh, you will see a Hispanic boy with silver/white hair who wears trendy stylish clothes. The occasional thick framed glasses or shades, when the weather permits, adorn his face and gives him that “hip” affect. This style of Josh’s has even earned him the nickname, “Hollywood” among Morningside faculty. Many who have the honor of getting to know Josh would say he is outgoing, loud, funny, driven, and a really great person.

“He’s an awesome person. He’s always knows how to make me laugh when I’m feeling down and for that I consider him like a brother to me,” shares Gladys Mayo, another native of California and one of Josh’s closest friends.

Josh sounds like any other interesting being but what makes him truly amazing is that he has lived the majority of his life in a wheelchair and walker. At birth, Josh was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or “Brittle Bones” and for the next twenty years he has had to deal with constant doctor appointments, surgeries, and needing assistance. Being in a wheelchair or walker, day and night, has been a struggle for Josh but he doesn’t let his disability stop him from experiencing life and taking opportunities whenever they are presented to him.

“Life is too short to be just sitting in my room. I prefer going out and experiencing things and if I get hurt, then I get hurt,” Ibarra says.

In fact, Josh’s latest opportunity for experiencing life and broadening his education further is the chance to study abroad in a Spanish country for the whole summer. He has applied for the chance to study in either Barcelona, Spain or Cordoba, Argentina.

“I really want to go to those countries because I want to perfect my Spanish some more so that it can help me later in my Business career or even my Political Science,” Ibarra explains.

Traveling around the world and immersing himself into it is not an easy feat to do but Josh does everything he wants despite the limitations of his disability. He has proven time and time again that he can be like anyone else. He played on the water polo team in high school, has taught himself to drive, goes out with friends to the beach and amusement parks, and even makes the choice to study outside the country like any other college student.

“Josh is very confident in exceeding in anything he does. He is not afraid to ask for assistance when he feels like he needs it but he’s also not afraid to give assistance to other around as well,” says Josh’s Student Success advisor Andre McWell. “I think his presence in the study abroad program would make everyone around him appreciate the opportunities they have and understand that Josh is much more than his wheelchair.”

Josh is continuing to be the inspirational person that he is and is currently preparing to go back home for the holidays while waiting for his acceptance letter into the study abroad summer program.

Mega City Mall Explosion

Mega City Mall is in disarray and under huge inspection for an explosion went off at 9:50 this morning.

The explosion was set off in the south east of the mall but the extent of the damage is still unknown. Investigative units and fire rescue teams had been dispatched to the scene where they report that less than 100 people were injured and that there were only two fatalities.

“On my break, I was going to to eat and I heard a loud explosion. Everything was was covered in dust and when it cleared, I saw my leg was gone,” said GunLand Assistant Manager, Maria.

The cause or reason for the explosion is still unknown. There are speculations that the explosion could have been mechanical and may have something to deal with the mall’s past electrical issues.

“We are still in preliminary conditions and are investigating on why this explosion happened,” says Sargent Fuglsang.

As for any suspects, there are none so far but the Mega City Police Department have established a special team of investigators that will work alongside federal law enforcement.

The mall is temporarily off limits until it is inspected and gets approval as a same building once more.

 

 

Midland News Release

16 year old polar bear, Homer, of Midland Zoo has passed from unknown cause. Midland Zoo caretakers are currently looking into the cause and are making it a goal to avoid an incident such as this from happening again.

“We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and the preservation of species are our primary goals here at the zoo,” says zoo director, Chris P. Bacon.

The Midland Zoo has helped polar bears thrive and live long lifespans since 1985. Creating and supplying bears with exhibits that allow the bears to engage in natural behaviors, the exhibits contain manufactured snow for the bears to live and trouts in chilled pools for hunting.

Homer was one of three polar bears that lived at the zoo and was an ambassador for wild relatives which helped educate zoo visitors about animal endangerment.

Midland caretakers and officials have expressed that Homer was, “a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly,”

News Comment #15-Last Letter of John Chau

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/world/asia/andaman-missionary-john-chau.html

This article is based on the experience of John Chau who was an American that tried to make contact with an Indian Ocean island tribe. His death has been on news for quite a while for he is one of few who have attempted to make contact and learn from the private tribe.

This article that I have chose is a first that I have seen that goes into details about who John Chau was and how his character connects to his experience of staying in the North Sentinel Islands. The story goes on to be partial profile of John, background on the habits of remote tribes, and then into historic expeditions of visiting remote islands.

The anecdote that I believe is in this story is John’s belief in God, due to him being Christian, and how he tried to share his belief with the tribe-man. The story highlights parts of his letter in where he claims that, “God love you,” and that he was frustrated about not being able to connect with the people.

Sharing his background and describing what kind of person John Chau was makes this story unique because he was doing it out of love and devotion to God, not for research purposes like pass attempts. This aspect of him is what has attracted so many people and news companies to do the coverage of his death and learn about what kind of person he was. There are not many people in this world who would do what Chau did and I think that’s why this type of angle of story is what attracted me to reading it.

Profiles such as John Chau are what need to be heard and it’s good that this type of story was published.

Article #4 Anecdote

Profile Subject: Josh Ibarra

Anecdote: Josh Ibarra was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or “Brittle Bones” disease, resulting him in being in a wheelchair for the majority of his life. Being 20 years old now and a sophomore in college, Josh wants to start taking opportunities to broaden his Spanish and learn more about his culture.  Hence why, Josh has applied for a summer abroad program to go to Barcelona, Spain or Cordoba, Argentina.

News Comment #13-Freddy Negrete

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/style/freddy-negrete-tattoos.html?fallback=0&recId=1CwNDKRcgzt7McF5siL4ahUz7qe&locked=0&geoContinent=NA&geoRegion=IA&recAlloc=contextual-bandit-story-geo&geoCountry=US&blockId=signature-journalism-vi&imp_id=900057949&action=click&module=editorsPicks&pgtype=Article&region=Footer

This article from The New York Times highlights the story of tattoo artist Freddy Negrete and his story about facing the challenges of losing his sons and becoming the tattoo artist that he is now.

The story is basically surrounding Negretes struggle with drugs and how his past of be a part of gangs caught up to him. It explains that Negrete was part of drug wars and how those wars started to involve his sons. One son was killed by gang member while the other died from drugs. Even though Negrete lost his songs, it helped him focus on his own life and start creating something good for himself and for his sons when they were alive.

This article is considered a profile story because it centers a lot of how Negrete shaped himself and how the death of his sons pushed him to keep living. This story can relate to others who might be going through the same things as Negrete and inspire them that it’s not too late to change your future.

The story also involves how Negrete gives back now and how he starts to help other struggling addicts with their addictions. This humanizes the story more and shows that this kind of problems do exist but there are ways to move past them and get help.

This story is meant to inform others of the dangers of drugs and gangs but also to inspire those who struggle with their own demons that they can leave the path of destruction and get help.

 

Last Conversation

The last conversation I had was with Mary, my boss at Spoonholder.  I arrived at the library and walked to Spoonholder at around 8:20am this morning.

Mary saw me coming around the front counter and said, “Good morning, Iggie! Today your making drinks!” At that point, I just felt was sums up to be…Oh Crap.

Leaning against the back of the counter, Mary watched me as I put my backpack down and signed in. She told me, “Don’t worry you’ll do just fine. I’m going to do inventory so just holler when you need me.” Mary then walked around the corner and went to the Inventory closet across the walkway.

I watched Mary working on the inventory for a good five minutes then began to work on refilling the cups and made fresh coffee.

Throughout my hour shift, I talk to Mary multiple times but most of the conversation we have are about how to operate the coffee shops and basic questions I have about making a specific drink.

I usually call out across the library, “Mary, I don’t know how to do this,” “Mary, what kind of scones are these,” “Mary, what the hell is a Zebra Chai?” Most of my Thursday morning are full of Mary’s and her always laughing at me while speed walking back to the drink bar.

At the end of my shift, Mary always tells me, “You did good today, Iggie.” in which I then say “I try.”

Before I leave to my class I say, “Bye Mary, bye Jackie…I’ll see you on Monday.”

Jackie and Mary usually respond either, “Bye, Iggie.” at the same time or Mary says,”You have a good rest of your day and don’t do anything stupid.”

All I can say is that working on Thursday mornings definitely wakes me up and is full of conversations with Mary.

 

Broadcast Story

Uber Car Services Ups Benefits for Uber Drivers

Uber car services is taking their idea of “commitment from drivers” to the next level.

Uber has released a trial program called Uber Pro that will reward their drivers for great services. The benefits will include covering tuition costs to Arizona State University Online and gives drivers discounted fuel and car maintenance services.

Senior RA Krista Waite shares her opinions on how Uber’s program could improve their driver employment, “I think it’s a really good idea…”

Uber Pro will reward drivers depending on how many rides they’ve completed and the rates that guests give them on the Uber App. The program includes three tiers of Gold, Platinum, and Diamond which determines what benefits Uber drivers earn.

The program will be tested in several states and Uber officials are hoping Uber Pro will go out nationally by the year 2019.

Mac Miller True Cause of Death Revealed

Coroner results on Mac Miller’s death have finally been released to the public.

In a recent autopsy on November 5, The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner found the true cause of death for American rapper and singer, Mac Miller.

Since Miller’s sudden death at Studio City, California home on September 7, coroners now have come to a conclusion that drug toxicity was the reason for Miller’s passing.

Miller was announced dead due to an accidental mixture of Fen-tan-yl, cocaine, and alcohol in his system.

Mac Miller fan, Josh Ibarra shares his thoughts on the rapper’s death, “I knew he was sober for a while…”

Miller’s closest music associates Travis Scott, SZA, Chance the Rapper, and others performed a Celebration of Life concert at the Greek Theatre in honor of the rapper’s life.

Spice Girls Return to the Stage

90’s girl band, Spice Girls return to the stage with their Spice World reunion tour.

The 90’s girl band have recently reunited and released statements about a limited stadium tour that will go around the U.K. Starting the tour on June 1, 2019, the Spice Girls will perform in Manchester and end in London.

Spice Girls fan Nancy Coronel explains why the return of the Spice Girls is so important in today’s time, “I feel that music from the past…”

The usual five piece band will be short one spice member for Victoria Beckham will not be joining the tour.

The Spice Girls will be releasing a new album once their tour is finished.

 

Profile Stories

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/11/12/14632452/stan-lee-dead-marvel-comics-95

This profile highlights the achievements that Stan Lee had when creating Marvel Comics.

The nut graph would start in paragraph 3 with the article starting to frame that Marvel wouldn’t be what it is today without Stan Lee.It then goes into his legacy of how he helped save Marvel Comics and how he developed it more throughout the years.

The article is basically a summary of why Marvel Comics was created, Stan Lee’s involvement in it, and why he was important to Marvel Industries.

https://www.vox.com/2018/11/9/18078910/michelle-obama-book-ivf-miscarriage-infertility

This is a profile on Michelle Obama and her newest released book, ‘Becoming’.

This article talks about her struggle to have children and how she isn’t hiding the fact that she had a miscarriage and an IFC.

This fact that she revealed helps support causes for women and how IFC and other contraceptives are important and shouldn’t be something that is looked down on. This would be the nut graph for in paragraph 11 it says that Michelle’s revelation helps normalize miscarriages and gives women the power to open up about their infertility struggles.

Michelle reveals personal details on her struggles and shows a weaker side of herself in which not many saw while she was The First Lady with all her fitness goals and active, positive lifestyle.

You can Always Depend on Lauren Osweiler

Lauren Osweiler is never one to toss aside her obligations and instead always stays on track with everything she is responsible for.

From track, homework, work, and college classes, she knows what she has to get done and focuses all of her energy into completing everything that she is given.

This focus shows especially in her work ethics because Osweiler is always on time and is what employers look for in an ‘ideal employee.’

“I’ve had former employers say I’m responsible and an “asset to the company,” shares Lauren when asked how past and current employers would describe her working skills.

Lauren currently works at Old Navy and believes that people should take a job seriously and do what needs to be done.

As a Business Administration major, Lauren Osweiler is sure putting her skills to the best of their abilities by showing key Leadership morals such as taking full responsibilities for all your actions and leading others by example.

Posts and Blogs of Iggie Estupinian