Angela Osorio's Camayak portfolio

Faith in fashion: Formerly homeless student finds footing as first-gen graduate

Ashley Mendoza, center, smiles as she stands with El Camino College student models wearing her “Medieval Summer” collection. The medieval armor-inspired ensemble won “Best Collection” in the Fashion Department’s spring fashion show on June 23. “It’s a collection inspired by my life what felt like going to war every day ...

Her sister Nadia Mendoza tried to fling herself out of the passenger door as the gray Nissan sedan hurtled down the 605 Freeway at 110 mph. Nadia thrashed as her family members tried to stop her from grabbing the door handle. The four other passengers in the car — their mother Maria Mendoza, Ashley Mendoza, her other sister Iris Mendoza...

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From the tightest curls to the loosest waves, here are 5 products to tame your mane

Some days you love your hair, some days you hate it – like really hate it because of all the work it takes. Let’s not get straight to it…first comes the washing, then the styling, and you better love it or you'll be rewashing it, only to style it again and by that time you're late to class. With the...

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The Language of Trains: How railroads have connected one student to an entire community

Richard Jaladoni hangs off a Southern Pacific caboose at the Lomita Railroad Museum on Oct. 13 2024. Jaladoni holds a signal lap, which was use by railroad workers to communicate at night. The museum has a collection of several examples. (Katie Gronenthal | The Union)

The first thing you notice about Richard Soriano is his hat. He’s always wearing this murky green newsboy cap. Old-timey, but not old – no signs of dust or wear and tear. One might imagine he dusts that cap every night along with a pristine collection of newly restored British model trains. A black and white scene straight out of...

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Middle Child Syndrome: My experience growing up alone in a house full of people

I’ve always felt wedged between time, with one foot digging into the past and one foot grazing the future. To exist in one place has been a battle where I’m pushing to escape, but am constantly pulled between two things. Being born in the middle has always felt like being trapped between two cement walls. I was somehow stuck in...

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Baking bonds: How an El Camino alumnus turned a small-time bakery into a local legend

Kirk Rossberg dishes out an apple turnover at Torrance Bakery on Oct. 11, 2024. Rossberg is the owner and president of Torrance Bakery, a local institution that has been serving cookies, donuts and cakes to the South Bay for 40 years. (Erica Lee | Warrior Life)

It’s 9 a.m. on Sept. 20 and all anyone can think about is baseball. Three men commune over coffee and doughnuts in front of Torrance Bakery. Their laughter reach a fever pitch as they recount the thrilling events from last night’s baseball game. The night before, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers sealed his place in the record books...

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From love to hate, and hate to love: How a knee injury changed my relationship with basketball

“It popped. It popped. It popped.” Laying in the middle of the court screaming, I held my left knee, hitting the floor in rage. Crying, knowing my ACL was torn. Knowing I worked my butt off all season for this senior year. Knowing it was over. Playing at Lawndale High School, I was expecting to have a good season for...

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By Erica Lee (Angela as editor-in-chief) + 1 other for ECC Union - 4 min read

From matcha to overnight oats, satisfy your tastebuds with these 3 quick, easy Trader Joe’s Recipes

As grocery store prices skyrocket, more people are flocking to Trader Joe’s for affordable food that doesn’t skimp on quality. According to Supermarket News, Trader Joe’s saw 6.3% more foot traffic than their competitors in August 2022. Instagram and TikTok are brimming with Trader Joe's recipes that promise cheap, delicious meals made with five ingredients or less. With five locations...

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Let's get physical: Adapted exercise classes help students with disabilities get their groove back

George Zamora, 32, floats in the pool of the Adapted Fitness Room in Room 119 of the Pool and Classroom Building on Oct. 15. The pool is Zamora’s happy place and floating is one of his favorite activities. “It’s very peaceful,” Zamora said. (Angel Pasillas | Warrior Life)

The ground floor of the Pool and Classroom Building has seen its share of miracles. A 77-year-old woman who lost the ability to stand learned how to walk again. A 58-year-old man whose right side of his body became paralyzed is driving to school. A 32-year-old student with autism finds peace and relaxation while floating in the pool. And a...

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The weight of expectation: how having immigrant parents led to setting high standards for myself and feeling like a failure

My parents always expected straight As. Maybe an occasional B. That’s just who I was: a good student. Smart. Hardworking. Determined. The only problem? I felt like I had to be. I owed it to my parents. After all, they worked so hard to get here. I couldn’t disappoint them; I knew what they expected me to become. My father...

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Connecting through injury: how hurting my ankle reminded me of struggles my mom experienced

After making the 2,196-mile journey from Guatemala to the California-Mexico border in 1990, new life opportunities were in reach for my mom. The 30-foot tall border wall was the only thing impeding access to a new way of life for my mom, who was 37 years old. As she climbed toward the top, border patrol was approaching. A coyote, someone...

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