Student: Ebony Sandoval
Year In School: Senior
Plans After High School: Ebony plans to attend Coalinga College for two years and then wants to transfer to Fresno State.
Toad PRIDE Focus: Determination and Empathy
What Ebony Does to Show Toad PRIDE: Teenagers are wired to express themselves and they do so in a number of ways. Through clothing, fashion, music, writing, journaling, social media, gaming, athletics, activism, verbally, or non verbally, today’s teenagers express themselves in a myriad of ways as they build their individual identities signifying who they are, what they may be going through, and who they want to be. One realm that is sometimes overlooked, but is a powerful and deeply emotional form of expression for many teenagers is through art. Art provides a healing quality for many teenagers as it helps them get in touch with and express feelings that might otherwise remain buried or ignored. For Horned Toad Senior Ebony Sandoval, she has found an ability to be able to express her creativity and emotions through her art and as a result, has developed EMPATHY, compassion, and kindness towards others.
CHS Senior Ebony Sandoval enjoys using traditional charcoal to sketch amazing drawings that reflect her emotions.
For Ebony, she finds joy in expressing how she feels as evident in her various sketch books as pages are filled with one of her favorite forms of art, traditional charcoal drawings. She prefers to draw with dark colors because for her, it allows her to release some of the negative emotions that she may be feeling at a particular moment. Sometimes her art might reflect a sad moment or time where she felt like she was being judged and other times, her art reflects happy faces indicating that she was experiencing positive emotions. Art provides Ebony the license to freely express who she is, what she is feeling, and to be creative. Another form of artistic expression that appeals to Ebony is ceramics because she is able to tap into her creative, sometimes silly side and she credits her teacher, Ms. Ertel for providing her space for allowing her to do so. “Ms. Ertel is the most laid back teacher,” comments Ebony, “She loves everything that her students create. She is funny, encouraging, and she doesn’t mind my silly little creations.”
Ebony Sandoval finds sketch art with charcoal as a way to express emotions she may be going through. She has many sketch books and her art is her way of journaling.
As Ebony has found healing and expression through her art, she has developed into one of the most EMPATHETIC, kind, and compassionate souls at Coalinga High School. A common response from her teachers is that she shows respect and kindness to staff and students on a daily basis. Ebony credits her grandparents and the teachers she has had at CHS for the kindness that she exhibits every day as a Horned Toad. “I kind of hid my kindness for a long time,” humbly comments Ebony, “It took me getting into high school to start really expressing kindness towards others and it’s because of the teachers that I have had. What makes CHS a special place to me is the teachers and the way they care about their students.” Ebony credits Ms. Cleveland’s classroom for the comfortable atmosphere that she created for her to help get her day going in the right direction. She also appreciates some of the efforts from staff members like Ms. Redding in the Wellness Center who love to decorate for Halloween, creating welcoming and inviting spaces for students. These positive examples inspire her to treat others in a similar manner. “My teachers have taught me the value of kindness in that no matter what others are going through, whether it's my friend or a stranger, I will be there for them.” For the creativity, honesty, emotion, and DETERMINATION that she expresses in her art and for the genuine EMPATHY she has in the way she treats everyone at CHS with kindness and respect, Ebony Sandoval has Toad PRIDE.
Ebony Sandoval also loves ceramics because she is able to access another aspect of her creativity. She loves to be creative and silly in ceramics. Art has allowed for Ebony to express her emotions as well as display kindness and EMPATHy to others.
What Toad PRIDE Means to Ebony: “To me Toad Pride means being responsible, making good choices, being honest, never giving up, and showing kindness to others. It means doing my best every day and treating everyone with kindness and respect.”
What Teachers and Staff Think of Ebony:
“Ebony demonstrates Toad Pride by showing respect, kindness, and a positive attitude in the classroom. She puts effort into her assignments and continues to work on improving her academic performance. Ebony shows perseverance by trying her best, even when assignments may be challenging. I am proud of her growth and accomplishments, and she is deserving of this recognition!!” Nataly Cortes, Teacher, Coalinga High School
“Ebony demonstrates Toad Pride on a daily basis by showing kindness, compassion, and respect toward others. She contributes to a positive school environment by treating her peers and staff with consideration and demonstrating the importance of being a caring and respectful member of the school community. Ebony also shows personal responsibility by arriving to class on time, coming prepared to learn, and consistently meeting classroom expectations. Her actions reflect the values of Toad Pride through Personal Responsibility, Integrity, and Empathy.” Melissa Cleveland, Teacher, Coalinga High School
“Ebony is an incredibly hard worker, responsible and never says no to any task or challenge. She has been a delight to work with and is always willing to jump in and help any way she can.” Morgan Massera, Front Office Secretary, Coalinga High School
“Ebony Sandoval consistently demonstrates Toad PRIDE by arriving to class prepared and maintaining a positive, outgoing and vibrant attitude. She displays great school spirit, treats her peers and teachers with kindness, and shows a sincere dedication to her academic growth. Beyond her artistic abilities, Ebony takes great pride in her work and approaches every educational challenge with determination, striving to achieve all her goals with strength and perseverance.” Joseph Hill, Teacher, Coalinga High School
“Ebony is an exceptional student in fitness & weight training. She takes initiative on her own and always does it with a smile on her face. She is determined and not afraid to ask questions to make sure she is doing things with proper form. Ebony is a great classmate to others and really exemplifies not only the integrity to stay on course without reinforcement but also the personal responsibility to make sure she stays the course to success.” Derrick Young, Teacher, Coalinga High School
“Ebony Sanchez demonstrates Toad P.R.I.D.E. every day through her positive attitude, creativity and concern she has for others . She takes great pride in the quality of her work and showcases her exceptional artistic talents. Ebony arrives to class on time, prepared, and ready to learn. She is kind, respectful, and considerate of others, making her a wonderful role model for her classmates. She is also a strong advocate for herself and communicates her ideas and feelings well. Ebony truly represents what it means to show Toad P.R.I.D.E.!” Jennifer Johnson, Teacher, Coalinga High School
“Having Ebony in class is like having a ray of sunshine shining on you. She is a beautiful soul. She emanates Toad Pride. She has always shown personal responsibility, since freshman year by being a self advocate and keeping on track of her responsibilities and completing everything she needs to complete. Ebony shows integrity by the authentic character and demeanor she portrays every day, never straying from her beliefs and values. She is both kind and helpful. Ebony shows determination by demonstrating excellent problem solving skills, she is not afraid to fail and she will try again and again until she completes the task at hand. Ebony does everything with love, she is a genuine character. It has been my pleasure to get to teach her and get to know her.” Gretchen Ertel, Teacher, Coalinga HIgh School
