~ June Issue ~
 

Joshua Anthony Newsom
 

You've all seen Josh walking down the hallways. He's the guy that's yelling random stuff that makes sense to only him and his crew. He's free-spirited and he doesn't care what you think about him--he just wants to have fun.  

Joshua Anthony Newsom was born August 2, 1989 at Torrance Memorial Hospital. He lived in Lennox, Burbank, The Valley, North Hollywood and Inglewood all before he was 6. He then moved to Hawthorne where he attended schools in the Wiseburn school district. He attended Dana Middle School where, he says, "it was weird because I didn't start in the school district, and a lot of the friendships had already been established". He continues, "It was really clique-y and judgmental and I just felt like I didn't belong being biracial, but I became comfortable with my race and also proud of it". Josh's mother is Caucasian and his father is African American. Though his mother lives in Michigan and he only sees her once a year, "I feel a strong connection and I know she will always be there for me".  

Josh now lives in Playa Vista with his father, Emery, step-mother, Adrienne, and his sisters. He describes his father as one of his heroes, saying "he has sacrificed a lot for me and my sister and I am truly grateful for it. I admire his work integrity and how much he can juggle at one time". Josh's dad is a cop, author, and still finds the time to work in the Church Restoration Ministry. Josh also has a great relationship with his step-mom. She's the person he can always talk to, and "I love her for all she has done for me and how she treats me as her own", he says.  

Another huge part of Josh's life is church. He says "church has set the foundations of how I live my live my life and I try my hardest not to stray".  He is very involved in church activities as he loves the atmosphere and the family that he has in his church community. "I constantly grow as a person there," he says, "and try to work from my mistakes". Josh considers God to be his best friend and truly feels like he has another family at church.  

Josh has been working at the AMC theatre in Santa Monica for about 2 years. He started as a regular crew member and has since worked his way up to become an assistant manager. Though he'll be leaving soon to go to college, he's learned a huge amount. "It's taught me how to be a leader," he says. His tremendous leadership and determination have led him to become one of the editors-in-chief of The Bay Eagle. With strict deadlines and daily schedules, he's brought a sense of order to the Journalism classroom.  

Though only 17, Josh has been through a lot. Among many lessons, he's found that choosing friends wisely can get you far. He warns, "Only hang out with people who make you better and you have fun with, not ones you go home with headaches after seeing".  

When asked about his close friends from high school, he stated "Brittany Rose Crawford is one of the best friends I have. I can tell her what or who is bugging me and she either consoles me or gives me the ‘it’s-Time-To-Get-Over-It' look and I appreciate both. I can act myself with her and she lets me be as weird as I want to be". Also among his prestigious group of friends is senior Ashley Morris. "From sophomore year on this girl has always been there for me," he says. "She got me through some pretty hard times and I am so grateful for her". Josh also includes Zack Roddy in his circle of friends. They met last year and became close during their Journalism trip to San Francisco. "He's very caring and he makes me laugh so hard. I hope we stay good friends for a long time", Josh says. Josh is also very close to senior James Chow. James, he says, "is like a brother. I do not always get along with him but we are still there for each other". Also among his friends is senior Casey Garrett, who Josh counts as "one of the funniest guys I know. I love how he's always up for hanging out with me and the rest of our friends". Another of his close friends is senior Kimberly Ip, who is "one of the first true friends I met in Gundo," Josh says, "and one of the ones I will keep forever". Rounding out his list of close friends is senior Claudia Rebora, with whom he will be going to the University of Colorado at Boulder this fall. "She makes me laugh", he points out, "and also is straight out honest with me, even when it's a little brutal".  

Next year, Josh will be majoring in sociology as a Buffalo. Though nervous about moving to Colorado and away from friends and family, there is a section of his church in Boulder, Colorado. "I love that I can go off to college and know that family is waiting for me", he says. With his bachelor in sociology, Josh isn't quite sure what he wants to make of his life. "I want to be a counselor, or maybe someone who represents movie companies", he says. "I'm so confused on what I want to be but I know I'm going to do something I love."  

Josh is perfectly content driving around or going to movies with friends. "I love just watching TV and making fun of the people on there", he says. If you see Josh in the hallways and he's acting crazy, you know he's enjoying himself. Of the many lessons he's learned throughout his life, the most important is to "have fun, and don't let anyone tell you how to have it".