Noah Jeon

“Students all have their own takes on what sneakers mean to them, whether it’s comfort, price or style related.”

Sneakers have expanded students’ taste in fashion and play a key role in people’s lives. People wear them to have protection on their feet, but others also collect and buy shoes for a living. Sneakers express the owner’s personality. Sneakers show emotions, colors and express who people are.

Students all have their own takes on what sneakers mean to them, whether it’s comfort, price or style related. Junior Derek Polanco goes all out on the sneakerhead game. Polanco goes to extreme measures if he wants to claim sneakers for himself. He mainly looks for Jordans, and says Jordan’s 1 through 4 are right up his alley.

Polanco started his shoe game in the third grade with Jordan 1’s. Polanco’s interest in sneakers grew as well as his collection of shoes over the years.

“My favorite childhood shoes were the Jordan 1 Spider-Man,” Polanco said. “They were black and red.”

He uses the internet and third party platforms to find his interests and inspirations for his style of shoes and outfits.

“Much of my inspiration came from YouTube and others around me who also had very expensive sneakers,” Polanco said.

He strives and continues to be like the sneakerheads he looks up to, and he plans to keep his sneaker game a daily part of his life.

Celebrities not only influence lifestyle, but they also influence style. People look up to celebrities for style, like junior Nicholas Villalobos, who bases his style after the famous “Kanye.”

“My inspiration is Kanye because most of his shoes are made by him,” Villalobos said. “They are really comfortable to wear, and they can go with almost any kind of outfit.”

Junior Nathaniel Fraga loves to play around with his outfits based on his sneakers. He splits between fashion and comfort based on his shoes.

“My New Balance 550’s are my favorite shoe,” junior Nathaniel Fraga said. “I make sure before purchasing a shoe that it is comfortable and stylish.”