Mariana Avellan is a first-year member of the Matador staff. She is a Junior at Smithtown East and is a big fan of music. She is a part of East’s music department in Concert Choir,  and has done the musical for the past two years. She is an All-County musician and is a member of Chamber Choir. She loves Starbucks, especially chai lattes, and she loves to write about current events that interest her. She is bilingual—she speaks both English and Spanish, and she is actively trying to learn French. She wants to be a music teacher when she grows up!