It’s Finally Here?

Prom is right around the corner, only three days away! For many, this means last minute preparations and growing excitement. With the big day so close, it’s important to make sure that all of the last minute details are taken care of. My group finally set a time for pictures, so now we can all relax and wait.  It seems strange that junior prom is finally here. Everyone has been talking about it for so long, and the date has always seemed so far away. I’m definitely excited, and hope that it’s a night to remember!

Jobless and Broke.

My track season is coming to a close and the school year is starting to wind down. What am I going to do with all this extra time? Hopefully get a summer job! I’ve been job hunting for a little while now with no success. A lot of stores won’t hire kids under 18, which limits my choices a bit. I’ve filled out a few applications but haven’t had any success so far. I know that it’s tougher to find a job once all of the college kids come home for the summer so I’m running out of time. Does anybody know any good places to work?

For Love

On Monday, UVA lacrosse player Yeardley Love was killed. George Huruely has been charged with the murder. The two were in a relationship, which Love reportedly ended shortly before the murder. A member of the men’s lacrosse team, Huguely seemed like your typical college athlete. However, as police continued to investigate the murder, they found evidence leading them to believe that Huguely had alcohol problems and violent tendencies. Officials say that Love never reported any of the suspected abuse.

In light of this tragedy, it is important for teens to become aware of the warning signs of an abusive relationship. According to the U.S. Justice Department, females between the ages of 16 and 24 are three times more likely to be abused than any other age group. Furthermore, a study showed that 67% of teens who were in an abusive relationship never told anyone. Teens entering the world of relationships for the first time are often naive, and simply looking for someone to love them. It may be more difficult for them to recognize an abusive relationship.

For warning signs of an abusive relationship, click here

Life After High School

Ive often wondered how I’ll look back on my high school experinece ten years from now. Will I still be the same person? Will I laugh at the same jokes? Like the same music? Have the same style?

How much do people truely change once they leave school?

It’s strange to think that someday, all the hours i’ve spent in school will fade to a distant memory. The people that I talk to every day, that I’ve been best friends with for what seems like forever, may not be a part of my life. The goals and dreams that I have currently may completely change. Maybe I’ll look back on these days and laugh at how naive my ambitions were, or maybe these same goals will be achieved and shape who I become. I suppose only time will tell…

Think Before you Speak

Excuse me for ranting, but there is one thing about high school that I can’t stand: it seems like EVERYTHING has to be such a big deal. Everybody is way to into each others business. I mean, does the crazy thing you heard from that boy in history class about the girl who sits next to me in English really matter? I didn’t think so. And if it happened to you, would you really want the whole school to know? I doubt it.

High schoolers love gossip. They thrive on being the first to reveal the latest juicy story, and pride themselves on knowing before anyone else does. Just keep that in mind before you speak, anything you say could end up being whispered around the school. A bit cynical? Maybe, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Will They Ban Dancing at Prom?

Class council meetings are usually uneventful. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy having the opportunity to make discuss prom, class events, and school decisions. However, the topics discussed usually end up fading into the background by the end of my school day. Today’s meeting was different. I got there a few minutes late, walking right into the middle of a heated argument. One of the officers had voiced a concern about the vulgar ways that students dance at prom. When the advisors brushed it off at our last meeting, she took her concerns to the principal, who agreed to set up a meeting with other students and administrators. Students were abuzz this morning. Many feel that dancing is a form of expression, and although some may view certain types of dancing as inappropriate (grinding), it is not something that can be restricted without infringing upon the rights of self-expression. Others argued that student’s have only limited rights while at school and school events, and therefore their self-expression could be legitimately limited. What are your feelings? Does the school have a right to tell students how they can dance at the prom?

Rapping Teachers?

On Saturday, countless high schoolers around the coutry found themselves face to face with one of the most dreaded aspects of their four years in high school: the SAT’s. The test is intimidating, time consuming, and exhausting. However, the morning of the test can be even worse than the test itself. Nerves kick in, and you’re worried about getting out the door on time, remembering all of your materials, and hoping that all those study tips don’t escape you before you get there! Teachers at the Believe High Schools in Brooklyn, NY created this rap to help motivate their students and remind them to relax before the test. I wish my teachers had made one for us!

The Big Questions…

This week, I had my junior conference. This is a meeting at our school that every student has with their guidance counselor at the end of their junior year. Because our school is so large, it is difficult for the guidance counselors to get to know every student personally. The junior conference is a chance for you and your counselor to get to know each other one on one. I was asked questions about my plans for senior year, college, and beyond. It was really eye-opening for me, because I realized that I don’t have much time left in high school! It’s time to start deciding where I want to go to college, and what I want to do with the rest of my life. Those are some pretty big decisions to make. Although it’s pretty intimidating, it’s also exciting to know that the world’s wide open.

School Photographs Students in Bed

A school district in suburban Philedelphia was trying to find missing laptop computers, and activated a LANrev software program that took screen shots and webcam pictures every fifteen seconds. One student filed suit after being photographed while partially undressed, sleeping, and having instant messages and web searches captured. The school’s technology coordinator, Carol Cafiero, recieved an email from a colleague that said watching the webcam photos was like viewing a “little LMSD soap opera”.

This incident is a gross violation of the students’ right to privacy. Under no circumstances should a school be allowed to track students in their home.

Living Above the Influence

Being a high school student, I know what a lot of kids my age are doing. Yes, I’m talking about drugs, alcohol, and just bad decisions in general. Growing up we were all taught to stay away from these things, and if offered any, “just say no.” We all participated in our DARE graduation where our parents sat proudly in the audience as we declared to always stay above the influence.

When I started high school most of these once “good” kids had turned to the dark side. Wether it be because it’s the so-called cool thing to do, your friends influence you, or you’re just trying to escape the hardships you’re going through, many resort to drugs and alcohol.

I personally believe that putting an age on when you should drink, serves no purpose. My teacher asked the class the other day to raise their hand if they or someone they knew did drugs at least 2-3 times a week. Every hand in the class was raised. This is has become such a huge problem that I believe it’s irreversible, and it’s only going to get worse.