Paper Cranes

Taken in Pygmalion's Art Supplies in Bloomington, Indiana at last June's High School Journalism Institute at Indiana University. Photo by Jill Moore.

Violet

As a result of a technical difficulty with camera equipment, I had to change lenses. This was a test shot that has become one of my favorites. Photo by Jill Moore.

Mykonos Sunset

Mykonos is one of the islands of Greece, and although it was a bit crowded, the sunset was worth the trip. Photo by Jill Moore.

Toys provide an escape from stress

by Beth Brunmeier

Backstabbing friends.  Love triangles.  Sneaking around parents to get into another situation that’s sure to land you in the pits of hell (or get you grounded) for eternity.

High school makes everything in life at least one thousand times more complicated than it needs to be.  I’ve seen crazier incidents happen in the hallways than anything on “reality” TV.

All the drama drives me absolutely insane.  Honestly, so much goes on that I have trouble keeping track of it all.  And that’s just within my groups of friends.  Imagine what it would be like if you heard all the school’s problems!  There’d be no end.  So what do I do about it?

I carry around toys.

No word games there.  No double meanings.  I have a whole part of my backpack (second zipper from the top) specifically dedicated to toys of all kinds: a slinky, rubber ducks, stress balls, even a monkey-shaped cat toy.  I always have at least one plaything with me.  (That includes during school hours — you’d be surprised how little teachers care.)  If they aren’t in a stash in my backpack, then they’re filling up my purse so that I can carry them around.

I know how strange this sounds, and I assure you that it most definitely is, but I have good reason for my actions.

These years of high school are the most hectic and stressful years of our lives.  I can hardly go a day without adding a new worry to the list.  Playing with my toys is my way of getting away from all that.  It helps me remember the simple joy that can come from simple things. Toys are a physical reminder that the world isn’t only filled with drama and chaos.

I know that my friends don’t think anything of it when I let them break open my backpack and spend a half hour going through my assorted knickknacks.  They don’t have to.  The happiness that they get from it is instantaneous, and I enjoy just seeing my peers let loose for once. That is enough for me.

Everyone should have some way to forget about the mess of complications that happen in their lives, even if it’s just for a minute or two a day.  For me, that outlet is my toys.  Of course, carrying around a toy everywhere would be too childish for some people, but it’s what gives me enjoyment.  For everyone else, there are millions of other ways to relax and escape the drama.  High school students could use a few time-outs from their problems, even if they don’t use my immature method to do so.

But honestly, who can be unhappy while playing with a slinky?

 

Four factors required for classroom snoozing

by Zoe Doebbler

Sleeping in class. Most every student has done it, even if they’re unwilling to admit it. If nothing else, you’ve had to at least seen a perpetrator of such a travesty; whether their attempt at a crime so heinous was successful or not is heavily reliant upon several factors, namely form, timing, environment, and execution.

Being the innocent person that I am, I have never even thought of committing the unthinkable act. Just kidding. Come on here! We’ve all been there; 3 in the morning, cramming for finals or just starting an essay due first period at school the next day, and knowing there is no way you’ll be getting to bed anytime soon…sound familiar?

Obviously, the next logical step in your already hazy thought process is to put off snoozing until you’re nice and comfy in a pair of sweats at school tomorrow morning. Or would that be today, considering it’s already in the a.m.?

While I don’t encourage in class sleeping unless you have a legitimate reason, I do believe that it is at times a necessary evil. Better to sleep during the history video you don’t have to take notes on than during the middle of a critical exam. So, to ensure that the sleeping process is properly executed, and your sanity is (hopefully) preserved, I would like to revisit those points of interest I mentioned in the beginning: form, timing, environment, and execution. In order to make you the sleeper you always wished you were, try following these methods (results are ambiguous; note that these techniques have seen limited use in the field).

Form is undoubtedly one of the most vital parts of the sleeping process. I like to think of form as being in two categories: good, and not good (commonly known as “bad”; original!). A good example of form would be the classic “chin-on-palms-whilst-leaning-on-desk-and-”reading”-book” position. The executor of this style appears to be attentively reading along with the teacher as the class goes over notes. What you’re not seeing, however, is the shut eyes and relaxed jaw, both tell tale signs of someone who is definitely not awake.

But with the good come the not good—take for instance the kid who brings a blanket to school and curls up in the fetal position by the teacher’s desk. Sorry, buddy. In this day and age, that’s not going to work. The key to this point is remaining inconspicuous. It also helps to have a friend be a lookout for you, as they can alert you of a teacher’s presence by a good old kick to the shins.

Timing is another important quality. When planning a nap time schedule, remember to try to doze off when not much is going on. A video that the class is watching for fun, free time in class, and after all assignments have been completed for a period are good examples. Avoid missing critical information as much as possible. The goal of in class sleeping is to help yourself, not to hurt you. This also extends to when a teacher is walking by or you’re being hunted by a pack of hungry wolves. Try to look alert if such a situation occurs, and please seek immediate help if it is the latter.

Environment is one of those things that is not really able to be controlled. A seat by the teacher’s desk or in the back of the class is not really open to debate; work with what you have. Really, the proximity of a figure of authority to your location determines its usefulness as a makeshift bed. Sleeping three feet from a teacher is most definitely not ideal, due to the high risk of exposure, but a seat in the back is free game.

The last point of execution is essentially a summation of the previous three. The form, timing, and environment of the sleeper all play critical roles in how they go about sleeping, and whether they will be successful or not in their endeavor. Keep in mind that the best cure to sleeping in class is not to commit the act, but rather to get a decent night’s sleep before instead. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is an excellent illustration of that principle.

Snooze on students, but preferably at night!

 

Music, fashion lead to unfair judgments

by Sydney Wisman

Music influences the lives of many in this world. Music not only influences us, but at the same time, it sets up stereotypical comments or sets borders between us and someone else. The music we listen to shouldn’t have that effect on us.

The world today makes us think that when a person listens to punk/rock or “screamo” music, he or she is automatically labeled “emo” and their appearance includes the black, tight, skinny jeans with swooping hair in their face. Or when someone listens to rap music, they are a gangster and wear flat-billed hats and baggy pants. When someone listens to pop music, they are what we call jocks that play basketball and/or go to all of these fun parties.

Why can’t we listen to the music we want to listen to, without being judged by our peers or by others around us?  For instance, I am occasionally asked from time to time what music I listen to. My answer simply is, “I pretty much listen to everything, but I like to listen to screamo a little bit more than the rest.”

The reaction is priceless.  “You listen to screamo?! You don’t look like you would listen to that type or music.” Sorry,  but I don’t think I need to “look” like the type of music I enjoy and listen to.

I know that it hurts me a bit when someone thinks I am emo when I wear my favorite band tee, skinny jeans, and my converse shoes. Most of the time, I wear that clothing just because it’s comfy, fashionable, and I couldn’t find anything else to wear. Yet, I get judged by my peers and what they consider emo to be.

Society has led us to believe that people who wear certain clothing, shoes, or  “bling-bling” jewelry act differently from everyone else. Everyone is the same or different in their own way, so why judge?

I know for a fact, that I am not the only one that listens to music and doesn’t  “dress” like it. Music blares into our ears everyday whether we listen to it in the car, at home, on a bus, or even while working out.

We are all familiar with music and all can relate to it in a way that’s significant to us. When I listen to screamo, it lets out my anger. When I listen to pop, I can’t help but want to start to break dance and be happy. When I listen to rap, it makes me want to have swag and rap back. Why can’t people realize that music is for us in our own way and our own enjoyment?

Music is free to everyone and people have their right to listen to it. Let’s just eliminate the stereotypical comments that follow; you just might make someone’s  day.

Love at first sight only exists in fairy tales

by Shelby Sneed

We have all heard at least one person say, “It was like love at first sight,” and they are all smiling and “head over heels” in love, but what are they really? Are they really, truly, in love?

To me the concept of true love at first sight only exists in fairytales and the brilliant plays of Shakespeare. Haven’t we all heard the stories? Their eyes meet and their souls lock and it’s like they are the only two in the room. Do they not realize how ridiculous they sound? This is 2011, not 1563 (that’s when “Romeo and Juliet” was written).

I believe that it is possible for someone to instantly be attracted to someone by their looks, like in “Romeo and Juliet.” However, love needs time to grow and flourish. Also, what are the odds that the person you are “in love” with loves you back?

There is only like a one in 50 trillion or something chance to find the true love of your life just by seeing them, and that is being courteous. It just doesn’t happen. It is more likely that you were experiencing a hormonal imbalance that caused you to be attracted to that person a little more then usual. This is normal for teenagers, and those teens are usually the ones that pull the whole “love at first sight” thing off and get away with it.

Believing in love at first sight is fine if you are five years old and still believing in unicorns and thinking you are a princess. Or maybe if you are eight and your mom still tucks you in and the only thing you are allowed to watch on TV is Disney Channel.

Other then those situations, love at first sight does not and cannot exist in today’s society. We live in a world of players, payers, and prostitutes. I highly doubt that any of them would know what real love is if it flew by and hit them in the face. Therefore, I find believing in love at first sight extremely difficult and irrational.

For those who believe you have proven me wrong and are still in that relationship that all started with love at first sight, I wish you the best of luck on the reality check you should soon be receiving. I learned the hard way that life is not a fairytale or a multimillion dollar Hollywood production, and you are not going to just find the right guy or girl.

Just like everything else in life, love takes work, respect, and responsibility, and not everything is going to go your way. Because people only believe in what they want, I do not expect you to change your mind. Open your eyes and see that true love at first sight is simply a false image that fairy tales have planted into our minds.

Until the day I personally experience true love at first sight, I will continue to believe those who think they have experienced it are absolutely ridiculous.

Editorial cartoon by Erika Davidson.

Friendship lessons reveal the importance of listening to and supporting others

by Nathan Hemminger

He sits there, silent to all but himself. In his mind, an endless conversation is happening that never reaches a conclusion. He does this because he knows if he starts speaking to others, his only response will be a depressing symphony of laughter and ignorance.

He is autistic, but an eight-letter word can’t describe the feelings he is forced to feel every day just because he is different. I sit there and watch the situation unfold. It’s a repetitive story that always goes like this: he explains one of his newly-acquired interests or hobbies (he gets a new one every week), and he does so in a way that many people would find ridiculous, because of his constant stuttering, inconstant laughter, trouble with certain words, and seemingly random hand gestures.

To him, he is simply talking to his friends.

Until he figures out what is really going on. The so-called “friends” begin to laugh at him and try to get him to continue on his story. In his mind, this seemingly friendly burst of chuckles turns into an unbearable taunting that he can’t escape. He then realizes that they were never interested in his story at all.

He begins to walk away, head held low and tears breaking at the edges of his eyes. And I just sit there, trying to act indifferent to the whole situation. Later in the day, he will explain the same story to me, and I will just sit there and listen, just as his other “friends” would. Only I don’t laugh at him or continue to egg him on.

This may make me seem like some sort of hero, but I’m not. The only reason I don’t laugh is because I want the situation to be over as quickly as possible. He thinks I’m being a true friend, but I’m really just acting on my own selfish embarassment. I turn away from him once he finishes his story, and, like clockwork, another “friend” of his apparently wants to hear more of the story. He and I both know, however, that the story isn’t what he’s interested in.

I haven’t seen my “friend” in over two years now. He moved away to some far-off town in the middle of nowhere. I should feel bad that my “friend” has moved away, but the worst part is that the only feeling I’ve gotten out of his moving is relief. Relief that I will never again have to be a part of his story-telling.

Lately, though, I’ve been feeling something entirely different: regret. I shouldn’t have been a “friend” to him and felt discomfort when I was around him, but instead a true friend who listens to him and actually acknowledges what he says. I shouldn’t have acted on self-pity, but instead helped him, which would also help me.

Hopefully, wherever he is now, he’s made true friends, instead of “friends” like me.

Life has become a series of Facebook updates

by Meghan Poff

Me: “Hey.”

You: “Hey. What’s up?”

Me: “Nothing.”

You: “That’s cool.”

Me: “Yeah.”

You: “Soooo, what’s up?”

And so on and so forth. There is little hope that this conversation will take on any sort of life but then again, why should it have to? Now, it’s all about the instant entertainment and we just can’t stand not to be doing something.

Twenty-minute car ride? Out comes the phone.

No plans tonight? No worries, the new “Jersey Shore” comes on in an hour.

Just don’t feel like doing the dishes? Time to update my status.

The moment I log onto Facebook.com, an entirely new problem awaits me.

The Status.

Now what I am about the type will clearly define me as a person, so I must take great care in the execution of posting “The Status.”

There are several approaches one can take:

1.  The lyric status: posting the lyrics of a song make me seem creative and musically educated.  If the song is chosen correctly, I appear up-to-date on the latest hits in pop culture.

2.    The thought provoking quote: an emotional outlook on love, life, or growing up makes me look deep and relatable.

3.      The future journalist: Oh dear, Bill Briscoe just called and school is cancelled! I must let all of my online readers know about this breaking news flash. Or better yet, inform them of what day it is, in case they’ve forgotten (i.e. So glad its Friday!!:D).

4.  The inside joke: nobody else will find it as funny as I do, but I’ll post it anyway so people will know that me and my friends are funny –loving.

5.  The “Fml” status: I hate it when people talk about their problems, so I’ll save it for my 900 Facebook friends who are dying to know about my latest boyfriend drama.

6.    The stalker magnet status: I’m going to let everyone know what I’m doing tonight, where I’m going , and who I’ll be with . That way people won’t suspect that I really spend most of my time online.

7.  The PDA status: I sound ridiculous, but I’ve got to make it clear that I’m dateable and guys like me.

8. The active sports fan: I will declare my love for college basketball and make sports-related digs towards that team that I don’t like. Because since I can’t play sports, I watch them on T.V.

9.  Popular people: The Exception: Since I’m so cool, I’ll post a generic status pronouncing my excitement for Spring Break. Even though every other person in the United States is also ready for break, I’m sure that at least 300 of my 2500 friends will like it or comment.

10.   The constant update: I realize that I just posted a status 10 minutes ago, but I am constantly coming up with wittier and cooler things to say, so I’ll share them with you.

11.   Truth is: I always try to see how many people I can get to like it, because then I look popular. Whenever I see a truth is status on the Newsfeed, I make sure I like it. My self-esteem is obviously getting low and nothing brings me back up like a fake compliment from someone I don’t talk to.

12. D@ GaNg$tA sT@tUs: i B fE@Lin gHetTo Win i T@lk lyK di$ & beE $pElLin $tuFF RonG.

13. The photo status: Hey guys! Comment on all of my new pics. I made sure my bronzer was extra orange and I’m wearing the most provocative outfit possible in attempt to make myself more attractive looking.

If I happen to catch myself staring blankly at the computer screen, wracking my brain for something clever to say, I know my options are down to two.

1.    Pull out my handy list of status approaches.

2.   Just log out and walk away

Not posting has its advantages. No status says, “I’m so busy going places, hanging with friends, and being cool that I don’t have time to get on Facebook.”

And as for texting, the status approaches work just as well.

Me: “Hey.”

You: “Hey what’s up?”

Me: “Oh nothing. Just laughing with all of my many friends at Buffalo Wild Wings, where we are watching the college basketball game, which is at 7:30. I am so glad Bill Briscoe decided to call off school tomorrow, which is Wednesday. It makes me so excited for Spring Break, which I am going on with all of my friends.”

A boring conversation? Never again.

So in this age of increasing boredom and lessening of creativity, we’ve learned to adapt. Individuality and independent thoughts are no longer necessary. Just pick an approach and look to a screen.

Editorial cartoon by Meghan Poff.

Color-coding the world can actually improve our memories

by Jill Recchio

We’ve all had that awkward moment when someone comes up to us and we have no clue who they are. They seem to know our name, our pets; heck, they seen to even know what we bought at our last quick shopping trip to Walgreens. We just stand there uncomfortably, making vague comments about how we’re enjoying school and asking a few filter questions about their sports teams and what movies they saw lately to try and jog our memory so we can figure out who they are before they realize that we’re just staring blankly at them.

Then as soon as we say our goodbyes, their whole entire life story pops into our head. Of course! They were the one with the two dogs, the over-bearing step-mother, and the one who was talking to the new guy at the party the other night. Obviously, life just likes to poke fun at our failure of remembering things.

People who know me know that I pride myself on having the memory of a goldfish. It has always run in my family. Not one of us can remember what we had for breakfast or the starring actor in the movie we had just walked out from. However, it’s become a problem recently of people recognizing me without me remembering who they are. This was when I started a new habit. I still can’t remember a name to save my life, but I’ve started remembering people’s favorite colors.

Favorite colors are one of those few, minute details that we tend to glance over and assume we know about everyone. But if our friends actually asked us to name theirs, we would have no clue. It’s just a random question we get asked on a generic “Getting to Know YOU!” sheet on the first day of a new class, or the first stupid thing that pops into our head when we’ve run out of conversation topics.

I see favorite colors as so much more now. I now look around the vast sea of FC students and no longer see the individual faces, but the favorite colors of all the people swirling together in a vast array of shades. That girl with the Abercrombie bag is no longer just the girl who sits next to me in English, but is now a baby pink coated in golden shimmer. Shining, glitzy, her favorite color radiates her bubbly, bright, and fancy personality. When you see people as colors, the world becomes a much brighter place.

Favorite colors also translate into what people wear daily. If you love the color blue, you’re likely to wear that as opposed to a neon green. The colors that you wear also help to convey to others your personality and views on life. A person wearing all black, dark hair, and pitch black combat boots is probably not the cheeriest person in the world. And the girls prancing around in hot pink mini skirts and an Abercrombie polo are probably pretty content with their life.

Colors can also display a mood for the day. If you’re exhausted from dance practice, you may wear some dark sweatpants and a t-shirt to school the next day. If you’re feeling particularly cheery, you may pick out a nice pastel sweater and curl your hair to look particularly made up. The clothes and colors you wear can convey much more about you than you think. You can wear purple, the color of royalty if you want to seem regal and classy. These small uses of color can show the world that you are your own person.

By using my ability of remembering favorite colors, I’m now able to remember names easier and have been building up a database on name to color connections. Someone transfers periods to my career info class? There’s a substitute teacher today in biology? The girl I’ve seen at play practice twice this week? They’re greeted all with the same first sentence. “Hi, I’m Jill. What’s your favorite color?” Maybe soon I’ll be able to remember the name of the girl who sits across from me in career info’s name so I won’t have to greet her with an awkward “hello” everyday.

And if we start remembering small details about other people, they might return the favor. We can even make a new friend.