Paw Prints Weekly, Glen A. Wilson High School’s Newspaper

By REBECCA LIN
STAFF WRITER

Springtime – shorter sleeves, longer days, and the return of the all-too-familiar scent of B.O.

Warmer sun leads to sweating, and sweating leads to stench.

We all have it; it’s undeniable. Some of us, however, are significantly less savvy at controlling it. Take, for instance, that guy… The one who walks from class to class marinating in his own man-funk, causing others to cower in fright. You might be thinking to yourself, “That couldn’t possibly be me.” No, it is.

You smell. Bad.

Everyone knows it, too. I know it, your mother knows it, and so does that guy that sits behind you during fifth period.

Fear not! Though many of your teachers and schoolyard chums are far too kind to try your ego, there are still people out there who are considerate enough to reveal the truth.

People like me.

Long, long ago, in 1941, Dr. Jules Montenier fashioned a most fascinating invention— deodorant. Appropriately named, his intended to be applied to the vertex where one’s arm meets his shoulder in order to prevent and eliminate unattractive odor.

Deodorant + armpit. It’s not rocket science. Yet some still seem to find the concept troubling.

All hope for society is not lost, however. There remains another solution to our over-fragrant tribulations.

Take a shower. Seriously. Just 10 minutes a day of “lather, rinse, repeat” can do wonders, and could quite possibly get you a prom date.

Ladies, this issue is not restricted to men, and this is why: perfume. That smelly lolly-water you bathe yourself in is not a substitute for actual bathing. Also, it’s called moderation. Less is more. It is called a spritz, not a submergence.

Thou shalt not cannonball into a bottle of flowery fragrance.

We’re teenagers! We fry enough of our brain cells as it is… We don’t need perfume to give us a second-hand high from three classrooms over. Do not contribute to our destruction.

Please, for the sake of everyone, exercise some personal hygiene. Let’s all combine our efforts in order to create a less funky smelling world.

After all, no one wants to be that guy.

By LINDA M. REYES
NEWS EDITOR

As Olympic torchbearers make their way around the globe, so do angry protesters.

Demonstrations along the path of the relay, the most chaotic of which occurred in San Francisco on Wednesday, are continuing to highlight anti-China ideals.

With the relay’s sole North American stop in San Francisco, protestors saw a chance to speak out against China’s hosting of the 2008 Olympics.

Awaiting the torch bearers’ run were crowds of China supporters and of “Free Tibet” activists.

The violent upheaval between the groups eventually forced some to give up their torchbearer duties, out of fear for their safety.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, with the support of Olympic officials, felt compelled to alter the route to protect the runners.

Many bystanders would agree that the protests are justified: The world looks at China and cries, “Free Tibet!” and “End communism!”

And while I hold many of the same convictions, the timing seems to be inappropriate.

Activists are dominating the headlines by protesting against China’s history of human rights abuse. The chaos that these demonstrations have caused, however, seems to both contradict their causes and exploit a dangerous situation.

Protesters fight for peace, but they are simultaneously disrupting the atmosphere surrounding the Olympics.

Despite the global and political significance of their causes, they have blurred the meaning of the Games.

According to the official website of the Olympic Games, “The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles. The upcoming Games will feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit.”

But what becomes of the “Olympic spirit” when the Games are disrupted by controversy and mayhem?

As the summer Olympics approach, athletes make their final strides of preparation, and spectators anticipate the event that unites nations and promotes respect and harmony every four years. A time for celebration, however, has become the exact opposite of what it is meant to stand for.

Instead of being united, nations are being torn apart by various groups’ disapproval of the Olympic’s official host.

Taking into consideration all the political turmoil around the world surrounding presidential elections, wars and environmental issues, the world cannot afford to transform a celebratory event into another dilemma.

In the past, the Olympics brought nations together in times of global conflicts.

Now, we’ve allowed the Olympics to be the cause of quarrel.

By BILLY LIN
STAFF WRITER

Seven more sins have recently been discovered, rendering the original name - “Seven Deadly Sins” - obsolete.

The Vatican seemed to have Googled a list of current controversial topics, picked some at random, and turned them into mortal no-no’s.

Oh great, seven MORE things that will send me to hell. As if I didn’t have enough trouble avoiding the original seven.

Like everyone else in the world, I have had my problems with anger and greed. And come on, I’m an adolescent, so lust is a given.

But with the latest sin update, I’m in deeper trouble. My soul will be crying out for repentance when I carry out those human genetic mutations I perform every day in my underground cellar. I will live in fear of going to Hell when I drive my gas guzzling non-hybrid car.

The original seven sins were qualities that, to some degree, every person had the potential of possessing.

Greed resided in each ambitious person; sloth in each perfectionist. Making small personality changes was all it took to lead one away from a “sinful” life.

The new deadly sins don’t fit the original criteria, since they outlaw actions such as abusing drugs and polluting the environment.

The Catholic Church is overstepping its jurisdiction. I’m already being held to the law by police officers and teachers for speeding and throwing my gum on the floor. But now in addition to paying a fine and apologizing, I’m supposed to pay a visit to the confession booth too?

These new soul-damning deeds aren’t the Catholic Church’s to forbid.

Elections have been won and lost over the issues that the Church denounce as “social injustice.” People have fled their states and disowned their children because of issues such as abortion.

How can the Church stamp a concrete commandment on controversial issues debated by some of the smartest minds in the world?

At the same time, the Vatican complained that a majority of Italians no longer attend confession.

Conveniently, Italians now have seven more sins to confess to. Does anyone else see a correlation?

Trying to make people repent by manufacturing even more regulations to feel guilty about may not be the wisest path. The poor, sin-ridden Italians have probably given up on themselves now!

Besides, do you really expect people to be flocking in by the hundreds to apologize that their legitimate and hard-earned wealth makes them “financial gluttons” and instigators of poverty?

The original “greed” at least made sense because it referred to deceit and fraud, but the Vatican is now prohibiting people from getting rich the honest way! Not much of fan of laissez faire, are you, Pope Benedict?

The funniest part is that by enacting seven new sins, the Vatican is dooming millions to hell instead of saving them.

All that will result from more punishable laws is more punishment. It makes me think - if enough people complain about them, can a deadly sin be repealed?

Hold on, I’ll get back to you on that. I’m going to confession to apologize for the human clone I created this morning.

By STEPHANIE CHANG
STAFF WRITER

For years, students have undergone their share of “say no to drugs” indoctrination through Red Ribbon Week and drug awareness programs.

You’d think that we’d treat the subject with more solemnity.

Scattered throughout the news, media, and culture, frivolous references to drug abuse has trivialized the topic.

Because illegal substances tend to make an individual’s behavior strange or outlandish, we’ve taken advantage of the peculiarities and turned the issue into a source of ill humor.

But really, illegal substances are no laughing matter.

The use of drugs can permanently scar a person—psychologically and physically.

Yet we constantly equate the issue with the same casualness that we treat the most recent “Yo Mama” joke.

But that’s not the only time drugs are treated insensitively.

Besides being satirized and joked about in shows and other forms of entertainment, news stories about public figures entering rehabilitation centers pop up every nano-second.

As a result, drug use has taken on a sort of dark glamour.

Tabloid stories make it seem as if individuals in trouble for drug abuse need only go through short rehabilitation processes, an attitude which fails to acknowledge how difficult drug rehabilitation actually is. With hundreds of recovery centers scattered across the nation, such individuals go through short “in-n-out” processes before they are deemed sober again.

The way celebrities respond to drug abuse conveys the idea that it is merely a bad habit, falling somewhere in between nail biting and teeth grinding.

And because the use of such substances is perceived as easily corrected, others mistakenly believe that drugs are something that can be dabbled in.

In reality, drugs are a one-way street, even though we have come to believe that abuse is an error we can easily rectify and be forgiven for.

But illegal substances should not even be considered an option.

With the constant, ill-humored references of drug abuse and inadequate responses to addiction, imagine what an outsider would perceive of our society!

Our behavior towards drug abuse may suggest to others that we live in a world entrenched in drug dealers and illegal substances.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

This is an age where we have access to the latest information on drug abuse. We should use that knowledge to our advantage. We can now comprehend the severity of illegal substance abuse and should use that upper hand to appropriately portray the use of drugs.

And maybe all we need to remember is that simple but memorable phrases we chanted in middle school, while sporting red ribbons.

By STANLEY HO
STAFF WRITER

Cooking, a previously underappreciated form of entertainment, is more than just throwing ingredients in a bowl.

This hobby has become the latest trend among high school teens – an unlikely fanbase.

For teens, preparing dinner used to consist of tossing a frozen dinner in the microwave or stabbing a fork into instant noodles. But there is nothing satisfactory about cooking by punching buttons.

This unfulfilling method of eatery has prompted many teens to turn to cooking.

The Food Channel is now a cable staple; Rachel Ray regularly graces the same tabloid pages as Angelina Jolie. Cooking, once a hobby of suburban soccer moms and knitting grandmas, has made its way into popular culture.

The feeling of consuming your own creation – something containing your own hard work and sweat (metaphorically, of course) – is second to none.

Cooking can also function as bonding activities between loved ones, acting as ice breakers, tension relievers, or simply a form of relaxation.

One weekend, my girlfriend, Marilyn, and I had a great time baking our own cake – melting chocolate and watching television while letting the cake cool.

Even though the cake itself was slightly over-baked and not quite sweet enough, I ended up gaining something even better: a day of memories with my best friend.

Cooking can also teach important lessons that can be applied to real life, such as patience and team work.

Making pizza, for instance, can cultivate collaborative skills; one person can cut ingredients, another can make dough, and another can make the side salad.

Not only can you get the chance to hang out with your buddies, you also can create a delicious meal where everyone can enjoy the result of their team efforts.

Creating elaborate dishes such as poached pears with mint raspberry sauce is an improvisation which can also foster creativity by allowing you to make your own special signature sauce.

In an age where everything from grocery shopping to watching television is being shortened and facilitated, it is healthy to see that many teens are taking to a hobby free of gadgets and gizmos.

By MINDY LEE
STAFF WRITER

I don’t pretend to be an expert on the French educational system. In fact, when I think of European schools, all that comes to mind is an image of oppressive she-male headmasters bearing uncanny resemblances to the Vikings of yore (frightening cone bras included).

But this week, a court case has shown that we might share some common ground with our allies overseas.

On Monday, a widely-used French website called note2be.com was sued by angry educators. The site, akin to those popular in the States, allowed students to rate their school teachers based on how interesting, clear, fair, available, respectful and motivated they are.

Seeing how French teens also feel the need to express dismay over their teachers through a public forum, they could be more like us than expected. Students – whether in France, America or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – have a universal right to rant about their teachers.

While authoritative teachers are restricted by professionalism and formality, that probably doesn’t stop them from complaining about us either. Behind those reserved exteriors could be time bombs waiting to vocally condemn that delinquent in third period who never pays attention. Really, who knows what sort of gossip goes on in the teachers’ lounge?

But if instructors aren’t secretly complaining about annoying students, I suspect they’re conspiring to see how many projects they can “coincidentally” assign on the same day.

This obviously wouldn’t benefit their ‘street cred,’ since it burdens teenagers who would much rather be doing something relevant to their lives – preferably something along the lines of updating online blogs or watching reality television shows.

When homework or studying gets in the way of MySpace stalking or the latest episode of American Idol, we tend to direct our frustration towards our instructors. We receive a sadistic sense of relief after posting whatever slight imperfection we notice, be it related to legitimate teaching abilities or not.

We know that our online attacks don’t exactly compensate for the infamous “teacher salary,” or provide any sense of well-earned appreciation. But for what’s it’s worth, teacher evaluation sites also serve a practical function other than spiteful stress relief.

Teachers form a diverse group of adults, and come in a variety of “types.” There are interesting teachers, lecturing teachers, teachers who try too hard and the elusive “hot” teachers (the existence of which has yet to be confirmed)

Unfortunately, first impressions can be deceiving, and by then, it could be too late. It would be helpful if students could equip themselves beforehand with advanced warnings about teachers who are prone to constant temper tantrums, have inexplicable penchants for pop quizzes or can effectively spray at any student within a five-foot radius.

This precious knowledge can be attained through websites such as RateMyTeachers or RateMyProfessors.com.

Learning from past experiences isn’t a crime if it prevents you from getting on a future teacher’s nerves and consequently landing yourself a detention.

A bitter student’s comments may be unflattering, uncalled for and maybe a bit exaggerated, but teachers should be mature enough to disregard them. After all, I’m sure most would be less than ecstatic if students were given access to some of their conversations.

By JENNIFER PROHOROFF
FEATURE EDITOR

Driving is a necessity. It’s an easy way to get from point A to point B in a timely manner. Drinking, however, is a choice – a way to have fun and relieve stress before waking up feeling sick and nauseated.

But what can occur when you mix the two? Tragedy.

Two weeks ago, a couple of my friends from Kerman were on their way from one party to another. The driver had been drinking and all four passengers were already drunk.

In an attempt to be funny, one passenger decided to grab the wheel. The 17-year-old driver lost control of the car, which flipped several times before ejecting two minors into the vineyards, killing them instantly.

To make matters worse, the car following them contained a passenger’s older siblings, who had to run through the vineyard to locate his brother’s body.

The driver and survivor are awaiting trial now for involuntary manslaughter.

The worst part is that two lives were taken, two families were torn apart and countless more were adversely affected.

And this nightmare could have been prevented.What if they had not partied that night? What if they had all been wearing seatbelts? What if the passenger hadn’t grabbed the wheel?

We can ask these “what ifs,” but it will not bring back those lives or get the two survivors out of jail.

What we can do is learn from their mistakes and try to keep similar occurrences from happening again.

Of course, we can make drinking parties illegal or reenact the Prohibition Act of the 20th century.

But the reality is - as long as alcohol exists, some people, including high school students, will choose to drink.

There has to be a plausible solution!

If teens make the choice to drink, the least they can do to call a cab or find a sober friend to drive them home safely. This could prevent them from a potential DUI, an accident, or even the loss of another life.

Another idea is to have students select a designated driver before a party starts. The designated driver concept is easy to understand, simple to implement, cheap and effective. It is estimated that designated drivers have saved nearly 50,000 lives and spared thousands more people from suffering injury from drunk driving (Designated Driver Campaign Working,” Houston Chronicle).

It is devastating to receive a call informing you that your friend, only a freshman in high school, has been killed, and that two other friends are in jail. It is not worth the pain of seeing parents you know mourn the death of their middle child – while their five-year-old son clings onto his favorite blanket.

Teenagers need to be more careful and think before they act. You hear stories about people drinking and driving, but you never think it could happen to you or anyone you know.

But when it happens, things are quickly put into perspective.

I remember hearing friends joking about how they drove home drunk from prom parties last year. In retrospect, I see how lucky we all are that nothing happened to them or anyone else.

A few hours of fun and games is not worth hours of sickness, months in jail, years without a license and a lifetime of regret.

Not only could such an act ruin your life, it also destroys the lives of others. Too many people are negatively affected, whether they die, are severely injured, mentally traumatized or suffer the loss of a loved one.

If you are at a party and see an intoxicated friend who thinks he or she can drive home, take their keys, get them to stay the night or get them a ride home with someone else– just don’t let them drive!

BY RENEE TANG
STAFF WRITER

Just forty years after abolishing racial segregation, one Georgia school district has decided to divide students once again—this time by gender.

Georgia’s soaring dropout rates, recent increase in teen pregnancies, and abysmal test scores have forced Greene County’s superintendent Shawn McCollough, to take a desperate measure: segregating the genders.

According to McCollough, if change is necessary in order to improve the schools, they might as well “take some big steps.”

But are the results really going to be worth the change?

Separating the sexes will supposedly eliminate potential distractions in class—less drooling over the cute boy across the room and more concentrating on those sine graphs!

Although segregation has been proven to improve academic performance in other schools, it has left many Greene County teachers, parents, and students enraged.

Apparently, the school board did not bother to consult them before making their decision.

Even supporters of single-sex education say that the board has been too drastic.

Some believe that the division of schools by gender will give others the impression that Georgia schools are academically deficient and in need of change.

Others think that it should be illegal to force such a large number of schools in one area to be segregated.

Is all this trouble and controversy really worth mild improvement in academics when the root problem is probably much more severe?

Although the number of teen pregnancies may decrease and dropout rates may decline, academic performance is in need of help, beyond separation of sexes.

Last year, students in Greene County received an average of 1,168 on the SAT, far lower than the state average of 1,458 and the national average of 1,495.

The high school ranks 332 out of 369 schools in Georgia, showing that problem in question is perhaps far deeper than they anticipated.

Isolating girls and boys isn’t a remedy that will magically fix every problem a school may face.

Without looking into the source of all the problems, significant progress will not likely take place.

Forcing single-sex education on such an expansive area shows the school board’s avoidance of investigation and unwillingness to discover the real reason behind the extremely low academic performance.

Who knows? Perhaps the segregation is simply a scapegoat for Georgia’s deeper-rooted school problems, such as mediocre teachers or weak curriculums.

For Georgia, one giant leap for the improvement of schools is more like one lazy step in the attempt to mask the truth. Separating genders is just an easy way out of handling a dilemma.

By BRANDIE WONG
STAFF WRITER

Commitment is a big word with an even bigger meaning.

Whether it’s being on a sports team, starting up a hobby or even adopting a new goldfish, commitment comes with a large amount of responsibility.

As a student, you are committed to your classes and the homework they demand. As an athlete, you are committed to your team, games, practices, and the love of sports.

Growing up, I had a hard time sticking to one activity.

At the age of seven, I decided that my calling in life was to become the next superstar pianist.

After a few months of playing, however, I was frightened into quitting when my instructor joked that I had to bake her a chocolate cake if I didn’t start hitting the right notes.

Not too long after that, I turned my attention to dance.

For one fun year, I committed myself to hip-hop classes and ended that year (and the rest of my short-lived dancing career) with a grand performance.

But my interests often lay beyond the typical. I once had lavish dreams of skating down a half-pipe and playing the guitar like a pro.

Admit it, you, and probably many others, have yearned to try something new.

Every year, millions of people across the nation make goals for the New Year.

But exactly how long have we really committed to fulfilling our resolution to quit eating junk-food or walking to school?

Two weeks? Three tops, before we start stuffing our faces with potato chips and fries again.

People these days are increasingly lax when it comes to commitment.

Our elders have always pointed out that we “youngsters” give up too easily and don’t have the work ethic from “the good ol’ days.” Who would have ever guessed they might be right?

If we never try anything new and commit ourselves, we might miss out on how much fun an activity can actually be.

People could be missing out on a sport that they could be destined to play, and even could eventually be missing out on competing in the world Olympics!

Because I never lost that passion for learning new things, I ended up trying activities like a girl goes through pairs of shoes.

But after trying all those activities on my endless list, I am grateful, because volleyball was among them.

Ever since I put on my first jersey, I discovered I genuinely loved that game.

From middle school and on, I continued to play, practice and get better.

Taking the time to try something new, mixed with the right amount of commitment, hard work and dedication helped me hold true to my passion for this sport.

As for hip-hop choreography, after watching one of MTV’s hit new shows, Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew, I just might take it up again.

By JESSICA MEN
PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

When it comes to raising the dropout age in American schools, Congress is determined to have no bill left behind.

But this idea is nothing new – for almost three years, politicians in 33 states have been trying to confine students under 18 within the gum-plastered brick walls of their schools.

These 33 states plan to follow in the footsteps of other states which have already fixed the dropout age at 18.

This proposal seems to be the hastily thought out brainchild of … well, a child.

Raising the dropout age to discourage students from leaving school before they turn 18 is not only a useless attempt at a solution; it might even be a cataclysmic step in the wrong direction.

These potential laws will likely have little to no effect, since the people who want to go to school aren’t there because laws are keeping them there.

Forcing disinclined students to stay in school is not going to suddenly make those kids care about what they’re learning. If anything, all they’ll feel is greater resentment at having their potential freedom restricted by authority (a teen’s natural enemy).

And as a result, they may bitterly resort to slacking off and acting out in class, only disturbing those students who actually do want to learn.

If the government really wants to deter dropouts, such a hit-and-miss proposal won’t do the job. I say – if you’re going to try, go all out! Make it law for dropouts to work the night shift at the local cemetery or sewage plant. I guarantee that they’ll never be so happy to see a school campus again.

Having a more lenient dropout law would weed out unwilling students who wouldn’t do well if they were to remain in class anyway, as well as create a better (not to mention, quieter) learning environment for the other kids.

Most people should be fully aware how difficult it is to get a top-tier job without a college education. Those who make the conscious decision to drop out of high school should be left to deal with the imminent consequences.

Plus, raising the dropout age would require more money to be spent to accommodate the extra students.

In the long run, the students would be bitter, the teachers who would have to deal with these unhappy students would be frustrated and the taxpayers would end up puzzled at why exactly they’re spending extra for something nobody (except some ill-informed Congressmen) really wants.

The answer to keeping potential dropouts in school is not stricter laws that would only cause students to rebel, but an alternative style of education, better system of teaching or, on a superficial level, better classrooms.

These lawmakers might as well be a group of mathematicians searching for an answer in a nearby thesaurus.

(Editor’s Note: California and 17 other states require dropouts to be at least 18 years old.)

By SABRINA DEA
STAFF WRITER

A simple look at their cosmetic rituals can offer a world of insight into the misaligned priorities of many high school girls.

Such persons are willing to jump out of bed hours ahead of time for the sole purpose of carrying out a meticulous makeup routine. And yes, they believe in perfecting a project—if that project is creating a smoky eye look.

Let’s face it, the world could be coming to an end and some girls would still manage to swipe on a flawless coat of gloss.

Too many girls cannot survive a day without caking their faces with an impenetrable layer of powder and foundation.

I, too, fell victim to this compulsive frenzy during my freshman year. During that time, I vowed never to leave the house without two coats of mascara on my eyelashes.

But this year, whether out of pure laziness or a desire to be more natural, I decided to take a stand and discontinue this obsession.

After removing layers of blush, I ended up feeling cleaner and more refreshed—and most importantly, I was freed from a dependence on makeup.

Concealer can hide blemishes and flaws, but at the same time it also hides marks which show we’re human.

Some girls are so caught up in covering supposedly hideous blemishes that they end up looking more like a badly beaten clown than a normal female with ordinary imperfections.

Makeup might make a girl feel beautiful and attractive, but it also causes her to blend in with the sea of other unreal, made-up faces.

Out of the numerous girls unhealthily attached to locker room mirrors recoating their lashes, there is always that one girl who can remain unfazed by the need to paint powder and blush on one’s face.

Whether it is for a day or a full year, other girls could also take a break from applying pounds of sticky foundation and just relax.

Believe it or not, there are people who can see true beauty underneath all those layers of blush.

Baring one’s true self should not be grounds for the loss of self-confidence.

Girls who flaunt their LeSportSac bags of lip gloss and foundation compacts claim that makeup is an essential.

These persons turn into prisoners, handcuffed to their blush brushes and mascara wands.

In truth, all we need is confidence without relying on an artificial substance to achieve it.

By LINDA M. REYES
NEWS EDITOR

The first semester of my senior year was spent filling out college applications, failing to overcome Senioritis and worrying about my future.

And if that wasn’t enough, finals week arrived in January with all the pleasantness of a root canal.

As a result, I concluded the first five stressful months of the school year with a flurry of Scantrons and dark clouds.

Nature was toying with me. Not only was the rain a metaphor for the grief finals always bring, but it also literally put a damper on my already unpleasant week.

I assumed the rain was going to ruin any celebratory plans, but as it turns out, the rain was just what I needed to have a simple yet amazing weekend.

After a fun field trip with the journalism class and a birthday surprise for my best friend the next day, I came home to sweet solace.

The gentle pitter-patter of raindrops against my window calmed me and even inspired me to make a mixed CD – the soulful sounds of some of my favorite acoustic R&B songs perfectly complemented the “music” of the rain.

Playing the soothing melodies in the background, I then lit a scented candle and indulged in the poetic and powerful prose of Khaled Hosseini.

I couldn’t remember the last time I read for leisure and not for literature class. Even when I had had spare time, I was usually too drained from school to pick up a good book.

But at that moment, even after a week of studying and test-taking, I wasn’t drained. I was completely relaxed.

When I woke up the next day, I felt revitalized, rejuvenated, refreshed!

Needless to say, I’ve never before felt that way when forced to step into reality, leaving behind the land of counted sheep and inexplicable dreams.

What was even more surprising that morning was…well, that it was still morning. My fatigue from the week normally carries over to the weekend, and I usually sleep in until 2:00 in the afternoon.

Waking up before noon that day was a feat in and of itself, but I felt self-contented for reasons beyond that.

My makeshift oasis had provided me with a much needed escape. It took me away from the stressors in my life and gave me the opportunity to finally unwind.

And I admit I was wrong about Mother Nature’s intentions.

The rain came to represent not a hectic, stressful week but rather, a cleansing of both mind and soul. That weekend turned out to be exactly what I needed to salvage whatever bit of sanity I have left.

Considering how many of my peers, teachers and relatives seem to be stressed beyond belief and reaching wit’s end, maybe a similar escape is what other people need, too.

People may not need the rain and my mixed CD per se, but we could all use a break once in a while – a little “me” time.

When the to-do list becomes too lengthy and everything begins to pile up almost unbearably, it’s easy to see the world in a negative perspective.

But if we take time to “smell the roses” – to indulge in the things that calm our nerves, maybe that’ll change. Maybe we’ll see things in a different light and remember the beauty the world has to offer…at least until Monday.

By STEPHANIE CHANG
STAFF WRITER

“Turn that frown upside down!”

“Don’t worry, be happy!”

“The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Any of these catch phrases sound familiar?

Every day, everywhere, we are bombarded with references to the individual quest for bliss.

These days, happiness is no longer just another emotion.

No, now we seem to treat it as the newest must-have luxury item that every person is apparently incomplete without.

Typing the word “happiness” on a search engine will yield ridiculous results such as—“How to Find Happiness Toolkit,” “Happiness in Just Six Weeks,” and “The Happiness Institute.”

However entertaining, self-help manuals and articles encourage people to embark on an unrealistic and fruitless journey to imaginary lands of rainbows and butterflies.

As a result, many people have become so obsessed with trying to attain joy that they tend to forget the role that emotions play in a personality.

Emotions are a combination of physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience according to David G. Meyers’ textbook Exploring Psychology.

If feelings are concrete reactions triggered by nerves in our brain, it’s ridiculous that, along with mink coats and name brand watches, emotions are now being treated as a reliable indicator of a person’s worth. Someone who can label themselves as “happy” is considered the luckiest person on earth.

However, in reality, they’re most likely living compromised lives.

Now that happiness is being sought after like the newest Dunks, negative feelings such as sorrow are being treated like social stigmas.

Ever since being melancholy became a taboo, people have become worryingly quick to dismiss negative feelings.

When a friend is feeling unhappy about a problem, I’ve noticed that the people around her usually tend to recommend - “Just try to forget about it! You’ll get over it sooner,” or “Why are you acting so emo? Just don’t think about it!”

While those lovely gems of advice may succeed in helping someone subdue their talk of sorrow, the person will eventually be missing out on the important experiences sadness can provide.

Although they are painful experiences, times of distress allow an individual time to muse over ideas, which can result in moments of ingenuity or self-realization.

That’s not to say people should make it their new goal to pursue sadness; if they were to do so, they would essentially be going on the same single-minded chase that people do so for happiness.

Humans were meant to experience a range of emotions, which, if restricted, can compromise a person’s life.

True joy is better interpreted as undergoing the ups and downs of life and learning from each experience.

So, instead of fighting to keep that smile plastered on your face 24/7, strap in and get ready to ride in the roller coaster of life.

By SYLVIA TANG
EDITORIAL EDITOR

Fellow seniors – can’t wait for college?

Me neither.

It’s near the end of four years that a person begins to realize that high school is a limited world.

When we were fresh out of middle school, we marveled over what seemed to be a grandiose football field, the stadium, pool, tennis courts and everything else Wilson HS had to offer.

The possibilities were endless. Or so we thought.

Unfortunately, once the novelty wore off, we began to realize the ugly truth – the difficulty of time management, class schedules, stressful season sports, and, of course, fear.

School takes up over six hours each day, leaving only a few hours to complete extracurricular activities – that is, if you want to get home at a reasonable time to start your homework
without falling asleep at your desk.

There just isn’t enough time or physical energy in a day to do all the things that we want to do.

Take the system of sports teams, for example – separated into fall, winter, spring and year-round sports.

If you wanted to join the dance team, a team that requires a full-year’s obligation, but also enjoyed swim, you’d have to choose one or the other.

If you could cheer your heart out but still tear it up on the basketball court, you’d have to compromise.

If you wanted to play in the band but crush a couple of skulls on the football field, you’d have to find a way to clone yourself to be in two places at once.

Because sports and many activities are actual classes, you would have to pick between those as well.

ASB, journalism, yearbook, drama and Renaissance are all classes, while sports take up sixth period.

Because many people don’t want to undergo the exceedingly complicated process of being double-registered, they limit themselves to one or two choices.

We are forced to make decisions that could change the course of our lives, when high school is supposed to be a time of unrestricted exploration and discovery.It requires a painful
sacrifice to nip interest in the bud and resort to “I guess I’ll try it some other day.”

And we can’t get back these years.

Yet another element that limits one’s personality is the fear that originates from the exclusivity of high school teams.

If a person hasn’t had lessons, league or camp before entering high school, he or she most likely won’t make the dream team.

So if your parents never signed you up for Little League and you’re not a natural Babe Ruth, chances are, you’ll be outplayed by some well-taught kid who has been training for the game his whole life.

Sadly, tryouts have come to mean “weeding out the amateurs” instead of a person actually “trying out” a sport.

Clubs could be formed, of course, that would teach these sports and set up intramural games, but where would anyone find the time to join a club that wouldn’t really shine on their college application?

It’s a sad reality. In many ways, the sports you can or won’t have the chops to join, the activities you have the time to take on, and even the person you are, is predetermined.

People are limited: each person can only become a band member, an athlete (of no more than three sports), a cheerleader, a journalist, an ASB leader.

So many of us are so much more than that, but may never know the extent of our potential.

I never want to be the Debbie Downer who said, “I’ve always wanted to try that but never got the chance.”

Unfortunately, we all know just how difficult it is to plan around high school structure.

Next year, this writer’s going make up for lost time in college.

By RENEE TANG
STAFF WRITER

Every child has undoubtedly heard the age-old adage, “Always do what you are told.”

Since we were mere toddlers, those six words have restricted us from acting on our own free will.

Even now, the majority of the population is “doing what is told.”

As far back as I can remember, my mother ordered me to drink my milk- the apparently “magical growth elixir.”

And being a gullible child, I did what I was told and drank my milk diligently.

And here I am now- 5’2 and probably the second shortest person in the entire sophomore class.

Across the world, other people seem to robotically follow orders and submissively give into superiors.

A recent news article claimed that global warming was no longer stoppable, and instead of trying to prevent it, we should just adapt to it.

So, should we all give up and prepare to be carried off on a melting icecap simply because a few scientists claim it is impossible to put a stop to global warming?

Not exactly.

People who claim that they love the planet should get up and fight for what they believe in.

Who cares if scientists claim it’s supposedly hopeless? Any effort is worth a shot!

If somebody told you that the acceptance rate for college is lower than ever, would you give up and not apply?

Of course not.

If you are passionate about helping the planet, do all you can! Don’t let some pessimism hinder your attempts to do some good.

Even if you can’t save the world, you can at least make a dent.

A person should follow rules if his own beliefs and morals are not being pushed aside.

A balance between decorum and independent thinking is ideal, since the extremes of both are potentially dangerous.

Breaking rules is obviously unsafe, but blindly listening to an order and blocking off your own conscience is also hazardous.

A recent experiment was held, in which a teacher was ordered to punish “a student” (played by an actor) with a shock of 45 volts and continue to increase the volts by 15 for each
error.

Luckily, the shocks were unreal and the actors were not harmed.

However, the teacher did not know that the punishment was stimulated.

The majority, 65%, of the teachers did what they were told despite cries of pain and objections from the actors.

It’s astonishing that people blindly follow directions and pay no mind to harm they might commit in doing so.

We’re given freedom of speech. Why are we not speaking up when our ideals are threatened?

By MINDY LEE
STAFF WRITER

Throughout my 12 years of school, the most I’ve received for a good grade was the occasional smiley face or sticker.

But recently, students across the country were being indulged with exorbitant rewards that far out-value the humble scratch ‘n sniff.

This past year, schools in over a dozen states have been adopting a new tactic to encourage increased academic achievement: bribery! The nationwide effort allows thousands of students, from fourth graders to high school teens, the chance to earn gifts such as television sets, iPods and cash prizes in the triple digits.

Among the outrageous incentives is an hourly wage paid to 8th and 11th graders for attending regular study sessions. Likewise, seven states (California excluded, unfortunately) are now awarding AP test takers $100 for every passing grade. Meanwhile, in New York, 15-year-old honor roll student Jessie Humphrey won a 26-inch plasma screen TV last Thursday.

Because, after all, what better way to promote education than by giving away free sources of distraction? I’m sure Jessie’s brand-new television will come in handy when solving those tricky logarithms or analyzing Lord of the Flies.

But the extravagant plans, as unrealistic and wasteful as they are, have good intentions. Giving lower-income children a reason to challenge themselves and work towards a tangible goal is a noble cause. Yet ultimately, students shouldn’t be inspired by superficial motives.

The programs’ supporters claim that they’re only providing a nudge in the right direction, but let’s be realistic. If adolescents are offered cash and electronic gadgets to sit through one exam or a couple hours of tutoring, are they going to take the long-term effects into consideration?

The academic benefits, such as receiving college credit or improving test scores, are out-shadowed by these promises of flashy presents. Treating education like a big game isn’t going to help students realize the importance of scholastic success.

As a high school senior, I have yet to be either rewarded or punished for my grades. Whether my report card displays a beautiful column of As or a medley of unwanted letters, I’m neither handed cash nor swiftly beaten with a bamboo rod.

My reason for pursuing time-consuming endeavors doesn’t come from hope for immediate compensation.

When I spent entire summers trapped inside SAT classes and fried my brain with torturous tutoring sessions, there was never someone conveniently waiting to hand me a check. There were no doting gifts from parents, much less a free plasma TV courtesy of the school district.

Although I sometimes – okay, always – complain, I accept mental exhaustion as my responsibility. I don’t expect anyone now, or in the distant future, to offer favors in exchange for effort.

By JESSICA MEN
PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

At a loss at how to reduce alcoholism in Arizona, Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio seems to have been inspired by the Pepto Bismol bottle.

Apparently, pink does do more than we think.

Arpaio, both fondly and mockingly nicknamed “Sheriff Joe” by locals, has enforced a new law, forcing men convicted of drunk driving to wear bright pink shirts while cleaning busy streets.

The backs of the flamboyant shirts boast the witty message, “Clean(ing) And Sober!”

By adopting some modern form of Scarlet-Letter-esque humiliation, Arpaio is attempting to deter people from driving drunk by letting them observe the inmates and quietly hoping they never end up wearing hot pink while spearing trash.

Didn’t Sheriff Joe learn anything from Hester Prynne?

I’m sure those menacing pink clothes will really make an alcoholic want to stop drinking. Who needs AA when you have Victoria’s Secret?

Instead of jailing troubled people and stuffing them into girly clothing, the state should crack down on the problem at the source.

People who go to prison too often end up back again. This statistic is not surprising, seeing what sorts of “punishments” face them in the slammer.

Instead, why not find a beneficial way to help such people and offer them rehabilitation treatments during their stints in jail?

Better yet, why not attempt to prevent further accidents altogether by reinforcing stricter regulations for businesses. Taxi services can be implemented outside every bar or restaurant, offering rides for inebriated customers.

Or breathalyzers could be installed so people can make the choice to call a cab for themselves!

It doesn’t matter how pink you make a prisoner’s shirt. What matters most is the quality of help provided to such a person and the attempts at genuinely trying to change them.

This isn’t Arpaio’s first enforcement, however. He is also well-known for attempting to embarrass convicts by forcing them to don pink underwear.

If Joe was really concerned with decreasing crime, he should punish or improve instead of humiliating and disgracing.

Giving inmates glaring publicity is not an appropriate punishment.

In the end, the offenders get a field trip and a free set of clothes, and they learn that society is more interested in making fun of people than helping them.

Just watch – Sheriff Joe will soon announce his newest innovative idea – female DUI inmates will have to wear socks with their heels or even (gasp!) white after Labor Day.

The travesty!

By SYLVIA TANG
EDITORIAL EDITOR

It is said that the more book-smart you are, the less street-smart you are.

When contemplating the average definition of street-smart, we tend to think of wily kids who know how to hack it in tough neighborhoods.

But one might say that street smart simply comes down to the one thing that is seriously lacking in not just today’s intellectuals, but in the average person: common sense.

This sense makes us clever, not smart; wise, not brainy.

It helps us get along in life without constantly walking into walls.

Some might take the latter comment in offense, claiming it to be simply an outrageous exaggeration, but they may change their minds after taking a look at the world around us.

Recently, the winner of a Wacky Warnings contest took first place with the message “Avoid Death,” which was plastered on the side of a tractor.

Other outrageous warning labels include, “Never use hairdryer when sleeping,” “Never iron clothes while they are being worn,” and “Remove child before folding.”

The last warning was pasted on a stroller.

Have we really gotten to the point where we have to be told not to fold up our strollers while our babies are still in them?

A lot of us have trouble even fathoming how people could commit acts that would solicit these warnings.

Others will say that idiotic individuals don’t represent the general population.

But apparently this epidemic is more widespread than people perceive. Based on the rulings of the justice system, it seems the general public cannot be trusted or expected to exert common sense.

“Wacky warnings” are the result of successful lawsuits, which means that, somewhere down the line, somebody committed a stupid act, got hurt, threw a hissy fit for their ridiculous lack of common sense, and forced the courts to rule in their favor.

Hence, manufacturers have had to adjust their warning labels to fit the needs for possible members of the public who iron their shirts while wearing them.

And none of us are left out of this description.

Just last week, my friend and I were cutting Rose Float flowers, dropping the petals into an open box. The box was just within our reach, but we continued to strain our arms to cut over the box.

An hour later, the table shifted, scooting the box closer. We stared at each other in amazement, wondering why we hadn’t moved the box closer an hour before. This was a problem in which common sense would have been a quick fix.

Another time, we were folding newspapers to ship to other schools, two papers to an envelope. I proceeded to fold one, stuff it, fold another, and struggle to fit it in the same envelope.

I continued in this fashion for over twenty minutes before my friend asked me why I wasn’t folding and stuffing both papers in at the same time. Needless to say, I felt dumb.

We spend too much of our time studying intellectual subjects, losing perspective of the real world and the rules that govern it – real sense.

I consider myself to be a relatively diligent student. Perhaps if my head were less in a book and more in the real world, I wouldn’t have to join the ranks of those that would need to be told to “avoid death.”

By MINDY LEE
STAFF WRITER

This Christmas, children might find themselves sitting on the lap of a thinner, more politically correct Santa Claus.

Several malls across the U.K. and America are now coaxing Saint Nick into shedding some weight. “Santa boot camps” have been set up to help plump trainees slim down for the holiday season.

While the concept of a Santa boot camp already sounds preposterous, the motive behind it is even more ridiculous.

Organizers believe that Santa’s trimmer figure might encourage his loyal believers to lose weight.

One Bluewater Shopping Center spokeswoman stated, “[Our] Santa Boot Camp is getting Santa in shape and setting a good example to children who idolize him.”

Why put jolly old St. Nick through all that torture? He never contributed to our obesity epidemic in the first place. The man enjoys his fair share of baked goods, but what damage has that ever done? Has Santa spawned any recent milk-and-cookie diets for children eager to boast wide waistlines like their hero?

I highly doubt that changing the image of a fictional character is going to spur children into improving their eating and exercise habits. While I’m not denying Father Christmas’ influence on American culture, his role as an international fitness trendsetter is questionable. Expectations of this change affecting chubby children are either remarkably ambitious or just plain foolish.

In addition to his weight woes, reports have surfaced of Santa training companies advising their employees to nix Santa’s trademark greeting. Recruitment firms in Australia (and hopefully nowhere else) have been instructing their trainees to replace the usual “ho ho ho” with a female-friendly “ha ha ha.”

Is this necessary? Are children who are young enough to believe in Santa Claus even aware of other connotations of the word “ho”?

Maybe the world has changed, but when I was five, “ho” was neither a farming tool nor a derogatory insult. It was simply part of Santa.

Who are mall authorities so afraid of insulting, anyway? Some radical feminist preschooler with an impressive grasp of American slang? If parents and children have never protested against the phrase, why give it the axe all of a sudden? Like Saint Nick’s suggested weight loss, this is just another ineffective and extreme attempt at achieving “progress” and “political correctness.”

Santa Claus is a Christmas icon who has been around for centuries. Through various media outlets and children’s books, he’s gone through many alterations. But the recent efforts to keep Santa in pace with society are only on the way to eliminating a harmless tradition.

Although I’ve far outgrown my belief in Santa, I urge trainees to keep the spirit of Saint Nick alive. Don’t reduce the inherently jolly man to some skinny dud dressed in a funny outfit – keep those midsections jiggling and those “ho ho ho’s” coming.

By HANNY KISHAWI
STAFF WRITER

As the current metro-sexual trend continues to thrive, the line between orientations blurs. Due to the bias of the fashion industry, the “manly” image is at risk.

An increasing number of men today are working in fields traditionally reserved for females. As a result, the men mesh with their female co-workers, who share their interests, and become prone to inheriting similar personalities.

For this reason, men who dress in flashy clothing and refuse to walk around with dirt under their fingernails are sometimes labeled as gay.

This classification is not only unnecessary but has quickly influenced the masses to perceive flamboyant males the way they are portrayed in the media.

But why should the sexual orientation of modern men be associated solely with style?

I personally find it absurd that people are so quick to point fingers. Pretty soon, the orientation of every clean-shaven man in the city will be speculated upon.

Constant stereotyping may hinder some people from displaying their talent to the fullest extent.

Men are becoming defined by their orientation, and behave in ways that can overshadow other aspects of their personalities.

The unfortunate individuals become speculated so much on their exterior that conversations may circle around their sexual preferences instead of personal qualities.

Aside from the working world, judgments are made on our own campus.

I have witnessed too many people who cannot look past a student’s ostentatious clothing really see the person on the outside.

It isn’t our role to be critical of other people’s life styles. Too many people have built up such stereotypes and now take them so seriously; there is little room left for exceptions.

There is no longer a clear middle ground between “straight” and “gay”.

So next time you see either a designer of a flashy outfit or the man modeling it, think about what really matters: Their taste or creativity, NOT their sexual preference.