Opinion
Greenwood salutes the M
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best By Gary Brizendine
ick Jagger once said, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” Ever since freshman year, I wanted to be the Valedictorian. I wanted to have the best grades and highest GPA. As these four years have come to a close, I look back and wonder if I have learned anything by trying to be the best. In fact, I learned something crucial to success in the future: getting help. I realize that I could not have done it without the special people in my life: my parents, family, teachers and friends. Everyone around me has assisted me in some way. My parents, family, and friends helped me in projects and gave me encouragement, and my teachers have assisted me in every way imaginable. Getting help is essential in life. It makes accomplishing goals easier. Find someone you admire and ask them for guidance. Some of their wisdom might rub off on you. Whenever I need guidance or wisdom, I go to my parents, because I am comfortable asking them for help whenever I need it. Also, I know that they have more experience than I do and can probably relate to the circumstances in my life. I have asked my parents for help several times throughout my life. If you do not feel comfortable receiving assistance from your parents, ask for it from a friend or a teacher. Without the fantastic teachers that
God graciously bestowed upon Greenwood High School, I would not be the person I am today. The teachers from the Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Music, Art and Media departments have helped others and me to tremendous extents. Even the wonderful librarians have helped me many ways. Whether it’s the art of patience, discipline, or other quality characteristics, all of Greenwood’s teachers have something to offer their students. It might be more experience or a unique way of teaching, and even though each teacher brings something different to the table, they all share one thing in common: hard work. I have had teachers that put so much effort into teaching their students that it is frightening. They overdo teaching because they see teaching as something worth doing. As a final farewell to Greenwood High School faculty and students, thank you for the experience, wisdom, and knowledge acquired through the last four years of my life. Because of Greenwood High School, I I eel confident that I can face whatever life has to offer. I wish you all good luck in the future, and may God bless each of you with more blessings than you can count.
Not quite perfect yet satisfied
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itting at my computer writing this article, I began with tips on how to succeed in high school and college—the same old stuff we all have had drilled into our heads by parents, teachers, friends and pretty much anyone who thought they had a say in our lives for the past eighteen or so years. After a few minutes I realized, no one actually wants to hear all of that again because, frankly, no one needs those lessons. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying everyone should stop applying themselves and turn the high school into party central. I don’t think students should spend more time uploading pictures to Facebook than trying to make something of themselves. Study, but don’t spend six hours a night memorizing vocabulary words for the SATs. Get a job, but don’t let work consume your life. Set goals, but not all of them should pertain to academics. Go to parties, but realize that alcohol, drugs and sex are amongst the dumbest ways to attain popularity. My mom has a sheet of paper hanging in our office with her quotations for success. At the top is one by Maya Angelou which says, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and lik-
By Stevie Beidelman ing how you do it.” Personally, I don’t think she could have said it better. If I have one piece of advice for everyone reading this article, it would be to never let anyone decide your life for you. Parents and teachers put so much pressure on us these days, it seems like being anything but “perfect” would be letting them down. Many of you might be thinking, That’s easy for her to say, she’s the perfect one. Oh, how wrong you are. For starters, I couldn’t tell you my right from my left, literally. I’m ticklish, and I could wear SPF 80 and come out looking like a lobster. However, I began high school with the goal of being perfect. My parents and friends literally expected the world from me. So, I studied every night. I got involved in about every club I could and joined the marching band and basketball team. I began to work, and I worked for the car I had always wanted. I had friends, a boyfriend and was ranked first in my class. Every “A” paper I wrote elicited an eye roll from all of my friends. I had everything, right? I hope you’re shaking your head. How could I study if I had to be at practice? How could I spend time with my friends if I needed to work? Could I drive around with my sister, my best
friend, if I was always preoccupied? Luckily, sophomore year had just begun. I realized being perfect meant nothing if I couldn’t do the things I actually wanted to do. I stopped trying to be the perfect student everyone wanted me to be. I started to actually have fun in high school, and no, I didn’t need any illegal substances to do so. I took classes for which I had a passion, not just the ones with the “honors” or weighted grades attached. Stevie Beidelman helps NHS count penny after penny wars. Beidelman was also Many of you think that the most involved in other activities such as Peer Mentors and Spanish club. important aspect of high school is the class rank section on your transcript. Trust me, it is definitely not. High school is just as much about social growth as it is about academics. My advice to anyone wishing to Timberlines is an official GHS succeed in life? Have fun! Do what publication. makes you feel like you have accomplished something. Take classes in Limited Open Forum: This publication is a limited open which you have an interest. Don’t fool forum. Contributions are yourself into thinking high school is a considered; however, student breeze; I know the class load can be editors make final decisions. daunting. Resort to studying your butt The administration does not Editors-in-Chief / Caiti Sheff practive prior review. Editorioff to reach YOUR goals, the honest als reflect the views of the & Shannon Veerkamp way. Because according to Angelou, staff and are not necessarily News / Toby Kemp, Lindsey you must like what you do and how you those of the administration, do it to be successful. Pittman faculty, advertisers or adviser. So, good luck. It’s been one heck Opinion / Macey Moreland Letters to the Editor: Signed of a ride! Entertainment / Rachel
Hallway Havic: GHS needs consideration
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arlier in the year, Timberlines wrote an editorial notice others have destinations too. The span of the hallway requesting students be more aware of safety issues is realistically only four people wide. In hallway traffic, two is in the school parking lot; however, we have noticed a party and three really is a crowd. just as many precautions needed in the hallways. The English hallway is a suffocating battleground. If a The most severe problem occurs when people refuse to student is not going towards K105, they will get pummeled. go down the right side of the stairwells. The situation be- Sometimes, it is wise to wait for traffic to pass before atcomes survival of the fittest. The weak go down and their tempting to cross; otherwise, students would have to play books as well. Then, 20 students are trapped Frogger. If someone sees another trying to in a standstill. It seems ignorant for people get to the opposite side, he should try to not to follow this simple courtesy rule. Some move instead of squish her against the wall like a bug. students are also inattentive as they abruptly stop the flow of walkers to have chats with The most annoying aspect of walkHot Topic friends going the opposite direction of the ing in the hallway is when two people get stairwells. No conversation is so important Staff Opinion caught in a who-is-going-where dance. to delay 30 other people and cause tardies. Awkward brushing may result. Sometimes, it is painful. Any student could get caught Some students, usually upperclassman males, like to span the width of hallways in this aggravating dance. Rather than makwhile walking 1 mile per hour. Other students are forced ing the situation worse, calmly compromise and move on. An to make daring run-around maneuvers, risking frontal colli- “Excuse me” can work wonders. Students should be able to walk peacefully to class, not sions. The only reason students would slow everyone is because they want attention. Couples are also common slow- stress and raise their blood pressure after every period. Conwalking violators. They are too busy making googly eyes to sideration makes all the difference.
Editorial
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Bond Feature / Taylor Eckert, Arden Gervase Sports / Joey Meadors, Brittany Sheedy Advertising / Shelbie Fowler, Leah Gross, Autumn Walker Photo Coordinator / Tyler Hensley Graphics / Kayla Straw Assistant Editors / Courtney Brinkers, Sara Burtt, Courtney Carmody Casey DeSpain, Matt Jacuk, Rebecca Newbrough, Jake Pierle Reporters & Photographers / Jon Biggs, Danielle Clark, Julie Clites
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