Issue 5

Renton High School 400 South 2nd Street Renton, WA 98057 A group of students release their silenced voices at the end of the day in front of the school flag pole with adviser Joe Bento. Loud and proud, they screamed for students silenced every day by discrimination, opening their hearts and giving their all. “I thought that the wait was the most exciting part of the whole day,” Allura Davenport said, “because we all knew at the end that we could finally scream.” For more on the Day of Silence see pages 4 and 14.

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The Word

Dear Reader, Clearly, a miracle has happened. You’re holding the paper in your hands. That means we didn’t drown ourselves in Capri-Sun or strangle ourselves with licorice rope before we got it finished; given the horrible playlists, stubborn printer trays, and Public Relations Manager in drag, getting the paper out felt like a monthly miracle.

While I am not psychologically healthy enough to guide the emotions of others, I find myself compelled to anticipate, guide, and perhaps deflect your responses to some of the content in this issue of ARROW (basically – a disclaimer to the hallway rants): •Who pissed in your cereal? You may see a certain bare-chested act missing from the Multicultural Assembly this morning. Don’t blame us if it’s your favorite.

•Are you offended by page 12? That’s cool. At least you read it. Emotions are part of life. If you really feel raw about it, write me a letter. I’m the one who wrote it.

•Don’t get mad if you lose your bathroom privileges after your teachers read page 13. It’s not our fault; you just look suspicious and have a faulty reputation.

•Don’t get in a tizzy because you don’t see your friends in this issue, especially since you’ll sit with them at lunch. While you’re eating, you can vent about not being in the paper… to each other. We do try our best to include a variety of people.

•Don’t expect to lose pounds from the fitness plan on page18. This isn’t “The Biggest Loser” and I’m not Jillian Michaels. Results not typical.

•Just because you don’t get the back page doesn’t mean it’s stupid. John Hughes is a top-notch director. You need to brush up on your classic ’80s flicks.

Additionally, we made some changes to keep ARROW in the style of a newsmagazine. We added this letter, the table of contents (to the left), and some five regular columns. We hope these changes make things more consistent and clear.

Regardless of where you end up in this issue, I hope you enjoy it and love the new changes as much as I do. Feel free to send you suggestions, rants, praises to rhsarrow@gmail.com, or drop off a letter to me, the editor, in Room 305.

CORRECTIONS It’s ARROW’s mission to get a diversity of opinions, faces, and to inform our readers. Unfortunately, we were unable to get something from boys swim in the previous issues.

Although the article was written, the page editor uses their discretion when selecting articles.

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Ajane Burnley survived eating a double down with Tu-Anh..........................................................................................................Editor in Chief Brenden Dowd Can’t wait to move to Éire..............................................................................................................................................Editor in Chief Shaheed Rashid Bwam, bwam, bwam. BIAA!.......................................................Story Development & Packaging Editor, Portraits Staff Hayley Brunk In the time that I have been given, I am what I am......................................................................................................Copy Editor Vincent Warren‘s clock is much bigger than yours.....................................................................................Copy Editor Staff, Public Relations Rysan Binayug Hates ugly girls, Loves ugly dolls...........................................................................................................Ads Manager, News Staff Karyn Johnson Cry me a river, oh, cry me a river!.......................................................................................Business Manager, Portraits Editor Thao Nguyen Is sad that there is no more sweet chilli sauce at McDonalds............................................................................Portraits Editor Irene Muller Don’t knock it if you can’t rock it.........................................................................................................SD&P, F&T Editor,News Editor Anthony Saelee Passed the Culminating Presentation!..........................................................................................................Perspectives Editor Alyssa Antonio “Tell me where our time went and if it was time well spent” - Paramore..........................................Opinions Editor Tu-Anh Dinh Is a toasted beef burrito, extra cheese, minus the tomatoes, and a dab of sour cream...........................Features Editor Bryan Diaz When your a grown up, you own up, when you mess up, you fess up......................................Arts & Entertainment Editor Kaniesha Bray Don’t you hate it when your seeing eye dog goes blind?............................................................................................A&E Staff Onna Giddens Pop Pop Pop.....................................................................................................................................................................NUMB3R5 Editor Ron De Leon Got Rice??...................................................................................................................................................................................Opinions Staff Ann Bucher Beware the dihydrogen monoxide, it’s everywhere......................................................Perspectives Staff, Copy Editing Staff Angel Gabuat Wants to sleep in the backseat of a red chevy..............................................................................................................Faces Editor Ronald Roman Gets money................................................................................................................................................................................Faces Staff Kaylah Grady Needs to go shopping for Black and White day on friday.....................................................................................Features Staff Shanay Echols Waiting patiently for Prom................................................................................................................................................Lessons Staff Mindy Saeteurn Will never go to another shady resturant that Alyssa chooses.................................................................Play Hard Editor Kenneth Orejudos Loves AZSO <3.................................................................................................................................Play Hard Staff, Photo Staff Rochelle Mascey Is ready for junior year.................................................................................................................................................Lessons Editor Olivia Fry Is excited to get her dog’s paw print and birthday tattooed on her wrist...................................................Photography Editor Devante Swann Your brain couldn’t be this hot if you held your thoughts over an open flame and let them drop...Photo Staff Julian Staples I may not look like much but I’m pro at pretending to be a ninja.............................................................................Art Editor Farid Ahmach Needs money - Please donate to the Farid Foundation................................................................................................Art Editor Yoonis Arale likes to play soccer..............................................................................................................................................Play Hard Staff Derek Smith is letting the beat marinate...............................................................................................................................................................Adviser

X FINE PRINT ARROW is an open forum produced by a diverse bundle of ladies and gents, who enjoy putting on their own impromptu, toilet-paper-inspired runway shows, grubbing on cheddar popcorn and drawing unsuspecting bystanders into our cultish ways.

Amazingly enough, they all go to Renton High School at 400 S. 2nd St., Renton, WA, 98057. The phone number is 206-778-9540.

ARROW is printed six times a year by Pacific Publishing Company in Seattle, Washington.

Word processing, graphics and layouts are created on Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe Creative Suite 3 programs. ARROW has a publication of 2000 papers/copies, etc.

X

The staff welcomes letters to the editor and will publish letters which meet our standards of good taste (as space permits). Letters must be signed. ARROW reserves the right to edit letters, though every attempt will be made to preserve original content.

Unsigned editorials and editorial cartoons represent the majority view of ARROW editorial board and do not represent the views of the Renton School District. Opinions, commentaries, satires, and perspectives are the views of the writers and artists, not the Renton School District or ARROW editorial board.

ARROW is financed by advertising revenues based on size-determined rates. These

X range from $20-$80.

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YOUNG ROCKSTAR: Junior D.J. Sablan first started singing and playing the guitar in the seventh grade. Sablan put in about 20 hrs a week of practicing his song called ‘Goodbye.’ He is also performing in the Filipino candle dance and the Samoan dance.

“I love performing in front of a big audience.”

[D.J. Sablan]

ARROW spied on hard-working performers last week and took pictures of their fun-filled but highly stressful practices for their acts. As we know there will not be HAAKA boys this year, but there will be more fun hip movement action. As Language Arts teacher Dylan Okimoto said: “Don’t dislocate your hip from your performances.”

Multi

The Multicultural performers this year are hard working, much like U.S. History teacher and Multicultural coordinator Lurline Antes, who takes little credit for herself.

“A lot of different groups worked really hard to put this year’s Muticultural show together,” Antes said.

Behind the scenes, groups cut and added parts to their acts. It seemed like the most difficult thing was staying in the time limit provided: less than five minutes.

The performers practiced and practiced to make their performances marvelous and intricate for today’s Multicultural performance.

Irene Muller photos

FILIPINO HOP SCOTCH (far left): Mark Caoagdan, Josie Dumlao, Kirby Untalan and Delfin Buyco are practicing for the Multicultural performance.

They will preform Tinikling, a clapping of sticks to a specific rhythm.

CRAZY BOY (left): Scott Stephen is practicing a move called Qi gong. Qi gong is a move to absorb all your powers into one place. “I practice Qi gong a lot, but this is my first time breaking it down.”

[Scott Stephen]

LADY VU: Jennifer Vu gets practice in for the Vietnamese Fan Dance in the IPAC where many other performers practice their act.

LADY FANNERS: Malarie Mar practices the Vietnamese Fan Dance which she is preforming with more Lady Fanners.

LAS CHICAS: They practice to Latin music, which represents their roots, culture and music. Also, the dance shows Latin rhythm.

POLYNESIAN POPPERS: Addyson Stowers and Sandy Centeno practice their Polynesian dance for the Multicultural performance.

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Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.

- from GLSEN’s Day of Silence “Speaking Cards”

| Alyssa Antonio | Opinions Editor Hundreds of Renton students joined together in a national event to support the rights and lives of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth all over the nation on April 16. The local sponsor was health teacher and GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) adviser Joe Bento.

This special event is held to show how LGBTQ people are forced to“stay quiet” to avoid criticism and verbal or physical abuse from others, especially in schools. People participate for different reasons. Some do it for a friend, some for themselves.

“About the same number, around 200,” Bento said, regarding the number of students who participated.

Students participated by taping their mouths shut to keep themselves from breaking their commitment to remain silent, which was a challenge for some of last year’s participants.

“This is the 15th Anniversary,” Bento said. “It was initiated by the University of Virginia; GLSEN [Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network].

They’re the ones who work with Angel Gabuat Photos

the GSAs all over and all schools participate in it.”

Renton was just one of thousands of silent schools all over the nation. The event isn’t just for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

Everyone is invited to participate, whether they are a friend, family member, or other ally.

“I don’t think it’ll help just them. It shows people how to stand up for themselves,” Bento said. “They participate to see if they’re part of the problem or part of the solution.”

Although it is only one day long, GSA members and allies hope their message and its positive impact will resound in our hallways and classrooms year round.

“I really want them to think about how they treat people who are supporting, what they can be a part of to help students, why people participate,” Bento said. “I also want everybody to be a part of something to help everybody.”

You can get more information about the Day of Silence: Read blogs, buy gear, and get ready for next year at www.dayofsilence.com.

For more information about the Day of Silence, see pg. 14.

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Recognition and awards, senior Indians move on up

Things You Need To Know:

| Irene Muller | News Editor This year’s Moving Up Assembly will be held in the gym on June 4th.

The 90 minute program will include the traditional moving up and candle ceremony, a senior slide show, Junior Recognition to the senior class, and the final student recognition of the month.

The ASB office will be recognizing students in four categories.

Honor Roll students (those with a GPA of 3.7 or higher) will be recognized for their academic successes.

Department awards will also be presented to one freshman, one sophomore, and one junior student.

Henry Moses Awards, a new category of award, will be acknowledged, along with the Incredible Indian award.

Many of these recipients will also be honored at the Senior Awards Ceremony on the evening of June 7th, along with students being recognized for scholarships, Excellence in Action, and many other accomplished students.

UW extends help for higher education to Renton juniors and seniors | Rochelle Mascey | Lessons Editor Juniors and seniors all over the Seattle region are involved in The Dream Project.

This program, sponsored by the University of Washington, helps students apply for and prepare for college.

“The founder of the project was Alula Assaw who contacted Rosetta Knight looking to start the project at a school with a high free and reduced lunch rate, one that was really diverse and students with a first generation [to go to college],” UW student mentor Dustin Dacuan said.

The project is open to any student in their junior or senior year who wants to be a part of it. The program has grown to encompass 11 high schools and 300 UW students.

“We get the name of students who may be interested in the program from counselors. We believe that every student has a right to a higher education. We work with juniors in the spring and continue till their senior year in the fall and winter,” Dacuan said.

The UW students meet with them every Thursday during advisory and are happy to include any junior or senior that wants to participate.

Things You Don’t Need But Probably Should...

Lyrical slam lights up 2011

Last chance for a little spirit

Lights out, let’s make it work

| Devante Swann | Photography Staff When the class of 2011 were told they would have to go poetry events throughout second semester, faces dropped knowing it would be a challenge, for some, to get to those “events”.

Three students calling themselves “Letterheads” from Ms. Del Fierro’s fifth period class decided to host a more local and comfortable event after school.

The event was entirely student run; students hosted it, organized it, and performed in it.

This slam was such a success that class of 2011 president Nhu San Nguyen wants to host another slam sometime in April.

This slam would not only feature new and returning poets. It would also be a fundraiser for the class to raise money to make up for the numerous cancelled dances hosted by the class.

“I’m not sure if it will work out as I thought, since Mr. Smith and Ms. Del Fierro are planning to throw their own slam for the junior class” Nguyen said.

Either way, keep an eye out for a poetry slam coming up in the next couple months.

| Tu-Anh Dinh | Features Editor Sweat shirts are being sold again. The first round, many people missed out, so here is a second chance. In other news, the Last Chance dance is on the rise, as well as money.

“I like that we have quite a bit of money in our account. We have more than freshmen classes from the past, from what I’ve heard,” freshman President Amanda Liebrich said.

The dance on the other hand.

“That’ll be in June, and it’ll be the fourth or eleventh, and we’re still in the process of deciding a theme. More casual stuff, because it’s the end of the year for bonding… From what I’ve noticed most of the freshmen seem to be friends with upperclassmen,” Liebrich said.

It is a good sign seeing them with upper classmen, it means that the moving up assembly is just around the corners, and the class is excited to finally be wearing the grey instead of yellow or green.

| Ajane Burnley | Editor-in-Chief The sophomore class is in the beginning stages of planning a Black Out Dance.

Originally scheduled to take place right after spring break, the dance has been pushed back to sometime in May due to indecisiveness concerning a theme.

At a class meeting held in March, class of 2012 adviser Joseph Bento suggested that they should host a Junior Prom.

Most of those who turned out to the meeting, a little over 30 students, agreed with the idea.

However, due to the popularity of the Black Out Dance held by the sophomore class last year, 2012 has decided to bring it back instead of having a junior prom.

Rattled by the low ticket sales earlier this year, the sophomore officers decided to go with the Black Out idea in hopes of avoiding any attendance troubles.

The Beat | Anthony Saelee | Perspectives Editor It’s spring, and we’re gearing up again for Relay for Life. One of the biggest local fundraisers for cancer to take place each year, Relay for Life raises money for the American Cancer Society and brings together our community in the fight against cancer.

Participants walk laps around the Renton Stadium track to raise money and support those who have fought cancer.

Organizing the relay takes an amazing amount of leadership by both adults and students. One such leader is senior Alex Castro-Wilson.

“The purpose of Relay for Life is to make a statement,” Castro-Wilson said.

“We fight against cancer by staying up all night saying ‘Cancer never sleeps, and neither do we.’”

Castro-Wilson has four years of experience with Relay for Life and counts it as an absolutely positive experience. He’s strongly encouraged others to participate in the heartwarming event, playing the role of advocate for those who have battled and are battling cancer.

“Everyone has been affected by cancer and has their own story,” Castro-Wilson said. “I encourage others by sharing my story about how my loved ones have battled cancer and those who I have lost to cancer.”

“We spread Relay for life around as much as we can by getting local businesses to sponsor,” Castro-Wilson said. “Team captains are always spreading the message of what Relay is and getting people involved.”

Relay for Life begins at 6 PM on May 21st and ends early on the morning of May 22nd at the Renton Memorial Stadium. There is an opening ceremony and “Survivor Lap”, honoring those who have won the battle against cancer, and a “Luminaria Ceremony” to remember those who have lost that same battle.

The event continues all night.

Participants walk laps in relay teams, so no one has to walk all night long until early morning. There is a short closing ceremony where participants are thanked for their involvement and help in the battle against cancer. To sign up, or for more information, visit www.relayforlife.org.

Every month, The Beat explores the latest news going around the school. Everything from dress-code offenses to school-wide events. Breathe deep. Clarification on the rumor mill has arrived.

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FIFTY THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE AFTER YOU GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE COUCH 1.Make someone a PB&J. 2.Call a random relative and ask how they’re doing.

3.Make a list of places you want to travel to someday.

4.Look up your horoscope in the newspaper.

5.Bake a Desert. It’s always a sweet treat.

14.Iron your favorite pair of jeans.

15.Go to the park and play on the swings.

16.Walk to the corner store and get a Slurpee.

17.Read the news.

18.DON’T brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack. That’s nasty.

26.Put paper covers on all your text books so you can sticker and draw all over them.

35.Read the epilogue in every book in your house.

44.Reset all the clocks in one part of your house to an hour and eight minutes later.

36.Make dinner for your family.

27.Go to Full Tilt Ice Cream in Columbia City and try a new, strange kind of ice cream (and play PAC Man).

28.Look in Issue 4 of ARROW for things to do with excessive college mail.

37.Ride the Light Rail commuter train from one end to the other.

45.Decorate your driveway or path with sidewalk chalk.

46.Check the oil in your car.

47.Drive around Capitol Hill playing Slug Bug with friends.

29.Your homework.

38.Go through your binder or notebook and put all your old, graded work away in folders for later use in your culminating portfolio.

30.Wash your sports gear and air out your cleats/running shoes and bag.

39.Check all your pens and markers and throw away all the dried out ones.

49.Make a To-Do list of things you need to get done.

31.Learn the dance to Thriller.

40.Delete all the music on your iPod/mp3 player (after backing it up on your computer first). Go to a friend’s house and fill it with tunes from their collection.

48.Write a secret message on the soles of a pair of shoes.

6.Take a bubble bath.

19.Go to postsecret.com 7.Make an epic mix CD. 20.Eat a bowl of cereal.

8.Get a map and plan a road trip.

9.Get on a bus you’ve never ridden before and see where it takes you.

10.Fill out a job application to somewhere fun.

21.Go through all your CDs and put them back in the right cases.

22.Make a play lists on iTunes for upcoming parties, long drives, etc.

23.Read a book.

11.Learn the secret handshake in the ‘Parent Trap’ remake.

12.Wash your car windows.

13.Take the bus to Pike Place market and try samples of everything.

24.Write a letter to a state representative about something you feel strongly about going on locally.

25.Research a college and request info.

32.Memorize the entire “audience participation” script for the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

33.Challenge a neighbor to a Radio Flyer wagon race (sturdy strollers and shopping carts may be substituted for wagons if available).

41.Learn to make balloon animals.

34.Look up the last words of mildly obscure, historically significant people on Goggle.

43.Go to the beach and put your toes in the water.

50.Write a letter to the editors of ARROW!

42.Go to Costco and try all the free samples.

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The Review | Irene Muller | News Editor

The Book That Changed My Life | Kaniesha Bray | Reporter Talk about crazy relationships and bad marriages. “Naughty or Nice” talks about three McBroom sisters who are all in relationships. Frankie, the oldest sister who is never satisfied; Livvy, the middle sister with a cheating husband (and so decides to go out and do some exploring of her own); and baby Tommy who was abused badly by a man she trusted and loved. They all turn against each other but in the end their relationship gets better because they figure out that at the end of the day all they have is their selves to get along with for the holidays.

After reading “Naughty or Nice” it changed my whole outlook on why people have affairs against their better judgment. Eric Jerome Dickey showed me that people struggle in relationships due to all types of reasons, but in the end family is what matters. Never let a relationship come between you and the ones who mean the most to you. Sometimes learning the hard way isn’t always the best way.

Sometimes people criticize the books I read because of the mature sexuality within them. “That’s just my cup of tea,” I tell them. Books that excite me are the ones with drama, a story, usually bad.

PLAN YOUR LUNCH Don’t know where to eat for lunch? Not sure how long it will take? Walking or driving, take this map of lunch time hot spots and use it for quick and easy reference.

Julian Staples and Angel Gabuat graphic

Oh, greasy fingered children. Oh, still-drunk girls walking through the McDonald’s drive-thru at 9:00 AM. Oh, dashboard breakfast of rock n’ roll roadies and soccer moms alike.

This is America, where everything is possible, everything is beautiful, and everything is fried. Hash browns encompass everything we love about this great nation; the simplicity and the instant gratification lurking around every corner make it a prime candidate for nationwide consumption.

From cozy, disheveled roadside diners in Omaha to the breakfast buffets of the US Senate, hash browns slide onto the plates of any and all Americans, bringing us together in eight square-inches of steaming, buttery soft and salty goodness.

Potatoes have been a dietary staple in America since the very beginning.

They originated in the New World and were harvested by the original Americans long before Europeans settled North America. Once they made their way to Europe, potatoes would become a trademark working class food. From 1740 to 1741, Ireland experienced one of the most drastic crop failures in their history. A million people perished from hunger and disease, and a million more were forced to immigrate to other countries.

Absence of potatoes from the Irish diet and economy crushed social and political systems, and thousands of good people’s lives were destroyed.

How many people would keel over in the weeks following the disappearance of bald eagles? Aside from a few activists with heart conditions, no one would perish without them. The things that truly represent a nation are the things essential to the continuation of life as it is in said country, the things that support and nourish those who keep it up and running.

Next Independence Day, when the trumpets are blaring and the soldiers are saluting and everyone is standing up a little too straight in their overironed khaki shorts and gingham, don’t be afraid to let your gaze stray to the picnic table. Sitting unsuspectingly on a red plastic plate, is a little slice of home and history.

America the Beautiful isn’t really about liberty and victory, finality and dedication. It’s about children with greasy fingers, about feeding the people you love; it’s about potatoes.

Every month, The Review condemns or lavishes praise upon some local or cultural artifact, from fro-yo to drinking fountains, local park swings to Safeway Chinese.

Love it or hate it. That’s what we do.

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In a special photo shoot, Photo Editor Olivia Fry helps Casey Sablan get some profile pic swag using a few time-tested photography tips. Below, her fave five.

Olivia Fry photos

#1- Picking a location: Find a place where there are no distractions in the background. You definitely DO NOT want to take a picture where your sister’s thong and your dad’s stained boxers are hanging on the shower rack. That will immediately kill the picture and take attention away from you. Pick a place that shows off who YOU are. If you like flowers, take the picture in a flower field. If you like video games, take

a picture with a bunch of Xbox controllers and some video games. Just take a picture that will make you happy, because if you are in an area that you don’t want to be in, the picture will look like crap and you won’t ever feel taking a picture. If you’re a really natural person then take a picture on some stairs outside, it will look great either way. Really though, if you like dumpster diving, I wouldn’t suggest taking a picture

in the dumpster. I mean I guess if that really makes you happy go right ahead but I have a feeling that you wouldn’t have too much fun with that. You don’t always have to take a picture alone, if you have a bunch of friends with you, take a big group photo, but use a pretty background if you can, like a beach or a lake, possibly even a mountain…careful not to fall.

#2- Magnificent lighting: Many people make the mistake of taking a picture where the lights are behind them, which causes shadows upon their face and makes them look like the Grudge, EXTREMELY NOT OKAY (unless you are going for that psycho, serial killer look). Make sure lights are in front of you, so we can see your wonderful face because this will bring out your features more. The best place to take a picture that

helps with lighting is OUTSIDE. Taking pictures outside especially when the sun is out looks absolutely beautiful. Natural sunlight always brings the beauty out of everything. The one thing you have to make sure that you aren’t doing though is getting the sun in your eyes, because then you’re going to squint and look like a sneezing cat.

Another thing that helps if you are seriously, deathly afraid of going out in the sunlight

is taking a picture right next to a lamp light because it will still bring a nice glow to your face. Don’t have too much light though because I don’t want you looking like the burning sun on the hottest day of summer… creepy much? Instead of looking like the burning sun you should stick to a minimum of a shining star.

#3- “Mirror, Mirror on the wall”: If you go for the traditional mirror photo, do not keep the flash on the camera. The point of a picture is to capture yourself and the way you look, you don’t want someone to look at your picture and be like “Where the hell are you? All I see is a flash…maybe Tinkerbell?”

Take the photo where there is a lot of light that will cover for the flash and NO I’m not saying start a fire...I trust people when they

say they’ll burn their houses down. Turn the flash OFF and proceed cautiously to the nearest mirror. If you do, stick to a mirror photo. These pictures do not always have to have your face in them. You could always just place the camera over your face and tilt slightly to the side and it will accentuate your body more and give the picture a silly flare to it. Taking a mirror picture does not take a genius to do. If you do end up taking one,

you should not move so close to the mirror that you smack the camera into the mirror because you will break either the mirror, the camera lens or both and then you’re going to have to pay SOMEONE a crap load of money.

If you don’t know how to take the simplest of the pictures I would suggest staying away from a mirror and a camera.

#4- Capture yourself, not the wall: Mix up the angles in your photos. Bend your arm slightly out to the side and point the camera directly toward yourself so it looks like someone else is taking the picture. Trust me, it’s not hard, I’ve done it myself. If someone is looking at your picture, I DON’T think they want to stare at a wall for the rest of their natural born life, they could do that in their own time. Taking a photo from below

eye level is not always the smartest thing; someone may see some bats in the cave, if you know what I mean. If you take a picture from above, be smart about it…seriously ladies I know some guys may want to see you look like a slut, but other girls looking at your pictures have a serious gag reflex and would rather not see your tatas hanging out of your shirt. Taking a shot from above can come out cute if you do it the right way,

usually doing a photo from above you brings light of your eyes and brings out the color which people LOVE to see. Eyes are some of the most important things in a photo; they see that you can either be sweet, evil or maybe even kind of crazy. Angles are super fun to work with, if you have some extra money, buy a tripod to add to the fun.

#5- Quirky Faces: Stop sticking to the basic smile or pouty pop star lips! Smiles are cute but people want to see your personality.

Okay okay, I know that sometimes you are just some weirdo who just pets rats all day…but you know maybe someone will like a little creeper! Try something out of the ordinary; it may come out as one of the best pictures you’ve ever taken. Just be goofy all around. Heck, even dress up, who

cares if you look like Ronald McDonald?

You can work it! If you want to do a silly face, really go all out, drop your cool cards and act like a complete dork. Swing your hair around, act like a rock star, just be super freaking radtastical. What I like to do is take pictures with my dog and my kitty, it shows a sweet side of you and they said “kids do the darnedest things” but hey, so do animals. Speaking of kids…BABIES AND

TODDLERS MAKE CUTE FACES! Try to tickle them and be cute and just quickly pull them into a picture, they will love it, as will you. Just don’t accidently drop the kid because I promise you THAT facial expression from them will NOT be pretty at all.

HAPPY CAPTURING (:

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We all...

Played Make Believe

“I remember pretending to be puppies with my step sister and cousin. I was probably 11 or 12, never used props, all pretend” [Junior Allysha Moulton]

“I used to imagine that I was married to a Mexican/Indian.”

[Sophomore Phe’shay Paige]

“I played restaurant on the stairs, the screws holding the rail were the food dispenser and the baby gate was the counter.”

[Freshman Eloisa Bautista]

“I would play music lessons with my friends, one of us would sing and the other would tell them how to sing better.”

[Teacher in Training Lonna Carrier]

“I played Parent Trap with my friend, we cut a picture in half and each kept one side pretending that we were long lost twins reuniting.”

[Senior Jesse Lin]

“I pretended to be a race car driver at the age of seven or eight, I used my twin bed as the car and the pillows for the steering wheel.”

[Junior Clifford Anderson]

FACES

“I had an imaginary friend, his name was Housecoatpop and my mom would have to set the table for him too” [Vis. Com. Teacher Susan Johnson]

“One word: Legos! I played with my brother and Stevie Ray, we played anything and everything.”

[Freshman Amanda Liebrich]

“My brother and I would take “I used to play as Superman.

One day I thought I could fly because turns riding in hampers like it was my parents bought me a Superman a race car and one of us would push the other.” outfit so I put it on and jumped…

[Sophomore Jasmen Marley] ouch, I didn’t fly. I fell on the cement and started crying.”

[Senior Luis Martinez]

“I played dress up with my friends and I always put on a dress because they always had girl clothes.”

[Junior John Mehlhaff]

“I use to take TV boxes and shoe boxes and act like I was in a space shuttle.”

[Sophomore Kiarra Simpson]

“I was probably in second grade; both of my cousins would come over after school or every two weeks to play army. We got our plastic guns and gear from the Dollar Store and my mom bought me my fatigue online.

We even had a couple authentic MREs (meals ready to eat) that we had saved for two years before we actually ate them. I think I had chicken potatoes and gravy with green beans and rice blended together; it tasted like crap.

But there was one good meal called cookies and cream oatmeal, it was packaged, dry and chunky. We’d always pretend we were fighting terrorists and our base was being run down so we’d try to hold them off as long as possible. One time me and Chance [cousin] went to a big open field that belonged to a church to play army. We started playing it like we normally would, then we looked at the church and everyone inside was running around frantically. We noticed multiple people were dialing numbers and panicking on the phone while all eyes and fingers were pointed in our direction, but Chance and I being stupid and naive like children were, went about our combat as usual. We went over to the end of the field near some bushes and while we were plotting our attack we noticed there was a police cruiser speeding right towards us, so Chance and I turned around, ran and dove into the first bush behind us. We crawled right next to each other in an open pocket, hiding behind the thickest branch we could see. The next thing we knew, we saw the cops spot light shining on the bush right next to us; I bit my lip as hard as I could to not make a sound as the light came to us and flashed by. After we watched the cop car turn the block, Chance and I leaped out of the bush as fast as we could, ran all the way across the field and the parking lot back to my Oma, who was walking the dog. We told her we wanted to go home [but] she had said she wasn’t done, so we had to hide out in the car till her dog finished his business. It wasn’t like “Rambo” style; we played fairly strategically using team tactics. We kind of started doing it less and less, and once we reached seventh grade we just stopped; it started being too much and [we] just lost our imagination.”

[Senior Josef Antonio]

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portr

She has a pass. Is it for yo could get out of class. Who really, until now. The gre counseling office TAs, tran and may be silent when th here they tell their stor

The Secret Lif of a Teenage |Anthony Saeleee |Perspectives Editor

Eli De Los Santos Photo

When a person thinks of video games, it’s safe to ass they’re thinking about a guy in front of a screen of a mi pixels. What they wouldn’t t the opposite gender doing the a generalization but for the it’s true. Just imagine you’r around on a small battlefie down all of these random p just met in the lobby. All of you hear an epic war cry, bu are the squeaky immature the deep projected voices y to hear. It’s this light and sw voice saying “You just go noob.”; If you were able to that, you can probably imag Lady Tubera playing a sessio ern Warfare Two. “I started playing Call at the beginning of this year said, “It’s like a new hobby fo “I’ve always been fond games and since its senior ye not really much to do,” Tu “It’s a new year and I always play games online with other Playing games se be a newly acquired h Tubera. The sudden transit intense gamer has taken co short amount of time. Of cou surprise that other gamers online have several opinions w realize she’s a girl.

“They think that it’s pre that it’s very unusual for a g to be playing these types o Tubera said. “It’s sometime play because people will curs with you.”

Even though thes ions have minor effects on it’s apparent that her effici gamer attracts other gamers at her.

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fe e Girl Gamer

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“The best thing is being on the top of the score board,” Tubera said, “knowing that other people have been playing longer than me, but I’m still pretty good at it, and knowing that I’m a girl.”

Being one of the many underestimated female gamers, Tubera has both her good moments and her bad.

It’s probably not one of the bad moments you’re thinking of. In fact, it’s probably no where near what you were thinking of.

“The worst thing is owning hella bad in a game and then disconnecting,” Tubera said, “Bam,cut off.”

Experiencing a disconnection from anything isn’t fun, especially when you’re playing a game and on a good run; but Tubera was able to make up for that loss and experience something she hadn’t really tried before. “[Playing] Hardcore team deathmatch because I was owning. I got 30 [kills] out four deaths,” Tubera said, “I was very happy because it was my second time playing hardcore team death match. I didn’t have cold blooded but other people did, but I still got the highest score.”

Now when you think of gaming, you shouldn’t just think of a overconfident guy sitting on his couch, spamming the right trigger of his controller. You should start to think about the diversity of different people who play and not underestimate or generalize them. The minority in the gaming world seems to be female players, but with gamers such as Tubera holding up the competition, all gamers should be more attentive of who they’re playing against, especially if it’s this gamer.

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Do I have what it takes to go shopping for Trey Songz’s underwear? |Shaheed Rashid |Story Development Senior Ranesha Baker has an ultimate dream to one day be a personal celebrity shopper.

“The top five celebs I would shop for are Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Trey Songz and Reggie Bush,” Baker said. “Lady Gaga has a creative style, Katy Perry is pretty cool, and Reggie Bush just has a nice body with the nice little six pack; a good fit to shop for.”

Having fun with the dream celebrity and doing what she loves to do, who wouldn’t want that? But although she would love to shop for a celebrity as a career, there are some out there she wouldn’t even bother with.

“I would definitely not shop for someone like Oprah because she is just too old. I mean she is cool but she dresses all elegant and stuff and I want someone with a sense of fashion that’s in right now,” Baker said.

The most rewarding aspect of this dream job for her is the outcome.

“I would love to be able to meet celebrities for free and at the same time do something that I love to do which is shopping,” Baker said.

Baker started to realize that she loved to shop when she was just six years old, when she was allowed to pick out her clothes for school every day.

Over the years, she began to expand her interest in things to shop for.

“I mostly like to shop for purses and jewelry,” Bak-

er said. “I shop pretty much all over but I like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Forever 21. I love Forever 21 because they have like everything that you could want. Whatever your style is they have it.

“I also like to shop for shirts because it really doesn’t matter what the pants look like, the shirt pretty much dominates the outfit,” Baker said.

Having a position like this isn’t your everyday job and you probably won’t be doing everyday things along the way. Who knows what kind of things you might be told to shop for. For instance, new underwear.

“If it was Trey Songz who wanted me to shop for underwear I really wouldn’t mind. Hey, it’s Trey Songz ya’ll,” Baker said, “Now if it was Beyonce I might be like ‘Nah B, I think you should do that yourself.’”

Along with the rarity of obtaining a position like this is actually having the necessary skills to do it thoroughly.

“I think I know the latest fads out there and I could make it fun for the celebrity to shop and not be so uptight,” Baker said.

Baker did come to her senses while in la la land, that this position is really a dream job and that she would love to do it if being a doctor didn’t really work out for her; but pursuing a higher education came first.

The outgoing, confident, full frontal Prasad freezes up under the pressure |Eli De Los Santos |Staff Reporter Senior Natasha Prasad doesn’t mind sharing.

Also, she likes getting lost, dancing (with or without music,) and tip toe-ing through her messy room.

“My freshman year was weird. At the end of freshman year I told everyone around me that I wouldn’t date anyone the following year unless they were completely new to the school,” Prasad said.

What Prasad didn’t know was that someone was awaiting her.

“Sophomore year comes around and there pops a new boy! It started out with me liking his hair then he became cuter and cuter as the days went on. As you can tell, I am not a shy person. I have no shame. I say what I want when I want,” Prasad said.

Whenever she got around Luis, she would freeze up.

“My best friend saw how much I liked him so one day at lunch; we made a plan where she would help me figure out what to say to him.”

Luis went over to her table and…

“The plan was that she would turn around and pretend to be on the phone and speak in Hindi – our language – to me,” Prasad said.

The plan was foiled because Luis was Indian too.

“I didn’t know how much Hindi he knew but I didn’t want to risk it so I had to go Free Willy on that one by myself.”

She asked him if he wanted to hang out at the Homecoming game and but he wasn’t sure if he was going.

“At the same time Ronita found a guy she liked too but was too scared to ask him out. So us two ‘schemers,’ as Mr.. Bento likes to call us sat down and started thinking,” Prasad said.

The only time the two of them actually use their brain’s to the fullest capacity is when they are plotting something.

“We thought of a brilliant plan: I would call her guy and pretend she doesn’t know I’m calling him, and tell him to come to the Homecoming game so she can hang out with him,” Prasad said.

Ronita talked to Luis and pretended it would be a surprise for her if he came to the game.

“So we did that and we got each other’s guy to come. That night Luis asked me to be his girlfriend.”

Features Fea MEXICAN CORNER 111213

LITTLE MEXICO

LITTLE LATIN AMERICA

PAISA ZONE

MEXICAN HALLWAY THE BORDER

MEXIVILLE

THE PAISA HALLWAY

NEW MEXICO

MEXICO

MEXICO CITY

For the article on this page and the headline above, ARROW staff members conducted a survey in advisory classes on Wednesday, April 21. The graphic headline above represents answers given for one question: “Do you or your friends have nicknames for areas of the school where different ethnic populations hang out?” The phrases are the answers students wrote to describe the places where Hispanic students hang. The larger words were written more often; the smaller words less often. For these 194 surveys, our margin of error is 1.8%.

Diverse at its best, segregated at its worst, both qualities obvious when walking through the halls. | Ajane’ Burnley | Editor-in-Chief In a recent survey conducted by ARROW, about 1/3 of those surveyed identified the area by the student parking lot doors as a Hispanic hang out.

This is interesting given the ethnic diversity at our school: 1.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 32.9% Asian/Pacific Islander, 35.8% Black, 15.6% Hispanic and 14.6% White. Many of us walk by that area everyday, whether it is to get to our cars or to rush to a school bus that is about to depart. Students may hear the excited chatter in Spanish while they walk past, and students unlearned in Spanish are unable to identify words and expressions.

“Every time I walk past that hallway they look at me and start speaking in Spanish, and it freaks me out a little bit,” junior Vanessa Perez said. “I don’t know what they’re saying, if it’s good or bad.” Perez is mixed Filipino and White.

“Most of the time, people think we’re saying bad stuff,” German Mejia said, “but we’re not.” Mejia identifies as Mexican.

Somewhere down the line this corner of the hallway has been dubbed “Paisa Zone” or “Little Mexico” or more commonly as the “Mexican Hallway” by non-Hispanic and Hispanic students alike.

In the survey, 47 out of 194 students wrote in at least one nickname for that part of the school, most of which are displayed in the various headlines at the top of this page.

(The size of the headline is proportionate to the popularity of the phrase.) One of the nicknames was not suitable for this publication.

Twelve of those 47 alternative names came from students who identified themselves as Hispanic.

“We call it the Paisa Zone,” Mexican student Daniel Quiroz said. “It means ‘the Mexicans’ because[the hangout] is, like, 95% Mexican.”

Question: Can non-Hispanic students call it that?

One possible answer: “Yeah, we don’t got no problem with that,” Mexican student Diego Guzman said.

Some believe the names shouldn’t be said by anyone at all, regardless of his or her ethnicity. “It’s racist and corny,” Mexican junior Ivonne Avalos said. “How would you feel if

Renton was called ‘Little Black Town?’”

Another question: Is this kind of self-segregating just a natural part of life on ‘Planet Renton’? One answer: It might be human nature for people to seek out their own. For safety. For laughter. For identity. More than that.

This can be problematic if a name or slur imposes an identity on a group, rather than a group self-professing its own name. A nickname can go too far. A little joke can easily turn offensive: A Mexican student decides he’ll hang out in the commons today, and an Asian student says, “Oh, you hopped the border from little Mexico?’

If all of a sudden Somalian students hang out on the second floor by the girls’ bathroom, should we call it “Baby Africa?” If Russian students hang out in the courtyard, should we call it “Soviet Russia,” or call the students who hang out there Communists?

“If you have to think about whether something is offensive or not, than you probably shouldn’t say it,” government teacher Michael Hentschel said.

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The

Obit

FLUSHED WITH LIES | Shaheed Rashid | Story Development Whip up a phony excuse for a bathroom pass and eighty percent of the time you will be granted permission.

Sometimes you wander the halls for 45 minutes. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself romantically entangled, you might be meeting up for a midday mini-date suck-face rendezvous.

Otherwise, you’re in a single stall planning your next Pokemon move to hopefully beat the Pokemon League Champion.

(Unfortunately, I usually find myself in the latter scenario.)

But that’s neither here nor there.

The point is that the bathroom pass just happens to be the golden ticket to every student’s desire, requiring only a short plea and puppy dog eyes for its acquisition and every golden ticket is good for one free trip wherever the student wants.

One student I talked to left class to go to her locker instead of the restroom to retrieve a cinnamon roll. I can see her now: She tip-toes down the stairs, constantly glancing behind her for faculty on the prowl. She reaches her locker in great stealth and rapidly moves her fingers to reveal her safe haven for sugary delightfulness. In her head she musters up an excuse that she was merely disposing of the cinnamon roll she found on the hall floor, but no excuse is necessary as she reaches the class anxious to sink her teeth into the sweet roll of processed sugar goodness What really stumps me about this adventure is how it ends: the swift cinnamon roll muncher brings the cinnamon roll back to class and eats it there. (Pause for dramatic epiphany.)

Let’s break it down. It may be hard for a teacher to know if a student didn’t actually go to the bathroom because there really isn’t much incriminating evidence, but for me the cinnamon roll should be a dead giveaway. Last time I checked, there weren’t very many cinnamon roll stands in the bathroom. Before we know it, students will come back with a McGriddle in the left hand and a bathroom pass in the right.

I talked to another student who actually went past McDonald’s all the way to the mall.

As the story goes, he went to advisory and got a convenient text to go to the mall and skip advisory came. Blah blah bathroom blah emergency blah blah arrives at the mall. They walk around; security catches them; so they say they are 21, run, laugh, return to school.

And of course his excuse: he had a really bad stomach ache and stayed in the bathroom for the rest of the period. The ideal 30 minute vacation for him. And a great story to tell the

suckers in advisory.

But it should actually be a wake-up call for the teachers. When is the last time a student you issued a pass to had a stomach ache for a whole class period? (Crickets.) I guess I cannot believe that our formidable, sophisticated, certified teachers do not notice this. Actually some of the excuses that we can come up with are pretty convincing. Like faking a medical emergency or, specifically, the girl who is having her period in class. But maybe the teachers just don’t care; maybe they don’t notice; maybe they punish in private; who

| Ann Bucher | Reporter

Olivia Fry photo

knows.

To be honest I don’t blame them. I mean, we are high school students and shouldn’t have to be monitored all the time like little kids. Not the most fun job for either of us.

But the upside is that maybe Renton High students already know the kind of power of persuasion our Language Arts teachers are always talking about. We can conjure great excuses at the drop of a hat. Obtaining a bathroom pass is now a fine and evolving art students have mastered.

April 19th, 2010 marked the last moments of the most famous of all double entendres, That’s What She Said. Born 18 years ago in New York City at Saturday Night Live Hospital, That’s What She Said lived a quiet childhood, unnoticed by most people around him. He burst on to the stage, shocking everyone and everyone’s consciousness, after he landed a recurring role on the hit NBC show, The Office. His performance, hailed as “simply genius,” “pure brilliance,” and “short, sweet and to the point”, that made him famous in 2005. He became the talk of every dinner table, school hallway, and coffee shop, making him more famous even, than the late King of Pop. Known for saying his name after quotes ranging from “No input detected” to “Just stick it in there already” or even “I can’t feel anything,” his name became synonymous for sexual innuendo and locker room jokes.

Unfortunately, his fame and life came to a sudden, abrupt end. He died in a scuba diving accident in the Virgin Islands. Out trying to find a sting ray, he got too deep too soon and began running out of air at the bottom of the sea floor. As he desperately made his ascent to the surface, his lungs exploded, ending both his life and his career as a jokester.

He is survived by his older sister, In Bed and his mother, Your Mom. His funeral is to be a small affair set at his birthplace, attended by only close family and friends. That doesn’t mean, however, that there won’t be a media circus following this tragically funny death. People have already come out of the wood work expressing either their sadness, joy, or excitement.

“While he may have been funny at first, That’s What She Said became old fast. I am glad that I won’t have to hear ‘That’s what she said’ after pretty much anything that involves inserting or slipperiness or how tight the fit was for the wood. I am a shop teacher, everything sounds dirty. I know this,” said high school woodshop teacher, Mr. Jack James Johnson Whatever your opinion of That’s What She Said may have been, please try to learn from his death.

Those four words can carry a deadly aftereffect far greater than the laugh.

Every month, The Obit celebrates the inevitable death of a tired or trite cultural trend by pretending it’s dead already. By writing the obituary early, we hope to speed up the process.

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A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE DAY OF SILENCE

Shut-up. | Mindy Saeteurn | Play Hard Editor Last week on the Day of Silence there were some people who didn’t even seem committed and couldn’t keep their mouths shut because they were messing around with their friends. I thought to myself, “If you’re going to commit, then commit. Stop talking. Shut up.” The day is not some fad you do because everyone else is doing it. It’s a one day, highly visual demonstration used to personify the oppression

gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and questioning people face in their daily lives, and even if it’s not important to you, you should still honor those who endure verbal and physical abuse.

Many Indians hear about the day in health teacher Joe Bento’s class. That’s how I learned about it too. I actually didn’t know what it meant for a while. Then I saw participants with red tape crisscrossing their mouths and wondered, “What is this for? What does it mean?”

The GLBTQ community has been bullied, tormented, humiliated and harassed for years now. I know that I wouldn’t want to go through something so painful, so I say this: If you can’t keep your mouth shut then don’t do it all.

Don’t giggle. Don’t give up and start talking. Making light of losing your voice is no laughing matter.

For more information on the Day of Silence, see pg. 4.

141516 arrow | Kaniesha Bray | A&E Staff So we have our tall men our short men, men that are toned, men that are scrawny and some of those who have a little extra to love. Just like women, men come in many different shapes, looks and sizes. Looks now-a-days can be deceiving. So personality counts a lot for girls like me.

The Heat

Turn ons 1) Girls tend to be suckers for men who can give a good impression with expensive smelling cologne.

Not so much that I want to choke when you walk past, but enough to smell the delicious aftermath of your presence. The trick with wearing cologne is that you must be clean when applying it aka FRESH out the shower! Sick and tired of smelling the overload of tag that’s caked on right after gym …. We girls can tell the difference.

2) A lady can never go wrong with a man who knows what he is talking about. That just shows how intelligent he is. Sometimes it’s better to just be quiet, instead of trying to show out when you have the floor and end up embarrassing yourself when no one laughs at your joke [Cricket Cricket] because not everyone is a class clown. A guy with a good head on his shoulders that doesn’t come off like he is trying too hard is always a win Turn off ’s 1) Oh Heck no, your breath is kicking! There is nothing worse than a guy who is talking to you and he has a cold case of “WhaTheEff happened in there” breath. There is nothing wrong with correcting your breath. Do a little sniff check, buy a pack of winter fresh, just don’t get caught talking to a girl that you like and your breath smells like the inside of someone’s dirty gym sock. As a daily routine you should brush your teeth before school.

2) Like, OH EM GEE did you just stiff-face me?

For those who don’t know, stiff-facing is when you’re walking the halls and you see someone you know and they see you too but as soon as you try to wave at them they whip out their phone and act as if they didn’t even see you. I know it’s the way you boys hide the fact that you totally like someone, but it’s immature and can make us feel neglected. Just talk to us, there’s no harm in our finding out. Chances are we like you too. Or we like the attention. Either way, it’s a win-win.

|Hayley Brunk |Copy Editor

Brenden Dowd and Olivia Fry graphic

Why ’16 and Pregnant’ Scares Me

Apollo Ono? Who’s he? Our new hero is Janelle from Season Two: knocked up, famous and partying. Who wouldn’t want to be her? |Irene Muller |News Editor I have a few legit reasons to be freaked out, and they have nothing to do with hormonal paranoia or personal prejudice.

While, admittedly, being battered with images and experiences of teen mothers day after day sort of makes me want to Duct Tape my knees together and stay inside forever more often than not, there are things that make me worry even more.

First of all, more women between the ages of 12 and 34 watched the season premier of “16 and Pregnant” rather than the Winter Olympics.

While it’s true that, in a perfect world, reality TV would never take priority over international affairs at all, preferring “American Idol” to Jim Lehrer almost makes sense; fluffy, sparkly and fan girl-powered music and blatantly judgmental Brits versus gray hair and reality checks.

But, it’s the Olympics, seriously? A time-honored tradition that has captivated and inspired people all over the world for hundreds of years being beat out by a show about failed birth control and surly teenagers.

Are you kidding me?

Scary fact number two: there is virtually no advertising. “American

Idol,” a similar reality TV phenomenon in terms of numbers and a sudden rise to fame, has put out everything from Barbie dolls to soft drink cups to t-shirts. “16 and Pregnant” runs a 30 second segment on Teen Nick every 45 minutes and ends up with over 3 million viewers by the day it premiers.

The most disturbing piece of this odd advertising-less spread of “16 and Pregnant” fever is the fact that they don’t have to advertise themselves, because 1/3 of girls in the United States under the age of 20 are walking around Fred Meyer with a big belly and a shopping cart full of binkies, advertises it for them. Getting pregnant is the new piercing your own belly button. All the kids are doing it.

While the number of teen pregnancies in the United States is actually declining, it is becoming more and more visible. In 1980, MTV wouldn’t have dared air a show condoning, even glamorizing teen pregnancy in some ways. Now, just such a show brings in half their viewers.

Is this show really just publicizing the reality of teen pregnancy, or is it society’s way of patting us on the back and saying “Go ahead and be irresponsible, you’ll still get famous anyway.”?

All periods are different. They come in different lengths, times and sizes. Tampons and pads are not one size fits all products.

Which might explain the question so frequently being asked amongst the more feminine gender: Do you have a pad?

This happens once a month.

Most of you have had it since middle school, maybe sooner.

It’s time to figure it out. You know when you’re going to have your period, you know you need to bring an extra pad to school and you know how much you bleed.

I have some friends who frequently ask me for a pad. They “leak” every time. One would think one mishap would be enough to turn a light on in your head.

“Oh, maybe I need to bring more pads. Or just wear a bigger one.” Hmm… there’s a thought.

Step it up and be more prepared.

Not so much just remembering a pad, either. More like remembering enough pads or a BIG enough pad.

If you bleed a lot, you can’t use another girl’s little panty liner; or if you only bleed a little, there’s no sense in using another girl’s gigantic pad.

You need more or less protection than that, kid. If you’re an active person, you might consider using a tampon as an alternative to pads. Pads can be messy when playing sports, though you may want to wear both if you tend to bleed heavily. And if you’ve never used a tampon before, go for the plastic, NOT the cardboard.

This is why you need to be prepared. If you don’t bring your own, you’re stuck with one of two things: 1] A tiny panty liner that couldn’t catch a drop if it tried 2] A huge maxi-pad commonly used by those who have extremely heavy periods If you’re prepared you get your very own, super special, one of a kind, tailored to your needs pad.

Something that is comfortable for you to wear.

Every month, The Heat showcases the hot opinion of a fired-up reporter willing to hold your feet to the flames. Or set you on the burner. Enough fire to inspire action in you, our reader.

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EXPERIMENTS

Three ARROW reporters turned their lives into experiments. For one week, they went without, went with less and went with more. You have a part to play too.

In this spirit, we went without pictures on this page. Now you have to too.

Going to bed early

Spending less money

On a T.V.-free diet.

|Rochelle Mascey |Lessons Editor The Hook: I chose to do this experiment because I have a hard time managing my time and I felt this experiment would really help me. I would only have about six hours to get everything done and though that seems like a lot of time, when you procrastinate like me I do, it’s not that much.

I’ll often procrastinate because I’ll feel tired after a long day at school, so I’ll relax for a few hours after I get home, and then start my homework later in the day. Since I wait to get my work done, I don’t end up getting to bed until about 10:00 or 11:00.

Getting more sleep was another goal of mine because always feel so tired and unenergized, so I really felt going to bed early would make me feel less tired during the day.

|Vincent Warren |Public Relations The Hook: I’ve been lucky enough to be raised in comfortable living; I don’t have to worry about going hungry. When college rolls around, that comfort is gone. I will be a poor, lonely, unfortunate student. To try and solve this problem, I set a challenge: see how far $20 can go in one week.

|Yoonis Arale |Play Hard Staff The Hook: Ever since I was young, I’ve always watched hours and hours of television. I’ve come to love shows such as “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Suite Life on Deck,” “Family Guy,” and “WWE.” Television has always been something I’ve really enjoyed. I watched about 26 hours of T.V. a week while, according to “Teen Health and the Media.com,” the average American teenager watches around 20. My family always told me that I watched too much T.V., so I wanted to see how it would go if I went on a T.V. diet.

The Experiment: I was originally going to do this project for five days, but I did it for four days instead because I was starting to realize that going to sleep early didn’t help me at all. It didn’t really goes as I planned because it only helped me accomplish one of my goals, which was time management because since I went to sleep earlier I had less time to get my homework done and all of my other priorities done also.

However, this project didn’t help me feel any more energized; maybe because I got too much sleep, although I don’t really know. All I know is that I felt the same amount of energy as before.

What I Learned: I learned that going to sleep earlier doesn’t work for everyone because not everyone needs the same amount of sleep. I also learned I love being on the internet and stay on as long as I feel, even though I know I have more work to do.

Going to sleep at 8:00 didn’t change me much because right after I ended this project I went back to doing what I normally do, which is really just relaxing after school and doing my homework like two to three hours before I go to bed. I have been trying to stop procrastinating so much and start my homework earlier, even if it’s not due the next day.

The Experiment: Sunday night I didn’t sleep. I was neither bright-eyed nor bushy-tailed and needed caffeine. I went to Safeway and got a Venti White Chocolate Mocha with three shots of espresso. I picked out Honey Dijon Kettle Potato Chips too. ($8.??) For lunch I got gummy worms too($1.25.)

When lunch rolled around on Tuesday, I opened my backpack to a pleasant surprise: a half finished bag of chips. I also got a Watermelon Arizona Tea from the student store ($1.25). Pretty easy so far, but in retrospect I should reconsider my diet choices, the beer gut is definitely justified.

Lunch on Wednesday, I went to Little Caesar’s for Crazy Bread ($2.52). I’m addicted, shoot me. The bundle of delicious bread was unhealthy. It would seem I have a problem with eating healthy than eating cheap.

After my senior presentation on Thursday, I went home to take a quick nap. I ended up sleeping until three. At least I didn’t spend any money.

Friday during lunch I had the fattest craving for a burger, so I went to Wendy’s and got three double stacks($3.27) They were delicious and totally worth the money and the heart-attacks I will get on my thirtieth birthday.

What I Learned: Budgeting isn’t that hard. My spending habits were already pretty good because I’m cheap. One unaccounted variable that really may change things next year is that currently once I get home, I’m able to devour anything in sight, without any personal cost; but it did make me realize that cheap food is horrible. It’s apparent that I need to reevaluate the nutritional balance of my diet.

The Experiment: • Day one: I went home and kept myself busy with homework. When I finished, I got ready to watch “Monday Night Raw,” my favorite show. Then I remembered I couldn’t watch it that week. That was tough.

• Day three: was kind of boring, school sucked but I found a bunch of books in our storage at home and picked some Harry potter books to read that day.

• Day five: was actually pretty fun. It was “Friday Late Night” and we got to play cool games and bizarre basketball matches.

• Day seven: I had to work extra hard at not even coming near the T.V. I was so close to seeing my precious friend again.

What I Learned: During this experiment I learned a ton of things, the main thing that I learned was that T.V. is not the only thing to do at your free time. You can read books with plotlines as good as a show, or finish all your homework so the weekend will be free, or spend time with your family (even if they try to ruin your dream of giving up T.V.).

Since my experiment, I have been able to reduce the amount of hours I tune in. It wasn’t a big deal to cut out a few hours a week. I have more fun doing different activities in place of those hours. You’d probably have more fun getting out there, so do it.

75%

... of the sophomore, junior and senior classes volunteered in the last year. (Fourty-four percent of the freshman class did.)

MORE FACTS

WHAT I FIND INTERESTING

| Onna Giddens | Numbers Editor

| Rysan Binayug | Ads Manager

HOW WE FEEL ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: It’s fun and good for the community. I like to give back. - 50% I only do it because parents and teachers tell me I should. - 13% I think it’s a bit of a waste of my time. I could be hanging out. - 6% Other - 19%

I find it interesting that 44% of the freshman class volunteered in the last year because I expected all the classes to have somewhat even percentages. But then, I suppose it does make sense for upperclassmen to volunteer more because as we age and mature we gain more incentive to give back to the community.

HOW WE WOULD FEEL IF VOLUNTEERING WAS MANDATORY: It wouldn’t really affect me since I already volunteer anyway. - 40% It would help me. making it mandatory would give me motivation. - 49% It wouldn’t really matter. I don’t think I would volunteer either way. - 4% Other - 7%

I find it a good thing that 49% of people feel that mandatory volunteer work would motivate them. People usually prefer to hang out and it’s hard to do volunteer work when there are so many things to do and so many distractions outside volunteering, but almost half feel that making it mandatory would help them volunteer, and it’s good that we know ourselves well enough to know when we need a push to do the right thing.

IF WE VOLUNTEER, THE TYPES OF VOLUNTEERING WE PARTICIPATE IN: Animals (animal care, animal shelter, zoo) - 8% Environment (environmental education, gardening, planting, trees, restore streams, restoring parks) - 16% Community Development (fundraising, food bank, mentoring, child care, caring for the elderly, office work, church) - 54% Skill based volunteering (academic tutoring and education, emergency rescue and medicine) - 18% Other: Relay for life - 4%

It’s interesting to focus specifically on the kind of volunteer work people do. People seem to prefer community development volunterring to all others. I didn’t think they would because I personally find it the hardest type of volunteering. People are more complicated than plants and perhaps harder to work with; working to develop the community requires lots of people skills.

ARROW staff members conducted a survey on Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16. We distributed 137 surveys.

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Bases Loaded, We’re Going, Going, Home Kevin Penaloza Sophomore Third Base

Donavon Saario Freshman Pitcher/Center field

Years on varsity/years played: Two/Whole Life Advice On Position: Keep the ball in front of you, let it hit you, it’ll hurt for awhile, but you’ll make the play.

Best Career Hit: Double against Lindbergh Funniest Strikeouts: I swung at an outside curveball, I was way outside.

Best Bat for your size*: 29 ounces, 32 inches

Years on varsity/years played: One/Ten Advice On Position: Don’t be nervous. Always have confidence in your pitching and just be calm.

Best Career Hit: Home run against Foster. First Home run in high school Funniest Strike-outs: I got caught on the Change-up Best Bat for your size: 30 ounces, 33 inches

Michael Weaver Sophomore Pitcher/Shortstop Years on varsity/ years played: Two/Six Advice On Position: Short is captain of the infield. Let them know what’s going on. One of the hardest positions to play.

Best Career Hit: I got a double against Foster Funniest Strike-outs: My fist year playing, I was ten years old and he threw a slider. I thought it was coming at my head but it was right over the plate Best Bat for you size*: 29 ounces, 32 inches

*WIAA Rules for High School Baseball require all bats to be no greater than -3 drop.

Olivia Fry photos

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Three Moves to Your Bikini Body The Desk Push

The

Sidelines | Devante Swann | Photography Staff

A: Begin by getting into a push-up position on a desk. Remember to make sure the table is stable and that you look at the desk with arms fully extended.

Chair Squat Hold A: Begin by sitting in a 90 degree angle and lay your arms on your lap. Also, look straight ahead and to keep your head up. Make sure that when you are sitting that you keep your back straight and that your feet are planted to the ground and shoulder width apart to help with stability.

As numerous athletes of the Renton High School Track Team stretche and practice their high jumps, before the hidden announcers announce mysteriously “Last call for B: Push down like in a regular push-up and C: Go back up and continue to do steps one boys 100m dash” many things go on at a track meet. From random parents keep looking at the desk also remember that the and two for another 15 or 20 reps. You can do or fans dropping a container of mouth desk might slip. less if the table begins to slip. watering nachos, or maybe the rival team accidently going into your locker room. Our Athletes at Renton High School excel from day to day.

A fine example of the track teams “Excellence”, Immanuel Carter, who usually runs the 200m dash, and Adriel Paine IV who usually runs the 800m dash swapped places. Just in case some of you might be lost this B: Then slightly stand means Carter ran the 800m while up with your arms extended Paine ran the 200m. Both athletes ran out and hold the position at max capacity and even though they for at least one minute. Rest were both out of their comfort zone, they still dominated in each event as if for five minutes and then it were their own. stand up again for another

Robert Reeves once again three sets. remember all the places first in the 100m dash. After the postitions mentioned in A. race the crowd couldn’t seem to find a sweat on his face.

Saguat Chetri , Aslan Davault, Brian Reilly got the one, two, three punch and knocked out all competition. Chetri took first, Davault took second and Reilly took third making all competition feel sorry as they dashed passed and kicked dust in the opponent’s mouth.

HOLD UP THOUGH! Females ran the rivals packing and back to the A: First off say you accidentally drop your pencil buses sad. Taylor Williams ran 200m somewhere across the room. Get into a plank position 100m dashes and placed first in both where your back is straight and your arms are at a 90 events. Jennifer Hoang threw over degree angle.

90ft in the discus event; if you’re a guy don’t be sad if you can only throw your discus 5ft.

Renton Stadium might as well be called “Renton Indians Stadium”.

From dominating schools in football and having only lost three times in the B: Then start moving towards your pencil. Move by past ten years in track and field. WE using your elbows, knees, and your feet to travel across the floor. Be sure to keep your back leveled. take your time DOMINATE what we dominate.

Hot or cold, rain or shine. We shall reaching your pencil so that you don’t slip and bump your be there to dominate...once again. head on a table or a chair.

By the end of the meet the stadium seats should be smelling like sweaty meat balls, but its good; we work for it. While the rival team sits the smelling like fresh red roses, we will overthrow them smelling like a what ever we might smell like.

If we fall, we get back up... most of C: Keep crawling till you have reached your pencil. the time at least. I just pray and hope all Take a mini five second break, then start your way back to this praising is worth it. Keep working

Pencil Crawl

your table.

Kenneth Orejudos photos

Every month, The Sidelines provides a first-hand account of a sporting event or activity with the sweaty, sticky details in tact. Relive the experience with the greatest glory, and maybe a few laughs.

1920 arrow INT.SCHOOL – PASSING PERIOD

LOOSELY BASED OFF ‘SIXTEEN CANDLES’

The halls are crowed with students.

Jane is walking alongside best friend Marion, passing lockers and making way through the crowd. Jane is exasperated by events that occurred in 2nd period while Marion tries to calm her down.

JANAE: This sucks! Pounds fist against

wall

INT. SCHOOL – WEIGHT ROOM Two guys are working out. One is Trey Myers. They are discussing Janae since Trey has discovered the text and has her phone.

Trey has a sparking interest in Janae, and is overheard by the Geek who is friends with Marion and is spying for her.

INT. COMMONS – AFTERNOON Trey is sitting waiting on Janae’s front steps. He has something in his hand. Janae approaches the door to her home slowly, cautiously. She is nervous.

THE GEEK: crouched under one of the weights, listening TREU: What do you think about Janae Le?

TREY: Stands up I’ve been looking for you.

JANAE: Surprised You have?

FRIEND: Nothing, Why? MARION: You mad?

JANAE: Kelly Green sent me a chain text in Sidman’s.

MARION: Yeah? So?

JANAE: So you had to put the name of the guy you like and forward it to 10 other girls, or else you’re doomed to be single forever—

TREY: I dunno. I guess she likes me... It’s what the text says.

FRIEND: So what?

TREY: So? She’s kind of cute… and I might be interested-the Geeks gasps in shock

JANAE: Oh god! I think I should just die now.

TREY: Laughs That would be a shame.

FRIEND: Hold on…pulls the Geek from under weight Looks Janae smiles shyly, bites bottom lip, like we’ve got a spy. looks up at him

THE GEEK: Oh, man. I’m so sorry guys; I was trying to find my contacts—Friend gives the Geek a wedgie Ow! Ouch!

MARION: Marion interrupts Oh wow, Jane that’s stupid. Do you really believe that?

TREY: Save it, alright. Puts hand out as if to stop traffic It’s fake!

What are you doing listening to us? The Geek is being held in the JANAE: Fake or not, I can’t find my air by his undies phone.

THE GEEK: Seems a bit nervous I was just thinking I could MARION: Oh. Did you actually put help you out. Janae rides my bus and I could—Reid raises his hand as a signal to stop. The Geek stops talking Trey’s name?

JANAE: sigh yeah… Trey Meyers…

I’m so stupid!

TREY: Flashes a sexy smile Yeah, I have. hands her the phone I think you’ve been missing this?

Trey lifts her chin. Janae and Reid get closer as cheesy 80’s music comes on. Reid goes in for the kiss and it’s reciprocated.

Janae and Trey stay in a tight embrace as Marion walks by, intending to tell Janae news about her phone. Close up on Marion’s shocked expression. Fade out.

TREY: Tell me where she stays and I’ll let you go. fade out

MARION: laughs Yeah, I think he only goes for hot girls anyway JANAE: Thanks.

Cast Janae.......Veronica Gonzalez Marion.............Karen Huang Trey.............John L. Williams Friend..................Evan Curry

Olivia Fry photos