The Sundial
September 13, 2012
Hawaii mission trip humbles students By HOPE LITAKER Staff Writer
For the past three summers through High Desert Church over 200 students have taken the opportunity to travel to Wahiawa, Hawaii to work with locals to help make the town a happier and safer place. With this summer coming to a close, HDC is already looking forward to next summer’s trip. “I would really love the opportunity to attend one of these trips. I think that it would be such an amazing experience,” freshman Aimee Rose Villegas said. According to the team leader, Pastor Jeremy Peet, next year ’s trip has high standards for the people planning to attend. “The kids have been setting the bar higher and higher each year. I love seeing them get the chance to step out of their comfort zone and try new things,” Peet said. Over the course of the week, the students stay with an organization called Surfing the Nations. While the students are there, they participate in a
variety of activities such as: feeding the hungry, collecting food, talking to homeless people and cleaning up the city of Wahiawa, and the team favorite, jumping off a 35ft rock in North Shore. According to the past attendees, the trip is one they would highly recommend. “I would recommend this trip solely because it provides you with a variety of opportunities to challenge yourself and have once in a life time experiences,” senior Korissa Murphy said. While the personal growth is always a good thing, the impact the students have on Wahiawa is always a huge factor. According to a local, Wahiawa is a much safer place now because of all the continuous efforts Surfing the Nations and High Desert Church are putting in. “We love having the students here! They are so hard working and know how to get stuff done. We can not wait for next year’s kids to blow us away again,” the hostess from Surfing the Nations Emily Clark said.
Photo by Hope Litaker/Staff Editor
Students pray after applying paint on their hands. The idea of putting paint on their hands is to literally “put” their prayers on to the building.
Teens work hard for the money, harder in school By SARAH SIKORA Staff Writer
Managing school and work may be too much pressure on a teen. “It all depends on the student and the classes they are taking. Basically, it all comes down to the individual student’s motivation level,” Career Center adviser Mrs. Williams said. Teens are already expected to get good grades and put one hundred percent effort into their schoolwork. According to Mrs. Williams, if a student can balance school and work and still maintain good grades and personal homework time, work should not be a distraction. Mrs. Williams bases her opinion off of the individual student. “You can do it, if you’re willing to put in the extra work,” Mrs. Williams said. Only students would personally know the advantages and
Photo by Sarah Sikora/Staff Editor
Teen workers work the registers and man the floors at Quicksilver in the Barstow Outlet Mall.
disadvantages of working as a teen. “Working and maintaining good grades was never a per-
sonal struggle for me. I actually enjoyed working. It was an advantage because, I gained work experience plus it looks good
on college applications,” junior David Garlick said. Garlick sees working as an opportunity to meet new people
and gain some personal experience. “Working was a personal choice for me because I wanted to have some extra money in my pocket. I always maintained A’s and B’s,” Garlick said. According to parent, Katrina Lotts, all teenagers should be focused on is school, school should be the only important priority to a student. Many believe that showing up to school and bringing home good grades should be a student’s job. According to Lotts, teenagers should not be focused on difficult decisions and working. Teens have their whole life ahead of them for that. “I personally feel working and maintaining school is too much on us young teens. School should be a top priority and work should be avoided,” senior Kristy Mesa said. According to Mesa, working hard will pay off in the future, so teens should work hard at acheiving what they would like.
GO SUNDEVILS!!!
TUX “EGO” &
The Bridal Connection
“ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST SELECTION AND THE BEST PRICES”
YOUR HOMECOMING HEADQUARTERS NEW LOCATION!! 11954 Hesperia Road. Hesperia CA. 92345 (760) 948-9555
Come check out our homecoming specials!