Richmond High School Register, May 2, 2014 by Richmond High School Publications

Tuesday may 6, 2014

Richmond High School

Since 1908

Issue 8 Volume 105 | Richmond, in

Skateboarding takes over as a sport. One student hopes to pursue a career in skateboarding Page 2

There’s an app for that?! 21st century brings about apps for every thing. Page 8

Stumped for a mothers day gift idea? How about making a homemade present. Do it yourself Mother’s day present suggestion Page 3

Future Holds Technology For All Students Robert Schoeffler, design editor register.schoeffler@gmail.com

photo by Veatriz Vargas

Many students dream of being given their own portable computer for school. Luckily for them, this dream may soon become a reality at Richmond High School. “At this time, the administration, along with the RCS Technology Committee and other faculty members, are researching the impact that a 1:1 computing environment would have on the district,” RCS Technology Coordinator Robert Tidrow said. “ A ‘1:1 computing environment’ is one in which all students would be assigned a mobile device, such as an Apple iPad, laptop, or similar device. This would allow for additional digital curriculum options in our classrooms. As we go more to more digital curriculum alternatives, then the reliance on traditional textbooks would be reduced.” Schools aim to improve students’ resources for education as much as they can, and this step would be a major advancement that RHS hopes to implement.

Although some may worry that it will distract students, the internet is becoming an increasingly useful resource for education, and this has been recognized. “From the research I have read and from the first-hand observations I have made in our schools and schools around the state, I believe putting a mobile device in the hands of the students can improve their learning experience,” Tidrow said. “There can be negatives, such as online distractions and technical issues, but overall I believe the device can offer many more advantages. For example, mobile devices provide instant access to millions of online resources, it provides a more engaging tool than traditional textbooks, allowing for instant and flexible communications between peers and instructors, and can provide instant feedback to teachers so they can differentiate instruction (such as using Khan Academy videos) based on a student’s needs.” The Richmond Community Schools administration staff already has hopes to implement this plan, though it would be expensive to do so. “The budget is an important part of the overall

2016 Will Bring About Changes For SAT Robert Schoeffler, design editor register.schoeffler@gmail.com

“It gives a better opportunity for students to get more accurate scores for colleges to consider.” Tyler Ripperger junior

For many high school students, taking the SAT is a crucial step towards college admission. It has been this way for decades, until the number of students taking the ACT surpassed those taking the SAT in 2012. In attempt to regain its place as the top college admissions test, the SAT will see a refreshed version beginning in 2016. The most notable change to the SAT is the fact that the essay portion of the test will be optional. While the current version of the test has a required 25 minute essay section, the redesigned test will offer an optional 50 minute essay. This change allows students who won’t need writing for their college major to skip this 50 minute section, leaving them with a shortened three hour test, while the current SAT allows three hours and 45 minutes. “I think that it is unfortunate

illustration by Robert Schoeffler

that current juniors and seniors will be missing out on the new test, as I don’t need the writing section for my subject,” senior Nikhil Patel said.

Another significant feature of the redesigned SAT is the new scoring system. While the current test subtracts points for each multiple choice question answered incorrectly, the new one will just add no points. This makes it so that students won’t be penalized for incorrectly guessing answers. While some may believe this change makes the test too easy, others support the decision. “I feel it’s the right choice,” junior Tyler Ripperger said. “It gives a better opportunity for students to get more accurate scores for colleges to consider.” The renewed SAT will also return to a point scale ranging from 400 to 1600, and will score the essay separately, as opposed to the test now that has a scale range from 600 to 2400 with the essay included. As many students have learned to their displeasure, the current SAT emphasises on vocabulary skills, in many cases without significant clues in the question. The 2016 version of the test will take a different approach, focusing more on understanding words’ meanings in the context of the sentence. This regenerated SAT takes a slightly different approach in each subject, aiming to improve its assessment of college preparedness. According to www. collegeboard.org, “When students open their SAT test books in spring 2016, they’ll encounter an SAT that is more focused and useful than ever before.”

1:1 plan because we would have to ensure that we would have enough funding for approximately 5,000 students if we decide to roll out mobile devices to all of our students,” Tidrow said. “At the high school, approximately 1,500 students would need to be funded. Along with funding the devices, we also would need to find ways to ensure we have funding for extensive teacher and staff training to ensure everyone would be comfortable and knowledgeable about how to use and implement digital curriculum initiatives.” Though the plan may be far from complete, RCS has already worked to improve the availability of computing resources. “This past winter, we purchased and deployed iPads to teachers so that now all Richmond Community Schools’ teachers have an iPad device,” Tidrow said. “This has helped many of them understand how to use mobile devices in their classrooms, as well as how digital resources could improve student learning.” As of now RHS may have a long way to go, but the possibility of such a plan in the near future is becoming more realistic. “I think the likelihood for a 1:1 environment is good,” Tidrow said. “In fact, Richmond Community Schools already has several instances where 1:1 is a reality, including the RHS Science department, Early College Academy, LOGOS, and other locations in the district.”

In brief... • Good luck AP students who are taking the upcoming AP test. • It’s play season again. Come join The Red Devil Players Saturday May 17th and Sunday May 18th for their performance of A Dolls House. The play will be at 3 pm both days in McGuire Hall. • Registration for summer school is only open until the classes are full. Remembered you’re not registered until you pay your book fees. Summer school will start June second.

Things to look forward too...

• May 6th - Freshmen Graduate Together ceremony • May 8th - RHS Orchestra concert • May 9th -Academic excellence program • May 10th - Prom • May 13th- RHS Choirs Concert • May 20th - Career education awards and Girls track sectional • May 21st - Girls Tennis sectional • May 22nd - Girls Tennis sectional and Boys track sectional • May 23rd - Honors and Awards • May 26th - Memorial day/ No school • May 27th- Girls track and tennis regional • May 28th - girls tennis regional • May 29th - last day of school • May 30th - girls tennis semi-state • June 8th- Graduation

Page 2

May 6, 2014

Sports

Life is a “Grind” for Wetherell Molly Holt, copy editor register.holt@gmail.com

Junior Brandon Wetherell hopes to make a career out of riding four wheels, but unlike truck drivers or race car drivers, he also hopes his wheels are off the ground part of the time. Wetherell wants to grind and ollie in the world of professional skateboarding. “I hope to see skateboarding take me to California as a profession,” Wetherell said. “I’ve traveled all over the country with it.

Hopefully it will continue to take me places.” Others have taken to the sport as well, including freshman Jacob Day. “My friend was a pretty good skater,” freshman Jacob Day said. “He talked about it a lot so I tried it and I had an awesome time. Then I slowly got hooked and got one (skateboard) of my own.” Skateboarding started back in 1958 with surfers attaching wheels to a board so they could “sidewalk surf” when there were no waves. Five years later, surfing companies started creating better wheels and trucks, which act like an axle for a skateboard, for skating, and the first skating competition was put on in Hermosa Beach, California. Jumping ten years later, skating became a smooth sail with the invention of urethane wheels. The 1976 California drought caused people to drain their pools, making the empty pools new territory to conquer for skaters. In the ‘80’s, skateparks and skating companies became more common. Through the ‘90’s, skateboarding became more commercialized and recognized. Skating was added into the 1995 ESPN Extreme Sports. At the turn of the millennium skateboarding really began to pick up in popularity. In 2001 a census showed that 10.6 million people under 18 were skateboarding while only 8.2 million were playing baseball. People skateboard for all kinds of different reasons. Some skate for transportation. Military personnel have

been known to use skateboards as a silent mode of transportation. Others skate because of family and friends. Many people skate for the fun of it, not with the hopes of becoming famous for their passion. Some skaters get lucky enough to turn their passion into a career, much like Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler, Danny Way and Chris Cole. For years skateboarding has had a very negative connotation. Many skateboarders hold the stereotype of trouble-makers, drug abusers, or vandalizers. In many cases that does not hold true and has been portrayed negatively through the media. “Skateboarding involves a large variety of people, so I’ve been fortunate to really meet some rad individuals,” Wetherell said. “I’ve met some skaters that have really turned into role models for me. That pushes me to work hard, but enjoy life as I go.” These days there has been a debate as to whether skateboarding should become an Olympic sport. Some say that it would be great publicity for skaters, and to bring more people into the sport. Others think that making skateboarding an Olympic sport would take away the soul of skating. “I personally enjoy skateboarding over any other sport, because it really promotes individualism,” Wetherell said. “When you skate you can express style and a sort of personal taste. Skateboarding for me is also a huge community full of people sharing a common interest and sense of fun.”

photo by Molly Holt

Red Devils Continue on the Path to Success

With the Devils current record at 6-2, the girls tennis team have high hopes for the rest of the season. “Our team has been extremely successful so far with winning all of our matches but one, junior Kaitlyn Harrison said. “We have been very successful with winning the Mt. Vernon and the RHS invitationals.” Confidence has been a key factor for the Red Devils season. “The confidence level has stayed the same from the beginning especially since we knew we would have a strong team from the start,” sophomore Emma Lady said. “We’ve always had high expectations.”

The Devils baseball team has hopes to continue their winning streak. “Our confidence has gone up which led us to winning our last four games in a row,” junior A.J. Cox said. “ We have to continue.” From the beginning to now the Devils have reached team accomplishments from winning games to finishing strong. Their current record is 13-4. “The season is good. "We have a good group of senior leaders and great team chemistry,” Cox said.

photo by Keeley Vanderpool

blurbs by Keeley Vanderpool, Reporter register.vanderpool@gmail.com

Senior Kendal Baker rushes to first base.

photo by Keeley Vanderpool

The Lady Red Devils softball season has hit a turning point. The Devil’s are currently maintaining a 7-6 record hoping to gain more success as the season continues. Accomplishments haven’t been reached as wanted but they are working towards them. “We have bonded, but we are still working towards other accomplishments set,” senior Sydney Townsend said. So far the Devils’ team confidence has been bumpy, but hopes to bring it back up is in progress.

photo by Jazlyn Orr-Johnson

photo by Becca Thompson

Sophomore Grace Townsend waits to swing.

Sophomore Cameran Jones approaches the ball.

photo by Keeley Vanderpool

Sophomore Jordan Christain pitches to home plate.

Freshman Ryann Spicer throws the ball during warm-ups.

“Team confidence is sky high,” senior Drew Barrett said. “We’ve gained a lot after playing well against some really good teams.” Confidence has led the Red Devils golf team to end with good rounds in competitions. “Everyone so far the Devils have had at least a few good round,” senior Matt Sheridan said. “We are hoping to put all of these good rounds together for NCC and sectionals do that we can score well as a team.” Hopes to continue succeeding are high.

photo by Keeley Vanderpool

photo by Becca Thompson

Senior Drew Barrett keeps his pose after swinging at the ball.

Sophomore Kayla Owens waits for the ball to return.

May 6, 2014

Page 3

May 11: Celebrating Mother’s Day Feature

What’s your favorite memory of your mom growing up?

“When I was ten my mom would let me stay up late with her and watch old movies. We usually did this when I had a bad day at school. I loved it when she let me do that.” Rheannon Filipiak, 10 “When I was younger, my mom took my brother and I to Disney World. We got really excited about riding all the rides, and made my mom go on the teacups with us. She got viciously sick and from then on I have ridden the teacups alone. I’m glad that my mom was so supportive, even if her stomach was not.” Emily Jetmore, 12 “My favorite memory with my mom is that she’d always bring cookies for my class in elementary school. My teacher actually made me pull my ‘call home card’ to call her for cookies once.” Abigail Williams, 11

“My favorite memory with my mom is when I went to the zoo when I was little and being chased by a peacock and I asked my mom for help, but she was too busy laughing at me.” Noah Mehaffie, 9

Making the Best of Teen Motherhood Bree Walter, copy editor register.bwalter@gmail.com

Being a mother is already a difficult task, but when you are merely a teenager, it may be twice as hard. It is hard enough obtaining an education, having a job, and staying in touch with friends, sometimes the last thing anyone thinks about is having an addition to the list. “I found out I was pregnant the winter of 2006,” Richmond High School graduate Heather Gabbard said. “I was only 14 years old.” At a young age no one tends to think about the work that is needed for success. Some students who become pregnant have to work twice as hard for their success. Growing up is an aspect. “Growing up so fast was the hardest thing I have ever done,” Gabbard said. Becoming a successful mother may be a difficult thing for some ladies. “Even though we lived together, T.J. (Lilly’s dad) did not help very much,” Gabbard said. “It was up to me to do diapers, bottles, rocking to sleep, and 3 a.m. wake-up calls. T.J. worked and provided financially.” As a mother in school, there are bound to be things that are missed out on. “There are many things I missed out on. While my friends went to the movies, dances, parties and other normal high school things, I was

home with a baby,” Gabbard said. Many students with a child slip up. “Before Lilly, I was walking a very thin line between making good choices and following some of my friends on a very destructive path,” Gabbard said. “When Lilly came along, I could no longer slip up. If I screwed it up, it didn’t just affect me, it affected my daughter.” Support was also given from the Diplomas program at Richmond High School. “Through the support of Diplomas, school counsellors, my parents and so many others, I was able to graduate with an Honors Diploma and a GPA of 3.6,” Gabbard said. The journey for her graduating with the Honors Diploma was not at all an easy job. “Receiving an Honors Diploma takes a lot of work in itself,” Gabbard said. “When you add being a mom to the mix, it could almost seem impossible.” As Gabbard spend many nights staying up late to finish assignments for class, her family and others were there supporting her. “I was lucky for all the family and outside support I was given,” Gabbard said. As a teen mother with school to worry about, the stress of trying to make-up assignments may seem like an extreme hassle, but teachers were willing to help.

“There were many teachers who helped me achieve the Honors Diploma,” Gabbard said. “Mr. Hollingsworth and Mrs. Amburgey really helped and encouraged me. They supported me and even got Lilly Christmas presents.” The teachers at Richmond High School really boosted Gabbard in achieving her goals. “They made me feel as if my story mattered,” Gabbard said. Although having a child is a really exciting event for a mother, there are effects of delivering a child. “I felt/feel envious (of others), depressed, and a little grateful for having a child so young,” Gabbard said. Not only were her feelings toward being a mother a little harsh, but friendships for Gabbard began to slowly fade away. Nothing stopped Gabbard from achieving the things she has in her life. Many believed she would drop out and let having a child decide what path she would take, but she decided to prove them wrong. “Most people believed I would squeak by or drop out of school,” Gabbard said. “This made me work harder to prove them wrong. I didn’t just want to squeak by. I wanted to fly past all expectations. Every time I looked into my sweet baby’s face, I was inspired. She made me believe in myself.”

Students Share Special Feelings About Mom

“My mother left when I was only eight years old. She wasn’t around much when I was younger, but over the past two years we’ve become closer than ever. She lives a few hours away so I can’t spend much time with her. I spend every break off of school with her. We talk on the phone pretty much every day and I let her know everything that’s going on in my life. She tries the best she can. I love my mom.” Bri Gardner, 9

“I love my mom for bringing me up when I was down, for taking me to all my events, for supporting me and being my mom. She is my rock and when something is not going my way she goes up to bat for me.” Logan Mayer, 9

“A few years ago, my mom was curious about finding my cousins who were taken away and adopted as kids. She searched for them on Myspace and after a few hours she found them. She worked up the courage and messaged them and they were actually interested in meeting the family they didn’t know. That summer, we all reconnected and had a family reunion all thanks to my mom. For this and many other things, my mom is my hero and my idol. She is the strongest and most courageous person I’ve ever met.” Kimber James, 11

“My mother is the person I love most in this world. It is just me and her against the world. Around 4 months ago we lost my dad, her husband, to cancer. She’s the only person I really have. She’s beautiful and very smart even though she is a drop out. She works really hard so we can get by in life. We argue a lot, which is normal because we are two very stressed out women. My mom is my life, the only person I can trust 100 percent.” Jacqulene Smith, 10

DIY Mother’s Day Craft Bria Wiison, business manager register.bwilson@gmail.com

What you will need: -Favorite color of yarn -Adhesive glue(super glue) -Paint brush -Scissors -Empty glass bottles -Flowers

[Editorial Policy]

The Register is a student newspaper published by Richmond High School journalism students and operates as an open forum of student expression. Funding for the publication comes entirely from advertising revenue. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the staff or administration of Richmond Community Schools and are at the sole discretion of the Editor in Chief.

[Letter Policy]

Patrons are encouraged to write letters to the editor. Drop letters by room C222 or e-mail jgabbard@rcs.k12.in.us. All letters must include the writer’s name, signature and class if a student. Letters will be verified before publishing.

STAFF

photos by Veatriz Vargas

Steps: 1. Pick your first color of yarn 2. Paint the glue of your choice on to bottle 3. Start wrapping the yarn around the top of the bottle to the bottom 4. When/if switching color of yarn make sure to have the ends of the yarn touching 5. Keep wrapping until all the way to the bottom then when finished fill with flowers

Editor in Chief Savanna Goble Design Editor Robert Schoeffler Assistant Design Editor Molly Holt Graphics Editor Meadow Wehrley Copy Editors Jenna Saylor Brianna Walter

Online Editor Angel Glickman Business Manager Bria Wilson Reporters Sydney McWhinney Cheyenne Turner Keeley Vanderpool Veatriz Vargas

Principal Rae Woolpy Adviser Jeff Gabbard

Page 4

May 6, 2014

Feature

photo by Cheyenne Turner

Getting Along With the ’Rents

Are They My Decisions or Yours? Opinion Cheyenne Turner, reporter register.turner@gmail.com

Your parents are the ones who pave the road to a good future for you, but can they hold you back when they tell you specific ways to walk that road. Most teens would argue and say that parents do not know how the world works now, and they are too old to understand.

They were also teens once, but yes things have changed from then to now. When you were born, your parents decided a name that everyone would call you for the rest of your life. From then on they feed you with their morals and values. Is it bad if you go against what they say, or should you always follow what they tell you? “As a teenager, I typically cannot stand to be around my

parents for longer than a few hours,” sophomore Jocelyn Smith said. “Yes, they are my parents and I love them but they suffocate me. Deciding every little thing I do is not going to help me. Learning from my mistakes is what will help me succeed in life.” Parents only want what is best for their children, but sometimes the decisions they make aggravate us and we lose sight of that. Then

again, what happens when your parents don’t allow you to have any independence and figure things out for your own? “I enjoy my parents caring, but sometimes they need to let me be my own person,” sophomore Jordan Szymanowski said. “Let me speak my own mind, and act how I want to. If not, how will I ever learn from my mistakes?” Our parents have a different point of view. “I raise my child the way I believe is right,” Richmond High School parent Kaitlyn Ross said. “I raise my child the way I wish I was raised. I believe at times we may pull the leash a little too tight, but it is all out of love. I do not want them to make the same mistakes I made.” There is a difference between keeping your teens safe, and not letting them be themselves. For example giving a set curfew helps them understand a time limit. However, not allowing them to pick out their own clothing seems to go a bit too far. Parents should let teens be themselves, and let them show who they are. Clothing cannot hurt them, it helps them feel free and independent. Independence is key for a growing teen because once they grow up, who will be there to watch their every move? No one. “Your parent’s fears of what can happen can hold you back from once in a lifetime moments you will never get back,” Smith said. Parents going overboard with rules and regulations can keep teens from growing up. Safety is

important, but so is trust. Teens are going to make many mistakes because they are in the process of learning. Parents should let them make mistakes because the real world will do the same. When parents say no to everything a teen wants to do, they are going to end up doing it anyways. “Strict parents create sneaky teenagers,” Szymanowski said. Whether it may be good or bad, they will go behind their parents’ backs at least once. Yes, listening to your parent’s rules is very important and can keep you from getting hurt. “My parents understand what is right and what is wrong for me, they just want to keep me happy and safe,” sophomore Alexis Williams said. Life is hard enough without parents making it that much more difficult. Yes they should care but it is possible for them to cross the line. They care about the little things that should be at the bottom of the list. Yes, they should worry if their kids do drugs and hook up every weekend, but they should also worry about their grades, or things that can actually make them happy. “I leave wiggle room for my teens to be themselves, but I feel as if I raised them correctly then I do not have to make every little decision for them,” Ross said. I love them and I just want the best for them.” Parents can lead you to the right road, but teens have to learn to walk it on their own.

The Age Old Question: Do We Turn Out Like Our Parents? Family, traditionally, has always signified love, support and comfort. So why do we despise becoming like the people who have raised us? For some who are on the unfortunate end of the spectrum, it is because their parents did not provide the traditional elements of being a family. Some teenagers are resilient to even being in the same room as their parents. There is a common phase adolescents go through where they “hate” their parents. Is it because of strict parenting? Not enough attention? Generation gaps? Those

are just some of the many common issues among young adults and their guardians. “No one wants to be like their parents, they’re old school,” junior Jacob Drew said. “Plus we view them as parents and don’t want to be connected to them.” Although this is the “norm” from approximately ages 13-20, there are some who have proved to share harmony with their parents during the difficult developing and maturing years. “I want to be like my parents because both of them are very hardworking,” freshman Brooklyn Vickers said. In a “perfect” world, every child would grow up with photo by Veatriz Vargas

Savanna Goble, editor-in-chief register.goble@gmail.com

two people who could provide, love and nourish them; someone to look up to, but this isn’t always the case, and students at Richmond High School recognize this. “I think there’s a negative connotation behind turning out like our parents because some parents aren’t exactly fit to be parental figures,” freshman Krista Nicholson said. Whether it be figuring out what is right or wrong for ourselves morally or how to handle certain life situations, we are all influenced by the people who raised us. The negatives and positives can be taken out of this union and can be changed or forever reside in us. Our parents taught us lessons and we are here to take something away from them. So whether your mom is your best friend or you cannot stand to speak to your dad, remember we can change who we want to be.

Teachers Share Stories of How Dating Used to Be Jenna Saylor, copy editor register.saylor@gmail.com

Grandparents, parents, teachers- they all did it. That’s right, every single one of them. They partook in act that we now call dating. The only difference was they didn’t have cell phones to hide behind. “We didn’t need cell phones to ask or texting, and we actually went up and talked to the person,” history teacher Matthew Haynes said. “Social skills were a must.” Dating wasn’t always so serious, it was something for them to do on a Friday night. There was no real complications of being a couple. If you went out on one date to the drive in, then thats all it was- a harmless fun date. “I don’t think the dating was

as serious as it is now,” history teacher Debra Bartel said. “We’d go out with lots of guys just to have fun. It wasn’t like somebody asked you out once and all of a sudden you were meant for each other for the rest of your lives.” According to webmd.com, teens are ‘running the bases backwards’ so to speak. That is, they start off with the sexual part of a relationship, and then get into a more emotional relationship. Some just don’t get in a relationship at all, they just ‘hook-up’; a term new to the dating world. Teens don’t seem to think sex is serious step in a relationship, and thus blow it off as a big deal, whereas back then sex was reserved for the person you were ‘in love’ with. “I realized in high school

that relationships weren’t really all that serious and more of a learning experience developing socially,” Haynes said. Dating isn’t really something to take as seriously as teens now do. They jump in headfirst, eyes closed, no questions asked. It never occurs to them that it doesn’t have to go beyond having fun on a date. There always has to be more, whether it’s physical or emotional. They have relationships now that last for all of high school, and to them that’s normal. “It was really unusual if somebody dated for like a year or two,” Bartel said. “Most of us didn’t do that. I think sometimes you guys get too serious too quick. You need to learn to know more people.” It wasn’t like today, where if a

guy finds a girl cute they just go up to her and talk to her and ask her to ‘hang out. According to ypulse.com, a guy had to go through ‘the procedures.’ He had to get to know the girl, talk to her more than once, in person. They had to set the stage so to speak, let the girl know he was seriously interested in her, and then make his move. “Ol’ Haynes liked a band girl his senior year, so Haynes made it a point to practice tennis while the band was practicing during the summer of 1998,” Haynes said. “I made sure the girl was watching and Ol’ Haynes was in shape back then, so I’d take off my shirt, get a tan, and show off the Ol’ six pack attack. I’d do unusual things like buy chocolate

roses or other things like that. I guess I’m an Ol’ romantic at heart.” Back then, dating was more of a past time and less of necessity; but just because it wasn’t as necessary to them, doesn’t mean that being rejected didn’t hurt. They dealt with it in a way similar to the way we do now. “Loud music, corny movies… crying…goofy stuff,” history teacher Karrianne Polk-Meek said. “We did not have cell phones, so no texting…but we would write notes about the rejection or talk for hours on the phone (again, no cell phones) once we got home.” Dating is something everyone participates in, no matter how old they are. It’s changed over the years, but the basis is still the same.

May 6, 2014

Page 5

Feature

Dating In a Technelogical World

photo by Savanna Goble

Cheyenne Turner, reporter register.turner@gmail.com

Overcoming first date jitters Asking them out may be the hardest part Veatriz Vargas, reporter register.vargas@gmail.com

When it comes to asking out that one significant person you’ve had your eye on for a while, a clever idea might just seem tricky to think about. A simple “Will you go out with me?” might not be enough for them to say yes. Dating today has become more complicated than ever and you may be wondering, along with many other teens, what does it take to ask someone out? You might hear females around the halls describing how their dream guy would ask them out, but what about from the guys’ point of view? According to cosmopolitan.com, a guy’s biggest fear of first dates is expectations. The blog’s entry talks about how one of the biggest fears of a guy on a first date is if the girl is expecting something totally different from what has or will happen. As a result of that, they think it’s easier to go on dates with friends. “Sometimes it could be more fun with friends,” freshman Jake Robertson said. Group dates can be fun, because you can get a better sense of your date’s personality and there’s no pressure, but sometimes people worry more about their friends than their dates. However, others have different ideas on what a date should be. “I don’t consider that a date, it’s more of a group activity, a date should be between themselves to focus on each other,” senior Austin VandeVord said. According to teenadvice.about.com, there are six steps to ask someone out on a date. Your first date is like an adventure, you can

either make it awkward or potentially romantic. If you should keep one thing in mind the entire time, it would be confidence is key. Don’t let the fears run you over and just go for it. “First you say hello, compliment them, find out about that person, make them laugh and start talking in person,” sophomore James Moody said. “Then that’s when you ask them out.” Some agree, when guys or girls want to date someone, the first step is to actually talk to the person you find attractive. For instance, if you have a class with them you might want to try working with them or talking to them in person. Once you start talking to them, you could ask them for their number and start texting them. The second step would be get to know them. You could just ask whatever you want to know or you could do the most popular way, which is just following them on social network sites like, Twitter or Instagram and see in their posts what they are interested in. Finding what you have in common is a great way to become “closer” with someone and great conversations starters. The third and final step would be to ask. Once you have got to know the person you like and you think they are interested in you, it might be a good idea to ask them on a date! If it’s the first time for you two going out, you could always ask to hang out instead of calling it a date. If it doesn’t work out then you can always try hanging out again but if it does, then ask for another date. Just try it, go and ask the special someone who caught your eye. It might not always work out, but what have you got to lose?

The meaning of dating has changed drastically over the past twenty-thirty years. Today, dating can be defined differently depending on who you are asking- male or female, young or old. Everyone has different feelings about how to begin a relationship and how it should progress. Modern dating has completely changed compared to the way things used to be. It has become so much more complicated, and the main reasoning behind it is technology. People tend to hide behind a screen because it is less scary than talking in person. “Flirting in person is more effective, but flirting behind technology is more comfortable”, senior Jarrod Lemar said. Traditionally guys have to make the first move, but now the fear of rejection makes the ladies step up more often. First impressions play a big role in beginning a relationship. “You should always start by calling her by name and giving her a random compliment,” junior Jacob Messer said. “Remember making them laugh is a great icebreaker.” Ladies are scared to make the first move because we don’t want to seem too sudden and desperate, which could push the guy away. Generally girls try to refrain from asking for a guys number, but we find ways around it to play it off. “You have to beat around the bush, and send hints so they will give it to you,” junior Abby Scott said. Sometimes in this day and age, relationships tend to begin on social networks. Whether it’s a follow on Twitter, messaging them on Facebook or liking someone’s pictures on Instagram. “Once you begin following someone on Twitter, the next step is favoriting tweets, or even subtweeting them,” Lemar said. “Then when the moment comes, you can direct message them or ‘slide into their DMs’.” According to senior Bradlee Miller, there is an art to this. “When liking a girls pictures on Instagram you must send a hint, but don’t freak them out,” Miller said. “You should like maybe five of their pictures in a row, but don’t go overboard.”

Whether teenage girls wants to admit it or not, when we become interested in a guy we begin doing our research. Social networking is the first step of this process. We check from recent posts on Facebook and Twitter, to just about every picture on their Instagram. “We become insane and we won’t stop until we find out everything we need to,” junior Hannah Guth said. Girls find out about everything, which includes past ex-girlfriends, rumors and hookups. Guys typically dont “stalk” a girl’s social network accounts, but they do keep an eye on them. Any type of relationship is ten times harder to develop today because the fear of rejection and lack of communication. People are scared that they won’t be enough, and that someone could always be better than them. The lack of communication also has a lot to do with technology being the main way to conversate, and they become too scared to talk in person. These situations continue to be this way even when you pass your high school years, as well. College graduated paraprofessional Tyler Schroeder believes things should be different. “You should approach them in person,” Schroeder said. “While you do this you should be kind, funny and stand out. I prefer getting to know someone face to face, because you don’t get to know their true personality over technology.” “Without technology, things would be much more simple,” Guth said.

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Page 6

May 6, 2014

Health

Students Speak Out on New Tanning Law The Basics for May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Sydney McWhinney, reporter register.mcwhinney@gmail.com

On Tuesday, March 26, the state of Indiana passed a law that states, “anyone under the age of 16 can no longer use a tanning bed even with parental supervision”, according to the Indiana General Assembly. Indiana is one of 33 states that regulates tanning. The state previously allowed anyone 16 or younger to tan if accompanied by a parent or guardian. “I don’t think it is fair,” freshman Alexis Bradburn said. Freshman Haley Croucher shares a similar thought. “It does not effect the government what age a person tans, so it is none of their business. They’re just taking control of more things,” Croucher said. This view may be popular among Richmond High School students. However, senior Courtney Townsend argues another point on this new law. “I believe that the new law is really good because anyone under 16 might not realize the dangers of tanning in the long run,” Townsend said. “They just focus on how it will make them look today.” Many students lack the ability to look beyond high school and see how things they do now will affect them in the future. However, parents do have the responsibility to look ahead and guide their children. This was the basis for the new law. Parents were criticized for not going far enough to regulate youth tanning leading to serious health risks. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) report cited research showing that tanning is extremely hazardous to young people. The fact is most students already know this. “You can get cancer, so that’s not cool,” senior Miranda Reynolds said. When asked about the risks of tanning, most students will simply say “cancer.” However, not many think much of it. So the question is, do the risks outweigh the benefits? Studies show people who use sunbeds before age 30 increase their lifetime risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent. In 2013, the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates 76,690 new cases of melanoma in the United States and 9,480 deaths from the disease during the year. “I think the risks outweigh the benefits,” Townsend said. “Tanning can clear acne and give you that always wanted color but the long term effects of tanning can cause you to look like a piece of leather.” The age limit on who tans is a matter of opinion for many RHS students.

Healthy Living

Meadow Wehrley, graphics editor register.wehrley@gmail.com

About 76,100 people are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma in 2014

About

9,710 people

are expected to die of melanoma in 2014 Information obtained from cancer.org.

“I think the minimum age a person should be able to tan should be at least 13 with a parents consent,” Croucher said. “Sixteen, but if you are 13-15 you should be able to with parent consent,” Bradburn said. Everyone will have a slightly different opinion. “I think 17 or 18 is a good age limit because you are old enough to make rational decisions and choices,” Townsend said. The ability to think clearly and reasonably is no doubt an asset that can help a person to live their life fully and not look back later in life with regret. The purpose of this new law is safety, however this law does not mean that the kids are not allowed to set foot into tanning salons. Many salons do offer alternatives for color. The legal change would not apply to tanning services that do not use UV rays like spray tanning. It is not going to protect them from the UV rays from the sun but at least they can have that sense of having a darker color.

Today, there is a lot of talk of youth’s declining health and there are more and more “get thin quick” schemes and ideas about being healthy out there that just are not providing a truly healthy lifestyle for consumers- although that is what they claim to do. Being healthy is not just about being thin. That is one of the reasons that all the diet tricks are not the right choice for students that are looking to be healthy and maintain that lifestyle. A healthy life requires both eating a balanced and nutritious diet and getting a good amount of exercise weekly. “In my opinion, a ‘healthy lifestyle’ is dependent on how much you know about your body’s needs.” junior Jake Schamel said. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can make you a happier person in general.” Living healthier as a teen helps to keep the right habits going into adulthood. This can help students prosper in all aspects of life. A good sleep schedule, balanced diet and exercise regime helps anyone to wake up refreshed and ready to tackle daily tasks. The website kidshealth.org recommends setting goals for exercising that are specific and personal to to the person and it is recommended that everyone get at least 60 minutes of rigorous physical activity daily. Being aware of what foods really are and what they do to the body is a great step forward in maintaining a healthy balanced diet. A great tool for keeping track of meals and nutrition is the MyFitnessPal app for smartphones. It allows for any food eaten in a day to be logged and counts calorie and nutrition levels from the food a consumer is eating all day long. A final, yet crucial aspect to being healthy is getting enough sleep. KidsHealth.org says that getting the correct amount of sleep boosts creativity, enhances learning and enables students to better concentrate which all in all boosts grades and learning capability. A lack of sleep can be the cause for inability to stay alert and focused and also inhibits a person’s ability to deal with emotional issues. They recommend getting eight and a half plus hours of sleep nightly. “It is important that a person loves themselves and their body and they live in a way that enables them to do the things they want to do,” junior Madison Dillon said.

Guest Writer

Step by Step :

How to be Healthy When people hear the word “lifestyle,” preceded by the word “healthy,” they usually immediately think of a famous athlete; or maybe they just think of lettuce, and how you have to prefer that over your McDonald’s Big Mac to even give healthiness a thought. But... not everyone is an athlete, and I most assuredly can tell you that not every athlete has a healthy lifestyle, (yes, athletes enjoy Big Macs too). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes all three sides of “the health triangle,” these being the physical, social, and mental/emotional aspects of your life. For me, a “p.m.a.” is one of the best things that brings me to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. “What’s that?” You ask. Well… Positive. Mental. Attitude. This first occurred to me my freshman year of track and field. I had a meet that day, and this had been my first sport I had ever played in my life… let’s just say my attitude needed a checkup. My friend took her pen, snatched my hand, and wrote “P.M.A.” After she explained to me the meaning behind this, I understood. A healthy lifestyle requires a healthy mindset; how was I to grasp my goals if I didn’t think I could reach them? Well now that that spiel is over… I’ll let you know about my routine. 1) Wake up in good time… did you know that you sleep in cycles? A cycle is roughly 90 minutes long. So, whatever time I go to sleep, I set my

alarm to wake me up either 1.5; 3; 4.5; 6; 7.5; or 9 hours later. This makes it so that when you wake up, it’s at the end of your sleep cycle; therefore being the time when your body is most ready to get up and keep motivated. If you wake up in the middle of a cycle, and don’t go back to sleep, this makes it so that your mind is screaming “SLEEP” at you all day long… believe me I’ve been there. 2) EAT. Breakfast. Seriously… it’s good for you! By the time your body awakes for a new day of wear and tear, it needs some viable nutrients to keep it going. When you skip breakfast, your body “freaks out” and begins to metabolize unhealthy fats left in your system from your last meal. Eating breakfast supplies your body with energy to meet your day head on. BUT, make sure your breakfast is healthy. For example; Cheerios, almonds, Special K, bananas… the list goes on and on. 3) Keep hydrated. The amount of water you should be drinking varies from person to person, but a safe amount would be at least 8 cups a day. Personally I fill my rather large water bottle 2 or three times throughout the day, but I understand if that proves to be a problem for others. (Especially because most teachers don’t you allow you to visit the bathroom). 4) Work it out. Yes… being healthy does actually require some physical labor. But it’s for the best!

Being active doesn’t necessarily involve running a marathon. You can walk, jog, dance, swim, bike, clean, heck the list goes on forever! Just don’t be stagnant. Household walking alone burns about 150 calories an hour, depending on your speed and weight of course. Personally my two favorites are biking and lifting. 5) P.M.A. Never say you can’t. Give it your best and feel good about the effort. 6) Eat more often, burn more. Did you know that it’s actually better to eat 6 meals than 3? Now wait just a second… don’t use this as an excuse to rush to your favorite fast food restaurant 6 times a day. The larger number of evenly spaced meals keeps your body from telling you that you’re “starving,” and allows you to keep trucking through the day with your needed vitality. In other words, space it out, work it out, and carry on. Allow me to slightly embellish upon what I mean. - 6 meals - 200-400 calories apiece (again depending on current weight, and activity level) - Keep them healthy and digestible (nuts, fruits, wheat, meats etc.) - This allows your body to process calories and nutrients throughout the day instead of in three unbalanced and disconnected feeding sessions I could carry on for hours, but I’ll spare you the madness. All in all,

Hope Bumbalough keeping your way of life healthy in terms of heart, mind, and body allows you to experience the benefits you never knew you had available. My health never truly interested me until mid 7th grade. I remember stepping on the scale thinking, hey, I don’t like these numbers, so why am I not fixing this? You see, most people don’t believe me, but as a 13 year old middle schooler I weighed about 185, give or take a few. (But keep in mind, if you’re trying to lose weight, you’re looking at it the wrong way. It’s not weight you want to lose, but fat). At any rate, I vowed to become a healthier person that day. No one was stopping me, and no one will. So instead why don’t you join me? Sometimes making a promise to yourself doesn’t work out entirely how you’d like it to, but that’s just life. Set goals, and once you reach them, incorporate the outcomes into your daily routine. Be determined, and even if you fall through, remember; “A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” Elbert Hubbard

May 6, 2014

Page 7

Opinion

At War With Drinking Age Bria Wilson, business manager register.bwilson@gmail.com

he US government says that no one under the age of 21 can legally drink. Yet these people in power allow our young men and women to go fight in war knowing they can lose their lives, but yet when they’re here at home, safe and sound, they still can’t buy a drink. Something seems wrong with that. States can make individual decisions about drinking, some even allow it for 18 year olds with parental permission, but anyone in any state can join the armed forces at 18. Our young men and women are trained to kill the enemy on foreign soil but can’t throw back a cold one when they are home. Twenty-one is the most

NOTICE NO ALCOHOL WILL BE SERVED TO PATRONS UNDER

21 YEARS OF AGE

commonly found age to drink. Then why don’t we make the legal age to enlist 21? The images that fill the heads of soldiers are horrifying in some cases. Some people even come back home without limbs or suffering from severe trauma. Why is this considered okay? If 18 year olds are able to support and keep us safe, then they should be able to have a beer when they get home. Everyone has problems in life and I believe living with images or loss of a body part is more dangerous than a drinking a beer. It seems to be very hypocritical for our government to say that 18 year olds are old enough to be considered as adults,who can make the decision to put their own lives at risk but yet they’re not “adult”enough to have a beer.

Our young men and women are trained to kill the enemy on foreign soil but can’t throw back a cold one when they are home.

Prom Salon Hair, nails and makeup done for FREE Saturday, May 10, 2014 From 9am-3pm Sign up with Mrs. Rinard in room R169 Located in the hallway of the Career Center at RHS - Enter door #37

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Page 8

May 6, 2014

Feature

Did You Know There’s an App for That Angel Glickman, online editor register.glickman@gmail.com

When it comes to technology, people around the world are always anxious and interested in seeing the next best thing to be released. Ever since the invention of some of the world’s newer technology known as the “smartphone,” society’s way of communication has changed. If you were to buy a smartphone, such as an iPhone or an Android, there would be a message on the screen once you turn it on for the very first time. It would tell you there would be places on your home screen for applications, also known as “apps” for short. The smartphone would also come with an app store to purchase and download content for your favorite things, ranging from games to social networks. Since the first smartphone was released in 2002, formerly known as a BlackBerry, apps have been created for almost everything, even if it was made for the simplest things. These apps can range from playing a game to setting your DVR to record your favorite TV show at home no matter where you are. All from the palm of your hand. “These apps are useful, but at the same time I feel it has been going a bit too far,” senior Jake Allen said. “If you maybe forgot to do something at home, such as locking your front door, there is an app that exists to program the lock on that door to do it for you when you aren’t home.” Some of the most popular apps from the past few years were mostly in the “games” category. These were created for people to enjoy and share with others. If not that, they were used by most customers to kill any spare time or to use as an excuse to ignore people that they don’t want to talk to. A few of the most popular games that were introduced and downloaded during the last few years included Flappy Bird, Robot Unicorn Attack, Temple Run, Tamago

100,000 (aka Tap The Egg), 4 Pics 1 Word and Angry Birds. If you didn’t download any games to your phone or tablet, it was pretty likely that you had quite a few social networking apps instead to take their place. According to Mashable.com, the Facebook app was one of the most popular in the United States last year, with a total of 86 million users. The others that topped the list were the Google Play, YouTube and Pandora Radio apps. High school students are usually found

to have a few pointless or time wasting apps, but they aren’t the only ones who like to purchase them constantly. Radio/TV teacher Jim Russell has quite a collection on his iPhone. “The most interesting app that I have that I downloaded is SkyView,” Russell said. “It’s an astronomy app that allows you to use your phone’s camera to locate and identify objects in the sky at night. It looked interesting. I was surprised after I got it, because it shows you so much that’s in the night sky other than just stars and constellations.” Not all apps are popular games or

unusually entertaining. There are plenty of popular apps that are useful to high school students and older. One of these apps is Dictionary.com, which is just like the website itself. It gives you definitions to words you may not know, provides synonyms and acronyms, and more. Another handy app is iSource MLA. This helps you cite your sources for any facts you find for research papers. If one of your classes doesn’t use the MLA format, there is also an APA version available as well. The most popular category on Google Play today is the Entertainment category, according to an illustrated graph found on AppBrain.com. There are over 102,612 apps created and downloaded in the category alone, with 88,776 in free apps and 13,816 in paid. Entertainment tops the list next to the Personalization, Lifestyle and Education categories. While this category is the most popular for Android, Games tops the list for iPhone and other Apple products’ most popular in March 2014, as stated by Statista.com. “There’s also pointless games that people download, such as Tap The Cookie, where you tap a cookie to receive more cookies,” Allen said. The Games section takes up a percentage of 18.29% overall app shares and downloads, placing above apps involving Business, Books, and Travel. The lowest popular category is Weather, only taking up 0.38% of all applications in the App Store. Although we know that most applications are used as time wasters or for business purposes, could these contribute to a change in our way of society in the future? “Technology has a lot of potential that we haven’t tapped into yet,” Allen said. “We have the ability to use the technology to create more of the same technology to be able to advance in this world.”

Devils • The recent Richmond shootings. Angels • The school beat the blood drive goal of 108 by seven pints, making the total 115 usable pints. • The school is having a free prom salon and free dress store. • A group of students created an environmental town clean up for every week.

Defining a Personality by Their Music Taste Veatriz Vargas, reporter register.vargas@gmail.com

Whether you’re listening to One Direction, Nirvana or maybe even Mozart, music has a big effect on a person’s life. You could be sitting in class or walking down street and almost always you will either see someone wearing their headphones or you’ll hear a car blasting music and bass from their speakers. Music plays a big role in a lot of people’s lives. It could be because of a personal reason in someone’s life or it could be something they enjoy. Regardless the reason, music can be more helpful than what most people think. More people tend to judge someone from their music because its not the same as theirs or different. So would judging someone by their music without knowing the reason, okay? “It calms me down and it numbs my mind, so I don’t have to worry about life,” freshman Alexus Hammock said. Music has been proven to help the mind. It’s very common in people with anxiety and depression. According to CNN.com, people who listen to music have less anxiety and lower cortisol, a steroid hormone, than people who take drugs. They say music is better than any medication out there, because it includes no side effects and almost always works. Music can help with many other things as well. For one of the most “judged” genres of music, post hardcore and metal, these music genres have the highest suicide rates, but according to music.lovetoknow. com it’s arguable. So is judging someone’s music taste really a good thing? If you don’t like a certain genre of music you probably shouldn’t judge them. “I wouldn’t judge them because everyone likes different music,” freshman Connor Howe said. The next time that someone listens to a song you don’t like, maybe you should just ignore it or play your own music because there could be a deeper reasoning to it, rather than their taste or choice in music being based on their personality.

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