JANUARY 2014
Out on the Street
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THE KNIGHT January 2015
EDITORIAL BOARD
ADVISOR - ELISIA HARKINS-JAMES CO EDITORS NICK HALABY CAMERON DE MATTEIS NEWSPAPER EDITOR - ALEX STEPHENSON LAYOUT EDITOR - JANET YEO SPORTS EDITOR-LAUREN CRITTENDEN ADVERTISING MANAGER VICTORIA MARTINEZ STAFF WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS GABRIELA AVILA - COPY EDITING EMILY GLENNON ANDREW GAVINET JEANNIE GONZALES
GUEST WRITERS ATIRA SHENOY DANA TRAN
INSIDE THE KNIGHT MAGAZINE
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with
The Deal Twitter:
the name of a social-networking service By Jack McDermott and website that limits the length of messages one can post to a certain number of characters.
Top Tweeters At Notre Dame
73 percent of surveyed ND students love Twitter, while 27 percent of students had a problem with the social-network.
1. Sergio Cardoso, Class of 17’ Twitter: @sergio_cardoso 2. Erin Knox, Class of 15’ Twitter: @erinmackenzie02 3. Valentine Horton, Class of 17’ Twitter: @TheValentineH 4. Maddie Russo, Class of 17’ Twitter: @MaddieRsuso
Interview w/ Hollywood Tweeters A large majority of Twitter’s popularity comes from the celebrities who use Twitter to communicate with their fans. Actor and Reality Television star Dean McDermott uses Twitter to keep in touch with fans and share his life with the public. I had the opportunity to sit down with Dean and ask him what Twitter means to him and how he uses it to stay connected with fans.
Q & A with Reality Star Dean McDermott: Q: How have you expanded upon your success with Twitter? A: I’ve expanded my success on Twitter by using it for business. Letting people know about shows I’m on, and I’ll be promoting my upcoming cookbook.
Q: Whats your favorite part of Twitter? A: My favorite part of Twitter is the immediate response from people. Good or bad, people comment right away.
Q: What do you not like about Twitter? A: The thing I don’t like about Twitter is the negative comments by people. I believe if you don’t have nothing nice to say about someone, don’t say it or don’t follow them. It’s just bad energy out in the universe.
Q: What do you use Twitter for? A: I use Twitter to celebrate life and the fun and funny moments I experience in it.
January 2015
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Living with a
Disability Story by Alex Stephenson Layout by Tracy Tanusi
There are hard things in life, like physics or building a rocket, or reading all of Les Miserábles. And then there are the easy things, like eating, sitting up, getting a glass of water; things you don’t have to think about. Well, these “easy” things become not so easy when you can’t walk, your limbs are too tight to move them, you have movements you can’t control, and your brain signals are messed up. Such is the case with my twin sister Mikela.
Living with someone with a disability is challenging to say the least. I can’t get upset when she accidentally skips to the end of a show, ruining the ending; I can’t get annoyed when I have to get up and get her something to drink, even though I’m in the middle of reading the best book; I have to understand when she gets tired of walking with her walker and I have to carry her to bed; I have to be kind and supportive of her when she is going under for her fourth, dangerous surgery. The phrase ‘patience is a virtue’ has come to take on a whole new meaning. However, in the words of Stephen Hawking, “People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.” That’s why I don’t. There is no point wishing we had another life, because we won’t get it. This is the one we are stuck with, and it sucks. But people have it worse, and we make do. My sister has cerebral palsy. She is also a dancer, an avid music enthusiast, a horseback rider, and a pretty awesome twin. Having a disability does not define who she is, though it may be the first thing you notice about her. If the wheelchair or walker doesn’t give it away, the strained muscles, speech impediment, or leg braces will. No matter what her struggles, I am proud to say my sister has accomplished more things than I have. She has skateboarded at a skate park in Venice, surfed on the waves of Long Beach, and competed in various horseback-riding competitions in Chatsworth, not to mention all the adaptive dance shows she performed in. She is also proficient in three languages, learning a fourth. She wants to be a motivational speaker when she grows up, “because if sharing my life story can inspire even one person, I’ve done my job,” Mikela says. Living with her comes with the obvious impediments. The surplus of ramps around the house, the bar in the bathroom to help her stand, the lack of large furniture so her walker can fit, and other miscellaneous contraptions meant to assist in mobility; and who could forget the two wheelchairs in the hallway, ever-present in their bleakness. But life is not all depressing as I make it out to be. In fact, more smiles and laughs have graced our four walls than not. My sister just so happens to be one of the funniest people I know. Constantly making me laugh, her humor and cheerful attitude brighten up my life, and the lives of almost everyone she comes in contact with. Despite our challenges, I would not have it any other way. I have learned so much about kindness and understanding through having her as my sister, because I have not known life any other way (beauty of being a twin). She has molded me into the person I am today, and I am so grateful for all the lessons she has given me, directly or indirectly. Living with someone with a disability, even for a day, could change the way a person thinks. To see what they go through, each and every day, is a powerful thing. I have been living with my sister for my whole life, and can proudly say she has influenced me to the core. Disabilities are curious things. They can either want to make you survive, or make you die, sometimes both. My sister makes me want, not to survive, but to live.
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By:Janet Yeo
5 Fun (and Cheap) New Year’s Resolutions
With the 2015 finally here, there are definitely some New Year’s Resolutions that we would like to fulfill. Some resolutions might take too long or can be too expensive, which can make us give up halfway through. But if we make fun and very attainable goals, it will definitely be accomplished. Here are 5 fun and cheap New Year’s Resolutions for the mind, body, and heart.
Run in a Color Run
Color runs have been the latest trends across the entire country. Running in a dust of colored chalk is one way to become active and big painless paintball fight with hundreds of people. It is a fun way to meet new people and have every color on your body. If you want the best results, wear all white!
Go Hiking
California has sunshine year-round so it would be a shame if we did not take advantage of it. To enjoy beautiful scenery under the warm sun, go one of the many hiking trails in. Los Angeles. Some trails near by are Runyon Canyon, Malibu Canyon, or even up to the Hollywood sign. Not only will get a breathtaking view, you will also be exercising too. This is an activity everyone can enjoy.
Try Backyard Camping
Not everyone can simply go on a hiking trip. It takes a lot of time to plan and agree to go on this camping experience. You are camping in the comfort of your home, so you will never ever have left anything at home.
Support a Cause
Helping people that are less fortunate is essential, so everyone works toward that goal. Having a special cause of of your heart will make volunteering fun and more meaningful. Supporting a cause will not only affect the people you are helping, but it will change your life as well. This is a perfect resolution to get your friends, family, and the entire community involved.
Go to a Concert
There are millions of singers out there, which means that there are millions of genres of music. Go to listen to an artist you’re not familiar with or a local band. This is great activity to discover the different types of music and also to get to spend time with friends.
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ND Alumni Corner: College Movies and More By Alex Stephenson
Kevin Lombardo, Freshman at Santa Monica College, graduated Notre Dame just last year, and already he is planning his next big move. Lombardo hopes to become a filmmaker, and he has plans to do just that. After completing this year at Santa Monica College, he hopes to transfer to NYU Tisch School of the Arts to study Film & TV. His amazing drive and motivation to accomplish his dream should inspire many, including the Notre Dame community. His story goes to prove that if you can dream it, you can do it. Lombardo’s mother Silvia is very proud of her son. “These past three years have been extremely hard for Kevin,” she explains. “I am extremely proud of the man he is becoming; to see his determination in wanting to achieve his goals and follow his dreams.” Kevin has been working hard studying, writing, and focusing his energy to get into film school. His strong drive comes not only from his determination, but his deep love and appreciation for making movies. “I want to study film not only because I like movies and want to figure out how they are made, but because I want to make them,” he expresses. “Film brings you into a whole different world,” Lombardo explains. “Where you can put your imagination on the big screen.” And Kevin certainly has quite an imagination to share with people. In order to accomplish his dreams, Kevin has also decided to get some work experience. “I work as the assistant to Jessy Brandy at Brandy Melville,” he explains. He has been working there for about 7 months. “I worked in the store the first two months I started. I’ve been working in the warehouse for about 5 months now.” Kevin has recently been doing some different work for Brandy Melville. “I have been working as a photographer and filmmaker to make promos and little clips about the store,” he says. “It is a great experience working in general and making your own money.” While Kevin misses his ND experience, he is on to bigger and better things. Grand plans are in store for Kevin Lombardo, and we can all learn from his drive and determination.
Youth Homelesness
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A Day on the Streets
By Cameron de Matteis
The set up: For me I was not satisfied reading about homelessness or learning about it; I wanted to experience it. On Saturday January 10 this is exactly what I did. The guidelines were as followed: my partner dropped me off on Ventura with no water, no food, and no tools or devices. For one hour after drop off, a photographer followed me to document some of my journey but was instructed not to talk or interact with me. If I were to do this, I wanted to do it alone, as many teenagers do. It‘s early in the morning and the day has just begun. I’m currently in an empty second level parking lot, dressed in an old pair of sweats, a worn shirt, and an old pair of boots a size too small. I decide to wait here until the stores open and traffic picks up. I sit in the corner that someone has recently occupied before me. Littered in trash and cigarettes I have to clear a place to sit. Only a couple seconds after sitting down the smell of urine overwhelms me and so I venture to find a new spot. Yet every time I sit I cannot stay still. I long to check my Instagram feed or read a book, anything to keep my mind busy. The stores will be opening soon and I decide to relocate to a nearby stairwell where pedestrians will see me. It has been sprinkling all morning so not very many people are out and about, but after approximately an hour and a half traffic picks up. Few people see me and those who do couldn’t care less. Their eyes pierce through me with such judgement. I began to feel somewhat dehumanized, as if I was no longer human but instead a piece of trash on the side of the road, invisible and worth nothing to society. All this just in the span of a couple of hours, and in a way it is liberating. I no longer have to abide by society’s rules and expectations. I walked the streets a free woman, no longer bound by society’s chains. Determined to find a piece of cardboard to make a sign, I walk around looking through the trash. I figure if I can make a sign I can collect enough money to buy some food. Unfortunately due to the rain the only pieces I find are completely soaked and with nothing to write on I just give up. Frustrated I ditch my efforts and head back
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to the Main Street. Dirty, cold, and hungry, I have a sudden contempt for the people walking in and out of Starbucks with their tall macchiatos and fat-free coffee cakes. But the thing is, just yesterday I walked out of those doors and someone else was in my shoes, except they were not playing pretend. Was the reason I had such contempt towards them because they suddenly represented something I dislike about myself, something that makes me vulnerable? Perhaps my weakness is that I don’t like admitting that I come from privilege, and the responsibilities that holds. In some ways I’m enjoying my new role of just standing back and observing. Here I was, a complete stranger, gaining more insight into people’s thoughts and secrets than ever before. It is amazing how much you learn about someone when no one notices you are there. There is the man in the corner who keeps checking out women walking into the Starbucks when his wife is not looking. There is the teenage girl who just walked outside on the phone confessing to the person on the other end of the line that the girls accompanying her were “annoying, stupid b****s” and then walking back in, laughing as if nothing happened. Are we all just playing pretend? I find myself needing to get away from it all. I run to a nearby bridge leading to a path on the outskirts of the L.A river. It leads me to a deserted cove. Within a couple of minutes I feel drops of water pounding down on me. Lightheaded and my stomach badly aching, I had no choice but to stay where I was in hopes of getting some shelter from the rain. I walk under the protection of the trees and further into the cove, now completely
soaked. Deep in the cove, tucked into a small corner, lays a torn sweatshirt and a pair of rugged, dirty tennis shoes, obviously abandoned. For reasons I still don’t quite understand the presence of these items comforted me. Someone had called this home, and for a short time so did I. I was seeing the world through the perspective of the inhabitant before me, getting some sort of idea of what they must have felt like, which is the closest human connection I had all day. Alone. There is nothing to do and no one to talk to, nothing but my own thoughts to keep me company. Loneliness means facing the brutality of your own mind, a task fully capable of pushing someone to the brink of insanity. And then a curious thing happened; I started to cry. The tears just kept streaming down my dirty face. I don’t know what finally broke me down: if it was the thought that my life meant nothing to anyone or the fact that all these years I have done nothing to help the situation. The thing is that after a couple more hours I got to go home. I got to wash away the dirt that stained my body, soak the bloody blisters on my feet, and get into a warm bed. The only thing I couldn’t wash away was my experience. The vulnerability, fear, and loneliness I experienced took a taxing toll on my emotions but changed my outlook for the better. My real problems shrinked to nothingness in the face of the ones I took on that day. I learned more about the world and myself in that time than I have all my years in school. So although I am very thankful for the experience, what it really did was make me more grateful for what I have at home by having it all taken from me.
My Friend’s Place My Friend’s Place is a Hollywood safe haven for the about 50% of the people we serve would meet the diaghomeless youth of Los Angeles. Erin Casey, Director of nostic criteria for Depression or PTSD,” adds Casey. “The Programs, describes My Friend’s Place as “a place to very act or the very being of homelessness is a trauma. belong and a place to find community.” Serving youth When you’re homeless you’re fighting for your daily surages 12-24, My Friend’s Place offers an abundance of vival second by second.” When asked about the chalprograms to serve and inspire homeless youth such as lenges of her job Casey shared, “I think there’s two hard food, clothing, medical care, and a GED program. Known parts. One is that I firmly believe that there is no reason for their transformative education program, My Friend’s for youth homelessness in a country as resourced as we Place caters to those who struggled are and there’s not enough public will to in a traditional school setting. “We solve the issue. So knowing that there is “We firmly believe that every something that could change the trarecognize that a lot of our young people did not do well in a tradition- young person has within them jectory of someone’s life and it just isn’t al school setting but they are wildly being done is hard.” Another challenge is smart and wildly creative. They turn the resources to change their “bearing witness to someone’s struggle, to artistic expression to make sense particularly with substance abuse, belives.” of the hurt they experience in their cause that’s what they need to do at the -Casey lives,” explains Casey. Demographmoment. They have to get through their ically, young African American men struggle.” Yet despite all the adversity make up the majority of the youth at My Friend’s Place as Casey shares, “I think there’s so much hope. I am amazed well as a significant amount of adolescents from the foster by a young person’s determination and resolve like 800 care system. Unfortunately the common link between the times a day.” Her favorite part of the job is that, “everyday youth at My Friend’s Place is most commonly childhood I get to know these fantastic young people with so much trauma, ranging from physical to sexual abuse. “We think insight. They blow me away.”
Covenant House
Covenant House is a non-profit that serves homeless the youth and the little steps they make like two months youth in the Los Angeles area. Noel Russell, commuof sobriety or trusting someone with their feelings for nity involvement coordinator, describes their approach the first time. One particular story that inspires Russell as “non-barrier and very non-judgemental.” They serve is of a boy named Anthony. The outreach team first several thousand young adults every year, over 50% of interacted with him two years ago, when he was 16. which have not graduated high school. “We’re always They started to talk to him and learned that he was a trying to find ways to elevate the kids and give them runaway who dealt with a lot of abuse. With no one to opportunities in job employment and education,” states turn to, he became a trafficking victim, sexually exploited Russell. “It’s not like you turn 18 and everything starts and abused. One night he felt as if his life was in danger to crumble. Things have been building up; they’ve been due to threats from the person he was being exploited dealing with stuff since they were born,” explains Rusby. He was scared he would not make it through the sell, who feels there is a strong misnight; alone and vulnerable he could conception about homeless youth. “It’s a bigger societal issue in do nothing but pray. When he was “It’s not choices that they made, it’s done praying, he opened up his eyes the way that we live, breathe, to see the outreach van there. He not simply because they had bad families, and it’s not because of told them that night that he wanted and think,” drug addictions. to come to the shelter. “This story is -Russell It’s a bigger societal issue in the what I can tell people when they ask way that we live, breathe, and why. Why do you not give up? Why think,” shares Russell. Russell’s job is to communicate do you keep doing it?,” shares Russell. “Because every this belief as well as paint the bigger picture of homesingle one of those lives is worth it and after two years lessness. She says the most challenging part of her job we were able to bring a youth into our doors.” Anthois “creating an awareness and an understanding as to ny often tells people he has been given a newly found what our youth struggle with” as well as “giving the com- life and after receiving his GED he is hoping to go to munity a way to serve and to give back.” Challenging as college. “That story brings me hope because it’s tireless it may be, Russell describes it as a “wonderful challenge work helping and it’s not always results driven. That just because I get to advocate for people that I truly believe really motivated me to keep going and keep trying, it all in.” Her favorite part of the job is sharing the stories of matters and that life did matter,” closes Russell. January 2015
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Teen Homelessness
“We firmly believe that every young person has within them the resources to change their lives.� -Casey
The Knight Gives back By: Janet Yeo
In spirit of the month of giving in December, the Knight Magazine hosted a Christmas party where the Blazers Youth Organization Book Club children were able to have a Q&A with two actors and receive Christmas gifts. The children had recently finished a Greek mythology fictional novel, Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief. The Knight was able to surprise them with two of the main actors Alexandra Daddario, who plays Annabeth Chase, and Logan Lerman, who plays Percy Jackson, with a visit to answer some of their questions. The two actors were so kind to offer their time to spend with the kids. The Knight Staff also gave Christmas gifts and played games with the children to start the holiday season. This was just a small way to give back to the community and make the holidays even brighter.
“I thoroughly my time with the kids. They were so sweet and endearing and I hope to continue the relationship between the book club and the Knight.” -Cameron de Matteis, Co-Editor of The Knight
Immersion into Giving Back
By: Nick Halaby Notre Dame’s Immersion experience, which is a retreat that Juniors have an opportunity to take part of, has been a part of Notre Dame for about six years. Through it, students learn about how fortunate they truly are and discover the value and reward of giving back. One of it’s biggest and most influential pieces is the experience that retreatants have with homelessness. It is through this interaction that both barriers and perceptions are broken. Notre Dame Administrator Terry McGaha, is the leader of the Immersion experience and says that the central theme of the retreat is respect. “The focus is on respecting folks who may be different because of needs,” explains McGaha. The term needs refers to people who are at a disadvantage economically, mentally or physically. The experience includes an interaction with children with physical and mental handicaps, adults and young people with cerebral palsy and the elderly. An entire day of the half week retreat is dedicated to helping the homeless. “Our students realize that they [the homeless] are no different than we are. They just have different needs.” According to him, the experience is an eye opening one for students. That’s because retreat-ants realize that the homeless community is made up of people who feel, think and act just like them. He says that the reason that the similarities come as such a surprise to students is that we live in a society that tries to ignore the presence of homelessness. “I see the impact,” says McGaha, who says that, “it’s an awareness of their significance so that we can put ourselves in their place and be sensitive to their trauma.” Senior Pedro Castellanos, who went on Immersion as a junior, says that the homeless portion of Immersion was, “very humbling to see all these people accept the fact that they need help.” For Castellanos, the experience that he had with the homeless community while on Immersion was an impactful one. Like all of Notre Dame’s retreats, Immersion is a defining experience for many students. It’s impact on students is shown by how it forces them to realize that those of more need are just like them. Hope fully, as McGaha explained, this will show students, “what it means to do significant Christian service, truly volunteer and give of themselves. ” Hopefully, the impact will be so great, that the students will continue to volunteer as adults.
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Sports Role Models “Athletes, in time of difficulty, can be great role models.” - Bill Bradley. A person’s choice of role model often reflects their aspirations and goals in life. Being a student athlete is an impressive title. When an athlete’s sport is in season, a period of 4 months or more, it is the busiest time of year for them. In a school with a rigorous curriculum, Notre Dame athletes have found a way to balance schoolwork, friends, practices, games, and some sleep. Student athletes are able to be successful and influence their teammates to also strive for excellence despite distractions. Whether on the field or in the classroom, these Notre Dame students seek to follow and provide model examples of proper conduct. Some Notre Dame students share their athletic role models, while coaches and fellow teammates explain what makes these five student athletes role models for their respective teams. All Mission League 2014 player, Junior Alyssa Buzzello had a great golf season. The team won CIF again and are hopeful for another win next year. Her teammates admire that Buzzello is very devoted to her sport and works to constantly improve herself. She spends countless hours training at the range in preparation for competition. Buzzello’s role model is senior Janet Yeo because she is a responsible and hardworking captain. She calls Yeo a great golfer, a leader, and a diligent worker. Yeo has signed to play golf at the University of Northern Colorado.
Jason Thomas, Junior, is a three year cross country competitor. His commitment to this demanding sport is a reflection of his resolution to constantly improve himself. Fellow teammate, Jack Kennedy commends Thomas for being dedicated. He calls Thomas a “great runner” and a “great guy.” Jason Thomas’ role model is Clayton Kershaw, the professional left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. This All-Star player led the Dodgers on an impressive run this season and has won many awards including the Golden Glove Award. Thomas admires Kershaw’s composure, love for the game, humbleness, and active Christian faith. Thomas applauds and hopes to follow Kershaw’s example of maintaining a strong faith despite all the distractions that comes with playing at the professional level. Erin Kimble, Senior, is a huge impact and clutch player for the girls varsity volleyball team. Often playing the back row, Kimble dives and digs for kills. She is very composed and does well under pressure. Freshman Lizzy Bloch, calls Kimble “encouraging” and “loud and talkative on the court.” Kimble’s role model is Blake Griffin, a forward for the Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA Rookie Player of the Year in 2011. She admires his ability to “always play 100% even if he is doing poorly.” Kimble notes how much he has improved, from a “one dimensional player” to a well rounded, versatile threat. Instead of shooting inside the paint, now Griffin also works the outside shot. Kimble confidently states that her goal is to give 100% effort in all matters. January 2015
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Senior captain of the varsity football team, Mike Ramos is an explosive and dynamic middle linebacker. On and off the field, Ramos is known for being a genial character, a high achiever, and a respectable individual. According to his teammates, Ramos embodies the characteristics of a leader. Ramos certainly has a love for the game and it shows whenever he plays. Shayne Skov, the professional football player from Stanford, is Ramos’ role model. Ramos is in awe of Skov’s 4.0, degree in computer engineering, and his ability to be so committed to football. Mike calls him “the definition of a student athlete.” Similarly, Skov and Ramos are noted for being intense emotional as well as vocal leaders. They both have outstanding recognition and instincts. Ramos hopes to be like Skov when he is older.
Senior Sarah Tadeusiak, captain of the girls varsity soccer team is a force to be reckoned with on the field. Her confidence with the ball and extensive knowledge of the game makes her a standout player. Tadeusiak’s role model is the all-time leading goal scorer for the LA Galaxy, MLS, and the U.S. National Team, Landon Donovan. In addition to appreciating Donovan’s athletic ability, Tadeusiak admires how he has helped “increase soccer’s popularity.” She would like to emulate his passion, motivation, success, and classiness. The Notre Dame girls soccer head coach, Greg Avila, praises Tadeusiak for “letting her actions and her superb consistent play speak for herself.” Tadeusiak’s ability to lead by example is exhibited by “her good nature and great spirit, [which] complement her leadership and hard work on the field.” Seniors Danny Nikolai and Sean Fuqua are two stellar players from the ND boys water polo team that made CIF playoffs this year. Impressively the boys won the wild card game aganist Thousand Oaks and qualified for the first time in three years. The team has trained hard and their difficult practices have paid off. Nikolai and Fuqua both look up to senior and fellow teammate Nick Amstutz. They praise him for being a “monster in the water.” Amstutz is their leading scorer and a well rounded player. They call him “enthusiastic, passionate, and a model student.”
Athletic role models are often individuals the team looks to when things are not going well. They are often the person who accepts challenges and persists despite adversity. Qualities of role models include authenticity, commitment, and discipline, which these five students certainly have. January 2015 THE KNIGHT
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By Jeannie Gonzales
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking how you will-or will not- celebrate the holiday with your significant other. I’m a firm believer in treating yourself to something nice while other couples are hiding engagement rings in food and making googly eyes across the dinner table. Who said you can’t treat yourself on Valentine’s Day? You know yourself best, so make sure to treat the most important person in your life...you! Use the money you’ll save because you’re not spending it on anyone, on chocolate and ice cream. Since you’ve cleared out the chocolate aisle at Target, eat yourself into a sugar coma. Don’t buy yourself flowers because you’ll see them wilt away, just like your love life Buy yourself a cat. Begin your obsession. Relax in a bubble bath. Try not to drown in your sorrows. Pour one out for all of the attractive people you’ve made eye contact with this past year but were too afraid to say anything to. Watch romantic comedies, because your love life is a joke. Bake cookies. Mess up. And watch the cookies crumble, just like your heart did when they broke up with you. Cry yourself to sleep in the new clothes that you bought for yourself. *Please do try to have fun on Valentine’s Day, whether you’re single or in a relationship. Remember that relationships shouldn’t be your focus. You always come first in your own life.*
STRESSED:
How Involved Is Too Involved?
By: Emily Glennon “What do you have to be stressed about, you’re young!” This infuriating yet commonly heard rhetorical question is often posed by adults to young students. In the 2013 Stress in America ™ survey, scientists found the degree of stress experienced by American teens can be measured “in numbers that mirror adults’ experiences.” EssenSTUDY TIPS tially, the level of stress an adult may feel in high pressure work 1. Find a quiet and distraction-free situations or at other times of extreme emotion is equivalent to the place to study. stress reported by some high school students. These same teens 2. Take time to gather all materials who reported high levels of stress also said they have difficulty you will need so that you won’t have effectively managing it. I talked to a few students about how they to interrupt your work later. handle school stress; I also spoke with Notre Dame counselor Bill 3. Manage your time well. If necKearns to learn ways of coping with the sometimes overwhelming essary, make a schedule to keep yourself on track. workload. Many high-achieving teens are juggling a smorgasbord of activities. Veronica Irwin, a senior at Notre Dame High School, says, “I’m involved in dance flags, jazz band, National Honors Society, honors/AP classes, S.T.E.A.M. Club and the theater program.” The pressure to compete academically is always there; add to that athletic, musical and extracurricular activities and you’re on the path to an extremely stressful situation.
4. Take breaks. They give your brain a rest and help you refocus. 5. In the long run, sleep saves time and keeps you focused in school. If you budget time well, you will be able to get your work done and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
The only thing more worrying than the possible long-term effects of stress is the student’s resistance to do anything to mitigate the stress despite being fully aware of the potential for negative consequences. “I think I prioritize my academics and activities over my health out of habit. I tend to spend one night perfecting every piece of work, and I trick myself into thinking that I’ll only give up this one night to make this chemistry homework flawless. That only results in spending more nights the same way,” says Arissa Santos, a junior. “High school is supposed to be stressful, and one of the things you’re supposed to come away with is coping skills: how we manage that stress,” says Mr. Kearns. Rather than jeopardizing your mental and physical health for school, it is important to create a balance and manage time in order to maximize efficiency. According to Mr. Kearns, “time management, study strategies that work for your learning style, and a lot of self-discipline to stay on top of your schedules” is what it takes to succeed in high school and manage stress levels. January 2015
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HS Ed D N r io n Se
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In honor of the 19th season of the Bachelor, we sought out some single gentlemen and ladies in the class of 2015.
Anthony Mahfood age: 18 hometown: Burbank, CA height: 5’ 7” pet(s): none favorite music genre: Rock favorite movie: Happy Gilmore
Ian Buenafe age: 17 hometown: Sherman Oaks, CA height: 5’ 6” pet(s): 1 dog & 1 cat music genre: Hip-Hop/ R&B favorite movie: Scarface
Nick Dejohn age: 17 hometown: Rochester. NY height: 6’ 4” pet(s): 1 dog favorite music genre: Jazz favorite movie: Space Balls January 2015
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Chelsea Abrahamian
age: 17 hometown: Arleta, CA height: 5’ 3” pet(s): Tortoise favorite music genre: Hip-Hop favorite movie: A Night at the Roxbury
Maggie Barran age: 18 hometown: Northridge, CA height: 5’ 7” pet(s): 2 dogs & 2 cats favorite music genre: Country favorite movie: Crazy. Stupid, Love
Samantha Winchester age: 18 hometown: Encino, CA height: 5’ 4” pet(s): 1 dog favorite music genre: Alternative Rock favorite movie: Princess Bride January 2015
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And The Oscar Goes To...
It’s that time of the year again. Award season is always exciting and captivating, especially when you live in Los Angeles. The end of the season is always marked by the most important and popular award show of them all, The Academy Awards. Here are some predictions of who will be taking home a little Golden Man this February.
Best Film: Boyhood
This year was not as strong as years past, but that being said, it was not bad. Boyhood is the easy choice here. It took more than twelve years to make and is a novel achievement. It’s more than just a novelty, it is a purely good movie that does an excellent job if examining the complexity and ever changing dynamics of family. This movie will be remembered for a long time and without a doubt deserves to be recognized.
Best Actor: Eddie Redmayne: The Theory of Everything
This one was hard. This category is stacked with insane performances and you really can’t go wrong. What out Eddie Redmayne over the top was his ability to give a soul and a change of perception to a character that we all thought we knew. This win won’t be a surprise and is well deserved.
Best Actress: Julianne Moore: Still Alice
Wow. Just wow. Moore did a great job in Still Alice and deserves this award. Although her movie was not necessarily as great as some say it was, her performance still stands out and deserves to be recognized. This one should not surprise anyone.
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Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone: Birdman
As the daughter of a washed up, typecasted has been, her character is complex and has an edge of sorrow. Stone does an insane job and deserves to win recognition for it. Although she is in a heavy category, with the likes of Meryl Streep and Keira Knightley, Stone has a very good chance of surprising everybody with this win.
Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons: Whiplash
This might just be the easiest decision of the entire night. Simmons did not have a good performance or even a fantastic performance. He put on a career defining performance. He was so good that it’ll be hard to watch him in anything else because he acted so well, he might only be seen as that character from now on.
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January 2015
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The Dangers of Journalism We asked Freshman students from Ms. Aston’s class their opinions on the recent murders of Journalists in the Middle East. By Atira Shenoy According to dictionary.com, “Journalism is the occupation of broadcasting news as a business.” This may seem exhilarating, but it was named “The Most Dangerous Profession” by the United Nations in 2012. Why is it so dangerous? As reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been more than one thousand deaths since 1992. For example, James Foley, an American freelance journalist, was captured and beheaded by ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, in August 2014. Before Foley was killed, he was questioned why journalists take so many risks. He simply replied, “It’s our job.” Sadly, Foley is one of thousands of journalists who have been killed due to kidnappings, torture and crossfires. In conclusion, I think journalism is one of the most fatal professions. Every time you want to address a new topic, you are risking your life. awareness of human rights issues,
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