LASA Pop

LASAp

MYRNA L. KYRSTAL D. FOTIS K. BONNIE D. January 2010 lasapop.blogspot.com

THE LATEST

TRENDS AT LASA

o P

LANGUAGES SPORTS , VIOLENCE AND TEXTING IN SCHOOLS

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS LASA POP INTERVIEWS

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Contents 1.2010

LASA POP

06 Soccer Salaries

Do you know how much soccer players are getting paid?

BY FOTIS K

12 The Double Life of Jeremy Polk

When you take a closer look at high school football star, Jermey Polk’s letter jacket, not only do you see a football, but also a theatrical mask.

BY BONNIE D

18 Which Languages in School?

Should the US start requiring more languages taken and more of a variety provided in public schools?

BY MYRNA L

20 A Young

Football Star

Aaron is a young eight year old football player and plays for the Blue Knights football team.

BY KRYSTAL D

28 Is This the End of an Era?

Is there still a rivalry between LBJ and Reagan? Can you really call this a rivalry when one team always wins?

BY FOTIS K

24

30 Dealing With The Problem

There is violence in schools and no one seems to be doing anything about it. There are students out there asking for help but no one reaching out to them. What do you plan to do about it?

BY KRSTAL D

32 Emily H: Zombie Catcher

Emily H., age 17, has been making movies since she was 8 years old. Almost her whole life revolves around this hobby, and she hopes to continue in a filming career.

Read this article to find out the process Emily takes in her moviemaking

BY MYRNA L

PHOTOGRAPH BY BONNIE D

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Staff Page Bonnie D.

Bonnie D., 14, was born and in Austin, Texas, but has spent most of her life living on the East Coast. Bonnie is a freshman at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. She loves dance and theater and is a LBJ First Lady. In addition to writing for LASA Pop, Bonnie works for Changing Lives. Check out some of her articles like The Double Life of Jeremy Polk, page 12 and Texting Replaces Face-to-Face Conversation in Teens, page 24.

Fotis K.

Fotis K, 14, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has lived most of his life in Austin and goes to the Liberal Arts and Science Academy located at LBJ. In addition to writing for LASA Pop he also enjoys playing soccer and rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fotis enjoys traveling to Europe particularly France and England and is a big fan of Arsenal a soccer team located in London, England. Take a look at some of Fotis’s article, such as Soccer Salaries on page 6-7, and Is This The End of An Era on page 30-31.

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Krystal D.

Krystal D. now 15 years old and was born in Austin, Texas, Krystal is a freshman at the Liberal Arts Science Academy High School, known as LASA. She loves to spend her free time singing and listening to music like you’re a jerk by new boyz. Her favorite artist to sing from is Keyshia Cole (This is us). Most of all she likes to do art like painting and using pastels. By making this magazine LASA pop has inspired her to keep writing more as she inters out of this her ezine class. Krystal is one great writer so check out her articles A young Football Star on page 20-21 and Dealing with the problem on page 28-29.

Myrna L.

Myrna L., 15, was born in Austin Texas and has lived there her whole life. She is a freshman attending the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. Though she doesn’t travel much, she’s intrigued by the idea of seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. She also enjoys music, art, and dances and plays piano in her free time. Take a look at some of Myrna’s articles like Which Languages in Schools? on page 18-19, and Emily: Zombie Catcher on pages 32-35.

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LASA Sports

S ccer$alarie$

Are Soccer Players Getting Paid Too Much Money? By Fotis K.

A

ccording to Sports Is this level of compensation Pundit, David Beckham justified? Why do soccer players get (the world’s best-paid paid so much money? According to soccer player) is guaranteed 32.4 million Even if he is injured or euros per year playing for is not playing for any the LA Galaxy soccer team. reason, he still gets Even if he is injured or is not playing for any reason, paid his weekly salary he still gets paid his weekly for just being on the salary for just being on the LA Galaxy soccer team.

LA Galaxy soccer team. On top of the 32.4 million euros David Beckham also gets bonuses for Sports Pundit, the answer is simply scoring goals, helping the team win a a supply and demand problem. major Cup, or just performing well. Soccer fans demand to see the best Is David Beckham the only player with such a contract? Certainly not! David Beckham is just one player in a rather long list of soccer players that get paid a lot for just playing soccer.

This is not a unique concern for soccer, it actually happens in all popular sports, but it provides a disturbing picture for modern society and its values.

Specifically, we, as a society, seem to value and Photo courtesy of Reuters celebrate more athletes and performers, rather than scientists, doctors, and teachers. players on their team and they will

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buy expensive tickets to see them play. The best players, by definition since they are the “best,” are in very short supply, which is why they command higher compensation.

If the coach of a soccer team does not put together a winning team then the club loses fans, which means that the club loses revenue.

Do soccer players work unusually hard? Training is usually five days a week, depending on mid-week or weekend matches. A typical day’s training will include cardiovascular fitness, strength training, practice matches and set play practice like penalties and free-kicks.

Daily training sessions usually last between 3 to 5 hours, so it’s a pretty active time, according to sixpacknow.com, but all hard-working professionals work 8 hours or more every single day.

Do soccer players experience higher stress levels? I would think that they do, since they always have to train hard, be healthy, keep themselves free of injuries, and perform well during the games. There is definitely pressure to perform well

and a serious injury can potentially end their career early. Even without an injury, the average player will not continue to play past their mid-thirty’s.

Still, the amount of effort, the higher stress levels and the short career don’t seem to justify the preposterous amount of money they get paid.

Although most soccer players stop playing at around the age of 35, the amount of money that they have been paid until that time is more than enough to live well off after their soccer career. This amount of money is actually thousands of times more than the average worker will get paid during a 35 year long career.

Finally, what is their contribution to the society? They entertain us, but that’s all! Do we value entertainment so much?

Do we value a good game so much more than years of research to find a cure for a disease? What is the message we get when a University president gets paid less than the coach of a popular college team?

Do we value education, years of hard work and real contributions to the advancement of science?

Not to mention,

that in some cases soccer fans become obsessed with their favorite team and start betting their paycheck on whether their team will win or not. According to Soccer Gambling, 20,000 euros are lost every week on soccer games, because fans are expecting too much of their favorite soccer players.

These unreasonable emotional attachments are destroying citizens’ hard worked money.

In conclusion, there are three factors that should be considered for everyone’s compensation: quality of effort, quantity of effort and the contribution to the society.

Soccer players should get paid according to these three factors. Teachers dedicate their entire career to give educational and moral lessons to kids in school and give them the opportunity to a great future. Doctors and scientists spend years to study complex issues and share their knowledge to improve the quality of everyone’s life. Athletes and performers put a lot of effort to bring joy to our lives and although their efforts should be rewarded, there should be a better balance.

Top Paid Soccer Players (per year) 1. David Beckham (LA Galaxy) 32.4 million euros 2. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) 28.6 million euros 3. Ronaldinho (AC Milan) 19.6 million euros 4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 18.3 million euros 5. Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona) 17 million euros 6. Kaka (Real Madrid) 15.1 million euros 7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FC Barcelona) 14 million euros 8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 13.5 million euros 9. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 13 million euros 10. John Terry (Chelsea) 11.7 million euros

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What’s

wHAT’S THE TOP SPOT IN AUSTIN?

p o T

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In Austin?

By Myrna L.

A list of five interesting sights in Austin Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

1)Moon Towers Moon towers are tall structures that are used as streetlamps; to produce light around a city at night. There were originally 31 towers in Austin, which were purchased from Detroit in 1864.

However, only 17 remain standing, and are scattered all over the city. Austin is the only city in the world to still run these moon towers. The picture of the tower to the right was taken at 9th and Guadalupe in downtown Austin.

The base of one of the moon towers Photo courtesy of author’s father

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LASA Life

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

2)Cathedral of Junk

In the backyard of the house of Vince Hannemann stands a large structure made entirely out of what most would call “trash”. It is three stories tall, and remarkably stable. Vince Hannemann has been making it for several years, and takes “junk donations” from viewers of the structure in order to continue construction.

3) Blanton Museum of Art

Located across the street from the Bob Bullock History museum and only a few blocks away from the capital building, stands the Blanton, a two-storied, twobuilding art museum. The outside of the museum is decorated by arches, influencing its logo: the sideways letter B made out of a line and two arch shapes (picture below). This museum is very large and very spacious, and the artwork and frequently-changing downstairs exhibits are creatively compiled, making the Blanton one of the nicest and most interesting art museums in the city.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

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4) Mount Bonnell Mount Bonnell is about the closest Austin gets to mountains. With 100 steps up, and 750 feet high upon this cliff, a person is able to get a panoramic view of the city of Austin. This sight is located in central Austin, right above Ladybird Lake. It is open from 5:00 AM- 10:00 PM, and is used most often when people come to take in the view during sunrise or sunset.

A view of Ladybird Lake from the top of Mount Bonnell

5)The Congress Bridge Bats

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

The Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin houses the largest population of bats in the nation. Over 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tailed bats live there, and emerge evey night from mid-March to November each year. They create a large cloud in the sky, that can be seen from many different places around the bridge, and then fly off to search for food. On hot, dry August nights, an even more spectacular show is put on; instead of one column-like cloud, many are made as the bats emerge.

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LASA Sports

LASA Pop Interview LBJ’s football star shares his story from how he manages his time, and stays so fly. By Bonnie D.

W

hen I first met Jeremy Polk, I was pretty intimated. Jeremy is six feet four inches tall, and 310 pounds of muscle; he’s one of the starting seniors of the LBJ football team. However, Jeremy doesn’t fit the stereotype description of the average high school jock. He walks down the halls in his purple and black letter jacket, which under his name says “amazing.”

The Double life of

Jeremy Polk P h o t o g r a p h

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B y

S P E N C E R

N

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LASA Sports

“I thought all of my football friends would make fun of me for being in theater, but they don’t.”

B

ut when you take a closer look, not only is there a football monogrammed in his name, but also a theatrical mask.

“I’m a pretty intimidating person when you meet me” Jeremy says “but when you get to know me it’s kind of like a different story… there’s much more to me.

‘Cause when you meet me, you probably wouldn’t think I was part of the theater.”

Jeremy lives his life as a theater nerd, one of the Alley Cat Players (they call themselves the ACP’s), and a high school football super star. Jeremy started playing football when he was seven.

Also when he was child, Jeremy preformed in many of his church’s Easter and Christmas plays. Then in middle school, at the Texas Empowerment Academy, he was given an opportunity to shine, an audition for a play that made a huge change in his life.

“I got kind of a major role, double cast as a bus driver and a father. That started me out with theater and I just fell in love with it.”

eremy had two things he really loved, and he didn’t know which one he should do.

“I thought all of my football friends would make fun of me for being in theater, but they don’t.”

Jeremy decided to do both. Jere-

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my’s football friends ended up being very supportive of him; some of them even come to see him perform. His life became packed,

“It’s all about time management, knowing my limitations, knowing what I can do, and what I can’t, planning my schedule out in advance.”

Some days Jeremy goes to practice, other day’s rehearsal.

“It’s complicated.” he explains.

On Fridays, after rehearsal, a big group of the ACP’s will go with the LBJ theater director, Ms. A, to the football game to cheer Jeremy on. You can always tell who at the game is in theater, because you’ll hear them yelling their personal nickname they made for Jeremy.

“Chocolate Bear!” they’ll scream as Jeremy walks out on the field. Then they’ll begin to chant his number “Sixty Three, Sixty Three, Sixty Three!” The whole theater department, loves Jeremy and being able to watch him play is a fun activity for them.

“Things that I love are making people happy.” Jeremy says with a smile. Jeremy lays it out simply, “Do what you want you want to.”

He says, “Keep your head high.”

Whether it’s preparing for a big game, or an upcoming performance, Jeremy, goes to music for relaxation.

“I play the bass guitar and

I play the drums. I play Goth pool, jazz and contemporary (music).”

Jeremy says, listing off his various musical talents.

Before the a big game, Jeremy pops in his ear plugs, and listens to some slow, laid back music.

“(Preparing for) an upcoming performance is the exact opposite, I still listen to music, but I listen to it on a loud speaker in the dressing rooms, trying to get my head focused, either when I’m putting on make up or getting in to costume, getting in to character, I listen to more up beat music.”

Along with music, Jeremy finds inspiration through his directors and coaches as well.

“My three coaches I love to death, I also love my director, she’s really cool.”

Neither football nor theater is a one-man show. They require a group of people who together will either loss or win the game, or in theater’s case, make or break the show. Even though he has his moments where being part of a team gets frustrating, like everyone does, Jeremy will always stand by his teammates.

“I have pride in my team.”

Jeremy says.

Not only is Jeremy proud of his team, but also he is also proud of himself and his accomplishes

so far. Jeremy is already on lots of college’s watch list, and has even been recognized in several magazines, and newspapers, like the Austin American Statesman.

Jeremy has successfully fulfilled his life motto that ““It’s not Jeremy shwoing his talents who you are, but what you bring to the table.” with his base and drums Jeremy plans to move on (Above) Jeremy Chillin in his football career and play (Right and Above) Jeremy college ball, he’s not sure for where yet. After that he Prforming (Left) want to do something theatrical.

“I didn’t imagine I’d get this

“My dream is to work in much recognition this far. some type of theater, I’d do anyI’m kind of proud of myself.” Jerthing theatrical. So far they’re emy says. looking pretty good.”

As far as how Jeremy got

Jeremy says he’d like to this far, he says, “I couldn’t do thank his supporters, after all he what I do without the support of is amazing, because as Jeremy my parents and my family.” says, “Without them, I am without cause.”

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LASA Life

Always Stylish

Students!

Style Students o f the Month

These three know what they’re doing when it comes to fashion. Check their newest looks to replicate in your own school wardrobe.

Thomas M

Rosalind F

3 Keys to LASA Style

1 EXPRESS YOURSELF Lasa is filled with

differnt people so show who you are through your clothes 2 PURPLE Show your school spirit and pride by wearing purple!

3 STATEMENT ACCESSORIES

Moti H

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2

WHERE GET THEIR LOOK...

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Get T hei Styl e at A r u tin’s Last sest Stor es!

Barton Creek Square 2901 Capitol of Texas Highway

Shop here (Girls and Guys) for: jeans, belts and bright/colorful shirts.

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Shop here (Girls and Guys) for: your pair of trusty chucks.

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Shop here (Girls) for: shoes, accessories, professional clothes, skirts, and statement pieces.

Shop here (Girls and Guys) for: designer clothes for less!

MUST HAVES Comfy and Chic Jeans

Jeans can be casual or formal, they match almost everything, and they come in every size and style and are overall the thing to wear to school

Statemen Acceccories

Bright colors, crazy designs, statements pieces, like belts, ties, shoes and jewelry, are very in. But please, don’t wear more than one at a time.

Trusty Converse

No LASA student’s outif tis complete with out a pair of their trusty converse. Wether their black, or neon glitter, they complete every look.

m

flickr.co

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LASA School

Which Languages in S

I

By Myrna L.

n most public high schools in the United At this time in the United States, most schools States, including Austin schools such as require around 3 language credits to graduate LASA and McCallum, the top languages high school. In the US alone, there are at least taught include Spanish, French, German, 40,000,000 people who speak English as their Latin, and sometimes Japanese. At some second language. Most of these people are immihigh schools, other languages such as grants or descendants of immigrants, but the inArabic, Italian, Mandarin, and Russian are also crease of immigration has caused more and more offered, however, these schools to not even schools are few in number. "It has proven to be financially require students to Also, some high schools beneficial to be bilingual in the take languages to don't even place requiregraduate. Instead presently growing international ments on the number of of this decrease of languages required to take, and domestic job markets. It is a required credit, we and therefore, there are should be increaswise investment to any child's fupeople who remain fluent ing it, so that we ture to teach them the linguistic can communicate in only one language.

I believe that the United skill of another language." better with these states would greatly benefit people and apprefrom offering different languages in high schools, ciate their language and culture. Additionally, the as well as increasing the number of full language variety of languages taught should be widened credits required in their education. These benefits to include more than the romantic or European include better communication, a greater variety languages taught currently in US schools. These of available occupations, and more acceptance languages are very similar in dialect, use a script for people's language and culture. almost identical to the English script, and if you speak one romantic language fluently, it is quite easy to understand others. Languages with different scripts, such as Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Greek, or even African languages are used as frequently all over the world as the romantic languages spoken only

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Photo courtesy of Weegoh blog

Schools? in Europe, and therefore people should have equal opportunity to learn those languages, too.

Learning different languages also increases a person's ability to get a good job. In fact, more and more jobs these days are requiring employees to be multilingual. Eva Kingsford, a journalist in New York says, "It has proven to be financially beneficial to be bilingual in the presently growing international and domestic job markets. It is a wise investment to any child's future to teach them the linguistic skill of another language." Some of these occupation areas include government, finance, marketing, and call centers/customer service. In any government position, it is required that you be fluent in at least two languages. Any banking-related jobs are easier to get when you speak different languages because many different ethnicities invest their money in banks. Marketing businesses appreciate multilingual speakers because they can possibly widen their audience.

Teaching people more languages fits along as importantly with education because it helps with making occupations easier to acquire.

The United States of America acts as a melting pot for many different cultures. If we are to live in this great melting pot, we should learn to appreciate and embrace these different cultures.

One great way to do this is by taking languages in school. Yet, if this is so, then only the European languages and cultures are the only ones that are appreciated and embraced. In Texas, the main languages spoken include Spanish and English. However, these are not the only languages spoken. We should extend these requirements to include different international languages, even if it costs the schools money. Though there are language-learning programs online and as programs you can buy, it is easier for students to learn some-

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

thing when it is provided and free.

I believe that LASA/LBJ High School, and the United States would greatly benefit from offering different languages in high schools, as well as increasing the number of full language credits required in their education. These benefits include better communication, a greater variety of available occupations, and more acceptance for people's language and culture.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

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“ Nothing is going to stop and nothing can get in my way. I am going to be the best I can be and I am going to prove to everyone that I am the best and That I can successed in anything I put my mind to,” Aaron L. said

A Young Football Star

H

e dashes through the field running for a touchdown. “Go, Go, Go,” the crowd cheered. Sweat starts to run down his red, fire blazing face. His small feet are racing down the field and he’s swerving and shaking. He’s running so fast that the only thing that fans see is his dark blue and white jersey flashing by their face as he runs across the field. “Touchdown,” the referee screams. His team rushes to him, slapping him on his helmet and cheering, “Aaron, Aaron.”

The older team stares in amazement. Show them boys some love.

Aaron Lane’s family runs on the field smiling away and congratulating him on his first touchdown. “ You did it, you did it”, his mother Michelle Harris screams jumping up and down as she screams his name at the top of her lungs. The football team’s cheerleaders cheer and scream “BLUE KNIGHTS, BLUE KNIGHTS”. That day, Aaron made the first touchdown in the game and they managed to win.

Aaron is part of the Blue Knights football team and wants to show the older football players

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that he’s just as good as they are. During practices and games the seniors (the teenage teams) act superior towards the rookies (the young team) by showing off their skills. Aaron thinks the senior players should give the smaller players more respect and show the smaller players how they can get better at playing football.

Aaron is a young eight-year-old football player that plays on the Blue Knights football team.

After playing football with his stepfather, Aaron was eager to play on a football team at the age of five.

Aaron got his inspiration from watching pro football and playing football games on his play station.

He practices three times a week, two hours a day, starting their day at 6:00p.m. Aaron is considering playing for the LBJ High school football team. He would also like to attend LASA high school to better his academics in school. Aaron’s mother inspired him to play. She goes to all of his practices and all of his games. She said, “I would never miss one of his games”.

Aaron has four sisters and he is the only boy.

He is not your average young football player. People rapping to any and every beat they hear. might think that growing up with all girls will make Look out everyone here comes Aaron and he you different in participating in sports, but it is difis coming for you. ferent with Aaron. Other than football, he has noth“Get ready for the all star football player,” Aaron ing to do at home but mess with his sisters, but even said in a voice of fear. though he has grown up with all girls he is still your Aaron is a wonderful student in school and hard-core football player. he is also a great football player. He He likes to play football wants to grow up to become one of with his sister sometimes the worlds most appreciated football and even his other cousins. players of all times. You should see Aaron is the baby of the this boy play he runs as fast as a jet family, but he sure doesn’t and he throws as far as a bird can act like it. fly. He wants to be successful in life

Aaron is a third and successful in the things he wants grader at Pecan Springs to achieve.

Elementary. He excels in

“He will grow and be the best school just like he excels he can be,” his mother said with her in football. His parents head held high. He symbolizes his would only allow him to achievements by having a smile on keep playing football if he his small little red face. For the next maintains adequate grades ten years Aarons plans on staying in school. Even though he on a football team and attending the is only eight years old, he best college he can get into. Many deals with playing football people think of him as not a hard and keeping his grades up football player, but when he goes Aaron L. Before attacking the field to in school. to his games he proves them win the big football game.

When Aaron started wrong. playing football, he was so “The only way I can prove to enthusiastic and ready to get on the field; nothing people that I can achieve anything I want is to show was going to stop him. them instead of telling them,” Aaron said in a fierce

“When I first started playing football, I was voice. so excited and ready for the game,” stated football

Every time people go to his games he proves star Aaron. that he has what it takes and during school he shows At his first game he really didn’t know what to do, his friends and teachers that he is the best. but when he went to his next practice he showed his “ You go show them boys what you got,” his coach what he’s got. After practicing to get better. cousin Ronnie Joe says in a voice of ready to attack The Blue Knights won their first game of the season someone. at Rosewood field. Aaron was so happy when they

“ I am ready to go kick some football but,” won that game. He went home looking mad but out Aaron said. of nowhere he started smiling and said he won.

Aaron is always ready for a game and he

Aaron is a different person outside of footmost excited when he plans that they are going to ball. He likes to play with his little friends outside win. He practices hard and he plays to win. When he and when he is not playing with his friends he likes doesn’t win he looks at what he is doing wrong and to tackle his older sisters. his mother and coaches help him with what he needs

Aaron said, “My favorite music is Hip-Hop to do better. When he loses a game is looks to the and R&B.” future and plans to do better.

Whenever he hears a beat he starts rap to the best “ I look towards the future and leave the past. Nothwhile bobbing his head. Every weekend when he ing can stop me in my tracks and I am going to be visits his cousins, all they do is bobbing their heads the best,” Aaron said with a confident voice.

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LASA Sports

What LASA thinks

About who will

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Freshmen Steelers

Titans 1%

Saints

20%

28%

Patriots 9%

Cowboys 4%

Colts 20%

Vikings 18%

Sophomores Vikings Saints

23%

16%

Steelers 5%

Colts Titans 10% Patriots 14%

30%

Cowboys 2%

win the Juniors Steelers 24%

Titans 2%

Saints 24%

Vikings

Patriots

17%

15%

Colts

Cowboys 7%

11%

Seniors

Steelers 23%

Titans

Saints 23%

Vikings

7%

7%

Patriots 9% Cowboys

Colts 28%

3%

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LASA Life

Texting Replaces Face-to-Face Converstions in Teens Bonnie D.

“More and more texts meassages are being sent everyday, but is this a good thing, or a bad?”

A

ll the time I feel the need to check my phone. Walking down the halls, during lunch, at a friend’s house, the American teenager is becoming more and more obsessed with texting.

According to the Nielson Group, the average U.S. teenager (13-17) sends and receives around 1,742 text messages a month.

Text messaging replaced phone calls and is now replacing faceto-face conversations.

The obsession is really becoming quite

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absurd. Texting is taking away the face-to-face aspects of communication. This is becoming a major problem, in person communication is a key skill in life, whether it’s going to a job interview, meeting important people and so on. With texting, teens are not becoming prepared for the “real world”. I’ll be walking down the hallways of LASA, and all the time, students are sitting with their friends, texting instead of talking.

Texting is ruining teen’s communication

levels, by keeping them in their little shell, promoting poor grammar, and by isolating teens from their current situation.

Often time’s texting is used as a way for shyer teenagers to communicate, while this may have some short time benefits, in the long run this a very negative solution for shyer or socially dysfunctional students. Instead of staying in their shell through text messages, teens should

LASA Students, Mo Q. and Molly G. (above), Reed D. (right) and Gabby M. and Cody P. (top right) texting

Photos by Bonnie D

break through and work on communicating.

Being able to talk to people is very important, rather it’s making eye contact, knowing how to make people laugh or feel comfortable and so on.

Not to mention grammar.

Most people will judge your intelligence by the way you talk. If you talk with poor grammar, of course people will assume you’re not very smart, and first impressions are rather hard to break.

Teenag-

ers text abbreviations all the time. This, to many teens, then becomes a really bad habit, and teens begin to talk in abbreviations. Saying “o.m.g.” is a recent term, but now I hear more and more people using abbreviations like “b.r.b.”, be right back, or “g.t.g.”, got to go.

You’re not going to ever sound very professional if you talk the

way you text.

This can particularly affect things such as college applications and job interviews. Getting in to a good college is becoming a lot harder. Finding a job is also getting more and more competi-

thrown into a new situation. being the new kid in 5th, and 8th grade,

I would know, and although it’s extremely hard, I feel like through that I am now a stronger person. Meeting new people is hard, and does suck, but we all need to get past that first moment of “Oh god, I really don’t want to this.”

However, now that texting has become such a big thing, people skip over the whole “Oh, god” moment and flat out don’t even bother to meet new people.

They just sit in the corner and text their friends. Not to mention, that’s really rude.

It is crucial in society to get over the fear and awkwardness of meeting new people. In fact, you can almost consider meeting new people an art, and like every other type of art, practice makes perfect.

American teenager’s communications is going down the drain due to texting. So teens, put your phones down! Meet new people

“You’re not going to ever sound very professional if you talk the way you text.” tive. You really need to be at the top to make to, and sounded intelligent and professional will get you there.

One of the hardest things for anyone to do is getting

and start talking. If you want to strive in society, become less depend on your mobile devices.

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LASA Life

You?

By Krystal D.

Sports Player

You like to play sports and think of yourself as a baller. Not only that you like to play sports you like to show off your shoes.

Look at these Jordan’s, you

showing off even when you’re not trying.

Girly

You like to where dresses and high heels and no one can tell you anything. You say you look good no matter what people has to say about you. You like to stand tall and confident.

Rock Star

You like to play guitar and listen to hard-core rock music. You grow your hair long and shack it everywhere like you have gone crazy.

You like not to only show off your shoes but to make yourself noticeable from the rest of the crowd.

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Artsy You like colorful things. You are creative and imaginary. One thing you have is imagination because look at these shoes they are just bursting in colors.

Nature You like rainy days and playing out in the rain. Playing in the rain calms you and makes you feel free and alone. It makes you feel peaceful and colorful. The best thing about this is you know how to get away and become one with the world.

Glamorous You like to be the center of attention and no one can change what you are. No one can tell you what to do or what to say or how to talk. So you go on down that school hallway and show off your shiny new shoes.

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Dealing With The Problem

By, Krystal D

In the United States there are many schools dealing with violence,drugs and alcohol in their schools. According to Donna Leinwand the U.S. Department of Education records show that in the 2005-2006 school year 373 public secondary schools received federal money for testing students for drugs.

There are now up to 28,000 schools nationwide getting tested for drugs. In the 2008-2009 school year at Fulmore middle school a couple of students got caught with drugs and the AISD police department had to search everyone pack back and lockers. The school was even on lock down because there were students told to have weapons at school.

in middle school they have days that they celebrate drug free day, but something that they really don’t know is that students don’t care about those signs (students tare the signs off of the walls and doors). On drug free day the students don’t even wear the ribbons they give them. Now the teachers should know something is not right when students don’t give a banana about those things.

Some schools are losing their academic performance because of those things. Alcohol leads to drug, drugs lead to violence and most of all violence leads to schools being punished and people getting hurt. Doing these things can lead so many consequences like jail and death. Those things are making parents and schools worry. Why won’t someone stand up and make a change for these children in need.

Students are lossing their academic intrest and the ability to concentrate on their school work. It makes me I would like to try to put my voice out there to help school get more programs to get students off of drugs and alcohol and causing violence. My argument is that I don’t think that there are enough people out there who care about the students.

I am a student myself and I hate seeing my peers throw their life away for something no one can help for. Some people say that they can’t control what teenagers do but guess what YOU CAN! I think parents; teachers, peers and everyone else should take advantage of that. People might think that teens don’t want to get better but yet do they

“Students are losing their academic interest.”

I believe that students nationwide are getting more and more into drugs. This is becoming a really big problem in the U.S. schools. Walking through neighborhoods and school watching young students destroy their lives over something so useless to the world makes my heart hurt that no one is doing anything about it. So many schools have been using the drug test for so many years but one thing I would like to say is IT’S NOT WORKING! The world needs to find another way to get children and teens off the drugs, alcohol and violence and off the streets and into the books. Most schools have those signs that says stay drug free and

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know is that deep inside the minds of those teenagers they are crying their hearts out and asking for help.

All of these children want your help so stand up and give them some love and show them they are not alone. To all the parents tell your children you are there for them and you will never leave them. Tell them how you feel and look into their eyes. Teachers don’t make them come to you, you go to them and give them the help they need to be successful in life in order to live a life they all dream of.

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LASA Sports

Is this the end of an era?

An old rivalry is dwindling down and a new one is building up for LBJ

BY FOtis K.

E

very year before the LBJ Body paint, yelling, and Reagan football game, the a raucous band really most dedicated seniors’ make it a good time. camp out on the LBJ campus I lose my voice every to make sure no Reagan students come week,” says LBJ football and deface the marble Texas in the fan Thomas M. Kids in courtyard. Some students will even go college usually return to on the roof to make sure no one from Austin to come watch the opposing school sneaks up on them. the LBJ-Reagan game.

The LBJ and Reagan rivalry But, is it still a has been going on since the mid 70’s competition today? Not when the LBJ High School was first quite, if you look at the created. Students who used to go to results. During the last the overcrowded Reagan High School five years LBJ has won were assigned to newly built LBJ. the vast majority of their Students, who were playing on LBJ football games, the same “At s c h o o l especially at the LBJ-Reagan team up to game, there is a lot of school that year, spirit. Body paint, yelling, had to split to the and a raucous band really opposing make it a good time. I lose teams. The my voice every week.” says trophy was LBJ football fan Thomas M. the school pride, not to mention the pride of the two neighborhoods. games in all sports against And thus, the beginning to a fierce Reagan. The Reagan rivalry began. “At LBJ football football team has received games, especially at the LBJ-Reagan some big blow out scores with thirty game, there is a lot of school spirit. plus point deficit. The Reagan soccer

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team h a s been no match for the LBJ soccer team usually losing by 3 or 4 goals. In Basketball the two schools have had a lot closer

games than in other sports, but still LBJ has managed to walk away with a victory. Just a month ago, on October 23rd the varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams beat Reagan, without letting Reagan win any sets. Clearly, the LBJ teams have dominated the Reagan teams for the past several years. So the question is, can you still call this a rivalry?

Well, what is a sports rivalry?

A rivalry is an intense

Picture drawn

by David Beckham and fierce competition between athletic teams. Geographic proximity leads to rivalries, but is there really a rivalry between LBJ and Reagan if LBJ always beats, or rather crushes, Reagan? Think of the Oklahoma vs.

Texas football rivalry, or the “Red River Shootout,” since the winning team is supposed to win ownership of the Red River until the next game.

The records reveal very close scores and an almost even split of wins between the two teams (Texas leads

a puddle of blood on the floor of the picture. According to LBJ Principal Mr. Patterson, “They’re a little young [students] and creative, and if we crossed the line, I LBJ Principal Patterson apologize,” Patterson says, “the LBJ Reagan said of the shirts. don’t mean to be rivalry is dwindling down “I offensive to anyone.” and McCallum looks to The coaches be the next rival of LBJ.” of the two teams agree that the design was very creative, but for some 58 to 40). That’s not the case with people the line had been crossed.

LBJ and Reagan. Nevertheless, the In the LBJ Reagan football school pride and spirit are still on game, LBJ won 48-7 dominating the line and the competitive nature of Reagan. LBJ went ahead 41-0 in the the student bodies shines every year. first half. Then for the second half

Last year there was some the LBJ coach rested most starters controversy over a t-shirt design to not risk any injuries and to give that was made by LBJ students to some other players a chance to play raise money to compete in Science certain positions. In the second half, Olympiad that year. On the front of LBJ tried to waste as much time the t-shirt it read LBJ vs. Reagan but during the second half by waiting on the back there was a very graphic to the last second to hike the ball and vivid picture. On the back there and by running the ball a lot. was a purple jaguar in a cloak

LBJ Principal Patterson with a scythe, which was says, “the LBJ Reagan rivalry is covered in blood. On the dwindling down and McCallum floor, in the picture, was looks to be the next rival of LBJ.” a Reagan Raider’s body Against McCallum the games have with his head been a lot closer in football, soccer, n o t and volleyball. The Reagan sports teams are just not able to compete with the LBJ sports team. Not just the sports team but LBJ has a better band and orchestra than Reagan.

On the other hand McCallum’s sports team is able to compete and sometimes beat LBJ in some games.

McCallum is the fine arts school in Austin so their band and orchestra is able to compete with the LBJ band and orchestra as well. McCallum is also the other magnet high school in Austin and that might add a real factor to the students who decided attached to the body of the Reagan to not go to the other magnet high Raider. The head was in the other school. Look out McCallum the LBJ hand of the LBJ jaguar and there was Jaguars are creating a new rivalry.

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“I have been a movie geek since I was really young, and got a home movie camera when I was 8 years old. That’s when I started making short films”

-Emily H., age 17.

Emily: Zombie Catcher LASA 32

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Inside

The Girl Who Films Zombies

A

by Myrna L.

young girl lies in bed. There is a glass of water on her bedside table. As she tosses and turns, a slow, somber melody plays in the background. The camera zooms in on the glass of water as the girl continues to squirm, and the feeling of terror surrounds the setting. Zombies.1 Emily H., currently a junior at LASA high school, has been making movies and short films since she was very small. Though her focus is on horror, she enjoys making comedy films, as well. Emily is one example of these many students at LASA whose creativity has extended beyond their school projects and become their biggest and most impressive hobbies.

“I have been a movie geek since I was really young, and got a home movie camera when I was 8 years old. That’s when I started making short films,” LASA junior Emily H. says.

Soon after this event, Emily discovered her talent for moviemaking and began making a variety of movie material, some of which received recognition and awards. The main material that she has made is composed of feature films (full length movies) and shorts (shorter films).

“I took Computer Multimedia and Animation (CMMA) last year, and double block Media Tech this year. We make a lot of short films. One was “Keepin’ it Real”,” says Emily, touching on only one of the many successful films she has produced. Some of her other films includes a feature ghost story called “The Retelling” and a feature zombie called

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“Pathogen”.

“Pathogen” was one of Emily’s first feature films, made when she was only twelve years old. This movie was full-length, and received several awards, such as the Audience Award at Texas frightmare Weekend 2009, as well as a premiere at the Alamo Draft House on March 25, 2006. “Pathogen” is a zombie film, a story Emily found inspiration for from a friend’s dream, and is being sold now to raise money for her future productions.

In her productions, Emily works as the director, script-writer and producer, but most of the time, she directs. Emily also enjoys the collaboration with people she is able to experience when working with this hobby.

She says,“I think the teamwork in projects (like [the SciTech class at LASA], even though I’m not very good at math, has helped because filmmaking is a team effort- you really can’t do everything yourself all the time.”

Additionally, Emily has been able to meet new people around town and in school who are as interested in moviemaking as she is, and have joined the production crew in her films.

She also took a film camp three years ago and is still working with some of the people she met there, as well as a camp she took last year with another girl that goes to LASA, in which their film won a competition. She was also a part of film classes at both Kealing Middle School and LASA. “I love working with a group toward a common goal,” she says.

During the weekends, Emily spends her time watching movies, but holidays and breaks are the times she uses to make and edit

1 This is a scene based on Emily’s zombie feature film, “Pathogen”

ties she faces with moviemaking, yet she’s found ways to work around those obstacles and do the best with what she has.

“The important thing,” Emily says, “Is to tell a good story.”

Currently, Emily is working on both a comedy and horror comedy scripts, but she is unsure of which she’ll want to produce next.

“There are three main steps for both shorts and features-” Emily says, “Pre-production, production, and postproduction.” Pre-production includes the planning, casting, rehearsal, location, and scouting, etc. of a movie. Production is the actual filming of it, and post-production includes the editorial work; editing, music, sound editing-or

POSTER DESIGN for one of Emily’s first feature films, Pathogen (above). This film premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse on March 25, 2006, in which viewers got to talk straight to Emily and ask her questions (right).

Photo courtesy of Emily’s website: cheesynuggets.com

her own. Most of her free time is taken up with moviemaking. “[The time spent on a single movie] depends on the project. If I have a lot of time, I might spend a little time each day. If I’m limited (like a 48-hour film project), I might work longer. The main focus is doing what it takes to finish the project,” she says, reflecting on one of the many problems of this hobby. Time, resources and money are the main difficul-

foley work- and the final finishing touches.

In the future, Emily will continue to make feature films, and is looking at a career job in moviemaking. She is looking into colleges like UT, UCCA, USC, and NYU to help her achieve this. To any young moviemakers out there, Emily says: “Perservere, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it!”

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