Turning Four and Already a Sophomore
Student Shares the Ups and Downs of Having a Leap Year Birthday BY LAURA TRAVIS Reporter When most people turn four, they may have a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese or Build-a-Bear, ask for the latest and coolest toy, and have a birthday cake with their favorite cartoon character on it. But for sophomore Katherine Baker, turning four means going to the DMV to get her license and enjoying the freedom that driving brings. Baker was born on Feb. 29. This date only appears on the calendar every four years as the added day during leap years. Baker was born during a leap year in 1996, and even though she is really turning 16, this will be her fourth official birthday. “I think it is kind of cool, just to mix it up a little every couple years,” Baker said in regard to leap years. Baker said that people tend to have misconceptions about leap year birthdays and that it is different than some people may believe. “People think it is a bigger deal than it is. I still have a birthday every year,” Baker said. On non-leap years, Baker does not have any real problems because she just
celebrates her birthday on the day for someone turning three years old. before. She remembered some people “We usually celebrate on Feb. 28 getting confused at first when they and do anything anyone else would saw the decorations but was very do, just a happy and day earto “It gets confusing at the thankful lier,” Baker her friends. DMV because said. While However, there are there is no Feb. 29.” when Feb. many upsides, 29 comes having a leap -Katherine Baker, around every year birthSophomore four years, it day comes becomes a with a few fun time for Baker. She said that she downsides as well. However, Baker celebrates it like every other year. said that they do not come up too ofBut her friends and family get really ten or really affect her life. excited for her birthday during leap “It doesn’t really matter. It gets years, one of her favorite parts about her special birthday. Besides the excitement, Baker pointed out other advantages to having a birthday that only comes around every four years. “People never forget your birthday,” Baker said. This was true when Baker turned 12 during the last leap year, 2008, her third official birthday. At school, Baker’s friends all decorated her locker with decorations made
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confusing at the DMV because there is no Feb. 29,” Baker said. Baker mentioned another downside for people born during a leap year is that they never will have a golden birthday. This is because their 29th birthday would never fall on a leap year since it is an odd number. Baker said that its not that different to have a leap year birthday since you still celebrate and grow older every year. However, she does become excited on years she can celebrate on the actual day she was born. To Baker, having a leap year birthday is not really that hard at all. “I think it is more fun,” Baker said, smiling.
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Days in a Leap Year Baker and sophomores Emma Dopheide, and Sydney O’Dear hangout near the freshmen hallway. The three girls are all in the same Spanish class. (Photo by Maura Eveld)
Million People Born on Feb. 29
365 Days, 5 Hours, 48 Minutes, and 46 Seconds The Actual Length of a Normal Year
Romans Invented Leap Years
16th Century
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in Chance of Having a Leap Year Birthday -Information from chiff.com and it thing.com
Sophomore Christine Rieger and Baker take a break during the school day. The girls wore scarfs to take part in Boot and Scarf Day during Catholic Schools Week. (Photo by Maura Eveld)
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