6 Blueprint
FEATURES
Life is short, but the list of things people want to do before they kick the bucket could go on forever. With so many things life has to offer, it’s no wonder people want to make sure they experience certain things by a certain point in their lives. An eventful time in just about everyone’s life, high school, has become known as “best years of your life.” Because of this, the “Blueprint” has put together a list of things we believe high schoolers should experience before they leave this land of opportunity for the next big adventure that awaits them.
April 29, 2016
April 29, 2016
FEATURES
Blueprint 7
#13 Video Announcements By Wes Davenport, PR Manager It was the dance heard around the world, it was the dance kids are into these days, and it was probably on the video announcements. The self proclaimed Blueprint News Network loves to feature the newest and hippest dances in the world. Senior Joey Eterno’s bucket list is simple, he wants to dance for the school. But he doesn’t just want to dance, he wants to join in on the trendy dances featured in the video announcements. “I’d like to be on the video announcements to be recognized by all my classmates -- and for attention,” Eterno said. Friday video announcements are new this year and has replaced the traditional PA announcements during second period. It allows students to get involved in school activities, as well as spread important information about the ongoing activities around the school. Contact Wesley at wdav0758@csd99.org
The green room is where the anchors are filmed for the Friday video announcements.
#2 Get a part-time job By Kirsten Gard, Editor-in-Chief of Online
#4 Find your self-identity By Gina DeCarlis, Staff Reporter Four years of high school gives students a lot of time to set goals for themselves, whether those goals are silly or earnest. High school is also a time during which teenagers can figure out who they are and what they’re interested in, in order to create the person that they want to be. Senior Anna Merikas shares her experience trying to discover her true self. “I got a better sense of who I was in my senior year of high school because of experiences I’ve had,” Merikas said. “There was a lot of experimenting with things like music, the way I dressed, the way I did my makeup and the people I hung out with. I settled into the way I wanted to look and the way I wanted to present myself to people.” There are many ways to work toward self-recognition, especially if a teenager is involved in sports or extracurricular activities. Merikas describes what helped her recognize who she wanted to be and shares the importance of self-identity. “I’ve been in stage crew for all of my four years of high school, and it has definitely showed me things I never thought I’d be interested in. It was extremely important for me to find myself, but it wasn’t something I rushed into,” Merikas said. Some people don’t know how to begin their journey to finding their true self and may need a little help. Merikas also shares Senior Anna Merikas has just started to feel comfortable with her true self this year. some advice to those who may be struggling with self-identity. “Don’t rush into anything and take time to learn about yourself,” Merikas said. “Put yourself first no matter what, and don’t let anyone try and tell you Contact Gina at who you are.” gdec1259@csd99.org
#8 Ride in the elevator
Contact Kirsten at kgar3084@csd99.org
#1 Go on a road trip By Marcela Calderon, Copy Editor
By Wes Davenport, PR Manager Even though it’s a state requirement to have elevators in high schools, it’s not very often that students get the chance to ride in them. Elevator aren’t usually off limits --and that’s exactly what makes the DGS elevator so intriguing. For all we know, behind those heavy, blue sliding doors could be a portal to Narnia like in “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”. The dimly-lit interior could swallow a person whole in a quick flicker of light. Creepy as it may be, the elevator is definitely bucket list-worthy indeed, riding the elevator at DGS is a simple yet seldom completed goal. Seniors like Saima Khimani just want the ride of their lives -- a ride that only the elevator at DGS can provide. “It seems like something only a few people have gotten the chance to do. Even though I’ve heard it’s not a fun experience, I think I’d like to try. I’ve been tempted to jump into the elevator, but I’m not sure if it’s something I’d actually do,” Khimani said. And what would an elevator ride be without elevator music? It’d be an average elevator ride in the elevator at DGS. Contact Wesley at wdav0758@csd99.org
While in high school, students experience two milestone ages: 16 and 18. While 18 is the age of “being legal”, there are important opportunities that come with turning 16 as well. One of these things is the ability to get a part-time job. Junior Sean McCarthy is one of the many high school students who have parttime jobs; McCarthy has worked at Discount Tire for about six months. He shares his opinion on the importance of having a job in high school. “Well it kind of depends on your financial situation. If your parents are more well off and they can afford and are willing to pay for things, then you don’t really need one, but I think you should still get one. It helps get you ready for having a real job,” McCarthy said. “And it is always nice to have extra money.” Along with getting extra money, many working students also gain life skills, like responsibility and time management; however, McCarthy expressed that he already had these skills before entering the workforce. “I just kind of go there and do my job. [Responsibility] is nothing that I didn’t know already. I wake up for school just like I wake up for my job,” McCarthy said. Despite the benefits like gaining life skills and having extra money, there are also drawbacks to working while in high school. McCarthy shares the disadvantages that he has faced. “I pretty much give up my whole weekend for [my job]. My friends, they ask, “How come we never see you anymore?” It’s because I have a job and I have to do stuff, and that part sucks,” McCarthy said. Another drawback is the difficulty of balancing school and work. “I usually have to end up doing it on Sunday, and no one likes doing homework on Sunday,” McCarthy said. “It’s a challenge, but I think it is worth it.”
Elevators at DGS are surprisingly creepy--resembling a death trap.
The image of driving with the windows down on a sunny day, music blasting, conversation among your friends and family filling the car, has made road trips a classic activity worthy of being on any teen’s bucket list. Junior Jenna Norwood shares why, even as a child, she always wanted to go on a road trip somewhere. “I’ve always wanted to road trip because I love to get away from normal, everyday things. I used to draw pictures of what I imagined other places would be like when I was younger and then save them in a basket to pull out once I’d visited them,” Norwood said. The desire to go road tripping has remained across generations of teenagers, as math Road trips are a good way for seteacher Timm Linders explained. niors to gain independence and learn “Time in a car with a group of people is a reto be on your own before heading off to ally fun way to develop deep and lifelong bonds. college. It’s amazing, the conversations you have when you’ve been driving 20 hours or more. You really get to know people when you’re cooped up Contact Marcela at in a small area with them,” Linders said. mcal2335@csd99.org