zone 4,5

Opinion

Central High School Zone Newspaper

What’s in a name?

Aliza Etkind Editor-in-Chief

“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet...”

Panina Chey. This was almost my name, and for a majority of the time between my conception and my birth, this was my moniker (This isn’t completely true. My father desperately wanted to name me Edgar after the Father of Horror and his idol, Edgar Allen Poe. Since my gender wasn’t revealed until the day of my birth, both my dad and my sister referred to me as such. For a very long time, my mom accredited the stirrings in her abdomen to Nina.

But something happened and she found, in her mind, a much prettier alternative to name her child if the baby happened to be a girl. Thus, my first name was changed to Aliza, but my middle name remained the same. In fact, it wasn’t until January 20, 1993 when my mother went into

labor while watching Bill Clinton’s inauguration that she decided my middle would be Hope (Bill Clinton is from Hope, Arkansas, the same city where my mother grew up. She decided it was a little more than a coincidence and gave me the middle name “Hope.”)

Finally, early on the morning of January 21, I was born and the long epic naming decision came to its end. Aliza Hope Etkind became my formal name.

Throughout my entire life, I have heard this name, either in portions or in its entirety. It has become me. There is no discrepancy between the word “Aliza” and the person who is called such a word. I accept this identity and even cherish at times. It is who I am and I have no plans to change it. All the same, I sometimes wonder who I would be if my name had been Panina instead.

Aliza was such a rambunctious child, ornery at times, with a mischievous streak thrown into the mix. You couldn’t get me to sit still to

save my life. In most photographs taken between my second and sixth birthdays, I am nothing more than a streak or a blurry little flesh-colored smudge. Would Panina have been more even tempered? Would she have sat still and enjoyed getting her hair done instead of screaming like a banshee when a hairbrush even came close to touching her head? Would pictures of her revealed a sweet little child with a calm demeanor?

Would relatives welcome little Nina with hugs and kisses instead of dreading the moment she arrived?

What would Nina have been like as a teenager? I can’t help but wonder exactly what it is in my chemistry that makes me prefer books to television, the company of my family to that of friends. Would Nina be a party animal or even more subdued? Would she have scorned classic rock and listened to rap instead? or country? or classical?

Would Nina be going to Yale or MIT in the fall? Or would she have been resigned to com-

On Monday, Jan. 18, at 9 p .m, teenagers and some adults across America gathered in front of their television preparing to watch MTV’s latest show Skins. For weeks MTV pushed the new series by showing juicy trailers, behind the scene footage, and character introductions, hoping the show would big success.

This was a risky move for MTV since in recent years their viewers have become accustom to reality television and dating shows. MTV has been able to rely on the fact that the show is using the same British model that aired in 2007 and MTV has hired Bryan Elsley, creator of the British version of Skins.

“I prefer the U.K’s version of Skins over the American version,” said Max Youngblood, sophomore.

Many feel that the two shows are pretty similar, “They tried to follow the same story line, but with a few exceptions,” said Youngblood.

Viewers like Youngblood knew what to expect from the new series but new viewers, like me, had a completely different level of excitement. I was pretty excited for the new show, but by the time the first episode ended I had mixed feelings.

“It was like a new Degrassi,” said Amanda Mayfield, junior. I would have to agree with Mayfield, the show reminded me entirely of Degrassi, with overly dramatic events and no exact main character. Degrassi is a show about

teenagers attending Degrassi High and their daily events which airs on Teen Nick.

Degrassi and Skins are both designed so their viewers can relate to the characters. “[Teenagers] can relate to some extent, but most of the [content] is more dramatic than real life,” said Youngblood. The show involves a lot of pot, sex, and partying, which is why it is rated MA (for mature audiences). “It’s a bunch of teenagers doing no good,” said Maria Aparico,

sophomore. Before the show aired, the Parents Television Council criticized MTV for its new show, for its characters promoting drug use and sex. PTC called the show “the most dangerous show for teens.”

“You don’t really get any good from the show,” said Aparico. Skins has lost six advertisers, Schick, Subway, H&R Block, and Wrigley in the last couple of weeks because they believe it borders pornography.

munity college or even no college at all? Would she have found her forte to be math and science instead of the humanities? Would she have been an actress? or a painter? or a singer?

I’m not entirely sure what’s in me that makes me. Nina would still have brown hair and green eyes and favor her mother in appearances.

But would she have reveled in a sunny day?

Would she still try to catch snowflakes on her tongue on a wintry morning? Would she be content to sit in a hammock on a summer afternoon, reading a book and listening to the sweet songs of the birds?

Perhaps in another life, another dimension, Panina Chey lives. She could be all of these things or none of them. But I suppose this is the real question: is it the name who makes me or me who makes the name?

Central Zone 9450 Ray White Rd. Keller, Texas 76244 Phone: 817-744-2100

Skins: A teenage reality?

Amara Thomas Staff Writer

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Some feel that the drama with actors as young as 15 may be violating federal child pornography status. A lot of editing has been done to the show to decrease the amount of bad publicity and gain back their 1.7 viewers who have given up on the show. While the PTC and others may feel that Skins will corrupt the minds of our younger generation, I beg to differ, seeing the world we live in and Jersey Shore might do that already.

Skins may be seen as waste of time, but there is some value. MTV must receive some credit for its styling and music selection for the new show.

The first episode opened with Animal Collective’s My Girls and if you’re as much of an indie experimental rock fan as me, just hearing the lyrics of My Girls would have compelled you to continue to watch.

The show also features underground artist (if that’s what you want to call them), including Yacht, Phantogram, the Drums, Segal, and many more. Fashion is also a key component in the new series; each character has their own unique style that reflects their personality, which can be appreciated by any fashion junkie.

Lots of mismatched ensembles, that comprise of Doc Martens, glittery dresses, ski hats, 80’s track suits, which all seem to come together quite well. Skins will air every Monday night at 9pm on MTV, let us know how you feel about the new teen drama at www.facebook.com/ chszone or www.twittter.com/chszone.

The student newspaper of Central High School is published by the students in the Newspaper class of the Journalism department. The ideas expressed in this publication and on its opinion pages are soley those of the individuals providing them, and do not reflect the opinion of the advisor, faculty, administration, or the KISD board. Letters to the editor are welcome.

Students recieve one copy free. The Zone is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Corps (ILPC) and ASNE/KRT Campus Newspaper Service.

Managing Editor

Ashtyn Gillie

Sports Editor

Jackson Wallace

Editor-in-Chief Ale Valeriano Aliza Etkind

News/Opinion Editor

Hayley Bupp

Designer Online Director Graphic Brandon Nowell Christine Mounce

Photographers Creative Director Cecillia Reyes Esteban Reyes

Feature/ Entertainment Editor Elba Orellana

Advisor

Natalie Brown

Cecillia Reyes

Staff Writers

Katie Homans Amara Thomas Alex McCauley Ashley Walker Kelli Cook Sam Meadows Katrina Rodriguez Shelby Yancey

Opinion

Central High School Zone Newspaper

The break-up game Katrina Rodriguez Staff Writer

So I know this girl, and for the time being we will call her Jessie. Jessie is a bright young woman who has a passion for education, is musically and artistically gifted and head over heels for her boyfriend and for now we will call him Max. He is charming, sociable and of course attractive; however, he is also indecisive and impulsive.

In the past three years Max and Jessie have broken up and gotten back together more than what you could count on one hand. Max blames his commitment problem on the typical daddy issues, while Jessie takes him back every time due to “love” and her need to stick with him through his hard times.

Boy meets girl, boy messes around, boy breaks up with girl, boy says sorry, and girl takes him back without a single thought. Sound familiar to anyone?

Jessie and Max are not just a dysfunctional couple; they are everyone who has ever been through the giant circle that is the break-up game.

The break-up game is the continuous circle that our young generation goes through at some point in their lives. It is the typical situation where we as young adults try and find what we want in a partner and figure out how commitment works.

In the process many of us go through the re-run period, some more than others, and that is what initially starts the break-up game.

We convince ourselves that this guy or girl is the finished product, the bee’s knees, and the ultimate cake of all possible contenders. When they start messing up and show less of a desire to actually be a part of the relationship, many start making excuses for them.

The argument for their lack of interest turn from “he’s going through a hard time with his parents,” or “she is stressed from school” to

more outrageous excuses like “it’s my fault for pushing him away” and “she is her own person, I need to give her space.” It seems like the more effort young adults try to put in during early relationships, the more off tempo we become from wiser generations.

Situations were a lot simpler for the previous generations of singles. They didn’t have weird stages like “talking” to worry about. The only thing someone needed was a good pick up line and some charm in order to go steady with their desired. Simple, sweet and didn’t cause either party to go into an anxiety-induced coma while trying to figure out what stage they were at.

Now a days, teens and young adults make things too complicated. I mean when a girlfriend cheats it’s supposed to be a no brainer to dump her, or when a guy tries to convince his girlfriend that drugs will better the relationship the red lights should be flashing.

Yes, sometimes it is more complicated

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when feelings are involved, but is scarring oneself emotionally or even physically really worth the tolerance?

The break-up game is something that causes more negative outcomes then good. It makes serious relationships look like a trend instead of a commitment. This has lead to disastrous results amongst our teen society.

Those who are willing to take their partner back every time never seem to have the same amount of trust they did before. In a way it is just an excuse to harbor resentful feelings towards their on again off again partners, punishing them for crimes they were seemingly forgiven of.

This game is a lot more common then what we wish to admit and will inevitably grow in the numbers.

Maybe we can learn from the past or the walking examples we see everyday, but until we learn it is just going to be us against the odds.

Game over.

First day jitters Kelli Cook Staff Writer

As I sat in the car on the way to my first day of eighth grade, I felt nervous and almost sick to my stomach. I didn’t particularly want to move to Keller and start a new school.

I liked my old school. I liked my old friends. I didn’t understand why I had to move. I didn’t want to give up the environment I’ve always lived in. I wanted to stay where I had been comfortable, where I knew people, where I just knew someone.

I walked in nervously (still feeling sick), contemplating if I should just turn around and run back to the car, I stay facing forward walking to first period. The hallways were very crowded, much more crowded than my old school.

The day went by fast and by the time I went home, I did so happily. My teachers seemed nice enough, and I ended up having a good day. I actually met people who were really cool and nice to me. Mom and dad were now relieved, so was I. Things began to turn around for me, I found myself shocked to have made friends, the people here weren’t as bad as I first thought. Coming from my little small town I had expected these “city folk” to be snobby, but in actuality they treated me nicely.

During the summer I got to hang out with my friends, new and old. I missed my old friends, seeing them definitely made me extremely happy. They were happy I finally

started to fit in out here.

Now it’s time for another first day at a new school, but this time it’s high school.

I’m not nervous this time. I’m actually excited. I am older, not that much older but still, I’m in high school! I felt great for the first time in a long time about going to school.

I lost a lot of friends by coming into high school, partially because they went to different high schools then I did. Some friends I just didn’t have any classes with or just ended up not talking to anymore. That kind of thing just happens in high school.

It’s a sad fact but truth nonetheless.

Now a sophomore I still have my close friends, but I also have a lot more new friends. This is different for me, ever since I’ve moved here I figured I’d have my close little group now I’m friends with enough people that no matter which class I walk to, I’ll say hi to at least two or three people I’m friends with.

That may not sound like a lot, but if you really think about it, it is. We have nearly 3000 kids in this school. And you pass about 200-300 between periods, sure you may recognize some of those people, but to actually know people is a completely different thing.

Change is not always a bad thing. It always seems to start off badly but it will turn in to something good. No matter how bad things ever start to be, just think, one day this will be better.