NOTED BY
PEN ON PAPER
DEC
20162017
DECEMBER PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Hey POPin’ People! I can’t believe November is already over! The season of chai lattes and college apps is (thankfully) coming to a close and 2017 is quickly approaching. But before we look into the future, let’s take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve accomplished over the past few months. We started off the year with a brand new cabby, welcoming back some familiar faces and some brand new ones. Everyone has really stepped up to the plate and taken it upon themselves to go above and beyond what is expected of them. I’d love to give a special thank you to my co president CherylMae Mallabo who has worked tirelessly to make sure that POP runs smoothly; I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in crime. I hope you beautiful people enjoyed our annual Poetry out Loud competition! This year, we had so many outstanding auditions; narrowing the winners down to our three favorites was extremely difficult. We want express our deep appreciation to everyone that had the courage to audition because we know how hard it is to get up on stage and speak in front of a crowd. We hope
you guys enjoyed the event as much as we did! But, the Poetry out Loud journey does not end here! Everyone please send good vibes to Jillian Matina as she begins her road to regionals! Make sure to come out and support her! February 1st, 2017 at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center for the LA County Competition! CherylMae and I are extremely honored to be serving as your Pen on Paper presidents during the new year. We want to thank every single one of you for taking the time to join and participate in our club, whether that means auditioning for Poetry out Loud, submitting to our weekly writing challenges, reading this newsletter, attending a creative writing workshop, and even buying boba at our food sales. You guys never fail to blow us away and for that we are eternally grateful. Pen on Paper would be nothing without the ardent support of our members. We’re excited to watch every single one of you develop your talent and are looking forward to a truly POPin’ year! Signing off, Sabrina Chan (½ of the Pen on Paper Presidents)
TABLE OF CONTENTS WORD ONLINE WRITING CHALLENGES
Find out about new literary magazines and other publications to give you a fresh outlook on contemporary poetry and writing. Featured writers from this monh's creative writing challenges on Facebook!
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Dedicated member Sarah Park tells us why she joined PoP, writing she's proud of, and about Hamilton.
HOW ROMANTIC!
We take on in-depth look on the literary style of Romanticism in the Monthly Movement!
IT COOL
Editor Jessica Andres recommends a bunch of things for November! (whoa)
CABBY MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Director of Activities (and creative writing workshop leader!!) Zereen Ahmed gives her take on books, writing, and Adam Levine.
SA-TIRED
Exhausted seniors in the midst of app season give us their satirical essays from Mr. Reitz's creative writing class.
WORD ONLINE
WHITE TEETH MAG BY JESSICA ANDRES
"LET OUR GENERATION BE HEARD" EST. 2016 @www.whiteteethmag.com Created in 2016 by Trishna R. and filled with collaborators, White Teeth Mag aims to let those who are told they "aren't good enough" a chance to express how they feel. Though, I don't know how these writers are told they aren't good enough. Because these pieces are hot. By only taking a select age group of writers (13 21), White Teeth Mag is an open haven for youthful voices: voices in love, voices frustrated with the system, and voices who haven't found people to talk to offline yet. White Teeth Mag writers often contrast idealism with the hard truths of living that many of us growing up come to terms with.There are different sections of writing: poetry, prose, and the broad creative writing section that serves as a section where writers
can discuss realworld issues (check . this out if you want to see writing about this past election!) The poetry and prose often are freeverse and full of intricate symbols and allusions. I've been following White Teeth Mag for several months, and what I like about the publications especially is the freedom that it allows submitting writers to have. Because the writers are young and generally untested, they take literary risks in their publications. The writers are honest and frank in dealing with tough topics such as mental health and heartbreak and they use different metaphors and techniques to explain it. White Teeth Mag gives a fresh perspective of things you may have generalized or put away. There is a strange idealization of youth, and in some retroactive way, there is also a nostalgic perception of it, as if one is looking back on a memory. The writing is from White Teeth Mag is fresh, alive, though sometimes painful, and waiting to be read. PS: Make sure to listen to their playlist posted on their website! It's very good. PPS: Additionally, If you are between the ages of 1321, you can apply to White Teeth Mag! If you turn in the application on their website and submit a portfolio of your writing or art, you could become a member of the White Teeth Mag team.
Example Submission From White Teeth Mag IF YOU COULD SEE THE FUTURE Posted on August 20, 2016 it aches that girls are so often prophets, aches that we cannot ever fix what breaks. count unhatched chickens, pretend they’re losses, sit there and watch and ache and ache and ache. so warm your hands at one more child’s pyre. (IT’S WHAT YOU ALL DO WHEN ICARUS BURNS.) lie well, for no one likes a bad liar. (THIS WILL BE THE LESSON LUCIFER LEARNS.) this seer is as wise as she is alone; to her, death is more brick wall than curtain. she is no hero: she reaps what she’s sown: it is so ugly to be so certain. she is so in love with a world made cruel, and it watches her unwind to the spool.
WRITING CHALLENGES
NOVEMBER #1 Your Lucky Day! As you’re walking down the road, you find a 100 dollar bill on the ground. The majority of us know that the ethical thing to do would be to find its owner. However, you’re in a big city and the circumstances simply make it impossible, so you decide to keep the money. Tell us how you would spend the $100!
Joshua Garcia $100. That could probably be helpful in paying for sports or perhaps save up for college. Heck I could start saving up for a car! Or maybe I can use it for my trivial desires. I could watch a movie, that's for sure or go out to eat with friends but is that what I want? Would I want myself to be happy or would I want others? What matters more? What would it mean to those people who are sick and poor and will probably never afford to ever go to a movie or eat at a nice restaurant. The lives that I can save with only $100. The opportunities that could be made and the countless memories that comes with it. More than thirty three... Thirty three humans. Is spending $100 worth of materialistic things better than saving thirty three babies? If we have a chance to save lives why don't we ever take it? Are we that selfish? We are... I want to give the money to the eliminate project.
WRITINGÂ CHALLENGES Laura Gholmieh Most would like to think that with 100 dollars, we would decide to help others. We would donate it to some charity or feed the homeless. But are we really so kind? We tend to put ourselves on a higher pedestal with all the things we would seemingly do if we had the chance, but when it comes down to it, would we? It's easier said than done and humans tend to exaggerate the truth. I would like to think I was kind, and willing to help others. But who am I to lie? To everyone? To myself? $100 in hand, selfish desires come out and trickle in the back of our minds like a sea of tidal waves that wash away any thought you ever had of helping anyone but yourself. And I would choose myself. But is it so wrong to do so? 100 dollars spent on this and on that, and on trivial things that would only bring joy for the time being, before it was forgotten the next day.
Nhi $100. Such a large sum of money, all at once, like a tide of fortune finally gifting the nets of hope that have remained barren all these years. I could help so many people with it. I could help myself with it. I could finally buy something for my friends. There's something to give back to the people that never asked for anything, at last. I should be free. I should have the ability to do almost anything I want to with this single Benjamin Franklin, worn and maybe run over by a few cars but still the same. Beaten down by life, but still valuable (like all you guys out there ;)). All mine, to use as I wish. And yet, I can feel the tugs. The strings, the ones I can never escape, pulling on my limbs, dragging me back, forcing me to act as a dark magician's marionette. I could help somebody with this money. He won't. My legs move to my father, my arms limply place the bill into his palm, and his strings turn me away from his greedy grin as it slips into his wallet.
#2: Throughout life, we meet people who come into our life teaching us so many new and unforgettable lessons. Whether it be a family member, a friend, a teacher, or someone else, let us know why and how that person shaped who you are as a person today. But wait, make sure not to tell us who that person is!
Dustine Ansiboy She is troubled and flawed. She makes mistakes and self destructs. She's sick, but she's pushing through. She falls sometimes, but she gets up, even if she feels crushed while doing so. She tears herself down because that's how she was raised and can't see past it. She's alone by her own doing and secretly has satisfaction in her isolation. But she's strong. Despite this all, she is strong. She is a fighter. She is my inspiration.
Saahil Iyer He is an angel, but he is not God. He is the devil to the demons. He has no faults. He believes in a meritocracy. He is not sexist nor does he support a patriarchy nor a matriarchy. He is not racist, nor does he discriminate be sexuality or gender identity. He is loved by all. Neither a Democrat nor a Republican nor any other political affiliation. He has committed no wrong and has always been righteous. He is destined to pass through the pearly gates. He is an ideal. As such, he does not exist. I don't believe that individual people come and teach us lessons. They are just parts of the ideal person that we form in our minds. You can't give importance to any one part so why try talking about one role model. All of them have their faults or things that discredit their status as a role model. The ideal is what matters; not the person.
MEMBER OF THE MONTH DECEMBER
k r a P h Sara Q: Selfie? A:
there really aren’t any rules about writing and in Whitney, it’s hard to write creatively since teachers are always teaching us to write in a certain format and in a certain way. These teachers HAVE helped us grow in writing but it was not a way for me to write creatively. The thing that I love is that in Pen on Paper, there aren’t any restrictions in my writing and it helps me to realize that writing does not always have to be so strict or uptight in a sense, but that it can be free flowing and creative.
Q: Who is your favorite writer and why? Q: What made you join Pen on Paper and what do you like about it? The reason why I joined Pen On Paper is because there weren’t many creative outlets that I’ve had. I have a hobby of writing song lyrics and I thought that being in a creative writing club such as Pen on Paper was a great way for me to be inspired and have more creative outlets. The thing that I like about Pen On Paper is that it shows that
Oooooh… this is hard… I would have to say that my favorite writer has to be Shakespeare. To be honest, this may seem like such a textbook answer but I really enjoy Shakespeare’s works. In the time of Shakespeare, they would hold the plays in a theatre where all classes could come together and see his plays. Shakespeare wrote to target all classes and it was a way to unify the Elizabethan era. This is extremely encouraging because it shows that writing really has no boundaries and that no
MEMBER OF THE MONTH matter what situation you are in at home or at school or just in the world, you can always sit down and enjoy a good book and that’s all that matters. In front of a book, you are not a king, a lower class citizen, or an upper class citizen. You are simply a reader and that’s what makes him so empowering.
Q: You consistently do the PoP writing challenges. What inspires you to write? Like I said, having a creative outlet is very important for me, but in this school called Whitney, it’s hard to find such creative outlets as we are taught to be textbook learners and to study things and learn in the way that is taught to us and creativity is not very encouraged. For example, the math and science departments get so much funding and yet, the arts programs, such as band or digital media, hardly get any funds and our teachers are forced to pay out of their own pockets while we are “enjoying” new Chromebooks. This just shows how little Whitney gives attention to creative and artistic outlets for the students. I feel like my mom gives me the most inspiration to write because she tells me that when you feel like the world’s not doing you justice, write it down and throw it back
out into the world. Art, writing, and music are such important factors in my life and I am inspired to write because I want to show our school and just people in general that writing and making music and art are not things that should be overlooked for “STEM”.
Q: What Pen on Paper piece are you most proud of? The one about my mom… She is just so empowering to me and I felt that as the theme was “life lessons” I learned so much through her yet I never knew her the way that she knows me. It’s crazy to realize the fact that our parents knew us our entire lives, yet we’ve only known them for a fraction of their lives. By knowing what my mom is going through, I felt so inspired and so I wrote that piece :)
Q: What do you look forward to doing in PoP? I want to write pieces that are relevant to the people here at Whitney. Pen on Paper is such a great place because it shows that truly, the only limitation to your writing is yourself and how much you are willing to write.
MEMBER OF THE MONTH Fast Faves! Sarah's favorite things! Favorite Food: Korean Spicy Rice Cakes
Favorite TV Show: I don't have one...does Hamilton count?
Favorite Book: To Kill A Mockingbird
Favorite Quote: “If you stand for nothing Burr, what will you fall for?” Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton
Favorite Song: "My Shot" Hamilton
MEMBER OF THE MONTH Here is Sarah's favorite piece she's written for Pen on Paper! (*I cried while writing this....*) My mother was never quite healthy She grew up tough and was never wealthy. She walked to school, miles and miles away. She never really was quite "okay" Her beloved dog was sold by her father Although he walked all the way back, he was taken away by another. Her father, my grandfather, wouldn't let her go To the military the way she wanted to, although He cared. He was scared. He was scared she would be sick just like him Diabetes never really left the family, made it quite grim. He wanted her safe from all of harm's way But then we moved to America, far far away We haven't really talked to him since. But we know he's always wondering if we're in a pinch. He found a day ago, that my mom was diagnosed. That she wasn't ok and everything caught up like a ghost He called, from Korea in a scared way To see if his daughter was really okay.
My mother is sick. A tumor in her back. And diabetes slipped in, right through the crack. He cried for the first time since she had left. He remembered the time when they very first met. His child, sick with diabetes like him He was mortified and scared that the future was dim. He asked if she resented him, for giving her sickness She cried in response and said there is no forgiveness. For there was none to be given for he had done nothing wrong And that she was living and trying to be strong. He sent her his love, unable to give more But tears and affection just couldn't restore His broken heart that he had thinking That his daughter was sick and prayers were wishful thinkings. He prayed and he prayed for her to be well. And this man is my grandfather which about whom i will proudly tell. He was a great man and my mom did not resent him For he gave her love although she couldn't quite see them. Hopefully at last, one day they'll be reunited My mother and her father, their love once more lighted.
How Romantic!
((the og emos)) A TIME OF IMAGINATION & TRANSCENDENTALISM
movement monthly THE MOVEMENT An artistic, literary, and intellectual movement, the Romantic movement began in Europe at the end of the 1700s and hit its peak from 1800 1850. Idealizing the past, namely the medieval era, and focusing on individualism and emotion, the Romantic movement focused on the aesthetics of raw emotion such as horror, terror, and love. With authors such as Jane Austen, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Lord Byron, the Romantic period is also a time of deep introspection into why emotion is felt. Intended to draw away from the city and growing industrialism, the Romantic period denotes a yearning to return to a simpler, more natural life.
POETRY Poetry in the Romantic era focused on the self and the deep emotion and motivations of the self. One such example is Lord Byron's The Corsair. Conrad, the protagonist of Byron's epic poem, is a pirate who has been rejected by society and swears to fight humanity. As the source of Byronic heroes to come, The Corsair is an extremely influential piece of literature. Quote: "He knew/ The hearts that loath'd him, crouch'd and dreaded too./ Lone, wild, and strange, he stood alike exempt/ From all affection and from all contempt”
How Romantic! movement monthly ART
Pictured: Fire at the Tower of London JMW Turner, 1841 Romantic art was first characterized by landscape painting. Artists such as Caspar David Friedrich and JMW Turner (above) were wellknown for landscapes, especially those including Gothic architecture and pastoral scenes. Though art depicting mythological scenes continued to be popular, the greatest artistic feats were considered those that alluded to recent history or currents events. This revival of "story painting" from the Renaissance became very popular.
NOVELS Romantic literature tended to criticize or evoke longing to return to the past. Women in Romantic literature were intended to be sensible, and in the Romantic era, there were more female protagonists. (Thanks, Austen.) Another theme was the focus on the supernatural and the effect of it on fate. Other than this, Romantic literature movements varied by country. For example, Germany's literature had strong themes of nationalism while English literature tended to be sympathetic to French ideals, especially with Napoleon's return to France. Pictured: Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Brontë
IT COOL Editor Jessica Andres' faves for December, perfect for taking some time for yourself over break.
ALBUM: BLOND BY FRANK OCEAN Dreamy and electronic, Frank Ocean's blond takes you back to a time of nostalgia and comfort. The newest Frank Ocean album since his Channel Orange in 2012, blond comes from the same vein of distant love and fading memories. Warning for language. Jessica's Favorite Song from blond: Nights Example Lyric: Breath till I evaporated/My whole body see through/Transportation, handmade/And I know it better than most people
TV SHOW: SENSE8 What does it mean to be connected to someone? In Netflix's Sense8, eight individuals from across the world find themselves experiencing each other's lives, hearing each other's thoughts, and feeling what each other feels. Beyond curiosity and affinity, the eight must unite to escape a mysterious organization set on hunting them down. Raw and honest in the human experience, Sense8 questions humanity, why we love, and what our true selves are. Also, because it's on Netflix, it's perfect bingewatching material. Warning for mature themes and language.
BOOK: LITTLE WOMEN BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT An oldie but a goodie. Little Women tells the story of the four March sisters, who live in postCivil War America. Navigating through poverty and maturity, the girls face adversities that are a good reminder of the things that we take for granted in today's society. This book is very good for reading with a warm blanket, a steaming drink, and lots of free time to do absolutely nothing. Great for winter break!
Cabby member of the month! Q: Selfie? A:
Zereen Ahmed Q: What is your job in PoP? I am one of the co Director of Activities and my job (along with my wonderful partner Isabelle!) is to create activities for all our members in PoP. From activities in our general meetings to other events we offer during lunch or outside of school, I ensure that that they are all fun and unique so that our members acquire the best and memorable experience! Also, as co Director of Activities, I am in charge of coming up with our weekly writing challenges posted on Facebook in which anyone can contribute their thoughts to based on the prompt.
It’s such a beautiful way to obtain a variety of opinions and responses through the art of writing! On the topic of writing, I’d also like to mention something new PoP started this year which is the Creative Writing Workshop. I founded this workshop because I wanted to give people an opportunity to explore what they are capable of writing and to unleash their creativity. I also made each of the lessons/ activities very different from the ones utilized in the Creative Writing class we have on campus in the fact that they are more imaginative and “activity” based. Writing is honestly such a beautiful, artistic, and therapeutic way to express yourself. So my hopes are that both younger and upperclassmen will attend (especially since the class on campus is only offered to juniors and seniors) and will share the same love for writing that I do. I encourage everyone to attend a session; (the one in December especially will be very unique; it’s winter themed!) I promise you won’t regret it!
Cabby member of the month! Q: What did you like about Pen on Paper that made you want to join club cabinet? Despite being a part of the club cabinet last year, I loved how Pen on Paper gave me an opportunity to exercise my passion for the literary arts and combine it with leadership qualities. Not only do I admire everything Pen on Paper stands for and the activities we have to offer as a club to our campus that heavily focuses on STEM subjects, but also the strong bond and familial relationships our cabinet members have created with one another.
Q: What is your favorite writing piece submitted this year and why? My favorite writing piece submitted this year was one by Jessica Andres about what Autumn means to her. The prompt was: “What does fall mean to you? Describe what the season of Autumn means for you using sensory details: smell, touch, taste, sight, and hearing.” The prompt was actually one of my favorites because we attained a very diverse amount of
responses and perspectives I’ve never really considered, all the while graceful and unique. Jessica's piece mesmerized me with its language and eloquence. It’s poetic in a sense and conveys emotion that normally I would not personally associate with fall. But to view this perspective was refreshing and original and I absolutely admire the style it is written in.
Q: As a writer yourself, what are you inspired by? Any authors? I’m inspired by everyone and everything around me! Whenever I’m searching for a new idea, often times I’ll just walk around and observe my surroundings. When I’m walking down the gray pavement in the park scattered with crisp and colorful stars that crunch under my foot, I’ll envision a scene of perhaps a young girl who is walking alone in the park and suddenly finds a narrow pathway that leads her to some mystical place where she goes on an adventure to find something. Sometimes I’ll even be inspired by the most simple things in my room: A boring textbook sitting on my
Cabby member of the month! desk that happens to have a secret love letter scrawled on one of the pages that a young boy finds one day. He embarks on a journey to find the previous owner of the book and when he does, the two go on an adventure to find the authoralso the man’s lover once upon a time and they discover many secrets along the way. I guess my colorful imagination really contributes to everything that inspires me. Other times, I’m inspired by people in my life who have either loved me or hurt me and use those emotions to create a conflict and relationship I between two people that eventually rises into an actual story. I actually don’t have any specific authors that inspire me, but most of the time I admire the writing of many of my peers and teachers and attempt to imitate their style and see if it works for me or not. Although I remain true to my original style because it is unique to me, I do enjoy trying other methods and techniques I observe from others.
Q: I know that you want to become an English teacher. What made you decide to choose English as a potential career? Are there any
teachers at Whitney who have inspired you? I’ve always known since I was little that I wanted to be some kind of teacher. For the longest time, it was elementary but in the 10th grade, my favorite teacher in the entire world, Mrs. Hunter, inspired me to become a high school English teacher because she helped me discover my true love for the English subject. Although it was her first year teaching English, she did an excellent job by giving us the most creative assignments and projects and entertaining us with her various accents used in the books she read aloud to us. I also really appreciated the active discourse from time to time and she always showered us with her teacher/motherly love. She is definitely #teachergoals. I chose English because I find it to be the most artistic and creative subject within all the “academic” courses at school. Not only does it consist of reading and writing (both things I have a passion for) but also intellectual discussions and an environment for a variety of opinions. Something new I’ve been starting to consider is also
Cabby member of the month! potentially teaching Creative Writing, which was inspired by Mr. Reitz but more so the love I’ve always had for writing. I think it would be fun to teach and also allow me to continue and exercise my passion in the future.
What do you look forward to doing in PoP for the rest of the year?
Q: I also know you love Adam Levine (who doesn’t?). What’s your favorite Maroon 5 song? Oh no! You caught me in my post AdamLevinestage! I actually recently grew out of him because I realized it was more of a infatuation (isn’t that the case with most celebrities people “love”? ) that no longer fascinated me. Nevertheless, I still love the music from Maroon 5 and currently my favorite song would have to be their new single “Don’t Wanna Know.” But if we’re talking the old classics, then definitely “Payphone” and “One More Night.” i
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I look forward to creating new relationships with members that attend our meetings, strengthen my bonds with each of our cabby members, create lasting memories through all of our fun activities, establishing a very successful Creative Writing workshop that hopefully will be continued in the following years, and really just leaving behind an impact that will inspire others to join PoP’s cabinet and allow the club to continue being one of the best on campus!
Cabby member of the month! Zereen's Fast Faves! Favorite Food?
Favorite Book? How can you ask me something like this?!?! Hmm...I do love The Twilight Saga!
Pizza, but if I’m feeling fancy, then lasagna.
Favorite TV Show? Pretty Little Liars
Favorite Quote? "Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." Favorite Song? "You Belong With Me" Taylor Swift
SA-TIRED SATIRICAL ESSAYS FROM MR. REITZ'S CREATIVE WRITING CLASS rs!! o i n e s d e r i t m o r f On Defending Religion by Elbert Moon Religion is under attack in this country. In this new age, the government and media have done their best to suppress Christianity. The signs of this war against faith were subtle at first, but now, it is impossible to avoid seeing the grip that has been placed firmly around believers. We have seen in the recent decades a push towards “political correctness”. The effects of this liberal initiative are felt by every American. People are now no longer allowed to talk about their faith in the public eye without significant backlash. We have seen figures such as Kim Davis, Mike Pence, and Mike Huckabee lampooned for standing firm in their beliefs. Looking around, it is growing harder and harder to find true examples of the faith who are not instantly attacked by the media. The liberal media crucifies any person who dares to bring faith into the public sphere, let alone politics. Have we, as Americans, forgotten the values upon which our nation was founded upon? Contrary to what the textbook manufacturers have tried to teach our children, this country was created based upon Christian ideals and religious freedom. From the oppressive Old World came thousands of immigrants who sought freedom to practice their beliefs without persecution. Hundreds of years later, I find it hard to believe that we can stand to the side while we face persecution once more, except not from a government hundreds of miles away but rather here in our own country in Washington DC. Under the leadership of some of America’s finest, we saw a revitalization of the moral core of our country in the 1980’s and 1990’s, until the liberal response worked to tear down the progress we had made. We cannot, as a nation, allow this to continue. Just in the past couple years, we have seen the sanctity of marriage degraded, the ability of Christian business owners to uphold values of their faith erased, and the privacy of our bathrooms erased. Where can we place the blame for these atrocities? We can only look to many of our current politicians, who claim to be Christians but in reality, are not doers of the word, but rather hearers of it only. We as a nation have grown complacent, allowing surface displays of faith to take the place of real action that comes from the heart. We have
allowed those who feign being of the faith to take very powerful positions in the past decade, and this cannot continue. We cannot allow people of the faith to be scared off from taking public office by the media, for we are true believers, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, we must continue to be strong and enforce our principles in our government. Yes, we must continue to enforce, not start to do so, because no matter the lies of the liberal left, our ideals are already written within the government. Let us not forget in the Declaration of Independence, it is clear that our rights are endowed by our Creator, not some body of corruptible and faithless men. We must support politicians who will promise to protect our faith and enforce it within all facets of our government. With the dangerous and flawed path our country has gone down from the economy to society, it is clear that the only way to right our course is to base our laws around the only set of laws which are guaranteed to be correct: those of our Lord. There will be a challenge to this, from those who twist the words of our founders, of whom a majority were Christian, against us. Make no mistake, this is an expression of religious freedom, which is guaranteed in the First Amendment. The government cannot limit representatives and citizens from expressing their faith. However, we have seen in recent laws such as with the Supreme Court decision against the sanctity of marriage that our government has not adhered to this. Our faith has been challenged, as the government consistently makes decisions that do not align with our beliefs. They are being jettisoned from society seemingly with every bill and decision. By voting in representatives who will press our beliefs and ensure that they are protected in this nation, we can correct errors such as that Supreme Court decision and more. All of our representatives moving forward must be committed to protecting and representing Christianity in our government. The legislation of the new millennium should make sure that traditions such as school prayer and marriage are here for the next millennium. This is a Christian nation. We must remember that always. The majority of our population is of the faith, and our government must serve the majority. However, based on what you see from the socalled Christians of DC, you would never assume so. Make no mistake, Americans, our faith is being institutionally challenged and persecuted against in this country. Our voice is being robbed in the lawmaking process, and it is time to reclaim it. The majority of us are watching privileged minorities and the elite slowly destroy the values we have so fought for. If we fail to stop this, we risk losing the ideals that are at the heart of our nation’s foundation. We cannot betray what the Founding Fathers so greatly immortalized.
The Art of Getting a Boyfriend Sabrina Chan Last year, a friend said to me “You know what Sabrina? You’re like really pretty. More guys would like you if you were less scary.” “What do you mean?” I inquired. “Guys don’t know you’re interested in them. You should smile and flirt more to get more attention. It’ll work.” My initial reaction was shock. I’d never self identified as someone desperate for male attention. But, after thinking about her words, I began to see her point. She was right. My nonchalance had been misinterpreted for indifference and apathy and, if I didn’t want to remain perpetually single, I had to change my ways. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that ideal families are made of a strong hardworking male figure (doesn’t necessarily have to be the father the world has grown rather progressive), several obedient wellbehaved children, and a dutiful loving mother. The mother is to care for the children and maintain the home. She is to be unassuming and cordial to all. That is the archetype that has been ingrained into the minds of those smart enough to see it. To one day fulfill their destiny in the world to one day join the cult of domesticity a woman must realize that the only path to success lies within the man. It requires ultimate enlightenment for a girl to unlock the gateway to success. It’s rather tempting to speak up, to be witty and strongwilled. But, like the tantalizing apple in the Garden of Eden, with knowledge comes great risk and personal sacrifice. Yes, the cathartic thrill of being heard and respected is unparalleled, but it is also fleeting. The foolish squander their youth, living from momentary high to momentary high on fruitless journey to discover themselves. Every year spent roaming the world and trying new things exponentially decreased their marrying potential. They lacked focus and needed to reassess their priorities. That is where I fell. Like a child, my naivete clouded my judgement and I failed to see into my future. I had spent so much time chasing my dreams that I had completely ignored the possibility of finding a worthy husband and settling down. If I were to continue down that path, I would be destined for hagdom: rich beyond belief, successful, selfactualized, but never truly satisfied. My friend was enlightened. She understood the importance of appealing to men. They would be the ones earning the money and paying the bills, the least I could do is be quiet enough as to not emasculate them. Men are genetically predispositioned to find the ideal wife, doeeyed and reserved. This search doesn’t begin at adulthood. Even in high school, most guys gravitate towards girls that make them feel comfortable, often not vexing or brash enough to challenge them. (As with everything, there are obviously exceptions.) Though few actually end up with their significant other from high school, dating as a teenager serves as a test run of sorts for the real life. As an admitted perfectionist, I need to practice if I ever dream of getting it right. I would need to change my ways immediately as to not allow my bad habits to grow into personality traits. Dating is all about marketing yourself and I still had a ways to go. That conversation shone a new light on my dating potential. Every monumental personal change had to be taken in steps and, that night, I went home and wrote a todo list for myself: Remember to smile and flirt.