The Lake - Dec 2012

e2 De cem 4, Is su e3 ber 18, 201 2

Vol um

THE

LAKE

The few, the proud True to patriotic form, Pete Wilson ‘13 fulfills his life-long dream as a U.S. Marine page 16-17

Standley Lake High School 9300 W. 104th Ave Westminster, CO 80021

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

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LAKE

Editors-in-Chief: Eva Hall Courtney Sullivan Managing Editor: Austin Kunert Section Editors: Elle George Kessa Gomez Chaye Gutierrez Sabrina Pacha Business Managers: Bethany Keupp Julia Vasquez Social Media Mgr: Taylor Foutz

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Staff Writers: James Burky Cassidy Conlon Ky Delohery Aubree Dewine Jordan Gray Reonna Hatch Amber Hill Bethany Keupp Katelyn Mertz Emily Morin Jessica Olmstead Julia Vasquez Cartoonist: Aina Azlan

Volume 24.3 December 18, 2012

The Lake aspires to produce a

publication that gets students excited, as well as informed. As individuals, we yearn to write, photograph, interview, cover, learn, and grow with pride. We will never be satisfied with a bare minimum, for we understand that passion is key. The Lake will never be afraid to uncover the real news of our school--we will embody what it means to be a Gator.

Advisor: Ben Reed

Opinions or expressions made by students in this publication are not expressions of board policy. The district and its emloyees are immune from any civil action based on any expression made for or published by students. The Lake is an open forum for and by the students, faculty, and community of Standley Lake High School. The Lake is willing to accept and print any appropriate articles submitted by the students of SLHS and reserves the right to edit any of these articles. We will not print letters sent to us without a name and signature. Submit letters to Mr. Ben Reed’s mailbox and email to standleylakenewspaper@gmail.com

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N EW BRIE S FS

Can’t find your jacket? Binder? Hat? Check the overflowing lost-and-found before winter break. All items left behind will be donated.

Your cheat sheet to the Swamp

Grandma’s red christmas sweater and dad’s striped cardigan were spotted roaming the halls of SLHS on Friday, Dec. 14. Students teamed up to have an ugly sweater party.

Danny DiTorrice ‘13 auditioned at the Colorado Thespian Convention in front of thirty-seven colleges where he performed two monologues. After his performance, he got twenty-five callbacks. “This means that they [the colleges] can either admit me right away, or want to see more,” DiTorrice said.

Congratulations to the speech team on all of their achievements and performances. Elsa Johnson ‘13 and Tineke Naseef ‘15 placed first in duo interpretation. Brandy Le ‘14 and Devynn Pruett ‘13 placed third in duo interpretation.

Christa Valdez ‘13 placed fourth in poetry and interpretation. Emma Asztalos ‘16, Courtney Kauffman ‘16, Cassie Gardner ‘16, Tyler Glenwright-Korte ‘15, Steven Emmen ‘13, Marcus McKinney ’14, and Isabella Lopez ‘15 all received ribbons.

All week SLHS will be collecting new and unused socks during 1st lunch and resource to donate for the holiday season. Ashley Fuller ‘13 shows off her crazy socks. Bring the new and unused socks to the commons.

Compiled by: Elle George and Taylor Foutz

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For more news coverage, like The Lake on facebook facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper

22 Congratulations -- you survived first semester!

23 Got any last minute Christmas shoppping?

Happy

Holidays

Enjoy a seasonal drink from page 9

26

27 Send a belated Christmas card

December 2012 - January 2013 28

Go on a date with that speacial someone or a group of friends.

See page 11 for ideas

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Dedicate today to all things winter-snowboarding, igloos, skiing--you name it.

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Start the year with something you’ve always wanted to do

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Mile High Holidays Downtown Denver has various events, deals, and discounts specially for the Holiday seasons

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Take a day to reflect on your past year and set the tone for the new year

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Check out Old Town Arvada before the lights are taken down

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Catch a new release!

Multiple movies came out on Christmas Day

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Ice skate for FREE at Southwest Rink.

Aparpahoe & 16th St., Downtown Denver

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E A RLX

- Compiled by Katelyn Mertz

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STY LE L IF E

86 hours

There are 86 hours until the predicted Apocalypse and Gators have a lot to get off their chests

You have

left to live...

What do you need to get off your conscience?

“That even though I always fight with my parents, they mean more to me than they will ever know.”

“That I pray for the day high school will end.”

“If I knew what it would’ve turned into, I never would have told him my feelings for him. ” “That I love him.”

“That my friends don’t know the real me. ” “When I was younger, I got a message on Myspace from a girl asking

me on a date sometime. I politely rejected her and about a month later I found out that she died from cancer. ”

“I would tell everyone how I actually feel about them. ” “That I will always regret not living life to the fullest.”

“That I am afraid of growing up, and the world I have ahead of me.”

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- Compiled by Chaye Gutierrez and Reonna Hatch

His Own Rules

COMING SOON

Tom Cruise stars in this action film where his character, Jack Reacher, served in the military as a police investigator. Two years ago he vanished and is now referred to as the “ghost” who isn’t found unless wanted. In a harmless city five people are killed and the police quickly arrest the accused who claims he’s innocent. When accused he says, “get Jack Reacher.” Reacher comes out of hiding to prove a man’s innocence and find the true culprit. This film has action, mystery, and little bit of humor to fill an hour or two of your winter break. Rated PG-13. Coming December 21.

Dream The Dream Set in the time before the French Revolution, prisoner Jean Valjean is released to start a new life for himself while trying to avoid the relentless inspector Javert.

Jean Valjean starts his new life when meeting Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and their interaction build a new life for him and one for Fantine’s daughter.

Through the story, multiple characters and tragedies are introduced along with songs that will warm and break your heart. There is love, war, and realities that are sometimes too true.

This version of what is best known as Le Miz is special because it is the first time a musical has been done like this on screen. The actors have to sing live on set instead of prerecording in a studio. This production includes the talents of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, along with Amanda Seyfried and Helena Bonham Carter. Rated PG-13.

Coming Christmas Day. - Complied by Julia Vasquez

A Mother & Son Trip Andy Brewster has spent the past few years on a new invention, and now he has to go out and sell it. He plans to go across the country attempting to discover buyers. Tagging along on this adventure is his mother, and they get to know each other in a whole new way. This movie should be a good comedy for winter break, and it stars Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand. Rated PG-13.

Coming December 21st.

TOP MOVIES OF THE YEAR 1.

Marvel’s Avengers is number one in the box office for opening weekend with a total of $207,438,708.

2.

The Dark Knight Rises is number wo for the year with $160,887,295 for opening weekend.

3.

The Hunger Games surprised everyone with it’s giant opening of $152,535,747.

4.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 falls at number four with it’s opeing weekend being $141,067,364.

5.

Rounding out the top five is Skyfall.

With an opeing weekend of $88,364,714. *Due to press time, the Lake was unable to report opening weekends for other movies after December 11.

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STY LE L IF E

Snap chat

Me?

An app sweeps through the Lake, creating a frenzy for this new fad Click here to retake your picture.

Tap on the picture to type a short message.

Click here for an option to draw on your picture.

“I think it’s very you, very your generation. Everything being very quick and immediate-- this captures that immediacy.

It does seem kind of fun, but I can see it open for wrong context.”

-James McAvoy, Social Studies teacher

“My funniest memory on snapchat is just all the faces that people make and send to me.

It’s funny because they would probably not make those faces at school, so you see a different side of people.”

-Maddi York ‘15

Sean Palizzi ‘13 says his funniest Snapchat moments are when Zach Hott ‘13 sends him pictures from the toilet. Sean and his friends, Zach Hott ‘13, Bryan Direnzo ‘13, Tanner Flack’13 and Sean langan ‘13 pose in the picture above.

“I like how snapchat is like the new picture message, but I hate that you can’t look at the picture again.” - Rachel Wise ‘13 and Brooke Stevens ‘13

Snapchat? Here’s the deets

I

Click here to adjust the time your picture will be viewed.

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Click here to save your picture to your photo album.

After you hit send, you need to decide who to send it to and then confirm.

f you haven’t heard aboutSnapchat, you’re living under a rock-but that’s okay, because we’re here to save you.

The relatively new app that allows you to send a picture to anyone with the app installed has risen to popularity because of the small catch that allows Snapchat to be different from just a picture message.

The picture you send can only be viewed for a certain amount of seconds, and then it disappears unless-- one of the more

advanced Snapchatters attempts to screenshot your picture. In that case your embarassing, funny or just downright-weird picture wil forever live in their phone.

Snapchat is not only on the iPhone either, you can also download it if you have a smartphone. The only downside is you might not be able to screenshot the pictures you receive depending on your phone model.

-Compiled by Emily Morin and Sabrina Pacha

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CHRISTMAS

CONCOCTIONS Peppermint Mocha 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 3 tablespoons powdered cocoa 3 tablespoons warm water 1/2 cup hot espresso 1 1/2 cups hot milk Stir the water and sugar in a saucepan until sugar dissolves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer and add peppermint extract. Allow mixture to simmer for 20 minutes.Mix cocoa and water in a mug until paste forms. Add espresso and 1 1/2 teaspoon of the peppermint syrup.

Finally, add the milk and serve hot.

Eggnog Latte 1/2 cup eggnog 1/4 cup whole milk 1-2 shots espresso Sprinkle of nutmeg for garnish Whipped cream Combine cold eggnog with cold milk and steam. Add espresso shots to steamed eggnog mixture and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Pumpkin Spice Latte 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee) Combine milk, pumpkin and sugar in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until steamed. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pumpkin spice. Whisk the mixture until foam appears.

Pour into mug, add espresso and enjoy!

- Compiled by Reonna Hatch and Sabrina Pacha

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SWA PEO MP PLE

The Super Humans of Standley Lake Hidden talents inside Standley Lake emerge from the crowd

Sean Langan ‘13

Sammie Brown ‘14

Brittany Marks ‘15

Cierra Sullivan ‘16

Although mind-bendingly inattainable for most, elbow licking stands as a unique anotomical talent.

It came effortlessly to senior Sean Langan, who has owned this skill his entire life.

And all it takes is the use of a few muscles that most people cannnot employ.

Limbs and elbows are usually simple restrictions when it comes to the way the human body can move.

But for junior Sammie Brown, her arms double as a jump rope.

Although there’s no physical jumping involved, Brown’s doublejointed ability allowes her to step through her arms and bring them back to her front without parting her

Occasionally, a talent takes work.

Dedication and perseverence can very often give someone the same result if not better - than someone who just happened to be born with the skill.

“I just work all the time to constantly get better and to improve,” sophomore Brittany Marks said.

“Dancing is everything- a way to release how I’m feeling, to find myself, to get to know people, and just a way to make me happy. When I’m dancing, there isn’t a way for me not to be

The human body can withstand the oddest of biological shapes, as freshman Cierra Sullivan so aptly proved.

Without breaking a sweat, Sullivan took a deep breath, and with its release, bent over backward to touch the heels of her feet.

Not only that, but she then remained in her distorted position for another thirty seconds, laughing, as

Chase Lindblad ‘14

Many talents require hours of concentration - and countless scrapes and bruises. Lindblad spent days, weeks, months smashing into walls and lockers, losing his balance and meeting the dirt (with whom he has since become very friendly), and nearly giving up too many times to count on a single hand.

Unicycling requires far more than simple balance as regular bicycles do. Focus and concentration are key if the rider would rather avoid the hospital.

“It took me about two years to learn,” Lindblad said. Two years of bad scrapes and close calls.

Even with all the time that he dedicated to this talent, Lindblad still occasionally loses his footing, winding up on the floor amid a chorus of laughter from his friends.

Despite all of this, to Lindblad, the skill has been completely and absolutely worth every

- Compiled by Amber Hill

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Walk with me

Take a step into the more creative side of winter date plans with these unique ideas

Zoo Lights Stay In Grab some comfy blankets, make some warm hot cocoa, and snuggle up together to watch a few cute Christmas movies, such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Since December 1, the Denver Zoo has been open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for the Denver Zoo Lights. This event is a great date idea if you’re looking to get out of the house and see some beautiful zoo animal themed Christmas lights. Admission is $12 without a Zoo membership, free with a membership.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides Bundle up and make your way by horse drawn sleighs to the Hot Cocoa Site at the Sombrero Ranches by Winter Park. Ride your way up to a campfire, where you can roast marshmallows, pet horses, make snow angels, and view wildlife such as foxes, moose and snowshoe hares. After you’re finished, it’s a short ride back to the stables. Open 7 days a week, the sleigh times are 12, 1:30, 3:30, and 7:00 p.m., $28 per person.

Murder Mystery Dinners 16th Street Mall

Add some curiosity to your normal dinner date by spending the night trying to solve a murder mystery. Playing every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m., the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse offers a night of interactive detective work and a fourcourse plated dinner for just $54 a person.

Enjoy a night of dining, entertainment and shopping all in one place. Take a stroll on the town and window shop, then visit the Colorado Convention Center for a show. You can also treat your date to dinner afterwards at the Hard Rock Cafe.

- Compiled by Cassidy Conlon

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SPO BRIE RTS FS

Connor Durant ‘15 dribbles the ball. Boys Basketball began their season at a tournament at Green Mountain. Here they suffered a loss from Evergreen.

Girls swimming begins their season at a meet against Ralston Valley.

New swimmer Alie Settje ‘15 said, “Swimming’s going good. [I feel like] we’re all becoming more of a team.”

Your cheat sheet to Winter Sports

Boys hockey hosts their first home game against Lewis Plamer High School. They lost 3-2.

Haley Lopez ‘13 passes to Casey Torbet ‘15 in the first girls basketball game of the season. They suffered a loss from Horizon.

Nate Carlson ‘13 went 4-0 for the day at the annual varsity wrestling Gator dual tournament on Dec. 8. Six teams attended and Standley Lake took 4th.

For more news coverage, like The Lake on facebook facebook.com/standleylakenewspaper

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fic

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FACT

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“ ‘Ms. B’ is the Australian lady”.

She’s actually from New Zealand, “I used to always tell people, if they asked me if I was from Australia, that that was like asking a Coloradan if they were from Texas. Australians actually have a big rivalry with us New Zealanders.” - Campus Supervisor Ms. Christine Broetzman

FICTION?

Busting the myths of Standley Lake

n o i t c fi

climbing Mount Everest “After and getting frostbite, Mr. Cassady lost some of his toes.

”

“I remember thinking that I was going to lose toes because of the frostbite, but I never actually did.” -Science teacher Mr. Rob Cassady

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Standley Lake students, being the attentive drivers they are, make the parking lot a very safe place.

”

“It’s like required, if you drive at Standley Lake, to drive recklessly because everyone does.” -Paul Bass ‘13

“Mr. Cohara is a dinosaur.” few students abide by “ Very the stop sign when exiting the parking lot. ”

“Clearly he’s a dinosaur becuase he dances like one. And, he’s really old.”

-English teacher Ms. Jill Esposito

“I feel like everyone needs to go back to Driver’s Ed and learn how to follow signs. [They need to] realize that stop isn’t an abbreviation for something. It doesn’t mean L.O.L. or L.M.F.A.O. It actually means STOP.” -Campus Supervisor Mr. Jake Duran

t c a f -Compiled by Kylynn Delohery and Taylor Foutz

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STY LE L IF E

W H AT PA R T O F

YES

DONT YOU UNDERSTAND? Voters allow for changes to come at SLHS If you have made it out alive after hours of stand-

ing on the 24-year-old bleachers that the Gators use at every assembly, basketball game, volleyball match, and wrestling meet at Standley Lake, consider yourself lucky.

To say they’re broken is an understatement. In fact, that awesome bouncing that happens during the “I Believe” chant? That’s not supposed to happen.

However, thanks to Jeffco voters, new bleachers are on the way.

“There will be a time over the summer where nobody will have access to the gym, at all. The new bleachers should be done over the summer, and it takes a long time,” said Principal Jeff Pierson about the changes coming to Standley next school year.

This is just one change that Standley Lake will encounter caused by the passing of mill levy and bond 3A and 3B. Schools throughout Jefferson County will undergo improvements, keep valued staff members, and cut furlough days completely.

The average Jeffco homeowner will pay about a dime a day in extra property tax as a result of these laws passing.

“Obviously, this school needs a lot of help and fixing up,” Mr. Pierson said.

“The only money they’ve got for the bond is for

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schools across the district on top-priority needs. We have two top-priority needs according to the district.

We are going to get new bleachers, and they are going to upgrade our security system.”

The money from the bond will be used only as improvements to the safety of the school equipment.

According to the Support Jeffco Schools website, “Using the updated facilities assessment data, only critical needs which will protect existing facility assets are included in the scope of this bond.

Categories of these repairs include: electrical, exterior, fire safety, mechanical, roofing, plumbing, stairs and elevators.”

Hence, the new bleachers and security system in the Swamp.

In addition, six hundred jobs across the Jeffco district would have been lost.

“Number one is keeping teachers here. That was my biggest thing. We could not lose 9 or 10 people. That would just not have worked out,” Pierson said.

Cutting staff members would have been a necessity due to the lack of money for all of Jefferson County schools.

“We would have lost a lot of electives and some

of our programs would have went away entirely,” Pierson said.

There would have been an increase in the number of students added to classrooms. According to Support Jeffco Schools, classroom sizes would have increased significantly. Mr. Pierson said, “There would have been huge issues. The ratio of student to teachers would have went up tremendously.”

Ami Prichard, the Jefferson County Education

side would be down the road, when people are paying taxes for 3A and 3B,” Pierson said.

However 3A and 3B can only cover so much of the school’s needs. There is much more needed in order to get schools in top shape.

“While we are celebrating tonight, we must remember that 3A and 3B provide a short term solution to an ongoing statewide school funding gap. We look forward to continuing to partner with the community to work on long term sustainable funding solutions for education in Colorado,” said Prichard said on Election night.

One change students will notice next semester is increased school time. “Furlough days are now gone,” Pierson said.

This means no extra days off for the student body, but it also means that the money lost from previous furlough days will be accounted for, and teachers will see the lost money back in their pockets.

Pierson said, “one percent pay will be reinstated back to staff acrossed the district and they’ll get that over the course of two months.”

Unfortunately, this money for the school could only fit the crucial safety needs.

When Pierson was asked

When students return for the 2013-2014 school year, new additions will be in place.

Association president, said on the JCEA website, “As a result of this victory we can continue taking the lead to get real results for students by ensuring that every student is taught by a quality teacher and that teachers have the resources necessary to provide a 21st century education so that students can compete in the global economy.”

With $3.06 a month tax increase per household, Jeffco residents will be supporting the school district’s important needs. “I don’t see anything negative, I think it was a win-win. I think the the only negative

what he would do with the money if he could choose where it was going, he easily came up with multiple ideas. “In my mind there are some huge needs,” he said. “Number one we need new tile or new carpet through the whole school. Secondary to that, I believe we have to get a second gym. It’s something that has to be a priority.”

SLHS and Pomona are the only schools in district without a second gym.

When students return for the 2013-2014 school year, new additions will be in place. Jeff Pierson said, “with help from the class of 2013, we will have a new tile look from the front entrance all the way to the administrative office.”

The bleachers and a new intercom system won’t be the only addition to the school. Two new soccer fields are being built with fundraised money. The tile floor in the main entrance will be paid for by fundraisers from the class of 2013.

“Blue, green, and white tiles will surround the whole entrance of Standley and lead back to the administrative office. It will be the most noticeable senior class gift. The most noticeable and the best, ” said Brianna Bartholomew, a senior class officer for student council.

Say goodbye to the creaking bleachers and hello to a new and improved Standley Lake.

-Elle George and Reonna Hatch

New P.A. System

With money from the 3A and 3B bond the school security intercome system will be installed in SLHS. “I’m sad that I don’t get to use the new intercom system, but I’m most excited for upcoming students to better themselves with it” Marcena Day ‘13, one of the voices of the morning annoucments said.

New Bleachers “Those bleachers look like they are gonna break every year and i get so scared that someone is going to go right through them,” principal Jeff Pierson said.

Over the summer new bleachers similiar to Pomona’s style and qauility will be built in the school gym.

Courtesy of 3A and 3B C o m m u n i t y Fu n d e d

Senior Gift

The senior gift will pave the way for incoming students. Jeff Pierson said, With help from the class of 2013, we will have a new tile look from the front entrance all the way to the administrative office.” These tiles will be in shades of our school colors and help improve the look of the building.

New Soccer Fields

Two new soccer fields will be in place by the 2014 school year. “The new field will be easier to practice on because of its smooth surface. Many injuries this year have occurred due to the holes in the ground,” Emily Ashmore ‘14 said.

- Compiled by Austin Kunert, Elle George, Katelyn Mertz, Courtney Sullivan and Jessica Olmstead

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SWA PEO MP PLE

Marine Man Peter Wilson ‘13 heads out of the swamp and into parts unknown Story and photos by Chaye Gutierrez

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Peter Wilson ‘13 stepped off the bus, adrenaline still pumping through his body from his 18:40 time at the League Cross Country meet when he got the call.

He heard the stern voice of Staff Sergeant Jose Miranda on the other end and the news he had agonized over for months.

And in that moment, Wilson knew. He knew that the endless yelling, the sweaty nights at the gym, and the countless hours spent lying awake and wondering about the fate of his future would either pay off, or be time wasted.

It was the phone call that changed his life.

But that moment had been a long time in the making.

“It’s something that I know I have to do because others have given everything so that I can enjoy my freedoms, and I feel that doing less than they have is selfish,” said Wilson.

His selfless act, becoming a member of the United States Marine Corps, is no easy feat for a teenage boy. While his Class of 2013 counterparts are infected with Senioritis and busy chasing girls, Wilson spends every waking moment preparing for his next chapter.

His afternoons and weekends are consumed by cross country and swim meets to keep his body in shape. And every Thursday night, Wilsonw marches into the Marine Corps recruiting office to lead the 27 other poolees in workouts to train for boot camp as their guide.

Why does he do it? Why does he put his body through strenuous exercises and his mind through unending stress?

Because he would die for his

country.

If it came down to his life or his country, he would choose his country.

“I guess it’s a calling. I mean, it sounds really corny, but it’s something that I know I have to do,” Wilson said.

His journey as a Marine began when he enlisted in the delayed entry program at the end of his junior year with the hopes of earning the title of Marine. Faced with opposition from his family as the first Wilson to enlist, he had to deal with the the lack of support first. “[My family] knows that I’m kind of hard-headed on subjects, so they knew that they weren’t going to change my mind,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s best friend, Alex Schuster ‘13, has known since a young age that Pete’s future would involve the military.

“He was always obsessed with it, even when we played Halo...His parents were upset for a while and then decided to accept it,” Schuster said.

Getting his family on board was the easy part. Then came the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Wilson scored in the 99th percentile on the first of many required tests, making him eligible for any Marine position that he wants. However, Wilson strives to earn a spot as a member of the highly competitive Reconnaissance Platoon.

As a part of Recon, Wilson would be the first responder in war, the one leading the group into battles, the first man coming face-to-face with the enemy. Recon eliminates any uncertainty so that it’s safe for the rest of the military to

enter an area.

“They’re the ones who go in before the main forces, scope out targets, take out high-priorities and explore areas that are tough to get into,” said Wilson.

Peter’s recruiter, Staff Sergeant Jose Miranda, saw his inner potential from the moment they met.

“All he talked about was infantry, Recon, and all the badass stuff the Marine Corps has...He’s excelled far more than anybody else we’ve seen, and he will be a great Marine,” said Staff Sergeant Miranda.

Schuster, who has grown up know Wilson inside and out, also knows that he will be an indispensable aspect to the Marine Corps.

“He has extreme dedication...

That’s exactly what [the Marines] need,” Schuster said, “They need a person who doesn’t ask questions, who just does whatever he’s commanded. And that’s exactly what Pete’s going to do.”

Wilson has dedicated his high school career to preparing for the Marine Corps and has poured every ounce of his energy into training.

“I just try to stay active and keep myself in as good of physical shape as possible. All of my sports are basically dedicated to making myself a better Marine,” said Wilson.

On Oct. 12, Wilson knew that the hard work had been worth every second.

He was headed back from the League Cross Country meet when he got the call from Staff Sergeant Miranda. Palms sweating, he flipped open his phone, hoping with all of his might that he would receive the news he wanted most.

“Hey Wilson, you still want that Recon spot?” said Staff Sergeant Miranda.

It was the phone call that changed his life.

“Basically, these spots are really rare, and they don’t come up often.

The fact that he was able to get that for me blew my mind,” Wilson said, “I was expecting to have to fight for it in bootcamp and Infantry school, but the fact that I don’t have to do that makes my life a lot easier. And harder at the same time.”

Earning his Recon spot was just the beginning of Peter’s journey, but Staff Sergeant Miranda’s faith in him as a Marine is unwavering.

“He wants the best and that’s what we’re going to give him. All he has to do now is make it happen,” said Staff Sergeant Miranda.

Wilson has a long way to go before earning his title, though. After graduation in May, he will have 12 days off before shipping out to bootcamp in San Diego, California on June 3. Over three months, he’ll

spend time in San Diego and at Camp Pendleton learning combat skills, how to handle weapons, Marine Corps Martial Arts, and drills to prepare for war.

“It’s just three months of getting ready for what it’s actually like to be in war, and earning the right to be in the Corps and join the brotherhood,” Wilson said.

After passing bootcamp, Wilson will spend three months in Basic Reconnaissance Course, and then attend additional classes to work on jumping, diving, and essential Marine skills.

“I might get ten days to come home and see everyone, but after that it’s probably going to be awhile before I get back into town,” Wilson said.

Once he is officially a Marine, Wilson could be sent anywhere as a member of Recon He will come face-to-face with death, stare his fears directly in the eye, and brush elbows with greater dangers than we could imagine.

And his biggest fear of all?

“Changing into someone who I’m not,” said Wilson, without blinking, shoulders held tall and strong, “I just don’t want to become someone who I wasn’t or start doing things for the wrong reasons.”

Wilson says he will draw his strength from what Schuster has taught him in order to stay true to himself.

“He has a moral upstanding character, which I try to emulate. He doesn’t really waiver on his values,” said Wilson, “I feel like that’s going to be something important- knowing what I stand for and standing true to that.”

With only six months left before his deployment, Wilson faces emotions that the everyday Gator couldn’t begin to imagine.

“We joke about it a lot to get around the emotional aspect of it all, but it’s always there,” Schuster said.

It’s always there- the idea that Wilson will be sent into the heart of the world’s most hazardous sites.

The thought that he will spend his days in dicey situations. The image of Peter standing tall in his Marine uniform, ready to take on any enemy that dares to threaten his country.

Though Wilson’s future holds uncertainty and innumerable dangers, he won’t let anything stand in his way of joining the Marine Corps brotherhood.

“Marines are the elite! They’re the few and the proud,” said Wilson.

He’s ready to go wherever his next call takes him.

“Marines are the elite!

They’re the few and the proud.”

-Peter WilsoN ‘13

Photos

(From top to bottom) Wilson as a child, dressed in a Marine Costume At their weekly Marine function, Wilson counts sit-ups for one of his fellow poolees Wilson stands at attention in a line with other poolees to listen to commands from their Staff Sergeants.

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SW PEOAMP PLE

Resillient: Ms. Burns’ battle with breast cancer As a child, I possessed what I like to call “little kid confidence.” I didn’t know that there was judgment, that people could be cruel.

I didn’t know that there was pain, and I didn’t know that there was life with the chance of death.

I thought that people would just go about their lives growing, evolving, becoming.

And they would do this until something, somewhere, falters.

For my former English teacher, Ms. Amy Burns, life took a drastic turn with her diagnosis of breast cancer, or invasive ductal carcinoma, on March 7, 2012.

She discovered the lump herself on a lazy February afternoon napping with her baby, Liam, and her husband, Orrin.

Thankfully, Ms. Burns’ discovery was early enough that the biopsy detected only stage I breast cancer.

It’s a very early stage of breast cancer, meaning that it has not spread beyond the breast. This stage of breast cancer ranges from micro-invasive (less than 0.1 cm) to less than or equal to 2 cm in size.

Regardless of the early diagnosis, emotions still ran on high voltage. “How did I react? I cried,” Burns said. “I was in shock. The phone calls just kept coming with different information and appointments - so cold, really. I sat on the floor in Liam’s room [her infant son] with Orrin and watched Liam play through my blurred vision. But then later that evening, the song “We are Young” by Fun came on the radio, and I turned it up and started dancing holding Liam in the living room. Enough tears, right? I was positive right from the beginning - I had to be - and certainly, that made a difference in the long run.”

“I would say that perhaps it [the reaction] is by design,” Orrin Burns

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said. “It was muffled by the incessant barrage of nurses, doctors, schedulers, advocates, etc. calling to schedule various medical appointments and directing us to another office for another consultation. I think in the midst of all that, it was a very real taste of how fragile life is, and how could I take Amy’s place?”

Despite concerns, their positivity prevailed because of a strong-seeded faith, a faith that Ms. Burns has kept throughout her whole life.

“I believe that though my diagnosis could have shaken it, it made my faith stronger,” she said. “And I believe that everything happens for a reason...I thought to myself, ‘This is supposed to happen, embrace it.’”

And so she did. Even through twenty days of radiation every day at 4:00, with only one day missed from school, even through messes of consultations and decisions, she remained happy.

Throughout her healing, Ms. Burns took solace in writing poetry. “At first, I hadn’t written a single word down through the entire process. Funny when I’m an English teacher, and even other people journal all throughout experiences like this! Anyway, I wrote poetry for almost three solid weeks in June while Liam was taking a nap. It was very therapeutic.”

She wrote, “My cancer, too./A blessing to my story./A richness./My turning point./Which can still mean anything…”

And a blessing it has been.

Ms. Burns had an MRI in September, and the cancerfree results came back on Sept. 14, 2012. Her cancer is now said to be in remission.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she wrote in her final poem. “I am blessed by this life.”

3 degre

SURV “Wait,” I say again.

They’re missing the point.

We often miss the point.

We think we understand.

But we move too fast think too fast act too fast and die too fast.

- Compiled by Eva Hall and James Burky, photo courtesy of Ms. Amy Burns

Conquering Cancer: The Corbin Leonard Story

grees of

VIVAL ...Beautiful, isn’t it?

My cancer, too.

A blessing to my story.

A richness.

My turning point.

Which can still mean anything.

I am blessed by this life.

A scared, wide-eyed nine-year-old boy sits in his hospital bed, just begging to understand what exactly is wrong with him. The doctor comes in and tells this boy something no child should have to be told--he has cancer. All this boy can do is cry and cry. Finally, the crying ceases and the boy passes out into a coma for two weeks.

This boy is Corbin Leonard ‘15.

The summer transitioning from 3rd grade to 4th grade was pretty normal for Leonard. He was playing for the 4th grade Titans in the Hyland Hills peewee football league and everything was typical for him. Then, in the matter of one night, Leonard’s life changed forever.

Leonard had T-Cell Lymphoma for three long years. As children, we all think there is no hurt or evil in the world. At about out pre-teen years we learn the hurt that is in this world; we learn the reality is. While Leonard’s football team was practicing for the next game, he was getting chemotherapy treatment. While other kids were out on the playground or in class, he was at Children’s Hospital meeting with his doctors.

One could say that Leonard lost his precious childhood innocence at a young age.

“Well, not a whole lot [was going through my mind]. I mean, I was only nine years old. I was scared, and I was crying,”

said Leonard.

It was an unexpected diagnosis for the Leonard family because the disease wasn’t common for their family; Corbin was the first member of their family to receive the diagnosis.

“I’m the first person in my family to have cancer,” said Leonard.

Luckily the Leonard family wasn’t alone, Corbin had his whole football team rally around him and hold fundraisers for him and dedicated their season to him; they also wore shirts that said “Do It for Corbin” underneath their pads for every game.

Despite the help though, the Leonard family still suffered. They suffered for three long years, and yet that day their son was cured, those three years were merely just a memory.

“I felt relieved. I mean, chemo was horrible. It’s just horrible and I felt so relieved,” said Leonard.

However, the fear of cancer clawing back is still there, and still very real.

“Of course I am [scared of cancer coming back].

Every time I go back for a check up I’m scared, but they said the chances of the cancer coming back aren’t really high,” said Leonard.

For now though, Leonard will move on in life, live a normal life. You see, Leonard survived the Cancer genocide. Corbin Leonard has punched cancer in the face. He can say he’s been cured.

Bailey Archer’s Continued Fight for Survival It’s been one year and 3 months since The Lake told the amazing story of Bailey Archer ‘15 and her battle with Neurofibromatosis, a disease in which she has two brain tumors, one of which is in her eardrum.

Now, 15 months later, we decided to catch up with her and see how this girl with an amazing story is holding up.

Lake: Since we did the story on you last year, how have you been feeling?

Archer: Life’s harder.

Chemotherapy hasn’t been working so we’re thinking

of upping it a little bit.

Lake: How has having NF changed your life?

Archer: It’s really made me appreciate the things I do have. That I actually have friends who support me. I thought when I told them I had the disease they would just desert me and not talk to me anymore.

Lake: Do you ever hope your life can return to normal?

Archer: I’m hoping it will, I always try to stay positive.

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NS OP INIO

“I don’t even want to know what you guys say when my name comes up in class.”

-Social Studies teacher Mr. Ben Thompson

Last time at home It’s a weird thing, how adults are always right.

How when they tell you, “High school will fly by.

You’re going to be graduating before you know it,” it really is the reality.

It’s a weird thing, how getting your license couldn’t come soon enough and driving was the most exciting thing in the world.

Now, when someone asks you to drive, you moan and groan because driving actually kind of sucks.

But the weirdest thing is knowing that I’m a senior in high school and a legal adult. That everything I do this year is the last time.

I think the biggest “last” for me is recognizing the fact that this is the very last holiday season I will spend in my home with my family.

Of course, holiday visits over breaks will still be there, but I won’t get to enjoy the coziness of my home when all of the decorations are up, when a fire is burning in the fireplace, when my little Christmas tree lights up my room as I sleep every night of December.

This is really it for me.

The holidays mean something different to

everyone and sometimes meanings change. The holidays used to mean Santa and reindeer and Christmas stories next to the tree.

Then, a few years later, Christmas meant excuses to go on cute dates to Zoo Lights and ugly sweater parties (that my mom and dad never knew about) and Secret Santa gift exchanges with my cheer team.

Now, Christmas means cherishing the small things that mean the most. Like my daddy’s arms around me when I get home from work after a long, tiring night, as he pushes my bangs out of my eyes and says, “You’re my pride and joy,” because next year,

Too much school This semester did not go as planned. I was supposed to get straight A’s, kick butt in AP Euro, stay on top of everything, and most of all, not procrastinate. None of that happened.

Why not? The answer: I was lazy. I just didn’t want to. Don’t get me wrong, I cared. I cared what my grades were, but I figured that I could fix it.

Then came mid-november, and I thought Okay, enough. Time to fix this. No matter how hard I tried my grades wouldn’t budge.

What is happening?! I

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asked myself. Then I realized what was wrong: I had waited too long. I had failed too many AP Euro quizzes.

I had waited until there were no more big grades in English. I had turned in too many incomplete math assignments. The dread sunk in. I was screwed.

I tried harder. I still turned in incomplete math homework. I still neglected to outline for AP Euro.

With homework completion at a depressing low, many teachers are asking their students why won’t we just do our homework.

And honestly? I don’t

when I’m stressed those strong, comforting arms aren’t going to be standing at the door when I get home--they’re going to be miles away, living a life entirely different from mine.

And that bright blaze underneath the mantle won’t be there either. I won’t get to come home to a big, beautiful Christmas tree that reaches the ceiling and a warm fire with my kitty curled up on the hearth. Now, home will become a tiny, cold dorm room with white walls and a twin size bed.

After this year, nothing will ever be the same.

And that’s a scary thought; knowing that

the cure to heartache and stress won’t be a warm bubble bath anymore; that my little brother’s soft, innocent laugh won’t be there to cheer me up when I’m feeling down.

It’s sad, the thought of moving away. But that’s okay. It’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to move on. While one precious chapter of my life is coming to an end, another exciting chapter is just beginning.

It wouldn’t be right for me to stick around after this year. This is when things are supposed to change.

My childhood is almost over, but the rest of my life hasn’t even started. I’m going to go to college and get

know. Maybe its despair.

Maybe it’s because my grades are so far from reaching that next letter grade that it seems impossible and therefore I won’t even try. I mean, why spend hours working and studying hard, when if I get online and mess around instead, i will end up with the same exact thing on my transcript?

Do you do homework, or do you have fun? For many its a no brainer-have fun, homework can wait. If they are like me they say that and then never get around to the homework.

Another possibility for why I continued to not try is that the stuff we are learning doesn’t interest me nor will it help me in the long run. Even in engineer-

ing it probably wouldn’t help because the number is imaginary. It doesn’t exist.

Therefore, if I will get absolutely no use out doing a problem ten different times just with different numbers, I will probably only attempt seven of the ten problems.

Yes this hurts my grade, but its hard to focus on the big picture of how doing all of my homework will help me when the even bigger picture shows that it won’t.

Lets face it, the majority of our math homework is just doing the same problem ten times with different numbers. How does this help us? I could do the problem twice and know how to do it just the same.

The other eight times just waste my time and make me bored.

a degree in something that I love. I’m going to fulfill the dreams that I’ve had since I was a little girl and spend the rest of my life doing something with all of the knowledge that I’ve gained.

Now, with the holiday season in full swing, and just six short months until graduation, is a time for appreciation--for appreciating the small things at home.

Like those big, happy eyes that my puppy is looking at me with as I write this, because she wants me to stop doing homework so I’ll scratch her ears. Like the fire that my daddy just put another log on.

Like the big, cozy bed that I’ll climb in once this story is written.

I cherish all of those things. And in August, I’ll be sad to see them go.

But it’s time to grow up. And growing up is an exciting thing. -Taylor Foutz Why would teachers assign ten problems if we will only get something out of two? It just confuse us and makes us blow the rest of our homework off.

Now, it is truly too late to fix my mistakes. Maybe two and a half weeks off will be enough to gather my thoughts in preparation for next semester. I will set the same goals, but I will try harder to achieve them.

I have no doubt that I will still procrastinate and neglect my homework, but I hope that those times will be few and far between. Only time will tell, so, for now, I will enjoy my family and friends and wait for my fresh start.

-Bethan Keupp

Zombies 2012 Alright, so I have this theory.

The date December 21, 2012 should bring to mind some speculation. Many people believe that the Mayans predicted the end of the world on this date.

The Mayans predicted a time of rebirth, or a new beginning. Their calendar ended, but that doesn’t mean the world will.

Many people have different opinions on what will happen on that anticipated day, and there are those who believe that nothing will happen, leaving the rest of us to look like fools.

Let me tell you what I think.

Maybe, just maybe, the Mayans were right?

In this world, there are many messed up people out there. It’s true. Lately, it seems to be that shootings, abductions, and other random acts of violence are a weekly occurrence. Humankind really does have a dark side, and we’re seeing it more now than we ever

have before. Our world is getting worse because of the few wretched people that inhabit it.

Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony are taking over people.

It’s frightening, really. There is a distinct split between the good people, and the bad. It’s almost like an unspoken war.

But you see, this war isn’t fair. Most of the bad people are in hiding. The psychopaths know how the system works. They know how to fool others into thinking they’re doing things for the right reasons or they’re just misunderstood.

This split between the two kinds of people brings me to 2012. I predict that we will eventually have our chance to see if there are more good or evil people out there. The actual day of Dec. 21 will have little change to civilization, leaving the optimistic people to say I told you so. It’ll all start with all those crummy

What morals?

There is no such thing as moral equality. What’s right for you could very well be wrong for me.

Every day I walk these halls I hear the kids who seem to have no fear. The ones who “don’t give an eff” about this or that, but when it comes down to it, their feelings aren’t that flat.

You see society has a way of beating us into conformity. I know we’ve all heard this but it looks different normally.When you’ve been told time and time again that you’re wrong, bad, or stupid it’s going to make your brain a bit delusive. I’m not trying to give out excuses, but understand that what you see and hear can be interpreted quite loosely.

I know the kids that spend all day high as a kite.

I know the kids that wanna be drunk all night. But you can’t look at that person and see what their future looks like, what they’ve been told they can and can’t be.

This kid may be a straight-A student light-

people getting sick. It’ll be like a head cold at first and then slowly grow into something more serious.

Cold sweats, extreme nausea, terrible headaches, fevers of unsafe temperatures, delusions, the whole nine yards.

If I’m boring you, just hang in there. It gets more interesting.

They’ll go to see a doctor and no doctor will be able to diagnose the problem. They will all just watch as their patients become more and more sick.

Hopelessly, sex offenders and murderers will plead and beg for a remedy that cannot be found. Think how messy a jail would be at this time. Yikes.

All will feel like they are dying, and with that their personalities will be lost.

Simultaneously, all of the bad will fall. Families will be devastated when their troubled family members have seemed to have passed on. But that’s just the beginning.

If it’s a mighty and powerful God, or aliens, or the Mayans themselves deciding who deserves this fate-- That I don’t know.

We’ll figure out the details

later.

Anyways, the next day, while all the good people that are left are trying to figure out what happened, the evil will awaken.

But they’re not themselves. Their true colors will be shown. Like wild animals, they will lack compassion. They will have a thirst for the human body, and destroying it, because they greedily want what is no longer theirs. Physically, at first they’ll seem okay, but mentally, all they’ll want to do is feed on the lives of the innocent. This is just how they were before, but now, they aren’t able to hide it. They never had a true understanding of the world and now this aspect will only be heightened.

Evil people will be reduced to what they truly are. Selfish zombies. It’ll be then that the war will truly start. The good will have to exterminate the evil from the world. Fighting off the evil. Just as the zombies will be trying to do to them with the good. The apocalypse will take over the world. In every continent, country, state and city. The truth will come out.

The war could go on

for years. The line between good and evil will be drawn and carried throughout the world in this war to decide what is more dominant. But this time we’ve leveled the playing field.

Hollywood has taken this idea of a zombie apocalypse and has made some great t.v. shows and movies. But what if, just what if, it actually did all begin to happen on that anticipated day of December 21, 2012.

If it is true, we all need to calm down. The bad people have put us in a funk, but we’re about to get out of it. There’s more good in this world than bad. We’ll win this war.

So brush up on your walking dead, and zombieland, because in about 86 hours, we’re going to be the main stars in our own feature presentation.

We’re going to exterminate the evil from the world so we can all rest easy and finally enjoy the beauty of it all.

ing a blunt because she finally finished her to-do list. Maybe the one hiding vodka in his water bottle is lost, consumed in a life-ordeath internal battle, but we still don’t know if--at the ripe age of 60--this used-tobe kid will turn his life into beauty.

If you don’t think the CEO will be pardoned for something the checkout boy

would be barred for, then I suggest you take a look and see if you can make this moral equality thing a bit clearer.

Look in the mirror.

Think of all the things you do but you’d never show.

Then think of the kid your parents, your teachers, your friends know.

The fact that these two things don’t match up is

amazing. Yeah, our vices, our bad habits, they can be frustrating, but your cussing, your grades, your societal flaws, they don’t make you a disgrace. You’re just a cog in the law of normality.

So, yeah, don’t be so quick to judge one another, but more importantly don’t let your moral code get smothered. And most important of all--don’t let anyone else make you feel small.

You’re probably not bad, wrong, or stupid.

You’re probably just feeling a little bit delusive... and that’s okay. Because if you have taken the time to self evaluate, you’re already a step ahead on the road to being great.

-Courtney Sullivan

-Katelyn Mertz

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NS OP INIO

The TV epidemic It lowers our levels of concentration, increases restlessness and confusion and sluggishness with school and work, and ruins our minds.

But we can’t stop.

We’re so enveloped in the conflicts and overstimulated by the violence, while we’re increasing our chances of having a psychological disorder by the hour. But we don’t even know we’re doing it.

Most of us spend hours upon hours of doing this every week, without knowing that our brains are slowly deteriorating.

We’re watching TV. Teenagers are putting in serious hours. No, not on homework, school, or a job.

Teens spend over 28 hours a week watching television.

And you’re still going to sit in your spot of the couch, grab a few snacks, and enjoy your hazardous “entertainment.”

Some of you, after reading this, are going to think differently about how you spend your free time.

We don’t know the damage we are doing to ourselves with every minute spent in front of the screen. You say to yourself,

I should go do homework, or, I should get stuff done.

Next commercial. After this episode. Just let me finish this.

There are so many other ways we could spend our free time. Taking music lessons, reading a book. But most of us choose the most mind-numbing solutions to curb our boredom.

I know, you’re probably reading this thinking its something stupid to write about, that it won’t change a thing. And you’re right, it probably won’t.

Man up, ladies Your Prince Charming is a moron. He doesn’t have awesome vampire powers to read your mind.

We expect him to listen, buy flowers and candy, waste hours talking to us, and take us out on dates but most of all, we expect him to sweep us off our feet.

But why?

The usual, “he’s the guy” argument doesn’t suffice. We are living in the 21st century. We are not princesses anymore;

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if women can have all the same rights as men, then we should have the ability to say, “Hey, do you wanna go out with me?”

I know asking out a guy is a traumatic thing to do.

You’re confidence to ask him might not be there, either. But we’ve all heard the phrase, “Just wing it.”

So why not? “Just wing it.”

Ask him out, and if he says yes, you get to rub it in his face. If he says no, at least you had the guts to give it a chance.

I’m not writing this to change anyone’s habits. I’m writing this to scare you out of them.

The worst shows to watch, are the ones that we watch most.

Violent shows increase the amount of violence in teens. These kinds of shows are showing us that violence is always the answer.

Let’s be honest, how many of you have had someone in your face, spitting words at you, and wanted to deck them?

Violence in shows

reduces the value of life.

When Wile E. Coyote is murdered, the other characters laugh. What is that teaching our children today?

The worst, reality TV. Not surprising, considering the amount of people I know that watch Jersey Shore.

Girls who watch a lot reality TV often judge themselves harder and try to do more to impress their peers. They react to arguments with others in a catty way, because they

often see girls on TV fighting with each other. Reality TV is often about competition. In many shows, girls are pit against each other to get higher ratings. Guys are battling over girls, and girls are battling over guys.

We may not realize it, but watching so much of reality TV will make us more competitive.

Many reality TV shows present a distorted way of life. After watching hours and hours of the way TV broadcasters want you to think life is, you’ll eventually start thinking it is.

The more television we watch, the more we want to imitate that. The more we’ll start trying to live that way, and the more it ruins our lives.

So take a second, the next time you sit down for a marathon of Desperate Housewives or Snooki and JWoww, think about the effects they have on your brain.

You may want to change to the History channel instead of MTV.

I have personal experience with asking out guys.

I asked out my current boyfriend, and it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever chosen to do. But seriously, I didn’t even look at him. In fact, I yelled at him not to look at me right before. Also, I stuttered while saying it! Still, he and I have been dating for nearly six months.

One of my good friends tells me how jealous she is that I have a good boyfriend. I told her to ask the guy she likes, and she gave me the other usual argument, “But I want him to ask me out.”

Do you want him to read your mind and know exactly

how to ask you out too?

Should he also know when you want Starbucks and run there during his off hour to get it for you? He’s a human being, not your disney prince charming or your hot sparkly vampire.

Be realistic, ladies! It’s like saying, “I want a slice of pizza,” and not going to get one. If you want to date him, go get him! If you’d rather wait for him to ask you, then have fun being the girl without any pizza.

Another thing: I have spoken to many guys who say, “It’s hot when a girl asks out a guy.” So go ahead and ask some of

your guy friends what they think. I bet you at least half of them will say something like that.

I’m not guaranteeing he’ll say yes, but be the type of girl that goes after what she wants, not the type of girl who sits at home on a friday night wishing that he will ask her out. Even if he says no, it’s not the end of the world.

Then he’s the one who’s missing out on a smart, independent women.

-Stephanie McDaniel

-Cassidy Condon

el

STAFF EDITORIAL

Gator Winterland The Editorial Board of The Lake share their favorite Christmas memories

Last Christmas home Christmas just makes me giddy. The magic for me is in the gifting, the wrapping, the cookie-baking, the “ohmygod that’s just what I wanted!” looks, the sledding and tree-decorating, the snowball fights and tingly frost-bitten fingers against the warmth of a

hot chocolate mug, Elf and Polar Express, laying under the tree in a dazzled daze looking up at the lights, waking up early even though you’re way too old to be THIS excited about Christmas... the whole essence. Around this time of year, my heart always

feels like the Grinch’s when he’s lifting Hooville’s sleigh from the mountain - like it’s bursting. And especially this year, these feelings of love and bursting come bittersweetly with the dawn of adulthood and looming.

This Christmas, I’m going to make the most out of it.

-Eva Hall

Pole” feeling. However, I knew that 4 a.m. was just disgustingly early, and I never dared to wake my parents up. So I would just wake my brother up instead. Just as excited as I was, he had no problem crawling out from under his covers to join me in the 4

a.m. magic. We would shake every box under the tree, sip on Gramma’s lemonade, eat Santa’s leftover chocolate chip cookies, and watch the sunrise through frostcovered windows. Those secret 4 a.m. moments were the most magical part of the entire day.

-Chaye Gutierrez

4 a.m. magic Growing up, I would wake up ridiculously early every Christmas morning.

Like 4 a.m. early. There was nothing better than that “Oh-my-god-it’s-Christmasmorning-and-Santa-wasjust-in-my-house-and-thosepresents-under-the-treeare-fresh-out-of-the-North-

A bubble of warmth There’s really nothing quite like the season of Christmas-- the twinkling lights, the colorful decorations. This cold, wintery season brings out the warmth that is within us all. My favorite part of Christmas is sitting by the

Free Christmas

fire with my family, the lights and sparkles from the tree setting a soft glow. We get cozy with blankets and tea, and watch the outside world turn white and cold before our glowing, warm eyes. These moments allow me to revel in how lucky

“The best things in life are free.” If Christmas has taught me anything its the best things in life aren’t things. Yes, there was that admirable car that awaited my awakening in the garage that morning, and not to mention the lustrous Iphone that hung in the stalking over the mantel.

But what about christmas makes it so hard to look past the materialistic ideals of life? That christmas day I received a gift; a box that was wrapped in shiny red paper and tied together

with a embellished gold bow. That beautifully wrapped box held something so rewarding, so empowering. It was empty.

It was empty because you can’t wrap up the love your family gives you. You can’t bag happiness and throw it under a tree. You most definitely cannot stuff joy into a little white envelope.

The best things in life aren’t things. The only real gift during christmas is life itself.

-Elle George

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I am. Afterall, it is just a thin wall that separates my toasty living room from the cold and harsh outside. world.

-Sabrina Pacha

Christmas surprises I can never remember not being happy on Christmas. One of my favorite things about Christmas is probably just how my dad (santa) tries to fake us out every year. Once my brothers and I are done opening up all of our small gifts, he’ll say, “I’m sorry I

couldn’t get much this year guys,” and we’d all reassure him that it’s okay, we didn’t need much. About 5 minutes later, he’d bring up a karaoke machine, or laptops, or rock band, from the basement and just watch our faces light up. We didn’t need any of

that stuff but knowing that my dad would go as far as he could to make us smile means a lot. I’m so blessed to spend the holidays with such a great family.

-Courtney Sullivan

on the lights and watching it glow with color. But outside was a sunny, clear day. Christmas was approaching and without that one component my holiday would simply malfunction.

I wanted snow, needed it,

but it didn’t look like snow was coming. And guess what? It didn’t snow.

Instead we had a blizzard!

I’m talking like six feet of snow blizzard. I got my white Christmas.

-Austin Kunert

Holiday quirks What is Christmas without snow? Think of it as a cake without frosting, or Starsky without Hutch, if one is left in the others absence it just doesn’t really make sense. I remember putting up the tree, flipping

A

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Happy Holidays, Gators! =w

23

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