The Epigraph Volume 8 Issue 2
A Magazine for the Yucaipa High School Community
AD page
Graphics by Michael Gillum
School/World News: YHS Water Polo by Katelyn Johnson, Reporter Europe Trip by Kendall Olivares, Business Manager Chicago Schools by Alma Hernandez, Reporter Google is Watching You by Roberto Manjarrez, News Editor Artificial Heart by Alma Hernandez, Reporter
Cover Story: Taking Ownership by Joy Newell, Photography Editor Seniors take ownership and take flight as they head off to the next chapter of their lives
The Yucaipa High School Epigraph is a magazine published by the students in the Digital Publishing class advised by Scott Kennedy
Student Opinion/Features
Is Cheating Contagious? by Sarah Welch, Reporter To Drink or not to Drink by Kendall Olivares, Business Manager Society Corrupts by Anna Contreras, Reporter Green Thumb by Brittany Hammons, Reporter When the Best is Not Enough by Madeline Cain, Features Editor Second Semester by Krista Ybarra, Reporter Nursery Rhymes by Elizabeth Tompkins, Columns Editor The Art of the Snowball Fight by Carl Little, Reporter Following the Flow by Steffen Kjellberg, Reporter Tweeting with Twitter by Matthew Darrow, Editor In Chief Progression of Mobile Technology by Jon Main, Reporter Time by Katie Boddy, Co-curricular Editor Taking a Turn in the Right Direction by Alex Stoltz, Reporter
Letters From The Editors by Marilyn Newell Of all the challenges I have faced this year as The Epigraph’s Editor in Chief - all of the time on layout, editing and decision making I have gone through - I have to say that writing this final story is the most difficult task I have had to deal with. This position has shaped me into a completely different person, and anything I write can just barely skim the surface of the experience I have had in this class the past two years. It has been an utmost privilege to have such a heavy responsibility for this award winning publication, and a privilege I still do not feel I was worthy for. For those of you that remember the history of how I was even was placed into this position, the overused Shakespeare quote about some having, “greatness thrust upon them,” could not possibly ring truer. It has been a challenge, but through it I have been blessed, I have grown, and above all, I have been humbled. In many ways, I have disappointed myself with how this year turned out, whereas I have equally shocked myself and have found pride in others. Through the road blocks and trials we faced this year, no one can deny the friendships, life lessons, good – albeit leisurely – days in good old’ M204, and the special opportunities the freedom of this class has offered whether or not everybody has chosen to make the best of it. Additionally, I am elated to leave behind a solid, dedicated, and passionate staff for next year and I have no doubt that their drive will make the Epigraph the best it has yet to be. Though I will not be returning to the staff next year, my memories in this classroom and what it has taught me about what it means to be a leader will never be lost. I hope that whether you are graduating, returning next year as an editor, or moving on from this class, you will continue to take ownership: ownership for what experience you created for yourself in this class, ownership for the rest of your educational career, and ownership in every other great endeavor you stumble upon. After all, “Life is what you make it. Always has been, always will be.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
by Matthew Darrow
“Never leave that till tomorrow what you can do today…” -Benjamin Franklin
I am sad to say that “senioritis” got the best of me this past semester. With the overbearing urge to constantly sign myself out always present in my mind, I got to know the ladies in the attendance office extremely well this year (shout out to Melinda Johnston!). Somehow, though, we find ourselves at the end of the school year. Friends are parting, running off to schools at the opposite ends of the country. Students are making resolutions to study harder next year. Everyone is learning what it is like to take ownership of their work. I admit that parting is with such sweet sorrow, but I also look forward to the future with admiration for its mystique. This issue was the ultimate obstacle of my journalism career. Struggles with continuity, grammatical mayhem, and extended deadlines have all made for an unforgettable year. I would not be surprised if Marilyn and I started sprouting gray hairs over the summer as a result of the stress we have encountered this year. I leave this campus with an undoubtable respect for anyone who made something of their high school experience. It is not easy creating something original in a world of conformity, otherwise known as high school.
Euro Trip by Kendall Oliveras
Spring Break is a time students can relax and just soak up the sun. But, for some Yucaipa students it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to broaden their limited horizon on a world that they were once so oblivious to. Once every other year Mrs. Ethington provides students with information on a tour to Europe through a student field trip program called Explorica. “My wish is to provide students an education they cannot get in a text book and a broader perspective on the world.” From the beginning of the year, up until spring break students pay for the trip fees. The first day was an exhaust-
ing fourteen hours of traveling via bus and airplane. “The travel was agonizing and extensive”. Paris, France was the first stop for YHS Students in their European excursion. Paris has shops and cafés along their streets which makes the city interesting on foot. “Going to Europe made me realize how young America is”. The history behind the architecture goes centuries back, yet Europe’s pride in their
rich history compels them to preserve their identity. The students visited famous monuments in Paris such as The Louvre, Palace of Versailles, and of course the Eiffel Tower. “The Eiffel tower was grand.” After roaming in Paris, our class took an overnight train to Rome. The next day we arrived in Rome and set out directly to The Coliseum, then walked the afternoon streets of Rome. The night we arrived at our hotel, there was a 5.8 earthquake centered in L’Aquila, Italy, that shook us in the middle of the night. After Rome, we departed to our final destination, home. “Overall, this trip was really an awakening to the world we never thought we knew.” The students of YHS have Mrs. Ethington to thank for providing an entertaining, once in a lifetime chance to explore the rich history and unique beauty of Europe.
Play for a Purpose
Brutality is just below the surface
by Katelyn Johnson Photos by Tom Slider
In the world of sports, achievements are essential to success. Water polo is not a well known sport, but is becoming to be. Just a few years ago, girls were finally allowed to play water polo. Now, girls have shown the nation what they can really do. Aggressiveness and teamwork are the two main key words in this sport. For this, Yucaipa High School year of 2008-09, the varsity team has made it remarkably memorable. The head coach, Brian White, has been coaching water polo for 6 years at Yucaipa High. Even though his presence is not the most welcoming, he creates an aura of hard work and discipline. As every team has conflicted with their coach, talking it out and laying everything on the table helps the team come together. This will unfortunately be White’s last year of coaching. At practice, the varsity squad works for their glory morning and night. Almost every time before and after their school hours is pure dedication. Determined to go to Citrus Belt League Championship, they always practiced at 110%. From the rough workouts and vicious scrimmages, water polo always turned out to be stimulating and fun. There are nine devoted seniors that make up most of our varsity polo team. Becca Hearon, Molly Grubel, Kristen Koehler, Margo Odlum, Quira Perez, Kim Carr, Jyssica Lopez, Katie Hardin and Jessica Elmore, passionately lead the varsity team. They have grown together as another family from all their years of playing together. Water polo is relative to life in general. Certain rules and regulations are the start of being comfortable and being well off. To have a positive mood in almost anything will support future wins and grateful feelings.
Chicago school plan dropped designs for a homosexual school cancelled by Alma Hernandez Bullies and threats have always been a cause for homosexual students to skip out on their education.
C
hicago decided on a plan where there will be no more bullies or skipping school. Public school officials in Chicago were planning to create a school where LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender) students could attend without offences or bullies. Arne Duncan originally planned on building this school on November 19, 2008 but there was a meeting about this situation where the Chicago Board of Education was set to vote to either go with the plan or just forget about it. Mayor Richard Daley was concerned about the topics so he recommended that this topic would be best not talked about anymore because he was concerned the proposed high school would segregate gay youths. By annihilating the concept of the school, there is a lower percent of LGBT students getting separated from other students. If the school was to be built, there would be a higher percent of students not skipping school: Either way there is a good and a bad side to this
For many years, schools all over the nation have had problems with unexcused absences, including students ditching school or skipping classes to avoid harassment. A select group of students who ditch school are LGBT students. It is important to keep students in school so they can have the opportunity to be successful later in life. By building this school LGBT students will not only learn without the distraction of bullies, but will also improve attendance. They also will have more time for themselves and will have the opportunity to be surrounded by others like them. This could be a place where they can express themselves more freely instead of trying to hide away from others. On the other hand, if this school was to be built there would be a possibility that this may lead to the once fallen wall of segregation. Instead of whites and blacks it will be between LGBT people and the heterosexual community.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/13/gay.friendly. school/
Is Watching You by Roberto Manjarrez As you open up your web browser you are directed to the homepage. At once you are confronted with wacky fonts and colorful letters that display the logo of the site. However, these letters hold a secret. Most of us know about the popular search engine, Google; it is even the default search engine on some of the school’s computers. However, privacy is not one of the big shot’s top priorities. Google is trying to build the most comprehensive database ever assembled. This database is to be composed of personal information and will have the ability to tell people how to run their lives During a visit to Britain, the Chief Executive of Google, Eric Schmidt, said, “The goal is to enable Google users to be able to ask the question such as, “What shall I do tomorrow?” and “What job shall I take?”” At a conference organized by Google, Schmidt said, “We are very early in the total information we have within Google. The algorithms [software] will get better and we will get better at personalization.” Google had also donated nearly three-million dollars to 23andMe, an online company that combines genetics and internet profiling. Yahoo, another internet search engine, revealed its own search technology known as Project Panama. This software has the ability to monitor and build a profile based on Yahoo’s visitors and their interests.
These monitoring programs have already been protested against. These campaigners are concerned that this trend of internet tracking and database building poses a threat to civil liberties. This concern has been increased due to Google’s 3.1 billion dollar bid for DoubleClick. DoubleClick is a company that has often been linked with controversy over spyware because of browser cookies that are set to track the user as they go from site to site. Google, along with other search engines, has already gathered a lot of information using these devices such as, the date and time for your search, your search terms, and your IP address, which can help identify your computer and also, your location. This intrusion into personal information are not unlike the cellphone tap scandal not so long ago. The information Google stores has the capability to put criminals behind bars. However this invasion also raises questions along the lines of “Is this ethical?” Some argue that “You shouldn’t have anything to worry about if you are not doing anything wrong”. Others say “Privacy is a right we are all entitled to and Google should not take that away.”
“the ability to tell people how to run their lives”
Taking Ownership Some Yucaipa seniors and their last words
by Joylyn Newell
same.
There comes a time in every young T-Bird’s life where high school life just doesn’t seem the
Seniors are finding themselves restless as the last week of school approaches and they prepare to leave ‘the next’. They are not counting minutes until the lunch bell rights, but hours until the 2:50 bell sounds and they’ll be one school day closer to graduation. Homework assignments seem appealing as the lukewarm spicy chicken sandwich they got yesterday in the cafeteria and their school “uniform” now consists of a pair of old p.e. sweats and a T-shirt they found under their bed before they ran out the door to make first period. Though many appeared to have “checked out” from High school , many more are “checking in” to the next chapter of their life: college. These past four years were not completed in vain for these students as they set their sights to new heights. The Epigraph sat down with four seniors to see where they are headed next. At the rally, the gym is filled with mixed emotions as all eyes are watching Yucaipa High School’s annual senior video. Various seniors appear on the screen declaring the title of the college they will attend with wide grins. Towards the end as students begin to get restless a girls face pops up on the screen, “Hi my name is Marlee Chong and I’m going to Harvard.” The students erupt in a giant applause- it is no doubt that the school is proud of their fellow T-Bird for such an accomplishment. “Throughout my entire High School experience I have found everyone to be very supportive. The staff especially have really accommodated and helped me, they all gave me advice and helped me figure things out.” However with a mind as sharp as Chong’s one might ask what would there be left to figure out? Since the beginning of high school Marlee has always been slightly ahead of the curve it seems. As if her schedule was not packed enough, it was only a matter of time before Chong was looking for more challenging courses to add to her plate, so she not only enrolled in classes at Crafton Hills but Riverside Community College as well including anthropology, sociology and advanced Spanish classes. When asked if high school was what she thought it would be Chong simply stated, “Well, the classes were a bit easier than I expected. AP classes weren’t as impossible as everyone made them out to be.” Something eventually had to give however, and despite her attitude of determination at times she was forced to cut some things out. “It’s really just a matter of learning to balance everything.” Of all of her teachers, Marlee said she appreciated the help she received from Mr. Davis. “He really helped me with calculus, it was a great class. A lot of what he taught really prepared me for the courses I took at Crafton.” For those who suffer from the “get-me-outta-here” syndrome that most seniors feel about Yucaipa, Marlee spoke words of encouragement. “A lot of people think there is nothing special about Yucaipa or that there is nothing you can do here- that’s not true. There are a lot of things you can find if you just look. I did, and was able to find a lot of cool programs. You can get free internships and participate in free study programs as well. There are lots of ways to ‘get out of Yucaipa’ and put yourself out there.”
Marlee Chong
Harvard University
Daniel Burke Citrus College
Senior Daniel Burke (otherwise referred by his friends as “Dan the Man”) is all smiles when speaking about his last year at Yucaipa High School,” This year was an exciting year for me. I met a lot of new friends who will always be close to my heart, as well as friends I’ve met in previous years.” Though at first he considered himself to be one of the shy kids, it was through getting involved in extra curricular activates that Daniel was able to branch out to other students. “The hardest thing about high school for me was just learning to come out of my shell. It wasn’t until junior year that I really decided to push myself to change.” Perhaps the first step in this process began when he went out of the high school’s spring play 1776. He ended up landing the lead roll of Thomas Jefferson and the play was a success. Experience in the play eventually lead to his audition for Madrigals, YHS’s advanced choir ensemble and he traveled with them to New York to sing in Carnegie Hall this past April. Among other extra curricular activates such as wrestling and boy scouts (he recently became an Eagle Scout) Burke has been enrolled in the JFROTC program at the high school for the three years and was group commander his senior year. “Sergeant McLeod has really had the greatest influence on me out of all of my teachers. I’ve known him the longest and he’s been more than just a teacher to me but a friend that I could go to and talk with; someone I could relate to.” Although the army was always something on his mind, after being in the program for awhile, Daniel realized it was more than just a class for him. “Originally I just thought ROTC sounded cool, but it turned out to be more than I expected and determined what I wanted to do with my life.” This fall he will attend Citrus Community College in Glendora before heading off to Azusa Pacific University where he has already been accepted and approved for a three year scholarship through the ROTC program.
Evan Musgraves Samford University Current Thunderbird but soon to be Bulldog, Evan Musgraves was calm and confident when speaking about his future plans to attend Samford University after graduating Yucaipa High school in just a matter of days. “It’s a really good Christian school but with strong academics, which can be hard to find these days.” Earlier this school year Evan as able to visit the campus in Birmingham Alabama and knew right away it was the place for him. Not only was he impressed with the school and its beautiful campus but he found the people there to be nice and welcoming. There comes a sense of peace and assurance when people talk with Musgraves. Perhaps this is due to the comfort he himself finds through his faith and knowing he is on the right track for his future. “I’m excited to get there but nervous about leaving…but I know that is the school I want to be at.” says Musgraves. Out of all of his years at Yucaipa High he admitted that senior year truly was the best and was happy with his overall high school experience. As others would agree, the friendships that were made became stronger and the lessons that were learned will never be forgotten from the last four years. Mr.Lockard , a history teacher who recently retired seemed to be one of the teachers that made the most impact on Evan. “I never found a person who disliked him. He got you interested in history even if it wasn’t your favorite subject.” Evan also said Mr. Martin was the best English teacher he had ever had. “He truly prepared us all for life after high school by encouraging us to engage ourselves in with the lesson.” Overall he enjoyed his high school experience, “ I was surprised at how much school spirit I had and how proud I was to go to YHS” Evan Musgraves says above all else he will miss the sense of community that comes from being apart of such a school , “I’m truly going to miss everyone here.”
Kiley Bowland Univeristy of Nebraska When it came to deciding on a college for your future, chances are the University of Nebraska was not exactly the first option on your list. For Kiley Boland it wasn’t either, but this fall she will be leaving the sunny state of California and heading out over 1,000 miles to attend the University of Nebraska. ”My parents wanted me to go out and live on my own; however the majority of my family are U.C. fans.” However, after getting over the initial shock of such a decision, Boland says her family has remained extremely supportive. Kiley has been saving up for college her entire life, but is receiving a full ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska through the Naval ROTC program. Because of this, she had the opportunity to use her savings to visit several out of state colleges before finally deciding on Nebraska. Kiley was able to visit the majority of the schools she was accepted into including University of California Los Angeles, University of Washington in Seattle and The University of Texas in Austin. Out of these campuses Nebraska’s stood out to her the most. “Everyone always asks me why, and I just say ‘I love Nebraska!’ In California it is so easy to get caught up in the clothes and the make-up – all of the outward junk but in Nebraska the people are so kind and genuine.” Though she is still decided what exactly she wants to do, Kiley will be majoring in computer science engineering or military science. “I’m not going to pretend that I know exactly what I want to do with my life,” says Boland, “ ..but I know I’m good at what people tell me to do. I figured the Navy would be a good place to start, and they needed more people for computer science engineering.” Kiley spoke highly of her high school experience saying that it was being involved with such things like Student Council and the school’s speech and debate team that really added to that experience. “Going into High School, I sort of had the expectation that it was going to suck, and I was prepared to handle that, but it’s been the completely opposite for me these past four years.” Her teachers are partly responsible for that belief. Though she motioned the incredible support she received from all of them, Mr. Eiechman, Mr. Martin and Mr.Davis were among her favorites saying they each made a special impact on her life during her time with them. As with most Seniors, Kiley is anxious to graduate and move on with the rest of her life but will most definitely miss her friends and the people she has met on this campus when she leaves. “High school is really only as good as the people that you go to it with, and I loved this school.” Many seniors struggle to keep of the balancing act of school work and the excitement of leaving, but Boland knows this is all part of the process.” Everyone is so excited and yet terrified to leave, but I think this is a good thing.” By the end of the year teachers are begging for the attention of students as seniors start to mentally check out. Kiley says “You I think it was meant to be that way. I think you have to have that frame of mind as a Senior- it’s easier to leave on your own terms that way, so in a way it’s like you’re leaving High school, instead of High School leaving you.”
To Drink? Or Not To Drink? by Kendall Oliveras
Some of the common ingredients are caffeine, B-vitamins and other herbs. The common herbs used in these drinks include ginseng, a root believed to help reduced stress and increase energy levels, and guarana, a stimulant that grows in Brazil and Venezuela which contains high levels of caffeine. These ingredients daily consumption limits are not listed, which shows there is not much known about the long term health effects of them. There are psychological and physiological effects that come with these drinks. There are studies that show the desirable effects of the consumption of these drinks, which include significant mental and cognitive performances and increased alertness. Excess consumption has proven to induce moderate euphoria, agitation, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. Given the facts, people will do as they please in the end. All they can do is recognize the hazards of their indulgences and consume with moderation.
In a world that will run you down with high-demand and fast-pace, who would not want an increased amount of energy? The popularity of these energy drinks are evident in their supply at convenient stores and the demand of the consumer. However, there are health questions being raised regarding these refreshments. Why are they rashly consumed? A variety of energy drinks are sold including, ‘Monster, Rockstar, Redline, Amp, Redbull’, and so forth. They are soft drinks advertised as providing more energy than a typical drink. Although these drinks are low in calories (as compared to soft drinks), the non-caffeine ingredients contribute to the mental alertness and enhanced physical performance.
IsIs Cheating Contagious? by by Sarah Welch
Why do people cheat? It has been said that there are people that do it to see if they can get away with it. They also push it until they do get caught or are on the brink of getting caught. Psychologists have decided to see if cheating is contagious. A psychologist named Francesca Gino set up a hoax to see how many people she could get to cheat. They asked university students to solve some extremely difficult math problems in an extremely short time. They made it so difficult that no one could really solve them. The reward was to get money for solving as many as they could. The math was used to hide what was really happening. After a few they had an actor student yell out that he was done and that he had gotten all of them correct. However everyone in the room knew that it was impossible to have finished all of them. The actor student took all of the cash, as if he had a perfect score, and left. They wanted to see how many of the other students would follow his example. She wanted to see if the other students would try to cheat since they had watched him cheat. She found out that many students did it. The psychologists liked to add other twists she would occasionally have the actor wear a T-shirt of the same university as the other and sometimes wear the shirt of a rival university. They were testing to see if the cheater’s identity would influence the amount of cheating. The question is will students cheat more or less if they saw a rival cheat, versus seeing a fellow student cheat. They discovered that the fellow students caused more cheating then the rival students. They actually discovered that seeing the rivals cheat caused the students to cheat. The psychologists double-checked these findings with another
experiment. It had the same basic setup, but in this situation the actor simply asked “Is it OK to cheat?” Not that anybody would really do that, but it brought the fact that cheating is morally wrong front and center. After doing this they noticed that the students cheated noticeably less. It appears that dishonesty can be contagious if we observe one of the people we know committing a public act of deceit or trickery. Their findings provide a possible strategy for preventing a bunch of cheating or unethical actions. If cheating declines when cheaters are alleged as outlaws, then it should help to stop the public cheating.
Society Corrupts
An Insiders point of view
by Anna Contreras There is so much I can say, and yet my freedom of speech is limited here around my peers. I do not know how to feel around them. Should I be excited around them all? Should I be depressed with one group, happy with another, “preppy” with the popular groups and so on? This is how I act now, bipolar in a way. I act the way my surroundings tell me to. If you talk to me a certain way, I am speechless; I have nothing to say, nor do I know how to act. I am afraid to show the way I am, I am afraid to be sarcastic or mean, to smile and live or wear what I want when I want. I am scared to just come in socks to school or with bare feet in all their beauty because people would think I am not in my “right mind.” People might think I am awkward and would not talk to me. This is how I think. I like the silence of people not talking to me, but not all the time. I have no problem walking down a street in socks or shorts and a baggy tee. I do not wear tight clothing because society and all their words have hurt me so bad that I cannot look at myself in the mirror unless my face is covered with a bright light in my room so I can feel beautiful. I wear baggy, oversized clothes because I feel more appealing in them. I feel skinny and I feel as though that is my size. I take most people’s words seriously. If someone says I am fat, I will say, “I know, so what?” Then I will go home and turn to some ridiculous diet for a few days - just a few days – in an attempt to be skinny. When I do this I think, “you can be skinny, you can be beautiful.” I will then go home, sit on the couch and drench myself with the false advertising of weight loss medication or focusing pills. This is how I am. I am quiet, I am an artist, and I have a voice that boxes itself up behind any lock in my soul that is possible. I am alone, I am independent, and I am lost. I plan out other peoples’ lives in the goofiest way possible, whether it is an abnormally spelled name or a mythical creature
for a husband. I can make any story and prediction for someone’s life because it makes me feel better. I do not know why this works for me, but I get my kicks out of it. I am very picky in so many ways: with food, with clothes, with accessories, with tools, and with people. However in some situations I give people the benefit of the doubt. For example, my friend, today, urinated in a sewer when all these fellow schoolmates were walking through it. When they
came out some touched it with their hands and stepped in it with bare socks. I laughed, well, chuckled, at that.. Then
I could not think of what label of emotion to state it under: mean, funny, the right thing to do at the time, perfect, or spontaneous. How am I supposed to feel? This is how I act. I usually sit in a classroom with one or two friends - Maybe even by myself. I cannot figure out my life. What am I suppose to do? I feel so lost. Yes, I know I am only sixteen years old, but I feel as though I could do so much more right now. I feel I can go on stage and sing the saddest song with a rhythm that is so upbeat that it makes people wonder what emotion I am feeling, or take a canvas and paint a masterpiece. I could even go on independent study and graduate early so I could go to London and stay five years or more to do what I want for the rest of my life. I want my life to be finished. No , I do not want to die, or commit suicide or get some random unknown, incurable disease. I want to be older, more experienced. I want to know what my life turns out to be. Will I turn into some homeless woman on these Yucaipa streets and my life is ruined, or if I actually fulfill my dream and go to London, to learn what I want to. What do I turn out to be? I need to know if I stay the same, I
I want to know what my life turns out to be.
need to know if tomorrow I will scream at the kids that are my age and act like they are five. I need to know if my mom will get in a car accident tomorrow and perish with all her unknown lies. I need to know if my dad will cut himself while working, bleed to death, and perish with all of his unknown lies. I want to know how I will be tomorrow. I wish I could be how I think I will be tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be… wonderful, energetic, amusing, loving, beautiful, and I will dress in a bright and cheery dress (with no shorts) and maybe even boots. I will possibly take my extensions out, curl my hair and wear less make-up or maybe, no make-up. I will come to school singing! I will be loud! Everyone I know will say, “you look different,” and I will be even happier than I usually pretend to be and I might even sit with a group of friends I do not normally sit with and chat up a long conversation with them,” and I think that’s what I will be like tomorrow… You are thinking, “that’s great! It is a massive change!” The reality of it all is that I am not going to dress or feel like that tomorrow. Tomorrow this is what I will be like: dull, yet exciting in a crude sarcastic sort of way. I will also be kind and soft spoken. I will then either dress in a baggy shirt with a cardigan, shorts, and sandals or little toe shoes. People I know will look at me as they do every day, not in a way that I am different. I will not go and sit with a random group of friends and talk to them. I will sit under that same tree that is always cold and shady or I will wait lunch out in the art room. That is my life, and what I do. I am afraid of society, my peers, teachers, parents, siblings, everyone and everything. That is what society does, that is what happens and it is life. We drift into the flow of a so called ‘status quo’ and it just sucks us in and puts us in our place. We, as individuals, should not let that happen to us. We should not have to hide ourselves in fret of being judged or mocked. We should be allowed to walk around school being who we want to be while not being looked at as some mislead teens. After all, this is my own life and I lead it.
After all, this is my own life and I lead it
Green Thumb - Brittany
WHEN THE BEST IS NOT ENOUGH by Madeline Cain As the end of the year draws closer, one begins to think seriously about college. It is always the same old story. Our parents want us to go here, but we want to go there. Why should our parents have a say in the situation at all? It is, after all, our education. Perhaps our parents’ constant hounding is a sign of love and affection. We have all heard it time and time again. “I just want what is best for you.” Our parents will always want us to do better than they did. It is just their nature. If we are taking two AP courses, our parents will push for four. The same concept applies to their ideals about college. Parents who attended state universities want their children to attend private ones. Those who attended private universities now want their children to attend more elite ones. The drive to improve, to do things bigger and better is only natural. It used to be that getting an education was the goal. Now our parents want us to get a brandname education from a well-known and prestigious school. Schools use ranks as a method to lure our parents in. Once they are hooked, they will settle for nothing less. They make it seem as though admission to a college with a higher rank than that of another is of the utmost importance. The schools then use these rankings to weed through the many eager applicants, who as a result are desperately hoping to gain mission. Unfortunately, our chances in obtaining these goals are slim to none. Getting into an elite college
has always been something to celebrate. Being able to afford the high prices of enrollment is a sign of social status. It is not only about the money; it is also about the achievements that a college enables us to make. Whether they admit it or not, our parents like to brag about what an accomplished person we are. Our parents see themselves as artists and we are their canvases. They would like to be able to paint us up just the way they like and hang us on the wall for all to see. The problem is, we are not blank canvases. Therefore, we are highly unlikely to succumb to our parents’ picture perfect standards. College can act as a cushion for our parents to fall on when we break the news to them that we are not going to be exactly how they want. The parents who are normally most anxious about their children getting in to a substantial college tend to be the ones who are highly educated. This is no surprise. They are the ones who know best that a good education can pave the way for a successful future. There is no doubt that an elite college will provide a good education, but is it the best? The answer to this question is simply a matter of preference. In the end the choice is ours. It is our lives, our futures and our education.
“It is our lives, our futures and our education.”
Coping with the Struggles of Second Semester by Krista Ybarra
Second semester, two words a student at Yucaipa High School both loves and hates to hear. When a student thinks about second semester some panic might arise to the mind. On the other hand second semester can also bring excitement and relief to mind. To some it can mean they are that much closer to a fresh new start, or how all of their hard work payed off. To others it simply means they are closer to getting to walk with their class to receive that diploma they have waited and worked for. Second semester can also bring stress to students. This means they will do anything to try to get their grades as high as possible before it is too late. Teachers stress to help students achieve their goals and give them as many opportunities to earn the grade they deserve. This can all be a burden for students and teachers to have to carry around, which can lead to them being overwhelmed and stressed out. When people get stressed it is scientifically proven that the body and mind do not know how to respond. This can lead to headaches, body aches and other symptoms. There are different ways you can avoid being so overwhelmed and stressed by simply taking time out of your day and using in these helpful tips. 1. Gain Brain Power: Get a healthy start to your day by eating a nutritious breakfast. Studies show that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast gives you “Brain Power� and stimulates your brain. Without this, your body and brain are not fully awake, which can lead to getting a slow start on your day. 2. Do not be in a rush: When you are in a hurry people tend to forget important matters because they are too worried about other things. If you pace yourself you can focus on one thing at a time and not have to worry about forgetting things. 3. Take time for yourself: When you are extremely busy, the last thing on your mind is stopping your busy schedule and taking time for yourself. Even though it might seem like the least important item on your list, it really should be at the top. As you go through your day you might forget that you need to have personal time to yourself. After a busy day you deserve to sit down and change into your favorite pajamas and rest. This will give you energy to continue with all the stuff you need to get done. By following these tips, second semester will hopefully be a little less difficult and more stress free than ever!
: s e m y h r y d r e n s a r u d e N t i d s e i s v o e p R x e by Elizabeth Tompkins
a lot more gruesome than the child friendly modern “Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells, and pretty maids one. Whereas the new one talks of elephants and all in a row.” This should bring back memories. Despite the the fourth of July, the original speaks of Miss Mack pretty image the rhyme describes, the real image depicted with a knife in her back, begging to die because she cannot breath. is bloody and violent. The ‘Mary’ the song alludes to is actually Mary Tudor, or ‘Bloody Mary,’ and the ‘silver bells The 1840’s song, Oh My Darlin’ Clementine’ is and cockle shells’ are nicknames for various instruments of torture. The pretty maids all in a row are a reference to her about a man who fell in love with a gold miner’s daughter, and is devastated when she dies in a numerous still born, or miscarried children, who are rumored to have been buried in a row in her personal garden. drowning accident. The stanza that is commonly Most nursery rhymes were actually composed for adults to left out is that in the end, the ‘distraught boyfriend hide when they were talking against the government, or to consoled himself with the late Clementine’s’ younger sister. Except for ‘Mary had a little lamb’, all the keep stories alive. nursery rhymes looked up had some sort of macabre meaning, or political reference. Finding sites This rhyme is not the only one that has a double face. Humpty Dumpty was a nickname for an impressive cannon dedicated to this subject shone light upon even mounted on the wall of a church that parliament was trying more ditties that are a solid part of the childhood to overtake. It proved to be a difficult battle, ending only with experience and are as corrupt as the rest. an eleven week siege, and parliament winning. ‘Rub a Dub One could suppose that the biggest question Dub’ is about money laundering and illegal prostitution, and Jack and Jill is rumored to be a joke on the beheadings of is, why? Why did past societies decide to teach their young these stories of horror and adult conKing Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. tent? From the moment they’re born, children have these tales placed in to their head. While they may Not all of the songs have secret meanings though. Some have just been reworded, or had parts left out. One not consciously be affected, songs like the’ Three example is the Miss Mary Mack clapping song. The original blind mice’, or even ‘Humpty Dumpty,’ might somehow influence children’s subconscious mind, with version is the slashing and breaking and chopping. Forget video games, the violence in children’s minds begins with the nursery rhymes we sing into their ears ourselves!
The Art of the Snowball Fight Strategies to make you invincible by Carl Little
Yucaipa generally does not receive a large amount of snow, so you may be asking yourself why is there an article dedicated to this exclusively snow based activity? Think of it as “preparation” for your next encounter with the fluffy white water based wonder. The snowball fight, it quite possibly may be the first battle simulation ever invented. Most people think of it as a jolly winter activity, while others treat it as seriously as any professional sport. If you have ever witnessed one of these battles you will know the value of good tactics, it can mean the difference between being a gloriously applauded winner or a freezing loser suffering from hypothermia. Let us cover the basics: Packing the snowball may seem like a simple matter but in truth it could make all the difference in an intense “firefight”. The ball that may come to your mind is the generic sphere of freshly fallen snow that sails around the range of twenty-five to thirty-five feet before dissipation. That type of snowball is good, but is not all there is. The second type is called by many names like “Flak”, “Whiteout”, or “Spray”, but in truth it is simply close range shrapnel. If you are caught next to an enemy at close range you have mere seconds to fire and retreat to a safer position, so instead of making a conventional snow missile, you duck down and gather any snow you can fit into your hands and hurl it and your opponent. Much like swordsmen kicking dirt into another’s face to restrict vision, this can give you that opening to get away. The last projectile is the hard packed “Artillery”. This type of ammunition is made of extremely dense snow packed with one’s bare hands.
Sn
the artillary shot
By packing without gloves, it melts the surface making an icy crust that keeps it together as you bombard the opposing force at a safe distance, consequentially, this will make your hands unbearably cold. Special care must be made in the production of these snowballs because any cracks or significant errors will destroy the structural integrity of the ball mid flight, making it useless. One person in your squad should be in charge of the Artillery because of their hand numbing nature.
nowballs - Carl pray and spray
Tactics are valuable in situations such as these and developing a sound strategy is just as beneficial to your survival as a good throwing arm. First of all, designate positions for your team. If Billy was the quarterback for the local football team, put him on artillery. Jim hates warmth, put him on the front lines. Larry runs track and field, make him reconnaissance. Getting from place to place unscathed is a problem as well, there are solutions to that. The kicking advance is a perfect example of offensive tactics. While running you spray snow in the air giving you somewhat of a screen to mask your movements, or draw attention. Mobile cover is also something to be valued, from holding up some cardboard to tearing off a car door a la MacGyver, anything that you can move with that
stops solid objects, will help. For the masterful sharpshooter, they may be able to adapt the ever so difficult “point defense�. Intercepting oncoming snowballs with your own is a risky but very impressive feat and should only be attempted by professionals. What it all boils down to is what works best for you. Once you figure this out, its smooth sailing in the winter wonderland. So next time you are out there chucking fistfuls of snow just remember these tips and you are sure to come out on top.
Following The Flow by Steffen Kjellberg
Turnig 16 is one thing,but when it comes to fighting YHS traffic on your own, it is another.
After the sixteen candles are blown out it’s off to the DMV to get your driving license. It is the only good thing about being sixteen because you finally get to experience the freedom of the open road on your own without your parents yelling at you from the passenger seat. That is every teenagers dream, but there is one thing you do not think about. You are the one who deals with the school traffic. It is not like how it used to be where you sit in the passenger seat and text or put on makeup and then get out of the car when you are in front of the school. Now you are the one weaving in and out of traffic trying to get to school along with one thousand other kids and it can get insane. Around the turn of the New Year is when new drivers start emerging. This is a bad thing when it comes to parking at Yucaipa High School. You have to start getting to school earlier so you can get a fairly decent parking spot somewhat close to the school. Once you finally find a spot the next challenge is trying to make it across the parking lot on foot to the safety of the sidewalk. With all of the new drivers everywhere it can be a bit nerve racking, and most the time they are not paying attention to the road causing you to dodge traffic like Frogger across the lot. Come 2:50 it starts all over again, except getting out of the parking lot is a lot worse. At least coming in to school seems to have an orderly flow to it, but getting out is complete mayhem. Big clusters start to form around the exits and it feels like nobody is moving. The only way to avoid all this is to sprint to your vehicle as soon as you get out of your class. All the traffic and congestion gives you the time to think about how you waited sixteen years for this mess.
Tweeting with Twitter by Matthew Darrow
Some call it the new MySpace. Others call it an internet cult. It is, however, a means of micro-blogging from one’s cell phone. All of the celebrities (right down to President Obama) have made sure to keep up with this cutting edge network system. It is already ranked as the third most popular social network, MySpace in second with Facebook leading the forefront. After being created in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, approximately six million unique visitors are registered every month, but only forty percent of these users remain regular. The growth rate of this network is estimated at one thousand three hundred and eighty-two percent, marking it as the fastest growing member site of the year. Talk show hosts are wasting no time in promoting Twitter. Hosts like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jay Leno are always explaining their “tweeting” adventures on their shows. It is yet to become the hottest trend of our generation, but with its constant growth rate, that is sure to change in no time at all. For now MySpace and Facebook are still the talk of the town, but Twitter has obviously proven to be a formidable foe.
The Clock is Ticking With high school coming to an end for the class of 2009; it is time to look at what you have really done. by Katie Boddy Time. We take advantage of it and let it pass by without a second thought as to what we could have done with it. While in high school, we have all the time we need; all the time we want. Yet, it seems as if there is not enough time in a single day to get done what we want to get done. When you look back at it, are you going to be satisfied with what you have done with your time? Are you going to be able to look back at your actions and see the outcome of your actions and the effects of your words? What if everything you said and everything you had done in this past year was recorded into a book and as soon as you walked across that stage, diploma in hand, were handed that book. Would you be satisfied? Or disgusted? Throughout high school and life in general, we are faced with options and are forced to make choices that will effect the lives we live. Whether we choose to play the game and push the limits or to be a saint and walk a straight line, all of our actions effect the greater whole that is society. Every time we make a choice, it does not only effect ourselves. Our words spread like the plague even if they are used in a positive manner. The looks we shoot at others when we are passing from class to class stick like gum on the bottom of our shoes, only to be forgotten after weeks of acknowledgment. Everything hits hard. Everything has potential to be taken the wrong way. Everything matters. “I don’t have any regrets from things I’ve done and said because I have learned from the mistakes I’ve made and things I’ve done” says senior, Manny Martinez. When asked if he would be satisfied or disgusted with his actions, he replied “I’d be disgusted” very promptly. Over the past few years Manny has allowed his not-so-positive actions become the driving force in being a nicer person to all of those he encounters.
Artificial Heart by Alma Hernandez
For many years people with heart problems have been taking pills or intravenous drips (IV) in order to avoid heart attacks. However, the French have created an artificial heart where people with heart problems have the opportunity to overcome it by getting the artificial heart implanted into their bodies. The artificial heart works is by an electronic sensor inside of it, where it regulates the heartbeat and blood flow. If the patient needs more or less blood, the sensor will react and respond to what it needs. Since one’s body is fragile, it is sometimes hard to see what might happen if not careful enough. For that reason it is important to include a sensor in the heart in order to not damage the body.s and this is the first time that this kind of artificial The heart is made out of biosynthetic tissue as well as animal tissue, which human the body should not reject. If the body does reject it, there might be a problem helping that person, but maybe someday the French will solve that problem as well. So far it has only been tested on animals, but soon the scientists will try the artificial heart on people. The french scientists have created this artificial heart in order to save more lives and increase our living rates. Since it is possible to have this heart, there is hope for a longer life of those with heart problems.
Progression of Mobile Technology by Jon Main
Imagine if you would have lived your life in the year 1843, a man by the name of Michael Faraday studied to see if space could conduct electricity. In 1865 Dr. Mahlon Loomis was the first person to communicate through the wireless atmosphere. He came up with the idea of transmitting and receiving messages through the atmosphere as a conductor. Through that research the first portable cell phone was made by Dr. Martin Cooper. This first phone was a Motorola Dyna-tac that weighed two and a half pounds, had no display and housed thirty circuit boards. Talk time was thirty five minutes, recharge time took ten hours and the incredible features it had were dial, talk, listen. Dr. Cooper was also the first person to make a call from a cell phone, and the astonishing thing was that he called his rival Joel Engel. In regards to what was spoken in the conversation, no one knows.
Cell phones have come a long way since then. This year we have introduced the world’s first touch screen smart phone, the Blackberry Storm. As you can probably already tell, this phone has many more features than just dialing talking and listening. This phone is capable of email, internet surfing, taking videos and photos, have conference calls and much more. Some might disagree on the quality of the software for this product, but I encourage the recipient of this phone to try it for themselves. So in the past years we have gone from the first cell phone to the first touch screen smart phone.
Of course that’s only Verizon. The other marvel of technology that we have been greeted with in 2008 was the G1 with Google by T mobile. This phone is another example of what we are capable of having in the palm of our hands. The incredible features of this devise are, touch screen, full keyboard, one touch Google search, 3G network and Wi-Fi access, text, E-mail, and music player just to name a few. So as you can see this phone definitely rivals the storm and makes competition fierce for phone companies.
AT&T has also stepped up by creating the all new iPhone which they combined the iPod touch with the ability to call and txt. The features of this incredible device are as follows; obviously it’s a phone, an iPod, mobile internet, maps and GPS, 3G speeds, Email and an applications store as similar to the iPhone.
Photos taken by Alexandria Stolze So obviously the phone rivals are hard at work creating the next big thing in the phone industry. For that we have accomplished much in the few years that cell phones have been offered to the world. By the year 2012, fifty percent of the world is expected to own mobile phones. And many more advancements are surly to come in the near future.
Taking a Turn in the Right Direction What motivates a student to take ownership of their life
written and photographed by Alexandria Stolze The average student is entitled to stay in school for at least thirteen years. After completing many years, people mature throughout their schooling, starting off as those crazy, obnoxious kids that you see running around through grocery or department stores. Most of us were like that - some of us are STILL like that.Those annoying kids somehow become mature adults one day and graduate high school. Coming into a high school with many people older than you can be intimidating. Juniors and seniors tend to be more mature than sophomores or freshman. Coming into that kind of environment, most kids find themselves maturing in a way inspired by their peers. With others, it is different. Some times, it is something drastic happens in their lifetime. There is one example of a touching story about one of our very own Yucaipa High Seniors. He has been through it all.
David De Silva has been through a lot in his lifetime. His story is about how he has evolved throughout his school years and taken ownership of his life. All throughout elementary, David always had anger issues and violence problems. He would get in several fights because it “felt good.� This is something that some of the student body has experienced. One day it got so bad that he almost got suspended. Someone made him mad, and he felt obligated to go ahead and punch him in the nose. This would go on several times throughout his elementary years. Something would all change that soon enough. David made a promise to himself one day after something terrible happened to him. He had always been close to his mother, who was a genuine and peaceful woman - he loved her very much. At the age of thirteen, his life took a turn for the worse. Around Christmastime, he got the most dreadful phone call of his entire life. Someone had found his mother at another house. She had killed herself.This is real life. From then on, he made a promise to himself that he was not going to get into any more fights, as much as it killed him, for his mother. To this day, he has not been in one single fight or been in any sort of violent act since the incident. He gave up violence for good. He knows that it was extremely difficult for him, but he survived. Now, more than ever, he has been the absolute best he can be; the person he wants to be. Now, as an acheiving student at Yucaipa High, he, like many others, has a dream. If you talk to him, you will discover that he wishes to become a masseuse. He is planning to attend Hands On Massage College in Redlands. Strange, you say? Well, everyone has a dream to become something in their lifetime. Having a desired profession can motivate you to do well in your high school career. Having this dream can make a student want to do better. To get into a good college you actually have to try and care about your grades. Passing all of your classes will give you more college options, which give you more career options.Whether it is to become an actor, photographer, lawyer, or even a massuse, everyone has a desired profession.
"Something would change all that soon enough�
The Epigraph
Euro Trip,‘09