Issue 9

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0488dfc3.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0498dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mrs. Davies                      Room 206</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mrs. Davies Room 20"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Journalism 2004/2005"><U>Journalism 2004/2005</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3 Issue 1"><U>Volume 3 Issue 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3 Issue 2"><U>Volume 3 Issue 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3 , Issue 3"><U>Volume 3 , Issue 3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3, Issue 4"><U>Volume 3, Issue 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3, Issue 8"><U>Volume 3, Issue 8</U></A>   |   <B>Issue 9</B>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Issue 10 Review"><U>Issue 10 Review</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V3 Issue11"><U>V3 Issue11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3, Issue 12"><U>Volume 3, Issue 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volume 3, Issue 13 Photojournalism"><U>Volume 3, Issue 13 Photojournalism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V3 Issue 14"><U>V3 Issue 14</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V3 Issue 15"><U>V3 Issue 15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V3 Issue 16"><U>V3 Issue 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="V3 Issue 17"><U>V3 Issue 17</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0498dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Issue 9</I></div> <div> Exchange</div> <bR> <div>    By Joe Toscano</div> <div>      You look around the cafeteria and can't seem to find another soul with the same complexion as you have. Your peers speak in a language that at times is harder to decipher than it is to accept how far away your friends and family are, and going back to your temporary home can at times be just as difficult. </div> <div> Kristina Neufeld, Liberty High School's resident German exchange student, faces these problems on a day to day basis, though the support of new friends and her host parents have helped her warm up to an entire new lifestyle. 18-year-old Kristina will stay in the United States until June before heading back to Bremem, Germany, her hometown, but she appreciates the fresh experience that her trip to the United States has given her.</div> <div>      “My English is better, I have new friends, I have learned new things,” Kristina said, before pausing for a moment. “Plus, I like the snow.”</div> <div>      Other things, though, have been more difficult to get used to. </div> <div>      “It's colder (In the United States) and you can't choose your own subjects,” Kristina said. “School is harder than in Germany, because you don't change classes for an entire year,”</div> <div>      Her Host parents have helped Kristina adapt.</div> <div>      “Their names are Sandra and David Bucklin, they are really nice. They do everything that they can to help me feel comfortable.”</div> <div>      Certainly, that is the formula for success: host parents who are willing to do whatever they can, paired with a student who is ready to enjoy a new experience and face a new challenge. Still, Kristina was having difficulty choosing which country she would rather live in.</div> <div>      “Both,” she said, carefully choosing her words. “I think I like Germany more because of family and friends.”</div> <div>      So where does that leave the United States?</div> <div>      “It's different,” she said.</div> <div>      Maybe that's not always a bad thing. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> One Person's Mistake is Another Person's Blessing</div> <bR> <div> By Susan Talmadge</div> <div> Of all the issues teenage girls deal with today, pregnancy could be one of the biggest.  It's not that those of us who find ourselves “accidentally” pregnant at a young age are necessarily <I>bad</I> kids, but everyone who makes mistakes usually ends up paying for them.  </div> <div> But getting pregnant isn't the real issue here:  it's what the student does after they discover they have a new life growing inside of them.  Most likely, a student's first instinct would be to give up everything, quit school, and become the exact opposite of what they could have been.  This happens because the student might feel embarrassed, afraid they might be rejected because of their pregnancy.  </div> <div> From a personal standpoint, being pregnant in school wasn't really as bad as I had anticipated.  I wasn't proud of myself, but I had learned to live with what had happened.  I knew that I had made a mistake, but I was doing the right thing now by giving this child a chance to come into this world, and I had to do it correctly.  I knew right from the start that I wanted my baby to have a good life.  I wanted my baby to have all the things that I didn't have growing up.  </div> <div> Where did I start?  I had to face my fears: tell my mom and dad. This is the worst part for any teenage girl.  Just knowing that I was going to break my dad's heart was agonizing to me, but he had to know.  I knew that the longer I waited to say something, the worse it would be when I finally did tell him.  So with much positive thinking, I broke the news to my parents.  My mother was understanding, and said that she would stand by me no matter what happened.  My dad, on the other hand, flipped out, telling me that I had to abort the baby, or get out.  Since I believe that abortion would have been the biggest mistake of my life, I left my dad's house.  </div> <div>       In an effort to still reach my dreams, I kept my grades up in school. I knew that the only way to become successful in the world today is to get a good education.  Then I started taking better care of myself.  No more smoking, partying, or staying up all night the way I used to.  It was time to eat right, breathe right, and sleep right. I went to the doctor regularly, followed his orders, and took advice from my mom.  I was so unsure of what I was doing until I heard my baby's heartbeat and saw that I really had a new life growing inside of me. </div> <div> When my baby was born, my heart overflowed with joy. I suddenly felt much better about myself because I brought this beautiful little human being into the world.  Now all I had to do was finish my last year of high school, and go on to college.  My little girl means the world to me; I wouldn't trade her for anything, and I haven't ruined my life.  I have plans to go on to college and become a teacher, or a writer.  It's not easy, but I believe that I can do it and I can make something of myself.  </div> <div> Needless to say, for others it might not be as clear.  For instance, there was a senior who freaked and left school when she found that she was pregnant.  “I just couldn't take it anymore,” she told me.  “People were looking at me like I shouldn't be there.  I just didn't fit in anymore.”  </div> <div> “Having a baby and going to school isn't easy,” said another young woman.  Just a word of advice to those girls out there who are having sex, make sure you're protected.  And just remember, just because you're on birth control or even if you're using condoms, there is still a possibility that you could get pregnant.  If you're going to have sex, make sure you're prepared for the worst.  You never know when a small surprise might show up.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >    </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>Supporting New Life:</U></B></div> <div> <B><U>Teenage Pregnancy Support Groups </U></B></div> <bR> <div> <I>                                         By: Danielle R. Hinton</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> All teenage females are aware of it, and they all know it's possible, but we all think it could never happen to us until it does. Teen pregnancy is an epidemic that is sweeping our school and is causing the high school drop out rate to soar. So what is a girl to do when it does happen? She doesn't always have a loving family who will understand or a boyfriend who will stick by her. And no one should have to go through that alone. The simple idea of a teenage pregnancy support group could very possibly cut the drop out rate and help these young girls move on with their lives instead of throwing in the towel. </div> <div>      When faced with a problem in school, most students see their guidance counselor, teacher, or a trusting friend. But something like pregnancy is no small issue; it's a human life and a huge decision that will affect the rest of your life. There is no easy answer and no easy choice, but knowing that there is a group of people that will stand behind you and have experience in this stage of life can give hope. To know that you're not the only one who went through this and who had to make such a decision can help you keep your mind clear and focused and make the best choice for you and for your life. </div> <div>      Young ladies know that it's never easy to discuss topics concerning your body especially when pregnant. Many do not know what to expect through the nine months of pregnancy, labor, and infancy. Many do not know how to breast feed, change diapers, and sometimes even to feed or hold a baby. And what makes things worse, is that many ladies do not know where to go through this time. Not everyone will have a home for themselves and their baby, and they don't know how to provide a home, food and clothing for their newborn child and throughout their lives. Having a support group will allow the new mothers to look into government programs such as WIC, EBT, Section 8, and job placement, so that the mother can begin a new life on their own knowing that their child will have what he or she needs in life. </div> <div>      Numerous young girls feel that the beginning of the life of their child is the end of theirs, and that's not necessarily the case. If you feel as a mother that your child deserves the best, than you can go out and get the best not only for your child but for you as well. And that can only happen with a good education, support, and a little help from friends.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> What's New in the Cafeteria?</div> <bR> <div> by Erica Minckler</div> <div> The Liberty Central School District cafeteria has received a new scanner program that uses student and teacher identification cards to purchase lunches. </div> <div> “This new program hopefully will be completely started on February 1, 2005,” said Principal Mr. Jack Strassman. </div> <div> The teachers received their new ID cards on the week of January 10<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>. The reason that the students haven't received their id/scanner cards is because approximately 150 students of all grades didn't get their school photos taken.</div> <div>  Mr. Strassman explained that the new id system would help the students and the cafeteria staff by making the system faster and more efficient. </div> <div> “The card will be like a debit card, you have to have money on the card in order to receive lunch, when you swipe your card the money will be “taken off” your card and you will have a lower balance on the card.”</div> <div> While the ID cards should mainly prove to be beneficial, there have been some glitches. In addition there has been issue regarding students who receive free or reduced lunch who don't eat lunch due to the fact of being embarrassed because they can't afford lunch.  </div> <div> Potential problem that Mr. Strassman sees is the lose or theft of these ID cards, but when you use the card in the cafeteria the student's picture will appear on the computer, so they student shouldn't be able to get away with the theft. He also stated that the cafeteria staff can focus less on the theft of food because they can monitor the amount of the food that is placed out and delivered.    </div> <bR> <bR> <div> The Class of 2006 is Ready to Ring in the New Year</div> <bR> <div> By Lizz Stolow</div> <div> The class of 2006 is ready to ring in the New Year. Throughout numerous junior exec meetings the class has prepared a full back to school line up. </div> <div>      “The Juniors are very eager for the upcoming activities,” stated Deb Stolow, class advisor and 8th grade math teacher extraordinaire. </div> <div>      The juniors have prepared multiple fundraising events for the upcoming year. They plan on hosting the annual Krispy Kreme sale along with their own monthly baking sale extravaganzas. These two fundraisers should be enough but this year's junior class has gone above and beyond the call of duty to develop their own fundraising ideas. For `05 the class of 2006 requests your attendance at the Dead End Café, January 20th, for an elegant affair. A night of food, fun, friends and family along with live entertainment is sure to be a night to remember. </div> <div>      “We expect this event to not only be beneficial to our class, but also an excellent evening for our family friends, educators and towns people to enjoy'. Stated Christine Divita, 11th grade student and active junior exec member.</div> <div>      When Marshall Isseks, 11th grade class president was asked his thoughts on the upcoming events he stated, “ I strongly believe that with our future plans in progress, 2005 will be our most successful year yet”.</div> <div>      With the future plans in progress, it's quite obvious that the junior class will have their plates full. The mix of excitement enthusiasm and perseverance is sure to help this class go far. The plans are ready the dates are set now, Let's go!</div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Incessant Messaging?</FONT></div> <bR> <div> By Zac Shavrick</div> <div> In a recent study a majority of students polled tended to use AOL instant messenger on a daily basis.</div> <div>      A smaller amount of students used it occasionally followed by never and rarely respectively. </div> <div>      “AOL Instant Messenger is an excellent tool for keeping in touch with friends who would other wise become distant,” says senior Keely Hamlin, in support of instant messenger.</div> <div>      Dan Green, also a senior, does not feel the same way “AOL Instant Messenger can suck you in like a portal,” he said. He also explained that it does have its benefits but at times it can be far too addictive.</div> <div>      “I use AOL Instant Messenger on a daily basis,” said Tracy Hinton, a senior, who, based on the poll results, was speaking for a majority of the school. </div> <div>      “My parents feel AOL Instant Messenger is the scourge of the youth, my mom says it consumes and possesses teenagers,” said Mike Wagner, president of the senior class. His mother was obviously exaggerating, however, she was expressing a point commonly shared amongst parental figures.</div> <div>      “I do not feel there is anything wrong with AOL instant messenger, it is a great communication device that links you conveniently with large groups of people,” says senior Shane Noetzel, in defense of AIM.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When Will it End?</div> <bR> <div> By: Jen Cohen</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >What makes plenty sense to some, leaves only a trail of uncertainty in others. The biggest problem with people today is most definitely ignorance and prejudice. Take a quote from William Hazlitt, “Prejudice is the child of ignorance.” These two acts go hand in hand. </FONT></div> <div> A preconceived judgment or opinion performed from one human to another is unacceptable. So many great leaders rose above the hard times of segregation between so many different races, classes, ethnicities and made a huge impact on the world.</div> <div>  When Martin Luther King, Jr. would speak, it was if you could see what he was imagining. He believed in such equality you could taste it. It was only time before Americans could change, wasn't it? </div> <div> Many other people took a stand against prejudice and tried to explain to others how this is not how people are supposed to live. There should be no reason for certain groups to live in fear or feel inferior under <I>any </I>circumstances. </div> <div> When 9-11 occurred, most of the nation strongly formed a bond. One of empathy and kindness that flourished with such ambition that one would think it would last forever. Now you have people pointing fingers in all the wrong directions. You have their minds flying high, towering above any conceivably sincere thought. When one fellow human being cannot take the time to help another, where exactly is their thinking done? How can someone not want to help another person? Is it because they aren't just like them?</div> <div> The answer to that would be because they can. Some people just believe that due to the fact they are from a nation that believes in “free speech” that anything they say goes. That couldn't be more wrong. Anyone and everyone should be able to express their feelings and say what is on their mind. But where is the line drawn? Who gets to decide what is right and wrong? There are numerous sites dedicated specifically to explain the rights of students in particular. Schools are a big part of where kids can learn to accept and care for all people, or learn to judge and be prejudice in such an amazingly old-fashioned sense that only their crowd can conjure such hate. When someone takes their First Amendment right to the extreme, they are digging a deeper hole than they have ever imagined. </div> <div> When something a person says is hurting another human they need to be stopped. If an authority figure shrugs off comments, where is that repercussion that is needed to show that certain things can just not be said? Suppose that this person was reprimanded, where is the promise that they couldn't do that again? And if such a promise <I>is</I> made, where is the clause stating that contingent to this proposal there will be more severe consequences to be bestowed upon the person? There is NO such thing. Our country instills such a great deal of unity on paper. The real deal is that times have changed, laws have been broken, and this country needs something or someone to stitch its wound. Many believe that with new times come new problems, I for one believe that these so-called “new” problems are old problems that are slowly and steadily resurfacing to create such a difference as if there is a water and oil effect taking over. </div> <div> Evil cannot and will not prevail over what is so easy to comprehend. To accept and cherish those around you no matter what their status, background or any difference is from you. What a better time to learn values and morals then while growing up, as a child. It is almost impossible not to learn to love and get over what stands in the way of everyone being happy. Why is it that the people who don't care become the happiest in a time where all of those that are hurt, suffer? How long will it take for those who are so close-minded to extract the hatred from them hearts and be rid of it forever? Only time can tell, but if the saying goes, “History repeats itself,” then we are all in for a lot more trouble because the world <I>is</I> still turning and those living, are all well alive. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>