Fall Reflection by Norwood Mirror

The Norwood Mirrorâ&#x20AC;&#x;s News Magazine

REFLECTION

ISSUE 1

Fall

Self Harm: A rising epidemic

A New Generation of Games

The Work Behind the The Wins

Taylor Swift: More than just music

A College Right For You

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

The Work Behind the Wins.

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Kayla Bennett Competitive Innovations in The Cellular World

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David Torres Newbie's in Newspaper

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Matt Brown Best Friends Forever and Ever? .

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Ashley Couch Self Harm: A Rising Epidemic .

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Elizabeth Isaac Taylor Swift: More Than Just Music .

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Hannah Hale A College Right for You .

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Addy Bryant A New Generation of Games

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John Bennett Bad Boys, Bad Boys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Chloe Singleton

The work behind the wins By: Kayla Bennett

Marching Band. The sport that takes focus, hard work, and dedication. Some people think Marching Band is just a group of kids that go out and march at half time, and make pictures on the field. Some even say it‟s easy. But how much work does it really take to be in marching band? Just like all other sports, marching band has to practice. Some practices more difficult than others, of course. The biggest parts of practice is pushing your body, and using your skills to reach your goals. Practice can also benefit your health by being physically active on regular basis. You may even be able to accomplish things physically you couldn‟t before. Marching band doesn‟t only benefit your health but your social life too. You meet friends that become family to you. Band Director, Patrick Bauer said, “When you‟re in marching

band it taxes you mentally, socially and physically.” Practice is one of the most important parts of being in any sport, especially in a competitive marching band. You have to have a lot of personal responsibility. With only 50 practices a year, it is vital that all members are there with a commitment to make practice successful. Bauer identifies focus as, “students have to be ready to work.” Bauer also points out the negative effects of people missing practice are, “it wastes everybody‟s time.” Most students only see marching band at football games, but they also perform at band competitions, where practice pays off. According to Bauer, football games are used as a “performance opportunity to prepare for

competitions.” During band competitions, band members get to perform their show in front of judges, and get scores. Being in a competitive marching band also benefits students. According to Bauer it “makes you realize if you put other people before yourself a group can accomplish anything.” He also said it feels “great” when you compete against other bands and beat them. Just like there are good practices, there are also bad ones. Since there is only a limited amount of practices per season, it is very important to not have a bad practice. If you‟re in a competitive sport, it makes it even more important. Bauer said his definition of a bad practice is, “when you have to convince students it‟s important to be there.” In order to not have a bad practice students have

to be dedicated to what they are doing and need a good work ethic. Marching Band practice is one of the most important, and beneficial parts of the whole season. Some people think that practice is the worst part of being in any sport, until you win and realize that practice is well worth it. Especially in a competitive sport, every member has certain responsibilities, and is equally important. In marching band, the drum majors have to take on the added responsibility of leading the band to success. Drum major Carter Wilson says, “I do feel responsible for how practice goes, because I‟m supposed to take charge of the band, and steer them into the right direction.” During athletic training sessions, especially in marching band, it is important to achieve certain goals. Sometimes there is one specific thing that needs to be achieved, and sometimes there are multiple things. Wilson says, “The one thing I hope to achieve at every practice is to become better. Nothing can be perfect-that‟s why we must become better at what we do everyday.” It is also crucial to have a good practice. According to Wilson it is important to have a good training session because, “One-it makes us so much stronger, and two-good practices motivate everyone. It drives them to push harder and become the best we can be. Every single second of practice is an important part. Practice equals success.” Along with having individual responsibility, marching band members also expect other band members to take responsibility for the group, and be ready to win. Wilson says, “I expect each band member to be mentally prepared for each practice, and be willing to work hard in order to succeed.” It takes a lot of work in order to win and be successful. You also have to have a good work ethic, and be devoted to what you are doing.” Some students don‟t see how they as an individuals benefit from practice. However, Wilson points out a number of benefits. Having structured exercise helps overall physical health. A routine practice helps you become better at what you do, and be highly successful. Wilson says, “Band practice benefits students because it makes individuals all come together to achieve the same goal. Practice benefits me as a drum major because at every practice I learn something new, and the more I know, the better I will become, which will make me push all the other band members to do their best.” Wilson is highly dedicated to marching band, and his part in leading the Norwood Marching Indians to a successful season. All members of Norwood Marching Indians are highly devoted to what they do, mentally and physically. Staff members, such

as Band Director, Patrick Bauer are the key to the Norwood Marching Indians past, present, and future success. They are the individuals who create goals and guide the band to their well-deserved wins. It takes a great deal of work, talent, and personal responsibility in order to be a successful marching band member. So far, Norwood Marching Indians are off to a wonderful start in the competitive part of their season.

“When in Marching Band it taxes you mentally, socially, and physically”

Some people say marching band isn’t a sport, but as you can see above they have to work hard too.

“Every single Part of Practice is Important” Drum major, Carter Wilson gets ready for practice by warming up his trumpet. 2

Competitive Innovations in The Cellular World By: David Torres

With fall coming up Apple has decided to drop their new iPhone, the iPhone 5 is described as being lighter, faster, and expensive! But apparently the pros outweighed the cons and Apple came out successful with 2 million preorders set 24 hours after the release of their new device.

Apple could sell up to ten million iPhones within the first week; Bill Choi of Janney Capital Markets predicts that Apple could sell as many as 10 million new iPhones in the first week, and Michael Walkley of Canaccord Genuity says iPhone 5 sales could reach 10 million by Sept. 29.

Apple has finally released the much anticipated iPhone 5! Unfortunately Apple fans may have to wait a while before getting their hands on it. This is mainly because they weren‟t expecting such a dramatic rush, and when they saw that over 2 million pre orders had been made on their new device in under twenty-four hours, and had to issue a statement that read „While the majority of preorders will be delivered to customers on 21 September, many are scheduled to be delivered in October.‟ This huge sale also beat last year‟s iPhone 4S sales which were the highest that Apple had so far, with 600,000 preorders being set on the first day according to Forbes magazine the price for a 16 GB iPhone 5 is $199 dollars if gotten under contract, and a whopping price of $686.11 if bought unlocked. Many speculators believe that

With such a big price tag many wonder if the iPhone five is worth the money. A few people even say that the iPhone four and the newer iPhone 5 are almost identical. However iPhone fans point to its 4G LTE capability which makes internet browsing much quicker than it ever was on the 4S(3.5G*) The difference can be felt loading Web pages: the mobile version of CNET took 5.3 seconds over LTE, versus 8.5 seconds on the iPhone 4S (According to cnet.com.) A graphically intensive Web site like the desktop version of Huffington Post took 16 seconds to load via LTE, versus 23.3 seconds on the iPhone 4S in 4G*. The newer version is also longer and slimmer. The approximate weight of the new phone is 3.95 ounces (CNET reviews) and the iPhone 4 was 4.8 ounces and the 4S being 4.9 ounces. This makes the iPhone 5 the lightest phone that Apple has ever created. The iPhones screen

had always been 3.5 inches, but on the new phone it is now 4 inches and has a resolution of 1,136x640-pixel display which makes it equal to a retina display which is used in most Android

Picture comparing the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3 phones. Another big change was the new “lightning” charger which made it so your previous gadgets become obsolete without the use of the new three-point charger or an adapter, apparently the new three point charger is smaller and „lightning‟ fast at charging as compared to other phones.

Even though the iPhone 5 has many cutting edge features there are still some things that Apple+ could work on that other competitor‟s devices do have, including expandable memory, removable battery, micro HDMI port, wireless charging, and a “pop up display.” These features might not sound very important but a lot of these functions are already in most Android phones. For example the Galaxy S III has all of these features except wireless charging, this feature can be purchased separately with a special case. Which can be bought for the iPhone 4S (a case for the iPhone 5 hasn‟t been made yet) on amazon.com with prices ranging anywhere from $15 to $90 only for the case.

A key feature that many iPhone users would like to have is expandable memory (micro SD card,) which can range in size from two to sixty-four Gigabytes from $5-$60.An iPhone 5 can go up to 64GB, which sounds like a lot, but memory is used up easily and after a month or two a message could pop up warning the user that the phone is almost out of space. And if the 64GB iPhone 5 isn‟t in the family budget (64GB iPhone 5 is 849 dollars without contract while the 16GB 650 dollars without contract.) Theoretically if the iPhone 5 had expandable memory, the problem could be easily fixed with a 64GB micro SD card. This is a key feature many Apple fans would love in their iPhones because of the money they would save.

The “pop up display” feature is something that recently came out with the new Samsung Galaxy S III. Ever wanted to watch a movie and suddenly get the sudden urge to check your tweets? With the Galaxy S III you could get this done without a problem, but if you have the iPhone 5 you are missing out on this feature. That may not sound like a huge deal but if you are in a hurry and have your GPS on and would like to check the web for something important without exiting the on screen navigation you could do so without interrupting your directions, this would help many people who are in a hurry.

Another missing key feature is the HDMI port which allows users to display images and videos through a television. With most Androids this would be possible as long as the correct HDMI cables are at hand there is no problem and the phones screen can be viewed right from the television screen. Unfortunately iPhone 5 users have to go through a different process, which is simpler but costlier. Apple iPhone 5 users would need to have an Apple TV, which costs around $100 with a wifi connection in order to stream video on a television. Picture of the Apple Tv 4

Newbies in Newspaper By: Matt Brown

The 2012-13 Norwood newspaper class is full of experienced writers, but they are new to the stressful day-to-day deadlines that are needed in journalism. The class is full of new faces except two veterans from last year‟s staff, including Editor -in-Chief Addy Bryant . Even though the majority of the staff is new, they have delivered attention grabbing stories that the school loves. Newspaper advisor Ashley Martin thinks this class has a good mix of kids. “The quiet ones will surprise you because even if they don‟t say much, they have a lot to say in their writing while the extroverts keep us laughing all bell,” says Martin. Newspaper class is a lot different than other high school classes. The class is like a job because each person has their own responsibilities individual job to do in the class. Martin, who also

teaches acting and freshman English, always has her hands full, but when 6th bell comes around she doesn‟t have to worry. All the newspaper students are responsible and she knows that the work will be done on time. Martin explains, “For the most part, all these kids are self starters. Everyone takes ownership over their own projects and stories, which is paramount to the success of our publications.” Editor in-Chief Addy Bryant works hard every day to make sure that everybody in the class does their job and meets deadline. Some of her responsibilities include: editing the stories, designing the layout for the newspaper, and helping to determine and communicate the production schedule. According to Bryant, “the hardest part of my job is editing papers. I have to differentiate between my

own writing style and theirs.” She takes her job in the class seriously. If any of the stories are on the weak side, it‟s her job to make it better and suggest ways for the author to improve their writing. She‟s also responsible for the design of the newspaper itself, which is important because the layout is the first thing everyone notices. Page Editor Hannah Hale is also a big part of the newspaper class. She oversees the Indian page of the monthly publications. Without her the class could not go on because she always has a good attitude and the class loves to be around her. According to Martin, “Hannah is a natural leader and a solid team player. She has a drive to do well, and that drive is contagious.” Elizabeth Isaac, page editor for the Insider page of the monthly publica-

tions, is a hard working junior who never gets behind on her job. She‟s always on deadline and is recognized for quick wit and unique story ideas. Martin is happy that Isaac joined the team. “I didn‟t get to have Elizabeth in English 9, but I had heard rave reviews from her English teachers. I was told she was a solid choice for editor, and she has not disappointed,” says Martin. Indian Update Director Zach “The Ash” Ashford keeps the class laughing and entertained. He is what keeps tension low and everyone from going insane because of deadlines. Zach is always doing something in the class, whether it is messing around with the staff or making jokes. Besides Zach having a fun side, he can also be a leader. Zach takes his role very seriously in the class and explains, “My role is to

Newspaper Class From top left; David Torres, Addy Bryant, and Matt Brown Middle; Elizabeth Isaac, Ashley Couch, Hannah Hale, and John Bennett Bottom; Kayla Bennett, Zach “The Ash” Ashford, and Chloe Singleton 5

be a leader of the Indian Update and to lighten the mood in the classroom. If it wasn‟t for me everybody in the class would probably just have a panic attack and die due to not enough laughter, laughter never hurt anyone right?” Every Wednesday he directs the Indian Update, the weekly news broadcast aired during advisory on Friday. Zach loves to be in this class because he likes being a part of a successful team, like he is with the football team. Last but not least, the staff writers of the newspaper class - the people that make the stories and everything happen. Seniors Matt Brown, Chloe Singleton, John Bennett, and David Torres, and sophomores Kayla Bennett and Ashley Couch round out the newspaper staff. Senior Chloe Singleton feels that newspaper class helps her expressive herself. “It gives me a chance to be creative and express myself in my writing,” She explains. Sophomore Ashley Couch likes her role in newspaper class saying, “I get to write about fun topics and I get to hang out with Chloe and Hannah all day which is awesome.” The staff writers work hard every day to make sure that deadlines are met and the stories grab the reader‟s attention. According to Editor in-

Chief Addy Bryant, “There‟s a good mix of people, who are all very strong writers. And we‟re all pretty much lovely.” So next time you pick up a newspaper just think about all the hard work that went into creating that newspaper just say good job to the writers once in a while, it makes a world of difference. All in all Newspaper is a class that takes good writing skills and a love for news. These kids work hard everyday to put a good product out there for their fellow students to read and enjoy. When 6th bell comes around, the kid‟s attitudes change because they know that they need to get done between writing good stories and meeting the deadlines. The students love this class because they get to express themselves and learn new things that improves their writing to help them in future classes. Even though this year‟s class is new, they plan on being the best one to come through

Above; Sophomore Ashley Couch “I like too talk to my friends Hannah, Chloe, Matt, and Zach and I like to write stories.”

the halls of Norwood.

Above; Junior Zach Ashford

Above; Editors Hannah Hale, Elizabeth Isaac, and Editor in-chief Addy Bryant

“ I find myself as a sort of comic genius, and I believe that it is my job to keep the fun in newspaper, so people don't go crazy, with all the deadlines. I'm just AMAZING.”

By: Ashley Couch Do you take your friendships for granted? If so you really shouldn‟t. Friendships are vital for wellbeing but they take time to develop and can‟t artificially be created. In a Survey of nearly 3,000 Americans ages 8 to 24 conducted last year by Harris Interactive, 94 percent said that they had at least one close friend. Many may think that finding a friend is an easy thing to do, but in some cases it could be challenging and misleading. British Writer Mark Vemon writes that “a close friend is a mirror of your own self. Someone whom makes you realize you are not alone.” No matter how old kids are they could easily tell you who is and who isn‟t their friend. But recently the concept of best friends has shifted. Due to the invention of cell phones, as well as the internet they make it easier for kids to be interacted by simply sitting at home. This has caused a decline in the amount of “best friends”. For many of us it could be hard to find a person we really trust and enjoy being around, but for others it could be much simpler than this. High School Science teacher 7

Jill Scalf says she has never had problems keeping friends. “My oldest friend and I have been best friends for 22 years. All of my best friends have been my best friends since elementary school. So I don‟t have trouble keeping them or even finding them.” Scalf thinks finding friends are about looking for them.” I‟m not afraid to put myself out there. I love meeting new people. But it‟s not always as easy as it seems. It‟s not always a good idea to judge friends in a detached way, or to doubt a friendship just because you can‟t easily find its rewards. The closest friends like each other for who they are not what they de-

liver. Sometimes in friendship it‟s better to give than to receive. According to the Urban Dictionary, best friends are very special people in your life. They are the people you think about when you

have plans, the first people you go to when you need someone to talk to, and are mostly there for you in times of need. Many people go through different best friends but usually a person only has one real, true best friend over time. Sometimes people lose the only true best friend they ever knew but even with time that old friend is always on their mind. Nowadays a true friend is hard to come by. In order to have friends you must be a friend. You must never be dishonest or ever give them a reason to not trust you. It only leads to fighting later on in the friendship. Being a friend includes being there for someone 100 percent. There is nothing more aggravating than not having a friend to talk to. Within time you will realize that friends fight, joke sound, and laugh with each other all the time but at the end of the day they will still be there. Some psychologists believe childhood friendships increase self esteem and as well as confidence. They also help develop social skills for a healthy adult relationship.

By: Ashley Couch Seniors Seniors Chloe Singleton and Jordan Mallon have been best friends since the 7th grade. Chloe believes having a best friend really helps you out in the long run. “ Its important to have a best friend because no matter what you‟ll always have someone there through the good and bad times,” says Chloe. To Singleton a real best friend is someone who knows you better than you know yourself. “ I think arguing is normal with your friends but Jordan and I have never been in a fight.” When it comes to finding friends Chloe talks about how it‟s not hard because she loves meeting new people and getting to know them.

Juniors Juniors Zach Ashford and Timmy Peddicord have been “ BFF‟S” for about three years now. Ashford says “a real best friend is someone who has your back in any situation, and will bite someone's ear off for you.” Ashford continues to say how he believes fighting is bound to happen.“Fighting with your best friend is totally normal. Although we have an equal amount of respect for each other there tends to be fighting from time to time.” Ashford says it‟s hard to find someone who can put up with all of your nonsense, but once you find that one person they‟ll be in your life forever.

Sophomore Sophomores Brandy Saul and Hayley Hedges have been best friends since eighth grade. Saul says that having a best friend is important because you always have someone to talk to, and no matter what your going through they‟ll always be there for you. “A real best friend is someone who isn't judgmental and knows how to make you smile when you need it the most. I think it‟s hard to find a best friend. It‟s hard to find someone who doesn't get annoyed with you easily and puts up with you everyday. But once you‟ve got that down it‟s easy to keep your best friend or any friend really.”

Freshmen Freshmen Lilly Cowan and Katie Faulkner have been best friends since the 8 grade. To Faulkner having a best friend reminds her that even when she feels completely alone they will always be there. Katie says “Yes it is normal to fight. Lilly and I fight all the time but in the end it only brings us and our friendship closer.” To Faulkner finding friends tends to be hard. “I have trust issues, but once I find someone like Lilly, no matter how many times we fight our friendship means to most to me.” th

Self harm: An increasing epidemic By Elizabeth Isaac As bullying is becoming more of a prominent issue in our society, the suicide rate is increasing. Suicide awareness is at an all time high but there is another problem that is equally as serious that is not publicized as much: self harm, self mutilation, self injury and cutting. Give it any name you please but the meaning still remains the

same. In the end it all amounts to one person deliberating hurting themself in some way to cope with negative emotions. The practice of self harm is becoming more widespread and misconceptions are spreading like wildfire. Learning how to distinguish the facts from the fake can help you identify and assist those in your life that need a helping hand.

Misconception: Cutting is the only form of self harm Reality: Any act of violence against oneself, no matter how serious the wound, is considered self harm and should be taken seriously. The severity of the injury does not correlate with the intensity of the sadness or negativity that the person feels. Misconception: Anyone who self injures are “Goth" or “emo" Reality: People who self injure range from many cliques, cultures, and backgrounds. It‟s impractical and impossible to lump them all into one group. Females make up the majority of people who self injure but an increase in males has been recorded over the past few years. Self harm is most common in teenagers but spans across a whole range of age groups. Children as young as nine years old have been reported as engaging in self harming behavior and there are even elderly who self injure. Misconception: People who self harm are trying to commit suicide Reality: This method is used to avoid suicide by dealing with the emotions that would lead to such a violent act. Self harm is a coping strategy used by people who have no other alternative way to express how they feel. Misconception: People who hurt themselves are only looking for attention Reality: While it‟s true that some people use self injury as a way to get attention the vast majority of people go to great lengths to conceal their scars, burns, or other wounds. A great amount of shame and stigma is associated with the practice of self injury and because of that it can be difficult for people to reach out for help. People who self harm are in a great amount of both physical and mental pain but are often criticized for their actions, trying to understand their reasoning behind the wounds is a better way to react than immediate criticism. Misconception: The person can easily stop if they want to Reality: Self harm quickly and easily becomes a crutch for those who use it as a way to vent and can almost be considered an addiction. Quitting is a very difficult process and the person may need even need therapy to stop for good.

“Payne’s

philosophy is to give support without judgment or treating the self harmer like they are crazy.”

Recognizing fact from fiction is beyond important if you start to believe that someone in your community needs help. Even if you are personally unable to assist the person in need you can refer them to a counselor who can address the issue in a professional manner. Norwood High School Social Worker Joann Payne meets with about eight students a year who self harm, and none of them fit the stereotypical role of those who are usually associated with the practice. Payne explains that she is not at all uncomfortable meeting with students who self harm and that it's "easy to help them change" because self injury is "so treatable". She encourages students to seek help those who self harm by simply dropping by her office to voice your concerns for friends in need. Students who self harms are encouraged to schedule a visit with a counselor, especially Ms.

Payne. It's as simple as filling out a blue slip (available from any teacher) and dropping it in the box outside of her office. Payne's philosophy is to give support without judgment or treating the self harmer like they are crazy. After the first meeting, Payne will encourage self harmers to tell their parents if they don't already know. If for whatever reason students are too afraid or nervous to tell their parents, she is able to call them on the student‟s behalf and explain very simply what his/her child is going through. Payne says that is not uncommon for teens who self harm to find out that their parents, at one point or another, have also self harmed in the past. Self harmers are usually very effective at keeping their problems hidden and often don't want to tell others that they are hurting themselves. This secret, however, only furthers the problem because it is very unlikely that somebody will be able to get better on their own. While not everyone is to the

point of needing therapy, everyone, whether they self injure or not, needs someone to vent their emotions to. That person could be a close friend, sibling, minister, significant other, teacher, the list could go on forever. There are people out there who are more than willing to help students realize that there are ways of expressing emotion that doesn‟t leave scars. Payne suggests that finding something to replace the self harm is a good first step. Getting in the shower, drawing, dancing, playing a sport, talking with a friend, and other positive activities can help release that extra emotion in a healthy way. After a while the body will replace the need to feel pain with the new activity. For a more detailed look on how to stop self harming please schedule a meeting with Ms. Payne in the counseling office.

Source: http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/pamela/stats.html 10

more than just music By: Hannah Hale “You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me but we are never ever ever getting back together!” These song lyrics are most likely recognizable to anyone who has listened to the radio in the past couple months. This new single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” is already a popular song for the fall season. Not only does Swift create good music but is an excellent role model for her audience and Norwood students seem to agree. Taylor Swift surprised fans on August 13th with the announcement that she'll release a new album, Red, on October 22nd. The singer-songwriter revealed the news during a live chat with fans, during which she played her new single and spoke about her inspiration for the record. "I wrote a song called 'Red‟," said Swift during the live

Senior Chloe Singleton (above) says “I love listening to Taylor Swift. Her music is inspirational and catchy, a dynamic duo. Taylor Swift Gang or Die.” 11

chat, "Thinking about what that means to me and all the different emotions that are written about on this album, they're all pretty much about the kind of tumultuous, crazy, insane, intense, semi-toxic relationships that I've experienced in the last two years… There's nothing beige about any of those feelings, so I called the record Red." During the YouTube session, which at one point had an audience of over 70,000 viewers, Swift played Red's first single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," a more pop sounding tune with lyrics that state the end of her relationship with a recent, unnamed ex-boyfriend (the song's reference to "an indie record that's much cooler than mine" suggests John Mayer as a possible suspect). "It's a really romantic song," she said sarcastically in her live chat of the tune, which went on sale for iTunes and Google Play immediately following the chat. Swift also stated that Red will have 16 tracks and feature several co-

writes. A duet with Englishman Ed Sheeran, who performed during the Olympic closing ceremony, and some collaborating with Swedish hit maestro Max Martin are a few examples of Swift‟s co-writers on the new album. "Ed and I wrote a song while sitting on a trampoline that was so much fun and we loved it so much that we actually ended up recording it as a duet," said Swift during the live release party. Taylor Swift is not only a major celebrity but also a positive role model for her listeners. Musicians and other celebrities can have a huge influence on their audiences whether they realize it or not. Most people know and accept the fact that Taylor Swift is a popular celebrity who is on the rise for today‟s teenage generation, and she is someone who has a high level of social leverage over the actions of young girls. She sings to influence her listeners in a more positive way than other celebrities. Teens will go to great lengths to imitate celebrities because they view them as someone of a higher status, which is somewhat true. Swift takes on problems that teens can relate to (the desire to be popular, to be thin, to dress a certain way, and of course to have the attention of the most popular boys) and counteracts

“If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change!” -Taylor Swift

pressing the idea that, “in your life you‟ll do greater things than dating the boy on the football team.” These lyrics are from her song “Fifteen”, where Swift stands for something completely different than other celebrities her age, and she uses her lyrics to make it known to her listeners. Swift not only offers advice but she also lives a lifestyle that supports her claims. Taylor Swift does pose on magazine covers such as Elle, Allure, and People among many others, but she does so in a tasteful and classy manner as seen below. Taylor Swift also dates major celebrities just like her celebrity colleagues but in a similar fashion as her magazine cover appearances, does so in a tasteful manner. She does a fairly good job of keeping the details of her relationships secret and deals with breakups through her lyrics in a mature and noncondescending way. With all of these positive outlooks on Swift it is easy to understand why so many people respect her and how she has acquired such an enormous fan base. Many Norwood students really seem to enjoy her music. Taylor Swift‟s main audience may be mostly teenage girls but there are a few exceptions. Senior, Jacob Boling, is not afraid to embrace his love. “Even though I am a

guy I still love Taylor Swift and so do most of my guy friends,” he says , “She is cute, has great lyrics, sings like and angel, and did I mention she is cute?” Social studies teacher Rick Robisch also takes a strong liking towards Swift. “I use Taylor Swift‟s music in Sociology to teach a lesson and it helps that her music relates to younger people. Taylor Swift writes good lyrics and I really like her music,” Robisch says. He uses her music to illustrate looking-glass theory and roles conflicts. Not only students but the teachers of Norwood High seem to really appreciate Swift for the image she has created, not only through her music, but her actions. Even with a society filled with images of sex and love portrayed negatively through the media Swift finds a way to keep her name clean and provide a positive role model for America‟s youth. She expresses her positive image by how she presents herself, her actions, and most importantly her music. Swift‟s previous music has always sent a wholesome message to her listeners and will most likely continue to do so in her upcoming album, Red.

Jacob Boiling (left) is not afraid to express his love for Taylor Swift. Mr. Robisch (right) also enjoys listening to Taylor Swift and uses her as a reference to teach in sociology.

College Right for You

By: Addison Bryant

“So where are you going for college?” This question is bound to be asked to any high school student, whether it be from some distant relative or your school counselor. The question itself is a simple one, but getting the answer can be one heck of a journey. Narrowing down your choices can be overwhelming. Do you want to stay in state or go outside of Ohio? Would you prefer a large school or a small one? Do you even want to go to college? These are all questions that riddle the mind and each answer should be considered carefully. Most public colleges in state guarantee students a discount in tuition plus the added bonus of being within driving distance eliminates any fees due to boarding. The price of tuition shouldn‟t be the only deciding factor in your choice of colleges. Before ruling a college out, check out how much financial aid is available. Schools vary greatly on how much money they‟re willing to dish out for students. There isn‟t any need to squash dreams of traveling halfway across the country because of the cost of tuition. In fact, being from a far off land can give a student an advantage. According to College View, “Most private colleges (and some public) like the

diversity that far-away applicants provide. A student from Connecticut may be more attractive to a college in Wisconsin than a similar student close to home.” The most important factor when applying for college would be ACT/SAT scores. Those scores are usually one of the first things any college looks at. Junior and senior high school students still have a chance to improve upon their scores and the Norwood High School staff is more than willing to help. ACT/SAT prac-

tice is offered every Tuesday and Thursday after school in the planetarium. If ACT/SAT scores aren‟t up to par, putting emphasis on things like volunteer service or athletic/artistic ability in your application may help out a bit. Public and private colleges are widely different environments and each student should find out where they fit best. Private colleges generally offer smaller classes, so each student has more of an opportunity for one-on-one attention from the teacher.

Straight from the Students The students ofNorwood High were asked about there plans, if any, for college.

They‟re also more selective; every student has to meet their expectations. Public colleges are just the opposite. Typically they can have 13,000 to 20,000 students, which creates less of an one-on-one teacher/student relationship. The schools can be more diverse though, with students attending from all over the world. Other things to consider when searching for a college are whether or not you‟re interested in a single sex college or one that is historically black. College View says historically black colleges are “renown for academic excellence.” These colleges are simply schools with a higher population of African-Americans. Likewise, at single sex colleges, the student body consists of only male or only female students. “The education you can get at a top women's college will rival even the Ivy League's. As an added bonus, because only a tiny fraction of high school girls consider single-sex schools, acceptance rates at the most renowned women's institutions are significantly higher than at comparable coed colleges,” College View explains. Though these types of colleges aren‟t for every student, they‟re something to consider. Maybe you‟re one of those kids who doesn‟t think college is for you. That is perfectly fine, since in

this current economy, having a degree doesn‟t necessarily guarantee a job. Joining the work force early can be more beneficial than digging yourself into thousands of dollars of debt. According to Money Crashers, some of the highest paying jobs require only a high diploma and the appropriate certifications to apply. These jobs include a real estate broker, air traffic controller, fire chief, construction manager, and plumber. Just because the job doesn‟t require a college education doesn‟t make it easier. The process in becoming involved in one of the professions listed can be just as vigorous as four years of college. The best advice about deciding on what you‟d like to do in college would be the old saying, “if you don‟t know, don‟t go.” For some, wasting the money on getting a degree you won‟t ever use just isn‟t worth it. Deciding what college to go to, if any, is one of the most important decisions of your life. That‟s a whole lot of pressure to put on any person and requires knowledge of yourself and your desires. Sometimes one of the hardest people to get to know is yourself.

Affording College The biggest factor in figuring out what college to attend would arguably be cost. Cost can be the deciding factor on what college someone plans on going to. There‟s a couple of factors that can attribute to the final cost of tuition, the main one being the original price of tuition may not be exactly what you pay. Scholarships and grants are the best way to put yourself through college. Neither grants nor scholarships need to be paid back, but there are some key differences between the two. Scholarships often require a certain GPA and other specific guidelines such as ACT/SAT scores. Scholarships can be based on the little things, like being left-handed to playing basketball your whole high school career. A lot of effort and hard work is needed when going through the application process, but it‟s well worth it for free money. Grants have the same requirements of some scholarships and sometimes more. While receiving a grant, a student might have to report information back to whoever is helping finance their education. Grants aren‟t as tied to education as scholarships are. Loans are also an important source for financial support. Unlike grants and scholarships, they must be paid back. It‟s a general rule to try and take out as few of these as possible so you‟re future isn‟t filled with debt. Debt can have an impact on purchasing things like a house or car. Military service is a convenient way for some students to get financial aid for college. The U.S. Military will pay for education if you meet up to their requirements. This option isn‟t for everyone, since extreme physical fitness and mental capabilities. But it‟s a smart way to give back to your country and will take care of any future worries about finances. ` Whichever road you choose to go down to pay for your future will probably require an awful amount of work and filling out applications in the late hours of night. There is no promise that it will be easy. But holding that thin piece of paper titled with your chosen major on it will open more doors to a bright future.

Colleges Near You

Xavier University Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Private or Public: Private Average Number of Students : 7, 109 Tuition Cost: $31, 160 Number of four year majors: 89 Number of two year majors: 28

Northern Kentucky University

University of Dayton

Location: Highland Heights, Kentucky Private or Public: Public Average Number of Students : 15,716 Tuition Cost: $7,586 Number of four year majors: 79 Number of two year majors: 21

Location: Dayton, Ohio Private or Public: Private Average Number of Students : 11,199 Tuition Cost: $31,640 Number of four year majors: 105 Number of two year majors: 0

DePauw University Location: Greencastle, Indiana Private or Public: Private Average Number of Students : 2,390 Tuition Cost: $36,970 Number of four year majors: 51 Number of two year majors: 0

A New Generation of Games By: John Bennett

A lot of new video games are coming out in 2012, but the question we are always faced with is: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x;s different about these new games from their predecessors and which ones do I buy? The three main games that the people are thinking about are Borderlands 2, Halo 4, and COD Black Ops 2. Since there is so much to know about all three of these games, first lets focus on what is new about each of these games and everything they bring to the table. In chronological order from release date first comes is Borderlands 2 which came out on September 18. The first Borderlands game came out in 2009 and was a smash hit. It won Game of the Year, so out of the three game franchises this one had the greatest reputation to live up to. Like every beginning game of the series, Borderlands had its share of problems such as nostalgic graphics, very dull enemies, little single player replay ability and a lack of personal customization. All of this was fixed with an update in graphics that makes the game look crisper and less like a cartoon and dynamic enemies that actually move around and arenâ&#x20AC;&#x;t repetitive.

A lot of customization was added with the addition of player and vehicle skins to give every player the ability to add their own personal touch. Surprisingly, one thing the creators of Borderlands 2 not only fixed but greatly improved was the problem of replay ability. They not only gave a gigantic increase in the number of quests, but a new expanse to the already huge amount of land in the first one with an almost three times increase in the total amount of space. With the preorder of the game also came a hefty amount of bonuses such as a new character class with the ability to control a robot, a gun pack to start out the game, and the Creature Slaughter Dome comparable to DLC from the first game to help you rank up at no extra charge. The second game to come out is Halo 4 which is set to be released November 6. In recent Halo games the player has not played as Master Chief, the main character of Halo 1-3, but Halo 4 marks his return to the game. Besides some small issues with the multiplayer of previous Halo games, the main problem that players have had with the franchise lately has been that you do not get to play as Master Chief, which was fixed in the new installment of the series. Halo 4 is continuing from the story of Halo 3 which also means a new

still lacking with only Spartan and weapon skins. The limited edition of the game however comes with all the future DLC that will be coming out in the year or so after the release. The final game to be released is COD Black Ops 2 which is set to be released November 16. This is a sequel in the long line of the COD franchise with its predecessor coming out in November of 2010. The first Black Ops was set during the Vietnam War while playing a character know as Mason. The game was made by Treyarch, one of two producers that rotate with the COD franchise. The main issue that people have with the COD franchise is the online play with some rather ridiculous moments that occur such as glitches and or things that defy every law of physics. Another issue with the game is that recent COD games just feel like a repeat of all the games predecessors. This is also the cause of a decline in the numbers of people purchasing the game and games like Battlefield catching up in or even equaling sales of the COD games. Black Ops 2 takes place in the year 2025 in a Cold War climate similar to the Vietnam Era. You play as Masonâ&#x20AC;&#x;s son who, ironically enough, has the same exact career as his father. In the game a terrorist has caused attac

The Prequels to Halo 4 with the main character, Master Chief. 15

on multiple different major cities and is Percent of students who said they would, about to begin a war between Eastern wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t , or might buy Borderlands 2, Asian countries and the United States Halo 4, and COD Black Ops 2. and its allies. One major difference from previous COD games is that it allows you to make choices on what happens during your game play to give everyone a much more personalized campaign exYes No Maybe perience. A second change to the campaign play is that instead of being able Borderlands to redo certain missions, if you die you will just fail the mission and change the 2 25% 61% 14% campaign experience. Changes to the co -op aspects of the game include eight player zombies which has been much Halo 4 25% 61% 14% anticipated of the new game, however there has been very little talk of changes, if any, of the online multiMW2, one prequel to COD player of the game. Treyarch is also Black Ops 2. COD BO 2 28% 57% 15% trying something very different with the preorder of the game to increase sales by having waves of rewards, so the earlier you preorder the game the more Borderlands, the prequel to Borderlands 2 Borderlands 2, which came out Seprewards that you earn. and a winner of Game of the Year. tember 18th and the sequel to the When considering what games best selling Borderlands. to buy everyone should consider: Am I just paying $60 to play the same thing with a new look? One reason that anyone who is thinking about purchasing any new video game is that eventually, if a game company, or any company, if they keep giving their consumers the same thing over and over again they will fail. This has been shown first hand with the release of Borderlands 2 where the developers gave gamers a drastic new experience, and hopefully the same can be said for Halo and Cod.

The gamer is a very complicated creature and is very easily enraged by noobs, glitches, and lags.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys By: Chloe Singleton Since the very first day of the 2012-2013 school year, students have been wondering who the new officer at school is. Well, he’s Norwood Indian himself, Rod Housley. Born into a loving family, Housley grew up in Norwood with two older sisters, Rhonda and Brenda. Living a wonderful childhood, Housley grew up to be quite the athlete, with the love of sports. Whether it was basketball or tossing with friends, it was always a good time. “My friends and I always shared a love for sports, and I’ve always had a love to compete.” says Housley. Luckily for him, the love of competition would open many more doors for him later on in life. Housley graduated Norwood High School in 1986, and after being talked into a career as a police officer by a few of his friends, attended Northern Kentucky University majoring in criminal justice. However, a career in criminal justice was not the only interest he found there, he stumbled upon the love of his life, Shelley. Housley’s life was now not only heading toward a career, but the beginning of the rest of his life. Years later, Rod and Shelley are married and have two beautiful children, Whitney and Mason. A little later down the road, Rod has worked a handful of jobs. He has worked as a construction worker, worked moving furniture, a police officer and a school resource officer at

Loveland High School. While working as Loveland High School’s resource officer, his son Mason had been involved with karate, and decided to attend a huge tournament together. While at the tournament, and mistaken with Rod’s image, a man asked, “What kind of fighting do you do?” Rod, amused, replied “I’m actually just here for my son.” And so the man simply asked “Would you like to fight?” That’s where it all began. Rod agreed to try out the mixed martial arts, and to his surprise was actually very good. “I just kept winning,” he says. Astounded at how well Rod performed at the tournament, he decided he would look into it a little bit more. “Although I was

pretty good with amateur fighting, the pros were way different.” Rod explains. With an amateur record of 11-1, and a professional record of 4-3, he decided as an alternative of fighting himself, he could coach it. And that’s exactly what he did, Housley opened up a gym of his own. Housley now runs one of the most prestigious Mixed Martial Arts fighting schools in the country, Vision MMA. He coaches and manages seventeen fighters, and is also a fight promoter. The most commonly known fights being promoted are featured on shows such as Strike Force and The Ultimate Fighter. In fact, Housley just recently signed three fighters to the Bellator Fight, one of the biggest tournaments in the country.

Housley (left) posing with Melanie Crouch for Senior Superlative “Most Popular”.

Previous to his job at Norwood, Housley worked as Loveland High School’s resource officer. “I loved working with the kids” Housley confesses. After working at Loveland, he went back to his job patrolling for five years, until Norwood High School gave him a call. Housley, enjoying his job as the Loveland Resource Officer, decided it would be in his interest to come back to his own high school, where he’s been welcomed with open arms. “I love it here at Norwood,” says Housley, “the students and the faculty are great.” Housley loves working with the students, and one of his biggest hopes about working here at Norwood is to be proactive in someone’s life. In his free time, when he’s not patrolling the hallways of Norwood High School, Housley does enjoy spending quality time with his family. Activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, four wheeling– anything that involves getting out

and being active are all things he and his family can have fun doing together. On top of everything else going on, Housley has also made the time to start building a “get away” house. Although he loves spending time with his children and going out to watch them play sports, such as Whitney (17) playing lacrosse or Mason (19) with his karate, he admits that having a new house is the perfect way to get away, without really getting away. Housley is excited to be working along with staff at Norwood, and is eager to find out what new and exciting adventures the year will bring. Because of his history as a Mixed Martial Arts coach, he is also looking into opening an MMA program for students, such as an afterschool program. The program can not only teach the techniques of Mixed Martial Arts fighting, but also give students an excellent way of spending time with friends while having fun.

So far Housley hasn’t encountered any problems, and that’s the way it will remain hopefully for the rest of the school year. Housley can be located everyday next to the athletic department in room ___ if you have a personal problem, or if you just need someone to make your day a little bit brighter.