Prepare for impending Apocalypse with survival tips on The Last Spread Ever, p. C4-5
Volume 15 Number 3
James Hubert Blake HS
Silver Spring, MD
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs
Jack Frost nipping at your summer
December 14, 2012
With only two snow days left, students panic x by Michael Errigo & Nicole Sterling Snow days are predicted to be bountiful this year, but that may not be a good thing for students, because due to Hurricane Sandy using two of the allotted weather emergency days, the first week of summer could be in serious danger. This year, MCPS built four weather emergency days into the calendar. Two of these days were used in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in late October. According to the school contingency calendar, if more than four days are used, the amount of extra days will carry over to the end of the school year. Right now, the last day of school on the calendar is Friday, June 14. The first day to be added will be Monday June 17 and subsequent days will also be tacked on if need be. “They do need to re-consider the [contingency] policy because school at the beginning of the summer, besides finals, is a waste of time,” says sophomore Keenan Lo. Most years, there is not enough snow to cause more than four school cancellations. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you see things), this year may be different. Word spread quickly this fall that the Washington D.C. area may be facing a very strong winter. This may very well be accurate. What may have the biggest impact on the amount of snow the east coast gets is the presence of an El Niño. This is the weather pattern of above-normal water temperature in the Pacific Ocean. It warms the air and can affect weather patterns all over the world,
resulting in a possible increase in snow storms. However, students are more pessimistic after last year’s snow drought. “People always say it’s going to be a big winter, but it never happens,” says freshman Kimberly Canoy. MCPS has experience dealing with snow and contingency problems as recently as 2010, when Washington D.C. received 54.9 inches of snow, the snowiest winter on record for our nation’s capital. That year, nine school days were cancelled: five over the four-day cap. However, there was no addition of days at the end of the year because on February 23 the Maryland State Board of Education accepted a request from the school system to waive five snow days. The choice between getting off school now or in the summer poses quite the catch-22 for students. “Snow days are good because they give you a little break from school but extending school is obviously something I never want to happen,” adds Lo. One problem schools may face in early summer is a lack of attendance or effort from the students. The school will not push back finals, so the days following may seem pointless. Adding the days on has shown not to be productive because just adding days on just fills the requirement,” says English teacher Deena Barlev. “It’s empty. People are done.”
Gun shots fired at freshman’s party 20 police cars, helicopter respond
x by Yvette Mingia & Zema Meseretu
Chaos ensued after an Olney house party spiraled out of control when shots were fired by an unknown gunman around 9:45pm, November 30. “I was looking through the sliding glass door and I saw a commotion and then I heard the shots,” says junior Bart Collins*, who attended the party that night. After the shots were fired, police were at the scene within minutes to round up baffled partygoers in an attempt to find the suspected gunman. More than 20 police cruisers and a state police helicopter arrived to respond to the situation. As police searched the grounds and questioned people who attended the party, they were unable to conclude who the gunman was, nor could they find shell casings from the fired gun. A freshman student planned the event as a “get together” with friends before he was to move to following day. The party soon grew into something more. Says the host student, “It was because I was moving, but then on the week of the party, Thursday, I had to cancel… because of the people who were moving into the house.” The party was broadcast on social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram, and many of the party-goers who attended heard of the party from friends, retweets, and reposts on these sites. “I heard about the party from my friends,” says freshman Priscilla Smith*. “It was all just so crazy . . . I heard the gun shots, but I didn’t see the gun.” Party-goers estimate the crowd was between 150 and 200 people. “I was with my friends from 7pm to about 9:40pm,” says sophomore Nick Shepard*. The host’s father was home at the time of the party. Among the people who were witnesses of the party shooting, many of them heard the gun shots, but saw neither the gun nor the gunman. The cause of the shots is a mystery to many people who attended the party as well. At least one citation was issued for underage drinking, and one person had been physically assaulted, according to The Gazette. Junior Jennifer Willigan* was at the party from 6pm to the around the time of the shooting. “I definitely heard two different shots,” she says. Senior Franchesca Inman did not attend the party but was around the area when the shooting occurred. “I drove by a couple of times but when the actual shooting happened. I had gone to Chipotle, and when I came back, there were cops everywhere,” says Inman. Says senior Minjee Shim, a nearby resident who saw the helicopter, “At first, I was kind of scared, because I was home alone...I just hope that the kids that were at the party realize that they really need to play it safe.” Anyone with information about the shooter should contact the Montgomery County Police at (301)565-7740.
Meet Matt Parson’s
Hockey team wins first
brothers, three autistic
game of season, p. D1
triplets, p. C1
Get ready to hear the magic in the band’s winter Disney-themed concert, p. E1
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December 14, 2012
The Blake Beat
Senior helps hearing impaired through internship
by Dorian Purse x & Chante Goodger
American Sign Language (ASL) is a way of communicating for those who are not able to speak or hear by using their hands, facial expressions, and body. However, senior Samantha Carpenter has turned her love for sign language into her after school internship. Carpenter helps deaf and hard-ofhearing students with reading comprehension. “I chose this internship because ASL is a passion of mine and that is where I see myself in the future,” says Carpenter. She first learned how to use sign language when she was home schooled. She took two beginners classes, and then taught herself the rest. Carpenter is the only one in
her family that uses ASL, besides her cousin, who has recently started learning sign language. Carpenter interns at Lucy v. Barnsley Elementary School with the two speech teachers who work with students who are hard of hearing. Carpenter’s students work with learn with FM or CI systems, which are hearing aid systems used by the hard of hearing. Carpenter helps them learn how to use the English language. In ASL, the English words have the same meanings, but there is a different grammatical structure. “A deaf person would say ‘Book I want I,’ instead of ‘I want a book,’” says Carpenter. Along with teaching students ASL, Carpenter works with hearing students on social skills, articulation and reading comprehension. “I use ASL as a means to communicate with
my students who are deaf and I teach it to the students who work with the deaf students,” adds Carpenter. Many may overlook how important it is for hearingimpaired students to learn sign language. It is the students’ only way of communicating with others. While other students are learning English by mouth, students who are unable to communicate by mouth are learning with their body to communicate. Signed languages, unlike spoken languages, are three-dimensional languages in motion. “I really love using ASL every day,” says Carpenter. Internships provide experience in a field related a student’s prospective career, and Carpenter finds pleasure in helping students enhance their abilities. “I do plan on using ASL in my future career, especially after this internship experience,” she adds.
--Photo by Sami Wright
Bengals come knocking on doors with holiday spirit Chorus gives seniors musical dose of Christmas fun, bring joy by Emma Friedman
& Jacqueline Hyman x Choral students will travel with the Meals on Wheels program December 20 to sing Christmas carols to the elderly and sick. Signature coordinator Elizabeth Yargici approached choral teacher Sandra Zinkievich with the idea of following a Meals on Wheels delivery van to the homes of their consistent recipients. The teachers were unsure of how students would respond to the notion of the field trip. “I have to say I was actually extremely surprised and pleased with the number of students that expressed interest,” says Mrs. Zinkievich. The teachers are eager for a successful outcome because they know that student involvement can greatly impact people’s lives. Says Mrs. Yargici, “I hope that we can bring a splash of music, joy, and hope into the lives of some of those who are often isolated and lonely in our community.” Students jumped at the opportunity to bring joy to people who they believe really need their spirits lifted during the holiday season. Says junior Junior Xavier Fox looks forward to belting out the high notes for a good cause this Xavier Fox, “I thought it would be very fun and I wanted to help people that do holiday season. --Photo by Sami Wright
not have the chance to see other people as much as me.” Making a difference and helping others is a common goal among Blake students. “It’s Christmas and it’s really nice for the people to have [others] in their lives, you know, because they live by themselves,” says junior Bethany Hamson. She adds, “There are people that are lonely and they need people to be there for them.” Both teachers agree that volunteering is extremely important for students to partake in. “Each of the singers is doing their part to bring our community together and share the joy of the holiday,” says Mrs. Yargici. “Volunteering brings joy to not only the lives of those being helped, but into the lives and families of the volunteers themselves.” Adds Ms. Zinkievich, “I think it is very easy the way our current society is set up… [to] lose sight of other people, and I think it’s important to try to put the more important things in life into perspective.” Everyone participating in the trip is excited to contribute and do something nice for the recipients of the program. Adds Fox, “I hope it just puts a smile on their faces and they feel happy and appreciative.”
The Blake Beat
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December 14, 2012
New technology class to be offered
Students seek “Design Technical Solutions” x by Emily George and Janine Taira A new course, Design Technical Solutions, will be offered to students next year as a third option to fulfill the high school technology credit requirement. Design Technical Solutions will emphasize the skills needed for computer programing, web design and game development. “I am excited that we are offering this course here at Blake. Students will have a third choice when deciding which class to take for their technology education credit,” says technology education resource teacher Frank Krach. Students will work in teams, learn basic programing skills, and construct a variety of robotic devices and other models. Says senior Natasha Virjee, “It sounds like a class that could be helpful for engineering majors.” To offer this course, the technology education department proposed their idea to the scheduling committee, which consists of the principal, assistant principal, resource teachers, and other administrators. The committee then discussed and approved Design Technical Solutions, which had already been certified by the county and state boards of education. Previously, only two courses—Foundations of Technology (FOT) and Introduction to Engineering and Design (IED)—have satisfied the technology graduation requirement. “I don’t think it’s fair,” says junior Dylan Kaiser. “There are so many choices for arts and sports classes, but we only have
[had] two choices for the tech requirement.” Adds senior Kevin Cheung, “There should be a variety of courses that meet the technology requirement because the two courses that satisfy the tech requirement don’t give students variety.” Some students appreciate the expanded selection of technology courses. Says junior Grace Le, a current IED student, “I would have chosen to take the class if it were offered this year. It sounds like a class that’s really hands-on and interesting.” However, this new addition to the technology department also has its share of negative opinions. “I don’t understand why technology classes have to be so advanced when we’re just trying to fulfill a necessary credit,” says junior Morgan Fletcher, who did not have a positive experience taking IED her freshman year. “Even if this is a new class, I’m sure it’s still going to be very rigorous,” she adds. Similarly, junior Sophia Stanley isn’t enthusiastic about the new course. “Even though I haven’t taken my technology credit yet, I don’t plan on taking [Design Technical Solutions].” At the very least, students can look forward to an increase in options. Says senior MinJee Shim, who took FOT, “More classes to choose from are never a bad thing.” “More choices give students more of a chance of actually finding a class that interests them,” says senior Katie Blackford. “Maybe they’ll discover that they enjoy the class, even if it initially seems difficult and they were just taking it for the graduation requirement.”
Ever Financial class to teach students how to stay smart, make bank
From credit scores to taxes, program preaches financial responsibility
by Bronwyn Evans x & Elana Harris Ever Financial (Ever-Fi), an interactive online course designed to help educate the student body on important issues such as managing budgets, will kick off today with a registration ceremony and reception in the amphitheater. Sandy Spring Bank locally sponsors Ever-Fi and the program will look to educate students participating in College Career Research and Development (CCRD) and internship classes on financial knowledge. “High school students don’t have a lot of background in financial management,” says Internship Coordinator Ted Pazulski. “This is designed to bridge that gap for students before they exit high school.”
Starting today, Sandy Spring Bank will send key figures trained in financial literacy, such as schools manager Bria Barker, to meet with students signed up for CCRD and internship classes. Referring to financial experience, CCRD Coordinator Cindy Gleason says, “[Students] haven’t seen a lot of it firsthand, especially in the classroom.” This program will give students a feel for the program before they actually take the online course during the second semester. To sign up for the course, students do not have to be pursuing a career in business. “When we went to school...if you went into the business department you would have [to take] certain classes,” says Mrs. Gleason. “You would be on track to do that as a field.” With Ever-Fi, this is no longer the
case. “[Ever-Fi] absolutely benefits everybody,” says Ms. Barker. “[It] offers blended online courses to all ages.” In addition to the high school program, Ever-Fi helps adults, elementary students, and college students with financial skills such as understanding money and managing loans. The course uses video narrators to illustrate different scenarios that happen in everyday life. The program covers, among many other things, credit scores, insurance, credit cards, taxes and investing. Ever-Fi hopes to help students understand the value of money and learn how to manage it wisely. “I think that students these days don’t know the significance of money,” says senior Rebecca Smith. “This class will really teach them the importance of managing and saving their money.”
To several, the course is necessary. “Financial literacy is essential for all of us no matter what our career path is,” says junior Mary Aronne. “People need to be financially secure,” adds senior Darius Oxley. “[Ever-Fi] would help me with what I want to do in college... so I can budget my money.” A lot of students would like to take the class, but will not be able to because of required credits. Says Aronne, “I have no room in my schedule because of all the other requirements.” Many think it’s a good idea, but aren’t sure that taking it would be their choice. Says senior Franchesca Kuhney, “It sounds like a good class... [and] I’m sure my mom would like me to take it if she had seen it earlier.”
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December 14, 2012
The Blake Beat
Video game lovers unite for single-elimination tournament Event draws players, spectators alike through intense action, big prizes by Zema Meseretu x & Yvette Mingia Four video gamers will meet in the amphitheater on Monday, December 17 to finish off the first annual Video Game Tournament which was open to all staff and students during lunch from December 4-7. The cost was four dollars to enter and included first, second and third place prizes. The first place prize is a 50 dollar Best Buy Gift Card and Winter Athletic Pass, second place a 25 dollar Ledo’s Pizza Gift Card and a Blake T-shirt and third place, a ten dollar McDonald’s Gift Card. The tournament had a huge turnout
with 68 players and an audience of over 30 staff and students in the amphitheater. “Every time I went to check [the tournament] out there was a full crowd in attendance,” says Senior Lawrence McKinney, one of the early competitors. The decision of what game should be selected was decided after 11 video game tournament presentations were submitted in the game development class, judged by both administration and teachers. Game development teacher Derek Ritzenberg and Chris Williams, former colleague, from Marvel Comics and Microsoft XBOX worked side by side with students from the game development classes to teach them how gaming profes-
sionals use Adobe software in creating promotional designs. Students worked in teams to develop a marketing strategy, a team presentation, and details of the tournament. Mr. Ritzenberg made a game bracket of every player who entered; the tournament was based on single elimination play. If the player won a match against their opponent, they would advance to the next round, if they lost however, they would join the others to watch the remainder of it. “The tournament became very popular,” says Mr. Ritzenberg. “Throughout the tournament, there has been great sportsmanship shown by students shaking hands after each match, while the audience
cheers for both players.” Gaming students are looking for new ideas like using Microsoft Kinect motion technology for dance competitions, using wireless steering wheels for racing competions, and even possibly holding a video “game show” competition such as Family Feud in the future. So far the final four of the tournament include English teacher Christopher Schenk versus senior Justin Kirby, to play senior Westin Lee as well as senior Eric Edusei versus sophomore Nicholas Chow. Says McKinney, “The video game tournament won’t be just yearly, it’s going to happen more than once a year, it may even become quarterly!”
The Blake Beat Photos by Becca Schwartz
December 14, 2012
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December 14, 2012
The Blake Beat
Depression, anxiety cause problems for students throughout school Cameron shares advice for teens who suffer from condition, bullying by Celeste Gregory x & Chante Goodger
Anxiety is very common amongst high school students. It can be uneasiness before a test, or it can be apprehension about having to pass a class to graduate. These factors and many more can cause students to be anxious, but some students actually suffer from anxiety and depression. Senior Megan Cameron is one student who suffers from both. She was first diagnosed after her freshman year at Paint Branch high school. “There were rumors spread about me which led to severe bullying,” says Cameron. “I couldn’t walk through the halls without being harassed and even [having] food thrown at me.” Cameron decided to confide in her sister about her depression, which later helped her tell her parents that she was harming herself and
that she needed professional help. Cameron has been going to her therapist for three and a half years now and is currently taking anxiety medicine that helps to lessen her depression. School nurse Janeane Marks agrees that students with depression and anxiety should see a therapist. Says Ms. Marks, “[Students with depression should] definitely see a therapist and examine how much [they] are eating, and how much [they] are sleeping.” She also suggests that students with depression and anxiety should exercise in order to relieve stress; yoga is highly recommended. Cameron offers a word of advice for students who are suffering from depression: “If you have depression, never think your only way out is death,” she says. With the help of her family, Cameron was able to create a support team through her mother, father, and sister. “They all tried
MCPS community petitions schools to delay start times
x by Priya Dadlani
Students, parents, and administrators of all Montgomery County Public Schools have come together in the past few months and started an online petition advocating later school times for high school, middle school and elementary school students. It is no secret to any student that waking up at around 6:00am each morning can be an extremely difficult task. “Doctors recommend eight hours of sleep for teenagers,” says sophomore Richelle Claytor. “I can’t even finish my homework by ten, and I have to wake up at six—that can’t be healthy.” Like Claytor, countless students agree that class at 7:25 am is simply unreasonable and inhumane. Students at Blake as well as other high schools are frequently tardy to first period classes because it is dreadful for them to wake up early enough to enter class before the late bell. Says junior David Steele, “If so many kids are always coming in late, shouldn’t that alert MCPS that school is starting way too early?” Writing down “sick” on a late pass as an excuse for not being able to wake up may be a lie, but if it occurs frequently, many students believe that MCPS should take note. Although some MCPS students may not have a problem with school closing one hour later every day, other students find the time change a major fault in the petition. Says sophomore Matt Majower, “I’m on the wrestling team, and if school starts later, my practice will end later leaving me less time to finish homework and rest.” School and sports practices that sometimes end at 6:00 or 7:00pm will now end one hour later, which may cause a stir with athletes and coaches. More than 10,000 people have already signed the petition and the number is growing, but whether or not MCPS officials decide to meet their plea is still undecided. “Either way, we students are still going to have to wake up earlier than we want,” says sophomore Miracle Clarke. “We may truly never be satisfied with 30-40 more minutes of sleep.” The online petition can be found at http://signon. org/sign/changing-montgomery-county?mailing_id=7403&source=s. icn.em.cr&r_by=5906538 and any parent, student, or administrator in the MCPS community can sign.
to cheer me up…my sister was always there for me—she would protect me and take care of me no matter what,” Cameron adds. “My mom and I came up with a signal if I became depressed… [And my dad] would do anything for me.” There is a lack of awareness for depression and anxiety. Cameron has shared her story to be the voice for the voiceless to let them know that there is hope. Even though Cameron is being supported and is being helped by her family and therapist, she says, “to this day, I [still] experience very bad depression.” Depression should be taken seriously. Students who are depressed should consult a parent, a trusted adult, or Ms. Marks, who says, “[Students should] see a therapist or counselor… or call the Montgomery County Crisis Center [at] 240-777-4000.”
The Blake Beat
Newsbeats
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n n n Yesterday, the We The People team participated in a District-level Simulated Congress hearing. Community leaders and elected officials attended the event to act as judges. The feedback the students received will come in handy as they begin preparing for the Maryland state competition held in February in Annapolis. The team is selling donuts outside the amphitheater December 10-21 to raise money to go to Nationals. n n n
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Hiking club will go on their next adventure in January. Attend a meeting right after break to find out more. n n n
Madia Coleman, Brandon Deane and Franchesca Kuhney and were all on hand to cheer and hand out holiday goody-bags as troops came into the airport terminal.
Students Protecting Animal Rights club will be holding a fundraiser until the beginning of January for lightly used towels, blankets, sheets, animal beds, animal toys, and animal food to donate to the Montgomery County Humane Society. Leave donations in Mrs. Kanner’s room in the French Hallway, or contact Priya Dadlani or Jane Hwang for more details.
n n n
n n n Saturday 18 students accompanied special services teacher Jessica Garlick to Thurgood Marshall Airport for Operation Welcome Home. Sophomores Elana Carr, Ariel Gomez, Jordan McLean, Madeleine Noonan-Sheuh, Maika Taguchi and Taylor Riddick, juniors Shannon Cory, Lillian Hallmark, Hyla Jacobson, Emily Kong, Nicole Letona, Kristina McKenna, Caroline Tatnall and Stephanie Van Albert, and seniors Aliya Dean,
Tonight there will be an “Open Mic Night” and holiday party at the Rainbow Family Christian Center (2120-A Industrial Parkway Silver Spring, Maryland), many students from Society 129 will attend, but all are welcomed to kick off the holiday season. It will begin at 7:30pm and the entrance fee is a canned/nonperishable food item. There will be a prize for both the school and individuals with the most cans. n n n Seniors Breon Herbert and Ricardo Malcolm have been chosen by the MCPS Coaches for the AllMCPS 4A Football team. Both players had an extremely successful season, Herbert at wide receiver, Malcolm at free safety.
BLAKE
December 8 Hannukah begins
December 14 Ice Hockey vs. Richard Montgomery @ Cabin John Ice Rink, 9:45pm
December 15
leman
Co Madia
ddic
Seniors Jenna Beers, Matt Krieger, and Heidi Petersen represented Blake’s Allies for Equality at the November 27 session of the County Council, where a proclamation was read commending the leaders of Montgomery County’s high school gay-straight alliances as people who work to “raise awareness of and combat prejudice against an otherwise substantially invisible minority.”
Hannukah ends
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December 14, 2012
CALENDAR December 17 PSAT Score Interpretation meeting @ ampitheatre, 6pm Winter Choral Concert @ auditorium, 7:30pm
December 19
December 21 Ice Hockey vs. Blair @ Cabin John Ice Rink, 8pm
December 24 Christmas Eve
Alumni Panel/Reception, 12:30pm
December 20 PTSA General Meeting @ Media Center, 7pm Disney POPS Concert, 7:30pm Last day of NHS Canned Food Drive
No School: Beginning of Winter Break
December 25 Christmas Day
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December 14, 2012
The Blake Beat
Avoid looking like a fool this New Year by discovering what’s in and what’s out p. B4-5
Section B
James Hubert Blake High School
December 14, 2012
There is no better place to be than right here in D.C.
Students need to tap into not-so-hidden treasures of our nation’s capital
x by Aryn Frazier What’s the move? It’s posted all over Twitter and Instagram on a weekly basis, and the response is basically always the same: some game, some movie, some party, some more sitting on the couch at home in front of the computer screen waiting for someone who’s just as bored to announce this “move” that will probably be a bust. But wait! There could be a solution to this problem of never having anything to do, and always doing the same thing. Read closely. Blake High School is actually right outside of a major metropolitan area. That’s right, located a convenient thirty minute drive, or a ten minute drive and a
straight shot metro ride away is the busy, bustling, bursting with poetry and music and all-ages concerts and museums and art galleries and restaurants other than the three on Tech Road (because, really, IHOP and T.G.I. Friday’s are getting pretty repetitive) city of Washington, D.C. Who would have thought? Well, as it seems, just about no one who goes to this school. Ever think of just hopping on the red line from Glenmont or Silver Spring Station and getting off at Gallery Place (for the majority who need clarification, that’s Chinatown), or to DuPont Circle, or just about anywhere else, and walking around? Look at the restaurants on every corner and decide between Thai and
Italian, between Georgetown Cupcake and Baked and Wired, between Hooters and Fuel, between a couple restaurants you’ll almost regret going to when you get the bill like Rosa Mexicana and Fogo de Chao. Ask someone how to get to the monuments (although, the orange or blue line is probably a safer bet to be right by one of many Smithsonian museums or the Martin Luther King Monument) and take one of those Rickshaws to where you need to be. Go to a Busboys and Poets location and hear great poetry and eat okay food for under twenty dollars, or go to the 9:30 Club and listen to a band you’ve never heard of before, or go see an Indie film at E Street Cinema that will either be so “deep” it makes you feel like
an idiot or like a savant. Whatever it is, just go. Get out of Olney and Silver Spring and Burtonsville and do something new because the best memories are made getting off the metro at the wrong stop and wandering around a new part of DC with friends (much safer than taking a wrong turn, because there’s always another metro stop somewhere), or running to catch the last train, or finding a random bench in a random park next to some random government building, or being asked if you need directions because as you look around, you scream “tourist,” embarrassedly nodding yes, and laughing about it as soon as the helpful stranger walks away. There are things to do. Just do them.
The best memories are made getting off the metro at the wrong stop and wandering.
Minorities admitted to college through merit and skill x by Andrea Ortiz Minorities, especially Black and Hispanic males, are known to be in great demand for colleges. However, this by no means ensures that every Hispanic or Black student who applies to college will get in. Colleges look for characteristics that run more than skin deep. On many college web sites, the schools make it clear that they will take race and ethnicity into account when reviewing applications. But colleges consider many other aspects. They look for good letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, community service, awards, Advanced Placement and honors
classes, SAT scores, GPA and a convincing essay. Colleges have high expectations for all applicants as they admit people based on merit and character.
ed. Obviously certain colleges look for different characteristics in students. For instance, the University of Maryland looks very closely at SAT scores, so a
admissions. A recent Supreme Court case, Fisher v. University of Texas, is causing debate over affirmative action in schools. Abigail Fisher claims she was
All students need to prove that they are ready for college, and race cannot prove that. Universities are very confusing in the manner in which they review applications. Some of the most intelligent and community-involved students are rejected, while some of the less hardworking students are accept-
high score may outweigh other factors of the student’s application. This is why it’s not true when people say race is a huge admission factor. There will always be those arguing against race in college
denied admission into the University of Texas because of her race. Fisher’s SAT score of 1180 was substantially lower than the university’s demanding score. Instead of thinking that her mediocre score may have
been the reason for her rejection, she said she “just knew” minorities with good grades in less academically-challenging schools must have been chosen over her. It’s easy to point fingers when things don’t go as planned. Rejection is a part of life and it’s not right to justify disappointment by finding someone to blame for it. Diversity is a great quality to have in a university, which is why race is a considered factor when reviewing applications. But this in no way means a minority will get in simply because he or she is a minority. All students need to prove that they are ready for college, and race cannot prove that.
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The Blake Beat
December 14, 2012
Birthday balloons, so full of fun, scare students, make them run by John Kos x & Jacqueline Hyman Colors, colors everywhere and Disney princesses in the air. Singing, floating, balloons galore. There is nothing you like more. NOT!!! We all have experienced that moment, walking behind that which is buoyant. So colorful and full of air, it stops and makes everyone stare. Bouncing from side to side, in others’ faces, breaking their stride. Moving like a flock of birds, singing loudly so it may be heard. Hitting heads and blocking paths, these balloons bring about your wrath. Prancing through the hallway with a streak of pride, the superficiality cannot be denied. The balloons are a giant neon sign saying “Hey, look at me, it is my time!” The voices of Sleeping Beauty and Dora the Explorer make you want to scream in horror. Everyone in class takes a turn hitting the balloon, staring at it as if it were the moon. The song, that constant annoying tune, leaves the culprit snickering like a buffoon. When your birthday comes so soon, you have to carry these balloons from room to room. Even when they are yours it is not all fun and games, because carrying them around causes so much pain. One, two, three, four, your friends keep giving you more. Laughing at you and your pain, and the smile you try to feign. They give you the balloons for personal gain, to see how much staring you can sustain. I have never received this prize, because it is something I would completely despise. Maybe it is because I do not have friends, but if I did this would be their end. So, if you give balloons to your friends, realize that the giving must end. You can bring them cake and presents, but not these balloons, which others resent. Something more mild and humble will do, but not these balloons, all shiny and new. Do not deny that which is true; everyone hates these balloons, even you.
The voices of Sleeping Beauty and Dora the Explorer make you want to scream in horror.
Fear and loathing (for politicians) on the brink of the fiscal cliff
x by Aryn Frazier
Remember the days of playgrounds and preschool? It would be nice to go back to those times, especially when the country is filled with worry over the “fiscal cliff.” The fiscal cliff, also called a curb and a hill, is set to go into effect January 1, 2013, at midnight, and is fast approaching, yet responses to this ominous deadline are moving as slowly as they have for the last two years, since the federal government almost shut down and workers throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia were almost on the brink of indefinite unemployment because the people elected to help them keep their jobs were too busy holding firm to partisan beliefs to make any real decisions, yet alone any actual compromises. If the fiscal cliff rolls around without
any agreements made by Congress and the President, the programs that people know they rely on, and those that they probably won’t realize they benefit from until they are taken away, will fall right over its edge. Medicare and Medicaid programs that were fought tooth and nail for during the election cycle will still face all the cuts that the public voted against. Taxes will go up on everyone, and for most businesses— small included. This is not the moment where the promise that Democrats made to raise taxes on only the rich is fulfilled, or when the
Republicans are able to stick to their pledge to never allow a tax increase on anyone. The moment that the fiscal cliff hits, all of the noise and promises and political philosophies that each party represents will mean absolutely nothing, because these cuts will come, and they will not care about anyone’s reelection bid. For that reason, these moments should not be stubborn ones. They should not include grown men and women petulantly pouting at the mere idea of having to make a concession that they did not foresee, or
throwing temper tantrums at simple suggestions on the sole basis of the suggestion being made comes from the opposition party. Leaders should not be arguing about who really has the upper-hand in these negotiations, or about which side is trying to take advantage of the other. Leaders should not be acting like they are on a playground, arguing over who can swing higher and who can run faster, or like they are sitting in a preschool classroom and they both want the yellow crayon at the same time. We elect adults, and the yellow crayon in this case is billions of dollars, America’s position in the global economy, people’s jobs, and students’ educations, and children’s homes. The truth of the matter is that maybe no one gets to use every crayon they want this time. They need to deal with it and choose another color.
HELP! I am stuck in my parents’ annual(ly boring) holiday party!
Seven tips of survival for those unfortunate souls forever stranded by Emily George x & Maryam Outlaw It’s the most wonderful time of the year—snow, love, presents, family, friends, and oh wait… that boring holiday party your parents throw every year. But have no fear; follow our advice, and your winter break can still be saved. 1. Giggle and nod. “What grades did you get last quarter? Where is your boyfriend? Where you are going to college?” When you’re single, got four C’s and have no idea what is ahead, questions
like these are like salt to the wound. Fortunately, laughing and maintaining eye contact can go a long way during holiday chit chat. 2. Ice your cheeks beforehand. Avoid the pain that comes along with that awkward moment when your third aunt (twice removed) clings onto your face and stretches it like silly putty. Icing your cheeks is the near perfect solution. This way, your face will hopefully be numb enough for when guests pinch your cheeks and go on and on about “how much you’ve grown.” 3. Befriend the kiddies. They may be two feet tall, but little cousins
can be a bit intimidating. The benefits of hanging with kids are that they have the attention span of a squirrel and mean no harm. Strut over to the kid table and wow them with your cool “big sibling” vibe. You’ll score major points with parents and have everyone thinking you are cute as button. 4. Invite a friend. Misery truly does love company. Seize a partner in crime who is super close to you and your family and you are both sure to have a great time hogging all the sugar cookies and making plans for New Year’s Eve. 5. Sport an mp3. Ears bleeding from your parents sweet but sad attempts
at holiday karaoke? Get your handy dandy iPod and thank Steve Jobs for the blessing in your pocket. 6. Bust out a favorite ugly holiday sweater. This festive little number is so wrong that it’s right. The perfect mix of tackiness and holiday spirit will brighten your mood and be sure to get you through the night. 7. Feign an illness. If worse comes to worst, putting on your best sick face and faking the flu is the way to go. You’ll get the sympathy vote and achieve the long awaited peace and quiet you’ve been craving all night as you snuggle into that sweet, deep sleep.
Follow our advice and your winter break can still be saved.
The Blake Beat
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December 14, 2012
Junior’s gift to you: guidelines for a less ratchet school
x by Jamie Nathlar Listen up people; we have an epidemic spreading fast: rudeness. It has come to my attention that a massive amount of people seem to have completely forgotten all manners they were taught as kids and that is a problem. Ladies, think about this for a second--when was the last time a guy held a door open for you or got you flowers? Gentlemen, when was the last time a girl said please or thank you when you did something nice? It’s been a while, right? After asking around, a lot of people have also noticed the lack of social civility at Blake so I’ve decided to point out a few of the more obnoxious habits our peers seem to be guilty of: 1) One of the most annoying habits that we all have done at times is walking slowly in the hallways; however some people are far worse than others and this is for them. I get that you want to socialize with friends but do you really have to take up half of the hallway doing so when there are people obviously trying to pass? If you insist on walking slow, there is such an easy solution to this problem: let people pass you. Do not get all offended if someone accidentally brushes against you-they are not trying to fight you. If you are going to walk through the hallway at zero miles per hour be prepared to get pushed past. However if you are walking excruciatingly slow because your pants are sagged too far down your legs to walk with a normal stride, then you need to pull them up because I am not about to let your “swag” make me late to class. 2) While I did just complain about people walking
too slowly in the hallways, that does not mean you should start running through them because that is just as annoying as people who walk at crawling speeds. If there is an emergency where you have to be somewhere in less than a minute then yes, you should try to get there as fast as possible, but 95% of the time, people are running because they are being stupid. If you are running through the hallways because you are chasing your friend, then you need to stop; this is high school, not recess. However if you want to keep running around like a seven year old, I hope you also want to get tripped. As someone who has been slammed into multiple times by people racing through the corridors at lunch, I take great pleasure in tripping people who unnecessarily sprint through halls, #sorrynotsorry. 3) Finally, this is more of an issue that girls are guilty of: wiping makeup on bathroom walls and mirrors. I get that sometimes makeup needs to be touched up at school so of course after you do this you are going to have makeup on your hands. What I do not get is despite being less than five feet away from a sink where you can wash it off, girls wipe their extra makeup on the walls. I witnessed this not too long ago in one of the bathrooms: a girl fixing her makeup took the lid off a tube of lipstick, drew a bright pink line on the wall with it, used the lipstick, and then put it away like everything was totally normal. Why was it necessary to do that!? The insane part is the line was like six inches away from the signs that ask people not to put makeup on the walls. 4) I love listening to music in school, partially because it drowns out the screaming of unnecessarily loud underclassmen, and partially because it keeps me happy.
However, when I can hear someone else’s music blasting even when I have my headphones in and the volume turned all the way up, I get very unhappy. I get that you like your music and you think it is amazing but guess what, other people don’t want to hear your music. If you do not own headphones, even though that sucks, it does not mean you can walk around school playing your music as loud as possible. But most people who blast their music do own headphones and I know this because I can see them hanging around their neck. If you have headphones, use them. 5) Now if you do not have headphones, stealing someone else’s is not the solution. There are multiple ways to get something you want, but for a lot of people at Blake, their way of getting something is to steal it from another student. I cannot even begin to explain how messed up that is. If you want something, just go out and buy it. It is that simple. If you cannot afford it, go get a job, make some money, and save up for it; you are not going to be able to steal everything you want for the rest of your life. But if you do decide to be a ratchet little squirrel and steal other people’s stuff, at some point you’re going to get caught, and when that happens, do not pretend like you did not steal anything. They know that you stole it, everyone knows you stole it, do not even try to lie like that. Swerve. I know that it is impossible to be prim, proper, and polite all the time, but really people? How hard is it to hold a door open for another person, say excuse me when trying to pass by someone, or keep our hands off other people’s stuff? Consideration is contagious so maybe with a few acts of random kindness, we can fix the ratchet nature of our school.
“Basic Barz” is new “Average Joe”
Senior is extreme at being typical
x by Emily Eaglin
Senior Barz Kim feels adequately about eating his average banana, on an average school bench, on an average day, in his average life. --Photo by Sami Wright
For our paper we often report on students who have climbed Mount Everest, created peace amongst Middle Eastern nations, or won junior Nobel Peace Prizes. But what of this can you really relate to? Today we introduce you to another extreme in our community, by featuring senior Barz Kim, who is so amazingly supreme at being average that it’s impressive. Says Kim, “I have been average for as long as I can remember but it peaked during senior year when I accepted my identity as a snail.” Many would consider this a great way to describe senior year — really awesome but really slow. Says Kim, “[Snail] is really the culmination of who I have been my whole life.” “It’s just, he’s so typically average, it’s beautiful. I can’t even…” says an adoring fan. “In the future I can definitely see Barz going to an average college, working at an average job, and raising a super generic family!” says one of his AP teachers optimistically. When it comes to being average, Kim is extremely above average. But when it comes to the ladies, Kim is slightly above average. Says Kim, “I mean I’m not much of a lady killer; I oppose violence actually. But I do know how to work the moves. Level of charm: ‘3hunna’.” And if you’re a plain Jane looking for love in the fast lane, he just might be the one for you. “I think average is beautiful. I find it attractive when girls wear sweats to school.” says Kim.
The rest of the school agrees that Kim is probably their favorite Bengal. “Barz brings out neither the best nor the worst in America. He is a super chill dude and WE LOVE BARZ! USA! USA! USA!” chanted the entire cafeteria simultaneously when Barz entered the room. Despite his popularity and charm, Barz also lives with a struggle in his life. “I take a lot of pride in being average. You might think that it’s easy to be average, but this is a common misconception.” Kim also must maintain a strict eating schedule. His daily preference is bananas and yogurt. “People ask me, ‘why do you always eat bananas and yogurt?’ The answer is, why don’t you?” says Kim. Just like most other seniors, Kim enjoys taking a supreme 2-3 hour nap after school, stuffing his epic face with grub, and once he makes his 11:11 wish, he’s ready for bed. “For fun I like to take long walks on the beach and pet dolphins near the shore. By long walks, I mean downstairs to my kitchen, and by petting dolphins I mean eating whatever I find in the pantry.” At a normal height, with regular study habits, and relatively good friends, Kim reminds all seniors that at this important transitional period in your life, not to strive to be better than everyone else and to just be proud of you. Adds Kim, “The best thing about being me is that I’m just happy to be me. I don’t really care what others think of me and I’d like to say that it’s been working out so far.”
Junior’s ode to cat videos: YouTube clip exists for every occasion
Friedman insists that felines are perfect entertainment, paws down x by Emma Friedman
Feline adoration is sweeping the nation. Cat videos warm hearts of students, and generate laughter with striking segments steming from cats’ arrogant, yet lovable composures. Debate rages regarding the best videos with the cutest, most amusing cats, and whether cats are viable entertainment sources. Cats are worth every moment people donate to their soft adorable forms, seen in Youtube videos such as “Secret Kitten,” “Two Minutes of Kittens Cuddling,” and “Kitty Snuggle Time.” From teeny paws
to button noses, kittens exude cuteness. White, black, orange, smoky, calico; silky coats blend as limbs hug and bat around. Brothers and sisters pile together into jumbled messes. Endearing little bellies rise and fall as viewers watch on their screens, once playful kittens, asleep in a deep trance. Disbelief strains peoples’ faces as they absorb preposterous noises echoing from furry bodies. Tiny kittens clomp around, meowing the faintest, highest pitched whimpering noises, melting ears that are lulled into unconscious worship. Humor kicks into overdrive after witnessing erratic
screeching that emerges from kitties full of anticipation or spicy anger. Videos like “Mad Cat (Burger and Fries),” “Kitten Chorus,” and “Affectionate Siamese Cat” exemplify these qualities. Larger cats still hopped up on veterinarian pain medicine stumble around, bodies swaying to unfamiliar rhythms that urge chuckles to fall from human mouths. Take a look at “Drunk Kitty,” “Drunk Kitty Goes a’rompin,’” and “Cat walking on two legs 2.” As light-footed lions spring from high trees onto rough boulders, they are surprised when lamps and living room fans in cozy
domesticated homes deceive them. Videos including “Cat Jump Fail” and “Cat Jumps 30 Foot Below!” demonstrate examples. Clinging claws lose their grip onto reality while pads slip and fall to their doom: the distant carpet floor. Cat-like reflexes fail them, inducing pleasure from a wide eyed audience, with computer screens reflected in glassy eyes. Cats agree that it’s hard to ignore soft streams of feathers that lazily float past your eye. Fuzzy balls, jingling bells, zipping red lights, ticking fingers and laces hover tauntingly over perked ears of playful felines. Batting rapidly,
furry boxers engage in a heated battle, only to find toys pulled just out of reach, sparking their irritation and keeping attentions fully occupied on zigzagging opponents. “Cat Backflip Onto Couch,” “Surprised Kitty,” and “How to catch a mouse” are a few examples of wild felines. Stick to your guns, and do not become hiss-terical. Cat videos’ hold on students’ hearts cannot be measured. Watch listed clips to ignite burning exuberance and fulfill personal needs of entertainment, always giving each video a chance to establish puuuuurrrfection.
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The Blake Beat
December 14, 2012
Reviewing this year’s slang, one made-up word at a time How to understand, interpret exactly what the kids are saying these days x by Maryam Outlaw Slang is always changing and Heidi Klum said it best when she explained that “one day you’re in and the next day, you’re out.” This year, a plethora of terms and phrases seem to have simply swooped in, planting themselves a spot in the ever-expanding urban dictionary. First off, “swerve.” Every blue moon, humanity blesses the English language with that one magnificent word people can use in any given situation. Right now, swerve is pretty much the blue jeans of teen talk. Someone has just said something stupid? Need some clarification? Stuck in that awkward moment? Want someone to go away? Then it’s dun da da da! “Swerve” to the rescue. The word “clique,” has come to be a phoenix raised from the ashes, don’t you think? Only Kanye
West can take the preppiest word known to man, associated with 12 year olds, lip gloss, and all things girly and turn it into a rap music hit. If you thought this one was safely locked away in the vault, you thought wrong. Oh, and the whole “hash tag” thing. Apparently, it is not enough anymore to simply type in an actual hash tag into the “twittersphere.” Teens love the social networking site so much, they had to bring hash tags to verbal language, too. #What is your problem. #This is awkward. #IDK my BFF Jill? The sky is the limit with this phrase. “Swag,” taken to mean just plain cool, is the energizer bunny of all slang terms. It is not exactly the new guy on the block, but it has stood the test of time. We may have been introduced to the wonderful world of swag more than five years ago, but this slang term just keeps going and going and going. Who knows when it will finally be put to rest?
And of course we cannot forget about “basic.” Do not underestimate its simplicity. “Ratchet’s” stinging little sister is becoming the biggest insult these days. This one is a bit harder to explain though. Let’s just say that the girl sporting powder blue Ugg boots, a mini skirt and her brother’s slouchy graphic tee, is basic. Like…really basic. And last but not least, “the struggle.” This year, “the struggle” rivaled previous exclamations of frustration, including the ever archaic, “life sucks.” Used to exaggerate one’s unfortunate circumstances, this phrase seems to have captured teens and all of their dramatic tirades in one moody adolescent nutshell. 2012 has brought many words to light, and no one can wait for what 2013 has in store. These terms may be all the rage right now, but you never know which ones will become classics, and which ones will be dismissed with a big fat Auf Wiedersehen.
Right now, swerve is pretty much the blue jeans of teen talk.
Health conscious seniors look to dispel weight watching rumors
Mythbusters warn against salad substitute, encourage wholesome eggs by Kwame Asante x & Danny Gonzalez
Hello readers! It’s Kwame Asante and Danny Gonzalez here to enlighten you on what you are putting in your body and what simple alternatives you can make. Myth #1: When in doubt, order the salad. I, Danny, will start with this myth buster. Everyone’s heard, “watch that salad dressing!” Well, they’re right. A salad of hearty, leafy, greens, with juicy, grilled chicken breast, and low-fat cheese, can go from a formidable 400 calories to a whopping 800 just by adding that dressing. Many of you may be thinking that I am exaggerating that a dressing could equal the calorie count of an entire salad meal. Try going to the Safeway on Cloverly. The nice, wrapped salads at the entrance, next to the deli-sandwiches and wraps, are satisfying and offer a low-calorie meal… WITHOUT the dressing. The nutrition facts on the back have a calorie-count with and
without the dressing. And the facts are…..watch your dressing! A light Italian or Light Honey-Mustard with only 60-70 calories per serving will do the trick. Don’t let the name “salad” fool you. Carelessness with your dressing may stack up on calories. Myth #2: Eating before you go to sleep makes you fat. The truth of it is, you only burn less calories while you are asleep than while you’re awake—walking, standing, when your body is actually doing work. You might not burn off everything you just ate while you sleep. But that’s only because while you are asleep, your body’s demand for energy is much lower than when you are awake. So: “Will I get fat if I eat before I sleep?” ONLY if you don’t eventually burn those calories off later. People think, “I have a fast/slow metabolism.” Actually, your metabolism is only as fast as your body needs it to be. Your metabolism depends on the physical demands of your body. So if you’re not burning enough
calories every day to maintain or lower your weight, maybe you should add a little exercise into your daily routine. So how do you “increase” or “boost” your metabolism? That’s right, burn more calories, with more exercise. Myth #3: Egg whites are the only way to go when it comes to eggs Okay. I, Kwame, will take care of this myth buster. Many believe that egg yolks should be avoided when trying to lose weight and only egg whites serve health benefits. The reality is that whole eggs can indeed be a great part of any healthy diet. According to Livestrong. com, they’re low in calories and full of good fat. They’re even the best source of protein when trying to build muscle. Livestrong also says that yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg. The yolk contains vitamins A, D, E, and choline, which helps with cell membrane function. So the next time you think about having eggs —WHOLE eggs, don’t think twice about it!
The administration would like to congratulate the following students for their induction to the National Honor Society: Fall 2012 Inductees:
Spring 2012 Inductees:
Claudia Alarco
Rebecca Glatt
Kristina McKenna
Madison Bruffy
Mary Aronne
Alexandra Hadyka
Mary Molloy
Cory Camp
Hunter Balog
Lillian Hallmark
Van-Nhan Nguyen
Gregory Chaimson
India Banks
Bethany Hamson
Daphne O’Grady
Nicholas Davis
Nicole Barriga
Rebecca Hill
Andrea Ortiz
Emily Eaglin
Greg Bell
Cathleen Ho
Victor Phimphachanh
Barzillai Kim
Julia Bell
Olivia Hubbard
Ryan Reynolds
Cecilia Kwakye
Sara Bridegum
George Hyde
Ashley Sheibaniagdam
Blaine Lowry
Torie Broer
Hyla Jacobson
Margaret Simpson
Christine Ricciardi
Sylvia Buglio
Dong Kang
Jooyeoung Song
Valdes Tita
Justin Chan
Jocelyn Ko
Thomas Stanton
Ryan Chang
Alexandra Krakaur
Caroline Tatnall
Ann Cirincione
Zachary Kushner
Stephanie Van Albert
Riley Cruickshank
Theodora Lemberos
Tanner Williams
Jason Fleischer
Nicole Lertora
Carolyn Worden
Emma Friedman
Dunchadhn Lyons
Felicia Yau
Maia Gadsden
Theodora Martin
Samantha Wright
The Blake Beat
December 14, 2012
Shop ‘til your battery power level drops by Chante Goodger x & Dorian Purse “Your order has been processed,” are the words that every online shopper craves to see on their screen with that giant, satisfying exclamation point following. As the consumer waits to receive the package, anticipation creates a tingly feeling inside, which is normal. It is a rush that is unexplainable. Online shopping has become extremely popular, almost addicting to many people. Buyers are attracted to the fact that stores can be accessed from the comfort of their homes. Honestly, who would not want to shop while lounging in their pajamas? The only parts of the body that should be working are the fingers (the index finger is highly recommended), and eyes. What makes the experience enjoyable is the fact that there are more discounts online
compared to in the store. Stores constantly send updates about merchandise that is being offered at discount prices, and most of the time it is only an online exclusive deal. It is easier to offer customers online deals because stores look to get rid of merchandise. Even if the store is not offering a discount, many websites, such as Urban Outfitters, Karmaloop, American Apparel and Forever 21, give the opportunity to enter in promo or coupon codes. The purpose is to save the consumer money. When was the last time a store at the mall had a 50% off deal? Customers always look to have a unique wardrobe, and how does one accomplish that? The blissfulness of online shopping opens a door of opportunities to shop at stores that may not be anywhere near the customer’s home. Buyers can shop in stores overseas, thus presenting the leverage over people that do not have credit cards to order
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online. This allows one to have exclusive clothing few others would have in their wardrobe. There is a degree of risk that is taken when buying clothes in the store. In-store, there is always a chance that the clothes have been worn by a previous buyer. However, when shopping online, there is most likely a very high chance that some of the clothes bought were not worn before. Most clothes come from the stores’ warehouse, where they either ship their clothes to the store or to the person who ordered them. What about the customer service? Not only do buyers have to deal with the hassle of searching for the perfect article of clothing, but sometimes they have to deal with the ill-mannered sales people as well. With the convenience of online shopping, there is less to worry about. Just remember, happiness is but a click away.
Kos cracks mystery of the greenhouse, calls for lunchtime change x by John Kos Have you ever walked past the greenhouse in the courtyard and thought, “Oh boy! That would be a great place to have lunch. It is outside, out of the way and quiet”? I have. If you were me, you would have walked up to the door and tried to open it, only to realize that it is locked. Why would building services lock of a major portion of the school, especially when it would decrease the number of students cluttering the hallways during lunch? Well, it all started almost 15 years ago, back in 1998 when our great school, James Hubert Blake, was founded. The school was built without our beloved F hallway and the greenhouse courtyard was open-faced and accessible from the outside. The science teachers planned to use the greenhouse to keep plants for experiments, but then something game changing happened. F hallway was built and not enough light could reach the greenhouse to allow the plants to grow, and the court yard became inaccessable from the outside. The science teachers, the ones who decided if the
courtyard with the greenhouse was to be locked, held a grand council. They decided to keep the courtyard locked. Since the decision was made the doors to the greenhouse courtyard have been locked and have been like that ever since. The reason they decided to keep the doors locked is because it was hard to keep that area under supervision, as if students could do very many bad things in an area literally surrounded by teacher’s rooms. The teachers could occasionally glance through their window and check if students are doing anything illegal or stupid. It would provide a nice, quiet place, outside in the fresh air, for students to have their lunch. The greenhouse in the courtyard even seems like it was built for students to have lunch in. It even has little stone pedestals that look like they were made for sitting. It doesn’t even matter that they were originally built to show off student-made sculptures. They are there, and they are comfortable, and I want to take a nap on them.
Sterling tells all, answers various questions from curious students Nicole’s Q and A replies to messy rooms, messy sneezes, much more x by Nicole Sterling What do you do when you tell a friend you like them and things start to be awkward? First off if things get awkward, it’s normally a sign that the feeling isn’t mutual between you and your friend. If you truly value this friendship give your friend some space to process what you’ve told him/her; remember you just hit the person with a big curve ball. How do you quickly clean your room when your mom is coming to check? As a cleaning procrastinating expert I would say look for all of the empty corners and space in drawers and quickly stuff everything that looks cluttered into these places. What’s the best way to deal with a bad rumor? Keep your head up high because rumors are started by people who have insecurities of their own. If it is concerning something that you feel you can’t just ignore and brush off, talk to a teacher you’re close with or a parent. It’s important to tell someone because the longer you wait the worse things tend to get. How do you get through “essay fatigue” in the college application process? It always helps to start early and pace yourself. Writing a college essay is a tedious task, so it’s nice to work on it in small chunks, rather than waiting until the day before the due date. The more time you give yourself, the better the finished product it. How do you play off a messy sneeze? If you’re getting that tingling tickly feeling in your nose and you feel a sneeze coming on, your first reaction should be to go to your elbow. Which shoes are the best for adding height but do not hurt? Wedges are the best for giving height without killing your back. Unlike other types of heels, wedges help with weight distribution. How do you look cute and be comfortable at the same time? It’s all about attitude. Wear your clothes confidently and you’ll turn heads whether it’s sweat pants or skinny jeans. Here’s my little secret…leggings are my sweatpants. They’re super comfy, come in a variety of styles and can be paired with almost anything. What do you get your girlfriend or boyfriend for the holidays? I would say get your special someone something that displays two things: you know the person and care for them. Think about the person’s special interests and hobbies and go from there. What do you do when your friend makes bad decisions, but doesn’t want help? If you really care about your friend and know that they’re not going to listen to you, it’s vital to tell a counselor or a teacher. You can’t just sit back and let someone hurt themselves. It’s not considered “tattle taling” when you’re trying to prevent someone from harming themselves; it’s called helping them.
The Blake Beat
December 14, 2012
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