Issue 92

A HARINGEY YOUTH PUBLICATION

free Apr 08

£0.00

issue 92

TIME FOR ACTION Chico bares his, er, chest

THE RULEBOOK REWRITTEN What are adults so afraid of?

HOOLIGANS Come and have a read if you think yer ‘ard enough

kevin

Amanuel Tewodros, Joey Leskin, Kevin Russell

joey

amanuel

Editorial Team

Opening times

Exposure is free and open to anyone aged 13 to 19 living in or around Haringey. If you want to get into journalism, design or film-making, get involved:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

The Bigger Shoe Box, Muswell Hill Centre, Hillfield Park, N10 3QJ Tel: 020 8883 0260 Fax: 020 8883 2906 Mob: 07947 884 282

10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00

kevaughn

janay pauline

Get involved

terry

frank

Khiry Johnson, Llewelyn Harrigan, Paul Bott, Pauline Nakirya, Terry Balson

khiry

Frank Codardo, Janay Carrott, Kevaughn Senior

llewelyn

ben

Balkis El-Khalaf, Ben Alon, Dane Brown

dane

Contributors

am am am am am

-

7.00 3.00 7.00 7.00 3.00

pm pm pm pm pm

Staff

info@exposure.org.uk www.exposure.org.uk Regrettably our office is inaccessible to wheelchair users but we will nevertheless make every effort to include your contributions.

Andreas Koumi Enrico Tessarin Jon Golds David Warrington Aysha Tegally

Mirella Issaias Flo Codjoe Luke Pantelidou Gary Flavell Nick May

Disclaimer

Awards Positive Images Award for best magazine produced by young people for young people Purple Youth Award for best youth representation website London Electricity Londoner of the Year Award Nationwide Award for Voluntary Endeavour Phillip Lawrence Award Ed & F Man Award for Best London Youth Publication

Advertising If your organisation wants to get its message across to young people call 020 8883 0260

Printers Miter Press Ltd, Miter House 150 Rosebery Avenue, N17 9SR Tel: 020 8808 9776 is a registered trademark of Exposure Organisation Limited, registered in England no. 3455480, registered charity no.

1073922.

The views expressed in Exposure do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. (c) 2007. All rights reserved. ISSN 1362-8585

Exposure aims to give young people an independent voice which can contribute to the democratic process. We apologise for any offence caused by the way young people choose to express themselves.

While Exposure has done its best to check material contained within this publication, we cannot accept responsibility for inaccurate information provided by outside organisations. Organisations mentioned are not necessarily connected with nor endorsed

by Exposure.

Permission has been sought, wherever possible, for the use of copyright material.

Where contact has not been possible we hope that, as a voluntary organisation helping to educate and inform young people, it is acceptable for Exposure to use such material for the benefit of young people. If this is not the case please let us know and any such copyright material will be removed from future publications with our apologies.

Sponsored by:

02

Tottenham Grammar School Foundation

social spider

Issue 92 April 2008 Certifiably Insane Government ministers are investigating violence in video games and plan changing the ratings system to stop children and young people playing ‘adult’ games.

It already gets on my nerves that I cant walk in to a shop and buy a game I want. Some people are influenced by games and movies, but why should people who aren’t be punished?

The British Board of Film Classification, classifies films and games. They decide what is suitable for you to see or play at your age.

When a game or movie gets a 15 or 18 certificate, it is for a reason, and usually down to the amount of sex, violence, or sexual violence in it. But if you are a true gamer you should be able to buy and play any game you want. After all, games and movies are not real. Giving them an 18-rating just makes more hassle for everyone.

Of course, once I’m 18 I won’t care about ratings systems, but right now I want to break into the minister’s offices and smash everything up with a bat, just like in Grand Theft Auto.

Kevin Russell

10

What You Gonna Eat, Grass?

Samantha Benjamin in being vegetarian.

Pencilled by Samantha Harding.

12

That’s My Boy! Harry Yeates meets a proud football hooligan.

16

Helter Skelter Michael Broad just keeps on rolling (and coasting).

Illustration by Camila Lopes.

20

Same Old Rules When will adults calm down, asks Janay Carrott.

janay

24

A Small Bite of the Big Apple Josh Büyükyilmaz has a weekend in New York.

camila

michael

harry

sam h

It’s Chico Time Amanuel Tewodros interviews the cheeky chirpy Chico chappy.

sam b

08

josh

amanuel

Articles

03

Nappy Snaps YOUNG MOTHERS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION April 3-10, Triangle Children’s Centre April 11-25, Wood Green Library Power Play Productions is an awardwinning, community based organisation in Tottenham who have helped teenage mothers take pictures to show how much having their babies means to them. To some of you it might seem like just a picture, but it means a lot more to them.

Their photographs will be exhibited throughout April, so you can see the beauty of a mother and her baby.

Kevaughn Senior

Soul Sister NAYO African Girl Nayo is an African girl with a degree from California, who’s lived on several continents, and now, on her own record label, has released her first album. Nigerian-born Nayo introduces a new cross-continental mix of beats and grooves. Her music is a hybrid of African soul and modern jazz, reminiscent of Sade (for those of you who remember her) but not quite the same: what makes Nayo unique is her young look, her fresh, distinctive voice and the ‘naïve’ feel to her music. Look out, ‘cos she’s coming to soularize you!

Pauline Nakirya

04

nick

terry

kevaughn

pauline

Read ‘Em & Weep THE KNIFE THAT KILLED ME Anthony McGowan This is a brilliant novel for teenagers that explores the effects of peer pressure and knife crime. Paul Varderman is at a normal school where bullying, embarrassing moments with the girls and lectures from teachers are a part of everyday life. This all changes when Roth, the leader of the bullies, forces him to deliver a message to a leader of another gang. This act starts a turf war and a chain of dangerous events unfolds.

Terry Balsom

CONFESSIONS Kate Brian The fourth book in the ‘Private’ series, when Reed’s exboyfriend is arrested for killing another of her exes, she finds comfort in her friends, the girls of Billings Hall. But everything is not as it seems and she sets out to uncover the truth. For confident readers, or those who have read the first three novels, this is a dark, sinister and sexy novel - go buy it now! But for me, it was very difficult to read (don’t laugh - I mean it!).

TB

Text To Subscribe!

Now you can get every issue of Exposure delivered to your door. You’ll never miss an issue, and it’s absolutely free. Just text your name, age and address to 07947 884 282, call 020 8883 0260, or email info@exposure.org.uk Nick May

05

The

Büyükyilmaz

Reel

JUNO Juno (Ellen Page) is a self-assured teenager (like me, except I’m a dude) but her confidence takes a knock when she finds herself pregnant. Luckily, she has the total support of her parents as she faces some tough decisions, flirts with adults and ultimately figures out where she belongs. With the help of her best friend Leah, Juno sets out to find her unborn child a perfect set of parents. The movie is something original and interesting to watch.

Usually it would be aimed at girls but everyone should see this. Teenage mothers are a part of society, as we see every day on the Jeremy Kyle show.

Josh Büyükyilmaz

CLOVERFIELD When a giant creature decides to go on a rampage in New York City, a group of friends are thrown into a fight for survival armed only with a video camera and a low-on-battery phone. A very interesting and greatly entertaining modern day monster film, Cloverfield packs it all in. It’s a nightmare for those who suffer from motion sickness - the camera never stays still! This could be the start of a new type of monster movie. You heard it here first!

Terry Balsom

06

terry

josh

MR MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM The Wonder Emporium is a magic toy shop owned by Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman).

He is getting old (he’s already over 700!) and leaves his toy shop in the care of his assistant, Ms Mahoney, but she finds her new role overwhelming and forgets how to believe in magic. It is a much better film than I first anticipated (my sister had to convince me to see it with her) with enough of a story to keep everyone over the age of twelve interested. Like most good family films, you feel warm inside when it’s over. One to watch.

TB

P.S. I LOVE YOU Holly Kennedy (Hilary Swank) was married to the love of her life, a passionate, funny and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. When his life is taken by illness, it takes the life out of Holly. On her 30th birthday she gets a cake with a tape recording from Gerry telling her to get out and ‘celebrate her self’.

In the weeks and months that follow more letters from Gerry are delivered, each signed in the same way: P.S. I Love You. It seems like a chick flick but it is actually a non-cheesy, really good romantic comedy.

THE BUCKET LIST

JB

A corporate billionaire (Jack Nicholson) and a working-class mechanic (Morgan Freeman) have nothing in common except for their illnesses. While sharing a hospital room they decide to get out and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die, as written on the bucket list. The two main actors have worked since the Stone Age and have a good chemistry, and the film makes you laugh, cry and feel good at the end.

JB

07

had “Imyalways eyes in the

Chico

08

fire and waited for something to hit!

�

amanuel

fans’ favourite Chico is just one of the celebrities lending their voice to Freefonix, a new CBBC animation show where characters battle for the freedom to express themselves through music. Interview by Amanual Tewodros.

X Factor

WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH FREEFONIX? When they showed me what they had to offer, it just blew me away. The graphics where brilliant, the story was fabulous, and it had something to do with the music. I said ‘Wow, I would love to be part of it. I don’t even want to know the details, I’ll do it’.

WHO WAS THE CHARACTER YOU PLAYED? The character is a very suited to me and I really enjoyed playing him. He was great! He’s kinda over-confident, an almost over-the-top cool guy, who’s not as cool as he thinks he is. He develops this perfume that he sprays on himself, a bit like the Lynx effect, and tries to lure the leader of the band, who he’s head over heels in love with, and get her signed up with the opposition. Basically it’s a fight of good versus evil.

I’m just one of the celebrities playing in one of the episodes, and there are 40 episodes and so many celebrities.

Jamelia was one of them, and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU’D DO VOICE-OVERS? It doesn’t bother me whether I’m going to sing or entertain or act or do voice-overs. I’m in the entertainment business. I always had my eyes in the fire and waited for something to hit! Freefonix is a completely different discipline. You go into the studio and you have to develop this character into your own, and do it in the right time, in the right phrasing - this is actually how they do the Hollywood cartoons like Shrek. Today Freefonix, tomorrow Hollywood, baby!

You never know!

HOW DO YOU THINK FREEFONIX WILL BENEFIT YOUNG PEOPLE? It gives the kids that extra self-worth of ‘Hey, I could make music. I could be part of something that makes me feel significant’. I believe this really is a great way of getting the message across, getting them involved and making them feel part of it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW? There is talent out there without a shadow of a doubt, but music and business don’t actually go hand in hand. The artist wants to make music that is fun, happy, good or credible, but the industry is run by accountants and lawyers who don’t really know a great deal about music but they do know how to crunch numbers. So as long as you go out there and make the music that you like, hopefully people will listen.

SO WHAT NEXT? I’m doing the Ant and Dec show at the moment. I just shot my new video. My new single, if anyone wants to see it, is on Chicomusic.com. Like I said you put your eyes in the fire and see what happens. You can do anything you want to do and if you believe it you can achieve it. For me, I’m just doing it, having it, loving it, and having fun while I’m at it.

Freefonix is on BBC1 at 4.20 pm on Fridays. The Freefonix website lets you make your own versions of tracks on the show. Visit www.freefonix.com.

09

What you gonna

pencilled by samantha harding

10

sam h

sam b

eat? Grass?!

Samantha Benjamin on why we should all be vegetarians.

Ever since I walked into my school lunchroom when I was eight I’ve been a vegetarian. Why? Because the sight of blood all over the hamburger I was supposed to eat made me feel sick. The blood had come from an animal that had been killed in cold blood without ever having a chance to grow up. And why?

So I could eat.

A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat poultry or any slaughterhouse byproduct such as gelatine, a jelly-like substance made from animal bones

used to just stare at “Ithe animals and feel so guilty ”

Becoming a vegetarian is a personal decision, but one of the key reasons people become one is because they don’t morally approve of the killing of animals, or the way in which they are kept, treated and killed before being turned into food.

Others become a vegetarian because of concern over the environment: using land to raise animals wastes precious resources that can be used to grow crops to feed us more directly like, for example, potatoes.

The oldest stereotype about vegetarians is that because of our diet, we’re all pale and unhealthy. But medical studies suggest that vegetarians are less likely to suffer from illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diet related diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. So if all the other reasons don’t suit you, become a vegetarian for the good of your body.

It’s not hard to be a vegetarian.

Vegetarian food is available in all leading supermarkets and restaurants. It’s easy to cook and you get the satisfaction of knowing that animals aren’t being killed to make the food you eat. There are also a range of burgers. sausages and chickenstyle fillets that taste just like the real thing but aren’t.

There are many famous people who you may look up to who are vegetarians, like Tobey Maguire, Pamela Anderson, Josh Hartnett, Emily Deschanel, Orlando Bloom and Natalie Portman.

Being a vegetarian has changed my life for the better. I eat a healthy diet of my favourite foods whilst knowing that I’m helping animals to lead a longer life.

One way you could think about it is to put yourself in their position: how would you feel if you were an animal being brought into this world with the sole purpose of later becoming food? You wouldn’t like it, so why should they be any different?

When I was younger and we were taken on school trips to zoos and farms I used to just stare at the animals for ages and feel so guilty deep down inside. They were soaking up my attention without knowing what we’re doing to them. So the next time you look at a ham on sale in the supermarket, think about where it has come from - a pig on a farm being fattened up ready for the slaughter house - and then ask whether you can live with the guilt of their lives being on your plate.

For more information, and to make a difference, visit www.vegsoc.org or www.peta.org

11

THAT’S MY BOY

12

harry

Harry Yeates meets a hardcore football hooligan.

He had all the hallmarks of a drunkard: slurred speech, a desire to communicate with all who would listen, and a general disregard for his appearance. He was wearing a shirt with the bottom button undone allowing his beer gut to ease out over his waistline, and all his nails were a deep shade of purple. He had lost his son and was staggering aimlessly through the train carriage crying, in a distinctive South London twang, ‘Kyle! Kyle! Come ‘ere you little run around! When I find you, I’ll...’ before trailing off into an inaudible murmur.

After searching the carriage he stopped and stood talking to an innocent bystander. It transpired that he had sent his son to Manchester to watch United’s fifth round cup tie with Arsenal. He feared his ‘boy’, as he routinely referred to him, may have instead gone to Millwall to look for trouble with some of his friends.

It was the mother’s fault. She spoiled him, so Kyle had taken to a deviant lifestyle of frequent fighting and disrespect for all authority.

spoilt. He’s a “He’s hooligan. He’s nuts! ”

When a seat next to me became available he sat in it and continued to murmur to himself before turning to me and warning, ‘never become a father, mate’.

Thinking it rude not to acknowledge this pearl of wisdom I gave him a feeble, non-committal reply that to his mind allowed him to open up and talk of all Kyle’s shortcomings. ‘He’s spoilt. He’s a hooligan. He’s nuts!’. According to his father he had fights with boys twice his age, but Kyle was apparently old enough to look after himself, for Kyle had reached the ripe old age of 13.

The mood called for the one topic of conversation that binds all men: the beautiful game. My intoxicated friend had a certain soft spot for ‘the Gooners’, though it was with Millwall that his true allegiances lay. Kyle had once been a big football fan, though his misbehaviour at matches meant he’d been dissuaded

from going to the games. ‘Did he play at all?’ I enquired. Once, in a local Sunday League, until he kicked a referee.

But at least Millwall seemed to have cleaned up their act. The club famed for its crowd disturbances in the 1980s no longer had such a poor reputation. ’Is there still a lot of trouble at Millwall?’

I asked. ‘Not enough,’ he retorted. He told me how he was a Millwall football hooligan, boasting that he was part of a gang whose fifty members made up the hard core of troublemakers. Of course there were others who would get involved, but it was the hard core that should take most of the credit. He began saying he was harder than most, before correcting himself, concluding that ‘Well, they’re all nutters’.

After he got off at King’s Cross, a bewildered Hispanic couple sitting opposite me looked my way and I returned their confused looks with a shake of the head as if to say ‘I do hope you don’t let this incident influence your opinion of the English’.

It was a sad conversation. For most of my life I dreamt of being a professional footballer, but it was the sport’s macho culture that eventually saw me hang up my boots, and whilst I still harbour a genuine love for the beautiful game, it is a game muddied by people like Kyle and his dad.

13

GALLERY Send your artwork to: The Bigger Shoe Box, Muswell Hill Centre, Hillfield Park N10 3 QJ Tel: 020 8883 0260, Fax: 020 8883 2906, Mob: 07947 884 282, Email: jon@exposure.org.uk

By Paul Bott

14

Helt er

Michael Broad just can’t stop riding roller coasters.

Going on a rollercoaster is like eating chocolate - your body wants to go faster and higher. The feeling you have is scary but you want to do it.

I have loved them for years: the first ever scary ride I went on was the Detonator at Thorpe Park when I was just eight or nine years old. I have been on rides that have broken down: the Colossus and the Slammer at Thorpe Park, and Dragons Fury at Chessington World Of Adventures.

I once queued for three hours for the Loggers Leap at Thorpe Park. Queuing is the nightmare of a theme park. At Port Aventura in Spain there was only one ride I liked – the Hurkan Condor - a ride were riders stand up over three feet high.

I am hoping to go to Cedar Point in Ohio in the future. Cedar Point has seventeen rollercoasters from the not scary Blue Streak to the second tallest and fastest rollercoaster on the planet –the Top Thrill Dragster. It has a top speed of 120 mph and a height of 420 feet. That’s what I call a scary rollercoaster. It has also thrill

16

rides like the Power Tower with a height of 240 feet and a speed up to 50 mph.

It has three towers with three different ride experiences. One ride shoots up fast and comes down slowly, the second goes up slowly and comes down fast and the third goes up fast and comes down fast.

Another ride at Cedar Point is Shyhawk.

Don’t worry this ride isn’t scary. False!

You will find the same ride at Thorpe Park but the Cedar Point ride is much scarier.

worry this ride “Don’t isn’t scary. False! ”

You probably guessed what I will be doing in the future - working in a theme park.

When I am sixteen I want to apply to either Chessington World Of Adventures or Thorpe Park for a job as a ride host.

What the heck is a ride host? Well, a ride host checks the harness, measures the guest height, tidies up, and the worst thing, sometimes cleans up the guest’s sick.

Roller coasters get scarier every year.

When the Pepsi Max Big One opened in 1994 at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it was the tallest and fastest rollercoaster on Earth with a speed of 85 mph and a height of 235 feet. The worlds tallest and fastest rollercoaster now is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey with a height of 456 feet and an incredible speed of 129 mph. The future looks really scary with different theme parks wanting to push the limit. But please don’t come up with stupid excuses like ‘That ride was too scary, I don’t want to go on it again’ or ‘That ride looks too fast or tall’. What a chicken.

camila

michael

el

artwork by camila lopes

Sk

te r 17

Horoscope

By Ben Alon and Janay Carrott

Aries

Mar.21 - Apr. 20

\ time to put the past behind you and look to the future - just make sure It’s you don’t leave your mates behind.

Taurus

Apr. 21 - May 22

Don’t waste time lounging about - enjoy it. Learn to laze through life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Gemini

May 23 - Jun. 23

Sitting around doing nothing in school is not going to get you anywhere.

Start using your brain for a change.

Cancer

Jun. 24 - Jul. 23

If there was ever a time to work it is now. Don’t leave things to the last minute - get it over and done with.

18

orlando

llewellyn

tony

janos

camila

janay

ben

Images by Camila Lopes, Janos Papp, Tony Randall, Llewellyn Harrigan and Orlando McKenzie

Leo

Jul. 24 - Aug. 23 Family and friends are always important but never more so than now - they can help with what you’re feeling, as well as the fun you‘re having.

Virgo

Aug. 24 - Sep. 22

Your life is about to fall apart so now would be a good time to stay close to friends and family – you’re going to need them.

Libra

Sep. 23 - Oct. 23

Don’t just go out and buy the most expensive things or you’ll regret it later. Focus on the free things in life instead.

Scorpio

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Don’t shy away from your culture, now is the perfect time to embrace it and show it off to the world.

Sagittarius

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

You never know you don’t like something until you have tried it. What is the worst that can happen?

Capricorn

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Helping other people is getting you nowhere. It’s time to put yourself first for a change; it’s not like they’re helping you.

Aquarius

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Put on a happy face. By showing other people that you are in a good mood it will brighten up their day.

Pisces

Feb. 19 - Mar. 20

Everything happens for a reason, so stop moping around and move on with your life. It can’t get any worse.

19

Same O It’s the adults who are out of control, says Janay Carrott.

Imagine a world where adults have to queue outside a shop because more than two of them are already inside; or six year olds aren’t allowed to play in groups of more than five because they look too intimidating; or OAPs are watched by security guards in case they slip some custard creams into their handbag.

Replace those age groups with teenagers and it’s a whole lot easier.

Adults have always been wary of young people, but in our generation, that suspicion has plunged into moral panic.

Now the word teenager conjures images of unruly hooded teenagers loitering on the streets and indulging in alcopops and cannabis. It’s not uncommon for someone to cross the road or hide any valuable items when they come across a group of young people; neither is it uncommon to see the finger pointed at a teenager when something goes missing.

The media is partly to blame for the panic with constant news stories about

20

gang attacks, youth crime, or new ideas to tackle anti-social behaviour blowing the problem out of proportion. It would be extremely naïve of me to say that there is not some truth in the media’s representation. Some teenagers seem to enjoy being intimidating and stealing things. Others frequently engage in binge drinking and illegal drugs. Their

teenagers are “Unruly no longer considered to be a minority ”

stories are the ones the media broadcast to the country, and that are behind the widespread paranoia. Unruly teenagers are no longer considered to be a minority, despite the good behaviour of others.

Britain’s obsession has led to a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, ASBOs and other ‘blanket punishments’ for the rest of us. ‘Two schoolchildren at

janay

ld Rules a time’ has been seen in the windows of newsagents for years, and for good reason: they become overcrowded at lunchtime and before and after school.

However, if a fairly spacious supermarket in the middle of a shopping area - like Tesco in Crouch End - decides to enforce such a rule, can they really say it’s because they don’t want the shop to get chaotic?

It seems if you’re a multi-billion pound supermarket chain you can treat your teenage customers however you like. And when a young person finally gets inside the shop, they are guaranteed to receive some extra special attention from the security guards.

This sort of suspicion can be found everywhere from the cinema to the park.

Tesco, Showcase Cinemas and Starbucks are just some of the companies that don’t

appreciate teenage customers; some places even ban teenagers during school hours. Community Police Officers and security guards immediately zone in on any group of teenagers, and have the power to tell us where we can go, what we can do and who we can associate with.

No longer considered children, as teenagers we are not considered vulnerable enough for this treatment to be seen as cruel. Violating our human rights (for example, freedom of association) means nothing, because our behaviour supposedly makes others live in fear. Not quite being adults, we don’t have the power to overrule the decisions adults make; all we can do is follow their rules.

21

by Ben Alon, Frank Codardo, Janay Carrott and Khiry Johnson illustrations by Dane Brown

I am 15 years old and have a problem with my weight. Every time I am seen eating at school I am made fun of by other students. Even when I go to the local takeaway the staff look at me funny, almost telling me that I’m fat so I shouldn’t be eating any longer. What should I do?

Well the first thing you could do is lay off the takeaways and start eating some healthier foods. Going on a diet and maybe drawing out an eating plan will also help. Also try joining your local netball or basketball team or something.

That way you get to socialise, make some good friends and lose weight, all at the same time.

Help! Everybody in school keeps on calling me cricket bat teeth! It’s not fair. I have never insulted any of them, but they keep on teasing me about having big teeth. Should I try and fight fire with fire or try to ignore it?

It must be tempting to tease them back, and maybe it would work.

It would certainly make you feel better. A better solution might be just to give up caring what people say. You’ve got teeth. They’re big. Who cares?

22

dane

khiry

janay

frank

ben

I am in year 11 and doing my GCSEs. I am having a problem with my science teacher: I think she fancies me! It always seems like she’s flirting and recently she’s started wearing nice clothes, more makeup and sweet perfume, and she’s moved me right to the front of the class near her. I must sound crazy. What shall I do?

Your teacher shouldn’t really be making you think she’s flirting with you, and her behaviour could affect your ability to learn, but not necessarily in a negative way - especially with your exams coming up. Ask for all the extra help you need and you might get lucky (not in that way).

I’ve been best friends with this girl for years but lately I’ve found that we don’t get on as well as we used to. She seems to think that everyone around her is disposable (including me) and I feel like she is using me. A lot of people in our group of friends have already turned their back on her, but I don’t know whether to do the same.

If this girl is losing friends but still won’t appreciate the friends she has then maybe she isn’t worth your time. Try talking to her in a nonconfrontational way and giving her a second chance. If she doesn’t change then your friendship has obviously run its course.

Everyone’s got problems, so for some serious advice, see the Directory on page 27 for a list of suppert services.

23

a small bite of the

24

josh

Josh Büyükyilmaz goes to New York.

I went to New York to celebrate becoming ‘sweet sixteen’. It was just how I imagined it to be, except much, much bigger.

The flight takes eight hours and we travelled into some very rough weather.

My mum was terrified! The pilot kept telling the cabin staff to sit down and strap themselves in. It was like riding a rollercoaster at times. I did my best to cheer my mum up and distract her.

I just loved the whole thing, including the turbulence!

mum “My thought it was ‘rather cheap and tacky’

”

I had fallen in love with ‘The Big Apple’ long before we arrived at JFK International Airport. I couldn’t wait to clear customs so we could begin to explore, but it took ages. You even have to put your shoes through an X-ray machine!

Eventually we took a yellow taxi to our hotel. It was huge! It had it’s own shop, restaurants, fitness centre and an indoor tennis court. Our room was on the 40th floor! We had a fantastic view right across the New York skyline.

We had a walk round Times Square and wandered into the massive M&M’S sweet shop. The American’s seem to be crazy about M&M’S. The shop had several floors of all kinds of clothes, mugs, games and huge amounts of the sweets themselves.

They even had M&M’S in our hotel room - which my mum thought was ‘rather cheap and tacky’. I couldn’t eat them because the colourings and additives affect my epilepsy. It was torture!

At the Stardust Diner all the waiting staff were actors, singers and dancers, and they sang and danced on the tables and counter tops. It was really something!

When our waitress, Betty, found out it was my birthday, she told everyone in the diner and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. Everyone clapped and Betty insisted I stand up and take a bow. It was ‘a great craic’, as my mum would say.

We visited ‘ground zero’ and it was just a vast building site. It was sad to think that so many people lost their lives there on 9/11. They are going to make the site a memorial park and put two sunken fountains on the sites where the twin towers stood.

We went on a ‘New York TV and Movie Sites’ tour and saw the Friends building, the Cosby Show building, and many more. The tour guide asked us lots of questions about movies that had been filmed in New York. The prize for a correct answer was a lollipop and I ended up with most of them. My mum got embarrassed and told me to stop putting my hand up and give other people a chance!

We also learned to use the subway. It travels either uptown or downtown, so to travel across town you need to take a bus or a taxi. We saw some huge rats on the platforms. My mum was totally freaked, but nobody else seemed to take any notice of them.

New York is the city that never sleeps and I could hardly sleep while I was there. I didn’t want to miss out on anything.

I was also busy watching cable TV in our hotel room - they had almost 700 channels. Irresistible! (My mum thought it was all crap!)

Our holiday was over all too soon. I have already started my return fund, but next time I am going to stay for longer. Much, much longer!

25

To me To me, you are not a flower because a flower dries then dies, never to be seen again.

To me, you are not the river because the river passes by and never returns.

To me, you are not the shining because when it is time, it has to leave.

To me, you are not the calm moon because I only see the moon at night.

To me, you are not the stars of the sky because there are so many stars but only one of you.

But to me, you are my heart that keeps me alive and never leaves my side.

Balkis El-Khalaf

26

Directory Youth clubs

Mental health

Muswell Hill Area Youth Project Muswell Hill Centre, Muswell Hill 020 8883 5855

Antenna For black African and African-Caribbean young people 9 Bruce Grove, Tottenham 020 8365 9537 www.antennaoutreach.co.uk

Bruce Grove Area Youth Project 10 Bruce Grove, Tottenham 020 3224 1089 Wood Green Area Youth Project White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre 020 8489 8942

Haringey Young People’s Counselling Service Advice and support for young people White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre 020 8489 8944

Broadwater Youth Club Structured sport-based programme Broadwater Community Centre, Tottenham 07870 15 7612

Host General mental health care 312 High Road, Tottenham 020 8885 8160

Triangle Twilight Bridge Club Structured youth project 93 St Ann’s Road, Tottenham 020 8802 1955

Revolving Doors Agency Tackling the link between mental health and crime Tottenham Town Hall 07986 708 461 or 07779 098 269 www.revolving-doors.co.uk

Sexual health 4YP Haringey Young people’s sexual health services including dedicated clinic, drop-in sessions and the 4YP bus www.4yp.co.uk 0800 1613 715

Victim Support Haringey Working for victims of crime 020 8888 9878 www.vslondon.org Housing

Young Mums To Be Course in Tottenham for teenage mums 1 Ashley Road, Tottenham Hale 020 8275 4230

Shelterline Shelter’s free housing advice line 0808 800 4444

Outzone Confidential information and support for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people www.outzone.org

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme of personal development 020 8826 9393

Disabilities Markfield Project Inclusive services for disabled and non-disabled young people Markfield Road, Tottenham 020 8800 4134 Drugs and alcohol Step-Ahead For young people with drug or alcohol issues 40 Bromley Road, Tottenham 020 8493 8525 Cosmic For the families of people with drug or alcohol issues 0800 38905257 Domestic Violence Hearthstone For people experiencing domestic violence 10 Commerce Road, Wood Green 020 888 5362

Volunteering

BTCV Millennium volunteers national volunteering programme www2.btcv.org.uk Employment and training e2e Employment scheme 122-124 High Road, Wood Green 020 8889 0022 KIS Training Helping young people into employment, education & enterprise 1 Ashley Road, Tottenham Hale 020 8275 4230 Haringey Connexions Centre Careers advice 560 High Road, Tottenham 020 8808 0333 Harington Scheme Preparing young people with learning difficulties or disabilities for work 55a Cholmeley Park, Highgate www.harington.org.uk Junction One-stop shop for young people 2nd Floor, Wood Green Library 020 8881 7050 www.thejunctionharingey.co.uk

27

What harm can it do?

For some reason when a stranger sits down and talks about what you’re doing, and the effects of your behaviour, it doesn’t just go straight out the other ear, it stays with you.

You might not want to hear it, but in the long run it’s better for you and the people around you. At the Haringey Young People’s Counselling Service (HYPCS) you can tell they know what they’re talking about. You get free, one-onone counselling, and it’s completely confidential.

www.haringey.gov.uk

The HYPCS is based in Wood Green Youth Centre in New River Sports Centre, but they also have drop-ins in secondary schools around the borough: Hornsey School for Girls St Thomas More RC School Highgate Wood School Woodside High School Alexandra Park School Gladesmore Community School Call 020 8489 8946 to find out more.