Friday, November 19, 2010

Openness About Drugs at PCHS

by Christine Porter

The openness about drugs among students at Paris high school about drugs is insane. Some kids here don’t really care who is around when they shout it to the whole school. You would think that people wouldn’t say anything about what they do over the weekend or even right before school, but they do.

Elise Svendsen said, “I hear about kids at school doing drugs pretty much every day and maybe once or twice during the weekend.”

People get a bad reputation when they say things about smoking weed or drinking. When talking to people that don’t do things like that, they don’t really know what to say because it makes them uncomfortable.

Mickaela Clark said, “It makes me uncomfortable to hear about people ruining their lives over something that isn’t worth it.” She also said that she doesn’t do it because she doesn’t see the point in wasting money for nothing. Why would you waste your time on something that is going to get you nowhere in life? When you can go and get an education and make a name for yourself without doing drugs.

When you get into drugs it’s really hard to get out of them and change your life. It may just start as smoking cigarettes then eventually you just take a hit of weed. Weed is usually just the gateway drugs to more and worse things. Most kids before high school said that they were never going to do drugs. Then, by the end of their freshman year, they have either tried it or they do it all the time. When that happens it’s usually the beginning of the end. Kids start not listening in class. Then, they start to skip school and not care what their parents have to say. Eventually kids run away from home and throw their lives away, and they start to regret what they did as a teenager. People at our school need to realize what they say and how it affects others in the school and their family members.

Giving Thanks

by Allison Pardi

Various students and teachers from Paris High School we're asked what they were thankful for:

Ms. E. - "Oh tons of stuff. I'm thankful for my family, food, my house, animals, my job and my life."

Rachel E. - " I am thankful for toilets and trashcans, and cars."

Sheri G. - " I am thankful for food, my daddy, Jakey's mommy, and my life."

Natalie M. - " I am thankful for being able to breath and have a roof over my head. Also, I am thankful for being in love.”

Mr.Dundas - “ I am thankful for my health, the bears, the future linebackers of America. I am also thankful for my family and my awesome guitar skills.”

Mr. Smith - “ I am thankful for my job, my wonderful family, indoor plumbing, my car, and my life. I am also thankful that we get the opportunity to have a new high school soon.”

Mrs. Hannah, Mr. Smith’s assistant - “I am thankful for my family and my friends. More importantly I am thankful to almost be done with college!”

Mikela W. - “I am thankful for my best friend Allison who is amazing beautiful and gorgeous! However, I am more thankful to have freedom of speech, even though it always get me in trouble.”

Sierra G - her dog and having a place to live.

Alexis P. - “I am thankful I get a meal every day, and that I get the chance to go to school.”

Austin - “I’m glad I’m almost done with high school.”

Chelsea A. - “I am thankful I get to come to school, I am glad that I have a home to come to.”

Michael J. - “I am glad that we have soldiers fighting for our freedom.”

Brett B. - “I am thankful for my family.”

Everett C. - “I am thankful for football and every sport in the world.”

Allison J. - “I am thankful for my family and my friends.”

Cameron K. - “I am thankful for my home.”

Jason A. - “I am thankful that my parents don’t yell at me everyday like some do."

Jessica J. - ”I am thankful for my dad.”

Jordan A. - “I am thankful for my whole entire family."

Friday, November 5, 2010

All Time Low

by Kayla Foushee

“I’ve never told lie and that makes me a liar. I’ve never made a bet but we gamble with desire. I’ve never lit a match with intent to start a fire, but recently the flames are getting out of control.” All Time Low is an American alternative rock band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003. The members of All Time Low are vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and back vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson. The band's name is taken from lyrics in the song "Head on Collision" by New Found Glory.

The guys formed All Time Low while still in high school, and started out doing remakes of songs from other alternative bands such as Green Day and Blink-182. They signed their first record deal with Emerald Moon Records in 2004 and released their first Extended Play titled The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End later that year. Their first studio album, The Party Scene, was released July 2005. Before graduating high school in 2006, they signed a record deal with Hopeless Records and re-recorded songs from their debut album and included two new songs for their Extended Play Put Up or Shut Up.

“We were so privileged to get signed to Hopeless Records. A lot of bands don’t make it this far. We are also much like family here.” Rian Dawson said this when he was asked how he felt about the band.

All Time Low now headlines in their own majors tours and are the biggest band in their alternative rock genre. Right now the band is on a small tour around the country. Most recently they played a show in St. Louis at the Firebird.

“We know we have the best fans in the world. You stand in crowded rooms sweating to death screaming our songs. That, my friends, is dedication, and we love you for it.” Alexander Gaskarth said the night of the concert.

“So take my life, I'll hand it to you. And you can try on my clothes, but you can't fill these shoes. On a silver platter your wish came true; see a heart of gold turn platinum. You can take me life, but you can't take you with you.” These are the lyrics from there song Poison. When asked about this song Jack said, “You know we try to be as down to earth as possible, and we try to write songs that relate to what we and other people went through and are going through. This song is basically just about how people try to fit in all the time and sometimes it only takes one person to stand out and it snow balls from there.”

All in all, All Time Low is a down to earth band. They care about their fans, they even try to spend as much time with their families as possible. All Time Low is at an all time high and getting bigger. Basically they are the biggest band you’ve never heard of, but why don’t we change that?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

All Grown Up: Teen Pregnancy

by Christine Porter

Do you know anyone who has been pregnant at a young age? Being pregnant at a young age would obviously be hard for most people. You don’t have many choices that you want to think of. There is abortion which means you would have to abort the baby and live with the guilt. There is adoption which can be complicated and heart wrenching for the young mother. You could keep the baby, but give up your future.

Teenage pregnancy is the worst thing that could happen to a teenage girl. It could also be the best. You can see it as a wakeup call. Clean your life up; be motivated to get an education. Some teens don’t have a choice. They might be forced to have an abortion or forced to give the baby up for adoption, because they can’t take care of it.

Katie Keller was a teen mom. She had her son as a senior in high school. It was very difficult for her because her parents weren’t very supportive of her. They didn’t help out very much. She got married right out of high school and that didn’t last long. She worked as a CNA at Pleasant Meadows in Chrisman. That wasn’t quite enough to take care of a child. She had no way of getting a college degree until she got older and her children were able to take care of themselves. Her life hasn’t been easy at all.

“I wish girls would realize that one moment of happiness isn’t worth a life of regret,” says Katie Keller of the issue of teen pregnancy.

If you are a pregnant teen think twice about your decision. Make the best choice for your child. Also, if you are a sexually active teen think about the consequences of your actions and don’t just think about yourself. Think about the other people around you and how it will affect them, and I hope you will think before you act.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Wonderous World of Mr. Ogle: Part II


by Blade Hall

He is an English teacher at PCHS. He is a husband. He is a father of three children. He is a military veteran. He is Mr. Ogle.

Mr. Ogle has served a total of six years in the U.S. military from 2000-2006 and was deployed in places like Bulgaria, Iraq, Kuwait, and Germany. While serving our country over in Iraq, he missed many unforgettable moments in his family’s life, one of which was the birth of his daughter. While he had a few weeks time here and there to spend with his first born child, he really hadn’t spent much quality time with his daughter until she was ten months old, which was when he left the military to come back to his family and become a teacher here at Paris Cooperative.

“It was great, tough at times, but I wouldn’t change a thing,” states Mr. Ogle about his time serving. He went on to relate the lessons he learned. One of these that was the most important to him was the value of spending time with his kids. He said that too many parents lose the importance of watching a movie or sitting down and playing Sorry with their kids. Now, when his kids ask him to play with them, he thinks of what it was like when he lost that time while being in Iraq and how he missed out on so much of his daughter’s first year.

So parents and future parents, I guess the life lesson here is to pay attention. Cherish those small, seemingly insignificant moments with your family; because that may be all you have to remember them by when they’re gone, whether they’ve moved away, passed on, gone to college, or been deployed to Afghanistan. In a roundabout way, this has come to a simple fact, family is everything.

“I am who I am today because of it,” states Mr. Ogle. And who is he? A inspiring teacher and a great father. To read more of Mr. Ogle’s thoughts on parenting, read his blog: My Adventures in Fatherhood