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Blake Dykes, Columns, Forum

Columnist provides advice for incoming freshmen

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By Blake Dykes
Coming into freshman year I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. That is typical, starting at a new school with new teachers and new friends. Now that freshman year is almost over, I realize I have matured a lot throughout this year. The most significant ways that I have learned are from my mistakes.

These mistakes and other things that I have learned throughout the year has provided me a sense of direction.

1. Don’t get serious too fast. Relationships grow as people get older, but it is important to remember you still have your whole life ahead of you. High school is a time to date and figure out what you are looking for in a boy or girlfriend.

2. Don’t do anything you don’t want to. I hear about stories all of the time, about teenagers going out and partying and getting busted or even injured. Stay loyal to your values and avoid the situations where you may get pressured to do something  you do not want to. People will learn to respect you for this quality.

3. Try new activities. I was not supposed to be in journalism this year. I had a schedule issue and accidently got put into the class. Since I was already in the class I decided to try it out and see how I liked it, because it would have been difficult to change my entire schedule for one class. Now I love journalism and am continuing on with it next year. The point is, I would not have considered  journalism, and now it is the period  I look forward to every day.

4. Don’t block the hallways. If anything makes me mad, it is when people crowd around in the halls. If you want to have a conversation with someone, go to the side by the lockers. People are trying to get to classes and it is hard enough without the extra people standing in the middle of the hall.

5. Be nice to everyone. I know it sounds cliche, but you never know when you are  going to have to interact with someone, whether it be in a sport, project, club, or even a class you have with them. Besides, everyone likes to be liked. By treating other people with respect you will gain their trust and friendship.

I have made mistakes as I am sure the incoming freshmen will; these are just a couple things I have managed to take away from this year.

Allison Werner, Columns, Forum

Spring brings in new fashion trends

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By Allison Werner

With spring coming up, old and new trends will start to arise. In the fashion world, they are first showcased by designers putting together a fashion show. Then, people start to take notice of them. The people who decide to wear the latest trends take the designer look, tweak it a bit, and make it their own. With that being said, it is time to ditch those wool sweaters and heavy coats and dive into the bright spring season.

First up is my favorite category to discuss: makeup and beauty. One product to definitely try out would have to be BB creams. First introduced in Asia, this cream is a five-in-one product that hydrates, primes, perfects, controls oil, and protects skin. This is perfect for those mornings when putting on primer, foundation, concealer, and powder seems like a hassle and leaves the skin feeling cakey.

Another trend in the beauty world is hair painting. No, not actually taking a paintbrush and painting your hair. That would be a disaster. Hair painting, among the other trends, has to be the boldest. It is a mousse formula that when applied, creates vibrant highlights in your hair. It is a cheap alternative to getting it done at the salon. Plus, it is a reasonable price. Another added bonus: if the color looks awful in your hair or is just way too dark, it washes out within in one shampoo.

The next category is the most obvious: fashion. Designers put together a fashion show each year showing off the next big trends. One trend that is popular among the runways is the clean cut look. Whether it is a white dress, pearls, or a white blazer, elegance is in. Pair that with pastel colors and you have a recipe for success.

While elegance is in, do not be surprised to see bright, floral patterns. Whether it be on a dress, a skirt, or a shirt, floral is also in. Introduced in 2011, color blocking was the biggest craze. Now prints are being thrown into the mix. While print blocking is not completely out of season, it is more common in shoes now then clothes.

The last category for spring is nails. Boring one color nails do not cut it anymore. With Sally Hansen nail strips, colorful, pattered nails have never been so easy. Just peel off the back, stick them on nails, and ta-da. Now the hassles of waiting for the polish to dry and the stress of messing up the nails are gone. These strips will definitely strike up a conversation.

From makeup to fashion, there can be trends in just about anything. While some might be bolder than others, except to see them in the coming weeks. Do not be surprised if while walking to class, someone goes down the hallway with a floral dress and streaks in their hair. As the saying goes, expect the unexpected.

Columns, Danielle Rehor, Forum

Value of speaking honestly discovered

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By Danielle Rehor

Acoustic Thoughts

Synonyms of my favorite pastime include brazen, unabashed, and vivacious. Sounds down right delightful, right? It is, when done in the right way. Often times we say exactly what we think, but for the most part what our brain tells us to say has become diluted. Perhaps you are ok with that, but for me, I am not. Do not settle for saying a half-truth because it will not offend. It is lame.

I am here today to teach you a lost art in today’s world. That is speaking brashly. Now this is a tool that can help you out, or completely hinder your ability to make and sustain friendships.

Point One. Do not use this as a technique to make first impressions. That comes off bad. You are often seen as a self-conceited, careless, rude person whom people would like to sling names at.

Point Two. This is an art best used for finding out information you are afraid to ask. Essentially, if you like someone and want to find out if they like you too, ask them. Yes, it does seem rudimentary and practical, but few have the guts to do it. Additionally, if someone is clearly crushing on you, do not leave them guessing, do the right thing, just tell them no.

Point Three. This is a good technique for getting out things that just need to be said. I have saved my mother a few times from a terrible fashion mistake just by speaking the truth. You all know, you have wanted to tell that girl in the hallway to wear a whole shirt or offer to buy some guy a belt just for your own sanity. That is perfectly fine to do, when you say these things, though they may sound crude, they need to be said.

Point Four. This can be a complementary note. There is a way to just straight up tell someone. “Hey, you are extraordinarily good looking.” Or “Hey, if you would like to sit by me, I would be perfectly fine with it.” Without fear, it is called speaking brashly.

Speaking brashly is not hard to do, provided you are not obsessed with what others think of you. Be yourself, say what is appropriate and comes to your head. It works.

When you speak free of fear of what others might think about you, it is enjoyable. People think highly of those who speak without fear of repercussions. There is a time and a place, but it is admirable to be true to you.

Two of the most common deathbed regrets are not living a life you want, and not having the courage to express your feelings. Are you going to be one of those people?

The most courageous thing is speaking truth, aloud.

Columns, Danielle Rehor, Forum, Uncategorized

Personalities persuaded by peer pressure

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By Danielle Rehor
Acoustic Thoughts
I am sitting in class, surrounded by robots. Teens who look the same, act the same, talk the same, and treat others the same way. No, this is not the opening scene from the next science fiction movie. This, boys and girls, is real life.

When we are little, we are bombarded with ‘just be yourself’ and ‘I love you just the way you are.’ So we proudly march out to the bus on the first day of kindergarten with our Winnie the Pooh backpack and clothes that probably do not match. As we step into the elementary school, we see billions of kids milling around with their friends, and we think. ‘This is not what I signed up for. Where are my friends?’

Quickly, we learn to ‘adapt.’ We change to please people and make friends. I call this survival of the fittest. What our world categorizes as ‘succeeding’ is a multitude of ‘friends,’ a look similar to pop stars, and money. Maybe that is also what you categorize as success, but I believe there is more to it.

I have had many friends from middle and high school who have been taken and twisted by the grasps of society to become the ‘social norm.’ They believe they must conform to an idea of skin and bones, raccoon eyes, bleach-blond hair, and booty shorts to truly be ‘someone.’

But in reality, the someones are just that: someone. Not just anyone. People that I consider ‘not just anyone,’ or someones are those that go out and do something for themselves, be a first, do something different, and are not willing to conform to fit in. Those are the someones. They do not obsess over who is their friend and who is not. They do not concern themselves with seeming cool. They have the confidence to make their own decisions and be their own person.

My question to you is: how much of your personality is lost in trying to fit in?

We are born with certain quirks, some adorable, some not as much, but do we try to embrace these quirks or instead shrug them off? Personalities are to be embraced. They make us who we are. Our morals and personality are all we have of value. They are what we will be recognized and remembered for, not what brand of clothing we wore, or if we were up to date with trends. We have to remember what is going to stay with us for the rest of our days: what we do and what we say.

Someone who clearly has himself figured out is Apple figurehead Steve Jobs. This quote really embodies what we should strive to do. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

We are all different, but what we do with our peculiarities is up to each and every one of us. Are you going to stand out with courage or instead blend into the background, being just another ‘everyone else’? If you think rationally, we all fall short of being someone’s imitation.

We are best being ourselves. Not a carbon copy of anyone else.

Graphic By Summer Haynes