What is your fantasy?

I confess I do not understand Fantasy Football. Yes, I said it. Admittedly, anything beyond the basics of real football escapes me as well. I have never spent an entire Sunday afternoon parked in front of the T.V. cheering wildly for my favorite teams, and until a year ago I took my Super Bowl bathroom breaks during the game so as not to miss the commercials. So while I had heard talk of this new and growing phenomenon – this “fantasy football” – which less than a year ago had hardly been a blip on my radar, I shrugged it off as merely a passing fad.

Then, walking through Publix late one evening, I stumble down that misplaced aisle of books and magazines which miraculously always seems to find itself tucked between aisles of dog food and canned soup. At quarter to ten, the lone check-out worker eyes me suspiciously, as if to say “Get on with it.” But even under his accusing glare, I have to pause a moment in front of those gleaming covers. Between headlines shouting about the latest celebrity couplings and the “10 Best Tips for Getting in Shape FAST!” sits an entire row devoted to fantasy football. I am shocked. I cannot imagine how you would fill one magazine devoted entirely to fantasy football, let alone the row of ten different covers which suddenly face me.

And before I know it, it is all around me. The two boys behind me in math talk about points and drafts, things much farther beyond my understanding than a little calculus. In literature, the kid in front of me sneakily checks stats on his iPhone. Suddenly we are so wrapped up in our fantasy worlds we would not know reality if it tackled us like a 300 pound linebacker. When did the hours spent just watching the games become not enough? I am tempted to join in for fear of missing out like I did with Livestrong bracelets and Crocs – though the latter I cannot say I really regret. Maybe I could pick a team based on which names sound the best, and I would lose every game – but that is not really the point is it?

No – I am determined to break the mold. I will not conform to this obsession I do not understand. I will wait for it to fade out like every other passing fad. In the mean time, I think I will pick up fantasy waterskiing. It is sure to be a hit given enough time, and then, for once, maybe I will be ahead of the curve.
Written by: Emily Smoke

The way things should be (In my opinion anyway)

On Tuesday, November 2nd we all had a day off from school. This welcomed break was due to the Midterm Elections, marking two years since Obama came into office. Millions of American people flocked to churches, malls, and other buildings where they filled out the ballot and had their say in government affairs. Unfortunately, many people who vote can be biased or uneducated about what exactly they are voting for. A great number of people vote based on what their family and friends tell them, or who the popular or most attractive candidate is. I believe that in order to vote you need to have a well­-educated opinion. Many people blindly vote for someone without actually knowing their principles or values. Even worse, it has been reported that some people are so confused that they simply put down whoever’s name looks the most familiar on the ballot. In an article from New York Times, it was stated that candidates whose names were placed at the top had on average 2% more votes than they had in previous elections. This study showed that people sometimes vote just for the first name they see. The misrepresented way that America votes needs to stop, and like Obama famously says, “It’s time for change.”

An idea that has been in my head lately is the notion of a blind election. There should be a website where you can have a practice vote before the real thing. The candidates’ names and political parties would not be stated on the website and therefore would allow people to vote without any form of bias and prejudice. Instead, voters would read the principles, values, and the aspirations of the candidates and then vote based on which one they preferred. After voting the site would tell who they had voted for and the political party of that person. Many would be surprised by their results.

America boasts that anyone can vote as long as they have proof of citizenship and are at least 18 years of age. In my opinion, there should be more regulations. Voting is a privilege, and it should not be given to just anyone. People who have numerous criminal records should not be given the right to vote; they have proven that they cannot even be responsible for themselves and they should not be allowed the responsibility of the fate of the country. Many people who vote are not even educated about politics or the candidates running. That is why I think it would be a good idea to offer a crash course on government and politics for those who were not able to attend a high school or just want to educate themselves further. Citizens need to take the responsibility for educating themselves on political matters. They need to form a knowledgeable opinion, or not express it all.
Written by: Jordan Gates

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I

On November 19th everybody grabbed their wands and their cloaks as the most awaited movie hit theaters: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I. At midnight, fans lined theater halls filled with anticipation and excitement for the debut of this wizarding movie. When everybody took their seats, and the lights dimmed, a silence fell upon the crowd as the movie untwined.

To the book lovers out there, this movie stayed true to the novel. The characters, plot line, and dialogue almost always lined up, unlike many of the other Harry Potter movies from the past. Little parts were added along, but the main basis of the book was always there, and the small parts that were changed were not disappointing, or even apparent except for the die-hard fans out there.

Sarah L., who attended the midnight premier of the movie, said, “It was really exciting to see the movie. It was so similar to the books and was definitely the best Harry Potter movie made so far.”

In addition, the comedy throughout the movie had many people laughing out loud. The jokes added by the comedic characters Fred and George added a lightheartedness to the otherwise darker movie. There was a great mix of happy and dark stages, making the movie an all-around experience, by not letting you know what was going to happen next. The emotion that all of the actors showed not only helped the movie, but made it as good as it was.

However, at times the plot line did move a little slow. There was never a part where the movie was truly boring, but sometimes it just needed to quicken the pace. This was to be expected though, considering how long the books are, and the producer’s need to stay as accurate to the book as possible.

As the movie ended on a cliff-hanger, and everybody stood up, leftover popcorn and candy littering the floor, a sense of questioning filled the crowd. What was going to happen next? How was it going to end? When does the next movie come out?

All in all, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I was a success, and the excitement for Part II, debuting on July 15th, not to mention the ending of the series, is escalating every day.
Written by: Morgan Hughley

Road to Success

There are approximately 1,700 students attending Creekview High School and out of all of those students, 100% of them have entered the black hole of what I like to call “college exploration.” It started in 7th grade and the day it started was probably the first time someone talked to me about my future, my career, and my high school experience that seemed so far away.

It is funny I still remember that day four years later as a senior, now suddenly lost in college applications, school work, the senior project, and most importantly, college scholarships. The world is spinning out of control and slipping away so fast that half of the school year is over and I feel like I only blinked. It is a scary experience, and I am here to enlighten and share a little knowledge I learned along the way about college scholarships.

There are several key questions that accompany college scholarships: “Where can I find information about scholarships?” or “Who offers college scholarships, and what do I have to do to get a scholarship?” and finally, “Are scholarships really worth my time?” There are all really great questions, and there are great answers to all of them.

For an example, information on about scholarships is seemingly endless. If you have not already visited or signed up for fastweb.com or fafsa.ed.gov, you need to do so. Fastweb asks you some questions, gathers your information, and personally matches national scholarships to you. Sounds easy, right? It really is and if your family is anything like mine, then they want to get involved in the college process in some sort of way. Helping you look for scholarships is a great way to get your parents involved and takes stress off your shoulders. Fafsa qualifies you for grants, student loans, parent loans at low interest, and work study making it crucial to your success in college.

Remember, a lot of scholarships have requirements. Expected requirements like a copy of your transcripts, your SAT scores, and writing an essay are common. These aspects change and are unique to each scholarship, so just make sure you read everything you can about the scholarship you are applying for. If fastweb.com does not really work out for you then you have other options. That does not mean a Google search, so, look local. The Student Services website takes time to post local scholarships. Also, listen for the morning announcements for information about scholarships and go see your counselor for more information.

And, there is more! Be careful about what scholarships you apply for, and be aware that most scholarships come from colleges. Private schools tend to have more money to distribute to its students in the form of scholarships and grants, but if you receive a scholarship from this type of school, it can only be used there. On the other hand, almost every other scholarship you are awarded can be used at any school. Other scholarships come from private companies like Wells Fargo who promote themselves through supporting college students, but those are often national scholarships. Private company scholarships never hurt to apply for, but most of the time the money is the hardest to obtain.

When you do apply, make sure everything is perfected when you hit submit, and make sure your scholarship is tailored to you. Meaning, make sure you have read enough about the scholarship to know that you fully qualify and it fits your personal needs. Do not apply for a business scholarship if you want to major in fashion. Remember, there are hundreds of other students just like you trying to get the same money, so make sure you stand out. Unsure about your essay? Take it to your literature teacher; they do sympathize with most of us students and are usually more than willing to help.

Finally, “Are scholarships really worth the time?” The answer, “Yes!” College scholarships take a lot of work and you have to find some sort of motivation to keep looking and keep applying but the good news? There are a lot of places that want to help students get a good education, which means there is a ton of money floating around for grabs. Your job is to make sure you find that money and take full advantage of it. Do not be lazy. Your career and your parent’s finances depend on what you do now.

There are also a few things you definitely need to know as you approach the end of your high school career. Like when you go to visit a college, what are the two places you have to visit? The Admissions office and then Financial Aid. Show your face and make yourself known. When you do receive a scholarship, make sure that you ask your college if they will match the money you receive. If you are attending a private college, chances are you will get a yes but for public school kids, chances are your answer will be no. You do not lose anything by asking, and you might be surprised at the answer you receive.

Once you have received a scholarship, remember it is only good for one year. A lot of the time students and parents forget you are going to be in school for four years, not just one. So you might have your freshmen year covered, but the cost will seemingly increase without all of your financial aid so ask your school if they will continually give you the money you received from scholarships. A lot of schools will say yes. Bottom line, you cannot lose anything just by asking a question.

If you have any questions on college scholarships and grants, do not hesitate to visit your counselor. Keep applying; there is a lot of money out there up for grabs.

Written by: Brooke Gunsauley

Stereotypes

High School is one of the many places in society where a range of different people can be found. Everyone should be treated equally with the up-most respect , so why do we discriminate? In high school, everyone is looking for you to be and act a certain way, and being put in a specific category for something or someone that you are, is judgmental.

“Stereotypes cause preconceived notions and opinions about people. They are based solely on the outward and never on the inner. Stereotypes range from petty things to controversial issues but they are all degrading and hurtful," said Haley H.

“They cause problems because everyone is unique and even though you can tell a little about someone by looking at them you don’t know everything without talking to that specific person," agreed Savannah S.

So, one of the downfalls that high school students have today, is that they are very quick to put a certain person in a particular category without taking the chance to get to know that person. In life, you have certain ways that you can handle and approach things. When it comes down to being judgmental, it’s not necessary. Take a few minutes to see what that person is about, instead of just going off of what you hear, or what you think.

By: Nick Charles

Dress Code: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Everyday at Creekview High School, someone gets in trouble for wearing some sort of dress code violation. The dress code at our school is taking away our creative style and molding it to fit what others think is a more appropriate way to dress, but is this wrong? I believe so.

Jeans with holes. Pajama bottoms. Tank tops. These are all clothing items I see no problem in. It makes no sense to me that students can wear shorts and skirts that come above the knee, but if a hole in their jeans is in the same area, they are automatically in trouble, even if it is showing less skin. Pajama bottoms, what is wrong with being comfortable? We sit for seven hours in school being dealt out homework and tests on a daily basis, and we are not even allowed to wear that comfortable flannel we know we all love. There is also the fact we are not allowed to wear tank tops without getting stopped by teachers in the hallway. This does not seem logical because there is nothing wrong with other people seeing our shoulders, and it seems most people do not find shoulders a big attraction. So, why can we not wear dresses or other outfits with straps that keep us cool during the hot weather?

Paige F.R. commented, “I don’t think that the dress code is applicable for everyone because everybody looks different in the same types of clothes.”

Hayden H. added on by saying, “When it comes to dress code, just use common sense.”

Piercings are another subject that just does not seem sensible. If large hoop earrings, which are seen daily on my girls’ ears, are not a distraction, a small stud nose ring should not suddenly be the cause of drama. Most of the time, if a nose ring is taken out, it does not take very long for the hole to close up. There is no reason that people should pay money for a nose piercing, if when they get to school they are made to take it out, and risk the hole closing back up again. There are no solid arguments showing that wearing a nose ring could cause harm to other students at the school, or even an excessive amount of distractions.

Kaitlyn M. said, “I think it’s wrong when somebody tells me to take out my nose ring. It looks good, and it’s not a distraction, so I don’t see a problem in it.”

There are definitely understandable limits. Nobody wants to see someone show up to school in their underwear. We have to be tasteful and know our limits, but we should also be able to express ourselves and take a wider approach on what we want to wear.

By: Morgan Hughley