Hard work in the real world
May 1, 2008
By: Jaclyn Chen <jchen@hilite.org>
The aroma of Romano cheese emanating from the brick oven and the texture of spices and tomatoes from the stovetop normally stirs a fiery appetite, but tonight Trey Colangelo cannot think of anything but escaping this Italian food hell.
After leaving Carrabba’s, Trey will sink into bed after 12 to 13 hours of menial work only to start it yet again tomorrow. This lifestyle is not one many teens, especially in Carmel, are privy to, but it is one that is the unfortunate reality for Trey.
Trey, 18 years old, is part of the, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40 percent of the teenage population aged 16 to 19 that is currently employed. However, his employment means something completely different all together than that of most teens.
“I wish I had a family who’d pay for my college (tuition) next year,” he says. “But I’m living basically on my own, and I have to pay for everything right now: car payments, car insurance, gas, doctor’s visits, everything.”
Trey would have been a senior here at Carmel had life panned out the way he expected, but nothing, he says, has ever worked out quite so easily. He says he manages eight to nine hours at McDonalds and then hosts another four to five hours at Carrabba’s. And since his dad asked him to move out a few months ago, he is currently living with a friend’s family and trying to scrounge up enough money between now and September so that he can afford to go to community college, where he plans to spend two years before transferring to another university.
“I used to not care about doing well in school. I would skip and think that it was no big deal,” Trey says. “But that changed when I moved and figured out I couldn’t keep doing that.”
Even though the family he stays with charges a generously small sum for rent, Trey still has trouble keeping up financially.
“I don’t understand how some adults go through it all,” he says. “I have minimum expenses, and I’m barely making it paycheck to paycheck.”
As his story unravels, his worries become apparent. Other than which semblance of a major he plans to pursue in college, he, as an 18-year-old, should ideally have little to stress over. But his situation hardly yields that luxury, so instead he has on his shoulders an immeasurable burden.
Trey moved from Carmel to Salt Spring, FL two years ago with his mother. He transferred to the local high school—commuting 50 miles round-trip each day—and enrolled in day and night school in order to graduate a semester early.
“Carmel is a big city compared to Salt Spring. There was a grocery store, the campgrounds where my mom worked, a post office and that was basically it,” Trey recalls. And because he lived so far from school, making friends was difficult, so he chose to take computer classes at night to expedite his graduation.
A variety of circumstances moved him from Florida to Georgia to Indiana, from his mom’s full employment to Medicaid and food stamps, and in the midst of all these changes, working was always a constant.
“I guess I had to grow up a lot faster than most people,” Trey says, as he proceeds to list all the different states he’s lived in. “Working so much has really opened my eyes to how some of America lives.
“And I’m not bashing anyone who’s been there, but I don’t want to be a manager at McDonalds for the rest of my life. That’s just not how I see myself.”
Most teens in Carmel should be grateful to go to college at all, let alone some of the outstanding institutions that students matriculate to. Many put in hours at a minimum wage job, but few depend on work shifts for survival. And most of all, most are blessed with parents who have instilled in them the importance of education.
Trey says he’s learned the value of an education the hard way. “It’s definitely worth it to get a degree. I want a decent job, so I don’t have to work 12 to 13 hours a day, so I don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck,” Trey says. “It’s definitely opened my eyes to how some of America lives.”
Despite his realization of the importance of a college degree, Trey says he still needs to face the reality of his situation. He says he’s always wanted to be a veterinarian, but since getting admitted to vet school can be challenging, he can’t take the chance due to the financial risk.
He says, “I’m still so confused about where I’m headed. I’ve tried to plan for the future before, but it’s never worked out for me. What is clear though is that I’m for sure going to school and graduating with a college degree.”
Trey is looking into business majors and hopefully something in restaurant or hotel management.
And when Trey graduates college in four years like most seniors here, his will perhaps be the greater accomplishment. Everyone else will have worked hard in school, yes, but it would have been a true waste not to tap into the luxury and support most parents had afforded them. What students at Carmel have achieved seems easy considering the resources granted them, by both their families and this school.
And as Trey says, despite the uncertainty about the future, one thing is clear: a degree is the most important thing. Everything else is a blessing. Jaclyn is editor in chief of the HiLite. Contact her at jchen@hilite.org
A review of reviews
May 1, 2008
By: Stephanie Walstrom <swalstrom@hilite.org>
For a movie that received a meager one star from The Chicago Tribune, the newly released film “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” has made quite the stir. Not only did the film rake in enough to boast the third-best opening ever for a documentary, the movie has generated conversation across all fronts.
“Expelled” takes a look into the persecution faced by scientists who are from the school of thought that there may be evidence of intelligent design. The movie interviews scientists who, upon expressing support for the intelligent design theory, claim they were ridiculed, blacklisted, denied tenure or even outright fired.
And the film reaches beyond just the scientific community. Pamela Winnick, one of the movie’s interviewees and a former reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, claims that an article she wrote on the merits of intelligent design ended her career. “If you give any credence to (the intelligent design theory) whatsoever… you’re just finished as a journalist,” Winnick said.
The movie also argues that intelligent design deserves a place in academia. It asserts that the intelligent design theory is not one propped up by religion, but that it has scientific merit.
But if you leave the film asking, “So which origin-of-life theory is correct?” then you’re asking the wrong question.
What struck me as interesting about many of the reviews I read that totally trashed the movie was that the reviewers seemed to completely miss the movie’s point. A review of the movie by the New York Times offered the following comments: “Positing the theory of intelligent design as a valid scientific hypothesis, the film frames the refusal of ‘big science’ to agree as nothing less than an assault on free speech.” Roger Moore of the Orlando Sentinel claimed that the goal of the film was to create a sliver of doubt about evolution.
I was also struck by the Evangelical Christian communities that are championing “Expelled” as some sort of breakthrough for the Creationist theory.
Both of these conclusions fall hopelessly short of the film’s intended message. “Expelled” seeks only to show that the scientific community is no longer allowing peers to test theories about how the earth came into existence. The movie’s point is not to cast doubt on evolution or sway people to creationism; it merely raises issue with the fact that many scientific communities have closed the door on a question that is far from answered.
How well the movie fared with critics or viewers should not have had anything to do with intelligent design or evolution, because the reality is, the movie isn’t trying to make a case for either. It is trying to make a case for freedom of speech. In a country that protects a person’s right to burn flags or participate in a Nazi parade if they so wish, the freedom to openly discuss scientific theories must certainly be a protected one.
I skimmed through dozens of reviews, and came across few that I thought accurately portrayed the movie’s message. One, The Florida Baptist Witness, contained a review by William A. Dembski that insightfully commented that “Expelled” documented the “institutionalized intolerance” of anyone critical of Darwin’s theory. Dembski said that the film “unmasks the hypocrisy of an intellectual class that pretends to value freedom of thought and expression, but undercuts it whenever it conflicts with their deeply held secular ideas.”
Regardless of how anyone feels about Dembski’s opinions about “Expelled”, or about origin-of-life theories in general, you have got to hand it to the guy for at least correctly interpreting the movie.
Though several reviewers labeled “Expelled” a weak attempt at taking down evolution, I see only weakness in the reviewers themselves. Simply put, go see the film yourself. Because with a movie like “Expelled”, it is impossible to gain much from simply scanning reviews that may or may not have grasped the intended message of the film. Stephanie is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact her at swalstrom@hilite.org.
Election hype extends
May 1, 2008
By: HiLite Staff
As the competition heats up with this year’s presidential elections, citizens across the country are getting more involved than ever in the election process especially the first-time voters. This Tuesday, Hoosiers will get their say in the May 6th elections, and for the first time in many years—with former President Bill Clinton’s visit on Monday as testament to this—Indiana has prominence in the primary elections. As such, students here should take advantage of the political opportunities available to them this year with the hope that that involvement will begin a lifetime of political awareness and participation. Read more
Why we should attend teacher barbecues
May 1, 2008
By: Shireen Korkzan <skorkzan@hilite.org>
About a month ago, my U.S. History teacher, Peter O’Hara, told the class that he owns a Dance Dance Revolution set, a Playstation 3 and an Xbox gaming system. The whole class called him a “cool guy” since most teachers – let alone older teachers – probably don’t even know what Facebook is, let alone “Halo.” Since I really like Mr. O’Hara, I decided to try and further his “coolness” by asking him how big his barbecue grill is, barbecue grills being, in my opinion, the epitome of cool. Let’s just say it’s big enough that he only uses half of what it’s capable of. Since I confirmed how cool Mr. O’Hara really is, I jokingly suggested that he should host a barbecue for the class. I’ve had teachers in the past who have hosted barbecues for their students; even my middle school bus driver hosted a cookout at one point. My mother used to be a Spanish teacher at Park Tudor School and she’d have a Nicaraguan (her native country) fiesta at our house every year, despite complaints from my father who always ended up having to clean up afterwards. Obviously I expected my fellow peers to agree with me and try to convince our teacher to host said barbecue.
But the answer I got was less than I expected.
Across my desk, a girl kept blurting out, “That’s creepy!” I started explaining my views on why it’s not creepy for teachers to host such fun events until Mr. O’Hara interrupted, and then the class was back to learning U.S. history. But since I am stubborn and always have to have the last word, I am going to use to power of the press to explain exactly why it is not creepy for students to enjoy a barbecue at their teachers’ houses:
It’s great for socializing. I would have agreed with my classmate that having a barbecue at a teacher’s house is creepy but only if it were just one or two students. But if an entire class were to go then it would not only be fun but it would be a great way for students to get to know their fellow peers, which can lead to study groups and possibly even long lasting friendships.
But another positive of said social event is you’ll get to know your teacher. Teachers are people, too; they have a home and they have a family just like everyone else. They don’t just sit at their desk all hours of the day. Teachers have interests and emotions, things they love and hate. They have stories to tell and qualities about them that make them unique. John Love, speech and group discussion teacher, was in the movie “Hoosiers,” for example. Choir teacher Diana Gillespie sat right in the area where former IU basketball coach Bob Knight lost his temper and threw a chair. Did these events affect the way Love became a fan of basketball or why Gillespie detests it? How else would you know but by spending a little bit of time with them?
It’s a lot easier to approach a teacher than it seems (unless he or she is undoubtedly evil). My first impression of Mr. O’Hara was when I interviewed him for HiLite last year. He never smiled and seemed like he would grunt at me if he could. When we were finished he left for lunch and I followed behind since the communications area is on the way to the main cafeteria. At one point he turned around and asked, “Are you following me?” Obviously I had some nice things to say about him once I went back to the HiLite room to type up my story. And of course I was irked when I got my schedule and found out that he was going to be my U.S. history teacher. I kept thinking, “This is going to be hell;” and it was for the first month. We had nothing in common politically and we kept debating our sides after class. It wasn’t until I insulted IU’s football team during class that we started bonding as teacher and student (Mr. O’Hara is a huge Ohio State fan). By now I’m comfortable enough to ask Mr. O’Hara to host a barbecue for his classes, even if he politely declines. I would not have been able to do this if I knew nothing about him.
It’s too bad that Mr. O’Hara rejected my idea. His barbecues are for football coaches only, he said. But, the barbecue notwithstanding, I’m glad I had a chance to meet Mr. O’Hara, not only as a teacher but also as a person. Chances are, if you were to ask most teachers why they do what they do for a living, they’d mention some influential teacher – like a Mr. O’Hara – that they had.
It’s having these kinds of connections that make school worthwhile. And even without the barbecue, I’m glad I’ve made those connections. Shireen Korkzan is a reporter for the HiLite. Contact her at skorkzan@hilite.org.
One wins out, right?
May 1, 2008
By: Grace Baranowski <gbaranowski@hilite.org>
They tell me that it’s not a big deal.
That no matter what I choose, I’ll be fine wherever I go. But I can’t help but be slightly apprehensive about signing my name to a document that will determine the course of the next four years and possibly the trajectory of my career and adult life.
Today is that day, my most crucial deadline yet—May 1. Today is the deadline for the deposit binding me to my final choice of the universities. After so many years of waiting, wondering and wishing, it’s hard to believe that I’ve reached the end of the college application process.
As a naïve freshman and sophomore, I spent hours clicking first on Harvard and then Yale and then random Google searches with “best American colleges” and Campus Dirt reports. My future had become a common topic of conversation among friendly adults I met, and it worried me that I didn’t know the answer. Somehow, I thought that looking at so many college Web sites would provide the answers I needed. I eventually specified a few, and the ensuing college trips narrowed the list down to a more realistic number of six.
Then, it seemed to me that college admissions officers had engaged me in an addictively toxic relationship, perfected after years of ambitious parents and equally eager students. The tour guides enamored us with stories of collegiate bonding and engaging classroom discussions. They led us down a euphoric path of daydreams at each school. After all, the months of receiving friendly letters, combined with the promises of the tour guides and the appeal of brick-walled quads put each family in a dreamy glow. A dad might proudly prod his daughter in the back, asking jokingly (yet hopefully, somehow) if she liked the university’s campus. The daughter might shyly hope too.
But the romance hit a major roadblock when lists of academic requirements, average test scores and ridiculously selective admissions statistics greeted prospective students on PowerPoint presentations at every school. It was roses crushed under rocket fire; it was a thousand expectations ignited by the marginal possibility of acceptance. I fell just as hard as the others. My love, though, wasn’t meant for just one school. Several had charmed me into seeing myself there. In hindsight, it would have been easier in the long run if I had just mentally committed to one, or at least made a clearly prioritized list. But I didn’t. I applied to the set of six, waited and hoped.
Oddly enough, I wasn’t that nervous about applying to the schools, once I had specified my targets. I had done everything I could in the years prior. All I had to do was report it accurately and click “send.” Even the period of waiting didn’t seem stressful. I had already applied; any extra stress on my part was pointless.
But the earliest stab of palpable anxiety struck as I logged onto my individual application page for the first university. As the page loaded, my breathing accelerated and then stopped for a split-second, to be replaced with yelps of joy. This situation repeated another time, and then another, and then another, and then another. Five of my six universities granted me admission. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. Thoughtless euphoria caught me in a wave of emotion as I imagined myself attending each of the five simultaneously.
But pretty soon it became obvious that I couldn’t be in five places at once. I easily knocked out three, leaving me with two universities.
Now, I suppose it was a good problem to have—to have to decide between two universities, both tied as my first-choice. But on the other hand, I wished there was some sort of litmus test I could have given.
I compared each university’s programs side by side. The individual advantages added up in maddeningly miniscule piles. One grain of sand compared to another made two very similar dunes, leaving me grasping for a solid decision.
I floundered in mental anguish, going back and forth between the two in my mind, like a possessed seesaw bent on torturing its occupant. My frustration came to its climax during a Saturday night dinner.
I had been comparing details via the Internet all day because my parents had told me that I needed to decide by the end of that weekend. With Dad looking pensively out the window on my right, Mom looking concerned on my left, I poked angrily at my rice and peas in the center.
Dad brought it up first: “So… what are you thinking?” I let out an angsty sigh. Two or three rice grains stuck between the tines of my fork. I mashed them into a white pulp and wiped the utensil on a nearby napkin. “I… don’t… know!” Near tears, I rested my hands on my forehead and sighed again. The decision wasn’t getting any easier.
But I didn’t expect it to. For a decision that had required so much thought, it was inevitable that the resolution would be painfully drawn-out. It was, after all, the first big life decision I’d faced.
This deadline is probably the first big life decision for most of the seniors here, too. So many others are faced with choices equally as tough, or even more so. So I know that the frustration, uncertainty and angst I experienced isn’t unique to me.
And I know it isn’t uncalled for, either. Each college offers different opportunities that could affect our lives in so many ways. One class or one professor or one friend could set the course of life, like a rogue asteroid colliding with another and both following a forever-altered path. In college we define ourselves, and the school itself becomes a sort of self-definition too.
So the college I’ll attend next year is…Grace Baranowski is a managing editor for the HiLite. Contact her at gbaranowski@hilite.org.
Students start summer plans early
May 1, 2008
By: Lexi Muir <lmuir@hilite.org>
Senior Anna Wendt has searched throughout Carmel for a job at any location that might be hiring. Filling out a number of applications, Wendt said she hopes to beat the college students who will be coming home for summer and taking jobs.
“The college students will be coming home soon and applying for jobs, so I have to beat them to it,” Wendt said. “I want to get the best job for me. I’m looking for something that is flexible with hours and pays better than my last job.”
Wendt is not alone in her search for a summer job and her struggle to make a summer plan. Many students have found themselves planning for summer much earlier now than they have in the past. According to counselor Becky Stuelpe, summer seems to have “gone away” because people are just busier now. Students today are forced to plan their summer earlier because of their sports, jobs, summer school and everything else that happens throughout the summer.
“Students today don’t get summer like it used to be,” Stuelpe said. “They are just doing more. If (students) wait until summer (to plan), it will be over before they know it. If (they) want to take advantage of their summer break, they need to start planning early.”
Along with searching for a job, Wendt said that she also is planning for a vacation to North Carolina. She plans to go with friends some time in the summer, and she has been planning and saving money for her vacation since August when she found out that she could in fact go.
“(My friends and I) usually go for one week in the summer, depending on when we get the beach house,” Wendt said. “We will probably start to really plan after spring break, buying plane tickets and all that, but I have been saving money and planning for it all year.”
According to Cnn.com, airline tickets should be bought as early as possible because the cheapest fares are snatched up first. They say that most seats go on sale 11 months in advance, and getting a ticket last-minute will most likely be either impossible or extremely expensive.
When interviewing and applying for jobs, Wendt said that she will need to keep her vacation into consideration and make sure the job is flexible enough to allow her to leave for a week.
Some students, however, like junior Kayla Vaughn, have a different view of how to spend their summer. Vaughn said she has no time for a job, let alone a summer vacation. She has no need to plan for her summer because she already has a pretty good idea of what it will entail: softball, softball and more softball.
“I have tournaments every weekend and practice is usually once or twice a week,” Vaughn said. “I don’t really get to hang out with my friends that much because I am always at softball, especially on the weekends.”
When it comes to planning for summer, Vaughn said that the most important thing is that she pays attention to her softball schedule.
“I don’t ever go on vacations because there is no way I can miss a softball tournament,” Vaughn said. “When it comes to planning for stuff, it’s basically just hanging out with friends, going to lunch or hanging by the pool. I have to check my softball schedule every time I plan something to make sure it will not be getting in the way of practice or a tournament.”
According to Indy.org, the most popular activities to do in the summer in Indiana are Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball games, RibAmerica festival, the Indianapolis Air Show, Indiana Fever basketball games, Concerts on the Lawn (The Lawn at White River State Park), and Symphony on the Prairie. All of these events will need to be planned for, and many of them require purchasing tickets in advance. Indy.org advises those interested in attending any of the listed activities to begin looking into them now in order to beat the rush of people.
The most popular event, according to Indy.org, is the Indiana State Fair. This year it will include concerts from Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Sugarland. Students will not need to plan for the fair until the summer, closer to when it will actually be coming.
Although many students have begun looking at jobs for the summer, many of them are just waiting to see what the summer brings. For most, like Wendt, the summer means a break from school and a time to lay back, make some money and spend time with friends. For others like Vaughn, however, summer means a shift from a hectic school schedule to a hectic sports schedule.
“I would tell students to prioritize what they want to accomplish over the summer,” Stuelpe said. “Take things off the list that they don’t want to get done, and do only what they want to do.”
“This summer I plan to be working, hanging out with my friends, and maybe doing a little volunteer work but I don’t have anything really planned yet,” Wendt said. “I’m looking into a few concerts but I haven’t really started planning for that yet. I really just want to relax and enjoy my last summer here before I go off to college.”
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