Be afraid. Be very afraid.
March 13, 2008
By: Jade Schwarting <jschwarting@hilite.org>
Higher speeds, longer drops, more bloodcurdling atmospheres. For some, fear is the only thing standing in their way of a great time. However, for others, this fear is the exact thing that attracts them to the most thrilling of activities.
Even with the fear of sickness, injury, or even death, people continue to seek out the events and rides that make their hearts race, lungs scream and bodies sweat, all for the joy of the thrill. “There’s a certain thrill on (a roller coaster) that you can’t get doing anything else,” freshman Payton Sanders said.
According to psychology teacher Robin Pletcher, people seek thrills for a variety of reasons. “Psychology would look at the different approaches or perspectives to explain this question. For example, the biological approach would say that a person has a genetic trait that causes him or her to seek thrills. The behavioral approach would say that the person received some kind of reward in the past for searching out thrills. The humanistic approach would say that the person is trying to reach some sort of goal by seeking the thrill,” Pletcher said.
Although some people develop their love for thrills, many were born ready. “The speed, adrenaline rush, and the fear that you get when you see the whole park from the top of the hill is the best,” sophomore Jamelynn Callahan said. Callahan, who attends a theme park every summer, says her favorite coaster is the Dragster at Cedar Point.
“I’m not afraid of any (roller coaster),” Callahan said. Although she is not afraid to take on the challenge of any coaster, Callahan does feel the effects after a ride. “After the adrenaline rush, you get shaky and then kind of calm,” Callahan said.
Increasingly, people of all ages search for the most terrifying of activities and look them straight in the eyes. The largest age group of thrill-seekers are teenagers to early thirties, according to Pletcher. “(Although) I have no factual information to base this answer on, (these ages) have that ‘I’m invincible’ mindset and don’t think they will get hurt since they are young,” Pletcher said.
Part of the excitement that the most daring of thrill-seekers search for is the fear that takes over their body during a frightening moment. “I like the false sense of danger of (the roller coasters). You’re not actually in danger but it feels like you are,” Sanders said. Sanders, who has ridden over 30 roller coasters, searches for those with the most speed he can find. “Different rides have different feels, which makes it a unique experience,” Sanders said.
According to Sanders, his top speedsters include the Beast at Kings Island, although a close second is the Wildfire at Silver Dollar Theme Park in Missouri. “If I’m looking for a good wooden coaster, then I go to Holiday World. If I want a sturdy, strong steel coaster, then I like Kings Island,” Sanders said.
Besides the physical sensations that noticeably occur after a thrill, many mental reactions take place as well.
During a frightening moment, “a physical reaction (takes place) in which hypothalamus gets activated and produces several different emotions. (In this case) it chooses fear and sends a signal to many different parts of the body. Some people sweat, some people shake, and others may even become aggressive,” psychology teacher Peter O’Hara said.
The excitement that some get from the most hair-raising of activities is directly related to the thrill of the ride. The fear that builds up and creates that adrenaline rush that fuels the dare devil in everyone is all part of the experience. Sanders said, “After the ride, I’m dizzy and my head starts to hurt a little bit, but it’s all worth it.”
Practical jokes not always funny
March 13, 2008
By: Erin Lowe <elowe@hilite.org>
Every year on the night before State, the men’s volleyball team follows its tradition of toilet papering the coach’s house. Even with John Harmon as its new coach, this will likely be the team’s fourth year in doing so. Stephen Van Hoorde, men’s volleyball player and senior, said he finds this tradition fun and everyone seems to enjoy it.
“(Toilet papering the coach’s house the night before State) is fun and it makes a mess,” Van Hoorde said. “It’s always just kind of funny and a comical way to end the season.”
But last year the team went too far. In the previous years, according to Van Hoorde, the men’s volleyball team never received complaints because it had never really vandalized anyone else’s house other than its former coach, Stacy Hicks, who now coaches for the Carmel Dad’s Club. But last year, the team used over 700 rolls of toilet paper, which spread out into Hicks’ swimming pool as well as other neighbors’ homes. Because of this, last year was also the team’s first year that it had to clean up after toilet papering the house. Hicks’ son, along with a friend who was sleeping over, shot paintballs at the team, making members throw toilet paper via drive-bys. Van Hoorde said that because of the extra mess they made, they received numerous complaints from neighbors as well as Hicks and her husband. Fortunately for the team, no police got involved.
So where is this fine line between pulling a prank that is funny and a prank that can be followed up with severe consequences? Assistant Principal John Abell said there are several factors to consider what kind of prank can be a funny joke and what can cause police or school administration involvement.
“It’s impossible to define (the fine line between when a prank’s funny and when it’s unacceptable),” Abell said. “Any kind of prank that has any form of vandalism or would hurt someone’s feelings (would be the limit). You can have fun without causing harm. I think students need to be careful with the pranks that they pull. You have to think before you act.”
Van Hoorde’s views are pretty much the same. He said, “As long as it doesn’t damage property or get into other people’s property (then it’s okay to pull off a prank).”
Abell said that students need to think wisely about the decisions they make so that they would not have to suffer consequences. Before a student decides that he or she wants to pull off a prank, they need to ask themselves three questions: Am I vandalizing? Am I hurting anybody? Am I embarrassing anyone?
About 20 years ago, students took gasoline and spilled it over the football field, spelling out “seniors.” Although this was to promote school spirit, Abell said, “what seemed as an honest prank turned out to be vandalism.”
As for toilet papering Harmon’s house this year, Van Hoorde said he is not sure whether or not the new coach knows about the men’s volleyball team tradition, but he thinks he will enjoy it. But any prank, depending on how the victim feels about the situation, could result in negative consequences.
“Either you get in trouble or you don’t,” Abell said. “You never know what the consequences are. Pranks are different from jokes.”
The cost of staying current
February 29, 2008
By: Erin Lowe <elowe@hilite.org>
Walking down the hallway, junior Alixandra “Ali” Decaudin notices two other girls wearing Ugg boots. She herself has a pair of brown Ugg boots, but Decaudin said she does not know what to think about all of these trends. “Some of these trends are new like Ugg boots,” she said. “However, there are also dated fashions like leggings and skinny jeans that have been brought back.”
Every era is characterized by certain trends going, back to the elaborate gowns of the Victorian age. The 1920s brought the flapper style while the 1960s brought the miniskirt. Every decade has added something new to the mix. In the 21st century, trends are not only growing but trying to keep up with them has become increasingly more expensive.
According to personal finance teacher, Irene Farrell, this has become a real problem for teenagers because companies market expensive products like iPods and Ugg boots to them more than any other age group.
“Teenagers are heavily marketed to,” Farrell said. “In 2006, teenagers alone spent $129 billion. As an age group, they are really being hit at a time when they are learning how to manage their money properly.”
Compounded with the ordeal of trying to learn how to manage money, adolescents are the group most susceptible to following trends. “I think everyone follows trends or at least they follow some part of the trends,” Decaudin said, “A lot of people right now are really into Uggs, leggings, skinny jeans, the iTouch, the iPhone and laptops. I really don’t care about keeping up with trends though.”
According to Farrell, teenagers need to decide for themselves whether the item that they are buying is really worth the money. “My advice would be if you really want the product, research it and wait to see if it is worth the price that you will spend on it,” Farrell said.
“I think keeping up with trends is worth it,” Decaudin said. “I mean Uggs are expensive but I buy them anyway. Some jeans can be expensive too. I just think it is expensive to keep up with trends in general.”
A pair of Ugg boots, which is extremely popular, can cost anywhere from $120 to $325. A pair of jeans can be anywhere from $25 to $90, yet teenagers still buy these products in mass.
Farrell said she recommends several ways to deal with overspending. “ I think each student needs to set a savings goal for themselves. If they have a job, they should take a certain percentage of each paycheck and commit to not spend it,” Farrell said. “ If you want to start slow, you can also start a budget and spending journal. However, those are kind of like diets. They work for a while but many times, people will forget to record in them. I think those usually work for people that do not give much thought to what they buy.”
However, Farrell said she understands that saving is hard. “It is difficult to save because we are such a consumption-oriented society,” she said. According to Farrell, it is all about moderation. “I think students should be able to treat themselves once in a while. But at the same time, they need to be aware of how much they are spending. When it comes to spending, everyone makes mistakes but if teenagers can learn from them, they (mistakes) are the biggest teachers.
The Internet, it’s all the rage
February 29, 2008
By: Lily Zhao <lzhao@hilite.org>
Junior Danshi Su’s weekdays pretty much run the same course; he gets home, finishes his homework and then sits down with his obsession: his computer, which contains all of his precious video games. Not only is his computer his main life source, but it is also a tool that he uses daily to probe the online world of fads and trends in the 21st century.
“(My computer and games) are more important than food,” Su said. “I need them in order to breathe.”
According to Bonnie Grimble, the media department chairperson, the Internet and other sources of technology like it are embedded in our everyday lives, so students use the Internet as a tool because in terms of connectivity, it’s faster, quicker and easier. Furthermore, because of the increased time that teenagers like Su spend on the computer, Grimble said that they are more likely to set their sights on trends or fads in clothing, technology, online sites or games.
Not only does technology help facilitate many changing trends and fads, but it can make many students dependent on the Internet, which can affect them academically or personally.
Su’s counselor Kristina Hartman said that because most students are on their computer for a good amount of time everyday—be it looking up fads or just surfing the web—some students can create a false sense of reality.
“Now with the invention of cyber world websites, some people are creating the largest components of their lives online, and I think this is a false type of socialization and it is not reality,” Hartman said.
For Su, he said that he is hooked to these online crazes, but stays grounded reality-wise. While Hamsterdance and JibJab were popular Internet fads back in the ’90s, new online fads have surfaced, such as YouTube, Facebook and MySpace.
Su said that he spends about three hours each weekday online but can spend up to 14 to 18 hours during holiday breaks or school vacations.
Not only do Internet fads help influence students’ decisions, but they also have an influence on what a student wears, buy or eat. “I tried black chocolate once because there was a Facebook group about how healthy it was,” Su said. “It’s actually pretty good.”
Furthermore, Su—who said he is obsessed with the “World of Warcraft” game online—said that once he started going online he could not stop. This presents another issue for students. Since many students cannot get off the computer, these online fads deter some students away from their homework and sometimes even, the social aspects in their lives.
In regards to helping students stop their addictions to trends and fads, Grimble said that it is a self-discipline problem that should be addressed at home with parents. Hartman said that she would advise students with addictions to just seek the help of an adult, parent or counselor as well.
Furthermore, because these online fads can be so addictive, many students miss out on some social aspects. Hartman said that some students cope with this by creating their own virtual world. However, while not every student does it, she said that many students just try to create a world that is not real with the online fads.
“To deal with this the most important thing a parent can do is be aware of what their children are doing on the computer. It is also important to do things together as a family that do not involve the computer,” Hartman said. “Get out and be active.”
Su said that getting over his addiction to the many Internet fads will take some time but does not guarantee anything yet. Su said, “I can’t think of a world without the Internet or “World of Warcraft”. I can not comprehend the magnitude of that happening.”
Losing one of our own
February 7, 2008
By: Rebecca Xu <rxu@hilite.org>
They sped down the road. Her mother instructed her to press a towel against the dog’s wounds to stop the bleeding and keep still. Gidget, a blonde, medium-sized, poodle and Pekingese mix, was still tilting her head and looking around with glassy eyes. Little did 4-year-old Bridgette Carter, now a junior, know it would be one of the last times she would see her pet alive.
Like the Carters, 60 percent of all American households have a pet, according to a survey done by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). And like many other owners, Gidget was considered a part of the Carter family, which is why the loss of a pet can be so difficult. Bridgette’s father, David Carter, is a veterinarian of 25 years, and he has witnessed a lot of cases.
Dr. Carter said people get pets depending on each individual’s specific needs. Humans domesticated dogs 15,000 years ago and cats 9,500 years ago so that they could help in hunting. Today, however, most people decide to adopt a pet simply for the love and companionship they provide.
He said people are willing to go to such extreme measures for their pets because they often provide the love and companionship that would otherwise be missing in an individual’s life. For this reason, Dr. Carter said that pet death often affects elderly people the most.
“(Elderly people) often live alone. Their pet is the only living body they share their lives with. Their pets often remind them of people and events in their lives. It frequently is a significant loss for them,” he said.
Bridgette said, “Animals are so important, because they provide a haven of unfaltering love and loyalty that is rarely seen in people.”
The day of Gidget’s attack was a sunny, breezy one. Dr. Carter was at work, and Bridgette’s two older brothers were at school. Bridgette, her sister and their mother decided to go to the supermarket to do some grocery shopping. The girls spent a happy couple of hours in the store, but they returned home to find one of their dogs missing.
“We had left Gidget in the backyard. When we got home, there was a hole in the fence and blood on the door,” Bridgette said. “We went into a total frenzy.”
Moments later, they found Gidget, covered with blood and animal bites, in the backyard neighbor’s yard. Bridgette’s mother wrapped Gidget’s body in a towel and carried her into the minivan and the girls got in. They laid the injured dog on her side.
“I felt extremely shocked and sad that this horrible thing was happening to my precious dog. I remember sobbing and wanting to hold her,” Bridgette said.
Bridgette’s mother drove to the veterinary clinic where Dr. Carter worked and he began to operate on Gidget as soon as possible. After about half an hour, he came out saying that he could do no more to help Gidget. She responded poorly to the surgery and struggled during the following days. Dr. Carter assumed that a coyote attacked the dog, knowing that the neighborhood had a recurring coyote problem. Gidget died two days after the surgery.
“I was sad. I was angry that another animal had jumped our fence and attacked our dog,” Dr. Carter said. “It was sad.”
Surgery for a pet was rare a hundred years ago, but today it’s a common practice. In fact, according to a 2003 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) survey, 73 percent of pet owners say they would go in debt to provide for their pets’ well-beings.
From medical concerns to luxuries like clothes and dog “spas,” pets’ statuses have risen dramatically, perhaps rivaling that of humans. In an extreme case, a real estate billiona=ire left her precious Maltese $12 million in her will and requested to be buried next to the dog, while two of the woman’s grandchildren received nothing.
The Carters didn’t spend millions of dollars, but Gidget was honored like a family member. On the day following the death, the entire family stood in the backyard and held a funeral service for the beloved pet. “I was really sad. I still remember standing underneath our trees, with wind blowing through the leaves. It was a summery day,” Bridgette said.
The family said prayers, talked about memories of Gidget, and everyone expressed feelings they had when she was alive.
The death affected young Bridgette perhaps more deeply than her other family members. She remembers sobbing. “I felt a really close connection with her, I was young, and it was ‘Gidget’ rhymes with ‘Bridgette,’ and we’re both blonde,” she said.
As a pet owner, Dr. Carter said he thinks of his pets as family. As a veterinarian, he said that no matter how the owners perceive their animals, he would still treat their pets the same. He said, “I would like everyone to treat pets as family members. But people have different beliefs. I have to respect that.”
No Horsing Around
February 7, 2008
By: Mallory St. Claire <mstclaire@hilite.org>
Most teenagers ask for cars for their 16th birthdays. Most teenagers do not get a magnificent black Friesian stallion instead; but such was the case for sophomores Alison and Kristina Mulry.
The twins, who have been participating in sports with animals for 10 years, have a horse named George, who was born in Norway and measures eight-and-a-half feet tall. George is shared between the twins.
According to the American Youth Horse Council, 15 million people over the age of 12 ride horses. Animal sports are different from regular sports because contact with another living organism forms a bond between them.
“It’s so different because you are doing something with a partner, except you don’t always know what that partner wants you to do,” senior Rachel Hill, who rode horses up until her freshman year, said.
“The horse, in essence, is just like another person, but they know what they’re doing so much better than you. It takes a certain kind of personality to be able to work with them well. You can’t force him to do anything; you’re only asking him nicely and trusting to accept what you ask him and do it,” Hill said.
For the Mulry sisters, they said working with George is an enjoyable part of their lives.The sisters have participated in competitions such as the All American Classic and the Heartland Classic – even in shows hosted in the Fieldhouse.
“Horseback riding teaches you responsibility,” Kristina said. “We have to clean and maintain George. In the summer, after training, it takes an hour and a half just to towel him off.”
Alison and Kristina attend practice just like any other sport. At Laurelwood Stables, where the twins board George, they have 30- minute lessons with their trainer, Kathy Conflenti. During their sessions, they learn how to control the horse, taking him through walk, trot and canter positions. The girls have to brush and pick George out after every training session.
“Horseback riding is a good activity and you have something else to interact with,” Alison said. “When you’re bored, you have somebody to talk to. Like a pet.”
According to Conflenti, horseback riding imparts the ideal of teamwork, only in a different way. “It’s a team of communication,” Conflenti said. “The rider’s got to be reading what the horse is saying, and the horse has to respond. It’s the ultimate communication.”
Conflenti works with teens from all walks of life and said it is a good sport for people who don’t do well in traditional team sports. Like other team sports, horseback riding imparts self confidence and athleticism along with the additional bond gained by working with an animal, she said. “Horseback riding is more aerobic than people give it credit for,” Conflenti said.
“It’s a good core workout: stomach, thighs, backside. I have adults who are very athletic and who come to me saying how much they ache after a session.” Hill said. “Lots of people don’t realize it because they think that the horse does all the work. But actually when a horse walks, your legs are actually moving like they would if you were the one that was actually walking. It’s an amazing thigh builder too.”
Furthermore, Hill said she recalls the connection she had with horses from when she used to ride. Hill competed on a horse named Bobby who would bite anyone in the barn except for her. Hill said the two looked good together and won more competitions than any other horse she rode.
“I think the bond does enhance the sport,” Hill said. “You have to know the animal you’re riding. Horses are very different when they compete, so you have to know both sides to them. They know when it’s show time and they definitely show it off. The bond between the two of you is what’s going to show to the judges and get you the blue,” she said. Downsides of sports with animals include expensive upkeep, dirty chores and potential injuries.
“Horses are expensive,” Kristina said. “Monthly fees for boarding and training run to $800 per month. Shows have costs – suit, tack, entry fees, traveling. There are unforeseen vet problems. His shoes are $100 every six weeks.” Furthermore, Alison said, “You have to deal with the gross aspects, like picking his feet out.”
However, both Conflenti and Hill agree that the character building and experience overshadow the monetary cost and chores it takes to participate in animal sports. “Everyone should experience it,” Hill said. “The bond that it takes to do it, the lesson of hard work that it takes to practice and take care of your animal. It’s a huge life- changing experience and I think that it definitely teaches life lessons that you can’t learn anywhere else.”
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