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BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT MAY/JUNE 2010TMGo tell,RwandaLearning hard truthsfrom African genocideBy Roxanne Taylor // Senior Editor▲ AFH painting by Tabbytha Ferguson■ DARING TO DAGGER PAGE 5 ■ SCHOOL-BUS BLUES PAGE 11 ■ GIRLY GAMES PAGE 22In partnership with the

ContentsCover StoryFeatures4 A nuzzlingquestionFriendship or relationship?17 Songs in thekey of TSubway symphony:sounds fresh.Stories6 Comic relief7 No beefIn defense of themuch-maligned meat.10 Bad behavior16 Home sweet homeless18, 19Working on the train gang20 Catching the Buzz“Toy Story 3.”21 Anime Boston 2010Cartoon networking.724▲ AFH painting byHenry Demetrius20Say goodbye, seniors!417▲ Courtesy of Disney /Pixar( )SectionsRELATIONSHIPS............................4CULTURE........................................5VIEWS & ATTITUDES.....................6Take care of yourself...........7WASSUP AT SCHOOL..............8-11Meet the staff..................12, 13In honor of.......................14, 15T.I.P. MEETS.......................... 16-19ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...20, 21The sporting life.................. 22back at ya................................ 23▲ Photo courtesy of Beth Fridinger▲ AFH photo by Laurie Jean BaptisteVolume VII, No. 27Art/PhotographyArtists for HumanitySenior EditorsShanasia BennettLaDonya BuchananKatryna MahoneyRoxanne TaylorStaff WritersAshley BarkerXhersi LakaTom LeuCheila MartinezKameisha MobrayLaurie RaphaëlMelissa RodriguezDaja TaylorPatricia VanrielGabriel WardTrevor WardGena WhiteContributing WritersBashair AbdiLauren Artus-CooperYabratymika ElamSeantelle EppsKeishla FernandezMiguel FonsecaMusye GebrezgiyEneda GolemiKyndra JamesVastie JosephMichaiah LopezCindy MonestimeFabrice MontissolLuis MoraShannon NegronAnsel RiveraMarc-Alphonse SimonKhadija SmallsMarlene TejedaIanna ThornquistDavina TranHarold WilliamsRaychel WingertTHE BOSTON GLOBERobert Powers, VP Marketingand CommunicationsIrene Mauch, T.i.P. Production DirectorJulie Regan, T.i.P. Art DesignerWRITEBOSTONBetty Southwick, DirectorT.i.P. ManagerKelly Knopf-GoldnerT.i.P. CoordinatorRic KahnMass murder in Rwanda. The slaughterof 800,000 human beings as if theywere animals. The extermination of childrenat schools, and of other ordinaryRwandan Tutsi citizens. All this in just 100 horrific days duringthe year of 1994.Like the Holocaust, the wiping out of these groups ofpeople was carefully planned and supported by the rulinggovernment, in this case that of the Hutu.Last summer, students from TechBoston Academy inDorchester and suburban youth from Hudson traveled toRwanda to meet high school students from that Africannation.With teens getting to know about the massive graves andmemorial sites of where the disaster took place, they got afirsthand look at what can bring a community together andwhat can tear a community apart -- the theme of the wholeexperience emphasized by the Brookline-based group, FacingHistory and Ourselves, that sponsored the program.The cultural exchange continued in March, when thestudents from Rwanda came to cities in the US, includingBoston, and learned about the struggles Americans facedduring the civil rights movement.History has shown that the human race is a cruel one, attimes. We know of the wars, and of the mass killings. But,what if instead of letting history repeat itself, we took timeout to see what made people think the way they do?But that wasn’t all that the TechBoston Academy studentsascertained during their trip to Rwanda. Along with findingout about the gruesome history of the African country, theyalso found out things they never realized about themselves.“It showed me material things don’t matter, it is how youtake advantage of it and utilize it,” said Dominique Johnson,17, of TechBoston, during a March interview in Brookline.“It humbled me as a person and opened my eyes to newthings.”While in Rwanda, the Boston teens were able to visit theMurambi Genocide Memorial. Through this experience, theybecame aware of how hatred and misunderstanding of a differentethnic group can lead to the deaths of hundreds ofthousands of people.“It gives me a better understanding of diversity,” Johnsonsaid.Through meeting the American students, teen CharlesTuyiringire from the College Christ Roi school in Rwanda saidhe now knows what a more stable environment feels like.“Before,” he said, “I did not know which is a good community,and which is a bad community.”At the March get-together, teens talked about how it isimportant to become involved in the events around them.“Kids need to be more engaged in what’s going on in theworld and have a better understanding of their own history,”said Johnson.For 18-year-old Alex Cruz of TechBoston, the journey toAfrica put him in a whole new place.“It changed where I want to go and what I want to do,”he said, “which is help the world.” ■“Kids need to be more engagedin what’s going on in the worldand have a better understandingof their own history.”- Dominique Johnson, 17, of TechBoston Academy▲ AFH painting by Princess Morris2 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / www.bostontip.combostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 3

RELATIONSHIPSCULTUREBoo who?Can guys and girls be just friends?By Patricia Vanriel // Staff Writer= Friends?+A dagger through the heartIs this dirty dance craze demeaning to women?By Shanasia Bennett // Senior EditorRyan and Lisa sitting in the tree!Have you ever had a guy or girl youwere close with and everybody thoughtyou went out, even though you werejust friends? So the question is, can guys and girlsjust be friends? Boston Teens in Print surveyed someteens to get their opinions.Why do people find it impossible for a guy and a girlto hang out and just be friends? Nicole Blount, 18, fromthe Jeremiah E. Burke High School, wrote in response:"It’s because they themselves want to be in a relationshipand others don’t."This is true, according to Louis Elveus, 17, from theBurke."There is a stereotype that is placed on malessaying that they’re all dogs and only want one thing --which is false for most. That is the reason people thinkguys and girls can’t be friends."Still, is that enough to justify why guys and girls can’tsimply be friends? Does nature call for guys and girls toonly date, or can they form solid friendships?Some people say limiting your friends to one genderis not really beneficial. "Having friends of the oppositesex gives you a different perspective on life,” MeredithGoldstein, who pens the “Love Letters” column for TheBoston Globe and boston.com, said in an interview.“My male friends tell me things men care about andwhat they don’t care about."Dating a friend can be advantageous, but for many itnever worked out. Their closeness suffered because ofmixing friendship with pleasure.Adrienne Martin, 17, from the Burke, wrote: “Eventhough we went out for a week and I was in secondgrade, my relationship with my friend was awkward afterwe broke up.”Tayvonn Savage, 16, from the Burke, said that he’shad success dating a friend. “The relationship wasmuch deeper than a physical attraction,” he wrote. “Wegrew a lot closer because our relationship was built onmuch more.”Goldstein said things would get awfully complicated ifshe eyed every guy she was friends with as a love interest.“If I looked at everyone in life trying to figure outif I wanted to make out,” she said, “then life would beconfusing.” ■▲ Art by AFH▲ AFH photo by Laurie Jean BaptisteAtiera Horne, 17, from the Fenway, was ata Halloween party on a Saturday nightin the fall of 2009. Everybody was doingit, including her friend. A young manwalked up to her and asked her to dagger. She instantlydeclined. He kept it moving.Daggering is a newly popular dance which is ahighly sexualized grinding often done front (female) toback (male). It is associated with the musical genredancehall. Supporters of the dance say daggering is anexpression of their Jamaican roots. Critics, however, sayit’s demeaning to women.The dance is so controversial that the BroadcastingCommission of Jamaica banned it from the airways dueto its raunchy lyrics and movements. Even in this countryit is a source of debate. Dr. Caren Walker Gregory,headmaster of the newly renamed Edward M. KennedyAcademy for Health Careers, says she will be approachingeveryone who tries to dagger at prom, and willhave a private meetingwith senior and junior girlsbeforehand.“Now that I’ve educatedyou on daggering, you cannow decide whether or notyou will perform this actof dancing at school functionsbut I will not sit thereand let it happen,” WalkerGregory told a school assemblyin April.She explained in an interview:“I want my students tohave fun at their prom, butthey do not have to dagger tohave fun. It’s too sexual andit’s inappropriate.”The dance has become sucha part of young peoples’ culturethat you can see many teensdaggering at house parties andother social celebrations. Thosewho dagger say it’s simply a partof life.“Daggering is not a classydance, but it’s still dancing,” saysCarolyn Jennings, a senior atKennedy Academy. “I don’t considerdaggering [simulated sex] becauseit’s to a beat.”Many teen boys feel daggering is a natural impulse.“Yes, I love daggering. It’s like sex to me, it’s my hobby,”says Kerry, 18.“I feel like a king when I’m daggering. I just pick upall these girls,” says Dayo, 16.“Girls who dagger -- they already know they’re objects,they know what it is,” says David, 17.While all three Boston teens were bold in theirdefense of daggering, none wanted to be identifiedby their last names for fear of being ridiculed by theirteachers at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math &Science.When the music stops, and the party’s over, andeveryone goes home, some adults fear that daggeringcan lead to other things, like injuries and full-on sex.“It is an arousing dance as well as an attractionbetween two people, whichSupporters of the dance say daggeringis an expression of their Jamaicanroots. Critics, however, say it’sdemeaning to women.causes the hormones to react,” says Brian Means, ajunior at Boston Arts Academy, who daggers.This is exactly what Walker Gregory has strong concernsabout. “Daggering demonstrates low self-esteemand can lead to sexual activity,” she says. “They…canthen end up pregnant.”Horne doesn’t just see daggering as a dance; shethinks it’s on a whole different level. “I think girls whodagger are having sex or have had sex, because they donot mind it,” she says.Teens are daggering everywhere, whether it is a culturalthing or not. Still, Walker Gregory has a surefiretest for whether teens should be doing it or not. “If youthink it’s inappropriate for your parents to see,” shesays, “then it’s inappropriate.”■4 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.combostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 5

VIEWS & ATTITUDESTAKE CARE OF YOURSELF’Tooning inAs part of her senior project at Boston Arts Academy, visual arts major IannaThornquist interviewed other teens from around the city to find out what was ontheir minds. “I found that we have similar concerns,” she wrote, “no matter whatneighborhoods or schools we come from.”Using the quick, colorful power of the political cartoon to convey those points, here’s oneexample of what Thornquist drew up. To view her other artistic messages, please visit herblog at http://ithornquistseniorvaportfolio.blogspot.comMeet PattyTeens remain attracted to bad-mouthed mealsBy Tom Leu // Staff Writer▲ By Ianna ThornquistOut of placeBy Michaiah Lopez // Contributing WriterI wish I could live in a place, a place brightened with sunshine and gardensfull of flowers.A place where everybody smiles, and frowns do not exist; where everyone'sdreams are reality and reality is only a dream.Where I can live freely and never be held back.A place where I can bug out and no one is afraid to join.I want to fly to a place, a place where there is neither sickness nor sadness.Instead, I live in a place of turmoil.A place where I have to hold my tongue, afraid of what others might say.I live in a place where "Yes we can" has become “No we cannot,” and babiesare lost because adults have turned into babies.I live in a place where education is no longer the key to success -- but it is theway you run, how ill your rhymes are, how good you look, or how goodyour jump shot is.I live in a place where you can't walk anywhere without somebody telling youthat you’re in a place where you should not be.A place where I'm afraid to look out of my window in fear of what I might see,and every single day a person dies and it seems that we’re killing each other.I live in a place where people believe, not in the word we, but only I.I live in a place where there is no hope for tomorrow, but only dreams ofwhat they wish could have happened today.I wish I could live in a place where everyone could become the nextAlbert Einstein, and not the product of society's downfalls. ■▲ AFH painting by Willie WigginsMeet Patty. Patty has been a hitsensation since the 1920s. Pattyoriginally grew up on a farm in Ohio,they say, and took the country bystorm. Patty enjoys being cooked on a hot grill andbeing the center of attention for teens.Along the way, Patty met other friends; there’s fries,soda, nuggets, and the rest of the gang.Together, the friends created a band knownas “Fast Food” -- recognized for its abilityto prepare for a performance in a matter ofminutes. Today, “Fast Food” battles its opponents-- “Fruits and Vegetables” -- to win thehearts, or rather stomachs, of teens everywhere.This opener may have been for jokes, butthe dangers of fast food are not to be takenlightly. Fast food has nasty effects on thehuman body: galloping weight gain, heartdisease, and other damaging consequences.Yet, nearly 10 years after the publication of“Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal,” many teens are still membersof that forsaken country.Kathy Cunningham is a registered dietitianin Boston who knows a thing or two aboutfast-food nutrition. She explained that fastfood is dangerous for two reasons – disease,of course, but also the ridiculous amount ofcalories taken in during an evening with it.“Probably 2,200 calories,” Cunningham said,are devoured in one sitting, which unfortunatelyis the recommended caloric intake for one fullday.Analyzing this equation -- one fast food lunch couldequal a day’s worth of calories, plus adding in the twoother meals of the day, means excess calories, which inturn could cause obesity. Cunningham also expressedconcern over fizzy, sugary, overpriced water -- or sodaOrganic optionsBy Fabrice Montissol // Contributing WriterDo you know what is in your food? If you can’tpronounce an ingredient on the label, you probablyshouldn’t be eating that particular item. Or at leastyou should go find out what it is. That is why everyone▲ AFH painting by Henry Demetriusfor short. With the super-sizes that restaurants offer inthese drinks, it is inevitable that many teens will succumbto diabetes.To understand what makes fast food desirable toteens, let’s meet some of its biggest fans.Livymer Caceres is a 17-year-old at the John D.O’Bryant School of Math & Science who is a selfdescribedfast-food junkie. “As long as it tastes good”is the motto she uses to defend the food she loves everso much. Eating healthy is not important to Caceres,nor to many other teens; taste is what they are mostconcerned with.Exposés on fast-food industries have little effect onCaceres. She explained recently that she has seenshould at least attempt to go organic. Your overallhealth would improve, you would help out local farmers,and the environment would get better.Before a mother first nurses her newborn, the infanthas already been exposed to hundreds of pesticidesand toxins. Organic fruits and vegetables are grownwithout pesticides or fertilizers, and all the nutrientsand vitamins are retained.Probably the biggest benefit in going organic is thatsome parts of the Oscar-nominated documentary,“Food, Inc,” which displays animal cruelty, yet she stillfeels no guilt.This lackadaisical trend is a common trait in themodern teen today, such as Linecker Dasilva, 17, fromthe O’Bryant. His stance on this controversial topicis that origins, nutrients, and type of animal are alldiminutive; “taste overpowers” any doubt hehas about biting into a greasy burger. Dasilvaremains immune to the messages projected bydocumentaries focusing on exposure to fastfoodatrocities. Not even the profound effectsdone to Morgan Spurlock in “Super Size Me”have an impact on his food selection. Dasilvafeels that he can make healthier food choices,but his feeble will-power intervenes with whathe decides to fill his plate with.You would imagine that the release of somany fast-food critiques like “Super Size Me,”“Fast Food Nation,” and “Food, Inc” wouldchange minds, but they have proven ineffectivein the face of American teen taste buds.Animal cruelty, unsanitary meat, and the dreadeddiarrhea-maker E Coli have all been putinto the mix, yet fast food remains a dominantindustry. Why? Critics say that it’s becauseof the flashy advertisements that are able tomanipulate teens. Ads convince the youth thatwhat they are buying is kid friendly -- just lookat McDonald’s spokesman, Ronald McDonald,a friendly clown encouraging kids to purchasejunk food.The commercials effectively sell the food products,the big business owners get fat in wealth, and the consumersget fat in… well fat. It appears as though teenswill never reject taste as a factor for foods or get awayfrom the mentality of what Caceres and Dasilva bothgenerally feel about the animal issue: “It’s not fair, butwe still have to eat.” ■it would improve our environment. Industrial agriculturedoesn’t only affect farmlands, but also neighboring citiesand towns because pesticides can drift into urbanareas.Buying healthier foods will also assist local farmerswho are producing organically grown crops.How to buy organic? If a food has a USDA organiclabel, it means that at least 95 percent of its ingredientsare organically produced. ■6 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.combostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 7

WASSUP AT SCHOOLWASSUP AT SCHOOLHigh school hoodie meets lab coatBy Melissa Rodriguez // Staff WriterMarie Jean Louis isa biotech whiz. Shewants to be a pharmacistand is takingan unusual route to dispensing pillsand potions. She is a student at CityLabAcademy. “It was a steppingstone forme,” she said.CityLab Academy is a competitiveprogram sponsored by Boston University,according to Sophan Sok, a recruiter atthe institution.The free, two-semester program is forhigh school graduates and GED recipientsinterested in the field of biotechnologywho cannot afford to pay tuition at aregular college. CityLab is a nine-monthcommitment which awards its students12 college credits towards their undergraduatedegrees.It was designed due to the growingpopularity in the field of biotechnologyand to meet the high demands of biotechemployers, said Sok.“[Students] don’t understand that scienceis so broad, you do not have to bescientists at all,” she said. “There are somany other options.”Louis, 22, will be graduating in 2012.After getting her high school diplomafrom Community Academy of Scienceand Health in Hyde Park, she enrolled atCityLab. “I was overwhelmed going fromhigh school to college, but I was able tomanage it,” she said.Louis said she feels only good thingscame out of this transition. “I think thatif you work hard, something good comesout of it,” she said. “If you’re able to dothe work, and pass it in, and know whatyou’re doing, it’s ok.”Latoya Boman, 25, a graduate fromCharlestown High who went to CityLab,has nothing but praise for it.“I wouldn’t change anything,” saidBoman. “It affected my life in a positiveway and it helped me establish relationships.”After graduating from the program,Boman was able to obtain a job withinfour months, and is currently working asa facility technician at Merck ResearchLaboratories in Boston. She is takingclasses at BU to finish her undergraduatedegree.Both Louis and Boman said theywere a little intimidated by the programat first, but once they got into it, eachsucceeded.“It was moderate, not too hard, itwasn’t too easy, as well,” said Boman.“It had a lot of challenges.”Sok believes that CityLab Academyhas benefits beyond its student body.“The more educated people you have,”she said, “the better your communitywill be.” ■Topic: West IndiesTeens flunk geographyBy Ashley Barker // Staff Writer“What island we comefrom? West Indies.Answer de call. WestIndies.”These lyrics are from the song “WestIndies Cricket” by Soca artist AlisonHinds and dancehall star Sean Paul, andit calls on all people from the West Indiesto identify themselves. Whether you’refrom the British West Indies, the formerDutch West Indies, or the French WestIndies, you’re all part of the Caribbean.The thing with many people thesedays is that when they think of the WestIndies, maybe only Jamaica, Barbados,The Bahamas, and Trinidad come to mind.But what about the places that are notso known, such as Grenada, St. Kitts andNevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,the Turks and Caicos Islands, and, eventhough it is not geographically part of theWest Indies, but culturally is -- Guyana.Native Jamaican islander YaniqueEdwards, 17, of Dorchester, says that themore familiar areas overshadow the moreobscure ones: “Because some are wellknown, and others are not.”One reason is the advertisementsthat the media send out through television.Jason Martinez, 18, from BostonCommunity Leadership Academy, a nativeof the Turks and Caicos Islands, thinksso: “Some are bigger, and have morethings for tourists to do.”Schteiner Alexis of Guyana, who currentlylives in Dorchester, says that bynow people should know more thanthe common spots. “They should doresearch,” says Alexis, 16. Some teenswonder: What are schools teaching ingeography? Aren’t teachers educatingtheir students about places other thanthe United States? Why do so many teensthink that the Caribbean only includes themost so-called “vacation spots”?The West Indies is different than theUnited States in many ways, and so areteens with West Indian roots who wereborn there vs. those who were born here.The culture of the West Indies involvesabout four main genres of music thatpeople from the states might not haveheard of. They are: Soca, Chutney,Calypso, and Reggae. But this is not whatmakes the teens vary. It’s the experiences.“You don’t know that much about yourculture, and kids in the Caribbean followup on their culture,” says Alexis. Edwardsagrees. “Kids that are born there havemore knowledge than kids who have parentsfrom there,” she says.Most people think of the West Indiesas an oasis. But like any other places inthe world, they have their struggles. Theygo through poverty, and discriminationamong different races. This is often coveredup by TV ads that only show beautifulbeaches and happy natives, but notthe poorer areas. “People should know,”says Edwards, “it’s not all resort andparadise.” ■▲ AFH painting by Nathan WaldronWhere in the world is the West Indies?Here’s a pop quiz to test your geographical know-how:To findthe answers,please turnto page 23.Want to be a student reporter?Join T.i.P. Please call us at617-541-2651▲ AFH photo by Zeng Ping1) Which one of these places does not belongto the West Indies?a) Palaub) St Kitts and Nevisc) St Luciad) Cayman Islands2) Even though it’s geographically not an island, which ofthese areas is considered culturally part of the West Indies?a) Dominicab) Antigua and Barbudac) British Guianad) Bahamas3) Which one of these countries brought aboutthe popularity of Soca?a) Trinidadb) United Statesc) Guyanad) Martinique8 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.combostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 9

WASSUP AT SCHOOLWASSUP AT SCHOOLDiscipline 101By Kameisha Mobray // Staff WriterOn March 24, 17-year-oldTyshawn Lewis-Smith,a student at OdysseyHigh School, in SouthBoston, was arrested after bringing aloaded gun there and pointing it at twopolice officers, according to publishedreports. Although no one was hurt, this isan example of the kind of non-academicproblems that Boston Public Schools hasto deal with every day.Every year, Boston records disciplinaryactions from schools around thedistrict. Based on a per student analysisof the city’s high schools done by theNew England Center for InvestigativeReporting at Boston University andobtained from the latest data, MonumentHigh School in 2008-2009 had the highestpercentage of major disciplinaryincidents besides the McKinley Schools– which specialize in at-risk students.The numbers show that, McKinley aside,Monument in South Boston has thedistinction of being the worst-behavedhigh school in the system. Boston LatinAcademy and Boston Latin School tiedfor best-behaved.Christopher Ramos, a 16-year-oldfreshman at Monument -- which drawsstudents interested in professional fieldsHave you ever workedextremely hard on a certainproject? The suspenseyou have whenyou get it back is even greater becauseyou want to know how other people feltabout it. Well, imagine working on fourpolicies and having to wait months tohear if they were passed or not. Theyare: student- to-teacher constructivefeedback; student involvement in teacherthat focus on public safety – said thathis school contains a lot of violent andnegative activity. Ramos rated Monumenta 5 out of 10 on the safety scale, sayingthat "security should be more onpoint.” The data show that Monumentdisciplined students for incidents rangingfrom drug possession to having a knifeto sexual assault.At Boston Latin School, meanwhile,students interviewed appeared to bepleased with the security conditionsthere. "The school is full of really nicepeople and tends to take in really niceworkers," said Hannah Sears, a sophomore.Boston Public Schools spokesmanMatthew Wilder said he is confident thatthe system’s schools are not in harm’sway. “Overall, we are trying to teach studentsto be respectful to one anotherin and out of school,” he said. “It is ourresponsibility to run these schools andmake sure students feel safe.”Mobray prepared this story as part ofher Teens in Print internship at The NewEngland Center for Investigative Reportingat Boston University. NECIR is the firstnon-profit, university-based investigativereporting center in the country dedicatedto local and regional issues. ■BUZZBy Raychel Wingert // Contributing Writerhiring; homework policy; and having aBSAC vote on the school committee.Well, we have some great news toreport: The Boston Student AdvisoryCouncil’s proposal outlining reactionsabout teachers from students waspassed by the Boston School Committeeearlier this month.Beginning in school year 2010-2011,high school students will be evaluatingtheir teachers anonymously about howSchool Number of Offenses 2008 PopulationMcKinley Prep &McKinley South End Academy 199 240Monument High School 129 363Noonan Business Academy 59 245Urban Science Academy 61 327Academy of Public Service 43 288Brighton High School 185 1251Madison Park High School 193 1356Odyssey High School 45 356Social Justice Academy 41 341Burke High School 76 791well youth are being taught. Thanks to allthe BPS students, teachers, administrators,school committee members, andthe superintendent for their support.As many of you have read in TheBoston Globe, there recently was an articleentitled, “Boston gets an F in teacherappraisals.” The article states: “Abouthalf the city’s approximately 5,000 teachershave not received an evaluation inthe past two years, and a quarter of theBad behaviorPercentageof offensesper studentSource: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educationcity’s 135 schools have not conductedevaluations during that period.”Now that this policy has passed,Boston Public Schools will hopefully get amore pleasing headline: “Boston gets anA in teacher appraisals.”If you are interested in joining BSAC orgetting more information about our work,please contact Maria I. Ortiz at mortiz@boston.k12.ma.us or at 617-635-8079ext 104. ■Is your school bus on the highway to hell?By Daja Taylor // Staff WriterSo you’re sitting in class andfinally the bell rings. Yourun from the room, throughthe halls, and out the frontdoor and there it is: the school bus. Theschool bus rescues you from school andbrings you to your designated stop. Thebus driver is like your savior, but what ifyour savior was putting you in danger?Unfortunately, that is the situation insome cases. Running red lights, talkingon cell phones, and arguing with students-- these are things that, teenssay, some school bus drivers are doingall the time.“Every morning my school bus is constantlydriving fast, to what I believe isover the speed limit. Along with that heran multiple red lights,” says MikhailaWatson, 17, from Media CommunicationsTechnology High School.Watson is one of many students tomake these kinds of complaints. “I hada very bad experience with a bus driveronce,” says Myles Pruitt, 17, from thesame school. “There was a fight on thebus and the bus driver did absolutelynothing to stop it.”Teens say these types of incidents arevery unsafe because they put the driver,the students, and everyone else on theroad in danger. According to First Student-- the company that provides transportationfor Boston Public Schools -- all busdrivers are given a two-way radio in casethey need to contact HQ, or in case of anemergency. The company says the useof cell phones while driving the schoolbus is strictly prohibited and punishableby termination.When asked about the disciplinaryaction taken against drivers for arguingwith students, reckless driving, andundesignated stops, a First Studentrepresentative says these situations aredealt with on a “case-by-case basis.”First Student says that to preventthese problems, it gives its busdrivers extensive training before employingthem, and afterward they are requiredto go to monthly safety meetings. Inaddition, the company says it also hassurveillance cameras in most of thebuses, and that by the end of 2011,Many students whoare preparing toenter their highschool years wonderif they should continue on with their publiceducation, or transfer to a Catholicschool. With the registration dates forboth public and some Catholic highschools upon us, many are forced todecide now. There is some sort oftransition involved in both; however,moving to a Catholic school takes someadjustment. From the uniforms to theacademics, the differences between apublic and Catholic school become clear.Laurin McGee is a 16-year-old sophomoreat Cathedral High School neardowntown Boston. When asked howstudents stand out when it comes toclothing because of their uniform dresscode, she replied, “The sneakers andbackpacks make people look differentfrom each other.”In terms of academics, McGee statedthat the homework load is usually“alright,” while Cassandra Dieudonne,a 15-year-old Cathedral sophomore, disagreed.Dieudonne said she gets homeworkin five of her classes. She said thatwhen grades are unsatisfactory, studentsmust stay for mandatory study, which islike an afterschool class where home-all buses will have something called“Zonar GPS,” a type of technologythat will let First Student know whereeach bus is, how many stops the busmakes and where, and even how fastit's going.First Student also says that there hasHigh school selection time:public vs. parochialBy Laurie Raphaël // Staff Writer▲ AFH photo by Kat Morganwork assignments are completed andchecked. Many students at Cathedralmay not know what the MassachusettsComprehensive Assessment System isbecause they are not required to takethe exam.Jaquan Wallace, 16, is a sophomoreat Boston Community LeadershipAcademy (BCLA), a Boston Public Schoolin Brighton. Although students can wearwhat they like at many public schools,they must still follow a dress code thatbans clothing that may be consideredinappropriate.Academically, Wallace said the homeworkhe gets at school is simply toonot been an unusual amount of negativereports about its bus drivers in Boston.But Watson believes she knows why thatmay be. “I think they haven’t receivedmany complaints from Boston residentsbecause,” Watson says, “we feel theywouldn’t be properly dealt with.” ■much. He can monitor his grades withregular progress reports. In addition,Wallace thinks that the teachers prepareeveryone for the MCAS just weeks beforethe test. He said he is happy to be in hisBoston Public School, though, because“I wouldn’t say we’re like family, buteveryone knows each other or at leasthas seen them around.”Picking which high school to attendis often overwhelming. Decisions shouldbe based on the school environment thestudents wish to be in, which for themcan include policies, location, andreputation. ■10 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 11

➟Senior sector➩SHANASIA BENNETTIf you could be a cartoon character, who would you be:Tommy from “Rugrats”What floats your boat: Burger KingIf you had a diary, what would your first line be: Today was a crazy dayProfile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation:Go to the club and celebrate!!!!Dream prom date: Trey Songz. I love him!!!!Worst high school moment: Freshman Year!!!!LADONYA BUCHANANSkydiving or Bungee jumping: Bungee, there’s a string attached to keep me upIf you could be a cartoon character, who would you be:Dee Dee from “Dexter’s Laboratory”If you had a diary, what would your first line be:Um, I’m guessing, “Dear Diary.” Isn’t that what everyone writes?Would you rather be sick at home or healthy at school:Healthy at school. I hate being sick.Profile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation:Going out to eat with friends or maybe to a partyDream prom date: Orlando BloomWorst high school moment:The day I found out how many haters I have for speaking SpanishXHERSI LAKASkydiving or Bungee jumping: SkydivingIf you could be a cartoon character, who would you be: Cheetos TigerWould you rather be sick at home or healthy at school: Healthy at schoolBeach or pool: BeachProfile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation:Head down to MiamiDream prom date: Don’t know, don’t really careWorst high school moment: Didn’t really have one, I guessKATRYNA MAHONEYSkydiving or Bungee jumping: SkydivingBeach or pool: The nice beachMovie at theatres or at home: At home. Either way I’ll fall asleep.Favorite acronym: Never Eat Soggy Waffles (north, east, south, west)Profile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation:I’ll probably still be screamingDream prom date: Pharrell WilliamsWorst high school moment: Receiving my report card from junior yearKAMEISHA MOBRAYSkydiving or Bungee jumping: Bungee jumpingIf you could be a cartoon character, who would you be: Mickey MouseIf you had a diary, what would your first line be: A secretWould you rather be sick at home or healthy at school: Healthy at schoolProfile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation: CelebrateDream prom date: Tristan WildsWorst high school moment: Hasn’t occurred yetROXANNE TAYLORIf you could be a cartoon character, who would you be: Kim PossibleWhat floats your boat: Money, money, moneyBeach or pool: Caribbean SeaFavorite acronym: NMIA (Norman Manley International Airport, in Jamaica)Profile plusWhat is the first thing you’re going to do after graduation:Soak up some summer sunDream prom date: Romain VirgoWorst high school moment: Going to that high school➩➡➧Boston Teens in Print unites the city’s teens to createan outlet to inform, communicate, and providepositive change through written expression.Next issue: September 2010Send submissions by mail to:Boston Teens in Printc/o WriteBoston7 Palmer Street,Roxbury, MA 02119Teachers! Use T.i.P in your classroom.FORMAT your writing➧ Double spaced➧ Times New Roman, 12 point font➧ In the upper left corner—your name,Contributing Writer, and a titleor headlineWhatever you submit has to beYOUR OWN CREATION. We only printoriginal work. Please write “this ismy own creation” next to your name.Contact us:WriteBoston617-541-2651Please go to our website for curriculum ideas.bostontip.com➡meetthestaffWrite for Teens in Print!SEND your essays, letters, articles,commentaries, poems, pen-andinkdrawings or cartoons, and photos.➧ EMAIL submissions toric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.gov➧ Send them as either MS Wordattachments or email messages.➧ Provide your name, age, gradeand school. You must attend oneof the Boston Public high schools.➧➧➧➧You will not get your work back.KEEP A COPY for yourself.Teens in Print reserves the right toEDIT your work for length, content,or appropriateness.To join theTeens in Print staff,please visit our websiteand download thenecessary paperwork.bostontip.comwriteboston.orgASHLEY BARKERIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be:Wilma FlintstoneWhat floats your boat: R&B/SocaIf you had a diary,what would your first line be:Dear Diary…today I had a good dayTOM LEUSkydiving or Bungee jumping: SkydivingIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: SupermanBeach or pool: PoolMovie at theatres or at home:TheatresCHEILA MARTINEZSkydiving or Bungee jumping:Lol. Neither, I’m too scared.If you could be a cartoon character, who wouldyou be: Bubbles from the “The Powerpuff Girls”If you had a diary, what would your first line be:Dear diary…I love him.LAURIE RAPHAËLSkydiving or Bungee jumping: BungeeIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: Lisa SimpsonWould you rather be sick at homeor healthy at school: Healthy at schoolMELISSA RODRIGUEZSkydiving or Bungee jumping: Bungee jumpingIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: Winnie the PoohBeach or pool: BothDAJA TAYLORIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: GIRIf you had a diary, what would yourfirst line be: So this is what happened...Would you rather be sick at homeor healthy at school: SICK AT HOME!PATRICIA VANRIELIf you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: Betty BoopIf you had a diary, what would your first line be:I love me!Would you rather be sick at homeor healthy at school: Sick at homeGABRIEL WARDSkydiving or Bungee jumping:Please. Being lit on fire looks WAY coolerthan either.If you could be a cartoon character, whowould you be: Wile E. Coyote, he always getswhat he wantsWhat floats your boat: WaterIf you had a diary, what wouldyour first line be: The dateTREVOR WARDSkydiving or Bungee jumping: Flying onthat eagle thing from “The Lord of the Rings”If you could be a cartoon character, whowould you be: Choji AkimichiWhat floats your boat:Helium. I believe in the “UP” theory.GENA WHITESkydiving or Bungee jumping:Oh God… let’s go with sky diving.If you could be a cartoon character,who would you be: SpongeBobIf you had a diary, what wouldyour first line be: Obviously, someoneis reading this, so….Would you rather be sick at home orhealthy at school: Durrr…School healthy!Have you everdreamed of seeingyour name in print?Do you want to use the power of the pressto cover topics that are important to teenagers?Are you interested in learning howto become a high school reporter while exploringdifferent neighborhoods of the city?As an added bonus, how would you like tovisit great venues, like Fenway Park? Youcan do all that and more for free – havingfun while improving your writing skills – bytaking part in WriteBoston’s annual fourweekSummer Journalism Institute.Then, you can feel the exhilaration ofhaving your very own articles publishedin the fall edition of the citywide youthnewspaper, Boston Teens in Print.You can sign up today by contactingTeens in Print coordinator Ric Kahn byphone (617-541-2651) or email (ric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.gov), or by accessingan application on our website,www.writeboston.org.The session runs from July 6 to July 30,Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 AMto 12:30 PM, and is located on the campusof Northeastern University. Prioritydeadline for registering is June 1.Thank you.12 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 13

IN HONOR OFIN HONOR OFMy mother“She became my best friend”MygrandfatherMy sister“I will never forget her in my life”My country“You are my one and only”By Kyndra James // Contributing WriterGrowing up, I was thefourth of six kids. Ithought I had the bestlife. All that beganto change when I was two. My fatherwalked out. I was lucky to have such astrong mother. She taught me to be theresponsible young women I am today,and I thank her for that. I would alwayshave my hand out to her for something-- shoes, sneakers, clothes -- and asmany times as I would ask, she wouldnever say no.When I was 15, my mother brokesome devastating news to us. Sheexplained that she had cancer. I decidedto make the best of everything andspend a lot of time with her. We dideverything -- from shopping to going outto eat. She became my best friend.Now I am 19, and it is the beginningof the New Year, and my mom iseven sicker than I last remember. Sheis unable to breathe on her own. Shecannot walk on her own. Witnessing mymom like this hurt me to my heart. Iwas so used to seeing her on her feet,joking and playing with her kids andgrandkids.January 25, 2010, was the worst dayof my life. I had a great day in school.I learned so many new things. The lastbell had rung; I hurried to my bus. Mycousin called me just as the buseswere leaving. She told me that sheneeded to talk, but didn’t want to do itover the phone. I wanted to know thenand there. She finally gave in and toldme that she had heard from one of my▲ AFH painting by Li HuangThe author's mother, Shirley R. Brown.other cousins that my mom had died. Iyelled and told her that she was lying.She began to cry, and that only mademe cry.My sister and I walked home as ifnothing was ever said. We kept goodthoughts flowing through our heads.We stopped off at the flower store andbought my mother’s favorite: red roses.I arrived home. I began to walk to myroom. I bumped into my little brother.His eyes were red. My heart pounded.I turned around and saw my uncle.I asked him what’s wrong with mybrother. He looked in my eyes and said,“Baby girl, your mom passed away.” Ibroke down on my knees and cried. Heheld me and told me everything wasgoing to be alright.I felt like I was left in this dark, coldworld by myself, with no one to help mealong. I still don’t believe she’s gone.She was only 46. I have to keep myhead and get through this, one step ata time. I just have to remember thatshe will always be there looking overme while I take this journey through lifeto the highest ground.Graduation is right around the cornerand that is going to be the hardest dayfor me. I won’t have that motherly lovein the audience to cry for me as I walkacross the stage. I will be doing all thatfor her, as well as for myself. I want herto be happy that I am going to be thefirst one out of her six kids to actuallygraduate high school.My mother’s passing has made mereally open up my eyes, and see lifein a different way. I realize that life isnot a game. Take advantage of everychance you are given, because yesterdayis gone, today is over, and tomorrowis never promised. ■“He was my dad whenI didn’t know mine”By Patricia Vanriel // Staff WriterIwas born, like everybody else,to a mother and a father. Thedifference is, I was born prematurelyand my dad wasn’taround. Many days I wish I could havestayed longer inside my mom, but itwasn’t meant to be.The sun used to embrace me likea friend, making sure I never lackedwarmth. The best day of my life was acold summer day; it was cloudy and freezing– well, as freezing as it’ll get in thetropics. It was the day I met my father.He was everything I’d imagined, yet hewas nothing like it. Even though it wascold, I was warm in my father’s arms,because I felt the love. Last year, I lostmy grandfather. He was my dad when Ididn’t know mine; my mentor, my guardianangel, and my reason to live. Theday I was told, a part of me died. I wasdepressed and wouldn’t talk to anyonefor weeks. My family and friends tried toconsole me, but I wouldn’t let them. He’dsaid not to cry because he would be in abetter place, but I cried even harder knowingthat place wasn’t with me.When I was little, I always saw thegood in people before I saw the bad-- even when everyone else saw that theperson was no good. Since then, I’vealways wanted to be a lawyer; to be theone to prove someone innocent, to helppeople get their lives back, and to helpthe ones not fortunate enough to affordrepresentation.I plan to make a difference, no matterhow small. I was born like everyone else,but my greatness will not compare. ■▲ AFH painting by Jameel RadcliffeBy Vastie Joseph // Contributing WriterMy sister’s name wasKelidade. She was16, in tenth grade. Igave her a nickname:Keke. She lived in Haiti at the time of theaccident. She was my sister on my father’sside. She was the only person that I couldtalk with when I had a secret -- even thoughI’m here. I would buy a phone card to calland tell her what I had to say. But now, Idon't know who I’m going to call when Ihave to say my secrets.She was pretty, intelligent, kind, andeverything. She died in the earthquakeon January 12, 2010. That is why I wrotethis poem for her. Her mom told me alittle about how she died. Her mom saidthat she was inside the house when theearthquake started, and she did not havetime to get out, and the house fell on her.Her mother was at work. Keke had justreturned from school.I will never forget her in my life -- even tothe day I die. ■The author's sister, Keke.“Someone”She was always nice to me, every time I saw her.She was my everything: my life, my breath, my spirit.She wiped my tears when I was crying.Every time I was with her, she made me happy.When I was sad, she always tried to raise the sun into my life,and bring happiness back to me.She helped me to stay awake when I was falling asleep.She was my water when I was thirsty.She was my food when I was hungry.She was a faithful person, she was a strong woman; kind and helpful.For me, everything about her was special.Even now, her spirit is deep inside me.Even though she's not on the earth with me right now,I hope she is in God’s hands.This person was my little sister.I love you, Keke.R.I.P.By Vastie Joseph // Contributing Writer"Haiti"Haiti, my love,Haiti, the beauty of the world,Your sun is shining at night,It is windy.Everyone wants to taste you like a candy.In my mind, you will still stay my favorite,and my baby.No matter where I go,I cannot taste the honey that you have.You are my one and only.I will make you mine one day.Haiti has no mouth to speak, or to explainwhat happened to her, my love.Since the day I was born, I felt in love with you.I cannot imagine that you would be in asituation like this, with so much pain.Haiti, I want you to know, I'm dying.Give hope, give love.The earth shakes, people disappear.It was an earthquake that separated mefrom my sisters and brothers.Haiti, you will still be the keeper of my heart.▲ AFH photo by Rich Philippe14 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 15

T.I.P. MeetsT.I.P. MeetsCommunityserviceArtistic entrepreneursBehind the music: The life of a subway performerBy Gabriel Ward // Staff WriterIn seeking out thosein need, studentsdiscover themselvesDarlene Marcano had an educational challengefor her ninth-grade Humanities studentsat The Engineering School, who visited placesthat help the homeless and hungry, like thePine Street Inn and The Greater Boston FoodBank: “How does your view of others shapewho you are?”Here’s what some of them wrote abouttheir experiences:Every pennycountsBy Ansel Rivera // Contributing WriterMy class went on a field trip to the Pine Street Inn,which is a shelter for the homeless. They had twodifferent shelters, one for the women and one for themen. The men had no more than one foot of privacy;the colors were dark green and grey. The women’sshelter is much different: more privacy, and a wholelot more colorful. The walls were pink and the bedshad donated covers.The tour guide told us about how they helped thehomeless with job training. Going to the Pine StreetInn made me think, “These people work day and nighttrying to help the homeless! Why can’t I help them?”You should think the same thing. You can givemoney to homeless people you see on the streets.It can be one dollar, or even 50 cents. Everypenny counts.I know I should try to help people if I see themsleeping on the sidewalk with ugly, stinky, sticky clothesand nowhere to go. I would be appreciative if someonetried extra hard to get me off the streets without themknowing who I am. ■GroceriesandgoodwillBy Bashair Abdi // Contributing WriterThe Greater Boston Food Bank distributes morethan 31 million pounds of food and grocery productsto nearly 600 hunger-relief agencies throughout EasternMassachusetts. They are dedicated to ending hungerin our region.When I look back on my time at The GreaterBoston Food Bank, I think of what a marvelouslearning experience I had. It made me think aboutthe world, and how taking my time to volunteer couldmake so much of a difference. By working hard for acause, our economy can be stabilized and our countrycan get back on track. This would mean that thefood budget can decrease, and people can get jobsto support their families.Previously, I had limited experience helping the homeless,but after seeing how many people worked hard forchange, it persuaded me to do the same. It was touchingto know that I made a difference. ■Crying insideBy Marc-Alphonse Simon // Contributing WriterWe should have more solutions for the homeless.We should build more shelters, and put the mentallydisabled, drugged, and drunk in rehabs. We should putthe abandoned houses on the streets to good use, andrefurbish them for homeless families. I say this becauseit’s painful and sad when you are homeless. I know howit feels, because I’ve been homeless, too.In the beginning of my 9th grade, I was at the busstop with my friends. My parents passed by in theirminivan and told me to get in. As I opened the door, Inoticed there were items from my house. I asked myparents, “Why are our belongings in the car?” Theydidn’t make a noise for about four minutes, until a sighcaught my attention; it was like being awake in themiddle of the night. My heart started to beat as fast asa jackhammer. My mother finally told me. The landladyhad kicked us out of our home, even though my parentspaid the rent. We had to spend four nights at a hotel.Hunger (n.) – a severe lack of food. Poverty (n.) – thestate of being extremely poor. Homeless (adj.) – withouta home, and therefore typically living on the street.When I hear those words, I’m most likely crying inside,because it brought fear to me when I realized I hadnowhere to live. ■▲ AFH painting by Nancy NyamundaWhen walking onto the subway platform,what do you hear? Gates ringing, trainsscreeching by, or the many bustlingpeople talking on their cell phones?Or do you hear the gentle sound of music coming fromdown the yellow line? If so, chances are that in that stationis an artist, displaying his or her talents, and tryingto be heard. Many teens hear subway performers daily,and see them the same way: that pleasant source ofmusic, while you’re waiting for your train. But what dowe know about them? Why do they do it? And where dothey come from?Timmi Gammon, 20, got his first MBTA musician’spass in August of 2009. As this interview started, hebegan to play his guitar. “I love to make music, everysecond of my life,” said Gammon. “And I love to seedifferent kinds of people, just doing their thing. It’s justreally enjoyable.” He started playing guitar when he was14. He was learning music theory in high school. “WhenI learned a music theory idea, I would go straight homeand put it on guitar,” he said. His fascination with guitarjust extended from there. “One of the things I starteddoing, is, I would turn on the radio, and I’ll just playalong.” But guitar isn’t the only instrument he loves.At home he has a whole slew of stuff: from keyboardsto a sax. “Music is music,” he said, “I don’t reallybreak it down by genre.” Gammon spent a lot of timedrifting between New York and Boston, and he settledin Brighton for a while. But now he’s joined a band inAlabama, and is doing what he loves best.Anthony Mainville, 48, has been playing classicalmusic in South Station for about a year and a half. Helikes to entertain people, but the money doesn’t hurteither. “I don’t have any other sources of income rightnow,” said Mainville. “I have a kid. I have to pay childsupport.” A whole day of playing can bring in up to 30to 40 dollars, and sometimes it’ll be just enough to givehis son. Mainville used to be homeless and lived in ashelter, but one thing he always had with him was hisguitar. Then he heard about the opportunity to gig insubway stations. “Playing on the MBTA gave me moneyfor clothes, and even glasses,” he said. “I went withoutglasses for two years.” Mainville knows his guitarwill always be with him. “Maybe some day I might goto Berklee [College] of Music,” he said. “Who knows,maybe I’ll be teaching it in the future. No matter what,I’ll be playing guitar for the rest of my life.”Beth Fridinger was pretty hard to get a hold of; herschedule is very hectic. “This is not an easy thing to dofor a living,” said Fridinger, who says she’s over 50. SheTimmi Gammon "It would be cool to be famous and rich, but that's not what I'm doingit for. I just wanna play."Beth Fridinger "As far as I know, I just sound like me, ha ha."loves to play folk and rock in the subway, but she can’tplan on where she’s going to end up. “I never know if Ican play right away, or where I’m going to be,” she said.Originally, she had a job as a secretary, during whichshe took up photography. But then she lost her job. “Iwent to a party and picked up a guitar for the first timein a while,” she said. “People said they liked my voicewhen I sang.” So she grabbed her guitar and headedfor the streets. Her first day was one of her most fortunate.“I went home with 200 dollars that night,” shesaid. She decided to start playing in MBTA stations. “Inthe subway,” she said, “weather is more predictable.”Fridinger records her own music and sells her CDs asshe performs.So, if you like classical, or you like rock, if you givethem money, or not, at least you should appreciate thatthe subway performers are around, creating that soothingtone, which causes you to smile. ■▲ ▲ Photo courtesy of Timmi Gammon▲ ▲ Photo courtesy of Beth Fridinger16 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 17

T.I.P. MeetsT.I.P. MeetsThe real worldOn the job training • Tips from teens on how to find workAt Boston Community Leadership Academy, students taking 11th grade Writing with Gabrielle LaCombe Jean-Jacques went on a job-search journey. They shadowedworkers, wrote résumés and cover letters, conducted interviews. Now they get to share the results of some of their employment expeditions with you.Help wanted: an overviewBy Lauren Artus-Cooper // Contributing WriterThe United States has been suffering a recession,causing much stress and fear among families. Citizensare losing their jobs as positions are rapidly being eliminatedand companies are downsizing to merely stayafloat. Job-hunters need to be on their toes now morethan ever. Those on the prowl should consider writingsophisticated résumés, ways to have a successful interview,and proper business etiquette.A résumé is the first time an employer will seeyour name, and could very well be the last. Hundredsof résumés will cross his or her desk, and if it isnot impressive at first glance, it will be passed by.Therefore, it is crucial to have a well-written résumé andto distribute it effectively. If you need help writing andproperly formatting a proficient résumé, it may be beneficialto hire a professional. There are also a myriadof resources to help put your résumé out into the businessworld, such as various youth networking sites,newspapers, and youth programs. Though the résuméis a dire component in finding employment, it is only thefirst step.If your résumé is worthy, you may be asked for aninterview. A first impression is a lasting impression.An interviewee should always come prepared, 15 minutesearly. Dressing appropriately (slacks, button-upshirt or blouse, closed-toed shoes, nothing outlandish-- navy, white, black, and khaki are relatively safe colorschemes) with a confident disposition is imperative; donot seem too needy nor arrogant, always make eye contact,and be sure to smile. Having prepared questionsand responses shows hard work and sincerity. It is alsohelpful to bring a pen and a pad for notes, questions,and reminders. Act calm, collected, and comfortable,but refrain from being too honest (do not divulge any ofyour faults, weaknesses, discrepancies, personal problems).Always be polite and conscientious, and neverbe the first to drop a number in a salary negotiation.Lastly, aim to convert the interview into an offer.Although the interview is the biggest step in findinga job, the follow-up process can make it or break it.Remember to obtain a business card and always write athank you letter. Diligence and persistence are traits ofa good employee, so be aggressive without beinga pest.Competition is growing fierce. Even if your applicationsare repeatedly rejected, keep looking, for thereis that special position destined for you, somewhereout there.Do the research, kidBy Seantelle Epps // Contributing WriterGetting a job means that you are prepared. Beingprepared consists of doing things such as research. Tomake this happen, you must make sure that you knowwhat you’re applying for. Doing the research meanswilling to learn the skills that a certain job requires.Don’t apply for something without doing the research,because let’s say you do really good on the application,but, when it comes time for the interview, you’ll bestuck because you aren’t sure what this job is about. Ifyou go through the process of learning the job, it shouldeliminate applying to something that really doesn’t interestyou.Don’t be a Negative NellieBy Shannon Negron // Contributing WriterBeing positive shows that you are confident in tacklingyour job responsibilities. I used be one of manypeople who doubted themselves. I felt like I had lowself-esteem, so I didn’t take advantage of any opportunities.I was shy and never thought positively aboutanything I wanted to achieve. My job-shadowing experiencehelped me get that positive attitude, and made mealways believe in myself and go for what I want. Nowthat I have a positive attitude, I gained the confidencethat has made me a better person.Résumé buildingBy Miguel Fonseca // Contributing WriterYour résumé is the key to making the first goodimpression on your employer. It must consist of personalinformation — including your address, phonenumber — for your employer to get a hold of you easier.Your résumé also must include all your past work experiences.This means the first job you ever had, to thejob you last had. The résumé is also a brag sheet aboutyour accomplishments and goals. Therefore, it is veryimportant also to include your awards and communityroles. Remember, your résumé is the conversationpiece and the ice breaker in an interview; it has tobe perfectly written and checked over and over againfor grammatical errors.Character countsBy Musye Gebrezgiy // Contributing WriterGood character is professional character. In additionto expertise, education, and, of course, intelligence,employers will value the willingness of a hard-workingemployee who goes above and beyond simply completingassigned tasks. Strong character and integrity arecrucial to your success. Examples of good character arehonesty, respecting others, having a good sense of rightand wrong, and acting appropriately in all situations.Employers want a worker they can trust and rely on.First impressions are extremely important. This usuallyhappens during the job interview by acting polite, honest,and engaged in what they have to say.No confidence gameBy Keishla Fernandez // Contributing WriterStomach tying, body shaking, your nerves are out ofcontrol. This is a normal experience to go through whenyou have to step foot into that job interview. It is normal,but it is not a good first impression to show hownervous you are. You would like the employer to seehow bold you are. Being bold shows courageousness.You are not letting obstacles get in the way of what youwant. If they see this attitude coming from you, it willhighlight your strengths and they will take an interest inyou. If you do not have that confidence within you, thenyou will not get the job.Punctuality, please!By Marlene Tejeda // Contributing WriterNever be late to your interview. It will make you lookunprofessional and unreliable. Before going into yourinterview, you should find out where it will be held andMapQuest it, or actually go to the address beforehand.Being on time shows your desire for the job and provesyou are responsible and reliable, which are the basiccharacteristics of professionalism. Plan to get to yourinterview 15 minutes before it starts, so that if youneed to fill out any sheets, you can prepare. Gettingeven a minute late to the interview is not acceptable.18 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 19Be yourselfBy Eneda Golemi // Contributing WriterTo be yourself doesn’t mean only to show your skills,but also to be comfortable. For example, you have to beable to network. You have to make relationships. Youhave to show them that you are a pleasant person withmany values. The résumé can reflect who you really are.If everything that is written in the résumé is real, andnot false, you will not be afraid, because they’ll know allyour skills and everything that is important about you.Grab that business cardBy Luis Mora // Contributing WriterAfter an interview, you want to ask for a businesscard. This will be helpful because, with the card, younow have a phone number and an email address. Youcan use this to communicate with the people who interviewedyou. You can call and ask questions. This willmake them think you really want the job. You also mightwant to write the people who interviewed you a thankyou letter or email. You look more professional and yourambition is clear.It’s who you knowBy Yabratymika Elam // Contributing WriterI used to think that I could not get a job, but then Ilearned how to have a successful interview, and I got ajob. I got the job because I knew people. I had to learnhow to be more social. I became fully independent andcould talk to people on my own. Now I know that it’snot always what you know; it’s who you know, as well. Igot my jobs in the past because I knew someone. I gotmy part-time job because my mother did day care for awoman she knew for seven years who was the managerof a GameStop. I got the job because she knew I wasa hard worker, and because I would help my mother outwith the day care.Job one: the patience of JobBy Cindy Monestime // Contributing WriterPatience is the key to getting a job. To have patienceand determination, you would have to be persistent infinding a job, and if you don’t, you keep pushing untilyou succeed. You also have to be patient while doingthis, too, because if you don’t, everything will start toget hectic. For example, if you applied for a job andwent through the interview, you have to wait for whatwill happen next – like getting a phone call or an email.Don’t be too pushy or a STALKER and call every time tosee what your status is. This is not good. Call a weeklater from your interview. ■

Arts & EntertainmentArts & EntertainmentThe toys are back in townAnd we’ve only been waiting a decade!By Gabriel Ward // Staff WriterThey’re back, and they have a new adventurefor us. Yes, Pixar is finally comingout with “Toy Story 3.” Everywhere youlook, in toy stores, in video game shops,even on cereal boxes, it's clear: Andy’s toys have beenpulled out of storage. In October of 2009, a double featureof “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” in 3D came to theatres,and grossed a domestic total of $30,702,446.On June 18, another chapter is expected to open withBuzz, Woody, and the rest of the gang, and toddlers andteens alike will be hitting the theatres to see the additionto this fun-filled saga.Teens feel nostalgic, as they were young when themovies were released, and good memories just comenaturally with these productions. “I loved them,” saidDenna Pham, 16, of the West Roxbury EducationComplex. Pham saw both movies on tape after theycame out.“I enjoyed both,” said Emily Hunt, 16, of Boston LatinIn theatersJune 18, 2010Academy. “But I like the first one better.” Hunt saw thefirst movie in theatres when she was very young.“I thought they were amazing,” said Frank Calderon,16, of Boston Latin Academy. Calderon saw the firstmovie on tape when he was little, and still owns it.For those who don’t know, “Toy Story” was the veryfirst full-length computer-animated movie. The first filmhit theatres in 1995 and became an instant classic.The second came out in 1999, and did as well as thefirst. And now, over a decade later, the third is comingout, and a lot of people are anticipating it. But does thismean “Toy Story 3” will be a box office hit, or will it getswept under the bed?Pham intends to see it with four of her friends. “Idon’t think it will be bad,” she said, “but not as good asthe first two movies.” Calderon also plans to see it withfriends. “I think it’s going to be better.”But you don’t need a trailer to know “Toy Story 3”is coming out; everywhere you go, you see “Toy Story”merchandise, such as the “Toy Story Collection,”which are supposed to be exact replicas of the toysin the movies. Some teens are happy for the newmerchandise. “I think it’s pretty cool for the youngkids,” said Calderon. “I had a Buzz Lightyear as a kid.”“Toy Story 3” takes place -- get this -- 10 years later,as Andy is going to college. Asked by his mother todo something with all of his toys before leaving, Andythrows them into a garbage bag and is going to putthem into the attic. But he leaves them in the hallfor his mother to put by the curb. One thing leads toanother, and they end up at Sunnyside Day Care Center.The toys, realizing this mistake, try to get home. Themovie introduces a whole bunch of new toys, such asMr. Pricklepants, Trixie, and Ken.To see trailers, sneak peeks, and more, go to:www.disney.go.com/toystory. ■Capturing AnimeBoston 2010Ninjas, and pirates, and… Waldo? Oh my!By Trevor Ward // Staff WriterCardboard cosplay creativity.▲ Photo by Joey DiChiara“Anvil” hitsmetal fans overthe head withloyalty and loveBy Xhersi Laka // Staff Writer“Anvil! The story of Anvil” – now out on DVD-- is a movie tribute to two 50-year-old guyswho won’t give up their dream. This is thestory of the Canadian heavy metal bandAnvil and their journey of making it to the big leaguesalongside bands such as the Scorpions, Bon Jovi, andWhitesnake.The lead singer and guitarist of Anvil, Steve “Lips”Kudlow, along with the drummer, Robb Reiner, face manytroubles, including money shortages, lack of promotion,and gigging in empty halls. It gets to a point where Reinerthreatens to quit. But the band plays on.This is a great movie because it touches on manythemes, such as friendship and loyalty. It was hilarious,and moving. Movie-maker Michael Moore has said thatit was “The best documentary I’ve seen in years.” Themovie also features interviews of other great musicianswho have been influenced by the band, such as Slash(Guns n’ Roses), Lemmy (Motorhead), and Lars Ulrich(Metallica). Watch this movie and it will be time wellspent. It will change your whole perspective onRock ‘n’ Roll. ■TOY STORY 3 (L-R) Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Aliens, Slinky Dog, Rex, Jessie, Hamm, Bullseye, Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head.▲ Courtesy of Disney /PixarSince 2003, Anime Boston has takenBoston’s shores by storm. This year,more than 17,000 fans attended, keepingit the largest anime convention inthe Northeast, according to group organizers.And as a newcomer to the April convention, I wasamazed at what it was. The first thing I noticed whilewalking through the halls of the Hynes ConventionCenter was that almost everyone was dressed incostume. The strange thing about this, though, wasthat not everyone was dressed up as anime characters.As a matter of fact, I ran into not only CarmenSandiego and Waldo, but even Finn from “Adventuretime with Finn & Jake,” a show on Cartoon Networkthat had not yet even premiered.Continuing my day, I discovered the game room --a massive space full of video game consoles, tables,and chairs. Later, I stopped by the marketplace, andit was amazing. However, it’s not for anyone withempty wallets. The products here were not inexpensive.They ranged from $2.50 figurines to $400.00“Gundam” statues. I bought two plushies, a ring, afigurine, and six trading cards. All of that massed upto $51.50! Not very cheap in my opinion, however,most of this was hard-to-find stuff.The final event of the first night was the VideoGame Orchestra. They performed songs from theMario, Resident Evil, and Blue Dragon series. Thecost for getting into Anime Boston isn’t super lowpricedat $50 for those 13 and older, but for all threedays, it’s worth it. But only if you’re a true anime fan.Still, if you go even without anime experience, youwill discover the nerd in you. ■Robb Reiner (L) and Steve “Lips” Kudlow (R).20 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.com bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 21▲ Photo by Ross Halfin

THE SPORTING LIFEBACK AT YAPlaying hardball with softballBy Gena White // Staff WriterUntil death do us part, twoIn our last issue, members of our staff wrote about their visions of what death looked like to them: a crazy-colored light show or abig black hole. We asked readers to join in. Here’s what some of you delivered.▲ AFH painting by Michael GuadarramaBaseball, America’s pastime. Everyoneknows this saying all too well, but whatabout softball? While the male-dominatedsport of baseball gets the spotlight,the less appreciated woman-dominated sport of softballis considered by many to be too girly for modern society,and is thrown to the side.“Both are great sports,” says Kevin Vega, 16, fromRoxbury. “But it seems like baseball is more famousthan softball.”The sad truth is that although women have beenfighting for equality in sports for many years, we havenot achieved this tremendous feat. I know it for a fact:I was one of those girls who started off with baseball,but society forced me into playing softball because ofmy gender.A fellow softball player of mine, Jeanette Origel, 16,also dealt with this inequity. Origel played baseball forthree years and switched to softball because she “gotto high school and there’s only softball for girls.” Itseems as though when females are young, it is acceptablefor us to play either sport, but once girls come ofage they are expected by society to play softball.“It promotes sexism,” says Origel, of Roxbury.When I was playing baseball, I had to deal with evillittle snickers, rude comments, and crude actions fromboys who believed that females shouldn’t be part ofbaseball. It is hard for those girls who push a littlemore and manage to play for older baseball divisions. Iexperienced this when I started playing baseball in the“pony” division in my league. The coordinator for myleague strongly encouraged my father not to sign me upfor baseball because softball was where I belonged. Ifought for as long as I could to stay the baseball playerI was, but now I am in softball, for I was defeated bythe expectations society had.Though there are no restrictions on young womenplaying baseball, there are a lot of other obstacles thatliterally stop them from trying. There is so much persecutionfrom males. So many young men think womenshould not be in sports, and a lot of these baseballplayers voice these opinions through hurtful comments.I was constantly told by the boys I played with that I“belonged in the kitchen” because that was wherefemales were expected to be.“Women should be able to play baseball becauseit’s not fair that they get excluded,” says Origel.So why does our society allow this to continue?The contrast does not seem as apparent to society,but, sadly, too many women have to face this on adaily basis. Though women try to fight this injustice,the paternalistic society we live in does not want us toovercome this blockade to equality for all sexes. ■A ghostly taleBy Davina Tran // Contributing WriterDeath is something that every human being willencounter in life. No one will live forever, andeveryone knows this. The thing that human beings don’texactly know is what is behind the door called death.I believe that people who die will stay on earth asspirits. I strongly believe in ghosts and other unexplainablethings that happen to us.Have you ever felt like someone is standing next toyou but no one is really there? Have you ever felt thepresence of a non-living thing? This is why I personallythink ghosts and spirits exist. This is what made methink that the afterlife is nothing but ghosts and spiritswandering around on earth because they felt like theyweren’t quite ready to leave.This is what I think happens after death. What I wantto believe is that there will be reincarnation. I wouldwant to believe that there is something more to death-- that people who had done wrong things in their liveswill be reborn and they can fix all their mistakes. Beingreincarnated is letting yourself start over, start fresh,and keep fixing your mistakes until God decides thatyou are ready to go to heaven. ■▲ AFH painting by Michael GuadarramaBreakfast with JesusBy Khadijah Smalls // Contributing WriterSome people fear death, and some people don’t,because they know everyone has to die one day.I get my ideas from what I listen to and what I read in thebible. I believe that there is a heaven and a hell to go toafter you die. If you do what you were put on this earthto do, you will go to heaven when your God calls for you.If you come and do the opposite from what you were puton this earth to do, you would end up in hell.I would like to believe that after this life I will seeheaven as one BIG cloud and everybody living in the sky.There would be this big golden gate to welcome peoplewho have completed their mission, and done it correctly.I picture that every house in heaven is white and so iseverything else. In heaven it will not be too cold or toohot. Then I picture this white castle that God and Jesuslive in. They will come out for every breakfast and prayover the food, and we will eat and drink together. In myeyes, I also see hell as one big tunnel underground.I picture nothing but fire everywhere. I feel this is a placewhere you will never get a good sleep and everythingyou eat will be hot and on fire. I see it as a place Iwould not like to be.I get these visions of the afterlife from what I hear andsee on TV. Sometimes I see shows where they act likethey’re in heaven, and they have on something white andeverything around them is white. When they try to actlike they’re in hell, they have something red on and hornson their head, with a pitchfork in their hands. After youdie, I’d like to believe that you won’t feel pain anymore.I think your spirit will come from your body and you willgo to a place where you will get judged on whether youwill go to heaven or hell. Then, after that, your spirit willgo to heaven or hell, and your life is done. ■A free trip to heavenBy Harold Williams // Contributing WriterPersonally, I don’t want to believe that once youdie there’s nothing. Something tells me thatthere might be more to it. You could be reincarnatedafter death as a newborn or maybe something that’snot even human. I want to believe that there’s somethingafter death. There is something for those whodidn’t do right by God. I want to believe that you willcontinue to be reborn until you stop making the samemistakes that you made before. And for those who dothe right thing here on earth -- they get a free trip toheaven.During my lifetime, I’ve always known about death,but I didn’t care much for it because I thought I wouldnever die. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to thinkmore about it. Some things that influenced me aboutdeath were the bible, movies, and my grandmother.Movies always say everything we do is a sin, we’re allgoing to hell, but they don’t mention forgiveness. Mygrandmother said God forgives for most things. Shekept it real and told me how my life should go in theeyes of God. So now I have a clear understanding inmy head about death. ■▲ AFH painting by Helen YungStop and pop • Here are the answers to the geography quiz from page 9: 1. a) Palau 2. c) British Guiana 3. a) Trinidad22 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / bostontip.combostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / MAY/JUNE 2010 / 23

Senior FarewellsGraduation goodbyes • Survival advice from our senior classCreate memoriesBy Kameisha Mobray // Staff WriterSenior year. One of the most challenging of all schoolyears; the quickest, funniest, and saddest. And somehowI managed to surpass it all, and so can you. All you needare a few tips:Take advantage of your summer to think about college.Teachers will tell you to begin your college essay or commonapp over the summer. Please don’t ignore them.They’re only looking out for you.Consider words of wisdom. Throughout the year, it willbe hard for you to keep focused. So look to your friends,a mentor, or anyone you feel will give you a couple ofwords to simply get you back on track.Be positive. When the acceptance letters start rollingin, things won’t always go exactly as planned. But don’tdoubt yourself. Fate will lead you in the right direction.Have fun! Although senior year will be very stressful,remember to have fun. This is probably the last timeyou will see your classmates again. So live it up, andcreate memories.Find a guiding lightBy Katryna Mahoney // Senior EditorFinally! The school year’s coming to a close. I’m writingthis last article to give you, Boston’s youth, some adviceon…life, I guess.I hope you can find positive people in your life (if youdon’t have any already); someone to look up to, guideyou, and steer you from negative aspects. We all knowliving in a city can be dangerous, but it’s also easy to getinvolved in bad things, like drugs or becoming pregnant.Get involved in something that keeps you off thestreets, like sports.On a less serious note, be nice to your teachers. Theywill be the ones writing recommendations when you applyfor college.Know thyselfBy LaDonya Buchanan // Senior EditorDuring my four years of high school, I kind of foundmyself…for the most part. In the 9th grade you’re justgetting used to the school and a change in the workload.In the 10th grade, you have a clique of friendsestablished, but you still meet a lot of people that youeventually become close to. In the 11th grade, that’swhere you learn who your true friends are. You learnwho’s fake and who’s not. High school is the part ofyour life where you’re supposed to have fun. But it getsvery stressful at times. Your senior year is where yougive up a lot of people.Gear upBy Shanasia Bennett // Senior EditorBefore I entered the world of high school, I was toldto cherish the moments ahead because the four yearswould fly by -- which I discovered was true. But no onewarned me about the drama or how I would have to discovermy identity. Or even how the friends you made inthe beginning might not be there in the end.My message is this: Always remain trueto yourself no matter what others maysay. Also, academics and GPA equalincredible opportunities. Don’t letanything or anyone get in the wayof your school work. I’m not goingto lie to you: High school has manyobstacles that will come your way. So,put your gear shield and a helmet on,because you will need it.Doppler radar:Don’t leavehome without itBy Roxanne Taylor // Senior EditorThe advice that I could give to high schoolteens today would be to check the weatherbefore you leave the house. I can’t tell youhow many times I realized that I forgot myjacket, or shouldn’t have brought it.When taking the MBTA, if a bus driveris being rude, just get the ID number andreport it.Take AP classes because when you get toyour senior year, it’s going to be clear aboutall the kids who took them, and those whodidn’t.Another piece of advice: Don’t be fooledby the kids in your class who act like theydon’t care. They really do, and when yourGPA drops, theirs will go up.Also, if someone is getting on yournerves in school, and you want to fightthem, don’t -- because it will come backto bite you in the end.Keep it sexyBy Xhersi Laka // Staff WriterSenior year for me was really fun! I wantyou guys to have fun, too. You don't want aton of school work your senior year becauseyou have to deal with the college process.The fewer headaches, the better. As PinkFloyd would say, Don't let yourself be “justanother brick in the wall.” Have fun, keepit cool, keep it smooth, and keep it sexy.Rock ‘n’ roll.