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BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT JAN/FEB 2010TMGood hair,bad hairThe politics of folliclesOn Page 3▲ AFH painting by Marvin Bynoe■ CYBER-BULL PAGE 8 ■ HAT’S OFF TO TOPPERS PAGE 22 ■ CHICK-FLICKS ARE FOR GUYS, TOO PAGE 23In partnership with the

ack at yaRELatIONSHIPS“Frustration Nation” conversation“Frustration Nation,” the cover story in ourNovember/December issue, drew heated debatein the corridors and classrooms of BPS, as itdescribed the harsh treatment of new immigrantsat the hands of other youth. At Boston CommunityLeadership Academy, members of Kevin McCaffrey’sWriting Workshop for English Language Learnersexpressed their opinions in these blog entries:Monica:Although I grant that immigrant students should speakmore English, I maintain that it’s of a great matter to berespected and to be respectful, and, therefore, I believethat immigrant students should not feel hostility or beafraid of going to school.Vicky:Although I am an immigrant, my English is not good, andI have an accent, I maintain that I never experienced allthis violence. I think it all depends on the community. Forexample, in BCLA for me this article seems like it is fromanother place. Students often make fun of my accent, butit doesn’t bother me because I accept how I speak and I’mproud of it. Therefore, I believe that it all depends on thecommunity and how we take the comments.Letter, go!Dear Editors of Teens in Print,As editors of a fellow publication for teens, we want to complimentT.i.P. on it’s timely, well-written features -- not to mention your coollayout. We recognize the extremely talented teen writers who are featuredeach month in T.i.P. and want to commend your success.Teen writers become the next generation of journalists, novelists,and great thinkers, and so, we wanted to inform you and your readersof our new online literary journal also designed to celebrate writingfor and by teenagers: The Young Adult Review Network or YARN. Wepublish all kinds of creative writing for a teen audience -- fiction andessays as well as poetry and an interview.Part of what makes YARN special is that we want to discover greatnew teen writers, and publish you alongside the well-known writersyou, and we, already admire. In our first issue, for instance, we’velined up Tina Ferraro, Alisa Libby, and Susan Beth Pfeffer. For moredetails on how to submit your writing, and to find out more about ourvery first issue, we hope you’ll visit our website at www.yareview.net,and fan us on Facebook!Thanks for your time, and we hope to read your writing soon.Sincerely,Kerri Majors & Shannon MarshallEditor & Assistant Editor of YARN4 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.comIbrahim:Although I agree with the fact that immigrant studentsare bullied in their respective schools, and sometimesin their community by some American kids, I must alsosay that not all immigrants are targets of bullying in theirenvironment. So I think to make this ignorance of certainAmerican kids stop, we should open their eyes on theissues that immigrants face every day of their lives so theycan understand what it is to be an immigrant.Hector:Although I grant that bullying immigrants is bad, I maintainthat anyone who lives in the United States gets bullied,and, therefore, they should resist like anybody else.Okey:The factor of assimilating a weaker culture in the predominantone can be a problem to face. Multilingual studentsare more secluded and forsaken by American students;however, both parts contribute to worsen those complications.If American students are more tolerant and if foreignstudents are more open and do not isolate, we couldreach a balance and a point of social community with differentcultures.Uche:While it is true that life in the U.S. might be initially difficultfor some immigrants, it does not necessarily mean thatit is like that for everybody, and that the situation is notgoing to change with the passing of time while we adapt toa total new culture. Instead, I think that acts of racism andintolerance in the U.S. take place even among Americansthemselves. It is not just an American vs. immigrant situation;violence is everywhere and we need to stop it.Martial:Although I grant that immigrant students should be carefulwhen choosing their friends, they should be allowedto wear expensive clothes, or show off their iPods or cellphones and speak any languages they want without bullyingfrom American students. I maintain that immigrantstudents have been the victims of a lot of bad, cruel,disrespectful, and selfish things from some American students.Therefore, administrators should take this matterinto consideration by talking to the bully and the victim atthe same time, so they can understand those immigrantsaren’t here to take over.Rakhi:On one hand, I agree that immigrants are treated badly,beaten up for being quiet or saying no to the Americans.However, on the other hand, American students are jealousof immigrants, how they work hard and become successfulin their countries. Immigrants take advantageof the opportunities and move forward, whereas someAmericans just don’t care and make fun of others. ■FeedbackWas it something we said?Or didn’t say?Something with which you agree– or disagree?Let Teens in Print know what’s on your mind by sendingus an email at ric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.govPlease include your full name, neighborhood, and your dateof birth (this won’t be printed but is just to verify your ageat the time of publication) and we may run your letter inan upcoming edition.Thank you.Love me/sext me/say what you wantabout me…uuuh, no!By Cheila Martinez // Staff WriterSexting: The act of sending sexually explicitmessages or photos electronically, primarilybetween cell phones. According to TheCenter for Parent/Youth Understanding,the majority of revealing images are being sent fromfemales to males. For girls, the recipient is often aboyfriend. In some cases it may even be an ex-boyfriend,as an act of getting him jealous. If sent to a boyfriend,the female mostlikely wants to keephim interested, as in:“Maybe if I send thishe’ll want to be withme more.” But, someteens wonder, is itreally worth it?SmuckerAlmonord, 15, fromthe John D. O’BryantSchool of Math &Science, says thatwhen he started tosext, “One thing ledto another, and westarted talking abouther breasts and myprivates -- but I don’tconsider myself aman-whore.”Locally, the numberof sexting incidentswas not readilyavailable. But nationwide,the promiscuouspractice is out ofcontrol. Thirty-ninepercent of teens interviewedsaid they sentor posted sexually suggestive messages, accordingto a recent survey by The National Campaign toPrevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, andCosmoGirl.com.Girls view celebrities such as Vanessa Hudgens andMiley Cyrus as role models -- and they had racy picturessurface worldwide. Just because you see a so-called stardoing it doesn’t mean you have to, teens say. “A guy wouldonly like you for sexual reasons,” says Almonord.On the 2009 season premiere of the show “Degrassi”on TeenNick, Alli sent naked photos to her boyfriendJohnny hoping that it would make their relationship morepublic. But it backfired when, out of anger, he sent thosemessages to one of his friends. As a result, Alli’s reputationwas ruined.In the real world, the consequences can be more serious.In one case, in September, a 13-year-old Florida girlsent a topless picture of herself to a boy she liked. Theimage got into the wrong hands. Schoolmates called her aslut. The teen ended up hanging herself in her bedroom.Joe Kidd, New Media and 21st Century Learning SkillsCoordinator forBoston PublicSchools, says thatwhen explicit informationis found ona phone, “It shouldimmediately beturned in to theadministrator ifconfiscatedin school.”Some girls maythink that you couldkeep a guy in therelationship if youdo dirty things --such as sexting andmaybe even physicalsex when you’renot ready, just toeither please himor to build a wallto block yourinsecurity.Taylor Martin,15, from theO’Bryant, says:“It’s really stupid,because obviously▲ AFH photo by Vicki Chinthe person you’resending it to isn’t going to keep it to themselves. If a guyreally loves and wants to be with you he wouldn’t ask youto take racy pictures. He’ll want to be with you for who youare inside. It’s not just a photo or a video of yourself; it’s abasic disrespect of your body.”Jaquan Wallace 15, from Boston CommunityLeadership Academy, agrees. “Sexting is not a good wayfor teens to communicate to one another,” he says. “Iwould never do it.”No one can protect your body but yourself. According tolaw enforcement authorities, it is illegal to force anybodyunder 18 to pose in a nude photograph for sexual gratification.So, stand up: DON’T PRESS SEND. ■Sextual beingsBe smart: Think before you send pictures,knowing that nothing is private in cell phonesor cyberspace. These photos can wind up inthe hands of potential employers or collegeadmissions officers.Be strong: Don’t do anything you’re notcomfortable with, like sending a naked photo.Be responsible: Never ask someone to sendnude photos to you, and never forward nudephotos to others.--- Cheila MartinezSources: BPS and eSchool NewsSeXXXting marks the spot•Thirty-three percent of young people havebeen involved with sexting naked images.•Girls are more likely than guys to share a nudeimage of themselves, 13 percent to 9 percent.•Sixty-one percent of those who have sexted anude photo or video of themselves say they werepressured to do so at least once.•Twenty-nine percent of those who have sextednaked images of themselves sent them to peoplethey knew only online, and had never met.--- Cheila MartinezSource: September 2009 Associated Press/MTV studyIllicit sextFor teenagers in Massachusetts, sexting canlead to serious criminal charges that include:•Possession of child pornography.•Posing a minor in a state of nudity.•Distribution of harmful matter to a minor.-- Cheila MartinezSource: Berkshire District Attorney’s Officewww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 5

HISTORY REVISITEDHISTORY REVISITEDOut of AfricaThe mythology of miseryBy Martial Romuald Ngankam // Contributing WriterIbelieve that many organizations and peoplehave portrayed Africa as the center of misery,instead of seeing the place from a differentpoint of view, where Mother Nature representscertain peoples’ spirits. Africa is a beautiful place,and one of the rare continents on the planet with astrong biodiversity.I am from Cameroon. As a kid living in Africa, I neverimagined youths being the product, and model, for somecharities to use for expanding their boundaries. But whilegrowing up, I started to understand the world I was in. Theword “charity” is just for entertaining others and makingpeople give money. Innocent babies are only living so thatmoney can be given. All these babies don’t always get themoney from the charity, and most of them are left withouthope to taste the good their images were spread aroundto help collect. The money these charities collected is onlyto help the charities’ pockets get bigger because the targetis only a stranger: little babies they don’t even know.As time passes, people’s thoughts are getting worse aboutthe place. Some even ignored that Africa’s a continent andnot a country.Africa gets the attention from a one-sided perspective,and people are putting negative energy into a wrongcause. The charities are showing only one picture of Africa,making me feel sad to see people not able to providesomething to eat for their families, sleeping with bodiesexposed to disease. But this is not all of Africa.Producers are only filming places where hungergrows faster than a tree.Instead of focusing on this dirty corner, they can showthe real visage of the continent. I am sure people aredying and suffering everywhere around the world, and anydocumentary will turn out to be a déjà vu scene wherepeople share poverty like breakfast. But if we open oureyes from this long dream we are stuck in, many of uswill realize that we were blinded by the media. Charityshouldn’t pretend to take care of needy people whenusing only the neediest as marketing.Don’t judge me wrong: donations help. Misery is inAfrica, but it comes from somewhere. Instead of dealingwith only misery, we should focus on corruption there. Ifwe fight corruption in Africa, misery will be the same thereas anywhere around the globe. Then, people will not havejust one picture of Africa in mind. nColumbus daze:recasting the American icon as evilBy Tianee Geronimo // Contributing WriterIn history, we are all familiar withthe story of how ChristopherColumbus sailed the oceanblue in 1492 to search for newland and ended up in the Americas. It issaid that Columbus was the first to findthe Americas. He became an historicalAmerican figure.While some of this is true, there are stillmany untold details behind this story tomake you question whether Columbus is ahero or a villain. Many say that he is a herobecause of the new skills he brought backto his homeland. Others feel that he was avillain for exposing the Indians to the harshnew life he gave them. For this reason andmany more, I feel that Columbus is definitelynot a hero, but a villain.How much do you truly know about thestory and how much of it is kept secret infavor of Columbus? Columbus is stated tobe the first to discover the Americas, whenin reality he was nowhere near that. TheIndians were there before anyone else;they migrated from Asia chasing the bison.I believe that Columbus should not begiven as much credit as he is. Sure, hedid some good things for his society, andhelped improve his country’s way of living.But at whose expense? The rise of hishomeland to him meant the destruction ofsomeone else’s homeland.A lot of the information that is left outis done purposely to make this historicalfigure seem flawless. When Columbus wentto the Americas, not only did he rob Indiansof their things, but his army is also saidto have enslaved them. Columbus and hiscrew brought many diseases to the Indians’land, such as chicken pox, malaria, yellowfever. Would you call a man with thesecharacteristics America’s historical figure?I’m not alone when I say that I feelColumbus is not a hero and that he shouldnot be celebrated on Columbus Day. Willyou see Columbus for whom he really is,or will you cover up his flaws to make himseem like the hero he is not? n“I feel that Columbusis definitely not a hero,but a villain.”▲ AFH painting by Uka Agwu▲ AFH painting by Billy Nunez6 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.comwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 7

VIEWS & attItUDESMy FUtURE bOSSCourting troubleCyberbullying upheld as free speechBy Katryna Mahoney // Senior EditorRecently, I read an articleabout an eighth-graderin California who wastargeted by a group ofschoolmates with a “bad-mouthing” videoposted on YouTube. When the victim toldher school what happened, the bully wasbriefly suspended. In turn, the bully tookthe case to federal court, saying her freespeech rights were violated. In a recentdecision, the court agreed, and said sheshouldn’t have been suspended at all.After reading about this incident, I felta couple of emotions, especially becausecyberbullying is a topic I care about andwant others to, as well. I felt bad for theeighth-grader who was picked-on, becauseit was an act of humiliation and unkindness.But I was also disappointed in theadults who showed little to no sympathy forher. Cyberbullying is an issue that happensa lot in the young-people-world, especiallynow with all of this advancing technology,and it can be very harmful. I think olderpeople, generally, don’t understand howhurtful it can be, which is why the cyberbullyin this case only received a punishmentof two suspension days.Those opposing my opinion may believethat people have the right to say whateverthey please, without considering others’feelings. Yet I believe that at these times inour lives where some of us are “emotionallyfragile,” we should be aware andcaring of others’ sensitivities. Justbecause we have the right to say nastythings doesn’t mean that we should.In 2006, a Missouri teen committedsuicide after hate-filled words were sentto her online.Also, where are the parents and guardians?I think it’s time for people to step upand teach young people about the dangersof cyberbullying. ■No argument here: Debate is greatBy Gena White // Staff WriterCyberbullyingErica Corsano, fashionistaBy Roytel Montero // Contributing WriterFor years, Erica Corsano wasthe self-proclaimed “baglady of Boston.” Even on therainiest and unappealingof days, Corsano could be found strollingthrough Saks or Neiman Marcus, shoppingbags in hand, looking utterly absorbed bythe inspiring fashion around her.Months ago, I asked Corsano to meetme for coffee at Boston’s Copley mall. Myobjective? To learn more about her fascinatingcareer. Now the editorial director ofStuff Magazine, Corsano was a freelancefashion writer, stylist, and consultant whenI met her.On the afternoon of our get-together,I caught up with this style maven atBoston: “New York is the training groundfor this business -- the boot camp.” At thispoint, my eyes tripled in circumference andI could not wait to hear more.It is impossible to mention fashioncareers and not get images of dragonladies and ruthless dream-shattering, asin “The Devil Wears Prada.” In the worldof fashion and media, Corsano explainedthat it is indeed “cutthroat” and very easyto get caught up in the glamour and glitzof it all. However, she does not go withoutmentioning: “It’s really important to havea balance, because it can get really overwhelming.Like me -- I meditate and I doyoga.” With a surprisingly nonchalant andinspiring undertone, she says, “At the end“Our lives are insignificantunless we help each other.I believe it’s all ofour callings in life.”– Erica CorsanoA recent study found that African-American students who participate in organizeddebates do better academically than those who don’t. Learning specialistsin the Boston Public Schools believe that debating spurs even more widespreadsuccess. Below, New Mission High School sophomore and T.i.P. staffer GenaWhite writes about how being a member of the Boston Debate League has ledher down a promising new path.Debate. Most of us do itevery day in our lives,though most do not doit as an organized sport.Yes, I would have never thought of debateas a sport, yet it is just as hardcore as anyphysical one.Before joining the debate team, I wouldnot have considered arguing such a heatedcompetition, unless it benefited me.Usually, I was known as the athlete; arguingwas just a side-thing that happenednaturally to me. From verbal sparring withclassmates, though, my English teacherrealized how natural I was at it, and feltthat it would benefit the school’s debateteam, as well as me.Coming in to New Mission High Schoolas a freshman, things were tough and mygrades were rocky, which was the reasonmy teacher took the initiative to pursueme as part of the team. She also believedjoining debate would make my gradesskyrocket, and help me become an honorstudent.At first, I did not want to do it. Yet if I didnot decide to take my teacher’s proddinginto consideration, I would not be the wayI am today. Through debate, my skills haveflourished in many areas that have helpedme in my journey to become a successfullearner. It has helped me get better atanalyzing things, such as documents andwords that people say.In debate, we have to learn how toevaluate the pieces of evidence we aregiven, to help create a strong case of argumentsto beat an opponent. Through this, Ihave strengthened my interpretation skills,which has let me articulate my words in amore precise way that helps people betterunderstand what I am saying.All of these tools are very useful in academics,yet joining this debate team hasalso helped me socially. I can start conversationsbetter, since I feel like a moreconfident speaker. Debate also helped memeet new people, from upper-classmenin my own school to people outside of it.It has made me a lot more open to creatingfriendships, because people may looka certain way, yet they are often not whatthey may seem.Through hard work and many tournaments,I have become the successful studentI am today. I owe many thanks to mycoaches for pushing me to do this. In theend, debate has helped me discover mygoal in life: to attend Harvard and becomea lawyer. ■Neiman’s, one of my favorite stores. Afashion enthusiast, I could not help but bemomentarily captivated by the display ofmen’s shoes at the entrance.Corsano, 31, is upbeat and engulfed inan air of insouciance when she greets meat the top of the escalator. We dip into thenearest Starbucks. This is, of course, afterwe stop and chat about the Ferragamo andLouis Vuitton shoes in window displays.Corsano was raised in a family wherefashion was a passion. The sister of afashion editor, she got her first fashionjob in public relations at a major house ofstyle, Bottega Veneta. Though it did nottake much for me to become fascinated byher many lessons, my interest really piquedwhen she started talking about the differencebetween working in New York City andof the day, it’s just clothing. I mean, it’sjust shoes and bags here; we’re notcuring cancer.”All this stress does not come withoutsome hefty rewards. Corsano enjoys theaspect of working in a smaller city suchas Boston, as opposed to New York City,because she is what some would call the“wearer of many hats.” In a smaller city,with smaller publications, it is more likelythat you will do many jobs and not bestuck in one role in a huge operation. Asfor her day-to-day life, her many tasks mayinclude: “deciding which stories to pitch…meeting with local personalities and businessowners…styling shoots with a team ofpeople to create a fashion spread.” This isin addition to actually writing and editing.In five years, Corsano wants to “be runninga national women’s publication toinspire women across the country.” And in10? She hopes to be the next Oprah. Weshare a laugh and I can see that ambitionis indeed the most stylish accessory forsomeone to sport.Along with big plans for fashion,Corsano enjoys doing non-profit work mentoringteens and working with senior citizens.Her demeanor takes on a more exciteddimension when she says: “Our livesare insignificant unless we help each other.I believe it’s all of our callings in life.”By the time the interview comes to anend, I can see again just why I want towork in fashion.Upon saying goodbye, I know this is certainlynot our last time communicating. Iam grateful for the opportunity I have beengiven to meet such a role model. Exitingthe mall through the same doors I entereda little over 30 minutes prior, I look in themirror without hesitation and see myselfin a new light. I am capable and readyto make my dreams come true. As I dartthrough the night’s pouring rain into thesubway, I just know I am on my way to theworld of dragon ladies and ruthless dreamshatteringand, for some reason, that doesnot scare me one bit. ■8 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 9▲ Photo by Mike Diskin

wassup at schoolwassup at schoolTeens say: Get it through your head…we need more sex-ed!AP in the H-u-bBy Roxanne Taylor // Senior EditorBy Shanasia Bennett // Senior Editor“You gon’ think I inventedsex.”That is one of thelines in hot R&B singerTrey Songz’s recent single, “InventedSex.” The song is very bold and outthere, helping make having sex evenmore the It thing to do for youth.“There are many messages aboutsex that youth are seeing daily andtalking about now at younger ages,”says nurse practitioner Jane Tuitt ofthe Codman Square Health Center.According to the 2009 Boston HighSchool Youth Risk Behavior Survey,54% of Boston Public Schools studentshave had sexual intercourse, butonly 39% used a condom during theirmost recent time. This means thatmany youth are not protecting themselvesenough.Among the reasons: “My boyfrienddoesn’t like them.” “I don’t like theway they feel.” “They make me itch.”“I’m allergic.”Another reason, some teens say,is that they are not getting enoughsex-ed, or that they simply do notknow who to go to for information andadvice. Most Boston teens interviewedsaid they have only had sex educationbetween grades 6 and 10, and that itjust wasn’t enough. One student saidthat from middle school until the ninthgrade, she did not receive any sex-edat all.Want to be a student reporter?Join T.i.P. Please call us at617-541-2651To help tackle this problem, thisyear BPS kicked off a comprehensivesex-education curriculum known asGet Real. The program, which teacheseverything from self-awareness toresponsible decision-making skills,is in 19 middle schools, and aims tointroduce sex-ed to kids at a youngerage. “Some children are going tothrough puberty early, which meansthey need education earlier,” saysBarbara Huscher Cohen, a healtheducationspecialist at BPS.One thing for sure is the importanceof getting your annual checkups.For the STI chlamydia, 75 percent ofinfected women show no symptoms,according to the federal government.So if you’re not getting checked out,you could be giving your partner anSTI and not even know it.Some teens think the best way toavoid problems is to just not have sexat all until marriage.“One of the reasons it’s good to bea virgin is because…you don’t have toworry about pregnancy or getting anSTI or STD,” says Gaelle Pierre, 18, ofthe Edward M. Kennedy Academy forHealth Careers.Waiting until your wedding night tohave sex may be the safest method,but there are many others, includingmale and female condoms. So, beforeyou lay in that bed, use your head andremember to protect yourself. n▲ AFH photo by Rich PhilippeWhat if you couldchoose classes inschool that you wantedto take, and getcollege credit if you passed them? Soundsinteresting, right, but are you aware theseclasses even exist? If not, you’ve probablynever heard of Advanced Placement courses,AP for short.Until recently, many Boston PublicSchools students could not take AP courses.But that is changing: According to BPS,the number of juniors and seniors enrolledin AP jumped from 1,582 five years ago to2,304 today.Now, thanks to a $2.4 million federalgrant, BPS hopes to expand the reachof AP even further, city officials recentlyannounced at the John D. O’Bryant Schoolof Math & Science.Nigel Robinson, 17, a student at theO’Bryant, said at the school’s Octoberassembly that he believes AP helpedhim a lot. “[I’ve] learned what it takesto challenge yourself,” he said.Students who pass an AP exam inBy Raychel Wingert // Contributing WriterThis year in BSAC (BostonStudent Advisory Council),we are working on threemain projects. They are:teacher-to-student constructive feedback,student involvement in teacher hiring,and the BPS homework policy. I’ve talkedabout all of these projects and more in previousarticles, but in this issue I would liketo focus on homework.What is homework? The dictionary definitionfor homework is “preparatory schoolwork done outside school (especially athome).” That being said, homework isto prepare you for school work that isbeing done in your classes. This is a timewhen you are able to take the work homefrom class, and review the lessons youhigh school are three times more likelyto complete college, officials said. Toencourage that, some students canearn privately-funded cash bonusesfor passing AP testsBut don’t get confused. AP classesare tough. “AP classes push students towork harder than they ever have before,”Michelle Boyle, an AP English teacher atEnglish High School in Jamaica Plain,said at the O’Bryant event.The O’Bryant is one school that offersAP on campus. But, for example, this can’tbe said for Fenway High School, accordingto Melissa Duggan, spokeswoman forBPS. However, through Emmanuel College,Fenway students can take advancedcourses there.The federal money is expected to supportwork in 32 high schools and 14middle/K-8 schools -- a good sign for BPSkids who want to go to the best collegesin the U.S.As Mayor Tom Menino said at theO’Bryant: “These are very valuable daysto you. Don’t waste them.” nBUZZlearned in school in a quiet environment.Homework is not supposed to be a test. Itis when you are allowed to make mistakes,and learn from them to do better on thetests and quizzes.We feel that homework should not begraded on whether the answers are right orwrong, but on the amount of effort you putin. For example, have you ever spent hourson a couple of problems in your mathhomework, and gotten a zero for a gradebecause you weren’t sure how to use theformula? This is not fair to the student.Homework is an assessment to see whereyou are in your learning.Another problem BSAC is workingon with school officials is to make surethe homework being given is not just• BPS today offers 136 AP classes, a 37% increase from 2004-2005,when there were only 99.• BPS high schools have AP courses in 28 subjects.•Over the past several years, BPS has trained 281 teachers, headmasters,and guidance counselors in AP instruction and placement through theCollege Board Institute.-- Roxanne Taylorbusy work, but allows the student toactually be thinking. In every homeworkassignment, we believe critical thinkingshould be involved. This allows studentsto learn and use their brains on a differentlevel. For example, has your teacher evergiven you homework that has nothing todo with the lessons that were done inclass that day? How are you supposedto know what to do and how to go aboutthe problem if you have never seenanything like it before?Also, each subject (not includingAdvanced Placement or Honors) shouldonly take you about 30 minutes toan hour. I don’t understand why oneteacher will tell you to read five chaptersand have an outline summary on eachThe ABCs of APSource: BPSdue in class the next day, knowing sheis not your only teacher, and that itwill take you hours to complete theassignment.Lastly, BSAC believes that homeworkshouldn’t count for more than 20 percentof your grade -- except for longer researchprojects. As high school students, we allknow that there aren’t enough hours in theday to do all your homework, go to extracurricularactivities and sport practices,and still find time to eat, sleep,and breathe!If you are interested in joining BSACor getting more information about ourwork, please contact Maria I. Ortiz atmortiz@boston.k12.ma.us or at617-635-8079 ext 104. n10 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 11

DANIEL ALFAROCelebrity crush: Jennifer AnistonNew Year’s resolution:Not to come 17 times late to school anymoreFavorite brand of jeans: EckoText or AIM: Text!SHANASIA BENNETTCelebrity Crush: JeremihFirst song you learned thewords to: “Barney Theme Song”Favorite scent: Burger King foodFavorite brand of jeans: Levi’sLADONYA BUCHANANCelebrity crush:A-Rod (He’s secretly my bro…LOL)First song you learned the words to:“Greatest Love of All,” Whitney HoustonFavorite brand of jeans: HydraulicQuesadillas or tacos: Taquitos LOLPAIGE CARRUTHERSCelebrity crush: Johnny DeppNew Year’s resolution: Run five miles.Unlikely, but I’m staying optimisticFavorite scent: Citrusy smellsQuesadillas or tacos: Yo quiero Taco BellTYLER COHENFirst song you learned the words to:“Rockin’ Robin”New Year’s resolution:To get a third dogFavorite scent: PineQuesadillas or tacos: Quesadillas, no doubt!JOEY DICHIARACelebrity crush: Mr. PeanutFirst song you learned the words to:“Bohemian Rhapsody,” QueenNew Year’s resolution: To stop spendingmoney at those evil movie theatersFavorite brand of jeans: Bullhead skinnysXHERSI LAKACelebrity crush:Any Victoria’s Secret modelNew Year’s resolution: Don’t know yetPizza or Chinese food: PizzaFavorite brand of jeans: LuckymeetthestaffWrite for Teens in Print!SEND your essays, letters, articles,commentaries, poems, pen-andinkdrawings or cartoons, and photos.EMAIL submissions toric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.govSend them as either MS Wordattachments or email messages.Provide your name, age, gradeand school. You must attend oneof the Boston Public high schools.Boston Teens in Print unites the city’s teens to createan outlet to inform, communicate, and providepositive change through written expression.Next issue: March 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 writingDouble spacedTimes New Roman, 12 point fontIn 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. www.bostontip.comYou 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.www.bostontip.comwww.writeboston.orgTOM LEUFirst song you learned the words to:“Happy Birthday”New Year’s resolution:To be more positiveQuesadillas or tacos: TacosText or AIM: AIMKATRYNA MAHONEYCelebrity crush: Larenz TateFirst song you learned the words to:Probably some Barney songNew Year’s resolution:They never work for meFavorite scent: Fresh airCHEILA MARTINEZCelebrity crush: Taylor LautnerFirst song you learned the words to:“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”New Year’s resolution:To go to as many open mic nights as I canFavorite scent:Pink by Victoria’s SecretKAMEISHA MOBRAYCelebrity crush: Tristan WildsNew Year’s resolution: To let goPizza or Chinese food: BothText or AIM: TextMELISSA RODRIGUEZCelebrity crush: Leonardo DiCaprioFirst song you learned the words to:The “Chicken Dance”New Year’s resolution:To try new things and meet new peopleFavorite scent:Outside after it rainsDAJA TAYLORCelebrity crush:Johnny Depp, Taylor LautnerFirst song you learned the words to:“This is Halloween”New Year’s resolution:To be a better personPizza or Chinese food: ChineseROXANNE TAYLORCelebrity crush: Trey SongzFirst song you learned the words to:Jamaica’s National AnthemPizza or Chinese food:General Tsao’s ChickenFavorite scent:Sky Blue, Dolce & GabbanaGABRIEL WARDCelebrity crush: I have a ton, but whenI met them, they were all shortFirst song you learned the words to:“The Batty Rap”…Fo’ shizzleQuesadillas or tacos:Both, with asparagusText or AIM:Text? AIM? What is this gibberish?TREVOR WARDFirst song you learned the words to:The “Pokemon Theme”New Year’s resolution:Less video gamesFavorite scent: Rotisserie turkeyFavorite brand of jeans: DickiesGENA WHITECelebrity crush:Taylor Lautner, got the werewolf feverNew Year’s resolution: Give up soda,my one true weaknessFavorite scent: Freshly-done laundryText or AIM: Neither. I don’t like virtualhugs! I like the real dealThetragedyin HaitiWe know that many of you have beenaffected by the devastation in Haiti. Inour next issue, we plan on publishingessays from the classroom about theunfathomable destruction of peopleand places in your homeland.We hope that you will be able tocontribute your own writings so thatother teens will better understandthe true situation both here and there.If you want, please send us aword document, or an email, toric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.gov,and we will get back to you.Our thoughts are with you all.12 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 13

SAY WHAT?SAY WHAT?On dawgz, we’re dumb sick of hearingthat word, kid!By LaDonya Buchanan // Senior EditorA picture is worth a thousand words, but what are those words worth?Words sometimes determine one’s emotions. Sticks and stones can break people’s bones but theysay that words can’t hurt their feelings. Well, some words hurt feelings while others hurt ears. Teens inPrint went Downtown to do a survey, and we asked: “What word or phrase are you tired of hearing?”“Kid -- Mad people say it. A 12-year-old walkedup to me and said, ‘Wassup, kid’ ”?-- Hamza Aitirhli, 18, East Boston“That’s my {N-word} -- It’s rude and itshows signs of inner oppression.”-- Shayla Bruce, 16, Dorchester“I don’t know -- That’s thephrase. People use it as an excuse.”-- Diane Joseph, 16, Mattapan“On dawgz -- It’s annoying.”-- Crisonis Marte, 15, Hyde Park“{the n-word} -- It’s immature and tiring.”-- Pablo Ovalles, 17, Roslindale“Rash -- The meaningisn’t used properly.”-- Brianna Millor,15, DorchesterBallistic linguisticsGetting the hang of slangBy Trevor Ward // Staff WriterIs slang being abused to the point where peoplecan’t understand each other? That’s a verygood question, and it all depends on what onewould think is too much. “Yo, that game is sowhack, it’s cold.” Has slang actually escalated to becomea problem? “It all depends on who you talk to,” saidZachary Grasso, 15, a student from Boston Latin School.“It can be over-used by some people, but not very much byothers. It matters where you are or what school you’re in.”But that’s not the opinion of Arivu Anukanth, 16, anotherstudent at BLS. “I don’t think it’s being over-used. It’s justa way for people to express themselves.” Seemingly, not alot of teens think slang is a problem, and that is just as itshould be.In the long span of recorded history, scientists andhistorians have discovered that there have almost alwaysbeen forms of written or spoken communication, alsoknown as language. With every formal language there isbound to be an informal language to go with it. In terms ofEnglish, most teens today know what other teens are talkingabout, or at least they should.Now, slang isn’t just something that appears rightaway in languages. No, it has to form over time. Slangis most often formed by “cliques” of people, and teensoften tend to hang out like that. That just strengthens theodds of slang forming. “It tends to be an ‘in-group’ kind oflanguage associated with younger people,” said CharlesMeyer, 57, a professor of applied linguistics at UMass/Boston. “It’s also used as a means of establishing themselvesas part of a peer group.”But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With the rise ofInternet use, words even form from typos. The term “PWN”originated a few years back, but what a lot of people didn’tknow was that PWN was a typo of another slang word,“own,” which meant in that context: “To win or defeat anopponent in a landslide,” or if you prefer urbandictionary.com’s definition: “To beat someone in a game in a mannerthat displays a much greater level of ability.” But own isnot a new word on its own (no pun intended), but a form ofsynonymous slang. Synonymous slang means it is an officialEnglish word used in a different context than its originaldefinition, for example “That movie was bomb.” In thatsentence, bomb becomes the synonymous word as it isnot being used in its original context, but as a replacementword for awesome. Synonymous words are some of themost common types of slang formed in groups of teens.Slang can often be confusing, but it is also a sign thatlanguage is always forming and changing. Nothing in thisworld is forever, and language is just proof of that. So asfar as we’ve seen, slang has, and always will be, an importantpart of language. ■“Dumb as an inappropriate adjective-- Everybody’s saying it and it doesn’tmake any sense.”-- Jessica Charles, 16, Mattapan“Salted -- It’s a seasoningand they misuse it.”-- Ashlee Johnson, 19, RoxburyShush!What’s the word on the words you’re sick of?You may be sick of other words, but these arethe words that Americans are most sick of:• Whatever………….…47%• You know...……….…25%• It is what it is…….......11%• Anyway………............7%• At the end of the day…2%• N/A…………………...8%-- LaDonya BuchananSource: The Marist Institute for Public Opinion14 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 15

ON THE STREETON THE STREETBored in BostonNo money…no problemBy Tyler Cohen and Gabriel Ward // Staff Writers • Photographs by Joey DiChiaraHow many times have youbeen caught in the middleof Boston with little or nomoney? This seems tohappen a lot with Boston teens; you don’tfeel like going home, but you’re incrediblybored when you get in town. One can thinkof something to do, but it’s usually expensiveor inaccessible. But what if you had a list ofthings to do without a heavy cost? We had amission to create such an inventory. It wasa brisk and breezy Wednesday when we setout on our journey. Here’s the free and cheapstuff we came up with.The Computer Clubhousehead, because most of it was just goofing off.We saw a huge and majestic tree, ripe for theclimbing. After climbing as high as we could,we jumped down.Chasing squirrels is a great way to blow offsteam, especially since they’re impossible tocatch. But we almost did. After getting inchesaway, we came to the realization that rabiesdoes exist in this world, so we backed away,and proceeded to do something else. Afterdoing some flying high fives, we played leapfrog, and, may we add, failed epically at doingso. Clearly just being on the Common makesyou want to run around like you have a beeon you, but it’s a great way to spend yourday having fun and exercising.Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…..To get to the Computer Clubhouse, wetook the Green Line to Science Park, andwalked to the Museum of Science. On thesecond floor next to the garage was a doorwhere you could pick up a phone and ask forthe code to get in. When we walked through,the first things that caught our eyes were theclusters of computers lined across the walls.Straight ahead was a green screen. At theClubhouse, you can be a game designer oran editor, with all the top notch professionalsoftware, and at absolutely no cost. But probablythe best aspect of the Clubhouse is thefriendly and helpful staff and mentors.Game Stop DemosWhen we got to Downtown Crossing, wefelt like playing a good video game. We simplywalked into Game Stop on Winter Street,and waited for our turn at the “Super SmashBros. Brawl” stand. After getting to the controls,we played quite the heavy battle; well,not really, the entire session was just a canof pure wup-ass from one to the other.Boston CommonAs we walked toward Park Street, the overwhelmingopen space surrounded us. Thereare lots of things that we did in the park.We think the fresh air can get to yourPublic GardenIt’s pretty relaxing and conveniently placednext to Boston Common and Copley. ThePublic Garden has great things to do. Webegan by sitting on the docks where theswan boats take off. It’s calming, stress free,and it has a great view. Another fun activity isto just join a random jogger who’s running by.It was awkward at first, but the guy that oneof us ran with got over it. It’s a great way forexercising. The garden is a peaceful place,which is great for walking your dog, and endinga long day. But we’re far from done.Hats and SunglassesI don’t think it really matters where you go-- Downtown Crossing, Faneuil Hall, or Copley-- you can have some fun anywhere. Goinginto Filene’s Basement on Boylston Streetto try on hats was what we did next. Odd,good-looking, or straight-out ugly, there’s ahat for everybody. Finding it was a blast.We went through bunches of hats and finallyspotted a couple of good ones. After puttingthose down, we proceeded to the sunglasses.They’re not that great at Filene’s, but if yougo to Newbury Comics -- on Newbury Streetor at Faneuil Hall -- it’s quite the experience.Newbury Comics had around 100 differentpairs of sunglasses, shutter shades, and fakeGabe and Tyler start their journey…..The great squirrel chase…..“Faneuil Hall may seem expensive,but when you think about it, it’s a good place tojust sit down and witness civilization.”glasses. Just finding an actual pair of realsunglasses is almost impossible, which makesit fun. There’s 3-D glasses, Cyclops glasses,one way mirror glasses -- enough to makeyour head spin. If you take a camera, youcan capture the whole experience and showit to your friends.The Inner Harbor FerryWe used the Inner Harbor Ferry to getfrom Long Wharf, which is right next to theAquarium, to the Navy Yard, which is inCharlestown. It’s a 10-minute ride that wasrelatively smooth. The Harbor air was briskand refreshing. At night, it has the best lit-upview of the city, and during the day you cansee the planes really close up as they takeoff from Logan Airport. Although your studentpass doesn’t get you on, it only costs $1.70,and all link passes work. This is an excitingway to travel, as long as you don’t getsea sick.Faneuil HallGoing through Faneuil Hall may seem ridiculouswithout money, but you’d be surprised.There are a lot of things you can do withoutcash there. Just walking in, we could see allof the street performers, from drummers toextreme-stunt-artists. There were enoughpeople to keep us entertained all day. Afterthe street performers, we took a little strollthrough the food court and grabbed abunch of free samples. We went outsideto the carts and shops and went windowshopping for a few. Faneuil Hall may seemexpensive, but when you think about it,it’s a good place to just sit down andwitness civilization.After our trip, the main conclusion wecame to is that a fun day doesn’t depend onhow full your wallet is. It seems there’s fun inall corners of Boston; you just might need afriend to help you find it. ■The end.16 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 17

T.I.P. MeetsT.I.P. MeetsWilliam ShakespeareThe audition By Lenise Farrier // Contributing Writer▲ AFH photo by Rob GibbsUnder the tutelage of mentors from the Actors’ Shakespeare Project, six students from the Boston Arts Academy recently performedalongside ASP pros in a production of The Bard’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at Midway Studios in Fort Point Channel.While Artists for Humanity’s Rob Gibbs and Andy Cardosa painted the backdrop, three of the BAA youth chronicled theirexperiences before the curtain went up on their budding thespian careers.During theatre class, we got introduced to “AMidsummer Night’s Dream.” It sounded like a funplay, especially the fairy part. I really wanted to be a fairy,because my thoughts of them were how they are prettyand fun and exciting, as in Peter Pan.The day of the auditions came, and as I was waitingto be called I saw different people working on theirmonologues. I started having doubts about whether I wasactually as good as them. I thought to myself, “Who am Ikidding? I will never get a role as a fairy. I am probably justnot the fairy type.”As it was my turn to go into the audition room, I wasn’tnervous at all because I knew I wouldn’t get the role, andI had no idea there were other roles available. The directorexplained to me what the scene was about. So I tooka minute and just placed myself in that fairy position andjust went and did the monologue. All along I thought thatthe fairies were these beautiful magical creatures, butthey were just like normal people with different attitudes.After I did my monologue, the director told me I was goodand said I could leave. I just knew I didn’t get the part.The following week came and I didn’t bother lookingat the board to see if I got the part. When I went to theatreclass, the teacher said: “If you got into the Actors’Shakespeare Project, stand up.” Then she looked at melike: “What are you doing? Stand up!” I was confusedbecause I didn’t know that I got a role.So I left the classroom and checked the board. It said,“WALL,” and I walked back in the classroom and said, “Areyou kidding me? I am a wall.” Everyone laughed.The teacher said that it was a big role, and that I hadmore lines than the fairies. I am like, “So I am a talkingwall,” and once again everyone laughed.I went home telling people that I was cast as a wall.Later on in the week, we had a meeting with the directorand he explained each role. Turns out that I was amechanical named Snout the tinker. In the play withinthe play, I star as the Wall.I thought about it and decided this was much betterthan just being a wall. It wasn’t the role that I was lookingforward to getting, but it is the role I decided I wantedto keep. ■The actor’s life By Nelson A. Martinez Jr. // Contributing WriterWorking with the Actors’ ShakespeareProject has been such a great experience.ASP puts a unique and urban twist to“A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I played thecharacter of Moth, a jittery, active, tough,and restless fairy.On the first day of rehearsal, I knew that itwas going to be interesting. Even though thetimes were a bit long, the great things going onwere very beneficial to me. The first rehearsalwas a blast. We did a read-through of the playand I never expected the actors to put so muchfeeling and energy into it. They had connectionswith one another as if they were actually performingthe scene. Their focus and commitmenthelped me get fully dropped into the sceneand my character.As a small role, I was not expecting much. Butmy character was put in many times. I always▲ AFH photo by Rob Gibbsgot to move around in the space, and I had agood feel for the environment of the play. Also,I never expected to pick out my own costume:baggy green sweatshirt with the words “RebelSpirit” on the back, bright yellow shirt with apurple parrot on it, ripped jeans, and sneakers.Choosing my own costume allowed me to havea better understanding of my character.In rehearsals, I did many acting exercises thathelped me find out how my character walkedand talked and interacted with others. The thingthat I definitely did not expect was practicingdance routines. In a Shakespearian play? It wasan interesting idea to put in a Shakespearianplay, and I definitely enjoyed breaking a sweat!Overall, the rehearsal process gave me a sneakpeek into what working in a professional play isgoing to be like, and I hope to take part in moreof them in the future. ■Acting. It may seem like a simpleand fun thing to do, and for themost part it is when you’re doing it withfriends or family. But a lot changes aftera certain amount of obstacles are put infront of you -- for example, something, like,I don’t know, maybe an audience. Now, ifyou don’t feel even that makes you nervous,how about doing scenes with manyenthusiastic and very-trained professionals?This is what I have been doing for twoweeks now, and I have realized how scaryit can be to work with experienced actors.So, I want to help you learn how to getdown to business with the pros.Day oneI entered a room just after coming fromschool auditions, and I felt weird and verynervous, but excited, as well. As I steppedthrough the doors, I saw the entire castjust watching me enter. My stage managercame up to me and said: “You’re late.” Myheart dropped and I felt like crap but, hey,there has to be a way of making this right,and there is. We are teens. We make mistakes.Don’t let that be your excuse. Don’tbe late, but if you are, make up for it byexplaining why to your director.The moth that roared By Avante Lopez // Contributing WriterA good friend of mine from EmersonCollege (a really well-known theatreschool) told me that the best thing thata director can tell you on the first day ofrehearsal is to tone it down; start with abig block of ice and chip at it slowly untilit’s a beautiful ice sculpture.Day TwoThis was rough and it will always berough because you think you’re ready, butyou’re not. You need to make sure that youkeep your energy high so that you don’tlook out of place more than what youprobably already do.Day three and beyondThese days will be smoother because,by now, you can actually go about creatinga unique and interesting character.I play Snug the joiner/the Lion. Makesure to listen and take notes aboutwhat you are told. Directors want spongeswho are looking to absorb knowledge,not rocks stuck on one idea and unwillingto change. Everything that is said to yougoes beyond the theatre world.It’s life. ■▲ AFH photo by Rob Gibbs18 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 19

Arts & EntertainmentArts & EntertainmentVideo ventureLed Zeppelin rises again in fantasy gameBy Xhersi Laka // Staff WriterLed Zeppelin first formed in 1968as The New Yardbirds in a roombelow a record store on GerrardStreet, in London. Led Zeppelinis a god above bands, but the group’s songsrarely get put into any Guitar Hero or RockBand video games.That’s why I decided to make a fantasyvideo game called “Guitar Hero LedZeppelin.” This is going to include all thealbums Led Zeppelin has ever produced.Obviously, the game will have a story mode.During the story mode, you will be able tovisit places where famous concerts tookplace. An example would be the very firstconcert of the 1971 UK tour, in Belfast,Northern Ireland. Another place you couldvisit is Knebworth, England, where theband played a festival in ’79. Last, butnot least, you will be able to check outZeppelin at the world famous MadisonSquare Garden, in New York City.To advance in the story mode, you willhave to beat the songs in order. In thegame, the songs will be placed as theyappear on each album, and the albumswill be listed in order yearly. ■1971▲ Photo courtesy ledzeppelin.com1979▲ Photo courtesy ledzeppelin.comAnimeniaBy Daniel Alfaro // Staff WriterEvery year, thousands of teens gather atthe Hynes Convention Center for AnimeBoston, a three day extravaganza ofJapanese anime, manga, and pop culture.Though the eighth annual Anime Boston doesn’t takeplace until April 2 to 4, it is already receiving much anticipationas a happening that promises to deliver fun, shopping,and entertainment.Japanese animation is very popular in America; it ispractically the equivalent of cartoons here. Another attractionare Japanese manga, or graphic novels, some ofwhich have been turned into popular animated shows inAmerica such as “Pokémon,” “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” and “DragonBall Z.”Anime Boston holds events that promote interaction offans, panel discussions, and Q & As with creators. Thereare other experiences such as an anime music videocontest and game shows. Many fans participate in the“Masquerade,” a series of skits depicting characters fromdifferent anime or manga.“I love the masquerade because it’s just funny to seeskits and laugh at how the characters are represented,”said Priya Ban, 15, of Boston Latin Academy.It is customary to arrive with a creative costume, andan award is given to the best outfit. If you’re into animeand games, you are bound to make friends.“We all have a common interest; we all know that,” saidTony Chan, 17, from City on a Hill charter school.Chan has attended every Anime Boston, and has participatedin tournaments.“There is competitive play like Tekken, Super SmashBros.,” said Chan.There is also a flea market,at which vendors selllimited-edition merchandiseat low prices. It is a greatway to save cash, and to beable to get an upper handon early-release-edition merchandise.“I have a collection ofa lot of different mangas,”said Jivani Cassar, 18, fromthe John D. O’Bryant Schoolof Math & Science.Anime Boston caters tothe interest of hardcore fans.“For a brief moment,” said Cassar, “you are able tostep outside that box that is everyday life.”Please check www.animeboston.com for pricinginformation. ■“Japanese animationis very popular in America;it is practically the equivalentof cartoons here. Anotherattraction are Japanese manga,or graphic novels...”▲ Art by Derek Taylor20 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 21

CULTURECULTUREThe Knowit-AllTwi-GuysDudes are turning into vampire-series enthusiastsBy Gabriel Ward // Staff WriterBy Tom Leu // Staff WriterDear Know-it-All,This holiday season was awful! Ispent $3,000 on my family, and forwhat? I simply can’t keep up withthis new generation; every gift I give to these kidsthey say is “lame.” For crying out loud, I got my niece,Alexis, the most expensive doll on the market, andshe sighs and says it’s not the one she asked for. Ibought my nephew, Robert, one of the latest and highlyrecommended video games, and he says it’s boring.And on top of that, I bought Ricky, my 14-year-old son,a $1,000 laptop, and he looks at me, complaining,“Toshiba?”What the hell is wrong with these kids?! I sit inline from midnight until 4 in the morning on blackFriday, in the freezing cold, spending my past threepaychecks, and they don’t feel a grain of gratitude?!Even now, they’re still complaining. If I got those giftswhen I was a kid, I would be thrilled! I need help here.Is there any way I can make this all better?-- Name Not GivenWell “Name Not Given” -- if that’s your real name-- I have a couple of comments to make. First of all,this new generation isn’t “Rapidly Moving Forward,”“Fast Thinking,” or “Technologically Inclined.” They’rejust picky. So what do you do with them? Simple, callthem brats and don’t get them anything.That being said, they had some pretty good points.Perhaps little Alexis didn’t like the doll because shedidn’t know where it was from. You know, 83 percentof toys come from China, and we all know that givesher a 67 percent chance of touching one that containsa fatal substance. And don’t you know that thisgeneration isn’t easily excited anymore; they won’t geta rush from a stupid video game. If you really wantedto give Robert the excitement of a video game, youshould have dropped him in a parallel dimension witha level-seven laser gun and the keys to a dungeon fullof radioactive aliens. He’ll have a blast! And Toshiba,really, Toshiba? Next time, why don’t you do a littleresearch?But now to get to the actual question: How canyou make it all better? If you must buy them all something,make it a roller coaster. Don’t even question it.Don’t have money? Inherit some. Don’t have space?Find it. Don’t have a permit? Get one. By the end ofthe month, if they get a roller coaster, they might actuallythink of you as a somewhat adequate person.-- The Know-it-All ■That’s all folks: Toppers assistant Krista Watson shows off the inventory.ToppersGlad hatter to students and starsBy Daja Taylor // Staff WriterHats. They can define a look, make astatement, or just hide a bad hair day.But where can we find hats that breakthe mold? Where can we find headgearthat sets us apart from the crowd? The answer isright Downtown, and if you’ve ever gone to the movietheatre there, you’ve probably walked past it a thousandtimes. If you want original, good quality hats, thenToppers is the place for you.About 25 years ago, Toppers was being run out ofcarts and kiosks in Providence, RI. The business latermoved to Newbury Street, and, as of three years ago,Toppers has been located on Tremont Street.It is a tiny spot, and these aren’t your everyday,run-of-the-mill hats that fill it. There are no sports capshere. But they have just about everything else, fromfedoras to berets to flapper hats. “We cater to everyone,”says owner Dave Dawson. The young, the old,and even the famous shop here. Celebrities such asNas, Mick Jagger, Shaq and many more have purchasedhats for tours, videos, and concerts, Dawson says.▲ AFH photo by Mattaya Fitts“We have something for everyone,” says Dawson.“We have young kids, teenagers come in here, and wehave old church ladies come in here, so I’d say we’repretty well-rounded.”Prices range from $15 to $500. Knitted hats areusually around $15, while designer hats are the mostexpensive and are typically in the hundreds range.“Some of the hats can be a little pricey, but you’repaying for the quality,” Dawson says.From fancy to fun to functional, this store has allkinds of hats for all kinds of people. So, next timeyou’re Downtown, top it off with a trip to Toppers. ■“Twilight.” Just the name makes many menacross the country shudder with disgust.But among them are a select few whogenuinely like the “Twilight” series, andamong those are a slimmer population of guys who arecourageous enough to admit their fascination. Let’s welcomethe men who openly proclaim their love for authorStephenie Meyer’s international phenomenon -- the Twi-Guys. These sharp, brave guys have a keen eye to see theappeal in “Twilight” that most men neglect.Meet Paul Nguyen, age 19, from East Boston. Nguyen isa student at UMass/Boston and works as a delivery man.He is also a certified Twi-Guy. Although he has only seenthe movies, he says that he plans on reading the booksASAP. It is common for a person to see the movie andbecome a casual fan, but Nguyen is different. He says heis leaning towards being the more die-hard fan. The relatablecharacters are what really won Nguyen over.“I just feel like they’re people I know,” he says as herecalls his high school years. His favorite character isEdward, who he says reminds him of himself. “Edwardseems strong, passionate, and is a smart individual.”Let’s take a look at the premise of “Twilight” beforejudgments are passed. “Twilight” follows a teenage girlnamed Bella Swan who moves to Forks, Washington,to live with her divorced father. As she finds out soonenough, Forks is more than just a small and quiet town.Edward Cullen, a student at her school, is a vampire whocraves her blood. His resilience to stay away from her onlydraws them closer together until they eventually fall inlove. Between these two lovers is Jacob Black, the werewolfwho has eyes for Bella, as well. In part two – “NewMoon” -- the audience is exposed to Jacob’s compassionatefeelings towards Bella; Jacob is just as strong and protectiveas Edward. The “Twilight” series is a story of loveand dependence; it has provoked the thoughts of readersby prolonging the answer to the question: Will Bellabecome a vampire?Another brave Twi-Guy who kindly revealed himself is16-year-old Abeizer Ayuso from Dorchester. Ayuso got into“Twilight” before it was widely famous. His friend recommendedthe books and he loved them. He is neutral whenit comes to the vampires vs. werewolves debate, but hisfavorite character is Sam,the werewolf leader. Ayusoenjoys the theme of “Seethe light in the hardesttimes,” and says there isnothing wrong with a guy liking“Twilight.”Or perhaps you prefermore of a werewolf fan-boy.Meet Jeichael Henderson.As a senior at the John D.O’Bryant School of Math& Science, Henderson ismade fun of by other studentsfor being into theseries, but he simply shrugsoff the hate. Henderson hasread the books and seenthe movies; he prefers thebooks because they aremore detailed in storytelling.As for which side heis on, Henderson is TeamJacob because his charactergenuinely cares aboutBella without having an immediate attraction. The messageHenderson gets from the books is the stereotypicalbut heartfelt: “True love comes out of cost.”Twi-Guys are a proud group of men who profess theirpassion for the series. Their existence brings about thedisproving that “Twilight” is only a girl thing. Althoughsome can feel awkward being male fans, the fascination istoo hard to resist. As Henderson would say: “I feel weirdall the time, but I don’t care.” ■Location:151 Tremont Street, BostonHours: Mon-Sat 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.;Sun 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.▲ AFH photo by Mattaya Fitts22 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.comwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010/ 23

thewallw a l l“I’M HERE”Gena WhiteIt hurts to watch a smile fade away off someone’s faceDay by day it tears my insides apartFor all I want to do is helpPeople deserve to wear frowns on their faces because life ain’t easyBut I can’t sit and watch helplessly as the person I once knew disappears from sightYou put that fake smile on, but I can see right through itI hold out my hand for you to takeBecause I know how it feels to die insideI know that horrid, empty feelingBut you’re not aloneI’ll be by your side through thick and thinNo matter the obstacleThat smile brightened the day of othersYet where did that shine go?I’m here to help you find itBeing stuck in darkness by yourself is scarySo take my hand and I’ll help show you the light▒▒▲ Art by Cheila MartinezI wanna givea shout-out toOB class of 2010!2’X…All blueeverything!“If you ain’t rock ’n’ roll, you ain’t a man.So put on the leather, the ripped-up KissT-shirt, studded belt, fingerless gloves, andthe bandanna. Now turn the radio up, ’causeyou’ve just sold your soul to rock ’n’ roll.”-- Xhersi Laka▒▒▒-- FrijolesDaniel Alfaro“Schemers trying to controltheir little worlds.I’m not a schemer. I try toshow the schemers howpathetic their attempts tocontrol things really are.”▲ Art by LaDonya S. Buchanan▲ Art by Gabriel Ward-- The Joker in“Dark Knight”▲ Art by Daja TaylorTrevor Ward▲ Art byTrevor Ward悪 魚 , or in English, “Evil Fish,”is a demonic creature which has onlyallegedly been spotted in the region of Kantō,Japan. It is thought to have somelink to “El Arena Diablo” (literally, The SandDevil), but there is no proof connectingthese two. However, both do represent twoof the four natural elements,earth and water.24 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / JAN/FEB 2010 / www.bostontip.com