Why Everyone Should Have a Pet -- Karlee Sanders

Anatole France once said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” I am under the opinion that everyone should own a pet. Whether it be a cat, dog, mouse, snake, or pet elephant, everyone should absolutely have one. Pets are entertaining, loyal, and they reduce stress.

Pets provide hours upon hours of endless entertainment. Just like people, they are constantly showing off their quirks and personalities. Common pets like cats and dogs are known best for their constant entertainment. These animals often have special personalities, and they aren’t afraid to show them off. But, some uncommon pets like snakes and birds have also been known to be entertaining. I guess it’s all in the type of pet you choose! This is just one of the many reasons everyone should own a pet.

Moving on, pets also are loyal. Sometimes the people in your life let you down and leave. Pets, however, would never do that to you. A pet’s owner is all that a pet has. Think about that, if you only had one person in your life that provided for you and loved you for who you are, would you ever want to leave them? Of course not! That’s exactly why pets are so great! When people let you down, you can turn to your pet for emotional support. 

Lastly, everyone in the entire universe (Yes, that includes aliens, because why not?) should have a pet because they reduce stress. We live in a fast paced world where stress is very prevalent in our everyday lives. Coming home to a pet that is super happy to see you can relieve the stress of your workday. Pets can listen to you vent about your stress without judgement, and that can help you become more relaxed. Pets also help keep your mind off of other stuff because they need to be fed, loved, bathed, and generally taken care of all the time.

So, as you can see, pets are great. Everyone should have a pet of their own! Any animal can be entertaining, loyal, and help reduce stress!

Elementary School- Wesley Jordan (#2)

Do you remember the time that we were in Elementary School? To me it feels like we were just in the 6th grade running around at recess playing basketball and swinging on the play ground. But in reality it was about 5 years ago. Elementary School as I remember was always fun but the work was hard. We always watched movie almost every Friday. Life was just more simpler when we were in Elementary School. When I look back I always remember that I always thought the work was hard. But compare the work in Elementary school work to High school work is two different work sheets. I will never forget the most fun things of Elementary School, which was field trips and fun day. When we went on field trips it was always fun. We went just about anywhere. We went to the zoo, Craighead forest, nature center, bowling, and much more places. It was always fun to go on field trips with all of your friends in your grade. I still remember the memories that we made on the field trips. We can't forget about fun day. Fun day was always the best day to be at school. You got to be at school but you got to do basically anything that you wanted to. You had bingo, basketball, jump houses, and no one can forget the big inflatable maze that they had every year. I remember several times I would hide out in the maze so I never had to get out and get back in line. Now that I think about it there was bad things about elementary school. When you didn't get your work done you had to set inside and finish it before you could go outside and play with your friends. Also if it took you awhile to quit down the teachers would make you set on the side walk and watch your class mates have fun. That was always torture. But overall Elementary school was really fun. You weren't expected to do much but be good and get your work done while you were in the class.

All about me-Wesley Jordan (#1)

My name is Wesley Jordan. I just completed the 10th grade and I am now going into the 11th grade. My 11th grade year I feel like it is the most important year of my high school life. I hope and pray that it will go by smooth and steady so I don't get stressed and have a break down in the middle of my Jr. Year. My life is pretty easy going, most would say it is boring. I like to stay in my bedroom and watch Netflix most of the time. I do get outside sometimes and like to hang with my friends. I like to go swimming and go eat with my friends. I don't do much during school weeks because I am tired most of the time. I come home normally and go up to my bedroom and eat and watch Netflix. Except on Wednesdays I go to church and hang out with my youth group. My plans for the summer is to mostly hang out with friends and finish watching the series The Office. But other than that I have other things that I am going to do. We are going to Gatlinburg for about a week, I am going to have surgery on my teeth, and lets not forget the summer assignment Ms. Long has us doing. My birthday is also coming up in July. My mom says that I am going to be getting a job but we'll see about that. I guess that I could get a job but, who would want to work during summer? But on the other hand, a job could come in handy so my mom doesn't gripe when I ask her for money. I hope that all of my friends have a great summer and that they do all of the stuff they want to do or have planned to do. And I also hope that everyone that is planning on taking AP English can finish there summer assignment and be able to stay in the AP class.

Me And My Plan

        I am Samantha LeighAnn Lyles. I am 16, and will be graduating early with the class of 2017. I have been cheering since 6^th grade and have been an FFA officer for 2 years now. If you know me, then you know that I stress over every little thing that happens. I micromanage my life. I am definitely a perfectionist and strive to do my best at all times. If I had to choose one food to eat for the rest of my life, it would easily be pizza. My favorite color would be mint green. I love listening to music and you can usually find me with headphones at any given time. I'm sad about leaving my friends behind, but I can't wait to continue my education in college. When I graduate from college, Arkansas State University, with a degree in psychology and a minor in chemistry and biology, I hope to become a clinical psychologist. I also hope to be to be president of the sorority I plan to join, Delta Zeta. A clinical psychologist diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Once my career started I want to settle down and get married and build a nice house. I also want to adopt a child to raise and take care as my own. After I have myself taken care of, I want to help with multiple charities. I really want to help at The Painted Turtle Camp. This is a camp for children who have disabilities and life-threatening/chronic illnesses. While at the camp the children can have fun like every other kid and receive the care they need. I have so much planned for my future and am determined to accomplish all of it. You may think that I have too much on my plate and won't be able to do it, but I won't stop until I'm satisfied. After all, nothing worth having comes easy.

Super Cool Facts

The average human body carries 10x more bacteria cells than human cells.

-The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth at over 1,242 miles long.

-The average human walks the equivalent of five times around the world in a lifetime.

-Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.

-Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour.

-Your body has enough iron in it to make a 3 inch nail.

-Your ears and nose never stop growing.

-We spend about 10% of our wake hours with our eyes closed, blinking.

-There are over 100 types of cancer and any part of the body can be affected.

-Your heart beat changes and mimics the music you listen to.

-Within 3 days of death, the enzymes that helped you in digestion begin to eat you.

-You use up to 200 muscles while taking one step.

-Your taste bud are replaced every 10 days.

-Without your pinky, your would lose 50% of your hand strength.

-1 out of 200 people have an extra rib.

-Russia is bigger then Pluto.

-Every 13 minutes , a woman dies from breast cancer in the Unites States.

-1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within their lifetime.

-14 billion pounds of garbage are dumped into the ocean every year; most of it is plastic.

-Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface.

-Flowers can grow faster by listening to music.

-Humans spend about a third of their life sleeping; that's 25 years.

-Sleeping less than 7 hours a each night reduces your life expectancy.

-Lack of sleep can cause weight gain of up to 2 pounds in under a week.

-It's impossible to sneeze while you're sleeping.

-People can only live up to 11 days without sleep.

-Sea otters hold hands while sleeping so they don't drift away from each other.

-Every day, your heart produces enough energy to drive a truck for 20 miles.

-Your heart can keep beating even if it's separated from the body because it has it's own electrical impulse.

-Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.

                                                                                

                                                                             -Samantha Lyles

STRESS

           Stress is a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical or mental equilibrium. No one is a stranger to stress. As a teen, I can tell you that stress is an everyday thing for me. 33% of people feel that they are living in extreme stress. It's nothing new to us. It seems to be everywhere and seems never ending. In fact, 77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, but she be in moderation. A little stress may be helpful in motivating you to study or meet deadlines, Many health problems are linked to stress such as heart disease, depression, digestive problems, sleep problems, weight problems, auto immune disease, and skin conditions. Symptoms of stress include poor judgment, moodiness, aches/ pains, chest pain, nervous habits, isolating yourself, anxious or racing thoughts, and many more. 48% have reported lying awake at night due to stress. Everyone has different factors that cause stress and everyone responds differently. Stress

can take a toll on your whole life. For example, stress from work can make you irritable which can lead to fights at home. It is best to find activities that helps sooth you because lets be honest, your going to be dealing with stress your whole life. Physical and mental health have been linked to stress. The better you take care of yourself, the easier it is to deal with stress. Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day or having a good conversation with someone can help tremendously. 76% of people claim that money and work are their leading causes of stress. Managing the aspects of life that stress you out the most may help. Suggested activities to relieve stress are yoga, getting plenty of sleep, meditation, and breathing exercises. Having a well rounded diet can also helps majorly. Having an optimistic attitude will make you feel better and will reduce stress.

                                                                           -Samantha Lyles

Social Media

           Social media seems to be the craze of this day and age. What's wrong will a good phone call instead of a tweet? Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Facebook have become part of so many peoples lives today. Social media has many great aspects about it, but there are also major negative aspects that come along with them. To me, the cons outweigh the pros. Don't get me wrong, social media is an easy and very effective way to get the word out, but most of the time it isn't used in the kindest ways. Social media is also a good way to connect with others and make new friends. Social media is the root of SO much drama today, and is often used to bully people. It gives people a way to say harsh thing that they would never have the guts to day in person. It is just another way for gossip and rumors to be spread. Cyber bullying is a major problem in today's world. 81% of teens agree that cyber bullying is easier to get away with and 68% think it is a serious problem. I guarantee you that there have been endless fights over who blocked who and why someone like so-and-so's picture. All theses arguments are absolutely ridiculous and most of all pointless. If no one had social media, I bet things would be 10x better. I feel as if half the drama would be gone is people would stay off social media. Honestly, my day is a whole lot better when I stay off my social media apps. As much as I am shaming these apps, I do use them daily. Pinterest is the reason why I'm such a good procrastinator! I use social media just as much as everyone else. In the end, if everyone would be mature and use social media correctly, then there would be no issues.

                                                                            -Samantha Lyles

Role Model

        A role model is someone that is looked up to by others as an example to be imitated. A role model is someone you admire and want to be like to some degree. As cheesy as it is, my big sister MaKayla is my biggest role model. I have looked up to her for as long as I can remember. She graduated high school early at age 16, proceeded to graduate from Arkansas State University where she was president of her sorority, and will start medical school this August. After medical school, she plans to become a pediatric physician and one day hopes to open her own practice. She is also getting married May 28^th, 2016. She is so young, but has already accomplished so much, and I've never been more proud. I want to be like my big sister because she is an all around amazing person. She will always go out of her way to help the ones she loves. She always strives to do her best and will take nothing less than perfection. It is done till it is done 100% correctly with her. She is my #1 fan, guidance councilor, The person to always put me in my place, and most importantly my best friend. She has never failed to give me her brutally, honest opinion either. She is always kind and friendly to everyone she encounters. My sister has taught me to always do my best and to go above and beyond. She sets a great example of how a proper young lady should act. My sister has engraved in my brain that giving up is never an option; you have to tough things out and keeping going. “Nothing worth having comes easy,” she says. MaKayla has also taught me that it's okay to have fun, but there are also times to be serious; find a good balance. I can't ever than her enough for shaping me into the person I am today. My sister is my favorite person in the whole world, and I would be absolutely lost without her. These are the reasons why MaKayla is my role model.

-Samantha Lyles

Samantha's Favorite Quotes

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” -Brene Brown

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.”-Helen Keller

“I am thankful for all of those who said no to me. It's because of them I'm doing it myself.” -Albert Einstein

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” -Herm Albright

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Ghandi

“The way to get started it to quit talking and begin doing.” -Walt Disney

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to purse them.” -Walt Disney

“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.” -Walt Disney

“Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” -German Proverb

“I don't care what you think about me. I don't think about you at all.”

-Coco Chanel

“Not all who wonder are lost.” -J.R.R Tolkien

“The only thing keeping you from what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't have it.”- Anthony Robbins

“The more you believe in your own ability to succeed, the more likely ot is that you will.”- Shawn Achor

“Watch carefully, the magic that occurs, when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves.” -Atticus Finch

“Live the full life of the mind exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual.”- Ernest Hemmingway

“If people are trying to bring you down, it only means you are above them.”-Unknown

“Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”-John D. Rockefeller

“Have the maturity to know sometimes silence is more powerful thsn having the last word.”- Thema Davis

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people.”-Eleanor Roosevelt

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

“The secrete to success is to the common things uncommonly well.” -John D. Rockefeller

Second-Hand Smoke

          Smoking is public is one of biggest my pet peeves. I have no problem with someone who chooses to smoke; it's their life and they are free to make their own choices. I do have a problem when someone's decisions affect others in a negative way and against their will. Smoking bothers me when a person smokes in crowded public places, especially with small children. Second-hand smoke is real! Second-hand smoke is when smoke is inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others. It is not fair to force the effects of tobacco on others. Second-hand smokes contains more than 70 toxic chemicals that are known to cause cancer. Ear infections, respiratory infections, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks are just some of the effects on children. It can cause lung cancer and heart disease to people who have chose not to smoke. During 2011-2012, and 58 million nonsmokers were exposed to second-hand smoke. About 3,000 adults die of lung cancer caused by second-hand smoke. It contains 50 times as much ammonia, twice as much nicotine and tar, and 5 times as much carbon monoxide per unit volume as does smoking directly from a cigarette. In 2014, about half the children between ages 3-18 in the US were exposed to cigarette smoke regularly. Smoking, ore using and harmful substance, while pregnant is even worse. How can you put your child in harm at its most fragile state it will ever be in? Just being in contact with second-hand smoke while pregnant makes babies more vulnerable to miscarriage, stillborn birth, low-birthrate, and other pregnancy-related problems. If someone chooses to smoke, I think they should be considerate and not do it around others who have chose not to put themselves at risk by smoking. Smoking is your decision, not everyone else's. When you smoke in public, you're putting everyone around you at risk. Is a cigarette that important?

                                                                                   -Samantha Lyles

Qualities You Should Have

Qualities I admire in people and look for when deciding who to surround myself with/ will be very beneficial to have:

-Honest                     -Humble                -Reliable

-Loyal                       -Sociable               -Up-lifting

-Understanding         -Confident             -Considerate

-Considerate             -Hopeful                -Positive

-Open-minded          -Artistic                 -Helpful

-Dependable             -Daring                  -Hospitable

-Honorable               -Goal-oriented       - Hard-working

-Unique                    -Bold                     -Clever

-Caring                     -Brave                   -Intelligent

-Supportive               -Independent        -Good-listener

-Forgiving                -Polite                   -Resourceful

-Ambitious               -Reasonable          -Calm

-Respectful               -Mature                 -Exciting

-Courageous             -Kind                    -Wise

-Creative                  -Loving                 -Genuine

-Adventurous           -Generous             -Nurturing

-Humorous               -Out-spoken         -Thoughtful

People say that you are who you hangout with. These are the qualities that my friends have and I hope to posses. The people you hang out with influence you majorly. I want my friends, and myself, to be people who are friendly to everyone. I think you should make everyone feel like someone. Friends are people who help you to be the best you possible and encourage you to go above and beyond. I want my friends to be people who my parents would approve of and would be proud of me to have. Your friends should reflect the type of person you want to be. My friends are people I'm proud of and don't make me ashamed to say “Yeah, that's my friend right there.” These qualities make a person great, inside and out. I think all of these traits are great to have in life. These are the things you need to go far in life. I feel the qualities will also help you get along with coworkers in the work force as well. Politeness is very necessary in any career that you decide to pursue. For example, if you are always rude to your coworkers, then you probably won't enjoy your job as much and could possibly make you dread going in everyday.

                                                                                                                    -Samantha Lyles

Not Just a Game: Haven Robertson

  Basketball is not just a game for me. It’s the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning, it’s my stress reliever, and it’s my first love. Most people think I’m crazy spending all of my free time, focusing all of my attention on a sport. Basketball is my passion. It’s my outlet from reality and all of the chaos of the world. There’s nothing like being in an empty gym, just you and the ball.

 There are so many things I love about this game. What I love most is the sound of the roaring crowd, the sound of the ball swishing through the net, and the sound of my coach yelling out plays. It’s indescribable: the feeling of adrenalin rushing through my body as I “toe up” to the free-throw line.  Being in a tight ball game, sweat pouring down my face, and seeing the excitement and energy in my teammate’s eyes, there’s nothing like it.

 I have made lifelong friends through this game. Your teammates become your family. Not only do we share the same passion, we share secrets, we share problems, we share our hurts, we share our successes. Going to summer camps, practicing everyday together, and relying on each other in games makes us a family. We have seen each other at our best and at our worst. From early morning work-outs and running off of no sleep to the celebration of making it to the state tournament, we’ve become united. We are family.

 I have learned an innumerable amount of life lessons from this game. I’ve learned responsibility, accountability, and the importance of persevering. Learning to keep my head held high after a tough loss isn’t just about basketball; it’s about holding my head high in life no matter the circumstances. To be a team player is a major lesson I have learned because throughout life, I will have to rely on others and others will have to rely on me. Success comes from a team, not an individual.

Basketball is not just a sport. It’s physical and emotional. It’s family. It’s life lessons. It’s my first love.


                                                                                                                       - Haven

My Best Friends - Faith Brooks

My Best Friends

                      “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it,  whoever you are, you need one.” -Jane Howard. My best friends are Sydney Adams, Mattie Lowery, Karlee Sanders, Shailey Wooldridge, and Sam Lyles. These five girls have been my support system for the past five years and I couldn’t have been blessed with better friends.

            Sydney is who I’ve been friends with for the longest. I consider her my closest friend out of our group. She’s kind, gorgeous, and she has stayed by my side through thick and thin. My favorite thing about her is her soul. Her morals, tastes, and logic are what make her so great. The second person who I’ve been friends with for longer than the rest is Shailey Wooldridge. I met her and Sydney in elementary school and we’ve been friends ever since(well, ever since we started getting along). Shailey is so unbelievably talented. She can sing like a goddess and write like a famous author, but my favorite quality of Shailey’s is her humor. She can make a room full of people laugh with just one cheesy joke or the occasional weird noise. I adore both of these girls with my whole heart(along with the rest of my friends).

            I met Mattie, Sam, and Karlee in the seventh grade. When I first talked to Mattie, she was standing beside me in choir crying because her and her boyfriend broke up. Mattie Lowery is going to be famous one day for marrying Channing Tatum, becoming a comedian, or being the next Albert Einstein(she’s had an A in Conner’s all year, so she basically already is). My favorite thing about Mattie is how funny and loyal she is. She won’t talk behind your back, she tells you if someone does, and she helps you with whatever you’re struggling with. Sam is so caring and has such a great heart. I met Sam at the first seventh grade cheer practice and we’ve been friends ever since. Sam’s best quality is her heart. She is unconditionally sweet(she does have her moments just like everyone else, but we’re all human here) and takes care of all of her friends. I don’t remember when I met Karlee, but it was probably during choir, too, because we all had that class together. Karlee is smart, funny, and we have a lot in common. She’s just really kind, adorable, caring, and lots of other things. So, my favorite thing about Karlee is her personality.

            My friends have been by my side through everything and I am so lucky to have such great friends. In a couple years, we’ll all be moving off to colleges, which is really sad, but I know we will always stay in touch and visit each other. My best friends are more than friends, they are my soul mates. 

-Faith Brooks

Why We Should Have Block Scheduling

                                                                                                             

For those of you that don’t know, block scheduling is when you have certain classes on certain day of the week instead of having the same class schedule every day like most high schools do. With block scheduling, you would have three to four classes on every other day and instead of having fifty minute classes you would have around ninety minute classes. Now I’m going to tell you the great benefits of having this kind of scheduling.

            Probably the biggest benefit is the fact that you have more time to study and learn the material. Since you have more time, you are more able to get better one on one studying with your teacher if you are needing help. In your science classes you have way more time to efficiently do a lab project without having to rush. You are almost guaranteed to do better in a class if you have forty extra minutes to work with. And since you have school every other day, you would have more time to ponder on the things that you have been learning.

            Also, block scheduling will help prepare you for college. In college, you wont have the same classes in the same order every day. With the schedule we have now, it will be hard to transition from this to a college schedule. But if we had block scheduling it would be normal and it would make it an easier transition.

            In conclusion, I hope that you can see that block scheduling would be a great idea for our school. 

                                                           Dillon Boatman