Q: How did you hear about NCSSM? And why did you wish to apply?

A: My mom heard about NCSSM on NPR and told me a little bit about it. I thought it was cool that you lived at the school and that you got free tuition to in-state colleges. I decided to apply because even though Leesville is a really great school, with a lot of talented, smart, and willing-to-learn people, I want to be surrounded by people that have a thirst for knowledge and in an environment where people are not judged for being inquisitive or hard-working

Q: What do you miss about Leesville?

A: I really miss the high school atmosphere of Leesville- the excitement over football  games, the school spirit and rivalries towards other schools, and the freedom of being able to drive (we can’t have cars at Science & Math). I miss a lot of friends that I made there, and I wish that I was able to see them more often. I also miss living at home and being able to have people over at my house, and getting to spend time with my parents.

Q: What do you not miss about Leesville?

A: Something that I don’t miss at Leesville is the cliques that form. I think that people in cliques sometimes  become more concerned about what others think of them, and concerned about judging others, than being nice to others and being their own person.

Q: Does NCSSM offer better opportunities than Leesville does?

A: I do think that NCSSM offers a lot of opportunities but not necessarily better ones. I think that all people are different, and while one thing might be a great thing for one person, it could be the wrong thing for another person. However, the opportunities that the school presented me started with a broad range of course offerings, such as Molecular Genetics, Differential Equations, and Classical Guitar. It also gives people who came from a tough economic background the opportunity to go to a school that is rich in academics, and pays for tuition for any in-state college or university.  The small classes and academic rigor, and the fact that there is no class rank, provides the most important opportunity for me- to become a really tight community of friends who help each other to do our best.

Q: Has your relationship changed with your parents?

A: My relationship with my parents changed a lot. At first, they wanted me to call them every day and always ask their permission before I went out, even though they weren’t with me. When they realized this was not plausible, they kind of let go a little bit. It was kind of difficult at first because there was tension between my parents and me over the fact that we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, and tension because our relationship was changing. Luckily, my parents and I are close, and so I had a lot of conversations with them about what we could do to try to maintain a strong relationship. One thing that I learned, though, is that nothing ever stays the same. While you may want to keep the same relationship with someone, things are always changing; accept new things instead of trying to recreate or mimic old things.

Q: What do you like about NCSSM the most?

A: The main thing that I love about NCSSM is the people.  You find friends wherever you go- in middle school, in high school, in college, in sports and extracurricular. I have a lot of close friends at Leesville, but I’ve been lucky enough to make a lot of close friends at Science & Math too. I think the most valuable thing that Science & Math has offered me is the experience of being around people who love learning and who have extremely high goals and aspirations. It has caused me to reexamine myself as a person, and to reevaluate what my interests and limits are. NCSSM has challenged me to an unbelievable extent- in heart, body, and mind- but it’s the challenged that have lead me to grow and learn more about myself, and that will hopefully prepare me for the future.

Around sixty students win awards ranging from Best Weightlifting Student to Best Calculus Student. A few days before the assembly students were given passes inviting them to the Awards Ceremony, but not saying what award they won.

“I was surprised I was winning an award,” said Brooke Barrier, senior. “I didn’t know what it would be for, so it was a surprise for the people winning the awards too.”

Teachers submit names of students who have surpassed standards in their classes. The student’s chosen are not necessarily the ones with the highest grade, however often times they are, but the students who develop a love for the subject in which they are studying.

For seniors, Awards Day has come to mean a lot more than it did freshman year. “I didn’t even see Awards Day freshman year, but now it’s nice to see all my friend’s hard work pay off,” said Katie Putnam, senior.

“Awards Day didn’t really matter to me.  I barely knew any of the people getting awards because most of the people were upperclassmen,” said Billy Evans, freshman. “I think when I am an upperclassmen it will matter a lot more because my friends will be the ones winning the awards.

 Awards Day ended with a speech by Allison Werk, the 2010-2011 Student Body President. “Her speech was awesome, she made me reflect on all of high school,” said Putnam.

Apply to a school you aren’t sure that you will get into:

There is no perfect application a student can submit. The college admissions boards look for different things when accepting students. Some colleges stress extracurricular activities, while some stress work load. Don’t let a bad SAT score keep you from applying to somewhere out of your range. Where you think you lack somewhere, you may make up for in other places. Try to apply to one reach school because you never know what the admissions board is looking for.

Keep your options open:

Apply to more schools than you think. You may have your heart set on one out-of-state school, but what happens if that school doesn’t give you any scholarship money? Is that school really 40,000 dollars better than an in-state school. Furthermore, what if you get waitlisted at the school you thought was a sure in. You have to find another school to fall in love with. There is also a chance that you would get into every school you applied too. Whatever happens, keep all your options open. Getting into your “backup” school may be more beneficial to go to, because they offered you scholarship money and more academic options.

Don’t let a price tag keep you from applying:

The price of out-of-state schools is about four times the price of a state school. This huge price tag throws parents for a loop- how could one year really cost 50,000 dollars- how do they expect anyone to pay for this? Truth is, private colleges know that they have a hefty price tag and will offer scholarship money and financial aid. Don’t let a price tag keep you from applying. Colleges may surprise you, and your parents.

Don’t let your parents persuade your decision:

Choosing a college is by far the biggest decision a student makes in their young adult life. Although your parents can have a voice, do not let them persuade you out of a college or into another. You need to be happy at the college you are attending. Sure, you may have gotten into a “better” college but if you cannot see yourself a student there, the college is not for you. Go with your gut and where you think you will be the happiest.

Be honest in your application:

Do not fluff your application. Although you are competing with 30,000 other applicants, you have to realize that no applicant is the same as you. You do not need to lie or “fluff” your application to make yourself sound like a better student. Essays and teacher recommendations will help you stand out, not frivolous clubs. Besides, a fluffed application may get you into that better college, but what if you can’t actually handle the workload there? You’ll end up at a college where the students are more qualified and your GPA may suffer. So, tell the truth, and you’ll end up at the college where you belong.

Justin Palpant, sophomore, is one of the few students who has a lot to live up to in high school. Tim Palpant, Justin’s older brother graduated in 2008 as valedictorian. Tim maintained a 5.0937GPA and is now attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Justin is in the 2012 graduating class and has already taken a hard freshman and sophomore year. Like his brother, he is succeeding and plans to continue his great accomplishments.

Most students would assume that a valedictorian’s little brother would be under a great deal of pressure to succeed. “I was never pressured to do as well as my brother by my parents, but there were always expectations to try my best and work hard,” said Justin.

Without having over-bearing parents, Justin finds school more enjoyable and perhaps easier. “Most of the pressure I feel comes from myself because I do want to do well in school,” said Justin.

However, Justin does want to do as well as his brother. “I always admired my brother for being able to handle an extremely difficult school schedule, a job, and other commitments such as clubs by managing his time well.”

This time management has in turn made high school easier because he has seen firsthand how to do it.  “Tim has served as an example and given me goals to reach for,” continued Justin.

Justin has created a course schedule, which if done well, will put him in the running for the 2012 valedictorian. “I know that many of the courses I want to take are courses that he took in high school, so my GPA will most likely be close to his.”

Students were attracted to the class for many different reasons. For starters, the course counts for an honors credit, causing many GPA lovers to enroll. However, not only does this course have credit appeal, but the content of the class intrigues people.

In total, there were four sections of the course, two in the fall and two in the spring, taught by Mark Kautzman and Britt Davis.

Like many students who were eager to take the class, teachers also were enthusiastic about teaching it.

“Mrs. Eastman asked around to get a feel for who would like to teach the course, and I jumped at the chance,” said Mr. Kautzman.

Students and teachers have equally enjoyed this class. Most students who enrolled in the class want to be there, rather than being placed in it to fulfill a graduation requirement.

“It’s a fascinating topic, one that holds the attention of students pretty well,” said Mr. Kautzman. “It is great for discussion topics, which I love… what is right/ethical, what does justice look like, what should be the role of the US, etc.”

The class starts at looking at the roots of Jewish history, then moving onto the Armenian Genocide, the first noted genocide. From this point, the class learns about the rise of the Nazi power, the Holocaust and ends with present day genocides.

“I want students to look deeply into the personal motivations for genocide. So often EOC courses must cover material so quickly that there is little depth to what we teach,” said Mr. Davis. “[The role of this course is to] help us understand the psychology of hate and group violence so that we can avoid such behaviors.”

Students who have taken the class agree.  “I was so excited to sign up for this class because it is an interesting topic and a fun class to take senior year,” said Jessika Byrd.

While signing up for next year’s classes, students should consider signing up for honors Holocaust and Genocide based on its high ratings by the teachers as well as the students.

CASL Seniors on Signing Day

On Feb. 2, CASL(Capital Area Soccer League) seniors celebrated National Signing Day, legally committing to play soccer in college.

Erika Lenns, senior, verbally committed to Gardner-Webb University in July of 2009. Gardner-Webb is a small, Christian institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. “It is a great school for education,” said Lenns. “I will get a lot of playing time for all four years.”

Brooke Walsh, senior, committed to play at Meredith College, an all girls school located in Raleigh. “It is a great school for education and for soccer,” said Walsh. “The school really tries to make sure their students succeed and I will also get playing time as a freshman.”

Walsh is more than eager to start playing in college. “The rush of excitement I get every time I step on that field [is going one of the best moments about playing in college].” She continued, “I just am happy that I am able to continue to play soccer for the next four years. Being part of a team is like being part of a family.”

Nicole Jewell, senior, committed to Northwestern University, a private university located right outside Chicago, Illinois. “The school is going to give me a great education and also it is in the Big 10 so I will get to play with and against some of the best players in the country,” said Jewell. Jewell has been looking forward to playing in college for quite some time. “I have wanted to play in college for so long and have worked really hard towards that goal,” said Jewell. “I can’t imagine life without soccer.”

Claudel Pilon, senior, was offered to play soccer at North Carolina State University in April of her junior year. “I decided to commit to N.C. State because it is close to home

My family can still come to my games, also it’s in the ACC which is a great conference so I’m going to be playing against some of the best players,” said Pilon.

Considering N.C. State is in the ACC, Pilon will be competing against some of the best players in the nation. “I get to play against the best teams in the nation and in front of the hundreds of people. Every girls dream when they were little was to play for Carolina, and now I have the chance to play against them,” said Pilon.

Pilon’s dreams of playing soccer in college have finally come true. “I’ve always wanted to play college soccer since I was little, I don’t think I could ever give up that dream.” Luckily, she doesn’t have too.

Davis Griffin, senior, committed in August of 2009 to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “I loved the coaches and the history of the program,” said Griffin. Griffin shares the same passion for soccer that Pilon has. “All my life as a young soccer player, I would hear about the soccer dynasties such as Duke and UNC and Wake Forest. Now I am about to play against them,” said Griffin. “It is an exhilarating feeling.”

Bo Burns, senior, recently committed to Hampden-Sydney, an all-boys school located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia. “I decided on that school because I would be getting a great private liberal arts education while having consistent playing time for four years.”

He continued, “The best part about playing soccer in college will be hopefully competing for a conference championship every year and trying to get into the NCAA tournament. College without soccer would be hard to imagine, I’ve been playing competitively for 8 or 9 years so it would be weird to stop playing completely.”

Sydney O’Brien and Lauren Kohan, both freshmen, tried out for soccer with the hopes of making a team and receiving the maximum amount of playing time.

O’Brien actively plays club soccer on a CASL Challenge team (teams practice two times a week, with some travel on the weekends).  Obviously, playing for a club team helped prepare O’Brien for tryouts.

“I went to workouts every Thursday,” said O’Brien. “They really helped me keep my skills, and I got to meet some of the girls.” On average about twenty to twenty-five girls attended the biweekly winter workouts.

There was a mandatory meeting before tryouts began that split the girls into two fields, a varsity and JV field.  “The meeting was kind of an awakening call that tryouts are really soon,” said O’Brien.

“I was placed on the JV field. I don’t really care about playing varsity freshman year,” said O’Brien. “I want to get the most playing time I can.”

“It would be nice to move up to varsity at some point, but it is not my biggest concern,” she continued.

On the first day of JV tryouts, the tryout was somewhat relaxed.  “The first day of tryouts is when it really set in [that I was trying out],” said O’Brien.

The girl’s participated in some drills to enhance touch, scrimmaged and ran a few sprints at the end of tryouts.

The second and third day was more or less the same. “I was more relaxed on the second and third days,” she said.

“A few girls came down from the varsity field, but for the most part we did the same thing,” said O’Brien. The girls scrimmaged more than the day before.

“On the fourth day I was freaking out again because that’s when we found out if we made the team or not,” said O’Brien. “We did a simple shooting drill and Ms. Riggs told us one by one if we made the team or not.”

At the end of tryouts, O’Brien ended up making the JV team. “I am in love with the team,” said O’Brien, “everybody is so nice and we have great talent and potential on the team.”

At the meeting, Kohan was placed to tryout on the varsity field. “I was nervous at first, but I knew if I was there, I deserved to be there,” she said. “Knowing that I would be going up against girls four years older than me was a scary thought.”

Kohan plays competitively for CASL on the 94 Spartan Premier team (teams practice three times a week and travel nearly every weekend). “I went to almost all the winter training sessions,” she said. “The sessions really helped me get to know the girls as well as Coach Dink.”

Although initially placed on the varsity field, Kohan remarks that she is more interested in getting playing time. “I don’t really care what team I make, although varsity would be awesome. I just want to play, whichever team gives me the most playing time, is the team for me,” said Kohan.

Kohan remained on the varsity field for the first two days and reported playing well. “As tryouts continued I felt more confident in myself, and in return performed well,” said O’Brien.

The third day Kohan was placed on the JV field. “Getting moved to the JV field was bittersweet,” she said. “I would love to be on varsity, but I would probably get more playing time on JV.”

“I ended up being fine with the move; I was proud of myself for playing well and lasting a couple of days on the varsity field,” said Kohan. “Also, knowing that Dink saw something in me was encouraging.”

Kohan ended up making the JV team. “It would have been nice to make the varsity team, but I think JV is a good fit for me this year,” said Kohan.

Both girls transformed throughout tryouts. Starting out both nervous, each girl improved their confidence throughout the tryout process. Although neither made the varsity team as freshmen, both girls are thoroughly excited about what is to come for the JV season.

While Brooks went undercover as a promoter with two Hooters girls, he realized just what the public thinks of the Hooters girl’s image. “I just think it is degrading to women,” said one woman from the show. “I would never let my daughter work there.”

I am willing to bet that most people who have this stereotype with Hooters have never stepped into Hooters in their entire life.

I began working at Hooters about a month after I turned 17. I had recently been laid off because of the dismal economy and needed a new form of income. Being 17, hosting was one of the few jobs with good hours, environment and pay. However, out of all the restaurants in North Raleigh, I chose Hooters. Why? I think it all started as a joke to me, but I have honestly learned more about myself and other people in the past year than I have in my entire life.

I didn’t know what to expect working there. I think I expected a lot of what other people think, a lot of desperate, catty girls wanting to work what they have. I had never been so far from the truth. The first girl that I met, Stephanie, told me she is at Carolina Law School. I was immediately taken back because I didn’t expect to meet anyone, for a lack of better words, smart.

Jackie, the girl behind the bar, attended Duke for undergraduate and graduate school. My first night was filled with talking to tables, getting to know the girls and truly having a great time. This “great time” at work is hard to come by.

Most teenagers find themselves hoping between grocery store jobs making minimum wage, dreading going to work. In my ten months of working for Hooters, I have not once complained about going to work. I make a lot of money and see my friends every time I work while meeting a new person every time I work.

The job is addicting. Being younger than most of the girls, I expected to find myself not hanging out with the girls outside of work. However, these girls have become my best friends, friends who will last long after we stop working at Hooters.

I’m sure that there are still a few people thinking, I would still never let my daughter work there. How could her parents let her do this? I am not some ‘wild child’ who runs her house.

My parents were skeptical of the job at first, too. However, when I came home with my uniform, most reservations disappeared.  I wear a white polo and khaki shorts. This is no less than what girls wear at Wild Wings or many other restaurants. Although the Hooters girl uniform is more revealing, it is still more than what some are asked to wear.

Let’s just think of the pool. I have never once seen an overweight lifeguard, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t trust an overweight person to save my life. These lifeguards wear a tight bathing suit. I am aware that this makes sense since they are working at a pool, rather than serving food but honestly parents, your daughters are probably more revealing at school and when they go out, than what they would wear at Hooters.

My parents also warmed up to the job even more when we received a Hooters envelope in the mail. The letter offered health insurance. Even though we already had insurance, my parents fell in love with a company that could offer all this to their employees. The reason is because Hooters cares, and Hooters gives back.

During the month of February, I have been competing in a scholarship program where I raise money for the American Red Cross. Hooters collects donations for the Red Cross at every lunch and dinner shift. We have raised over 4,000 dollars and the month is not yet over. In January, we raised money for ALS, more commonly known as Lou-Gehrig’s disease. Hooters hosts the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Tournament, raising money for cancer research.

The point that I am trying to make is, Hooters is filled with real people who care. During the episode of Undercover Boss, Brooks is talking to his board room about his upcoming journey through a real Hooters restaurant. I knew some of the people in that room. I know the Vice President, and I know his son. The CEOs and head corporate people are involved with us. Without the Hooters girls, they would be nothing.

I have always been a confident girl, so I didn’t think working at Hooters could be that hard. There are some guys that come in, looking for a beer and to treat the girls like scum. I have learned to stand up for myself. This may sound like anyone can do it, but I am willing to bet they can’t. I have learned to stand up for myself and not let people walk all over me. My parents feel so much more comfortable sending me to college in a big city because they know I can take care of myself.

The name “Hooters” may always make people laugh or people feel uncomfortable, but if I have convinced one person that Hooters is more than what a reputation says, I have done something great. Do not be afraid to bring your children in there; honestly, half the time the place resembles Chucky Cheese with the amount of children that comes in. Wives, the Hooters girls will not try to pick your husbands up. And teenage girls, it’s okay to work there. It will be the best time you will ever have at work.

Until this year, there have not been any issues with this policy. However this year, administration offered a “Waiver Request” form where Mr. Lyons would look over why seniors missed days and evaluate if they should still take their exams.

Some seniors who had been coming to school sick were maddened at the fact that this option was being considered. I know that I was–I had come to school sick, had a tough schedule and managed to get it all done. My attitude was if I could do it, why couldn’t you?

Mr. Lyons went to a principal’s meeting where principals from other schools were allowing waiver request forms.

“I decided to allow the waiver request form because other schools were doing it as well,” he said.  “I don’t think that it would be fair to make the seniors take their exams, if they didn’t have to if they went to another school.”

However, Mr. Lyons received a mere 24 request forms. Nine of those forms were approved.

“I only approved absences that were due to swine flu, and up to two days for college visits,” said Mr. Lyons. “I tried to evaluate each one and be fair.”

Although more seniors were subjected to take their exams, most understood why. “I got half of my absences approved. I didn’t have a doctor’s note for a few days, so I had to take my exams,” said Jessika Byrd, senior.

Mr. Lyons advises to come to school next semester because a waiver request form at the end of the semester will not be offered.

Laura Burke, senior, piled into her friend’s Honda CR-V and drove to a local lake to soak up some sun and enjoy the final days of summer. When Burke left that morning she had no intention of ending up in the hospital. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

Tanya Mishina, Burke’s friend and driver, was making a left turn out of the lake parking lot. “I remember Tanya texting as we were leaving. I didn’t think anything about it because we were going so slowly,” said Burke. “She stopped at the stop sign, tried to finish the last word as she turned, and I woke up in a hospital bed unable to remember much of anything.”

After stopping at the stop sign, Mishina turned only to be smashed by a car going over 60 mph. Burke was sitting on the passenger side of the car, right where the other car had struck.

Burke spent the next 24 hours in a hospital with a broken nose, two lost teeth, a concussion, lip lacerations, a black eye, and bruises on the right side of her body.

The incident has changed Burke for the rest of her life. “Most sixteen year olds can’t wait to get their licenses. I didn’t want mine; I was afraid of crashing,” Burke said. She reportedly waited until she was eighteen to get her license.

Burke is lucky to have escaped with her life. “When we got hit, I was sure I was going to die. I could barely feel myself breathe and I was bleeding everywhere.”

According to KeepTheDrive.com, over 82% of teenagers claim to use cell phones while driving. “My only advice to those texters is to stop while driving. It just isn’t worth it. You don’t know how dangerous it is,” she continued.

Texting while driving has recently been proven to be equivalent to a .08 percent blood alcohol level. Even more startling, is the fact that over 1.6 million teens admit to texting while driving.

North Carolina has recently instilled a new law to ban texting while driving to everyone operating a vehicle, not just those under 18. The law hopes to limit driver’s inattention and hopefully prevent accidents from happening.

“The law is targeted at just teenagers, but adults text also. Texting is just one inattentive action,” said Officer Faust, Leesville Road’s Resource Officer.

“My advice to teenagers is just pay attention,” said Faust. “It doesn’t matter if it is texting or turning up the music, it is all dangerous.

Sadly, Burke’s story is not uncommon.  Although Burke’s accident did not result in death, some teenagers are not so lucky. According to KeepTheDrive.com, in 2008, over 4,000 teenagers died in a car crash, averaging 11 teenage deaths on the road a day.

However, many students still find themselves texting and driving. “I tried to stop with the new laws, but I really don’t think I will until something happens,” said Jessika Byrd, senior.

The idea of “waiting until something happens” is the same attitude that Burke once felt. “I was the typical invincible teenager. A car was like a play toy, until I realized it could kill me,” said Burke.

“One text message in a car may not hurt, but one text message while driving could kill,” said Burke.

Car crashes have become the number one killer of teens. Yet, this killer is something that can be prevented. Stay off your phones while driving; the text message can wait. Burke ended, “No text is worth getting in an accident, no text.”