I considered this, as I evaluated whether letting my significant other go was the right decision. I expected texts and I wanted to let him know that I never meant for this to happen. Although this is a cliché reaction, I started to realize that enough was enough. What would this breakup mean to me five years from now? Ten years from now? After realizing that I was better off alone, my happiness came back. As I talked to many close friends about it, reality started to shine through more than ever, as I realized that feelings change and people drift apart.

The issue I have come across, however, is that as relationships become stronger (more than six months in the same relationship), partners tend to grow too comfortable. In most cases, the effort fades, and one’s partner tends to feel as if they are part of a redundant daily routine. I was starting to notice this in my relationship and I knew there was no way to go about fixing this problem, as it was too late. I was growing sick of the usual routine, and I could tell the feeling was mutual.

I am still adapting to the change, but I am much happier now. All around me, I see that some of my friends are extremely unhappy with their relationships. If simple “I love you” messages start to sound like utter lies, I think being quiet will only make it worse. Communication is the key to a relationship; therefore, I strongly believe couples must speak and address these issues with one another.

I know that most of my friends are afraid of change, but as a person going through this situation, I realize that change is not always a negative thing. I tell my friends that this is not the end of the world. I know it sure does feel like it, but it is only normal to feel that way when a drastic change is presented. Girls naturally overreact in most situations, no matter how minor.

It is hard to not feel selfish after letting this significant other go and their reaction is not always as you would expect it. However, when dealing with this, four words are the most important: This too shall pass.

Follow @southwestshadow

To access this form, students will need to log in to their First Class/Interact account. Administration has distributed each graduating senior a link to the form. The form takes less than a minute to fill out and only requires first name, last name, and phonetic pronunciation that clarifies the proper enunciation of the name.

For example, the phonetic pronunciation of Tazia Statucki is “Tay-zhuh Sta-two-key.” For help with creating a name’s phonetic pronunciation, visit http://inogolo.com/. Some longer names may need to be broken down into syllables.

“Failure to complete this survey may impact how you are introduced at graduation,” Mr. Craig Statucki, community partnership coordinator, said in the email sent to seniors.

If there are any questions, please contact either Mr. Statucki, Mrs. Miriya Julian, or Ms. Elena Clavel.

Follow @southwestshadow

1. Go to Six Flags!

I have never been to Six Flags Magic Mountain, but on May 17, that will all change. Grad Night gives me the perfect opportunity to ride the big-kid roller coasters that I am finally tall enough to ride! The overnight event with my friends will probably prove a challenge to my exhausted muscles, but I look forward to almost falling asleep in a line for a ride!

2. Write an amazing speech!

Graduation on June 12 will feature several student speakers, including myself. My salutatorian speech needs to be the best salutatorian speech in all of Clark County! It needs to be creative, unique, and personal with a touch of humor. The draft is currently in progress, but I hope the final draft will impress my family, faculty, and fellow classmates.

3. Let my food touch!

If you refer to my previous column, Plate Perfectionist, my OFSD prevents me from letting my food touch on a plate. My own personal right of passage will be to purposefully mix the food on my dinner plate and eat it. Though just the sight of the unintentional mixture may trigger a mini panic attack, I will overcome my OFSD at least once before the end of high school.

4. Go to “Frappy Hour!”

Every year, Starbucks Coffee hosts Frappucino Happy Hour for two weeks in May. As an avid Starbuck’s lover who has never been to Frappy Hour, I am dying to purchase a two dollar frappucino before I graduate. The next time I will ever be able to do this is after I finish my first year of college and am broke.

5. Try legitimate sushi!

When at a sushi restaurant, the people around me order random sushi rolls with strange ingredients while I sit and enjoy a California roll containing crab, avocado, cucumber, and carrots surrounded by rice and seaweed. Before June 12, I want to try sushi with unique ingredients. I may just start off with salmon or raw tuna, but if I feel really adventurous, I’d like to try eel.

Hopefully before I kick the bucket of high school, I’ll complete all of the items on my bucket list.

Follow @southwestshadow

Lesser is a current Las Vegas resident who created the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation with his family. When Lesser was a young boy in Poland whose life and existence was turned upside down when he went from living a happy life with his family to being forced to leave his life and live in the ghetto. Soon after he moved, Lesser was transported to Auschwitz.

“The presentation was very informative and life altering. When Ben was talking, I was able to picture myself being in the Holocaust and going through the life changes he went through,” freshman Alex King said.

During Lesser’s speech, he displayed a few photographs of his family and a variety of torture tools that were used by Nazis on other Jews, including himself. Lesser spoke about his terrifying experience in Auschwitz with vivid detail, including his serial number 1212 he had to wear on a string around his neck everyday and was no longer identified with a name; he was simply number 1212.

“The thing that Ben said that stood out the most to me was when he described how he had to watch others, some which he knew, be beaten to death,” freshman Zachary Bourbeau said.

“As I finish up my survival story, there is one thing I want all of you to do when you get home this evening. Go home and hug your family. Tell each one of them how much you love them. Don’t take your family for granted because one day they may not be there,” Lesser said.

Follow @southwestshadow

As my Uncle and I walked past their glass door, we were immediately greeted with a large smile and a welcoming attitude by their extremely kind host. Not even five minutes had passed by and our host had already escorted us to a neatly prepared table at the BBQ section of the restaurant.

Follow @southwestshadow

CCSD Regulation 6150 states “Any portion of electronic media in any format that is rated ‘R’ or “PG-13” shall not be shown to students at any grade level within the school district under any circumstances. Motion pictures rated PG may be shown to students in grades 7-12, but only after securing written parental permission.”

As high school students, some curriculum may benefit from an example from the media in order for students to understand the reality of several concepts. For example, some teenagers, especially those who learn visually, could better understand the concept of the Holocaust and the true severity of this event if they were to watch a historical film like Schindler’s List, a film about the persecution of the Jewish population by Nazis. Even though these films might be a bit frightening, they will assist students in gaining a better perspective on past events and will provide the opportunity to remember the lesson better with a visual. Students are not asking to see a horror classic starring Freddy Krueger, but rather the permission to view movies acceptable and related to their lessons of study.

Additionally, approximately half of the students in a typical high school are now old enough to buy a ticket at the movies for a PG-13 or R-rated film. Once a student arrives to high school, they meet the criteria of viewing a PG-13 film, since it states “Parental Guidance strongly suggested for anyone under the age of 13.”

If the trustees, superintendent, and state board of education would prefer their students to grow up to be mature adults, then they need to trust us in watching these films and understand the need for them. Wouldn’t they rather have a responsible educator showing clips that make educational connections, rather than students watching films containing violence or gratuitous nudity on other devices without supervision?

In fact, other districts have made progressive strides in allowing PG-13 films to be shown in the classroom. Three out of seventeen school districts in Nevada have alternative policies:

Mineral County School District Policy IIABB

• MCSD allows their students to watch G, PG, or PG-13 films as an educational asset. In case a parent has a problem with this privilege, they have the ability to preview the film, before giving consent to watch the film.

Churchill County School District Policy R6103

• For middle school and high school students, PG-13 films are allowed to be seen in the classroom settings, but must be approved by the principal and parents prior to classroom viewing.

Lyon County School District Policy IIAB ()

• LCSD allows it’s students to watch G, PG, and PG-13 rated films under a couple of conditions. For PG rated movies, parents must be informed, whereas PG-13 rated films require a parent’s signature to confirm they allowed their child to watch a specific film.

The CCSD Board of Trustees’ Student Advisory Committee is currently creating a proposal to amend the current movie policy to present to the school board. The new changes to the policy would allow for high school students to view PG-13 video clips in class with parental consent.

If we’re expected to act like adults in high school, then watching PG-13 movies every now and then as a means to extend our understanding of the course material should not be a problem. CCSD officials must realize that these films and clips are an educational asset–not a distraction.

Follow @southwestshadow

“I am very excited to see the yearbook. I heard it’s larger than last years and I’m curious to look back and see all the fun things our school has done this year,” sophomore Feaven Tewolde said.

Books will be distributed on May 18 at Coyote’s U-Night. If students do not plan on attending Coyotes U-Night they will have to wait to pick up their yearbook on May 25 during both lunches.

With 200 memory-filled pages, the yearbook gives students a chance to look back at the events that made their 2011-2012 school year.

The books are on sale in the banker’s office for $100. The money must be paid-in-full and only cash is accepted.

“I will have copies of the yearbook for sale from May 21 through June 1. I am only accepting cash for the remainder of the selling period, no checks. Students can also come in before May 18 and pre-order their copy,” banker Mr. Dominick Virga said.

Remember only 100 books remain, so pickup yours before they run out!

For more information, please visit Mr. Virga in the banker’s office or Mr. Matthew LaPorte in room C220.

Follow @southwestshadow

“Treetop Technology Camp is going to be an exciting way for middle school students to learn about some of the cool technology we have here at SWCTA, from making art on the computer to programming video games.  It should be an exciting week for everyone,” Mrs. Maureen Clark, camp coordinator, said.

Each session, morning from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and afternoon from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., costs $100 and includes a week of instruction, a camp shirt, and daily snacks.

Registration is currently open and classes are assigned on a first-come basis. Registration payments are non-refundable and must be made at the banker’s office on campus as soon as possible.

If there are any questions, please contact Mrs. Clark.

Follow @southwestshadow

YOLO is intended to mean “you only live once, so make your future the best it can possibly be.”

“I’m going to just fail this test ‘cause YOLO!”
“I just got dress-coded. YOLO!”

The idea of “you only live once” is not a poor one. When I hear this, I think of Mae West’s quote, “you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” This seems like a better quote to live by.

If you believe in this philosophy, then you probably believe it is going to make your errors less serious. Using YOLO as an excuse for carelessness should not be okay under any circumstance. As a phrase that is intended for a promising future, YOLO is misused.

One may say that kids skipping a night of homework are a common mistake. But, I am starting to believe that kids do this purposely, due to YOLO.

I think saying YOLO about a common mistake is funny and lightens the mood.

Other times, when YOLO is used in a serious way, it sounds stupid and ignorant. Seldom do we think of the outcomes of YOLO. For instance, not doing homework one night guarantees a bad grade. Pulling an all-nighter guarantees drowsiness in classes and even falling asleep.

Kids simply use this term as a sign of humor; how do we know when enough is enough?

YOLO has luckily died down a bit. I am sure this is a topic that will be brought back up as summer begins. With summer break and without the pressure of keeping up grades, kids will start making immature decisions. An old Chinese proverb stated “a wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.”

Little did Drake know that teenagers would misinterpret it. If taken out of hand, YOLO could be the cause of accidents due to teens taking it so seriously.

I would like to believe that this is not a quote that is taken so seriously in my generation. Teenagers should be more open minded about getting their future straight before the fun comes. Partying, failing tests, and sneaking out may seem like a source of fun right now, but this does not guarantee such an agreeable future.

Follow @southwestshadow