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TRUESTAR?Are You A

TRUESTARIS.COM TO DONATE TO TRUE STAR FOUNDATION, VISIT TRUESTARFOUNDATION.ORG

CONTENTS

PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRUE STAR JR. MAGAZINE

CONTACT US:LETTERS TO TRUE STAR JR.1130 SOUTH WABASH, SUITE 302CHICAGO, IL 60605-2717

EMAIL [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSDEANNA MCLEARY & J. NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATORSMARTI PARHAM , KATHY CHANEY & VERONICA HARRISONWEB CONTENT & MARKETING MANAGERJOI MITCHELL WEB CONTENT ASSISTANTHENRY COLLINSART DIRECTION DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTO COORDINATORDESHAUN ADAMSSPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER DESHAUN ADAMS & PHILISTINE THOMPSONCELEBRITY BOOKERRANDY BONDS

EXPOSE’6: CHICAGO’S VIOLENCE CLAIMED A TRUE STAR ALUMNI7: DEAR HADIYA8: HOW TO STOP BEING BULLIED9: OLDER GENERATION RUINING YOUNGER GENERATION 4EVER YOUNG10: IS REALITY TV AFFECTING US IN THE WRONG WAY?11: HARLEM SHAKE CRAZE 12: CAN SOCIAL MEDIA MAKE YOU FAMOUS?13: SOCIAL MEDIA GETS A BAD RAP14: JORDANS & CHUCK TAYLORS: SHOES THAT NEVER GET OLD

FASHION 15 - 19 BLACK AND WHITE HOT OFF THE PRESS20 & 21: MCCLAIN SISTERS 22: MEET GG LYRICS 23: AHSAN, THE ONE TO WATCH 24: DIGGY & OMG GIRLZ SHOW LOVE TO CHICAGO TALKIN’ NERDY25: ARE CELEBRITIES AFFECTING YOUR DECISION TO GO TO COLLEGE? 26: HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS ACADEMICS 27: YOU’RE NOT A DORK BECAUSE YOU WEAR GLASSES & BRACES28: CONSEQUENCES OF BEING A SLACKER 29: WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SUMMER BREAK?

CREATIVE CORNER30: SPRING CROSSWORD PUZZLE 31: LOST: WORDS FOR HADIYA DEEPER THAN SKIN32: HEALTHY FOODS VS. FAST FOODS

33: AUTISM AND YOUTH34: KERATIN TREATMENT FOR NATURAL HAIR35: IS YOUR LIFESTYLE IN NEED OF SOME SPRING CLEANING?

KEEPIN’ SCORE36: FRENCH FRY LEAGUE37: KENNEDY CHANEY PROFILE38: NBA INJURIES: HOW THEY AFFECT THE TEAMS & FANS39: DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A STUDENT-ATHLETE?

SCHOOL SPIRIT40: LINDBLOM 41: U.C. WOODSON42: MORGAN PARK

CONTRIBUTORS

WoodsonKyla White, Brittany Hull and Ahmad Chaney. Not pictured: Kaylah Wright

Morgan Park 7th GradeBrendyn Anthony Jones, Taylor Miggins, Stephen Excellent, Imani Davis, Rikyah Wright, Daniel Quin, Dejahnae Goldsmith, Nasir Johnson,Ezekiel Stevens, Eden Strong, Toriano Clinton,Tyler Houston, Lauren Noisette, Stacie Taylor, Breanna Beck. Not Pictured: Jayln Williams and Corey Alderson

LindblomAaliayah Romer, Amber Fry, Diamond Burton, Sydney Tenton, Jalynn Stubbs

Morgan Park 8th GradeRobert Martin, Gregory Diggins, Ronald Thompson, David Street, Cameron Gardner, Emanuel Thomas, Eugene Gutter, Damone Seals-Templeton, K’Lynn Brown, Cameron Thomas, Roderick Anderson, Emanuel White, Ari Slaughter, Xavion Meye, Amani Fashola, India Everett, Gabriel Sanders, Carla Jones, Charday Goosby, Pierce Thompson, Janea Taylor, Kapri Dowdell, Taylor Ivory, Sydney Guillory, Kayla Holmes, Toni Allen, Frederick McGee, Akilah Smith, Camry Moore, Kaylen Poindexter

TRUE STAR JR. 5

STUDENT EDITORS

LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY

AALIAYAH ROMER EDITOR

MORGAN PARK ACADEMIC CENTER

KELLY REYNOLDSEDITOR

MORGAN PARK ACADEMIC CENTER

KELLY REYNOLDSEDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS: CORLISS HIGH SCHOOL

INSTRUCTOR : POLINA ZIONTSSTUDENT ART DIRECTOR & TEACHING ASSISTANT : ANSHAUNTI HILLERY

Kewain Archie

Donovan Ingram

Nathaniel Jackson

Brandon Johnson

Noshma Lawson

Jesus Leonard

Jaylin Lovinsky

Michelle Mosley

Shantrice Ousley

James Palmer

Robert Redus

Aalayha Robinson

Tichina Williams

CARTER G. WOODSON CHARTER

KYLA WHITEEDITOR

6 TRUE STAR JR.

The violence in Chicago has escalated

to an unreasonable point. Every day there is a

new story about another Chicago teen dying as

a result of gun violence. Unfortunately, tragedy

hit home for True Star in January when Hadiya

Pendleton, a sophomore at King College Prep,

was killed at a park near her school. She was an

innocent bystander of an apparent gang-related

shooting. A male schoolmate who was with her

was also shot. He survived. Two people have

been charged with her murder.

Pendleton is a reflection of many students who

were on the ball and had so much promise.

She was involved in many school activities and

performed with fellow majorettes at President

Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Her funeral was attended by hundreds, and

many were turned away because there wasn’t

enough room. A few days after Pendleton’s

funeral her parents and little brother went to

Washington, D.C. to attend President Obama’s

State of the Union address. They were special

guests of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Pendleton’s death brought national attention to

Chicago’s gun violence. When she was in 6th-grade

she recorded a Public Service Announcement about

gang violence. After her parents’ D.C. trip her

mother also recorded a PSA about gun violence.

There’s also a gun bill being introduced in the state

legislature in Pendleton’s name.

WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THE GANG’S THAT ARE CAUSING ALL OF THIS VIOLENCE.

Young children are becoming gang members and

there’s no stopping it. Many kids don’t have role

models so they end up joining the gangs. Too

many guns are in the hands of these kids. Greater

measures have to be taken by the authorities to

prevent more senseless deaths.

BY AKILAH SMITH, MORGAN PARK

Chicago’s Violence Claimed a True Star Alumni

EXPOSE’

TRUE STAR JR. 7

Dear Hadiya,We became friends at Providence St. Mel when you were in 2nd-grade and I was in first. We both attended the after-school program at Garfield Park. That’s when our journey began. It continued when we transferred to the

University of Chicago Charter-Donoghue Elementary School.I remember when you spent the night over my house and I trusted you so much that I told you the alarm code to our home. That next morning

you told me I snored, but I denied it. The time I spent the night at your house was the first time I realized I was allergic to cats, but that didn’t stop me from staying. Your mom gave

me Benadryl and we continued to party!Remember when I came up with the nickname “Little Bill” for your brother

Junior? I still call him that. At Donoghue, we both tried out for cheerleading and made it. When we took

our team picture, you and I were photographed right next to each other.Our journey carried on into middle school at the University of Chicago

Charter-Carter G. Woodson. At Woodson we took part in a photo shoot for the 2010 issue of True Star Jr. and were featured on the same page.

Our journey would have gone on throughout high school because I too was accepted to King College Prep. Although I chose to attend a different school,

we made a bond that I will always hold close to my heart. “We made a bond from the very beginning. I found my homie and my

best friend. We would be together until the very end. No matter what.” - Verse from Future’s “No Matter What.”

You will forever be missed, but never forgotten.

Sincerely, Noelle

BY NOELLE WALTON, MORGAN PARK ACADEMY

8 TRUE STAR JR.

Many adult say that being bullied is just

a stage that most kids go through, and that one

day we’ll outgrow it. To the person being bullied

this advice is not comforting.

The information found in a new study from Duke

University doesn’t help either. The researchers

discovered that bullying increases the risk of

anxiety and depressive disorders for decades

after the actual bullying occurred. More than

1,000 children were followed for up to 20 years

and what was discovered was that the victims of

bullying were much more likely to wind up with

severe problems as adults. While this isn’t the

best news either, it should serve as motivation to

stop anyone from becoming a victim of bullying.

*David Johnson, a 7th-grader at Morgan Park,

is no stranger to being picked on. But instead of

just taking it, he decided to stand up for himself.

In his case Johnson was bullied by a boy much

bigger than him.

“He poured milk on my jeans, slapped the

back of my head, and called me inappropriate

names,” said Johnson. “He thought I was small

and wasn’t going to do anything.” To solve his

problem Johnson got up the nerve to confront his

bully. “I threw a fruit cup at him, and I told him if

he ever hit me again we would have a problem.”

In Johnson’s case the bullying ended because he

showed the boy that he wasn’t afraid of him; but

not all cases are the same or end with the same

results. If confronting someone isn’t your style

then take action by letting an adult know what is

going on.

DON’T LET YOUR BULLY GET THE BEST OF YOU. DON’T BE AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.

*Name has been changed.

BY ERIC DAVIS, MORGAN PARK

How to Stop Being BULLIED

TRUE STAR JR. 9

MY GENERATION IS CRAZY AND CHAOTIC. Many kids are involved in drugs, guns and

violence and some would argue that it’s mostly

the parents’ fault.

Some parents don’t take care of their kids like

they’re supposed to. They don’t lead them in

the right direction. Some of them even teach

their kids the same wrong things they did when

they were growing up. A large number of boys

don’t have fathers to show them how to be a

man. Because of this boys grow up to be gang

bangers and drug dealers. This causes many of

the problems in our neighborhoods.

Parents need to go back to old-fashioned

parenting and treat today’s kids like their parents

treated them. Things would definitely change.

BY RODERICK ANDERSON, MORGAN PARK

According to www.livestrong.com, the way a

parent interacts with others and reacts to various

situations creates a valuable example for their

child. When the parent is calm, helpful and acts

with integrity, the child understands that behav-

ior and holds it as a priority in his life. If the mom

or dad is dishonest, quick to anger or lazy, those

behaviors are passed down to their children.

The way the parent approaches a relationship

toward other family members in general often

affects the way the child interacts with others.

THE PARENT’S INVOLVEMENT

IN THEIR CHILD’S SUCCESS IS AN

ACCURATE INDICATOR

OF OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT.

Is the Older GENERATION Ruining the Younger Generation?

RIGHT WAY

WRONG WAY

10 TRUE STAR JR.

4EVER YOUNG

Nowadays the most popular shows are

the ones considered reality TV, but are the

programs sending a good message to the

people who watch them? Reality TV can have

a negative and positive effect. Shows that give

off a negative effect include ‘’Love and Hip

Hop Atlanta’’ on VH1, MTV ’s ‘’Jersey Shore’’

and ‘’Bad Girls Club” on the Oxygen Network.

Most of these shows consist of cussing, fighting,

and outrageous behavior. This is not a positive

impact on the youth.

The shows that do tend to have a more positive

effect on the youth are ones like A&E’s “Beyond

Scared Straight,” which is about taking troubled

teens out of negative situations and leading them

onto the right path, and “Tia and Tamera,” which

is on the Style Network. On that show cameras

follow the two child stars that grew up to be

BY TRINITI MAYE, MORGAN PARK

successful without dealing with a lot of drama.

Fox’s “American Idol” encourages youth to be

determined and to go after their dreams, and

the show “Empire Girls,” also on Style, shows

two young women, Julissa and Adrienne, leading

successful lives in New York City. Need another

example? This season the NBC weight loss show

“The Biggest Loser” is taking a stand against

childhood obesity by featuring kids on the

program and demonstrating the right way to lose

unwanted pounds.

One reality show in particular gives off both a

negative and positive effect to its audience, and

that’s MTV’s “Teen Mom.” This show glorifies

teen pregnancy but, it also shows how it’s a

struggle to raise a child as a teenager.

When it comes to reality TV you can go in one of

two directions. Choose the positive route.

IS REALITY TV Affecting Us In the Wrong Way?

TRUE STAR JR. 11

What is the Harlem Shake and why is

it so popular?

It’s a random dance done by all kinds of people.

One person is usually doing something crazy

while everyone else in the background is doing

something normal. Then, when the beat drops

everybody goes crazy.

The dance caught on because people love to

have fun and do stuff that’s unusual. Plus, if you

videotape it and put it on the Internet, that makes

the craze grow and you’re a part of it.

But, did you know the Harlem Shake really

started in Harlem, New York in the 1980s? Yep,

it was a dance done during halftime at basketball

games. Then, a dance group called the Crazy

Boyz put their twist on it and it was called the

Harlem Shake. Now, just about everyone has put

their own spin on it and there’s no stopping it.

Wouldn’t it be fun to make your own version of

the Harlem Shake? Yeah, we think so too. We’re

working on it.

STAY TUNED!


The Harlem Shake CRAZE

12 TRUE STAR JR.

A large amount of teens across America

have Facebook accounts with the maximum

number of friends – 5,000.

They have all these “friends,” yet don’t person-

ally know half of them. Teens post half-naked

photos of themselves and get 500 or more

“likes.” If you get 500 “likes” on a photo lots

of people think of you as famous. The attention

goes to the teen’s head and they truly begin to

believe they are famous.

The “famous” teens on Facebook go out grocery

shopping and when kids scream their Facebook

name (because you know it’s not their real name)

they ignore them like some real celebrities would

do to fans. These same people then go home

and update their statuses about how their fans

were “on their tip.” These “Facebook celebrities”

would even rather be called by their Facebook

name than their government name.

Jelyn Rocque, a senior at Mother McAuley

Liberal Arts High School, has been on Twitter,

Facebook, Tumblr and Tagged for nearly three

BY FREDERICK MCGEE, MORGAN PARK

years. Unlike some people, she hasn’t let her

social media status make her arrogant.

She has over 560 followers on Twitter, more

than 2,000 Facebook friends and enjoys social-

izing on all of them. She uses them to “meet

people” she generally wouldn’t get a chance to

connect with.

Seventeen-year-old artist J’Real uses social media

to promote his talents. He’s been successful and

admits social media made him more popular, but

hasn’t gone to his head.

He has a huge Twitter fan base – 32,000 follow-

ers, and has maxed his Facebook friends limit. As

a result he’s had to set up a “Like” page.

“I’ve been on Facebook for three years and Twit-

ter for a year. It took me about a year to grow

them,” J’Real said.

When asked if he gets recognized a lot he said,

“Yes.”

Can Social Media Make You FAMOUS?

Can

TRUE STAR JR. 13

Almost every Chicago teen that has

a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account has

heard of the groups of teens that usually form on

social networks. Some of these groups, generally

ranging in age from 12 –17, are: Sadity Gang,

TYN, TYB, Fame Gang and Arrogant Fame.

These are not street gangs, though some have

allegedly engaged in gang-related activities such

as throwing up hand signals to symbolize their

groups.

If you were at Ford City Mall in February when

the teen boy group Mindless Behavior did a

“meet and greet” in a vacant store near the

mall’s food court, then you know what happened

Teen Social Media Groups Get A BAD RAP

after Mindless Behavior left the mall. The melee,

as it was repeatedly described on the news, was

a result of a social media group meeting up. The

crowd started small then word got out on social

media and it grew. ABC 7 News reported that

cars in the parking lot were vandalized, and

that up to 20 people were arrested. At least two

were treated for minor injuries.

While that incident put a black eye on the impact

of teen social media groups, they all don’t wreak

havoc. Some of the groups have innocent fun like

normal teens. But, it’s the ones that do harm that

give mostly all the groups a bad rap.

BY GABRIEL SANDERS, MORGAN PARK

14 TRUE STAR JR.

If you walked into any Chicago school and

looked at the shoes worn by the average boy or

girl, there is a good chance that he or she will

have a pair of Chuck Taylor’s or Jordans on their

feet. Both pair of shoes have been around for

what seems like forever, yet they still manage to

stay in style year after year.

The Converse Rubber Shoe Company debuted

the Converse All Star shoe in 1917, but it was a

salesman by the name of Charles “Chuck” Taylor

that helped make the shoe as popular as it is

today. According to the website Inside Hoops,

Taylor was an All-American high school player

who also suited up with the original Celtics. In

the 1920s he began traveling the country selling

shoes and doing basketball workshops. Taylor’s

name was added to the shoe in 1932. The first

pair of Chucks are believed to have sold for

around $1.

BY BRANDON LONDON, MORGAN PARK

Basketball legend Michael Jordan made his pair

of red, black and white Nike high-tops famous

when he wore them during a 1984 Bulls game.

Mentalfloss.com reported that the first pair were

released to the public in 1985 and sold for

$125.00.

Today you can find Chucks in every color imagi-

nable, even some with all types of designs, fabrics

and customized themes. But buying them for $1 is

out. Expect to pay about $40 and close $70 for a

more stylish pair. Since 1985 Nike has released a

new pair of Jordans every year; prices range any-

where from $100 to about $250. Even with the

price increase people can’t seem to get enough

of these shoes. Will there be a day Chucks and

Jordans go out of style? As of right now, it doesn’t

look like it. Then again, only time will tell.

The Shoes That NEVER GET OLD

Chuck Taylors & Jordans:

Photography: DeShaun “Trig” AdamsLocation: Little Black PearlMake-up: Chaka WashingtonHair: Diamond Beach

BLACK&White

SOPHISTICATED STYLE

SIMPLY SPRING

COLOR ME GOOD

TRUE STAR JR. 19

SHADES OF CLASS

20 TRUE STAR JR.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

China Anne McClain and her sisters Sierra

and Lauren are famous for their work on the

Disney soundtrack “A.N.T Farm” and for starring

in the movie “Daddy’s Little Girls.” But beneath

their fame and fortune they are fairly normal

teenage girls. China Anne, 14, Lauren, 16, and

Sierra, 18, spoke to True Star Jr. about their

future, fans, inspirations and hobbies.

True Star Jr.: Who inspires you?

China Anne: Definitely Beyoncé. She’s an

amazing singer. I haven’t had a chance to

meet her, but one day I will. I’d probably

pass out.

Sierra: My mother’s an incredible

vocalist. She’s where we get our strong

passion.

TSJ: Do you write your own music?

Sierra: We do.

TSJ: How do your parents feel about you all

being big in the entertainment industry?

Lauren: We brought it to mom first. We

thought we were the Cheetah Girls. Then

she brought it to my dad and they’ve

always been very supportive.

TSJ: How many instruments do you play?

China Anne: Guitar, that’s the main one,

and piano. I’m learning bass and violin

right now. Both instruments are really

fun. Oh, keyboards too.

TSJ: What advice do you have for others?

Lauren: Listen to your parents. We’re

Christian and the decisions we make are

based off that.

Sierra: Be responsible with what you put

out there. That’s your image. We want to

show the youth positive impressions.

TSJ: What kind of acting do you like best?

Lauren: China’s pretty much got the

comedy thing down. She’s funny on

and off camera. For me, it would be

dramatic.

China Anne: I’d love to stick to comedy

right now.

Sierra: China is very versatile. I would

stick to dramatic movies. I’m more

comfortable with that.

TSJ: What colleges are you thinking of

attending?

Lauren: Julliard or Berkeley.

TSJ: What are your hobbies?

China Anne: Other than sing, I’m not sure

I have a lot of hobbies. I actually like to

draw. We have family movie night. We

also go to the skating rink. We’re not

good at it though.

Lauren: I do ballet and do tennis with

my dad. I don’t have much coordination

though. I play football too. I play

quarterback.

BY AALIAYAH ROMER, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY & KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK

The McClain Sisters: A Triple Threat

20 TRUE STAR JR.

TSJ: How does it feel when people say they

admire you?

Sierra: We always get emotional. We

really enjoy interacting with the fans.

That’s why I feel so strongly about

putting positive images out there.

China Anne: Overwhelming. Some people

think it’s a lot of pressure but it’s not.

We’re grounded.

Lauren: Our parents kept us grounded

and humbled to stay strong to our beliefs.

TSJ: What do you consider to be your greatest

accomplishments?

China Anne: “A.N.T. Farm.” It’s getting

an amazing fan base. And getting the

opportunity to influence all the kids.

Lauren: Learning to play the guitar four

years ago. I don’t like to go anywhere

without it.

Sierra: The opportunity to influence

others in a positive way.

TSJ: How similar are China Parks and China Anne

McClain?

China Anne: It’s fun playing China Parks

because she’s a lot like me. Something

many people may not know is my

character’s name was Rain Davis before

it got on the air. Then when we started

filming, they changed the name to China

Parks.

TSJ: How did it feel to be on the set of “A.N.T.

Farm?”

Lauren: The first season we were on the

set all the time. The second season, not so

much because we were working on the

album. It was great.

Sierra: I have a greater appreciation for

China and her craft after working with her

on the set.

22 TRUE STAR JR.

Houston teen rap sensation GG Lyrics

took time out from her growing performance

schedule – she performed at The Eyes Wide

Open Teen Tour last August -- to talk to True Star

Jr. about who inspires her.

Dierra Foster, or the Golden Girl (GG), is no

stranger to entertaining. After all, she is a

former pageant star. At the age of 6 months old

she was in the Texas Beautiful Babies Pageant

and at age 4 she was crowned Little Miss Texas

in the Missy division. As a performer, she was

part of DK High Steppers Twirling Group and

the Lil Supa Stars Drill and Dance Team.

She recorded her first CD “Sitting on Top of the

World” when she was 10 years old and recently

released her current CD “High Maintenance.”

The “High Maintenance” single is available on

iTunes.

BY KELLY REYNOLDS, MORGAN PARK

True Star Jr.: What made you want to

start rapping?

GG Lyrics: I just love music. Since I

can’t sing, I rap. I also dance.

TSJ: What do you rap about?

GG Lyrics: About non-violence and

other positive stuff.

TSJ: Who inspires you to write your raps?

GG Lyrics: Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson

and Beyoncé.

Meet GG LYRICS

BZN

TRUE STAR JR. 23

Ahsan is a 14-year-old rising artist with

Interscope Records who recently performed at

Madison Square Garden in New York City.

He started singing when he was about 5 years

old. Years later, as Ahsan sang Stevie Wonder’s

hit song “Ribbon in the Sky,” he was surprised on

stage by the music legend himself.

Ahsan loves classic music and loves to sing

“Who’s Loving You” by Michael Jackson, his

favorite artist. He’d love to one day work with

Adele or John Legend.

He’s been influenced by family and friends, most

whom have singing and producing backgrounds.

Ahsan writes his own music and believes in order

to become a great artist, and to be noticed, you

have to strive to your best ability. When he’s not

recording or being homeschooled, he can be

found creating more music.

He wants his fans to be on the lookout for his

new single “You.”

HE’S ONE TO WATCH!

BY KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK

Meet AHSAN

BZN

24 TRUE STAR JR.

On January 19, 2013 Diggy Simmons

and the OMG Girlz performed at an anti-

violence event at the new concert hall at Christ

Universal Temple on the South Side. The concert

was to spread awareness about ending gun

violence in Chicago. During the show True Star

Jr. caught up with the OMG Girlz.

True Star Jr: What do you hope to accomplish by

doing this anti-violence event?

OMG Girlz (Beauty): We just plan to

let kids know that they don’t have to

participate in violence even if everybody

else makes it look cool. It isn’t cool.

TSJ: How has violence in Chicago touched you

or someone you know?

OMG Girlz (Baby Doll): Just hearing

about it on the news is crazy… We just

pray that it gets better.

TSJ: Have you taken part in any other

anti-violence events in other cities?

OMG Girlz (Beauty & Star): We actually

have. Like Baltimore and D.C. We actually

do these town meetings like we did

on the Scream Tour. We would go to

different cities and gather up a whole

bunch of children and just talk to them

about violence and a lot of other things.

BY DIAMOND BURTON, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY

TSJ: Do you feel as if your music has motivated

young teenagers and if so how?

OMG Girlz (Beauty): I think music

definitely motivates teenagers because if

you put out the right message, like with

us on our album, any new music that we

put out is really inspiring and letting kids

know that is an outlet.

TSJ: What do you think can be changed to bring

the violence down in Chicago?

OMG Girlz (Baby Doll & Beauty): Just kids

paying attention to their parents, you

know. It all starts in a home if they are

being obedient, and coming together as

teens.

Celebrities Fight VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO

N

TRUE STAR JR. 25

Many youth want to be just like their

role models. In many cases, that’s a celebrity.

Some celebrities make it a point to let everyone

know they didn’t attend college and they still

became successful. They say their talents carried

them and that they became successful because of

their hard work.

Today’s youth are impressed by fame and what

they see as fast money. Some think education

is important, but going to college isn’t quite

necessary.


I DISAGREE. No matter what your goals are, continuing your

education beyond high school is important. So

what if your favorite celebrity didn’t go to col-

lege? That doesn’t mean you have to follow in

their footsteps.

Don’t let someone, especially someone you don’t

know personally, influence your decision to go to

college.

TALKING NERDYCELEBRITIES WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE

Are Celebrities Affecting Your Decision TO GO TO COLLEGE?

N

26 TRUE STAR JR.

Nowadays people have a lot of access

to technology. The younger generation isn’t

familiar with a time when they didn’t have so

much technology available to them at once. You

can do anything if you have a computer, cell

phone or WiFi access, even your school work.

You can use technology to communicate with

others anywhere in the world. You can talk to

a teacher to get help, download answers for

standardized tests (which can get you in trouble)

and if you’re not careful, you can also miss

important information in class by using the loads

of technology available at your fingertips.

According to the Center for Applied Research

in Educational Technology, technology can

definitely have a positive outcome on a student’s

life, including academic performance, motivation,

critical thinking skills, literacy, attitudes and real-

life work skills.

BUT, BEWARE.You can also find the wrong information and

get in trouble by snatching stuff off the Internet.

Students can copy and paste information to a

paper and take credit for someone else’s work.

That’s plagiarism, and it can get you in loads of

trouble.

Responsibility when using technology for educa-

tional purposes is very important.

BY JANEA TAYLOR, MORGAN PARK

How Technology Affects Academics

TRUE STAR JR. 27

Many kids and teenagers form their

cliques in the beginning of the school year. What

about the outsiders or kids that can’t find their

clique because of the way they appear to others?

Many people get braces or have to adjust to

wearing glasses. Because of these necessities,

others view these students differently; some

would even call them dorks.

WELL, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THIS? In this case I have had both glasses and braces.

It is pretty difficult, because when you get these

BY KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK

things the children around you create stereotypes

that make you seem out of place. When dealing

with someone’s opinion about your outer shell

you have to learn to really respect yourself and

have self-confidence because many people will

try and take you down.

One must not care about comments made by

other people who don’t know you, because even

a dog barks at someone it doesn’t know. You

have to be satisfied and happy about how you

look. You might not have outer beauty, but you

have inner beauty. Just know that you will be

judged throughout your life no matter what, but

the way you respond to the judging is up to you.

Wearing glasses and braces don’t make you a

dork. They just make you a well-accessorized

human being.

You’re Not a Dork Because You WEAR Glasses & Have Braces

28 TRUE STAR JR.

When you don’t do your school

assignments you’re hurting no one but yourself.

Some people slack because they may not

understand the work. If that’s the case don’t be

ashamed to ask your teacher for help. But, many

students slack because they just don’t “want” to

do the work. The one rule slackers often forget is

this: There are consequences to your actions.

Slacking in school will eventually show in your

grades. The grades you have at the end of a

semester are most important because that is what

decides if you’ve passed or failed. When you fail

you end up having to repeat the same class all

over again, most likely in summer school.

Summer is the only time you really get to sit

down, relax and have fun. Most people know

that they’d rather be at home than stuck in a hot

classroom doing the same work they hated doing

during the school year.

BY LAUREN NOISETTE, MORGAN PARK

Another thing to consider is that once the

consequences of slacking have finally caught up

with you chances are your parents won’t

be happy.

Some of the punishments you can look forward

to might be spending time away from your

friends, no TV, no video games, no social media,

no going out, and pretty much no fun at all. And

don’t forget about your cell phone. You can say

goodbye to talking and texting too.

When you don’t do your work your grades drop,

you increase your chances of repeating classes,

and all the things that mean so much to you get

taken away. So the next time you think about not

doing your assignment ask yourself,

“IS BEING A SLACKER REALLY WORTH IT?”

The Consequences of Being a Slacker

TRUE STAR JR. 29

Before you know it the school year will be

coming to an end and summer break will be here.

Have you put any thought into all the exciting

things you’d like to do over the break? If not,

there’s no time like the present to start making

plans. Lazy days are cool to enjoy from time to

time, but don’t spend your entire break sitting

around the house watching Netflix. Stay active

and take a vacation tailor-made just for you.

THINGS TO DO:- Ice Skate- Roller Skate- Go to the Movies- Go shopping- Hang with Friends

According to www.kidzworld.com, here are

a few other ideas to keep you busy during

break time:

- Do community service- Visit the different museums- Try to see several different movies at the theater- Have a gaming party where you invite your friends over for a video game tournament- Have a sleepover

BY BRITTANY HULL, U.C.-WOODSON

VACATIONING AREAS:- Kalahari Resort- Wilderness Resort- Tampa, Florida - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin- Hollywood, California (Take a minute to visit the Hollywood sign.) Don’t forget to journal about what you did

during your break. That way you’ll have

documented memories that will last not just for

the summer, but for a lifetime.

What Are You DoingFor Summer BREAK?

CREATIVE CORNERD

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30 TRUE STAR JR.

TRUE STAR JR. 31

As I capture this flowerI wonder who I am.

Am I loyal, dishonest or determined?I dream of my future and

I want to live, I don’t want to die.I want to live. I scream there are guns that cause pain.

That goes through my head. I awake hearing guns.

My heart is breaking as I see those cars.My broken window shows what’s ahead.

My life.I’m a leader so I stand above.

Lost: A Poem For HadiyaBY KYLA WHITE, U.C.-WOODSON

ILLUSTRATION BY PIERRE SEATON

32 TRUE STAR JR.

DEEPER THAN SKIN

In today’s society weight is a very big deal.

There are good choices and there are bad

choices when it comes to deciding what foods

to eat. Make the wrong choices and your health

can become an issue for you down the road.

Fast foods are full of large amounts of fat,

calories, sugar and preservatives. Some foods

contain growth hormones and are produced

with GMO (genetically modified organisms). The

website Organic Authority reports that GMO

products are not safe for several reasons, includ-

ing the massive use of pesticides on the crops.

Your body needs a balanced diet – grains, fruits,

vegetables and dairy. Fast foods contain mostly

processed products. Eat too much of this and you

won’t be able to receive the appropriate nutri-

ents your body needs. Your chances of becoming

overweight also increase.

Here are a few healthy food replacements for those bad choices:

Instead of chips, how about non-butter popcorn.

You are eating about 38 calories less!

Put that energy drink down! Try a cup of tea with

natural lemon. It keeps you alert, has less sugar,

and tastes great!

If you want to stay energized during the day,

try eating warm bread (preferably 1-2 slices of

wheat). This will keep you awake and won’t make

you sleepy due to your stomach being empty.

Making the switch from fast foods to healthier

foods may take time. Do the best you can now

and your body will thank you later.

BY AHMAD CHANEY, U.C.-WOODSON & RONALD THOMPSON, MORGAN PARK

Healthy Foods VS. FAST FOODS

TRUE STAR JR. 33

Autism may be one of the world’s most

misunderstood developmental illnesses. All the

stereotypes should not be regarded as scientific

fact. According to studies, autism in today’s

youth is gaining more prevalence yearly, with the

diagnosis being 1 in 88 for all children and 1 in

54 for boys. Additionally, autism costs families

about $60,000 a year and receives less than five

percent of research funding compared to other

childhood diseases.

Tracy Bourne’s daughter, Story Bourne, 4, was

diagnosed with autism at 21 months. She wants

people to be more understanding of the disease

and of more assistance to the kids.

“Talk to people who may come to know other

people with autism,” said Bourne. “Reach out to

those kids and be patient with them; try to help

them along. They are unique, but they need

help.”

Bourne gave True Star Jr. a look into her life as a

parent with an autistic child.

True Star Jr.: How does your daughter interact

with other children?

Tracy Bourne: She’s really great and

actually good with other kids. She’s

always had an interest in other kids, but

her language is what she struggles with

most.

TSJ: As a parent what are some challenges you

face with an autistic child?

TB: The biggest difficulty is worry. The

whole bullying situation scares me.

TSJ: What do you feel are the biggest

stereotypes against autistic children?

TB: That they could pick up an instrument

instantly and be a musician or an artist.

TSJ: Advice to parents?

TB: Surround yourself around people

who are positive and understand what

you are going through. Get to know

other parents in the community who have

kids with autism. Never ever give up.

Continue to do research, and if possible

get your child therapy outside of school.

BY AALIAYAH ROMER, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY

Shadows of An Autistic Youth

34 TRUE STAR JR.

The keratin treatment is a Brazilian hair

treatment used to naturally straighten hair. It

doesn’t have the chemicals that are in perms

and relaxers like sodium hydroxide and calcium

hydroxide. Your hair is straightened with the

protein ingredient of keratin.

“The keratin treatment is meant to change the

way we look at natural hair,” said Anthony

Jones, owner of AJ Styles Beauty Salon in Oak

Park. “So often we want our hair to look good

and forget that it also needs to be healthy. The

keratin treatment and keratin products help keep

hair both healthy and nice looking.”

How to apply:- Wash hair. Do not apply conditioner.

- Section hair into four parts. Apply the

product starting from the top and working

to the bottom.

- Apply the keratin complex with a bowl and

brush.

- Once applied, run a fine tooth comb through

The Keratin Treatment

your hair. If product remains on the comb

squeeze the excess out until the comb runs

through the hair clean.

- Let sit for 20 minutes. Do not wash out.

- Blow dry hair. It might take a while, but

make sure it is all blow dried into your hair.

- Separate hair into four sections.

- Use a ceramic flat iron that is at least 450

degrees.

Rules:- Do not wash your hair for three days follow-

ing the treatment.

- Avoid using clips or bands for the three

days as they can leave dents in your hair.

- Do not use dry shampoos or other products

in your hair for the three day period.

- When you wash your hair, you must use

“sulfate free“ shampoo and conditioner or the

recommended product from the manufac-

turer every time you wash. Using sulfate

products can cause the keratin treatment

to revert.

n

n

BY AMBER FRY, LINDBLOM MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY

TRUE STAR JR. 35

Bees buzzing, flowers blooming, the sun

shining – these are all signature trademarks of

spring. But there’s also one more thing spring is

known for and that’s cleaning. Spring is the time

to clean up, not just your home but also your life,

and that includes school.

Something as simple as cleaning out your locker

once a month or keeping loose papers in a

folder instead of stuffing them in your backpack

can be the difference between an A and a F.

Why? Because these steps help make you more

organized, and the more organized you are the

less cluttered your mind will be.

Even talking in class can be something that can

ruin someone’s grade without them even notic-

ing. Just because a teacher doesn’t tell you to

stop talking that doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t

paying attention, and it doesn’t mean that the

teacher isn’t marking it.

The Keratin Treatment

It’s impossible to just wake up one day and have

awesome grades and good behavior marks. You

have to be committed to making the change to

be a better student. And being committed doesn’t

mean staying inside and studying 24 hours a

day. It just means actually making an effort to

change.

No one said change would be easy, but gradual

steps definitely work best. One step to take

toward making your life less crazy at school and

at home is to keep a “to-do” list. This is perfect

for keeping up with all the things you have to get

done. The best part is once you’ve completed a

task you get to scratch it off your list and enjoy

the feeling of accomplishment.

Hopefully these tips are just the thing you need

for a fresh start. Good luck and have a great

spring!

BY EDEN STRONG, MORGAN PARK

Is Your Lifestyle In Need of Some Spring Cleaning?

36 TRUE STAR JR.

KEEPIN’ SCORE

French Fry is a compelling and competitive

basketball league. There are three divisions:

Small Fry from ages 5 to 8; Jr. Fry from ages 8 to

11; and Sr. Fry from ages 11 to 13.

Joe Bussle, who started the French Fry League

in 1996, saw kids being turned away from Small

Fry because there wasn’t enough room for the

kids. That’s how the French Fry League with the

different divisions was born. The league practices

at Palmer Park on the Southeast Side.

“I wanted to give young boys and girls a chance

to practice fundamental basketball skills and

social skills,” Bussle said.

It’s simple to join. Just “come in, fill out the

application and pay the fee,” Bussle explained.

“We don’t turn anyone away.”

When you come to French Fry, you know you

must come to play if you want to win, said a

BY KYLE TERRY AND ARI SLAUGHTER, MORGAN PARK

few of the players. Landon Gladney, 12, plays

small forward and power forward for Sr. Fry

and Cameron Gross, 13, plays small forward for

Sr. Fry. Both said they love the game and have

enjoyed playing in the French Fry League over

the years.

The Sr. Fry division recently won the

championship game.

“The intensity of the game is very high and the

game is very competitive,” said Ricky Anderson,

who attended the championship game.

Bussle, who got emotional during the interview,

said his most memorable moments have been the

championships.

“It’s good to see the kids have fun and win while

doing it,” he said. “That’s always the best part.”

Full disclosure: Ari Slaughter is a member of the

French Fry League’s Sr. Fry division.

French FryBasketball League

TRUE STAR JR. 37

The girls varsity basketball team at Morgan

Park Academy has a record of winning their

regional championships, but this year was differ-

ent. This is the first time in the school’s history they

won a sectionals game. They won the sectionals

semi-finals but were defeated in the championship

game. True Star Jr. alumni Kennedy Chaney, a

starting freshman on Morgan Park Academy’s

team, talks about growing up a hooper and being

part of a history-making team.

True Star. Jr.: When did you start playing

basketball?

Kennedy Chaney: I originally started in

kindergarten but I quit. I rejoined the

team in 3rd-grade.

TSJ: Why do you like playing basketball?

KC: It’s really fun.

TSJ: What position do you play?

KC: Point Guard.

TSJ: What teams have you played for?

KC: St. Dorothy Lady Defenders. I also

played on the boys team. I played AAU

ball for the Pink Lady Ballers in 7th and

8th-grade and now for Morgan Park

Academy.

TSJ: Do you have any athletic awards or

trophies?

KC: I have a few trophies, including MVP

for St. Dorothy’s and the Most Athletic

Award. I I also have a couple of medals and

trophies for Pink Lady Ballers, and a trophy

from MPA for Most Improved Player.

TSJ: How different is it playing in high school than

elementary school?

KC: It’s more aggressive in high school,

especially playing on a varsity team. I

play basketball year-round, so playing

AAU ball when the school season is over

helped strengthen my skills and helped

me better prepare to play high school

varsity basketball.

TSJ: Do you have any hooper nicknames?

KC: My uncle named me Lady Rose.

TSJ: Who are your favorite players and teams?

KC: The 1992 Olympic Dream Team, Der-

rick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Larry Bird and

Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins.


Morgan Park Academy’s Girls Varsity Basketball Team Makes History

38 TRUE STAR JR.

How do the many injuries in the National

Basketball Association affect the teams and the

fans?

One major injury in the league right now belongs

to the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose. Rose tore his

ACL in the 2011-2012 season. It was devastating

to the fans. The Bulls lost to the Philadelphia

76ers in the first round that season and we were

hoping Rose would recover.

“[Basketball] is not as fun without my favorite

players,” said Arieon Brown, age 12.

This season, more Bulls players were added to

the injured list. They’ve won many games this

season, but have also lost many games. The

season isn’t looking as bright as it could. Too

many injuries may cost the Bulls a chance to

make it to the playoffs.

Marshawn Porter, 12, agreed.

“They seem to be waiting on their star player

and they can’t play. They just might not make it,”

Porter said.

BY EMANUEL THOMAS, MORGAN PARK

The Boston Celtics also have a key injury. Star

point guard Rajon Rondo went down on a torn

ACL. Atlanta Hawks’ rising star Lou Williams tore

his ACL too, as well as Minnesota Timberwolves’

Kevin Love.

These teams can go far in the playoffs, but the

injured players that are off the court will make it

difficult.

NBA Injuries:

HOW THEY AFFECT THE TEAMS AND FANS

TRUE STAR JR. 39

Just because you have the skills to be a star

basketball player doesn’t mean you have what it

takes to be a good student-athlete. A student-

athlete is someone that maintains good grades

while playing sports. Sometimes being a student-

athlete is difficult because there are certain

requirements that must be met. IHSA (Illinois

High School Association) Scholastic Standing

says, “Students must be passing enough courses

on both weekly and semester basis to earn 2.5

full credits.” A good student-athlete knows how

to achieve this.

Having the athletic skills of a champ but have

the grades of a dummy will only get you so far.

Brittany Morris, of the Whitney Young Lady

Dolphins, shares her best strategy to studying

for exams. “Taking notes on lectures in class and

doing my homework works for me. That helps

me remember things and prepares me to review

before tests.”

Time management is also important to every

successful student-athlete. Striking a balance

between practice, play, and homework may be

hard but necessary. Morris manages her time in

her own way.

“For long term projects I plan ahead and do a

little each day.” She advises others to “have self-

discipline and give yourself time to get the work

done. Easing off your texting, talking and social

media will help too.”

BY BREANNA BECK, MORGAN PARK

For a student-athlete being organized is also

crucial because it makes your life easier and

helps you stay focused. Being organized has a

big impact on your grades too. Much like time

management, it helps to keep up with times,

dates, homework, and important assignments.

Using a daily planner can help.

It takes hard work and dedication to be

successful in sports and life. Excellence is the

gradual result of always striving to do better.

Do You Have What It Takes

TO BE A Student-athlete?

40 TRUE STAR JR.

SCHOOL SPIRIT

BY SYDNEY TENTON, LINDBLOM

Recently Lindblom’s College and

Career Center offered two great opportunities

tied to college. In today’s generation it’s never

too soon to step your game up and prepare

yourself for your dream college, which is why

it’s important to Lindblom that students start

learning about college early.

The competition is rising each year for college

and Lindblom has offered deals to the 9th and

10th-graders to visit the University of Illinois at

Urbana Champaign. These underclassmen are

required to fill out an application and write a

500 word essay in order to be considered for

the U of I trip.

Some may argue that it’s too early for students

in the 9th and 10th-graders to think about

college. However, some may disagree and

think the trip may be beneficial for students.

Ms. Andrews, director of the College and

Career Center at Lindblom, said, “The purpose

of this trip is to introduce children early on to

colleges and to see what college has to offer.

The trip is also for students to be exposed to

a college atmosphere. We’ve noticed that

students who are exposed to college settings

as freshmen and sophomores are most likely to

go to college after their senior year.”

Kamari McElroy, a Lindblom freshman, said,

“I think this [trip] will benefit me because I

can get an idea of a college I may be able to

attend in the state of Illinois. I will be able to

plan for my future.”

In today’s economy a degree is necessary for

many jobs. The standards for good colleges

are high, so it’s always good to plan ahead

and get a good idea of what to expect in the

future. Don’t assume that grades from early

on don’t count, because every step matters,

especially when applying for scholarships.

Too Early to Get Going FOR COLLEGE?

40 TRUE STAR JR.

TRUE STAR JR. 41

For about the last five years Woodson

has offered a unique set of classes every Friday

at the end of the day. They’re called X-Blocks

and they offer a different kind of learning from

what we get in our regular classes each day.

The students get to choose from more than 10

classes offered each quarter. Real Men Talk, led

by Joel Bullock and Sam Robinson, and All the

World’s a Stage, led by Kat Kindleberger, are

two examples of what Woodson students are

enjoying this quarter.

BY KAYLAH WRIGHT, U.C.-WOODSON

Introducing Woodson’s X-BLOCK CLASSES

TRUE STAR JR. 41

42 TRUE STAR JR.


Behind the Scenes AT THE TRUE STAR JR. Photo Shoot

The True Star Jr. photo shoot is for all of you guys who are photogenic. You get to be

involved with modeling and photography and everything is set up like you have been signed by

one of Chicago’s top modeling agencies.

You get the full effect: different sceneries and dress categories that come from your own closet,

and light makeup if your parent is cool with it. The hair stylist touches up your hair if it needs

to be done and then SNAP! SNAP! Your image has been frozen in time for the pages of the

magazine.

42 TRUE STAR JR.

TRUE STAR JR. 43

WWW.TRUESTARIS.COM

CELEBSSHOW LOVE

44 TRUE STAR JR.

true star junior spring 2013

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