THETrojan BlazeOlympic High School Volume 3 Issue 1 February 20, 2005

In this issue:✏ High School

Sweetheart Winners! Pg. 1

✏ OHSConversion Update Pg. 3

✏ History of Valentines DayPg. 3

✏ And More!

A Word From The EditorBy Amber Young, Editor-In-Chief

Welcome back readers, a lot of you have been asking when the nextissue will arrive, and it’s finally here! Sorry for the long wait betweenissues! In our latest installment of the Trojan Blaze, you’ll find plenty ofromance just in time for Valentine’s Day! In addition to all the fluff sur-rounding V-Day, you’ll find your old favorites like the advice column andAnime Central, as well as the latest OHS news. As always, I’m open toyour thoughts, suggestions, and comments about the Blaze. Drop a letter tothe Editor in locker #816 and I will answer in the next issue.

Homeroom Representatives Get The Ball Rolling!By Amber Young, Editor In Chief

Thursday, December 1st during advisory, the first homeroom rep-resentatives’ meeting was held in the auditorium. During this ‘organi-zational meeting, Ms. Espinoza showed the students an outline, whichdetailed what she hoped would be accomplished over the next monthor so.

Mrs. Espinoza also introduced the first two topics of the program,one of which was the student dress code. Plans have been made tochange three rules based on popular opinion of the student body.

Representatives were asked to gather a consensus from theirhomeroom of two rules they wanted changed. Almost every single rep-resentative came back with the answer “No tucking in T-shirts.”

December 6th and December 8th, four after school meetings wereheld, and options for changing the dress code were discussed. Mrs.Espinoza listened to each student’s point of view, and openly consid-ered all options put before her.

At press time, Olympic High School has a new, student approved,improved dress code for the second semester. However, there is acatch. Once changes have been made, students must agree to abide bythe dress code. If they don’t, the consequences will be to revert back toour current dress code and no further changes will be considered.

As the student body of Olympic High, let’s show Ms. Espinozahow badly we want a new dress code and follow the rules! The dresscode may not be completely changed, but who knows, if we’re all onour best behavior she may consider even more changes. Let’s prove toher that the students of Olympic High are responsible enough andmature enough to have a voice!

Around TownBy Natalie Cedeno

Downtown in the civil court-house, a time capsule has beenplaced in order to save past mem-ories and files. It was planted in1976 and isto open in2076. Pastdocumentsand old pic-tures, news-paper arti-cles, impor-tant fileshave storedinside.

After months of bidding, theCharlotte Coliseum (154-acreproperty) was sold to an Atlantadevelopment firm that plans totear down the old coliseum anderect housing, retail and officespace. A preliminary plan for theproperty lists 625,000 square feetof office space, 271,000 squarefeet of hotel and retail space, 616high-density housing units, 91town home units and 116 singlefamily units.

Discovery Place is makingfinal preparations for the DeadSea Scrolls. It expects more than200,000 people to come see theancient Hebrew documents whilethey’re ondisplayfrom Feb.17-May29.

The North Carolina TurnpikeAuthority, hoping to get the pub-lic’s input on a toll road project,held the first of three informationworkshops Tuesday in Gastonia.The Gaston County project, a 21-to 23-mile stretch connectingInterstates 85 and 485, is the mostexpensive of the six projects theturnpike authority is working on.Its price tag is estimated at $600million.

A Lot Of Drama For The Drama StudentsBy Amber Young, Editor In Chief

Have you ever spent enormous amounts of time and energy on something you were really passionateabout, only to have it taken away? Well that’s exactly how the theatre classes felt when they had their stageset for Waiting For Godot literally torn out from under them. In early November, the theatre classes walkedthrough the door to find their stage bare, their set torn down and hauled away.

Sophomore Ryan Mobley says the stage was the ‘heart and soul’ of the play. “Personally, I put forth250% effort on this play, and now it’s gone. I feel like I put forth a lot of effort for nothing.”

So why exactly was the stage set torn down? I asked Mrs. Poston to shed some light on the issue fromthe administration’s point of view. “Not only was it a fire hazard, but students were throwing empty sodabottles and food wrappers into the trash that was already up there. It became a sanitary issue because itattracted mice and bugs.” Mrs. Poston also stated that, “We had teachers ready to help the students designthe play around a different set, but instead they chose to not have the play. It was a student decision.”

Could the set have been cleaned up and saved? Should the students have accepted the administration’soffer to help them start over? We want your opinions! Drop a letter to the editor in locker number 816 to letus know what you think.

Skip the Lunch Line or Starve?By J. N. Redmond & Hai-y Le

The lunch bell rings and everybody rushes to be the first in line. Thehunger and ambition overrides our sanity and leads us to participate inmore aggressive actions so we will emerge as one of the first to be fed.Seconds later, a massive line forms and students encounter an “ethical”problem: Should I skip or should I wait?

“The students need to have respect for each other,” says Mrs.Pankey. Unfortunately, some students choose not to do the right thing,putting themselves before others and creating injustice for those whohave been affected by their poor decision.

“When I’m skipping it doesn’t bother me,” says Darius Baker, asophomore. This attitude of superiority leads to a rift between those whoskip and those who do not.

“You need to think about how others feel,” says Amber Halgren, asenior. “If you skip someone, you should feel guilty.” Guilty or not,some students do it anyway and the administration finds it frustrating toconstantly have to correct this unproductive nature.

Jeanie Mudgett, a member of the cafeteria staff says, “They need tostay in line like everybody else. I’m constantly having to send themback. Everybody’s got to take their turn and wait.” The staff is findingthis difficult due to the insubordination and the student’s refusal to returnto their rightful position in line – the end.

However, many seniors feel that with their status in the highschool hierarchy, they should receive “special” treatment. Janet Presleysays, “Because I’m a senior, I should have the privilege to get in frontbecause I’ve been waiting for three years.” Fortunately, that predicamenthas been solved with the distribution of senior passes, which allows sen-iors to leave class three minutes early for lunch.

On the other hand, underclassmen are not given this option andare compelled to follow the rules set down before them. “It’s very unfair.People should be more considerate,” says Kim Le, a sophomore. Thosewho choose to go by the approach that their conscience provides, find itunacceptable for them to suffer from the lack of courtesy of others.

Mrs. Cochran, however, disagrees saying that “Students need tostick up for themselves.” Students who feel intimidated often find itproblematic to retort due to the reaction that they may receive.

The following stories are the top entries in our Valentines contest.The winner of the contest will receive a romantic dinner for two at theOlive Garden!

Jarid Sestak and Ashley McNabb:

Me and Jarid started talking the beginning oh May 2005. We metat a party through some friends and started dating about a week later.We had known each other prior to the party, and I never imagined ustogether, but I couldn’t be happier with our decision.

It was difficult at first because Jarid and I are both naturally shypeople. It didn’t take long for us to adjust and before I knew it, I wasmore comfortable around him than anyone. We attended prom togetherand during the summer we spent every weekend on the lake, on theboat, or camping. At the same time, he worked as a lifeguard atCarowinds while I worked at Paradise Sun Tanning. It became hard tofind a set time to see each other and often created conflict. There weredefinitely those times where we thought it would be impossible to staytogether, but we somehow worked through it. I’ve really grown up andlearned so much from him. I’ve realized over the course of our rela-tionship that anything you care for that much is worth fighting to keep.Everything we’ve been through has made us stronger. I feel that thereis no one thing that can break the bond we’ve created.

Personally, I think that I am the luckiest person to have some-one in my life like Jarid. He gives me something to look forward toand I am so excited to spend my future with him.

Jarid Sestak and Ashley McNabb: 1st Annual Trojan Blaze High SchoolSweetheart Contest Winners! Continued on page 2

High School Sweethearts Contest

page 2 Trojan Blaze Features and Editorials

This will be me and Jarid’s first Valentine’s Day together, and definitely not the last.I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my senior year with anyone else. Our relationship getsstronger with each and every day. I couldn’t see my life without him in it. I love himwith all my heart.

Zakiah Everette and Jonathan Caldwell:

It was a cold night in December at an Olympic high school game. I was in eighthgrade at the time, but I went with my cousin who was a sophomore at the school. Weboth can remember it like it was yesterday. We were sitting at the top of the hill lookingat each other, back and forth, not saying a word but giving plenty of hints and eye con-tact that we liked each other. Then he said “I’m cold”. I smiled thinking that was a sillything to say. But it did grab my attention. I moved closer to him and we began to talk. Heasked me my name, I said “Kia”. He said, “I’m Jonathan”. We talked and talked aboutall kinds of things. By the end of the game we had exchanged phone numbers. We talkeda few times on the phone after that night and it seemed like we shared a lot of the sameinterests. But then my cousins moved out of town. Jonathan assumed I had moved awayas well so he didn’t call anymore. I guess I could have called him, but back then I wasjust too nervous and shy.

August 26th the second day of my freshman yeah at Olympic, there was a fire drill.Everyone slowly moved through the front doors and outside near the parking lot. Whilewaiting to go back inside, I heard my brother Josh call me name. I turned around andthere was Jonathan. He asked my brother “is that Kia?” I said “Hey!!” we were both sur-prised to see each other. It’s like God kept putting us into each other’s path. He asked meout September 13th. Our relationship is so special because after that night we neverthought we would see each other again but by faith we ended up together. We haven’tbeen without each other since. There is never a moment you won’t see Jonathan and Kiatogether.

Talina Velazquez and Ryan Mobley:

It all started in the beginning of last year as I walked into my first period class. I wasterrified since it was my first day of high school. As I searched the class room for famil-iar faces I noticed a boy sitting across the room… if I had only known how things wouldwork out, I would have looked for a seat closer to him. From there a casual friendshipdeveloped, we’d wave at each other in the hallways and have brief conversations beforeclass, no matter how short our conversations were, every time I saw him my heart wouldskip a beat. It was all nice and cute until, I found out he had a girlfriend, I was torn, so Idecided to just lay low. We grew to become really good friends after several months hewas single again. There were some doubts for a while sine we didn’t want our friendshipto be damaged if things didn’t work out between us. He finally decided to ask me to behis girlfriend, and without any hesitation a big “yes!” escaped from my mouth, followedby a giggle. I can honestly say I have never been happier. Like ever other couple, we’vehad our ups and downs which include two months without being able to see each other.That time was the cruelest form of torture I have ever experienced. At last we were ableto be together again, and since then we’re inseparable. I never thought love could changea persons life so much, it’s the most beautiful and extraordinary thing that’s ever hap-pened to me. I LOVE YOU RYAN!

Craig Vanderhoof and Hillary Feuerbacher:

My boyfriend and I have been going out for 11 months. He is my best friend beforeanything. I love him and he’s very special to me. Our relationship is special because weare best friends in some form. We support each other in every aspect. We push eachother to new limits. Being his girlfriend is great. He makes me feel safe and secure. Wehave so much in common, yet we’re still finding out new things about each other every-day. Craig can always calm me down or cheer me up. He always knows what’s going onwith me. We’re honest with each other no since in lying. We’re together for the longing.As corny as it sounds he completes me and makes me a better person. I love him andtruly mean it.

Sheela Dang and Tyler Jordan:

“Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or con-ceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does no take pleasure in other people’s sins, butdelights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatev-er comes.”

This excerpt from the bible accurately describes our love. After four years ofjust being brief acquaintances, we finally realized that the empty part of each of our livesbetween us, and it grows stronger each day. What we have is not another fourth grade

crush; it is more in depth wit genuine feelings. We respect each other and care for oneanother in a way that is much more mature and sincere than most high school relation-ships. Although we have arguments, as any couple does, as bad at it may seem, wealways forgive and forget; resulting in a stronger and more stable connection.

We have always been by each others side, even before, when we were merelyfriends. We would do homework together, run errands, clean, and above all, we helpedeach other become a better person. We show concern, support, and affection for oneanother. Together or not, we put the other person over ourselves. Everything that we do isfor the benefit of the other. We know each others behaviors well, and when something iswrong, we work together to comfort each other and solve the issue.

“I love you” is not used as a defense line, but with an authentic meaning. We bothget along with each others families and with patience and consideration, each family willadopt the new addition as one of its own. With this strong feeling we have, this won’t beanother relationship to go down in history.

Rachel Stevenson and Marlon Gilliam:

The day my life changed, I was in the cafeteria and my (now) girlfriend came and satin my lap because there were no more seats. It was an ironic situation.

I had been wanting to be with her for a long time and we weren’t strangers becausewe went to the same middle school together. A little bit after that we started speaking onthe phone, but not all the time because I was doing things that weren’t right and she wasstill in a so-called relationship. I say that because they didn’t care for each other and wereabout to break up.

My heart had never felt so warm before until she came along. This lady, or “Wee-Wee” as I call her, is my beautiful angel in my darkest times. When we started talkingmore and more, I found my heart expanding to a size that seemed unimaginable. I was nolonger wanting to do the things I had been doing in my previous relationships because itwas something about her that made me feel new.

When we started dating, it was up and down like any relationship, but weseemed to always make our way back up. Our first kiss was in the movies which mademy heart melt due to the long absence of love. Before we met each other our hearts werean empty space that we slowly filled. Though we had arguments, rumors, and people thattried to shake what we had, we were determined not to let them burn out our flame. Shegets more and more beautiful everyday, just as our love does. I’ve never consideredmyself as to be a sensitive person until I got in this relationship. Rachel made me realizethat opening up my feelings is good for the soul. I never used to go outside to look at thestar, but I do now. Not only did my night brighten, but I was blessed to grab that star tolighten my darkened path.

In the mornings when I walk into school and see her smile, it makes me sohappy inside. If only you can see her big smile it would make your day as well. Eventhough she says I get on her nerves at times and visa versa, we still love each other. Sheis and will always be the princess in my life and I’ll be her price. Our hopes and dreamsare to get married when we both graduate college and make a stable life for one another.Though we have not known each other our whole life, our minds, hearts, and soul havebeen twisted together for a year and 4 months. People say love is pain, but our love ispure. We found each other hurting and sought out a cure. Not a cure of medicine, but oflove. As you can see we love each other deeply, and if you could learn something fromus it should be that even though you’ve been hurt before, doesn’t mean you won’t findlove again.

Yankia Cunningham and Kenneth Fishe:

There’s so much to say in such a depreciative amount of words. I can start by sayinghow much I enjoy and cherish spending time together. We met in 6th grade and were bestfriends from the start and still are to this very day. I can’t believe hoe much our relation-ship has evolved from day one. The type of relationship we share is pure. We never keepany secrets form one another so there’s never any pain to endure. We know basically allthere is to know about one another seeing how we have been best friends for so long. Therelationship we share can kind of be compared to the relationship in the movie “love andbasketball.” We started as being friends and obtained deeper feelings toward one another.I know how many may think we’re too young for love, and that may be true. But, I havethink I have fallen for him. He is my world and visa versa. Most of our friends envy ourrelationship quality. Anytime our friends want to hang out over the weekends they aresure to call us. We make any occasion entertaining. There is no way we could ever beembarrassed around one another because we’re strong spiritually and mentally. Of all thedays I’ve made mistakes and bad decisions, October 6th, 2005 was the day I finallylearned the difference between right and wrong. We’ve been together for five strongmonths.

Continued on page 2

High School Sweethearts Contest

News and Features Trojan Blaze page 3

History of Valentine’s DayBy J. N. Redmond

Every February we celebrate Valentines Day by giving flowers,candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of SaintValentine. You may be wondering, "Who is St. Valentine"?

Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during thirdcentury Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name ofClaudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made bettersoldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind heoutlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger mili-tary base. Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree just wasn't fairand chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius IIfound out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man whofell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death hesent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signedit 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.

Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind theman named St. Valentine, but this much is forsure...February has been the month to celebrate love for along time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact,Valentines ranks second only to Christmasin number of greeting cards sent.

Another valentine gentleman youmay be wondering about is Cupid (Latincupido, "desire"). In Roman mythologyCupid is the son of Venus, goddess oflove. His counterpart in Greek mytholo-gy is Eros, god of love. Cupid is oftensaid to be a mischievous boy who goesaround wounding both gods and humanswith his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

As Olympic High Schoolmakes progress towards fiveautonomist schools, teachers arefinding the transition difficultand frustrating. The irritation isdue to the fact that they are notcertain about the school they willbe teaching in next year. Also,since the schools will be cuttingback on electives, some teachersdo not know whether their jobsare secure anymore.

On a positive note, some ofour staff and students visited

New York andBoston in order toget a glimpse

inside some ofthe schools

that under-went thesamechangeandappear tobe making

good

Making Progress...By Talina Velazquez and Hai-y Le

progress. One of the schools theyvisited was the Urban Academy.Our staff and students wereinspired by some of their electiveclasses, such as “Beyond HarryPotter” and “The Gods Must beCrazy.”

The five students who wenton the Boston trip have formed“The Passion Team”. Their objec-tive is to gain student support andcreate an optimistic feeling aboutthe five school conversion.Another goal of theirs is toinform the students about thechange through an assembly thatwill take place in the near future.

Next year, magnet studentswill be affected by the fact thattheir schools will be assigned tothem. The strand that signed upfor will decide what school theywill be attending. For the SocialScience strand, they will attendInternational Studies and GlobalEconomics School, the Financestrand will join the International

Finance, Communications andEntrepreneurship School, and theJROTC strand will be enrolledinto the Integrated Studies Schoolof Arts, Humanities and SocialJustice, which has been recentlynamed The Renaissance School.There may be a possibility thatMagnet students can change thestrand, but it is certain that theywill have to enter one of thesethree schools if Olympic is nottheir home school.

On Thursday, January 26,and Saturday 28, OHS hosted anopen house to inform studentsand parents about the radicalchanges occurring next year.They were given a folder contain-ing the reasons for our changeand descriptions of the possiblecourses offered at each school.For more information about theindividual schools and the transi-tion, visit www.coreschoolspro-ject.org

page 4 Trojan Blaze News and Features

We hear about many students going into the Army, Navy, Air force, or Marines. But the question is why? Why risk your life for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? Why not just get an all-American job?

One student, Morgan Merriweather says Ò I want to join the Army reserves to gain college money. But I haven’t made up my mind yet.” So is that the reason why so many students enter military? 74% of senior students enter military just for college money. But what about the GI BILL? Is that still included? “Yes!” says MR. McKinney (a retired Army troop) “it’s still included. It’s handed to after you fi nish a good amount of time in the service.”

Another reason students enter the military is Patriotism. The defi nition of Patriotism is – one who loves support, and defends one’s country. But do so many students really go for bravery? One student (don’t want to use his

name) says, “because I see that my country is in need so why not fi ght for the country that I love. Then to set back a watch this country go down.”

Another reason students enter military is to follow their family line. They see a line of men/women fi ghting for this here country. So in their mind they want to fi nish the line of being a solider. A student Sontario Stitt (gradated in 2004) says “I’ve seen my father and his father pictures and the way my own father had fought for this country. So I made up my mind to fi nish and continue the line they have started. Even thou my father is a marine and I’m an Army National Guard. But hey we are brave men and always will be”.

So you see Olympic, have a brave soul. if the heart says military, then go military. But if not you can always be there to support the soldiers of the United States of America.

HOOAH!

STUDENTS CONSIDERING MILITARYKendra Witherspoon

At Olympic High School we have a mentor program that consists of 70 mentors that help out 100 mentees that are from our school. Mrs. Espinosa and Mr. Brooks decided that OHS needed a program to help out students that need extra direction and motivation. The mentor program is going at slow pace because the mentors have limited time together so sometimes it can be diffi cult. Despite this issue, they made some accomplishments in the program like they collected almost 2,000 dollars for the hurricane Katrina victims. They also created a bulletin board in order to continuously show the victims encouragement and support. They try to emphasize leadership that will help them create a positive community environment. Participating as a mentor helps experience being a leader. The mentor’s benefi ts are to help them defi ne who they are as they continue to grow as individuals.

The Mentor team also participates in lots of fun activities like the Hula hoop activity with our security guards, Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Linda. They do building activities that help the mentors and the mentees come together. They participate in the upcoming spring fl ing and also an upcoming parade. The peer mediation activity helps students resolve their problems to help break down barriers and encourage students. Another activity is the Mentor mailbox in which the Mentors sends and receive letters from other students. The Mentor mailbox is located in room # 249, Mr. Brook’s offi ce.

According to Mr. Brook’s there has been a positive response from everyone who is participating in the mentor program but, he would like more mentees to participate. The goal of the Mentor program is to build a positive relationship and to make sure everyone has an opportunity to develop a positive relationship around campus. In order to be a Mentor you have be either a Junior or Senior, Have 2.0 grade average or above, and have a good attitude willing to reach out and serve others. Due to positive reaction there will be a mentor program running next year!

The Facts About Teen PregnancyBy Kiara Arnold, Staff Writer

Teenage birth rates throughout the world have declined steadily since 1991. While this is good news, teen birth rates in the U.S. still remain high, exceeding those in most developed countries. High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers and their babies face increased risks to their health, and their opportunities to build a future are diminished. Here are some statistics that the Olympic student body should be aware of.

• About 11 percent of all U.S. births in 2002 were to teens (ages 15 to 19). The majority of teenage births (about 67 percent) are to girl’s ages 18 and 19.

• About 860,000 teenagers become pregnant each year, and about 425,000 give birth.

• About one in three teenagers becomes pregnant before age 20.

• The teenage birth rate is declining. Between 1991 and 2002, the rate fell by 30 percent (from 61.8 per 1,000 women to 43). Still, in 2002 (the most recent year for which data are available), about 4 teenage girls in 100 had a baby.

• About 17% of teen mothers go on to have a second baby within three years after the birth of their fi rst baby.

• Teen mothers are more likely than mothers over age 20 to give birth prematurely (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy). In 2002, the 7,315 girls under age 15 who gave birth were more than twice as likely to deliver prematurely than women ages 30 to 34 (21% vs. 9 %). Babies born too soon face an increased risk of newborn health problems and even death, as well as lasting disabilities.

Source: http://womensissues.about.com/od/statistics/a/teenpregstats.htm

Teen Mothers’ Health Affects Their Babies

Teenage mothers often have poor eating habits with neglect to take their vitamins. Some smoke, drink alcohol and take drugs which increase the risk that their babies will be born with health problems. Studies also show that teens are less likely than older women to be of adequate pre-pregnancy weight or to gain an adequate amount of weight during pregnancy (25 to 35 pounds is recommended for women of normal weight). Low weight gain increases the risk of having a low-birth weight baby (less than 5½ pounds).

Pregnant teens are more likely to smoke than pregnant women over age 25. In 2002, 13.4% of pregnant teens ages 15 to 17 and 18.2% of those ages 18 to 19 smoked compared to 11.4% of all pregnant women. Smoking doubles a woman’s risk of having a low-birth weight baby, and also increases the risk of pregnancy complications, premature birth and stillbirth. Pregnant teens are least likely of all maternal age groups to get early and regular prenatal care. In 2002, 6.6% of mother’s ages 15 to 19 years received late or no prenatal care (compared to 3.6% for all ages).

A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications such as premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure. These risks are even greater for teens that are under 15 years old. The youngest mothers also are also twice as likely to die of pregnancy complications as mothers ages 20 to 24.

Three million teens are affected by sexually transmitted diseases annually, out of a total of 12 million cases reported. These include Chlamydia, which can cause sterility, syphilis, which causes blindness, HIV, maternal death, and death of the infant.

Mix-it up Day is a National movement that occurs every year at Olympic High School and nation wide. Mix-It up Day is when millions of students at different schools exchange their seats in the cafeteria to sit with someone new. This is something for all the students to communicate with people they do not know. No matter how a person looks, or acts, students should take a chance and see what they are all about. For example, students can ask questions about each other. Like, “What grade are you in?” or “How old are you?” So it could be easy for you and the other person to communicate better rather than just sitting there. Who knows, you may end up becoming good friends.

Olympic High did Mix-It up Day on November 15, 2005 where students would come to you in lunch and the people who

set up Mix-it up day gave you a jolly rancher. Whatever fl avor a person receives, you have to sit at the table that marks the fl avor jolly rancher you have.

At our school, students made an accomplishment of meeting students that people thought they would never meet at school. Even though the person you meet may not be your best friend. You could say “Hey” to them once in a while and say to your friends, “That’s the person I met on Mix-It up Day”. Even teachers met with different students that were not even in their own classes. That just shows how respectful and courteous Olympic students and staff can be.

Next year, Olympic hopes to see an even better effort by the student body to meet new people, and maybe even make new friends in some of the most unexpected places!

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THE MENTOR PROGRAMBy Ariel Howard

Mix-It-Up DayBy Ariel Howard

"I have met

many new

friends in the

cafeteria on

Mix-It-Up Day"

–Shawn Davis

News and Features Trojan Blaze page 5

Dear Kris,

My boyfriend and I are having some problems. I saw him with another female that likes him. I am confused on what I should do because she knows I go with him. I want to talk to her about her fl irting because I do not like it. He tells me that she is just a friend but I know he is lying. Please give me some advice.

Lost in love

Dear Lost in love,

Well I believe that you should trust your boyfriend enough to not cheat on you even though she has a crush on him and that he would not do something like that to hurt you. In addition, I believe that you should go and talk to the female but you should do it a reasonable and rational way and do not just go up to her and start yelling because that will cause confrontations. In addition, you should talk to him and tell him how you feel and get his side of the story so you will not be jumping to conclusions and start thinking that he is cheating on you.

Kris

Dear Ali,

I dated a guy for four months and he recently broke up with me. I think about him all the time and I want to be with him, but he likes someone else. What should I do?

Love, Head over heels

Dear Head over heels,

If this guy broke it off with you and he likes someone else then I’m sorry to say it, but he must be over you. I think that you should try to move on and forget about him for now. Don’t stay stuck in the past.

Good luck! Ali

After tucking their three-year-old child Sammy in for bed one night, his parents heard sobbing coming from his room. Rushing back in, they found him crying hysterically. He managed to tell them that he had swallowed a penny and he was sure he was going to die. No amount of talking was helping. His father, in an attempt to calm him down, palmed a penny from his pocket and pretended to pull it from Sammy’s ear. Sammy was delighted. In a fl ash, he snatched it from his father’s hand, swallowed it, and then cheerfully demanded, “Do it again, Daddy, do it again!!!”

Little Johnny was caught swearing by his teacher. “Johnny,” she said, “you shouldn’t use that kind of language. Where did you hear such talk, anyway?” “My daddy said it,” he responded. “Well, that doesn’t matter,” explained the teacher. “You don’t even know what it means.” “I do, too!” Little Johnny retorted. “It means the car won’t start.”

A husband and wife are watching “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and the husband winks and says, “Honey, let’s go upstairs...” The wife says no, so the husband asks again. Again she says no. So the husband says, “Is that your fi nal answer?” The wife says yes. The husband says, “Well, can I phone a friend?”

A guy walked into his friend’s offi ce, he found him sitting at his desk, looking very depressed. “Hey, what’s up with you?” he asks. “Oh, it’s my wife,” replied the man sadly. “She’s hired a new secretary for me.” “Well, nothing wrong in that. Is she blonde or brunette?” “Neither, he’s bald.”

A little boy went to the store with his grandmother and on the way home; he was looking at the things she had purchased. He found a package of panty hose and began to sound out the words “QUEEN SIZE”. He then turned to his grandmother and exclaimed, “Look Granny, YOU wear the same size as our bed!”

I stopped at a fast-food restaurant recently. I was fascinated by a sign which offered Fat-Free French Fries. I decided to give them a try. I was dismayed when the clerk pulled a basket of fries from the fryer, which was dripping with fat. He fi lled a bag with these fries and put them in my order. “Just a minute!” I said. “Those aren’t fat-free.” “Yes, they are. We only charge for the potatoes . . . the fat is free!”

How was your blind date?” a college student asked her roommate. “Terrible!” the room-mate answered. “He showed up in his 1932 Rolls Royce.” “Wow! That’s a very expensive car. What’s so bad about that?” “He was the original owner.”

OHS Holiday TraditionsAll over the world people celebrate the holidays in their own way. Some ways are very different and

original and some are plain and traditional. Here at Olympic, students come from very versatile backgrounds and many different cultures. The holiday times are celebrated differently from student to student even if in the smallest way.

Daniel Fleming, a sophomore here at Olympic, goes to Scotland to celebrate the holidays where he reunites with all of his family. While he is there Daniel and his family wear the customary Scottish Kilts and parade through the town in a festival of the seasons. After the festival they exchange gifts of jewelry for men and women. Seashell necklaces and bracelets are given to children aged from 10-18. Ever since Daniel was a young boy his cousins and he would gather the family around where Daniel and his cousins would play traditional Scottish tunes on the bagpipes. He learned how to play them when he was six years old and since then it has been holiday tradition that he plays them for his family every holiday season.

Jessica Cline, another sophomore here at Olympic is very family oriented during the holidays. Every year Jessica’s family comes down to her house to celebrate the holiday season. Jessica’s mother makes Christmas ornaments for everyone who comes down to their house. This has been a tradition in the Cline household for many years.

Something many students have in common is that on Christmas Eve they open presents containing pajamas that were given to them by there parents and wear them that night.

All over the world there are different ways of celebrating, and Olympic High School is just as diverse as anywhere.

Body Art TrendsBy Brittany Chavis

www.amonline.net

Jokes of the Month By Cameron Collins

Ask Ali and Kris

It seems everywhere you look today someone has some type of body modifi cation. Whether it is a piercing, tattoo, or some type of branding (the art of creating decorative scars through the use of extreme heat), they are showing up not only on celebrities but also on classmates, friends and maybe even you.

Did you know that some people’s bodies won’t even accept some tattoos or piercings? It’s much like how the body rejects a splinter. Would you take the risk of getting an infection to be able to express yourself?

The way people express themselves varies. Some people want a tattoo or piercing because everybody else has one. But what about those people who really want to modify their bodies for themselves. Like getting their tongue split or having whiskers. People in society might not accept them just because they are different.

The truth is that everyone is different in one way or another. If you want to get some type of modifi cation, you should do what you want. Don’t worry about what others think about your tattoo or piercing. Pick something that will mean more to you than just being able to say that you have this or that. You shouldn’t be ashamed of the things you chose to do to your body because you should express yourself the way you want to.

Things to consider before getting a piercing or tattoo:

• Ask yourself why you want to get the tattoo or piercing. Is it a way to stand out, or is it a more personal statement, something you feel strongly about?

• Talk to people that you know that have a piercing or tattoo. What was it like for them? Would they do it again?

• Where on your body would you put it?

• What rules does your school or work have about them?

• How would your parents feel about it?

page 6 Trojan Blaze Features

HOSTEL (2005) RATED R **

I like a rip-roaring horror movie as much as the next guy, but this one just didn’t do it for me. It certainly felt like it hit all the necessary marks, from nudity, people eating and dismemberment to bloody revenge, but at the conclusion, it just felt like eating cotton candy - no real nutritional value, just a sense that I had satisfi ed some of my Evil gore appetite without any logical payoff.

The movie was slow in getting started and then it sprinted to a singularly mind boggling ending. I walked out of the theater asking, “What was the point of all that crap?” And while this is described as horror, it really should be classifi ed as thriller. There was no explanation or clever twist at the end. Just the end. I’m sure that it will attract an enthusiastic audience of slasher fans, but the slamming by the critics will stem any hopes of huge box offi ce profi ts.

If your expectations are low enough, and your tastes in gore are suffi ciently large, then you are in for a good time. Otherwise, skip this and go see a classic George A. Romero zombie fl ick, you just might feel better about yourself.

THE RINGER (2005) PG-13 **

In ‘The Ringer’ Johnny Knoxville plays Steve Barker, someone who needs a lot of money quick. His uncle Gary (Brian Cox) devises a plan whereby they can fix the Special Olympics to solve both of their financial dilemmas. Problem is, Steve is not comfortable with the idea and feels bad about what he is doing. Even worst, he finds out that the competition is not as easy to beat as he might have thought.

I had relatively high expectations for this movie. I really like Johnny Knoxville and when I first saw the trailer, I thought it was hilarious. However, I do not think Johnny Knoxville is all that funny, I think his co-stars did a better job.

All in all it was not bad; I just hoped it would be funnier. I think the whole family might enjoy this primarily because Johnny Knoxville is rather tame. But I do not think it is on the level of his previous work.

UNDERWORLD: Evolution

PG13 ***

This movie is a historical romance about vampires and werewolves with lots of action and Kate Beckinsale in leather. What’s not to like about such a fl ick?

Seriously, I really like the historical romance features ... very much in the wonderful tradition of classic horror fi lms tracing back to Frankenstein and Dracula.

Acting was exactly adequate to the purpose, although acting as such was hardly more important than plot to this movie. The plot of this kind of movie is far less important than the sense of History, of Story Unfolding. I really loved the cinematography and the overall visual feel of the movie. Throughout we have this sense of overwhelming, all-consuming cold, snowy, icy, rocky, craggy, darkness. Rust and chains and foggy, wet gloom are everywhere.

Through all this world of damp, cold darkness, the action is sustained by a more modern sense of romance between Beckinsale’s Selene and her companion. Plus great fi ght scenes with loads of modern gunfi re not the matrix. For this movie is fast-paced, full of action in the midst of the horror atmospherics. There is some feel of a video game, and some feel of a slasher movie, but one thing there is not: a sense of irony or sardonic humor, the kind that suffuses some of the more campy horror movies these days. This is a big plus in my book.

The special effects were superb, and the opening sequence in particular simply wonderful. I haven’t seen the original Underworld, I’ve just gotta fi nd it and check it out. Regardless, this movie clearly stands well on its own.

Great fl ick, check it out.

Anime CentralBy Michael Newton

Hey you Anime Fans it’s another issue and another review. So many anime, so little time... In this issue we talk about our next anime, Naruto, created by Kishimoto Masashi.

In a concealed village, a young man hides within a bunch of leaves. His name is Uzumaki Naruto, a mischievous boy attending Ninja Academy. Everyday, he does nothing but cause mischief and makes Iruka-sensei mad. And above all, it’s doubtful that he’ll be able to graduate from the Academy. But Naruto has a dream ...A dream that he’ll become the head of the Ninja village, following Hokage and will become the best ninja around.

However, all the adults in the village give Naruto cold looks. The truth is, Naruto has a secret about his birth. 12 years ago, “Kyuubi no Youko” (Nine Tailed Fox - A kind of evil spirit who tormented the village, was sealed within Naruto’s body who was, at the time, a baby. The head of the academy, Mizuki, uses Naruto to steal the “Fuujin Scrolls” and makes Naruto understand his past. Naruto is outraged. Even with Iruka’s help, Naruto just barely defeats Mizuki. Knowing Naruto’s secret, Iruka knows Naruto will meet someone who’ll help him and so, makes a decision. Naruto is allowed to graduate safely from Ninja Academy. Along with his classmates, Uchiwa Sasuke and Haruno Sakura together, they make their first step as Ninjas! A comedic twist is thrown in when their new team sensei seems to be one of the laziest people in the village, Kakashi. Yet, he is the most experienced sensei in the land. No student has ever passed his class before.

The future mission was not intense as Naruto had thought and he demanded higher leveled missions and more extreme obstacles. The Hokage had given them a level 2 mission but it wasn’t as they thought. They were ambushed by one of Kakashi’s worst and most formidable enemies……… If you want to know more of the story then you will have to read the mangas or the watch the show on cartoon network. For all you anime fans, see ya later!

Interesting Gadgets of 2006By Ardele Lindler

Ipods- ipods are one of the world’s best music players. They are now

able to hold up to 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos, and album art. You are also able to take music videos and TV shows on the road. The new model has up to 20 hours of battery life. The new 30GB ipod takes up less room at under half an inch. The new 60GB model is 10 percent thinner than the fourth generation 20GB ipod. The click wheel feature allows access to everything easily. It puts everything at your fingertips while you are still listening to music. Visiting iTunes allows one to choose from 2 million songs, 25,000 podcasts, or 2,000 music videos. You can play music from your ipod to your home stereo by audio cable. S-video cable allows you to play VJ on your TV. There is also a new Universal Dock and new Apple remote.

Xbox 360- Xbox 360 is an upgrade on the original Xbox. It gets its name

because it puts the player at the center of the world. The “360” comes from 360 degrees. The CPU of the Xbox 360 runs at breakneck speed. It has four times the number of pixels as the original and has better graphics. The games can also be played on high defi nition, which makes them look even better. The hard drive is detachable and still holds lots of space for downloadable material. Xbox 360 plays more than just games. It also allows you to play DVDS, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, MP3s, and more. There is an online gaming service with over 2 million members and Xbox 360 can be hooked up to your computer. Another good feature of Xbox 360 is that there are no more wires. No more plugging into the wall! As an added bonus, the game comes with a rechargeable controller battery and a charge cable that actually recharges your battery pack while you’re playing.

PSP (Playstation Portable)-

PSP is a portable Playstation gaming device that also allows you to store digital photos and create wallpaper. You can also download music fi les to your PSP system or watch concerts and behind-the-scenes footage. It is also possible to watch movies and surf the Web. The screen brings gaming to life in an easy and portable way.

MOVIE REVIEWSBy Cameron Collins

Features Trojan Blaze page 7

Dancing At OHSBy Jenny Arias and Diana Mendoza

The dance team is an after-school program that helps students express themselves throughout different types of dances. Just like last year, this year, students work together as a team to help create the choreography and the skills needed to compete and be successful.

Tryouts were held in December in the cafeteria. Out of about thirty students who tried out, thirteen were chosen. The person who is in charge is Mrs. Beanne. The dance team consists of a captain, Javish Bennett, a co-captain, Andres Jacome, nine females, and four males. They are planning to perform a variety of different dances such as hip-hop, R&B, rock, and old school. Javish Bennett teaches the girls the choreography and Andres Jacome teaches the boys. They are planning on competing with other teams and performing at basketball games and in special events that occur at Olympic.

Some dance members were asked for their opinion about the dance team. Antonio Grisby says, “It’s about time we do something new that we like. It’s straight. We make up the choreography so it’s cool.” A member of the dance team said, “It’s good but it could use some help with organization within the team and I hope we can work together to become successful.” Another anonymous member commented, “We have a lot of fun, I’m glad Olympic came up with a dance team. The choreography is good and the captain is very patient with us so we learn better.”

Overall, as you can see the dance members are enjoying this experience. They have learned new dances and made new friends.

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Body Building witÕ D.By Damarion Jones

Have you ever wanted washboard abs? What about bulging biceps? Well as we all know there’s only one way to get them…weightlifting (or plastic surgery).

All of today’s athletes lift, including movie stars, rappers and singers. But is it worth the time and effort? Many people don’t know the basics of weightlifting. It is more than physical- it requires mental strength too. In order to lift weights you must have the concentration of a surgeon and the control of a racecar driver in order for it to be successful. Here are some simple methods for a productive body-building session.

Before weightlifting, make sure to always eat a good meal because your muscles need plenty of protein in order to grow. Also you should drink at least two cups of water because staying hydrated and having enough nourishment for your muscles is a necessity. After that lifting will be a snap.

One of the things you can do to get stronger is bench pressing. It requires laying on your back and taking the bar (which usually weighs 45 lbs) with the proper weight which is 70-85% of your maximum capability. You can do sets based on that, for example 5 sets of 5 or 3 sets of 10. There are also incline and decline bench presses to work the upper and lower muscles in your chest.

Another exercise is squats. In squats you take the bar and put it on your shoulders with your feet shoulder-width apart and do exactly what the name insists-squat. These are just two of the many exercises you can do to get buff with weights. But some of the most useful exercises don’t involve weights.

In addition to, or in place of bench presses, you can do push ups to enhance your results. Also doing sit-ups will give you that 6-pack or washboard abs you always wanted. After every lifting session, remember to stretch in order to keep your muscles from cramping.

As a reminder, weightlifting is for those who are dedicated and will stick to a consistent routine. All the good things in life take time, so be patient, keep lifting, and your results will come soon enough.

The Low-Down on the B-Ball PlayerBy Lashawn Davis

To be a basketball player, it takes hard work and dedication to be successful. Although everyone thinks it’s just a sport, it means more than that to me. It’s like having a job because you have to put so much time and effort into it. The hours that we spend practicing plus the exhilarating games amount to a hectic schedule. It’s like having a part time job during high school.

You have to be a leader because people look up to you as an example. People are always watching you to make sure you don’t mess up, and that can be nerve wrecking. I have learned how to deal with it because it’s a part of being a basketball player or just an athlete in general.

As far as maintaining good grades, this can also be a difficult task to do because of the practices and games that you have to attend on a demanding basis. These things can take a heavy toll on you and leave you very little time to complete your assignments for school. Through my own personal experiences, I have learned that being a basketball player is a hard task because you are trying to be a great player and also a great student. You can get so caught up in trying to have a triumphant season you seem to forget about the other important things such as your school work. So the next time you look at basketball players or just any athlete, don’t look at all the negative things like we’re so egotistical. Instead look at all the hard work we dedicate ourselves to being a top-notch player and a successful student.

You have to respect a person who has their head on their shoulders and is trying to make something better out of themselves. Not everybody is suited to be a basketball player because it takes endurance, perseverance, and unyielding passion

Mr. Merrill and Mr. Hitt converse at an OHS football game. OHS Band at work!

OHS Sutdents cheer on the Trojans

page 8 Trojan Blaze Sports

Olympic WrestlingBy Julia Melton

With yet another new season of wrestling coming to a close, many are looking forward to next year, while others are taking in the last few practices, matches, and times with their teammates/coach that they will have.

Over half of last year’s starters graduated or moved, so there were a lot of new faces in the starting line up this year. Seven of the fourteen starters are first year wrestlers, and there are twenty-two rookies total.

Head Coach Mike Crawford isn’t bothered by the inexperience of the beginners trying this sport for the first time though. He says that,” Everyone has to start somewhere. We’ve got a lot of ninth and tenth graders just learning the sport this year, but that means we’ll have a lot of experienced eleventh and twelfth graders over the next couple of seasons. You just have to be patient, and tough it out through the hard times.”

Another new part of the wrestling team this year was assistant coach Ryan Bean. Coach Bean was new to Olympic, but brought a wealth of wrestling knowledge and experience to the program. “Coach Bean teaches some stuff that’s better than what I’ve taught in the past. It’s always good to have fresh ideas and to learn new ways of doing things. If we add the best of what he knows to the areas in which we’re already strong, it can only make us better”, says Coach Crawford.

Although there was a large amount of first year wrestlers this season, the team didn’t start completely from scratch. Thirteen wrestlers from last year are back including key returning sophomores Mak Karigan and Jared Seate, and senior/captain Craig Vanderhoof. “Coach Crawford has been there for us through all the hard times. I wish him and all the future wrestlers luck for next year.” Another captain, Josh Sutton, stated that, “I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my senior year with any other team or coach other than this one. Crawford is my hero.”

The Olympic wrestlers have displayed their dedication and drive all season. Come support your Trojans in one of the best spectator sports at your school.

“Swimming is a sport; everything else is just a game”By Julia Melton

Thursday, November 17, the Olympic Trojans swim team proclaimed victorious in their first meet against Harding and West Mecklenburg High School. It was a great way to jump start the season considering the team, including all the newcomers, has only been practicing since the beginning of November. The entire team worked hard, and dug deep throughout the whole meet. Each individual swimmer completed their events leaving not one person to be disqualified for an unfinished race.

Another meet was held Friday, December 9. Olympic came in second out of five schools. Competing against Berry Academy, Harding, Waddell, and Charlotte Catholic, they defeated every school except Catholic. It was held at the Charlotte Aquatics Center, and attracted quite a large audience. New swimmer, Brittany Pope, said that, “It was nice to have people cheering for us. The place was packed.”

Coach Kunkle had said, “I feel that we did well. I’m very proud of them”. The team feels she coaches them in a way that leaves them no room to slack. Another new swimmer this year, Stephanie Bjornson, said that, “It was exciting. I think we did really well and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season”. Opinions were similar as veteran swimmers, Adam Krause and Steven Barr, stated that “This was a great way to start off a season. Were looking forward to regionals, but it is going to be a long process in which we will have to work very hard.” Hesitantly they added that, “We know Coach Kunkle won’t have a problem pushing us or making sure we get things done. She never has in the past.”

2005 Olympic Boys Varsity Soccer Roster

Name Jersey # Grade Yellows

Hai Tan Le 21 12

Michael Mazhari (Cpt)(GK) 1 11 1y

Matt Brown 3 10

Jefferson Ayala (Cpt) 7 12 1y

Tinatoa Kolleh 14 12

Josh Oxiendine 16 10

Mak Karigan 4 10

Olumakinde Ogundipe 22 12

Bryan Garcia 12 12

Ketu Patel 15 12

Aldo Cuellieo 10 12

Zane Kennedy 5 12 1y & 1r

Scott Kermode 2 12 1y

Justin Peoples 11 12 1y

Carlos Caldas 25 11

Jose Canarte 19 11

Daniel Leatherman 8 11

Luis Goncalvez 9 11

Marshall Plummer 17 10 1y

Wylie Rea 18 10 1y

Brian Mazhari 13 9

Steven Bollinger 6 9

Edgar Garcia 23 9

Angel Acevedo 24 9

Conference Record: 4-1

Overall Record: 7-5

Head Coach: Matt Merrill

Assistant Coaches :Matt Moran & Jelani Thomas

Athletic Director: Ken Konstanty

2005 Olympic Boys JV Soccer Roster

Name Jersey # Grade

Loi A 10 11

Matt Sanborn (Cpt) 4 11

Jeremy Sanborn 1 11

Michael Romero (Cpt) 5 11

Hai-Loc Le 15 10

Jefery Mejia 13 11

Jason Vo 14 10

Patricio Ponce 7 10

Amlak Bantikassegn 18 10

Reynaldo Bravo (GK) 11 9

Kendall Rackley 3 9

Darren Lingerfelt 9w/19r 9

Sy Luong 12 9

Martin Trinh 2 9

Bruk Mesfi n 16 9

Levi Peterson 17 9

Ian Gray 6 10

Edward Colocho 8 9

Conference Record: 1-3

Overall Record: 1-7

Head Coach: Matt Moran

Athletic Director: Ken Konstanty

Principal: Pam Espinosa

FORE!By Jared Hall

The Olympic Golf season doesn’t start until the spring but they have already begun preparation. They will most likely be playing games at Renaissance Golf or the Palisades Country Club. The team will play 9 hole games until day light savings time then they will play 10 hole games. The team will consist of 6 players.

I got a chance to interview 2 sophomore players participating this season, Daniel Fleming and Michael Karigan.

What are you looking forward to this season?

They both said “they are looking forward to playing in the state playoffs.”

What are your expectations for the season?

M- “Making the playoffs”

D-“Do well in the season.”

How do you feel about your coaches?

M- “The coaches are awesome.”

D-“They teach the game very well, and are also good golfers themselves.”

Who will be your toughest opponent?

They both said “Charlotte Catholic.”

How did you feel about last season?

M-“We Did well for how tough the schedule was”

D- “We didn’t perform to our potential.”

What have you done to get better?

They both said “We played a lot of golf during the off-season.”

When did u begin to play golf?

They both started about a year and a half ago.

Trojan huddle