February 10, 2006 Vol. 34 Issue 9
Editorial:Realistic expectations needed before dating
By: Phillip Vernon, so.
for the Editorial Board
Teen dating is a pretty controversial subject, not only for
parents, but also for students. There are just too many break-ups of couples
that are not that serious. This can be a problem for students not only in
their present situation, but this can harm them in the future as well.
Students need to figure out what they need in a relationship before they start
seriously dating. Some parents may argue that at the teen ages, students are
not sure of what they would want or need out of a relationship. Sometimes
that is true, but for the serious, more mature student, ideas of dating or
people that they may want to date could already be in mind.
Cartoon by Haley Huffman
Students should also focus on their own needs before trying
to date. Sometimes, students just are not ready to date yet, so no matter
who they try to go out with, it will not work out.
Students are sometimes just looking for someone to hang out with or someone
to talk to, while others can be looking for something more or less serious.
People need to be aware of what they are looking for in a significant other.
For instance, it is pretty rare that someone in high school is looking for
someone to spend the rest of his or her life with. Instead, that person should
get to know a variety of people in order to find qualities he or she likes
in a person.
Some teenagers are just looking for someone to listen to them and to be able
to share their opinions with. As a result, they may settle for someone who
does not have the specific qualities they might be looking for, or what they
need out of a relationship. Instead of dating someone for companionship, students
should focus on spending quality time and maintaining friendships.
Sometimes finding a person that is not an ideal match can be helpful to a
person. At least the student would know what not to look for in a date in
the future.
In the end, it is important to know what to look for in a date; to do so,
students first need to know themselves and then discover the qualities that
are important to them before trying to find that special someone.
Relationships offer support for students
(Pro)
By: Katie Hauser, jr.
Opinion Editor
Some students think that they need a boyfriend or girlfriend
to get through high school and meet the ever-elusive goal of being cool. While
this is not really true, there are some advantages to dating while still a
teenager.
The first thing that may come to most people’s minds when they think
about dating is getting flowers at Valentines’ Day, expensive jewelry
on birthdays, extravagant presents for Christmas, and maybe a few other special
gifts throughout the year. Still, that is not what is at the heart of dating.
Perhaps the most important thing for couples is sharing personal
things with each other. If one of them has had a bad week, the other person
can lend a sympathetic ear. If something great has happened to one of the
two, then the other can join in the celebration.
Having a boyfriend or girlfriend is more than just supporting each other.
It is also about laughing together, going out to dinner together, or renting
a movie and just spending time together. Each one knows that the other will
be there no matter what happens, and that means quite a lot to people, especially
teenagers, in today’s world.
Dating can bring out the best in people. They are no longer focused on themselves,
but on what they can do to help out their boyfriend or girlfriend, even if
it is something as simple as sharing a glass of Dr. Pepper after school. Little
things like that can remind students that at least someone out there appreciates
them for who they truly are.
Finding that special someone can help make the stress of life go away. Students
can find someone they can completely relax around and just enjoy being a teenager
with; someone they enjoy being around.
The most important thing to remember is that those involved in relationships
should enjoy the present as much as possible. There is no guarantee that a
high school relationship will last, and students should keep a realistic view
of the world, because their teenage years will not last forever.
Too much
drama can ruin experience (Con)
By:Melanie Weilert, sr.
Editor-in- chief
High school dating relationships can be summed up in two appropriate
words: unnecessary drama.
It seems nearly impossible to be able to sit down at the lunch table without
hearing about who is dating whom, why so-and-so decided not to take this
person to prom, or who broke up again for the fourth time this year. Although
it would be hard not to admit that a large portion of this teenage romance
gossip is certainly interesting, dating at our age should be about having
fun and only about having fun.
As young as we are, our lives should not resemble daytime
soap operas. Teens need to leave the drama to the real actors, and go out
on dates with people they enjoy being around because they choose to, not
because they have to now that they are dating each other.
Too often do high school students get into the routine of only seeing one
person day after day, weekend after weekend, mostly because they believe
that sitting around at home with their boyfriend or girlfriend is what dating
is all about. Then, once the couple breaks up after all those nights sitting
at home watching CSI on television together, “the world is over”
and there are two less people with prom dates this year.
As someone once said to me, “Dating is like a smorgasbord with something
new for every day of the week. There are endless possibilities, so why would
someone settle for Jello all the time when the steak is right there next
to it?”
More often than not, high school relationships fail to last beyond graduation.
Too many factors come into play, and looking back on all the drama it causes
can really make someone realize what a waste of time it is just being with
one person all the time. In the scheme of things, friends are often neglected,
family time is cut to a minimum, and it becomes very obvious that sticking
around one person pretty much contstantly is such a total waste.
As young as we are, dating is a really large part of our lives, so it would
be darn near impossible to eliminate it completely, even though the drama
attached makes it not worth it at times. So have fun, date around, and remember
that commitment should be the last thing on our minds.
Review: Reality shows lack
real meaning
By: Melany Megenity, so.
Reporter
When someone turns on the television to start flipping through
the channels to find something interesting to watch, they will find it almost
impossible to miss a reality show. About 12 channels out of 16 are probably
all reality shows, maybe more. Quite a few people would agree that their television
time is consumed with plenty of reality shows.
The shows all vary from many different subjects and ideas, from finding true
love in The Bachelor, Room Raiders, or even the reality sitcom Next, to shows
such as Survivor and The Amazing Race, which mainly showcase competitions
and arguments, with cash and prizes as incintives to participate.
Everyone’s television time would be better spent watching something
inspirational. More inspirational things would be like the older shows that
teach people about family importance and good qualities without even realizing
that they are learning it.
Some shows that reflect those things would be Full House, Family Matters,
and Friends. There are people that probably do not even know the names of
those shows and probably could not name one inspirational show that they have
seen without naming a reality show.
In some ways, reality shows are not all about reality. When saying ‘reality
show.’ many people think that reality means just plain life, but many
times it is expected that producers stop the people in the reality sitcoms
and tell them to do something over again. This can not be done in real life.
If it was a totally and entirely real show, then there would not be producers
and managers leading the show. It would take its own course without someone
telling others what to act out.
What would be the perfect date?
 Lenzie Boring, fr., “My perfect date would be going to the movies.” |
 Shaela Anderson, so., “The perfect date would be to go to a nice dinner, and then to a park and watch the sun set.” |
|
 Stephan Nickell, sr., “We could go to dinner, maybe to the movies, play tackle football, or train to be cage fighters.” |
|
Back to Cubtracks