Student Life Student Life Editor: Taylor Steingold
How-to's
February 13, 2013
Clean a window1. Gather all supplies such as detergent, water, sponge, rags, a squeegee and newspaper pages.
2. Remove sliding windows if necessary to clean, and any windscreens hanging next to the windows. Side Note: Use a humid old cloth to clean window frames by removing any cobwebs, and dirt/grime etc. 3. With a broom, remove any dirt/dust from windscreens. Spray water with a hose to remove any residues, and allow it to dry. 4. Fill a bucket with water and detergent. 5. Soak the sponge in the bucket and start cleaning your windows. Make sure to clean all borders. 6. Afterwards, use a squeegee to remove the soap from window. Don't forget to dry your squeegee with a dry rag after each stroke you've made. Otherwise, you will have visible lines on the window pane. Or a final touch spray Windex o window and clean it up with newspaper. This way any leftover spots or lines will disappear. 8. Finally, put back you’re your window and windscreen in its place. Do laundryThe process of doing one’s laundry is an important lesson for anyone to learn; especially those Mustangs leaving home for college. Here are some simple lessons how to do your laundry.
1. First sort your dirty clothes into five piles that will be washed separately. The piles will be dark colored clothes, white clothes, towels, jeans, light colored clothes, and delicates. 2. Then chose the pile you would like to wash first, and prepare all of your clothes. You prepare your clothes by emptying all your pockets, closing zippers to prevent snagging and turning t-shirts inside out to prevent peeling of any designs. 3. Next, be sure to treat any heavy stains with stain remover before washing the clothes. Add an appropriate amount of detergent into the washing machine. The chart to determine how much of detergent is needed can be found on the detergent bottle. 4. Finally a water temperature needs to be set, generally colors are washed in cold water, whites under warm water, bed linens and pillow cases need hot water. If unsure what temperature is needed check the tags on the clothes, usually it will tell how to properly wash the clothing. 5. When putting clothes in the washer be careful not to over stuff it because then the clothes will not be properly washed. 6. After the clothes are washed, place them in the dryer, once again read the tags to see how the clothing should be dried. Chose which level you want on the dryer, add an optional dryer sheet if desired to soften fabrics. 7. Finally fold, iron or hang clothes immediately after drying to prevent wrinkles. Once the clothes are neatly pulled away, the laundry is done. Apply for a JobThere comes a time in most people’s lives when they peek into their wallets or life’s savings accounts and have a realization that the amount they’ve accumulated won’t last very long. The first solution to this problem, and often the most challenging, is job hunting and applying for these jobs. Here are a few steps to follow to get a job
1. Find a place that is hiring. Finding a place that hires is just as difficult as deciding where to apply. Most people would typically go to well-known or chain places that have hiring seasons. There are online applications such as SimplyHired.com and Snagajob.com that filter out places that are hiring based on information you provide the site with. Another, more traditional way to find a job, is to walk in and professionally ask a manager or person in charge if they’re hiring and if they can provide an application. Most stores and business have postings outside their venues or posted on their windows that say something along the lines of “now hiring”. 2. Build a resume. This is a more tedious process because it requires a person to sum up their qualities and possible work-experience that could help in the cause of their employment. There are templates on Microsoft word that can help you build resumes. Asking parents for help on building resume’s can also help. The basics to a resume include possible work experience, education, and any special training. For first jobs, resumes aren’t always necessary, but they can definitely help. 3. Follow up. It’s important to assure that your possible employer is aware that their future employee wants the position. Therefore follow-ups can work in a person’s favor. Calling the business to ask about interviews dates can push an interview up for a person. 4. Prepare for the interview. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s better to walk in calm and with gathered thoughts, that way the process runs smoother. Writing out possible responses to questions an employer might ask helps in preparation. |
write a checkLiving independently requires a firm grasp on personal finance. One of the most standard procedures is writing checks. They must be made out properly and in a way that prevents tampering.
1. Write the current date on the line in the top right corner 2. Write who the check is being made out to on the line that says “pay to the order of” 3. In the small box on the right, write the amount of money being paid in numerical form (i.e. 20.50). Make sure to start writing as far to the left as possible so no one can add an extra number and increase the dollar amount. 4. On the line that is followed by the word “dollars”, write the payment amount in word form with the cents value written as a fraction (i.e. Twenty and 50/100). Draw a line after the amount has been written so no one can add anything else to the check. Writing in all caps is beneficial because it makes it especially hard for people to alter. 5. Sign the check in the bottom right corner with the same signature that the bank has on file 6. In the bottom left corner, a line for the “memo” is available to write the purpose of the payment (i.e. Soccer Uniform). This step is optional. 7. Keep record of written checks in a check register (provided when a checkbook is opened). This not only helps keep track of spending, but helps identify cases of fraud. Get a library cardIf you plan to check out any resources from your public library, it is necessary. Here are some quick and easy steps on how to get your own library card:
1. Fill out a library card application, available at your local library, or online on the library’s web site 2. Make sure to bring your application, a valid ID with photo, and proof of your address, such as a utility bill, or car insurance (*note if you are under 14, you may need to be accompanied by a parent) 3. Go to your local library, and inform a librarian at the front desk you would like to get a library card Read a face clockNowadays everyone checks time on their latest electronic devices. But what happened to face clocks? Many have forgotten how to read them, so here is the way to properly read a face clock:
The short arm tells you what hour it is, and the long arm tells the minutes. The numbers 1-12 indicate the hour and the minutes, though you have to know which arm is pointing at the number. Between every two numbers there are 5 minutes. For example if the long arm is pointing at the third line between 4 and 5, that means there’s 23 minutes in the hour. An hour has 60 minutes, which means 4 quarters, thus each quarter has 15 minutes. For example, if it’s a quarter till, that means that there are 15 minutes remaining on the hour, till the next hour. tie a tieThen cross the long end over the short endThe Four in Hand Knot makes a narrow, more discreet and slightly asymmetrical tie knot. It is best suited for a standard button-down dress shirt and works best with wide neckties made from heavy fabrics. The Four in Hand Knot looks well on men with shorter necks as the knot’s rather narrow and elongated from stretches the perceived height of the neck a little bit. To tie the Four in Hand Knot:
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make Rice
Illustration courtesy of Daren Conui
Rice is one of those foods that can be easily made, and is very versatile when it comes to making a meal more fulfilling. Using a fancy rice cooker is not the only way to make rice. By following these simple steps, this will teach you how to make rice on a stove-top.
Ingredients/Cooking Materials Needed:
Ingredients/Cooking Materials Needed:
- 1 cup of white rice
- 2 cups of water
- Water for rinsing
- Pot with a tight lid
- Spoon or fork
- Rinse the rice with water, getting rid of any excess starch or dust. Then drain without letting any rice fall out.
- Put two cups of water in the pot and bring it to a boil. Make sure the pot is big enough for when the rice expands.
- Add in the rice
- Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low. Be sure to leave the lid on, taking it off will interrupt the steaming of the rice.
- It will take about 18-25 minutes to cook
- When the rice is done, turn off the heat and take off the lid. Fluff the rice with a spoon or a fork, and let it sit for a few moments.
Address a letter
Snail mail may seem old school, but knowing how to address mail is crucial for sending cards during the holiday season, postcards from vacation spots or letters to distant relatives.
1. Write the address of the letter’s destination on the front center of the envelope. The first line is the name of the recipient, and the following lines are their address, city, state and zip code. 2. In the top left corner of the envelope, write your own address, or return address. Many people have return address labels made for this purpose. |
3. Place a stamp on the top right corner. Depending on the weight of your envelope, a stamp can cost anywhere from 46 cents to $1.06. Be sure to check for prepaid mailing costs on some store bought cards.
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Student military families: amy Layug
December 12, 2012
Christmastime: as Andy Williams might say “the most wonderful time of the year”. It’s that time of the year when many gather with their immediate or extended families to celebrate the season. This is the one time when families attempt to put aside differences and just enjoy one another’s company. A fireplace lights a living room where the family pets rest in front of. In the hall, a door opens and another relative walks in to join every one enjoying the feast prepared earlier that day. This is the way one might picture Christmas being celebrated.
Here’s another perspective on the holidays where Christmas celebrations might not be as whole some. There’s a family, parents, kids, pets. However, unlike like the previous scenario, the feeling isn’t as joyous. Dad isn’t home for the holidays this year because he was shipped across the Pacific Ocean for Military purposes.
It can be assumed that many of us take our parents for granted. They provide support, and ultimately nurture even at this age. It’s easy to grow used to this after fifteen or odd years. However, for students like Amy Layug, junior at Otay Ranch High School it might shake someone’s world to live a Christmas without parents because of working purposes.
“Of course it’s hard that my parents aren’t here but I still have family here that I can celebrate Christmas with. And at the same time it’s still hard because it’s our first Christmas apart” said Layug. Layug’s parents have been stationed in Afghanistan for the past two years.
Unlike the rest of the student body who probably spends Christmas with one or both parents, individuals like Layug might spend these holidays with close relatives.
“I have a brother and a sister and they kind of take care of me too but my older sister lives in New York, she’s coming down for Christmas and my older brother- he’s here but he has work,” said Layug. Although this season will be the first without both parents, Layug keeps in mind that she will spend it with her loved ones.
“Having my parents away makes me more independent and I guess it makes you a stronger person in a way,” Layug says.
“I would have thought that it would be stressful (for my parents to be away) but they said it isn’t because they know I’m fine. They can still keep track with what I do because of technology and stuff. I think they’re pretty much fine, they’ve grown used to living there.”
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Christmastime: as Andy Williams might say “the most wonderful time of the year”. It’s that time of the year when many gather with their immediate or extended families to celebrate the season. This is the one time when families attempt to put aside differences and just enjoy one another’s company. A fireplace lights a living room where the family pets rest in front of. In the hall, a door opens and another relative walks in to join every one enjoying the feast prepared earlier that day. This is the way one might picture Christmas being celebrated.
Here’s another perspective on the holidays where Christmas celebrations might not be as whole some. There’s a family, parents, kids, pets. However, unlike like the previous scenario, the feeling isn’t as joyous. Dad isn’t home for the holidays this year because he was shipped across the Pacific Ocean for Military purposes.
It can be assumed that many of us take our parents for granted. They provide support, and ultimately nurture even at this age. It’s easy to grow used to this after fifteen or odd years. However, for students like Amy Layug, junior at Otay Ranch High School it might shake someone’s world to live a Christmas without parents because of working purposes.
“Of course it’s hard that my parents aren’t here but I still have family here that I can celebrate Christmas with. And at the same time it’s still hard because it’s our first Christmas apart” said Layug. Layug’s parents have been stationed in Afghanistan for the past two years.
Unlike the rest of the student body who probably spends Christmas with one or both parents, individuals like Layug might spend these holidays with close relatives.
“I have a brother and a sister and they kind of take care of me too but my older sister lives in New York, she’s coming down for Christmas and my older brother- he’s here but he has work,” said Layug. Although this season will be the first without both parents, Layug keeps in mind that she will spend it with her loved ones.
“Having my parents away makes me more independent and I guess it makes you a stronger person in a way,” Layug says.
“I would have thought that it would be stressful (for my parents to be away) but they said it isn’t because they know I’m fine. They can still keep track with what I do because of technology and stuff. I think they’re pretty much fine, they’ve grown used to living there.”
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Hospital Holidays
(Internet Source)
December 12, 2012
Christmas songs faintly echo across the hospital as doctors and nurses walk up and down the hallway. A familiar beat repeats constantly, monitoring the pulse of a patient’s heart. At a time where most people huddle together as a family, the hospital staff and patients are restricted to a hospital.
Depending on the profession of the medical staff, a Christmas night at the hospital may vary. The Emergency Room, hospitalists, and surgeons can have a busy night with no time to rest. Subspecialists, such as plastic surgeons and pathologists, will have a calm night. Art Huffaker, the Medical Director of Sharp Coronado Hospital Laboratory, tries to make up with his family if he has to spend the holiday at work.
“If I am unable to be with my family on holidays, I try to keep in touch by phone, texts, or e-mail,” said Dr. Huffaker. “I also try to trade off with other physicians for different holidays.”
The cafeteria of the Sharp Coronado Hospital will try to match the season. Normal hospital menu consists of salads, burgers, wraps, and hotdogs. Replacing the usual lineup is sweet maple glazed ham, roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, homemade herb stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans with toasted almonds. Executive chef of hospital, Jose Zanora, thought up the holiday menu.
“I try to see what people like to eat around the holidays,” said Zanora. “Then I put my own twist on the menu making everything from scratch and homemade.”
Wendy Vaughn, manager of the third floor at Scripps Mercy in Chula Vista, brings her family to volunteer at the hospital. The volunteers dress in Christmas attire while serving turkey and ham to the nightshift staff. To show holiday spirit in the intensive care unit, the staff does a Christmas-themed event with the babies.
“We would put premature babies in Christmas stockings so they look like presents hanging on a tree,” said Vaughn.
The hospital staff can look forward to working during the holidays. To them, it is not just a job, but an opportunity to bring the holiday spirit to patients, as well as get extra pay.
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Christmas songs faintly echo across the hospital as doctors and nurses walk up and down the hallway. A familiar beat repeats constantly, monitoring the pulse of a patient’s heart. At a time where most people huddle together as a family, the hospital staff and patients are restricted to a hospital.
Depending on the profession of the medical staff, a Christmas night at the hospital may vary. The Emergency Room, hospitalists, and surgeons can have a busy night with no time to rest. Subspecialists, such as plastic surgeons and pathologists, will have a calm night. Art Huffaker, the Medical Director of Sharp Coronado Hospital Laboratory, tries to make up with his family if he has to spend the holiday at work.
“If I am unable to be with my family on holidays, I try to keep in touch by phone, texts, or e-mail,” said Dr. Huffaker. “I also try to trade off with other physicians for different holidays.”
The cafeteria of the Sharp Coronado Hospital will try to match the season. Normal hospital menu consists of salads, burgers, wraps, and hotdogs. Replacing the usual lineup is sweet maple glazed ham, roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, homemade herb stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans with toasted almonds. Executive chef of hospital, Jose Zanora, thought up the holiday menu.
“I try to see what people like to eat around the holidays,” said Zanora. “Then I put my own twist on the menu making everything from scratch and homemade.”
Wendy Vaughn, manager of the third floor at Scripps Mercy in Chula Vista, brings her family to volunteer at the hospital. The volunteers dress in Christmas attire while serving turkey and ham to the nightshift staff. To show holiday spirit in the intensive care unit, the staff does a Christmas-themed event with the babies.
“We would put premature babies in Christmas stockings so they look like presents hanging on a tree,” said Vaughn.
The hospital staff can look forward to working during the holidays. To them, it is not just a job, but an opportunity to bring the holiday spirit to patients, as well as get extra pay.
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Christmas in Foster care
December 12, 2012
As the season goes on, there are students on campus who are looking forward to spending time with their family and receiving presents on Christmas day. There are other students on campus, however, that might not think about those same thoughts. For Tiffney Parker, junior here at Otay Ranch, her life in a foster care home provides for her another experience of the holidays.
“Where I live, there are five other girls, and we all spend Christmas together,” said Parker. “The gifts are really limited; it’s not like where you get a whole bunch of gifts and give them to each person.”
While many of us may consider receiving presents on Christmas standard, Tiffney has a different view of the Christmas day.
“Say five six gifts total for everyone, and that’s not just for Christmas, said Parker, “it’s also probably for your birthday also. It sucks and it doesn’t. Christmas kind of takes away from your other gifts.”
Even in her foster home, Tiffney and the girls have their own Christmas traditions.
“Since some people actually go see their family, before that we’ll have a Christmas dinner where we all try to bond together to have some type of Christmas family meeting,” said Parker.
Even with the annual traditions, there are still certain difficulties that occur throughout the holiday season.
“It gets rough; for the other girls it’s hard to perceive each other as family because some girls come in with the mentality that they already don’t like the others, but during the holiday they try to push it aside,” said Parker.
Nonetheless, Tiffney tries to make her holidays a positive experience for herself and the others.
“My Christmas basically shows me that I’m not alone,” said Parker. “It’s not different; I mean, you would wish that you were with your family, but at the end of the day, you’re there with the girls and that’s all you have. You have to make the best out of your situation.”
Everyone has different ideas of what the holidays mean to them, but for Tiffney, the holidays are a time to simply have a good time.
“The holidays are just to have fun and just to bond and just to be with people that you like,” said Parker. “We don’t want to have any problems. In this system, issues pop up on the regular so on the holidays it’s very important for us to not have any.”
It’s not all about presents, dinner, and having fun for Tiffney either.
“During the holidays, I like to reflect. I especially like to reflect on the whole year. I’ll take an hour to myself to just think about the year and see what I’ve been through and I reflect on how that makes me stronger on the inside,” said Parker.
Even though Tiffney has a different holiday experience than most kids here at Otay, she still has a positive outlook on her life.
“It doesn’t bother me that there are kids who have different experiences of the holidays. I’m not really one to be upset about my situation. So it doesn’t bother me. I’m very open about it. Sometimes it’s like, man I wish I could have got that but the stuff that I do get I’m very grateful for,” said Parker.
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As the season goes on, there are students on campus who are looking forward to spending time with their family and receiving presents on Christmas day. There are other students on campus, however, that might not think about those same thoughts. For Tiffney Parker, junior here at Otay Ranch, her life in a foster care home provides for her another experience of the holidays.
“Where I live, there are five other girls, and we all spend Christmas together,” said Parker. “The gifts are really limited; it’s not like where you get a whole bunch of gifts and give them to each person.”
While many of us may consider receiving presents on Christmas standard, Tiffney has a different view of the Christmas day.
“Say five six gifts total for everyone, and that’s not just for Christmas, said Parker, “it’s also probably for your birthday also. It sucks and it doesn’t. Christmas kind of takes away from your other gifts.”
Even in her foster home, Tiffney and the girls have their own Christmas traditions.
“Since some people actually go see their family, before that we’ll have a Christmas dinner where we all try to bond together to have some type of Christmas family meeting,” said Parker.
Even with the annual traditions, there are still certain difficulties that occur throughout the holiday season.
“It gets rough; for the other girls it’s hard to perceive each other as family because some girls come in with the mentality that they already don’t like the others, but during the holiday they try to push it aside,” said Parker.
Nonetheless, Tiffney tries to make her holidays a positive experience for herself and the others.
“My Christmas basically shows me that I’m not alone,” said Parker. “It’s not different; I mean, you would wish that you were with your family, but at the end of the day, you’re there with the girls and that’s all you have. You have to make the best out of your situation.”
Everyone has different ideas of what the holidays mean to them, but for Tiffney, the holidays are a time to simply have a good time.
“The holidays are just to have fun and just to bond and just to be with people that you like,” said Parker. “We don’t want to have any problems. In this system, issues pop up on the regular so on the holidays it’s very important for us to not have any.”
It’s not all about presents, dinner, and having fun for Tiffney either.
“During the holidays, I like to reflect. I especially like to reflect on the whole year. I’ll take an hour to myself to just think about the year and see what I’ve been through and I reflect on how that makes me stronger on the inside,” said Parker.
Even though Tiffney has a different holiday experience than most kids here at Otay, she still has a positive outlook on her life.
“It doesn’t bother me that there are kids who have different experiences of the holidays. I’m not really one to be upset about my situation. So it doesn’t bother me. I’m very open about it. Sometimes it’s like, man I wish I could have got that but the stuff that I do get I’m very grateful for,” said Parker.
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Student military families: marietoni rosure
December 12, 2012
In 1943, when Bing Cosby recorded “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” America was in the midst of WWII. The song became a song with deep meaning for US troops overseas and their families. It still has meaning almost sixty years later. For Marietoni Rosure, at a young age of 13, her father was deployed during the holidays.
“I refused to believe it at first, said Rosure, “I kept thinking to myself that something was going to happen and he would be allowed to come back for Christmas.”
For Marietoni, Christmas wasn’t just a holiday-it was also her birthday.
“I was really hurt at first. I didn’t want to accept it because ever since I was born he would always manage to come back on Christmas,” said Rosure.
With her father gone, it didn’t feel like the same holiday like the others that Marietoni and her family spent together as a unit.
“It honestly, not to sound like a baby, sucked, said Rosure, “we couldn’t set up the lights outside the house, and we didn’t go on our yearly Big Bear trip. It was just different. We also couldn’t take down the tree until he got back since it took me and my brother over three hours to set it up.”
With her father’s job, Marietoni was left with many disappoints, not only during the holiday season, but with her other milestones as well.
“He left in July so most of the summer he was gone, he missed the first day of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years,” said Rosure.
For Marietoni, her holiday didn’t have the same Christmas cheer.
“Everything was just different”, said Rosure.
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In 1943, when Bing Cosby recorded “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” America was in the midst of WWII. The song became a song with deep meaning for US troops overseas and their families. It still has meaning almost sixty years later. For Marietoni Rosure, at a young age of 13, her father was deployed during the holidays.
“I refused to believe it at first, said Rosure, “I kept thinking to myself that something was going to happen and he would be allowed to come back for Christmas.”
For Marietoni, Christmas wasn’t just a holiday-it was also her birthday.
“I was really hurt at first. I didn’t want to accept it because ever since I was born he would always manage to come back on Christmas,” said Rosure.
With her father gone, it didn’t feel like the same holiday like the others that Marietoni and her family spent together as a unit.
“It honestly, not to sound like a baby, sucked, said Rosure, “we couldn’t set up the lights outside the house, and we didn’t go on our yearly Big Bear trip. It was just different. We also couldn’t take down the tree until he got back since it took me and my brother over three hours to set it up.”
With her father’s job, Marietoni was left with many disappoints, not only during the holiday season, but with her other milestones as well.
“He left in July so most of the summer he was gone, he missed the first day of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years,” said Rosure.
For Marietoni, her holiday didn’t have the same Christmas cheer.
“Everything was just different”, said Rosure.
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angel tree
(via PrisonFellowship.org)
December 12, 2012
Around the holiday season, the spirit of giving comes out in almost everyone. Appreciation for one’s blessings and the desire to help those in need is a major component of the winter months. We often think of those in financial hardship or homeless situations. Rarely do we sympathize with convicted felons, but that is exactly who the Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program reaches out to. Created in 1982 by former prisoner Mary Kay Beard, Angel Tree aims at uniting jailed parents with their families by providing their children with Christmas gifts.
After landing on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List, Beard was sentenced to 180 years in prison. After her first 3 years she became the Alabama State Director for Prison Fellowship.
"When I was arrested, I thought my life was over… God was about to step in,” stated Beard on the Angel Tree website.
She created Angel Tree after noticing fellow inmates giving toothpaste and soap to their kids for Christmas. Now an international organization, Angel Tree has provided 6 million children with real presents via church volunteers. Beard’s demonstration of exceptionally moral and selfless behavior reduced her sentence to only 6 years.
Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in Chula Vista has participated in Angel Tree for more than 20 years. Every year, incarcerated parents contact the chaplain of Prison Fellowship and request that their children receive gifts. The kids’ names and a message from their parent are then given to the church, where members volunteer to purchase, wrap, and deliver the desired presents. The Co-coordinator at St. Mark’s, Dorothy Geier, organized this years’ effort to bring happiness to 24 families, totaling 55 children.
“I [deliver gifts] every year,” said Geier. “To me, it’s the frosting on the cake to be able to bring the gifts to the families and just see their joy. It’s a real joy to do that.”
For those interested in having their church participate in Angel Tree, registration is available on PrisonFellowship.org.
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Around the holiday season, the spirit of giving comes out in almost everyone. Appreciation for one’s blessings and the desire to help those in need is a major component of the winter months. We often think of those in financial hardship or homeless situations. Rarely do we sympathize with convicted felons, but that is exactly who the Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program reaches out to. Created in 1982 by former prisoner Mary Kay Beard, Angel Tree aims at uniting jailed parents with their families by providing their children with Christmas gifts.
After landing on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List, Beard was sentenced to 180 years in prison. After her first 3 years she became the Alabama State Director for Prison Fellowship.
"When I was arrested, I thought my life was over… God was about to step in,” stated Beard on the Angel Tree website.
She created Angel Tree after noticing fellow inmates giving toothpaste and soap to their kids for Christmas. Now an international organization, Angel Tree has provided 6 million children with real presents via church volunteers. Beard’s demonstration of exceptionally moral and selfless behavior reduced her sentence to only 6 years.
Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in Chula Vista has participated in Angel Tree for more than 20 years. Every year, incarcerated parents contact the chaplain of Prison Fellowship and request that their children receive gifts. The kids’ names and a message from their parent are then given to the church, where members volunteer to purchase, wrap, and deliver the desired presents. The Co-coordinator at St. Mark’s, Dorothy Geier, organized this years’ effort to bring happiness to 24 families, totaling 55 children.
“I [deliver gifts] every year,” said Geier. “To me, it’s the frosting on the cake to be able to bring the gifts to the families and just see their joy. It’s a real joy to do that.”
For those interested in having their church participate in Angel Tree, registration is available on PrisonFellowship.org.
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Not so holly jolly cristmas
December 12, 2012
Here at the Ranch, the weather is getting colder, teachers are putting up mini Christmas decorations around their classrooms, and students are daydreaming about the holiday break. Some of the students are beginning to play Secret Santa amongst their friends or clubs and snippets of conversations about presents and vacations with their families can be heard all around the campus. Though the holidays are known for the time of giving, many still tend to forget that their surroundings are one that is much more privileged than others. There are students on campus that come from different backgrounds resulting in a different holiday experience.
A fellow Mustang, this student has decided to keep his identity confidential but was still willing to share his story. For the purpose of this article, his name will be written as John Doe.
“I remember when I was six years old, watching my grandma putting on popcorn around the tree and I remember opening presents on Christmas morning,” said Doe , “after that year, I guess my mom wasn’t around because someone reported the protective services and they took me and my two stepbrothers to a big orphanage.”
According to this student, this orphanage was a base hosting foster kids of all ages, toddlers to ten year olds.
“You’re in a room where there’s a bag and you’d share someone else’s clothes,” said Doe, “I was there for two weeks and I remember just thinking about my grandma and my dad.”
Once his aunt picked him up from the orphanage, his new life had begun. After a couple of weeks with his aunt, he began living with his grandmother.
“My grandma taught me how to speak Spanish, taught me my name, where I come from, and that no one loves me more than my grandma, said Doe, “she always told me to not feel bad that I don’t have my mom and dad.”
Living with his grandmother gave him experience and independence. Living with her, did however, change his experience with the holidays.
“It was harder for me because my grandma is Jehovah Witness, and she doesn’t celebrate Christmas. I remember still getting gifts from my uncle and aunt, but I was taught not to believe in Christmas, and I started feeling bad about every holiday, said Doe, “I remember watching Christmas cartoons and being really mad as a kid.”
In America, gifts and Christmas are often expected traditions for children. For this child, however, Christmas was limited to him.
“I would get invited once in a while to my aunts. I was invited when I was about fourteen years old, but at that point I wasn’t really social about anything; I remember just wanting to go upstairs and play video games, said Doe, “then my uncle said there was a present waiting for me downstairs. I opened the box and there was a little remote car and it was yellow. I appreciated the gift because it was from my uncle and aunt and they wanted me to have it.”
He lost this toy car a couple of days after he received it, but to him the toy car didn’t matter so much as the gesture.
“I enjoyed it because it was the moment that I liked it, like opening the presents and having something to have, but as a fourteen year old, the illusions are gone,” said Doe.
As a foster child, he had to go to court every six months for scheduled updates.
“I remember I asked this lady that worked in court that my grandma won’t let me celebrate my birthday or Christmas, and when the lady told her to let me, my grandma said, “I can’t do that.” And that was that. I asked that question when I was eight, and I left it at that,” said Doe.
Although this student was limited in holiday celebrations throughout his childhood, he still came out learning his own life lessons.
“My grandma always said, “Kids don’t feel bad when you go to go school and they ask you what you got for Christmas; you get gifts all year. You don’t celebrate it for one day.” She always told me not to feel bad or that I’m the only one or that I’m a weirdo and no one talks to talk to me because I don’t celebrate Christmas.”
Even though he adhered to his grandmother and accepted that he wouldn’t celebrate the holidays, there were still moments for this student where he felt out of place.
“I was with a girlfriend and her sister and they were talking about how all they wanted was a camera and where they’re going to go, and I remember feeling outside of the conversation, like an outsider,” said Doe, “I remember just waiting for the conversation to end. I just felt really empty because they weren’t just talking about what they’re going to get but started saying, “Remember when we were little..” and it was just something I’m not familiar with.”
As he grew up and is now eighteen years old, the holidays have become a distant past for this student.
“Looking at all the celebrations now makes me feel old. I mean, it’s a kid thing. It’s a memory thing. It’s what you develop as a kid not when you’re eighteen, said Doe, “it is what it is.”
Though his holidays might not have been what he originally wanted, he still has hopes for his younger family members.
“I have a little step sister and brother and I give them presents out of love and because it’ll make them feel better about growing up and will give them a better self esteem, said Doe, “it’s for the kids and I don’t have anything against it. I hope my brothers have what I didn’t have. I didn’t get visits around my birthday or Christmas. It’s good to be around the family and that time, and if it’s something everyone gets, there’s union.”
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Here at the Ranch, the weather is getting colder, teachers are putting up mini Christmas decorations around their classrooms, and students are daydreaming about the holiday break. Some of the students are beginning to play Secret Santa amongst their friends or clubs and snippets of conversations about presents and vacations with their families can be heard all around the campus. Though the holidays are known for the time of giving, many still tend to forget that their surroundings are one that is much more privileged than others. There are students on campus that come from different backgrounds resulting in a different holiday experience.
A fellow Mustang, this student has decided to keep his identity confidential but was still willing to share his story. For the purpose of this article, his name will be written as John Doe.
“I remember when I was six years old, watching my grandma putting on popcorn around the tree and I remember opening presents on Christmas morning,” said Doe , “after that year, I guess my mom wasn’t around because someone reported the protective services and they took me and my two stepbrothers to a big orphanage.”
According to this student, this orphanage was a base hosting foster kids of all ages, toddlers to ten year olds.
“You’re in a room where there’s a bag and you’d share someone else’s clothes,” said Doe, “I was there for two weeks and I remember just thinking about my grandma and my dad.”
Once his aunt picked him up from the orphanage, his new life had begun. After a couple of weeks with his aunt, he began living with his grandmother.
“My grandma taught me how to speak Spanish, taught me my name, where I come from, and that no one loves me more than my grandma, said Doe, “she always told me to not feel bad that I don’t have my mom and dad.”
Living with his grandmother gave him experience and independence. Living with her, did however, change his experience with the holidays.
“It was harder for me because my grandma is Jehovah Witness, and she doesn’t celebrate Christmas. I remember still getting gifts from my uncle and aunt, but I was taught not to believe in Christmas, and I started feeling bad about every holiday, said Doe, “I remember watching Christmas cartoons and being really mad as a kid.”
In America, gifts and Christmas are often expected traditions for children. For this child, however, Christmas was limited to him.
“I would get invited once in a while to my aunts. I was invited when I was about fourteen years old, but at that point I wasn’t really social about anything; I remember just wanting to go upstairs and play video games, said Doe, “then my uncle said there was a present waiting for me downstairs. I opened the box and there was a little remote car and it was yellow. I appreciated the gift because it was from my uncle and aunt and they wanted me to have it.”
He lost this toy car a couple of days after he received it, but to him the toy car didn’t matter so much as the gesture.
“I enjoyed it because it was the moment that I liked it, like opening the presents and having something to have, but as a fourteen year old, the illusions are gone,” said Doe.
As a foster child, he had to go to court every six months for scheduled updates.
“I remember I asked this lady that worked in court that my grandma won’t let me celebrate my birthday or Christmas, and when the lady told her to let me, my grandma said, “I can’t do that.” And that was that. I asked that question when I was eight, and I left it at that,” said Doe.
Although this student was limited in holiday celebrations throughout his childhood, he still came out learning his own life lessons.
“My grandma always said, “Kids don’t feel bad when you go to go school and they ask you what you got for Christmas; you get gifts all year. You don’t celebrate it for one day.” She always told me not to feel bad or that I’m the only one or that I’m a weirdo and no one talks to talk to me because I don’t celebrate Christmas.”
Even though he adhered to his grandmother and accepted that he wouldn’t celebrate the holidays, there were still moments for this student where he felt out of place.
“I was with a girlfriend and her sister and they were talking about how all they wanted was a camera and where they’re going to go, and I remember feeling outside of the conversation, like an outsider,” said Doe, “I remember just waiting for the conversation to end. I just felt really empty because they weren’t just talking about what they’re going to get but started saying, “Remember when we were little..” and it was just something I’m not familiar with.”
As he grew up and is now eighteen years old, the holidays have become a distant past for this student.
“Looking at all the celebrations now makes me feel old. I mean, it’s a kid thing. It’s a memory thing. It’s what you develop as a kid not when you’re eighteen, said Doe, “it is what it is.”
Though his holidays might not have been what he originally wanted, he still has hopes for his younger family members.
“I have a little step sister and brother and I give them presents out of love and because it’ll make them feel better about growing up and will give them a better self esteem, said Doe, “it’s for the kids and I don’t have anything against it. I hope my brothers have what I didn’t have. I didn’t get visits around my birthday or Christmas. It’s good to be around the family and that time, and if it’s something everyone gets, there’s union.”
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last minute, diy halloween costumes
Lumberjack
Shark
Cat
Minnie Mouse
Grapes
“Cereal” Killer
Skeleton
Egyptian
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Greek Goddess
Jellyfish
Statue of Liberty
Forrest Gump
Toddlers and Tiaras
Fat Amy from “Pitch Perfect”
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ha ha halloween
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halloween factsAmerican consumers spend nearly $7 billion
on Halloween #1 costume for adults in 2011 was a witch #1 costume for kids in 2011 was a princess Americans spend 35 million on Halloween cards each year Halloween ranks #2 (behind Christmas) as the world's most commercially successful holiday 50% of Americans decorate their yards for Halloween Nearly 120 million Americans (children and adults) dress up 20 million pounds of candy corn is brought by Americans each year |
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It was noon on that day
And depressingly gray That I wandered into the forest That stood silently And usually frightened me But today it whispered A secret that escaped me A secret that intrigued me So I decided that day To casually stray into that forest There were trees and the regular foliage And I decided to go deeper And as I went deeper The trees seemed taller And a clearing appeared With a tall black tree That I know stared back at me I walked closer to the tree Or did it walk to me? Oh it was gray on that day A perfect October day When I heard the forest whisper a secret A secret that intrigued me And when I found that tall black tree It whispered the secret to me Which allowed the forest To keep me Poem by Iliana Quintero, Grade 9 |
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halloween history
Courtesy of Daren Conui
Jack-o-lanterns light the cold crisp October air, laughs and screams of costume wearing children can be heard along with the constant knocking on doors and the classic phrase “trick or treat?” heard from door to door. It’s Halloween time again which means it’s time to carve the pumpkins, pull out the candy and dress up in the scariest costume that can be found, but with all the usual excitement surrounding this holiday it is often forgotten where all these traditions started, and how is it celebrated with different people of different countries.
Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not just a holiday invented by candy corporations, the holiday actually originated in Western Europe. All Hallows’ Eve was influenced by harvest festivals and festivals for the dead. The festivals of the dead are believed to have pagan roots and the Celtic holiday known as Samhain.
Samhain was one of the four and most important days in the Gaelic calendar, the holiday took place from October 31-Nov 1st. Samhain was seen as the period in time when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest and those who have passed away could walk the earth once again. While Samhain is a general joyous occasion had by all with festivals and feasts and welcoming back deceased loved ones, there was also the belief that even the most horrid of spirits came through the veil and preparations of protections were made.
North America began celebrating Halloween during the 19th Century with the mass immigration of Irish and Scottish citizens, during the 20th century it was accepted as a mainstream holiday in the country. When Halloween was assimilated into the American culture many changes were made to the old traditions of the holiday, such as: carving pumpkins instead of turnips, the use of traditional Halloween colors such as black and orange, and passing out candy to awaiting trick-or-treaters.
Eating sweets on Halloween isn’t just an American Halloween tradition, which is also common in several countries. In Ireland, Barmbrack is a well known Halloween treat, barmbrack is yeasted bread with sultanas and raisins, followed by Colcannon, a cabbage based dish. A shared sweet with the United States, Ireland and England is candy apples. Common treats in America vary from candy corn, caramel corn, pumpkin based dishes, and, of course, candy.
When Halloween became a more popular holiday it was only natural that various companies made their own mark on the holiday tradition. Candy companies began producing more of their products to appeal to the high demand of cavity creating sweets and costumes makers created more costumes for the trick or treaters. Not to mention all the movies and haunted attractions that is made in mind to scare their customers out of their wits.
Halloween is celebrated differently around the world; one person’s traditions or ideas of Halloween may differ from the next, but just because someone’s Halloween activities are different, doesn't make them strange or abnormal. Normal is a subjective term, Halloween is celebrated differently from country to country, culture to culture or even door to door, it’s important to remember how the holiday has changed over the years and recall where all the holiday fun began.
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Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not just a holiday invented by candy corporations, the holiday actually originated in Western Europe. All Hallows’ Eve was influenced by harvest festivals and festivals for the dead. The festivals of the dead are believed to have pagan roots and the Celtic holiday known as Samhain.
Samhain was one of the four and most important days in the Gaelic calendar, the holiday took place from October 31-Nov 1st. Samhain was seen as the period in time when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest and those who have passed away could walk the earth once again. While Samhain is a general joyous occasion had by all with festivals and feasts and welcoming back deceased loved ones, there was also the belief that even the most horrid of spirits came through the veil and preparations of protections were made.
North America began celebrating Halloween during the 19th Century with the mass immigration of Irish and Scottish citizens, during the 20th century it was accepted as a mainstream holiday in the country. When Halloween was assimilated into the American culture many changes were made to the old traditions of the holiday, such as: carving pumpkins instead of turnips, the use of traditional Halloween colors such as black and orange, and passing out candy to awaiting trick-or-treaters.
Eating sweets on Halloween isn’t just an American Halloween tradition, which is also common in several countries. In Ireland, Barmbrack is a well known Halloween treat, barmbrack is yeasted bread with sultanas and raisins, followed by Colcannon, a cabbage based dish. A shared sweet with the United States, Ireland and England is candy apples. Common treats in America vary from candy corn, caramel corn, pumpkin based dishes, and, of course, candy.
When Halloween became a more popular holiday it was only natural that various companies made their own mark on the holiday tradition. Candy companies began producing more of their products to appeal to the high demand of cavity creating sweets and costumes makers created more costumes for the trick or treaters. Not to mention all the movies and haunted attractions that is made in mind to scare their customers out of their wits.
Halloween is celebrated differently around the world; one person’s traditions or ideas of Halloween may differ from the next, but just because someone’s Halloween activities are different, doesn't make them strange or abnormal. Normal is a subjective term, Halloween is celebrated differently from country to country, culture to culture or even door to door, it’s important to remember how the holiday has changed over the years and recall where all the holiday fun began.
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from traditions to cliches
Courtesy of Daren Conui
That figure of a woman soaring through the midnight sky on a broom stick with the full moon as her background and a distinctive pointy hat. The eerie smiles of Jack-O-Lanterns strung across the neighborhood sidewalks with a faint glowing light of a candle. The sweet and simple candies stacked in creepy and colorful bowls for the little children running about the streets. Halloween is quickly approaching and everyone is breaking out their favorite decorations, and buying their candy and costumes. Halloween wasn’t always this commercial and the decorations weren’t always cut and colorful and made of plastic. Almost every part of Halloween, or Samhain, was once a respected tradition amongst the Pagans and Celtics before the 19th century.
The Jack-o-Lanterns that are put out for display with every smile, design, and pattern imaginable for Halloween were once used as protection wards. In the 15th century, those who strongly believed in All Hallows Eve, when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest, put out pumpkins with carved faces into them would ward off all evil spirits that might threaten their homes. Of course, there were other options before the pumpkin came to play; one in particular was a turnip. The reason of choosing a pumpkin was because of a legend about a man named Jack who tricked the Devil and was hit with a burning ember and casted into a pumpkin forever wandering with his light burning inside the pumpkin.
Everyone knows what a witch is. A cackling green hag with warts on her massive nose chanting weird spells over a boiling cauldron and let’s not forget the signature pointy black hat. Everything about this stereotypical witch is false except for the hat. Back then, during the Salem Witch trials, the women who were prosecuted as witches were forced to wear dunce caps during the trial and labeled as a “black magic user” and were forced to wear it whenever they left the house. The reason for the point in the hat was to symbolize the horns of the Devil showing the association between witchcraft and the Devil.
Finally, the main reason why everyone loves Halloween, the candy! The passing out of candy may be seen as an insignificant role, but everything and anything has a history. Just like the story of the pumpkins, it was said that when the ghosts of loved ones came through the veil one of the ways to calm their wandering spirit was to give them an offering of some kind on their tombstone. Normally, these offerings would be foods they ate while they were alive, but candies and sweets were always offered. Even today, this tradition is honored in the holiday Dia de los Muertos, but it is still commercialized.
Halloween is seen as a holiday of scary stories, delicious candies, fun and spooky costumes, and crazy parties. The truth behind all the small things that make Halloween entertaining today were once serious and had full meaning even the name itself. Not a lot of people know the truth about Halloween and those who think they know claim that it’s “bizarre” or “weird”. For those who look at Halloween and see Samhain, it is the most powerful day in the entire year where witches are at their most powerful and monsters no longer have a reason to hide away into the shadows. Merry Samhain, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
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The Jack-o-Lanterns that are put out for display with every smile, design, and pattern imaginable for Halloween were once used as protection wards. In the 15th century, those who strongly believed in All Hallows Eve, when the veil between this world and the next was at its thinnest, put out pumpkins with carved faces into them would ward off all evil spirits that might threaten their homes. Of course, there were other options before the pumpkin came to play; one in particular was a turnip. The reason of choosing a pumpkin was because of a legend about a man named Jack who tricked the Devil and was hit with a burning ember and casted into a pumpkin forever wandering with his light burning inside the pumpkin.
Everyone knows what a witch is. A cackling green hag with warts on her massive nose chanting weird spells over a boiling cauldron and let’s not forget the signature pointy black hat. Everything about this stereotypical witch is false except for the hat. Back then, during the Salem Witch trials, the women who were prosecuted as witches were forced to wear dunce caps during the trial and labeled as a “black magic user” and were forced to wear it whenever they left the house. The reason for the point in the hat was to symbolize the horns of the Devil showing the association between witchcraft and the Devil.
Finally, the main reason why everyone loves Halloween, the candy! The passing out of candy may be seen as an insignificant role, but everything and anything has a history. Just like the story of the pumpkins, it was said that when the ghosts of loved ones came through the veil one of the ways to calm their wandering spirit was to give them an offering of some kind on their tombstone. Normally, these offerings would be foods they ate while they were alive, but candies and sweets were always offered. Even today, this tradition is honored in the holiday Dia de los Muertos, but it is still commercialized.
Halloween is seen as a holiday of scary stories, delicious candies, fun and spooky costumes, and crazy parties. The truth behind all the small things that make Halloween entertaining today were once serious and had full meaning even the name itself. Not a lot of people know the truth about Halloween and those who think they know claim that it’s “bizarre” or “weird”. For those who look at Halloween and see Samhain, it is the most powerful day in the entire year where witches are at their most powerful and monsters no longer have a reason to hide away into the shadows. Merry Samhain, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
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trick or treat ...
Although most highschoolers feel they are way too old for trick-or-treating, many teens venture out into the candy-giving frenzy on Halloween night. Even though most of us are between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, our inner kid will always loves trick-or-treating. In my opinion, you are never too old to go trick-or-treating, but as the years roll by, many teens begin to stay home and hand out candy to other trick-or-treaters instead. This year, if you do decide to go trick-or-treating, these are some things you should keep in mind as a trick-or-treating:
Remember these simple tips this Halloween and you’ll be raking in an immense pile of Snickers, Kit Kats and Recess peanut butter cups, enough to last you until next Halloween.
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- Dress up! It’s Halloween, and if you expect to get free candy, you should at least wear a costume and get into the Halloween spirit.
- Keep your “sexy” costumes home. Most parents giving out candy will probably be reluctant to give you treats if you show up on their door step as a “naughty nurse”, so save your revealing costumes for another occasion, and dress spooky, but appropriate.
- When candy-giving parents sight a beard, it’s probably a deal breaker, so wear a mask or shave, unless you want to be mistaken as a parent.
- One no-brainer to remember is to be polite. Many people refuse to give teenagers candy because they think they’re reckless trouble makers, so remember to say thank you and be nice, after all you are getting free candy!
- Don’t be greedy. As long you’re getting candy that should be enough, so don’t be a candy hog.
Remember these simple tips this Halloween and you’ll be raking in an immense pile of Snickers, Kit Kats and Recess peanut butter cups, enough to last you until next Halloween.
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