60
Inside This Issue: Prom Is Here Origin of Prom Earth Day AMHS Originals Slam Dunk King Baseball Cards Spring Sports Prom Dresses: Hot or Not And much more! Special Bonus: OhhSo Baseball Cards!

April RAMpage

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

The April edition of the RAMpage

Citation preview

Page 1: April RAMpage

Inside This Issue:

Prom Is Here

Origin of Prom

Earth Day

AMHS Originals

Slam Dunk King

Baseball Cards

Spring Sports

Prom Dresses: Hot or Not

And much more!

Special Bonus:

OhhSo Baseball Cards!

Page 2: April RAMpage

Earth Day

FBLA Hawks Night

Yearbook Staff Meets Deadlines

Prom is Here!

Getting Ready Now

Saving the Competition

Arabia Gives Back to Africa

Arabia Mentoring Program

A Night to Remember

Senior Year: Stress ed or Unstressed

Who Are You Fooling?

Spring Break Ideas and Safety

Arabia Mountain Originals

Prom From the Past

Prom Origins

Did You Survive Lent?

Traditions Made

Baseball Cards

Slam Dunk King

Running to Success

Looking Back Four Years

Gymnastics

Soccer

Pep Rally Round-Up

Jackie Robinson

Are You Ready for Prom?

Pros and Cons of a Prom Date

Hot or Not: Prom Dress Edition

Walking In Style

Dealing with Parents

GHSGT

Senior Furlough Day

Graduation

Ideal Dorm Room

Picking Your Roommate

Maintaining Healthy Relationships

in College

Longer Spring Break

Help By Lending a Hand

Fangirl Spotlight

CHWxL

Day of the Child

Ask A Ram

Longer Spring Break

Page 3: April RAMpage

NEWS

EARTH

Earth Day is a

worldwide recognized

event that supports the

protection of the

environment. Earth Day

is celebrated on April 22. April 22 was

picked by a resolution adopted by

the United Nations in 2009.

Founder

John McConnell born on March 22,

1915 and died October 20, 2012 was

a person who was passionate about

religion, science, and peace. His

passion led him to become the

founder and creator of Earth Day.

In 1969, McConnell proposed Earth

Day to the San Francisco Board of

Supervisors and received lots of

support. He later on created an

Earth Day Proclamation and very

soon Earth Day was being

celebrated throughout the world.

An important part of the Earth Day

celebration is the Earth Flag. He

designed it after he saw the first

picture of Earth in a magazine. The

flag symbolizes the support to the

people and to the environment. In

1975 the flag was placed in the

South Pole. Until this day the flag is

used and sold around the world.

In 1969, McConnell.

Activities

Earth Day activities

in the United States

are separated into

regions. Georgia is in

region 4 (Southeast).

Some examples of

activities could be helping out at the

Botanical Garden, giving classes

about the environment, researching

more about the environment etc.

Teachers around the world find

activities to do with their classes on

Earth Day. They have students

create presentations, have

environmental speakers, post

announcements throughout the

school. English teachers ask their

students to write poems, skits, essays,

and stories about the environment.

Some also encourage students to

create awareness activities.

Mrs. Klein plans on taking her

students outside to look at the

nature around the school and even

be inspired and create and share

poems in the outdoor classroom.

EARTH DAY By Noely Escorza

Page 4: April RAMpage

NEWS

By Jordan Barron

On Friday, March 22nd, FBLA students took a trip to the Philips Arena to

watch the Atlanta Hawks take on the Portland Trailblazers. Before the game,

they had some business to handle.

First, the students started their day out with lunch at the CNN center. They

had a choice to eat at the various restaurants that the center had to offer.

Afterward, they attended a small college fair. There were approximately

20 colleges represented. There was also a game involved within the college fair.

Students were given a “bingo board” that contained 6 boxes. The objective was

to have all 6 boxes marked off by the colleges. The twist was the students has to

ask the college recruiters a question in order to receive a stamp. After all 6

boxes were filled, the student was to return to the front for their special gift from

the Hawks. The gift was a black drawstring bag that had the Hawks logo on the

front.

Next, the student then went on to the gym where the Hawks play, but it

wasn’t game time. The students from Arabia along with about 20 other schools

had the time to spend with the people who work with advertising and television

production for the Hawks. There was also a game within that too. The students

were asked to send in a message headline through twitter, and a few sponsors

were picked to partake in an obstacle course ending with a lay up. Arabia

Mountain placed 3rd in the headline contest.

Lastly, it was time for the game to begin. From placing in the contest,

Arabia Mountain students were allowed to stand in the tunnel

where the Hawks run in at for warm ups, which was the coolest

part of the trip. Their seats for the game were right behind the

goal. Over all, it was a great trip and a fun experience.

Page 5: April RAMpage

It takes time, dedication, and patience. From the first day of school in

August until March 18, 2013, the AMHS yearbook staff has been working nonstop

to complete Arabia’s best yearbook yet.

This year’s theme is “The Beginning of the End,” a theme that every

student could relate to because while some students are just beginning high

school, others are ready to graduate. Creating the yearbook is both a fun and

challenging experience. There were many long nights pulled after school in

order for this yearbook to be a success. With every staff member being

committed and determined, the yearbook was completed on time. Being

involved in year book teaches you the importance of deadlines. This class

prepares you for future tasks or assignments, within your career and college.

Senior Miah Harris, pictured below left, says “Yearbook is fun as long as you

have your rough drafts together, it will not be stressful.” Along with having your

drafts together yearbook “teaches you how to

manage your time and how to be even more

organized” she says.

Many students expect for yearbook to be an easy

elective to just add to their schedule, however it is

the complete opposite. It actually requires a great

deal of time and work. There are multiple sections

throughout the staff that has made it easier, such as

clubs and organizations, student life, and sports.

In addition senior Seana Dees, pictured below

right, explains how “Finding people especially when

they are not in class can be sometimes frustrating;

but meeting deadlines are easy as long as your organized and you keep your

time frame in mind.” On the other hand it is no surprise that the Ms. Jones

disagrees with Seana, she says “Stressful is an

understatement, it is very time consuming but I cannot

wait to see the finish product.”

Along with the entire yearbook staff, teachers and

students are very eager to see how the yearbook will

turn out this year. AMHS yearbook staff has worked

extremely hard to make this year’s year book creative

and enjoyable. Although deadlines can be stressful and

difficult, the yearbook staff shows others that hard work

eventually pays off.

NEWS

By Aiyana Parks

Page 6: April RAMpage

NEWS

361 17th Street NW Atlanta, Georgia 30363

By Teresa Hope

Prom, a night to dress your best and show off your sophisticated style. For

the seniors of AMHS, it will be the last night and last dance we have together. It

will be full of memories, and for some a new experience. “A Midnight

Masqurade” is the colorful and magical theme. Students can pick up invitations,

Monday-Wednesday at lunch periods.

Prom will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at Twelve Hotel, right. Seniors

cannot reserve hotel rooms at the Twelve. Prom will last from 7:30-11:30 p.m. To

get in you will have to present a ticket. Students who drive, must pay for parking

or pay for a vallet. The senior walk will start at 9 p.m. The prom king and queen

will be crowned at 10 p.m. Our D.J. is from a popular radio station, so be ready.

Please be aware of the dress code. Females dresses must be in formal or

semi-formal attire. No sheer or see-through material, and no overly revealed

body parts. While males must wear suits and ties or tuxedoes with dress shoes. No

sagging and no exposed undergarments will be allowed. In addition, no pimp

daddy canes or chains, bandanas, head rags, or baseball caps will be allowed.

Dr. Arnold says, “The prom committee hopes everyone has a good time.” She

explains that the committee put a lot of effort into planning the event and

hopes it will be a memorable evening for everyone.

Page 7: April RAMpage

NEWS

The class of 2014 may not be seniors yet, but it’s never too late to start

preparing for college.

Junior Taylor McGee states, “Taking the SAT, ACT and visiting colleges you

have an interest in going to is where you start.”

For juniors who don’t take the SAT and ACT serious, Charles Akin-David

explains, “Your scores on the SAT and ACT can determine if you get in the door

of your college.” Start looking at scores colleges will accept because waiting till

the last minute can hurt you based on the school you want to attend. Get to the

point where you can narrow your colleges down to the ones that are most

important to you because having too many colleges in mind can lead to

confusion.

In order to attend your dream college several steps need to be done first.

From looking at the tuition amount, making sure the ACT and SAT scores are

good, to feeling out the financial aid application. It’s much more than just

getting an acceptance letter from a college.

Akin-David states, “Get into activities in school because colleges want to

see commitment,” so as a junior venture out and see what hobbies and interest

you have because brain smarts it’s not the only thing colleges look for. Stick out

as a person and show colleges that you can broaden your horizon because

getting into college is a contest. He continues, “Look for diversity, because you

learn 10% inside the classroom and 90% outside.”

As a junior look for a college that offers a global education, give yourself

a college because what you do in college can determine your life. Time is

ticking for the class of 2014 because before you know it will be our time to walk

across that stage. Start now don’t wait because all colleges don’t come to you,

you go to them.

By Tiffany Daniels

Page 8: April RAMpage

NEWS

A mix of adrenaline, determination, and

excitement rushed through the veins of

Arabia’s future doctors while attending

HOSA’s (Health Occupation Student of

America) State Leadership Conference on

March 3rd, 2013 in Athens, Georgia.

HOSA's Competitive Events Program

brings health careers to life by testing

knowledge, performance events, and mock

skill events. AMHS’s finest HOSA members

showed their leadership capabilities by developing new friendships, listening to

encouraging messages, and helping students recognize their potential future

health care profession.

HOSA’s State Leadership conference consists of six competitive event

categories, which are health science events, health professions events,

emergency preparedness events, leadership events, teamwork events, and

recognition events.

Jacelyn Moore, Janesha Buckhanon, and Kacharra Longmire are AMHS

sophomores who participated in CPR First Aid. They all agreed the highlight of

the trip was meeting new people and being exposed to their career paths.

Helina Teklu participated in medical law and ethics and said,” I loved the fact

that I met people who shared the same interest as me!”

HOSA members who participate in the competitive events program

complete numerous steps towards receiving

an ACCESS HOSA chord.

However, students do not participate

because of the awards but because of the

feeling of accomplishment and confidence

gained in preparing for competition. HOSA

does not hold events for bragging rights;

rather, HOSA provides a competitive events

program as a means of exposure to the

health care field and having the

determination to attend and demonstrate

the skills needed to perform a task while on

the job.

By Sean Thomas

Page 9: April RAMpage

On March 2, 2013, junior Kayla Turner was awarded with a Community

Service and Youth Empowerment Award from the 100 Black Men. To

obtain this honor, Kayla says she participated in more than sixty hours of

community service this past year, mostly from her strong participation in

Girl Scouts. “I have volunteered at Open Hands, the Global Soap

Project, and many other places,” she stated, “Many of which focused on

community empowerment.” Open Hands packs food for the elderly and

sickly, and the Global Soap Project sends soap around the world to

countries in need.

Kayla says she has been in the 100 Black Men program for five years.

Throughout that time, she has participated in a Youth Summit and got

the chance to ask a former US Attorney General questions.

Good job, Kayla!

NEWS

By Karri Thomas

Page 10: April RAMpage

By Taneishia Watson-Parks

In Mrs. Harris’ EIC class, the students learned the true meaning of “giving

back” by giving novels and books to Africa to help Africans

become successful. This program also helps the students in

Africa think more about how life is and what it can give them,

and it shows the true heart of our students and how much

they truly care for other countries.

Briana Brown, senior, expresses

what she likes about this program: “We

got to package a lot of books and got

to help them exceed their monthly

expectations for all the students.” She

believes they were doing a great job

helping people in other countries out

and inspire them to study more and more in order to get

somewhere in life.

“Not other people thinks about the other countries

and all the good they give back in

order to help out,” Briana explains

that she feels people don’t really take the time out to think

about the others who doesn’t live in the United States and

who don’t have all the resources available here. She

thinks people should give back to the help others and

support them to succeed in life.

The only improvement she wishes that could have

been made were the conditions of the warehouse,

explaning, “The warehouse could’ve been warmer

because it was really cold in there.” She also explains how

they didn’t have enough time to get more books to give

to Africa: “We didn’t have enough of

time to get more books to give to

Africa because there were a lot of complications.”

Giving back to other countries is a very important

thing to do at any age. It’s a good way to show how much

you care about other people and also that you are not as

selfish as other people might think. Our generation cares

more about receiving gifts than giving gifts to people need

them. Giving back is a great way to learning new things

about your country and yourself.

NEWS

Page 11: April RAMpage

NEWS

By: Javon Robair

Taylor McGee, junior, created a program for students at Arabia Mountain

called the Arabia Mentoring Program (AMP) for students with a desire to help

and mentor elementary students. Every

Thursday, the students in the mentoring

program go to Murphey Candler for an hour

to help elementary students with their

homework and give them extra help on their

work.

Murphey Candler Elementary School

has an after school program for their students

to get extra help with their homework and get

help with concepts they don’t fully understand. The only problem is that there

are way more students than teachers.

Therefore, there aren’t enough teachers for

each student to get enough help on work they

need help with.

Taylor McGee says “The Arabia Mountain

Mentoring Program is about giving kids the big

brother or sister they’ve always wanted by

providing them with extra tutoring, a friend, and

someone they can rely on for anything.

“It’s a great opportunity for not only the

children to learn from us, but for us to learn from them as well, says Vaughn

Dowdley, junior, a participant in the program.

Page 12: April RAMpage

What is a perfect prom to you?

Prom is one of the most memorable events in your high school career.

Many students going into high school look forward to prom and how it’s going to

be.

Everyone imagines prom to be a “perfect” night like the proms we see on

television. Prom is one of the most important nights in girl’s teenage years. It’s a

night when you see the true beauty of every girl outside of school. When you

think of prom, you think of dresses, the colors, the make-up, the dates, the limos,

the nice rental cars, staying out all night, and beautiful scenery.

Senior Calia Bryant, left, says, “It has to be fun and it

can’t be boring. It needs a lot of decorations and you have to

make it look nice. Also, the dress code can’t be strict because

it’s the twenty first century and the styles have changed up a

lot.”

Senior Alexcia McIntosh said, “It should be somewhere

nice, everyone should look nice, and everybody has fun and goes out

afterwards. Girls would have their dream dress and they would go to their

restaurant, and after sleep at their dream hotel. There would be an after party

and I would drive a Maserati.” This is indeed what you would call a perfect

prom.

Junior Gregory Phillips, right, stated, “A perfect

Prom is when nothing goes wrong and everything goes

right.” Gregory by far has the true definition of a perfect

prom.

Junior Alexis Smoot said, “A perfect prom is when

the date picks me up in a hummer limo. We go to prom

for an hour then ditch it and go club hopping. After the

club we go to dinner then enjoy the rest of our night.”

Prom will be a night of fun adventures and experiences.

News

By India Webb

Page 13: April RAMpage

NEWS

Most people say that senior year is your easiest year of high school,

but for us Rams, it’s not! Between taking seven classes, applying for

colleges and financial aid, taking standardized tests, and balancing

school with jobs and your social life, senior year is stressful! The workload

here at AMHS is over the top. There are 171 out of 395 seniors failing with

two months of school left. Senior year is definitely stressing many of our

students at Arabia Mountain out. Senior Larry Robinson, right, said school is “stressful only

because how strict they are getting. The workload is okay, but the

rules are stressful.” At Arabia Mountain rules are enforced heavily.

Many students feel like they seem to care about the rules more than

academics, and it gets very overwhelming. Having someone

constantly telling you to tuck in your shirt, instead of helping you to

pull up your grades can be crazy.

Many students are well rounded, meaning they participate in

extra curricular activities, clubs, sports, and still manage to maintain

their GPA. Senior Lauren Thomas, right, said she is “not stressed, but

not relaxed at all. Trying to balance extra curricular activities while

maintaining my GPA and grades is tiring. Even though the work isn’t

that hard, it’s hard trying not to get lazy and let senioritis get the

best of me, especially since I’ve already been accepted to

college.”

Senioritis is getting to many seniors. Also since many of our seniors

have been accepted into their top school, and have signed to schools,

they feel as if they can slack a little. Many of our seniors have part time

jobs. When they get home from their jobs late at night they still have to

complete homework. Also they are usually tired the next day in class, and

gets hard when trying to stay up and pay attention.

Senior Alexis Brooks, right, said she is both stressed and

unstressed because “I don’t get a lot of homework, but then at the

same time when we do have work it gets really stressful because

we get a handful of homework all at the same time.”

Senior year here at Arabia Mountain is very stressful, many

students have senioritis and they are ready to graduate!

Graduation is quickly approaching, and it would be nice to have

100% students walk across the stage. Seniors get it together, and

tough these last two months out! You can do it! Class of 2013, rise

up!

By Chelsea Cobb

NEWS

Page 14: April RAMpage

NEWS

By Taliyah Knight

All of the students at Arabia Mountain have experienced the long days

and nights from trying to finish our work. We finally get a break from it for a week!

Usually Spring Break is held on the first week of April

but this year spring break is on the second week of April.

Some people have their whole week planned but others

have nothing planned.

Seniors at Arabia Mountain plan on attending the

Grad Bash '13 from April 11-13 in Orlando, FL. Students

who attend the Grad Bash will visit Universal Studios, Busch

Gardens, and Wet N’ Wild. During the trip, seniors will bond and

make memories.

Some seniors like Michael Holloway will be missing this experience.

Holloway is going to spend spring break visiting his future college Charleston

Southern University in South Carolina for their spring football game.

He is excited to become a Buccaneer. "I am very excited to go see how

the team plays this year because there is a whole new coaching staff and I

would like to see what I would be able to offer to the team," Michael Holloway

exclaimed.

Junior Caleb Logan is heading to Miami

with his family. He plans to visit the zoo

because that is his family’s tradition.

Sophomore Malique Henry would be

joining others students from Dekalb County in

Panama City Beach, Florida. He is mostly

excited because he and his best friend are

celebrating their 7th year friendship

anniversary while they are vacationing.

Teachers love spring break too. Mrs. Klein will be spending the week in

Washington, D.C. She plans to explore our nation’s capital, visit museums, and

watch the Braves play the Nationals.

Spring Break gives us all a taste of the summer. It will be hard to come

back to school and focus, but at least we will know there are only a few weeks

left.

Page 15: April RAMpage

NEWS

By Amber Gaines

Spring break is finally here and teens are heading to the beach to soak up

some sun and have lots of fun! For the break, teens usually go off to the beach

with friends or family and do fun activities like going to the movies or other things

like just hanging out at the beach.

Spring break is about enjoying

yourself and having a good time, but as

teenagers we don’t understand the

seriousness of the road and other dangers.

Traveling is common during the break

and some teens leave and never come

back. Teens have accidents every year

during spring break because of road trips,

car accidents, and improper seat belt

usage.

Spring break for teens is very exciting

but one mistake can ruin your life forever.

Think before you make decisions while

driving like texting, usage of drugs, and

anything that distracts you from the road.

Remember, you can have fun and enjoy yourself but safety comes first.

Also, the biggest safety tip is meeting new people when you visit a new city.

NEVER talk to strangers when you’re on the beach! Kidnappers and rapists are

also something to look out for while enjoying your break.

To get teens to do safe things during Spring break

make sure that a guardian is close by. Since the

weather is warm the swimming pools are open and

pool safety is a must for teens to know about. When

you are at a swimming pool anything can happen in

just a matter of seconds. Be careful when enter and

exiting a pool. Do not run around the pool and no

pushing.

Since it’s spring break, also avoid sun burns and

any sun irritations by simply applying sunscreen. This

should help many teens when driving and going to the

beach.

Enjoy yourself on spring break and remember to

have fun.

Page 16: April RAMpage

April Fool’s Day is observed throughout the Western world. This well known

day is sometimes called All Fools Day and it is one of the most light-hearted days

of the year. The French call April 1 Poisson d'Avril, or "April Fish." French children

sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying

"Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered. Practices include sending

someone on a "fool's errand," looking for things that don't exist; playing pranks;

and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things. The

image, left, is a ticket to "Washing the Lions" in London from

1857. This traditional April Fools prank is first recorded in

1698. The day is marked by the commission of good-

humored or otherwise funny jokes, hoaxes, and other

practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family

members, teachers, neighbors, work associates, etc. The

picture on the right is a prank that reads “Mother, you

know what! While you've been gone, the stork been here

with a little brother April Fools!!”

A new calendar was ordered in 1582 by Pope Gregory

XIII to replace the old Julian calendar. The new calendar

called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated January 1. That

year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted

New Year's Day to Jan. 1. According to a popular

explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not

learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other

people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's

errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the

practice spread throughout Europe.

Another explanation of the origins of April Fools' Day was provided by

Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the

practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters

and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running

the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for

one day.

Nevertheless, April Fool’s Day is still celebrated till this day in many parts of

the world. People create different types of pranks as jokes to use towards their

friends as well as others. People see it as a great day to have fun while others

see at a waste of time. It’s your take on it.

News

By Theresa Ogbu

Page 17: April RAMpage

FEATURES

Out of all of the seniors at Arabia Mountain High School, less than half can

say that they were here when the school opened in August of 2009. However,

those who started as freshmen at AMHS are known as the Arabia Mountain

Originals.

Some people may think that being called

that is just another title like “Ohh So” or

“Bombsquad”, however; being able to say that you

experienced everything that Arabia has thrown

your way is an accomplishment in and of itself.

If you ask those who were here since the

beginning, many would say that their 9th grade

was favorite year and not just because it was a

new school and no one knew anyone well enough

to have drama. On the contrary, many of the

students loved their first year best because of the

teachers.

Ms. Lee, Mr. Arguedas, Dr. Kirschner, Mrs.

Hugh, and Dr. Bobeck are the reason no other year

at Arabia Mountain is better than 9th grade. These

teachers made learning new things fun and were

there for their students no matter which day of the

week it was.

“Dr. Kirschner’s math class was my favorite

class 9th grade”, explains senior Ophelia Kent,

“because all of my friends were in that class and it

was the one year that I actually understood math.”

Dr. Kirschner was the type of math teacher

that would show you five different ways how to

solve a problem until you understood it. He was

patient with his students and helped everyone in

What was your

favorite year at Arabia

and why?

Ophelia Kent:

“10th grade because

that was the year that

I had the best grades,

also it was the most

fun and chill year to

date.”

Nala Ross:

“9th grade because

the teachers were

happy and they had

good teaching

techniques and

creative ways of

teaching new

material”

Jordan Boatwright:

“9th grade because

everything and

everyone was new

and it was a good

learning experience.”

Page 18: April RAMpage

FEATURES

class and held tutorial daily. He wanted everyone to succeed and understand

the concept of what he was teaching that unit.

There are also things that happened 9th grade year that only the Arabia

Mountain Originals would know. The first pep rally, the countless beetle and

snake infestations, knowing what was being served for lunch each day (Big

Daddy Pizza Monday and Hot Wing Thursday) , and even wearing boots during

the winter, 9th grade really had it all and the saddest part was watching it all

go, principles, teachers, custodians, and students included.

At the beginning of 10th grade year, many students were happy that they

get to see most of their teachers again but to their surprise, most of them were

gone. Only a few remained and they too eventually left, except for one.”

Mr. Rogers, who teaches Horticulture, is the only 9th grade teacher that is

still here, not to be confused with being the only teacher that has been here

since 2009. His two-time student, Brandon McLean, analyzes how it feels to still

have Ms. Rogers here. “I love his class,” he explains, “because half of the time

we were outside planting and also because since Mr. Rogers just graduated

from college a few months before becoming our teacher, he was able to relate

to us more.”

Compared to life now as a senior, the Arabia Mountain Originals have

more experience and have gone through more than the other students at

Arabia, and they wear that title with pride because it is an example that hard

work really does pay off in the long run. These four years have been a true

learning experience and have prepared them for their future endeavors.

Page 19: April RAMpage

FEATURES

By Mar’Kayla Bethea

Picture time! Ms. Hruska and her

date poses as they look forward to

the rest of their night of fun.

Prom 2013 is just around the corner, and just like we look forward to making

memories this year, our teachers made many memories at their proms.

Prom originated from the French word “promenade,” which means walk or

stroll where young ladies and young men come together in their best formal attire

similar to a cotillion style event. Prom was also considered a rite of passage to

adulthood as well as a great way to celebrate their

accomplishments they had achieved during school.

Prom for young women is a day to go all out and

look amazing. Literature teacher Mrs. Moore did just that!

Mrs. Moore laughs as she remembers her prom

experience: “I went to prom with my friend that was a

year older than me, and the place my prom was held

was absolutely beautiful!” Mrs. Moore had her prom in

Central Park located in New York. Her dress was royal blue

with ruffles around the collar, and she was completely

covered up from top to bottom. After prom, she and her

date went to the Playboy Club to dance the night away.

Math teacher, Ms. Hruska, is another teacher who

agreed prom was one of the best nights of her teenage

years. Her dress had a pink mermaid style look. She only

attended prom during her junior year, but afterwards is

where the fun began! “Prom was very nice and after

prom was over we had an all-night party like a lock in,”

she explains. At the lock-in, she had a chance to play

games with her date and classmates as well as being entertained by a hypnotist

who came to lighten up the event.

Prom is not only a chance for young ladies to show out, but young men can

dress to impress too. Engineering teacher, Coach Noble, attended prom during his

junior and senior years. During his senior year his date asked him out to prom. He

says, “When she asked me to prom, I said, ‘Let’s go dutch’ and when we got there

she wanted me to pay for everything!” At the end he felt cheated, but was able to

go through the night wearing a classy tux with a rose that matched his date’s white

and pink dress.

French teacher, Mr. Griffin, attended his senior prom and his girlfriend’s senior

prom the same year. “We just went out and had a good time” is how he

remembered the times he spent with his date on the night of both proms. After

prom him and his girlfriend went out to eat and enjoyed each other’s company for

the night.

Every teacher spent their prom night in different ways, but in the end they

added to their memory book! Prom is supposed to be one of your favorite nights of

your high school experience and this year let’s have fun and make prom a special

night and create memories as vivid as our AMHS teachers did.

Page 20: April RAMpage

FEATURES

Where do you think prom

originated?

Senior Tylesha Giddings

“Just a group of kids who

wanted an end of the

year party.”

Junior Miles Bizzle

“During the Romantic

Period.”

Junior Monique Boyd

“Romans.”

Junior Krista Williams

“England”

Freshman Dhara

Richardson

“Idk”

It’s the time of year again when girls have purchased

the dress of their dreams and guys have asked out the one

they adore. Prom is a formal dance, especially one held by a

class in high school or college at the end of a year. To many

students prom is the dance they have been waiting for since

the beginning of high school. Everyone knows about prom

rituals such as the corsage, the limo, and dinner, but many

don’t know the origins of where prom began.

Prom is short for promenade which means the march of

guests at the beginning of a ball or formal event. Proms

began in the Northeast America in the late 1800s because

higher class individuals decided to create a dance similar to

debutante balls to instill etiquette. A journal recording from a

male student at Amherst College in Massachusetts, United

States was one of the first recordings of where prom came

from.

In the early 1900s, proms were held in high school

gyms with upperclassmen wearing their Sunday best.

However, it was not acceptable for students to dance during

a prom until the 1920s.Beginning in the 1930s proms began to

be held nationwide. Teen movies in the 1980s began to

advertise them as the ultimate coming of age event.

Proms have evolved over the years from a few

students socializing in a gym to extravagant events held in

fancy hotels. Many traditions such as prom king and queen

along with the inclusion of juniors at prom have elevated the

event into a spectacular occasion for teens. Throughout the

years, teens have begun to change the purpose of prom and

made it into a time to watch the transition of others from

everyday attire to elegant wear. They have also seen it as a

chance to bond with their friends by sharing limos and hotel

rooms afterwards. It is important for our students to remember

that prom is the time to come together with classmates in a

formal way and have a great time.

By Diamond Coles

Page 21: April RAMpage

By Aiyana Parks

Lent is a very popular fast known to many Catholics as well as other

Christian denominations. The participants of Lent tend to give up a traditional

routine or something that is very important to their everyday life for 40 days from

Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent, until Easter. This is a

devotion yet very challenging experience for nearly all Christians.

Ms. Hruska, right, a teacher at Arabia Mountain, is a

Catholic. Catholics are the predominate religion that participates

in Lent; therefore, Ms. Hruska has been participating in Lent for

some time.

“I have given up something and replaced it with something

better for the past few years. This year I gave up soda and fast

food and donated those funds I would usually spend towards the

humane society” she says. She continues to explain that when you choose your

choice of fast you should do it in exchange into helping others.

“If you were to give up watching television, you should spend your quality

time volunteering or with a sibling,” says Mrs. Hruska.

A wonderful substitute teacher named Mrs. Henry is also fasting for Lent. “I

gave up my favorite foods and they all begin with C’s, chocolate cake, chips,

candy, and cookies. I knew that this would be extremely difficult since I am

addicted to chocolate” Mrs. Henry says. Like many others, Mrs. Henry is not the

only person who has an addiction.

Senior Kandlar Rhodes, left, who also celebrates

Lent, says, “I’m giving up soda because I made it a habit

to drink it a lot; this is helping me to become more spiritual

and healthy.” During this period, many people are very

aware to what they are giving up, according to Mrs.

Henry, “Even though we chose something small it is very

difficult, I’m very cautious to what I am giving up for 40

days because it is no comparison to what God has

sacrificed for me.”

Moreover, everyone does not always survive Lent! Senior

Maya Piquant shares how she has been extremely lazy throughout

senior year. Maya believed that Lent would be a great opportunity

for her to grow out of her laziness unfortunately it did not last long. “I

was giving up laziness at first; sadly I gave back in to it. I had a

feeling that it would be hard but not that hard” Maya says.

Many people fail to understand that the simplest habits can

be very tough to break or let go. Whether you’re doing it to lose

weight, become healthy, or even if it is more spiritually related, the process is not

as easy as it appears. However, once you complete Lent, there is no doubt that

it is a very rewarding feeling.

Features

Page 22: April RAMpage

FEATURES

By Diamond Coles

The Delta Debutantes: A Legacy of Refined

Elegance

During the Delta and Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Balls, held at

the Marriot Marque on March 16, many of our seniors were presented to society

as women.

On this very important Saturday evening, senior Danielle Richardson,

said she felt “like a princess” because of all the dolling up—getting to wear an

elegant Cinderella dress, along with make-up and a fancy up-do—the girls got

to do. At the beginning of the Delta Debutante program she recalls that

“nobody really talked” but towards the end of the program everyone was

talking to everyone. Richardson couldn’t believe the transformation of the

people that had walked into the same program as her. They had changed and

become “more like ladies and gentlemen,” she notes.

The Delta Debutante program spanned 10 months where they did

various activities that taught them how to dress in business professional attire

and dining etiquette. On the special night Richardson recalls her escort, senior

Jordan Scott, was in awe of her transformation. “This experience changed a

friendship into a relationship,” she explains. Richardson encourages juniors to get

involved in any of the debutantes next year because “it doesn’t matter which

debutante you are involved in because both have things to offer.” Looking

back on how amazing the

program was, Richardson says

she’s “going to miss it” when

they all say goodbye on April

28th after the final program. “I

can truly say this was something

that molded friendships and

created me into more of a

lady,” she shares. Along with

these amazing changes that

can take place there is also an

opportunity for students to

receive scholarships based on

certain requirements in each

program. “It’s Worth It”,

exclaimed Richardson.

Scott, Richardson’s

escort, says, “It was an excellent

experience. Being able to be a gentleman to not only my debutante, but to her

mother as well was life changing.”

Page 23: April RAMpage

FEATURES

Delta Debutante Aaliyah

Copeland and, her escort,

Danny Ezechukwu.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutantes: The Prevue of Celestial

Pearls

The hardworking practices were the

most exhilarating experiences during the process

for Scott. He will never forget learning dining

etiquette “because without this experience I

wouldn’t have known the differences in my forks.”

He will definitely miss participating in the various

activities because of all “the funny moments [and

being with] my deb.” Scott believes that this

experience is definitely one that other young men

should participate in.

Senior Miah Harris, a participant in

the Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball says that

“it [the debutante ball] was an amazing

experience and the process leading up to it was

most memorable.” Harris states, “from dance rehearsals to bonding with the

girls, I have truly begun to understand what sisterhood means.” From this

experience she declares that she will “remember to always be a lady.”

Senior Christina Williams, a supporter of her best friend Miah,

attended the Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball as a guest. She recalls that

“seeing everyone change from their regular mode to elegant, especially the

guys, took me away.” Williams was especially intrigued with “how well the

sororities created

organizations for

young ladies.”

Page 24: April RAMpage

FEATURES

Ijuana Zachary, Breeahna

Gresham, and Diamond

Walker strike a pose at the

Delta Ball.

Noelle

Hughley, a

lady in

waiting, is

excited to

be a

debutante

next

year.next

year.

She said the night allowed for all of

the young ladies to “carry themselves as women,”

in other words, it was a whole new side of the girls

she had never seen. Her favorite moment at the

ball was watching the escorts do the waltz with

the debutantes’ parents. During the presentation

of “Miss Debutante 2012,” Williams admired the

“carrying of a tradition.” She says “I wish I did it

[because] it was an experience that was

something different.” Williams definitely suggests

that young ladies participate in the life-changing

experience because she doesn’t want anyone to

regret not participating like she did.

Junior, Noelle Hughley is involved in

Ladies in The Waiting, a program

for rising seniors. “I always wanted

to participate in a cotillion,” she

explains. Her desires to be a part

of the Delta Debutante balls can

be attributed to her mother being a

Delta. The Ladies in The Waiting

participants were hostesses on the

special evening. In their program

they learned things such as how to

dress and eat formally. Although

the young ladies did not get to participate in as many things as

the debutantes, Hughley says, “We were opened to new things

and an unbreakable bond” was created. “I bet I will enjoy

myself even more when I become a debutante.” She suggests

rising juniors participate because it helps the process in build[ing]

you as a young lady.” Hughely was thankful for the journey that

she embarked on by being a Lady in The Waiting.

All of the debutantes were truly grateful to be a part

of the creation of sisterhoods. They also shared that they feel

these programs can help you to become a respectable person

along with the ability to create friendships that will last forever.

Page 25: April RAMpage

FEATURES

The dorm room is a place for college students to get decoration

inspiration. This is where you decorate your room to showcase your decorative

style and sense of taste. Decorating is especially fun for females because they

usually will use their own room, and decorate it as a home away from home. For

the males, they will compete for having the coolest dorm room.

The most important thing is to become cozy and comfortable. So where

do you start in creating you ideal room? First you have to know what to buy and

where to buy.

Theresa Ogbu said, “I would decorate my dorm by buying laundry

baskets, a shoe rack, a TV, coffee maker, colorful bedding, a bean bag, and a

printer.”

India Webb said “The things I need for using on campus is a microwave,

mini fridge, a bean bag, colorful fluffy rags, a bulletin board, posters, family

pictures, comforter, and a lava lamp.”

Philip Reeves, said “I would buy a bean bag, mini fridge, and a basketball

goal.”

Decorating is not the only thing you can do to transform your room. You

can keep it all plain or use bright colors to express yourself. Most teens want to

venture out and do things their own way.

Top 15 Things you will need for your dorm

1. Comforter

2. Bed Sheets

3. 2 pillows/ 2 blankets

4. Alarm clock

5. Beside Lamp

6. Side Chair 7. Waste Basket

8. Fan

9. Mini Fridge

10. Towels/ Rags 11. Iron/ ironing

board

12. Vacuum 13. Clothes Basket

14. Storage Baskets

15. Hangers

By Nikkiah Boyd

Page 26: April RAMpage

For more images, go

follow The RAMpage on

Instagram

@amhsrampage!

Page 27: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Over the course of 4 weeks from February to March, our senior basketball

star, Bakari "Mr. 15" Copeland participated in AJC's Slam Dunk contest 2013.

Bakari competed against several other talents Dunkers across the state of

Georgia, but he still finished in first place.

"I was excited that I was able to

participate in it, but even more excited that I

won", Bakari explained.

He had all his peers and family members

vote for him to make sure he won. Even though

he had over fifty percent of the votes in the

third round, he still made sure that more people

voted for him.

“Why be nervous for something that you

worked for?" asked Bakari. "I'm glad my talents are being noticed around the

state."

In the first round, Bakari did a windmill alley-oop off a pass thrown by

senior point guard, number 5, Morris Biglow. In the second round, he dunked a

reverse two-hand windmill. Then, in the third and final round, he completed a

between the legs dunk.

As the winner of the contest, Bakari received a trophy, and he appeared

on WSBTV. He's also on the AJC website. You can

click here to view it.

Since winning the AJC's slam dunk contest,

more colleges such as, Texas A&M, Charlestown

Southern, Clemson, La Salle, and Temple, have

offered him a full ride to their school.

However, Bakari "Mr. 15" Copeland has

committed to Charleston Southern University

located in Charleston, SC.

.

Page 28: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Ray Williams

By Kinoy Griffith

Arabia’s basketball and football teams are the sports with the most fans

and attention. However, the track team has had an excellent start to the season

even without fan support.

The track team has started strong this season with the support of their

parents and help from their coach, Cherrie Bohler. So far they

have had three meets that have gone exceptionally well.

Coach Bohler feels that although things are going well, the best

is still yet to come. Her plan for the upcoming meets is to give

the underclassmen a chance to shine.

With their next big meet scheduled for March 27th, 2013,

Coach Bohler says, “It’s going to be a pretty tough meet, but

this will help me to determine who is ready for the county

meet.” Overall, the track team’s main goal is to make it to state,

and Coach Bohler has good feeling about stating, “Yes, I’m

positive in us going to state.”

Coach Bohler ran track in high school and college and was named All-

American in both. Coach Bohler expressed her love and compassion for the

sport itself, as well as for her runners when she stated, “I love track! My love for

the sport is what pushed me to coach it. My goal for the children is to help them

to go to college on a full scholarship. I feel as though I did it, so why not help

them succeed like I did.”

She adds that running track helps students build

character and work ethic. “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll

coach for,” Coach Bohler says “but whenever I lose passion for

the sport, I think that will be my time to hang it up.”

The track team members share their coach’s enthusiasm

for the sport. Senior Ray Williams has been a member of the

Arabia Mountain track team since his sophomore year. While

most people think that you only have to have fast legs to run

track, Ray states, “It’s hard, because you have to work your

whole body, and you have to really focus, but I love it,

especially because I look good when I run.”

Sophomore Janesha Buckhanon, a shot-put thrower,

shared Ray’s point of view.

She says, “It’s hard work, but I like track. I throw shot-puts, and I would prefer that

than running because with shot-puts there are so many different techniques that

go into shot-put throwing.” Janesha is not completely sure if she will compete in

track next year. However, if she does, she would like to try running instead of

shot-put.

Coach Bohler

Page 29: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Senior Kanita Hutchinson had nothing but good things to say about the

season and her teammates. She feels this season will be even better than last

year. She explains, “The fact that our team is growing greatly is a sign that we’re

getting better. Another sign is the amount of talented individuals we have on

our team; many of them are running for state as well.” Kanita really loves track,

and is really going to miss both her coach and teammates when college time

comes.

With its great sportsmanship, hard-working runners, supportive parents,

and passionate coach, the Arabia Mountain track team is looking better than

ever before. It’s safe to say that Arabia can expect nothing but the best from

the Track team, and, with or without fan support; they will have an excellent

season.

Page 30: April RAMpage

SPORTS

High school is a place where

students develop themselves to enter

society as a fully independent young

adult. High school is a place where

memories are made. These memories

will stay with you throughout your entire

life, so why not make them great? No

one wants to remember their high

school years as being less than, they

should be the most enjoyable

experiences that a person will have, just

ask Arabia Mountain High School

Jewels Tylesha Giddings, Jazzmin

Minnitee and Shayla Hunter. These girls have formed a bond with each other

that they will carry with them one they leave AMHS Ram family and hopefully

their experiences with one another will urge the new team of girls to create their

own memories.

Senior, Tylesha Giddings, is co-captain of the Arabia Mountain High

School Jewel Dance Team. Her favorite memory with the team was when she

traveled with them to nationals in South

Carolina. She loved the experience because

she got to live with her teammates and she

got to bond with them more than ever before.

Tylesha shared her favorite performance was

senior night because she got to dance with

her mother as well as the mothers of the other

Jewels. When asked about what the team has

taught her she said, “the team has taught me

how to carry myself as a young lady, how to

speak to others and it has really helped my

leadership skills.” Her advice to future Jewels is

“stay positive, stay focused and really push

yourself because it’s not easy.”

Senior, Shayla Hunter, decided to try out for the Arabia Mountain High

School Jewels the summer before her freshmen year. She has been dancing on

the team ever since. As her final year of high school comes to an end, her last

chapter as a Jewel has closed and she is happy with her decision of trying out

Page 31: April RAMpage

SPORTS

that summer because it helped her grow as a

person and be able to form a sisterhood with her

fellow teammates. Shayla’s favorite memory with

her team is the Stephenson game during football

season because it was their “comeback” and

everything turned out in their favor during their

performances. Her advice to future Jewels is, “just

go out there and put your best foot forward. If you

don’t make the team the first time it does not mean

you are not a good dancer. You should tryout

again and again because it shows that you’re

putting in an effort.”

Senior, Jazzmin

Minnitee, decided to

try out for the team in

9th grade because

looking at the Jewels as AMHS cheerleader, she

wanted to be a part of the sisterhood they had.

Today, she’s proud of making that decision in 9th

grade because she has grown as a person and has

formed strong bonds with each of her teammates.

Jazzmin’s favorite memory of her years with the

Jewels was senior night because it was dedicated

to seniors and the Jewels got to dance with their

mothers while reflecting back on their season. Her

favorite performance was the team performing at

Jamboree her 10th grade year. They danced to

Pretty Girl Rock by Keri Hilson and the choreography was perfect for the song.

Her relationship with the team in her own words is, “very close, very family like

and extremely fun.”

These girls have created amazing memories and friendships that no one can

take away from them. The

memories they have together

and the times they have

represented Arabia Mountain

High School will never be

forgotten.

Page 32: April RAMpage

FEATURES

The Arabia Mountain Gymnasts are back with a vengeance to move up

in county rank and take state. Being number four in the county last year, they

are confident about their season. Two of the team’s strongest competitors are

Camille Cassar and Tonique Jones.

Camille A. Cassar

Junior

All Around

14 year Gymnast

Favorite Event: Floor

“I get to make my own routine and

showoff my skill outside of tumbling

including flexibility and power.”

Highest Tumbling Pass: Kick Double Full

“The season is going okay so far. It

always could be better and if we

work hard we can only get better.”

Tonique A. Jones

Senior

All Around

8 Year Gymnast

Favorite Event: Floor

“We get to show our own

individual styles and we get to

tumble which is my favorite part.”

Highest Tumbling Pass: Round Off

Back HandSpring Layout

“As a team, we are doing it! I am

confident we will continue to win.”

By Aaliyah Copeland

Page 33: April RAMpage

SPORTS

By Makia Jackson

Theresa Hope is a senior at Arabia Mountain high school. She has

been playing soccer since she was nine years old. Hope loves the sport and

playing this particular sport for the school as well. She’s been playing soccer

here at AMHS for the past three years and enjoys every minute of it.

The AMHS female soccer team is coached by Ms. Silverera and Coach

Seda. The season started February 15th with their first game. The current record is

18-1. Which is absolutely amazing right?

Theresa feels as if this is the best season she’s experienced so far at Arabia

Mountain High School. The team’s goal is to go to state and win. Then team

also hopes to obtain better relationships and continue to help each other grow.

Theresa Hope states that she feels like “we’re all like sisters with a very

close bond” she also says that she “loves how my team and I all share a close

bond that doesn’t exclude any members of the team”.

Page 34: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Over the years, Arabia Mountain High School has had its share of pep rallies.

This year was no different as we were introduced to our new principal, Mr.

Swanson, who had his own system of celebrating spirit. At the beginning of our

school year, Mr. Swanson informed students that spirit wear days were no longer

the last Friday of each month like we had been accustomed to ever since the

school opened. From now on, spirit wear days would only be held two Fridays

per semester. Only on the two selected Fridays will we be allowed to wear jeans,

a spirit wear t-shirt and take part in a scheduled pep rally at the end of the

school day.

My reaction to this new arrangement was a mixed one because on one

hand, we wear uniform the entire year with the exception of spirit day, so by

allotting us only 4 days out of the whole school year to let us wear jeans is not a

big deal. A good portion of the student body doesn’t even participate in spirit

day anyway. On the other hand, this new method disrupted the system we were

all used to and what some people looked forward to at the end of every month.

Regardless of what schedule we’re on, spirit is spirit! So, let’s rank our pep

rallies from the best to the less desirable of the 2012-2013 school year:

Our last pep rally was filled

with new additions such as The Queens of Step and

our very own Dance Troupe, Phusion Performing Arts

Company, who made their first appearance at our

talent show this school year. However a pep rally is

not a pep rally without our cheer leaders and our

band. Sorry guys.

By Atiya Williamson

Page 35: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Our second pep rally of the school year left something to be desired. I

mean if “Everybody Can’t Get up & Get Crunk” to do the Ram Buck

then what are we in the gym for? Honestly. I mean even the teachers

looked bored in this one!

Well our runner up was almost as good as the first! There is nothing like

the first pep rally of the school year to get everyone excited for the

upcoming football season. It gives everyone a chance to bond and

this pep rally was one to remember.

I have two words to describe the best pep rally of our school year,

“DUNK CONTEST.” As the players of the basketball team were

recognized for a great season, they had a little treat for us as they all

prepared to rock the house. Bakari Copeland, “Mr.BounceAlot” ,

himself graced us with a dunk that made the crowd go wild and left

us with a memory of a pep rally we won’t forget.

Page 36: April RAMpage

SPORTS

Jackie Robinson Day is on April 15. It is celebrated

around the nation.

Jack “Jackie” Roosevelt Robinson was born on January

31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Jackie Robinson broke the color

barrier by being the first African-American to play in baseball's

major leagues. Jackie is the youngest of five children. He was

raised in poverty by a single mother.

He attended John Muir High School and Pasadena

Junior College. Jackie pursued the remainder of his

educational career at the University of California in Los

Angeles. Jackie became the university's first student to win

varsity letters in four sports. Due to financial hardship, Jackie

was told to leave UCLA very close to graduation in 1941. He moved to Honolulu,

Hawaii and played football but it was cut short because the United States

entered into World War II.

For all of Jackie’s accomplishments April 15 was dedicated to him.

Zachary Lowe, baseball player at Arabia, said,” The whole league recognizes

Jackie by wearing 42, it’s a sign of respect and I think it means a lot because I

am an up and coming black baseball player”. This day means a lot to many

baseball fans, and it will continue to be celebrated throughout the nation.

By Philip Reeves

Page 37: April RAMpage

There are many things that should be done on the day of prom before it

even starts, from getting all of your things ready, to making sure you’re not

missing anything, and to dressing up for the occasion.

Girls generally like to spend the entire day together at a friend's home.

They need plenty of time for things like dressing up, make up, hair styling, and

other little things that need their attention. It is fun to be together and do it in a

group.

Boys may prefer to hang out together for some time without much worry

about dressing up and may like to dress at their own home and without much

fuss. Lots of people also take pictures with their families before heading off to

prom. Some may even go out to dinner before heading to the venue.

This year before prom, my best friend and I will get our nails and make-up

done together as well as get ready together just to make sure everything looks

right. We may even go to the spa or on a shopping spree. We don’t know what

else we may come up with to do before prom.

Senior, Alexia McIntosh says “I will be getting my nails done a day before

prom, my hair done in the afternoon, and my makeup done before prom. I will

also be going out to eat dinner before prom.” It’s good to space out the things

you need to be done so as to not get stranded on the day of prom because

you are doing so many things at a time. Take care of the things that aren’t likely

to ruin after just a day, such as nails, eyebrows, and lashes.

Senior, Taylor Howard, right, says “I will be getting my hair done a

week before prom and re-style on the day of prom. I will also get my

nails done the day before prom.” If you’re deciding to where an extra

length of hair for prom it’s very okay to put it in the week before

because it saves you plenty of time and it won’t be as sore like the day

it was put in.

Senior, Ophelia Kent, left, says “I will be getting my eyebrows

and nails done the day before prom and on the day of prom I will get

my hair done in the afternoon. Meanwhile, on the day of prom, I will

get all the stuff I need together early in the morning.” It’s safe to

prepare your things in the morning that you need for prom

that way you have enough time to find out if something is

missing.

Junior, Gregory Phillips, right, says “Before prom I will

get my hair cut and become mentally prepared to arrive at the

occasion. I will also have to make sure my suit is tailored days before

prom as well as purchase a corsage for my date. Gas will also be

bought for the vehicle we plan on going in and reservations for a

hotel and dinner will also need to be made.” Preparing yourself

ahead of time will ensure that you don’t forget anything important.

Opinions

By Theresa Ogbu

Page 38: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

By Teresa Hope and India Webb

Will you go to prom with me?

Everyone wants the big ask. Prom is not

complete without your dress, shoes,

limo, friends, and date.

When you think of prom, people

automatically think of, you and a

person walking in together making

each other look good. Dates are a

great addition to your prom

experience.

Now, I’m not saying that without

a prom date you wont have fun, im just

stating that a date will add to your

enjoyment and memories.

Dates add to the image of the

perfect night. Someone to walk with,

down the senior walk. The person that

will be by your side the whole night,

adding to your gown or tux.

Senior Miah Harris says the best

part of having a prom date is that you

“don’t have to be alone, and also have

someone to have in pictures”.

Others feel that having a prom

date is nagging, because they will

always be with you, which is not true.

Having a date to introduce to friends or

walk and talk with is memorable and

humorous. Not many get the chance to

have such an experience, or pictures to

cherish later on in life.

So if you have a prom date, rock

it out the whole night, and if not don’t

worry or be hesitant you can enjoy the

night with your friends.

Are you ready for prom? Do you

have a date?

Some people feel that they

have to get a date in order to go to

prom and have a good time.

However, there are some

disadvantages with having and not

having a date for prom. Alexcia

McIntosh stated, “A con about having

a date is agreeing on the color.”

Christina Williams said, “The cons

are that he can’t be shorter than you,

and he also has to have table

manners.” Having table manners is

very important; no one wants to be

embarrassed at a restaurant because

of their date.

Senior William Jett said, “A con

of having a prom date is that you can

ask too late.” Time is very valuable

when it comes to prom. You can’t wait

until the last minute because waiting

brings about a lot of consequences.

They may already have a date, they

may not be going, or they may be

going with friends instead.

If you go to prom with a date,

be prepared to agree with them on

everything that you do. You have to

get along with that person because

more than likely you will be spending

the whole night with them. It’s going to

be hard to spend the night with

someone you barely even talk to.

When picking a prom date, you

have to choose wisely.

Page 39: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Prom 2013 is slowly approaching, and girls are all trying to find the perfect dress

that is trendy, unique, and fabulous. Prom is a classy event and this year’s strict

dress code ensures no one will look trashy. Therefore, prom dresses should be

lady-like and not too revealing. Look over the following styles to find out what’s

HOT and what’s NOT!

HOT or NOT

Prom Dresses By Taliyah Knight

Dress 1: NOT, pattern too

busy

Dress 2: NOT, the jewels add

sassiness but it is not a good fit.

Dress 3: NOT, too busy doesn't look

classy

Dress 4: NOT, too many

patterns

Page 40: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Dress 5: HOT, have a lot of jewels but

looks lady like

Dress 6: HOT, simply but short and

funky at the same time

Dress 7: HOT simple but pretty

Dress 8: NOT, dress is HOT but not

school appropriate

Dress 9: NOT, the colors and the

purple cape make it look tacky

Dress 10: HOT, nice color and style

Page 41: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

It’s the end of the school year and since prom is the last thing to attend

before graduation or a juniors upcoming senior year, why not look your absolute

best? Ladies and gentlemen will come to the prom in expensive attire, but what

cost the most out of your prom outfit? Students pay hundreds of dollars on shoes

for one day. Students shouldn’t worry about shoes as much as they should with

their prom dresses.

Many students felt that prom shoes weren’t that important because the

dress is more important. Which one would you rather

spend your money on, shoes or your prom attire?

Senior student Tahira Scott said “I would rather

spend more money on my dress, hair and makeup

than my shoes it is only for one night.” She made a

good point about her outlook on what is more

important when buying prom attires.

This doesn’t just apply to females, males

also should budget their money. An anonymous

senior male stated, “From a male’s perspective,

no I do not think you should spend a large

amount of money on your shoes for that one

night, personally, I feel as though you should

always have a nice pair of dress shoes as a part of

your shoe game.”

Dressing your prom attire in fine jewelry will also

draw less attention away from your shoes. Remember not

to go over your spending limit. Just because your shoes

aren’t expensive doesn’t mean cheap ones are ugly!

By Amber Gaines

Page 42: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

“Clean your room. Do the dishes. Don’t back talk me. You still live under

my roof; therefore you will abide by my rules. Blah, blah, blah…”

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard these phrases or variations of them, but I am

absolutely sure that no one has heard them as much as I have. Don’t get me

wrong I adore my mom but some days aren’t—how do you say—the best. The

constant arguments and the feeling that I am being treated like a child with

adult obligations are tiresome for both of us. I really would like to know why or

how these moments can be avoided so, I’ve decided we need some space

and I mean space; the kind of space where you go off to learn 300,000

thousand miles away. I figure if I’m off learning and bettering myself, I will learn

to tolerate random acts of absurdity from my mom with ease.

I’m ready to leave because my mom and I are like two peas in a pod.

Basically we are so much alike that it gets scary. Our closeness in personality has

caused our arguments to be rather loud and confrontational because we both

aren’t afraid of how long it will take to get our points across. Plus, we refuse to

resign from winning each argument. So the way we usually get out of a situation

is by going on mute and parting into our separate rooms. I know I’m no therapist

but, that’s pretty unhealthy.

Who hasn’t heard the famous parental

lines “because I said so” or “I know best”? If you

haven’t heard one of those I have no clue how

you could have parents. Let’s be real they

figure they are always right in every situation

because they remember the days of being a

teenager and always thinking they were right,

but come on you have got to be kidding me.

No one, absolutely no one is always right 100

percent of the time.

I remember this one disagreement we had that was about my curfew. I

had always been a great student and an obedient child who always did what

was asked so when my mother decided my curfew was 10 P.M. I completely

was lost for words. I went to her with a full presentation of why she was wrong

and she still stood on her initial statement. We almost argued for two whole

hours before we came to the conclusion that we had to compromise. And as I

have gotten older my mother and I have realized that this is the only way that

we will ever get passed an argument.

I know as a teenager it is hard to allow your parents to be right, but

sometimes it’s your only option. Other solutions would involve gathering all of

your arguments and their possible retorts so that you can go in prepared. Also

you have to realize that every argument can be avoided by making it a

conversation rather than a yell fest. I have learned by personal experience that

the best way is to keep a calm tone and know that all arguments can be

avoided with a clear mind!

By Diamond Coles

Page 43: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

By Jordan Barron

I, Jordan Barron, a high school Junior had to take the graduation test, and I

think it is a very pointless test. It is a waste of 90 minutes. I don’t think that the

decision on whether or not you walk across the stage should be based on one

test when you have taken and passed multiple test during the past four years of

your high school life.

Graduation should be based off whether or not you have passed all of

your classes. A student has obviously learned every thing they need to know

once they have passed all of their classes.

The test was not hard, but it was not worth the time. It was a waste of

paper, time, and pencil lead. The EOCT is enough; a graduation test just adds

on to the stress of the school work and the

stress of making sure you pass the class. I

thought the EOCT was brought about in

exchange for taking out the graduation test,

so why would they still make us take the EOCT

again in May?

The graduation test as a whole is

uncalled for. It is unnecessary test that juniors

are forced to take. Many people pass, but

there are some that do not. It is unfair for them

to continue to sit through a test that they did

not pass the first time. I am not blaming the

teachers for not preparing them, but I am

simply saying that if they did not know the

information after two and a half years of

preparing, then they just do not know it and

they won’t be able to pass or graduate.

Georgia should take its pick: Graduation

Test or EOCT? They essentially have the same

value and propose the same concepts. Giving

students both is not fair.

Page 44: April RAMpage

OPINION

Senior Skip Day is a tradition in most American high schools, where most of

the senior class skips school on a particular day after the high school graduation

test. This day is typically around the second week of March.

Some schools have taken actions to prevent students from skipping school

on the infamous Skip Day, including dispatching police officers to bring the Skip

Day students back to school. Unfortunate for public schools in America, this day

causes loss of school funding, for funding is tied to school attendance. In most

cases; schools have suspended or expelled kids who have participated in this

event.

After recent Free Pancake day, administration started sending students

with unexcused absences to Saturday school, which runs from 8 a.m. until noon.

Each senior class has overcome numerous obstacles to reach the level of

education they are currently in, yet some feel holiday breaks are not enough

time away from school.

"It's a free day! Most of your friends are out of school relaxing. It is a well

needed day off," said an AMHS senior.

"Skipping is fun because it's something organized and there are no adults,"

another senior adds.

Even though schools don’t encourage such behavior, senior skip days are

inevitable to happen as to senior pranks and prom. As a part of the student

body we feel it is an experience that comes with high school.

Nevertheless teachers have their opinion on infamous senior ditch day.

“Senior skip day is in every school, and forever will be. But I think since Dekalb

has been on a stringent budget cut, and they are responsible for the well being

of all students,” stated by an AMHS teacher.

In addition to that being said, I feel as if the school system is focused on

the safety of the kids. There are other reasons for wanting kids to come to school

but the main concern is the responsibility that lies on the school system. When a

child is put on the bus, or dropped off at the school.

Moreover, teenagers will be teenagers, and we have a mind of our own.

The average teenager lives by their own rules and pays attention to little rules

set by adults. Yet I am included in this category of teens, I am for skip day

because I think it is a part of high school traditions.

By Sean Thomas

Page 45: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

By Kinoy Griffith

In life, we have many moments. Some are big, some small, and some are

more significant than others. But despite the many moments we have, it’s the

really big ones that we look forward to the most, and that we can’t seem to

forget. There are our first days of school, first steps, weddings, proms; there’s

even the day we move out of our parents’ houses to start a life of our

very own. However, while all of those things are special, there is one

thing that stands out in all students’ minds, specifically high school

seniors. That one thing is graduation, and for Arabia Mountain High

School’s class of 2013, that special date is May 25th, 2013.

For some it’s the feeling of being overwhelmed with

their parents’ rules. For others it’s the anxiety of being on

their own and being independent enough to start a career

of their very own. And some just hate the school they

attend all together. For me it’s a little bit of all of those

things put together.

Although we love our parents, most of us tend to want to

move out because we’ve been around them for too long, and

been under their rules for quite some time as well. Breeahna

Gresham agreed when she stated “Yes, I’m ready to graduate,

because I feel that I need to be free and independent, and besides

I’m spending too much time around my mother.”

Ty-Tiana Goode, who shared similar opinions with Breeahna, stated, “I

think the main reason for my readiness to graduate is so that I can start a career

and make some money of my own.”

While there are some reasons for being ready to graduate, that don’t

pertain to school, there are also some that do pertain to school. Some people

just hate the school they attend altogether, while others have specific reasons

like the uniforms, the people, and even the work. Shanteria Maddox, who had

strong feelings about the subject, stated “Am I ready to graduate from Arabia?

YES!! I HATE THIS SCHOOL!! Between the work and the people, I don’t know

which one is worse.”

When attending Arabia Mountain High School, you have your work cut

out for you as far as academics go. They told us there would

be a lot of work when we first started coming here, and we

were all up for the challenge. But as we moved through

high school, going from 9th grade to 12th, the workload

increased tremendously, leaving us with up to 6 hours of

homework each night.

Just like the workload, the social life at Arabia

Mountain High changed over the years as well. When in 9th

Page 46: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

grade, everyone is new and you make a lot of friends, as you transition from 9th

to 10th to 11th grade, people become more and more fake, leaving you with

very few real friends in 12th grade.

Despite all of the negativity of high school, there are a few good things

that come out of it as well. Miah Watkins states “Yes, I’m ready to graduate, I

feel that I’ve came a long way, and I’m ready to see how I function on my own.

And while I hate the work load and most of the people, there are a few friends

that I will truly miss, as well as some teachers.”

For some, there are people within the graduating class, who they’ve

known almost their whole life; best friends, while some have been in either

serious or off and on relationships with others. Some students will miss faculty and

staff members who they have grown to like or even love as they look at them

like an additional guardian or support figure.

Whether it’s a best friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, teacher, or guidance

counselor, it’s going to be hard to say good-bye nonetheless. Throughout all of

the struggles and stress, trials and tribulations, anyone graduating should be

applauded greatly. Graduation, while being a special moment in our lives and

something to celebrate, is also something more – the end of one journey and

the beginning of the next!

Page 47: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

High school is almost over, and the emotions are already starting to kick

in. Seniors are ready for their final days of high school. They are starting to feel

anxious, prepared, satisfied, and pleased all over because of all the education

they have earned through their four years. It’s very tough to move on from

everything you’ve grown used to like not paying bills, living with your parents

and mostly your teenage freedom.

Students of Arabia Mountain are ready to leave high school and enter

college life. Fatoumata Sacko explains, “I am beyond ready to leave high

school behind and enter the college world. New adventures, new experiences,

new people, and all that.” She feels as if she has been in high school far too long

and it’s finally her time to leave and experience new things. She sees as if this is

her time to show people what she is really made of and “spread her wings” out

unto the world.

Tahira Scott says, “Arabia has been a struggle and I honestly feel like the

time to go has finally arrived. Graduation and the final days of school is always a

very beautiful moment.” She is ready to leave high school because it has been

stressful but also successful. She thinks college will be a new challenge for her to

take, which would make her stronger and wiser in the near future.

Students also feel a lot more open to the choices they’re making during

these last days of high school. Kayla Else states she feels that her choices are still

a work in progress but they are the right ones in her heart in order to become

successful in life after leaving her teenage life. She says, “I feel that I’m not

making the best decisions but I know that I see I’m trying to think before I do and

make the best decisions possible.” She explains, “I feel nervous and kind of

excited to enter the real world and meet new people and new faces”

These four years were very interesting experience for me, but finally I’ve

made it to my senior year successfully. I am ready for my last days of high school

to be over and start off my college journey to learn and experience new things.

I am ready to leave the nest, spread my wings and fly for the first time out into

this world.

By Taneishia Watson-Parks

Page 48: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Pros and Cons of picking friends

as roommates:

Pro – you’ll have the

comfort of a familiar face

in a new environment

Con – it could be difficult

to let go of your high

school ways

Pro – you share a

common interest

Con – Having a lot in

common doesn’t always

mean you’ll be great

roommates. Hygiene,

number of visitors, and

hook – ups.

Seniors are about to graduate and go off

to college. After being accepted into college

and choosing if they want to go there or not,

they have to pick their roommates. A problem

that most seniors are having is choosing the right

roommates. Here are some tips:

I recommend using a website to find

roommates that match your preference. You

can use websites or social networks to let people

around you know that you are looking for a

college roommate. Make sure you put what you

look for in a roommate.

Having a new or random roommate can be

interesting. It’s always nice to meet new people.

By Javon Robair

Page 49: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Don’t let the stress of college push you

apart. Communicate! Communicate!

Communicate!

Maintaining a healthy relationship in high school can sometimes

become difficult, but maintaining one in college can be stressful. Being miles

away and being in different states can be hard for students in a relationship.

Maintaining a relationship in college is the test of relationships. With trust,

communication, faith, visitations, and never giving up, everything will be okay.

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of

someone. Trust is hard to earn, but very easy to lose. But if you have trust in your

relationship, and in your boyfriend/girlfriend then things will go smoothly. If you

spend time worrying about what your significant other is doing at all times, then

you will stress yourself. You must trust

and believe, what’s a relationship with

no trust?

Communication is important in

any relationship. Of course you’re not

going to be able to talk all day, every

day like in high school because college

is a lot more work. But communicate as

often as possible. You have to check

up on each other, and let the person

know that you’re thinking about them.

Communicate! Communicate!

Communicate! It is the key to a

relationship.

Some students may be going

far away from their boyfriend/girlfriend

but make time out to see each other

often. But the feeling of being missed is

great! Knowing that you are missed is

awesome. Seeing each other can save

your relationship.

Don’t give up on your relationship. Never leave the one you love, for

the one you like. The one you love has probably been there through thick and

thin. Don’t change while in college, remain the same. Don’t stop doing the

things you did to keep your boyfriend/girlfriend. Don’t give up!

Maintaining a relationship in college is 100% possible. I believe that all

couples can make it through college if they try, trust, believe, communicate,

and never give up. Always keep God first! I know I will keep my relationship

going in college!

By Chelsea Cobb

Page 50: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

When I hear about the month of April the only thing I can think about is Spring

break! Spring break usually falls during the first week in April, but this year the break will

be the second week following the dates of April 8-12. I think spring break is actually a

break from school, life, and the people you see so often. A week from it all is practically

nothing and doesn’t give you time to decompress, relax, recuperate and prepare

yourself for a good academic return when you come back to school. Every year the

ideas of spring break get more exciting and fun. Individuals tend to go all out for the

break, but as soon as it’s time to come back to our routine schedules of school we

don’t want to come back leaving many students out on our first day back. Sad to say, I

am one of those students that hate to come back after a relaxed week. Personally

spring break should be extended to give students with a difficult schedule time to visit

college campuses, explore, and enhance themselves into the various colleges and

universities that they would aspire to attend. If students were allowed a longer break

most students will still complain, but will be ready to come back well rested and thrilled

to tell the exciting or boring details of their break. Longer spring break in my opinion is a

desired want and change that should be made for students. Even though DeKalb

County will not make this change anytime soon I feel like it’s a good idea to benefit

both students and teachers.

For the three years I have been at Arabia, I have heard students complain about

the rigor of the work, how their teacher doesn’t teach, or they just don’t like being at

Arabia Mountain High School. Besides the point of not liking the school you attend,

make it fun for yourself because obviously you’re going to be graduating from here,

which is what I always tell myself. To most students, school work may not be a struggle

but to some it is because there is no guidance at home with helping improve their

education. So why doesn’t Arabia Mountain High School start a mentoring program?

The purpose of this mentoring program would be to help motivate and improve

the educational experience at Arabia Mountain for all students that want to seek help.

Within the mentoring program teachers will offer support to push the students, give

encouragement, and give students a more comfortable environment. Students may

ask their self how this is different from tutorial, but unlike tutorial this program would be

set up to help students have that adult figure in their life to guide and speak with them

on different things, for example making life goals and future educational goals.

Students will get the most benefit out of this program because the teacher is

taking time out of their life to help the student grow with their education and grow as a

person. Teachers may say it’s more work, but a teacher should understand that if they

can help one student improve then they can surely help more. I know students at

Arabia may act like they don’t care, but to most parents their child’s education means

the most to them so starting this program can show students the importance of wanting

an education and what it takes to get that education.

Improving the students’ attitudes will help improve the school.

By Mar’Kayla Bethea

By Tiffany Daniels

Page 51: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Out of all of the other albums out right now, The Truth About Love by singer and song-writer, P!nk,

is the only one dominating every chart across the world. The 20 track album sends her fan on a

roller coaster ride of different emotions from happy to sad to I am going to party like no one is

watching and demonstrates P!nk’s true talent and why she is a world class performer. Her first single,

“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, much like her other song, “So What” from her last album Funhouse, is a

national anthem about being free from a relationship and leaving that person who hurt you or just

someone who is no longer a positive influence in your life and you feel like you do not need them

anymore. The song debuted at number 1 on the Australian Singles Chart and peaked at the

number 5 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in the United States.

Her next two singles, “Try” and “Just Give Me A Reason” featuring Nate Ruess from Grammy

award-winning group Fun, have made their way to the top ten of many charts worldwide. These

songs both convey the same message of giving love another try instead of just giving up because

you both know you are right for each other even when everyone else says the complete opposite. I

put these songs on every one of my playlists because they speak to me in ways most songs would

not and I believe if a song has the power of emphasizing the artist’s emotion, it deserves to be

played over and over again.

While I am on the subject of playing a song over and over, my favorite song of her new album

has to be “Run”. When I first heard this song, I automatically knew what it was about and who it was

intended for. P!nk is not only an amazing performer, but she is also a devoted mother. Instead of

leaving her daughter with a nanny all day and night while she parties or does publicity stunts, she

never goes more than a few miles without her daughter, Willow Sage, by her side. Almost two now,

young Willow has definitely changes P!nk’s life for the good. Her music now has a lighter, happier

tone than her previous albums and she shows no sign of slowing down.

By Briana Brown

Page 52: April RAMpage

By: Nikkiah Boyd

Going to college has been your life goal since you were able to go

to school. Going through elementary school, they teach you about

following directions, listening skills, and introducing the meaning of

education. Once you master that level, you move on to middle

school, where they teach you the intermediate skills, like discipline,

having to control yourself when peer pressure comes your way. Time

management, involves getting to class on time,

or being mindful of using your time wisely, also

introducing organizational skills. Now you’ve

completed junior high, more as a head start to

becoming mature. High school is the last stage

before becoming an

adult, providing for

yourself. High school

teaches the advance levels of the skills you

already obtained from elementary school. More

skills are added, all just to prepare you for the

real world. Now you are being introduced to

having good studying habits and routines,

which will pay off in the long run with great benefits at the end.

Speech or speaking skills prepares you for speaking or presenting

intelligently and fluently in front of large groups of people. While in

high school you will become a legal age to work, which leads to the

next skill, work ethics which teaches you to balance school work and

having a job making money. These skills are always being improved

throughout life, and adding more each day.

OPINION

Page 53: April RAMpage

College is finally here. This is the moment to

apply all your life skills to survive on your own.

Even though you are an adult now,

proficiency is still being taught and learned.

Once you master the basic, Intermediate,

and advance skills, the masters are becoming

a challenge. Now it’s to learn about

leadership skills. Leadership skills are to

challenge your inner self and own thinking, and setting a goal of

graduating college, never giving up, staying focus and setting a

positive example for people following your footsteps. People skills are

also a major test. Your personality and your character is everything.

When you have a good attitude towards everything and include it in

everything you do, attracts people to you. Good communication is

key, which can open doors for you.

Discipline is also required in the

teaching process. Once you’re on

your own, obstacles are going to

stand in your way testing your

strengths and abilities. You have to

discipline yourself, not to react to

negative energy and make the right

decisions because if you don’t you will

get thrown off your life course. Staying

focus and applying these skills and

strategies to your everyday life will help you become successful in

college.

Page 54: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

Peter Gene Hernandez, more commonly known as Bruno Mars, has made a remarkable impact

on the music industry in the past few years. Born on October 8, 1985, the 27-year-old has had major

successes since he became prominent in 2009. After years of working behind the scenes writing,

producing, and providing back-up vocals for artists like Brandy, Flo Rida, Travie McCoy, Far East

Movement, and Justin Bieber, Bruno finally began to emerge as a solo artist with the release of his

first single, “Just the Way You Are”, in 2010.

Today, Bruno Mars is busy promoting his sophomore album, called Unorthodox Jukebox. It was

released on December 11, 2012, and has definitely given Bruno a few more things to add to his

résumé. The album attained Platinum certification by the RIAA and reached the top of the

Billboard charts. While promoting the album, Bruno joined the short list of celebrities given the

honor of being the host and performer on Saturday Night Live. His appearance on SNL was the

highest rated show of the season at the time. He also performed on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion

Show in December and headlined a show at the Houston Rodeo in March, playing to a record

crowd of 75,175 people.

Bruno has about 16 million followers on Twitter and over 31 million likes on Facebook, and as one

of these fans – no, HOOLIGANS – I must admit: I’m pretty darn proud of Bruno and his successes. If

his first album, Doo-Wops and Hooligans, wasn’t enough to show the world how talented he is,

Unorthodox Jukebox has definitely done it.

Money Make Her Smile

Bruno Mars does hip-

hop?!?! When I first heard this

song, I was shocked about

how different it is to Bruno

Mars’ other songs. I honestly

think this song would appeal

to many students at Arabia

Mountain because its strong

hip hop influence and good

beat make it a difficult song

to stay still to.

By Karri Thomas

My Favorite Songs

Treasure

Remember “Just the

Way You Are”? Imagine it

in a 1960s style and you’ve

got “Treasure”. This is

another song that is almost

impossible not to dance to,

and what girl doesn’t like a

song that makes them feel

like treasure?

When I Was Your Man

Fellas, take note: don’t

neglect your girl because

you’ll feel like Bruno in this

song. This extremely personal

“I really regret messing our

relationship up” ballad made

me cry the first time I heard

it. So far, the single has had

more than 1 million

purchases and has reached

#3 on the Billboard Top 100.

Page 55: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

By Aaliyah Copeland

We’ve had Stro, Phil, and R.D, and now Arabia has a new up and coming

rapper, Yung Cvse. Senior, Casey Neal, came out with his debut mixtape Cold

Hot Wings and Lemonade on March 22, 2013. Following the release of his first

single “All Gold Everything” and its follow up “3am in the Studio,” CHWxL was

highly anticipated.

I had the opportunity to listen to two songs featured on the mixtape in

addition to the two already released. “My Time” is the introduction to the

mixtape beginning with quotes from the Pursuit of Happyness. It was a confident

song establishing Neal’s place against Stro, Phil, and OhhSo.

“City Lights” was a song that impressed me. It defended Neal’s writing

skills against all those who doubted him.

One of my favorite lines was, “Find a new

career cause your rapping is terrible;

feasting on your career cause your

rapping is edible.”

Once the mixtape was released,

listeners raved over “Lemonade Freestyle.”

It was crowned the best track featured

due to its lyrical content and beat.

Neal is proud of his work, explaining,

“I feel like my mixtape was a success. In

the first week I got over 400 views and 50

downloads.”

Those stats are pretty good for an

unknown high school rapper. Cold Hot

Wings and Lemonade is absolutely something everyone should listen to. If you

need a pick me up or just a good laugh, this mixtape will do the job. I am very

proud of Casey and wish his mixtape much success.

On March 27, Neal released “Young Fly,” the first single off his

sophomore mixtape, No New Friends, which will be released on May 15.

To hear Neal’s music for yourself, visit

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/cvse-cold-hot-wingz-x-lemonade-

mixtape.79617.html.

Page 56: April RAMpage

OPINIONS

El Dia de los Niños

Day of the Child

El Dia de los Libros Day of Books

By Noely Escorza

In my opinion some holidays are meant to be celebrated in one’s own

countries. Not used to make money or celebrated because they like the things

that go with it. Some holidays are important and sacred to one’s own culture.

Those should be kept within in the culture. Other holidays aren’t as sacred and

important and could actual do good to other countries.

El Dia de los Niños in Hispanic countries is celebrated on April 30th to honor kids.

Just like America has Mother’s and Father’s Day, we honor children. In the

Hispanic culture we feel as if it is important for our children to know that we

cherish them and that they are very important to our lives.

On this day kids receive toys, cake, and all type of different goodies. It’s a

second Christmas all over again. Kids in Mexico can’t wait for that day to come

to feel special once again and of course to receive presents and sweets.

What if we could use El Dia De Los Niños as a way for kids all over the world to

not only make kids feel special but also to encourage them to learn. That’s

exactly what, Pat Mora, a Texas Native and author of children books did. She

was encouraged by the Dia de los Niños and decided to change it to Dia de los

Libros, which in English means Day of the Books.

She decided to not only promote wellness in children but to also promote

literacy, honoring bilingual homes, and different cultures. Even though it is not

celebrated in every school in the United States I believe it should. Kids would be

excited not just about Christmas but also about another day in which they can

be excited about learning different cultures and languages and reading new

books.

If the United States is going to adopt a holiday from another culture it might as

well be one that will benefit everyone.

Page 57: April RAMpage

Ask a RAM

Hey Rampage, So I just got out of a relationship, how long do you think I should wait to dive back into another one?

Jumping into a new relationship might not be the best idea, for it is not healthy to rush things. Plus you probably haven’t gotten over the last guy or girl you were dating. The best decision is to wait a couple of months to get your thoughts together, and get to know the new person. It also depends on how long you were in the relationship. The time span is different for every person; your heart will tell you when you are ready for a new commitment. If you’re ready go ahead, and keep it moving; don’t dwell in your past. Moreover, it is totally up to you.

Hey rampage I have one question… How do

I let an ex know that I’m trying to have a

relationship with her again?

Depending on the impact she has had in your life, leave that ex alone, she is an “X” for a reason. If you think otherwise you should be honest and straight forward with her. Let her know you miss her, and that you want to be with her again. You might also want to reassure her that your relationship will be better than last time. Subtly act the way you did when you first approached her. If she is dating someone, it is best not to tell her because her feelings may not be mutual. If she is still single, tell her how you feel. You shouldn’t come off to aggressive, take it slow just tell her in a calm and respectable fashion. If she agrees to another shot give it time and start off as friends to rebuild the bond that was established. If it is meant to be, things will fall back into place.

Page 58: April RAMpage

Why does everyone cheat?

In this generation, you have a lot of relationships ending because he or she is not mature enough to commit to only one person. They’re still in the mind set of playing “the game” which hurts a lot of people at the end. Everybody does not cheat, but people shouldn’t take that into consideration and just jump into a relationship blinded. It’s very good for people to have second thoughts about a person they want to be with until they actually prove them self that they wouldn’t put you through that. People have different reason on cheating on their current spouse. Some cheat because they are not ready to settle down and commit to only one person. They feel as if they can get everybody in the world and still keep that one person by their side. It doesn’t work that way in life. You can’t be greedy and go from person to person and thinking you is doing something big. If you are going to cheat one your girlfriend/boyfriend then why did you get with that person in the first place? That’s not fair and also self-centered. Why would you put someone you claim as your girlfriend/boyfriend through that much pain and heartache?

I really like this guy, but he's a senior. How do I talk to him and maybe

let him know I like him?

You should be brief, and try and do it in a sly manner because no boy likes to be put on the spot with any female in front of his friends. When approaching the person you like it may give you butterflies and the scary part rejection. Don’t start off by saying that you like them. Start off with a conversation, maybe in the hallway, it can be random. He won’t mind. Consequently it is not a good idea; they are about to graduate and not looking for a relationship. If you feel it is a must to introduce yourself go ahead, yet again, graduation is a couple of months away. In most cases our seniors are going off to college. There is always someone in your grade that you can make a long term relationship with. It’s not hard to tell someone that you like them. Just say it. The scary part is getting rejected. Don’t start off by saying that you like them. Start off with a conversation, maybe in the hallway, it can be random. He won’t mind.

Page 59: April RAMpage

Why does the nice guy never get “The Girl?”

Nice guys are hard to connect with because young girls are still in the process of growing up and they still want someone who has a bad side to them that would take risks. Some girls don’t want soft guys because they feel like they are not man enough for them and wouldn’t be there for them the way they would want them to. Girls also don’t like some nice guys because they are some that are very clingy and girls don’t want a guy all over them and following their every move. Girls like their space as well as boys. If you are someone who claims they are in love with their boyfriend/girlfriend but still goes behind their back and cheats on them then you don’t really love that person and you should just leave them before you make it worst then it already is. I feel that if you cheat on your spouse then you really don’t mean what you say to that person and you shouldn’t even be in a serious relationship. Your words are like air to people who you have cheated on and they won’t ever trust you unless you work hard to earn their trust back. TOUGH LUCK KID!

Do you have a question for the RAMpage? Go to http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/arabiamtnhs/newspaper.html to submit your question!

Page 60: April RAMpage