As a girl living on the plateau, I have often heard that our af-fluent surroundings are why students in this area excel in their studies. While I am infinite-

ly grateful for my fortunate circum-stances, I also believe that with the right attitude,

external factors cannot bar a person from achieving success.

This philosophy is largely a re-sult of my own personal experi-ences, as I grew up in Queens, by no means an affluent neighbor-hood situated in New York City. I have no recollection of growing up with the resources that the Issaquah School District provides me with today; my teachers wrote on blackboards in chalk and our school library was a tiny room near the entrance of the school. What I do remember, and what I find most important still today, is the sense of work ethic

and a love for learning that my mother instilled in me from a very young age.

I didn’t have a computer at home, so I went to the library with her every weekend. While she worked, I spent hours reading, taking advantage of the fact that this knowledge was free and available to all whom wished to receive it.

When my family’s circumstances became better, we moved to Is-saquah, where I started second grade in a much different environ-ment. But although I was provided with better resources, my academic success still stemmed from one thing: the can-do attitude I devel-oped during my time in New York.

“Work hard and you will suc-ceed” is the age-old saying that young children are taught to live by as soon as they start school. But is it really true?

It is and it isn’t. Society’s idea of success is rigid. We are taught to go to school, take hard courses, challenge ourselves, get a job and persevere through life’s inevitable obstacles. After high school, we are expected to go to a four-year college and establish a career path right away. We are told that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you push yourself to the limit.

For some, the pressure be-comes a burden that is hard to

bear. The truth is, not everybody starts at the same place, and not everybody has to put in the same amount of effort to achieve his or her goals. We are not taught that how much you have and where you come from matters. Whether we like it or not, the system is not entirely equal.

In this day and age, higher education isn’t cheap. The price of college is high and climb-ing. Without college, it becomes incredibly difficult to get a job and live a comfortable lifestyle. When people lack resources, they view success as something that is almost impossible to attain. It is a vicious cycle, and that is the reason that the system remains unequal.

Society does not tell us that success is not the same for ev-eryone, and that it cannot be so easily defined.

4 Movie: ‘The Hunger Games’

Suzanne Collins’ first novel in the three-book series debuted on the silver screen March 23, star-ring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. The movie takes place in a futuristic North America, where society is divided into 12 districts governed by the Capitol, a sadistic government that annually forces two teens from each district to fight to the death in the Hun-ger Games. The film brews with romance, action and the struggle of Katniss as she is faced with a brutal decision: kill or be killed.

4 Book: ‘When the de la Cruz Family Danced’ By Donna Miscolta Donna Miscolta’s debut, “When the de la Cruz Family Danced,” spans several decades and experi-ences as Johnny de la Cruz faces the consequences of one impetu-ous encounter from years past. He is confronted by the now-grown son of his ex-lover and the already tumultuous relationship between him, his wife and three daughters is strained as Winston Piña installs himself among the de la Cruzes. The concept of family, the trials of a man caught between two worlds and the delicate subtleties of love are brought into question in Miscolta’s story. This is a lazy day, feel-good book.

4 Music: ‘California 37’ By Train

Train has been an established part of music culture since 1998 and has further solidified its popularity in recent years with hits like “Marry You” and “Hey, Soul Sister.” Having a fan base that stretches across gen-erations has allowed Train to outlast the scores of bands and artists that have succumbed to the rapidly changing music scene. On April 17, the band releases its sixth album, “California 37.” Singles, including “Drive By,” have been released and are on the top 10 charts.

TheHot List

Eastside Catholic High School

“I like to sit down and watch the games with my family. We eat pizza and cheer on our favorite team, Carolina!”

Mercedes Thompson,senior

“My dad’s a Kentucky alum! Go Wildcats!”

Macie Hudson,junior

Issaquah High School

“I love part to take part in competitive brackets with my friends. It is just fun to watch all the games and be part of the excitement.”

Jude Tunyi,junior

“I watch all the games with my friends, and root for the underdog!”

Lacey Westman, junior

Liberty High School

“Instead of going mad watching bas-ketball, I ride my pony!”

Lilia Haberman,sophomore

“I like to watch people stressing over their brackets.”

Luke Duschl,senior

Skyline High School

“I make a bracket with all of the 64 teams! March Madness is the one time of year where I get to pretend to be interested in college bas-ketball (haha), but the environ-ment and all of the debates about it make it super fun!”

Eric Thies,senior

“I enter a big bracket with all my family and friends. It gets really competi-tive!”

Molly Mounsey,sophomore

TALK TO USEmail story ideas to

editor@isspress.com. Like The Beat on Facebook. Follow @

issaquahbeat on Twitter.

By Kim BussingIssaquah High School

HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED WITH MARCH MADNESS?

Teen TalkO

When it comes to entre-preneurship, Reid Malmquist is king.

Before the tender age of 17, Malmquist has launched more busi-nesses than most people do in a life-time — and he’s been successful. Malmquist does an array of things that include website design, programming and photography.

Malmquist’s first venture was Voomo, a social networking site. A friend and Malmquist developed the site and then realized they didn’t have the capacity to truly get it to where they wanted it. They sold it for more than $500.

Malmquist also created a company called XBOX BOOST, a business that worked to repair Xboxes and Xbox parts. That project raked in more than $1,000.

Malmquist is currently pursu-ing one of his passions — pho-tography. He developed Studio Illuminate and his aspirations are to “develop it into a profes-sional photography studio in order to be able to take wedding pictures and senior portraits on the side.” His portfolio already includes both of those types of pictures.

The budding entrepreneur has other programming dreams that have been put on the back burner. He maintains a very mature and inspiring attitude as he explains his motives.

“I want to develop every idea I have and try my very best to see success, not as money but to know I changed the world and had an impact,” he said.

Liberty High School senior Tessa Smith, like many other high school students, is too busy to get a job.

But she still found a way to make money — by starting and running her own hair tie business, Tessa Ties, out of her own house, with the help of her mother.

The idea for Smith’s busi-ness came about after Derek Andrews in Bellevue, a popular place for girls and women to buy elastic hair ribbons, closed.

“I thought, ‘Well, where is everyone going to get their hair ties now?’” Smith said. “Then my mom and I had the idea to just start making them and sell-ing them ourselves.”

From there, the business took off, and Smith sells to individuals and local businesses regularly.

“They look like little ribbons in your hair,” Smith said. “They’re just great for anything.”

Although success has been found, there can always be more. Smith’s future plans for the business are to “start a web-site, gain momentum and get more stores to buy hair ties.”

Running a business is also rewarding for Smith in ways unrelated to profits. She said that it is fun and a great way to relieve stress.

Look for Tessa Ties on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Ties-TTs/250872858317148?ref=ts.

Skyline High School junior Karan Sunil has taken his artis-tic inclinations to a new level.

Karan is the owner of Emer-ald Crown Cus-tom Footwear, which produc-es personalized shoes from either preset or specially made designs.

“I have always liked to draw,” Karan said, “but I wanted to try a unique, new medium. I also like to collect cool shoes so I decided to com-bine the two.”

His first pair of custom shoes were Seattle-themed with the Space Needle. As more students became interested in purchas-ing his footwear, Karan decided to take the next step.

“My favorite part of running a business is the freedom of being my own boss,” he said.

In summer, he paints as many as eight pairs of shoes per month; that drops to one or two during the school year. The challenge for Karan is meeting deadlines and finding new customers.

“I don’t personally like to do the advertising, so I hire friends to promote my shoes,” he said Karan.

Karan said his favorite part of the entire process is when “a pair of shoes turns out just right.”

A recent pair of Nike Dunks had Michael Jordan dunking a basketball on the side. Karan does all types of designs and shoe brands. He said he hopes to grow his business through-out his time in high school.

Eastside Catholic High School senior Connor Creswell goes above and beyond the requirements of community service to help those in need.

Connor first got involved working with Treehouse, a local organiza-tion for foster kids, when he was in the eighth grade. While volunteering, Connor noticed that very few shoes were being donated.

“I knew that I had to do something to fix this problem,” Connor said.

He took the initiative by creating his own charity, called Cool Kicks, which collects new and gently used footwear for foster kids in the Seattle area. Since he began the charity, more than 20 local organiza-tions have collaborated with Cool Kicks.

“Schools, churches and stores have approached me because they heard about the cause and want to become involved,” Con-nor said.

All of his hard work and organization has paid off — Cool Kicks has had numer-ous successful fundraisers, has been featured on the TV show “Evening Magazine” and has collected more than 2,000 pairs of shoes for foster children.

Although he’s only 18, Con-nor is business savvy and com-passionate for those in need, and it has helped him create a charity that is worthwhile.

Iman BaghaiIssaquah

High School

Students get inventiveReid Malmquist is the king of ventures

Hannah GrandineLiberty High

School

Tessa Smith starts hairy idea

— Tessa Ties

Sampurna BasuSkyline High

School

Karan Sunil makes custom

footwear

Katie SutherlandEastside Catholic

High School

Connor Creswell collects

cool kicks

OpiniOnO

Wednesday, March 28, 2012Page B6

ON THE WEBHow do you commit the perfect prank for April Fools’ Day? Find Jacob Brunette’s answer and

Michael Matthews’ article about how to score a great internship at www.issaquahpress.com/

category/the-beat.

beautiful morning

The sun rising at Harriman Park peeks through the clouds.

By Lauren Bruns

phOTO Of The MOnThO

Olivia SpokoinySkyline High

School

Can all work hard and succeed?

The Issaquah Press section by teens, for teens, about teens

External factors can’t bar success

Lee XieSkyline High

School

SPONSORThanks to the Rotary Club of

Issaquah, which sponsored this page. The club invites you to a lunch meeting

on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. at Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. N.W. Learn more about the club at www.

issaquahrotary.org.

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