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AMHS's student newspaper - the holiday edition
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Inside this issue:
Basketball is Back
Lessons Learned from the
Football Season
College Acceptances
How to Apply for College
Driving While Distracted
D-Lunch Disaster
Murals Raise School Spirit
The Best Christmas
Movies, Songs, and Gifts
And much more
NEWS
Letter From The Editor ……………………………………2
Happy Holidays from the News Section ……………..3
Preparing for finals………………………………………...4
College Application Process……………………………5
College Commitment……………………………………6
Winter Concert…………………………………………….7
Murals………………………………………………………..8
Judge Adams ……………………………………………..9
Band Competition in North Carolina………………….10
Veterans Parade………………………………………….12
Activities over break……………………………………..13
SPORTS
Happy Holidays from the Sports Section …………….14
Football Wrap-up…………………………………………15
Basketball Season Begins………………………………..16
Lady Rams Heat Up………………………………………17
Cheerleaders Turn Up……………………………………18
Games To Watch on Christmas Day …………………19
FEATURES
Happy Holidays from the Features Section …………21
College Acceptances…………………………………...22
Are You Driving Distracted………………………………23
Safe Driving…………………………………………………25
Christmas Around the World …………………………...26
What Do Our Principals Want for Christmas? ……….27
Gift Guide…………………………………………………..29
OPINIONS
Happy Holidays from the Features Section …………31
The Football Season………………………………………32
Building School Spirit………………………………………33
D Lunch Disaster……………………………………………34
Feelings about graduation………………………………35
Best Christmas movies……………………………………36
Favorite Christmas Music…………………………………37
Album Reviews…………………………………………….38
Ask A Ram………………………………………………….41
Letter from the Editor
Happy Holidays!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I hope you all had great
Thanksgiving and enjoyed the Homecoming edition of the RAMpage over
your much needed break. As the fall semester comes to a close, the most
important part of the year is approaching: Final Exams. In this edition, you
will find helpful study tips and different ways to prepare for finals. We all
know how stressful this time of year is, especially for those trying to move
their B’s to A’s and C’s to B’s and even more importantly, 69.4’s to C’s. In
the midst of trying to get grades together, I’m sure some students are
been stressing over what to get their parents, siblings, and special
someone’s Christmas gifts. There’s no need for that, though, because the
RAMpage has you covered! We have activities and gift guides for the
upcoming winter break within the pages of this issue.
I hope you enjoy the December issue of your student news magazine! If
you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email us at
Stay encouraged, stressed free and remember: ITS NOT HOW YOU START, ITS HOW
YOU FINISH!
SINCERELY,
Aaliyah Copeland
Our Favorite Christmas
Traditions
AMHS RamPage News
Writers
Mar’Kayla Bethea
Every year, my family and I take time out to pick out
new ornaments for the Christmas tree. We go out to
Wal-Mart and choose a theme color for the year to
decorate with. We also put the Christmas tree together
as we watch Charlie Brown Christmas videos.
Makia Jackson
Every Christmas morning, my entire family on my
mom’s side comes together for a Christmas
brunch. We laugh, converse, and just enjoy each
other’s company. Since I was born this has been
my family’s Christmas tradition.
Aiyana Parks
The night before Christmas, my family and I all pick one
gift from under the tree to open. We also bake many
different types of cookies and sit them out to leave for
“Santa”. This is my one of my favorite Christmas
traditions because although I’m older now it makes me
feel like I’m a kid again!
Karri Thomas
One of the things I look forward to most
during the Christmas season is decorating
our Christmas tree. Every year, my dad
and I go to our local flower shop to cut a
tree. As soon as we get home, my mom
and I work on decorating the tree. The
Christmas spirit is in full swing around my
house once our tree is up!
Taliyah Knight
As a young child, I always looked
forward to leaving out cookies
and milk for Santa. My cousins and
I would prepare enough
chocolate chip cookies for Santa
and his elves. When we would
wake up in the morning, there
would only be crumbs left.
Noely Escorza
On Christmas morning, we all go to my aunt’s house and
eat a delicious breakafast. My aunt always has ponche, a
Mexican punch with guava and sugar cane. Once we
are done eating we all gather around the Christmas tree
and open all the presents. Throughout the day we watch
movies and we call my grandparents and the rest of my
family in Mexico.
Chelsea Cobb
Every year around Thanksgiving to get in the Christmas spirit, my family and I decorate our house. My dad puts lights all
around the house, wreaths on the windows, candles in the windows, and garland around the fire place. We also put three
Christmas trees up. A real one in the dining room decorated with white lights and beautiful ornaments, an artificial one in
the living room decorated with colored lights, and handmade ornaments that me, my brother, and niece made and a little
purple princess tree in my room. Decorating our house gets me in the spirit, and creates a bond for my family each year.
As the semester approaches an end students should began to prepare for upcoming
final exams. Students at Arabia Mountain should be aware that finals take place December
19th -21st. There are absolutely no retakes for these exams, and waiting until the last minute to
start your preparation is not the best strategy.
Senior Brandon Jones advises all students to study “fifteen minutes a day.” By taking
the time out to study for fifteen minutes a day you are storing your mind with information
without overcrowding the mind.
Senior Theresa Ogbu thinks that “anytime of leisure should be used to study.” She
suggests students to create outlines of the main concepts portrayed in the subject. She
strongly encourages students to Get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy breakfast on
the morning of the exam.
British Literature teacher Mrs. Andrews advises all students to “study each subject every
day for thirty minutes by reviewing notes, returned assignments and Edmodo assignments”.
She also encourages students to do something fun on the weekends to relieve stress along
with getting the proper rest.
When it comes to studying I think students should start early and small. You should
begin your review several days before the exam to give yourself enough time to cover each
subject in depth. The point of reviewing for final exams is to see what concepts you
understand as well as the ones you don’t.
If you need a quiet place to study, on Monday and Tuesday, December 17th-18th, the
DeKalb public library will be providing a meeting spot for Arabia mountain students between
4-8 p.m.
If you’re feeling stressed about finals, keep in mind that when you’re done, you have
two weeks off of school.
By Aiyana Parks
December is a crucial time for most seniors; many seniors
should have or be applying to college online or through
mail-in application. This will help seniors be knowledgeable
of the cost and location of their college.
It is extremely important for seniors to know the
college application process. First, seniors should keep
track of application deadlines. Each college or University
has an early decision, regular and late. Missed deadlines
should not be the reason a student is denied to his or her school of choice. To avoid this,
seniors should either mark it on their calendar or join a college guide website such as
www.collegeboard.com. Steven Smith has applied early to Johnson and Whales College
and was accepted. Steven says, “I applied early but this is not my first choice, I just wanted
to have a second choice for my back up career.” Paige Felton has started the college
application process but has not finished. Paige exclaimed, “I
have not finished because I have been busy taking the SAT,
ACT and getting recommendations.”
In addition, students should be adding the final additions on
their essays. Ms. Wesley says, “Seniors should be writing their
essays over holiday breaks since seniors don’t have to worry
about completing homework.” Brandon Wray has not begun
the application process but says “I would like to go to college; I
am just very busy with work and will have more time over the
break.”
Meeting with your teachers and counselors frequently is also
a good strategy, since your college application requests recommendations from them. It is
necessary to inform your recommenders a week prior before filling out a recommendation.
Next, seniors should check their high school transcript for accuracy. Ms. Wesley says
“students should inform their counselors when they need there transcripts since some are
now completed online; however there are student transcript request forms in the office.” Ms.
Wesley mentions “If seniors haven’t taken the SAT or ACT you should do so immediately
because this is crunch time.”
Finally, seniors keep up those grades. This is your last year and it is great to continue
doing your best and performing well in your classes. Both colleges and universities pay close
attention to how well you perform during your last year. It is important that you keep your
grade point average up and finish off great!
(L-R) Brandon Wray, Paige Felton,
and Steven Smith
Ms. Wesley
Bakari “Mr. 15” Copeland
Seniors, Bakari “Mr. 15” Copeland and Danny Ezechukwu, have already committed to
a college. Bakari has committed to USC Upstate, located in Spartanburg, SC, on a
basketball scholarship, and Danny committed to Purdue University, located in West
Lafayette, IN, on a football scholarship.
Bakari received offers from other colleges such as, Georgia
State, Alabama A&M, Clemson,
Kennesaw State, Savannah State, and
many more. Bakari chose to commit to
USC Upstate becaue, as he explains, “I
really love everything about the school.
The campus is nice and it’s a great and
live environment for basketball.” He also
feels that they have a great plan for him
and they know how to exactly use him
when he gets there. USC Upstate also has
his major, which is Engineering or Sports
Medicine. Check out Bakari on ESPN Insider: ESPN: Bakari Copeland
Danny Ezechukwu has received offers from different colleges
such as, Iowa State, Troy, Little Tennessee, Air Force Academy, Furman,
and a lot more. Danny said, “I can’t list all the colleges that offered me
cause it’s too many.” “Purdue University has an “attractive” campus,
good football team, and good competition”, said Danny has he
explained why he committed there. Purdue University also has Danny’s
major, which is Mechanical
Engineering, and his minor, English.
Check out Danny on ESPN Insider:
ESPN Insider: Danny Ezechukwu
Danny Ezechukwu
Danny Ezechukwu
From the melodic sounds of “Silent Night” to the funky rhythm of “Jingle
Bell Rock,” the band room is filled with many holiday tunes in preparation for an
upcoming showcase. The Arabia Mountain Arts Department will be holding their
annual winter concert on December 13.
According to the band director, Mr. Johnson, the concert is an essential
part of winter tradition. “Our concert is an important ritual in celebrating the
holidays,” he says, “Everyone should have the opportunity to view arts in their
entirety.” The concert is also a chance for students to come out to support their
peers that are involved with the arts. “Having an audience filled with more than
just the participants’ parents -- with friends and community members – brings a
sense of camaraderie to the school.”
Participants in the concert are eager to showcase
what they have been working on. Symphonic Band
member and music appreciation student, Courtney
Bennett, pictured at left, is looking forward to many
things about the concert. “The concert gets
everyone in a holiday spirit,” she says, “I can’t wait
to play the Nutcracker Suite, which is just a mixture
of all well-known songs from The Nutcracker, and I
think everybody will recognize the songs and have a
great time.”
Bennett won’t have to wait long; the concert will be held on December
13 AT 6:30 PM. The concert will feature music as performed by the Inspirational
Choir, the AMHS Symphonic Band, Mr. Johnson’s Music Appreciation classes,
and displays of artwork by the Art Club.
By Karri Thomas
Murals are created to brighten
up the walls and gym floors in high schools.
They bring out school spirit in students as
well.
Since 2009 the walls at Arabia
Mountain High School have been very plain
and boring! The walls and lockers are the
same color. This year over the summer, the
graduating class of 2012 left behind a mural
in the middle of the gym floor, which made
students very excited.
As students walk down the
hallways, there has been a guy painting
murals on the wall between C and D hall.
Everyday there has been a new piece
added.
Painter Tony said, “What
makes me happiest is when I hear students
say, ‘Dang that piece wasn’t here when I was up here 10 minutes ago’ it
makes me feel like I’m doing something good.”
When we came back from
Thanksgiving break, there was a Ram painted
on the wall.
Senior Kaalyah McIntosh said, “As
I was walking down the hallway, it scared me.”
It took Tony four days over the
Thanksgiving Break to create the Ram. Tony
says, “In order to create murals, you have to
know the structure of anatomy.”
Students are very excited to
finally get murals in the school.
“The murals make the hallways
look less boring and plain,” says Sophomore
Zariyah Williamson.
Murals have a huge impact on
student life at Arabia Mountain. Students are
more excited now that the murals have been
here.
By Chelsea Cobb
Arabia Mountain hosted an assembly during school on November 7, 2012 featuring Judge
Gregory Adams. Students in the top 30% of the sophomore, junior, and senior classes were invited
to attend. The assembly was held in the theater, and each student was honored to be invited to
such an event. Ms. Graham, an attorney and president of the PTSA, opened for the event by
introducing Judge Adams and his great accomplishments.
Judge Adams earned a bachelor’s degree while attending
Georgia State University in the area of criminal justice and a law
degree in The University of Georgia School of Law. Even though he was
the Chief Judge for DeKalb County’s Juvenile Court for ten years he has
been recognized for his work by being the first African American judge
in DeKalb County to have a building named in his honor and a
displayed portrait in DeKalb’s Juvenile Court. Judge Adams currently
retains his position on the Georgia Commission and Advisory Board at
the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
Judge Gregory Adams was far from being nervous in front of
the AMHS crowd since this was his second time speaking as a special
visitor. “You guys are very respectful,” exclaimed Judge Adams, “And
the reason why I came back is because this is the best school in DeKalb
County!”
Not only did he come back to acknowledge our school, but he also put in some great
words in order for those group of students invited to continue on the right path within Arabia.
“Plant a seed in your brain to not have activity in my court room,” was the opening to his
message as the students began to open their minds. His message
was centered on the idea of
choices and how he grew up to
learn that it’s okay to be “a firm
believer in choices.”
Judge Adams
explained to the students that
the choices you make when you
become a certain age should
be taken seriously because one
bad choice can mess up your
life.
He connected his
message to how he was always
asked what schools he attended that made him make the choice of being successful. “You don’t
have to go to a private school to be successful,” he clarifies, “it’s up to you to take your resources,
your background, and make them into success.”
Judge Adams broke down the process of making a bad choice by law revealing that you
are tried as an adult in court if you are seventeen years old and is only given two strikes before you
are put in jail or prison.
By the end of the message, Judge Adams took the time out to answer questions by
sophomores Keith Strozier and Denisha Reed, followed by seniors Brandon Wray and Siata Carter.
All four students exceeded expectations with the questions they asked and received great
responses from the Judge himself.
How did your peers view the assembly?
By Mar’Kayla Bethea
“The assembly was very
motivating and I learned
a lot from the Judge that
I didn’t already know
about the law.”
-Ayanna Kosoko, Senior
“The assembly
convinced me to do
the right things
because in the future I
don’t want to make
careless mistakes and
choices that could
mess up my life.”
-Corey Hunter,
Senior
Students, grades 10th
-12th
, gather together making Arabia proud as they listen
and engage in the assembly
Judge Gregory Adams
The GREEN, the WHITE, the
WHITE, the GREEN. The AMHS FUNK
MACHINE showed up and showed
out in Charlotte!
The AMHS band is no stranger
to the National High Stepping
Marching Band competition since
they had also performed the
previous year. They had more to
prove this year, and they prepared
by doing overtime at practice. Each
section of the band worked hard as the time for their competition came closer
and closer.
They were able to compete in a small competition once they arrived in
North Carolina along with the Saturday’s National competition that included 21
of the best high stepping marching bands in the nation. The band took off early
that Friday participating in the
competition festivities that
lasted through the weekend.
On November 9, Toxic
drum line and the Jewels dance
team participated in the small
competition placing 3rd for drum
line and 1st for dance line.
The National competition
included four divisions with AMHS in their third division to perform. During the
performance there were various judges and photographers on the field to
capture the moments before the final judging.
As the results came in, the band came out on top winning several awards
including 1st for flag line, 2nd
for dance line, 2nd for
marching, 3rd for percussion
section, and gained 3rd
place overall for their
division.
Since the band did
exceptionally well during
Saturday’s competition they
were able to make it into
the final round consisting of
the top 12 schools.
By Mar’Kayla Bethea
It’s Election Day! : The Emeralds Flag Corps shows support to
Toxic and the Jewels for the competition wearing American
themed colors to get the judges to vote for the best
Seniors, (L-R) Terry Davis, Nala Ross, and Malik Barton
after performing phenomenally on the field.
On that Sunday,
the band performed
first for the finals round
and brought home
another 2nd place
trophy in the overall
dance line category.
Mr. Johnson has
been a band director
for Arabia Mountain for
four years now and has
turned the most
talented students into
better musicians. As a
director he did his best to make newcomers like Terrance Madden, a freshman
who plays the symbols, anticipate on the new things in store for next year’s
Nationals competition.
Both Brandon Long, a junior who plays the mellophone, and Xavier
Edwards, a sophomore who plays the trumpet, have a few years of band under
their belts and enjoyed themselves during
the weekend of the competition. “We
have improved so much from last year!
This year was a great experience and I
think we have left a legacy for the next
set of band members,” says Xavier.
Senior trumpet player Courtney
Clark and along with the rest of the senior
class band members were expected to
set an example for the underclassmen.
“The trip was great and we did extremely
well,” says Courtney, “It was a great way
to remember my senior year of band!”
For the United States, Veterans Day falls on
November 11. It is the anniversary of the
signing of the armistice between Germany
and the Allied Nations in 1918, which ended
World War I and was signed on the 11th hour
of the 11th day of the 11th month. On this day,
we honor and thank those who are currently
serving, have served, and have died while on
duty.
On November 10, 2012, Lithonia, Georgia
held its very first Veterans Day Parade.
Arabia Mountain’s Air Force JROTC, led
by Chief Stafford and Major Baker, was able to
be a part of the parade.
Chief Stafford explained that the best
part of the parade was “seeing the Arabia
Mountain JROTC of course!”
More than 40 cadets came out to be a
part of a very important and historical event for
the community of Lithonia. The community of
Lithonia came together to honor those who are
serving, have served and who are buried in
Lithonia’s cemetery.
The Parade began with cadets from
different schools and Veterans marching from
Lithonia Middle School to the Lithonia
cemetery. It was followed by a ceremony,
where the mayor of Lithonia spoke a few
words to all the veterans. The ceremony had a
very special guest, Chris Tucker, who shared a
few words thanking all Veterans.
The Lithonia community and those who were
involved in the parade will never forget such a
memorable and historical event.
Lithonia’s First Veterans Day Parade
By Noely Escorza
WINTER BREAK
FUN By Taliyah Knight
Have you started your countdown to winter break?
Winter break is around the corner. The fun begins December
21st.
What do you plan on doing over the break?
Sophomore Bryce Folson says he is going to Florida. While he’s
in Florida, he plans to go to Universal Studios, watch fireworks, and
spend time with family.
Victoria Brown, another sophomore plans to have a boring
break by sleeping, eating, and shopping.
Who wants to have a boring break? To avoid having a boring
break, many should go to the local affordable attractions or give
back to the community!
Ice Skating $10
Centennial Park
Snow Mountain $30
Stone Mountain
Falcons vs. Eagles
PTSA Night
Georgia Dome
Hosea Feed the Hungry
Toys for Tots
Lake Lanier
Senior Brandon Jones’s favorite moment of the year was the basketball game against
Paideia where the Arabia Mountain Rams got their first win of the season. He played his best
game of basketball that game this season with 10 points, 3 steals, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Senior Briana Brown’s favorite sports moment was the homecoming game during the
football season. That was the game she saw Arabia show the most school spirit with the sea
of black seniors in their hoodies. She knew that this was a moment that she will cherish for the
rest of her high school years.
Senior track star Devante Rochelle’s favorite sports moment was during the Paideia
High school vs. Arabia Mountain game during DeKalb Thanksgiving break. He mentions that
it was his favorite game because “I had a great time, our boy’s team won their first
basketball game of the season, and Bakari Copeland and Morris Biglow had a spectacular
Alley-Hoop that stunted the crowd.” He plans on also attending many more games and
supporting Arabia Mountain Rams.
Senior Bryson Jones’s favorite moment of the year was when he started against the
Tucker Tigers in his first season as an Arabia Mountain Football Player. It was so special
because Tucker was such a great team and it was only his first year. Although they lost that
game it was still a monumental moment that will forever be remembered.
Senior Brian Woods’s favorite sports moment of the year was during the football Senior
Night game: “It was the most fun I’d ever had at an Arabia Mountain event because all the
kids came to support and parents were there too. I didn’t really watch the game, but more
so the drumline, whom ‘turned up’ against Southwest DeKalb High School.” He hopes to
have many more games like that next year and during the basketball season.
The Rampage Sports Section picks their
Top Moments of the Year Story by the Rampage Sports Section
(Left to right) Gregory Philips and Kayton
Samuel. Philips is getting letters of interest from
Florida State University, Vanderbilt, University of
Florida and University of Georgia. Samuels is
getting interest letters from Auburn University,
University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and
University of North Carolina.
Michael Holloway is getting
letters of interest from
Middle East Tennessee,
University of Tennessee,
Western Carolina, and
Southern University. He
plans on committing to a
college in February on
“National Football Signing
Day.”
By Devante
Rochelle
Our Arabia Mountain Rams football team put up some great fights and battles this
year and has shown much improvement through the football
season. Sadly their season came to an end too soon.
Our Rams ended their season with a two win streak against
Dunwoody High School and Lakeside High School. The team record
this year was 4-6(W-L).
Even though that is not the record for what the team and
school hoped for, it was an improvement from the last three seasons
from our old record of 3-7(W-L).
“It’s been a tough season and a lot of games we should have
won. We should have played better and more as a family
orientated football team,” says team captain Michael Holloway.
The team’s season has been very close battles back to back
every week.
Junior Gregory Philips states that “Our season was a pretty
good one, but I wish we had played much better and more as a
team. We had the talent and the passes that we missed and
mistakes that we made as a team could have been the plays that
would have won the games for us, and also could have made us go
to playoffs for the first time.”
Junior Kayton Samuel also agreed with his teammate Gregory
Philips and said that “I feel like our season was pretty good, but we
should have been more serious, because it was playing through the
season when we should have been serious, and practiced harder and played more
together. Our team will do good next year in my opinion, because our seniors have set the
tone for us juniors and future players to work better as a team and become the best football
team in the state.”
“The Rams fans’ support and
encouragement helped us and pushed us to
strive for the best and helped me personally
enjoy my last year in high school football” says
Michael Holloway.
Support our Rams in the years to come
and if you see any of our Arabia Mountain
football players remember to congratulate them
on a hard fought season.
The Arabia Mountain Lady Rams started the
season off with a 4-2 record, which is the best start to
the season they have had since the 2009 - 2010
basketball season. The Lady Rams are coached by
head coach Sharon Richard and assistant coach
Diana Byrd.
The Lady Rams recently lost against the
Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers. The final score was
70 – 17.
Senior captain Briana Brown says, “I feel disappointed. I feel as though we
could have put on a way better performance than how we played. After the
game, I spoke with the rest of my team and we plan to do something about this
loss and how to build on it for the next couple of games.”
However, in their latest game against Tri Cities, the Lady Rams won 69-33
demonstrating their team work.
The Lady Rams are planning to strengthen their record going further by
practicing harder and spending more time together to develop a stronger team
bond.
“Those girls aren’t bad. I never usually
come to the girls’ games, but they always
seem to make it interesting,” says senior
Jonathan Cummings. “There is never a stale
moment when I watch the Arabia
Mountain Lady Rams play.”
The Lady Rams’ next game is on
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 against the
MLK Lions. Go Rams!!
Lady Rams Start the Season Rolling!!! By Brian Woods
Sophomore Miles Cleveland sets up a play
during the Rams’ game against Mays.
By Brandon Jones
#RamNation basketball is back! Fans, team, and coaches are
ready for another season.
Last season, the team finished 11-12 in the regular season and lost
the state playoff qualifying game against Washington High School, which
left a bad taste in the Ram nation mouth. This year, they are focused and
ready to go far in the season with a winning record and go to the state
championship.
Bakari Copeland, 6’5 combo guard USC Upstate signee, says “I am
very excited for the long run of the season; I think we have a good squad
this year, and we can it far, especially this season.”
Brian Woods, a 6’1 guard with several college interests, thinks, “We
can make to state this year.” Woods is a captain of the team for the team
this year and he feels indifferent about it, saying, “It is no different from
being another player, I just get to be more vocal, and be a leader.”
Coach Daniels is ready for the season
as well. He knows what they are capable of
and he knows they can do it.
The fans are ready to cheer on the
Ram Nation. Casey Neal, a senior at Arabia
Mountain, believes they can win it all. They
had a great fall league and summer
league, and he thinks they can carry it on
to the season.
With all the positivity going towards
the team, they cannot lose. The fans will be
behind them, and they believe will come
out on top!
The next game coming is Tuesday, Dec. 11
at 7 p.m. against MLK. Come out and
support #RamNation!
There is so much more to cheering than “stomp, fight, roar,” and the varsity
cheerleaders of Arabia Mountain High School prove that. Their dedication and overall skill
level has flourished over the years and they have grown to be known as the squad.
Being called the Squad is more than just a name on a sheet of paper, it is a sisterhood.
They share a bond that can not be broken, no matter what obstacles they come across.
Senior Aaliyah Copeland explains, “It was a lot of fun cheering with my girls. Regardless
of all the setbacks we had, we stood together and no one can come between us.” This
experience, especially for the seniors on the team, is something they will cherish for the rest
of their lives.
Cheerleaders are also a key factor for sports like basketball and football because of
their ability to the home team motivated and keep the crowd active. Junior, Brianna Smith,
mentions, “The crowd needs more people to interact with and motivate their team.” The
cheerleaders help the crowd stay into the game and keep cheering their team on, even
when the team is down.
This team
has been
through a lot in
the last four years
and throughout
that time they
have stuck
together and
pushed through
all of the
adversity.
And
because of that,
they have
established a
foundation that
can be carried
on for the next
graduating
classes.
NBA CHRISTMAS GAMES
TO WATCH by Bryson Jones
12:00 P.M.
VS.
Both the Celtics and Nets have improved this summer and are elite teams in the
east. These are two stacked teams playing on a big stage and the point guards
will steal the show.
3:00 PM
VS.
This one also looks to be an intruguing Matchup of the point guards. Mike
dantoni has a lot to prove in his first season with the Lakers coaching against his
former team.
5:30 PM
VS.
This is without a doubt the matchup everyone will be most looking forward to on
Christmas Day. With four absolute studs you cannot count Oklahoma City out.
8:00 PM
VS.
The Bulls will be without their star Derrick Rose, but that means an easier time for
Jeremy Lin aka “Llinsanity”. It’s also time to see recetly aquired James Harden
lead his team to victory.
10:30 PM
VS.
The second half of the Staples Center double header won’t be as intriguing as the first,
but it does feature two teams that can run up the scoreboard in a hurry. Most people
will get dunked on or milked, but this is a great way to end an epic night.
1. Get accepted into Columbia University with a full ride.
2. Graduate in the top 10% 3. Stay Positive.
1. Get into the University of Florida 2. GRADUATE!! 3. Make senior year memorable
1. Make her 18th year the best one 2. Get Better Grades 3. Get Accepted into some decent colleges 4. Get a Full-Ride
1. Pass the GHSGT 2. Become a better me
1. Stay healthy! 2. No more injuries!!!
2013 New Year’s
Resolutions
By Aaliyah Copeland
By the end of the fall semester,
some seniors are beginning their journeys
into their futures by beginning college
applications, sending transcripts and test
scores. However, some have gone
above and beyond, by beginning early
and are already accepted into the
colleges of their choices.
Alexis Barnes stated, “The only
school I applied to was UGA and that’s
where I’m going!”
“It’s good to be accepted
because I know I’m going to college, but
I’m probably not going there,” said
Christina Williams about her
acceptance.
The RAMpage and Senior Corner
would like to congratulate the following
on their acceptance into college:
Kennedi Thompson – Valdosta State
Ayanna Kosoko- Auburn University
Dara Taylor- Hampton University, Valdosta State
Courtney Bennett- North Carolina A&T University, Albany State
Mar’Kayla Bethea- Alabama A&M University
Briana Head- University of West Georgia, Georgia State University, Spelman College and Georgia
Southern University
Ashanti Sims- Valdosta State University
Bakari Greene- North Carolina A&T University and University of Georgia
Kandlar Rhodes- Louisiana State University and Texas A&M University
Raven Williams- Mercer University, Western Carolina University, Johnson C. Smith University, and
University of Central Florida
Micah Watts- Mercer University
Christina Ramsey- Florida A&M University
Dorien Campbell- Georgia Southern University
Jennifer Colbert- Auburn University
Steven Smith- John and Wales University
Alexis Barnes- University of Georgia
Courtney Gower- Valdosta State University
Jazzmin Minnitee- Tuskegee University
Jordan Davis- University of Georgia
Noely Escorza- Georgia Gwinnett College
Christina Williams- Mississippi State University
Ophelia Kent- Xavier University
Clarke Tulloch- University of Alabama at Birmingham
Tyler Roach-Johnson and Wales University
Megan, Madison and Morgan McCall – University of Georgia
Maya Jones - Tuskegee University
We wish the best of luck to those who are awaiting responses! If you have been accepted to schools
and would like to be spotlighted in the RAMpage, email [email protected] .
“It could have been prevented.”
Seniors Brandon and Bryson Jones’
realize how close they were to losing
their lives after looking at pictures of
their destroyed car. Photo Credit:
Lenise Jones
By Diamond Coles
“Keep your eyes on the road!” says senior Brian Woods.
Woods learned this lesson after having the front end of his car totaled because of a
distracted driver.
Teenagers behind the wheel give disturbing thoughts into parents’ heads. They
worry about teens losing their lives or taking the lives of others. According to a poll taken in
2011, younger drivers were more likely to engage in distractive driving. In the 16-25 age
group, the most accidents occur because of inexperienced driving. Our school’s Students
Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club is working hard to inform students about driving
responsibly.
Woods isn’t the only student who has learned about safe driving the hard way.
Seniors Brandon and Bryson Jones were in accident caused by distracted driving on March
24th, 2012. Brandon took the wheel after being tired from a game the night before and
dealing with a late night computer problem. Bryson, who was being escorted by his brother
to Saturday school, knew his brother was his only form of transportation because he hadn’t
received his license yet.
While in the vehicle riding down River Rd, Brandon
pulled down his visor after being overwhelmed with sunlight. As
he got a sudden release from the stinging rays he seemed to be
put into a daze. “BRANDON! BRANDON,” Bryson yelled as the car
began to hit the curb and Brandon, reacting with inexperience,
jerked the wheel and accelerated.
After the car flipped three to four times, the two
landed on Brandon’s side between a tree and a telephone pole.
They got out of Bryson’s side of the car through his window
because of a jammed door.
While standing on the side road bleeding with glass
in their hair and fresh cut scars, Bryson yelled his frustrations to
Brandon and blamed him for driving while tired. Today Brandon
regrets getting behind the wheel and risking his as well as his
brother’s life. “It could have been prevented,” he admits.
Heading to school on a Tuesday morning in February, senior Brian Woods was hit
by a distracted driver. While going up the street, a woman backed out of her driveway and
turned into his lane without placing her eyes on the road. The front end of Brian’s car was
instantly totaled. The driver stepped out of the car along with her passengers who exclaimed
to her, “Why were you texting and driving?!” The police were called and she was ticketed.
Woods never truly realized the dangers of texting while driving until he was in an
accident. “Stop texting and driving!” is a word of advice he continues to share with his
friends. Driving distracted is dangerous and causes accidents.
SADD was founded on the simple philosophy
that young people, empowered to help
each other, are the most effective force in
prevention. As President, Senior Jordan
Boatwright is the voice for our SADD club.
Photo Credit: Jordan Boatwright
The five seconds a person takes to answer a text is enough time to travel the
length of a football field. Why do people put their lives and others on the road on the same
scale as a text message?
“We get caught up and we feel like it can’t wait”, says Bryson as he reflects on
why he used to text and drive.
There were 3,092 deaths in distracted related accidents in 2011.
“We can only feel blessed when we have dodged another bullet by making it
home safely after hearing someone lost their life” adds Brandon Jones.
The SADD program is taking a stand and “covering teen
driving issues including safety belt use, speed,
inexperience, and impaired driving in a coordinated
manner.”
In accordance with a recent news release “the DeKalb
county SADD chapters plan to complete seat belt checks,
participate in GHOST OUT, and promote campaigns, along
with other activities which include a focus on impaired
driving.”
President Jordan Boatwright of SADD says, “As young
drivers and especially as teenagers, we have to
understand the dangers of the road and how important it
is to be aware of our surroundings and have our full
attention on the road. Things can happen in a matter of
seconds when it comes to driving and taking the time to quickly look and resond to a text
message shouldn’t be more valuable than your life.”
It’s important for teens as young drivers to come together and put away the
phones while driving. Let’s make a stand and stop being statistics. All accidents can be
prevented if we insure that within our cars all of the rules of the road are being imposed. Join
the stampede and don’t text on board. If you don't drive, encourage others you know to put
the phone down while driving. Every voice counts so let yours be heard!
If this article convinced you to stop texting while driving, sign the online petition at
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-text-on-board/ If you want to share a story about your driving experience, email [email protected]
Boom
!
Bang!
Crash
!
Boom! Bang! Crash! A car accident occurs every minute of the day
somewhere in the world. This may not seem like a lot until you consider that
there are 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and 365 days in a year. Car
accidents are the number one cause of death among teens (16-20).
We all think it would never happen to us
because we are great drivers, and that’s the
same excuse your friends give to their parents
when they want to ride with you, but the risk is
3.6 times higher when driving with passengers.
Anything from your friend changing the radio
station to talking on the phone can be a
distraction. Even, having your friend read aloud
the text message that you just received, poses
the same distractions as if you were reading it
yourself. Not only are you, as the driver, at risk, so
are the passengers of your vehicle and any other vehicles that you may
encounter on the roadways as you travel.
If your friend was going too fast, would you tell them to slow down? If they
were texting, would you tell them to stop? If you felt it was unsafe, would you
get out the car? Remember, your life and the lives of innocent people are in
danger too.
Driving is a big responsibility and having
friends in the car can add pressure. Make sure you
follow the rules of the road, pay attention to your
surroundings, follow the 6 month law required for
new drivers in Georgia and most importantly make
sure your passengers,
who are your friends,
do the same. We are
all at risk. Tell a friend
to tell a friend, and
spread the word.
For more information, please visit
www.KeeptheDrive.com. Keep the Drive is a great
resource for you and your friends to learn more
about smart driving and ways to get involved.
Can you imagine celebrating the holiday season in a whole different country?
Our very own foreign exchanges students, Lucy and Paula, will be doing just that. This
will be their very first time celebrating Christmas and the New Year in America and away
from their families.
Lucy says “It is a special way to celebrate in China, but I am excited because I never
celebrated it here before.”
Paula and Lucy both agree that they will miss their families and the exchanging of gifts
between them.
Paula says that she celebrates Christmas in Germany just the same as we celebrate it
here in America.
Paula and Lucy will be sending gifts to their families including T-shirts from Hollister and
candy.
If you find yourself in China or Germany over the holidays, Lucy and Paula translated
“Happy Holidays” into their native tongues.
Lucy said “Sheng Dan jie” and “Kuai Le” mean “Happy New Years” and “Merry
Christmas.” Paula said “Fröhliche weihnachten” is “Happy Christmas” or “Jolly Christmas” in
German.
By Kinoy Griffith
Ever wonder how the faculty and staff of Arabia Mountain spend their holidays?
Dr. May, one of our assistant principals, she said that she
was thankful for being able to travel to see her mom in
Decatur, Alabama. For Christmas, Dr. May is moving into a new
house, as a gift from her husband of 33 years. Her Christmas
wish is for her family to do well. Her New Year’s resolution for
AMHS is to continue have a good year and her personal
resolution is to finish a book she has been working on for a
while. “The book,” Dr. May says, “is about the life skills of
African American women.”
Ms. Black, another
one of our assistant
principals, was thankful for
having all of her family
together. Ms. Black intends to spend Christmas with her
family out of town. As far as gifts go, Ms. Black has no
special request because she feels that she already has
everything that she needs, but she is thankful for any gifts
that she does receive. For her New Year’s resolution for
the school, Ms. Black explains “I want to work on
reducing my stress level, staying calm and stress-free,
and accepting things as they come.” Her New Year’s
resolution for outside of school is to exercise!
Ms. Young, our school’s administrative assistant, was
thankful for her family in general. She plans to spend the break
in Georgia, cleaning out one of her closets. When we asked
her about the things she wanted for Christmas, Ms. Young
stated: “I want an iPad, and a 2013 with NO PAYMENT!!!!” Her
New Year’s Resolution for school is to make sure the whole
class of 2013 graduates and her personal resolution is to make
sure her daughter gets into Columbia.
Mr. Barashango has a lot to say about the things he is thankful for, his plans for the
holiday, and his New Year’s resolutions. Mr. Barashango said, “The things I am most thankful
for is my family. When I went over my aunt’s house for Thanksgiving, we had to write down 5
things we were thankful for, and I wrote down my wife’s name, and my four kids’ names
following her name.”
For the holidays, Mr. Barashango celebrates both Christmas and Kwanzaa. For
Christmas, as far as “giving”, he gives gifts to his family, but he doesn’t do a shopping spree
for everyone he knows, and as far as “receiving”,
it doesn’t really matter to him he is more
concerned with the birth of Jesus Christ, and
getting his kids to understand that as well, which
they do.
When talking about Kwanzaa, Mr.
Barashango said, “I celebrate Kwanzaa because
of my African heritage, giving thanks for the first
fruits (which is what the word ‘Kwanzaa’ means),
the harvest (which means having a good year),
and I use it as an opportunity to teach my
children about their rich history.”
His plans for the holiday are to stay at
home, and spend time with his family, spend
time with his mother when she comes into town, and attend his wife’s dance concert. His
New Year’s Resolution for the school, is to solicit more help from the parents in evaluating
student work. And for outside of school, spend more energy on his computer business,
Sababuland.com, a website where he builds websites, create business cards, flyers, etc.,
tape and edit videos, fixes computers, etc.
Even though it may be hard to believe, administrators are just as excited about their
holidays as you are with yours.
Gifts for Moms: Mothers are those women that go through things just for you
every day, so this holiday season think about getting your mother that
perfume she wants, and that favorite bracelet that she likes but won’t
admit that she wants it.
BB
By Tiffany Daniels and Casey Neal
Thanksgiving has passed and many other holidays are coming. For these
holidays it’s always a struggle for what people want for a gift and what others
would want to get people. So the Rampage is here to let the student body
know what people around Arabia Mountain said to be good gifts.
Your 2012 Gift Guide
Gifts for Boyfriends: Ask your boyfriend what he would like on this special
holiday season. Show him how much you like or love him and get him 2k13,
Jordans, and Nike fit.
NBA 2K13 (XBOX
360 & PS3): $59.99
Retro Jordan’s:
$200.00+
Nike fit: $60-
$160.00
Pandora
Bracelet: $ varies Perfume:
$45+ at
Macy’s
(different
perfume)
Gifts for Girlfriends: For all the guys, show your girlfriend how much she
means to you on this holiday and ask her what she wants. Get her those
shoes, that purse, a necklace, and or a bracelet that catches her eye.
Gifts for Dads:
Show you dad how much you love him and surprise him with that gift he
would never think you would buy him. Get that cologne, tools, watch,
and ties that stand out.
Retro Jordan’s:
$110.00 Juicy Couture:
$48-$278
Jordan
“Mike n Ikes but not the red ones because the red ones taste like medicine!”
Atiya
“Nachos because they’re universally liked and it doesn’t matter what kind of
ingredients are used it will still be amazing!”
Nikki
“Cheeseburgers when I was little it was the first food I had ever eaten”
Amber
“Anything from Taco bell because their food is so good!”
Teresa
“Lasagna because of the different types of cheese that are all mine.”
Taneishia
“Hot wings because I like spicy foods and wings are just so good!”
The Problem with AMHS Football Atiya Williamson
When you think about what a team is, some key words jump out at you. Trust,
brotherhood, and talent are synonymous with a great team. A great team exudes
confidence and pride for not only for their schools but for who they’re representing,
themselves. When people imagine the Arabia Mountain High School Football, these
words simply don’t come to mind. Why is this?
It’s because they are not a team, and it has been apparent in some of our losses this
season. This is the first year by all accounts that the football team has taken steps to
becoming a team. The main step was bonding and getting to know each other.
When asked about what the team did well this season, Varsity cheerleader Camille
Cassar said, “I guess they really made the effort to get to know each other and bond so
they can learn each other’s personalities.”
You cannot have a properly functioning team if you
don’t know who you’re playing with. You have to learn
your teammates in order to succeed. I think the players
finally realized that this year.
Another big issue for this team is leadership. I know it
was football and everyone has an ego but this team has
no strong leadership. I’ve asked a number of players
what they do in practice and they have told me
nothing. What team goes to practice but doesn’t practice? It’s beyond me.
In order to move forward the team needs a strong leader to push them achieve more
instead of the players only caring about themselves. The most alarming and frustrating
thing about our football team is their failings to finish a game. They are routinely called a
“first half “team. A pattern developed during the season that our team would have a
strong first two quarters and after halftime would either get too complacent and let the
lead slip away or not have enough focus to pull out a win at the end of the game.
Varsity football player Jonathan Slaton notices too, “We have to stop being a first half
team, that’s embarrassing. “
Ultimately the players have to want it for themselves. They need to become more
resilient and trust each other.
My final advice to our football team is use the hate
as fuel. When Arabia is attacked on twitter or other
schools have something negative to say, use that as
fuel. Prove them wrong because they are talented and
they are making progress every year. We’re a young
school and while we’re young, we should ...Fix the
problem.
By Jordan Barron
From attending Arabia
Mountain for the past 3 years, I’ve
noticed a big change in the
school all around, especially
sports.
Starting out in my freshman
year, I didn’t really pay attention
to sports here at my own school. I
didn’t attend many football or
basketball games.
The students’ at the school,
generally didn’t have school
spirit. I didn’t help any. Most
students, as well as I, said the
football team or the basketball
team “sucks.”
I felt that our team was too
young and in-experienced to
compete with the teams they
were going against.
In the 2010-2011 school
year, our teams consisted of
mostly freshman and
sophomores. I feel all of our
games were Junior Varsity versus
Varsity teams.
Going into my sophomore
year, I saw a change in our teams
some what. They were doing
better, but it was still like my
freshman year.
This year, I saw a significant
change in Arabia Mountain’s
football team, volley ball, and
soft ball team.
I also saw a change in the
fan base and support. During the
football season, students cheered
on our team all 10 games of the
season. They were there from kick
off to our victories, even our
defeats.
Softball season, fans went
out to the top of the hill to watch
our Lady Rams take on our many
competitors, and defeat most of
them.
Our volleyball team had a
great season but didn’t have
many supporters because of their
schedule consisting of mostly
away games.
Over all our fall sports
gained a lot of supporters. I’m
hoping for an even bigger turn
out for winter and spring sports. I
feel every team can succeed
and prosper with just a little
support from their family, friends,
and school.
Arabia Mountain sports are
on the come up. Just like our
slogan this year, “NOBODY’S
SAFE.”
The most important meal out of the school day is lunch. So what’s
wrong in our cafeteria? There are four lunch periods but not enough food.
There are 1,296 students here at Arabia and 4 lunches, which means the
last lunch occasionally runs out of food. Many students in D- lunch have
complained about the lack of food and the type of food our school is
serving.
This year Arabia’s enrollment count has been lowered, and the
question in my mind is “Why are we running out of food?”. As a student
who has D-Lunch I feel the county should consider bringing in extra food
just in case they run out. Students want to be able to eat a nice lunch
after working all day. Imagine being up all night doing homework and
going to bed with out dinner, and waking up the next morning hungry.
You go to the bus stop but miss the bus, now you can’t eat breakfast. You
finally get to school stressed out and HUNGRY. Finally you have lunch but
they ran out of your favorite kind of pizza and it’s just cheese dippers left.
How would you feel?
If you think finding something to eat in the cafeteria is hard during
D-lunch, then you should understand the struggle of students with special
diets. Senior Diamond Coles explains, “They never have anything for
vegetarians.” This is a problem for many students in all lunches. Students
should probably have more lunch options.
Students should bring their own lunch if they feel that the lunch that
day is not something they want to eat. Also, students can look at the
school website to see what the choices are for the week so they can
prepare their lunches are if they want to eat that day. That will make
things way easier for D-lunch students or any lunch period if students are
having any problems with lunch. Remember that students shouldn’t go
with out eating so even if you don’t want to eat any thing on your tray,
eat the fruit!
By Amber Gaines
By Theresa Ogbu
If you’re not graduating, where are you going?
Guess What Seniors!!! We have made it through a semester of our senior
year, but we still have one more left. Nothing would give me more joy than to
walk across that stage knowing I finally there, at the peak of my success, and I
know your feelings wouldn’t be otherwise. Aren’t you ready to leaves the walls
of this building so it will become your “former”? You all as seniors should begin to
think of various ways to make sure you stay on track and ways to improve
yourselves entirely. DO NOT SLACK OFF!!! Any mistake made comes with a price
you’ll have to pay, like $250 dolloars for a DOLA course. Put on your seat belts
and take this one last ride.
Words of Advice:
Maintain good and high grades (You are not allowed to fail ANY class
senior year)
Remember that colleges still look at the progression and digression of your
GPA, your admission can be terminated at any time.
Don’t associate with people who act as an obstacle to your success.
Overachieve whenever possible
Don’t doubt anything you believe you are capable of doing
Don’t wait till the last minute to apply for scholarships *FASFA is currently
open
“I feel as though
my time is up, for
12 years I have
accomplished
everything. Now
it’s time for a new
start towards my
career”
~ Nikkiah Boyd
“I been waiting
on this day to
come, I’m
ready to start a
new chapter in
life”
~ Bryson Jones
By: Taneishia Watson-Parks
The Best Christmas Movies Ever!
Christmas is a very special holiday for family and friends. It
is a time to gather around and joke and laugh around with old
people and talk about the old times together. During the Christmas
holiday my family and I get together to watch my dad’s favorite
movie he watched when he was a little kid. After a long day of
cooking holiday food, wrapping presents, and getting
everything settled for Christmas day, families come
together in front of the television and watch a Christmas
movie to end the day.
“A Christmas Story” is a very funny movie to
watch because it all relates to how some families act
during the holidays. Some families gathers in the living
room, actually getting along, and the fireplace is crackling. In order to keep your family in the
holiday spirit you should watch A Christmas Story because it would
instantly transport you and your family back to the world of that great
holiday classic. I’m sure your parents heard of this movie and might have
watched it when they were little kids.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Christmas Carol” and “The
Nightmare before Christmas” are other great
movies to watch during the holidays because
they are movies mostly for children.
Children love to watch cartoons and computer animated characters
especially during the holidays because its there favorite thing to do
after waking up on Christmas day and opening their presents to see
what they’ve received. I hope you find a good movie to watch during
the holidays with your family and friends. It's a great time to hunker
down on the sofa with your favorite Christmas movies.
Happy Holidays from the Rampage to you!!!!
Favorite Christmas Music By Nikkiah Boyd
Christmas is a time of joy, happiness, and family.
Christmas music encompasses a variety of genres of music
normally performed or heard around the Christmas season,
which tends to begin in the month leading up the actual
holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.
Here are my top 10 favorite Christmas songs:
#1: “A White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
This is my favorite because I like the flow of the song and how it is sung. I always wanted a
white Christmas, but I live in Georgia, so it’s rare that I see snow.
#2: “O’ Holy Night” by Nat King Cole.
This song is my second favorite song because I like how the violin tune makes the song more
emotional.
#3: “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives
I enjoy the mood he sets when he sings the song.
#4: “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
I really like this because it’s a nice slow song to sit down by the fire and drink hot chocolate.
#5: “It’s beginning to look alike like Christmas” by Perry Como
I like this song because I like how it describes the true scene of Christmas.
#6: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams
I like this song because I actually think Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year.
#7: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee
I play this song every year while I am putting and decorating the Christmas tree.
#8: “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole
I like how he addresses the song to every age group. It’s just a heart warming song.
#9: “Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Dean Martin
This song just reminds me how much I want it to snow every Christmas morning when I wake
up.
#10: “Silent Night” by Barbra Striesand.
This is last favorite song on my list because I like how it is a nice slow song that allows me to
end the day thinking about the gifts I received and how thankful I am that
I was able to see another year.
Friendly Fires is a British electro pop band just
getting their feet off of the ground. While their first
self titled release got them some attention, their
second LP, Pala, takes them from a foot in the door
to inside the building of success.
The album is masterful. Each song sounds like a
vacation, just like the colorful album cover suggests.
Take for example “Hawaiian Air,” which makes you
feel surrounded by white sandy beaches, luaus and
an endless ocean, or the song “Pala,” which uses
subtle noises from tropical forests in the background
to create beautiful imagery of lush green jungles
and tropical birds.
It also makes creative strides such as the 80s
style song “Hurting” which sounds wonderfully retro
while still managing to sound modern.
The album also has a nice pace and organization, having some slow songs and some
fast, some peaceful and ambient and others vibrant and upbeat and picking and slowing
down in all the right places.
Lead singer Ed MacFarlane’s voice also adds to the album’s greatness, having the
perfect medium and manages to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
An interesting fact about this album is that the title is based on novel written by Aldous
Huxley, author of Brave New World, called Island, which is about a journalist who is stranded
on an island named Pala. I think the album represents the title more than well enough and
leaves me anxious for the next Friendly Fires album.
Favorite songs:
Pala - One of the most ambient songs on the album. The atmosphere is phenomenal and the
chorus seems to fill up the space in whatever room you are in with peace and tranquility. This
is definitely a song to listen to in order to calm down and relax. The song also has an epic
ending chorus that just blows you away. Some of the most vibrant imagery on the album
can be found here.
Blue Cassette - Definitely the perfect in-between of both ambient and upbeat. The chorus is
epic with the changing beat and the inclusion of drums. I also like the distorted sound of a
damaged cassette player that plays throughout in the background of the verses which is
both intuitive and awesome.
Hawaiian Air- A perfect vacation song. The song is very upbeat and makes you feel like you
are sitting in a lounge chair on the beaches of Honolulu. It describes the journey to Hawaii
and the desire to get away from everything and relax. There is a music video for this song
which I found to be both entertaining and a little funny.
Hurting- This is an amazing song. It has this 80s retro feeling that is absolutely charming. While
it has this retro feel it also manages to feel like it belongs in this place and time. The song
describes a one sided love story that entertains very well. This song also has an
accompanying video which tells the story much better and is also pretty funny and
entertaining as well.
Chimes- Probably my favorite song on the album. I can’t seem to find the right words to
describe this song. It has arguably the best sounding vocals on the album and one of the
best choruses as well and is incredibly upbeat. This is the song that I find is constantly on
repeat on my Ipod.
Show Me Lights- Definitely a great song. Has a nice drum and kick to it with a nice bass drop
in between the choruses. The song is surprisingly danceable and creates scenery of strobe
lights. It is also a song that is upbeat, but not TOO upbeat which is a good addition to the
pace of the album.
As the holidays quickly approach, here are the perfect albums for everyone on your
shopping list.
This has got to be one of best hip-hop albums of the year.
Everything down to lyrics, instrumentals and even features from
artists like Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar make this album perfect.
This is definitely an album for the rap connoisseurs
This album is amazing. The sounds and the change in
rhyme schemes make this an impeccably creative album. This is
definitely an album to be listened to during the winter time. It would
make a great gift for indie and alternative fans.
this is one of the best albums by Linkin Park, and hands
down the album of the year for me. Incorporateing major
components from each of their last albums, this album
works perfectly and creates a completely new and
inventive sound for Linkin Park. Add to that amazing songs
such as “Castle of Glass” that take Linkin Park in a new
and welcome direction, and you have the formula for the
perfect gift for the alternative rock fans on your shopping
list.
This is a great album for electronic music fans. It
has amazing space age type sounds and some pretty
interesting vocal ideas. Interesting fact: Jet Age of Tomorrow
was actually founded in Atlanta and currently works with the
group Odd Future.
Late Night Alumni is one of my favorite groups of all time,
and this album is one of the reasons why. It really creates
an amazing atmosphere and knows how to pace itself.
What I really like is that it is somewhat different from their
previous albums, but it still manages to impress. Lead
Becky Jean William’s soft voice is wonderful and creates a
sense of peace and well-being. This is the perfect album
for any fans of dance music on your list.
Our reporters answer YOUR burning questions
Ok, so I like a lot of guys, but there are two in particular who I really, really like. One is like
my best friend that I've known since the 6th grade, and we started talking. But then there is
another guy that goes to a different school that I really like, and I'm just so confused. Please
help!!!!
FIRST OF ALL YOU LIKE TOO MANY GUYS!! BUT, you should pick the one that
is best for you. You probably want your best friend because you have known him longer and
the best relationships starts out as friendships. Remember to follow your heart
No. Following your heart doesn’t always work. I do think you should date
your best friend, not only because he is a good friend, but because you may see him a lot
more than the other guy. Just see which one you like more and have no regrets. Or choose
the one who gives you the most gifts!!! ;)
Hey, RAMpage, I need some advice. Two of my best friends recently broke up with their
girlfriends. They both have only been dating for two weeks. They both made fun of me for
waiting for so long to ask my girlfriend out, yet we have been going strong for close to two
months. Do you think I was right in my decision?
No you was not wrong for waiting, you just picked the right time when you were ready
and you have her now so that’s all that matters. Remember your friends aren’t in your
relationship. IT’S BETWEEN YOU & HER NOT THEM!!!!!!
Hi Rampage. I NEED HELP!!!! You see, I love my boyfriend, but I checked his phone, and
he’s been “talking” to other girls. Should I break up with him?
“If you go looking for trouble, you will find it.” You’re invading his privacy.
Question him about it, but don’t mention that you checked his phone. If he lies about it, then
just break up with him and move on to someone that you can trust. If you know you can’t
trust him, then why stay with him.
He is young so of course he is going to flirt and “talk” to other females, but
it’s up to you to see if you really want to trust him or not. If you don’t trust him then move on.
But if you do then talk to him and try to work it out. Relationships are based on trust and if
there isn’t any then there is no relationship.
Do you have a question for The RAMpage? Fill out the anonymous form on our website, or
send an email to [email protected]. Your questions will remain anonymous.
