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Some of Our Features
Families of a person with disabilities or handi
caps are looking for different solutions to help them
live a better life. Many of these families are turning to
therapeutic horseback riding for a solution. Thera
peutic horseback riding centers are mostly located in
the country away from all other distractions. These
centers are created to help people with disabilities
and handicaps work on their weaknesses. In addi
tion, these centers help the riders strengthen areas of
their body affected by their disabilities by working
with trained instructors. Many skills are worked on
in these horsebackriding classes.
These classes have to do with the rider’s
physical skills. In the classes obstacles are set up to
help strengthen motor skills. The rider might have to
ride to a barrel and take a stick out of it. This activity
requires the rider to use his/her motor skills. Many of
the classes help the riders strengthen their muscles
and get the riders moving. Riding a horse requires the
rider to use leg, back, upper body and many other
muscles. Some areas that are improved in the classes
are balance, motor skills, muscle strength and also
social skills. Social skills are worked on by having
the rider give the horse verbal commands and by talk
ing to the instructor about how he or she feels. Emo
tional skills are also worked on. These skills are
worked on by having the riders out in nature and out
in a peaceful environment. By working on these skills,
the riders gain selfconfidence and independence.
Because of therapeutic horseback riding,
many people who are disabled are able to feel im
portant. Therapeutic horseback riding teaches people
with disabilities to look past their weaknesses and
focus on their strengths. Therefore, therapeutic horse
back riding should be an option to consider for people
with handicaps and disabilities.
Therapeutic Riding
Justin Lucia, Senior
Anyone who drives a newer car is much
safer, as technology and new design have helped
make cars safer in the last thirty years. The chances
of a person getting in an accident are now less likely
to happen. Even if a person does encounter an acci
dent, they will most likely come out injury free.
In an event of a car crash, new crumple zones
would save a person. All cars are now constructed
differently. The front and back of a car is like an ac
cordion, and when a crash occurs, the car is demol
ished. The person who was in the car remains un
harmed. Air bags and seatbelts have also helped
make cars safer. Both attempt to keep a person in
the car and are very successful at doing so. Small
things like brighter brake lights and stronger glass also
help keep a person safer while driving. New tech
nology has also helped bring about greater safety in
cars.
New softer tires are wider and give a car
better control. Cars today sit lower and handle much
better. In addition, the suspension of a car is now
independent. This means that there is a separate shock
for each tire, which results in better handling and a
smoother ride. Some cars also have sensing technol
ogy. Can you remember a time when you fell asleep
and almost crashed? That will not happen in newer
cars. Now there is sensing cameras that alert you
when your car is going off course.
Sure a newer car is going to cost more. How
ever, all the time and research put into these cars has
to result in a price increase. Then again what is inex
pensive today? Hopefully after reading this you’ll see
how much safer a new car is. After all, a few extra
dollars is a small expense if it saves your life or a
loved one’s life.
Safer Cars of Today
Jake Ternoois, Senior
Everyone has his or her choice of what to
like and what not to like and what to think and what
not to think. Many people in our school have formed
stereotypes on each other as if being different was
the biggest sin in the world. Think about this: if ev
eryone were the same, how would it affect you? If
everyone would be a little more open minded about
whom our peers are, it would be a lot easier to wake
up every morning and go to school. Let’s face it,
whether we want to go to school or not doesn’t de
pend on the school work itself, it’s based upon how
people classify you and who you are to the school. I
don’t care who you are, everybody is bothered by
what people think of him or her, and it gets under
everyone’s skin.
Everyday in school students face many chal
lenges to make it through the day; we didn’t do home
work the night before, there’s a huge test today, I left
my lunch money on the counter, or I don’t want to
go home, but I don’t want to be here (school). On
top of everything else on our minds, we have other
kids standing in our way. There’s always that person
that bothers you everyday. What would happen if
that person were to stop? Would you have a differ
ent outlook on at least one thing? Maybe your Glo
bal class would be a little easier to stand, or maybe
in gym class you won’t have quite as many dodge
balls thrown at your face. If everyone were to rec
ognize that bringing people down around us affects
not only that person but also everyone around us
watching, going to school everyday would be…do
able. Do you ever wonder what would happen if all
the kids liked each other? Maybe we could all go
against authority and do something horrible! Like…
chew gum in the computer lab without getting in
trouble! (Just kidding)
I’m not asking for “world peace”; it’s just
obvious that with all the stereotypes in our school
and with all the tension between people that it’s un
bearable. If there’s someone you just can’t stand,
take it outside or get over it.
“I Do What I Want…”
Tiffany Graham, Sophomore
For many people music plays a constant role
in their everyday lives. Its rhythms and melodies are
most often playing in the background of most activi
ties. However, people are always aware of the melo
dies and rhythms; what people are unaware of are
the messages that are sent in a stealthy manner. Many
teens often subconsciously internalize these messages
and carry them over into their emotions.
When a person is feeling happy, it’s most likely
that they will listen to music that maintains the feeling
of happiness. The same is true for a person who is
feeling unhappy. However, when an unhappy person
listens to music that coincides with their emotional
state, they will probably become even unhappier. For
example, when a suicidal person listens to music with
a depressing theme, their suicidal thoughts are ampli
fied. This is not true for all suicidal people; however,
very impressionable young people are more likely to
take what is being said more literally. Genres such as
Rock N’ Roll and GangstaRap are known for their
angry themes and messages. These genres are more
likely to influence a person’s emotions. Classical and
Country music send very neutral messages, and there
fore, don’t have as great of an impact on emotions.
Intensifying emotions can also carry over into actions.
GangstaRap often glorifies committing vio
lent crimes and can often influence an impressionable
teen to act in the same way as the rapper. This may
be because the teens can relate to where the artist
comes from. If a teen is dealing with pressure to com
mit a violent crime that is described in a song, then
After watching the renowned television show
CSI
, one may think they know everything there is to
know about forensic science when in reality there is
more than meets the eye. Although forensic science
has been aiding police work for a long time, it is only
in the last two decades that it gained any real reputa
tion. With better technologies being adopted by po
lice departments worldwide, forensic evidence stands
a better chance of entering formal investigations. Da
tabases for cases involving DNA and ballistics are
just a few examples of the increasing technology. But
while these technologies have helped emphasize the
significance of forensic science, they have also played
a dominant role in discrediting forensic evidence. For
example, finger printing, which is the oldest form of
forensic evidence, is widely being considered part of
junk science that should be kept out of the court.
Similarly, no case using DNA matching as primary
evidence has ever made it to the Supreme Court in
the United States.
Therefore, it is important to note that it takes
a variety of good, scientific based evidence to con
vict a criminal, not just one piece of forensics.
Forensic Science:
‘Behind the Scenes’
Michael Matthys, Senior
Kendra Shelters, Junior
the teen may feel that whatever path the artist chose
to sing about is the right one to follow. Music can
also influence a person who is suicidal to go through
with their thoughts. Since music impacts emotions, it
can influence a depressed and suicidal person to carry
out their deranged thoughts. Many musicians, pri
marily rappers, refer to women in derogatory ways.
This may influence a young child to believe that abu
sive names and comments used in the songs are okay
to use in everyday situations. Over all, a child or teen
may grow up with a negative attitude toward women.
Music’s surreptitious influence on people has
underlying effects, such as a negative attitude toward
women. The glorification of violent crimes in some
music may cause youth to believe those actions are
legitimate and justifiable, as well. However, when lis
tening to lyrics with potentially harmful messages, it
is important to understand that most artists do not
fully mean what they’re saying.
Music and You
Animal Abandonment is the shocking and dis
turbing truth of what happens to animals every single
day. There are multiple reasons why people aban
don their animals. However, animal abandonment can
be avoided if people carefully considered the respon
sibility of owning a pet. Before you decide to pur
chase a pet, you should ask yourself these three ques
tions:
Animal Abandonment:
The Shocking
Disturbing Truth
Sierra Gonzalez, Senior
Continued on page 4
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