The air is still as the absent-minded class stares blankly as the period slowly slides by. What has come over this small class? The answer is senioritis, and it seems to get the best of almost all seniors this time of year. For some, however, it happens much sooner. “School just seemed to get less and less important,” Red Lion senior Jaiden Graham said. This so called “disease” is the result of students struggling to balance school, work, time with friends, and finding that perfect college and getting in. This stress can cause seniors to become lazy, acquire a dismissive attitude toward school, and often have an excessive amount of absences throughout the year. However, seniors are not the only ones affected by these huge amounts of stress. It also can be very irritating to their teachers and classmates. The lack of attention can cause a class to be very unproductive and cause lessons to drag on much longer than they normally would. “Students obtain this mindset that graduation is the end, but in reality it is the beginning of a new chapter in their lives,” Mr. Blackwell, an executive council advisor for the class of 2015 said. “Students should not become lazy when the end of their high school career is nearing its end, rather they should keep pushing and finish strong because its so close to being over.” This mindset can also have an effect on students getting into the college of their choice. What many seniors don’t realize is that this last year is very crucial for colleges. It is important to keep trying in school in order to show that you are willing to learn and that you are dedicated to finishing what you have started. Although senior year can be overwhelming, there are ways to avoid the stress and affects of this hectic period of life. Here are some tips for upcoming seniors on how to avoid senioritis and its destructive nature. Plan ahead, have a calendar were you write down deadlines and scheduled events and activities. Secondly, do not become obsessed with getting into college, just focus on what is going on right now and do what makes you happy. Also, discuss your feelings with the people close to you. If you try to make all decisions by yourself, it can be very overwhelming. It is good to see what others have to say and to be open to suggestions. Finally, make sure to have fun. After all, it is your last year here, so you may as well enjoy it.
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By Bella McCarey
Co-Editor-in-Chief As most high school seniors will come to realize, life is all about making investments. Whether it is buying a stock, investing in a company, purchasing a starter home or opening up a business, everyone at some point will have to organize their assets. However, one of the most overlooked investments is gaining a higher education after high school. An investment has many costs added into it, generally requiring an upfront payment Depending on where a student plans on attending college determines the varying tuition costs that a student may have to pay. Websites for state schools such as Millersville, East Stroudsburg or Indiana University of Pennsylvania state that costs range from $8,000 to $10,200. Those price tags do not include the cost of room and board,that can tack on an additional $7,000 to $9,000. Private colleges, such as locally located York College to Drexel University can range from $15,000 to $50,000, according to the numbers on their websites. Public universities tend to be cheaper than private colleges because public universities are partly funded by the state, whereas private colleges rely on tuition in order to make a profit. When it comes to paying for college, the first step is to fill out a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). By completing the form, a student can find out how much he/she qualifies for financial aid. Even if you know your parents make too much money to qualify, it is still worth applying. You can still earn money if you are a minority, are a first generation college student, or one of your parents is on disability or is laid off. In addition to financial aid, many students hope for scholarships from the college or from an outside source. A scholarship doesn’t exactly mean that a student has to be a scholar, be as it may seem. There are thousands of different types of scholarships, some for being a race or religious minority, for what elementary school you went to or simply for what your gender is. Taking the time and effort to research what is available is worthwhile, along with networking within your local community. Many local businesses and organizations, such as the Rotary Club, offer free money to college bound seniors. The actual payout may only be $500, but every bit counts. If you’ve applied to every scholarship and grant under the sun and you are still short a couple thousand or even most of the tuition, student loans may be the last option, however not a last resort. According to the American Student Assistance statistics, every year 12 million out of the 20 million that attend college take out student loans, so it is a popular form of payment. As soon as a student hears the words “student loans”, panic automatically settles in. Debt is a big fear for anyone fresh out of college looking for a job or an internship. However, the bills don’t start arriving for at least 6 months after graduation. The cost of college should not be a venue for turning away students, however the high costs should be taken into consideration. Sitting down with your parents, especially if they have gone to college and are in your shoes, can help you and your whole family get on the same page. College is a huge risk, but the return on your investment (ie the job of your dreams) will make the whole hassle worth it. By Nick Stoneham
Staff Writer As we start the second semester at Red Lion, many seniors are preparing for college and trying to process what college will be like. It is important to be informed and know what to expect during this transition from high school to the next chapter in life: college. A good way to start is by talking to someone who has been attending the school you are going to for a year or more. They can provide you with information that could be extremely beneficial to know. That person can also show you around the college so you know exactly where your classes are and how the college operates. Buy all of your school supplies before the semester starts, that way you are organized from the very first day and you won’t have to worry about anything. Make sure you have a folder for each class, a planning book (or planning app downloaded on your phone), all of your books, and a stable bag to carry it all in. It may also be very beneficial to have a reliable laptop or desktop for writing assignments and internet research. If you are living on campus, make a list of everything you will need to bring in order to live comfortably. Create a savings account. When you’re in college, chances are you will be spending lots of money. Whether it be going out with friends, needing to get a new car, buying books, etc, it is necessary to have money saved that you can fall back on. If you put some money in your savings account weekly you could have thousands by the time you graduate. Most importantly, relax and avoid getting stressed out. As long as you stay organized and have everything you need, there is no reason to be stressed out. Just enjoy the rest of your senior year and summer and by the time August rolls around you may be excited! By Adrianna Clinton
Staff Writer Does a packet equate to completing a high school course? Among the many options for kids grades 5-12 who fail their classes is the Keystone Credit Recovery program; essentially one may complete a series of assignments in the course they failed to receive the credit. The program was originally established in 1974 by a group of teachers, counselors, and principals. It is affiliated with the accredited Keystone School that is a part of K-12, a similar online program designed to assist those in need of taking credits. The program offers online coursework in addition to the correspondence courses that are essentially packets. The standard at which to measure the students’ proficiency in the material as demonstrated in the completed work is entirely determined by the school, according to a student service representative at the Keystone School. However, the grade that is received of the packet is what essentially is placed on a high school transcript given the student passes their schools’ standard. The Keystone Credit Recovery program is not necessarily popular among Red Lion students because as we move forward a sa school, we are finding more kids passing classes, according to Principal Mark Shue. However it is still used across the country as an option for those who fail to master the content the first time. The packet does not necessarily contain the material of the course curriculum the student failed, even though it still shares the name of the course that was originally failed. Anyone can do the packet but they first must pay the $116 fee and sign a contract that states they will complete the work by a certain day. According to Keystone Credit Recovery program, reasons for being enrolled in the program include “lack of effort and excessive absence.” With that being said, literally anyone can complete the assignments. While the standard policy of Keystone is to immediately fail students suspected of not doing their own work, it is not unreasonably difficult for students to receive help for the assignments. Here at Red Lion, completing the packet is simply not enough for students to receive the credit. One must also take the final of the course they failed and pass it in addition to passing the Keystone packet. “If the student cannot pass the final, then they still haven’t mastered the content...I want to make sure kids go through our curriculum in accordance with Red Lion standards,” Mr. Shue said. While this option is available to all, it is hard to trust its legitimacy because anyone can complete the required work. However, Mr. Shue believes that the best option is to pass the class the first time, and if necessary take it again a second time. Senior Tara Tolton currently interns at PennLive.com’s Opinion Desk.
The following article appeared October 11. Reprinted with permission. By Tara Tolton PennLive Students at Bucknell and Temple universities returned to campus this fall to find that beloved, decades-old campus traditions had been canceled because of concerns over student drinking. Cutting down on alcohol use by students is an admirable goal. But canceling events that students enjoy fails to address larger issues surrounding student drinking. “Some of these events give a lot of colleges attention, actually. I know [Lebanon Valley’s] Dutchman Day does.” W. Bryan Shoemaker, a junior at Lebanon Valley College, told PennLive in a recent interview. He says canceling these events could also cost colleges qualified applicants. After watching the same alcohol-related offenses occur every year, Bucknell President John Bravman lost his patience and pulled the plug on the annual House Party Weekend, which is held every March as a pride-rousing party for fraternities and sororities. At Temple University, officials canceled the Spring Fling for the same reason. The university’s Dean of Students, Stephanie Ives, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the party was little more than an “opportunity for students to skip class and drink.” Student interests are not best represented by those canceling the events because the decisions assume that every student is at fault. “I have some friends that go to those events to have fun and drink, and some that go just to have fun without the alcohol. It just depends on who they are,” Shayla Marshal, a sophomore at Elizabethtown College, told PennLive. Student alcohol abuse should be a top priority for university administrators and it should be taken seriously -- but on a case-by-case basis. By canceling these events, the students are going to not only continue to drink, but are going to take it somewhere else, potentially causing more damage. Underage drinking, crude behavior, and illegal activities as a result of alcohol being present are wrong. And university officials are right to be concerned about student safety. But they are offenses that should be handled individually. Canceling popular campus events at Temple and Bucknell and other schools may reduce the incidence of student drinking, but they fail to address root causes of alcohol abuse among students. Photo submitted by Dylan Brightbill By Maggie Bishop Staff Editor “Where are you going to college?” If you are a junior or a senior, you have probably been asked this question dozens of times. Like most students, you may not have decided what exactly you are going to do after high school. Some students may be skeptical about continuing their education after high school because it is so expensive. In many cases, jobs require more than just a high school diploma. The reason why people continue their education after they get their high school diploma is to educate themselves more on their specific area of interest. But there are other ways to increase the chance of getting a more professional job than going to college for four years. Some students can go to a community college for two years. For example, to become a radiation therapist, dental hygienist, or an electrical repairer, it is only required to go to a two-year college. According to Suzanne Rose from Helium.com, continuing education after high school, “Can open doors and forge opportunities.” Going to college also gives one the opportunity for personal growth and to gain a sense of responsibility. Red Lion alumnus, Dylan Brightbill is currently a sophomore at Liberty University majoring in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Exposition. “Before you win you have to lose. You have to lose your pride. You have to lose your immaturity. You have to lose your selfishness. If you want to win, then first you have to lose,” he said. If one wants to get a steady paying job and move out of their parents house, than one may want to consider what they want to do after high school. |
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