The Five Best Things About College Campuses - Julie Campuses

The Five Best Things About College Campuses

By Julie Gross

As a high school student, college seems like a magical fairy land where everything is great. I’m sure that when I’m actually in college I will think differently, but right now I have college fever. During senior year, the one thing I look forward to are the college visits. College visits are like mini vacations for seniors, and they give me a real feel for college life. This, however, is a problem. I went on my first college visits to Auburn and the University of South Carolina at the end of January and I loved them both! It definitely made my senioritis much worse, but on the bright side it also made me excited about going to college. I was very tempted to stay but my parents thought it would be better for me to graduate high school first. Here a few things that I adore when visiting a college.

1.Libraries

COLLEGE LIBRARIES. Every college library I’ve visited, even the small colleges, have dream libraries. The most impressive library I visited was the library at University of South Carolina. It had a amazing computer lab, quiet floors, and books everywhere. For book lovers like me, these massive libraries are heaven, but they are also torture. They are heaven because thinking about all the stories and knowledge in one area is overwhelming and fascinating, but torture because sadly I’ll never be able to read all these wonderful books.

2. Food Courts

Our school lunches are depressing at best (not Mrs. Rundus’ fault), so basically anything else looks like filet mignon compared to our saltless entrees . The food courts on college campuses made me have a face similar to that of a 5 year old in Candyopolis. Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, fresh salad bars, pop machines, fooooooooood! On both the college visits I really wanted to say, “Umm, yeah. I think I’ll just stay in the food court here while the rest of you go finish the tour. Have fun!” If we had food courts like college campuses do, I would be about 20 pounds heavier.

3. The Great Facilities

Our school has decent classrooms and computers but nothing compares to college classrooms. The carpet is always spotless and cushy, the tables are big, which is great for me because I spread my stuff all over, but the best part is the chairs. In high school we have the hard plastic chairs, but in college the chairs are plush, comfy, and almost good enough to sleep in. And unlike our school, the temperatures in rooms aren’t 62 degrees here and 77 on the other half of the school. Constant temperatures. Finally!

4. The Study Spots

Even though most of us don’t like to study, college study spots make studying more appealing. The quiet floors I mentioned earlier had a great focused vibe. Also, on both the campuses I visited there were plenty of outdoor spots to study, so if I wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather but get something accomplished I could.

5. The Freedom

Like most college freshmen, I got my first taste of sweet college freedom. This is probably the one thing I’m most excited for. I don’t have to have a strict schedule, I can eat whatever, wear whatever, do WHATEVER!!! Of course, my parents were still with me on the visit, so I only had half freedom, but the free college atmosphere was what tempted me to stay the most.

The Guide to Giving the Perfect Promposal - Janae Champlin

The Guide to Giving the Perfect Promposal

By: Janae Champlin

It’s that time of year again when prom date panic sets in. Calls, texts, and Snapchats are all being sent out with one simple question “Will you go to prom with me?” If prom is supposed to be one of the most memorable days of high school then why shouldn't being asked be just as exciting? Here are a few tips and ideas for the perfect promposal:

1. Red Solo Cup: They cost like $4 at Walmart and all you need is a fence to put them in to spell out the word “PROM?”  You can even get a friend involved to drive them around blindfolded so when they take it off, it will be a complete surprise.
2. Athletic Advantage: All you need is the ball and a Sharpie. The internet has endless ideas, here are just a few:

Football: “Wanna tackle prom with me?

Volleyball: “I’d dig it if you went to prom with me!”

Baseball/Softball: “I might strike out but, will you go to prom with me?”

Basketball: “Wanna take a shot at prom?”

3. Operation Sticky Note: Completely cover a car or locker in sticky notes with one color and use another to spell out “PROM?” It’s affordable and adorable.
4. Twinkle Lights: Find or borrow some old Christmas tree lights and use either tape or zip ties to mold the words “PROM?” I helped a friend do this on a volleyball net and it turned out great!
5. Scavenger Hunt: Send your soon to be date out on scavenger hunt all through town. Meet him/her at the last stop with a sign asking to be your date.
6. A Promposal Pie: Who doesn't love pizza? Ask your date to prom by delivering a pizza to their house with "PROM?" written inside the box. If you're creative try spelling it out with pepperonis.
7. The Sweet Tooth: Create a funny note asking them to prom with some creative uses of candy bars on a poster. (You can find examples all over Google images.
8. Pop the Question: Tie a balloon to their locker and write “Pop me” on it. Inside will be your note asking them to prom!

TIP: Guys, girls like flowers.

The Perks of Being Single on Valentine's Day - Allison Redmond

The Perks of Being Single on Valentine’s Day

By: Allison Redmond

Let’s face it: February is the time of the year when those couples that are already obsessed with each other take their sickening love and magnify it about twelve times. It is also the month when people who are single and alone think they have a reason to constantly complain about their solitude. However, I would argue that Valentine’s Day is one of the best holidays on which to be single. Here are a few reasons why.

You don’t have to worry about getting anyone a present.

Don’t you simply hate it when you are shopping for that special someone and have know clue what to get them? Well, I wouldn’t actually know what that feels like, but I’m sure it’s a dilemma to avoid. I never have to dread finding a present for someone who is impossible to shop for.

You can eat all the chocolate you want without any judgment.

The best part of the Valentine’s Day season is, without a doubt, February 15th. With unlimited discounted chocolate, you basically have the freedom to go totally insane. With this freedom, some girls might be concerned about judgment from their boyfriends. Since I am single, I do not have to worry about any condemnation from a guy.

SWEATPANTS AND CHICK FLICKS.

While other girls are doing their makeup and getting all dressed up for their big date, I will be putting on my favorite pair of sweatpants, throwing my hair into a messy bun, and settling down for a nice evening full of my favorite movies. My night will consist of my a lot of food and snuggling with my dog. What more can a girl ask for?

While most may argue that a relationship is what every teenaged girl wants, I would say the opposite. So, Single Ladies, I hope that this Valentine’s Day you can embrace your freedom and enjoy some well-deserved time to yourself.

To Be or Not Be a Drummer - Connor Reynolds

To be or not to be a Drummer

By Connor Reynolds

When you are a drummer like me you learn the good, the bad, the awesome, and               the annoying things that come with it.

Pro: Rap tap tapping

I always have something to entertain myself because I can make anything an instrument since the basis of drumming is hitting stuff. Anything from a pencil to your foot to an old washing machine can be used to throw down some sort of beat.

Con: Rap tap tapping

I put down as a con also, not because I personally think it’s bad, but more for the people who have to deal with me. Most people I know get annoyed when I just start making noises, and they usually have to yell at me stop because I’m subconsciously doing it.

Pro: Not considered a band geek

Usually if you tell people you’re in band and play say a clarinet you’ll be thought of as a geek or nerd. If you tell people you’re drummer though they’ll think of you as someone cool for some weird reason.

Con: Supposedly flirty

I asked my classmates about the  disadvantages of  being a drummer and they told me we are too flirty which I don’t believe at all. To me it feels more like they are just jealous of our pure awesomeness and pizazz.

Pro: Goofing Off

The best part about being a percussionist in band is, unlike every other section, we are usually screwing around or goofing off. This only happens because we typically end up in the back of the band and learn our music fairly fast.

Con: ADHD

Being a drummer you tend to develop a sort of ADHD. I don’t know if it just enhances the amount you move or if it just makes you think about it more often. Most people who know me will notice me shaking my foot, bouncing my leg or tapping on a table.

So all in all the life of drummer never has any dull moments.

Bad Dad Jokes - Zoe Walsh

Bad Dad Jokes

By Zoe Walsh

When men become fathers they obtain a plethora of bad dad jokes. These jokes are embarrassing, especially in public. Nobody really knows where these bad dad jokes come from, but we all have experienced the embarrassment of one. And honestly, nobody thinks they are funny…except the dad who tells them. My own father might be the king of bad dad jokes. My sisters and I have brainstormed some of the best (worst?) dad jokes from my dad, and a few from other dads. Here are some of the best (worst?) dad jokes.

How did the fish get across the sea?

A taxi crab.

What did the duck say to the bartender?

Put it on my bill!

What’s the best time to go to the dentist?

At tooth-hurty!

Did you hear about the two guys that stole a calendar?

They each got 6 months!

Why didn’t the life guard save the drowning hippie?

He was too far out!

What do you call a guy with no body and no nose?

No body nose!

How does the moon cut his hair?

‘Eclipse’ it

Why do crabs never give to charity?

Because they are shellfish.

Have you heard of the movie constipation?

No.

That’s because it hasn’t come out yet.

This is top secret.

What’s the bottom secret?

The Big Lego Crisis - Isaac Sprague

The Big Lego Crisis

by Isaac Sprague

As a child one of my favorite pastimes was playing with Legos. I spent hours with the “big tub” creating and recreating buildings, scenes, and places. I still remember my biggest Lego project which was a Megabloks submarine. I am pretty sure the set was well over 7,000 pieces. For all of you non-Lego people, that’s a lot of Legos. At first I was enthusiastic about building the submarine because of the sheer size of it. However, after awhile I grew to hate that Lego set because it never ended. Everyday I just kept on adding pieces, day after day, night after night; it was ridiculous. So, I gave up for a few months until a friend from Texas came up to Kansas and built the rest of it. By the end of the endeavor I was speechless. The Lego set was as big as I thought it would be.

After I admired the Lego set for a few days. I decided to put it on its perch above my dresser. The Lego set sat there for years and I still looked at in awe saying to myself, “Thank goodness that is over… that was the longest Lego project I’ve ever done.” One day that did change though. I had a couple of friends over and we were all messing around in my room. I kept telling them to calm down, but you know boys are boys. So they persisted in wrestling around and one was laying on my bed while another was on top of him. The one on top was tickling him and the guy on the bottom kicked the top of my dresser and “WHAM” the whole top end of the dresser came tumbling down.

At first I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that even though I had told them to stop messing around they kept on doing it, and then one of them kicked the whole dresser down with the submarine on top. To the average person this doesn’t seem like a big deal right? “Just put the Lego set back together you big baby.” Well, it isn’t that simple. Lego pieces when they are taken out of the box are organized into baggies so that you can easily go from one bag to another. Since, all the pieces were scattered in an unorganized fashion it was impossible to find the right pieces for each part of the instruction. The Lego set is now in a box in my closet not even close to finished and the dresser top has been replaced with an Imperial Flagship. May you forever live in peace my fair Lego submarine.

Winter or Spring - Mallory Thompson

Winter or Spring?

By Mallory Thompson

From December 21st, to March 19th, it is winter. Spring doesn't start until March 19th. So why has the weather been so warm one day and super cold the next? My vision of winter is always cold and sometimes snowy. When the winter temperatures are in the 60s and 70s, I wonder what’s going on.

Winter should be below 40 degrees at least. Sure, I love warm days as much as the next person, but not during winter. Winter should be cold; summer should be hot. When we get warm weather it reminds me too much of summer. Then the temperatures drop back down and it seems even colder than before because I am so used to warm temperatures. In one week alone we can go from snowing to 70 degrees.

I go from sweaters and boots to shorts and t-shirts like it’s a normal thing to do. It is getting pretty annoying to sort through all my spring/summer clothes and my winter clothes on a daily basis. My closet is pretty small so I have all my winter clothes hanging up. My summer clothes are now just being thrown wherever for those few days every 3 weeks when I need them. I think we are going through a pattern. Winter for like 2 weeks, maybe some snow, then the next week, nice, sitting on my front porch weather. It’s on repeat.

Now I don't even take the time to scrape the snow off my car. I know it is going to melt off the next day so what’s the point? Mother Nature needs to decide what season it actually is and stick with it.