Class rank: nothing but a number
Friday January 25, 2008
By Staff Writer, Aida B.
Imagine having no identity; no personality or character. Imagine being only defined as a number and nothing more. The Glendale Unified School District’s (GUSD) class rank system has been doing just this to each of its students with class ranking. Assigning numbers to students makes the statement very clear schools do not care about the pupil as an individual, but only as a number, hence limiting all their efforts, talents, hopes and dreams. (more…)
Mainstream music disappoints
Friday January 25, 2008
By Staff Writer, Lilit Grigoryan
Recently, music has been all about who can make the loudest, most outrageously risqué collaboration of sounds and lyrics. In the midst of all the sweaty, bare-all music videos and sexually charged ruckus of words, where has the personality gone? Where is the meaningful music that provokes thought, tears, inspiration, or feeling of any sort besides grinding on the dance floor? (more…)
Observing the stars at Griffith
Friday January 25, 2008
By Staff Writer, Armig Boghigian
Bumper to bumper, the slow and steady pace of traffic on the endlessly busy Los Feliz Boulevard was the least perfect scenario to be caught in. Though the traffic seemed never ending, I could not be more enthused. (more…)
Live as if you are dying
Friday January 25, 2008
By Centerfold Editor, Innesa Ranchpar
I used to think that doing something extraordinary like skydiving and going on a hot air balloon ride was on my list of “things to do before I die.” But those are simply extravagant dreams, not self-fulfilling moments. A friendly smile, a simple conversation, a good deed… It is, in fact, the little things in life that matter most. (more…)
Living for the future rethining the past
Friday January 25, 2008
By Staff Writer, Helen Msryan
As each day goes by, people take what they have and what they can accomplish for granted. Yet, when they find out that they have a short time to live, they rush to do everything they ever dreamed of doing.
What do you want to do before you die?
Children, for example, seem to answer this question from their imagination. From wanting to be a monster’s sidekick to becoming a police officer; their dreams get the best of them.
“One thing I want to do before I die is learn to listen to everyone,” four-year-old Kristine Tazyan said. “Also, I would like to become a police officer so I [can] put all the bad people in jail.”
It seems that a kindergardener would be oblivious to getting old. But not Tazyan, who has many aspirations.
But it seems that kids and teens do not think too differently.
Jonathan Acevedo (’09) wanted to become a movie star as a kid, so he could marry a model. He also wanted to be a power ranger so he could fight evil.
“Now, as a teenager, I think better and want to become either a talk show host or a juvenile counselor.”
Before he dies, Acevedo wants to earn a million dollars, without winning the lottery. He wants to earn it, and also do something he likes and is good at, while earning his money.
Although kids and teens seem to think alike, older people have different perspectives about life.
Seventy-five year old Pyruz Grigoryan had many dreams as a young girl. She was born in Greece and had always been dedicated to school. One thing she wanted to do most was to go to college and graduate with honors. Having immigrated to Armenia after World War II, her dreams were torn due to the poor living situations.
“As a teenager, I had to work in a factory just so I could support my family,” Grigoryan said. “It was very hard for me because I wanted to go to high school and college more than anything.”
Now, before she dies, Grigoryan wants to go and visit her hometown: Greece. She would also be very happy to see her four grandchildren marry.
Everyone has dreams. Even though a younger child’s dreams seem to come from their imagination, everyone has something they would like to do before they die.
Kicking the bucket
Friday January 25, 2008
By Staff Writer, Jill Lee
What if you found out that you only had two months left to live?
If you do not live a timed life right now, thinking about it may get you excited about leaving the mundane world. (more…)
