Go Skateboarding Day.

By: Amanda Poole

       “Aw drat’s! Another ‘No Skateboarding’ sign! Where and when in the world will we find a decent place and day to go skate?” Well, I have the time and place! June 21^st, 2011, the very first day of summer. From England to Afghanistan, The United States to Peru, Go skateboarding day is a worldwide event. More than 500 events worldwide and millions of skaters participating globally, to pro skater support, Go Skateboarding Day continues to inspire and generate awareness around the world. It was created to ignite creativity, sprit, and the exhilaration that just skating gives people.

  The whole skateboarding day isn’t just for fun either; it’s also a strong and growing organization. The Go Skateboarding Foundation helps fund programs which promote skateboarding and give a positive impact on our society of young skateboarders. It raises money to give back to charities which involve skateboarding programs which include: JohnnyKicksCancer, Lee Matasi Foundation, Stoked Mentoring, Boys and Girls clubs, YMCA, A skate Foundation, and Grind for Life, to name a few as well as multiple skate park fundraisers across the nation. The foundation inspires to increase tomorrow’s skateboarders by encouraging young people to follow their dreams!

The only downside to skating anywhere in Hot Springs is that there are certain places that have banned skateboarding. And the fact that Hot Springs isn’t really popular out here in our little town. In the summer of 2007 some local skateboarders got arrested for not following the law. So you can have fun, but watch out where you skate! Always remember to ask the person who owns the property or the store parking lot owner before you go skate. Other than that, have fun!

You can ride a long board, short board, or some home made monstrosity. As long as you're on a board with wheels and having fun, Go Skateboarding Day is for you. The International Association of Skateboarding companies began this organization in the year of 2004. Go Skateboarding Day not only gives skaters a chance to skate freely almost anywhere around the world all day. But it also is one of the only times skaters from all over skate together with old and new friends from all parts of the country, and world. And even in the little town of Hot Springs, Arkansas. And if you’re just a commoner in a car or walking on the side of the street, watch out! Even though I’m sure that most skaters tend to stay away from roads and sidewalks in general.

             

            All you skateboarders around Lake Hamilton who haven’t heard of this day, here’s your chance to go out and skate, and tell anybody you know who skates about it also.  When the day comes I’m sure it will be one great recreational day. Rain or shine. Even if there aren’t many places around Hot Springs to go and skate, I’m sure you’ll find one place you like.  Like: a skate park, parking lot, just a park, or even a school yard. Who says just a flight of stairs on the side of a building, or something as simple as an abandoned parking lot can’t be fun? As long as you’re skating and having fun, nothing should really even matter.

           

T hirteen Year Journey

By: Amber George

          Thirteen years ago, we entered the primary school without a clue of what the future had in store for us. The smell of chalk, crayons, and fresh paint smothered us as we took note of our surroundings. Along the white, what seemed like endless walls, were welcoming decorations providing the only color to the hallways.  Now, thirteen years later, we look back on that day with tears in our eyes.

          Most students go on and on about leaving and how they can’t wait to graduate, but when the day finally comes, we wish more than anything just to go back and start all over.      

          At six years old, we didn’t care what the future had in store for us.  We were not worried about the future. All we worried about was what day we got to be the leader or the caboose and nap time. We thought of kindergarten graduation as just a chance to be in the spotlight, but what we didn’t realize, is that it was going to be the beginning of our educational journey.     

          Growing up isn’t a cake walk. The teachers in the high school don’t pamper you like the ones in the primary. You are responsible for yourself.  Some of us were spoiled growing up, but when we stepped in the high school, that all changed. There wasn’t anymore turning work in late. If you’re feeling ill, you can’t put your head down and expect to get out of an assignment. If you miss a day of school, you are expected to get your previous assignments. 
          Most of us have mixed emotions about leaving Lake Hamilton. The past thirteen years have been good to us. We can hardly wait to get out and face the world. As graduation day is getting closer, we find the want to stay is getting stronger. We use to watch the clock wishing the time would fly.  Now we watch the clock wanting it to freeze. As graduation gets closer, we grow more and more terrified to get out and face the world.  We think that we are ready, but just like the first day of kindergarten, we want to go back to the routine we that make us comfortable.

          As a member of the Lake Hamilton wolf pack, I think it is safe for me to say, that we seniors will never forget our thirteen year journey with the Wolf Pack. Lake Hamilton will always be our home and the "blood of the wolf" will always remain in our veins.

Lady Wolves Softball

 

Jessica Lingelback

       The Lady Wolves are  expected to have an amazing season this spring!

                            This year they are considered an experienced team so they will be expected to do better than last year. However, their dream for the state championship won’t be very easy to achieve if they don’t work hard for it. Their very first conference game is against Sheridan; one of the top teams in the conference, so it will be a battle for both teams. In the fall of 2010, they went to two college showcases. The first one was held in Plano, Texas, but they didn’t do too well in this tournament. The second one, however, was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and they beat every team they played against but one that they tied. Because of these tournaments, they are more prepared for their upcoming season because they played against teams that are on the same level as those in their conference.

                          After winning state in 2009, the Lady Wolves were very disappointed in 2010 because they lost in the last round of the semi-finials against Mt. Home. In 2009, Benton was favored to win state because they did a lot of short game and everyone thought it would be difficult for the Lady Wolves to defeat them; that was the same situation in 2010 with Mt. Home and Benton at the state championship, but Mt. Home won. In the past Benton has won a lot of games because of their short game but this year everyone will probably expect it so everyone will be better prepared. Another major team that the Lady Wolves will need to be prepared for is Sheridan. They have very good hitters and great fielders. Every win against Lake Hamilton by Sheridan is similar to a state championship because they are such rivals.  

The Lady Wolves have won state  three times under the influence of coaches Amy Teague and Karen Smith. Their first game of the season is March 1st against 7A Cabot, and they expect to start with a big bang. With three seniors, one junior, and three sophomore starters returning this year, hopefully the Lady Wolves will achieve their goal and win state. Even though it won’t be easy, with hard work and a lot of effort, the Lady Wolves have a better chance of making their dream come true.

 

A New Semester By: Ashley House

Another Christmas and New Year have gone by and we have entered the new semester here at Lake Hamilton. We have our new classes and a new beginning. For a little while, things may be a bit busy while everyone is getting re-adjusted to school again after a good two weeks out for Christmas, plus a five day weekend of snow while people get settled into their classes and teachers are planning out each day. I hope you have had a great break!

               Maybe we can make this semester much better than the last. What kind of improvements can be made to make it better though? Perhaps fewer fights, better behaving, and more respect for one another and the school staff. Imagine how much better we could improve this year if we work together instead of against one another. It would make everything a lot easier. Don’t worry about everything else that’s going on around the school. Just focus on finishing up school, because most things that happen here mean nothing. High school is just three years until your real life starts. If you’ll focus on what’s important which is finishing up school and moving on, then you’ll be out of here sooner than you think. The teen drama that goes on in school isn’t important. It’s whether or not you make it out of school with a diploma in your hand. After that you’ll never have to worry about high school again because those years will be gone and over with; never to be worried about again. So think about it. Let’s make the best of this semester and move on.

                Last semester we had trouble with fights. One way to improve this semester from the last is to stop the fights and if fighting is a problem for you, figure out a better way to settle the disagreements between you and others. There are a lot of bold people in this school and those people are going to give their opinion, but don’t get offended and upset over it.  Lake Hamilton School is a fantastic school and its students have gotten better with not fighting, but it can still be improved. Don’t use violence to settle these problems. Violence causes nothing but more trouble for you and others.

               Respect was also an issue here last semester. You should respect the people around you whether they do or don’t for you. They may be the meanest person in school, but you can still be the better person to them. Being good to them may get rid of any hard feelings they might have for you. You’d just never know what it is that you could do to help them. You create the atmosphere around you, so the way that you act is the way others are going to react. They may still not be kind to you after you’re good to them, but don’t worry. That’s not your problem, it’s theirs. All you need to do is keep a positive attitude and things will be okay.

                Students also need to behave better. The teachers already have enough to deal with while catching other students up in class and so much more. They are not here to babysit. Everyone in this building is at least sixteen to eighteen years old, so we should act like the adults that we will soon be. We just have one semester left. When things get better around here, then your days at school will be better and they may even go by faster. Let’s fix these problems and make it a better semester. We can do anything that we set our minds to.

        

The Cost Question

When students graduate to high school, many are allowed to drive a car to school every day. But how many students buy their gas (about $3 a gallon), and how do they afford fuel and other driving costs?

The easiest and most common method is for parents to pay for their child’s fuel. Of the students I asked, about half have parents who pay for them. But for students under eighteen, parents probably bought the car anyways. This is the case with me; however, I don’t drive much. To parents of a teenager who drives very often (to school and back, to friends’ houses, to church, etc.) I can see the cost of fuel becoming an issue.

Overall, I’d say those who pay for their own gas have jobs, unless they’re pulling from Christmas money or some other source. Although it is more common for seniors to have a job and pay for gas due to older age, they’re not the only ones who do it. Juniors have jobs too, and even sophomores. Some of these jobs are located near the school, like the 3 Flamingoes and Sonic. But I also know of a student, Ashton Fleming, who works at the Garland County Library. She says that “The job is worth the drive out here.” So although it costs money to get around and to go to work, the spending money and enjoyment that results from a job is worth the cost.

          No doubt, next year, I’m going to have a job and pay for my vehicle myself. What I’ve realized, however, is that for many of my fellow students, paying for fuel is manageable. The responsibility expected of students is what prepares us for events to come – most importantly, graduation and independence.

by Westan Lakey

"From Your Valentine"

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, most people buy their sweethearts a box of chocolates, flowers, and sometimes jewelry, but why do they do this? Is this holiday just an excuse for your lover to buy you extravagant gifts or does it have a deeper meaning?

It seems our definition of this day changes with time and circumstance. To someone in elementary school, Valentine’s Day means eating candy and giving valentine cards to everyone in their class that has the coolest and most popular characters on them. Once that person reaches high school, though, the meaning of Valentine’s Day has completely changed itself into a day that your crush will, hopefully, pay special attention to you. No matter what Valentine’s Day morphs into, we all need to remember the root of it, which is love.

Valentine’s Day first began in honor of St. Valentine himself, but eventually transformed into a day of romance for the sweetheart, but why do we celebrate it? We do so because that’s how we were raised, well most of us anyway. We have grown up knowing that February 14^th is the day of love, the day to give chocolate or flowers, but do people even care about the original meaning anymore?

Saint Valentine was often associated with love and nature; he was represented with birds and roses, while, roses are, often times, considered the flower of love. Gradually, February 14^th became a date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.

Valentine’s Day came to us in the year 496; Pope Gelasius marked February 14^th as a day to celebrate in honor of St. Valentine’s martyrdom, or the day he was put to death, when archeologists found a Roman catacomb and a church dedicated to Saint Valentine shortly after he was beheaded. Valentine was put to death because he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted when helping them was considered a crime.

One legend about St. Valentine says, while waiting for his execution, Valentine restored the vision of the jailer’s blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, Valentine pinned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.” If this is not only a legend, then I guess that explains why we call each other Valentines. Also, while Valentine was in jail, many young people are said to have came to visit him and threw flowers and notes up to his window because they wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love.

In the United States, Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800’s; the day February 14^th has now become quite commercialized with all the cards, chocolates, and flowers. Valentine’s Day is often said to have been created by card companies so they could bring in more money each year because people never bothered to learn the origins of Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day came upon us to begin with so we could celebrate St. Valentine; celebrate all the things he did. Taking the legends and what he stood for into consideration, that shows why we celebrate the way we do. He stood for love and that’s what Valentine’s Day is about today, not chocolate and flowers, but love.

-Nikki Haak



WANTED: Dreamer

         “What if?” Those two words are tow of the most unthreatening words in the English language, but when you put them together, they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. High school is the number one place for “what if” to run wild. “What if I don’t have enough credits to graduate?” “What if my favorite college doesn’t accept my application?” “What if my boyfriend\girlfriend doesn’t go to the same college as me?” These “what ifs” can scare you into not following your dreams.

          When you’re a kid, you are one of the most imaginative dreamers. “I want to be a firefighter!” “I want to be a rock star!” “OH! I’m going to be a princess!” As you get older, those dreams are traded for more ‘practical’ pursuits, like being a teacher, nurse, or accountant. People tell you that no one important comes from Hot Springs, Arkansas; that you can’t possibly compete with everyone else out there. While you may have a passion for music, acting, writing, or animals, you wouldn’t even try applying for Julliard, Baylor, or Hawaii’s school of Zoology. Fears of failure and possible “what ifs” stop you from going after your dreams.

         

          Where do you think society would be if Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, or Albert Einstein listened to all the “what if”s that were thrown at them? We would still be writing by candlelight, separated and segregated, and while we’d probably have less science and math homework, we probably wouldn’t have cell phones or computers either. They found their passion, but instead of submitting to their fears, they pulled through and followed their dreams.

          As a student at Lake Hamilton, you are introduced to many programs and opportunities that help you follow your dreams. Tasseltime.com is a great internet tool that can guide you through the process of finding the right college for you and searching for financial aid that could ensure that you get your chance to succeed. You are also privy to two of the most qualified, not to mention sweet, school counselors in Arkansas. Mrs. Crawford and Mrs. Dwiggins are available all day, everyday to talk to. They can assist you in finding financial aid and scholarships that could help you follow your dreams if you would just take the courage to chase them.

          Dreams change everything. One dream from one person can spark a generation of movement and change. It can inspire a person to break through the expectations of their generation and create a new way of life. Lake Hamilton is as great a place as any to start planning for following your dreams for your future.  Dream big and don’t be afraid to fall because you just might learn to fly.

                                                                   -Madie Blancaflor

     $10 Hallmark Cards, 6 Designer Chocolates That Taste Like Soap and A lot of Lonely People…Must Be Valentine’s Day!

     

            After taking down my Christmas tree and exhausting all of my creative juices into figuring out a way to eat up all our turkey dinner leftovers, I decided to see what after-holiday sales I could find. To my surprise, Christmas decorations were being put away and in their place were Valentine’s Day novelties. This was, mind you, eight days after Christmas and they were already stocking the shelves with cartoon character inspired love letters for five year olds and chalky conversation hearts! It hit me then and there that Valentine’s Day has become overly commercialized by stores, twisted into a day just for couples, and completely foreign as to what the true meaning is: love. Just because the stores feel the need to sell balloons for an arm and a leg doesn’t mean you have to empty your wallet and fill their paychecks to show your love.

           Originating in the Roman Empire, Valentine’s Day was initially the day to remember the priest St. Valentine, who gave his own life in order to keep others’ love alive. There are no limits to love. Whether it’s your grandma, best friend, or the guy who walks your dog, Valentine’s Day was meant to be a day to tell those people how much you care. However, not many people know that. One person admitted, “Honestly, I don’t know why we celebrate it. All I know is that if I don’t show up at home with a dozen of my wife’s favorite flower and a box of three chocolates for ten dollars, someone is definitely sleeping on the couch for a while!” It’s not meant to be a day to expect expensive gifts or to spend your life savings on your sweetie. Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love, and “love conquers all,” as the saying goes, so it deserves something a little more meaningful than the associations of paper hearts and cream filled chocolates.

          Besides the true meaning of this “lovely” holiday being seemingly lost, society has seemed to come to the misconception that Valentine’s Day is only for couples. In reality, it is for every single person in your life who you couldn’t live without. Just because you’re single doesn’t mean you have to sit at home alone Valentine’s night and cry into a bucket of mint chocolate chip ice-cream while watching depressing love sagas. This year, go out with some friends, spend some quality time with family, or even show yourself some love and have a “me” day.

         What’s the next issue this day of love gets plagued by? Money. `Ah yes, around this time, the stores out there seem to make it their mission to give your wallet a heart attack when it sees the price tag. In fact, Valentine’s Day has become so commercialized, it is among the top money making holidays in the U.S, according to the Associated Press. Now I don’t know about you, but receiving a five dollar box of chocolates or a twenty dollar bouquet of roses is not the number one way to get my heart doing back flips in my chest. I think that many people have become so absorbed with utilizing the over-priced goods that the stores put out while we’re still on our Christmas break that it takes away from the thoughtfulness of the holiday. Whether it’s store-bought or homemade, Valentine’s Day gifts should be a symbol of your compassion. The bottom line is: it’s the thought that counts.

       So this year when you flip your calendar over to February and see the, for some, dreaded number fourteen, think back and remember the real reason why we celebrate it. Valentine’s Day was never meant to be a day just for couples, nor should it cause you to go into debt. It’s a day devoted to love and when it’s all said and done, that’s all that should really matter.

BY: CANDACE BOEHM 

New Year's Resolutions That Spark Creativity

          It’s a new year and everyone is racking their brains to think of the best and most sustainable resolution possible.  Some just want to diet or exercise, which are both great ways to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle.  Others resolve to help less fortunate people, animals, or the world in general so that we can all live in a safer and more stable society or be more involved in a religion.  But, some people have unique ideas that stem from their hobbies and interests that are humorous as well as possible.

          At Lake Hamilton, many of the students have a creative side through their resolutions including junior, Kelli Matthews, who has made a commitment to prevent people from walking all over her.  “I’m going to not allow people to use me or manipulate my feelings,” Kelli stated when asked what she planned to do.  Kelli’s resolution is creative in a way that may cause others to stand up for themselves while not retaliating against their foes.  On the other hand, another student I spoke with hopes to be a more humble person.  “I see people being vain and it makes me want to be more modest,” he answered when interviewed.  As a listener, they are great ideas to better social interaction between the students at Lake Hamilton. 

          Apart from traits, some students would like to do something out of the ordinary just to say they did.  Tori Pennington told me she wants to grow dreadlocks and jump off of at least 50 concert stages this year.  Her resolution is one that pertains to her happiness and sense of accomplishment.  Granted it isn’t for everyone, but for Tori, it is just one of those things to mark off of her bucket list.  Another girl I know has a touching resolution.  April Whittington wants to go places with her song writing because she wants to inspire other people since music has always helped her through tough times.  Seeing her light up at the prospect of helping others with something that shaped her into the beautiful person she is today made me realize her creative resolution could truly benefit more people than she may realize.  Apart from the students, there are some teachers with creative and hilarious ideas.  “I want to adopt a child from every country because I like foreign food,” Ms. A said sarcastically, indicating that not all resolutions have to be taken so seriously.  Perhaps some people should make up a funny resolution like hers in order to laugh a little and let go of the stressful things that come up in life.  Mrs. Higgs stated “I want to add to my burgeoning skull collection,” with a smile.  If you have never seen her skull collection, you really should walk to the end of the 200 hallway and take a peek.  She really is the cranium collector and it is a creative resolution that is interesting as well as doable. One teacher was less comical in explaining they would like to surround themselves with positive people in order to create a positive atmosphere.  I found this statement to be a beneficial notion to create a better learning environment at Lake Hamilton.

          After some thought, I decided on three things I feel I must do in the year 2011.  I have vowed to not take the end of my high school career or the beginning of my college experience for granted.  I want to savor every moment and create memories that I will cherish throughout my lifetime.  I also want to quit procrastinating.  Creative right?  But, more than anything, I want to impact the world in a positive way.  The summer after my tenth grade year I went to Washington D.C. to attend the Washington Leadership Conference.  It was there that I learned many of the issues that affect our world and decided I would play a vital role in the fight against hunger.  I made a Living to serve plan and I hope to really dive into it this year.  I have decided to title it FFA: Hungry to Help, although anyone can be a part of it.  I plan to start helping those in my community and later expanding worldwide.

          I see many great things coming from these resolutions in the near future.  If everyone at Lake Hamilton would write down a list of creative and beneficial resolutions, interesting new ideas would turn into great movements.

         

Taylor Duke