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Students hope 2010 bringS"academic success, new friendships
M ary W ood
New Year’s Day: a time to
rest after the previous night’s
events, reflect on the year
and for many, make goals
to change one’s life for the
better. In an Amplifier survey
sent out to students, we asked
them to share their top three
New Year's Resolutions for
2010. Nearly 53 percent of
students who responded
to the survey wanted to do
better academically, the most
popular goal for the new year.
"I want to bring my
grades up to As by the end
of the year. It's a new year,
so I have to start it off good.
I will do all the work and
actually study," Mihai Dan,
freshman, said. Although
not all students are aiming
for straight-As, many hope
to improve their studying
habits, and to avoid last-
minute cramming.
"Cramming has resulted
in not doing well, and I will
achieve it by writing down
study times in my planner,"
Hanna Emerson, freshman,
said. Good time management
skills are required to avoid
months with the Swine Flu,"
Angelica Jolley, freshman,
said. "I plan to talk to my
teachers and a home-school
tutor to see what I can do to
stay with my class."
While some students
were concerned about
school, about 28 percent of
students wanted to work on
relationships with their peers.
"I want to strengthen
friendships with my friends
that I've made this year.
Friends are really important
to me, and there are some
wonderful people at our
school," Elisabeth Haffner,
freshman, said. While
Haffner is concerned about
new friendships, Brittany
Spurgeon, senior, hopes to
maintain existing ones.
"I want to mend old
friendships that faded out
because we are all going off
to college next year and there
is no better time for a second
chance at friendships than
now. I plan on checking in
more with my friends' days
even if it's just by a simple
text," Spurgeon said.
Another big concern for
irrany students is staying fit
cramming. Alexandra Upton,
and healthy in the upcoming
senior, hopes to improve on
those before heading off to
college.
"I really want to focus
this new year on making
a schedule for myself
and following it. Time
management has been
something I have struggled
with all through high school,"
Upton said.
For some students, staying
timely and up-to-date on
schoolwork means playing
some serious catch-up.
"I want to stay caught
up with my work, since I
have been gone for over two
year.
"I'm going to try to eat
healthier. I'm not overweight,
but I think I could stand
changing my eating habits,"
Christiana Smith, junior, said.
"I plan on achieving it by
getting rid of the fatty things
in my house."
Along with these health
goals were hopes of staying
on top of the game in sports.
"My goal is to make the
tennis team and get on JV or
Varsity," Mackenzie Coronel,
freshman, said. A major part
of success in sports is a good
relationship with teammates,
M arshall M iller
and spontaneous song
include popular tunes
like "Jingle Bells," "Jolly
Old St. Nicholas," "Oh
Christmas Tree" and "Deck
the Halls." There are many
opportunities to vocalize—
there's even Christmas
karaoake cds offered.
In the pop genre, one
of my favorite's is Adam
Sandler's humorous take
on the holidays, "The
Hanukkah Song" It seems
like almost every famous,
or not so famous artist has a
holiday album.
"I like 'All I Want For
Christmas Is You' by Mariah
Carey because it puts
everyone in a good mood,"
Aubrey Pesicka, sophomore,
said.
Other great soundtracks
include "Charlie Brown's
Christmas," John Nilsen's
In a survey, students were asked to choose the top three
areas they want to improve upon for the new year.
53 %
Schoolwork/grades
36 %
Personal habits
32 %
Romance
28 %
Physical appearance
Friendships
28 %
19 %
15 %
Family
or in the case of horseback
riding, with the horse.
"My horseback riding
goal is to obtain a new horse.
After my last horse was sadly
put down due to a sudden
emergency problem, I would
like to start working more
with Lucy, the horse on
whom I am currently riding
and competing with," Emily
McDonald, freshman, said.
"She is very special and I am
building a great connection
with her."
Other goals for 2010
included stopping bad
habits."Every year I tell
myself to stop cracking my
knuckles, but it hasn't been
very successful," Jennifer
Wells, junior, said.
Although everyone has
different goals for the new
year, all of the goals are
focused on self-improvement,
which can often be
challenging. But if this year
doesn't bring a desired
change, there's always 2011.
"Heaven and Nature,"
and the humorous "Red
holidays," Ian Winslow,
sophomore, said. Frank
Sinatra's collection features
familiar titles such as "The
Little Drummer Boy," and
"Silent Night."
The majority of holiday
music emits good vibes
and is uplifting, but are
there any songs that set
Time' by Hilary Duff is
annoying because it just
repeats, 'We'll be having
Traditional holiday harmonies create high spirited happiness
Even before the last trick-
or-treater rang the doorbell,
"Jingle Bells" was playing
in stores signaling that the
holidays are here! Whether
it's the Muppets or Enya, it's
hard not to be in the mood—
think warm fires and freshly
baked gingerbread cookies.
Caroling may also be
one of the oldest forms of
music during the holidays.
Concerts, sing-a-longs
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Neck's Christmas." All have
different styles of music but
are equally entertaining.
Some include a deep piano
or a melancholy tone,
whereas others have guitar
and vocals included. The
many varieties of holiday
music make it possible for
everyone to have a good
time.
"I just like listening to
Frank Sinatra during the
y
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the opposite mood? When
it comes to music to avoid
there is one song to be
aware of.
"’Wonderful Christmas
a wonderful Christmas
time' over and over again
and so I just feel green
with rage when I hear that
song," Morgan Winnick,
sophomore, said.
To enjoy this holiday
season, take the time to
choose good music to
enhance the festivities.
From country to rap, there's
something for everyone.