A Press Democrat Blog

Teen Life

News and opinion from local teens

Why students cheat: SparkNotes

Monday, at 2:08 by

By HANK SMITH HEALDSBURG HIGH SCHOOOL, 18, SENIOR Sometimes, it just can’t be helped. Whether it’s because of sports, family events, other homework or just plain procrastination or laziness, every student at one time or another has skipped on their reading homework. And at times like those, likely to the teacher’s chagrin, SparkNotes was there for them. Since its founding, SparkNotes has been an invaluable resource and a constant temptation to English students at various grade levels across the country.… Read More »

Why students cheat: Temptations

Monday, at 2:06 by

By ALEX WOOD HEALDSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, 16, JUNIOR Life is full of temptations. As anyone will attest to, there are times when the drive and desire to do what you know you should not do is overpowering. In high school, college and even in post-graduate studies, cheating has become one of those temptations. Countless students have fallen into the habit to manage their overwhelming workload. Most would assume that straight-A students are above this dishonesty, but several New York Times… Read More »

DREAM Act: Scholarships difficult to get for legal residents

Monday, at 1:20 by

By ROBERT WILCOX HEALDSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, 16, JUNIOR Imagine you are applying to colleges, and you set you sights on one particular school. You just love this school, and it is your dream to go there. The cost is a little high, but you will find a way to manage. You receive a letter from the college and open it with giddy excitement, but your dreams shatter when you are not accepted. In your place, there is someone who is… Read More »

DREAM Act: Punishing immigrant youths makes little sense

Monday, at 1:18 by

By GRACE ACKLES HEALDSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, 17, SENIOR Everyone has their share of “first-world problems,” whether they are aware of it or not, and many will go though life continuing to get upset about such things as not being able to get the latest version of their smartphone or having to witness the tragic absence of stairs on their high school campus. Luckily, most manage to get through the day despite these hardships because on some level we are all… Read More »

Why they chose the military

Wednesday, at 10:35 by

By ADAM SILOW MARIA CARRILLO HIGH SCHOOL Becoming a Navy SEAL is an aspiration that not many Americans dare to have and even fewer are able to attain. However, for Ryder DeSalvo, 18, of Santa Rosa, this has been a goal long in the making and one that he believes is within his ability to accomplish. “Since middle school it’s been a life dream of mine, and I just can’t wait to get there,” DeSalvo said. DeSalvo graduated in May… Read More »

Teen Face: Kirsten Smith of Healdsburg High

Sunday, at 2:57 by

By PAUL PAYNE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT When Kirsten Smith goes to Cal Poly this fall to study business management, she’ll be one step further down the road of achieving her career goal: Becoming the head of a large company. It’s a path the 2012 Healdsburg High School graduate started down years ago. Way back in third grade, she was a peer mediator, stepping in between kids who were fighting over schoolyard disputes. By high school, she had honed her leadership… Read More »

As far as college goes, looking past practical

Monday, at 3:02 by

By AARON A. MILLER HEALDSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR, 17 Being a junior, I have recently begun my college search. I haven’t decided much, but one thing stands out from all my research: I cannot afford to go to college. Realistically speaking, you probably can’t either: Even “cheap” public universities cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. In CSUs this year, students will pay $10,570 in tuition, while a UC will cost about $31,000. This is not even considering what… Read More »

Teen Face: Anacari Anguiano

Monday, at 11:04 by

By BRETT WILKISON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Behind the busy schedule that Anacari Anguiano keeps these days is a goal the 16-year-old Healdsburg High sophomore has had for as long as she can remember. The long days at school, including the full set of classes she’s taking this summer through the Upward Bound program at Sonoma State University, and the years of study ahead are all aimed at taking a little of the load off her parents. Years ago, Manuel and… Read More »