Rachel’s Challenge by Rebecca Hennessy
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Wouldn’t it be Nice…
by Breanna Fitzgerald-Bassett and Rose Fitzmaurice
Many high school seniors know no greater anxiety than planning what they would like to do for work and school when exiting school and entering the outside world. Here at Quincy High School, a sampling of 12th grade students have a good idea of what they would like to do; in other words, their dream jobs. Everything from becoming an NFL star to an Aftermath employee is represented here in the eyes of future graduates. Melissa Bouzan wants to find a way to help those suffering from autism. Her cousin was diagnosed with this disease as a baby, which gives her the drive to work in the health field either as a nurse or a doctor. When Eoin Moriarty was asked what his plans were after high school he answered that, “A doctor is the big goal…pediatrics,” with a laugh he added “I’m good with kids.” Beth Stevens would like to become a physical therapist, she knows she needs something hands-on and wouldn’t be able to handle a desk job. She explained that, “Everyone breaks bones and will probably need physical therapy.” She is also attracted to the fact that the job is very high paying (70k+ a year). On the other side of the spectrum Jessica Hurd wants to work for Aftermath, a lesser-known career that would require her to clean crime scenes after all of the criminal evidence has been documented. It interests her because most people never really hear about what takes place after a crime is committed, such as when someone dies. Plus, she adds, “I have a stomach of steel.” Josh Kaplan, a member of the broadcasting class who can be seen on the morning announcements, would like to pursue broadcast journalism. It is a combination of his two favorite things, English and theater. He also thoroughly enjoys watching newscasters on television. Matt Albanese wants to work toward becoming a pilot. He always knew that he was going to be in the Air Force and when he had the opportunity to fly around Cape Cod in an UH60 Black hawk helicopter, he realized that that was what he wanted to do post-high school. Chris Brooks (more commonly known as CJ) is passionate about cooking. He feels connected to the Italian side of his family when he is cooking and would like to own his own restaurant.
On the QHS athletic side, two aspiring professional athletes are among those polled in this year’s graduating class. Colleen Kelly would like to become a professional bowler. She has been bowling competitively for years and she competed in Las Vegas this year. Colleen stated, “I love it so much and it would be awesome to be paid to do so.” Nick Lepore would like to play football professionally, he says, “It’s just fun to do.” He also likes to be able to hit people and get away with it.
With so many seniors going in so many different directions, this class will hopefully be strong and able to fulfill their career goals in the upcoming years. It is this generation’s turn to call the shots and even with the weight of two wars, a suffering economy and shrinking job market, it will be our time to make a difference.
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Artwork by Johnny Zhao
The Pressure To Be Perfect
by Julia Galanek
Ever see one of those really pretty girls in the hallway and think to yourself, “She’s perfect”? Or maybe it was a change of that “perfect” girl’s profile picture on Facebook and you thought to yourself, “Can I be you?” Well, first off, I’d just like to say she is not perfect nor is she flawless. She may be beautiful but remind yourself, so are you! I often think the same way. There’s always that one girl who makes you feel like badly about yourself because she’s just so pretty. Alas, my darling, may I remind you there is no such thing as perfect or flawless. Everyone has flaws. You might just not see them.
Growing up you see all those movies with these so called “flawless girls,” whether it was The Little Mermaid or maybe it was during Life-Sized, the Disney Channel movie with Tyra Banks in it. Movies like this give you or any little girl the impression that you need to be like these characters or no one will like you andyou cannot be popular. They also give you the idea that skinny girls with no acne are beautiful. Nowhere in the actual definition of beautiful are the words “skinny,” “perfect,”or “flawless” in that sentence. Therefore, you do not need to be any of those three things to be beautiful. Beauty lies inside of all of us. You just need to dig deep and find it.
One quality that helps you to find your inner beauty is confidence. Confidence believes that you are amazing. Everything about you is amazing! You may have flaws but that’s what makes you human. That’s what makes you real. So don’t fall into it the pressure to be perfect. You are – in your own imperfect way.
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Rachel’s Challenge
by Rebecca Hennessy
I am like anyone else, on any other blog post, from any other school. Today my school had a guest speaker from Rachel’s Challenge Campaign. Our speaker was Jay Oh. I only remember his name because it struck an odd chord to have a name, seemingly two initials, but two legitimate names. Jay never got to meet Rachel, he never knew Rachel, and he never knew Rachel’s family but before his lecture he mentioned he’d be spending the holidays with them. What a peculiar thought. This was a random man, blending into a suburban family, whom he’d known for no reason other than the death of one 16-year-old girl. He picked up on Rachel’s legacy at one point in his life, and had been so moved that he rerouted his life. He befriended Rachel’s family. That’s what Rachel was about. Friendships with strangers. Commonality in difference. Judgment solely on the good in others despite their shortcomings.
Rachel Joy Scott. “Joy”. The irony could kill, for lack of a better expression. But that’s just what Rachel was a joy in the lives of many others. A joy to her family, friends, and to acquaintances. She didn’t think about how many hearts she was touching, she did not keep count, it was not a competition. She did it for the sole purpose of the benefit of everyone. Kindness is mutually profitable, no argument there.
I sat in the balcony of my school’s auditorium adjacent to my seemingly tough friend Diana, an emotional wall of hindrance. Over the next hour this wall would be broken down. As Jay went on about Rachel’s life, her writings, her unintentional teachings, and closure, the presentation was coming to an end. Jay asked us all to shut our eyes. Without a thought my eyes closed as if I was ten steps ahead of myself. As my eyelids met, a tear was already rolling down my right cheek. Jay asked us to think of a loved one, all of our loved ones, and how special they are to all of us. A tear was then down my left cheek. I thought I must look ridiculous. I felt as if no one else was crying, or even had their eyes closed for that matter. I felt so weak, but it did not matter. What did I care what people thought of me? Wasn’t that what Rachel was about? The background music was harmonious with my heart beat. It was a lone bass drum in my empty body. I felt like a shell of a girl. I was trapped in my head with only the guilt of my wrong-doings, and my thoughts. Jay asked us to open our eyes. My first instinct was to look next to me. Diana, soaked cheeks and all, had been touched beyond what I felt. She didn’t hesitate to express every emotion brought on by her own thoughts. She’d gone from firm sophomore to vulnerable little girl. As the assembly wrapped up and we all rose from our seats Diana uttered the words, “I want to call my mom.”
Rachel would not want to be on such a high pedestal that she has been placed on. She told us how she was just one of us. One of the kids. Diana was sitting to my right today, but Rachel was to my left.
