Griffith High School - Reflector Yearbook (Griffith, IN)

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Senior Troy Grady and junior Tiffany Toweson keep their plants close to them so that they can make sure they don ' t pick up any bad habits from any or the other plants. If concentration will make a plant grow better, then Eric Schilling ' s, sen- ior, plant will grow up to be a tree un- der Eric’s loving and fatherly care. It ' s Friday and there are so many students carrying plants, it looks like a hallway production of Tar- zan. What ' s going on? It ' s a special assignment for Adult Preparation class. Each student is to adopt a plant and take care of it. Every Fri- day the student brings their baby to school and record its measurements in the book that they get with it, Also in the book is included any tragedies that hap- pen. A tragedy is anything that happens that may cause harm to the plant. For instance; if the stu- dent drops the plant it is consid- ered a tragedy and must be re- corded in their book. What exactly is gained by caring for a plant? Senior John Lynk said, It gives us classmates some re- sponsibility be sides ourselves. The ones who give their plant (child) to their mothers or girlfriends are really cheating themselves. Mary Palucki, junior, said, It helps teach responsibility to the parents of the plants and helps prepare the students for when they themselves have kids. Senior, Greg Irvin ' s only prob- lem with the project was that his dog didn ' t like his plant. He walked over it twice now and has even tried to eat its soil. Adult Preparation for Living is often picked up as a filler in the second semester because either students have flunked a class or they have no other semester class choices. However, they will soon find out that many of the ques- tions they have always had, more than likely, will all be answered. Being a plant parent is a part of the class because it gives stu- dents an ac- tual life to care for. Towards the end of the semester if the stu- dents plant hasn ' t died or if they have not for- gotten to bring it in ev- ery Friday, Mrs. Keithly checks it to make sure it is in good health and then gives them a grade. Senior Nancy Pirau said, I have enjoyed Adult Prep, because I am learning things I am going to have to know for the future. Plants make students more responsible for selves and others Plant Parents— 29|

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Somebody forgot about this little plant named Pais- ley. If someone doesn ' t get there soon the plant may die of loneliness or may be plant- napped and held for ransom. Senior Jennifer Ha- geman and Prep, class teacher Mrs. Keithly discuss Jen- nifer ' s plant and try to identify what kind it is and to what family it be- longs. Senior Nancy Pirau bends down to gently pick up her baby plant which she lovingly cares for. The Prep, class students have to care for their child for nine weeks. Julie Sanders, sen- ior, dreams of what her plant will be like when it grows and starts planning for the plants future in it ' s life as an adult. 28— Plant Parents

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Rick Schultze, ju- nior studying chemistry knows that he also has Math and English to study. He just takes one subject at a time as do the other students of C.H.S. Margie Hyland, ju- nior busily studies for the next day ' s quizzes or tests. She also works on her homework as- signments. Study- ing and homework create a lot of pres- sure. strawberry pancakes and the bus- ride to school, you lost that assign- ment that is so vital to your semes- ter grade. Paul, why don ' t I have your homework? You know that if I don ' t get it, you may not gra- duate. I can ' t believe the way you ' ve changed. You used to be a terrific student. Just what you needed. A refer- ence as to how good of a student you used to be. Why do those teachers have to pressure you too? Pressure helps me perform bet- ter because I know it (term paper, basketball games) must get done, observed Dick Kretz, senior. That job after school you wish you could just forget about because the boss is a real stickler for punc- tuality. Since you get out of school at three and start work at 3:30, it ' s hard to be there on time. If you didn ' t need the money for Aunt Sally ' s operation you ' d quit. As you walk home from McDonald ' s (your working atmo- sphere), a lady walks up to you and asks for a donation to the lady ' s auxilary. To yourself, you wonder why they need money unless it is to buy new cards for their, bi- weekly bridge game or those fun- ny little uniforms they wear. Pres- sure from the society also influences the choices made by you and your peers. Pressure can be terrible but it can also be helpful if it is handled properly, using patience and inge- nuity. Have you ever stopped to think that the decisions you make ev- eryday could be influenced by pressure from different areas of your life? For instance: You wake up Monday morning, throw open Students handle schoolwork job pressure and the problems of everpdap life your closet and chi oose something blue. You then decide, no, the red would look better. This process has been c :on- trolled by the fact that red might be more s luit- able to the taste of your group of peers. As the minutes pass by all too quickly, and breakfast just doesn ' t seem possible. How- ever, you think maybe mom might be a little upset because she made a special treat just for you. Parental pressure also plays a part in the lives of every teenager. Finally, you are in the school doors and first hour has begun. I mostly get influence when my parents pressure me on my grades, said Carlos Cundiff, ju- nior. Pass up the assignment I told you to do for today, says the teacher. Somehow between the 1 30 — Pressures