Merrillville High School - Merrillvue Yearbook (Merrillville, IN)

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Dating Dilemma “If your, uh, not, uh busy Fri- day night like to go out may- be?” Dating plays a major role in the lives of many students. De- cisions have to be made once an adolescent starts to date, such as where to go and what to do. Tracy Phillips, junior, de- scribed her perfect date as: The guy and you go to a mov- ie and then to an inexpensive place for a Coke. Then allow enough time to go home and talk. End the date by getting to know each other with a good- bye kiss.” Dating is becoming very ex- pensive. The cost for a couple to go to the movies is $9. This doesn’t include popcorn, pop and going out afterward. Yet, inexpensive alternatives are available. “Staying home and watching a movie on the VCR while eat- ing popcorn is fun, yet inexpen- sive,” commented Anna-Marie Turpa, senior. How old should adolescents be before dating? According to leading psy- chologists, before the age of 16 most teens are “Me oriented.” They are not capable of being aware of and fulfilling the needs of a partner. As two people become close they play a big part in each oth- er ' s lives. Those two people should be mature if they are going to affect each other in such a way. “The younger the adoles- cent starts to date, the less re- sponsible he or she is for their actions,” stated Lyle Stoelting, psychology teacher. Dating someone can lead to a serious relationship, which can lead to early sexual en- counters. Without the proper information, this may lead to teenage pregnancy. Some schools offer sex edu- cation courses in an attempt to inform students. At Lew Wal- lace High School, for instance, a nine-week sex education course is a mandatory part of the physical education pro- gram. “I think a sex education course at school would be beneficial,” stated Sandy Jack- son, senior. Dating experiences, good and bad, all help to form the people we become in the fu- ture. by SHAWN LYNN CUNNINGHAM ' The guy and you go to a movie and then to an inexpensive place for a Coke. Then allow enough time to go home and talk. End the date by getting to know each other with a good-bye kiss.” 18

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Locker Decoration Personalizing lockers is a favorite activity. Students arrive in August to decorate before school begins. Pictures and mirrors are most popular. Looking down the halls, cre- ative locker decorations added life and character to the bare, metal, school lockers. Photographs, stickers, post- ers and mirrors are some of the many items found in lock- ers hanging on locker doors. Several students arrived be- fore school started to decorate their lockers. I knew I wouldn ' t have time to decorate between classes so I came early,” said Gina Hylek, sophomore. Locker decorations revealed the personalities and interests of some students. Sports en- thusiasts have action posters of their favorite sports and photos Bounnharaj 0 ut of the view of any school officials, Nancy Nims, junior, takes time to do some last minute homework. Sitting in the hallway is banned. S orting through a mass of books, Chris Kurtis, senior, attempts to re- store order to his locker. Even though it is against the Student Handbook, students often share lockers. Zawada 20 Lockers idols. Pictures of rock stars are other popular items seen on lockers along with provacative sex symbols. Locker decorating is popular, but why? Many students agreed that the most popular photo found in their locker was of their boy- friend or girlfriend. “We like putting pictures of our boyfriends in our lockers- ,”said Nikki Modrak, junior. “We don’t get to see them very often,” added Sheila Loh- man, junior. by TRACY WIKSE D isplaying his interests in his locker, Joe Massow, junior, makes it his home away from home.