Shawnee Mission North High School - Indian Yearbook (Overland Park, KS)

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Caught in the act of cleaning his 1987 Conquest TSI, junior Mark Stewart takes advan- tage ofthe first nice day afier the Dec, 14 Siww storm. KPhoto by Monte Montemayori ,i.i.......---- Cars 29

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While models, conditions vary, students care most about just having a set of wheels Sportiness and good looks in a car were not always top priori- ties to most students. More important was just the fact that they had wheels. Cars in the school parking lot ranged from red Mazda RX7's to dented old clunkers. The kinds of cars people drove made them individual. It made them original. Personality played a key role in the type of car people drove. Cars which students had bought themselves seemed to have more value for owners since they had to save and spend their own money. When choosing a car, tastes differed greatly. Size, color, practicality, gas mileage and shape sometimes played a part in the decision. I didn't want to go down the street and see a lot of boxy cars, said senior Julie Denesha of her yellow Carmen ghia. I like mine with all the curves. Practicality played a part in senior Scott Ceule's decision of trading in his Mustang GT for financial reasons. I have a Ford Escort GT now, Ceule said. I wanted to have a more practical car, but yet fun car, Ceule said. Others were glad just to have a car. It's kind of a joke, said senior Tim Ranney, owner of a 1978 Gremlin. People laugh at me, but it gets me from one place to another. I would rather have a sports car, but it was a compromise, said senior Mike Drummond, owner of a Thunderbird 'Ibrbo Coupe. I'm paying for two- thirds and my dad is paying one- third. Trying to be different, junior Cyndi Cyrier spray-painted her 1978 Celica with tic-tac-toe boards and band-aids to hide the dents and to make people smile. I'm the kind of person who will go out and do anything for a laugh, I like to make people smile, said Cyrier. Getting in touch with nature, senior Shelly McConnell said she bought her 1978 MG because she liked convertibles. I like the outside, I don't like to be cooped up, she said. Some students were stereo- typed because of the type of car they drove. A lot of people label me because of my car, said senior Lisa Clinkenbeard, of her red RX7, who said she was labeled as a snob by fellow students. They don't even take the time to get to know me, she said. Others weren't bothered by the labeling. Junior Terri Wedekind, owner of 1982 BMW, said her car showed her taste and it was fun to drive. I liked it so I bought it, she said. I like nice things and I like to be noticed, said senior Jesse Valdez of his red 1986 IROC Z. In late November, Valdez' car was stolen, as were several other students' cars. Some students said that their cars didn't reflect their personal- ities at all. It doesn't reilect me, but the stereo does. It's loud and obnox- ious, said senior Grady Rodgers of his 1977 I-Ionda. It was the only thing I could afford. Students were portrayed as individuals by the cars they drove to school. Each car pro- jected its own unique style and originality. Whether it was fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror or a graduation tas- sel, a tale of personality was being told. CCopy by Amy Kirkland! .fig A .. Q V . . Y -.5 T gww :. .,5H .,4i - , -N . . m v .V M , H '

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Working students juggle jobs, studies, yet struggle to 'have a nice da ' The register rapidly clanked as its internal drawer ejected and speedy transactions were made. Gazing at the ever-grow- ing line, the slaving employee nervously picked up the pace. A plastered smile and an unenthu- siastic have a nice day, hurried the tired customer out the door. Many student employees experienced such scenes on their jobs. Yet, even through the pres- sure and dislike, working stu- dents added light to their some- what dark situations. I was working close to full time last year and as a result my grades suffered. All I did was school, work, bed, and I never did my homework, said senior Kristin Cass, who, in spite of cer- tain bad points, said she enjoyed the benefits of working in a department store. I receive dis- counts from work on anything I purchase, which helps with cloth- ing. ' Other jobs, however, provided time to finish out-of-class assign- ments. I never really have home- work, said junior Stacey Snyder, but if I do I usually do it there. Snyder said she enjoyed her job at the Car Wash Center of 30 Working Students Mission for various reasons. I love working there. I like my bosses and the kind of people who work there, she said. Other students also liked the people they encountered and found that having a job broad- ened their friendships. It's fun because I have extra money and you get to meet a whole bunch of different people,' said junior Amy Debey. But, I don't get to go out with my friends as much as I want. I like the clothes and the atmosphere and I enjoy working with people, said senior David Hilliard, who said he wanted a job for experience in the working field. The only disadvantages are when I'm on call. I don't know whether I will or won't be working, so I can't plan anything for certain. Working provided a source of money, a sense of responsibility and new friends. Finding light in a dark situation kept students in a happier state of mind and made their jobs bearable. And, once in a great while, tired cus- tomers received a truly sincere, have a nice day. CCopy by Kari Scottb w