St Teresas Academy - Avila Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 12 text:

Right: Senior. Lisa Boyd seems to con- centrate heavily on something. Most people quickly find that con- centration is vital in maintaining homework and extracurricular ac- tivities. mmam Every year thousands of young eighth graders are awakened to the fact that high school is just around the corner. They are cascaded with the millions of horror stories about entering secondary school. Most de- velop intense paranoias as a result. They have a strangely terrible fear of big, square buildings, or teachers that wear the bifocals with the thick, black rims-, offices begin to look like large, empty prison cells with white walls and bars on the windows. You can go in, but you can’t come out!” Then, there is that annoying fear of bathrooms where there may be a group of girls waiting to corner you. You probably wore their trademark brand of lipstick or looked — yes, looked — at one of their boy- friends! Finally, everywhere you look there are Algebra books, millions of Al- gebra books in that real funny green color that psychologists say dulls your senses so you won’t be encouraged to be hyper during class. You may think these stories are unrealistic, but some stories are even worse. Some refer to high school as the most painful and difficult time of your life. It’s no wonder that it’s painful and difficult — people are stuffed with so many stories that they’re always wait- ing for the extraordinary to happen. It rarely takes place. Often times the greatest scare that a high school fresh- man has is adjusting to the fact that homework isn’t a one-night event. St. Teresa’s students have many expecta- tions coming into their first year. Freshman, Chantil Dean says, ”1 expect to make good grades and be or try to be involved in activities.” Senior, Lisa Gib- lin adds, ”1 expected to keep all my same friends, but sure enough, during lunch there were forty of us at one ta- ble. I thought I’d try out for a sports team since I was good in grade school. I barely made it. My fears got worse and I worried more. I never knew you had so much to do in so little time.” There probably isn't one eighth grad- er that wouldn't love some advice on their first day. Seniors, usually, will give it. Senior, Andrea Monroe offers this suggestion, ”1 would advise a per- son to stay open-minded because so many freshmen leave their first year because it’s such a big transition from being at the top and running the school to the bottom, and being run by the school.” High school is a BIG DEAL! It shouldn’t be taken lightly either. And the stories — well, they're only to frighten you and shake you up a little so that you’ll be wide awake on your first day. So, when you hear them, don’t de- spair. Keep your head up and walk tall. If that doesn’t work, cover the green Algebra book, don’t wear lipstick, and go to an all-girls school. 8

Page 11 text:

Far left at top: why do we save all of these things? They look so or- dinary! Center top: Cards and flowers, and Teddy bears, are age- less reminders of days and friends gone by. Bottom center: Remind- ers of days spent frol- icking at the beach and basking in the sun. Top right: Old. often used paintbrushes waiting pa- tiently for the hands that will guide them. Lower right: Here we can keep our things A safe from mom!!! X 7

Page 13 text:

Top Center: Seniors, Kristin Bellerose, Kella Didonna, and Traci Da- vis demonstrate class unity. Bottom center: Freshman Peggy Lillis finds it easy to discuss school and life with Mr. Robert Cox. Left: Senior. Jennifer White shows that she's learned the essence of studying dur- ing unscheduled mods. Above: Freshman Alicia Young has found that high school isn't nearly as bad as she thought it would be. 9