Van Alstyne High School - Panther Yearbook (Van Alstyne, TX)

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Daddy’s going lo yell! Junior Mary Allen takes a look at the dent caused by her head-on-collision with Junior Tommy Offill. All four wheels on the ground. Junior Laura Woodroof takes the turn at the Cottonwood entrance a little bit faster than normal. “Come on, live a little! Who’s going to find out? You only live once.” Teenagers today are presented with and often pressured into taking many unnecessary risks. In fact, they almost seem to thrive on thrills, looking for excitement that is clearly risky — ignoring the danger. Junior Laura Woodroof said, “I know I tend to drive a little recklessly. 1 guess three wrecks in nine months is a pretty good sign. It doesn’t seem like I’m taking a chance at the time. It’s not until afterwards that I realize how dan- gerous it was, but by that time it’s over and there’s nothing I can do anyway.” Some might say to themselves, “What’s the danger in a little excitement? But in reality, teenagers are the only group in the U. S. whose death rate is rising, and many believe that risk-taking is at the bottom of this trend. In short, teenagers are dying from their own reckless behavior. Senior Jennifer Likely said, “Everything I like to do is sort of risky, but I only do it because it’s fun.” Often, when teenagers do something reckless several times without getting hurt, they assume that it becomes less risky each time. This is wrong. Sophomore Carey Conner said, “I just like to have fun. No one ever gets hurt, so I guess being reckless a little isn’t that bad.” Risk taking may help you feel more independent, but in the long run, it can only cause harm. Because, in short, just being a teenager is basically more dangerous than skydiving, hang gliding, or ski-jumping. Keeping aft eye out. After classes the Van Alstync Police Department surveys the campus for speeders and rowdy behavior. 20 STUDENT LIFE

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Risky Business So what! Who cares if you had to skip a class, or even the whole day. It’s not like you wanted to or anything. I mean, it’s not as if it were enjoyable, it had to be done. The mall was calling, the beach (or pool) was beckoning, or worst of all, you were just too tired to get out of bed. Junior John Watson said, “1 skip for a lot of good reasons, but mainly because of the food situation. A hungry person is not a happy person.” It’s not your fault! But for some inexplicable reason, parents and teachers alike never seem to understand why you are forced to miss school. Junior Daryl Holland said, “I don’t skip school. If my old man ever found out (and he has his ways), I’m dead!” You’d think they would at least take a little pity on the poor students who are forced day in and day out (unless there is a holiday, or weekend, or summer vacation) to haul their bodies out of bed at an unforgivably early hour, find a way to get to school, and worst of all ... actually work! It’s practically a right, and earned reward to be able to skip. Do they even consider the fact that we even have to make up the work we missed? No way! Junior M. J. Hicks said, “The only bad things about skipping school are getting caught and having to make up the work.” Gotta' be fast. Junior Jason McTee and friend dash to their car to get a quick bite of lunch off campus.

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