Westlake High School - Ram Ler Yearbook (Westlake, LA)

Page 27 text:

Tin grins are in Lately, many people have had to ''brace up to the fact that they need to wear braces. Many students at Westlake High have them now, and many will have them in the future. Braces produce many problems for the bracee. Often these problems cause embarrassment. Loose wires can be a problem. If this occurs, wax may be applied. One should never get hungry with wax in his mouth. If the bracee does become hungry, food and wax are eaten simultaneously. None has solved this problem so far. Another problem that is common to almost everyone with braces is the use of rubber bands. It's rather funny when a person with braces yawns in church and his rubberband pops out. However, it's not so funny to the person sitting in front when the rubberband stings him in the back of the head. The most common problem experienced by all persons with braces is eating embarrassment. Pizza is probably the worst type of food to eat. According to Stephanie Hebert, her most embarrassing moment with braces was eating at Tony's Pizza. The day she got her braces, her cousin took her out to eat. The cheese stuck in her braces which made her too embarrassed to talk. There is one thing people with braces should always remember: never smile when eating. That can cause a total gross out. Although the disadvantages seem endless, there are a few advantages. According to Roderick Thibodeaux, the biggest advantage to him is letting the good-looking orthodontist assistants work on his teeth. After wearing braces for the average of two years, most people give a sigh of relief when the braces are taken off. When asked how she felt about once wearing braces, Cinda White replied, I think it was worth wearing braces because it improved my teeth a great deal. There were things I didn't like, such as the fact that I wasn't supposed to chew gum or drink cokes, although I did them anyway. I didn't mind wearing braces because I didn't feel like I was the only one with them. Cinda, Roderick, Stephanie, and many other others have had to brace up to braces. Even though problems occur, in the long run it's worth it. TOP LEFT: Jimmy Rippeon hides his braces. MIDDLE. Taran Menge does not let braces interfere with her flute playing. LEFT: Staci Hargrove and Rhonda Lovett display lovely million dollar smiles. Student Life 23

Page 26 text:

Book bags and brown bags make the scene Brown bagging arrived at Westlake High this year. Maybe it was the increase in cafeteria prices or maybe students were just ready for a change. Most lunches were eaten in the vicinity of the band room. Students sat outside when the weather was nice or found a comfortable hook when they had to be inside. Sack lunches usually consisted of a sandwich, chips, fruit and dessert. A thermos of drink was not unusual, but usually a soft drink was purchased from the coke machine in the band room. There were even those students who carried sack lunches from Hardee's, but this was not condoned by the administration or the faculty. TOP RIGHT: Angela Moss enjoys sunshine and sandwich during her lunch break. MIDDLE RIGHT: Michelle Collins with her brown bag sits on a bench in front of the band hall. BOTTOM RIGHT: Robbie Wynne and Katherine Landry enjoy Cheetos for lunch. BOTTOM: Allan Trouille with chips, Sunkist and sandwich, enjoys lunch. 22 Student Life

Page 28 text:

What should I wear today? The most popular style for 1981 would have to be preppy. Oxford shirts, top-siders, and plaids make up that preppy look. Susan McManus is wearing every thing it takes. With the yellow oxford shirt she has matched yellow socks and top-siders to bring out the yellow in her red plaid belted dress. The dressy look has gone more casual than in the past. Sweaters are tied around the neck and lower comfortable shoes are being worn. Lisa Thibodeaux is showing the style in a plaid skirt with a casual long sleeve shirt. She has a sweater tied around her neck that drapes in the back. 24 Student Life