HIGH LIFE: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : What Are You Doing to Break Your Worst Habit?

Ever sit next to someone who chews his gum with his mouth open? Or maybe someone who taps her pencil on her desk top or twirls her hair around her finger? These and other idiosyncrasies, performed day in and day out, can become habits. Some habitual behavior is good, but most is simply annoying.

Hot Topics wonders, “What is your worst habit and what are you doing to try to break yourself of it?”

“Biting my fingernails. Whenever I have the urge to do it, I try to concentrate on something else.”

Chrissy Barlet, 15,

sophomore, Brea-Olinda

“Procrastinating. Sometimes I try to make a list of things I have to do and hang them on my door so I’ll be sure to see them.”

Tina Lai, 15,

sophomore, Brea-Olinda

“I always say ‘Oi.’ As soon as I say it, people remind me not to say it anymore.”

Karen Lem, 17,

senior, Cypress

“Fighting with my best friend. I don’t know how to break myself of this habit.”

Trent Tanaka, 16,

junior, Cypress

“I twist my hair constantly. I’m trying to keep my hands busy to stop the habit.”

Aurora Ballard, 17,

senior, Cypress

“Not doing homework. My parents made a list of rules that say I can’t watch TV, listen to the radio or talk on the phone until all my homework’s done.”

Jeremy Stuart, 15,

sophomore, El Modena

“Raising my eyebrows. I always think about it, so I stop myself from doing it.”

Chris Johnson, 18,

senior, El Modena

“Staying up late. I won’t go to sleep until at least midnight. I know I can’t get up in the morning, but out of habit, I stay up. I am making myself be in bed by 10 p.m. If I am even one minute late, I punish myself. I will take away something I like . . . TV, food, etc. It is helping to do better in school because I am more rested and I can think more clearly.”

Jennifer Barkhurst, 16,

junior, Esperanza

“Spending too much money, so I’m trying to save more.”

Brett Boukather, 18,

senior, Esperanza

“Putting myself down. I try to break it by being forward about myself.”

Deana Graham 18,

senior, Estancia

“Cracking my knuckles. I try to break it by sitting on my hands.”

Kirsten Spain, 16,

junior, Estancia

“Eating too much junk food. I’m trying to remedy this by setting limits for myself and keeping a list of good things to eat.”

Rebecca Patch, 17,

senior, Marina

“Not communicating with my parents enough. I’m not really trying to do much to remedy this.”

Dao Nguyen, 15,

junior, Marina

“Worrying, and the only thing I’m doing about it is worrying.”

Lynda De la Cruz, 17,

senior, Mater Dei

“I don’t study hard enough. I have homework every night, and I rush through. I’m trying to spend at least an hour every night.”

Jessica Lerman, 16,

sophomore, Mission Viejo

“Always talking back to my parents because they’re wrong. I should just not talk at all about what I think is best.”

Vic Antablian, 15,

sophomore, Mission Viejo

“Using obscene language, and I hope to try to stop soon.”

Kelly Zeick, 15,

sophomore, Mission Viejo

“I always spend my money as soon as I get it. I never have any money in my wallet, so now I give my allowance to my dad and some day he’ll give it back to me.”

Scott Rosser, 16,

sophomore, Mission Viejo

“Scratching my face. When I study or take tests, I have my hands unconsciously on my face. This habit is caused by stress, so I’m trying to break it by relaxing.”

Kristan Harrison, 16,

junior, Mission Viejo

“Picking at my fingernail polish. I am trying to keep occupied and then I won’t have the need.”

Donna Fisher, 16,

junior, Mission Viejo

“Worrying about everything. I make myself nervous and become a wreck. I’m trying not to think about things and just have fun while I’m doing them.”

Mary Donnely, 16,

junior, Mission Viejo

“Not being able to get up in the morning and therefore being late to school. I try to force myself up in the morning and I set my alarm clock early, but it just doesn’t work.”

Carrie Hall, 17,

senior, Orange

“I broke my worst habit a month ago, and that was smoking. My second worst, which is now my worst, I guess, is bagging on (criticizing) people. So, I try to be more aware of what I say and think because a lot of times I will be rude and not even realize it until later.”

Tom Kovac, 17,

senior, Orange

“Biting and licking my lips. I put medicated stuff on my lips, so it tastes icky if I lick them.”

Amy Mohan, 17,

senior, Orange

“Constantly worrying about my looks. Whenever I see a mirror, I stop. So I have decided that whenever I see a mirror, I am going to turn around and walk the other way.”

Natalie Carter, 15, freshman,

Southern California Christian

“Comparing myself with others. I need to realize that God made me unique.”

Brandi Rodney, 16, junior,

Southern California Christian

“Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I take it out on my boyfriend.”

Amy Matthews, 16, junior,

Southern California Christian

“Bugging teachers. I’m going to keep my mouth shut.”

Thomas Sheahy, 18,

senior, Tustin

“Being a wise guy too much. I try to be as funny as I can be. I’m going to try to be more serious.”

Mark Peligrano, 17,

senior, Tustin

“My worst habit is always nagging at my boyfriend when he is late.”

Jenny Bond, 17,

senior, University

“Indecisiveness. I can’t even make up my mind about anything. I can’t even decide on how I’m going to change it.”

Chindy Lee, 16,

sophomore, University

“Saying ‘Hey’ before I talk to someone. I’m breaking it by saying ‘Dude’ instead.”

Amy Booth, 15,

sophomore, University

“I don’t make curfew so I try to leave early.”

Jay Nash, 16,

sophomore, Valencia

“Mood swings, but there’s nothing I can do about them.”

Mandie Wallmeier, 17,

senior, Valencia

“I get bad grades, so now I’m trying to do my homework.”

Brian Turner, 14,

freshman, Valencia

“I watch too much T.V., so I try to play with my computer more.”

Paul Khashmanian, 17,

senior, Valencia

“When I meet people, I can never remember their names. It’s terrible. I try to just say their names out loud when I meet them so I can remember them.”

Heather Bjorklund, 17,

senior, Villa Park

“Talking too much and too loud. To prevent this, I am trying to shorten my statements and keep myself quiet.”

Michelle Flores, 15,

sophomore, Western

“Chewing tobacco. I’ve quit, but sometimes I get that urge.”

Tom Barraza, 16,

sophomore, Western

“Procrastination. I’ll try to quit putting things off.”

Jason Vaughn, 15,

sophomore, Western

Hot Topic responses gathered by Angela Conner, John Coxford, Tanya Diaz, Jackie Fitzsimmons, Melanie Fowler, Jenny Kaplan, Lynda Kim, Stacey Kimsey, Kyra Kirkwood, Joo Young Lee, Rebecca Leung, Monica Neal, Heather Orey, Hai Pham, Janet Stouder, Jana Swail and Ed White