HIGH LIFE / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : How Do You While Away Time When Caught in Traffic?

From the school’s parking lot to any busy intersection, from the drive-through restaurant line to rush hour on any freeway . . . if you drive a car in Orange County, you simply can’t escape traffic troubles.

Hot Topics wonders: “What do you do when you’re caught in a traffic jam?”

“If I am in a hurry, I get really frustrated. I don’t let people get in the lane in front of me. On the other hand, if I am not late, I turn up my radio, relax, and check out the people around me. People can be really friendly in traffic--sometimes too friendly. That’s how I met my last boyfriend!”

Liz Gates, 16,

junior, Brea-Olinda

“Try to get on different streets so I can avoid the jam.”

Tom Breen, 16

junior, Brea-Olinda

“Clean out my glove compartment.”

Karen Ashton, 16,

junior, Brea-Olinda

“I’m a very impatient person, and the thing I hate the most is being stuck in traffic. I can easily embarrass myself by yelling and using sign language, but I just stick in a tape, roll my window down and sing to the music.”

Debbie Burnham, 17,

senior, Brea-Olinda

“Talk to the other cars and get nauseous.”

Jean Felden, 16,

senior, Connelly

“Read the newspaper.”

Brad Miller, 17,

junior, Corona del Mar

“Clean my car.”

Lane Contus, 16,

junior, Corona del Mar

“Flirt with the people next to me.”

Rina Yano, 16,

junior, Corona del Mar

“Get out and start running around the car with my friends.”

Viki Kern, 15,

sophomore, Cypress

“Fall asleep.”

Christina Poulsen, 16,

junior, Cypress

“Scream, curse and turn up the radio.”

Marie Fagnant, 15,

sophomore, Dana Hills

“Use four-wheel drive and take the shoulder.”

Ryan Nations, 16,

senior, Dana Hills

“Get out of my car through the sunroof and tell everyone that I work for Playboy and I’m late for an interview with Paulina.”

Andy Noye, 17,

senior, Dana Hills

“Try to enter an alpha state through meditation.”

Martin Mason, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“Take the car-pool lane whether there is one or not.”

Bart Sullivan, 17,

senior, Mater Dei

“Pray that traffic will clear up.”

Tony Menard, 17,

senior, Mater Dei

“Switch tapes and look for girls around me.”

Gregg Campbell, 17,

senior, Orange

“Yell at the other drivers.”

Eric Doman, 17,

senior, Orange

“Listen to the radio, look around at other people, and if I get really bored, I play with the gadgets in the car.”

Jenny Pate, 17,

senior, Pacifica

“Go with the flow and turn up my stereo.”

Margaret Slaven, 16,

junior, Rosary

“Start yelling at guys.”

Mary Mcdevitt, 16,

junior, Rosary

“Do my hair, my makeup and complain.”

Jacquie Ananea, 15,

junior, Rosary

“Put my car in neutral, put on the emergency brake, lean back in my seat and pump up the volume.”

Tasha Wiggins, 16,

junior, Rosary

“Sit down with a Diet Coke and play bridge with my friend.”

Tanya Murray, 17,

senior, Saddleback

“Put down the top on my car, get out the suntan lotion and work on my tan.”

Michele Benton, 17,

senior, Saddleback

“Turn up the radio, turn off the car and

relax. Hey, what else is there to do? Walk?”

Wendy Haddock, 17,

senior, Saddleback

“You need to remain calm, cool and collected. Just relax and go with the flow.”

Darren Levine, 17,

senior, University

“Honk the horn to the beat of the music.”

Tram Tien, 17,

junior, Western

“Turn on my radio really loud, put on my shades, relax and ride it out.”

Cory Gibson, 17,

senior, Woodbridge

“Listen to the radio, check out the chicks and kick back.”

Dave Laux, 18,

senior, Woodbridge

“Roll up the windows, scream at the top of my lungs and wait for it to clear up.”

Jenny Hile, 16,

junior, Woodbridge

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What is the one thing you feel you are most misunderstood about?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Jooyoung Lee (Brea-Olinda), Jennifer Chen (Connelly), Dean Camaras (Corona del Mar), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Dana Wilshin (Dana Hills), Jennifer Vineyard (Los Alamitos), Jenny Henderson (Marina), Debbie Maddox (Mater Dei), Jennifer Turner (Orange), Crystal Fu (Pacifica), Asra Hashmy (Rosary), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback), Kiley Coble (University), Heather Orey (Western) and Tomarra Wilds (Woodbridge).