Teens’ Collectibles Have Sentimental, Cash Value
Some people have collections to help them remember the past. Others keep their eyes on the future, hoping that their collections appreciate in value. Either way, keeping a collection can help make you feel complete.
Hot Topics wonders, “What do you collect? Why?”
“Boyfriends because they are fun to use and fun to throw away.” Lisa Fauer, 16, junior, University
“Last year, I collected pennies, but this year, now that I’m more mature and older, I go for nickels.” Tonie Williams, 15, freshman, Bolsa Grande
“Last time I collected things GI Joe was in, but now I collect Ninja Turtles for my nephew.” Fernando Peraza, 16, junior, Tustin
“Jewelry because I like to wear it and be fashionable at the same time.” Tricia Beeler, 14, freshman, Los Amigos
“Old schoolwork and notes in case I need them.” Julia Beak, 17, senior, El Modena
“Ceramics and porcelain masks because each one is unique and shows different emotions.” Nicole Jones, 15, sophomore, Santa Margarita
“New Kids on the Block posters and a lot of New Kids knickknack stuff because I love them!” Shelley Lostus, 16, junior, Cypress
“Post cards from all over the world because I plan on traveling to many countries.” Maria Van Leezwen, 16, junior, Rosary
“Books that I always thought I might read but never do.” Peter Lue, 16, junior, Huntington Beach
“Foreign currency as souvenirs.” Jed Kimmel, 17, senior, Servite
“The ‘Hello Kitty’ stuff--stamps, pencils, erasers, writing paper, envelopes, pens, stickers, traveling kits, posters, toys, bags, soaps, gums, candies . . . because it’s so cute.” Mai Tran, 15, sophomore, Savanna
“Baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards and coins and stamps because they’re worth money.”
Jim Tsang, 16, junior, Troy “Ashtrays from hotels and restaurants, and sometimes airplanes.” Diana Reynolds, 16, junior, St. Margaret’s
“Volleyball shirts because volleyball stuff is cool and comfortable.” Vu Blee, 16, junior, Tustin
“Georgia O’Keefe paintings and antiques because I love the way O’Keefe shows her subject up close. And I like to collect antiques because they will never go out of style.” Amy Owens, 16, junior, Los Amigos
“Post cards, so I can remember all the places I have been.” Andrea Schaper, 17, senior, El Modena
“Disney paraphernalia because I love Disney movies and cartoons as well as Disneyland.” David Brown, 17, senior, Cypress
“We collect clippings from magazines about famous people.” Jean Wang and Hsin Ou Ou-Yang, 16, sophomores, University
“Aluminum cans because I’m an environmentalist and I want to preserve the land.” Kishani Seneviratne, 17, senior, Rosary
“Records because they are an important part of music history.” Arthur Ou, 16, junior, Huntington Beach
“Airline barf bags and masks from foreign countries.” Peter Chand, 16, senior, Servite
“Comic books and role-playing games because they’re funny and I enjoy them.” Kevin Heckman, 16, junior, Troy
“Posters and pictures of my favorite heavy metal groups to put on my walls because I like to see them and it annoys my parents.” Kristina Ruiz, 14, sophomore, Santa Margarita
“Stephen King books because I like them and they aren’t boring.” Ale Chase, 14, freshman, St. Margaret’s
“Pens because there’s so many of them and they are so unique that someday, when I get really old, hopefully I’ll have lots of them and they will be worth something.” Ilayali Aguilar, 14, freshman, Bolsa Grande
“Baseball cards because they’re interesting and I like to check out the scores and averages, plus my boyfriend collects them.” Mary Dumler, 15, sophomore, Santa Margarita
“Shoes and stickers because I had a boring childhood.” Perla Marrofo, 16, junior, Los Amigos
“Theater and movie ticket stubs, so I can remember all the places I’ve been.” Adam Montano, 15, freshman, El Modena
“Basketball posters because I like to see my favorite players in motion.” Aaron Wright, 17, senior, St. Margaret’s
“Dust.” Mike Zeineh, 17, senior, Servite
Next Week’s Hot Topic: If you could eavesdrop on any conversation in history, which (or whose) would it be?