High Life / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Success for the Year? Please, Just Nothing Embarrassing!

Whenever we set goals, something always comes out on top. For high school students, those most important priorities may range from getting a date for the prom to getting accepted by the college or university of their choice.

Hot Topics wonders, “What must happen to you for you to consider this school year to be successful?”

“To get good grades and a boyfriend.”

Lisa Cheley, 16,

junior, Los Alamitos

“If I can get through Algebra II alive, and also if my mom and dad will let me get a car on my birthday.”

Christa Boeke, 15,

sophomore, Sunny Hills

“I just don’t want anything embarrassing to happen to me.”

Andrea Vrooman, 14,

sophomore, Esperanza

“I must be accepted at the college of my choice.”

Rachel Taquin, 16,

senior, St. Margaret’s

“If I have fun and get good grades at the same time.”

Thai Nguyen, 17,

senior, Marina

“I have to decide what I would like to major in so that I can concentrate on the necessary classes.”

Sheridan Eaddy, 17,

senior, Santiago

“Make a varsity sports team, take it to the CIF finals and win.”

Anthony Galasso, 16,

junior, Santa Margarita

“To get more sleep than last year.”

Burt Vadakan, 17,

junior, El Toro

“By letting up on my class load. I’d have a lot more free time, but I need the stress.”

Lara Lagos, 16,

junior, Rosary

“All I need is a good relationship with my friends and family.”

Michael Schneider, 17,

senior, Rancho Alamitos

“If I bought the winning ticket to the California Lottery and quit school.”

Jeff Bulger, 15,

sophomore, Sunny Hills

“For me to attend prom and homecoming and not to fail all my classes.”

Jennifer Wienecke, 15,

junior, Marina

“Make at least 20 new friends.”

Thuan Tran, 16,

junior, Santiago

“If I were to get an A in economics, but more importantly, to realize that this is my senior year, and I would love to make memories and have learning experiences to look back on in my future life.”

Kira Heuer, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“Minimum effort with maximum results.”

Kelly Chapman, 17,

senior, Santa Margarita

“That when the year ends I’ll know that I’ll have done the best I could in everything regardless if I got A’s or not.”

Jolene Selkner, 15,

sophomore, Esperanza

“To do more than just survive.”

Aquilina Soriano, 16,

junior, El Toro

“To get perfect scores on the SAT, be recognized as a community hero and receive a key to the city.”

Jeremy Stewart, 16,

junior, Brea-Olinda

“I would have to obtain the grants, scholarships, SAT scores, entrance exam scores and have fun in the sun.”

Regina Emero, 17,

senior, Rancho Alamitos

“By having three-day weekends every week.”

Kelley Kallahan, 17,

senior, Rosary

“If I gain recognition for something I worked hard on.”

Connie Chung, 15,

sophomore, Marina

“Get a scholarship so I can assure a college education for myself.”

Natalie Adams, 17,

senior, Santiago

“To stumble over an issue that will interest me in order to create a body of artwork for my senior art show.”

Jason Hernandez, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“Get a 4.0, the lead in a spring musical and help the mock trial team win first place in competition.”

Brandie Barrows, 14,

sophomore, Santa Margarita

“Get into a noteworthy university, but more importantly, progress my friendships from high school since we’re all leaving.”

Randy Phelan, 17,

senior, El Toro

“To grow.”

Bobby Wildman, 16,

junior, St. Margaret’s

“I should be active in clubs, sports and any other activities, and it would be nice if I got good grades through the year.”

Nancy Carbajal, 17,

senior, Rancho Alamitos

“To finish in the first 20 of my class.”

Leo Cheng, 14,

freshman, Brea-Olinda

“To make as many friends as I can and have as much fun as I can.”

Michelyn Lyster, 17,

senior, Esperanza

“Well, get straight A’s, obviously.”

Charity Lee, 14,

freshman, Sunny Hills

“If I didn’t put things off until the next day.”

Michelle Cornman, 14,

sophomore, Rosary

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

If your best friend’s boyfriend or girlfriend asked you out, what would you do?

Responses gathered by Brian Lee (Brea-Olinda), Tiffani Chin (El Toro), Jennifer Leuer (Esperanza), Tricia Ginsburg (Los Alamitos), Gail Altman (Marina), Elizabeth Mueller (Rancho Alamitos), Christine Madracki (Rosary), Brooke Lyons (St. Margaret’s), Kate Elftmann (Santa Margarita), Hieu Phan (Santiago) and Jedidiah Yueh (Sunny Hills).

DR, JUDY TSAI