New extreme sports push the limit for thrill seekers
So as some of you know there are sports and then there are “Extreme Sports” which involve people jumping off of 1000 foot buildings to release their parachute right before they hit the ground or the last possible moment.
To some this may sound fun. Yet others like to jump out of planes with a wingsuit on and fly through the sky for as long as possible and opening a parachute at the last moment as well. Who or what kind of people might enjoy this you may be asking yourself, well Frank Farley a PhD, psychologist at Temple University, has been studying people like this and have named them “Type T” otherwise known as ( Thrill Seekers ). From what he has figured out about these people is that they love to lead an adventurous life. They are known to do things that others would just consider the scariest thing on the world.
Many other “extreme sports” would be something like “Underwater cave diving” which is very dangerous and is hardly practiced among many people because of cost and it requires special equipment, which cave divers have to have different types of suits, masks, lights and air supplies than a regular diver since the conditions are much more high in danger.
While this cost for this sport would run you around nine thousand dollars, that would help you buy the gear, training, travel cost and extra to get a quick fix on you parts or to buy spare parts.
Another is called “Wingsuiting”otherwise known as wingsuit flying, while Wingsuiting you jump out of a plane and you try to do whatever you can in the air before getting close to land and releasing your parachute.
Many people find this to be great if you love the rush, but a wingsuit is a special jumpsuit, called a wingsuit, allows skydivers and BASE jumpers to soar through the sky with their arms and legs spread open. While the average suit is around one thousand dollars or more for one that is better, but at the same time you have to have more money thinking of the cost for everything else. While falling in a wingsuit you can hit around 120 mph and you can slow yourself down to about 40 mph, also people say this is not for beginners.
The United States Parachute Association, requires any jumper flying a wingsuit for the first time to have a minimum of 200 free fall skydives, made within the past 18 months as well as training by an experienced jumper.
But if you find it fun to jump from high places like building, bridges or a super high cliff you might have to go out and try base jumping. While the word “BASE” is an acronym for Buildings or anything that provides a platform for jumping. While this sport is kind of like sky diving there is a huge difference like to BASE jump you would be jumping from feet less than 2,000 feet and sky diving is around 3,000 to 13,000 feet.
But one great thing to be a BASE jumper is that you cannot make any errors because your jumping from a shorter feet one mistake could cost you everything, but to some people they find that with that knowledge it adds to the thrill or to their rush. This however would have to be the cheapest extreme sport there is while the equipment ranges from two to three thousand dollars but this is still extremely dangerous.
At any rate these sports are extremely dangerous and should only be done with trained professionals and under the supervision of adults. We do not recommend anyone attempting these extreme sports on their own.
+Wes Phelps
“Be Hope”‘s hope to educate on the issue of Human Trafficking
A common misconception for Americans today is thinking that slavery no longer exists in the world.
Unfortunately, this is not true.
Senior Megan Guerra, project coordinator of the brand new Be Hope project, is making the attempt to raise awareness about slavery in the world, and more specifically, sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking is a forced kind of sexual slavery where women, girls, men and boys are sold into brothels where they are forced to have sex with paying customers. The victims never see the money that is paid for them, rely solely upon their captors for money and are often forced to take addictive drugs that keep them from being responsive or aware enough to try to escape from their situation.
Guerra, in the beginning was, like most, ignorant of sex trafficking and how widespread it was.
“It all started when I went on a CIY retreat. They showed us a documentary about sex trafficking called Baht. It was a shocking story that completely woke me up to the issue,” said Guerra.
Baht is a documentary detailing the experiences of a young girl who was sold into a brothel at a very young age. It takes place in the slums of Southeast Asia. The girl tells a heartbreaking story describing how she was raped, beat, forced to take drugs, traded and sold.
“The documentary made me as a person so much more aware of the kind of world we live in,” said Guerra.
After watching the documentary, Guerra was overwhelmed and knew that she wanted to do something to help those girls that were forced into that kind of world.
This inspired Guerra to start the Be Hope project in the high school.
The Be Hope project is a group sponsored by Tri-Hi-Y, FCA and NHS. Students from each of those clubs have come together to form the Be Hope team. The overall goal of the team is to raise awareness about sex trafficking in the school and community and to raise money for the Rapha House.
The Rapha House is a group that started in Southeast Asia. Its mission is to give girls that have been forced into sex trafficking a place to stay, learn and recover from the events they have been forced through.
An alarming number of girls who are rescued from sex trafficking end up going back into it simply because they have been stuck there for months, or often years, and that is all they know. The Rapha House is there to prevent that from happening.
Be Hope was established by Guerra as a local group in Paoli to support the Rapha House. It came into existence through Tri-Hi-Y. Tri-Hi-Y generally does projects year-round to raise money for local problems but decided this year to reach out and help people around the world. The group’s focus quickly became sex trafficking and raising money for the Rapha House.
The Be Hope team plans to begin by raising awareness and hopes that will lead to monetary donations for the cause.
“I’m just bothered by ignorance. People make jokes all the time about girls in situations like this and it just isn’t right. Mental abuse is no better than physical abuse and it needs to be stopped,” said Guerra.
Guerra hopes that by raising awareness for this cause these jokes will stop and people will be more aware of what is happening in the world they live in.
Currently, the Be Hope team has established an awareness week for sex trafficking April 4-8. Students at PHS will be encouraged to wear red Monday through Thursday of that week and then wear all black Friday.
The motto that Be Hope is working with is “To turn off every red light.” This motto was inspired by a line from the Baht documentary. In Southeast Asia, everywhere there is a red light, there is a brothel. The Rapha House and Be Hope wants to work to turn off every red light. This is why students are encouraged to wear red all week and then black on Friday. That is their way of symbolizing the red lights being turned off.
Be Hope is planning to sell bracelets that sport this motto during awareness week. In addition to this, there will be a quiz on the morning announcements every day. The person that answers the most questions correctly concerning sex trafficking will be given a prize at the end of the week.
On April 5, the Baht documentary will be shown in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. for any parents wishing to see it. A permission letter will be sent home the night before. The Tuesday showing of the documentary is so any parents that might be worried about their children seeing the documentary can view it themselves first.
Students that are allowed by their parents will be able to see the documentary themselves April 6. The documentary will be shown to all students during period 4.
There will also be a showing of Baht Wednesday night open to the community for anyone wishing to see it.
Be Hope’s goal is nothing more than to raise awareness for sex trafficking. The team hopes to raise as much money as possible for the Rapha House, but awareness is the most important thing.
Guerra plans to stay involved with the Rapha House after graduation.
“I definitely plan to go on a mission trip to Southeast Asia. I’m going to college for art therapy so I can help girls that have suffered through sex trafficking,” said Guerra.
This is not the first time Guerra has raised money for the Rapha House.
“Every year I have a birthday party. Instead of asking for gifts, I always ask my friends to make a donation to the Rapha House instead,” said Guerra.
By doing this for the last few years, Guerra has raised over $500 for the Rapha House.
More than anything, Guerra wants to help abused women who suffered and could not live the normal childhoods they all deserved. Be Hope is her first big step towards doing this. She and the team hopes that it will result in more awareness and help for women that cannot help themselves.
+Dakota Hudelson
Clemons keeps competition alive with science
Many students compete in competitions around the state. Some with sports, and others with non-sports related activities. For sophomore Josh Clemons his activity is science fair. Besides being a two sport athlete, Clemons also competes in the state science fair.
Clemons has been competing in science fair for some time now.
“I have been competing in the state science fair for four years now,” said Clemons.
Clemons is not alone in the world of science fair. There are also others who compete along side of him.
“Jordan Cadle also competes with me in science fair when I travel to other schools,” said Clemons.
This year’s project for Clemons’s, was based upon an idea of his own.
“My project this year was based upon decaying pigs ears in four types of soils,” said Clemons.
Many people have helped Clemons but there are a few people in particular that have really helped him along the way.
“My mom and Mrs. Andry, have really helped me in the planning, and with the project itself,” said Clemons.
At this year’s convention, Clemons had success in what he did.
“I received first in my category, and received a few medals along with a NOAA award,” said Clemons.
So even though Clemons does not compete physically, he is still competing mentally.
+Ian Bostock
My busy Monday: Experiencing a blood transfusion
4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion this year.
This seems like a big number. Especially if only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, and less than ten percent do so each year.
I became interested in these facts this past week. Last Monday, I had to have a blood transfusion. People have blood transfusions for many different reasons.
I had to have a transfusion because my hemoglobin numbers were very low. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues of the body.
My hemoglobin was so low because of my decreased kidney function. It usually does not get that low, but I’ve been sick and whenever I am, it drops.
I had my transfusion at Riley’s Hospital in a transfusion room. These are rooms with recliners and TVs that have a relaxing atmosphere to them so the patient feels calm.
It is a long process to get a blood transfusion. First off you have to know what your blood type is. Mine is B negative, which only two percent of the American population has.
Next, you have to wait for what seems like forever while the blood bank gets the blood clean and ready. This process can take from one to four hours.
The nurse then puts an IV in your arm and gets the blood to start going through. This usually does not hurt unless the IV has gone bad. Blood transfusions usually take from two to four hours. Mine took two.
After the transfusion, the nurse takes the IV out. If you have not had any complications from the blood, you typically get to go home soon after.
I dreaded having to have my transfusion, but I’m definitely glad I did now. I’m not as tired and feel a whole lot better.
+Mackenzie King
Annual Photo Show to display student work
One day a year, young photographers from the school come together to display their art. Fellow classmates and civilians alike are able to come enjoy the work of photo class students. Participants get a chance to make a profit off of the sales of their photos and gain experience.
One photographer, senior Cierra Smith, is very excited about her photos debuts.
“I am eager to get my work out in the public and see if all of my hard work has pulled off,” said Smith.
Smith’s photos range from her beginning photography and advanced photography careers and her favorites are the ‘Don’t Quote Me’s.
“These are pictures that I take and add famous quotes to them. To me it gives my perspective on the photo, what it says to me,” said Smith.
The show will be held April 27 in the high school library and go from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photographs will be on sale and one will have a chance to mat their photos if they so choose. Prices for photos will be decided upon within the next few weeks.
“The photo show is always a good time. It is fun seeing all of the work of my friends,” said Smith.
The Photo Show will be held in the high school library from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is open to the public. Photos will be on display for viewing and some will also be for sale.
+Gracen Dunn
Can’t we all just get along? Obviously not.
Fighting, arguing and gossiping. Sounds like high school to me.
More specifically: my graduating class.
Since kindergarten, I have been pushed off the top of a very steep slide, punched in the face (not in a fight, and by a male… not cool) and I have been told that my entire graduating class has a curse on them.
Moreover, I’m not the only one with memories like these.
Although many students have come and gone, the majority of us remain, and we’re not the family the classes above and below us are.
Most of us have gotten over the whole “clique” (by the way, I hate that word) situation even though we still sometimes keep to our own friends, it is easy to associate with everyone since we live in such a small school. That being said, there is still that fact that we do not always get along, and I have the perfect example.
On Wednesday, February 23, the annual hall decorating contest in favor of the boy’s basketball sectionals coming up was taking place. I and a close friend stayed after school to help, along with two other classmates. It was just the four of us until five o’clock, and in between 3:10 and five, we struggled to get along and contribute in a decent manner. When the other kids showed up we actually started to pull our ideas together and really begin decorating.
Just a few minutes after we had started, everyone was giving his or her own opinions on everything. From simple things that did not really matter, to ideas that some thought were bogus, the little togetherness we acquired had started to unravel. We were all out of control after a while, and when it got too much for some people, they either sat and giggled to each other or went home, and for some reason, cooperating with each other was not an option.
When I got home that night all I could think about was when senior year comes around are we still going to behave like this? Sure, there were some good moments that came with this event, and I did enjoy some of the random outbursts and such shared with close friends and even not so close friends, but some of the not-so-great memories ruin a lot of the smiles on our faces. We tend to let the negatives take over.
In 20 years I want to remember all the good times, not the times that every one acted like they were still twelve, and I also do not want to be that person who hates everyone they went to high school with, so please, can you just give each other a chance?
So if you are a sophomore at Paoli, then you are most likely shaking your head, just shrugging the whole fact that most of us hate each other off and not thinking it through. We have been together since kindergarten and even before for some of us. It is time to be over the petty rumors and tussles, because it will all be over before we know it, and when it is over, I have a feeling a lot of us will regret some of the things we have said and done, along with things we never said or saw too.
Yes, everyone has an opinion, but that does not necessarily mean you have to disagree with everyone around you. That just leads to ugly situations.
So among the fighting, arguing and gossiping; good memories are bound to happen too, so let them.
+Samantha Patton
TPPL set to change public library
The new library has thus far been a hit in the community, attracting more people who are utilizing its computers, books and open space.
However, the Friends of the Library group are not quite satisfied with its set-up yet.
There have been complaints about the teen room. Some students have found that there is not much there to attract the majority of teens.
“I would like the teen room, but all I see are vampire books and stuff that I’ve already read,” said senior Cierra Smith.
Smith does not attend the library regularly and claims that is because there is not much there to attract her.
Such sentiments expressed by many students have prompted the Friends of the Library group to set up a junior group made up of high school students: Teens of the Paoli Public Library (TPPL).
TPPL is a group consisting of students from many grades and both genders. The group meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at the library to work on projects for the teen room and is headed by community member Janice Pickens.
Members that attended last meeting consisted of seniors Megan Guerra and Dakota Hudelson, sophomores Kristen Durdin, Gracen Dunn, Brianna Elliott, James Hill and Kay-anna Hodges and freshman Beth Noblitt.
So far, TPPL is working on two projects: a video to show on school announcements about the functions of the library and teen room and a summer book club.
TPPL’s main goal is to get more teens to use the library and those two smaller goals are designed to attract more students.
“I’m really excited to work with TPPL,” said Hodges. “The library can be a really fun place and I want to help make it that way.”
Other students see the new projects involving the teen room as a way to benefit not just others, but themselves.
“I read a lot, so I’m hoping this will get others to read and help me expand my own reading collection,” said Elliott.
TPPL is still a fairly new group having met only twice but they are optimistic.
“Reading is a lot of fun, people would be surprised. Hopefully this will show more students that wonderful world of books they all should be diving into,” said Elliott.
+Dakota Hudelson
