YOUTH VOICES for March 13

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on March 13, 2008 at 10:39 AM, updated March 13, 2008 at 10:40 AM

Vandercook Lake High/Middle School

Question: Describe one way in which change occurs in everyday life. How does this change affect you?

JaVon Flowers
Eighth grade

The gas prices these days are ridiculous. They go up like me on a growth spurt. It's getting to the point where my mom and dad can't even take me down the road anymore. I have to get a job at the age of 14 to go where I want to go, even if it's down the road. One day I looked at the gas prices. They were like $2.89, and the next day they were at $3.14 or something. My grandma told me a story about when the gas was like 98 cents a gallon. I wish I could have been around in those days.

Quentin Chafin
Eighth grade

There are many changes happening on Earth, but the one I think is the most important is pollution. Our wonderful planet is being polluted each day. We are ruining the beauty of our earth when people pollute. All this pollution eventually is going to come to a point in which this planet won't be safe to live on. If everyone could pitch in and clean up a little, that would make a big difference now and in the future. I'm glad people out there care for this planet and are willing to change its environment.

Hailey Anderson
Eighth grade

Being a teenager is a very frustrating time in our lives. Every day I'm changing. My ideas change and my opinions, too. Some things that used to seem practical now seem ridiculous. But that's just the mind of a teenager. The truth is, we don't know what we want. When you're a teenager, time and age are your enemy because every second we're getting closer to being on our own, defending ourselves and making our own decisions. I am young, inexperienced and sheltered, but I know that life comes at you fast, and you want to make the best choices.

Spencer Willis
Eighth grade

A way that I have experienced change in everyday life would be in my styles of clothes that I put on. In sixth grade, I would wear baggy pants and long T-shirts. I have changed my way of dressing. I went from what I call "gangster wear" to "prep clothes" and finally to "skater." As I have changed my clothes I have also changed my hair. Last summer I had very short hair. Then over the summer it changed every day by getting longer. That is how change occurred in my everyday life.

Amy Licking
Eighth grade

One way in which change occurs in everyday life is getting a new little brother or sister. One day they are so cute and sweet, but don't let them fool you. They can be mean. They will drive you crazy. This changed my life because now I share everything and I don't like it, but I guess I am OK. As we grew up we fought all the time, because they would throw everything at me when they got mad. They would bring so much drama to my life and I could hardly stand it, but I still love them.

Kaylene Chaffin
Eighth grade

In everyday life, a child is born and a person may have to deal with sorrow over someone going to the afterlife. And time is always changing. After a newborn arrives, someone takes on responsibilities and rejoices for another life. When a person or animal passes on, others have to deal with no longer seeing or communicating with them. Last, but not least, time is always passing by. Whether it be slow or fast, things happen and memories are made. In time, people make memories, get older and change who they are, and they don't even notice it.

Carla Rauh
Eighth grade

Have you gone for a drive lately? You know the kind where you just go for the enjoyment and relaxation. I bet you haven't due to the outrageous gasoline prices. In our society, gasoline prices are going unnecessarily high and are off the charts. Every day gasoline prices go up 1 cent or more. This affects me because my parents have less money, which also means I have less money. When we don't have as much money, we don't get to do as much fun stuff and take rides with the family.

Mandy Canty
Eighth grade

Michigan is a wonderful state! We have summer, fall, winter and spring. I love all the seasons. Some Los Angeles people don't even see winter! I guess they never have snow days. Winter is like a winter wonderland here. I love playing in it. Summertime is my favorite though, because it can get so hot, but usually it's around 70 degrees, just the right temperature. Fall is an awesome season! It's so colorful and I can't get enough of it. Spring is great too. It could be hot one day and cold the next. It's like a huge surprise, that's Michigan.

Casey Waters
Eighth grade

Some peoples' personalities change every day. They change if they don't feel good and have an upset stomach. Their moods change if they had a death of a friend of a family member. When peoples' moods change, they can hurt their friendships because they are trying to be nice, but their mood and personality comes over totally different. So, if someone's personality changes, then think about whether they're having a bad day or whether they just want their personal space.

Abbi Bernstein
Eighth grade

Music was the only thing that I had. It let me understand things beyond the meaning, and I can block everything else out. Listening to music calms me down and it helps me think. It changes me and affects me by being able to go from depressed to happy. It helped me change my mind for the better — helped me live. Music really is my life.

Cody Mullins
Eighth grade

One way in which change occurs in everyday life is your grades. Your grades may change your everyday life because if they're bad you will get grounded and get things taken away. If you get good grades, you don't get things taken away. You get more things to do, like you can hang out with your friends. Also, your relationship will be better with your parents. It makes you feel better and act and sound smarter.