It's not just good or bad

I have been told that life is what you make it; perspective is everything. Positive outlook equals positive outcome, pessimism equals problems. While this may be correct in many cases, this is not always applicable when it comes to high school. While some view it as "the time of our lives," others view it as simply a buffer zone between adolescence and adulthood; the cream filling to an Oreo, if you will.

For all students at Live Oak High School, now is the time when these perspectives are being formed. Freshmen are looking back on their year, feeling proud that they survived in a place they were so afraid of just months ago. Sophomores — being more experienced — are ready to take the next step and join the upperclassmen and juniors are anticipating the day when they can walk into the school as the big, bad seniors.

For most current seniors, these outlooks are now influencing the decisions we will make in our future endeavors, specifically college. Acceptance letters have all come and gone, and by May 1 every prospective college student will know where they will attend next fall. It can be a scary thought for many, and an even more exciting one for others.

Senior Alora Sutcliffe feels this excitement about graduating, commenting, "I cannot wait to move on with my life. High school was fun, but I know there are so many bigger and better things out there."

While it is hard not to get carried away thinking about the future, and even harder to concentrate on school with spring break in session, students must realize that summer has not yet arrived.

State testing, finals, spring sports and prom are just a few of the many events still on the to-do list. This can often be a stressful time for both students and teachers and it can be even harder not to get completely wrapped up in this stress.

Luckily, there are many enjoyable events taking place to alleviate this discontentment. The English Department, for example, just recently ventured to Ashland, Ore. for its second annual trip to the Shakespeare Festival. A group of 36 students from all four grade levels as well as four chaperones attended this three-day event, filled with numerous plays, tours and other Shakespearian celebrations.

Vice Principal Tony Walton had nothing but positive things to say about this trip, commenting, "I know the kids who went really enjoyed themselves and it is a great opportunity for them to immerse themselves in the Shakespearian time period."

No matter what grade, age, or gender, high school is filled with many trials and tribulations. It is never black or white, good or bad. It is the time when children are morphed into young adults, and the time when we not only develop our perspectives on others, but also the time when we develop our decisions on what kind of person we want to be.