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Cyberbullying is Happening Amongst Students Everywhere

By Yamileth Manriquez

 

            Cyberbullying emotionally damages students in schools throughout the country.

According to the Stop cyberbullying website cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is being embarrassed, tormented, threatened, harassed, and humiliated by another using the Internet, mobile phones, and other digital devices. There are two kinds of cyberbullying. One is a direct attack and the other is cyberbullying by proxy.

A direct attack is when messages are being sent directly to the victim. Cyberbullying by proxy is when others help to cyberbully the victim. Many students have become a victim of cyberbullying and, that might lead up to devastating results such as suicide.

Diana Covarrubias, a senior at South East High School, says, “The people who cyberbully might do it because they have low self-esteem. And, they want to make their victim feel the same way they do or try to make themselves feel better about their problem. These types of people don’t have morals.” In some cases, the cyberbully might not even know what they are doing. They take it as a joke not thinking about the victim’s feelings or how sensitive they might be. Others do it because they are bored and they want to start some kind of drama or reaction to entertain themselves.

Jennifer Carbajal, a senior at SEHS, says, “From the stories I’ve heard, cyberbullying happens mostly between girls. For example, some girls get MySpace messages or even text messages from another girl claiming that she took her man and that she better watch out, calling the victim inappropriate names any chance they get.”

                 Some girls in high school think their “social standing” is everything and will do anything to protect it. Like publicizing rumors about a victim not realizing the harm it can do to another person. In the end, these girls should realize high school is going to be over soon, and their “social stature” won’t even matter once they graduate.

                   Victims can change their personalities; they could have been the nicest and happiest person you could have ever met, to becoming someone full of anger and frustration. Cyberbullying can really scar someone’s life. The emotional damage this can cause a person might take years to heal or they might go through life with that pain deep inside. Some can’t even control their pain like others can, and it might cause them to commit suicide.

                  According to the National Crime Prevention Center, over 40% of all teenagers with Internet access has reported being bullied. Cyberbullying is not something to be taken lightly. It's something serious and the results it causes can be tragic. 

This Generation is "The Dumbest"?

By Yamileth Manriquez

Expert claims that the children of today are “the dumbest generation”.

             Mark Bauerlein an English professor at Emory University claims that this digital age is jeopardizing the new generation’s future and says, “Don’t trust anyone under 30.”             According to Bauerlein the reasons for this generation being the dumbest is because of no possible interest in world realities. He suggests, they [youth] don’t read or even want to. They can’t spell and most get ridiculed if they use proper language on MySpace, Facebook, twitter, etc. They use the Internet to pass down material. They do not store knowledge in their memory, and they overuse video games and TV. Furthermore, people don’t tell them what’s so bad about their actions like texting at midnight. The fact that they engage in technology while they’re young and their brains are not fully developed is another reason Bauerlein considers this generation the dumbest.

             Students at South East High School disagree with the claims of Bauerlein. Christina Roman, a senior at SEHS says, “The Internet isn’t corrupting our minds, it’s helping us understand certain facts about life.” She also says, "I mean yeah I can't spell some words, but neither do most people. I doubt that anyone in the world has the dictionary memorized."

            Students now have more technology to their advantage and it makes their lives easier. Maybe they don't take the time to read the information that the Internet provides; they just copy and paste it in their essays. But others like Bauerlein can't suppose that is what is jeopardizing their future or make general statements claiming that all the kids of today do this.           

            Ashley Bailon, a senior at SEHS, says, "I text as a form of communication with my friends. I can't call or go to their house every time I need to talk and, anyways, why are we being called the “dumbest”?  You don't see all of us getting high and yelling peace and love everywhere we go like they did back in the 60's and 70's."

            Bailon’s statement may be true, but none of those people had the technology we have available today. But should that be reason at enough to consider them smarter than kids now? People over 30 should be considered smarter only because they have more experience and have learned more.

            To be called “the dumbest generation” because of the use of technology is unfair.

Some Seniors Struggle With Plans After High School

By Yamileth Manriquez

 

            Many seniors at South East High School are having trouble deciding what to do and where to go after they graduate.

 

            As the school year for 2010 draws closer to an end some seniors are still facing obstacles, including, college applications, SAT results, getting enough credits, and passing their classes for their last year in high school. For others everything seems to be right on track because they have been making plans since the beginning of the year.

            Yet, some students don’t realize they need to start now rather than later because it’s going to be too late to apply for college or a job. So, the time has come for them to become focused on their goals. Otherwise when the time comes to do something with their life there are not going to be as many opportunities for them as there are while they are still in high school.

            With the economic crisis and the recession seniors are facing harder decisions than ever. College has become more expensive due to the higher costs of tuition, books, etc. For example, Jennifer Carbajal, a senior at SEHS says, “Students are realizing how difficult it’s going to be for them to find the money to pay, in case they don’t get any help, and it’s not easy to pursue their dreams on their own.”

            Some students have decided to work part-time through college, but the fact of the matter is that there are not a lot of jobs available for them. Also, if it comes down to a recent high school student graduate or a college graduate for a job opening position, most likely the college graduate is going to get the job because he or she has far more experience and education.

            If a student decides to work instead of going to school it’s going to be really difficult. People with a degree are getting fired from their jobs and there are not a lot in their field or major. This is also affecting their decision to go to college. Some students claim that going to college is not worth their time and money because they can see a college graduate still flipping burgers at McDonald’s.

            This is not helping students realize how important it is for them to go to college. There is a lot of help for students get through college, but who helps them when they finish high school? They don’t want to go running to their parents but some do. They want to learn the importance of doing things on their own.

            Students need to decide what they are going to do, because it will definitely affect them as their life progresses. They need to find solutions for their problems, because help exists they just need to learn how to look for it and become determined to get it.