Homelessness. A problem at South East High School?

Homelessness is a problem for teenagers all around the world.

Homelessness is a problem for many people around the world, but is it a problem for the youth in California? One of the causes of homelessness for the youth is parents. Tony Ramirez, the coordinator for Los Angeles Youth network says, “the teens who come to the shelter are neglected, abused, or just homeless.” Youth may have been kicked out of the house or ran away from home; they could have felt unwanted, abused, suffering from a divorce or other problems with their guardians. Other reasons causing homelessness may be problems with people around them, drinking, or vandalism. Youth might be facing a family crisis or may not have a home to live in so they live out on the streets. Being with out a home can also make the youth feel sad or depressed with upcoming holidays (like Christmas or New Year’s.) While some people are at home being warm and having a great time, youth outside may be looking for a warm place to stay and trying their best to not feel let down. The holidays may be a good time for us but for others it might be just a normal (cold) day.

Homelessness is problem for students because they need their education and with no place to stay it can ruin their education. Youth (and the family) may not able to find a place to stay to finish their schoolwork. It can be hard for the student to finish up their schoolwork worrying and/or trying to find a place to rest and spend the night along with trying to find food to eat. This then may ruin the education of the pupil. If the teen has a place to stay (s)he wont need to worry about a place to study, a place to relax and sleep, finding food to eat. A homeless shelter can provide for a teen’s needs.

A homeless shelter can help the teen’s education because if they have some place to stay then their education can go up. Volunteers can help them out with problems they encounter at school or on the streets, the volunteers may also help out with homework that they have if not, then other homeless youth can help each other. These shelters have people who care about every individual that comes in so it changes the point of view of the teen that everything is going to be okay. A youth homeless shelter in Hollywood (LAYN) is able to allow seventeen homeless teens in to have a place to rest. According to Lucile Packard (the website of a children’s hospital) about 3.5 % of youth are homeless in California. Many people form non profit organizations to help out the homeless by raising money, having fund raisers, receiving donations to buy food and cloths to help and give it to the homeless. The youth shelter in Holly wood has activities for the youth to do in the day like going to the park the beach or outside outings which is pretty much going to places such as the movies.
An article from the Gale Cenage Learning Center says, “Homelessness is a widespread growing problem in America.” This is a widespread problem because there is a need for more homeless shelters. GCLC says, “The 2004 Survey of Hunger and Homelessness in America found that 66% of emergency shelters surveyed reported an increase in the number of shelter requests [in 2004] as compared to [2003].” There will be a need for more volunteers and donations. It’s also a widespread problem because; according to Tony, the homeless who come to the shelter come from all parts of the United States.

Senior Dues

What are Senior Dues? Senior dues are late fees (like the ones they have in the library) that are only available to seniors who have not yet turned in late books or textbooks. So, why were they even invented? Do students or 12th graders really need these late fees (senior dues)? “If you lose a book you have to pay it,” says Mr. Palomera, a Technology and Media University Academy teacher at South East High School, who teaches Digital Computers. These senior dues are preparing, or disciplining the students who do not turn in late books by senior year, to be responsible in the real world and to show them how it is, and how they can prepare for it. Senior dues are payments for packets that have to be purchased for graduation. There are packets A B and C, which are at different prices. Each packet has different equipment inside. Packet A has the cap, gown, and the hassle. Packet B is a list of equipment. Packet C is the same as B, the difference is that, packet C has a yearbook included. The highest packet can go up to $200. Senior dues are also paid for senior activities like senior cookout, and other entertaining activities.
Why are senior dues only available to seniors? Senior dues are only available to seniors because then it is easier to focus on seniors and not the whole school itself. If almost every student at SEHS was to turn in their dues it would be a big mess and there would not be much control. They only pick seniors to pay dues and they have to be paid off “because they are not coming back, so if they don’t come back they won’t be paid off,” says Palomera. This is true, they have to be paid because it is preparing students for college in the future, and in college, textbooks have to be bought as well as school supplies, labtops, etc. Senior dues are paid at the student store by the covered eating area at lunch. Dues should be paid in cash only. By when do they have to be paid? What happens if they are not paid? They have to be, “paid before you graduate,” if not, “they might not walk the stage,” says Palomera. If they are not paid before graduation, the senior won’t be able to graduate, or receive a diploma, which can, or will affect their career and it can make their resume look bad for college, university, or a for a good paying job. “I don’t think so,” says Palomera of his thoughts whether or not dues can be late. They can be paid anytime before graduation, and after but if they can be paid before its better. Like they all say, “they sooner the better.”

G.O.S.S. Interview

Rafael Pineda, a freshman at South East High School was asked what he wants to be in life "I want to be professional skater" he wants to become a professional skater because he wants free board. His obstacles to becoming a pro skater is all the hard work. If he wants to become a pro skater he is going to have to practice a lot. His solutions to overcome his obstacles is to practice and practice to get better. Like they all say "practice makes perfect." Rafael is going to start his career by getting sponsor. Well I do think that is a start for becoming a pro skater. That's Rafael's G.O.S.S. interview.

A Farewell To Summer

Just recently a ninth grade student at South East High was interviewed and asked a various of questions. These questions are about the summer vacation and saying farewell to summer. The student at S.E.H.S. was asked who are you? He replied, "Rafael P." What did you do this summer? He said, "I mostly skated" then he was asked, when did you skate in the day or in the afternoon? He answered, "in the afternoon." He was asked, where did you go this summer? He then said, "No where." The next question asked was, who did you spend your summer with? His answer was "With my family and friends." He then was asked, if he was excited of going back to school. He responded with, "A little bit." I then went for the final question which was, did you spend time mostly at home or outside? He answered, "both." and there it is, Rafael's interview about a farewell to summer.