BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT SEPT/OCT 2009

BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT SEPT/OCT 2009TMBIIs their new flirtationwith bisexualitya chance for teens toreally express themselves– or to just look trendy?By Milanes Morejon // Staff WriterTypical Scene: The bell rings. Studentsscatter to their next classes. Some areshoving books and papers into theirlockers. Others wave goodbye to theirteachers. Then, there is that one girl leaning towardsanother girl for a kiss. Something’s going on here. Is thisa newfound display of true bisexuality? Or just a chance tolook hip?Lately, teens are saying that “being bi” has become thenewest trend.“In our generation people are willing to try anything thatis different,” says Luis Sanchez, 19, from Brighton.In several Boston Public Schools, teens say studentshave been fi nding it hard to ignore the girls they seekissing by the lockers, and the “Did you hear this girl isbisexual?” stories.Many teens believe that the media has infl uenced theyouth of today. Sensational pop singer Katy Perry capturedthe attention of many when she debuted her song, “IKissed a Girl,” which became a worldwide hit. Some of thelyrics such as, “I kissed a girl and I liked it,” dived into theears of teens, arousing many mixed reactions.▲ AFH photo by Chris Rogers“It could make you curious about kissing a girl, andbring you face-to-face with a temptation you wouldn’t havedealt with otherwise,” wrote one woman in a web articleentitled, “I like ‘I Kissed a Girl,’ So What?”While some teens were only tapping their feet to thebeat of this catchy song, Stephanie Robinson, 19, ofBoston, analyzed the lyrics, too, on behalf of her bisexualcommunity.“She broke a barrier,” Robinson says of Perry. “Whethershe’s bisexual or not, it’s the bisexual anthem.”[Going Bi, PAGE 3]■ GReeN teeNs PaGe 6 ■ COLLeGe DReams DasheD PaGe 10 ■ ’80s RemIX PaGes 18-19In partnership with the

2 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comContentsFeatures14, 15 The art of the matterDuring visits to the ICA, teens learn that there’smore to freedom of expression than meetsthe eye.18, 19 Back in the dazeThe ’80s have returned to haunt yourteenage trends.Stories5 Sex sells7 Indoor arenasViolence cuts downon outside activities.9 He loves me, he lovesme not….How not to get crushed byyour crush.11 Dr. Do-it-allMeet 18-year-old Melissa Rocha.She once was a homeless child ofthe city. Now she’s working hardto land a role in a real-life“Grey’s Anatomy.”17 Bedtime stories21 Megan Fox: real or robot?22 Sneaker creatures▲ Sneakers by Mary Nguyen.AFH photo collage clockwise,photo by Julia Morgan, photo byMary Nguyen, montage by AFH.55meetthestaff 12-13W A L LTHE WALL24( )SectionsVIEWS & ATTITUDES ....................... 4, 5I KNOW WHAT YOUDID LAST SUMMER ...................... 6, 7RELATIONSHIPS ............................. 8, 9WASSUP AT SCHOOL ...............10, 11T.I.P MEETS .................................14, 15TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF ........16, 17MY FUTURE BOSS .......................... 20ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ................21CULTURE .....................................22, 231814Volume VI, No. 23Art/Photographyartists for humanityT.i.P. Staff WritersTyahra angusashley Barkershanasia BennettlaDonya Buchanananumita Dasguychardson DestinJoshua Donaldnenette eliesandy germainkyshawn hillchristopher Jeantycarina lopezkatryna mahoneycheila martinezmilanes morejonakshat Pandeyrodline Pierrenecolette Prattmelissa rodriguezgregoria ruizshanteana samuelssandra semexantDaja TaylorPrisca Viljeangabriel wardTrevor wardnatalyn yuContributing Writerskadineyse ramizeraychel wingertTHE BOSTON GLOBEleah P. Bailey, Community Affairsirene mauch, T.i.P. Production DirectorJulie regan, T.i.P. Art DirectorWRITEBOSTONBetty southwick, DirectorT.i.P. Managerkelly knopf-goldnerT.i.P. Coordinatorric kahn

www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 3[Going Bi, continued from cover]Along with music, MTV reality shows such as TilaTequila’s “A Shot at Love” and the Ikki twin’s “A DoubleShot at Love,” have sent the message that not only is it OKto be bisexual, but that it is also cool. The media has portrayedbisexuality as the newest thing by having gorgeouswomen on these shows making out with both women andmen on people’s TV screens.Just as “mulattos” lie in between the lines of blackand white, those who identify themselves as bisexuals liebetween the lines of heterosexuality and homosexuality.People who identify themselves as bisexuals have “thecapacity to be romantically and/or sexually attracted toindividuals of more than one sex,” wrote Robyn Ochs ofJamaica Plain, an activist for the bisexual community and“Always remember tobe true to yourself.No one else has theright to define youor tell you what to do.”– Robyn Ochs, activist forthe bisexual community“It’s a way to turn guys on at a party, leaving the realbisexual people looking bad and…confused,” saysBruna Lopez, 20, of Somerville, who identifies herselfas a lesbian.Some don’t mind the blatant flirtation with bisexuality.“I think it’s OK to experiment; I didn’t have to experimentto figure out what I was,” says Robinson.Others say it’s one thing to explore bisexuality becauseyou want to find your true self, and quite another to do itto be trendy.“It’s a problem if you’re fake, but not if you really arebisexual,” says Roeum Bau, 17, of Brighton.Today, society is acknowledging not only the gay community,but also the bisexual one.“It’s on the cultural menu now,” says Ochs, making it atopic that more people are open to talk about.Some experts say that due to the amount of supportavailable nowadays, teens are more willing to uncovertheir true identities.“Teens feel more comfortable and explore or experimentmore than before,” says Manou Joassaint, the healthcoordinator at Boston GLASS, a support group for youngpeople who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, orquestioning their gender or sexual orientation.But with more openness also comes a backlash ofharsh rejection.“Harassment is still a problem in every school districtin metro Boston and it hasn’t necessarily stopped,” says▲ AFH photo by Ping Zengeditor of the Bisexual Resource Guide, and Getting Bi, inan essay entitled “Bisexuality.”There is a difference, though, between bisexual behaviorand bisexual identity, which is something many teensstruggle to understand. Though people may choose tohave physical encounters with people of the same andopposite sex, they won’t necessarily see themselves asbeing bisexual. In short, behavior does not determineone’s sexuality.“It’s not about what I’m doing,” says Ochs. “It’s aboutwhat I am.”While engaging in bisexual behavior can attract attention,for some it can also be a turn-off.Jessica Flaherty, program director at the Boston Allianceof Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth (BAGLY). “Itis difficult to be a young person and know that most of theworld has a heterosexual frame to it….Young people whofeel different, feel very, very different.”Bisexual boys seem to have it worse than girls because,as Ochs puts it, “Girls have a much longer leash,” when itcomes to sexual identity and acceptance.Still, whether teens are making out in the hallways withsomeone of the same sex, or truly coming out as bisexuals,Ochs has a message for them.“Always remember to be true to yourself,” she says. “Noone else has the right to define you or tell you what to do.” ■

views & Attitudes4 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comEngineering a bright futureOne teen’s guide to successBy Joshua Donald // Staff WriterAre teens letting their communitiesdetermine their fates, rather than takingadvantage of their lives and fulfillingtheir passions? Life will be hard ifyou sit around and let it be hard; life can be easy onlyif you make it easy. I usually ask other teens what theywant to do in life; a typical response is: “I don’t know.”All I know is that I’m one of those teens activelytrying to fulfill a dream rather than accept failure.Teens are making excuses for their inability to succeed,but just because they grew up in violent neighborhoodsisn’t an excuse. You must make your ownsuccess.My father used to fix cars, and I loved to watch himwork. He could change just a few things and makethem run. He could build an engine from scratch. Buthe didn’t have time to teach me how to repair cars. SoI started fixing things on my own. Around the house,when my father wasn’t home, I would fix the handleson the drawers and the broken door knobs. When mymother noticed I had the same ambition as my fatherfor fixing cars, she didn’t want me to work around allthose chemicals. “Do something in an office,” shesaid. “Wear a shirt and tie.”In eighth grade, I began practicing drawing andgot really into it. Then when I found out that theEngineering School in Hyde Park offered programslike architecture, I gladly joined. Freshman year, it hada class called Principles of Engineering that allowedme to learn different aspects in the field, like civil,mechanical, architectural, interior, and environmental.The next year I did the Boston ArchitecturalCollege (BAC) Summer Academy. This program let meget hands-on experience in architecture, urban andinterior design, and landscaping. I did the BAC for twosummers, the first as a student learning about differentareas of designing, the second year as a mentorto other high school students.After BAC, I joined another program called theArchitecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE)Mentor Program. This allowed me to talk to real-lifeengineers, architects, and construction workers whocame into the program once a week. This fall, I planon taking a class in architecture at the BenjaminFranklin Institute of Technology.I’m only 18, but I’m already on the verge of my success,while some teens I’ve met haven’t realized theirpassions and set their goals. As the famous UnitedNegro College Fund slogan goes, “A mind is a terriblething to waste.”But some of our inner-city youth are doing this,wasting their minds, time, and life trying to be otherpeople rather than themselves, and not putting in theeffort to succeed in this world. Adults always tell methat the only person who can stop you from succeedingis yourself. So, if I’m willing to challenge myself tosucceed every single day of my life, why can’t otherteens do the same? ■▲ AFH photo by Haidan HodgsonA young man – not the author – ponders his tomorrows.▲ AFH photo

views & Attitudeswww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 5Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex!(Um, made y’all look) ByTyahra Angus // Staff WriterAwoman -- a smile carefully placed on herface, carefree and euphoric, her hairanimated, scattered haphazardly in excitement-- is wearing a bikini, her legs andrms wrapped around the man who is holding her uput of the water. He is sturdy, standing in an undershirt,nd has a smile on his face that says he is without aare in the world. He is holding her up in a playful exploits if she were a cloud. A nearby slogan says, “PURSUEOUR DAYDREAMS.” Below that is a bottle of Jose Cuervospecial alcohol.The presence of sex in advertisements has increasedver the years because of the need to attract customers,oung, old, and of every race. To do this, advertising andarketing employees for companies have to find somehingthat all of these groups have in common with eachther. Sports? Arts? Those things seem to only attractertain groups of people, so they focus on something thatVERYONE is expected to take part in at least once inheir lives. Sex.Does sex actually sell? The majority of Boston teensncluded in this survey said yes it does, and probablylways will. Among the 25 random teens, female andale, ages 15 to 18, who attend Boston Latin Academynd were included in this Teens in Print report, 22 of themaid that sexy ads do help sell products.Morgan Anderson, 15, said: “You automatically thinkf sexy people wear it, the product will make you sexy andool.” Meghan Walsh, 17, said,” Who doesn’t like sex?eople want to have it.”The other three teens included in this study saidhat the sexiness of the advertisement doesn’t matterhen it comes to buying things. For example, Sebastianodriguez, 15, said, “You wanna look at the girl, but youhouldn’t just for the product.”Teens said that products using these types of sexydvertisements are as follows: perfume and cologne,lothes, alcohol and cigarettes, condoms, diet pills,ingerie, and even television shows. Anderson said thatexy ads, “probably attracted me to Victoria’s Secret,ollister, and Abercrombie… like of half-naked people.”Jean Kilbourne, an expert on advertisements and theole women play in them, said in a lecture, “The ads, asou know, are everywhere. They’re on radio, television,ewspaper, magazine, billboards, bumper stickers… andt the same time, everyone in America still feels personllyexempt from the influence of advertising…. To a greatxtent ads tell us who we are and who we should be….he advertiser is the real pornographer… there is noemphasis on relationship or on intimacy… pornographyhas become mainstream.’’We, as humans, are attracted to attractiveness.A psychologist named Abraham Maslow createdthe Hierarchy of Needs, which is a source thatcompanies can target to get more customers.The levels of the pyramid are as follows:1) Physiological(food, water, survival, air, sex).2) Security(employment. shelter, safety).3) Social(belonging, affection, love, friendship,romantic attachment).4) Esteem(personal worth, achievements).5) Self-actualization(morality, personal growth, fulfillment).▲ AFH photoLook around as you walk in your neighborhood, throughthe streets, malls, and restaurants, and you will noticewhat people like me did. The world, no matter where yougo, is covered in advertisements. Even the clothes youwear are branded with labels and slogans helping companiessell their products. T-shirts that say GAP, jeansthat scream APPLE BOTTOMS, and sneakers that promoteNIKE are types of subliminal messaging that are right inyour face. Maybe you think you are able to escape theadvertisements because you are an individual, unique.Nobody is. We are all human, but we have the ability tochoose what we do. Advertisers can only influence us toa certain point before it becomes domineering. We haveto become more aware and observant of what advertisersare trying to sell us and determine whether it is for ourbenefit or for theirs – see need number 5. ■For more cool stuff,please visit our website atwww.bostontip.com

I know what you did last summer6 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comFood for thoughtGreen teens spread the word about eating rightBy Akshat Pandey // Staff Writer7-Eleven, CVS, and McDonald’s:One of them is a conveniencestore, one is a pharmacy, andone is a fast food restaurant.But if you ask teens in Boston what thosethree places mean to them, you’ll get onecommon answer: food. For teens, conveniencehas become one of the biggest factorsin deciding where to eat their next meal.Common sense says that what’s cheapestisn’t always what’s best, but often, due tolack of funds, Boston youth will eat, for lackof a better word, junk.But despite the ignorance of the largerpopulation, some teens are beginning tolearn the physical benefits, and, yes, goodtaste, of eating healthy. At three Dorchesterlocations -- the ReVision Urban Farm, a singleacre spread across three lots; the FieldsCorner Farmer’s Market; and the CodmanSquare Farmer’s Market -- teens this summerwere found learning not only how togrow and sell fresh produce, but also how tobuild a healthy diet that will serve them fortheir whole lives.Nicole Blount, from Burke High School,and Ashley Shauna Deleon, from BostonLatin, are two 17-year-olds who workedat the Codman Square Farmer’s Market,where they reaped the benefits of eatingfreshly grown produce. “I’ve stopped goingto McDonald’s,” says Blount. “For a snack, Ihave my mom buy blueberries, and peaches,and other fruit.”The alternative to that is a lot of fat andcalories, making it a perfect recipe for heartdisease and diabetes, according to the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.The Harvard School of Public Health reportsthat heart disease is the number one killerof men and women in the U.S.As a result of the giant “green” movement,a lot more research has beenrevealed. According to the PrincetonUniversity website, the lack of pesticides inorganic foods makes them both safer andmore nutritious to eat, while simultaneouslyhelping the environment.Now, teens are spreading the word aboutthe virtues of nutritional food. “It’s good foryou, and it’s good to not eat junk food all thetime,” says Treyvon Clegg, a 15-year-oldfrom Mattapan who worked at both theReVision Urban Farm and the Fields CornerFarmer’s Market.Clegg says he is trying to change theeating habits of a friend who doesn’t likefruits and vegetables. “I say, ‘You should eathealthy,’” says Clegg. “Of course junk food isgood, but it’s not good for you….Yeah, beforeI never used to eat vegetables, but nowI do. I’ve learned fresh vegetables tastegood, too.”But often, the problem with healthyfoods isn’t even their taste or price, buttheir general availability. In some neighborhoods,supermarkets -- let alone farmstands – are scarce. Clegg, who has oftenseen people choose the conveniencestore to shop, says, “There should bemore farms in the community, not justcorner stores.”While it’s impossible to keep people fromgoing to McDonald’s or Burger King, someteens say others should stop and thinkabout what they’re putting into their bodies.Deleon says that working at a farmer’s markethas opened her eyes to the food she’seating. “Now that I have this experience,I’m more open, and more wary, of fast foodchains,” she says. “Like sometimes, I’ll think,‘What does KFC or McDonald’s put intotheir stuff?’” ■▲ AFH photo by Darren HicksSummer T.i.P.sters down on the urban farm, learning about freshfruits and veggies.▲ AFH photo by Darren Hicks▲ AFH photo by Mary Nguyen

elationships8 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.com“Oh, he’s so gay!”“Yeah – and he’s my BFF!”By Natalyn Yu // Staff WriterStereotypically, a gay guyis well dressed, feminine,dramatic, and honest tothe point of being funny.Contrary to popular belief, however, not allgay guys are the same.TV series such as “Ugly Betty,”“Desperate Housewives,” and “GossipGirl” have a common link: the presence ofa gay best friend, who brings both tensionand hilarity to the set. Predictably, thishas spurred a trend in the teenage population,making the gay best friend the newiPhone, but only for girls.✻✼▲ AFH drawing by Julia Morgan“A straight guy definitely has the fearthat he’ll be seen as being gay himself,”says Elodie Paquette, 17, a senior atBoston Latin School, explaining why thistrend isn’t followed by straight guys.Having this friend is an attractiveoption for girls because gay guys, especiallyin the media, are always finding thecomic relief in a situation. Along with thisis the notion that there will be less competitionbetween these friends, becauseof their different sexual preferences.Also, with a gay best friend, girls can beassured that the guy wants a genuinefriendship, not a hookup.“People often criticize and outcast agay guy because of his sexual orientation.A gay guy understands a girl’s feelingsbecause they experience a lot ofemotional stuff,” says Yanyi Weng¸ 17, ofBoston Latin Academy, who is talking fromsecondhand experience.Lily Burger knows of teens who are bestfriends with gay guys so they’ll be somethinglike the girls’ mascot, to go shoppingwith, and to choose outfits together.However, the friendship Burger has withher best friend is different. “His being gayis definitely not the ‘appeal’ of our friendship,”says Burger, 16, of Boston LatinSchool. “We’re friends because we havethe same interests. We just understandeach other really well.”Is there anyone who really wants tobe someone’s mascot? A gay teen fromJamaica Plain, who did not want to benamed, answers emphatically: “I wouldn’twant to be a girl’s friend if they just wantedto use me,” he says. “That wouldn’tbe fair.” ■

elationshipswww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 9No rush to find your crushBy Cheila Martinez // Staff WriterYou see him or her walkingdown the hallway. You’vegot the butterflies thatnever leave your tummywhen that special someone is around. Andall you can think about is whether that personis into you as much as you’re into himor her. Which leads to this question “Areyou compatible with your crush or not?”Whether it’s your zodiac sign or it’s justan attraction, there are many ways to findout whether or not you are compatiblewith that special someone. Sometimes allyou need to have are common interestswith someone and then let nature take itscourse. For all you impatient lovers: If yourcrush is as shy as you are, you’ll be waitingforever for him or her to make the firstmove. You need to be the master of yourown relationship. Don’t be afraid: the worstyour crush could do is say no.To know if you and your crush sharecommon ground, the two of you must,according to therelationshipgym.com, havethe required chemistry it takes to maintaina steady relationship; be able to makechanges in the relationship without absolutelychanging yourselves; both feel thesame way about each other; and be positiveabout your feelings.“When that someone makes you feelspecial and no one can give you that samespecial feeling,” is how Taylor Martin, 15,from O’ Bryant High School, describes thesense of finding that match.“You know when you’re compatiblewhen you can open up to that one personand tell them all your personal feelings andyou know that you could confide in themfor all your needs, mentally and physically,”says Devante Monroe, 15, of the Hyde ParkEducation Complex. “I feel happy and greatto be alive when that true person is bymy side.”So how do you know when you’re in abad relationship? “The first sign of beingin a wrong relationship would be physical,emotional, or verbal abuse,” says PeterNguyen, 16, from the O’ Bryant.You should feel secure and safe in yourrelationship, not scared and vulnerable.According to therelationshipgym.com “Ifyou choose to stay, you know why you arestaying and you’re much more committed.If you’ve chosen to go, then it’s becauseyou’ve tried everything and it’s time to saygoodbye.”Not all relationships will last forever.But when you find your special someone,it may be your crush or not, but don’t bedisappointed. Good things always come tothose who wait. ■“When that someonemakes you feel specialand no one can give youthat same special feeling.”–Taylor Martin, 15, from O’ Bryant High School▲ AFH photo by Mary NguyenWant to be a student reporter?Join T.i.P. Please call us at617-541-2651

wassup at schoolDreams DeferredCollege-bound teens waylaid by economic crisisBy Anumita Das // Staff WriterPatricia Hooper, 18, of West Roxbury, hadher heart set on attending Barnard College.Barnard offered the charm of a smallschool, but provided the great researchfacilities of Columbia University, its affiliate, not to mentionthe university’s diploma. Having graduated from BostonLatin School this spring, Hooper took multiple AP andhonors courses in high school and had an outstanding3.83 GPA. She was the captain of the school swim teamand was active in student government. She presented thewhole package. Patricia Hooper was even accepted to herdream school. However, Hooper will not be going to prestigiousBarnard College.Our current economic crisis has forced her to changedirection: The falling stock market raged through the smallcollege fund set aside for her by her grandfather, simplynot leaving enough to face the projected $53,480 annualcost for attending Barnard for a Boston resident.“My number one choice, Barnard College, provided solittle aid that if I had attended, I would have been over$100,000 in debt when I graduated,” Hooper says.These are the realities of an economic recession.President Barack Obama issued bailouts, banks filed forbankruptcy, companies closed, parents got laid off.However, not only does it affect the careers of adults,but it also impacts us, the teens of Boston -- especially theincoming seniors preparing themselves for the rigorouscollege application process.When choosing the perfect college, one major itemtaken into account is the cost. With the economic crisis,it has gotten increasingly more difficult for households todeal with the financial burden.Now, teens are revising their college plans. Althoughaccepted to Barnard, Hooper decided to attendCommonwealth College, a very competitive honors programat UMass/Amherst, after, she says, she received ascholarship that will relieve her of paying the approximately$12,000 tuition fee out of the estimated $20,000 totalin-state cost of attending UMass.“I’m really happy with the decision I made because Iwill be stress-free,” Hooper says. “I didn’t want the doomof loans to loom over my college experience.”Like Hooper, many students across America are consideringstate schools rather than private colleges for thelower cost. There is definitely an advantage in going to aprivate school because of the individual attention and theprestige, but ultimately, as Hooper says, “It’s more whatyou do, than where you go.”Hooper admits that her experience at UMass will be distinctfrom Barnard, but she is confident that she will stillget a good education.John Travers, Director of School Counseling at BrightonHigh School, has a similar ideal. He says, “Any college will10 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comget you the education you need, but it depends on theindividual and how you present yourself.”Patrick Mendes, 17, an incoming senior at BrightonHigh School, confronts a situation similar to Hooper’s.Mendes aspires to attend top institutions such as Harvardand MIT, and would like to study business and zoologyto eventually become the CEO of a company. Althoughranked fourth at his school for his 4.64 GPA in his junioryear, and working at Harvard Medical School in theprogram, Project Success, he worries about his futurebecause of the declining economy. As discouraging asit may be, Mendes says that the economic crisis hasmotivated him to study more diligently in school andstrive for success.“Now, I always say. ‘If the sky is the limit, why notreach further,’” Mendes says. “Every challenge is aApply to as many scholarshipsas you can in the beginning,especially smaller ones.Although you may need to write moreessays when applying for smallerscholarships, they can accumulate andbe very beneficial. Just because a collegeaccepts you does not mean that it willnecessarily pay your way.Clarify the definition of “cost”for each individual college.There are scholarships that cover collegetuition. However, many colleges have otherfees in addition to the tuition, such as roomand board, that are quite expensive as well.step forward.”Mendes believes that this motivation will compel him tosucceed through the financial crisis. He realizes that withthe current economic crisis, he must study harder thanever to obtain scholarships, because he does not want tohave any loans while he is in college.“I don’t want any weight on my shoulders,” he says. “Ijust want to focus on school.”Ultimately, when it comes to choosing the right school,the most important factor may well be happiness.To Mendes, happiness is attending his dream collegeat Harvard. To Hooper, it is attending UMass/Amherst withoutthe burden of loans darkening her college experience.To others, it may be attending their top college even withthe financial load. As Hooper says, “You can never put aprice on happiness.” ■College PrepFor those teens concerned that the current economic crisis mightderail their college dreams, here is some advice to help stay on track:It’s never too early toDon’t let the cost deter(1) start preparing.you from applying toStart familiarizing yourself with thea college.college application process in theIt is important to first find a placeearly years of high school.that is academically suitable foryou, and that provides the idealUtilize the resources around you, student life. Although you may hear(2)that a certain college is very expensive,it may still be an affordableespecially your guidance counselor.Keep your eyes and ears open for seminarsoption with academic scholarshipsabout financial aid, college preparation, and and financial aid.anything else that may be on your mind.(3)(4)(5)(6)You can’t put a price tagon happiness.Whether it means you are at yourdream college, but have manyloans, or at a state school, with afull scholarship, make sure youare happy. College is one of thegreatest experiences of your life.Sources:College freshman Patricia Hooper, 18,of West Roxbury; JohnTravers, Directorof School Counseling at Brighton HighSchool; Patrick J. Callahan, a UMass/Amherst spokesman; and Tony Erwin,Senior Director for UniversityFinancial Aid and Scholarshipsat Northeastern University.

wassup at schoolwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 11From high school to med school:paging Dr. Rocha!By Melissa Rodriguez // Staff WriterShe was once homeless. Now she dreams ofbecoming a doctor, and, through a specialprogram, has already been accepted tomedical school – as a teenager.Melissa Rocha, 18, just graduated from Health Careerscademy public school in the Fenway as valedictorian ofer class, and will be HCA’s first medical student.Being a doctor has been a goal for Rocha since theeventh grade.“Nothing intrigues me like medicine,” says Rocha.Although she has achieved a tremendous amount ofuccess, Rocha has gone through some glitches on herourney. Around the age of 13, Rocha was homeless wither mother and younger brother. Due to the separation ofer parents and her father’s abrupt move back to Capeerde, Rocha’s mom could not keep up with the bills andhe rent. Her family was homeless for about a year andived in a shelter. But Rocha says the experience did notring her down; it motivated her to succeed more. “Itpened my eyes,” she says.Rocha’s mom was working and saving money and afteryear was able to find a home for the family.Rocha participated in the Student Success Jobsrogram at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She wasn it throughout her high school career and was heavilyexposed to different medical cases.In her senior year of high school, shewas moved to the burn trauma unit.“I always wanted to work inthe burn trauma unit,” shesays. “I had to work my wayto get there.”Rocha recalls anintense experience she hadwhile in the unit. A womanwho was a Jehovah’sWitness had been in aserious car accident, andto save her life she neededa blood transfusion. Due to the woman’s religion, thiswas not going to be possible, and she continually rejectedthe transfusion. For Rocha, the episode was frustrating.“All you want to do as a doctor is help the person,”she says.Fortunately, the woman survived.Rocha is enrolled in the University of Rochester’sEarly Medical Scholars program, which runs for eightyears and includes a bachelor’s degree followed by amedical degree.According to Jonathan Burdick, Rochester’s Dean ofUndergraduate Admissions and FinancialAid, the program is highly competitive: Theadmissions office, he says, receives 800to 1,000 applications a year. From those,they choose 50 students to be interviewed;from those, they pick 10who are accepted.Nationwide, by one account,there are more than 70 similarhigh-school-to-med-schoolarrangements.According to enrollment.rochester.edu,students typically musthave a GPA of 3.95 or higher to beaccepted into the program. Rocha had a 4.42 GPA. Theyalso have to be in the top three percent of their graduatingclass, and have significant experience in the medical field.Rocha’s other interests have included some modelingwhen she was six or seven years old, but her mother saysshe never stopped talking about becoming a doctor. “Iwould love to work for [fashion designer] Marc Jacobs, butI wouldn’t give up medicine for anything,” says Rocha.As Rocha embarks on her college career, her advice tohigh school students is this: “Find something that you’repassionate about and nothing will get in your way.” ■▲ AFH photo by Mattaya FittsBUZZBy Raychel Wingert // Contributing WriterHey everyone! My name is RaychelWingert, and I have been elected thenew T.i.P. writer at BSAC (Boston StudentAdvisory Council) for this upcomingchool year. I am in tenth grade at Boston Latin Academy.Sadly, our summer has ended, and school has started.owever, this also means we have a chance to jump on allhe new and exciting activities we have planned for BSAChis year! BSAC is a place where students from all differentigh schools in the Boston Public School system meet andave a voice on what is going on.Last year, our main goals were on the budget cuts,tudent-to-teacher constructive feedback, and the Bostonublic Schools Code of Discipline.Each one of us had a voice on what we thought aboutach subject, and we were also able to attend rallies toget our ideas heard even more!For the budget cuts, we talked about how we felt andhow the problem should be resolved. The school systemwanted to cut our art classes and other electives that hada great deal of importance to us. We fought against it bycalling politicians, attending boycotts, writing letters.Another issue was teacher evaluations. This projectwas set up to let students have a say in their teachers’performances. It is an appropriate area because teachersare always judging their students, as in the “conduct” and“effort” portions of their grades. The BSAC students madea survey, asking questions such as, “Do you understandthe material your teacher goes over in class with you?”and “Are your questions answered in a way that help youunderstand better?” Also, “Do you feel comfortable talkingto your teacher?” With the anonymous results, headmasterscan discuss improvements with their teachers.Lastly, we were part of the review process for theBoston Public Schools Code of Discipline.This year, we will continue to work on those goals, suchas making sure the budget cuts don’t get out of hand.Also, we are still working on the student-to-teacher constructivefeedback so that students are getting all they canfrom their educations. In addition, we are exploring manyother possible projects for the school year.Being a part of BSAC is a great opportunity to let yourvoices be heard on things that affect you, your friends,and your education.If you are interested in joining BSAC, or getting moreinformation about our work, please contact Maria I. Ortiz atmortiz@boston.k12.ma.us or at 617-635-8079 ext 104. ■

12 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comTyahra AngusFavorite song before your time:“Three Little Birds” -- Bob MarleyMost recently purchased sneakers:Converse pink plaid -- my 14th pairDream career: Write for CosmopolitanWho would play you in a movie?Keke Palmer if she gained 30 lbs.Ashley BarkerFavorite song before your time:“Pump Me Up” -- KrosfyahDream career: PediatricianWho would be your mascot?Fred Flintstone or Barney RubbleHow many pairs of skinny jeansdo you own? ThreeShanasia BennettFavorite song before your time:“I’m Going Down” -- Mary J. BligeBest spot for a tattoo: Upper BackDream career:Journalist/authorWho would play you in a movie?Keke PalmermeetthestBoston Teens in Print unites Bostonan outlet to inform, communicate,positive change through writtenLaDonya BuchananFavorite song before your time:“Teacher” -- George Michael or“Sweetest Taboo” -- SadeDream career: PsychiatristWho would be your mascot?SpongeBob SquarePantsWho would play you in a movie?Taraji P. HensonAnumita DasFavorite song before your time:“My Heart Will Go On” -- Celine DionNickname: NumiDream career: Doctor/journalist/lawyer/dancerWho would play you in a movie?No one can play me in a movie;I’m just too awesome…duhJoshua DonaldFavorite song before your time:“I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)”-- Hi-FiveBest spot for a tattoo:Right ArmDream career: ArchitectHow many pairs of skinny jeansdo you own? None!!!!!Nenette ElieNickname: TinkerMost recently purchased sneakers:Converse (Chucks)Dream career:ChoreographerWho would play you in a movie?Takara (America’s Next Top Model)Sandy GermainFavorite song before your time:“Let’s Talk About Love” -- Celine DionNickname: Spicy AngelDream career:PediatricianWho would play you in a movie?Angelina JolieWrite for Teens in Print!SEND your essays, letters, articles,commentaries, poems, pen-andinkdrawings or cartoons, and photos.EMAIL submissions toric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.gov.Send them as both MS Wordattachments and as an email message.Provide your name, age, grade andschool. We don’t print anythinganonymously. You must attend oneof the Boston Public high schools.ManyThanks!FORMAT your writingDouble spacedTimes New Roman, 12 point fontIn the upper left corner—your nameContributing Writer, and a titleor headlineWhatever you submit has to beYOUR OWN CREATION. We only printoriginal work. Please write “this ismy own creation” next to your name.Next issue: November 20Send submissions by mailBoston Teens in Printc/o WriteBoston7 Palmer Street,Roxbury, MA 02119The September issue of Teensteens participating in WriteBostoThank you to the generous sponsor

Kyshawn HillFavorite song before your time:“Pretty Young Thing” -- Michael JacksonNickname:Toni Boston/Ky Boi/Daddy/CutieDream career: Too hot for TVWho would play you in a movie?Tupac Shakur if he were still aliveShanteana SamuelsNickname: TiggyDream career:NurseHow many pairs of skinny jeansdo you own? NineWho would play you in a movie?Gabrielle Unionffcreateiden.Katryna MahoneyFavorite song before your time:All of Bob Marley’s songsMost recently purchased sneakers:I don’t purchase sneakersWho would be your mascot?A lion; it’s fierceWho would play you in a movie?Angelina JolieCheila MartinezFavorite song before your time:“I Will Survive” -- Gloria GaynorMost recently purchased sneakers:More of a high-heels girlDream career: Singer/songwriterWho would play you in a movie?Jessica AlbaSandra SemexantFavorite song before your time:“Very Special” -- Big Daddy Kane & SpinderellaDream career: LawyerWho would be your mascot?Gir from “Invader Zim”How many pairs of skinny jeans do you own?Skinny jeans ain’t for meDaja TaylorNickname: Dae DaeBest spot for a tattoo:Upper backDream career:Writer for Rolling StoneWho would be your mascot?A panda You will not get your work back;KEEP A COPY for yourself. Teens in Print reserves the right toEDIT your work for length, content,or appropriateness.Contact us:WriteBoston617-541-2651w.bostontip.com.writeboston.orgproduced by Bostonr Journalism Session.rted the 2009 program:Milanes MorejonFavorite song before your time:“Golden Girls” theme songBest spot for a tattoo: Tattoo PartyDream career:Some kind of lawyerWho would play you in a movie?Cassie Steele (Manny Santos from Degrassi)Akshat PandeyFavorite song before your time:“Pusherman” -- Curtis MayfieldMost recently purchased sneakers:ASICSDream career: In a touring bandWho would play you in a movie?Al PacinoRodline PierreFavorite song before your time:“Thriller” -- Michael Jackson;“Hello” -- Lionel RichieBest spot for a tattoo:Nowhere!!!!!Dream career:Child psychologistWho would play you in a movie?Queen Latifah or Jennifer HudsonNecolette PrattFavorite song before your time:“Candy Rain” -- Soul for RealBest spot for a tattoo: WristDream career:VeterinarianWho would be your mascot?Chowder/Flapjack/EdMelissa RodriquezFavorite song before your time:“Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon JoviDream career: PediatricianWho would be your mascot?Edward Cullen (smiles)Who would play you in a movie?America FerreraPrisca ViljeanFavorite song before your time:“If You Asked Me To” -- Celine DionNickname: Black QueenDream career:PharmacistWho would play you in a movie?BeyonceGabriel WardFavorite song before your time:“Old Time Rock and Roll” -- Bob SegerNickname: WafflesBest spot for a tattoo:The wing span of an eagle, gracefullyacross my backHow many pairs of skinny jeansdo you own? Over 9,000!!!!Trevor WardFavorite song before your time:“Octopus’s Garden” -- the Beatles.Nickname: LuigiDream career:Artist at Pokémon USAWho would be your mascot?KirbyNatalyn YuFavorite song before your time:“Twist and Shout” – the BeatlesMost recently purchased sneakers:EcoSNEAKSWho would be your mascot? A lionHow many pairs of skinny jeansdo you own? FourFor moresweet stories,please read on.....www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 13

T.I.P. MeetsA teen talk with Shepard FaireyHow hewent fromstreetartist toiconicsuperstarBy Milanes Morejon // Staff Writer▲ AFH photo by Mary NguyenFrom sneaking into back alleys to having hisartwork on display in various museums,it is safe to say that Shepard Fairey hascome a long way. Influenced by punk rockmusic, Fairey emerged from the skateboarding scene tobecome the well-known street artist responsible for theObama HOPE and PROGRESS posters.With anti-war messages and propaganda incorporatedinto most of his artwork, Fairey manages to use his ownlanguage and sense of style to express his own ideologyabout things. Widely known artists such as Tupac,Biggie, Flavor Flav, LL Cool J and Bob Marley are all partof the exceptional portrait collection that Fairey created.Although his record may not be as clean as the work heputs on display -- he has been charged with vandalismnumerous times -- Fairey credits his success to the peoplewho support him, “There is the old school that doesn’tlike what I’m doing, but there are a lot of younger peoplethat are inspired by it. That makes me happy and keepsme motivated,” says Fairey.Whether people consider his artwork as being strikinglyoffensive or particularly amusing, Fairey continuesto spread his collages, portraits and stenciled creationsall over the world. With over 200 of his works put on viewat the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston,Fairey appeared this summer at the museum and gavea group of Boston Public High School students – includingrepresentatives from T.i.P. -- the opportunity to asksome questions.How do you feel about people who think ofyou as a graffiti artist?I think that graffiti very literally translated is imagesand words on walls and other public spaces and I thinkthat it’s OK, you can call me that (ha-ha). I do that. Butgraffiti for some people…it’s going to have a negative connotationin that graffiti artists are anarchists who don’tcare about being a positive part of society, and I wouldtake issue with that definition in general. But, also veryspecifically for me, I do what I do as an artist to be a populist.I put my work in public spaces not to say ‘Screw you,I do what I want wherever I want,’ but to say that there isroom for more expression in public space than just advertising.We all as taxpayers own a little bit of the publicspace and should be able to have a voice in public space.It shouldn’t just be for corporations and the government.On average, how long does it take to makeone piece of artwork?Anywhere from a day to a month.When people insult your art, do you justbrush it off?Indifference is the enemy. When you have opinionsand you are willing to share them, you open yourself upfor criticism. And, of course, I want my messages to beunderstood and [for] people who might agree with me tosay ‘Hey right on!’ But there are always going to be peoplethat oppose it. A lot of the time it says more about thatperson than it does about me. I have to try to be honestwith myself and when someone makes a valid point I haveto try to just say, ‘You know, yeah, they called me out onsomething I was wrong about.’ But, also, when I feel likeI said something that I thought long and hard about andthat it is something I believe in firmly, I don’t questionmyself just because someone else disagrees with me.Twenty years ago, when you came up with thisAndre the Giant phenomenon, did you think youwould be standing here right now in front of allthese people?Definitely not! One of the things that I think I somehowwas able to do was being optimistic about what I couldaccomplish, but not have such high expectations that Iwould become depressed and give up if the things thatI wanted to do didn’t manifest to me. It’s been 20 yearsof very steady work, and a lot of times, I had self-doubt,and my dad told me I was wasting time with what I wasdoing. People have been like ‘Hey man, if the stuff thatyou’re doing made a difference, you don’t think it wouldyield its results already?’ A lot of people justify their complacencyby trying to bag on someone who is trying to dosomething, and all the time I just thought, ‘Don’t submit,don’t succumb to that mentality, and just stick with it.’Everything that I’ve experienced just reinforces the ideathat you have to stay hungry, you have to work hard, andyou have to try to be informed, but at the same time notsecond-guess your own judgment. Just do what you do theway you think it should be done, being as positive as possible.I am still going. People think I am going to retire now,but now I have a foot in the door; real work can start. ■14 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.com

T.I.P. MeetsAt ICA, teens learn new“slanguage” of freedomBy Natalyn Yu and Shanasia Bennett // Staff WritersThis summer, T.i.P. was lucky enough tospend time during Slanguage Week atthe Institute of Contemporary Art inSouth Boston. We worked with artistsin-residenceMario Ybarra Jr. and Karla Diaz, who arefrom Los Angeles and who are the creators of Slanguage,which, Diaz says, is a “hybrid of the words slang andanguage, which for us articulates an alternative wayf communicating.”An artist-in-residence comes to a new place specificallyo work on a project. “The focus of the residency was onhe process,” says Diaz. “It introduced students to basicollaborative skills that are used in other art forms suchs music, theater, and writing.”The purpose of the week was to explore Boston’sFreedom Trail, to use what we teens in the program foundto define “freedom,” and to make art to express our definitionsof that lofty concept.During Slanguage Week, we would do warm-up exercisesto wake ourselves up and get to know each other.We started with getting a feeling of just how much Bostonhas to offer by touring the different parts of the city. FromBoston Common all the way to the South End, the amountof rich history Boston has was almost unbelievable. Wewere able to explore the roots of the MBTA lines and theSouth End with mytown, a group of young people who conducttours in Boston.On these tours, we were split up into groups, whichincluded a historian, a photographer, and a sketcher.“What I enjoyed most was the hands on artwork we did,and making flags,” says Christian Hennessey, 16, aBoston participant in the program.In addition to making flags, we made our ownhistorical books, exquisite corpse drawings (a collectionof images and/or words collaboratively assembled) and“’zines” (magazines made out of collages).“Dress the way you think an artist would dress!”Ybarra jokingly advised us on the day before thebig opening.The ICA Art Lab was bustling with people on openingday, with a DJ playing in the back and people chattingexcitedly and surveying the art posted on the wall thatwe had worked on all week. Ybarra and Diaz wereglowing with happiness, reflecting SlanguageWeek’s success. ■▲ AFH photo by Shawn McLaughlinSlanguage = hybrid of the words slangand language, which for us articulates analternative way of communicating.– artist Karla Diazwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 15

Take care of yourselfwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 17Sexual healing:Kid-vid tries to rid STIs By Katryna Mahoney // Staff WriterMattapan’s two teen stars, AnastasiaWalker, 15, and Hillary Little, 17,were recently spotted on YouTube,the MBTA and even on TV. That’secause Walker and Little were winners in the “Get Reel:heck Yourself” video contest in June, which highlightedhe dangers of Sexually Transmitted Infections, also knowns STIs. They had to create a one-minute video showcasngtheir talent, which in this case was acting, to remindeens to always use protection when having sex.Their comically-relevant video clip features the fictionalealth teacher, Mrs. Tinkleberry (Walker), asking one ofer students Janae (Little) what an STI is. “Is it that, thatest you take when you want to get into college?” asksanae, mistaking STIs for the SAT. Later on, Janae findsut her partner, Jeffrey, gave her an “SAT” by havingnprotected sex. Through humor, the girls tell the sad storyof many Boston teens.According to the 2009 Health of Boston report, morethan half (56 percent) of Boston public high school studentsreported having had sexual intercourse -- 35 percentof them saying they had intercourse for the first timebefore they reached the age of 14. At the same time, lessthan 100 percent of sexually active public high-schoolers-- 7 out of 10 -- used a condom during their last encounter,the report says.Meanwhile, infections lurk. The report states: “Youngwomen ages 15-24 are at greatest risk for chlamydia,”the most commonly reported STI in the country, accordingto the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.The overall rate of reported new cases has been on therise in Boston, the report says. Chlamydia is known as thesilent STI: At least half of infected men, and 75 percentof infected women, show no symptoms, according to thefederal government.For this anti-STI contest, judges and professionals fromthe Boston Public Health Commission chose four winners.Walker and Little received $750 for their first-place finish.Though heavy in topic, the video only took about anhour to create. “We kind of did it for fun,” says Walker.All the winning contestants joined Walker and Little inrecreating their video, called “Avoid STIs: Use Protection.”The public service announcement was showcased on MTV,BET and FX throughout July and August. Ads of Walker andLittle were also displayed on MBTA trains and buses.The overall message, as the Boston Public HealthCommission puts it, is: “A perfect score on the SATs mightbe hard, but preventing STIs isn’t.”The winning video can be viewed at:http://www.myspace.com/thehillznstasiashow. ■Doze and don’ts: Youth need more sleepBy Prisca Viljean // Staff WriterTeens are busy people: chilling withfriends, going to parties, checking e-mailand social sites, talking on the phoneand texting.But often, when told to go to bed early, there are otherfactors that prevent sleeping: homework, job, housechores, disruption at home, other siblings, or lying awakebecause of having had a bad day.“I can’t sleep,” says 19-year-old Gena Farene Badin,from Mattapan. “Sometimes you really stress out. It’s justimpossible to close your eyes.”There are also teen mothers who are kept awake by cryingbabies. Other teens try to get their rest, but their livesare too hectic.“I sleep seven hours a day but I know it’s not enough,”says Clifford Mengual, 18, from Brighton.Sandra Montrond, a nurse and manager at theAdolescent Center at Boston Medical Center, agreed.“Teens need to sleep just like everybody else--eight hours,and if you can get more, you are ahead of the game,”she says.Teens who do not sleep enough may pay the price downthe road. They “may have a higher risk of elevated bloodpressure that could lead to cardiovascular disease laterin life,” says a new study in “Circulation: Journal of theAmerican Heart Association.”The lack of sleep in teenagers could increase thepresence of stress and lack of energy. In the words ofMontrond, “The brain is the central machine. If you don’tput gas in your machine, it won’t work. Same for your▲ AFH photo by Zoe Librain: if you don’t sleep enough, your brain won’t work.”There are some teens, like Imani Combs, 16, ofDorchester, who sleep only four to five hours a night. “It’snot OK, but I’m used to it,” says Combs.Wilne Ledesma, 17, of Roxbury, goes to sleep at 11 or12 at night. “It’s impossible for me because I have to finishall of my homework,” he says.OK: so what to do? Many students complain that startingschool so early stops them from increasing their sleep.“I’m always tired the first two hours,” says Ruben Rene,18, of Dorchester. “It’s not easy for me to follow.”Teachers complain about students sleeping in class,especially in the morning. Ledesma says, “Oh, all the timeit’s like, ‘Wake up, you’re going to fail the test.’”The advice of Elizabeth Beliard, 19, from Mattapan, toschool officials is: “I would tell them that… it’s better tostart later, people could concentrate more, more peoplewould come to school because the time is better.”Teens are seeking a later start time for school, perhaps9 a.m. instead of 7:20. Meanwhile, youths are taking mattersinto their own hands.“Sometimes I don’t feel sleepy, that depends on mymood… or the things that I drink like caffeine, Red Bull,”says Badin.Now, it’s Red Bull. Then what? ■

they’re……back!the ‘80s rocK teens’ WorlD inAnatomy of a trendBy Nenette Elie // Staff WriterToday, many teens are acting likethey’re back in the ’80s by wearingskinny jeans, sporting fl at-tops,and listening to LL Cool J. Whydo teens follow such trends? While they claimto want independence, they really just wantfreedom from their parents. They fear that ifthey’re not following the crowd, they’ll beportrayed as outcasts.“It’s normal to want to fi t in because no onewants to feel rejected by anyone or not belong tothe group,” says Laura Hansen, an assistant professorof sociology at UMass/Boston.How do trends start? It happens when teens followsome popular person or anyone they look up to.Thirteen-year-old Selena Santos, of Dorchester,says she dresses like she’s back in the ’80s –bright-blue skinny jeans, highlighter-pink shirt and asky-blue jacket -- because she loves how the colorspop. “I’ve been dressing like this ever since Ican remember,” says Santos. She also thinks thatboys are wearing skinny jeans because “it’s justmore stylish.”Trends also come from advertisements. “Themedia researches youth to fi nd out what’s mostpopular,” says Hansen. “The youth infl uence themedia and the media infl uence the youth.” It’s thesame as the chicken and the egg -- which camefi rst? Hansen says, “The media has top celebritiespromoting their products, then the youths go outand buy whatever is being sold because their rolemodels infl uence it.”Nowadays, the recent trend that everyone’s trippin’on is the ’80s. People say the only reason the’80s are coming back now is because what’s oldbecomes new, and because teens might be runningout of ideas.What will the next cultural trend be? ■▲ AFH photo byJulia Morgan■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■“Here come ’ol flat-top…”By Sandra Semexant // Staff WriterAteen walks out of “Inthe Kut” barbershop inCodman Square. He is amember of the “Class of’88 Crew.” You just can’t miss them. Theyroam the streets as extreme attention getters.One way to notice these teens is bythe very unique fl at-top, a type of shorthaircut that is deliberately styled to standerect and have a fl at lid. It’s a hairstyleworn in the late ’80s by famous rapperssuch as Big Daddy Kane, Kid ’n Play andKwamé (who also introduced the blondeswirl color dye into the hairdo). On thestreets, there are two diverse groups ofteens: one that admires the fl at-top, sayingit’s different and brings life to Bostonversus a crowd that doesn’t, saying it justlooks plain ridiculous.One main question asked today on thestyle circuit is: “Why the fl at-top?”“The Mohawk is played out by so many,”says Sha Real Marshall, 15, of Mattapan.18 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.com“Everyone and their mom have braids andeveryone is getting the regular low cut withdesigns on the side.”Marshall describes Boston as “lifeless,”with the usual attire of plain old Ed Hardyand Champ hoodies. He enjoys the pleasureof the stares, attention and remarksthat he receives from his fl at-top. He sayshe started growing his hair in November,and that he doesn’t plan on changing hisstyle anytime soon.“I didn’t grow all this hair for nothing,”he says.“I’ma always stand out,” announcesMichael Janey, 16, of Dorchester, whilepicking out his fl at-top. “Personally, it’sjust me.”He agrees that the style is what makeshim different. Janey and Marshall are twoteens in Boston’s own “Class of ’88 Crew,”which members describe as a “society ofboys that are all above the infl uence andhave the class, style and attitude of thosefrom the year ’88.”Other teens, however,believe that the fl at-topis pointless.“A fl at-top equals a fadeplus an Afro,” says NickDoyle, 17, of Dorchester.“Both very popular backthen, but folks nowadaysneed to let it rest. It died fora reason -- you can’t resurrect everything.What’s in the past is in the past....wegotta live for the future….I’m sure youdidn’t see Al Green or Michael Jacksonwith slave gear on.”Most of the 20 teens interviewed don’tadmire the fl at-top, or its revival.“Do we really want to be looked uponas the generation that wasn’t unique atall and decided to swag the other generations?”argues Kara Pierre-Charles, 17,of Hyde Park.But it’s believed that this is just a▲ AFH art by Mattaya Fittstemporary phase, and it’s normal thattrends continuously cycle. Keith Bodden,owner and master barber of “In the Kut,”approves of Class of ’88s fl at-top styleso much that he doesn’t charge them forextras, such as beard trims. Bodden saysthat of his own 50 to 70 customers aweek, 6 to 10 request the fl at-top.“I was impressed when my fi rstyoung customer asked for a fl at-top,”says Bodden, 33, recalling last winter.“Impressed and happy….It’s cool.“Everybody should keep doing what theydo,” he says. “Keep it real.” ■

music, clothing, & hair stylesOldies oldies echoecho in in today’stoday’s teen teentunes tunesBy Daja Taylor // Staff WriterSome of today’s hottest artists-- Kanye West, Lady Gaga,Linkin Park -- are just someof the stars inspired by thatame music your parents dance to in thear. Whether you like it, love it, or hate it,here is no denying it -- the ’80s are havingBIG impact on today’s music!Kanye West’s beat sampling, Ladyaga’s synthesizers, and Linkin Park’s rap/ock combination -- which was first broughto the mainstream by Run-DMC anderosmith -- are all reminiscent of the ’80s.ut not only are the ’80s back in sound –hey’re back in the lyrics of today’s popularongs. Jordin Sparks didn’t come up withhat whole Love = Battlefield concept,ight? Flo Rida wasn’t the first dude to spinRight Round,” and Beyonce was only onef over 20 people to either sample or coverhe song, “Sweet Dreams,” a 1983 hit byhe Eurythmics.Although many seem to like this sound,t does bring up the question: “Are we lackngoriginality? Will we be known as theeneration that could not come up with itswn style?”Even though this sound is re-invented,many teens agree that it’s totally rad!“It’s appealing and it was a fun time,”says 17-year-old Myriam Piquant, ofMattapan. “Today’s music is all aboutgangbanging, but they’re trying to make itfun, they’re trying to make it safe.”Like others interviewed, Piquantsays she didn’t mind that the new musicseemed rehashed. “I don’t really care, aslong as it sounds good and it has a goodmessage and it is real music,” she says.Mirek Kocandrle, an associate professorat Berklee College of Music, says thisgeneration isn’t as unique as we would liketo think. “I’d hate to say it, but I do believethat this generation is lacking originality,”he says. “If you read interviews withbands from the ’60s and ’70s, they willsay the same. They say ‘Newer bandsneed to find their own sound and stopcopying us.’ Everything in music isbasically being recycled.”Some teens disagree with Kocandrle,saying that they are not lacking originalitybut instead are putting their own spinon older music. Kristen Thomas, 19, ofRoxbury, says “We’ve just taken it [’80smusic] and made it our own.” ■Skinny jeans: Boyz R UsBy Ashley Barker // Staff Writer■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■Under the influenceBy Daja Taylor // Staff WriterHere are some of the cool connections betweentoday’s artists and those from the ’80s:Kanye West = Elton JohnPublic EnemyMichael JacksonGwen Stefani =MadonnaStefani’s debut solo album, “Love. Angel. Music.Baby.” is an ’80sish dance disc.Linkin Park =Nine Inch NailsLinkin Park is one of the most popular rap/rockgroups around. The first major rap/rock song wasmade in the ’80’s, when Aerosmith and Run-DMCteamed up on “Walk This Way.”Lady Gaga =Lil Wayne =David BowieQueenMichael JacksonMadonnaAndy WarholToo ShortN.W.ABlack Eyed Peas = Michael JacksonPublic EnemyDe La SoulWhodiniMadonnaSadePrinceN.W.AGirls: if your boyfriend hasbeen asking to wear yourskinny jeans, then youknow there is a problem.fter all, there are many stores that are sellngskinny jeans for men, so they can getheir own. That’s right ladies: Boys are alsoearing skinny jeans. Now, skinny jeansre back from the ‘80s, and making auge comeback in the 21st century,and not just for females.In the ‘80s, skinny jeans were a hugepart of the fashion culture. Before that,skinny jeans were also seen in the ’70s,’60s, and ’50s. Whether they were worn byPunks, New Wavers, Skateboarders -- theywere huge. Skinny jeans were also wornwith leg warmers, hair bands, and largebutton-down shirts. Now, in the 2000s,[Skinny Jeans, PAGE 20 ]2009: Flo Rida -- “Right Round”1984: Dead or Alive -- “You Spin Me Round(Like a Record)”2009: Jordin Sparks -- “Battlefield”1983: Pat Benatar -- “Love is a Battlefield”www.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 19

my future bossAsia Chandler, Big City DJBy Kyshawn Hill // Staff WriterRadio over the past decade has lost a lotof its listeners due to the birth of the filesharingera. Software such as LimeWireand iTunes are used to download music,ideos, movies, and so on. So with that being said, whys there a need for radio? Some radio still lives strong,hough. Ask Asia Chandler.I got the chance to sit down with the radio personality.e made chat about her job at Boston’s Big City 101.3M, and how she got the position. If you have ever listenedo her show in the morning, you would think that she haseen doing it way longer than the two years she’s beenith Big City. In fact, she has been working in radio forbout nine years.After graduating from Northeastern University, Chandlertarted a retail company. But she decided that wasn’t heralling. She first got started in radio back when she woncontest -- out of about 3,000 people -- during Hot 97.7’search for new talent. Her job there included mid-days andhe “Heatwave,” when it was time for slow jams. Later,handler started working for Big City radio.Chandler said Big City works hard to be involved withhe people. “We have fun but we always bring it back fullircle in our community,” she said.Chandler also said that she has freedom to play whatMorning DJ Asia Chandler, aka “Ya Hot Girl.”she wants. The music is Caribbean, and also hip-hop,reggae, and R&B. For example, Mavado, a reggae artist▲ Photo courtesy of Vayda Arts Photographyfrom Jamaica, is just now starting to get serious plays inthe U.S. While other stations might just play a few chosensingles off the album – the one everyone knows is “SoSpecial” -- Big City plays a variety of them.Chandler’s morning show seems heavily listened to.Many listeners call in and talk about the current topicof the day.I asked Chandler what she does to get ready for theshow, and she listed a couple of things, such as a “liner,”which is written to be said on the radio, and a “mention,”which is not written but is just said. For example, if shewere to see something on the way to the studio and sayit on air, it would be a mention.“A mention is usually just something that I would saythat might have happened that caught my interest,”said Chandler.Voice exercises are another way that she prepares.She actually taught me a few. We laughed as we practicedsucking in our stomachs and humming as we rolledour necks.So why do we listen to Big City? It’s hip to what’s happeningin the community, plays a large variety of music,and has a fun and beautiful voice to wake up to in themorning. If you are interested, check her out on Big City101.3 FM in the a.m., from 6 to 10. ■[Skinny Jeans, continued from PAGE 19 ]skinny jeans are being matched with flats, colorful shirts,high-tops, Jordans, and sandals. They are being seeneverywhere from the West Coast to the East Coast, fromactors to rappers.Different styles for girls, different styles for boys.The baggy look is not out but it is certainly beingovershadowed by the skinny jeans style on men. Onething is for sure though: No matter what kind of jeans,the sagging look will remain. Boys will always sag theirjeans -- even the skinny ones. According to DaquanHarris, 15, of Dorchester, sagging skinny jeans are astylish symbol of his individuality. “It’s comfortableand I’m not going along with what people are doing,”he says.When boys wear their clothing in different ways, thereis some sort of message that is being sent out. If a boywears his clothing too tight, there is speculation abouthis sexuality; if he wears them too baggy, then he doesn’thave manners.With skinny jeans, it is the same thing. Some see itas a way to attract attention. “It shows a new style, andsome sort of swag,” says 16-year-old Giordany Joseph, ofSomerville, who does not wear skinny jeans because theyare just too tight. “To get more ladies, because most girlslike boys in skinny jeans.”Not all boys look great in skinny jeans whether theyare being sagged or worn on their hips. Boys shouldwear skinny jeans that fit them perfectly and are not saggingoff their butts, or look like they’re straight out of thelittle children’s section.Some believe that boys shouldn’t be wearing skinnyjeans at all. Jaquan Wallace, 15, of Roxbury, doesn’twear them, but says it’s a man’s choice. “It is up tothe individual,” he says.Downtown Hip Zepi USA co-owner Delroy Allen isone of many selling skinny jeans, and he says thateach day about 30 percent of the young males whocome into his store ask for them. For him, the sales inskinny jeans increased about two or three years ago.But he doesn’t believe that the fad is going to be aroundmuch longer. “It’s fading away,” he says.Whether they are red, yellow, black, white, orplain old blue, skinny jeans are back, and they arestorming Beantown. ■▲ AFH photo by Mary Nguyen20 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.com

Arts & entertAinmentwww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 21Is that the real Megan Fox,or a faux Foxy ladyCGI runs amok in moviesBy Trevor Ward // Staff WriterEvery day, our technology gets moreadvanced, with hand-held gamesbecoming touch-responsive, iPodsgetting smaller, and of course, movieraphics getting sharper.Have you ever seen an original “Godzilla” movie? If youave, you would notice that some of the best graphics wead at the time were just photoshop-style technology andman in a dinosaur costume. Movies have gotten progresivelybetter, with the introduction of stop-motion- aniated“monsters” in “King Kong.” However, this was longefore computer generated imagery, or CGI.The fi rst feature length fi lm to be entirely in CGI wasisney and Pixar’s 1995 “Toy Story.” Usually when a movies completely in CGI, it is just called “computer animated,”or it does not take any paper drawing to create this movie.Nonetheless, Pixar still used paper for characterdesign. Now, we are facing a new front. They canuse CGI for extraordinary effects, but somedirectors have let it get out of hand.▲ Photo courtesy ofParamount PicturesCGI has already started going towaste, though, as seen in “Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen.” In this movie,there is a scene where Megan Fox’s characteris leaning over a motorcycle whileshe’s on the phone. Now, people whenthey see this scene probably think: “Wow,Megan Fox is hot!” But that’s the funnything: in this one specifi c scene, that isnot Megan Fox. It is in fact a computerenhanced,animatronic (robotic) versionof Megan Fox. And an early model of animatronicMegan Fox looked likea robot monkey head.Marlon Orozco, a 34-year-old localanimator, describes the process: “Thefi rst step in making a character is drawingit….Then you build it piece by piece using thingslike polygons. It takes a good day just to makea body, and it won’t even be able to move yet.It’s a lot of work; that’s why movie artists getpaid so much.”With that said, it’s not up to us to decide. Weneed to wait and see whether movies do or don’tget delayed due to the quality of their graphics.Hopefully, somewhere down the line, our perspectiveswill change, and CGI will get to the pointwhere you won’t even notice it’s there. ■write on.SAVE THE DATEEducators! Bring your students (up to 5) to Media Matters, our FREE writingconferences for high school and junior high/middle school teachers and students.Media Matters Writing ConferenceNovember 5, 2009 High School Teachers and StudentsNovember 6, 2009 Junior High/Middle School Teachers and StudentsRegistration begins at 7:30 a.m. at UMass Boston Campus Centerwww.umb.edu/mediamattersEducators will earn professional development points while expanding their knowledge ofmedia, writing, and teaching techniques to raise students’ interest in writing.Students will attend workshops on journalism, poetry, photojournalism, radio broadcasting,writing for blogs, and more!Registration is free and includes continental breakfast and lunch.Space is limited, so reserve your place today!Presented by:Registration forms can be found on www.umb.edu/mediamatters after9/15/09. Or call 617.929.2895 or e-mail foundation@globe.com.

Culture22 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comicks not kicked to the curbome sneaker buys remain recession-proofy Shanteana Samuels // Staff WriterFresh! Fresh to death! Mysneakers got to be on point!For Ralph Tyrell, 17,sneakers are not just somehingyou wear on your feet. The joy is inhe fresh feeling and motion they bringhen he moves in them.“I treat my sneakers with respectecause I don’t want them getting hurt,”ays Tyrell, of South Boston.It seems that many youths are thinkngabout the way their shoes look onheir feet, instead of how much they cost.espite the economic crisis, many teensre using their money on expensive sneakrsbecause they still want to be hip. Theconomy may be bad, but if fresh is youriddle name, you have to look good noatter what.“No one wants to be a bum,” saysosh McMillan, 23, of Dorchester, whoorks at the Expressions sneakeralace downtown.Many kids are willing to pay mad moneyor kicks, from $80 on the rack to $2,800nder glass. The media affects the wayeens run their lives, because they have toave the newest shoes no matter the price.n fact, inside a glass case at Expressions,hey have Nikes with real gold on themhat have been going for $2,800 for aackage of four, according to McMillan.Two years ago, the store had six pairs,salespeople say. Now they’re down to one.Sneakers are expensive; you buy them,so of course you have to take care of them.“I wash my sneakers every time I wearthem,” says Wendell Buon, 17, ofHyde Park.He added that he has 21 pairs ofsneakers.Everyone from Lil Wayne to Beyoncehas their own shoe line. Where are teensgetting money? Some kids are saying thatthey work; others say their parents give itto them.Today’s styles have multiple colors onone sneaker; purple, blue, pink, yellow, andgreen. You see where they are going withthis. “I believe it is because sneaker companieswatch the media and they see thatthings have become real fashionable, realbright, live colors,” says McMillan. “And it istheir job to keep up with the latest trend.”Nike Dunks and Blazers; adidas;Punkrose and Pastry; Creative Recreation,and Supra Skytop. There are many differentkinds of sneakers, but to keep theirswag game up, teens have to get them nomatter what. Being fresh ain’t cocky, justconfident.For some, a t-shirt hanging in a storein Hyde Park says it all: “I care about mysneakers more than my girls.” ■Teachers!Use T.i.P in your classroom.Please go to our websitefor curriculum ideas.www.bostontip.com▲ AFH photo by Julie Morgan

Culturewww.bostontip.com / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / 23All krumped up!Youths dance their way out of dangerBy Shanasia Bennett // Staff WriterWalking into theDorchester YouthCollaborative’skrump room, allou hear is extremely loud music, andll you see are skinny jeans, Chucks,ikes, and fitted hats. As a group of teensathers around a fellow krumper, they aremp’d as can be, screaming and cheerngas the dancers takes their turns in theiddle of the circle to get buck, to go hard.The room is surrounded by graffiti onhe walls. One wall reads “PEACE”; anothrsays “D.Y.C.,” which is located in Fieldsorner and is a place where many teens goo have something to do. The room is hot,ut is filled with talented teens who comerom different neighborhoods, but all sharene thing in common: They’re all thereo krump.“I have fun when I’m krumping,” sayskeia Jackson, 17, of Brighton High School,ho says she’s been krumping sinceebruary of ’08.The Stanky Leg; Crank That Soulja Boy;op, Lock, and Drop It; Dutty Wine, andhe latest, the Jerk, are among the mostopular dances in the world. But whenou are Jerking or doing the Stanky Leg,s it to praise someone? Or to keep youut of trouble? Or is it just hot and fun?rumping has taken over Boston, andany do it to stay out of trouble. It’s morehan just dancing.Krumping is an urban street dance charcterizedby free, expressive, and highlynergetic moves involving the arms, head,egs, chest, and feet. For some -- not allthe krump movement has religious overonesand the acronym: Kingdom Radicallyplifting Mighty Praise. “I don’t krump fornyone else but God,” says Nora Maxi, 15,f Charlestown High School.Being a teen in Boston has nevereen easy, especially with teens stillilling teens.“I krump because I can do me insteadf being in the streets,” says Dillon▲ AFH photo by Yisam Laracuente▲ AFH photo by Haidan HodgsonCopeland, 16, of Dorchester, who’s beenkrumping for a year now.Even walking to school is not safe,because you can be robbed for just havinga Sidekick, or killed just because of what’hood you are from. But groups like DYCgive teens a safeplace to go, andsomething good todo. And so doeskrumping.“If I didn’tkrump, I wouldbe on the streetsgangbanging,”says Copeland.DYC executivedirectorEmmettFolgert sayshis spot wascreated to bea haven forteens, especiallyforthose whodon’t use traditionalprograms such as the YMCA or Boys& Girls Clubs. DYC is a safe place, he says,that has always promoted performing arts,sports, and leadership. “The krump dancemovement is the most positive thing I’veseen in 20 years,” says Folgert.Shyquan Paul Kelley, 18, of Mattapan,is an ex gang member who describes beingjumped and shot at. “If I didn’t krump, Iwouldn’t be alive,” says Kelley, 18.Kelley is a big homie – or leader – offour krump families. These “fams” are likegang families – only positive.“Teens like to be part of a group,”says Folgert.Both families have leaders and followers.“A krump family is better than a gangfamily because I have brothers that arethere for me,” says Copeland. “Instead ofthem telling me to do wrong, they tell meto do right.” ■▲ AFH photo by Haidan Hodgson

24 / BOSTON TEENS IN PRINT / SEPT/OCT 2009 / www.bostontip.comW A L LTHE WALLSHOUT OUT to myBCLA SENI0R CLASS of 2010!Ashley Barker- KatrynaMahoney“DREAMS AND MEMORIES”You look back at the memories that seem to make up your lifeWishing that you could take back the things you’ve said.You try to look forward to the future but it all seems like a blur.The sounds of the water are nothing but peaceful. It fills herMind, and soon it’s dragging her, pulling her violently.She wishes that she didn’t have to think about the pastMemories, but then again what she has been throughSeems so much better than what is happening to her.The memories are slowly washed away as sheOpened her eyes to realizeThat it’s only a dream.Sandy GermainIl n’est jamais facileIl n’est pas facile de reussirSi tu n’essaies pas d’en sortirCela peut-etre plus dureSi tu n’es pas sureIl n’est pas facile de s’enfuirSi tu connais pas le chemin quetu fuis sinon tu tomberas dans lanuit qui aura tant de pluieIl n’est pas facile de dire adieuSi tu n’est un des dieuxCar tu deviendra plus vieuxDe tous les anges des cieux▲ Art by Anumita Das“I wanna give aSHOUT OUT to my besties:Alisha Stewart and Erick Cruz.Love you guys!!You never know what you haveUntil you lose it, but in this caseI don’t have to lose you guys toknow what I have.”-Pa’ Siempre!!!LaDonya Buchanan▲ Art byNecolette Pratt▲ Art by Cheila MartinezKyshawn Hill“SECRETS KILL”Secrets Kill. I suffered so manydeaths just to relive a lie. Tell meI’m ya only when you’re lonely…turn around, friends around, nowwe’re homies? I have a confession,more like a question. What is love?Something to hold dear, or aprofession? Either way there’s noprotection, from backstabbers withmad laughter as your tears fall faster.I’m hurt! Bruised heart. Refuse todepart, I can’t renew or restart.New would be smart, but I’ll remainin this game of happiness and painuntil I start to feel a change.Secrets Kill.Gabriel Ward“My genius has come alive, liketoys when your back is turned.”▲ Art by Daja Taylor-- Tracy Jordan, TV character▲ Art by Trevor WardArt by Trevor Ward