2013 S.A. Election Candidate Preview: Raissa Silva and Amber Sanchez

Since the last 2013 Student Association Election spotlight, two more candidates have been approved to run for different offices. Freshmen Raissa Silva is running for S.A. treasurer and Freshmen Amber Sanchez is running for S.A. pastor. Each candidate was interviewed on their campaign along with what changes they wish to put into action if elected to their desired office.

Raissa Silva (SA Treasurer Candidate)

Q: What do you hope to help achieve by being a part of the Student Association for the next coming school year?

A: “I hope to achieve success as an S.A. officer. I hope to make next year much more fun. To bring school spirit and stretch the S.A funds to cover as many S.A events as possible.”

Q: What do you have to offer as our S.A treasurer?

A: “I am willing to research places and events to stretch the S.A. budget as much as possible. Also, I plan on fundraising for S.A. to increase our budget to cover more events and activities.”

Q: What qualities do you think you have to convince us to vote for you?

A: I am very ambitious, I know how to manage money. I always ‘turn every stone’ before jumping into projects, and I am open-minded when people express their opinion on various matters.”

Amber Sanchez (SA Pastor Candidate) 

Q: What do you hope to help S.A achieve next year?

A: “I want to help develop more spiritual activities.”

Q: What do you plan to add or change about SLA’s spiritual life?

A: “Well technically I cannot change anything but with God I hope to get people involved and to be able to feel the Holy Spirit.”

Q: As a School, what would you like to see SLA become as its student pastor?

A: “Have people who actually care about Christ, to show how God can work in people’s life individually.”

Q: What qualities do you think you have to convince students to vote for you?

A: “I have a relationship with God, I won’t give up, I believe that God can do anything and that he has a plan for this school.”

Q: What made you run for this position?

A: “I want to do God’s work and bring his people back to him; to make a difference for God.”

Judging from the candidates’ answers on the current posts they are running for, our next S.A year seems very promising; with passionate people willing to put their all into what they’re doing. Hopefully we’ll have a fun year and these potential candidates will lead us into a fulfilling and exciting school year.

Girl Talk: What We’re Really Looking For In a Guy

When you become a teenager and start leaning toward interests in the opposite sex, the first thing that attracts a person of our age  is usually looks. We get consumed into how attractive they l0ok. It makes sense that when you first lay eyes on a person, the first thoughts that run through your brain aren’t going to be, “dang, he looks like he has a really nice personality!”  When it comes down to it though, what are girls really looking for from someone who we want as a boyfriend?

Girls are emotional creatures, especially when it comes to seeking love. We want someone to make us feel special, so mostly, the majority of females wish for someone with a nice personality. Because in the end, it’s not the guys’ looks that will give us love or make us happy. Of course, there has to be some kind of attraction,  but it shouldn’t be the center as to why we’re with the person. It’s not worth it to be with someone who’s only fun to look at, but has a lousy personality.

Every girl is different though, and each has their own expectations about their significant other. We asked some of the women at SLA what they would like from a potential individual to be in a relationship with.

Junior Mara Luna answered, “He has to be funny, cute, romantic, and pretty smart.”

“They have to have a personality.” Sophomore Amanda Bakerlis told SLA Pioneer. “Definitely funny, doesn’t mind saying what they really feel…”

Freshmen Rosie Collado added, ” He has to be funny, really cute, romantic, and pays a lot of attention to me.”

Even though most girls go mostly for personality, there are some that look for an even balance between appearance and way of being. Freshmen Raissa Silva also added what she looks for in a guy. “Well, um…I guess it would be the following; Charming, sweet, a gentlemen, at least 6 inches taller than me, and generally someone fun to be around.”

“I look for a fun guy,” Sophomore Alyssia Cutler said. But he also has to be serious when it’s needed. I want a guy who won’t treat me like royalty but treat me with respect.”

Even though some girls have high standards, sometimes we choose someone who doesn’t quite meet them all. It doesn’t mean we’re lowering our expectations, it just means we’ve accepted that a guy could be so different than what we were originally looking for, but they give you something you’ve never realized you wanted. Girls usually wish for a perfect guy, and there are no perfect guys. But there is a guy that is perfect for you.

When asked, “What type of relationship are you looking for?,” Sophomore Brunette Jean replied, “I would like a relaxed relationship. One where we could just chill and eat junk food while watching sports. I would honestly just like a relationship where no matter what we’re doing we can just have fun. I’d like an honest relationship with laughs. I would also like a relationship that isn’t clingy. I would like my space and time to spend with my friends.”

“I don’t want a clingy or needy relationship. I want one full of laughs and just to generally have a good time. I don’t want a relationship just based on making out and etc.” Sophomore Alyssia Cutler retorted.

“I would like a relationship that’s fun, relaxed and serious when it needs to be.” Sophomore Sharisse Rivas replied. “I don’t like clingy relationships because I like my space sometimes.”

Relationships all have a base on which they last on. Not all of them are particularly strong bases – but there’s always a base. When you fall in love with a person –truly in love, you have to like to be around them. Girls like to be around someone who makes them laugh, someone who, no matter what happens, is able to stand by them. That’s where it all comes to personality.

It’s a connection of hearts, falling in love with a person for what lies within them. It’s their way of being that draws you closer to them –loving a person for what they are instead of what they have.

Love is powerful, but God is love, and he is indeed the most powerful being. That’s why love can break down large boundaries, no matter how strongly built or how high they’re set up. When life takes you to elderly age, and looks no longer have meaning – you’re going to see the person you’re with for what they really are. Personality, and what lies in your heart and mind, is what makes you truly attractive. Looks can come and go, but personality lingers. So when looks leave, the person you’re with will always see you for what you are, beautiful. Because they fell for you for your true way of being and what lies within your heart.

So guys,  if you’re really wondering what women seek for in you, recognize your true being, and how much God values you. Because when you learn to love yourself, you can value her. Always show your real personality charms, and fall for the person who loves those about you. Fall for a person who doesn’t only try to tolerate your little flaws, but actually kind of likes them. It’s always worth it when you look to your side on your worst moments, and she’s still there beside you. Because she loves you for being you.

“Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is.” – Mae West.

Students’ Future Career Plans: Time’s Running out and College is Closer than Ever!

Photo courtesy of Natalia Perez

At this stage in teenagers’ lives, mostly after reaching Sophomore year, they realize that either college is really close and they have no idea what they’re doing, or that college is really close and whatever they have planned out to do doesn’t seem as interesting anymore. Oftentimes they go their entire lives having something planned that they think they want to do, and when it comes to Senior year, it is easy to become extremely stressed out about having no ideas on how to take the first steps into the next steps of their lives.

It is often said that high school years are the fastest four years in life, being in eighth grade just a couple of years ago. I know that I didn’t take future plans seriously until recently. Now though, I see this is true. It is important to think about future career plans now and not wait until later. Nobody likes to wake up everyday dreading to go to work because they  hate their job.  it’s more likely for people to be able to succeed in a career they are passionate about.

So what do SLA students have planned for their futures? What are they passionate about? Students, both guys and girls, were interviewed on how they view their future after leaving high school:

Sophomore Alyssia Cutler answered, “I have many options I wanna do, but they’re really not in the same category. Like either being a pastry chef, lawyer, or even a National Geographic professional photographer even though I doubt that will ever happen.”

“I have a lot of options. I’m really interested in law and journalism. Both are really interesting and I would love to learn more about them and hopefully go in one of those directions.” Jennifer Sierra tells SLA Pioneer.

“I plan to go to Boston College or Boston University cause I wanna stay close to my mother’s food and study either automotive engineering or be an anesthesiologist.” Junior Helio Ferreira responded. “It depends on how I feel and if I’m on an empty stomach or not.”

“Besides wanting to go to an Adventist college I’m not quite sure what I want to do. I’m inclined towards studying theology and history, though” Sophomore Brandon Beneche responds.

“The habit of looking to the future and thinking that the whole meaning of the present lies in what it will bring forth is a pernicious one. There can be no value in the whole unless there is value in the parts.” -Bertrand Russell

An Extra Vacation Week This School Year? It’s a Possibility!

South Lancaster Academy has announced we will be having a possible extra vacation week for April 16-20. These vacation days are actually called Flex Days. The purpose of them was to have additional back-up days to cover cancellations from common winter events such as snow or ice storms. Due to the lack of these this school year, those flex days are possibly turning in to extra vacation days for Browning & SLA students.

If by chance we do happen to have any more snow days, students and parents don’t have to worry about adding more days to the end of the school year to meet the total number of mandatory school days. If there is a snow day, those flex days will be used instead. If no more cancellations are needed in the next month, then those flex days become vacation days. . So either way, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. SLA principal, Mr. Huff, will be officially announcing this possible extra vacation time on March 28th.

Students were asked on how they feel about this additional “break” :

Sophomore Alyssia Cutler stated “I personally don’t care if we have an extra break even though I know a lot of students who do need the break because they stress themselves too much during school.

“I feel so excited.” Junior Jennifer Sierra happily exclaimed. “I’m gonna be sleeping until 12 in the afternoon and not a second earlier. Yay!”

” I’m excited to have an extra week to rejuvenate myself and get ready for another week of school.” Sophomore Jordanne Howell-Walton said.

Students generally didn’t have much to say, since it’s the first time flex days are an actual possibility. But most of them seem to welcome the idea of an extra vacation week. Hopefully it will be a permanent installment into our yearly schedule.

Truth to Rumors: Longer School Days and Full Uniform?

Truth or Rumor? Recently, word has been going around that next coming academic year, 2012-2013, school days might be extended.
According to sources, this statement is true. Next year students might be dismissed from classes at 20 minutes later at 3:34 instead of 3:15. When asked about why this change was suggested, Principal Huff replied, “To extend time required for certain classes. We need to increase the level of math time to help math scores improve. More schools are doing it also, but the decision isn’t set in stone yet.”

Truth or Rumor: Is it true that next year the dress code will be altered to a full uniform?
This statement is a rumor. When Principal Huff was asked concerning this, he retorted, “I’m not intending to change anything other than what we have.” He also went on to mention that this decision doesn’t completely depend on the school, but also has to be talked about in the conference. When asked if he thought having a full uniform would lessen problems we’ve had in the past with dresscode, he quickly replied, “I really don’t think anything will change. Students will always continue to defy the dresscode.”

Students were asked how the would feel if we really did end up having a school uniform Sophomore Elena Shand answered: “I think the full uniform would be really cool. It relieves some of that morning stress of figuring out what to wear and makes kids feel less pressured to keep up with the latest fashions.”

“Im in between.” Senior Brittany Madden responded. ”Yes because it allows for those who feel they can’t afford Hollister or Abercrombie clothing to not feel ridiculed or looked down upon by others. It also makes the school look a lot more organized. And no, because it’s so much money to buy all of that and if you’re a senior you have to buy all of this stuff that you will only be using for a year before you graduate and leave to college.”

“No, because I think it would be more complicated time wise like taking a long time to change for gym class and I think they look bad. They also would probably feel really hot on warmer days.” Sophomore Brandon Beneche retorted.