Natural disasters have occurred since the beginning of time, but with an increase in incidents and a growth in deaths as the years continue, environmental awareness and 2012 prophecy concerns have increased. In 2010 alone, the world endured over 30 natural disasters, from earthquakes and volcanoes to floods and mudslides.

You should probably quit spending your Saturday nights studying for that illustrious AP. It would behoove you to give up on everything you have ever wanted. In fact, you might as well speed up the inevitable process of your demise and kill yourself now.

Community service: colleges would like to see it on your application. Whatever it is—volunteering at a soup kitchen, doing work for a charity—admissions offices love to see students giving back to their communities.

A person usually identifies with a certain religion because he or she feels connected with that religion’s beliefs. Most religious groups participate in volunteer activities or service. Even religions with   views may share a common tie with community service.

Since 1988, the Newton community has held a strong connection to San Juan del Sur, a town on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. Strengthening the bond, dedicated churches, schools, and volunteer groups have traveled from Newton to help out the town by performing beneficial community service projects for the community.

Newton has a large immigrant population that is vibrantly reflected at South. Many students spent much of their lives in their mother countries, imigrating to the United States during their teen years or childhood. How exactly do first generation immigrants integrate and thrive in an American public high school?

Maybe not, but in this neck of the woods, the wind is picking up... Cultural clashes have existed since the beginning of humanity, often appearing in literature, television, and the general progression of history through time. Differences in custom, social class, and etiquette are some of the main reasons for familial conflict in today’s world. Pop culture has embraced this aspect of life, such as in the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, or the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

For many freshmen, club fairs can generate some serious discomfort. Colorful posters and display tables line the cafeteria walls as energetic students solicit names of unsuspecting freshmen for their club emailing lists.

Newton South students are notorious for their skewed view of college, often resulting in long sleepless nights spent completing piles of homework. What these high-strung insomniacs may be surprised to hear, is that the “straight A student” they are giving up so much to be, isn’t necessarily what colleges are looking for.

My life, to say the least, is overbooked. I am constantly on the go and I rarely take a break. Some think I am crazy for spreading myself so thin, but I’m passionate about eveything I do. Though it’s time consuming to be so involved in the community, I’m fully committed to doing what I love to do.