WATERVLIET JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL THE WATERVLIET CHRONICLE SPRING 2012 ISSUE 6 SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SENIOR YEAR: A SENIOR S PERSPECTIVE As my senior year comes to an end, I reflect on my time spent at WHS. Looking back at my final year here has allowed me to feel school pride. I can look back and say that I enjoyed the time I spent here. If done right, your senior year will be rewarding and memorable. However, surviving senior year can be stressful. Below are a few tips that will help some of the underclassmen with their senior year. 1. Join in. Get involved in clubs, sports, or other school functions. Joining in creates memories that will last a lifetime. It will also help your last year go by quicker. 2. Be outgoing. Make this the year when you come out of your shell. While it is great to have your best friends, take time to meet new people. This can lead to new experiences you never even knew were out there. 3. Avoid drama. Don t let anything jeopardize your chance at crossing the stage on graduation. This final year is much too short to worry about little problems. If you have an issue with someone or something, try your best to keep your mind off of it. Don t get out of control. 4. Beware of senioritis. This is bound to happen. Just do not allow it to take MOVIE REVIEW: THE AVENGERS place at the beginning of the year. Know what you need to get done in order to graduate. Catching senioritis early can lead to becoming a super senior. Trust me, there is nothing super about it. 5. Enjoy. Between your school work and personal responsibilities, take some time to have fun. All your hard work really does pay off so allow yourself to relax and enjoy being a senior. This is your final year at WHS so make it memorable. Following these tips helps to ensure an amazing senior year! I know you will be excited to graduate, but try not to wish it away. Your year here will be over before you know it. So leave your mark on the school and remember all the fond memories you have had here. In closing, I would like to wish congratulation to the class of 2012. Good luck in your future endeavors and remember that no matter where you go, vliet will always be a part of you. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Seniors in Their Own Words: page 2 Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why: Page 5 Editorial: Page 5 On May 4, 2012, Marvel comic books came to life in the movie The Avengers. It includes all the celebrities you know and love, such as Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk), Chris Evans (Captain America), and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow). When Thor s evil brother Loki tries to conquer Earth using an all-powerful energy cube, a team of superheroes is assembled. At first everyone hates each other and The Hulk is only there to act as a scientist. The movie contains nonstop action with a few oneliners and witty jokes from Tony Stark to keep you laughing. There is a solid storyline and surprising character depth from each hero. Even though 2 hours and 22 minutes is pretty long for an average movie, it is totally worth it. They throw in the moral lessons of believing in yourself and to put aside your differ- ences to achieve something great. Personally, I watched it twice and it was just as awesome the second time. In simple terms, The Avengers rocked my socks and I encourage everyone to watch this movie. Besides, you know you would go just to see Thor.
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WATERVLIET JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL 1245 Hillside Drive Watervliet, NY 12189 518 629-3200 Advisor: Mr. Dievendorf jdievend@vliet.neric.org http://vliet.neric.org Justin Bieber grows up Justin Bieber. The biggest celebrity both loved and hated by everyone. Personally I never really used to like Justin Bieber, but not because I thought he was girly or the annoying hair flip. Just because he was a little kid. But he always had an amazing voice. And girls across the nation fell in love with him. And then came the hate. I m not going to lie, his music was cheesier than a Disney channel movie, and his prepubescent voice didn t help the situation. But despite his age, he became a successful artist, selling out shows and even making a movie. But now in 2012 he s come out with a new album, a new look, a new sound and a new body. He s officially not only a new man but a new artist with all the right stuff. His new music is no longer cheesy it now features sometimes racy lyrics. His new look says swag confidence and a better style, all mixed in with a new hotness factor of hitting puberty. No girl can deny that they at least know one of his songs, or find him at least mildly attractive. But some of his crazed fans are hating on the new JB. They still want a little weird kid with the same hair that begging for a hair cut, that can hit those high notes. But he s hit puberty now, so those high notes had to go. And with the new hair cut I can actually take him seriously, no more hair flipping like a dumb air head. So yeah, he may come off as a bit arrogant and cocky, but put yourself in his shoes. If at age fifteen you had performed at Madison Square Garden, made like over a 100 million dollars, and oh yeah, millions of girls screamed your name, I think it would be OK to be a little cocky and arrogant. If anything, he s earned it. He s one of the youngest artists to be so successful ever, and he did it with hard work. So I say, go ahead and gloat in your victory, Justin. You earned it. Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why The novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is narrated by a high school student named Clay. One day he arrives home to find a mysterious package on his doorstep. He discovers that the package contains thirteen cassette tapes from a classmate named Hannah. Clay had a crush on Hannah, but she had recently committed suicide. Each of the thirteen tapes is assigned to a specific person whom she blames for her suicide. As Clay begins listening to the tapes, Hannah s voice tells him that he is one of the thirteen. I enjoyed reading Thirteen Reasons Why. In fact, I read it in about two days because I couldn t put it down. I longed to know why one reason connected to another. I especially wanted to know why Clay was on the tapes, when he didn t feel he had any reason to be. Unfortunately, the part in which Clay finds out is why I disliked the book. Without spoiling anything, I found the ending cheesy and anticlimactic, and was really disappointed at the reason Hannah gives for including him. Additionally, I didn t like that she blames others for her suicide. Although she had many rumors spread about her, she could have stood up for herself. Even if no one believed her. I believe that she didn t try hard enough to get help from others. I liked Thirteen Reasons Why, but I would not necessarily suggest it as a read. This book is recommended for older teens because of graphic content. Watervliet Chronicle Staff Amanda Iannone-Judge is a high school senior who is going to Clarkson in the fall to study physics with pre-law. She is allergic to orange juice and hates the sound of people chewing on ice. Lea Liburdi is a junior at Watervliet. She loves Harry Potter and Glee. She always tries to be optimistic and her favorite food is Nutella. Joanna Seguin is a junior in high school. She is thinking about going to school for engineering. Joanna enjoys anything involving Disney. Her favorite animals are unicorns and hedgehogs. Jasmin McPherson is a student at Watervliet High. She s an all-varsity athlete and a part of the National Honor Society. Outside of school she enjoys being an awesome person and living life to the fullest.