The Paw Print JSerra Catholic High School Volume 29 • January 2015 How to Ask a Date New Year’s Resolutions?!?!? to Winter Formal by Ryan Sánchez by Garrett Prendiville Every new year people around the As the new semester nation talk about their vows to improve begins, so does an array of athletic themselves. I wandered around JSerra asking games and events, the biggest being people what their resolutions for the year Winter Formal. However, this were, and not surprisingly, the vast majority special dance is a little different of people failed to make a resolution, and compared to Homecoming and of those that did, most had already broken Prom. Instead of boys asking girls them. to the dance, the girls ask the According to Statistic Brain, 8% of guys. This tradition of girls asking people achieve their goals, whiles at least guys to dances can be traced back 25% of people fail their resolution within the to the late 1930’s and since then, first week, and some, even earlier. it has been a common high school Brian Richardson’s resolution to not custom all across America. make one in the first place was automatically Who wants to be asked broken by nature of his goal, and Justin to Formal in some boring or Paige’s struggle to become “better as a DJ” generic way? Proposals to dances was abandoned before the first sunset of the have evolved into a grand scheme year. to become the most creative Food seemed to be the biggest foe and witty person on campus. that Lions have been battling this month. Some of the motives behind this Amadea Lender’s commitment to “not gain is to post a trendy Instagram weight” lasted “about 20 minutes.” picture, but either way, the final Tim Vorenkamp and Jena D’Amico Fr. Damien pledged to “eat less results of many proposals are carbs” but “broke that on January 2nd.” entertaining to see. A few popular ways for someone Catherine Lowengrub promised to to ask a student include a poster with a pun, public “eat healthy” and has had more success; she humiliation, or the bribery of food. enthusiastically told me she “hasn’t broken it yet!” continued on page 3 continued on page 3 JSerra Catholic High School • 26351 Junipero Serra Road San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 • (949) 493-9307 • JSerra.org Page Two Leadership Development Institute 2014 by Sarah Abdeshahian Guest Contributor day business. One of the sessions even included a real-life Shark Tank, based on the TV show, which held an hour-long competition between teams that would describe their “invention,” in order to win a prize. The conference’s special speaker, Brodie Kaster, held another session. Kaster was featured on a season of Dancing with the Stars and now travels the country, giving positive speeches to students. His workshop offered a new perspective to the attendees. Kaster explained that the obstacles people face during their lifetime may vary in the level of difficulty; however, through hard work and determination, everyone can be successful. The first day of the Leadership Development Institute shared invaluable One of the highlights of 2014 for the Business techniques and lessons with the students that will Magnet Program at JSerra was the LDI Conference during ultimately aid the students to improve the JSerra Business the last weekend of November. The Magnet Program. The second, and program took 34 of its members to last, day of the program consisted of the Riverside Convention Center in The a practice test session. This session order to take part in the annual two- Paw Print gave students the chance to observe day conference held by FBLA (Future Staff the layout of tests that they will be Business Leaders of America), an Katia Bergstrom Zoe Kaffen taking on February 7th 2015, the organization that aims to shape young Sydni Brown Emma McClellan annual Southern Section Leadership adults into more successful leaders. Olivia Coyle Garrett Prendiville Conference Competition. The As well as JSerra, several other Megan D’Souza Julia Sanchez JSerra Business Magnet Program Michael Elsanadi Ryan Sánchez schools also attended the event. On Connor Ferrell Jenny Woo will be taking over 90 students to the first day, students attended seven Mary Kaffen Mr. Jeff Kahl, Advisor this competition, and will, hopefully, workshops that pertained to modern win a few medals. Page Three Winter Formal Maddie Taber Competes continued from page 1 in Spartan Race However, in the recent past, the creativity and spontaneousness of recent proposals have been lackluster. Recently, students have asked their peers to dances in emotionless and lazy ways. In this circumstance, the bigger the better. Proposals should be elaborate in order for the potential date to say “yes” and also to create happy memories. Asking someone to Winter Formal can be an enjoyable and entertaining experience if you ask in the right way. With that in mind, here are some creative and fun Early in December senior Maddie Taber competed in the Malibu ways to ask a potential date. Spartan race. One of only two women to start the race with the Public Embarrassment: Although this does not Elite men’s division, Maddie placed 1st out of 200 in the 17-19 seem like the best thing to do, if performed the correct way, division. This race is very difficult—4.5 miles, 17 obstacles—and the proposal can be a memorable and comedic experience. has a 60% drop out due to obstacles and injury. It was straight uphill and featured spear throwing, 10-ft. wall jumps, rope climbs, Publicly humiliating your date is extremely easy and barbed wire crawling, 200-lb. sand bags...crazy tough. Madison involves one step: be loud and noticeable. Weather using a rocked it and never gave up. She was the youngest member on creative poster or dressing up in a goofy outfit, your date her team which placed 3rd overall from out of 1500 teams. is bound to agree to go to the dance so they do not seem like heartless people in front of people. Break In: What’s creepy and illegal for an adult to do New Year’s Resolutions is cute and romantic for high schoolers to do. With consent continued from page 1 of their parents, a unique way to make sure you have a Mr. Holligan said his goal was a secret, and that he date to the dance is to decorate their bedrooms. Some is still going strong. Anastasia Aleman said the very same amusing decorations one could use are balloons, streamers, thing...whatever her secret resolution is. She then added a and banners. second one: to keep running no matter how much it hurts. Bribery: Let’s get real, food is everyone’s best friend This resolution is also still going strong. so it’s foolproof to use this as an advantage! Figure out Derek Reyes says he lowered his goals for the year which foods your potential date loves and shower him/her and adds he’s very successful so far. with mounds of trans fats and calories. Connor Gross claims to have made no resolutions, Scavenger Hunt: For the adventurous, a scavenger hunt is but he did get grounded the very first day of the year for the best way to ask someone. Make a map and place clues all over being a bad son! campus. After many confusing minutes, your date would come to Studies have shown that people are more likely to see that you are the “X” that marks the spot. attain their goals if they have support from their peers, so School dances should be a fun and enjoyable experience, all Lions must join together and encourage each other to not a stressful and dramatic episode. While figuring out how to better ourselves. ask someone to the dance, make it fun, personal, and memorable. Campus Ministry Fashion and Modesty by Katia Bergstrom Many people assume that modesty and fashion Many women don’t go together. But the truth is, they do. Style and 50 to 60 years modesty do go together. Women look much more stylish ago, especially in when they dress modestly. Hollywood, dressed By choosing to wear something classy, women with a sense of look more beautiful and confident. Also, when a woman modesty and style. dresses modestly, the woman feels better about herself If you are looking and more comfortable with her surroundings. If a woman for a good fashion dresses modestly, she doesn’t have to keep adjusting her model to follow, clothing in order to feel comfortable. If you are modest, it who also excelled means you have more fabric on your body; you have more at dressing modestly, room to be stylish because there is more clothing on your Audrey Hepburn, body. This gives you the opportunity to express your own Grace Kelly, and style more. Greta Garbo are By the same token, keep in mind that many people good examples. believe length equals modesty, and this is not always the Leah Darrow is case. For example, many people think if you have a floor a contemporary length gown or maxi skirt on, you are dressed modestly. In example of how modesty and fashion go together, and her a sense, this is true because you are covering up all parts of story is inspiring for many women. your body. But keep in mind that these dresses and skirts If you may be immodest if they are too tight. struggle with to Form-fitting clothing is to be applauded; nice, dress modestly, stylish clothing doesn’t need to show off every piece of skin or are just underneath, yet it doesn’t look baggy, either.