May-June 2012 also in this issue www.layouth.coM Racial profiling 6 ‘Injustice’ art contest winners 14 Understanding the newspaper by and about teens mental illness 16 Will my best be good enough? Realizing that other students have more advantages makes me worried about getting into college Page 10 For PeoPle Who care about teens About L.A.Youth How L.A. Youth started Former teacher Donna Myrow founded the nonprofit teen newspaper in 1988 after the Supreme Court Hazelwood decision, which struck down student press Senior Writers: Jennifer Gonzales-Romero • Ha Young Kwen, Wilson HS • Jessica Marin, Culver rights. Myrow saw a need for an independent, uncensored forum for youth City HS • Kristy Plaza, Duarte HS • Christian Santiago • Stephany Yong, Walnut HS expression. L.A. Youth is now celebrating its 24th year of publishing. Staff: Angela Aie, Walnut HS • Rocio Arenas, Granada Hills Charter HS • Emily Bader, Cleveland HS • Rosie Baek, South How L.A. Youth is doing today HS • Emily Bai, Arcadia HS • Flor Carolina Barillas, South Gate HS • Victor Beteta, University HS • Maceo Bradley, Animo Locke HS #3 • Tyler Bradshaw, Redondo Union HS • Heidi Carreon, Gladstone HS • Andrew Chen, Walnut HS • Jinny Choi, L.A. Youth now has a readership of 350,000 in Los Angeles County. Thousands of La Cañada HS • Sydney Chou, Sonora HS • Camille Didelot-Hearn, L.A.C.E.S. • Avika Dua, Walnut HS • Seth Falcon, Alliance students have benefited from L.A. Youth’s journalism training. Many have graduated College-Ready Middle Academy #5 • Amy Fan, Temple City HS • Araceli Gutierrez, Cleveland HS • Sareen Habeshian, AGBU from college and have built on their experiences at L.A. Youth to pursue careers in Manoukian HS • Alex Hattori, South HS • Tiffany Hattori, South HS • Yolanis Herrera, Animo Locke HS #3 • Cindy Kim, media, teaching and other fields. Our Foster Youth Writing Project has brought the Whitney HS • Aileen Lee, Crescenta Valley HS • Kelly Lin, Wilson HS • Kimberly Lisberg, Gladstone HS • Courtney Loi, stories of teens in foster care into the newspaper. For more info, see layouth.com. Sierra Vista HS • Shirley Loi, Sierra Vista HS • Andrea Lopez, Chavez Learning Academies • Michael Marbury, L.A.C.E.S. • Izuriel Marquez, Chavez Learning Academies • Jazmine Mendoza, Chavez Learning Academies • Hanifati Mokhammad, How L.A. Youth is funded Pacific Coast HS • Miguel Molina, Film & Theatre Arts Charter HS • Melissa Nuñez, Warren HS • Victor Otuya, Fremont HS L.A. Youth is a nonprofit charitable organization funded by donations • Shivani Patel, Whitney HS • Andrea Perez, Bravo Medical Magnet HS • Alicia Ponce, CHAMPS • Andrew Pulido, Chavez from foundations, corporations and individuals. Do you like what Learning Academies • Yesenia Reyes, Animo Locke HS #1 • Laura Rios, Bishop Conaty—Our Lady of Loretto HS • Nicholas we do and want to support us? Go to layouth.com/donate to make a Robinson, Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts • Cynthia Rodas, Animo Pat Brown Charter HS • Renzo San Juan, Belmont HS • Jaanvi Sant, San Marino HS • Sydney Sellers, Windward School • Precious Sims, Central HS • Sarah Singer, donation to help us provide a place where teen voices are valued. STAR Prep Academy • Alexia Sison, Marshall HS • Austin Skootsky, Hamilton HS • Henry Studebaker, Hamilton HS • Edda Veelik, Marshall Fundamental HS • Silvia Velasquez, Wilson MS • Elizabeth Vidar, North Hollywood HS Zoo Magnet • Julia L.A. Youth’s mission Waldow, Beverly Hills HS • Aaron Yong, Suzanne MS L.A. Youth is a leading advocacy voice for teens through journalism, literacy and civic engagement. We use media as a tool for young people to Publisher: Donna C. Myrow Administrative Director: Robyn Zelmanovitz examine themselves, their communities and the world at large. Managing Editors: Mike Fricano, Amanda Riddle Design Consultant: Wayne M. DeSelle Advocating for teens L.A. Youth is published by Youth News Service (YNS), a non-profit organization. Go to why.layouth.com, our blog written by L.A. Youth’s adult staff, to learn Editorial offices are at 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Phone (323) 938-9194. more about the issues L.A. Youth cares about. You can read our criticisms Website: layouth.com. Email: [email protected] and praise of policies affecting teens. We take stands on education, access to L.A. Youth would like to express its gratitude to the following individuals mental health, foster youth rights, teens’ rights to free speech and more. who donate their time and expertise to our writers: Free copies of L.A. Youth for Los Angeles teachers L.A. Youth is distributed free six times a year to high school and middle school teachers in L.A. Youth Board of Directors Los Angeles County. We do not share your info with other organizations or businesses. Paul Catherwood—The Capital Group Hassan Nicholas—Consumer Financial Services & Education Eva Semple Davis —Warner Brothers Home Video Jeff Sperber—Educator Fred Freeman—Writer/Producer David Tokofsky—Education Strategies Consultant Jordan Katz—The Gores Group Leo Wolinksy—Los Angeles Times (retired) I would like to receive L.A. Youth free of charge six times a year. L.A. Youth Advisory Board Name Noel Greenwood, Los Angeles Times (retired) • Alan Duignan • Zeek Interactive, Inc. • Los Angeles Times Staff Production School Advisors: Agustin Moran, Dave Novotney, Rick Terry School Phone Ext. Donors Annenberg Foundation • AT&T • Bank of America Foundation • Bay & Paul Foundation • Best Buy • Bing Family Address Foundation • Blue Shield of California Foundation • Brinson Foundation • The California Endowment • The California Wellness Foundation • The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation • Marcy Carsey • City National Bank • Carol City Zip code and James Collins Foundation • Compton Foundation • D. Dougherty Foundation • Brad and Grace Ellis • Endeavor Foundation • Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation • The Ford Foundation • Leonard Green Foundation E-mail • The James Irvine Foundation • Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation • L.A. County Board of Supervisors • Majestic Realty • McCormick Foundation • Northrup Grumman • Open Society Institute • Parsons Foundation • The Rose Hills Special delivery instructions: Foundation • Robert Ellis Simon Foundation • Lon Smith Foundation • Sony Pictures • Helen and Jeff Sperber • S. Stern Trust • Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation • Stuart Foundation • Surdna Foundation • Union Bank • Weingart Foundation I would like: copies (20-copy minimum order) The Los Angeles Times donates the printing of L.A. Youth. Mail to: L.A. Youth Subscriptions, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, To get a single-copy subscription through the mail, send $15 for one year (six issues) to: Los Angeles CA 90036 or call (323) 938-9194 or e-mail [email protected]. L.A. Youth Subscriptions, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Provide name, address and zip code. Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved. 2 layouTh.CoM • facebook.CoM/la youTh newspaper • twitte r.CoM / L A Yo u T h I contents n Cover Story: T 10 Will my best be good enough? h Realizing that other students have more advatages makes me worried about getting into college is PLUS: A college admissions officer shares how schools pick who gets in ....................... 12 issue Racial profiling .............. 6 Doing my part Two LA. Youth writers share their to help the Earth .......... 20 experiences with profiling. Kimberly realized that even her small steps can fight global warming. We’re used to being Illustration by Electrifying the future .... 21 shirley loi, 17, treated suspiciously ....... 7 Kristy found out that electric cars will help sierra Vista HS These students from South L.A. say clean the air as they become more popular. (baldwin Park) people often assume they’re doing 10 something wrong based on their race. A website about college Redefining art ............... 8 freaked me out .............22 Emily wonders if what she sees on the Stephany got too caught up in the admissions game. streets is a legitimate form of art. Art contest winners ....... 14 Better than I expected ...23 After years at Catholic school, Artists created images of injustice. Seth thought he wouldn’t survive Opening my mind .......... 16 the switch to public school. Melissa learned not to judge people who What’s the best advice have been diagnosed with a mental illness. you’ve gotten? ..............24 Think before you speak ... 17 Essay contest winners wrote about advice for getting off drugs, being a Julia says phrases like “stop acting bipolar” young father and becoming a surgeon. and “you’re so OCD” are insensitive. Book and CD reviews .....26 Ultimate yo-yoer ........... 19 Our staff writers recommend Impulse and 19 Alex loves creating new tricks and Glass Houses, and CDs by Of Monsters competing professionally. and Men, The Pretty Reckless and Foals. artIst sPotlIght behInd the scenes I love being a part of the L.A. Youth When I came up with an idea to write about staff. Helping a writer express his or street art I thought that it would be cool to try to her opinion gives my illustrations a find some of the famous pieces I’d heard about. purpose, like my cover illustration But since L.A. is huge, that would have been about the achievement gap. I don’t difficult. Instead, my editor and I thought I could think I’m very good with words, but write about me trying to figure out what street I enjoy “painting a picture” for the art is, since there isn’t really a true definition for readers to help them understand the it. I love how my story ended up (p. 8) because I writer’s viewpoint. —Shirley Loi, 17, learned more than I would have from my other Sierra Vista HS (Baldwin Park) idea. —Emily Bader, 15, Cleveland HS (Reseda) L.A. YOUTh • May-June 2012 3 your is in old pictures. The writer was really her and listen to her without giving my stay In touch with us brave to share her story with everyone.