Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine May 2016 | Page 7

social media to suicide to every
negative in between. Such cynical
portrayals lead many to believe
that teenagers, the very future of
our nation, are simply a blight on
society. If perpetuated, such an
idea can become reality.

We want to use this
moment to plant another image.

Young people are the future,
but we are also the NOW. There
is already workforce among us, a
vast number of student laborers
who serve our community. Others
of us have committed to serve our
country in the armed forces upon
graduation. Still others will soon
inhabit colleges and universities
across the country, bettering our
minds so we can better the world.
No matter our place, we students
are on the move NOW in order to
affect the future.

According to social media
and the press, we teenagers are
somehow tarnished as a collective.
We are said to live in a time of
life in which innocence is lost
and adulthood is elusive, a limbo
which tends to lead to trouble. We
say reject it. We say embrace the
beautiful remnants of child-like
optimism and foster with pride the
adult trying to emerge. Revel in the
fact that you are unique—every day
you are transforming into who you
are meant to be. Accept yourself—
you have a vast world ahead of you
and some incredible knowledge
to take with you into it. Raiders,
you possess the power to keep
working, to continue improving
the world around you, and to help
foster a new belief in youth. You
have the chance to add to the story
that started 50 years ago here at
North Iredell High.

Remembering: “Men do not
fail, They give up trying.”

South Iredell
A Message from the South
Iredell High School Editor,
Rhiannon Ondra - 2016
(TEEN) KAMAL NEPALI
DESCENDED A GORGE TO
SAVE A TODDLER
(MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT)
JEREMY WUITSCHICK
STOPPED BUS FROM
CRASHING WHEN THE
DRIVER PASSED OUT
SACRAMENTO VALLEY HIGH
SCHOOL: THE BASEBALL
TEAM THAT LIFTED A CAR
TO SAVE A GIRL
“We are what we repeatedly
do…”
It has been speculated that the
majority of the world’s older
generations would like to believe
that the decline of America’s youth
is as permanent as our presidential
pundit’s lack of tact. It is seemingly
contradictory to suggest that the
decimation of society is the fault
of the youth of this world, when
such youth have contributed in the
evolution of human advancement
continually. Such has been seen
through the many heroic deeds
and sheer creativity of our youth
like the invention of braille, crayon
holders, trampolines, ear muffs,
and the popsicle; not to the mention
inventions that were created by
adults who got their original ideas
from their children.

Our adolescent view on
individualism has always been
a controversial topic among the
more experienced elite. They
have labeled these unconforming
vigilantes of society everything
from “teen rebels” to “hormone
imbalanced”, which negatively
reinforces youth to assume there
is something wrong with them,
and to assure these Methuselah’s
that they are not at fault. In fact,
teenage rebelliousness is the
youth’s way of counteracting
the basic views of conforming to
society, and stepping away from the
“social norm.” Fifty years ago it was
this rebellion that paved the road
for their posterity. This represents
the evolution of individualism as a
whole and what it can contribute to
other generations around the world.
Thus, I issue you a new challenge:
To conquer the quest of maintaining
individuality, and bridging the gap
between right and left brained
thinkers of the future to create a
world of creative thinkers. Thus lies
the real challenge.

“You are never too old to set
a new goal or to dream a new
dream.” - C.S. Lewis

“...Excellence then, is not an
act, but a habit.” - Aristotle
Iredell-Statesville School & Family

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