How much time commitment is a sorority?
There are mandatory meetings once a week that are normally an hour, volunteer events, fun activities and socials. I would say around five hours a week.  
        
What team building activities you do together? 
On bid day we get all social medias and follow everyone. Before SM was big, we’d do cross over the line, where people cross over the line with statements they relate to. Each assignment is fulfilled with someone new, so you get to know everyone!

What are your favorite activities to do with your sisters?
Brittany is Sister Chair. She sets up events for everyone like Zumba, pumpkin picking, bowling, & various social events. Ice Cream at the house is common and annual, a movie night is in the planning process. Sisters go out to lunch together and act like “normal friends,” and during finals they all study at the library together. Carly plans special events, and their annual Greek weekend. So, there are always cool fun activities to look forward to.

What volunteer opportunities have you done?
We have done Adopt A Block, which is when you go into town and clean up the streets. We have also done bake sales, many Diamond Donates, and a 5k on Veterans Day. Also, we raised 5 thousand dollars for David’s Drive 831, an organization helping homeless & hospitalized veteran’s.

How do you balance your time between school and sorority events? 
To stay in a sorority, you must maintain a 2.5 gpa, and you earn points for earning A’s and B’s and for going to the library to study. There is a Scholarship Chair in the sorority who oversees that every one’s grades are up to par. So, it is easy because we know that our grades come first to actively participate.

How do you become more involved in your sorority? 
It’s easy to be involved by going to events and activities and actively participating and getting to know the other girls.  Even if you don’t know someone that well, text or dm them asking if they want to go to lunch.

Have you gained confidence from becoming a sister? If so, how?
YES! I’ve seen such a personality difference in myself after stepping up in a leadership role.  Setting up and getting people to come to events has given us loads of confidence. You must be outgoing and ask for things. Confidence comes with that.    

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The Nomination: This is the second year Raley has been on my model team & she goes out of her way to help me and the team anyway she can. She does make-up and is always suggesting new ideas for styled shoots. Raley was a figure skater for 8 years and now plays Varsity Lacrosse. She volunteers at a local animal welfare center every week and fosters kittens. She has received highest honors every year in school, recently represented the Beta Club at Nationals in Robotics, and has been in the School of Arts for advanced theater for the last 2 years. She is a member of Young Life, participates in the YMCA food drive, and has taken French for 8 years. She aspires to be an actress and cosmetologist.”

How did you become interested in figure skating?
For a while I lived in Colorado, and I didn’t have a sport to play. I tried a whole ensemble of things, but it wasn’t until I went to my first ice skating rink for a friend’s birthday party that I knew what I wanted to do. I saw a professional skater and realized immediately that I desired to be able to skate like that.

What kind of work projects have you done at your local animal welfare center?
Every week I go and clean the shelter. This includes laundry, cleaning litter boxes, sweeping, mopping, and feeding (and loving on) about 95 cats. We had a tent at a community fair that I worked at to promote our kittens for adoption and looked for more volunteers. There was also an event that I worked at that was, in good fun, named Tacocat Spelled Backwards is Tacocat. It had all sorts of fun things like face painting for the kids and raffling for the adults.

How do you come up with ideas for styled shoots?
 like to believe I have a creative eye! I think the key is to be unafraid of messing up. It doesn’t matter if my ideas don’t turn out well, because there’s always a chance that they will be super fun! Seeing the beauty in opportunities that would otherwise be left untouched is something that I enjoy. Your shoot can be extravagant and well planned, but some of the best pictures I have ever taken were when it came naturally to me.

 Has representing the Beta Club at Nationals in Robotics changed your life in any way?  
Absolutely! Through Beta Club, I have found that I have natural leadership skills. It has also made me more conscious of what’s happening in the world because all good leaders are aware. Beta has made me want to join more clubs, because I realized that being a part of things can make a difference, no matter how small it may be. Being a military child has also taught me the same thing.
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What are your plans for cosmetology?
I am taking an advanced cosmetology course next year at New Horizons, a by-application addition to school. Through this course I will be given the chance to take the state test to get my cosmetology license. I will then take the test in other states to broaden my realm of possibilities. I have two potential college routes I might like to take as well in Wyoming or California.​

If you went back to school shopping and don’t have room for all your new clothes,
it’s time to declutter your closet.
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1. Start by taking everything out of your closet. It’s best to start fresh.
2. Clean your closet thoroughly before putting any clothes back in it. Once you’ve dusted and wiped your closet, it’s ready to organize.
3. Sort all your clothes into three piles: yes (anything you’ve worn lately, you know fits well, and makes you feel good NOW!), no (anything that doesn’t fit, that you don’t like anymore, or is just out of style), and maybe (anything you’re unsure of).
4. Now that you’ve sorted your clothes into three piles, you should look back at your maybe pile. Go through those clothes and make a final decision. I suggest that you try on those outfits to see how they fit and look on you. Once you’ve put all the maybes into either the yes or no pile, it’s time to clean up.
5. You can take the clothes you don’t want to a consignment store where they sell your clothes for you. While consignment allows you to make some money, donating is also a good option. There are lots of places that will really appreciate your donations.
6. When putting the clothes back in your closet, try organizing them by color or season. This will allow you to know exactly where to find your clothes.
7. Stay on top of your closet by going through it regularly and trying to get rid of something every time you get something new.
8. Make sure to keep the floor clear. Inserting a shoe shelf gets shoes off the floor to a place where they can all be seen.
9. Organize the rest of your closet by hanging hooks for bags and using small baskets for other loose items.
10. By decluttering your closet and only keeping what makes you look and feel good, you are giving yourself a happier and healthier lifestyle.​

As summer comes to an end and school rolls around, you may start to worry about what you’re going to wear on the first week of school. Here are some tips on what to wear and how to look cute while staying comfortable.

When dressing for school I like to stay comfortable. However, during the first week of school you are usually giving people first impressions and you want to try and look good. Looking good doesn’t mean you have to get all dressed up. Wearing a simple shirt with leggings, jeans, or shorts is a great outfit for the first week and is very comfortable. Another great outfit is a romper. They are super cute but also very comfortable.

As of shoes, you can wear your favorite new sneakers. If your school lets you wear open-toed shoes you could also wear a cute pair of sandals. Also, you can accessorize with some cute jewelry. Wearing a scrunchie around your wrist is also cute, and helpful for when you want to tie your hair back.

These are my tips on dressing for back to school and how to look cute while staying comfortable.​

The Nomination: “Jake has a passion for hip hop and trains up to 16 hours per week during competition season while maintaining high honors in school. He also teachers a younger student who competes and just won first place at nationals. Jake is a remarkable young man who is always recognized for being so kind and respectful.”

How did you become interested in dancing? How old were you when you started?
When I was 4 years old I would imitate Michael Jackson daily. My mom found a theater arts camp with dance which led to hip hop classes around 6 years old. At 10 years old, I found an awesome hip hop teacher at Elements Dance Factory, Ski Sevitski who also trained with I AM PRHESH. I still train with Ski and officially joined I AM PHRESH at 13 years old. We compete regionally in comps such as World of Dance. I also compete as a soloist I received multiple titles and accolades including the title "Funky Fresh Award". That name stuck and now I'm known by my friends as JakesFresh. That's also my Instagram :).

 Is it difficult to balance dance and school along with other activities? 
Yes! I train up to 16 hours per week during comp season which is school season. That doesn't include training a younger student who competes, rapping and creating my own choreo. I've become very disciplined and do school work from the moment I get home, including in the car, until I get to dance. It’s worth the high honors in school and winning team competitions. Watching my first student win 1st place in his national comp made my year!

Have you ever had problems accomplishing your goals?
Yes! There are many areas hip hop that you need to learn and it's tough to be good at all of them. I’m best at hip hop dance. When I do reach milestones, I realize all the hard work was worth it and I just want to keep practicing.

1. Go surfing at Waikiki beach
2. Go snorkeling at Shark’s Cove
3. Do the tom tom/ makapu’u trail and reach the puka
4. Try scuba diving
5. Watch the sunset at Waikiki Beach
6. Visit the Dole Plantation
7. Jump off the rock at Waimea Beach Park
8. Try shrimp at the north shore
9. Swim with sharks
10. Try to surf the waves at Sandy Beach
11. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
12. Visit the Honolulu Art Museum
13. Go to the Aloha Stadium Meet and Swap flea market
14. Try shaved ice at Waiola
15. Jump off the rocks and snorkel at Alan Davis
16. Explore the north shore beaches
17. Get malasadas from Leonard’s bakery
18. Visit the Ko Olina lagoons and try and find the secret beach
​

Paddle boarding is an easy leisure activity to do on calm summer days.
Here are some quick steps to the relaxing sport.
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1. Zip up your life jacket!
     When paddle boarding you can lose balance when a wave comes and fall into deep or shallow waters. Either way, a life jacket is necessary.

2. Check that both fins are pushed all the way down.
     If both fins aren’t all the way down when steering the paddle board, it will go in a circle when you try to move.

3. Slowly step onto the middle of the paddle board.
     This will distribute the weight evenly throughout the paddle board allowing you to balance.

4. Slowly push off the dock.
     Make sure that when you push off you maintain steady balance.

5. Paddle away!
     When paddle boarding you can either go straight or turn. To go straight try and move the paddle in a straight line as close to the board as possible. When trying to turn, make a half circle with the paddle moving from the front of the board to the back.

6. Dock the board.
     Slowly progress toward the docking area. When you are close turn the board, so the side is touching the dock. Attach the rope securely to a hook and place the paddle in its holding space.
7. Step off the paddle board.

     Slowly step off the paddle board so that as you get off the board it doesn’t tip and fall.

You know when you meet that perfect person? The one part of your life that you didn’t know was missing until it was found? That’s what it was like meeting Julie.

My parents had taken me down to the beach for the summer. That meant seven whole weeks of mom drinking wine and complaining about how she wasn’t happy. Seven whole weeks of dad eating his feelings and secretly lowering my moms wine supply. Seven weeks of just me. Don’t get me wrong, I love being an only child. I have everything to myself: time, attention, quiet. Sometimes though, at times like these, I could really use a brother or sister to hang out with. Someone to walk with me along the boardwalk, sharing fried Oreos and ice cream. Someone to have a catch with. At least I get to surf down here; it’s the one thing I love more than soccer. But that was all before I met Julie. Before everything changed.

I saw the wave over the horizon before it even lifted off the surface, and I was under the water before God himself had a chance to form it. I broke the surface and inhaled the salty air, the warm atmosphere welcoming me back to the Earth I was born into. I gripped the sides of my board, steadying myself, timing the ripples coming towards me. I closed my eyes and tried to focus, something I’m not always good at. My mind has a tendency to wander, except for when I’m in the ocean. It was one of the only things I was able to connect with. I always found it interesting, how unpredictable it was. Its beauty was blinding to most people, leading them away from depths of the dangers that lie under the surface, waiting to suck you in.

I was in my own world, just me and the waves. With the rushing of the water in my ears, I looked up to find Mother Nature standing over me, casting me in a world of darkness. I turned my back to the monstrous wave, hoping, praying it would cradle me instead of sucking me into its deadly mouth. I got lucky, like most times, although it was all a matter of science and timing. The wave crashed over me and I was enveloped in a tunnel. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I watched as day turned to night, the deep abyss of the ocean cascading over me. Then the sun came back and I welcomed it, watching as the water thinned, matching the sky and melting into a warm blue. I smiled, closing my eyes once again, feeling the light spray of the ocean cleanse me. This was my favorite part: becoming clean by the water as it faded into a dull, foamy white.

I could see the opening of the tunnel, and was blinded by the light on the other side. I strained to see the world outside of this one. I was close. So close. I reached out, desperate to feel the warmth of the sun again. The ocean, however, had other ideas. I had leaned too far out and was pulled back onto my board. I felt a bump and was sucked into an airless sea of salt. When I had finally resurfaced I was on the beach, face down, coughing up what the sea had shoved down my throat. As I gasped for air, I felt the sun go away again. I looked around, the tips of my fingers still yellow from the sunlight but the rest of my body covered in a shadow. When I looked up, I saw her. Julie.

“Um, are you ok?” she asked, half giggling. I was so dumbfounded by her beauty that all I could do was stare. The breeze was blowing around us, moving her blonde waves into thousands of tiny cascading mountains. When she smiled, it filled me with this warm feeling I couldn’t even begin to describe; a feeling I had never felt before. She reached out her hand toward me and smiled. Oh god, that smile. I pushed myself up and took her hand. As soon as the sand traveled from my fingers to hers, I felt a shock. Not an electrical one—a real one. Like some of my actual energy had just gone to her. She must have felt it too because she jumped and looked from me to her hand, which was still holding mine.

“So, you are ok, right?” she asked again, with a smaller smile this time. She raised a perfect eyebrow, revealing an almost challenging gleam in her eye. I realized that I still hadn’t answered and stood there trying to focus on anything but her lips.

“Uh yeah I’m...I’m fine. Sorry. I just…I got caught off guard by the, uh, wave, and the crash, and the woosh…and the pow and the…” I trailed off, and noticed I was making hand gestures to go along with the noises coming out of my mouth, which I’m sure made them sound even more stupid.

Did you really just say woosh and pow? a voice in my head asked. Choosing to ignore it, I stood there, my hand still holding hers, waiting for her to walk away, or to call me a freak or something. But she didn’t. She just laughed. Cocking her head slightly to the right and looking me up and down—studying me—like a confused puppy. She took her other hand and held it out for me to shake.

“Ok then. Well, my name is Julie. Julie Bartlett,” she said. “And you are?” She stood there waiting. I almost expected her to try and guess it right then and there, but it seemed like she was going to turn away so I quickly answered.

“Scott. I’m Scott Hutson. It’s nice to meet you, Julie Bartlett.” I smiled, hoping I didn’t look stupid all covered in sand and probably peachy-red from blushing and the sun. After a moment, we realized that we were still holding both of each other's hands. We let go, laughing nervously. I looked down at the ground not sure what to say next. As I was working on digging little holes in the sand with my big toe, I heard someone call out her name. I looked up and saw Julie facing the other direction, waving at someone in the distance.

“Well, that’s my mom. I…I have to go, but maybe I’ll see you around? Ok?” She said it like a question, but I hoped I would. She didn’t give me a chance to answer as I was once again speechless, only able to watch her turn and run away, disappearing into the jungle of umbrellas that were laid across the beach.

I headed back to the house after the water became too cold. The one good thing about the house was that it was right along the beach. I stepped inside and got into the shower, rinsing off the sand that had covered me during my wipeout. I scrubbed until my skin became raw, hoping my awkwardness would wear off with the ocean smell. When I got out of the shower, I went onto the balcony for some air. The sun was just setting, casting an array of sun-kissed oranges and pinks across the sky.

I decided to go for a walk on the beach before dinner. I skipped every other step, almost falling into the kitchen. I stopped myself at the railing when I heard the faint yet familiar voices of the one and only Mr. and Mrs. Hutson, at it again.

“I don't care if we are ‘on vacation,’ that’s enough wine Abigail!” I peaked around the corner to see my father swiping at a wine bottle my mother was holding to her chest for dear life.

“Oh, like you know about ‘enough.’ Look at you! You’re a thousand pounds.” I watched him, expecting his face to fall, but it seems as though it doesn't affect him anymore. I guess she has used that insult one too many times. He makes one final attempt to swipe the wine from her grasp, which results in the bottle crashing to the floor.

I stepped around the kitchen, going out the back way, hoping they wouldn't hear me. I had been in such a rush to get out of the house that I had forgotten shoes, but I didn’t really mind. The sand was cold against my feet and it was almost soothing. I shoved my hands in my pockets, deep in thought when I tripped over someone's legs. I was again, for the second time today, lying face down in the sand when I heard a girl speak.

“Hey! Watch where you're go…oh my gosh! We have to stop meeting like this!” The girl giggled again and I immediately recognized the voice. It was Julie. Why must I fall every time we meet? I groaned and pushed myself up, laughing a little. She moved over on the towel she was sitting on and looked at me. She slowly moved her hand to pat down on the spot next to her and I crawled over to sit down. I saw her hug her knees to her chest and shiver. I took the light sweatshirt I had on and put it around her. She blushed and said thank you. We sat there in silence, watching the waves crash over the sunset. It was now a dull yellow with orange glowing at the edges. We must have sat there for at least an hour or two, watching it disappear over the horizon and melt off of the edge of the world.

Suddenly she turned to me. She didn’t say anything. She just stared. I wasn’t sure what to do so I stared back. I stared deep into her bright green eyes, which mimicked that churning, passionate green that the ocean turns during a storm. I watched them dart back and forth, searching for something. Somehow, suddenly, I felt like she could see into my mind, and I knew she was looking for something. I didn’t know what, but I didn’t want her to find it. She sighed, obviously not satisfied with her soul search, and laid back, putting her hands behind her head.

“Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?” she questioned, looking up at the sky. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to answer, worried she wouldn't like it, so I decided to go with the truth.

“Sometimes,” I stated blatantly, sounding more disinterested that I meant to.

“Well I do.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “Do you believe in miracles or perfect things at least?” This time I knew the answer she was looking for just by the sound of her voice. But still, I decided to go with the truth.

“To be honest, no. I think that most things that seem perfect are too good to be true. That they aren’t real; they are just an illusion. Something we want them to be so badly, that in our heads we make it exactly that.”

The funny thing was, I had never said that out loud before. Mostly because no one had ever asked, but also because I thought it was crazy. Saying it out loud though, in the open, the breeze taking it and accepting it, made it hard to see any other outlook on the subject. Julie, however, didn’t feel the same way. She shifted awkwardly on the towel, facing me, propping her head up on her bent arm.

“How could you say that? There are plenty of perfect things in this world! If you can’t see that then your life will be so unfulfilling, it won’t even be worth living!” she yelled, out of breath. She seemed excited and surprised at her herself. Realizing what she had just said, her face reddened as she looked to the ground. “Oh. I’m, I’m sorry. I didn't mean that. I meant…it’s just that…” She looked up, her eyes looking into mine once again, hoping I would forgive what she had just said. What she didn’t know was that it didn’t phase me. Staring into her eyes didn’t make any of the words matter.

When she said there are perfect things in life, I smiled, thinking of her. She was the perfect thing in my life. The girl I met on the beach. Suddenly, before I knew what I was doing, I leaned in and kissed her. She kissed me back, surprising me a little. We laid there under the sky, the waves around us. It was perfect.

As human beings, we need necessities to survive. Those necessities—in the scientific sense—are food, water, shelter, air, and warmth, among other things that keep us alive. Alive, a word used so often that no one really knows what it means anymore. Or, if they do, then they are probably using it wrong. What is being alive without living? We need the scientific necessities to survive—but not to thrive. What scientists miss, or choose to ignore, is that we also need comfort, compassion, and most important, love. Although we don’t need it to keep our hearts beating and our blood flowing, we crave the very taste of it. It acts as a savior to all mankind. One breath and we’re hooked. We find ourselves depending on it, needing it, wanting it more and more. No matter how much we have, we just can’t seem to get enough. It is our air, and we trick ourselves into thinking we need it because something that good must be a necessity. At least that’s what the fools think.

When I got back to the house, it was around 1 a.m. I snuck into the shower once again and when I got out, I laid in bed for a while thinking about her. I couldn’t stop picturing her laying on the beach, her hair waving back and forth, mimicking the waves. Her lips on mine, tasting the salt from the ocean. I so badly wanted to see her again, but I didn’t know how to find her. I cursed myself for not asking for her number.

I grabbed the sweatshirt she had used and went to hang it up when something fell out of the pocket. It was a crinkled little piece of paper that read, “Julie—215-620-0459.” Her phone number! She actually gave it to me! I immediately put it in my phone but didn't text her yet. She was probably sleeping. I wanted to wait until after breakfast.

When my parents finally woke up the next morning, they were too hungover to notice how fast I was scarfing down breakfast. I was out the door before they could sober up from the coffee. I took out my phone and texted her.

Me: “Hey! Whats up?”

Julie: “Hi! Nothing much right now.”

Me: “You wanna hang out?”

Julie: “Yea! I’d love to, when?”

Me: “How about tonight? I’ll meet you at the rides.”

Julie: “Great! See you around 7!”

Me: “See you then.”

I spent the rest of the day surfing and thinking about tonight. At around 5pm, I went home to take a shower and get ready. I spent more time on my hair than on my clothes and shower combined. I stared in the mirror until my eyes started to glaze over and everything but my pupils started to blur. I had to look, well, amazing. At 6:30 p.m. I headed over to the rides. I stood at the ticket shop, waiting for her. I constantly caught my feet mimicking the tune of the overly-played boardwalk music as I tried to breathe. I caught at least four other couples staring, probably thinking I got stood up. Eventually, I started to believe the thoughts surrounding me—until I heard my name ring out over the rides.

There she was, standing in the middle of the park. The red and blue lights bounced off her, making her look animated, like a hallucination, an illusion. She ran over to me with that gorgeous smile I craved so much. I smiled back before asking her what she wanted to do first. We must have ridden all the rides there for what felt like a thousand times each. We didn’t stop until we felt the cotton candy and corn dogs bubbling in our stomachs.

The whole night was a blur. I mostly remember the lights, the music—and her. How she danced in the middle of the park like nobody was watching. How her laugh made everything so much funnier, even when it wasn’t. How beautiful she looked, even when we were being whipped back and forth on some stupid ride she loved. And especially how she grabbed my arm and held me close every time she got scared.

The next few weeks of the summer went the same way. I was in a daze 24/7. Always with Julie, on the beach, at the boardwalk, at my house. I was in a world of my own. Just the two of us. I had become obsessed with her ideas and positive outlook on everything. How she saw the good in everyone, no matter their actions. I was amazed at how easily she gave people second chances and how trusting she was. No matter how ugly a person's intentions were, she just couldn't see passed the mask that hid their true colors. She wanted everyone to be good and pure. She wanted everyone to be equal and happy. She was so innocent, almost naive.

Most nights, I would lay awake thinking of her. Replaying every date and encounter we ever had, and thinking about how differently things would have turned out if she hadn’t seen me fall that day on the beach. My life without her seemed different, plain, dull. She had come into it and in just five weeks had painted it with new colors; bright ones that blind you no matter where you look or what you do.

As I lay alone in the house, the only sounds were my breath and the subtle creaks of the floorboards. Again, it was at a time like this that I wish I had siblings. It was just too quiet. It was just me and my thoughts—and I never liked to be alone with them. I would become obsessed with certain things, ideas, and words. I would rethink conversations over and over again, trying to imagine different meanings hidden behind what people said and what they actually meant, and usually, I could. But there is one that I’ve never been able to crack: that conversation I had with Julie that first day on the beach. She asked me if I believed in miracles, in perfect things. How could she? I didn’t, and I told her that. Then again, she is living proof to me that perfect things exist. That’s what I don't understand.

I had always believed so strongly in my philosophy, and all it took was one girl coming into my life for a few week to completely turn that upside down. How was that even possible? It wasn’t. It couldn't be. It was too good to be true. She was too good to be true. I couldn’t be as naive as her; I couldn’t let myself fall into the hole that every other person was trapped in. I had to stay smart, stay in my world. The right world. The real one. My world.

The morning I found out was like any other. I came downstairs; my parents were not awake yet. I scanned the kitchen, looking for broken glass or plates, which is usually what I find when I wake up. Today, however, I didn't have to step carefully. It seemed as though things were finally turning around for my parents. I made myself a quick breakfast and went for a run.

One mile down and I already felt my low endurance catching up with me. I tried to focus. Focus on anything but my lungs, which were burning with each step. I looked down, concentrating on the boardwalk and how the different shades of brown melted into each other, becoming one smooth surface. I focused on each nail, uneven and digging into my worn out sneakers. I focused until I got dizzy. Then I heard the sirens.

I was able to hear them before I even got close to the beach. It was covered by hundreds of people and police surrounding something. I decided to go see what all the commotion was about hoping to see a whale or some animal. As I pushed my way through the crowd I was blocked by yellow tape and flashing red and blue lights. I flashed back to mine and Julie’s first date at the rides, knowing we would never be able to do that again.

What happened next was something of a blur. I was pushed back by a cop, his hands gripping my shoulders. Even now, as I think back, I can still feel the pressure of his hands forcing me away. His lips were moving but I couldn’t hear what he was saying. All I saw was the girl behind him, over his shoulder. I immediately saw the blond waves on the ground that belonged to Julie. My Julie. The person that lay lifeless on the ground, however, was nothing like the Julie I knew. She was pale. There was no life in her, no color, except for the faded blue that had taken over her lips. How was this possible? How could this have happened?

They said they found her in the middle of the ocean but that didn’t seem right. She should have sunken to the bottom or been taken away by the current. She shouldn’t have been found, not like that. They lifted her lifeless soul and began to zip up the body bag. That was the last glimpse I ever had of her. And as quickly as it had come, the color that she had created started to drip away from my life. Everything was dull again, it was so familiar—and almost nice.

I hope she understood why this happened. Nothing in life can be perfect. There are no miracles, just coincidences. Nothing perfect, only illusions. As soon as you start to believe in miracles and perfect things, you start to melt into that plastic reality. The reality most people already live in, too afraid to see the world for what it really is. Not me. I wasn’t going to be blinded. Never again would I let this happen.

I have to admit, though, she was gone too soon. I wanted more time with her, but I was leaving in three days. I would never see her again. So I texted her and told her to meet me at the beach at 1 a.m. She didn’t even question the time. She came, smiling and giggling. I told her to come surfing with me, I wanted to show her something. Something magical, something I knew she would want to see. I told her to sit on my board behind me. We started paddling into the middle of the ocean and waited.

I was one with the waves and I could feel one coming. The water pulled us towards it, and I got ready. I told her to hold on and we stood up. We road it at the last second. We were under it and in a tunnel again. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion; the deep abyss of the ocean, melting into a warm blue and then fading into a dull foamy white. I could see the opening, the light on the other side. I was so close. I reached out, desperate to feel the warmth of the sun again, hoping it would drive away the cold that was eating away at my insides. This time though, I turned around and grabbed her, pulling her in with me. When I resurfaced, it was dark. Darker than I remembered. I looked around and couldn't find her. I screamed out her name once, twice. Then, there she was, right in front of me. She came up gasping for air. Seeing my face, she smiled and started to laugh.

Before she could take another breath, I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her down again. I saw blood surface from her panicked hands. She scratched every part of my body, desperate for air, but I couldn’t feel anything. The water had turned cold and I was numb from head to toe. She resurfaced again after successfully moving away from my arms. For a split second, I stopped. I waited to push her down again, knowing this was the last time I would see her—alive at least.

I stared into those green eyes, the ones that made you hope and made you believe in things you shouldn't. I used to love staring at them. Except for right now, when they were wide and frightened with mascara dripping underneath them, reminding me of everything I was against. She uttered a cry, reaching for my face, but I was too quick. I pushed her under for a final time, gripping her shoulders hard. I could feel my nails digging into her shirt. I squeezed harder, pushing her further down. The water muffled most of her cries, but I could softly hear the distorted screams. I waited until all the bubbles disappeared and let go of her now lifeless neck.

She floated up to the surface, face down and still. I went under the water myself and just stayed there. I let myself sink down as far as I could go before my own lungs burned. When I had finally resurfaced I was on the beach, face down, coughing up what the sea had pushed down my throat. As I gasped for air, I felt the sun go away again. I looked up and saw nothing. Only gray. I crawled onto the sand and breathed in. The air burned as it went down. I thought about Julie.

Everyone is filled with darkness. It consumes the human race. It consumes all of us. For some people, it hides in the shadows, waiting for their host to hit rock bottom before taking over. For others, it’s already inside us. The young ones forget it’s even there until it’s too late. No matter when it comes, and what it does, it’s always there. Waiting, watching, consuming. Some choose to ignore it, get rid of it, destroy it.

But darkness cannot be destroyed, only used. I used mine for good. I destroyed the mask of hope and perfection. Most people, the ones living a lie, fear the darkness. They fear what lurks under the bed and in the shadows. They fear the unknown. They don’t know that the real danger is the world they choose to live in. They walk blindly into what they think is safe, what they think is happy. Idiots. They’re all idiots thinking they can escape the darkness. You can’t. After all, it’s already inside you, and you can’t run away from your own shadow.

You know when you meet that perfect person? The one part of your life you didn’t know was missing until they filled it? That’s what it was like meeting Julie. My folks had taken me down to the shore for the summer. Seven whole weeks of mom drinking wine, and dad making jokes about it. Seven weeks of just me. This was all before I met Julie, before everything changed.

I forgot to mention that I never liked change very much. I liked things the way they were. No color, no hope, no miracles. If you don’t expect anything, you will never be disappointed. It’s as simple as that. Everything in my world makes sense because it’s sensible, it's real, and it’s tangible. Why believe in something you can’t see, something you can’t prove? It’s my own little world, the real one that I’m all alone in because I’m the only person willing to live in it. I don’t mind, because even though it’s not perfect, it’s mine. There are no distractions, no one to question my thoughts. Julie almost took that from me. She wouldn't understand my world. No one would. She almost ruined it, but I knew the truth. She was my illusion, the one thing I had almost dared to believe was perfect. No. Nothing is perfect. It’s impossible.

That’s why I had to do it.

I lay alone on the sand, watching the sun grow and seep into the sky. As the world got brighter, mine got darker. But no one knew the truth. That little world of mine, the gray one with no color, is the real one. It’s the one I prefer to live in. The other, perfect world? It isn’t real. It’s all a lie because nothing—nothing—can be perfect.




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How long have you been in, and what's your favorite thing about dance?

I have been dancing since I was 3 years old.  My favorite thing about dance is seeing the faces of the people in the crowd light up.  I’m on my high school dance line and it’s so much fun to get the crowd in the stadium or the gym pepped up!  When I see them smiling and cheering, it makes me smile and dance even harder.

What are some of the community services activities you have participated in?

I have volunteered for neighborhood cleanup days.  It’s so important to take pride in the places you live and going the extra mile to pick up trash and debris that gets scattered over time. It makes a big difference in the look of the community.  I have also volunteered in a home for women and children through my church youth group.  I worked predominantly with babies while I volunteered there.  I loved giving these hard-working moms a much needed break and who doesn’t love to get extra time holding and rocking a sweet baby?  It’s really one of the most rewarding things I’ve done!  I have also sorted clothing and toy donations at a local thrift store that uses profits for missions and schools in Africa.  I love fashion and thrifting is one of my hobbies.  But sorting and helping with donations that are going to a good cause is even more fun that the thrill of a great thrift find!

What sparked your interest in modeling?
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I never really had an interest in modeling.  It all really happened by chance, but now I’m so thankful it did!  We were doing family pictures a year ago and the photographer ended up asking my parents if I could be her teen spokes model.  This led to doing all kinds of fun shoots that are themed.  We have done back to school shoots, shoots at the fair and gardens as well.  It’s a fun way to express yourself and I feel like I come alive in front of the camera.  I love fashion as I mentioned before so dressing up and getting my makeup done is fun, too.  About 3 months after I started working with this photographer a local boutique asked me to do some modeling for them.  It’s like playing dress up every week when I get to go in and look at new arrivals and post fun pictures on Instagram.  Modeling has become a huge interest for me and I’m so thankful for the opportunity every day.

Lily was published in Issue 14

I AM

I am a swimmer, one with the water.
I wonder if I will journey to the Olympics
I hear the sound of my hands and feet crashing against
     the water
I see the other swimmers start to trail behind me
I yearn to make it to the finals
I am a swimmer, one with the water
I imagine the announcer claiming me as first place
I feel confident that I will speed ahead
I touch the scaly wall
I worry I didn’t make it
I cry tears of joy when I win
I am a swimmer, one with the water
I understand I must be a good sport
I congratulate the girls next to me
I try to get past the clusters of people cheering
        on the swimmers in the transparent water
I dream I will win my next race
I hope someday I make my mark

Why Swimming is Great for Your Mind and Body

Many people say that swimming is a very physical sport. While it is, there is another aspect which is mental. The physical part comes in during countless hours of drylands, practice, and meets. You work your hardest to get through tough sets and events. That really comes in handy in my everyday life because it helps me with other sports and it is great for your health. The mental part comes in when you get tired and you need to learn to push yourself or when you have to overcome nerves before races.
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Swimming also helps me prioritize my weekly schedule because it is a sport that requires daily commitment. Not only that, but it teaches you self-discipline. For example, meets are pretty much always early in the morning so I know the night before to go to bed early, eat a healthy dinner and breakfast, to drink lots of water, and to relax. Another great thing about swimming is that when I'm stressed, it really helps me to calm down.

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As far back as I can remember, I have always loved doing tumbling. Tumbling is performing acrobatics, such as back handsprings, cartwheels, aerials, and back tucks, usually on a mat or floor. At the age of five, I started cheerleading and tumbling is a big part of cheer. Tumbling pretty much came naturally to me. Tumbling takes a lot of practice to perfect.

My mom bought me tumbling mats and I practice every day. It is difficult and frustrating when learning a new tumble, but once you get it, it is so exciting and makes all the practice worth it. Right now, I am trying to perfect my back tuck. I practice at least an hour a day and sometimes I get it but not always. I will not stop until I perfect it!

​Being good at tumbling helps with my cheerleading. If you are good at doing flips, a lot of the time, cheer coaches will put you in the front of routines and give you solo performances, which makes me feel happy. I still have some work to do, but I will not stop until l I have all of my flips.

The Nomination: “Kamdyn Price works with a peers mentor club helping kids by teaching them cooking cleaning yoga etc. She also dances & is in the poms team at her school.”

What inspired you to join a Peer Mentor Club? What do you find to be the most important influence you have on your peers?

I wanted to join the Peer Mentor Club because a few of my friends were in it and had told me how much fun it was to become friends with students at the school that you wouldn’t usually talk to.  I’m a friend to them and I’m someone that they can come to if they need help or if they need to talk to someone about something.

What are some of the things you enjoy teaching the most in the Peer Mentor Club and why?
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My favorite would either be yoga, or how to make stress balls. I liked teaching yoga because it was a fun way to get my class on their feet and moving around so they could do something different than usual with their day and have fun at the same time. I also liked making stress balls because my whole class loved playing with them and thought that they had felt so cool and they were so excited that they got to make them.

You are involved in so many activities and are a good role model for others. Who has been your mentor and helped you along the way?

My mentor that has helped me along the way would be my mom. My mom is always so busy helping my brother and I with school and after school activities. She’s also shown me that it is ok to be busy and you can make time for things if you really want to.

As a dancer and member of the Pom Team, what do you find most challenging?

What I find most challenging would probably be time management because if I’m not a Pom during the week I’m usually at dance. It gets hard to balance them with school work when they’re everyday but somehow, I find time to do it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years after high school?
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I think that five years from now I’ll probably still be in college studying psychology, and hopefully a part of their Pom team if the college has one.

Live a Happy Life
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10 Ways to live a happy and heathy life
1) Taking a walk
2) Coloring or drawing
3) Doing a hobby
4) Being outdoors
5) Exercise or yoga
6) Playing with animals or pets
7) Eating healthy
8) Relaxing
9) Reading
10) Being around family and friends

Mean Girls” Takes on Broadway and It Is Totally Fetch!

Everyone loves “Mean Girls”, the original movie about friendships, identity, betrayal, and all high school drama. Well now, you can see the story unfold on the big Broadway stage with an incredible cast. Although not every detail of the movie is seen in this new production, the main story, and even a few iconic lines, are still included. The show had a difficult task of adapting such a classic movie into a real musical. However, not only did the musical do justice to the original picture, but it also brought a whole new level of entertainment and excitement to the story.

There are multiple high-energy and dramatic musical numbers throughout the show such as “Apex Predator”, “Stop”, “Revenge Party”, and more. The songs in this show add an excitement factor to the production and give the audience a deeper sense of each character. Since this musical involves real people acting as the characters we all know and love, it shows more dimensions and layers of each character. This includes characters that maybe aren’t as highlighted in the movie as they deserve to be, such as Regina’s friend group of Gretchen and Karen. The audience learns more about Gretchen’s own personal troubles in her number “What’s Wrong with Me?”, and we get to see another side of Karen in her own song. Some other great numbers are Janice’s song “I’d Rather Be Me”, and Regina’s “World Burn”. Overall, the entire soundtrack of this new musical is worth listening to, even if you haven’t seen the show yet!

Recently in many Broadway musicals and plays, technology has made a greater appearance in the themes of shows and in the overall set designs. In Mean Girls the Broadway musical, most of the backdrops are created from digital images that create very realistic scenes. Everything from cafeterias, to school hallways, to house parties, is easily generated in an instant. This new use of technology also allows for more space on the stage, and therefore more room for elaborate dance and musical numbers (which are abundant in this show!). Given that these innovations have led to great results, it would not be surprising if other new shows started to use this idea for set designs as well.
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If you still have doubts about the production of Mean Girls on Broadway, just look at any other review online. Critics everywhere love this new musical, and you will too! The soundtrack is fantastic in emphasizing every character, the set design brings a unique approach to the musical, and each character is so perfectly cast that you may even find yourself rooting for Regina George sometimes. So, get out and go see Mean Girls on Broadway if you want to see a lively and sensational new hit!