April 2007

 

Page 7

Features

First You See the Fake Me,

Now That’s All You See

How to make a first impression that

reveals the real you

By: Andy Awa

He Said, She Said

Relationships, drama, and communication

By: Allie Lane and

Collin Morrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dysfunctional relationships, the fairytale couples, we’ve all seen our share of relationships and how they work. But how do you deal with a relationship in high school?  Are they too hard to deal with?  Or do we over-react and put the drama in them ourselves?  You decide.

 

She Said:

     Say Jeremy and Jessica like each other.  Jessica all  of a sudden gets huge amounts of attention from her friends.  They all want to know what’s going on.  Jeremy, however, doesn’t like everybody knowing about their love life, and he ends the relationship.  Sound familiar?

     Relationships at Dunne are different from other schools.  People are more like friends than actual couples. But, like nearly all high schools, there’s the issue of rumors.  Compound this with the “small town” environment here, and it seems like everyone either knows your business or wants to know your business. Regardless of what they think they know, people always want to tell you how to act in your relationship. But you are in the relationship with someone, not your friend. Don’t let them tell you how to work it. 

    Relationships are also hard at BD because communication between boys and girls is often lost.  If guys and girls actually talked things out, dating wouldn’t be so difficult.

 

Here’s what a few BD girls have to say about dating at Dunne:

“I wouldn’t date at BD because I’m too close to the guys.  They’re like my brothers.”

- Deziree Green

 

“Everyone somehow finds out about your relationship, so it gets hard sometimes.” - Rachel Deleon

 

He Said:

     When guys think of relationships, sometimes it’s all about having fun, and not about having a serious relationship.

     In high school, the average guy would rather go out with the party-type girls than the ones who are always serious about relationships and the future of the couple.

    Now, not all guys are like this. Some really do want steady girlfriends. But in a way, it depends on the guy and his maturity level. Guys also don’t really like to commit to a girl who goes to the same school they do. Fights break out, people break up, and once again, everyone hears about it. Then after the break up, you see them all the time, every day.

    So, unless you’re a different kind of person and like really, really awkward moments, dating in school might not be the best choice for you. Of course, there is always that chance to find your high school sweetheart, but those chances are so rare, it actually is kind of funny.

     And another thing, as shown above, in certain circumstances, girls think about some things just a little bit too much.  If girls like a guy, why do they think the best way to deal with it is to make sure the guy doesn’t find out?  The truth is, I don’t think the guy even knows.

 

Here’s what a few BD guys had to say about dating at Dunne:

“It’s hard to date at Dunne.  Seeing each other every day creates problems.” – Austin Bullard

“Guys just wanna have fun.  All day, every day.” – Alfredo

Martinez

 

While your view may differ a little (or a lot) from others, here’s a piece of advice everyone can benefit from: date wisely.

Tourney Time:

Who Won?

By: Sean Luke

     The conference championships are over and the tournament has begun. It’s time to figure out who means business and which Cinderellas have shoes too big for their cold feet.

     NCAA March Madness is every sports fan’s favorite time of year. With teams like North Carolina, Georgetown, Florida, and Ohio State winning their conference championships, it should come as no surprise that this year’s tournament had its fair share of memorable moments. Everyone has their own bracket and everyone had at least one disappointment. Heck, March Madness is so powerful that relationships are restored; brothers that never talk come together over a pool of brackets, and fathers and sons across the country watch games together.

     But enough with the emotional stuff, let’s talk brackets.

     The first round saw few upsets. However, if you picked Duke to win in the first round, then you should be offered a handicapped tag for your car.

     The second round, however, saw its share of big-bracket busters. For example, the case of UNLV beating the favored Badgers of Wisconsin, and the Longhorns losing to USC. Texas fans can say goodbye to Kevin Durant, as he will most likely move on to the NBA next season.

     Heading into the Sweet Sixteen, everyone had their money on teams like Kansas, Ohio State, or Florida. As the tournament progressed, it was clear that favorites like Kansas and Georgetown possessed great potential but did not have the ability to close out their games. It came down to Georgetown playing Ohio State and Florida playing UCLA. Ohio State was practically destined to win after their buzzer beater against Xavier, and they did win their game, giving them another chance at a national championship this year.

(Continued on page 10)

What happens when guys screw up

     Have you ever been to a new school and made a horrible first impression? Have you ever wanted to make a great impression on someone you really liked, but choked up when the moment finally arrived?

     Well, after such an embarrassing moment, you constantly think of your first impression.

     As everyone knows, leaving a poor first impression can cause people to misinterpret your character. But, worse than the name-calling, people may always perceive you as the person you were when you first met them and you can’t get that out of anyone’s mind.

     To keep you from making a(nother) bad impression when school starts next fall, here are a few tips:

     It’s cliché, but it’s true: Be yourself. People will usually like you for who you are, not what you aren’t. And if they don’t like you for who you are, then they are not a true friend. I know that sounds very parent-esque, but it’s the truth.

     Once you decide to be yourself, you have to break the ice!

     Talk about current events! It will reveal a lot about your personality and how you think, thus enabling people to learn more about you without you having to actually talk about yourself.

     But on a less intellectual note, there are other ways to improve your first impression.

     First things first: looks. Make sure your clothes are nice, clean, and ironed. Usually the first thing people notice is how  good-looking you are. It may be shallow, but it’s true.

     Luckily though, looks aren’t everything. Behavior is also important. Try not to get in trouble on the first day of school, because if you don’t, the teachers will take you seriously and take a liking to you (this is especially useful to those of you who plan to ask teachers for college recommendations). Try to be friendly to other people, and get to know as many people as possible. Step out of your comfort zone. But, as always, be yourself.

     But what happens when you’re not meeting someone in person?

     In addition to first impressions in person, there are also great ways to improve how you’re received on the phone. Try smiling while you’re talking on the phone. When you smile, your voice sounds warmer and more gentle. Try not to speak too quickly, slow down and take your time. Stand up, or if you have to sit down, sit erect. It helps generate energy so you sound more alert. Try to think of things to say, because nobody wants a boring conversation on the phone, especially if it’s your first time on the phone.

     So, you’ve mastered first impressions, both in person and over the phone. Now, what if you’re looking for a date?

     First of all, enjoy yourself when you first meet the person and make sure you smile. A smile is as contagious as the flu. Don’t use corny pickup lines, but just be natural. Only be clever if you really are. The best and most direct way to approach someone is to say, “Hi my name is…” Use eye contact, because using eye contact can mean you’re assertive, not passive. Have good posture and don’t slouch. Don’t talk too much, because it’s not all about you. Be confident, and make sure that you aren’t opinionated, but just have opinions. Lastly, be yourself, your date will like you for who you are.

     Just be yourself when you want to make a good impression. Because in the end, that’s who you always will be.