Tuition costs on the increase.

Is College still affordable?

by Stephanie Meza

With the budget cuts that have been going on, paying for college is becoming more expensive than ever. The highly-stressing college applications are finally over, but many seniors are anxious to know what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives. But are budget cuts really preventing students from getting a higher education? I did a survey with 15 different seniors of different backgrounds to calculate statistics, and these are the results.

•Out of these 15 seniors, 14 want to attend a 4-year university after high school and 1 is considering joining the Military.

•10 of them think financial aid will not be enough to pay for their college expenses, while 5 of them think they can get by with the help of financial aid.

•11 of them would consider going to community college if they can’t afford a 4-year university, and 4 of them are confident that they can afford college.

•Finally, 8 out of 15, more than half, see money as an obstacle that can prevent them from getting a higher education.

These results were an eye-opener on how the economy is affecting the way students look at higher education. Many hard working Raiders are planning to go to a community college before going to a 4-year university in order to save money. Even though community college is often incorrectly looked down upon, you can actually take many general education classes if you want to save money for a 4-year university. Some consider joining the military since 2 years in it pays for your tuition.

However, the most devastating fact was on how more than half of these students actually thought money was an obstacle that prevents them. Obstacles aren’t there to stop people; they are there to filter out those who don’t really want something. There are many ways you can pay for college: financial aid, scholarships, student loans, grants, etc. Money should never be an obstacle. Never let anything or anyone keep you from doing what you have worked so hard for. So whatever it is you decide to do, raiders, make sure to not look at money as an obstacle.

SOH Men's Soccer Rules!

Ole ole ole ole !
by Stephanie Meza

There's one thing about the varsity soccer team at Southwest High: Throughout the years they've created themselves a good reputation and earned everyone's respect for always bringing a new League Champ's banner into our gym. Every time they have a game, the players wear their jerseys with pride, because to them "being part of the varsity team is an honor!" proclaimed Victor Andrade, who is part of the team for the second year. Andrade adds: "It's just something much greater than being part of it, because the people there become your family"

Currently, the varsity soccer team is tied in first place with Castle Park High School in the league. They're five games away from knowing if they'll receive a banner this year. However, the team remains optimistic and has faith that they'll be successful in these upcoming games. As for the team, they're practicing hard every day. After all, being a soccer player isn't easy, it requires skills, speed, endurance, but most importantly it takes dedication and commitment of wanting to improve and be the best team of the league. "My experience has just been awesome, I have met and played next to really good soccer players along these 2 years and I have the honor of being part of the team who won a banner for SOH." says Victor.

If the team wins League champs, they'll move on to CIF where they will compete against other champ schools, and hopefully will bring a white banner to our gym as well.
Good luck SOH Varsity soccer, make us proud once again!


"Playing soccer with your feet is one thing, but playing with your heart is another. It takes an athlete to play soccer, but an artist to be a soccer player. Anyone who thinks sunshine is happiness has never played soccer in the rain. Soccer players aren't made of their technique,but made by there passion!
Never let the odds keep you from pursuing what you know in your heart you were meant to do!"

Facebook Chaos

Think before you speak

By Vianney Casas

“You are nothing until you are talked about.” The same 8 horrid words appeared in a new gossip page about Southwest High School created about 5 days ago.

Who isn’t familiar with Facebook? Besides being used to communicate with friends all around the world, it is also known for being used as a bullying tool and as a place where you’ll find out the newest gossip about relationships, friendships and pretty much anyone’s life. However, it was never imagined that Facebook would ever be used by a Raider to talk bad about dozens of students in SOH. Never in my two years in Southwest High had something as detestable as this happened, and it didn’t just strike me, it struck many Raiders who were confused, dissapointed, and angry.

It all started this past weekend. For weeks, Facebook pages about SOH had been created. Pages about the prettiest girls at school, the cutest guys, best couples and best friends, but none of these pages was like the one created on Saturday. Everything was all right, everyone was OK with the new pages, they did not hurt anyone at all, but everything went downhill when a page named “Soh blab” was created anonymously. “You are no one until you’re talked about” it said on its biography. The page had albums with nice categories such as “The real pretty girls”, (“Soh bonitas” had a category with “pretty girls”, and this Soh blab supposedly had the real ones) “handsome guys”, but it also had horrible categories including “ugly people”, “backstabbers”, and others I won’t mention for the use of language. Besides those two categories (pretty girls and handsome boys) the page bascially talked trash about tons of people and about rumors that had been popular here at SOH. When I say tons of people in SOH I mean it talked about people from 9th to 12th grade. Suddenly the page started adding people, people it had talked about. This caused a big uproar among Raiders. People got their feelings hurt, why wouldn’t they? The page was describing them with such hideous words that it would be hard to imagine someone not feeling like they had been punched in the stomach when seeing their picture and under it a paragraph.

The Monday following that weekend was even worse. Everyone at school was talking about it. You would walk into a class and find groups of students talking about it. Between classes you would hear people walking and talking about it. While in lunch, people shared their opinions about the new Facebook page, about “Soh blab”. Suspicion and accusations among students couldn’t be missing of course. Raiders looked at eachother in suspicion and asked each other about who could possibly be this person who was hiding behind a computer screen and writing about them. Obviously, false accusations were made. People were falsely accused and without knowing, pointed fingers (and I say this because of my own experience) and blamed anyone who crossed their mind. “Who do you think it was?” was the most heard question that day, as students tried to think for an answer and what they would do if they ever found out.

On Tuesday, the turmoil had declined a little, but the page wasn’t forgotten. People were still talking about it and wondering who was that heartless person. Fortunately it all ended today. The page was erased. It caught people by surprise since the person running the page seemed not to care what anyone else thought and that everyone was trying to find out who he/she was. I asked people if they knew something about this and the possible reason, and somenone told me someone had told the principal about this page. Now that the principal was involved, everyone’s conclusion was that the creator of “Soh blab” got scared and deleted the page not wanting any problems. If he/she didn’t want any problems, why did he/she create the page in the first place is a question I and I’m sure many other Raiders have in their minds. The page might have been deleted, but this isn’t and will never be completely over. People’s feelings are still hurt, the identity of this person is still trying to be discovered, and this experience, believe me, will never be forgotten no matter if you weren’t talked about. The only thing we can all hope is that whoever did this is brought out to light, although no punishment given, or apology can erase what he/she did to many Raiders. Some may have shown no care for the words of this person, however this doesn’t mean that deep down the heart was lightly punched.

That’s why Raiders my best advice has always been “Think before you act/speak” Think beforehand about the consequences. Im sure this person didn’t and look at what he/she caused. No one has the right to talk about anyone. No one has the right to pretend they can get into someone’s mind. Everyone has their own opinion, their own story, and no one has the right to alter it or tell it their way. Raiders speak for yourselves, never talk about anyone else because it will come back to you when you least expect it.

New Year Means New Opportunities

Raider's New Year

By Vianney Casas

I know it’s a little late, however that will not stop me from reminding you Raiders that is a “new year” a fresh start. You got behind last semester? You failed a class? I’m not saying 2011 will erase that from your transcript, because it won’t. This is a new semester, a semester that should not be a victim of what you did on the first. You can start all over and prove to your teachers and most importantly to yourself that you can be better than who you’d been in the past.

This goes especially for you sophomores and juniors. Remember that for your college applications in senior year, colleges and universities will be carefully looking at your grades during sophomore and junior year! You cannot afford to lag behind and take school for granted. You may have fallen behind during first semester, everyone makes mistakes once in a while, but this is your chance to start a new page. Take it as a second chance. Who doesn’t like a second chance? The world is always filled with “what if”s, but right now a second chance to improve our grades and our chances of having the future we always dreamed of is given to us.

I know, you walk around and see the same people passing by you in the halls. You go to class and sit in front of the same teacher. You open the locker you opened months ago. Not much has changed this 2011 socially in school, however its up to you wether this becomes boring or fun. Make some new friends, find new hobbies, smile to new people, and of course “out with the old and in with the new”.

So Raiders may this 2011 not be the best by itself but with your help. Let's all make this year an unforgetable dream, especially you seniors graduating this 2011. Take advantage of the awesome school you have, the friends by your side, the teahcers and your homework because believe me, all this will pay off in your future. Lastly, remember, Raiders, that every cause has an effect, and every action of yours will have a consequence, other than that enjoy this year as much as you can!

Raiders, go Turkey Trotting!
by Stephanie Mesa


You know that morning after thanksgiving when you feel so full after eating so much the night before? Don't you hate that feeling? This year, the SOH Cross Country team is giving people in the Nestor community the opportunity to run the 1st Annual Raiders Turkey Trot to burn those extra calories off!
When?: November 26, 2010. 7:45 AM
Where?: Southwest High School.
Headquarters will be located in the south parking lot of the campus.
Course: A loop through the Nestor neighborhood
start/finish line @ Southwest High School
RACE TIMES: 1/2 Mile kids fun run- 7:45AM
Turkey trot 5K Run/walk- 8:00AM
Entry fee: 1/2 Mile fun run(kids) $3.00
5K Turkey trot run/walk $18.00

All of the money collected for the event will be used to help the SOH Cross country team.
Raiders, don't miss out on this great opportunity and be part of the very first Annual Raiders Turkey Trot!
For more information contact:
Mr.Buse (Cross country coach)
davidbuse@gmail.com
619.596.7387
Web: sites.google.com/site/raiderscrosscountry

De-stressing tips

Follow your dreams

by Sierra Holter

Ever since we were little our parents, teachers and even the media have encouraged us to follow our dreams. Whether your dream was to be a firefighter or police officer or a doctor, there was always someone there saying to follow that dream. Even having this support many teens do not continue to follow their dreams and drop out. Here in California one-third of a high school class will drop out. School counselors have many other tasks to deal with rather than spending time with those at risk of not graduating. Studies show that teens living with one parent, being of hispanic descent and/or not having peer support are the leading reasons why kids don't graduate.

Seniors at our school are filling out college applications and writing personal statements every day. Most seniors say that the stress and anxiety about what the futture holds is getting them down. Despite these fears Southwest is proud to say that many are applying to private universities as well as local schools. They are following their dreams and taking steps to better themselves and our community. However seniors still have a lot of pressure put on them so here are some destressing tips:

1. Smile. It's scientifically proven that smiling automatically will make you feel better.

2. Change your routine. It may be that youre stressing because everything is happening all at once. If you take a couple of minutes out of your day to change things up a bit you'll be amazed by how different you'll feel.

3. Don't hold your mistakes against yourself. Maybe you didn't finish that essay on time, or maybe you came home an hour past curfew, fix the mistakes you can and the rest will eventually fall into place.

4. Replace "I have to" statements with "I choose to" statements. It will relieve pressure and give you a whole new perspective.

5. Find a hidden treasure in your day. Search for one positive thing that you may have never noticed before,whatever it may be theres always a silver lining.

6. Spend some time with a person or people who make you feel good about yourself. You are a great person!

7. Remind yourself that even when you have no control over certain situations, your attitude is always within your control. It's our attitude that shapes our experiences. Its also your attitude that will get you into college.

8. Continue to remind yourself that this day will pass and tomorrow is a new day.

9. Share your stressful day or event with a friend or family member.

10. Appreciate yourself. Think about all the positive things you are able to accomplish each day.

After all...

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. -Dr.Seuss.

Halloween

Raiders celebrate Halloween

By Vianney Casas

This year Raiders celebrated Halloween the Friday 29th of October, and scary is the last word you would use to describe that day. No scary costumes for the most part, no people scaring. "Why was it called Halloween then?" is my and I’m sure many other people’s question. Well, the spirit for sure was still there. Not many people dressed up, I must admit, but the ones that did no matter which grade they were in, or how old they were, showed proudly the Halloween spirit and dressed up in their own unique ways. Some guys even dressed up as girls! It was hilarious, although you needed to be there to laugh as much as Raiders laugh as soon as they saw them. And when I say dressed up as girls I mean completely as girls! Make up, dresses, sandals, wigs, and even purses. Speaking of guys dressing as the opposite sex, there were a couple of girls dressed as guys too, wearing baggy pants, a cap and a mustache even painted on their face. Other types of costumes included a hot dog, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Angels, Little Red Ridding Hood, puppets, Obama, ladybugs, bumblebees, and others, each person showing spirit and their personality in their own way.

Of course a costume contest was held. Unfortunately(and I regret this) I wasn’t there long enough to see who exactly the winners were, but here’s what I saw while I was there:

The brave Raiders here at SOH came out of their shells and competed against each other for “The best costume”. Of course the first to stand in line were the guys dressed as girls. They, along with other brave contestants walked across like models showing off their costume as people screamed, laughed and clapped and at the end, as I was informed the guys dressed as girls won.

This was what Halloween was like at Southwest High School, which now after your read it doesn’t seem scary at all, but now lets take a quick look at the real deal:

October 31. Halloween night.

I went around and asked people that had gone trick or treating what their Halloween night had been like and I myself went trick or treating. From what I was told, people this year had not a lot of Halloween spirit this year. Many houses' lights weren't even turned on, not many people were on the streets, and the worst and saddest for most of us is that depressingly, not much candy was given out.

“I only got six candies!” “What happened to Halloween spirit?!” “A woman just gave me a piece of gum”, were among many others, some angry Raider exclamations, and I myself must admit my bag wasn’t even half filled by the end of the night and I went to three different places. It was sad I must confess, but that however didn’t ruin our night. Halloween isn’t just about getting candy, it’s about having fun and showing your spirit, and Raiders definitely had that accomplished.