Upload
angel-damico-bauer
View
223
Download
4
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
True Star Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides a creative outlet in the form of literary and professional development programs for youth. We welcome you in joining us on our mission to demonstrate healthy transitions for youth entering early adulthood by exposing them to positive real world experiences.
Citation preview
DEAR HADIYA:A TRUE STAR
ALUMNI REMEMBERED
HARLEMSHAKE CRAZE
A SPLASH OF COLOR: SPRING
FASHION
HOOPS:FRENCH FRY
KENNEDY CHANEY
SPRING 2013
FREE
DEAR HADIYA:A TRUE STAR
ALUMNI REMEMBERED
HARLEMSHAKE CRAZE
A SPLASH OF COLOR: SPRING
FASHION
HOOPS:FRENCH FRY
KENNEDY CHANEY
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE MCCLAIN SISTERS
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE MCCLAIN SISTERS
REAL TEENSREAL ISSUESSTYLE TRENDSCELEBRITY INTERVIEWSHEALTH, NEWS, SPORTSAND MORE!check out www.truestaris.com
TRUESTAR?Are You A
TRUESTARIS.COM TO DONATE TO TRUE STAR FOUNDATION, VISIT TRUESTARFOUNDATION.ORG
CONTENTS
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRUE STAR JR. MAGAZINE
CONTACT US:LETTERS TO TRUE STAR JR.1130 SOUTH WABASH, SUITE 302CHICAGO, IL 60605-2717
EMAIL [email protected]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSDEANNA MCLEARY & J. NA-TAE’ THOMPSON MANAGING EDITOR MARTI PARHAM EDITORIAL COORDINATORSMARTI PARHAM , KATHY CHANEY & VERONICA HARRISONWEB CONTENT & MARKETING MANAGERJOI MITCHELL WEB CONTENT ASSISTANTHENRY COLLINSART DIRECTION DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION ANGEL D’AMICO-BAUER PHOTO COORDINATORDESHAUN ADAMSSPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER DESHAUN ADAMS & PHILISTINE THOMPSONCELEBRITY BOOKERRANDY BONDS
EXPOSE’6: CHICAGO’S VIOLENCE CLAIMED A TRUE STAR ALUMNI7: DEAR HADIYA8: HOW TO STOP BEING BULLIED9: OLDER GENERATION RUINING YOUNGER GENERATION 4EVER YOUNG10: IS REALITY TV AFFECTING US IN THE WRONG WAY?11: HARLEM SHAKE CRAZE 12: CAN SOCIAL MEDIA MAKE YOU FAMOUS?13: SOCIAL MEDIA GETS A BAD RAP14: JORDANS & CHUCK TAYLORS: SHOES THAT NEVER GET OLD
FASHION 15 - 19 BLACK AND WHITE HOT OFF THE PRESS20 & 21: MCCLAIN SISTERS 22: MEET GG LYRICS 23: AHSAN, THE ONE TO WATCH 24: DIGGY & OMG GIRLZ SHOW LOVE TO CHICAGO TALKIN’ NERDY25: ARE CELEBRITIES AFFECTING YOUR DECISION TO GO TO COLLEGE? 26: HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS ACADEMICS 27: YOU’RE NOT A DORK BECAUSE YOU WEAR GLASSES & BRACES28: CONSEQUENCES OF BEING A SLACKER 29: WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SUMMER BREAK?
CREATIVE CORNER30: SPRING CROSSWORD PUZZLE 31: LOST: WORDS FOR HADIYA DEEPER THAN SKIN32: HEALTHY FOODS VS. FAST FOODS
33: AUTISM AND YOUTH34: KERATIN TREATMENT FOR NATURAL HAIR35: IS YOUR LIFESTYLE IN NEED OF SOME SPRING CLEANING?
KEEPIN’ SCORE36: FRENCH FRY LEAGUE37: KENNEDY CHANEY PROFILE38: NBA INJURIES: HOW THEY AFFECT THE TEAMS & FANS39: DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A STUDENT-ATHLETE?
SCHOOL SPIRIT40: LINDBLOM 41: U.C. WOODSON42: MORGAN PARK
CONTRIBUTORS
WoodsonKyla White, Brittany Hull and Ahmad Chaney. Not pictured: Kaylah Wright
Morgan Park 7th GradeBrendyn Anthony Jones, Taylor Miggins, Stephen Excellent, Imani Davis, Rikyah Wright, Daniel Quin, Dejahnae Goldsmith, Nasir Johnson,Ezekiel Stevens, Eden Strong, Toriano Clinton,Tyler Houston, Lauren Noisette, Stacie Taylor, Breanna Beck. Not Pictured: Jayln Williams and Corey Alderson
LindblomAaliayah Romer, Amber Fry, Diamond Burton, Sydney Tenton, Jalynn Stubbs
Morgan Park 8th GradeRobert Martin, Gregory Diggins, Ronald Thompson, David Street, Cameron Gardner, Emanuel Thomas, Eugene Gutter, Damone Seals-Templeton, K’Lynn Brown, Cameron Thomas, Roderick Anderson, Emanuel White, Ari Slaughter, Xavion Meye, Amani Fashola, India Everett, Gabriel Sanders, Carla Jones, Charday Goosby, Pierce Thompson, Janea Taylor, Kapri Dowdell, Taylor Ivory, Sydney Guillory, Kayla Holmes, Toni Allen, Frederick McGee, Akilah Smith, Camry Moore, Kaylen Poindexter
TRUE STAR JR. 5
STUDENT EDITORS
LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
AALIAYAH ROMER EDITOR
MORGAN PARK ACADEMIC CENTER
KELLY REYNOLDSEDITOR
MORGAN PARK ACADEMIC CENTER
KELLY REYNOLDSEDITOR
GRAPHIC DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS: CORLISS HIGH SCHOOL
INSTRUCTOR : POLINA ZIONTSSTUDENT ART DIRECTOR & TEACHING ASSISTANT : ANSHAUNTI HILLERY
Kewain Archie
Donovan Ingram
Nathaniel Jackson
Brandon Johnson
Noshma Lawson
Jesus Leonard
Jaylin Lovinsky
Michelle Mosley
Shantrice Ousley
James Palmer
Robert Redus
Aalayha Robinson
Tichina Williams
CARTER G. WOODSON CHARTER
KYLA WHITEEDITOR
6 TRUE STAR JR.
The violence in Chicago has escalated
to an unreasonable point. Every day there is a
new story about another Chicago teen dying as
a result of gun violence. Unfortunately, tragedy
hit home for True Star in January when Hadiya
Pendleton, a sophomore at King College Prep,
was killed at a park near her school. She was an
innocent bystander of an apparent gang-related
shooting. A male schoolmate who was with her
was also shot. He survived. Two people have
been charged with her murder.
Pendleton is a reflection of many students who
were on the ball and had so much promise.
She was involved in many school activities and
performed with fellow majorettes at President
Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Her funeral was attended by hundreds, and
many were turned away because there wasn’t
enough room. A few days after Pendleton’s
funeral her parents and little brother went to
Washington, D.C. to attend President Obama’s
State of the Union address. They were special
guests of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Pendleton’s death brought national attention to
Chicago’s gun violence. When she was in 6th-grade
she recorded a Public Service Announcement about
gang violence. After her parents’ D.C. trip her
mother also recorded a PSA about gun violence.
There’s also a gun bill being introduced in the state
legislature in Pendleton’s name.
WE HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THE GANG’S THAT ARE CAUSING ALL OF THIS VIOLENCE.
Young children are becoming gang members and
there’s no stopping it. Many kids don’t have role
models so they end up joining the gangs. Too
many guns are in the hands of these kids. Greater
measures have to be taken by the authorities to
prevent more senseless deaths.
BY AKILAH SMITH, MORGAN PARK
Chicago’s Violence Claimed a True Star Alumni
EXPOSE’
TRUE STAR JR. 7
Dear Hadiya,We became friends at Providence St. Mel when you were in 2nd-grade and I was in first. We both attended the after-school program at Garfield Park. That’s when our journey began. It continued when we transferred to the
University of Chicago Charter-Donoghue Elementary School.I remember when you spent the night over my house and I trusted you so much that I told you the alarm code to our home. That next morning
you told me I snored, but I denied it. The time I spent the night at your house was the first time I realized I was allergic to cats, but that didn’t stop me from staying. Your mom gave
me Benadryl and we continued to party!Remember when I came up with the nickname “Little Bill” for your brother
Junior? I still call him that. At Donoghue, we both tried out for cheerleading and made it. When we took
our team picture, you and I were photographed right next to each other.Our journey carried on into middle school at the University of Chicago
Charter-Carter G. Woodson. At Woodson we took part in a photo shoot for the 2010 issue of True Star Jr. and were featured on the same page.
Our journey would have gone on throughout high school because I too was accepted to King College Prep. Although I chose to attend a different school,
we made a bond that I will always hold close to my heart. “We made a bond from the very beginning. I found my homie and my
best friend. We would be together until the very end. No matter what.” - Verse from Future’s “No Matter What.”
You will forever be missed, but never forgotten.
Sincerely, Noelle
BY NOELLE WALTON, MORGAN PARK ACADEMY
8 TRUE STAR JR.
Many adult say that being bullied is just
a stage that most kids go through, and that one
day we’ll outgrow it. To the person being bullied
this advice is not comforting.
The information found in a new study from Duke
University doesn’t help either. The researchers
discovered that bullying increases the risk of
anxiety and depressive disorders for decades
after the actual bullying occurred. More than
1,000 children were followed for up to 20 years
and what was discovered was that the victims of
bullying were much more likely to wind up with
severe problems as adults. While this isn’t the
best news either, it should serve as motivation to
stop anyone from becoming a victim of bullying.
*David Johnson, a 7th-grader at Morgan Park,
is no stranger to being picked on. But instead of
just taking it, he decided to stand up for himself.
In his case Johnson was bullied by a boy much
bigger than him.
“He poured milk on my jeans, slapped the
back of my head, and called me inappropriate
names,” said Johnson. “He thought I was small
and wasn’t going to do anything.” To solve his
problem Johnson got up the nerve to confront his
bully. “I threw a fruit cup at him, and I told him if
he ever hit me again we would have a problem.”
In Johnson’s case the bullying ended because he
showed the boy that he wasn’t afraid of him; but
not all cases are the same or end with the same
results. If confronting someone isn’t your style
then take action by letting an adult know what is
going on.
DON’T LET YOUR BULLY GET THE BEST OF YOU. DON’T BE AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
*Name has been changed.
BY ERIC DAVIS, MORGAN PARK
How to Stop Being BULLIED
TRUE STAR JR. 9
MY GENERATION IS CRAZY AND CHAOTIC. Many kids are involved in drugs, guns and
violence and some would argue that it’s mostly
the parents’ fault.
Some parents don’t take care of their kids like
they’re supposed to. They don’t lead them in
the right direction. Some of them even teach
their kids the same wrong things they did when
they were growing up. A large number of boys
don’t have fathers to show them how to be a
man. Because of this boys grow up to be gang
bangers and drug dealers. This causes many of
the problems in our neighborhoods.
Parents need to go back to old-fashioned
parenting and treat today’s kids like their parents
treated them. Things would definitely change.
BY RODERICK ANDERSON, MORGAN PARK
According to www.livestrong.com, the way a
parent interacts with others and reacts to various
situations creates a valuable example for their
child. When the parent is calm, helpful and acts
with integrity, the child understands that behav-
ior and holds it as a priority in his life. If the mom
or dad is dishonest, quick to anger or lazy, those
behaviors are passed down to their children.
The way the parent approaches a relationship
toward other family members in general often
affects the way the child interacts with others.
THE PARENT’S INVOLVEMENT
IN THEIR CHILD’S SUCCESS IS AN
ACCURATE INDICATOR
OF OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT.
Is the Older GENERATION Ruining the Younger Generation?
RIGHT WAY
WRONG WAY
10 TRUE STAR JR.
4EVER YOUNG
Nowadays the most popular shows are
the ones considered reality TV, but are the
programs sending a good message to the
people who watch them? Reality TV can have
a negative and positive effect. Shows that give
off a negative effect include ‘’Love and Hip
Hop Atlanta’’ on VH1, MTV ’s ‘’Jersey Shore’’
and ‘’Bad Girls Club” on the Oxygen Network.
Most of these shows consist of cussing, fighting,
and outrageous behavior. This is not a positive
impact on the youth.
The shows that do tend to have a more positive
effect on the youth are ones like A&E’s “Beyond
Scared Straight,” which is about taking troubled
teens out of negative situations and leading them
onto the right path, and “Tia and Tamera,” which
is on the Style Network. On that show cameras
follow the two child stars that grew up to be
BY TRINITI MAYE, MORGAN PARK
successful without dealing with a lot of drama.
Fox’s “American Idol” encourages youth to be
determined and to go after their dreams, and
the show “Empire Girls,” also on Style, shows
two young women, Julissa and Adrienne, leading
successful lives in New York City. Need another
example? This season the NBC weight loss show
“The Biggest Loser” is taking a stand against
childhood obesity by featuring kids on the
program and demonstrating the right way to lose
unwanted pounds.
One reality show in particular gives off both a
negative and positive effect to its audience, and
that’s MTV’s “Teen Mom.” This show glorifies
teen pregnancy but, it also shows how it’s a
struggle to raise a child as a teenager.
When it comes to reality TV you can go in one of
two directions. Choose the positive route.
IS REALITY TV Affecting Us In the Wrong Way?
TRUE STAR JR. 11
What is the Harlem Shake and why is
it so popular?
It’s a random dance done by all kinds of people.
One person is usually doing something crazy
while everyone else in the background is doing
something normal. Then, when the beat drops
everybody goes crazy.
The dance caught on because people love to
have fun and do stuff that’s unusual. Plus, if you
videotape it and put it on the Internet, that makes
the craze grow and you’re a part of it.
But, did you know the Harlem Shake really
started in Harlem, New York in the 1980s? Yep,
it was a dance done during halftime at basketball
games. Then, a dance group called the Crazy
Boyz put their twist on it and it was called the
Harlem Shake. Now, just about everyone has put
their own spin on it and there’s no stopping it.
Wouldn’t it be fun to make your own version of
the Harlem Shake? Yeah, we think so too. We’re
working on it.
STAY TUNED!
BY RODERICK ANDERSON, MORGAN PARK
The Harlem Shake CRAZE
12 TRUE STAR JR.
A large amount of teens across America
have Facebook accounts with the maximum
number of friends – 5,000.
They have all these “friends,” yet don’t person-
ally know half of them. Teens post half-naked
photos of themselves and get 500 or more
“likes.” If you get 500 “likes” on a photo lots
of people think of you as famous. The attention
goes to the teen’s head and they truly begin to
believe they are famous.
The “famous” teens on Facebook go out grocery
shopping and when kids scream their Facebook
name (because you know it’s not their real name)
they ignore them like some real celebrities would
do to fans. These same people then go home
and update their statuses about how their fans
were “on their tip.” These “Facebook celebrities”
would even rather be called by their Facebook
name than their government name.
Jelyn Rocque, a senior at Mother McAuley
Liberal Arts High School, has been on Twitter,
Facebook, Tumblr and Tagged for nearly three
BY FREDERICK MCGEE, MORGAN PARK
years. Unlike some people, she hasn’t let her
social media status make her arrogant.
She has over 560 followers on Twitter, more
than 2,000 Facebook friends and enjoys social-
izing on all of them. She uses them to “meet
people” she generally wouldn’t get a chance to
connect with.
Seventeen-year-old artist J’Real uses social media
to promote his talents. He’s been successful and
admits social media made him more popular, but
hasn’t gone to his head.
He has a huge Twitter fan base – 32,000 follow-
ers, and has maxed his Facebook friends limit. As
a result he’s had to set up a “Like” page.
“I’ve been on Facebook for three years and Twit-
ter for a year. It took me about a year to grow
them,” J’Real said.
When asked if he gets recognized a lot he said,
“Yes.”
Can Social Media Make You FAMOUS?
Can
TRUE STAR JR. 13
Almost every Chicago teen that has
a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account has
heard of the groups of teens that usually form on
social networks. Some of these groups, generally
ranging in age from 12 –17, are: Sadity Gang,
TYN, TYB, Fame Gang and Arrogant Fame.
These are not street gangs, though some have
allegedly engaged in gang-related activities such
as throwing up hand signals to symbolize their
groups.
If you were at Ford City Mall in February when
the teen boy group Mindless Behavior did a
“meet and greet” in a vacant store near the
mall’s food court, then you know what happened
Teen Social Media Groups Get A BAD RAP
after Mindless Behavior left the mall. The melee,
as it was repeatedly described on the news, was
a result of a social media group meeting up. The
crowd started small then word got out on social
media and it grew. ABC 7 News reported that
cars in the parking lot were vandalized, and
that up to 20 people were arrested. At least two
were treated for minor injuries.
While that incident put a black eye on the impact
of teen social media groups, they all don’t wreak
havoc. Some of the groups have innocent fun like
normal teens. But, it’s the ones that do harm that
give mostly all the groups a bad rap.
BY GABRIEL SANDERS, MORGAN PARK
14 TRUE STAR JR.
If you walked into any Chicago school and
looked at the shoes worn by the average boy or
girl, there is a good chance that he or she will
have a pair of Chuck Taylor’s or Jordans on their
feet. Both pair of shoes have been around for
what seems like forever, yet they still manage to
stay in style year after year.
The Converse Rubber Shoe Company debuted
the Converse All Star shoe in 1917, but it was a
salesman by the name of Charles “Chuck” Taylor
that helped make the shoe as popular as it is
today. According to the website Inside Hoops,
Taylor was an All-American high school player
who also suited up with the original Celtics. In
the 1920s he began traveling the country selling
shoes and doing basketball workshops. Taylor’s
name was added to the shoe in 1932. The first
pair of Chucks are believed to have sold for
around $1.
BY BRANDON LONDON, MORGAN PARK
Basketball legend Michael Jordan made his pair
of red, black and white Nike high-tops famous
when he wore them during a 1984 Bulls game.
Mentalfloss.com reported that the first pair were
released to the public in 1985 and sold for
$125.00.
Today you can find Chucks in every color imagi-
nable, even some with all types of designs, fabrics
and customized themes. But buying them for $1 is
out. Expect to pay about $40 and close $70 for a
more stylish pair. Since 1985 Nike has released a
new pair of Jordans every year; prices range any-
where from $100 to about $250. Even with the
price increase people can’t seem to get enough
of these shoes. Will there be a day Chucks and
Jordans go out of style? As of right now, it doesn’t
look like it. Then again, only time will tell.
The Shoes That NEVER GET OLD
Chuck Taylors & Jordans:
Photography: DeShaun “Trig” AdamsLocation: Little Black PearlMake-up: Chaka WashingtonHair: Diamond Beach
BLACK&White
20 TRUE STAR JR.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
China Anne McClain and her sisters Sierra
and Lauren are famous for their work on the
Disney soundtrack “A.N.T Farm” and for starring
in the movie “Daddy’s Little Girls.” But beneath
their fame and fortune they are fairly normal
teenage girls. China Anne, 14, Lauren, 16, and
Sierra, 18, spoke to True Star Jr. about their
future, fans, inspirations and hobbies.
True Star Jr.: Who inspires you?
China Anne: Definitely Beyoncé. She’s an
amazing singer. I haven’t had a chance to
meet her, but one day I will. I’d probably
pass out.
Sierra: My mother’s an incredible
vocalist. She’s where we get our strong
passion.
TSJ: Do you write your own music?
Sierra: We do.
TSJ: How do your parents feel about you all
being big in the entertainment industry?
Lauren: We brought it to mom first. We
thought we were the Cheetah Girls. Then
she brought it to my dad and they’ve
always been very supportive.
TSJ: How many instruments do you play?
China Anne: Guitar, that’s the main one,
and piano. I’m learning bass and violin
right now. Both instruments are really
fun. Oh, keyboards too.
TSJ: What advice do you have for others?
Lauren: Listen to your parents. We’re
Christian and the decisions we make are
based off that.
Sierra: Be responsible with what you put
out there. That’s your image. We want to
show the youth positive impressions.
TSJ: What kind of acting do you like best?
Lauren: China’s pretty much got the
comedy thing down. She’s funny on
and off camera. For me, it would be
dramatic.
China Anne: I’d love to stick to comedy
right now.
Sierra: China is very versatile. I would
stick to dramatic movies. I’m more
comfortable with that.
TSJ: What colleges are you thinking of
attending?
Lauren: Julliard or Berkeley.
TSJ: What are your hobbies?
China Anne: Other than sing, I’m not sure
I have a lot of hobbies. I actually like to
draw. We have family movie night. We
also go to the skating rink. We’re not
good at it though.
Lauren: I do ballet and do tennis with
my dad. I don’t have much coordination
though. I play football too. I play
quarterback.
BY AALIAYAH ROMER, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY & KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK
The McClain Sisters: A Triple Threat
20 TRUE STAR JR.
TSJ: How does it feel when people say they
admire you?
Sierra: We always get emotional. We
really enjoy interacting with the fans.
That’s why I feel so strongly about
putting positive images out there.
China Anne: Overwhelming. Some people
think it’s a lot of pressure but it’s not.
We’re grounded.
Lauren: Our parents kept us grounded
and humbled to stay strong to our beliefs.
TSJ: What do you consider to be your greatest
accomplishments?
China Anne: “A.N.T. Farm.” It’s getting
an amazing fan base. And getting the
opportunity to influence all the kids.
Lauren: Learning to play the guitar four
years ago. I don’t like to go anywhere
without it.
Sierra: The opportunity to influence
others in a positive way.
TSJ: How similar are China Parks and China Anne
McClain?
China Anne: It’s fun playing China Parks
because she’s a lot like me. Something
many people may not know is my
character’s name was Rain Davis before
it got on the air. Then when we started
filming, they changed the name to China
Parks.
TSJ: How did it feel to be on the set of “A.N.T.
Farm?”
Lauren: The first season we were on the
set all the time. The second season, not so
much because we were working on the
album. It was great.
Sierra: I have a greater appreciation for
China and her craft after working with her
on the set.
22 TRUE STAR JR.
Houston teen rap sensation GG Lyrics
took time out from her growing performance
schedule – she performed at The Eyes Wide
Open Teen Tour last August -- to talk to True Star
Jr. about who inspires her.
Dierra Foster, or the Golden Girl (GG), is no
stranger to entertaining. After all, she is a
former pageant star. At the age of 6 months old
she was in the Texas Beautiful Babies Pageant
and at age 4 she was crowned Little Miss Texas
in the Missy division. As a performer, she was
part of DK High Steppers Twirling Group and
the Lil Supa Stars Drill and Dance Team.
She recorded her first CD “Sitting on Top of the
World” when she was 10 years old and recently
released her current CD “High Maintenance.”
The “High Maintenance” single is available on
iTunes.
BY KELLY REYNOLDS, MORGAN PARK
True Star Jr.: What made you want to
start rapping?
GG Lyrics: I just love music. Since I
can’t sing, I rap. I also dance.
TSJ: What do you rap about?
GG Lyrics: About non-violence and
other positive stuff.
TSJ: Who inspires you to write your raps?
GG Lyrics: Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson
and Beyoncé.
Meet GG LYRICS
BZN
TRUE STAR JR. 23
Ahsan is a 14-year-old rising artist with
Interscope Records who recently performed at
Madison Square Garden in New York City.
He started singing when he was about 5 years
old. Years later, as Ahsan sang Stevie Wonder’s
hit song “Ribbon in the Sky,” he was surprised on
stage by the music legend himself.
Ahsan loves classic music and loves to sing
“Who’s Loving You” by Michael Jackson, his
favorite artist. He’d love to one day work with
Adele or John Legend.
He’s been influenced by family and friends, most
whom have singing and producing backgrounds.
Ahsan writes his own music and believes in order
to become a great artist, and to be noticed, you
have to strive to your best ability. When he’s not
recording or being homeschooled, he can be
found creating more music.
He wants his fans to be on the lookout for his
new single “You.”
HE’S ONE TO WATCH!
BY KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK
Meet AHSAN
BZN
24 TRUE STAR JR.
On January 19, 2013 Diggy Simmons
and the OMG Girlz performed at an anti-
violence event at the new concert hall at Christ
Universal Temple on the South Side. The concert
was to spread awareness about ending gun
violence in Chicago. During the show True Star
Jr. caught up with the OMG Girlz.
True Star Jr: What do you hope to accomplish by
doing this anti-violence event?
OMG Girlz (Beauty): We just plan to
let kids know that they don’t have to
participate in violence even if everybody
else makes it look cool. It isn’t cool.
TSJ: How has violence in Chicago touched you
or someone you know?
OMG Girlz (Baby Doll): Just hearing
about it on the news is crazy… We just
pray that it gets better.
TSJ: Have you taken part in any other
anti-violence events in other cities?
OMG Girlz (Beauty & Star): We actually
have. Like Baltimore and D.C. We actually
do these town meetings like we did
on the Scream Tour. We would go to
different cities and gather up a whole
bunch of children and just talk to them
about violence and a lot of other things.
BY DIAMOND BURTON, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
TSJ: Do you feel as if your music has motivated
young teenagers and if so how?
OMG Girlz (Beauty): I think music
definitely motivates teenagers because if
you put out the right message, like with
us on our album, any new music that we
put out is really inspiring and letting kids
know that is an outlet.
TSJ: What do you think can be changed to bring
the violence down in Chicago?
OMG Girlz (Baby Doll & Beauty): Just kids
paying attention to their parents, you
know. It all starts in a home if they are
being obedient, and coming together as
teens.
Celebrities Fight VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO
N
TRUE STAR JR. 25
Many youth want to be just like their
role models. In many cases, that’s a celebrity.
Some celebrities make it a point to let everyone
know they didn’t attend college and they still
became successful. They say their talents carried
them and that they became successful because of
their hard work.
Today’s youth are impressed by fame and what
they see as fast money. Some think education
is important, but going to college isn’t quite
necessary.
BY RODERICK ANDERSON, MORGAN PARK
I DISAGREE. No matter what your goals are, continuing your
education beyond high school is important. So
what if your favorite celebrity didn’t go to col-
lege? That doesn’t mean you have to follow in
their footsteps.
Don’t let someone, especially someone you don’t
know personally, influence your decision to go to
college.
TALKING NERDYCELEBRITIES WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE
Are Celebrities Affecting Your Decision TO GO TO COLLEGE?
N
26 TRUE STAR JR.
Nowadays people have a lot of access
to technology. The younger generation isn’t
familiar with a time when they didn’t have so
much technology available to them at once. You
can do anything if you have a computer, cell
phone or WiFi access, even your school work.
You can use technology to communicate with
others anywhere in the world. You can talk to
a teacher to get help, download answers for
standardized tests (which can get you in trouble)
and if you’re not careful, you can also miss
important information in class by using the loads
of technology available at your fingertips.
According to the Center for Applied Research
in Educational Technology, technology can
definitely have a positive outcome on a student’s
life, including academic performance, motivation,
critical thinking skills, literacy, attitudes and real-
life work skills.
BUT, BEWARE.You can also find the wrong information and
get in trouble by snatching stuff off the Internet.
Students can copy and paste information to a
paper and take credit for someone else’s work.
That’s plagiarism, and it can get you in loads of
trouble.
Responsibility when using technology for educa-
tional purposes is very important.
BY JANEA TAYLOR, MORGAN PARK
How Technology Affects Academics
TRUE STAR JR. 27
Many kids and teenagers form their
cliques in the beginning of the school year. What
about the outsiders or kids that can’t find their
clique because of the way they appear to others?
Many people get braces or have to adjust to
wearing glasses. Because of these necessities,
others view these students differently; some
would even call them dorks.
WELL, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THIS? In this case I have had both glasses and braces.
It is pretty difficult, because when you get these
BY KYLE TERRY, MORGAN PARK
things the children around you create stereotypes
that make you seem out of place. When dealing
with someone’s opinion about your outer shell
you have to learn to really respect yourself and
have self-confidence because many people will
try and take you down.
One must not care about comments made by
other people who don’t know you, because even
a dog barks at someone it doesn’t know. You
have to be satisfied and happy about how you
look. You might not have outer beauty, but you
have inner beauty. Just know that you will be
judged throughout your life no matter what, but
the way you respond to the judging is up to you.
Wearing glasses and braces don’t make you a
dork. They just make you a well-accessorized
human being.
You’re Not a Dork Because You WEAR Glasses & Have Braces
28 TRUE STAR JR.
When you don’t do your school
assignments you’re hurting no one but yourself.
Some people slack because they may not
understand the work. If that’s the case don’t be
ashamed to ask your teacher for help. But, many
students slack because they just don’t “want” to
do the work. The one rule slackers often forget is
this: There are consequences to your actions.
Slacking in school will eventually show in your
grades. The grades you have at the end of a
semester are most important because that is what
decides if you’ve passed or failed. When you fail
you end up having to repeat the same class all
over again, most likely in summer school.
Summer is the only time you really get to sit
down, relax and have fun. Most people know
that they’d rather be at home than stuck in a hot
classroom doing the same work they hated doing
during the school year.
BY LAUREN NOISETTE, MORGAN PARK
Another thing to consider is that once the
consequences of slacking have finally caught up
with you chances are your parents won’t
be happy.
Some of the punishments you can look forward
to might be spending time away from your
friends, no TV, no video games, no social media,
no going out, and pretty much no fun at all. And
don’t forget about your cell phone. You can say
goodbye to talking and texting too.
When you don’t do your work your grades drop,
you increase your chances of repeating classes,
and all the things that mean so much to you get
taken away. So the next time you think about not
doing your assignment ask yourself,
“IS BEING A SLACKER REALLY WORTH IT?”
The Consequences of Being a Slacker
TRUE STAR JR. 29
Before you know it the school year will be
coming to an end and summer break will be here.
Have you put any thought into all the exciting
things you’d like to do over the break? If not,
there’s no time like the present to start making
plans. Lazy days are cool to enjoy from time to
time, but don’t spend your entire break sitting
around the house watching Netflix. Stay active
and take a vacation tailor-made just for you.
THINGS TO DO:- Ice Skate- Roller Skate- Go to the Movies- Go shopping- Hang with Friends
According to www.kidzworld.com, here are
a few other ideas to keep you busy during
break time:
- Do community service- Visit the different museums- Try to see several different movies at the theater- Have a gaming party where you invite your friends over for a video game tournament- Have a sleepover
BY BRITTANY HULL, U.C.-WOODSON
VACATIONING AREAS:- Kalahari Resort- Wilderness Resort- Tampa, Florida - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin- Hollywood, California (Take a minute to visit the Hollywood sign.) Don’t forget to journal about what you did
during your break. That way you’ll have
documented memories that will last not just for
the summer, but for a lifetime.
What Are You DoingFor Summer BREAK?
CREATIVE CORNERD
ESIG
NED
BY
DO
NO
VAN
ING
RAM
, CO
RLIS
S EA
RLY
CO
LLEG
E ST
EM H
IGH
SC
HO
OL
30 TRUE STAR JR.
TRUE STAR JR. 31
As I capture this flowerI wonder who I am.
Am I loyal, dishonest or determined?I dream of my future and
I want to live, I don’t want to die.I want to live. I scream there are guns that cause pain.
That goes through my head. I awake hearing guns.
My heart is breaking as I see those cars.My broken window shows what’s ahead.
My life.I’m a leader so I stand above.
Lost: A Poem For HadiyaBY KYLA WHITE, U.C.-WOODSON
ILLUSTRATION BY PIERRE SEATON
32 TRUE STAR JR.
DEEPER THAN SKIN
In today’s society weight is a very big deal.
There are good choices and there are bad
choices when it comes to deciding what foods
to eat. Make the wrong choices and your health
can become an issue for you down the road.
Fast foods are full of large amounts of fat,
calories, sugar and preservatives. Some foods
contain growth hormones and are produced
with GMO (genetically modified organisms). The
website Organic Authority reports that GMO
products are not safe for several reasons, includ-
ing the massive use of pesticides on the crops.
Your body needs a balanced diet – grains, fruits,
vegetables and dairy. Fast foods contain mostly
processed products. Eat too much of this and you
won’t be able to receive the appropriate nutri-
ents your body needs. Your chances of becoming
overweight also increase.
Here are a few healthy food replacements for those bad choices:
Instead of chips, how about non-butter popcorn.
You are eating about 38 calories less!
Put that energy drink down! Try a cup of tea with
natural lemon. It keeps you alert, has less sugar,
and tastes great!
If you want to stay energized during the day,
try eating warm bread (preferably 1-2 slices of
wheat). This will keep you awake and won’t make
you sleepy due to your stomach being empty.
Making the switch from fast foods to healthier
foods may take time. Do the best you can now
and your body will thank you later.
BY AHMAD CHANEY, U.C.-WOODSON & RONALD THOMPSON, MORGAN PARK
Healthy Foods VS. FAST FOODS
TRUE STAR JR. 33
Autism may be one of the world’s most
misunderstood developmental illnesses. All the
stereotypes should not be regarded as scientific
fact. According to studies, autism in today’s
youth is gaining more prevalence yearly, with the
diagnosis being 1 in 88 for all children and 1 in
54 for boys. Additionally, autism costs families
about $60,000 a year and receives less than five
percent of research funding compared to other
childhood diseases.
Tracy Bourne’s daughter, Story Bourne, 4, was
diagnosed with autism at 21 months. She wants
people to be more understanding of the disease
and of more assistance to the kids.
“Talk to people who may come to know other
people with autism,” said Bourne. “Reach out to
those kids and be patient with them; try to help
them along. They are unique, but they need
help.”
Bourne gave True Star Jr. a look into her life as a
parent with an autistic child.
True Star Jr.: How does your daughter interact
with other children?
Tracy Bourne: She’s really great and
actually good with other kids. She’s
always had an interest in other kids, but
her language is what she struggles with
most.
TSJ: As a parent what are some challenges you
face with an autistic child?
TB: The biggest difficulty is worry. The
whole bullying situation scares me.
TSJ: What do you feel are the biggest
stereotypes against autistic children?
TB: That they could pick up an instrument
instantly and be a musician or an artist.
TSJ: Advice to parents?
TB: Surround yourself around people
who are positive and understand what
you are going through. Get to know
other parents in the community who have
kids with autism. Never ever give up.
Continue to do research, and if possible
get your child therapy outside of school.
BY AALIAYAH ROMER, LINDBLOM MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Shadows of An Autistic Youth
34 TRUE STAR JR.
The keratin treatment is a Brazilian hair
treatment used to naturally straighten hair. It
doesn’t have the chemicals that are in perms
and relaxers like sodium hydroxide and calcium
hydroxide. Your hair is straightened with the
protein ingredient of keratin.
“The keratin treatment is meant to change the
way we look at natural hair,” said Anthony
Jones, owner of AJ Styles Beauty Salon in Oak
Park. “So often we want our hair to look good
and forget that it also needs to be healthy. The
keratin treatment and keratin products help keep
hair both healthy and nice looking.”
How to apply:- Wash hair. Do not apply conditioner.
- Section hair into four parts. Apply the
product starting from the top and working
to the bottom.
- Apply the keratin complex with a bowl and
brush.
- Once applied, run a fine tooth comb through
The Keratin Treatment
your hair. If product remains on the comb
squeeze the excess out until the comb runs
through the hair clean.
- Let sit for 20 minutes. Do not wash out.
- Blow dry hair. It might take a while, but
make sure it is all blow dried into your hair.
- Separate hair into four sections.
- Use a ceramic flat iron that is at least 450
degrees.
Rules:- Do not wash your hair for three days follow-
ing the treatment.
- Avoid using clips or bands for the three
days as they can leave dents in your hair.
- Do not use dry shampoos or other products
in your hair for the three day period.
- When you wash your hair, you must use
“sulfate free“ shampoo and conditioner or the
recommended product from the manufac-
turer every time you wash. Using sulfate
products can cause the keratin treatment
to revert.
n
n
BY AMBER FRY, LINDBLOM MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY
TRUE STAR JR. 35
Bees buzzing, flowers blooming, the sun
shining – these are all signature trademarks of
spring. But there’s also one more thing spring is
known for and that’s cleaning. Spring is the time
to clean up, not just your home but also your life,
and that includes school.
Something as simple as cleaning out your locker
once a month or keeping loose papers in a
folder instead of stuffing them in your backpack
can be the difference between an A and a F.
Why? Because these steps help make you more
organized, and the more organized you are the
less cluttered your mind will be.
Even talking in class can be something that can
ruin someone’s grade without them even notic-
ing. Just because a teacher doesn’t tell you to
stop talking that doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t
paying attention, and it doesn’t mean that the
teacher isn’t marking it.
The Keratin Treatment
It’s impossible to just wake up one day and have
awesome grades and good behavior marks. You
have to be committed to making the change to
be a better student. And being committed doesn’t
mean staying inside and studying 24 hours a
day. It just means actually making an effort to
change.
No one said change would be easy, but gradual
steps definitely work best. One step to take
toward making your life less crazy at school and
at home is to keep a “to-do” list. This is perfect
for keeping up with all the things you have to get
done. The best part is once you’ve completed a
task you get to scratch it off your list and enjoy
the feeling of accomplishment.
Hopefully these tips are just the thing you need
for a fresh start. Good luck and have a great
spring!
BY EDEN STRONG, MORGAN PARK
Is Your Lifestyle In Need of Some Spring Cleaning?
36 TRUE STAR JR.
KEEPIN’ SCORE
French Fry is a compelling and competitive
basketball league. There are three divisions:
Small Fry from ages 5 to 8; Jr. Fry from ages 8 to
11; and Sr. Fry from ages 11 to 13.
Joe Bussle, who started the French Fry League
in 1996, saw kids being turned away from Small
Fry because there wasn’t enough room for the
kids. That’s how the French Fry League with the
different divisions was born. The league practices
at Palmer Park on the Southeast Side.
“I wanted to give young boys and girls a chance
to practice fundamental basketball skills and
social skills,” Bussle said.
It’s simple to join. Just “come in, fill out the
application and pay the fee,” Bussle explained.
“We don’t turn anyone away.”
When you come to French Fry, you know you
must come to play if you want to win, said a
BY KYLE TERRY AND ARI SLAUGHTER, MORGAN PARK
few of the players. Landon Gladney, 12, plays
small forward and power forward for Sr. Fry
and Cameron Gross, 13, plays small forward for
Sr. Fry. Both said they love the game and have
enjoyed playing in the French Fry League over
the years.
The Sr. Fry division recently won the
championship game.
“The intensity of the game is very high and the
game is very competitive,” said Ricky Anderson,
who attended the championship game.
Bussle, who got emotional during the interview,
said his most memorable moments have been the
championships.
“It’s good to see the kids have fun and win while
doing it,” he said. “That’s always the best part.”
Full disclosure: Ari Slaughter is a member of the
French Fry League’s Sr. Fry division.
French FryBasketball League
TRUE STAR JR. 37
The girls varsity basketball team at Morgan
Park Academy has a record of winning their
regional championships, but this year was differ-
ent. This is the first time in the school’s history they
won a sectionals game. They won the sectionals
semi-finals but were defeated in the championship
game. True Star Jr. alumni Kennedy Chaney, a
starting freshman on Morgan Park Academy’s
team, talks about growing up a hooper and being
part of a history-making team.
True Star. Jr.: When did you start playing
basketball?
Kennedy Chaney: I originally started in
kindergarten but I quit. I rejoined the
team in 3rd-grade.
TSJ: Why do you like playing basketball?
KC: It’s really fun.
TSJ: What position do you play?
KC: Point Guard.
TSJ: What teams have you played for?
KC: St. Dorothy Lady Defenders. I also
played on the boys team. I played AAU
ball for the Pink Lady Ballers in 7th and
8th-grade and now for Morgan Park
Academy.
TSJ: Do you have any athletic awards or
trophies?
KC: I have a few trophies, including MVP
for St. Dorothy’s and the Most Athletic
Award. I I also have a couple of medals and
trophies for Pink Lady Ballers, and a trophy
from MPA for Most Improved Player.
TSJ: How different is it playing in high school than
elementary school?
KC: It’s more aggressive in high school,
especially playing on a varsity team. I
play basketball year-round, so playing
AAU ball when the school season is over
helped strengthen my skills and helped
me better prepare to play high school
varsity basketball.
TSJ: Do you have any hooper nicknames?
KC: My uncle named me Lady Rose.
TSJ: Who are your favorite players and teams?
KC: The 1992 Olympic Dream Team, Der-
rick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Larry Bird and
Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins.
BY KELLY REYNOLDS, MORGAN PARK
Morgan Park Academy’s Girls Varsity Basketball Team Makes History
38 TRUE STAR JR.
How do the many injuries in the National
Basketball Association affect the teams and the
fans?
One major injury in the league right now belongs
to the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose. Rose tore his
ACL in the 2011-2012 season. It was devastating
to the fans. The Bulls lost to the Philadelphia
76ers in the first round that season and we were
hoping Rose would recover.
“[Basketball] is not as fun without my favorite
players,” said Arieon Brown, age 12.
This season, more Bulls players were added to
the injured list. They’ve won many games this
season, but have also lost many games. The
season isn’t looking as bright as it could. Too
many injuries may cost the Bulls a chance to
make it to the playoffs.
Marshawn Porter, 12, agreed.
“They seem to be waiting on their star player
and they can’t play. They just might not make it,”
Porter said.
BY EMANUEL THOMAS, MORGAN PARK
The Boston Celtics also have a key injury. Star
point guard Rajon Rondo went down on a torn
ACL. Atlanta Hawks’ rising star Lou Williams tore
his ACL too, as well as Minnesota Timberwolves’
Kevin Love.
These teams can go far in the playoffs, but the
injured players that are off the court will make it
difficult.
NBA Injuries:
HOW THEY AFFECT THE TEAMS AND FANS
TRUE STAR JR. 39
Just because you have the skills to be a star
basketball player doesn’t mean you have what it
takes to be a good student-athlete. A student-
athlete is someone that maintains good grades
while playing sports. Sometimes being a student-
athlete is difficult because there are certain
requirements that must be met. IHSA (Illinois
High School Association) Scholastic Standing
says, “Students must be passing enough courses
on both weekly and semester basis to earn 2.5
full credits.” A good student-athlete knows how
to achieve this.
Having the athletic skills of a champ but have
the grades of a dummy will only get you so far.
Brittany Morris, of the Whitney Young Lady
Dolphins, shares her best strategy to studying
for exams. “Taking notes on lectures in class and
doing my homework works for me. That helps
me remember things and prepares me to review
before tests.”
Time management is also important to every
successful student-athlete. Striking a balance
between practice, play, and homework may be
hard but necessary. Morris manages her time in
her own way.
“For long term projects I plan ahead and do a
little each day.” She advises others to “have self-
discipline and give yourself time to get the work
done. Easing off your texting, talking and social
media will help too.”
BY BREANNA BECK, MORGAN PARK
For a student-athlete being organized is also
crucial because it makes your life easier and
helps you stay focused. Being organized has a
big impact on your grades too. Much like time
management, it helps to keep up with times,
dates, homework, and important assignments.
Using a daily planner can help.
It takes hard work and dedication to be
successful in sports and life. Excellence is the
gradual result of always striving to do better.
Do You Have What It Takes
TO BE A Student-athlete?
40 TRUE STAR JR.
SCHOOL SPIRIT
BY SYDNEY TENTON, LINDBLOM
Recently Lindblom’s College and
Career Center offered two great opportunities
tied to college. In today’s generation it’s never
too soon to step your game up and prepare
yourself for your dream college, which is why
it’s important to Lindblom that students start
learning about college early.
The competition is rising each year for college
and Lindblom has offered deals to the 9th and
10th-graders to visit the University of Illinois at
Urbana Champaign. These underclassmen are
required to fill out an application and write a
500 word essay in order to be considered for
the U of I trip.
Some may argue that it’s too early for students
in the 9th and 10th-graders to think about
college. However, some may disagree and
think the trip may be beneficial for students.
Ms. Andrews, director of the College and
Career Center at Lindblom, said, “The purpose
of this trip is to introduce children early on to
colleges and to see what college has to offer.
The trip is also for students to be exposed to
a college atmosphere. We’ve noticed that
students who are exposed to college settings
as freshmen and sophomores are most likely to
go to college after their senior year.”
Kamari McElroy, a Lindblom freshman, said,
“I think this [trip] will benefit me because I
can get an idea of a college I may be able to
attend in the state of Illinois. I will be able to
plan for my future.”
In today’s economy a degree is necessary for
many jobs. The standards for good colleges
are high, so it’s always good to plan ahead
and get a good idea of what to expect in the
future. Don’t assume that grades from early
on don’t count, because every step matters,
especially when applying for scholarships.
Too Early to Get Going FOR COLLEGE?
40 TRUE STAR JR.
TRUE STAR JR. 41
For about the last five years Woodson
has offered a unique set of classes every Friday
at the end of the day. They’re called X-Blocks
and they offer a different kind of learning from
what we get in our regular classes each day.
The students get to choose from more than 10
classes offered each quarter. Real Men Talk, led
by Joel Bullock and Sam Robinson, and All the
World’s a Stage, led by Kat Kindleberger, are
two examples of what Woodson students are
enjoying this quarter.
BY KAYLAH WRIGHT, U.C.-WOODSON
Introducing Woodson’s X-BLOCK CLASSES
TRUE STAR JR. 41
42 TRUE STAR JR.
BY KELLY REYNOLDS, MORGAN PARK
Behind the Scenes AT THE TRUE STAR JR. Photo Shoot
The True Star Jr. photo shoot is for all of you guys who are photogenic. You get to be
involved with modeling and photography and everything is set up like you have been signed by
one of Chicago’s top modeling agencies.
You get the full effect: different sceneries and dress categories that come from your own closet,
and light makeup if your parent is cool with it. The hair stylist touches up your hair if it needs
to be done and then SNAP! SNAP! Your image has been frozen in time for the pages of the
magazine.
42 TRUE STAR JR.