Sex scandals are one aspect that haunts the sports world, due to the fact that one discrete action can result in major public ramifications. Athletes are put on a pedestal in society. Therefore, when they exhibit sinful acts; they are scrutinized on a larger scale.

“Athletes should be punished more severely when they act in viceful ways because they think that none of their actions have any consequences. These players need to be brought down to earth,” sophomore Robert Lugo said.

For example, the famous Kobe Bryant sex scandal in the summer of 2003 had major repercussions for the Los Angeles superstar. Bryant was accused of raping a hotel attendant while he was staying in a Colorado Spa Resort prior to a scheduled surgery. Not only was Kobe married at the time, but he also had to deal with the public’s supreme backlash, and heckling at each game after the incident.

Nonetheless, the sexual assault charges were dismissed against Bryant after the victim refused to testify, and the case was dropped after a civil court settlement between the two parties involved. However, the backlash that Kobe received during the process was irreparable.

“I honestly believe that Kobe Bryant raped that women, and he truly deserved the public’s rage over his inhumane actions,” senior Soum Lokeshwar said.

In addition to Bryant, superstar quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of two different rape scandals in a mere two years. In his most recent accusation, Roethlisberger was accused of assaulting a 20-year-old college student in the bathroom stall of a bar.

Although the case was settled without any criminal charges, the quarterback was dealt a six game suspension from the NFL.

“The fact that this incident occurred twice in two years shows the fact that Roethlisberger is guilty,” junior Matt Barona said.

Many individuals in society judge athletes solely by their “godly” skills, instead of taking into account the content of their character. The fact that these professionals are constantly in the public eye puts their private lives in the open, and it becomes difficult for onlookers to ignore their immoral actions.

Condom- There is always the risk of a condom breaking, but it is good to try anything you possibly can when it comes to safe sex. Condoms reduce transmitted diseases, such as HIV, by 85%.

Birth Control Pill- If used correctly, Birth Control prevents ovulation (the release of the egg during the monthly cycle) by containing a combination of estrogen and progesterone. A woman cannot become pregnant without ovulating as there is no egg to fertilize.

Communication-If you and your partner are ready to have sex, even if you have been together for a long time, don’t be afraid to ask them questions, such as who they have been with and when was the last time they were tested for STDs. Not only will this method create safety, but you will feel more comfortable with your partner as well.

Injection- If you know that you will not be able to consistently take the Birth Control pill, doctors have come up with an injection for every three months to be used instead.

IUD- This “T” shaped device is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are both a hormonal and a copper IDU
>Copper- copper is toxic to sperm. It makes the uterus and fallopian tubes produce fluid that will kill any sperm.
>Hormonal- prevents fertilization by killing sperm by making the mucus in the cervix thick and sticky so that sperm can’t pass through.

“As a Catholic, I have been raised to save sex for marriage,” senior Bettina Schumacher said. “Abstinence is key.”

Although abstinence is the best policy in terms of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, it is well known that most teens do end up engaging in sexual intercourse before marriage. The Guttmacher Institute reported that seven in ten adolescents have had sex by their nineteenth birthdays. Contrary to the advice proposed by the Sex Ed teacher in Mean Girls, there are ways to stay safe and still engage in sexual activities.

Condoms are said to have 98% reliability, meaning that out of every 100 sexually active women using condoms correctly for one year, 2 will become pregnant, on average. Condoms are relatively easy to come by and they are relatively convenient, making them one of the more common birth control methods. Condoms protect users from both pregnancy and exposure to STDs.

“I think it’s ridiculous that some people don’t wear condoms,” senior Ian Huber said. “There’s no argument; everyone should be wearing condoms, especially at this age!”

Condoms are a safe form of birth control, especially when matched with other methods. This does not mean to put two on- don’t, the friction will cause the latex to break. Paired with ‘the pill,’ sexually active teens will be well protected. Birth control pills have grown increasingly popular over the years, even for girls who aren’t sexually active.

“I went on birth control to regulate my period and control my skin,” senior Stephanie Levin said. “It’s good to know that I’m on the pill because if I were ever to engage in sexual intercourse, I know I would have extra protection.”

Although birth control pills have served women well over the years, there are many reasons why women are against the pill. For one, taking the pill interferes with a woman’s natural cycle. The pill drips synthetic hormones into the body to make it seem as though it is pregnant, thus the body will not release an egg to be fertilized by sperm during sexual encounters. Birth control affects everyone differently; it may cause some women to gain weight and break out, but it could considerably clear another woman’s skin.

Those who are hesitant to the idea of taking the pill but are also still nervous about merely relying on a condom, there is no need to fear. In combination with a condom, women can use the rhythm method, a natural and easy method of protection. This method entails tracking days of ovulation and deciphering when the woman is most fertile. Avoiding sexual contact in these days, typically count fourteen days from the onset of the period and add two days on each end, will leave women as safe as they can be resorting to natural methods.

Protection is key. Women should research different methods to determine the best method, depending on the individual.

Love waits. If two people are not in a deeply meaningful relationship, there is no need to have sex. Society may portray sex as a ‘cool,’ ‘fun’ thing to do, but it can have very serious risks and consequences. As for those who choose to be sexually active: please be responsible.

“I choose to wait till marriage because I want it to mean something and be with someone I love,” junior Brian McCormick said.

Abstinence is taught by many groups and clubs and is a second hand way to save lives. Part of being a person is having choices to make along with good judgment that can affect you for the rest of your life. A method that is taught to help refrain from sexual intercourse is other ways of showing affection to your mate, such as holding hands, hugging, and kissing.

“Love sometimes is spoiled by having sex and can lead to many health problems, which is why I commend and preach to wait until marriage,” sophomore Alexandra Azari said.

Waiting till marriage is the best way to have good relationships throughout your young life and not spoil your marriage before you even have it. Sexual intercourse is a symbol of your love for your partner or a way to produce another life and generation of your family. It should not be used as a good time. Love yourself and respect yourself by waiting for the right moment with the right partner.

“I follow my faith very closely and not being abstinent is a sin,” senior Rebecca Rubin said. “I chose to wait till marriage and respect myself while at the same time staying away from the bad affects of it.”

Cheating. Almost everybody does it. Copying a friend’s homework or asking someone which questions are on a test just don’t seem as blatantly wrong as gliding a pair of eyes over a neighbor’s exam.

The same hypocritical stigma exists with loyalty in relationship. Many partners believe that emotional cheating is just as dishonest and vulgar as physical cheating.

Surveys conducted by Cosmopolitan and Seventeen consider emotional cheating just as morally wrong as physical cheating – and I agree.

I believe 2 factors exist in a healthy relationship. 1) Physical affection and 2) emotional support. When the emotional factor is not present, only an empty, superficial shell of a relationship remains.

I feel that the greatest offense to emotional cheating is the ease of keeping it secret.

Most people who cheat emotionally do not wish to end their relationships with their significant others. They flirt with old flames to collect extra attention and fill a void or do not invest themselves wholeheartedly in their proper relationships because they are not ready for commitment.

In these cases, these “emotional cheaters” should not even be in committed relationships.

Honestly, if my significant other would ever cheat on me – in hypothetical terms – I would rather him physically cheat on me. A few snapshots from a phone or forgotten underwear in his car could at least easily clear up my doubts and would provide concrete evidence to nix his serpentine ways and live a satisfying life without him.

So ladies and gentlemen, be forewarned: our 21st century society may provide an easy means to a broken heart. A Facebook message, Twitter reply or anonymous phone call can trample high school bliss.

If you traded phones with your significant other today, would you still be together tomorrow?

“At school I got a lot of roses and I got a surprise,” junior Amanda Musalam said. “A person sang to me in class.”

Some school organizations use Valentine’s Day as a fundraiser. Variations dancers deliver carnations for one dollar every year and Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) delivers small bears for five dollars. This year, the Freshman Class sold heart-shaped balloons for three dollars.

This romantic holiday, though it may seem closed off to any single people, is actually just about sharing love in general. Instead of watching couples have all the fun on Valentine’s Day, many kids spend time with their friends and families.

“I spend (Valentine’s Day) with my family. Wwe go to dinner and celebrate a day of love,” sophomore Avana Fernandez said.

For some, Valentine’s Day is a sad reminder that they are not in a relationship. Others take advantage of the day to have a 24-hour sugar-high from over-indulgence of chocolates or a late night reading of a Nicholas Sparks novel.

“I eat a lot of candy and cry myself to sleep,” senior Rashid Price said. “Just kidding! I used to always be in a relationship on Valentine’s Day and I would go broke, but this year’s different.”

Price explained that he would always have to buy the biggest and best of everything.

“My bear has to be bigger than her bear!” he said mockingly, shaking his head. “This year I’m not in a relationship, so I got to spend money on myself. I even got a new haircut.”

But the problem with change is that, sometimes, we’re not ready to face it. Sometimes, we run away from it: lock it out of our white picket fenced houses, hoping it’ll melt away under the scorching Florida sun or lose interest and fade into the background. Sometimes the pain that ties into change is just too overwhelming to accept.

And sometimes, we find hope in that pain and turn it into a legend.

When driving by 144th street to 152nd street and seeing the name “Samantha Jade Trebbi” engraved on those street signs—that’s exactly the kind of change you’ll find.

On October 11, 2010, Sam passed away due to a case of strep throat.
She was the type of person who held you with one hand while you cried and went and guarded your back with the other. Her clairvoyant eyes were able to look past what others saw, taking in a person for their authenticity, a moment for its treasures, and a life for its love.

So why shouldn’t she have a street in her name? That’s exactly what her mother, April Trebbi, asked herself a few months later. Sure, one might assume that a street should be saved for “64th Columbus Drive,” but discovering America pales in comparison to the kind of discoveries that Sam influenced a high school to make.

A year and four months ago, teachers glared down at us with those warm, sympathetic eyes as we tried to cope with the news that had just been plunged at us. Students trudged through the hallways like every limb in their body weighed an extra ten pounds, their tears forming deep puddles behind them. A guidance counselor came to help us cope with the grief; we sat in the library instead of attending class; homework’s were excused, grades slightly curved; life was painfully put on pause. It was a dark, ominous, and never-ending day. Even the sky cried with us.

But then something changed. It was like the scent of her vanilla perfume had leaked into the room, and little by little, we each started to carry a bit of her within us.
The invisible borders that had plagued the campus were dismissed—enemies became friends, friends became family, and family had never meant so much before. We showed our scars and instead of turning on one another we turned to each other. We healed together.

That was not something we were capable of on our own. That was all Sam.

Which makes it no surprise that when the petition for her street went around, it acquired over 3000 signatures. April had to get it approved by Palmetto Bay County, and then Miami Dade County. She had to have letters describing all of Sam’s accomplishments, which wasn’t hard considering she was an active member of clubs at school, a member of Girl Scouts for the majority of her life, and even spent a year raising money for her friend’s sister’s cancer treatments. Over thirty of her loved ones stood before the Palmetto Bay Council to show how much it would mean for them for this dream to become real. And so it did.

This street proves the difference between giving in and standing up, letting go and holding on, detesting your enemies and simply accepting their flaws. Everything Sam stands for is represented in every inch of that sign. She taught us to live with no regrets, smile through life’s turbulences, and to never be too serious, “wouldn’t want to get wrinkles.” Those are the types of people we should honor. Those are the types of people worth remembering; because these are the types of qualities that we will carry for the rest of our lives.

Whenever someone drives by that sign, they’ll wonder about the story that lies behind it. What can those eighteen letters possibly represent? If they look a little deeper, they’ll find a fifteen-year old girl with knowledge beyond her years. One who loved sunflowers and Skittles and could never turn down an invitation to the beach. They’ll find a girl whose family was her world and friends her life, a girl who was constantly giggling through silly pictures on Photo booth but still managed to look beautiful. A girl who took a divided sophomore class and turned them into a family.

They’ll find a message within those letters, one that will spread to everyone they know.
A year and four months ago, we could not have told you how.
Now, we can show you.

Friends and Family remember:

“There are no words to describe what an honor it is to know that the street that Sam grew up on, from when she was tiny and playing in the park with her friends, will have her name on it forever. For people to remember what a wonderful, vibrant, and happy person that she is.” -April Trebbi, mother

“The only thing I can say is that, thanks to all of Sam’s family and friends that knew the beautiful and amazing person that she always was and will continue to be throughout all of them, her memory will live on in all of our hearts and we love you. We love you Sam.” -Bob Trebbi, father

“I’m glad they named 77th Avenue Samantha Jade Trebbi Avenue. Sam is perfect and will always be remembered in a wonderful and special way.” -Zachary Trebbi, brother

“Losing my incredible, beautiful sweet niece has been unbearable for us all. Trying to explain to my kids why they lost their cousin that they were so close to is truly impossible. The street naming has given them something to smile about. We drive down 77th avenue every morning on the way to school and the kids get to see Sam’s name and feel proud. Giving them another outlet to talk about the tragedy has been wonderful. They miss her madly, as do we all.” -Aimee Dishkin, aunt

“Sam grew up on the street that is now named after her, and we all got to see them put up the sign. It was such a heart-warming event, even the mayor of Palmetto Bay was crying. Sam would have been so happy to see this street named after her and so is everyone who gets to pass by her name and keep her beautiful memory in their minds. We will never forget.” -Junior Julie Steiner

“I just miss her so much and to this day it doesn’t seem like real life.” -Junior Zuny Milano.

In Super Bowl 42, the two quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Eli Manning, fought against each other for their spot in the history books. The Patriots were poised for a perfect record 19-0 when, out of nowhere, the Giants from New York beat them and left a historic play with the “catch” by David Tyree.

During the game, Eli Manning was the Super Bowl MVP with 19 completions and 32 attempts for 255 yards with two touchdowns. On the other hand, Tom Brady had 29 completions and 48 attempts for 266 yards with one touchdown. But, their last rematch during the regular season produced different stats. Eli Manning made a last minute drive to win the game 24-20. During that game, he had 20 completions and 39 attempts for 250 yards with two touchdowns while Brady had 28 completions and 49 attempts for 342 yards with two touchdowns. These statistics may be an indicator as to who may win the big game.

On February 5, the Super Bowl will be a rematch between these two teams. Although they are facing each other again, the Patriots aren’t the 30-point favorite that they were in 2008. The Giants are not to be seen as underdogs, because they are a better team than they were in 2008 both physically and mentally.

Seeing a rematch may be seen as exciting to some people but to others it is seen as weird.

“Yes, I find it weird,” junior Adrian Sanabria said. “Because it is the same quarterbacks and the same teams from 42.”

This year, the Giants beat the Patriots in the regular season. Some people may see this as an excuse for the Patriots to seek revenge. Not only are they looking for revenge from this season but they are also feeling a need for vengeance to make up for the Super Bowl four years ago.

“They [the Patriots] are definitely looking for revenge because they got beat and their perfect season ruined by the Giants, and they lost earlier to them and they carried the coach off the field in the regular season,” math teacher Mr. Leverett said.

Despite the people who believe that the Giants will win the game, this will still be one for the highlight reel and for the history books.

“It should be a good game,” sophomore Ivan Figueroa said. “Both teams have great offenses and defenses and it should be one of the greatest Super Bowls that I have ever seen.”

“Since I’m going to be 18 by this election, I will definitely be voting. I’m ready for a Republican president,” senior Bridgett Bauer said.

While many in the Senior Class of 2012 will be at legal age to vote this November, the underclassmen also display an interest in the concept of voting.

“Over my trip to Washington, D.C. with my temple recently, I was able to meet many politicians. I noticed that some of our elected officials aren’t exactly ‘competent.’ I’m excited to vote and try to change that once I turn 18,” sophomore Ben Labovitz said.

Though many students are energetic and ready to take to the polls, others feel like they could wait a few more years to cast a ballot.

“I will vote when my time comes to vote, but I will admit that I’m not a huge advocate for voting,” junior Dylan Keitz-Playford said.

While some students simply feel no inspiration to cast a vote, others feel like the whole concept of voting at such a young age is impractical.

“Honestly, I feel like 18 is too young to vote,” junior Andres Flores said. “At 18, most kids still live with their parents, which sway their opinions too strongly. I feel the legal age to vote should be higher, in order to allow people enough time to independently educate themselves on candidates.”

As the debate on changing the legal voting age rages on, most students accept and agree with the current bar at 18.

“Any younger [age] and a voter may not be readily informed; there is no need to prolong the time an educated 18 year old must wait in order to vote,” sophomore Pietro Nicastro said. “I think 18 is the perfect age.”