The Best Advice from Kristyn! (:

 Class of 2016,

            Wow, years have flown by and now you are on your adventure into high school. Welcome to the fun, crazy, stressful, and decision making years. I am Kristyn Arlian, a senior, at Sweet Grass County High School and I remember sitting at 8^th grade graduation waiting to get the heck out of grade school. I was in your position and I could not wait for high school because that meant better lunches, lockers, sports, homecoming, dances, and way more freedom. I am sure you all are ready for at least one of those perks of being a high school student. Now high school is about making mistakes and becoming the person you want to be. I have made mistake after mistake but have learned from each and every one of them. When you guys enter through those big shiny blue doors you have started another chapter in your life. Yes, you will have your ups and downs but you need to remember to appreciate the ups in your life.

           I would like to share some of the advice I have learned throughout my 4 years of school. My English teacher/ basketball coach once told me that if you stand up for what’s good and right, you will go far places. I took this advice to heart and standing up for what I believe can be hard at times but I cannot let anyone try to change my beliefs and who I am as a person. When you guys enter high school there will be many choices and decisions you will have to face and you always need to remember to stick up for what you believe in. This advice is not only for your beliefs but also your family and friends. You need to stand up to issues even if no one else does.

          The other advice I have received over the years is stand out because life is too short to blend in. This advice has impacted my life greatly because you never know when life is going to be gone. Standing out and doing something that makes up you is very important. You need to remember that you always have to be yourself and never change who you are for anyone. Trying to blend in with the crowd will work for awhile but then it will through you under the bus. What I am trying to tell you is that if you blend to long your will lose your beliefs, morals, and you will be in a crowd that is not healthy for you.

         The last advice I would like to give you is get involved. The more activities, groups, sports, and clubs you are in, the best your experience will be. Getting involved throughout the school will help your grades stay up and will allow you to meet new people. We have tons of things going on in the school but it is your responsibility to stand up and get involved.

         Thank you for letting me share my advice with your class. I hope that you all have fantastic and fun high school years. Remember stand out, hold on to your beliefs, get involved and do great things.

CBS News

Katie:  Hello, America I am Katie Curic reporting from the CBS News station.  Today, September 11^th, is the 10^th anniversary of the Al-Qaeda attack on America.  It was a devastating and tearful day all around the United States.  Many Americans were watching their televisions all day and some had a bird’s eye view of this tragic event.  Now we are asking the question, “Where were you on September 11, 2001”?  Up next you will hear the answer from people of all ages.  Hear what they remember about that day.

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Katie:  Welcome back to CBS News.  Today is the 10^th anniversary of September 11^th, a time to remember.  I am sitting with Kristyn Arlian who is 17 years old.  Kristyn, where were you when Al-Qaeda attacked America?

Kristyn:  I was an eight year old, second grade student at Big Timber Grade School. I found out about the planes hitting the Twin Towers right before school.  I remember watching the television while walking out the door of my home.  I was young and did not understand very much at the time.  When I arrived at school I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance and having a moment of silence in front of the school.  My teachers talked about what was happening, but I only really knew that people died.  When I arrived home from school I sat down and watched it all over again.  The videos, images, and pictures still impact my memory today.   As a second grader I did not understand what terrorists were, all I knew was that they we bad guys and hurt many people. I had so many questions that ran through my head, but I never understood why they did this to innocent people.  As I get older I am learning more about the events of the day and I understand better the impact this has had on the United States.  I would like to thank you for having me and letting me share my story with you.

Katie:  Thank you for coming.  Up next we will have Beth share her memories of that day.  Beth was twenty when the United States was attacked.  We will also share more videos and pictures of the attack.  We will be right back.

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The Life of Desdemona

I am madly in love with a young gentleman. Just seeing him brings butterflies to my stomach and a smile to my face. He has a beautiful heart and cares deeply about everything in life. People might frown upon our love because of our races, but if you spend time around us it is evident that we love each other greatly. The man I have been secretly talking about is Othello. He is a Moorish general in the Venetian army.

            I should also tell you about Roderigo, a man that is madly in love with me. I, on the other hand, have never been interested in him. He despises the fact that Othello and I have married because he wanted my hand. I have shown no interest in his flirtation strategies, but he of course never quits. Iago, who is a friend to Othello and Roderigo, seems like a slimy fellow.  I do not trust him, but Othello tells me not to worry because he is a noble and trustworthy person.

            Othello and I have been hiding a secret from every one especially my father, Barbantio. I have not found the right time to tell my father that Othello and I eloped. We had kept this a secret until my father was awakened with the news. It happened in the middle of the night, after I had snuck out to visit my husband.  Roderigo and Iago awakened my father to tell him the news. He did not believe these crazy men, and sent a maid to fetch me.  I was not in my room. My father sent everyone out to look for me and finally I was brought back to the palace with my husband.  My father thought I had been corrupted by spells and medicines and would not believe that I was truly in love. After Othello talked to my father and told him the story of how our love came about, my father still did not except the fact that I was in love.  I finally told my father that I was in love with Othello and that my duty was now towards him like my mother’s duty was towards my father.