We are students with good intentions

JESSIE WOMBLE

What is high school? In this very diverse world of ours, you could

get various answers to that question depending on whom and when you

ask it.

In my experience, I have come to see high school at Newport Harbor

as one thing -- a time for active, responsible student behavior. On

the eve of my last semester in high school, I look back and see what

students have done for those around them, and how they continue doing

what they can for their community.

From club meetings to community service projects, students in the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District are making a significant impact

on their surroundings -- a contribution that should not go unnoticed.

However, I dare to ask the question: Does the community truly know

how active and beneficial we are?

The common misconception about teenagers these days is that we are

always up to no good. Granted, the youth today is not perfect. We do

have our fair share of “ruffians,” as my grandmother would put it;

however, we still fall victim to some unfair stereotypes. Take the

Newport-Harbor security guards, for example.

We have three “disciplinary” guards at our school who are supposed

to keep us out of trouble. Although they are sometimes forced to deal

with rebellious teenagers, it can be fairly demeaning when you do so

much for your school community and have to fear detention for

“walking conspicuously.” This year alone, I have been stopped and

interrogated by our security staff more than a dozen times, for

everything from walking to my car to getting a book to putting up

posters for a school dance. My peers are also no stranger to an

apparent mind-set that assumes every student has bad intentions. It’s

a stereotype that often inhibits them from seeing the positive

efforts that many students put forth for their community.

Again, I acknowledge that students aren’t all perfect, but at the

same time, students today donate hours of their time selflessly to

sports, club activities, religious groups, jobs, tutoring programs

and other community service projects that benefit their surroundings

-- I don’t want these efforts to be lost in the stereotypes. What

the older generations sometimes neglect to see are the good things we

do for the community. Our mistakes are often emphasized, while our

achievements sidelined.

I believe the community has been blinded by teenage stereotypes.

So, I hope to be your eyes for the next couple of months and connect

you with the wonderful teenagers of this community. We may be a crazy

lot, but we have some important things to say.

* JESSIE WOMBLE is an 18-year-old senior at Newport Harbor High

School.