The generation of people born after 1982 has many titles: the Millennials, the Document generation, and most recently, the Look at Me generation.  This phrase is a response to this generation’s use of the Internet and technology to express their emotions and the desire for attention that inevitably comes with this mode of expression.

According to a March 2008 Newsweek article, many sociologists have determined that the age of technology has led to the mindset that every conversation and every experience is worth a post to YouTube or a “tweet” on Twitter.  The psychological impact of this development is as yet unknown.

Local teen psychologist Lisa Horowitz supports the idea that technology has affected the Look at Me generation’s relationships and general psyche.

“[Attention seeking]…does seem part of the psychology,” Horowitz said. “Another important piece is the changing boundaries between [what is] personal and [what is] public.”
Horowitz says that the shroud of an Internet presence can have deeper psychological implications.

“The type of contact provided on Facebook [and other sites] can provide the illusion of self importance, but may also be driven by frustration with the inadequacy of the rewards it provides and a need for more input to sustain an illusion of connection,” Horowitz said.

The ’Look at Me’ Generation Brings Attention Home 

CHS students are no exception to the Look at Me generation.

Junior Courtney Jacoby updates her Facebook status about once or twice a day, and says she does it to keep in contact with her friends.

“I usually want my friends to see my status, especially if it’s a joke that they are involved in,” Jacoby said.  “I update it [with] inside jokes.”

Sophomore Nayomi Hettiarachchi posts pictures and updates her status on Facebook as an easier means of sharing things with her friends.

“I have put up [pictures] in the thousands,” Hettiarachchi said.  “It’s just an online album and an easier way to get my friends to see a picture than to email them. There’s no reason you post a status…it [just] makes me more connected with my friends, so I know what they are doing and they know what I am doing.”

Hettiarachchi does not believe that she seeks attention by posting pictures and updating her status.

“I would never put up pictures to get attention,” Hettiarachchi said.  “I know people that take pictures at parties over and over just to get attention, and I could really care less.

Technology builds up communication, tears down personal barriers

Technology has also led to an increase in what people are willing to share with others. 

According to Horowitz, this can be detrimental.

“People are willing to share personal details about their lives publicly in a way they have not before, which makes that information less private,” Horowitz said.
Jacoby, who does not reveal everything about her on Facebook, does believe that her page instead reflects her personality.

“I don’t post my whole personal life on Facebook,” Jacoby said. “If I don’t think it’s anyone’s business, then obviously I won’t put it up on Facebook.  But my personality definitely is partially revealed through my Facebook.”

Other media outlets provide an even more intense means of delving into the personal lives of others.  Formspring is a common outlet among CHS students.

A student can make a Formspring simply by making an account online and advertising his or her Formspring through Facebook by making a link to the Formspring page.  Other students then ask anonymous questions, and if the student chooses to answer the question, both the question and the answer are posted to the public on the website.

Hettiarachchi has a Formspring, but limits which questions she will answer directly.  Most of the posts on her site are compliments, but sometimes they dig deeper.

“Most of them aren’t even questions,” Hettiarachchi said. “Most of them are flattering. The majority of the [actual questions] I get are about my sexual life. I guess some people are nosy.”
Formspring does not require that each question asked is posted to the public. Despite this, many students post each question, even if it makes them uncomfortable.

“I post all of them,” Hettiarachchi said.  “I feel like [people will] know whether or not I [post them.]  I’m always nice about it.”

Hettiarachchi also uses Formspring as a way to clear the air.

“I think it shows that I’m an honest person,” Hettiarachchi said.  “If [the person asking a question] heard a rumor and cannot form judgments based on what they heard, they can hear the truth from me.”

Relationships harmed

According to Horowitz, relationships and online confrontations can stunt social growth.

“I do think the Internet has had a profound impact on relationships, along with text messaging and IM’ing and all of the other new forms of communication,” Horowitz said.  “People have much more information available and there is more pressure to maintain awareness of complex issues and social dynamics.  Online relationships tend to be more immediate but also more superficial and lack the real intimacy of in-person contact.”

Junior Justin Settlage also feels that technology has hindered modern relationships.

“I think it creates a barrier between two people because they can’t talk in real life,” Settlage said.  “If it’s overdone, the relationship [becomes] just computer to computer, and it isn’t human to human anymore.  It’s easier to talk online, but it’s not the same connection if you were to talk in real life.”

Settlage has had personal experiences that have brought him to this conclusion.

“I have many family members who I haven’t seen in three or four years, and we only talk online,” Settlage said.  “When I finally see them, it’s a different feeling.”

Twitter is yet another common method of online expression and connection.

“I first got a Twitter around Thanksgiving time,” sophomore Naomi Gutkind said.  “I go through phases.  Sometimes I’ll tweet 10 times a day, and then sometimes I can go days without tweeting.  It all depends on my mood or how busy I am.  I tend to tweet more on the weekends too.”

Despite the amount of tweets Gutkind posts, she says that she does not post for attention.

“For me it’s not really about gaining attention; it’s more about just posting my thoughts and having other people see them if they choose,” Gutkind said. 

When asked whether she thinks Twitter and Facebook have led to the Look at Me generation stereotype, Gutkind says there is a clear difference between those who seek attention incessantly, and those who like to express themselves.

“People want to be noticed, and for some reason it’s all about the followers and subscribers [on YouTube] they have, but for me it’s definitely not like that,” Gutkind said.  “Twitter doesn’t run my life; it’s a fun thing to do sometimes.”

Unexpected Timing and Location:

Bryce Shemer and Nikki Certner:“We had the WJ baseball game and I wrote on a baseball a little inside joke between me and Nikki and ‘Will you go to prom with me?’ After the game was over, I shook hands with the other team, our entire team ran to right field and then I tossed her the baseball but I happened to overshoot the throw so she had to go run and get it. After, we were running back into the dugout, she threw the ball back with ‘Yes’ on it. She kept the baseball.” –Bryce Shemer.

Sweet ‘N’ Simple

Eric Peters and Sammi Greenwald: “I came into first period and an aide from guidance came in with a rose and a card and the card just said ‘will.’ Then, [in] second period the same thing happened but this time the card said ‘you.’ That kept happening until seventh period and it spelled out, ‘Will you go to prom with Peters.’ I texted him back and said yes.” – Sammi Greenwald

Funniest, Most Random Way to Ask  Your Girlfriend

Jake Dockser and Olivia Kleinman: “I found this guy online that was a singing telegram and his name was Stan the Gorilla man. Olivia was in class doing an AP practice test and the gorilla [slammed] open the door and [walked] in and some girl jumped and thought he was real. Then he sang ‘Zippity Do Da’ and said ‘Olivia, I am here for you.’ And he said ‘Jake would go bananas if you go to prom with him.’ Then he gave her [a lot of] balloons and left. I only did it because she said I could never embarrass her asking her to prom, so that was a challenge and I had to do something good. Her face was really red but she said ‘yes.’” –Jake Dockser

Most Well-Thought Out

Kenneth Saunders and Jourdi Tobias: “I worked with [Jourdi’s friend] Meenu on this. We went to Swains Lock and I built a campfire. Then Meenu went to Jourdi’s house and gave her a GPS programmed to Swains Lock and just told her to follow it. When Jourdi got there we had s’mores and noodles because she likes Noodles & Co. While we ate, Meenu decorated her car with the word ‘Prom’ all over and when Jourdi got back to her car there was a “Check yes or no box” also written on the car and she responded like that.” –Kenneth Saunders

Most Destined to Go to Prom Together

John Klein and Pamela Gorgei: “I’ve been in Chinese class with Pam since first grade, so I made a sign in Chinese that said, ‘Pam will you go to prom with me?’ and ordered Chinese food for lunch. I got one of her friends to take her up to Mrs. Goodwin’s room where everything was set up and a big group of our friends was waiting there and I was holding that sign. I asked her and we all had a Chinese food lunch.” –John Klein

‘20s The Lost Generation: The Post WWI Era was characterized by a passion for rebellion and decadence. Prohibition laws made the consumption of alcohol a fun activity for young adults, and jazz music from the trumpets of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong flourished. Women became less constrained by social limitations and the image of the “flapper” was created. The decade was about forgetting the sorrows of the Great War.

‘30s The Depression Generation: The Great Depression hit the United States and stayed until the United States entered WWII. Unemployment rates reached almost 25 percent. Most people during this time were more concerned with how they were going to feed their families than their identity as a generation.

‘40s The World War II Generation: The United States was deeply entrenched in WWII during this decade and so was concerned with patriotism and the war effort. The war did cause racial tension and anti-immigrant hysteria, but the most important characteristic of this decade was patriotism.

‘50s The Baby Boom Generation: The Age of Conformity. After WWII, the United States had plenty of money to spare and had its longest period of economic prosperity in history. Teens found themselves amidst a new consumer culture of television, clothing, appliances and much more. The development of rock ‘n’ roll with its icon Elvis Presley was the furthest the majority of the population strayed from the straight-and-narrow. This was time of nuclear families, peace, and traditional social roles.

‘60s and ‘70s The Counterculture Generation: The world of the ‘60s and ‘70s was characterized by social revolution. The roles of women changed and African Americans began to be fully integrated into American society. The younger generation responded to white bread society with drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll. Birth control changed the role of women in society, drugs (especially marijuana and LSD) revolutionized social dynamics, and rock expressed the tensions of the time. Students across the nation, sometimes violently, protested against the conflict in Vietnam. By the end of the ‘70s, Americans wanted normalcy again and would see the age of disco.

‘80s The Escapism Generation: After the Watergate scandal, many Americans distrusted Washington and sought outsiders to run the government. Ford, Carter and Reagan all had to deal with insane inflation, energy crisis and disheartened Americans. The technological revolution began with the Personal Computer and the World Wide Web. Hip-hop music became popular as it integrated African American culture into pop music. Crack cocaine came onto the scene as the people of the ‘80s sought escapism just as they had in the ‘20s and ‘50s.

‘90s The Modern Generation: The ‘90s saw a revolution in the field of science: the Human Genome project flourished, the computer and the Internet became household norms, the mobile phone developed, and scientists cloned their first animal. Consumer culture and escapism still remained into the ‘90s.

New Millennium The Me Generation: LCD screens, the iPod, the iPad, Tivo, Wii, Skype, YouTube, eBay, Netflix and everything else. This is the digital age, a time when some people are more concerned with who just wrote on their Facebook page than how much the DOW just sank. This is the age of blogging and the public forum: places where people can express themselves freely and easily.

Seven Locks

Located off Seven Locks road near Seven Locks Elementary, this pool displays quality friendly neighborhood gatherings, along with its large well and swimming pool. However, it is often plagued by thunderous, rowdy infants.
“The people are awesome,” lifeguard sophomore Joe Byrne said. “[But] there’s only one diving board so you have to wait in line a lot.”

Regency Estates

Located down the road from CHS on Gainsborough, Regency is equipped with a ping pong table, a good high dive and steady diving boards, a basketball court, large kid slides, and many member activities such as community meals. Apart from its strict lifeguarding and often swarming crowd, Regency is a great choice.

“They always do games in the pool,” five-year pool member sophomore Alex Dourian said. “It has sick diving boards and the basketball court and ping pong are really fun.”

Country Glen

This pool, located on Glen Road, is one of the most popular pools in the county. Due to its strong swim and dive team, along with its good location, its quality diving boards and deep well, Country Glen is often packed with members. Country Glen is a family-friendly pool and it has many movie nights and parties for the holidays.
“I go to the pool literally every day in the summer, I basically live there,” nine-year pool member sophomore Chris Wysocki said.

Eldwick

Located off Bells Mill Road near Cabin John Middle School, this pool offers a basketball court with lights and relaxed lifeguards. One large critique of the pool is that it is fairly small, and therefore gets packed easily.
“The pool is kind of small,” five-year-pool member senior Jorge Pacheco said. “[When] it’s really hot out tons of people come.”

Tally-Ho

Located off Bells Mill Road near Cabin John Middle School, this pool offers a basketball court with lights and relaxed lifeguards. One large critique of the pool is that it is fairly small, and therefore gets packed easily.
“The pool is kind of small,” five-year-pool member senior Jorge Pacheco said. “[When] it’s really hot out tons of people come.”

Co-owners Ginny Feldman and Didi Sacks, both longtime educators, recently designed a supportive educational program called OPTIONS: Alternatives to College for the High School Student. The program is geared towards helping high school students explore different paths for their future.

“We provide assistance and guidance to students and parents who are interested in exploring alternatives to the college experience,” Feldman said. “Our clientele includes students who choose not to go directly into college and want to take a year to do something else, or students who have attended college and wish to leave a campus setting for good, as well as students who have graduated from college and need a career direction and plan.”

According to Feldman and Sacks, some students need more time to mature socially and emotionally, while others may feel more comfortable learning in a more hands-on environment that they cannot find in a college setting.

“Certainly many young adults are equipped with the skills and desire to choose a college or university,” Feldman said. “However, sometimes there are those who need an alternative path.

These students and their parents need to understand that choosing an alternative path after high school is okay.”

Senior Caroline Chevat realizes that in today’s society it is important to have higher education in order to find a decent job, but she feels that not everyone needs to follow the same path when it comes to post-high school education.

“Some people want to explore and figure out what they want to do before they commit to college because they don’t know what they want to do with the rest of their lives,” Chevat said.

The reasons for why young adults may want to find an alternative to college vary, and so do the options for what exactly these students choose to do instead.

“The choices are [plentiful],” Feldman said. “[Students can do] internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, certification programs, vocational trade schools or gap year programs.”
According to Feldman and Sacks, each student is different and needs to find his or her own personalized pathway to ensure a successful future as an independent adult.

“We also assist these young adults in resumé development, application completion, interview prep, etc.,”Feldman said.

According to the OPTIONS mission statement, students today face an increasingly demanding and competitive work force. Feldman and Sacks feel that it is their responsibility to help these young adults find the opportunities that may give them time to mature and develop enough to be successful and ultimately triumph in life.

In simple terms, Sporcle.com is a trivia quiz website. The site calls its quizzes “mentally stimulating diversions.” Students can make the hours they spend procrastinating seem like minutes testing themselves on anything from the Greek alphabet to Harry Potter to the capitals of Europe.

“[Sporcle.com] has definitely improved my education,” sophomore Maggie Pelta-Pauls said. “Now because of [Sporcle], I know all of the Disney villains.” 

Sporcle.com is a handy procrastion tool passed down through the siblings of CHS students. According to sophomore Rachel Scola, she got hooked on Sporcle when her brother showed it to her one day when she was bored.

“The challenge [of the quizzes] is what makes it fun,” Scola said. “I challenge myself to try and get [them] done.”   

Going on Sporcle.com can be the perfect thing for CHS students when they need to take a break from slaving over homework.

“I go on Sporcle when I don’t want to do my homework, have nothing to do or am bored,” sophomore Chris Wysocki said.

The knowledge one can get from Sporcle.com may seem worthless in a conventional sense; however, some CHS students are planning to use the facts they learn for bigger things.
“I have useless knowledge now after going on [Sporcle],” junior Jon Feldman said. “Maybe the stuff I learn will help me if I go on Jeopardy.”

Sporcle.com makes learning fun. The quizzes are all timed, so they keep a student’s mind stimulated.

“The quizzes are challenging and fun at the same time,” junior Mariah Healy said.
A person could choose to attempt over 4,000 quizzes, but beware: students have been known to lose track of time while playing on the site. Despite this, some people claim that the sweet feeling of victory makes the loss of time worthwhile.

“My friend sent me the link to Sporcle.com and I spent three hours on it with my brother’s friend when I was supposed to be studying for my U.S. History exam,” Pelta-Pauls said. “The lack of studying time was definitely worth it.”

A recent survey of 100 CHS students found that 44 percent of students always procrastinate on projects, essays, homework and other schoolwork. Thirty-five percent often procrastinate, 15 percent sometimes do, and six percent never do. Clearly, procrastinating at CHS is an issue.

“I’ve pulled an all-nighter working on an English essay,” senior Camie Geenen said.

But students aren’t the only ones at CHS who are procrastinating. It’s not uncommon for teachers to put off grading papers and entering their grades onto Edline.

“I’ll find any household chore to do instead of grading papers [on the weekend],” Spanish teacher Gayle Jones said.

Some students who procrastinate don’t get their work done at all. When that happens, teachers are accustomed to hearing a wide range of excuses for why students don’t have their work.

Technology has played a major role in the art of excuse-o-rama; “My dog ate my homework” has been replaced by more relevant excuses such as “My Internet was down,” or “My computer broke.” Then there are the ever popular “My printer ran out of ink” and “My printer broke.”

“The printer is a huge [excuse],” English teacher Shelley Perrett said. “There’s a Potomac printer epidemic.”

Some students with extracurricular activities like sports, performing arts or religious obligations, however, don’t have trouble getting work done in a timely manner because they do not have enough time in the day to procrastinate.

“When I was practicing for my Bar Mitzvah it got me to not procrastinate on my homework,” freshman Noah Bergman said.

CHS teachers have advice for all delayers. Jones recommends starting assignments the day they are given out and making good use of time provided by the teachers in class. English teacher Barbara Levitt advises sharing your work with your teacher and Perrett advocates getting a small piece done every day.

Then there are those lucky few who work best when the clock is ticking and the looming deadlines are getting closer and closer. For those people, procrastination is just the right strategy.

If the Blue Devils’ opponent, the Butler Bulldogs, had made that final shot, they would have had new t-shirts and hats that labeled their school as the 2010 National Champion.  No, these commemorative articles of clothing are not made by lightning-speed laser printing technology; instead, both teams’ apparel were made prior to game time.

The NCAA as well as the NBA and NFL all use this technique for merchandise before big games.

According to Vandana Balachandar, who is the NBA’s senior manager of apparel and accessory licensing, Adidas provides 720 hats and tees for their league’s finals, depending on the series’ standing, all of which are kept private until the final buzzer.  The clothes are then distributed to a variety of people including players, team staff and front office executives.

“Prior to the end of the game, we store the merchandise in large duffel bags in a secure, locked room behind the scenes,” Balachandar said.

But while the winning team celebrates in their clothing, what happens to the 720 hats and tees made for the losing team of the NBA Finals?

Although the losing teams’ articles of clothing are printed, they are never sold to the public; instead, they are donated.

“We donate the losing [team’s] merchandise through NBA Cares,” Balachandar said.  “Generally, we send the merchandise internationally during our Basketball Without Borders programs.”

The NCAA has a similar process.

“We partner with World Vision on the donation of the items so it typically depends on their area of designation,” said David Clendenin, the NCAA’s assistant director of corporate licensing.  “For example, we are in the process of donating some of this year’s items and we were told that their destination would more than likely be Central or Latin America.”

Similarly, the NBA works with their international organization through which they donate the apparel.

According to Balachandar, giving back to the global community is a significant part of the NBA’s outreach program, and this is a way to ensure that they will have made the most of the unused clothing.

“By donating the losing [team’s] merchandise, we know that the merchandise will be [given] to those who are less fortunate than us,” Balachandar said.

However, according to Balachandar, it is impossible for anyone to obtain or purchase these items, which are known as “hot market products,” in stores or online because the leagues do not want false merchandise in the marketplace.

According to Chris Inouye, the retail division manager of Aramark Sports and Entertainment for Reliant Stadium in Houston, in the NFL, the stadium’s merchandiser will typically purchase about 1,200 of each hat and 2,400 of each shirt so that fans can buy them at the end of the end of the game.

“Retailers throughout the nation also have the opportunity to buy the championship shirt for one or both teams in advance as well,” Inouye said.  “While this is not very common, it does happen in the markets for the teams who are participating. [For instance,] if the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, Dick’s and Modell’s would likely buy a small quantity so if they won they could begin selling them in their stores immediately.”

Inouye does acknowledge, however, that retailers put themselves at a risk as they do this. The NFL’s merchandiser, Reebok, gives financial incentives to stores in order to ensure that the losing team product is not sold to the public.  According to Inouye, this also makes it easier for the purchaser to buy the product for both teams because they know they will not lose as much money.

“It is risky to pre-purchase hats and shirts before the outcome of the game is decided, but it also gives you a competitive advantage over stores who did not pre-purchase,” Inouye said.

Next time the end of a championship game comes around and the players slip on their new gear, though the result may not have been favorable, the losing team’s misfortune at least has some benefits: quality apparel that will go to those in need.

“In the eyes of the law?,” Winkler replied. “Nothing.”

Many students are unaware of what defines vandalism and do not realize that their nightly pranks involving silly house decor are crimes punishable by law.

According to Winkler, vandalism is the malicious destruction of public or private property, regardless of permanent damage.

This can range from extremely violent actions, such as theft and the destruction of property, to a seemingly harmless toilet paper roll and farm fresh eggs tossed at someone’s house.

Consequences of vandalism can consist of anything from mild ones, such as fines or community service, to the more severe, such as incarceration.

“It depends on the circumstance and the value of the damage,” Winkler said. “It scales up. If it’s a misdemeanor it can be community service or restitution of some sort. For a felony, there is a possibility of jail time.”

One particular form of vandalism popular among CHS sports teams is defacing a team member’s house. Whether it involves dressing it in toilet paper or decorating it with forks, it is a common ritual for many.

“It’s a tradition,” junior Alexis Shay said. “Every player on the soccer team has been toilet papered, some more than others, some worse than others depending on the landscape of your house and if you have a dog that won’t shut up. But everyone knows it’s just out of love.”

In addition to toilet papering, vandalism of cars is increasing in popularity. Saran wrapping the car, egging it, and covering it in shaving cream is trendy for the vandals at CHS.

But are these acts harmless or harmful?

“Most of these things are more pranks than serious vandalism because they don’t seem like they are aimed to hurt anyone in particular,” freshman Tori Study said.

Many students believe these acts are not damaging, and so do not realizing the emotional and financial pain they can cause.

“A year ago on Halloween there was an incident where four houses in my neighborhood were spray painted,” Study said. “It was very unsettling. Two people had to repaint their houses, one had to power wash their mailbox, and the street in front of the house is still vandalized.”

The precise difference between serious vandalism and a playful prank is hotly debated.

“Pranks are more friendly and funny,” Shay said. “Vandalism is more like an ‘I don’t like you, I hate you, you suck’ type of thing done out of hatred for another person.”

In some instances, vandalism is fueled by hateful thoughts with the intent to deface and destroy for cruel purposes, which can be classified as a form of bullying.

“A lot of times, with adolescent behavior, these things done with malicious intent are done to get approval with the ‘in-group,’” Psychology teacher Kate McMahon said.

However, while toilet paper sheets may wash away and egg residue may drip off, anger, sadness and embarrassment will not fade.

“A lot of students don’t consider the big picture,” McMahon said. “They don’t understand the negative affect [vandalism] can have on someone.”

Teenage rebellion is nothing new; in the ‘50s listening to rock music was considered a sin and was even labeled “Satan music.” In the ‘60s rebellion was all about the tie-dye and drug use while in the ‘80s no teen was caught dead without big hair. Modern teens may consider tattoos, multiple piercings, shoplifting and underage drinking rebellious. But has rebellion really changed over the years?

“There will always be rebellion,” Software Applications teacher James Collins said. “I remember when I got my ear pierced and my dad said he would never be seen with me in public. I said ‘cool.’ Now, [with children of my own] I’m on the other side of the power struggle.”

Senior Guilherme Cardoso, a “self-proclaimed rebel,” defines himself as someone who does not always follow the rules and tries to break out of the “Potomac mold.”

“Everyone is a little bit rebellious because no one abides to the rules all the time and we’re teenagers,” Cardoso said. “[I am a rebel] just by acting different. I don’t dress like everyone in Potomac and I don’t [shop at places like] Abercrombie.”

Senior Emily Olusanya also considers herself a rebel.

“I would [describe myself as a rebel] because I tend to break the rules and when I should listen, I don’t,” Olusanya said.

According to Olusanya, she believes that in the past, rebellion was seen as a bigger deal when it involved things such as Civil Rights race riots, but now it is defined as going against parental control.

“I went on spring break and got my tongue pierced and a tattoo,” Olusanya said. “My parents don’t know [but] my mom would probably tell me to take it out. [Going against your parents] is fun. After I got my tattoo I felt more [satisfied].”

According to senior Ashley Austin, today’s society promotes rebellious behavior.

“Culture expects kids to be naturally more rebellious, which makes them think it’s OK,” Austin said.

Non-rebel, junior Georges Hermes agrees that society and the media worship rebellion.

“TV shows glorify drug and alcohol use and there are kids who want to do those things,” Hermes said.

Although he admits there is peer pressure at parties, Hermes does not give in to rebellious behavior.

“No, I would not [consider myself a rebel],” Hermes said. “I don’t want to make anything harder than necessary, so I do what I’m told.”

Reformed rebel and AP Psychology teacher Jared Pulliam believes teens are rebellious because they simply want to challenge their surroundings, although this dies down later in life.

“Once people figure out their place in life, they settle into it and stop challenging everything around them,” Pulliam said.

Pulliam, who in high school “knew the principal’s office like the back of [his] hand,” rebelled because he resented his surroundings.

“I was that kid who occasionally showed up to class and when I did I sat in the back and read the newspaper,” Pulliam said. “I was a jerk to my teachers. I hope that I never have to teach a ‘me.’ On top of that I was a repeated receiver of ISS.”

As a former rebel, Pulliam offers advice to current rebellious teens.

“Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself. Trust me. When I think back to why I repeatedly got suspended, how I acted like an idiot in school and how I acted to my parents at home I wish I had just… been happy.” 

Although this is sound advice, many CHS teens are still into the rebellion craze.

“[Rebelling] gives you a high,” Olusanya said. “Who doesn’t want to take a walk on the wild side and get that adrenaline rush?”

Even though the modern rebellion might not be considered rocking out to Elvis Presley, or even Nirvana, the rebellious stage seems to pervade society in its own way every generation.