Being a volunteer is not very hard to do, all you need is time, an organization to volunteer at and the willingness to work.

Committing to volunteering will help you meet new people, get new experiences, plus  boost your social skills.

Many students here at Gahr volunteer their time. They feel volunteering makes a person feel fulfilled and satisfied.

Key Club member Zaneta Agu (12) has not missed one volunteer event except for one due to basketball.

She likes to  help Key Club improve the community. She thinks many people should volunteer because it makes you feel accomplished.

“When you see people’s reaction you get inspired to help out more in your community, and Key Club helped me to open up to people,” Agu said.

Volunteer work comes in many forms.

Some examples are providing your time at dog shelters, churches  and various  organizations that clean the beach or help serve needy people food.

Helping others can impact you positively.

When you start to apply for colleges, a major factor is your extra curricular activities.

“There’s always a part where [the schools] ask what volunteer jobs you have done, in your college application. They want to see how much work you can do while juggling your school and the work you  have to improve yourself,” Nicole Bear, College Career Center Specialist said.

Colleges request that applicants have experienced volunteer work. Colleges give preference to students who can handle school and extra curricular activites.

If  interested in volunteering, go online and search volunteer opportunities in Cerritos, Artesia, Long Beach or anywhere you want to volunteer.

There are many ways to help, but it is up to you to decide to volunteer.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return to fill their respective roles as Sherlock Holmes and his faithful sidekick Watson. Replacing Rachel McAdams as the female lead is Noomi Rapace, playing a gypsy named Sim. She aids Holmes and Watson in their adventure in stopping the new villain, Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris.

Alongside the returning actors is director Guy Ritchie, whose visionary eye expertly stages the action scenes and creates a unique atmosphere that is present throughout the entire movie. His direction is what sets this series apart.

The first Sherlock Holmes created a unique style for itself with its impressive slow motion action sequences. They were carefully placed throughout the movie to keep their impact and not seem overused.

The sequel uses this slow motion technique more frequently and while it is still pleasant to look at, its visual impact is lessened by its frequent use. Even still, anyone who enjoyed the first film’s action scenes will feel right at home here.

One of the film’s strengths is with its new villain Moriarty. Moriarty is a much stronger villain than the previous one, with Harris doing a great job balancing Moriarty’s true genius with his evil side.

The film’s first thirty minutes are a muddled mess. The action feels unnecessary, the humor is too silly and broad and the plot set up is sloppy.

After this however, the film kicks into high gear with a very satisfying last two thirds that more than make up for the unimpressive first. The action feels like it has a purpose, the jokes get funnier and the plot gets much more interesting.

Also the final confrontation between Moriarty and Holmes is unique and something not seen in most high budget action films.

The main issue with this sequel however is that it feels more like an action adventure film than a mystery. The first Sherlock Holmes had more of a mystery plot. In this film Holmes and Watson both know that Moriarty is the villain and what he is up to fairly early on in the plot and the rest of it is them just trying to find him.

Sherlock Holmes is a detective first and foremost. He is given little time to investigate other than in the beginning and very end of the movie.

In addition to the weak beginning, the film stumbles in spots since the comedic banter between Holmes and Watson is not as fresh as it once was. However this issue is addressed with the addition of a new comic relief character.

Also the plot is not as interesting and Noomi Rapace is mostly wasted in her role.

Even with these problems there are too many other unique aspects to this interpretation of the famous detective to ignore. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows mostly lives up to the original and gets four dastardly plots out of five.

We take so much from life that we do not stop and think to give back.

Community service is one of the best things that teenagers can do nowadays.

It looks good for your college resume, plus you get to help out the community and feel good about yourself. Sometimes, the events can be really fun!

For me, community service has built and helped my character to grow.

It helped me build connections with different people and it made me feel like I belonged somewhere.

For the guys out there that think they are so tough, trust me, community service really breaks down your barriers and I have cried quite a few times already.

It does not matter if you know anyone you work with while doing community service.

Everyone is family. We are all humans, and if you are able and healthy, then you can help and make a difference.

There is nothing more disappointing to me than a couple of teenagers lying on their bed and saying that they are bored.

Ask yourself this: If you are born on this planet and not making any impact whatsoever, then why are you here at all?

I know community service might seem “lame” to you at first, but all these little steps are worth it in the end.

Each little step makes up  one huge step in improvement.

Community service has definitely changed who I am as a person and I guarantee that it will do the same for you.

Just have a little compassion in your heart, and the world will become a much better place eventually.

Multimedia Sculpture Teacher Kerry Grover chose Enya Hernandez (10) as this month’s artist.

“I feel good that someone noticed that I have a great talent,” Hernandez said.

One may perceive art as a beautiful painting or a complex picture.

Others may feel or look at it differently, but to some people it is a way of expressing themselves.

To Enya it is getting her feelings out on paper.

“I’m very close to doing self portraits, oil and canvas,” said Hernandez

Her major skills are working with fine arts. They get to work with different types of art. Some of the other things Enya has worked with are photography, sculpture, and pastels.

“Being successful and maintaining other school subjects and juggling what you love to do may not be easy,” Hernandez said. “I have been really into art since I was four.  My family inspires me because they really support me, [which] makes me keep going.”

Enya was chosen for two art projects. One of which is a still life project which she named “My Family is My Life”.

The other is an Alpha Hypno project which she decided to use letters for.

With her family by her side and her passion for art, she plans to continue art and go to Otis in downtown Los Angeles for college.

Someone’s alter ego is their alternate personality. For example, an introvert’s alter ego would be an extrovert.

Not only are the ATA students working on this project for a good grade, but they are also figuring out what kind of person they actually could be.

Richelle Pearson (11) describes the personality of her alter ego.

“Well, unlike my actual self, my alter ego isn’t even human,” Pearson said. “My alter ego is also a very disciplined person who works and trains body and mind daily.”

Pearson also gives tips on how to ace the project. She stresses the importance of originality.

“You need to be able to take your time and pay attention to the details in value and lines,” Pearson said. “The goal is to make it different from the normal you, but still recognizable as you.”

Art teacher Rachel Geiger mentions who came up with the idea of the alter ego self-portrait.

“The project is inspired by the work of two important female artists, Cindy Sherman and Annie Liebovitz,” Geiger said.

Both Sherman and Liebovitz are famous American photographers.

Juniors from the ATA program feel enthusiastic about the project because it helps them think about how their alter egos could affect them in the future.

Christopher Som (11) encourages students who are not in ATA to do the project just for fun.  It would give them a chance to see what they could come up with.

“I would say anyone can do it,” Som said. “Just make up someone they want to be or any type of stereotype or hero, and take a picture in that outfit and draw it.”

The alter ego self-portrait is one of the most sensational ATA projects of the year.

However, there will be more pieces of artwork showcased by the ATA students coming soon in the year 2012.

There was even a little bit of stand-up comedy from our hosts Jeremias Corona (12) and Tye Harbert (12).

The notable singers that made it into finals include Jason Closas (10), who won the singing category, Alexandra Davalos (11), the runner-up, and Chelsea Chavarria (11).

The most astounding dancers were Jessica Bennett (11), the winner of the dance category, and Dance Club, the runners-up. Great bands included Somewhere on the Front Page and the winners of the band category, Streetlights.

The runner-up of the night for acting was Chelsea Alexander (12) and Brandon Unzueta (10) was the winner.

The miscellaneous winners were GAS (Gloves and Shuffling) Club for their outstanding light show along with a little shuffling, and the runner-up Daniel Peraza (9) for his rapping skills.

Many of the competitors had fun, regardless of win or loss.

“It was the best day of my life. I had so much fun and can’t wait for next year’s show,” Rizza Braga (11) said.

Despite some technical issues with sound and lighting, the individuals that participated in the show were definitely a sight to see and a sound to be heard.

Later, Drama Club will be selling a DVD of the talent show for $20 for those who missed this show that will last  for years to come.

“This is the third year that Gahr is part of theYouth Summit. It is a wide plan providing unity and leadership conferences to students,” Manuel Cruz, Dean of Students, said.

Schools that participated were Whitney High School, Artesia High School, Cerritos High School, Tracy High School, Carmenita Middle School, Fedde Middle School, Haskell Middle School, Ross Middle School and Tetzlaff Middle School.

Students who attended Youth Summit learned through many activities how to spread school unity within their own campuses.

“I thought Youth Summit was real good and educational. It gave me an insight on people’s feelings and emotions,” Susana Iturbe (12) said.

Activities consisted of balloon ice breakers, presentations, relay races, and skits about serious problems occurring at school such as bullying, drugs and alcohol abuse.

Cruz, Miguel Canales and the Gahr students who participated in the summit, decided to  take the Youth Summit a bit further and bring the program home onto the campus of Gahr.

“This program promotes school unity through individual interaction which means a more united campus regardless of ethnic diversity,” Cruz said.

This new organization on the Gahr campus is called Bridge Builders.

The organization’s mission is to spread peace, love and unity to our extremely diverse student body.

“Bridge Builders is unity and bringing people together,” Kelsey Sousa (12) said.

To start off and get recognized by the staff and students, Bridge Builders had a lunch social on top of the rally platform yesterday.

It was just a casual social gathering where students got to know each other a little bit better. They talked about many subjects, played games and listened to music.

Hopefully, after having more of these lunch socials, Bridge Builders will move on to discuss more important topics and go into deeper conversations with the students. This should bring student unity to our campus.

“I want to see the Gahr campus to look like a kindergarten classroom where fun and games unite the school,” Cruz said.

The picnic was held on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 on top of the rally platform.

If you are interested in school unity and want to learn more about the Bridge Builder’s program, do not hesitate to go out and bring your lunch with you to the next social!

This includes poles, tops, vehicles and even dangerous objects such as nails!

“Planking is by far the funkiest thing America has ever come up with and I think it can be a great way to spend an evening with some friends,” Henry Alona (12) said.

Although this might seem crazy, people enjoy doing this. Many students at Gahr agree with me.

“I think, as awkward as it is, I’m sure people can have a good time with it,” Monica Masoud (11) said.

I think planking can definitely be an enjoyable activty. However, it can also be dangerous, so I would rather do something else.

Thanksgiving can have many different meanings to students. It can be about family, friends, or even just celebrating what a great life you have.

I, for one, feel most thankful for my family. They are always there for me no matter what.

If I am ever having a bad day, I feel as if I can always turn to my mom. She is one of those people who always knows what to say and you feel like you can pour your heart out to her.

Secondly, I am grateful for the life I am able to live. We see homeless people on the streets with nowhere to go.

Yet some still complain about their lives and how they do not have the latest trend.

I sometimes feel that Thanksgiving should be more than a yearly holiday.

I think we should have a day out of every month where we jut stop and smile about our lives.

With all the stresses of high school we can sometimes forget to appreciate the time we are given on Earth.

In the beginning of the year, freshmen have to get used to their new environment and peers, because some of their classes have all sorts of people from every grade level.

During the first couple days, even weeks of school, new students might have felt scared, nervous, excited, and happy. It has been a while now since school started, so people are starting to settle down in their classes.

Teachers want their students to be successful in school. They take the time to offer help for those students who need help, those who come into class on their own free time for tutoring.

Aside from school work, homework, and tests, Gahr offers students the chance to join and get involved in many activities, whether it be clubs or sports.

I used to live in Long Beach and we had to move. I’m happy that I ended up going to Gahr. I would not have meet the people that I hang out with now.

Overall, I am enjoying my time at Gahr and I hope that the rest of my school year is just as fun. I’m looking forward to the rest of my years at Gahr.