FOCUS ON YOUTH : Teen Topics
Q: How did you spend your time during the two-month winter break from school? And what do you think of the year-round school schedule?
The Los Angeles Unified School District has moved to a year-round calendar, which resulted in a longer vacation during December and January for many students. A team of reporters from L.A. Youth newspaper informally polled students in some area schools.
Brenda Garcia, 14, Bell Gardens High: I spent the winter break in Mexico visiting my family and having fun there. I think year-round school is better. You get more credits taking summer school and taking other classes during the breaks in order to play sports and graduate early.
Leslie Rosales, 17, University High: I played basketball for the Hollywood Boys and Girls Club basketball league and visited relatives in Northern California. I like the year-round schedule because of the division of vacation. I also like the traditional schedule because of the long summer.
Xu Lin Liu, 18, Marshall High: I watched TV and went to the video arcade during the break. I like year-round school, going to school for 20 weeks with one month off. That way school is not so boring.
Jaye Black, 16, Washington High: I visited relatives in Rialto, and I went to the movies, parties, etc. I also spent time with friends. I like year-round vs. traditional schedules because it is divided into two vacations. That seems to make the time go by faster.
Cancion Soto, 17, Franklin High: I worked part time (at a toy and book store) and I went out with my friends a lot. I also relaxed, because I really felt like I needed that long winter break after our summer break was cut so short. I liked having a long winter break, but it was kind of a pain, because I had to come in for AP (advanced placement) classes.
Erica Ramirez, 16, Franklin High: I visited relatives, “vegged out” for a few weeks. It sucks! It screws up the athletes and your brain rots from being away from school too long.
Henry Lam, 18, Downtown Business Magnet: I slept and watched TV and went to the gym to work out. I also taught a class at the YMCA and was a volunteer youth instructor for teen fitness class. Year-round school is stupid and dumb. I got more sleep, but it’s a dumb system. But I got to be with my girlfriend and my friends.
Miguel Smith, 17, Downtown Business Magnet: I worked at an investment counseling firm . . . as a data entry processor helping a broker. I really appreciated the new schedule. It doesn’t allow me to burn out because of the two major breaks.
Arnina Luna, 13, Thomas Starr King Jr. High: I did nothing. I just stayed home and watched TV and took care of my little nephew. Sometimes we went out to movies and restaurants. Year-round is OK. It’s not as boring as the long semesters we had.
Nora Felix, 17, Downtown Business Magnet: I stayed at home, cleaned the house, watched TV. It got really boring so I got a job at Lorena Pharmacy. I worked fulltime there for about a month. I could have gone to Mexico, but I didn’t. I don’t like it because in those two months I forget everything.
Isabel Bonilla, 16, Wilson High: During the break . . . three times a week I would review the work in all my classes. Then during the weekends I would go out with my friends and have a good time. In a way it seems good, but I liked it the other way.
Roxana Ortiz, 17, Wilson High: I worked, partied, went out, took trips. I like it and I hate it. I like it because we get two long vacations and I hate it because when we come back for the second semester we forget everything from the first semester.
Frederick Robinson, 13, El Sereno Jr. High: I went to Audubon Jr. High to take two classes. I also spent time with my mother and grandmother. I hate it because I can’t have a long summer vacation and this does not allow me to go back to Arkansas and visit family.
Nicole Franklin, 18, North Hollywood High: I spent vacation at home first then I went to visit my sister in a different city. It was a dramatic change for me. I liked it because school seemed shorter but I don’t like it because Easter vacation is only two days and graduation is at the end of June.
Jennifer Garza, 16, Wilson High: I spent my vacation reading, watching talk shows, seeing my family, hanging out with my boyfriend, playing tennis, and I’ve read more books during that last vacation than on any other vacation. I think year-round is great because you get two vacations which are long enough to relax you but not so long that you forget everything you learned.
Beatrice Mora, 17, Jefferson High: I went to parties and watched TV. I went out to the library and I took a class on Saturdays. It’s not that bad but it does affect me because now I can’t take vacations for summer.
