Moira C. was recently granted the opportunity to go on a trip where she could permanently change people’s lives for the better; and, in the process, her life was changed as well.

Moira’s mom, a nurse at A.I. Hospital, is a frequent visitor to the people of Haiti. She volunteered with Project Medishare a few months before the devastating earthquake in 2010, and did not hesitate to go back a few week afterward. This past October, she went to Haiti for a third time, but this time she decided to bring Moira along! So, on October 31, 2011, Moira headed to Haiti with her mom, another nurse from the hospital named Sharon,  and an A.I. neurosurgeon, Dr. Campbell. Their mission was to perform neurosurgeries on children with hydrocephalus, meaning “water of the brain.” Moira explained that hydrocephalus is “caused by a blockage between the third and fourth ventricles of the brain so the brain fluid can’t flow and it builds up. Their heads continue to grow and even their skulls expand and fuse to above average size. These kids suffer major developmental problems and usually die before the age of 5 years old.” These children were either orphaned or came from families which would never be able to afford the necessary neurosurgery to cure their condition. Without missions like Project Medishare, these children would never stand a chance to survive.

Haiti was what Moira described as “small, packed, and loud.”  Whereas, from the plane, Haiti appeared beautiful and picturesque, in Haiti itself the poverty and destruction caused from the earthquake was evident. It was shocking to see entire populations of people living in tents and makeshift homes. As Moira put it, “You saw the destroyed cities and homes on the news, but it’s nothing compared to seeing it in person.” Despite such despairing circumstances, Moira was overwhelmed by the joy and optimism she found in the Haitian people. Whether it was a parent greeting their child after surgery or a patient finding reasons to smile, she was met with an abundance joy and gratitude. Thinking back on her trip, Moira said “Even with all the poverty and despair they live in and around they were some of the happiest people I’ve ever met.”

One encounter that has really stayed with Moira from her trip was when she met a baby with hydrocephalus who was abandoned by her parents while getting a checkup. The part that Moira found most touching about the story was when she saw the baby being handed off from a member of Project Medishare to a Haitian woman. The woman was from a nearby orphanage and had already signed the papers to take the baby with her in the hopes that she’d be adopted. Moira explained, “This story stuck with me because although the parents left her because it was a big responsibility to take on these medical issues that they would have to deal with, but I also saw how kind this woman was for taking the baby in so quickly and generously.” This was just one example of the constant compassion Moira observed, even from those who had little to give.

Given her plans to pursue nursing at York College of PA next year, this experience was invaluable to Moira. She was able to observe over 20 brain surgeries, and even scrubbed in on one. Describing the image of the neurosurgeon drilling into the children’s skulls, Moira said it was “absolutely ridiculous and just mind-blowing.” However, she also gained some perspective on the kinds of circumstances people in struggling countries must face. She noted that the hospital in Haiti was definitely not up to the sanitation standards that we expect in the United States. The operating rooms had cracks in the roof and flies buzzing around. It made Moira realize what a difference ismadein your life simply by where you are born.

This was truly a once in a lifetime experience, but Moira has every intention of seeking it again. She said, “I’ll definitely go back someday, whether it be in the near future or a few years down the road.” She hated the idea of leaving to come back to her life of comfort, while the people she encountered remained in poverty. This trip gave Moira a whole new perspective on the value of life and made her truly appreciate the life she was blessed with.

“Difference is beauty,” is what my best friend, Regan R. told me one day. I smiled at her, proud of her constant positivity. Until I asked Regan, I never really recognized that she did not always have that strong confidence that I always thought was untouchable.

Regan was born on July 6, 1997 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was a healthy, new born baby girl but she had a surprise that her parents did not know about. Regan was born without a right hand.

The cause for Regan to be born like this was because her right hand did not form. Nevertheless, Regan did not let having one hand keep her from doing the things she loved as a young child, “Basically, like any other childhood, I did the things every other kid did. I played a lot, went to preschool, and had friends.”

At around four or five years old, Regan understood she was different but knew that people would accept her for who she was. One of the first times she thought that maybe not everyone would accept her was in preschool. “My friend sat across for me on a circle time rug in preschool and was whispering to her friend. Her friend then blurted out, ‘Look at the kid with one hand!’ They kept laughing. I then kinda knew I was different from everyone else.”

As Regan grew older, she was always asked the question, “What happened to your arm?” and she answered she was born with it. It never affected her perspective of herself until she grew older.

“I started to get very…self-conscious about my arm. Extremely,” Regan explained about her pre-teen years. “I’ve been made fun of before by kids…but I don’t really get sad. I get angry.” Acceptance was what Regan was worried about. “Socially, I was self-conscious, even though I had a lot of friends. I was scared to meet new people because of what they would say.” Regan admitted that one of the times she felt most insecure was last summer because she was afraid of what it would be like going into high school. “I was very nervous going to Padua with my arm. I was afraid making friends would be harder.”

Not only was Regan affected socially, but also mentally. Her view on herself and her body changed as she realized she would never be what society tells us is “normal.” “I’ve wondered what it would be like to have two hands,” Regan said, “I would think, oh I would look cuter in that if I had two hands. I would have gone to that party if I had two hands. I would have been able to do that if I had two hands.”

Most people looking at Regan would think that she was physically incapable of doing some things, which was mostly sports. Regan proved them wrong when she decided she wanted to play basketball in 2nd grade. Learning how to shoot, pass, and dribble were all challenging, but ultimately she proved to herself that she can accomplish hard tasks just like everyone else. When it came time for the big tryouts in fifth grade, Regan showed everyone that regardless of their doubts, she was a fantastic basketball player. She continued playing for 6 years and is planning on playing again next year.

Regan’s arm did not always get the negative reaction some people believe it does. In fact, Regan has proved to be a role model. “There have been times when people have randomly come up to me and told me that I was an inspiration to them,” Regan recalls, “I remember when a ref for one of my basketball games approached me after the game and told me that she had a prosthetic leg and how I influenced her to continue playing.” Regan also received The Pope John Paul II Courage in CYM Athletics Award for playing basketball.

As Regan grew more mature, she was never sensitive about joking around with her arm. Regan recalled when she was younger and her parents gave her a prosthetic arm. “I had a baby hand…I never wore it. I still don’t know why we got it. I think it was my parents way of showing me that if I wanted to look like I have a normal arm, they would support me.” Regan and her parents did look into getting a prosthetic arm, however, Regan never wanted one.

“I don’t care what other people say. I am who I am…Difference really is beauty.”

Animals are forced to endure pain just so we can use our favorite mascara or eyeliner. “Hundreds of thousands of animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed every year,” and this doesn’t even include mice, rats, birds, and cold-blooded animals (PETA).

According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals):

• Animals are kept in cages
• They develop neurotic behaviors
• Rock back and forth
• Spin in circles
• Pull out their own hair
• Products are rubbed onto animals’ skin and eyes

Also according to PETA, some of the makeup brands that test on animals are:

• Avon
• Estee Lauder
• L’Oreal
• Mary Kay
• Maybelline
• Neutrogena
• Olay

These are only some of the brands that test on animals.  So many more can be found on PETA’s website.  Commercials make these companies appear ‘glamorous,’ but animal testing isn’t very glamorous is it?

There are alternatives; however, when choosing your makeup products. According to PETA, some cruelty-free companies are:

• Bath and Body Works
• Burt’s Bees
• L.A. Colors
• LUSH Cosmetics
• Prestige Cosmetics
• Revlon
• Wet n Wild
• Covergirl

These brands can mainly be found in drugstores, and are just as great.  PETA’s list includes so many more, so look online and find one of these brands that you like.
If it has been six months since you have been using a makeup product, you should probably throw it away.  Bacteria begins to grow on products that have been opened around six months, so you could end up getting sick from your makeup.  Go through your makeup and throw out the products that have been opened for over six months, or that you never use.  By doing this, you will have more room for new products from companies that are cruelty-free.

Boycotting makeup companies that test on animals isn’t the only way to take action.  You can sign PETA’s pledge to be cruelty-free and talk to your family about the household products you use that test on animals.  Boycotting makeup companies that test on animals is only the first step in making a huge difference on how companies test their products.

The goal of ConKerr Cancer is to give every child who is seriously ill a bright and cheery pillowcase in North America by 2015.

ConKerr Cancer is an activity offered at Padua, run by Mrs. Denest. Padua has offered this activity for four years, and this year there is a total of 32 students participating in ConKerr Cancer. Emily Villacis ‘15, says, “ I definitely support the cause because since these kids are in the hospital for long periods of time, I’m glad I can do something even if its something little like a cute pillowcase to brighten up their day.” At the beginning of the activity, students donate $10.00, which goes toward purchasing fabric to make pillow cases. The students also learn how to work the sewing machine as well as cutting and sewing fabrics. When the pillowcases are complete, Mrs. Denest takes them to a drop-off location where they will then be sent out to children’s hospitals.

ConKerr Cancer is a great organization helping kids with cancer by making the battle as cheerful as possible.

During the 3 hour movie, the audience is enthralled by the star-crossed lover plot whilst they get a glimpse into the horror the passengers of The Titanic faced the night of April 15, 1912.  Directed by James Cameron, the movie begins with the 1985 discovery of the Titanic, where the audience is able to see the massive ship on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Treasure seeker Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) is on the hunt for ‘The Heart of the Ocean’, a necklace adorned with a heart-shaped diamond. When he and his crew uncover a photograph of a woman wearing the necklace, and 102-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater (Gloria Stuart) claims to be the woman in the photograph, she is flown to the wreck site. At this point, the setting switches to Southampton in 1912, where passengers are boarding the Titanic for the first time, and we hear the story of the ill-fated romance between Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and young Rose (Kate Winslet).

The technologically advanced special effects add to the modernized film’s awe. Little touches such as the lighting and background music add to the suspense and drama in each particular scene. During the original making of the film, Cameron used then-modern compositions by Enya, Clannad, and several other artists popular of the 1990’s. Cameron matched music to the scenes well, such as when he played tragic music when the ship is sinking. Cameron also did not fail to impress with lighting. Though throughout most of the movie the lighting is consistent, the scene of the Titanic’s descent into the Atlantic is made even more dramatic by the loss of light, lending a few seconds of the movie to complete darkness. Though the dimmer emergency lights flicker on soon after the loss of power, the moments of complication further show the seriousness of the situation.

Critics are raving about the film’s new 3D look and technological advances. “Writer-director James Cameron’s 3-D update of his 1997 blockbuster is a gorgeous revision of a film that’s now even more impossible to look away from.” Said Joe Neumaier for the New York Daily News. “The film’s 4K digital remastering and its meticulous 3-D conversion make for a fresh visual experience,” said Mekado Murphy for New York Times.

Titanic 3D comes highly recommended, so grab your 3D glasses and enjoy!

Before the existence of bubblegum many people chewed chicle, which is sap from a sapodilla tree. The chicle was flavorless and incapable of “bubble blowing”. Ancient Greeks, Mayans, North American Indians, and Early American settlers all shared in common their own form of chewing gum. All gum came from tree sap, whether it was made from a spruce tree, or a mastic tree, all gum had the same purpose: it was meant to be chewed.

In 1848, chewing gum gained attention in publicity when John B. Curtis sold the very first commercial sponsoring chewing gum called the State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. Curtis began experimenting on chewing gum, attempting to add flavor to the sap. In 1850 he succeeded in selling flavored paraffin gums, which eventually gained more popularity than unflavored spruce gums. As gum was becoming more popular in the nation, William Finley Semple took the opportunity to place a patent on chewing gum. A few years following this, Thomas Adams created the first machine for gum manufacture and put a patent on it.

With easier and faster ways now available to produce chewing gum, in 1880, John Colgan invented a way to give chewing gum a more appealing taste and to make the taste last for a longer period of time. By this invention, Thomas Adams was able to create the first gum brand to be sold in a vending machine. Adams invented the gum called Tutti-Frutti. A few years later, gum flavors began expanding. In 1914, William Wrigley, Jr. and Henry Fleer found a way to add mint and fruit flavorings to chewing gum.
Henry Fleer invented the very first brand of bubble gum, however, it was never sold to the public. In 1928, Walter Diemer invented a pink colored bubble gum he named Double Bubble. Diemer perfected Fleer’s original recipe for creating bubble gum and Double Bubble continues as a successful brand to this day.

To test his new recipe, Diemer took samples of his Double Bubble gum to a local store where he taught salespeople how to blow bubbles. Dubble Bubble remained the only bubble gum on the market until Bazooka hit stores post World War II.
Chewing gum successfully evolved into the creation of bubble gum. Today bubble gum is found in stores all across the world. It is a common product bought daily from customers. Gum is a necessity in today’s society; it comes in handy on first dates, and after eating people chew it preferring their breath to smell minty (or fruity). Starting off as flavorless tree sap, gum came a long way in terms of taste. Today bubble gum is available in various flavors and brands. Common brands that are well-known include Hubba Bubba Max, Big League Chew, Bubble Yum, and Bubbalicious Burst.

Each year ½ billion dollars worth of gum is bought, essentially by the youth. Most people walk around each day with at least one stick of gum in their pants-pocket. Gum comes in handy for those times in need; when we need a refresher after a meal and when we need to pop bubbles to stay occupied during times of boredom or impatience. It is difficult to think of such a tiny strip of stretchy flavorings having an impact on people.  Bubble gum was an invention that succeeded in satisfying the quench of flavor in customers as well as financial and economical standpoints. Bubble gum is a prolific invention, and the option of flavors are endless. In 2012, ice cream flavored bubble gum is currently being sold in stores! I wonder if Walter Diemer ever imagined his bubble gum reaching the success and popularity it possesses today.

The novel then switches to the year 2002, also set in Paris.  This switch between years happens throughout the novel.  Now set 60 years later, an American journalist, Julia, living in France with her French husband and daughter, is assigned an article focusing on the anniversary of the Vel’ d’Hiv.  As Julia begins to research the horrific, historical event, she becomes deeply interested and spends a lot of time on the subject.  She has the help of her photographer, boss, and Parisian citizens.  Julia discovers a family secret involving her future apartment, which was once her father-in-law’s.  He confides in Julia about his long kept secret in which he came face-to-face with Sarah when he was a young boy.  Together, Julia and her father-in-law try to track down Sarah, who would now be a grown woman.  On this long and adventurous journey, Julia learns about Sarah and her tragic childhood involving the Holocaust, loss of loved ones, and how she tried to move on.  Along the way, Julia takes a look at her own life, and tries to figure out if she is truly happy.  The novel, Sarah’s Key, is a book I would recommend for teenagers interested in history and drama.

Many people already know Gabby since her mom is a teacher here. For grade school Gabby attended two different schools, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. John the Beloved. Gabby came into Padua already knowing all about it because she has basically grown up here over the last ten years. When asked what her favorite part about Padua she answered, “I don’t go a day without smiling or laughing.” One of Gabby’s favorite hobbies is reading.

Gabby is a very smart girl who has accomplished many different things in the fifteen years of her life which include, developing a homemade telescope and making it to states in the National History Day competition. Gabby’s history day topic was on Galileo and the Church, titled, Radical Revelations. Her topic focused on Galileo’s discoveries with his telescope and why the Pope was so concerned with those discoveries. Though Gabby did not place in the competition, she still did a great job!

One of Gabby’s many talents is writing poetry. An interesting fact about her poetry is that one of her poems, “Life,” was published in Collected Whispers. When the poem was published Gabby was 12, but she wrote the poem when she was 11.

Even though Gabby is only a freshman, she already knows what she wants to do. She would like to become a prosecutor for environmental injustices. A prosecutor for environmental injustices is someone who  Witnessing terrible SPCA commercials, hearing about oil spills, and seeing the exhaust being pumped into the air are all factors that are contributing to the decision to enter into this career field. Continuing along with what Gabby would like to do, if she could change one thing she would want to get rid of all factories since they are one of the main causes of pollution. “I want the next generation to know what a polar bear looks like, not just guess about it or see a picture in books,” she says.