“Stolen Innocence
Dear Editor,
When I read the article “Stolen Innocence” in the November-December issue of LA Youth, it made me mad and sad to know that there are people that have no kind of sympathy for others. It angers me to think that men or women are out there that can commit these acts of selfishness and not even have a sense of regret or pity. I feel that the boy and his family were lucky they weren’t killed, but in a way something inside is dead or did die.
—Lucero Paniagua, Chatsworth HS
Tupac Shakur
Dear Editor,
Your article on Tupac Shakur was very interesting. Not many people realize that entertainers or people in the public eye are human too.
2Pac was a very talented man. It was sad to find out he’s not going to be around anymore. But when you actually listen to his lyrics, he talked about death all the time. He was almost hinting to everyone that his time was coming.
I feel that there are messages in music, and society should pay more attention to the words. Maybe then more people would realize how much you can learn about the person who wrote them.
—Christy Plummer, Chatsworth HS
Dear Editor,
I read an article about 2Pac. I liked all his music. There were parts when he said he would kill somebody if he had to and I think he would. A lot of people have tried to kill him and somebody did. I was upset about it but many of my friends really did not care. I still play his music out loud and he is still at the top of my list as the best rapper.
—Felipe Velasquez, North HS
Dear Editor,
I am glad someone feels that Tupac was a positive person because a lot of people did not take the time to get to know him and hear him out. Many people did not hear what positive messages he was trying to give. So keep up the good work and hopefully you guys will continue to publish other good articles like this one.
—Tyairria Calhoun, Locke HS
Life in junior high
Dear Editor,
This is a really good article. I really remember my horrible middle school years. I lived by everyone else’s standards and I wore everyone else’s style of clothes.
My horrible junior high carried over when I was freshman. I was self-conscious and nervous. I never stayed in one group of friends for more than a week. So I never had close friends. Sophomore year was the same. In my junior year, I began dressing a little more stylish. I shopped at the Gap… I was miserable.
Then the summer of my senior year hit and I vowed never to dress one way because someone liked it. I went overboard with plaid pants and streaked hair. I got into piercing and you know what? I loved it. I looked the way I wanted to. I felt good and confident being different, a leader. I hope to stay confident for a long time.
—Gary Swain, North HS
Dear Editor,
My junior high didn’t suck. For me, now which is the beginning of my senior year, sucks! I have many things to worry about, SATs, college, not enough time to study, etc. I don’t want to go through high school. It’s hard. Maybe I need some therapy too.
I know how Daniel, the author, felt. Sometimes people don’t listen when you talk about your problems with them. They criticize you and make fun of you which irritates me so bad. I wish everything gets better. I’m happy that he is okay now and I hope that I will be too soon.
—Geraldine Evangelista, North HS
Dear Editor,
The story about junior high hit me hard. This brought back a lot of memories that affect the way I think today. I remember my first week of junior high. I was fat and some girl asked me if I was pregnant. Guys told me if I lost weight I would be pretty. In eighth grade I would barely eat anything. In ninth grade I weighed 110 pounds. I thought it was the perfect weight. When my family would say I was too skinny I would laugh and say I was too fat. Now I am pretty much happy with my weight. Sad to say, I still have very low self-esteem. But I am starting to feel better about my looks. My family thinks I am pretty but they’re my family, so what people said a long time ago does affect today.
—Jamie Hermenegildo,
North HS
The Baby’s Cry
Dear Editor,
Maria has done a good job expressing an unborn baby’s feeling while the mother gets an abortion. This poem brought tears to my eyes. I am 100 percent against abortion. These are innocent babies being killed. It wasn’t their fault that you got pregnant.
I can remember when my sister got pregnant by her boyfriend. She came and told me to keep it a secret. But I told her to tell my parents. I ended up helping her to change her mind. Now, the baby is one year old. My sister thanks me every time she looks into the baby’s eyes. She loves her baby dearly.
—Seta Tamuaea, North HS
Passing sexual thoughts about
other guys
Dear Editor,
This article was very enlightening for me. I never realized how much teens deal with [their sexuality] while growing up. It always seemed to me that teenage boys were the most arrogant, homophobic creatures God placed on Earth. I now have a new understanding for them. How can you not have a feeling of fear when you have a “passing sexual thought” about someone of the same sex and at the same time know that to other kids your age it’s not acceptable? It’s natural to have a fear of rejection.
I think girls go through the same kind of feelings during adolescence but don’t feel the need to hide them. I’m sure most of the sex-driven teenage boys at North High wouldn’t mind if I experimented with my sexuality. In fact, a couple have suggested it. But that’s just another example of how dealing with our sexuality during adolescence is much easier for females than males. I have close friends who deal with all of these problems everyday, it’s just a fact of life.
I’m not saying females don’t have any problems coming out of the “closet,” because not everybody’s family and friends are open-minded. Not even mine. However, I wish they were.
—Leah McCormick, North HS
Dear Editor,
I think this article is about the sickest thing in the world. I don’t think that is right. God didn’t make nobody like that so [the author] needs to quit. If you have gay thoughts, then man, you are gay. That’s how I see it. This kind of thing doesn’t belong in the world.
—Tony Martindale, North HS
Dear Editor,
This writer was brave writing this article. I mean how many teens would write about their confusion over their sexuality, especially a male?
Sharing his feelings, confusion and mistakes will hopefully make other teens open their eyes. Though I am a Catholic and know that homosexuality is against my religion, I still feel that it is okay to love a person from the same gender.
—Vanessa Piña, North HS
I’m still a virgin
Dear Ms. Kinney:
I can’t find enough adjectives to properly applaud and congratulate you on your article. It’s mature, intelligent, honest, compassionate, reasoned, spunky, hopeful and more. I hope and wish there are millions of young people like you, for the good of our country. It is also extremely well-written—contemporary, candid, completely un-prissy. To wrap it up, you are some kind of girl and if there are any smart young men around you, you should be receiving many proposals of marriage, on your terms and at the right time.
Regarding the tragic story of your two young friends: When we first me, my wife was in 8th grade and I was a junior in high school. Though the times were more innocent and we didn’t have TV sitcoms etc. blaring the concept of having sex whenever one feels like it, there were temptations, and we did know that some of our peers were “going all the way”, as it was quaintly called.
Like your girlfriend, we come from a Catholic background and our upbringing as well as the culture around us made it feel that it just wasn’t the right thing to do. We waited eight years, through high school and college and starting to work, before marrying. Now after 56 years of joyous, sexy marriage blessed by four wonderful children, we have the immense happiness and satisfaction of knowing that we saved ourselves for each other. The best wish I can have for you is that you will enjoy the same experience.
—Jack O’Mara, Irvine, California
[Editor’s Note: Mari Kinney’s article on virginity appeared in the November-December 1996 issue of LA Youth and was reprinted in the Voices section of Los Angeles Times.]
Dear Editor,
Thank you for publishing the article: The reason I’m a virgin. My dad always says to me, “You are special, save yourself for that special person.” Without my dad saying this, I personally felt that I should wait.
Many teens lose their virginity and regret it later in life. I do not want this to happen to me. I hope other teens who have read this article will be encouraged to remain a virgin. It is good to know that a teenager is proud of being a virgin and wanting to share [her reasons] with others.
—Amina Williams, Verdugo Hills HS
Dear Editor,
Your article, “The reason I’m a virgin”, couldn’t have explained what I feel any better. It is the nineties and the consequences from one small mistake can be fatal. Not only AIDS but also pregnancy could ruin anybody’s life, teenager or not. I am only 14 but everything I have heard on AIDS, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases has scared me to death. I know it is not always easy to just say “no,” but it is always worth a try—especially when it can save your life.
—Michelle Manciati, Verdugo Hills HS
New reader
Dear Editor,
I recently read your newspaper for the first time. I thought it was filled with interesting articles. The one that really interested me was the article “my visit to an abortion clinic”. Even though I don’t agree with abortion I thought it was interesting to read about what goes on in a clinic like that and how the doctors treat the patients. I personally think that an unborn baby has the right to live just as any human being.
—Gaby Muños, Verdugo Hills HS
When I pray I am answered
Dear Editor,
I think your article “When I pray I am answered” was very inspiring. I know it’s true. If you pray to God and devote yourself to everything that’s negative in your life, it will turn out positive. I wasn’t sure about giving myself to the Lord. I mean I’m willing to do it, but will I stick with it? You inspired me to break the habit of sinning and stop doing things I know God doesn’t like.
—Anthony Morland, Locke HS
Dear Editor,
It was a great joy to know that there are teenagers who feel and think that way towards our God and Creator. God touched my heart and my life has changed ever since. Thank you very much for giving Christians a voice in this newspaper. God bless everyone. Keep up the good work.
—Clarissa R. Calix, Eagle Rock HS
Dear Editor,
This article (aside from the lump he felt in his chest) is exactly me. I also came to know God and his kingdom. I have chosen to do so with my life. I think that is why I am in touch with myself, my feelings, my surroundings. God has totally blessed my life. He has given me so much and has saved me from so much.
One thing I could say is that if this world had a relationship with God, it would not be as bad as it is. I know that the whole world never will but I can’t wait for more and more people to fall in love with Him.
—Christina Giusti, North HS
A Young Mother
Dear Editor,
I just finished reading your article “A young mother.” This story freaked me out!
My boyfriend is 20 years old. I gave him my virginity because I love him. After reading the article “Why I am a virgin,” I felt very depressed only by thinking that my reality was even worse.
A couple of weeks ago. I told my boyfriend I was pregnant but it was not true. I wanted to see his reaction. I wanted to find out if what he told me was true, “staying by my side through good times and bad.” When I told him about it he wanted to know if I was going to keep the baby.
I don’t have a close relationship with my mom so things for me were not going easy. I expected him to tell me “If your mom kicks you out of your house, come live with me.” Instead, he said, “Where are you going to live? You have nowhere to go.” I wanted to him to say, “We can’t fix this. It’s already done but no matter what, I’ll stay by your side.” Instead, he told me “I’m not even going to be with you when my baby is born because byt that time I’ll be in the Marines.”
I wanted to hear from him that he was going to work harder to support our baby, but those words never came out of his lips.
A week after I told him the truth, he got a little upset but didn’t last much because I guess he felt relieved.
—Anna Chicol, Eagle Rock HS
Dear Editor,
Your article “A young mother” was very inspiring to me.
I have no children, but have friends who do. It’s easy to see a teen with children and think of her as a slut. But the truth of the matter is that you don’t know her.
I respect teen mothers. They have to give up a lot and grow up sooner than others. I’m not saying it’s all right for teens to get pregnant and have children, but I don’t think they are tramps just because they have children.
—Danielle Casado, Chatsworth HS
Dear Editor,
I read the article “A young mother” by Dinah Perez which I found very interesting. I’m glad to know that there’s people out there that actually accept the consequences when it comes to such a serious matter.
If you think you’re old enough to be having sex, ask your self if you have enough responsibility to become a parent. Abortion shouldn’t be used as birth control; it shouldn’t be the way out.
I know that if you’re a young teenage girl and pregnant you might think that all the doors are going to shut in your face, but you know something? You’ve got to keep hope and faith alive.
If you choose to keep your baby you’ll have a clear conscience. Even though you’re going to struggle at first, there’s always going to be someone there to lend you a hand. Just set your mind to it. Most likely you’ll be proud of it when that child becomes someone very important in life.
—Darlyng Sanchez, Chatsworth HS
Dear Editor,
In reading the article “A young mother”, I could honestly say that I never really knew about all the things that could happen when dealing with sex until now. I know a lot of young mothers and they make it look so easy. However, I never took it into consideration that their parents were right there with them throughout the whole ordeal. What if they didn’t have the support of their parents? What if they didn’t tell their parents at all? It would have been so much harder on them. I hope other teenage girls think about all the aspects of motherhood and what could happen. Don’t think that everything’s gonna go the way you planned. Be ready for the responsibilities, as well as the disappointments. I know that there are a lot of young mothers that can do it themselves, but most didn’t have a choice. Most of you do. Let your parents know what’s going on in their daughter’s life. It’ll be a lot easier for you, as well as for the baby.
—Trisia Martin, Verdugo Hills HS”