Santa Baby

Dear Santa Claus,
Due to the resent demise of the love of my life, Dr. Mambo I would really appreciate a replacement. Black would be good too. I am going to Arizona on a very important trip that will greatly benefit my journalistic career, because of this I can not afford to buy one myself. PLEASE PLEASE help me out!!!!!
I love you, Mrs. Claus, the elves (tell Fred i say high), and your reindeer!
Love Kylie Amanda Morrison-Sloat
PS. leave it in the drive way to the left.

Christmas

People who did not know me when I was younger would probably be very surprised to know I was all about the dolls. I had every single barbie accessories you could possibly imagine. From wheelchairs to jello I had it all. I also had two life size baby dolls named Emily and Amanda. I dressed them every morning, fed them three meals a day, and put them to sleep at night.
When I was in second grade we lived in O'Neill. It was a completely perfect white Christmas. I woke up at a ridiculous time, like 5:30, and my Mom made me stay in my room until my brother and sister were up and we could walk down to the living room together.
When we were finally lined up single file in chronological order, leaving me at the back of course, we ran to the living room.
It was completely filled with presents as usual. I went to my pile. Santa always left all of our presents and stockings in our own individual piles. My stocking had my very own can of black olives and a whole bag of Harvest Cheddar Sunchips, my two favorite foods.
My brother and sister brought in our Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate after stockings and before presents. We all got along the whole day which never, ever happens.
I got a barbie house that folded into a suitcase and a boy doll.... he was really a boy.
That was the last Christmas before my parents got divorce and the only time a remember my whole family getting along. It was really fun ( not that I don't love fighting with my brother, I really really do).

John F. Burns

John F. Burns is the chief foreign correspondent for The New York Times. He has been awarded two Pulitzers and was in Baghdad during the 200 Iraqi conflict.
Mr. Burns has many important lessons for a young reporter, like getting quotes right is the most important part of being a journalist. He also advises you to not let the excitement of a moment to turn into stress about getting the story.
Two very reliable sources should always be the rule in a story according to Burns. There is not usually a difference in sources that present themselves, rather than you approaching them, unless they are pushing an agenda.
When reporting on an entire country look for individuals or groups that
influence a bigger picture. Find angles that matter to the world.


“I often say that reporters are rarely experts in anything, or at least not as expert as the real expertsm.” John F. Burns.

Gracias!

My 2008 Thanksgiving was just like my other 15 so far. My Grandnona (grandma) and aunt Missy cooked a huge turkey and two of everything else, one with onion and one without. Everyone else brought the one side dish they were assigned.
We ate at Grandnonas in Elkhorn. The adults at the dinning room table and me and y six cousins in the living room at card tables. My brother and sister have both been promoted to the grown up table, but I am not interested in leaving my folding chair. I love my family exactly how it is. We would do anything for each other. We have our problems and we don't always get along, but we always get over it in time for our family meals like Thanksgiving.
My family is everything to me. I'm not one of those kids that don't have any friends and hang out with their parents on the weekend because they have no other choice.
I am so, so unbelievably, indescribably grateful for my family.

My future

I have been in love with the Eiffel Tower since the second grade when my mom and favorite aunt were planning their trip to Europe. I saw the enormous, one-of-a-kind structure in one of the Paris coffee table books they bought. The iconic image of the tower at night, completely lit with sparkling silver lights, has been my goal ever since. I want to travel and see the world, getting to Paris being my number one priority.
Joining the Fremont High Rustler staff with Mrs. Fey my sophomore year of high school has changed my entire vision for life. I discovered I can do my two favorite things (traveling and writing) and get paid for it. I decided to be a journalist.
I am going to pay for college myself with scholarships and student loans. After attending UNL for four years and being a member of their amazing journalism program I hope to start gaining experience immediately. I know that no publication is going to pay for me to report on world events until I have gotten waist deep in the journalistic world.
I will work hard through college, writing and gaining all the experience and knowledge I can grab. I will always maintain a job and support myself.
Five years after graduating Fremont High, I will be on the road to debt freedom with only my college loans weighing me down. A husband or even a serious relationship will never be my priority. I will hopefully work for a really great publication, which I obviously can’t do in Nebraska. I will still be low on the food chain, but hopefully, I will be working my way up with my fantastic writing.
My family has always made me feel like I can do anything and have done everything they can to help me reach my goals. I will work hard and it will take a while,
but I will establish the world as my playground. I will write about everything from the parades for Chinese New Year in Beijing to luaus in Hawaii.

H-O-P-E

HOPE- the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best

HOPE- Faith

HOPE- Belief

HOPE- Trust

HOPE- Wish

HOPE- Expectation

HOPE- Anticipation

HOPE- Optimist

i hope

I am a believer

I truly and deeply believe that a person has to choose to be happy. There are people that have lived though the worst conditions imaginable like wars of disease and they still have a smile on their faces. Then there are the ridiculous people who feel like the victims of the world because their parents broke up or the kid in chem class doesn't like them.
Anyone can be happy if they want to be happy. I understand clinical depression and other similar instances can not be helped alone but, with treatment and the desire to get better those people can almost always get better.
I believe happiness is contagious if you want to catch it. If you are feeling blue follow the laughter and let some happy rub off on you.
Walking around like with a frown and dead eyes constantly thinking about how much your life sucks is not going to help anything. instead of thinking to yourself "wow I am really unhappy and sad and my life sucks and no one understands me" think, "Thank god I am not an orphan in Africa with aids living in a rag tent hiding from mosquito's" (unless you are then, god bless).
Choose to be happy. Want to be happy. Do things to make yourself happy. avoid things that make you unhappy. Be around happy. Live happy.
I that everyone can be happy.

My life story

I was schedualed to be born in Soix Falls, South Dakota on May 20, 1992 because I was getting fat. We were actually living in De Smet, South Dakota where my parents were both pastors but, it was so small it didnt have a hospital.


While I was being born my sister and brother were waiting at my aunt Missys house. At the almost exact moment I was being born my sister, Helen woke suddenly from her nap and screamed "WE MISSED IT!" this was the start of our instant connection. My brother, Wesley on the other hand begged my Mother to "put her back" upon meeting me for the first time.


My parents named me Kylie Amanda upon seeing my chubby cheeks and large amounts of yes, bright RED hair. I was named after one of my dads faveorite cousins, Kyle. Kyle died when he was sixteen after huffing freon with his friends while his parents were on a trip and he was staying home alone.


One year and one month after my grand enterance to the world my family relocated to Eddyville, Nebraska adding five people to its grand population of 91. I do not remember a lot in these three years. My papents were slowly breaking up and I went to preschool.


The methodist cofrence then moved us to O'Neill, Nebraska, the Irish capital of the state. Shortly after arriving my dad moved into the second house provided to my family by the church in Spencer where one of the other churched my parents were assigned was located.


My parents divorce when i was in third grade did not have life ruining affects on me. I know it was the right decision for all of us. My parents did a good job of shielding me from it by not fighting in front of me and letting me stay with my grandma a lot while they hashed out the dirtier details.


The year after the divorce we wscaped the critical eye of the very red neck town and moved to Fremont. It was a great year and I had a fun fourth grade. My identity atarted to kick in. I left dance calsses and girly stuff behind choosing to be a true tom boy. My love for soccer blossomed and rolling in the dirt was fun.


One short year later we were relocated once again to Valley. It was a bad year. I turned into the typical Vally girl. I was mad at my mom for making me leave my friends and swich schools. I was ruthless, horrible and just plain mean. The memories of some of my words and actions bring cringes of emarasment to this day.


For sixth grade my mom let me comute into Fremont with my brother and sister for school. Half way through the year we moved to Waterloo where my mom was now the pastor. She started a second job teaching classes at Carlson Hospitality.


TO BE CONTINUED!

What I have learned

2008 has been a growing year for me. My future is breathing down my neck and constantly striking fear of failing in my heart.

As a junior, college is just around the corner. The scary, responsibility requiring, EXPENSIVE, and life changing experience is posing the hardest questions and decisions I have ever faced.

My love for journalism is growing everyday. I love my leadership role as news editor, writing and learning new things every minute. Rustler class makes me want to work hard and learn as much as I can.

I also joined the teenage work force this year. Working at Godfathers is easy and fun (most of the time). I enjoy the paycheck but don't see most of it. I have learned the more money you make, the more you have to spend.

Along with my job came my drivers licence. I turned 16 at the worst possible time. Gas was costing more than ever and the stupid "only one passenger law" had just came into affect. These changes have helped me on the road to adulthood.

I have learned to appreciate my family and realized how amazing they are, especially my mother. I have an easy and amazing life compared to other less fortunate people. I hate the people who whine about everything that is slightly imperfect.

2008 has taught me to appreciate my life and family, give everything my all, I really want to be an amazing journalist, how to get a job and keep it, and pretty much how to grow up. :-)

Ideas for Top Ten

Hardest classes at Fremont High

Easiest classes at Fremont High

Reasons to graduate

Reasons to go to college

Top Ten Being a Journalist ROCKS

1. The traveling
2. A new adventure everyday
3. Your voice is heard
4. Your famous without the press following you around because you are the press
5. Seeing your name in print
6. Causing contraversy
7. Getting to talk to famous people like presidential canidates
8. Getting paid to make stuff up (in opinion articles)
9. Meeting new people everyday and making connections
10. You get to write which is what I like to do

DREAMIN!

I have always wanted to go to Paris. I LOVE the Eiffel Tower my room is full of Paris stuff. I have whole lists of places I want to go. My aunt/ best friend plan all of the trips we want to take.
In 2011 my mom, aunt and I are going to go on a trip to Europe. We will be going to Paris for five days, London for five and Amsterdam for four.
There are uncountable things I want to see in the world. I want to be a journalist so I can see these things and share my experiences with other people. Traveling is my biggest dream. I love new places and new experiences. I love meeting new people and trying new foods.
I can't wait for my adventures to begin!

My piercing article

For the September issue of the Rustler I wrote an article on the school boards decision to change the policy on body piercings to allow them. I contacted all of the members of the school board through an email with some questions about the change. The questions were not questioning the decision, merely asking for information.

The school board responded by discussing the email and electing Mr. Joe Sajevic, FHS Principal, to speak for them and answer my questions. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to talk to someone other than Mr. Sajevic in order to vary my sources, Sajevic is quoted a lot in our paper.

Sajevic answered my questions very satisfactorily and my article turned out well. I was very gratefully for his help.

I think the school board was surprised a student actually asked them questions and emailed them directly. This shows that FHS students should be more vocal about what they want changed and what they think about the school.

I hear people complain about one thing or another everyday in the hallways. Stop complaining about not being able to use your cell phones or the horrible bathrooms and try to get these things changed. Everyone has a voice that should be heard, so use it.
One of the school board members did reply to email giving me props for contacting them.

"The school belongs to the students, staff and the community and if you don't speak up about what is important to you - no one will ever know," FPS School Board Member

The 2008 Election

If presented with the chance to interview the 2008 candidates as a high school journalist I would ask questions about issues that effect teenagers. Things like their views on: abortion, education and the drinking age.

I would also like to know why McCain thinks he can relate to the issues of today when he is older than dirt. Being the president is the most stressful job imaginable with all of his war hero wounds he is not physically capable.

I would ask Palin why she is such a hypocrite in thinking abstinence is the only thing that should be taught in school when it obviously was not enough for her pregnant teenage daughter.

I would like to see the real side of Obama. His life can not be as perfect as it seems. Every family has hitches. The Obama family just seems too perfect.

Talking to all of the candidates about how they got to where they are today would be completely fascinating. they are all obviously very dedicated and intelligent people. Their journey through education and everything we (high school students) are going through now is the angle I would take if writing about the candidates.