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"One Fast Moment"

In June, Felice Luu, an eighth grader from San Lorenzo, Calif., won one of the three top individual awards in Weekly Reader’s 2009 Student Publishing Contest. (Click here find out more about Weekly Reader’s 2010 Student Publishing Contest.) Luu won $500 and a trip with her parents to the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Here is her award-winning essay—a gripping story about a 2008 car accident that she and her parents were lucky to survive.

"One Fast Moment"

    One fast moment; that’s all it takes for everything to go right or wrong. The opening of a door, the flicking of a wrist, the pressing of a button; any of these things can change someone’s life. I had to learn this the hard way.
    My dark brown eyes opened and noticed that everything was upside down. Blinking a few times, they realized that it wasn’t a dream and started to look around. Soon hands began to come alive and moved to a seatbelt, unbuckling it to let a body fall to the ground. Quickly, those hands found a 24 Hour Fitness bag, a small thing really, and continued on to find the handle of the car door. Then, once the body emerged, a voice started to scream. “Mom, dad? Mom, dad!” The voice belonged to me, as did the body, and the hands that got the bag while opening the door.
    I had just crawled out of the turned-over black Acura and was screaming for my parents. Barely noticing anything or anyone around me, I kept screaming for them. Finally, someone pulled me away from the car and sat me down by the rest area.
    “Sweetie, sweetie, calm down, take deep breaths and lie down, ok?” someone said. I thought it was a woman. I wasn’t sure, but the voice sounded soft, like a mother’s voice. Too focused on the car and my parents, I never bothered to look at her.
    Then I screamed at her with my usual temper, ”I can’t calm down! My parents could be dead! How can you tell me to calm down?” Now cue the “everything is going to be all right” moment.
    Then, as I predicted, she said, “Don’t worry, everything is going to be all right. You’re just in shock.” Why don’t people understand that sometimes things just won’t be all right no matter how much we wish that they could be? Why do they always tell you that everything will be all right even when they themselves know that it won’t be?
    Soon, I calmed down a bit and stopped trying to get up. I knew that if I got up someone would just hold me back. Their hands were strong though gentle at the same time. I assumed they belonged to a man, probably her son or husband. It could’ve also been someone else at the rest area. Whoever he was, he kept pulling me back whenever I tried to go to my parents and telling me that I needed to stay still in case I had a concussion. Obviously, going to my parents was out of the question. “You need to sit still or at least stay still. You may have a concussion, but we don’t know yet, so just stay still. We’ll take care of your parents.” Didn’t he know that these people are my parents and they were all that I had? I needed to know that they were all right.
    I still tried once more, but I only got repeated results. Besides, the car was really far away from me, almost five meters from the road while I, on the other hand, was all the way back at the rest area. At that point I just sat there, near the divider for the exit into the rest area and the rest area, crying my eyes out and begging God that my parents would be all right.
Now calm and sitting, I took a look at the car. Even though it was pretty dark, I saw my dad and an outline of the black car. First I saw that my dad was hanging out of the side window with his upper half on the ground and lower half in the car. The only reason I saw him was because he had a really clean white shirt. I couldn’t really see my mom so I assumed she was still stuck in the car. Later, I found out that she was and the window was also broken.
    After my last failed attempt, I needed someone to talk to, so I thought of some names. I didn’t need to think much because, automatically, one name popped into my head: Jonathan Clayton. I didn’t even know why but his was the number I dialed as soon as I got my phone out of my bag. It just seemed like he was always easy to talk to, and right then, I needed someone easy to talk to.
    I stood up and begged that he would pick up his phone. Finally, after what seemed like forever, his voice came up and said, “Hello?” He exclaimed, “Oh my God!” after I told him everything that had happened. Then he asked, ”Are you okay, Felice?” Gladly accepting his concern I silently thanked him.
    Then I replied quietly, “Yea, but my parents aren’t.” After I said that, I realized that I wasn’t crying any more. Of all times that I could cry, I chose then not to. Honestly, I was terrified out of my mind, and that was more than rare. I kept thinking, “What if they die?” or, “What if they end up in a coma for the rest of their lives?” Being only a 12-year-old at that time, I would have been forced by law to live with a guardian, like other family members.
    Almost hysterically, I said, “Can you believe this? My parents could be dead and I still can’t cry properly.” The worst part was that I didn’t even know why. Anyone else in my place would have been crying and showing their fears. Anyone else who was looking at their mom still stuck inside of an upside down car and their dad stuck in an upside down car at the same time would have been crying, probably harder than they ever had in their entire life.
    “No, you’re being very strong. Don’t worry, your parents are going to be all right,” said the motherly voice again. How could she still say that? How does she know? She was just a bystander, watching all of this happen. Apparently she was also the one who was to stay with me until medical attention had been given to my parents. So there we were, a woman slightly bending over to be somewhat face-to-face with a kid on the phone trying her best to calm down by the divider.
    Soon, it was time to say good bye to Jonathan, so I did. Just before he hung up he told me he hoped everything would be all right. I told him thanks and goodbye. It made me feel better knowing that our fate was still undecided, increasing the chances of my parents surviving.
    A little while later, some highway patrol officers came with an ambulance and helicopter. Since my dad was bleeding profusely, he took the helicopter to one hospital while I ended up riding to another one with my mom, nearly crying several times on the way.
    It wasn’t supposed to be like this. My mom wasn’t supposed to be like this. My mom wasn’t supposed to end up in a hospital with a fractured pelvis. My dad wasn’t supposed to end up in a hospital with multiple bruises, staples, stitches and, soon, a scar. I wasn’t supposed to walk out of the crash untouched. We were supposed to be home by 11:00 P.M. I wasn’t supposed to cry every five minutes in the bathroom.
    I just couldn’t believe it. My mom has driven perfectly every time before this, even in the rain, and nothing has ever gone wrong. This time there wasn’t any rain, there wasn’t anything wrong with the road, there wasn’t any traffic, there wasn’t any joking about how terrible her driving was, and there was no simple, “Oh well, we’ll go get it repainted tomorrow.” This time there was only cold and dry air, a near perfectly paved road, cars driving by with their lives undisturbed, screaming mixed with streaming of tears, and, soon, a trip to the junkyard.
    It was Friday, June 19, 2008, when we swerved into a divider. Trying to bypass a big rig, my mom drove into a sign, but then turned only to find that she nearly rammed into a tree. The last thing I heard was the screeching of tires before seeing nothing but a white airbag in my line of vision. The date of this entry is Monday, June 23, 2008. Today is Tuesday, March 2, 2009, and I am a girl who is afraid to get in a car with my mom driving.
    One fast moment; that’s all it took for everything to go wrong. The bypassing of a big rig, the bad timing, the abrupt turn of a steering wheel; all of these things all changed my life. I learned that the hard way.

Pioneer Pilot

Kimberly Anyadike (on-yah-DEE-kay), a 15-year-old from Compton, Calif., learned to fly as part of a program for inner-city youth at her city’s Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum. On June 29, she took the controls of a Cessna plane on a daring cross-country trip from Compton to Newport News, Va. She was accompanied by Levi Thornhill, a pilot with the famous World War II Tuskegee Airmen, which included the first black military pilots in the United States. Several other Tuskegee Airmen greeted them at stops along the way. After 13 days and about 20 stops, Kimberly became the youngest African American girl to pilot a plane across the country—and back. Current Events chatted with the flying ace.

Current Events: Have you always wanted to fly?

Kimberly Anyadike: I’ve always been interested in flying. I didn’t really think about [flying a plane] seriously until about three years ago when my mother read an article in the newspaper about [the museum]. In exchange for community service hours, we got flight time. … One of the instructors took [my sister and me] up in one of the Cessnas and let us take the controls for a little while. Ever since our demo, we were hooked on flying.

CE: What motivated you to do this flight?

Kimberly: Ever since I can remember, I wanted to fly around the world, but I decided that I’d wait until I could fly a jet [and] settle for flying across the country. … I knew it would help me rack up some cross-country time for my pilot’s license … and gain a personal knowledge of turbulence and weather systems … I also wanted to help push away the negative stereotype about Compton because there are several good things that take place in Compton, like [the museum]. … I [took] a look at the regulations and there was nothing restricting me. I knew I’d have to fly with a safety pilot. You can fly at any age, as long as you have a licensed person there with you.

CE: What was memorable about the trip? What was your favorite stop?

Kimberly: When you’re taking off, … you have to remember that you fly the plane and not the other way around. Once you level off smoothly and reach altitude, you feel extremely happy. Of course, there’s some turbulence but if it’s just a smooth [ride] it gets boring. … I really enjoyed everywhere [we stopped] and enjoyed the reception. … I was also a messenger of hope for Wednesday’s Child Foster Care organization. I would have the representatives from the organizations come out and sign the board—it was the message of hope. … On the ride home, we caught some first-class views of sunsets.

CE: Was it boring or challenging at times?

Kimberly: I had my iPod with me, so I could just plug that into my headset. Whenever the air traffic controllers would speak it would [automatically] turn off. We would talk a lot of the time. … I thought it was really fun. I was kind of nervous about talking to the air traffic controllers. A couple of times, I would get some funny response. One person [asked], “Is your mommy and daddy with you?” [Another asked], “Are you five years old?” … Sometimes we would get in late and had to wake up early. Being a pilot, you need your rest. It was especially tough with the time changes.

CE: What was it like to meet Tuskegee Airmen along the way?

Kimberly: I thought it was really, really cool, because just knowing that these legends were coming to see you …  a piece of history was flying with us. They signed the plane.

CE: How did you feel when you landed?

Kimberly: I felt tired. I was still really excited. I’m still really excited. … I got a call from [California Governor] Arnold Schwarzenegger. He said, “I’m really proud of you and congratulations.” Also, I got a letter from [former U.S. President] Bill Clinton. … It’s really cool that I’m being admired for something I admire.

CE: What advice can you give to other teens?

Kimberly: The sky’s no longer the limit. And [you] shouldn’t be afraid to live life outside the box. Dare to be different. 

Photo: Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum

NYC Teens Report on the Recession

This year’s participants in the Reader’s Digest Foundation’s Young Leaders in Journalism workshop really got the scoop. The high school students interviewed people in New York City and wrote about the impact of the recession. Here are a few of their articles.

The Recession's Impact on Summer Activities

Ann Wu, 18, walked through the Queens Center Mall on a recent day with her friends—and no plans to purchase anything. “I feel bad spending my parents’ money,” she said.

Other teens find themselves feeling the same way. Interviews with nearly 20 teens in New York City offered a glimpse of the recession’s effect on young people.

With parents either losing, or in fear of losing their jobs, some youths are wary of overspending on summer fun. As people shuffled in and out of the Herald Square Mall, 15-year-old Rachel Roth left the Forever 21 store with her friends, 16-year-old Elana Gorenstein and 15- year-old Skylar Mavraganis.

She carried a skirt she bought on sale, using the money she earns working on the kitchen staff at Camp Louemma.

“I rarely go to the mall anymore. This is the first time I’ve been here in a while,” Roth said.

Roth said she used to go to popular retailers Aeropostale and Abercrombie for clothes, but these days looks for discounts whenever she shops. She has also given up amusement parks and concerts this summer.

Gorenstein said that she used to spend a lot on Broadway shows, but now limits her spending.

The same goes for 17-year-old friends Colette Sabens and Taylor Murphy, who are working as hostesses this summer. Sabens said she saves money by shopping at vintage thrift stores in the city instead of more expensive stores.

“I don’t go to the movies anymore,” Murphy added.

Gregory Kolm, 17, said he hasn’t been deeply affected by the recession, but is taking advantage of the city-funded events and other free activities, like Central Park Summer Stage.

Wu, the Queens Mall shopper, said that she tries to save money with her friends as they spend their last summer together before college. They walk aimlessly in Astoria instead of taking the train or bus.

“We have less things to do, but it hasn’t changed the bond,” she said.

~By Lory Martinez

Kids Turn to Fast Food in Down Times

Amanda Moore sits inside a McDonalds in Madison Avenue, chewing on a Quarter Pounder, munching on french fries, and sipping a tall sweet tea. A 23-year-old med student Moore, admits to eating here four times a week.

“It’s always McDonalds,” she says, “because they have the dollar menu.”

For years, experts have warned of a surge in unhealthy eating among young people. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, obesity shot up 17 percent among adolescents during 2003-2004 alone. But with the recession creating new pressure at home and on their wallets, some teens are flocking more than ever to fast food.

Consider 2 Bros Pizza on St. Marks Place, where slices sell for a buck. On a recent afternoon, the shop teemed with long lines and a big crowd of teens. 

“Dollar pizza saves a lot of money because other places charge 3.50,” says Juerri Lopez, 17, while grabbing a slice with his two friends. while Before the recession, he said, they would spend more money eating at McDonalds, Burger King, and Chinese food.

The pizzeria owner, Joshua Halali, opened the place last summer, knowing times were getting tight. “I think business is better because of the recession,” says his daughter, Oriel Halali, 16.

The trend doesn’t surprise Jamie McDermott, a licensed dietitian. She said that the eating habits of people reflect their stress levels. Many young people “feel better temporarily when they eat junk food and comfort food,” she says. Most then feel guilty for taking a step backwards.

Aisha Kannesze, 36, a parent of a young daughter says, “You have to have will power.” She believes that parents are responsible for the eating habits of their kids. Worried about her daughter’s food choices, Aisha trains her at a young age. “It’s not about being skinny, it’s about being healthy,” she states. She thinks it’s very helpful to count calories of each of the item on the menu.

Finishing her burger and drink, Moore said she has not eaten at an expensive restaurant for over a year. “I told my husband; if you can’t afford to put a tip on the table, don’t take me,” she said.

~By Samiha Tashneem

The Recession Affects Young Shoppers

Natasha Jahangir, a 22-year-old student, was once an impulse buyer.

Not anymore.

The last time she went shopping was two months ago.

“I stopped spending so much money,” she said.

The recession has forced many young Americans to reconsider their spending habits, and has also influenced the stores that target them. According to studies done by the State University of New York, sales revenue in the state has significantly decreased during the recession.

In interviews this month with more than a dozen shoppers, store employees, and an industry executive, each agreed that the economy has influenced people’s personal spending decisions.

Maria Herrera, 16, stood in front of Forever21 in Union Square, holding the store’s classic yellow bag, and watching those walking by. The petite teenager said she is spending less on clothes, and looking for a job to get more money.

Karina Notaro, 17, expressed similar thoughts as she rushed past an H&M in the Upper East Side. She said she is now buying more from clearance racks.

“If the recession worsens, I’d rather go shopping at thrift stores,” Notaro said.

Clothing brands are now using new methods to appeal to their customers, particularly those affected by the economy. Madison Brands, a company that manufactures and sells woven tops to retail stores, has developed less expensive fabric to make their products.

The company is also increasing discounts, advertising more, and lowering prices to try to counter lagging sales, according to Chasen Mintz, a sales executive at Madison Brands.

Stores like Forever21 that market the “right products at the right price,” according to Ms. Mintz, remain successful.

H&M, another clothing company popular amongst young people, has also taken action to appeal to customers affected by the recession. Red banners advertising clearance sales hang like ornaments throughout the stores, adorn the front windows, ceilings, and racks.

Natasha, previously a spontaneous shopper, has also started buying clothes at thrift shops.

“I make do with what I have,” she said.

~By Esther Whang

The Recession and Hot Dog Vendors

During lunch hour on a recent hot summer day, Potouridis Elefterios, who’s been pushing carts since Ronald Reagan was in office, only had three customers in the course of 15 minutes. Each purchased just a drink.

Elefterios has tried to battle the recession by lowering his prices, but even that hasn’t worked. “On the West Side, hot dogs sell for two dollars,” he said. “I only sell for $1.25 -- I still make no business!”

Across New York City, there is no shortage of evidence of the recession’s impact, right down to the corners of Manhattan’s busiest intersections. Of eight hot dog vendors interviewed in a recent week, all agreed that business was suffering like never before.

The recession does not only affect veterans such as Elefterios, but those that recently became involved. Mouhamed Heda, a 27-year-old from Morocco, became a vendor four years ago. Now he’s simply waiting for his license to expire.

“Before, I was happy,” said Heda, who plans to become a taxi driver. “Now? No.”

On the corner of 7th Avenue and West 43rd Street, Mohamed Elsayed says that sales have severely declined since 2006. He works at least twelve hours a day seven days a week but says some days his take-home pay is only $60. This translates to about five dollars an hour, lower than the standard minimum wage in New York City.

“It’s hard,” said Walid Elbaramawy, a hot dog vendor in Times Square. “Sometimes it’s cold, sometimes it rains, and we still have to come out and work, I mean, we have to survive somehow, right?”

Some are considering a second job. Some have no options.

Nabil Hamuy said that the price of a two-year permit has doubled—to $10,000—but that his sales have dropped 75 percent in the past year. Some days, he makes as little as $35, but he’s not sure what else to do.

“What can I do?” he asked. “Everyone is getting fired now.”

For Uddin Mohamed, a vendor for 14 years, $35 in profits would be a good day in this recession. So what’s a bad day? “Very bad,” said Mohamed.

~By Alfred Ng

Photos: Hot dog vendor (Alfred Ng); AP Images

A is for Attendance

180. That’s how many days there are in the average American school year. I think everyone would agree that attending school for every single one of those days is tough. People get sick, go on vacation, or ditch. So at the end of the year, when that one kid in your class gets a perfect attendance certificate, you applaud them because you know going to school every day for a whole year is a challenge, to say the least.

Okay, now, it’s time to congratulate someone with perfect attendance every year since kindergarten! While that may sound like playground lore, Stefanie Zaner is a real live senior attending Northwest High School in Darnestown, Washington. She hasn’t been marked absent for a single day of school—not for sickness, appointments, anything. That’s 2,340 days! Stefanie admits that there were days when she almost played hooky because she was so exhausted. “I have these days where I’m like, ‘I do not want to be here,’” she told reporters. “I’m just the kid who shows up on those days.” Stefanie’s perfect attendance paid off: the straight-A student will attend the University of Maryland this fall.

Think that’s impressive? A student from Indiana named Brittani McCalister has never missed a minute of school. She has never been marked tardy, never been checked out early. What was her motivation? Sibling rivalry. She and her brother started a competition to see who could maintain perfect attendance. (She won). The principal at West Vigo High School asked Brittani to stand up at graduation and be recognized in front of her peers. There were times when Brittani, too, almost threw in the towel and called in sick for a day. What did she do on days like that? “I loaded up on Tylenol.” After completing the last of 2,340 days with perfect attendance, Brittani is pursuing her license in cosmetology. But she’s not done with academics yet! She wants to go to college, too, and do hair on the side. She plans to attend the University of Indiana and possibly get a law degree after that. How does she feel about her accomplishments? “I’m very proud of myself,” she told reporters just before her graduation. As you should be, Brittani. And you too, Stefanie. These two girls are a perfect example of all the things we can accomplish if we just never give up. My hat’s off to both of you.

~By Lara von Nyssen, Current Events student reporter

Photos: Stefanie Zaner, apple (Jupiter Images)

Giving Paws to Troubled Teens

Teens living in a juvenile detention center in upstate New York are getting special visits—from man’s best friend. Fifteen boys, ages 13 to 18, are helping train abused dogs as part of a joint effort between the Sergeant Henry Johnson Youth Leadership Academy and the nonprofit organization Glen Wild Animal Rescue. The dogs, mostly pit bulls, are from shelters operated by Animal Care & Control of New York City. Once the dogs are healthy, they are brought to the Youth Leadership Academy. The goal of the program is to rehabilitate dogs so that they can be adopted.

The teens learn to train the dogs by using positive reinforcement techniques. Each teen is paired with a dog. One of the boys, 15-year-old Orlando, has taught his furry friend Bo to sit, heel, and give high-fives. The dogs begin and end every training session by rolling around in the grass. Orlando rewards Bo with a treat and some love. He says the program has changed the way he views pit bull fighting, a popular sport in his Bronx (New York City) neighborhood. “Now I know it’s a harmful thing, and it breaks my heart,” he told The New York Daily News.

The program doesn’t just help the dogs; it benefits the teens too, according to Youth Leadership Academy psychologist Sue Newman. "While we’re helping the youth address their needs, the youth are helping the dogs in addressing theirs,” she told the Daily News. Many of the kids can relate to the dogs and learn that “if you give love, you get love.”

“The bond that forms between each shelter dog and its handler is very strong and because of the emotional attachment many important lessons are learned,” says Liz Keller, director of Glen Wild Animal Rescue. “[The teens] learn how hard life on the street is for some of the stray animals. They learn that transition is hard for the dogs that once had a home but are now homeless.”

Many of the dogs in the program have been adopted. In addition to helping boost kids’ self-esteem, the program also offers career possibilities. Ruben Reyes, director of the Youth Leadership Academy, says he hopes that some of the teens will be inspired to work with animals when they return home. Keller wants to expand the program so more kids and animals can benefit. 

Photo: Liz Keller (Glen Wild Animal Rescue)

Laying Down Tracks

Musicians Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso started jamming after they met on the set of the Hannah Montana sitcom, starring their younger siblings Miley Cyrus and Mitchel Musso. The guitarists decided to form a band called Metro Station. One day, an intern at Columbia Records was surfing the Web and discovered the band's MySpace page. Columbia liked the catchy tunes so much, it offered the band a record deal. The band is currently on tour with Fall Out Boy. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mason Musso spoke to CE about Metro Station's road to success.

Current Events: When did you first get interested in music?

Mason Musso: Ever since I can remember. When I first picked up a guitar when I was 13, I couldn’t put it down.

CE: How did Metro Station form? Tell us about your rise to success.

Musso: [Trace and I] met on the set of Hannah Montana. … We started playing music together, and it just kind of clicked. … It’s been a journey. It definitely has happened overnight, but ... we’ve been working for two and a half years now, and it feels good to have that pay off.

CE: What is your music about?

Musso: Stuff that’s going on, relationships, things going well, things going badly. Life, love, loss … losing friends. I feel like we’re still very youthful. ... [Our lyrics are about] things either we’ve gone through or seen our friends go through. [Our single “Kelsey”] is basically just about a relationship and about how you care for someone.

CE: What is the band's key to success?

Musso: Staying together. All bands have problems and go through things. We always try to talk to each other. … We definitely have our fights and everything, but at the end of the day, we love each other.

CE: What goes through your mind when you get up on stage?

Musso: I just go into like stage mode, let the audience inspire me. The crazier they get, the crazier we get. I get more anxious than nervous.

CE: What is your favorite song to perform?

Musso: “Control.” Blake, Trace, and I wrote that song. We like to close our set with that one. After you play the same songs every night, it’s hard to say. … [“Control”] is about how you’re with this girl, but at the same time, you kind of what to get away and change things up, and whatever happens, happens.

Photo: Metro Station (left to right): Anthony Improgo, Mason Musso, Blake Healy, and Trace Cyrus (Courtesy Columbia Records)

Green Teen

Today is Earth Day! Environmental activist Jordán Howard says it’s easy being “green”—and teaching others to help the environment too. Jordán is a leader of the Green Ambassadors, a youth environmental program based at her school, Environmental Charter High School in Los Angeles. The 17-year-old activist has given presentations at events across the country. She was a winner of the Weather Channel’s 2008 Forecast Earth Summit Contest. She is being featured today on Nickelodeon's Big Green Help. She is also profiled in a new book called Girls Gone Green. She spoke with Current Events about her green activities.

Current Events: How did you become an environmental activist?

Jordán Howard: In 10th grade, I was in the Green Ambassadors class. … I was inspired by the solutions, [such as] solar energy, wind energy. … I felt it was my job to teach others, especially my peers, about how important it is, and how easy it is, to be green.

CE: What do the Green Ambassadors do?

Jordán: Green Ambassadors is a youth-empowerment program that teaches teenagers like me how to be agents of [change in] our community. It used to be an after-school club. It’s now a mandated class for all sophomores, and we get college credit. We do a lot of extracurricular things. We planted 60 different fruit trees [at our school]. We went door to door, and we planted 40 fruit trees in our community. … It’s us, as the kids, actually doing the projects, doing everything. … We have sponsors. … Our goal is to have [the class] in every school in the U.S. and then in the world. We want to teach [people] that the solutions can start in school.

CE: What is Green Adventures and where you have traveled?

Jordán: Every year the Green Ambassadors chooses a destination where they can step out of their comfort zone and learn and experience another culture, while performing an ecological research project, learning about sustainability. They bring all this information back to Los Angeles where they share and implement their experiences. In July, we went to Costa Rica. … We stayed on an eco farm on the Caribbean coast for about three days. All the food we ate came out of the garden, from the spices to the potatoes, … and it was vegetarian…I was surprised.

CE: Tell us about your recent activities.

Jordán: I was one of the first teens to present at the Bioneers Conference. It’s a world-renowned conference. It connects all the environmental leaders in the U.S. … I presented about what inspired me to become a Green Ambassador and why it’s important for people to be green. … Currently at my school I am training 20–30 high school students to give a presentation to 20 schools in May about the harms of disposable plastics.

CE: What was the most exciting event you’ve spoken at?

Jordán: The Angelenos Go Green for Obama fund-raiser. … [It] was environmentalists and Hollywood’s A-listers. … I was the only teenager let in the building. Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker. I opened the event, and she spoke to me after I had spoken. She told me she was very impressed with me and made me promise I would keep on doing what I’m doing with the environment and with the Green Ambassadors.

CE: What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on?

Jordán: I directed a [student-created] film titled A Day in the Life … about practical changes that people of all ages can make in their homes to be green. There were about 12 of us on crew, and we worked with 3 mentors. … We worked with professional actors who volunteered their time. We took the film to seven different venues throughout L.A., so probably over 500 people saw it. It was great. Now I want to be a professional film director. 

CE: What advice can you give to youth who want to help the environment?

Jordán: Start small, with simple changes, whether it be fluorescent lightbulbs or turning off the water when you brush your teeth. And that change will build, and you’ll want to do more. That's what I did. Don’t just be the change. Teach other people.

Photo: Jordán Howard (Jennifer Esperanza)

Green Snack Packs

Do you know how many water bottles you throw out each year? Americans throw away over 200 billion beverage bottles and cans each year, according to the Container Recycling Institute (CRI). That’s a lot of garbage that could be recycled. There’s a floating island of plastic garbage bigger than the state of Texas, according to environmental activist group Greenpeace.  

About 2,000 schools will do their part to reduce waste this week. They will participate in the first National Green Week. Students at most of the schools will ditch disposable snack containers, choosing reusable ones instead. Students pledge to be “green keepers” and learn eco-friendly lessons. The free program also encourages families to consider healthy snack options and save money by buying in bulk and recycling.

“Children are in the best position to impact the future of our environment by developing green behaviors that become lifelong habits,” says Victoria Waters, president of the Green Education Foundation, the group which is organizing National Green Week.

Schools can choose any week, starting with National Green Week, February 2-8 through April 22 (Earth Day) to “weigh-in” and drop snack waste in their classrooms. Schools and individuals can sign up—and find green activities and project ideas—at www.nationalgreenweek.com.

Green Week’s goal? To eliminate two million pounds of trash and give schools resources to jumpstart new environmental studies. So to help reduce the size of that island, refill your water bottle and reduce, reuse, and recycle your way to school.

Photos: Jupiter Images Unlimited

The Super Bowl’s Youngest Star

The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be the only ones taking the field on Super Bowl Sunday. Sam Kimmel, 13, will walk onto the grass in front of more than 70,000 fans and hand off the official game ball.

The eighth-grader from Homer City, Pa., won the “super” Super Bowl honor by writing about his struggles with asthma and his admiration for retired football player, Jerome Bettis, who played 13 seasons in the NFL despite having the same respiratory condition.

“I wrote about how his hard times with asthma inspired me to keep going when I had hard times with my asthma,” Sam told Current Events. “I remembered how hard [Bettis] fought to keep playing on the field and that really motivated me to keep going.”

Roughly 20,000 kids and teens entered the writing contest, which was presented by Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. A panel of judges, including Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins, picked Sam as the winner.

In addition to his big Super Bowl role, Sam will also be featured on boxes of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes as part of a program to encourage kids to be active and eat right.

The experience has taught the young Steelers fan to believe in himself. “If you set goals for yourself and really try to accomplish them as best as you can, great things like this will happen,” he says. “No matter what the goals are, it can happen.

Cell Phone Crossing

Do you look both ways before crossing the street? What if you get a phone call? According to a new study, you should let it go to voicemail. Kids who cross the street while talking on the cell phone are more likely to be hit by a car—in fact, they are 43 percent more likely to be struck or have a close call.

Using reality software and three TV screens to simulate traffic at an actual crosswalk, psychologists at the University of Alabama asked 77 children ages 10 and 11 to cross a simulated road when they thought it was safe. They did so six times with a cell phone and six without it. When they stepped off a “curb” and onto a sensor pad, their moves were captured by a computer. 

“They were hit significantly more times in the virtual environment when on a cell phone than when not,” said University of Alabama researcher Despina Stavrinos. Researchers found that the kids looked both ways 20 percent fewer times and gave themselves 8 percent less time to safely cross while they were on the phone. 

The researchers found that all of the children, even experienced cell phone talkers, took more risks when they talking on a cell phone than when they were not distracted by their phones. They say more research is needed to determine what impact texting, mp3 players and talking to others has on a child’s ability to cross a street. The message? Look both ways—and hang up—before crossing the street. 

Photos: Shutterstock