Distractology 101

           Do you text and drive, or multi-task while driving? Distractology 101 is a crash course that had visited Norton High School last week to show new drivers how multi-tasking is very dangerous while driving. Being distracted while driving is a big issue that is arising these days. Many teenagers have gotten into accidents or even have gotten killed from texting and driving. This is why Distractology 101 was created. The Arbella Insurance Company knows how dangerous it is to be distracted while driving. They then decided to bring a driving simulator to schools and have students get distracted while driving.

            When I first got into the seat and buckled up my seat-belt (like you would normally do if you were driving) I was told to test drive the car and so I did. When I first started driving it was like driving normally on a road. You have to obey the rules of the road and see how you do. After getting use to the simulator I was told to put my cell phone on the dashboard and when I got to an intersection I was told to take my cell phone out and text my friend saying “I will not crash”. This was a 4 word text that I thought would be easy to text while driving. I was proven wrong and as soon as I got half way through the text I hit a person crossing the road.

            In real life I would have been in so much trouble for texting and driving and because I hit a person I would have gotten into more trouble. At the end of the course I learned how easy it was for me to get distracted while driving. This course honestly really proved to me how dangerous it could be out their on the road. I would definitely recommend the Distractology 101 tour to any driver, especially new drivers because they may not know the cautions of texting and driving as much as they should. 

Advice to all incoming freshman!

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Said Tom Bodett. An incoming freshman to a new high school is always stressful and you might not know where to go to get to classes, you might not know the teachers, and you really won’t know what to expect. My advice to an incoming freshman is to make sure that you are calm and open minded. When someone is calm it makes everything easier rather than being uptight. Also, be social! Making friends is always important in high school because you are stuck with the same people for four years. Keep in mind that being popular isn’t everything; you really should keep up with your grades first, then social life.

            My personal experience was during my freshman year I took high school as a joke, I didn’t do my homework and I never would study for a test or quiz. Ever since then I had to work twice as hard as everyone else to get my grades up to make sure that I graduate in 2013. There was a slight chance that I wouldn’t graduate and that scared me so bad that I took school 100% more seriously. I was involved in cheerleading, and the Norton High School dance team then I would go from school to dance team practice and then from there to cheerleading practice. After a couple months I realized that my grades were suffering from never having enough time for school work. When I realized that I was taking on way to much I quit the dance team and brought my grades up.

            Even though failing one class “isn’t so bad” it really is. It will lower your GPA which affects what college you’re legible to get into when you graduate high school. “I regret not doing my homework” said Chris Driscoll who is one of Norton High Schools students. Homework is a major factor into your grading and I suggest making sure you get it done! Also, as a senior I suggest that you do play a sport and get active when in high school. This is a faster way to meet people and get to know people better. Walking into a school where you meet new people before is always more mind setting. At least now, you know some people and they will help you get through high school.

            Senior year has been by far my favorite year in all of my high school experience. You have to work hard to get there and make sure that you are keeping up with school so you don’t have to stay back or even go to summer school. School seems realistically so easy but when you actually get to high school its so different than middle school. You may have to stay up until 1 am getting a paper done, or studying. I have personally done that quite a few times and it really has paid off now. Looking back I wish I could go back to my freshman year and change my attitude towards school and take it more seriously. All incoming freshman, good luck and make memories while in high school, looking back at it you will miss it!