'2000 students' update their lives as sophomores

Last fall, The Evangelist began following four members of the Class of 2000 to get their thoughts on what it's like to be a teen today. At the start and end of each school year, Maureen McGuinness, staff writer, checks in with them to see how they are changing. This is the third update in a series that will continue until they graduate in June 2000.

Q. What would you like to be when you're 25?

Jenneane: I'd like to be either a high school teacher or an architect or landscape architect.

Justin: I'd still like to be a pilot.

Meghan: I'm going to be in college when I'm 25.

Jeb: I'd like to do something with sports, either playing or coaching. Maybe be a physical education teacher. That has to do with sports and teaching kids.

Jenneane: I want to do well in my classes, be on high honor roll for all four quarters and play basketball.

Justin: I'd like to do better in school, I did good last year. I get to drive -- that's a good thing. I want to do well in soccer, I hope we do well in soccer. I want to learn new stuff and have fun.

Meghan: It's going to be tougher. In sports, I'll do fine. I'm doing fine in running now.

Jeb: To do well in basketball and baseball, and to do well in my grades and on the PSAT. Sophomore year, you have a lot more responsibility and work. The teachers expect more of you.

Jenneane: I think education needs more attention. I read things in the paper that they're thinking about giving more money to education. I think that's important. I'm most concerned about high school education.

Justin: Definitely AIDS. A guy came to our school to talk about it. Pollution is also big. We've got to fix it soon. It's getting bad. It's not so bad here, but in other places it is.

Meghan: Abortion, AIDS, environmental stuff. There's a lot of stuff, I can't think of it all.

Jeb: I still think abortion is important. It's wrong, and I don't believe in it at all.

Jenneane: I would tell him he's doing a good job and I'd tell him to keep trying to stay in touch with people as individuals.

Justin: I guess he's doing a good job. I'm not a pope; it's a hard job. Maybe I'd tell him to come back here for another visit. That would be fun. He should keep doing what he's doing.

Meghan: He was probably more in touch with people before. Now he doesn't get around as much. I'd tell him that people expect a lot more from teenagers than adults think. They ask a lot more from us.

Jeb: I think he's doing a good job. He should keep doing what he's doing.

Jenneane: I think the death penalty issue is important. The Church says it is morally wrong, which it is, but the government has a lot of reasons why its right. I'm not really sure where I fall.

Justin: Abortion. I think it's a big issue. The best thing is not to have sex. A big percentage of people having abortions are teenagers.

Meghan: My church is really good. I like the music and the priest. I only go to my own [parish], so I don't really know any issues.

Jeb: I can't think of any issue, but if I could I don't think there's much I can do right now at my age. Maybe when I'm older.

Jenneane: I think I realized I don't have to do what everyone else is doing. I can do what I want to do and still have fun.

Justin: My faith was a big part when my brother left [for college this fall]. We're kind of close. My faith especially helps with soccer. I pray to God a lot that I do good and not to get hurt. Some of my friends are done [playing] for life because they got hurt.

Meghan: One of my dad's partners died last week. I know there's a reason He took him. Whenever people die, I know there's some reason He took them.

Jeb: It's helped me in my sports not to take anything for granted, in academics, and in staying out of trouble. What my faith is and what I believe in is usually the right answer.

Jenneane: It's an issue, but not a big issue. It's not a problem with the people I do things with.

Justin: I don't think so really. You don't see it in school, that's for sure. If it is an issue, it's probably pretty small.

Meghan: For some kids, it is. It's not an issue for me. For all of my friends, it's not an issue. People know I won't try it, so they won't even think about asking. The majority of the kids here wouldn't do it.

Jeb: In some aspects, but with my friends it's not. I think its part of our school; how could it not be? It's an issue for those who maybe don't get enough attention or have family problems.

Jenneane: It's there, but it's not much of a problem for me. Most of my friends don't pressure me into doing things I don't want to do. Other people have friends who pressure them.

Justin: Most likely, yeah. If all of your friends want you to do something, you want to go. You don't want to be alone. But they wouldn't pressure me to do something I really didn't want to do. It's more the little things.

Meghan: Everybody's got peer pressure. It's not just for big issues. There's good peer pressure, too, like doing a sport when you don't want to. Bad peer pressure could be getting you to go somewhere you don't want to.

Jeb: I don't see it during the course of the day, but I can see where some kids would. Some people don't have the strength to make the decisions. You have to keep yourself out of the spot so you won't run into it. I try to stay away from trouble.

Jenneane: I hope that I did well throughout my school years. And that I was able to do all of the things I wanted to do. I will have good friendships and have something to look forward to.

Justin: I hope that I am captain on soccer. I hope that I'm going to a good college. I hope I did decent on the SATs and that I have around a 4.0 GPA.

Meghan: I want to get good grades. I want to make it to the States for running.

Jeb: I hope I've left a good impression on people, done well in sports and leadership, and I hope I'm a role model for other kids.