Class of 2000 reports

The featured teens are Jenneane Butler of Bishop Maginn High School in Albany, Justin Fitch of Catholic Central High School in Troy, Meghan O'Connor of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady, and Jonathan "Jeb" Towne of Saratoga Central Catholic High School in Saratoga.

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

Justin: I'm not entirely sure. My mind always changes. I was thinking about information management or information science.

Meghan: I want to be a sports trainer.

Jeb: Maybe business. I tried to take accounting this year. I'll take it next year. I'll also try sports in college.

Q. What are your expectations for this year?

Justin: I'd like to do better in classes and win a sectional game in soccer.

Meghan: I will be on honor roll and will keep doing well in running. I just won the Big 10 championships. I was so happy.

Jeb: I expect to do real well in academics, sports, PSATs and SATs.

Q. As we move into the next century, what issues do you think deserve attention?

Justin: Maybe money problems. There was the problem with the Japanese stock market and the Russian rubles are worth nothing. That can cause harm to us for foreign investments.

Meghan: Probably hunger.

Jeb: Our president. We need to make sure we pick a good president who does the right thing and makes better choices.

Q. As the Pope celebrates his 20th anniversary, what would you say to him?

Justin: He's doing a good job. It seems like he's been hurting a lot. I hope he feels better. I'd tell him to keep visiting the world.

Meghan: I'd tell him he's doing a really good job and congratulate him.

Jeb: He's doing a pretty good job. He's doing what a pope should be doing -- getting out and talking to people.

Q. Is there any issue facing the Church that you can do something about?

Justin: How young people are looked at. We can be more respectful and show a better side of us.

Meghan: I can't think of anything.

Jeb: I think parishes should be involved with youth more. A lot of kids don't know what it's about, and they won't if the Church doesn't get them involved.

Q. In the past six months, what affect has your faith had on you?

Justin: My faith has kept me trying my hardest at sports and helped me keep up with my job. It tells me to do the right thing.

Meghan: My brother went to college, so it's helped me deal with that. Every time before we run, I pray. I know I'll do what He wants me to. I pray on my own before my races.

Jeb: I don't think I've paid as much attention to my faith in the past as I should have. Now I'm getting older and trying to pay more attention to it.

Q. Is drug use, including alcohol and tobacco, an issue at your school?

Justin: No, not really. You don't see it.

Meghan: Not really for me. Some people do it. No one pressures you to do anything.

Jeb: I wouldn't say a whole lot.

Q. Is peer pressure an issue for you?

Justin: It's not an issue with me. My friends don't want me to do anything I don't want to do.

Meghan: It's not an issue. I think people here respect each other.

Jeb: I try to stay away from the situations. I try to avoid it.

Q. At the end of your senior year, what will you have achieved?

Justin: Winning a sectional game in soccer, good grades to get into college, and having had a lot of good times.

Meghan: Good grades. They push you hard to do your best here. I will have done well in sports and not messed up.

Jeb: I hope I've done well in sports and academics, and become a role model.

(11-05-98)

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